Why You Should Check The Reliability Of Your Energy Supplier

February 17, 2020

Having a reliable energy supplier can save you piles of cash, especially if you have a central heating or cooling system in your home. When your bills pile up, they can cost you as much as you pay for rent or mortgage, which can significantly impact your lifestyle and savings.

With a trustworthy energy supplier, you can save hundreds, and sometimes thousands, on an annual basis. You don’t have to keep your heat low in the winter months for lower bills; all you have to do is double-check whether your current supplier is worth it, or whether you need to look for an alternative.

Here’s Why You Should Always Check The Reliability Of Your Energy Supplier

Better Deals

Double-checking whether your current supplier is your best option comes down to what deals your supplier offers you, compared to other deals. Residential homes should always pay less than commercial offices when it comes to energy plans. Browse different suppliers online, you can find them on websites like Electricityrates. Even if another supplier is only two cents less expensive than another, this can pile up at the end of the month and can save you tons of money on an annual basis.

While you do your research, you should also check any hidden terms and conditions. Some suppliers don’t offer a fixed unlimited plan and have fair usage policies that can burn a hole through your wallet if you run a lot of home appliances. Check with your current supplier if you tend to exceed your fair usage policy, and see if there are any unlimited packages that you can sign up for.

Dual Fuel Tariff Plans

Having a single supplier for your gas and electric needs is always a smart idea. This can help limit the number of bills that you receive in the mail, and make it more convenient for you to pay a single bill to the same supplier. On the other hand, having a dual tariff plan can help you in saving more money, seeing as most companies will offer you discounts as a loyal customer. Contact your service provider, and check whether they offer compelling duel tariff plans.

If you think you need to change energy suppliers, never rush this decision. While having a dual plan is a smart choice, switching companies may cost you more money than you would save. Some suppliers will compel you to pay hefty fees if you decide to dissolve your contract without notice. Discuss your concerns with your current supplier, and see if you can land yourself any deals or discounts before you make the choice to switch to another company.

Customer Service

While saving up on bill costs is usually the first concern that comes to mind, customer service can play an integral part in how efficient your supplier is in meeting your needs. If you run into any issues with your power supply, you’ll need swift customer service that doesn’t leave you on hold or call you back the next day. A reliable supplier provides swift and efficient customer service and will prioritize your requests in times of need.

Efficiency

Some small businesses offer very compelling plans, but you should always bear in mind that you get what you pay for. New companies will try to lure in more customers with unrealistic prices, but these plans are usually temporary, and are used as a marketing means to attract more clients. That said, newer companies may not provide you with an efficient power supply.

Aside from periodic power cuts, which can be obvious to clients, fluctuating electricity supply is rarely noticeable, and can damage your home appliances. The primary issue with low-quality energy supply is that customers never notice what the issue is, and may never suspect that their energy supplier is the root of the problem. If your current provider is a little on the pricey side, but supplies you with stable power, don’t let newer companies tempt you with their plans and discounts.

Finding the right energy supplier can save you a lot of hassle and money. A reliable supplier will offer you different energy plans depending on your consumption level, and may also offer you discounts if you have a dual tariff plan with them. Efficiency is also an important factor of whether your energy supplier is worth it since frequent power cuts can damage your home appliances in the long run. If you believe that you need to change suppliers, contact your current provider to discuss how you can dissolve your contract with minimal fees.

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6 Factors You Need to Consider While Selecting the Best Mutual Funds to Invest In

February 14, 2020

Mutual funds are a great platform to invest in. It is basically a collective puddle of money in which you can play the role of an investor and put in your contribution. After that, the money is invested according to the goals of the fund. Moreover, the fund can be invested in bonds, stocks, gold, money market instruments, and other similar assets. Fund managers or money managers are responsible for operating this fund and generate growth. Well-managed and good performing funds are generally the best mutual funds which one must target to invest in.

Investing in mutual funds comes with a lot of advantages such as:

Mutual funds are very easy to understand and it does not require any sort of experience of economics or financial market. Even if there are many things to know about mutual funds before investing, it is still much easier to understand compared to other financial products.
Mutual funds have much broader market exposure and one mutual fund can be invested in multiple investment securities. It helps in diversifying into separate mutual funds. According to Mutual funds Canada, there are over 5,000 mutual funds available in Canada.
It is very affordable compared to other financial products.
You do not have to worry about growing your investments as there are specialized teams who will do it for you.
It comes in various types and categories, which allows the investor to choose the most suitable policy.

Invest in mutual funds and watch your money grow. SOURCE: outlookindia.com

There are a plethora of mutual funds that you can choose from but with that, there are some factors as well that you should follow to get the best mutual fund.

Here are six factors that you need to consider while selecting the best mutual funds to invest in:

1. Identifying the fund type:

If you want to get the best mutual fund then your goal for growth can be achieved by capital appearance. A long term capital appearance can be a great option for you if you are planning to meet a long-term goal and you are ready to deal with a fair amount of risk. Higher the level of risk, higher the return you will get in the future. The tenure holding such type of funds should be more than five years. However, an income fund will be more suitable for you if you are looking for current income from your funds. These funds mostly have less risk and volatility.

