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Tag: money

  • What to expect as Fed likely to make first interest rate cut since 2024

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    What to expect as Fed likely to make first interest rate cut since 2024 – CBS News










































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    The Federal Reserve is set to announce its latest interest rate decision as economists expect the first cut since 2024. CBS News MoneyWatch correspondent Kelly O’Grady has more on what to expect.

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  • Nigerian man sentenced to six years in prison in crypto romance scheme with Colorado widow

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    A Nigerian national living in Minnesota has been sentenced to nearly six years in prison — and ordered to pay nearly $1.7 million in restitution — for defrauding a widowed Colorado woman through an elaborate cryptocurrency romance scam, federal authorities announced Tuesday.

    The 37-year-old man, Adetomiwa Seun Akindele, will be deported to Nigeria once he serves his sentence, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.

    Akindele pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering in a scam in which authorities said he posed as a wealthy Italian-American businessman named Frank Labato on a dating website in 2018. Akindele and the woman began exchanging emails and phone calls during which Akindele “provided the victim with additional false details about his personal and work background, images, and photos, to substantiate his fictitious persona of ‘Frank.’”

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  • Camp Counselor Jobs That Build Leadership Skills

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    Being a camp counselor is more than just a summer job. It is an opportunity to grow as a person while helping others.

    Working with children and teens in a camp setting teaches responsibility, teamwork, and problem-solving. These experiences can build strong leadership skills that last a lifetime.

    In this article, we will explore the many benefits of camp counselor jobs and how they help you develop as a leader.

    Learning to Take Responsibility

    One of the first lessons of being a camp counselor is learning responsibility. You are responsible for the safety and well-being of campers. This means making sure everyone follows the rules, stays safe, and enjoys their time. Taking responsibility every day helps you develop accountability. Leaders need to be responsible for their actions and decisions, and camp counseling gives you that experience early on.

    For example, if a camper forgets their water bottle or gets lost during an activity, it is up to the counselor to step in calmly and resolve the issue. Over time, you become more confident in handling both small and large responsibilities. This skill also helps in school, work, or volunteering because you are trusted to manage tasks independently.

    Improving Communication Skills

    Communication is key in leadership. Camp counselors must:

    • explain activities clearly
    • give instructions
    • resolve conflicts

    Talking to campers of different ages teaches you how to adjust your communication style. You also learn to listen carefully. Being a good listener is just as important as speaking clearly.

    For instance, younger campers might need simple, step-by-step instructions, while older campers might respond better to detailed explanations. Learning to read the room and adjust your approach builds confidence in public speaking and everyday interactions.

    Building Teamwork

    Leadership often involves working with a team. As a camp counselor, you work closely with other staff members. Planning activities, solving problems, and supporting each other are all part of the job. Learning how to collaborate and trust others makes you a stronger leader.

    For example, if the arts and crafts session overlaps with a sports activity, counselors must coordinate to make sure both groups are supervised. Working together ensures smooth operations and happy campers. This teamwork skill is transferable to any:

    • group project
    • work environment
    • community activity

    Handling Challenges and Problem-Solving

    Camps are full of unexpected situations. A camper might get hurt, someone might get homesick, or an activity may not go as planned. As a counselor, you must think quickly and find solutions. These problem-solving skills are essential for leadership.

    For example, if it starts raining during a planned outdoor event, you may need to move everyone indoors or adjust the activity quickly. Being able to stay calm under pressure and find solutions teaches resilience. Leaders often face sudden challenges. This experience makes you ready to tackle problems efficiently and confidently.

    Learning Time Management

    Camp schedules are busy. Counselors have to manage activities, meal times, rest periods, and special events. You also have to balance fun with responsibilities. Learning to plan your time effectively helps you prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.

    For example, a counselor may need to set up a scavenger hunt while also checking that campers are safe during swimming time. Being organized and managing time effectively prevents stress and ensures the camp runs smoothly. Time management is a skill that leaders use daily to balance work, meetings, and personal life while still achieving goals.

    Developing Confidence

    Being in charge of a group of campers builds self-confidence. You learn to trust your decisions and abilities. Each day, as you guide and support campers, your confidence grows. This self-assurance carries over into other areas of life.

    For example, encouraging a shy camper to join a group activity requires patience and belief in your ability to guide them. When the camper participates successfully, it boosts your confidence. Confident leaders inspire and motivate others because they show belief in themselves and in their team.

    Practicing Conflict Resolution

    Conflicts are normal in any group setting. At camp, you may have to mediate disagreements between campers or even fellow counselors. Learning how to handle conflicts calmly and fairly is an essential leadership skill.

    For example, if two campers argue over a game, you must listen to both sides, suggest a solution, and help them move forward. Learning to stay calm, remain fair, and think logically builds strong conflict resolution skills. Leaders who handle conflicts well maintain a positive and productive environment for their teams.

    Encouraging Creativity

    Camp activities often involve games, arts, and outdoor adventures. Counselors are encouraged to be creative and come up with new ways to engage campers. Creativity is an important part of leadership because it allows you to think outside the box and solve problems in innovative ways.

    For instance, if a scheduled activity is not popular with campers, you might create a new game on the spot. Leaders who are creative can adapt to changing situations and inspire others to do the same. Creativity also encourages innovation, which is valuable in school, business, and community projects.

    Building Emotional Intelligence

    Working with children and teens helps you develop emotional intelligence. You learn to understand others’ feelings, show empathy, and respond to emotional needs.

    For example, if a camper is nervous about performing in a talent show, a counselor can provide encouragement and support. Understanding emotions helps you connect with people on a deeper level. Leaders with strong emotional intelligence can build trust, manage relationships, and guide their teams with compassion and understanding.

    Creating Lasting Connections

    Camp counselors meet people from different backgrounds. You make friends with fellow counselors, campers, and even parents. Building these relationships teaches social skills, networking, and cooperation.

    For example, you may work closely with a fellow counselor to plan a challenging activity. By sharing responsibilities and supporting each other, you create a lasting friendship. Many people choose camp counselor jobs because they want this combination of experience, growth, and connection.

    All About Camp Counselor Jobs That Build Leadership Skills

    Camp counselor jobs are more than a summer experience. They are a stepping stone to building leadership skills that will benefit you for years. From learning responsibility and communication to developing confidence and emotional intelligence, the lessons learned as a counselor prepare you for future challenges.

    By working with campers and staff, you grow as a leader and as a person. These benefits make camp counselor jobs an excellent opportunity for anyone looking to develop strong, lasting leadership skills.

    Looking for more tips and ideas? We’ve got you covered. Check out some of our other posts now.

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    Robert

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  • Smart Asset Protection Strategies for Your Future

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    Protecting your hard-earned assets doesn’t have to feel boring or overwhelming. With the right strategies, you can safeguard your wealth while keeping peace of mind for the future.

    Think of it like building a strong shield around everything you’ve worked for. Smart, practical, and ready for whatever life throws your way. From legal tools to clever financial moves, asset protection is about staying one step ahead.

    Let’s explore smart strategies that keep your future secure and stress-free.

    Create a Comprehensive Estate Plan

    A well-structured estate plan ensures your wishes are followed while protecting your loved ones. It includes:

    • a will
    • healthcare directives
    • financial powers of attorney

    By planning, you avoid unnecessary disputes and reduce stress for your family. Estate planning also helps minimize taxes and legal costs. The key is to be thorough and thoughtful in setting everything in place.

    This strategy gives you peace of mind while creating security for future generations.

    Utilize Trusts Effectively

    Trusts are powerful tools for safeguarding wealth and ensuring assets are distributed as intended. They can help you:

    • avoid probate
    • reduce taxes
    • protect your assets against creditors

    Different types of trusts serve unique purposes, from revocable to irrevocable structures. By choosing the right one, you gain flexibility in managing your estate.

    Trusts also help protect vulnerable beneficiaries who may need extra guidance. With proper planning, trusts act as a safety net that keeps your wealth intact while supporting your long-term goals.

    Diversify Your Investments

    Diversification keeps your portfolio balanced when markets shift unexpectedly. Stocks, bonds, real estate, and alternative investments each play a role in long-term growth.

    By not relying on just one source, you protect yourself from financial loss. Diversification is a proven strategy that blends safety with opportunity.

    It ensures steady progress toward your goals while giving you confidence that your financial future is secure and adaptable.

    Secure Adequate Insurance

    Insurance is very important for protecting you and your money. Health, life, disability, and property insurance give you support when unexpected events happen.

