Becoming new parents can be the cause of excitement among couples. However, there are many aspects that might cause some worries as well. The financial situation is one of these aspects. The tips below might help both of you overcome some of these worries together. Communicate with your partner Communication is key to making just about any decision and in resolving issues. Financial issues that would need to be discussed would revolve around changes in work schedules once the child is here and how you two will cope with it. Whether you would be able to live on only one income if one of you decides to stay at home to take care of the child. Respect Your Budget This is not just relevant to expecting parents but to everyone in general. However, while you might be getting away each month by living above your means, the arrival of a child will call for new expenses and you would have to cater for side savings in case of any medical emergency. Every new purchase revolving about the coming of the child would have to be thought. It is easy to fall prey to fancy purchases. Emergency Fund An emergency fund can come handy in many situations. This is especially the case for probable medical emergencies or if one of the partners is thinking about retiring from work to take care of the child. A decrease in monthly income might set aside some funds just in case. Funds might also come handy for a life or medical...

Written by: Lyle Charles Consulting When a dispute arises in a commercial construction project, what happens after is usually dependent on what’s in the contract. These days, it’s common for businesses to stipulate mediation as the preferred method for settling disputes. Construction claim analysis is a time-consuming prospect that requires attention to detail. The mediation process is good for both parties, and it typically speeds things up much faster than standard trial litigation. Before you take your dispute to trial, consider the benefits of mediating outside of court. Why Mediations are Chosen The reasons mediation is done so frequently has to do with court costs. Courts spend a lot of money litigating, and they handle untold cases daily. Disputes that can be settled out of court are good for local justice systems, and they generally help the parties involved as well. Trial is hard, and costs a lot of money. You’ll end up paying high costs in lawyer fees, and construction claim preparation will be left to you alone. An expert in the subject of mediation is a huge benefit to you when you make the decision to work with your fellow litigant. These third party evaluators are there to observe the process, make note of what is being said and help both parties reach an amicable agreement. Before Mediation Happens The process of gathering evidence is directly related to the paperwork that both parties kept on the project. It’s important that you document everything you have done, and that your contract stipulates exactly what you plan to do and nothing more. Most disputes arise from schedule changes, and other minor adjustments that appear harmless. The disputes arise when both parties fail to agree on some form of resolution. Why Lawyers Hate Mediation Simply put, lawyers don’t stand to make any money on mediation unless they are the mediator. In construction claims, it’s rare for a lawyer to play this part. They may have knowledge on the law, but a steel fabrication expert is much better for disputes that involve materials or construction matters. They are simply better trained on the legal intricacies of the subject and are better equipped to understand the needs...

When it comes to financial planning and managing your money, you might choose to go about them yourself. This would especially be relevant if you have experience in finance or have developed a method that works for you. A financial planner could generally advise you on retirement plans, college savings for your children and the right mortgage. Convenience For some people, managing your finance alone might constitute of a flawed plan as this requires several hours of research and requires a good deal of knowledge. A financial planner would essentially help you to manage your goals as your life gets busier and your financial options become a little more complicated. Strategic Apart from helping you to save time in decision-making, a financial planner could also help you to maintain a discipline when it comes to respecting your financial strategy. A financial planner might make certain moves for you or will encourage you to do it yourself. A good financial planner would usually know when it is the right time to tap on certain potential beneficial situations and help you to stay on track. You probably might not decide to completely ignore your personal finance and let an advisor take over. It might, however, constitute of a comfort to have someone that might be as concerned about your finances as you are. The rate of a financial planner is usually around 1% of your annual assets. You might want to calculate the fee and set it against the advice that you are getting to determine whether the investment is...

Oct 28, 2014

Visualize Your Way Through Your Job Interview Written by Dr. Eric Amidi. Getting an interview for your dream job is incredibly exciting but it can also be extremely stressful. Having a chance at a career path you want is a golden opportunity which also means that there is plenty of pressure to not “blow it” during the interview process. In fact, the stress of the job interview frequently sinks people who would otherwise be perfect fits for the position. So how can you move beyond the stress of a major job interview and put yourself in a position to succeed? The most important thing to do is to believe that you are destined to succeed. Going into an interview with positive energy radiating out of you is a great way to impress a potential new boss. They will receive this energy and believe that you are the type of person who should have the position. You can achieve this by visualizing the results of your successful job interview. Think about receiving the offer letter and accepting, or about going into the job for your first day at work. If you believe that this is what will happen, you will be in a place to take the steps necessary to make this happen. Remember that you were already selected from countless candidates just to be interviewed — they are already interested in you. By reflecting this interest and projecting it as a belief that are destined to have this job you are simply reaffirming the decision of the hiring manager to speak with you. Dr. Eric Amidi is a renowned physicist who used artificial neural networks as part of the team that discovered the Top Quark. This background helps Eric Amidi understand the connection between the mind and...

