money Archives - Page 24 of 24

Believe In Your Marriage… But Get a Prenup Just in Case !

There’s a popular saying that marriage is betting half your stuff that you’ll love your new spouse forever. But the reality is more than half of all marriages end in divorce.

Marriage comes with more than love, butterflies, and happily-ever-after. It also comes with tax ramifications, joint debt, and the commingling of assets. If you get a divorce, it can be very messy financially (as well as emotionally). One way to avoid the mess is to start with a prenuptial agreement. Prenups get a bad reputation because of people misusing them. In reality, they are a great financial planning tool for marriage. Here are some examples of where a prenup would come in handy.

You have Children from a Previous Relationship

If you have children from a previous relationship, then a prenup is a good idea. A prenup can protect assets that you want your children to have later in life. A prenup is simply an agreement that decides how assets and money will be divided if the relationship ends. One way to protect your family business is to have a prenup in place. Unless you’ve been through a divorce, you don’t understand how emotionally involved people become during the end of a relationship. Some people will go to any length to cause financial or emotional damage to the other person. A prenup can save you from financial damage.

You’ve Waited In Life To Marry

You waited until you were sure that you found the right person for you. You waited until you had established a secure financial net to carry you through life. You need a prenup. Sure, in many states what you bring into a marriage is yours…but what about the assets you bring in once you tie the knot? A prenup can protect your financial assets and your retirement funds. You worked hard to establish yourself.

You have an Established Business

If you own a business and it is doing well or you expect it (realistically) to do well, a prenup is a good idea. The only exception to this rule is if your future spouse helped you start the business. Your entire livelihood could be taken away from you in a divorce. This is a problem that can be avoided with the use of a prenup.

You are Young and have Substantial Assets

You worked hard to make an early name for yourself. Protect yourself and your assets. You should also use a prenup if you are young and expect to have substantial assets soon. For instance: if you are 18 and you are talking to a draft agent from a professional sports team and you are engaged, get a prenup.

Prenups Aren’t One Sided

The major misunderstanding about prenups is that people use them to somehow financially abuse the other person. Prenups are a little different from standard contracts. The court won’t always protect you if you sign a stupid contract. Being stupid isn’t a crime even if we think it should be. However, if a prenup is incredibly one sided then it will not be enforced by a judge.

A prenup can be used to protect both parties. It takes away the guess work of going through a lengthy divorce trial where either party could end up with nothing. There are some things, such as child support, that cannot be addressed in a prenup. Child support affects another person’s rights (the child). The child really isn’t a party to the prenup.

Legality

Prenups must be legal. Like any contract, you should take it to your attorney. The other party should be encouraged to take it to an attorney of their choice to make sure that it is fair. Things such as, “If you gain 20 pounds I will divorce you and you will pay me $500,000,” will not be held up by the court. It’s important to consult your attorney.

Don’t use the Internet to draft your own prenup. Talk to an attorney. Only an attorney is qualified to give you legal advice. Don’t rely on Internet forums for prenup advice. On the Internet, people can portray themselves as anyone they want. They know that very few people will take the time to verify the information that they receive online.

Prenups can save a lot of time, heartache, and fighting if your dream marriage turns into a walking nightmare. Work together to come up with a prenup that best fits your relationship. All problems are best solved by planning for them in advance. It doesn’t guarantee that there won’t be a problem. It just helps institute solutions to minimize the effects of the problem.

Hungry Planet: What The World Eats

ldAsia:

Chinese Cuisine: Known for its regional variations, Chinese food features noodles (like stir-fried noodles or dumplings), rice dishes (fried rice, congee), and an emphasis on fresh vegetables and flavorful sauces.
Japanese Cuisine: Freshness and delicate flavors are key in Japanese cooking. Sushi, sashimi, tempura, and noodle dishes like ramen and soba are some popular staples.
Indian Cuisine: Aromatic spices are the heart of Indian food. Curries, tandoori dishes, and flavorful breads like naan are all hallmarks of this vibrant cuisine.
Thai Cuisine: Thai food is known for its balance of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavors. Pad thai, curries like tom yum, and fragrant rice dishes are some of Thailand’s culinary treasures.
Korean Cuisine: Bold and spicy flavors define Korean food. Kimchi (fermented cabbage), Korean BBQ, and bibimbap (a rice bowl with various toppings) are just a few examples.

