Fintank – Page 2 – Financial Service

Power of attorney – from Internet or a lawyer?

October 11, 2021Finance

Who ought to settle on financial challenges, medicines, and such in a crisis? With a medical care intermediary, guarantee that your own desires keep on counting.

Power of attorney: what precisely right?

Essentially, a power of attorney is a complete archive that covers basically all legitimate inquiries that should be settled on the off chance that you can at this point don’t choose for yourself. As the name suggests, the guarantor of the record gives others the power to figure things out for their benefit – and that is a higher priority than many figures it out. Since in a crisis, the mate or kids may not naturally choose what to do.

The capable court can name an obscure outsider as an overseer regardless of whether the family circumstance is unblemished. Assuming you need to play it safe, you ought to assign an agent for the accompanying spaces of law in a full force of lawyer:

– Health care and reliance

– Residence and lodging matters

– Representation before specialists

– Asset care

– Post and broadcast communications

– Representation in court

The living will versus the power of attorney

In the intermediary of the medical services, not really settled who would then be able to choose, to a lesser or more noteworthy degree, which clinical mediations might be completed or which treatments might be utilized. Upon demand, the named individual may, for instance, additionally see clinic reports and other clinical documents.

This covers the purported living will. Do you actually require both? That depends: If you just need to select one chief for health-related crises who should deal with ordinary choices, you are very much presented with a medical care intermediary. Then again, assuming the preventive consideration supplier needs to decide ahead of time precisely what specialists and medical caretakers ought to or ought not to do in a crisis, they should finish up a different living will.

The living will: Have the phrasing checked by a legal advisor

Anybody intending to draw up a living will ought to desperately look for exhortation from a legal advisor who has practical experience in this space. Since a large portion of the decisions is overflowing with mistakes and errors. For instance, expressions, for example, “I would prefer not to get any life support measures” don’t assist doctors with any encouraging. The edge of attentiveness is too incredible, the plan excessively loose. Throughout the corona pandemic, for instance, many individuals with living wills erased the sentence “I would prefer not to be ventilated”. You have seen that you can immediately become subject to ventilation without being straightforwardly sad. You can find out more about this on the official website of the accident attorney Los Angeles.

Who ought to choose?

Before you begin finishing up the force of a lawyer, you ought to talk with your friends and family ahead of time. Perhaps either doesn’t have any desire to assume the weight of settling on troublesome choices. It is additionally prudent not to pass on everything to one individual and, for instance, to enter two chiefs on basic themes. For instance, if the failure to settle on a choice is the aftereffect of a disastrous mishap, companions and youngsters are regularly in shock and will be unable to settle on a choice themselves. It can assist with naming another associate who will keep a cooler head.

KBC and Mastercard Collaborate to Revolutionize Micro-Investing in Europe

September 24, 2021Investments

KBC Asset Management’s spinoff wealth-management technology, “EveryoneInvested” is now available as a Mastercard feature for micro-investment use in European banks. Through a collaboration between KBC and Mastercard, European bank customers will be able to invest small amounts of their spare money.

What Makes the “EveryoneInvested” Wealthtech Different from Other Micro-Investment Tools?

KBC’s parent company Belgian bank KBC Group has actually been offering their customers the option of automatically using their digital payment systems in creating a regular investment plan.

The wealthtech “EveryoneInvested” was created by the KBC Group in order to sell the digital investing technology to other Belgian companies and institutions. The collaboration with Mastercard will allow the Belgian bank to bring it to European markets,

The difference that sets the “EveryoneInvested” collaboration from other providers of micro-investing services is that it eliminates the need for customers to link various apps to their individual accounts.The EveryoneInvested” technology makes the process easier, especially for financial institutions outside of Belgium as it can be integrated in their mobile app.

Managing director of the technology Jurgen Vandenbroucke, MD, has made it their goal to make investing accessible for everyone by lowering the barriers, So far the KBC Group has achieved success in providing such service.

What Exactly is Micro- Investing?

“Micro-investing” is a term that refers to saving by depositing and then investing money small sums into an investment account. Micro-investing services tend to vary as different platforms and companies use various investment strategies along with the products offered for small investments.
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Benefits and Drawbacks of Offshore Investments

September 7, 2021Finance, Investments

What is Offshore Investing?

Offshore investment refers to investment made in a country other than the country of the investor. These investments are very popular especially to investors who want to get huge profits and tax cuts by investing in tax haven countries.

Offshore investments must be legally recorded in the investor’s country of residence; otherwise, the investor may face legal consequences for concealing information about the investment from the tax authorities. With the help of this kind of investment, the investor can reduce the overall risk of the investment portfolio because he has the ability to broaden the investment portfolio internationally.

Examples of Offshore Investments include offshore mutual funds, venture capital, and precious metal purchased offshore.

Benefits of offshore investment

1. Tax benefits
These investments provide different tax incentives because many countries known as tax havens provide tax incentives to foreign investors, which has become the main driving force for most investors. Preferential tax rates in many countries are designed to promote a healthy investment environment, which will help attract external wealth. As for small countries with small populations and few resources, attracting investors who can invest funds can greatly promote economic activity.

2. Investment diversification
Some countries have issued regulations to restrict investment, making it difficult for investors to invest in a truly diversified investment portfolio. On the other hand, offshore accounts are generally more flexible, and investors can invest in international markets without restrictions, diversify their investments, and control risks. In addition, offshore investment has more options, providing investors with a wider range of opportunities for diversification.

3. Asset protection
It helps investors protect their funds because offshore investments can be used to transfer assets to legal entities located outside the home country through structures such as trusts, companies, or foundations. This is especially important for those who are vulnerable to litigation or debt, because if something happens to the individual, it is still safe for future generations. Therefore, it acts as an insurance policy.

4. Confidentiality
Most offshore jurisdictions provide foreign investors with the additional benefits of confidentiality laws. If the confidentiality or confidentiality regulations are violated, serious consequences will be caused to the infringing party. Personal confidential financial information will help them properly manage capital gains, income taxes, and inheritance taxes.

However, the confidentiality clause does not necessarily mean that foreign investors can seek illegal movements internationally, nor does it mean that offshore jurisdictions encourage the use of illegal activities; on the contrary, confidentiality allows everyone to make investment decisions. You should always have rights.

Drawbacks of offshore investment

Cost: Setting up an offshore account is not easy because opening an account based on the jurisdiction where the investment is located requires a minimum amount. In addition to the minimum required amount, before investing in offshore assets, you must also pay legal fees and account opening fees.
Currency changes: There is a risk of negative currency changes in offshore investment because it could possibly lower investment returns and even offset high profits.

Key points

Before investing, investors should research and understand the political and economic framework of the country/region where the selected fund company wishes to invest.
You should choose a fund with a high degree of exposure to global opportunities, rather than a country-specific fund.
Offshore investment usually surpasses many people’s methods and is more easily accepted by the wealthiest investors.

The Pros and Cons of Financing Laptop Purchases

August 10, 2021Finance

Whether you are browsing the world wide web, enjoying a match, doing assignments, or in the office functioning, a notebook could be a requirement.

You might not have sufficient savings to get a brand new notebook, which you could want instantly for study or work purposes.

To make things worse, notebooks may be costly, with high-end versions costing greater than $1,000 as well as mid-grade machines costing $500-$800.

You may be tempted to fund the purchase rather than purchasing the notebook. There could also be incentives for funding your machine.

So, in the event, you fund purchasing a brand new notebook?

Ordinarily, you shouldn’t fund a new notebook.

Figure out how retailers generally approach digital finances, the advantages, and disadvantages of the kind of financing, as well as the choices that are available to you.

Retailer Financing

Most retailers of costly electronics provide merchant financing deals.

These prices involve borrowing money straight from the firm selling the merchandise to you.

How does this function?

When you proceed to buy something that’s qualified for merchant finances, the merchant will provide you the choice of funding your buy.

Rather than paying for the item, you may register for the funding agreement.

Usually:

You are going to need to make the first payment, like a deposit which you would earn on a vehicle or a house.

When you’ve consented to this financing agreement, you are going to get monthly invoices from the merchant, or the business the merchant works together with the administer merchant financing deals.

As with any other loan, then you are going to need to create the payment each month until the loan is paid.

Normally, merchant financing deals set you on the program to repay your debt over 6 to 24 months, however, there’s variety at the bargains out there.

Some bargains, as an instance, may allow you to stay away from making any obligations for a month or two.

Other folks offer 0% APR prices.

Asks a credit rating

1 thing to remember is that merchant financing deals do need a credit rating.

That usually means that the merchant will pull a copy of your credit and also appear over your credit rating before alerting you for your funding agreement.

Your credit rating is a numerical index of just how reliable you are as an individual debtor.

The higher your credit rating, the more prone you should cover your monthly statements. The lower your score, the more likely you should make late payments or lose them completely.

To keep a great credit rating, you are going to need to be certain you create your monthly invoice payments and do not borrow money whenever you don’t have to.

If you realize you get a bad credit rating, or just know you have a history of missing payments, then do not rely on customer finances, as you may not meet the requirements.

Advantages

There are a couple of experts in funding a notebook through the merchant.

Get the notebook today

If you do not have the money to obtain the notebook at full cost, funding provides you time to cover it afterward.

