Money

Finance insiders like Dan Shatt and many others are saying that the lending industry’s future will be all about “people, not products” – here’s why.

1) The future of lending is digital, social, and mobile

Technology has permeated almost every facet of our lives – the same is true for personal finance. The 21st century has given rise to a new era where you can do everything on your phone or tablet – banking online, researching investments, applying for loans, etc.

Today the most successful financial institutions can offer their customers a seamless digital experience. However, banks and other lenders need to provide their customers with the tools to make smart choices about borrowing on the go to remain competitive in this new environment.

2) The future of lending is about relationships, not products

In the past, lenders have relied heavily on product offerings to attract borrowers. However, this is no longer a sustainable strategy in the age of digital and mobile banking. Nowadays, customers are looking for lenders that they can trust – ones that will take the time to get to know them and provide personalized advice to their unique needs.

3) The future of lending is about data, not just products or relationships

Banks used to rely on spreadsheets when it came to making credit decisions, but this approach is no longer effective in the current environment. Nowadays, lenders can access vast amounts of data – all of which can be used to make better-informed credit choices.

4) The future of lending will closely track the digital economy

Every year, more digital transactions are taking place – purchases made online, investments made with Robo advisors, etc. This shift toward a cashless society has opened up new possibilities for fintech companies that want alternative solutions for borrowing and investing.

5) The future of lending will revolve around the way we think about money

For too long, most lenders have thought of finance as a “zero-sum game” – where for one party to win, the other has to lose. In reality, this is an outdated and destructive mentality – especially in today’s digital world, where customers want more options and control over their finances. The best fintech companies understand that technology can find solutions that benefit both sides of the equation.

6) The future of lending lies with financial institutions working together rather than competing with each other

Over the past few years, fintech companies like Lending Club and Prosper have begun challenging traditional banks by offering alternative funding sources for consumers. However, the future of the lending industry will look very different. Instead of competing with each other, digital lenders will work together to build more comprehensive services that will give customers greater choice and flexibility when borrowing money.

7) The future of lending looks bright

According to a recent survey by Accenture, 82% of millennials plan to use some form of alternative finance in the next year. People want new options when it comes to their financial lives – they are looking for innovative solutions that make life easier, not harder. Luckily there are lots of industry experts who understand how technology can be used to build better products while improving customer service at the same time.

 

Association football is considered by many the “king of sports” – it certainly is the most widely played sport in the world, and the one with the biggest fan base of them all. Literally, billions of people around the world read the football news every single day, watch football matches on TV or on streaming – there are entire communities built around one association football team or another, sometimes in the remotest corners of the globe.

Obviously, association football is also the sport most people bet on or want to bet on. And at the same time, it is also the sport that most people bet on the wrong way. The tips below will show you how to do it right.

Don’t bet on your favourite team

Love is blind, they say – this applies not just to your significant other but to your favourite sport as well. The fans of one football team or another have a bit too much trust in their teams’ capabilities and they bet accordingly – with their heart instead of their head.

So, as a general rule, you should never bet on your favourite team. The heart sometimes overrides ration, making you place bets that are almost certainly destined to be unsuccessful. This will not only cost you money but it will also feel extremely disappointing – as if your team would’ve let you down.

Never bet more money than you can afford to lose

While in most cases, sports are reasonably predictable, there is always room for the unexpected – this means that even the surest bet comes with an inherent chance of being lost. This is why one of the most important rules of gambling – not just betting but any other form – is that you should always play only as much money as you can afford to lose.

This is the first rule of what those initiated in the secrets of gambling call bankroll management.

Another rule that naturally follows is never trying to win back the money you lost by betting again and again.

Focus on the biggest events

When choosing the matches to bet on, choose the ones that are the more important for the team you intend to bet on – because the players and the teams will do the same. When they face an opponent that’s much weaker – say when Liverpool, currently placed second in the Premier League, plays against Newcastle (second to last), it will not be as focused and prepared as in the case of a match against Manchester City – currently in the top position of the EPL. The more important the event, the more focused and prepared the players will be – and this will show in their effort, play style, and performance as well.

We all know the very high cost of vehicle ownership, it is the price you pay for the luxury of having your very own vehicle that is ready at any time. Despite this heavy cost, we are prepared to pay a high price for travel independence, yet there are a few ways we can cut our motoring costs, as we explain in this article.

