ABC Money

Managing the Finances After the Death of a Partner

Finance

Claire James

-

13 January 2019

Managing the Finances After the Death of a Partner

Losing somebody can be hard enough to deal with on an emotional level but dealing with the financial realities of their death at the same time can be very upsetting and unnerving. For many, they are suddenly thrown into the role of controlling finances for the first time in their life. Having to take control of family finances and trying to get by on less income can be incredibly overwhelming especially if you have lived comfortably for a long time. Unfortunately, bill paying and other financial burdens don’t let up until the end of a grieving period. And there are also the funeral costs to consider at the exact same time.

Here Is What to Do First

When somebody dies, you are all of a sudden thrown in the deep end, and you don’t even know where to start. And, with the emotional side of losing someone making matters so much worse its hard even to know where to start. However, there are five things that you should do and consider sooner rather than later to help you deal with the many financial strains that losing someone can bring.

Take Your Time to Adjust Before You Take Action

The first step is to simply refrain from making any major financial decisions during the initial shock of losing someone. Your mental and emotional state will need time to come to terms with the death which in time will help you think a lot clearer and more rationally. Then, if you don’t already have professional services in place such as a solicitor, financial planner or tax assistant then it’s time to get them in place to help you deal with the financial side of losing someone.

Locate the Important Financial Documents

If you are already aware of the location of such documents, then this first step will be a relatively simple one. Otherwise, you are going to want to find these documents and store them in a secure place. Such documents may include insurance policies, investment paperwork, property deeds and a will. You will also need to have your marriage certificate and your partner’s birth certificate. When notifying your insurance company, financial organisations and creditors you will need to produce a certified copy of your partner’s death certificate, so it is important to have several copies of this.

Learn How to Budget and Handle Day-to-Day Finances

Whether you kept to a budget whilst you were married or not isn’t relevant, you are going to have a whole new set of expenses to deal with and will probably have different sources of income than you had previously. Break your expenses down to monthly and annual payments. Once you have that all organised, write down all of your various sources of income, salary, rental income, etc.

What’s essential in budgeting is to let your income drive your expenses. This means that once you know how much money goes into your bank account each month, create a budget that will limit your spending to the amount of income you have. While this seems very basic, most people let their expenses drive the process, meaning that they spend money without taking a disciplined approach and hope that at the end of the month they don’t go into debt.

If you are used to handling day-to-day finances in your household, then you will find this step relatively easy. If not, then it is a good idea to assess your current financial situations and then make necessary cutbacks to save money however little it is. This could include cancelling certain services, subscriptions or any other discretionary expenses. A financial planner will able to help you calculate your current net worth, which is the total value of your assets minus the total debt that you are in. This information is essential and can help you develop an understanding of your current spending and future investment plans.

Planning for The Future

Now that you independently hold your family’s financial wealth, you are going to want to consider how you are going to manage it for your heirs. A financial planner will be able to assist you with setting up an estate plan that you provide for you now and then for your heirs in the future. Your goals for the future whether they are personal or financial are a smart thing to consider. It might be a good idea to take classes in personal finance and money management if you lack these skills. Depending on your situation, you might want to find a support group for people who have lost a partner. These kinds of groups can be both a comfort and a resource as you move forward with your life.

Windfall Payment

If you end up receiving a large sum of money from an insurance policy, make sure that you put it in the bank for 3 to 4 months. Don’t make any rushed or impulsive purchases or investments until you feel like you are in control and making rational decisions. There have been many instances where a surviving partner receives a substantial death benefit and begins spending it immediately, by buying all those things that “needed” to be purchased or by giving large gifts to children to help them out or to just be a loving person. Just remember that this money could prove very handy in the future so don’t spend it just because you have it.

Ways to Learn Forex Trading

News

Claire James

-

10 January 2019

0

Forex (stands for foreign exchange market) is a global decentralised market where currencies are traded, including all aspects of buying, selling and exchanging currencies.

Meanwhile, Forex is a source of solid income for those who know how to earn on the difference in exchange rates. Those who just entering the forex market may wonder how to start, where to find trusted forex resources and portals to start trading and further become a successful trader.

