Introduction to options

Options trading offers a variety of strategies for traders looking to leverage the markets with limited risk exposure. Options traders use different combinations of calls, puts and spreads to gain exposure to stocks without committing large amounts of capital. Options trading is a popular way to participate in the markets because of its potential to generate greater returns than traditional investments over a shorter period. Investors must be aware of the risks involved and understand the strategies used to make sound investment decisions.

Strategy considerations

When developing an options trading strategy, certain factors, such as market conditions, risk tolerance, long-term goals and cost-benefit analysis, should be considered. Traders should also assess whether they have enough capital or margin to trade various strategies. Additionally, understanding volatility is essential for traders who want to maximise their advantages by buying options when volatilities are low and selling them when they increase substantially.

Types of Options

There are two main types of options: calls and puts. Calls give the buyer the right to buy an asset at a predetermined price, while puts give the buyer the right to sell an asset at a specific price. These contracts can be used for long or short positions, spread trades, straddles and hedging.

A long position means buying call options with the expectation that prices will increase over time. This strategy suits traders who believe there will be significant price appreciation in an underlying asset over time. Traders need to pay attention to expiration dates when trading this strategy because if not held until expiration, they might incur losses if their expectations do not come true.

In addition, a short position involves selling call options with the expectation that prices will move lower over time. This strategy suits traders who believe there will be significant price declines in an underlying asset over a given period. Traders should also pay attention to expiration dates when trading this strategy because if not held until expiration, they might incur losses if their expectations do not come true.

A spread trade involves buying and selling different contracts with different strike prices, expirations, or underlying assets simultaneously. This strategy can reduce overall risk because it helps create a more diversified portfolio than just purchasing one contract. This can be done by either buying and selling calls in the same underlying asset or buying and selling calls in different contracts.

A straddle is a strategy that involves purchasing both calls and put options of the same strike price, expiration date and underlying asset. This strategy takes advantage of large swings in the underlying asset’s price as it will potentially generate returns whether the price goes up or down. However, traders should be aware that this strategy also carries higher risks than other strategies because if the underlying asset’s price does not move significantly, it can incur losses.

Finally, hedging involves purchasing options to offset existing positions to minimize potential losses from market volatility. Traders who are bullish on a particular stock but want protection against downside risk can purchase a put option. In contrast, traders who are bearish on a specific stock but want protection against upside risk can purchase a call option.

All things considered

Options trading has the potential to generate greater returns than traditional investments over a shorter period. However, investors need to understand the strategies and risks involved before engaging in this type of trading. By understanding the various types of options, strategies, costs, and risks associated with trading, investors can make better-informed decisions to help them meet their investment goals. By doing so, they can maximise their chances of doing well and minimise losses.

It’s also important for the long-term success of your business. An experienced small business accountant like Howlader & co. can provide advice on setting up retirement savings accounts, selecting an appropriate health insurance plan for employees, or selecting investments that will maximize returns over time. As a trusted advisor to entrepreneurs and small businesses, a good small business accountant can have a major impact on both short-term cash flow needs as well as long-term asset management strategies.

In this article, we will explain the basics of small business tax planning, and outline the ways a small business accountant can help your business manage taxes.

What Is Small Business Tax Planning?

Small business tax planning is the process of understanding and utilizing the various deductions, credits, exemptions, and other incentives that can be used to help reduce a business’s taxable income. Doing this allows businesses to pay fewer taxes while still being compliant with all relevant laws and regulations. As a result, small businesses can maximize their profits and better provide for their employees.

For many small businesses, tax planning is an essential part of the financial management process. When done correctly and in compliance with applicable laws, it can be an incredibly effective tool for both saving money and avoiding costly fees or penalties related to noncompliance. Ultimately, tax planning gives entrepreneurs the ability to make informed decisions about how and when to best utilize their resources so they can achieve long-term success.

To get started with effective tax planning for your small business, it’s important to understand the different types of taxes you may be liable for paying. Depending on your business structure, you may be subject to income tax as well as self-employment taxes at both the federal level and any applicable local or state level rules.

Once you have an idea of what kind of taxes will apply to you, consult a qualified accountant who has experience working with small businesses such as yours. Your accountant will be able to advise you on which types of deductions are available in your area as well as make sure you’re taking all necessary steps required by law.

Finally, don’t forget about online resources available that may help make sense of complex legal or financial matters relevant to your situation such as accounting software programs or websites dedicated specifically towards helping entrepreneurs become familiar with their local taxation rules. Doing some research ahead of time can save you time and money in the long run when it comes time to file taxes each year!

How Can A Small Business Accountant Help You

For any small business, hiring a qualified accountant is an essential part of the financial management process. An experienced and knowledgeable small business accountant can provide invaluable advice when it comes to tax planning and navigating the complexities of local and state tax rules.

When it comes to tax planning, a good accountant will help your business take advantage of all available deductions, credits, and exemptions that can potentially save you money each year. They can also recommend strategies such as setting up retirement accounts or investing in certain equipment that can maximize your long-term profitability while ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Additionally, they can help ensure proper filing deadlines are met so that your taxes are filed on time without having to pay unnecessary penalties or fees.

Beyond just taxes, a good small business accountant can guide essential accounting principles such as managing cash flow or understanding break-even points for products or services offered by the company. This information can be incredibly valuable when making important financial decisions regarding day-to-day operations or when considering long-term goals such as launching new products or expanding into new markets. With their knowledge and expertise, accountants have the potential to have a major impact on both short-term successes as well as enabling entrepreneurs to create growth strategies for lasting success.

In summary, hiring a qualified small business accountant is essential for any entrepreneur looking to get the most out of their finances while minimizing liability due to incorrect filing procedures or other oversights related to compliance with applicable regulations. By partnering with an experienced professional who understands your industry and local taxation rules, you’ll give yourself both peace of mind knowing everything was taken care of correctly as well as giving yourself more time towards focusing on what's important: growing your business over time!

Wrapping Up

Tax planning can be a daunting process for small business owners, but it doesn’t have to be. A small business accountant can make the process much more manageable and ensure that you are taking advantage of all available credits, deductions, and other tax reliefs. Considering the amount of time and money that can be saved by effective tax planning, consulting a professional makes good financial sense.

So, take the time to set up an appointment with your local small business accountant – they are sure to provide you with excellent advice on how to navigate the tax planning process. With their assistance, you can rest assured knowing that your financial decisions are well-informed and in line with your long-term goals.

What are contactless payments?

Contactless payments include any transactions that don’t require direct physical contact between buyer and seller. This loose definition includes online shopping and in-app purchases. However, it’s usually reserved for face-to-face transactions in which the seller’s payment terminal and buyer’s payment device wirelessly communicate using a short-wave radio technology known as near-field communication (NFC).

Because of this wireless connection, the terminal and payment device never touch one another. They simply need to be within a few inches to securely send and receive information.

NFC-enabled credit and debit cards represent two of the most popular ways to make contactless payments. However, it’s also possible to use mobile wallets and wearable devices – provided they are also equipped with near-field communication technology.

How can you use contactless payments in your organization?

Most businesses adopt this technology to facilitate payments. This trend greatly accelerated when social distancing concerns reached their height during the pandemic. Now, the driving forces behind contactless payments include:

• Improved speed, with the technology being up to 10 times faster than traditional payment options

• Increased satisfaction, with 69% of customers favoring contactless payments over conventional cash

For many businesses, these benefits are reason enough to integrate contactless payments into their operations. However, it’s now possible to use the same technology to facilitate a broad range of face-to-face interactions that aren’t directly related to payments:

• Many restaurants already use scannable QR codes with integrated ordering options so that diners and wait staff never have to interact directly

• As more stores offer curbside pickup and delivery options, NFC technology allows employees to verify each customer’s identity before handing anything over

If your organization relies on face-to-face contact for payments, deliveries, pickups, or signatures, integrating contactless payments may be able to help streamline your operations.

Are contactless payments in your future?

Contactless payments are not a complete replacement for whatever payment tools you already use. Rather, they’re an add-on that allow you to securely accept more payment types. In fact, the payment terminals you currently use to manage your business might already come with NFC technology installed. Most smart phones come equipped with the technology, as well.

This means that with some minor modifications, you might be able to start offering contactless payments without having to invest in additional hardware. For more information, check out the accompanying resource.