2. Identify your goal:

Before you select any mutual fund scheme, make sure to have a clear perspective of what you want to achieve with the return that you will enjoy in the future. Many people have big goals but they invest less, which brings less return and the investor fails to meet the destined goals. Moreover, you should also be clear about how much risk you can take to achieve your goal. If you want to get high returns then you have to increase the level of risk. If that is not the case then you can bear less risk.

3. How much fee you need to pay:

There are various mutual fund schemes available in the market and the fees can be different for the same returns. So make sure to compare them and get the best mutual fund scheme for yourself. In addition to that, when you select a mutual fund scheme, make sure to read all the documents to prevent yourself falling prey to any sort of hidden charges. As we all know that these companies are able to make money through different charges. So make sure you are transparent to each and every charge.

4. Size of the fund:

After you are clear with your goals, you should choose the size of the fund accordingly, in which you want to invest. However, the size of the fund sometimes matters less in pursuit of your goals. In some cases, even small funds can satisfy big goals. However, if the risks are less then you might have to invest a big amount in order to get better returns.

5. Experience of the fund manager:

When you want to get the best mutual fund then make sure you are opting for the best fund manager as well. When you invest in mutual funds, you do not actually take care of its growth but the same is catered by a fund manager. So, you should look for a fund manager who has enough knowledge and experience in the mutual fund market.

6. Expense ratio:

It is another important factor that you should consider if you are planning to get the best mutual fund scheme. This factor should be considered when you are investing in an equity fund. Higher expense ratio will surely affect you directly.

Even if some mutual funds come with higher market risks, they offer better returns at a less cost. If you have a lump sum amount of money then investing it in mutual funds will undoubtedly be a great idea. However, before selecting a mutual fund scheme, you should consider the factors mentioned above so that you are able to get the best mutual fund for yourself.

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5 Tips to Help You Thrive in a One-Person Business

February 14, 2020

These days, you don’t need a whole team of specialists to run a thriving company. Instead, you can make money at home and build a powerful future for yourself, just by launching a one-person business.

The rise of the digital world and internet companies means that anyone can start selling online, or even launch a business as a freelancer. The good news is that there are things that you can do to better prepare yourself for success.

Here are some tips that will help you to thrive in your new one-person business.

1. Do Your Research

Launching a business requires a lot of research. First things first, you’ll need to know how much you’re going to have to spend to launch your business. That means finding out what you need to get your company off the ground. If you’re a freelance video designer, for instance, you might need some basic software, a desk, and a computer to get you started.

If you don’t have the money for all of those things already, you’ll need to research potential companies that might be willing to give you a loan. Since business loans can be notoriously difficult to apply for, it may be better to opt for a different type loan, depending on how much you need.

2. Find Something you’re passionate about

Running a business can be a fun experience, but it’s also a lot of hard work. There are going to be times when you’re terrified about your finances, and not sure whether you can afford to keep your company going for another month. When these worrying occasions happen, it’s important to make sure that you’re doing something that you feel passionate about.

Your passion in your business will help you to stay focused and committed to your goals when the going gets tough. It also means that you’re going to have more fun in your job, which is a good thing. Most self-employed people work a lot of long hours.

3. Don’t be Afraid to Network

Sometimes, it’s not what you know in business that matters most – but who you know. Building the right network of experts to help you accomplish your goals and find new clients could make it a lot easier for you to find sources of income. Additionally, your network will also act as a crucial source of support when you need guidance and assistance to help you overcome difficult patches in running your company.

Visit local events where you can come face to face with other people in your landscape that have been through similar experiences to you. It might also be worth joining social media groups and forums online, to help you meet new people who aren’t in your immediate area.

4. Be Committed to Learning

The business landscape is constantly changing, no matter which industry you decide to get involved in. Because of this, you need to be willing to learn and adapt at the same rate as your company. Committing yourself to consistent learning, such as taking business management courses, will help you to overcome the little challenges that come along when you start to grow your company. It could mean that you can quickly learn how to use new software that will make your business more efficient, for instance, or that you know how to track down sources of income when your existing revenue dries up.

Being committed to learning also means that you might be able to develop extra skills that make you more desirable in your chosen marketplace. For instance, an online writer could also learn how to create videos and make graphics to give their clients a wider range of services.

5. Have a Backup Plan

Finally, no matter how passionate you are about your business, and how much work you put into making it a success, there’s no guarantee that everything’s going to go according to plan. Sometimes, businesses don’t work out. You might find that after a couple of years, you start to lose more money than you earn. When that happens, you need a backup plan that will allow you to quickly leave your venture behind and try something new.

If you do find that your business starts to fail – for any reason, it’s important not to beat yourself up about it. As upsetting as a failed company can be, it’s crucial to remember that you’ve made the effort to pursue your dreams. If nothing else, the experiences that you got will help to guide you in your future life choices.

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Real Estate Investment: Where to Start

February 14, 2020

One of the most common things you’ll hear when it comes to investing is, “Investing in real estate.” They all make it sound easy and fun but they don’t tell you how to go about it. They make it sound as if it’s as easy to just buy a house and resell it. There’s a lot of things to consider if you plan on investing in real estate.

