...know you have a credit score, but what you might not know is what a credit score actually is and what it can do for you. Your credit score determines just about everything when it comes to what you can and can't purchase and the interest rates associated with those purchases. Credit scores can also affect other areas of your life, such as what you pay for insurance, whether or not you are granted that job you want so badly and whether or not you can buy a house. Therefore, learning some credit basics can have a big impact on how you use your credit and ultimately your credit score. What Is A Credit Score? A credit score is a three digit number which is based on your credit report. It's used to determine creditworthiness...
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...Working Capital Management in a Post-Recession Environment: The View from Europe A report prepared by CFO Research Services in collaboration with The Royal Bank of Scotland TM Working Capital Management in a Post-Recession Environment: The View from Europe A report prepared by CFO Research Services in collaboration with The Royal Bank of Scotland TM Working Capital Management in a Post-Recession Environment: The View from Europe Contents Executive summary Cash, liquidity and credit during an uncertain recovery Pursuing improvements in working capital An opportunity to expand the toolkit Investing in working capital improvements Conclusion Sponsor’s perspective 2 3 5 7 11 12 13 © 2010 CFO PUBLISHING LLC SEPTEMBER 2010 1 Working Capital Management in a Post-Recession Environment: The View from Europe Executive summary In June and July of 2010, CFO Research Services (a unit of CFO Publishing LLC) conducted an electronic survey among senior finance executives representing mid-size to large companies in Europe. Our goal was to understand finance executives’ concerns with working capital management in the wake of global recession, as well as their plans for improving working capital performance. We asked finance executives a series of questions about the impact that the recession had on their working capital management, which areas of working capital their companies would focus on during the course of economic recovery and whom their companies worked...
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...improve your rating and save thousands of dollars in interest payments. BY LUCINDA COULTER S teve Diamond hoped his second attempt at being an owner-operator would work. But in 2009, the 54-year-old native resident of Mansfield, Ohio, had to scramble to keep a 2003 Freightliner Columbia. Shortly after he purchased the truck through his carrier, its S1,400 monthly payment got to be too much. It didn't help that he was trying to pay off a credit card balance that had grown at 21 percent when he worked as a company driver for three years and job-hopped after his first go-round at owning a tractor. Diamond, now leased to Marten Transport, listened to financial advice, made an effort to run more miles 38 OVERDRIVE JULY 2012 and slowed credit card payments. "If you hang in there and work your way through it, it gives you that much more confidence," he says. In January 2011, he paid off his truck. Now his revenue is 5 to 7 percent higher than it was with his previous carrier in his current work hauling food products. Diamond was hardly alone in taking on large debt during the recession. While he was able to climb out of it, many owneroperators have been hamstrung by factors such as slow freight, expensive job changes, fuel costs, family illness or other emergencies. A compounding factor for many struggling owner-operators is being stuck with worn-out equipment amd lacking the credit to replace it. If you're one of them, there is hope for improving your credit rating by...
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...Cost-free preventive services begin for many Americans. See More 2010 Changes. 2011: People with Medicare can get key preventive services for free, and also receive a 50% discount on brand-name drugs in the Medicare “donut hole.” See More 2011 Changes. 2012: Accountable Care Organizations and other programs help doctors and health care providers work together to deliver better care. See More 2012 Changes. 2013: Open enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace begins on October 1st. See More 2013 Changes. 2014: All Americans will have access to affordable health insurance options. The Marketplace allows individuals and small businesses to compare health plans on a level playing field. Middle and low-income families will get tax credits that cover a significant portion of the cost of coverage. And the Medicaid program will be expanded to cover more low-income Americans. All together, these reforms mean that millions of people who were previously uninsured will gain coverage, thanks to the Affordable Care Act. See More 2014 Changes. 2010 NEW CONSUMER PROTECTIONS • Putting Information for Consumers Online. The law provides for where consumers can compare health insurance coverage options and pick the coverage that works for them. Effective July 1, 2010. • Prohibiting Denying Coverage of Children Based on Pre-Existing Conditions. The health care law includes new rules to prevent insurance companies from...