Infographic created by Clover, a retail POS system company

Additionally, the feature-rich ecommerce platform is highly configurable, scalable, and flexible, making it an excellent option for companies looking to build a one-of-a-kind customer experience.

In this post, we will go through Adobe Commerce, from what it is, why it is good for ecommerce, and its benefits and drawbacks.

What Exactly Is Adobe Commerce?

Adobe Commerce is the most popular digital commerce platform for brands and retailers. This cutting-edge, functional ecommerce development platform was created for online companies looking to increase their reach and provide an outstanding client purchasing experience.

Furthermore, Adobe Commerce is designed for business use on a scalable, open-source platform with unrivaled security, a low total ownership cost, and high performance. It is a collection of elements designed to provide a B2C and B2B ecommerce development services and high-level consumer experience. It is owned by Adobe and has evolved into an omnichannel solution for B2C and B2B ecommerce businesses seeking an enterprise version.

Why Is Adobe Commerce Good for Ecommerce?

The customer experience (CX) has emerged as one of your brand's most important differentiators. It must be outstanding during your clients' journey with you. Adobe Commerce development services can help your ecommerce business to create and maintain exceptional customer experiences, including:

• Product recommendations. Customer data and insights may be leveraged to provide personalized suggestions based on preferences and search activity. The product suggestion feature enables you to specify various criteria based on the product selection produced or your clients' purchase behavior. Additionally, you may check and examine product suggestions.
• Live search. You may miss chances if the site navigation isn't efficient and simple. With search-as-you-type results,' the live search tool may assist your clients in locating the things they're searching for. If your website currently offers a product suggestion feature, you may use the same product catalog information to make the function. The function may also provide search query reports to assist you in knowing what your clients are searching for.
• B2B functionality. B2B ecommerce is predicted to increase by more than 18% annually through 2028. To be productive in this expanding industry, you must provide a tailored CX that allows your clients to make confident judgments.
• Content management. The WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) page builder enables you to construct new pages utilizing standard Adobe interfaces swiftly. Customized landing pages, product pages, and frequently asked questions (FAQs) may be created fast and simply using 'drag and drop' components with no other code.
• Your customer support employees will quickly access order data and be allowed to make changes and modifications on clients' behalf, including refunds and returns.

Furthermore, Adobe Commerce enables you to build world-class B2C and B2B purchasing experiences with fantastic features, worldwide partners, a massive extensions industry, and limitless customization. It is incredibly dynamic and adaptable, allowing for developing an engaging eCommerce site with a strong UX.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Adobe Commerce

To develop an online store, make modifications, and perform maintenance duties, you'll need the assistance of an Adobe Commerce professional. Continue reading to learn about the benefits and drawbacks of adopting Adobe Commerce.

Benefits

Adobe Commerce has several benefits for eCommerce enterprises and online stores. These are Adobe Commerce's most notable benefits:

• Customization. You will be able to personalize your online store completely. However, you must evaluate the expenses of such a significant expenditure of time and money.
• Software free version. There is a free option (Open Source). This version has fewer features and does not include security and hosting solutions.
• Scalability. Because it is an open-source solution, it may be utilized for an online store as the company expands.
• Omni-channel. It provides capabilities for connecting your online store, physical store, and additional sales channels, such as a marketplace.

Drawbacks

Using Adobe Commerce has some drawbacks as well.

• It would help if you supplied the server to utilize Adobe Commerce. This might be challenging, particularly when you don't know how much website traffic you'll get.
• Adobe Commerce is a challenging platform to use. This is a frequent drawback of self-hosted systems. It is, however, quite difficult to operate, and you will often want the assistance of specialists to develop and adjust your online store.
• Adobe Commerce is a costly solution. If you use this software, you'll have to pay for the servers, the domains, and other tools like plugins, as well as the cost of programmers, software upgrades, and safety precautions for you and your clients.
• Finally, the developers' interface could not be user-friendly for online store employees.

Conclusion

We hope this post addressed all of your Adobe Commerce concerns. Now that you have a clear overview, weigh the potential benefits of the Adobe Commerce platform.

In this article, we'll explore five interesting facts about Cardano that you may not be aware of. From its unique proof-of-stake consensus algorithm to its ambitious goals for decentralized applications, there is much to learn about Cardano. So without further ado, let's dive into these five surprising facts about this exciting cryptocurrency.

First, What is Cardano?

Cardano is a decentralized, open-source blockchain platform that is focused on providing a secure, scalable, and sustainable foundation for the development of decentralized applications (dApps). It was developed by the blockchain development firm Input Output Hong Kong (IOHK) and is led by Charles Hoskinson, co-founder of Ethereum.

Cardano is built on a proof-of-stake consensus algorithm called Ouroboros, which allows users to validate transactions on the network by staking their holdings of the cryptocurrency. This means that the right to validate transactions is determined by the amount of Cardano a user holds, rather than by computational power, as is the case with proof-of-work algorithms used by other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

What about ADA; The native currency of Cadarno?

ADA is the native cryptocurrency of the Cardano blockchain platform. It is used as a means of exchange on the Cardano network, as well as a way to secure the network by staking.

ADA is used to pay for transaction fees on the Cardano network and can also be used to vote on governance decisions. It is traded on cryptocurrency exchanges and can be stored in a cryptocurrency wallet. The total supply of ADA is capped at 45 billion coins, and the currency is designed to be divisible to six decimal places, allowing for a high degree of granularity in transactions.

5 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Cardano

#1 Cardano is a third-generation cryptocurrency

While Bitcoin and Ethereum were the first and second generations of cryptocurrencies, respectively, Cardano is considered a third-generation coin. This means that it was designed to address some of the issues and limitations of the earlier coins, with a focus on scalability, sustainability, and interoperability.

#2: Cardano uses a unique proof-of-stake consensus algorithm

Unlike many other cryptocurrencies, which use proof-of-work algorithms that require miners to solve complex mathematical problems in order to validate transactions, Cardano uses a proof-of-stake algorithm called Ouroboros.

In this system, the right to validate transactions is determined by the amount of Cardano a user holds, rather than by computational power.

#3: Cardano has a strong academic foundation

Cardano was developed by a team led by Charles Hoskinson, co-founder of Ethereum, and includes input from several leading academics in the fields of computer science and cryptography. The project is also affiliated with the Cardano Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes the adoption and development of the Cardano network.

#4: Cardano has ambitious goals for decentralized applications

One of the main goals of the Cardano project is to enable the development of decentralized applications (dApps) that can be used in a wide range of industries, from finance and healthcare to education and government.

To this end, Cardano has developed a smart contract platform called Plutus, which is designed to make it easy for developers to build and deploy dApps on the network.

#5: Cardano has a strong and active community

Cardano has a large and dedicated community of users, developers, and enthusiasts who are actively involved in the project and contribute to its development and growth. The community is active on social media and forums, and there are also numerous meetups and conferences held around the world for Cardano supporters to connect and collaborate.

What Are Some Real-World Use Cases of Cardano

Cardano’s decentralized applications (dApps) can be used in a wide range of industries. If you are interested in knowing some of the real-world applications of Cardano, here are some of them:

. Supply chain management

Cardano could be used to create a transparent and secure supply chain management system for businesses. This could include tracking the movement of goods from the point of origin to the point of sale, ensuring the authenticity of products, and streamlining logistics.

. Identity verification

It can also be used to create a decentralized identity verification system that allows individuals to control and share their own personal information. This could be used in a variety of contexts, such as verifying the identity of job applicants or granting access to secure facilities.

. Voting systems

Cardano could be used to create secure and transparent voting systems for elections and other decision-making processes. This could include creating a decentralized platform for casting and counting votes, as well as verifying the identities of voters.

. Healthcare

Yes, Cardano can also be used in the health sector to create a decentralized platform for storing and sharing medical records and other personal healthcare information. This can come in really handy for improving the efficiency and privacy of the healthcare system. How? By allowing individuals to control access to their own health data.

. Finance

Cardano could be used to create decentralized financial applications, such as peer-to-peer payment systems or decentralized exchanges. Think of this as the ultimate solution for faster and more secure financial transactions. Additionally, it also provides an alternative to traditional financial institutions.

Final Note

As you can see, Cardano is a fascinating and innovative cryptocurrency with a lot of potential for real-world use cases. From supply chain management to healthcare to finance, Cardano has the potential to revolutionize a wide range of industries with its decentralized platform and smart contract capabilities.

