Author: Sahel Tamayo

The COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc not only on people’s physical health but also on their financial health. To make things even worse, fraudsters also took advantage of the pandemic-related fears.

Being familiar with the dreaded COVID-19 scams will help you determine exactly what to watch out for to ensure that you don’t fall prey to these predators.

FDIC/Bank Scams

Scammers are now impersonating a bank or FDIC employees, making false claims that there are some security concerns with bank deposits or that banks are limiting the client’s access to deposits.

Charity Scams

Many fraudsters are also seeking donations for nonexistent or illegitimate organizations.

COVID-19 Vaccine Scams

The FTC noted that the release of the COVID-19 vaccines led to scammers scheming to get the consumers’ financial or personal details.

Malware

Yet another common COVID-19 scam is the delivery of malware through sensationalized reports or virus-tracking apps.

Investment Scams

There are also investment scams usually styled as research reports that claim that services or products of some publicly traded companies can detect, cure, or prevent COVID-19.

Supply and Phishing Scams

Scammers are also impersonating businesses and health organizations to gather financial or personal information or sell fake cures, test kits, supplies, or vaccines for COVID-19.

Provider Scams

Scammers are also impersonating hospital staff and doctors and contact victims that claim to have treated a friend or relative for COVID-19 and ask for payment for the treatment.

Economic Relief or Stimulus Check Scams

There are also reports regarding the government lending a hand to ease the virus’ economic impact by sending money via direct deposit or check deposit. But the government will never ask for any fee just to receive such funds. They also would never ask for your account or personal information.

How to Avoid Becoming a COVID-19 Scam Victim

With the prevalence of COVID-19 scams, it is even more important to be vigilant at all times. Here are a few tips to save yourself from falling victim to these scams:

• Before investing in anything, don’t forget that there is a high risk of fraud these days. Watch out for companies that claim the ability to cure, detect, or prevent coronavirus.
• Change your current security settings to allow multifactor authentication for supported accounts. MFA or multifactor authentication is the second step of verification about who you are such as a text with a code.
• Never donate before doing some research first. Be cautious of any individual, charity, or business asking for COVID-19-related donations or payments via mail, gift card, wire transfer, or cash.
• Report COVID-19 scams to help others and stay updated with the latest scams.
• Keep your mobile devices and computers updated. Having the latest operating system, security software, and web browser is the best defense against malware, viruses, and other threats online. Turn on your automatic updates to receive the latest fixes once they are available.

Even the pandemic won’t stop scammers and fraudsters from doing their thing. Being extra careful with your actions and decisions can safeguard you from becoming the next victim of these COVID-19 scams.

 

The mere thought of finding a new job alone already feels daunting itself. But things get even more hectic when it is time to actually start looking for one.

To make this challenging quest more bearable, here are 5 simple steps you can take to search for your next job:

1. Prepare Your Resume

Your job hunt will never start if you don’t have a resume in the first place. If you can no longer remember the last time that you checked and updated your resume, now might be the best time to do it.

While it is a must to tailor your resume for the different jobs you apply to, updating your resume and keeping it handy can make it easier and simpler for you to tweak the particulars for every job application.

2. Refine Your Profiles

In this digital world, hiring managers will definitely look you up online after they give your resume a good glance over. Of course, it will work to your advantage to ensure that everything they see on your profiles will leave them impressed, and not disappointed or turned off.

So, make sure that you have professional and clean social media accounts. While you are at it, grab this opportunity to boost your online presence by adding some samples of your work, previous projects you worked on, and more.

3. Tap into Your Existing Network

In the competitive business world, who you know sometimes matters more than what you know. Yes, your current network is one of your best assets when searching for a new job.

For all you know, one of your closest friends is in touch with someone who is looking for a new talent who got your skills and experience. More often than not, it is better to have more people in your corner that you can reach out to when seeking greener pastures.

4. Make a Targeted Search

Something as cutthroat as the job search market can leave you drained if you don’t target your efforts properly. To leverage your time and avoid wasting it, you have to be clear right from the get-go about exactly what you are looking for.

Are you after a remote or flexible position? Do you prefer just a part-time or temporary job as a side hustle? By knowing what you need and want, cutting through the clutter will be faster to help you find what you are searching for.

