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Some Important Facts about Debt Settlement to Make Up Your Mind

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Debt settlement is regarded as a viable option by most consumers, when they are not able to make the usual monthly payments for instance on credit cards or when they are only making minimum payments resulting in the accumulation and piling up of outstanding amount.

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The consumer or a debt settlement company may then negotiate with your creditors for settling the outstanding debt with a part of the overall sum you owe to your creditors. Opting for debt settlement over the other options could be a difficult choice for you to make. However, you should know a few vital things about debt settlement before you finally, make the choice. Browse through debt settlement reviews for a clear understanding.

Debt Settlement May Mean Substantial Cut in Existing Debt

Debt settlement generally allows you to slash your debt amount significantly. Although officially credit card industry will not be advertising this, but in reality, they are readily slashing your balance by almost 20 % to 75 %

Debt Settlement Could be Unattainable on Your Own

It is a challenging task to try to settle your debts independently. It is advisable to seek the expert services of an experienced debt settlement company. If you are on your own, your creditors would try their best to make you repay the exact amount you owe. So it is best to turn to a professional and reliable debt settlement company so that they can help you in arranging the settlement.

Debt Settlement Services Never Come Free of Cost

You cannot seek professional and reliable debt settlement services without paying them applicable charges. You need to pay for expert debt settlement advice and services even if you are attached to a non-profit organization. You must clarify about the fee model before you come to an agreement. Verify if the fee structure works for you. You should know that each company has its own unique fee model.

Debt Settlement Possible If You Are Really Behind on Your Outstanding Amount

If you happen to be current on your debts, creditors generally refuse to interact with you no matter how overburdened you are financially. Bankruptcy under Chapter 7 cancels most unsecured debts, and is hence very favorable, but it is much harder to qualify for and secure Chapter 7 bankruptcy. If you qualify only for Chapter 12, a debt settlement firm could help you navigate past the murky waters of bankruptcy.

Taxes Can Be Levied on Debt Settlement

If the forgiven debt balance is more than $600, you are legally needed to pay taxes on them, as you had spent the funds in the form of un-taxed money when the original purchases were made.

For-Profit Debt Settlement Firms Are Not Legal in Some States

If you are a resident of Maine, New Mexico, Arizona, New York, Mississippi, New Jersey, Hawaii, Georgia, West Virginia, Wyoming or North Dakota, state rules make the operation of for-profit debt settlement firms illegal. Hence, you must check whether the firm you are hiring is working within the bounds of the law or not.

The Process Is Never the Same

Before signing with a debt settlement company, you must go through all their fine-print and understand the process of how they intend to communicate and negotiate with creditors, and the methods they will undertake to pay off the debts, and whether all parties have agreed to the same. There is no hard and fast mode of operation, so nothing can be taken for granted.

We can safely conclude that you should do your homework diligently. Weighing your options for tackling overwhelming debt is a good idea. It is a fact, that in business everything seems to be negotiable. You can easily get significant discounts provided you know whom to approach with the request and also, if you know how to request. In case of falling back on credit card payments, you can negotiate. If you have the necessary guts and knowledge you could drastically cut down your outstanding debt amount by at least 50 % to 70%.

Author Bio: Ava Hutton is presently working with a charitable firm to provide free debt relief advice and debt settlement reviews for those in need. She has worked in the private finance sector in the past, and now enjoys reading and blogging.

What You Need to Know About Binary Options Trading

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Trading in binary options

Binary options are one of the simplest forms of trading. Using ‘all or nothing’ strategies, ‘cash settled’ options are finalized on the date they expire. At the expiry point, they are either resolved with a profit ‘in-the-money,’ or ‘out-of-the-money’ where the buyer or seller doesn’t receive a pay-out. Binary options are also commonly referred to as ‘digit option trading.’

What is Binary Options Trading?

Classified as ‘exotic options,’ binary options are relatively simple to understand. The most basic form is a ‘high-low’ option. These are also referred to as fixed-return options when the high-low binary involves commodities, stocks, foreign exchange, and indexes. The expiration date is called the ‘strike price.’ When a trading wager is on the right side of the strike price at the moment of expiry, the trader will receive a fixed return no matter how marginal the movement of the instrument. Conversely, when the wager does not correctly identify the direction of the market, the trader stands to lose the outlay.

