When planning a trip abroad, it is mandatory to have international travel insurance.
Why? It’s simple: even minor mishaps may become significant financial problems without insurance. If you break your arm or leg or become ill while on vacation, the expense of medical care might quickly escalate. Suppose you don’t have enough coverage and decide to see a doctor or hospital in another nation, even for something as simple as a headache. In that case, you might pay thousands of dollars for medical expenses out of pocket.
How do I obtain my plan? Several alternatives are available based on the sort of coverage that best meets your demands and budget. Some plans are marketed directly by insurers such as Allianz Global Assistance; others involve going via an intermediary such as Expedia or TripAdvisor, who enable reservations but may charge additional costs dependent on location.
What Should an International Travel Insurance Policy Cover?
You must ensure the policy covers your trip when purchasing international travel insurance. This includes:
It’s fundamental to know the specifics of your policy where you are going.
Where you are staying, for instance, if it’s through Airbnb)
What you do, such as adventurous activities like surfing in Australia, does it compensate for any loss?
With your travel insurance, what you’re bringing covers items such as electronics and luggage – but only up to a specific limit, so ensure your gear is properly insured!
How Long are You Going to Stay?
Most travel insurance plans short-term cover travel. However, it varies from policy to policy. It’s essential to know how long you will be traveling. You may consider purchasing a long-term travel policy if your vacation is longer than the usual time limit. When deciding how extended your coverage should be, consider the time it will take for your journey and any other activities surrounding this trip. If any back-to-back trips or excursions are scheduled before or after your international vacation, these could add up quickly!
What is Covered by Your Plan?
Your international travel insurance plan covers the following:
Medical expenses. The program will pay for medical treatment received at a hospital or clinic, including necessary surgery, medicines, and other related costs. It’s important to note that most plans have exclusions for pre-existing conditions, also called exclusion periods. Suppose you have a pre-existing condition when purchasing your policy. It may be excluded from coverage until treated successfully and cleared by an authorized physician. Suppose you don’t remove the exclusion within a specific time frame, usually 90 days. In that case, any subsequent claim associated with that condition won’t be paid out either.
Repatriation of remains. Suppose something happens during travel that causes someone’s death, whether in another country or back home. The plan will cover costs associated with getting that person home safely to be buried according to their wishes. This might include transportation costs such as airfare, ambulance services, or even being put on hold. At the same time, officials work out what happened off-site before allowing anything else regarding repatriation plans moving forward.”
What is Not Covered by Your Plan?
Personal liability: If you get sued for something, it’s your problem.
Lost baggage: You’ll have to handle this yourself.
Natural disasters: Earthquakes, floods, etc., are not covered.
Terrorism and kidnapping: These are not explicitly covered by most policies; check your policy carefully before purchasing it to ensure that if these things happen to you while traveling abroad (which they almost certainly will), they will be covered by your plan.
Medical Evacuation to the United States
When traveling in a foreign country, you may find yourself in a situation where you must be evacuated. This is considered an emergency and is often not covered by all plans. Medical evacuation can also be expensive and risky, as it involves transferring you to another country without proper treatment. Therefore, it’s essential to do research before purchasing this coverage because it might not be worth the cost of your trip, which will only last a few days or weeks, especially if there are no other significant health risks involved with your travel plans.
To Conclude
Travel insurance is a must. It’s the most important thing you can buy before going on an international trip. Why? No one likes to be burdened with massive medical costs and other expenses resulting from an accident or injury that was only partially covered by their health insurance. Travel insurance will not only protect you in the case of a medical emergency or illness while overseas, but it will also cover any lost luggage and flights home if something unforeseen happens while traveling abroad.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
Understand Your Net Worth: Unlock Financial Clarity Today
Knowing your net worth provides the single most important financial metric for measuring true wealth—it’s simply your total assets minus total liabilities, revealing whether you’re building financial security or slowly sinking into debt.
I’ve spent two decades as CEO of Complete Controller, watching business owners transform their financial futures once they started tracking this powerful number. In fact, clients who regularly monitor their net worth achieve their financial goals 42% faster than those who focus solely on income. This guide shows you exactly how to calculate your net worth, avoid costly mistakes, and use strategic insights to accelerate wealth building through proven methods that actually work.
What does knowing your net worth really mean?
Knowing your net worth means understanding your true financial position by calculating total assets minus total liabilities
It reveals whether you’re building wealth or accumulating debt faster than assets grow
Regular tracking enables smarter decisions about major purchases, debt management, and investments
This knowledge provides measurable benchmarks for setting and achieving realistic financial goals
Understanding the psychology behind net worth helps overcome emotional barriers to honest financial assessment
Why Personal Net Worth Matters More Than Your Income
Personal net worth represents your actual financial strength, while income only shows current earning capacity. High earners often carry massive debt loads that leave them with negative net worth, while modest earners who save consistently build substantial wealth over time. Your financial status depends on the gap between what you own and what you owe, not what you earn.
The top 50% of American households control 98% of the country’s $160 trillion in wealth, while the bottom 50% own just 2%. This stark wealth distribution shows why building positive net worth through strategic planning matters more than chasing higher salaries without addressing spending habits and debt accumulation.
Asset evaluation requires honest market-based assessments rather than hopeful estimates. Your home’s value reflects current selling prices minus transaction costs, not purchase price or tax assessments. Investment accounts show today’s balances, not future projections. Vehicles depreciate rapidly regardless of loan balances. This reality check often reveals lower net worth than expected but provides the foundation for genuine improvement.