Auto Insurance

There’s always a better deal somewhere and the best people to talk to about car insurance in Thailand has to be https://rabbitcare.com/, where you are guaranteed a great deal. Whether you are going for class 1,2 or 3, the online broker offers the best packages and the lowest premiums, plus they pay out without question and in a timely manner. Some insurers reward experienced drivers with a clean history and if you fall into this category, Google will help you source the best deal and a secure online payment sees you covered.
Second-Hand Tyres

We all know about the latest trend for fat wheels; many drivers take their new car straight to the tyre shop and change the shoes, leaving an almost new set of tyres. You can save up to 60% on the cost of four tyres and still have a couple of years of use. Check out your local tyre shop to see if they have a stock of used tyres and don’t worry, they wouldn’t sell a dodgy tyre! The tyres on your car are the only contact you have with the road and you should inspect them on a regular basis, checking the PSI (see owner’s manual).

Used Car Parts

While we don’t recommend this with a new vehicle, which is still under warranty, older cars are ideal for a reconditioned alternator, radiator or water pump, which are stripped from scrap vehicles at a breaker yard, then cleaned and reconditioned ready to be reused. It is easy to find out who stocks a 2016 BMW 3 series a/c unit, all the yards have websites that use easy search features. Locate by model or year and the component comes with a limited warranty. If you are an acrylic fan, click here.

Self-Service

If you have the tools and the inclination, you can save a significant amount by servicing your car; take a look at the garage’s hourly rate next time you book your car in for its service. If the owner’s manual isn’t enough, there are YouTube videos for just about every make and model; make sure you follow the manufacturer’s guidelines and only use genuine parts (used too). Cars need to be serviced according to the mileage and keep a note of your next oil change and try to carry out the maintenance close to the specified mileage.

If you live in the suburbs of Bangkok, you can save even more money by leaving the car at home and using the mass transportation systems and there’s no stress when you are a passenger.

 

Playing slot games is an ideal way to take a break from the everyday realities of your life and enjoy some relaxing fun. With so many games to choose from, slots are something that most people take for granted. They do not understand how far slot machines have come since their inception. Here is a look at the evolution of slot machines:

A trip back in time

Early slot machines boasted none of today’s cutting-edge technology, graphics, and audio of any real money online slots games you can find at virtual casinos. Indeed, these behemoths were unsophisticated, mechanical devices. The first one was invented by Bavarian-born Charles August Fey in 1894. He started manufacturing them fulltime in 1895. In 1899, he fabricated the Liberty Bell, a device historians regard as the first proper slot machine.

Other manufacturers began producing slot machines and they started popping up all over America, despite being illegal in most states. Their designers started using fruit and bar symbols as a disguise, claiming these machines dispensed candy and chewing gum as prizes. By the 1950s, slot machines were banned across America, except for Nevada. Even this limitation did not put a dampener on the slot machine’s evolution, leading to its most up-to-date version being featured in mobile casino apps.

A giant leap forward

The technological advances used to fight World Wars One and Two set the stage for an electromechanical slot machine in the 1950s. These devices offered a new payout option: the three-coin multiplier. Money Honey was one of the first electromechanical slot machines and paid out 500 coins when users hit its jackpot.

Despite restrictions on the distribution of slot machines in America, the industry was thriving as people descended on Las Vegas to play them. Several manufacturers succeeded by growing a business out of making and selling slot machines to Nevada’s casinos.

Video slots

When video slot machines emerged in the 1980s, people did not take to them immediately. Digitization in the 1970s led to video slots, which no longer featured pull arms. Most people found tapping buttons and seeing digital slots reeling dull and boring compared with older slot machines. However, they soon saw the benefits of these more modern machines when it emerged that they could pay out massive jackpots, unlike anything earlier models could muster.

As the 1980s progressed and Native American tribes began opening casinos, slot machines reached new heights of popularity. Indeed, they represented the largest portion of casino profits.

Online slots

Charles Fey could never have imagined today’s world, where slots are now a few taps or clicks away using a smartphone and internet connection. Despite these significant advances, the principle of slot games remains identical. There is no sure way to determine how to be lucky as they remain games of chance.

However, that seems to draw people to them in greater numbers since slot games went online. After all, there is nothing better than the rush of watching the reels spin and hoping to hit the jackpot.

