Author: Jennifer Brazer

What we are going to do is explain ten simple ways with which we can improve the management of our companies thanks to this social network, LinkedIn.

1. Get new customers thanks to our recommenders

A satisfied customer represents the best way to attract new customers. On LinkedIn, this translates into obtaining recommendations from our clients. At this point, we only have to ask our best clients to write a brief recommendation for us, which we can certainly include in our personal profile.

2. Maintain contact with people who care about our business

As in so many other social networks, LinkedIn is a way of saying to the world, “I’m here.” If we also update our status message with some frequency, we participate in discussion forums and regularly send messages to our contacts, we will ensure that we will always be one of the candidates that will take into account when there is a new initiative, proposal, etc.

3. Find allies and partners to outsource processes

Think of the number of times you have asked your acquaintances if they know a good photographer, an SEO expert or any other service you need but lack in your company.

One of the great advantages of LinkedIn is that by being able to get in touch with thousands of professionals from all over the world, you can find the partner you need in the simplest way possible: through a simple search on the Internet.

4. Share doubts, interests, etc. with other companies in your sector

In addition to finding new business opportunities, LinkedIn is also an excellent forum in which to discuss the concerns of your sector (or subsector).

Faced with the rigidity of the Chambers of Commerce and other “official” institutions, LinkedIn offers us hundreds of discussion groups and forums (more or less formal) in which we can closely monitor the reality of our sector, get in touch with companies, discuss the main problems that affect a whole business community, etc.

5. Learn from the great

In addition to groups classified by sectors, LinkedIn has dozens of groups in which we can raise our doubts in matters of taxation, legislation, marketing, etc. which are usually answered by the community.

Not only are questions of a general nature answered, but we can also learn from the example that great professionals offer in their performance in the thorniest situations that we can imagine. 

6. Get new customers thanks to your Know-How

Continuing with the topic of forums and discussion groups, it is important that we join some in which we are experts. By participating actively, we can soon become a reference for the rest of the participants.

In this way, we can improve our brand image, make our company known and, as a consequence, get more customers interested in the type of services we offer.

7. Find investors

One of the most important elements that we need to launch our business project is to obtain financing.

Although there are many ways to finance a project and many competitions for start-ups that can help us, on LinkedIn we can also present our idea to a huge group of investors who can assess the viability of it or even invest in our project. 

8. Joint Ventures

Have we already discussed the potential of the discussion groups? Obviously, in the same way that we can find partners to outsource services, we can also find companies interested in joining forces to pursue a common goal. As the topic says, the only limit is marked by our imagination.

9. Corporate Blog
   

LinkedIn is a network in which, among other things, we can include the content of our corporate blog or our updates on Twitter. Doing this is another great way to show the community about our expertise in certain topics and attract traffic to our company’s website.

Watch your competition

Most companies maintain a public profile. By consulting it, we can carry out a small investigation on how our market competition is moving, what are its main contacts, how they are relating to each other, etc.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing services 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 US based accounting professionals are certified QuickBooks™️ ProAdvisor’s providing bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay services. 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 number of cellular phone users is escalating rapidly in the present times. It is estimated that there were about 4.61 billion cell phone users in the world in 2009. However, like any other excessive technological use may have its negative impacts, the high dependency and usage of the technology in the daily lives of the public. There is also a growing concern of the possibility of a link of cellular radiations to cause tumor in human brain cells. There is a growing concern raised over the effect of the radiation over the human health specifically linking it to the brain cells. Numerous studies have been performed to study the impact of electromagnetic radiation (EMF) on the human tissues, brain cells, immune system, etc.

Electromagnetic Frequency

Two kinds of electromagnetic frequencies are generally emitted from electronic devices, specifically mobile phones. These are the microwave electromagnetic radiations and the radio waves from the antenna of cell phones. The normal frequencies of the EMR and radio waves is observed between 450- 2700 MHz at a high power of 0.1- 2 watts. The low-frequency ranges observed also reveals the fact that cellular devices are not high- powered RF transmitters. Still, these frequencies are supposed to cause a negative impact on the human brain if used long-term and inappropriately.

It should also be noted that cellular devices could only transmit power and resonate energy when they are switched on. Hence, it should be kept in mind that the frequency and amount of energy transmitted are highly dependent upon the quality of the handset used and the distance of the user from the device under observation. It could be considered as an example that during text messaging the distance of the user from the cell phone device is generally 30 cm and consequently the frequency transmitted to the user is not very high.