If your previous notebook breaks or you end up in a situation in which you definitely should get a notebook, obtaining a notebook quickly could be significant.

Could be cheap

Consumer funding often includes additional enticements or bonuses — generally a 0 percent APR financing deal

By way of instance, you may discover a deal in which you do not have to generate any payments for your initial six weeks after you purchase the laptop. As an alternative, you may find a 0% interest price at which you will not pay any attention to your loan.

Assuming you make repayments prior to the normal APR kicks in, you avoid the interest rates.

Disadvantages

Funding a notebook by means of a merchant brings a couple of drawbacks too.

A top APR is lurking

Financing plans which permit you to avoid paying or provide promotional interest rates frequently have a costly grab to them.

By way of instance, 0% interest prices may have a clause in which you pay a higher interest rate following the lump-sum interval expires, also, each the interest which would have accrued, if you don’t pay off the loan until the promotional period ends. That may give you a huge bill which you did not anticipate.

Another drawback is that when the notebook breaks, gets dropped, or is stolen, then you’re going to be left paying off for a monthly invoice for something that you do not have anymore.

Besides, you are going to need to discover a means to receive a brand new notebook, and you likely won’t be eligible for another financing deal during the time that you’re paying to get the initial one.

ALSO READ: What Is Wealth Management?

Alternatives

There are a couple of choices for customer funding through a seller.

Credit cards

An obvious choice is to utilize a charge card. They are made to be utilized to purchase something now and pay for this right?

In fact, purchasing something by means of a credit card once you will not have the ability to cover this full at the conclusion of the month is a lousy idea.

Credit cards cost exorbitant rates of interest, so even a cheap $500 notebook can charge you more than $800 later interest rates.

The 1 time that purchasing a notebook by means of a credit card makes sense is if you have the ability to cover the invoice in full at the conclusion of the month.

The best part:

You will not pay any attention and you’re going to get credit card rewards for your buy.

Massive purchases, like notebooks, are good to use when fulfilling requirements to make a signup bonus to a brand new charge card, so bear this in mind.

Personal loans

Enrolling in a private loan is just another way in which you are able to fund a notebook.

Personal loans have become all flexible financial instruments like payment plans gaming laptops that you could utilize to borrow cash for any goal.

Contrary to a mortgage that must be employed to buy a property or an automobile loan that must be employed to obtain a car, private loans arrive with quite a few, or without prerequisites, on the way the cash is utilized.

Many banks provide private loans and there are lots of companies devoted to supplying personal loans to customers. Frequently, you are able to go through the whole procedure online.

The 1 wrinkle is that a number of lenders will not provide you personal loans for under $1,000 or $2,000.

A midsize notebook will cost significantly less than that sum, and that means you are going to be limited in the creditors which you may use if you are seeking to borrow precisely the ideal quantity.

Borrowing over you want to is normally a poor idea as you are going to need to pay extra attention. You could also be enticed to invest the excess cash that you borrowed things that you don’t require.

If you’re trying to find a private loan for a different reason, for an instance, financing a house improvement job, then adjusting the price of a notebook into the loan may not be a poor idea.

But, obtaining a private loan solely to get a notebook may be challenging.

Should You Finance a Notebook?

Broadly, it’s a lousy idea to fund purchasing a brand new notebook.

It is irrelevant if you fund through the merchant or using a charge card or a loan.

The financing program can easily result in a debt which you are not prepared to take care of.

Even though a tiny monthly payment might seem easy to take care of, the simple fact you have difficulty saving enough cash to buy the notebook usually means that you are close to not being in a position to make that payment.

One fiscal accident could result in you missing obligations, which may incur penalties and damage your credit score.

Another issue is that consumer lending deals frequently hide things from the fine print.

You may sign up to get a bargain anticipating six weeks of no payments without attention. After those six weeks finish, you are going to end up with a hugely inflated equilibrium since the advertising was really a deferred interest price, rather than a one-hundred interval.

Ultimately:

Funding a notebook is a lousy idea since it promotes poor spending habits.

Should you fund a notebook, that will get you accustomed to the concept of purchasing things now and paying for them afterward, which can be really a dangerous mindset to get. You might easily purchase more than you can manage without recognizing it, simply to be stuck using an unmanageable charge.

The better choice:

Establish a savings program so you can cover the notebook in full a couple of weeks in the future.

This can help you build excellent savings habits, prevent the mindset of borrowing cash for all, also saves you money by assisting you to avoid interest rates.

Reassess cheaper choices

When you can’t afford a new notebook, think about low-tiered laptops which are going to perform the job.

What about refurbished or used laptops?

You could cover these entirely in money without going into debt while you still possess a system for work, research, or private use.

Conclusion

Funding a notebook may be a tempting thing, particularly once you want a brand new notebook and customer lending deals have been offered to you in the shop.

Avoiding the temptation to invest cash.

Rather, inventing a strategy to conserve the cash is your better idea, since it enables you to avoid all the pitfalls of merchant financing.

FCA Warns Public Against Binance Deals; Barclays Takes Immediate Action

July 11, 2021Cryptocurrency

The UK is tightening its regulations on cryptocurrency trading by issuing warnings about cryptocurrency investments being offered by web-based companies. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) specifically made mention of Binance, a leading cryptocurrency exchange site.

Apparently it has come to the attention of the UK FCA that a Binance website is offering cryptocurrencies as a form of financial investment along with enticements for high yields.

According to the FCA, Binance Market Limited, a member of the Binance Group, has not been granted any written authorization to carry out regulated financial activity in the country. In fact the warning mentioned that most firms that are into selling cryptocurrencies as investments, have not been granted written permissions to participate in the country’s regulated industries.

The FCA also warned UK consumers who still insist in buying cryptocurrencies for investment purposes, that they cannot bring complaints of unfair investment deals to the Office of the Financial Ombudsman Service; nor be able to access the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

Barclays Pays Heed, Suspends All Card-Facilitated Payments to Binance

In line with the warning issued by the FCA to UK consumers about the Binance Group’s lack of authorization, Barclays has suspended processing of all credit and debit card payments for the Binance Group of companies.

5 Reasons Why You Should Invest in Forex Trading

April 20, 2021Finance

Purchasing financial markets has increased interest all around the world. Traditionally, currency trading has been a claim for multinational businesses and small-time investors. The foreign exchange market has, but opened the financial marketplace to the typical investors.

The foreign exchange (Forex) market provides a way of conducting business for multinational businesses in different nations. That is because it eases the payment of invoices in local currency. Additionally, it provides a chance for traders to benefit from these exchange rate moves.

What’s the Forex market the way to exchange? There are numerous reasons, and we’ve outlined a few of these below.

1. Access

The Forex market, in comparison to other internet trading markets, is significantly much more accessible. You are able to begin forex trading from as low as 100. You do not demand a massive deposit to begin trading. Whenever you’re consistent, clever, and individual, you can begin with a little quantity and grow gradually. A lot of people began with significantly less and are currently trading in seven figures.

Another noteworthy thing about Forex trading is that you could easily register for trading accounts by the notebook. Most Forex brokers run on the web. All you have to do in order to begin trading would be to enroll, submit your files, and deposit cash in your Forex trading accounts. The practice is as simple as clarified by Pepperstone Australia.

Access doesn’t affect the essence of the foreign exchange market. But, it demonstrates why Forex trading is the ideal marketplace to trade. As an amateur dealer, you may produce a free demo account to acquire some experience before you begin newspaper Forex Trading.

2. Time Flexibility

The Forex trading marketplace works 24 hours each day and nearly seven days weekly. You do not need to await the opening bell to begin trading.

That is because it entails many monies from all around the world, that float on the marketplace. It’s possible to enter and exit a transaction when you desire. Whether you’re a pupil, business person, or worker, you are able to exchange part-time.

3. Profitability

This is maybe why each investor is trying to find. The foreign exchange market is extremely rewarding, with the capability to multiply your primary investment invisibly overnight.

Rather than this stock exchange in which you only earn a profit as soon as your stocks’ value goes up, you own a great deal of cash to earn Forex even if your money is moving down. If you believe money is moving up, you purchase it. If you are feeling money is moving down, you market it. It is that easy.

ALSO READ: What Is Wealth Management?

The foreign exchange market is a two-way marketplace, in which you utilize pairs. This usually means that if one money is falling, another is rising. A lot of people began Forex trading because of a part-time company but stop their projects later on after earning handsome gains.

The crucial thing is to spend more and more investment gains the profit margins. But there is a catch. Take time to understand the ability to make wise choices and win transactions successfully.

4. Equality

As a result of the tremendous dimensions of the foreign exchange market, everybody is equivalent in trading.

Most niches are often controlled by a single individual or a couple of people and associations. However, with Currency trading, the retail dealer trades on precisely exactly the exact identical amount as banks and other financial institutions. The Forex market can’t be affected or endangered.

It follows your investigation of demand and supply will probably be true.

5. Liquidity

Forex Currency trading is liquid due to the dimensions of this marketplace. It’s the biggest financial market worldwide and transactions almost $2 trillion daily. As an investor, then you are able to easily enter or leave a place without even worrying about the cost that jumped too far ahead of implementing your transaction.

