How to Talk with Your Company about Subsidizing Your Education

With the frequent changes taking place in the corporate sector, employers are continuously seeking individuals with a higher education qualification, so that they can be certain to have tasks handled by knowledgeable professionals, in an up-to-date manner. This definitely gives the company an edge over competitors; it’s all about being in control of a larger market. While some individuals may be content with a high school education, it’s evident that a good job will require much more than that, unless one opts for self-employment. Thus, if you feel that your lack of a higher education is acting as a hindrance to your advancement in the workplace, it’s time to do something about it. 

Some companies subsidize advanced training.

Quite a number of companies provide education subsidies and if yours does, there is really no point in not making use of it to get your master’s degree, considering the soaring cost of higher education. Before talking to the relevant authorities, you should first have a solid reason on why you need to take a master’s program. When you make it clear in your mind beforehand, it will be easier to get it across to your company, and thus give you better chances of being successful .In addition, the motivation behind your action will ensure that your plan is clearly laid out, and this will enable you to develop an effective course of action.

You need to convince your employers that you will be more resourceful to the firm if you advance in your training. Show them that by offering a subsidy for your education, they will be making a worthy investment. It is true that when they subsidize your training, they will expect the benefits to surpass the costs otherwise it wouldn’t make sense to provide it at all. Therefore, it’s up to you to prove that it’s a worthwhile venture. 

How will your advanced training benefit the company

The kind of training you settle for should be dependent on the skills you intend to acquire. For instance, if you are dealing with IT at the workplace, it would make sense to go for a master’s program along the same lines; how you make your course selection is really important. Here are the advantages you are bound to obtain once you go through the higher education:

• It helps you obtain specialized knowledge in the field, thus enhancing your performance in the same industry. 
• It enables you acquire advanced skills in your area of interest 
• It gives you an edge over other employees hence makes you valuable to the company. 
• it’s an effective way to evade the lower paying jobs 

Remember, obtaining a master’s degree while you study can be quite a daunting task, thus you need to have a good reason for doing it; you must know how the education is going to help you once you are done. For instance, a master of management will help you deal better with business management, whether employed or otherwise. Always do a research prior to signing up so that you only go for something beneficial.

Reverse Mortgages 101- When To Use One

In America they are called reverse mortgages, in the UK they are called lifetime mortgages, and while the names may be different, what they are and how they are structured are basically the same. 

In essence a reverse mortgage is a equity release scheme allowing the homeowner to gain access to the equity in their property and use this equity as a monthly income to live on, or it can be taken in one lump sum. 

The majority of property owners that would make use of a reverse mortgage would be older, senior citizen/OAP, possibly already retired, and naturally having substantial equity in their homes. 

Basically an example would be this: 

A homeowner who meets the minimum age requirement, usually in their 50’s, and has an outstanding mortgage on their home with a small balance, or may own their home outright, wants to gain access to the equity or value they have in their property without having to sell the property and find new accommodations. 

They may want to access the equity they have either as a lump sum, or in the form of an income, receiving payments each month to supplement what income they may have, or as their sole source of income. 

They would make an application for the reverse mortgage with a mortgage lender or broker and this person would then qualify them for the loan based on a few factors. 

These factors would be the amount of equity they may have in their property, their age, interest rates that are available at the time, etc. 

The mortgage lender is only going to lend a certain percentage of the equity or value of the property. The older the person is who applies for the reverse mortgage, the higher the percentage may be that is allowed to be lent. This is due to the fact that with a reverse mortgage there are no payments to the mortgage lender, they are making payments to the borrower out of the equity in the home. The older a person is who is looking to do this type of loan, the less years they have to live, so they can receive a higher monthly payment. It is a sad fact of life, and also how payments can be determined. 

The person applying for the mortgage once approved will begin to receive the set monthly payments and are allowed to continue to live in their homes. Upon their death, the mortgage company will then take back the property and sell it to recover their costs, expenses and pay back the mortgage. 

Who are reverse mortgage for and when should they be used? 

Obviously the person will be older with sufficient equity in their home, and they may be in need of the additional cash each month to live off of. 

It also will be someone who is not looking to leaving their property to a family member upon their death. 

I have a close friend who has no children, he is single and owns his property outright. he has a few more working years left and then when he retires we have discussed him looking into a reverse mortgage as a way to gain some extra money each month so he can continue to live the lifestyle he currently has. For him the reverse mortgage is ideal. 

So just an overview of what reverse mortgages are and some ideas of who and when to make use of one. 