The electromagnetic radiations can be divided into two types based on their effect, i.e., into ionizing and non-ionizing radiations. It is suggested that non-ionizing radiations can produce potential hazards that could cause an electrical and biological impact. The electromagnetic radiations are generally high-powered and could generate electric current in the place of contact. This electric current may cause an induced voltage in the surrounding areas and could lead to an explosion, if left uncontrolled. On the other hand, at a biological level, the electromagnetic radiations when coming into contact with the human body are capable of creating a strong magnetic field inside the body. As a result, the nerves and muscles in the human body are stimulated and may cause an alteration in the normal biological function of the human body.

Cell Phone Effects

The mobile phone technology consists of two components; one is the provider end, and the other is the user end. On the provider end, there are antennas on the base stations to connect to the users. These base stations are continuously emitting EMR with very strong power, whereas, at the user end the EMR are emitted only during calls, and the power of these radiations is not very strong. However, with increasing demand, the number of towers or base stations are increasing at a very rapid pace, and thus increasing the level of radiations across the country.

Many concerns are also raised about the possible adverse effects that have been caused by electromagnetic radiations in people who live nearby the cell phone base stations. It is suggested that people living in areas near base stations suffer more from symptoms of dizziness, sleep disturbance, tiredness, and headache. The symptoms mentioned above are more common in people, who have a higher exposure to radiations transmitted from nearby base stations. The base stations should be positioned as such to minimize human exposure to radiations.

Associate Tumors

Glioma is a common term, which portrays any form of tumor that develops from the glutinous tissue of the human brain. The age of the individual, the location of the tumor, the symptoms, diagnosis, and the course of the treatment define the case of malignant glioma. The public concern concerning increased usage of mobile phones and cancer associates the risk of causing the glioma and other associated tumors.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing services 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 US based accounting professionals are certified QuickBooks™️ ProAdvisor’s providing bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay services. 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.

From the last couple of years, Cisco was operating to reprogram its routers to handle the video onslaught. By 2017, a minimum of 78% of all internet traffic was in video format. Nearly above half of the web traffic every day, after 5’ o clock is video traffic with Netflix, YouTube and other online video platforms being the key source of online traffic. 

The net is where the video is

The shift towards the video has approached a critical number, a point where everything will switch to additional traffic with all possible ways to speed up the process.

For owners of the online market and offline business, YouTube marketing is a key strategy to take advantage of the massive change towards video. For this reason, it has become essential for the online marketers to study and apply new ways to get help from Digital Organics. Doing so will allow a business to take a huge leap from the others and aid a business in moving forward.

Firstly, have a look as different businesses struggle to build their value on YouTube. A business following the proper tips and tricks will have a position amongst the top-ranked videos. Nowadays, it has become really hard to bring down a video from its top ranking position. Having the position even on the first Google or Bing page is not less than gold.

As a matter of fact, on proper research, it has been found that the organic search results of Google have an average of 34% of clicks. The second page has nearly 20%. The third page has 13%. Simply meaning, the paid and organic results on the first page of Google have a competition over the remaining 16%. Paid results only have 5% traffic which is a condition of not being able to see the result and known as ad blindness.

How to market properly on YouTube?

Pages vs. Channels

Changing the way YouTube pages and channels are viewed is important when it comes to using YouTube strategically. It is now time to consider YouTube as a secondary website with the channel being the homepage and videos being the webpage.

With every video, the strength of the website increases, as every single video tracks back to the channel page. The more influential the YouTube channel is, the higher the rank it has.

Here’s a key thing to remember, the rules of good web design apply in YouTube the same way they apply elsewhere.

To make the channel influential it is necessary to keep the videos exactly according to the channel. Every single niche must have a precise channel for it.

In simple words mixing up the channel with various types of videos on a single channel will result in weakening the specialty of the channel. 

Creating a video

Creating video is generally the very first challenge faced by any newcomer starting a YouTube Channel.

A lot of people are kind of camera shy and don’t find it comfortable to be all over YouTube. The good part is there is no need to be on YouTube and it could be beneficial to not appear in the videos at all. Before getting started with making a video it is important to have a purpose to make the video. A person can follow the list below as a help to getting started:

Building readership for the website

A video is a great way to lead traffic to the original website from YouTube which can result in casual visitors or to direct sales.

To have a lead

Capture the lead by posting a link in the video description showing the visitors “what they can get if they follow the link given below.”

Furthermore, it is crucial to have a record of converted leads from YouTube. Having a visitor with education about the product is worth 10 times a visitor with no product knowledge.

Building the brand of website

A lot of brands follow this exclusive idea, but still, it gets hard to know if a person is getting any value for it, as it cannot be measured.

