Monday, September 29, 2025
Home Blog Page 23

Construction Blacklist Saga Deepens With Allegations of Police Involvement and Separate Blacklists

Muzahed I.
-
0

Construction is one of the UK’s most dangerous industries, seeing a huge number of accident at work compensation claims every year. Scandalously, many people who have highlighted health and safety failings in the sector, who have communicated or led trade unions, or who have engaged in whistle blowing, found themselves blacklisted by employers, effectively hindering or preventing them from working in the sector any longer.

The Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT) has identified 3,213 different blacklisting victims from the construction industry and is demanding that these individuals or their families are told about the blacklisting. MPs have also condemned the practice and eight of the UK’s largest construction companies have revealed they intend to launch a compensation fund for blacklisted employees. The Consulting Association (TCA) is heavily implicated in the scandal, and Skanska UK, Sir Robert McAlpine, Balfour Beatty, Kier, Costain, Carillion, Laing O’Rourke and Vinci have all apologised for being involved with the TCA.

However, UCATT is calling for a full public inquiry into the saga, following reports that the security services and police special branches may have also played a role in construction blacklisting, and that the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has details of another blacklist that was not controlled by the TCA and several other TCA blacklists.

Whistleblowing, blacklisting and the construction sector

Personal injury solicitors strongly believe in the right for people to join trade unions, and support the right for employees to highlight health and safety concerns or environmental problems on building sites. Legal experts also question the logic of construction companies that blacklist workers – flagging up these problems could protect businesses from accident at work compensation claims or fines for environmental damage and could improve the company’s reputation.

Nobody should be punished for trying to improve safety standards in the workplace and for trying to support the wellbeing of their colleagues and the general public. With workplace accident claims so common in construction, employers should be grateful for whistleblowers. Penalising them and blacklisting them is not only bad for the employee, but is also bad for the business itself.

Everyone who has been blacklisted should be able to achieve justice, and no win no fee solicitors believe the government is responsible for ensuring this justice occurs. Currently, many blacklisting victims do not even know they were blacklisted.

UCATT calls for answers

With the blacklisting scandal deepening, UCATT has said that everyone who has been adversely affected by construction sector blacklisting should be able to find out the extent of the state’s involvement and whether or not the police enabled highly-sensitive information to be placed on their files.

UCATT General Secretary Steve Murphy pointed out that the ICO appears to have known that blacklisting extended beyond the TCA all along, but has only just revealed this information. “Serious questions” should be asked about why the ICO failed to reveal all the information it had about blacklisting at an earlier date, he argued, saying the government would be making a “serious error of judgement” if it continued to be reliant on the ICO for its investigations into blacklisting.

Featured image License Some rights reserved by BASF – The Chemical Company

How to find the Perfect Real Estate Lawyer?

Muzahed I.
-
0
How to find the Perfect Real Estate Lawyer?

There are several issues that may emerge while a real estate deal. The investment made in real estate means the biggest single investment made by an individual. In case you are facing any issues with the ownership of your property, you need to know your legal rights thoroughly. The best way to keep such issues at bay is to appoint a real estate lawyer right as soon as issues start to raise the head.

Here are some ways to find an appropriate real estate lawyer for your legal issues.

  • Recognize the Property Type and Issues Involved

The search for a perfect real estate lawyer must start with identifying the property type and the legal issues attached to it. Real estate issues may be of several kinds and you should know what type of issues you have to deal with. Real estate lawyers usually specialize in some subcategories including residential, landlord-tenant, industrial, commercial and agricultural.

And the areas of law related to real estate are environmental and constructional law. If you are having an idea about the type of real estate and the problems related to it, then your search for the lawyer will be very convenient. Searching for a perfect real estate attorney among so many lawyers practicing around may be a little difficult in the absence of proper information about the type of property and issues. Real estate lawyers may be focusing either on lawsuits or transactions, or sometimes both.

