Author: Jennifer Brazer

With so many forced to work at home and start their businesses, there is a lot of concern about financing a business venture or small business. Looking at ways to finance a business is nothing new, but crowdlending is still a fairly recent form of getting your business or idea financed.

People are finding ways to earn money by not aligning with an organization with the help of the internet and opting to be self-employed. Especially in 2020, where COVID-19 changed the world of business, many people were forced out of work. This unemployment pushed more people to start their businesses or become freelancers.

Last year was the year of crowdlending. Financially speaking, the shortage of credit that undermines the competitiveness of the autonomous and small companies has further sharpened the ingenuity and even more alternative financing formulas for which SMEs opt and entrepreneurs, such as crowdlending.

Crowdlending is another collective financing formula in which individuals are giving and receiving business loans, generally from online platforms. The main difference of this financing model compared to crowdfunding is that, in the second, individuals invest in social capital, obtaining shares of the company. In the first, the financing is carried out in the form of a loan.

What are the conditions of crowdlending loans?

In this credit system, the investors themselves, the individuals, decide the amount they will lend and the interest rate. If a company receives many financing requests, it can choose between those that offer less interest. At the end of the financing period, each individual will receive the requested interest.

The philosophy that revolves around this financing model is to provide individuals with the power to decide what type of projects they invest in. Thanks to the online platforms from which the investment is made, transparent information is offered on what activities the money invested is used.

Although it has gained ground, it is a developing formula in our country in which it is necessary to consider some aspects. It has been, precisely, the concept of transparency, of connection between the investor and the company in the online environment and, especially, through the use of social networks, which has made this formula gain positions in recent months.

However, it should be remembered that crowdlending platforms are not within the deposit guarantee fund. If the company in which it has invested fails, the individual will have difficulty recovering the investment.

However, the platforms that manage this type of financing carefully select the projects that will become part of them, reducing the default rate to 2%. In comparison, the delinquency in banking is more than 10%.

How has crowdlending evolved?

Crowdlending or the P2P lending system initially provided credit access to people who could get spurned by conventional institutions. It was also a way to consolidate student loans with a more favorable interest rate.

However, in recent years, crowdlending has substantially increased its reach. Many target consumers who wish to pay off their credit card debt or even students at a good, lowered interest rate. Moreover, they can also pay off home improvement loans as well as auto financing loans as well.

Not to mention the advent of modern-day websites, which has improved ways to improve crowdlending practices. It also opened up opportunities for freelancers to provide services individually. It’s also a blessing in disguise for consumers; because of the lowered service cost and improved service quality.

Conclusion

However, before you opt for acquiring freelance crowdlending services, you need to keep a few things in mind. Whichever consumer or investor using a P2P lending site should observe the fees on transactions; every site or professionals sets money differently. Still, commissions may be charged to the lender or borrower.

It works similarly to banks, where they charge late fees, loan origination fees, and bounced-payment fees extensively. All in all, if you want to improve your credit score or just rid yourself of a hefty student loan, crowdlending is how you should go about it.

And with freelance services in the frame, you have ample opportunities to expand your horizons and become debt-free. Remember, the world provides you opportunities, and you have to make the most out of 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.

A lack of flexibility, management involvement, support, appropriate training, effective organizational communication, and communication between employees and management are the main obstacles that may hinder organizational change management practices.  Similarly, failure to cope with people resistance and test the process, poor senior management, misapplication, and misunderstanding of the models and techniques can all contribute to negative associate morale and slow down the change management process.

When the outcome of the process does not exceed the expectation of the Organizational Change Management (OCM), then the process of Business Process Re-engineering (BPR) has failed and can cause the organization a tremendous financial loss. Moreover, companies can also bring changes to the organizational management system by focusing on the Maturity Model that assists in increasing their maturity level and stabilizing their positions in the competitive marketplace.

Impact of Constraints on Construction Projects

Various factors may limit the Change Management (CM) process of organizations, predominantly construction projects. The most common constraints are mentioned below:

Economic Constraints

Economic constraints are based on the allocation of money and budgetary limitations.  Simply stated, economic constraints are centered around money.  Companies without budgets would not be able to effectively achieve proposed objectives and goals regarding quality measures and productivity. Therefore, the allocation of money within the budget is entirely dependent on the progress of the project.  If the funds are not allocated appropriately, it will negatively affect the performance and progress of the project and can result in a financial loss for the organization.

Legal Constraints

Rules and regulations may cause some issues in the lifecycle of construction projects. These legal constraints are likely associated with safety and work laws, supervision regulation, and plans but may affect the project’s performance.  Legal constraints generally impede the construction process by creating delays that affect schedules and affect the reliability of the projects and organization.  Understanding legal constraints allows the project manager to prepare and work to avoid any obstacles so the project can be completed on time and on budget.   

Environmental Constraints

Environmental constraints are rules and considerations regarding the physical environment within a construction project.  These considerations can include air quality, tree maintenance, site visitor limits, sound management, and so forth. Within the planning and design stage of the project, the project management team must consult with the Environmental Division to obtain an endorsement or validation for the project. If the endorsement is not obtained at the appropriate point in time, the project could be delayed or canceled altogether. Additionally, there could be one-time technological constraints that surface from air security, hierarchy renovation, visitor limits, excavation restrictions, and so forth.

