Personal Finance Tips to Help You Accrue Wealth
While your bank account might be a far cry from Bill Gates’, that doesn’t mean you can’t take action to build your personal wealth. By adopting the practices below you can learn how to build upon your existing funds, how to expand them, and what to do in the future to ensure your financial stability. Attaining and maintaining wealth stems from smart financial habits. The sooner you implement them, the sooner you can reap the benefits.
Create Motivating Goals
Nothing motivates quite like a goal that gets you excited for the future. Create the type of goals that are not only attainable but make you want to strive to achieve them. Write down a list of both short-term and long-term goals you can take steps towards achieving each day or week. You’ll have a clear direction of where you stand and where you’re headed.
Utilize a Plan for Spending and Saving
Budgeting is one of the simplest things you can do to gain wealth, but it is often overlooked. Use an app, make a spreadsheet, or write in a journal, but make sure you’re keeping track of every purchase and every income source. You won’t be able to fully take advantage of the opportunities available to you unless you have a clear grasp of your finances before you start to invest and grow.
Reduce Spending & Generate New Income
To maximize your profit potential, find ways to reduce your spending. No matter how small your cutbacks may be, they will make an impact. Create realistic goals on how to cut back and make headway each day towards that goal. Once you’ve made the necessary cuts, find ways to generate new income streams. Acquire a rental property, use your home as an Airbnb, create an online store, or invest in entities that can provide passive income. By having multiple revenue streams you can still keep a stable income even if one goes through a less than ideal period.
Invest to Create Passive Income
Want to make money without doing hours of work each day? You need to invest and invest wisely. Find ways to invest some of your profits back into what is fueling your growth. Choose different avenues in which to invest your funds, such as stocks, bonds, IRAs, and more, to diversify your holdings. Don’t forget to add to your savings accounts each month to continue to earn interest and build upon your nest egg.
Keep an Eye on the Market
A lack of awareness of how the stock market is doing can directly impact the success of your personal finances, especially if you have a lot invested. Changing interest rates can alter your long-term costs and market shifts could alter your passive income sources and require small to massive changes. Adopt a long-term mindset for the best chances of success. Take full control of the way you use your money so you can make necessary changes that spark new opportunities to grow your finances and wealth.
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Top Travel Startups You Should Know About
The global travel industry is perhaps one of the biggest backbones that help support businesses and social-economic prosperity. Statistics show that the multi trillion-dollar air travel and tourism industry ferried an annual average of about 1.19 billion passengers in 2016, a figure expected to grow to about 1.8 billion passengers by 2030. Research and development in the sector is leading to the birth and growth of new startups, designed to make the industry operationally effective and efficient. Here is an overview of the top travel startups today.
- AirBuy
AirBuy was launched in 2017 in Massachusetts as a startup platform that allows travelers, online travel agencies, airlines, and airports to optimize their duty-free purchases as well as revenues. The platform gives travelers a personalized service where they can log in and pre-order duty-free items in available duty-free shops in airports before arrival. The full-fledged platform allows passengers to pay for the items through their e-wallet and have the items pre-shipped to a convenient place to pick up upon arrival at the airport.
- HeyCars
HeyCars is a platform launched in 2016 and is designed to allow travelers to book cab services to facilitate airport transfers. The service is designed to offer 24/7 customer service at the airport and can have passengers pre-arrange and book their cab services days before they arrive.
- Timeshifter
Timeshifter is a Danish tech startup designed as an app suitable to help passengers who travel long distances to reduce the impacts of jet lag. The application is designed to prompt the user to adhere to a specific routine, especially immediately before boarding, during the actual travel, and after arrival. One can, for instance, recommend a traveler to stay awake or sleep, contrary to his or her usual routine.
- Qiantech
Qiantech is a Chinese travel startup designed to use artificial intelligence and augmented reality to give travelers and tourists an exceptional experience as far as navigation of tourist attraction sites is concerned. The augmented reality system is particularly useful in parks and museums and allows tourists to immerse into a dynamic environment while viewing displayed items from an entirely new angle.
