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  Yorkville Advisors, LLC is a privately owned hedge fund sponsor. The firm also provides specialty financing solutions to its clientshttps://twitter.com/yorkvilleadvice  .  

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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.

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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.

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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.

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5 Tips for Investing in the Retail Sector

With the rise of e-commerce giants like Amazon and eBay, some people believe that local retail is fading. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, however, retailers experienced 0.6 percent higher sales in March 2018 than the month prior. The retail sector isn’t fading but, rather, changing. You can capitalize on this trend by investing in the right retail companies.

#1) Research Retailers before Investing:

The golden rule of investing is to research and familiarize yourself with the company beforehand. In other words, don’t invest in a retail company with which you aren’t familiar. Just because you own a product sold by the company doesn’t necessarily make you qualified for investing. You should research the company to identify its goals, strengths and weaknesses. Only then can you make a sound decision regarding an investment.

#2) Resilient Retailers:

Some retail companies are more resilient than others, and focusing your investments on these companies can increase your chances of financial success. Dollar stores like Dollar General and Dollar Tree are resilient to market changes that can otherwise affect a retailer’s sales and profits. Membership-based warehouse retailers like Costco, BJ’s Wholesale and Sam’s Club are also known to weather bad market conditions.

#3) Omni-Channel Marketing:

Retailers that embrace an omni-channel marketing strategy will attract more customers and generate higher profits than their counterparts with a linear marketing strategy. Omni-channel marketing refers to the use of multiple mediums to promote a business and its products or services. Walmart, for example, has positioned itself as a key player in the retail sector, partly by promoting its products on multiple channels. In addition to direct mail ads and billboard signs, the retailing giant uses email, search advertising, social media and other digital channels.

#4) Look beyond Profits:

While profits is arguably the most important key performance indicator (KPI) of a retail company’s success, you should analyze other metrics when deciding whether to invest in a retailer. If a company is planning to open dozens of new locations, for example, this may dilute its earnings. So, look beyond profits and consider the company’s long-term strategy.

#5) Logistics:

Finally, consider a retail company’s operational logistics. If a company has a dated, inefficient logistics stream, customers will have to wait longer to receive their products. Not only does this hurt the retailer’s reputation, but it can also sales volume and profits. Some retailers have restructured their logistics to overcome these challenges. The grocery retailer Kroger recently launched the ClickList program, allowing customers to order groceries online and pick them up without ever leaving their vehicle.

Don’t let your portfolio take a hit because of bad investments. Follow these five tips to choose the right retail companies in which to invest.

  Yorkville Advisors, LLC is a privately owned hedge fund sponsor that also provides specialty financing solutions to its clients.

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Financial Benefits of Investing Your Tax Refund

It is definitely a good day for your morale and for your wallet – tax refund day. You may not want to hear this right now, but if you put off a bit of immediate gratification, you now have the leverage that you need to create even more leverage for yourself in a few months! Let’s take a look at some of the financial benefits of investing your tax refund.

Money now, more money later:

Good investments have the advantage of moving off of something we call “compounded interest.” This may seem like a difficult financial term. It is not. It simply means that money makes more money for you if you leave it alone and let it grow. Einstein himself said that compound interest was one of the most incredible phenomena in the universe, and this is a man who studied the universe in its entirety! If you do not know about the wonders of compound interest, make yourself aware of just how much money you can have for yourself in the future if you give up just a little bit today.

Investing is saving:

Another reason to invest money is that it gives you an excuse not to spend it. Investing means that you have money that you can go to in an emergency, even if you have that money in an investment that is not completely liquid. It is much better then turning your entire financial world upside down by taking out a loan or going into debt through a credit card.

In short, if you are investing, then you are protecting yourself from the day to day things that can happen to you unexpectedly. You can also think about it this way – every day that you stay out of a medical emergency is a day that you allow yourself to make more money with your investment capital.

Money to lend:

If you have money in investments, then you have money that you can lend or leverage for loans yourself. The richest people in the world take out loans just like you do. However, they have money in the bank that can cover those loans if everything goes wrong. If you are going to be rich, then you need to incorporate the same kind of financial strategy in the way that you operate.

If you have money to invest, then you also have money to lend to people that can put you on the other side of the debt equation. You do not have to spend your life in debt to others – you can actually become the bank in certain instances.