Binary Options – ‘Put’ and ‘Call’

Almost all platforms refer to the two binaries as ‘put’ and ‘call’ options. The ‘put’ refers to a decline in price whereas the ‘call’ indicates an increase. Binary trading options differ from traditional trading because it isn’t necessary for traders to recognize the degree of movement. What is required is the ability to accurately predict if the expiry price will have risen above or fallen below the starting price.

How Binary Option Trading Works

It’s easy to see that binary option trading is not complex. The skill is in being able to accurately predict the movement of an asset. When the trader believes that the basic asset will increase in value, he or she will purchase a ‘call.’ If the value is predicted to fall, the trader will select the ‘put.’ When trading binary options, the pay-out, price, risk, and expiry will be revealed at the beginning of the trade. Generally, trades that take place outside of the U.S. will include a strike price that reflects the present rate or price of a financial asset. Hence the binary options trader will place a wager based on whether or not the predicted price will be above or below the existing price at the time of expiry.

How to Make a Trade

Trade are made in three simple steps. First the trader will choose which asset to trade: stocks, currency, indexes, or commodities. Next the trader will either ‘call’ or ‘put’ depending on the prediction for that asset. Finally, the amount of the trade will be determined and applied.

Different Types of Binary Options

The standard high-low type of binary option is described above and it’s helpful to understand that this is the most common form for binary option trading. Most international brokers, aside from the United States, provide a variety of other binary options. ‘One touch’ and ‘range’ binaries are examples of different kinds of binary options that you may want to learn about.

10 tips on getting approval for a housing loan in Australia

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what is non conforming loans

I had a friend who approached me recently to get a loan and suggest a good broker. She was applying for a loan and got rejected multiple times. The first thing I told her was to stop and take a break from applying for loans as she was just making things worse for herself.

Banks often have a poor rating for people who applied for loans at many places and have been rejected, so make sure you really either get a good broker who will get you a loan with minimum tries for a loan from the right institutions and not further lend to your bad credit record by multiple applications for loans.

There are other options like a non –conforming loans that people who have been rejected for loans might qualify for. Non conforming loans assist those borrowers who do not meet standard lending criteria These loans often help a person in business who needs money, or to renovate a home or pay a tax debt.

 

how to get a home loan

 

First checkout, 7 reasons why you could be refused a home loan

 

1. Avoid paying bills late, where it leads to your bill being collected by collection agencies or solicitors.

2. If you have too many loans already and a low income you got very low borrowing capacity and so can be refused a loan.

3. You can increase you borrowing capacity by paying of personal loans , credit cards being paid off and cancelled, and having lower outgoing expenses

4. Don’t become bankrupt or insolvent as this will appear on your credit file and stop you from getting loans at least for a minimum period of three years.

5. Make sure when you apply for a loan that your chances of getting the loan are high, loan brokers normally know which bank has more relaxed rules compared to another bank or credit union

6. Having savings for a deposit helps you gain loan approval. Conventional lenders typically require at least a 5 percent down payment, while the minimum on FHA loans is 3.5 percent.

7. Regular employment- A steady regular employment history lends to your good record as the bank can see a regular income coming in. if you have a permanent job it adds even more to your good credit file.

8. Where you are seeking to buy your home are also sometimes factors considered for your home loan. A poor rated suburb of fire prone zone can further tighten lending criteria.

9. If you are an investor and already own other investment properties, the LVR on those properties can affect your borrowing capacity for the next loan you take.

10. Check your credit history through veda ( credit history organisation)

 

low doc loans in australia

 

There is a loan that some institutions offer called the “low doc loan” which is becoming scarcer as the markets tighten up. If the banks, building societies and credit unions won’t lend to you because you’re self-employed, newly arrived in the country or have a poor credit history, consider the "low doc" loan market. These loans can be risky if the value of your property declines rapidly due to the maximum borrowing capacity (95 %) taken on these loans. These loans are also called non-conforming loans and the interest rate can be generally a little bit higher.

Check out http://www.non-conformingloans.com.au/ to get further information on non –conforming loans

When is gambling the same as investing?