Beneath the typical market condition, you always have the option to purchase or market by simply a click because there is always somebody on the opposing side of this marketplace who is prepared to take your bargain.

A dealer won’t ever have “held” at a transaction. You always have the option to plan your internet trading platform to automatically depart your trading place whenever you’ve gotten to the planned profit level. This can be known as a limit order. It is also possible to set it to shut the transaction if it’s moving. This is referred to as a stop-loss arrangement.

Final Word

Forex trading guarantees vast rewards should you take time to understand well and begin trading frequently. The principal reason it is bringing many investors is due to the capability to earn money gains.

It’s also available for the ordinary investor who has brokers to invest online (see AJ Bell review) that will exchange modest quantities at any time of the afternoon. All traders trade in a level playing field whether or not it is a multinational company or one investor. Nobody can control the marketplace. Happy trading!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tEbIzKbZhY

Beam Savings App to Shut Down for Good Once Court Issues Official Order

April 6, 2021Finance

The Federal Trade Commission’s investigation of the mobile savings app Beam, resulted in a settlement that includes the permanent shut down of the latter. While the FTC is still waiting for the official approval of the federal judge who presided over Beam’s case, Beam founder and CEO Yinan Du, a.k.a. Aaron Du, maintains that his company is not guilty of any wrongdoing.

Nonetheless, the Beam CEO has also been ordered by the FTC to refund the money placed by Beam customers, and to pay interest of 7% on all FDIC insured deposits. Based on a CNBC report, the total deposits and interest Aaron Du is obligated to return to Beam customers, will reach a staggering cost of $2.6 million.

Moreover, Aaron Du can no longer run a business similar to Beam, since he and his company did not deliver the services and financial gains promised to Beam app users.

Background to FTC’s Lawsuit vs Beam

It was in November last year when the Federal Trade Commission announced the filing of a legal complaint against Aaron Du and Beam, the company offering the free mobile banking app. To entice consumers into downloading and using the Beam savings app, Du’s promotional by line included assurances that fund transfers will take only three to five business days.

However, the contrary happened to some as many users were not able to get the transfers done during the promised period. Based on complaints received by FTC, it took weeks or months before customers got their transfers completed. Some others did not even receive the money that was supposed to have been transferred, which caused a lot of serious problems for many Beam app users.

What was even worse is that as unsatisfied customers started giving negative feedback and poor ratings at the Google Play Store and Apple App Stores, Beam’s customer support was unreachable. As recourse, customers brought their complaints to the FTC.

Acting Director of FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection Faniel Kaufman said that during these times of pandemic, providers of financial apps and services should not to lie to customers, about having the ability to handle money transfers in times of critical need. Many of those who used the Beam app did so because they needed 24/7 access to their savings, at a time when they were experiencing financial setbacks.

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What Is Wealth Management?

February 19, 2021Finance

In terms of finance, everyone shares a common goal, that is to be well-off financially. However, being able to get into that space can take time, patience, persistence, steadfast discipline as well as smart investment moves. While it is possible to do this on your own, it will help to consult a professional financial advisor so as to aid you in formulating efficient plans to reach your financial goals. Check out https://pillarwm.com/why-it-matters-ultra-high-net-worth-or-high-net-worth/ to find out more.

Although you could save a good enough amount of money through traditional strategies, it requires skills to gain wealth as well as be successful in making investments. With the help of reputable wealth management professionals, they can aid in drawing up a plan wherein your savings could compound as well as continue to work for you. Let’s have a look at a few of the significance of wealth management in order for you to understand its benefits and value.

Wealth Management – What Is It?

Wealth management is a high-end, expert service wherein it brings together investment as well as financial counselling, including tax and accounting services, methods to reach specific financial objectives over a set span of time and working out a plan for retirement. Legal planning and estate planning also goes under this category. These particular services are offered mostly to high-net-worth individuals who are designated their own wealth manager. Wealth managers present to investors their suggestions and advices for fund allocation. If interested, check out https://pillarwm.com/why-it-matters-ultra-high-net-worth-or-high-net-worth/.

What Are The Advantages Of Wealth Management?

Wealth management is important because of its many advantages. Let’s have a look at a few:

Aids In Formulating A Financial Plan. With wealth management, this can greatly help out investors to purposefully as well as methodically make their corpus. Experts in this field are equipped with the knowledge and skills to better understand the needs and financial goas of their clients which are imperative to create formulate and efficient and effective financial plan.
Aids In Eliminating Financial Stress. In terms of financial uncertainties, expert wealth management advisors have a profound understanding of them. Hence, they can help you make sound financial decisions when you need it. Also, they can aid in managing your finances when market conditions are in its roughest. They consider all your needs and goals so as to effectively organize your finances every time.
Improve Cashflow. Wealth management can help you be more careful of your budget as well as prudent in your spending which improves your cashflow.
Personalized Service to Match Every Client Needs and Goals. People have different financial considerations and goals, and this is what professional wealth managers recognize. This is why clients are assigned their dedicated wealth managers so that their services, strategies and outputs match their client’s requirements.

Cambridge Study Calls Attention to Electricity Consumed in Bitcoin Mining

February 15, 2021Cryptocurrency

The rising number of participants engaged in bitcoin transactions in recent months has drawn attention to the costs of electricity consumed in bitcoin mining. Researchers at the University of Cambridge conducted an analysis of the amount of electricity used by miners on a global level. They came out with a report stating that currently, bitcoin BTC uses electricity that roughly equals the amount of electricity used by Argentina.

The findings validate the increasing concerns over the size of the carbon footprint generated by the bitcoin mining industry and its effect on global efforts to bring down CO2 emissions to zero level.

BTC miners continuously verify the validity of blockchain transactions published in the blockchain ledger. The analysis tool used by the Cambridge researchers revealed that the bitcoin mining industry annually consumes as much as 121.36 terawatt-hours (TWh). The amount even slightly surpassed Argentina’s annual electricity consumption of 121 TWh. It also exceeded the annual consumptions of the United Arab Emirates and Netherlands, at 113.20 TWh and 108.8 TWh, respectively

The overall estimated proportion of the energy used by the bitcoin mining industry is placed at 0.56% of the global energy consumption. Inside a Bitcoin Mining Farm alone, specialized mining machines fill entire units of warehouses. At the same time, servers typically run 24/7 to carry out the verifications performed by miners.

Based on a related 2019 study, the bitcoin mining industry back then was already producing about 22 megatons of Carbon Dioxide emissions annually; roughly equivalent to the yearly CO2 emissions produced by Las Vegas.

The greater concern is that since the price of bitcoin is now valued at more than $48,000, there is a massive number of machines running simultaneously to solve hash puzzles in order to earn a block reward of 6.25 BTCs. This equates to an equivalent gross profit of $300,000 ($48K x 6.25 BTCs).

That is why all bitcoin mining machines, actively participating worldwide, whether home-based, part of a mining pool or inside bitcoin mining farms are all in a tight race to find and solve as many blocks of transactions as they can on a daily basis. Not to forget, the servers used by bitcoin miners to connect to the blockchain network also uses electrical power. .

Cambridge Study Also Drew Attention to Tesla’s Contradicting Stance on CO2 Reduction Missions

According to one of the researchers, Michael Rausch, who also co-created the BTC-electricity consumption analysis tool, the rising trend cannot be expected to change course in the near future. Not unless a significant price drop in Bitcoin price occurs, which is unlikely to happen.

Elon Musk’s electric car manufacturing company Tesla, recently acquired a substantial $1.5 billion worth of bitcoin assets. The electric car company also announced future plans to accept BTC as payments. While the move all the more sparked interest in bitcoin trading and mining, critics are quick to point out that it contradicts Musk’s supposed support for movements aimed at reducing global CO2 emissions. His Tesla electric cars are being touted as likely solution, toward achieving environmental improvements.

Apparently, when Biden’s government launches projects and invests on programs that will see to the phasing out of petrol-fueled cars, electric cars will be promoted as alternatives, Tesla, on the other hand, will continue to be part of those who contribute to CO2 emissions by accepting cryptocurrency payments that leave carbon footprints in the environment.

Robinhood: Not Truly a Pro-People Investment App

February 8, 2021Finance

While many believed Robinhood’s claim of democratizing financial trading for ordinary people, the GameStop scandal had unmasked the fintech’s real motives.

After the GameStop trading scandal blew up, Robinhood suspended buying of GameStop and other stocks endorsed by the radical group of Redditors looking to beat Wall Street short sellers in their own playing field. However, if there’s one group that got hurt, they are mostly the “little guys” who put their faith in the Robinhood investing app. It turned out that Robinhood was not pro-populist at all and has no intention of disrupting the Wall Street’s financial capitalism.

Currently Robinhood is now the subject of a class-action lawsuit and another criminal case filed by the parents of a young college student who committed suicide. Related text messages revealed that Robinhood was pressing to collect a huge sum of money from the student as a result of bad investments.

Moreover, Robinhood will likely face congressional hearings as House and Senate committees are being asked by progressive lawmakers to investigate the GameStop trading fiasco and the Robinhood app.

Is Robinhood Truly Pro Populist?