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

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3 Skills You Need to Be Financially Successful

Reaching your financial goals is more than adding and subtracting a bunch of numbers to balance a budget. It is a valuable skill to have if you are proficient in math, but financial independence requires other skills that help you make smart decisions about your money. Some of those skills often include the way you think about money and learning how to keep emotion out of your financial decisions. Here are three skills you can develop to help you obtain financial success.

Self-Discipline:

All of your money decisions should be deliberate and involve self-discipline. It is easy to create a budget that will get you to the financial promised land, but you need discipline to control the way you spend money. Impulse buys are the biggest threat to your financial balance sheet. Stopping yourself from spending money in the heat of the moment requires self-discipline, and once you master the art of money discipline, you will be well on your way to your financial goals.

Critical Thinking Skills:

Smart money decisions are made by using critical thinking skills. Before you make any financial investment, you must first analyze the investment from every angle. You need to ask yourself if this investment is right for you, and what does the person or entity presenting the investment have to gain from your financial commitment. A strong set of critical thinking skills would involve understanding exactly how the investment works before putting up any money.

Confidence- Making Smart Money Decisions:

Studies suggest that many Americans struggle with their money because of a perceived lack of financial knowledge, and confidence involves gaining the knowledge you need to formulate a money game plan. Confidence also involves taking risks while learning how to mitigate risk at the same time. The best way to gain the confidence you need is to learn how to keep your emotions in check. Just because the markets fell dramatically one day does not mean you have to rush out and sell all of your stock. You have to have the confidence in your investments that they can withstand large market downturns.

The ability to control your financial emotions, resist impulse buys and develop critical thinking skills are just as important as adding and subtracting numbers. If you are ready to learn what it takes to become financially successful, you should start by sharpening your emotional and financial IQ before you start developing your math skills.

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

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Different Types of Business Loans to Apply for

Owning and managing a business is a dream for many people. For small business owners, a lot of very important decisions need to be made on a regular basis. One important decision to make is whether or not they should apply for business loans. Business loans can help a small business a number of different ways. These loans can help a business to manage cash flow, buy equipment, and even purchase real estate. There are several types of business loans that you should consider applying for and taking out.

Working Capital Line of Credit:

One of the most important types of loans that you will need to have when you are a small business owner is a working capital line of credit. Businesses of all sizes will need to have access to working capital at some point. Even if you are very successful and profitable, you will have working capital needs as your customers often will not provide payment for a period of time after you perform your service or sell your product. This period of time, which can range of to 90 days, could result in a serious cash flow crunch. When you have a line of credit, you will be able to borrower against your outstanding A/R.

Inventory Loan:

Another type of loan that will be helpful for business of all sizes is an inventory loan. If you produce a product you will likely need to buy a lot of inventory before it can be produced. In many cases this will require you to spend cash up front before months before you collect on the sales of the final product. An inventory loan can provide you with financing you need to purchase inventory. This is ideal for new businesses, those that are growing, or businesses that are in a seasonal industry.

Capital Asset Loan:

If you need to own your own capital equipment to operate your business, taking out a loan could be a good idea. Machines, technology, software, and other equipment can help to grow and manage your business, but are also very expensive to invest in. For many people, a much better option would be to take out a loan to finance these assets. You can often receive a low interest loan with a favorable repayment term to finance these assets.

Real Estate Loan:

If your business operates out of a warehouse, retail space, or other type of real estate, it may be a good idea to purchase the underlying real estate. This will provide your business with the ability to build long-term equity and can be more affordable than renting. Purchasing a commercial building is very similar to purchase residential real estate. While you will have to put forth a down payment to purchase the building, you will also be able to get a great interest rate and an amortization schedule of 25 years or more.

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

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5 Personal Finance Rules Every Small Business Owner Should Live By

Many small business owners struggle to manage their organization’s finances. Rather, they focus on their business’s core operations while placing accounting and other administrative tasks on the back burner. Unfortunately, this often leads small business owners down the path for failure by adopting the following personal finance rules, however, small business owners can better manage their business’s finances and increase their chances of success.

#1) Create an Emergency Fund:

Even if they never use it, small business owners should create an emergency fund. It’s impossible to predict the future. Even if a small business is currently turning a profit, factors like market changes, industry regulations or consumer demand can quickly place a business in the financial red zone. By creating an emergency fund, small business owners will have peace of mind knowing that they stay afloat during times of hardship.

