Category: Uncategorized

10 Steps to Protect Your Business Legally

Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. A major part of your business is its legal arm. Solidifying that part of your operation will ensure that you can focus on generating profits. The following contributed post is entitled, 10 Steps to Protect Your Business Legally.

* * *

Running and operating a successful business is something that can be very rewarding, but it is also important for you to make sure you are running the company in the right way. There are loads of different ideas that are going to help you achieve this, and it is essential that you understand how you are able to protect your business legally. If you want to be able to achieve long-term success, this is something that you are going to need to focus on as much as you can, and it is vital to try to improve this.

Being able to run the best possible business is absolutely essential, and there are a lot of factors that will help you here. Protecting yourself legally is crucial for making sure you run a successful and reputable company, and this is going to help you attract more people to the company. So here are 10 ways in which you can protect your business legally moving forward.

Source

1. Hire a Lawyer

Perhaps the easiest and most effective way of being able to do this is going to be to hire a business lawyer, or lawyers with specialized experience in the world of business. Ravid & Associates is a firm that covers several different elements of business law, including product liability, premises liability, and workers compensation.

2. Understand Business Law

Something else you should be actively looking to do, that not enough business owners are doing these days, is understanding business law. Familiarizing yourself with the laws and legal requirements of running a modern business in the United States is going to help you avoid legal difficulties, and ensure that your company is operating at peak level at all times. By making the most of this, you can put your company in the right position for long-term success, and keep everything running smoothly at the same time as well.

3. Ensure Quality Control

An area that too many businesses these days seem to fall down on is the issue of quality control. Whether you are developing a product or a service, you need to make sure you are providing the highest possible quality and value for your consumers. This is going to help keep you out of trouble, and will allow you to protect the business against possible legal issues in the process as well. This is something that you can do by implementing quality control processes as much as possible in the business.

4. Have a Health & Safety Procedure

Health and safety is the cornerstone of any modern company, and this is something that you are going to need to get right as a business owner. It is vital that you provide a safe and secure working environment, for both employees and customers. Keeping on top of this is one of the best things you can do to protect the company legally, and you preserve your reputation in the process by guarding against legal action that people might take as a result of injuries or accidents in the workplace.

5. Make Sure You Have a Fire Safety Process

Having a fire safety process is something else that it is essential that you keep on top of, and this is going to help you when it comes to improving your company in a legal sense. There are a lot of factors that you have to keep in mind with this, and developing the best possible fire safety process as a business helps to ensure you are ticking all the right boxes that you should be in a legal sense.

6. Make Sure You Meet Building Regulations

As a modern business, you need to give thought to the kind of property you have, as well as what you want your premises to be like. There are certain building regulations that you are going to have to adhere to by law, and this is something that your company needs to be aware of. There are so many different elements that will help you improve upon this, and making sure you get that part of the process right is really important for legal protection.

7. Get Insurance

Making sure your business is insured is one of the most important elements that you need to be focused on when it comes to legal protection. Insurance is absolutely key in so many different ways, and you have to make sure you are focused on the best ways of being able to protect the company, belt and braces. This is one of the key ideas that you can use that will help you to do better for the brand long-term, and you need to ensure you have this before you start bidding on projects.

8. Backup Your Data

One of the worst things that can happen to a business is that you lose all your important information and data. This is going to open you up to a whole load of legal ramifications, so you need to make sure you are protected in the event that anything should happen to the system. This will also simplify your business, and the way you run it as well. That means you need to look for some of the best ways of protecting your data so that you can back it up more effectively.

9. Protecting IP

Trademarking products, slogans, and other intellectual properties is a really smart move from a business sense, as well as protecting you legally in the process too. This is something that you need to try to get right as much as possible, and there are plenty of ideas that will help you here. Protecting your ideas and designs is essential for protecting the future success of the company.

10. Tax

One of the biggest ways of being able to protect your company legally is to make sure you are paying the appropriate amount of tax. Whilst there may be loopholes that allow you to pay less tax, you will still need to pay some, and dodging it altogether is a slippery legal slope that is not going to end at all well.

As you can see, these are some of the most effective and impressive ways of being able to protect and look after your company legally. Covering your business and ensuring everything is above board at all times is really important; using these 10 steps can help you a lot when it comes to boosting the legality of the business.