Technical Constraints

There are specialized requirements in the United Kingdom that can apply to temporary technical sites. Specialized requirements can be thought out and prepared for by the project team at the onset of the construction project. Building assignments in the United Kingdom can become a constraint on a project if they require a temporary field site.  These sites may have capacity or space limits, difficulties receiving deliveries, or have technical constraints where electricity, air conditioning, heat, and maintenance work are essential. Similarly, having an internet connection with appropriate broadband, phone lines, and a security system are additional technical constraints on a worksite of a construction project.   In essence, worksites require adaptability that traditional work environments may not need.  In addition to these technical constraints, the project team must continue to advance the project according to the timeline and budget. 

Conclusion

Constraints are inevitable in any construction project.  They commonly include economic constraints, legal constraints, environmental constraints, and technical constraints.  While awareness does not suggest that every requirement or constraint can be overcome, it is beneficial to the team and construction project to be prepared and work within the limitation and not against 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.

Financial stability is a goal every individual in this world is striving to achieve. Whether it is a business owner or a job worker, each of these people struggles to get to a point where financing their dreams is not an issue. Millions of people in this world have to give up on their dreams and passions just because they do not have the financial support they need. The term itself is subjective. It means it holds a different definition in the eyes of different people.

For some people, financial stability is not looking at the price tag when shopping; it is a sustainable business. There are people for whom purchasing a house or diving their car is reaching financial success. Then some believe that paying off their debts is the point of financial stability.

Throughout life, many people borrow loans, sometimes for completing their educations, sometimes for purchasing a house, sometimes for a vacation, and sometimes for medical emergencies. Anyone who wishes to reach financial stability needs to make repayment of debts their top priority.

Repayment of debts is one of the biggest obstacles in one’s path towards achieving financial stability and success. Here are the most effective steps that can help you succeed in debt repayment, leading you to financial stability and remove stress.

Calculate the total amount of your debts: The first step towards getting rid of your debts is to admit that you have debts. Once you hit yourself with a reality check, make up your mind to get rid of this financial risk hovering above your head.

Carefully calculate the total amount of money you owe. Get rid of the debts with the highest interest rates first; this will help you save a lot of money. It is difficult to solve your problems if you do not look at the full picture of your financial status.

Address Your Bad Spending Habits: One of the most important steps is to address your bad spending habits. You will not be able to repay your debts until you cut down on your unnecessary expenses.  It is time for you to stop wasting money. You can start by changing your spending practices.

Carefully monitor the amount you earn, enlist your basic expenses, and try to reduce expenses as much as possible. All this means a change in your way of life. Make sure you do not even add even a single dollar to your already crippling debt. For instance, using a debit card instead of a credit card can help you keep your credit card debt from growing. Try to use the card if you have money in your account.

When you acquire some extra money, instead of buying clothes, shoes, or your favorite perfume, use it to repay the debts.

Choosing the Smartest Way Out: There are several options to solve your debt problems, but not all these methods are suitable for you. Make sure to select the most appropriate option that is perfect for your needs. Remember that one bad step can ruin the future.

Avoid Using Credit Cards: As soon as you have successfully repaid your debts, call the bank to cancel the credit card. Leave credit cards at home and fight the temptation to use them. You will not have to fight your inner self when you do not have a credit card.

Never pay the debts of one credit card with another. It might be the biggest blunders of your life. We know that credit card offers can be attractive, but you want to stay financially stable, you need to turn your head the other way.

Hire Professional Assistance: For some, being extravagant is a psychological problem. Its sending habit turns into an addiction similar to that of drinking, gambling, or doing drugs. Social problems such as divorce and loss of work or inevitable emergencies such as illnesses can also be a cause; in such cases, it is advisable to seek professional financial advice.

Make repayment of your debt your financial priority. It will help you reach a stable state, where you think about saving and even looking for investment options in the best cases. Debt repayment is the first step toward financial stability.

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.

Students live with a tight budget; around 79% of them are anxious about money and savings. They try to purchase cheap things and avoid being in debt. According to recent research, 15 years old American students believe 18% of respondents do not have financial management skills. It is necessary to them aware of how to win financial success and a beneficial way of earning money. Saving money is not a funny task as you need to be smart while spending your money. Let us understand five tips to save money for students.

1. Avoid credit cards

Credit card companies strive hard to offer credit cards to young Americans. Students can use it anytime, as they will go into temptation, but the payment will proceed later. Such type of habit can make a debtor soon. That is why students cannot bear the responsibility of having credit cards until and unless they learn how to create limits for expenses.

2. Avail discounts

As we know, students have a tight budget, so they must save as much money as possible. It does not mean they can’t travel, watch movies, eat good food, and retail. They can enjoy all these things with limited expenses by availing discounts. Only you will need to wait for the next sale and Google everything you will purchase. Search the product name and the purpose of its usage. For example, you want access to Adobe Photoshop as a student. You will be on the discount page of teachers and students. Also, you may find an option of GoGet Student’s on various websites to land on the discounted student rate web page.

3. Leave a habit of having pets

Unfortunately, having pets is expensive beyond our imagination as people spend thousands of dollars per year. They need extra care with food expenses that will only increase your expenditures. You will also give your time to your pets with study and work. It is best to live without pets as it will save you different prices with unanticipated costs that you may not expect. You will have more freedom than having pets. You can enjoy all your extracurricular activities, even travel outside the country. If you are a caretaker of cats or dogs, you will have to give them a stable environment. They can severely decrease the level of flexibility. You can go ahead if you think you can manage to have pets as I am not preaching here, though.

