Investopedia

Fact checked by Amanda Jackson
Reviewed by Erika Rasure

Only a small number of industries outside the financial services industry offer the potential for relatively inexperienced professionals to make significant income within their first year of employment. And within the financial services industry, there are few careers that offer newcomers the opportunity to earn as much as a life insurance agent does right off the bat. In fact, a hardworking insurance agent can earn more than $134,000 in their first year of sales.

But success as an insurance agent doesn’t come without a cost. It’s a tough field, and most participants burn out sooner rather than later. Insurance agents hear the word “no” far more than they hear the word “yes.” And it’s not uncommon for the word “no” to be delivered with a fair amount of obscenities and the proverbial door in the face. Additionally, many people hold insurance agents in low regard—some people even equate them to glorified con artists.

But for those who can stomach the potential rejection, the paycheck and flexibility of being a life insurance agent can be worth the effort.

Key Takeaways

• The career of a life insurance agent is lucrative but involves constant hustling, networking, and many instances of rejection before a sale is ever made.
• Life insurance agents might be given a small salary to get started but are otherwise primarily dependent on commissions to make a living.
• Finding potential customers is difficult and time-consuming; getting those customers to make a purchase once you track them down is even harder.
• A strong background in sales can get you hired; once hired, you must take a 20- to 50-hour class and pass a state-administered licensing exam.
• When looking for a job, make sure that you only apply to companies that have received favorable reviews by rating agencies like Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s.

Overview of the Insurance Field

While there are many kinds of insurance (ranging from auto insurance to health insurance), the most lucrative career in the insurance field is for those selling life insurance. Agents focusing on this end of the insurance market help families, businesses, employers, and other parties protect against financial loss when someone dies.

Insurance agents selling this type of coverage are either “captive” agents, which means they only sell insurance from one company, or “non-captive” agents, meaning they represent multiple insurance carriers. Either way, the typical insurance agent is going to spend the majority of their time engaging in some type of marketing activity to identify people who might be in need of new or additional insurance coverage, providing them with quotes from the companies they represent, and persuading them to sign the new insurance contract.

Typically, a life insurance agent receives anywhere from 30% to 90% of the amount paid for a policy (also known as the premium) by the client in the first year. In later years, the agent may receive anywhere from 3% to 10% of each year’s premium, also known as “renewals” or “trailing commissions.”

Let’s look at an example of how a life insurance agent earns:

Insurance Sales Commission Example

Uni the insurance agent sells Ryan a whole life insurance policy that covers Ryan for the rest of their life (assuming they continue to make their premium payments). Uni’s insurance company pays a 90%/5% commission on whole life policies, which means the selling agent receives 90% of the first year’s premium and 5% of future renewals.

The policy costs Ryan $100 per month or $1,200 per year. Thus, in the first year, Uni will make a $1,080 commission on selling this life insurance policy ($1,200 × 90%). In all subsequent years, Uni will make $60 in renewals, as long as Ryan continues to pay the premiums ($1,200 × 5%). An agent selling one or two policies per week at this commission level could make $50,000 to $100,000 in their first year as an agent.

Life Insurance Agent Qualifications

As mentioned before, a life insurance agent is not a profession for the thin-skinned or faint of heart. In fact, more than any other factor, including education and experience, life insurance agents must possess a fighting spirit. They must be people who love the thrill of the hunt, the rush of a sale, and see rejection as a steppingstone to eventual success. A career in life insurance sales is not ideal for those who view themselves as introverted, soft-spoken, or afraid of conflict.

The vast majority of life insurance companies have no formal education requirements for becoming an agent. While many prefer college graduates, this general rule is constantly overlooked in favor of the “right” candidates. Previous experience in the insurance industry is not required because most medium and large insurance carriers have internal programs to train their salespeople about the products they’re going to sell.

While it may prove easy for a tenacious go-getter to get hired at a reputable insurance company, there is one nonnegotiable hurdle that stands between a potential insurance agent and their commissions: state licensing. Insurance agents are currently licensed by the individual state or states where they’ll sell insurance. This generally requires passing a state-administered licensing exam, as well as taking a licensing class that typically runs 20–50 hours.

100%

The sales commission that life insurance agents might earn in the first year if they are on a commission-only salary; that’s the highest commission for any type of insurance.

