4 Things To Know When Filing For Social Security Disability

March 14, 2022

If you have a health condition that restricts you from working and earning a living, you may be eligible to file for Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits. Generally, Social Security disability insurance is a program designed to compensate people who have become disabled, adversely affecting their ability to work.

However, if you’re filing a disability claim, it’s essential to convince the Social Security Administration (SSA) that you’re permanently disabled and, as a result, can’t work anymore. Without proper knowledge and preparation, you may jeopardize your chances of getting a claim approval. As such, it’s crucial to educate yourself about the Social Security disability claim to ensure a more desirable outcome.

Below are the four things to know when filing a Social Security disability claim:

1. There Are Two Criteria To Qualify For Social Security Disability Benefits

When filing for a Social Security disability insurance claim, you must satisfy specific eligibility requirements. Generally, there are two criteria you should meet to qualify for disability benefits. These can include:

You should have worked long and recently enough under Social Security. It’s usually determined based on the number of work credits you’ve earned before the disability happened. Generally, Social Security requires 40 credits to be eligible for the benefits. You earn a certain number of credits when you work and settle your Social Security tax obligations.
You have a medical condition covered by the Social Security Administration’s list of impairments or qualifying conditions. This includes musculoskeletal disorders, mental disorders, neurological diseases, and other similar impairments.

2. Strong First Impression Matters

Being eligible to file a Social Security disability claim isn’t enough to get approval. With the majority of applications getting denied, it can clearly indicate that SSA takes every claim seriously. In that case, it’s essential to establish a solid first impression to increase your chances of getting your claim approved.

One of the ways you should do to increase your chances is gathering evidence to prove your disability. Having certain pieces of evidence would substantiate your disability diagnosis and other relevant documentation, such as medical records, to convince the examiner that your medical condition has completely impaired your ability to work. With this evidence in place, you may be able to make a strong impression on the Social Security disability examiner about your claim.

On the other hand, if you want to understand better why first impression matters when applying for SSDI benefits, you can check this additional reading from a legal website and other resources online for more information.

3. A Lot Of Paperwork Is Necessary When Filing For Social Security Disability

Dealing with a Social Security disability claim is never easy, especially regarding the paperwork involved. The filing process is considered paper-intensive, so proper preparation and knowledge about the required documents is a must. For instance, you need to complete several forms to comply with the required paperwork. In doing this, you must ensure that all disability forms are accurately and correctly filled out to minimize discrepancies.

The Social Security disability examiner will examine the forms to determine the impact of your medical condition on your ability to work. If your documents lack the necessary information, they’ll more likely deny your claim based on that ground. To avoid this, you should ensure all the paperwork is handled properly. Unless you’re an expert in handling SSDI claims, it can be a good idea to look for an attorney who can help you with the application. They know precisely how SSDI claims work so that they can guide you through the process properly.

4. Your Family Members May Also Be Entitled To The Disability Benefits

It’s also crucial to know that Social Security disability benefits aren’t only for people with diminished earning capacity due to a disability. If you’re disabled and, in turn, can no longer earn some income, your family may also be entitled to some SSDI benefits under the following circumstances:

Your spouse, who is at least 62 years old;
Your spouse, regardless of age, who takes care of your child who is also disabled or under 16 years old;
Your child, without disability, who is under 18 years old;
Over 18 years old, your child became disabled, but such disability occurred before they reached the age of 22.

On the other hand, it’s also essential to know that if many family members qualify for Social Security disability benefits, the amount of money to be paid out can be proportionally reduced if it exceeds the maximum amount under your record.

Bottom Line

Realistically speaking, many Social Security disability claim applications get denied regularly based on specific grounds, such as inaccurate application forms, failure to prove a disability, and other related situations. This makes the entire filing process more complicated and overwhelming.

Therefore, if you want to save yourself from the headaches associated with the procedure, it’s essential to keep the information mentioned above in mind. That way, you’ll know what to expect and how to handle your claim more efficiently to attain a favorable outcome.

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The Outlook For The Global Economy

March 14, 2022

By Graham Vanbergen

It really would be nice to think that Putin’s attack on Ukraine will be short-lived and the world begins its recovery from the global pandemic. But as Graham Vanbergen writes – whatever happens now, one thing we are assured of – this is nothing more than wishful thinking.

Whilst Ukraine sat at 57th in the global league of world economies and Russia still only accounts for 3 per cent of global GDP (even with its huge fossil fuel sales) the world order has changed overnight and there is a lot more bad news on the way, not just politically but economically.

First of all, economies are very badly affected by a lack of confidence. Capital flight and moves to safe-haven assets is just one reaction and governments will divert budgets, quite probably from social safety-nets towards military defence spending. There is no escaping the fact that the Russia/Ukraine issue will have serious consequences for the world economy as a whole for years to come. (1)

The reality is that Putin has not just re-kindled the Cold War. The Western-led international order that comprised the USA and its allies are now being challenged by Russia, China, Iran and North Korea. This fracturing of the world order as we knew it will plunge the world deeper into a geopolitical depression of finger-pointing and acts of aggression.  The years ahead now look far riskier now than they did even when Donald Trump kicked off a new and heated economic rivalry between the US and China.

Geopolitically speaking, we know that China will be watching events in Europe very closely as Western values are being heavily tested. And although the tensions are different, it could be said that Taiwan is to China as Ukraine is to Russia. Economically though, the fracturing of globalisation will only speed up and capital will inevitably find a new home. In the West, that will be, for instance, the ratcheting up of new technologies to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. It goes without saying that in this more hostile environment the signs for the world economy look ominous. Inflationary pressures will continue and not be short-lived as many predicted – and there will likely be a period of recession in the near future. The spectre of stagflation now beckons.

Predictions

Nouriel Roubini – Professor Emeritus of Economics at New York University’s Stern School of Business, is a former senior economist for international affairs in the White House’s Council of Economic Advisers during the Clinton Administration and has worked for the IMF, the US Federal Reserve, and the World Bank.

