Monday, August 24, 2020

Social Work and Empowerment Assignment

The motivation behind this article is to investigate social work hypothesis and practice. The paper depends on a situation of a dad (Mathew), who after numerous long stretches of thinking about his debilitated child (David), and having endured a stroke assault multi year back, discovers he is battling to think about himself or the child. According to working with the older, the article will talk about the jobs of a social specialist, the act of strengthening, conceivable moral quandaries and an enemy of abusive practice. The sort of office picked for this article is Learning Disability Partnership (LPD) in Cambridgeshire. LPD is an association, which incorporates multi-disciplinary groups of Social Care Services and Health experts. LPD commits administrations which help learning incapacitated individuals have typical existences and life in wealth. Completely mindful of the strain and stress welcomed on via mindful, LPD attempts to offer types of assistance which help individuals with learning inabilities, and their carers, to adapt to these weights. The assorted variety of social work jobs in this association incorporates promotion, direct change operator and official. These jobs can be utilized independently, or as a blend of two jobs. The job of backing is about individuals supporting themselves straightforwardly or in a roundabout way (Beckett, 2006: 9). In spite of having correspondence issues, and assumning a positive mental limit reason on David, a social laborer may advocate for David by giving authority correspondence gear that empower him to straightforwardly convey without undue impact by his dad. Correspondingly, to the greatest advantage of David and Matthew support is met through arrangements for administrations and assets inside the organization or through multi-disiplinary groups, this is a blended job of a mediator and a co-ordinator. The social specialist is obliged to evaluate the necessities of Matthew and David for network care administrations and actualize benefits as needs be, job of a consideration chief. At the same time, qualification standards are checked (job of an analyst) after which expenses and administrations accessibility are checked before charging assets. For viability, a social specialist must have adequate information, aptitudes and qualities to direct great expert practice. Strengthening implies â€Å"working in a manner planned for expanding individuals' feeling of intensity and power over their lives† (Beckett, 2006:126). The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) remembers for their meaning of social work the advancement of â€Å"†¦ social change†¦ and the strengthening and freedom of individuals to upgrade prosperity. † (Thompson 2001) refers to strengthening as a progressing â€Å"process† and a â€Å"goal† that takes quite a while. Cooper (2000:15) refers to the four significant standards of strengthening as â€Å"entitlement which incorporate enactment, rights and approaches; social model which takes a gander at social, financial and culture; needs-drove appraisal which takes a gander at needs throughout everyday life; and advancement of decision and control which moves systematization to autonomous living†¦ In perspective on this current subject's assorted variety I will address every rule quickly. As far as qualification law, rights and approaches offer direction and backing, genuine model been the 1990 Community Care Act and the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 which puts an obligation and necessity on nearby position to offer types of assistance, assets and subsidizing for administrations and assets for the poor individuals in the network (Brammer, 2003:304). To engage David and Matthew rights to live in own home qualification administrations like home carer furnish individual consideration and help with shopping. David may likewise be qualified for viable home help to enhance wellbeing and portability. Be that as it may, notwithstanding been qualified for administration, because of constrained assets administrations may not be effectively executed by neighborhood authority. The fundamental goal of need's driven evaluation is to focus more on singular needs and inclinations as opposed to the administrations accessible. Needs decide the degree of appraisal required dependent on strengthening and decision (Parker, Bradley, 2007). Opposite, characterizing the significance of ‘need' definitely prompts procedural inclination and limitation of administrations because of budgetary requirements. In the event that the administration client fulfills the neighborhood specialists qualification standards, at that point they have a lawful obligation to give the important help. For instance requirements for both Matthew and David shift and may change after some time. Matthew's point of view may be need of restoration and home assistance to upgrade his physical prosperity while David's needs may be slow prologue to socialization and correspondence needs. Decisions for freedom targets administrations for people in danger for organization. The Kantanian approach of individualisation (rights and regard for David and Matthew to be treated with individual contrasts) and client self-assurance (freedom to settle on educated decisions or choices) advance decision and autonomy (Banks, 2003:31). Direct Payments, bolsters self-coordinated consideration. This empowers David and Matthew to enlist, sort out and pay for their own administrations, empowering them to practice decision and command over their lives. The battle for genuine decision by watchman paper cites that â€Å"the development of direct installments is causing for festivity, nearby pilot plans for singular financial plans which give crippled individuals more independence† (www. gatekeeper. co. uk). Social model is worried about encounters of defenseless individuals at a danger of mistreatment and social cheapening, looking to hold powerlessness. Clinical terms have been utilized to standardize individuals, for models naming David as serious learning crippled and Matthew as experiencing stroke is incapacitating in itself, and prompts absolute loss of rights. Anyway these terms are utilized to check limit standards for appraisal of their needs empowering strengthening. Subsequently, on meeting the rules, nearby position must offices for administrations, which now should be called attention to that they may not really be needs driven as expected, yet asset drove because of restricted assets. All the while, this prompts David and Matthew relying upon the state government assistance as opposed to empowering freedom and dynamic investment (Oliver, 1996:25). So also, decisions support strengthening. David communicating his desire to remain at home demonstrates that his psychological limit can get, hold and decide. (Adams, Dominelli and