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...tightened their credit standards dramatically during the credit crunch, and lenders now accept only 55% of all mortgage applications. according to the latest annual statistics from the Mortgage Bankers Association: Overall lending by U.S. banks plunged by 7.4% in 2009, the sharpest decline since 1942, based on FDIC data. And so far in 2010, banks have yet to ease lending standards. Here are ten reasons people get turned down for a housing loan and some advice on how to overcome these obstacles. 1. BAD OR LOW CREDIT SCORE * You cannot build a house if the foundations are flimsy, When it comes to loan approvals, banks use a similar analogy. If you have a low credit score, you will be denied a home loan rejection even if you fulfill all other conditions. Credit score is considered to be the most important factor by the banks while disbursing a loan." * Credit score reflects a consumer's behavior towards the financial transactions. In some ways, it is a mirror to his financial habits and underwriters base their decision and develop risk-based pricing based on the credit score," says Anil Sachidanand, MD & CEO, Aspire Home Finance Corporation. So, if a person has defaulted or delayed the payment on any kind of loan or credit cards, it will have a negative impact on the credit score. Other factors like being guarantor to a person who defaults on payment of his loan can affect your credit report too if you fail to repay his loan. To maintain a healthy credit score, one should...
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...Protect Your Credit How to Establish Credit How to Establish, Use, and Protect Your Credit What you need to know Good credit is valuable. Having the ability to borrow funds allows us to buy things we would otherwise have to save for years to afford: homes, cars, a college education. Credit is an important financial tool, but it can also be dangerous, leading people into debt far beyond their ability to repay. That is why learning how to use credit wisely is one of the most valuable financial skills anyone can learn. What Lenders Look For Before creditors lend money, they need to be assured that the funds will be repaid. In other words, is the prospective borrower creditworthy? To find out, they ask for various types of information:* Income & Expenses Lenders will look at what you earn and your regular expenses, such as rent, utilities, food, and other ongoing items. The amount left tells them whether you can afford to take on additional debt. Assets Do you have assets that can serve as collateral? Lenders will look for things like bank accounts, insurance, and valuable items such as a house, if you own one. Credit History How do you manage debt? If you have credit cards or have borrowed money before, you have a history that shows prospective lenders whether you are creditworthy by revealing details about the amount of debt you already have, how many credit cards you have, and whether you make payments on time. *Creditors obtain much of this information from your credit...
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...I have recently received three business-related messages that I would like to analyze using the communication process. The business-related messages were from Humana, Creditscore.com, and Hughes Net. Roebuck, D. (2006) stated, "Skillful business writers avoid words that are vague in meaning, create disagreeable mental pictures, or express general ideas" (p. 442). The messages where sent to me via The United States Postal Service and computer generated email. I will analyze the purpose of the message, the sender, receiver, message, and environment of the messages along with the technology, noise, and feedback requirement of each message. I will also explain whether the messages and technology were appropriate given the environment and purpose of the message. Description of Humana Message The first message I received was from Humana, which is a health insurance company I recently joined. The correspondence was in letter form. The purpose of the letter was to inform me that I had healthcare insurance for the calendar year 2014. The Humana staff was the sender and the receiver was me, Jacqueline Taylor. The message stated, "Evidence of Coverage Rider." The environment was my home office, and the only noise was the traffic outside. The letter was very professional without any distractions. Feedback for this message was not necessary. Explanation of Humana Message The letter from Humana was appropriate, given the environment and purpose. Sent through the United States...