Getting Hired to Sell Insurance

If you feel like a career in life insurance sales is for you, there are a couple of steps to take in order to find your first job. First and foremost, you’ll need to put together a resume that highlights your entrepreneurial spirit. You’ll want to include anything that shows you taking initiative to make things happen, whether it was starting your own business or taking someone else’s business to the next level. Life insurance agents have to be driven and have the ability to be self-starters. Resumes that show a track record of that kind of behavior will help you get your foot in the door.

Once you have your resume polished, you’ll want to begin finding positions and applying. It’s imperative that you don’t feel pressured to take the first position that comes along, because working for the wrong company can burn you out and haunt you for the rest of your insurance career. Ideally, you want to work for a well-known company with a good reputation among consumers, other agents, and insurance rating agencies.

Perhaps the best place to start in deciding where to apply is to visit the insurance company rating websites for AM Best, Moody’s, or Standard & Poor’s. From there, you’ll be able to build a list of companies that have ratings of “A” or higher in your state. These companies will typically offer the most secure products at reasonable prices, with an emphasis on compensating and keeping quality agents.

Important

The work of a life insurance agent is grueling; many agents don’t last more than a year. On the upside, this means that there are constant vacancies and it can be relatively easy to get started as a new hire.

Be Sure to Follow Up

Once you’ve created this list, begin looking at each company. Due to the high turnover rate of insurance agents, most companies prominently post their job listings by geographical area, which makes them easily searchable for you. When you find a company in your area that seems to fit your personality, apply for the position and make sure you follow the company’s instructions on its site.

Follow up with phone calls on a weekly basis until you hear an answer either way. Many insurance company recruiters will decline to interview a potential agent who doesn’t first make a follow-up call; this is considered to be a strong indicator of a potential agent’s tenacity. During your interview, continue to communicate your entrepreneurial and “never-say-quit” personality; most managers will hire someone based on these factors over all the others combined.

If you’re lucky enough to land the job, you can expect your first 12 months to be spent handing out a lot of business cards and making a lot of phone calls. Your sales manager will be the first to remind you that your only “purpose” in life is to find potential clients. In fact, they’ll be far more interested in how many contacts you’re making each week than how well you know their product line.

You can expect to struggle financially for the first few months until your first sales commissions start rolling in. While some companies offer a salary to keep newbies from starving, this is becoming more rare. Many agents are now lucky to be compensated for one to two months of training before being put on a “commission-only” basis.

A Few Warnings

While the life insurance industry promises great rewards for those who are willing to work hard and put up with a good amount of rejection, there are two pitfalls you need to be aware of. First, you will most likely be expected to market to your friends and family. While that might be tempting and seem like a great idea to get you started, it can also burn a lot of bridges with people you care about.

Second, you should visit your state insurance commissioner’s website and check out the complaint history against companies that you’re considering working for. What you’ll typically find is insurance companies that maintain less than an “A” rating, as well as those that sell insurance using a multilevel marketing scheme, have a much higher incidence of complaints than the larger, more established companies.

Accepting a job with the wrong insurance company can potentially burn you out and ruin your dreams of a promising career. If a career in life insurance sales is something you truly desire, take your time and wait for the right opportunity at the right company. Doing so will maximize your chances of long-term success.

What Is Life Insurance?

Life insurance is a contract between an insurance company and a policy owner in which the insurer guarantees to pay a sum of money to one or more named beneficiaries when the insured person dies. In exchange, the policyholder pays premiums to the insurer during their lifetime.

What Is an Insurance Agent?

An insurance agent is a person who sells insurance policies for an insurance company. They can help individuals and businesses find the right coverage and policies, and are paid a commission for their services. They either work for an agency or as independent contractors.

What Is the Job Outlook for Insurance Sales Agents?

Employment of insurance sales agents is projected to grow 6% through 2033, faster than the average for all occupations. About 47,100 job openings for insurance sales agents are projected annually, on average, through 2033. There were 547,600 insurance sales agent jobs in the United States as of 2023, the most recent data available, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Bottom Line

Being a life insurance agent is a tough field, with burnout, constant hustling, networking, and many instances of rejection before a sale is ever made. But for those who can stomach all of this, the paycheck and flexibility can be worth the effort.

