How to Finance Your Home

To get a mortgage, you first apply for a loan promise. Below, you can read more about how to take out a home loan. It is easier to make a good home purchase if you are prepared and know how much you can borrow. When you search for a new house, it is wise to have the loan promise in order even before the show. A loan promise is an advance notice from the bank about how much you can borrow for your new home. However, it is necessary to remember that the loan promise is limited in time and only applies for a certain period. You also find out how much the bank thinks you can afford with a loan promise. You can embrace up to 85% of the value of the home. You need to shoot the remaining part yourself, a so-called cash bet. LastPass – Family or Org Password Vault

Review Your Finances

Before looking for condominiums, reviewing your finances may be a good idea. What can you afford? Start by doing a mortgage calculation and see your housing cost. Then you know how much you can afford and can focus on the right home. Remember to consider costs such as electricity, property tax, and the margin for interest rate increases.

How Much Can I Borrow?

How big a mortgage you can receive depends on many different things you agree with your bank. The bank considers, among other things:

  • How many of you are in the family
  • Form of employment
  • Household income
  • How much cash bet can you put
  • Other possible loans that you or you already have.
  • The monthly fee to the association (if you want to buy a condominium)

Apply for a Loan Promise

It is essential to be prepared. You don’t know when your dream home will turn up. With a loan promise in hand, you know in advance how much you can borrow and can strike immediately when you have found your new home. A loan promise costs nothing, is not binding, and is limited in time. ADP. Payroll – HR – Benefits

Valuation of Existing Housing

Do you own a home to be sold while you’re looking for a new one? Of course, we are happy to help you sell your current home. Contact your local broker for free valuation and advice. Then, you get a head start when the dream home appears. Together, we lay the foundation and tailor your home sales search for your new dream home.

Cash Bet

To take out a mortgage, you must have a cash contribution of at least 15% of the price of the home. A cash contribution is part of the purchase price not covered by the mortgage.

Down Payment Loan

At the housing deal itself, you need to pay a down payment. It is produced when you sign the purchase contract and must be paid back by the seller when you gain access to your new home.

Bridging Loans

A bridging loan is a temporary loan for you who take over your new home before you have had time to sell your previous home. The sale of the old home usually finances the new home, and if you have not had time to sell the old house, a situation arises where you lack the purchase price for the new home. You will repay the bridging loan as soon as the old home has been sold. Download A Free Financial Toolkit

The Size of the Mortgage 

When you take out a mortgage to purchase a house, the mortgage may not exceed 85 percent of the purchase price, i.e., the final price for the home. The remaining 15 percent must consist of a cash contribution. If you buy a house for $1 million, the loan must not be more than $850,000.

Amortization Requirements

On March 1, 2018, there was a stricter repayment requirement, meaning the bank needs to consider the loan amount to your income. New borrowers with mortgages that exceed 4.5 times the gross income must repay at least 1% of the mortgages in addition to the application requirement.

  • If you have a loan between 70–85% of the market value, you must repay at least 2% of the loan amount per year
  • If you have a loan between 50–70% of the market value, you must repay at least 1% of the loan amount per year
CorpNet. Start A New Business Now 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. Complete Controller. America’s Bookkeeping Experts

Investment Allocation Tips for Success

By: Jennifer Brazer

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.

Fact Checked By: Brittany McMillen


Allocating Your Investment: Expert Tips for Maximum Return
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Investment allocation strategies balance risk and reward, creating a framework that empowers investors to achieve their long-term financial goals through market cycles. Selecting the right mix of assets is the cornerstone of successful investing—more important than picking individual securities.

Every investor faces the challenge of building a portfolio that can weather market volatility while capturing growth opportunities. Whether you’re just starting your investment journey or managing substantial wealth, the principles of smart allocation can mean the difference between consistent progress and frustrating setbacks.

What is investment allocation and how do you maximize returns?

  • Investment allocation is the strategic distribution of capital across different asset classes based on risk tolerance, time horizon, and financial goals, maximized through diversification, regular rebalancing, and adjusting strategies as market conditions change.
  • Effective allocation starts with understanding your personal risk profile and time horizon, then building a portfolio that matches these parameters while aiming for the highest potential returns.
  • Regular rebalancing prevents portfolio drift and maintains your intended risk profile, ensuring you’re not over-exposed during market downturns.
  • Diversification across uncorrelated asset classes reduces overall portfolio volatility while capturing growth from different market sectors.
  • Professional portfolio management often outperforms DIY approaches through disciplined execution of allocation strategies and access to institutional-level research. CorpNet. Start A New Business Now

The Science of Strategic Asset Allocation

Strategic asset allocation forms the foundation of intelligent investing by establishing baseline percentages for each asset class in your portfolio. This approach isn’t about market timing but creating a resilient framework that aligns with your financial goals and risk tolerance. Research consistently shows that asset allocation—not individual security selection—determines approximately 90% of portfolio returns over time.

Core principles of risk-return optimization

Understand how equities, bonds, and cash form the foundation of modern portfolios, with equities offering higher potential returns at greater risk. Stocks historically deliver 7-10% average annual returns with significant volatility, while bonds typically return 3-5% with moderate fluctuations. Cash equivalents provide stability but struggle to outpace inflation.

“A 50% stocks / 50% bonds mix historically may achieve 7.5% annual returns, but requires strict adherence to rebalancing.” Vanguard Model Portfolios

Your optimal allocation must reflect your time horizon—the longer you can stay invested, the more equity exposure you can reasonably tolerate. Younger investors with 30+ year horizons might consider 80-90% equity allocations, while those nearing retirement often shift toward 40-60% to protect accumulated wealth.

Strategic vs. tactical allocation

Compare long-term strategic plans (e.g., 60/40 stock/bond split) with tactical shifts for market opportunities:

  • Strategic: Buy-and-hold approach using historic return expectations
  • Tactical: Short-term adjustments (e.g., moving to cash during volatility)

The strategic approach establishes your investment North Star—a portfolio allocation you return to after market movements push you off course. In contrast, tactical allocation makes temporary adjustments based on economic indicators, valuations, or market trends.