So the next time someone asks you what Cardano is all about, you can impress them with your newfound knowledge of this exciting cryptocurrency!

You might need help with applying for bad credit online loans. Therefore, this article covers what a bad credit score is and six ways a bad credit score can affect you. So let's get started.

What Is a Bad Credit Score?

Consider your credit score as a grade for the way you manage your money. Even though there are other credit-scoring models, the FICO score is widely popular among lenders. Usually, this three-digit number ranges between 300 and 850, and the range between 300 and 579 is called a bad FICO score. Let's break down credit scores briefly in a table.

Credit Score Breakdown

6 Ways a Bad Credit Score Can Affect You

You probably made financial mistakes along the way if you have a bad credit score. Employers and landlords may consider you less reliable if your credit score is low, which lenders may interpret as a sign that you might be a high-risk borrower. These beliefs have significant drawbacks and can influence almost every aspect of your life. Here are six ways that having bad credit can harm you.

1. Higher Interest Rates

A low credit score is a warning sign to lenders that you may not be able to complete your payments on time and in full. Early on, lenders will charge you higher interest rates to make up for anticipated losses to reduce the risk that you might default on your loan. Additionally, they are less likely to offer you promotional rates and discounts, so taking loans will cost you more in the long run than your peers with better credit scores.

2. Housing

If your credit score is less than 620, renting a place could be difficult because many landlords and property management organizations consider 620 the minimum starting point for tenants. Expect to pay much higher interest rates if you want to buy a new house but have poor credit.

Even with poor credit, you may be able to rent an apartment, but it could take a lot more effort to prove your case, including paying a larger security deposit or even getting a cosigner. Additionally, you may need to provide a significant 20% or higher down payment. If you're a first-time home buyer, you do have some alternatives to conventional lenders, such as government-backed VA and USDA loans, which don't have specific credit score requirements.

3. Credit Cards

There are credit cards designed for people who have poor credit, but a lot of them require a security deposit. You may only qualify for the best cards on the market if your credit score is high, and you'll have to charge higher interest rates on your balance each month.

Too many credit cards that are maxed out can negatively impact your score. Completing a card can also affect you because it will shorten your credit history and increase your credit utilization rate. Additionally, you're less likely to obtain promotional rates, discounts, or other benefits related to your credit products.

4. Auto Loans

Suppose your application for a bad credit auto loan is approved. In that case, you may expect to pay a down payment, need a cosigner, and have provided a certain amount of income documentation. You might also expect higher monthly payments because of higher interest rates. However, You can request to refinance your auto loan at a much better rate after you can boost your credit score.

5. Employment

A potential employer may request to see your credit report as part of a complete background check. A poor credit score could prevent you from obtaining the job since some employers associate it with a lack of reliability or trustworthiness, especially if your job involves handling money. Candidates with a poor financial history could be more likely to engage in fraud, theft, or poor handling of sensitive company information.

6. Security Deposits

Lenders and landlords may doubt your ability to make regular payments if you have poor credit. To protect against financial losses, organizations could require larger security deposits before allowing you to move in or use their service.

Conclusion

To sum up, it's essential to understand how a bad credit score affects your financial life and to be proactive in raising your score. From improving budgeting skills, paying bills on time, and avoiding unnecessary credit inquiries, there are many strategies you can use to start increasing your credit score today.

However you choose to make the most of your property, it will provide you with a place to relax for decades to come. 

At The Caravan Insurer, we know static caravans are a worthwhile investment for those who love the lifestyle and want to enjoy it more frequently. 

So if you’re in the market for a static caravan and need some advice, we’re here to help.

Prepare to learn the do’s and don'ts of caravan investment as we walk you through each of our tips.

Once you’ve settled on a property, you’ll likely need to protect your purchase with static caravan insurance. Luckily, we can help with that too. Visit The Caravan Insurer to compare caravan insurance and get an online or over-the-phone quote. 

DO: Check what fees you have to pay

When it comes to static caravan investment, you’ll typically have to make a one-off payment to own your holiday home. The average price of a static caravan can vary significantly depending on its size and the site. 

You might find yourself looking for models that cost anywhere between £15,000 to £100,000! But this can change on a brand-to-brand basis, home modifications, and the quality of materials used to make the caravan. 

With all these costs, you must factor in site fees. Caravan sites require yearly fees from holiday homeowners that can be relatively cheap or expensive depending on the site's facilities. 

Most times, you will also need to pay for home insurance, water, gas and electricity bills to keep your property running smoothly. Some services, such as wifi or insurance, may be free or arranged by the site owner. 

But these are fees you need to factor into your overall costs before you commit! 

DON’T: Think you can keep it forever!

Despite what many may think, you cannot keep your static caravan for good. 

Typical contracts include a formal agreement between yourself and the site owner stating the period of property ownership. 

Depending on the site, this could be between 10, 15 or 20 years. The site owners may then need to update the property structurally, meaning your contract ends. 

Some site owners may allow you to move your static caravan to a site of your choosing for an extra fee. So long as your property isn’t falling apart! 

DO: Check if you can sublet

One of the main ways you can get a return on your investment is by sub-letting your static caravan to other holiday goers. 

On-site caravanning is a popular holiday choice during British summers, meaning you may have potential customers lining up to spend a week in your holiday home. 

Some caravan sites offer letting services, where they let your caravan for you, taking care of bookings and cleaning before guests arrive. In return, they take a percentage of the fee you charge. 

Or, you can rent out your caravan privately and control all aspects of letting, including bookings, cleaning and consulting with customers. 

If subletting is one of the main reasons you’re interested in investing, check if your preferred site allows these services on their property.

DON’T: Assume you can visit all year round

Before you sign off on your static caravan, check what time of year the site is open. 

If you like the prospect of visiting your holiday home during winter, you’ll have to find a high-end site that permits this. Some static caravan sites are open from December to February, but many restrict their opening times to the warmer months of March to October. 

Holidaying is more likely during this period, as schoolchildren have time off from their studies and weather conditions are much more enjoyable. 

Plus, static caravan sites may shut down to complete on-site maintenance so that customers are not disturbed by construction noise. 

One benefit of sites that close during the year is that you do not have to pay council tax on your static caravan, saving you extra money! 

DO: Make it your home away from home

Investing in a static caravan is a big deal. Choosing a holiday home that you can see yourself and your family enjoying for years to come is vital. 

Once you make a final decision, it’s up to you to make it feel as cosy, snug and comfortable as possible. 

Your static caravan will come equipped with a range of home comforts to start you off: deluxe beds, fridge freezers and coffee machines. You name it: it will likely come included! 

After this, you can choose to customise your holiday home even further. Upgrade your TV, install a hot tub or even invest in some high-quality decking to extend your garden space. 

Given the size and scope of the threat, it can be extremely challenging to stay on top of everything. The danger can come at you from any angle, whether it’s a full-on assault against your firewall or a phishing email that tricks employees into giving up their passwords. Trying to protect your company from all of these cyberattacks can feel like an impossible task. Fortunately, there is an answer that can give you the 24/7 protection you need to secure your customers’ most sensitive information without worry.

Artificial Intelligence Can Be Your Full-Time Partner

Cybersecurity systems that integrate artificial intelligence into their solutions offer a more advanced form of protection. AI is not a passive attempt; rather this software utilizes machine learning algorithms that adapt to the ever-evolving threats that attack your system. It delivers security that is always on the lookout for anything suspicious and takes immediate action to keep you safe.

For example, phishing schemes rely on cleverly disguised emails that appear to be legitimate at first glance, but really come from malicious sources. With AI working behind the scenes, these emails can be detected as soon as they enter your infrastructure and then isolated. This means they can be removed from your email servers before employees even have a chance to see them, greatly reducing the risk that they will click on any of the links or attachments they contain.

Another way AI can help keep you protected is its ability to predict and respond to potential attempts to breach your firewall. By examining typical patterns of user behavior, your system can identify any that appear to be suspicious or out of place. Anyone who seems fishy attempting to access your systems can be locked out automatically until it can be determined whether the request is legitimate.

You might have a hard time believing it, but your company is at risk of being attacked by cybercriminals. Having a security system enhanced with AI can go a long way to keeping your financial data protected. To learn more, take a look at the accompanying resource.