The Oldest Business School in the U.S.: Wharton
There are over one hundred business schools in the United States. Each one ranked based on a number of factors, such as employment, salary, disciplines and alumni. Yet, another factor to consider is the history of the school. The reason why the school was formed should inspire a candidate, as the benefactor reached his goals and made strides in the business world. Names of great businessmen adorn the facades of business schools at universities across the United States, such as John L. Kellogg (Kellogg School of Management) and Walter A. Haas, Sr. (Haas School of Business). The business school with the richest history is the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.
The Wharton School of Business was established in 1881, which makes it the oldest business school in the United States. The school changed the philosophy of teaching business as a trade to a profession. It’s founder, Joseph Wharton, was a pioneer in the zinc and nickel metal industries in Pennsylvania in the mid-1800s. He used his business acumen to co-found the Pennsylvania and Lehigh Zinc Company (later the Bethlehem Steel Company), which was the first successful producer of zinc metal. He also funded the Gap Mine in Lancaster (PA). Wharton believed that businessmen should be “pillars of society” and are obligated to “advance society as a whole, creating new wealth and economic opportunity for all people.” Thus, he founded the Wharton School of Business. As the school grew in size, so did the business disciplines, including business law, finance, insurance and marketing. It is known for many “firsts,” such as a business school research center (Industrial Research Unit), a custom executive program (Securities Industry Institute), an MBA program in Health Care Management and the LEAD program. And there are PhD programs for each business discipline!
As part of his mission to create opportunities for all, he also founded Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania and the Wharton Fellowship (the first of many fellowships), in which W.E.B. DuBois was a recipient in 1896. W.E.B. DuBois went on to co-found the NCAA. Other notable alumni include Warren Buffet, Elon Musk, Ruth Porat and Ben Lerer. Those who attend Wharton appreciate the school’s history and legacy, including the mission of giving back to the community. When it comes to researching business schools, the school’s history should be included in your criteria.
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Business School Trends for 2019
If you are interested in getting your MBA, there have been many changes to business schools and their programs in the past five years (i.e. online MBAs). It is beneficial to not only get as much information as you can on the programs that meet your criteria, but also on the business (and international business) landscape. Here are some business school trends you can expect for this year.
- Specialized MBAs — There will be new areas of specialization for MBAs, including entrepreneurship, luxury management and analytics. Also, since there are more startups popping up in Europe and Asia, there will be a focus on studying in these areas, particularly in India.
- Growth in Europe — Due to Brexit, there will be additional growth in Europe. Students with global interests should look into studying in the United Kingdom because Brexit will position this region to support new business opportunities (i.e. startups).
- A Decline in US Applications — There is a decreasing number of applications in the United States, especially international students, because of the ongoing immigration issue. Also, the United States economy is strong, which is keeping potential applicants at their jobs as well as providing opportunities at work. Lastly, the price of an MBA is off-putting to many, and financial aid is very low.
- An Increase MBA Hires — Experts predict more corporate acquisitions and mergers due to current low corporate tax rates. This means corporations will have more money to reinvest, pay out bonuses, invest in other companies … etc. Thus, the market will be ripe for MBA graduates to meet the needs of banks and private equity firms.
- Educational Technology — There are online MBA programs, which deliver MBA courses and materials to meet students’ hectic schedules. But, there is new technology for the MBA classroom, specifically gamification. Gamification gives students a real-world perspective of owning a business via a business simulation. Students play roles in running a business, which increases learning and engagement.
- Amazon’s Hiring of MBAs — Since Amazon stock has dropped, this does not bode well for MBAs. The reason: Amazon is the single largest employer of MBAs according to Poets & Quants. The Trump Administration is pursuing antitrust charges against Amazon. This could be disruptive to Amazon’s hiring of MBAs, and can even affect employees at the e-commerce giant.
It is important to be aware of these trends, but they should not deter you from your MBA goal.
from Sabah Mikha’s Latest Blog PostSabah Mikha https://ift.tt/2NlKBID
Business School Trends for 2019
If you are interested in getting your MBA, there have been many changes to business schools and their programs in the past five years (i.e. online MBAs). It is beneficial to not only get as much information as you can on the programs that meet your criteria, but also on the business (and international business) landscape. Here are some business school trends you can expect for this year.