Financial Stage

The first step when you are considering investing in real estate is to know where you stand financially. Knowing how much financial flexibility you have is key to knowing what opportunities and investment options are available to you for you to be able to invest at a comfortable rate without having to go too far into debt.

Investing Strategies

There are plenty of options to consider when going into real estate investment. And as much as you’d like to diversify and fill your portfolio with multiple goals, plans, and strategies, you have to start somewhere. Will you take an active role or not? Are you investing alone, with a partner or more in say a peer-to-peer method? This type of method allows more diversifying and less money, perfect entry into real estate, but may not give you that full control feel. There are many options out there, and you can always adjust as your income changes over time.

Activeness

When deciding your investing strategies, you’ll also want to decide if you’ll become an active investor or passive investor. Your investments may not only be limited to your financial ceilings, but you may dedicate your time into being more active in your investments and in doing so, can safeguard yourself a bit better as you will know where the details of where your money is being put to use.

Know Your Market

The market you choose can make a huge difference in the results towards your success. You want to have as much knowledge about the market you’re investing in. A good starting point is your immediate area for that very reason. You’ll be able to really sell the location with talking points with specific knowledge of the area you are comfortable with. If prices start to look too high in your vicinity, leaving the area a couple hours away may give you better, more affordable and profitable prospects. Looking at smaller niche markets can also be profitable if you remain in cities with high market prices.

When analyzing the market of your choice, there will be key factors to look out for that you’ll want to have a good knowledge of the following.

Jobs in the area
Population size and demographics
Rent and price of other local listings
Education
Crime and safety
Convenience and distance of necessary needs like grocery stores and clinics
Public transport
Neighborhood aesthetics

Investment Targets

Once you know the area and niche you’d like to invest in, you can set a more specific target of the type of investment you’re looking for. This would involve things like the type of property you’ll be looking into (house, condo, apartment, how many rooms, surrounding neighborhoods, amenities, size, etc.) as well as the price range of the place you are looking to invest.

Build Your Team

You’re going to need a team of people when looking into real estate investments. This can and will range in terms of size and what each team member’s role is, but all will play an important part. The people you will have within your circle will be partners, mentors, advisors, lawyers, accountants, home contractors, etc. Make sure you have built, and continue to build, a team that you can rely on and trust.

Financing and Payments

You’ll need to learn what the best method of financing will be for you as you continue real estate investing. Advanced training, like Entry Education finance courses, can help you with this. There are many options from bank loans to private lenders, so you may have to adjust how you finance as you move from project to project, as different factors may influence which method works best. And as much as you are getting on your loans , you’ll need to be prepared to put some money down in case anything were to happen. In such a scenario, you have to be prepared through your savings, ready to liquidate assets to cover costs, or communicate with business partners and investors from your circle.

Due Diligence

Once you are prepared financially, and have your targets, you can start treasure hunting for your big real estate investment. Opportunity doesn’t always knock, you have to be the one out there going door-to-door, and you might just have to do that literally. Make use of that circle you’ve built, don’t be afraid to use every resource you have. The best deals to be had are the ones not everyone is willing to work for.

As you move through your real estate investing career, have patience and structure. Stay organized as there will be a lot to handle, but remember to be patient. It takes time to build a home, it takes just as much time to buy and sell it too.

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How Billing Can Be Made Hassle-Free

February 14, 2020

The process of billing clients or suppliers has always been an issue for most businesses. Some of the old methods have been tedious and annoying, which is why it’s best to utilize the easy, quick billing methods that save time and increase productivity. You need to invest in these new automated tools and subscription management software methods that can make it a hassle-free task.

Here are the different ways for you to achieve just that when it comes to billing.

Proper Optimization for Billing Times

Many companies don’t realize that delays in transactions occur because they’re sending their invoices at the wrong time; this can hinder the billing process significantly and you will lose a lot of time. You need to ask yourself when’s the best time to have them sent out, and the answer depends on what type of projects you’re working on and how to get people to pay you faster. Some companies take the monthly approach to send them out, where you send your invoices out on the first day of each month.

Other companies send out their invoices weekly or fortnightly; you will need to choose the weekends as the best time if that’s your plan. The main purpose here is to optimize your billing times based on your plan. You will see some excellent results and receive payments faster and improve your cash flow by at least a week.

Save Time With Templates

Generating invoices can take time, precious time that can be used to do something better for the good of the company. Not only does it take a long time, but it also increases your chances of mistakes or unsent invoices. This is why the templates from Digital-Invoice-Template.com can be generated in a few minutes or less to send to your clients with minimal mistakes, getting your payments back a lot quicker than other methods. You can customize it all to make it relate to your company, making sure it has every detail written correctly. You will save a lot of time and your staff can focus on their other duties which will benefit your company, making things run smoothly. The process won’t be a hassle to deal with at all.

Minimal Errors Is Key

When invoices are received with errors or missing information, it means payments will not be made and the process will have to delay the continuation of any pending projects because of it. Not to mention that there will be a lack of trust between your company and its clients, making you do whatever it takes to build that confidence in them again. You need to start reducing the number of people needed for producing quotes; this can be done through helpful billing software programs that can compile all the information and data needed automatically. You need these automated features to get the right quotes, costs, billable times, and a lot more. The software makes minimal mistakes and can get everything for you done with just a click of a button, making the process completely hassle-free.

