Financial planning is a generic term that encompasses a long-term process of evaluating one’s sources of income, factoring in recurring expenses and payment of liabilities and thereby arriving at a sustainable financial strategy that not only offers a sound return on investments but also protects you against any potential risks.
Financial planning is vital in ensuring one a secure life even when one is not able to earn from a full-time job due to old age.
Here is a quick look at the components involved in financial planning:
When we speak of financial planning, what is commonly assumed involves investments to increase one’s savings. While this is no doubt an important aspect of financial planning, there are others that gain priority too.
Sound financial plans that consider all the above factors will go a long way towards giving you a peaceful and enjoyable retirement that isn’t thrown into chaos due to any personal upheavals or market shifts.
Foreign exchange, commonly called Forex or FX is the market in which currencies, or simply put, money, is traded. It may sound contradictory at first. How is it possible to buy and sell money?
Well, money is not traded physically here. With the help of modern technology, currency is bartered electronically between the many financial markets around the world. This is done 24 hours a day for almost five and a half days a week. Because of the vast time difference around the globe, financial markets are almost always open somewhere in New York, London, Zurich, Paris, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Singapore or in Sydney and doing brisk business at any given point in time. Fewer rules, with no central governing body, a wide and extended trading duration, a fluid market structure and low fees and commissions are all favorable factors for those who are keen to step into the world of Forex trading.
Converting one currency into a different one is the essence of trading here. Just ensure that the new currency you are trading is likely to increase in value over a period. Constant trading back and forth should ideally result in profits for you. Scan through publications that teach you how the process works. Invest time initially to study the foreign exchange market to decipher the terms used and the way of thinking of currency traders. Or let an experienced trader teach the strategies and techniques of trading so it can be profitable for you. Experiment with relatively small amounts of money that you can afford to forfeit in the learning process.
Enjoy a successful exchange in the largest financial markets in the world, the Forex market, that is apparently much bigger than even the stock and bond markets that we might be more familiar with. All that is required now is a little interest and knowledge about foreign exchange trading and of course, some technology to help you earn some money.
Being financially secure for life is a dream for everyone, but fulfilling it may be a major challenge unless one doesn’t have at least the basic knowledge about financial management. Earning a steady salary is merely the first step; multiplying it is the main one. In that sense, investing in income funds which offer big dividends in return is a perfect choice. Even though many people are tempted to opt for funds that give the highest yields on a quarterly basis, there are other factors which must be considered before investing in them.
One of them is the expense ratio, which basically indicates the per annum amount an investment company charges for the sum invested by a consumer. The other factor is that dividends earned may be used to buy more shares, thereby reinvesting them in a process known as the Dividend Reinvestment Program (DRIP).
Here are two of the best dividend income funds which have been relied upon and consistently given benefits to the investors:
What are the costs that are covered under Medicare?
Medicare is a medical insurance policy that has four parts.
Part A covers a specified percentage of essential hospitalization expenses or expenses incurred when availing professional nursing services. The policy requires you to pay a monthly premium that would be dependent on the sum insured.
Part B of Medicare covers some of the cost of necessary medical interventions, laboratory investigations, doctors’ professional charges, costs of renting or buying medical equipment for a patient.
Under Part C is a provision that permits private insurance companies to provide Medicare benefits to the person who holds the insurance policy
Part D incurs portions of the expenses incurred for drugs prescribed for long term use for out patients in a medical facility.
Does Medicare cover dental care?
Medicare does not cover most of the routine expenses incurred with the maintenance of good dental health such as fillings, fixing of dentures, tooth extractions, and general cleanings. Usually, dental insurance coverage offered under Medicare is limited to any dental check up that is mandated before a major surgery or dental issues that arise in connection with a stay in a hospital during or after some treatment. In some cases, if you require hospitalization due to tooth infection you have developed after an extraction procedure, you may receive some degree of coverage under Medicare.
Does Medicare cover my dental implants?
Most original Medicare plans do not provide insurance coverage for any routine dental procedure including implants. In such a case, a Medicare advantage plan may be more beneficial. What Medicare plan will cover my dental needs?
Original Medicare plans is a dental plan medicare does not cover routine dental needs such as extractions, fillings, cleanings, denture fittings and so on. You would be well advised to speak to your insurance advisor regarding taking out a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers you partial coverage of specific dental requirements. Medicare Advantage Plans offer you all the basic coverage that the original Medicare plan does, with the additional benefit of specific coverage including specified dental expenses.
You can check some Medigap dental plans available and check what is covered in them and what isn’t.
Bankrate.com is an independent comparison service and an advertising-supported publisher. It covers nearly 4800 banks and credit unions across all 50 states in the United States to provide a well-researched and detailed comparison of the best CD rates. It thereby enables you to find the best Certificates of Deposit (CD) rates by taking into account the following parameters: the annual percentage yield, minimum deposit required, term and the penalty that will be charged for early withdrawal.