The Hidden Psychology Behind Financial Avoidance
Only 48% of Americans demonstrate financial literacy, with dramatic differences across income levels—just 28% of those earning under $25,000 annually understand basic financial concepts compared to 58% of higher earners. This knowledge gap directly impacts net worth tracking habits and wealth-building success.
Fear drives most people away from calculating their net worth. They worry about confronting debt levels, failed investments, or slow progress toward retirement goals. Yet avoiding this calculation guarantees continued financial drift without the feedback needed for course correction. Regular net worth monitoring transforms vague anxiety into specific action plans.
Breaking through mental barriers
Negative net worth during early career years or after major life changes represents a starting point, not permanent failure. Medical school graduates often begin with six-figure negative net worth that transforms into millions through strategic career and financial planning. The key lies in tracking progress rather than comparing to others.
Small daily decisions compound into major net worth impacts over time. That $5 coffee, $15 lunch, or $100 monthly subscription seems insignificant until you calculate the opportunity cost over decades. Understanding these connections naturally encourages mindful spending without restrictive budgets that fail.
Your Complete Net Worth Calculation Guide
Start your net worth calculation by listing all assets at current market values. Include checking accounts, savings accounts, money market funds, and investment portfolios using today’s balances. Add retirement accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs at full value, though remember these carry future tax obligations. Real estate requires realistic valuations based on recent comparable sales minus typical selling costs.
Personal property creates valuation challenges. Your car’s worth equals current selling price, not loan balance or purchase price. Jewelry, electronics, and collectibles need conservative estimates based on actual resale markets. Business ownership interests may require professional appraisal for accuracy, especially for illiquid partnerships or closely-held companies.
Essential steps to increase net worth
Compile all liabilities, including credit card balances, student loans, mortgages, auto loans, personal loans, and any informal debts to family members. List current payoff amounts, not original loan values. Include estimated tax obligations on investment gains or self-employment income. Every dollar owed reduces net worth equally regardless of the debt’s purpose.
Calculate net worth by subtracting total liabilities from total assets. This single number reveals your true financial position. Positive net worth means you own more than you owe—negative means debts exceed assets. Both situations offer opportunities for improvement through targeted strategies.
Track changes monthly or quarterly to identify trends. Rising net worth confirms good financial habits while declining values signal needed adjustments. Consistent monitoring provides accountability and celebrates progress that motivates continued improvement.
Digital Tools That Automate Net Worth Management
Modern net worth calculator apps like Personal Capital (now Empower), Mint, and YNAB connect directly to financial accounts for automatic updates. These platforms eliminate manual tracking errors while providing visual dashboards showing progress over time. Most offer free basic versions sufficient for straightforward financial situations.
Premium software, including Quicken and Tiller, provides advanced features like investment analysis, tax planning, and customizable reporting. Business owners benefit from specialized tracking that separates personal and company assets. The investment in paid tools often pays for itself through time savings and improved financial decisions.
Choosing your tracking system
Simple spreadsheets work perfectly for those preferring manual control or concerned about linking accounts. Basic templates track assets, liabilities, and changes over time without complexity. The best system is one you’ll actually use consistently rather than abandoning after initial enthusiasm fades.
Security concerns shouldn’t prevent digital tracking. Major platforms use bank-level encryption and read-only access that prevents unauthorized transactions. The risk of not tracking net worth far exceeds potential security issues from reputable financial applications.
Critical Mistakes That Destroy Net Worth Accuracy
Overestimating asset values ranks as the most dangerous net worth calculation error. American household median net worth peaked at $146,600 in 2007 but crashed to $87,800 by 2013—a 40% decline that caught many by surprise. Using inflated real estate values or ignoring market volatility creates false confidence leading to poor financial decisions.
A Complete Controller client discovered their calculated $450,000 net worth actually equaled $280,000 after an accurate assessment. They’d used home purchase price instead of current value, ignored vehicle depreciation, and excluded several small debts. Most critically, they hadn’t considered taxes due on 401(k) withdrawals, overestimating retirement readiness by nearly 40%.
Learning from real financial mistakes
Incomplete liability accounting undermines net worth accuracy. Forgetting informal loans, unpaid taxes, or medical bills creates unrealistic pictures. Student loan borrowers often exclude accrued interest from calculations. Credit card users forget about pending charges not yet posted. These omissions compound into significant errors.
Tax implications dramatically affect true net worth. Traditional retirement accounts face ordinary income taxes plus potential penalties for early withdrawal. Investment gains trigger capital gains taxes when sold. Real estate sales involve transaction costs averaging 8-10% of sale price. Ignoring these future obligations inflates current net worth beyond spendable reality.
Wealth Building Strategies That Actually Work
High-interest debt elimination provides guaranteed returns equal to the interest rate while immediately improving net worth. Credit cards charging 20% annually cost more than most investments earn. Paying off these balances creates instant wealth improvement plus improved cash flow for future investing.
Grant Sabatier built his net worth from nearly zero to $1.25 million in five years by age 30. His strategy involved maximizing income through strategic career moves, living below increased earnings, and investing the difference systematically. He discovered eight of his top ten happiness factors cost nothing, allowing aggressive saving without lifestyle sacrifice.
Advanced acceleration techniques
Tax-advantaged accounts multiply wealth building power. Contributing to 401(k) plans up to employer match provides immediate 100% returns. Health Savings Accounts offer triple tax benefits for medical expenses. Roth IRAs create tax-free growth for retirement. Maximizing these vehicles accelerates net worth growth beyond taxable investing.