Europe:

Italian Cuisine: Simple yet flavorful, Italian food is loved worldwide. Pizza, pasta (in countless variations), and fresh regional ingredients are the cornerstones of this cuisine.
French Cuisine: French cooking is known for its rich sauces, attention to detail, and focus on fresh seasonal ingredients. Pastries, breads, and fine wines are also essential parts of the French culinary experience.
Spanish Cuisine: Spanish food is full of life! Tapas (small savory dishes), paella (a rice dish with seafood or meat), and cured meats like jamón are all popular choices.
Greek Cuisine: Fresh seafood, olive oil, and herbs are prominent features of Greek cuisine. Souvlaki (grilled meat skewers), dolmas (stuffed grape leaves), and creamy dips like tzatziki are all delicious examples.
Mexican Cuisine: Spicy and flavorful, Mexican food is a crowd-pleaser. Tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and fresh salsas are some of the most well-known Mexican dishes.

Latin America:

Brazilian Cuisine: Brazilian food reflects the country’s diverse heritage. Feijoada (a black bean stew), churrasco (grilled meats), and pão de queijo (cheese bread) are some popular choices.

Of course, this is just a small sampling! Every region around the world has its own unique and delicious cuisine waiting to be explored.

6 Sure Ways to Cover the Crushing Costs of College

Expecting a child is a glorious time. It’s excited, but it’s also very scary. There are products to buy and decisions to be made. It is never too early to plan for your child’s college education. The cost of attending college continues to soar. Although education is seen as an equalizer for the employment playing field, it often traps people into a long, long cycle of paying back student loans. Since 1987, the cost of getting a post-high school education has risen almost 500%.

All parents hope that their child will receive a scholarship in order to attend college. We want the best for our children…and the best does not include thousands of dollars of debt. However, for every 100 scholarships, your child will probably be turned down by 97 of them unless he or she is a prodigy or rising athletic star. Since none of us know what the future will hold, it’s best to start the financial planning process early. There are some very practical and affordable things that parents can do to save money for their child’s education.

Savings Account

Talk to your bank about your options for a savings account. Some are interest bearing. A regular savings account that gives an 8% annual interest can pack quite a punch if you invest regularly. The trick is to make sure that the money is deposited and untouched for a long period of time. Do the math before making a decision.

529 Plan

Some are designed specifically for college. One such savings account is known as a 529 Plan. A 529 Plan is savings plan that is ran by the state or an educational institution that helps families save for college. It derives its name from Section 529 of the IRS Code. If you choose a 529 Plan, it is important that you know what type of educational costs it can be used to pay.

Design a Savings Plan

If you’re wondering how much you should put into any savings account, then you should know that there is an easy way to save more than $5,000.00 each year. On Pinterest, it is commonly known as a Disney Savings Plan. There are other versions to save less money in a year. For the $5k per year model, you start by setting aside $4.00 the first week. Over the next 51 weeks, you deposit the stated amount into the savings account. By the end of the year, your college savings account will have a little more than $5,500.00. If you started this the year your child is born and continued through the age of 18 years old, you would have more than $99,000.00.

Money Market Association

Money market accounts can be a practical way to save money. These accounts pay interest. However, the interest varies on a daily basis. One of the great things about a money market account is how easily you can access the money. If you start a money market account when your child was born and then at the age of 16 years old he or she decides to take a college class, it is easy to use that money. There are many types of money market accounts. Speak with a qualified financial professional before making a final decision.

Mutual Funds

Some say mutual funds are a great way to save for college. There’s just as many people who believe that they are not a good vehicle for saving. One thing is true – if you choose a mutual fund to help you save for future college expenses, it will be handled by a qualified professional. There are several good mutual funds that continue to grow well and could even keep up with rising college costs if managed in the right way.

Research Scholarships Early

It is not prudent for your child to wait until their senior year to decide to look for scholarships. Be proactive. Start researching scholarships during their junior year of high school. Even if you are the parent of the next football superstar, it never hurts to have a list of secondary sources for college money. Additionally, look for private grants to bridge any perceived gap.

Other Savings Options

There are other practical ways to save for college. You can invest in stock. Of course, that isn’t something you should do if you don’t understand stocks. You can buy savings bonds. Savings bonds take a very long time to mature. You can start a whole life insurance policy for your child. However, those also grow in a slow manner.

Planning for your child’s future is a noble act of love. It helps them receive the very best start to their adult years that they could possibly receive. It helps them start adulthood with less debt and fewer worries. Some of the aforementioned ways also offer attractive tax breaks for you. Speak with a financial adviser to help determine the best way to make the most of your savings.

The Truth Behind Being Your Own Boss

The term “you’re your own boss?? is very comforting to mostentrepreneurs. They’re the king. The head honcho. No boss means nobody to pushthem around. Isn’t that what everyone wants?