Additionally, Bankrate provides several tools to help users manage and maximize returns from their CDs.
CD Calculator: Bankrate provides users with an online calculator to calculate the interest earned on a CD. You need to enter the necessary information such as the initial deposit, months, interest rate and compounding to calculate the annual percentage yield (APY) and the closing balance. It also offers a detailed report highlighting the schedule of the CD’s balance and interest earned.
CD Laddering Calculator: You can also use Bankrate’s CD Laddering calculator to determine how to increase your CD investment returns to land the best CD rate. This will help you build a CD ladder for yourself that enables you to draw high yields and provide sufficient access to your cash.
Investment Calculator: You can use Bankrate’s extensive investment calculator to examine if your investment efforts are on the right track to reaching your investment goals. You can do this by entering vital information such as
With the above information, you can determine the rate of return you can expect from your investments.
Savings Calculator: Bankrate’s savings calculator can help you analyze your investment growth over a period.
Whether it is for traditional school learning or distance or online learning, managing expenses for school can be a challenge for many. Getting financial aid for traditional school learning is a common topic to talk about, but one should remember that there are ways to get grants for online schools, too? The grants for these online schools are an effective way of drastically reducing your school expenditure. So, if you have decided to go ahead with online learning, here’s everything you need to know about grants for online schools.
What are grants for online schools?
Grants for online schools are financial aids that are given once to the students based on their capabilities and requirements. These grants are different from loans. Unlike student loans, students do not have to pay back the grant money. Grants can be taken from various sources. Some of them are:
Common types of grants for online schools
There are several grant types that students can get for their education. They can choose from the following:
Need-based
Federal government typically offers these types of grants. Financial aid is usually provided for a partial or complete tuition fee. The eligibility for these grants is determined after calculating the difference between the expected contribution to be made by the family and the entire attendance cost. To get these grants, the first step is to carefully fill the application for FAFSA®.
Merit-based
These are not what the name suggests. Most people are not aware about these grants, and it is commonly assumed to be available only for students with straight As. Any student with exceptional interests, motivations, and passion can be eligible for this grant. The golden rule to get this grant is to achieve a balance. For example, you might be leading a sports team and work part-time to manage your finances along with maintaining an average of B in your academics. You will still be considered for a merit-based scholarship by the committee.
What are the best scholarships and grants for online schools?
Some of the best grants and scholarships in the country that give students the opportunity to study further without any financial hurdles include:
Here are some relevant guidelines in planning your finances and systematically protecting and increasing your savings.
First of all, you need to assess your net worth which is the total of all your liquid and non-liquid assets and investments, from which final figure you subtract the total of all your debts and liabilities.
Once you understand the total savings, you can go ahead with financial planning as per short, medium, and long term goals.
Given your current income level and monthly expenses, factor in the cost of living expenses due to inflation and how much of your income would be required to cover your essential needs in the future. Also, try to have an approximate idea of large sums of money you would require and when you would need this.
Depending on your income, secondary income from your partner or other family members, your age, your likely career path and where you live and work, you could decide how much of your monthly earnings you wish to apportion towards investments. There are some low risk, medium risk and high-risk investments available, depending on how much you invest and the kind of returns you seek.
While it is important to build your assets by investing wisely, do remember to cover your self and your dependents for any risks by taking out life insurance.
Rather than putting all your eggs in one basket, it would be wise to spread your investments across savings accounts, gold, real estate, debt, and equity.
Financial planning requires you to compute your tax liability and invest in a manner that gives you the maximum tax breaks under the sections legally permitted.
Also, review the status of all your investments at intervals, so that you know if you need to redirect your money towards other investment options.
Lastly, do not be misled by spurious claims of agents who promise you quick money. Investments need to go be made carefully using one’s discretion. You can seek the advice of a professional investment consultant who will guide your financial planning towards optimizing your benefits.
Financial advisory is an art that connects intellectual thinking, strategy building and planning with money management. A financial advisor is an agency or an individual who can provide financial services associated with various financial aspects such as investment management, tax payment, asset management, etc. Financial advisors include financial planners, insurance agents, brokers, investors, lawyers, private bankers, accountants, etc. Here is a list of the best financial advisory services available in the country:
Vanguard
The Vanguard Group, based in Pennsylvania, is a leading investment advisor in the United States. It is one of the most prominent financial advisor firms and has more than $7 trillion in global assets under management. Vanguard is famous for its low advisor fees and its huge variety of offerings. Their significant services include mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, brokerage services, financial planning, asset management, and trust services. The company provides its investors and customers unlimited access to financial advisors, low expense ratio on funds, solid investment selection plans, goal-based planning, etc.