4. Avoid expensive expenses

Young people are fond of buying new things related to their wishes, including the desire to have expensive materials. Such sort of shopping can be useful or harmful at the same time. Most students want to buy a car as a transport facility. For this, they strive hard to save as much money as possible. This practice makes them perfect in building saving skills. But having a car is costly as you must pay for motor vehicle registration, insurance, petrol, spare parts, parking, fuel, and other additional expenses for car maintenance.

You can use alternatives rather than bearing such expenses to save maximum money. You can purchase a motorcycle or cycle as daily transport. It is the cheapest expenditure that every student can afford.

5. Do not buy unnecessary subscriptions

Students love to watch Netflix and have different memberships of resorts for an outing. Such types of subscriptions are expensive that cut your maximum money within a month. If you do not believe in this fact, you can check your regular expenditure’s cost, including subscriptions. Also, watch your financial progress after cutting out these prices. You will see a significant difference.

It is better to use alternatives that are not that much costly. For example, you can purchase a gym membership and join a sports team. You can use prepaid services rather than renewing your phone contract. Also, you should identify all subscriptions that help you in money-saving. If you need to watch movies every week, do not skip your ten-dollar Netflix opportunity. Keep using your Netflix account.

6. Work to make a proper budget

Most of the students do not have any idea how to manage finances or spend money with wisdom. Most learners do not have loans and debt pay-off plans. So that is why you should track the financial traffic of your account. You will know how much you have spent or saved. Use online spreadsheets to keep a tracking record of your expenditures. Also, you can money-saving and budget management apps such as PocketBook and MoneyBrilliant.

 

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 hiring profiles demanded by companies have changed, and now it is up to human resources to face the challenges brought by the changes. Companies must continuously adapt to the evolution of business models, technology, and available tools. Only then will they be able to attract and retain the workforce they need to grow. That is why human resource trends vary from time to time.

Currently, there are several trends in the personnel area that are being applied in large companies, many of them related to the digital transformation of human resources. Here are the most outstanding trends in human resource management that will help you find the right talent to respond to the socio-economic needs that arise today.

Bet on temporary specialization

The term “Implant” has been used in the Human Resources field for a long time. Still, it is gaining more force than ever due to the need to have highly specialized personnel at specific times. With this model, the company’s human resources can hire temporary senior profiles who can contribute all their experience and knowledge without costing them too much money.

Enjoyable Training

Tedious training courses for staff are a thing of the past. This year what is expected is that the staff will have fun while recycling or when receiving internal communications. Gamification, i.e., the game mechanisms applied to employees, is a powerful tool to motivate them and make them feel more identified with its values.

Its effectiveness is such for human resource management that this department is also using it when it comes to recruiting and onboarding new employees.

Internal satisfaction surveys

The digital transformation in human resources also involves using tools that indicate whether employees are satisfied. Satisfaction surveys, for example, are a good thermometer to see if things are being done well. There are studies in this regard. In one study by Gallup, it was concluded that turnover had increased by 19% in companies that bet on the engagement of their workforce.

Your employees, your cover letter

Employer Branding is probably not a new term for you. Still, the Human Resources managers of the prominent companies have bet on the brand image that employees set. Earning a good reputation thanks to what the company’s human capital says is much more useful than what the company can give itself. To achieve this, you only have to look for proposals seen by the staff as an added value.

Collaboration better than individualism

The best way to get the most out of your digital transformation is to make changes to the way you organize your work management. The collaboration of the teams bears excellent results, which is why the trend points in this direction.

We must ensure that the teams manage to coordinate to be efficient and increase productivity. It is essential to choose a leader who knows how to captain that ship, using all the technological tools.

Data analysis

Knowing the consumption habits of customers is very important for any company. Still, data analysis can also be applied to the workforce. In this way, you will know what motivates them, making them work better, faster, and more enthusiastic.

Big Data, that great ally

The selection processes have always been cold and impersonal. Only the CV was taken into account, and those who did not meet the required skills were automatically discarded.

But now, there is a growing tendency to consider attitude and value candidates for what they will contribute to the medium term. When a person fits into the company’s philosophy, even if they have never precisely done that job, they are given a chance. In some cases, even big data is used to classify candidates based on variables such as their character and personality.

Empowerment

Empower employees so that they are autonomous and do not depend on their superiors’ decisions. Command and conquer no longer has a place in today’s business world.

Treat employees as customers

Have you heard of consumerization? Well, aim, because it is the order of the day. It consists of making things easy for employees, treating them the same way you would your clients. And that includes simplifying all the procedures they have to carry out, from the application they use to work to how to pass the expense notes.

Don’t forget about digitization

For years, technology has been included as a trend in human resources management. Now we are not talking about innovation but about the imperative need to implement automation and digitization tools, including personnel management. Without these advances, the company will not be able to gain competitiveness.

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.

Thought Leadership is the output of content marketing as a primary marketing strategy for a company or product. Content marketing is a marketing strategy used by leaders to create thought leadership. It influences culture in the process of getting the right audience excited about your product, service, and overall brand.

The Right Audience

Before even thinking of diving into your business, you must know your audience well enough to strategize and design your marketing campaigns according to their preferences. If your content is not articulated to influence the right audience, you are losing time, effort, and a targeted audience following.