Payne 2002:196) states limit and capacity to follow up on choices achieves correspondence, nonetheless, this backings decision making more than administrations that best suits David. Conceivable moral predicaments experienced include: Choice and limit: Because of correspondence issues with Matthew his father may need to decipher his considerations communicated. Quandary happens as father's understandings may not be precise with the Matthew's needs; this may prompt a social laborer executing incorrectly benefits. Thus off-base administrations may likewise be offered if in the past Matthew has had practically no experience of picking. Care and control forced because of constrained assets, social specialists are committed to assess David and Matthew against other help clients who are out of luck. Following the utilitarian methodology, the predicament here is whose necessities exceed the other? On what requests would these necessities be organized? In the event that David and Matthew's need are of low, at that point assets will be distributed to those in most critical hazard. Thus lead to two shameless issues: (a) Societal doubt in social work calling as a great many people dread being chosen for penance in spite of their needs, (b) David's and Matthew's wellbeing may deteriorate as they possess to sit tight a long energy for care bundles to be actualized. Strengthening process shifts power away from social specialists and given to support clients. This dependence to make the conditions for strengthening and recognize qualified for strengthening would seem to repudiate this planned move of intensity. Irreconcilable situation emerges on who the essential customer is. When a referral has been made, a social specialist will deliberately be going in to survey whoever is out of luck. Anyway it before long becomes exposed that both the administration client and the carer are out of luck, conflicted between two individuals in need a social specialist along these lines needs to work with the entire family making irreconcilable situation. The Mental Capacity Act 2005 states that: â€Å"a individual must be expected to have limit except if it is set up that he needs capacity†. In accordance with this, situation happens on the best way to evaluate limit and to what expand would limit be quantifiable? A social specialist is obliged to make a worth critical call, and in the event that an inappropriate move is made, at that point the results lie with the social laborer. To conquer these situations mindfulness preparing and against unfair practice would give an equalization. From learnt hypotheses it is clear that some social specialists may have constrained assets and absence of mindfulness. On the off chance that a social specialist doesn't know or educated regarding these elements, at that point they won't have the option to accomplish engaging practice and that they will discover their training may rotate more around issues of strengthening and control are clearly overlooking assistance clients and carers self-assurance. Indisputably, Social laborers are utilized in differed social settings requiring assorted variety of social work jobs. Strengthening improves and upgrades human anguish, in this manner ought to consistently be connected with hostile to segregation. The subject of strengthening is wide, it requires specialized ability as well as characteristics of uprightness, genuiness and mindfulness.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Consumer Behaviour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Buyer Behavior - Essay Example In this regard, it is particularly significant in deciding its qualities. Furthermore, there is additionally knowledge it furnishes with respect to the customer conduct and likely activities, which take into account the distinguishing proof of issues and openings in showcasing the item a short time later. There are at any rate five phases/ventures by which the customer makes their buys: 1) need acknowledgment; 2) data search; 3) assessment of options; 4) buy; and, 5) postpurchase conduct (Lamb, Hair and McDaniel 2008, 140). A few specialists include a few phases all the while, for example, with the model created by Engle, Kollat and Blackswell, which separated the utilization stage into two - utilization and post-utilization - and including a one of a kind component as divestment (Verma 2007, 178). All things considered, the stages are truly direct and represent themselves. For example, need acknowledgment relates to the real want, need or need of a purchaser. This is generally the p rimary stage all the while, however the remainder of the stages don't carefully follow the request by which they were sketched out here in this paper. The phases as sketched out by this paper feature the way that customer buy choices are affected by a few components - both outer and inside impacts. Individual wants, needs and needs just as the accessible data and influencers are only a portion of these factors. They must be comprehended so as to understand the unpredictability of the procedure. At long last, there is likewise the way that customer dynamic procedure doesn't end with the acquisition of the item. For item engineers, it should be an interminable cycle that is the reason understanding the procedure is vital so as to distinguish some similarity to example and lucidness and utilize it in item improvement and in advertising. Hypothesis 2: Family Roles impact on choice Makingâ Certainly, the inspiring variables behind every buyer's buy conduct are one of a kind and unique. Be that as it may, the job of the family as a solitary most significant variable in the dynamic procedure for all shoppers is the equivalent for most customers in most buy choices. This incredible impact, as per Blythe (2006) is because of three reasons: 1. the parental impact on account of the kids is profoundly installed in light of the fact that it began the most punctual and in this manner sway the youngsters' impression of everything that follows; 2. the parental want to do what is best for the kids and the family; and, 3. the impact of kin as good examples, especially when the kin is more established or at times the carer or the guide (138). The above reasons were only the crucial ones particularly while considering the way that in certain families, participation isn't kept to the guardians and their posterity. Or maybe, there are likewise the more distant family, for example, aunties, uncles, cousins and grandparents. At long last, it must be underscored that inside the fami ly or inside family unit, a relationship exists, wherein every part has a job and takes an interest in each dynamic procedure. This relationship, job and support are supported by different issues, for example, sexual orientation and different factors that portray the relational relations inside. By and large, they can characterize who