Making a direct sale

There is nothing wrong with making a call to action in the video description and giving a link which goes directly to a form placing an order. A lot of individuals are benefiting from this technique.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing services 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 US based accounting professionals are certified QuickBooks™️ ProAdvisor’s providing bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay services. 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 person’s resume/CV is the first thing a recruitment agent will consider when determining whether they should invite that candidate over for an interview or not. This precious document will be a person’s first, and occasionally the only chance to influence their potential future boss,showing that they are perfect for the position. When applying for a job, a person also needs to understand that most of the recruitment agents will only dedicate a few minutes, or even just a few seconds, while browsing through a resume. As such, a person needs to make a catchy resume that will be a straightforward and well maintained so it will cut ahead the rest and is able to catch the attention of the recruiter who is examining it. Below are few useful tips that will help a person in building a solid resume?

 

 

1. Get to know the company and the job position

The first step a person needs to follow is to know the company and the position being applied for. This way, a person will easily be able to decide precisely what a possible employer wants from their applicants. It will also provide a clearer understanding of the qualifications and characteristics that the corporation’s model applicant would possess. Are they seeking someone who has general experience in the relevant field? Are they looking for someone with a strong grasp regarding the theories that are used during trading? Are they looking for someone who can be a team player, or an individual worker, maybe a mixture of both? Only after receiving the answers to these questions, a person will be able to build a resume that is based on the strengths and credentials that will definitely fit the criteria.

 

2. Start writing the resume that will get a person closer to that dream job

Once a person has done their research regarding the corporation and the job position that they want to apply for, now it’s time to handle the serious business of writing a rock-solid resume. If a person is having a hard time with knowing where to start, the first thing a person needs to decide on, is what they should include in their resume. A typical resume contains a candidates private contact info, work experiences, and history, educational credentials, along with a list of references. While writing a resume, especially the part containing previous work experiences and educational credentials, always remember to highlight and emphasize the factors that will make a person more suitable for that specific position. Avoid being uncertain. If a person thinks they possess the qualities and skills that a company is looking for, do not hesitate to put emphasis on them, because the other candidates surely will not hesitate to highlight their abilities either. Anyhow, a person should always be sure that everything they write on their resume is legit and can be verified if needed. The last thing a candidate needs is a resume filled with lies.

 

3. Proofread, proofread, and proofread!

After you have finished writing a resume, now it’s time to recheck. Proofreading a document has its own benefits as can enhance authenticity by eliminating all errors. Regardless of how careful a person was while writing their resume, there will always be some mistakes and there is no such thing as a “small mistake” when it comes to applying for a new job. Even small and childish error can easily hinder a person’s chance for success. Therefore, it is better to properly proofread a resume twice before moving forward. Looking at a printed copy of a resume will help a person spot the errors more quickly. It is also a great idea to ask a friend or family members to proofread the document as a second opinion. Make sure that the resume is completely free from errors in all phases of formatting, spellings, and grammar.

 

A perfect resume will not drop from the sky and land in one’s hand. A person has to work twice as hard to make it from scratch. Gratefully, the guide above will surely help a person to build an exceptional resume that will be their ticket to securing that dream job.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing services 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 US based accounting professionals are certified QuickBooks™️ ProAdvisor’s providing bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay services. 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.

Even though everyone has a different definition of “rich,” everyone knows that it is somewhat related to wealth. A person doesn’t have to make a ton of money to be called successful. Most rather settle for being happy instead. Is there a way to achieve all three? Check out a few key steps mentioned below to help a person achieve the so-called “rich life”:

1. Stop focusing on money

It may sound a bit cheesy; people who focus too much on making money often lose track of what matters in life and tend to overlook growing and self-building activities. People who view money as a byproduct tend to have a better successful life.

2. Become more helpful, if only in a small way

Most successful people have in common that they like to give back to society by helping people. They are very good at accepting opinions and understanding perspectives. They are well aware that their success mostly relies on the success of the people around them. These people will work hard to make their employees happy and will care for their needs. Because to them, it’s all about building a career they can truly be proud of.

3. Stop focusing on money and start focusing on the quality of service

If a person has only a few customers and wants to become rich, they need to make sure they can make the most of every transaction. Nevertheless, if a person is serving million, they will have many other advantages, such as the feedback they will get is a lot more critical. Get to employ more people and work in a bigger circle. Moreover, if everything goes well, for such people, the sky is the limit.

4. See making money as a way to make more things

There are two types of people in this world. The first type does everything for the sake of making more money. These people will sell or do whatever it takes to make money; they don’t particularly care about what they are doing as long as it pays off.

The second type is the one who cares more about meaning. They like to make money because it allows them to make more stuff. They care about their products and wants to improve. They care about values and want to make a name for themselves. They love their work and want to make money while doing what they enjoy and care about. Their money is like fuel for their dreams, which allow them to do what they love. Even though it is possible to grow rich by selling just one product, such people like to evolve and grow as their lives become a search for excellence.

