By admin
Money as we understand it today is the financial means to trade in goods and services. But how did money evolve in the past and how is it shaping up today? For that we need to look at a little history.
When mankind attained some sanity they started to cultivate for food. Man used to make their own houses and own clothes from animal skin. Self Dependency was the goal.
Some people realized that they are adept at doing some things more skillfully. This resulted in a new era where people took up specialized work and they used to barter their services to others. The way it used to work was, a person skilled in making a house would barter his service (build house) to a person cultivating for poultry or meat or something similar. Then came the metal age and people started using metals as a token for value to trade in goods. Metal took the shape of coins. And soon it was realized that Gold and Silver are the most precious of metals [for the simple reason that they were scarce than the rest of the metals]. Civilization was growing day and night and everyday money was founding new meaning. People started looking for a much lighter way to trade than metal. They substituted metal with Paper [Currency notes]. Currency notes were backed by Gold [and still in most of the countries. US is an exception]. People were wary of currency notes and they found a much better way, the plastic money [Debit/ Credit Cards]. Plastic money came into being simply because it was much more secure than currency notes.
Can a glimpse into past, foretell what is the fate for money in the future. There are lot many alternatives available in front of today that are gaining significance. I am trying to list them here,
(A) Electronic Money [Electronic Banking/ PAypal]
(B) Barter [EBAY/ Auction Sites]
(C) Plastic Money
So which one will gain significance over the time. Barter is a good way, but it is very difficult to associate 2 very different things a quantitaive value to trade in.
Plastic Money is Good but than it has an equivalent fight from Electronic money as well. The bigger Question here is Can Electronic Money replace Plastic Money in retail stores? This is something that only time can tell, but it will be very interesting to see what is the future of money?
By admin
Socially responsible investments( SRI) are those which are made in pension funds,mutual funds,charitable and religious organizations,community development ventures,anti-apartheid issues etc.These investments are needed to help and enhance socially good activities,offer protection and sustainment of the global environment,offer incentives to develop community infrastructure,encourage work place diversity,offer equal human opportunities irrespective of race and color etc.Overall SRI is required for better advancement in several spheres of human activity.
Estimates indicate that approximately 4 Trillion US Dollars are available in these funds.And still growing.Whether all the good intentions of SRI have been achieved,in a global scenario,is subject to question.However in the context of availability of such gigantic funds and the tendency of these to grow,a timely projection of SRI into the future is appropriate.
One important parameter for major corprate and individual investments in SRI,has been the sustainable dvelopment initiative and various environmental protection movements.Since these factors continue to be issues of major interest,SRI’s assets are on the rise and likely to be so in the immediate future.
In comparison to developed countries(US,Japan,Europe etc),the penetration of SRI funds in emerging markets( BRIC-Brazil,Russia,India,China ) is rather too small.IFC reports indicate that only a very small per cent of the total SRI fund assets worldwide were held in emerging markets.In the immediate future,as emerging markets grow rapidly and attract substantial global investments,the share of SRI funds in emerging markets is likely to rise.
In the immediate future, SRI is likely to be in for a “period of rapid growth” with an “uncertain outcome” depending on various factors.This is inspite of the fact the the currently available 4 trillion dollars continue to be still unsuccesful to achieve all desired outcomes of the SRI.
Studying SRI,corporate social responsibility and objective based,task related investments, today, the scenario has undergone major changes over the last few decades. Investing has been transformed by technology and by a host of ambitious IT and computer,real estate/financial majors. Investing has also become global,linking all regions of the world.
Considering the fast pace of change in the last few years - “the mainstreaming” of SRI, the growth and diversity of new global participants - what can we expect in the next 15?
First, we have the growing world of a new breed of investors cultivating sustainable investments in SRI.And they are placed against the high-speed world of “financial products and fast-moving global trading that knows no community and cares not at all for anything except results defined by the” growth of capital. This new scenario produces innumerable ways to invest each year.
If we were to predict tomorrow based on today, we may say “more of the same,” but we can only hope for “more maturity and sustainability. In the next 15 years, SRI can be twice as big and successful, an embedded and necessary part of a more sustainable economic system, or hardly exist at all; if the world races backward toward a voracious capitalist system that tramples nature, the defenseless”,the poor and those who are subjects of discrimniation at various levels.