 

 

 

5. Set Your Goals

As expected, your main goal here is to find a new job. However, since this is a rather broad goal, it is best to map out a plan for your job search. How many jobs do you want to apply for every week? Would you like to have a few informational interviews monthly?

Setting smaller milestones will make it easier for you to stay on track and celebrate your smaller wins every time you achieve them.

Job hunting is never an easy climb but as long as you muster the courage to take that first step, you will soon be on your way to landing that position you have always wanted.

 

When you started your first-ever full-time job in your 20s, you probably thought that you can still set aside investing and preparing for your future. When your 30s came, life gave you more priorities that investments are still out of your radar.

But the truth is, there is no such thing as being too early when it comes to investing. When you start earlier, you can also take advantage of compound interest better.

Compound interest refers to the interest paid on the principal and any interest from the previous years. This interest is typically used if a person decides to reinvest the interest they accrued back to their original investment.

Consider this example: if your $1,000 investment has 15% interest in the first year and you reinvested the money back to your original investment, in the second year, you will receive 15% interest not just on $1000 but also on the $150 you reinvested. After some time, compound interest makes more money compared to simple interest.

With this example, you can easily see that investing early can make you reap more rewards later on in life.

What Should You Invest In?

It is never easy to decide which assets you should invest in. There are lots of factors you need to consider. However, your choice will still mainly depend on your stage of life, your financial goals, and your investment timeframe.

If you are already nearing retirement or you have a short-term goal such as a dream vacation, you might want to choose lower-risk assets and those that will give you easier and faster access to your money like cash or bonds.

However, if you want to invest for the long term or even for just a medium-term, you must opt to invest in those assets that will allow growth in your savings over time such as property, infrastructure, and equities.

It doesn’t really matter if your goal is here and now or in the distant future. It is a must that you choose to invest in assets that will let you hedge against inflation or increased cost of living. If not, you will soon discover a reduced spending power the moment you decide to draw on your investment.

Why Does It Pay to Invest Early and Stay Invested?

One of the most critical aspects of a successful long-term investment is to understand and remember that economic conditions can fluctuate or change over time. There are a few basic principles to help you reach successful long-term investment choices. Keeping all of these in mind, especially during volatile financial markets, can help you stay right on track.

• • Sell high and buy low since starting point valuations are important.
  • Regular investments of smaller amounts and compound interest can make a substantial difference over timeframes of more than 20 years.
  • Focus on those investments that provide sustainable and decent cash flows, distributions, rental incomes, and dividends since these can serve as an effective buffer during volatile times.
  • Always invest for the long term and avoid making hasty decisions during volatile times.

 

 

Can you not help but cringe every time you fill up your gas tank? Are you always caught by surprise every time you buy your favorite bag of chips? Do you shudder when you go shopping for clothes? No matter where you look, almost everything has become pricier, and people are left with no choice but to stretch their already thin budgets.

But what is really the reason behind these soaring prices?

For one, COVID-19 disrupted the supply chain. Most of the things you need or want are still stall. Since there are low supplies, the demand is increased, resulting in higher prices. This, together with other factors, led to a higher inflation rate than it has been in 30 years.

But what is inflation in the first place?

What is Inflation?

Inflation is a term used in economics when referring to when prices rise for different items like gas and groceries. This lowers the dollar’s value, which means that when the prices increase, your money will buy less. The inflation rate pertains to a decrease or increase in percentage in prices throughout a certain period of time.

Ways to Hedge Against Inflation

Since inflation can reach unimaginable heights, it is important to learn how to keep yourself protected from it. Here are some ways you can consider:

• Diversify your investments globally.

Experts always recommend diversifying your investment portfolio. Similarly, it is also best to invest in various economies to help you hedge against inflation. With all the different economies across the world, some of them don’t go through similar economic problems like inflation simultaneously. By adding stocks of economic giants to your investment, you will be able to better diversify your portfolio.

• Try investing in cryptocurrency.

It has become more challenging to hold cash when its value continues to decline. When there are skyrocketing inflation rates, you might want to hold on to decentralized money like Ethereum, Bitcoin, and others. Cryptocurrencies are strong inflation hedges such as real estate and precious metals.