    10 Helpful Tips to Planning a Successful Home Renovation

    Two key focuses of my blog are Home/Living and Home/Property Discussions. Home renovations are major investments. As such you want to go in with as vast a knowledge set as possible. The following contributed post is entitled, 10 Helpful Tips to Planning a Successful Home Renovation.

    * * *

    Embarking on a home renovation is an adventure that can dramatically transform your living space. However, it requires careful planning and execution to ensure success. Whether it’s a minor update or a major overhaul, here are 10 helpful tips to guide you through planning a successful home renovation.

    Photo by Pixabay:

    Define Your Vision and Goals

    Before you start swinging hammers, it’s crucial to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve with your renovation. Start by defining your goals. Are you renovating to increase your home’s value, to make it more energy-efficient, or simply to update its style? Your goals will significantly influence your design
    choices, budget, and overall approach to the renovation. Take the time to gather inspiration from home design magazines, websites, and even neighborhood walks to refine your vision and preferences.

    Develop a Comprehensive Plan

    A well-thought-out plan is the blueprint of a successful renovation. Begin by assessing the current state of your home and identifying the areas that need improvement. Consider the flow of rooms, the functionality of spaces, and how changes might affect the overall layout. This is the stage to think about structural alterations, such as removing walls or adding extensions. A comprehensive plan should include detailed drawings or sketches, a clear list of renovations, and a step-by-step approach to achieving your vision.

    Set a Realistic Budget

    One of the most critical aspects of home renovation is budgeting. Underestimating costs can lead to unfinished projects or compromised quality. Start by determining how much you can realistically afford to spend. Then, break down your budget into categories – materials, labor, permits, and a contingency fund for unexpected expenses. Researching the cost of materials and labor in your area can give you a more accurate estimate. Remember to include the costs for finishes and decorations, as they can add up quickly.

    Choose the Right Contractor

    The success of your renovation largely depends on the contractor you choose. Look for a licensed and insured contractor with experience in the type of renovation you’re planning. Ask for references and review their past projects to assess their quality of work. It’s also important to ensure that you have good chemistry with your contractor; after all, you’ll be working closely with them throughout the process. Clear communication and mutual understanding are key to turning your vision into reality.

    Obtain Necessary Permits

    Many homeowners overlook the importance of obtaining the necessary permits for their renovation projects. Permits ensure that your renovations comply with local building codes and regulations, which are crucial for your safety and the integrity of your home. Failure to obtain the right permits can result in fines and even require you to undo some of the work. Consult with your contractor or local building authority to understand what permits you need for your project.

    Plan for Efficiency and Sustainability

    Incorporating energy efficiency and sustainability into your home renovation is a smart and forward-thinking approach that pays dividends both environmentally and financially. When planning your renovation, consider integrating energy-efficient appliances that consume less power and have a smaller carbon footprint. Modern appliances come with ratings that help you understand their energy efficiency, allowing you to make informed choices. LED lighting is another excellent investment; these lights use significantly less electricity and have a longer lifespan than traditional bulbs, reducing both your energy bills and replacement costs.

    Prepare for Disruption and Delays

    Home renovations can be disruptive to your daily life. Prepare for noise, dust, and the presence of workers. If your kitchen or bathroom is being renovated, plan for how you will manage without these essential rooms. It’s also wise to anticipate delays, which are common in renovation projects due to factors like weather, supply chain issues, or unforeseen structural problems.

    Emphasize Quality Over Quantity

    When it comes to materials and finishes, quality should take precedence over quantity. Investing in high-quality materials and workmanship can save you money in the long run due to lower maintenance and repair costs. Don’t be tempted by the lowest bid or the cheapest materials. Instead, focus on finding the best value for your budget.

    Utilize a Construction Glossary

    Navigating the world of home renovation can sometimes feel like learning a new language. Terms like “load-bearing walls,” “subflooring,” and “R-value” can be perplexing. This is where a construction glossary becomes an invaluable resource. Understanding these terms is crucial for making sense of contracts, blueprints, and the conversations you’ll have with your contractor. It empowers you as a homeowner to be an active participant in the renovation process, rather than a bystander. A construction glossary can demystify complex construction concepts, helping you to understand the specifics of what’s being done in your home. This knowledge not only aids in effective communication but also helps in ensuring that your expectations align with the realities of construction work. You become better equipped to ask pertinent questions, evaluate the progress of your project, and make decisions with a clearer understanding of their implications.

