tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77857396170711631062024-02-20T17:32:51.318-08:00Business and Financeall about business and financeChantiquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06140374946466351301noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785739617071163106.post-43525592123100036072017-02-26T02:57:00.002-08:002017-02-26T02:57:16.950-08:00What Services Of The Best Banks To Look For Before You Open A Business AccountAs of now, there are numerous services company owners need to opt for
in order to make their business better and their ventures easier. With
these solutions, business owners can also increase their profits. These
third-party services can also provide you with wonderful benefits which
can help your company achieve your goals. So, in order to accomplish
financial tasks companies need, it is ideal to partner with the best
banks and open a business account.<br />
Surely, there are numerous
banks that offer reliable services for their clients. However, you can
distinguish which bank is best if you want to open a business account by
knowing the benefits it can provide. Below are some of the features you
need to look for.<br />
<strong>Help you improve your businesses' financial status</strong><br />
One
of the benefits of opening a business account in reliable banks is you
can easily improve your business' financial status. This is essential to
entice companies to partner or to work with you. Unfortunately, not
having sufficient finances can affect your chances. By opening a
business account, banks can help you attain the documentation and
finances you need which can help improve your reputation.<br />
<strong>Banks that make use of difference financing services</strong><br />
The
next benefit of opening business accounts is you can make use of
difference financing services. Surely, business owners may encounter
numerous problems most especially financial issues. Therefore, business
owners need to find ways to ensure that their finances will not be
affected. By working with banks, company owners can properly choose a
financial service which can match their company needs.<br />
<strong>Allow you to keep your business consistent</strong><br />
Another
feature of opening a business account is you can keep your business
consistent. For instance, paying bills and receiving payments are some
of the most common tasks business owners need to do in order to have
consistent business flow. Sadly, these tasks can sometimes be stressful
since you need to make sure that your personal and business accounts are
separated to help you audit your expenses efficiently.<br />
<strong>Offer effective supply chain solutions</strong><br />
Lastly,
opening a business account can also help you obtain supply chain
solutions. Supply chain solutions are important since these are
specially designed to help you optimize your working capital, reduce
your expenses, and have better visibility and control over receivables.
With this, you can enhance business performance.<br />
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9483098</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785739617071163106.post-78259095684977827622017-02-26T02:56:00.009-08:002017-02-26T02:56:54.856-08:00 Comparing Invoice Factoring to Bank LendingWhen discussing invoice factoring with referral partners and
prospective customers they frequently attempt to compare the cost of
money through factoring to the cost of money through bank lending. This
is a comparison that is not easy to make because the processes are so
very different.<br />
The following is a good way to explain the difference.<br />
<strong>Comparison to Early Payment Discount</strong><br />
The
most direct comparison for Invoice Factoring is the early payment
discount offered by many companies to their customers. Traditional early
payment terms are 2/10 Net 30. This means that the customer can take 2%
off the face value of the invoice if they remit payment within 10 days
of receipt of invoice. Otherwise they must pay the full price in 30
days.<br />
This is precisely what Invoice Factoring does without
offering the end customer the option to take the discount. There are
advantages to taking this approach. One is that end customer does not
get accustomed to the idea of a discount. Therefore, when a business no
longer needs to factor its invoices that 2% goes directly to the bottom
line.<br />
Here's another reason that factoring makes good sense. Some
companies will insist on taking an offered 2% discount and pay in 30
days anyway. This completely destroys the purpose of offering the
discount.<br />
Factoring eliminates these two negative ramifications.<br />
<strong><b>Comparison to Accepting Credit Card Payment</b></strong><br />
At
its most basic level, invoice factoring is a means by which a business
owner collects immediate payment from customers who either cannot or
would rather not pay with cash. In the world of consumer-based
businesses (and some commercial transactions) this is done by accepting
payment by credit card. The Merchant Processing Fees charged for credit
card payment range from 1.75% to 4% of transaction value. The type of
card, bank, volume, etc., impact the actual transaction fee.<br />
Square,
for example, has a 2.75% fee for each transaction. [Square is the
company that makes it possible to convert a cell phone, tablet or
computer into a credit card processing device.]<br />
Invoice Factoring
is also a transaction based process. On a typical invoice factoring
transaction, the service fee would be between 2% and 2.5% (depending on
the specifics of the transaction). That's less than taking payment by
credit card.<br />
<strong>Comparison to Bank Lending</strong><br />
The
difference between factoring and bank lending is the difference between
buying and renting. Bank lending is a rental fee. When you borrow from a
bank (or access funds from a line of credit) you must pay those funds
back in full, plus a little extra. That extra is the interest rate. This
is similar to the fee you pay for renting a car. Once you're done with
the unit you must return it and pay for the privilege of usage. So it is
with a bank loan. You have the privilege of using the bank's money but
must give it back when done and pay for the use.<br />
In Invoice
Factoring you have not borrowed money so you have nothing to pay back.
You have sold an asset to the factoring company - an invoice that's part
of your company's Accounts Receivable. (Typically there are multiple
unpaid invoices in the A/R report at any one time.) That asset (the
invoice) requires that your customer honor their obligation to pay for
product and/or service. Thus the factoring company gets its money back
when your customer honors that obligation.<br />
Converting a discount
rate (for example, the early payment discount noted above) to an
interest rate is a unique calculation. It is not straight forward.
Multiplying the discount rate by 12 months does not reflective the true
cost of money because the "discount" is applied against revenue, not
against a static borrowed amount. An interest rate, on the other hand,
is applied against a borrowed amount.<br />
For example, let's assume
$100,000 in invoices sold to the factoring company each month. Let's
further assume a discount rate of 2.5% on each invoice. [That, by the
way, is on the high side.] In a year's time $1,200,000 in future revenue
would be sold to the factor. The cost of money would be $30,000 [2.5%
of $100,000 = $2,500 x 12 = $30,000].<br />
To calculate a comparative
value for borrowed money you should take the interest rate of the
lender's offer and multiply it by $1,200,000. Here's how that looks. The
Lending Club (for example) recently advertised a rate "as low as" 5.9%
per year interest. At 5.9%, on $1.2 million the cost of borrowed money
would be $70,800 per year. If that revenue were factored the cost of
money would be $30,000.<br />
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9482429</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785739617071163106.post-27054292454794929992017-02-26T02:56:00.005-08:002017-02-26T02:56:34.398-08:00Twitter - A Perfect Fit for Microsoft?<div id="article-content">
Recently beat down by poor earnings, Twitter (TWTR) has become
more attractive to potential suitors - but who fits the bill best? In my
opinion Microsoft (MSFT) stands out as the very best fit.<br />
Why?<br />
It's
simple, having just acquired LinkedIn (which will hopefully soon be
integrated in the ubiquitous Office suite), Twitter would give the
software giant a powerful social network component to round out Office.<br />
Twitter
claims to have over 300 million active users every month. However, its
total reach is said to approach 800 million people. This, of course
includes tweets that appear outside of Twitter - such as those on the
bottom of reality TV shows, news and sporting events, etc. etc.<br />
Unfortunately,
Twitter reported recently that the number of current quarter users
increased only 1% over the prior quarter. Needless to say, that did not
help its case with investors.<br />
To counter this apparent stagnation
in growth, Twitter has recently created a new client app by the name of
Nuzzel. This new app shows traditional Twitter users which links are
sent out the most with those that a user follows.<br />
Additionally, a new moments tab was added to bring even more relevant content directly to users.<br />
Yet,
one of the biggest problems facing users is still how to find the vast
volume of content that Twitter continues to accumulate. For example, how
can a student doing research, or a professional looking for information
on a specific topic search through Twitter to gain access quickly?<br />
But, what if Twitter were acquired by Microsoft and integrated into the Office suite?<br />
Now,
just imagine, having the social network power of tweeting directly from
Outlook. An email (or sections of it) could easily be tweeted out to
group(s) with speed of a few mouse clicks - right before it is sent to
its intended recipients.<br />
Or, imagine during composition of a Word doc the ability to tweet out all (or part) of a doc to selected groups?<br />
Excel would benefit by again allowing all (or part) of a spreadsheet to tweeted out to a group(s).<br />
In
PowerPoint, (and yes even Publisher) entire presentations could be
tweeted to selected groups too. The near instant feedback alone would be
worth the price.<br />
Sadly, only Access might be left behind - the
need to tweet tables or an entire database would not be at the top of
most user's needs.<br />
In my humble opinion, at its current valuation,
Microsoft should take a serious look at Twitter - before another suitor
grabs hold and a bidding war ensues.<br />
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9487100</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785739617071163106.post-35961544163255311542017-02-26T02:56:00.001-08:002017-02-26T02:56:13.076-08:00Investment Banking - 2 Main Types to Know About<div id="article-content">
Investment banks help private as well as public companies and
organizations to gathers funds in both debt and equity capital markets.