Providing wrong content means losing your chances of your audience reading the content at all. Knowing your audience helps you formulate and organize your content to suit their liking as a thought leader.

Perform a Thorough Research

Performing research before approaching your client is imperative. Even if you do not have enough time to maneuver through comprehensive research relevant to your topic, you should at least bring into focus the major pointers to build a general understanding.

Hence, it would be best to look into competitors to come up with similar content to talk about and propose different aspects in comparison. Try to find out everything regarding that topic. Your intended audience has already responded on various social media platforms such as Twitter or LinkedIn; these are more authentic to rely on.

This way, you can keep up with recent changes or modifications made around the topic of research.

Giving Your All

It can be a tedious task to keep up with note-taking and consciously listening at the same time. To ensure that you obtain all the required information from the experts, you may need to restructure or appealingly present your questions or make sure it makes sense to their psyche.

The more you get into your research, the better you will come up with relevant questions. It all becomes easier and more like a piece of cake with a lot of practice – all in due time.

Consistency is Key

The idea of thought leadership does not revolve around the number of followers you can hit on social media alone. It has to be more about the trust-building process of establishing a reliable connection with your audience. The only way to go about this is to provide them with unprecedented, high-end content to keep them engaged and interested in your leadership.

Use Your Resources

Once you have figured out the kind of content your audience prefers and all the resources to work around with, you must then figure out a strategy and direction. This is important to give your content a thrust and help it influence your audience most effectively.

You may have all the content you need, including blogs, press mentions, guest posts, certifications and recognitions, whitepapers, polls, and a lot more. However, if you do not align them to appear in a certain chronology and use it as your strongest asset, you may have higher chances of letting your content turn into your weakness.

If it does not work in close harmony to drive you closer to your thought leadership benchmark, you must change your strategy.

Effective Thought Leadership

You need to keep in mind a few aspects if you want to build an audience influence and step up your thought leadership game. Firstly, you should stop focusing a lot on paid promotions and excessive brand-building tactics.

Keeping things simple is the best way to gain someone’s trust, and that is the case with your audience. By keeping them in the loop of your realistic values, by being transparent about what matters to you; you will gain their trust in a much better way than promoting outrightly. Secondly, creating top-notch content is not enough.

You have to be creative enough to understand where to channel that content to meet your goal specifically. Hence, you must understand through which contacts in your PR list or your online platforms will be highly noticed. This strategy is specifically to meet your goal, which will only create the content with a purpose in mind and then recycling it to serve that purpose in multiple ways.

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 key to a company’s financial success is to carry out a good financial strategy. Conducting strategic analysis, deciding the time frame, and investing part of the benefits are steps to follow.

To succeed in business, it is not enough to offer a good product or service. All companies must have a powerful financial strategy that supports all the decisions that have to be made related to finances. With this in mind, planning is as important as implementation. Here are some key financial strategies that will ensure your company is a success no matter the size of the products or services it offers.

Analyze the financial strategy

To plan a good financial strategy, you must first carry out a strategic analysis.

This step is very important because there is no single financial plan. Apart from being detailed and organized, planning must be done in a personalized way to meet the needs and objectives of each particular company.

That is why you have to consider a series of variables, starting with being clear about your company’s risk profile. It is also important to analyze the following key aspects:

• The current limitations and resources of the company.
• Working capital: liquidity and solvency.
• Cash flow forecasts.
• The profitability of investments.
• The level of indebtedness.
• Funding sources.
• The risk of the credits granted to the clients.
• The objectives to be achieved. When preparing the list, these objectives must be achievable and measurable.
• The time frame in which this strategy will be framed (the short term must be avoided). This last point is important since financial strategies differ depending on the term.

All this information is easier to obtain when the data is up to date and the management, both financial and documentary, is digitized. The data is categorized so that, in a matter of seconds and at any time, you can control that the different departments comply with the assigned budget or study all reported expenses and payment methods, among other advantages.

Design financial strategies based on the term

As we said, the time frame is one of the keys to success. If your company is going to opt for long-term financial strategies (the most recommended), you must take into account three aspects:

The investment: It must be aimed at increasing the value of the company. Strategies can be offensive, defensive, redirecting, and survival. Depending on the one your company has raised, investment decisions will be oriented either to growth or to divestment. In the first case, you can choose between two types of growth:

Internal growth: It may be, for example, expanding the business because demand has increased and supply is no longer sufficient to cover it.

External growth: One strategy would be to eliminate your competitors, for example, through mergers.

When it comes to divestment, this strategy applies when the company is only focused on getting ahead. You may choose to keep the assets or sell a portion, so you don’t have to close.

The financing structure. The strategy adopted to choose the appropriate source of financing must correspond to the risk that the company is willing to assume.

The retention or distribution of profits. In this case, the strategy will depend on variables such as the possibility of contracting long-term loans or obtaining more profitability for the available assets.

What can be done in the short term?

For their part, financial strategies for the short term should focus on the following aspects:

• The working capital. Finding the right risk-return ratio is important. One of the three basic strategies must be followed: aggressive (high risk), conservative (low risk), and intermediate (seeks a balance between liquidity and profitability of liabilities).
• The current liabilities. We are talking about the current financing of a company. The strategy ranges from taking advantage of discounts for prompt payment to a financial institution to apply for a loan.
• Efficiently manage cash on hand. It is necessary to carry out three fundamental actions to increase the liquidity of the company. You must reduce inventory, try to collect as soon as possible and delay payments as long as that does not mean paying commissions or giving up discounts for prompt payment.

