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While one takes a holiday to relax and get away from the grind of everyday life, unexpected can happen anywhere. Therefore, it is important that you invest in a good travel insurance policy before you fly out for the well-deserved holiday. But a lot of jargon associated with travel insurance can leave you confused. Worry not, here is a quick glossary to help you with the most common terms.

Annual multi-trip cover: A policy that is valid for a period of one year from the policy start date, and covers multiple overseas trips taken during this period. Typically, these policies have a limit on how long each trip can be, and they should start and end in India. If a medical condition arises during the policy period, the insurer needs to be informed even if it was when the insured was not on a trip.

Baggage and belongings: A baggage and belongings (or baggage and personal effects) cover protects you against loss, damage or theft of your belonging either while you are on holiday or during transit. Check your policy document to be sure of the maximum coverage provided. There could also be a single article limit. You should check this if you are carrying any expensive items (like a camera) with you.

Cancellation and curtailment: Two of the important events covered by travel insurance policy. If for any reason you have to cancel your travel plans or have to cut short your trip, the insurer would refund all your prepaid expenses. The cancelation/ curtailment can happen due to a number of reasons like a family member falling sick or your leaves at the office being canceled. Do check the policy wordings to be sure of the scenarios that may not be covered.

Delay: If your flight is delayed by over 6 hours, your travel insurance would pay you a compensation. The delay is typically calculated based on scheduled arrival time at the destination, and not based on departure times. The minimum delay for which the insurance cover is invoked varies from policy to policy. Some travel insurances also cover incidental costs resulting from the delay, so make sure to keep any spending receipts you get during the delay.

Geographical limit: This is the destinations for which your travel insurance policy is valid. For example, if the geographical limit for your policy is the United States of America, the policy will only cover loss events in the country and travel to and from the country. Make sure the geographical limit for your policy includes all the nations you plan to travel to. A dependable insurance provider such as Bharti AXA GI helps secure trips to more than 130 countries.

Hazardous activities: Any activities that increase the risk of injury to yourself or to others. Such activities are typically excluded from travel insurance policies. Before you book any such activity, check with your insurer if it is covered or not. You can always invest in an add-on to cover such activities include any adventure sports activity.

Maximum policy coverage: This refers to the maximum compensation that a policy would provide towards a given expense. Make sure you are comfortable with the limits put by the policy you choose.

Personal liability cover: This term is common across many different kinds of insurance policies. In the context of travel insurance, it means that if you cause damage to someone else on your trip the insurer will cover the costs if they make a claim against you.

Pre-existing medical condition: Any medical condition that was diagnosed or treated before you purchased the travel insurance is called a pre-existing medical condition. It is important to declare such conditions to your insurer as hiding them may lead to claims being rejected.

Repatriation: Repatriation means arranging for your return home for any reason. If you get injured or fall ill during your trip, the insurer will arrange for repatriation, if required.

Usual, customary and reasonable charges: The insurers typical refund only “usual, customary and reasonable charges”. This is nothing but the prevailing amounts charged for a service at a given location in a similar facility.

Running a small business can be incredibly stressful. Indeed, a study by Office works revealed that 45% of Australian small business owners feel that their stress levels have climbed in the last year.

Naturally, the problems often stem from a shortage of cash. Getting a good business loan can be a huge help, but which type should you be most interested in?

No Assets? Try an Unsecured Bank Loan

This is a traditional bank loan. It isn’t secured against any assets or property, which means that it is a fairly high risk option from the lender’s point of view. If you don’t pay it back they will need to fight to get back their money.

Because of this, unsecured loans are typically more expensive than the secured type. They can also be awkward to arrange since the bank will have strict lending criteria. However, if you don’t have any assets it can be a decent option.

Got Assets? Ask for Secured Bank Loan

In theory, a secured bank loan should be quicker and a little bit easier to sort out than unsecured borrowing. The bank has the security of your assets, so it should also offer a lower rate and might offer a higher loan amount as well.

