Author: Complete Controller

As a business owner, you know what it takes to succeed. So, you want to protect your business now while planning for retirement and perhaps even leaving a legacy.

However, what happens when your plans are interrupted and you cannot continue operating your business due to a health problem?

Dealing with complex problems and preparing for the unexpected is one of the responsibilities of a business executive. Insurance is one of the ways that can help you maximize what you will leave behind. You can use the insurance of key personnel in different ways.

Protect your Business with insurance

Here are some options that you can consider as part of your financial program. The proper insurance protection can help you:

• Protect your business if you or a key staff member are suddenly unable to work
• Repay borrowings made by the company
• Provide you or your partner with the money to buy the other’s share if either leave
• Cover your expenses or those of your family in the event of the departure of one of the partners

Make sure you have a Smooth exit strategy

You might want to retire and transfer your business. That is why it is crucial to have a program in place that will facilitate a smooth transition. Have you thought about the options available to you?

Leave a legacy to your loved ones

It is essential to think about what will happen to your money and the future of your family:

• Do you have a plan in place to support your loved ones after your death?
• Are you growing your wealth in a tax-efficient way?
• What about your estate? How easy will it be to distribute it fairly among family members?

Plan to have an overview

You have worked hard to develop your business and make it a success. That is why it is vital to protect it.

You are not alone in thinking about life insurance. For many, it is an integral part of any sound financial program. When you die, it can help your designated beneficiary, like your family, replace your income and achieve their goals, such as studying at university or retiring.

However, do you know what type of life insurance is best for you? Do you know what life insurance can do for you other than helping pay for your funeral and related expenses?

Personal insurance

It is essential to savor the moments that make life pleasant. Insurance protection can give you the confidence to take advantage of every opportunity to make the most of each day.

What is personal insurance?

There are several types of insurance. Personal insurance is a contract that guarantees financial compensation in the event of injury, illness, or death.

When do we need insurance?

Since no two people are in the same situation, it is expected that we do not all have the exact insurance needs. In general, it makes sense to have insurance when someone is financially dependent on us.

Life insurance

Use life insurance to protect yourself and your loved ones and, in some cases, to grow your wealth.

Affordable in the short term

Life insurance can be cheaper than coffee. It allows you to benefit from protection for a fixed period. It is a great solution to cover expenses payable until the due date, such as a mortgage.

In case of severe illness or injury

We are all invincible until something suddenly happens to us. However, it is possible to mitigate the repercussions of an injury or severe illness on your life. Insurance can allow you to receive a tax-free payment if you are diagnosed with a severe disease or earn monthly income if you cannot work.

Protection for life that can Grow your wealth

With permanent insurance, you pay your premiums and have protection for life. Such insurance also includes a savings component to which you have access during your lifetime.

Term life insurance is the cheapest option in the short term. However, although the cost of participating and universal life insurance tends to be higher initially, the growth potential of the cash value of these types of insurance may make them better choices in the long run.

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-hosted desktop where their entire team and tax accountant may access the QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools in an efficient and secure 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.

Whether you have always dreamed of owning and operating your own business or becoming an entrepreneur is a new idea, there will be challenges. No matter the reasons you have decided to start your business, you have to keep some things in mind to help you do so successfully.

There are several things to consider when you have decided to own and operate a business. Here are six things every entrepreneur should know before starting a business.

Define Your Business

Before you proceed with the steps to owning and operating your business, you need to develop a concept for your business. Most entrepreneurs have a dream of what kind of business they want to own. However, some budding entrepreneurs are taking the step to be in business with no clear business idea.

Before starting your business, you should brainstorm ideas alone or with friends, family, or potential business partners until you have an idea that works for you. You should ensure it is a business you can be passionate about as it will be time-consuming and effortless. If you choose a business you aren’t excited about. It could be to your detriment as an entrepreneur.

Define your Niche

Now that you are done defining your business, you may delve into the nitty-gritty. From your product or service niche to your niche market, target audience, customer base, etc., consider going into the depths of your business idea.

Please do not underestimate the power of your intuition when it comes to figuring out your niche in the market. Having a business idea alone will not be enough. Having a niche will help define your business more distinctly, which will be important when it comes time to market your business and what it offers.

Your limits are not set by anyone but yourself and anyone in the business with you. Therefore, finding your niche is crucial to start and maintain a successful business.

Plan Your Goals Beforehand

Planning keeps you on track and focused. It helps you align your steps in the right while also ensuring you are not missing out on anything. From organizing your goals to set up a foundation for completing your business’s vision and mission, planning has quite a significance.

