Personal Finance Blog – Tips & Advice from UnitedFinances.com

Sometimes real estate can be a hit or miss. The industry is either doing fantastic or, other times, it might be struggling, head barely above water. But one thing is for certain: real estate is essential, and it’s here to stay no matter what the industry currently reflects.

That being said, if you’re interested in investing in real estate, you must understand the ins and outs of the industry. We recommend starting off familiarizing yourself with the following real estate investment risks, whether you’re looking to invest in commercial property or even in a residence.

1. Asset-Level Risk

Often, the overall demand for different types of housing plays a big role in whether or not a specific real estate investment is going to be risky or not. For example, even in bad economies, the demand for housing in an apartment complex is generally good. As for other types of housing, this may not always hold true.

2. Credit Risk

How long and how solid of an income property has can definitely affect its value and, therefore, its overall price.

3. General Market Risk

The real estate market is always going to fluctuate depending on numerous factors including current interest rates, inflation, deflation, and other various trends that often occur in the market, some of which are difficult to control or are even inevitable.

4. Idiosyncratic Risk

This has to do with the risk factor of a particular property. As an example, if a property is currently under construction or poses the danger that must be restored, it will be difficult, or even impossible, to rent out the property as it’s not in a currently livable condition. In this case, this property would be considered a risk to invest in.

5. Leverage Risk

How much debt is on the property you’re looking to invest in? The more debt it has, the riskier it is. In the case of a high leverage risk, investors may find themselves in deep financial trouble if they take a leap of faith and invest if they don’t fully understand the risk and work extra hard to ensure return on investments are greater than the property’s interest payments.

6. Replacement Cost Risk

There’s only so much and so far a property’s value can be driven up by the market before the building eventually becomes old, worn, and rugged and requires reconstruction to keep up with its competitors. What goes up must come back down eventually.

7. Structural Risk

What investment financial structure (mix of debt and equity) does a property have? And what rights does it offer? Out of everyone, it’s the equity holders who typically experience the most risk.

8. Liquidity Risk

The number of market participants can greatly affect the investment risk of a property. Even with poorer market conditions, there are some cities (particularly, those that are more populated and/or more wealthy) that are actively willing to participate in the real estate market.

Conclusion

If you truly want to succeed when investing in real estate, you must understand what the risks are. The more you know about the upsides and downsides of real estate, the better likelihood you’ll adapt to its ever-changing market and, ultimately, succeed.

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Looking for an apartment to rent is a busy process full of many things like finding the right unit on UMoveFree, filling out an application and finding the right landlord. While finding a landlord willing to work with you should be easy for those with good credit and a solid renting history, the same can’t always be said for others. 

If you have a negative rental history due to a variety of missed payments, broken leases or other issues, some landlords may not want to rent to you. This can seem hopeless, but rest assured there are still options for you. One in particular is a second chance rental.

Second chance rentals are when a landlord is willing to give a “second chance” to someone with a negative past history of renting. But how do you go about finding landlords who are open to providing a second chance rental?

With that in mind, let’s go over a few tips to help you find landlords that can provide you with second chance rentals.

Be Open and Honest

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One of the first ways to find a landlord willing to work with you is to be honest. When speaking with potential landlords, be upfront and honest about your situation. Explain why your rental history and/or credit is as spotty as it is, and how you are looking to improve.

In addition to being honest, you should also be able to show progress that you have made to improve your situation. This will certainly help your case and make the landlord feel a little more comfortable. If you try to blame your bad rental history on others or anything but yourself, it is often a bad look. 

Also, it isn’t worth it trying to lie about your past. Even if there is no public data or information about your poor rental history, landlords can often identify warning signs that could out you. Instead of having to tiptoe around the truth, just come out and be honest. Sure, some landlords might deny you, but there is a good chance that you’ll eventually find one that will appreciate the honesty and be willing to take a chance.

Be Willing to Pay a Little More

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Another way that you can find a landlord willing to provide you with a second chance rental is to be willing to pay more. This could be offering to pay a higher amount in monthly rent, paying a larger security deposit or even paying a few months of rent upfront. By paying more, you are reducing the risk that the landlord has to take on. This can make them more willing to rent their unit to you instead of someone else.

However, while paying more can help, be sure that the landlord isn’t taking advantage of you. If a landlord is charging you an arm and a leg more simply because of your history, it is best to look elsewhere. It is a good idea to know the average rent in your city, and be aware of how much you can afford to spend comfortably.

Have a Cosigner

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Another great way to potentially convince landlords to work with you on a second chance rental is to find a cosigner. This is someone who will agree to take over making your rent payments if you are unable to for some reason. Most often, it is a friend or family member, but there are other avenues to find a cosigner, as well.

Having a cosigner can give landlords greater levels of confidence that rent will be paid on time. This is because they now have two people who have signed saying the rent will be paid, so there is a lower chance of missed payments. Of course, your cosigner should have decent credit and a good rental or borrowing history. If not, the landlord might still not be confident offering you a second chance.

Second chance rentals can be a lifesaver for those who have struggled in the past. Whether you be honest, be willing to pay more or get a cosigner, you should be able to find a landlord willing to provide a second chance rental.

Any investor in their right mind would be thrilled to learn from the most successful investor of all-time.

Warren Buffett’s’ track record speaks for itself. Being worth nearly $82 billion, he is currently the fourth richest person in the world.

So how does someone create that massive amount of wealth? Through smart investments and a belief in yourself.

If you would like to learn from the best, keep reading to discover the Warren Buffett strategies that have made him such a successful investor over the years.

1. Diversify Your Portfolio

This may sound sort of like a broken record, but diversification is critical to long term success in the stock market.

Warren Buffett, on numerous occasions, has recommended that average investors or those without extensive experience invest in index funds to help them grow their portfolios. Index funds are designed to track the performance of a group of underlying stocks.

Diversifying will help when one or more stocks are declining; the others can help make up the difference and minimize losses.

Warren Buffett has specifically mentioned the S&P 500 as a low-cost index option.

Warren’s biggest holdings at Berkshire Hathaway include:

• Apple

• Coca-Cola

• Bank of America

• Kraft Heinz

• And American Express

These companies are well diversified, being in different industries that have experienced immense growth.

However, if you have outstanding debt, its best to get that under control before investing your money in other places. If you are having a hard time paying off debt, consider debt consolidation alternatives.

2. Ignore the Noise

Like many other successful investors, tuning out the “noise” is part of the process. Noise can come from anywhere – the news, social media, friends, co-workers, etc.

Many of the stock “guru’s” that appear on TV had a successful investment that created their reputation. The problem is that many of them got lucky and was in the right place at the right time – not making them someone individuals should listen to for investment advice.

The best thing to do is to ignore the noise and stick to your plan. Getting caught up in the day to day news headlines can be one of the worst investment mistakes you make.

Listening to others will only get you caught up in a vicious cycle of cat and mouse – chasing to buy into stocks only to realize the gurus are unloading their shares on you, leaving you with a heavy bag.

3. Stick to a Long Term Plan

Sticking to a long term plan is one of Warren Buffett’s most prominent investment strategies. He says it time and time again – invest for the long term.

Many investors got burned this past march when the stock market had one of its worst days in history. They didn’t get burned by the stock market dropping. They got burned by pulling out or selling off their positions.

Now, those investors are left chasing higher prices because the stock market is hitting all-time highs.

This is an excellent example of how having a long term view in the stock market can work out in your favor.

Another thing that trips investors up in the stock market is trying to pick the stock that is going “to the moon” within a few days. The reality is that nobody knows where a stock is going in the short term, and you will be left very disappointed when the company turns out to be a dud.

Having a long term investing plan involves extensive research into the companies you plan on investing in.

One way he recommends developing a long term view is by thinking of yourself as buying a particular business instead of just buying a stock. Having this mentality will force you to consider all the scenarios that can happen.

Buying a Farm

In 1986 Warren bought a 400-acre farm for $280,000 after admitting he had no knowledge of running one. Fast forward to the present day, and the farm is now worth at least five times as much and has tripled its earnings.