Infographic created by Donnelley Financial Solutions, an SEC reporting software company

Brisbane

The Brisbane property market is currently undergoing a transition, following in the footsteps of other markets across Australia. The median value of dwellings in Brisbane has recently hit a record high of $784,826, up almost 4% from the end of May. Moreover, the preliminary clearance rate has reached its lowest level since mid-November 2020, falling to 43.6 per cent.

The property market is currently feeling the effects of successive rate hikes, and Brisbane is no exception. The RBA's cash rates have increased by 2.5% this year. Despite the recent increase, the value of Brisbane property declined by -0.8% in August. This decline was accompanied by similar declines in other Australian capital cities, including Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Hobart, and Perth. The decline was largely due to a weakening buyer sentiment, which was further exacerbated by the recent rate hikes. Interstate migration data continues to show an outflow in other major states and an influx of Australians using Brisbane removalists to move to Queensland calling it their home.

Canberra

The property market in Canberra has performed quietly well during the last few years. In one year, the median price of a house in Canberra rose by 25.5%, with an additional three percent increase in the June quarter. In the last decade, the median house price in Canberra has increased by six percent annually. The median price in June rose $96,000, or $1054 per day. This is the fastest price growth in almost three decades.

The ACT's housing market has also remained relatively stable and resilient during the recent economic downturn, despite a number of government projects. One of the major reasons for the stability of the market is the federal government's increased spending. Government procurement accounts for nearly one-third of the ACT's total economic output, and over 40% of the workforce is employed by government agencies. This means that there is an increasing demand for property in Canberra.

Hobart

The Tasmanian state capital Hobart is experiencing a boom in the property market. The city's beautiful scenery and low housing prices have attracted Tasmanian buyers, who can take advantage of the city's low property prices. A senior property consultant for Petrusma Property says that the city's housing market is set to remain strong in the medium term. The median house price in Sandy Bay has reached $1.295 million, a record high for Hobart, and other inner-city suburbs are on the verge of hitting that milestone.

The median price for a house in Hobart has jumped by almost ten percent since the start of 2019. Hobart's prices are still significantly lower than those in Australia's capital cities, such as Sydney and Melbourne, which have soared at a faster pace.

Adelaide

Adelaide is one of the few capital cities where housing values are increasing in spite of rising interest rates. The city has seen a 3.6% rise in the last three months, adding $201,000 to the average home price. It is also the only city in Australia where sales have increased, while Melbourne and Sydney reported a decline. The biggest rise has been seen in the $400,00-$700,000 price band, which shows that first-home buyers are buying in the area.

The state's housing market is showing signs of recovery in 2021, with rental vacancy rates falling to 0.6 per cent and rental yields growing eight per cent. Despite the slowdown in growth, the suburb is still expected to reach a median price of over $500,000 in the coming year. Meanwhile, other suburbs in Adelaide are undergoing price drops, with some undergoing a five-per-cent decrease in value in the past six months. Adelaide continues to be a city that Australians are opting for away from the hectic lifestyle of Melbourne and Sydney and especially off the back of work from home orders. Australian are finally prioritizing where they chose to live as oppose to where to live for work. Prompting the demand for local Adelaide removalists to be booked in as far as 3 months in advance and interstate motorcycle transport in excess of 8 weeks in advance.

Perth

Despite its challenging recent history, Perth's residential property market is currently in an upswing phase, with tighter stock levels and rebounding buyer confidence contributing to sustained growth. According to QBE Insurance, the market is set to perform strongly in the coming years. While the overall property market in Australia is still experiencing strong growth, Perth has outperformed its counterparts in the past decade.

The recent interest rate rise has pushed up rents in Perth. Apartment rents in the city increased 10.4% this year to A$375 per week. The state's low vacancy rate has helped drive up demand for Perth's property. The vacancy rate is at its lowest point in over 40 years, and investors are likely to take advantage of these low rates in the near future.

1. Establish Excellent Money Management Skills

One of the most common financial terms used to describe post-retirement life is “living on a fixed income”. Once you stop working, what you have is what you get. Whether this includes social security benefits, your retirement savings, or even money from a rental property or other passive income source, your options for acquiring new, regular income will become increasingly limited as you grow older. Things like age discrimination and age-related disabilities often make it hard to “get back in there” after you’ve already stepped out. Thus, it’s important to have excellent money management skills. These include:

• Identifying and eliminating areas of waste
• Avoiding redundancies in spending
• Sidestepping emotional spending
• Smartly minimizing your tax burden
• Proactively protecting yourself against identity and financial theft
• Saving for unplanned expenses
• Establishing a reasonable budget and sticking to it

Although the retirement years are largely looked at as a time of freedom (afterall, your kids are grown, your home is likely paid off, and your living costs are minimal), haphazard spending at this stage of life can still land you in hot water. Big ticket purchases like speed boats, high-end country club memberships, and recreational vehicles among others have to be carefully assessed and well-planned. 

Despite working hard for their retirement, many people are struck with the false sense that they’re living on “free” money. Checks come in the mail and suddenly, there’s no blaring alarm clock in the morning, taxing commute, or in-office drudgery to justify this cash. It’s easy to forget how much it took to earn a comfortable life in retirement when every day feels like a vacation. If you haven’t trained yourself to be smart about your cash, unplanned and uncareful spending could leave you living in poverty when your end-of-life needs manifest.

The best way to plan for good money management in your retirement years is by starting today. If you manage money wisely now, you’ll develop the very same, well-ingrained habits that you’re guaranteed to need during your golden years. 

2. Determine Your Ideal Retirement Age

There aren’t many people who don’t find the idea of retiring at 50 appealing. There’s the very real fear of retiring at an age where mental and physical health have already greatly declined and the ability to enjoy personal freedom is significantly diminished. However, if you’re hard-pressed to get out of the workforce now, you should know how an early exit can impact your financial future. The Social Security Administration (SSA) defines the normal retirement age as 67, and pays additional benefits for those who delay their retirement to 70. More importantly, the SSA imposes stiff penalties for early retirement and thus, leaving your job too soon could cost you for the rest of your life.

If you’re dead set on stepping out of the workforce before 67, start looking for secondary income sources to make up the difference. This might be a rental property, a reasonable gig that you can maintain for the next ten years or so, or a passive source of online income. Having extra money come in after you retire early will offset your losses in social security.

3. Create Pre-Retirement And Post-Retirement Budgets

Retiring and retiring well mean two very different things. People who lack budgets often wind up living well below their means due to excess spending on non-essentials and generally poor money management. Having a personal finance plan is the first and most important step in good money management. 

Creating your post-retirement budget now will help you identify some of the financial challenges that might otherwise go overlooked. This is an opportunity to account for how inflation will impact your retirement savings and to look for areas where downsizing might be possible. You can use budgeting apps to create, modify, and refine your current and pre-retirement spending plans. 

4. Downsize And Clear Up Your Debt

Don’t wait until you retire to start downsizing. Downsizing now will limit your spending and give you more money to invest in your future. If you have more than one car and don’t often use your second vehicle often, the money that you spend to register it, maintain it, and keep it insured will benefit you more if it’s applied to your retirement savings. This is money that could be earning your money rather than simply exiting your pockets. Start cutting what you really don’t need. Consciously downsizing your lifestyle will also make you less likely to make frivolous, spur-of-the-moment purchases. 

5. Prepare For The Unexpected

There are a number of unavoidable retirement costs that people regularly overlook. There are also a number of unexpected developments that few people factor into their post-retirement budgets.

As retirees grow older, they invariably experience changes in their physical health, memory, and cognition. Although these things won’t happen right away, they will happen at some point in your retirement. You have to be ready to deal with developments like age-related illness, the demise of a life partner, end-of-life medical expenses, and more.

There are even unexpected developments that can occur outside of your personal health such as major home repairs. A well-planned retirement considers all of these possible factors. You want to make sure that both your nest egg and your emergency fund are ready for the very worst. This way, if bad things do happen, you can still maintain a reasonable level of comfort, and you won’t have to make an urgent return to the workforce during your later years, when you really don’t want to and when you may not be able to.

AUTHOR BIO:

Shawn Manaher is a former financial advisor, has founded 5 online businesses, and is a coach, speaker, podcast host, and author.

He's been featured on Forbes, The Consults Corner on TAE Radio, The Writing Biz, What's Your Story, and more.

He loves to share his personal finance tips and money management wisdom with others on his website, ShawnManaher.com, to help them find financial freedom.

