..........................Welcome to "The Classroom"....................

 

For Information call 402-392-0665 (Larry or Margaret)

or email: classroom1edu@gmail.com

www.insuranceclassroomeducationco.mysite.com

 

                                                              CLASS  FEE  $15.00  PER  CREDIT  HOUR 

                              *PRE-REGISTRATION APPRECIATED BUT NOT NECESSARY *
             *NO PRE-PAYMENT REQUIRED - PAY BY CHECK OR CASH ON CLASS DAY *
                            *FUNERAL DIRECTORS GET DIRECTOR CREDITS*

          * IT HAS BEEN OUR POLICY TO NOT CANCEL CLASSES.   HOWEVER DUE TO INCREASED COSTS AND REQUESTS FROM CLASS SITES, WE MUST CANCEL IF WE HAVE NOBODY SIGNED UP *  

                                                                      
                                                           COURSES OFFERED IN:  

ATLANTIC, CRESTON, HARLAN, SHELDON, SHENANDOAH, COUNCIL BLUFFS AND SIOUX CITY, IOWA. 
ALSO: OMAHA NEBRASKA 

     THE CLASSROOM IS NOT ASSOCIATED NOR AFFILIATED WITH ANY INSURANCE COMPANY NOR AGENCY.  SITES ARE SELECTED ON THE BASIS OF AVAILABILITY AND CONVENIENCE.  NO BUSINESS SOLIDITATION IS PERMITTED.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     ABOUT THE COMPANY:  The Insurance Classroom Education Co. is a Certified Provider of Insurance Education in the States of Nebraska and Iowa.  They are also a Certified Nebraska Post-Secondary Career School.

    While pre-registration is not required, we nevertheless appreciate knowing of your intention to attend.  We appreciate your check on day of class.  We do not accept credit nor debit cards and once class begins we do not issue refunds. Thank you for understanding.

     Funeral Directors receive credit against their Director's licensing requirement.

     ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:  Classes are moderated by Larry J. Battaglia LL.B., Certified Instructor of Insurance for the States of Nebraska and Iowa.  Mr. Battaglia has been in the insurance professon since 1977 and has been a Certified Instructor since 1990.

     In additon to owning "The Classroom", Mr Battaglia has moderated classes for Bank Iowa,  Iowa Western, Northwest Iowa and Southwest Iowa Community Colleges, Lincoln Financial Insurance Co., Mutual of Omaha, AFLAC, Primerica, The Benefit Group, Humana, American Family, AAA Nebraska and numerous agencies privately.  He has written over 65 CE classes and is the author of the NEBRASKA Limited Lines Funeral Insurance Course (EXAM FX 13-24) and has authored the only Viatical Specific continuing education class.  He is currently the Vice-Chairman of the Nebraska State Board of Funeral Directing and Embalming.   

          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

      Please scroll down to the section that has the courses of interest and join us if you need hours and your schedule permits:

     Section one - Licensing Prep Classes (Limited Lines Funeral, Viatical, Life, Health)
     Section two - CE Classes At Community Colleges
     Section three - CE Classes At General Public Locations
     Sectin four - Course Capsules

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

SECTION ONE  

STATE LICENSE PREP COURSE

LIMITED LINES FUNERAL INSURANCE  
  Open to funeral directors who do not have an insurance license
and others working with pre-need sales.

Study Guides are available to any who would rather read and review
the course material before deciding on attending a class.
Cost  $85.00.  Credit for the Study Guide is given if a class is subsequently attended.
Please call Larry or Margaret at 402-392-0665    

     Omaha NE
     The Classroom Conference Center
     11924 Arbor Street
     Omaha, NE 68144
     Please call either Larry or Margaret at 402-392-0665. 

                 Course dates are available on a request basis.  If you are interested in taking this course, contact either Larry or Margaret for time and availablilty.  This course will be on a private basis until further notice.  So if you are interested, call and we will work with your schedule.

                  COST OF THE COURSE = $265.00 BY CHECK ON DAY OF CLASS

    This covers all costs except Prometric's exam fee and the state licensing fee.