Forex is not a get-rich-quick scheme. You have to learn and master your skills and this takes some time and effort. Forex requires good training. All successful traders have gone through the learning stages. So, if you aspire to become a Forex trader and get some useful tips – keep reading.

Where to start learning Forex?

Getting started trading in the Forex market, devote your time to studying the market and the basics of trading. Today there is a bulk of educational resources related to Forex trading available for free.

Just google to look for trusted forex trading websites. Determine the most acceptable resources for you, with the help of which you can begin to study the material, or deepen your knowledge.

Top Forex resources for a trader

1. Investopedia – is the leading resource both for beginners and professionals. It provides an in-depth trading dictionary, articles on financial aspects, the latest market news and more.

2. BabyPips – well-known source for novices in Forex trading. It teaches you everything in a simple language, as well as acquaints with the basics of trading.

3. ForexFactory – is a community where traders discuss topics related to Forex, share ideas. Here you can find out what you are interested in.

You can learn the basics of Forex trading with the help of books, educational videos on YouTube and special webinars. It is important to find a source that explains the features of the market clearly.

Books form the knowledge base, but do not teach successful trades. Reading specialised literature is useful in combination with educational videos, webinars and practice on a demo account.

You can also join the forex traders community on the specialised forums, go through the plenty of threads and get trading tips from seasoned traders.

Practice with demo accounts

Once you have learned the basics, it’s time to practice on a demo before trading live. Working on demo accounts, you can gain practical experience and hone your trading skills absolutely free. Since this is a kind of simulator, your mistakes will not cost you a thing.

Most forex brokers provide practice accounts. You can easily register with forex broker and try trading. For example, Forex broker JustForex offers its clients demo accounts with trading conditions corresponding to the real ones.

Having acquired the necessary trading skills on demo accounts, you can switch to real trading. It is recommended to open a cent account and start trading with minimal costs. All operations on such accounts are conducted in cents, but the trading is real in contrast to demo. Herewith, the risks will be minimal, since the profits and losses are calculated in cents: $1 = ¢100.

For a novice trader who has learned the basics of trading and has applied them in practice will be easier to achieve profitable trades on real accounts.

ESMA and UK CCPs scramble as Brexit seems inevitable

Business

Claire James

-

9 January 2019

0

ESMA and UK CCPs scramble as Brexit seems inevitable

Almost everybody in Europe is anticipating the coming withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. However, many don’t realize how many problems this may cause for the financial sector of the Union as many financial institutions and companies are located and regulated in the UK.

ESMA and UK CCPs are at work

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) is already working with the Central Counter party Clearings (CCPs) in the UK, in preparation of Brexit. The preparations need to be top notch as the time gap is slowly shrinking. The UK is expected to leave the EU in March 2019, leaving the two parties with only 4 months to prepare for both scenarios.

By both scenarios, we mean Hard and Soft Brexit, which include various restrictions and tie-cutoffs with the financial markets located in the EU and the UK. The worst case scenario would be hard Brexit as many traders will find themselves floating around, trying to find a reliable Forex broker.

Unfortunately, however, even if Soft Brexit will be the case ESMA will have to deal with the migration of thousands of its traders to offshore brokerages as many of its new regulations were met with protests from the trader’s side. The EU financial authority is seeking to ban trader benefits like bonus promotions and high leverage trading. Things that some traders cannot afford to part with.

Loopholes for traders

However, there are exceptions in this policy, something that can unite UK and EU traders on a single platform. The XM Deposit bonus promotion here details the availability to nearly all markets regardless of the laws, thanks to the broker’s multiple regulations around the world.

But even brokers like XM need to prepare for the onslaught of the Brexit outcome as nothing is yet quite clear. The only thing known about the preparations is the fact that the European Commission will adopt measures if Hard Brexit will be the case. The measure being a no disruption policy to the central clearing.

Although there is still hope for traders as the UK is still debating whether or not to truly walk out the door of the EU. Voter sentiment is slowly changing and it is affecting the MPs as well. The question remains, however, will the EU keep them?

6 Tips for Financing A Home Improvement Project

Property

ABC Staff

-

3 January 2019

0

6 Tips for Financing A Home Improvement Project

For homeowners who are planning a new home improvement project, financing the job should be a top priority. The best option for financing depends on your personal situation and how much equity you have in your home. When it comes to financing home improvements, there are several options.