ChargePoint designs, develops, and markets networked electric vehicle charging system infrastructure. These are connected through cloud-based services which enable charging system owners or hosts to manage their networked charging systems and enables consumers to locate, reserve, and transact. It has a presence in North America and Europe and caters to three segments: Commercial, Fleet and Residential. The company has approximately 200,000 ports on its network, including roughly 15,000 DC fast ports. Through its mobile and in-dash apps, ChargePoint enables EV drivers to access over 355,000 additional ports in North America and Europe.

ChargePoint expects revenue to grow in both Networked Charging Systems and Subscriptions segments due to increased demand for EVs and the corresponding charging infrastructure market. It expects research and development expenses to increase on an absolute basis in the near future, as the company continues to invest in R&D activities to achieve its technology and product roadmap. In addition, sales and marketing expenses are likely to grow on an absolute basis for the foreseeable future as it continues to add sales and marketing personnel, expand its sales channels, and expand in Europe.

What differentiates ChargePoint from its peers?

ChargePoint hardly owns the EV charging assets. As a result, the company is largely immune to variations in utilization rates and site selection. Since customers own the charging infrastructure or can partner with a third-party owner-operator, ChargePoint can devote its resources on product development and customer acquisition. According to the company, this operating model enables it to scale network ports more cost effectively than its competitors.

As stated earlier, with an increase in number of EVs on road, EV charging infrastructure will grow irrespective of who ultimately wins the EV race. Moreover, ChargePoint is expected to benefit since it offers networked charging solutions that are capable of charging most types of electric vehicles regardless of their manufacturer. Evidently, this will be beneficial to the growth of the company.

Another crucial factor that separates ChargePoint from its peers is the expected growth in the company’s recurring revenue. ChargePoint believes that the real opportunity doesn’t lie in hardware sales, which generate very little margins. It is the recurring revenue from software and services that will drive the company’s margin growth. ChargePoint explains that, over time, the split between its upfront hardware revenue and recurring software and service revenue from a typical unit is roughly 50-50.

As the chart above illustrates, over roughly seven years, a typical unit sold by ChargePoint earns as much recurring revenue from software and services as it generates upfront from hardware sales in year 1.

Competitors

ChargePoint's primary business model does not involve owning and operating networked charging stations. Thus, the company believes its primary competitors are other OEMs and providers of electric vehicle charging station solutions, such as Blink Charging Co., Wallbox N.V, ABB Ltd., and Tritium DCFC.

According to the company estimates, it has a market dominant share of nearly 70% in publicly available networked Level 2 AC charging in North America. ChargePoint’s growth strategy is to scale networked EV charging by adding new products and by incrementally investing in marketing and sales.

Growth proportional to EV penetration

The next quarter's revenue is expected to be in the range of $125 million to $135 million.  For the full year, annual revenue is expected to be $450 million to $500 million. Annual non-GAAP gross margin is predicted to be in the range of 22% to 26%.

In the latest earnings call, CEO Pasquale Romano said “As consumers embrace the transition to EVs at an increasing rate, the future of this business is incredibly strong. Year-on-Year revenue growth of 93% and sequential revenue growth of 33% continue to demonstrate the company’s strength across verticals and geographies”

In the long-term, ChargePoint’s growth is expected to be directly proportional to EV penetration.

As the chart above shows, ChargePoint’s annual port sales in North America grew largely in-line with U.S. passenger EV sales in the last decade. The company expects this trend to continue in future. As EV adoption is expected to increase exponentially in the coming years, ChargePoint’s port sales and revenue should grow in tandem. It is expected that ChargePoint will be free cash flow positive by the end of calendar year 2024.

Increased range for EVs driven by improved batteries, faster charging, falling costs, governmental incentives, development of charging infrastructure, and new sleek EV models are some key factors driving the growth in EV adoption. In addition to public charging infrastructure, there is a potential to make home chargers available for use publicly by bringing them on a network. I came across a company named Power Hero which is working to achieve this. Power Hero has developed a no-fuss Cameo adapter that can be attached to any home charger and make it networked. It offers an extremely simple and cost-efficient way to generate a little extra income while helping other EV drivers and contributing to a faster EV growth. As more intelligent P2P networks grow and more businesses and landlords seek to offer solutions, Power Hero technology could provide the backbone to make it all possible.

Impressive revenue growth

For the second quarter of fiscal 2023, ChargePoint’s total revenue stood at $108.2 million as against $56.1 million last year, showing a growth of 93% YoY. Networked charging systems are the major revenue contributor for the company. Networked charging systems revenue more than doubled and stood at $84.1 million in the latest quarter as against $40.8 million last year. Subscriptions revenue grew by 68% year-on-year and stood at $20.2 million in the latest quarter, as against $12 million last year.

The total cost of revenue increased at a faster pace than revenue. Due to this, the company saw a decrease in gross profit margins, even though gross profit numbers increased. There was also an increase in other operating expenses for the company. Research and development, which contributes the bulk of operating costs, increased by 28% whereas sales and marketing expenses increased by 55%.

Why loss-making EV infrastructure companies are still a good investment

Although EV charging companies are experiencing operating losses in the current situation, they still could be potential profit machines with the widespread adoption of EV transportation. That’s why these EV charging stocks are potential multi-baggers. Companies like Power Hero can be instrumental in making this possible.

Overall, player with an early-mover advantage like ChargePoint can retain the significant market share that it enjoys today in the EV charging space. Early investors will benefit eventually as the EV ecosystem grows.

Investment property specialists have a few tips when buying an investment property, and we have listed them here in this article.

Statistics Over Emotions

Purchasing an investment property is not the same as buying your dream house. Property investment based on whether you like the colour of the kitchen cabinetry or the home's vibe is a definite way to deplete your savings.

If you have decided to invest in real estate, then following the numbers rather than your heart will give you the best chance of success during the entire process.

Choose a property based on the suburb's rental yield, predicted capital growth, feasibility, etc. — this means managing your property portfolio as if it were a business.

Common Mistakes of Property Investors

As evidenced by statistics, many investors aim to create wealth and expand their property portfolio by buying in places with the most significant growth potential. Even so, many people make mistakes when they purchase investment properties.

Some of their common mistakes are:

Not Stepping Outside Their Comfort Zone

Because it is familiar and comfortable, most investors decide to buy properties in their neighbourhood.

But to maximise your profits, you must venture outside your comfort zone and check out the property investment sector in more prominent locations.

Putting Off Research

Doing research when purchasing devices or furniture is essential, and the same applies to property investment. But you should be twice as careful.

Here are some ideas to get you started with your research:

• Monitor local property market patterns. Be on the lookout for prospective housing bubbles that may break.
• Learn about local landlord-tenant rules, zoning constraints, and fair housing legislation, all of which may influence your objectives in property investing.
• Conduct thorough research on the area concerning crime rates and hazards such as flood zones.
• Conduct a thorough inspection of each property's condition.
• Find out which facilities renters want in each place you're considering investing.

Doing your market research will help you make well-informed property investing selections.

Investing Tips from Investment Property Specialists

If you are planning to buy your first investment property, or even if you already have an existing portfolio, the following property advice and tips are essential for a better investment strategy.

Consider The Ripple Effect

As a location's population grows, it will begin to flow over into neighbouring suburbs, causing these areas to prosper and develop as well — this is the ripple effect.

If the prices in the suburb you've chosen are too high, looking in the surrounding region is a great investment strategy. It will benefit you, but only if you apply it with caution.

Remember your fundamentals: Before making a decision, read the market data.

Place yourself in the shoes of your potential house buyers. What is the closest location you would go to if you wanted to live in a certain neighbourhood but couldn't?

Negotiate the Best Price

Profit margins are a driving element in decision-making for investors. While everyone wishes to get outstanding value for a reasonable price, this is not always possible. The goal is to seek moderately priced houses to which an investor can add value.

Other factors to consider while determining if a home is a suitable buy are listed below.

Return of Investment (ROI)

It would be best if you considered your ROI before buying a property investment. Ideally, the average ROI acceptance rate should be between 10% and 15%.

Identify if the Property is a Good Investment

As a guideline, many investors use the 1% rule. This indicates that the monthly rental rate (gross before expenditures) should equal or exceed 1% of the purchase price to be profitable.

So, if the location does not support these numbers, you should reconsider.

Upgrade Wisely

Rental renovations and improvements will differ slightly from owner-occupied units. Properties with a high turnover experience more wear and tear.

