Category: Finance
ContentRally is a leading source of reliable news and trending topics on Finance. Get hard-to-find insights and advice on Finance from industry-specific leaders.
Investments 101: How to Choose a Smart Stock
There are less than 4,000 publicly traded companies in the US today, down from the 1997 high of more than 7,000. Such a limited pool doesn’t make it any easier to pick stocks these days, though. In fact, one of the first questions new investors ask is about how to choose stocks. The stock market is a big gamble, and if you choose right, you can win big time. In this guide, we’ll go over the steps you should follow to pick a good stock. You may not be the next Wolf of Wall Street, but selecting the right stocks will put you on firm financial footing. Assess Your Goals: It’s easy to ask how to find good stocks. The problem is that “good” is relative to what you want from investing. The very first thing you need to do is to take a look at your own goals. Why are you investing? What do you hope to get out of buying stocks? Answering this question will provide the underlying “investment theory” for your stock-picking strategy. If you want to maximize your returns and get out of the market, you’ll need one strategy. If you plan to be in it for the long haul, you’ll likely use a different strategy. Start with Index Funds: Index funds, like mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs), are a great place to start. First, they make good beginner investments. You can buy into one of these funds to gain exposure to the market. With mutual funds or ETFs, you don’t need to buy every individual stock in the fund. They also have low management fees. For those of you wondering how to pick a stock, they're also a great place to start your research. These funds contain most of the large companies in a given industry. They also collect information on the performance of their holdings. You can then narrow down the list to the individual stocks you’re interested in. The index fund can tell you that industry is on the rise. It can also tell you which companies are outperforming others in the same industry. Evaluating Financial Health: After you’ve picked some individual companies, you’ll want to evaluate their financial health. The next question you should ask is what to look for when buying stock. Information about performance and profits is easy enough to come by. You’ll also want to look at more intangible factors, such as the company’s staff. What makes them unique? A good way to collect some of this information is to look at investor presentations. They often share details that will help you learn how to pick good stocks. Another thing you can do is check forecasts. For example, you can look at the Valeant stock forecast to see how a certain company is recovering from a major scandal. No Magic Formula for How to Choose Stocks: Keep in mind that there’s a human factor involved in the stock market. You can do careful research and invest in what you think is the best stock. Key personnel could then leave the company, and the stock underperforms. The long and short if it is there’s no magic formula for picking good stocks every time. Understanding your goals and doing careful research will help you make better choices. Start Building Your Financial Future: This quick guide should give you some more ideas about how to choose stocks that support your goals. As you continue to invest, you’ll be able to refine your strategy. Interested in diversifying your portfolio? Check out our blog for more informative articles. We have advice that can help you work toward a brighter financial tomorrow. Read Also: Buying Stocks For Beginners: A Guide How Businesses Can Use Stock Trading 5 Awesome Facts About CryptoCurrency Main Factors That Affect Trading Decisions Top 9 Forex Trading Tips For Beginners That Save You Money
READ MOREDetails
What Is the Best Tax Software to Be Using in 2019?
If you fail to file your taxes correctly, the IRS can fine you a penalty up to 20% of the amount you owe. Taxes are a complete nightmare for many people especially if you can't pay them. And the last thing you want to deal with is owing even more money to the government. That's why the emergence of tax software has helped so many people. It helps you make sense of the confusing terminology, perform calculations, and break the process down into easy steps. But what is the best tax software and how does it help simplify everything? This article covers everything you need to know. The Criteria for Best Tax Software: Everyone is different and the tax software available now tends to be tailored to different audiences with bank products and other solutions available. For example, a family of four with a house and one income earner will have a fairly straightforward process. But what about someone who is self-employed or a small business owner? In these cases, some companies offer tiered pricing models that can quickly become expensive. When asking questions like "Why would anyone use a bank product?" or "Is this service right for me?" it's important to consider the following. Ease of Use: There's no point paying for a system that is just as confusing as the tax forms themselves. Check out reviews from other people to see what their experiences with the company were. Or watch a 'how to' video for a preview of the software. Are Your Taxes Complicated: Between deductibles, donations, and multiple sources of income, taxes can get complex very quickly. If you're unsure what you qualify for and what options are available to you then tax software may be the way to go. Look at State Tax Prices: Some tax software companies include state tax in their services free of charge. Others ask for a fee and class it as an additional service. Be sure to look into the costs behind each one to be sure. With that said, here are the best online tax filing options out there. TurboTax: Known for its simplicity and ease of use, TurboTax has many features and designs to help you file without a headache. The use a simple step by step process that puts questions in laymen's terms and does the hard work and calculations for you. They even offer a W-2 scanner where upload a photo of your form and it automatically sorts the information on your tax forms. They have a free option for getting your taxes ready to file. But