Cut Business Costs Using Remote Access Software

Remote Access Software doesn’t immediately spring to mind when you think of money-saving technologies. But with the workplace becoming increasingly mobile-oriented, any program that facilitates the process of remote working is going to benefit businesses in the long term. But how can a technology that involves accessing one desktop from another help cut costs? Read on to find out.

A more productive workforce

There’s one, crucial thing that all business want from their employees: to be more productive. Whether its new software, incentives like bonuses, or implementing telecommuting strategies, companies try all sorts of ways to get more out of their workers. Remote access software is just another string to that bow. If you can have it so your employees can work efficiently while travelling or working from home, then you are saving company time. And time is money. Remote access to office desktops can now be done from mobile devices so all the crucial files and programs an employee needs are always available. Some programs, such as those from Ericom software, now work entirely through a web browser and across multiple platforms, making compatibility problems a thing of the past. It’s a failsafe for all sorts of data-related mishaps. 

Software Costs

If you’re running a startup business, then costs are at the front of your mind, even more so. Say you have remote workers in different locations but you need them all to use a certain program, Microsoft Word or Photoshop for example, that would require costly licenses for multiple computers. You can use remote access software to give these workers access to this software, installed on a remote desktop, so they have no need to install and configure anything. If you have a large workforce, Remote Desktop services can save time/cost when updating an arsenal of computers, for example if you want to upgrade a specific program across the board. If these computers are all accessing this program from a remote server, then instead of going from computer to computer performing updates you only have to do it once. This takes a massive strain off the IT department. 

Expanding Businesses

What if you’re a growing business? What if you’re about to hire several new employees? You’ve got find the funds to buy three new PCs and install all the software on them. That’s going to be costly and time-consuming. The same goes for upgrading PCs every few years. If you opt for a cheap, thin-client computer (like a Chromebook) that you use to remotely access programs on a server you can save yourself a fortune. Thin-client devices have a greater lifespan and low service costs. JP Gownder of Forrester Research has said that they “offer the prospect of radically reducing the amount of time IT staff spend ‘keeping the lights on’ for devices…and offer high uptime, low service costs, and scalable deployment of new web-based applications and content.

No matter the size of your business, Remote Access software is definitely worth thinking about.

Eight Financial Tips for Working Seniors

More and more people are continuing to work beyond retirement age. For some, it is a choice that keeps them active and involved. For others, it is a financial necessity. Whether work is a choice or a necessity, here are eight financial concerns that those who continue to work should keep in mind: 

1. You are entitled to begin receiving Social Security benefits at age 62. However, if you receive benefits before age of 66 and your earned income exceeds the set limit, your Social Security benefits will be reduced. At age 66, you will receive your full benefits regardless of earned income.

2. If, between the ages of 66 and 70, your earned income is sufficient that you don't need your Social Security benefits, defer them. For every year that you defer your benefits up to age 70, your benefit amount increases by 8% with an adjustment for inflation.

3. Consider the effect of employment on your income tax rate. Calculate your taxable retirement income from Social Security, pensions and retirement accounts and compare it to the current IRS tax brackets. If your earned income puts you into a higher tax bracket, put the amount of income that increases your tax rate into tax-deferred retirement accounts.

4. Take full advantage of tax-deferred retirement accounts. Older workers are allowed to save an extra $1,000 beyond the maximum annual contributions. Many of these accounts have having check writing privileges. You have the choice of standard checks or designer personal checks. This extra saving option adds money to your future retirement income and reduces your current taxable income.

5. Regardless of whether or not you are eligible for Medicare, take advantage of employer health insurance. Basic Medicare does not cover all expenses, and at best, pays only 80% of expenses that it does cover. Additionally, paycheck deductions for health insurance may be made pre-tax, which reduces your taxable income.

6. As investors approach retirement, investment strategies commonly switch from a growth-oriented portfolio to an income-producing one. Those who continue to work, however, are not relying investments for income. Moreover, earned income reduces the potential effects or a decline in the stock market. Those who feel comfortable with the risk could add to their future retirement income by continuing a growth-oriented investment strategy with some investments.

7. Keeping accurate records of living and employment-related expenses has two benefits. Accurately tracking living expenses enables you to make a more accurate estimate of your living expenses after retirement and assures that your combined Social Security benefits, pension, and investment provides a sufficient level of retirement income. Tracking employment-related expenses may lead to job-related tax deductions.

8. Studying your current cash flow and projecting it out for one year, three years, and five years for scenarios such as working full-time, working part-time, or retiring, enables you to analyze the benefits or necessity of working versus retiring. This study switches the emphasis from retiring on an arbitrary date to retiring as preparations become adequate to sustain the life you want to live. That is what retirement should be.

Author's Bio
Phillip Gruppelaar worked as a Sales Tax Inspector and Administration Manager before entering the finance industry in 1988. While working in motor vehicle finance he earned the “AIM Insurance, NSW Business Manager of Year 2000” award. He then moved to home loans and general asset finance including sourcing machinery finance. In 2007, he became General Manager of an online asset financing company, building it to be one of Australia’s largest and most successful. In December 2011, he returned to his own management consultant business and focused on improving client relationships and staff training for another of Australia’s large online finance brokerage firms.

