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Top Safety Features Of An Online Casino.

Why people prefer online casinos- A safety feature.

Many people will prefer online casinos to land-based casinos now when it comes to playing casino games online for real money. This is not always due to the convenience of it all, while sure, online casinos are much loved and sought after, they are also very safe, and not just in terms of standard security.

In a land-based casino you have basic financial security measures, bouncers, and CCTV. However, there is much to be improved on in land-based casinos that makes them not live up to the standards of the best online casinos.

Of course, not every online casino has the absolute top-notch security measures in place, but the best ones do, and frankly, these are the ones that people should play at most. Casinos that lack these measures, should be avoided for your own safety, security and peace of mind. https://cad.casino/ is one of these exemplary casinos.

So, what are these features that trump the land-based world, and why should you feel super safe when you gamble online with the best online casinos?

Security Protocols.

One of the reasons that online casinos need to be so safe is thanks to the enormous amounts of money being transferred to and from players and the casino operators. The personal information of players is included in these transactions, and so there needs to be high levels of security to protect the players and the casino from any third-parties.

These are some of the security protocols you would find implemented by any casino online.

Firewalls.

We all have a basic understanding of firewalls. These help to establish specific parameters which decide which web traffic should and should not be allowed. It helps to prevent any unwanted traffic from entering the server of the casino. This is so important as it prevents the server from being attacked by any malicious codes that could seek access to user data. They also help to prevent Disturbed Denial of Service, which could increase unpleasant traffic on sites and increase vulnerability.

RNG.

RNG technology (Random Number Generator technology) ensures that players have a fair chance to win a wager. It ensures that every bet’s result is randomized, eliminating the idea that online casinos temper the outcome into their own favor.

SSL.

Every top tier online casino will implement SSL (Secure Socket Layer), which provides identification information about the web server on which the casino site runs. It will then establish an encrypted connection within nanoseconds. This encrypts sensitive information, which can only be accessed by someone that has decryption keys. It ensures that even if someone were to somehow gain access to the data of users, they still would not be able to read it.

Third parties.

Disagreements may happen in any casino setting, hell, in any business setting for that matter. Occasionally, gamblers may have a disagreement with the online casinos’ management. In cases where this may happen, it can be helpful for a third party to come and resolve the conflict. These third parties are often expert operators who are trained to handle a plethora of disputes between players and casinos.

These interventions help to improve the relationship between casino and gamblers in general. They will typically review player transactions and the real, deep cause of the disputes and try to offer a favorable solution to all parties. These third parties are basically trained in customer conflict and conflict resolution.

It is a fantastic feature of casinos that does not just ensure security, but also the enjoyment and well running of the casino. We think every online business should take this feature into consideration.

Responsible Gambling.

Online casinos will incorporate some amazing features, but this is our favorite. They will bring in features that will assist in regulating how you wager. So, they can impose limitations on the amount you can deposit and withdraw when you start gambling. They will also allow more experienced players to set their own limits to ensure that they gamble responsibly. They may be able to set a limit on the amount that they might bet, or how much they can bet per day or per week.

This means that the casino enforces responsible gambling through the design of their online platform. It is not just a feature of basic security, but it helps to keep you safe. You won’t likely go over your budget with these restrictions, and it prevents gambling from going from fun to problem for many people.

Secure Banking.

Online casinos also offer secure banking. However, one of the best features added of late is the inclusion of the multiple deposit options. You can play using debit or credit cards, online financial management such as PayPal and the like, however, with many casinos now you can also play via cryptocurrencies. Should you decide to use cryptocurrencies to gamble online, you will get another layer of security through the blockchain you use and your cryptos.

In the event you use a different payment option, there are so many available you can use, and if one payment option should fail you, there will be plenty of other options you can use anyway.

These methods are all secure, and encrypted, which gives confidence in using them.

Casinos are about gambling, which involves money and a lot of transactions. The safer you feel, the better, and any good casino will have your comfort and security as a priority.

Russian Mail Order Bride Cost: How Much Does It Cost To Get A Russian Bride?

Sponsored By: bridesclub.org

Russian mail order brides are rightfully famous all over the world. Millions of Western gentlemen have either gotten the idea to get a Russian bride or have taken active steps to do it. But what should you know about Russian women as wives, how much does it cost to get a Russian mail order wife, and which online dating services promise you the best experience and chance of meeting a Russian wife? Here is your ultimate guide to Russian mail order wives.

