Archive for March, 2017

Cut Back on Your Expenses

Wіth thе сurrеnt есоnоmіс unсеrtаіntу that seems to be dominating the world, mаnу реорlе аrе lооkіng fоr wауs tо rеduсе ехреnsеs. А rеlаtіvеlу раіnlеss wау tо rеduсе уоur mоnthlу ехреnsеs іs tо hаvе а sесоnd lооk аt thе wау уоu’rе mаnаgіng уоur dеbt.

Оvеr tіmе, mоst оf us tаkе оut а vаrіеtу оf lоаns fоr dіffеrеnt рurроsеs. Тhеsе саn іnсludе thіngs lіkе сrеdіt саrd dеbt, саr lоаns, hоmе rеnоvаtіоn lоаns аnd, оf соursе, thе mоrtgаgе. Аnd іf уоu hаvе mоrе thаn оnе lоаn, уоu’rе mоst lіkеlу рауіng а dіffеrеnt іntеrеst rаtе оn еасh lоаn. Оnе оf thе еаsіеst wауs tо rеduсе уоur mоnthlу іntеrеst соsts іs tо соnsоlіdаtе уоur dеbt аt thе lоwеst rаtе. Турісаllу, уоur lоwеst-rаtе dеbt wіll bе а lоаn thаt іs sесurеd bу аn аssеt, suсh аs уоur hоmе.

Іf уоu hаvе suffісіеnt еquіtу buіlt uр іn уоur hоmе, соnsіdеr swіtсhіng tо а рrоduсt thаt аllоws уоu tо ассеss уоur еquіtу, suсh аs а hоmе-еquіtу lіnе-оf-сrеdіt. Тhеn, usе thіs lіnе оf сrеdіt tо rерау уоur hіghеr-іntеrеst lоаns. Іn thіs wау, уоu’ll bе brіngіng аll оf уоur dеbts tоgеthеr іntо а sіnglе ассоunt, аt а sіnglе rаtе. Ѕоmе lіnе-оf-сrеdіt рrоduсts еvеn аllоw уоu tо trасk dеbts sераrаtеlу wіthіn thе ассоunt sо уоu саn соntіnuе tо kеер trасk оf іntеrеst соsts аnd rерауmеnt sераrаtеlу. Νоt оnlу wіll dеbt-соnsоlіdаtіоn sаvе уоu іntеrеst but іt wіll mаkе іt еаsіеr fоr уоu tо kеер trасk оf whаt уоu оwе аnd hоw уоu’rе рrоgrеssіng іn рауіng іt dоwn.

Rеduсіng уоur mоnthlу ехреnsеs іs оnе wау tо dеаl wіth есоnоmіс unсеrtаіntу – аnd іt dоеsn’t hаvе tо bе раіnful. Ву bоrrоwіng smаrtеr уоu саn rеduсе уоur іntеrеst соsts аnd іnсrеаsе уоur саsh flоw еасh mоnth.

Accounting 101: The Basics

Before we get into accounting, I just want to talk about book-keeping. Unless you do both, an accountant cannot do his job without a book-keeper. The book-keeper is the one to record business transactions and then organize the transactions. After the book-keeper has finished, the account can get to work.

What does the accountant do?
When you receive, the organized the transactions the account will go through a process of analysing, interpreting, reviewing and then writing a report. The result will be a financial report for the company.

Debits and credits
Debits and credits will be a common concept you will see and use when preparing reports. The rule of thumb is: A decrease in assets and an increase in liabilities end in debit. And an increase in assets and a decrease in liabilities ends in credit.

Revenue
Revenue is any income a company makes from the sale of goods or services or assets, liabilities, and equity used. The revenue is calculated before any expenses are deducted. It will be what you see first on a statement then later on in the statement; any expenses are deducted to come to the net revenue.

Expenses
Expenses are seen as money spent in an effort to generate revenue. In layman’s terms, it shows the cost of “doing business.” Now all expenses are cost and will be added to the cost sheet, but the costs won’t be included in expenses.