Reviewed by Margaret James
Fact checked by Suzanne Kvilhaug

Proper management of working capital is essential to a company’s fundamental financial health and operational success as a business. A hallmark of good business management is the ability to utilize working capital management to maintain a solid balance among growth, profitability, and liquidity.

A business uses working capital in its daily operations; working capital is the difference between a business’s current assets and current liabilities or debts. Working capital serves as a metric for how efficiently a company is operating and how financially stable it is in the short term. The working capital ratio, which divides current assets by current liabilities, indicates whether a company has adequate cash flow to cover short-term debts and expenses.

Key Takeaways

• The goal of working capital management is to maximize operational efficiency.
• Efficient working capital management helps maintain smooth operations and can help to improve the company’s earnings and profitability.
• Management of working capital includes inventory management and management of accounts receivable and accounts payable.

The Importance of Working Capital Management

Working capital is a daily necessity for businesses, as they require a regular amount of cash to make routine payments, cover unexpected costs, and purchase basic materials used in the production of goods.

Efficient working capital management helps maintain smooth operations and can help to improve the company’s earnings and profitability. Management of working capital includes inventory management and management of accounts receivable and accounts payable. The main objectives of working capital management include maintaining the working capital operating cycle and ensuring its ordered operation, minimizing the cost of capital spent on the working capital, and maximizing the return on current asset investments.

Working capital is an easily understandable concept, as it is linked to an individual’s cost of living, and therefore can be understood in a more personal way. Individuals need to collect the money that they are owed and maintain a certain amount on a daily basis to cover day-to-day expenses, bills, and other regular expenditures.

Breaking Down Working Capital Management

Working capital is a prevalent metric for the efficiency, liquidity, and overall health of a company. It is a reflection of the results of various company activities, including revenue collection, debt management, inventory management, and payments to suppliers. This is because it includes inventory, accounts payable and receivable, cash, portions of debt due within a year, and other short-term accounts.

The needs for working capital vary from industry to industry, and can even vary among similar companies. This is due to several factors, including differences in collection and payment policies, the timing of asset purchases, the likelihood of a company writing off some of its past-due accounts receivable, and in some instances, capital-raising efforts that a company is undertaking.

Important

When a company does not have enough working capital to cover its obligations, financial insolvency can result and lead to legal troubles, liquidation of assets, and potential bankruptcy.

Working capital management is essentially an accounting strategy with a focus on the maintenance of a sufficient balance between a company’s current assets and liabilities. An effective working capital management system helps businesses not only cover their financial obligations but also boost their earnings.

Managing working capital means managing inventories, cash, accounts payable, and accounts receivable. An efficient working capital management system often uses key performance ratios, such as the working capital ratio, the inventory turnover ratio, and the collection ratio, to help identify areas that require focus in order to maintain liquidity and profitability.

What Is Working Capital?

Working capital is the difference between a company’s current assets and its current liabilities. It’s a commonly used measurement to gauge the short-term financial health and efficiency of an organization.

Current assets include cash, accounts receivable, and inventories of raw materials and finished goods. Examples of current liabilities include accounts payable and debts.

What Is Working Capital Management?

Working capital management is a business strategy designed to manage a company’s working capital. It ensures that a company operates efficiently by monitoring and using its current assets and liabilities to their most effective use.

What Are Some Real-World Examples of Working Capital Management?

Real-world examples of working capital management include:

• Apple Inc. (AAPL), which closely manages its inventory levels, negotiates favorable payment terms with suppliers, and carefully monitors its accounts receivable and accounts payable
• Walmart Inc. (WMT), which negotiates favorable payment terms with suppliers and whose supply chain and inventory management system allows it to minimize inventory holding costs while meeting customer demand

The Bottom Line

Working capital management aims to maximize a company’s operational efficiency. Efficient working capital management not only helps maintain smooth operations, but also can help to improve earnings and profitability and maintain a solid balance between growth and liquidity.

Reviewed by Thomas J. Catalano
Fact checked by Michael Rosenston

Many people struggle to set aside the money they need to build up their retirement nest eggs, month by month. Fortunately, a nonrefundable tax credit, known as the retirement savings contributions credit, can make it substantially easier to save.

