Are You Unknowingly Wasting Your Health Care Dollars? An Inside View For Small Businesses

?The solution for those of us who don?t have loopholes and lobbyists is to become ever more efficient even as we become ever more effective.?

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If You Handle Cash, IRS Can Seize First, Ask Questions Later

If you withdraw too much cash, the IRS may seize your assets even if you have committed no crime. Suspicion can be enough, and sorting it out can be slow and expensive.

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World's Biggest Oil Companies - 2015

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Russia, China Get Energy Deals Under Way

China is moving quickly on its $400 billion deal to get Gazprom natural gas out of Russia and into northern China.  The Chinese state run oil firms are reportedly working on the Power of Siberia pipeline, which was part of the multi-billion dollar deal signed last year.

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Next, Maybe FIFA Head Should Run The Clinton Foundation

FIFA head Sepp Blatter has resigned, and where better than to become immune from legal process than the Clinton Foundation?

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The Internet Of Things (You Can Sue About)

Web-connected devices have the potential to develop into a perpetual motion machine of lawsuits for the plaintiffs? class-action bar.

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The Best U.S. Government Employers [Infographic]

Working for the government comes with numerous perks such as job security, a competitive salary, more vacation and generous health benefits. Approximately 21.9 million people were employed by government services across the nation in January 2015. Which employers in particular does this huge workforce rate the highest?

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Unicorn Technology Companies Are Special, But What Do Their Valuations Really Mean?

There has been a significant amount of fanfare and concern as the number of private technology startups receiving a valuation over $1 billion (these companies are called “Unicorns”) has eclipsed 100.  CB Insights tracks the number of new private companies eclipsing that valuation each year.  In 2014, the number of new Unicorns was almost equal to the 3 previous years combined.

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5 Easy Ways to Save Money Without Wasting Time

You can trim your budget even when you’re in a hurry.

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3 Steps to Stop Procrastinating

How to get more done at work – right now.

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Google Says Micro-Moments Are The New Path To Purchase

New data shows consumers use mobile devices more often, but in shorter periods of time, to research and buy. The post Google Says Micro-Moments Are The New Path To Purchase appeared first on Marketing Land.

Please visit Marketing Land for the full article.

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Why AvalonBay Communities is a Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock (AVB)

AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (NYSE: AVB) has been named a Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock by Dividend Channel, signifying a stock with above-average ''DividendRank'' statistics including a strong 3.0% yield, as well as being recognized by prominent asset managers as being a socially responsible investment, through analysis of social and environmental criteria. Environmental criteria include considerations like the environmental impact of the company's products and services, as well as the company's efficiency in terms of its use of energy and resources. Social criteria include elements such as human rights, child labor, corporate diversity, and the company's impact on society — for instance, taken into consideration would be business activities tied to weapons, gambling, tobacco, and alcohol.

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Microsoft a Top 25 Dividend Giant With 2.65% Yield (MSFT)

Microsoft Corporation (NASD: MSFT) has been named as a Top 25 ''Dividend Giant'' by ETF Channel, with a whopping $13.97B worth of stock held by ETFs, and above-average ''DividendRank'' statistics including a strong 2.65% yield, according to the most recent Dividend Channel ''DividendRank'' report. The report noted a strong quarterly dividend history at Microsoft Corporation, and favorable long-term multi-year growth rates in key fundamental data points.

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Why PPL Is a Top 10 Utility Dividend Stock (PPL)

PPL Corp (NYSE: PPL) has been named as a Top 10 dividend paying utility stock, according to Dividend Channel, which published its weekly ''DividendRank'' report. The report noted that among utilities, PPL shares displayed both attractive valuation metrics and strong profitability metrics. For example, the recent PPL share price of $31.81 represents a price-to-book ratio of 1.5 and an annual dividend yield of 4.69% — by comparison, the average utility stock in Dividend Channel's coverage universe yields 4.0% and trades at a price-to-book ratio of 2.1. The report also cited the strong quarterly dividend history at PPL Corp, and favorable long-term multi-year growth rates in key fundamental data points.