Best dating sites to find a Russian bride online

  • Bravo Date: Sign up in under 5 minutes and meet thousands of beautiful Russian singles for long-term dating.
  • Jolly Romance: The most popular dating site for international relationships between Russian ladies and Western guys.
  • Amour Factory: Detailed profiles of Russian women and plenty of ways to impress them regardless of the distance.
  • Single Slavic: There is a precise matching algorithm allowing you to meet the most suitable Russian bride for serious relationships.
  • Kiss Russian Beauty: Countless real Russian brides, the most diverse communication tools, and cool design.

Russian girls for marriage

Why should you choose a Russian mail order bride?

Even if you’ve never met a Russian woman before, you have probably heard a lot about Russian brides in the media. However, the media often don’t do Russian women justice, and there are many reasons why beautiful Russian bridesmake the best mail order wives. Here are just three of them.

A Russian mail bride is an intellectual

Sure, a Russian bride is stunning and sexy, but there are brains behind all that beauty. Most Russian girls for marriage are incredibly well-read and can successfully support any conversation.

Russian wives are deeply loyal

A Russian mail bride will never violate your trust and will make it easy for you to trust her no matter how long you’ve been together or how much time you spend apart.

A Russian bride is great with kids

If you’re looking not just for a wife but also for a mother to your future children, you should definitely consider marrying a woman from Russia—these ladies have maternal instincts in their blood.

How to buy a Russian bride

Now that you know that Russian single women make perfect wives, the next question you have probably sounded something like this one: “How can I, a Western man, get a Russian wife?” The answer is, “Through the internet, of course!”

Online dating has been the solution to the romantic struggles for millions of people worldwide, and it’s particularly helpful when your ideal women live not just in another country, but on another continent. Your regular online dating sites may not be beneficial in this situation, but this is why there are international dating services, also known as Russian mail order bride sites.

These Russian mail order wife services work similarly to dating sites: you get to visit the profiles of beautiful ladies, message them, and eventually meet them online. However, the end goal of this communication is not just some meaningless flirting or a quick fling. Meeting a reliable partner for a long-term relationship or marriage is exactly what Russian mail order brides on these sites want.

Bravo Date – Get 20 credits after registration

Real Russian order bride prices—Key expenses of Russian bride dating

If you live in one of the Western countries—for example, in the US—and have only dated women from your own country, then you may have never considered the financial side of dating before. Sure, it costs money to go on dates and give gifts to women, but those are not the kind of expenses you think about seriously or budget for.

International dating is a different story, especially when your future spouse lives thousands of miles away from you in distant and mysterious Russia. So how much do mail order brides cost and what are the most common and less obvious expenses to take into account?

Before we begin looking at the average cost of getting a wife from Russia, we need to settle an important argument. Despite what some people say and the history of the term “Russian mail order bride,” you cannot actually buy Russian wife. What you can do is invest money to make your experience with a Russian bride more effective and satisfying, and here are the most common expenses you’ll face.

most common expenses you’ll face

Online dating expenses on Russian bride websites

As a modern gentleman living in the 21st century, you are probably no stranger to dating websites. There is even a chance that you’ve used a dating platform or two before, and they could have been free. However, international dating sites are a slightly different story. Most of such sites are available to women for free, but men need to pay to use those dating sites.

The reason for that is simple. When men invest money into their dating site experience, they tend to take it more seriously and avoid violating the unwritten dating site rules. So you can typically visit dating site once or twice without paying anything, but if you want to make the most out of your time on it, you will need to invest in a paid membership.

Moreover, most mail order bride sites offer a variety of tools that make communication even more robust and effective. These features can include anything from video chat or virtual gifts to phone calls and allow you to get to know Russian women for marriage even better without meeting in person. However, these features are usually not included in membership, and you need to pay for them with a credit-based system or use another in-site currency.

One more way to spend money on online dating sites is to use the gift delivery feature. Since you and the foreign brides are separated by long distance, you don’t have many chances to impress the ladies. This is why many dating websites offer you an opportunity to send gifts right to your bride’s doorstep.

This feature works very simply: you choose a gift, such as flowers, sweets, perfume, or a gadget, pay for it, and a delivery service gets it to the recipient and then gives you a photo proof of the delivery. Here is how much sites with mail order bride cost you on average for 1 month:

  • Membership: $10-$50
  • Extra features: $50-$200
  • Gift delivery: $100-$1,000
  • Translation services: $50

Free registration on Jolly Romance

Travel expenses

Even when you are using the best mail order bride websites and are feeling very comfortable on your dating journey, there will come a time when you need to meet Russian women in person. After all, you are looking for a wife, not a pen pal, so you need to know whether you make a good match in real life and not just online.

