Business Finance Articles

Your First Financial Choice....

Denis Woods

4 Ways to Invest in Silver

Last Updated on By Leave a Comment

When people are diversifying their portfolios, precious metals like silver are one of the options many look at. Silver is a safe haven when times are uncertain. It can serve against inflation, as its value tends to increase over time. Silver is also a metal with industrial uses, which can contribute to its price performance. There are several ways to add some silver to your investing portfolio. Most people look at one or more.

Buy physical coins, rounds, and bars

This is the option that most people think of first when they think of investing in silver. And, it makes sense. Physical silver is an asset that you can see. If you opt to store it in your home, you always have easy access to it. You maintain control.

Silver can be purchased in sizes that range from tiny one-gram bars to one-ounce rounds to the 100 oz silver bar size and larger. You can opt to store it in your home or a safe deposit box, or pay for a space for it in an off-site safe.

While silver bars have many upsides, they can also have drawbacks. Large quantities can be harder to store if you keep them on-site.

Physical silver can be purchased in a number of places. One of the most reliable choices is through companies that specialize in trading precious metals. Highly trusted mints like Scottsdale Mint that pour and mark their own bars are one of the most popular choices. Investors who choose these products can be sure that they are getting the asset that they have paid for.

Many people also purchase from online trading sites such as eBay. When investors look at peer-to-peer options like auction sites or private buys on sites like Reddit, they must do their due diligence. Because of the unregulated nature of these transactions, there is an increased risk of fraud.

Invest in silver ETFs

Exchange traded funds (ETFs) track a sector or commodity, such as silver. By investing in a silver ETC, you can benefit from silver’s prices without owning physical silver. ETFs can be purchased through your broker. Some ETFs are also available directly from the company that manages them.

Some silver investment ETFs hold physical silver. Others invest in silver more indirectly by investing in silver mining.

The largest ETF based on assets under management is the iShares Silver Trust, which manages around $15 billion in assets. Because an ETF invests in a number of companies, they theoretically provide protection through diversification. However, this can sometimes mean not seeing the same gains that someone focused on a single asset might.

Buy mining stocks

Investors also have the option of buying stock in individual mining companies. At the current time, there are very few companies that only mine silver. Most mining companies now focus on base metals instead. In fact, about 70% of silver production is now a byproduct of mining for base metals.

Even though silver is often now a byproduct of other mining, people who buy into mining concerns can still benefit from increases in the price of silver.

Buy silver futures.

Silver futures allow investors to make money by betting on the price of silver rising or falling. Many advanced investors like futures because of the high amount of leverage that is available. They have to put up very little of their own capital to gain a relatively part position.

However, before investing in futures, make sure you understand this vehicle thoroughly. The leverage in a contract can harm an investor as much as it helps. Investors may have to put down more money if the market moves in a way that they did not expect. If a position is closed out, the investor can get stuck with a loss. This is an avenue that is advisable only for those with a high risk tolerance.

Summing Up

There’s a lot to find attractive with silver. It’s a store of value, an inflation hedge, and even an alternative currency, when necessary. The multiple ways to put this sort of investment into your portfolio also make it appealing to some investors.

Which is the best way to add silver to your holdings will depend largely on your own preferences and circumstances. Take some time to research your options. Run some numbers to predict which will be the best choice for you. By taking the time to study, you can find just the right way to add the right investments for your future and your peace of mind.

Why Do Businessmen Open Savings Accounts for Their Businesses?

Last Updated on By Leave a Comment

As we all know, almost all companies have their business accounts to have an overview of their company financial performance, the incoming and outgoing remittances… But what about savings accounts? What roles do savings accounts take in the success of enterprise financial management? Business owners that are using cryptocurrency in their transactions may wonder if opening a savings account for crypto businesses is necessary at all.

What is the importance of having it for the Crypto Business? Why?

The need for Savings accounts

There are a diversity of reasons that convince people in business to establish a savings account for their own company:

  1. For speculative reasons

We all agree that doing business is full of rises and falls, so stocking up on your assets and money is always a wise choice. If economic recession, drastic market changes, and company downturn, you may find this savings a safety net when the revenue turns terrible. You still have to pay expenses like employees’ paychecks, premises’ rents, utility expenses, etc…

Even when your company is still performing brilliantly, an on-the-side budget sometimes is still of necessity once your transactional business account has been out of credits due to the regularly automated transfers.

  1. Company expansion

Ambitious entrepreneurs want their enterprises to lead the market, keep on expanding their influence and customer base. In this case, accruing funds for further steps in the future is in need. If you want to open more opportunities to your company, it doesn’t mean that you have to get into debt. Putting aside a budget for your new projects is a very cautious strategy for the development of your business.

  1. Regular Interest

Savings accounts are always known to provide the account owners with a higher percentage of interest than the accounts used for transactions. Especially for Bitcoin, Ethereum,… holders, a savings account promises to return an outstandingly high interest rate compared to a conventional bank savings account.