    The right coverage helps you avoid big costs that can hurt your finances. It acts like a safety cushion, making recovery easier after setbacks.

    Check your policies often to be sure they still fit your needs as life changes. Insurance works like a backup plan that protects your wealth and keeps your family safe.

    Limit Personal Liability

    Protecting yourself from personal liability keeps your money safe from lawsuits or claims. You can do this by:

    • forming a company
    • buying liability insurance
    • separating personal and business accounts

    These steps create a shield between your personal finances and risks. This is especially important for business owners or professionals with high exposure.

    By limiting liability, you protect your home, savings, and future. It’s a smart way to stay safe while focusing on building wealth.

    Invest in Retirement Accounts

    Retirement accounts are a smart way to grow money for the future. Options like 401(k)s, IRAs, or Roth accounts give you tax benefits while saving.

    Some let you deduct contributions now, while others offer tax-free withdrawals later. These accounts are designed to secure your retirement. Starting early helps your money grow even more over time.

    By contributing regularly, you prepare for a comfortable retirement while protecting yourself financially in the long run.

    Choose the Right Jurisdiction

    Where you set up accounts, businesses, or trusts matters. Some places have better tax benefits, privacy, or stronger protection laws.

    Picking the right location helps keep your wealth safe and gives you more control. This doesn’t mean hiding money-it means making smart legal choices.

    A good jurisdiction adds an extra layer of protection and stability. It strengthens your financial plan and helps you feel more confident about the future.

    Keep Accurate Records

    Good records protect you from confusion and disputes. Clear paperwork shows ownership, agreements, and financial details. This makes taxes easier and avoids problems in legal situations.

    Being organized saves time and stress when issues come up. Accurate records also help you track your finances and make smarter decisions.

    Keeping everything in order is simple but very powerful. It creates a strong base for long-term financial safety.

    Monitor Your Assets Regularly

    Keeping track of your assets regularly is one of the best ways to stay in control of your finances. Markets shift, laws change, and personal needs often grow over time.

    By reviewing your accounts, property, and investments, you can spot issues early and make quick adjustments. This helps prevent small problems from turning into bigger setbacks.

    Monitoring also keeps your goals clear and realistic. When you know exactly where your money stands, it’s easier to make smart decisions for the future. You can balance risk, update your strategies, and protect your wealth from surprises.

    With consistent reviews, you stay proactive instead of reactive. This simple habit makes your assets work harder for you while keeping your future more secure.

    Consult Professionals

    Professional guidance is key when navigating complex financial matters. Lawyers, financial advisors, and accountants can help craft strategies tailored to your needs.

    Their expertise ensures your asset protection plan stays strong and compliant with the law. Professionals also spot risks you may overlook and suggest smarter solutions.

    Working with experts provides peace of mind, knowing your wealth is in good hands. They simplify complicated processes and give clarity to your decisions.

    Plus, they help you stay prepared for future changes so your plan always works for you.

    Educate Yourself Continually

    Staying informed empowers you to make smarter financial decisions. Laws, markets, and strategies constantly change, so continual learning is essential.

    Books, courses, and workshops provide valuable knowledge that strengthens your confidence. Understanding the basics helps you work more effectively with professionals and spot opportunities early.

    Education also prevents costly mistakes that come from being uninformed. By committing to lifelong learning, you keep your strategies relevant and effective. Knowledge is one of the most powerful tools for building and protecting wealth.

    Smart Asset Protection: Secure Your Financial Future

    Securing your financial future starts with small, steady steps that build lasting asset protection. By using smart strategies and staying proactive, you create a strong foundation for yourself and your loved ones.

    If you’re ready to take the next step, start putting these tips into action today. Your financial future is worth protecting-make it stronger with the right moves.

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    Robert

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  • Ways Mindfulness Can Support Memory Health in Seniors

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    As we age, keeping our memory strong becomes more important. One simple and powerful tool is mindfulness. It helps seniors stay present, reduce stress, and improve focus. Mindfulness can also support emotional balance, which protects memory health.

    With small daily practices, seniors can boost brain function and enjoy a sharper mind. This guide will share how mindfulness can support the memory health of seniors and improve overall well-being.

    Reducing Stress to Protect Memory

    Stress affects the brain and can weaken memory function. Mindfulness helps calm the mind and reduce stress. This creates space for clearer thinking and better memory recall.

    Simple breathing exercises can be practiced daily. These small steps lower tension and support brain health for seniors. A calm mind is more open to learning and remembering.

    Improving Focus and Attention

    Distractions can make it harder for seniors to remember various things. Mindfulness helps improve focus by training the mind to stay in the present. Stronger focus supports memory and daily tasks.

    Mindful practices like paying attention to walking or eating can sharpen awareness. This focus brings more clarity and mental sharpness. It also helps seniors feel more in control of their thoughts.

    Supporting Emotional Balance

    Emotions affect how well we remember events. Mindfulness encourages a steady and balanced emotional state. A positive mood supports stronger memory connections in the brain.

    Seniors can practice mindfulness exercises for aging adults to ease worry or sadness. This balance improves mental health and supports memory function. Emotional calmness leads to clearer recall.

    Enhancing Daily Brain Stimulation

    Keeping the brain active is important for memory. Mindfulness activities provide gentle mental exercise. These practices strengthen mental flexibility and memory skills.

    Seniors can try short mindful moments while reading or listening to music. These habits bring both joy and mental growth. They offer natural cognitive support through mindfulness.

    Encouraging Better Sleep

    Lack of sleep can harm memory and focus. Mindfulness helps relax the body and mind before bedtime. Better sleep allows the brain to process and store memories.

    A nightly mindfulness routine can prepare seniors for rest. Deep breathing or guided relaxation can improve sleep quality. A well-rested brain is stronger and healthier.

    Encouraging Healthy Eating Habits

    Mindfulness can also be applied to eating. Paying attention to food choices supports better nutrition. A healthy diet helps protect memory and brain function.

    Seniors can practice mindful eating by noticing flavors, textures, and portions. This creates a more enjoyable and balanced mealtime. Healthy habits boost overall brain health for seniors.

    Providing Community Support Options

    Mindfulness can also be practiced in a supportive setting. Seniors in care communities often benefit from group mindfulness sessions. These settings promote both social and mental health.

    For instance, families seeking care options can explore memory care in Virginia Beach, VA. These programs often include mindfulness and wellness activities. Community support helps seniors stay engaged and mentally strong.

    Embracing Mindfulness for Better Memory Health and Quality of Life

    Mindfulness gives seniors simple tools to protect memory health and well-being. It lowers stress, improves focus, and creates balance in daily life. These small practices also support sleep, healthy habits, and strong social ties. Mindfulness encourages independence and helps seniors stay engaged in the present.

    With steady use, it strengthens brain health and memory function. Seniors can enjoy more clarity and peace each day. Mindfulness is a gentle but powerful way to support healthier aging and lasting mental strength.

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    Robert

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  • Building Resilience in Senior Living: Mental Health Strategies

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    Image by Freepik

    As people get older, they go through many changes in their lives. These changes can be physical, emotional, or social, and they often affect mental health. In senior living communities, older adults may feel lonely, miss loved ones who have passed, or find it hard to adjust to a new environment.

    These challenges can be tough, but there is a way to help by building resilience. Resilience means being able to bounce back after hard times. It’s about staying strong, hopeful, and able to keep moving forward.

    The good news is that resilience is not something you are just born with. It can be built and improved at any age. Here are some simple mental health strategies to help older adults build resilience:

    Build Social Connections

    Loneliness is one of the biggest problems for many seniors. Being around others and making friends can greatly improve mood and mental health.

    Senior living communities can help by offering group activities like games, music nights, and group meals. Having someone to talk to or share time with makes a big difference.

    Find a Sense of Purpose

    Everyone wants to feel needed and useful. Seniors can feel more positive when they have a reason to get up in the morning.

    This could be helping others in the community, mentoring younger people, or doing creative activities like painting or gardening. Feeling needed helps people stay strong emotionally.

    Stay Physically Active

    Exercise doesn’t have to be hard or tiring to be helpful. Simple activities like walking, stretching, or chair yoga can boost mood and reduce stress.

    Exercise also helps improve sleep and keeps the brain sharp. Moving the body helps the mind feel better, too.

