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Practical tips for effectively managing your debt

Practical tips for effectively managing your debt

Debt has become a perpetual financial roadblock for most Americans but few choose to discuss it. There are several ways to avoid crippling debt, but if you are already in one, then you can reach out to an expert who can discuss your numbers with you and help you pull yourself out of it. Debt paired with a bad credit rating can cause even more problems. A crucial step in managing personal finances is to be cautious about managing debts right from day one in anticipation of any bad market scenario, job loss, or sudden expenses. Understanding the types of debt It is important to understand that not all debts are bad. Debts are categorized as “good” and “bad”. Good debt is characterized by borrowing or taking money that might create more income in future. When a person borrows an amount for something extremely essential, one that they comfortably pay back each month, then that is good debt. Good debt is what happens when borrowers plan the amount they need, keeping in mind their income, and anticipating any event that can result in a cash crunch. The money is usually spent on something that is likely to reap higher returns, such as a student loan.
Personal loans and all you need to know about them

Personal loans and all you need to know about them

Several people apply for personal loans to cater to larger expenses in life. One primary reason a lot of people opt for such loans is that these are mostly unsecured. So, that means there’s no need for collateral to avail a personal loan from the bank. Moreover, the processing time of a personal loan is pretty fast. Both banking and non-banking institutions offer these loans to many individuals. Moreover, given the advent of digital services offered by the banks these days, you can now get a personal loan in less than 48 hours.  What is a personal loan? An unsecured loan, which is offered by the financial institutions after an examination of aspects, such as your repayment capacity, employment history, credit history, profession, and income, is called a personal loan. This multi-purpose loan is often regarded as a consumer loan and can be availed to cater to your immediate needs.  When should a personal loan be taken? For individuals seeking a personal loan, it could prove to be one viable option under a multitude of circumstances. For instance, if you wish to buy a car, you take an auto loan; you want a home, so you take a mortgage loan; or you ought to pay for your college fee and take up a student loan.
4 useful tips to avoid credit card debt

4 useful tips to avoid credit card debt

A credit card is a powerful financial too l if used in the right way. It can be an extremely rewarding, convenient, and reliable choice for managing finance. Many individuals spend more than they earn which leads to an enormous credit card debt that can be difficult to manage. But there is a way to stay out of the situation. Find below some useful tips that’ll help avoid credit card debt. Plan your budget An open line of credit is a tempting option to spend more. But this is a sure-shot way to gain bad debts. Hence, it is important to plan your budget. Understand how much you earn, spend and save each month. Most people underestimate how much money they spend monthly, compromising their financial situation. A budget plan helps in the management of financial commitments. Mark the areas that need some changes in your daily or monthly spending cycle. Check your priorities. After trimming unnecessary costs, allocate some portion of the money to a savings account. According to experts, one should have a minimum of three to six months of net income saved aside for emergencies, so you don’t fall into credit card debt. Complete payment of credit card bills Always pay the entire credit card bill amount in full when you can.
Know the basics of asset management

Know the basics of asset management

The job of an asset management company (AMC) is to serve its clients by directing their wealth or investment portfolio. This service involves pooling funds from all types of investments, including stocks, bonds, real estate, equity, and partnerships. A client’s portfolio is managed to keep in mind their risks, preferences, and unique circumstances. This article discusses the basics to know about asset management. Here’s what you need to know before committing to an AMC. Asset management – What it is Any asset management company manages its client’s money to identify their financial goals. These companies help accomplish every business’s objective by guiding them at every inflow or outflow of funds or valuable commodity. Institutes that qualify for asset management include large and small-sized companies, nonprofit organizations, public companies, and regular individuals. Likewise, companies that offer asset management services can be huge corporations, like BlackRock Inc, Vanguard Group, Fidelity Investments, and State Street Global Advisors. Alternatively, it can also be a one-person operation. The benefits of asset management Along with appropriate financial guidance, asset managers also help their clients earn more with investments, eventually reaching their financial goals sooner. And a financial goal could be anything like buying a new home, collecting college funds, or planning an early retirement.
Types of credit card rewards and how to earn them

Types of credit card rewards and how to earn them

Credit cards come with their own advantages and disadvantages, depending on how you use it. For instance, if you use your credit cards to spend more than what you can afford, you’ll likely be stuck with a lot of debt that will accumulate over the months or years. However, if you responsibly use your credit card, it can bring in a lot of value without hampering your habits and routine. One way a credit card can help is through credit card rewards. There are a bunch of credit card rewards that give consumers a great opportunity to avail benefits, such as miles, points, or cashback offers. If you have the perfect credit card rewards, you’ll be able to save more and get benefits like free travel, surplus spending money, and a lot more.   How can one earn rewards with credit cards?  To tell you the truth, not every credit card that you find out there will give you the rewards incentive. For instance, there are cards that are there to help you build your credit history, while there are others that give you an option to pay for your debt at zero interest. For those who have a credit card that fetches them good rewards, here are some ways in which maximum value can be derived.
Look for these features in a mortgage loan calculator