  1. Insulating money against cyber frauds

A transactional account is more susceptible to online phishing, cybercriminals’ swindles than a savings account. Transferring money from the account can accidentally cause data breaches if the users are not vigilant enough about getting their information highly protected.

Crypto Business savings account

So why should a business save its money in Cryptocurrency and keep a savings account? Some compelling reasons back up the idea:

Extremely high interest

Putting money in a bank has been expected as a means of speculation both for individuals and companies. While it is considered relatively safe, many business holders still stake their money in the stocks and bonds market. Banks’ interest to bank account owners is relatively low (about 0,1% to 0,6% a year). For entrepreneurs that want to take adventures and make their businesses big in a short time, it is not enough. Bitcoin takes the world by storm when on average, crypto providers offer interest rates from above 0,6% to 40%.

The interest rate is determined by a range of factors such as savings terms the currency,…

Tempting investment yield

Ever since its introduction into the financial market, Bitcoin, one of the most widely-favored digital virtual coins, has swung drastically in value. Although it has been through plunges and surges a lot, considering its 2015 value equivalent to 300$ a coin and its present value as over 30,000 a cash, the escalation in cryptocurrency price and the growing fancy people have given to the Blockchain-backed currency is pretty evident.

Many investors have grasped the opportunities to diversify their investment portfolio by joining crypto exchanges, especially when crypto exchanges can sometimes bring in investment yields that are even more attractive than their amounts of return from money put in stocks and bonds.

Crypto proliferation

Virtual money has not ceased to gain more and more attention from investors, businesses, and financial companies. A myriad of Defi platform and digital wallet providers have been born, followed by a range of initiatives and upgraded tools that help to refine Crypto exchanges and satisfy the Crypto fundraisers and holders. Along with that, several big names like Microsoft, Paypal, Xbox have accepted virtual money in transactions with their customers. It is predicted that Bitcoin and other Cryptocurrencies will be expanding their influence more and more strongly in the following decades.

As the Crypto market is getting more and more updated with advanced technology, protocols, and algorithms, the prospects of its booming and going mainstream worldwide are entirely feasible. Hence, investing in a Crypto savings account is not a bad idea because it seems that Crypto will develop more and more strongly shortly.

Pros and Cons

Virtual coins have a variety of solid points that tempt business owners to keep their savings account in these exchange currencies, but there are some glitches that we should watch out for when speculating on Crypto tokens.

Pros

  • Promise high-interest income.
  • It is expected to increase drastically in value in the near period.
  • Speculation on Bitcoin can bring a source of high income regularly to the company.

Cons

  • Sudden changes in the value of Crypto tokens may pose a threat to money savings.
  • Not FDIC-insured. A bank, a government does not regulate it, and of course, you can not get insurance compensation from them if your platform provider is a swindler or goes bankrupt.

The bottom line

The theory of Cryptocurrency and the high annual percentage yield that crypto providers offer sound fascinating, and a high return source of income absolutely can come to you if you already have an insight into crypto exchanges and know all about how it works how to make profits from it. However, if you are still not so sure about all the concepts of Blockchain, Bitcoins keeping a savings account in a conventional bank would be a better choice for your company until you comprehend digital virtual coin exchanges.

A business banking account is never too small for your company, and there are numerous reasons to open one. Creating a business bank account takes time, but it only requires a minor change in how you run your business. Establish good business financial habits by keeping your personal and business finances separate from the start. This will make record-keeping, accounting, filing taxes, and applying for business credit as simple as possible as your business grows and your financial needs expand.

Interest Rates for Hard Money Loans

Last Updated on By Leave a Comment

A real estate investor’s best friend is hard money loans. As trite as it may sound, the statement holds true. For real estate investors wishing to complement their investment deals, these loans provide a steady supply of income.

Whether an investor needs to rapidly close on an undervalued property or fix it up for a potential buyer, a hard money loan is a crucial tool to have in one’s toolbox. Hard money loans, like any other type of loan, come with fees. Understanding them is crucial to maximizing a real estate investor’s most valuable capital stream. This article will break down hard money loans and their potential interest rates. 

What are Hard Money Loans?

A hard money loan is a secured loan backed by real estate. Hard money loans are often known as “loans of last resort” or “bridge loans.” These loans are typically employed in real estate transactions, and the lenders are usually individuals or businesses rather than banks. Overall, a hard money loan is a short-term loan that allows you to raise money rapidly at a greater cost and with a lower LTV ratio. The funding time frame for hard money loans is shorter because they rely on collateral rather than the applicant’s financial situation. Hard money loan terms are frequently negotiable between the lender and the borrower. The most common kind of collateral for these loans is real estate.