As a result, improvements should prioritise the following:

Durability

Durable finishes and materials are required due to the increased wear and tear that rentals experience.

Consider investing in long-lasting materials. Despite the higher initial cost, investors will reap the benefits in the long run.

Cost to Added Value Ratio

Not every remodelling option will increase a renter's value. So, concentrate on minor adjustments that can have a significant impact, like adding storage spaces and repainting walls.

Mass Appeal

It is vital to base your refurbishment selections on mass appeal. Remember that the objective is to create a fashionable yet blank canvas for future renters to personalise throughout their stay.

Hire Professional Property Management

Successful investors understand that managing one or more rental properties is a full-time job.

It is necessary to constantly evaluate expenditures vs. rental value and keep great renters by limiting turnover.

A good property management expert will take the uncertainty out of long-term goals while overseeing day-to-day operations.

As a result, you will have more time to focus on developing your property investment portfolio and enjoy your investment journey.

With its world-famous beaches and activities, the Gold Coast has something for everyone. Plus, for the love of Gold Coast, a community group is there to support local businesses and creatives.

But what many people don’t know is that the Gold Coast area is also a great place to invest in property.

Why Invest Property on the Gold Coast

If you’re looking for great property investment, the Gold Coast is worth considering. There are more things to see and do here, making it perfect for tourists of all ages.

Here are 8 reasons why you should consider investing in property on the Gold Coast:

1. Laid-back lifestyle

The Gold Coast is perfect for retirees and young families for this reason.

It’s also home to some restaurants and cafes, allowing Gold Coast property investors to try the local cuisine. In addition, this place is home to many art galleries and museums, making it the perfect place for a creative break.

2. World-class tourist destinations

If you’re looking for a sun-soaked vacation destination, the Gold Coast is the perfect spot. There’s something everyone can enjoy with its endless beaches and lush rainforests.

Here are some tourist attractions the Gold Coast has to offer:

• Surfers Paradise Beach. As the name suggests, Surfers Paradise is a mecca for surfers from all over the world. This iconic beach is perfect for swimming, sunbathing or catching a wave.
• The Hinterland. For those who want to explore beyond the beach, the Gold Coast hinterland is full of hidden treasures waiting to be discovered. Plenty keeps you occupied, from hiking trails to waterfalls.
• Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Home to kangaroos, koalas, and other native Australian animals, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, is a must-visit for animal lovers.
• Warner Bros. It’s where they can take a behind-the-scenes tour of a working movie studio. There are also plenty of thrill rides and live entertainment shows on offer.
• Sea World. Get up close and personal with aquatic creatures at Sea World-like penguins and dolphins. There are also plenty of rides and shows to keep the whole family entertained.
• Paradise Country Farmstay. Experience Australian farm life with a stay on a working farm.

So whatever your interests are, you’re likely to get something to enjoy if you invest in the Gold Coast.

3. The weather

The Gold Coast is one of Australia’s popular holiday destinations. With its sunny weather, beautiful beaches and exciting attractions, it’s no wonder that millions of people flock to the area every year.

4. The population

The population is growing rapidly on the gold coast, which is great news for property investors. This means it has high rental yields as more people move to the area. Additionally, making it a median and prime location for property investment.

5. Prices will continue to rise

With the population growth and high demand for property, prices are expected to rise significantly in the next few years. This makes investing now a great way to secure your future financial success.

6. Robust economic growth

There are plenty of job opportunities, making it an ideal place to live and work.

However, if you invest in property, be sure to consult with a qualified professional who can provide guidance. Plus, advice based on the best Gold Coast property market.

7. Transport infrastructure and schools

The transport infrastructure includes the Gold Coast Highway, connecting the city to Brisbane. Plus, the Gold Coast light rail offers transport to different areas.

Additionally, this is home to a number of highly-rated schools.

8. Wide range of housing options

From high-rise apartments to detached houses, there is something for everyone in this vibrant community. And with so many different types of properties available, it’s easy to find the perfect place to call home.

Tips to Find Property Advisor on the Gold Coast

Here’s how to find property advisors to help you in your investment strategy:

• Try searching online. Check online reviews and speak to other clients to get an idea of their level of service and satisfaction.
• Ask family and friends. You can ask them if they know of any good property advisors in the area. If they have had positive experiences with an advisor in the past, they should be able to recommend them to you.
• Attend local events. This includes such as open days or seminars where property advisors will often be in attendance. This is the best opportunity to meet them and get an idea of the Gold Coast apartment market or even house units.

With these helpful tips in mind, you are sure to find a reputable property advisor in this area with ease.

Wrap Up

The Gold Coast region is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations in Australia.

Here’s the Gold Coast property market that will offer you stability if you want to invest. With its booming economy and various reasons, it is time to invest in this slice of paradise.

Start your search for the perfect investment property on the Gold Coast.

What is a Junior ISA and how it works

The UK government has given his citizens a new way to save money for their underage children and in a tax efficient way- This particular kind of account is called Junior ISA, a savings account which can be opened by a parent or by a legal guardian for their children under the age of 18. Being this account completely tax free, you’ll be able to put money aside without ever paying any tax on it. You can also decide to invest your capital in order to give it the chance to grow in time while never paying any tax on it. Just remember that, just like any other kind of investments, your money will have a chance to grow but might also go down.
Moreover, just like any other type of ISA, the JISA comes with a restriction on the amount of money you can deposit in a year. The annual ISA allowance for a Junior ISA is currently up to £9.000 and you can deposit a minimum amount of £25 per month. As previously mention, the money can be added by parents or legal guardians. Another thing to know about the JISAs is that other family members and friends can contribute to your children’s future too by depositing how much they want. When he turns 18, your children will have free access to their savings and will be able to use the money however they want.

How many types of JISAS are there?

Junior ISA come in two different types, which have been specifically designed to meet the needs of as many people as possible. The first one is the Cash Junior ISA, which is like a regular savings account designed for underage children. It can be opened by a parent or by a legal guardian to save money for their children’s future in a tax efficient way. There’s also the Stocks and Shares Junior ISA, which nowadays is growing in popularity. Like previously mentioned, this kind of account will let you invest your money instead of just saving it. This way, you’ll give your savings the chance to grow. When opening a Stocks and Shares Junior ISA, you should never forget about the risks that come with any kind of investment. However, whichever type of JISA you decide to open, your children will be able to control the account at 16 and to withdraw their money as soon as they turn 18.

Productivity in the workspace is a function of so many things. One of such things is safety. This is because a lot can get lost when accidents happen in these places.

This is why business owners, employees, and even clients should be committed to safety in these places. One of the appropriate steps that should be taken is working with an expert or consultant that can help in this regard.

However, you need to make sure the professional can offer the best. One of the factors you should consider while selecting is certification. You should know right away that some certifications do not hold water.

So, make sure you are dealing with a consultant that is certified by a trustworthy and reputable body. This is just one factor to consider as there are others. For more on this subject, you can read this.

Having established this, you should know that there are many benefits attached to hiring a safety consultant. You need to know this as some people think hiring these professionals is a waste of money.

Many of such people eventually turn to these professionals. However, this happens after they have lost a lot because of unsafe practices. So, it is better you make hay while the sun is still shining. We will help you see reasons as we discuss some 3 benefits of hiring these safety consultants.

Who Are Safety Consultants?

These are professionals that are specially trained to help businesses and even residential places engage in safe practices. The intent is to avoid any form of accidents and hazards. These professionals are trained to identify threats to safety in their client’s environment and suggest how to eliminate these safety threats.

Although it is better to engage them as a preventive measure against accidents and hazards, they could also be helpful after a hazard or accident has happened. They help investigate the cause and suggest how to avoid a repeat of the incident and similar occurrences.

Why Should You Hire a Safety Consultant in Your Work Environment?

Some of the reasons why hiring these professionals is ideal especially in the workplace includes the following:

Employee Motivation

More often than not, employees become more productive when incentives are involved. Well, you should understand that a safe workspace is one of the best incentives you can give an employee.

This is because these workers will be motivated to perform better in such an environment. So, this is one of the reasons you should not trivialize working with these professionals.

And just so you know, these professionals do not only make the workstation safe enough for your employees. They also orientate them on how to carry out their task in a safe way.

We should also add that you need to know the portfolio of your consultant before engaging them. You should make sure they have experience and a good track record working with clients in your kind of industry. This is so that you are certain they can offer the best service as this is essential.

