Author Archives: June Mcdonalid

Choosing the Best Brokerage

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You’ve decided you’re ready to begin investing in the stock market. The next step is to open an online brokerage account, but first, you want to check out some of the suggested brokerages. As you do your research, you will need to consider several things. Does the brokerage offer low-cost or free trades? Does it provide access to a wide variety of investment products? Could I get a good deal with a Discount Broker? What about customer service and tech support? Here are some things you should consider before choosing a brokerage.

  • What do you need?

Choosing the best brokerage for you can be tricky. Do you need a discount broker or a full-service broker? What services do you need, and what do you not need? The answer depends on your financial needs and goals.

Here are two scenarios that seem very similar. Joe and Jane both need a broker to help them invest their money. Both of them are in their twenties, single, have a steady income, and have no dependents. On the surface, they seem the same, but in reality, they have very different financial needs and goals.

 

  • Narrow the field

Choosing the best brokerage can be difficult. So, narrow down the field by focusing on the features that are most important to your investing strategy. Picking a new brokerage is a personal decision and one that you should take your time making. But if you’re trying to cut down the list of potential brokers, consider the following. First, once you’ve decided on a type of brokerage (discount, full-service, online, etc.), do some research on the specific companies. Most brokerages offer financial advice, but some deal with specific types of investments, like stocks or bonds. The more you know about your ideal brokerage’s offerings, the easier it will be to narrow down your choices.

 

  • Identify or know the fees

When it comes to choosing a brokerage, you should start by deciding what type of investor you are. If you are a stock trader, you will need to pay attention to things like commission costs, minimum balance requirements, and trade minimums. If you are a passive investor who has a long-term strategy, you will want to research the service fees and the number of free trades you can receive. Also, there are some things to look out for if you are investing in mutual funds, like asset allocation and front-load fees.

 

  • Test the platform

When you are looking for the best broker, there are so many different factors you can use to decide on the best broker for your needs. You could go to brokerage review sites, ask financial advisors, check out forums, and even ask friends and family if they use a good broker. Of course, all of these will give you recommendations, but your decision should be based on more than just one person’s opinion.

 

The best way to determine what brokerage is best for you is to try a few out and see how you like them. You can start by signing up for an account at any online brokerage, which will give you a general feel for how these types of companies operate. Next, try out a few of the services that only a select few brokers offer, like a retirement account or mobile app.

 

  • Are they good at educating their clients?

The internet makes researching every aspect of banking easy, which means that you can learn about the best brokerage through the comfort of your own home. This is not just an option for the wealthy, either. If you are a student or someone who just doesn’t have the time to engage with a broker, you can research and choose a broker online. Once you have a broker, you’ll be able to open an account, which is the first step in the process.

Many people assume that, since they know how to invest in stocks and manage their portfolio, they can manage their brokerage accounts as well. While that can be true for some, for others, it is a recipe for disaster. Figuring out the best brokerage is a similar process to finding the right stockbroker. You want someone who is going to understand your financial situation and goals and will work hard to meet them, as well as being easy to contact when you have questions.

 

Business Finance Source

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Funding new projects or navigating out of financial difficulty are two of many reasons a business might want to reassess finances and potentially acquire wealth. There are many sources of help when you are facing funding or financial difficulties. This article will explain many of those sources, each with its ups and downs. If you are ever unsure which is right for you, then it would be recommendable for you to find a financial advisor who can help you make an informed decision.

Without further ado, here are sources of financial help which your business could utilize for growth or stability.

Short Term Finance

Short-term finance is defined as financing needs lasting 1 year or less. This kind of finance is needed to fulfill the needs of a business. This may include payment of taxes, salaries, maintenance expenses, payment, and any types of business fees. The uneven flow of cash in a business needs this type of financing. Thus, they need to address certain issues by using short-term finance. Remember that financial problems arise because sales revenue and purchases are not always consistent. Please continue reading below.

  • Bill Discounting

Bill accounting is about future payables. Bills of exchange can be discounted at financial institutions like banks. The advance selling of a bill to an intermediary before it’s due to be paid is called Bill discounting. Interest rate and the fee are calculated on the risk of non-payment from the buyers.

  • Bill of Lading

Bill of lading is a legal document issued by a carrier to acknowledge the receipt of the cargo shipment. Bill of lading today can be used for the carriage of goods. These documents can be used as a guarantee when financial institutions are financing your business.

  • Bank Overdraft

Bank overdraft is the go-to option for a source of business finance. It’s easier for business owners to meet short-term unexpected expenses. A bank overdraft means that a financial institution like a bank allows clients or customers to borrow a certain amount of money. The interest rate is based on an overdraft, typically $30-35 dollars per overdraft.