#2) Choose Debt Wisely:

There’s nothing wrong with borrowing money, but small business owners should choose their debt wisely. High-interest loans, for instance, can hurt a business’s profits. In addition to paying the principle, the borrower must also pay interest. A small business owner should only take a loan or debt if he or she can comfortably pay it back according to the lender’s terms.

#3) Keep Excellent Financial Records:

Small business owners should keep excellent financial records for bookkeeping and tax purposes. If a small business owner doesn’t know exactly how much money his or her business spends and earns, they won’t be able to optimize their operations for higher profits. Whether it’s performed in-house or outsourced to a professional accountant, proper bookkeeping is essential to the success of all small businesses.

#4) Plan for Taxes:

Waiting until April to review taxes for the year prior is never a good idea. As a small business grows, it will earn more income and, subsequently, be required to pay more taxes. To avoid the sticker shock of an expensive tax bill, small business owners should plan for taxes in advance. This means setting aside the necessary funds — usually about 35 percent of income — for their taxes. In most cases, small business owners must make quarterly estimated payments to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) based on the projected income for the year, and failure to make these payments will result in a penalty.

#5) Plan for Retirement:

Retirement isn’t something that most small business owners think about when initially launching their business. As most financial experts know, however, the sooner you begin planning for retirement, the better. Even if a small business owner doesn’t have employees, he or she can still set up a retirement plan using a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP).

The same rules used for personal financing can also apply to small businesses. By incorporating the rules mentioned here into your small business’s operations, you’ll build a more stable foundation that allows your business to expand without the traditional growing pains experienced by so many others.

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

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Why Investing in Penny Stocks is Never Profitable

The lure of cheap stocks offering high rewards often appeals to many inexperienced investors who want to quickly generate high returns. However, cheap stocks, also known as penny stocks, are extremely volatile and sometimes dangerous. Penny stocks have been known to wipe out many new investors’ entire portfolio. Here is a closer look at penny stocks and why they are almost never profitable.

What is a Penny Stock?

Investors refer to penny stocks as companies whose share price trades below $1.00. The SEC considers companies that trade below $5.00 as penny stocks. These companies typically have no market capitalization and no profits. Companies with such a low share price normally trade on the over-the-counter stock markets and on the pink sheets. These stocks can go days without any market activity and no trading volume. Often times these stocks have very wide bid/ask spreads and no liquidity. The most successful investors almost always stay away from such volatile stocks.

Finding the “Next Big Thing”

It is not uncommon for investors to scour through countless penny stocks hoping to find the next Apple or Google. The lure of getting a “piece of the action” can lead investors into a dangerous game that puts their portfolios at risk. The chances of finding the “next big thing” in penny stock listings are the equivalent of finding a needle in a haystack. Most finance experts agree that researching penny stocks for the next Amazon is a waste of time, and investors should use that time to learn how to invest in the stocks of companies trading on the major market averages.

Little to No Liquidity:

Most penny stocks have little to no liquidity, which makes them very difficult to trade. Many inexperienced investors might think they are getting a deal when they buy a company’s stock for $.10 or less per share. However, when it is time to sell those shares, those investors might have a hard time finding buyers. Additionally, companies with little liquidity are targets of stock manipulators who like to “pump and dump” those shares.

For example, fraudulent brokerage houses or traders will pump up the stock with the false promise of some major breakthrough while simultaneously buying a significant amount of shares, which then causes the price of the stock to rise. Once the stock reaches a certain price, those same brokers or traders will then sell their shares of stock at huge profits while regular investors are stuck with worthless stock.

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

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Is PPC or SEO Better For Your Business?

If you’re trying to improve your business’s visibility and to turn potential leads into customers, you’ve got two primary options these days: Pay-Per-Click marketing or Search Engine Optimization. There are similarities between these methods, but they vary wildly in terms of cost and immediate efficacy.

PPC vs. SEO: The Facts You Need to Know:

First, let’s take a quick look at the basics of PPC and SEO marketing strategies.

Pay-Per Click Marketing:

The pay-per-click model of online marketing is based around a simple concept: advertisers pay a small fee each time a potential customer clicks on one of their ads. You probably see many of these ads each day–they feature a small box in the right-hand corner displaying the word “ad.”

This obviously sounds like an optimal model to draw visitors to your site, but it can quickly become expensive, especially if you’re not converting these leads into sales. There are also many companies that prefer to generate their leads in a more organic fashion.