Montag & Caldwell
Montag & Caldwell, a financial advisory firm based in Atlanta, is among the best financial advisors ranked by CNBC. This firm’s total asset under management is expected to be more than $2.3 billion. The company aims to provide its clients with high-quality financial advisory services and superior returns. They emphasize maintaining high standards of business ethics and a strong commitment to producing investment results for customers. The major service of this financial establishment is providing advisory services on investments in equities and fixed income securities. Their investment policy group comprising portfolio managers and research analysts contributes to a smoother decision-making process.
Betterment
Betterment is a financial advisory firm based in New York City. The company is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and aims to provide cash management and investment services in digital form. Betterment provides its customers with investment, cash management, and planning options such as automated investing, crypto investment, checking services, retirement planning, etc. You can make quicker investments by signing up for the Betterment mobile application. Investors can start their journey with even ten dollars and utilize automated strategies and tools to grow their assets.
Fisher Investments
An independent financial advisory firm headquartered in Washington, Fisher offers its clients a wide variety of financial advisory services. With commitment and a personalized approach, Fisher claims to manage $197 billion for investors globally. They are transparent about all the investment decisions they make. Fisher investment aims to provide disciplined and straightforward investments through its long-term financial advisory services such as budgeting, personalized portfolio management, and annuity assessment. Additionally, they also offer retirement plans and other financial planning services.
J.P. Morgan Asset Management
The J.P Morgan Chase & Co. is a multinational investment bank and private financial service holding company with significant importance in the country’s history. The company was founded by none other than the legendary John Pierpont Morgan, a veteran investment banker and financier of the late nineteenth century. As a global financial advisor, the company focuses on strategic advice and solutions for various financial aspects such as investment banking, risk management, capital raising, commercial banking, and merchant services.
While selecting the firm of your choice, you can analyze information regarding their services, consulting fees, advisory certifications, minimum investments, availability, location, etc., so that you can choose with confidence.
Window blinds have a special ability to completely change the look and feel of a room. If you are in search of the perfect blinds for your residence or apartment, check out the best of the options available online:
Delta Blinds Supply Custom Made, Premium Real Wood Window Blinds
This is an ideal option for dining rooms, bedrooms, and living rooms. They would fit into any opening you have as the company offers custom made blinds in the event they do not have ready material available pertaining to the size you want. They cost around $60.
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Home Detailerz Genwood 2 Real Wood Blinds
This product is the most appropriate option to add an elegant touch to the room. They are made using pure basswood. This wood is extremely light but strong. You can have them in both light and dark tints. From oyster white to mahogany, you get anything you need. These blinds will cost around $110.34.
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Radiance Cape Cod Bamboo Roman Shade with Valance
This item is made using attractive hand-selected rustic bamboo slats and a rich brown woven cord. You enjoy an air of refinement and exclusive beauty while being able to maintain the desired privacy. The cost of these blinds is around $27.
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Bali Blinds Vinyl Corded
This is a great choice for humid rooms that are also quite frequently visited. Bathrooms and kitchens are being talked about here. These blinds are made using PVC slats and have a rich coffee hue. The can be mounted inside or outside of the window openings. The price of these blinds is about $33.
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Lotus & Windoware 2-Inch Faux Wood Blind
If you are fed up of the sun damaging your window treatments, you might find this option for window blinds very useful. They are made using synthetic materials. Hence, they would not crack, fade or warp. Moreover, they come with a head rail that bends to resist breakage. These blinds cost around $96.
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Calyx Interiors Cordless Honeycomb Cellular Shade
If you have kids or pets at home, this is the safest kind you can use. As the name suggests, it uses an automatic lift system and there are no cords, diminishing the risk of entanglement. They guard against drafts and cost about $65.
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Skotz LLC MagneBlind Magnetic Mini Blinds
They may not be the most beautiful of blinds to look at but they are quite the option if you have metal doors in your home. The best part is that they do not need a typical installation and can come down in seconds. These blinds cost around $37.
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Achim Home Furnishings 1-2-3 Vinyl Room Darkening Temporary Pleated Window Shade
If you are somebody who likes to take a quick nap during the day but unable to do so due to the bright sunlight then consider this item. They have a room-darkening solution to bright sunlight and cater to privacy needs as well. You do not have to worry about worrying a wrong size because it is a cut-to-fit model. These shades cost around $13.
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All these window blinds are readily available on Amazon and eBay. You must get them at the earliest. They are popular items and hence get sold-out quickly. You might have to wait for the sellers to restock them before you can buy them if they sell out.
Window blinds are widely used in households and offices. Thus, they are available in abundance. All you need to do is to pick the right ones that suit your requirements the best.