Real estate leverages other people’s money for wealth building when approached strategically. A 20% down payment controls 100% of property appreciation while tenants pay mortgages. However, overleveraging during market peaks destroys net worth rapidly. Conservative debt levels and positive cash flow protect against downturns.
Side businesses generate additional income streams without sacrificing primary careers. Modern technology enables consulting, freelancing, or product sales with minimal startup costs. Even modest monthly profits compound into significant net worth improvements over time.
Final Thoughts
Knowing your net worth transforms vague financial anxiety into clear action plans for building wealth. This single metric cuts through income illusions and spending justifications to reveal true financial health. Regular tracking provides the accountability and motivation needed for consistent improvement regardless of starting point.
Throughout my career guiding entrepreneurs through financial challenges, I’ve witnessed how net worth awareness changes everything. Clients stop making decisions based on monthly payments and start evaluating total financial impact. They prioritize differently, save automatically, and build wealth systematically rather than hoping for windfalls.
Your financial clarity journey starts with calculating net worth today, then tracking monthly progress toward specific goals. Whether beginning with negative net worth or already accumulating assets, the commitment to monitoring and improving this metric drives better decisions automatically. Contact the experts at Complete Controller for professional guidance on accelerating your wealth-building journey through proven strategies tailored to your unique situation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Knowing Your Net Worth
What’s the difference between net worth and liquid net worth?
Net worth includes all assets minus liabilities, while liquid net worth only counts assets quickly convertible to cash without penalties or significant losses. Liquid net worth better represents emergency funds or opportunity capital available for immediate use.
How does knowing your net worth help with retirement planning?
Your net worth reveals whether current assets will support the desired retirement lifestyle after accounting for taxes and inflation. It shows the gap between current position and retirement goals, enabling specific savings targets and timeline adjustments for achieving financial independence.
Should I include my home’s value when calculating net worth?
Yes, include your home’s current market value minus mortgage balance in net worth calculations. However, recognize this equity isn’t easily accessible without selling or borrowing against the property, making it less useful for regular expenses or emergencies.
What net worth percentile should I target for my age group?
Federal Reserve data shows median net worth reaches $39,000 for under-35s, $135,600 for ages 35-44, and peaks at $409,900 for ages 65-74. Target exceeding your age group’s median while focusing on consistent improvement rather than comparison with others in different circumstances.
Can business owners include company value in personal net worth?
Business owners should include ownership stake value in personal net worth using conservative estimates based on realistic selling prices or professional valuations. However, separate personal and business finances clearly, recognizing business assets often lack liquidity and carry additional risks.
Sources
Austen Morris Associates. (2023). “Why Knowing Your Net Worth Is Important.” austenmorris.com
Business Insider. (April 2024). “A 30-Year-Old Millionaire Changed the Way I Handle Money.” businessinsider.com
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
Jennifer BrazerFounder/CEO
Jennifer is the author of From Cubicle to Cloud and Founder/CEO of Complete Controller, a pioneering financial services firm that helps entrepreneurs break free of traditional constraints and scale their businesses to new heights.
Brittany McMillen is a seasoned Marketing Manager with a sharp eye for strategy and storytelling. With a background in digital marketing, brand development, and customer engagement, she brings a results-driven mindset to every project. Brittany specializes in crafting compelling content and optimizing user experiences that convert. When she’s not reviewing content, she’s exploring the latest marketing trends or championing small business success.
In the face of instability, economic turmoil, and low rates, people are increasingly turning to applications that allow them to invest and monitor their financial situation. Interest in online banking and investment apps significantly grew in 2019. The growth was as much as 42.1%, according to the annual report of the analytical agency App Annie. Teams of people entering data, dealing with banks, conducting a review from distributed platforms, and physically processing financial information are all costs that growing businesses cannot afford. You could put the time saved by automating these operations toward infrastructure initiatives that help the company develop even more.
The second is the general popularization of investing and the ease of working with it. Suppose earlier, not everyone could work with trading tools. In that case, many large brokers and banks now offer their clients convenient mobile applications and semi-automated trading solutions that work with little or no client participation. Further, we will learn about the current patterns, functionality, and interface of popular online banking and investment applications to understand what a fintech application should be like in the future. Fintech applications are software applications that make it easier for consumers to live within their means through technology. Some popular finance programs are PayPal, Shopify, and Union. People can use these apps to transfer conveniently and benefit financially, track their expenditures, and manage their income.
Banking Applications
Currently, all banking applications in the US work according to three business models – daily banking, digital office, and ecosystem core.
Daily Banking – performing standard transactions and managing a debit card.
Digital Office – is an Internet banking service that, in terms of its functionality, can replace a visit to a physical outlet for a client.
Ecosystem core – introducing third-party services into banking applications by banks and providing non-financial products to customers.
The primary trend of the previous year can be called the transformation of super-app banking applications and the creation of ecosystems. Most financial experts agree that in 15 to 20 years, no traditional banks will be left. Due to the heated competition in the market for each client, banks are forced to look for other ways to increase loyalty. Other valuable functions include document recognition, subscription to traffic police fines, registration as a self-employed person, pension transfer, tax payment, and income and expenses analytics.
Interface
At the end of 2018, many banks updated the design of their mobile application. The main elements of the interface will adapt to the user based on behavioral analysis and preferences. On the dashboard, the user sees the total balance and purchasing securities. The portfolio also has an Expert Advisor who estimates how much you can earn if you buy certain shares.