Using Cash

Homeowners who have enough cash saved up can usually pay for improvements outright. If there’s a project on the horizon you’d like to tackle, budget it into your finances and begin saving for it. Paying for improvements out of pocket means you don’t have to use your home as collateral on a loan or pay the money back with interest. Since you’re not using your home as collateral, there’s no risk of foreclosure for homeowners who use cash. Smaller home improvement projects that cost less than $10,000 are easier to pay out of pocket. Consider financing your home lift or other home improvement project through budgeting and saving.

Credit Card

If immediate cash isn’t an option, then you can use your credit card to finance the project. Credit cards tend to have high interest rates, but you can avoid loan fees or closing costs by using your card. Use your credit cards for home improvements sparingly, and only if you have a plan to pay off the balance within a year.

Personal Loan

A personal loan allows you to borrow money without using the collateral in your home as a down payment. That means if you default on the loan you aren’t at risk for losing your home. Unsecured personal loans are usually only offered for projects that cost below $10,000. Do not mistake payday loans or loans offered by non-banking entities with an unsecured personal loan. Those types of loans tend to come with massive fees and interest rates attached.

Home Equity Loan or Line of Credit

A home equity loan allows you to use the equity in your home as personal collateral. This loan borrows against the value of your home minus your existing mortgage. Home equity loans can be a good option for projects that are one-time. The interest rate associated with these loans is also fixed. Interest paid on a home equity loan is tax deductible up to $1 million. One downside to home equity loans is the closing costs associated with them. You could also risk foreclosure if you’re unable to repay the loan payments.

A home equity line of credit (or HELOC) uses your home’s equity as collateral much like a home equity loan. However, it acts more like a credit card in that you can withdraw various amounts of money over time with a maximum limit. The maximum amount is the upper limit of equity for your home. HELOCs are a good option for homeowners with a long-term project that will need funding over a long period. Interest rates associated with HELOCs are variable, which means they could raise or lower of the course of the credit line.

Borrowing From 401k

If your employer offers a 401k plan, you may want to check and see if you can borrow against it to pay for home improvements. The interest rates for borrowing against your 401k are low, and there’s no fees or closing costs associated with it. The downside of this option means you will have to stay at the job for the length of the repayment term. If you leave the job, you’ll have to pay the balance in full. Other penalties and taxes may apply if the amount isn’t repaid within five years.

Anaford Attorneys Advise on New Spanish Rules for Succession Tax

Finance
Tax

Claire James

-

26 December 2018

0

Anaford Attorneys Advise on New Spanish Rules for Succession Tax

Spanish rules for succession tax can be incredibly complex, with 17 different regions and one national law. Until recently, non-residents of Spain could not access the benefits of approved tax advantages in any of the regions. However, recent changes have seen the Spanish Supreme Court recognise the right, initially of EU residents but later of non-EU residents, to apply the relevant regional tax benefits that are in force. A change of law has not yet resulted from the case, but the tax authorities are now applying regional tax benefits to both EU and non-EU residents. Anaford Attorneys advises on cross-border tax matters such as this.

Inheritance Tax and Gift Tax

Succession tax includes both inheritance tax and gift tax. The Spanish Tax Authority has begun to recognise that regional level tax rebates and reductions can now be applied for the benefit of residents in the region, even if they are not from the EU. Relevant regulations for each region can now be applied if the assets being gifted or inherited are located in Spain or if the gift donor or recipient, decedent or heir reside in Spain. The choice of whether to apply national or regional regulations must be made within six months of death in the case of Inheritance Tax, and within one month of the gift being made for Gift Tax. If the tax has already been paid and the relevant regional benefits were not applied, the liable party has up to four years to file a request to have the improperly collected taxes refunded. Four years represents the statute of limitations, so this time period cannot be extended for the right to claim a refund.

Tax Regulation Changes for EU Residents

The tax regulations for EU residents were changed prior to this case, with new regulations coming into force on the 1^st January 2015. These changes came about as a result of Judgement issued on the 3^rd September 2014 by the European Union’s Court of Justice. The change enabled regional regulations to be applied to both EEA and EU residents, but not to non-EU residents.