 

The world of horse racing is filled with an array of different bet types. The names and the conditions of the bets available can be very confusing, and along with working out bet returns, the whole process can become somewhat complicated and headache inducing. Here we take some of the pressure and confusion from you by taking a look at flag bets and asking: what is a flag bet in horse racing?

A flag bet is a betting type that involves more than one selection. The bet works by making multiple bets on the same four selections. These selections are:

• Six up and down singles
• Six doubles
• Four trebles
• One hour fold accumulator

This gives a total of 32 bets.

In order to win, you need for at least one of the selections to be successful. However, in order to make the bet lucrative and profitable, you will need at least four correct picks within the bet. Unlike other bets, the selections made need to come from four different events.

Advantages of a flag bet

There is a lot to take in when it comes to flag bets, and this can make them very interesting and exciting for those watching the races. There is a lot to consider and even when some bets have been lost there is still a chance to win, so one loss does not mean the end of the fun and the end of the betting. This is good when you are attending a race meet like Royal Ascot or Glorious Goodwood as it means that you are able to enjoy the racing with friends even though all of the bets in your flag bet do not come in. Knowing that you can still see a profit, even after a loss keeps you happy and interested at the races. Given the number of bets involved and the odds often given, the flag bet is also a profitable betting type for those who use it well.

Disadvantages of a flag bet

The flag bet is not a betting type that is recommended if you are new to the sport of horse racing and to horse race betting as it requires quite a bit of knowledge, experience and understanding in order to be used well and with success. This is because of the number of selections that are involved in a flag bet and the number of races that they must be taken from. You need to understand the handicapping system, the race card and the form guides in detail if you are going to be able to place a successful flag bet. It is the type of bet that bettors work their way up to and should not be used by casual bettors who are simply looking for a bit of fun at the races.

Overall, the flag bet is a useful tool for the experienced and knowledgeable bettor but is best avoided by those who are new to horse race betting.

 

Welcome to Spending Notes, where we do a weekly deep dive into how our readers spend their cash.

Today: a writer who makes $30,000

Occupation: romance novelist

Age: 31

Location: Youngsville, NC

Salary: $30,000 (approx. $1,154 per pay period)

Day One

When I moved to Youngsville nearly a decade ago, no one warned me about just how crucial my air conditioner could be. No one said there might be a day where your HVAC system can no longer control the humidity in your Youngsville, NC, home. For me, it turns out that day is today. By the time I realize the issue, though, it’s too late to call a technician today. I make a note to look further into the problem tomorrow, opening the windows in a poor attempt to compensate for the number on the thermostat. Today isn’t a complete wash, though—I do a bit of online shopping for things around the house and get about 5,000 words written in my next novel.

Total: $56

Day Two

The humidity has definitely worsened, so I call an HVAC professional early to get some insight. As it turns out, they recommend that I opt for a new HVAC system entirely rather than trying to repair the existing HVAC. It’s all the same to me—technology isn’t my strong suit. Over the phone, they say something about compressors and ducts and refrigerants. Simply put, I’m glad the professionals are around to handle this for me. With the phone calls and humidity, today’s writing progress is limited to about 1,500 words. Still, some progress is better than none!

Total: $0

Day Three

While the new HVAC system and ductwork are being installed, I figure I might as well get away for a few days. Luckily for me, cabins in North Carolina are easy to come by whether you’re looking to buy or rent. So I rent a two-bedroom cabin for tomorrow through Sunday and set to packing. At the very least, I should have some time to work on my book uninterrupted, meeting my deadline despite my publisher’s frustration with my slow pace. If nothing else, at least the cabin has air conditioning that works! And, by the time I get home, my AC should be back in action.

Total: $435

Day Four

I pack my bags in the car, then grab groceries to last me through this DIY writing retreat. I’m no pro in the kitchen, but at least I can make sure I eat something good for me, more or less. Next, I stop by a gas station to fill up and get a coffee and snacks for the road. Then, I drive to the cabin. It takes some time to get settled and to make and eat something for dinner, so today’s a bit of a wash writing-wise. But that’s okay. Not every day will be an incredibly productive one, even if we’d want it to be.

