Money

The incredible rewards of supporting charitable causes

March 17, 2021 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Charitable causes have always had an important place in the world. While so many of us are truly blessed to have wonderful lives where we are in no immediate danger or disadvantage, there are so many individuals who unfortunately are not in the same position. As such, it ought to come as no surprise that charities have always had and will always have an important role to play in the world around us and the way that we navigate and appreciate the world for what it is and what it has to offer.

Individuals who are in a position of advantage and privilege often find themselves questioning if they should take the time and make the intention to donate to charity. For some individuals, the question is easy to answer and to follow through with meaningful and lasting action and impact. For others, that question sometimes comes with further questions. So, it certainly pays to acknowledge and understand the rewards that always come hand in hand with donating to charitable causes – and the lasting impacts that donations have.

Donating to charity

Making the active and conscious decision to donate to charity is a decision that is, above all else, the acknowledgement and intention of an individual in a position of privilege to donate and improve the lives of individuals (human or otherwise) and/or the world in a meaningful and lasting way. Donations to charitable causes are designed and intended from the ground up to effectively and successfully go into improving an aspect of life as we know it and for this reason they have always been important causes to support and they always will be important causes to support.

The rewards of supporting charity

The incredible rewards of supporting charitable causes are rewards that so often (if not nearly always) go hand in hand with the understanding that by investing some of your hard earned money into someone or something else meaningfully positive, you are improving the world in one way or another. That feeling of doing a good deed is one of the biggest and most important rewards. Additionally, donating to and supporting charitable causes comes with the reward of knowing that you are doing a good thing with no self interest involved in the process. And finally, there is also the awareness that charitable causes are such because they are important. And there is no better investment than an investment in bettering the world.

The overall goal of charity donation

For anyone and everyone who donates to charitable causes, the overall goal of charity donation is very much a goal that is intrinsically linked to collectively and individually working towards having an active hand in creating a better future for us all. The world can always do with more good. So, it makes all the sense in the world that the overall goal of charity donation and support is to continuously take steps towards improving the world in one way or another.

How to buy stocks in the Australian stock market

March 7, 2021 by Reporter Leave a Comment

The current stock market is in turmoil with a lot of volatility in share prices here in Australia, however there is a growing number of people who think getting in now could be profitable for them in the long term. So how do you get into the stock market ? How do you buy shares to take advantage of the current stock market tumble.

There are two different ways that you can get into the stock market and buy and sell shares

1. Sign up with bank share trading account that allows you to buy and sells shares

2. Sign up with a stock broker that specifically allows you to buy and sell shares.

There are other ways to buy shares like buying a bunch of blue-chip stocks or buying an ETF (which is also buying a bunch of shares) – but we will come to that later.

Banks as a stock trading buy and sell platform

Most big banks allow you to sign up with them for a stock trading account so that you can buy and sell shares. If you are already signed up with one of them, just enquire with them. Here is a list of banks that facilitate stock trading

1. Commonwealth bank ( Comsec – their share trading platform)

2. National Australia Bank ( Nabtrade – their share trading platform)

Below we give you further details about brokerage fees these bank charge and also prices for some popular dedicated share trading platforms.

How much money do I need to start trading the stock market?

Technically, there’s no minimum amount of money needed to start investing in stocks. But you probably need at least $500 — $2,000 to really get started right.

How do I make money in the stock market?

There are many ways to make money in the stock market, however the most simple method to understand this is when you buy a share today that cost you $500 , but its worth tomorrow is $600 and so you sold it – then you just made $100

To break that into much more realistic detail and give you an example

Eg. Say you got $500 to invest

Westpac bank shares are $15 each today, so you bought 32 Westpac shares

32 Westpac shares X $15= $480 + (add $10 bank fees for buying)

Total cost is $490 to buy the shares

Three days later (or six months later), there is a bit of recovery and Westpac share price rises and is $20 each share.

You had bought $32 shares earlier; you sell it today for $20 (that’s a $5 increase in the share price)

32 shares x $20 =$640 – $10 bank fees

You have $630 from your sell

Sell price $630 – Bought price $490 = Your profit $140

The bank does not charge you anything for holding the shares, but charge you for each buy and sell, which bring us to our next point -broker fees.

Now say if that investment was $5000 instead of $500 your profit could be $740 in one trade

How much does it cost me to buy and sell shares?

