Attention Bad Credit Car Buyers! Here’s How You Can Get an Auto Loan!

Buying a car is everyone’s sweetest dream. But for bad credit car buyers, the auto financing part is more of a nightmare. Bad credit might have occurred due to a variety of reasons. Late payments, missed payments and past financial behavior may lead to a poor credit score. But fret not. Bad credit individuals can avail an auto loan, although a little hard work is required. Applying for a loan involves many factors which finally lead to a ‘yes’ from the lender. Understanding the different factors of a bad credit auto loan will help you to get a grip on your current situation and throw light on areas that need your attention.Important Factors to consider for a Bad Credit Auto Loan The following factors are of prime importance in the process of getting loan approval.1. Credit ScoreChecking your credit score before applying for car financing is a wise decision. If you suffer from bad credit, you should check your credit score a couple of months before you start car shopping. This will ensure that you have enough time to rebuild it. A few ways to improve your score include reducing your debt to income ratio, clearing old debts and checking for any fallacies in the report. While lenders judge your creditworthiness primarily through your credit score, do not worry about your bad credit. Your focus should be on improving it. You must also consider other factors that will help you get a loan.2. Down PaymentAnother factor in getting an auto loan with bad credit is the down payment. Car buyers with a bad credit history and limited time to rebuild credit scores should be prepared to put a hefty amount of money down. With a big down payment amount, you borrow less. This will eventually lead to more savings. Without a down payment, the dealer will narrow down the car options available to you and your financing options will also be limited. This is because the lender will consider you a risky buyer. Therefore, making a down payment can instill a sense of creditworthiness in the lender and you can avail such a loan easily.3. Apply for a Pre-approved Auto LoanA pre-approved auto loan is an easy way to have an upper limit of the car that you wish to purchase. Additionally, a pre-approved car loan helps you to be prepared for the automobile purchasing process. The process helps you to understand the amount that you can qualify for a car loan depending on your credit score, income and expenses. Thinking one step ahead and submitting your documentation in advance for a pre-approved auto loan will help you to identify any fallacies and save you a lot of time in case you have to apply for a loan again.Do Not Limit Yourself to the Credit ScoreCredit scores make an important component of the auto loan process. However, it is not the only way to obtain financing for a new car. While a bad credit history may be difficult to erase, you can start by following the above-mentioned steps and work on getting auto loan approval easily. Remember to focus on different aspects of the deal and you will get approved at the click of a mouse.

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Commercial Building Inspections – Tips for Finding a Reliable and Competent Building Inspector