5. Finding happiness in the success of others

One thing that every great team has is an employee who is willing to sacrifice themselves for the sake of their team. To achieve greatness, every team member must work genuinely, recognize their role, focus less on personal goals, and add value to the team. It’s a fact that every successful businessperson enjoys their employees’ happiness as much as their own.

6. Cultivate dignity and respect

Keeping employees happy by giving better wages and benefits, along with growth opportunities, is essential. However, avoid putting too much strain on the employees as no amount of pay can comprehend employee self-worth.

7. Do one thing better

A person should always do something that they are great at. Be self-critical, but in a positive way. Find that one thing that is great and stick to it. One common thing about successful people is that they have at least one thing they do better than everyone else.

8. Build a routine that ensures success

Most successful people are often routine freaks. According to experts, a person’s success is directly based on their routines. Adjust and divide workload throughout that routine and work on each part separately to achieve better results.

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.

Donald Trump has definitely polarized politics, society and the economy in the United States, and perhaps other parts of the world. And although I do not agree with the things he says on Twitter, the success in his career as a businessman, with or without help, has been better than usual. Here are six of the best quotes from Donald Trump that you can apply in your finances.

Make money doing what you love

In an article called “Why should he quit his job and do what he loves”, Forbes examines the concept of transforming his passions into a way of life. Most people have to pay debts. Many have to prevent the landlord from visiting them. Those who have found a way to live from the activities they would do for free have found the best work-life balance.

The concept is summed up in the advice of Donald Trump: “If you are interested in balancing work and pleasure, stop trying to balance them. Instead, make your work more enjoyable. “

Take an honest inventory of what you like and what you do not like, your strengths and weaknesses, and the passions that motivate you before you decide to quit your job and find a way to make your passions pay for you. Take risks, but let those risks be measured, calculated and realistic.

Have faith in your talents. Many successful people say that their success is due to an internal belief that they are capable of more than what they are currently doing. Finally, if you have the courage to change your career to pursue your passions, you must take into account that you can face failures and setbacks. Be persistent and always think long term.

It promises less and delivers more

When you are negotiating a deal, signing a contract or selling a car, it is good business to avoid promises that you cannot keep. A classic way to accomplish this is to promise less than what you are able to deliver.

Of all the phrases of Donald Trump that talk about this topic, this may be the best: “When I build something for someone, I always add $50 or $60 million to the price. My employees say that it will cost $75 million. I follow that it will cost $125 million, and I build it for $100 million. I basically did a terrible job, but they think I did a good job. “

You probably should not try to be overpaid for a horrible job, but, as Business Insider said, it’s wise to keep hidden surprises in dates of delivery, budgets and deals. Instead, have low expectations and then surpass them.

Be careful with money

 The final result is the company’s net profit (the amount of money you have after deducting all income expenses). For Donald Trump, it’s the only number that matters. “I’ve made difficult decisions, but always paying attention to the final result,” said Trump.

People who are financially irresponsible have many excuses to never take control of their finances. “I have to spend money to keep appearances,” they say, or, “I have too much time to earn that money again,” or “You only live once, I have to spend and have fun now.”

Failure to pay attention to your bottom line is a sure way to end up as one of the millions of Americans (approximately one in three) who has no retirement fund, no 401k, or pension for retirement.

Invest your money

 When you invest your money, you risk losing it. This can scare you, but with the risk you have the chance to win. For the wealthy, it is an irresistible proposal. One of Donald Trump’s best pieces of advice is: “The worst thing you can do is be afraid and let your money stay in your savings account.”

People can invest their money, even modest amounts, in several ways. Stocks, bonds, and real estate are the most common. Start by learning the basics. The federal government made the website investor.gov to help rookies before they started. Do not waste more time before withdrawing money from your savings account to invest in financial markets.

The average savings account offers a return of 0.17%. The historical average of the stock market, on the other hand, is 7%, including the Great Depression and the most recent recession. Be wise with your investments.

Avoid bad investments

 With a single bad investment, you can cancel the profits of a life full of good investments. Or, in the words of Donald Trump, “Sometimes your best investments are the ones you do not make”.

The most common mistake made by novice investors, according to Investopedia, is to buy shares while they go down in price. Buyers throw money into stocks that fall in price thinking that the stock has reached an artificial minimum and that it will soon rise and appreciate. Typically, the stock continues its way down until the investor runs out of money or decides to stop the losses.

Do not chase actions on your way down. Have an exit plan in case the investment does not turn out as expected. Do not put a lot of money in one stock at the same time. Although you should not sell so fast, be sure to stop your losses when the decline in the share price seems irreversible and never buy stocks that you “love” solely for emotional reasons. Follow Donald Trump’s advice and make your best investments the bad ones you avoid.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing services 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 US based accounting professionals are certified QuickBooks™️ ProAdvisor’s providing bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay services. 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.