Despite Google’s relatively new advertising format, which displays ads in conjunction with less expensive (even free) organic results, people have gotten wise. They are much more likely to click on the regular search engine results, which is where SEO comes in.

Search Engine Optimization:

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the name for a group of strategies used to increase your business’s rank in Google results (as well as other search engines). Let’s say you operate a pizza place in New York; one of the most common SEO techniques is to research keywords to use on your website that will place you optimally within the results for, say, “best pizzeria in Brooklyn” or “inexpensive Brooklyn pizza”.

While PPC can yield results fairly quickly, SEO is more of a long-term strategy to build (and maintain) a web presence. It takes time and experimentation to find the right keywords to highlight your business, as well as to build a database of high-quality content that will keep customers browsing, leading them ultimately to a purchase.

Important Points to Remember:

Depending on your business strategy, Pay-Per-Click Marketing might be advantageous. This is especially true if you’re trying to generate leads quickly. PPC, while effective, is best used by companies who have larger marketing budgets. It behooves any company to have a great website that encourages maximum lead conversion–after all, you’re paying to get people there!

If your budget is more modest, SEO is a better long-term strategy. As a matter of fact, SEO is a good idea even if you’re engaging in PPC marketing. Keep in mind that SEO is a slower-moving process.

In the end, the best strategy is to find the mix of PPC (for lead generation) and SEO (to improve your website and search results) that works for you. It’s a matter of budget, time preference, and how urgently you need to drive leads and potential customers to your site.

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

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How to Choose the Perfect Business Partner

The right business partner is instrumental to a successful business venture. Where would Google be today if Larry Page didn’t meet Sergey Brin? What would Apple be if not for the partnership between Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak? Yet while some partnerships click instantly, not all entrepreneurs are lucky enough to find the perfect business partner from day one. Below are four tips to help you find and vet your potential co-founder candidates.

Figure out What Type You’re Looking For:

Are you looking for someone who can throw facts and figures or someone who can come up with new creative angles and ideas? Do you need someone to help you figure out the bigger picture? Perhaps someone who can handle the business side while you focus on the technical aspects of your product or service? Knowing what type of business partner to look for beforehand makes it easier and more straightforward to filter through potential candidates. Business partners come in all packages, with some being skillful talkers who can negotiate their way into advantageous positions while others are more of a visionary who can come up with revolutionary and out-of-the-box ideas.

Tap Into Your Circle of Coworkers:

One of your past or present coworkers could be the business partner you’re looking for. Not only is this convenient, but tapping into your circle of coworkers can also give you a tremendous advantage compared to choosing a co-founder you only met yesterday. You already know or at least have a basic idea of how a past or present coworker operates. You know if they are hardworking or lazy, if they are honest or dishonest, and if they have the drive and passion or not. Send prospective co-founders a text or email or meet up with them to discuss your business idea. Only confide with people who you completely trust otherwise they might steal your idea for themselves.

Consider Partnering With a Family Member:

You always hear cautionary tales of business owners and entrepreneurs who partnered with a family member and failed. Nonetheless, there are many advantages to partnering with a close family member, one of which is that it helps you precisely identify value alignment. Sharing values is arguably one of the most essential factors that drive entrepreneurs to achieve incredible feats, take great risks, and make difficult sacrifices. That being said, working with a family member is a delicate process. While you are connected by blood, make it clear from the beginning that it’s all business.

Try it out:

You can try out your newfound partnership for a few weeks or months and see how it goes. An even more short-term solution is to start a small side project with your prospective co-founder. It takes only a few discussions with him/her to get a strong sense of whether or not the partnership has a foundation and future.

Final Thoughts:

Choosing the perfect business partner takes time and some trial and error in many cases. Nonetheless, it is a major decision that will have a tremendous impact towards your business’ long-term success.

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

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How to Finance a New Car

Financing a new car is a major purchase for most people. The average car might cost between $10,000 and $30,000, depending on the make and model. You want the best deal for your dollar. Before you step up to the sales desk, take a close look at how you can finance a vehicle with a fair cost. There are realities in the dealership world that must be evaluated beforehand.

Focus on the Car’s Total Cost:

Car salespeople enjoy the power of numbers. They’ll quote you a low, monthly payment to draw you in. This practice is widespread and smart on the part of the dealership. However, you need to focus on the car’s total cost. The low, monthly payment may equate to a huge price on the car with some multiplication involved.