Prior to the GameStop trading scandal, the Securities and Exchange Commission had accused Robinhood for bad trading practices. It turned out that the Robinhood app earns by selling the trading data of Robinhood users, whilst marketing their services as “commission-free” In effect hower, Robinhood earns commissions from the firms who follow the investment activities of Robinhood’s “little guys,” and use the info when making decisions on whether to buy or trade stocks.

The SEC’s investigation exposed Robinhood’s projection of being a pro-people investment application as contrary to its marketing slogan of “democratizing finance.”

How Robinhood’s Users Contributed to the GameStop Trading Expose

The GameStop trading expose’ unraveled the unethical short-selling practice of hedge fund managers, while the °the little guys° still ended up with worthless shares of stocks. As many participated in the GameStop buying frenzy, short sellers were in a frenzy when its price started rallying, which did not bode weel in the execution of their short selling strategy.

However, as it became known that GameStop is just a games retailer that has been floundering amidst a retail business that is fast becoming obsolete, the more savvy investors started selling their GameStop shares before the bubble bursted. As a result, the price surge that went as high as $483 per share in January 27, 2021 is as of this writing, is now down to $60.00 per share.

This denotes that the playing field remains open to the short sellers, who will most likely buy the GameStop stock investment of the little guys of Robinhood once the price drop hits rock bottom.

Companies For Loans – What Are Lawsuit Loans?

December 13, 2020Finance

Getting into a car accident can immediately change your life and can bring about unexpected physical as well as emotional trauma. Other than this, such incident can also be very costly which can damagingly impact your finances causing you and your family financial stress. With medical bills, damage to your automobile, legal expenses along with your daily and monthly expenditures that you need to pay, these can quickly deplete your finances and lead you towards debt.

In the event you unfortunately become a victim of a car accident and suffered injuries, companies for loans can provide you the funds you need to pay for all associated expenses and costs, such as the abovementioned. With the funds provided by companies for loans, your financial burden and stress are eased as you wait for your case to be resolved.

An automobile accident settlement cash advance from companies for loans, for instance, can help get your life on track again by paying for medical bills, living costs, as well as legal costs while you give yourself time to heal and recover from your injuries and wait for your settlement to be resolved. With the right companies for loans, car accident loans can surely get you and your family through the grim and challenging times caused by the negligence of others.

What Are Lawsuit Loans?

When you are faced with a personal injury lawsuit, like being a victim of a car accident, and require the funds for legal costs, settlement loans or lawsuit loans may just be what you need. It is a cash advance that is put against a potential lawsuit settlement or award. They come in various names but function the same way. This includes lawsuit cash advances, lawsuit funding, litigation financing, and settlement funding.

It is imperative that you do your research before signing for lawsuit funding from companies for loans providing such. Do note that while borrowing money against an impending settlement can indeed help out in paying for your short-term financial problems, this may ultimately cost you much more money.

What Are The Cost?

When and if you win your lawsuit and are granted a settlement, you of course don’t get to keep the whole amount since you need to repay the money you borrowed plus other fees. Usually, the “financing fee” costs 2% to 4% every month. Although this seems reasonable, the equivalent yearly rate can run from 27% to 60% or even more. Furthermore, a lawsuit can take months or even years to be finalized, so it is very likely that the amount you borrowed and need to repay will double or even triple.

Apart from repaying the cash advance with the “funding fee” you took from your lending provider, there are other expenses you need to repay, including the fee of your attorney, litigation fee such as courts costs and process server costs, medical liens from hospitals, doctors and/or other medical providers.

If you looking into getting a lawsuit loan despite these fees that you need to repay, it is crucial that you carefully and wisely choose reliable companies for loans to make certain you aren’t taken advantage of.

Slot Deposit Pulsa And Money Management Tips

November 23, 2020Finance

In the world of online gambling, slot games aren’t a new kind of casino games, hence it is no surprise that the development of slot deposit pulsa was favorably and immediately welcomed by online slot game players.

Quick, Easy And Secure

Making deposits easily, quickly and safely at an online casino is one of the most vital features that any kind of online casino should provide all its members and players. With developments in technology, there are now a diversity of deposit methods that online casinos offer, wherein some cater to deposits only whereas others allow players to make withdrawals with the same deposit method.

While deposit and withdrawal methods are important features to consider when engaging in online slot games, having an efficient money management plan is equally important. At times, a specific and efficient money management system is much more crucial in terms of slot games because of the fast pace nature of the game. Players who lack an efficient money management plan are more at risk at exhausting all of their bankroll early on in their gaming session.

There isn’t a way for slot players to make an accurate prediction on the winning combination of a slot game as online slot games are completely random. However, with a proper money management, playing at a slot deposit pulsa or any other form of online slot and casino game website, could considerably increase as well as maximize the chances of players to win and make some profit on their online slot gaming sessions. Therefore, when engaging in online slots or gambling in general, it is a good idea for players to implement a suitable money management system.

Online Slots Money Management Tips

To get you started, here are a few fundamental money management tips for you to not only ensure you don’t deplete your bankroll but also help in potentially earning some profit.

Set a Bankroll Before Playing. Before engaging in online slots, it is imperative to set your bankroll first and to strictly stay within your limits. Determining your bankroll means defining the amount of money you could afford to lose. Furthermore, it is advised that you break your bankroll into the number of gaming sessions you typically have in a month. This way, you don’t use up all of your bankroll in a single gaming session.
Choose Your Game. When playing online slots, choose games that offer the highest percentages of payout. These are perceived as the speculative and potential returns players could get when and if they win.
Play Minimum Bets, Maximum Paylines, Maximum Coins. If you have a decent bankroll, it is recommended that you max your wagers in maximum paylines as well as with max amount of coins. This will give you a better chance at getting the biggest jackpot.

How Important Is Money Management When Playing Online Casinos?

November 16, 2020Finance

Is it not amusing how gamers may play at an internet casino, make the appropriate bets play the ideal way, and walk away bankrupt? Surprisingly though the number of gamers falls into this class, however. Money management is crucial when playing internet casinos.

Standard money management fundamentals are all that is necessary for gamers to safeguard and develop that first bankroll. Listed here are a couple of easy steps. Stick to those and you will not see that your bankroll dwindle off right away:

Never draw your entire bankroll combined to a gaming session

This really can be a golden rule that has to not be broken. Decide on a budget and stick with it. Split the roster by the number of times play desired, then by the amount of enjoying sessions desired daily, to arrive in the sum that’ll be a single-session bankroll. This number — for one day’s play must never be overstepped.

Establish winning targets for daily

For instance: goal to acquire 50 — 100 percent of a single-session bankroll. When you’ve attained his aim or goal, place these winnings along with his first bankroll apart, and perform just with the remainder of their winnings. Further winnings may likewise be placed aside.

Establish a predetermined percentage increase for each winning bet

Players hereby utilize a winning innovative direction of gaming ie: The participant raises his winning bets by 50% following his 2nd win: $5, $5, $50, $10, $15, $22, etc. He’ll always level bet (the dining table minimal) when he decreases.

Stick to money

When gaming, stick with money. This is excellent information, as gamers often get taken from the Casinos’ good promotions and marketing. Take notice of playing chips and their titles. A 5c processor is a “nickel” along with also a 25c chip a “quarter.” Players should stick to gaming with money to realize precisely what’s going out and needless to say, what’s coming from! Pro tip: check out Kiff Slots for online casinos where you can play using real money and currency such as South African ZAR.

ALSO READ: How Rich People Invest Their Money

Chips = Money. When playing chips, remember this is money too.

Don’t double up when down

Another easy golden rule which may spare a great deal of cash! Do not double up to grab up.

Be disciplined

This applies to both currency and gaming strategies. A thriving gamer and participant sets cease losses and targets for winning. He also cashes in exactly that which he wins and doesn’t get overly egotistical but follows a plan, that similarly limits his losses — ie: After shedding half a session bankroll (reduction limitations), walk, and when canceling a session residue, then walk!

Shop around for the very best casino home rules, playing requirements, and the very best chances

Players should always times start looking for the most lucrative playing chances and forget about enjoying anyplace in which the home takes over 2 percent.

Don’t wander away from a hands-on winning series

Why not? Since fairytales occur and dreams do come true, occasionally. Who knows? However, if that hand ends and begins losing, walk out!

The fundamentals do not help get extra money but help safeguard money

A sound money management approach reduces gamers’ losses and will safeguard his winnings using a disciplined way of cash. It doesn’t alter the home edge nor guarantees a much greater winning or success speed!

Robinhood Markets – The Trading Platform of the Pandemic Era.

November 14, 2020Finance

When it became clear that the pandemic will lead to economic hardships, people started paying attention to a fintech innovation known as the Robinhood Markets.

Financial experts noted that when health and economic crises started taking place, an increasing number of Internet searches for potential online investments led many to the discovery of the Robinhood Markets app. The mobile application presented a seemingly safe and fair method of generating passive income on their rapidly dwindling surplus money.

What is the Robinhood Markets App?

The Robinhood Markets app is a mobile application that allow retail investors to participate in stocks and money market trading without the need to pay for commissions, which investors ordinarily pay to financial advisers who broker investment deals.

The fintech company behind the Robinhood Markets app offers a no-frills platform that provides app users with numerous stock or money market trading options for which the Robinhood fintech acts as broker. Rather than deduct commissions from brokering stock trades, the Robinhood fintech firm receives compensation and discount benefits from the different parties to which they directed the flow of investment toward trade executions.