The terms of hard money loans are primarily determined by the value of the property used as collateral, rather than the borrower’s creditworthiness. Hard money lenders are frequently private individuals or companies who find value in this type of potentially dangerous undertaking since regular lenders, such as banks, do not issue hard money loans. Property flippers may seek hard money loans if they intend to refurbish and resell the real estate used as security for the loan within a year, if not sooner. The increased cost of a hard money loan is countered by the borrower’s intention to pay it off quickly—most hard money loans are for one to three years—and some of the additional benefits they provide.

Requirements for Hard Money Loans 

  1. Borrower qualification 

While some lenders are asset-based, the majority of them are also concerned with how the borrower appears on paper. The borrower’s liquid reserves and creditworthiness are two key markers of how likely they are to repay the loan on time. Now, the particular factors used by lenders to determine the amount of money required in the bank or a specific credit score vary per lender, so it’s critical to be aware of this early on in the process.

  1. A worthwhile deal

Lenders in this group are business people that want to make the most money possible with each loan they make. The lender and the borrower are on the same page because the lender wants the borrower to succeed so that they can make money and repay the loan on time. The lender will initially check to see if the borrower meets the conditions they’ve set. After they will evaluate the contract to see if it’s feasible before approving the loan request. In other words, once the lender is convinced that the property and agreement make sense, the odds of getting authorized increase.

If you’re thinking about taking out a hard money loan, make sure to calculate the profit margin by comparing the property’s worth to the repair expenditures. Be sure the profit margin is big enough to not only pay off the loan but also make a profit, whether from pure profit from selling to an end buyer or cash flow from renting.

  1. Down payments 

Although not all lenders demand a down payment, many do. Yes, the loan will cover the majority of the buying price but the down payment demonstrates your dedication to the project. It also aids the lender in risk mitigation. After all, they are putting a lot of money into the project, so it’s only right that the investor shares in the risk by putting some of their own money into it as well. Oftentimes the lender will require some type of collateral, such as origination points, admin fees, doc fees, and other such conditions.

Hard Money Loan Rates 

The procedures and paperwork of hard money loans are frequently less severe than those of a traditional loan. Hard money loan rates are clear within days rather than weeks, and they can infuse more money into a transaction, requiring the borrower to put less money down. While this is one of the most appealing features of hard money loans, it is also one of their disadvantages. Granting loans with fewer underwriting standards and investing more money on a deal exposes the lender to greater risk.

As a result, in order to offset the risks, higher interest rates are imposed. Although these rates fluctuate, the average hard money loan interest rate according to Bankrate is 11-13%. These interest rates do vary, depending on the lender it may be anywhere between 6% to 15% annually.

The interest rates on hard money loans can be decreased by:

  • Improve Your Personal Credit: Financial literacy is measured by a good credit score. Improve your credit score months before you apply so the lender may be confident there will be no defaults.
  • With a hard money lender, complete and pay off various loans: To aim for less risk, the better track record one has with the lender, the more open-minded they will be to reducing the interest rate or original fee.
  • Increase Your Down Payment: When a lender supports a transaction at a lower Loan to Value Ratio, a down payment helps the lender lessen the risks involved with giving out loans to individuals (LTV). Increasing the down payment shows that the borrower is serious about the project and will be less likely to default.

Pros and Cons of Hard Money Loans

Pros: When compared to applying for a mortgage or other traditional loan through a bank, the approval procedure is typically a lot faster. Since the lender is focused on collateral rather than an applicant’s financial situation, the private investors who fund the hard money loan can make decisions faster. For example, lenders will spend less time looking at a loan application to verify income and review financial documents. The process will be significantly easier if the borrower already has a relationship with the lender.

If the borrower defaults, hard loan investors may have a better value and opportunity to resell the property themselves, thus they are also less concerned about receiving payment.

Cons: Hard money loans often have lower LTV ratios than standard loans, ranging from 50 to 70 percent (vs. 80 percent for regular mortgages), because the property itself serves as the only guarantee against default. Keep in mind it can go higher if the borrower is an experienced flipper.

In addition, interest rates are typically high. The interest rates for hard money loans can be considerably higher than those on subprime loans. The average interest rate for a hard money loan in the United States is 11.25 percent, with prices ranging from 7.5 percent to 15 percent.

The last disadvantage is that, due to regulatory scrutiny and compliance restrictions, hard loan lenders may refuse to offer finance for an owner-occupied property.

How to Improve Your Chances of Being Approved a Cash Advance

Last Updated on By Leave a Comment

When you need to borrow money in an emergency, you want to see that you’re approved as soon as possible. Anything that delays your approval—or rejects it outright—can throw your finances in a tailspin.

So, what can you do to boost your chances of getting approved for a cash advance, installment loan, or line of credit? While you can never absolutely guarantee approval, these three things can put the odds in your favor.

Understand How Your Credit Score Factors into Eligibility

Your credit score is a significant factor in borrowing money. Generally speaking, a high credit score is favorable for your approval—most financial institutions are willing to grant you funds when you can show off a high score.