Warren Buffett has referenced how buying stocks is like buying a farm on multiple occasions. The way he explains it is you wouldn’t buy a farm because you expect plentiful crops the next year. You would buy it expecting returns over the next 10, 20, 30 years.

He also mentioned if you had a neighboring farmer who every day shouted out a price to either buy his farm or sell yours – it should work to your advantage. If the price they yell out is low enough, you can purchase the farm. If it is high enough, you can sell or continue farming.

4. Keep the Costs Down

An investment tip anyone could benefit from is to minimize the costs associated with your investments. These costs could be from:

• Taxes

• Fees

• Commissions

Part of the reason Buffett recommends buying into index funds is because of the lost cost fees associated with them. They don’t have the expenses that you would incur with many types of businesses.

Another thing to keep an eye out for is commissions. Although many brokerages have now introduced commission-free stock trades, there are still many brokers who charge a fee every time a stock is bought or sold. These fees can add up and take a large chunk of your earnings at the end of the year.

5. Invest in Yourself

Above all else, Warren Buffett’s number one piece of advice is to invest in yourself. By investing in yourself, you can focus on conquering your weaknesses and building new skills that will help you in the long term.

He also recommends reading books as often as possible. Similar to how compound interest works in the stock market, reading books can help you build knowledge over time.

Learning knowledge from books can give you excellent insights and can also allow you to think from different perspectives.

Interested in Learning More About Warren Buffett’s Strategies?

Investing in the stock market can reward you tremendously over the years if you are smart about your investments. Learning about these Warren Buffett strategies can help you get started generating returns.

To learn more about investment strategies, check out the rest of our blog!

There’s a sense of liberty and freedom when you are traveling and enjoying the sight around you, which is why it is not surprising that there are individuals who found a liking to RVs or motorhomes. 

But let’s be honest about it. Starting a new lifestyle, such as RVing, is expensive. RV purchase, for one, costs a significant amount of money, not to mention the daily living expenses and maintenance of the vehicle. However, with all these drawbacks, there are still people who are interested in getting one. If you are one of these individuals, you might be wondering what you should prepare, how much money should you secure, or if you qualify for an RV financing? 

Every inquiry and question regarding requirements to secure a successful RV financing will be answered in this article. Read on and learn more about RV financing basics and what you should prepare to get a great deal and start living a life on the road. 

RV Financing Basic Requirements

Like any other financing, like home and car financing, RV financing is not different at all. Lenders, such as banks and private institutions, require interested applicants to submit all the requirements to be approved for their loan. 

These set of questions will help you prepare all the requirements for your RV loan. 

How Much Money Should You Prepare? 

Your budget is the most crucial requirement to secure your RV loan. If you can prepare a budget to secure the 10% downpayment, usually the base amount of any lenders, you can proceed in filing for an RV financing. But it’s best to remember that some financing requires a 20% downpayment, too. The logic still follows that the bigger the down payment, the smaller amount of repayments you’ll have monthly. 

You can check RV loans with My Financing USA as they offer flexible payment terms you can negotiate with, as well as what your preferred down payment is. Sometimes, it matters how compromising your chosen lender is with your loan application. 

What RV You Should Get?

This is an essential factor as well as this will be the basis of your budget. There are various types of RVs, and they fall into three categories. 

Class A as the most expensive one, ranging up to $1 million or more. Class B and C follow, with an estimate of $100,000 to $150,000. Affordable towable conventional travel trailers and truck campers range from $6,000 to $90,000. 

You must determine during the early stage of decision making the usage frequency of the vehicle. Are you going to use it on a weekend camping basis only? Or are you planning to be a permanent resident? The answer will determine what type of RV suits your chosen lifestyle. 

Where To File An RV Loan? 

The striking thing in applying for an RV loan even though it is perceived to be an expensive type of loan is there are a lot of lenders that offer RV financing now. Even more so, applicants with a bad credit score can even be eligible to apply for one. 

Usually, lenders require applicants to have a high credit score of at least 600 and up to be approved with an RV loan. This is because applicants will likely get to enjoy better payment terms, benefits, and fast loan approval. 

If you are determined to secure an RV loan, it’s better to build up and establish a good credit score now. RV loan takes up to 20 years of repayment, and it’s a big responsibility that many lenders want to be assured of. 

What Is The Required Credit Score? 

As mentioned before, many lenders will require at least a credit score of 650 to 700. People who have been living for a long time in their RVs emphasize that a good credit score of 750 is excellent for securing a loan. 

Like any other loan, credit score has a significant impact on how big the loan amount you will receive. It has something to do with how much your interest rate will be, your qualification, and the term length. 

All of these factors are taken into account based on your credit score status. In order to have better odds of financing your dream RV, it is best to establish a good credit score before applying for an RV loan. 

RV Financing Necessary Documents 

Now you know the basic requirements in securing an RV loan, the next thing you need to do is to familiarize and read all the presented documents carefully during the transaction. Different documents will be presented to you, and these documents will contain specific and detailed information on your loan. 

The most common documents that you will encounter are the Bill of Sales or Purchase Agreement from the RV dealership and the Loan Agreement Document from your lender.

After your RV loan is approved, you need to study the loan agreement document carefully. The loan agreement document is by far the most vital document you need to read thoroughly. This contains all the necessary information about your loan, the payment terms, the loan duration, the loan amount you have been granted, and other private and sensitive information. 

This agreement also contains grounds and promises made by two parties, the “lender” and the “borrower.” It’s a complex document bound to protect both parties in case there are unnecessary and unprecedented situations that arise over the loan term.

Takeaway

Starting a new lifestyle, such as RVing, is a liberating move that everyone might dream of. But it also entails a lot of responsibility and takes a long process to make it happen. There are requirements that you need to pass and get approved before you finally start living a life on the road. 

Moreover, taking out an RV loan is expensive. If you can’t handle the repayment schedule or meet the loan terms, better think twice before you damage your credit score. Living a different lifestyle is intimidating, but if it’s your life’s dream, you can make it happen. Be wise and smart with your decisions.

 

Author’s bio: 

Lauren is a free-spirited writer who spends most of her time on the road with her RV. She finds solitude constantly being in a different place and watching different sceneries. Now, Lauren stays near the lake and spends her downtime reading books and finishing her other articles.

Are you trying to build your credit score? Perhaps you’re trying to buy a new car or a house or you’re looking for a loan on better terms? Then you might be interested in learning the fastest ways to build credit.

Having a great credit score can help you not just in the short term – getting a better deal on your latest purchase – but also in the long term. A good credit score can go along way and can even help you psychologically and with your self worth as you start to appreciate the value of money.

Here’s everything you need to know about how to build credit.

1. Spend and Pay It Back Straight Away

One of the fastest ways to improve your credit score is to take out a consumer credit card and to do all of your everyday spending on this. But be prepared to pay it back as soon as you’ve spent it. The digital banking revolution means you can even integrate your credit card into your bank so you can see how much you owe.

Never spend more than what is in your checking account at any one time. Be disciplined. Don’t go overboard.

Certain credit cards can also provide you with perks such as flight Airmiles or credit with your favorite retailer. If you are savvy at this you can order a card for each different store or brand you use and work out what is the best deal for each spend you do in terms of the perks and rewards.

2. Take Out Different Types of Credit

You can also consider taking out different types of credit. Don’t just take out credit cards and spend and pay these back. You could also consider short term loans, finance for cars, and even loans from the bank.

Even a phone contract counts towards your credit score because it is dependent on you being able to pay it off every month. Try not to be late with your phone contract, though, if you can afford it, consider upgrading.

The average American has $38,000 in debts but this might not be a bad thing. It might seem nonsensical but if you avoid debt all together it will count against you. You are seen as more of a risk and credit scoring companies will have no data on you.

Remember that although repossession can damage your credit score there is a way to deal with this and come back from it. Be sure to read this for more information. This is how to build credit.

3. Hire a Financial Advisor

The best way to improve your credit score and to hit your financial goals is to hire a financial advisor.