    Learn Ways to Relax and Stay Calm

    Stress affects everyone, including seniors. Teaching easy ways to relax, like deep breathing, meditation, or listening to calming music, can help. Mindfulness classes or quiet spaces in the community can also support emotional health.

    Create a Positive Environment

    A cheerful and safe environment helps people feel at ease. Bright lighting, comfortable furniture, and nature-friendly spaces like gardens or patios can lift spirits. Friendly staff and welcoming community spaces also make seniors feel cared for and supported.

    Offer Mental Health Support

    It’s important for seniors to have access to counselors or therapists when they need to talk. Regular mental health checkups can help spot problems early.

    Many communities now also offer telehealth services, so seniors can talk to professionals without leaving their rooms. With the right support, this can greatly help in reducing stigma in senior communities.

    Support Independence

    People feel stronger when they can make their own choices. Letting seniors decide things like what to eat or what activity to join gives them a sense of control. Feeling in charge of their life helps boost confidence and mental strength.

    Maintain Your Mental Health as You Age

    Resilience helps older adults face challenges with strength and hope. By creating caring and supportive senior living communities, we can help residents stay mentally strong and emotionally healthy.

    With good social connections, a sense of purpose, physical activity, relaxation techniques, a positive environment, mental health support, and independence, seniors can live happier, more fulfilling lives. Helping them build resilience is one of the best ways to support their well-being every day.

    If you want to read more articles, visit our blog.

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    Robert

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  • Senate approves White House economist Stephen Miran to serve on Federal Reserve board

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    The Senate has approved one of President Donald Trump’s top economic advisers for a seat on the Federal Reserve’s governing board, giving the White House greater influence over the central bank just two days before it is expected to vote in favor of reducing its key interest rate.The vote to confirm Stephen Miran was largely along party lines, 48-47. He was approved by the Senate Banking Committee last week with all Republicans voting in favor and all Democrats opposed.Miran’s nomination has sparked concerns about the Fed’s longtime independence from day-to-day politics after he said during a committee hearing earlier this month that he would keep his job as chair of the White House’s Council of Economic Advisers, though would take unpaid leave. Senate Democrats have said such an approach is incompatible with an independent Fed.Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said ahead of the vote that Miran “has no independence” and would be “nothing more than Donald Trump’s mouthpiece at the Fed.”The vote was along party lines, with Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski the only Republican to vote against Miran.Miran is completing an unexpired term that ends in January, after Adriana Kugler unexpectedly stepped down from the board Aug. 1. He said if he is appointed to a longer term he would resign from his White House job. Previous presidents have appointed advisers to the Fed, including former chair Ben Bernanke, who served in president George W. Bush’s administration. But Bernanke and others left their White House jobs when joining the board.Miran said during his Sept. 4 hearing that, if confirmed, “I will act independently, as the Federal Reserve always does, based on my own personal analysis of economic data.”Last year, Miran criticized what he called the “revolving door” of officials between the White House and the Fed, in a paper he co-wrote with Daniel Katz for the conservative Manhattan Institute. Katz is now chief of staff at the Treasury Department.Miran’s approval arrives as Trump’s efforts to shape the Fed have been dealt a setback elsewhere. He has sought to fire Fed governor Lisa Cook, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden to a term that ends in 2038. Cook sued to block the firing and won a first round in federal court, after a judge ruled the Trump administration did not have proper cause to remove her.The administration appealed the ruling, but an appeals court rejected that request late Monday. Members of the Fed’s board vote on all its interest rate decisions, and also oversee the nation’s financial system.The jockeying around the Fed is occurring as the economy is entering an uncertain and difficult period. Inflation remains stubbornly above the central bank’s 2% target, though it hasn’t risen as much as many economists feared when Trump first imposed sweeping tariffs on nearly all imports. The Fed typically would raise borrowing costs, or at least keep them elevated, to combat worsening inflation.At the same time, hiring has weakened considerably and the unemployment rate rose last month to a still-low 4.3%. The central bank often takes the opposite approach when unemployment rises, cutting rates to spur more borrowing, spending and growth.Economists forecast the Fed will reduce its key rate after its two-day meeting ends Wednesday, to about 4.1% from 4.3%. Trump has demanded much deeper cuts.

    The Senate has approved one of President Donald Trump’s top economic advisers for a seat on the Federal Reserve’s governing board, giving the White House greater influence over the central bank just two days before it is expected to vote in favor of reducing its key interest rate.

    The vote to confirm Stephen Miran was largely along party lines, 48-47. He was approved by the Senate Banking Committee last week with all Republicans voting in favor and all Democrats opposed.

    Miran’s nomination has sparked concerns about the Fed’s longtime independence from day-to-day politics after he said during a committee hearing earlier this month that he would keep his job as chair of the White House’s Council of Economic Advisers, though would take unpaid leave. Senate Democrats have said such an approach is incompatible with an independent Fed.

    Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said ahead of the vote that Miran “has no independence” and would be “nothing more than Donald Trump’s mouthpiece at the Fed.”

    The vote was along party lines, with Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski the only Republican to vote against Miran.

    Miran is completing an unexpired term that ends in January, after Adriana Kugler unexpectedly stepped down from the board Aug. 1. He said if he is appointed to a longer term he would resign from his White House job. Previous presidents have appointed advisers to the Fed, including former chair Ben Bernanke, who served in president George W. Bush’s administration. But Bernanke and others left their White House jobs when joining the board.

    Miran said during his Sept. 4 hearing that, if confirmed, “I will act independently, as the Federal Reserve always does, based on my own personal analysis of economic data.”

    Last year, Miran criticized what he called the “revolving door” of officials between the White House and the Fed, in a paper he co-wrote with Daniel Katz for the conservative Manhattan Institute. Katz is now chief of staff at the Treasury Department.

    Miran’s approval arrives as Trump’s efforts to shape the Fed have been dealt a setback elsewhere. He has sought to fire Fed governor Lisa Cook, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden to a term that ends in 2038. Cook sued to block the firing and won a first round in federal court, after a judge ruled the Trump administration did not have proper cause to remove her.

    The administration appealed the ruling, but an appeals court rejected that request late Monday.

    Members of the Fed’s board vote on all its interest rate decisions, and also oversee the nation’s financial system.

    The jockeying around the Fed is occurring as the economy is entering an uncertain and difficult period. Inflation remains stubbornly above the central bank’s 2% target, though it hasn’t risen as much as many economists feared when Trump first imposed sweeping tariffs on nearly all imports. The Fed typically would raise borrowing costs, or at least keep them elevated, to combat worsening inflation.

    At the same time, hiring has weakened considerably and the unemployment rate rose last month to a still-low 4.3%. The central bank often takes the opposite approach when unemployment rises, cutting rates to spur more borrowing, spending and growth.

    Economists forecast the Fed will reduce its key rate after its two-day meeting ends Wednesday, to about 4.1% from 4.3%. Trump has demanded much deeper cuts.

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  • ‘You can’t spend $20 on a new girl?’ Woman makes plans for third date. Then he says he can’t spend more money on her

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    A woman has gone viral after sharing her dating predicament. In her video, which has amassed 251,000 views, Charlotte Hancey (@charlotte.shares) shares her biggest dating ick: being broke.

    She began by explaining that she and this man had been on two dates, and had a third date planned. However, a few days before their third date, he contacted her asking if she was free. Hancey was then unimpressed when he asked her to plan it. When she suggested dinner, the man said he was broke from “incurring costs,” and asked if they could go cheap or 50/50.

    Dating woes

    “Excuse me, it’s our third date,” she said. “You’re bringing up financial troubles, and you’re complaining about having to take me to dinner, like you can’t spend $20 on a new girl that you’re trying to pursue? No, absolutely not.”

    They end up hanging out at her apartment as she cooks food for him, but the next day, Hancey ultimately broke things off with him (pun intended).

    “I am not broke, so I don’t want to date someone who is having money issues and complaining about having to take me on a date, because I want someone who can match my lifestyle and wants to take me to fun dates and concerts and dinners and all of that kind of stuff, and eventually travel with,” she concluded. “So, we’re not a match. Bye boy! And with that guy, my roster is officially at zero, and I’m so happy about it. I’m so sick of dating.”

    For the most part, commenters could see Hancey’s point of view. “Girl, same,” one wrote. “If you don’t have your finances figured out, we can’t do this life together.”

    “It’s not even the fact that he was supposedly broke that irritated me,” a second shared. “It was how slick he was trying to be. You ask me on a date, but say you can’t afford it. Then you, in a roundabout way, ask to come over, and you couldn’t even provide the wine. Broke but still trying to get “lucky.” Eww.”