Despite the pandemic, Experian, one of the major credit reporting agencies, reports the average US credit score increased in 2020. Every state saw a boost in their averages, but these increases weren’t equal.

Washington, DC experienced the biggest spike of 10 points, while Texas was middle of the road with 8 points. North Dakota, meanwhile, reported the smallest change of 3 points.

Not everyone has good credit, however. Can you still borrow when your score is below average? Yes, some financial institutions are willing to work with people with bad credit, although you may have to pay high rates and fees.

Consider Location — Even When Borrowing Online

Most personal loans originate online, so there’s a good chance you’ll be opening your laptop or mobile phone to borrow money. When you do, look at where your money is coming from. Your lender has to be accredited to lend money in your state before they can legally offer cash advances.

This may not always be apparent. The Internet makes it possible to access websites from all around the world, so you could feasibly get pretty far into the research stage of a lender only to realize they service the UK.

If you live in Texas, this is a frustrating problem. You’ll have to scrap your research and refocus on installment loans or lines of credit from a financial institution accredited in Texas. Simply making this switch will improve your chances. After all, you can at least apply to get an installment loan online in Texas, but you probably won’t get very far into your application with that lender from the UK.

Clean Up Your Finances

This final yet integral step is most helpful if you’re sporting a less-than-stellar credit score—although it may be hard to achieve if you need to borrow money urgently. Building credit history takes time.

But just because you can’t see results today doesn’t mean you shouldn’t act on it now. Figure out how you can pay bills on time and keep your credit card usage low. These are two of the biggest factors influencing your score.

Paying down other debt is another step in the right direction. While your debt load may not factor into your credit history, it may influence a lender’s decision if you have deep debt that surpasses your income.

Bottom Line

Approval is never a guarantee, but you can improve your chances by following this advice. These tips will help you figure out whether you fit a financial institution’s eligibility requirements.

Why Ethereum is The Best Blockchain for Your Business (2021)

Last Updated on By Leave a Comment

Ethereum is a decentralized blockchain network capable of executing smart contracts. Lately, it has been at the center of discussions on crypto forums and news because of its price surge. As of today, Ethereum’s market cap is $238.98 billion, second only to Bitcoin.

Even though it has several things in common with Bitcoin, Ethereum is significantly more powerful. It enables businesses to use blockchain technology for improving transactional efficiency. Not just that, Ethereum allows the involved parties to create a smart contract that can store the rules and execution process for the transaction as well.

What Makes Ethereum Powerful?

Before businesses go ahead and start to buy Ethereum, they should educate themselves about what makes Ethereum powerful. One of the most appealing features of the Ethereum blockchain for businesses is its ability to execute smart contracts.

Smart contracts are decentralized applications (dApps) with distinct rules of ownership and transaction formats. Once the smart contract executes all transactions and agreements, it subsequently starts a compliance check based on the rules that the creators have encoded into the smart contract.

Imagine being able to execute contracts for literally anything that two parties have agreed upon, regardless of the location of the parties. It’s fairly safe to assume that every business would find this convenient.

This is what makes Ethereum a powerful tool for businesses. Businesses can use Ethereum to build a wide range of decentralized applications. Major sectors such as banking, public and private institutions, and governments have been keen on developing blockchain technology, though some governments are slightly more skeptical than others.

Why Businesses and Enterprises May Need Ethereum

Investors chase gains. However, enterprises and businesses have a very different set of objectives when buying cryptocurrencies. Rather than focusing on gains, businesses need to focus on stability, accountability, and security. Businesses are answerable to customers as well as regulators so unless they’re 100% confident about it, they can’t take the plunge.

A business’s requirements may be categorized as follows:

Security

The data contained in the smart contract and the associated transaction(s) such as the rate, quantity, product ID, and other information must be accessible only to authorized participants. For instance, the transport company doesn’t need to know the price of the contents, but only the contents of the package.

Capacity

The larger the business, the more diverse their transactions. These diverse transactions could be in large volumes, too. Therefore, businesses need a technological infrastructure that has adequate capacity to process hundreds of transactions each second and power through sudden spikes in the transaction load.

Certainty

Businesses may need to transfer a large sum of money for each transaction. Naturally, they’d be uncomfortable making the transfer unless they have complete certainty regarding the transaction’s outcome.

Rationale for Considering Ethereum

Businesses are becoming more reliant on technology each day, and the trend will likely continue for the foreseeable future. Some businesses are also turning to digital currencies. A cryptocurrency that businesses are particularly attracted to is Ether. This is mostly because of the potential of the Ethereum blockchain.

Ethereum was birthed as a result of a valid skepticism of centralized control. Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum’s creator, noticed that Bitcoin’s blockchain design and protocol were two things that made it potent. While Ethereum draws on Bitcoin’s appeal as a digital currency, it goes much beyond.