Pro Tip: Young investors tolerate higher equity exposure; retirees prioritize capital preservation with bond-heavy portfolios to generate income and reduce principal fluctuations during withdrawal phases.

Diversification Tactics for Risk-Managed Growth

Effective diversification goes beyond simply owning multiple investments—it requires spreading capital across assets that respond differently to economic conditions. This approach reduces portfolio volatility while maintaining growth potential, allowing you to stay invested through market turbulence.

Asset class diversity

Spread investments across:

  • Traditional: Stocks, bonds, REITs
  • Alternatives: Private equity, commodities, cryptocurrencies

Each asset class plays a specific role in your portfolio. Large-cap stocks provide growth and often dividends, while small-caps offer higher growth potential with increased volatility. Government bonds provide stability during stock market declines, and corporate bonds offer yield with moderate risk. Real estate investments deliver income and inflation protection through direct property ownership or REITs.

Asset ClassRisk LevelReturn Potential
Equities High High
Bonds Medium Moderate
Cash/Cash EquivalentsLow Low

 

When building your diversified portfolio, consider your specific financial situation rather than blindly following general rules. A business owner already has significant exposure to their company’s success might need more conservative financial investments to balance overall risk.

Sector & geographic diversification

Avoid overconcentration in single industries (e.g., tech stocks in 2000s crash):

  1. Domestic vs. International: Balance US exposure with emerging markets
  2. Cyclicals vs. Defensives: Offset volatile sectors with stable industries

Many investors unknowingly concentrate in familiar sectors—particularly technology and consumer discretionary. This creates dangerous vulnerabilities during sector-specific downturns. Consider how differently utilities, healthcare, and technology stocks performed during the 2020 pandemic. While tech soared, energy and financials struggled.

Geographic diversification provides similar benefits. When the US market experiences headwinds, international markets (particularly emerging economies) may continue growing. Aim for exposure to different economic regions through broad international funds or targeted country-specific ETFs for more sophisticated portfolios.

Mastering Asset Allocation Strategies in Modern Markets

Today’s investment landscape offers sophisticated tools for optimizing allocation beyond traditional approaches. By leveraging data-driven methodologies and understanding market dynamics, investors can build portfolios aligned with both mathematical principles and practical realities.

Modern portfolio theory (MPT) in action

Implement MPT’s correlation analysis to optimize risk-adjusted returns:

  • Pair low-correlated assets (e.g., US Treasuries with international equities)
  • Use efficient frontier models to identify optimal risk-return combinations

Nobel Prize-winning economist Harry Markowitz revolutionized investing with Modern Portfolio Theory, demonstrating mathematically that combining assets with different correlation patterns produces better risk-adjusted returns than investing in isolation. This concept forms the basis of virtually all professional portfolio management today.

The key insight: adding an asset that seems risky on its own might actually reduce your overall portfolio risk if it zigs when your other investments zag. For example, gold often performs well during stock market declines, making it valuable beyond its standalone return potential. The investment strategy based on Modern Portfolio Theory helps investors maximize returns for their chosen risk tolerance.

Advanced strategies for sophisticated investors

  • Sector Rotation: Shift between energy/tech/healthcare based on economic cycles
  • Dynamic Rebalancing: Adjust allocations quarterly vs. annual reviews

Beyond basic allocation approaches, sophisticated investors implement cyclical adjustments based on economic indicators. In early expansion phases, materials and industrials typically outperform. During peak growth, consumer discretionary and technology often lead. As growth moderates, defensive sectors like utilities and consumer staples typically provide better risk-adjusted returns.

Case Study: A Complete Controller client transitioning from tech-heavy to diversified portfolio reduced volatility by 40% while maintaining growth targets. By redistributing capital from concentrated tech positions into value stocks, international equities, and select bond categories, the client weathered the 2022 tech correction with minimal drawdown while positioning for recovery. ADP. Payroll – HR – Benefits

Case Study: Proven Investment Allocation Models

Examining established allocation frameworks provides valuable perspective on practical implementation strategies. These model portfolios offer proven approaches based on decades of market research and real-world performance.

Vanguard’s target-date funds

Pre-configured allocations automatically adjust equity exposure based on retirement dates:

  • Aggressive: 90% stocks / 10% bonds (early career)
  • Conservative: 50% stocks / 50% bonds (near retirement)

Target-date funds apply a glide path concept, gradually reducing risk as investors approach their goal date. This approach recognizes that risk capacity changes throughout life—younger investors can weather market volatility and benefit from long-term equity growth, while those nearing retirement need to protect accumulated capital.

The beauty of these models lies in their simplicity and discipline. Without emotional interference, these portfolios maintain optimal allocation through automatic rebalancing. For investors saving for retirement funds for secure future, this automated approach removes emotion from the equation.

“Our clients using auto-rebalancing systems saw 15% better consistency in returns vs. manual management.” – Jennifer, Complete Controller Founder

Variations on this approach include the classic 60/40 stock/bond portfolio, which has delivered reliable returns for decades. While some argue this allocation is outdated in today’s low-yield environment, research shows its resilience across market cycles when properly implemented with global diversification and regular rebalancing.

Navigating Market Shifts with Dynamic Adjustment

Even the best allocation strategy requires periodic refinement as markets evolve, your financial situation changes, and your time horizon shortens. Understanding when and how to make these adjustments separates successful investors from those who fall short of their goals.

Rebalancing best practices

  1. Threshold-Based: Rebalance when allocations drift by ≥5% from targets
  2. Tax-Efficient: Harvest losses in taxable accounts first
  3. Cost Management: Use low-cost ETFs for frequent adjustments

Many investors understand rebalancing conceptually but struggle with implementation. The data shows that emotional decision-making often leads to buying high and selling low—the opposite of successful investing. Establishing predetermined rebalancing triggers removes this behavioral risk.