While plans and goals may change, you should never stop setting them before you delve into the business or a new aspect of the business down the road. Planning is essential to successful execution.

Have the Right Mindset

Let’s put it this way; having the right mindset is quite pertinent. It would help if you were optimistic and, at the same time, vigilant enough to avoid any inconveniences. However, it is also mandatory that you hone your risk-tolerance skills.

Let’s face it; you are not going to make any profits in the initial stages. You might not even make any returns in the first few years. So, it would be best if you made sure you didn’t put yourself under any stress. Additionally, you may also keep something as a side earning to make ends meet.

Promote Your Business

Promoting your brand is the nail in the coffin if you don’t do it right. It is no walk in the park, and you have to be highly adaptive if you wish to reap benefits from these. Now that digital marketing is the most used marketing strategy, you must focus your marketing plan primarily in that direction.

Adapt to the Latest Tools

It seems our world is introducing new tools and technologies that might only put us through incredible results. If you think adapting to the latest devices will not benefit you, you are definitely wrong. So, ensure you are doing everything in your might to adapt to these recent developments. Chances are, it might only provide benefits in the long run.

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-hosted desktop where their entire team and tax accountant may access the QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools in an efficient and secure 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.

The world is at a complete lockdown due to social distancing, travel restrictions, closing of stores apart from the essentials. It seems like the world has come to a stop, with every operation across the globe coming to a halt. While it is negatively affecting people’s mental health, it is also leading to the downfall of several businesses. As millions of people are laid off in this pandemic, it indicates how badly it has impacted the economy.

Not only at the national level, but even the global economy is severely affected. The situation altogether highlights the economic condition of enterprises, especially for a small organization. Moreover, the problem deteriorates, as business owners are left with no decision to let go of their best employees or shut down the business altogether.

However, in these circumstances, the government needs to step up its game. They cannot sit by and let small businesses suffer, which will affect the country’s economy overall. The government bodies must enforce regulations, alter laws, and make decisions in the best interest of their citizens.

So, we highlight a few support measures that can help businesses survive this biological onslaught smoothly and help them get back to their feet post-pandemic.

Offer credit

With a severe reduction in revenues, the enterprises are currently short on working capital. Working capital is essential when it comes to running a stable business. The amount of money ensures that business operations do not come to a halt when it is hit by situations such as recession and even outbreaks of viruses.

To make matters worse, banks or other financial institutions are reluctant to lend, given the state that you might not repay the loan. However, there are different other ways through which you can offer these businesses some loans.

For instance, they can establish credit guarantee programs where the businesses should be encouraged to pay later, if not sooner. The mindset that delayed pay is better than no pay; in the case of a company, collapse can be crucial for the businesses in these times.

Lessen business transfers to government

Payments submitted by businesses can be reduced by governments as a supportive measure due to a lack of business operations. The transfers such as income taxes, excise duties, social security programs, property taxes, and so on should be wavered off.

This measure will help businesses ensure that they conserve their operating capital extensively. Many countries, such as Vietnam, also implemented this method, which allowed tax payments for four months.

Maintain employment

Along with other federal agencies, the government should encourage organizations to maintain employees as much as possible even though government-mandated restrictions and lockdowns have left businesses in tatters and people being laid off from work. Employment rates are crucial for a country’s economic standing in the world.

However, to ensure that all employees get to keep their job, the organizations must reduce their operating hours; hence, minimizing the pay scale. This way, some income will be provided to the employees and the insurance policies granted to them.

There is an urgency across the globe to build a system that maximizes a business’ reach and helps them stay afloat even during this pandemic situation. Unemployment is something that significantly impacts the economy of the country and its standing on an international forum. The government needs to realize that its efforts can help save businesses from shutting and help maintain their country’s economy.

In hindsight, the situation is complex, and organizations do not have many options left. However, to stay united and firm during this devastating era, you must make some compromises. It will not ensure that the post-COVID-19 generation would flourish, but you will have the people on your side all the time.

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-hosted desktop where their entire team and tax accountant may access the QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools in an efficient and secure 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.

Collaborating with clients does not mean that you are an expert in client contracts or operate them. Often, people think that just by collaborating with clients, they have mastered creating contract payments with them. You need to make a contract payment to start. It will protect you and your business. Customer agreements can be embraced when you have all legitimate fine print, and that makes sense. But business owners do not have time for this. If you are making client contracts, it does not mean you are making traps with legal jargon that often confuse you.