“In terms of the economy, a global stagflationary recession is now highly likely. Analysts are already asking themselves if the Fed and other major central banks can achieve a soft landing from this crisis and its fallout. Don’t count on it. The war in Ukraine will trigger a massive negative supply shock in a global economy that is still reeling from COVID-19 and a year-long build-up of inflationary pressures. The shock will reduce growth and further increase inflation at a time when inflation expectations are already becoming unanchored.”

The Editorial Board of the Financial Times writes (2):

“The Ukraine war amounts to a supply shock — reducing the capacity of the global economy to produce goods and services. Such crises hit growth while raising inflation. That is harder for central banks to deal with than a fall in aggregate demand when spending retrenches. Investors have long feared a return to the stagflation of the 1970s; few, however, anticipated that it would come alongside a return to war.”

Jason Furman, is a former chair of President Barack Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers, is Professor of the Practice of Economic Policy at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

“The longer-term economic consequences for the rest of the world will be far less severe than they are for Russia, but they will still be a persistent challenge for policymakers. There is a risk, albeit a relatively unlikely one, that higher short-run inflation will become embedded in increasingly unanchored inflation expectations, and thus persist. If that happens, central banks’ already difficult job will become even more complicated.”  

Consequences

In the immediate term, the consequences of the Ukraine invasion are plain to see. Stock markets are bouncing up and down – its overall trajectory is south. The result of the pandemic has seen global inflation rising, which it will continue to do. Energy prices will continue to rise as will the cost of food. Both can cause domestic problems for governments all around the world. Don’t forget a year of violent protests suddenly emerged in France over rising petrol/diesel prices and the Arab Spring was started originally because of rising food prices. Some of the signs of financial contagion and fear is that the usual safe-haven currencies such as the Swiss franc and USD will strengthen as will the price of gold.

It is inevitable that both recession and inflation, commonly known as ‘stagflation’ will hit Russia very hard. But the same stagflationary effects (on a less severe scale) will also affect the European Union as a whole, as it will the USA. Both are energy-dependent on Russia. The former is a physical requirement, the latter is not in control of global pricing. As jobs get lost and inflation continues its northward trajectory, households will do the inevitable and tighten their belts in expectation of harder times. Interest rates will rise to combat inflation. This will result in banks tightening financial conditions – which will see businesses look at how to save cash and significantly reduce R&D. The effects of stagflation are awful – and dangerous.

In its desperation to wrestle control over its self-induced economic spiral, Russia does have a card up its sleeve – it can reduce the sale of oil and gas merely to cause the price to spike and cause further economic pain to the West, whilst keeping income flowing.  

1970s oil and energy crisis

The 1970s oil crisis and energy crisis caused global mayhem. That crisis led to stagnant economic growth in many countries as oil and gas prices surged. This is where the word ‘stagflation’ emanated from. And there were winners and losers as always. Fossil fuel producing nations do well, everyone else suffers. Both the 1973 oil crisis and the 1979 energy crisis were the result of some sort of conflict (3).

In Britain, that crisis caused GDP to decline by nearly 4 per cent for over four years. It led to social unrest, we had the three-day week and a state of emergency enforced by the government. Inflation rocketed off to 20 per cent and the IMF was called upon to help Britain’s finances. In just six years, Britain had four Prime Ministers, a winter of discontent and unemployment reached nearly 12 per cent in the early 1980s.

Whilst I am not predicting a renewed 1970s – what are facing today is potentially worse because geopolitical stability is threatened, not just a period of economic stagflation. But however we look at this, it is a cost we have no option but to absorb – it is the cost of defending Western values – of democracy and freedom. The alternative is a price too high to contemplate. We’ve already had conflicts on a global scale for these same reasons and one only has to look back to the real complications of geopolitical relationships that brought us WW1 and WW2 to see these dynamics playing out. (4)  

Dangerous moment

Many think that central banks now have the ability to manipulate markets to ensure stability. This was evident with their actions during the very sobering moments of the bank-led financial crisis in 2008/09. However, stagflation offers a very difficult dilemma to central banks – increase interest rates to curb inflation – and the economy gets hurt. It is also not so that central banks will work in unison as they did in the financial crisis because each region will have different stresses (differing values of net imports/exports in differing regions). The other problem for central banks is that in saving the banks that caused the crisis, and household incomes during the pandemic, they in turn have largely run out of the financial clout needed to stave off another global economic event.

In summary, Putin’s aggression has now sparked a new political and economic era – it is a pivotal moment. The geopolitical order is changing and the fight over political ideology is now becoming intense. The cost of the financial crisis was huge, the cost of the pandemic more so – and the axis of China/Russia/Iran and their allies has a renewed confidence. We are entering a global depression – economically and politically – and it may turn very nasty indeed. At the very least – all of this will be painful one way or another.

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About the Author

Graham Vanbergen is a publisher, author (Brexit – A Corporate Coup D’Etat), communications strategist and journalist. Independent Media Association – ‘Political Reporter of the Year’ and ‘International Reporter of the Year’ 2022.

References

Ukraine Crisis: Stocks Plummet, Currency Crashes
FT – Ukraine conflict and stagflation
Wiki – 1970s oil and energy crisis
The Week – How WW1 began

Why Almost Every Business Needs Outsourced Accounting

March 13, 2022

Outsourced accounting is a cost-effective solution to optimizing the financial aspects of your business, regardless of size and scale. Professional assistance with these key logistical tasks and planning processes takes a considerable weight off the shoulders of the business owner and allows for more time to focus on other aspects of the company. If you’re unfamiliar with what Outsourced Accounting Services entail, it’s essentially a process where businesses delegate their financial tasks to an external agency or expert to ensure accuracy, compliance, and efficiency.