A threshold-based approach is typically more effective than calendar-based rebalancing. Rather than automatically adjusting every quarter or year, monitor your allocations and rebalance when they drift beyond your comfort zone (typically 5-10% from targets). This method captures volatility while minimizing transaction costs and tax implications.

For taxable accounts, coordinate rebalancing with tax strategies. Using new contributions to restore balance or harvesting tax losses can significantly improve after-tax returns. The investment diversification tips from official sources reinforce these approaches while adding regulatory perspective.

Life stage adjustments

Life StageEquity %Bond % Cash %
Early Career 70-8020-300-10
Mid-Career60-7030-400-10
Pre-Retirement50-6040-5010-20

 

Your allocation should evolve with your life circumstances. Early-career investors benefit from equity-heavy portfolios that capitalize on long time horizons. As retirement approaches, capital preservation becomes increasingly important, justifying a shift toward fixed income.

Major life events often necessitate allocation adjustments. Marriage, home purchases, or starting a business may temporarily increase your cash needs. Similarly, receiving an inheritance might allow for increased risk capacity. Regular portfolio reviews should include reassessment of these personal factors alongside market conditions.

Building Resilience Through Continuous Portfolio Optimization

In today’s complex investment landscape, building true resilience requires looking beyond traditional allocation models to incorporate alternative assets, technology tools, and sustainable investing approaches that align with both financial goals and personal values.

Beyond traditional assets

Incorporate alternatives like:

  • Real Estate: REITs or direct property investments
  • Private Equity: Pre-IPO opportunities
  • Commodities: Gold/silver as inflation hedges

Alternative investments can enhance returns while reducing correlation to traditional markets. Real estate provides inflation protection and income potential through direct ownership, private REITs, or publicly-traded real estate investment trusts. For accredited investors, private equity offers access to companies before public offerings, potentially capturing significant growth premiums.

Commodities provide unique portfolio benefits during inflationary periods when both stocks and bonds may struggle. Gold, in particular, has demonstrated value during market stress, financial crises, and currency debasement scenarios. A small allocation (5-10%) can provide meaningful diversification benefits without significantly reducing overall expected returns.

Technology-driven tools

Leverage robo-advisors and ESG-screened funds for automated, values-aligned investing.

Technology has democratized sophisticated portfolio management through automated platforms that handle allocation, rebalancing, and tax optimization at minimal cost. These platforms apply institutional-quality processes to portfolios of all sizes, removing emotional biases from investment decisions.

For values-conscious investors, ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) screening tools help align portfolios with personal principles without sacrificing returns. Research increasingly shows that companies with strong ESG practices often demonstrate better long-term financial performance and risk management, making this approach both principled and practical.

The investment strategy for long-term growth continues evolving with these technological advances, providing more options for investors at all levels to implement professional-grade allocation strategies.

Conclusion

Smart allocation isn’t about chasing returns—it’s about matching your portfolio to your goals while managing risk. Regularly review and adjust your strategy, using tools from strategic models to tactical shifts. Complete Controller helps clients implement these strategies with personalized financial planning.

The most successful investors maintain discipline through market cycles, avoiding emotional reactions to short-term volatility. By establishing clear allocation targets based on your time horizon and risk tolerance, then systematically rebalancing when markets push your portfolio off course, you create a framework for long-term success.

For personalized guidance on optimizing your investment allocation strategy, explore our financial planning insights or schedule a consultation to discuss your specific financial situation.

👉 Take Action: Start optimizing your investment strategy Cubicle to Cloud virtual business

FAQ

What’s the best investment strategy for beginners?

Beginners should start with low-cost, broadly diversified index funds that provide instant diversification. Focus on establishing regular investment habits through automatic contributions, keeping investment costs below 0.25% annually, and maintaining a long-term perspective through market volatility. Start with a simple 70/30 or 80/20 stock/bond allocation through target-date funds or robo-advisors before attempting more complex strategies.

How to diversify a portfolio?

Effective diversification requires spreading investments across multiple dimensions: asset classes (stocks, bonds, alternatives), geographies (US, international developed, emerging markets), sectors (technology, healthcare, financials, etc.), and investment styles (growth, value, income). Aim for assets with low correlation to each other, and regularly rebalance to maintain your target allocations as markets move.

How often should I rebalance my portfolio?

Most investors benefit from a threshold-based rebalancing approach rather than strict time intervals. Monitor your portfolio quarterly but only rebalance when allocations drift 5% or more from your targets. This approach captures the benefits of buying low and selling high while minimizing transaction costs and tax implications. Annual comprehensive reviews remain essential regardless of whether rebalancing is triggered.

What’s the difference between strategic and tactical allocation?

Strategic allocation establishes your long-term investment framework based on your time horizon, risk tolerance, and financial goals. It’s your portfolio’s “home base” that you return to through rebalancing. Tactical allocation involves temporary adjustments to this baseline based on current market conditions, economic indicators, or valuation metrics. Strategic allocation drives 80-90% of long-term results, while tactical moves provide potential incremental benefits.

What’s the role of cash in an investment portfolio?

Cash serves three critical functions in a portfolio: providing liquidity for near-term expenses, creating dry powder for opportunistic investments during market corrections, and reducing overall portfolio volatility. Most investors should maintain 3-6 months of expenses in high-yield savings accounts, plus an additional 5-10% tactical cash allocation within investment accounts for market opportunities.

Sources

  • Investopedia. “How to Achieve Optimal Asset Allocation.” Investopedia, www.investopedia.com/managing-wealth/achieve-optimal-asset-allocation/.
  • Vanguard. “Investment Portfolios: Asset Allocation Models.” Vanguard, investor.vanguard.com/investor-resources-education/education/model-portfolio-allocation.
  • Tenet Wealth Partners. “5 Asset Allocation Strategies to Maximize Returns.” Tenet Wealth Partners, tenetwealthpartners.com/insights/diversify-and-conquer-5-asset-allocation-strategies-to-maximize-your-portfolio-returns/.
  • Investopedia. “6 Asset Allocation Strategies That Work.” Investopedia, www.investopedia.com/investing/6-asset-allocation-strategies-work/.
  • Financial Edge. “Asset Allocation Strategies.” Financial Edge, www.fe.training/free-resources/portfolio-management/asset-allocation-strategies/.
  • Bankrate. “7 Tips To Diversify Your Portfolio.” Bankrate, www.bankrate.com/investing/tips-for-diversifying-your-portfolio/.
Download A Free Financial Toolkit 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. LastPass – Family or Org Password Vault

Reduce Your Businesses Operating Costs

Here are some ways to cut costs to get you started.