can charge past $100 if you want more premium services like a tax specialist to talk to. Tax Act: Similar to TurboTax, TaxAct offers a sliding scale of costs for users depending on the level of service they want. Their layout makes it easy to input data and offers free state tax returns for simple forms. If you're a homeowner or business owner however, then you will have to pay a fee for state taxes. If you are unhappy with the service you've received from other tax software companies, TaxAct makes it easy to import your old information over to them. H&R Block: Known for their stand-out customer support, H&R Block takes the uncertainty out of the equation with tax specialists on call and online. It has a similar model and pricing structure to the previous companies but also offers up to $3000 of interest-free loans to anyone entitled to federal tax refunds. Shop Around: Knowing what the best tax software is for you takes time and research. This list helped narrow things down but you should still look into each company in more detail to see what will work best for you. Check out our other finance articles for more tips and advice. Read Also: 6 Tips On How To Pay Off Your Tax Debt All You Must Know About Construction Business Management Software 8 Reasons Why Your Company Should Get A Vendor Management Software
READ MOREDetails
7 Foolproof Ways to Increase Your Chances of Finding Startup Funding
Are you an entrepreneur hoping to build a thriving business backed by investor funding? Do you have an awesome business idea with product/market fit, but need angel investor funding to help your business scale? If so, you've come to the right place. There are a number of ways you can increase your chances of finding startup funding if you are strategic in your approach to making valuable connections. Gabriel Patterson, a Toronto based chairman at Bethmann Lombard Bancorp, is a dynamic businessman and certified Islamic finance specialist who has over 26 years of investment banking experience. 7 Foolproof Ways to Increase Your Chances of Finding Startup Funding Below, he shares and encourages you to incorporate the following seven tips into your fundraising efforts to improve your chances of scaling your company. Confidence is Essential: Be confident when attempting to raise funds for your startup. Investors will often back an entrepreneur they believe in even if the entrepreneur's startup idea isn't strong. Investors know the entrepreneur can always pivot their startup to a more profitable business idea, but they want to be among the first investors to bet on an entrepreneur who exudes confidence and drive. Always be Networking: Make time for networking with potential investors regardless of how busy you are building your startup. Something as simple as schmoozing with angel investors and VCs (venture capitalists) on Twitter can help get your startup on their radar. Add valuable insights on Twitter conversations, don't overtly promote your startup, and continually tweet helpful content to build the startup ecosystem. Your efforts won't go unnoticed, especially if your business idea is appealing. Know Your Ask: Know what you want when pitching potential angel investors and VCs. An entrepreneur with a lukewarm pitch with no firm ask isn't going to survive long with seasoned investors. Know what you're asking for, be firm in your presentation, and be prepared to negotiate to keep the entrepreneur/investor relationship moving forward. Consider Smaller Rounds: Be prepared to accept a smaller round of funding than what you initially ask for from investors. You may have grandiose plans and think you need a major round of seed funding or Series A funding. This is a common trap many entrepreneurs fall prey to when raising funds for their startup. Even smaller amounts of funding can be quite helpful in moving your company ahead. If you learn to reduce your burn rate and spend your funding wisely, you'll be amazed at how far a smaller amount of funding can take you and your startup. Investigate Investors: Don't assume it's only big-name investors who can help grow your startup. Too many entrepreneurs think they're only successful if they raise funding from famous VCs and investors in Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, or New York City. Nothing could be further from the truth. You can raise funds for your startup from investors anywhere, but you need to approach them with respect and understand their investment thesis. The more you investigate potential investors for your startup, the more likely it is you will find reputable financial backers for your business. Ethical Behavior Matters: Be careful how you portray yourself when in public. You never know who you might be chatting with at a networking event or who they might know. One slip-up in behavior or egotistical boasting could potentially cost you the financial funding you so desperately long for. Be an entrepreneur with ethics and a strong moral code and you'll increase your long-term odds of startup success. Appeal to Investor Emotions: Don't forget to appeal to investor emotions when seeking funding for your startup. You must know your numbers and offer a pitch deck that investors can believe in, but it never hurts to appeal to their emotional side too. You don't want to overplay this card, but a touch of emotion in your investor outreach efforts can go a long way. Remember these seven foolproof ways of increasing your chances of finding startup funding and you'll improve your entrepreneurial future. Raising funds for your startup is hard work, but the rewards can definitely be worth all the sacrifice and long hours. Read Also: 5 Steps To Accelerate The Growth Of Your Startup How To Attract The Best Talents For Your Startup 7 Reasons To Be An Entrepreneur In The Best Area: IT
READ MOREDetails
Self-employed Health Insurance: Best Types for Every Freelancer