Client’s Respect and Patronage

Clients are more observant than you think. They see things you sometimes do not know and make decisions based on that. This is especially the case in certain industries.

For instance, we have gathered that clients of service providers in the construction, machine maintenance, and some other highly technical sectors are concerned about workplace safety. So, it is not just about getting the job done for them.

They want to know your safety score as rated by regulatory bodies. This is why you also need to understand how this rating is done. For more information about this, you can see: https://ask.fmcsa.dot.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/52/~/where-do-i-go-to-check-a-company-safety

Many of these clients will not entrust you with certain jobs if you are not great in this aspect. This is why you should be committed to investing in the safety of your work environment.

Cost-Effective Approach

It is quite an irony that some employers steer clear of hiring these professionals because they consider it an expensive thing to do. Some of them think hiring these consultants is a luxury that they cannot afford.

Well, we should start from the last thought process. First, hiring them is not a luxury but a necessity. This is because the safety of your workers, clients, projects, and yourself is a necessity.

Having established this, you should know that working with a capable consultancy service turns out to be a cost-effective approach. This is because of how much you would have saved because of the loss you will not experience. The truth is that it is an investment and should be seen in that light.

Also, working with safety consultants would positively affect the dealings you have with your insurance company. All things being equal, the charges by your insurer will not be so much because they are certain you are committed to avoiding hazards and accidents. The insurer will not consider your business as a liability.

Wrap Up

Safety is a necessity for all. This is why we all need to be willing to invest in things that help us live and work safely. Working with these professionals is one of the necessary investments that should be made.

This is especially because of the benefits attached to working with them. We have gone over 3 of the benefits here and hope that you make informed decisions going forward.

Are you looking forward to becoming a real estate investor? The possibility of earning passive income has become appealing to many individuals. Nevertheless, such investments require substantial capital that aspiring investors lack.

Having no capital isn’t supposed to impede you from your investment goal, as banks and finance companies provide a variety of loan products for real estate investing. Selecting the right type of loan is crucial for the success of the investment. Borrowers can apply for different types of credits, ranging from a conventional mortgage to fix-and-flip loans.

Learn more about each type in detail.

Conventional mortgage

Conventional mortgage loans are the most common form of financing real estate investments. These credits are provided by banks after evaluating the credit score and history of applicants. In order to be more secure in the intentions of property investors, lenders require them to pay as many as twenty percent of the real estate price as a deposit. Nevertheless, the requirements related to conventional mortgages differ across states. Visit this site to check out the best investment property loans for 2021.

In addition, applicants are considered eligible for a conventional mortgage only if their credit score is at least 620. Those investors hoping for favourable interest rates are expected to have an even higher score of 740. Despite having a solid credit score, capitalists are supposed to prove they are financially capable of covering the expenses for their monthly mortgage payments.

For this purpose, the largest part of lenders obliges property investors to show proof of having enough finances to cover the payments for the upcoming six months. Prior to filing an application for a conventional mortgage, make sure to check the state requirements related to real estate investments.

Hard money loans

Hard money loans are much different from conventional mortgages, as the former are provided by professionals and companies offering funds for real estate investments. These are much quicker to receive, as moneylenders aren’t interested in the credit scores of real estate investors. In contrast, they are focused on the value of properties capitalists chose to invest in.

Another aspect to bear in mind is the short-term nature of hard money loans. Nowadays, there are numerous finance companies, like https://www.derwentfinance.com.au/investment-loans/, offering an extensive range of loan products to aspiring real estate investors. Hard money loans are supposed to be paid off within a period of thirty-six months, at the latest. Additionally, the interest rates of these credits are much higher when compared to the rates of conventional mortgages, for up to ten percent.

Given the short payback period and high-interest rates, hard money loans aren’t the best alternative for investing in all kinds of properties. This type of financing is most suitable for investors planning to invest in low-cost properties, which undergo renovation before being sold for a higher price within the payback period.

It’s paramount for capitalists to evaluate the ARV (after repair value) of real estate before filing an application. In case the property has no potential of becoming profitable after the renovation, there is no point in making such an investment. This is the least favourable alternative for capitalists interested in long-term real estate investments since the profit cannot be generated until the end of the payback period.

Private money loans

Unlike hard money lenders, private money lenders aren’t professionals but members of one’s personal network. Consequently, a private money lender might be any family member, friend, or colleague willing enough to invest its funds in the hope of a good ROI.

Furthermore, private money loans are an ideal alternative for aspiring property investors whose applications got rejected by banks due to a bad credit score. These lenders neither require piles of paperwork nor impose special requirements to borrowers. The interest rates are quite low, whereas the payback period flexible.

Nevertheless, getting such credit doesn’t mean becoming too flexible when it comes to the terms. Keep in mind that failing to pay off the money within the agreed period will result in foreclosure. The lender has a right to foreclose the property the borrower invested in if the latter isn’t capable of paying his/her debt.

Fix-and-flip loans

Fix-and-flip loans are the best decision for real estate investors not interested in long-term investments. Many capitalists are reluctant to invest in rental property due to the risk of coping with bad lessees. Hence, those interested in short-term investments should consider flip-and-fix credits. Similar to hard money credits, the approved funds enable capitalists to purchase cheap properties, remodel them, and sell them at a higher price.

As far as eligibility is concerned, lenders are less strict in their requirements in comparison with conventional mortgages. Apart from checking the FICO score of applicants, moneylenders pay closer attention to how profitable the income property will be. The after repair value is considered most important when deciding whether to apply for such a credit.

On the negative side, the interest rates of fix-and-flip loans are incredibly high, up to eighteen percent. Borrowers have an extremely short payback period of almost a year to pay the money off. Additionally, the closing costs tend to be higher as well. Go here to learn some practical tips about calculating closing costs.

The bottom line

Becoming a real estate investor requires a lot of planning and making wise decisions.

Don’t rush when considering your options in order not to face financial losses!

This is a great challenge for millions of parents, especially mothers worldwide, as they have to deal with childcare. Reasonably, many mothers are leaving their jobs to cater to the wellbeing of their little children. This and many more reasons are what birth companies that do remote learning and childcare schemes for working parents. With this, parents can concentrate at work and leave the wellbeing of their little ones to the hands-on childcare systems.

One of the notable companies that are into childcare is Cleo, a family benefits platform. In a statement by the CEO, Serahjane Sacchetti, COVID-19 has hastened the call for programs that help parents go to work without them worrying about their children. More companies are recognizing the work conflicts of their employees, so much attention is given to family benefits. Companies want their employees to be engaged and productive in the workplace and have peace of mind knowing that everything is alright at home.  

Meanwhile, one of the downsides of these programs is that it doesn't have solutions to the needs of different categories of kids. What a grade school child needs differs from what a toddler needs. Regardless, numerous effective programs are effective which working parents can benefit from.

Financial Aid

The family has to provide for the expenses for taking care of their children. Schools have reviewed their method, and many schools are going into distance learning. This will also increase the expenses of the family on each child. Also, it will demand that new sophisticated gadgets are gotten for each child to facilitate their learning and care while their parents are away at work.

Due to all these increased expenses, different companies are extending financial aids to parents to help them meet the educational and care demand of their children. For instance, 75 to 100 dollars is being decompensated by Bank of America for child care support. This depends on the annual payment of the parents. Also, workers whose children are less than 12-year-old are given a choice to select the preferred childcare they want for their children. Online loans can be sent to you anywhere as long as you are a Philippines citizen above 21 years. Also, you will have to submit all information that is required for the utang online application.

Extra Parental Paid Leave

What some companies do is to grant working parents more paid leave for them to have enough time to take care of their kids. Microsoft, for instance, gave about 12 weeks of paid parental leave to working parents earlier this year.

Google company also extended the longevity of family leaves to 14 weeks in April. This was during the heat of the pandemic. It gave parents time to look after their family.

Occupy Kids with Educative Activities

Taking care of kids, especially toddlers, demands more effort and attention. This makes it quite difficult for working parents to take care of their kids and work simultaneously. That is why some companies came up with software filled with activities to get kids occupied. A software developer named Globant developed software that gets children busy by providing virtual activities. Outside professionals supervise this program through their Future of Organizations department.

Some of the educative activities include magic shows, art classes, and so on. It also allows parents to plan activities for their children even while they are away.