    Stay Flexible and Open to Changes

    Flexibility and open-mindedness are vital traits during the renovation process. Even with meticulous planning, renovations can often take unexpected turns. You might discover that a particular material is no longer available, or a design idea doesn’t work as well in practice as it did on paper. Sometimes, hidden problems like electrical or plumbing issues may surface once the work begins, necessitating a change in plans. Being flexible means being able to adapt your plans to these new circumstances without losing sight of your overall vision. It’s important to maintain open communication with your contractor during these times. Regularly discussing the project’s progress and any changes can help prevent misunderstandings and ensure that any adjustments are in line with your ultimate goals.

    A successful home renovation requires careful planning, clear communication, and strategic decision-making. By following these 10 tips, you can navigate the complexities of a renovation project and achieve a space that not only meets your functional needs and aesthetic preferences but also adds value to your home. Remember, the key to a successful renovation is not just in the finished product but in the journey of transforming your space into something you love.

    3 Tips For Buying Your First Car The Smart Way

    Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Technology. A car is one of your most important expenses and similar to houses, if done improperly, it can have long last ramifications. The following contributed post is entitled, 3 Tips For Buying Your First Car The Smart Way.

    * * *

    Image Credit: Mikes-Photography for Pixabay.

    Buying your first car is an exciting time, and it’s something you’ll want to do as early as possible. It’s not exactly something you should rush into, though. You could end up getting the wrong car and making a few mistakes if you do. You’ll want to do it the smart way, which means knowing what you’re doing.

    Using a few car-buying tips makes sure you do exactly that, with three top ones standing out. If you’re about to buy your first car, it’s worth diving into them.

    Buying Your First Car The Smart Way: 3 Top Tips

    1. Get Preapproved For A Loan

    For your first car, you could need a personal loan to pay for it. It’s not worth waiting until you’re at the dealership to get this. Instead, you’ll want to go to the dealership knowing exactly how much you’re able to spend. By getting preapproval for the loan, you can do exactly that.

    Once you have this, you can narrow down your options much better, while also making sure you can afford the repayments.

    2. Don’t Get Too Much Car

    When you’re buying your first car, it’s easy to get caught up in your options and start considering larger and more powerful options. These mightn’t be the best-recommended, though. They could end up being too powerful for you to handle, and they’ll come at quite a large cost.

    Coupled with that are the ongoing expenses that they’ll end up coming with. Larger, more powerful cars tend to have higher insurance premiums and cost more to fuel up. If you go overboard with your car, it could end up being too much to keep it on the road. Avoid that as much as possible.

    3. Don’t Get Add-Ons At The Dealership

    If you’re looking to keep costs low when you’re buying your car, it’s worth avoiding getting any add-ons at the dealership. These usually come at a heavy markup and are where the dealership makes most of its profit. You could get these somewhere else at a fraction of the cost.

    Protection plans, warranties, and insurance can all be part of this, as are the things that could be physically added to your car. These mightn’t be worth the cost when you get them at a dealership. By looking elsewhere, you could get the exact same thing – if not a better option – for a more affordable price.

    Buying Your First Car The Smart Way: Wrapping Up

    Buying your first car the smart way doesn’t have to be complicated. It could be much easier than you’d think, and you shouldn’t have a problem getting the perfect one for you. All you’ll need are a few car-buying tips to help with this.

    Not getting add-ons at the dealership, getting preapproved for a loan, and not getting too much car will all be parts of this. While that could mean spending a little longer finding the perfect option for you, it’ll be more than worth it once you’re on the road.

    4 Tips To Look After Your Health When Running A Business

    Two focuses of my blog are Business/Entrepreneurship and Health/Wellness. While running a successful business can be very lucrative and rewarding, it can also adversely tax your health. The following contributed post is entitled, 4 Tips To Look After Your Health When Running A Business.

    * * *

    Pixabay

    Running your own business can really take it out of you. It becomes your whole life and you are constantly thinking about what you can do to grow your company and make more money. Even though your staff might clock out at 5pm, you don;t have the luxury, and you probably find yourself sending emails and drafting sales pitches well into the evening.