    While a third added: “No woman wants to be with a broken man. If you’re broken, you’re a failure, and nobody wants failure. My career’s solid, my finances are on point. If yours aren’t, stay home, binge Netflix, and cry about it. At the end of the day, women want winners, not excuses.”

    @charlotte.shares I’m sorry but in the beginning of dating especially I’m not going 50-50! What do you think? #datingadvice #datingstorytime #datinginyour40s #datingsucks ♬ original sound – Charlotte Hancey

    Why do women not want to date broke men?

    According to psychologist Dr. Sarah Hill, women’s desire not to date broke men is inherent. She claims that it comes from our distant ancestors, where women had to rely on men to hunt and get resources while they stayed at home with the children.

    “So women, historically have been very dependent on men for resources, and we’ve inherited that that brain, because over the course of evolutionary history, women who would have placed an emphasis on, you know, choosing partners who have these kinds of qualities, they would have been more likely to have surviving offspring who then passed that tendency or that preference onto their offspring, could pass that preference on to their offspring,” she said.

    The Mary Sue reached out to the creator via email and TikTok comment.

    Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

    Image of Charlotte Colombo

    Charlotte Colombo

    Charlotte is an internet culture writer with bylines in Insider, VICE, Glamour, The Independent, and more. She holds a Master’s degree in Magazine Journalism from City St George’s, University of London.

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    Charlotte Colombo

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  • Farm Aid to go on after tentative agreement is reached between union, U of M

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    The show will go on for Farm Aid 40 in Minneapolis after a tentative deal was reached between the University of Minnesota and members of Teamsters Local 20. 

    Farm Aid, a concert that has helped farmers for decades, will be held at Huntington Bank Stadium next weekend as previously scheduled

    However, a strike that began earlier this week involving service members for the university system put that event in jeopardy. That’s because production crew workers for Farm Aid are also union members and weren’t going to work to stand in solidarity with the service workers, who clean buildings, do ground maintenance, make food, drive trucks and more. 

    Late Friday night, a post on the Teamsters 320 Facebook page included a statement announcing the strike’s end following the agreement. Farm Aid also posted to social media, confirming the show will go on. 

    On Friday, organizers posted to social media, saying Willie Nelson has spoken with Gov. Tim Walz and said he is “grateful that he understands what’s at stake for Farm Aid.” Nelson, as well as fellow performers Neil Young and John Mellencamp, have held the event in different cities for the last four decades and raised more than $85 million. 

    “We both know that, ultimately, it’s up to the University to do the right thing, and soon, so that Farm Aid 40 can go forward,” Nelson said.  

    ***UPDATE***
    Farm Aid 40 to Move Forward In Minneapolis

    Farm Aid is grateful that the University of Minnesota and…

    Posted by Farm Aid on Friday, September 12, 2025

    Earlier this year, unionized service workers overwhelmingly voted in favor of a strike. Union officials claimed the university’s then-proposed contract included a 2.5% wage increase for the first year and 1% for the following two years. The contract would be in effect for two and a half years, and union leaders add that it would not only allow the school system to pay new hires higher starting wages than current staff in the same position but also increase health care costs by 10%.

    Union leaders go on to claim the university isn’t addressing harassment involving food service workers, adding university data shows disciplinary action against dining employees rose by 96% within two years, and women receive more than half of suspensions and terminations. Leaders add Chartwells Higher Ed. is a division of Compass Group, which has paid more than $30 million in fines and penalties since 2000, including more than $840,000 in penalties for employment discrimination and $9.6 million in employment-related offenses.

    In a statement, the university said at the time it “has negotiated and will continue to negotiate in good faith with Teamsters 320 and made efforts to reach an agreement on an updated contract since negotiations began on March 27.” 

    Details of the latest proposed contract haven’t been disclosed at this time. 

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    Krystal Frasier

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  • Inflation fears drive falling consumer sentiment in September

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    New data shows Americans are feeling increasingly concerned about the state of the economy. A survey reveals that consumer sentiment fell in September for the second consecutive month. CBS News senior business and technology correspondent Jo Ling Kent has more.

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  • How Data Matching Creates Personalized Property Recommendations?

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    Real estate platforms struggle to deliver personalized property recommendations because buyer and property data exist in isolated systems, such as;

    • MLS databases house property specifications and pricing data
    • Behavioral analytics track user interactions—click patterns, time spent viewing listings, and saved searches
    • Market intelligence databases contain neighborhood trends, economic indicators, and demographic insights

    This data fragmentation prevents platforms from connecting buyer behavior with property attributes to generate recommendations. This blog dives into how data matching drives personalized recommendations by creating unified buyer profiles and how property matching services enhance recommendations.

    How Data Matching Builds Unified Buyer Profiles and Drives Personalized Recommendations

    User Behavioral Data Collection

    Data Source Infrastructure: Systematic behavioral data collection through interaction tracking, search pattern analysis, and engagement monitoring across multiple sources, such as;

    • CRM Systems: Agent interaction histories capture consultation details, follow-up times, showing schedules, and notes on buyer preferences, which reveal important patterns in the decision-making process and buying timeline.
    • Digital Platforms: Website browsing behavior includes property view durations, image gallery interactions, map usage patterns, and search refinement sequences, which indicate evolving preferences and feature priorities.
    • Marketing Channels: Email engagement metrics track which property newsletters are opened, response timing to campaigns, and engagement with specific property categories or features, helping to gauge buyer interest levels and urgency.
    • Transaction Records: Purchase history, pre-qualification for financing, offer submission patterns, and request frequencies for showings offer insights into buyer seriousness and purchasing capability, helping to refine recommendation accuracy.

    Multi-Source Data Integration

    Real estate platforms access data from Multiple Listing Service (MLS) databases — centralized repositories for real estate inventory within specific geographic regions. These databases provide comprehensive property specifications (size, number of rooms etc.), pricing history, and current listing status (active, pending, sold).

    The Connection Matrix: Real estate platforms combine detailed MLS property characteristics with demonstrated buyer preferences, enabling recommendations that reflect what buyers actually value in their decision-making process.

    For instance, A buyer, Sarah, searches for “3-4 bedroom homes, $400K-$500, Denver area, good schools”, but her interaction with different listings indicates she prioritizes specific amenities and school quality over budget constraints.

    Property Listing Engagement:

    • Property A: Pool + 9/10 schools + modern kitchen → 6 minutes viewing, saved
    • Property B: Pool + 9/10 schools + renovated kitchen → 4 minutes viewing, saved
    • Property C: No pool + 6/10 schools + outdated kitchen → 1 minute viewing, skipped

    System Learning: The data matching system identifies that Sarah’s behavior demonstrates three key priorities: pool amenities are essential (both saved properties had pools), school ratings must be exceptional (both were 9/10, compared to the avoided 6/10), and kitchen condition influences engagement (modern/renovated vs. outdated).

    The Outcome: Sarah’s profile is updated to prioritize pool-equipped homes in 8+ rated school districts with updated kitchens, offering budget flexibility of up to $525K for properties that match her behavioral preferences.

    Personalized Recommendations: New listings ranked higher for Sarah include pools, top-rated schools, and modern kitchens—even if slightly above her original budget—because her behavior has indicated that these specific features drive engagement over price considerations.

    Advanced Data Matching and Record Linking

    The system uses several techniques to identify and link related customer records across different data sources:

    • Deterministic Matching: Uses unique identifiers like email addresses or phone numbers to make high-confidence connections with 95%+ accuracy. This creates the foundation for linking buyer data.
    • Probabilistic Matching: Calculates likelihood scores for records that share similar but not identical characteristics. “Michael Smith, Denver, CO” and “Mike Smith, Denver, Colorado” get matched based on name similarity, identical location, and timing patterns.
    • Machine Learning and AI: ML models detect behavioral similarities that indicate the same buyer across different sessions. AI in real estate facilitates users with identical browsing sequences, timing patterns, and property preferences to get linked even without explicit identifiers.

    Real-Time Recommendation Updates with Evolving User Behavior

    When a buyer shifts from viewing downtown lofts to exploring suburban family homes, the recommendation engine immediately recalibrates to surface properties with yards, family-friendly neighborhoods, and information on local school districts.