If and when planning to purchase a commercial property, the question often arises, ‘How Can I Find a Reliable and Competent Building Inspector for Conducting a Commercial Building Inspection?’ While one could easily write an eBook on this subject matter, this article offers several tips to help you hire a reliable and competent inspector for the purpose of obtaining a thorough and diligent commercial building inspection. So without further ado, let me begin by telling you ‘What Not to Do’.Never hire a commercial building inspector who was referred to you by the real estate agent or any other outside party who has a vested interest in and stands to gain from the sale of the property. Although this statement goes without saying, it’s worth mentioning simply because many of those looking to purchase commercial real estate believe it is standard protocol to rely upon the realtor’s recommendation for hiring an inspector. In reality, this practice poses a conflict of interest that can have dire consequences for the party purchasing the property. Unfortunately, real estate agents who knowingly partake in this practice along with inspectors who continue to burn the candle from both ends know exactly what they’re doing and how to get away with it. While there may be a few exceptions to what I am telling you, I can assure you that the majority of inspectors who rely heavily upon referrals from real estate agents for their business are not going to rock the boat by disclosing any information to the client during the course of an inspection that may later serve to jeopardize their relationship with the broker or real estate company who referred them in the first place.Never hire a Home Inspector to conduct a Commercial Property Inspection.As for hiring a home inspector to conduct a commercial building inspection, suffice it to say that in most cases, conducting a commercial building inspection is altogether different from performing a home inspection for reasons too numerous to list in this article. However, the proliferation of home inspectors over the past twenty years (everyone wants to be one, especially in those States where home inspection licensing has become mandatory making it relatively easy for anyone to become licensed), hasn’t helped either as this has spawned an increasing number of home inspectors who are still unable to properly inspect a home, much less a commercial building, even if their life depended upon it. Moreover, given the number of significant and distinct differences between residential and commercial property, while experience in inspecting homes may well serve as a prerequisite, it is by no means a substitute for the vast amount of knowledge and experience required and yet to be learned by most home inspectors before they can even begin thinking about conducting a diligent and thorough building inspection.Aside from ‘What Not to Do’, there are also other criteria you need to consider or at least be aware of in your quest to hire a reliable and competent commercial building inspector. namely:Know the fundamental difference between a Commercial Building Inspection and a Property Condition Assessment (PCA).Although this topic warrants a separate discussion, it’s important to note that the terms ‘PCA’ and ‘Commercial Building Inspection’ are often used interchangeably in the commercial sector. This in turn has resulted in a lot of confusion not only among real estate investors and others looking to purchase commercial property but real estate agents as well who more often than not simply do not know much less understand the difference. To make matters worse, the ASTM (American Society of Testing Materials) has also gotten in on the act by promulgating their ASTM Standards for Conducting a Baseline PCA. What this means is that since they happen to be a nationally recognized organization in the construction industry, in certain respects they’re similar to the AMA in the medical profession meaning anything and everything they write on a particular subject happens to bear a lot of weight. The problem arises in that the Standards for Conducting a Baseline PCA are often misunderstood by many in the profession and seldom if ever read by those buying and selling real estate.To simplify things, all one really has to know is that the difference between a commercial building inspection and a Baseline PCA is like night and day since the later can be performed in a fraction of the time it takes to conduct a thorough and diligent commercial building inspection. The reasoning behind this is pure and simple in that a PCA is essentially a cursory walk-through of the property that relies heavily upon second hand information obtained through interviews and documentation (that may/may not be readily available let alone veritable) normally obtained through the owner and/or occupants of the property. Hence, my advice to anyone who is seriously considering having a PCA in deciding whether or not to purchase a commercial property is to forget it since in most cases a PCA is a total waste of time and money in providing information contained in a property condition report that isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on.Try to obtain as much information as you can about the company and the inspector beforehandThis is another statement that goes without saying but I mention it because many people feel uncomfortable in asking questions of this nature especially when speaking with someone they don’t already know. However, if you reflect upon what I’ve just said for a moment, the fact you don’t know anything about the company or the inspector should be reason enough to ask all the questions you can to solicit answers without being embarrassed.Be sure to ask the company or building inspector for referencesLast but not least, do not be embarrassed to ask for bonafide references regarding recent clients for whom they have conducted similar commercial building inspections. If the company or inspector is reputable and if they have confidence in the service they provide, they normally will not have any reservations whatsoever in providing you with this information.My next article will provide tips as to what questions you need to ask and what else you need to be aware of in looking to hire a reliable and competent commercial building inspector.

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How Mutual Fund Distributor Is Different From an Investment Advisor?

When it’s about differentiating both of them it’s quite difficult to do, as both assist in making investment decisions. That involves choosing MF schemes as well. Both are the enrolled entities and managed by the different regulatory body. As the Mutual Fund Distributor is under and controlled by AMFI ( The Association of Mutual Funds in India). And the Investment Advisors are controlled by SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India).Before moving on first understand a difference lets discuss that who are mutual fund distributor and investment advisor is?Investment Advisor- A Investment Advisor is an individual or group who give financing and investment advice. Even manages securities analysis in return for a fee, whether by direct administration of client assets or by written publications. If he has sufficient assets to be enrolled with the SEC is recognised as a Registered Investment Advisor or RIA. Investment Advisors are also known as “Financial Advisors”. He/she do an evaluation of the investor’s assets, liabilities, income and expenses and advise investment plan.Mutual Fund Distributor – They be person or entity facilitating in buying and selling of MF units to the investors. They earn income in the form of commission for bringing leads(investors) for investing in MF schemes. He/she is expected to know the investor’s situation, risk profile and suggest suitable investment plan to meet the investor’s demands.Getting a commission never means that a Mutual Fund distributor is allowed to trade the MF scheme to the investors just to get a commission. Well, the regulations are very severe in this respect.Now let’s discuss 8 points which help in differentiating between a Mutual fund distributor from Investment Advisor.

