Insurance policies form an important part of a financial portfolio. The insurance provider covers uncertainties, thereby reducing your risk liability largely. Out of the numerous insurance policies available in the market, a term plan offers a high level of coverage at a nominal cost.

What is term insurance?

The concept of term insurance can be understood with the help of an example. Ms. Geeta Saxena, a 32-year old working professional, is the sole breadwinner of the family. She supports her aging parents and bears all the financial responsibilities of her home. Upon receiving advice from her financial advisor, she purchased a term policy of 20 years by paying a premium of INR 10,000 per year. The amount that she is covered for is INR 10 lakh. Ms. Saxena knows that in an event of her premature death, her parents are entitled to receive the pre-determined amount. Therefore, she has peace of mind knowing that her parents will be able to meet their financial obligations even when she is no longer around.

Term insurance, a type of life insurance policy, is designed exclusively to cover the risk of an unfortunate event of death. It is a pure risk cover, which provides a sum assured amount to your beneficiary in case of an unfortunate incident. Your loved ones may use the amount in whatever way they seem fit such as, to meet lifestyle needs, pay off a loan, or to fund your children’s future education.

Terms involved in term plans

Before investing in a term policy, it is imperative to understand various jargons to make a well-informed purchase decision. Following are four common term insurance terms you need to know.

• Death benefit

Death benefit, also known as the payout, is the amount that the nominee receives in case the policyholder has a sudden death. Insurance providers allow you to choose the type of payout you would like your family to receive based on the family’s needs. You may opt for a lump sum payout, lump sum plus fixed yearly payouts for a specified period, or lump sum plus increasing yearly payouts.

• Policy term

This refers to the period until which you are entitled to enjoy the benefit of the term plan. In an event of death during the policy term, the nominee is entitled to the payout benefit. The policy benefits stop at the end of the policy term.

• Add-ons

Add-ons are an additional benefit offered with your base policy at an additional nominal price. One of the most common add-ons with a term insurance policy is a critical illness rider. You may seek coverage against various dread diseases such as loss of limbs, third-degree burns, cancer, and heart attack, among others.

• Exclusions

Exclusions refer to those events whose occurrence does not provide you with policy benefits. Following are certain exclusions associated with term plans.

• Accidental death benefit exclusions

Some of the common exclusions associated with accidental death benefit include death due to intentional self-inflicted injury, war, invasion, engagement in hazardous sports or hobbies, biological contamination, revolution, and criminal offense, among others.

• Total and permanent disability exclusions

The disability benefit is not payable in case of an attempted suicide, under the influence of harmful substances, pre-existing conditions or sicknesses, besides others.

It is important to do your due diligence and conduct an in-depth research on the terms and conditions of a term policy before investing in one. Though you may find the process tedious, doing so ensures that you are well aware of the cover that you have invested in.

I cannot imagine anyone who is not connected in the internet in one way or another. Our society is now more connected than ever before. An internet plan has become one of our basic needs if we want to exist within modern civilization.

You probably think that your internet usage is only as simple as having your smartphone connected to your Wifi. But there is more to the power of the internet than just basic browsing. Utilize your connection to realize the value of your hard earned money. Here are some ways to maximize your internet connection at home.

Use Social Media to Stay in Touch

Make full use of social media. Not just merely posting photos or saying your thoughts for the day, you should use your internet connection to get in touch with your loved ones. The internet is a better way to communicate than picking up the phone. Not only do you get to see them via video call, but you can virtually talk to them any time of day. Add to that, your cell phone bill won’t suffer from a long distance call overseas.

Money Transactions

Cash was king, but not anymore. There are many ways that the internet eliminates the need for carrying cash. Many platforms are now up and running to serve your needs. Banks are pushing to modernize their systems and incorporate online banking. You can pay your utility bills online in real-time. No need to go out of your way to the utility office or nearest payment center. Cash transfers are now easy and hassle-free. Simply signing up for the service allows you to send money abroad in just a few clicks.

Implement Smart Home

The internet has given us a new level of automation: the Internet of Thing (IoT)s. Through the power of the internet, our appliances can get connected and give us valuable information, making a whole new ecosystem of home electronics. Information like energy and food consumption are some of the most significant data we can gather.