The Robinhood platform operates like any investment trading network, showing real time trading activities, whilst indexing which investment options are going up or going down. App users can also access educational resources and easy-to-learn investing tools. Even newbie stock investors learned how to make informed decisions when choosing trading options that have the likeliest potential to yield revenues during an ongoing economic crisis.

Still, for certain trade options like the Robinhood Gold, members can have access to related features in exchange for a minimal $5 monthly fee.

The Robinhood Markets mobile app, was actually intended as an entry-level trading app and therefore did not gain much traction among millennials until later. Yet in 2019, the mobile app started gaining popularity when it introduced the Fractional Shares feature, as it opened opportunities even for those who can afford to risk smaller values.

Robinhood Fractional Shares Feature

The Robinhood Fractional Shares feature enhanced the mobile trading app’s functionality. It presented opportunities for safe and balanced investing by making it possible to invest with just a small amount of money. Robinhood investors can choose to invest with as low as $1 on a stock option and become a fractional owner of a stock share.

Although this feature denotes minimal earnings in proportion to the fractional value of one’s investment, a retail investor can spread his investments in different stock options. In effect, the feature lessens the risks of exposing one’s limited investment money to a single or few trade executions.

However, since only a fraction of a share is owned, such investments cannot be traded out of the Robinhood Markets platform.

Can you achieve financial freedom with currency trading?

September 23, 2020Finance

In times when conservative forms of investment are less and less worthwhile due to the persistently low interest rates, many people wonder whether they could not invest their money more lucratively. Forex trading, i.e. speculating on currencies, promises high profits in a short time but is associated with a certain risk. But is it basically possible to get rich with it? And if so, under what conditions can this work?

Want to start trading this 2020? Check out the best Forex brokers 2020.

How does currency trading work?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tEbIzKbZhY

Trading in foreign exchange can take place over the counter or on a foreign exchange such as Euronext and the US IntercontinentalExchange. Participants in forex trading speculate on the price of currency pairs at a certain point in time. The banks themselves as well as large corporations, foreign exchange brokers, brokers, trading houses, and private foreign exchange dealers participate in the foreign exchange market. In addition, providers of so-called trading platforms also offer training courses. In addition, the European Central Bank and the national banks sell currencies in order to keep the exchange rates in balance.

Forex trades can be done in several ways:

As a foreign exchange spot business (spot). This corresponds to the normal exchange of currencies between a bank and its customers. The transaction takes place within two working days at the current exchange rate.
As a forward exchange transaction (also called FX-Forward). The two contracting parties negotiate a date on which they will receive the respective foreign exchange. This business is to be paid for immediately. Those involved in international trade carry out forward transactions in order to hedge against a future falling exchange rate of the foreign currency.
In foreign exchange swaps, the parties involved exchange currencies immediately in order to exchange them later at a previously agreed time. The swaps thus combine a spot and a forward transaction. They also serve to secure the course.
Anyone who concludes a currency option transaction enters into an agreement with the other contracting party under which the option buyer acquires the right to buy or sell a currency at a fixed point in time or within a period of time as soon as it has reached a certain market value. That means he can, but doesn’t have to do it. A special form of options are futures: Here the buyer must exercise or waive this right immediately after purchasing the option.

In profit-oriented foreign exchange trading, swap and options transactions are common. Speculators often also trade in derivatives. A derivative is a financial tool, the value of which depends on the overall performance of its underlying asset – in this case, the relevant currency. At the same time, it is a payment agreement between the business partners. Also, derivatives can have a term. This is not the case with CFD derivatives, a high-risk form whose value is derived from the price difference.

What Financial Pointers Could You Learn From Gambling?

August 30, 2020Finance

Originating from Indonesia, dominoqq is a traditional game that is very similar to poker but instead of using cards, dominoes are used. So, if you are familiar with the rules of poker, you are most likely to easily learn how to play dominoqq.

With the Internet, dominoqq could now be played by many people across the globe although there are some subtle differences. Moreover, you don’t only simply get to enjoy the game but also be able to place some wager and win some real money on credible and trusted online gambling websites. This is a major reason why a lot of individuals engage in gambling, whether it’s domoniqq, online casino games, or sports betting.

Gambling – What You Can Learn In Terms of Finance

While many enjoy gambling as a recreational activity and where some do it professionally to earn a living, a lot of people regard gambling as a vice. Often times, this is a fact among individuals who enjoy betting or gambling wherein they are aware that either they lose money or win more money but still give in to it because of the happiness they get from it.

Although it is seen as such by many, gambling could be a good way to learn and have a better understanding on finance as well as life itself. This is particularly true for investors. But this doesn’t mean gambling everything that you have as this is never a wise thing to do.

Many online gambling sites allow players to try out some games using virtual money. You could use this to learn more about gambling as well as allow you to blend theoretical learning by means of reading online guides together with a more hands-on experience in the gambling sites online. Let’s have a look at a few of the most significant things you could learn about finance when gambling online.

Risk and Reward

When gambling online, you get to learn a great deal about risk and reward. You get to understand how low-risk wagers frequently offer better returns over time and how high-risk wagers could provide high-rewards but where the odds of winning are a bit low. On long-shot wagers, the house edge is typically greater than it is on low odds wagers. House edge on lesser wagers are lower making them more gainful in the long run. Therefore, always understand the risk, especially when making an investment and know if the returns are worthwhile.

Risk Management

Another vital thing one could learn from gambling online is on risk management. For you to have a chance of making some profit playing online gambling games like dominoqq, poker or other gambling games, it is imperative for you to have a good clear knowledge and grasp of bankroll management as well as how risk is managed. Appropriate management of risk allows you to get rid of the element of luck in gambling. Risk management is a critical aspect that allows many casinos, whether offline or online, to make money.

There Is No Such Thing As “Free”

Most online casinos, when you register, provide a welcome bonus upon registration or when you deposit your initial funds into your account in that website. These bonuses are often promoted as “free money.” However, this isn’t the case. In the fine print, it is stated that you have to complete various wager requirements prior for you to be permitted to withdraw the “free money” from your betting account. This wager requirements are intended to provide the casino a better chance or possibility of winning the money back. In here, you will learn that there isn’t any such thing called “free money.” As investors, it is crucial to read thoroughly the fine print at all times to know what the cost truly is. In doing so, you avoid spending more than what you expected or perhaps avoid being tricked into such “bonuses.”

Google Pay : To Offer Deposit Services as Google Partners w/ More Banks

August 11, 2020Finance

Google Pay the digital wallet launched by Google in Jan. 2018, will be expanding its services, now that Google has partnered with six other banks, namely: BankMobile, BMO Harris, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) USA, First Independence Bank, Coastal Community Bank,, and State Employees Federal Credit Union ()SEFCU) NYS.

Through these banks Google Pay will be able to offer users, digital savings and checking accounts beginning 2021. The six banks will be collaborating with Citigroup and Stanford Federal Credit Union with whom Google entered into agreements last November 2019, as support for the expansion of Google Pay’s payment processing services.

Google initially started out as an online payment processor that users of Android-supported smart devices can utilize when paying for apps and in-app purchases at the Google Play store. The payment processing solutions later expanded to include digital payment services for online purchases such as movie/theater tickets, event tickets, public transport boarding passes,coupons, student ID cards, event tickets, movie tickets, loyalty cards, store cards, which is just to name a few.

Google will be responsible for developing the digital banking system supporting the front-end user experiences. Bank partners on the other hand, will handle the servicing of the Google Pay deposit accounts, including guaranteeing deposit accounts through the coverage provided by their Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) accreditation.

What Makes Google Different from Neobanks

Neobanks, are the Internet-based or online banks introduced by fintechs to provide digital and mobile financial services like online payments, money transfers, lending and deposit accounts. Although neobanks are also in partnership with licensed banking institutions, they carry their own brand of services rather than co-brand with their bank partners.

Unlike neobanks, Google Pay a.k.a. G-Pay, will co-brand its services with partner banks who will undertake to service accounts of G-Pay user accounts using Google’s tech capabilities. G-Pay partner banks therefore, will have greater visibility and increased chances of growing their deposit base.

The move actually puts the neobanks at a disadvantage because G-Pay will be offering a more reliable platform not for only for online or Internet-based financial services, but also for maintaining checking and saving deposit accounts prominently backed by FDIC coverage. After all, neobanks still have to prove their reliability when it comes to offerings of deposit services, an edge they claim to have over other leading e-wallet providers like PayPay and Payoneer.

Taking Advantage of the Stock Market

August 1, 2020Uncategorized

The world is now working its way out of the pandemic, stock market is like a roller coaster with the sudden ups and downs movement in just a matter of weeks. Say that you have poured in money in stock market, then you are probably wondering whether you should sit your money or take it out. As for those who have not started in investing yet, for sure you are thinking whether now is a great time to make investments or you should wait it out.

No matter what your decision is, make sure that you are discussing your financial thoughts with a broker. Read XM broker review if you have enough time to have a broader idea of what to expect from their service and on how brokers can help you out in growing your finances.

Empower Yourself to Reach Financial Freedom

Every single day that you make investment, you are likely to generate profits on your investments. And there are two factors supporting this:

Number 1. The stock market has a long history of going up. Meaning to say, even if you had a bad year in your portfolio and lose few hundreds or thousands, most likely, you are going to recover your losses in the following years.