Oct 20, 2014

Article written by Jack Minas of Financial Resources 101 Perhaps the best way to find out whether the stock you are planning to buy is from a small cap company is to check as to whether or not the market capitalization value is $ 1 billion or less. One easy way to do this is to multiply the number of outstanding shares with the current price per share. Yet most experienced investors will tell you that there is a greater degree of risk involved when it comes to investing in these types of shares. So here is a list of risk involved with investing in small cap stocks: Risk #1: Larger competitors always have the upper hand on smaller companies. Risk #2: When market conditions are less than feasible, it’s only the bigger companies that will stand while the smaller ones fade away due to the inability to raise enough capital to deal with the economic downturn that might occur. Risk #3: Most of these small companies are based on an idea, and very often they fail due to the inability to hand over the governance of their company to a real professional who can bring the idea to fruition. Risk #4: Perhaps the biggest reason as to why it is considered to be such a gamble to invest in these types of companies is because they have been in the market for only a short period of time. Thus, investors do not have any data to evaluate and forecast their performance for the future, which makes it very risky....

Oct 14, 2014

Written by Dr. Eric Amidi.   Financial problems can create tension and conflict in any household. It’s easy to become weighed down with financial worries and overburdened with stress. In fact, what most people don’t realize is that these negative thoughts are not only draining but they serve to amplify their problems. As detailed in my book “The Secret Behind The Secret,” you can change your financial situation through the power of positive thinking.   “Positive thinking” means truly focusing your thoughts into the acquisition of money in the future rather than your current situation. When people say they are thinking about their finances, this usually means that they are thinking about their lack of money. This sort of negative thought process will not help you to change your financial situation. Instead, you need to concentrate on the positive aspects of having money and what that can do for you and your family. This creates a better platform for beneficial financial situations to occur.     If you have had financial problems recently, it’s also important to develop a better relationship with money if you want your positive thoughts to translate into success. It’s important to remember that money is a form of energy and how you feel about it will impact its relationship with you. If you want money to start working for you and come to you, it’s important that you have a strong relationship with it. You need to let go of any past issues where money — or a lack of money — has caused you pain in your life.   Eric Amidi is a Quantum Physicist who helped to discover the Top Quark with the team at Fermi National Laboratories. Dr. Eric Amidi is an expert in how neural networks can help the brain to...

Oct 12, 2014

With the New Year coming up you might be reviewing your year and considering taking some resolutions regarding your finances for the years to come. Some of the ideas below might be beneficial to you. Learn Something New About Investing This Year Education is the key to being empowered. Learning more about investment will help you make better decisions and gain more insights on the market. You could consider starting an online class or browsing through finance sites and books. The idea is to invest time in learning about your investment. Making your own financial statement This would require some dedication, but the best way to figure out where you are spending your money and if you have a debt, where it comes from is to track your income and expenditure minutiously. You might put everything on a spreadsheet to help you get a clear picture. Spend Less And Save More This can be easier said than done but exercising self-control and giving much thought before spending on something could make you save a lot in the long run. Try to put thoughts into each and every items that you are buying, this would include a coffee and a donut. Being conscious about your every expenditure could help you realize where you could be saving. Invest In Self-Improvement Learning a new skill or investing in your look could help you progress in your career or give you the motivation to go for a career change. Either way, this could be beneficial to your finance if it helps you earn...

Sep 16, 2014

In June 2014, it was reported by The Economist that the student loan debt exceeded $1.2 trillion in the U.S. Every year thousands of students and even their parents opt to go for a student loan to afford college tuitions. Before you embark into loan application, you could consider the following: Research on the type of loan you are applying for. Applying for a loan is an important decision. Knowing about the characteristics of the loan you are applying for can help you in your decision. Often students can quality for several types of loan, whether they are Perkins loans, Stafford Loans or PLUS loans. Keep track of your credit score and have a copy of your credit report Your credit score can have an impact on the type and amount of loan you can be eligible for. It is important to know your score and to report any errors or potential corrections before going to your financial aid officer. If you have a poor credit score, you might consider loans that do not require this information. Know how much you would be earning after graduation Study the industry around you, especially in your location and field. If you are majoring in a field where the rate of unemployment is high, it might not be advisable to opt for a big student loan. Find out what could be the average salary of young graduates in your field and in your...