For one, we can use this data to efficiency conserve power and plan effective budgets. IoT can help you know if your fridge is open, if it is sunny outside, notify you if your washing machine is done, your food stock is depleting, and tell you if your air conditioning system is functioning properly.

Consider Bundling

With internet you can take advantage of bundles offered by several companies. There are many cable and telecom companies that offer bundles that offer you connection paired with free streaming subscription services. Be sure to check for hidden costs and promotional periods to ensure you are saving money.

Entertainment

The advent of the internet has blessed us with a whole new level of entertainment. More than just a tool for getting connected, the internet has revolutionized the gaming and film industries. There are now a number of streaming websites available with original quality content like Netflix and Amazon. Devices can be used to replay this internet-sourced programming. You can also play interactive games with your family using the internet via virtual reality.

Watch Your Kids’ Internet Activity

The internet is accessible to anyone, even children. A study shows that around 70% of the teenagers hide online activities from their parents or guardians. Having an internet connection at home is a great way to monitor your child’s activity on the cloud.

You can control and screen the available content for your kids on the internet. At least at home, you are assured they are on the safe and trustworthy pages of the world wide web. It is also a great opportunity to properly teach your children about the etiquette and the risk of internet.

In life, there can be varied instances of requiring a loan amount. Also repaying the amount back is sometimes a difficult thing to do, for individuals. And if it is a secured loan, the asset kept as a collateral is bound to be at risk of loss. To prevent such happenings it is crucial that people must repay their debt amount before the due date.

Even though if one is not able to repay and the collateral is his/her home then you can’t stop the acquisition of the asset. This process is known as foreclosure. So if your home is getting foreclosed on, you must know a lot of things beforehand. So here is everything you need to know about the foreclosure.

Reasons behind foreclosure:

The reasons behind a foreclosure are not fixed and defined within some boundary. They can happen in the most unconventional ways too. Few of the usual and not so usual reasons of a foreclosure are:

• Debt: This is the most known reason to know if your home is getting foreclosed on. If the owner of the house isn’t able to repay the debt amount this situation is likely to arise at the end of the day.
• Personal choice: This happens with the people who are shifting to another city or country for work. Or maybe the people who simply no longer want to live in that house.
• Family issues: This is another reason that supports the foreclosure of a house. This could be a divorce between the owners, issues that lead to the disintegration of the family members or so on.

These are mainly the reasons that get a house to be foreclosed. Further, a combination of these could also be a reason.

What next?

A property set for foreclosure can have different laws for different countries. So the next thing after a home is available for foreclosure could be divided into three options.

Firstly one can buy the house directly from the owners which might or might not reside in the property until someone buys it.

Secondly one can buy the foreclosure from the bank. You will have to find the real estate agent that is selling the home. It happens usually through bulk sale purchase.

Thirdly, one can also buy the home through an investor. The house in such cases may or may not be available for the buyer to view. So one must calculate the risk involved.

Pros and cons:

There are pros and cons to the foreclosure. The advantages are that the buyer is likely to get the house for a cheaper price than the actual amount. Secondly, the person can expect a well-furnished house and shift with whatever little things he might have.

While the disadvantages are that if there is any tenant then it becomes difficult. Also, the owners might devastate the property if it was due to a tussle between the owners. Lastly, it could involve more investment than you bought to make it liveable.

When you start an enterprise, it is important to appreciate that it will go through different seasons that define its success. However, the most challenging is the season of struggle.

Even when things are running smoothly, you need to know that a season of struggling is around the corner. Therefore, how do you survive during the season of struggle and emerge a stronger brand?

Ensure to understand the seasons well

If you want to succeed during all seasons, you need to understand them. In many cases, the seasons of struggle emerge when new competitors open shop, new policies are introduced, or newer technologies hit the market.

By understanding the seasons, you can install the right measures to weather the storm.