Functional
The application has all the functions necessary for the investor. Novice investors can start trading based on the investment ideas of other investors and ready-made portfolios from the bank. The application has a section with up-to-date forecasts and analytics. Interestingly, you can customize it by adding securities to your favorites and thus follow the news about issuers in the My section. Beginners and professionals also have access to the strategies of the best market players. In the application, they publish their ideas about buying securities. For each author, statistics of successful ideas and income data are available, based on which his rating is formed.
The application generally has a standard interface allowing beginners and experienced traders to trade. Inside the portfolio, the overview of assets is detailed and has analytics on ownership history and price. The client sees portfolio purchases, active orders, and transaction history graphs. Conveniently, users can set up Alerts, for example, when the price of a particular security or financial instrument is broken through, followed by a push notification.
Conclusion
To summarize, what are the essential functions and interface details that a fintech application have in the future? Regarding functionality, Internet banking should have a simple registration with a low entry threshold for non-customers and many integrations with government agencies, such as interest, tax, and fund flow analytics. You should note that enormous players have marketplaces with non-banking services. Whether this will become a general trend, time will tell. As for the interface, the main trends are personalization and simplification. This means customizable onboarding, extended transaction history, detailed filters, and good analytics visualization for banks. Given the large influx of novice investors, investment applications should have assistants, ready-made portfolios, an intuitive interface with action analytics, and a learning component.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
When searching and systematizing educational programs in digital law and FinTech Law, it reviewed the literature on the research topic and the comparative method. Organizing national strategies for the digitalization of the economy used a formal legal process. It is also a platform where companies use new financial technologies and solutions to compete with traditional financial institutions for the hearts and funds of customers. Most often, these are tech startups and companies that improve their services with the help of fintech tools.
When formulating the author’s concept of the system of financial law, the place of the legal institution FinTech Law in this system, systematic and integrated approaches were used. A competency-based approach was used when formulating methodological proposals for integrating legal, financial, and digital literacy.
It first embodied the idea of fintech in the form of the Diners Club credit card payment system in the 1960s. It was focused on paying for entertainment and travel and appeared because one of its founders, Frank McNamara, one day did not have enough money to pay for a dinner at a New York restaurant. Then came the first bank credit card. In the 60s and 70s, self-service points at gas stations, supermarkets, and public transport created the environment for the emergence of ATMs. In the 80s, the first electronic trading appeared. In the 90s, big data took its first steps, and Peter Knight, in his article for the Sunday Times, mentions the word fintech for the first time. To them, he described the bot that made changes to his email.
Personal Finance – mobile and desktop applications from startups that help users manage their finances, analyze costs, and receive forecasts of future expenses through detailed reports.
Lending – is one of the most popular directions, based on the possibility of borrowing without the participation of banks. Startups work based on distributed registries and help lenders and borrowers from the consumer and business sectors cooperate profitably.
Money transfers – startups in this area allow users to transfer money without the participation of banks. They use mobile platforms and simple authentication in their work.
Cryptocurrencies are digital currencies that work automatically without a central payment system and are mined by miners using robust computing systems. Many startups, exchanges, exchangers, and investment platforms are built on cryptocurrency, and millions of dollars are capitalized on them, but financial experts cannot see the future of this industry.
Blockchain is a technology for distributed data registries. Each participant in its chain is a server for itself, confirming the legitimacy of the operations of other users. The technology is distinguished by its reliability; the Bitcoin cryptocurrency is built on it. This technology has spawned many solutions and startups. For example, it is used for smart contracts, copyright proof, biometric security, trade and deal-making, energy distribution, and voting.
Main Findings
As a prerequisite for the scientific and educational conceptualization of the FinTech Law Institute, the author substantiates globalization, which manifested itself in the field of Finance, both negatively and positively – through the creation of a new risk-oriented system of international and national financial and legal regulation sensitive to the digital challenges of our time. Based on a review of the scientific and educational experience of conceptualizing the FinTech Law sphere in the US and abroad, the author formulates proposals for the development of the subject and the transformation of the system of financial law, including the allocation of three large formations (sub-branches) in this system in the form of monetary regulation, fiscal law, and the law of financial markets, as well as the complex institute FinTech Law.
The author highlights the problems of the synthesis of legal and financial literacy in the training of lawyers as a prerequisite for the effective digitalization of professional competencies and proposes methodological approaches to forming such a synthesis.
Conclusion
The article formulates conceptual and practical proposals for transforming the system of financial law and improving the methodological foundations for the formation of complex financial and legal literacy of lawyers in the context of globalization and digitalization, substantiating the place of FinTech Law in the professional training system of lawyers.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
While the word ‘budget’ has almost become a negative synonym in a household context for ‘limited living and a lot of hassle,’ budgeting means ‘ spending more efficiently.’ While it may seem difficult to budget, it is much easier than expected.
Below, you can read about how to assemble a budget in eight effortless steps quickly. Get started right away.
Managing your finances can be easy or hard for you. It depends on your situation. Are you a single person, newlywed, or a family of four, or are you seeking to run your business?
However, knowing how to budget properly is a particular skill for everyone.
Budgeting stops overspending
A lack of a well-thought-out plan always leads to overspending. This limits your purchasing power in the future and often results in unnecessary extra headaches. The stress of paying for rising energy costs can be significantly reduced when your budget is known and calculated in advance.
Budgeting can help you achieve your goals
Financial goals can range from paying off debt to starting your own business. Your budget will help you prioritize your expenses and meet these goals.
With a Budget, you can save money
Once you have allocated your money to certain things, you automatically save a nice amount each month that you can set aside or invest. This is an essential step in building wealth. So, you can rest assured that you can sleep soundly. And that is what financial freedom is all about.