Total: $51

Day Five

Set up in the cabin, I’m beyond thrilled that my reservation is through the weekend. This is such a lovely place to be and undoubtedly a good fuel for my writing. I set myself up at the desk—another bonus—and get to work. Before I know it, I’ve finished another chapter, and it’s time for a bite to eat. I check in with the contractor before they leave for the day and remember to pay my utility bill before it’s too late. As much as I’m enjoying my temporary living space, I’ve got to make sure my actual home is kept in good shape, too.

Total: $230

Day Six

Today is another productive writing day, with two and a half more chapters drafted and ready to be reviewed later. As it turns out, this cabin might be the best way for me to get the book done. I might have to seek out more long-term vacation rental options for the next one, too. If it wasn’t for the hassle I’m dealing with when it comes to my own home, I might even want to become a homeowner a second time. I also took a break to renew my subscription to the writing app I use for every one of my projects.

Total: $27

Day Seven

I wake up bummed that this will be my last day in the cabin, but I make the best of it with a writing sprint before packing up to leave. On my way, I stop by the gas station again to top off my tank, then I head home and unpack. Best of all, the heat and humidity are once again working correctly. So finally, with my luggage away, laundry running, and laptop plugged in, I’m set up for success when I sit back at the computer screen first thing tomorrow.

Total: $28

Total for the week: $827

 

If you want to break free and manage to cover a long-time wanted lifestyle, you must find a way to create a passive income. Besides financial freedom, passive income will serve as a cushion in emergency life situations such as health issues, car reparations, job loss, etc. Within the following lines, we will cover the best practices to create passive income sources in times of economic uncertainty.

Creating passive income starts with savings

The first step toward passive income is creating a financial nut. The saving we are relating to here is after-tax savings. If you don’t have a healthy amount of money, things will get very challenging and exhausting.

Know what you are good at

The more your interests and passions match the way you earn passive income, the higher chance you have to build something sustainable and consistent. Everyone excels in some particular skill, be it writing, sales, investing, and so forth. Find your niche and start monetizing it.

If investing is something appealing to you, you might consider a trading career. Now it’s a field available to ordinary people and not only to an initiated circle of financial experts. Just look at the booming interest in Forex trade in recent years. However, finding a reputable Forex broker should be one of your top priorities if you wish to try your hand in online trading.

Create a financial plan and consistently follow it

As we already mentioned, savings are important for the realization of your passive income plans. And to save enough money, one has to put in place an efficient financial plan.

If you already have a decent lifestyle and sufficient income to cover all your small pleasures, you might be prone to lifestyle inflation. Consequently, it reflects on your ability to put some money aside every month. Get rid of the need for a wealthy lifestyle appearance just to compete with the Joneses.

Furthermore, you need to allocate a specific amount for basic expenses every month, another amount for investments, and finally allocate sufficient funds for your project that will generate you a passive income.

At first, it will hurt the lifestyle you get used to. But eventually, when you start gaining momentum regarding your savings, you will stop perceiving the saving process as a significant sacrifice.

The importance of multiple passive income sources

When you begin to build your passive income scheme, you will rely on your regular income funds. Once you start to bear fruits, it’s time to develop your system and multiply the resources. It’s a multilevel game plan.

When you encounter setbacks on one side, you will have you hedged on the other side, thanks to various types of investments. It’s a crucial concept in investment not to put all the eggs in one basket. However, putting all the efforts into making all of your passive incomes sustainable money flow should be your ultimate goal.

Find out your optimum income level

Look back at all your career levels, from the minimum wage as a junior employee to the current professional and financial status, and spot how your happiness changes over the years. It will give you a clear picture of where the balance you need to aim to. Everyone has different needs and expectations, so are you. It’s up to you to find the right balance between needs, opportunities, and real abilities.

Stop biting from your financial nut every now and then

This is the fatal mistake many tend to make when creating the source of passive income. Somehow, there is always some emergency making us take off the funds allocated for investment, and it prevents you from properly benefitting from the compounding strategy.

An efficient passive income strategy is making sure your savings are wisely invested and not sitting on your accounts or, even worse, are vanished by the occasional unnecessary expenses.

 

Every country has a financial sector that drives its economy. So no matter where you are in the world right now, expect to have a job demand in this sector even twenty years down the road.

You can gauge its importance from the fact that the Australian financial and insurance services employ approximately 3.8% of the total workforce in Australia.

