Abstract: A phenol-free method for isolating a nucleic acid from a sample is provided, said method comprising the following steps: a) preparing a precipitation mixture by adding at least one metal cation precipitant and at least one organic solvent selected from aprotic polar solvents and protic solvents to the sample, wherein the precipitation mixture i) comprises the metal cation precipitant; ii) comprises the organic solvent in a concentration of 15% or less; iii) comprises a buffering agent; and iv) has an acidic pH value, and precipitating proteins; b) separating the precipitate from the supernatant, wherein the supernatant comprises small RNA having a length of less than 200 nt and large RNA having a length of at least 1000 nt; and c) isolating a nucleic acid from the supernatant. Using an organic solvent as claimed during the protein precipitation step in the defined concentration provides a supernatant which in addition to small RNA also comprises large RNA.

Abstract: A phenol-free method for isolating a nucleic acid from a sample is provided, said method comprising the following steps: a) preparing a precipitation mixture by adding at least one metal cation precipitant and at least one organic solvent selected from aprotic polar solvents and protic solvents to the sample, wherein the precipitation mixture i) comprises the metal cation precipitant; ii) comprises the organic solvent in a concentration of 15% or less; iii) comprises a buffering agent; and iv) has an acidic pH value, and precipitating proteins; b) separating the precipitate from the supernatant, wherein the supernatant comprises small RNA having a length of less than 200 nt and large RNA having a length of at least 1000 nt; and c) isolating a nucleic acid from the supernatant. Using an organic solvent as claimed during the protein precipitation step in the defined concentration provides a supernatant which in addition to small RNA also comprises large RNA.

Abstract: A method of providing financial advice to a client that provides sufficient confidence that their goals will be achieved or exceeded but that avoids excessive sacrifice to the client's current or future lifestyle and avoids investment risk that is not needed to provide sufficient confidence of the goals a client personally values. The method comprises obtaining typical client background information, as well as a list of investment goals, and ideal and acceptable values in dollar amounts and timing for each goal. The client is then asked to provide their preferences for each goal on the list compared to each other goal in the list, wherein the client's preference is expressed in terms of the price, in money or time, that the client is willing to pay in one goal to achieve another goal or a greater amount or sooner timing of other goals on the list. A matrix can be used to express these value contrasts.

Abstract: A method of providing financial advice to a client that provides sufficient confidence that their goals will be achieved or exceeded but that avoids excessive sacrifice to the client's current or future lifestyle and avoids investment risk that is not needed to provide sufficient confidence of the goals a client personally values. The method comprises obtaining typical client background information, as well as a list of investment goals, and ideal and acceptable values in dollar amounts and timing for each goal. The client is then asked to provide their preferences for each goal on the list compared to each other goal in the list, wherein the client's preference is expressed in terms of the price, in money or time, that the client is willing to pay in one goal to achieve another goal or a greater amount or sooner timing of other goals on the list. A matrix can be used to express these value contrasts.