Your job is to find the best way to create a client contract that brings you and your client on the same page. You should highlight crucial details such as deliveries, timeline, payment, project scope, and other contingencies. Do not let that information awry if you want to protect your business.

When starting a project on the internet, a typical question is: do I start with a free website or contract a payment? We could not give a simple answer because each case is very personal. The most coherent is to assess the aspects of each of them.

Significance of customer contracts

There are a few reasons for client contracts as a necessary business aspect.

It will bring you and your customer on the same boat. Only you will have to strive for the relationship-building between you and your client. You must make sure that you and your client have the exact expectations.

You will have to provide all your working relationship details with appropriate information. Add practical details information to create engagement.

Start with a free web

I think what will make the difference is knowledge.

A person who does not understand programming has to use a web creation tool. Typically, content management systems (CMS) are used.

They are intuitive programs to use. There are many: Web node, Wax, Webley. Most of these tools have a free version to start. In this way, users evaluate the device and hire it if they need more services.

The free versions are limited in terms of capacity and customization options. Indeed, you will have to upgrade to a premium service over time to use more advanced options. These creators know a person’s needs without knowing that it will be straightforward to use them.

Suppose you need a simple web-like “business card,” and you do not want to complicate your life. In that case, it can be an excellent way to start if you have a limited budget.

Suppose you need a website to work on a search engine positioning with a higher projection. In that case, I advise you to invest some money from the beginning and have an excellent initial structure.

Hire a payment website

Although it is the best option, sometimes it does not have to be.

Many people hire a website in WordPress (for example), and as they do not understand this system, they spend their time and abandon it due to a lack of knowledge.

The most important thing is that you have what you have is a dynamic web page; in other words, “a website that does not take dust.”

If you have paid for having a website, the minimum is that you worry about learning to manage it to keep it updated.

It is very convenient to pay someone to work for you, but the real job is to get that website to fulfill its function.

Conclusion

It will depend a lot on the type of project you want to conduct. It is not the same to do an online store to create a website for lawyers who wish to advertise their services.

Be the web. That is, it is best to learn to do it yourself and find out how things work.

I love WordPress. It is a mighty content manager that does not limit you in time. When we started with this project, we did not want any limitations, so we chose it. WordPress is one of the best tools to create a blog, and although it is not too complicated, you must learn.

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-hosted desktop where their entire team and tax accountant may access the QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools in an efficient and secure 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 the internet for ways to manage money, the truth is, a lot of what you find is garbage! For that reason, I have decided to let the experts in the field advise you with their memorable phrases about money management, followed by some comments to give these quotes some utility for you.

If you like famous quotes of this style, you will surely enjoy reflecting on these phrases.

Here are famous phrases on how to manage money

“Wall Street is the only place where people arrive in a Rolls-Royce to receive advice from people traveling in the subway” (Warren Buffet).

“The main reason why people have financial difficulties is that they accept financial advice from poor people or vendors” (Robert Kiyosaki).

“With a million dollars in your pocket and enough breaths, you can go to ruin in a year” (Warren Buffet).

These three great phrases translate to our language as:

Do not trust what the bank says or those who write in the newspaper; if he practiced everything he preached, he would already be rich; Look, Maria, the newspaper/TV analyst, says that if I don’t buy the ABC Company right now, it’s because I’m dumb. Where do we have the hidden money?

Please don’t make the error of trusting someone, who makes money recommending things that can make you rich, that isn’t rich themselves!

“Money doesn’t give you happiness, okay, but it leaves you so close to it that you can walk in a few minutes.”

I understand people who say that money is not everything, but let’s not fool ourselves; you have to know how to value and manage money. It is not everything, but it helps a lot.

“The difference between the rich and the poor is this: the rich invest their money and spend what is left. The poor spend their money and invest what is left” (Robert Kiyosaki).

“The middle class buys debts; the rich, assets. That’s what makes the difference” (Robert Kiyosaki).

Unfortunately, we can see what Kiyosaki tries to tell us on TV every day. Workers who previously earned large amounts of money spent everything on credit, of course, and now things have gone wrong, and they can’t keep up. From now on, apply Kiyosaki’s theory, save first, spend later!

“If you think training is expensive, try ignorance” (Benjamin Franklin).

It is better to spend a few afternoons looking for information about what to do with your money than to pay attention to the first one to advise you of something (including me, I am not the only opinion!). Please do your research to ensure they do not scam us again with some preference; history tells us they will try again.

“If we do not change the direction of our steps, it is very likely that we will end up getting where we are going.”

If you have trouble reaching the end of the month continuously, do something to change it! If you don’t make any changes, don’t be surprised if the same happens to you at the end of the following month.