Ethereum offers various benefits, especially for businesses, that can simplify their transactions while providing better security. What’s more, Ethereum-based smart contracts offer ample utility for businesses. Businesses have already started to incorporate these technologies into their operations, and more are joining the club every day.

It won’t be long before the use of blockchain technology becomes non-negotiable for businesses. It offers benefits not just to the businesses, but to their customers as well. If a customer has to choose between a business that accepts Ethereum versus one that doesn’t – guess who the customer will buy from?

Benefits of Ethereum for Businesses

Following are the benefits that Ethereum offers businesses in 2021.

1.      Smart Contracts save time and money

Smart contracts are undeniably the biggest benefit that businesses get out of using the Ethereum blockchain. Sending paper contracts to involved parties can often take a few days depending on their location. If a party to the contract is overseas, the business may need to send an executive, even though there is a possibility that the party may not even accept the contract.

Saving Time and money

This costs the business plenty of time and money. These valuable resources can be saved if businesses use Ethereum-based smart contracts. Smart contracts can automate the agreements and save resources that can be used in other productive areas of the business.

In addition to automating agreements and transactions, smart contracts also make them efficient and secure. The parties may agree to automate the execution of the contract as they choose, i.e., at an agreed-upon time or after the happening of an event.

2.      Quicker and cheaper transactions

Businesses go to great extents to minimize their costs, and justifiably so. After all, money makes the world go round. Since profit is a business’s primary goal, it makes sense to seek avenues that can reduce costs for the business.

Enter ETH. Ether, the Ethereum blockchain’s native coin, helps businesses reduce their transaction costs. Conventional methods such as bank transfers and PayPal can take a significant chunk out of the business’s revenues if payments are largely received through these channels. However, ETH charges considerably lower fees on transactions, which could translate to significant savings.

What’s more, businesses often hold large amounts of cash if they have managed to negotiate lenient credit terms with their suppliers. This cash could be critical for their net working capital position or maintaining enough liquidity depending on which industry they operate in. Especially during times when cash is tight, even 3 days’ worth of revenue could certainly come in handy.

However, bank transfers and PayPal transactions may take 2–3 days to complete, which means businesses couldn’t hold that cash during those 3 days. Fortunately, ETH transactions are quick and can be processed within minutes, earning businesses significant money.

3.      Eliminates foreign currency risk

Businesses often worry about exchange rate fluctuations when selling products or services overseas for a fairly large amount. To add to the risk of fluctuation, banks also charge a foreign currency conversion fee. If only there was a better option.

Currency

Well, ETH certainly offers a good deal here as well. Businesses have gone digital and are now capable, more than ever before, of doing business worldwide. Businesses that are open to receiving payments in ETH can stop worrying about hefty conversion fees and the nightmarish currency fluctuations in the forex market.

Moreover, the customer’s bank may charge them a fee as well. If customers can find a business that accepts ETH and saves them money, they may be encouraged to purchase from that business rather than anywhere else.

4.      Interoperability

Businesses can use Ethereum’s plug-and-play feature for building private or permissioned blockchain networks. Subsequently, the private blockchain solution may be plugged into the public Ethereum mainnet.

The public blockchain is giant and active, which means such integration will provide ample benefits. In essence, the business’s blockchain can stay constantly updated, thanks to Ethereum’s interoperability. This gives businesses various capabilities such as dApps, constant upgrades and developments, worldwide expansion, and a massive user network.

5.      Programmable blockchain

Ethereum, the world’s first programmable blockchain, is armed with Turing-complete language. A Turing-complete system is a system within which the executed programs will, in theory, always solve a computation problem. This makes the execution of smart contracts smooth and frees up valuable resources, particularly time, for the business.

6.      Reliability

Over the past decade, hundreds of cryptocurrencies emerged and withered. This is inherent to their nature. However, this can be tackled with a clear course of action, which Ethereum has. Ethereum’s strong history adds plenty of credibility to the blockchain network.

Vitalik released a whitepaper in 2013 when Ethereum didn’t even exist, and another whitepaper in 2015. These collaterals defined a laser-focused vision and the guidelines to achieve Ethereum’s objectives such as scalability and optimization of the blockchain to ensure its relevance as the blockchain of the future.

7.      Massive and supportive community

Ethereum blockchain proudly brags one of the biggest developer communities that contributes significantly to the blockchain’s growth by developing the blockchain protocol. The project is backed by both small and large-sized companies. What’s more, Hyperledger and Ethereum Enterprise Alliance extend their full support for monitoring and contributing to the blockchain’s development.

The Way Forward for Ethereum

In addition to Ethereum’s highly secure and decentralized blockchain, it is also used for developing dApps. DApps can be extremely wide in their scope and offer utility to almost any industry we know today. Plus, they allow businesses to experiment on the platform by themselves. Industries across the globe are starting to recognize these benefits.