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Skip Credit Card Cash Advances: Convenience Costs Too Much

Cash advances from a credit card seem like an easy way to get cash in a pinch. Here's why you shouldn't use them.

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Local Views Determine Outcomes For FIFA, And Everything Else

If ever we needed reminding that the perceptions and assumptions that form the apparent baseline of common-sense in the West are far from commonly held in other parts of the world, reaction to the US-led arrest of 14 senior FIFA officials in Zurich last week was it.

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Will Toys "R" Us Sell Pizza?

In a surprise announcement Toys “R” Us announced that David A. Brandon (63) will be the new CEO of the company. He will succeed Antonio Urcelay (63) who is retiring in July.

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'Skylanders SuperChargers' Innovates With Land, Sea And Air Vehicles

Skylanders SuperChargers adds super-customizable vehicles, re-tooled characters and adds low cost portal owners pack.

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Few Insurers Cover Gender Surgery; None Would Cover Caitlyn Jenner's

Health plans are increasingly covering gender reassignment surgery, but Caitlyn Jenner’s many procedures on the road to womanhood would face insurance company roadblocks and tens of thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs for Americans who seek similar transformations.

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Skip Credit Card Cash Advances: Convenience Costs Too Much

Cash advances from a credit card seem like an easy way to get cash in a pinch. Here's why you shouldn't use them.

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Alibaba Opens Office In Moscow To Take Bigger Bite Out Of eBay, Amazon

Alibaba wants to move closer to Russian authorities in hopes it can kill eBay.

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Is One Of These Six Singles The "Song Of The Summer"?

Having your mega hit earn the title of Song of the Summer is a true honor for artists, as it proves just how many people loved a certain track. Billboard measures which singles perform best from Memorial Day through Labor Day, mixing sales and radio play, and competition between acts is fierce. Artists and labels strategically release singles and promote them heavily, all trying to stay afloat throughout the season.

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2014 30 under 30: Music

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Where Are All The Women In The City?

Like many other small and medium-sized enterprises, Britain's investment funds suffer from a shortage of female leaders

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Oil Glut Part 4: The (Next) Shale Technology Revolution That Worries OPEC

Shale technology is getting better faster than alternative energy tech and the Saudis know it – and we are only at the beginning of the shale oil revolution.

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Many Asian Single-Family Offices Will Likely Become High Functioning

The explosion in private wealth in Asia is fostering the growth of single-family offices. This, combined with the “best practices” of single-family offices throughout the world, will result in many Asian single-family offices becoming high functioning.

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Report: 89% Of Marketers Have Problems With Cross -Channel Marketing, Data Linkage Is The Biggest Culprit

A new study shows that data linkage is again the biggest challenge to marketers and their cross-channel marketing efforts. The post Report: 89% Of Marketers Have Problems With Cross -Channel Marketing, Data Linkage Is The Biggest Culprit appeared first on Marketing Land.

Please visit Marketing Land for the full article.

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SMX East Agenda Is Up – Secure A Spot Today & Save $300

Get ready for three days of innovative search marketing tactics you won’t find anywhere else but SMX East. The world’s largest search marketing conference is taking place in NYC September 29-October 1; the expo hall will be open September 29-September 30; workshops will be offered on September 28....

Please visit Marketing Land for the full article.

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How to Make $1,000 a Month Working From Home

By Holly Reisem Hanna When I first launched my blog, I wanted to make an extra $700 a month, so that I could continue to participate in my weekly exercise classes, pay for my daughter’s baby and me classes, and enjoy my weekly latte habit. Even though I was working 10 hours a week as […]

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The State of American Credit Card Debt in 2015

The average American household owes $7,281 in credit card debt — and that average includes families with no debt at all. Photo: Frankie Leon

Americans continue to dig a deeper hole when it comes to credit card debt. According to the Federal Reserve and other government statistics, our penchant for indebtedness means that the average household now owes $7,281 in credit card debt alone.

But here’s the thing – that average includes even those who carry no debt at all. So when you take out the households and families that don’t carry a balance on any of their credit cards, the average outstanding balance surges to $15,609.