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clip_image004 by Kripptic

It’s often said that all investing is a form of gambling and there is a lot of truth in this. But there are also crucial differences.

If you invest in shares in a large multinational company, for example, which provides essential products like food, water, electricity, gas or mines natural resources etc., profitably, then are you really gambling? In days gone by, shares were primarily bought for their dividend income and any capital gain was seen almost as a bonus.

But today – many people seem to see them as tantamount to casino chips to be gambled with. But if you’re a sensible investor – in the true sense of that word – and you can see a well-run and profitable company supplying something that people really need, and your focus is mainly on the dividend stream – then that really is investing rather than gambling. This is because the overall pot is growing. It’s not a finite game; what is often referred to as a ‘zero sum’ game (as it would be with a group of people sitting round a table playing cards, for example) because the pot is growing.

On the other hand, if you’re dealing in currencies, for example, then that is pretty close to gambling.

You “think” the Australian Dollar is going to strengthen against the US Dollar or the British Pound for XYZ reason, so you buy Aussie Dollars – or short the other currencies against the Aussie Dollar. But this is, essentially, a “bet”. There’s no dividend income and there’s no enlargement of the overall “pot”; another zero sum game (ignoring any interest you may receive in your bought currency of course). You simply get it right, or you get it wrong.

So this is closer to gambling and we aren’t all as smart as George Soros! But at least you are using your judgement which, over time, may be like George Soros’s judgement in the sense that you get more calls right than you do wrong – or it may prove otherwise; only time will tell if you have what it takes.

This is rather like a person who studies the form to make value-based bets on the horses. S/he either comes out ahead or not. But at least it’s value-based. The same is true of poker.

Such gambling is not like gambling on games of pure chance – which is what generally happens in a casino, with games such as roulette, for example. In such games the house edge is against the gambler and there is no real judgement required.

In these circumstances, the statistics run slightly against you. But at the same time, you can often profit from the free money you can sometimes get as welcome bonus from 32Red and others. For instance, at the moment 32Red is offering a $10 no deposit bonus which makes it an attractive incentive. Or, perhaps, you simply love playing the games for their own sake. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying the process – but it’s not investing.

Small business and Hiring staff

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student loans and benefits australia and US grants

Hiring a member of staff for a small to medium company can be a risky prospect, as you haven’t got the time or money, like larger companies, to go through a thorough recruitment process that allows you to pick the right candidate(s). The amount of people you hire represents how fast your company is expanding, but at the same time you obviously want people who are passionate about the role you are about to offer them and strive to work hard for your business.

Are you Equipped to hire new staff

Before you start hiring new staff members, you should take the time to think about why you need more help. You could find, when you do hire them, that they weren’t really needed in the first place, meaning you’ll have to let them go. An ordeal which is embarrassing, time consuming, and costs money, especially for a new business. When hiring new staff think about:

● Where would they be working and what would they be doing that you or somebody else might not be able to do.

● Is there space for them to work? You don’t want to hire anybody in a small retailer and you find it difficult to move around and do your job efficiently

● If you already have full-time staff, could some of them work part time so you could use their services more on days you’re more likely to be busy. If you have part time staff, could they possibly do full-time to make them more efficient to your companies needs

The obvious factor to think about when hiring staff is whether they share the same passion for your industry as you do (or should). This doesn’t mean hiring someone that has the same personality as yourself, but more in terms of hiring someone who would not be easily bored in their role and has previous knowledge or passion for taking up the position.

Advertising the position

It is important that when advertising, that you place the job in a medium that will be seen by the people you want to hire. There’s no point in wanting to hire kitchen staff and then placing your advertisement in the back of a phone magazine, you’re very unlikely to get a call back. Look into areas that have a high prevalence of advertising in your sector and are able to deliver on getting you the right candidate for the job.

Also, if you’re not trying to go through a long recruitment process then you might be better off not trying the larger spaces to advertise from, as you might receive hundreds if not thousands of replies which you’ll have to trawl through to pick your interviewees. Many people might use recruitment agencies to help find an employee, but to be honest it is usually a waste of money and time, as you could easily do it yourself, and in a shorter space of time.

Make sure you detail the objectives of the role in the advertisement and what skills you may want them to have, proofreading your work to make sure there are no errors. It’s deemed laughable and unforgivable if you’re attempting to recruit staff and you can’t even write out the advertisement properly.