Working as a freelancer can be a rewarding experience, but you can’t ignore the importance of health insurance. Some people consider it a drawback because they have to manage their health insurance plan. There is no need to worry because you can get some good plans. Fortunately, some online platforms like carefulcents.com help you to pick a suitable self-employed health plan. Here are some good options that may work for you: Federal/State Marketplace: The marketplace for health insurance provides you with excellent coverage option. If you are working as a freelancer, you can enroll through an appropriate plan. A freelancer, consultant, independent workers, and other contractors can get several options. Fortunately, several categories are available with low premiums. Your savings may depend on the projected net income. Plans with Higher Deductible and Lower Premiums: These types of plans can be an excellent option for people who need something affordable. While paying a lower premium, you can get the advantage of higher deductibles. It can be beneficial to work with this type of plan in your good health. If you are not prone to traumas or unexpected accidents, these plans are great for you. Medicaid: Millions of Americans can get the advantage of free coverage and low cost through Medicaid. These options are suitable for families with low income, seniors and people with disabilities. You can get suitable Medicaid as per your income. Make sure to consider the regulations of your state to pick appropriate insurance. This program is free from open enrollment periods so that you can apply without any restriction. Plan for Family Coverage: A few states allow you to get the advantage of a domestic partnership without a legal marriage. If you are sharing a room or house with your partner, you can get the benefit of family coverage. You will be eligible for this plan until you or your partner is not married to anyone else. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA): COBRA guarantees you stipend to remain under the health insurance plan of your employer provisionally. Some plans are associated with a decrease in your employment. As per the U.S. Labor Department, you have to follow some eligibility requirements. COBRA couldn’t be a wise option if a person were not formally employed. Private Insurance: Some people need special healthcare coverage for chronic illness and other problems. If you need a particular insurance plan, make sure to check the details of a policy to find a suitable cover. A private insurance company can help you in the selection of a strong cover. Make sure to figure out important details before finalizing health coverage. Interest Groups: The national association for self-employed may provide excellent support to freelancers. You can access life insurance policies and health saving accounts after getting your membership. The fee for annual membership may vary between $25 and $120 for students and general members. Freelancers can save money at famous stores, such as QuickBooks and Office Depot. Moreover, the health association for underwriters represents more than 100,000 insurance agents. They can help you in the selection of an affordable healthcare plan. Read Also: Everything You Need To Know About Term Insurance Plan Premium A Little On The Side…Or Not? Your Guide To Supplemental Insurance Ready To Take The Leap Into Self-Employment? Here’s How To Set Up An Awesome Home Office Have You Paid Enough Attention To Liability Insurance When Launching Your HHA Business?
READ MOREDetails
Home Sweet Home Improvement: How to Find the Best Home Improvement Loans
It's estimated that in 2018, Americans spent nearly $340 billion on home remodeling projects. Home improvement loans are one of the best ways to sort out the problem of home renovation. If you're planning to make some changes to your home, you may find that a home improvement loan is the only way you can get the job done. But finding a home improvement loans isn't easy, and sometimes it can be difficult to figure out how you can find the right loan, at the right price. Below you'll discover how you can find the best home improvement loans for your renovation project. Read on, and you'll discover how you can give your home a fresh look, without having to wreak havoc on your finances. Decide What You Want to Use the Loan For: Before taking out the loan, it's a good idea to think about how you're going to spend the money associated with the loan. In doing so, it becomes easy to work out how much you'll need to borrow. This then prevents you from over-borrowing and ending up with more debt than necessary. Now, if you don't know how much a particular home improvement project is going to cost, it's probably worth speaking to some contractors. If you can provide these contractors with an accurate representation of what you want to achieve, they should be able to give you a quote. If you can, try to speak to more than one contractor. This'll help develop a realistic average of what the project is going to cost. How Can You Fund the Home Improvement Project? There's more than one financial 'instrument' you can use to fund your home improvement project. For instance, there's the typical route of obtaining a home improvement loan. Now, home improvement loans can often sound like a good idea, but you'll find that such loans aren't always the best option. This often comes down to the fact home improvement loans tend to be unsecured, and this makes them a risky bet for lenders. This risk can also mean that the interest rates are going to be high. On top of this, you'll find lenders will offer relatively short repayment periods associated with these loans. The other option is to go for a personal loan. Again, this kind of loan is unsecured, and this can make such loans pricey. But, if you have good credit and a steady income, lenders might be willing to offer you a personal loan at a reasonable rate. One of the good things about a personal loan is that you may have a favorable payment term that gives you plenty of time to pay the money back. If you'd like to learn how you can find the best personal loans, check this out. There's also the option of funding your project using a credit card. Now, for many people, this should be considered as a last resort. This is because the interest rates on a credit card can be very high. But if you can find a credit card that offers 0% APR, this might be a worthwhile option. Speak to Many Lenders: Once you have a decent sense of how much the project is going to cost you, it's the time to approach some lenders. It's worth noting that some lenders will have different requirements to others. Often, you'll have to fill out an application, and the information you provide will determine whether you receive the loan. If you