In this article, we’ll dive into the essential reasons why an outsourced accounting professional might be a good fit for your business. In addition, we’ll discuss how an outsourced accountant can help reduce overhead costs, make payroll more efficient, and help prepare business owners to make critical financial decisions about their business’s future.

Hire Immediate Expertise

Outsourced accounting professionals from milwaukee accounting firms offer business owners unparalleled, cost-effective access to reliable financial services that can help to optimize several logistical aspects of the business. Many outsourcing companies or agencies have accounting specialists who already have experience working with companies in your industry. Whether you’re a small law firm or a hundred-person marketing agency, an outsourced accountant can boost the efficiency of your business processes with a level of expertise you won’t find anywhere else.

Clean Up The Books

When you first bring on an outsourced accounting professional to assist your business, you’ll receive a full audit of your company’s books. This review process can lend considerable insight into what steps you can take to make your spending and budgeting operations more efficient. Whether you’re working with a CPA (certified public accountant) or a bookkeeper, you’ll typically get assistance with making your payroll process more efficient. If there are any errors with your current financial information, your outsourced accounting professional can help you get back on track as quickly as possible.

Avoid Internal Hiring

No matter the size or scale of your business, hiring an accountant internally can be incredibly expensive. Hiring financial expertise internally means spending money on applications, time on interviews, and considerable hours on training. You’ll need to consider pay, insurance, and benefits that typically come attached to these roles. Unless you are a corporate or enterprise business, outsourced accounting usually makes more financial sense than bringing on a new person full-time.

Improve Spending Efficiency

Accounting professionals can identify the areas of your business where you’re spending too much money or taking too many financial risks. They will then advise the business owner as to what they can do to improve spending efficiency. With more financial bandwidth on hand, the business owner can easily look towards improving other areas of the company.

Cash flow, accounts payable, and accounts receivable are essential stats that mark the financial performance of your business can tune you into the risk factors or efficiency associated with your current business spending habits. However, they can sometimes be difficult to decode without professional accounting assistance.

Prepare Your Business for Tax Season

It’s no secret that business taxes are a hassle for business owners to handle on their own. Unfortunately, it’s all too easy to make mistakes, the like of which can cost your company a considerable amount of money. An outsourced accounting professional can help you keep track of all the details, identify deductions and tax breaks that match your operations and scale, and process all the necessary documentation. When April comes around, you’ll have everything in order so that the entire process can be completed as efficiently as possible. Many accounting firms know who we serve for taxes and offer tax preparation services throughout the year, including end-of-year planning.

Scalable Service Offerings

Outsourced accounting firms offer services and professional expertise at a level that matches your business. If you’re a small business that’s just getting started, an outsourced bookkeeper might be the right option for you. If you’re a start-up that’s looking to scale upwards, a CPA, or certified public accountant, could be a good fit for your operations.

For larger businesses looking into outsourcing their financial management, an outsourced CFO, or chief financial officer, might be a good fit. No matter the size or scale of your company’s operations, you’ll be sure to find an outsourcing solution that fits your budget and plans. As your business continues to grow, you can quickly bring on additional financial support, particularly as you face challenging decisions surrounding spending and investment risks.

Make More Informed Financial Decisions

Outsourced accounting professionals usually offer monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting as a part of their services. These reports can help you dive into what’s working in your business and what needs to change. Sometimes, these reports are automated, with more general information. However, you can always ask about customizing these documents, so you start seeing the figures you want to know about in each report. The best accountants use reports as a means of showcasing where your business can improve, which allows you to make more informed decisions for the future of your company.

Free Up Your Time

Perhaps the most crucial benefit to outsourced accounting for business owners is the time you’ll save. Tasks such as tax preparation, payroll, and spending analysis are turned over to a professional who knows exactly what’s necessary to optimize this logistical aspect of your business. If accounting and financial planning take up less of your time, you can turn your focus towards other parts of your business instead of managing the back-end specifics. You can set new business goals and objectives that allow your business to continue improving operations and scaling upwards.

Conclusion- Why Almost Every Business Needs Outsourced Accounting

Outsourced accounting offers a range of benefits for many businesses, regardless of their current size and scale. The right financial metrics and reporting can make financial decisions more manageable, reduce overhead costs, and identify growth opportunities. If your business requires a new financial services provider, don’t hesitate to reach out to an outsourced accounting firm today.

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Cryptoassets and Dispute Resolution: Four Things to Know

March 13, 2022

By Kiran Nasir Gore and Charles H. Camp

With an increased interest in non-traditional financial transactions and record-high inflation rates, cryptoassets represent the next frontier for sophisticated and savvy investors. But as the number of such transactions increase, so do the quantity and variety of associated disputes. This article highlights four important issues for potential litigants to keep in mind. At all junctures, potential litigants would benefit from well-informed and experienced international dispute resolution counsel to avoid the pitfalls of an emerging and shifting regulatory landscape.

Introduction

Once considered novel, cryptoassets are now pervasive in the financial world. In a recent Forbes article, Professor Philipp Sandner and Jong-Chan Chung of the Frankfurt School Blockchain Center noted that in 2021 market capitalization of cryptocurrencies reached $3 trillion USD for the first time.¹ They forecasted that in the coming year bitcoin will become increasingly attractive, while the overall cryptoassets market will continue to grow in breadth and depth.²

Exponential acceptance and growth are the result of twin phenomena: first, an increased interest in financial transactions that operate outside the confines of traditional banking transactions to provide privacy and pseudonymity; and second, record-high rates of inflation that render cryptoassets potentially more stable financial investments than traditional currencies.³

Of course, as the number of cryptoasset transactions increases, we can expect a proportionate increase in related commercial disputes. This includes straightforward contract disputes over the transfer of cryptoassets and more complicated commercial disputes concerning the operation of smart contracts. Meanwhile, pseudonymity within the cryptoassets market creates risks of other kinds of claims, including fraud, violations of sanctions regimes, money laundering, and violation of terrorist financing regulations. This article highlights four important issues for potential litigants to keep in mind.