Paying mode for advice

We all know that mutual fund distributor is enrolled with AMFI, they are usually the executors of your investments. The investor asks the mutual fund distributor to buy/sell MF plans for them. From doing so the AMC gives commission to the MFD. To avoid mis-selling of MF plans the SEBI has directed AMCs. To pay only trail commission by utilising the trail-only model. Also, not to give any upfront commissions or upfronting of any trail commissions straight or secondhand. Even the contests or sponsorships would be recognised as an upfront payment. These investment advisors normally charge a fee rather than get commissions from AMC. So with this change in the industry investors.

Depositary Duty

Distributors differ from advisors in the sense that advisors are bound by depositary duty. That implies they are committed to giving investors with honest advice, while distributors are bound by no such promise.

Examination and Certification

The examination exam for both mutual fund distributor and investment advisor are different. For MFD get a valid certification by the National Institute of Securities Market(NISM). By clearing their certification examination NISM Series V-A: Mutual Fund Distributors Certification Examination. For Investment Advisor a person needs to clear both the levels 2 levels:

NISM-Series-X-A: Investment Adviser -Level 1

NISM-Series-X-B: Investment Adviser -Level 2

The mutual fund advisor must have a certification in financial planning.

Advisers can advise but not distribute

An MFD has a plus point that they can advise for the best MF schemes. They assist an investor to understand the benefits of mutual funds, types of MF and risk factor. They also guide the investor about the MF investment and meet the investors demands. After that, they ask the investor to invest money in mutual funds. They keep distributing the mutual fund’s plan. The Investment advisors give advice on which MF to invest but cannot work as a distributor. Their duty is just to advise. After that its investors choice but distributor make sure that investor does invest in mutual funds.

Duties differentiation

Apart from this, the central focus of a mutual fund distributor is the distribution of the funds. Whereas the job of a MF, the advisor involves various other duties.

Helping the investor change his/her portfolio

Record-keeping

Evaluating risk-taking capacity funds

Choosing the right investment option

Direct plan vs Regular planA Mutual fund distributor will give Investor regular plan and ask them to invest in the same. But the Investment Advisors advice an investor to invest in direct plans. In past the MF had to be purchased under the guidance of distributors, there wasn’t any different option. But in January 2013, SEBI mandated the AMCs to begin direct plans of the mutual funds. This enables the advisors to not only advise investors but also assist them to invest in direct MF plans. Direct plans have a more economical expense ratio than the regular plans. So while distributors may fascinate you towards the regular plans for their commissions, advisors will not.

Take into outline their level of gathering relevant information differs

Recognizing the necessity to find general information about your financial profile, is the base of good financial planning. It is consequently necessary to guarantee that the person you’re trusting with for finances, is interested to ask important questions. Like about your goals, income, expenses, long and short-term goals, assets, liabilities, tax status etc. They must also offer need-based plans to reach your financial goals, rather of product-based advice. While MFD is likely to discuss your demands with products they are commissioned to market. A financial advisor is expected to offer unbiased advice to fit your necessities.

Discussing the factor of risk and returns

This factor is usually discussed by the advisor in a great manner than the Investment advisor. He/she will discuss the risk factors for MF I.e high, low, moderate etc. Then he will look out for MF scheme performance in past years. After that will suggest you invest in the plan. The investment advisor will ask the distributor to convenience the investor to invest in plan particular MF plan they are looking for just to meet their financial need. An advisor would be more interested in evaluating your risk appetite. Also, setting the proper expectation with concerns to returns on investment.ConclusionIt’s quite difficult to say that a mutual fund distributor is necessary or adviser. Both are an important source for the right investment in mutual funds. From the MF regulation view- all persons including companies, who get AMFI certification number (ARN), are mutual fund distributors, from the highest to the smallest. In the way of distributing the MF schemes of different AMCs, they also need advice in many ways – scheme selection, asset allocation, tax planning etc, all in the scope of MF schemes. So its all investor choice that he directly wants to contact a distributor or want advice for mutual funds.’Invest today – Enjoy tomorrow’!