Governments and the private sector alike are heavily investing in blockchain technology, too. In the future, Ethereum will make transactions more secure for both businesses and customers, and offer a much wider range of benefits than any traditional technology. Therefore, businesses that want to use blockchain technology should certainly consider Ethereum.

Bad Credit History? Improve yours to secure car finance

Last Updated on By Leave a Comment

Your credit history will affect every aspect of your financial future. However, keeping your credit in good standing can be difficult from time to time.

No matter the reasons for your bad credit history, there are ways to improve it to secure the finance you need when getting a new car.

Finding finance with a bad credit history

If you have a bad credit history, you might be concerned about how to get car finance. Once you have assessed your financial situation, you might be able to access bad credit car finance.

There are things you can do to improve your chances of receiving the finance you need. We take a look at the top tips to improve your credit history below.

Tips to improve your credit history

Check your credit score and report

First, you need to understand your credit history. Obtain your credit report and score, as it will help you assess your credit history and where to make improvements.

Pay your bills on time

Consistently paying all your debts on time will help you improve your credit history and get car finance. Lenders will want to see that you are reliable in making repayments.

Pay off credit card debt

The more credit card debt you pay off, the better your credit history will be. Ideally, try to pay off above the minimum every month to clear your debt quickly.

Avoid applying for new credit

It can be tempting to apply for new credit to pay for old credit. Avoid doing this as it will continue to harm your credit history. Especially if you get rejected for multiple lines of credit.

Dispute inaccuracies on your report

Once you have assessed your credit report, make sure you report any inaccuracies with the credit score provider. You can then work to get false credit information removed from your report.

Stick to a savings plan

When applying for finance, a larger down payment can improve your chances of being approved. Make a savings plan and stick to it. You can then use your savings as a deposit or to pay off bad debt.

Get on the electoral register

Joining and staying on the electoral register can improve your credit score significantly. This is an easy step to take as it doesn’t take long to register on your local electoral roll.

PPP Data Reveals What Businesses Needed Funds For

Last Updated on By Leave a Comment

When the pandemic first hit in 2020, small businesses were inconvenienced. Small businesses started letting go of their employees, struggling to keep their doors open and keeping their lights on. The small business administration sought a way out.

They partnered with the US Treasury Department and launched the Paycheck Protection Program in April 2020. The program loans were offered to approved businesses through lenders to give small incentives to keep their employees throughout the pandemic.

According to Lantern by SoFi, “PPP loans may be forgivable if they meet certain qualifications pertaining to how funds are used.” The terms were that the loan was spent to pay the employees and keep the workforce. In the first round of the program, about 85% of the qualified recipients received $150,000 or less.

After the program was closed in august 2020, many businesses continued to struggle. Fortunately, Congress passed the 2021 Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, which saw a massive $659 billion set aside to help small businesses maintain their workforce.

Who Can Get the PPP Loan?

Since Congress approved a new round of funding, many people are asking who can qualify to get a PPP loan. According to PPP loan data, real estate and construction businesses made up the largest percentage of PPP applicants. If your business did not receive the first round of funding and it needs it, the government is encouraging you to apply for the loan if you are not enrolled.

If your business received a loan in the first round, you can also apply for a new loan if your business is not out of the woods yet. Seasonal businesses like hotels and restaurants can receive additional benefits. In the second round, the businesses can receive a PPP loan 3.5 times more than that in the first round of PPP loans. The multiplier in the first round of loans was 2.5.

PPP loans are meant for only small businesses and not any publicly traded businesses. The SBA has defined these small businesses as the ones that have not more than 500 employees or companies with 300 employees or less looking for a second round of funding.

Congress has defined the small businesses that qualify for PPP loans at this round of the program. In the first round, there were many questions about the businesses that qualify. The businesses that qualify with their structures include:

  • S-corps
  • C-corps
  • LLCs
  • Private nonprofit businesses
  • Faith-based organizations
  • Tribal groups
  • Veteran groups
  • 501(c)(3) nonprofits
  • 501(c)(6) organizations
  • Independent contractors

What Your Small Business Needs to Qualify

Beyond your business structure, a few key details will be asked for qualifying for the loan.

  • How much you incur in payroll and proof. (IRS form 941)
  • Basic business information like name tax ID number, and address
  • Some background information about your business including the business owner, any existing loans, and citizenship information.
  • Business Bank statements
  • Your driver’s license
  • A nullified business check for your account information.

If you are applying for the second round of funding, your business must not have more than 300 employees. You should have also used up all the money you received in the first loan. You must also prove that your business has suffered a 25% revenue loss in any quarter of 2020 if compared to the same quarter in 2019

A Quick Guide to 401(K) Rollovers

Last Updated on By Leave a Comment

A 401(K) rollover is transferring funds from one retirement plan to another. If you receive a distribution from your retirement plan, you are given a 60-day time limit to roll it over to an IRA or to a new plan, from the day the distribution is given to you.

This quick guide will tell you everything you need to know about rolling over your 401k plan including how it works, when to do it, and the advantages of rolling it over.