Issue 1: Cryptoassets Are Inherently Multi-jurisdictional

At their simplest, cryptoassets are records of transactions (blockchains) maintained on a decentralized ledger or database which can be accessed by all of its members. That ledger is updated whenever a new transaction (ie, the next block in the chain) is verified by a consensus mechanism. Some blockchains allow simple transfers, while others are more complex arrangements that automate transfers of cryptocurrency on the occurrence of specified triggers (also known as smart contracts).

The blockchain transaction (and any related dispute) could raise legal issues under different systems of law, each of which may have different levels of preparedness to engage with cryptoassets.

The blockchain (or smart contract) has no specific physical location. It can be accessed anywhere in the world and simultaneously by multiple users in different jurisdictions. Moreover, cryptoassets can move freely between accounts held by individuals across jurisdictions. Thus, any cryptoasset tracing, information gathering exercise, or enforcement process will very likely cross jurisdictional boundaries. This means that the blockchain transaction (and any related dispute) could raise legal issues under different systems of law, each of which may have different levels of preparedness to engage with cryptoassets. At the moment, there is no predictability in how regulators may treat cryptoassets, even within a single jurisdiction. In the United States, for example, whether a particular token or digital asset is an ‘investment contract’ determines whether it will be regulated as a ‘security’ by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (‘SEC’). But even this is not a fixed concept: in June 2018 William Hinman, the SEC’s Director of Corporate Finance, explained that even the regulation of a single specific asset may change over time as its characterization changes.⁴

Issue 2: Courts May Not be the Best Venue for Cryptoasset Disputes

Disputes involving cryptoassets are often technically complicated, multi-jurisdictional, and raise novel legal issues. These circumstances support the inclusion of arbitration agreements in contracts concerning cryptoassets. Arbitration provides autonomy for parties to tailor the dispute resolution process for their mutual benefit. Parties may select the forum, tribunal, language and procedure governing the arbitration. In particular, the parties’ ability to choose the composition of their tribunal ensures that the dispute will be heard by individuals that the parties trust and consider competent to adjudicate complex disputes that sit at the intersection of emerging law and shifting regulatory environments. This greater level of confidence in the dispute resolution process supports its success. The option to resolve a dispute confidentially may be another reason for parties to choose arbitration as their dispute resolution method.

Importantly, arbitration agreements and awards enjoy enforceability around the world through the power of the United Nations’ New York Convention, to which 169 countries are party. In sum, the Convention requires the courts of party states to give effect to arbitration agreements and recognize and enforce international arbitration awards rendered in other party states, save for some narrow exceptions. This provides a streamlined enforcement process as compared to foreign judgments that do not benefit from a unified enforcement mechanism.

However, the biggest factor in favor of dispute resolution through arbitration may be based in national public policy. Many global jurisdictions are seeing the emergence of anti-cryptoasset rhetoric. In September 2021, the People’s Bank of China banned all cryptocurrency transactions, citing their role in facilitating financial crimes and economic instability.⁵ Many speculate that their true concerns may be the risk of capital flight and a policy decision to ensure domestic circulation of the public’s wealth.⁶ Today, Russia’s Central Bank continues to push for an outright ban on all cryptocurrency trading by seeking to amend the Russian 2020 digital assets law.⁷ At the same time, the Central Bank continues to advance its own digital currency, a ‘digital ruble’, for which trials began in mid-February.⁸ With the February 24, 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia the situation surrounding the digital ruble has become more complex. The traditional ruble has fallen in value, Russia has faced severe economic sanctions, and the nation’s banking institutions have been cutoff the global SWIFT system. The latest news reports claim that Russia’s economic viability depends on the digital ruble and the opportunities this alternate cashless payment system presents.⁹

While national courts could be susceptible to the rhetoric and policy objectives of regulators and legislators, private arbitral tribunals present a comparatively neutral forum for dispute resolution. This alone could enhance parties’ confidence in the dispute resolution process and its outcome.

Issue 3: Know Your Customer or Accept the Risks

Blockchains may be desirable to investors because they offer the ability to engage in financial transactions without disclosing one’s identity. Each individual blockchain user is identified only by its personal blockchain wallet address, which is similar to a bank account number. In this sense, blockchains are especially unique because they are decentralized. Wallet addresses allow users to interact with other users of the blockchain to send and receive cryptoassets, without identifying the real person behind the transaction.

Unlike traditional financial transactions, they are not implemented by large institutions such as banks (which are required to identify their customers), but instead are implemented through the consensus of the users of the blockchain according to the coding that guides the blockchain. This means blockchain users can protect their transactions and ownership status from appearing in public records. However, blockchain transactions are far from fully anonymous. It may be that the ‘rules’ of a blockchain cause transactions to operate in manner that mirrors traditional banking transactions (which may also require users to disclose their identities).

In 2020, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an independent inter-governmental body that aims to protect the global financial system against money laundering, terrorist financing and the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, issued Recommendations on the regulation of cryptoassets.¹⁰ The Recommendations provide standards to address global anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing. While many countries have become ‘members’ and implemented the Guidelines, others merely maintain ‘observer’ status with further follow up steps still required.

The outcome is that, in many Asian states, despite recognition of a need to regulate cryptoassets transactions, the focus remains on monitoring conventional financial channels.¹¹ This failure and/or delay has created loopholes for local terrorist groups to raise funds or launder money.¹² Unwittingly acting as a transaction counterparty to such an organization can result in unnecessary and protracted litigation or civil and criminal penalties. Similarly, cryptoassets transactions could result in violation of sanction regimes or unintended tax evasion, which also can result in civil and criminal penalties. One solution to these risks may be to only participate in blockchains with rules that mimic traditional banking transactions.

Issue 4: Despite Pseudonymity, Ownership of Cryptoassets Can be Traced

Experienced international dispute resolution counsel already know how to leverage contempt of court and other strategies to increase pressure and ensure compliance. These same strategies can be adapted to the cryptoassets context.