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Yours, Mine and Ours: How Spouses Share and Transfer Property

For most married couples, the cornerstone of estate planning is the transfer of their biggest asset: their home. So it’s important that couples be aware of the many roads this process can take.Married couples who own real property together have many options when deciding how to share the asset. Traditional approaches include joint tenancy, tenancy in common, tenancy by the entirety and community property. All have advantages and disadvantages.Joint tenancy is a form of concurrent ownership where each owner has an equal interest in the property. It is available to unmarried couples as well, though I will focus on married couples in this article.Arguably, the most useful feature of a joint tenancy arrangement is the “right of survivorship.” When the first spouse dies, his or her stake in the property passes directly to the surviving spouse, without the need for probate administration. During probate, a court determines the validity of the decedent’s estate documents and helps to settle any claims against the estate before the property is distributed to the heirs. Avoiding this process can save the beneficiary of an estate substantial costs and time. By foregoing probate, the surviving spouse also gains additional privacy, since the probate process is a matter of public record.Tenancy in common usually does not have the right of survivorship. However, it allows other customizations, and offers greater flexibility. As in joint tenancy, tenants in common do not have to be married; unlike in joint tenancy, tenants in common may hold unequal interests in the property. Tenancy in common is not dissolved when one of the tenants dies, either. If John and Jane are tenants in common, each with a 50 percent interest in their property, John can bequeath his 50 percent to their son John Jr., and Jane’s interest will remain unaffected.Tenancy by the entirety is available only to married couples, though Hawaii and Vermont offer options for domestic partners and those in civil unions, respectively. For legal purposes, it is as if the property is owned by a single entity (the couple) instead of two parties. Neither party can dissolve the tenancy without the other’s consent, except in cases of divorce or annulment. Like joint tenancy, tenancy by the entirety offers a right of survivorship, allowing the surviving spouse to avoid probate. It can also shield the property from creditors of one spouse only, though not from creditors to whom the couple is jointly in debt. Not all U.S. jurisdictions recognize tenancy by the entirety.Community property laws exist in only nine states: Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin. In Alaska, couples may enter into community property arrangements, but must do so by signing agreements or forming a trust. The validity of such arrangements is still untried on a federal level, though, and it is not clear whether the Internal Revenue Service will honor them for federal tax purposes.Although the specifics of community property laws vary from state to state, the basic idea is the same. Like tenancy by the entirety, community property is an option only for married couples. Generally, any property acquired by either spouse during the marriage becomes community property, unless it is a gift or an inheritance. Property owned prior to the marriage is also excluded. Spouses may enter into agreements, such as prenuptial or postnuptial arrangements, that preclude otherwise eligible property from being subject to community property laws, or which convert separate property to community property.Community property has no right of survivorship. Each owner can dispose of his or her interest individually. As a result, without additional estate planning, most transfers will be subject to probate, even if one spouse simply leaves the entirety of their interest to the other. Creditors can also generally reach the deceased spouse’s interest through normal estate administration rules. Community property offers the advantage of allowing a full step-up in basis upon the death of either spouse, which typically allows the survivor to pay taxes on a smaller capital gain should the property be sold.This is illustrated in the example below, contrasting joint tenancy with community property:John and Jane purchased a home for $1 million, and it is now worth $2.5 million. Jane has died and John inherited the home. If they owned the property as joint tenants with right of survivorship, John’s basis in the property is $1.75 million. This is because only Jane’s half of the interest is stepped up to the current market value ($1.25 million). The cost basis of John’s half of the interest continues to be based on the $1 million purchase price ($500,000). In contrast, both John’s and Jane’s interests would be stepped up to the current market value of the home if they had owned it as community property, and John would inherit the home with a cost basis of $2.5 million. This could mean a significant reduction in taxable capital gains if John were to sell the property after Jane’s death, even allowing for a potential reduction due to the home-sale exclusion rule. This would also be the case for other property, such as investment assets, owned by the couple.All of these arrangements offer benefits and drawbacks, which may weigh differently depending on a couple’s situation. Joint tenancy and tenancy by the entirety allow the surviving spouse to avoid probate, but do not offer community property’s generous terms for a full step-up in basis in the property. Community property risks giving creditors access to the decedent’s portion of the property, but also allows more flexibility in the way that property is distributed. Tenancy in common offers the option of unequal interests in the property, but does not have a right of survivorship.In certain states, couples have yet another option that is relatively new: community property with right of survivorship. In several states, the law has been on the books for less than 15 years. California – the state that has arguably received the most attention on the topic – first implemented these ownership rights in 2001. Of the nine community property states, Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Texas and Wisconsin currently offer the right of survivorship option. Laws also vary by state regarding which property is eligible to be titled as community property with right of survivorship. For example, only real property may be titled this way in Idaho.The states that offer community property with right of survivorship seek to make it easier for couples that have relatively simple estates to transfer property to a surviving spouse. Before the advent of community property with right of survivorship, married couples had to draft special agreements or use trusts to convert joint property into community property. Community property with right of survivorship allows married couples to take advantage of the full step-up in basis while avoiding probate administration, all without the need for more complex estate planning.Like any estate planning method, community property with right of survivorship is not a cure-all. For example, should bankruptcy be a concern, joint tenancy or (in some cases) tenancy by the entirety would leave the non-debtor’s property out of the bankruptcy proceedings, while property held as community property, with or without the right of survivorship, would move entirely to the bankruptcy trustee’s control until proceedings were complete. Couples should carefully examine their situations before deciding which arrangement is likely to carry the most benefits.Though this option is not prevalent nationwide, financial advisors should be aware of both its benefits and its potential drawbacks. Even if a couple does not currently live in a community property state, they may have once lived in such a state, or they may move to one in the future. If a client lived and purchased real estate in a state that offered community property with right of survivorship, the property may continue to be characterized that way, even if the owners have since moved elsewhere.Most couples and, too often, the advisors with whom they work tend to overlook important consequences and planning opportunities when deciding how to take or maintain title to property. It is a big decision. Approach it carefully, and consider seeking qualified professional advice to guide you.