• Understand the peak and low seasons especially if in the retail sector
• Ensure to have ample finances to cater for new expenses
• Set the  business and its structures for progressive changes
• Try to understand how other businesses handle such seasons

Strengthen your brand

Your brand is the biggest shield for your enterprise. If it is strong, the competitors will find it difficult to outdo you.

But how do you build a strong brand? You should start with creating a perfect product that delivers high value to clients all the time. Then, rope the clients to ensure they feel part of the business and keep growing the community. You could even run an online campaign on social media with help of influencers in the market.

Work with expert secretary services

Even though you have come from afar with the business under consideration, it is very important to have experts working by your side. The experts will help to broaden your vision and take the business to greater heights.

For example, if you have been thinking of growing the business only at the local level, bringing experts to assist address current issues could help you see new opportunities such as venturing offshore.

The experts will help to imprint the success of top multinationals to your business so that the expansion goal becomes clear.

They will tell you about the strategies that were used by other successful enterprises and assist you to grow even faster. The good thing with professionals is that they will assist you to operate within your capacity and grow from one step to another.

Many aspects of society are based upon debt. This is why it is important to maintain a healthy credit score. Many businesses require a credit report prior to extending services or products to you. In some instances, your credit score can even make a difference in your ability to find a job.

Credit score affects the location of your residence and your mortgage payments

Prior to purchasing a home, mortgage lenders will want to be assured you will not default on a home loan. If you have a poor credit score, the mortgage lender may consider lending to you too risky of a proposition. However, if the mortgage lender does approve you for you a loan, your credit score will play a significant role in determining the interest rate you will be charged for your home loan. Having bad credit will usually result in a higher interest rate which means a larger monthly payment for your mortgage. In the worst case scenario, your loan application may be denied due to your poor credit history.

Renting a place to live can be challenging with a bad credit score

Even if you are not in the market to buy a home at the moment if your credit score is bad it can still impact your living situation. Landlords routinely use credit reports to determine whether or not to rent to an applicant. They basically consider your lease as something like a loan and therefore use your credit report to judge your level of financial responsibility. Landlords want assurances that you will be able to pay your monthly rent on time. Without a strong credit score your rental application, like your mortgage application, may be denied by the landlord.

Credit score may affect your employment prospects

It is quite common for employers nowadays to check your credit report when accepting an employment application. Employers are looking to see if your credit report demonstrates your financial responsibility. If your credit report reflects a lack of financial responsibility the potential employer may think twice before hiring you. For instance, the employer may decide that the amount of debt you are carrying is too high for the salary of the position offered. Other employers will look at your credit score prior to giving a promotion or raise. This is particularly true in executive or finance-related positions.

A bad credit score can keep you from starting a business

Many of us have aspirations to eventually start our own business. On the other hand, most startup businesses will need a significant amount of money which you may not have at the moment. If this is the situation, you will probably need to apply for a startup business loan. However, lenders will require a good credit score to lend you money to start your business.

How is your credit score calculated?

Now that you understand how important your credit score can be, you will want to do everything you can to maintain a healthy credit history. If you already have bad credit then you will want to take actions to fix that problem. However, before you devise a strategy to do so, you will have to understand how your credit score is calculated in the first place.

FICO score

The FICO score is the most commonly used measurement for a credit check. The FICO score, created by the Fair Isaac Corporation, is not the only measurement used for a credit report, however since it is the most commonly used it provides a good basis for formulating your strategy to improve your credit score. Since the FICO score is proprietary to Fair Isaac the exact formula used is not publicly known. However, the FICO score breaks down to the following weighted considerations: amount owed (35%), payment history (35%), type of credit used (10%), length of credit history (10%) and new credit (10%).

Obtain an installment loan to help your credit score

The largest portion of your FICO score is based upon your payment history. This means making payments on time plays a significant role in improving your credit score. Therefore, you may want to consider a personal installment loan at Western Shamrock.  This will allow you to demonstrate your level of financial responsibility. A consistent payment history will eventually result in a higher credit score.