By admin
The term Market capitalization is not as daunting as it sounds. Market cap for short, it refers to the total dollar market value of a company’s outstanding shares. It is used as a measure by which we can classify a company’s size.
HOW IS IT CALCULATED?
Market cap is calculated by multiplying a company’s shares by the current market price of one share. This figure is then used to determine a company’s size.For example, if XYZ Corporation has 1 million shares with $50 per share, then the market capitalization would be $50 million ($50 x 1 million shares).
WHY IS IT CALCULATED?
Market cap is one of the many ways to value a company. There is a common misconception that the higher the stock price of a company, the larger the company. But stock prices may misrepresent a company’s worth because they can vary in speculation about changes in profit expectations or rumors about mergers and acquisitions.
For example, let us look at IBM and Microsoft which are fairly large companies. Their stock prices are $127.32 and $28.44 respectively. If we just look at the stock prices, IBM would appear to be larger.
But IBM has only 1.37 billion outstanding shares whereas Microsoft has 9.31 billion. So we can see that Microsoft’s market cap of 265 billion is considerably higher than IBM’s 175 billion.
CATEGORIZATION OF COMPANIES
Companies are categorized according to their size using their market cap into various types. It is important to remember that these are approximations and can change over time.
- Nano cap : Companies with a capitalization below $50 million fall under this category. These are high risk companies because they are very small.
- Micro cap : Companies with a capitalization between $50 and $250 million.
- Small cap : Companies with a market value of between $250 million and $2 billion are classified as small cap companies.
- Mid cap : Capitalization falls between approximately $2 billion and $10 billion. Examples are Carmax and Ross Stores.
- Large cap or blue chip : Capitalization is between approximately $10 billion and $200 billion. IBM falls under this category.
- Mega cap : Capitalization over $200 billion. Microsoft and Walmart are examples of mega cap companies.
Market capitalization is a market estimate of a company’s value and is based on future prospects, economic and monetary conditions. It represents the public opinion of a company’s worth and determines stock values.
By admin
Five Secrets to Finding Deals in Real Estate
Recently I read an article about motivated sellers. When people are facing a death in the family, divorce, job transfer, and financial stress, it would make sense that they might be more willing to deal on the sale of their home. This still leaves us with the job of finding the motivated sellers. How do you do that?
As with most things worth a buck, there are some tools involved. I recommend a computer, telephone and a good pair of walking shoes.
Deal Finder #1. Select a neighborhood and start walking.
This may sound like a weird thing to do, however, you will get more information from a resident of a neighborhood than anything else. You have to be willing to slide out of your comfort zone and talk to folks working in their yard, walking the dog and taking out the garbage. Remember, neighbors want the neighborhood to keep its value so consider your approach. You might tell them you love the neighborhood and would like to purchase a home and ask them if they know of anyone that might be relocating or moving out of the area that might consider selling their home.
Deal Finder #2. Advertise the deal YOU want!
Be very specific and place online ads and print ads stating the price, location and condition of the property you wish to purchase. If someone is going through a divorce and you place an ad that reads:
Going through DIVORCE? We can help!
Now buying homes in all locations - Call today
for a quick closing and move on with your life!
480-555-1121 or email us at bob@southbell.com
Deal Finder #3. Research public records online.
Most major cities have their public records online. You can see who filed for divorce and the date. Send out a letter asking if the couple needs to sell their home. You can also see how much someone paid for a property giving you a glimpse of the kind of deal you might be able to get.
Deal Finder #4. Drive neighborhoods and look for vacant homes.
This is obvious by newspapers piling up in the yard, flyers stuck in the door, no blinds on the windows, trashcan sitting at the curb for weeks, unkempt yard and no vehicles. Drive by at night to see if there are ever any lights on inside. Once you are certain a home is vacant you can look up the owner in the tax records and then search them in the white pages online to find a phone number…then you simply call them.
Deal Finder #5. Hire a competent REALTOR to assist you.