Apparently it is. I often guest-lecture at area colleges,speaking to students in entrepreneurship classes. Most of the students have asincere interest in starting their own company after graduation. I always startoff by asking the question: Why? Not surprisingly, “I want to be my own boss??is always an answer.

On the surface, it does sound ideal. We’ve all seen TV showsthat exaggerate an angry, abusive boss (my personal favorite being Mr. Spacelyof Spacely Space Sprockets, George Jetson’s boss on The Jetsons), and maybewe’ve had our own personal experiences with bosses who didn’t treat us well.But before you assume that being your own boss is a good thing, let’s look atit a little more carefully.

To begin with, are you really your own boss? Sure, you ownthe company, and there’s nobody above you to whom you have report. There’s alsonobody to fire you, tell you to pack up your desk, and escort you out to yourcar. So in that sense, sure, you won’t have a boss. That perception changes,though, as soon as an angry clients calls, screaming into the phone that theproject you’re doing is taking too much time or that they’re unhappy with aservice you’ve provided and threaten to take their account elsewhere. They say“Jump,?? you say “How high??? And that’s when you realize that quite the oppositeof not having a boss at all, you have many bosses—each and every one of yourclients. And these people can be every bit as cutting and belittling as any“real?? boss could ever be.

There’s also the question of freedom. As the boss of thecompany, you have one great advantage over people who are employees: Employeescan get fired, and you can’t. The flip side of that is that they can quit, andyou can’t. For most people who simply work for a company, leaving requireslittle more than saying “I quit?? and walking out. As your own boss, you don’thave that luxury. If you don’t love what you do—owning and running a companyfor the sheer excitement of owning and running a company in good times andbad—well, you’ll be out of luck, because unraveling the whole thing andshutting the company down can be a long and winding road.

Think carefully about the downsides of being your own bossbefore making the ultimate decision to take that route. While it’s easy toassociate that position with absolute freedom, the reality is that it can beanything but.

10 Simple Steps To Marketing Yourself

1. Be Happy

Don’t start marketing yourself if you’re in the mindset that life sucks, you never have any good opportunities come your way, there are always dark clouds looming. A big part of marketing yourself is mastering the art of personal attraction. In general, people are attracted to positive attitudes. I’m not advocating you fake it—pretending to be positive is usually pretty obvious, and anybody paying even a little bit of attention will see right through you. What I’m advocating is that you genuinely be happy! Now please don’t run off and buy a new copy of The Secret, but I honestly believe that people can train themselves to be more positive, and view their life and situations in a more constructive light. When problems or issues come up, do you concentrate on finding ways to solve them, or do you sulk and take a “woe is me?? attitude? Does negativity help give you definition and purpose? I could go on and on about this one topic, but the bottom line is that whatever your situation is, find the best in it, be focused, and be happy. Positive actions breed positive results.

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Decoded: The Art of the Big Online Launch

In today’s digital age, anticipation can be just as powerful as the product itself. Companies are increasingly turning to online launches to generate excitement, build buzz, and ultimately drive sales. But what makes a virtual product unveiling truly successful? Let’s delve into the secrets behind these captivating online spectacles.

Pre-Launch: Building the Hype Machine

The groundwork for a big online launch begins long before the big reveal. Here’s how companies cultivate excitement:

Targeted Teasers: Strategic social media posts with cryptic clues or intriguing visuals pique audience curiosity and get them talking.
Influencer Marketing: Partnering with relevant online personalities can introduce the product to a wider audience and leverage their credibility.
Email Marketing: Engaging email campaigns keep existing customers informed and invested in the upcoming launch.

Launch Day: Orchestrating the Big Moment

The launch day itself is all about creating a dynamic and interactive experience. Here are some key elements:

Livestream Events: Real-time product demonstrations, celebrity appearances, and interactive Q&A sessions can generate a sense of community and excitement.
Exclusive Content: Offering limited-edition items, early access discounts, or bonus features during the launch window incentivizes immediate action.
Social Media Blitz: Engaging with fans on social media platforms, responding to comments, and running contests can amplify the launch’s reach and visibility.

Post-Launch: Keeping the Momentum Going

A successful launch doesn’t end with the big reveal. Here’s how to maintain the buzz:

Customer Reviews and Testimonials: Encouraging customer reviews and showcasing positive testimonials builds trust and social proof.
Ongoing Social Media Engagement: Maintaining a consistent social media presence with product updates, user-generated content, and behind-the-scenes glimpses fosters long-term engagement.
Data Analytics and Refinement: Analyzing launch data helps companies understand what resonated with customers and identify areas for improvement in future online launches.

By following these steps, companies can transform an online launch from a simple product announcement into a captivating event that fuels brand loyalty and drives sales in the digital marketplace.