  • Financial Institution

Financial institutions also help business owners with their business financial problems. They provide short-term loans with small amounts of interest depending on the amount you borrow.

Medium Term Finance

Medium-term finance is a finance source available for a midterm period, typically between 3-5 years, and is usually used for business expansion and purchasing large assets. This kind of loan is required to meet the mid-term requirements of a business. This finance is used for modernization and expansion. This helps the businessman to buy certain equipment and capital for their projects.

  • Commercial Banks

Commercial banks provide loans for different time scales, including mid-term loans. commercial banks are the major source of mid-term finance. You can avail of loans depending on the size of the business and its assets.

  • Financial Institution

Financial institutions also help business owners with their business financial problems. They provide short-term loans with small amounts of interest payable depending on the amount you borrow.

  • Insurance Companies

Insurance companies are one of many finance sources, and they have a large pool of funds contributed by policyholders. Any business owner can avail of their loan if they have the capabilities to pay the negotiated terms and interest.

Long Term Finance

Long-term finance is a financial instrument with a maturity exceeding 1 year or more. That instrument includes bank loans, bonds, leasing, and many more. This finance is often used in company expansion and long-term projects. Long-term finance is for those businesses with more than five years of tenure.

  • Leasing

Leasing is a source of long-term finance. It’s a contract between the lender and a leaser for the hire of new assets for a specific amount of time. Leasing can be beneficial to business owners who need new assets. They can get new assets without any heavy outlay of cash. Leasing is important for companies who are not able to buy outright at the moment. Lessors will need to make sure that their accounts are up-to-date and they are able to provide the correct financial documents, so they may have questions like – what is the ASC 842 deadline? Who do I contact to discuss my accounts? This can help them keep everything in line with what they are looking for.

  • Financial Institutions

Financial institutions can help business owners with their funding difficulties. Many financial institutions can provide mid-term to long-term loans. The interest rates vary depending on terms and conditions and the amount borrowed.

  • Equity Shares

Equity share is another source of business finance effective in the long term. It is an investable type of security used by a company to the public. Equity shares are sold to public “Shareholders” to generate the capital base of a big business. This kind of method is safe and secure, and favorable in the long term. Have a financial advisor like Lincoln Frost work with you to proceed with equity decisions. Determining which stocks might provide the best returns necessitates deep analysis. Before investing or purchasing stock in a company, buyers ideally should research the market value of equity, which is the estimated value of a company’s stock at any given time. You can click here to learn more about the market value of equity.
Conclusion

There are various sources to finance your business. Also, there are limitations. It depends on your business size and the capability to repay the loan you borrow with interest. Anyone who has the means to repay can borrow money from banks and financial institutions. The sample above explains some of the many financing sources available to individuals, private firms, businesses.

Getting A Loan For Your Business

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Starting up a business or moving your business from one stage to the next can be difficult. There are so many factors to consider which can cause you a huge headache. One of the biggest hurdles that lots of businesses face is finance. For your business to grow, it might need bigger office space, more office furniture (check this website here for reference), more employees, better equipment, faster and stronger computers, or a location that is more accessible to customers.

Similarly, in the case of a physical store, to expand it into a showroom, you may need to invest in certain retail store fixtures like glass shelving and racks as well as in other areas such as signage, payment processing technology, and a number of personnel to properly manage the showroom. You may also need to invest in marketing and advertising campaigns to draw in customers, and in an additional inventory or warehouse to store the extra stocks of the items you sell.

All of these changes certainly require lots of money which might not be available at hand. In some cases, the money might be there, but using it may not be wise since these funds could be a part of the emergency reserve. In situations like these, I believe getting a business loan is the best thing for your business as well as your peace of mind. That being said, securing a business loan might not be a cakewalk. There might be a lot of requirements that you must fulfill so that the lenders can approve the loan. Many people tend to lack knowledge on how to get a business loan. This can lower their chances of getting the required funds for their company.

You may need to collect documents like business bank statements, financial and management accounts, VAT returns, details of company directors, financers, etc. Along with these, you can also create a business expansion model to exhibit the possibility of increased future profits and returns. You can look into websites such as https://www.printivity.com/books/perfect-bound-books to get all these documents bound into a wire-o book or stitched to provide your business plan a presentable look.

Change is very vital and it should be done at the right moment. So many big companies over the years ignored the need for change because they thought that their foothold in the market was strong enough to last a lifetime. Other hungry and ambitious companies emerged and implemented the necessary changes thereby leaving the fossils in the dust. One lesson I learned from this is that you should never stop being innovative and thinking of new ways of doing business even though you are at the top of the mountain.

