#edwardschinik

[edwardschinik]

5 Ways to Get More College Financial Aid

Going to college can be a very exciting and nerve wrecking time. Between the excitement from starting a new chapter and the thought of making new friends, it can become stressful very quickly. While there are some students whose parents can pay for college, not every student is that fortunate. When financial aid isn’t enough it’s easy to think that you’re all out of options but, there are ways to get more financial aid.

Reduction of Household Income:

If there is a decrease in your household income from the time the FAFSA is filled out to the time where additional assistance is needed, then there is a possibility that you can receive more financial aid. A decrease of income can come from anything from having a new job, to even losing employment or taking a pay cut. Most colleges want to see that there is a financial hardship and even though the FAFSA has many questions about household income, hard times are not easily seen on the applications.

Death of a Guardian or Parent:

This doesn’t mean that one of your parents have to die for you to get more financial aid. The death of a parent may not be included on the initial FAFSA for various reasons. Perhaps because it might not be a recent death some may not include it but adding this information can make the difference in receiving more aid. When filing an appeal it is key to note any negative to changes to really make your case.

Divorce or Separation:

While the question is posed on the FAFSA, some students may not be in the situation at the time that it’s filed. Mentioning this on a financial aid appeal can make a world of difference. Single-parent households usually receive more financial aid than a student who has both parents in the home.

Damage from a Natural Disaster:

Something that is essentially out of your control can earn you more aid. If there’s a hurricane or a snow storm and it damages your home or car this can increase your financial aid. When money has to go towards something else that is big, like home repairs, it will become more difficult to apply that to college tuition. This can lead to reduced funds and that’s really what colleges look for in an appeal.

Unexpected Medical Expenses:

Anything can happen at any time. Whether it’s an illness that’s spreading around or a major injury, this can also earn you more financial aid. Medical bills add up and can be quite expensive. This isn’t a common instance that sparks the thought of financial aid assistance so many may not even know of the opportunity to get that increase.

Any of these situations can cause immense stress and while communicating to financial aid it is definitely best to remain calm. Hostile phone calls and emails don’t benefit anyone, especially when you’re looking to get some extra help. It is always good to keep an appeal short and to the point while remaining polite throughout the process.

Edward Schinik is the CFO and COO of Yorkville Advisors.

from WordPress https://ift.tt/2w5xBlt via IFTTT

[edwardschinik]

The Importance of Marketing Automation for Your Business

Introduction:

For a business to survive, an effective marketing strategy is needed. No matter how innovative a product or service may be, if it does not target the right audience, a business can never succeed. Marketing helps in helping the products reach the target clients, and ensuring that they use it. In today’s world, automation is everything. More businesses are using marketing automation. As a business owner, marketing automation is essential because:

1. It boosts your CRM:

CRM is a tool that is present in every marketing strategy. Combining marketing automation with CRM makes it possible for you to track and monitor all the activities in your marketing campaign. When looking for a marketing automation platform, get one that works well with CRM. It is similar to a phone. If you have a smartphone, you have to get the best applications. If you do not use apps, it is just a normal phone.

2. Increased productivity:

Marketing automation simplifies the marketing process. The stress of dealing with a tedious manual process will be relieved by an innovative platform. As a result, your productivity gets a boost in that your marketing department can focus on activities that need the attention of human beings.

3. Customer retention is increased:

In all business, clients are essential. Most companies struggle to retain customers. Marketing automation can be linked to email marketing to ensure that your clients are kept up-to-date with your brand. Your business continues to grow while maintaining relationships with clients. Using automation helps you get better insights of your customer’s intentions. With such information, you can be able to tell what your clients want and avoid wasting time and energy.

4. Monitor marketing campaigns:

Whether your company uses drip or social media marketing, you need to monitor the success and failure of each campaign. For most businesses, monitoring is a tedious task, but it can be simplified using automation software. Additionally, you can be able to tell the success of your campaigns with measurable data. The software can help you monitor your expenses, and get to learn the campaigns that are worth continuing.

5. Understanding your leads:

Using automation software enables you to keep track of web pages your lead views, the emails they open, and the landing pages they are converting from. You will be able to find out the content that is popular among your clients to get higher conversion rates. Software professional state that a company that uses marketing automation can receive an increase in qualified leads by 451 percent. Many businesses invest in marketing automation to increase lead management.

Conclusion:

Finding the right marketing automation is necessary for any business that is targeting success. What used to take companies days or even months to execute can now be done in a short time. Because of that, much time and resources are saved and can be used to improve other sectors of the organization. To be able to have the edge over your competitors, invest in marketing automation and you are headed for success.