They are experts in the financial world and they will be able to tell you what you need to do to improve your credit score. Not only that they might also be able to offer you some hints and tips to improve your financial standing going forward. Be sure to ask them how to improve a bad credit score.

What are the Fastest Ways to Build Credit? Spend Wisley But Not Too Well

The fastest way to build credit is to spend not to save. But to spend wisely. Get as many credit cards as you can but pay back the cards straight away with funds from your checking account.

Also, consider getting lots of different types of loans to diversify your standing in the eyes of credit scoring companies.

If you are interested in the fastest ways to build credit then be sure to check out the rest of our site.

There’s something that people who are involved in the real state (or interested in it) should know about, and that is the section 1031 exchange investments, and how they work. There’s a lot to understand about the section 1031 exchange before trying it, since making a mistake or misunderstanding something about it might lead to unpleasant results.

First, let’s properly describe what this is all about. We can first begin by saying that this section 1031 exchange is a section of the internal revenue code of the United States, and focuses on how is possible for a taxpayer to defer capital gain taxes during an exchange of property, and this process is referred as a 1031 exchange. 

The process is so well known by the world of real-estate, to the point of people using it as an adverb, and saying things like “Let’s 1031 one of these buildings”, and before, it was recognized by traders all around the world, considering that not long ago, this type of procedure was used in exchanges of many types of goods.

These goods included plenty of different types of property, but now solely focuses on real estate properties, as portrayed in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. 

Before that, you could trade with stocks, precious metals, and other types of goods. Nowadays, only real estate properties are available for it, but there are some rules to follow before are able to defer capital gain taxes. 

Capital gain tax is a type of tax (or fee) imposed by the government during exchanges or trades that are profitable, and it’s usually calculated by considering the initial price of the asset and the actual selling price. In case you want more detailed information about it, you can visit this website here. 

There are two types of capital gain taxes, short-term taxes that are applied to assets and properties owned for less than a year, and long-term taxes applied for those properties owned for more than a year. Shor-term capital gain taxes tend to be higher in comparison to long-term taxes, and this is done to maintain control of volatility of stocks and property assets.

When 1031 Is Appliable

There are some rules to follow when it comes to these types of exchanges, but the most important one is that the properties that are being exchanged require to be of the same type, no matter if the quality or value of both properties is different in level. 

The properties will also be required to be used or held for productive purposes, business- related goals, or investment.

Real estate properties inside the United States and properties in other countries, although similar are not considered the same, though. One of the rules that have to be followed for two properties to be considered equally (or of the same kind) is that they need to belong to one of the states inside the U.S.

You can get even more specific information about these rules here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_Revenue_Code_section_1031. 

In case these rules are not followed, the capital gain tax will be applied. The amount that will be paid will depend heavily on two things: how much time you owned the property, and how much you will be profiting from the sell or exchange. 

These taxes might differ, but can go from 0% to 15 and 20% depending on the type of asset/property, how long you have owned it, and the amount of profit you’ll get from selling it or exchanging it from another profit. As long as your property and the target are selectable for the revenue code section 1031, you might be able to avoid this tax. But remember, from 2018 to this day, only real estate properties are selectable for such benefits.

For other types of assets that can be considered as tradeable/salable goods, like jewelry, the rules are pretty similar, but might diff depending on the good, so I recommend you to do your research beforehand.

As a last advice, If you are interested in the whole 1031 exchange investment, and you are part of the real-state community interested in exchanging properties, you should first 

check it with a legal professional before making any decision.

As a beginner investor, the stock market provides an opportunity to experience the market and what it entails. But do you understand how stock markets work? Can you compete effectively with the bigwigs in the industry?

Those are some of the stock market basics every beginner should answer before commencing on these types of trading. You cannot start playing with your finances before knowing more about stock investing. And if you don’t know, the stock market is very complicated and fun at the same time.

The stock market can be a lucrative way to build your net worth, but only if you understand the risks and you approach it with discipline. There is a lot to learn in stock market investing, but today we’re going to focus on the five types of trading.

Let’s see what all these entail.

1. Day Trading

With the risks involved in stock trading, some people do not want to hold positions overnight, lest they lose everything. That’s why they engage in the type of stock trading called day trading where they buy and sell the same day.

Day trading simply means closing out trades before the close of the market. The investors hold positions for hours, minutes, or even seconds. Some people glamorize this kind of stock trading as a get rich quick type of investing.

However, day trading is not really a get rich quick scheme. Like any type of investing, it takes risks and requires a high level of discipline. Day traders are exposed to financial losses, and it might take you time before you start making a profit.

This type of trading is mostly done by specialists in the stock market or market makers. Novice traders are also creeping in thanks to the rise of electronic trading.

2. Scalping Types of Trading

Like day trading, scalping tends to hold the position for a short time hence reducing the risks involved in stock trading. But this doesn’t mean that there are no risks involved. And without discipline, this type of trading won’t work for you either.

Scalping traders tend to look for even the slightest gap occurring due to bid-ask spreads. This is another one of the stock market strategies that involve buying or making the spread at a bid price and selling at the asking price. The traders then benefit from the difference between these two price points.

The trading method involves taking advantage of small moves that take place more often and smaller volumes occurring now and then. The profit here is based on small moves in the prices of stocks. It takes expert skill to master scalping tactics, but if you get excited by the adrenaline rush, you can still try it out.

3. Position Trading

Position trading is the opposite of the above types of trading. This is where the stock trader participates in what is called buy-and-hold stock trading strategies. This type of trading is not active trading, though advanced traders can make it one.

When you participate in position trading, you’ll want to study the market trends for days or months before you can trade your stocks. Depending on the market situation, you can hold your shares for up to seven days, seven weeks, or a couple of months.

During this period, the traders study the higher highs or lower highs until they reach the trend considered secure. The aim is to benefit from the upside and downside trend of market movement. The trading is about the direction of the market and not price levels.

When the market appears more established, that is the time when trend traders jump in. They stay in position as long as the trend lasts, but as soon as it breaks, they exit positions. The high market volatility means difficulty in trend trading; hence, fewer people hold positions to avoid the risks.

4. Options Trading

Investors use options trading to increase their returns or manage risks involved in the stock business. Options speculate in the direction of the market.

So, how do options work in trading? Option values are derived from the value of the underlying security stock, meaning they’re financial derivatives.

For every option purchase, there’s always a seller involved in the other end of the coin. Options come in either puts or calls with different risks depending on whether you’re buying or selling.

When you buy the call option, you have the right (not obligation) to set the strike price before the expiry. If you go for the put option, you have the right (not obligation) to sell at the strike price before the expiry date. Selling these options is what creates security in this type of trading.

5. Arbitrage Trading

Arbitrage trading is another way of how to trade stocks. It involves the simultaneous buying and selling of assets. The intention is to enjoy the price differences that occur from similar financial instruments of different markets.

Arbitrage comes as a result of inefficiencies in the market. It acts as a shield against price deviation up to an unfair value over an extended period.

This type of stock trading seems quite simple, and many people consider it an easy way to make money. However, this is not the case at all times because the advancement of technology has complicated things. It’s now hard to profit due to the possibility of mispricing the market.

Traders have employed mechanisms that computerize their trading systems and keep a close watch on market fluctuations. If anything, the issues get resolved quickly, and the opportunity for investors to benefit is eliminated. But you never know, loopholes here and there are unavoidable, and that’s where stock traders creep in.

Are You Ready for Stock Trading?

There are many types of trading that beginners looking to learn how to invest in stocks should know. One of the crucial things you should consider before indulging in stock market trading is your availability, patience, and the ability to stomach risks involved.

When it comes to things involving your finances, you have to carry out all the research and weigh all possibilities of benefits and risks. The benefits and risks evaluation doesn’t end with stock trading but every financial aspect of your personal and business life.

Did you enjoy this post? Read our other blogs on this site learn everything involving finances.

Something happened in 1985 that changed the way people played games. The first one armed bandit machine, known as the Liberty Bell, was introduced to bars and casinos. People love it, and were quick to start playing whenever they could. Charles Fey was the man who invented the Liberty Bell, and it made him rich and famous. But even he, who had such foresight in so many ways, could never have predicted what his relatively simple invention would go on to become.