If you have assets then this can be a good choice. Yet, don’t expect it to be exactly easy to arrange. Banks usually aren’t the best option if you need to get hold of some money urgently and with little paperwork to be completed.

Poor Credit History? Get a No Credit Check Loan

This is a fast and easy type of small business loan. You are using an asset such as a vehicle of machinery as collateral. So, a no credit check loan can be sorted out pretty much instantly if you are in a hurry to get some cash flowing into the business.

It is a smart move when you have available assets but your credit history is poor. There is no need to jump through any hoops at the bank either, so if time is of the essence you will have fewer worries.

Want a Modern Approach? Peer to Peer Lending

This is a fairly modern approach to business borrowing that is now made available from a number of different internet sites. On the positive side, interest rates tend to be lower than with banks.

On the other hand, the lack of financial regulation in this sector of the industry might be off-putting for some people. In addition, it is sometimes necessary to take the loan out as an individual rather than in the name of the business.

A Slow Period of the Year? Look at Invoice Financing

Some businesses go through periodic slow periods when orders dry up and funds get tight. Invoice financing is a type of business loan that has been created to deal with this specific situation.

It is a way of borrowing against the money that you are due to collect from customers. Some firms that offer this facility will even take over the responsibility for collecting the money due to you on outstanding invoices.

Summary

There are now sensible borrowing method for small business with varying needs and situations. It is always worth taking some time to consider all of the available types of loan first of all.

Many successful self-taught investors have started with forex investing. Forex investing is a great way to test the waters and start understanding how markets work. However, people who sell forex products often prey on this audience and make them believe that trading forex is the easiest way to make money through investing, which is not actually true.

While for some, forex might be their favourite way to trade, for others, it might not be the best choice based on what they’re looking for. In this article, we’re going to give you some of the pros and cons of forex investing so you can make a more informed decision.

Pro: Forex Trading Allows you to Start for Cheap

Forex allows you to trade with very low costs. There aren’t any real commissions to pay on forex since the majority of brokers will make money off the spread between currencies in the market. So, you won’t have to worry about additional brokerage charges, which eliminates an overhead. With equity trading, commissions will play a huge role in your trading strategy and they will have a major influence on your choice of brokers.

Con: Forex Often Lacks Transparency

Forex is not the most transparent market out there. Sometimes, you’ll only get access to quotes provided by your broker. You also might not know exactly how orders are fulfilled. And in some cases, you might not actually get the best price on a particular currency. Deregulation means that brokers have the upper hand in this situation and pretty much hold all the cards.

However, this can be avoided if you’re going for a broker that is regulated by reputable regulatory bodies. Forex brokers like markets.com, for instance, are regulated by the ASIC in Australia, the CySEC for European traders, and the FCSA in South Africa. If you want to learn more about them and what they have to offer, you can check out this markets.com review from Investing Goal. You’ll also find other reviews on the Investing Goal website if you’d like to explore what other options are available.

Pro: Works with Different Trading Styles

One of the best things about the forex market is that it’s open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and it fits different trading styles. Forex is a great option for people who want to do some short-term trading. And while the markets never stop, you can still monitor when there will be lower activity for certain currency pairs.

For example, night time in Japan is daytime on the US east coast. Traders during this period can take advantage of the lower volatility during these periods to make high volume trades while anticipating movement during on hours. Forex also allows you to go for long-term positions as well and look at long-term developments for certain currencies. This makes forex one of the most accommodating markets out there. If you don’t want to make all the investing decisions yourself you can always use a copy trading platform to make things easier.

Con: Price Determination can be Complex

A lot of people falsely think that determining currency prices is much easier in forex then with other financial instruments, but they’re wrong. Price determination with forex has to take multiple factors into consideration at once. Global economic and political market conditions can be difficult to evaluate, and most trading is done using technical analysis, which accounts for much of the volatility in the market. Getting the technical aspect wrong is the reason why many trades go south and can be highly cryptic in some cases, making forex one of the most unpredictable markets out there.