Follow all the steps to implement the financial strategy in large companies

Once the planning phase has been passed, it is time to fully enter into the implementation of the financial strategy. But you have to do it carefully, taking all the recommended steps. When the strategy is carried out progressively, better results are obtained.

You cannot forget to hold regular meetings with your company’s accounting and finance managers to make sure that everything is going according to plan. Communication is essential, almost as much as monitoring for progress.

Review the financial strategy

You need to make revisions frequently in case you need to make adjustments. Only then can it adapt to the needs of the company in real-time.

How often do you have to carry out these reviews? At least once a quarter. And, of course, when there are changes in the objectives set in the planning phase or there are important changes in the company.

Make profitable business profits

The last point has to do with the profitability of profits. You can always set aside a part that you will not need in the short term and invest it. Swing trading (ideal for more conservative), derivatives, or investment value (the strategy did succeed Warren Buffet) are some options. But in this case, better to go to the experts.

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

3 Money Investment Strategies Every Investor Should Know

Investment strategies that deliver consistent returns require mastering three core approaches that balance growth with security in today’s volatile markets.

When I work with clients seeking to build wealth, I see the same patterns repeatedly: those who succeed follow specific, time-tested methods rather than chasing market trends. Whether you’re just starting or looking to optimize your portfolio, these three strategies form the foundation of smart investing that works across market cycles.

What are the 3 most important investment strategies every investor should know?

• The three essential investment strategies are portfolio diversification, long-term buy-and-hold investing, and strategic risk management techniques.
• Portfolio diversification spreads risk across different asset classes, preventing catastrophic losses when one sector underperforms.
• Buy-and-hold investing harnesses the power of compound growth and avoids the costly mistakes of market timing.
• Risk management protects your capital during market downturns through protective measures like stop-loss orders and emergency funds.
• Implementing all three strategies creates a resilient portfolio that can weather market volatility while capturing growth opportunities.

Strategy #1: Master Portfolio Diversification for Stability and Growth

Smart diversification isn’t merely about owning different stocks—it’s about structuring your investments so they respond differently to market forces. As I’ve coached entrepreneurs through market cycles, I’ve seen firsthand how diversification serves as financial armor during volatility.

The classic investment advice “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” exists for good reason. When one sector struggles, others often thrive. Consider the 2022 tech sector correction, where investors with diversified portfolios weathered the storm while tech-heavy portfolios experienced significant drawdowns.

Effective diversification requires balance across

• Asset classes: Spread investments across stocks, bonds, real estate, and commodities
• Geographical regions: Include international markets to reduce dependence on US economic conditions
• Market capitalizations: Balance large, mid, and small-cap investments
• Sectors: Distribute investments across technology, healthcare, finance, consumer goods, and utilities

The power of diversification becomes most apparent during market stress. Research from S&P Dow Jones Indices showed that properly diversified portfolios reduced volatility by up to 31% during market corrections while maintaining 96% of potential returns during bull markets.

Actionable steps to improve your diversification

Start by analyzing your current allocation. Many investors believe they’re diversified when they actually have significant concentration risks. Here’s how to implement proper diversified portfolio management tips:

1. Audit your existing holdings for overlap and concentration (many mutual funds contain the same top holdings)
2. Set allocation targets based on your age and risk tolerance (younger investors can tolerate higher equity allocations)
3. Use low-cost index funds to gain broad market exposure efficiently
4. Incorporate alternative assets like REITs or commodity ETFs for uncorrelated returns
5. Rebalance quarterly to maintain your target allocations

What surprises many investors is that diversification isn’t just about reducing risk—it’s about optimizing returns across full market cycles. By maintaining exposure to multiple asset classes, you position yourself to capture returns wherever they emerge.

Strategy #2: Embrace Long-Term Buy-and-Hold Investing for Wealth Building

The buy-and-hold approach stands in stark contrast to active trading strategies that promise quick riches but often deliver disappointment. This strategy involves purchasing quality investments and holding them through market cycles, allowing compound growth to work its magic.

Market timing—attempting to buy low and sell high consistently—remains one of the most destructive behaviors I see among investors. Studies consistently show that investors who trade frequently underperform those who stay invested. According to YCharts data, missing just the 10 best market days over a 20-year period cuts your returns nearly in half.

The buy-and-hold investment approach delivers several critical advantages:

• Tax efficiency: Long-term capital gains receive preferential tax treatment
• Reduced costs: Fewer transactions mean lower commission costs and tax events
• Psychological relief: Less stress from constantly monitoring markets
• Compound growth: Uninterrupted compounding delivers exponential returns over time

Case study: The power of patient capital

One of my manufacturing clients provides a perfect example of buy-and-hold success. During the March 2020 market crash, many investors panic-sold as markets plummeted. My client not only stayed invested but added to their positions in quality companies at discounted prices.

By December 2021, their portfolio had grown by 87%, significantly outperforming peers who tried timing the market. More importantly, they captured the recovery without the stress of deciding when to reinvest.

The most compelling evidence for buy-and-hold comes from Warren Buffett’s approach. His famous advice—”Our favorite holding period is forever”—reflects the simple truth that quality businesses compound wealth over decades, not quarters.