Every broker and every bank have different set of prices for buying and selling shares. It really comes down to ease of use, broker fees and availability of stocks to trade on each platform. Here is short comparison of some top bank and broker fees

Share trading fees – Banks

Commonwealth Bank – Comsec Fees:

For shares under $1000 in value – $10 each transaction

For trades between $1,000 and $10,000 – $19.95 each transaction

This is called the brokerage fee

Website https://www.commsec.com.au/support/rates-and-fees.html

National Australia Bank – Nabtrade Fees:

Up to and including $5,000 – $14.95 each transaction

From trades between $5,000.01 – $20,000 – $19.95 each transaction

Website https://www.nabtrade.com.au/investor/pricing

Share trading fees – Brokers

Two popular brokers apart from Banks are Self wealth and Ig markets. They both allow trading in Australian stocks as well as international stocks and CFD.

Self-wealth trading fees:

Brokerage fee for every trade, regardless of size – flat $9.50 (Only Australian Shares)

Website https://www.selfwealth.com.au/online-trading/

IG markets Trading fees:

Trading Australian shares – $8 per trade or 0.1% whichever is higher

For US markets – US$10, or 2 cents per share

Website:https://www.ig.com/au/charges

With IG markets you can do Australian and US stock market trading and also trade in CFD’s for which you have to sign up separately with them.

Other share trading platforms worth mentioning are ANZ share trading, Bell Direct and CMC markets.

Other new low brokerage share trading platforms introduced lately is superhero, Raiz & Comsec pocket.

Most banks and stock trading brokers provide additional data and tools for company and stock analysis, creating watchlists, setting price alerts, creating specific set price buys and more. Features offered can differ from platform to platform.

With Comsec and Self wealth – All trades are CHESS sponsored

There are two ways for shares to be held:

CHESS Sponsored Shares – Shares that are registered with a stock broker (CommSec or another broker). CHESS Sponsored Shares are allocated a Holder Identification Number (HIN) by the broker.

Issuer Sponsored Shares – Shares that are managed by the issuer of those shares via the issuer’s Share Registry. Issuer Sponsored Shares can be traded through any broker, providing conditions set out by that broker are met. Issuer Sponsored Shares are allocated a Security Reference Number (SRN).

In reality it does not make much difference to your trading profit, if it is chess sponsored or issuer sponsored.

Risky Stock Trading with penny stocks

There is a difference between big companies and small companies (smallcaps) and with small companies come more risk in comparison with blue chip stocks like BHP, Westpac.

Some traders can get lucky and pick a small company stock that can become a winner.

Take for example FMG – Fortescue Metals Group (iron ore miner)

This stock was once trading for between $2 and $3 – Today the price is $10

Say you dropped $5000 when it was $2, so you got 2500 shares of FMG

You sold it when it reached $10 today x 2500 shares=$25,000

You just made $25,000 from $5,000, however this is very rare- though people have gotten lucky with their stock picks and made money.

FMG was once a small cap with lot of debt and considered risky, but now they have paid up their debts and are considered much safer than they were before.

ETF’s

Another popular method of buying into shares right now is called ETF’s . With buying an ETF you have options like buying into a group of shares where you can also invest by putting money in a regular basis as low as $50 a month/week. Some providers/brokers also allow you to invest in ASX 50 or a lumpsum into a group of blue chip stocks.

ETF’s are available through bank trading platforms

Learning how to trade the stock markets is essential, before you decide to have a punt on your hard-earned money.

The stock market can make you money, but it can also take your money and put you at a loss. Doing dummy trading, joining stock trading groups and researching companies for three to six months is a good idea before jumping right in. Good luck!

Article written by Jeff – I blog about stock trading – Check my stock market blog over here

Big four banks to dish out refunds into bank accounts before June end

June 27, 2020 by Reporter Leave a Comment

No one gets money for free, but the refund from Commonwealth bank, Westpac bank, ANZ and National Australia Bank might be hitting your bank account soon.

Forget EOFY tax return refunds from the tax office, this is sweeter as you don’t have to apply for it, its your money getting refunded without any paperwork needed.

If you see this in your commonwealth bank account

Additional interest
refund
Value Date_ 25/06/2020

The refund posting may look different depending on which bank you bank with.

Fancy a $10,000 refund?

Refunds can be anywhere from couple of thousand dollars to even $10,000 or more depending on how many loans you have with the bank.

Why the refund ?

If you have a refund looking like above in your bank account you could have possibly got a refund related to remediation done on your home loan, refunding you amounts of interest that was wrongly charged by the bank.

This is due to the remediation the banks have been forced to do due to the government enquiry into banks and how they treat and charge their customers.

CBA Refund on home loan interest charges 2020 for COVID19

This is not a refund, but more like a payment for the interest on interest you get charged for your deferred home loan repayments. Australia’s largest bank will make payments to home loan customers impacted by coronavirus to offset interest charges.

When a home loan repayment is deferred for six months, interest is calculated and added to the loan balance each month which can result in customers paying interest on interest each month. Anyone having a home loan could possibly get this refund before end of June this year.