Today, slot machines – which is what the one armed bandit type games morphed into – are unrecognisable from the past. Although the game is the same (and won’t be changed because this is the element that people love the most) the look of the machines and the way the game is played has changed dramatically. From the mechanical slots of the past to the video slots to online slots, a lot has changed and a lot has remained the same. 

Slots have to advance though. It would be unlikely that any of the original games would be of interest to those in a casino if they hadn’t changed. Other bright lights and buzzing sounds would have caught their eye, and the slots from freeslotsites would have faded away. By keeping up with the trends, more people will want to play, and that is the key. 

One of the latest trends to come into the world of slots is the ability to pay with cryptocurrency. It’s not widespread as yet, but there seems to be no reasons why it wouldn’t be. Let’s look a little more closely into the reasons behind it all. 

What Is Cryptocurrency?

Everyone has heard of bitcoin; it made a lot of people very rich literally overnight not so long ago, and it was in the news a lot. Bitcoin is a type of cryptocurrency (one of many different ones). Cryptocurrency has no physical coin or notes to use – everything is virtual, transactions take place through the cloud. It’s a universal currency, so it’s not controlled by just one government, and that means it’s easy to use since there are no exchange rates to think about. If you pay in a cryptocurrency, you get a cryptocurrency’s worth of goods no matter where you are paying or where you are located. 

Cryptocurrency is, as the name suggests, highly encrypted, and therefore it is far more difficult for hackers and online thieves to get into anyone’s e-wallet than it is for them to get into someone’s bank account. Gamblers feel a lot safer using cryptocurrency than any other payment method. It’s why it is one of the favourite ways to pay for a lot of early adopters, and since it is being rolled out across lots of different platforms, it seems inevitable that slots will be next. 

It is also anonymous. There is no need to include name and address when playing by cryptocurrency. Again, this makes people feel that much safer when it comes to paying for anything online, or leaving their contact details where potentially identity thieves could find them. 

Using Cryptocurrency at Online Casinos

Being able to use cryptocurrency at an online casino to play slots, roulette, or any other kind of casino game is not something you’ll have to wait too long to be able to do. The fact is, some online casinos are already allowing this kind of transaction to take place, and it is likely that more and more will soon follow suit. When it comes to the future of the online casino, cryptocurrency is shining bright.

Bad Credit Is A Bit Of An Illusion
What is “credit” really? It’s a score that basically means if you’re on the high end, you can get loans without as much collateral. If you’re on the low end, you still get loans, they’re just at incredibly high interest rates so the companies who make the loans earn their bottom line back. If you’ve got terrible credit, you’ve got to go outside conventional channels.

Here’s the thing: if you’re simply willing to live beneath your means, you never have to worry about credit. Why? Well, you’ve always got money in the bank, you don’t have any debt, and what purchases you can’t make outright can be strengthened by a co-signer on a loan. However, these things don’t do you much good if rental is denied for bad credit, do they?

In that situation, you’ve got other things to consider. Many who need to rent an apartment don’t have credit which passes the application process. What can you do to get around such difficulties? In this writing, we’ll briefly cover several alternatives to help you understand what you can do, and how best to contend with a low credit situation.

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1. Pay More Up-Front And Monthly
Landlords have to make a profit. What they’re going to do, if they can, is protect their bottom line. This is why you have to pay the first month’s rent, last month’s rent, and a wear-and-tear deposit up front. At bare minimum, if you turn out to be a “lemon” for the landlord, they get two months’ good rent from you before they’ve got to list the unit again.

Well, if you’ve got bad credit, you can assuage the landlord’s fears by paying a larger deposit fee, larger rent, or maybe between three and four months up front. Some landlords will let you pay a year’s rent up front, which may allow you to get a decent price with bad credit on a unit. However, some landlords are leery of tenants like that.

If you’ve got bad credit through no fault of your own, you’ve got latitude should you have steady income and a bank account which can be used to demonstrate as much. All you’ve got to do is prove you make enough money to cover rent every month, and then some. Savvy landlords understand “credit” is nebulous, and credit reporting agencies make mistakes.

If you have perfect credit, then stop doing anything which builds or eliminates credit for about seven years, your credit score will reset—after all, in the eyes of the credit agencies, you could be dead! So they reset you, and you have no credit whatever. This can give you rental woes. A solid bank account shows you’re in good shape.

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2. Get A Co-Signer
A co-signer takes some of the credit “burden”. The landlord has a legal document which binds them to pay your fees if you end up being unable to. Accordingly, they can rest easy that they’ll get the money necessary to keep them in business. This isn’t the most convenient option, but if you know somebody who has good credit and is willing, it may be wise.

3. Use Local Resource To Find Different Rental Alternatives
There are local resources designed specifically to help those with poor credit get a decent apartment. Look into these. Ask around. See if there are low-income housing options, or housing assistance solutions. Also, mainstream websites can offer all sorts of options for those with low credit—even top-tier apartments.

Dallas, TX is a city that’s doing well despite the absolutely unprecedented times in which we live. If you’ve got bad credit, there are still ways to get good living appointments here—just look at these downtown Dallas apartments; some of which even include high rises and lofts. You can get options here that match your desires even if your credit isn’t quite perfect.

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4. Seek secondary Rental Situations
Not all landlords rent apartment units out of traditional apartment blocks. Did you know private home owners also sell such solutions? It’s true! You may be able to rent a room in a basement, or a room in an outbuilding on a property. Such landlords as those who are homeowners and just seeking to supplement income don’t always examine credit closely.

Finding Options That Fit Your Needs Despite The Situation
There are always options for renters with the money and diligence to seek until they find. Look into secondary rental situations, co-signers, paying more up front, and using local resources to expand the selection you’re able to examine. Bad credit can be hard, but it doesn’t have to be what keeps you from getting a roof over your head.

An Ideal Situation
Most homes are too expensive to be sold for cash, but there is no home so valuable that this is totally out of the question; it’s just a lot more unlikely once a property’s value gets higher than $100,000; if for nothing else than the difficulty of acquiring such large sums.

Even so, there are options there as well. It all depends on your property, your neighborhood, and the market where you’re selling. If you can emphasize a cash sale in terms of property, there are advantages worth considering. Following we’ll briefly go over a few of these advantages to help give you an idea of what you can look forward to.

A Greater Likelihood The Sale Will Be Successfully Completed
If someone is paying through a bank loan, that can take time. Additionally, layers of complexity are added to the transaction. Think about it critically. What’s a more elegant machine; one with more moving parts, or less moving parts? A non-cash transaction has “more moving parts” than one which transpires through simple cash exchange.

When you can eliminate those unnecessary steps, then you’re a lot more likely to see the sale completed. The more complicated the transaction, the more opportunity there is for the sale to fall through. Reducing “moving parts” is better for the financial “engineering” of your home sale.

Available Cash On-Hand Which Can Be Discretionarily Used
When you do a cash sale of a property, suddenly you’ve got whatever the value of the home was available in cash. Liquid cash. You can do what you want with it. The only way it’s traceable is through the transmission of the deed, but that can be done at the discretion of the seller for no cash whatever. The point is: you can do what you want with that cash.

Faster Sales And A Simplified Overall Process
Because there are fewer financial “moving parts”, that means that complication in the sales process is reduced. As a result, from the time somebody peruses a home, to the time they decide to buy, if you go the cash route, it doesn’t take as long. Of course, you do want to be careful how your list makes your property stands out to cash buyers.

This website can help you get a little more insight into the best tactics in terms of listing the property to see that sort of outcome. There’s a lot involved regarding how to list your house for sale; it’s best to use resources like those in the hyperlink to help avoid common pitfalls of the process.

As-Is Cash Sales Eliminate Repair Needs
If you’re selling a house to someone who is going to mortgage it through the bank, because they’ve got a lot of money on the line, and they know they’ll be in debt for a while, one of their negotiation tactics will involve compelling you into fixing certain architectural issues of the property before they sign on the dotted line.