“If you want to be rich, just find out what everyone else is doing, and do exactly the opposite” (Robert Kiyosaki).

Is your social group having money problems? If you don’t want the same thing to happen to you, look at what they do, find where they are making mistakes, and do the opposite.

“If you don’t know where you want to go, you will probably never get anywhere” (Mark Fisher).

Analyze your current situation, think about what you can change and improve, look for alternatives, and get to work on it. The most important thing in money management is to be very clear on how to proceed, starting with knowing the available alternatives and following the plan you set.

What do you think? What are your favorite phrases related to money management? Comment on the blog or social networks. If you want to see a version in a 3-minute video of the article, you can see it here with additional commentary from me.

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-hosted desktop where their entire team and tax accountant may access the QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools in an efficient and secure 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.

You may have caught wind of the significance of setting aside and putting away cash yet don’t have a clue where to start. Everybody has an alternate budgetary circumstance. A few people have obligations, and some are not making enough to spare, while others don’t have command over their ways of managing money.

Holding on to make it big sometime in the future, and afterward, you contribute, is not reasonable and won’t help you soon. The worldwide monetary perspective has radically changed its direction from constrained to develop impressively. Presently, we see the digital forms of money, the most inclining idea of blockchain innovation. This innovation can change the budgetary world.

A couple of decades back, there were exceptionally fewer alternatives to consider before contributing. Yet, with time and expanding ways of life, individuals are more inclined to upsurge their riches. For this reason, one needs to put resources in some way. To settle on a keen decision about contributing, you ought to be very educated regarding the choices accessible and the profits of various resources. Since you are perusing this blog, maybe you have decided to pay attention to your budgetary issues. If that is you, approach to go! Whatever your present budgetary circumstance is, you can, in any case, get your target life, set aside cash, and in the end, contribute it as well.

The income obtained through the Internet should not necessarily invest in activities or goods that merit the use of these communication networks.

There is the possibility of combining some ideas that merge traditional financial schemes with the new forms of entrepreneurship on the web.

It can be beneficial to consider some innovations of a disruptive nature, with which the commercialization of products and the provision of simple, accessible, and economical services can be established.

The initial step to setting aside cash or contributing is to have a few objectives. It isn’t adequate to say that you need to set aside money. Thinking of an arrangement is vital, especially if you need to place your cash in the money-related market.

Also, through these business proposals, you must focus on customers who usually do not consume the products or request the services offered by the entrepreneur or the company that markets them.

Thus, some ideas to invest the money obtained through the Internet can be the following:

Buy bitcoins

It is a cryptocurrency that has positioned itself in the financial markets, with several investors and entrepreneurs who have invested in the purchase of bitcoin units, acting as authorities that, with their support, help to increase their economic value constantly.

Saving money in this electronic currency can be an excellent investment alternative because its credibility at the financial level has been increasing.

Also, another of the significant advantages is that the costs involved in carrying out various financial transactions with bitcoins merit fewer commission costs than that of the traditional Banking Entities platforms.

 

Buy land

One real estate, whose value usually increases over time, is the land, which constitutes one of the best financial investments.

These properties are an excellent investment alternative because they can be used to construct residential complexes, houses, and other types of negotiations that will increase their initial economic value.

 

Buy shares in companies

Another option to invest the profits obtained through the Internet is buying shares in companies with a long-term return.

Its cost in the market tends to increase with time, being essential to receive advice and investigate the organization’s financial status further.

Before venturing into digital business or launching actions to generate money online, the most pertinent thing is to know how to value some financial fundamentals whose bases and structures are focused on traditional perspectives.

The idea is to visualize and plan financial strategies that allow these business models to maintain some correspondence with the expansion of the Internet—also, its impact on the phenomenon of Globalization.

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-hosted desktop where their entire team and tax accountant may access the QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools in an efficient and secure 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.

Without a defined target group, there is no successful customer acquisition. To address your potential customers, be it in the media, at trade fairs, or in other ways; you must know who it is and where you can find them. In short: you must define your target group. Once you have identified your specific target group, you can fully concentrate on them.

It has several advantages. You get to know your target group better over time and get a feel for their wishes, needs, and problems. If the customer feels that you are understanding, it is easier to build trust in you and your product or service. Trust is the basis for successful cooperation. Also, you avoid spending much time and money on unnecessary advertising measures that miss their target.

What is a Target group anyway?