For most investors, implementing buy-and-hold means:

• Selecting quality investments with sustainable competitive advantages
• Focusing on businesses with strong balance sheets and cash flows
• Ignoring short-term market noise and volatility
• Reinvesting dividends automatically to accelerate compounding
• Maintaining conviction during inevitable market downturns

Strategy #3: Implement Strategic Risk Management to Protect Your Capital

While diversification and buy-and-hold investing form the foundation of wealth building, strategic risk management protects that foundation. No investment strategy is complete without deliberate protection against market shocks and personal financial emergencies.

Risk management isn’t about avoiding all risks—it’s about taking calculated risks aligned with your financial goals while protecting against catastrophic losses. This distinction matters because excessive risk aversion can be just as damaging to long-term returns as excessive risk-taking.

The most effective risk management strategies for investment planning include:

Position sizing based on conviction and risk

Never allocate more to a single position than you can afford to lose. I recommend these guidelines:

• Core holdings (5-10% each): High-conviction, long-term investments
• Satellite positions (1-3% each): Higher-risk opportunities with growth potential
• Speculative investments (0.5-1% maximum): High-risk, high-reward opportunities

Implement protective stop-loss orders

Stop-loss orders automatically sell positions when they fall below predetermined thresholds, preventing emotional decision-making during market stress.

Research by Hsieh et al. found that portfolios using 15% trailing stop-losses outperformed buy-and-hold during bear markets while matching returns during bull markets. Consider placing stop-losses:

• 15-20% below purchase price for individual stocks
• 10-15% below purchase price for sector ETFs
• 25-30% below purchase price for broad market indices

Maintain adequate liquidity and emergency reserves

Market opportunities often emerge during economic stress. Without proper liquidity, you’ll be forced to sell at market bottoms rather than buy at attractive prices.

Your liquidity strategy should include:

• Emergency fund covering 3-6 months of expenses in high-yield savings
• Tactical cash reserves (5-15% of portfolio) for opportunistic investments
• Accessible credit lines as a last resort during extreme circumstances

Use options strategically for portfolio protection

While complex options strategies carry their own risks, simple protective strategies can safeguard portfolios during market volatility:

• Protective puts: Function as portfolio insurance during anticipated volatility
• Covered calls: Generate income while setting soft sell targets on appreciated positions
• Collar strategies: Combine puts and calls to create protected ranges for valuable positions

Tailoring Investment Strategies to Your Life Stage and Goals

Investment strategies aren’t one-size-fits-all—they must align with your age, financial goals, and risk tolerance. The strategies above form the foundation, but implementation varies significantly based on your life stage.

For young investors (20s-30s)

With decades until retirement, early-career investors benefit from:

• Higher equity allocations: 80-90% stocks, 10-20% bonds/alternatives
• Aggressive diversification: Including emerging markets, small-caps, and innovation sectors
• Maximum retirement contributions: Prioritizing tax-advantaged accounts for long-term investment strategies for retirement
• Dollar-cost averaging: Systematic investing regardless of market conditions

Young investors often make the mistake of excessive conservatism. Time is your greatest asset—embrace growth investments while you can weather volatility.

For mid-career investors (40s-50s)

With growing assets but still 10-20 years from retirement:

• Moderate allocation: 60-70% stocks, 20-30% bonds, 10% alternatives
• International diversification: 20-30% of equity exposure in international markets
• Tax-efficient location: Strategic placement of assets in taxable vs. tax-advantaged accounts
• Risk management: Begin implementing portfolio protection as assets grow

I often remind mid-career clients that this is their wealth accumulation prime—many make the mistake of becoming too conservative too early.

For pre-retirees and retirees (60+)

With income generation becoming paramount:

• Income focus: Dividend stocks, bonds, and income-producing alternatives
• Capital preservation: Higher allocation to fixed income (40-60%)
• Withdrawal strategy: Implementing the 4% rule or dynamic spending policies
• Tax-efficient liquidation: Strategic drawing from accounts to minimize tax impact

Integrating Alternative Investments into Your Portfolio

Beyond traditional stocks and bonds, alternative investments can enhance returns while reducing overall portfolio risk through investment planning and portfolio diversification. These alternatives become increasingly important in a low-yield environment for bonds.

Real estate investment opportunities

Real estate offers inflation protection and income potential through:

• REITs: Publicly-traded real estate investment trusts for liquid exposure
• Rental properties: Direct ownership for income and tax advantages
• Real estate crowdfunding: Fractional ownership of commercial properties
• Real estate debt: Higher-yield fixed income through property-backed loans

The JPMorgan 2025 outlook highlights housing shortages as a persistent investment theme, suggesting continued potential in residential real estate investments.

Private market investments

Once reserved for institutional investors, private markets have become more accessible:

• Private equity: Growth-stage companies before public offerings
• Venture capital: Early-stage companies with high growth potential
• Private credit: Direct lending to businesses at attractive yields
• Angel investing: Direct startup investments (limited to accredited investors)

These investments typically carry higher fees and liquidity constraints but offer potentially higher returns and lower correlation to public markets.

Applying These Strategies During Market Volatility

The true test of an investment strategy comes during market stress. The approaches outlined maintain effectiveness even during volatility when implemented properly.

During corrections or bear markets, focus on:

1. Rebalancing: Market declines create opportunities to rebalance toward target allocations
2. Tax-loss harvesting: Capture losses to offset future gains while maintaining market exposure
3. Strategic cash deployment: Use reserved cash to purchase quality assets at discounted prices
4. Maintaining discipline: Avoid emotional reactions that damage long-term performance

Remember that market volatility is the price we pay for higher long-term returns. The investors who maintain discipline during downturns position themselves for superior long-term outcomes.