These banks were originally founded in order to raise capital and
provide guidance on corporate financial strategies, such as acquisitions
and mergers. Investment banks assume many different roles such as
handing safety issues, providing institutional and public investors with
brokerage services, providing corporate clients with financial advice,
offering guidance on acquisition deals and mergers and more. These days,
you can also find banks to have ventured into bridge financing, foreign
currency exchange and private banking. Know about the two main types of
investment banking companies India.<br />
<b>Basic bank for invest</b><br />
This
kind of bank tends to issue bonds and stocks to customers for a
predetermined sum. Then the bank invests this sum which has been used by
the client for buying bonds and stocks. Such types of investments vary
across different banks. In the nations where this type of investment is
permitted, investment banks come with networks of lending and financial
organizations that they can derive profit from. Other banks also make
investments in construction and property development. Customers with
bonds and stocks would tend get payments from the amount of profit that
is made on the sum that they have invested for a particular time period.<br />
Both
the investment bank and the client derive profits from the sum
initially invested by the client. As these types of banks are completely
familiar with the trade methods, they are often consulted about
corporate investment activities like acquisitions and mergers by both
big and small corporations and business houses.<br />
<b>Merchant bank for investing</b><br />
This
is the other kind of investment bank. Such kinds of banks participate
in trade financing and provide business ventures with capita in the form
of shares and not loans. These banks have their businesses based on how
secure shares are. Such types of institutions only fund those business
ventures which have only started in the world of business. Generally,
startup merchant companies do not get any financing. Merchant banks can
be regarded only as <b>investment banks</b> which are ready to invest
some amount of the capital of the organization. The money is put in the
form of an equity investment. The company acts like research and
advisory firms in India into the transaction and offers advice. In case
you want trade financing, you will like to get in touch with a merchant
bank rather than an investment bank.<br />
The primary function of these
banks consists of offering financial services and advice to individuals
as well as corporate houses. Such kinds of banks function like a type
of intermediary between the consumers of the securities and the issuers
of the capital. Various companies issue these kinds of securities in
order to gather funds in the stock markets. Merchant banks offer better
monetary solutions and options to the customers, and can assist
customers to gather money via low-cost resources. These banks are able
to revive the economic health of sick firms.<br />
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9325409</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785739617071163106.post-21299374004652023932017-02-26T02:55:00.006-08:002017-02-26T02:55:52.581-08:00Tips On How To Spend Your Windfall IncomeAs individuals, especially workers we sometimes get windfall incomes
in forms of bonuses, profit shares, etc. However, a lot of the time the
temptation is to spend the money on acquiring a new car, new clothes,
shoes, new phones, among other things. While acquiring these things in
themselves is not a bad idea, it is wiser to use windfall incomes for
things that will have long term positive impart on our lives especially
because we do not have a full grabs of what tomorrow will bring.<br />
For
workers just starting off or in mid level careers, it is really
important not to squander windfall incomes on non-essentials.<br />
Many
years ago during the mid 2000s, when the banking and telecommunication
really became big industries, many banks and telecommunication companies
paid bonuses and profit shares to their staff on a yearly basis. Most
new staff and mid level staff squandered their money on buying cars,
renting new apartments in high brow areas and changing their wardrobes
almost every 3 months. Nite clubs were packed every Friday night with
each person almost trying to out do the other in terms money spent.<br />
Today,
the story is different. The global economy is almost comatose. Banks
are no longer giving huge bonuses, neither are telecommunication
companies doing any better. The oil industry is in shambles. Every
industry is operating lean.<br />
Windfall incomes will not come all the
time as the economic realities have now shown us. So if you are
fortunate to get a bonus or profit share that amounts to something
reasonable, here are a few tips on how to spend wisely:<br />
1) Invest
in real estate: As much as this sounds like really over flogged, it is a
wise counsel. A businessman once said, "the only Estate that is Real is
Real Estate". Real estate is big business. There is a huge demand for
rental apartments especially mini flats and 2 bedroom flats. There are
several real estate companies offering instalments payment options for
those interested in buying land. You can invest your windfall income in
buying a half plot or full plot of land. I will advice you buy from a
real estate company rather than directly from the community especially
if you do not have funds for immediate development.<br />
The simple
reason is that the real estate company usually would have sorted out
community settlement issues with the land owners and so you can be rest
assured that you land is at least secure from land grabbers. Also, by
buying from a real estate company, you will benefit from quick capital
appreciation of your investment and rapid development of the locations
since there will be several people also buying and developing their
property in that location. Another advantage of investing in real estate
is that after developing the property, you can put it up for rent if
you do not wish to reside in that location and use the rental income to
pay for your rent in your desired location.<br />
2) Invest in a
part-time business: If you already have a business that you can run
part- time alongside your full-time job, you should invest your windfall
income in that business. You can buy the needed equipments or register
for a training programme that will increase your expertise in that
business area. If you do not already have business idea, you may want to
consider doing some research to see what part-time business to invest
in.<br />
3) Invest in education: You can invest your windfall income in
further education that will boost your profile and give you a better
chance at a higher paying role in your industry or another industry
entirely. You an also invest in the education of your loved ones like
your spouse, children or siblings (if you have this responsibility
thrust on you)<br />
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9493241</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785739617071163106.post-19298580245050420382017-02-26T02:55:00.002-08:002017-02-26T02:55:19.851-08:00The Future of Financial ServicesThe ease of making financial transactions and financial services in
general, had first been revolutionised when telegraph companies
introduced wire transfers. But with the coming of new age financial
services like Bitcoin and Ripple, it is the time we address the question
of what the future holds for the financial services of the world.<br />
Traditional Wire Transfers<br />
Let
us begin by first taking a look at how things have been going on for
these past 150 years since wire transfers were first introduced.
Transferring funds using a wire transfer method via a bank is not a
single step process but a multi-step process. It is like this:<br />
<ul>
<li>
The sender approaches his or her bank and orders the transfer of funds
to an account. Unique codes like BIC and IBAN codes are provided to the
bank by the sender so that the bank knows exactly where the funds need
to be transferred.</li>
<br />
<li>
The sender's bank contacts the receiver's bank by sending a message
through a security system, such as Fedwire or SWIFT, signalling it that a
transfer needs to be made. The receiver's bank receives this message,
which includes settlement instructions as well, and then asks the
sender's bank to transfer the amount specified in the message.</li>
<br />
<li>
The sender's bank now transfers the amount. This is not done in one go
but bit by bit, so it can take anywhere from a few hours to a couple of
days for the entire sum to be transferred.</li>
<br />
<li>
To make the transfer, the two banks must have a reciprocal account with
one another. If that is not the case, the transfer is made through a
correspondent bank that holds such an account.</li>
</ul>
As one can see, this form of transfer relies overly on a
mediator, takes more time than it should, and can prove to be costly as
the banks charge some fee for their service. Distributed currencies like
Bitcoin provide a viable alternative to this process.<br />
<strong>Decentralized Currencies</strong><br />
What
sets services like Bitcoin apart from traditional services is that they
do not rely on a central mediator but rather operate using <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Cryptographic_protocols" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cryptographic protocols</a>.