Author Bio: 
The author Jon Emge is the Web Content Manager and Senior Advisor for My Money LTD and also writes articles and blogs for www.lifequoes4u.co.uk. 

He has over 25 years experience in the field of personal finance in both the USA and UK, of which 17 years has been providing debt and bankruptcy advice. 

Paid Internships During Studies and How to Get Them

Taking on an internship during your studies may sound like a lot of hard work, especially if you're already studying for exams or writing essays.

However, in competitive job markets like finance, media and politics, having a good internship on your CV can give you a huge advantage when it comes time to apply for your first real job. 

There’s no doubt that some internships are more worthwhile than others, so how do you go about selecting the right one, and once you've found it, how do you make sure you get it? 

How will an internship help you’re career?

Completing an internship during your studies will help your future career in a lot of ways. Firstly, it shows that you’re serious enough about your intended profession to seek out extra work during your time off, and secondly it shows you’re hard working and dedicated. 
The next most important thing that you’ll get out of an internship is experience. Any prospective employer will tell you that you can have all the qualifications in the world, but there’s simply no substitute for real, hands-on experience. 

You’ll get to see what working in your chosen industry is really like, meet the people who are already doing it and hopefully make some great contacts for the future. All of which will give you a big leg-up on the career ladder. 

If you’re looking for a career in top financial institutions, an internship is invaluable 

How to choose an employer 

There are plenty of different companies and institutions that offer internships, and it may be tempting to take the first one that you’re offered, however the quality of the internship will have a big impact on its value and on the amount that you get out of it. If you’re looking for an internship in the financial sector, make a list of the companies that you’d really like to work for in the future. Remember, this could be a real foot in the door for you, so select wisely. 
Most financial institutions will have established internship programs, and it might be possible to contact people who have already completed it. Ask them for information on what you can expect and whether they found it beneficial in the long run. 

When to do an internship 

When you do your internship will depend on your college or University timetable and the requirements of the company you'll be working for. A lot of internships run during the summer break, but it might also be possible to do one day a week or even weekends. 

How to get an internship 

Finding an internship that you want to do and then securing it are two different things.

There’s always going to be a lot of competition for the top companies, so be prepared to work hard even before you've got an interview.Many institutions have an online application form to fill out rather than a number to call. So start by filling this in and submitting it to them. 
If you can, try to find out the name of the person at the company that is responsible for recruiting interns and send them a personal email, this will help them to remember your name and give you a better shot at getting the job. 
Doing an internship will help you to make contacts and meet influential people 

How much can you expect to get paid? 

The amount that you’ll get paid for an internship will vary widely between companies, with some only covering the cost of your travel and lunch money and others paying enough to live on and even to save.

Don’t be afraid to ask about payment in the interview or initial recruitment stages. After all, if you’re applying to a financial institution or related business, money is an important subject.

If you’re hoping to enter a career in finance or any other competitive industry, undertaking an internship during your studies will prove invaluable.

It may not seem like much fun at the time, especially when you’re friends are out enjoying the summer, but when it comes time for your first job application, you’ll be head and shoulders above the rest.

This article was brought to you by Arnold Hill the UK experts in inheritance tax planning

7 Ways to Stay on Top of Your Savings

As the economic climate continues to look bleak it is important to stay on top of your finances. As well as staying on top of your savings, you also need to cut down your outgoings and identify ways in which you could do so. From looking at your receipts to the latest apps, we look at ways you can stay on top of your finances in 2013. 

1 – Simplify Your Finances 

It is a good idea to consolidate all your debt onto one credit card and also try to shop around for the best rates you can get on your savings and current account. The less organizations you have to deal with, the easier it will seem to focus on your finances. 

2 – Use Apps 

With a huge range available on smartphones, tablets and computers, finance apps are a great way of tracking your expenses and allow you to work out budgets efficiently. Many of these apps also let you sync up different account. 

3 – Online Banking 

With online banking at your fingertips  it provides a great way for you to stay on top of your finances. It also allows you to set up direct debits that can be a great way to ensure you meet financial deadlines in the future. 

4 – Analyse Your Budget 

As many finance guest posts state - Separate your budget down into sub sections such as bills, food and luxuries. Doing so will allow you to see where you could be spending less, ultimately helping save you money for the future. 

5 – Keep Receipts 

Keep all your receipts together in manageable folders or even scan them onto your computer. In doing so, you can ensure you are not wasting money and it allows you to break down your finances further. 

6 – Direct Debits 

Setting up direct debits via online banking couldn't be much easier and it is a great way of ensuring you meet payment deadlines on time and avoid penalties. 