Favorable Working Condition

It is challenging for working parents to keep up with their jobs, taking care of their children, and doing house chores. That is why some companies strategize in designing a more flexible work schedule for working parents. Paylocity, for instance, each working parent gets a schedule that fits their work-life demand. They get work done conveniently while still adhering to the company rules and regulations.     

With this, parents can take split schedules, which enable them to take long breaks in the day and return to work in the evening. This time, all their jobs will be done online. Some get to work for 10hours every day, just for 4days a week. Although this attracts a lesser pay, it still gives them time to look after their family. Meanwhile, Paylocity gives its workers more Paid Time Off leaves (PTO) and sick leaves for more work flexibility.

Expanding childcare

Toyota has also been alleviating its workers' stress by surveying to ascertain the problem of working parents and the best way to help them. Its workers in the manufacturing facility in Georgetown, Kentucky, expressed complaints about their children’s virtual learning and how they will help their children if they were at work.

In response to this, the company launched an on-site program for children in kindergarten to fifth grade to help with their virtual classes. Each center is provided with supervisors to assist the children in distance learning, doing homework, and other educative activities.

However, this doesn't come for free as parents would have to pay 150 to 170 dollars per week for the program.

Discuss Childcare 

Discussing childcare in the workplace used to be unprofessional. However, with the recent happenings worldwide, it has become an important topic for discourse even in workplaces. Virtually all parents are facing one problem or another about online learning.

During Cleo's online meeting, no fewer than five babies show on the screens.

To assist working parents, they gave room for their employees to discuss their parental challenges. There is a slack communication channel created to that effect. This allows parents to share ideas and voice their frustrations about online learning.

Parents must give maximum support to their children's schooling; it is also important that they keep their jobs, and their source of income won't be abated. They must do everything to stay in service, not even now that the pandemic has rendered many people jobless. This happened everywhere, even in the Philippines. There are times that funds will be needed to sort urgent bills or purchase some gadgets for their children's online learning. Emergency loan online in the Philippines could save the day. 

Purchasing Inventory

It has been seen that 31 percent of the businesses loan go towards purchasing inventory. If retailers were concerned, the number was way higher than this reaching up to 60 percent using their loan this way. Using the capital to purchase the inventory is one of the most smartest and intelligent ways to manage replenish stock, seasonal dips, or even try new products.

Purchasing Equipment

For starting almost any business, you would surely need a few types of equipment to function. Many businesses opt for loans specifically to fund these heavy machinery and equipment. Buying equipment is not a piece of cake and it can be costly most of the time, due to which taking a loan makes the whole process much smoother. It has been seen that around 30 percent of the businesses use business loans this way.

Refinancing Or Paying Other Debts

One of the smartest approaches is to consolidate the debt in order to use small business financing. It has been estimated that around 9 percent of the recipients you’re their advance to pay down all the other debt pending or to help refinance. This makes them feel relief and ease the burden on their shoulder which makes them help in focusing on the business more than ever.

Business Loans For Marketing

One should not forget that for any business, marketing is the main factor that distinguishes a successful business from a failed one. To grow your business, it is important for you to market your business intelligently so that new customers can be attracted and your business can grow. Money invested in marketing never goes in vain and is seen in some way or the other. This is the reason why it is seen that around 6 percent of the people who opt for business loans prefer to invest in marketing.

Penny stocks or cent stocks are typically defined as shares of a public company that are usually traded for less than $5 a share. Wise investors know that penny stocks are a high risk, but have the potential for a big return. While most financial advisors recommend that people don’t invest in penny stocks, it might be wise to incorporate penny stocks into your overall portfolio. However it is important to know the pros and cons of investing in penny stocks before you invest your first dollar, or two.

Pros of Penny Stocks:

High growth rate potential:

Once of the biggest reasons that investors like to invest in penny stocks is because they have a very high growth rate potential. For instance, if you invest a lot of money and acquire a lot of cent stock, if that company suddenly grows or the stock rises significantly, you can stand to make a huge amount of money.

Diversify with very little money:

Penny stocks are also great for first time investors because they have the potential to set their budget and invest in a number of different companies for very little money. This is a great way to get a feel of the market place and how the stock market works. If you find that penny stocks work for you, as a new investor, you might want to diversify and try your hand in other types of stocks as well.

Cons of Penny Stocks:

Extremely unstable:

One of the biggest disadvantages of penny stocks is that they are extremely unstable. One day you can buy your stocks at a very low price and the next day its high, but the day after that it can dip again. Due to the risk involved it is difficult to make a significant return unless you play with the right chips. Penny stocks are inherently a dangerous gamble and it is possible to lose a lot of money.

Susceptible to shady investment practices:

Penny stocks are also susceptible to legal, but shady investment practices where traders will buy a lot of trades in a company just to make its numbers rise. If you hold a lot of penny stock, you might be duped into thinking the market is on an upswing, when it’s really just a bunch of day traders bending the rules in their favor.

Conclusion:

At the end of the day, financial analysts say that you shouldn’t stay away from penny stocks all together. There is a potential to make a lot of money, but you have to play your cards right. And not putting your cards on the table could make you lose more than if you hadn’t started playing to begin with. In general, you should always do research on the company you’re investing in. Out of all the penny stock tips, doing your due diligence is the best way to gain an advantage and make investing in penny stocks work for you. While penny stocks are a dangerous gamble, investing in them will greatly increase your feel for the stock market, giving you an invaluable intuition to be smart with your money, and increase your odds of making a large return.

A lot of people are frightened and anxious when it comes to talking about deaths and funerals. It is quite understandable because after all, it is not entirely a light topic to just bring up casually. However, it does not make it okay to push the topic at the far end of your mind and list of priorities. If you do, you might just have a tendency to make terrible financial decisions in your life. Those decisions may, later on, affect your family and give them stress after you are gone. You might be thinking right now, how are funerals related to your finances? It is quite a great connection actually, as funerals are really costing more and more each passing year. With the average funeral cost in the United Kingdom already rising to £4,417 in the past year, it is no wonder why prepaid funeral plans have become a financial investment for others. Understanding the benefits of a prepaid funeral plan might just help you make up your mind about it and give you a better grasp of your finances while you are still strong and able to earn for yourself.

A Thoughtful Decision

Getting a prepaid funeral might be one of the best decisions you could ever make not only for yourself but as well as for your family. The financial aspect of it all is not the only factor that makes it one of the best decisions ever, but it sure is one of the greatest factors. When you arrange for a prepaid funeral plan, you would already choose the necessities and requirements you would want to have in your own funeral. Meaning to say, you would already remove the burden of making hard decisions and thinking about what you want for your bereaved loved ones when you pass on. They would be allowed to grieve in their own way because a funeral director would be in charge of making all of the necessary arrangements for the funeral. Most importantly, your family would no longer need to come up with money to pay for any sort of expenses because it would have been covered with your prepaid funeral plan.

Taking Advantage of Low Prices

Considering that funeral costs these days are already at an all-time high compared to the past couple of years, or even decades, it would still be one of the lowest you would ever experience it to be in the next years and decades to come once you would already need to spend for an actual funeral. When you get one of Stibbards and Sons’ funeral plans, you can pay for a funeral at a very minimal cost because of their different and affordable plans you could choose from. You could get one for as low as £2,899 for a simple funeral, or add a little for more services at £3,349. There are also plans with more special inclusions but you have to pay more for it as it costs £4,144, or have a bespoke funeral tailored to your preferences which starts at £4,599. If and when you avail of one of their plans, your money would be invested and placed in a trust with The Golden Charter Trust, so that when the time that you would already use it, it could cover all of the funeral costs and expenses that would fit your chosen plan. At the end of the day, there are no additional costs your family members would need to pay for.

Convenience and Ease

The beauty with prepaid funeral plans is that should there be a loved one in your family that passes away unexpectedly, you would be able to transfer your plan for him or her to use. If your family is not in a very good financial place during such an untimely passing, it would be a great benefit for you to have because you would no longer need to scrummage through different means and channels of gathering enough money to pay for your deceased loved one’s funeral expenses. Not only that, but getting the services of the best in the United Kingdom, you are guaranteed to be in safe hands with Stibbards and Sons’ highly able and professional funeral directors to help you with the whole process every step of the way. Losing someone you love may be hard, but it should not be harder than it already is because of funeral dilemmas and costs. With Stibbards and Sons, you get all the help you need.