The process is therefore faster, simpler, and much more efficient. The
system is quite transparent to both end users as well while traditional
systems are susceptible to fraud due to the complex process involved.<br />
However,
there is a downside to this too. With services like Bitcoin, it is
simple to trace a transaction back to each unit value's creation.<br />
<strong>Solution? A Common Ground</strong><br />
More
and more people are opting for services like Bitcoin and peer-to-peer
mobile transfers, where a network operator could help users transfer
funds by simply sending an SMS. Although these are indeed more
efficient, they are a long way from global acceptance because there are
many who still do not have bank accounts, plus there is the issue of
limited user identification in such services.<br />
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9476438</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785739617071163106.post-61869148415200001852017-02-26T02:53:00.000-08:002017-02-26T02:53:05.499-08:00A Quick Introduction To Behavioural Economics<div id="article-content">
The study of human behaviour, which has traditionally come under
the umbrella of psychology, would seem to have little relationship with
economics.<br />
But, as we learn more about how the brain works through
the dual disciplines of neuroscience and psychology, there is an
increasing marriage with the field of economics, in order to better
understand how people make financial decisions.<br />
This has evolved considerably in recent years and is an emergent field that deserves a little introduction and explanation.<br />
<strong>The traditional view of economics and financial decision-making</strong><br />
It is sometimes forgotten in economics that the field is meant to be about the <em>behaviour of people</em> when making financial decisions.<br />
The
traditional economist's view is that the world is populated by
unemotional, logical, decision makers, who always think rationally in
drawing their conclusions. This view is underpinned by the understanding
that human behaviour displays three key traits: unbounded rationality,
unbounded willpower, and unbounded selfishness.<br />
This has always
flown in the face of the findings of cognitive and social psychologists,
who questioned these assumptions as far back as the 1950s.<br />
With
the rise of behavioural neuroscience since the 1980s (especially
Kahneman's work) providing more insight into the workings of the brain,
we are now more sure than ever about the role that emotion and bias
plays in all decision-making: from simple day-to-day decisions like
which dress to wear, through to larger decisions that may affect many
people.<br />
Overconfidence and optimism are two examples of
behavioural traits that may lead to sub-optimal financial
decision-making, and divert from the traditional model used. People have
also been shown to make poor decisions, <em>even when they know it's not for the best</em>, due to a lack of self-control.<br />
So
this is where behavioural economics has been able to step in and modify
many of the beliefs of the traditional economic views.<br />
<strong>What is behavioural economics - and how can it help?</strong><br />
Behavioral
economics and behavioral finance study the effects of psychological,
social, cognitive, and emotional factors on economic decisions.<br />
This
may apply to individuals or institutions, and involves looking at the
consequences for market prices, dividends, and resource allocation.<br />
Of
the three traits of human behaviour included in the traditional model
outlined above, unbounded rationality has received special focus, with
new understandings in the field resulting from neuroscience.<br />
Understanding
better how people arrive at financial decisions can help in many areas:
from personal finance to organisations shaping products and trying to
get more customer sign-ups; and from the vagaries of stock market
trading through to governments and how they formulate financial
legislation.<br />
Perhaps behavioural economics can, in future, help
people to make better decisions to safeguard their financial futures; it
may even have helped if more attention had been paid to it in the lead
up to the Global Financial Crisis in 2008.<br />
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9467426</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785739617071163106.post-59085895260737438722017-02-26T02:52:00.003-08:002017-02-26T02:52:15.823-08:00The Case for Making Invoice Factoring the First Choice in Business FinancingIn the United States, Invoice Factoring is often perceived as the
"financing option of last resort." In this article I make the case that
Invoice Factoring should be the first option for a growing business.
Debt and Equity Financing are options for different circumstances.<br />
<b>Two Key Inflection Points in the Business Life Cycle</b><br />
<u>Inflection Point One: A New Business.</u>
When a business is less than three years old, options for capital
access are limited. Debt financing sources look for historical revenue
numbers that show the capacity to service the debt. A new business
doesn't have that history. That makes the risk on debt financing very
high and greatly limits the number of debt financing sources available.<br />
As
for equity financing, Equity Investment dollars almost always come for a
piece of the pie. The younger, less proven the company, the higher the
percentage of equity that may need to be sold away. The business owner
must decide how much of his or her company (and therefore control) they
are willing to give up.<br />
Invoice Factoring, on the other hand, is
an asset based transaction. It is literally the sale of a financial
instrument. That instrument is a business asset called an invoice. When
you sell an asset you are not borrowing money. Therefore you are not
going into debt. The invoice is simply sold at a discount off the face
value. That discount is generally between 2% and 3% of the revenue
represented by the invoice. In other words, if you sell $1,000,000 in
invoices the cost of money is 2% to 3%. If you sell $10,000,000 in
invoices the cost of money is still 2% to 3%.<br />
If the business
owner were to choose Invoice Factoring first, he/she would be able to
grow the company to a stable point. That would make accessing bank
financing much easier. And it would provide greater negotiating power
when discussing equity financing.<br />
<u>Inflection Point Two: Rapid Growth.</u>
When a mature business reaches a point of rapid growth its expenses can
outpace its revenue. That's because customer remittance for the product
and/or service comes later than things like payroll and supplier
payments must take place. This is a time when a company's financial
statements can show negative numbers.<br />
Debt financing sources are extremely hesitant to lend money when a business is showing red ink. The risk is deemed too high.<br />
Equity
financing sources see a company under a lot of stress. They recognize
the owner may be willing to give up additional equity in order to get
the needed funds.<br />
Neither of these situations benefits the business owner. Invoice Factoring would provide much easier access to capital.<br />
There are three primary underwriting criteria for Invoice Factoring.<br />
<ol>
<li>
The business must have a product and/or service that can be delivered
and for which an invoice can be generated. (Pre-revenue companies have
no Accounts Receivable and therefore nothing that can be factored.)</li>
<br />
<li>
The company's product and/or service must be sold to another business entity or to a government agency.</li>
<br />
<li>
The entity to which the product and/or service is sold must have decent
commercial credit. I.e., they a) must have a history of paying invoices
in a timely manner and b) cannot be in default and/or on the brink of
bankruptcy.</li>
</ol>
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9501112</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785739617071163106.post-79744176054294514252017-02-26T02:51:00.008-08:002017-02-26T02:51:51.739-08:00Diversification: When And How Far Should One GoDiversification today most executives and boards realize how
difficult it is to add value to businesses that aren't connected to each
other in some way. Yet too many executives still believe that
diversifying into unrelated industries reduces risks for investors or
that diversified businesses can better allocate capital across
businesses than the market does-without regard to the skills needed to
achieve these goals. Because few have such skills, diversification
instead often caps the upside potential for shareholders but doesn't
limit the downside risk. As managers contemplate moves to diversify,
they would do well to remember that in practice, the best-performing
conglomerates in the United States and in other developed markets do
well not because they're diversified but because they're the best
owners, even of businesses outside their core industries.<br />
Meaning<br />
Diversification
is a form of corporate strategy whereby a company seeks to increase
profitability through greater sales volume obtained from new products
and/ or new markets. Diversification can occur either at the business
unit level or at the corporate level. At the business unit level, it is
most likely to expand into a new segment of an industry that the
business is already in. At the corporate level, it is generally very
interesting entering a promising business outside of the scope of the
existing business unit.<br />
Arguments<br />
Like any other structure, this structure has also lot to offer which needs to be analyzed-<br />
A. LIMITED UPSIDE, UNLIMITED DOWNSIDE:<br />
The
argument that diversification benefits the shareholders by reducing
volatility was never compelling. At an aggregate level, conglomerates
have underperformed more focused companies both in the real economy
(growth and returns on capital) and in the stock market. Even adjusted
for size differences, focused companies grew faster.<br />
From the
above graph, it can be viewed that a higher % of conglomerates tend to
provide returns in the range of 8% to 18% as compared to focused
companies. On the contrary, there are much lesser % of conglomerate
companies that offer negative returns and also high growth rate returns.<br />
The
answer to these patterns is that in conglomerates there are businesses
that offer high returns and others which offer lower returns. Thus the
returns are averaged out. But in the case of focused companies, those
which are performing companies perform either tend to outperform or
underperform as compared to its peers. This is because of the fact that
the capital that is invested in these companies is focused and thus
there is little leeway available for them to maneuver as compared to the
conglomerates which tend to readjust their capital as per the
situation.<br />
B. PREREQUISITES FOR CREATING VALUE:<br />
What matters
in a diversification strategy is whether managers have the skills to
add value to businesses in unrelated industries-by allocating capital to
competing investments, managing their portfolios, or cutting costs.<br />
I.
Disciplined (and sometimes contrarian) investors: High-performing
conglomerates continually rebalance their portfolios by purchasing
companies they believe are undervalued by the market-and whose
performance they can improve.
<br />ii. Aggressive capital managers: All cash that exceeds what's needed
for operating requirements is transferred to the parent company, which
decides how to allocate it across current and new business or investment
opportunities, based on their potential for growth and returns on
invested capital are rationalized from a capital standpoint: excess
capital is sent where it is most productive, and all investments pay for
the capital they use.
<br />ii. Rigorous 'lean' corporate centers: High-performing conglomerates
operate much as better private equity firms do with a lean corporate
center that restricts its involvement in the management of business
units to selecting leaders, allocating capital, setting strategy,
setting performance targets, and monitoring performance.<br />
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9508105</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785739617071163106.post-28779753107573182052017-02-26T02:51:00.005-08:002017-02-26T02:51:27.285-08:007 Ways To Make Shipper-Carrier Relationships Better<div id="article-content">
Freight services are very important and load boards work great at
connecting shippers with carriers. But the relationship between carrier
and shippers ought to be good for the process to work out smoothly and
be a win-win kind of a process. Fortunately, there are so many ways that
can help improve the relationship between these two important people in
the business. With stronger relationships, a reliable carrier network
is maintained. By giving attention to carrier concerns, it is possible
to build collaborative partnerships that are long lasting.<br />
As a shipper, there are a few things that you can do to maintain a good relationship with your carrier.<br />
1.
Work for the good of everyone involved. This can be done by working
with the carrier in determining which freights and lanes work the best.