FAQ

What investment strategy works best for beginners with limited capital?

For beginners, focus on building a simple foundation first. Start with low-cost, broad-market index funds through retirement accounts like 401(k)s or IRAs. Implement automatic contributions (even small ones) to benefit from dollar-cost averaging. As your knowledge and capital grow, gradually introduce individual stocks or sector ETFs as satellite positions around your index fund core. The key is starting early—even $100 monthly in a diversified index fund can grow significantly over decades.

How should I adjust my investment strategy during high inflation?

During high inflation, protect purchasing power by increasing allocation to real assets and inflation-resistant investments. Consider Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS), which adjust principal based on inflation rates. Add exposure to commodities, real estate, and infrastructure assets that typically perform well during inflationary periods. Reduce allocation to long-duration bonds, which suffer most from inflation. Maintain healthy exposure to quality companies with pricing power that can pass inflation costs to consumers.

What’s the ideal portfolio allocation between stocks and bonds at different ages?

The traditional rule of thumb—subtract your age from 100 to get your stock allocation percentage—provides a starting point but needs modernization. With longer lifespans, consider using 110 or 120 instead of 100. For example, at age 40, this suggests 70-80% stocks and 20-30% bonds. However, personal factors matter more than age: your risk tolerance, income stability, and specific financial goals should drive allocation decisions rather than rigid formulas.

How can I implement these strategies with a full-time job and limited investing experience?

Automation is your best ally. Set up automatic contributions to index funds or target-date funds that handle diversification and rebalancing automatically. Use robo-advisors for low-cost, algorithm-driven portfolio management if you prefer more customization. Schedule quarterly reviews (just 1-2 hours) to assess performance and make adjustments. Focus learning efforts on understanding fundamental investment principles rather than stock picking or market timing tactics that rarely add value for non-professionals.

When should I consider hiring a financial advisor versus managing investments myself?

Consider professional help when your financial situation becomes complex—typically when you’ve accumulated substantial assets (over $250,000), face complicated tax situations, approach retirement, need estate planning, or feel overwhelmed by investment decisions. Look for fee-only fiduciary advisors who legally must act in your best interest rather than commission-based agents. Even with an advisor, maintain enough knowledge to evaluate their recommendations critically. The best advisor-client relationships are partnerships, not delegations.

Sources

• NerdWallet. (2025, May 9). “11 Best Investments for 2025.”
  • https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/investing/the-best-investments-right-now
• Fidelity. (2025, March 25). “5 Investment Opportunities for 2025.”
  • https://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/trading-investing/investment-opportunities
• Freddie Mac. (2025). “How to Build Wealth by Investing.”
  • https://myhome.freddiemac.com/blog/financial-education/how-build-wealth-investing-your-money
• JPMorgan. (2025). “Alternative Investments in 2025.”
  • https://www.jpmorgan.com/insights/investing/investment-strategy/alternative-investments-in-2025-our-top-five-themes-to-watch
• NerdWallet. (2024, August 27). “9 Investment Strategies for New Investors.”
  • https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/investing/investment-strategies
• S&P Dow Jones Indices. (2014). “Research at the Intersection of Diversification, Volatility and Correlation.”
  • https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/documents/research/research-at-the-intersection-of-diversification-volatility-and-correlation.pdf
• YCharts. (2025). “S&P 500 Annual Return.”
  • https://ycharts.com/indicators/sp500return_annual
• Hsieh et al. (2023). “Effectiveness of Stop-Loss Trading Strategy vs Buy-And-Hold Strategy.” International Journal of Finance.
  • https://ijaaf.um.ac.ir/article42836d2a433ca511d7b671adbc14247a24f47.pdf
• IJNRD. (2023). “Warren Buffett’s Investment Strategies: A Case Study.”
  • https://www.ijnrd.org/papers/IJNRD2311068.pdf
• CFA Institute. (2025). “The Performance of the 60/40 Portfolio: A Historical Perspective.”
  • https://rpc.cfainstitute.org/sites/default/files/docs/research-reports/monash-report-1performance-of-the-6040online.pdf
• Investopedia. “Diversification.”
  • https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/diversification.asp
• Investor.gov. “Introduction to Investing.”
  • https://www.investor.gov/introduction-investing
• Wikipedia. “Risk Management.”
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risk_management

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.

Recent reports by Sageworks, a financial information company, revealed the most and least profitable industries over the studies of previous years. According to their research, service-based businesses have low start-up costs, although they require specialized training and function services that fare well in today’s market. This includes law offices, real estate brokerages, and accounting/bookkeeping firms.

On the other side of the spectrum, businesses and retailers related to the food industry struggle in sales, with farming and grocery stores seeing close to no growth at all.

Bierman, a business analyst, said, “Because of their volume-based business model and competitive markets, margins tend to be smaller. Grocery stores and manufacturing companies are good examples. Oftentimes their goods may be considered commodities, and to charge extra for a loaf bread may drive consumers to a different store over time.”

If you are starting a business or planning to do so, here are some of the most and least profitable businesses in recent years.

Most Profitable Businesses

Tax Preparation, Accounting, Payroll Services, and Bookkeeping

Not sure which business to start? Well, if you are good with numbers, an accounting firm will be the ideal option to invest in. Over the previous years, tax preparations, bookkeeping, payroll services, and accounting have seen a remarkable increase of 17.84% in sales growth.