If the real state issue relates to a lawsuit against a land developer or landlord, it becomes very difficult to find a lawyer. In case you are having a consumer protection law behind your claim, you may locate a good lawyer for your case easily.

  • Make a List of Suitable Lawyers

Making a list of all the real estate lawyers practicing in and around your area is not a big task nowadays. You can get as many names as you want from the internet. You can search for them by entering more specific and accurate keywords. Your search can be on the basis of practice area, location or any other such detail. If you are interested in any particular lawyer or law firm, the web can help with that as well. Make sure that all the shortlisted lawyers are having a good deal of experience.

  • Conduct a Research and Shortlist a Few Lawyers

Now, your mission is to get all the required details and shortlist three or four candidates for further investigation. Go through the track records of the lawyers or firms and eliminate the ones which don’t interest you much. You can also contact the bar association of your state to know its standing. The reputation of the shortlisted lawyers can also be determined through online reviews.

  • Interview the Shortlisted Candidates

After gathering all the relevant pieces of information about the remaining lawyers on your list, you have to interview them one by one. First of all, you need to call the office of the lawyer and schedule an appointment. While having the meeting, you have to ask a lot of questions. You must ask the lawyer to provide you with his informational brochures. Also, inquire about the strategies they would employ for your case. Don’t forget to ask them about a few references of their clients. A lawyer who doesn’t provide client references shouldn’t be trusted at all. Then you need to contact all the references collected by the lawyers and figure out their efficiency.

 

UK Child Care Tax Scheme: Winners And Losers

Muzahed I.
-
0
UK Child Care Tax Scheme: Winners And Losers

By Kirk Eason

The government has unveiled a proposed expansion to the childcare tax credit scheme that would set up an online voucher exchange program worth up to £1,200, per child, to help fund childcare services for working families.  The potential law could have major ramifications for both working parents and those in the childcare industry.

The new law will be beneficial to care providers, as it is expected to lead to an overall increase in the number of children enrolled with various childcare services.

The proposal, expected to cost Her Majesty’s Treasury between £750 million and £1 billion per year, has come under some scrutiny for failing to provide benefits to single parents.

The proposal, which would be phased in by 2015, recently underwent a 12-week consultation phase (which ended October 14) where members of the public weighed in on the scheme, which could pay up to 20 per cent of working families’ childcare costs.

The proposal would end the current system which is funded by employers, which is inferior because only about 5% of employers participate.

The new scheme would seek to ease some of that burden on families where both parents work by covering 20% of the cost of childcare services, which is equivalent to the basic rate of tax.

Reasons for New Tax Scheme

The government says that the primary motivation for the update is to encourage people to re-enter the workforce, particularly those that may have been deterred from seeking employment because of the high costs of childcare.

UK’s comparatively high childcare costs (reportedly the highest in Western Europe) have proven to not only discourage parents from entering the workforce, but in some instances may even be driving them off the employment rolls.  It has been reported that the average mother in the UK is up to 20% less likely to work than women without children. Women with degrees from more prestigious universities are actually less likely to go back to work once they have children.

A study conducted by the government’s Childcare Commission revealed some alarming trends about childcare costs and their impact on the country’s workforce.  The study found that:

  • A third of UK parents have considered quitting their jobs because of childcare costs
  • More than one in ten has actually left a job because of worries that childcare had become cost-prohibitive.
  • One in five reported having turned down a job because the costs of childcare would put a huge dent in their take-home pay.

But as concerned as UK parents are about the costs of childcare, the survey found that few were willing to sacrifice the high quality of childcare services found throughout the country.  Only 5% of respondents said that they would be in favour of a reduction in the number of childcare staff nurseries, child minding providers and out-of-school clubs, even if those staffing reductions proved to substantially reduce the overall costs.

Tax Scheme Impact on Providers

The impact on childcare providers should be gradual and positive.  By 2015 the government plans to provide support for parents with children under 5, extended to children under 12 by 2020. With an estimated 2.5 million eligible families, this should lead to growth in the childcare industry and growth in the British workforce by freeing up skilled labour.