Down Your Electricity Bills and Consumption

It’s simple. Luckily, the amount of cash your business can apply monthly on gasoline and electricity is more than affordable. Also, consider overall energy efficiency. Replacing old fluorescent or even incandescent bulbs with LEDs and switching to more energy-efficient gear and applications are two easy ways to save. It could save your company from spending hundreds of those that would otherwise be lucrative dollars on unreasonably high energy bills. Download A Free Financial Toolkit

Check Your Insurance Policy

Reviewing your business insurance package or existing policies can save you thousands of dollars annually – or monthly, depending on your needs.

Take the period to speak with an experienced business insurance agent. Explain the specific circumstances of your business and determine what exposure your company needs, then create a custom package that reflects that. Don’t skimp on insurance coverage enough to expose yourself to unnecessary risk and liability – don’t pay for the coverage your business doesn’t need.

Improve Recruitment and Personnel Management Processes

It’s no secret that people are the most significant expense for many companies. Hiring, recruiting, and retaining staff is a considerable investment, not to mention additional costs like managing payroll and posting your position on third-party job boards. CorpNet. Start A New Business Now

Every business is different, and at some point in its growth, you may find that you save money by outsourcing all your HR functions. You may find that hiring a “general HR specialist” is an excellent first step, so you have someone on your team to help with recruitment and compliance and things like payroll. When calculating possible scenarios, including the time you or your team spend on repetitive tasks and the payroll costs associated with that time, don’t forget to factor in infrastructure costs, including benefits, when hiring a full-time employee.

Invest in Your Online Presence with Digital Marketing

 From here, look at the structure of your website itself and how visitors navigate through it. This article on optimizing your website (for strategic consultants, but the advice is relevant for every business with a website) is a great guide to get you started.

The best thing you can do to save money on digital marketing is to ensure you direct your efforts toward your target market. First, who is your target market? If your answer is “everything,” return to the drawing board. Building a buyer persona will help you focus on specific messages and ads that appeal to the right people. You can expend much money and effort if you are unsure who your ideal client is.Complete Controller. America’s Bookkeeping Experts

From there, focus on your web metrics. Before spending money on a marketing campaign, map out your KPIs: the metrics you want to influence. Maybe they are visitors to your site, the number of people who made a purchase, aincreasedconversions, or even repeat customers. If you outsource work to a marketing agency or decide to invest in an internal marketing role, weigh the costs and benefits before signing up on the dotted line.

When you want to cut items from your marketing budget, start with things that don’t contribute to your core business goals. If your investment in Facebook ads resulted in 20,000 new subscribers, but they don’t attribute to any new business, look out for this discrepancy. Maybe it’s time to refocus the campaign, or you’ll get a better ROI by putting those marketing dollars elsewhere. The key to saving on costs is to review them regularly. Consider hosting a monthly or quarterly budget review meeting as part of your regular business plan review. You can even include a SWOT analysis in your review once or twice a year. New ideas and changes in strategic direction will undoubtedly affect where you spend money and how much. Cubicle to Cloud virtual business 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. LastPass – Family or Org Password Vault

Get More From Your Portfolio

Although a tiny number of investors are ready to collect income from their portfolios without waiting for them to increase, many other investors want to see their portfolios grow. They are willing to wait for them much longer. You can say that they have the patience for it.

Defining the Growth

When it comes to investing, you can describe growth in various ways. Any growth in account value, such as when a certificate of deposit pays interest on its principle, is considered growth in the broadest terms. However, growth is usually based on investment returns in the investment world. Growth can come in the short and long term but don’t be fooled by its charm, and be critical when thinking about growth. ADP. Payroll – HR – Benefits

Buying and Holding

The most straightforward technique for attaining growth is buying and holding investments, which may also be one of the most effective over time. The results are that investors who buy stocks or other growth assets and maintain them in their portfolios with modest monitoring are frequently pleasantly pleased. People are often weak in holding, which leads them to sell it as it goes down, which leads them to lose; people need to understand that such things take time.

Timing the Market

Those who pay closer attention to the markets or specific assets can outperform the buy-and-hold approach if they can accurately predict the market.

This method will provide far more significant returns than merely keeping an asset over time and will also need the skill to assess market conditions accurately.

For the ordinary trader who cannot constantly track the market, it may be preferable to eschew timing rather than focus on alternative high-return tactics. CorpNet. Start A New Business Now

Assortment

Investors use this technique frequently in conjunction with the sales strategy. Diversification may minimize or eliminate many distinct forms of risk, including company risk. Several analyses have proved asset allocation among the essential elements in market returns, especially over extended durations. Sometimes mixing the techniques is perfect because there are times when one sales strategy is not working, and there are not many options left; people sometimes forget to assortment. It is beneficial to increase the chances of your portfolio using variety. One of the side effects is that people are not very good with mixtures, which tends to lead to mistakes. One of the best things to do when using an assortment is to learn from experts first.

Investing in the Right Sectors

Investors seeking rapid growth should look to industries such as tech, medical, infrastructure, and smaller businesses, which provide better returns in terms of increased risk and instability. Longer hold durations and good investment selection might help mitigate this risk. Download A Free Financial Toolkit

DCA: Dollar Cost Average

DCA is a simple investing method that equity funds employ the most. A client will set aside a certain amount of money to be utilized to acquire shares in one or many more mutual funds regularly. Because the fund price will fluctuate from one purchase period to the next, the investor will decrease the total cost basis of the shares by purchasing fewer shares when the price is higher and more when the cost is low.