Spanish Supreme Court Case Law

The rights of non-EU residents in Spain to have the appropriate regional succession tax benefits applied to them has been recognised within the Spanish Supreme Court in three rulings. A judgement was rendered on the 19^th February 2018 on an appeal lodged against a Tax Appeal Board ruling. The Supreme Court ruled that EU law had been violated by Spain and non-EU residents were being discriminated against, as the regional succession tax incentives that should have been applicable were being denied to them. The appellant in this case was a Canadian resident whose mother had passed away in March 2007 in the Catalan region of Spain.

Free Movement of Capital Restrictions

The February 2018 ruling of the Spanish Supreme Court argued that the rules in place for Spanish Inheritance and Gift Tax restricted the free movement of capital in a way that was unjustifiable, through the exclusion of non-EU residents from regional tax rebates and reductions applications. Two similar judgements based on the same criteria were handed down on the 21^st and 22^nd of March 2018.

Conclusions & Recommendations

For Gift Tax purposes, the relevant regional regulations are applicable:

If either the donor or the donee are residents of Spain, or
If the gifted assets are located in Spain.

For Inheritance Tax purposes, the relevant regional regulations are applicable:

If either the decedent or the heir are residents of Spain, or
If the assets are located in Spain.

The choice of the regulations to be applied (regional or national) must be made within one month from the date when the gift was made. For succession purposes, the choice of regulations should be made within six months from the decedent’s death.

If Gift Tax or Inheritance Tax has been paid without applying the relevant regional benefits, a request for a refund of improperly collected taxes may be filed. This must be submitted within four years, which is the statute of limitations on the right to claim the refund.

About Anaford Attorneys

Anaford Attorneys is a specialised tax and wealth planning law firm with a global client base, taking care of international business interests and assets. With their diverse backgrounds and expertise in cross-border tax planning, the firm’s lawyers are ideally placed to work with clients on both a global and local level, combining regional knowledge and a flexible approach.

For news and updates, connect with Anaford Attorneys on LinkedIn.

The business benefits of printed envelopes

Business

Claire James

-

26 December 2018

0

The business benefits of printed envelopes

Custom envelopes, such as can be found at specialist online printing services, offer a variety of benefits for businesses. They’re an often overlooked tool in the arsenal of any business looking to increase both the efficiency with which they operate and the span of their brand appeal. With designing online able to be done in just a few minutes, and a range of choices available, it seems a no-brainer.

We would like to share some benefits of custom printed envelopes for businesses. And let´s admit it, if we can save time and money, who would say no to that?!

Office Efficiency with the Help of Envelopes

It can take considerable time to label envelopes on-premises. That time is highly valuable and better used elsewhere. When envelopes are custom printed, a business automatically gives themselves a head-start. It allows for specific information to be printed on the envelope in advance, meaning mail shots take considerably less time than they otherwise might.

Envelopes for Brand Visibility

Getting a brand to be noticed is a challenge all businesses face. They key to overcoming that challenge is making sure said brand is as visible as possible. There’s no easier way to broadcast a condensed brand identity than custom printed envelopes. Think of how many individual mails are sent in an average mail shot. Every single one of those envelopes is a mobile advertising opportunity.

Money savings for businesses

With other marketing methods, great investment is required to get a large number of eyes to see a single brand. Using custom printed on envelopes, however, is both quick and highly affordable. Online printers have no overheads from physical premises, so they’re able to pass the savings on to their customers. These savings are particularly generous when ordering in bulk.

Brand unity with printed envelopes

One of the most effective ways of cementing brand authority and developing customer loyalty is by establishing brand cohesiveness. That means all marketing materials, all advertising, all communication, and all stationery must be branded the same way. Colour schemes, logos, typefaces, and more – it’s exceptionally important that customers see unified branding. Even on envelopes!

We should not forget to mention that ordering personalized printed envelopes is easy when you use a specialized website. You can choose the size, colour and quantity you like, from the comfort of our own desk. And they can be delivered at the business, so you don´t have to leave the office.