When you don’t have a cash buyer, such a contention can be weighty, and compel you into fixing issues before being able to move a given property. However, if you go the as-is route and seek a cash sale, that issue disappears. If they have a qualm, say: “Well, this property is being sold for cash as-is.”

Now you might have to take a slight hit in terms of the price at which you can move the property. However, collaterally, there’s an advantage here. You get the money immediately, and you can put it to use accordingly. A good way to avoid taxation is to roll that cash immediately into another property and work a 1031 exchange.

Expanded Negotiation Potential
In a nutshell, going the cash-in-hand route for selling a property will produce some distinct benefits. You’ll have the cash immediately available at your discretion. Sales happen much more quickly when you go the cash route. You may be able to avoid costly repairs without having to lower your price significantly. Also, it’s more likely the sale will go through.

Granted, going the “cash” route isn’t always easy. However, there is potential here. Look at your property, look at your market, and seek resources or consultation to help you determine the best ways of selling a property for cash. The benefits make the footwork well worth the effort.

Half of all Americans experience a financial emergency every year. You may be among them.

A financial emergency can range from an unexpected medical bill to an expensive car repair to a leaking roof. There isn’t a specific amount that constitutes a financial emergency either.

An unexpected expense that one person can cover easily may leave someone else financially destitute. We’ll explore five options to help you deal with a financial crisis.

1. Review Your Income And Expenses

This may seem obvious, but too many people skip this step and panic. This is not the time to make emotional decisions. Don’t underestimate the problem, but don’t overestimate it either.

Make a list of every expense you have. Include regular expenses like your rent or mortgage payment, utilities, cell phone, internet, and car payments.

Remember to include recurring expenses, even if you don’t pay them monthly. For example, you may pay your car insurance every six months. Figure out what that is per month.

Then, add up your monthly income and see what’s left over to cover at least part of that unexpected expense.

2. Reduce Expenses to Address a Financial Emergency

Look at the list you just made and see if you can cut anywhere temporarily. Can you live without cable for a month or two? Can you reduce your electric bill at all by opening a window instead of running the air conditioning?

If you’re paying a lot for car insurance, shop around for a better rate. An hour or two on the phone could cut your premium in half.

3. Negotiate Your Bills

Don’t stop with your car insurance. Get on the phone with your creditors and explain the situation. In some cases, you might be able to defer a payment or two to free up the money to cover your unexpected expense.

79 million Americans have medical expenses they can’t pay for. If a sudden medical problem has left you with a huge bill, contact the provider immediately. The provider may help you set up a payment plan that won’t bankrupt you.

4. Increase Your Income

Consider taking on a second job temporarily to bring in more money. If you have the equipment, you might earn a little extra mowing lawns. If you’re good with numbers, you could make money doing taxes or helping a startup with its business plan.

57 million Americans work freelance jobs. If you can use what you have now, you might be able to cover your financial emergency with a freelance job or two.

5. Take Out a Loan

Taking on debt to address a financial crisis isn’t ideal, but it may be your only option. If you can put that sudden expense on a credit card, you can buy yourself time to pay it off. Ask your credit card company for a lower rate, too.

If you own your home and your credit is good, you might consider a home equity loan. Talk with your bank about your options.

You can also find short-term loans to deal with the financial crisis you face. Just be careful to work with a reputable company. Check out the feedback from other customers like these Rightway Funding Yelp reviews.

Start Building an Emergency Fund

Once you’ve dealt with your current financial emergency, make a plan to build up a rainy-day fund. Save a portion of your income every month until you have enough to cover your expenses for at least three months.

Check out our blog for more articles about personal finance issues.

2020 has been a whirlwind of a year that has resulted in over 100,000 small businesses going out of business. We do not want to see that happen to you!

We have put together 6 essential small business tips to keep your business strong and growing in these uncertain times. So, before you waste another second…Let’s get started!

1. Know Your Customer Base

Do you want your product or service to sell, sell, sell? If so, it is time to get to know your customers like never before. Even the greatest product can struggle to find its footing if it does not translate to the consumer.

Do your research about the area by researching demographics, trends, competing businesses, etc. Feedback is your best friend…no matter how brutally honest it might be! Give your customers a platform to give you honest feedback so that you can adapt to their needs and preferences.

2. Utilize Social Media

Facebook alone has over 2.5 billion uses, and if you include other venues such as Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok those numbers only get higher. Engaging content on your social media accounts keeps regular customers up to date and attracts potential consumers.

Stay on top of comments and conversations among your guests. Look for what is working and what could use improvement. Don’t forget to post content regularly to keep engagement high.

3. Networking

Networking is small business 101, however, in the social media age face to face interactions are becoming limited. Face to face connections can generate a sense of trust and friendship with those who you wish to do business with.

Build relationships with other local small businesses in your community niche. Find ways to help benefit each other so that in the long run everyone succeeds. If there is ever a networking opportunity or convention near you take it!

4. Customer Service is Crucial

Feedback happens immediately with online review apps and social media. If a customer feels that they have had a less than ideal experience with your business they will let the internet know.

Negative reviews and bad community feedback can crush a small business. Keep your employee’s customer-focused above all else. Encourage regular meetings to discuss how to improve customer experience.

5. Time Is Money

89% of employees waste time…your time. Time theft is an ethical issue that doesn’t get addressed as much as it should in the small business community. Creating a culture among your staff that promotes a desire to give their best is important for you as a business owner.

Consider utilizing a time clock app to promote accountability within the staff without feeling like you are overbearing. At the end of the day work needs to be done efficiently and with money on the mind. If you find that your labor is high consider reworking schedules to eliminate excessive people on the clock during slow hours.

6. Bank Appropriately

Private banks for small businesses is the best route when it comes to managing the financials of your business. With private banks, you have a direct line on assistance. Additionally, you will be valued as private banks offer very personal banking experiences.

7. The Best Small Business Tips

These 7 small business tips can make all the difference is the sustainability of your business. Keep focused on the goal during these hard times and you will succeed!

We want to connect with you even further! If you are ready to learn more about all things finance check out the rest of our page today.

Buying gold has been a traditional way to invest money for years. It’s an easy way to see your investment whether you keep it at home, in a bank vault, or in a storage facility.

But today, investing in the stock market is more common. Why is that? What are the advantages and downsides of investing in gold?

Keep reading for a full breakdown of the pros and cons of buying gold.

Pros:

If you’re never bought gold before, you may be surprised to know the number of benefits that come along with investing in it. Here are four of them.

Simplicity

If you’ve ever looked into investing in the stock market, you know how confusing it can be. There is so much stock to choose from, and people make careers off of trying to help you invest in the right choice. Contrarily, investing in gold is straightforward.

You can buy gold from dealers across the country, in the form of coins, bullion bars, or jewelry. You can then store it in a deposit box in the bank. As you accumulate more gold, you can use more boxes, adding layers of protection.

Although you do need to pay attention to how the price of gold is doing, you won’t need to check the stock market 3x a day. Gold presents a simple and easy to understand option when compared with stock.

Gold Is a Safe Investment

If the idea of investing in the stock market seems too uncertain, know that gold is a reliable investment. The price of gold is always rising, and while fluctuations may occur, they generally go back up.

There is also less of a relationship between how the economy is doing and the price of gold. Oftentimes, as the economy plummets, people choose to invest in gold. This further increases its value.

If you’re the slow but steady kind of investor, investing in gold could be a wise decision.

Lower Rates of Inflation

One economic reality is that the value of the money in our bank accounts slowly decreases. For example, the average price of a new house in 1990 was $150,000. Then 20 years later in 2010, it was $220,000.

On the other hand, if you look at the value of gold over a period of years, it generally remains the same. In fact, the rise in the price of gold is greater than the increasing inflation rates.

Gold maintains its purchasing power over time while the dollar loses it.

Protection Against Market Turbulence

If your investments are in bonds, stocks, and mutual funds, a market crash could devastate your portfolio. Most people cannot predict when these events will occur, as outside influences are the causes.