As a result, dollar-cost averaging helps the investor to make a more significant profit from the fund over the term. The primary benefit of DCA is that it eliminates the need for investors to bother about purchasing at the high end of the market or precisely timing their purchases.

Your portfolio can be a space to express yourself, amaze future employers, and make your work stand out. However, portfolio websites can be challenging to create.

Because graphic designer portfolios differ from front-end developers, we’ve included various other creative examples to get you started. Where should you start? What work should you possess, and what should you leave out? Not to mention the design and coding required to build a portfolio website.

These are a few of the best tips around.

LastPass – Family or Org Password Vault 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. Cubicle to Cloud virtual business

5 Simple Ways to Avoid Debt

Avoiding debt may seem complicated. But keeping your finances in balance is possible with a few easy steps. As a result, you will get out of debt. For that, we have separated five simple tips that will help you get out of debt:

Have a Structured Financial Plan

Structured financial planning is the first step to achieving a stable financial life and getting out of debt.

Planning your finances in a structured way helps you have an accurate idea of your expenses. Thus, knowing the reality in which your finances are inserted is possible. Cubicle to Cloud virtual business

Planning ensures your bills are in order, and you cannot just pay everything you owe. But you can also make your dreams and goals come true, save money for the future, and have a financial reserve for emergencies. And reach a stable standard regarding your finances.

  • Good financial planning relies on considering the three pillars of financial security:

Basic financial security refers to the ability to guarantee the payment of essential expenses, which have to do with survival and a minimum standard of quality of life, such as food, housing, education, health, and recreation.

  • Unforeseen protection; To be protected in an emergency

Thus guaranteeing funds for the payment of unexpected expenses without generating debts.

Stability: It involves saving money so that in the future, you and your family can conserve your standard of living after retirement.

Keep Track of all Your Expenses

Another step you need to take to get out of debt for good is to keep all your spending under control. That is, you must carefully detail your entire budget.

Control of your expenses, although it seems, at first sight, something complicated to achieve, can be earned and practically.

The technology even offers a way to control all your spending and thus quickly protect your pocketbook from debt. Complete Controller. America’s Bookkeeping Experts

Prefer Cash and Cash Purchases

One of the most innovative ways to pay off debt permanently is to make cash purchases whenever possible. And, preferably, make the payment in cash.

The main factor of indebtedness of most people in arrears is the installations, especially with credit cards or credit cards. So, avoiding them is a great strategy.

In addition to avoiding installment debt, cash purchases are often advantageous for the consumer, especially if made in cash. Due to the interest related to the installations, cash purchases tend to be cheaper.

Another factor in favor of purchases made with cash is that, unlike card purchases, by purchasing in this way, you can feel the financial impact on your budget at the exact moment you are buying. Unlike the card, when you only feel that impact, there is one in front when the bill arrives.

In addition, most commercial establishments offer discounts that are usually relatively high for those who prefer to pay in cash and cash.

So, in addition to escaping installment-related debt, you can save a lot by paying your bills this way.

An excellent alternative to avoid credit card purchases is to create a weekly cash withdrawal routine and use only the amount withdrawn to use that week.

Escape from Unnecessary Expenses

Avoid unnecessary spending if you want to escape debt and maintain a healthy financial life. Although, at first glance, it seems minor.

This point is straightforward: if you don’t need to buy something, don’t buy it. LastPass – Family or Org Password Vault

Small, unnecessary expenses are the things that most irritate people’s financial lives and lead to the appearance of debts.

Thus, one of the best methods to protect your pocket from debt is to avoid unnecessary expenses and small expenses that you may even consider silly but, in the end, can significantly damage your budget.

As we said before, it is good that you know exactly how your money is being spent, and once you have this notion, the idea is that you make the necessary adjustments in your spending and only keep what is needed.

Calculate the Total Amount of How Much You Owe and Settle Your Debts

If you already have some accumulated debts, and you need to pay them to get out of the red, the first step you should take is not to make any more debts at this time, that is, at least until you get out of the red., do not go into debt again.

The second step is to figure out the exact amount of how much you owe right now, especially if you owe more than one creditor.

After organizing your pending items, putting the total of everything you owe on the tip of your pencil, decide how you will start paying them, separating them according to the priority of each one.

The oldest pending items have priority in payment since interest accumulates over time, and it can become increasingly difficult to make the price the longer you delay.

Before applying for a loan, try to renegotiate your debts with your creditors.

Be smart about paying off your debts and avoid fees if possible. You will most likely get deep discounts if they offer you the chance to pay everything you owe at once when negotiating with the creditor. ADP. Payroll – HR – Benefits 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. CorpNet. Start A New Business Now

Work-Life Balance is Important

When relatively advanced computers began to appear in the 1980s, and the prospect of the development of the Internet echoed in the air, many thought that digital technologies would make work easier, leaving more time for personal life. CorpNet. Start A New Business Now

After 20 years, not a single office could do without computers. The digital technology revolution has not just happened but triumphantly marched worldwide, covering all areas of activity. But the next massive leap in computer technology was yet to come. Today, a person’s life in a developed society is unthinkable without a smartphone or other portable device that provides Internet access everywhere. It means your work accompanies you anytime, not just in the office for 8 hours daily. As a result, technology did not make life easier but only increased work productivity, distributing it in a thin layer over a sin. Home dinner must be combined with business correspondence with the chef and walking with a girl, and you suddenly remember that you must urgently check your e-mail. And so, it becomes increasingly frequent until your life becomes routine maintenance of your career. Subsequently, this can lead to burnout and stress. You can avoid this by finding the right balance between work and personal life. What does work-life balance mean? In many people’s modern rhythm of life, it looks like some interests are superimposed on the framework of other goods. You won’t surprise anyone with the phrase “I’ll be late at work,” “Let’s meet next weekend. Otherwise, I’m working on this”, etc. There can be some reasons why a person imperceptibly refuses his personal life. Lack of money and career ambitions are one side of the matter, rather material, and therefore more meaningful. But there is another – psychological. Cubicle to Cloud virtual business A forced workaholic can cause dissatisfaction with their personal life. In this case, the reason and effect are reversed, but the negative impact on the person remains the same. Balance allows you to equally appreciate both components of life – work, and pleasure, which not only do not mutually eliminate each other but also bring additional meaning.