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...Reading Your Credit Report John R Scott Everyonew ritesa rticlest o inform consumerosf the impoftanceo f credita ndk eepingi t "clean".T his is not oneo f thosea rticlesd isguiseudn dera "CreditR epair"t itle thatd oes notg ivey ou vital informationo r just vaguer amblings. In this serieso f articlesy ou will frndw ayst o not only repairi temso n your creditr epofi, you will learn how to improve your credit rating quickly andfor very little, to no costs. You will learnh ow to ready our creditr eporta ndu nderstandit. Evenp ersonsw ith great creditr atingsc anu set heset echniquetso improvet heir scoresw ith the creditb ureaus. Understandinhgo w to obtaina ndr eada creditr eporti s the first stepi n understanding how you will be able to improve and repair what is on it. These are the 3 major credit reportinga genciesw hich 99o/o f theb ankso ut thereu set o determineif they areg oingt o give you credit: Experian www.experian.com 1-888-397-3742 Equifax www.equifax.com l -800-685-1l I 1 TransUnion www.transun i on.com/d irect I -800-888-4231 You can obtain a copy of your credit report from any one of these agencies, all three would be preferable, one may have information the other does not. Once you obtain a copy of your credit report, you can verify that all information is correct, such as your social, birth-date and address and employment. Know your scores and what is on your report. You have a right to receive a FREE copy ofyour credit report once every...
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...What are your instructions to your advisor? I am seeking the advice a certified financial planner within Charles Swab for many reasons, I am coming into a sizable amount of money and I wanted professional advice in better suiting the needs of my family and the future of my business and to oversee and to determine the best plan of attack for my portfolio management, 529 Learning Quest® College Savings Plan, 401(k)plan, Inherited IRA, retirement plan, mutual funds,employee benefit packages and trust accounts. Why? First of all, having a financial advisor, I will help narrow my needs down to two reasons, having a 529 Learning Quest® College Savings Plan for my three children will help to outset price of college in the future or completely fund their time at school. Secondly, to place my funds into an inherited IRA to grow towards my retirement and leave a legacy...
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...and Benefits Associated with Bad Credit Loans Bad credit loans are a blessing in disguise for those suffering from bad credit history. People unable to pay their bills or loans on time suffer from a bad credit score that affects negatively on their credit history. There are a number of reasons behind a bad credit history including financial crises, bankruptcy, inability to pay bills on time and many others. Recession is one of the major factors behind bad credit history of the people as they suffer from financial crises due to poor economic conditions and by loosing their jobs. Inflation is another solid reason that leads to poor credit scores. Bad credit loans help you enjoying the privilege of enjoying loans even if you suffer with poor credit history. Bad credit loans provide you financial assistance in a number of critical situations such as paying a sudden and unexpected medical bill, meeting the financial crunch at the end of the month, coping sudden personal financial needs when you run short of money. Bad credit loan is a perfect solution for all the above-mentioned problems as it let you get instant cash in order to fulfill your financial requirements. There are a number of lenders over the Internet and in the offline environment that offer ad credit loans to the people having no or poor credit history. The ultimate advantage of a bad credit loan is that you can instantly get the loan. You don’t need to wait for weeks to get your loan approved as you can get hot...
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...The Importance of Good Credit Have you ever been turned down for a loan or an apartment lease and wondered why? It could be due to your credit history. Let’s face it–our credit says a lot about who we are. It is our financial report card, and can affect many aspects of our lives. Professional credit counselors at ClearPoint Credit Counseling Solutions agree that having a good credit history is imperative to leading a financially fit life. What is Credit? Credit is defined as a contractual agreement between a lender and a borrower in which the borrower assumes something of value, and agrees to repay the lender on a future date. How does it work? When you apply for credit (say a loan or a credit card), the lender has to decide if you are a good candidate for receiving the loan. The lender’s decision is based heavily on your credit history. They have to assess the level of risk involved if they are to extend credit to you. If you have displayed a poor repayment history, it is less likely that you will be approved for the loan or a line of credit. The lower your credit score, the higher your interest rate. Over the life of a mortgage or auto loan, higher interest rates will cost you thousands and thousands of dollars. If you plan to take out either of these types of loans or a new credit card, it would be wise to pull your credit reports to see where you stand and start making improvements now. Who actually looks at your credit record? You may be surprised to learn that it...