How Does a 401k Rollover Work?

If you choose to roll over your 401(K) plan, you have 4 options to choose from. Your plan administrator can help you decide which option is right for you. The four options that you have are:

  1. Leaving it the way it is
  2. Cashing the plan out
  3. Rolling it over in an IRA traditional and/or Roth IRA
  4. Transferring it to a new plan(if applicable)

The way the 401(K) rollover process works is by first deciding the type of account that you want. You have the option of transferring to your new employer’s retirement plan or moving your funds into an IRA. If you decide to create an IRA, you need to either open an IRA at a bank or through a brokerage firm. If you choose to roll your money over into a Roth IRA, you will need to roll it over to an IRA first and then you can transfer that to a Roth IRA.

After opening your account you will need to begin the rollover process by completing the necessary paperwork and funding your new account. You will need to get with your new plan administrator, bank, or brokerage firm to find out what is needed to complete the rollover process.

Before beginning the Rollover Gold IRA process, you can elect to have a direct rollover from your old account to your new account. This means that the funds will not touch your hands like they would in an indirect rollover and you will avoid a possible early distribution penalty and 20% tax withholding.

When is 401(K) Rollovers Necessary?

There are several reasons why an individual may elect to roll over their 401(K) plan. The most common reason is the termination of employment(voluntary or involuntary). However, some people will roll over their 401(K) plan when they are about to retire or when they want to consolidate their retirement plans instead of having multiple 401(K) accounts.

There are some people that will roll over their 401(K) into an IRA to take advantage of more investment options. IRAs do not have limitations on moving investments around and they are known to have lower fees.

Benefits of Rollovers

If you cash out your 401(K) you face taxes and penalties that can be avoided by rolling over your distribution. There are other benefits with 401(K) rollovers depending on the rollover option you select.

According to the IRS, distributions are taxable and subject to a mandatory 20% withholding if they are not rolled over into a new qualifying plan within 60 days from the date of distribution. In addition to this, if you are under the age of 59; you will be taxed an extra 10% for early distributions.

If you keep your retirement assets in a plan with a former employer, you don’t have to do anything and you do not have to pay taxes until you withdraw the funds. If you transfer distributions into a new 401(K), you not only avoid tax penalties, your 401(K) contributions and assets are protected against creditors and you can borrow against your assets if you are ever in a financial bind. 401(K) rollovers to an IRA opens the door to a wider selection of investment options versus a 401(K) plan.

Bottom Line

After reading this guide, you should have a better understanding of how 401(K) rollovers work. The main thing to remember is that you have a 60-day window to decide on how you want to handle your distribution before it becomes taxable. If you are undecided on the rollover option that you want, you can always leave some of the funds in your previous account and transfer the remaining funds in a new 401(K) or IRA.

Things to know before Investing in Growth Stocks 2021

Last Updated on By Leave a Comment

Growth stocks may be a brilliant method of building a life-changing fortune in the stock market. Of course, knowing which growth stocks to purchase and when is vital.

Here’s a quick tutorial on growth investing to get you started. You’ll be able to organise your portfolio for long-term success with growth stocks using these tools and methods.

What are Growth Stocks?

Companies that raise their sales and earnings at a quicker rate than the average market are known as growth stocks. Growth investing, on the other hand, entails more than just choosing firms that are rising in value when looking for the best shares to buy.

A growth company has produced an innovative product or service that is gaining market share in existing markets, expanding into new markets, or even launching new industries.

Businesses that can develop faster than the market average over extended periods of time are rewarded by the market, resulting in handsome returns for shareholders. And the higher the rewards, the quicker they rise.

In terms of measures like price-to-earnings, price-to-sales, and price-to-free-cash-flow ratios, high-growth companies, unlike value stocks, tend to be more priced than the average stock.

Despite their high price tags, the top growth stocks may still provide investors with fortune-making returns when they realize their incredible growth potential.

Finding Growth stocks

To find the ideal growth stocks, you’ll need to identify which firms are best positioned to profit from long-term market trends. Companies that can profit from long-term trends might grow sales and earnings for many years, building wealth for their shareholders in the process.

Many patterns that were already well established were amplified by the coronavirus pandemic.

The goal is to invest as soon as possible in these sorts of trends and businesses. The earlier you get in, the more money you can make. The most prominent trends, on the other hand, might endure for years, even decades, giving you plenty of opportunity to claim your part of the riches they generate.

It’s also critical to invest in fast-growing firms with significant competitive advantages. Otherwise, their competitors may overtake them, and their expansion may be short-lived.

Some competitive advantages include

Scale advantages – Another significant advantage is size. Amazon is an excellent example of this since its vast worldwide fulfillment network will be exceedingly tough for smaller competitors to match.