Negotiate the vehicle’s cost or “out the door” price. From this number, you can consider a finance package that suits your budget. The total cost tells you exactly what you’re receiving, from the sports trim to the Bluetooth radio.

Keep the Term Short:

Financing a vehicle over six or seven years allows you to spread the payments out over a long, time period. It sounds attractive because you can buy more with a low payment. Don’t fall prey to this scenario, however.

Finance the vehicle for the shortest time possible. Three to five years is the normal range for the average buyer. This time frame works well because the car’s value should be at its midpoint by the time you pay it off. You don’t want a car that’s worth only a few thousand dollars, and you’re still paying a monthly payment for outright ownership.

Try Weekly Payments:

Every car loan is structured with a monthly payment. However, you don’t have to follow this plan as a strict rule. To reduce your payment period and possible interest costs, pay down the car loan in weekly installments. Go online, and pay part of the monthly charge. Pay more if possible.

Although car loans don’t typically have compounding interest, you get ahead of the payments with a weekly habit. Make sure you always cover the minimum required by the monthly due date, however. You don’t want to add penalties to the loan by overlooking the due date on a weekly schedule.

Get Pre-Approved:

The car dealership isn’t the only place where you can secure a car loan. Get pre-approved by your bank or another lender. They essentially guarantee a loan amount that’s funded once you find a vehicle. There’s a fixed, interest rate that can be negotiated at the dealership too. With good credit, finding a solid deal is possible with a bank backing your final loan.

You may feel obligated to agree to a finance agreement at the first dealership, but step back for a moment. There’s no obligation to buy anything until you sign the contractual papers. Feel free to leave if you experience too much pressure or the deal swings in the wrong direction. There are plenty of other dealerships to work with in today’s competitive market.

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

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3 Personal Finance Habits Everyone Should Get Into

If you are struggling to save money, do not panic, because you are not the only one. According to statistics, more than 50 percent of Americans have less than $1,000 saved up. Around 30 percent of Americans have no money saved at all. While those numbers are scary, there are ways to improve your financial situation and start saving some money. Here are three personal finance habits that will help you start saving today.

Impulse Purchases:

Impulse purchases can wreck your savings account in a hurry. Statistics show that five out of six people in the U.S. are prone to impulse purchases. Additionally, almost 20 percent of people say they have spent more than $1,000 on an impulse purchase. A habit you can develop is to force yourself to wait at least one day before you make a nonessential purchase. By implementing this 24-hour cooling off period, there is a good chance you will realize you do not need the product or service in the first place.

Check Your Credit Report Often:

Unfortunately, many Americans avoid checking their credit reports and scores. Many people have no idea what their score is and how it can save them money. If you want real borrowing power in the future, make it a habit to check both your report and your score frequently. You are allowed one free credit report per year from all three of the credit reporting agencies in the U.S., TransUnion, Experian and Equifax. You can request a free copy of your reports by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com.

However, this report does not include credit scores. If you want your real credit scores, you can order them through all three agencies by paying a fee. Additionally, many credit reports contain errors. You can increase your score by having errors on your credit report removed.

Pay Your Bills on Time:

Another sure-fire way to increase your credit score is to pay your bills on time. Keep in mind that your payment history accounts for 35 percent of your credit score using the FICO-based scoring model. Your credit utilization ratio, which is how much available credit you use, accounts for 30 percent of your credit score. When you pay your bills on time, you are not only helping your credit, but you are avoiding those costly fees that come with late payments. Some lenders and credit card companies do not give you a grace period if you are running a little behind on your payments. The second you miss a payment by the scheduled due date, you are hit with late fees.

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

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The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Finance

We’ve all heard about artificial intelligence when it comes to science fiction movies, but many people don’t realize that while it may sound futuristic, there have been significant inroads in the field within just the past few years. It’s not just in scholarly circles, either. Artificial intelligence has become a huge resource in the world of finance.

There’s Much More Data Out There:

With the emergence of the internet as a dominant force in the economy within just the past decade, more and more data is becoming available to the business and financial sector. We live in a digital world that is chock full of unorganized and scattered data. Artificial intelligence is up to the task of delivering that data in a meaningful and impactful way.