Number 2. Every single time that you earn profits with your investment, it is contributing to the amount of money that you earned interests. This is otherwise called as compounding interest. And this cycle will continue on and on. Look at it this way; if you’ve invested 1000 dollars with a 10 percent return, then you’ll get 1100 dollars. If you’ll leave it in the stock market, you will not just gain 100 dollars but you’ll get another 10 percent from the 1100 dollars giving you 1210 dollars and so on.

Of course, let us not forget that there will always be the risk that you may lose money along the way. But if you keep it for long-term, then you’d most likely get handsome return on your capital.

Why is it never a Good Idea to Time the Market?

If there’s something that you have to know about the stock market, it’s the fact that it is unpredictable. No one can actually foresee the future of the stock market, regardless of how many indicators or signals are used to analyze it.

The best that you could do is understanding how the market works and understand why it may go down or up. But if you will wait until the time is ripe to make an investment, then good luck making progress.

Navigating through Financial Challenges

July 5, 2020Uncategorized

Let’s face it, every industry and every business suffered from the wrath by the outbreak of Coronavirus. As a matter of fact, the World Health Organization has considered it as a pandemic. Because of this, countless of businesses, particularly the smaller ones loss significant amount of money and many were left jobless. All this while also forcing the way we normally live our lives by attending few social events, have more of homemade meals, restaurant takeouts and virtually, zero travel.

This leads to a sharp drop of the consumer spending. This on the other hand pushed the figures for Norwegian SMS lån på minuttet as everyone is trying to gauge how they will deal with the situation, especially those who were left jobless.

Does the Pandemic brought something Good towards our Spending and Finances?

There are numerous workers who were privileged to keep earning even during economic shutdown and leveraged the shift in their routine and started to reassess their budget and spending. As per TD Ameritrade survey which was participated by 1000 Americans, over 2/3 of them said that the pandemic introduced new ways of cutting back on their spending. A lot of them reported big spike in their grocery shopping but an obvious gap in their budget once reserved for buying clothes, going on trips and eating out.

In return, it created a spiked in savings account balances. Americans seem to feel more confidence that their spending habits would save them. According to a survey, 64 percent of Americans said that their spending will changed permanently post-pandemic. Respondents are seeing themselves doing homemade cooking, carefully tracking their spending and maintaining emergency fund. While numerous people are focused more on their savings, there’s pent-up demand in the upcoming months.

Because Everyone is Forced to Save Money

On a separate survey performed by CompareCards, a Lending Tree firm, they discovered that over half of Americans are planning to splurge after the outbreak levels out, with the biggest share saying that they are taking this time to make big savings for vacation.

Yes it is true that there’s been a halt towards discretionary spending but this is temporary and not permanent. People would likely head back to shopping and dining out, but definitely, some financial habits that were adopted during quarantine will be applied. This makes people more informed of their spending, where to spend their money and how much to spend on something.

Microfinance Doesn’t Resolve Poverty by Engström

May 10, 2020Finance

Micro-loans (https://moneylendingclub.com) to the very poorest people neither create jobs, growth nor get them out of the misery, according to research by the Swedish economist Pontus Engstrøm.

Microfinance can give some money in your wallet, it can pay school fees or repair a house, and that’s fine, but it does not develop the community around those who can borrow money, emphasizes the Swedish researcher and entrepreneur.

Last year, Engström defended his doctoral dissertation on microfinance at the University of Agder (UiA). The title of the dissertation is “The Role of Finance and Microentrepreneurship in the Informal Economy”. This fall, an article by Engström on new microcredit research is also published in a special edition of the International Small Business Journal.

Understanding Microfinance

The legacy of Yunus

In 2006, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Muhammad Yunus. The Bangladeshi economics professor was granted super-celebrity status for a period of time, and many were excited about his philosophy of ending world poverty through microfinance. Engstrom was among those who liked the message from Yunus but had doubts about how effective microcredit was then, so it came to life.

A few years ago, he was a chief financial officer of Svenska Missionskyrkan, an organization that – via Oikocredit – deals with microfinance in various developing countries. Here, as much as 80 percent of the population is in the informal part of the economy, they do not pay taxes, do not keep accounts or have formal employment contracts. Much research has shown that microfinance did not help people out of poverty, but what were the reasons? He decided to find out how microfinance affects the profitability and growth of micro-businesses.

Knowledge is important

The Swedish economist and two Master’s students from NTNU in Trondheim spent nine months collecting data on 755 small-scale entrepreneurs (business entrepreneurs) who received microcredit in Ecuador. They partnered with D-Miro, one of South America’s most established microfinance institutes. De-Miro had about 40,000 micro-credit customers at the time the research project started.

Engstrøm and his associates analyzed the operation of the small contractors over a ten-year period. The findings were clear, the business owners made some profit on their business, but not enough to grow and expand. And there are no more jobs like that.

These people lack a basic understanding of running a business, so things can get better if they are offered more education in finance. The small contractors think too short-term, they want to improve the economy here and now, not create value in the long run, says Engstrøm.

He thinks there is a positive micro-credit to small businesses that can give the owners a little better life. Still, he believes that the development effect will be greater by directing more of the investment towards medium-sized companies with 10 to 300 employees. Engström points out that this is where the expertise lies in creating more value for each krone invested.

Complex poverty

“Pontus Engström has some good points,” says Bjørn Stian Hellgren, head of microfinance at the Strømme Foundation.

The Power Foundation – together with Norfund and the Mission Alliance – is the largest Norwegian players in microfinance, is active in several developing countries, and has long experience. In 2008, Norfund joined forces with Ferd, Storebrand, DNB, and KLP and started the Norwegian Microfinance Initiative (NMI). Norad also directly supports a number of microfinance institutions.

We have now been in the microfinance industry for a long time, and we have learned a lot. For our part, there has been a much clearer distinction between what is business and investment, and what is aid work. Poverty is complex and more tools are needed. There is a need for assistance, and funding is needed for those higher up in the poverty pyramid, Hellgren emphasizes.

Importance of Fintechs Highlighted by Covid-19 Crisis

April 24, 2020Finance

The consumer-friendly lending services provided by fintechs have been highlighted as many turned to them during the initial lockdown phase. Caught off-guard by the imposition of lockdown and stay-at-home measures deemed necessary in preventing the coronavirus from spreading, many suddenly found themselves without work or business income from which to draw funds in buying their daily needs.

Although the federal government subsequently released economic aid at a later date, those who have had previous dealings with a fintech company was able to obtain immediate funding relief by way of a fintech loan.

All because, unlike traditional lending institutions like banks, fintechs have developed innovative technologies that allow them to extend loans that consumers can immediately use in procuring goods.

A Cursory Look at Innovative Methods and Technologies Used by Fintechs

Fintech lenders use data from different databases in order to quickly assess the creditworthiness of a loan applicant.

Once a snapshot of the applicant has been established, a fintech lender can immediately arrive at a decision on whether to approve a loan or not; usually in less than 24 hours.

If approved, documentations are simply coursed through automated processes by way of smart phones or tablets.

Actually, getting a fintech loan quickly approved depends not only on a person’s credit history, but on all things considered. They include Information related to how the person manages and settles other personal financial aspects, such as payment of utilities, car loans, personal or business taxes and other useful info that will uphold the person’s reputation and credibility.

What Travel Insurance Coverage Includes in Times of War and Acts of Terrorism

January 11, 2020Insurance

The government of Iran has formally acknowledged that the downing of the Ukraine-bound Boeing jet, which resulted to the deaths of all 176 passengers on board, was caused by damages sustained after the firing of an Iranian missile.

Although such incidents have been known to happen during times of unrest and international political conflicts, the Iran incident has once again drawn focus on travel insurance during times of uncertainty arising from acts of terrorism and political tensions.

Basically, travel insurance does not cover mishaps resulting from acts of aggression related to war and political conflicts. This means that for standard travel insurance policies, any untoward incident that happens as a result of a war-related attack, regardless of how, where and when the incident took place, travel insurance companies have the right to refuse coverage.

The right of travel insurance companies extends to refusal to reimburse travellers who decide to cancel a trip in light of escalating political conflict that has made it unsafe for them to travel. In that regard, governments issue the necessary travel advisory to inform their citizens.

Still, there are certain concessions that many travel agencies offer in allowing travelers to collect reimbursements on cancellations during times of unrest and uncertainty.

Acts of Terrorism Qualifies as Reasonable Ground for Cancellation of Travel Insurance

Insurance coverage against acts of terrorism, as offered by most insurance companies, qualifies as standard basis for cancellations. In the event that claims for damages sustained as a result of terrorist actions, the government in which the incident took place must officially declare it as an act of terrorism.

When looking to cancel a travel insurance coverage that include coverage for acts of terrorism, it must be that a traveler cancelled the covered trip once acts of terrorism have occurred near or in his or her travel destination. Moreover, travel cancellation must have been made within 30 days of the scheduled arrival in that destination.