Network effect – Facebook is a good illustration of this. Each new member that joins its social media platform increases the value of the platform for other users. New entrants may find it difficult to dislodge the existing market share leader due to network effects, and Facebook’s more than 2.5 billion members make it unlikely that a new social media company would do better.

Finally, you’ll want to invest in companies that have massive addressable markets and extensive growth runways ahead of them. Industry studies from research organizations like Gartner and eMarketer may be quite useful in this respect, since they give estimations of industry sizes, growth predictions, and market share data.

The bigger the potential, the bigger the company can become. And the sooner it is in its growth cycle, the longer it can keep growing at a rapid pace.

4 Financing Options For Your Commercial HVAC System

Last Updated on By Leave a Comment

HVAC is an acronym for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning technology. As its name suggests, an HVAC system heats and cools enclosed spaces. In commercial establishments, HVAC systems contribute to the comfort of workers and clients alike in larger rooms such as restaurants and large businesses. In this case, the equipment is usually more powerful and involves several parts to operate efficiently. 

Major Parts of The Commercial HVAC System

The main parts of the industrial HVAC system include the following:

Purchasing a commercial HVAC system is costly, and the process of acquiring one can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t have too much money to spare. Though that may be the case, some enterprises can’t efficiently operate without this heating and cooling system. So, if you don’t have enough money to purchase one, you need to weigh other financing options.

This informative article provides detailed financial options to help you pay for HVAC systems. Your primary options include the following:

Personal Loans

This is usually the fastest and most affordable way to fund your commercial HVAC system. Before applying for a personal loan, familiarize yourself with these factors:

The application procedure of these loans involves an evaluation of one’s income, employment type, and credit. Many personal loans are usually unsecured, and every lender has their regulations. As a result, it’s a noble idea to visit several lenders. This allows one to weigh various policies and secure the most convenient financial offer.

Credit Card Financing

This is another funding option for your commercial HVAC system. However, your credit limit needs to be high enough. If you want to offset your balance quickly, get miles and cashback, evade interest charges, or even receive reward points, credit card financing is the ideal plan for you. 

On the contrary, if you’re unsure about your ability to clear the balance promptly, you’re better off with another financial option. This is because you’ll have to deal with high interest rates. At the end of the payment, you’ll have to shell out a considerable amount of money.

Credit cards are fairly easy to obtain. They’re considered more flexible compared to loans since they don’t have fixed repayment schedules.  An outstanding way to benefit from a credit card is to obtain a new one, offering a 0% interest rate in the introductory period. The longer the promotional time, the better. This will help you evade interest rates as long as you’ll pay for the industrial HVAC system before the end of the promotional period. 

Manufacturer’s HVAC Financing Option

There are HVAC appliance manufacturers, retailers, and dealers who give in-house funding for their goods on-site. The programs usually involve credit cards or personal loans given via the retailer or manufacturer.

Credit cards will involve in-person discussions at the bank. This is usually time-consuming, though, as the money isn’t processed immediately. At times, you’ll have to wait longer than you anticipated.

Personal lenders in this category are usually quick and require minimum requirements. The loan may be approved on the same day of application. After a few days, you can already access your money.

Home Equity Financing

When the existing demand value on your house outperforms the balance of your mortgage, then you might qualify for equity financing. This is a very convenient method for paying for your commercial HVAC system.

The home equity funding option offers low-interest charges compared to personal loans and credit cards. This is because the loan is secured by one’s home. Nevertheless, should you fail to make monthly payments as expected, your house risks foreclosure. Borrowing money against one’s home equity can be done in the following ways: 

Home Equity Loan

When one’s house is worth more than what they owe it for, they can apply for a home equity loan. It’s a loan secured by one’s home equity. This loan is also referred to as a second mortgage.

You’ll receive a lump sum amount and pay interest on the total loan at the beginning. Charges on this loan are usually lower compared to unsecured loans, as your home is utilized as collateral. In addition, the interest you pay may be taxed. This is applicable when you use the loan to improve, build, or buy your home. When the loan is used for personal expenses, it isn’t taxed. 

Home Equity Line of Credit

This is identical to using a credit card because you’ll be given a credit line, which means that you borrow according to the limit set. The credit line is usually determined by the following:

The interest charges are usually low for this option compared to unsecured loans. This is because your home is used as security. This is beneficial as it helps you finance your commercial HVAC systems. However, when you’re unable to make timely payments, you may end up losing your home.

Cash-out Refinance

Instead of paying for a second mortgage to finance your commercial system, the current mortgage is usually refinanced. This gives you an opportunity to get an additional loan, but for a higher amount. The bad news is that there are hidden fees and costs for a new mortgage. As a result, it’s usually costly in comparison to a home equity loan.

Takeaway

To sum up, though an HVAC system is vital for your enterprise, it’s costly. There are maintenance, installation, and repair charges to consider. These systems call for customization so that they can suit your office demands. For these reasons, you should weigh the financial options discussed above to choose one that will pay for your industrial HVAC system.