The purpose of the scheme is to encourage stay at home parents to re-enter the workforce. For this reason, only families in which both parents work are eligible for benefits, so people who provide childcare for their own families gain only the opportunity to stop doing that.

The government implemented grants earlier this year to help meet the expected rise in demand, by providing start-up money, lowering the barrier to entry for entrepreneurs in the childcare sector.

The UK childcare system should remain unchanged by these events, as a recent consultation proposing a larger ratio of children to nursery staff ended badly for the Conservatives. A backlash from parents forced the Liberal Democrats to withdraw support from the idea, which ended hopes of reducing the overall cost of childcare, and has forced the discussion more toward a redistribution of costs to ease the burden on families.

Despite the cost, only about 5% of British respondents in a recent poll said they would be willing to compromise the quality of the current system for the sake of cost.

Featured images: License: Creative Commons image source

Using Manual Underwriting To Get A Mortgage Without A Credit Score

Muzahed I.
-
0
Using Manual Underwriting To Get A Mortgage Without A Credit Score

Your credit score or FICO score enables potential creditors to gauge your creditworthiness. The higher your credit score, the more confident lenders will be that if they extend you a loan, you will repay the obligation. In today’s economy, anyone who does not have a credit score inherently believes they will have a hard time getting a home mortgage.

Luckily, nothing can be further from the truth. There are some mortgage lenders that manually underwrite home loans, which do not require a credit score. Manually underwriting refers to the process of having your mortgage applications evaluate by a live person.

The process allows the underwriter to use his discretion and focus solely on the person’s ability to repay rather than the credit score. The underwriter can approve the loan based on the evidence presented in the package or ask for additional documentation to make a determination.

Qualifying alternative credit

The requirement for getting a manually underwritten loan varies from lender to lender. Most manual underwriting mortgage lenders require borrowers to have 4 to 6 alternative credit trade lines, such as rent payments, water bills, electricity bills or cell phone bills. Each credit trade line must have a 12 to 24- month payment history that states the account is “paid as agreed.”

Some manual underwriting mortgage lenders may require creditors to list each payment, the date received and the signature of the creditors/representative. The Federal Housing Administration ((FHA) requires borrower to submit a 24-month history of “Tier 1” payments. Tier 1 payments consist of rent or lease payments made to your landlord.

Down payment and terms

Borrowers who have a minimum 20% down payment stand a much higher probability of gaining approval for a manually underwritten loan. If you have less than a 20% down payment, mortgage regulations requires you to purchase mortgage insurance. However, the loan package can still be denied by the mortgage insurance company. In addition, you should be willing to accept a 15-year, fixed-rate mortgage.

Remember, the less risk for the lender– in the form of a bigger down payment and short- term mortgage—the better your chances are for approval.

Get pre-approved

You should know before presenting an offer to purchase real estate that the manually underwritten loan process is much slower than the standard mortgage loan underwriting. It is more difficult for underwriters to document, no credit score loans. The person must conduct a thorough analysis of the loan package, including pay stubs, W2s, bank statements and multi-page appraisal report, before making a credit decision. Unless you get pre-approval, it can take up 45 days to get an answer.

Other consideration for no credit score loans

Pull a copy of your credit report a few months before you plan to apply for the mortgage. This will give you the time you need to clear up any blemishes on your history. Missing payments, late payments or other negative information could be a reason for denial of the mortgage credit application.

Identify mortgage lenders that are making manually underwritten mortgage. As long as you can demonstrate steady employment for the past two years and a record of on time rent payments to your landlord, you can probably qualify for the best rate even without the credit score.

Take steps to protect yourself in case the loan falls through for some reason. For example, protect your earnest money deposit by putting a clause in the agreement that the states the “borrower must be fully approved.” Churchill Mortgage, one of the lenders that make manually underwritten mortgages, suggests that borrowers have contingency plans and avoid making 100% commitments until they receive final approval from the lender.