Competent REALTORS often know of great deals. They may have clients that need to sell a home and yet haven’t listed it yet. They have access to lists of bank owned or REO Properties and can search properties that might be in foreclosure. They can access foreclosure lists. Also, a Competent Realtor will often do the leg work for you making the find much easier
By admin
Effective Business Planning
There are a number of factors to consider when starting-up a business, indeed it is one of the most daunting experiences, particularly if you do not know what starting a business entails, in terms of the legal, taxation and filing requirements. Coupled with all the worry, you then have to put all your plans, thoughts, visions, goals, aspirations and financial projection on paper.
A Business plan strictly speaking is the incorporation of all your thoughts, vision and goal on paper, so that a third party can pick up your plan and know what your aspirations are and where your business is headed.
It is essential to have a pragmatic and functional business plan when starting up a business. A business plan is a blueprint for the business/owner and a communication tool for your businesses investors. It sets out how you propose to run the business, whilst communicating to third parties how you expect to achieve your vision and goal for your business, it also sends a clear message to key management staff, whilst offering transparency on the direction the business is headed and the business budget. It is a document which would usually include a detailed analysis of risks and uncertainties, product definition, market and industry analysis, the industry, marketing strategies, financial projection. A business plan is mainly used as a tool for measuring the success of your business, in addition to being a tool to from securing external financial assistance. Without a business plan you are unlikely to have a tangible projection of your goals and objectives and subsequent attainment.
In reality the world of work is not as simple as drafting a business plan and waiting for success to find you. Not all businesses that have business plans succeed and not all businesses that do not have a business plan fail. Not everyone who starts and runs a business begins with a business plan, but it certainly helps to have one. This might lead one to ask if the business plan is a myth. The truth of the matter is that the business plan to a business man is like a bible to a practicing Christian. The business plan represents your faith in the business venture you are about to embark. Furthermore, it keeps you on the straight and narrow. By writing a business plan, you have actually thought your idea through in your head. It also shows any third party involved in your business that you have thoroughly reflected on your business idea. Let’s face it no one
wants to invest in a non-starter, you want to be able to exhibit sound business acumen and most importantly you want your would be investors to see this.
One might argue that a business plan is only needed by a business owner who seeks financial assistance. This is not necessarily the case; a business plan is a brilliant idea irrespective of your need for financial assistance.
Some of the reasons for writing a business plan include the following:
1 Helps unveil a business
2 Helps with External financial assistance
3 Helps define the purpose of your business
4 Helps you find strategic means to achieve the objective of your business
5 Helps with marketing strategies
6 Helps target customers
7 Helps with brain storming and logical thought process
8 Helps avoid costly mistakes and ambitious projections
9 Helps show that your business will generate enough profits to cover your expenses
A business plan is not only essential for new start-ups, it is also vital for an existing business; it helps the business assess its present position against what was initially projected. It also enables the business focus on its growth aspirations and ways to achieve desired growth. For some existing businesses the focal point shifts slightly from financial to operational and day-to-day project management. For others the focal point might remain financial, especially if there was a smooth transition from start-up, the business might be in the growth and expansion phase, which also needs funding, thereby making the focus of the plan financial. Either way, the owner will have to show how the expansion will be achieved and how beneficial the expansion will be.
A business plan can either be written from scratch or done using a business plan template, which builds on an existing model for your business plan. The use of a business plan template is highly recommended as it ensures you have included all the necessary details within the plan.
Your business plan content must have a broad explanation of the products and services that your business sells or carry out. It must also contain a description of the market that your business is functioning in and the buyers in the market who will buy the product or customers who will need your services. The content must also contain your business pricing strategy and competition. Finally your business plan content must include your business’s financial projection, cash flow, profit and loss and the sources of capital to fund the business.
In conclusion, your business plan gets you to the door of success, whether that door opens depends on how realistic, and well though through your vision and idea is. If you have no plan as to what to do, maybe now is the time to seek help, with writing a succinct and laconic business plan. Let’s face it, it is better to have five pages of clear, well written business plan, with all major points covered and all your figures adding up than have a 50 pager which lacks substance and is fraught with typographic errors. Remember a comprehensive no-nonsense business plan is realistic and substantial.