How to Turn a Nest Egg into a Windfall - The Groundwork

Is launching a small business or a start-up the recurring character in your dreams for a brighter future... except you don’t know the first thing about casting the part? Even in this economy, however you slice it, there’s money to be made by taking the entrepreneurial big leaps - the news bulletins are awash in success stories, rags-to-riches tips and even the odd oh-no-he-didn’t gasps. What’s to say yours won’t be the next business venture that carries the day on Wall Street? 

If you don’t have money to burn - and who does, these days? - but you’re considering putting your savings on the line for the chance of striking it big, take every precaution before plunging in head-first. Remember that some failure is predictable from the get-go and so, you should consider hedging your bets as best you can before putting your head on the block. 

1. Use online tools by way of planning ahead - the gung ho and the gunshy alike stand to profit from not going into a potentially costly affair on a wing and a prayer. Sorting out your finances beforehand, accounting for the initial expenses and tallying all the risks involved in founding a company are all necessary steps. A painless, free option is resorting to the Internet as your personal go-to financial adviser, which you can learn more about through just a couple of clicks. Playing it safe (being cost-conscious) and smart (getting customized financial advice) will save you money in the future.

2. Don’t discount the helping hands - even if this might not be the best time to play the market, there are still investors out there willing to gamble on start-ups. As for your presumably scanty knowledge about the investment game, you just need to keep in mind that thinking opportunistically about any venture, however dear to your heart, is all it takes, even if you’re not used to framing decisions in an economics-centric manner. If your business objectively needs more cash than you can provide, an angel investor or a venture capitalist can certainly be approached to shore it up. Even a friend or relative might be willing to pony up, just as long as you both agree to separate your professional relationship from the personal one.

3. Look out for new developments - take the trouble to scope out what other are doing and how the industry you’ve chosen to enter is faring. If you’re not yet sure about what area to go into, the Internet will provide you with more than one good idea and if you’re tech-savvy, all the better, as there are tens of avenues to choose from (of which mobile communication is the hottest right now). Regardless how advanced the industry of your choice already is - and you can look that kind of info up online, via business data aggregators, as well as putting in the legwork and the research work needed to get a read on all the players - think outside the box on ways to improve it.

It’s only at this point that you can start fine-tuning your concept, drawing up a business model and picking a catchy name for your new company. Once you get your ducks in a row, and the financing in the bag, there’s nothing preventing you from going after your dream full speed ahead.

So You Want to Be a Self-Taught Home Seller?

Summer is your best bet if you’re on the fence about when to sell something prospective buyers would have to travel to see - case in point: your house. It’s during these months that your open house will get the most foot traffic, more so than later in the year, so, yes, your vacation plans will have to wait. But you knew all that, seeing that you’re planning on going it alone and striking it big with the sell, right? In case you’re not sure whether this renegade free-agent path is the right fit for you, here are some pointers that can shed some light along the way to closing the deal and will ideally help make up your mind.

Make Sure You Crunch the Numbers

Putting your house on the market, being as important a decision as it is, also usually comes with huge, paralyzing jitters, which is why most people prefer to use a real-estate agent. Alternatively, some choose to take the road less traveled, which, if done right, might be more rewarding, financially speaking - at the end of the day you’ll be just as well pocketing the 6% from the sale that would have otherwise gone to the agent. To make the leap from wishing it so to actually getting your wish, the first thing you’ll need to do is zoom in on the exact sum you’re expecting to get from the sale.

• If you intend on using the money from the sale for the purchase of a new home, do your homework on what your current home should fetch you in order to achieve that switch. You can use online tools to calculate the mortgage rate on the house you have in your sights, then apply for a bridge loan, against the equity in your current dwelling, for the downpayment.
• In order to list your house on the Multiple Listing Service, you’ll need to come up with the right asking price, which you should set 1) in accordance with the price tags on some other houses in the area which you’ve previously checked, and 2) a tad higher than the sum you have in mind - this will leave some wiggle room for negotiations. Remember that, while not using an agent will definitely save you money, the buyer’s agent commission will still shave some off the final bounty. 

Roll Up Your Sleeves for Some Heavy Lifting

Aside from the legwork entailed by comparing and contrasting your house with others in the neighborhood, which will give you a better idea of what yours is worth, there are other small details to consider - and, all counted, these will demand some effort on your part.

• Advertise the right way - the For Sale sign is one of the best “weapons” at your disposal, as it’s putting out there the asking price and contact details, in plain sight for every prospective buyer or agent to lock on to. Buyer’s agents will also pounce on the opportunity of a commission if you hint at it with a well-worded, brief invitation on the sign. 
• Your arsenal should also include quality photos of both the exterior and the interior of your house - you can use these for your flyers and / or post them on real-estate websites. Instead of relying on old snapshots, take new ones, using a top-notch camera, and only show the best, most current version of your home. Before playing the shutterbug, get your house spick and span, with all the clutter either removed or relocated around the existing space for a better, more attractive use of it, with an eye to showing the place in just the right light.