Even if the individual users of a blockchain are anonymous, the blockchain itself will not be. In many cases, the blockchain is publicly accessible, free of charge, and in real time. This means that it is possible to view the transaction history of individual users, as well as their respective balances. In theory, with the right specialized support, each transfer of cryptoassets can be traced from one user to another. Thus, in a litigation context, not only is a user’s asset holding public information, but the related transaction history (ie, sources of those holdings) can also be traced.

This is crucial information should a litigant wish to enforce a judgment against cryptoassets. This said, blockchain users are often sophisticated players who are capable of covering up their tracks if so desired (the same as traditional banking transactions) and it is common for blockchain users to ‘mix’ and ‘peel’ transactions to render their transactions less traceable.

Despite these novel circumstances, traditional approaches to award compliance and enforcement remain useful. Experienced international dispute resolution counsel already know how to leverage contempt of court and other strategies to increase pressure and ensure compliance. These same strategies can be adapted to the cryptoassets context.

Conclusion

While cryptoassets continue to change the face of fruitful financial transactions, in many ways digital transactions are comparable to traditional banking transactions. A key challenge, however, is the murky and shifting patchwork of global regulatory schemes. It is therefore crucial for parties to secure expert legal advice to ensure that transactions do not have unintended consequences and that any related disputes are effectively and efficiently resolved.

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About the Authors

Charles H. Camp is an international lawyer with over thirty years of experience representing foreign and domestic clients in international litigation, arbitration, negotiation, and international debt recovery, with specialized expertise in international banking disputes. In 2001, Mr. Camp opened the Law Offices of Charles H. Camp, P.C. in Washington, D.C. to focus on effective, personalized representation in complex, international matters. Mr. Camp teaches international negotiations at the George Washington University Law School.

Kiran Nasir Gore is Counsel at the Law Offices of Charles H. Camp, P.C. Her expertise is in international dispute resolution, including advocacy before U.S. courts, commercial and investment arbitration tribunals, and investigative authorities. Ms. Gore has experience representing globally renowned clients in the banking and finance sector. She also draws on her professional experiences as an educator at the George Washington University Law School and New York University’s Global Study Center in Washington, D.C.

References

Prof. Dr. Philipp Sandner, Jong-Chan Chung, ‘10 Predictions For Blockchain, Crypto Assets, DeFi, And NFTs For 2022,’ Forbes, 13 January 2021, available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/philippsandner/2022/01/13/10-predictions-for-blockchain-crypto-assets-defi-and-nfts-for-2022/?sh=34eceeca4911.
Id.
Anneken Tappe, ‘Surging prices: Key inflation measure hits a 39-year high’, CNN, 12 January 2021, available at: https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/12/economy/inflation-consumer-price-index-december/index.html.
Remarks by William Hinman at the Yahoo Finance All Markets Summit: Crypto (June 14, 2018), available at: https://www.sec.gov/news/speech/speech-hinman-061418.
Francis Shin, ‘What’s Behind China’s Cryptocurrency Ban?’, World Economic Forum (January 31, 2022), available at: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/01/what-s-behind-china-s-cryptocurrency-ban/.
Id.
Anna Baydakova, ‘Bank of Russia Proceeds With Digital Ruble, Renews Push for Crypto Ban, CoinDesk (February 16, 2022), available at: https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2022/02/16/bank-of-russia-proceeds-with-digital-ruble-renews-push-for-crypto-ban/.
Helen Partz, ‘Digital ruble trial goes live as Bank of Russia insists on Bitcoin ban, CoinTelegraph (February 15, 2022), available at: https://cointelegraph.com/news/digital-ruble-trial-goes-live-as-bank-of-russia-insists-on-bitcoin-ban.
Casey Wagner, ‘Digital Ruble Likely To Help Russia Move Away From US Dollar, Economists Say,’ Blockworks (1 March 2022), available at https://blockworks.co/digital-ruble-likely-to-help-russia-move-away-from-us-dollar-economists-say/
The Recommendations are available at: https://www.fatf-gafi.org/publications/fatfrecommendations/documents/fatf-recommendations.html.
Asif Muztaba Hassan and Shamsul Nawed Nafees, ‘Cryptocurrency and Terrorist Financing in Asia’, The Diplomat (February 4, 2022), available at: https://thediplomat.com/2022/02/cryptocurrency – and – terrorist – financing – in – asia/.
Id.

6 Tried & Tested Tips To Secure Ecommerce Websites From Cyberattacks

March 13, 2022

Hackers smell easy money from a distance like a shark smells blood. And ecommerce websites where transactions happen like crazy serve as an open invitation for those with malicious intentions. Therefore, ecommerce website security is imperative for all webshop owners.

According to a study, USD 3.86 million is the average total cost owing to data breaches globally. Any business wouldn’t want to contribute to this burgeoning figure! If ensuring ecommerce website security is giving you sleepless nights, we have your back.

Read on to know six practical and doable ways to secure your ecommerce website from the prying eyes of hackers and scammers.

1. Switch to the more reliable HTTPS protocol

One thing that is sure to stand as a solid wall between your precious communications with valued consumers and hackers hungry for their credit card details is the HTTPS protocol!

Wondering what in the world is that? Well, simply put, HTTPS is the secure version of the HTTP protocol. Yes, you guessed it right, the S in HTTPS stands for secure.

To enable the HTTPS protocol, you need to invest in an SSL certificate. SSL or Secure Socket Layer offers an encrypted and secure channel for in-transit communication between your web browser and the customer server.

This seemingly simple step will keep away hackers and MITM attacks effectively from accessing your customers’ PII (Personally Identifiable Information) like credit card details, SSN, etc. Customers nowadays are incredibly tech-savvy and look for the secure padlock symbol before parting with their sensitive details. To activate the secure padlock and garner more customer trust, one must invest in the right kind of SSL certificate.