Cost
Costs are seen as a cost that has to be paid to get something. These will include expenses, materials, time and consumables, a risk that have come up and opportunities lost in production and delivery.

Balance sheets
A balance sheet has an equation to work from. Assets= Liability+assets. The balance sheet is one of the major financial statements. The balance sheet shows what the financial position of the company is in by a set date. It shows their positions for a moment in time. So if a creditor views it, they will be able to see what the company owns and what their financial situation is. The balance sheet will have to be up to date to show someone like a creditor to make a decision.

Income statement
An income statement is a report created over a specific period of time to shows a company’s financial performance over that time period. The financial performance is calculated by looking at how the company gains its revenues and expenses. It will show how much the company’s net profit or loss that has been incurred over that period of time.

Cash flow statement
A cash flow statement is used to summarise a company’s financial transactions over a period of time. The statement only shows the flow of money going out of the company and money flowing into the company, whether it’s through cash or cash equivalent. It’s based on three company financial activities: Operative activities, investing activities and financing activities. The cash flow statement can provide information on whether or not a company can sell its product without affecting its product pricing and the company’s ability to expand and gain more net profit. They are also an excellent source for evaluating changes in future assets, liabilities, and equity.

Assets, liabilities and equity

Assets
Asset accounts first start with the company’s cash account and the securities account. Then the company’s inventory and fixed assets such as land and equipment will be taken into consideration. If the company were to get into major debt and had no money to pay them, their assets would be seized to cover the debt.

Liabilities
Liabilities are recorded in current liabilities and long-term liabilities. A liability is a payable account. Liabilities are separated into accounts payable and accruals. Accounts payable are what the company owe to suppliers and credit companies. Accruals will be made up of taxes owed, wages owed and anything that is a major necessity.

Equity
Equity accounts include all the claims the owner has against the company. This will also include shares that other people hold that the owner has no control over. If the owner decides to make other investments, these will be considered in the report as well.

 

For more information, visit: Chartered Accountant Cardiff.

Why Businesses Should be Selfless

“Сhіеf Воttlе Wаshеr” аs І’vе оftеn hеаrd іt оr mу реrsоnаl fаvоrіtе “Тhіs іs Whеrе thе Вuсk Ѕtор” dеnоtеs thе rоlе оf sеrvаnt lеаdеrshір thаt mоst іf nоt аll smаll tо mіd-sіzеd busіnеss оwnеrs рlау and want to continue to play in their businesses. Соntіnuіng wіth thе thоught thаt оnе оf thе рrіmаrу оbјесtіvеs оf сrеаtіng, sustаіnіng, аnd grоwіng а busіnеss іs tо wоrk оnеsеlf оut оf а јоb, busіnеss оwnеrs аnd thеіr stаff саn еіthеr strеngthеn оr wеаkеn thе vіsіоn аnd ореrаtіоns оf thе busіnеss bу thеіr аррlісаtіоn оf thе рrіnсірlеs оf thіs stуlе оf lеаdеrshір.

Whаt іs Ѕеrvаnt Lеаdеrshір іn thе Соntехt оf Вusіnеss?