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There is an excessive amount of traffic coming from your Region.

#EANF#

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There is an excessive amount of traffic coming from your Region.

#EANF#

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There is an excessive amount of traffic coming from your Region.

#EANF#

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Amazing War Stories from Air Force Cadets

John Jack Bertram, born during the dying days of the Woodrow Wilson Administration, spent almost two hours with a group of Air Force cadets from the ROTC at the University of Virginia, recently. John Jack Bertram reminded the cadets that the Army exists today for the same reason it did over 70 years ago: To defend this nation. John Jack Bertram’s Minds Sailed Back In Time, Bertram recalls some of the experiences he had during the Second World War to the cadets. While John Jack Bertram advised the cadets they were entering an Air Corps much more scientific and technologically advanced than it was back then, Bertram said attitude was what mattered. For his services, Bertram received the European Campaign Medal, the Victory Medal in World War II, the Normandy invasion medal, an Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters, a Distinguished Flying Cross medal, and a French Legion of Honour medal.

The impressive accomplishments of the Tuskegee Airmen earned them over 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, and helped to spur eventual integration into the United States Armed Forces. Trained at the Tuskegee Army Airfield in Alabama, the Tuskegee Airmen flew over 15,000 separate missions over Europe and North Africa in World War II. The 477th trained pilots that would go on to be legendary WWII aviators known as the Tuskegee Airmen.

A number of the Tuskegee Airmen would go on to have lengthy careers in the Army, including Davis, who would be the first Black general in the newly integrated United States Air Force; George C. Spanky Roberts, who became the first black commander of a racially integrated Air Force unit before retiring as a colonel; and Daniel Chappy James, Jr., who in 1975 would be the nations first black four-star general. In total, 66 Tuskegee-trained airmen were killed in combat in World War II, and 32 others were captured as prisoners of war after being shot down.