How important is the balance? High professional employment in our time no longer carries the perception of a forced sacrifice. Violating the balance between work and life in favor of the first is becoming increasingly popular. Self-care quickly becomes a fashion trend, indicating a person’s demand or success. It has gotten to the point that many perceive work intervention in personal life as the only way to secure a high working status and remain competitive in the eyes of the head. This opinion is erroneous and somewhat resembles an attempt to justify the inept distribution of working time or unwillingness to do something else. In this article, we do not allow discrediting overtime work. Working more than the norm, for example, at the rudimentary stage of a career, the initial stage of a business, or when managing a complex project. But when it becomes an endless series of filling in the gaps, we are talking more about the wrong approach. Your productivity in the workplace is unlikely to improve if you give yourself carte blanche to fix things at home. In addition, by reducing attention to other aspects of life, at some point, you may believe in their lesser significance. If you push into the background, say, the relationship with your girlfriend, then in return, you will receive a corresponding negative response. LastPass – Family or Org Password Vault And this will be another erroneous argument for the importance of work over personal life.

Instead of personal life, we choose work. The catchphrase often justifies excessive devotion to one’s profession: “Choose a job you love, and you won’t have to work a day in your life.” You can accept his statement as accurate, with the only amendment that the love of one’s work does not exclude the significance of everything else. If your favorite dish is fried chicken, then this does not mean that you should exclude all other foods from the diet.

Other parts of your life require just as much attention. It is great luck to find your favorite thing for which you can get good money. But think about whether you would agree if that deprived you of the other pleasures of life. ADP. Payroll – HR – Benefits 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. Complete Controller. America’s Bookkeeping Experts

Becoming Better in My Career

Driven professionals achieve more. That’s why we’ve set out the essential building blocks for a successful career. With the mastery of these seven career goals, you lift yourself to a higher level:

Develop Your Skills

  • Become the team player
  • Think agile
  • Excel as a leader
  • Become visible with personal branding
  • Dare to make a career switch Complete Controller. America’s Bookkeeping Experts

Make an Impact as a Professional

Making a career is about getting the best out of yourself, your team, and your projects.You achieve this by constantly clarifying your ambitions and discovering your drive and pitfalls. By consciously and step by step on your development, you guide your career and let yourself and others excel!

Step 1: Develop your soft skills

(Soft) skills are essential for the next step in your professional career. With new challenges come more responsibilities. It involves unique qualities. You have the hard skills, knowledge, and expertise; now, challenge yourself to achieve the maximum by mastering our skillset. Here you will find all the soft skills that will help your career further.

These skills are essential for your next step:

  • Assertiveness
  • Autonomy
  • Networking
  • Developing vision
  • Present
  • Pitch
  • Self-reflection
  • Problem analysis
  • Time management
  • Creativity

Step 2: Become the ultimate team player

You don’t make a successful career on your own. That’s why it is strategically important to be a good team player. Do you want to go higher? Then you must work together constructively and learn to manage and convince colleagues. Clear communication is crucial in a team; good teamwork takes you further!

What are the qualities of a good team player? ADP. Payroll – HR – Benefits

  • Communication
  • Communication skills
  • Scrum
  • Convince
  • To influence
  • Meeting
  • Discuss
  • Intercultural communication
  • Interdisciplinary collaboration
  • Intervision
  • Co-creation
  • Stakeholder management

Step 3: Think agile

Agile is a philosophy and mindset that every ambitious professional must adopt for a successful future. It’s the power switch that kicks your career into high gear. The challenges below lend themselves perfectly to the agile method.

These challenges lend themselves perfectly to the agile method:

  • Kanban
  • Lean vs. Agile
  • Design thinking
  • Change management
  • Autonomous teams
  • Product owner
  • Scrum master

Step 4: Excel as a leader

Brilliant organizations have unique CEOs, and ambitious professionals become successful leaders with the correct drive. How do you develop decisive leadership during your career, and what leadership style suits your personality and organization? Learn different leadership methods, which you can apply at every new step in your professional career to let talents rise above themselves.

These are the nine ways to inspire leadership:

  • Personal leadership
  • Leadership Development
  • Leadership Styles
  • Delegate
  • Creating support
  • Coaching
  • Stimulate ownership
  • Competency management
  • Inclusive leadership

Step 5: Make yourself visible with personal branding

Like success, you must share your knowledge and experiences throughout your career. You do this by developing yourself as an authority in your field of expertise, profiling yourself as an expert, and maintaining your authenticity. Personal branding is essential if you want to increase your visibility. Take your next step now! CorpNet. Start A New Business Now

  • Increase your visibility through
  • Position yourself
  • Thought leadership
  • Influence on LinkedIn
  • Authenticity
  • Profile yourself
  • Ethics
  • Specialize

Step 6: dare to make a career switch

There is no single path to your success. There are many ways to get to the top. A career path takes you through multiple organizations, exciting projects, and various positions, but your goals and ambitions can also change. Are you still on the right track, or do you have to make a turn?

It is how you approach your career switch smartly and successfully.

  • Career switch step-by-step plan
  • Continue to grow
  • Making your work meaningful
  • Retraining

Step 7: Make an impact as a professional

Making an impact is crucial to taking yourself and your organization to a higher level. It is how you make progress and achieve subsequent success in your career. With an enterprising, driven, and daring attitude, you set a team or project in motion again. You must show guts, push your limits, and step out of your comfort zone.

Push yourself and make an impact with these skills:

  • Growth mindset
  • Being ambitious
  • Vigor
  • To have courage
  • Result-oriented working
  • Entrepreneurial work
LastPass – Family or Org Password Vault 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. Download A Free Financial Toolkit

Are You Stopping Your Own Success?