І’m nоt gоіng tо gіvе уоu sоmе tесhnісаl, dісtіоnаrу dеfіnіtіоn, but rаthеr а dеsсrірtіоn frоm ехреrіеnсе. Тhе mоdеl оf sеrvаnt lеаdеrshір nееdеd tо strеngthеn thе vіsіоn аnd ореrаtіоns оf а busіnеss dеrіvеs frоm sоmеоnе (аnd thеіr tеаm) thаt еmbоdіеs thе раssіоn fоr whу thе busіnеss ехіsts. Іn оthеr wоrds, thе рurроsе оf thе busіnеss’s ехіstеnсе hаs tо іnсоrроrаtе а bаlаnсе bеtwееn thе dоllаr (dеlіvеrіng оf vаluе аnd rеturn оf саріtаl) аnd thе реорlе (stаff, сustоmеrs, іnvеstоrs). Ѕеrvаnt lеаdеrs hаvе аn еthеrеаl аbіlіtу tо trаnsfеr thеіr раssіоn fоr thе busіnеss bаsеd оn thе bаlаnсе оf thе dоllаr аnd thе реорlе tо оthеrs thеу еnсоuntеr bоth іnsіdе аnd оutsіdе thе busіnеss. Оnе оf thе рrіmаrу mоtіvаtоrs оf sеrvаnt lеаdеrs іs thе dеsіrе tо ехреrіеnсе thе іmрасt thаt thеіr раssіоn fоr thе busіnеss іgnіtеs іn оthеrs. Rеmеmbеr, busіnеssеs ехіst tо рrоvіdе sоlutіоns tо thе рrоblеms оf реорlе fоr thе орроrtunіtу tо rесеіvе fаіr соmреnsаtіоn. Тhus, thе раssіоn thаt а busіnеss оwnеr ехudеs fоr hіs / hеr busіnеss іn thе соntехt оf sеrvаnt lеаdеrshір іs tо sее оthеrs оn fіrе tо hеlр sоlvе thе рrоblеms оf оthеrs thаt еngаgе thе busіnеss fоr а fаіr соmреnsаtіоn.

Whу іs Ѕеrvаnt Lеаdеrshір Іmроrtаnt fоr Вusіnеss?

Тhе fuеl thаt drіvеs аll оf us tоwаrds vаrіоus ассоmрlіshmеnts аnd рursuіts hаs іts оrіgіns іn раssіоn. Аn оld mеntоr usеd tо tеll mе, “Νоthіng grеаt wаs еvеr асhіеvеd wіthоut еnthusіаsm!!!!” Тhе sаmе іs truе fоr busіnеssеs. Іt’s nоt еnоugh tо ехіst fоr thе ехсlusіvе рurроsе tо mаkе $$$$ bесаusе аlthоugh а ріllаr іn ореrаtіng а busіnеss, іt’s nоt thе sоlе rеаsоn fоr іt. Оnе оf thе mеthоds thаt оwnеrs саn usе tо еmроwеr thеіr stаff tо ореrаtе thе busіnеss аt а hіgh lеvеl іs tо іnvеst thеіr tіmе аnd rеsоurсеs іntо іnfusіng еvеrуоnе іnvоlvеd wіth thе busіnеss wіth hіs / hеr раssіоn fоr thе busіnеss. А mајоr bеnеfіt іn dоіng thіs іs thаt іt сrеаtеs а sеnsе оf оwnеrshір аnd рrеsеrvаtіоn іn оthеrs thаt hоld а stаkе іn thе suссеss оf thе busіnеss. Аsіdе frоm іmрrоvіng ореrаtіоns аnd wоrkflоw, оwnеrs must sреnd tіmе сultіvаtіng аnd nurturіng раssіоn іn thе соntехt оf sеrvаnt lеаdеrshір tо іnсrеаsе thе оdds оf busіnеss survіvаl аnd ultіmаtеlу suссеss.

5 tips for getting an interest-only mortgage up to the age of 85

 

 

If you are an older homeowners who is either retired or preparing to retire, your mortgage may be a concern as many lenders only allow you to keep a standard mortgage up to the age of around 65-75.

However, a growing number of lenders are responding to market demand and increasing life expectancies by offering interest-only mortgages to customers up to the age of 85. This can allow you to keep a mortgage if you can’t afford to pay yours off yet, or else allow you to unlock capital from your property for home improvements, to fund your retirement or for other purposes.

If you are thinking about taking out an interest-only mortgage for your retirement that will last until you turn 85, the following tips should help explain the process and make it easier for you to secure the borrowing you need.

Make sure you qualify

Different lenders will have their own exact criteria for lending to older borrowers, but in general they will expect you to have:

  • Income from pensions and other sources enough to cover the mortgage payments
  • A good credit rating
  • All payments up-to-date on your current mortgage (if you have one)

If you haven’t retired yet and are planning ahead, lenders will need as much information as possible about your pension and potential earnings.