Call Larry or Margaret at: 402-392-0665

 

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

State License Prep Course

Life & Health Insurance

                                     

        OMAHA 

      Study Guides are available to any who would rather read and review the course material before deciding whether to attend a class.  Cost = $85.00.  Credit is given for the Study Guide if a class is subsequently attended.  Please call either Larry or Margaret at 402-392-0665.

 
                     Cost of course = $265.00  and includes the study-guide   

     In addituion to the above, we will make reviews available for any who are having trouble with the state exam and maybe with just a couple of chapters.  We will review chapter by chapter you request on a private basis.  We will give you the information you need to clear up any areas of concern and you do not have to re-take the entire 3 day course just to clarify a couple of areas.

Call Larry or Margaret as times are always available 402-392-0665. 

                    Cost = $25.00 per chapter reviewed. 

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

SECTION TWO

CONTINUING EDUCATION CLASSES AT COMMUNITY COLLEGES

 For these classes contact the college of choice directly

 

    CONTINUING EDUCATION CLASSES AT:
                        NORTHWEST IOWA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

     603 West Park
     Sheldon, Iowa
     1-800-352-4907, 712-631-5500 or www.nwicc.edu

      Dates for the fall classes have not been determined at this time.  However they will be held and will be on a video (zoom) type format where you can all see me and I can see you.  It's just that the class will be presented webinar style from my office in Omaha.  More on this will follow.

    

                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

      CONTINUING EDUCATION CLASSES AT:
                               IOWA WESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE   
     (See Locations below)
     Call 712-325-3210 to enroll
 
     Council Bluffs IA 

     Wednesday, March 18, 2020
     8AM - 11AM  Trust Me...Sign Here (IA: 3 ethics / NE: 3 ethics)
     Noon - 6PM  Pushing Up Daisies (IA: 6 general / NE: 6 lie

     Thursday, March 19, 2020
     8AM - 11AM  Basics of The Reverse Mortgage (IA: 3 general / NE: 3 life)
     Noon - 6PM  The 5 O'Clock Whistle  (IA: 6 general / NE: 6 life)

     Wednesday, May 20, 2020 - CANCELLED (SCHOOL CLOSED)
     8AM - Noon  The Suitability of Product Selection (IA: 4 general / NE: 4 life)
     1PM - 6PM  Tax Issues for Life & Health Insurance (IA: 5 general / NE: 5 life)

    Thursday, May 21, 2020 - CANCELLED (SCHOOL CLOSED)
     8AM - 11AM  But He Didn't Die! (IA: 3 general / NE: 3 life)
     Noon - 6PM  Who Get's Well...Who Get's Wealthy (IA: 6 general / NE: 6 life)

    

     Atlantic, Iowa
     No classes scheduled at IWCC.  See below for classes at Rock Island Terminal

     Harlan, Iowa
   

     Thursday, May 28, 2020 - CANCELLED (SCHOOL CLOSED)
     8AM - Noon  Suitbiltiy of Product Selection (IA: 4 general / NE: 4 life)
     1PM - 6PM  The Security in Social Security (IA: 4 genral / NE: 4 life)

 

                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

   
     CONTINUING EDUCATION CLASSES AT:
                           SOUTHWESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
    
     1501 Townline St.
     Creston IA  50801
     641-782-1424   

     Wednesday, April 15, 2020
     8AM - Noon  The Suitability of Product Selection (IA: 4 general / NE: 4 life)
     1PM - 5PM  The Security in Social Security

    Tursday, April 16, 2020
     8AM - Noon  Alphabet Soup by Medicare (IA: 4 general / NE: 4 health)
     1PM - 4PM  Universal Life  (IA: 4 general / NE: 3 life)

 

 

   

     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~tin~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

SECTION THREE

CONTINUING EDUCATION CLASSES FOR IOWA AND NEBRASKA AT GENERAL PUBLIC _

      
      SIOUX CITY, IA
     Holiday Inn Express & Suites
     4723 Southern Hills Drive
     Sioux Cith IA  51106
     712-274-0100