Edward Schinik is the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Yorkville Advisors.

from WordPress https://ift.tt/2jmjkaY via IFTTT

[edwardschinik]

Tips for Surviving a Stock Market Crash

Investing in the stock market can be a great way to build long-term wealth. When you are looking to invest in the market, you will find that bull markets can provide a lot of growth and strong investment returns. However, there are also bear markets and random stock market crashes that can be harder to deal with. Fortunately, there are several tips that can be followed that can make it easier for you to deal with a stock market crash.

Don’t Get Emotional:

When a stock market crash is taking place, the most important tip to follow is to avoid getting emotional. When the stock market takes a deep dive down, it is very easy for people to panic and want to sell all of their stock. While they may be able to avoid some further temporary losses, they most likely will end up missing out on the rebound as well. This can make it impossible to ever catch back up and investors will end up losing out on a lot of potential.

Buy Low:

During a stock market crash, it could also be a great time to buy some speculative stocks at low prices. During a crash, many of the most struggling stocks will end up being those that are speculative in nature. While these stocks can increase dramatically during a strong economic cycle, they can do even worse when things are bad. This can provide you with a great opportunity to acquire a growth stock at a fraction of the price.

Focus on Quality:

During a bear market, you should also focus on the quality of stocks that you are buying. During periods of prosperity, it is important to focus on stocks that provide a lot of potential. However, during bear markets you should also look at companies that are stable and strong. It could be beneficial to invest more of your capital in companies that have a strong balance sheet and are able to withstand the bear market. You should also look for stocks that continue to pay dividends during the recession.

Consider Opportunities:

Another advantage of investing during a bear market is that you will receive more opportunities than you would during other cycles. When the whole market is going down, it provides plenty of opportunities to invest in companies that could actually prosper during a recession. Discount retailers and other similar companies can do very well when the market is low, which can provide you with a great opportunity.

Monitor Regularly:

When you are dealing with a stock market crash, it is also important that you monitor your portfolio on a regular basis. Many people tend to ignore the market when times are bad. While this can help to reduce stress in the interim, it can lead to larger problems in the long-term. A better option would be to continue to monitor the market and their portfolio to ensure they are positioned as well as possible for the future and are properly protected from other risks.

Edward Schinik has been with the Investment Manager since 2009.

from WordPress https://ift.tt/2KuL7lW via IFTTT

[edwardschinik]

5 Skills You Need to Be Financially Successful

Who doesn’t want to be financially successful? This article addresses the skills that make you financially successful!

1. Discipline:

Self-Discipline is the number one trait that brings success in not only the financial front but also many other aspects of life. However, when it comes to financial success, one needs to be very disciplined in order to control impulse spending and wasting money on unnecessary items. The sudden urge to go on a shopping spree and to buy to make yourself feel better is a big NO. Maxing your credit card, a bigger NO. How do you not do any of these? By cultivating self-discipline. Save first, spend next. You can only do so when you have an uncompromising level of discipline.

2. Self Confidence:

If you don’t trust yourself, then who else will? A healthy dose of confidence upon oneself and one’s skills and capabilities play a significant role in determining a person’s financial mileage. Confident people make the right choices, right decisions and walk away with a profitable deal at the end of the day. On the other hand, if you’re not confident about yourself and if you don’t curb your emotional instincts like unnecessary anxiety and panic in the cases of market ups and downs, your investments have near zero chances of yielding you a profit.

3. Organization:

It is nearly impossible to be financially independent, let alone successful if you are unsure about managing your finances. Have you paid your installments on time? Have you saved the 20% of your paycheck for your investment in a new business that you plan on opening next year? Sit down and plan your expenses and savings. Stay organized, make payments on time. Pay the fees and bills on time to avoid late fines. Surround your planning and organization around this mantra— Save first, spend next. With proper planning and organization comes great wealth.

4. Critical Thinking:

You are your boss. You might hire a wealth planner, or you might subscribe to a brokerage firm that gives you the advice to bring you riches. Don’t rush, pause, wait, do an analysis of your own. Take every advice, especially a financial investment advice with a pinch of salt. Do your thorough research, analysis and only then commit towards investing in any venture. Upon failing to critically think and evaluate where you put your money, you open gates to fraudsters and con-men.

5. Self-Awareness:

Being self-aware is being absolutely sure about what you are and what you are not. Being extremely rational, objective and clear about your strengths, weaknesses and risk appetite is one of the key factors to making it big. Without understanding yourself, you can never make wise decisions and stand by your decisions in the case of failures or loss. With self-awareness, you also understand your spending patterns and can effectively identify where your money is sinking and what you must to do stop losing money. Awareness is something that is hugely person. No one knows you better than yourself.

Edward Schinik serves as both the Chief Operating Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of Yorkville Advisors.

from WordPress https://ift.tt/2rdxn73 via IFTTT

[yorkvilleadvisors]

How Business Carries the Economy

From Industrial Revolution to the Technology Revolution:

Prior to the Industrial Revolution from 1760 through 1840, the picture of business was largely based on small proprietorship’s comprised of skilled craftsmen and farmers. As equipment inventions grew, the ability to mass produce goods and services increased.