By working in conjunction with the carrier, then it is possible for
profitability to be added to the network. It solidifies the
relationship.<br />
2. Honor commitment to the carriers. It is only when
you honor your commitments to the carrier they will be able to honor
theirs to you. Considering that carrier will usually base service price
on data provided, then it is of importance that only accurate data
should be provided. You should also ensure that you ship in tonnages and
lanes that you say you will.<br />
3. Be generous. This is in terms of
the sharing opportunities that arise. When you bring new opportunities
first to your carrier partner, then everybody will end up benefiting
from an equitable agreement.<br />
4. Start off with a plan. One of the
best ways of avoiding a rocky start that could ruin an otherwise good
relationship is to make sure that you start every new partnership with a
plan. Allow a considerable amount of time for the carrier to get their
system up and even train to take on new lanes and freights.<br />
5.
Avail all relevant data. The data that you provide during bidding
process will largely determine how prepares the carrier is with regards
to freight characteristics and location or even seasonal changes in
terms of volume. It is therefore very important that you provide freight
characteristic percentages and also monthly volume in addition to
tonnage data and lane data that you give.<br />
6. Keep communication
lines open. Reviewing performance metrics, options and new services are
always a good way of strengthening relationships. As a shipper consider
holding regular meetings with carriers to discuss what matters most to
the business. Using such meetings, you can come up with strategies to
reduce costs and improve the business. Working together and
communicating on a regular basis only solidifies the shipper-carrier
relationship.<br />
7. Embrace technology. In the same manner you expect
real-time data on your shipments from your carriers you should make it
equally easy for the carriers to transfer the data that you need. Choose
programming options that offer them an accurate and smooth system of
transferring the data that you need. There are so many technological
tools that you can choose to make improvements to the business and
relationship.<br />
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9524058</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785739617071163106.post-87118305608657762352017-02-26T02:51:00.001-08:002017-02-26T02:51:04.761-08:00Get Your Inheritance QuicklyNowadays, liquid cash is an essential thing. It does not really
matter if you are the single heir to a very large estate. Getting it
encashed would take you a long time after the descendant has deceased
and after all the formal processing has been done. The best solution to
this problem is the inheritance advance concept through which the heir
to the estate gets the cash right way without any delay. Through this
process, the heir gets the advance amount from the distributed amount
without having to wait for a long period of time.<br />
An inheritance
advance policy gives the heir an option to choose whether he wants the
entire amount or wants them in parts in a matter of just three days. The
best thing about this feature is that you don't have to worry about any
hidden cost or additional charges for availing this facility. Since
this is not any type of a loan there are no approvals required and the
heir does not have to worry about repayments. Only the probate or the
processing fees have to be paid, which depends on the size of the state
and also the amount of money being claimed at once.<br />
The Process of Inheritance<br />
The
possession of the deceased first goes to the probate court process. If
the heir wants to claim the possession, referred to as estate, then he
can avail the inheritance cash advance policy. The concept behind this
policy is very simple. Once the state is ready to be distributed, the
investor's amount is cleared off from that amount. The remaining share
of the heir, if any, is also cleared off during that point of time. The
personal representative of the heir would take care of filling of tax
returns and payment of bills which depends entirely on the state
government once the probate process of the court is closed.<br />
Eligibility for Inheritance Cash advance<br />
The
inheritance cash advance feature does not affect the share of the other
heir if any involved in the distribution of the estate. The transaction
is made strictly between the investor and the concerned heir. The heir
just requires proper verification and paperwork to get his share at the
earliest.<br />
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9526986</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785739617071163106.post-8191214595192553822017-02-26T02:50:00.007-08:002017-02-26T02:50:44.067-08:002 Extra Hours Per Week Can Make You a MillionaireWhen you take 2 extra hours of work per week to bring more value to
your clients, it may just change your life. What kind of change? How
about $1,000,000 worth of change. But first, let see some data, and then
I will give you a practical roadmap that you can put into place TODAY!<br />
It's
really scary. 26% of all Americans have $0 in their savings account. 7%
don't even have a savings account! The average American has $4,436 in
their savings and 76% of families are living paycheck to paycheck. The
average person in their 60's has less than $200,000 in savings for
retirement. It's not surprising that most people just don't believe in
the idea that they really can become millionaires. But what if I could
show you how? What if I could show you how to make an extra $2,000 per
month, and if you invested over just 20 years, you would easily turn
into $1,000,000+? Would you do it? If your answer is YES, then keep
reading.<br />
Let's take a real life example that I just set up for my
personal trainer Josh. It's a perfect example of how he, you or anyone
can do it. Josh was charging $50 per session and had 15 weekly clients
that worked out with him an average of 3 sessions. That translates to
$2,250 per week or $9,000 per month. When I posed the $2,000 =
$1,000,000 concept, he loved the idea, but didn't think he could come up
with the extra $2,000 per month to invest. It just seemed like a pipe
dream to him. He already had a mutual fund set up, that was earning 6% a
year, but it had less than $1,000 in it and he was contributing $100
per month to it. And that's the problem folks. Many of us have
retirement accounts set up, but the deposits we make just not enough to
move the needle of our net worth. That is why we need to get to a min.
of $2,000 per month of extra cash to start moving the needle. Here is
the roadmap I created for Josh to generate an additional $2,000+ per
month. The big question was, "How many total extra hours per week will I
need to work?" The answer? Two. That's right, two hours extra per week
will make him a millionaire. I'm sure the same could easily work for
your business. Regardless of the business you are in.<br />
<strong><u>Here is the roadmap:</u></strong><br />
<strong><u>Step #1:</u></strong><br />
<strong><u>Increase the value you bring</u></strong>.
In Josh's case, all he did was work people out. No meal plans, no
videos, no body fat index testing, no nutritional or meal prep advise.
In short, he offered his clients limited (really zero) EXTRA value. You
can't increase prices without increasing value. So he and I created the
following value added programs and he put all of them into action within
1 week. Josh signed up for the email program (there are tons like
Constant Contact or MailChimp), loaded in his client's email addresses,
and boom, he had a platform to get value added messages to them at
anytime. He then created content via a simple, one-page weekly
newsletter, that was emailed out on Monday morning at 6 am. In the
newsletter he offered great recipes for easy to cook meals. He talked
about nutritional suggestions along with vitamin and supplement
recommendations. He told his readers about local farmer's markets in the
area and what was in season at them to buy and eat. He even offered a
DATE NIGHT SUGGESTION section in which he suggested that his clients go
on a data night and why it was important to your marriage and mental
health along with great locations and destinations to make it extra
special. Lastly, he started to record himself doing workouts and impeded
them into the newsletter so that his clients to do them on their off
days. Get the picture? He started adding a foundation of value added
services that informed, educated and entertained his client base. Total
time per week? 2 additional hours.<br />
<strong><u>Step #2:</u></strong><br />
<strong><u>Raise Prices.</u></strong> We raised his rate from $50 per session to $60 per session. $10 bucks, a small amount. But not all clients went for it.<br />
<strong><u>Step #3:</u></strong><br />
<strong><u>What did his client say?</u></strong>
He lost some clients who were not willing to pay the extra $10 bucks.
They didn't see the value add of the newsletter, because they never had
it in the first place. They just wanted to cheaper price. No problem...
that is the point of step #3- to test your client base and the value you
bring to them. In Josh's case, he had some cheap clients AND he was not
bringing enough value to them. So they left him. If you raise prices
without providing enough value to your clients, some will leave you too.
<strong><u>And they should!</u></strong> Value is the key in today's crowded and cloudy marketplace. You must deliver value that exceeds the price you charge.<br />
<strong><u>Step #4:</u></strong><br />
<strong><u>Put on Your Selling Hat</u></strong>.