Sunday, July 26, 2020

Tests @ MIT

Tests @ MIT So I know youre all sitting at home, wondering, Hey, whats up with that dead guy having Veronicas name written on his hand?! Was Veronica involved in that bus going over that cliff?? How?! And why isnt it next Wednesday already?! I know, I know, its all I can keep thinking about too. (Veronica Mars. Greatest show ever. Promise. Go watch it.) Anyway, considering that this show is always in danger of cancellation, I bet its actually the second question on everybodys mind. The first one is what are tests like at MIT? How did I know, right? Im just so in tune with what you guys are all thinking. Its like ESP or something. OK Ill shut up now. The real reason Im writing about this is because its on my mind. I have three tests this week. Three! I think we can all agree thats above the healthy limt of zero. So I figured now would be a good time to bore you all to death with an insiders look on some more specific aspects of academic life. The thing about tests is not really that theyre hard. They just kind of suck. You can spend three hours the night before making a completely awesome aid sheet for 3.091 and then you go to take the test and you need exactly one piece of information from the review sheet. You take the whole test and you at least attempt to answer all of the questions, but you feel like you suddenly have no idea whats going on. You understood everything from lecture but these questions are only vaguely related to the real world, and by the time you finish you just feel sort of gross about the whole thing. Then you get the test back and you see your score and youre like aww I got a 66? But then. Then. You look up at the board. And Wait for it. Wait for it. Yes! I got a 66! Heres what Im trying to get across here. The work is hard. Thats why freshman year is pass/no record. (Failures dont even show up on your transcript, its like they never happened.) Sometimes test questions have complicated twists, or mybe sometimes theyre asking you to combine two concepts in a way you never tried before. So there is a challenge. But at the same time, the grading is probably nothing like what youve experienced in high school. Test grades are generally curved, and everything is generally taken in context. I mean, hey, compared to the massive amounts of grade inflation I experienced in high school, my grades here are awful. But when you stop to realize that your grade was just about dead on with the class averageyou realize its not a big deal. It puts things in perspective. Its not like people here are stupid, so if the rest of the class didnt break 70 on average, well then Im not going to beat myself up over it. Speaking of class averages, my goal in life for the next 24 hours is to actually beat the class average. (I have an exam in 18.01 tomorrow afternoon.) I highly doubt this will happn but hey, you gotta have goals in life, right? We get to have an index card sized reference sheet for the exam, so I need to work on that. I leave you with this parting thought: stressing out over tests never helps anyone. Considering my track record in math, I figured Id need reminding of this during my last 18.01 exam. So on the back of my index card, after writing in all the last minute derivatives that I never bothered to memorize, I wrote myself an important message in what I hoped were large, friendly letters:

Friday, May 8, 2020

The Ratio Over 40 % - 1288 Words

ratio over 40% is considered troublesome. Also, compared to the 1995 and 2004 pre-retirees, the 2013 pre-retiree’s debt-to-income ratio exceeds the previous cohorts. However, the mean monthly total debt payment is lower for the 2013 cohort as compared to the 2004 pre-retirees. This may be a direct result of the decline in income for the 2013 cohort. In addition, the mortgage debt-to-income ratio for the 2013 pre-retirees increased over the measurement periods between 1995 and 2013. Moreover, the mortgage debt-to-income ratio for the 2013 pre-retirees increased as compared to the 1995 and 2004 pre-retiree cohorts. This observation provides evidence that the current group of pre-retirees has increased their mortgage debt over time and they†¦show more content†¦Thus, younger households will have lower income and assets, and borrow more in the beginning stages of the life-cycle, while middle-aged households and pre-retirees will increase savings and reduce liabilities whe n entering the later stages of life. However, as compared to the pre-retirees of 1995 and 2004, the 2013 pre-retiree’s total debt-to-total assets ratio exceeds the 1995 cohort, but is much lower than the 2004 cohort. For every dollar of assets, the 2013 pre-retirees had $0.84 of debt. Quantitative Analysis Results The objective of the study is to evaluate the extent to which secured and unsecured debt impacts the standard of living and the accumulation of financial assets among pre-retirees. To investigate the claim that servicing debt will reduce the standard of living and impact the ability of pre-retirees to adequately accumulate assets for retirement, logistic regression analyses were conducted for pre-retirees servicing debt to estimate the strength of the relationship between the dependent variables and the independent variables. For the initial analysis, natural logs of independent variables within the econometric model were utilized, except for the indicator variables which were not transformed. The dependent variable net worth contained negative values. To handle the log transformation of the negative values, a negative log (neglog) transformation wasShow MoreRelatedMole Ratio: Finding the Reaction You Want650 Words   |  3 PagesMOLE RATIO SCIENTIFIC OBJECTIVE: The main point of the experiment was to form a balanced chemical equation, the find the mole ratio. If a cloud of crystals had formed then when the two substances known as lead(II) nitrate and potassium dichromate were mixed at different doses measured in drops. with all of this being done it was about to show the mole ratio. The mole ratio the ratio of moles of what youve been given in a reaction to what you want to find. INTRODUCTION: A mole ratio is theRead MoreBed Bath and Beyond Case996 Words   |  4 Pagestaken lightly. Facts and Assumptions BBBY has too much cash. Although it has used the cash for store growth and small acquisition, the company should focus on using their cash to increase shareholder value. Currently BBBY is considering 40% debt-to-total-capital and 80% debt to total capital proposals. If BBBY were to use $400 million in excess cash and $636.3 million in borrowed funds to repurchase its shares they would increase their basic earnings per share from 1.35 to 1.41 and theirRead MoreExecutive Officer Of Hill Country Snack Foods Essay1583 Words   |  7 Pagesexceeding 12% in 2011. In each of the past five years, the dividend payout ratio had just been below 30% of the net income. However, the interest rate earned on invested cash was barely over 0% contributing almost nothing to net income. Return on equity was similarly reduced by the avoidance of debt and complete reliance on equity capital. The pro forma results presented in Exhibits 4 and 5 show that increasing the debt-to-capital ratio will increase the dividends per share, earnings per share and totalRead MoreNatural Selection : Darwin s And The Whys Of Adaptation And Speciation Essay872 Words   |  4 Pagesinitial allele ratio began at [A - .20 a - .80], allele A disappeared by the third generation, never returning. Allele A also disappeared by the fifth generation when the initial allele ratio began at [A - .40 a - .60]. Allele a did not disappear completely at any time. Allele A was unable to overcome the disadvantage of beginning with low contributions for the ant’s survival; however, when the beginning ratio was either even [A - .50; a - .50] or favored allele A slightly [A - .60; a - .40] it wasRead MoreLiquidity Ratios1068 Words   |  5 PagesOf the firm s sales, 40 percent are for cash and the remaining 60 percent are on credit. Of credit sales, 40 percent are paid in the month after sale and 30 percent are paid in the second month after the sale. Materials cost 30 percent of sales and are purchas ed and received each month in an amount sufficient to cover the following month s expected sales. Materials are paid for in the month after they are received. Labor expense is 40 percent of sales and is paid for in the month of sales. SellingRead MoreMcdonald Wendys Financial Statement1711 Words   |  7 Pagesinformation from their 2005 Financial Statements. Debt-to-Assets Ratio When comparing the debt-to-assets ratio of McDonalds and Wendys, you have to divide the firms total liabilities by their total assets. Essentially, the debt-to-assets ratio is the primary indicator of the firms debt management. As the ratio increases or decreases, it indicates the firms changing reliance on borrowed resources. The lower the ratio the more efficient the firm will be able to liquidate its assets ifRead MoreMgm Harvard Business School Accounting Case1296 Words   |  6 Pages$1.15) over 40 periods @ r) + PV ($23 paid 40 periods hence with a return of r) $16.5 1.15*(1 – (1/(1+r)^40))/r + 23/(1+r)^40 = 16.5 Solving for r in the above equation we get 14.318% as the effective interest rate. Similarly, Effective Interest Rate on the old 5% debenture = 12.53% The par value of these debentures = $1000 Per period payment = 100*05/2 = $25 Given that the market value of the 5% debenture as of this date is $458.75 PV (Per period payment of $25 over 40 periodsRead MoreMcDonalds Wendys Financial Statement Comparison Essay1693 Words   |  7 Pagesinformation from their 2005 Financial Statements. Debt-to-Assets Ratio When comparing the debt-to-assets ratio of McDonalds and Wendys, you have to divide the firms total liabilities by their total assets. Essentially, the debt-to-assets ratio is the primary indicator of the firms debt management. As the ratio increases or decreases, it indicates the firms changing reliance on borrowed resources. The lower the ratio the more efficient the firm will be able to liquidate its assetsRead MoreEssay on Department Stores601 Words   |  3 Pagesfollowing ratio analysis for ABC sporting Goods Profit amp; Loss Profit for 2006 was-86,318, Profit for 2007 was-113,799 Profit for 2008 was-126,472 Profit for 2009 was-75,252 Profit for 2010 was-67,955 Between 2008-2009 ABC Loss 51,220 Between 2009-2010 ABC Loss 7,297 Return on sales was 7.52% Return on Assets was 27.34% Return on Net Worth was 83.69% Quick Ratio was 0.48 Current Ratio was 1.59 Inventory turnover (gross sales divided by inventory) was 5.93 Assets to sales Ratio was 0Read MoreBaron Coburg Case1567 Words   |  7 Pagesequipment would be a perfect example of modern day ox which has a depreciation value over time. 8. Answer Financial Statements of Ivan: Beginning Balance Sheet for Ivan Ivan Beginning Balance Sheet For the Period Ending Month AA, Year ABCD (In Bushels of Wheat) ASSETS Current Assets Seed 20 Fertilizer 2 Non-Current Assets Ox 40 Land 100 Total Assets 162 LIABILITIES 0 STAKEHOLDER S