“This means for an average loan of $350,000, CBA will be refunding approximately $45 to offset the effect of interest on interest over the six-month period. Customer payments will vary based on their loan amount and interest rate.” Commonwealth bank representative said.

2020 – Big four’s Banks current relief packages for covid19

The four major banks in March announced they would allow home loan customers to defer mortgage repayments for six months as part of a $100 billion scheme with the Reserve Bank of Australia to alleviate stress on Australian households, as thousands are tipped into unemployment.

CBA – Following the end of the six-month pause, home loan repayments remain the same as before, with the loan term being extended. CBA will also make a one-time payment to offset the interest on interest being charged to customers over the deferral.

Westpac – Impacted customers are being offered a 3-month pause with the option for a further 3 months after review. Home loan repayments increase after the deferral, but the loan term remains the same.

NAB – Following the repayment holiday, home loan repayments increase, but the loan term remains the same.

ANZ – Customers can choose to keep the loan term the same or extend it by six months, with a review at three months, with both options likely resulting in mortgage repayments increasing after the pause.

Robodebt refund: June 2020

The Federal Government has announced it will refund more than $721 million dollars in wrongly issued Centrelink debts to over 373,000 Australians.

The incorrect debt collections made between the 2015/2016 financial year and November 2019 targeted individuals who had supposedly received more welfare than their income entitled them to.

The debts were automatically calculated by special algorithms without human intervention and became known as rob debts.

How do I get my robo debt refund?

If your eligible, the amount will get credited in your account, so update your details on mygov if not done already. Government Services Minister Stuart Robert said 190,000 individuals will be repaid starting from July 1.

Royal Banking Commission Australia

Started: 14 December 2017

Ended: 4 February 2019

The Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry, also known as the Banking Royal Commission and the Hayne Royal Commission, was a royal commission established on 14 December 2017 by the Australian government pursuant to the Royal Commissions Act 1902 to inquire into and report on misconduct in the banking, superannuation, and financial services industry.

2018 CBA Junk Insurance Refund

After the royal commission, refunds for 140,000 were said to be issued to CBA customers

Commonwealth Bank will issue $16 million in refunds to 140,000 people who were sold add-on insurance right before the bank’s ‘junk’ products become the subject of royal commission hearings.

“Consumer credit insurance” has been pitched to customers as a safety net that’ll help them meet their credit card or loan repayments if they lose their job, become sick, injured or die. The financial regulator characterises them as not of much value and consumer groups simply describe them as ‘junk’.

Consumer Credit Insurance. Consumer credit insurance (CCI) covers you if something happens to you that affects your ability to meet your credit repayment. You may be offered CCI cover by your lender when it approves your credit (such as a credit card, personal loan or mortgage).

Find more about this here- https://www.choice.com.au/money/insurance/insurance-advice/articles/commonwealth-bank-refund-16m-junk-insurance-royal-commission-080318

2016 -Recent Fee for no service scandal:

The sweeping scandals – tagged by ASIC as “fees for no service” in its landmark report in October 2016 – saw the big banks and AMP targeted for practices dating back years where millions of dollars in fees were creamed off accounts for financial advice never given.

Wealth management and financial advice industries were involved and investigated in the banking royal commission for this scandal.

Commonwealth bank Wealth package refund in 2015

This happened in 2015. If you held a wealth package, you could have got a refund. The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) was said to refund approximately $80 million to around 216,000 Wealth Package customers as compensation for failing to apply fee waivers, interest concessions and other benefits since 2008.

It equated to an average refund per customer affected of around $370, which includes interest. In this case bank staff had to manually apply many of the discounts available under the Wealth Package, which in some instances did not occur.

2017 – CommInsure refunding – CCP premiums

Commonwealth Bank and insurers QBE and Virginia Surety would repay a total of over $26 million to people who were mis-sold add-on insurance, including consumer credit insurance.

CreditCard Plus (CCP) Insurance protects customers’ credit card repayment obligations in the event of death, terminal illness, disability and involuntary unemployment.

Following a review of their records, they identified that CCP Insurance may have been sold to a number of customers who may not have been eligible for all the benefits when they bought their policy. Therefore, they were refunding the premiums paid by impacted customers.

More details here – https://www.commbank.com.au/insurance/creditcard-plus/faqs.html

2020 Westpac refund for small business – Merchant terminal fee relief

The Merchant terminal fee relief was a part of Westpac’s COVID-19 support package for Australian businesses, for 3 months, starting in April 2020.

All eligible merchant customers would have received their final refund payment and westpac are working to provide you with a GST adjustment note for tax purposes in the coming weeks.

Who is eligible? -Merchant customers with a total card spend of less than $5 million per annum.