As we mentioned in a previous post, saving on the electricity bill is, today, very important. For many small businesses and freelancers, it can be difficult to have enough resources to make a comprehensive renewal of their consumption.

However, not everything is lost and, by following some basic tips, you can get significant savings on your business electric bill. How? Take good note:

 

To save on the electricity bill … it all starts with good habits:

Because the small actions repeated constantly day by day are adding up and, in the end, they revert to us more than positive results:

• Although it seems obvious, it is vital to avoid turning on lights when it is not necessary or when we are not in the room.
• It is advisable to completely turn off computer equipment, devices or other equipment and not leave them “at rest” or “stand by”.
• Make responsible use of cold-heat air conditioning systems, especially if they are electric: wear light clothes in summer and go warm enough in winter so as not to abuse the air conditioning or heat pumps or heaters.
• In case these air conditioning systems are programmed, you will have to restrict the programming to the “work schedule” and adapt the thermostat to achieve an optimum temperature and in line with the thermal needs of each moment.
• Keep the insulation of the room in good condition (windows, doors) to avoid losses of cold and heat

Check that everything is turned off or properly programmed before leaving your office or establishment can save on costs (and some other disgust) at the end of the month.

 

 

Continue with an intelligent distribution of space:

Make the most of natural light and reserve the areas near windows or open spaces, to work spaces where the greatest number of people develop their activity. An open distribution of the office allows a better distribution of light, both natural and artificial, as well as the heat/cold of the air conditioning systems.

If you need to narrow the spaces for any organizational reason, make use of translucent screens at medium height. In addition to allowing the passage of light and hot and cold air flows, they give a feeling of spaciousness.

Use light colors on walls and ceilings. Dark colors absorb a lot of light and force more lamps.

 

 

Adapting, optimizing and renewing lighting systems and rates also helps (and a lot):

Although the ideal would be to perform an Energy Audit that would allow us to know the critical points and propose optimization measures, we can also make small improvements within the reach of any SME or autonomous.

Optimize the contracted power: Find out how much power you really need to contract based on the equipment or electrical needs of your business.

Check your consumption to determine if it helps you to save your current rate for one of hourly discrimination, which sets different prices based on the hours of the day the consumption is made.

Lamps: adapting the level of lighting to the recommended one according to the needs of the company and employees, and cleaning the lamps and replacing those in which the flow has been reduced to inadequate conditions, is an almost insignificant task but this does report great results.

Using electronic ballasts saves energy up to 10%, corrects the power factor, as well as increases the life of fluorescent lamps.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing services 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 US based accounting professionals are certified QuickBooks™️ ProAdvisor’s providing bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay services. 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

Master the Basics: Invest Wisely in the Stock Market

To invest in the stock market means purchasing shares of publicly traded companies through brokerage accounts, robo-advisors, or direct stock plans, allowing you to build wealth over time through capital appreciation and dividends. You can start with as little as $20 through fractional shares, choosing investments that match your risk tolerance and financial goals while benefiting from historically proven returns that outpace inflation.

Over my 20 years as CEO of Complete Controller, I’ve guided thousands of business owners through financial decisions that seemed overwhelming at first. Here’s what excites me: 62% of Americans now own stocks, up from 52% just a decade ago—yet the bottom half of households average less than $54,000 in holdings while the top 10% control nearly $1 million each. This gap tells me one thing: the tools exist, but people need clearer guidance. In this article, you’ll discover the exact framework my most successful clients use to start investing confidently, avoid costly emotional mistakes that reduce returns by 4.3% annually, and build portfolios that weather market storms while growing steadily toward your goals.

What does it mean to invest in the stock market—and why should you start now?

• Investing in the stock market involves buying partial ownership in companies, earning returns through price appreciation and dividends
• Stock ownership provides long-term wealth building that historically delivers 10% annual returns, beating inflation by 6-7%
• Modern platforms offer fractional shares starting at $20, making expensive stocks accessible to any budget
• Starting early maximizes compound growth, where your earnings generate their own earnings over decades
• Diversification across multiple stocks reduces risk while maintaining growth potential

Define Your Financial Goals and Risk Tolerance First

Setting clear financial targets transforms random stock purchases into strategic wealth building. Start by writing down specific goals: retirement by 55, a house down payment in five years, or funding your child’s education. Each goal requires different investment approaches and timelines.

Risk tolerance measures your emotional and financial ability to handle market swings. If a 20% portfolio drop would cause sleepless nights, you need conservative allocations. Time horizons under five years favor stable investments like bond ETFs mixed with stocks, while decades-long goals allow heavier stock exposure for maximum growth.