- Specialized MBAs — There will be new areas of specialization for MBAs, including entrepreneurship, luxury management and analytics. Also, since there are more startups popping up in Europe and Asia, there will be a focus on studying in these areas, particularly in India.
- Growth in Europe — Due to Brexit, there will be additional growth in Europe. Students with global interests should look into studying in the United Kingdom because Brexit will position this region to support new business opportunities (i.e. startups).
- A Decline in US Applications — There is a decreasing number of applications in the United States, especially international students, because of the ongoing immigration issue. Also, the United States economy is strong, which is keeping potential applicants at their jobs as well as providing opportunities at work. Lastly, the price of an MBA is off-putting to many, and financial aid is very low.
- An Increase MBA Hires — Experts predict more corporate acquisitions and mergers due to current low corporate tax rates. This means corporations will have more money to reinvest, pay out bonuses, invest in other companies … etc. Thus, the market will be ripe for MBA graduates to meet the needs of banks and private equity firms.
- Educational Technology — There are online MBA programs, which deliver MBA courses and materials to meet students’ hectic schedules. But, there is new technology for the MBA classroom, specifically gamification. Gamification gives students a real-world perspective of owning a business via a business simulation. Students play roles in running a business, which increases learning and engagement.
- Amazon’s Hiring of MBAs — Since Amazon stock has dropped, this does not bode well for MBAs. The reason: Amazon is the single largest employer of MBAs according to Poets & Quants. The Trump Administration is pursuing antitrust charges against Amazon. This could be disruptive to Amazon’s hiring of MBAs, and can even affect employees at the e-commerce giant.
It is important to be aware of these trends, but they should not deter you from your MBA goal.
Originally published at sabahmikhajr.com on February 21, 2019.
Tips to Have a Successful Road Trip
When you have a big road trip coming up, whether it’s with a group of friends or you’re flying solo, making sure you do everything you can do ahead of time to ensure a positive experience, is going to make all the difference in the world.
If this is your first long car ride, you’ll want to make sure this is definitely something you want or need to do. It should come as no surprise that some people do not do well with extended car rides. If you get antsy in the car after a couple hours, you may want to think about other ways you can get from point A to point B.
Once you’ve decided this is definitely something you’re going to do, follow these tips to make the ride as smooth as possible.
Check your car
Since you’re going to be relying on your vehicle to get you safely to the destination, you’re going to need to make sure it’s roadworthy. Take your car to a trusted mechanic for a tune-up and do a thorough inspection of the parts. One of worst things that can happen during a road trip is having your car break down mid-trip.
Clean out your car
Driving long distances can put a strain on you because it’s time-consuming and can be stressful at times. Alleviate some of the stress by cleaning out your car ahead of time, and while you’re traveling, make sure to keep up on it.
Get some tunes
Being stuck in the car for a long trip can be boring, so prepare ahead of time by gathering music from your favorite musicians. One good option is to sign up for a music service like Pandora or Spotify that will allow you to download songs and play them without wi-fi so you won’t use up too much data.
Don’t make a strict itinerary
There’s nothing wrong with having a few ideas of places you’d like to stop and see, but try not to plan everything down to the minute. If you hit traffic or get held up, it’ll throw off your entire schedule and what you’ll end up remembering about the trip was how many things you weren’t able to do.
Websites Where You Can Make a Great Online Resume
Everyone knows how important it is to create a great resume to send to prospective employers, but not everyone has one available for access online. Even before you start looking for a new position, it’s an excellent idea to create an online resume so that great companies can find you before you ever need to find them.
Visualcv
This website allows you to create an online resume based on the information on your LinkedIn profile or choose to create one from information you input it yourself. This resume is easily found on Google and is therefore easily accessible to future employers. This site is great if you’d like to create a professional-looking resume on an online format.
Resumonk
Resumonk allows you to create an online resume that you can easily promote and that is also completely customizable. With just the basic profile you have the option of choosing from a variety of different designs and customizing the text you use for your headings and information. With the premium account, you have the option to create multiple resumes on the site, the option to export your site to PDF file, and the ability to create cover letters. Resumonk, like Visualcv, rank well on Google and therefore, have the ability to be seen easily by future employers.