find your application is successful, you may have to approach another lender. You may also need to think about funding your project, using a different strategy. Manage Your Project Carefully: Once you receive your funds and begin remodeling, it's vital you manage your project carefully so that it doesn't go over budget. If this happens, you'll need to lend more money, and this can increase your debt burden. At the very least you need to keep a close eye on the contractors and ask them about their progress daily. Ask them to provide you with projected deadlines, and then check in with them to ensure they're going to meet these deadlines. It's essential you do this, as contractors often charge you a daily rate. If the project goes over schedule, you may end up needing to spend more than you budgeted for. Can You Reduce the Price of the Project? Before the project begins, you might want to ask your contractors if there's anything you can do to help lower the cost of the project. If you take certain cost-cutting measures, you may find that you don't need to use the entire loan. This then means you can repay the loan faster, thereby reducing the amount of money you spend on interest payments. Taking this step is important, as it can reduce the stress associated with having to find the 'perfect' home improvement loan. For instance, the contractors might say that things will work out cheaper if you source the materials needed for the project. You can then ask them what they need, and you can go to your local hardware store and order these items. You might also want to ask the contractor if there are any simple tasks that you can help them with. So, if you're looking to renovate a bedroom, there may be some closets that are 'built into' the room, of which you no longer want. If you take the time to remove these closets, the contractor doesn't need to spend their time on this task. This then lowers the amount of money they'll charge you as their workload is now reduced. Do You Know How to Find the Best Home Improvement Loans? If you want to give your home a fresh look, home improvement loans can help you get the job done, without having to spend all your savings. That said, you want to make sure you do everything you can to limit the amount of money you actually need to borrow. You also want to make sure you speak to a broad range of lenders so that you can find an affordably priced loan. Yes, it can be scary to borrow money for a home improvement project. But if you follow the tips in this post, you should be able to minimize your stress levels. Thinking about remodeling your kitchen? Check out this post to learn about the best countertops you can use. Read Also: Lining Up For A Loan – How To Secure A Good Loan 7 Tips To Increase The Value Of Your Home Best Home Buying Tips For First Time Buyers Invest Real Estate In Detroit: 7 Things You Need To Know Before Buying Your First Investment
READ MOREDetails
7 Advantages in Hiring a Third Party Company to Manage your Accounting
Running a small business in the market today can be quite demanding and involving, especially when it comes to the need for different skills, experiences, and competencies necessary to handle different tasks. As a business owner, you may need to hire the services of a professional consultant company to provide technical help where necessary. One of the commonly demanding tasks in a business that you may need to outsource services from a third-party consultancy company is in the area of accounting. The skills required to accomplish professional accounting in a small business are too involving in ways that small businesses often prefer working with external consultancy service providers. Working with a hired third-party company to manage your business’s accounting needs is advantageous in several ways. It saves you money: One of the key advantages of working with a consultancy company is that you get to save much on the cost required to get the financial services you need. When hiring an outside financial consultancy and accounting company to handle your business’s accounting needs, you are not mandated to provide the necessary resources such as office space, software, furniture, and other crucial elements that are necessary to facilitate the third-party businesses’ operations. Generally, this is an advantage to your business. The one-time contractual agreement between your company and the third party consultancy reduces the financial burden upon your business. This is as opposed to a situation where you would be required to hire competent accountants and financial experts to handle your business’s financial and accountancy needs. In such a case, your business will be required to provide the necessary resources in addition to providing a competitive salary, benefits, and remuneration to the workers. Saves on time: Hiring the services of a professional consulting company to provide accounting consultancy services to your business gives you an opportunity to save on the time that may be dedicated to other tasks. Accounting is one of the most demanding business activities as it involves compiling accurate reports from thousands of transactions in a business. To be accurate in the accounting reports generated, one must put in much time and resources into accounting operations and calculations. As a business owner, the time that would have gone into performing the accountancy operations in your business may be allotted for other crucial business tasks. Exposure to professional and competent services: Professional businesses such as Gold Coast TW Accounting that offer consultancy services in the area of accounting and finance are normally competent enough to provide reliable and accurate services. Such consultants, as compared to hired accounting workers in your business, prove more resourceful in terms of providing accounting services with competence, confidence, and certainty. The results of the accounting process for your business may also come in handy with crucial interpretations that may help your business to improve on its financial performance in the market. Contractual services: For your business, working with a hired accounting consultancy company is much advantageous, especially since the contractual agreement between your business and the consultant can be altered to your advantage. The contractual