Simply put, a target group is a specific group of people that you, as an entrepreneur, want to reach to sell your product or service to them. Ideally, they are your future customers. The number of people in this group is unlimited. However, it must be homogeneous to reach it through targeted marketing campaigns. Now all you must do is determine various characteristics that you can use to define your target group. It can be both B2B and B2C customers.

A few research-based tricks can help define your target audience.

Tips for defining your Target market

1. Consider your current client base – Know your existing clients and the reason for purchase. Learn your audience’s characteristics and interests to increase clients’ conversion rates.
2. Check out the level of competition – Find your competitor’s marketing strategy and learn about their current clients. Instead of penetrating the same market, you should select the niche market they are ignoring.
3. Analyze your product or service – Make a list of your products, services, and benefits. This practice will significantly impact your sales and boost your profits.

B2C target group: The private individual as a Customer

With B2C marketing, your company addresses the end customer who should use your product or service. You have a much larger target group at your disposal than with B2B marketing. Potential private customers are easier to survey and provide information about the individual target groups based on budget, consumer behavior, and personal preferences. You use the potential customers’ demographic, psychographic, and socio-economic characteristics to define the target group.

What are the Characteristics of my Target group?

Not everyone is automatically the ideal customer for your product or service. But how do you find out for yourself how your specific target group is composed? Separate the trash from the wheat. Market segmentation breaks down the overall market into its components. The individual segments’ division (according to products, product features, or customers) is the basis for a target group-coordinated marketing.

Various market research instruments lead to this goal. It makes sense to first differentiate according to the following distinctive features:

• Demographic characteristics (age, gender, marital status, place of residence, household size)
• Socio-economic factors (level of education, occupation, income)
• Psychographic characteristics (lifestyle, values, desires, motivation, opinions)
• Buying behavior (price sensitivity, satisfaction, buying range, media usage)

Every company should define its target group according to specific, individual criteria. The first step to successfully determine the potential target group is to sort them according to the customers’ wishes and problems and then divide them into sub-groups by further categorizing them in the next step. The classic distinction of customers, according to characteristic features, is the basis of market segmentation.

Conversely, it is just as crucial for you to know who you are. What distinguishes your company, and for what does your product stand? Before determining your target group, you should clearly define: Which profile do I have? How do I differ from my competitors? The customer must know what he is getting from you and who he is dealing with it.

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-hosted desktop where their entire team and tax accountant may access the QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools in an efficient and secure 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.

Nobody is perfect, especially when it comes to money. However, making money-related mistakes can put anyone is stress. People make many silly mistakes while dealing with their finances, but if errors were invertible, there is no need for wasting thousands of dollars on things that are already proven to be foolish. Below are a few common and silly financial mistakes that people make and how to avoid them:

Not saving

Saving money is something people often avoid, especially at a young age. When a person is young and only earns a limited amount, they don’t bother saving, which is a mistake. According to experts, time is the biggest ally in building wealth. Save something every month; even a dollar or two will do.

Saving money = last priority

Most people fail to save money because they follow a life pattern of getting paid, spending money, thinking about why they got nothing left to save? It’s all about breaking this self-destructive cycle. According to experts, a person should pay bills, save first and do everything else later.

Not thinking about interest

One of the most common mistakes people make is not paying interest on time. Interest builds up over time and can put a heavy strain on anyone, especially people who aren’t financially stable yet. Avoid using credit cards unless you must. Some finance experts are against credit cards and consider them a “bad choice” for youngsters.

Getting too emotional

It is easy for a person to get sucked into the daily blend of today’s market. However, sometimes investing based on headlines can lead to a loss. People often make a mistake after hearing bad news regarding the market and end up selling their assets when the rates are down. While the good news often sends people on an illogical shopping spree, where they end up buying while prices are high. It’s better to keep emotions in check and always invest or sell after properly analyzing the market.

Being overconfident

The stock market is that it can fool anyone, regardless of how good or intelligent they are. Most people make the mistake of becoming overconfident and end up losing a lot of money in stocks. The key is to invest in the stock market without being overconfident.

Buying famous brands

In some cases, name brands are a lot better. However, in most cases, they aren’t. Big-name brands like to sell overly expensive items with the help of false advertising, and people tend to fall for it. Avoid falling into such traps.

Not maintaining a good credit score

Maintaining a good credit score is essential as it will decide many crucial things in life. A good credit score means good interest, insurance rates to scoring a better job offer. Try and understand the real reason behind lousy credit scores, take few minutes and print out a copy of credit scores and get them correctly analyzed to see if they are poor.

Never asking for a better offer

Most people make the mistake of not bargaining. In fact, from medical bills to a simple shirt at a clothing store.  Sometimes getting a better deal is just a bargain away.