Russian women brides are pretty modern, and they don’t mind making the first move with men. However, they draw the line at the first date with foreign men. Your future wife will expect you to take the trip to Russia, not the other way around. And the budget for that trip will largely depend on where exactly you are going.

For example, Moscow is famously the most expensive city in Russia, so a 14-day stay there will cost you as much or even more than a trip to any other European capital. At the same time, a trip to a smaller Russian city probably won’t break your bank. This is how much Western men spend on average on visiting their Russian mail order wives.

Airfare

The cost of flight tickets depends on your outbound and destination cities, the season, and a number of other factors. It also matters when you are booking the tickets: the more time is left until the flight, the cheaper the tickets are going to be. On average, the airfare from the US to Russia is going to cost you from $1,000 to $2,000.

Accommodations

Depending on the city, the available accommodations in Russia can range from rental apartments and budget-friendly Airbnbs to world-class hotels. If you are strapped for cash, there are also hostels, but they are not the preferred option for obvious reasons. A 14-day stay in a medium-range hotel in Moscow or another major Russian city can cost you from $700 to $1,500.

Food

Russia is not a country with a lot of street food, but the restaurant industry there is pretty well-developed, with restaurants for any taste and budget. There are also buffets, coffee shops, and anything to give you a romantic adventure or to let you grab a bite after a long day of walking. You can expect to spend between $500 and $1,200 on food if you are going to be frequently dining out with your Russian beauty.

Dating expenses

When you are getting ready to date a beautiful Slavic woman, you should definitely take the time to research Russian culture, especially when it comes to dating. For example, you can quickly realize that in Russian dating culture, the main is expected to bring gifts for his woman for the date and gifts for her family when he’s visiting them for the first time.

When your Russian bride is preparing for your first-ever date, it’s considered to be a nice gesture if you take her shopping for a new outfit or pay for her beauty procedures since she wants to look her best for her. This is what you can calculate into Russian dating expenses, and it can all cost you from $500 to $1000 for the whole duration of your stay in the country.

Translators, guides & drivers

Even though you are going to be spending a vast majority of your time with your bride trying to develop a serious relationship, you can’t just expect her to be the only person you’re in contact with for the whole duration of your trip. When visiting Russia, these are the three people you will possibly need to hire and pay:

  • Translator. If your woman is not as fluent in Russian as you’d like her to be, a professional translator will help you avoid miscommunication and awkward pauses during the dates.
  • Guides. Your mail order bride will gladly show you around her native city, but a great guide will give you an even more memorable tour of the city’s most impressive spots.
  • Driver. Russia has Uber and other taxi companies, but if you intend to travel by car multiple times a day every day, you may find that a personal driver is more suited to your needs and status.

Intercity travel

Russia is a country that has a lot to offer to tourists. It’s also a country where cities and attractions are often located far from one another, so you are going to be spending a lot on intercity travel—mostly buses and trains. Depending on the intensity of your travels around Russia, your intercity travel spending budget can reach $400.

Cost of a Russian order bride visa

The most popular way to bring mail order brides from overseas to the United States is to get them a K-1 visa. Every year, thousands of K-1 visas are issued to mail order brides all over the world, and up to 1,000 Russian mail order wives receive them every year. The visa alone costs $265, but most couples prefer to work with immigration lawyers to increase the possibility of a successful outcome. If you also opt for professional assistance, you can add up to $1,000 in visa fees to your Russian brides cost.

Assimilation costs

For most Russian brides online, marrying a foreign guy and moving to the US is a pretty big move that requires a lot of courage. It’s also a move that turns their world upside down. Starting life with a clean slate in a foreign country is stressful even when you have a beloved husband by your side, so you need to treat your new wife with patience and prepare for possible assimilation costs.

First, your Russian mail order wife probably won’t be able to begin working right away, so you’ll need to support the family on your own. This is especially important if you decide to start a family since it’s common for Russian brides for marriage to take a few years of maternity leave instead of a few months like most American women do.

Moreover, Russian wives often begin taking English classes or professional courses to obtain new skills and increase their chances of finding a suitable job. Needless to say, you are going to be the one covering these expenses and also providing the family’s livelihood during this time.