Upgrade a Travel Insurance with “Cancel for Any Reason” During Times of Uncertainty

Inasmuch as unpredictable situations underscore the critical importance of having travel insurance coverage, travellers who are prevented from cancelling a scheduled trip can still seek protection by upgrading their policy with a “Cancel for any Reason” (CFAR) clause. This upgrade allows reimbursements in case travels are canceled due to escalating conflict that lead to war attacks.

Still there are certain conditions to be met in order to qualify for CFAR option. First off, a traveler must have contracted and paid for the policy within 21 days of booking the related trip. Those contemplating to include this option in their policy should be aware that it would cost them 40 % more than a standard insurance coverage. In the event that reimbursements for cancellation will be claimed, only 75% of the incurred travel costs will be covered.

The information provided above is part of the information campaign launched by Squaremouth Information Center about their insurance coverage for “Iran Political Unrest Travel Insurance.”

Are Your Savings In The Bank Worth It?

December 16, 2019Finance

Do you have more savings (in the bank) than your peers? How much savings do you have? And is that a lot or a little compared to other generations. Many are looking into various avenues to earn more from their savings. With the exemption of burial insurance for seniors, non-traditional insurance is worth considering.

Savers are currently complaining about the low-interest rates. But that does not mean that fewer people are saving. In fact, the mountain of savings is rising year on year and is now around 370 billion euros. But there are considerable differences per age group.

Get Maximum Interest Savings Account

For most people, savings serve as a buffer for unforeseen expenses or for a major purchase such as a car or money that you want to put in a house for sale.

Saving yields nothing more

The mountain of savings is growing, but interest income is constantly declining. The European Central Bank ( ECB ) has systematically lowered interest rates in recent years to boost the economy in the eurozone. This has led banks to lower their interest rates.

The major banks in the Netherlands now pay interest rates that are close to zero for freely withdrawable savings accounts. Even a negative interest rate on savings is no longer excluded.

Average piggy bank

But who now suffers the most from the low-interest rates? A household had on average 40,000 euros in bank and savings in 2017 according to CBS. It is true that the average does not say everything. A couple of extremely rich savers distort the picture, they raise the average savings amount considerably with bank balances that most people can only dream of.

It is, therefore, fairer to look at the savings of an average household. In general, a household has 13,000 euros in savings. This so-called median amount means that half of the households have more savings and half less.

Savings per generation

The graph below shows the median savings amounts per age group. Either half of the households in an age group have more, the other half have less.

The savings amount is gradually increasing over the years. But from the age of 65, the saved assets hardly increase anymore. People over the age of 65, on average, have the highest savings assets and are therefore most affected by the low-interest rates.

It is not illogical that the saved assets do not increase much from the age of 65 onwards: when people retire, the income often does not grow or is very limited. In addition, retirement income is often somewhat lower than income from work, which means there is less room to set aside larger amounts. And some elderly people also give wealth to children and grandchildren.

In the graph below you can also see the average savings and bank balances per age group. And indeed, these amounts are a lot higher than the median savings capacity per age group. But as said, this is mainly because the richest savers raise the average considerably.

Saving does not say everything about your assets

Of course, your savings balance does not say everything. You can also look at the so-called net assets. That is the sum of savings, investments and the value of, for example, the owner-occupied home, minus debts such as mortgages and personal loans. So if you think that your savings are yielding you enough earnings, you may want to consider other avenues to earn the income from savings you need.

Using Crypto Trading Bot to make You Money

November 21, 2019Uncategorized

The best free crypto trading bot is actually a computer program that is automatically buying and selling different cryptocurrencies at just the right time to generate profits. And it is literally its job. With this in mind, you have to take into consideration that not all bots can yield profits.

Of course, in a perfect world, bots would generate profits and that profit is higher in risk-adjusted term than buying the same coin and hold on to it for quite some time. On the term “risk-adjusted”, it actually means that you are having positive gains that are relative to negative gains you have suffered while having better investment. To have a better idea about this, you may want to consider the following:

Between the two scenarios, which you’d prefer to have?

A daily return with 1 percent every day and has no negative day accumulating a total of 250 percent return in a year or;
Enjoying 10 percent returns on Monday, 3 percent on Tuesday, negative 5 percent on Wednesday and so forth with the total return of 500 percent in a given year.

Well the main point is, given that you have consistent returns and experiencing a bumpy ride, you must always pick the one that provides you with consistency.

High Returns would never be enough, You’ve got to be bold

This is what making crypto trading bots stand out. If we could find a way of capturing the most upside in digital currencies without getting gut-punches, it will make it an even more attractive option than what hodlres offer.

Trading with Crypto Bots

There are basically three moving parts of trading bots and these are the signal generator, risk allocation and execution. You’ll learn each of them in the next lines.

Signal Generator – this is where all the predictions happen. There are some data that will go into signal generator and then, a buy or sell signal will pop up. Say that you’ve seen bots using technical indicators, then it is a great idea to slowly back away.
Risk Allocation – this is taking the signal and decide on the amount to buy. This is taking the intricate decision whether to buy or trade only a portion or buy everything in one go.
Execution – if you have much to buy in bulk like 10 million, then you certainly do not want to do everything in a single trade. You might want to bounce back and forth in your order.

Lawsuit Funding Pre-Settlement Loans Auto Accidents

November 5, 2019Finance

What is the Importance of Pre Settlement Loans Auto Accidents? A serious car accident can result in a monetary burden because of expenditures that increase over time pending a settlement case. Car repairs and other costs cover most of the bills you receive for repayment. On top of the bills piling up each day, there are still medical bills that have to be paid. Medical bills alone can easily become an overwhelming financial burden. Therefore, you will need to find an immediate source of funding to help you get by while waiting for the settlement from the court.

What is Pre-Settlement Financing?

How could Pre Settlement Loans in cases of Auto Accidents Help? Your insurance company can offset generously some of the medical expenses resulting from an auto accident. However, because the law does not require your insurance provider to pay for the expenses in repair and medical treatment, you need to ensure that you’ve got the appropriate resources to receive a reasonable settlement.

You need to find an attorney for this intent. Personal injury attorneys are great at applying the capacity of legal action to make sure that insurance firms and various parties make reasonable payments. On top of this, a personnel injury attorney on contingency payment can actually help you get a car accident loan which can be most helpful in auto accidents pending settlement cases.

Why will you need a pre-settlement car accident loan? Car accident settlement advances can allow you to get back on track even before the case is resolved. Pre settlement car accident loans enable you to quickly use a portion of the settlement value (depending on your case) to cover other medical bills and living costs. When the case is pending, the funds released through cash advances from motor vehicle accidents may be used to help you get by while recuperating from the accident and unable to work.

Pre-settlement loans or advances is a non-recourse

A car accident can result in unprecedented demand, including economic, physical and psychological stress for the plaintiff and his/her family. Because you don’t exactly know when the settlement of the car accident is going finalize, it’s impossible for most people to wait for the case to be resolved for years, so getting a cash advance against the expected settlement funds is often the best option. If cash advances from traditional banks or other private institutions are not obtainable, a car accident settlement advance could be your best hope as it is intended to assist you and your family in a timely manner.

Since these types of cash advances are a non-recourse, this means that you are not obliged to make the repayment in the event that the settlement had not been rewarded to you. The private lending company that has extended the pre-settlement loan will have to depend on the positive result of the case to gain their money back. The downside of a pre-settlement loan is that it can charge thrice the amount that was originally granted to you as an advance.

What Is A Business Interruption Insurance?

October 28, 2019Finance

An insurance coverage that restores a loss in business income because of a disaster is called business interruption insurance. For instance, it could be due to a fire or a natural catastrophe. This insurance isn’t sold as an individual policy however is either included to a property or casualty policy or added in a wide-ranging package policy as a rider or an add-on.

Business Interruption Insurance

Tax is deducted from a premiums on business interruption insurance as normal business expenditures. This kind of policy is only effective if the cause of the loss of business income is covered in the basic policy on property/casualty. Typically, the payable amount relies on the business’ previous financial records.

What Do They Cover

As identified by the policy of the insurance, the coverage is effective only until the expiration of the business interruption period. Majority of the these policies determine this period as the time that the insured disaster started until the time that the property damaged is repaired as well as restored to the exact condition before the disaster happened.

Profits

Base on the performance of prior months, an insurance policy will give a refund for the profits that could have been made had the disaster not happened.

Fixed Costs

These could include operation expenditures as well as other sustained outlays of doing business.

Temporary Location

A number of policies cover the involved costs with moving to as well as operating from a momentary business location.

Commission and Training Expenses

In the event of a disruption of business, frequently a company will require to have the machinery replaced as well as reorient personnel on the use of the new machinery. Insurance in business interruption may cover these outlays.

Additional Expenses

Reimbursement will be provided by a business interruption insurance for costs that are reasonable to permit the business to carry on to operate as it rises back again.

Wages Of Employees

Wage coverage is needed if a business doesn’t want to lose workers during a shut down. This coverage could aid a business proprietor make payroll while business isn’t in operation.

Taxes

Businesses, even when a catastrophe hits, are still obligated to pay taxes. Tax coverage will make certain a business could pay taxes promptly as well as avoid penalties.

Loan Payments

Frequently, loan payments are due on a monthly basis. The coverage enables a business to pay those scheduled payments even when they aren’t making any income.