Blowing tax refunds

A lot of Americans get $1,000 worth of tax refunds each year. Many people end up blowing their tax money all at once, which is a mistake. Remember that this tax refund is the same money that a citizen overpaid earlier. Instead of wasting it on vacation, try to utilize it to pay high-interest debts or use it in other helpful stuff and avoid wasting it like lottery money.

Identifying and avoiding these small yet foolish mistakes mentioned above can lead to a better, more financially secure future.

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-hosted desktop where their entire team and tax accountant may access the QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools in an efficient and secure 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 we go to school, we learn math, chemistry, Spanish, and even sports, but nobody teaches us to manage personal finances. We left there to face the economy alone without any basis to help us prepare. That is why many people end up in debt, without savings, or sacrificing their time more and more to pay their expenses. If you don’t want your finances to hang you, then take the advice in the following manual that we have prepared for you.

# 1 It is never too late or too early to devote to your finances

Young people tend to think that they will be young forever, forget about saving, and prefer to squander. And getting accounts and calculations is something that older people do. On the other hand, debts have accumulated when they are already entering a more advanced age, and the energy to undertake new things is gone. And they think they should have started to manage in their youth.

Both are wrong. You can learn to manage your finances at any stage of your life. You need to dedicate time periodically and follow the movements indicated by the numbers. That will give you a better quality of life in the economic aspect, in the short, medium, and long term.

# 2 Take a couple of minutes a week to evaluate your finances

Managing your finances is a good habit that you should get used to doing without fail. Good athletes train regularly, economically successful men, manage their finances regularly too. It is not a matter of innate talent; it is discipline and perseverance.

If you have no idea what you should do, it is vital to learn about economics and finance. Books for newbies like those of Robert Kiyosaki or Adina Chelminsky are good beginnings. In general, what you should do in principle is to evaluate your equity and your cash flow.

How to calculate your equity?

First, add all the capital of your assets: Cash or accounts, investments, properties, inheritances, etc. Then to that sum, you subtract your liabilities: loans, credits, debts on credit cards, etc. The total will help you realize what your economic situation is. The higher the number, the better. If the account is negative or fair, there are problems to address.

Then it is crucial to evaluate what your monthly income and expenses are. Gather the bill for all your costs, including the coffee you had with your friend and the parking ticket. And lend it to your total monthly income. That will give you an exact idea of how you make your money and how you could save more and make better use of it.

# 3 Eliminate your debts little by little

The first piece of advice would be not to borrow. It is better to acquire the things you want when you have enough capital to pay cash. However, if you are spending more than you have and deliver it in installments, then it is best to stop the vice and find a way to pay off the debts you already have as soon as possible.

Use bonuses, salary increases, inheritances, year-end savings funds, or any additional capital you receive to pay off your debts faster. If your debt situation is very precarious, contact your creditors, let them know your actual position, and be realistic about the amount you can pay monthly. It is better to be honest, and let them help you pay than lie and save your finances more. And for the next time you have the urge to borrow, remember this: Money should work for you, not you for him.

# 4 Learn to budget for your expenses

If the money does not yield to you to pay your needs until the next time you receive your salary, you must learn not to waste your money.

For example: Let’s say you receive 100 coins monthly, and you need 20 to pay your rent, 20 for debts, 5 for services. That leaves you with a total of 55 coins for the rest and 45 that you must reserve only for those expenses. Consider having a reserve of 10% of that percentage to save and another 10% for emergencies. You already have 44 coins left. Divide that money into 4; I would give you a total of 11 coins for your food expenses and tastes per week.

Do you realize the utility of budgeting? It can be further subdivided according to your needs. So even if you have 100 coins in your pocket, you will know that when you make your market of the week, you cannot spend 11 coins or less.

You should consider your actual expenses, and you can make adjustments in the percentage of savings or include a portion for investments if possible.

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-hosted desktop where their entire team and tax accountant may access the QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools in an efficient and secure 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.

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

6 Strategies to Boost Your Personal Finances Today

Improving your personal finances starts with six proven strategies: building an emergency fund, eliminating high-interest debt, implementing zero-based budgeting, automating your savings, investing early for retirement, and committing to continuous financial education. These methods transform financial chaos into stability—even for those starting with overwhelming debt or minimal income.

Over my 20 years as CEO of Complete Controller, I’ve worked with thousands of businesses across every sector imaginable. The patterns are clear: those who thrive financially use systems, not willpower. They automate before they optimize. They track every dollar with purpose. When I started this company with $200,000 in student debt, these same strategies became my lifeline. Today, you’ll learn exactly how to implement them in your own life, gaining the skills to negotiate better rates, slash unnecessary expenses, and build wealth automatically while you sleep.