7 – Loans 

Look out for loans that may be suitable to your situation, whether it is payday loans, loans for bad credit or guarantor loans. It is important to ensure you shop around for the best deals to ensure you don't get ripped off. 

Author Bio: Luke writes about finance, from extreme money saving to the latest news in the industry. In his spare time he enjoys helping others, you can find him on Google +.

Buying Long Term Care Insurance Should Be Taken Seriously

People who decide to buy a long term care policy are said to be good decision takers. But usually they tend to make mistakes and ignore the importance of buying process. This leads to having insurance that does not make a great difference. If you are thinking of buying a policy then it is important to be a good buyer and take the process sincerely. 

There are a number of factors that need to be considered. You are preparing for situations where you might need a caregiver for doing all your daily tasks. This means that you will need money to pay for the services which should not pose a burden on you. Thus, a long term care policy bought in the right way can prove to be beneficial. 

Understanding What Is Best For You

When you start searching for a policy, the first thing that comes your way is the sales brochures of companies. Insurance companies design brochures to give you an overview of their offering. It has the benefits of buying insurance from them and thus it is not advisable to simply pick one which you find more appealing. The information is incomplete until you know everything about the policy. Thus, it is important to be engaged in the buying process and do proper research. 

Searching for the Best Option

Research is one thing that people often ignore as it involves a lot of efforts. However, it is important part since this helps in taking the right decision.

• Talk: You need to talk more with people around you to get information. You can consult your family members, friends and colleagues. Some would be having a long term care policy and therefore will be able to help you get deeper. 
• Ask: Since everyone you talk to is not an expert from insurance field, their knowledge is limited to options they know about. It is important that you talk to company representatives. Though they will tell you good things about the company and its offerings, if you start probing them, chances are you will get answers to some of your queries. But this is not the end yet. 
• Discuss: When you are done with the basic knowledge, time is to know how a policy will help in your case. You should discuss your financial and health status with the agent and ask him to provide solutions. Once you have different solutions in hand, you must get into comparative study. 
• Study: This is an important part since it will help you know about the process, coverage and the terms and conditions a company has. There are some who will offer coverage for a limited number of diseases. Also, some of them allow payouts to certain formats of long term care. 
• Know: When you have studied the policy options, you must be aware of your requirements like coverage value, its duration and when will it get activated. 

One can also opt to go online to research about long term care insurance. This facilitates quick information and less influence by company representatives. Thus, insurance buying process must be taken seriously to ensure hassle-free future.

Simple steps to save £500 and more in one year

With household bills seeming to rise every month, more and more of us are looking for ways to spend less and save more. Thankfully, there are a few quick steps that anyone can take to make some easy savings. Here are our recommendations for some small changes that can make a big difference.

Change where you shop
For most people, one of the biggest outgoings is food. The easiest way to save money here is to look at where you shop - could you do some or all of your shopping at one of the budget supermarkets? You may not get the same range of brands or goods, but even just switching to buying everyday staples such as bread, milk, cereals and fruit and vegetables at the budget supermarkets will save you several pounds a week. As little as £2 a week saved adds up to over £100 per year.

Change how you shop
Another easy way to save money on food shopping is to create a menu plan and take a shopping list. Menu planning simply means working out what you will eat for each meal during the week and then write a list to include everything you need for the plan - and nothing else! This will help you be more disciplined while shopping and less likely to pop extra treats into the trolley.

Review your insurance policies
Great savings can be made for relatively little effort if you review your car insurance policy and any other household insurance policies online before you renew them. There are many different insurance comparison websites available, but all are easy to use and generally produce significant savings. Spend half an hour filling in your details online and you can usually find a great deal to save you money on your existing renewal price.

Voucher deals
These days, it’s easy to avoid paying full price for many things simply by going online and finding a discount voucher. Discounts are either available as codes for online stores or, alternatively, as a printable voucher to be handed over at the till. Discounts can be found for almost any kind of purchase, from theme park tickets to meals out. Serious money savers always check for a discount code or voucher before any significant purchase.

Cash back sites
Cash back websites are a relatively new phenomenon but they are an excellent way of making some extra cash without much effort. Put simply, these sites offer a cash back amounts (generally a set percentage of the cost of the item) on purchases you make via their websites. Get into the habit of checking for cash back on all your online purchases, from clothes to electrical to insurance policies, and it’s easy to build up a nice sum over the course of a year.

By following these five easy suggestions you should be able to save at least £500 a year, if not more. Simply changing a few habits can really benefit your bank balance in a big way.

Author Bio: Diyana Lobo is a freelance content writer by profession. She finds immense pleasure in writing Finance related article.