Should you consider a romance tour to find a Russian bride?

russian mail order bride cost

Using mail order bride services to look for Russian mail order brides means you have full control over the kind of women you meet, the duration of your online communication, and when you decide to take your relationship offline.

However, things didn’t always work like that. Only a couple of decades ago, thousands of Western gentlemen met Russian women for marriage through something called romance tours. And even though they are not as popular as they used to be, they are still alive and well. But are they a good option for meeting Slavic women?

The best thing about romance tours is that they help you avoid any planning duties. Everything from the visa to the transportation services will be taken care of by the Russian bride dating agency organizing your tour. However, romance tours have some drawbacks as well. Specifically, they make you vie for the attention of Russian brides with several other men. Moreover, a few hours may not be enough to develop a meaningful connection with someone, let alone a future wife.

Romance tours can be an alternative to doing it all on your own, but only if you don’t have particularly high expectations. The average price of romance tours is between $4,000 and $8,000 for a few days in Russia, so if you’d like to try your luck, there are some dating platforms that would do that for you. In the end, you can get the personal contact information of the women you like and continue offline or online communication.

Russian mail order bride cost: The total average cost

The essential thing to understand here is that the cost of meeting Russian mail order brides can vary greatly and depends on many different factors, including:

  • Russian dating sites you choose
  • How many women you communicate with
  • How much time you spend online
  • How long you communicate online before meeting in real life
  • Where your Russian bride lives
  • How many times you meet before getting married
  • What your dating and gift-giving style is like

The typical budget for meeting Russian mail order brides, from the moment you join a dating platform to the moment your sweetheart enters the US as your bride, is from $5,000 and $20,000. It goes without saying that if you are as enamored with Russian wives as we are, any Russian mail order bride cost is absolutely worth it!

Are Russian brides legal in the US?

Are Russian brides legal in the US

Now that we’ve covered the question of Russian mail bride cost, let’s look into the legality of such marriages. The idea of marrying a Russian bride is very attractive, but you also can’t help but wonder: can an American man legally marry a Russian mail order bride? The short answer to this question is yes, marriage to foreign women in the US is absolutely legal, but only if you or your new wife are not going around telling everyone that she’s a mail order bride.

The term “mail order bride” has a somewhat negative connotation in modern society and makes people think that you paid someone to get a woman to marry you or even paid the woman directly to become your wife. This is not the impression you want your friends or family members to have, and this is definitely not how you give your Russian mail order bride a legal status in the US.

Other than that, marriage to a Russian mail order bride is fully legal, and there is a simple procedure you need to complete to help your Russian lady move into the US permanently and acquire a Green Card. The first step of that procedure is to get a K-1 visa, and once that is done, you just need to enjoy your married life—this is going to be the best possible proof that you actually want to be together and are not just doing it for a Green Card.

Frequently asked questions about Russian mail order brides

Are Russian mail order brides legit?

Yes, the possibility of finding a loyal partner from Russia is perfectly real thanks to the existence of single Russian brides. However, you need to make sure you are using a trusted online dating site with real women from Russian cities. Otherwise, you risk wasting real money and your time on a relationship that doesn’t go anywhere.

Can you really buy a Russian mail order wife?

Absolutely not! Whenever we talk about the Russian mail order bride cost, we don’t mean that you can literally pay the price to have a beautiful Russian woman agree to marry you. This term simply refers to your cumulative expenses of using dating sites and meeting Russian brides online and in real life.

Is there a language barrier with Russian ladies?

One of the important things to know about Russia is that its school system is still incredibly strong from its soviet times. A typical Russian woman knows a great deal of English, so even though her accent might take you some time to get used to, you shouldn’t have a problem communicating with a Russian mail order bride.

How long does it take to find a Russian wife?

The answer to this question depends on multiple factors, from your previous online dating experience to how quickly you prefer to move through the different relationship stages. On average, it takes Western guys between 6 and 12 months to meet their dream Russian lady and approximately the same amount of time to turn her into their wife.

Can dating platforms guarantee that I will find a Russian mail order bride?

No, even when you sign up for the most famous Russian mail order bride service, you cannot expect any definitive guarantees. Online and offline dating is highly competitive and even includes luck as one of the possible factors of success. However, the best online dating websites will do everything to make your experience successful.

How much does a Russian bride cost?