Remote.com
Previously called Branded.me, Remote.com is different than other online resume builders. Unlike other online resume generator, Remote.com, is an interface where you can share your resume with your other professionals that you’re already connected with on LinkedIn. When you sign up, you have the option to include your LinkedIn profile information that sends your LinkedIn connections to Remote.com. From there, you can choose to connect with the ones that are currently on Remote.com and continue to interact with them on this site. According to their website, over 2 million people currently use. You can also use this website to find jobs and apply for them. Once created, your resume acts like a website and is easily navigable and looks very professional.
Whichever website you choose from, all of these online resume builders are great options to keep your education and employment information current for employers that may come across your information online.
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How Internet Has Changed Business: Connectivity With Clients
In this series, I’ll be delving into each of the 4 main ways the internet has changed the business industry. This month, I will be focusing on how the internet has allowed companies to directly connect with their customers in a meaningful way. If you were working in an office before the internet, you know the differences be
tween now and then are staggering.
Before the internet was a major part of our everyday lives, the main way customers would connect with the business would be when they physically went to the brick and mortar store or spoke to a customer service representative over the phone. While both the actual store and phone service still have an important place in today’s business world, they are not the only means of communication. People can now traffic the company website, and may order online as opposed to coming into the store. In fact, a recent poll taken showed that nearly one third of all consumers shop online at least once a week. There is less of reason to have an actual store nowadays because customers so regularly order offline.
Email has allowed employees to easily communicate with clients, quick questions can be answered via email within a couple hours or, at the most, a couple days. Instead of waiting to schedule a phone call and align the schedules of both parties, email allows questions and answers to flow freely everyday, increasing productivity and allowing for better communication.
Have you ever signed up to receive promotions from a store on your email? Companies can reach out to new and existing customers with coupons and sale notifications in their email every time they want a sale to be known. While these sometimes are overlooked in a customer’s inbox, these are still great ways for a company to stay relevant to a customer.
A relatively new form of communication with clients is geolocation or location-based marketing, that takes advantage of the consumer’s smartphone. Also known as geofencing, geolocation targets customers by their location, offering sales and alerts when they are in close proximity to a store.If the customer is sharing their location with their network, a company is potentially able to market to that person, and a whopping 72% of customers will react to the promotional information. This form of communication will take me to my next way that internet has changed business – marketing.
Visit my page next month, when I’ll describe how the internet has vastly changed the marketing industry. Feel free to check out my presentation with all 4 ways on my slideshare account.
from Sabah Mikha’s Latest Blog PostSabah Mikha http://sabahmikhajr.com/how-internet-has-changed-business-connectivity-with-clients/
How to Study for the GMATs
When it comes to studying for the GMAT exam, there are no magic formulas, no secrets, no tricks—just planning, preparation, and consistency. Every month, thousands of people around the world have accepted their fate to take this standardized adaptive exam in hopes to walk out with a competitive score of 700 or above. Because of its return on investment, it is imperative that you understand how to effectively prepare and study for this test.
When studying for the GMATs, you must first and foremost understand that this preparation will require an overall commitment on your time, and possibly your money. Because of this, try and block off three to four months with 15 to 20 hours of studying per week before your scheduled test date. This will allow you to learn the necessary skills and foundation for the exam so that you can effectively perform on test day.
As for the exam, it is important you understand the type of problems you will see on the test. While there are only two sections, quantitative and verbal, these sections will cover five types of questions:
- Problem solving
- Data Sufficiency
- Sentence Correction
- Critical Reasoning
- Reading Comprehension
Within those specific sections, they will have their own sub questions tailored towards the difficulty and complexity of the exam. Now to succeed on the GMATs, it is immensely helpful to recognize the questions not merely as vehicles for assessment, but as the assessment themselves. Learning the strengths, weaknesses, flaws, and tricks of each individual questing will allow you to gain a stronger arsenal come test day.