What To Look For When Getting A Business Loan

Not every financing house is the right fit for you and similarly, not every big bank out there is also good for your business. Before I open an account with a bank or take out a loan I always do my due diligence. I make it a point to find out about their interest rates, benefits they offer as well as any other pertinent information that is worth noting. Having information from one bank and then signing up with them is similar to a person shopping for a car or house then getting the first one they get. I find it useful to look around, compare then make an informed decision after considering all the facts.

Similarly, when you are looking for a loan for your startup or your growing business it is important to compare banks and other finance houses to see which ones suit your business. Some banks are well suited for small to medium companies and they offer smaller loans with relatively low-interest rates. In my opinion, these firms that partner a lot with smaller companies will be better for a small business as they give the right support. Going to a big bank might not be the best as they might only deal with large sums of money which are not necessary for your business.

Bigger businesses looking to expand into new territory will most likely get the required funds from bigger banks that give out bigger loans. These banks often have enough money to fund your expansion, provided the new venture is guaranteed to bring them back their money plus interest. They can also offer long-term loans which might allow you to not be under pressure when it comes to repayment. Another added advantage of getting a long period to pay back a loan is that a new business or a new dimension of the business might take time to be popular and bring in the required money.

An important thing to note is to only get a loan that covers your expenses. Getting a loan that covers more with some change to spare will often lead to spending the money in the wrong places and making it difficult to repay the money.

7 Digital Marketing Tips for Startups

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As a new business owner, you probably know that marketing your products or services online is the most effective strategy to promote your brand and attain growth. Taking into account companies such as Epsilon to assist with marketing necessities, as well as using your own resources you’ve picked up along the way. Digital marketing, if done right, can yield a glorious return on investment. However, it can be costly. To start your marketing, you need to build your business website. Platforms like WordPress and Wix allow you to create your website for free. It is user-friendly, so you do not have to learn complex coding. If you have the budget available to do so, you could hire the service of a company like SERP (https://serp.co/services/websites/chicago/) to help you design the perfect website.

Search Engine Optimization is another famous practice among digital marketers. It can attain different goals, like pushing your website to the top of the search engine page results so your customers will find it immediately. They can also do it to find new clients or boost your traffic. Various SEO guides for dummies are available online, and you can learn it yourself. But, if you want results, you can also choose to seek helpful advice from an SEO expert. You must pay for their expertise.

Whether you choose to hire an expert to help you with your digital marketing or do it yourself, here are seven digital marketing tips for start-ups.

  1. Focus on the user experience

An excellent website must offer effective communication channels, intuitive user experience, and content. To ensure your audience will have a great user experience, do the things right from the start. Make sure that your website loading speed is fast. Chatbots assisting communications, intuitive website menu navigation, and the tone, and simplicity of the content, can deliver a seamless user experience.

  1. Engage and interact with your audience

Digital marketing is not a venue where people just read and then move on. This online platform offers people a choice of satiating their queries and doubts. So, give them a chance to interact with your brand. Although your goal is to promote or market your product, it does not mean that you should only focus on posting business-centric materials. You might want to look into using machine translation services like can be found at https://lilt.com/machine-translation to make sure that any international users are able to effectively communicate with you.

To boost customer engagement, consider running unique contests with freebies and convey valuable information using video or infographics. You could also have a question-and-answer session, tag some relevant people in curated content, ask questions using creative graphics, etc. The important thing is you can create a connection between your audience and your brand. Make the audience feel like they are valuable members of your business.

  1. Update your social media accounts consistently

If you engage in digital marketing, the chances are that social media marketing will be a part of it. Billions of individuals are using social media platforms. It has become one of the efficient and lucrative ways to market a product or service. It will not only boost or grow your business but provide a suitable medium for customer service opportunities.

To make the most of your social media marketing effort, you must post content on a regular and consistent basis. Also, make sure that there is a unified identity to all your posts. But ensure not to stay away from the brand message you wish to convey.

  1. Remember that Great Content is the King

You probably would see this phrase included in most digital marketing articles. Many emphasize its importance, and when you start with your online marketing efforts, you will know why. It serves as the vehicle to convey your brand message to your audience. Audiences these days are getting savvier and wiser. They will probably look for and trust brands that offer valuable and great content.

Remember to make and share content that is timely, relevant, and of quality. To get ahead of the game and stand out from the crowd, also make creative content.