• Invest in some precious metals.

Investing in gold and other types of precious metals is another traditional way to hedge against not just inflation but also economic downtimes. The value of gold, as well as other precious metals, continues to rise. These are appreciating assets that make them ideal investment assets.

• Consider real estate investment.

In general, real estate investments are great investments. During times of inflation, real estate is one of the best investments you can use to hedge against it. When there is inflation, there is an increase in real estate income as well. This is because when inflation rises, property owners can increase rent prices, and as they do so, their income also increases.

• Invest in stocks.

Stock investments are an effective way to hedge against inflation. But just be careful because a rapid spike in inflation may shake the stock market for a while. To lessen the risk, make sure you invest in companies that will likely survive fluctuations in inflation.

What lies ahead this 2022 for the automobile industry?

With the past year plagued with skyrocketing car prices, shutdowns of plants, and shortages in chips, what does this year has to offer?

Below are some of the trends that will rule this 2022:

Autonomous Vehicles are Put on Hold

Automakers promised that 2020 will see fully self-driving vehicles. But there are some breakthroughs this 2022. Mercedes-Benz and GM are gearing up to launch their first real hands-free driving technology. Others such as Cruise and Waymo focus on cargo haulers and ride-sharing services.

However, safety probes that involve Tesla’s Autopilot serve as warning about the challenges involved in developing fully autonomous vehicles.

China is Poised for Further Growth

China is the largest auto market in the world but local manufacturers such as Great Wall and Geely are expecting to go beyond the borders. However, there have been continuous delays in their efforts to enter the number 2 international market, which is the United States.

Trade frictions during the administration of Donald Trump are yet to be resolved under Biden. While there are some Chinese-made items available in showrooms in the US, it may take years before China’s real automotive invasion.

EVs are Rising in Fame

EVs make up a modest part of the new vehicle sales in the US but their demand has doubled in the first half of 2021. In 2022, they might reach the tipping point with the explosion of the EV market. Some factors play a role here, such as the selection of new offers. It is anticipated that there will be four times growth in the number of long-range models.

New Cars Come with Higher Prices

Automakers all the world produced around 8 million fewer cars than planned the previous year due to product shortages. While production may rebound, dealers will still fail to establish their inventories this 2022. The result is that buyers should expect limitations in choices with prices continuing to increase at a record rate.

Online Car Purchases Becoming the New Normal

During the lockdown in the US, the industry discovered a new idea. Since customers couldn’t visit dealers, dealers used the internet to go to them instead.

Even when the country opened up once again, there are still customers that shop for cars online, with most retailers scheduling test drives and delivering new vehicles to the homes or offices of buyers.

Also, with the almost bare showroom lots, many motorists that are driven by impulse have started to order their vehicles and wait for the delivery that sometimes takes months.

Ongoing Shortages of Products

When the world was hit by COVID-19, automakers slashed orders for parts and productions. However, once the sales began to rebound, they learned that they can’t get their hands on the required semiconductors that leads to major cuts in production.

The industry lost revenues of up to $210 billion in 2021. While there is now an increase in chic supplies, they are far from being back to normal and it will continue even in 2022. The industry also faces other types of shortages that affect products such as tires and interior seat foams and plastics.

The Sun Belt is projected to conquer the housing market in the United States this 2022. Topping the new list of Zillow of this year’s hottest real estate markets is Tampa, Florida with Jacksonville, Charlotte, San Antonio, and Raleigh following close behind.

This year’s homebuyers seem to be more attracted to the Sun Belt’s housing markets that boast relative affordability, quickly growing economies, and pleasant weather that lets them spend time outdoors throughout the year.

In Tampa, FL, the value of an average home has increased almost 30% in the past year to $354,100, based on Zillow’s data. The real estate authority expects the explosive growth in Tampa to continue in 2022 and is expecting an increase in home values to up 24.6% throughout the year.

Tampa has also made it to the ranking of Realtor.com of this year’s hottest housing markets. The difference is that their list also included many other cities across the Mountain West such as Boise, Spokane, and Salt Lake City.

All over the country, and specifically in the Sun Belt, baby boomers will fuel this growth as they search for houses in top destinations for retirement. This is also combined with the millennials’ strong interest, with millions of them now reaching the peak age for home buying.