Yet physical investments provide you with security against these sorts of fluctuations. By investing your money in gold, you are providing yourself with a safety net. This can help protect you against a future market crash or global recession.

The world is experiencing another severe economic slump on account of COVID-19. If you’re ready to be protected against the uncertainties of the global stock market, it might be a good idea to buy gold today.

Cons:

Although there are more benefits to buying gold than negatives, you should still be aware of a few potential downsides. Let’s take a look at three of them.

Liquidity

Gold can be a great investment for the long-term. Yet in the short-term, it can be more difficult to see results.

When you buy gold, you buy it from a dealer. This means that you are paying more than what the market price is at the moment. Selling gold and getting a return on your investment requires the same thing. Dealers often pay less than the market price as they view the purchase as a commission.

If you’re in a hurry to sell gold, you may have to accept the fact that you’ll make less in return than the market rate. For this reason, don’t put all of your investments into gold. Around 10-20% can be a good place to start.

Slow Gains During Periods of Market Stability

One of the pitfalls of the stock market is unpredictability. You can suddenly lose a lot of money if the market crashes. Yet as the potential for reward increases with risk, you can also make a lot of profit.

Gold is a stable investment but doesn’t offer the option of immediate gain that the stock market does. When investors feel the current economic climate is stable, they will buy gold. This can drive down the value of it.

This doesn’t mean you’ll lose money over a 10 or 20 year period. But it does mean that you won’t get the huge profit you can sometimes expect with other investments.

Subject to Politics

Whenever you invest in something, the political situation of the world can impact it. This is also the case with gold.

In some regions of the world, gold mining is a lucrative process. If there is political turbulence in that region, it can then affect the price of gold.

There can also be fears that a government or national bank will sell its gold supply, which can lead some people to believe the price of gold will plummet.

But it’s important to remember that price fluctuations are present regardless of which investment form you choose. Keep in mind that changes in the value of gold are temporary. As history has demonstrated, the prices always even out and continue to grow higher.

Be Aware of the Pros and Cons When Buying Gold

If you’re looking at buying gold, understanding these pros and cons can help you decide if it’s a sound investment to make. Remember that buying gold may not yield you results in the short-term, but it’s a safe investment that will steadily increase with time.

Do you think it’s a good idea to buy gold? Let us know!

Check out some of our other articles to learn more about finance and investment.

LLCs are a relatively new phenomenon in the U.S. They carry with them several advantages, not the least of which is the way they are taxed. Under certain conditions, however, it may be beneficial for an LLC to be taxed as a C-Corp. This depends primarily on the business as well as how it gets capital.

The IRS will not allow an LLC to be treated as a C-Corp unless its status is changed to a C-Corp, but it can file its taxes as a C-Corp. CPA firms can help to accomplish this filing, but this article will give you some general guidelines.

Taxing an LLC as a C-Corp

A company and its owners can save money on their taxes by filing as a C-Corp instead of as a partnership or a sole proprietorship. A single-owner LLC does this by filing a Schedule C. In the case of a multi-owner LLC, this is done by the business using Form 1065, and each owner filing a Schedule K-1.

There are several conditions under which a firm can be taxed as a corporation, but owners should make sure their CPA is aware of the limitations. It is also essential to understand that this is applicable for tax purposes only.

Reasons to Choose C-Corp Taxation

Many pension funds invest in venture capital. The trouble with an LLC being taxed as a C-Corp is that members of LLCs are employees of the firm, which is not allowed under IRS regulations. If the goal of the LLC is to raise capital funds, it should reform as a C-Corp.

Even an LLC that is taxed as a partnership should be a C-Corp since members are partners in the firm. For this, the partners will receive a K-1, not a W2. Making these changes can take time, depending on how complex the business is.

Owners of a C-Corp don’t have many of the limitations of an LLC that is filing taxes as a C-Corp, but it can be worth the trouble of becoming a C-Corp in certain circumstances. Again, a CPA would be the best resource to help a taxpayer make that determination.

Making Things Simple

The good news in all this is that if the owner(s) of an LLC decide that they want to be taxed as a C-Corp, all that needs to be done is to file a Form 8832. This will allow an LLC to be taxed as a C-Corp. If you are an employee of a C-Corp, the IRS will consider you an employee and an owner. This will allow you to treat any compensation received as a wage instead of a dividend. This keeps the government from taxing the payer twice, as both an employee and an owner.

Any reasonable business owner is always looking for ways to make more money and cut the amount they pay in taxes. If the pros of becoming a C-Corp outweigh the problems involved in changing their business structure (besides the hassles of becoming a C-Corp), it might be worth the trouble to become a C-Corp, if only for tax purposes.

Again, the best person to help you determine whether it is in your best interests to change from being an LLC, as opposed to a C-Corp, is a CPA. Consulting with a CPA costs money, of course, but the advice they give to deal with the intricacies these business structures will be worth the money in both the short and long run. It’s money well spent.

Searching for the right home can be both exacting and exhausting. Tons of possible options showing their pros and cons and leaving you with what seems an impossible decision to make! Despite all the hesitation to choose between homes, you will have to overcome maybe the hardest part.

In this situation, you will need the right person to carry out the hardest part of the job.

The middleman who will broker mortgage loans on your behalf is called a mortgage broker. To find a reliable mortgage professional, you will have to do some research to discover some of the main qualities a good broker possesses.

The mortgage broker’s responsibilities are thorough research and gathering proper information. Click on the following link to find more on this topic https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/mortgage-broker.

 

Benefits of having a mortgage broker

You might ask yourself what advantages do I have of paying someone to do the job I can. Although it seems like an easy job to do, you should ask yourself how much you know about the mortgage jargon. This article will guide you through the process of deciding whether or not you need a professional for the job.

 

You will probably spend more money on your own

The process of researching and doing all the jobs on your own may potentially leave you with higher costs and dissatisfying results. Finding the loan that you are dreaming of is definitely a task professional can do. Read more here.

 

Saving time

Do you have the time to learn everything you need? Saving time is a great reason to hire someone and be able to spend your day on something else. And if you do have the time, you will have to research for months to get in contact with various lenders. Some of the lenders work exclusively with brokers and loan officers, therefore leaving you at a dead-end street.

 

A better choice than loan officers 

While a loan officer, who works in a bank, can give you programs that are solely coming from one institution, a mortgage broker works on your behalf and has a broader network of possibilities.

Loan officers can drag you for an extended period because they work with many clients at the same time. A broker mainly works with fewer clients and gets paid off when the deal is closed. This means more dedication and faster work done.

If you happen to live in Canada, you will enjoy a wide variety of options for professionals in this field. You will find honest, fast, and professional advice at mortgage brokers Vancouver BC, Burnaby, Surrey, Delta, etc. 

 

Deciding your price cap 

Last but not least. If you find the right middleman for you, consider making a list of your financial information. Data like employment documentation, income, credit report, and assets will help the broker find potential lenders.

Whether you are looking for refinancing for doing your home renovation or are a first-time homebuyer, focusing on professionals will give you a sense of security. Make sure you do your research and find the person who will be your consultant, agent, and broker all in one. This way, you can set your goals and start working to achieve them. Click on the link for more https://www.ratehub.ca/blog/pros-and-cons-and-using-a-mortgage-broker/.

 

Diverse market 

Knowing your options and possibilities is a crucial part of the entire process of buying a new home. Professional broker Is following the market changes and pays close attention to lenders and their options. Diversity of lenders and loans and flexibility of your budget profile is one of the top advantages when working with a mortgage broker.

 

Gathering information

That said, you will need to focus on finding the person who has wide access to good lenders. Online browsing can help you gather the information you need. Asking for recommendations and references from close people will surely make an impact on your final decision. Read more here. 

An experienced broker works on different grounds and estimates the most suitable loan for you. Finding the perfect home may cost you a few bucks more. The ideal broker can lower your rates and fees by finding a lender willing to offer you the best mortgage.

Want to find out today’s silver and gold prices?

Gold and silver are among the best investments because they beat out most other options. Gold even beats bitcoin, despite market experts predicting bitcoin’s success. While they are great long-term investments, it’s still a bad idea to hold on to an investment for too long.