Usually referred to as the Saver’s Credit, it provides individuals and families with modest incomes a tax break above and beyond any deductions that they may receive from contributions to their individual retirement accounts (IRAs) or employer-sponsored plans.

By reducing the person’s income tax bill for the year, the credit offsets the cost of funding a retirement account, ultimately bolstering their long-term savings over time.

Key Takeaways

• A tax credit reduces the amount of taxes owed dollar for dollar. That’s better than a tax deduction, which reduces the taxpayer’s total taxable income.
• The saver’s tax credit is available to eligible taxpayers who contribute to an employer-sponsored retirement plan, ABLE plan, or a traditional and/or Roth IRA.
• The amount of the credit is determined by a number of factors, including the person’s retirement plan contributions, tax filing status, and adjusted gross income (AGI).
• This credit is not available to people under age 18, full-time students during any part of five calendar months (not necessarily consecutive) during the tax filing year, or anyone claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer.
• You can use Form 8880 to calculate and claim the saver’s tax credit.

What Is the Saver’s Tax Credit?

The saver’s tax credit is available to eligible taxpayers who contribute to employer-sponsored 401(k), 403(b), SIMPLE, SEP, thrift savings plans (TSPs), or governmental 457 plans. It is also available to those who contribute to traditional or Roth IRAs.

Those who make contributions to these types of accounts on behalf of other people with disabilities and their families (known as ABLE accounts) also are eligible for the saver’s tax credit.

AGI Determines Amount of Credit

Your adjusted gross income (AGI) determines your credit amount, which can be either 50%, 20%, or 10% of a maximum contribution amount. The maximum contribution amount that qualifies for the credit is $2,000, or $4,000 for married couples filing jointly.

The credit rate that you can apply depends on your AGI and filing status. If your income rises above the maximum AGI limit, you can’t claim the credit.

For the 2024 tax year, the maximum AGI limits were $76,500 for married couples filing jointly; $57,375 for heads of household; and $38,250 for singles and married individuals filing separately. Income beyond these maximums disqualified you from claiming the credit.

For the 2025 tax year, the maximum AGI limits are $79,000 for married couples filing jointly; $59,250 for heads of household; and $39,500 for singles and married individuals filing separately. Income beyond these maximums disqualifies you from claiming the credit.

Below are the credit rates and AGI thresholds that apply to the different filing statuses for tax years 2024 and 2025.

Who Is Eligible?

To be eligible for the saver’s tax credit, an individual must be at least 18 years old by the end of the applicable tax year and cannot be claimed as a dependent on another’s tax return. Also, they may not enroll as a full-time student during any part of five calendar months (not necessarily consecutive) during the tax filing year.

The Effect of the Saver’s Tax Credit

Claiming the saver’s tax credit when contributing to a retirement plan can reduce an individual’s income tax burden in two ways. First, the contribution to the retirement plan qualifies as a tax deduction. As a bonus, the saver’s tax credit reduces the actual taxes owed, dollar for dollar.

Consider the following examples:

Barbara is married and works in a clothing store as a clerk. She earned $38,000 in 2024. In addition, she contributed $1,000 to her IRA. Her husband, who is unemployed, had zero earnings. After deducting her IRA contribution, the AGI shown on her joint return is $37,000. In this case, Jill is entitled to claim a 50% credit of $500 ($1,000 × 0.50) for that IRA contribution.

For tax year 2025, if Barbara earns $42,000 (her husband remains unemployed) and contributes $2,000 to her IRA, her AGI on her joint return would be $40,000. That means she can claim a 50% credit of $1,000 ($2,000 × 0.50).

How to Claim the Saver’s Tax Credit

Taxpayers who contribute to qualified employer-sponsored retirement plans, IRAs, or ABLE plans are required to complete IRS Form 8880 to claim the saver’s tax credit.

Those whose income does not exceed the limits for their tax filing status can use this form to report their and their spouse’s total contributions to claim the credit.

You also enter your adjusted gross income to determine the amount of your credit. Once calculated, you must enter the credit amount on Form 1040 and then file Form 8880 with your return.

Important

The saver’s tax credit was initially made available for tax years 2002 to 2006 under the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA). It became permanent under the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA).