Case study: Sarah’s journey from $50 to financial freedom

Sarah, a 28-year-old public school teacher, automated $50 monthly investments into an S&P 500 ETF starting in 2020. When markets crashed 19% in 2022, she maintained her schedule instead of panic selling. By reinvesting dividends and staying consistent, her portfolio grew to $27,000 by 2025. Her success came from matching investments to her 30-year retirement timeline and ignoring short-term volatility.

Choose the Right Investment Account for Your Style

Your investment account type determines fees, features, and complexity levels. Traditional brokerages offer maximum control for active traders, while robo-advisors automate everything for hands-off investors. Direct stock purchase plans work well for buy-and-hold strategies.

Fractional shares revolutionized accessibility—platforms report 68% of new investors since 2023 started with under $100. This feature lets you buy portions of expensive stocks, so $20 gets you a slice of Amazon instead of needing $2,000 for a full share.

Comparing account types for beginners

Account Type	Best For	Typical Costs	Management Level
Traditional Brokerage	Stock pickers wanting control	$0-$5 per trade	High involvement
Robo-Advisor	Passive investors	0.25% annual fee	Fully automated
Direct Stock Plans	Long-term holders	Minimal fees	Medium involvement
Employer 401(k)	Retirement savers	Varies by plan	Low involvement

Based on client experiences at Complete Controller, robo-advisors prevent the emotional trading mistakes that cost beginners thousands. Automated rebalancing and tax-loss harvesting deliver professional management without the high fees.

Master Stock Selection Without the Overwhelm

Stock categories serve different portfolio purposes. Blue-chip companies like Apple or Johnson & Johnson provide stability through consistent dividends and proven business models. Growth stocks in technology or healthcare offer higher potential returns with increased volatility. International stocks add geographic diversification.

Begin with exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for instant diversification. A single S&P 500 ETF contains 500 major companies, spreading risk while capturing market returns. Historical data shows 85% of professional fund managers fail to beat simple index ETFs over 10 years.

Building your first portfolio

• Foundation (60-70%): Large-cap ETFs or blue-chip dividend stocks for stability
• Growth allocation (20-30%): Technology, healthcare, or emerging market funds
• Defensive holdings (10-20%): Bonds, utilities, or consumer staples for downturns
• Cash reserve: Keep 3-6 months expenses liquid before investing
• Rebalancing schedule: Review allocations quarterly, adjust annually

Time in the Market Beats Timing the Market

Dollar-cost averaging (DCA) invests fixed amounts regularly regardless of prices. This strategy particularly shines during volatility—investors who put $100 monthly into the S&P 500 from 2008 through 2025 accumulated $771, compared to $601 for those who invested everything upfront in 2008.

Market timing attempts fail because they require perfect predictions twice: when to sell and when to buy back. Missing just the 10 best trading days over 20 years cuts returns by 50%. Stay invested through ups and downs instead.

Technical indicators simplified

While buy-and-hold works best for beginners, understanding basic indicators helps:

• Moving averages: When 10-day crosses above 30-day, momentum shifts positive
• RSI above 70: Stock potentially overbought, consider waiting
• RSI below 30: Stock potentially oversold, possible buying opportunity
• P/E ratio: Compare to industry average—lower suggests better value
• Volume spikes: High trading activity signals major moves ahead

Avoid These Portfolio-Killing Mistakes

Emotional decisions destroy returns faster than any market crash. Studies show overconfident investors panic sell during downturns, reducing annual returns by 4.3%. Worse, 30.9% who panic sell never reinvest, permanently locking in losses while markets recover.

Fee awareness protects long-term growth. A seemingly small 1% expense ratio versus 0.03% costs $30,000 over 30 years on a $10,000 investment. Choose low-cost index funds and avoid frequent trading that triggers taxes and commissions.

Learning from a $1,000 mistake

Mark, a 24-year-old engineer, lost 23% in three months chasing social media stock tips. After losing $1,000, he switched strategies: quarterly rebalancing, index fund focus, and ignoring daily price movements. His disciplined approach recovered losses within 12 months and delivered consistent growth thereafter.

Additional mistakes beginners make:

• Concentration risk: Putting over 5% in any single stock
• Ignoring taxes: Not using tax-advantaged accounts first
• FOMO trading: Buying based on yesterday’s winners
• Neglecting dividends: Not reinvesting for compound growth
• Margin trading: Borrowing to invest amplifies losses

Scale Your Strategy as Wealth Grows

Portfolio strategies evolve with asset size. Small accounts benefit from simple, broad ETFs. Larger portfolios incorporate tax strategies, sector rotation, and alternative investments. Each growth phase unlocks new opportunities while maintaining core principles.