More here- https://www.westpac.com.au/help/disaster-relief/coronavirus/business/merchant-terminal-fee-refunds/

2015 – 2019 Nab Refunds

NAB’s refund program was set up in 2015, however only about $300 million has been paid back to customers. IN 2015 National Australia Bank WAS SAID TOl refund A$25 million ($18.38 million) to around 62,000 wealth management clients who were wrongly compensated.

https://asic.gov.au/about-asic/news-centre/find-a-media-release/2015-releases/15-194mr-nab-wealth-refunds-additional-customers-following-asic-action/

In 2019 Nab was ordered to pay back money to customers for junk insurance given to customers by shoddy financial advice. This came about by the royal banking commission.

It now expects another of its remediation Project Hunt to be finished in October.

ASIC is currently overseeing more than 100 remediation programs expected to pay out more than $2 billion to consumers on top of the almost $1 billion that has already been returned. About $10 billion has been set aside by the industry for remediation programs.

Qantas refund /Airline refund/ Flight Centre Travel agent refund

Qantas and Singapore airlines have many destination flights from Australia and there are thousands of customers still waiting for refunds directly from the airlines or then from flight centre or travel agents.

Airlines have given a mix of “travel credit” “travel vouchers” flights for future and money refunds. Flight centre has attracted court action and being looked into by authorities for delay in them giving refunds to customers.

Those customers who have accepted a travel credit voucher may not be eligible for a refund of money, however those whose flights got cancelled will be able to claim a refund.

Delayed air ticket and hotel accommodation refunds by travel agents and airlines could lead to further legal action being taken by irate customers due to interest charges escalating on credit cards.

Qantas Refunds

https://www.qantas.com/us/en/book-a-trip/flights/compensation-and-refunds-policy.html

Singapore Airline refund

https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/us/travel-info/charges-changes/cancellations-refunds/

Flight Centre Refunds

https://www.flightcentre.com.au/support/bookings#my-options

https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/flight-centre-to-refund-cancellation-fees

The ACCC has received more than 6000 complaints from consumers dissatisfied with travel companies’ refund policies and cancellation fees, with thousands more contacting their local state or territory fair trading agencies seeking assistance resolving individual disputes.

Qantas is refunding customers for flight cancellations after the ACCC COVID-19 Taskforce raised concerns with the way the airline had handled claims

CRUISE REFUNDS

COVID-19 has been called one of the worst things to happen to the cruise industry in decades.

Thousands of cruise customers from big cruise companies like Caribbean Cruise, Princess Cruise, Carnival Cruises and P & O Cruises are awaiting their refunds due to cancellation of cruises all over the world.

Most cruise liners though American owned, operate from overseas tax haven countries and so has been denied by USA for financial bailouts in the COVID19 Crisis times.

Most cruise liners are offering cruise credits to their customers leaving not many options to disgruntled clients.

Princess cruises

https://www.princess.com/news/notices_and_advisories/notices/refunds-and-future-cruise-credits.html

Royal Carribean Cruises

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/booking-cancellation-refund-policy

P&O cruises

https://www.pocruises.com/request

Carnival Cruises

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/list/search/suggested/1

Reference Websites

Banks:

Westpac Bank – https://www.westpac.com.au/

ANZ Bank – https://www.anz.com.au/

National Australia Bank – https://www.nab.com.au/

Commonwealth Bank – https://www.commbank.com.au/

Government:

ASIC – https://asic.gov.au/

ATO – https://www.ato.gov.au/

APRA – https://www.apra.gov.au/

ACCC – https://www.accc.gov.au/

Search Keywords to Article:

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Ready for a Starter Home? 5 Things you Must Keep in Mind

May 28, 2020 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Homeownership rates in Australia are touted to reach 64% by 2021.

Undeniably, having a place to call your own is an incredible achievement, regardless of whether you are purchasing a starter home or a forever home.

This achievement is, however, a substantial financial undertaking that calls for preparation, foresight and a lot of diligence.

Are you in the market for your first home? If yes, here are five things to keep in mind.

1. Your Credit Score Will Matter Greatly

Your credit score is among the most significant determinants of what your loan’s terms are going to be.

It’s therefore advisable to know what it is, way in advance. If it’s less than pleasant, you will have some time to try and improve it before you actually make a loan application.

Australia scores individuals on a 0 to 1200 scale, with 500 to 700 considered as average. While you might still get a financier with a below-average score, this will likely be on higher interest terms.

A good score, by and large, gets you a better offer.

2. There Will be Additional Expenses

There are several other chargeable fees over and above the actual cost of the home. Some of these include insurance, repair costs, property taxes, association fees and so on.

You should, therefore, have the budget or income to cover not just these costs, but also to cover emergency costs that might arise.

Think ahead to how you intend to furnish your home and how much house leaves you with enough to do that.