For ecommerce webshop owners with multiple level-one subdomains to secure such as product pages, about us, blog, and payment gateway page, under the main domain, invest in Wildcard SSL certificate to secure all the pages quickly.

It is highly recommended to invest in a cost-effective and cheap SSL certificate like Wildcard for such business ventures. With this single cert, you can afford unmatched protection to an unlimited number of first-level subdomains under the chosen primary domain at no extra cost! This not only saves a lot of your hard-earned money but also eliminates certificate management hassles. From the cloud penetration test you can directly access the cyber security gaps in cloud applications and deploy relevant protection measures.

2. Employ the powers of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

It is always advisable to deploy additional layers of security to reduce the chances of penetration by malicious elements. One such method is to use MFA, 2FA, or 2SV. Though used interchangeably, they have minute differences between them. Let’s have a look!

2 Step Verification (2SV): Where 2SV is employed, the user must submit an OTP delivered by SMS, mail, or phone call to log in.
2 Factor Authentication(2FA): The user is required to confirm their login attempt on a separate device, such as by opening a specific app or clicking on a code on a smartphone.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): As the name goes, MFA can refer to more than two layers of authentication.

3. Ensure that your webshop is PCI DSS compliant

It is essential for websites involved in financial transactions to comply with PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) regulations. Being PCI DSS compliant helps reduce incidences of data theft by securing online customer transactions.

To meet their standards, the business must have a proper firewall installed, with an updated antivirus and valid SSL certification in addition to other requirements.

4. Ensure limited access allocation to employees

The principle of least privilege applies here as well. With BYOD policy gaining prevalence in work cultures worldwide, it is imperative to give only the relevant access to the employee in question.

For instance, a content writer wouldn’t need access to the admin page or the payments page. Giving the right level of access to the right employee can save you from a lot of trouble!

5. Remember to carry out periodic security audits

Engage your blue team and red team in a cyberbattle of sorts to give your online business the level of cybersecurity it deserves. This will help ensure that your cybersecurity remains up to the mark.

Regular security audits help businesses amp up their cybersecurity game and stay a step or two ahead of hackers and scammers.

6. Store only relevant customer information

Employ the simple principle that you wouldn’t have to worry about data you don’t have! So stick to collecting and storing only relevant customer information.

If you need their credit card credentials for completing a purchase, you don’t need to ask for their birthdates!

Conclusion

Creating and launching a web business is incomplete without ensuring its cybersecurity. With hackers prowling and scouring the web for landing a juicy loot, you need to be extra cautious as an ecommerce website owner! Begin installing the right SSL certificate and enabling HTTPS protocol on your website, ensuring good password hygiene, antivirus software, and a regularly updated backup for all your site data.

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How to Master Online Adult Dating in 2022?

March 11, 2022

Planet Earth has moved out. It packed almost every single item and went online. If you find that hard to believe, try finding someone who is not using their phone or laptop as if they are technology freaks. You see them scrolling, surfing the internet, or looking for one-nighters online. We developed a more suitable way to meet others, which matches our lifestyles and serves us better. Hooking up online is one of these ways. It is not a new trend, though. It has been around for some good time now. Lately, it has been trying to grow as fast as the pace of our lives, and it seems like it is succeeding. Enough with the excitement. Let’s find out how to master online adult dating. Before getting into it see the list of best sugar daddy sites.

Profile

First things first, let’s talk profile. It is your online identity, and it must represent who you say you are. Take extra good care of pictures. They are super-duper essential, even more, critical than your bio and the information you share. The importance of pictures comes from the fact that they are the first thing people notice when they come across your profile, that’s why you must share what is yours, and that is non-negotiable. It should reflect your individuality. For example, share glimpses that tell more about your daily routine, hobbies, or your favorite spots in the city. Let it express some facts about you rather than faking it.

Honesty is key

You made it to stage number two, where honesty is key. Your bio and other information you jot down in your profile should be honest. Honesty can get you to the texting phase, and then it is on you whether you can get an actual date or not. On the other hand, writing false information and pretending to be someone else might get you further than the texting phase, but it will be in vain since you have been lying all along. So stick to your age, name, hobbies, and job. It will be better than saying that you are a young, professional diving tutor or you have a traveling agency because that won’t get you more dates as you think.

Do not make your first text you’re last

Once you set your profile, make sure you wrote an honest, sincere Bio and interests. It is time for texting. The first message is as important as the rest of the process, do not underestimate what it could mean for the person at the receiving end. You should write an appealing, still respectful text to get a text back. A text has so many checkpoints to go through, timing is one of them. It is a significant factor, just as spelling and grammar. People tend to like others who take their language and time seriously. Make sure your message is short, polite, and straight to the point.

How to keep the conversation going

As you unlock the texting phase, things start to get a little hard for some people. For instance, they might not know how to keep the conversation going, and they tend to lie out of stress. It should not be that hard or that complicated. The idea of online hookup apps is to help people come closer virtually, and it does not mean that you should fake your personality. One of the basic ground rules is no lying included. Tell them about yourself, share your thoughts and ideas, and remember it is not just about you. Ask them questions, let them know that you care about them by remembering what they tell you and asking about their lives or everyday routine.

You need to set some boundaries

The answer to a more exciting question does not only include any lying rule. Yes, sticking to who you are doing the trick, but you also need to set some lines that can’t be crossed, like not sharing whatever comes to your mind at the beginning of a conversation. It is not recommended to share unwanted topics like stories about your family traumas when you have just started texting someone. Keep it casual, learn how they think, what they aspire to be, and if you are lucky enough, you will get to the place where sharing is on the table and is acceptable.

Conclusion

Online adult dating is sticky, just like ordinary hookups. You have to prepare yourself to go through almost everything, and you won’t find the love of your life as effortlessly as people would reckon. Try to enjoy the process and of course, do not forget to give what we advised in this article a chance.