Featured Image License All rights reserved by danielbertsche

5 Important Rules For Business Success In Your First Year

Muzahed I.
-
0
5 Important Rules For Business Success In Your First Year

When you decide to start your own business, there are lots of things to consider and research. There are five important rules you should stick to when planning the outline of your business if you want to be successful.

Be customer centric.

Have you ever been to a fancy restaurant where the atmosphere is amazing, the food is luxurious but the service was a huge let down? No matter how great everything was, the fact that customer service was largely lacking, made you not want to go back. Business success depends on an unwavering commitment to excellent customer service. Understanding the wants and needs of your customers creates a greater opportunity to build customer loyalty. Sometimes focusing away from business and profits, and towards what you can do for your customer, can make a world of difference.

Protect cash income and outflow.

An unmanaged cash position can cause a lot of unwelcome surprises in the form of unmet payroll, late fees on payables and unpaid taxes. Any of these surprises can be a hard blow for a new business. Cash flow can sometimes be more important than profitability over the short term. You can take the necessary actions to ensure positive growth by adjusting expenses, accelerating receivables, extending the payables schedule and adjusting inventory levels. If you have to, you can obtain a bridge loan to fill a short-term cash gap.

Proper credit management and availability. 

With good credit, a business can obtain favorable payment terms and use its money longer before having to pay it back. Also having good credit can help if there is short term reduction of cash flow. You may be eligible for a bridge loan to get you through that period due to seasonality, inventory enlargement or business growth. Take advantage of payment term discounts which can mean you actually pay less for the goods received from vendors. For example, payment terms may be net 31 days, but discounted by 5% for payments made in 10 days. Avoid COD headaches on deliveries and float any payables to shore up money over the float term.

Make a credible name for your business. 

One of the largest disadvantages a new business has to overcome is lack of credibility. Because it is a new, small business, it is not yet well branded or well known as its older competitors. Potential clients might have reservations concerning the sustainability of the business or lack of national branding. With a professional presentation, testimonials, certifications and the help of existing customer word of mouth, you can build a credible reputation. In our high paced, tech world, social marketing can be a huge success.

Manage a balanced lifestyle.

A new business can consume all of an owner’s time and energy. It’s not uncommon for the new venture to consume your life completely. A successful business owner will have to make a habit of balancing all aspects of their life. Separate time for daily business tasks, profit driven tasks and free time to spend with family, friends or doing things you enjoy. Take time each week to plan how you will spend that time. The more you allow your new business to consume your life, the faster you will become burnt out, which will hurt the overall success of your new business.

Learning and installing new habits in your daily business operations can have a dramatic effect on your level of success. Once you have incorporated these five rules into your business habits you can rest assured you will have success in your first year as a new business.

UK To Impose New Tax On Non-resident Property Owners

Muzahed I.
-
0
UK To Impose New Tax On Non-resident Property Owners

Chancellor George Osborne is set to impose Capital Gains Tax on foreign owners of property in the UK. Those who will be taxed will not be residents of the UK but will buy and sell property within the country. Currently, non-residents do not pay Capital Gains tax but those who do live within the country pay 18% when their home is sold and 28% if the property is not classed as their main home. The Chancellor is expected to release a statement regarding the new tax regulations at the beginning of next month.

The recent surge in overseas investors is thought to be responsible for the new tax. As they are currently exempt from Capital Gains Tax, the move looks set to level out the playing field between residential investors and those living overseas. There has been particular interest in the London market from foreign investors which has been largely credited with causing the recent property boom in the area. However, it is unclear if imposing CGT on non-residents will deter buyers from investing in new London properties. London has been shown to be good value in terms of property for overseas investors and financial experts state that the new tax rules should not have any long term effect on this. This means foreign property oweners will not seek to sell their homes fast.