When Are Retirement Savings Not Eligible?

Any money contributed to a retirement account that exceeds the allowable limit must be divested from the account within a specific time frame. The returned portion of the contribution is not eligible for the saver’s tax credit.

Similarly, if an individual changes jobs and consequently rolls money over from one retirement account into another—say, from an employer-sponsored 401(k) to a traditional IRA—then that contribution is likewise ineligible for the saver’s tax credit.

How Can I Get the Saver’s Tax Credit?

To be eligible for the saver’s tax credit, you must be at least 18 years old, not a full-time student during any part of five calendar months (not necessarily consecutive) during the tax filing year, and not claimed as a dependent on another’s tax return. Your adjusted gross income (AGI) must not exceed the saver’s tax credit limit for your filing status, and you must have made contributions to a qualified retirement or ABLE plan for the tax filing year. To claim the credit, file Form 8880 with your tax return.

Who Qualifies for the Saver’s Tax Credit?

The saver’s tax credit is designed to help people with modest incomes save for retirement. It does this by deducting from their income tax bill some portion of the amount they contribute to retirement accounts. To qualify, your AGI must fall below a certain maximum amount.

For the 2024 tax year, the maximum income limits were $76,500 for married couples filing jointly; $57,375 for heads of household; and $38,250 for singles and married individuals filing separately.

For the 2025 tax year, the maximum income limits are $79,000 for married couples filing jointly; $59,250 for heads of household; and $39,500 for singles and married individuals filing separately.

How Much Is the Saver’s Tax Credit?

The saver’s tax credit is 10%, 20%, or 50% of a contribution to a qualified retirement plan (QRP). The maximum contribution amount that qualifies is $2,000 ($4,000 for married couples filing jointly). The credit cannot exceed $2,000 for married couples filing jointly or $1,000 for single filers.

The Bottom Line

The saver’s tax credit can effectively boost an individual’s retirement savings power. Those who qualify for this credit and don’t capitalize on this opportunity are squandering a simple way to add significant value to their nest eggs. So be sure to check it out when you prepare your tax return.

Correction—Feb. 12, 2025: This article has been corrected to state that an individual may not be a full-time student during any part of five calendar months (not necessarily consecutive) during the tax filing year to be eligible for the saver’s tax credit.

It’s important to understand the tax implications

Fact checked by Timothy Li
Reviewed by Marguerita Cheng

A qualified domestic relations order (QDRO) is a court order that divides the assets that are in certain retirement plans, including 403(b)s and 401(k)s. Before using the money to buy a house, you should first consider the tax implications.

Key Takeaways

• A qualified domestic relations order (QDRO) is a court order used to divide certain retirement-specific assets during a divorce.
• Assets distributed from a qualified plan under a QDRO are exempt from the 10% early withdrawal penalty.
• Any money distributed directly to an ex-spouse will be subject to mandatory withholding tax.

Can You Use a QDRO to Buy a House?

Funds distributed from a qualified plan under a QDRO can be used to buy a home, but you should understand the payment options and tax implications.

Assets distributed from a qualified plan under a QDRO are exempt from the usual 10% early withdrawal penalty set by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Recipients can opt to have a portion of the amount processed as a direct rollover to their traditional individual retirement account (IRA) and the balance paid to them to buy a home. The amount processed as a direct rollover to an IRA will not be subject to withholding tax.

Important

Any amounts that you receive directly (instead of rolling over to a retirement plan) will be subject to mandatory withholding tax. This withholding can include 20% for federal taxes held by the plan and an additional amount for state taxes, depending on the state.

Distribution Options

Assets can be rolled over to a traditional IRA and have the distributions paid over time. Amounts paid to recipients for at least five years or until age 59½, whichever is longer, are exempt from the 10% early-distribution penalty, provided the payments meet certain requirements.This option is commonly referred to as substantially equal periodic payments or 72(t) distributions.

To convert the assets to a Roth IRA, beneficiaries must first roll over the funds to a traditional IRA. The funds can then be converted from the traditional IRA to the Roth IRA. However, taxes will be owed on the converted amount for the year the conversion occurs. Then, in retirement, withdrawals will be penalty- tax-free, as long as you’re at least 59 ½ years old and have had the Roth account for at least five years.