What’s more, as of early 2015, the total outstanding consumer debt in the U.S. has risen to $3.34 trillion. That figure includes car loans, credit card debt, personal loans, and student loan debt — but not mortgage debt. (That would add another $8 trillion to the pile.)

American Debt Statistics

• Average household credit card debt: $15,609
• Average mortgage debt: $156,706
• Average student loan debt: $35,000

Source: government data; current as of 2015.

Further proof that credit card debt and general indebtedness are heading in the wrong direction comes from a recent study on credit card debt from CardHub. According to the study, consumers ended 2014 with a $5.71 billion net gain in credit card debt, which means we’ve now seen six consecutive quarters of increasing credit card balances as a nation.

What Does This Mean for the American Economy?

Credit card debt and household indebtedness aren’t necessarily a bad thing. New mortgages mean new homeowners, a huge driver of construction and retail activity. And the underlying consumer spending that results in credit card debt leads to economic growth and expansion. The more people spend, the faster our economy can grow – and the more jobs and wealth will ultimately be created.

And if wages are rising in a healthy economy, that’s a good thing. The problem is, prolonged indebtedness cannot necessarily be sustained; it may be a symptom of people living beyond their means or trying to keep up with rising prices even as wages stagnate. Furthermore, down cycles work to suppress credit card spending, further deflating the economy.

From 2007 to 2010, for example — which includes the prime years of the Great Recession and some of the hardest years the American economy has seen in decades — the number of Americans carrying credit card debt fell dramatically as many consumers buckled down and either cut up their cards or were forced to stop spending — or perhaps even went into default. Among households carrying debt, the median debt load dropped 16.1% from 2007 to 2010, from $3,000 to $2,600.

More Statistics on American Credit Card Debt and Indebtedness

The following statistics, courtesy of Nasdaq, break down the extent of American indebtedness even further.

Here’s what Americans owe on credit cards:

• $1,098 per card that doesn’t carry a balance
• $1,648 per account among U.S. adults with a credit report and Social Security number
• $3,600 per person among U.S. resident adults
• $5,234 per person, excluding unused cards and store cards
• $5,596 per U.S. adult with a credit card
• $5,700 per household with credit card debt
• $7,743 per card that usually carries a balance

As total balances grow higher and higher, you would probably assume that the percentage of Americans carrying credit card debt has also increased with each passing year. However, the exact opposite is happening.

As American debt loads climb higher than ever before, the percentage of Americans racking up those debts is shrinking:

Year	Percentage of Americans with Revolving Credit Card Debt
2009	44%
2010	41%
2011	40%
2012	39%
2013	37%
2014	34%

This can only mean one thing: While more and more households are choosing a debt-free lifestyle, households who feel comfortable carrying debt are taking on more of it than ever before.

While this may not pose a problem in every case, mounting debt loads may ultimately take a toll on many of those families.

Students and Credit Card Debt

The Credit CARD Act of 2009 added certain protections that made it harder for students, specifically, to get into credit card debt. The law took effect in 2010, and has two purposes according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

The first is fairness, since the law was designed to “prohibit certain practices that are unfair or abusive, such as hiking up the rate on an existing balance or allowing a consumer to go over limit and then imposing an over limit fee.”

A second objective was transparency. With its passage, the Credit CARD Act aimed to “make the rates and fees on credit cards more transparent so consumers can understand how much they are paying for their credit card and can compare different cards.”

With the average student loan debt expected to be nearly $35,000 for 2015 graduates, this law was very well-intentioned. Meanwhile, it’s had a relatively positive impact on the overall indebtedness of college students. Consider these statistics:

Balance	Percentage of Students Carrying a Credit Card Balance in 2013
Don’t know	3%
Zero balance	32%
$1-$500	46%
$501-$1,000	8%
$1,001-$2,000	6%
$2,001-$4,000	3%
>$4,000	2%

Debt levels also fluctuated among different age groups and college grade levels in 2013:

College Grade Level	Average Balance in 2013
Freshmen	$611
Sophomores	$258
Junior	$547
Seniors	$610

 

Where Is American Household Debt Headed?

