Today's number: 5.6 percent

The poverty rate for veterans, much lower than the 10.9 percent of the adult population in general in poverty, according to the Census Bureau.

Today's career talk

When you land an offer for a position, author Martin Yale says in his book Knock 'em Dead, the next step is to figure out how much you should be paid. But first you need to determine what you need: "Work out your minimum cash requirements for any job," the author says. "You must know what it is going to take to keep a roof over your head and bread on the table. It's necessary to know this figure but you need never discuss it with anyone."

Today's money tip:

Although the time may be ripe to buy a new home, finding the right property is not always that simple. Several considerations must be taken into account before you start out. If you're looking to buy, there are a number of informative books detailing the pros and cons of purchasing a house. One is Buy a Home When You're Single by Donna G. Albrecht and published by John Wiley & Sons, 2001 ($14.95). It offers home-buying tips, options and insights when going it alone in the real estate market.

Today's company: Von Lehman & Co. Inc.

Both sides of the river: With offices in Fort Mitchell and Blue Ash, this CPA firm has established a client base in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. Von Lehman & Co. was founded in 1946 and has grown to a staff of about 70.

Counting and consulting: The company's accounting capabilities include audit, review and compilation services. Von Lehman also provides tax and management consulting, merger and acquisition consulting, strategic business planning and litigation support.

On the books: Clients include closely-held companies, corporations, individuals, entrepreneurs, not-for-profit organizations and government agencies.