    There’s nothing wrong with following your passion and devoting yourself to it, but when it starts to affect your physical and mental health you know there’s a problem. As a business owner, you don’t have a whole lot of free time and for that reason it is incredibly easy to let things like self-care, exercise, and healthy eating fall by the wayside.

    But good health and entrepreneurship are not mutually exclusive, and as long as you are motivated and employ the right strategies, you can boost your wellbeing and heighten your ability to run your business at the same time. After all, you will be much more successful if you are fit in body and mind.

    To help you along your fitness journey, here are four tips to look after your health when running a business.

    Schedule it in

    Most people who exercise casually tend to fit in their workouts whenever they have some down time. But as a high-powered executive, this won’t work. If you’re constantly waiting for free time it will never happen. You have to schedule it in the same way you would an important meeting. Putting a 5k run or a gym session in your diary makes you more likely to commit to it, and will give you some much needed consistency in your healthy lifestyle.

    Cook for yourself

    Cooking is another activity that is often seen as time-consuming and laborious, but it doesn’t have to be. If you’re always eating out at restaurants and ordering in food to save time, not only are you spending way too much money but you’re most likely eating unhealthily. There are plenty of quick, easy and nutritious meals you can prepare at home that don’t take any time at all to prepare.

    Reduce your caffeine intake

    When you’re in the office early or working late into the night, sometimes a cup of coffee is the only way to stay alert and productive. But too much caffeine is terrible for your health. It can raise your stress and anxiety levels, as well as impacting your sleep and digestive system. It also stains your mouth, so you might end up needing to invest in some teeth whitening kits. If you need a hot drink to liven you up, try switching to decaf coffee or herbal teas.

    Enjoy some downtime

    If all you’re doing is working, you risk overdoing it and succumbing to burnout. Too much work and too little relaxation will make you stressed, anxious, and irritable. We all need downtime to compose ourselves and rest our brains. Try to schedule some time off each week, in which to spend time with your loved ones, go for a walk, or do something else you enjoy. You will feel much happier and more productive when you return to work.

    3 Reasons Outsourcing Is Good For Your Startup

    Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. If you have a startup business, you may want to consider outsourcing tasks that you cannot complete yourself. The following contributed post is entitled, 3 Reasons Outsourcing Is Good For Your Startup.

    * * *

    Referencing existing businesses, a startup can go any way, but majorly, it all depends on your efforts and ability to make it a success. First and foremost, you must take calculated risks to ensure that your decisions and actions will positively impact your business in the long run. Even though said risks can be unpredictable, outsourcing equipment and services can minimize them and significantly cut down costs. Here’s why you should outsource;

    Image Credit

    Saves You Money

    Often, the equipment you need for your business can be quite expensive, making purchasing them a relatively costly decision than renting. Therefore, if your business relies on machines, it’d be best to consider a commercial scale service to help you achieve your business goals with significantly lower costs.

    Furthermore, outsourcing eliminates overhead costs such as repair and maintenance and insurance, allowing you to spend more on other important areas.

    Other than outsourcing equipment, you can also outsource services from contractors to manage your business well. Bear in mind that you should only outsource functions you don’t have resources to perform. For instance, if you lack an IT team, you can easily hire an IT firm to perform all related functions effectively.

    Plus, you’ll not incur healthcare and insurance costs for external personnel as they’re typically under the managing company.

    It’s Convenient

    As a business owner, you need your business to run smoothly for better outcomes and easy expansion. Fortunately, outsourcing can be your go-to, thanks to its readily available resources you can use to grow your company.

    Startups need to have a good first impression to have a chance at competing in the market. You can do so by availing products/services to your customers on time through outsourcing essential functions.

    In many ways, this will help you shape your company’s image, leading to the astronomical growth of your brand.

    Outsourcing companies have varying catalogs, which allows you to conveniently work with more than one firm for optimum business operations without compromising your relationships.

    Such convenience promotes flexibility in decision-making because you’ll have a ready backup if a company makes last-minute changes.

    Ultimately, putting your business in a unique position where you get the best out of outsourcing, maintaining peace of mind.

    It’s a Good Business Model

    When you hear about outsourcing, you probably only think of its money-saving benefits. While this may be true, remember that it also strengthens and prepares your business for future growth.

    For instance, you’ll be in a better position to hire more contractors who’ll work efficiently to cut down on labor costs and increase profit. Moreover, it’s the best decision you can make for your startup because it guarantees quality work and better outcomes.