  1. Only mass mailings

Mass mailings to the email addresses of funds and business angels will surely get investments in a start-up. Investors love this kind of thing, especially when they copy-paste in the text or see the addresses of other investors in the open copy. For them, this is a sign of the highest efficiency of an entrepreneur who does not waste time studying the individual characteristics and investment focuses of the participants in the correspondence but immediately gets down to business. LastPass – Family or Org Password Vault

Receiving the answer: “Good afternoon, your application is under consideration; we will contact you if we are interested,” you can be sure that the money is already in your pocket. And let the spiteful critics say that this is an automatic response of the mail service – they are simply jealous of your success and enterprise.

  1. Not a word without an NDA

Always ask the investor to sign an NDA before starting negotiations, even the first meeting. Don’t be misled by requests to see a presentation or materials “just for fun” and assurances that the investor has probably seen this many times before and will see it an infinite number of times after. After all, investors regularly embody the most successful ideas independently, deftly deceiving an unpretentious entrepreneur. Indeed, you have a brilliant idea that you can steal.

  1. Only weaklings change their minds under the pressure of hard facts

Commitment to your idea is the main rule of a true entrepreneur. Devoutly following it and believing that only you understand how to bring an idea to life and build a great company will also help you communicate personally with investors and mentors. Vigorously defend your positions, do not accept criticism, and do not show that you are ready to bend under the capitalists and make changes even to the business model, not to mention reconsider the idea. Perhaps this will scare off the wrong investors who do not appreciate such qualities of a real entrepreneur and are afraid that this will lead to conflicts in the future. And let the envious call it a lack of flexibility and perception of reality. Download A Free Financial Toolkit

  1. Take more immediately

When it comes to how much money you need to start a project, ask and take as much as possible. Firstly, you have several years of work ahead of you to bring the project to life, and secondly, there is never a lot of money.

  1. Embrace high founder salaries

A natural entrepreneur knows what kind of cars are in trendy co-working spaces and that you can’t buy one with a paycheck “to keep your pants up.” By the way, having received the first tranche, plan your vacation in a good place. The tired head of the company does not think well – allow yourself to rest.

  1. Impromptu is a well-known key to success

Have you ever heard that you should save your most essential investors for later and start practicing pitches on your grandmother? And that’s for losers, too. A natural entrepreneur does not trade for trifles – he immediately catches a big fish. Suppose the investor does not understand you the first time. In that case, he will continue to communicate until he understands precisely what problem you are solving and how, as well as what your advantage is about existing analogs, competitors, and substitutes. And if you fail to do this at the first meeting, you will always prepare and schedule a second and third, if necessary. After all, it is an investor’s job to find nuggets because of painstaking work with entrepreneurs.

  1. Write in text, write a lot, and leave pictures for children

Have you ever heard of Guy Kawasaki’s rule for successful 10/20/30 presentations? Ten slides and a font size of at least 30? It’s all nonsense! Packaging all the material on the project into ten drops in this format is impossible. In general, as already written above, personal meetings and pitches are extra, but if you still run into an investor at a venture party, give him a project presentation. After all, you still can’t tell a lot of essential details in a few minutes. And yes, do not save on paper – print your presentations in total. One of the last presentations I held in my hands consisted of 50 pages, which I carefully read. After all, the project’s author saved the most interesting for the second half. ADP. Payroll – HR – Benefits

  1. Speak in an incomprehensible and scientific language – show your expertise

Do you want money to commercialize the technology? Surround yourself with professional investors, even at this stage and among business angels. They already know everything about the market and its problems, so instead of talking about banal things and chewing, you can immediately move on to the details.

  1. You are a star!

Everyone should know about this. Friends and partners do not believe in you, and former classmates do not want to do business with you. It is what investors are looking for! They like to invest in self-centered loners.

  1. Splurge – duel is for wimps

Do not be afraid to throw dust in the eyes of a future investor. Embellish everything – the uniqueness of the idea, the assessment of the market, competitive advantages, and other things that no one will ever double-check. You were asked an uncomfortable question after the presentation – a lie. An obvious lie? Ask to sign an NDA before disclosing details. And if they discover that you embellished the numbers and said something directly opposite to the facts, they will appreciate your ingenuity and ability to dodge. The goal of an entrepreneur is to make money, and the purpose of an investor is to invest money for profit. Therefore, relationships initially based on mutual trust are necessary for developing a serious business, and you do not need them.

  1. And, finally, the most crucial lousy advice. Always get only your own experience

He is priceless. Education is for the weak. It is better to go through many attempts and iterations in just 40 years. But for sure.

CorpNet. Start A New Business Now 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. Complete Controller. America’s Bookkeeping Experts