  1. Look at your competitors’ marketing strategies

You may not see things such as their conversion rate. But looking at what other businesses in your niche are doing can give you an insight into the marketing strategies they currently use. Look for companies of the same size when you compare. It is also worth looking for a digital marketing agency such as SheerID who can help you target a particular niche audience.

  1. Invest in the right tools

The right tools for marketing, growth hacking, analytics, and others can free you from repetitive and mundane tasks so you will have more time to focus on what matters most for your business.

There are free tools available on the web. But if you already have some funds to pay for the premium versions, it is much better if you invest some money in them. Paid tools work better than the free ones. If you are hesitant to pay for a tool yet, some software will be offered on a trial basis.

  1. Seek help from the experts

With the emergence of outsourcing companies, it is now easy to find experts who can handle your digital marketing at a price that will not break your bank. Outsourcing is also practical if you do not have sufficient funds to hire your digital marketing staff yet, but already want to make your digital marketing right.

If you hire someone who will handle your online marketing, consider an expert. Choose those who are good with all the digital channels such as digital PR, SEM, SEO, social media marketing, and email marketing.

Digital marketing will not be easy. You will have many competitors online. If you can get it right, it can help grow your startup business.

Art as an Alternative Investment: Factors to Consider

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Reading reviews here and there, I have discarded the notion that my desire to venture into art investment thrives on the common aim as other businessmen that I just turn up to a gallery, buy the artwork and wait for its value to soar. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case. There are numerous factors that I must consider before taking up art as an investment. They include but are not limited to the following.

 

Monetary barriers

There’s a limitation to the amount of money that I can access to diversify my investment into art. Credit to the tune of hundreds of millions is certainly out of the equation. Capital is one of the major constraints to my entry into investing in art. Of course if I was to believe that some large profit could come from a particular investment and the buying price is a little too steep, there is a potential to finance the purchase in other ways, such as finding secured loans that could be suitable. Quite a few people I know have taken out loans to purchase art, so this is certainly a viable financial option for investing. However, this is not the only cost as auction houses can claim commissions as high as 25% when buying and selling. Still, I have to be very careful lest I invest into a white elephant.

 

Liquidity risks

From a simplistic viewpoint, investing in art entails buying a piece of art, waiting for its value to appreciate, and then cashing out. Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as it sounds. I will venture into this diversified art business knowing that it’s highly liquid, and can be dictated by other external factors that can bar me from cashing in on my assets. Factors that can make it difficult for me to sell my piece of art or access my money include the genre of the piece of art, the country that I’m trading in, and the wider economic climate.

 

Provenance risks

Differentiating genuine and fake artworks is difficult and requires expertise. Although the gallery that I buy from ought to be well-placed to tell which one is legit or fake, they cannot always be 100% certain. For instance, in 2016, Alain Dreyfus was alerted that Alfred Sisley’s painting bought at Christie’s in 2088 was looted by Nazis in 1940 from another family. The failure in provenance documentation led to a suit to return the money.

 

Extra costs

Besides the existing high commissions demanded by auction houses when buying and selling a piece of art, I’m likely to deep further into my pockets when choosing art as an alternative investment. This is partly because about 80% of secondary market volume belongs to Christie’s and Sotheby’s auction houses. In addition to these scary fees, there are many other costs such as transport, insurance, and storage that I must consider for every piece of art that I purchase.

 

Ownership models

Although this is not a major factor that I should dwell on, it’s worth considering it. Ideally, venturing into art can provide an excellent opportunity if I have money to participate in auctions, and I can identify high-performing pieces of art. But if I have limited capital, then I may consider being more judicious to use a shared ownership model as an alternative entry point to this investment.

 

Frankly, while conceptualizing ideas around investment in art, shared ownership didn’t cross my mind. But through blockchain technology, I can now get all the vital information through the mainstream outlets. However, there are fears that this infiltration could be the source of major discontent in market dynamics.

 

For instance, if I decide to invest in digital shares in a painting instead of an entire piece of artwork, it might substantially lower my cost of entry into art investment. It can also be the perfect avenue for me to bypass the liquidity risk (trading artworks in small fractions is easier than selling the artwork itself) as well as avoiding auction houses.

 

Since blockchain underpins the above principle, I will invest in the paintings knowing that I have a better long-term assurance of provenance than previous or current investors have had in their engagements. This is because the centralized ledger is secure.

 

Working with an investment firm

Another consideration is to purchase and sell artworks through a credible investment firm. Most of them thrive on the ideology of shared ownership in a democratized environment. Still, they can connect me to other lovers of art from different backgrounds who also want to trade in the artwork. There are many platforms that can aid in the buying and selling regarding investments into art pieces, and as stated before, some look to trade in art shares instead of whole pieces of art. Depending on your financial standings, either option could be worth looking at.