    Because outsourcing directly affects your expenditure, it makes your company appealing, attracting relevant investors and partners for continued business.

    Running a business requires research, creativity, and sometimes a ton of experience. However, you can just as effectively run your business with good business models like outsourcing without the latter. When you decide to outsource, ensure the company you’re outsourcing from lives up to your business standards for streamlined operations and good business relations.

    What Customers Want: 8 Great Ways To Give Consumers More

    Two focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. If you’re in business, one of your prime directives and aims is to give your customers what they want. The following contributed post is entitled, What Customers Want: 8 Great Ways To Give Consumers More.

    * * *

    Image – Pixabay CC0 License

    Keeping customers (including leads) happy is one of the fundamentals of running a successful business. Ultimately, then, you should always be looking to give them more of what they want.

    Here are just eight ways to do just that. In turn, you should see a noticeable upgrade in their responses.

    #1. Establish Trust

    Nobody will buy from your business if it can’t be trusted. Likewise, search engines won’t rank the company well. A good design with fast loading speeds is essential. Securing lots of verified reviews will also help.

    A fair returns policy and a good following on social media are just two additional steps that can further support your strategy.

    #2. Show Brand Values

    Modern consumers want to align themselves with brands that care about the same things they do. Therefore, your business may see telling benefits from supporting local causes or going green.

    Aside from being a good marketing tool, many of those steps will save you money and motivate employees. Perfect.

    #3. Tailor Your Interactions

    Customers want to feel a quick connection with brands. Website visitor tracking is a very good tool. Not only will it allow you to deploy the right marketing strategy, but you can use the right tone for future interactions.

    Many businesses let themselves down by being overly generic. Combat this issue and you will see big results.

    #4. Be Responsive

    Clients also demand speed like never before. When they have questions about a product or service, a quick response will enhance your hopes of a sale. Social media, live chat, and call redirection services are all great options.

    In addition to boosting conversions, transparency in this area can reduce the number of returns you experience.

    #5. Provide Flexible Payments

    Value for money is naturally something that all customers crave. For many, though, your ability to offer repayment plans could be the difference-maker. Accepting credit cards, PayPal, and digital payments is vital too.

    There’s nothing worse than losing a sale simply because a client can’t complete the transaction.

    #6. Offer Quick Deliveries

    The pandemic has forced online retailers to up their game in the field of order fulfillment. If you can implement a same-day or next-day service, you should. It will increase your sense of professionalism.

    Many industries won’t be able to do this due to the nature of their products. Even so, you should aim to outperform the competition.

    #7. Give Loyalty Rewards

    The immediate sale is a significant breakthrough. However, remarketing to existing clients is usually easier and more affordable than trying to reach new ones. Brand loyalty schemes that work should be on the agenda. Always.

    It boosts the frequency of purchases as well as the transaction values. It also gets people talking about the brand.

    #8. Keep Their Data Safe

    Finally, you need to be responsible in ways that look beyond the sale. Implementing data protection and cybersecurity measures will aid the trust levels. Crucially, it prevents the financial and reputational damage of a breach.

    While good security alone cannot secure sales, getting it wrong will be enough to cost you dearly. In short, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

    4 Business Ideas for a Post-Covid-19 World

    Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. In the aftermath of Covid-19, most businesses will have to operate differently. Furthermore, new innovations will emerge for those savvy individuals to take care of. The following contributed post is entitled, 4 Business Ideas for a Post-Covid-19 World.

    * * *

    Image by Monika Schröder from Pixabay

    The global pandemic has meant that many people’s lives have been turned upside down. It has also meant that there has been a shift in lifestyle changes from spending more time outdoors to spending more time online. If you’re looking to start a business right now, it is as good a time as any, and there are even some great opportunities that wouldn’t have been there before COVID-19 as new problems that have been created by the pandemic which need to be solved and people have new needs and wants. Your business could be just what they’re looking for.

    A repairs business
    Now that many people are watching their money and due to loss of work, more people are choosing to mend old things rather than buy new. This is where you can help. Offering repair services wouldn’t have to be an expensive or difficult business to set up as long as you have the skills. It might be that you can offer something that no one else is, and that way you can make a real success. For example, this driveline shop which was founded in 1973 came about because at the time; there were no driveline specialists in the state and in most driveshafts were being cobbled together in the back of junkyards. Have a look in your local area and see what you’re missing and what people need. Are there more people out on their bikes now? More people needing help with repairs around the house or with their technology so they can work from home? Look at the skills you have and where they could be put to good use.