Josh lost some clients, so he had to get to selling to find
replacements and a few more. But now, he was starting with a new price
($60) and a new product offering. This time it was - "Josh aka The Super
Trainer", who cares about his clients more than anyone else and he
proves it each and every week through the content he puts in his
newsletter. He was now focusing your muscles, your mind, your food
intake and even your relationship. He started asking for referrals from
his existing clients and asked them to reach out to their family,
friends and co-workers. I also had him talk to some of the busiest
trainers at his gym and asked for their overflow, the clients they were
just too busy to take on. Within 2 weeks he replaced the clients who
dropped out when he raised his prices. It was ridiculously easy to
replace them and he actually added 3 more for a new client base total of
18.<br />
<strong><u>The end result:</u></strong><br />
Josh now has 18
very satisfied clients who get his VERY informative weekly newsletter
and can watch his specific workouts on their off days. His new client
base are all paying $60 per session X 3 sessions per week, and it now
equals $12,960 per month. An increase of $3,960 over his prior income
level.<br />
<strong><u>I almost forgot</u></strong>... how will Josh's
extra 2 hours per week make him over $1,000,000 and why should you tweak
your business to find $2,000 per month to invest? Here is how it will
work out for Josh. He is 30 years old. He will now increase his monthly
investment from a hundred dollars to $2,000 per month because he has
$3,960 more money coming in per month. Even after putting $2,000 away,
he still has $1,960 more money than month! His $2,000 will go into the
same mutual fund that has an average annual rate of return 6%. At the
end of 21 years, it will be worth $1,017,000. He will be 51 years old
and have $1,017,000+ in his retirement account! If Josh wants to
continue this until he is 60 years old, he will have $2,011,000. It can
happen if you just start. It's easier if you start in your 20's or 30's,
but it can be done if you start in your 40's, 50's and even in your
60's.<br />
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9522987</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785739617071163106.post-69471735796809999752017-02-26T02:50:00.003-08:002017-02-26T02:50:22.269-08:00Reasons Why Online Bill Payment Is a Must<div id="article-content">
There was a time when people did not feel at ease with paying
their bills online. Most of them find it hard to trust the security of
transacting on the web, and thought they have no control over their
money with online bill payment. When you submit your checking account
details to your insurance company or utilities provider, there is a risk
that you could be overbilled or that your identity could get stolen. It
seemed safer to write checks and stamp envelopes, which is why many
people stick to that practice.<br />
However, this is no longer the
case. More individuals are paying almost all bills you can imagine
online - like credit cards, loans, mortgages, rent, tuition and
utilities, to name a few.<br />
Why then should you choose to pay your
bills over the Internet? As a start, you will be able to save on time as
well as costs of postage and late payment charges. Also, paying online
is safer than through snail-mail. Your personal details are more prone
to risks like theft when on print and in motion via the postal system.
When you pay your bills with your credit card, it is easier to monitor
your finances and, furthermore, you can save airline travel miles as
well as win cash-based rewards.<br />
There are three simple ways to
make an online bill payment: via your bank, on the website of the biller
or through a third-party. Each comes with pros and cons so the method
you decide on depends on your personal choice. There are good reasons
why you should move forward and pay your bills online.<br />
Whenever
online bill payment comes to mind, you might think it involves setting
up automated drafts from your bank account to pay your bills. However,
more and more people are choosing to pay their bills online using their
credit cards. More merchants, as well, accept credit card payments
online, so if you prefer to pay your bills - including mortgage or rent -
using your plastic money, you can do it.<br />
Without a doubt, online
bill payment is easier and quicker than check and snail-mail method.
Essentially, it gets rid of issues involving procrastination. You do not
need to worry about forgetting that your bills are way past their due
date. You can arrange a monthly payment schedule via your bank or
billing company and therefore, always pay on time. Even if you pay your
bill online every month rather than do automatic payments, you can still
save on time, stamps and disappointment. Granting you are paying online
at the last minute, you still save precious time because online
transactions are faster than processing mailed payments.<br />
Once you
are online, you could possibly face the risk of hacking, viruses and
spyware (automated payments reduce these risks), but there is a
considerable risk when it comes to mail theft. It is better to avoid
mailing paper statements, personal information and checks. Moreover,
when you make an online bill payment, you always have an option if ever
there is a dispute because you can track records of paid amounts and pay
dates.<br />
Therefore, in contrast to the former belief of other
people, online bill payment is a lot safer than snail mail, coming with
additional protection whenever you pay your bills with a credit card.<br />
</div>
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9544660</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785739617071163106.post-31231324692566974252017-02-26T02:49:00.005-08:002017-02-26T02:49:58.158-08:00Streamlining Balance Sheet: Key to Efficiency and Productiveness<em>Balance Sheet</em>, which tells us about the financial position
of a company, is one of the most significant financial statements for
analyzing the solvency and liquidity position of any company. Often it
has been noticed that in order to curtail costs of an organization, the
main focus is on Income statement or profit and loss account, but in
reality, a tight management of balance sheet results in surplus Cash and
provides a good investment return to the shareholders. Inefficient
balance Sheet management or Asset - Liability management often shows
inefficiency and ineffectiveness on part of management. It shows that
there is either over or underutilization of capital and unproductive
fixed assets in the company which is resulting in tying up of capital in
low-value projects. It might further reflect a poor liquidity position
of the company and show that it does to have enough funds the meet its
short-term liabilities. By managing the following key areas a company
can liberate cash and put it in productive ventures.<br />
<strong>1. Capital Structure</strong>-Capital
Structure of a company shows the way finance has been raised in a
company. A company can raise money through internal or external sources.
A highly levered firm would reflect that the funds have been raised
through external sources like loans, debentures, and it also suggests
that the company has the capacity to take risks, aims at having a high
growth and has more money for growth and expansion. On the other hand, a
low-levered firm would the money invested by the shareholders in form
of common equity, preferred stock and retained earnings for making
investments in various assets and projects. Depending upon the company's
stage of development and nature of business,a right mix of internal and
external sources should be there so that a company has a good solvency
position and is able to meet its long-term obligations. Capital ratios
such as Debt-Equity, Total Debt to Total Capitalization provide an
insight into company's capital position and further help in
strengthening the balance sheet,.<br />
<strong>2. Capital Deployment and Management</strong>-Often
it has been seen that although the directors of the company are aware
of the money raised but they are unsure of the places where the funds
have been deployed which often lead to a decrease in economic
profitability of resources. Tracing of capital to each department, unit
or division helps the management to make sure that each penny is being
utilized to the optimum and also helps in releasing of capital from the
units where they have been over-allocated. Further, effective control
measures of capital allocation can be implemented in the company to
achieve a higher return on investment for the shareholders.<br />
<strong>3. </strong> <strong>Fixed Assets Management</strong>-
Resources of the company must be invested in those fixed assets, which
are profitable and give return to the company in the future years. With
the help of capital budgeting, a company can decide whether to make an
investment in a particular asset or not.Some of the widely used capital
budgeting techniques are Net Present Value, Internal rate of Return, Pay
back method which help in evaluation of various long-term assets, and
the cash flows that they will generate during their useful life. If a
company has assets which are inefficient or on longer in use, steps
should be taken to dispose of, so that the surplus cash from those
assets can be used for productive purposes and value creation for the
company.<br />
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9523659</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785739617071163106.post-58860873288762558362017-02-26T02:49:00.001-08:002017-02-26T02:49:26.654-08:00Personal Finances Is All About Breaking Bad Habits And Creating New OnesPeople are often tempted to give unsolicited advice to others about
the best way to manage finances. You'll come across ideas that work and
get you places, but often people are offering up such generalized
advice. Trying to put together bits of information and use it in a
meaningful way is not usually the best plan, as some of the information
may be flawed and other parts confusing.<br />
How can you take good
care of your money and your finances so that you do not end up
frittering away your savings on things you don't need?<br />
Generally,
the problem is that most people lack a good understanding of just how
important saving for the future is. Most people are going to do
everything else with their money first before they even think about
saving. Although saving in this way is better than not saving at all, it
is in fact a highly ineffective way to build any kind of financial
independence or security.<br />
Managing Your Personal Finances<br />
If
you want to save money for the future, you'll want these tips to help
you on your plan. Many people who practice these methods are surprised
at how easy they are to follow.<br />
Simply set aside 20% of your paycheck.<br />
Just
reverse your spending and saving habits, instead of putting away your
savings after you spent what you thought you needed from your income.
Take 20 percent of your earnings first and put it towards savings before
spending it all. Make sure to deposit this money as soon as you get
paid. Whatever is left after the 20 percent has been saved can then go
to paying bills, buying groceries and even getting yourself a new pair
of shoes.<br />
This method ensures that you'll have the cash on hand
that you need for your future and helps you to be more effective when
you develop your budget. It's a good feeling when you know that you have
cash on hand for emergencies.<br />
Keep Things Simple<br />
There are
too many people who are going to look at the latest gadgets and get
wooed. You cannot let others around you dictate what you are doing with
the money that is in hand. You want to buy the latest iPhone, but there
is something you must ask yourself. Think about it, do you really need
to spend the money on one?<br />
Is there something in the newer model
that is not there in your present one? There is no shame in being
rewarded with luxurious items, but you need to keep it under control.