The Features of The Perfect Billing System

The best system put in place will have automatic reminders sent to your suppliers or clients. This helps speed the process along and you will receive payments faster. Also, when your system starts generating informative reports that are easy to read, you’ll have an easier time accepting the payments securely and efficiently. Proper software would have recurring payments, making you not repeat the same process multiple times; this saves time and effort.

We are living in a digital world, so this system must be synced to all your devices and not just your office computer. This allows you to manage things quite effectively and you will be notified quicker regarding any issue or reminders. It will keep you on track of everything so you won’t get lost; having the ability to track invoices, names, payments, transactions, and due dates can make everything easier and cost-effective. The whole process won’t seem tedious or difficult to manage anymore.

You can say goodbye to delays or mistakes thanks to these modern methods. Every company should adapt and change if they want to compete properly and survive. Getting past the problems that come with the billing process can mean a lot to your company’s operations. People will be billed faster and you will get paid on time, making projects carry on without any setbacks and your business can grow and get new prospects. In this day and age, all companies need to shift to automated billing because of their immense benefits.

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Why You Need to Hire a Life Insurance Advisor

February 13, 2020

We are living in a world where anything could happen, good or bad. It’s important to have various insurances that can protect you, your family, and your assets. You have plenty to choose from, but the most common one is life insurance. There may be some doubts that make people not consider hiring a life insurance advisor, but it would be very beneficial.

There would be no point in just saying it directly, so here are some reasons why you should hire one:

They will be reliable

If you’re in the process of researching and checking different policies, it would be great to have someone that has all the information you need and is just a phone call away. Finding someone in the insurance field that is eager to help and shows reliability can be a great benefit to you.

They can be easy to find whenever you want to ask questions and they will be there to answer everything. Every field is hindered if finding representatives to talk to about concerns or to get some information is difficult, but that wouldn’t be the case if you found an advisor that will always make time for you whenever you need assistance. You can rest assured that they would guide you to a safer life.

They have vast knowledge

Not only do they have lots of experience with customers and how to deal with them, but they can also direct you toward the right policy that is best for you. Even if it isn’t related to life insurance and you’re interested in other policies related to home insurance, they will still know a lot of information that you need for home insurance options that can prove beneficial to you in case something bad happens. The idea behind both insurance types are similar because they both focus on protecting people; this protects your home and if someone got injured inside it, while, life insurance protects the people you leave behind when you pass away.

They can explain the conditions of when you’d get paid, whether it was because of damages, loss of property from theft, or extreme disasters, physical injuries because of negligence, and a lot more. They would clarify and make a case for the importance of this type of policy along with your life insurance, helping you keep your loved ones safe and protected. The agent would give you the best advice on what to get and how to get it for a fair price.

Honesty is key

When your advisor shows integrity, it can make you trust them more and you’d consider their advice a lot more often. The honesty the agent shows you means they care about your well-being more than getting you to sign a policy; they would tell you that life insurance isn’t the only policy needed. Even though it’s not their department, they would still recommend that you’d get health insurance.

They would explain how it can work well with life insurance because it would cover parts of medical bills and visits to the doctor, saving you a lot of money in the process. This helps you keep some of that for later for your children’s inheritance. Your advisor can assure you that their policy would keep your children safe, but they will still be honest enough to teach you how to save money through other insurance policies.

The technicalities behind payments and legal aspects

This is another amazing benefit you can gain if you hire an insurance advisor; it’s not just enough that they know how to guide you in purchasing the best policies, they also explain to you how the payment process works and what other legal aspects you should consider. A good agent will tell you about the taxes involved and prepare you for it, making you know beforehand and keep you in the loop on how the system works. Your advisor would explain how it’s put in place to match your financial situation, so they would never put you in a position where you can’t pay. They would give you payment plans that you can live with.

The idea behind hiring a life insurance advisor depends on your situation and financial state; you might benefit from specific policies while others might prove less beneficial. You just have to figure it out with the help of your insurance advisor, whether it’s for life insurance or anything else. You need an agent that can go above and beyond to help, giving you all the information you need and explain it all to make it simple for you.

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How Does a DWI Negatively Impact Your Life?

February 13, 2020

Most people understand that a DWI charge is not good news – but many underestimate the ways in which a conviction will negatively impact their lives.

The only way to ensure that a DWI charge does not end up affecting your finances, your freedom, and your career is to ensure that a good DWI lawyer gets you off the charges, such as the attorneys at Trey Porter Law.

While penalties do vary from state to state in the U.S., be prepared for the following negative consequences.

A real possibility of jail time

While first offenders are unlikely to serve jail time, you may be forced to spend a day or two behind bars, depending on the state you are arrested in.

Increasingly harsher penalties mean that offenders are taught a lesson with a mandatory one or two days (often at the weekend) in prison.

For repeat offenders (even for a second offense), a custodial sentence is more likely and even mandatory in some states. It could mean weeks or months behind bars – more if there are aggravating circumstances. This is why it is important to spot the signs of alcohol abuse early on and get the necessary help.