Eurasian Resources Group CEO Makes Keynote Speech at Industry 4.0 Summit

Claire James

-

26 December 2018

0

Eurasian Resources Group CEO Makes Keynote Speech at Industry 4.0 Summit

The CEO of Eurasian Resources Group, Benedikt Sobotka, was one of the keynote speakers at a recent Industry 4.0 summit held in Tokyo on the topic of ‘Preparing for the Energy Transition’. The commodities summit was hosted by a partnership between the Financial Times and Nikkei, and featured a number of world-renowned industry leaders including JOGMEC, Rio Tinto, METI, and Trafigura. The speech from ERG focused on the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the key role of metals suppliers in driving this forward.

A Sustainable Vision

Sobotka’s speech discussed the vision of Eurasian Resources Group to source and supply a number of key materials to the global battery sector using sustainable and responsible practices. At present, approximately one quarter of the world’s cobalt supply comes from the artisanal mining sector, which is known to make use of child labour within these smaller-scale mines. Cobalt is widely used within the electric vehicle battery industry.

ERG recognised the importance of continuing to increase production and therefore the availability of electric vehicles, while ensuring that key materials were being sourced and mined without the use of child labour. Sobotka further acknowledged that there are various challenges facing the batteries industry and outlined strategies for adhering to global and regional regulations and environmental and social norms, as well as curbing pollution.

Cobalt is key for the continued production of electric vehicles, said Sobotka, emphasising the need for more companies to follow the lead of ERG in terms of sourcing cobalt sustainably and responsibly. The ERG CEO called for EV manufacturers to commit to responsible sourcing practices, and pointed out that multi-billion dollar investments and long-term planning were essential for maintaining a sustainable industry.

The Clean Cobalt Initiative

Another strategy outlined by the ERG CEO was the ERG Clean Cobalt Framework, which is already being implemented starting from Metalkol RTR, the Group’s Democratic Republic of the Congo operation. Through the Clean Cobalt Framework, ERG is working to guarantee that cobalt is sourced responsibly and sustainably. The DRC operation is a reprocessing facility for historic copper and cobalt tailings from previous mining operations. At full capacity, Metalkol RTR will be able to produce enough material to build over three million electric vehicles per year, producing 24,000 tonnes per year of cobalt and 120,000 tonnes per year of copper.

The Japanese Market

The Japanese market is one of the key growth drivers for ERG, which produces cobalt for a variety of firms and industries in the country. These include battery makers and producers of battery materials, magnet manufacturers, producers of catalyst and other chemicals, speciality steel producers, and electronics firms, many of which supply the automotive industry. ERG also supplies high-carbon ferrochrome and other ferroalloys to some of the largest producers of stainless steel in Japan. ERG’s Chairman of the Board Dr Alexander Machkevitch called Japan an “economic powerhouse” when commenting on ERG’s participation at the Tokyo summit, thanking partners in Japan on behalf of ERG for their input and support.

About Eurasian Resources Group

Eurasian Resources Group is a world leader for the supply of diversified natural resources. The Group has presence on four continents over 15 countries, with more than 85,000 people working for ERG. The integrated operations of ERG include mining, energy, processing, logistics and marketing. In addition to core business, development projects have been implemented by ERG in several African nations, including fluorspar, thermal coal, bauxite, platinum and manganese. The Group is a leader in the Kazakhstan metals and mining industry, it is a leading supplier of high-carbon ferrochrome by chrome content globally, and a large supplier of other materials such as aluminium, iron ore and thermal coal.

For news and updates, follow Eurasian Resources Group on LinkedIn.

Be Smart: Conquer the Casino Games with the Lowest House Edge

Technology

ABC Staff

-

21 December 2018

0

Be Smart: Conquer the Casino Games with the Lowest House Edge

Casino gaming online and at land-based establishments is a very popular pastime, but while it can be fun to test your luck on games like Caribbean Stud Poker and American Roulette, they’re not the smart plays.

With UK online casino games, the house always has an edge which often ranges from as little as 0.24 per cent to as much as five per cent, or more. This percentage indicates the difference between the odds of the game and the odds that the player is paid, which can also appear in the form of a return to player percentage for games with randomly generated results like slot machines.