The Interview

The interview is where you get to meet the people who are confident enough to reply to your advertisement, hoping their chosen for the role. For the prospective employee it can be a daunting and scary time, and your job should be to make it as comfortable as possible for them. If they’re not comfortable then you may not get the desired response from them that you want, making the recruitment process take longer.

Before interviewing, attempt to write down an employee bio of what skills or qualities you hope your prospective employee to have. List questions that are relevant to the job role and the important aspects they will have to learn in that position. Again, your aim is not to catch them out but to see if they can fit in the company and work well with you and others. You’ll know when you’ve found the right person, as they’ll most likely be really enthusiastic about the job, and have lots to say about the role and maybe even your business.

Always do a background check of the person you’re hiring. Any referees they have supplied to you should always have at least an email and phone number that you can contact. Speak to their previous employers and then make your final decision on this (if it’s positive) and take into account everything else you want from your targeted employee.

Although they want the job, make sure you outline what the role is about and what they will be doing. Tell them what you do and about the history of your business. It’s better to tell them this now, rather than later, so they can make a decision on whether they feel the role is right for them too.

You’ve chosen the right staff

Once you have chosen your new member(s) of staff, allow them to get on with the job, guiding them along the way and being there to help if it’s needed. Always respect those that work for you, since they are more likely to return the favour. It’s an obvious fact that disgruntled members of staff are unlikely to fulfil their role properly if treated harshly by their managers, so make sure you give them a reason to want to work for you.

At the end of the day, you’re the person who makes the final decision on who to pick for your company, but be aware; you may not always make the right one. Unfortunately people do lie on their CV’s to get jobs that they are not qualified for, you can prevent these people from being a part of your business by, as mentioned, checking their background, and hopefully, through it all, you’ll be able to choose your desired new member of staff. Make sure your staff are familiar with any equipment you might have at your store such as PDQ Machines ( Seen here at Seymour Direct ) or other payment, scanning and stock checking devices.

How to Choose a Video Surveillance System for small business ?

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When there is a need to keep an eye on what matters most, from anywhere and at any time, you will need the best Video Surveillance System which would allow you to be virtually present for protecting your valuable property. There are many such systems in the market but to choose among them which suits your purpose the best, you will need to do a bit of research work. There are many criteria’s that need to be judged when choosing a video surveillance security system which will allow you to view from your iPhone, iPad and other smart phones. Here are some of the features that need to be explored while choosing a good surveillance system.

small business Surveillance System

The Number of Security Cameras Needed

Question arises on whether you need more than one camera. Number of cameras depends upon the area under surveillance and the key areas which require more attention. In case of residential houses having large exteriors or multiple rooms, there will be necessity of more than one camera. Generally three to four cameras can do the job efficiently provided they are positioned at vantage positions such as entrances, crawl spaces, windows and roof.

Choosing the Capabilities of Camera Lenses

Video Surveillance System software

Proper viewing of the area under surveillance depends on the capabilities of camera lenses and depends upon the angle of viewing. In case an extended area needs to be covered, wide angle lens should be used like in workshops or factory floors and offices having an open area. For fixed and small area such as windows and retail counters, a standard lens is sufficient. Adjustable lens can also be used, choosing optimum field viewing.

Quality of Images

Quality of image and recording of details depend upon the resolution of the camera lens and the number of TV lines. Systems having over 400 TVL will need high resolution cameras. The greater the speed of frame rate, smoother is the recording and output of moving objects. While 15 fps is sufficient for objects moving at moderate speed, fast moving objects generally need a rate of 24 fps.

Locations of the Cameras

Cameras should be placed at vantage positions depending upon the field of view. In places like factories, construction site security, gated communities, utilities/sub-stations, automobile workshops and parking spaces, where large areas need to be covered, wide angle lens should be in operation. In small and fixed points, fixed camera can do the job. Camera lenses designed with zoom feature allows adjusting the field of view through remote control and respond to any emergency calls such as alarms. Feasibility of installation of cameras should also be taken into account which include easy and quick installation and dismantling and special features for protection from dust and strong wind.