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4 Ways to Achieve Your Financial Goals

March 11, 2022

When it comes to achieving financial goals, there’s not always a one-size-fits-all approach. For instance, you may want to get out of credit card debt, while your BFF would like to save more money for retirement. Then there’s your favorite aunt who plans to pay cash for her dream car.

While financial goals are different for everyone, you can certainly go about achieving them the same way. And regardless of your monetary hopes and dreams, the following tips will help you get there sooner rather than later:

1. Write it All Down

There’s something innate about putting your financial goals on paper. Not only will it help keep you focused, but you’ll also be more likely to achieve those goals. For example, write down “get out of credit card debt,” or whatever your goal is, on a few sticky notes. Then, place them on some mirrors throughout your house. You could also wrap one around your credit card in your wallet as a reminder. Additionally, be specific with what you want to achieve. Rather than jotting down “new car” or “dream vacation,” note the make and model you want or where you desire to travel.

2. Arrange for Automatic Deposits

If your objective is to save some major cash, consider opening a new bank account. From there, arrange for a set amount to be automatically deposited into the fund each month or payday. Or, you can download the monorail app and create a wish list to hit your specific financial goal. Then, connect the wish list to your bank account, choose the amount you want to have tucked away, and voilà — you’ll be one step closer to reaching your target.

3. Set Achievable Milestones

Sometimes a financial goal may seem impossible — at least at first. This is exactly why you should set smaller, more achievable milestones that, when done together, will quickly add up. For instance, say you’re determined to save for a down payment on a new home. Figure you’ll need at least $25,000 in savings. At first, this amount may seem overwhelming. Instead of focusing on the grand total, vow to set aside $200 every paycheck or $500 each month. Or, put away whatever amount you deem reasonable and won’t make you feel defeated from the get-go.

4. Give Yourself a Deadline

If you want to achieve your financial goal, the word “someday” should not be part of the equation. To keep yourself on track, set a reasonable yet inspiring deadline. Let’s say you have $16,000 in credit card debt that you’re determined to reduce. You could easily do the following to whittle away at this amount by about $1,000 per month:

Picking up a side hustle on weekends
Cutting back on expenses
Earning as much overtime as possible at work

Of course, you’ll want to forecast some months will have extra expenses that could cut into this goal. But you could reasonably assign yourself a deadline of 18 months to be debt-free. Going back to the first tip of writing down your goal, add the deadline to this note, amending it as each month goes by.

Decide on Your Dream and Then Go for It!

Once you determine your financial dream, there’s no reason to wait any longer to achieve it. Pick up a pack of sticky notes and jot down your goal. From there, download an app that will make putting aside money extra easy, set mini-goals, and establish a deadline. Then, rest assured knowing each day you’re doing what you can to meet your objective, whatever it may be.

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Order An Essay Online

March 11, 2022

Let the experts assist you if you are overwhelmed with schoolwork. Juggling homework from many subjects may be tiring and counterproductive, as you are well aware. Overwork might eventually lead to poor performance and low grades.

As a consequence, entrusting part of your schooling to specialists is an excellent option. For example, you may pay a professional writer to prepare an essay for you. Students all across the world buy essays online. You’re not alone if you’ve ever Googled “buy essay online.”

If you select a suitable writing service, your decision will pay off well. It will enable you to focus on your interests while also lowering your stress levels. Below is mentioned the way you can order an essay on any topic that will be created according to your exact specifications.

Payment Options Ordering an Essay

When you acquire an essay online from a website, you can choose from a variety of payment methods. They continue to improve the payment site for your convenience by offering additional options and capabilities for all of their valued clients. Apple Pay is the safest and most convenient way for Safari users to complete their order essays online. Any of the following techniques can be used to make a payment:

American express
MasterCard
Visa
Apple Pay

Order Custom Essays at Low Prices

You can access a large number of sample essays on different sites. You can also order custom-write essays online based on your specific requirements. We guarantee 100% unique content, excellent quality, and prompt delivery. You may get essays on any subject and select the type you want, such as literary analysis, graduation, argumentative, persuasive, research paper, and much more.

Essay Writing Service Price Calculation

The cost of your essay relies on a variety of parameters, including academic level, essay types, deadline, the total number of pages, number of slides, spacing, and so on. Orderanessay.org offers the lowest prices and lets you pick your own writer to order an essay. Furthermore, our writers’ work isn’t complete unless the essay is produced according to your specific specifications. It indicates that you will only release payment once you are completely happy.

Ordering an Essay in the Correct Sequence

Making an online essay buy follows a rather straightforward procedure. Our user-friendly online essay purchasing system will walk you through each step of the process, ensuring a stress-free online essay ordering experience. To complete your essay writing order, simply follow the simple procedures outlined below:

Step:1 Make a User Account

Our Essay writing site supports single sign-in, which means you may finish the account creation procedure using your Google or Facebook account. All you have to do is click the “Login” button in the top-right corner and select the appropriate signup option.

Step:2 Describe Your Requirements

The following step is to describe your needs, which include the essay’s topic, page count, deadline, and directions. You can also save time by uploading files with instructions.

Step:3 Select Your Writer

The system will then ask you to select your writer, with the option to contact the available specialists if you so desire. After that, you’ll need to double-check the information and finish the order by adding funds. Once the task is done to your satisfaction, the monies are issued.

Why Orderanessay.org Is the Best Option?

Orderanessay.org is a secure and reliable online platform that provides high-quality online essay ordering services at affordable prices. We have a team of highly skilled and educated writing specialists who cover a wide range of topic areas. Regardless of the topic, intricacy, or tight deadlines, they go above and beyond to do the work. Some of the fundamental values of our services include flawless quality, reasonable cost, personal data safety, 100% plagiarism-free material, and quick delivery.