What are the six strategies to improve your personal finances?

• Build an emergency fund covering 3-6 months of essential expenses to prevent debt spirals
• Eliminate high-interest debt using proven avalanche or snowball methods
• Track every dollar with zero-based budgeting for precision control
• Automate savings, investments, and bill payments to bypass decision fatigue
• Start retirement investing immediately, even with small monthly amounts
• Dedicate monthly time to expanding your financial literacy and money management skills

Emergency Funds: Your Financial Shock Absorber

A robust emergency fund prevents catastrophic debt when life throws curveballs—job losses, medical bills, or major car repairs. According to Bankrate’s 2024 survey, 59% of Americans feel uncomfortable with their emergency savings levels, with only 28% having saved six months of expenses. This vulnerability forces 43% of Americans to rely on credit cards or loans for even $1,000 emergencies.

Your target emergency fund should cover 3-6 months of essential living expenses including rent, utilities, groceries, and insurance. Freelancers and gig workers benefit from extending this to 8 months due to income variability. Store these funds in high-yield savings accounts currently offering 4-5% APY to maintain purchasing power against inflation while keeping money accessible.

Building your safety net

Start by calculating your monthly essentials—typically 50-60% of gross income. Multiply by your target months. If that $12,000 goal feels overwhelming, begin with $1,000. Sarah K., a Complete Controller client, avoided $5,200 in credit card interest after an unexpected layoff by tapping her $8,000 emergency fund. Her secret: automating $200 weekly transfers from checking to savings, treating it like a non-negotiable bill.

Debt Destruction: Strategic Payoff Methods

High-interest debt crushes wealth-building potential faster than any other financial mistake. Credit cards averaging 22% APR transform $10,000 balances into $22,000 obligations within five years through minimum payments alone. The math demands immediate action.

Two proven methods accelerate debt elimination:

• Avalanche Method: Attack highest-interest debts first for maximum mathematical savings
• Snowball Method: Eliminate smallest balances first to build psychological momentum
• Hybrid Approach: Start with one small win, then switch to avalanche for optimization

Negotiation tactics

Before choosing your method, call every creditor. Request lower rates citing payment history or competitor offers. Bank of America reduced rates for 62% of hardship applicants in 2024. Even a 5% reduction saves thousands over repayment periods. Document all conversations and follow up with written confirmations.

Zero-Based Budgeting for Precision Control

Traditional budgets fail because they leave wiggle room for impulse spending. Zero-based budgeting assigns every incoming dollar a specific job before it arrives, eliminating the “miscellaneous” category that derails financial progress. Income minus allocated expenses must equal exactly zero.

Implementation framework

Track 30 days of actual spending using apps like YNAB or Mint to establish baselines. Categorize ruthlessly—separating needs from wants reveals shocking patterns. Most clients discover 15-20% of spending goes to forgotten subscriptions or convenience purchases.

Allocate your income using the 50/30/20 framework as a starting point:

• 50% to needs (housing, insurance, groceries)
• 30% to wants (entertainment, hobbies, dining out)
• 20% to debt payoff and savings

Family integration success

The Ramirez family transformed their finances by gamifying conservation. Children earned “fun fund” contributions for energy savings like shorter showers and turning off lights. Result: 15% lower utility bills and kids who understood money’s value. Make budgeting visual with progress charts on the refrigerator—celebration beats deprivation every time.

Automation: The Silent Wealth Architect

Automation transforms good intentions into inevitable outcomes. T. Rowe Price research proves automated savers accumulate 3.2 times more wealth over a decade compared to manual savers. One company’s switch to auto-enrollment boosted 401(k) participation from 40% to 86%, with low-income employees seeing 41% higher lifetime wealth accumulation.

Advanced automation strategies

Beyond basic transfers, modern tools multiply your money’s efficiency:

1. Round-up investing: Apps like Acorns invest spare change into diversified portfolios
2. Bill negotiation services: Rocket Money automatically renegotiates subscriptions annually
3. Paycheck splitting: Direct deposit 10% to savings before it touches checking
4. Dynamic rebalancing: Robo-advisors adjust investments based on market conditions

At Complete Controller, we’ve automated over $2 million monthly in client savings transfers. The result? Late fee reductions of 92%, freeing an average $780 annually per client for accelerated debt payoff. Set it once, benefit forever.