Choosing the Right Security Cameras

There are many types of cameras but to choose the right one, camera features and the purpose of surveillance should be considered first. Differences between camera types should be analyzed while taking the final decision on whether to choose the Box, Bullet, Dome, Infra Red Camera or the Hidden or PTZ camera. Each has its own features which have to be studied before installation. NVR cameras can also be installed for wide area of networks where video footage is important.

Capabilities of Surveillance Software

Performance of a camera depends upon the video surveillance software installed because the better the software, the faster is the response and better recovery of data. Software allowing easy configuration and installation of camera is the best choice. Other functions enabled by the video surveillance software needs to be checked which include recording of a sudden event at areas where there is more activity, notification via SMS, an E Mail and quick search of video footages from the archives stored in the drive.
Other capabilities of the installed software which needs to be checked include remote access where online recordings can be viewed through control panel which is web based.

Other external criteria’s

Even while considering the above factors, there are some other factors that need to be considered while installing the video surveillance systems. They are intensity of light in the area under coverage and the time of recording which are decisive factors to ensure compatibility of the monitoring system and their high performance.

Having the right Video Surveillance System will help in preventing theft, identifying visitors, prevent potential accidents and safeguard of people and property.

iVIS offers wide range of surveillance services in Australia with highly qualified staff monitoring your business 24/7. Get total peace of mind, while we take care of your security.
Article by iVIS Australia Pty Ltd – Upgrade To A Safer, Smarter & Secure World!

Advantages of Access Anywhere Investment Software

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When you are looking to build the most “successful investment portfolio” via a systematic approach, you will have many factors to consider, as well as actions to take.

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You will need to determine your investment strategy, for example, considering whether you are a conservative or aggressive investor, while your asset allocation will also need to be figured out. Your asset baskets will then need to be filled with specific investments, with portfolio rebalancing also needing to be done periodically.

Clearly, it’s understandable that individuals managing such a portfolio – whether they are high net worth investors, stockbrokers, IFAs or fund managers, to name just some possibilities – would decide to make use of suitable investment management software incorporating a wide range of functionalities to make their lives easier.

Such functionalities could include everything from comprehensive reporting encompassing transaction, valuation, contribution and regulatory data to portfolio modelling and rebalancing consisting of strategic/dynamic modelling and blended modelling/asset allocation. But what is access anywhere investment management software, and why should wealth managers choose it?

Explaining ‘access anywhere’ investment software

 

In today’s world, the traditional ‘9 to 5’ is collapsing, with more and more individuals working from home and/or in all manner of remote environments. The top finance staff of major corporations, CFOs and MDs, CEOs involved in finance issues, IFAs, stockbrokers and high net worth investors alike are spending an ever-decreasing proportion of time chained to their desk in the same office, instead being constantly ‘on the go’.

This trend of an increasingly mobile, remote working corporate world has coincided with the rise of ‘cloud computing’, with more and more functionalities and technologies that might have once involved the installation of software on one local device now being delivered ‘as a service’ over the web.

The world of investment management software has not been immune to this trend, with the leading software solutions offering full interface functionality either via web services, or involving the importing of files from multiple locations.

Web based software of any kind allows its users to access it from any location in the world with an Internet connection, and from any device that is capable of the same, which is why a tablet friendly portal is another priority for many of those considering investment management software. This is why the terms ‘access anywhere software’ and ‘web based software’ are largely synonymous.

Why should you prefer access anywhere investment software?

 

Access anywhere investment software is used over the Internet with a web browser, with no CDs needing to be installed, or software downloaded. Nor is the client required to leave space on their own systems for upgrades, or even think about them – instead, the company behind the software can be entrusted with evolving it in line with a changing business landscape, meaning that the client always benefits from the most up-to-date version.

Users of access anywhere investment software don’t need to take the software with them in any form for their constant foreign business trips, as the data is centralised, being available over the Internet from any computer, at any time. Clients can access information about their investments and get to work on the management of their portfolio from anywhere, also not needing to worry about the theft, damage or loss of data.

Traditional software, after all, involves data being saved in all manner of locations, from USB drives and laptops to portable hard drives. Particularly as far as such a sensitive matter as one’s investment portfolio is concerned, it is a considerable reassurance to have that data securely stored on the most up-to-date, state of the art enterprise-class servers. It makes the latest backups and security patches and updates for one’s own devices just slightly less critical, which is invaluable, given how often they are also completely forgotten.