It helps you to worry less about creating
Creating a personal budget is about creating opportunities to spend your money wisely and gain more control over your life. You decide exactly how much you spend in each category and quickly see when to stop when you run out of money.
It helps you be flexible
You can completely adjust the amount spent each month per category. So, you can be flexible in your spending and not be forced to touch the money set aside for savings.
It helps you stay in control
You should know precisely when to stop if there is a time when you are running out of money. Making a budget gives you a plan that is easy to follow and prepares you for the future.
Step 1: Record your Income
This can provide pleasant surprises, as the income for many people is often higher than expected.
Also, note when exactly you will receive this income.
Some income regularly returns every month, every quarter, every six months, or every year.
It may, therefore, be wise also to make an average calculation of your income. You add up all your income and divide this number by twelve.
You also include tax refunds, allowances, and child benefits in your total income.
Step 2: Record your expenses
This contains rent, car benefits, auto coverage, foodstuffs, clothing, utility bills, entertainment, household expenses, student loans, retirement savings, and anything you spend money on.
Also, note which week of the month the expenses are incurred. For example, the rent or mortgage is often paid during week one, and the energy bill is usually settled in week four.
Step 3: Divide your expenses into ‘fixed’ and ‘variable’ costs
Fixed payments recur each month and remain constant throughout the year. They are part of your daily lifestyle. These costs remain unchanged during the year (unless there are sudden changes in your situation, such as moving house) and can be regarded as fixed.
When you need to make savings or spend more money, variable expenses are the easiest to influence.
Step 4: Calculate your monthly balance
You are well on your way if your bottom line is more revenue than expenses. This means you have money left over to invest in things like retirement savings or pay off your loans or credit card bills faster to eliminate your debt more quickly.
You must make some changes if your expense column shows a higher total amount than your income.
Step 5: Set financial goals
Now that you have a clear overview of your costs and expenses, it is time to set goals. This is done quickly:
Download an app for your guidance
Many housekeeping apps are out there today to help you budget. Use the AFAS household book or surf to kasboek.nl. You can get more inspiration from our article about the Best Household Booklets Tested for You.
Be realistic
You must develop good financial habits and stay consistent with your savings goals.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
Applying for appropriate insurance coverage is critical for small company owners. When you start, you will require a great deal of money to invest; nevertheless, natural disasters, accidents, professional default, and property damage might result in additional costs that may not be favorable. To avoid this, delegate this responsibility to insurance plans and sign relief.
Property insurance
Property insurance will cover the costs of your company’s property that has been pinpointed by thieves or damaged by a fire. Furthermore, property insurance covers the structure and office furniture, products, machinery, raw materials, and other fundamental processes. However, because this insurance can cover equipment breakdown, cleaning up after a fire or other damaging event, water leaks, and other losses, it depends entirely on the type of coverage you have committed to.
Liability insurance
Customer discontent might be caused by a faulty product or a service default. However, since consumers have the right to sue you for any harm your product has caused them, you must carry insurance to safeguard your firm from these possible threats. Liability insurance can act as a good defense because it pays for responsible damages up to the policy limitations. It also includes attorney’s fees, other legal defense costs, and medical payments for those hurt on its premises.
Business auto insurance
A business auto policy covers the vehicles the business owns. According to the plan limitations, the insurance would cover any expenses involved by external parties due to physical harm or loss for whom the company is legally responsible.
Workers compensation insurance
Worker compensation insurance is required in the United States for organizations with more than the standard number of employees. This insurance often compensates for health treatment and lost wages for an injured employee or a worker who has died due to work-related injuries, and it will pay the family. This insurance is inappropriate if your company is tiny, with only 2-3 employees.
Business income coverage
Natural disasters can now be predicted owing to advances in weather forecasting. On the other hand, businesses that cannot afford to lose valuable assets are vulnerable to severe calamities. Consequently, company income coverage protects you from incident-related expenses and losses.
Commercial property insurance
This coverage is a must-have if you’ve just started a real estate firm! Commercial property insurance helps secure your company’s property, equipment, and future from significant disasters and thievery.
House-based company insurance
Designed for companies operating from the owner’s residence, home-based business insurance is generally included in homeowners’ policies to cover office assets and accidents to clients while they are in the home.
BOP (business owner’s policy)
This insurance package is perhaps the most prevalent insurance plan for small firms. It integrates primary liabilities, assets, and revenue protection into a single policy, potentially lowering insurance rates.
Cyber risk coverage
The ever-increasing threat of cyber-attacks concerns businesses. Furthermore, one approach most likely to result in the worst consequences is that attackers will not target small company owners. Unfortunately, small businesses are an easy target for cybercriminals since they are less safeguarded than huge organizations. Furthermore, you lose your clients’ confidence because of this.
Cyber risk coverage can cover the costs of a data/cyber intrusion to your computer, network, or other electronic systems.
Disability insurance
Due to its guaranteed payouts to wounded or ill employees at a proportion of their salary, this insurance policy is reviewed as one of the most basic. However, do not confuse this policy with workers’ compensation, as the two are unrelated. For example, a pregnant employee may be eligible for disability payments after birth.
Furthermore, some states encourage businesses to equip modest disability insurance for 3-6 months after an injury.
It would be best if you corresponded since running a small business can be prone to unpredictable events resulting in considerable losses. However, one critical technique to implement is taking risks to build your business; nevertheless, you must plan for disaster compensation to prevent additional costs.