Computers Are Becoming Extremely Powerful:

This point is obvious to anyone who has a smart phone but it’s worth re-iterating when it comes to artificial intelligence and the financial world. As computers get more and more powerful, it becomes apparent that AI improves along with it. The next decade will show just how powerful AI algorithms can get.

What Can AI Actually Do Now?

It’s easy to jump in to a science fiction or fantasy mindset when talking about AI, but there are many real world applications of it available today that produce real returns. It can learn unsupervised when dealing with data clustering and statistical tools. It’s able to pick out patterns that may not be first viewable to the human mind.

It’s also capable of learning things under strict supervision. One of its benefits is hunting for specific types of data such as when it comes to credit-worthiness. It’s also capable of learning from mistakes by utilizing repetitive strategies and observing the sorts of returns they’re capable of.

Using Artificial Intelligence in Investing:

Some algorithms can be easily used to find the link between the prices on assets and different events that happen throughout the world. They can even be used to predict the movements markets make in advance based on social media. They can white list certain users in order to fight back false positives. This also makes them ideal for dealing with credit scores and other underwriting endeavors. With that being said, there are some challenges that come with utilizing artificial intelligence and plenty of room for advancements.

Dealing with Biases:

The usefulness of a particular artificially intelligent algorithm is going to be primarily based on the quality of data it’s allowed to analyze. Even with the most pristine sources, biases that may not even be known can be present and shape the findings in ways that aren’t useful. It also requires plenty of time and resources to accumulate such data sets in order to be used by the AI program. There’s also an issue with responsibility in case things go wrong.

Overall, artificial intelligence is a boon to the financial sector as long as it’s used by the right people making good, educated decisions about things.

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

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10 Books That Aspiring Entrepreneurs Should Make Time to Read

If you are an aspiring entrepreneur, you’ll need guidance as you start your career. You’ll need to learn about the ins and outs of becoming an entrepreneur. Many aspiring entrepreneurs seek to attend different classes and sessions in order to learn more information about entrepreneurship. However, an affordable alternative is simply reading a few books. Regardless of what career you are pursuing, there are books available to assist you. Here is a look at several books that you should consider reading before starting your career.

The Founder’s Dilemmas (Noam Wasserman):

University of Southern California professor Noam Wasserman takes an in depth look at some common reasons why entrepreneurs succeed and fail. Wasserman explains how complex entrepreneurship can be. By the end of the Founder’s Dilemmas, Wasserman explains when it is time for entrepreneurs to seek help from others.

The Art Of The Start (Guy Kawasaki):

Entrepreneur Guy Kawasaki explains to his readers the power of the internet. Kawasaki informs entrepreneurs about different topics such as marketing, crowdfunding, and cloud computing. Kawasaki advises entrepreneurs to avoid thinking of entrepreneurship as a job.

Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook (Gary Vaynerchuk):

New York Times best selling author Gary Vaynerchuk advises entrepreneurs to figure out what appeals to their customers and find a way to meet that need. Vaynerchuk explains the importance of social media. Vaynerchuk believes that entrepreneurs have to be willing to combine their message and platform.

Simple Numbers, Straight Talk (Greg Crabtree):

Crabtree uses real world examples and step by step instructions to answer important questions concerning human resources, taxes, and other important issues. Crabtree advises entrepreneurs to always look at the big picture.

Will It Fly (Thomas K. McKnight):

Thomas McKnight lays out different questions that aspiring entrepreneurs must ask themselves in order to determine if their business will be successful. By the end of the assessment, you should have a clear idea on some of the responsibilities that go into running a business.

Become Your Own Boss (Melinda F. Emerson):

The Chief Executive Officer of Quintessence Multimedia, Melinda F. Emerson explains how you can launch a successful business within a year. Emerson gives readers advice on how to raise capital and how to develop a great marketing strategy.

The Lean Startup (Eric Ries):

Ries lists some innovative ways to help aspiring entrepreneurs run their businesses with maximum efficiency. Ries relies on The Lean Startup Methodology.

Entrepreneurial You (Dorie Clark):

Marketing expert Dorie Clark gives readers advice on how to create a successful business plan. Clark advises entrepreneurs to dream big.

Setting The Table (Danny Meyer):

Restaurateur Danny Meyer explains important lessons about hospitality, and how entrepreneurs can use hospitality to improve their management skills. Meyer emphasizes the importance of customer service.