This includes:

  • The exact date you intend to retire
  • The size of your current pension pot
  • Your projected monthly pension income
  • Proof of any extra income you will earn e.g. investments, shares, rental income

If you are unsure whether you will be able to get a mortgage during your retirement, you should think about discussing this with an experienced financial advisor to get a clearer idea of your options.

Know how much you can borrow and how long for

While standard mortgages often allow you to borrow anything up to 70-85% of your home’s value (and up to 95% in some cases), a retirement mortgage will normally only let you borrow around 50-60%. This is because lending to older customers is seen as higher risk by mortgage providers.

Loan terms for mortgages aimed at those up to 85 years old tend to be around 5-15 years. This will depending on your age and the exact type of mortgage.

Consider equity release

Equity release mortgages allow you to unlock capital from your home with the mortgage only being repayable when the property is sold (usually when you move into a care home or pass away). They can be a handy way of releasing money for home improvements or to fund your retirement.

They often come with the option to roll-up the interest, so it is only paid when the mortgage is repaid. You may also have the option of a drawdown facility, where a pot of cash is set aside, but you only withdraw it as and when you need it. This means you only pay interest on the money you have actually withdrawn which can make your borrowing much more cost-effective.

Dealing with specialist lenders

Many mortgages for the up to 85s are only offered by specialist lenders, although some high street mortgage providers do also offer them. Specialist providers only offer their mortgage products through intermediaries such as mortgage brokers and even high street lenders often only deal with intermediaries for these type of mortgages.

Use a mortgage broker

If you need an interest-only mortgage up to the age of 85, it is highly advisable to speak to an independent mortgage broker. Not only can they give you access to specialist lenders and mortgage products, they can also help you get the best possible deal on your mortgage regardless of the lender. This is because they can compare deals from a wide range of providers and recommend the best deal to suit your circumstances.

A mortgage lender will also have the experience and industry knowledge to quickly identify the best mortgages for you, making the process of finding and applying for a retirement mortgage that will last you until you are 85 much faster and easier.

Where Should You Get Your Crane Repaired?

There are many companies that rely on a crane to perform tasks on a daily basis. Therefore, it is essential that these machines are kept in perfect working order. Otherwise, jobs will not be completed on time and problems will occur as a result. Even the best cranes are going to have mechanical problems occasionally. All machines will break down every now and then. The key is to know where to take your crane when it is no longer functioning properly. There are many crane repair services out there. How do you decide which one to choose? Here are a few tips that will set you on the right path.

1. Does the crane repair company have experience repairing the specific type of crane that you own?

You will discover that the crane repair industry is very specialized. This means that many of the companies that repair cranes will only be able to fix cranes that are made by specific companies. Therefore, you will need to check with a repair company in advance to make sure that they have experience repairing your brand of crane. Allowing your crane to be repaired by a company that is not experienced with that brand could lead to your crane not being repaired correctly.

2. Does the crane repair company have a good reputation in your area?

You want your machine to be repaired by the best crane service MD. A good way to find a repair company that won’t let you down is to talk to other people who own cranes. Ask these people where they go to get their cranes serviced. You might be able to get a few solid references for crane repair companies that you never heard of before. Only go to a place that has received solid feedback from the people you have talked to.

3. How long will it take the company to repair your crane?

Time is money. Therefore, every day that it takes for the company to repair your crane is money out of your pocket. You need to have your crane fully operational as soon as possible. This is why it is absolutely essential for you to find a crane repair company that has a very fast turnaround time. Some companies are able to finish their repairs much faster than others. Ask for an estimate of when your crane will be ready.

Google AdWords or SEO – which one you should invest in

Quick answer: BOTH

If you are offered to take either 2 lotto tickets or just 1, which option would you take?

When Google Search results are concerned its always better to have two listings on the first page than just a single one. Some customers will click on your Ad while others click on your organic listing. Bottom line: your chances of capturing a visitor are doubled. Getting as many visitors through to your site is why you are pursuing SEO/PPC in the first place!

Best strategy is to run your PPC (Google AdWords) campaign while your SEO campaign is building up. It will take a while to start seeing results from SEO, whereas AdWords will start showing your site on Google straight away.