Similar pandemic trends that were observed last year, such as moves away from the big coastal cities and remote work will continue to be in play. Zillow foresees that the national home values will grow in 2022 at 14.3%.

Hottest Housing Markets in 2022

According to Zillow, the following cities are the 10 hottest markets for buying houses this 2022:

1. 1. Tampa, Florida
   2. Jacksonville, Florida
   3. Raleigh, North Carolina
   4. San Antonio, Texas
   5. Charlotte, North Carolina
   6. Nashville, Tennessee
   7. Atlanta, Georgia
   8. Phoenix, Arizona
   9. Orlando, Florida
   10. Austin, Texas

Zillow also claims that these 10 markets will enjoy strong growth in home value this year, as well as fast-moving inventory, a large pool of potential home buyers, and high job growth. The site has also noted that these cities included in the list are not particularly sensitive to stock market dips or increased mortgage rates. These two events can both likely depress the real estate industry in the next few months.

What Should Homebuyers Expect This 2022?

2021 saw soaring home prices because of the high surge in demand throughout the pandemic, with the low mortgage rates further driving frenzy all over the country. More of the same can be expected by homebuyers this 2022.

Sellers will take the driver’s seat across the board, but more so in the hottest housing markets. Buyers must brace themselves for strong competition for houses, which means homes will be out of the market just days following their listing and more bidding wars.

However, there are several indicators that the market will start to stabilize soon. Zillow expects San Jose, Chicago, San Francisco, Milwaukee, and New York as 2022’s coolest housing markets due to their comparatively low growth in jobs and demographics that will less likely support a huge buying wave this year.

 

2020 has been dubbed as the year of the pivot.

The COVID-19 pandemic left people with no choice but to carefully reconsider and rethink almost all aspects of their lives, from the things most valuable to them to the place where they live.

In the midst of changing guidelines on health and safety and lockdowns, businesses have learned to quickly adapt to new business models.

Many also opted to go virtual to ensure that stay connected with their clients and customers during this era of the new normal. The world, in general, has also become more thoughtful of others around them, turning into enthusiastic supporters of local businesses.

If you are also in the process of pivoting, searching for a new job amid the pandemic, you can consider yourself lucky as there are now a lot of jobs that you can do at the comforts of your home.

Here are the top five jobs that allow you to work remote together with the average pay you can expect to receive:

1. Consultant

Do you have a specific area of expertise? When you have already acquired enough years of experience in specific fields such as IT, engineering, education, government services, healthcare, and other fields, you can apply for a consultant position in companies that are searching for specific areas that require problem-solving or Improvement. The average salary for consultants is around $87,476.

2. Writer

If you are a wordsmith by nature, there are now plenty of companies that are hiring writers who can craft quality content for them, such as blog posts, technical manuals, marketing copy for their official websites, and digital articles. On average, writers can earn around $49,804.

3. Teacher/Tutor/Faculty Member/Instructor

With education now starting to move online just like the rest of the world, most types of teaching jobs can be done remotely today as well. These include professors that use Zoom for their lectures for bigger classes and one-on-one tutoring for enhancement of homeschooling. Teachers, tutors, instructors, and faculty members can earn an average salary of $45,938.

4. Engineer 

Engineers, in general, use math, science, and technology when designing almost everything, from computer software to machines, to equipment. There are various specialties in the field of engineering, and these include mechanical, software, computer, civil, chemical, petroleum, aerospace, and so much more. The average salary for engineers today is approximately $85,670.

5. Accountant 

Your interaction with your own accountant probably just happens once a year when tax time comes. However, accountants actually serve as the financial backbone of any business. These professionals prepare, maintain, and interpret important records.

Based on expert projections, the employment of auditors and accountants is expected to grow much faster compared to the average for other occupations. The average salary for accountants today is $51,208.

The COVID-19 pandemic shouldn’t stop you from pursuing a job as there are now a lot of options that you can do remotely. To make things even better, these remote jobs offer great incentives that are almost at par with those on-site jobs.

Investment portfolios include different forms of investments in various asset categories, including bonds, stocks, and real estate. There may be a dedicated real estate portfolio within an investment portfolio.