Special Terms for Business Interruption Insurance

It is crucial to remember that the insurer is just required to pay if the covered really encountered or suffered a loss because of the interruption. The business will get back the amount but will not go beyond the limit stipulated in the policy.

Tips For More Profits From Your Forex Investment

October 24, 2019Finance

Forex trading via forex vps allows you to administer an automated trading approach and is an effective solution for forex traders needing extended hours of steady and unwavering performance. Forex trading is an appealing investment since it offers several financial advantages. You could begin trading in the market of foreign exchange even with a small amount cash.

Forex is an investment in market of foreign exchange wherein currencies of various nations are traded or exchanged. If decent profits are earned from forex trading, it is possible for you to be able to amass wealth. This could also allow you to pay off any debts with the income earned from the forex trading and investments.

Building Wealth From Forex Investment And Trading

The market of foreign exchange is the largest financial market in the globe where currencies of various nations are traded with other currencies. The market is accessible 24 hours and the quantity of trades executed in forex market outdoes the quantity of traded stocks in different stock exchanges collectively.

Foreign exchange has a great leverage propensity and likewise increases the possible return of investment. Hence, it becomes an appealing opportunity of investment. Yet, knowing the risks involved in the forex market is vital. Or else, instead of gaining profits, you might lose the money you’ve worked hard for.

Aside from learning to be a skilled and clever forex trader, you must also learn to confidently foresee the movements of the market. You could consult a forex market trader as well for advice and to acquire more understanding regarding your investment.

Tips On Earning More Profit Through Forex Trading

Make a Demo Account And Learn From There

Start trading using a demo account and go return to this account if you think that you are beginning to lose your equity. Making use of a demo account is an excellent way to learn how to trade until you are able to take control of the workings and complexities of the trade. You have to try to find a stable, synthetic and reliable method to style of trading. With a demo account, this is achievable.

Mistakes or Slip-ups Are Learning Experiences

When you come upon trading mistakes, jot down the mistake and the outcome of that mistake. Then match them up with the process that you have taken and create a model of what you would consider as a good and bad trade. You then could, in future trades, use the model you have applied to make a good trade to get the most out of your gains.

Record In Detail Your Trading

It may be tedious, but keeping a detailed record of each of your trading activities would allow you to regularly review and assess these activities to polish your trading techniques as well as to be more proficient swiftly making right and sensible decisions.

https://youtu.be/SK1FkHGvUVI

Sallie Mae Introduces New Mastercard Credit Facilities Exclusively for Students and Fresh Grads

October 15, 2019Uncategorized

SLM Corporation (SLM), the publicly-traded corporation that deals mainly with student loans, commonly known as Sallie Mae, has introduced three (3) Mastercard credit facilities for college students and fresh college graduates with outstanding student loans.

Launch of the three new Matercard cash-back cards called Accelerate, Ignite and Evolve comes with a no annual fee and zero percent (0%) introductory offer. However, just like any credit card, student borrowers should carefully read the fine print before entangling themselves with additional financial obligations.

What the Fine Print Says about Sallie Mae’s New Credit Card for College Students

Students should take note that once the 1-year introductory period is over, the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on outstanding credit card balances will range between 14.99% and 24.99%. The APR applicable depends on the creditworthiness of the student borrower. High credit scores will of course, qualify a credit card holder for lower APRs since a student borrower with high credit rating will not be assessed as “high risk;” as opposed to those with low credit scores.

Creditcards.com reports that the average APR on credit card borrowings is eighteen percent (18%).

Although the three new Sallie Mae student credit cards come with 1% to 1.25% cash-back rewards, the feature only encourages frequent, and sometimes, irresponsible credit spending.

To entice signing up for a new Sallie Mae credit card offering, a 25% cashback bonus will be awarded if an Accelerate or Ignite cardholder uses his or her credit card to pay-off any existing private or federal student loan. Signing up will also qualify a cardholder to a $10k promotional sweepstakes, which if won, will be applied as a payment to the winner’s outstanding student loan.

Are Sallie Mae’s Student Credit Cards a Good Thing?

According to financial analyst Ted Rossman of Creditcards.com,

“People can do better, but they certainly can do a lot worse.”

Whether it is Accelerate, ignite or Evolve, all credit purchases using these credit facilities, will be handled in the same way conventional credit cards operate. Full settlement of every credit card purchase on due date is best, because doing so prevents buildup of the outstanding balance on which the APR is compounded daily or monthly.

https://youtu.be/EroLA-uk3AI

Paying minimum means paying only for the interest computed on outstanding credit purchases. As a rule, payments to settle a loan are first applied to interests, and only the excess will apply as payment to settle or reduce the principal balance. That being the case, a student’s credit card debt could balloon if he or she makes only minimum payments.

To Retire or Not to Retire at Age 65 ; An Equity Release Could Help You Decide

October 4, 2019Finance

Based on a recent survey conducted by Provision Living, a company focused on providing services to senior citizens, most Americans today are no longer keen on retiring at age 65; The survey fielded questions about retirement plans to 1,000 American adults who have not opted to retire, despite being aged 65 and above.

On the average, most of the respondents said any plans for retirement will have to wait until they reach 72. One-third of whom represented older adults who feel they are still not financially prepared. Twenty-three percent of those who cannot retire due to financial reasons said they still need to work because their family still depend on them for support. Nineteen percent (19%) cited debt payment as the main reason why they still have to hold on to their job.

What is interesting though is that about forty percent (40%) of those who have not yet taken the retirement path, did not cite financial need as reason. Forty-five (45%) of this particular group of eligible retirees, claim they still enjoy working. Eighteen percent (18%) anticipate that they will get bored if they retire. Some six percent (6%) simply want to continue experiencing the camaraderie at work.

Still, not all who participated in the survey are engaged in full-time work, as more than half of the eligible retirees who responded said they had switched to a part-time job when they reached age 61 or thereabout.

Getting a part-time job is one good way to boost money received as monthly benefit from the Social Security Administration. If money from these sources are still not enough for meeting loan payments and other pressing needs, there is a financial solution called equity release. However, this is basically a type of loan that is available to homeowners who are at least 55 years old.

Lessen Retirement Worries by Making Your Real Property Work for You via Equity Release

Equity release is similar to a real estate mortgage because a borrower can obtain extra money using one’s real property as collateral. Yet unlike a regular loan against property, borrowing under an equity release arrangement will not require monthly payments of principal and interest.

It is like receiving tax-free money ahead of the future sale of a property, while living in it during the remaining best years of one’s life.

Under an equity release arrangement, the total amount due becomes payable upon the senior adult’s demise; or once he or she has reached a health condition that requires long-term admittance to a nursing home. The benefit here is that by that time, and under normal conditions, the property would have appreciated in value.

Once the property goes up for sale as a means to settle the money borrowed, a residual value may still be available to the borrower’s beneficiaries.

Actually there are different types of borrowings under an equity release arrangement. The most common is the “Lifetime Mortgage,” to which the terms and conditions are standard. What is important is to make sure that a “no-negative equity guarantee” is incorporated into the loan agreement. That way, beneficiaries left behind by the borrower will not be saddled with an unpaid debt.

The first step though is to find out how much you can take out as equity borrowing on your property. You can go about this by using an online equity release calculator, which will do the computing for you. The calculator factors in your present age and the current fair market value of your property. You can use this tool in determining how much you can take out as equity on your property when comparing different borrowing options.

What School hasn’t Taught You is what would Push You in Life

September 26, 2019Uncategorized

School may have taught us a lot of things but it’s unfortunate that among the subjects we studied, personal finance isn’t one of them. The lack of foundation to financial education has left young adults clueless on how to properly manage their money, apply for credit and how they will stay or get out of debt.

If you want to get control of your finances, then now is the high time to get it done. In this article, we have compiled tips that would serve as the four pillars of your financial management.

It’s all in Self-Control

Well if you are lucky, your parents might have taught you vital skills during your childhood. Otherwise, the sooner you learn delayed gratification, the faster you find it easier to manage your finances. Even though you can buy an item effortlessly on credit the moment that you wanted it, it is best that you wait until you have saved enough money.

If you developed a habit of buying stuff via credit cards, regardless if you can pay for the full bill at the end of the month, you may still wind up paying for these items in 10 years. On the other hand, if you want to keep using your credit cards for the rewards it offer or just the convenience factor, then be sure to pay your outstanding balance in full as soon as your bill arrives.

Note: Do not carry more credit cards than what you can track.

Say you need to take out a loan from https://www.californiatitleloans.org/, then make sure that you use it correctly.

Have Control of Your Financial Future

Keep in mind, rather than relying on other people’s advice regarding your finances, it is best that you take charge and read couple of books regarding personal finance. Once you have equipped yourself with financial knowledge, never let anyone to catch you off guard. Having understanding of how money works is your first step towards financial freedom and making money work for you.

Where does Your Money Goes?

If you have read finance books, then it would not be long to realize to ensure that your expenses are not exceeding your income. Budgeting is the best way to get around your finances. After seeing how your coffee is adding up throughout the course of the month, it will be soon to hit you that you can make huge savings by skipping on it. This is without a doubt has a huge impact to your financial situation.

Back again with the principle of delayed gratification, you may not be living in a posh or fancy apartment today, but you can save enough to afford a beautiful and nice house or condo before you know it.

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