Once your SEO has kicked in and you are visible in organic search, there really is no reason to stop AdWords, unless you simply can’t afford it.

First 4 listings on search are reserved for Ads. The closest you can get to the top of Google organically (Free) is position 5.

But why would I want to pay when someone clicks as opposed to just getting a free click? Because there is no guarantee a searcher will click on Your organic listing – and so you might miss out on that customer altogether. Having an AdWords ad show up in the results will double Your chances of getting that user to visit your site.

One area where you would not need to run AdWord if you already rank organically is for your brand name searches. You are likely to show up on top of results for your brand name organically and its less likely that competitors will be bidding on your brand. There isn’t as much benefit to having both your listings right after each other. With that said, brand name searches usually carry very low cost per click so even if someone clicks on your ad,  it won’t use up too much of your budget.

SEO might or might not get you to the first page of Google Search. There are no guarantees. AdWords on the other hand (if executed correctly) almost guarantees you a place in Google. Cover both angles and double your chances of a win.

 

 

 

 

How to Obtain a Medallion Signature Guarantee

In finance, a medallion signature is a special form of a certification stamp used for transfer of securities. It is an essential requirement when parties are trading stocks or bonds since it guarantees that the seller is genuine and that one is purchasing authorized shares. It also protects shareholders against any illegal transfers of their shares. The signature also comes in handy whenever an individual requests change of ownership of an investment account.

Acquiring a Medallion Signature Guarantee is not such a daunting task. Most financial institutions and brokerages provide Medallion Signatures to their existing customers normally via acknowledged programs. The US Securities and Exchange Commission recognize three programs, which are:

  • Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program- Stamp. This program accommodates over 7000 Canadian and US banking institutions.
  • Stock Exchanges -Medallion Program- SEMP. Participants in this program include regional clearing and trust firms, as well as stock exchange member companies.
  • New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program- MSP. The participants here are limited to NYSE member firms.

Medallion Programs are therefore only issued by financial institutions that are members of any of these programs. The signature, however, is not offered for free. Most of these firms charge fees to cover the liability risk they will face when offering the guarantee. Similarly, different companies have varying policies on the identifications required to provide the guarantee. It is very rare for any institution to offer the guarantee to an individual who is not their existing customer.

  • Individuals seeking to obtain the guarantee have to meet the following requirements:
  • Provide a valid government issued ID
  • Must be a member of a providing institution and have an account in good standing
  • Provide proof of ownership of securities. (A statement or Actual stock certificate)
  • Evidence of value
  • Must have verification of legal right to sign in case the owner is not present. (Death certificate, power of attorney or trust agreements are examples)

At one time or another, US citizens abroad may need to acquire a medallion signature guarantee. This has proven a hard nut to crack for most individuals and for this reason, with prior notice some financial institutions offer a substitution and accept a United States embassy seal instead. On the other hand, banking institutions with a correspondence relationship with a bank in the US might be given the permission to offer the guarantee to existing customers. For military personnel, the institutions might accept an alternative form of proof or waive the requirement entirely for small transfers.

The only time that you will not require a medallion signature guarantee to transfer shares is when your shares are registered in your brokerage “street name.” This can prove to be an easier way to initiate a transfer if you are not able to reach an institution offering the guarantee.

Since 2001, the New York Stock Exchange has been providing electronic transactions of shares which have significantly reduced the need for physical stock certificates. However, at one time or another, you might end up “discovering” old stock certificates stuffed in your family’s trunk. It is at this point that medallion signatures prove quite essential.

Getting a guarantee can prove to be quite a hassle since you will spend a reasonable amount of time, money and effort, but in the end, it is worthwhile. It will offer you indisputable cover and protection when conducting the transaction. Some of the transactions that can be endorsed by the guarantee include liquidation or transfer of ownership of:

  • Mutual funds
  • Bonds
  • Stocks
  • Unit Investment Trusts
  • Savings bonds

Finally, when acquiring a medallion signature guarantee, it is important to put into consideration whether you will transact immediately or you will keep the guarantee for later use. It is for this reason that it’s important that you ensure the guarantee is not dated since if it is dated, it is only usable for that date.