If you’re on a shoestring budget, it’s advisable to start with the basics such as living room furniture, beds and bedding and basic kitchen utensils and appliances. But don’t rush to the shop if your old stuff is still usable.

However, don’t drag dilapidated belongings into your new home. If you live in the capital, and want to throw away your mattress, consider mattress recycling in Canberra instead of sending it to a landfill.

3. A Good Realtor is Key

Each neighbourhood has unique qualities and peculiarities you should be well aware of before making a purchase.

A credible agent will have a firm handle on what these are, as well as an array of properties with different features and a wide range of budgets.

As you shop for an agent, look for one with extensive experience and coverage in the area you are looking to settle in.

4. You Need a Reputable Home Inspector

A home inspection is done to identify any problems with a house that might require repairs or overhauls.

Without a reputable home inspector, you run the risk of missing some of these issues. The last thing you need is an inspector that overlooks problem areas just to help a seller or a realtor to make a sale.

If you are referred to a tried and tested agent, you can ask them to refer an inspector to you. If not, then you’re better off finding and vetting an inspector or an inspection company by yourself.

If you buy a house with major damage, you will find yourself in a pinch months or years after the purchase as repair and labour costs can get quite high.

5. You Need to Protect Your Financial Standing

Your pre-approval will be solely set within the information given at the time you make an application.

Any amendments like a job with a different salary, additional loans or job loss can result in your loan being denied when you begin the purchase process.

As much as possible, try to hold your financial position constant so as not to jeopardize your homeownership dream.

Easy Does It

Finding and buying a house is not a process that should be rushed. When you finally decide to take the steps towards homeownership, allow yourself the gift of time.

This should enable you to shop around for a great house in an enviable neighbourhood and at a good price.

It should also allow you the time to vet agents, inspectors and lenders. Ultimately, you deserve not only the home of your dreams, but you also deserve to get a good deal on the home of your dreams.

Small Loans – Getting Financial Help When You Need it Most

May 10, 2020 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Staying safe and helping each other through COVID has become a focus for us all right now, and safety means our well being – physically, mentally, and financially.

We all need to focus on what matters in our lives and keep things as simple as possible – as there has been a lot of change for us all to get used to.

One of the most important things for us to do though is keep those necessities going – the little things in our lives that we see as essential to our well being.

That’s where a small loan can help, and with social distancing, and the temporary closure of many face-to-face businesses, it’s helpful to know that the application can be completed 100% online.

Unlike large loans say for houses or cars, a small loan is designed to help with life’s necessities. For some of us, those necessities are yoga classes which we can do online, and for others of us, it might mean purchasing a breadmaker so we can make gluten-free baked goods and be self-sufficient at home.

Whatever your situation, we are all in this together, and we all need to focus on what matters most to us and the people we care about.

Whether it’s realising that you now need to purchase a laptop or a tablet so the kids can keep learning from home, or being able to pay a higher than usual utility bill because you are housebound, a small loan may help relieve the pressures we are experiencing right now.

Rates have been officially frozen in Australia by the RBA, so there are no more increases to come while we take measures to look after our health, and plan for life during and after COVID.

If you are looking for a small loan to help, here are a few tips on what to look for online:

1. Is the process simple?

When situations are stressful, and we are all experiencing a lot of change both socially and financially with COVID, you want to keep any processes simple. Look for a small loan online that is straightforward, and that is easy for you to complete. Expect to answer a few simple questions, so look for online applications that can be completed in a relatively short time frame (less than an hour).

2. Are the repayment terms clear?

You want to make sure that you can manage your repayment cycle, and that there are no hidden fees with any small loan. Look for how you access the money, what the interest rate is, and whether you have a short repayment term like three months, or a long repayment term. It can be easy to understand repayment amounts if the loan company has an online tool.

3. Does it fit with your pay cycle?

Be sure that you can fit the repayment with your pay cycle. This can make it easier for you to manage, as you will know when the money will come out of your account.

4. Can you speak to a customer service team easily?

You want to be able to contact a customer service representative of the company when you need them. Check for their operating hours, and whether you will be able to speak with them, email them or phone them.

5. What are other customers saying about the small loans?

Look at what other customers are saying. This will help verify that the online application is as easy as the loan company says it is.

If you are looking for a small loans, remember that simplicity is key.

Look for a small loan that can help you cover the essentials for your family when finances are a little stretched in the short term. It might just be the positive difference you all need in your life to keep you focused on what matters most – the health and safety of your family.

Taste in Tech: How Modern Technology Has Changed the Hospitality Industry

May 3, 2020 by Reporter Leave a Comment

In the last decade or so, technology has truly changed how we live. From our daily lives to our jobs, technology plays a huge role in how our society functions. One of the industries that has benefited the most from technology is hospitality. The hospitality industry is a dynamic environment that evolves and changes at a rapid pace. With the aid of new technologies, the last decade has witnessed the industry advancing at a remarkable pace. In today’s article, we have a look at how modern technology has changed the hospitality industry, so read on to find out more.

