If financial and retirement planning are on your New Year's resolution list, you'll want to attend the The@Work Financial Workshop, presented by Las Positas Community Education and offered at a special discount price to Hacienda employees.

This educational "basic training" course in personal finance is designed to help you save and invest wisely, lower taxes, understand and use your professional benefits, and plan for a financially-independent future. Course objectives are to help you determine your personal financial goals, develop a plan to meet them and understand a variety of investments.

Topics covered will include financial principles, investments, investment strategies, retirement contributions, taking money out of retirement plans, risk management, and estate planning. No specific commercial products or services are offered or discussed.

Giving the workshop is Mark Swartz of Successful Money Management Seminars. He holds a B.A. in economics and business management from the University of Wisconsin and specializes in retirement and estate planning. He speaks frequently on topics of retirement for public school employees, 401K participation, and long-term health care.

The workshop, in four sessions, will be presented on Tuesdays, March 7, 14, 21, 28 from 6:00-8:30 p.m. at the Four Points Hotel, 5115 Hopyard Road in Hacienda. The special Hacienda employees discount price is $49 for the entire program of four sessions. It includes a 100-page textbook of financial information pertaining to the topics. Each participant will complete a financial plan for the future by the end of the four sessions.

Hacienda employees can register for the seminar by accessing Hacienda's web site at www.hacienda.org . Click on "Activities & Events," and click the link for the March 7 listing. Registration is also available at (800) 440-6774.

Taste of the Valley Exhibitors and Sponsors

Restaurants* : Beets Catering, Livermore Bighorn Grill, San Ramon Girasole, Pleasanton Elliston Vineyards Restaurant, Sunol Pleasanton Hotel Strizzi's, Livermore and Pleasanton

Hacienda Sponsors include : ANG Newspapers/Tri-Valley Herald; Nellcor Puritan Bennett, now part of Tyco Healthcare Industries; and Corning Photography

Wineries* (all members of Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association): Jackson Cellars Thomas Coyne Winery Fenestra Winery Stony Ridge Winery Elliston Vineyards Ivan Tamas Winery/Steven Kent Winery Rios-Lovell Winery Chouinard Vineyards Livermore Valley Cellars Cedar Mountain Winery, Westover Winery & Event Center Palomares Vineyards

* Additional restaurants and wineries are expected to participate

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