To help you with this, I would highly advise you consider taking a GMAT prep class such as Veritas or Manhattan GMAT. These prep classes will help you understand your own skill and ability level, what areas you are good at, what areas you still need to master, how to work and perfect your timing, and how to analyzing your exam. Be mindful that those who do better on the GMAT exam tend to spend more time studying for it, on average. But there is no cause–and-effect process at work here. Studying 107 hours does not guarantee that you will score in the 600 range. Instead, understand and internalize the problems. Even if you get them write, look back at the strategies and begin incorporating new methods such as plugging in answers, backwards solving, etc. into your tool box.
Good luck and happy studying.
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Personal Finance Tips for Millennials
We cannot predict the future. Life, as many have stated time-and-time again, just happens. In fact, if we could go back in time, we would certainly do things different. For many college students, they do not necessarily comprehend the sever ramifications that student loans, credit card debt, and other necessary obligatory expenses such as rent, car payments, and even living and social expenses have on your savings. But it is not too late. While you cannot turn back the clock, you want to make sure you establish a strong holistic understanding and financial strategy to gradually build your savings and investments into large sums.
Keep in mind, the ability to save is a process. Accumulating a strong financially healthy wealth does take time. While it may not be able to see the immediate results within just a short period of time, you want to make sure you do your due diligence and establish that plan so that you can reach your financial goals.
Below, I have provided five financial tips that every millennial must take advantage of. These helpful tips will establish that necessary path and secure your future for the better.
- Establish your Financial Goals
It is important to think long term when it comes to saving your money. As much as you want to enjoy it, you cannot be too frivolous and careless with your cash. To do this, it is absolutely imperative that you plan with a goal in mind. Like anything in life, you want to make sure there is some type of positive end result. Similar to that, with your financial situation, you want to backwards plan and establish short term and long term goals in order to build a strong and viable financial plan. By having these goals in mind, you will be able to anticipate for any future cost and set tangible and logistical objectives of what you can and cannot spend at a given month. Certain goals can be the following: housing, car purchases, big financial purchases, vacations, educational cost (graduate school), or even retirement.
- Begin retirement planning immediately.
The biggest mistake many millennials make is that they do not take advantage of the benefits of their first job. Some come in with the mentality that this position is short-term and temporary. Others believe in waiting until they are officially settled. While it is important to feel secure, you want to make sure you leverage those financial packages to your fullest. In addition, do not be frivolous with your paychecks. Getting your first paycheck can be exciting. But it does not give you the right to spend it on any and all desires. Instead, think of your financial future. Start building your wealth so that you can be financially stable in the long run.
- Build Up an Emergency Fund
As a young professional, you will accrue many expenses in your life. Within three months, you have enough understanding of your net income, expenses, and savings. While it may be difficult, make sure you establish an emergency fund for those worse case scenarios. At the end of the day, we cannot predict the future. Because of that, you want to make sure you are prepared for any and all hiccups life will throw at you. To do this effectively, create an emergency fund that covers at least six months of living expenses. This sum can be used for a variety of situations such as job loss, career transitioning, car expenses, medical expenses, etc. Remember, it is all about putting your mind at risk. The worst thing you can do for your future is by finding yourself in a situation where you are unable to pay the bills. The emotional time and financial burden can absolutely be alleviated if you have this plan in place.
- Stay Consistent with your Savings
This is probably one of the most important steps you should understand. It is also the most difficult. As a millennial, the world is at your fingertips, you will have a vast amount of opportunities to travel and buy all the things you want. But as great as those external factors may be, they are, in it of themselves, incredibly costly. When it comes to your personal savings, you want to make sure you are staying consistent. Consistency will be the key factor in where you will financially stand in the future. Remember this, material items won’t be able to pay your student loans. Be smart about your money and stay consistent.
- Create a Plan
When it comes to personal finance, you want to make sure there is a plan in place. To help you with this, try establishing the ‘50-30-20’ rule where 50% of your revenue goes to any external expenses, 30% goes to your savings and retirement plan, and 20% goes to your social expenses. By establishing a strategic plan for your money, you will be able to take control beyond the sea of bills and expenses and foster the groundwork need for your future.
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