Retirement Investing: Time Beats Timing

Compound interest rewards early starters exponentially. A 25-year-old investing $300 monthly at 7% returns accumulates $1.1 million by 65. Starting at 35 requires $700 monthly for identical results. Edward Jones research shows delaying just 10 years costs $545,000 in retirement wealth.

Accessible entry points

• Employer 401(k): Capture every matching dollar—it’s an instant 100% return
• Roth IRA: Post-tax contributions grow tax-free for retirement
• Micro-investing platforms: Start with $5 on apps like Stash or Acorns
• Target-date funds: Professional management without active oversight

Begin today, even with $25 monthly. Increase contributions by 1% annually or with each raise. The habit matters more than the initial amount.

Financial Education: Your Competitive Advantage

Financial literacy remains stagnant near 50% nationally, dropping 2% in 2024 according to TIAA research. This knowledge gap costs Americans billions in poor decisions. Yet dedicated learners see 23% higher net worth within five years—education literally pays.

Monthly learning framework

Commit to one educational action monthly:

• Read one finance book (start with The Psychology of Money)
• Audit and cancel one unnecessary subscription
• Watch one documentary on investing basics
• Join Reddit’s r/personal finance community (7.2 million members strong)

Mark eliminated $80,000 in debt using only free library resources and YouTube tutorials. His breakthrough: learning to negotiate medical bills saved $15,000 instantly. Knowledge compounds faster than any investment.

Final Thoughts

These six strategies—emergency funds, debt elimination, zero-based budgeting, automation, early investing, and continuous education—create unstoppable financial momentum. My journey from $200,000 in student loans to financial independence began with automating just 6% of my income. Small actions compound into life-changing results.

Start today with one step: negotiate a single bill, open a high-yield savings account, or cancel one forgotten subscription. Progress beats perfection every time. For personalized guidance on implementing these systems in your business and personal finances, connect with our team at Complete Controller. We’ve helped thousands transform their financial futures—yours can be next.

Frequently Asked Questions About Improve Your Personal Finances

What’s the fastest way to improve personal finances?

Focus on eliminating high-interest debt first, particularly credit cards above 20% APR. This provides guaranteed returns exceeding most investments while freeing up cash flow for other strategies.

How much should I save monthly from my income?

Target 20% of gross income for savings and debt payoff combined. Start with any amount—even $50 monthly—and increase by 1% every six months until reaching your goal.

Can budgeting apps really replace professional financial advisors?

Apps excel at daily money management and basic investing. Financial advisors add value for complex situations like tax optimization, estate planning, or business finances. Use both strategically.

When should I start investing if I still have debt?

Invest immediately if your employer offers 401(k) matching—it’s free money. Otherwise, prioritize paying off any debt with interest rates above 7% before investing in taxable accounts.

How do I discuss budgeting with a resistant spouse or family?

Frame budgets as “spending plans” that enable goals rather than restrict freedom. Use visual progress trackers for shared objectives like vacations. Celebrate wins together monthly.

Sources

• FINRA. (2024). “5 Steps to Control Finances.” www.finra.org
• MACU. (2024). “39 Ways to Improve Your Personal Finances.” www.macu.com
• Ward, Judith. (2025). “Six Smart Ways to Boost Financial Wellness.” T. Rowe Price. www.troweprice.com
• Bank of America. (2024). “Simple Ways to Save Money.” www.bankofamerica.com
• Investopedia. (2024). “Personal Finance Strategies.” www.investopedia.com
• Portage Path. (2024). “Personal Finance Tips for Mental Health.” www.portagepath.org
• First Financial Bank. (2024). “6 Budgeting Strategies for Families.” www.firstfinancial.com
• Edward Jones. (2024). “The Value of Saving Earlier.” www.edwardjones.com
• Bankrate. (2024). “Emergency Savings Survey, May 17-20, 2024.” www.bankrate.com
• Fox9. (2025). “Bankrate’s 2025 Emergency Savings Report.” www.fox9.com
• LendingClub. (2025). “Paycheck-to-Paycheck Report.” People’s Policy Project. www.lendingclub.com
• T. Rowe Price. (2025). “Auto-enrollment’s Long-Term Effect on Retirement Saving.” www.troweprice.com
• TIAA Institute-GFLEC. (2024). “Personal Finance Index.” www.tiaa.org
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. (2024). “What is an Emergency Fund?” www.consumerfinance.gov
• Investopedia. (2024). “Zero-Based Budgeting.” www.investopedia.com
• Internal Revenue Service. (2024). “Retirement Plans.” www.irs.gov

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.