If you are looking to manage your investment portfolio, in a 21st century corporate environment, you will want to be able to quickly access the full range of investment management software functionalities, encompassing order management, real time performance measurement, client relationship management and more, in a truly fuss-free and efficient manner.

You are not likely to want to get bogged down with technical requirements. Instead, you’ll want to be able to leave such responsibilities to the directors, project managers, technology developers and business analysts who conceived the software and are therefore best-placed to incrementally modify it in line with the current business landscape and the common needs of clients.

The right access anywhere investment software gives you precisely this convenience and peace of mind, allowing for your focus to remain firmly on your investments.

 

Australia: One of the greatest places in the world to live but at what cost?

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New Cost of Living Comparison data reveals exactly what prices people are paying across the UK, America and Australia and shows just how expensive Australia’s cost of living is.

numbeo compariosn cost of living by budget direct us uk australia

Whether it’s surfing the net, grabbing a bite out with friends after work or going to see the latest blockbuster movie, on average Australians are paying some of the highest prices in the world.

Cost of living – World  and Australia comparison

One of the standout differences was the cost of a pre-paid mobile phone tariff. Australians are paying on average nearly four times more for this than the US and nearly three times more than they are in the UK. When comparing the individual cities LA costs $0.11 per minute compared to Sydney, which is nearly 9 times more at $1.00 per minute.

Clothing prices also set an expensive trend in Australia with Aussies paying on average 57 per cent more for clothes and shoes than they are in the US or the UK. One particular price comparison that stood out from this was a pair of Nike trainers. In the US and UK these would sell for approximately $90 where as in Australia they would cost approximately $150, a staggering 60 per cent more. No wonder Aussies like to go online to stock up on their favorite wardrobe essentials.

An individual bottle of your favourite soft drink, like Coke or Pepsi, may not go down as smoothly knowing that it costs less than half price in some parts of the US than it does in Australia.

The comparison tool, which uses data collected primarily from Numbeo; the world’s largest database of user-contributed data, allows users to compare three cities across a number of key categories including their Weekly Shop, Living and Getting Around.

Aussies will be pleased to know that one of their beloved simple pleasures, coffee, was cheaper on average than the UK and the US.

To see how much your weekly shop costs in Sydney compared to London or to see how much a night out would cost in Melbourne compared to Los Angeles please visit the cost comparison tool which can be found here.

Show Your Appreciation: Five Tips for Corporate Gift Giving Finesse

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Use corporate gifts to solidify the relationship you have with your existing clients and reconnect with long lost customers. “Corporate gifts”, given at an appropriate time, may also serve to demonstrate your appreciation to the people who chose to do business with you.

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How to give corporate gifts

In any industry, there’s bound to price based competition. But since you can only discount your products so far, you’ll have to resort to other ways to show your appreciation to customers who remain loyal to your business. Giving corporate gifts such as gift boxes or hampers, designed with your message in mind, is just one way to reward your customers.

Sometimes the lines between gift giving and brides can become blurred, and your generosity can leave your business vulnerable to accusations of being unethical. This is why it is necessary to follow a few basic rules in your gift giving. Even more crucial, you must keep in mind that your gifts represent your business, so they must be of the highest quality. Here are some basic rules for corporate gift giving.

Maintain the Standard

Cheap and low quality gifts could tarnish the image you’ve worked so hard to build. If you’re investing in gifts to send to your customers, make sure that they’re made of the finest materials. Pens should be quality pens that work, mugs should be made from the finest quality materials, and gift baskets should be assembled using the best quality products.

Make It Personal

While you might be tempted to give your corporate clients business gear with your name engraved on the packaging, a self-indulgent gift makes a bigger impression on the client’s mind. Gourmet, bath and body, or wine gift baskets are most appropriate for momentous occasions.

Think about the Recipient

Consider the appropriateness of the gift for the recipient. Corporate gift giving policies and cultural barriers will influence your decision, but you should also know something about the person you’re giving the gift to. For instance, an alcohol wine basket may not be appropriate for a non-drinker. So make a few observations and ask questions –maybe with check the client’s secretary- before you purchase the gift.