For the training facility, the war department chose Tuskegee Army Airfield, located in Tuskegee, Alabama, which was under construction at the time. There were pilots, present and past, on site to demonstrate to civilians and ROTC airmen alike the inner workings of every aircraft made available for viewing.

There were several other experiences that UGA AFROTC cadets had a chance to partake in, with the cadets allowed to shadow the entire security detail, from large, uniformed men who secured the entrances at Robins Air Force Base, to the dedicated officers who worked to coordinate all of the complex safety tasks that came along with the airshow, which featured active duty military aircraft such as F-16s, F-22s, and C-17s. He noted the workaday U.S. Air Force Academy environment immerses the cadets in the sights and sounds of military aircraft landings and taking off all day. He appreciated the structure that came with joining the Air Force ROTC, but also the unpredictability of being a brand-new cadet.

Formal flight training has to wait until after the cadet graduates from U.S. Air Force Academy and goes into active service. After the class of 1959s second year, 59ers assumed their roles as senior classmen for the incoming cadets, while Air Training Officers left the Academy.

In the summer following cadets second year, cadets took field trips to the air training command base, where they were given 10-hours of basic instruction on stick-and-rudder control. On a more hands-on level, the cadets took a sailing course, which, when completed, allowed them to proudly don a conventional air force navigation shoulder patch.

When the United States entered World War II, it became clear just how vital the distinct branch of aviation was to the Army, since aerial combat became an even larger and more significant aspect of war.

In addition to flying combat missions, the United States Air Force also defends the United States against cyberwarfare, with the entire United States Air Forces cyberwarfare combat wing devoted to protecting the systems and software that are crucial for Air Force operations and to U.S. operations. Notably, almost a third of all service members are women in the Air Force, compared with 22% of men. The Air Force womens ranks have almost doubled during my active-duty career, he noted, and now every career field that was formerly exclusively for men is fully accessible to women.

Retired Air Force General Janet K. Wolfenbarger graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1980, as one of the charter class of 157 women out of about 1,500 female cadets.

She recalls her father, a Air Force pilot, coming home from work one day to tell her that then-President Gerald R. Ford had signed legislation that allowed women to attend military academies for the first time in history. It is an amazing real-life story of a young womans struggles in becoming a female air force cadet. Chuck Yeager was already a skilled fighter pilot, having served in WWII during that time; he would later go on to break a few more records, flying more than 360 different types of planes, as well as serving in both the Korean War and Vietnam War during his 34 years in service.

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The Future of Technology

The technologies that we are already exposed and used to has already opened up a path to us innovating even further, and this list of both present and upcoming technologies definitely has the potential to transform our lives further.

It is difficult to get definitive clarity about emerging trends, since it is unclear how different jobs will be affected by the new technologies. It is difficult to quantify the impact of robots, AI, and sensors on the workforce because we are at such an early stage in the technological revolution.

Emerging technologies like industrial robots, AI, and machine learning are moving forward rapidly. Advances in AI, machine learning, robotics, and other technologies have increased the rate of change by as much as tenfold. Technology is evolving so rapidly today, making changes and advancements faster, which is driving up the pace of change, until it finally becomes exponential.

A hundred years ago, in 1922, who would have imagined people communicating through virtual reality, artificial intelligence (AI), and being assisted by robot technologies. Virtual reality is almost certain to be even more invasive in the future, with the possibility of manipulating our sensory inputs, making VR entirely indistinguishable from reality.

We are going to be living soon in a future in which our deliveries and goods are transported via transport powered by computers. One of the things that the human race is going to need to do going forward is learn new ways of recycling, reusing, and re-engineering old technologies in order to minimize waste and conserve the earth. In decades ahead, jobs will change, but humans will still have to run a digital world.

More importantly, as machines are becoming smarter and able to perform more human tasks, I believe our unique human capabilities–things like creativity, empathy, and critical thinking–will be even more precious and valued in future workplaces. Rather than buying into a dystopian vision of a future in which all of humanity’s jobs are taken by robots, I believe AI will improve the way we do our jobs. We are lucky to be living in a time when science and technology can help us, streamline our lives, and redefine how we approach everyday life.