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...health insurance, both Acts focus on ensuring that all Americans have access to quality, affordable health care. Comprehensive health reform addresses the following: major provisions to expand health care coverage, controlling health care costs, and improving health care delivery systems. While many debate the pros and cons of the new legislation, they must prepare for significant changes tiered over the next eight years. Here, we will discuss how the comprehensive health reform legislation affect employers and explain what they should know and be prepared for. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act each address essential components of reform: * Quality, affordable health care for all Americans: this function will accomplish a fundamental transformation of health insurance in the United States through shared responsibility. This means requiring most U.S. citizens and legal residents to have health insurance and requiring employers (large & small) to offer insurance or pay a penalty to the government for each employee. * The role of public programs: this function expands eligibility for Medicaid to lower income persons and assumes federal responsibility for much of the cost of this expansion. * Improving the quality and efficiency of health care: make substantial investments to improve the quality and delivery of care and support research to inform consumers about patient outcomes resulting from different...
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...Family Dollar Implementing a Retail Strategy - Transcript 1. Family Dollar Implementing a Retail Strategy Family Dollar is one of the fastest growing discount store chains in the United States. During the last ten years, more than 4,000 new stores have been added to the chain, of which over half were added in the last five years. The merchandising strategy that drives this growth provides customers with good values on basic merchandise for the family and home in a small-box, neighborhood format. Its merchandise is sold at everyday low prices in a no frills, convenient, self-service environment. Most merchandise is priced under $10.00. Stores are located in a contiguous 44-state area ranging northeast to Maine, southeast to Florida, as far northwest as Idaho and southwest to Arizona. Family Dollar stores generally range in size from 7,500 to 9,500 square feet, and most are operated in leased facilities. The relatively small size permits the Company to open new stores in rural areas and small towns, as well as in large urban neighborhoods. Within these markets, the stores are located in shopping centers or as freestanding buildings or in urban storefronts convenient to the Company’s value-conscious customer base. During the fiscal year ended September 1, 2007, the Company opened 300 new stores and closed 43 stores to bring the number of stores in operation at fiscal year-end to 6,430. Family Dollar’s headquarters are located in Matthews, North Carolina, just outside of Charlotte...
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...COURSE SYLLABUS – Spring 2011 - DS 3520 OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT Course Number and Title: Operations Management - DS 3520 (3 semester hours) Prerequisite: Junior or Senior standing and must have passed ECON 3610 (Statistics). This applies to all students regardless of their major in the University. Course Description (from current catalog): Management of the processes, resources, and technologies in the production of goods and services. This course will cover topics concerning the design, operation, and improvement of production systems. These are topics such as operations strategy, capacity planning, design and analysis of processes, quality management management systems, supply chain management, production planning and inventory management. It will also address important business issues and contexts such as sustainability, strategic partnerships and alliances, global competitiveness, quality and productivity, and lean production philosophy. Learning Objectives and Expected Learning Outcomes: The learning objectives and expected learning outcomes are: 1) To introduce the fundamental concepts of Operations Management; to provide factual knowledge, terminology, methods, and theories of the field required for the management of the transformation process by which inputs are converted into useful goods and services in a production system. Students will demonstrate the understanding of the key terminology and concepts of operations management...
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...Scholefield Page 3 of 27 Introduction New Qualifications The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has introduced new qualifications in 2010 to reflect the knowledge and skills specified in the CIPD HR Profession Map and revised membership criteria The changes offer greater flexibility to you and providers, introduce a whole new suite of Intermediate level qualifications, and will meet the requirements of the new Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF). What is the QCF? The QCF is a new way of recognising achievement through the award of credit for units and qualifications. At present, it is hard to understand all the different types of qualification that learners hold - what level they are, how long they take to complete, what content they cover, and how they compare to other qualifications. The new framework will help present qualifications in a way that is easy to understand and measure. Credit and level Every unit and qualification in the framework will have a credit value (one credit represents 10 hours, showing how...
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