    Online teaching
    Online learning was already booming before COVID-19, but since everyone had to homeschool, it has grown even more. That doesn’t mean there’s no room for more though. While the kids have now gone back to school, many have fallen behind after missing so much last year, so there is a huge need for more teachers. Perhaps you can offer free lessons and make money off advertising so that you appeal to those who can’t afford private tutors? You don’t even have to be a trained teacher, what skills do you have that you could teach online that would help someone?

    Cleaning services
    Offices need to be deep cleaned more than ever before, and with people unable to travel, there are thousands of Airbnb rooms and holiday homes that need cleaning.

    Working from home services
    This isn’t a good name for the business, but it encompasses a whole new world of services you could now offer those who are working from home. While people are saving money on their commute, expensive coffees and fancy lunches, they have spare cash available, but they also may now be a little fed up of their own sandwiches in their own kitchen every day. Perhaps there’s an opportunity to deliver tasty lunches, coffees, working from home loungewear, a home workout programme with equipment or a juice diet delivery programme for those who want to be healthy at home?

    Tips To Keep The Business Organized

    Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. A key to effectively doing business is staying organized. Staying organized will assure that everything regarding your operations are well thought out and organized. The following contributed post is entitled, Tips To Keep The Business Organized.

    * * *

    Keeping your business organized is important to its productivity, growth, and success. If you’re not focusing on this element of the business, then you’re likely to see mistakes happen. Here are some tips to keep the business organized in a variety of ways.

    Image Source

    Get Plenty Of Storage

    Storage is a necessity to most things in life because when it comes to your company, there can be a lot of stuff that builds up. Files and paperwork can be a significant issue that just builds and builds over time. Specific equipment and items for each department can take up space, and when you have got a lot of storage space, it ends up spilling out onto the floor. That’s not good for safety reasons and for the wellbeing of your staff. Not only that, but it makes the workspace look very disorganized, and so it’s worth thinking about getting extra storage. That storage can be in the form of workstation drawers and cabinets. Think about other ways you can incorporate storage, such as external units to store items and files that might not be needed on site immediately. It’s worth finding somewhere nearby so that there’s easy access.

    Streamline Work Processes

    The work processes in your business could do with a bit of perfecting as there can often be a lot of complexities in something that could be simplified. For example, you might want to think about your accounts department and how they handle things like processing invoices, expenses, and handling the payroll. Streamlining everything is where you simplify something, and so using the one platform or system to all of the above, instead of multiple, is going to make things a lot easier. Not only that, but it helps to make the most of the time your staff are given in their day to day work life.

    Consider Technical Areas

    Technical areas like the server room and places where there’s a lot of cables and electronic equipment are dangerous if not organized properly. Not only that, but they become very confusing to navigate. Therefore, it might be worth getting some structured cabling to help keep everything in order and easy to find. It can also help those who are maintaining the building, as no one wants to have to deal with a room that’s all over the place with cables in knots.

    Improve Communication Between Teams

    And finally, communication is the best way to stay organized as departments and as a company. If you’re not using the right methods to communicate properly and effectively, mistakes happen. And a company, department or individual that looks disorganized isn’t a good impression for any clients or customers you work with. Try improving the communication with your staff, finding the weak points, or where communication might be lacking.

    Keeping your business organized within the company and in regards to the work premises too, is important. Use these tips to help tidy up the place and to make it an environment that works for all your staff.

    If You Don’t Own Something Your Wealthy Isn’t Real

    Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Understanding the difference between assets and liabilities is critical to understanding and building wealth. Likewise, simply having a job and working for ‘earned income’ versus acquiring money-generating assets is the difference between solely being an employee and one day becoming financially independent. The following contributed post is entitled, If You Don’t Own Something Your Wealthy Isn’t Real.