    How Does It Work: The system processes property-specific micro-interactions—such as extended time viewing kitchen photos, repeated engagement with neighborhood school information, or consistent map exploration of commute routes—to adjust recommendations in real-time. A buyer who progressively views larger properties or consistently engages with home office features triggers immediate algorithm updates that prioritize workspace-equipped homes before the buyer explicitly searches for these attributes.

    Timeline-Driven Recommendation: Property recommendations adapt instantly based on behavioral urgency indicators combined with current market conditions. Buyers exhibiting increased urgency, as indicated by shorter browsing sessions and more frequent platform visits, receive prioritized recently listed properties and competitively positioned homes that match their accelerated timeline requirements.

    Predictive Behaviour Modeling: The system anticipates shifts in buyer preferences by analyzing interaction sequences across property types and features. The advantage of real estate matching is that it enables proactive property suggestions that align with evolving housing priorities and lifestyle considerations, ensuring recommendations remain relevant as buyer preferences develop during active search periods rather than relying on static profiles.

    The Path Forward

    The integration of enriched property data with unified buyer profiles through property matching services provides a competitive advantage. For real estate professionals, the strategic imperative is clear: leveraging real estate data services in order to;

    • Anticipate buyer preferences in real time and provide personalized recommendations
    • Highlight property features that drive engagement and conversions
    • Enhance overall user satisfaction, retention, and conversion rates

    The choice is binary: lead the data transformation or be disrupted by it.

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    Brown Walsh

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  • Want to Retire One Day? Avoid 3 Common Retirement Mistakes | Entrepreneur

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    Retirement remains a far-off — and in some cases, unattainable — goal for many Americans.

    About one in four adults over age 50 said they expect to never retire, according to an AARP survey. That’s perhaps not surprising given that Americans believe they’ll need $1.26 million to retire comfortably, per Northwestern Mutual.

    Related: Are You on Track for Your Age? Here’s When You Should Save for Retirement, Make 6 Figures and Buy a Home, According to a New Survey.

    In a new report from Bank of America, 68% of employees said that saving for retirement is their No. 1 financial goal, though working toward it often comes with significant challenges.

    The research, which surveyed nearly 1,000 full-time employees who participate in 401(k) plans and 800 employers who offer a 401(k) plan, revealed that the average employee doesn’t start saving for retirement until age 30 and wishes they had more retirement education (33%).

    Employees’ top expected sources of retirement income were as follows, per the survey: 401(k) or 403(b) (85%), Social Security (75%), checking or savings account 53%), IRA (38%), taxable brokerage or investment account (24%).

    Related: How Much Money Do You Need to Retire Comfortably in Your State? Here’s the Breakdown.

    Baby Boomers are retiring at a rapid rate, setting a record number of retirees in 2024 that allowed Gen X to outnumber them in the workforce for the first time, GOBankingRates reported.

    On average, Boomers began saving for retirement at age 34; now in their 60s and 70s, one in four of them don’t feel on track to retire, according to the Bank of America survey. Additionally, only two in 10 Boomers said they completely understand their Social Security benefits.

    Rising healthcare costs in retirement present another hurdle, as only 34% of employees said they’re saving and investing for future healthcare expenses, despite current research showing that a 65-year-old couple could need as much as $428,000 in savings to cover their retirement healthcare expenses.

    Related: How to Start Thinking About Retirement Before You Plan to Retire

    Respondents said the main reason they don’t save for health care is that they can’t afford it, but many who have access to an HSA through their employer also don’t understand the tax advantages and rollover process.

    When employees across generations were asked to reflect on what they would have done differently to prepare for retirement, they cited three common mistakes: not starting to save at a younger age (49%), not taking full advantage of their employer’s 401(k) match (35%) and not paying off debt sooner (36%).

    Image Credit: Courtesy of Bank of America

    “The modern employee wants help with their broader financial goals,” Lorna Sabbia, head of workplace benefits at Bank of America, said. “Employers should consider additional resources to support their workforce in ways that bolster their long-term goals while also helping them tackle short-term challenges.”

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    Amanda Breen

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  • ATM fees are at a record high, a new survey finds. Here’s why.

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    Getting cash from an ATM is growing increasingly expensive as fees reach record highs.

    Americans are now paying an average of $4.86 for out-of-network ATM withdrawals, up 1.9% from $4.77 last year, according to a new survey from Bankrate.com. That’s the highest on record, according to the personal finance website, which starting tracking ATM fees 27 years ago. 

    “ATM fees are just one of those avenues that the bank can very freely continue to charge fees,” Bankrate financial analyst Stephen Kates told CBS MoneyWatch.

    Those costs include charges from both ATM owners and banks. According to the survey, the average fee from cash machine providers is $3.22. Banks charge $1.64 on average, up 3.8% from 2024 — the highest since 2018. As a result, Americans in certain metro areas could see average combined fees of more than $5. 

    For its survey, Bankrate polled a total of 10 banks and financial institutions in 25 of the nation’s largest metro areas. Atlanta topped the list for highest ATM costs, with an average out-of-network fee of $5.37. Behind Atlanta are Phoenix and San Diego, where ATM charges average $5.35 and $5.31, respectively. 

    Boston and Seattle had the lowest average rates among the metro areas surveyed — $4.37 and $4.42, respectively.

    What’s behind the rising charges? 

    The problem, said Kates, is that while there have been regulatory rumblings around curbing overdraft fees, resulting in voluntary caps by financial institutions, there are no limits on how much banks can charge for ATM withdrawals, giving them free rein to hike fees as much as they want. And since the charges apply to people outside the bank’s network, there’s no risk of it losing customers.

    “It’s one of the ways for the bank to certainly make money, and it’s one of the ways to do so that doesn’t really hurt their own customers,” Kates said.

    Higher fees also help ATM owners and banks make up for lost revenue as consumers gravitate away from using cash and toward digital payments, said Kates. Also, online banking has nearly eliminated the need for automated bank tellers. According to survey conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of the American Bankers Association last year, only 5% of customers relied on ATMs to manage their bank accounts. 

    To be sure, reliance on cash hasn’t disappeared altogether. The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta found that cash was still Americans’ primary form of payment as of October 2024 — whether for a trip to an old-school laundromat or a vexingly cash-only restaurant.

    “Fewer and fewer people need to use cash for certain things, but there are some times when you have to have it,” said Kates.

    How to avoid high ATM fees

    Avoiding high ATM fees requires a bit of strategy and forethought, as you may not always be near a bank-affiliated ATM when you need to withdraw cash.

    In such a situation, one option is to get cash back at a local store. Kates also encourages people to look at their banking app to see which ATMs are close to them. 

    If you need to withdraw cash on a regular basis, but live in an area where there aren’t any ATMs in-network, you may want to consider changing where you bank to accommodate your needs. Certain online financial services like Fidelity, for instance, reimburse customers for ATM fees — making them a more attractive option.

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  • Taylor Swift and Amazon’s ‘Antifragile’ Secret to Business Success | Entrepreneur

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    If you’ve had internet access since 2005, you’re familiar with Taylor Swift.

    Image Credit: Gilbert Flores | Getty Images

    The superstar musician is the most-streamed artist in the world. She is the first to win album of the year at the Grammy Awards four times. Her Eras Tour generated more than $2 billion in ticket sales. And she has a net worth of $1.6 billion.

    She also has something valuable in common with Amazon, the Jeff Bezos-founded ecommerce giant that boasts a $2.5 trillion market capitalization.

    Related: Don’t ‘Shake Off’ These 5 Business, Brand and Legal Lessons From Taylor Swift

    Aside from Swift and Amazon’s status as two of the most successful brands in the world, the pair shares a rare trait that’s helped them get there, according to former strategist at Harvard Business School Sinéad O’Sullivan.

    In her new book, Good Ideas and Power Moves: Ten Lessons for Success From Taylor Swift, O’Sullivan claims that Taylor Swift and Amazon have both reached the pinnacles of their respective industries by being “antifragile.”

    “In an increasingly complex and seemingly random world, some systems perform better in chaos than others.”

    The concept of “antifragility” relates to a field of physics called chaos theory. Lebanese American scholar of math and financial markets Nassim Taleb coined the term after noticing a peculiar event unfolding in systems and organizations across a wide range of fields, from biology to urban development, healthcare and more.

    “What he saw was that in an increasingly complex and seemingly random world, some systems perform better in chaos than others,” O’Sullivan writes.

    Essentially, antifragility flouts the human desire for stability and instinct to fear what’s different or unstable.