 

Another advantage of investment firms is that they can spread their investment capital with ease because purchasing numerous works helps them to diversify their portfolios.

How to Earn an Income as a Freelancer

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More individuals are actually working from home than ever before due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). If you’re interested in becoming a freelancer, following these steps will help you establish a successful freelance career.

Getting Started

Working from your home is not as simple as you might think, especially as a freelancer. You may be working from your computer a lot, meaning that your eyes are going to be strained, to help reduce eye pain that could cause you to take frequent breaks or finish early, you may want to look into companies such as Felix Gray to see about blue light blocking glasses so you are prepared. To get started as a freelancer, you need to think about your skills and how they can benefit individuals and companies. Popular freelancing skills include graphic design, writing content, accounting, and more. Once you find your niche, you can start preparing to enter the freelance world.

Research Different Platforms

The next step in establishing yourself as a freelancer is finding the right platform to offer your services. As a freelancer, I use Google to help point me in the right direction. It’s best to find a platform that best suits your service niche. Say you’re a content writer looking for freelancing opportunities, you might want to check platforms like Contena. This online platform connects freelance writers with businesses looking to hire them, which can be useful to kickstart your freelancing career. Now, if questions like “is Contena legit?” are running through your mind, you should do your own research to be sure. Researching different platforms and making a note of the reviews they’ve received and their overall layout is very important. Therefore, it’s a good idea to check out their terms of service, prices, and features that will help you sell your services.

Choose Your Services

Now you need to figure out what services you’re going to offer. I would start with the things you’re best at, whether that be consulting, home repairs, interior design, and other services. You need to put your best foot forward. Advertise the services that you know you are excellent at doing.

Consider Your Prices

You need to consider how much you will charge for each of your services. If you’re comfortable with offering only one service to get you started, that’s fine. Ideally, I would offer three services to begin with or two versions of the same service, each one offering more than the first. You can use a unique pricing system or use a base cost. A unique pricing system features prices that you set based on what you think each job is worth. A base cost is a system you use to price your services based on a particular platform’s prices.

The Legal Aspect of Things

As a freelancer, you need to consider the legal aspect of operating your business. Most beginner freelancers believe you can provide a service, get paid, and move on to the next customer. While this is true in a sense, you need to have some legal perimeters. If you choose to offer your services on a freelance platform, you take the hassle out of the legal work. Freelance platforms cover all the legalities, some of which you can find in the company’s terms of service.

If you’d rather go it alone, you can, but you need to provide some legal documents for the work you provide. These legal documents don’t have to be extravagant. Still, they do need to state your terms of providing freelance work and your customers’ role in the work you provide.

In addition, do not forget to factor in the taxable aspect of your income, generated through freelancing. Each nation may have its own set of rules and regulations. To make yourself knowledgeable about the same, you can look at some verified online freelance and personal finance resources or you can talk to a finance expert as well. This remains immensely important because at the end of the day you want to be paid fairly.

Share on Social Media

One of the things I recommend is sharing your work on social media. Millions of people use social media every day, and it is one way you can advertise your services. Use multiple social media platforms for promoting your services. The more social platforms you use, the more growth potential you have, so use them wisely.

Find Customers

Finding customers is easier said than done, but not impossible. Most freelance platforms bring the clients to you, so that takes a lot, not all of the work out of your day. If you find clients elsewhere, you can bring them to your platform of choice and earn money. Most freelancers make use of a reliable VPN to work with international clients. If you are a freelancer, you should also consider using a virtual private network that has the choice for a diverse server network. Research and compare between different providers that suit you the best. For example, nordvpn vs expressvpn is a popular choice among remote workers.

Tell Customers About You

Your customers want to know as much about you as possible. I would disclose your education and special skills that help you perform your services better. You can also include certifications you’ve obtained and the goals you’ve achieved. I would also tell customers what you like to do in your free time, such as your hobbies.

Further Your Knowledge

There’s always room for improvement. Further your knowledge as much as possible. Improving your experience in the services you offer allows you to earn more money. Clients are willing to pay more for your services if you can prove you’ve had training or education that certifies you know what you’re doing and can help them in some way.

Becoming a freelancer during a pandemic is a smart idea. Still, you need to make sure you execute your plan correctly. Use these tips to help you get started on your freelance journey.

The Professions That Require the Most Training to Enter

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There is no doubt that some professions require more training than others. Not just to enter but to stay up to speed. Learning continues to a degree in every occupation or business to keep up with technology and new laws, but more so in others. For instance, a medical practitioner will continue to learn new techniques and treatments that will help their patients. An accountant will be required to know how the latest budget announced by their government has changed the tax rules for their client, or the company that they work for.