In the United States, nine states have legalized the use of recreational marijuana and 30 states have made medical marijuana legal. In addition, just this summer Canada made cannabis use legal nationwide. These changes have led to a significant increase in legal cannabis use in North America. Experts estimate that the popularity of marijuana will continue to grow in the upcoming years. In fact, according to Arcview Market Research, the cannabis industry is expected to grow from a just over a $9 billion industry in 2017 to a more than $47 billion industry by 2027. This much growth would peak any investor’s interest. 

Questions many investors are asking is how do stocks make money by investing in the cannabis industry and is now the right time to invest?

How to Invest in Marijuana Stock

Image via Flickr by Brett Levin Photography

While cannabis investing may be very lucrative, especially for long-term investing, it also can be tricky to know how to invest. It is important that you understand what types of companies you are investing in before buying stock. There are several types of companies involved in the marijuana industry.

Professional Growers

These are the companies that actually grow and harvest the cannabis crops to distribute to consumers. Due to the legality issues noted above, it can be risky to invest in these types of companies. There are, however, some major players, such as Canopy Growth, Aphria, and Aurora Cannabis, that now are traded on Nasdaq. 

Ancillary Companies

Ancillary companies are businesses that do not have any direct role in the production of cannabis. Instead, these companies work as suppliers and are still major players in the marijuana industry. Kush Bottles, for example, manufactures packaging supplies, like baggies, to cannabis producers. Other types of ancillary companies include irrigation companies and software development companies. Other investments to consider are in companies like Constellation Brands and Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, who have taken steps to invest in cannabis-related companies. 

Biotech Companies

Biotech companies, such as Cara Therapeutics and GW Pharmaceutical, develop, market, and sell medical marijuana. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the first cannabinoid, Epidiolex, a medication used to treat epilepsy. Investment in these biotech companies is likely to increase as the FDA approves more cannabis-based medicines.

Is Now the Right Time to Invest?

The trick to stock market investment success is to buy emerging stocks when the price is low and hold them until the price rises. Some investors have been leery of investing in cannabis stock because of the uncertainty coming out of Washington D.C. In January, Attorney General Jeff Sessions took steps to rescind the Cole Memo, which could reduce a state’s right to pass their own marijuana laws. President Trump, however, later hinted that he supports state’s rights to make their own marijuana laws. 

For now, this uncertainty is enough to keep marijuana stock prices down. Considering that more than 61 percent of Americans now support legalizing marijuana, it is likely that more states will take steps to legalize its use, which will increase the demand along with the value of marijuana-related stocks. This makes now the ideal time to invest in marijuana stock. Just be sure to do your research and know what type of company you are investing in before buying any stock.

There are plenty of good reasons to choose granite as a surface for your kitchen countertops or bathroom cabinets: it is a strong, sturdy and gorgeous natural material. It has been a favorite in interior design and home remodeling for a long time and continues to keep its charm and compete with the modern trends.

It’s no wonder granite might be a top choice for your kitchen countertops, but before you go rushing to the store, make sure that you take note of every detail. After all, you want something that will pass the test of time, and that will look as great as you envisioned it.

Here are seven things you should be wary of before buying granite countertops in Winnipeg.

Avoid Visible Seams

When addressing your requirements to the distributor or contractor you work with, make sure they will place the seams in less visible areas. With its intricate veins and patterns, granite will have to be put together carefully to avoid disrupting the pattern too abruptly.

Choosing the Wrong Color for You

Besides the obvious aesthetics reason, the wrong reasons can also affect your countertops’ functionality. Here’s the thing: granite is a porous material that stains easily. Not to mention that it can retain moisture if not cared for properly. A dark color will not only look better than the standard grey ones but will also hide some of the granite’s flaws.

Buying Layered Granite

You have to make sure the granite segments used for your cabinets are not made out of two layers that are glued together. If that’s the case, then you can expect moisture to infiltrate and damage the countertops in time.

Not Sealing the Granite Properly

This step is crucial because, as we mentioned, granite is a porous and highly absorbent material. Without proper and diligent care, it can lead to bacteria building up in your kitchen. That’s why it’s paramount to pick a reputable contractor with years of experience under their belt to seal your granite countertops properly.