You should never forego important expenses to purchase luxuries, and
your twenty percent savings rule mustn't be violated.<br />
You Want Cash Over Credit<br />
Don't
fall for fancy credit card marketing. So many people end up with huge
debt due to starting to buy small items using their credit cards. It's
easy to get lured into the trap that a $50 purchase won't wreak
financial damage in the future because it can be paid off within the
month. Actually, once the billing cycle rolls around, you are probably
like most people who just pay the minimum amount of money towards the
bill, making that $50 dress cost close to $100 in interest.<br />
Try to
use cash whenever possible. Save your credit cards for emergencies
only. Replacing your credit cards with debit cards is an even better
idea if possible.<br />
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9557087</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785739617071163106.post-36035335727785363422017-02-26T02:48:00.004-08:002017-02-26T02:48:34.058-08:00Important Things You Must Know About Fixed Capital Investment<div id="article-content">
It can be quite daunting to decode the jargon of financing
businesses. In most cases, because of the similarity in the objectives
of the different financing solutions, many have a tendency to exchange
one for the other.<br />
To simplify these very technical terminologies,
most especially when you just have ventured into business and you do
not have enough knowledge about it, here are some useful information
regarding a fixed capital investment, which is one of the relevant
business solutions businesses, either big or small, can opt for.<br />
<strong>Facts About Fixed Capital Investment</strong><br />
First,
they are often used to launch or perform businesses. Over a long period
of time or about 20 years, they depreciate on the accounting statements
of the company.<br />
Second, though these investments can depreciate
over time, they won't depreciate the same way. Be reminded that there
are investments that lose their value faster than the others. The
perfect examples of those that devalue fast are communications equipment
or devices since there is a rapid turnover of technology for these.
Another excellent example is the company vehicles. Within the year of
purchase, the value of a brand new company vehicle can depreciate by as
much as 40%.<br />
Third, fixed capital investments won't devalue
rapidly. There are actually cases where it can even increase in value.
Real estate properties like the company's office buildings and land are
among the examples.<br />
Fourth, these will include the acquisition of
tools and equipment required for daily operations, along with the real
estate properties where the goods are to be produced and stored.
Remember though that the materials used in the production of goods are
not included due to the fact that these aren't retained by the company.<br />
Sixth,
the amount of fixed capital will be different from one industry to
another. There are enterprises that would require higher fixed capital
investment than the others. These will include oil companies,
telecommunications providers, and the engineering and manufacturing
firms. On the other hand, businesses that will just require limited
fixed capital are those that within the service industry. And these will
include the law and accounting firms since they require more compact
devices, tools and regular office appliances.<br />
Lastly, getting
fixed capital often takes a considerable amount of time. Thus, it is
crucial to work with a reliable, competent financing institution that
can efficiently minimize the risk of financial losses through a wide
variety of proven methods.<br />
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9532303</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785739617071163106.post-5783740111780648392017-02-26T02:48:00.001-08:002017-02-26T02:48:05.024-08:00Skimmers at Gas Pumps<div id="article-content">
Recently NBC News did a report on the increase of Gas Pump
skimmers. According to this report they are showing up at more gas
stations across the country. So what is a gas pump skimmer? This is a
device that is placed inside the pump. It usually goes between the card
reader and the rest of the pump. The access panel is unlocked, the card
reader is unplugged and the skimmer is plugged into the reader with the
remaining cable plugged into the other end of the skimmer.<br />
So the
question is how do the thieves get the gas pump panel key in the first
place? The majority of pumps in the market place use an inexpensive
lock. These locks have been in use for so long there is no longer any
key control. This is changing very rapidly. Pump manufacturers are
installing high security locks on their pumps. This will increase key
control and help prevent thieves from opening the card reader panels.
The keys that the thieves have will no longer work on these high
security locks.<br />
Many gas stations and convenience store chains are
being pro-active by changing the locks on their current pumps, rather
than waiting until they purchase new pumps.<br />
So how does the
consumer know if the pump is secured with the new high security locks?
The average consumer doesn't know. This can be helped by the gas station
posting signs saying what they are doing to prevent skimming. Until
then the consumer should be smart about where they purchase gas. Try
using pumps that are well lighted and close to the attendant's line of
sight. If you don't feel comfortable you could go inside and pay. Look
at the pumps themselves; do any panels seem loose? Some stations put
security seals across the panel. Are they there and not broken?<br />
You
should also consider using a credit card rather than a debit card. If
you use a debit card a thief can empty your bank account. Credit cards
offer more protection, the major one being that they are not attached
directly to your back accounts. I have written about using debit cards
in the past, this is just another reason why I am not a big debit card
fan.<br />
It appears over the next few years gas pump security will
increase quickly. Companies like Locking Systems International are
helping both manufacturers and gas stations to secure their pumps as
fast as possible.<br />
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9563504</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785739617071163106.post-58793689312648484562017-02-26T02:47:00.008-08:002017-02-26T02:47:43.589-08:00How To Borrow Money Against A Shared InheritanceAn heir may have to wait months and even years in order to get their
inheritance distributions. This is because of the length of the legal
process involved. So, an heir is allowed, by means of cash advances or
loans, to receive funds in a matter of days. It has no effect on the
other heirs of the estate. A portion of the estate is assigned by the
cash advance company, in exchange for the loan. Here is how you can get
an advance on your inheritance.<br />
• You need to first determine
whether you have the eligibility for an inheritance cash advance or not.
Advances are only typically received by the heirs from probate assets.
Probate assets are bank accounts, insurance policies, real estate,
company interests and other assets that were only owned by the decedent.
Non-probate assets include trust, retirement accounts or any accounts
that are jointly held with another person.<br />
• You need to first
determine what amount of money you want to lend from your shared
inheritance. The usual range of inheritance loans and advances are from
$5000 to $250000. Select an amount of loan that is less than the
inheritance you expect. The amount of the loan is capped by some lenders
at a certain percentage of your total expected inheritance.<br />
•
Contact a company that has a specialization in inheritance advances.
Money can only be borrowed by the inheritors from their inheritance
after the beginning of the probate process by the inheritors. Do not
forget to ask the inheritance company that for an inheritance advances
what fees will they charge. The fees vary depending on companies. Fees
usually depend on the amount of the advance, the complexity of the
estate and the amount of time until the estate closes.<br />
• A cash
advance has to be arranged by you from the lender. Funds can generally
be distributed by the companies from advances and loans within a few
days of business of the transaction. If sufficient funds are not present
to pay the loan, ask the company about its consequences. The heir
usually does not have personal liability for insufficient estate funds
because the heir is assigned an interest to the company.<br />
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9565249</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785739617071163106.post-26134554376462463302017-02-26T02:47:00.004-08:002017-02-26T02:47:22.892-08:00Simplifying Lives Even in Little Ways<div id="article-content">
Simplifying our lives even in little ways can make a big
difference because little changes can be accomplished quickly especially
by giving more time and space so we can try other approaches to make
our lives simple and uncomplicated. Living within our means is better
than living beyond what we have.<br />
Being contented with what with
have is also another way of living simply. When we are appreciative and
grateful for the good in our lives; we are likely to be more physically
active, more content in our day-to-day lives and suffer less health
problems. If our financial situation is less than ideal, we should
understand and accept our current circumstances, limitations, strengths
and weaknesses. Acceptance is the key to create a simpler life because
if not, then we will be overshadowed by feelings of inadequacy, guilt
and comparison.<br />
Nobody is perfect. We have to embrace our
strengths and weaknesses. But it doesn't mean that we have to stop
learning. We just have to move on and then accept that no matter what we
have, we still have limitations either in personal or circumstances.
There might be things that are not yet possible considering our
situations but we should be proud of what we have achieved so far
because we did out best to reach them.<br />
We have to stop trying to
reach success in the shortest time possible. We have to focus more on
how to strive hard to achieve our goals rather than on the changes that
we want to have in our lives.<br />
We also have to clear up
misunderstanding. If our mind is occupied by an uncomfortable
conversation, argument, or misunderstanding; we should be the one to
make the effort to resolve the conflict. In the end, it's simpler.<br />
Moreover,
good health makes everything simpler. Calming our frantic mind and
worried heart just by putting everything into writing. We'll be
surprised how seeing our thoughts in writing puts them into better
perspective and provides clarity on what to do next.<br />
Furthermore,
living simply is getting rid of many of the things we do so we can spend
time with people we love and do the things we love. However, simplicity
isn't always a simple process. Although, it doesn't necessarily have to
be difficult; we just have to be willing to shift our focus.<br />
In
fact, simplicity is a journey, not a destination. As we simplify our
lives, we begin to see our real the essence. There is so much happiness
in living a simpler life in which little things bring joy, improve our
relationships and connections.<br />
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9553165</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785739617071163106.post-4191493042318518832017-02-26T02:47:00.000-08:002017-02-26T02:47:02.898-08:00Bitcoin Vs GoldcoinBitcoin... Monetary Nirvana?<br />
If you don't know what Bitcoin is,
do a bit of research on the internet, and you will get plenty... but
the short story is that Bitcoin was created as a medium of exchange,
without a central bank or bank of issue being involved. Furthermore,
Bitcoin transactions are supposed to be private, that is anonymous. Most
interestingly, Bitcoins have no real world existence; they exist only
in computer software, as a kind of virtual reality.<br />
The general
idea is that Bitcoins are 'mined'... interesting term here... by solving
an increasingly difficult mathematical formula -more difficult as more
Bitcoins are 'mined' into existence; again interesting- on a computer.