So, let us consider the occupations that will undoubtedly require the most training to enter and to then to excel in. We shall focus mainly on the UK, and then make a few comparisons with the US. We shall also consider how lucrative a business or industry each one is to enter.

Accountants

In the UK, it is 9 to 18 months to obtain an AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) professional diploma, enabling you to work as an accounting technician and assist an accountant. To become a fully-fledged chartered accountant, in financial accounting, it will require between 3 and 10 years of study alongside working in a job and gaining practical experience to practice or work for a large company in that role. The qualification for chartered accounts is the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants). Alternatively, there are qualifications that can be taken in cost accounting, such as CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants).

In the US, it takes a minimum of 7 years to become a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) before they can even go to work for a firm like Eide Bailly. The requirements for the license will vary between states. However, in general, 150 hours of college credits (which is 30 more than most other undergraduate degrees), together with 2 years of full-time working experience, is required before the exam can be taken.

CPD (Continued Professional Development) is required by members of accountancy governing bodies in the UK so that they may continue to practice as a member.

Accountants who know about tax-efficient schemes and how best to manage money can be in great demand in a corporate setting. It can mean the difference between a company surviving or not, as the accountant will be the first person to identify a cashflow problem.

Physicians and Surgeons

The longest training required for an occupation is in the field of human medicine. Those training in the UK to become a doctor can train for up to 16 years before they qualify. This will consist of a 5 to 6-year degree, depending on specialization, followed by a 2-year post-graduation foundation, followed by between 3 to 8 years of specialist training. Specialist training is the key to how long it takes. For example, someone training to be a surgeon will be required to train further in the practical skills of surgery in addition to having acquired an extensive knowledge of human anatomy and how medicines work.

Although seen as a vocation by many, the career also pays well. The career, in the UK, offers the option of branching into private medicine for greater earnings. Those who specialize in plastic surgery, in the US particularly, can earn huge sums of money as they gain a reputation for becoming the best in their field. They tend to also bring in softwares such as a Plastic Surgery EMR to help their expand and streamline their business. Medicine is big business everywhere, with pharmaceutical companies looking for those trained in medicine to develop or promote their products. Anyone who does not quite take to hands-on patient treatment always has the option of diversifying into scientific and laboratory-based research.

Veterinarians

The term surgeon is often attached to the title of the occupation because vets are surgeons. As well as treating animals with antibiotics, they also perform operations on them. They need to have a thorough understanding of the anatomy of an animal. Owners value their pets and will spend vast sums of money in seeing that they are comfortable, happy, and live as prolonged a life as possible.

Those wishing to enter the profession will have first obtained good science results in their examinations (A-Levels in the UK) to be accepted for veterinary college. Following this, it is a long training during which vets learn about all kinds of animals, from small domestic pets to farm and wild animals. Some vets will go on to specialise in zoology and more exotic animals.

In the US, veterinary school is a 4-year commitment after an undergraduate degree has been taken, and then the search for veterinary jobs can begin.

In the UK, you will need to complete a veterinary degree that has been approved by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. These degrees will typically take 5 years to complete, as opposed to 3 years for most other degrees. Possessing a degree in a related subject already can reduce this period to 4 years, as you will be entering at the graduate level. Interestingly, like some other occupations, you can serve as a vet for the British Army, if you choose adventure over earning potential.

In terms of salaries, vets work long hours but can make good money by owning or becoming a partner in their own practice. If you have adequate experience working with animals and want to advance your career, you could look for looking for animal research jobs in the UK. A dual certification could help you make more money. The business of selling pet products is a lucrative one, too.

So, three occupations where a lot of training is required to succeed in them but three which make perfect business sense for those looking for a career that will fund a comfortable lifestyle while helping others

Famous Businesspeople Who Have Made It Against All the Odds

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When we talk about business people who have become successful against the odds, we are in the main talking about business people who have become self-made millionaires, as opposed to those that have inherited their wealth. Those that have had perhaps the worst school reports, with teachers practically writing them off, to become phoenixes out of the ashes. So, lets us explore a few examples to encourage those of us less fortunate never to give up no matter how tough it gets.

 

Sir Richard Branson

Branson expressed his hope of becoming an entrepreneur from quite a young age. He would first venture into business at the tender age of 16 when setting up a magazine called Student.

You could not say that he was born to a poor family, his father was a barrister, but he struggled with dyslexia, and so found it hard as a student trying to learn. He never gave up, though, and found his strengths outside of academia.