agreement between your business and the consultant, in such a case, can be varied such that your business gets the upper hand in terms of the quality of service you receive. In case the contract does not satisfy your business’s needs, you have the upper hand and capacity to terminate the contract at a moment’s notice and seek to hire the services of a more qualified accounting consultant who will meet your specific needs. This is as opposed to instances where you work with employees whose terms of engagement may be too complicated to terminate at once without causing legal repercussions. Increased market exposure: Whenever you hire external financial accountants to handle your business’s accounting operations, you get a significant level of market exposure. The professional accountants come equipped with knowledge on how other businesses in the market have been performing financially. Such knowledge may come in handy in cases where the consultant may provide technical insight on how your business is doing financially as compared to your competitors. Besides, the technical expertise and advice provided by such consultants may also help in other areas of your business management. For example, the accountants may provide insights on how to simplify and increase your networking and market relationships with your customers and other businesses as a strategy of bettering your financial performance. Unbiased results: Hiring the services of a third-party company to manage your accounting needs in your business reduces or eliminates the risk of being exposed to biased accounting services. Professional accountants who provide consultancy services in businesses have zero tolerance for bias. Such bias may otherwise set-in in cases where internal accounting department workers willfully manipulate the accounting records to give you a false impression of good performance in your business. Having reliable results comes in handy as far as the long-term sustainability and survival of your business in the market are concerned. Get the peace of mind: Accounting operations in business are mind-bogglingly challenging to effectively carry out. The challenges associated with successfully carrying out accounting operations internally may deny you, as a business owner or manager, the peace of mind necessary to successfully undertake other tasks. Hiring the services of an external accountant to do such complicated and voluminous accounting tasks reassures you and gives you much time to focus on steering your business forward. Besides, the professional consultants know the precise records that they should go after in your business to do comprehensive and reliable accounting work. In general, hiring an external company to manage accounting tasks in your business gives you a comparative advantage as compared to instances where you work with internally based workers hired in your business’s accounting department. The high-quality accounting services that you receive from such qualified personnel providing accounting consultancy services are crucial to the financial survival of your business. You may also receive an added advantage on the technical advisory you receive from the consultants on how to steer your business to financial success. Read Also: Balancing The Books With Outsourcing – Virtual Receptionists Major Financial Problems That Can Affect A New Business Why You Should Choose To Have An Asset Protection For Your Business Don’t Do The Math: 5 Reasons Outsourced Bookkeeping Services Are The Right Choice For Your Business
READ MOREDetails
8 Factors That Play a Role in How Long-Term Disability Premium Is Calculated
Even if you know how beneficial long-term disability insurance can be, you may not know what to expect as far as rates are concerned. It’s not easy to just throw out a few figures; rates vary from one person to another, and they depend on various factors. Below, we’ll explain some of these factors in greater detail. 1. Your Age As we age, we’re more likely to suffer a long-term disability. Because of that unfortunate fact, insurance rates increase with age. Keep in mind that your cost for long-term disability insurance will never be as low as it is today, and consider purchasing a policy as soon as possible. 2. Your Income In the long-term disability insurance niche, the terminology is a bit misleading; it should really be known as ‘income insurance’. Because it is designed to protect or replace your income, it pays more if you make more. Therefore, rates are higher for those with elevated incomes. In most cases, long-term coverage costs from one to three per cent of your gross yearly income. 3. Whether You Smoke Those who smoke are more likely to become disabled in the future. Not only do they pay more for health and life insurance, but they also pay more for disability coverage as well. If you smoke, consider quitting; if you don’t smoke, don’t start. 4. Your Job As a worker, your long-term disability insurance rate is determined based on your job’s risks or physical demands. For instance, if you’re an office worker, you may pay less than a manual labourer would pay. 5. The Definition of a ‘Disability’ Every policy has a unique definition of the term ‘disability’. Most question whether you can do your previous job, or whether you’re unable to do any work at all. The looser the definition, the more you’ll pay for coverage. A policy covering ‘own occupation’ disabilities will pay out if you can’t do the same work, even if you could hold a different type of job. However, a policy covering the ‘loss of earnings’ will bridge the gap between your pre- and post-disability income. Finally, an ‘any occupation’ policy will only pay out if you cannot perform any type of work. By considering this from Darras Law, you will get the help needed to encourage your insurer to fulfil its obligations. 6. The Potential Payout While your policy’s cost will, of course, depend on your income, not all long-term disability policies pay 100% of what you make. Some pay just a fraction of that amount; the closer the policy comes to a 100% payout, the higher the rate you’ll pay. 7. Elimination Period Length A policy’s elimination period is sometimes referred to as a waiting period. It’s the time that has to pass between the onset of your disability and when the policy starts paying out. A policy may come with a 30-, 60-, or 90-day elimination period, and those with shorter periods will cost more. 8. The Benefit Period A disability insurance policy’s benefit period is the length of time it will pay out following the waiting period. Two- and five-year policies are common, as are lifetime policies and those that pay out until retirement age. The longer the benefit period, the more the policy will cost. In Conclusion Now that you’ve gained an understanding of the factors affecting your long-term disability insurance rates, your next step should be to determine how much coverage you need. While an insurance agent can help you find a new policy, a local disability attorney will help you get the benefits to which you’re already entitled. Read Also: 4 Expert Tips For Finding The Cheapest Insurance For You Your Simple Guide To GAP Insurance Tips For Breaking Into Finance And Banking