    “The idea of antifragility goes far beyond saying that uncertainty doesn’t have to be bad,” O’Sullivan explains. “It actually says that uncertainty is good. Antifragility isn’t just about surviving chaos; it’s about flourishing in it. It’s about flipping the script and turning adversity into opportunity, uncertainty into innovation and chaos into creativity.”

    Related: Embracing Antifragility — How to Leverage Uncertainty, Volatility and Stress for Unprecedented Growth and Innovation

    The immune system and winemaking serve as real-life examples of antifragility at work, O’Sullivan notes. A strong immune system has been exposed to pathogens and can better ward off future threats. Great wine often comes from vines under stress because they grow smaller grapes with more concentrated flavor.

    “Amazon’s business actually gets stronger because the volatility wipes out its competitors.”

    The pandemic helped reveal which companies were antifragile, too — those that didn’t have to wait for share prices to recover because they’d never really fallen in the first place, according to O’Sullivan. As many major retailers struggled to stock their shelves, Amazon maintained total control over its supply chain and saw its online business soar.

    “At Amazon, there is no single point of failure that would prevent toilet paper from being passed from millions of available sellers to millions of eagerly awaiting buyers,” O’Sullivan says. “Amazon’s business actually gets stronger because the volatility wipes out its competitors.”

    Likewise, Swift has demonstrated remarkable antifragility while building her business over the years. O’Sullivan cites four career moments when Swift took a “destructive” path that weakened the competition and strengthened her brand:

    1. In 2014, Swift withdrew her music from Spotify, the fastest-growing music streaming platform at that time, because she believed its compensation model for artists devalued their work.

    Why wasn’t the move “fatal,” as many industry experts assumed it would be? The “friendship first” and “music later” relationship she has with her fans plays an important role, according to O’Sullivan.

    Taylor Swift can be compared to a Rolex watch, not a Swatch,” O’Sullivan writes. “The harder it is for people to access her music, the more they crave her and are willing to follow her. By withdrawing her music, Taylor Swift became what is known as a ‘Veblen’ or a ‘luxury’ good.”

    When Swift left Spotify, her music was in the playlists of more than 19 million users; the week she returned in 2017, she hit nearly 48 million streams.

    Related: 3 Lessons for Entrepreneurs From Spotify, Which Won Over Taylor Swift and Just Made its Billion-Dollar IPO

    2. Swift isn’t afraid to “beef” with other musicians and celebrities — like Kanye West after he told her on stage at the 2009 MTV Music Video Awards that “Beyonce had the best video of all time.”

    “The more Kanye West beat down Taylor Swift, the stronger her fan base rallied around her, leading to extravagantly higher levels of emotional connection between Taylor and her fans within the Swiftverse,” O’Sullivan says.

    O’Sullivan adds that “at least from the outside, Taylor never starts the fights,” which also tends to fit within three main growth-fueling “vibes”: “powerful men taking advantage of less powerful women,” “women who are bitchy and unkind” and “being on the right side of history.”

    Related: 7 Business Feuds With More Beef Than Kanye vs. Taylor

    3. During the pandemic, Swift released not one but two surprise albums despite marketing limitations amid lockdowns and industry precedents.

    “When everybody else was fumbling to get a handle on their life, how was Taylor Swift able to Amazon herself?” O’Sullivan writes. “Well, most of it comes down to the fact that, like Amazon, she has spent her entire career creating, buying and owning her own ‘value chain,’ or the different parts of the music industry that she needs to engage with to release music.”

    The Swiftverse is “one hell of a strategic asset,” O’Sullivan notes — and kept her able to deliver core products into the market.

    Related: ‘Historically Unprecedented Demand’: Taylor Swift Fans Caused Ticketmaster’s Site To Crash Over 5000 Times

    4. Finally, Swift rerecorded her albums after Big Machine Label Group was sold to Scooter Braun‘s Ithaca Holdings.

    Some industry leaders considered the lengthy and expensive move one that “would suck the oxygen out of her career” — but because Swift is antifragile, the opposite proved true, O’Sullivan says.

    “As Taylor and Amazon both show us, [during a crisis] is exactly when their stock is going to rise,” O’Sullivan writes. “Investors who pay hundreds of millions of dollars to try to own what they think is Taylor Swift’s ‘core product’ (music) simply don’t understand her empire as well as she understands it.”

    Related: Taylor Swift Just Made a Surprise Announcement, Revealing the Marketing Genius Behind Her $1.5 Billion Fortune

    Going forward, business and strategy leaders who successfully lead through chaos will all be building antifragile organizations — Swift just happens to be ahead of the game, O’Sullivan says.

    What’s more, as beneficial as antifragility is, O’Sullivan acknowledges that adopting it isn’t easy. It requires embracing uncertainty and volatility, building resilience and accepting “weird and bad things.”

    O’Sullivan’s Good Ideas and Power Moves offers other takeaways from Swift’s career that entrepreneurs and business leaders might find applicable to their own, including how to be a unicorn, have a strategy and stick to it, build a world instead of products, negotiate with authenticity and more.

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    Amanda Breen

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  • Price Tracker: See grocery, housing and gas prices

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    These days, it feels like everything costs more: groceries, housing, rent, gas. Now, you can track how prices are changing in your community.

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    WTVD

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  • See how your cost of living has changed with the ABC Price Tracker

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    The app includes prices for many of your basic needs, from food to housing to transportation, spanning a decade of data points.

    Tuesday, September 9, 2025 3:00PM

    The ABC Data Team has launched the Price Tracker, an interactive tool that provides up-to-date information on the price of household necessities in your area.

    It displays regional prices of essentials for the 100 largest U.S. metro areas over the last decade. Simply search for your area to see how the cost of living has changed for households like yours. Then select groceries, housing or utilities to drill down into each category of basic expenses.

    The ABC Price Tracker can help you answer questions like:

    • How have rent and other housing expenses changed over the last 10 years?

    • Which grocery items have seen the biggest price hikes nationwide?

    • When was the last time gas cost less than $3 per gallon in my area?

    The interactive tool will automatically update with the latest data available, so you can give your sticker shock a gut check.

    Go here to use the ABC Price Tracker.

    Copyright © 2025 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.

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    WLS

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  • The Growing Need for Fleet IT Solutions in Modern Business Operations

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    Managing a fleet used to be about vehicles, drivers, and logistics. Today, it’s also about data, connectivity, and security. With more companies relying on technology to streamline transportation, delivery, and service operations, IT is now a cornerstone of effective fleet management. That’s why more businesses are turning to specialized fleet IT solutions to keep their operations efficient, compliant, and secure.

    Technology Is Reshaping Fleet Management

    From GPS tracking and fuel monitoring to driver behavior analytics, modern fleets generate enormous amounts of data every day. While this data holds incredible value, it’s only useful if it’s properly managed, stored, and protected. Fleet IT solutions give businesses the tools to:

    • Monitor vehicles in real time.
    • Reduce fuel costs with smarter routing.
    • Track driver safety and performance.
    • Integrate fleet data with broader business systems.

    With the right IT infrastructure in place, companies can turn raw data into actionable insights that improve efficiency and cut costs.

    Strengthening Data Security on the Move

    Fleet vehicles are essentially mobile offices, carrying sensitive company and customer information. Every connected device, from tablets used by drivers to onboard telematics systems, can be a potential entry point for cybercriminals.

    Fleet IT solutions address these risks with:

    • Encrypted communications between vehicles and headquarters.
    • Endpoint security for driver devices.
    • Centralized monitoring to detect suspicious activity.
    • Regular software updates to close security gaps.

    Protecting fleet data isn’t just about compliance—it’s about maintaining customer trust and protecting your brand.

    Supporting Compliance and Safety

    Transportation and service fleets often face strict regulatory requirements, from Department of Transportation rules to industry-specific compliance standards. Staying compliant means keeping accurate digital records of inspections, maintenance, and driver logs.

    Fleet IT services simplify compliance by automating data collection and storing records securely in the cloud. This makes it easy for managers to generate reports, verify that safety protocols are followed, and provide documentation when needed.

    In addition, IT-enabled driver monitoring systems can alert managers to unsafe driving habits, helping reduce accidents and liability.

    Reducing Operational Costs

    Running a fleet is expensive, but IT-enabled insights can lead to significant savings. For example:

    • Route optimization reduces fuel consumption and delivery times.
    • Predictive maintenance minimizes costly breakdowns by fixing issues before they escalate.
    • Automated reporting saves time on paperwork and reduces administrative costs.