     Wednesday, JULY 8 - NOTE DATE CHANGED FROM 5/13
     8AM - 11AM  LTC Consumer Guide for Professionals (IA: 3 general / NE: 3 general)
     Noon - 6PM  Pushing Up Daisies (IA: 6 general / NE: 6 life

     Thursday, JULY 9 18, 2020 - NOTE DATE CHANGED FROM 5/14
     8AM - Noon The Security in Social Secuity (IA: 4 general / NE: 4 life)
     1PM - 6PM  Tax Issues for Life & Health Insurance (IA: 5 general / NE 5 life)

     Wednesday, August 12,2020
     NEW - 8AM - 11AM  Disability by Social Security (IA & NE 3 general)
     Noon - 6PM  Who Get's Well...Who Get's Wealthy (IA & NE 6 general)

     Thursday, August 13, 2020
     8AM - 11AM  Unethical Creativity (IA & NE 3 ethics)
     Noon - 5PM  The Security in Social Security (IA & NE 5 general)

     Tuesday, October 20, 2020
     8AM - 11AM  Conduct Becoming (IA & NE 3 ethics)
     Noon - 6PM  LTC...Is It Worth It?  IA 6 general / NE: na)
             Satisfies Iowa's CE credit for LTC

     Wednesday, October 21, 2020
     8AM - Noon  Suitability of Product Selection (IA & NE 4 general)
     1PM - 4PM  Basics of The Reverse Mortgage (IA & NE 3 general)

     Tuesday, December 29, 2020
     ETHICS MARATHON
     8AM - 11AM  Trust Me...Sign Here (IA & NE 3 ethics)
     Noon - 3PM  When It Get's Personl (IA & NE 3 ethics)
     3PM - 6PM  Unethical Creativity (IA & NE 3 ethics)

 

         

     ATLANTIC, IA
      Rock Island Depot
     102 Chestnut Street
     Atlantic, IA  50022
     712-243-3017

     Thursday, June 11, 2020
     8AM - 11AM  LTC Consumer Guide for Professionals (IA: 3 general / NE: 3 life)
     Noon - 6P  Pushing Up Daisies (IA: 6 general / NE: 6 life)

                        
    SHENANDOAH, IOWA

   Bricker Room (at the fire station)
   409 West Sheridan
   Shenandoah, IA
 

     (Requesting June 25)  Will advise further

     
     
     OMAHA/COUNCIL BLUFFS 
     
    The Insurance Classroom      
    11924 Arbor Street
    Omaha, NE  68144
             (Street Level North Side)

     Watch for location change around July 1.  We will be in the same building but around the back to the lower side.  Address will be 11926 Arbor Street.

     Friday, May 29, 2020
     8AM - Noon  The Security in Social Security (IA: 4 general / NE: 4 life)
     1PM - 6PM  LTC Is It Worth It?  (IA: 6 general / NE 6 health)
                   Satisfies Iowa's requirement for LTC Partnership

     Friday, June 5, 2020
     8AM - Noon  Alphabet Soup by Medicare (IA: 4 general / NE: 4 health)
     1PM - 6PM  Tax Issues for Life & Health Insurance (IA: 5 general / NE: 5 life)

     Friday, June 26, 2020
     8AM - 11AM  Universal Life (IA: 3 general / NE: 3 life)
     Noon - 6PM  The 5 O'Clock Whistle (IA: 6 general / NE: 6 life)
      

 

 

          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

 

SECTION FOUR

COURSE CAPSULES

     NEW  Long Term Care - A Consumer's Guide for Professionals  Consumers are encouraged to "ask questions" with regard to any insurance arrangement but none are more important than long-term care insurance.  Problem oftentimes is simply that the consumer doesn't know what questions to ask.  So; it becomes the responsibility of the Professional to know the more common questions and concerns the consumer has and effectively address them before selling anything.  The sales will come only when the consumer understands the product, buys into the concept and trusts the insurance professional. 