A hefty fine

A DWI conviction will almost certainly come with a hefty fine to pay (in addition to court costs), regardless of the state you’re charged in.

Even for a first-time offense, this can be thousands of dollars – maximums and minimums usually apply.

However, with aggravating circumstances such as damaged property or a child being in the car, these fines will be higher.

Loss of driver’s license

In some states, your driver’s license may be suspended while you’re still on the side of the road talking to the arresting officers – if you refuse a field sobriety test, for instance.

Whether or not that happens, a conviction will certainly see the loss of your license for at least a year – perhaps more. Again, the length of the driving ban is likely to increase with the number of DWI convictions.

Some states offer a “hardship license”. This allows you to drive to work or school even if your license is revoked or suspended – but with very limited driving privileges.

Use of an ignition device

The ignition “interlock” device is a popular tool used by the courts to prevent people from operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

Even first-time offenders can be ordered to install it.

The device conducts an alcohol breath test and ensures that if you have been drinking you cannot drive the vehicle. Additionally, if alcohol is detected, the authorities will be alerted and you may face more problems.

Note that you will be liable for the considerable fees associated with installing the device.

Paying for probation

Probation is preferable, of course, to a jail sentence.

However, some people don’t realize that the costs of probation (for instance, the monthly administrative and supervisory costs) must be met by the defendant.

This is another cost to be borne as a result of a DWI.

Drink-driving awareness education

Often, as part of a more lenient sentence handed down by the judge, people convicted of DWI are ordered to attend drink-driving awareness classes.

Most states also require people to attend classes in alcohol and drug education before their license and driving privileges are returned.

You must pay for these classes out of your own pocket and they may last for many hours in total – again impacting your finances and your freedom.

Your employment prospects

Even a DWI charge can result in consequences with your employer.

If you are convicted, it is almost certain to impact your working life – whether you commute to work or rely on a vehicle to perform your job (traveling salesman, delivery driver, etc.).

For others, the negative reputation that may come with a DWI conviction can be difficult to bear and cause stress for you as an employee.

You may also have to disclose your DWI as a criminal conviction on future job applications –severely jeopardizing your chances.

Educational prospects

Higher education institutions may check criminal records before awarding scholarships.

If you have a DWI showing on your record (particularly if there is more than one), it can preclude you from earning a scholarship even if you are a star student – or it can even mean you lose the scholarship you have already been awarded.

The higher cost of auto insurance

An SR-22 is a special insurance policy for people classed as “high-risk”.

As a DWI offender, you will be classified in this bracket, meaning your premiums will be considerably higher (double or triple), adding again to the long-term financial burden of a DWI.

This insurance will usually be required for three years and your choices of policies may be very limited.

A potential civil lawsuit

If your DWI caused death or injury to another party, there is the real prospect of a civil lawsuit in addition to the criminal charges and the feelings of guilt you must live with.

This can have further life-changing consequences, requiring payment of damages and a lengthy court process that can negatively impact your life in many ways.

Short and long-term impact on your life

The fallout from a DWI conviction is serious and can be catastrophic in some cases.

It can impact your immediate future and further ahead too, affecting not only you but those around you.

The mounting expenses, restrictions of freedom, and detrimental effects on your career make it essential to seek an experienced attorney as soon as possible after being charged with DWI in the U.S.

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5 Questions to Ask Your Divorce Attorney at Your First Consultation

February 13, 2020

When you’re in the early stages of a divorce, an experienced and results-driven divorce attorney can be the difference between a settlement that allows you to move on with your life in relative freedom and one that holds you back.

Many family lawyers offer a free initial consultation as a first step. Our attorneys at Sean Smallwood P.A. give you a breakdown of what should you talk about during your first consultation.

Whether your first consultation is complimentary or not, it’s important to ask the right questions of any divorce attorney so that you can be sure that you’re heading along the right path with professional legal assistance.

To help you prepare for your first consultation, we’ve narrowed it down to five main questions you should ask.

How long have you been practicing divorce law in this state – and what results have you achieved?

Let’s start by establishing two important credentials: experience and results.

It’s important to establish these early on as most people don’t want to entrust their future to a novice lawyer just out of law school – especially if their spouse has just hired experienced representation.

You firstly need to ensure that your attorney specializes not only in family law but specifically in divorce law in your state. Divorce laws vary from state to state and can impact key elements of the settlement, such as child custody, etc.

Next, check that the attorney has the required experience and a good track record for their clients.

Disputes are common in divorce settlements. Ensure that your attorney has a strong background in conflict resolution and acting in the best interests of clients. This usually comes with experience.

A seasoned divorce attorney may offer more creative solutions than a newcomer and may have handled similar cases in the past. This often provides extra insight into how your case will go.

Your attorney should be able to point you towards testimonials and reviews from previous clients that confirm the types of results that they claim.

How will you and your team approach my case?

How does the attorney prefer to work?

During the initial consultation, you should get a feel for how your attorney will approach and prepare your case: get to grips with both the internal processes of the law firm and the local court processes that must be navigated.