Once created, the new Bitcoin is put into an electronic 'wallet'. It is
then possible to trade real goods or Fiat currency for Bitcoins... and
vice versa. Furthermore, as there is no central issuer of Bitcoins, it
is all highly distributed, thus resistant to being 'managed' by
authority.<br />
Naturally proponents of Bitcoin, those who benefit from
the growth of Bitcoin, insist rather loudly that 'for sure, Bitcoin is
money'... and not only that, but 'it is the best money ever, the money
of the future', etc... Well, the proponents of Fiat shout just as loudly
that paper currency is money... and we all know that Fiat paper is not
money by any means, as it lacks the most important attributes of real
money. The question then is does Bitcoin even qualify as money... never
mind it being the money of the future, or the best money ever.<br />
To
find out, let's look at the attributes that define money, and see if
Bitcoin qualifies. The three essential attributes of money are;<br />
1)
money is a stable store of value; the most essential attribute, as
without stability of value the function of numeraire, or unit of measure
of value, fails.<br />
2) money is the numeraire, the unit of account.<br />
3)
money is a medium of exchange... but other things can also fulfill this
function ie direct barter, the 'netting out' of goods exchanged. Also
'trade goods' (chits) that hold value temporarily; and finally exchange
of mutual credit; ie netting out the value of promises fulfilled by
exchanging bills or IOU's.<br />
Compared to Fiat, Bitcoin does not do
too badly as a medium of exchange. Fiat is only accepted in the
geographic domain of its issuer. Dollars are no good in Europe etc.
Bitcoin is accepted internationally. On the other hand, very few
retailers currently accept payment in Bitcoin. Unless the acceptance
grows geometrically, Fiat wins... although at the cost of exchange
between countries.<br />
The first condition is a lot tougher; money
must be a stable store of value... now Bitcoins have gone from a 'value'
of $3.00 to around $1,000, in just a few years. This is about as far
from being a 'stable store of value'; as you can get! Indeed, such gains
are a perfect example of a speculative boom... like Dutch tulip bulbs,
or junior mining companies, or Nortel stocks.<br />
Of course, Fiat
fails here as well; for example, the US Dollar, the 'main' Fiat, has
lost over 95% of its value in a few decades... neither fiat nor Bitcoin
qualify in the most important measure of money; the capacity to store
value and preserve value through time. Real money, that is Gold, has
shown the ability to hold value not just for centuries, but for eons.
Neither Fiat nor Bitcoin has this crucial capacity... both fail as
money.<br />
Finally, we come to the second attribute; that of being the
numeraire. Now this is really interesting, and we can see why both
Bitcoin and Fiat fail as money, by looking closely at the question of
the 'numeraire'. Numeraire refers to the use of money to not only store
value, but to in a sense measure, or compare value. In Austrian
economics, it is considered impossible to actually measure value; after
all, value resides only in human consciousness... and how can anything
in consciousness actually be measured? Nevertheless, through the
principle of Mengerian market action, that is interaction between bid
and offer, market prices can be established... if only momentarily...
and this market price is expressed in terms of the numeraire, the most
marketable good, that is money.<br />
So how do we establish the value
of Fiat... ? Through the concept of 'purchasing power'... that is, the
value of Fiat is determined by what it can be traded for... a so called
'basket of goods'. But his clearly implies that Fiat has no value of its
own, rather value flows from the value of the goods and services it may
be traded for. Causality flows from the goods 'bought' to the Fiat
number. After all, what difference is there between a one Dollar bill
and a hundred Dollar bill, except the number printed on it... and the
purchasing power of the number?<br />
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9578328</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785739617071163106.post-27170687798845953612017-02-26T02:46:00.004-08:002017-02-26T02:46:27.103-08:00Power of Illusion, Illusion of PowerIn my last articles I pointed out the fatal flaws of the current
ruling paradigm; the paradigm of materialism rooted in dualistic
thinking. Materialism not only fails to explain many essential aspects
of our reality, but its logical structure also fails.<br />
Materialism
fails to explain past life recall, reincarnation, near death experience,
telepathy, telekinesis and so forth... even though evidence for all
these phenomena is well documented and statistically unassailable.
Materialism fails to explain the origin of life on Earth, speciation,
consciousness... and yet science is holding on to this false belief
system, this illusion, seemingly at all cost.<br />
Materialism also
fails by internal logic; matter, considered fundamental by materialism,
is convertible into energy and energy into matter. Nuclear energy and
particle accelerators do this conversion every day, without doubt. If
matter were truly fundamental, the ultimate basis of all existence, this
conversion could not happen.<br />
For matter to be converted into
energy and for energy to be converted into matter there must be a common
functioning principle through which the conversion occurs... and the
CFP of matter/energy must by definition be more fundamental than either
matter or energy. Matter and energy are the flip sides of a more
fundamental CFP, whatever it may be.<br />
The power of illusionary
belief is immense; mainstream science is constrained by false belief, by
illusion. The dogmas of materialist science are rooted in illusion; no
evidence showing the failure of the prevailing paradigm or illusion is
examined or even admitted to exist. The taboo against such investigation
is too powerful for all but a few mavericks who investigate reality in
spite of mainstream dogma.<br />
History is filled with examples of the
power of illusion; when the illusion that the Earth is flat prevailed,
voyagers were afraid to travel out to sea because they would 'fall off
the edge'. When Galileo showed that the Earth is not at the center of
the universe, the powers that be... in his case cardinals of the
Catholic Church... refused to look through his telescope. Looking at the
evidence was forbidden by taboo. Looking and seeing would have been an
admission that their beliefs, aka illusions, were wrong.<br />
Eventually
all illusion is shattered; once the illusion of a flat earth vanished,
sailors crossed the seas without any fear of 'falling off the edge'.
Once the illusion that the Earth is at the center of the universe
vanished, science and cosmology progressed without hindrance.<br />
The
biggest illusion of all is the illusion of power. Specifically, real
power is conflated with illusion of power. The US military is arguably
the most powerful in the world. The destructive power inherent in the
myriad guns, bullets, rockets, and bombs this military commands is
beyond doubt. The illusion lies in the belief that a single man, the
Commander in Chief, controls this awful power. The illusion is that
hundreds of thousands of humans acts at the whim of one person; that the
'chain of command' represents real power.<br />
The chain of command is
an illusion, and has power only if and as long as the illusion remains
intact. Mutinies, military stand-downs, revolutions, civil wars are all
examples of shattered illusion. Once shattered, illusion loses power.
Such is the fate of all illusion, even if extraordinary efforts are made
by TPTB to maintain an illusion.<br />
In the Soviet military, once
considered the second greatest power on Earth, communist 'commissars'
accompanied the troops... to make sure that orders were obeyed, that the
illusions of Communism were upheld, at the pain of death.