Some things to remember
What kind of business
Who are the target audience
How will you reach your target audience
What about the guy next door (competition)
How are you going to target your competition
How will you get the would be customers to buy from you instead of your competitor
How will you carry on the day to day running of the business (employees)
How will you manage the employees
Where is the money to run the business coming from
What is your profit margin
Be confident, be confident, be confident
By admin
A good product planning includes an effective product packaging. In marketing, packaging is defined as the general group of activities in product planning that involves designing and producing the container or wrapper for a product. It is done by most product producing companies for utilitarian reason that it helps protect the product on its route from the manufacturer to the final consumer.
It also serves as a way of differentiating the product from its competitive commodities and it aims to provide attraction to customers.
The use of packaging as a marketing strategy can greatly influence the consumer buying behavior. Some of these strategies are the family packaging strategy, reuse packaging and multiple packaging. In the family packaging, usually manufacturers create a family resemblance in the packaging of its several products. Consumers who are loyal on a particular brand will find it easy to buy other product lines with similar brand because of its resemblance in the packaging.
Reuse packaging is mostly adopted because it is proven to have big influence in convincing the consumer to buy the product. Manufacturers usually make use of reusable items like glass, paper or plastic bags and canisters as package for the intention that final consumer can still make use of the package after the product has been consumed.
Multiple packaging is a packaging strategy wherein manufacturers put several products in one package and have one single price for it. Most likely, consumers will be influenced to buy the whole package because they think they can save by buying in bulk.
Although these packaging strategies are proven to have effects on the sale ability of the product, there are other attributes of packaging that can influence the consumer buying behavior. These are as follows:
PACKAGING DESIGN
Consumers give attention to glamour and appeal of the product packaging. Good packaging design can improve the marketability of a product. With its external appeal, it gives the consumer the impression that what’s inside the package is better and worthy.
COLOR
Usually this is the determining factor in a customer’s acceptance or rejection of a product. The careful use of colors in product packaging can increase sales, reduce eyestrain, and generally affect emotional reactions.
PRODUCT QUALITY
In some cases, a consumer always relates the product quality with its kind of package. The product image building features were defined first on its external appearance.
PRODUCT WARRANTY
Labeling is a related activity of packaging because it is usually placed on the package itself. A product package that bears the product warranty will give the customer an assurance that the money he paid is worthy for the product he bought. Consumers are more aggressive in buying product with sure warranty than product that does not promise 100% efficiency.
By admin
Need to sell your house quickly? Put off by the thought of estate agents and viewers tramping through your home? Follow this quick guide to selling your home fast.
There is an alternative to the traditional route when it comes to selling your home. You can use one of the many specialist companies that offer to buy your house so that you’re not at the mercy of a chain, or paying huge fees to agents and solicitors. Here are the steps you need to follow:
1. Decide how quickly you need to sell your home
Most quick sale companies can complete the purchase of your house within just four weeks. If you need to sell sooner than that, just say so; they can normally arrange a quicker purchase. If you’re selling your house because you’re relocating unexpectedly or because you’re in financial difficulty, set a realistic timetable and ask the company if they can keep to it.
2. Decide how much you will accept for your home
You may not get the full open-market price for your property as you would with an estate agent, but you don’t have to pay estate agent fees and the whole process is quicker which means you save on mortgage and bill payments. Look at the current market value of properties like yours in the same area and decide how much you’re willing to accept from a specialist buyer, bearing in mind the other savings you are likely to make.
3. Talk to the companies
Always try to talk to the specialist companies rather than just contacting them over the internet. Talking to them gives you a much better idea about how they approach the sale. You can also take this opportunity to ask any questions about the process and to make sure that you can use your own solicitor to check the contract and that you won’t be asked to commit on the spot.
4. Meet an agent
Most specialist buyers will send someone round to view your house. This allows them to give you an accurate and fair valuation and also gives you the opportunity to ask any further questions.
5. Agree the sale
Once you’ve been given a valuation, you will normally have a set period in which to think about whether you want to agree to the sale. If you decide to go ahead, it’s a good idea to get an independent solicitor to look at the contract before you sign. Make sure you know if there are any additional costs to pay, and when you will receive the money. Also find out when you will be expected to vacate the property and whether the company can help you find other accommodation.
Getting a quick house sale is as easy as these five steps and can be accomplished in as little as 3-4 weeks, making it ideal for people in a wide range of circumstances, including those going through a divorce or bereavement or those who are in financial difficulty.