READ MOREDetails
Glenn Sandler (CPA) of G.I. Tax Service: What to Do If You Can’t Pay Your Taxes
Things happen, circumstances change, and often, people find themselves unable to pay their taxes. If you find yourself in a similar position, it is important that you understand the gravity of the situation. Continued refusal to pay your taxes could lead the IRS to take it forcibly: by garnishing your wages or putting a lien on your assets. However, according to Glenn Sandler, CPA, founder of G.I. Tax Service, there is no need to panic. If you can’t pay your taxes or you owe an amount in back taxes, you can enter into an agreement with the IRS and leverage one of their several payment options. Here is how to go about it: Ensure that you are in filing/payment compliance: To enter into an agreement with the IRS, you must ensure that all your tax returns are filed. The next step is to keep enough of your wages aside to pay off your taxes for the current year. To do this, you will need to estimate your tax returns for the year and ascertain that the wage percentage that was withheld will suffice. If you don’t know how to file tax returns or make accurate enough estimations, please contact tax professionals that will help you through the process. Review your tax returns: Check your tax returns to ensure that the balance that the IRS expects you to pay is correct. The smart play is to calculate your returns for the years you owe and the 3 years that precede it, i.e., if you owe taxes for a year, review your account for the past 4 years. By doing so, any discrepancy between your calculated returns and your tax balance (according to the IRS) can be remedied. Also, if you incurred any penalties in the past, you can try to get them reduced or removed completely. Enter an agreement with the IRS: Once you have filed your taxes and are back in compliance, and have confirmed that you owe exactly what the IRS says that you do, the next thing to do is enter an agreement with the IRS. The alternatives available include: A brief extension of the payment period. The different installment agreements (monthly payment plans with varying terms and conditions). Postponed payment (known as currently not collectible status) for people in financial hardship. An offer in compromise (OIC); a settlement option that allows taxpayers with special and extenuating circumstances to clear their debt by paying a portion of their total balance. Depending on their individual situations, taxpayers with back taxes are eligible for one of the above. Before deciding on which of them to apply for, evaluate your current assets, calculate how much you can pay per month, and consider the effect of incurring even more interest and penalties. Consult a tax professional: If you don’t know how to do any of the above, your best bet is to reach out to a tax expert at G.I. Tax Service. They can help you file your returns and ensure that you are in compliance, check your tax returns and correct any discrepancies, and apply for one of the IRS’ payments options after considering your financial circumstances. When managed smartly, tax debt does not have to be disruptive. All you have to do is secure a payment plan that works well with your income, and before you know it, the debt is all gone. Read Also: Are Payday Loans Really As Bad As People Say? 7 Simple Tips To Pay Off Your Loans Faster
READ MOREDetails
Millennial Investors Will Drive Bitcoin Price Growth in 2019
Even though the vast majority of price predictions for Bitcoin in 2018 were way off the mark, commentators continue to push their forecasts for Bitcoin in 2019. There is the number of cryptocurrency price predictions out there, and many different factors driving them. Should you listen to them? Always take price predictions with a grain of salt. As an investor, you have to make your own decisions. One of the soundest investment decisions you can make is to never invest money you can’t afford to lose, especially in more speculative investments like cryptocurrency. However, the price gains that you could enjoy are enormous. Millennial Investors Will Drive Bitcoin Price Growth in 2019: How Did Past Predictions Turn Out? At the end of 2017, there was virtually no limit on Bitcoin price predictions. Some pundits claimed that Bitcoin prices would reach $100,000 or higher, and some pretty colorful language has been used to express confidence in Bitcoin going as high half-a-million dollars in 5 years. Unfortunately, past bullish sentiments didn’t come to pass. On the other hand, many are now seeing 2018 as the correction that had to happen for prices could bounce back. With the Nasdaq, the second largest stock exchange in the world, vowing to launch a Bitcoin futures exchange, the cryptocurrency is far from dead. Who’s Driving Bitcoin Investment? The short answer: millennials. Millennial investors know that the factors driving economic growth today aren’t the same as when their parents were saving for their retirements. Millennials want to invest differently than the way their parents have. Millennials are more open than their parents to growing wealth through digital currencies, and it’s through them that products like Bitcoin will reach widespread acceptance as an investment vehicle. 