It also applies to silver as they’re near identical in qualities as investment options. The moment the current gold price reaches a good value, it’s a good idea to sell them to get the most out of your investment. How do you go about selling your gold and silver, though?

Read on to learn how you can sell your gold and silver. Use these tips to trade them in for other precious metals today.

Is Your Gold a Bullion or a Collectible?

Knowing if your gold is bullion or a collectible product helps you get a fair price for your trade.

Bullion is the bulk form of the metal. Most buyers measure bullions by weight to know the price of a chunk of metal. This means that if you have a heavier and bigger chunk, you can sell it for more.

Bullions also come in different forms. The most popular form is the bar that you see vary in size and length. This is what investors use as a basis for the price of gold and silver in the market.

They also come in a raw coin form. These are the coins that have a higher value than any collectible coin around thanks to the history behind it. Among these coins are the American Eagle and Buffalo coins, and the Australian Kookaburra coins.

Collectibles are, by their name, gold and silver pieces that people collect as a hobby or for other reasons. As you have guessed, most people collect them as investments, as well. These are more popular than bullions because it’s easier to get a hold of them.

Coins are among the collectibles that people have access to. What sets them apart from bullion coins is that they are much rarer. Since most collectible coins are common, these rarer coins are the only way you can make a profit from your investment.

Know Your Gold

Knowing your gold and silver also helps you know how much it’s worth. This means knowing the basic background of your gold. This includes knowing whether your metals are private or sovereign mints.

Sovereign mints are one that the government recognized as legal tender somewhere in history. These are more valuable now as a result of their historical value. Most buyers will set a high bid price for any sovereign mints.

Private mints are the opposite of sovereign ones. They have no value in the market beyond the metals that they contain. They can have a higher value if the producer made a limited number of these mints.

Only avid collectors can find more value in these mints. If you find one interested in your mints, keep them as a potential buyer if prices surge.

Your metal being in a bar or coin form also matters. Bars often sell for more because it has more gold or silver content in them.

Coins are only better than bars in certain situations. If the buyer is looking for coins to complete his collection, or if they can only afford gold or silver worth a specific value.

Know the Right Time to Sell Based on Silver and Gold Prices

Knowing when to sell is trickier than you think. You never know if the next spike in prices will be higher than now. This often happens to most investors when they see that the prices are the highest they can be.

Next thing they know, it’s only a week after they sell their stock that the prices are even higher. This is a good reason for you to wait even if gold prices are the highest they’ve ever been.

A good way to predict their rise or fall in price is to look at their history in the market. Gold has had a history of having more downs than ups. When their prices spike, though, it’s high enough to encourage people to sell their stock.

When it comes to silver, their prices are consistent. There are only some times where it dips below the average. It goes higher than the average more often than it goes below, though.

Their prices continue to rise, though, despite their dips. It’s a good reason to look for their averages before you think of selling your stock.

Find a Buyer You Can Trust

If you’re not into looking at the prices yourself, it’s a good idea to have a partner you can trust. This can even be your buyer if you trust them to give you a fair price. You can find one such partner by knowing what you need to look for.

You will want a buyer with experience in stocks and long-standing investments. One that has in-depth knowledge about the gold and silver prices is what you want in a buyer.

You also want to involve yourself with legitimate buyers. While it won’t give you any issues in the beginning, illegitimate buyers can cause inconveniences to you along the line.

How Your Portfolio Looks After Selling Your Gold and Silver

Will your portfolio look good after you sell your stock? A good and clean portfolio full of promising investments is a sign of a good investor. Having an empty portfolio means that you’re not increasing your net worth.

Expanding your portfolio is the best way to have increasing investments. This means that even if you sell your stock in gold and silver, you will still have growing investments.

Learn How You Can Sell Your Silver and Gold for Maximum Profit Today

If you want to know how to sell your gold and silver stock, you must know when and how to sell. Use this guide to help you succeed in your investments! Check the gold prices and sell your stock like a professional today!

Want to learn how to sell gold? Check out our other market guides to learn more about selling and buying gold or silver today!

Stress levels vary from person to person. Surprisingly, money can be a popular source of it. However, it doesn’t have to be.

With a little creativity and determination, you can make a money plan that works well for you.

Here are 5 basic principles that will set you on a path to achieving financial freedom.

1. Make a Budget

Making a budget is one of the best ways to achieve financial freedom because it guarantees that you know where every dollar goes.

It also creates a sense of predictability and consistency (something very much desired in these pandemic times).

With a budget, you decide where your earnings go. This helps you to have confidence in your purchasing decisions because you already budgeted for it.

Cultivating a plan that works helps you to meet monthly bill payments.

If you end up not breaking even, a written budget plan shows you this in advance. This gives you time to create other income streams (such as a yard sale) in enough time.

2. Make Wise Choices

Often, society puts on the pressure that you must have the latest and greatest whether it’s a shiny new car or new designer purse.

While new things are great, make sure your purchases are setting yourself up for financial freedom.

Credit cards and payday loans come with extremely high compounding interest-rates and keeping you from getting what you want long-term.

If you need to finance a necessary purchase, infinite banking is a much better strategy than traditional financing.

3. Plan for Emergencies

Having an emergency fund is key to keeping your budget on track. Large and sudden expenses can interrupt your cash flow and destroy your budget.

However, with proper planning, you can help set yourself up for less stress.

When building up an emergency fund, it is always better to overestimate than underestimate. Make sure you save up the amount you need so you can stay financially free.

4. Use Your Current Resources

There are lots of ways to enhance your cash flow potential. For example, if you have a phone overflowing with quality pictures, then stock photography can be a great source of passive income.

If you have items that you don’t need or use, then you can easily sell them online.

5. Be Creative

Creativity is key to being financially free. When you learn to be creative, you don’t just accept an obstacle. Rather, you funny unique way around it.

Having problem-solving skills can help you find a way around roadblocks to your budget and help you to be more innovative in your financial planning.

Achieving Financial Freedom

Achieving financial freedom is a challenge, but aren’t all the best things? Just like a marathon runner, keep persevering for the long-term.

Make sure to use consider these tips for your financial strategy. Financial freedom is worth the effort.

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Shopping for commodities, paying education fees, arranging household necessities, or buying luxury items; you need money to buy anything at all. Having a constant and regular stream of income is a necessity more than wishful thinking these days. The uncertainty of the job market, rising inflation rates, and an economic slump will all affect your expenditure budgets. As an individual, either as a retired employee or as a house leader, you’ll want to put your money securely in an investment account that assures you a regular monthly income. Many banks and financial institutions offer monthly profit rates for the contemporary savings accounts, CD’s (Certificates of Deposits), and money market accounts. A typical US bank offers merely a 0.05% on a Savings account with no checkbook or other facilities. That’s just $5 of profit per annum for you on every $1,000 of your investment with the bank. The Special Fixed-rate or so-called “high yield” bank accounts on average offer you a cumulative profit rate of up to 1.30%. That translates to a mere $13 for every $1,000 investment, Good luck with that!

The banks and financial institutes make money with investors’ cash deposits, as recently as in April 2020; banks in the US reported a profit rate of up to 32%. What’s in that for you as an investor if you’re getting an effective rate of 1.30% only? The very concepts of traditional banking investments and money market accounts are obsolete now. The Fintech firms investing in high performing industries thus earning much more profits than traditional banks are the best alternatives for you as an investor. One of such modernly equipped platform for your investments is einvestment. The Fintech firm einvestment doesn’t only have a portfolio of great investments like Artificial intelligence, Cryptocurrency, and Eco-Friendly green investments but also pays high yield monthly profits to the investors too.