    NEW  THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATION:    With the Affordable Health Care Act still the law of the nation, many companies are evaluating the risk posed to their employees and what can be done from a management level to reduce and/or midify them.  Therefore more companies are encorporating health awareness programs and along with them the viability of self-insuring with third party administration.  The experience underwriting process used with the self-insured company makes this an attractive alternative to traditionsl group insurance.

     NEW   VIATICALS, LIFE SETTLEMENTS & ACCELERATED BENEFITS:  This course will not only partner with our class on Tax Issues for Life & Health products but also give us an in-depth look here with what people are being advised on what they can do with their death benefit, not just their cash value.  A requirement for those holding a Viatical license and a valuable resource for those who do not.  Serious tax issues can arise from a careless market. 

      CONDUCT BECOMING  Perhaps a bit more academic than our other ethics classes, but still a great class.  We look at the state regulations that seem to get us into the most trouble and cause the most problems.  We look at current events that have ethical issues such as the modern view of lying vs. acting.  We look at the specifics of rebating, twisting, churning and how to avoid problems both now and years from now. 

      ALPHABET SOUP BY MEDICARE  So we have Medicare A, B, C, D and Supplements A, B, C, , D, F, G, K, L, M and N.  And that's only because Medicare has gotten rid of Supplements H, I, J twice and now E.  So, is it any wonder that people who do not deal with this and even those who do get confused as to whether we are talking about Medicare benefits or Medigap types.  We try realy hard in this class to sort all this out and have the Producer leave with a better grasp as to what Medicare's identifying designations mean.  Come enjoy the alphabet soup.

      THE SECURITY IN SOCIAL SECURITY  In spite of the rhetoric we hear about Social Securty and the future problems it may face, the fact remains:  Social Security has been with us since 1935 even though it became known as Social Security in 1954.  It has not done all that bad of a job and for nearly 2/3 of middle income workers, Social Security IS their retiemet plan.  It needs to be protected and it, in fact, is.  The Congressional Budget Office has a different spin on the Social Security going broke scenerio.  Its NOT going broke, in fact it can't go broke.  A real in-depth look at the horror stories we continue to hear.  Not true!

     DEMYSTIFYING MEDICARE PART "D"  Would you invest over $5,000 to get barely $1,900 back?  That's how Medicare "D" works until you are out f the donut hole.  Medicare "D" is confusing by design.   There are a lot of interested groups making unbelievable profit from the loopholes in Medicare "D". 
And those same people have the general elder population scared to not have prescription drug coverage thru a "D" plan.  Fact is; it doen't have to be a "D" plan.  It only has to be a plan substantially equivilent to a "D" plan.  Simply put; everyone is suposed to have "credible" coverage.  True...but it doesn't have to be a Medicare "D" plan.  Come see how the public is being tricked.  Come see how the math works.

      BASICS OF THE REVERSE MORTGAGE  An introduction to an increasingly popular financial device heavily advertised by compensated celebrity spokespersons.  The message in the advertising is but the tip of the proverbial iceberg so far as reverse mortgages are concerned.  One needs to first realize that a reverse mortgage is after all a loan, not a gift or an entitlement.  There are a lot of variables and moving parts to these.  This course will break the ice and afford financial professonals the information they need to answer customer's questions.

      THE AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE ACT  An analysis of what Chief Justice John Roberts had to say on June 25, 2012.  It appears the Supreme Court intends to increase it's presence in juducial interpretaton to hole as constitutional laws under challente "...if there is any practical way of doing so...".  And once done; it is impossible to reverse a Supreme Court decision by the legislative process.  While there is widespread opposition to certain parts of the Act, parts of it are not all that bad.  Nevertheless; it is the law and we must contend with it.  This class reviews the parts already in force and what is intended to be implemented along with the likely enforcement process.  A worthwhile in-depth review updated practically on a daily basis!   