The field of finance has a range of highly rewarding career options. These include banks, insurance companies, credit unions, credit card companies, brokerage firms, investment firms, etc.

This industry is perfect for those who want to explore different options and can keep up with a fast-paced work environment. As an energetic and ambitious worker, you are likely to thrive in this industry.

However, if you are a student and considering a career in finance as a potential option, let us tell you why it would be a great move for your future.

1. Diverse Roles

One of the best things about a career in finance is that you have various roles that you can choose from. Whether it is accounting, real estate, or insurance, the job opportunities are varied, so people with multiple interests and skillsets can benefit from it.

Additionally, you can find a role in this sector that suits your personality, be it closing deals in front of clients, or working hard behind the scenes. Despite the common misbelief, you don’t have to be great at numbers to succeed with a finance career, owing to these diverse roles.

Some of the jobs that you can find in this sector are:

· Audit director

· Asset manager

· chief risk officer (CRO)

· Financial controller

· Head of operations

· Internal auditor

· IT auditor

· Corporate finance manager

· Chief financial officer

2. Enhanced Interpersonal Skills

Customer satisfaction is a huge part of the financial sector, making the acquisition of good interpersonal skills vital for success. As a financial industry worker, you must provide a positive experience to your customers, whether you face clients or work behind the scenes.

In any case, you need to have impressive interpersonal skills to communicate with your clients effectively.

3. Dynamic Field

The field of finance is highly dynamic and has been quick to adapt to the industry’s technological advancements. This, coupled with a focus on client expectations, gives countless opportunities to all those interested in a career in finance. With this shift, it is an excellent time to start a career in finance.

Workers in this field are forward thinkers who quickly adapt to change with technical skills.

4. Job Opportunities

Have you heard of any country that doesn’t have a financial sector? We’re sure, no, because every government in the world does. The global financial industry is becoming more integrated with the help of technology that makes working overseas a lot easier than before.

Think about it. You can work for companies across the world and have excellent networking opportunities. There are also possibilities of working remotely with big corporations overseas without leaving your country.

5. International Placement

While there are opportunities to work remotely for an overseas company, if you work for a firm’s finance department, you can get transferred to other countries as well.

With ACA, CFA, certificate iv financial services online or other finance qualifications, you can be sent to other countries. Your company will pay for your relocation and save you the significant hassle by setting you up there.

Such opportunities provide you with experience of carrying out business in complex markets and working in culturally diverse environments. It also gives a stellar impression on your CV with the new skillset.

6. Long-Term Growth

When it comes to the financial sector, you can always expect personal and professional growth. The financial industry drives the world economies, making a career in it highly relevant at any time. As long as you work hard and leave a good impression, you will likely be noticed by your organisation.

Clients’ contacts are essential at any given time so make sure you focus on that as you go along. This industry has no ceiling making it the optimal choice for highly ambitious workers.

7. Good Salary

The need for qualified finance professionals rises alongside the proliferation of technological innovations in the finance sector. This results in high salary packages right from the beginner level all the way to the senior positions.

If you are a graduate, you will have a competitive salary, and if you stay in your firm for a while, it will only get better. An impressive base salary coupled with generous bonuses makes a career in this field highly rewarding.

You’ll also learn how to manage your finances better since that’s what you do professionally as well.

8. Educational Opportunities

Learning never stops, no matter your industry. Employers in the financial sector are generous with career advancement opportunities and pay for online financial courses for exemplary employees.

It is also likely for the employers to fund their employees’ masters or doctorate degrees, provided it contributes to their professional worth. This is a mutual and beneficial agreement for both parties.

9. Challenging Work

If you are someone who loves to push their boundaries, then a career in finance is a good option. The finance industry is fast-paced, and as a candidate, you have to keep up with it. Most employees in this industry face these challenges daily and enjoy them.

It may sound easy, but the individuals in this field need brains, relevant education, and hard workers to succeed. This is an intellectually stimulating line of work that helps you reach the top in the long run.

The majority of finance jobs require problem-solving skills, including catering to small and large companies’ complex problems. As a quick problem solver, you will definitely enjoy this career!

10.Good Foundation

A career in finance provides the perfect skills and opportunities to shift to other industries. A 2019 Robert Half survey shows that one out of every five of the Top 100 CEOs of the FTSE (Financial Times Stock Index) Companies were accountants.