Tax efficiency becomes crucial as portfolios expand. Place high-dividend stocks in IRAs to avoid taxes. Use taxable accounts for growth stocks where you control timing of capital gains. Harvest losses to offset gains, reducing tax bills while maintaining market exposure.

Portfolio evolution by size

Portfolio Value	Strategic Shifts	New Considerations
Under $10,000	80% ETFs, 20% individual stocks	Focus on learning and consistency
$10,000-$50,000	Add REITs and bonds (15-20%)	Start tax-loss harvesting
$50,000-$100,000	Sector rotation strategies	Consider financial advisor
Over $100,000	Alternative investments	Estate planning integration

Your Investment Journey Starts Today

After two decades helping entrepreneurs build wealth through Complete Controller, I’ve learned success comes from systems, not secrets. Start with $50 monthly if that’s what you have—consistency matters more than amounts. Automate investments to remove emotions. Focus on decades, not days.

The stock market rewards patience and punishes panic. Your future self will thank you for starting today, even imperfectly, rather than waiting for the “right” time that never comes. Take that first step now, and when you’re ready for personalized guidance on building wealth while managing your business finances, visit us at Complete Controller for expert support from our team.

Frequently Asked Questions About Investing in Stock Market

What’s the minimum amount needed to start investing in stocks?

You can begin investing with as little as $20 through fractional shares offered by modern brokers like Fidelity or Charles Schwab, though starting with $100 monthly provides better diversification options.

How do beginners choose which stocks to buy first?

Start with broad market ETFs like VOO or VTI for instant diversification across hundreds of companies, then gradually add individual blue-chip stocks as you gain experience and confidence.

Is investing in the stock market actually safe for beginners?

While all investments carry risk, diversified long-term stock investing has never lost money over any 20-year period historically, making it relatively safe for patient investors with proper expectations.

How often should I check my stock investments?

Review your portfolio quarterly for rebalancing opportunities, but avoid daily monitoring which leads to emotional decisions—successful long-term investors typically check 3-4 times yearly.

Can I lose more money than I invest in stocks?

With standard cash accounts, losses are limited to your invested amount, though margin accounts that borrow money for investing can result in owing more than you initially invested.

Sources 

• Bankrate. “Stock Market Basics: 10 Tips for Beginners.” Logan Jacoby. 23 Apr. 2025. https://www.bankrate.com/investing/stock-market-basics/
• Business Insider. “How to Invest in Stocks: A Step-by-Step Guide.” Personal Finance. 25 Apr. 2025. https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-invest-in-stocks
• Charles Schwab. “Stock Investment Tips for Beginners.” Schwab Learn. 26 July 2024. https://www.schwab.com/learn/investment-tips
• Federal Reserve via Financial Samurai. “What Percent of Americans Own Stocks?” https://www.financialsamurai.com/what-percent-of-americans-own-stocks/
• Gallup. “What Percentage of Americans Own Stock?” 5 May 2025. https://news.gallup.com/poll/266807/percentage-americans-owns-stock.aspx
• Investopedia. “How To Start Investing in Stocks in 2025 and Beyond.” Investopedia Guides. 3 Dec. 2024. https://www.investopedia.com/articles/basics/06/invest1000.asp
• Investopedia. “Investing: An Introduction.” Investing Basics. 6 Feb. 2025. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/investing.asp
• Investor.gov. “Introduction to Investing.” U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. https://www.investor.gov/introduction-investing
• MIT. “When Do Investors Freak Out? Machine Learning Predictions of Panic Selling.” https://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/handle/1721.1/141712/2022FreakoutJFDS.pdf
• NEAMB. “Understanding the Stock Market: A Beginner’s Guide.” Retirement Planning. 22 Nov. 2024. https://www.neamb.com/retirement-planning/
• NerdWallet. “How to Invest in Stocks: 2025 Beginner’s Guide.” Alice Vo. 25 June 2025. https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/investing/how-to-invest-in-stocks
• OfficialData.org. “S&P 500 Returns since 2008.” 27 Oct. 2022. https://www.officialdata.org/us/stocks/s-p-500/2008
• PMC. “Overconfidence, Financial Literacy, and Panic Selling.” 21 Mar. 2025. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11927890/
• Saxo Bank. “Types of Stocks: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners.” Saxo Learn. 21 May 2025. https://www.home.saxo/learn/
• SoFi. “Average Stock Market Return: S&P 500 Historical Performance.” 8 Apr. 2025. https://www.sofi.com/learn/content/average-stock-market-return/
• Trading 212. “What Are Fractional Shares? Pros and Cons, Examples.” 8 Dec. 2023. https://www.trading212.com/learn/investing-101/fractional-shares

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

When we are dedicated to organizing a project we must fulfill many responsibilities: knowing who is doing what, what is being delayed and what is being carried out, organizing communication between the team, etc. Actually, managing a project depends not only on your way of working, but on the technology at your fingertips.