2019 Bitcoin Price Predictions: The real question is, what are the experts predicting for 2019? Depending on who you ask, predictions range from prices hovering near $3,500 to more optimistic predictions that prices will near $10,000 by the end of the year. More optimistic price predictions are grounded in upcoming developments such as the Bakkt futures market and growing interest from institutional investors. Mutual funds getting involved in Bitcoin futures will make a major difference for speculative investors hungry for a new commodity to sink their teeth into. But there are going to be two essential indices that you should keep on eye on: 1) Will cryptocurrencies start to move in different directions? To date, cryptocurrencies have generally moved in tandem, with Bitcoin leading wider market movements. 2) How will stock markets move? There’s a convincing argument to be made that Bitcoin already resembles gold in a number of ways, and gold has a historic pattern of rising prices when stock markets. If the S&P drops, will Bitcoin follow suit? Buy Bitcoin Now: If the 2018 Bitcoin price correction has been good for anything, it’s providing a window of opportunity for new investors. If you want to buy Bitcoin, check out Bitbuy or another cryptocurrency exchange offering low fees and fast ways to buy Bitcoin. A reliable cryptocurrency exchange is your gateway into the world of Bitcoin. If you’re ready to grow your wealth with a new type of commodity, buy Bitcoin today. Read Also: Hiring A Blockchain Developer What To Expect When You Become A Forex Trader
READ MOREDetails
The Importance Of Saving: The Bedrock of a Bright Financial Future
Personal finance goals cannot take off without first putting in place a savings plan. Many people know that it is important to have one and execute it, but for some reason, they still end up not saving. One must be deliberate about it and must also put together a concrete plan which when followed can lead to the achievement of their financial goals. Cost of living is high and there may be times where emergency funds are needed. It is important to note that the savings plan should not feel too constraining or draining. One must balance savings and discretionary funds. So how does one go about creating a savings plan? Here are some considerations: The Importance Of Saving: The Bedrock of a Bright Financial Future: 1. Start by setting a goal: Goals are a major motivating factor where money and saving is concerned. One must identify the end result of their savings. What is the money for? What does the person hope to achieve? This can be a dream holiday, saving for that down payment so one can finally purchase their own home, or even saving for when one retires. Or perhaps, one wishes to go for Lasik surgery and the cost of Lasik in Singapore is not cheap, so they will need time to prepare the funds. Setting a goal drives the saver and also encourages them when they have to delay gratification on other things because achieving the goal becomes the ultimate reward. 2. Separate funds: It is important that savings be put in an account separate from money for day to day expenses. If the money can be in a locked account, this is even better. Unfortunately, life has a way of smelling out “extra” funds, which means that a situation can easily arise which will cause the saver to dip into these funds. Having the money in an account that can’t easily be accessed is thus a great idea. 3. Track expenses and cut back: Personal finance includes tracking one’s expenses so that he or she can determine how they are spending their money, and how much can actually go into savings. Expenses generally fall into 3 categories. Fixed expenses. These include rent or mortgage, loan repayments, insurance premiums and the like. Variable expenses. These may include utility bills, cell phone bills, grocery shopping and the like. Discretionary expenses. Usually, these are expenses that mainly want and not needs. They include money for a cup of java, eating out, clothing, the gym and the like. It is good to make sure that one puts aside some discretionary money to use for enjoyment. Otherwise, a very stringent savings plan will prove impossible to execute and end up abandoned. Once all expenses have been tracked, one can identify areas where spending can be tightened to avail more money for saving. 4. Get rid of all temptation: It is amazing how temptations to spend can crop up out of nowhere. One must mitigate this risk to their savings by coming up with a plan to avoid any temptations. One of the best ways is to spend using cash only. That way, one knows just how much money has left their pocket and is able to limit their spending by stopping once their cash is finished. Of course, this means leaving the house with just the amount that one intends to spend. Another thing to do is to avoid aimlessly walking through shopping malls and to ensure that when going to the supermarket for groceries, they have a complete list that they do not deviate from unless they have carried money from their discretionary allowance. Finding hobbies that do not require spending lots of money can also go a long way in enabling one to save. 5. Make automatic transfer a friend: When it comes to personal finance, one has to execute its savings plan automatically where possible. This means that he or she can have a direct debit set up that pulls out the amount they want to save every month and deposits it in the designated savings account. This way, the saver will be saving first, and then spending based on what is left, instead of working up the willpower to put away money for savings from month to month. From there, it is about adapting to what is left and making sure that the person sticks to their budget. Getting started with saving is the most important thing because from there, one tends to gain the necessary momentum needed. One needs to ensure that the first savings goal is an emergency fund in which there is enough money to take care of 3 to 6 months expenses in the event that they lost their job. This money should be kept in an account where it earns good interest so that it is not lying idle. It is also important that the account be accessible should the need arise. Getting personal finance right is not difficult, but it definitely requires self-discipline. If one can get that right, he or she will be well on his or her way to financial freedom and a brighter future. Read Also: 5 Must-Have Long-Term Goals For A Secure Future How To Select The Best Investment Plan For Your Child?