In 1970, Branson would set up a mail-order record business and then go on to open a chain of record stores, which later changed name from Virgin Records to Virgin Megastores in 1972. There was certainly something in this name that spelled success. During the 1980s, he started Virgin Atlantic airline while he was still expanding his Virgin Records music label.

In 2020, Richard Branson was reputed to have a net worth of something in the region of $4.1 billion, so that philosophy of never giving up and always trying something new or unconventional has certainly paid off.

 

Sir Alan Sugar

Sugar first started out in business selling car aerials and cigarette lighters. Everyone starts somewhere is the message here, and if you never start you will never achieve what might have been possible. As far as the symbolism of the car aerials goes, he was certainly in touch with what people wanted at that time.

As a successful businessman, he would make his first million after setting up his own electronics company, Amstrad. The company name stood for Alan Michael Sugar Trading. Set up in 1968, it was well poised in the 80s to take advantage of the computer boom. On 7 April 1986, the company bought the rights from rival Sinclair Research to sell and manufacture their existing Sinclair computers and accompanying products worldwide.

And you know that you have made it when you buy a football club such as Tottenham Hotspur. Sugar teamed up with Terry Venables in 1991 to buy it. Sugar is not alone in successful businesspeople buying football clubs. Sir Elton John bought Watford, and during the 70s and 80s they rose from the Fourth to the First Division. Chelsea is, of course, currently under the ownership of Chelsea FC plc, a parent company of Fordstam Ltd, where the controlling party is Roman Abramovich, a Russian billionaire.

In 2020, Alan Sugar was thought to be worth $1.66 billion from having started up in a small way as a sole trader selling car aerials from the back of an old van.

 

Bill Gates

Gates dropped out of college to start Microsoft with his childhood friend Paul Allen. That is the company who produced the software program that I am now writing this article on. The company is a global success, and that is down to skills that fall outside of education. In addition, a supportive family who would encourage their son’s interest in computers from an early age. So, there would seem to be something instilled within us from an early age that later results in success in business, if we choose to follow that path.

In 2020, Bill Gates was reported as having net worth of $120.3 billion, proving how much money there is to be made from computers and the hi-tech industry.

 

So, three names to conjure with who have worked their magic in business. There are many more examples to add to this growing list. Education is useful but not everything. It is equally possible to make your luck and fortune through personality, hidden intellect, and a lot of long hours and hard work.

 

Insurance and its Importance

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Being financially stable is not only about earning 4, 5 or 6 digits per month, it also means having enough savings and insurance that can be used in times of emergencies. Should we have an accident, need emergency payments, and so forth, these savings and insurances can help us out financially. Also, it will prevent us from spending our cash frivolously and to save it for more valuable purposes. Given that, here are the details about insurance and its importance. Knowing these will help us realize that life is easier with insurance.

Defining Insurance

Insurance simply refers to the contract that is represented by a policy and is owned either by an entity or an individual. There are many types of insurance. Health insurance, home insurance, disability insurance (find out about breeze, a disability insurance company, here)… the list goes on. People take out insurance to protect themselves, items, housing and even investments. Having insurance allows us to receive a reimbursement and financial protection against losses from any insurance company. Also, companies pool the risks of clients to make more affordable payments for those insured.

Moving on, let’s proceed to the importance of having insurance.

Ensures Business and Family Financial Stability

The importance of having insurance is that it promotes the financial stability of businesses and families. Whenever things decide to go the wrong way, insurances enter the scene as safety nets. Having a life insurance policy from somewhere like myTribe Insurance can effectively support the whole family with their life should a family member be lost.

This has a lot in common with businesses. Here, once a key member is out of commission, insurance can help the business to go on. To be prepared in such cases, organizations often obtain key man life insurance for businesses. One such policy tends to pay out a lump sum to the firm in the event of the death or diagnosis of a terminal illness of a key person like the CEO or director. This means that the business can continue without significant disruption to operations.

Lenders Ask for Insurance

Most mortgage lenders will insist on insurance as a security in case we should temporarily hit hard times and not be able to afford to continue buying or building a property. In short, we can enjoy the money needed by our business to keep it going. Besides, having no insurance can be a huge hindrance to taking the kinds of risks that will see a business ultimately succeed.

Minimizing the Loss

By having insurance, we are allowing for an eventuality that we could not afford should it happen. For a small premium, large losses can be covered. Insurance also promises to put us back in the same position that we were in before the loss. This is why most business owners tend to seek business insurance Red Deer (or elsewhere), in order to protect their assets and mitigate financial risks. Whether it’s property damage, liability claims, or unforeseen disruptions to operations, having the right business insurance ensures that the impact on the bottom line is minimized. Similarly, most individuals tend to have home insurance for comparable reasons. It acts as a safeguard against the unexpected-be it natural disasters, theft, or accidents-that could otherwise result in significant financial strain.