    These improvements add up quickly, making fleet IT investments one of the most cost-effective ways to improve the bottom line.

    Enabling Growth and Scalability

    As businesses expand, their fleets grow too. Without scalable IT systems, managing larger operations can become overwhelming. Cloud-based fleet IT solutions make it possible to add vehicles, drivers, and service regions without losing visibility or control.

    With centralized dashboards and analytics, managers can monitor performance across an entire fleet, whether it’s 20 vehicles or 200. This scalability ensures that IT investments continue to deliver value as the company evolves.

    Why Local Expertise Matters

    While fleet management technology is available globally, working with a trusted IT partner that understands your specific industry and local environment makes a big difference. Local providers can tailor solutions to match your operational needs, provide fast on-site support when necessary, and keep your systems aligned with regional compliance requirements.

    Conclusion

    Technology is no longer optional in fleet management—it’s a requirement. By investing in professional fleet IT solutions, businesses can improve efficiency, strengthen security, reduce costs, and stay compliant with evolving regulations. With the right IT strategy in place, fleets become more than just vehicles on the road; they become a competitive advantage that drives long-term success.

    For companies that want to get the most out of their fleets, partnering with an IT provider who specializes in fleet solutions is one of the smartest investments they can make.

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    Robert

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  • Cash crunch chaos: Syrians endure banking hell to withdraw just a few pounds

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    Standing in the dilapidated ATM hall of his bank, Maher Elias huffed a sigh equal parts exasperation and exhaustion. Around him were lines dozens of people deep, all of them, like the 59-year-old Elias, waiting in the sweltering heat to withdraw cash.

    Ahead of him was a wait of at least three hours — assuming the ATM didn’t shut down from electricity cuts or run out of bills. On one of the hottest days in the Damascene summer, his words interrupted by the occasional argument between other vexed patrons, Elias spoke while his eyes remained fixated on the front of the slow-moving queue.

    “All this waiting, and for what?” he said, wiping the sweat from his brow. He could only withdraw 200,000 Syrian pounds (around $20) for the week.

    “And we’re five people in my family. Between food, gas and rent, how long do you think that lasts?”

    People queue up to enter Damascus’ Real Estate Bank to use a functioning ATM.

    A stack of money sits on a desk in a bank.

    A stack of money sits on a desk in a bank. Syria’s banking and financial sectors are a shambles, with capital controls limiting withdrawals at about $60 per month.

    Elias and the hundreds of others queuing in the lines that spilled out to the sidewalk of the Real Estate Bank of Syria were taking part in an often quixotic quest, as millions of Syrians contend with a cash crunch that resulted after former President Bashar Assad was toppled and a rebel-led government came in his stead.

    For months now, withdrawing money has become almost a second job, with employees forced to take off from work to queue before banks, even as the lack of liquidity is strangling a ravaged economy struggling to shuffle off nearly 14 years of civil war.

    And the worst part for Elias (and many others) was he would have to do it all over again another day so he could collect all of his 500,000 Syrian pound monthly salary — a little less than $50.

    Still, as a state employee and a patron of one of Syria’s six state-owned banks, Elias was luckier than many others. Across the street, Mohammad, 63, was shouting at no one in particular in front of the private bank where he has his account. He had come with his granddaughter, 6-year-old Masa, from his home in a Damascus suburb, hoping to plead with a manager to OK a larger withdrawal.

    But the manager told him there was no cash available; the ATMs weren’t even on. Mohammad, who gave his first name for reasons of privacy, didn’t have enough money for bus fare to go home.

    “What am I supposed to do? Beg on the street? I’ve been coming for weeks, and these bastards refuse to give me my money,” he said, angrily pointing at the bank’s entrance. Masa looked at her grandfather and didn’t say a word.

    A man reloads an ATM's depleted stock of Syrian pounds in Damascus.

    A man reloads an ATM’s depleted stock of Syrian pounds in Damascus.

    Sitting in his office, the bank manager, who refused to be identified because he was not allowed to speak to the media, insisted he had no choice but to turn away Mohammad and other patrons. Private banks, he said, were supposed to receive $20,000 in cash from the central bank every day. But more often than not, the banks got less, or nothing at all.

    “And even when the cash does arrive, it’s barely enough to cover the number of withdrawals,” the bank manager said. Moments later, a businessman entered his office seeking a withdrawal amounting to $500 to pay his bills; he too left empty-handed.

    When Syria’s new rulers came into power after a lightning fast offensive in December,they commandeered the Assad government’s financial institutions and took stock of a state-controlled economy enfeebled by war, corruption and sanctions: The Syrian pound, once valued at 47 to the U.S. dollar, plunged to 18,000 by the time Assad fled, turning most transactions into an arduous counting exercise involving sackfuls of pre-wrapped bricks of cash, each weighing more than a pound.

    The exchange rate has since improved — if you can call it improvement — to around 11,000 to the dollar.

    The economy’s output remains less than half of what it was in 2010, before the civil war erupted. A quarter of the country’s 26 million people live on less than $2.15 a day, according to a World Bank assessment in June. Two-thirds get by on less than $3.65 a day. Rebuilding the country will cost anywhere from $250 billion to $400 billion, estimates say.

    A row of broken ATM's inside Real Estate bank in Damascus.

    A row of broken ATM’s inside Real Estate bank in Damascus.

    The face of ousted Syrian dictator President Bashar al Assad decorates the Syrian pounds

    The face of ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad decorates Syrian pounds.

    The banking sector is no less destroyed. Civil war-era sanctions all but isolated Syrian banks from the global financial system. Although President Trump recently ordered many of those sanctions lifted, and European governments have done the same, Western banks are still reluctant to move the massive amounts of money needed for reconstruction.

    The new authorities swiftly loosened Assad-era restrictions, deluging the market with cheaper imports and lifting a moratorium that made dealing with dollars a criminal offense. They also imposed withdrawal limits, possibly in an attempt to prevent a run on the banks and stop former regime officials from emptying their accounts and fleeing.

    But nine months on, the limits persist with little clarity as to why, according to bank employees and economic experts. The World Bank reported a shortage of physical bank notes, despite a 105-fold increase in the amount of currency between 2011 and 2024. It added that recent planeloads of bills printed in Russia — which had a monopoly on producing Syrian pounds under Assad — were too small to meaningfully alleviate the liquidity crisis.

    Meanwhile, Syrians unable to access their bank accounts are relying on informal money changers — banned under Assad, but now flourishing — to buy Syrian pounds with gold or dollars they had amassed during Assad’s reign, despite the restrictions. Experts say such transactions are occurring at an artificially lowered exchange rate.

    “This appears to be a systematic policy aimed at pulling dollars from people in a country where the dollar has been unleashed, and has become the main source of revenue because of remittances,” said Samir Aita, a Syrian economist who also heads the Circle of Arab Economists.

    “Where are those dollars going? To the central bank? It seems not. This is something that keeps me up at night,” Aita said.

    Wads of U.S. dollars are handed to a money collector.

    A customer passes U.S. dollars to a money collector. Possessing dollars was a crime when President Bashar Assad was in power.

    Ammar Yusef, a Damascus-based economic expert, agreed with Aita’s assessment, adding that hard currency gathered by money changers is said to have been sent to the northwestern province of Idlib, for years the primary home of the Islamist group Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham (or HTS) that ousted Assad.

    One solution authorities have recently turned to for the cash crunch is e-payments. Earlier this year, they decreed all public sector salaries would be disbursed through Sham Cash, an app HTS first released in Idlib but that technical experts say is insecure and is linked to an Idlib-based bank that is not recognized by the central bank.

    It’s unclear whether the app has the capacity to deal with an estimated 1.25 million civil servants, and whether it meets Western governments’ requirements on combating money laundering and terror financing — essential components to increasing trust in the country’s financial system.

    Other experts point to serious concerns on fees charged by the two money transfer companies exclusively licensed to disburse money from Sham Cash. Both are considered close to the new government, and stand to collect more than $3 million annually in commissions.

    “They’re in an open battle today with the country’s banks,” Aita said.

    The government’s recently announced plans to redenominate the currency and eliminate two zeroes from each bill, he added, will do little to change the situation.

    Inside Damascus' Real Estate bank, with reflections from the Syrian capital outside.

    Inside Damascus’ Real Estate bank, with reflections from the Syrian capital outside.