Warning

Some qualified retirement plans will not distribute assets under a QDRO until the plan participant—in this case, a former spouse—experiences a triggering event, such as reaching retirement age or leaving an employer. Plans may also consider the QDRO a triggering event.

Are There Exceptions to the 10% Early Withdrawal Penalty for IRAs and 401(k)s?

When an individual withdraws from an IRA or defined-contribution retirement plan before age 59½, these early distributions trigger a 10% early withdrawal tax unless an exception applies. Some exceptions include paying for qualified medical expenses or higher education costs. For more exceptions, visit the IRS website.

Which Retirement Plans Are Subject to a QDRO?

A qualified domestic relations order (QDRO) is a court order used to divide specific types of retirement plans, including qualified plans, such as 401(k) and 403(b) plans. A QDRO must comply with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). ERISA provides a regulatory framework for employer-sponsored retirement plans to protect participants and their beneficiaries. IRAs are not subject to ERISA and are divided using a “transfer incident to divorce.”

Can There Be Additional Beneficiaries Named on a QDRO?

Other than an ex-spouse, dependents may qualify to receive the ordered benefits. In such instances, the alternate payee is a minor or is determined to be legally incompetent. The order can require the benefit plan to make a payment to an individual with legal responsibility for that payee. This can include a guardian or trustee who serves as the agent of the individual.

The Bottom Line

Retirement assets need to be addressed separately during divorce proceedings. Although money can be disbursed to help pay for the purchase of a home, you should consider how and when to use these funds when considering tax penalties.

Fact checked by Stella Osoba

Picking growth stocks with the highest upside potential isn’t easy. Want to know how Wall Street’s top minds spot tomorrow’s biggest winners? Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS) has a surprisingly simple method: find companies that can consistently grow their sales by at least 10%. They call it the “Rule of 10,” and in 2025, 21 companies in the S&P 500 make the cut, including some of the fast-growing companies that we discuss below.

Key Takeaways

• Goldman Sachs created the “Rule of 10” to identify the next wave of stocks poised to soar in value.
• To pass the test, companies must consistently generate sales growth of 10% and be capable of continuing to do so in the future.
• In early 2025, 21 S&P 500 stocks meet Goldman’s revenue criteria.
• Investment decisions shouldn’t just be based on the results of one stock screen.

What Is the Rule of 10?

Goldman Sachs figured a good way to identify the stocks with the most potential to outperform the S&P 500 was to analyze what made today’s biggest winners—the so-called “Magnificent Seven” made up of Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL), Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN), Apple Inc. (AAPL), Meta Platforms, Inc. (META), Microsoft Corporation (MSFT), NVIDIA Corp. (NVDA), and Tesla, Inc. (TSLA)—so successful and popular. Armed with that information, the bank’s analysts could then build a screen that reveals the future growth engines of the stock market.

The name of this screen is the “Rule of 10.”

How the Rule of 10 Works

To pass the test, companies must meet the following conditions:

• Be in the S&P 500 Index.
• Have grown revenues by at least 10% in each of the past two years.
• Be expected to grow sales by at least 10% in the present year, the next fiscal year, and the fiscal year after that.

Stocks that Meet the Rule of 10 Criteria

We screened the S&P 500 for companies with at least 10% revenue growth in 2022 and 2023 (the previous years) and forecasted sales growth of at least 10% in 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027. The following stocks, as of Jan. 28, 2025, passed the test.

How Can Investors Find the Rule of 10 Stocks?

The stocks that pass the “Rule of 10” test are subject to change as years pass and revenue growth projections are adjusted by analysts. If you want to see which stocks Goldman thinks have a decent chance of outperforming the market in the future, you’ll need to input the criteria mentioned above into a screening tool.

It’s also possible to gather the relevant data for each stock in the S&P 500, but that would take much longer.

Note

Alphabet, Amazon, Synopsys Inc. (SNPS), Visa Inc. (V), and Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) were among the popular firms with investors that narrowly missed out.

The Bottom Line

Goldman Sachs’s “Rule of 10” aims to identify the next wave of S&P 500 stocks capable of delivering the most capital appreciation by focusing on past and future revenues. It’s a stock screen, which means it’s designed to be a starting point for generating ideas—not a final list for entering investment orders today.