Currently, buying, selling and ownership costs have amounted to 8.5% of the selling prove of a typical property in London. After the Capital Gains Tax, this would amount to just under 12% according to Yolande Barnes, director of residential research at Savills. This figure is still significantly lower than the figure for property in one of the other three major world cities: New York, Hong Kong and Singapore. Barnes also states that the changes are unlikely to have a major impact on the number of overseas investors in London property.

On the other hand, head of residential research at Knight Frank Grianne Gilmore states that it is still unclear how the demand for London property will be affected by the CGT. Although the tax breaks are not the primary reason why foreign investors are attracted to the London market, it is thought that the tax may be the UK government’s way of addressing the supposed ‘housing bubble’ in London. However, it may have the opposite effect in the time leading up to its imposition. Capital Gains Tax was raised in New York from 15% to 23.8% which caused a surge in sales during 2012 before it was fully implemented. The sales then declined.

Concerns have been raised regarding the knock on effect the changes to CGT could have. The interest from overseas markets has created additional revenue for the retail industry, the construction industry and the hospitality industry therefore changes to the property tax could have an adverse effect on these sectors. The tax could also affect other regions and interest from overseas investors could switch to other prime property areas of the UK. As the details of the CGT changes are still unclear, financial experts are still unable to predict exactly what the effects on house prices may be or whether interest from overseas buyers will be deterred.

Image License: All rights reserved by Agorfa DM

Smart money management so that you can avoid debt

Muzahed I.
-
0

Smart money management is important, if you want to avoid a life laden with debt. It definitely doesn’t feel good, if you get constant calls from the creditors and the collection agencies. So, it is better to be a responsible person from the beginning, so that you can avoid debt as much as possible. Without debt, you can get to lead a secure life where you can save up more money for a good retired future.

Some tips on being smart with money

Below are some of the tips which you can follow in order to avoid spending much on what you have in hand, and saving more:

  • Espy your rights – It is important for you to be aware of your rights as a consumer. This helps you in saving money and also in managing your money, more easily. The rights can be with regards to the accounts you maintain, the credit cards and the debit cards you have, rights in relation to mortgage, and so on.
  • Know the importance of money – Money is important not only for your livelihood, but also for the savings. Although, it is important for you to earn money, you need to limit your wants. you will also be required to differentiate between your needs and wants.
  • Consider savings – Just as it is important for you to earn for a proper livelihood, it is equally important for you to save the money. Life is uncertain and so, you need to save up as much as possible for the rainy day. So, pay importance to the pennies too. Other than putting money into the savings account, you should also put away envelopes with money in it. Furthermore, you can use a piggy bank to save the pennies. Even the little things in life add up to make your life better.
  • Know about the credit card truth – Yes, the credit cards are easy to carry and use, rather than cash. However, did you consider the truth regarding credit cards? Credit cards offer you credit at present. So, you are actually borrowing money, which will have to be paid at a later date, along with the interest payments. Later on, you can get overwhelmed with the amount which you may be required to pay.
  • Avoid borrowing – It is not only the usage of credit cards which you will have to lower, but you will be required to avoid borrowing in total as much as possible. If you borrow less, it is going to be easier for you to manage the debt payments and thus your personal finance too. Otherwise, it is going to become all the more unmanageable with time.
  • Know that budgeting matters – You will have to dedicate time to budgeting, as it helps manage your finances easily. Through budgeting, you get to have a clear idea on your finances, starting from your income to your expenses. As you keep a close tab on your income and expenses, it is going to be easy for you to spend less and save more.
  • Learn to be frugal – Frugal living helps you lower your expenses more easily than before. Therefore, you can free up more money which can be used towards debt payoff or even savings.

Therefore, you can see that if you know how to spend your money, it is going to be easier for you to avoid debt. This means that you will not even be required to try out any of the available debt relief options, in order to get out of debt.