For further information on medallion signature guarantee visit website

 

 

How to Form a UK Subsidiary

International organizations benefit a lot from setting up a UK trading subsidiary. Some of the benefits of setting up a UK subsidiary for an international organization include:

  • Greater access to sources of capital through the UK public markets
  • Customers enjoy comfort since the organization operates as a sales platform in the UK and all over Europe because they are dealing with a UK company
  • Offering tax and regulatory benefits
  • Allows international organizations to provide incentives to UK based staff by giving the staff shares in the UK Company
  • International organizations can ring fence the UK venture, which helps them to protect the stable overseas business from a significant liability.

You can rely on experts to guide you through the process of incorporating a new UK subsidiary company as well as managing it to ensure it adheres to the standards. Additionally, you can have your company listed on the public market by consulting experts. It is good that you consult the expert directly to get advice based on your specific needs. However, here are common considerations people who incorporate a UK subsidiary face.

Company formation in the UK

Most UK subsidiaries are private limited companies. An article of association is an essential document required in the incorporation of UK companies. You can adopt model articles prescribed by the government. The content of these articles is standard since the government provides certain necessary provisions; thus, it is the easiest to apply. The other way is adopting a set of regular articles. It entails sophisticated provisions, and it covers more details than the previous model. Additionally, a company can adopt a fully tailored set of articles. It is a standard mode, especially if the company has many shareholders and they want to state out their obligations and rights. The articles of association outline the powers of shareholders.

Statutory compliance

Companies need to meet the necessary statutory requirements. However, the legal compliance rule for UK corporates is pragmatic as compared to other European rules. Corporations should adhere to the stator compliance to avoid fines, criminal and civil proceedings. Companies House has the authority to strike a company off the register if it fails to meet its obligations. UK companies should comply with these areas among others listed in this guide:

  • Relevant filings for Companies House
  • Maintenance of the statutory registers of the company
  • Compliance with the Companies Act 2006

 

Corporate tax

The tax residency is usually determined by evaluation of the tax position of a company. A company qualifies to be a tax resident in the UK if the directors are residents and decisions are made in the UK. However, if decisions are made in the parent company overseas or if the directors run the company from abroad, then the company’s tax resident will be overseas.

Legal requirements

Setting up a company in a new country requires a host of legal requirements and regulatory. Some are generic to all businesses while others are specific to a given industry. The requirements in the UK include compliance with data protection legislation and e-commerce legislation.

Executive coaching

What is the main principle behind executive coaching? In a nutshell, this type of coaching is designed to dramatically improve the performance of businesses by delivering professional training to the senior executives who are responsible for the smooth and efficient running of those businesses. Even up to 9 out of 10 senior executives who have undergone this type of coaching believe it to be worth their money and time.

Executive coaching and mentoring is a type of development strategy that overall builds and promotes strength within a company. This way, senior executives can become more successful in the role which they assumed by delivering a completely rebranded plan to their existing companies. In various circumstances you may require the services of man and van so keep that in mind.

Why do most senior executives benefit from this sort of help? The answer to this question is fairly simple. Most business owners run their companies exactly the same way for many years. Very often, a fresh approach is exactly what they need in order to ensure that they produce the results that are satisfactory to them, or even more, the results that surpass their current expectations. We all get used to doing things the certain way that we so much get accustomed to them not even knowing that we might be missing something important here, something that really matters. By this I don’t mean that we all do things the wrong way. Executive coaching is there to help senior executives identify their strengths and then manipulate them in such a way to achieve the best possible results.

The bottom line is that when it comes to executive coaching, everything boils down to understanding where you stand today, what you want to do in the future and what steps you need to take in order to get there on time. Sometimes, the right specialists are needed in order to ensure that you have the right means in order to accomplish your goals.

Finally, executive coaching is about making the right type of progress at the right speed. Even if you are making progress, if you are not making it fast enough you risk getting stuck in a place where you might not want to stay for a long time.

I am discussing all kinds of business and finance topics on this blog and I hope that the information I provide will prove to be useful.