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

How to Sleep Well Essay Free Essays

In order to kip good we should follow three grounds. First of all. don’t eat or imbibe a batch before bedtime. We will write a custom essay sample on How to Sleep Well Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now If you drink excessively much liquid before kiping. you’ll wake up repeatedly in the dark for trips to the bathroom or cause you to wake up repeatedly. Don’t eat spicy or fatty nutrients because they cause pyrosis particularly. don’t eat something that triggers 5-hydroxytryptamine. which makes you sleepy. Second. make and don’t exercising when you have free clip. For illustration. if you have a sedentary occupation. a deficiency of physical effort may be cut downing the quality of your slumber. A twenty-four hours of physical effort ( such as taking a tally or a swim ) or. better yet. regular exercising can do for deeper and more reposeful slumber. The best clip to exercising is in the afternoon. Third. Change your kiping place. You may believe that it’s impossible to command what place you sleep in since you aren’t to the full cognizant of what you are making. but it can do a considerable difference. When you go to kip. or if you wake up in the center of the dark. do a witting attempt to follow these guidelines until it becomes accustomed. Keep your organic structure in a â€Å"mid-line† place. where both your caput and cervix are kept approximately consecutive. Don’t use a level pillow that causes your caput to lean down toward the mattress. It’s hard to keep the mid-line place. and it is more likely to do strivings. This will assist relieve emphasis on your dorsum and cervix by somewhat shore uping up your organic structure on one side. To sum up. seek one or two or a combination until you have adequate quality sleep to experience watchful and good rested. How to cite How to Sleep Well Essay, Essay examples