The Federal Reserve’s Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2013 examined survey results to reveal some startling conclusions when it comes to Americans’ household indebtedness. A few interesting statistics:

• A majority (57%) of survey respondents claimed to pay their credit card balance in full each month.
• Of the remaining population who carried a balance, 82% had been charged interest on their purchases during the last 12 months.
• Among those who carried a balance, 53% were only making the minimum payment.
• Among those who carried a balance, 12% had gotten a cash advance from their credit card during the last 12 months.

With those statistics in mind, it’s fairly safe to say that household indebtedness may continue to increase until something drastic happens, such as an economic crisis on the scale of the Great Recession, which led American households to pay down debt from 2007-2010.

In the meantime, it appears many Americans are all too comfortable with their large outstanding balances.

The post The State of American Credit Card Debt in 2015 appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

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Change driving test to reduce road deaths, insurers warn

Rachel Lacey

drivingtest.jpg

Following the 80th anniversary of the driving test this week, insurers are calling for the test to be modernised in an effort to reduce deaths and injuries on the road.

Following the 80th anniversary of the driving test this week, insurers are calling for the test to be modernised in an effort to reduce deaths and injuries on the road.

Change driving test to reduce road deaths, insurers warn

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Following the 80th anniversary of the driving test this week, insurers are calling for the test to be modernised in an effort to reduce deaths and injuries on the road. As part of its Safe Young Drivers Campaign, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) is calling for: a one-year minimum learning period (starting from 16 and a half); limits on the number of passengers allowed in the cars of young drivers; and zero-tolerance on alcohol. It would also like to see restrictions for young people driving between 11pm and 4am. Better training Commenting on the campaign, James Dalton, director of general insurance policy at the ABI, said: "Car crashes remain the biggest cause of accidental death among young people and more than 20% of all road deaths can be traced back to young drivers. "Passing your test is only the start of becoming a safe driver. Better driver training would reduce collisions, bring down motor premiums and, most importantly, save hundreds of lives." Adopting the changes would bring the UK in line with other countries including the USA, Australia and New Zealand, where graduated licensing has been shown to reduce the number of accidents. In Canada, for example, a study showed that the changes brought about a 31% reduction in crashes among 16-19-year-old drivers, rising to 42% among drivers aged between 20 and 24. According to the independent motoring charity, the RAC Foundation, in 2013 (the last year for which figures are available) 2,144 passengers were killed or injured in cars that were being driven by teen drivers. It also claims that one in five young drivers will have an accident within six months of passing their test.

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12 Ways to be Richer a Year From Now

Without even knowing you I’d be willing to bet that the New Year’s resolutions you made at the beginning of the year didn’t materialize.

There’s no point agonizing over that – it’s what happens to most people.

But you can do something about it.

Here are 12 ways to be richer a year from now. You don’t have to do them all, of course, but accomplishing just a few could make a big difference in your life a year from now.

Even more important, the financial goals you achieve this year will set the stage for even greater accomplishments next year.

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Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.  -Tony Robbins
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The most important step, as always, is to get started.

1. Increase Your 401(k) Contribution

This is probably the single easiest and most painless way to ensure that you’ll be richer a year from now. You can increase your 401(k) contribution by 1%, 2%, 3% or whatever amount you feel comfortable with.  The key is adopting a good financial habit and increasing this as often as you’re financially able.

Since it will be payroll deducted, it will require no further action on your part. And since the contribution is tax-deductible, at least part of the amount will effectively be paid by the government. For example, a 3% contribution may have been net effect of a 2% reduction in your net pay, after accounting for the tax benefit.

2. Start a Non-Retirement Payroll Savings Plan

If you are already maxed-out on your 401(k) contributions, or if your employer doesn’t offer a 401(k) plan, you can start a non-retirement payroll savings plan. Just like a 401(k) plan, the money is deducted from your pay, and put into a savings vehicle of your choice.