All games have this built-in edge because otherwise casinos – brick-and-mortar or online – wouldn’t be viable ventures, which means that the games wouldn’t exist. So, when you next choose to play some casino games, which ones should you target to cut the house’s edge?

Games of skill over games of luck

Regardless of the casino game at hand, someone will tell you that they have a foolproof strategy or and ability to sense a win coming. But, for the most part, this isn’t true: it’s just pure luck. Craps, roulette, baccarat, and slot machines all come under the guise of luck oriented games. Even though some slots will have over 60 million paylines, as shown by https://www.gamingintelligence.com/games/47203-red-tiger-offers-60m-ways-to-win-in-latest-slot-launch, it’s all luck-oriented, with that particular game of Laser Fruits having a 95.05 per cent RTP.

All of these games involve placing a bet and then waiting for mostly random events to occur, such as the roll of the dice and the drop of the ball into a pocket. So, it’s best to target games where the player can make decisions during the game to help their edge. Both blackjack and video poker come under this category of skill game according to https://www.thoughtco.com/understanding-the-house-edge-537607, which have the shortest house edges.

Conquering house edge with blackjack and video poker

The vast majority of online and land-based casinos feature games of blackjack with multiple decks. Using more decks marginally increases the house edge with each additional deck, with the house edge also being different in each situation, with most online blackjack games such as Original Blackjack, Blackjack Cash Out, and Classic Blackjack at https://games.paddypower.com/c/blackjack featuring eight decks. In these games, there’s a house edge of 0.44 per cent when the dealer stands on a soft 17, splitting to four hands is permitted, doubling is permitted, and blackjack pays at odds of 3:2.

A similar situation is found in video poker as when the player is dealt a hand, the player then has the choice to hold some cards and draw others in their place — the house edge changes from deal to deal and with each decision made by the player. The trick to both blackjack and video poker is knowing the possible combinations in each situation, the statistical likelihood of desired cards coming out, and how to bet as a result.

Casino games of pure luck will always have a greater house edge, which does add to the excitement of betting on the game, but to swing the edge back in your favour as much as possible, target skill games like blackjack and deploy shrewd strategies to come out on top; that’s the smart way take on casino games.

Why You Should Digitise Your Workplace Communications

Technology

ABC Staff

-

21 December 2018

0

Why You Should Digitise Your Workplace Communications

There’s no denying that technology has had a significant impact on our daily lives, and nothing has been changed more than the modern workplace.

The rapid rise of video conferencing and virtual workspaces has allowed businesses to find new ways to improve productivity, collaboration and flexibility; as office environments begin to move away from the email, mobile and desktop phone platforms they’ve become so accustomed to.

Innovative digital communications are at the heart of every modern workplace, allowing you to create a truly collaborative environment which encourages teams to work closer together. But how exactly does such advanced visual technology help improve communication?

Teams Aren’t Restricted By Distance

The way people work is changing, with 70% of global workers now working remotely at least once a week, and 53% working remotely for half the week or more. Since the modern workplace is so focused on collaboration, businesses need to offer a variety of formal, informal, structured and social spaces which enhance communication and give people the choice of where to work.

When implemented correctly, visual collaboration technology will enhance the meeting experience, offering team members a more effective form of communication; with a study from the IMCCA finding that nine in ten remote employees feel that video technology helps them feel more connected to their colleagues.

Additionally, such a seamless meeting experience will significantly reduce the need for travel and face-to-face meetings, helping you save on travel costs while maintaining strong relationships with your teams, clients and collaborators.

Communicate Faster and Smarter

Virtual workspaces, digital whiteboards and other forms of visual collaboration will allow your teams to communicate faster and smarter. Most platforms will allow team members and clients to keep in touch across multiple devices, helping employees work together everywhere on a 24 by 7 basis and keep driving projects forward.

Instead of being restricted by physical distances, businesses can now enjoy the benefits of regular face-to-face interaction through a simple finger-tap, communicating faster and more efficiently through high-quality video platforms.

According to Forbes, more than half of message interpretation comes from facial expressions and body language; two things you just can’t get over the phone or via email. Since full understanding is so important in any working relationship, video conferencing has become vital in avoiding miscommunication and helping to build stronger relationships between users.