Include a Handwritten Message

The courtesy of hand written messages seems to be a long forgotten art. Write a pleasant note to your client to identify yourself as the sender, and don’t make the mistake of signing the gift with the Happy Holidays greeting. A hand written note thanking the client for their business and explaining why you chose to send the gift will remove any doubt and opportunities for baseless accusations. More than that, a handwritten note, because it’s so rare, will leave a positive impact on your client’s mind.

Don’t wait for Special Occasions

You don’t have to wait for a special time of the year to show your appreciation to your corporate clients and customers. In fact, giving a gift outside of special occasions generally has a bigger impact than those holiday gifts your clients will receive gifts from everyone else.

William Dawson is a former corporate officer and grandfather of seven. Now retired, he spends his days boating, but when the weather won’t permit that, he likes to share what he has learned on various Internet blog sites. He recommends corporate gifts for your loved ones.

Spending Money to Make Money; The Advantages and Benefits of a College Loan

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Education is of vital importance to the success of any economy, local or federal. A higher level of education will drive the overall skill set of a labor force. This helps to stimulate job growth.

student loans and benefits australia and US grants

A higher skilled work force will also increase employment and wage rates. However, a college education is extremely costly. According to the National Association for College Admission Counseling, the average annual cost to attend a college was $22,261 for an in-state public school, and $43,289 for a private school. In a stagnant economy, these prices can seem very daunting, and the ability to attain an education may not be thought as possible. However, the federal government also recognizes this problem, and as a result, has constructed a student loan program that offers a variety of benefits and breaks for people wanting to get a college education. This has enabled countless individuals to successfully meet their educational goals, and obtain the college degrees that they desire.

Benefits of taking a Student loan

There are five major benefits that generally come with taking out a student loan. The first of these benefits is that a federal loan has a fixed interest rate. This means that the interest rate of the loan will not fluctuate during the fixed rate period of the loan, no matter what condition the economy may be in. This allows borrowers to accurately predict their future payments, enabling them to financially budget their future efficiently.

A major concern amongst borrowers is that if they are disabled or pass away while they have an outstanding loan, that their debt will be transferred to their family members. This is not be a concern among people who have a federal student loan, because the second major benefit to a federal student loan is that the government provides free loan insurance. This means that in the unfortunate event that an individual either dies or becomes disabled while their loan is still outstanding, that the federal government will cover the cost of their debt.

Another common concern amongst borrowers is that they will not be able to financially balance their loan payments while they also attend their college classes. This brings us to the third benefit of student loans, which is that the government will allow students to defer loan payments as long as they are enrolled as a half-time student. However, this benefit can be risky depending on the terms of the loan. Borrowers should be aware of this, and know the terms of their loan well before considering this benefit.

Sometimes, it is difficult for recent graduates to find employment in today’s economy. A major concern is that a person will not be able to find a job post-college, and will not be able to make payments on a loan. The federal government understands that job searching is difficult, and students may not always land the job that they desire. That is why the fourth benefit of student loans is that students who are expecting to go into a low-paying job can choose to participate in a program known as Student Loan Consolidation in order to lower their monthly payments to better match their monthly income. These programs often require post graduates to pay no more than 15% of their income. In 2014, these programs are predicted to lower this number to only 10%. It is an excellent way for graduates to customize, and extend their repayment plan to meet the demands of their post-collegiate life.

The final major benefit to taking out a federal student loan is that the government will not charge borrowers any extra money for repaying their loan ahead of schedule. Many money-lending companies will financially penalize individuals who make early payments, because this lowers the overall interest that the borrower will pay at the end of the loan’s lifespan. This is not the case with most federal student loans, because the government has a large interest in educating the population, so graduates who use a federal student loan do not have to worry if they come more money than expected, and wish to pay off their loan ahead of schedule.

In general, the annual income of a college graduate is double the income of a person who only has a high school diploma. Going into debt is a risk that nobody wants to endure. The benefits of a federal student loan helps to ease the negativity of debt by giving the borrower more control over the terms of borrowing, and their payment plan. Sometimes it is required to spend money in order to make it.

http://www.studentloansconsolidationservices.com/ offers information and articles on student loans and student financing.