You can have the money directed to just about any account or investment that you choose. This can be a savings account, money market fund, a mutual fund, or brokerage account. It will allow you to save money on an automatic basis. And just as is the case with a 401(k), the money will come out with virtually no action required on your part, and it will be hardly noticeable once you get used to it.

You can also use this method to fund a self-directed traditional IRA or Roth IRA. You can simply have the money deducted from your pay and transferred to the IRA account, where you will be free to invest the money as you choose. And since the contributions will be tax-deductible, you can expect a larger tax refund in the spring.

3. Pick Three Expenses to Eliminate

Reducing or eliminating expenses is one of the best ways to improve your financial situation. Pick three expenses that you are currently paying on a regular basis, and get rid of them.

Naturally, these need to be non-essential expenses. You can take a look at any kind of premium services that you have, including your cable TV package, or even your cell phone package. You can also consider an unused gym membership, magazine subscriptions, or even a home security system if you live in a relatively safe area.

Eliminating expenses will free up more of your budget for more constructive purposes, like savings and investments.

4. New Shopping Strategy: Shop Without Your Credit Cards

If you normally shop with a wallet full of credit cards, the time is now to adopt a strategy in which your credit cards are removed from your wallet, and only pulled out for true emergency situations.

When you are paying with cash, or the money is being direct debited out of your checking account, it puts limits on how much you spend. Most people will instinctively avoid draining their wallet or checking account completely. Conversely, since credit cards afford the wiggle room of a credit line, you’ll be tempted to spend more money than you actually have.

Try leaving your credit cards home when you go shopping, for at least the next few weeks, and see if it doesn’t help you to reduce your spending.

5. Don’t Take on ANY New Debt

Everyone who is in debt wants to get out of it.

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Step number one in getting out of debt is not taking on any new debt.
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It will do little good to have plan to payoff your debts, while you are continuing to incur new ones.

And if you might be unable to commit to a debt payoff strategy, simply avoiding new debt and making your minimum monthly payments will eventually get you out of debt. Even revolving credit lines require that you pay a certain amount principal each month.

Eventually, all of your debts will be paid as long as you avoid taking on new debt. This is probably the single easiest way to get out of debt, at least eventually.

6. Make this the Year that You Finally Start that Debt Snowball

Far more powerful than simply not taking on any new debt, is combining that strategy with a concentrated debt payoff effort. Make this year the year you finally start a snowball, and get out of debt once and for all.

With a debt snowball, you start by paying off your smallest debt first. Once you do that, you move up to paying the next smallest debt, and so on. Paying off the smallest debt not only empowers to take on the next debt, but it also improves your cash flow because the payment on the smallest debt no longer exists. And as each debt is paid, your cash flow improves a little more, making it easier to go after the next card or debt.

But in order for this to work, you have to get started, and this year is as good a time as any.

7. Refinance Your Credit Cards to Zero Interest Cards

There are plenty of credit cards out there that offer zero interest balance transfers. If you have a substantial amount of credit card debt, you should take full advantage of this arrangement.

Let’s say that you owe $10,000 in credit card debt at an average interest rate of 15%; that means that you will pay $1,500 in interest expense over the next 12 months. If you transfer the balance to a zero interest credit card, you will be $1,500 richer one year from now. Most zero interest transfers run from 12 to 18 months, which will guarantee you at least one year without interest.

If you can combine zero interest transfers with the debt snowball, you’ll get out of debt that much faster.

8. Cut Your Living Expenses 10% Across the Board

Cutting out certain expenses entirely can be difficult, and in some cases impossible. As an alternate strategy, you can simply make an across the board cut in your spending, averaging say 10%.

I say “averaging” because some expenses can’t be reduced, such as your mortgage payment. But there are many other ways to save including: food, entertainment, utilities, and even gasoline, repairs, and insurance can often be cut by much more than 10%.

The expense cutting will free up your money for more worthwhile purposes, including…

9. Save 10% of Your Income Each Month

If you are successful in cutting your living expenses by 10%, you should plan to direct that money into savings. The purpose of cutting expenses is not to go on a financial diet, but to free up capital for future growth and financial independence.