Improve Collaboration

Collaboration plays a major role in the modern workplace, and visual platforms are built to improve the ways businesses communicate, interact and work together.

Digital whiteboards, video walls and interactive displays make it easier than ever for teams to view, share and annotate relevant files, with such a dynamic environment encouraging creativity and increasing engagement in meetings. This enhanced form of communication ultimately ensures teams and projects become more focused, improving the quality of work and delivering better results.

Digital communications have become the main driving force behind collaboration, helping teams share ideas, designate tasks and exchange information in ways that best suit them, rather than restricting them to tight time schedules and set meeting locations.

Boost Productivity and Efficiency

Employees wasting time in unproductive meetings has become a serious issue for businesses. A recent European survey found that 56% of all meetings are unproductive, while 66% of workers make excuses to avoid them altogether.

Although the need for a meeting might be completely unavoidable, video technology is designed to improve the productivity and engagement of those involved. A visual environment ensures team members remain focused on the task in hand, allowing them to become more interactive during discussions, meetings, lectures and presentations.

Advanced technologies, such as digital whiteboarding and video conferencing, allow you to display the right information at the right time, regardless of whether you’re presenting to people in a meeting room or team members based on the other side of the world.

Technology is a great tool, but remember it’s still you who is presenting, and when talking to a crowd of people you need to make sure to be clear and exact. If you feel like your presentation skills need improvement, you should work with a presentation training company to get better.

Ultimately, this ensures everyone is always on the same page, regardless of where they’re based or which device they’re using; while this increased sense of flexibility is bound to make workers happier and more driven in their work. When you’ve got such focused, creative and flexible communications in place, productivity levels could be sent through the roof.

What Do You Need to Have a Strong Marketing Plan?

Business

Elliot

-

19 December 2018

0

What Do You Need to Have a Strong Marketing Plan?

Planning your marketing strategies is crucial to your success. You can’t start advertising without a plan since it won’t take you anywhere. You need to know where to start and what your goals are. There are different stages in planning, and you need to have a clear overview of what you want to happen in every period. Be realistic with your plans to avoid feeling frustrated and unaccomplished in the end.

You can’t plan the marketing strategies alone. You need the help of others to come up with a perfect plan.

Marketing team

Form a marketing team that will help create ideas that could work. Make sure that the people working with you have a strong marketing background and were successful in helping other companies in the past. You can use their ideas to come up with a great plan. Don’t be afraid to try anything as long as it is reasonable.

Resources

You can get ideas from the people in your team, but they can’t be the only source of ideas. You also need resources. You can check ideas online that work. You can watch videos made by successful entrepreneurs. Don’t limit yourself, so you will have a healthy marketing plan.

Successful business people

Don’t be shy about asking successful people for advice. They might give you some trade secrets that could work for you. Of course, you can’t expect them to give everything away. You need to speak with them first, build a relationship and start talking business.

Time

You also need to consider time in making your plan. You want to ensure that everything will happen as planned. You need to set realistic goals within a given time frame. You need to consider how long it takes for a marketing strategy to work.

Samples

If you want to have content marketing as a strategy, you need to look at examples of content that worked in the past. Find the ones that relate to your business to make it easy for you to come up with new ideas.

Take your time

Once you have the resources necessary to come up with a marketing plan, the next thing to do is start working on a rough idea. You need to take your time in dealing with the plan and avoid rushing judgements. You might miss some opportunities because you try to hurry things up.

Speak with your marketing team and even the employees outside the team who might have something to say about your business. You need to edit your plan several times before you decide to pursue it.

As you start thinking of ways to market your products and services, you need to diversify your strategies. You might need pop up exhibition stands at some point if you are attending conferences and trade shows. Don’t limit your ideas to online marketing as it can be a huge mistake. You might lose the chance to reach out to a lot of other people.

ESMA and UK CCPs are at work

Loopholes for traders

Using Cash

Credit Card

Personal Loan

Home Equity Loan or Line of Credit

Borrowing From 401k

Games of skill over games of luck

Conquering house edge with blackjack and video poker

Teams Aren’t Restricted By Distance

Communicate Faster and Smarter

Improve Collaboration

Boost Productivity and Efficiency

ABC Money 2025 - 1st Edition