Ask questions to understand exactly how they will approach the divorce and the standard steps they take to teach a resolution.

The last thing you want is an attorney who will string out the process and make it longer than necessary.

Look for an attorney who is prepared to collaborate with your spouse’s attorney, mediate if there are disputes, and work towards an amicable settlement – rather than heading for litigation in the divorce courts.

Litigation is sometimes necessary to secure a client’s best interests – by all means, hire an attorney who is prepared to go into battle for you.

However, a contested divorce can add many months and many thousands of dollars to a settlement. For this reason, it is usually the best option only as a last resort, when all other avenues for a collaborative agreement have been exhausted.

How long is my divorce likely to take?

During the first consultation with your divorce attorney, you should be asked plenty of questions too.

Your answers to these will help the attorney gauge how long the process will take.

Much, of course, will depend on whether the divorce is contested or uncontested. Even if it is uncontested, the potential for disputes over typical issues such as child custody, child support, spousal support, and division of property still exists.

In almost all cases, divorces take at least 6-8 weeks. Your attorney is likely to point out that if there are no disputes, it should be a relatively simple process and the judge should sign the divorce order without any delays.

Disputes and complications always create delays and your attorney may be able to assess the estimated time it will take after meeting you – but their assessment will be more accurate after they have also met with your spouse’s lawyer.

What exactly will I be charged for?

It’s important to understand the fee structure that your attorney will apply for work on your case. Different firms apply different structures.

Be sure to get to grips with all potential costs so that there are no billing surprises at the end of the case.

For instance, is a retainer required? Also, does the attorney charge for:

The initial consultation?
Every hour worked on your case – or is there a fixed flat fee?
Questions asked and answered by email or by phone?

When divorce proceedings drag on into months, all of these fees will mount up.

You will probably not be able to get an exact quote from your attorney but an estimate from the start will help avoid too many nasty surprises.

What should and shouldn’t I be doing during my divorce?

You will need to work closely with your attorney to achieve the outcomes you want from your divorce.

However, during divorces emotions often run high and you may not be thinking clearly.

Your attorney should be able to provide more clarity, ease confusion and stress, and show you the way forward.

It helps to leave the first meeting with a clear idea of how to proceed and what not to do (e.g. social media posts that can compromise your position).

What should and shouldn’t you be doing?

For instance, your attorney can help you focus your mind on preparing all the necessary financial information required, such as pensions, joint accounts, credit cards, and investment information.

Most divorces are far from simple – even uncontested divorces – and they are usually a stressful experience for all concerned.

If you arm yourself with the five questions outlined above, you will leave your first meeting with your attorney with more confidence in the divorce process during the months ahead.

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What Happens if an Uber Driver Has an Accident?

February 12, 2020

Not many people realiㄑze that ridesharing giant Uber was actually once a tiny startup here in the great state of California.

Uber changed the face of how the public gets their transportation needs met. But it is also changing the face of traffic law here in California and around the nation.

Each new ridesharing driver adds one more vehicle to the already crowded roadways. Lyft and Uber drivers are still first and foremost drivers. Just like all drivers, Uber and Lyft operators should have insurance covering their vehicle. Quote radar is a resource to compare prices on Uber insurance.

As such, statistics tell us the average driver will be involved in one to three accidents during their driving years and ridesharing drivers are no exception to this.

Being involved in a ridesharing accident can be scary, confusing and time-consuming. If you have been involved in this type of auto accident, you may need a ridesharing personal injury lawyer to help resolve your insurance claims payout.

What Happens When a Ridesharing Driver Gets Into an Accident?

No one ever wakes up in the morning and thinks to themselves, “I bet that today I’m going to get into a traffic accident.”

And yet this happens to hundreds of people in California every day.

Every time you hire an Uber driver to transport you, there is the risk that driver will get into an accident while you are a passenger in their vehicle.

What makes this doubly difficult is that as a ridesharing passenger, you may not even be paying attention to the roads. And why should you be? You hired your Uber or Lyft driver to do that for you!

So when the accident does occur, it takes you by complete surprise. You don’t know what happened or who was at fault. You may have been talking on your phone or texting or reading or listening to a podcast or even taking a nap.

This is where getting your insurance claims paid promptly can really become a challenge. You will likely need to work with an Uber accident lawyer to get your claims paid and here is why. https://westcoasttriallawyers.com/ca/los-angeles-uber-and-lyft-accidents-lawyer/

Traffic Accident Insurance Claims Payouts Are Not Straightforward in California

California is one of only a small minority of states in the nation that administers traffic accident insurance claims payouts using a fault system.

Here, the word “fault” refers to assessing which driver(s) were at fault for causing a traffic accident.

There are three categories of fault:

1. Not at fault.
2. Partially at fault (assessed by percentage).
3. Totally at fault.

Not only will California’s choice to use a fault system potentially delay your insurance claims payouts, it could even put you in the position of having to pay out of pocket for your own property and medical damages!

Why You Need a Ridesharing Accident Lawyer to Handle Lyft Accident Claims

Ridesharing giants Uber and Lyft each carry a $1 million auto insurance policy that supposedly protects passengers in case any of their independent contractor drivers are involved in an auto accident.