Pro: Short Selling is Easy

One point in favour of forex is how easy it is to short sell currencies on the market. Since the market sees so much volume, the chances of getting stuck on a trade at any given time are slim to none, and you’ll always be able to find a buyer or a seller at any time. This will allow you to make money whether a currency is falling or soaring.

Con: Leverage can be a Double-Edged Sword

A lot of brokers out there use leverage as a selling point, and it can be a great option for people with limited capital who want to control larger assets. But with high potential for gain also comes with a high potential for loss. And what’s worse is that while leverage trading is often marketed towards beginners, beginners are much more at risk of incurring huge losses. So, we strongly suggest that you don’t engage in leverage trading unless you have a thorough understanding of it, have a strong grip on your emotions, and know when to cut losses short, and an equally strong capital allocation scheme.

Conclusion

As you can see, while the forex may seem like a great trading option for some, it isn’t for everyone. Make sure that you weight the positives and negatives of trading in the foreign exchange market and see if it’s actually the best option for you.

There are several challenges when it comes to starting and maintaining a small business. Money management is at the top of the list of concerns for many small business owners. There are several things you can do to handle your operational processes. There are also daily things you can do to improve your business finances as well.

Separate Personal from Business Expenses

The first order of business is to never mix your personal with your business. That applies to your expenses as well as financing. While loan providers such as LendingClub.com will help to outline the distinctions, it’s ultimately the responsibility of the owner-borrower to understand how to manage business finances separate from personal. Accounting records, personal liability issues, and tax issues are just some of the other reasons not to mix them. You should also resist the urge to combine your business expenses with personal funds because it could lead to an even bigger mess later one.

The best way to separate personal and business finances begins with clearly defining your business budget and a personal budget. Follow each of these budgets so that the credit cards and loans reserved for your business don’t get used for your personal expenses and vice versa. Your accountant and bookkeeper will prevent you from combining your expenses when it comes to managing your books and paying your taxes.

Negotiate With Vendors Before Signing a Contract

You may have to do some research to find a bargain. When it comes to purchasing from a vendor or contracting with suppliers, always negotiate for a better deal. However, this doesn’t mean you should choose one based on the lowest price. Make sure you know what you’re getting before you sign the contract. Find out the purchase terms such as grace periods and late payment penalties when coming to a decision.

Pay All of Your Bills as Soon as Possible

Just like you should with your personal finances, you should pay your bills on a regular basis. Credit cards and loan payment late fees can leave you high and dry. However, paying late fees on your bills can also add up. Paying too late on your bills can also cost you money.

Make monthly arrangement so none of your bills fall through the cracks. The profit-loss margins are risky for young businesses. Preventing late fees can make a difference between ending the year in the black or in the red.

Make Budgeting a Regular Habit

You don’t have to be like the extreme couponers to save money on everyday expenses. But you should take advantage of deals and offers whenever you can. Fill out those mail-in rebate offers for office equipment, supplies. Or, you can get equipment and furniture second-hand or rent it. Not only does this make a positive impact on the environment, but it allows you to save money on utilities.

Spend Time on an Introductory Accounting Class

Just because you’re a small business owner doesn’t mean you’re suddenly going to be good with money. You’ll still accountable for business-related decisions. Even if you work with an accountant or bookkeeper, it’s important to know the basics of accounting. Taking an introductory course into accounting can help you learn about the cash flow of your small business.

The more you understand your business’s cash flow and finances, the more you’ll be prepared to make better business decisions. There’s nothing like getting hands-on when it comes to your money. Sometimes it’s better to do it yourself than to enlist the help of an accountant or bookkeeper.

It used to be that graduating students with large amounts of student loan debt were told to forget purchasing a home until after they’d paid down their debt. Still others were told to wait until they’d built up years of work history, delaying the initial purchase of a home for years. Today, however, more and more millennials are finding it possible to qualify for a mortgage while paying off student loan debt. How?