We are Experts in Essay Writing

The primary characteristics of a well-written essay are perfect styling, tidy formatting, and original content from trustworthy sources. Because you can utilize your writings for educational reasons, our writers never compromise on any of these characteristics. Professional writers with degrees in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math, History, Computer Sciences, Psychology, Art, and other fields are available to work with you. All you have to do is place an order for an essay on the subject of your choice, and we’ll handle the rest.

We offer a Money-Back Guarantee

If you are unhappy with the quality for any reason, you can ask your writer for modifications. If you’d like, you can also request a different writer while you’re waiting. Finally, by contacting orderanessay.org support, you can request a refund. To put it another way, you don’t have to pay until you’re completely satisfied with your job.

Who are the people who use our essay writing services?

Due to severe workloads and homework assignments, many college and university students do not graduate on time. It has an impact on pupils’ academic achievement as well as their ability to participate in extracurricular activities. Thousands of high school kids, undergraduates, and even post-graduate college and university students in similar situations have contacted us to request essay writing assistance. They chose us because they understand how important it is to choose a trustworthy and reliable essay writing partner. Not only do we provide the best essay writing services, but we also ensure that your assignment is completed on time. However, in order to safeguard your academic reputation, we adhere to rigorous confidentiality guidelines.

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The Latest Golf Tips to Improve Your Game

March 11, 2022

As with any sport, the basics are important to help a player improve his or her game. But here are some tips to supplement those basics. Golf consists of many difficult aspects in order to play the sport at a higher level: the swing, mental focus, stance and how to correctly swing, etc.

A lifetime is not enough time to completely master this complex sport, but working on technique, helps build your golf skills as you advance. There are some basic fundamentals to master in golf that will help you improve your game, but once you have them down, focus on the details of your technique.

Golf Tips for Improving Your Game

Golf is a game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. While it may seem like a simple game, there is more to it than meets the eye. If you are looking to improve your golf game, follow these tips. First, make sure you are using the correct grip. Many beginners grip the club too tightly, which makes it difficult to swing smoothly. Try to relax your hands and grip the club lightly. Second, focus on your stance.

The golf tips in this article are sure to help your game. You will learn how to improve your swing and how to putt better. These tips are coming from some of the best golfers in the world, so you know they will work. Best of luck to you and happy golfing!

How to Lower Your Golf Score

One way to lower your golf score is to improve your short game. This includes your chipping and putting. You can also improve your score by improving your swing. You can do this by practicing regularly and learning the right techniques.

Driving the Ball Far

Golfers looking to drive the ball further should follow these tips: first, use a Driver that is correctly fitted to your height and swing; secondly, focus on your backswing and follow-through, making sure to keep your arms and wrists straight; thirdly, make sure to hit the ball in the center of the clubface; and finally, keep your head down and stay focused on the ball until after you have hit it.

Playing Better on the Green

Golf can be a frustrating game, especially when you are not playing well. Here are a few tips to help you play better on the green. First, make sure you are using the right club for the shot. Second, make sure you are taking your time and lining up the shot correctly. Third, make sure you are following through with your swing. And lastly, make sure you are focusing on the ball and not on the hole.

Choosing the Right Clubs

When choosing golf clubs, it is important to select the right set for your game. There are many different types of clubs available, so it is important to know which ones will work best for you. Here are a few tips for choosing the right clubs:

Choose clubs that fit your height and swing.
Make sure the clubs are the correct weight for you.
Choose clubs that are the correct length for you.
Make sure the grip is the correct size for your hands.
Use golf balls that match your swing speed and the conditions you play under.
Take lessons from a qualified pro.
Always take care of your equipment.
Play in tournaments.
Play with quality people.
Practice on-course conditions.
Have fun!

A golfer who plays well in all situations has developed good golf etiquette and sportsmanship. You can also purchase old golf clubs from the used products marketplace. They have variety of products related to golf.

Avoiding Common Mistakes

Golf is a sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It can be a challenging and frustrating game, but it can also be very rewarding. There are some common mistakes that people make when playing golf, and here are some tips for avoiding them.

One of the most common mistakes made by golfers is not keeping their head down. This can cause you to lose your balance and hit the ball inaccurately. Another mistake that people often make is swinging too hard.

The Best Golf Tips for New Players

If you are new to the game of golf, you may be looking for some tips to help improve your game. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

Make sure you are using the correct stance. Your feet should be shoulder-width apart, with your weight evenly distributed between your feet.
Keep your head still and focused on the ball.
Use a light grip, and keep your hands relaxed.
Take the club back from the inside.
Keep your arms fully extended at the top of the swing.
Swing along a vertical plane and make sure you hit the ball in the center of the face of the club.
Hit the ball solidly, with a full follow-through.
As of new player you can purchase used golf club sets from Find Used Forsale.

For Better Endurance

Golf is a sport that can be played for hours on end. To improve your endurance, you need to be in good shape and have good stamina. In order to improve your endurance, you can try the following tips:

Practice regularly. The more you play, the better your endurance will be.
Stretch before you play. This will help loosen your muscles and prepare you for the game.
Drink plenty of water. If you’re not used to playing sports, you might get dehydrated. If you are thirsty, keep drinking water until you stop feeling thirsty.
Make a pre-game ritual to help you focus. For example, get your equipment ready or stretch before the game starts.
Wear loose-fitting clothes that make you feel comfortable and don’t restrict your movement.
Focus on what you are doing.
Try your best to stay calm and relaxed.

In conclusion, following these golf tips will help improve your game. With a little practice, you will be on your way to being the next Tiger Woods.

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How to Master Online Adult Dating in 2022?

March 11, 2022

Profile

Honesty is key

Do not make your first text you’re last

How to keep the conversation going

You need to set some boundaries

Conclusion

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The Performance and Transformation Orchestrator: The CFO’s New Mandate in the Age of AI

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By Terence Tse CFOs are evolving into AI-driven transformation orchestrators, balancing finance, technology, and strategy while upskilling teams, managing risks, and driving measurable business value. A key insight from this year’s AI for CFOs event, organized...