Buying Business Insurance Tips
Examine your dangers: Evaluate the level of protection your company needs. For example, you’ll need workers’ compensation coverage if you have the personnel. Commercial property insurance or company income coverage is also imperative if you reside where frequent natural catastrophes occur.
Determine a licensed agent using the following steps: If you’re confused about which coverage to purchase, an insurance provider can assist you in determining your company’s needs and the policy that best meets them.
Please browse ratings, compare prices, and get feedback from other small business owners about their insurance companies. It’s also excellent to call a few different insurance companies and agents to ensure you’re getting the most outstanding coverage and costs for your company.
Reevaluate regularly: Your company’s requirements may alter over time. For example, if your company relocates, you may need to change insurance providers or buy extra coverage due to the new environment.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
A credit card insurance policy offers financial protection to the cardholder. This insurance policy covers the cardholder’s payments in case of an unpredictable accident or event resulting in death, loss of income, injury, or disability. But this is what everyone knows; this article will discuss some information you must understand regarding the credit card insurance policy.
Life has the potential to shock the worst out of you. And you may relate; some events happen so unexpectedly that we have no other option but to accept them. But as wise people advise you to prepare for the worst in life, this is a sign for you to consider a credit card insurance policy. Why? If you are using a credit card to pay for essentials, then in case of an accident, which results in either unforeseen demise or damage to your car, in both cases, A credit insurance plan can provide financial protection; the amount varies from company to company, however, upon retrieval of mandatory documentation, this policy can work as a shield to prevent you from crippling.
Now, another prevalent situation that occurs is trip cancellation. This often happens due to emergencies, but the consequences of this unfortunate event can cost you a fortune. However, if you had done this through your credit card, you can avoid these expenses. For instance, illness, family emergency, accident, or another event can result in trip cancellation. But unfortunately, it doesn’t offer protection because of weather changes or existing health issues.
This is the best coverage for Americans who frequently lose or harm their phones! But only if you have purchased it with your credit card. If, at this time, you lose or damage your mobile phone within the mentioned time and policy, then you can claim the coverage.
This one is the most common insurance coverage. Purchase protection offers a financial shield if your product is either stolen, broken, or lost within the timeframe necessitated by the policy; this insurance can reimburse the amount for the purchase price. Likewise, you require evidence to make a claim.
This insurance can improve your situation if you have lost your luggage and have not found it within 48 hours. But this only applies when you paid flight tickets through the insured credit card. On the other hand, many insurance policies do not cover passport coverage. Before proceeding with the trip plan, make sure your credit card offers protection in these cases. If not, I recommend a travel insurance policy for financial safety.
Due to bad weather or any other valid reason that resulted in flight cancellation and delayed your trip, a credit card insurance policy will reimburse for the expenses, such as staying in a hotel to catch the next flight or paying for your meals and other essentials. Nevertheless, you can only benefit from this if you have paid for the flight with your credit card.
Unfortunately, a credit card insurance policy covers the medical expenses if you or your travel companion has been injured or killed on a trip.
How do You get the Most from Your Credit Card Insurance Policy?
You must go through the cardholder agreement comprehensively to comprehend the policy. For instance, your credit card policy may reimburse the lost luggage but not the passport. Therefore, understanding and looking over each detail, such as the claims, time limits, and reimbursements, is imperative. If you are dubious about any aspect, be vocal and ask your issuer to explain it.
Secondly, keep track of your credit card purchases if you are willing to benefit from the offer. In addition, when you truly master the insurance policy specifics, it provides a fantastic grasp of managing the credit card. For instance, if you know your policy covers mobile protection, you can pay your phone bills with it.
Do You Need a Credit Card Insurance Policy?
Yes, suppose you imprudently use your credit card for shopping, and your financial condition is unstable. In that case, it’s highly recommended to get credit card insurance. Additionally, this offer maintains your credit score. But you need to ensure you receive the maximum out of it; it’s paramount to choose the best and wise deal that provides the best financial protection.
Along with the features and categories of insurance stated earlier, you can obtain various perks and protections based on your credit card and insurance plan. Before acquiring a credit card insurance plan, ensure you examine your needs and pick the plan that best meets them.
Inquire about the policy’s exclusions. Check that you are not paying for anything you do not require. Be wary of time limits, such as credit insurance coverage.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
People with a money mindset select their advisors wisely. Some people prefer relying on their financial skills. Still, a more significant proportion of wealthy folds enjoy working with financial advisors. The primary focus of an advisor is to pinpoint your top financial mistakes and prevent you from continuing those. However, working with a financial advisor based on your requirements despite their portion in the profit can lead you to the trajectory of financial success only if your advisor is wisely chosen and considers your situation. Here are some suggestions to help you select a financial advisor online.
Determine Your Current Financial Need
Assess which elements of your finances require assistance before speaking with a financial advisor. The top financial advisor will be able to assist you in charting a route for all your sources of funds. It might include retirement investment advice, debt payback, other recommendations to secure you and your household, and estate preparation.
Ask yourself, what are the benefits of working with a financial advisor? What kind of help are you looking for?
Defining the necessity before looking for the right match for your goal is critical. Furthermore, financial counselors come in at least eight varieties; Investment advisers, certified financial planners, financial coaches and brokers, financial advisers, wealth advisors, portfolio and investment managers, and Robo-advisors are all examples of financial consultants.
Once you’ve determined the area, you’ll be able to make the proper selection about which financial adviser to hire.
Research Their Credentials
Checking their qualifications is a practical approach to understanding their capacity and how reliable they are. According to authentic resources, a qualified financial advisor will gladly offer you their credentials to demonstrate their relevance and credibility. Furthermore, remember that skilled financial adviser uses their soft skills to communicate with their customers while incorporating their professional expertise effectively.