Contactless Payments

The truth is, as a society, we are rapidly shifting towards a cash-free lifestyle. Thanks to advances in technology, the hospitality industry has been able to greatly reduce cash transactions. Gone are the days where time had to be wasted calculating change or handling stacks of cash. Almost every restaurant, hotel or bar now offers various payment methods through their POS systems in Sydney. This allows customers to pay in a variety of ways, ranging from debit or credit cards to digital wallets that pay the bill in an instant with a simple tap of one’s smartphone.

Online Bookings and Reservations

Did you know that based on surveys that have been conducted, most people would rather not have to call a restaurant or hotel up if there was an option for them to book a table or room online? Thanks to advances in technology, almost every single restaurant, bar or hotel now allows for customers to make a booking or reservation online. Not only does this save your customers time and hassle, it also reduces the workload on your service staff as it won’t be necessary for them to tend to bookings on the phone all day long.

Social Media Presence

Social media rules the world and has completely changed the way hospitality businesses interact with their customers. Businesses are now able to advertise their services on their social media platforms without having to spend a single dollar. For businesses looking to go the extra mile, there are various sponsored ads and promotions that many platforms such as Facebook and Instagram offer. These sponsored ads allow you to reach thousands of people online that may have otherwise never heard of your business. Social media is also a fantastic tool to engage with your customers and ensure that they are happy with your services. Showing that you care on a personal level is what differentiates a good business from a great one.

Remote Check-In & Check Out

Think about how much time is wasted when guests at a hotel queue at the front desk to check in and out of their hotel rooms. Thanks to good ol’ technology, most hotels allow for guests to virtually check in and out of their hotel rooms via a mobile application. By enabling guests to handle the check-in and check-out process on their own, hotel managers are effectively freeing up staff hours that could otherwise be spent on more pressing tasks. This could even reduce the need for a large number of staff members, thus eliminating unnecessary costs for the business. Mobile apps can also help hotels and businesses further understand their customers needs and provide them with a more personalised experience.

Online Reputation Management

Before the days of Yelp! And Facebook, people had to rely on word of mouth. Thanks to so many online platforms that have popped in up the last few years, hospitality businesses are able to keep track of their online reputation with ease. Online reviews and comments offer businesses direct insight into what customers think of their services, ways they can improve and things that may need to change. By using this feedback, businesses are able to improve their standards and offer a better guest experience for all. The fact that this information is public also serves as a motivation for staff members to ensure that they provide the best possible customer service experience.

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With the help of technology, the hospitality industry has seen unprecedented growth in the last decade that is only predicted to continue for years to come. We hope that this article has given you some valuable insight into how modern technology has changed the hospitality industry for the better.

Financial Framework – Four Tips That Can Help You Get Out Of Debt On Any Income

April 28, 2020 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Photo by Startup Stock Photos from Pexels

If creditors have been hounding you for payment, you may be wondering how in the world you’ll ever get out of debt. Many people fear they will never get out of their financial strife because what they owe is more than what they can afford to pay back in the foreseeable future.

The good news is that even if you’re living paycheck to paycheck, there’s light at the end of that stifling tunnel. You can get out of debt sooner rather than later by following the tips listed below.

1. Create a Budget that Works for You

Every person’s debt profile is different. This means you may have to explore multiple solutions to get out of debt before you find one that works for you.

Before you panic or throw your hands up in despair at the mountains of debt you owe, take a minute to look closely at how much you have coming in and going out. Evaluate the things that are necessary and not and find ways to cut expenses where you can. When you create a budget like this and stick with it, your eyes are opened to how much you really spend (get ready for a shock), and you often find funds you didn’t even know you had.

2. Make a Plan for Repayment

Most creditors are willing to work with you as long as you let them know about your situation. It’s when you ignore their repeated attempts to contact you that they begin to get nasty. If you’re experiencing financial hardship or can’t afford to pay as much as they’re asking each month, just contact the creditor and work out a payment plan. Keeping them in the loop makes them much more understanding and willing to work with you.

3. Get a Lower Interest Rate

There are a few different options for obtaining a lower interest rate on your lines of credit. First, you can simply call the creditor and ask for a lower interest rate. If you have a history of on-time payments, the creditor may be more inclined to grant you the more reasonable rate you seek.

Second, you could transfer high-interest balances to a lower-interest bearing credit card. Some of these cards have introductory periods with no interest for a specified amount of time. If you plan to pay the balance off during that time, you could save a ton in interest.