You can start out directing the extra money into a savings account, and then eventually move into mutual funds, or an investment brokerage account where you can diversify into many different assets.

Cuts in your living expenses may not feel good, but the growth in your savings and investments will more than offset that.

10. Sell or Donate Everything that You Have that You No Longer Use or Need

One of the best ways to raise cash is by selling anything and everything you have that you no longer use or have a need for. You can often sell these items for hundreds or even thousands of dollars. The money sitting in that stuff will look a lot better sitting in a bank account or mutual fund.

If you have items that you don’t think you can sell, look into donating them to a charity. The value of the item will be tax-deductible, and provide you with at least some extra money when you file your income taxes.

11. Raise the Deductibles on Your Insurance Policies

If you are increasing your savings using any the above strategies, you’ll be in a better position to increase deductibles on your insurance policies. This includes your home insurance, auto insurance, life insurance, and even your medical insurance. This can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars each year, which will be even more money that you can put into savings and investments.

Understand that one of the benefits of greater savings is the ability to increase deductibles. Since you will have the money to cover the deductibles, you’ll be able to “afford” to set them higher. And if you never have to make a claim, you’ll be that much richer.

12. Go Vacation-less This Year – And Bank the Money Instead

This is not a fun idea at all, but it is also one of the very best ways to improve your financial stability. Since a vacation to a local beach can easily cost a couple thousand dollars, and the trip to the islands can cost many thousands, you can make significant improvement in your year-end finances by skipping your vacation this year.

No one ever becomes richer without some form of self-sacrifice. The advantage of skipping your vacation is that it will only hurt for the week that you would be away.

The rest of your year would be virtually unaffected.

That’s one of the best ways to improve your financial situation without creating long-term discomfort.

Plan stay close to home, and enjoy the simple pleasures of life that will help to rechargeable your battery in the same way that a full-blown vacation to a remote resort would.

And if any of these strategies make you feel at all uncomfortable, just think about how much better you’ll feel when you’re richer a year from now.

This post initially appeared on Credit.com here. 

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Even If Deal Is Reached With Greece, The Drama Is Just Beginning

Amongst all the noise around a deal for Greece it is hard to judge whether this latest round is just another rumour or political posturing or whether it is for real. For once, I’m leaning towards the latter. However, even if one is reached, this is at best the end of the beginning and not the beginning of the end.

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Who Owns The Competency?

Freshman year marked my first experience with the issue of privacy in higher education. It wasn’t the typical “roommate hangs sign on door to warn he’s in there with a girl”; that didn’t happen until sophomore year. It involved something much simpler. (On my floor, the simplest things were often most perilous. Like sleeping. One roommate enjoyed hiding under beds for hours, waiting for someone to go to sleep. Then, just as you’d be nodding off, he’d reach up and grab your leg, causing panic and injury.)

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Jeb Leads GOP Pack But Not the Frontrunner

A new Zogby Analytics poll of 235 likely Republican primary/caucus voters shows former Florida Governor Jeb Bush leading all challengers with 16%, followed by former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee with 11%, Neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson 10%, Florida Senator Marco Rubio  and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker at 9%, Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Kentucky Senator Rand Paul at 8%, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina with 5%, real estate magnate Donald Trump 3%, and several candidates all with 1% each (Ohio Governor John Kasich, former New York Governor George Pataki, former Texas Governor Rick Perry, and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum). Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal just missed the rounding up with a .4% and South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham received no votes. One in seven (14%) were undecided. The poll was conducted online on May 30-31.

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Q2’s 10 Biggest U.S. IPOs

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Asian, Middle East Cities Lead in Growth for International Visitors

With the majority of the world's economy back on track after the great recession, the middle class is once more starting to travel. This time around, though, things are different. The American dollar is now stronger than it was five years ago, leading to better spending power in Europe, Japan and in developing countries around the planet. Air connectivity has also increased. Qatar, Emirates and Etihad are all expanding rapidly into North America, providing better connections into the Middle East and onward into Asia.