Indoctrination, brainwashing, threats are used to maintain the status
quo, the ruling illusion... but eventually the illusion shatters, and
the power of the illusion vanishes.<br />
At this very moment in history
we are witnessing the destruction and imminent breakup of the power of a
major illusion. Ebola is a horrific affliction but it brings another
illusion to the forefront. If Ebola truly goes 'viral', the illusion of
the power of mainstream medicine will be shattered at a wondrous pace.<br />
In
a recent interview, an American doctor gave away the illusion, by
pointing to its heart. Many other doctors see the truth, see through the
illusion... see truth that is being withheld by 'the powers that be',
with the excuse that 'we must act to prevent panic'.<br />
Another
American doctor, just back from Sierra Leone, has shown that Ebola can
be cured by a simple method of blood treatment using ozone. The
ozonation of blood kills the Ebola virus, and helps to regulate the
immune system. Immune system over reaction to viral invasion seems to be
the proximate cause of symptoms and death; Ebola is an autoimmune
disease.<br />
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9580239</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785739617071163106.post-85603610185613407272017-02-26T02:46:00.000-08:002017-02-26T02:46:00.141-08:00The Future of Currency Is Digital<div id="article-content">
Would we be better off without paper money and coin? Some say
yes, and some say no and the debate rages on. Government tax collectors
would prefer only electronic or digital money - it's easier to control
and easier to keep taxpayers honest - but are those gains worth the
drawbacks? I mean what's wrong with cash - you can spend it anywhere,
you can pay your babysitter, go to a garage sale, or stop at a lemonade
stand - all of which are part of our underground economy by definition
and harmless uses of transferring money.<br />
Then there are the
illegal things, no one uses digital money because it leaves a trace, so
you cannot use it to buy things you are not allowed to buy or that
someone else is not allowed to sell. Does it thus, make sense to get rid
of the money that allows illegal transactions, shut down the entire
underground economy and if we do, will our society and civilization be
better or worse off for that solution? Let's discuss this shall we?<br />
Yes,
a digital currency would be similar to regular currency and really we
are almost there already anyway. If we go to "digital units" and change
the paradigm to cover the needs of people who contribute who are not
rewarded fairly now, then we will get more of what we reward, as is the
famous axiom. A technocrat would enjoy this conversation and the thought
of micro-managing the exact worth of every job, but technocrats are not
so good at considering their own created unforeseen consequences as
they pave the road to hell.<br />
The reason humans use money now is
simply because things and choices are more complicated than they were in
the past when our species were only hunters, gatherers and traders. Let
me explain; you see, if I make hammers and you need one, but you only
have cattle, then you cannot cut off the tail of your cow to buy my
hammer, so instead you give me $11 and you can sell your cow in the
future for $1100 and give me the one-percent of it so you can build a
new barn.<br />
Money and currency is nothing more than units of trade
thus, make things easier, that's why it exists, but I do not like the
bashing of currency, digital or otherwise, where many believe it is the
root of all evil. I respectfully disagree. Please consider all this and
think on it, as this topic does affect your life.<br />
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9600087</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785739617071163106.post-59036198892569638902017-02-26T02:45:00.005-08:002017-02-26T02:45:37.800-08:00Best Tips to Avoid Squandering Your InheritanceWhen you receive an inheritance, it is important to figure out what
will you do with that money. If you do not plan properly on how to spend
that money, it will slip out of your hand within no time. If you have
already got the cash, or you are about to inherit the money, here are
some five tips for using it properly.<br />
Don't Rush Your Decision<br />
People
generally do not allow the money for a cooling-off period, after
receiving the cash. This is one of the worst mistakes that people
usually do. They are always in a hurry of spending the money without
thinking twice. You can save the money either in a money market account
or savings for at least two months in order to plan your options. You
can also put the money into a short-term deposit for saving it, because
you have to pay penalty if you withdraw it before time.<br />
Assess Where You Are<br />
If
you analyse your present financial situation, you can get an idea about
your future move. You can plan to start a college fund for your
children, add the money to your retirement savings or keep it as an
emergency fund. Make a goal in life, so that you can achieve it with the
help of your inheritance.<br />
Be Realistic About Your Inheritance<br />
A
sudden chunk of money will you lead to towards a changed lifestyle. The
things like a new car or a luxury vacation that you could not afford
before will now seem to be very tempting. You have to be careful to
control your temptation and save your money for future needs.<br />
Establish Boundaries<br />
It
is evident that when you receive an inheritance, many people come with a
try to have a share in the money. Bank or financial sales people may
call you so that you invest your money in their products. You may also
be asked to make a huge donation by any charitable organisation. So, it
is very important to set boundaries and prepare yourself for saying no
to the people.<br />
Be Proactive<br />
You may need some professional
help to figure out how to save your inheritance. It is absolutely fine
to hire a financial advisor, but do not make your decision solely as per
his guidance. In the end, it will be you who will take the final
decision. Do some research and set your goals before taking
professional's help.<br />
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9604707</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785739617071163106.post-25909531423527406042017-02-26T02:45:00.001-08:002017-02-26T02:45:11.772-08:00Stop Bad Financial Habits And Choose A Fresh Start<div id="article-content">
People are often influenced to give unsolicited advice to others
about the easiest way to manage finances. Even though of the will make
sense, the majority of these are very generic in general. You must
exercise caution when you assemble a monetary strategy out from this
information, though it's important to create a precise and consistent
plan.<br />
Nevertheless, you happen to be still left together with the
unanswered question. How would you prevent the decline of funds on stuff
that are of no use, and yet approach managing your individual finances?<br />
The
Situation: A lot of people, including you, don't fully understand how
important it is to save cash with regard to their future. Figure out how
to save first then spend, not the other way around. While this is
superior to no savings in any way, it is definitely not the correct way
to build an excellent savings plan.<br />
Steps To Managing Your Individual Finances Well.<br />
Listed
here are some important tips that you can consider if you wish to
reduce costs for the future. These techniques have helped a lot of
people be successful at taking better proper care of their finances.<br />
Put 20% Of The Earnings Into Savings<br />
In
case you are to be successful in the foreseeable future, carry out the
opposite of just what the average person does. As opposed to saving
whatever remains, save first and spend afterward. Even if you are
expecting a reduced check than normal, be sure to save 20% out from each
and every single check that you receive. Make sure to deposit this
money once you receive money. You will have learned a vital lesson, and
saving the amount of money than enables you to work your way down taking
good care of everything, bills first.<br />
Saving money assists you to
create a healthy financial habit that will help you to budget your
money efficiently for the rest of your way of life. You could possibly
feel much less stressed about finances when you know that you have an
urgent situation fund available.<br />
Don't Complicate Matters<br />
It
is obvious the iPhone 7 is great. Your buddies and colleagues have
purchased it,but the iPhone 6 plus is one that you simply bought a few
time ago. While many of these new gadgets are fun and exciting to have,
you undoubtedly don't need a new phone unless your old phone is dying.
You must never buy it unless you really want an iPhone 7.<br />
Can that
new phone do something that your particular old model can't do? It is
essential to sometimes treat yourself with luxuries, just make sure this
really is something great rather than some of those undesirable habits
one does repeatedly. Additional money is the best money to pay, not the
20% you will be saving.<br />
Cash Over Credit<br />
Maybe you are from
the opinion the charge cards in your wallet should be used, not hidden
away. Often we start off with good intentions buying only small things
likely to pay them off at the conclusion of every month. $50 here or $25
there can't hurt, and you can always pay it off following the month.
That brand of thinking gets people in trouble quickly, plus they rack up
a pile of debt.<br />
Using cash whenever you can will help you to curb
this tendency. Don't make use of credit card unless it's a crisis
situation. Alternatively, it is possible to change it out having a debit
card, and that is a significantly better option!<br />
Keep in mind
that becoming a rock star at personal finance doesn't have to be hard.
It requires breaking undesirable habits and creating new, healthier
ones.<br />
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9604509</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7785739617071163106.post-30805192017787838342017-02-26T02:44:00.002-08:002017-02-26T02:44:40.689-08:00How Standby Letter of Credit Is Useful for Financial Funding and What Is It?A standby letter of credit is a Promise of payment issued by a bank
on behalf of a client will receive payment upon the presentation of
described documents in the event the buyer fails to pay the beneficiary
according to the terms of the contract. It mostly used in national
construction projects and in international commerce. The buyer in this
gives instructions for making the document.<br />
The format of letter
of credit under a Standby letter can also be beneficial for payment on a
deal. When reclaimed, the letter pay costs a broker and also the letter
can be beneficial in a land development work to make sure that the
permitted people investment will be assembled. The corporations to a
Letter credit are generally a recipient who is to earn the money, the
issuing bank of whom the applier is a client and the advising bank of
whom the recipient is a client.<br />
The key thing to remember with the
standby letter of credit is bank it deals only in documents or goods
and does not comprise them in the assurance and bond between two groups
immediately. The only anxiety of issuing the bank is the circumstances
and terms of the letter. There are numerous banks that are capable of
providing this letter.<br />
The Categories of standby Letter of credit:-<br />
<ul>
<li><b>A performance Standby:</b> - This category of letter maintains
accountability except paying money, comprises of the advantage of loss
happens from a fails to pay of the applicant in completing the
fundamental deal.</li>
<li><b>An advance payment Standby:</b> - This category of letter maintains the commitment of early payment done by the recipient to the supplier.</li>
<li><b>A bid bond or tender-bond standby:</b> - This letter maintains the commitment of the contender to accomplish a contract if the contender is rewarded a bid.</li>
<li><b>A Counter standby:</b> - This supports the emergence of an independent replacement by the recipient of the contradict replacement.</li>
<li><b>A Financial Standby:</b> - This maintains the duty to pay the amount, inclusive of any tool pointing a duty to pay the rented amount.</li>
<li><b>A direct Pay:</b> - This substitute maintains payment when due of
a primary duty especially in relation with financial substitute without
access to an offense.</li>
<li><b>An Insurance Standby:</b> - This maintains a protection responsibility of the contenders.</li>
<li><b>A commercial standby:</b> - This maintains the responsibility of a
contender to pay for services and goods in the occurrence of no expense
by other modes.</li>
</ul>
In relation to other types of letter of credit, the
standby letter of credit is more profitable for commercial. This kind of
letter uses original bill and documents of shipping in order to earn
amount for the retail from a buyer to seller. The standby letter of
Credit is comparatively new to the international commerce world and
consequently it is officially new as well.<br />
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9605904</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com