Six-in-ten Americans (59%) think that advances in technology will bring a future in which peoples lives are largely better, compared with 30% who think that lives will be mostly worse. Some 59% are optimistic that coming technological and scientific changes will make life in the future better, while 30% believe that those changes will lead to a future in which people are worse off than today. These long-term optimists (i.e., those who agree with the proposition that technological changes will lead to a future in which peoples lives are largely better) are roughly twice as likely as the long-term pessimists to say that changes for the better would occur if personal drones became widely available (28 % vs. 14%) and if lots of people wore devices or implants feeding them digital information about their surroundings (46% vs. 23%).

Yet, there is real risk that gains from technological advances will only benefit certain industries and certain societies, and not broadly translate to improved prosperity and wellbeing. Yet even this pursuit is becoming unattainable to many, with the decline of new jobs created in sectors where new technologies are most quickly being developed.

Interestingly, the information sector is among those expected to see a drop in jobs as technology advances. In the coming years, as long as governments let them, we are going to see technologies within the data sector becoming more accessible and accessible, with startups entering this space. Technology will be more prevalent, cheaper, and easier to use, only increasing the chances for its wide adoption.

These massive changes in technology capability will generate far more touch points with customers, and a new, exponential flood of data about customers. By 2025, Web3 technologies will revolutionize the business world, in much the same way as Web2 transformed access to information.

In time, technology will allow for financial stability and discipline, without requiring individuals to acquire relevant knowledge. As noted by Brookings scholar Kemal Dervis, as technological innovations continue into the future, providing individuals a means of upgrading their skills and knowledge levels will be critical. Technological advancement is an excellent opportunity for helping each and every child to build skills and competencies that can address the biggest problems of the world and create a better future.

This progress will revolutionize the way we tackle optimization problems, train and execute machine learning algorithms, and understand better the physical processes of nature at subatomic levels. No sooner will we train humans how to program, for instance, than AI can do basic programming. Because automation is happening so fast, societies will be unable to reliably predict which skills will be needed, even years in advance.

It will have to sort out all of the tasks with the help of enhanced technical capabilities for execution and control, as well as developing new roles like data analysts and bot managers.

To be noticed in this emerging technology, you need expertise in quantum mechanics, linear algebra, probability, information theory, and machine learning. If you want to set foot into 5G, you need to know about information security, fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning, networking, hardware interfaces, data analytics, automation, an understanding of embedded systems, and need to possess device and project design knowledge.

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A Guide to Buying and Using Travel Insurance