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Man Bound To Tree Has Right Hand Cut Off In 14th Century Blood Feud

Who was Richard de Holebrok, and why was he savagely beaten by a mob in 1327? One bioarchaeologist may have the answer.

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Even If Deal Is Reached With Greece, The Drama Is Just Beginning

Amongst all the noise around a deal for Greece it is hard to judge whether this latest round is just another rumour or political posturing or whether it is for real. For once, I’m leaning towards the latter. However, even if one is reached, this is at best the end of the beginning and not the beginning of the end.

Source Forbes - Business http://ift.tt/1EVfNAV

How To Develop Superior Thought Leadership Content Than The Competition

Thought leadership is a very effective way to significantly develop new business. Clear proof of this is the growth in number and effort from all manner of firms and individuals to become thought leaders. The effectiveness of this approach will only intensify as competition increases, clients become choosier as well as more cost-sensitive, and reaching motivated prospects continues to get more difficult.

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Why and How Entrepreneurs Should Read Public Company Filings

Good entrepreneurs crave information. They meticulously analyze their industry, competition, and internal data, constantly optimizing for success. But finding reliable and accurate sources is extremely challenging. I can definitively say that most people are full of it. So where does one turn to get a handle on reality? I’d offer up an unlikely source that has helped me tremendously: the public markets.

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You're Wrong If You Want To Reduce The National Debt

After consecutive budget surpluses the last 4 years (1998-2001) of the Clinton administration, the U.S. was looking at a projected $6.7 trillion surplus over the next decade when George W. Bush came into office.

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House price growth slows in May

Hannah Nemeth

housepricesdown.jpg

Annual house price growth slowed to a 21-month low of 4.6% in May as prices rose by just 0.3% during the month, Nationwide Building Society said.

Annual house price growth slowed to a 21-month low of 4.6% in May as prices rose by just 0.3% during the month, Nationwide Building Society said. But housing experts predict prices will begin climbing fast once more in the wake of the Conservatives winning the General Election.

House price growth slows in May

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Annual house price growth slowed to a 21-month low of 4.6% in May as prices rose by just 0.3% during the month, Nationwide Building Society said. But housing experts predict prices will begin climbing fast once more in the wake of the Conservatives winning the General Election. The slowdown in annual growth – from 5.2% in April – continues the "gradual downward trend" that has been in evidence since the summer of 2014, the mutual added. Annual house price growth is now running at "less than half the pace" of growth experienced in the middle of last year. It takes the average price of a home in the UK to £195,166, though house prices in the capital were more than twice the rest of the UK in the first quarter of 2015 – £408,708 compared with £188,566. Firming in prices Commenting on Nationwide's findings, Howard Archer, chief UK and European economist at IHS Global Insight, said: "While May's increase was modest, it did follow a 1% rise in house prices in April; and there are signs of an underlying firming in house prices. "We suspect that housing market activity will improve amid generally supportive fundamentals and will also benefit from reduced uncertainty following the decisive general election result." Jonathan Hopper, managing director of buying agent Garrington Property Finders, was even more bullish: "May was the month when the housing market reset its compass, and these figures confirm that its upward price momentum was unchecked. For the Nationwide's May figures to show such steady price increases gives a flavour of further growth to come. We suspect it's only a matter of time before its national average price hits the symbolic £200,000 mark." Charlie Wells, managing director of buying agency Prime Purchase, added: "Now that we have the Conservative government in place, the housing market is livelier than before the general election because it has certainty. At the upper end at least, there is relief that there will be no mansion tax or changes to non-dom status. "But the problem is stock levels: there is not a lot of property on the market. Vendors who have been sitting on their hands because of election uncertainty are not yet making the decision to sell up. "Vendors may be waiting until the summer is out of the way and planning on selling in the autumn when everyone is back from their holidays so it may be too early to tell whether this situation will change." Nationwide also said that almost two in five people buying homes in the UK do not need a mortgage. It found that 38% of homebuyers paid cash for their property in the first quarter of 2015 – a record high. The building society pointed out this came at a time when mortgage lending was "subdued", with mortgage completions down by 11% on the same period in 2014. The number of people paying by cash was 36% last year. Credit tightening Robert Gardner, the Nationwide's chief economist, pointed out that the rise in the number of cash buyers comes in the wake of the financial crisis when lenders have tightened their credit conditions and unemployment has limited the number of people able to buy with a mortgage. Surprisingly, the findings reveal that London does not buck the trend when it comes to cash transactions, despite the number of domestic and overseas investors involved in the London property market. Meanwhile, the Bank of England has reported that the number of mortgage approvals rose in April to a 14-month high – which could stem the rise of cash buyers in the market.