READ MOREDetails
A Beginner’s Guide In Using MT4 On A Mac
As described by most forex traders, MetaTrader 4 — is by far the top forex trading platform you can use today. The MT4’s trading platform is an all-in-one platform for all of your forex trading needs — from market analysis to all the additional services a forex broker will offer. Although MT4 was initially created for Windows, the application is now also available in Mac. And if you’re wondering what MT4 application to use for your Mac, you can open a meta trader 4 for your mac here. Here’s a beginner’s guide in using the MT4: What’s inside the platform? There are four main panels on the MT4 platform, the navigator, market watch, terminal, and chart panels. Let’s discuss each one and some of their uses. 1. Navigator Panel: This panel enables you to access your trading accounts. This also allows users to create a trial account to test new strategies before trading in the market. Additionally, the navigator panel offers a feature to add various indicators — trends, oscillators, and volumes — on your chart panel. You can even customize your own indicators through MQL4 or MetaQuotes Language 4, the integrated programming language for developing indicators in MT4. 2. Market Watch: This is where you’ll find all the various instruments that are tradable, such as forex pairs, energies, precious metals, and indices; and it also displays the current bid and asking prices alongside its instrument symbol. The market watch panel also allows you to have access to a set of options by clicking a specific instrument symbol. These options are: Chart window - This opens a new chart of your selected instrument. New order - This opens a trade on your selected instrument. Depth of market - This will display the bid and ask prices of a specific instrument. Tick chart - This will display the sales activity of the forex pair. Specification - This will display the contract specifications of a particular instrument — swap rates, contract size, and spreads. 3. Terminal Panel: This panel allows quick access to your trading history and account. The terminal panel displays various tabs along the bottom side of the panel, such as: Trade - Allows you to view your pending orders and open positions. News - This displays the relevant and important trading headlines. Account history - This displays all your executed trades. You can also view your withdrawal, deposits, profits and loss, and credits in this tab. Alerts - This displays the list of alerts and notifications, such as instruments reaching a specified price. Mailbox - This is where you can view the messages sent via this platform. Journal - This tab lets you view your account’s systems messages, such as filled or edited orders, login times, and closed positions. 4. Chart Panel: The chart panel is probably the most recognizable panel of the trading platform, as this panel shows a particular instrument’s price movement. The charts can be viewed as lines, price bars, or candlesticks. And if you’re tracking multiple instruments, this panel can display multiple charts on a single screen. Additionally, this panel also allows you to view the charts in various timeframes, from one minute to one month charts. MetaTrader 4 trading: How to open a currency pair trade: The easiest way to set up a trade in MT4 is to utilize the Order window to place an order on the market by doing these steps: Select the chosen currency pair by clicking the Window tab of your MT4 platform. Select New Window Click New Order on your toolbar, or open the Order window by pressing F9. Enter your chosen trade size in the Volume box. Choose Market Execution in the order type Click sell or buy How to close a trade: When you’re done opening the trade, of course, you’ll eventually need to close the trade. Here’s how to close: Click the Trade tab from Terminal window. Right-click any order you want to close on the Trade tab. Select Close Order Select the Close button on the Order window to close the trade. How to add currency pairs: If there’s a specific currency pair that you’d like to trade, but it’s not visible in the Market Watch window, then follow these steps to add currency pairs: Press CTRL+U to open Symbols In the Symbols window, look for the currency pair you’d like to add. Click the symbol and click Show to add the currency pair. Closing thoughts: Although setting up and placing trades in MT4 is easy, learning the platform’s powerful features and intricacies to fully take advantage of the program can actually take time and effort. May you use this guide as a stepping stone to start trading in the MT4 platform. Read Also: Forex Trading Wisdom: Talk Yourself Out Of Bad Trades What To Expect When You Become A Forex Trader
READ MOREDetails
Forex Trading Wisdom: Talk Yourself Out of Bad Trades
Once you have your trading strategy set up, your charts are in place, you’ve looked over the news and you’re ready to roll into today’s trading, what can you do to keep yourself on the right track? One answer is your broker. A good working relationship with your broker can help you stay in line with your trades. But once in a while, you just get an urge to go above and beyond your own trading style and strategy and throw money into a bad trade. Why would you want to do that and how can you stop yourself? Even though it’s contrary to any strain of trading wisdom, it happens. Here are some of the reasons it might happen to you. Complete Boredom: One of the biggest pitfalls of trading in forex is the boredom that you can experience between trades. As you’ve experienced, it can be painfully boring to sit at your computer waiting for a breakout or for some news event that will trigger some action. Patience is your friend here. Try talking yourself out of making a stupid trade by thinking about what you can do with the money that you’ll most likely be losing. Think of ways you can profit from that money rather than throwing it away on a bad trade that does not fit into your trading style. Since at this point you realize it’s a bad trade, you can think through the consequences and decide against it. Financial Pressure: Many a rotten deal has been the result of some sort of pressure. Pressure to bring in a quick buck due to increasing financial needs is one of those pressures. Keep in mind that trading forex is not like buying a lottery ticket where you throw your money into a cause that is surely going to lose. The odds are against you in either case. This is not a toss the dice game to find out if you win or lose. There is specific logic that goes along with trading to win. You’ve done your homework, developed your strategy and even tested it now. Don’t throw it all to the wind in one dumb trade. Trust yourself, have confidence in your trading strategy and continue to have a winning attitude rather than one of defeat. Goals Out of Reach: If you have set your goals for trading too high, you could be feeling frustrated. Don’t let that frustration lead you to take on a bad trade in hopes of winning. You have the experience under your belt to know that it is very unlikely that you will gain anything from a bad trade. Besides the actual loss in your trading account, it will cost you money in commissions to your broker. Lower your goals so that they are realistic enough that you can meet them, and then gradually increase the bar. In short, trust the hard work you have put into getting this far and don’t throw it away on a bad trade! Read Also: What To Expect When You Become A Forex Trader Top 9 Forex Trading Tips For Beginners That Save You Money
READ MOREDetailsPopular
Technologies For Creating A Startup Idea
20 Feb 2023
How to Download Facebook Videos on Android?
07 Feb 2019
7 Rules of Effective Ecommerce Web Design
28 Jan 2021
