Latest news with #Ockenden
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
How ThriveRight Financial Helps Americans Decode Their "Big Beautiful Bill"
Nikki Ockenden, RFC, offers financial clarity around rising tax burdens and retirement liabilities through ThriveRight's signature bill analysis. HOUSTON, June 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Across kitchen tables and retirement meetings nationwide, Americans are beginning to confront a hidden threat to their future: what ThriveRight Financial calls the "Big Beautiful Bill." It's the sum total of taxes, healthcare costs, and lost investment opportunity that often blindsides households in their most financially vulnerable years. "We coined the term to illustrate what's coming for many Americans," said Nikki Ockenden, RFC and Principal of ThriveRight Financial. "It's beautiful in the sense that it reflects years of hard work and savings—but it's still a bill, and it can be enormous if you're not prepared." To address this challenge, ThriveRight offers a proprietary analysis designed to forecast potential lifetime tax liability, Social Security timing effects, Medicare premium surcharges, and required minimum distributions (RMDs). The goal is to uncover hidden financial exposures before they become irreversible. "We walk our clients through every component of their financial future—line by line," Ockenden said. "Then we help them make proactive decisions to lower or delay those costs where possible." ThriveRight's Big Beautiful Bill Analysis has proven especially valuable to pre-retirees and high-income earners who are unaware of the compounding impact of tax deferral and future bracket creep. "With today's fiscal policies, many people will pay more in taxes during retirement than they ever did while working," Ockenden noted. "Our job is to help reduce that bill through smart planning today." Through strategies like Roth conversions, tax-efficient withdrawals, and investment realignment, ThriveRight empowers clients to take control of their financial outcomes. Importantly, each plan is personalized, with clear visuals and step-by-step recommendations. "Our clients aren't just looking for answers—they want understanding," Ockenden added. "When they see their Big Beautiful Bill clearly, they finally feel empowered to do something about it." To learn more about ThriveRight Financial's holistic planning services, visit or contact Nikki Ockenden and her team directly for a complimentary consultation. Media Contact: Sal Velazquez 213-347-9353 396365@ View original content: SOURCE ThriveRight Financial
Scotsman
13-05-2025
- General
- Scotsman
"Worthless" WWI medals to be sold at auction
Historic First World War medals which were shown on BBC's Antique's Roadshow are going up for auction. Sign up to the weekly Cost Of Living newsletter. Saving tips, deals and money hacks. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The honours of James Ockendon will go under the hammer on May 21. His Victoria Cross (VC) will be part of the lot alongside his Military Medal (MM) and a collection of related items including postcards, letters and dog tags. These honours were first shown to the public in 2023 when the Antique's Roadshow was aired at Portchester Castle in Hampshire. Mark Smith, a museum curator and specialist in military medals, beamed when he saw the group; the first time a VC was presented on the show. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The medals of a Portsmouth soldier honoured for his heroics in the First World War are going up for sale in Southsea, including a Victoria Cross. | Contributed The Daily Star reported at the time that the guests believed the item was 'worthless', but were keen to share Ockendon's story. Mr Smith said: 'We have never had a Victoria highest award for gallantry this country has. He did this during the Battle of Passion Dale, and when we think about the First World War, and we see those photos of those men in those mud-filled trenches, this is where he was.' The expert proceeded to read the citation which detailed Ockendon's achievements and valour. 'In the attack on the morning of October 4, 1917 east of Langemarck, Sargent James Ockenden was acting Company Sergeant Major, noticing the right platoon held up by an enemy machine gun which was causing many casualties', he added. 'He, with absolute disregard for his personal safety, immediately rushed the gun, killed two of the gunners and followed and killed the third who was making his escape across no man's land. He then led a party to the attack on a trench. This party was heavily fired on as it advanced, Sergeant Ockenden dashed ahead and called upon the garrison to surrender. James Ockendon's medals which are going up for auction, including his Victoria Cross. | Contributed James Ockenden Victoria Cross Stone in Yorke Street, Portsmouth, Southsea. 'They, however, continued to fire and, with great boldness Sergeant Ockenden, then opened fire himself. Having killed four of the enemy, he forced the remaining 16 to surrender. During the remainder of the day, Sergeant Ockenden displayed the greatest gallantry for that he is awarded the Victoria Cross." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Smith said the Victoria Cross was a 'very humble medal', which Queen Victoria said: 'It's not about the medal, it's about the deed behind the medal.' He proceeded to give a valuation of between £250,000 and £300,000. The group will now be sold by Nesbits Antiques Auctions in Southsea, Portsmouth. In 1929 James Ockenden attended a VC dinner given by the then Prince of Wales, (later Edward V111). His son still has the menu autographed by the Prince of Wales. 1929 DINNER MENU WITH THE AUTOGRAPH (EDWARD P) OF THE PRINCE OF WALES SOON TO BE EDWARD V111 | Contributed Ockendon was the first Portsmouth-born recipient of the VC – the highest military honour for gallantry. He was awarded the MM in Flanders a month before the VC, having also survived the Gallipoli campaign of 1915 in WWI. Seeing extensive action during the First World War, he served in India, Turkey during the Battle of Gallipoli, and in the disastrous Dardanelles Campaign where he received a bullet wound to his forehead. He was awarded the Military Medal for bravery on September 28, 1917 during the opening stages of the Third Battle of Ypres. He led his company into the trenches during a heavy enemy bombardment to relieve another company who had become trapped and disconnected from their commanding officers during the previous day's battle. The awarding of his VC was published in The London Gazette on November 5, 1917, and presented with the honour by King George V at Buckingham Palace on December 5, 1917. In April 1918, he was awarded the Croix de Guerre medal, and in the same month he was honourably discharged on medical grounds.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Families to meet regulators over maternity failings
Families concerned about care provided at maternity units in Nottingham are to meet with health watchdogs. Regulators from the General Medical Council (GMC) and Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) are planning to talk with parents between 6 and 14 May. The GMC said it had sent a letter to the families involved in the maternity review in Nottingham to hear about their experiences and discuss any concerns. The visit is separate to the review being led by senior midwife Donna Ockenden into the failings at maternity units at the Queen's Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital. Health secretary considers maternity inquiry calls Apology over delay to maternity report publication Hundreds of new families added to maternity review A GMC spokesperson said: "We have sent a letter to the families involved in the Nottingham maternity inquiry, which we have also sent to Donna Ockenden, asking if she and her team can assist in sharing it more widely. "We have ongoing engagement with a number of affected families, so our letter is particularly aimed at those we have not yet heard from, asking if they would like to attend an in-person meeting with us, so we can hear about their experiences and where they can discuss their concerns relating to the doctors involved in their care." The spokesperson added there will be options available to families who do not wish to attend a meeting in person and there is still time for people to sign up. The Ockenden review, which has been described as the largest investigation ever carried out into maternity failings in NHS history, has examined 2,297 cases of harm to babies and women since it began in September 2002. It is set to publish its findings in June 2026. Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. The story behind the largest maternity review in the NHS Scope of review into maternity failings expanded NHS paid out £101m over city's maternity failings Maternity deaths families meet to discuss action Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust Ockenden Maternity Review