It is easy to see the effect on the economy. With an abundance of goods, supply and demand produced a steady, relatively stable economy. However, global trade had yet to reach today’s epic proportions, which would bring with it a host of additional issues and affect economies of trade partners.

The more handicrafts and agricultural economies changed, the domination of large scale manufacturing evolved to today’s high tech revolution changing the face of businesses, domestic and global trade and the economy.

How Businesses Carry the Economy:

The basics of how businesses carry the economy depends on several factors. These include: . Cost . Efficiency . Scarcity . Supply and demand . Elasticity . Utility . Competition . Monopoly . Oligopoly

The Importance of Small Business vs. Big Business:

Where once big business conglomerates dominated the U.S. landscape, the effect of venture capitalism on a grand scale has affected the economy.

The structure of the economy relies on innovation and invention to drive business progress to economic stability. Venture capital works hand in hand with investments in businesses. This presupposes investors understand risks with regard to venture capital investments.

Today, small businesses carry the economy by consistently regenerating invention and innovation. In addition, small businesses are the lifeblood of the economy because they provide jobs.

Big business often outsources or contracts offshore for employees which impacts the economy negatively. While the end result of this is profitable for big business, the overall economy lacks sufficient jobs to provide purchase power to consumers.

When consumers are jobless, they become thrifty and spend less. The ripple effect of this is a reduction in the need for products and services and local and reduction in federal tax revenues that drive economic stability.

These factors are solid reasons to support and promote small business. Another factor is the survival rate of small business as compared to big business. According to the Small Business Administration, small businesses survive five years or more, unlike big business.

Cost, Efficiency, Supply and Demand:

Small business startups survive longer mainly because the cost and investments are less prohibitive than those of big business. A smaller business can also be more efficient due to its size factor. This shows how these businesses carry the economy forward.

Many small businesses are based on goods and services consumers need or use most. These include: . Beauty salons . Coffee shops . Jewelry stores . Repair shops . Dry cleaners and laundromats . Diners and restaurants

Many small businesses branch out to become franchises. Note that franchises tend toward inexperienced business owners. The basic business operations in franchises may not be as efficient or cost-effective due to owner inexperience. Still, there are a sufficient number of franchises that do succeed and become profitable enough to carry the economy.

The Business Engine that Drives the Economy:

Since investments in business are the engines that drive the economy, this is proof that a successful business landscape bears the burden of impact on the economic stability.

Yorkville Advisors, LLC is a privately owned and operated hedge fund sponsor that was founded in 2001.

from WordPress https://ift.tt/2I464Ws via IFTTT

[yorkvilleadvisors]

5 Books That Teach You How to Be Rich

The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason:

The Richest Man in Babylon is essential reading for any adult struggling with personal finance, and even those who aren’t. It teaches the reader an entirely unique mindset about saving that Clason refers to as “paying yourself first”. What this means is that if you are spending your money recklessly on things you don’t need and you allow your money to simply burn a hole in your pocket then what you’re doing is paying OTHERS first, rather than saving the money and therefore paying YOURSELF first.

The Little Book of Common Sense Investing by Jack Bogle:

For those of you who are already relatively savvy in the world of investing the name, Jack Bogle might ring a bell. He founded Vanguard investment and in this book, he outlines the principles that effectively make Vanguard so successful. Investing in index stocks has been shown to outperform individual stock investments in the long run, and this is what Bogle sets out to prove in this book by showing the history of mutual funds and index funds, then comparing their returns and fees.

A Random Walk down Wallstreet by Burton G. Malkiel:

Malkiel is a well-known and respected Economics professor from Princeton University, and this book is a large part of why he is so known. Economists usually have an interesting perspective on investing and offer incredible insight into how markets function at their deepest levels. In this book Malkiel shows, as the name implies, the randomness of the market for individual stocks, and how selecting literally random stocks will often yield the same returns as a professional broker will. This leads him to an interesting conclusion, and this book is a great read for any investor looking for a new perspective.

The Simple Path to Wealth by J.L. Collins:

The Simple Path to Wealth outlines for the reader and extremely practical, if not somewhat aggressive, way to save so much money that you quickly have enough money to simply do as you please in life. Collins’ aggressive plan suggests you save 50% of what you make and invest a large portion as well. The book also educates the reader on how to fine-tune this plan to their personal needs and circumstances in life, making it a great read for people who want a direct plan of action.

The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss:

This is a book that almost everyone has heard of and instead of telling the reader what to do with their money as far as saving and investing as the other books on this list do, this book tells you exactly how to make the money in the first place. The book advocates for self-investment (i.e. learning and honing skills) as well as wide and varied streams of income.