This has been all over the news as of late and many ridesharing customers think this means they are automatically protected no matter what may happen while they are receiving a ride from a driver.

But this is not always the case here in the fault state of California.

Ridesharing Drivers Operate in Three “Periods”

A ridesharing driver can be in one of three so-called “periods” when they are behind the wheel of the vehicle they use to work for Uber or Lyft.

These periods are very important to know for auto insurance claims payouts.

Period one

Period one is when the ridesharing app is powered down. The driver is using the vehicle for personal reasons and is not seeking a passenger.

If an Uber driver has an accident that involves you, but they are in period one, the only recourse you will have for claims payouts is whatever personal auto insurance policy that driver may have elected to carry.

Sometimes the driver may not even have any auto insurance, in which case you will have to take action with the help of a personal injury lawyer to try to recover your expenses.

Period two

Period two is when the driver has powered on the ridesharing app. The driver is using the vehicle to work for Uber or Lyft and is actively seeking a passenger.

if an Uber driver has an accident during period two that involves you, then there is a much more limited auto insurance policy that may potentially cover any claims arising from that accident based on how California assesses fault for the purposes of claims payouts.

Period three

Period three is when the driver has accepted a passenger request. The driver is either en route to pick up their passenger or is driving their passenger to their desired destination.

If an Uber driver has an accident while in period three that involves you, this is the only period which is covered by the full $1 million dollar auto insurance policy that Uber carries.

But here again, access to that policy is going to be governed by assessment of fault for the purposes of auto insurance claims payouts.

What If the Uber Driver Is Declared Not At Fault?

This is one of many complications that often triggers a call to one of our experienced ridesharing accident lawyer team members.

Remember, California uses the fault system to administer traffic accident auto insurance claims payouts.

Insurance companies have claims adjusters who will assess percentage of fault. No insurance claims adjuster ever wants to have to tell their boss that their driver was declared at fault. So this battle can rage on for weeks or months as adjusters argue over who was at fault for causing the accident.

Meanwhile, if you sustained personal injury or property damage as a result of a ridesharing driver’s accidents on the road, your life is on hold while you wait for your claims to be settled and paid.

Even if the ridesharing driver is declared at fault, you can be sure the insurer (in this case, Uber or Lyft) will fight that declaration to avoid having to make a payout and watching their stock values plunge.

Working with an Uber accident lawyer can level the playing field and help you get your claims payout process moving forward again.

With ridesharing accident cases in particular, it is important to choose an experienced California traffic law attorney who is skilled at interpreting fault-based traffic law statutes and applying available precedents to expedite your claims payout.

Have You Been Hurt in a Ridesharing Accident? West Coast Trial Lawyers Can Help!

Ridesharing traffic law is a very new field and every single case can potentially change how all future insurance claims are processed and paid out.

Because there are very few legal precedents for traffic court judges to use for guidance, the ridesharing accident lawyer you choose is going to be vitally important to the outcome of your claim.

Have you been involved in a Lyft or Uber accident as a passenger or a bystander? Contact West Coast Trial Lawyers today to schedule your free no-obligation consultation with a skilled and experienced Uber accident lawyer.

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How Failed Int’l Cooperation Amplifies Virus Damage

February 12, 2020

By Dan Steinbock

As the downgrades of the economic outlook for US, China and worldwide are about to begin, the virus outbreak may be steadying. Sadly, much of the economic, xenophobic and virus damage stems for lagging cooperation.

At the end of January, United States declared the 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (nCoV ARD) an “unprecedented public health threat” followed by preparations “as if this were the next pandemic.” The unilateral action went against guidance by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Thanks to sensationalist media, the move also unleashed fear across America at the peak of the domestic flu season. Some 22 to 31 million Americans have already been infected with the seasonal flu, requiring up to 210,000 to 370,000 hospitalizations and causing 12,000 to 30,000 deaths, according to the CDC. As the Trump administration is preparing a $4.8 trillion budget with big safety-net cuts, it is focusing public attention on the virus outbreak.

Instead of a focus on the epidemiological facts, international headlines have focused on the expected “pandemic,” resulting in pressure campaigns against the WHO and an avalanche of xenophobic anti-Chinese incidents. The net effect will reverberate in downgraded economic outlooks in China, US and worldwide.

Here’s how it happened.

Rising number of cases, rapid outbreak deceleration

Even reputable media has contributed to misunderstandings. On February 4, New York Times reported: “Deaths in China Rise, With No Sign of Slowdown.” The first part of the sentence was true, but the second was misguided. In reality, the daily increase of new virus cases in China had just started to decelerate, while the pace of accumulated cases had been decelerating since mid-January.

With the new coronavirus, there are now (2 pm Wuhan time, Feb 11) over 42,600 confirmed cases worldwide, while the number of deaths is more than 1,000. If the current pace prevails, the former figure will soon exceed 50,000, while the latter may climb to 2,000.

And yet, the number of the confirmed cases and deaths has remained relatively low – less than 500 and only 2, respectively – outside China. While these numbers will continue to increase, the low starting-point suggests that China’s costly and draconian measures may have saved many lives within and outside China.