    * * *

    We are all beholden to the economy of the nation we live in. The nation’s economy is beholden to the global economy. And round and round we go, in this daisy chain of ours. Everything is affected by everything else. Now, your biggest concern is your personal wealth; as it should be. The secret to protecting your wealth is to try and make it insular from everything else. In other words, you want to have a wealth that isn’t affected by the outside world. But, as aforementioned everything is tied to everything else. Whether you’re shopping for clothes, buying groceries or applying for a mortgage, before the price is levelled at your feet it has to go through the market. The market determines what that price will be. So two things we can conclude. There’s no way for your wealth to not be affected by the global economy and the market is how price is determined; in other words your wealth is given it’s true value. The giants that tower over everything else are assets. If you’re not holding something, owning something and backing up your monetary wealth by an asset, it’s not real.

    What is an asset?

    Firstly an asset is a complex entity to describe. However, for the sake of simplifying things, think of assets as something other than cold hard cash. Yet there are some people who will include their cash in ‘personal assets’. Number one, the most common asset is your home or rather property that you own. Land and structures on them home are all part and parcel of the same asset. A business is also considered an asset. A car or some kind of vehicle such as a boat is also considered an asset. Investment holdings such as stocks, insurance policies, mutual funds etc, are all considered assets. Warehouse storages, garages and equipment are all assets too.

    There seems to be one running theme doesn’t there? An asset usually has the ability to convert it’s sale into cash or rather, it produces more wealth. Property prices rise year-on-year, thus you have an appreciating asset. A negative or loss-making asset has become an oxymoron as the whole point of having assets is for your wealth to increase just by ownership of said asset. Cars are a use to someone. It gets people to work, is enjoyable to drive and might be personally valuable to a collector. Stocks are a piece of the pie. A business that grows pays out to its stockholders so again, you have an asset that accumulates wealth for you.

    Assets are a ‘hard wall’

    Assets are usually a tangible entity. You can touch a property, you can live in the property. It provides you with a value or betterment to your life. Even if that enjoyment is subjective to the person, it still holds that value to be true. Capital assets are purely bank accounts or rather your cash wealth. Cash wealth on it’s own isn’t so confidence-inspiring. Look at it this way, if a wind came to blow your money away, how would you stop it? The simple answer is, you would protect your money with a wall and keep your capital inside. That’s exactly what assets are for. They give your capital asset worth and back it up. Nations do this for their currencies. Why should someone believe your currency is worth something, after all it’s just paper. Well, gold and other precious metals have been used to back up currencies and provide them with a solid wall of protection.

    Look up the ‘Gold Standard’ the ‘Gold Standard’. For the majority of the time human beings have had complex, large and global economies, gold has been the number one material that has backed up FIAT currency. People are reassured that the paper they have in their pocket has a value which if they exchanged would allow them to buy food, water, property and live a comfortable life. This is because a precious metal is vouching for it. Assets have the exact same power for your cash wealth. If you were to go to a bank and ask for a loan, if you didn’t have a property, car, or some kind of asset, the chances of being turned away would be high. Assets, like gold jewelry you buy and sell with Gold Buyers, give you a solid foundation of trust and support personally and for your capital.

    The age old asset

    Since time immemorial there has been one thing we all recognize as an asset. Jewelry is valuable to us in many different ways. It’s easy to understand why it’s valuable too, even as children we already know to look after a piece of jewelry that we have been given or perhaps found. Silver, gold, platinum, rubies, emeralds, diamonds etc, are all the most sought after kinds of jewelry. Precious metals and precious stones, have an innate shine or gleam to them. These materials have taken millions and millions, sometimes billions of years to form. Since this process takes so long, they are inherently valuable to us because they are things we cannot make.

    If you have gold chains, diamond rings, ruby encrusted goblets, silver necklace charms or whatever the case may be, you need to protect these assets with some kind of insurance policy. For knowledge on what kinds of jewelry insurance you should get, look at Morison Insurance Brokers and ready their article carefully. They list all the valid reasons why you would need this kind of insurance policy and for what kind of jewelry. Jewelry is such a versatile asset, that almost any kind of financial institution will accept it as collateral holding. It’s not uncommon for bank loans to be given to people with low capital but who have very valuable jewelry assets.

    They age like wine

    Assets are the number one priority for people who are looking to retire without relying on a state pension. It’s clear to see that owning a couple properties and renting them out would net you a constant stream of capital flowing in. The properties will need to be kept to a high standard so they retain their value for longer, but that’s easily done. Properties are quite easy to understand and maintain. There are lots of services such as roofing, plumbing, landscaping and interior designers that can repair and update your properties to keep with the times. In this sense, assets have the ability to age like fine wine if you know how to take care of them. As the saying goes, if you take care of it, it will take care of you.