Finance-based jobs give you an excellent foundation to help you advance in a company. You learn the skills to understand financial statements and what impacts businesses’ revenue of costs. People with a non-finance background don’t have the same capabilities and find it hard to carry out these tasks.

You can also learn to interpret data, analyse consequences, and avoid mistakes expertly. This helps you progress to senior roles within your company.

11.Potential For A Startup

With practical knowledge of how to handle a company’s costs and revenues, you can easily start your own business. Proper cash flow management and financial planning are necessary for success, and you already have those skills aplenty.

As an employee in a finance firm, you have a substantial advantage over your competitors. So if you want to start your business at some point, a career in finance is a good place to begin with.

12.High-Caliber

Of course, most people working in a field understand what it takes to succeed. But, generally, those with finance backgrounds perform really well at their job.

In addition to problem-solving skills, you will also learn to be self-motivated, detail-oriented, collaborative, analytical, organised, and deadline-oriented.

In Conclusion

If you search Google right now, you will find many high position employees who started their careers in the finance industry. Every world economy needs a sound financial sector and offers a wide range of job opportunities to fit any person.

The finance sector will always have a job demand and provide countless opportunities to expand your career and enhance your skills. Even though this sector often has a hectic work life, employees’ hard work is consistently recognised and compensated.

If you are a quick thinker with problem-solving skills and love a good challenge, then you should consider a career in finance.

To strengthen your position in the finance field, you should take up courses like cert 4 in financial services from MCI to understand how it works.

Burial insurance, or final expense insurance, is like a boon for senior citizens because it takes away much pressure to worry about funeral costs. Everyone has a right to depart to the afterlife with utmost dignity. Still, senior citizens often worry about burial costs that their beneficiaries will have to bear once they are gone.

Burial insurance gives them the chance to make arrangements for their funeral, just the way they want. If you are worried about similar issues, here are some reasons as to why you should get the best final expense insurance for yourself.

• Easy to Obtain

Compared to other kinds of insurance policies, burial insurance is easy to qualify for. For life insurance, you often have to go through many medical tests and examinations. Many senior citizens do not want to go through that ordeal anymore. A time comes in their lives when they want to be at peace with themselves.

With burial insurance, no significant health queries are made by the insurance provider. Even if they do ask questions about their medical history, it is only for the records. There are hardly any hurdles that a senior citizen has to go through to qualify for this insurance.

• Lower Premiums

Since most senior people buy burial insurance very late in their lives, the premium rates are not as high as other life insurance schemes. Most burial insurance providers know that seniors pay for the premiums mostly through the money from their retirement. They try to keep the premiums as economical as possible and the clauses uncomplicated. The premiums are almost always locked, so there is no worry about the premiums increasing after the quarter. In some cases, you might also get a cash value in return if there is no death in the tenure for which you purchased the insurance. This feature varies from provider to provider, but it is something to be explored.

• Assistance from Insurance Providers

Unlike regular insurance, burial insurance providers are much more mindful of senior citizens’ needs, mostly due to their advanced years. The process is made hassle-free and transparent for seniors to help them find a suitable policy.

There is minimal paperwork, and there is always a representative by their sides to guide them through acquiring the insurance. They also help the beneficiaries to get access to the fund after the death of the insured person. You know for sure your beneficiaries will get a payout, and they won’t have to worry about your funeral finances once you are gone.

• Freedom to Choose

With burial insurance, a senior citizen gets the freedom to choose what kind of funeral they want for themselves. Funerals can be expensive. The price of the casket, flower decorations, costs of the funeral home, renting a venue for the memorial, transportation to the burial ground, costs of the funeral home, paying for the funeral lunch or dinner, and some other related expenses can together add to a lot of money.

You might not be comfortable leaving your beneficiaries to handle all those expenses. However, if you can pay for all of that yourself, there is no reason to compromise on what you want. The burial insurance benefit will cover the costs of the expenses, and all your beneficiary has to do is carry out your instructions. You can take care of your final expenses yourself, even when you are alive.

If you like to plan everything meticulously while you are alive, you will also plan for your final passage after your death. With a burial insurance or the best final expense insurance, you will have full control over your funeral preparations without worrying about the costs.