Having said that, if you don’t pay off the balance during that introductory period, you could end up owing more than you originally started with once the interest rate kicks in.

The last of these options to consider is a debt consolidation loan that allows you to combine all your high-interest loans into one lower-rate loan. Alternatively, you could also work with a debt management service who will advocate on your behalf to your creditors for lower monthly payments.

4. Stop Using Credit Cards

Credit card use seems to be what drives the economy these days, but if you’ve over-extended yourself (it’s easy to do), credit cards can be a nightmare to pay off. The easiest way to pay off debt is to stop adding to it with more credit card spending. Cut your cards up, put them in the freezer – whatever you have to do to keep yourself from using them.

Facing excess debt is never fun, but regardless of your income level, you can pay it down and achieve financial freedom. If you find yourself feeling hopeless about the financial hole you’ve gotten into, use the tips above to pull yourself out.

Passive Perfection – The 5 Passive Income Streams With The Best Returns

February 6, 2020 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Photo by Alexander Mils from Pexels

Working smarter, not harder, is the mantra of the day. People are no longer willing to spend most of their lives at work. We want our jobs to enrich our lives and fund our personal pursuits. Now more than ever, we want to spend our time in a fulfilling work environment with minimal stress. Below are some ways that you can invest in passive income sources so that even while you are sleeping, you can be making money.

Real estate

Have you considered investing in property but been put off by the idea of all the hassles involved in renting out a house? The good news is that you can generate passive income from real estate by investing in commercial property management. In this type of arrangement, you can reap the rewards without too much initial effort.

Many people decide that they want to be a silent partner in this type of venture because all it requires is that you invest some initial capital. If, however, you want to take a more active role, you can choose to take on the property management yourself. Either way, by owning property and leasing it out, you can earn a significant amount of extra income.

The stock market

Another way to earn passive income with an initial startup cost is through dividend-paying stocks, EFTs, and other investments such as lending clubs. These types of investments can help you earn money around the clock with no work on your end. It does take time to build up a strong and legitimate portfolio, but with the proper guidance from a reputable investment firm, you can be sure that your dividend investments will pay off.

Affiliate marketing

If you are a heavy internet user (like most of us), then there are several ways you can leverage your online presence to create passive income for yourself. Affiliate marketing is an income idea that requires you to have one or more platforms on which you can promote products for other companies. This works extremely well on social media platforms within your local community where you can see what people are after and provide affiliate links that help them while earning you a commission. When someone uses the promotion link on your site or post to buy from another company, you get paid.

Website ads

In conjunction with affiliate marketing, you can also leverage your internet space by displaying ads on your website. Again, this does require you to set up a site, but the more visibility you can create, the more money goes straight into your pocket. This can be so profitable that it’s often called owning online property. Advertisers pay to display ads on your site, and you get paid simply for attracting traffic. How easy is that?

CPC ads

The final way to leverage your online property is to go with cost per clicks (CPC) ads. Unlike affiliate marketing and display ads, you get paid every time someone views or clicks on an ad versus only when someone buys something after clicking on the ad. You can make money simply by driving traffic to your website and letting the adverts sell themselves.

Whether you choose one or all of these methods to generate passive income, you can earn a significant amount of money by investing in ideas that will help you down the road. You may not see an immediate influx of funds into your bank account, but hold out for the long haul, and you’ll eventually be able to live without working.

How To Handle Employee Payments As A New Business

January 28, 2020 by Reporter Leave a Comment

Setting up a new business is filled with uncertainty and lots of learning. Many new business owners may start out with a great idea and a solid business plan but run into the harsh reality of bringing that plan to life. Things like payroll processes, for example, can seem like a trivial detail but they require careful attention to get them right.

Heeding the advice of a professional payroll service provider is a good option for new business owners with little payroll experience. However, for an overview of some of the most salient things to consider when setting up your payroll, let’s look at the best ways to handle employee payments as a new business.

Make A Budget

As a new business, it can be tricky to know where your money is being spent. There are a lot of capital costs that need to be covered right at the outset including securing an office and furnishing the place if you have a brick and mortar shop, or website design fees and the like if you are going the e-commerce route. With all of this, you may quickly become overwhelmed and wind up with insufficient funds to pay your employees.

Making a budget will help you avoid this disastrous scenario. If you want to retain your staff, then you will need to maintain a set amount of your budget for payroll. As an added bonus, set a maximum cap for your payroll expenses to keep enough money around for all of the other expenses. The more work that you can do yourself, the fewer staff you will need to hire, and the higher your profits will be.

Inform Yourself About Payroll Legislation

It is important to be fully aware of payroll rules and regulations that apply to your business. Complying with these for your employees will allow both you and them to stay on the right side of the law. This includes things like making the appropriate deductions for social security and keeping track of benefit payments. Paying your employees under the table may seem like an easy way to avoid extra tax expenses, though this will end up with you in hot water.