They are likely to gain profits because their start-up costs are low, and all you must pay for is your employees, technology, and training. Alongside, it is a service-based business; therefore, no amount of money has to be spent on inventory. All one must focus on is obtaining effective employees and build a reputable name for their business.

Legal Services

Like accounting, legal firms are a service-based industry that has seen positive growth in sales of around 16.89% over the past years. They have small start-up costs that mostly include employees holding law degrees. Although investment is required in special employee training and education, legal firms can generate a good amount of money.

Management of Enterprises and Companies

A 16.75% growth was noticed in this business realm. Therefore, it is a wise decision to invest in this industry. Typically, these businesses consist of privately owned banks of holding companies that are supposed to advise and further assist other companies in making essential and important management, operational, and financial decisions. Although the offices are niche and mostly offer specialized services with skilled employees, this kind of company often brings in a considerable amount of profit.

Offices of Brokers and Real Estate Agents

The real estate industry has seen an increase of 16.6% over the past few years. Although the industry fluctuates, which can be hugely affected by changes in the market, it is wise to invest in this business when an increase in positive trends is noticed because real estate agents make good amounts of money when the business start-up is up and roaring.

Least Profitable Businesses

Gas and Oil Extraction

Gas prices were lower in 2017, like in past years. Firms that are operating in the gas and oil industry have been noticing a drop in sales of around 4.24%. With major fluctuations in the market, competitors, and incredible barriers to entry, this may not be the best business to invest in.

Beverage Manufacturing

According to research, this is not the first time that beverage manufacturing has been on the list of the least profitable businesses to start. Although it covers both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, the latest technology trends have introduced soda fountains and other types of drink dispensaries. Alongside, people are becoming more health-conscious, due to which beverage manufacturing is declining. Over the past year, more than a 1.49% drop in sales growth was noticed.

Bakeries

Whether it is due to major competition or high costs of start-ups involving kitchen supplies, equipment, and overhead bakeries that are commercial, bakeries have been on the decline for a while now. According to research, a 0.81% drop in sales growth was noticed.

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.

Since Satoshi Nakamoto created bitcoin, more than 1500 new virtual currencies have appeared. Some of them are based on those that exist today; others are based on newly created databases. We will discuss the top of the public blockchain participants in 2018, who continue to develop their ecosystem and have become the basis for new projects in the cryptocurrency industry. Also, we will designate the difference between public blockchains and privately distributed registers.

Public vs. private

The fact is that apart from cryptocurrencies, the distributed registers are used by private companies, for example, the processing of the documentary workflow. In such cases, it is not reasonable to use a public blockchain because transaction processing takes time and computing power.

This problem can be solved using the public blockchain. Often, these systems are available exclusively for national professionals and are used on an already existing basis of the distributed public registry. Similarly, in the case of the private blockchain, all participants know each other. To better know the difference between the private blockchain, click on the link. (To find out more about the difference between public and private blockchain, read the link).

Public blockchain: main actors and their role in the cryptocurrency industry

Before developing the private blockchain, you must familiarize yourself with the technical characteristics of the public distributed registers on which they are based. We have prepared for you a selection of top participants in Public blockchain.

The best players in the cryptocurrency market

The best-known blockchain is that of bitcoin. But, as the “informational gold,” the first cryptocurrency does not manage the function of the reciprocal regulations, which means that the speed of transactions is rather weak. In this regard, participants’ views on the blockchain network are mixed. Some of the nodes decided to increase the flow of the distributed register and, by Hard Fork, create a new cryptocurrency – Bitcoin Cash.

But this is not the first division of the bitcoin blockchain. Nearly six new types have appeared, but they have not yet had much success among miners and bearers. Bitcoin is still the most valuable from digital assets, although the technical features do not allow them to be widely used in other infrastructure projects.

Public blockchain: main actors and their role in the cryptocurrency industry

Another important player of the distributed registers is Ethereum. It is by this ecosystem that many blockchain startups and new crypto-currencies are created. Thanks to its technical characteristics, the Ethereum protocols allow you to create different intelligent contracts and solve problems of any kind.

Ethereum was distinguished by United States’ Information Industry Development Center, which calculates the public blockchain index each month. The analysis is based on the project’s technological capabilities, utility, and innovation. According to center estimates in May, Ethereum took the top spot and bitcoin – the 13th. The second place is Blockchain Steem; the third is Lisk; the fourth is NEO; the fifth is Komodo.

As a result, public blockchains can be used for savings (like bitcoin) and the creation of new crypto-projects (IOTA, ENS, and Ethereum). Depending on your task, you need to choose the distributed registry whose technical characteristics are more suitable for implementing your idea.

Rules and Regulations for Cryptocurrencies

No matter how famous cryptocurrency gets in the contemporary era, the regulatory points are problematic. However, with technology transcending boundaries on a daily basis, the national regulators are now limited. Moreover, with cryptocurrencies conceived to avoid governmental control specifically, it’s uncertain that regulation efforts will be successful.

Nonetheless, the blockchain currency is here, and it’s going to stay! It’s up to us on how we can capitalize on this. But the future of cryptocurrency lies in the hands-on how we can manage them. Moreover, the hype is real, and it’s not farfetched to believe that cryptocurrency could possibly become the only source of transaction in the 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.