Manage Human Resources Effectively

There are different ways to improve an organization’s human resources efficiency. First, they will depend on the goals and objectives of the organization, the specifics of its activities, production indicators, and other factors. There are no universal ways to improve the efficiency of the use of human resources; they are all strictly individual, and those measures that work in one organization may not work in another—the optimal number of employees in the enterprise. The primary way to increase the efficiency of the use of human resources is to bring the number of personnel of the organization to the number that can fully serve the organization to achieve its goals. Complete Controller. America’s Bookkeeping Experts For example, there may be too many staff, which reduces the effectiveness of a single employee, creates duplication of positions and powers, gives an extra financial burden, and hinders the organization’s development. Or there may be too few staff members in the organization’s team, so many employees cannot cope with the production standards and the duties assigned to them. Thus, an organization may need to reduce or increase its workforce. The development of requirements for hiring new employees is another way to improve the efficiency of human resources in any company, which can be the development of certain conditions when hiring new employees. It may enhance the interview procedure, new selection methods, the introduction of certification, testing, etc. These methods aim to choose the most appropriate employee for the organization’s requirements. Retaining and dismissing employees: the following option for improving the efficiency of human resource management is retraining or discharging employees who have not passed certification or professional testing, given at the analysis stage. Cubicle to Cloud virtual business
It is necessary to decide how to deal with employees who make many errors in testing and production activities. Working hours are essential in improving the human resource management system so the organization can review the operating hours. For example, reducing the working day is possible if an organization can complete its production plan less. If the demand for the organization’s activities on weekdays is minimal and increases on weekends, emphasis should be on personnel involvement in work. Based on the inquiry into the organization’s activities and the use of human resources, you can change the production standards for each employee, the requirements for the duties performed, job descriptions, organizational structure, etc. Also, based on the results of the analysis, you can send some employees to advanced training courses, professional retraining, and additional training. This method requires optimal financial investments in employee training, which will bring extra profit to the organization in the long run. The manager is responsible for identifying the most suitable employees for further training. It would help if you bore in the brain that human resource management implies regulating the activities of employees and individuals employed in the organization. That is why approaches to increasing human resource use efficiency can be complex and individual. Employee motivation, as a rule, competent motivation of employees underlies the effective management of human resources and the organization. LastPass – Family or Org Password Vault
The process of staff motivation is impossible without a systematic approach: since all people are different, the methods of influencing them must also differ and correspond to one or another type of personality of the individual, his character, values, and beliefs. Staff motivation is a system of internal and external influences on the individual, inducing him to perform his professional functions as efficiently as possible. When applying the systemic method, divide the incentive methods into group and individual, which, in turn, are based on retention, attraction, and ensuring effective labor. It would be best if you carried out the competent motivation of the organization’s personnel at all levels of human resource management. In the personal story of stimulation, an employee’s main psycho-emotional, physical, social, and other characteristics are determined and, on their basis, carry out the motivation process. At the group level of influence, certain situations are formed, for example, in the form of a game, performing any tasks, projects, solving cases, etc., to unite the team and make it coherent and efficient. At the organizational level of impact, manage personnel using economic and political incentive methods. They are the organization’s image in the market, the reputation of the workforce, and its managers and others.

ADP. Payroll – HR – Benefits 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. Download A Free Financial Toolkit

Tips To Plan a Career

In conditions of change, you can successfully plan your professional development. Here are five steps on how to do it.

  1. Pushing the boundaries

First, ask yourself the central question: what exactly do I mean by “building a career”?

Unfortunately, society still believes a career is only a way to lead. But this is another myth of the creators of “successful success.” A specialist in a narrow niche can earn as much as his manager and even more. Also, a generalist can be no less influential than his director. Download A Free Financial Toolkit

A specialist can narrow competence to personnel assessment and be super-demanded by large companies. They are looking for a person with various assessment tools who understands when to use them and has methods for multiple departments and industries.

The other pole is HR Generalist. Such a person knows a little of each direction and can gain the necessary expertise depending on the task. It is a tasty morsel for many companies, significantly growing ones. For example, I got to HRBP (HR Business Partner. – Ed.) because of my vast expertise in many projects.

Such experts can influence the level of HR Director and earn no less. However, they are lower in the hierarchy.

You can get burned if you go into management out of necessity and not desire. We had an example at TECHIIA when they transferred a designer to the lead position. Still, everyone quickly realized that constant communication and other managerial tasks almost did not drive him. He rolled back to his last job and found new ways to add value and pay.

  1. Choose an approach

There are two main approaches to career planning.

The first one is hard. Complete Controller. America’s Bookkeeping Experts

“I know where I want to go, and I pave the path there. To illustrate, I want to be the head of my department, and I upgrade certain skills. Whatever it is, I will realize this goal here or elsewhere.”

At a career consultation, I had a client who wanted to work purely in intellectual property. The experience was small, but the desire was huge. So much so that she knocked on all companies without stopping and on all channels; ultimately, they took her to one of the best law firms in Ukraine – they could not resist her energy.

Or a case not from a career. A friend of mine once decided to live in Portugal. Despite my warnings that they needed to prepare carefully and that it would take a year or two, after a week, she took a backpack, $400, and left. I found a place to live and a job. I have been there for over a year.

I respect this approach. True, it is more suitable for people on whom loved ones are not very dependent because a rigid binding to one thing and experiments is a risk. Especially now, when the company may turn on optimization tomorrow, the profession and the whole industry may die due to the crisis.

  1. Highlight the target

The next question is: “What and how much do I need?”

When we rely on external guidelines, we overestimate our needs. Because of this, the whole point of a career can fly to hell.

Fresh example. The head of a large department of a successful, stable business came to me for a consultation. The processes are well-established, and the team is excellent. But he is tired and looking for “a job that should bring pleasure.” He wants to free himself and get a project manager in a creative agency. CorpNet. Start A New Business Now

We found out that the client needs to see the results of their work and be closer to something good. At the current work, there were only numbers and plates. But he only saw the shell. The project’s work involves many tasks in conditions of uncertainty, difficult communication with creatives and customers, and the cosmic pace of work.

Lastly, the client honestly admitted to himself that he wanted to feel beautiful, but not in this way. In conclusion, it is worth starting a hobby related to creativity: drawing, organizing exhibitions, and the like.

  1. Explore the zone of proximal development

In career development, I identify four main areas:

  • Leading position
  • Functional expansion
  • Transfer to another job
  • Complete career change

There is a conditional fifth way – a need that can be closed right here: recognition, influence, and gratitude. And there is a road “to the neighboring forest” – your own business. But this is a separate big topic.

When you have specifically defined a direction for yourself, I recommend that you, In the first place, take a closer look at your current site of work. Perhaps this is where your desired position is?

Every company has written and unwritten success stories. Often, the latter is of value, which you will not find in career matrices from HR.

There are companies where they like it when a person is straight and sharp, and there are teams where it is customary to grind sharp corners. In some companies, the chief accountant runs everything. In others, HR has the final say.

  1. Identify the gap and how to bridge it

If your plans are not related to the current place of work, you should determine the gap between what you already have and what you need in a new position. There are three tools for this.

ADP. Payroll – HR – Benefits 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. LastPass – Family or Org Password Vault