Einvestment last month’s profit rates reached to 3.97%, and that’s the monthly profit rate for you disbursed every month. The annual compound rate of profits for einvestment currently stands at 30% (on average). The most significant feature of profit returns with einvestment is its monthly disbursement of profits. The average highest yield on investments reached a whopping 9.71% on a monthly basis. So how does einvestment get such high profits? The answer to the question is a two-part equation. The first part comes with a highly dedicated and skilled team of einvestment. That is led by the industry leaders like Peter Derksen (Head of Division with 21 years of experience) and Jakub Novak (Lead Portfolio Manager with 17 years of experience). Financial management is all about risk management; a skillful and experienced team like ours can manage such a diversified investment portfolio. The second part of the equation comes from the fact of choosing the right stocks i.e. the high performing industries that are going to perform well in the near future. At a glance, take a look at the portfolio mix of the einvestment that includes high performing tech-based industries such as Artificial intelligence, Live Streaming, Cryptocurrency, and robotics and automation. If that’s not enough for you, then take a close look at the extra high yield investment options here. These high-risk, high-yield investments have recently returned profit rates of up to 14.13% as recently as in April, 2020.

Einvestment is part of the Gulliver group of companies based in Lisbon, Portugal since 2015. The Gulliver group is a proud sponsor and partner of one of the leading football clubs in Lisbon; the Sporting Club Portugal. The group has also been an active donor to the world charities throughout these years. Einvestment is a licensed and regulated firm in George Town, Cayman Islands since 2018. To serve you conveniently we have a regional headquarters in Lisbon, Portugal for all our EU customers. We welcome both individual and corporate investors from all around the world, but due to a current policy change, we are not accepting the US-based customers for the time being. We have a simple 05 steps online, paperless, and convenient account opening process that you can start here.

The human race has been experiencing a period of great and very profound flux over the last few decades, and it is mainly down to something that we like to call the Internet. It can be very easy to forget how young the Internet actually is, because it really has completely changed the way we lead our lives. Just take the casino industry, for instance, which has grown exponentially because of the possibility of a phone casino. 

In fact, there are way more people gambling online these days compared to in brick and mortar casinos, and some analysts actually predict that brick and mortar casinos could go completely extinct in the next 20 years. There are various angles on this debate to be had, however, so read ahead for a lowdown.  

Yes: The online casino industry is becoming too big 

One thing that really is difficult to deny is the fact that the online casino industry is becoming well and truly gargantuan, and it really would not be a surprise if it eventually swallowed its land-based cousin. Just think about the amount of online slots on the market these days alone, it’s crazy! 

And with the increase in things like live casino gamblers are increasingly able to get the hands on gambling experience from home, something that could spell the end of brick and mortar casinos. 

No: You still cannot beat the feeling of entering a brick and mortar casino 

For all the technological advances in the field of online casino it is still incredibly hard to beat the feeling of entering a genuine brick and mortar casino, especially ones in gambling hot spots such as Macau, Las Vegas or Monte Carlo. Casinos have always been incredibly decadent places, and it is pretty much impossible to replicate this atmosphere in its entirety online. 

In fact, many online casinos actually end up looking quite tacky in the modern world, so we don’t think gamblers will ever stop craving the class and sophistication of a proper land-based casino. 

Yes: VR technology could change everything 

The thing about technology, however, is we never know what is possible until it happens, and this has been a recurring theme throughout human existence. Take VR technology, for instance, something that could blow the casino market wide open. The premise of this is that gamblers can enter a virtual reality that can be modelled after any casino in the world, or even a fully customizable original design. 

With this level of control it is difficult to imagine people ever going to a brick and mortar casino based in true reality again, isn’t it? However, virtual reality technology still isn’t anywhere near being this good on a commercial scale, and that is the main thing that is holding it back at the moment. Many top gambling analysts do predict that virtual reality casinos will be so good in 20 years that there won’t be many land based casinos left.

Did you know that only 18% of Americans above 55 years have the right legacy plan essentials?

Contrary to common belief, estate planning goes beyond having a will. It would be best if you had a durable power of attorney and a healthcare directive. These essentials will ensure that your wishes will be granted upon your demise.

Estate planning isn’t a reserve for the tycoons. If you’re above 18 years, you’re a potential candidate for estate planning.

So, what should you have in your estate plan? Here is a guide on estate planning 101 that will give you adequate headway as you consider your planning your estate.

1. Durable Power of Attorney

A durable power of attorney is an indispensable part of real estate planning. A power of attorney ensures that you have an agent who will make decisions when incapacitated through illness or death.

Without a power of attorney, the court has the mandate to decide how to handle your assets, which might not be how you’d have wished to have your assets distributed.

The durable power of attorney is a real estate planning document that gives your agent the authority to make financial transactions, legal, and real estate decisions as if they were you.

The POA can be on a single person who will handle everything. You can also designate the POA to different individuals for various situations.

It would be best to designate trusted persons such as your older children, spouse, or siblings to be the power of attorney. Ensure that your ideal choice is a money-savvy individual who will follow your wishes to the letter. More importantly, consider backup POA as your first choice might be unwilling or unable to act.

2. Wills or Trusts

If you are part of the 68% of the Americans without a will, you’re missing one of the most crucial estates planning documents.

A will indicates how you’d want your property to be divided once you die. It further includes the appointment of a guardian, who will look after your minor children and other dependents, including pets.

Trusts almost play the same role as a will. However, a trust is somehow private as it doesn’t go through the court proceeding before it’s executed. A will goes through probate, making it a public record.

Trusts and wills need to be consistent in how you have bequeathed the assets outside your will. For instance, naming one beneficiary on an insurance policy that is out of the will and bequeathing the same to a second person in the will can prompt a will contest. Your will and trust shouldn’t be a cause of family conflict.

3. Letter of Intent

In estate planning 101, a letter of intent is among the most crucial things you can’t afford to ignore.

A letter of intent refers to a letter that you leave to your will’s executor to provide an overview of your wishes on the distribution of your assets after you die. The letter of intent also has relevant details that you’d want to be relayed during your funeral.

It would be essential to note that a letter of intent is necessary, but it’s not legally binding. As such, it shouldn’t replace a trust or a will. If anything, the letter of intent adds a personal touch to the whole process as you’ll have written it.

In a letter of intent, you’re not limited to what to include. Besides logistical wishes on asset division, you can write other emotional issues that you wish to communicate to your loved ones. You might want to emphasize the values you want them to have even after your demise.

4. Beneficiary Designations

Several of your assets can pass to your dependents, even if they are not indicated on the will. It would be best to have beneficiary designations, especially on assets that aren’t on the will. For instance, your insurance plans need a beneficiary and a contingent beneficiary since they will pass outside your will.

When planning your collection and other tangible assets, consider all your financial accounts. You need to have your beneficiary designations always updated. In case of a beneficiary’s death, remarriage, or divorce, update the designations as necessary.

You can have more than one name as beneficiaries depending on how you want to split your assets. The good thing about non-retirement accounts is that you’ll only name the person you wish to inherit the money on the transfer of death form.

A beneficiary designation is among the estate planning 101 people often forget as the financial accounts involved aren’t within a will.

5. A Living Will

When planning an estate, a living will should be a priority. A living will refer to a legal document that communicates to others what you’d prefer about end-of-life treatment. It outlines the medication procedures you would want if you’re incapacitated to the point that you can’t communicate.

A living will is different from the typical last will. The former is enacted when you’re still alive but in a terminal state or unconscious and unable to voice your medical wishes. The thought of a living will is chilling, yet it is considered crucial.

In your living will, you need to reflect on some medical scenarios;

• What are your thoughts on donating some of your body organs after you die?

• What are the pain management procedures or drugs you’re comfortable with?

• Would you be comfortable with feeding tubes if incapacitated?

• Are you pro ‘Do Not Intubate’ or ‘Do Not Resuscitate?’

• What would you prefer if you can’t breathe independently?

Answering some of these questions will help establish a living will. A living will and the healthcare power of attorney are essential estates planning documents that will ease family conflicts over your care if you become critically ill.

Estate Planning 101 Gives You an Ideal Headway When Planning an Estate

The right estate planning guide is vital for anyone conscious about the future of their family. Planning an estate goes beyond deciding on property division upon your demise. Estate planning 101 delves deeper into estate planning documentation and the necessary preparation before you die.

Our blog focuses on personal finance. Explore further for practical tips and money advice for your small business or personal finances.