    Assets like rare cars also have much the same appeal in terms of longevity. One of the original Ford GT40 cars was sold for $10+ million and a Ferrari GTO for even higher. Classic cars are not just interesting to hold as an asset, but they never seem to run out of buyers. No matter how many generations have moved on since the first day they rolled out of the factories, they are still enthusiastically bought for millions of dollars. There will always be a wealthy class of people that want a rare toy in their garage. That’s why having assets is so important, because the value they return to you is always set to increase year after year.

    Create your own buffer zone

    If none of the previous reasons have convinced you why you need to be owning assets, here is one last attempt. This one should win you over. When an economic crash ensues, capital all across the world gets slaughtered. Stocks and bonds plummet, currency values drop substantially and any hard cash is worth much, much less than it was just yesterday. Essentially, if all your wealth is in some kind of money hedge or just a lump sum in a bank, then your wealth will be cut down dramatically when an economic crash happens. Recessions all hit the cash flow in the market the same way. Consumer confidence drops, people pull their money out of investments and they go into hibernation to wait out the storm.

    Now you may be thinking that assets will also have to fall in price because people aren’t spending as much. However, assets retain a lot more of their value even when there is a recession. This is because at the end of the day, someone will have enough money to buy or utilize your asset for their needs. Crucially, that need or desire is still there no matter what is going on in the economy. People who were saving up to buy a house don’t suddenly stop wanting a house because they lost a lot of money. No, the desire is still there so you have an inherent value in assets even in hard times. In a sense, assets create a buffer zone between you and the recession, they allow you to have more authority in the eyes of banks and governments.

    Do not put all your wealth under your mattress so to speak. Put your wealth in asset acquiring. Own property such as a house, land, automobiles, boats and jewelry. When you have hard tangible wealth, your paper wealth is automatically boosted in so many ways.

    Liquid Technology Which You Use Every Day

    A key focus of my blog is Technology. Liquid technology is around us and something we use daily. Few people know about liquid technology and what its applications are. The following contributed post is entitled, Liquid Technology Which You Use Every Day.

    * * *

    (Image Source)

    When most people think about technology, liquids aren’t often the first thing on their minds. Being notorious for killing the devices which people love the most, it’s natural to want to keep them away from the stuff, but this isn’t always possible. To give you an idea of where liquid technology is found in the modern world, this post will be exploring three different options, giving you a clear picture of what you have available in this area. There are few areas more interesting than gadgets which have the power to fry themselves.

    Smart Water

    Crime is always something which people are working to tackle. Regardless of how much time and resources are put into an area like this, though, you will always find people who are able to break into things. Smart water promises to help with this, but not in the way which most people imagine. By using a special chemical compound which can be altered very slightly for each bottle, companies making this material can leave a criminal’s skin stained with a liquid which is completely unique. This is the modern equivalent of being caught red handed, as you simply won’t have a way to argue with a court if you’ve been found with loads of this material on your body.

    Lubricants

    Modern cars move faster than ever before, and often have to rely on manufacturing methods which don’t make room for much error. To make sure than engines are able to cope, lubricants are used, usually coming in the form of oil. Companies like Peakhd have been working for decades to create products in this field which are able to outperform their more traditional alternatives. Creating a liquid which doesn’t change its state as temperatures and pressures around it vary is no mean feat, though this is exactly what you need in your vehicle, making it hard for companies to hit the sweet spot.

    Phase Changes

    Not a lot of people know how their refrigerator works. Much like the radiator in your car, these large appliances use an array of fins to cool down a fluid on the inside. As the fluid changes temperature, it also changes state, becoming a gas as it heats up, and a liquid when it cools down again. This sort of system is found in loads of different types of machine, not just fridges. Of course, though, it also isn’t the only way to cool something down, and there are modern methods which don’t require any harmful chemicals to get started.

    With all of this on your mind, it should be a lot easier to see the power which liquids have to support society. A lot of people struggle to see where these tools can fit into the world, even though they are already commonplace, and this keeps the wider population oblivious to the liquids they are using on a daily basis. It’s always worth working hard to build a good understanding of the technology and tools you use on a regular basis, especially when they are so strange.