Is Travel Insurance Really Necessary?Travel is already expensive enough, isn’t it? The cost of air fare, cruises, hotels, ground transportation, food and activities and entertainment are already high enough. I don’t know about you, but I work hard for my money, and when I travel, I want to keep as much of my money in MY pocket as possible. Is travel insurance a necessity or a luxury? Why not cut a few corners here and there. Why buy something if it’s not really needed?My personal answer is, of course, that I am not independently wealthy and can’t withstand the potential financial losses I would incur if I require medical care while I’m traveling. Not being independently wealthy also means that I’m in the market for adequate but cheap travel insurance. I suspect that you are in the same position, so you, too need cheap travel insurance. If you’re still not sure about that, consider the following.Did you know that if you get sick or are injured while traveling abroad, your medical plan may not cover all the expenses you will incur? If the costs of treatment are higher than the maximums of your medical plan, you will be responsible for the difference, unless you have already purchased travel insurance. In fact, you may not even be admitted into hospitals in some countries without proof that you have health or medical insurance.This is true for everyone, regardless of age or length of time abroad. Suppose you fall ill just a few hours after arriving at your destination. Or suppose you make a day-trip to another country, and you are injured in a traffic accident. Or suppose one of your children is part of a group making a class visit abroad, gets food poisoning and requires hospitalization. In all cases, without adequate travel health insurance, you will be responsible for the costs above and beyond the limitations of your existing medical plan.Therefore, before going abroad, you need to make sure that you are adequately covered by travel medical insurance that won’t break your budget. You should check to see if appropriate coverage is already available to you through your medical plan, employee benefits, or even through a credit card. If the coverage is sufficient for your needs, then you can enjoy your trip without incurring the extra expense of travel insurance. However, if you are not sure of your coverage, or if your coverage is inadequate or non-existent, then your next step should be to research and purchase the travel insurance coverage you need. How Much Can You Expect To Pay?When I bought my first plane ticket to China a few years ago it cost around $2000 round-trip, and my travel insurance cost me over $500 because I didn’t shop around for cheap travel insurance online.A few years later, a little bit older and wiser, and my travel insurance for another trip to China cost me much less–about $300 for roughly the same coverage. The difference? Before buying my travel insurance for the second trip, I shopped around online and got the coverage I needed, at the right price. If I’d have purchased my travel insurance for this latest trip from my travel agent, it would’ve cost me about $600 for the trip, and my plane tickets only cost $1,500! Not exactly the smart way to go.So how much will it cost you? Not as much money as it will cost you if you get sick or injured abroad and you don’t have any travel insurance coverage! That’s the obvious answer to the question.In fact, how much travel insurance costs will depend on your age and the type of coverage you choose. Basic policies cost as little as $5.50 USD per $1000 of coverage. On the other hand, you can expect a full coverage policy to cost you from 7 to 10% of the cost of your trip, depending on your age. The older you are, the more you will pay. No matter what the cost of the policy, however, it’s sure to be much less than the cost of medical evacuation!The good news is that you can easily, conveniently and quickly research and locate excellent but cheap online travel insurance and reduce the costs while making an informed purchase. This is much better than taking what you are offered at the travel agency because you can choose from hundreds of travel insurance companies and polices and save yourself a lot of money in the process. One place you can start your search is at Travel Insurance Central, [http://www.travel-insurance-central.com] What You Should Consider When Buying Travel InsuranceTo assist you in your research, here are some suggestions to help you make an informed purchase. 1. Consider the worst-case scenario. If you can financially withstand the worst-case scenario then maybe you don’t need travel insurance or maybe you don’t need a comprehensive policy. 2. Make sure the policy you are considering provides adequate medical/dental coverage, including medical evacuation coverage just in case you need medical care in a place where the best treatment available is below the standards you are accustomed to in your country. This can happen if you fall ill in a developing country or even on a cruise ship. 3. Check your existing insurance policies for possible coverage. There is no sense in paying more for what you already have in your homeowner or tenant policy, such as theft and loss coverage. 4. If you are a frequent traveler, you should consider annual or year-round travel insurance policies. Sometimes they are called multi-trip travel insurance policies. Whatever the name, these policies can be relatively cheap when compared to single-trip travel insurance policies. 5. Know what you are buying, so read the fine print. Make sure that you understand what the company considers to be a legitimate reason for cancellation or interruption. If the list is too restrictive, maybe you should consider another policy. 6. Don’t restrict yourself to buying only from your travel agent. He/She will probably only have one company’s product(s) available, and it’s there for your convenience, but that convenience can be quite costly! 7. Ask lots of questions about the coverage. Play the “what if” game. Ask for clear explanations of terminology. Make sure that you and the travel insurance company are speaking the same language. 8. Don’t buy the insurance through your transportation provider. If the airline goes bankrupt, how adequate will your insurance coverage be? Once You’ve Bought Your Travel InsuranceRemember that your travel insurance policy covers you between certain specific dates, so don’t start your trip early or extend your trip without first changing the dates of coverage on your travel insurance policy. Of course, this might cost you extra, but that’s cheaper than finding yourself without coverage when you need it the most.Also, it almost goes without saying that you should bring your travel insurance policy with you when you go abroad. You can’t consult the policy if it’s sitting on your desk at home. You should also carry your travel insurance company’s toll-free assistance phone number and other contact information with you wherever you go. It does you no good if you get ill or hurt and the necessary policy information is sitting in your hotel room. It’s also a good idea to bring your regular medical coverage cards and info with you.I hope these tips will help you by the best travel insurance for you. Then take your trip with the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you are insured by the right travel insurance policy at the right price. Bon voyage!

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