Analyze Their Market Depth
Before engaging with a financial advisor, assess their market depth. Determine how many clients they’ve previously worked with and their success rate. Was their advice helpful, and did they meet their financial objectives?
As a responsible individual, you must consider the experience of a financial advisor before deciding on one.
How do Financial Advisors Earn Their Income?
Financial advisers working on a service charge make a living from the costs you pay for their expertise. Such fees are calculated as a particular ratio of the funds you handle; it could be hourly pay or a fixed rate. Considering that their revenue comes from clients, ensuring you get the most outstanding financial programs and products is in their best interests.
You must exercise caution if you choose to deal with a financial consultant compensated by sales commissions. Third-party sales commissions are a source of income for certain financial advisers. Others may impose fees as mentioned above, implying that third-party commissions account for just a portion of their revenue. Furthermore, commission-only advisers aren’t fiduciaries; they operate as salesmen for brokerage firms selling investments and insurance.
Is Your Prospective Financial Advisor a Teacher at Heart?
As David Ramsey advised, picking a financial advisor who teaches is crucial. We cited this characteristic after completing extensive research. And this is a valid point. It can be terrible if your financial advisor does not grasp your demands and is looking forward to selling their products only. He must have the heart of a teacher and patiently answer your inquiries. Consider the following questions: Does he ring true with you? Recognize your needs and provide guidance that is personalized to them. Is he capable of forming a long-term bond with your most valuable possession?
Make Use of Your Negotiating Talents
Don’t take the quoted price at face value; do your homework. You should study extensively and choose the top options in your field of interest. Furthermore, communicate with them if you feel you should pay less. Make sure they understand your needs while still leaving room for theirs. However, it is contingent on your negotiating abilities and how you handle the situation and avoid viewing it as a verbal quarrel.
It necessitates a great deal of work and verification. You should go out of your way to find them to prevent fraud and provide them access with a happy heart.
What are The Questions that I Should Ask?
Do you work as a fee-based financial advisor or as a fiduciary? What types of customers do you usually work with? What information do I need to provide for you to consider my financial plan? How frequently do you plan to meet with me? Will you work with my other consultants, such as CPAs or lawyers?
What are Some Excellent Options Available Online?
SoFi Automated Investing
Betterment
Wealthfront
Ellevest
Blooom
Vanguard Digital Advisor
Schwab Intelligent Portfolios
Fidelity Go: e-Portfolios
If you choose to use a robot adviser, here is some information.
Robo-advisors are low-cost, automated investing systems that use computational operations to handle money. These platforms are suitable for newbies or beginning investors who don’t have much cash but want to contribute to an investing portfolio. You can anticipate an optimum long-term portfolio when you use a Robo-advisor. Still, you will lose control over your financial decisions.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
Economics is generally referred to as ‘social science,’ getting its roots in studying essential aspects such as sociology, psychology, and political sciences. The central idea of economics is to simplify human affairs by providing choices and alternatives to maximize our limited resources and satisfy human wants. As responsible individuals, our fundamental right is to be well-informed about the studies that enlighten us on our problems and their solutions. Economics is a universal subject, allowing you to be confident and conduct a fulfilling life by allocating resources efficiently; however, it isn’t limited to this; economics is also a critical factor in the business world.
Worth Population Growth; Malthusian and the Optimum Theory
A significant purpose of economics is to supply people’s wants for goods and services by studying the population trends and enacting them. However, population and economy are directly proportional; how? Because people make an imperative contribution to the productive capacity of an economy.
We are fortunate to have great personalities who play an essential role in the human well-being of a country.
Malthusian theory: The most well-known theory for the population propounded by Thomas Robert Malthus studies the rapid increase in population and food production. This theory emphasizes the necessity of food in the lives of humans and a vital check on the population since the human population increases faster than food production.
Malthus feared misery, and his theory was criticized as conservative and pessimistic upon introducing an optimal approach. However, the Malthusian view is still relevant and applicable in poor developing countries dependent on agriculture, minerals, or energy exports. It exercised a vital check on the population as well.
The modern theory of population is the optimum theory; Modern economists rejected the Malthusian approach, focusing on reducing the maximum population. However, the contemporary theory has substituted the idea of the entire population with the optimum population. By optimum, they meant the best and ideal size of the country’s population, like it’s neither small nor big but just accurate to the amount a country should have. In this scenario, resources, state of technical knowledge, and stock of capital will be according to the actual size of the population at which the income of the goods and services per capita will be the highest.
This theory outplaced the previous one with its promising strategy to handle the population and limited available resources.
What is the Point?
We must study population theories since humans are the core of the economy and society’s development, enabling us to transform materials into resources. Checking the number of people, contributions, distribution, characteristics, and growth is essential. Humans are the producers and consumers of natural resources; therefore, we must know how to use them efficiently.
Capital Formation
“Capital formation” refers to the rise in a country’s stock of natural capital. Capital accumulation is the heart of the economic development of any country. In the view of many great economists, capital formation occupies the core position in strategic planning. A severe limiting factor in underdeveloped countries is insufficient capital accumulation.
This concept is especially essential for entrepreneurs and investors to evaluate the current position of the country and financing options; moreover, it offers a clear view of market depth and analyzes investment strategies.