Whether you dedicate yourself fully to carrying out projects or that you occasionally have to do it in your work, these 5 tools will help you to perform a more efficient and better organized work.

 

TRELLO

This tool is one of the easiest to use since the layout in the form of information cards allows all data to be displayed clearly and easily. Sharing and collaborating is simple, but Trello’s best tool is its flexibility. Its simplicity makes it work very well as a task organizer, pending lists, newsletter or almost anything you need and the best part is that its simplest features are free. Trello works from web or mobile devices iOS, Android and Windows 8.

 

FLOW

An application similar to Trello is Flow, which is still very easy to use but incorporates other work tools. The great success of Flow is its control panel that allows users to see everything from the same place. It also has the ability to separate work into different levels with names such as: workspaces, groups, lists, tasks and subtasks. Flow is excellent when it comes to projects that require high levels of collaboration and communication because it allows you to leave comments and set alerts as you would in social networks. Flow has a cost of $10 per user, per month and is available for iOS, Android, Mac and web.

 

ASANA

Asana does not have the design quality of the two previous applications, but it stands out for its task management system. Thanks to its own inbox, your email can be free of messages that relate to the project to be carried out. Asana bases its interface on setting and reaching goals, so it can be a good option for those who like to divide their work into phases. All of its tools are free and available for use on the web, iOS and Android.

 

BASECAMP

Basecamp is probably the oldest application and although it doesn’t have such an innovative design, it has a lot to offer. You can make use of pending lists, setting goals and discussion forums, but where it really stands out is in the management of shared files and the visualization of a work calendar. Its cost is $99 per year and can be used on iOS, Android and web.

 

PODIUM

Podium is probably the most complete tool mentioned here since, apart from allowing you to make use of all the functions that we have already mentioned, it allows you to generate your own applications within the system. This means that you can adjust it to your liking and needs. If you do not want to design your own application, you can make use of hundreds of applications created by other users ranging from budget management to reviewing videos, storyboards or publications for social networks. The best part? Podium is totally free, there are applications within the system that have a cost but usually all are free too. Podium is available for web, iOS, Android and Windows.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing services 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 US based accounting professionals are certified QuickBooks™️ ProAdvisor’s providing bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay services. 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.

Perhaps you have heard friends and family give advice on what is better, if you use a card or cash as a preferred means of payment. In fact, both are a good option, but much depends on your consumption habits, your level of income and financial control you have. That is why the advice that works for some may not be for you.

 

Which is better cash or card?

But to put aside the uncertainty you can rely on these 3 factors and know that it suits you more.

 

1. Money control

Some people often give the excuse that when they use only cash to pay, the money does not yield to them. Maybe they don’t know what the money has gone towards since they don’t do a thorough search. To tell the truth, it doesn’t matter if you opt for cash or a card to have money control, your financial habits are what determine which one suits you best.

If you intend to record all expenses and know where your money ends, it is indifferent which one you choose. If you are not organized and spend without control, the card helps you know what you have spent, and it is not widely accepted in small establishments, which will be a form of control.

 

2. Spending capacity

Depending on the type of purchase you want to make, can also help you to choose which instrument to use. If you only want to make small purchases, in addition to having organized finances, you can opt for cash. If you are going to buy a table, bedroom set or TV, the credit card helps to pay very high expenses.

No matter how much you can control your expenses, it is not recommended to carry large amounts of cash, it can easily get lost. Unless you have saved to make a specific purchase. Purchases with your own money, either cash or debit card, will always be recommended above purchases with credit card.

 

3. Practicality

Worldwide, cash remains the accepted form of payment. However, credit cards offer certain benefits for their use. When you choose to use credit to get these benefits, be honest with yourself about how much you use these benefits in your normal lifestyle. Whether you opt for cash or card, in both cases you should keep track of expenses. When you have bad financial habits, no matter if it is cash, debit or credit card, bad financial habits will last.

The next time you receive advice on which payment method is best for you, remember that many times they are subjective advice, based on the experiences of each person. People often demonize the options that have brought them bad experiences, however they could miss great benefits. Much will depend on your consumption habits and what best suits your lifestyle.

It is your responsibility to make smart spending decisions, your finances are only up to you and you should give them the necessary importance to ensure they are healthy.

 

 

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing services 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 US based accounting professionals are certified QuickBooks™️ ProAdvisor’s providing bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay services. 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.