The One Page Business Plan (Jim Horan):

Horan lists some exercises to help entrepreneurs refine their business approach by simplifying their business plans to only one page. Horan believes that writing out a smaller business plan allows entrepreneurs to avoid making things more complex than they should be.

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

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5 Planning Tips When Selling a Business

While some create businesses that are meant to stay in the family for generations, others start business ventures with the plan to sell eventually. If you’re of the mindset that selling your business is the best outcome, take a look at some of these planning tips you should put in place before you sell.

Create A Business Someone Will Want to Buy:

Profitable businesses, turnkey enterprises, companies with proprietary products–these are all companies that will look more attractive to potential buyers. Think of ways that you can make your business the kind of company people want to buy and build up to that vision so when you’re ready to sell, your company looks attractive to buyers in the market.

Have a Plan For the Sale Proceeds:

Selling a business can set you up with a large windfall, and if you don’t already have a plan for those proceeds, they could quickly be spent wastefully. Consider whether you want to use the proceeds to support yourself while you build another business, to invest in another company, to set aside in savings, and so on.

Remember Taxes:

It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to walk away with the sale proceeds free and clear. Talk to a tax advisor about the potential tax implications of the sale and make sure you incorporate tax payments into the plan for the proceeds.

Maintain Liability Insurance:

No matter what kind of business you run, you are exposed to potential liabilities. If you are sued–even if the complainant doesn’t win–you can drain your business defending yourself in court. And if the complainant does win, you may have to close your business as a result of the judgment. To avoid these possibilities and make sure you have an operating business to sell later, invest in liability insurance.

Keep Control Over Your Personal Spending:

Selling your business because you want to, not because you need the money, is a good place to be. It takes the urgency away and allows you to wait for the best offer. It also means that you can do more with the sale proceeds since you won’t be using it for urgent needs but instead will have the luxury of using the money where it will have the most impact. All of this can be accomplished by keeping your personal spending under control. When you effectively manage your lifestyle expenses, your debt, and your savings, you keep yourself on secure financial footing and allow yourself more restraint and patience when selling your business.

Selling a business takes quite a bit of foresight and planning. But it’s a move that can change your life and help assure your future.

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

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5 Top Retiree Tax-Planning Mistakes

Even if you’re used to handling your taxes, things change once you retire. Since what you’ve done in the past won’t be in your best interest any longer, it’s common to make mistakes, especially soon after retirement. Here are five common tax mistakes that every new retiree should avoid.

1. Too much tax loss harvesting.

Also referred to as tax loss selling, tax loss harvesting is when you sell an asset, like one of your stocks, in order to get a loss that will offset a gain from the sale of another investment. Retirees do this in order to avoid paying gains on investments they’ve just sold. However, you’re not going to get much of a benefit from a stock loss, especially the larger the loss is.

2. Not knowing how to roll over your retirement account.

Once you retire, you’ll be able to roll over your 401(k) into an IRA. However, you have to be careful when doing this. If the money doesn’t go right from the 401(k) to the IRA, you could end up having the funds considered taxable income. Make sure that the way you’re depositing your money into your IRA is avoiding a tax hit.

3. Taking too-small required minimum distributions.

While you may think that it’s best to take a small amount of required minimum distributions (RMDs), it may be better to take larger distributions. You probably think that taking limited RMDs will minimize the tax burden, but should you pass away, your beneficiaries could end up with a huge income tax burden on the balance of your IRA. Approach your RMDs in a way that will reduce the tax rate on your distributions.

4. Not having a plan.

At some point after your retirement, you’ll be able to start taking free-from-penalty distributions from your retirement accounts. However, without a long-term plan, even a rough one, you’ll have a hard time keeping your distributions proportionate. Keeping track of what you want to take out when will keep you in the tax bracket of your choosing.

5. Assuming that Social Security isn’t subject to income tax.

While most people think that Social Security isn’t taxable, in truth as much as 85% of your Social Security can be subject to tax. If you have minimal income, you probably won’t have to pay tax on your benefits. If you have more income, though, a part of your Social Security may be taxable. Your provisional income takes into account your adjusted gross income, not including Social Security; tax-free interest; and half of your Social Security benefits.

While submitting your taxes after retirement isn’t difficult, it will be new territory the first year after you retire. Knowing what is going to change is the best way to avoid common mistakes and do it right the first time. You can also consider speaking with an accountant who will be able to prepare you for tax challenges in retirement.

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

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