     INTRODUCTION TO LIVING TRUSTS   There is an increasing popularity in using Living Trusts for estate planning instead of the more traditional will/probate prcess.  While there are advantages to the Living Trust arragement, they are not necessarily the answer many think it is.  This introductory course will cover the anatomy of the Living Trust arrangement and emphasize that this is not somethng the uninitiated should attempt without professional input.  Trusts of any kind can become traps and cause more trouble and expense than intended.   

      TAXING ISSUES WITH LIFE & HEALTH INSURANCE   We cannot give legal advice, but we are expected to be able to explain an insurance policy, which is a legal document, to our customers.  We cannot give tax advice either, but nearly every product we sell has or could have tax consequences attached to it.  We are expected to know how our products work and that includes the tax issues.  One question popular with "market conduct" people is; "...did you explain the potential tax issues of this transactions to the customer...".  So, while we do not give tax "advice" we are expected to be able to give tax information and answer our customers questions.  This course will surprise many with the amount of tax issues we are involved with. 

     ANNUITY ANATOMY    A quick 2 hour review of the concept and history of annuities in our country.  We discuss the treatment of money going in, the funding mechanisms and how money is treated coming out.  There is a "reason" why our tax code allows for pre-tax funding of retirement income plans.  This course will provide a short guide for the general public and a review for everyone else.  People are confused by the negatives they have been hearing about anuities, particularly by those who make a living selling something else!  

       THE SUITABILITY OF PRODUCT SELECTION -  An analysis of the suitabiltiy of the products we commonly sell.  Market conduct people cannot define "suitable", but they certainly know what it is when there is a problem.  We look at Whole Life, Term, Universal Life, several forms of trusts and annuities all of which are or could be suitable financial vehicles under the right conditions. 

     PRE-NEED REGULATION AND PROCESS - This course, while open to the general public will probably be of more interest to funeral directors and those who work directly in the pre-need or final expense market.  We review the Pre-Need Regulaions with particular emphasis in the areas which seem to cause the most trouble between the two types of producers.  We incorporate the elements of Single Premium Life and address the common questions that arise with Long Term Care, Long Term Care Partnership plans and medicaid (Title XIX).

     PUSHING UP DAISIES II- (The 2nd version of one of our most popular courses) More creative things people try to do with wills and trusts using our products and why it get's thrown out in probate.  Why it's not a good idea to put "Cousin Charlie" in the will for $1.00 and how to stay on the same pae as the attorney.  The glossary of terms we develop and explan is, by itself, worth your time to attend. 

     UNETHICAL CREATIVITY -  So!  It's the customer who is unethical!  This unethical stuff is not always our fault. In this class we identify the characteristics of the unethical customer by education, culture and most of all personality.  Every personality type prsents an unique challenge for us, but if we identify the ethical composite of the customer it makes our jobs easier and being unethical with us more difficult.  Still our most popular ethics class. 

     WHEN IT GET'S PERSONAL - Academic ethical principles are easy to adopt with talking about a hypothetical problem.  But; it's often an entirely different story when it's something tha involves us personally.  It's not business in this class, it's personal.  When things require both our attention and our finances something has to give.  The question is...What?  In this class we largely interact with ethcal issues that have cofronted us on a very personal basis.  We investigate ethical problems and delemas and as a class usually come up with conclusions that match our personal ethical omposite.  An interesting trip outside the ethical box...you'll enjoy this.   

     BUT HE DIDN'T DIE! - So our client is disabled and about to lose everythig.  He go's to his attorney to see if anyting can be done for him.  And the first question the attorney asks is if his insurance agent ever mentioned an income replacement policy to him.  And as soon as the answer is "no"...now what?  Income replacement policies are going to grow in importance the more the Affordable Health Care go's in force.  It never hurts to review the basics of this insurance product as it protects our most valuable asset.

     TRUST ME...SIGN HERE - An ethics class dealing with the one thing we never want to hear...That's not what you told me!"  Expecially if it's exactly what we did say and that very thing is represents the problem we're facing.  In this class, we work with ethical delmas nt caused by us.  Usually the problem was caused by another agent who had the client before we did.  But the customer is unhappy and we are the one's who have to deal with him.  This class suggests a few things that may help. 