Since there are no real Russian brides for sale, there cannot be a fixed Russian wife cost. When people ask: “Can you really order a Russian bride and how much does it cost?”, what they mean is the accumulation of all the expenses associated with dating Russian mail order brides online and then offline. The overall Russian brides cost can be anywhere from $3,000 to $7,000 and more, depending on your online dating experience and length of your journey to love.

Elon Musk: The First Man to Reach the $300 Billion Mark

Elon Musk has become the first person to be worth more than $300 billion. The tech entrepreneur’s fortune leaped by $10 billion on Monday and $100 billion in 2 weeks after shares in his company Tesla rose during morning trading in the US. According to the Bloomberg index, this pushed his total net worth above the $302 billion mark for the first time. The 50-year-old is now worth $100.6 billion – more than Jeff Bezos, currently the second richest person globally.

Are you in the Finance and Investments field? Having an apt Resume for Financial Analyst in the billionaire world comes with a specific set of expectations. It sits well with following the money. Suffice to say, Elon Musk’s wealth is greater than the annual GDP of certain nations like Pakistan, Chile, and Finland. His accumulated wealth also exceeds the market value of Netflix and PayPal, companies that he co-founded. The drastic increase in Musk’s assets comes at a time when lawmakers are seriously contemplating a billionaires tax. It is set to get a chuck wealth of circa 700 billionaires in the US.

Under the plan, if a billionaire’s portfolio contains a company’s stock, it would be valued once a year. And if the asset per se gains value, the billionaire is obliged to pay tax on the gains, even if they have not made a sale. Under the current law, revenues are only taxed when or if realized, when the owner makes a sale and makes a profit.

The plan is designed to wring more money out the wealthiest American entrepreneurs and investors with complex business arrangements, such as private equity investors and hedge fund managers. Those individuals now enjoy paying lower capital gains tax rates than wage earners, giving them an advantage over traditional job creators.

However, the future for the billionaires’ tax row is quite uncertain as it was not included in Joe Biden’s framework for domestic policy package that was released on Thursday. Yet, the deal between Congressional Democrats is not final.

“I don’t find the tax good,” said Mr. Musk, who also serves as chief executive of Space Exploration Technologies Corp. “If they are positive, I don’t like them. If they’re negative, I will go back to Congress and fight.”

Musk joined other billionaires in the displeasure of the proposed tax targeting them. Under the proposal, he would be liable for circa $50 billion, and Jeff Bezos would take an approximately $44 billion hit on taxes as well. 

Billionaires aren’t pleased with the idea of a “billionaire tax.” According to The Wall Street Journal, some are even threatening to leave New York if the state’s tax goes through. Among them are grocery-store magnate John Catsimatidis, who owns Gristedes, and billionaire hedge fund manager David Tepper, who manages Appaloosa Management.

In a rare interview, Mr. Cooperman scoffed at the idea that his generation should pay extra in taxes in order to help pay down debt, arguing that they have, in fact, contributed a lot.

Take a look at the top 10 wealthiest people in the world as per Bloomberg’s Billionaire Index:

  1. Elon Musk: $302 billion
  2. Jeff Bezos: $199 billion
  3. Bernard Arnault: $168 billion
  4. Bill Gates: $135 billion
  5. Larry Page: $129 billion
  6. Sergey Brin: $125 billion
  7. Mark Zuckerberg: $118 billion
  8. Steve Ballmer: $116 billion
  9. Larry Ellison: $115 billion
  10. Warren Buffet: $105 billion

Stay tuned for our next post.

The NFL Proves to Grow with Every Single Season and Betting Doesn’t Shy Away From It

If you’re a big NFL fan who also dabbles in gambling, you probably think that you can use your football knowledge to hit the jackpot. And you’d be right, sort of. While a big win isn’t guaranteed, you can up your odds by knowing the teams, players, and stats. If you’re the type of fan who follows teams closely and follows seasonal numbers, you can make informed guesses and increase your chances of a win. All you need is some money to start with and a handy sportsbook app to place your bets on. 

2021 is a great time to get into NFL betting as more people are doing it than ever. Several US states have passed legal gambling laws that open up sports betting to new areas of the country. Online gambling has been made easier, thanks to sportsbook apps run by companies that have been in the game for a while. Sportsbook apps like DraftKings offer welcome bonuses that you can use for free or low-risk bets, which you can turn into free money with some smart wagers. By familiarizing yourself with the news ways to bet in time for the best part of this year’s season, you can win money as easily as you check email.