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Bet On Water, Win At Gin: Martin Miller's Success From Iceland

There's nothing like taking one of the world's hot button environmental issues -- water -- and turning it into your company's defining and most pivotal asset. Here's how Martin Miller's gin bets on water, and wins.

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Beijing Declares Taxi-Hailing App Didi Kuaidi's New Services Illegal

China’s transport authorities are turning their attention to the country’s dominant taxi-hailing firm Didi Kuadi, after raiding the offices of Uber Technologies amid a crackdown on unlicensed vehicles using taxi-calling platforms.

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India's Monsoon Forecast Does Not Bode Well For Its Economic Revival

Just as the country is reeling under a heat wave, India’s Meteorological Department has forecast a second consecutive year of weak rainfall. The deficient rains could hit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s plans to revive the economy.

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Hate Blood? Here are 10 Healthcare Jobs That Don’t Involve Bodily Fluids

There’s no doubt about it: The healthcare industry is hot. Over the next 10 years, healthcare jobs are expected to account for nearly one-third of all new jobs in the United States.

Though the high pay and steady work of a healthcare career are appealing, there’s one thing that acts as a roadblock to many. It may only be five letters long — but it can make even the strongest people feel queasy.

B-L-O-O-D.

If you’d love a career helping people but can’t stand the thought of handling bodily fluids, you’ll definitely want to check out this post from The Simple Dollar.

It lists 10 mostly blood-free healthcare jobs that pay well and are expected to grow significantly over the next decade. The best part is that many of them don’t require a four-year degree; you just need to complete a relevant associate’s degree or certification program.

Here are three that caught our attention:

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

Sonography is essentially the process of creating images from an ultrasound. Demand for this position, which has a median wage of $68,390 and requires an associate’s degree, is expected to grow by a whopping 46% over the next 10 years.

Medical Equipment Repairer

Want to avoid patients completely? This is the job for you: You’ll repair the life-saving equipment located in hospitals and clinics. To get started, you need an associate’s degree in biomedical technology. Available jobs are projected to grow by 30% by 2025, and it has a median wage of $48,540.

Radiation Therapist

If you’re a nurturer by nature, this job provides an opportunity to help people through one of the most difficult times in their lives. You’ll treat and counsel patients with radiation, many of whom have cancer. You need an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in radiation therapy for this job, which has an impressive median wage of $83,710. Though we wish it weren’t the case, projected growth for this position is 24% over the next decade.

Your Turn: Would you like to work in healthcare? Are you afraid of blood?

Susan Shain (@Susan_Shain) is a freelance writer and travel blogger who is always seeking adventure on a budget.

The post Hate Blood? Here are 10 Healthcare Jobs That Don’t Involve Bodily Fluids appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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The E-commerce Experience Now Focuses On The Customer, Not The Retailer

Earlier this week in the Sussex Downs of Southern England, the weather was turbulent and stormy; the rain came down for almost 48 hours.

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Playing The Futurist's Game

“As Alvin Toffler tells us, there are all kinds of time spanners that connect us to the past, but we don’t have a heritage of the future. We don’t have memory to help us adapt to the things we see in the future,” said Stuart Candy, Director of the Situation Lab, Foresight & Design professor at OCAD University, Canada, and a Fellow of The Long Now Foundation.

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Deadly airbag recall expanded again

THE number of vehicles in the world’s biggest recall over potentially deadly airbags has hit more than 660,000 in Australia. Car makes and models named.

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