Yorkville Advisors, LLC is a privately owned and operated hedge fund sponsor.

from WordPress https://ift.tt/2HLNAqh via IFTTT

[yorkvilleadvisors]

How to Practice Financial Self-Care

Navigating through your own world personal finance can be a daunting task. There are strategies that can help you become financially healthy so you can weather any type of economy. These strategies include paying off your mortgage and paying off your credit card debt.

Paying off your mortgage:

Paying off your mortgage at an accelerated rate will save you hundreds of dollars in interest every month. You can do this by switching your 30 year loan to a 15 year loan. You will be paying more of your loan balance each month but you will also pay the mortgage off sooner and save yourself a sizable amount of cash on interest in the long run. The sooner you pay off your mortgage the better. You will rest easier knowing that all your hard work paid off and have the peace of mind.

Paying Off Your Credit Card Debt:

Credit cards carry a lot of risk especially when you do not pay them off on time. Accumulating debt on a credit card becomes more difficult and tough to reconcile when you are charged hideous interest rates. Some people pay has high as 19.95% on some credit cards. Do yourself the favor of paying off your credit card balance with a low rate loan and make the commitment to pay it off as quickly as possible.

Stop Paying for Things You Do Not Need:

Buying subscription services such as those to audio books, digital streaming sites and meals delivered to your door may be great to have, but not when you do not have the time to enjoy them. If you do not use these services regularly and they are not adding value to your life, may it’s time to detach from them and save your pocketbook from continued expenditures that you do not need.

Be Practical and Buy Generic Brands:

Many of us have been feeling the pinch at the supermarket. Many of the food and products manufactured and produced are expensive due to their packaging alone. Saving money can be as easy as replacing the name brands you buy at the grocery store with their generic counterparts. These brands do not spend a lot of money on the packaging and compared to the names brands, are as good in quality and a deal to buy.

Making good financial decisions is important in practicing financial self-care. Small changes to your finances now can mean saving big amounts of cash in your wallet over a long period of time. You can make positive changes in your life by being aware of where you are financially and making the tough decisions that will bring you closer to financial freedom.

  Yorkville Advisors, LLC is a privately owned and operated hedge fund sponsor that was founded in 2001.

from WordPress https://ift.tt/2rdiReK via IFTTT

[edwardschinik]

The True Value of SMS for Your Business

Running a successful business is, first and foremost, a matter of communication. After all, if you can’t communicate ideas, updates, and important information, how can you expect things to run smoothly?

Imagine being able to contact your customers, employees, and clients in mere seconds–allowing for fast, effective communications. Thankfully, this technology already exists: it’s SMS (short message service), better known as text messaging.

SMS has transformed from a mere personal communication tool to a potent marketing and business communication strategy. Let’s take a look at the incredible value this technology can provide your business.

Fascinating Facts about SMS:

Text messages have become a formidable communication method; a majority of people now prefer SMS to older methods like phone calls, emails, or internal business memos. To illustrate this, consider the following facts:

People read texts quickly–in fact, 90% of texts are read within 3 minutes of being received (and nearly 100% are read by the end of the day they were received). Compare this to emails, which are seldom read before the end of the day!

More than 1/3 of people check their cell phone within five minutes of waking up in the morning. People even check their phones during mealtimes and breaks.

Finding the Right SMS Provider for Your Business:

The variety of SMS texts we’re talking about are a little more complicated than your average text message. For maximum efficacy, you want to be able to quickly and easily send group messages.

For businesses, this typically means the use of an API platform, which can convert and format these messages into a highly-effective SMS communication. While you could accomplish this by yourself, why would you want to spend valuable time and man-hours on ineffective marketing or hard-to-read communications?

These days, finding an API platform is just a matter of some dutiful web research. API platforms offer many different services, depending on the platform, including targeted marketing messages, urgent news SMS, and even confirmations of shipment, delivery, etc. No matter what your needs are, you can find SMS companies that can cater to you.

Improving Your Business’s SMS Strategy:

Texting is a very different beast than emails or phone calls. Here are a few things to keep in mind when writing your business-related texts for mass distribution:

There’s a 150-character limit per SMS; use short, simple words that communicate ideas in the easiest fashion.

Business texts are different than personal commmunications: get straight to the point, there’s no time for salutations or trivial info.

Use SMS to manage expectations, and to promote a better understanding of your products, services, and deadlines.

Try to adopt a friendly tone–this makes your business appear more personable, approachable, and up-to-date with modern technology.

We wish you the best of luck in adopting the power of SMS business communications; you’ll be very glad that you did!

Edward Schinik is the Chief Operating Officer with the Investment Manager.

from WordPress https://ift.tt/2vHddHd via IFTTT