By admin
The first step in any evaluation process is first to obtain any of the necessary information about the property in order to eliminate any guesswork when analyzing deals. By taking some easy initial steps and establishing the appropriate systems it will eliminate any fears or risks. A lot of the initial “work” can be performed before even leaving your desk.
Step 1: The In-Office Evaluation
Before even leaving the comforts of your own house or office most of the initial evaluation can be done right at your desk. This first step can save you a lot of wasted time and energy. The first thing you want to do is look up the public record of the property. This information is usually available online and give you valuable information such as the style of the property, square footage, number of bedrooms and baths, what the property value is assessed at, what the property was last sold for and sometimes even a picture of the property.
Step 2: Look up Comparable Properties
There are several websites available to the public that you can use to look up estimated property values but sometimes these may not always be completely accurate and should not be used as a final determining factor. The best way is to establish a relationship with a realtor who can look up comparable properties (comps) and what they have recently sold for. When looking up compass you will be able to determine both the “as-is” value of a property as well as the after repair value (ARV). You can look up properties that are currently listed, those that have expired and those that have sold. You can also compare the condition of these properties to the one you are evaluating as well as the similarity of neighborhoods.
Step 3: Property Walkthrough
After you have done your “in-office” evaluation it’s time to hit the pavement. You will need to evaluate the actual physical condition of the property. This will help you determine the as-is and after repair values. When you first meet the seller have them show you around the property, just let them know you are trying to get a general idea of how much work the property needs, if any. You should primarily be looking for major items that need work and that will quickly eat up a repair budget.
Step 4: Negotiating with the Seller
The first step when purchasing a deal is getting the property under contract at a price well below the market value. In this step successful communication is a necessity. You must be able to handle seller objections or it will break the deal. This will greatly increase your success. You should practice and prepare your responses to different objections you may face. This will help you avoid a costly learning curve if you know how to handle objections prior to be confronted with them.
Step 5: Contract Signing and Closing
Once you negotiate your purchase price with the seller the next thing to do is get it under contract. It’s best to use a standard purchase and sale agreement for your state or have your attorney draft one for you. Once you have the property under contract the next step is managing and executing the closing process. In this step it is important to keep a close eye on the details and don’t let anything slip through the cracks. It’s always a good idea to have a checklist in order to manage the various stages of the closing process. The various parties involved in the closing process include you, seller, attorneys, lenders, title companies, appraisers, and insurance brokers. It is very important that communication with all parties involved in this process be frequent and continuous. This will insure that nothing is left to chance and will allow for a smooth transaction.
By admin
One of the few gloomy realities of being a writer is that you are going to receive rejection slips. While this is more often true in the world of print writing than it is in the world of Internet writing, the fact remains that all writers experience rejection of their work at least some of the time. The question, when you receive a rejection slip, is what you are going to do with it. Are you going to use rejection slips as an excuse for self-pity, or for getting angry at a publisher, or are you going to use rejection slips to improve your writing?
While it is not always the case, many times rejection slips will contain specifics as to why the article or submission in question was not accepted. This sort of rejection slip can prove invaluable. For example, a rejection slip might point out a style issue, such as the overuse of passive voice. A rejection slip might point out the existence of an inordinate amount of grammatical errors. A rejection slip might, in some cases, point to ways in which the submission fails to meet the publisher’s guidelines. No matter what the case, focusing on that particular area allows you to figure out what must be done in order to improve your writing.
In many cases, you may be able to use a rejection slip to improve your writing and then resubmit the piece to the same publisher. Even if the publisher does not accept resubmissions, you may be able to use the rejection slip and the notes contained in it to rework the piece and submit it to a different publisher.
You can even use rejection slips as motivation. While some folks see rejection slips as reasons to become discouraged and disheartened, you can use rejection slips to motivate you. Stick them up on your refrigerator. Every time you see them, remind yourself how you are going, someday, to prove that particular publisher wrong. While this particular tactic doesn’t work for everyone, it might work for you if you try it.
While no writer likes to see a rejection slip, you can learn to see rejection slips as part of the process of honing your craft. With each rejection slip and each subsequent revision and submission, you become a better writer.