The Sexiest International Jobs For Multilingual People

Muzahed I.
-
0
The Sexiest International Jobs For Multilingual People

If you want to increase your chances of a career abroad, one of the easiest ways is to learn foreign languages like French, Spanish, Mandarin and all other languages that are spoken by major populations. It is a fact that some of the sexiest and better paying jobs are often to be found abroad. Becoming multilingual means that you not only do you get to travel, you get to experience different cultures on a daily basis. One of the jobs that you can get is teaching a foreign language. Imagine, for example, if you were to learn French and Mandarin and then get a job teaching French in China. You would have enough time in during evenings, weekends and holidays to travel all over a land that is rich in so many different ways. What makes it such a great experience is that you are not just making great money; you are also getting to talk to these people in a language that they can understand and learning how they live.

Another great international career opportunity would be to work for a multinational company. They are excellent to work for; not only are you treated like an expatriate, you get to make money. Compared to your colleagues back in your country, you would be making a killing while at the same time travelling and exposing yourself to different cultures. This would also be nice if you have kids; they get to open their minds to the fact that there are ways of living that are different from their own and that is perfectly okay. The more languages you learn, the more countries you will get sent to. That means that you shouldn’t learn just one and then stop there because you are working in foreign country and making money. Learn more and allow your employer to send you to many different places.

Working within the EU has also become a great option for multilingual people. Many languages are spoken in the EU: Spanish, French, Dutch, German and so on. Being fluent in any of these languages means that you can get to work in any of the countries where they are spoken. Europe is a great destination that is almost impossible to explore completely. It will take years of an international career for you to see the great castles, to see Italian countryside and see how wine and cheese are made, to see Turkey and all its rich history, to see Greece and be reminded about its history with the gods. There is so much to see that you can hardly exhaust it all. The best you can do is get to learn as many of these languages as possible and then keep looking for new career opportunities in the EU area. You should be reminded that if you are working for the EU itself, you enjoy many perks that you wouldn’t otherwise get.

You are sexier when you are multilingual, but you are also well paid and well travelled. Start learning a new language today and transform your life.

Image source:

License: Creative Commons

Link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevecadman/134974908/

How To Win At A Job Interview

Muzahed I.
-
0
How To Win At A Job Interview

In difficult economic times, finding a job can be difficult. So if you’ve got the golden ticket to the interview stage, then you need to pull out all the stops to make a winning impression. Read on to find out how to wow your new boss, beat the competition, and walk away with a new job.

Prepare

The old expression ‘failing to prepare is preparing to fail’ couldn’t be more true when it comes to job interviews. To properly prepare is to be one step ahead of the competition already. So make sure  you spend time on the following:

  • Research the Company. It’s essential to spend time researching the company. Look at their website and any other online information, as well as analysing the market they’re in and their competitors. Being able to talk coherently about the company will show that you have taken the time to understand them.
  • Plan your Route. Understand the location and prepare your route and journey – it’s amazing how many people turn up late having been lost or underestimating the time taken to get there.
  • Prepare Answers. Some questions you will never be prepared for, but there are normally stock questions that you should be familiar with. Research common interview questions and have the (right) answers to hand on the day.

Make a Good First Impression

People make up their minds about each other within 30 seconds, so make sure that the minute you step through the door you’re prepared. Some 60% of the impressions we give are non-verbal. So apart from looking smart, smile, make eye contact and be ready with a firm handshake. Remember too that if you are interviewing overseas to be sensitive to any cultural differences.

Know your CV

You need to be able to talk confidently and succinctly about your employment history, so make sure you know your CV by rote. Muddled dates and muttering about not being sure where you were in 1996 will not inspire confidence, and could lead to the perception that your CV is more fiction than fact.

Demonstrate your Worth

Bosses want people who are going to fulfil their needs, so look for opportunities within an interview to demonstrate your previous successes. You should go through the job spec you are interviewing for, and have prepared examples of when you met those specifications in your previous job. For example, if you need to demonstrate a pro-active attitude, you should tell the interviewers about the time you suggested an ideas management scheme in your old job, implementing ideas management software to collect and manage staff ideas. An interview is no time to be modest and self-effacing.