Moreover, the pace of the contagion is changing. The relative increase of the accumulated cases has decreased since mid-January. While the pace peaked at almost 100% after mid-January, it has declined to zero and below (Figure 1a). In turn, new cases increased steadily from mid-January soaring to almost 3,900 on February 4. But since then the numbers have fallen below 2,600 – from daily increase of almost 350% to zero and below (Figure 1b).

Figure Rising Accumulated Numbers, Falling Relative Rates

(a) Daily Increase of Accumulated Cases, Jan 10 to Feb 9, 2020

(b) Daily Increase of New Cases, Jan 10 to Feb 9, 2020

Source: DifferenceGroup. Data from China’s National Health Commission

While the data could indicate a possible turnaround in the virus outbreak, there is no assurance that the deceleration will prevail. Since viruses can zigzag, these trends do not justify any complacency. And as the Lunar New Year holidays now end in China, new outbreak clusters are still possible, including outside China. But assuming current trends, we may be witnessing a crossroads – despite politicized international coverage.

Instead of virus outbreak, an ‘infodemic’

In late January, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC) and urged attention to a global health emergency to foster a “coordinated international response.” The PHEIC was not motivated by China, but by the possible effects of the virus, if it would spread to countries with weaker healthcare systems. That’s why WHO has called for a $675 billion initiative to combat future virus outbreaks.

Instead, media hysteria contributed to ugly instances of xenophobia against people of Chinese and Asian descent. On February 2, the misinformation on global scale compelled the WHO to declare the coronavirus an “infodemic,” which “made it hard for people to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance.”

Worse, WHO leaders were targeted in public pressure crusades, including an online petition campaign calling the WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to resign. In reality, Tedros, an Ethiopian public-health pioneer, has adhered to WHO guidelines regarding pandemics, supported research on virus causes and tried to foster member states’ cooperation against the outbreak.

The smear campaign is an ugly déjà vu. Amid the 2017 WHO election, Tedros was attacked for alleged cover-up of possible past cholera epidemics in Ethiopia. The odd allegations came from Lawrence Gostin, US law professor who advised the rival UK candidate (and has resurfaced as a critic of China’s anti-virus struggle). In the UN, the African Union dismissed the allegations as an “unfounded and unverified defamation campaign.” But now the same ugly campaign was back.

In contrast to Washington’s demands for WHO to declare the outbreak a “pandemic,” WHO has a six-stage pandemic classification, which requires a pandemic to be fatal, infectious and international. In the last pandemic, the 2009 H1N1 flu outbreak (swine flu), 150,000-300,000 people died around the world. The current outbreak has caused only two deaths outside China (both linked with Wuhan, the virus epicenter).

Oddly, as international coverage focused on China’s alleged conduct, which WHO mainly applauded, it ignored the actual conduct of other states, despite Tedros’s news bomb on February 4. It was not China, but countries outside China that had proved slow in sharing complete information about cases. Despite weeks of crisis and global health emergency, more than 60% of five member countries had failed to provide complete case reports to WHO.

As international cooperation lagged and precious time was lost, economic consequences have grown more severe.

Impact scenarios

After a month of the virus outbreak, three economic scenarios prevail. In the “SARS-like impact scenario,” a sharp quarterly effect, accounting for much of the damage, would be followed by a rebound. The broader impact would be relatively low and regional. The impact on annualized growth would be tolerable.

In China, the 1^st quarter would be penalized by a 1.2% reduction to about 5% or less, while the 2^nd quarter rebound would offset much (but not all) of the losses. U.S. growth could suffer a 0.4% slowdown of the annualized growth. In Japan, growth would fall closer to 0%. Due to supply chain disruptions, South Korea and Taiwan would take heavier hits. In Hong Kong, the outbreak will extend the technical recession into the 1^st quarter. In Southeast Asia, downgrades would reduce growth closer to 4%. Annualized global growth would fall closer to 3.1%.

In the “extended impact scenario,” the adverse impact would last at least two quarters until early summer. In this case, the broader impact would be more severe and have an effect on global prospects, with rebound in the summer. The reductions in the US, China, and Japan would have a significant adverse impact in Asia and the global economy.

In the “accelerated impact scenario,” adverse damage would be far steeper, while a rebound would ensue only toward the end of the summer. The impact on annual growth would prove very significant, with dire repercussions in the global economy.

Today, consensus projections vary between the SARS-like and extended impact scenarios. If we are witnessing a sustained turnaround in new virus cases, there might be some reason for such hopes. Yet, international media coverage, pressures against WHO and lagging international cooperation indicate non-economic forces are fueling economic forecasts, while the risk of the extended impact scenario has increased. Finally, the accelerated impact scenario would undermine most of the post-2008 recovery with severe consequences to global prospects.

No virus outbreak will go by without adverse economic effects. But some of the impending damage could have been reduced with appropriate international cooperation.

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About the Author

Dr. Dan Steinbock is an internationally recognized strategist of the multipolar world and the founder of Difference Group. He has served at the India, China and America Institute (USA), Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (China) and the EU Center (Singapore). For more, see https://www.differencegroup.net

The original commentary was released by China-US Focus on Feb. 11, 2020

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