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Porter Five Forces Insurance Industry Essay Example

Porter Five Forces Insurance Industry Paper Introduction: Genworth Financial, Inc. (NYSE: GNW) is a leading Fortune 500 global financial security company. Genworth has more than $100 billion in assets and employs approximately 6,000 people with a presence in more than 25 countries. Its products and services help meet the investment, protection, retirement and lifestyle needs of more than 15 million customers. Genworth operates through three segments: Retirement Protection (which includes Life Insurance, Long Term Care, and Fixed and Variable Annuities), U. S. Mortgage Insurance and International (which includes payment protection products). Its products and services are offered through financial intermediaries, advisors, independent distributors and sales specialists. Genworth Financial, which traces its roots back to 1871, became a public company in 2004 and is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Competitive Rivalry: Highly Competitive Industry Large insurance companies offer similar products Insurance products similar to commodity Companies with low costs, operating efficiency, and superior customer service will be more competitive Consolidation and A activity among the larger companies We will write a custom essay sample on Porter Five Forces Insurance Industry specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Porter Five Forces Insurance Industry specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Porter Five Forces Insurance Industry specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Threat of New Entrants: Difficult to enter insurance industry as a small â€Å"start-up† player due to capital and regulatory requirements Large financial services companies such as banks or investment banks offering insurance products Entrance of niche companies such as Life Settlement firms that buy existing policies Power of Suppliers: Suppliers of capital, such as reinsurers, control the cost structure of external capital which could cause difficulties with insurers to write new usiness Threat of suppliers or other competitors hiring away key professional and executive talent Power of Buyers: Individual consumers are not a major factor Brokers and distributors of Genworth products have more bargaining power as to what products to sell to consumers Availability of Substitutes: Many substitutes in the insurance industry Most of Genworth’s competitors (Met Life, John Hancock, Prudential, Protective Life) offer a similar suite of retirement and protection products Porter Five Forces Insurance Industry Essay Example Porter Five Forces Insurance Industry Paper Introduction: Genworth Financial, Inc. (NYSE: GNW) is a leading Fortune 500 global financial security company. Genworth has more than $100 billion in assets and employs approximately 6,000 people with a presence in more than 25 countries. Its products and services help meet the investment, protection, retirement and lifestyle needs of more than 15 million customers. Genworth operates through three segments: Retirement Protection (which includes Life Insurance, Long Term Care, and Fixed and Variable Annuities), U. S. Mortgage Insurance and International (which includes payment protection products). Its products and services are offered through financial intermediaries, advisors, independent distributors and sales specialists. Genworth Financial, which traces its roots back to 1871, became a public company in 2004 and is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Competitive Rivalry: Highly Competitive Industry Large insurance companies offer similar products Insurance products similar to commodity Companies with low costs, operating efficiency, and superior customer service will be more competitive Consolidation and A activity among the larger companies We will write a custom essay sample on Porter Five Forces Insurance Industry specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Porter Five Forces Insurance Industry specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Porter Five Forces Insurance Industry specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Threat of New Entrants: Difficult to enter insurance industry as a small â€Å"start-up† player due to capital and regulatory requirements Large financial services companies such as banks or investment banks offering insurance products Entrance of niche companies such as Life Settlement firms that buy existing policies Power of Suppliers: Suppliers of capital, such as reinsurers, control the cost structure of external capital which could cause difficulties with insurers to write new usiness Threat of suppliers or other competitors hiring away key professional and executive talent Power of Buyers: Individual consumers are not a major factor Brokers and distributors of Genworth products have more bargaining power as to what products to sell to consumers Availability of Substitutes: Many substitutes in the insurance industry Most of Genworth’s competitors (Met Life, John Hancock, Prudential, Protective Life) offer a similar suite of retirement and protection products