It is Compulsory in Some States

Insurance is required in some states and is also part of the state laws. One example of it is auto insurance, which is compulsory in the state of Wisconsin. This kind of insurance helps people to mitigate the risks on the road. Having this can also save lives, as well as the financial situation of those who are insured. Whilst having this type of insurance is a necessity if you want to adhere to the laws in your area, it doesn’t have to be expensive. For example, if you look for car insurance without deposit quotes online, you can see how spreading the cost of your plan over monthly installments could be better than paying in one go. With that being said, having insurance is something that you need to have in order to protect yourself and others, so when it comes to paying for it, be sure to find one that best fits your situation.

Peace of Mind

Insurance provides peace of mind. Since getting a job is already a hard task, especially if we aren’t that competitive, getting even a little insurance is beneficial. Once we are hired, we must think of having insurance first before anything else. That is because it can help us become financially stable and ready. When there are emergencies in our life in terms of finance, our insurance can help us get through. Also, if we got into an accident, insurances can help us cover the expenses of our damages and that of others. Above all, it is considered as an opportunity, so we shouldn’t waste any of it.

Insurance is indeed a must-have, especially for today’s generation. Also, if we have a good flow of monthly income, getting not only one but multiple insurances can help us prepare for old age. Remember to be wise and prepared at all times since life presents itself in unpredictable ways.

How to Become a Well-Paid Freelancer

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About ten years ago, I had what is generally considered a very good job: a nice office, fixed salary, some perks, friendly colleagues, and three weeks off every year. But when the nine-to-six routine was starting to take its toll, I realized that there was little or no possibility of career advancement. I felt like I was a small cog in a big wheel.

 

I spent two hours every day commuting to my office and back and felt trapped in a life where a passive attitude was becoming the norm. I think that the main reason why I left my stable and secure job and jumped into a completely new and insecure freelancing adventure was that I wanted to be again on the steering wheel, even if that meant I had to start driving through a steep and winding road.

 

After about ten years in my new life, there’s no way I’m going back. I probably work harder than before, but I manage my own time and schedule and, most importantly, I finally do what I like and I do it on my own terms. I am a consultant in the entertainment industry. I help companies organize corporate events and parties, manage some bands and run a couple of websites related to the local music scene. My business has benefited from my current situation, even if my working week is sometimes about more than 50 hours long. In this article, I’d like to share with you the key factors which I reckon are crucial to becoming a well-paid freelancer.

 

Time Equals Money: the Fundamental Equation

Before I started my freelancing endeavors I made a simple consideration. It was only a year after that I realized how important that had been to kickstart my business. These were my initial thoughts: I wanted to earn a certain net amount of money at the end of the month. I divided the sum by the available working days in a month (approximately 22) and then divided it again by the hours I was willing to work each day. The result was my base hourly rate. There was no way I could accept projects that paid less than that, otherwise the business would have not just been worth the effort.

 

When I was asked to quote my first job, I was very careful and always kept this simple consideration in mind. Refusing a job is never easy, but you have to look at the big picture, and you don’t have to sell yourself out for a few bucks just because you need the job. Especially if you do everything by the book, which means paying your taxes and insurances, you may end up with very little money. Instead, you could have invested your time in finding another, and more profitable, collaboration opportunity.

 

The Importance of Networking

Freelancing may be a solitary experience. I’m not talking about loneliness but about the fact that I am often alone when a decision has to be made. When I find myself at a crossroad, I am the one who calls the shots and has to decide to go left instead of right.

 

Networking is not only crucial to get more work opportunities but also to confront me in an ever-changing labor market. Meeting people in my business industry is not merely a way to land my next collaboration, but it’s a great way to confront and share ideas that will allow me to be ready and competitive when an interesting opportunity arises.

 

Experience Counts (and Has to Be Paid)

Especially at the beginning, you are tempted to accept jobs with little or no payment at all, because you have to gain the necessary experience, just like an apprentice. But, once you have established yourself as a professional, you should abandon the status of an under-paid worker and start giving the right price to your expertise.

 

Funnily enough, when I realized the time was right to start raising the prize of my consultancy work up to industry standards, it felt as if I was doing something wrong! But, of course, it was because I was looking at the situation from a distorted outlook. In fact, I was probably doing something wrong before, when asking for very little money, as I was unfairly beating the competition.