These details can often be overwhelming for new business owners, so be sure to seek out professional guidance from someone who knows the ins and outs of these topics.

Use Payroll Software

If you lack the funds to hire a professional accountant or payroll manager, make sure to invest in high-quality payroll software that works for your business. Contemporary payroll software is easy to use and can be customized to the needs of your payroll structure. Even the least computer-savvy business owners will be pleasantly surprised at the ease of use and flexibility of these programs.

Consider Wage Or Salary Payment

There are many different payment and payroll structures to choose from when deciding on how to compensate your employees. Salary payments can make the matter much more straightforward, as your employees will receive the same amount each year and each pay period. Wage payments are a bit more labour-intensive, as hours need to be tracked and verified on a regular basis.

As another option, you can also hire freelance workers on a project basis for a bit of extra help when you need it.

Take Your Time To Learn The Basics

As a new business owner, it is important to set aside enough time to learn the basics of payroll processes before you get started. Having a solid background in best practices and legal requirements will allow you to launch your business and get it off of the ground without running into any hiccups along the way.

What the digital banking revolution means for Australian banks

January 23, 2020 by Reporter Leave a Comment

The future of banking is digital, and the Australian financial services industry needs to brace itself for a transformative year ahead.

“A digital transformation is inevitable in the Australian marketplace,” says Myles Bertrand, Managing Director APAC for Mambu, “however many of our established institutions are in dire need of a cultural overhaul before they can really embrace this brand-new world. Banks need to start thinking and operating like fintechs in order to maintain their position at the forefront of the Australian financial services industry.”

Mambu – launched in Germany but operating globally, including in Australia – works with banks, fintechs and telcos to help create a technology-first approach to banking, opening up new opportunities to optimise operations, ensure regulatory compliance and increase customer acquisitions.

In Australia in particular, it is the impact on regulatory compliance that is a key area of interest when it comes to the new era of digital banking.

“The good news is that digital banking is actually going to make it easier for financial institutions to comply with all of the different regulations,” says Bertrand. “It’s going to make it easier to track transactions, keep data safe and will also reduce duplication. So those organisations that make the transition from less secure legacy systems to cloud-based digital platforms, where security improvements are constantly made, can boast greater peace of mind and set themselves ahead of competitors.”

To stay in the game, banks need to be able to roll out products and services at a rapid pace, adding new features to platforms, while simultaneously enhancing existing ones. This kind of agility is next to impossible to achieve with most institutions’ legacy systems. However, composable banking architecture – the quick and flexible assembly of independent systems on a cloud platform – can provide the opportunity for organisations to create a dynamic platform with intuitive, responsive features that can be quickly and continuously updated.

A truly agile platform undergoes short, regular updates with a constant pipeline of improvements that are automatically layered on top of existing cloud technology and allows business to run uninterrupted on the front end. This allows financial institutions to make minor changes regularly, rather than major, infrequent updates that can cause significant disruption and draw the ire of customers, as has been the case with some traditional transformations.

With so many new players arriving in the marketplace looking to capitalise on the impending digital transformation of the industry, the key to successfully transitioning to digital banking is to look for proven, reliable fintech partners with experience and a successful track record in helping financial institutions make the switch. By working collaboratively with a proven digital engine, banks and financial institutions can build innovative integrations into new or existing product channels, creating simple, streamlined and automated customer experiences.

“I think the whole financial services industry – globally, not just in Australia or the APAC region – is going to be turned on its head over the next 12 to 24 months,” concludes Bertrand. “We really want to help banks take the leap and make the necessary changes to embrace the opportunities that digital banking can offer and set themselves up for success.

“As the looming fintech age forces institutions to digitise, innovate and scale to adapt to customer needs, those banks and financial institutions that can move at the pace of a technology company while remaining committed to strength, security and service will be the leaders of this new era.”

Myles Bertrand is the Managing Director, Asia-Pacific, for Mambu, the market leading cloud-based banking platform.

Money

Share trading fees – Banks

Share trading fees – Brokers

Risky Stock Trading with penny stocks

1. Your Credit Score Will Matter Greatly

2. There Will be Additional Expenses

3. A Good Realtor is Key

4. You Need a Reputable Home Inspector

5. You Need to Protect Your Financial Standing

Easy Does It

Contactless Payments

Online Bookings and Reservations

Social Media Presence

Remote Check-In & Check Out

Online Reputation Management

Real estate

The stock market

Affiliate marketing

Website ads

CPC ads

Make A Budget

Inform Yourself About Payroll Legislation

Use Payroll Software

Consider Wage Or Salary Payment

Take Your Time To Learn The Basics

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