    Yet these machinations mean little for Elias. After waiting for almost four hours, and forced to switch queues twice before he encountered a functional ATM, he withdrew his Syrian pounds for the day. He would use them to buy bread and other essentials. He wouldn’t be able to take out money again for a few days.

    “It feels like half the week is gone lining up for cash,” he said, huffing once more as he pushed through the crowds out of the ATM hall.

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    Nabih Bulos

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  • Smart Tax Moves If You Have Multiple Income Streams | Entrepreneur

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    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    There’s a common debate about whether to diversify your income or stay specialized, although the statistics are factual. Nearly half of Americans have at least two revenue streams, and multimillionaires have at least seven. The reason is simple. Having multiple income streams equips you with options and provides you with financial stability.

    Once you decide to have multiple revenue streams or you already have them, the most critical thing to keep in mind is taxes and remaining compliant. However, more crucial is to plan so you have plenty of time to define a strategy and save for tax payments. Never wait until the last moment.

    Step 1: Treat each income stream like a business

    Whether you earn a W-2 salary, work as a freelancer or contractor, consult, rent properties, or trade stocks and other assets, each activity follows its own set of tax rules.

    You wouldn’t declare Airbnb earnings under your payroll, for example. First, you must set up the correct legal entity, such as a single-member LLC, S-Corp or C-Corp. Ticking the right boxes can significantly reduce your liability. A building contractor with multiple earning streams might benefit from switching from an LLC to an S-Corp, which could potentially save you up to $20,000 in taxes.

    Related: What Is an LLC? Here’s How It Works.

    If you own properties and rent them out, you will want to separate your expenses. It can boost deductions significantly. It is also a way to accelerate depreciation write-offs, allowing you to retain more cash now instead of waiting 20 years.

    If you are selling one or several properties, you need to check out a 1031 to defer capital gains taxes by rolling your profits into a different investment.

    Step 2: Pay taxes as if your life depended on it

    This year, you cashed in on consulting, bonuses, stock options or a side gig. Think ahead, because you don’t want April to bring an unexpected tax bill that devastates your cash flow. That’s the reality for many who ignore quarterly taxes.

    So, set aside 25 to 30% of every non-W-2 dollar. Track earnings, make quarterly payments and avoid penalties or fines or both. Vendors accept payments quarterly. You should treat IRS installments the same way.

    Related: How Smart Entrepreneurs Turn Mid-Year Tax Reviews Into Long-Term Financial Wins

    Step 3: Track your deductions all year round

    Most people wait until March, then frantically search through their emails for receipts and invoices. Not a good idea. Start thinking about taxes in July, when you can make smart, sensible and timely moves. If you are a freelancer or contractor, you may deduct expenses such as your home office, internet bill and travel to meetings with clients, including business lunches.

    Please don’t become the entrepreneur who misses a $3,000 gasoline deduction because they didn’t track their mileage to all those meetings and lunches. There’s no need to go to extremes, either, so don’t try to claim dog grooming or any other suspicious “business expense,” as it will raise red flags.

    “The optimal tax strategy isn’t always about pushing every possible benefit to its limit — it’s often about creating a framework that allows for consistent, long-term, justifiable tax efficiency,” said George Dimov, CPA, who helps professionals navigate the complex tax and planning system.

    It’s a good idea to maintain all your records in a spreadsheet or app to log expenses as they happen, and you’ll thank yourself when tax season arrives.

    Related: Why Mid-Year Tax Reviews Are a Must for First-Time Entrepreneurs

    Step 4: Expats, don’t miss these tax breaks

    If you are a US citizen earning abroad, operating a business from Thailand, or consulting for clients in Europe, taxes can become overwhelming. Tax law has a provision that allows approximately $120,000 of foreign-earned income to be excluded from US taxes. Be sure to check this number annually, as the exact amount changes frequently.

    The foreign tax credit can also save you from paying taxes twice if you are taxed overseas. However, you must report all relevant information, including foreign businesses, bank accounts and even small investments. There are fines of about $10,000 for failing to report a foreign bank account.

    Research as much as you can about international taxes or consult an expert who knows the subject and can save you time, trouble, and money.

    Related: 5 Tips for Finding the Tax Advisor Who Will Save You Millions

    Bottom line: multiple streams call for multiple planning layers

    More income streams mean more options, but also more tax complexity. Success lies in structure, timing, and ongoing management. Structure your entity to match your objectives. Pay quarterly. Plan mid-year. Track everything. However, taxes don’t have to be a nightmare.

    There’s a common debate about whether to diversify your income or stay specialized, although the statistics are factual. Nearly half of Americans have at least two revenue streams, and multimillionaires have at least seven. The reason is simple. Having multiple income streams equips you with options and provides you with financial stability.

    Once you decide to have multiple revenue streams or you already have them, the most critical thing to keep in mind is taxes and remaining compliant. However, more crucial is to plan so you have plenty of time to define a strategy and save for tax payments. Never wait until the last moment.

    Step 1: Treat each income stream like a business

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    John Rampton

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  • How did Jennifer Tilly get so rich? Inside the 90s horror star’s net worth

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    Jennifer Tilly has a few different sources of wealth — and she is not shy when it comes to talking about them. The 90s scream queen started her acting career in the early 1980s, though her breakthrough didn’t come until she landed a supporting role as Olive Neal in Bullets Over Broadway in 1994, for which she was nominated for the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. She later earned more acclaim and recognition for roles in other thriller and crime movies such as Bound (1996) and Bride of Chucky (1998), plus, since 1999, she has voiced Bonnie Swanson on the long-running animated sitcom Family Guy.

    But acting is far from Jennifer’s only revenue stream. Catch up on her impressive wealth below.

    © Getty
    Jennifer at the 1994 Oscars

    Her net worth

    First things first, what is Jennifer’s net worth? Well, though it is a rough estimate given that public evidence is not entirely substantial, multiple reports indicate that Jennifer’s net worth lands at approximately $40 million. In addition to working as an actress, Jennifer is also a professional poker player, and most recently started making guest appearances on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills as a friend of Sutton Stracke.

    Revenue streams

    Aside from acting, Jennifer is most notably an avid poker player, and in 2005, she became a World Series of Poker bracelet champion, which made her the first-ever celebrity to win such a tournament. Speaking to Vogue about how she entered the world of poker, she said: “My dad had a poker problem. He gave me [a] computer game called The World Series of Poker, and we used to play it all the time at his house. I’ve always loved poker. My boyfriend, Phil Laak, is a famous poker player; I met him at a celebrity poker tournament. When we began dating, I won a gold bracelet at the World Series. It’s very coveted: all the poker players measure their worth by how many gold bracelets they have. That was the beginning of my poker career.”

    Sutton Stracke; Jennifer Tilly on Watch What Happens Live in 2022© Getty
    With her RHOBH friend Sutton on Watch What Happens Live

    Jennifer has also spoken candidly about the money she still makes from her divorce settlement from her 1991 split from late The Simpsons co-creator Sam Simon, who passed away in 2015 aged 59 after a battle with colon cancer. 

    The divorce settlement provided her with a percentage of the net proceeds of the show’s earnings, and that show just so happens to be the longest-running American animated series, longest-running American sitcom and longest-running scripted prime time TV series, which means she receives revenue from that as well as from its related comic books, video games, books and other tie-ins, a total of which (not her percent) is estimated to be in the billions, per The New York Times.

    Sam Simon, winner of the"Valentine Davies Award for Humanitarian Efforts and Community Service" and actress Jennifer Tilly pose in the press room at the 2014 Writers Guild Awards L.A. Ceremony at J.W. Marriott at L.A. Live on February 1, 2014 in Los Angeles, California© Getty
    She remained good friends with her ex-husband Sam, pictured above a year before his death

    “No one thought the show would go on for trillions of years,” Jennifer, who remained friends with her former husband of seven years until his death, told the Times, and emphasized: “Believe me, I thank Sam every single day.” 

    Jennifer Tilly and Phil Laak attend the Elton John AIDS Foundation's 33rd Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party on March 02, 2025 in West Hollywood, California© Getty Images
    With her partner Phil Laak in March 2025

    Jennifer’s real estate

    Jennifer also has several homes across the country. Per the Times, she has two adjoining houses in Bel Air, one of which she calls her “playhouse” where she stores much of her wardrobe, plus she keeps a beach house in Malibu. In addition to the three Los Angeles homes, she also has residences in Las Vegas, Vancouver and Manhattan.

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    Beatriz Colon

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