All that’s left for you to do at this point is get ready for visits - but not before insuring your house, in case of any mishap - and brush up on your knowledge of the law, as, like with any purchase of this magnitude, you’ll be required to sign some papers that you won’t want to just leaf through. Take your time, get a handle on the situation and some understanding of the market, and you’ll not only reach your goal, but also that feeling of fulfillment that comes from knowing you made it happen yourself.

The Process For Acquiring Term Life Insurance

Life insurance can be one of the most important investments a person can make, especially those who have families that are at least half way financially dependent on them. Life insurance is often used to cover immediate costs for funerals and related processions, or to alleviate the burden of loss of income for a reasonable period of time until such income can be restored or adjusted to. The easiest and simplest type of life insurance is called “term” insurance. Many agencies offer flexible time, budget, and application options for term life insurance.

Why Choose Term Insurance?

The major benefit of choosing Term insurance lies in the fact that insurance premiums greatly increase as age increases and health decreases. Those who did not purchase insurance at a younger age will not be locked in at a reasonable rate. Term insurance is also very straightforward - a static rate pays for coverage, and that coverage remains static as well. Some prefer this over others which may start out low and slowly increase, or fluctuate up and down as markets do.

Step One: Research Companies

The first step in obtaining term life insurance is to find a company. Applicants should talk to several agents and visit many homepages. Compare rates, options, and reputations. Take the time to delve deeply into reviews and ratings on comparison websites, and if possible, try to find real customers to ask questions. Finally, determine the financial security of each company that is in consideration - they cannot provide coverage if they go bankrupt, after all.

Step Two: Decide The Term

Each insurance agency will differ in the time frame that they offer as a “term”, but most generally require a period of either ten, twenty, or thirty years of coverage. Choosing a term depends entirely on the needs of the applicant and will vary greatly in each case. Applicants should consider why they are acquiring the insurance, how long it is necessary, and which term fits their budget. The premium will not increase until the term is over - once this point has passed, it will increase every year.

Step Three: Choose A Type That Matches Your Term

There are various types of life insurance that provide different benefits. Some are offered in certain terms while others are not, and all agencies are different. One type is called a return of premium; the purchaser will pay the premium for the selected term, which increases every year regardless of the original term selected, and if he or she lives longer than the term the money is returned in full. If the purchaser chooses to extend the term, any premiums paid after the original term will not be reimbursed. Another type is a low budget, short term five year plan which is cheap to start and offers decent coverage, but the premium increases significantly. For this type, there is no “original term”.

Term life insurance is a great alternative to permanent insurance because it is cheap and simple. One should always fully investigate all available options when choosing any type of insurance and then choose the company and plan that fits their specific needs.

Author Bio
Terry Johnson practices bankruptcy law in Memphis, TN. He also blogs in his spare time and enjoys writing informative pieces about financial topics.

Do You Need Service Contracts for Home Repairs

Proper research before purchasing home appliances is typically the primary concern for most consumers. There are however, many more things to know about product purchases and one of them is the extended warranty or service contract. Although service contractors are regulated, getting an idea of what these contracts are is imperative. 

Generally, service contracts may be referred to as maintenance agreements bought separate from various dealers. The contracts serve the same purpose as insurance policies in that, they guarantee consumers to repair or replace their purchases. This outlines an investment that’s a fraction of the repair cost. Service contracts for home repairs were initially sold by respective product manufacturers or retailers although due to extended service plan complexities, most of them have switched to third-party specialists. The firms get paid by the retailers and manufacturers to manage service contracts and offer the needed assistance to consumers. 

Sometimes these companies don't cover all your appliances. Some may cover just your air conditioner and not your kitchen appliances. Find one that deals with all your appliances. It's easier to keep track, you have only one monthly bill to pay, and only one phone number to call when you need help. 

All companies are not alike, some have complaints about their customer service. The best place to look into their consumer relations is the Better Business Bureau. You can find an example what one looks like, for the service company Homeserve. The Homeserve BBB review gives a complete look at any consumer interactions and helps you get a better look at a company you may want to hire.

Service Contracts are mainly categorized into six types of covers, depending on a number of factors. Whenever a customer purchases a particular home appliance, they may decide also to pay for a Date of Purchase extended warranty which will begin on that same day. Otherwise, consumers also have the option of paying for a warranty extension plan which can go up to a year. Other plans include; primary protection plan (for major components), comprehensive plan, replacement plan or a deductible program.

All in all, it is important for people who are considering a service contract to know how to decide on prospective deal. It is apt to first ask for a reference to the contract before making any purchase. More so, consumer should be able to compare the available warranties in order to avoid duplicate covers. It is also recommended that they try and keep copies of the paperwork provided for proof.