They Have Good Credit

Credit scores range anywhere from 350 to 850, with anything below 600 considered a poor score. Most mortgage lending programs, even those that are federally funded for first-time buyers, look for scores of at least 620. Those with excellent credit, above about 750, will stand an even higher chance of securing a mortgage with student loan debt.

If your credit score may be an issue, follow these steps to move toward improving it:

● Check your score – you can’t fix your score unless you know what it is. Examine your report and notify the credit bureau of any errors immediately.

● Address any delinquencies – it’s important you address delinquencies immediately. If possible, pay the account off entirely.

● Set up auto-pay – setting up auto-pay features for all your debts will ensure each payment is made on time. Building a lengthening history of paying every debt on time each month makes you much more attractive to lenders.

● Avoid applying for new credit that may go unused – applications are typically a ding on your credit, so even if you don’t intend to use the upper limits of a new card, it may hurt your score.

● Don’t close paid accounts – credit cards you’ve paid off can positively affect your credit score. If you are not using all of your available credit, open, empty credit cards can be helpful.

They Have a Lower Debt-to-Income Ratio

Debt-to-income (DTI) ratio is calculated as your monthly debt payments compared to your monthly income. If you are paying off a student loan in addition to credit card debt, you’ll need a relatively high monthly income to offset the amount of debt you’re carrying. Lenders will focus on your debt-to-income ratio to determine if you can afford another debt – your mortgage – in addition to what you’re already carrying. Paying off credit cards or student loans and maximizing your earning potential can help on both fronts.

You can also consider consolidating debt with a personal loan. If you have a great deal of credit card debt, you likely have a variety of higher interest rates. A personal loan is a stable debt rather than revolving debt like a credit card, and reflects positively on your credit history. You’ll likely receive a lower rate in addition to freeing up available credit.

They’ve Secured Employment in Their Field

Lenders will consider your employment history to determine if you have the steady income required to continue to make mortgage payments. If you’ve recently graduated, you may not have the recommended two years of steady employment. However, underwriters will often consider a move from college straight into gainful employment in your chosen field a substitute for part of your employment history.

They’ve Refinanced or Restructured Student Loans

When lenders look at your debt-to-income ratio, student loans are among the debts they’ll consider. If your payments are unwieldy, consider applying for an income-driven repayment plan through the U.S. Department of Education. These plans consider your income and often provide a lower payment than the typical graduated repayment program. If your income increases, you can increase your repayment to ensure you continue to pay down your loans.

Another solution that can lower your monthly payments is refinancing your student loans. Loans refinanced through banks or other institutions typically carry lower interest rates and lower monthly payments than the original federal loans. As with other loans, you’ll need to consider your creditworthiness, income, and debt-to-income ratio.

They’ve Qualified for Down Payment Assistance

Though the traditional down payment is 20% or more, several programs exist to reduce your down payment in order to speed up the homebuying process for those with student loan and other debt. For example, FHA loans by the Federal Housing Authority offer a much lower percentage – 3.5% for those with credit scores in the 600s and above, and 10% for those in the 500s. HomeReady loans targeted at first-time home buyers offer even lower down payment terms of around 3%.

Find a lender that works with these and other first-time home buyer and down payment assistance programs. Many lenders do not offer zero down payment, but still offer a variety of other loan types that could meet your needs. Obviously, if you have the means to provide a 20% down payment, you’ll lower the principal on your loan, but these assistance programs can put buying your first home within your grasp.

Today’s millennials with student debt are qualifying for mortgages, and chances are, you can too. Overall, pay close attention to your credit score and making your payments on time. Keep your other debt low, and ask your lender about assistance programs that may be available to you. Finally, if you’re in the market for a home, get pre-approved first to see just how much home you can afford. Then, if you find the home of your dreams, you’ll know you can move forward, even while you’re paying off your student loan debt.

Information is provided by Sammamish Mortgage, a Premiere Mortgage Company in Pacific Northwest including WA, ID, OR, CO.