A real estate portfolio is a collection of several real estate investment assets that an investment group or individual investor holds. Although real estate portfolios may have different compositions, most of them contain assets like investment properties, real estate mutual funds, and REITs or Real Estate Investment Trusts.

The primary purpose of a real estate portfolio is to grow the capital of the investor over time. This can be achieved with the use of several investment strategies.

Consider the following tips to help you build your real estate portfolio:

Analyze the Performance of the Property

One of the key aspects of investing in real estate is to analyze the performance of the property. You need to carefully calculate the cash flow of the property, its occupancy, cap rate, and IRR or internal rate of return.

These metrics give you an idea of how the investment property performs and if there are necessary adjustments to increase returns.

Prepare a Real Estate Investment Business Plan

Several parts make up this plan. As an investor, you must have a clear idea of your investment goals to help you identify the best strategy to use.

You also need to have a financial plan to pinpoint the best properties that suit your budget. This financial plan can also give you information to help with your future decisions like the financing you need and your return and income projections.

Diversify Your Real Estate Portfolio

Another important aspect when it comes to building your real estate portfolio is diversification. With some property market sectors experiencing volatility, having your properties concentrated in just one type of property or a specific market may pose a higher risk if a downturn occurs or other similar widespread economic events. To diversify your portfolio, you can invest in different markets or use several investment strategies.

Know the Ins and Outs of Real Estate Investing

To have a successful real estate investment, you also have to ensure that you understand the real estate industry as a whole and all the risks involved with it. This way, you can make educated decisions about your investments.

 

 

Purchase Your First Investment Property

Once you have finished making your business plan, you can now start to look for potential investment properties. You can check different property listing sites, property auctions, and property agents in your target market. Use your business plans and real estate knowledge to choose the best property you can invest in.

Buy More Properties in Time

If your first investment property becomes a success, you can then move on to buy additional properties. But you have to remember that you need to repeat all the steps for every additional property you buy. You also have to consider the possibility of having changes in your financial situation or investment goals that may affect your targeted strategies and viable types of properties for you.

The process of purchasing a rental property involves a lot of significant factors you need to consider. Location, expenses, mortgage, exterior, and interior are just some of the key physical things most buyers often focus on. However, have you considered when to purchase a rental property in the first place?

So far, the answer to this question is actually straightforward. Once the weather starts to turn cold, this is the perfect time to purchase a rental property. This means, that the holiday season, starting from the month of November to January, is the perfect time to shop for a rental property. In fact, Christmas Day is often considered the best time of the year to buy a rental property.

What makes winter or cold season the best time to purchase a rental property, then?

There is Lesser Competition

Summer and spring are the months when most people choose to move to new homes. This is because moving around is easier when the weather is warmer. It is also the time of the year when there is higher competition.

But when the season turns colder, the conditions also change, and fewer people buy properties as a result. The lesser competition will make negotiations work more likely in your favor, letting you secure a better deal with lesser stress as well.

Sellers Simply Hope to Sell

The holidays have fewer buyers that might not be good news for sellers of properties that have been sitting in the market for a long time. These sellers might no longer want until next spring for potential buyers. This is why they try selling off their property at the soonest time possible. Once again, this sense of urgency can make the negotiations work to your advantage.

Lower Temperatures Mean Lower Prices

When temperatures drop, there will be less competition but more desperate sellers that will all lead to lower prices. In fact, even without such effects, prices of properties usually drop when the year comes to an end, particularly during Christmas. The general rule of thumb in real estate is that it becomes cheaper to buy a rental property when the months get colder.

Some Potential Downsides to Remember

While the colder months are the best time for buying rental properties, you still need to consider some downsides.

For starters, there might not be a lot of available properties for you to choose from. With more sellers enjoying their holidays, the market might have a lower number of properties with decreased diversity a well.

The snowy and wet conditions may also hide some issues of the property. Remember that properties tend to look different at different times or seasons of the year. You need to factor this in when purchasing a rental property. While the property may look great during colder months, its appearance may change when the warmer months kick in.

To save yourself from unwanted surprises, don’t forget to check the before and after photos of the property. Make sure you also conduct a thorough inspection prior to signing the dotted line.

Now that you know when to purchase a rental property, always weigh in all the factors to make the right decision.