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Just as the name implies, a short term debt financing stands out as a financing form that involves a financial obligation a company has to fulfil in a shorter period of time when compared with regular financing options. In most situations we are talking about a maximum of 2 years, although 1 year financing is usually offered.

Many companies opt for short term debt financing because of the fact that they want to have more working capital available or it is possible to need more money as day-to-day operations need more cash. Cyclical operation conditions or companies that are faced with international trade need such financing in various situations.

According to Today’s Growth Consultant Reviews, there are 4 types of short term debt financing that you can consider:

• Overdrafts

This is basically an instant credit extension offered by the lending institution. As a company gets the overdraft agreement, it can transmit or draw down cash from the account beyond the balance that is available. Credit amount will always depend on overdraft limits that are negotiated with banks. In this case the advantage is that you will only take out as much as you need for the operation activity when it is necessary.

• Credit Letter

A credit letter is basically a letter that comes from the bank and guarantees payments towards sellers. Sellers are guaranteed that amounts will be received during credit period. In this situation the advantage is that the company is usually going to be offered a better overall credit term when dealing with a supplier.

• Short Term Loans

These are loans that have to be repaid in a short period of time, together with the associated interested. This is a loan that is not revolving and usually has a completely fixed repayment period. A company can use it in order to gain more liquidity as working capitals are lower or are necessary (for instance, for paying creditors or buying stocks).

• Exchange Bill

This document will bind a party to pay an amount of money at a fixed rate to the secondary party at a specific date. In most cases this is a bill that appears when dealing with international trade. Exporters can grant a credit for the importer for the goods shipped with an exchange bill for the amount.

Short Term Debt Financing Qualification

In order to receive such financing you do not need to think about formal qualifying criteria. Usually, the company needs to hold a stronger business case that supports business viability and owner capital. A supplier can offer a short term credit for the purchases in order to enhance competitiveness. The bank will offer overdrafts and short term loans in order to earn an interest and build client relationships. To put it simply, if the company is transparent in operations and financials, there is a strong possibility that such financing would be offered.

The key aspect for maintaining an excellent investment portfolio is investment analysis and monitoring. These processes are generally defined by the portfolio valuation service, which may also cater to fund managers, shareholders, limited partners, beneficiaries or holding companies.

All stakeholders are very demanding these days and they are constantly requesting for reports on the development of the portfolio companies. This often includes sporadic assessments and NAV (net asset value) calculations. When you are selecting a valuation service, you will have to check out their frequency of checking the NAV. Some services may offer monthly analysis, whereas others may offer quarterly or annual NAVs. There is an urgent need to identify the best valuation service because there are many services that may not give the desired reports in the manner that you need them. Independent and trusted analysis is the need of the hour these days—mainly in the corporate world. When you are investing your money in various companies through a fund manager, you will find that they can be biased in their valuation. In such instances, getting the valuation done by third-party services is really a good idea.

Monitoring the portfolio is always based on the analysis and evaluation of the different portfolio companies. There are two key aspects that a valuation service should look out for — the financial aspects and the soft factors. The financial aspects of the valuation are important, but the soft factors or the qualitative factors are also equally important. During monitoring or evaluation of the portfolio, you may have come across some very important terms such as the market environment, which generally comes under soft factors or the qualitative factors. When you sit face-to-face with the valuation service executive for the very first time, you will have to make sure that you are interested in the product.

Valuation and reporting go hand in hand, but there are different methods used for valuation and reporting. Look out for portfolio valuation services that provide your quarterly and annual reviews. They should also be providing you with summaries and overviews of evaluated companies. Valuations generally follow strict guidelines so that there is no ambiguity what so ever. Typically, the valuation follows the IPEV valuation guidelines. IPEV stands for International Private Equity and Venture Capital Valuation Guidelines. Some valuation services may also adhere to the AIFM Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive guidelines. When the valuation firm adheres to the IPEV and the AIFM guidelines, the company will surely meet all independent valuation needs.

Since valuation is a very important process, selecting the right valuation company or individual is paramount. There are thousands of valuation companies and individuals, but all of them may not have the expertise and experience. For most valuation companies, efficiency and competitiveness go hand in hand. So, you will find that rates are very competitive these days. Valuation experts who have decades of experience in valuation are always preferred to do the valuation of your portfolio. Also, valuation experts who provide an entire gamut of valuation under one roof are always selected these days.

In October 2014, the personal saving rate, the ratio of personal income saved to personal net disposable income, was only five percent in the United States. Americans are not known for being savers; the all-time high for personal saving ratio was 14.60 percent in 1975 which is lower than many developing countries.

The truth is, life happens and it can often be expensive. By building your savings into a nest egg, you will be better prepared for these developments.

A Nation of Spenders

Almost half of American households (44 percent) have no more than three months of expenses in a savings account, leaving them unprepared for medical, legal, or other emergencies. Many rely on credit which accumulates expenses through interest rates and in some unfortunate circumstances, late or missed payments.

The National Foundation for Credit Counseling conducts a survey every year on consumer financial literacy. According to the latest survey, 16 percent indicated that their emergency fund was insufficient. The same percentage also admitted to not having enough in savings to retire.

Saving Is Necessary

Relying on credit instead of stashing away money is a risky game. As your balances rise, so do interest rates and fees. Many people file bankruptcy because they do not keep up with servicing their debt.

As this pattern continues, credit scores drop but life does not stop happening. If a car needs brakes, a water heater blows up, or you get sued or face legal charges and need to pay criminal defense lawyer fees, this means having to find money quickly. A household that is liquid asset poor is also vulnerable to predatory lending that only deepens financial insecurity.

Get Started

The economy is unpredictable and only a healthy savings account ensures stability. The time to develop this habit is now. Here are suggestions to get started:

• Start Small. Even if you only transfer $5.00 from every paycheck into savings account, it is better than nothing. The trick is to make this a habit and putting aside a small amount will accomplish that. You will likely increase this amount later, due to the satisfaction of saving.

• Set a Goal. A $1,000 emergency fund covers most every day emergencies like car or home repairs. While legal fees and medical bills could easily wipe out a fund of this size, $1,000 is a good goal to start saving. Break it into two $500 goals if that seems more feasible.

• Schedule Automatic Transfers. Some employers offering direct deposit will allow you to split your paycheck into two accounts. If that is possible, arrange a certain amount for your savings account. Otherwise, set up an automatic transfer from checking to savings at each pay period so the saving process occurs despite any lapses in discipline.

A nest egg means an emergency becomes an inconvenience instead of a disaster. If you are relying on credit or living between paychecks, take it as a sign to change your financial habits. Rather than mull over your mistakes, take action today to start a good savings plan.