Look for these features in a mortgage loan calculator

A mortgage calculator is an online tool that helps you work out your calculations before buying a house and also keep tabs on your monthly mortgage payments. Many variables are involved in a mortgage calculation, including the length of the loan, number of payments, interest rate, etc. Based on this, you can work out how your monthly loan payout can differ. Also referred to as house payment calculators, mortgage loan calculators are tools that help you perform the most complex amortization calculations in a short period of time. By using this calculator, you can figure out the principal amount and calculate the cost of borrowing throughout the term of the loan, among other details. These calculators, however, have certain limitations. Though they provide you with a rough estimate of your monthly payments, they aren’t 100 percent accurate. This is because they don’t include all the possible costs involved in buying a home, nor do they factor in other costs such as taxes, management fees, and maintenance. A mortgage loan calculator can certainly be a good tool to determine and calculate the approximate costs before you decide to buy a property, provided you are well aware of its limitations. When should you use a mortgage loan calculator?
Things to know about stock photography

Things to know about stock photography

A stock photo is a particular photograph shot by a professional or a semi-professional photographer which is in an electronic form and used for media, advertising, creative or other related business purposes. Such photos are made available through websites or other such searchable electronic databases and are generally licensed for the specific use or sold on royalty-free rights basis. The photos are of any theme like prominent landmarks, events, animals, food, nature, people or places. During the early 1920s, while the stock photography industry gained popularity, only large news organizations could afford to buy photos from a limited number of stock photo companies. But today, the internet has eased to break all barriers and change the dynamics of the way this industry once worked.Stock photography may actually be photos, computer-generated graphics, clip-arts, vectors or other forms of imagery that can be downloaded from a website or bought as a CD. Just by typing in some fitting keywords like color, shapes, moods, etc., a search engine may be able to throw up hundreds of matching images. An article in The New York Times said that stock photos were preferred over professional photographs by most book cover designers in order to save costs.
Best providers for online money transfers

Best providers for online money transfers

If you want to transfer money online efficiently, the key is to find the right provider. Much of how you transfer money online is decided by where and through what means you choose to send it. Some of the best providers when it comes to transferring less than $10,000 within the country include: Square Cash Square Cash which has a brilliant mobile design and easy method to transferring cash. The focus of Square Cash, unlike other providers, is the customer and his/her transactions. First launched in 2103, the Square Cash app is set to link up to your credit or debit card. It sends money through the website or the mobile, both on iOS and Android phones. Debit card transfers are free of charge. Credit card transfers are charged a 3% fee. Thanks to the design, one can send or receive up to $2,500 quite easily. It also has a feature called $cashtag, where one can receive money securely. Like PayPal, Square Cash has a wallet to store the funds transferred. However, thanks to this cashing out at banks from the wallet takes one business day. If you have to cash out the money instantly, you will have to pay a fee of 1%.
Small business grants for women

Small business grants for women

Women entrepreneurs are just bettering their career lives and paths, having tremendous impact on small businesses around the globe. To continue to be profitable in this competitive world, raising funds is vital. However, when it comes to small business grants for women, most banks just turn away. In the end, it is even more harder to pay the loan back. However, if you’re able to spend some time and effort, one can acquire small business grants for women from both private organizations and government. The most exciting opportunity is that the grants are free and one does not have to pay back the granted amount. Though it is a great option for women who are seeking a financial support for their venture, small business grants for women aren’t exactly widely known or employed. Grants are essentially free money but they do have some conditions that need to be followed. The grant application process The applicant should understand and find a grant that is eligible for her. Through their application and guidelines form this process can be determined. Try to fetch the same amount of grant by competing with other business. Once the grant is approved, the candidate must report how the money has been used.
Know about structured settlements in detail

Know about structured settlements in detail

A structured settlement is a financial or insurance agreement arrived at post-negotiation where the plaintiff receives money as compensation for injuries and like in specific, periodic payments as opposed to receiving all the money in one go. The settlement they agree upon can be offered by the defendant or demanded by the claimant. But it is necessary for both parties to agree before it can be carried through. In the U.S., structured settlements have been recommended and made popular by several credible disability rights organizations. Thanks to structured settlements, cases don’t necessarily go to court. Structured settlements are offered in cases where there is severe personal injury, injury on the job, and wrongful death. A structured settlement is flexible in that most things about it is negotiable. This includes the period over which the settlement needs to be paid, the frequency of the amount paid –monthly, biannually or annually and the amount to be given in each payment. Whether a lump sum should be paid towards the end of the settlement period, and whether the payments should be stopped on death or continue to heirs. With structured settlements, the insurer of the defendant funds an annuity policy for the claimant which will stream continuous sums of money in periodic intervals to the claimant.
Best affordable life insurance plans for a better future

Best affordable life insurance plans for a better future

Life insurance plans are not frequent financial plans per se, yet a one time that needs a judicious decision and eventually smart shopping. To keep it straight and simple, don’t go by the norm of cheap but affordable life insurance plans. As we all know, health, age and individual lifestyle are three key elements, you can always ensure to get the best one by maintaining a sound health. It’s subjective though if life insurance is crucial or not, one cannot take a chance and wishes not for the remaining family members. Now to keep life insurance as affordable as possible, the thumb rule is to avoid waiting and to buy when young and healthy. Since the market is pretty volatile, the coverage rates are on the run too. The desired face value also decides the affordability of your life insurance plans. You can hire an agent to understand the assets, needs of your family members and to be paid and unpaid bills in the near future to determine your requirement. Choosing affordable life insurance plans essentially drills down to three basic categories- term, whole, and universal. Term is generally considered as the most preferred one for its least expensive and has a high face value feature.