    ANNUITY SUITABILITY AND TRAINING- This is a class with dual credit approval.  It satisfies both the Iowa and Nebraska state requirement for the one-time annuity training course.  It also comes with 4 hours of Continuing Education credit.  Creative applicaton has expanded the scope of annuities.  Even if you don't sell annuities, you need to keep up to date on how they work and why they work as they do.  This product has creative flexibility found in none other. 

     UNIVERSAL LIFE:  THE RUBE GOLDBERG MACHINE - Universal life has truly evolved into a Rube Goldberg machine.  Goldberg was a Pulitzer prize nngcrtonist who drew very complicated machines designed to do one very simple thing.  And Universal Life is a classic example.  Too many moving parts, a complete overhaul of what we have come to know as 'whole life' insurance.  A different cost basis.  A different cash flow.  An elaborate set of eaborate rules.  And then the IRS got involved.  For those newer to the profession, you won't believe what all went on in the '80's with this product.  Those who survived all this think I'm doing stand-up comedy...I assure you there was nthing funny about it.  Either way...you'll enjoy this history lesson. 

     THE 5 O'CLOCK WHISTLE - Incorporating IRS Publications 950 and 990 into a class representing our day to day business can be both confusing and difficult.  This course takes the rules, applies them to the various types of retirement income arrangements both qualified and non-qualified and makes this otherwise complicated process more simple.  Even if you don't sell retirement plans to groups, you have a business...right?  And it never hurts if you, yourself, get an update on the very rules you have to work with.  It's sort of a parity on "Retiremnt Plans for Dummies; A Review for Everyone Else.

     FINANCIAL PRIVACY - An in-depth look at te safeguards being used by banks, insurance companies, financial service organizations and the Supreme Court as regards our fourth amndment rights to provacy.  We also take time to look into money laundering and the difficult time our legal system has in getting any conviction for money laundering.  Finally we do a bit of futuristic guessing as there appears to be a lessening for the need of currency.  Some of the proposed alternatives are interesting.

     WHO GET'S WELL...WHO GET'S WEALTHY - With any contrversy, there must be a villian!  In the early '90's it was the drug companies.  Today it's the insurance industry.  This course presents a review of health care economics without necessarily going totally into the Affordable Health Care Act itsef.  There is plenty of other information available.  We go after the pharmaceutical companies quite aggressively.  We will look at cost, availability the delivery system and the creative manuevering being used by the medical and pharmiceutical industries to protect profit at all costs.  (This class has been one of our most requested)

     BUSINESS INSURANCE - A rather basic overview of business insurance arrangements.  We look at the advantages and disadvantes of several business arrangements.  We work with cross purchase, entiy, stock purchase and stock redemption modes. We talk briefly on split dollar and IRS section 162 set-ups.  Possibly a   bit basic for the experenced professional, but it never hurts to review. 

     LONG TERM CARE...IS IT WORTH IT? - This course deals with both traditional long term care options from assistance in home to clinical nursing care.  We show how nursing homes are getting Medicare to pay for long term care albeit the fact that Medicare steadfastly claims that they do not pay for long term care. We also look at Iowa's Asset Preservation (Partnership) and Nebraska' Long Term Care Partnership programs.  Both states have requirements for a specific 4 hour CE course for these programs.  THIS 6 HOUR COURSE DOES SATISFY THE 4 HOUR REQUIREMENT FOR IOWA.  AT THIS TIME IT DOES NOT SATISFY THE NEBRASKA REQUIREMENT.   This course is a comprehensive look at traditional long term care options and is a valuable resource regardless of whether you work in the long term care market or just need information on a personal basis. 

     NEBRASKA LONG TERM CARE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM  Required once before soliciting business in Nebraska.  This class is only available to Nebraska Producers as Iowa has a separate course dealing with their plan. 

     IOWA ASSET PRESERVATION PROGRAM  Required in Iowa and available ONLY to Iowa Producers as Nebraska has an independent course dealing with their plan.  While this course is offered on occasion throughout our schedue year, it is only required to be taken one time. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~