Concept of Inflation
In ordinary language, inflation is the process of rising prices. Increased money supply, disposable incomes, foreign demands, population, salaries, and aggregate spending on consumption and investment goods cause it. When the costs of collecting money rise, the situation is termed inflationary. Deliberate policies are often applied to prevent price rises for the time being, but it is, unfortunately, momentary. Nevertheless, these causes may occur singly or with one another. But, generally, the most important reason is the excessive public expenditure financed by deficit financing either during a war or carrying out plans for economic development.
What is the Point?
Understanding the concept of inflation is fundamental for investors since inflation drastically decreases the value of investment profits. Furthermore, it severely impacts every economic aspect, including consumer spending, investment, interest rates, tax policies, and programs. For example, suppose you are planning to buy a house or car on loan or place savings in a high-yield savings account; by grasping this concept, you can figure out the right moment to pursue these decisions and not get into the misery trap.
Scarce and Choices
Economics studies how we can utilize scarce resources to satisfy our wants. In general, scarce resources include raw materials, energy, labor, etc. However, the demand concerning the supply of a good or service determines the status of scarcity, not the quantity. By understanding this concept, we can efficiently utilize scarce resources or discover alternative uses to satisfy our wants. As all the demands cannot be met with limited resources, in this case, an individual will make a rational choice and fulfill the more critical need.
Time Value of Money
This principle is crucial for learners who wish to handle their money efficiently. The time value of money concept believes that a dollar now is worth more than a dollar tomorrow from an authentic economic perspective. We may use the time worth of money to guide us in several ways. It not only motivates us to invest our money to outperform market interest rates, but it also instructs us to consider inflation. As a consumer, your primary goal is to increase your revenue ahead of inflation; perhaps you’ll be able to preserve your current lifestyle.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
If you have a twinkle of this gratifying art, stop loafing around and give your words a stage already. If you are blessed with the ability to play with words, nobody can stop you from conquering the world; maybe I went too far, like winning the hearts of your readers.
It’s truly a rewarding path. However, there has been a general assertion that ‘Writers are underpaid.’ No, it’s not true anymore. Thanks to the incredible revolution in the digital world, we have witnessed an exponential rise in self-publishing authors.
In a recent survey, 66% of young adult readers find printed books better. However, we cannot overlook the statistics of 34%. Regardless, both methods have their essence and are fulfilling routes. It depends on your preference. But, for your convenience, we have jotted down both ways and their specific qualities to help you decide which road will work for you.
E-books are friendly, easy to use, and customizable. Moreover, they have the potential to make higher profits and have no gatekeepers to dictate. Most importantly, in traditional publishing, it’s daunting to get your story accepted in the publishing house since they are hunting to invest in authors with a line of success. In self-publishing, you don’t have any barriers in the way. Prepare your book amazingly and share it on the platforms. We will discuss good self-publishing websites later in this article. Also, in eBooks, you have full ownership of royalties and rights.
But, as every coin has another side, from designing to marketing, you are responsible for these factors, which can consume energy and money. Everything falls on your shoulders. Even if you hire a professional for this task, their charges can be expensive.
Nevertheless, as an avid reader, I have always preferred reading in physical form. Why? You can cut off from the world for a couple of hours and escape to another world. The essence of reading a book is unmatched, and no matter how tiring the process of traditional publishing is, the audience still prefers books.
Moreover, everything is handled professionally by the publishing house, even the distribution, from design to marketing. But here, you don’t have authority over anything; the publisher may introduce a different direction or change everything about your book. You can’t control the appearance, price, and often marketing. Furthermore, running your book in the market can take up to a year. However, this route is more prestigious since you can find copies of your babies near a bookstore; that proud moment is indefinable!
However, both routes have their peaks and valleys. The success ratio in either self or traditional publishing is hidden in your content, like what genre you want to publish. It can help you in assessing your target audience. Many genres are hit online but do not make much profit once launched in a book form. It’s a complex matter, but do what you are inclined to.
Additionally, in each path, you need to have an adequate audience. You can’t just put your story into the world without having some fan base. For this, consider making a blog and consistently sharing your content to amass readers who will later invest in your book.
It was a thorough introduction to the writing industry and its requirements. Now, we will explain the ‘process’ to earn ‘more’ money, which is possible in only one way: eBooks.
The writing industry experienced a great revolution when Amazon’s self-publishing leveled its game.
Anybody with an interest in writing can publish a book regardless of experience. First-time authors are greatly encouraged to pursue this path. You can write about any topic, fiction, nonfiction, history, or children’s books. Presently, self-help books are popular.
Other platforms include Kindle, CreateSpace, iBooks, Kobo, Smashwords, etc. These mediums differ in functionality but offer the privilege to self-publish and potentially profit you around $300 a month. We contacted many self-made authors and asked for their insights. They all responded positively to this independent route that earns them more than $400 monthly.
Now, let’s focus on the focal point. How much can you earn through it?
Unlike traditional publishing, you can receive 40 to 60% of royalties, where you only receive 10 to 15%. Despite the massive profit, editing, designing, formatting, and marketing costs will be charged from your pocket.
The steps to publishing a book online and building a cash machine
Find your genre
Do editing like a professional
Design a beautiful cover
Choose your self-publishing platform
Format your book
Launch it intelligently with complete market research
Sell yourself on social media and build visibility
People look for good content, be it in any form. If they find it interesting, they will be willing to spend money and experience the joy. The phrase ‘quality content always wins’ is applicable here. If your story is compelling and offers readers a valuable lesson to take away, then you are halfway to the path to success. However, remember that there is no shortcut or overnight success in this field, though it may be possible rarely. Consider preparing a book that is engaging, marketable, and has an appealing cover design. Consequently, earn more than $400 per month!
Best wishes!
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.