Not Maintaining Them Correctly

While granite is indeed durable and a highly valued material, it still needs proper and regular maintenance. Use only granite friendly detergents and always keep it clean and dry. We mentioned it before, but it’s worth repeating: make sure it’s sealed properly. You will need to reseal it when the initial treatment wears off, so keep an eye on early signs of staining.

Not Matching the Style of the Cabinets

If you thought that investing in granite kitchen countertops is a great way of increasing your house’s value, then make sure it looks good in every detail. The edge of the granite sections can vary, from flat, angled and round to more intricate designs. This edge shape must match the style of the cabinets. Opt for flat edges for linear furniture and rounds edges for rustic or retro designs.

Being Cheap

Although it can get expensive, good quality granite that is maintained and treated properly will last for many years. If you don’t invest enough in the quality of the granite itself or the installation and treatment team, you will suffer the consequences in the end.

With these common mistakes in mind, be careful when choosing your granite countertops and make the best of your investment, especially if you spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Having beautiful, durable furniture will surely make it the heart of your home.

One of the biggest challenges that we all face today is figuring out how we can spend less, and save more. One of the best ways to accomplish this goal is to reduce your monthly expenses. Although your standard monthly bills might seem like something you simply have to deal with, the truth is that you can pay a lot less on many of those “must have” items, just with a little bit of work.

By cutting down your monthly expenses, you give yourself more money to play with, without getting yourself into a position where you can no longer have fun with your cash. Here are the best places to get started.

1. Be More Energy Efficient

Being more energy efficient is a great way to save money and do your part for the planet at the same time. To cut down the amount you spend on gas and electricity, all you need to do is think carefully about how you’re using your daily supply of power. Do you leave lights on when you’re not in a room? Do you leave your computer running all day?

Simple actions like turning your heating down a notch or two and using a blanket to keep warm instead can save you a lot of money in the long-run. It’s also worth making sure that you wash your dishes by hand when you can too, as running a dishwasher can be very expensive.

1. Get Rid of your Home Phone

When’s the last time you actually made a phone call using your home phone? Today, many families are still paying for packages that include costs for home phone expenses, broadband, and television channels at the same time, but they haven’t picked their phone up in months.

Get rid of line rental if you can or switch to another provider who allows you to get broadband and television access without having to pay for line rental. It’s worth thinking about whether you need those extra television channels while you’re at it. These days, most of us use Netflix, instead of relying on our television subscriptions for entertainment.

1. Change your Car Insurance Provider

One of the biggest mistakes that we all make with our money is signing up to a service and then simply allowing it to renew year after year, without ever checking if we can get a better deal elsewhere. This is a common issue with car insurance. Simply checking online when you’re due for a renewal and looking for a better deal from a different provider could save you hundreds of pounds every month.

Just make sure that when you start comparing, you make sure that you’re looking at providers who can give you the same level of coverage that you’re already getting now.

1. Refinance your Big Loans

Plenty of us have loans that we have to deal with on a monthly basis, and those extra expenses can really drain our cash reserves. The good news is that you can save a lot of money by merely refinancing your loan and getting support from someone new. Check online to see whether you can get a cheaper interest rate, even on bad credit agreements and APR by switching to someone else.

While you’re at it, it’s worth checking out your mortgage situation too. You might find that you can save a lot of money by remortgaging your house and getting a better deal elsewhere. Speak to a mortgage broker if you need extra help with this.

1. Get Rid of Subscriptions

Sit down with a bank statement and highlight anything that you pay for on a monthly basis. Some of the expenses will be obvious, like your rent, your mortgage, gas, and electricity payments. On the other hand, there may also be expenses that pop up from subscriptions that you didn’t realise you were still signed up for. Plenty of us agree to join a gym, for instance, and then forget all about our membership a few months later.

Unfortunately, forgetting about your account doesn’t mean that you don’t stop paying for it. Cancel any subscriptions that you’re not currently using.

1. Pay with Cash

Finally, with anything that doesn’t come directly out of your bank as a direct debit, try to pay with cash. This will give you a self-imposed budget to work with whenever you go shopping. For instance, if you’re going to buy food and you only have £50 in your wallet, you won’t be able to over-spend if you see something you don’t really need at the checkout.