Portable sawmill devices are those which can be set up at a place or moved easily unlike the large and conventional sawmill. With the course of time, various types of sawmills have surfaced into the market to fulfill the purpose of the industrial needs. Circular saws, band saws, and chainsaws are few of the popular types of saws that are well-equipped to be moved from places to places. In addition to the context, portable sawmill has been proven to be more cost-effective for the landholder for milling the logs.
The functionality of portable sawmills
For accuracy, high-speed and reliability, the portable sawmill is used to produce finished lumber. The general function of the mills includes log building and cutting the lumber without spending too much of time. This has increased the chances of selling the lumber in the local market.
Pros of choosing portable sawmills
The portable sawmill provides ample of benefits than the traditional and large sawmills.
Cons of portable sawmills
The continuous monitoring can be strenuous while using the mills as health and safety is always an issue with the device. You need to constantly be aware if you are doing it the right way.
Factors to keep in mind while choosing the sawmill
There are certain factors that regulate your selection of portable sawmills and you should consider them before spending money on the mill.
Motor oil is one of the most essential fluids for an automobile engine. It helps lubricate the pistons and moving parts within the internal combustion unit. Motor oil also reduces friction, controls the wear of parts, maintains a favorable temperature, and increases the lifespan of the engine. An oil change is one of the most important auto services you can avail at your local garage.
Modern day automobiles have oil change indicators that alert you at periodic intervals. It is important that you take your car in for servicing as soon as the system indicates an oil change. You must also check oil levels manually once every month using a dip stick to ensure that the systems are functioning.
You have the option of choosing from conventional and synthetic motor oils, the two distinct types refined from raw crude oil. The synthetic variant has additional fortifications in the formula with synthetic compounds.
Synthetic oil has numerous benefits over conventional oil. The best synthetic oil change will ensure your engine doesn’t cease up in heavy traffic due to friction and maintains optimum temperature throughout thus increasing its efficiency. A favorable viscosity index, chemical stability, shear stability, reduced evaporative loss, resistance to oxidation, thermal breakdown, and sludge resistances all make synthetic oil the best motor lubricant.
Here are five of the best synthetic oil change options for your vehicle.
Royal Purple Synthetic Motor Oil
A good choice for high-performance automobiles in comparison to some of the best synthetic oil change options. While other motor oils provide lubrication and temperature control, Royal Purple goes the extra mile with better fuel economy. Fuel efficiency is one of the pressing factors that you as an automobile owner will focus on a daily basis. Motor oils help lubricate the components and reduce friction at the same time, increasing the efficiency of the engine output. Fuel efficiency is also beneficial for the environment as the engine burns less fuel thus releasing low levels of CFCs into the atmosphere. Royal Purple synthetic oil is also engineered to prevent corrosion to work well with ethanol and catalytic emission systems.
Mobil 1
For synthetic motor oils, Mobil 1 is a well-known brand in the automobile industry. Excellent lubrication and gear protection are the two main highlights of the synthetic oil that in turn translates into excellent mileage for automobiles. Mobil 1 synthetic oil also reduces sludge and deposit this is a result of oil residue settling in the piston and other moving parts. The deposits can corrode parts and compromise the efficiency. Mobil 1 also prevents oil leaking and protects the engine for an affordable price in comparison to the best synthetic oil change options available in the market.
Liqui Moly Premium
Liqui Moly is one of the motor oils that has a rapid oil delivery potency at low temperatures. Rapid delivery is very useful if you are driving in harsh winter conditions where the temperature drops well below zero and can cause the oil to lose its viscosity. Rapid oil delivery also helps curb ignition problems that are a common nuisance in sub-zero climates and driving conditions. Liqui Moly premium oil is an excellent lubricant that protects your engine and gear system from corrosion, wear and tear, sludge and any deposits that might hamper the piston firing mechanism.
Castrol GTX Magnatec
Castrol is a brand name you can consider among the best synthetic oil change variants available in the market. Ignition is one of the main reasons for engine wear and Castrol GTX Magnatec curbs this problem by ensuring an efficient oil delivery rate for all the moving parts within the internal combustion engine. The synthetic composition of Castrol provides excellent lubrication thus ensuring overall engine performance. Viscosity in terms of reducing resistance is not so favorable in comparison to other major motor oil brands, but overall Castrol is a good option for you to consider for your automobile.
Pennzoil Platinum
The synthetic motor oil provides all in one protection that increases the fuel economy of your vehicle and protects the engine in extreme temperatures. Pennzoil synthetic blend of motor oil lubricates vital components of the engine, allows the pistons to run smoothly, and improves the horsepower of the engine. There are a few drawbacks of the synthetic blend as the motor oil is not suitable for hybrid vehicles and may not be compatible with foreign makes and brands of vehicles.