Take Time to Answer Questions

When faced with difficult questions, don’t rush to answer them. Consider the question before answering. You can always say you need a moment to think about it – but the ability to think on your feet may be something they’re looking for, so only do that if strictly necessary. Looking thoughtful while you grapple to come up with a good answer is a better technique.

Image courtesy of cooldesign / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Advantages Of Investing In Gold

Muzahed I.
-
0
Advantages Of Investing In Gold

It is the irrevocable nature of the economy that causes a wide variety of inexorable phenomena like market fluctuations and inflation. Gold has been seen as a viable hedge fund for a long time during times of financial uncertainty and, indeed, it is the opinion of many experts that this is all it should be used for. However, some of the investors addicted to the high-risk, high-reward game are willing to play with gold in order to make more money. Whether it’s a viable alternative to any other form of investment or not depends on a wide plethora of factors, but as usual the best way to be confident in anything in an uncertain economy is to have a truly diversified financial portfolio, concordantly spread in different fields and involving different methods. Of course, knowing how much, when and how to invest isn’t as easy as it sounds, otherwise everybody would be doing it successfully, ergo everyone would be rich, which is an impossibility in a system based entirely on competition; in order for one person to win, a significant number of other people need to lose – that’s how investments work. Still, this doesn’t mean that you can’t enter the game on your own and stand a fair chance. Investing in gold is a bit risky, but the risk in many cases is absolutely worth it because the return of the investment can be staggering if you’ve done everything right. But how can you invest in gold?

Exchange-traded Funds (ETF)

Back in the day, the vast majority of people who were getting into gold investment strategies preferred the standard purchase of physical gold in various forms, but this method is not really all that viable today for several reasons. First of all, it requires more major investment potential and purchasing power as gold had to be acquired in more larger quantities for the purchase to hold any real potential for return. Secondly, it was much harder to actually store the valuable metal and even basic transportation was a nightmare.

Today, the majority of people investing in gold choose exchange-traded funds and even though this option has several disadvantages, it’s still one of the most prominent and simple methods to actually get into this sort of investment.

When one acquires ETF, they don’t get physical gold, so the problems associated with the purchase of the metal are solved right off the bat. ETF are investment funds which also makes them much easier to trade. They are also not taxed in the same way material gold is which brands them even more viable. ETF is beyond VAT, sales tax and transaction taxes so there is nothing to bother you about taxation. The only downsides are the commissions agencies issue for managing it, but this is a small price to pay in general. Overall, this is one of the best methods of gold investment you can choose.

Gold Futures

Futures are the type of contracts one can easily call ‘gambles’ if one isn’t familiar with the market and different price fluctuations and tendencies. Of course, if you posses that knowledge and the skill required to make accurate predictions of the state of the market, then you can easily make money using future contracts. These contracts represent transactions that are supposed to be made in a predetermined date with preset prices. This is a very risky way to invest in gold, but if you’re good enough and know the market functions, you can collect a significant return.

Gold Collector’s Items

This is one of the more unconventional methods of gold investment. Basically, it’s a form of trading gold to collectors with certain items of collection value. What you need to do is purchase such items and then look for collectors who are willing to pay more than what you did when you acquired the said item. Usually, the value of the item is much higher than the gold it contains. Such items can vary from coins to statuettes to anything else a collector can find of worth. There are two challenges when employing this method – one, you need to be familiar with the values of the items you’re trading; and two, you need to find people willing to pay enough for it so the market for this isn’t really sure. But then again, investments never are.

Image License: All rights reserved by evovtec

1...222324...53Page 23 of 53

EDITOR PICKS

POPULAR POSTS

POPULAR CATEGORY

ABOUT US

we are about helping you find financial freedom, which in turn will allow you to achieve higher financial and personal success. Writers and freelancers share their stories, expertise, experiences, and more on this website, to help people find the answer to any financial question that they may have.

Read More!

Contact us: muzahed@gmail.com

FOLLOW US

© Newspaper WordPress Theme by TagDiv