As the US begins to open up once more, people are hyped to get back to the thrill of in-person sports. This coincides with the legalization of sports betting in many states. People who bet before are going back in with enthusiasm, and people who couldn’t bet before are racing to place their first bets. Many states are showing fantastic profits in their first few months of legal online sports betting. So the money is rolling in, which means you have a chance to win it. 

It’s worth noting that 2021 is the first NFL season to have 17 regular-season games. That’s an extra game a week, which means even more chances to win big. Combine that with the fact that many newcomers are hitting the sports betting scene this season. No offense to them, but they’re likely to bet way too big on uncertain outcomes. That’s extra chances for you to claim an easy prize. 

One last thing to consider is the convenience offered by sportsbook apps like DraftKings and FanDuel. They allow you to bet in all kinds of ways, including mid-game wagers. If you experiment with small bets on all the different kinds of wagers, you might find that you’re really good at a certain type of bet.The apps also support lively fantasy leagues, so you have a chance to win more money than you’d see at your office league. 

The Easiest Way To Get Into NFL Betting

NFL betting

I’ll say it again: sportsbook apps. Technology has brought rapid change all over the world, and sports are no exception. Fans can see more of what happens on and off the field, and can keep track of detailed stats. Being a part of the game has also been made a lot easier, as apps allow anyone to play in a fantasy league or bet on an NFL season. 

We’re all app savvy nowadays, so using a sportsbook app should come easily. The top names like DraftKings offer fast-loading apps with straightforward menus and ways to track your preferred games. Signing up is much like creating an account on any other app, just with a few extra steps like providing valid ID. When you do sign up, you’ll either get an automatic welcome bonus for or have to put in a simple promo code. From there, it’s doing what you’d do on any other app: swipe and tap until you find the NFL game you want to bet on. 

Football betting has always been a big event. By harnessing the power of smartphones, it’s gotten even bigger. More betting eyes are on the NFL this season, making it a great chance to sign up and cash in on the remaining season games. Then there’s the playoffs and Superbowl, where the stakes (and prize) will be even higher! 

How to Write the Perfect Resume

Looking for a job has been much simplified online. Instead of going through the papers or job boards like in the past, looking for jobs online is much easier and simpler. Armed with powerful tools, it’s easier than ever to look for jobs on the web and apply for them. You can even send out applications automatically to jobs that fit your wants and needs.

There’s just one tiny thing you need to handle before it – a perfect resume. While many job seekers don’t believe it’s important, a spotless resume is often the difference between landing your dream job and settling for something that’s just decent or worse. Not many of us have been gifted with resume writing qualities, and if you find yourself in this group, this article is for you.

A Perfect Resume – the Gateway to Your Dream Job

Relying on your qualities often means nothing when it comes to getting your dream job. Some firms and companies need spotless resumes that perfectly encapture what you’re like. The good news is that you can use a resume builder online nowadays to write the perfect resume. However, that’s just a tool. You still have a lot of work to do on your own, writing down what makes you a perfect candidate for the job.

If you need help with it, you’re at the right place. We’ll tell you a few tips and tricks for the perfect resume that will help you land the job of your dreams.

Choose the Right Resume Format

Before you begin, you need to choose the right resume format. There are 3 different types – reverse chronological, functional, and skills-based. You can also use a combination of these three to build a unique resume.

In most cases, people choose the reverse chronological format. Most resume builder webpages will offer it as well, listing your past work experiences by starting with the latest one.

Use the Right Keywords

Many people forget that many companies will use online recruitment tools to go through the slew of resumes on offer. Imagine receiving 500 resumes and going through them all? It’s tough work for anyone. That’s why companies use special software to sift through the applications, and these tools pick the perfect CVs by keywords.

Experts say that before you create your resume, you should look for keywords most likely to be used in the company’s query database on LinkedIn. The skills section should have them all. Just click on the More tab on your profile and enter the desired type of skill into the search box. It will give you related skills almost right away so you can easily incorporate them into your resume.

Once completed, those keywords will most likely be picked up by the company’s recruitment tools, selecting you as one of the candidates. That’s a perfect example of how powerful SEO can be.

Include Relevant Work Experience and Write in Detail

When writing your resume, include relevant work experience only. Part-time jobs such as retail sales or putting too many irrelevant work experiences won’t make your resume better. It would seem like you’re trying too hard. And it’s even worse if they have nothing to do with the job you’re applying for.

Write down your most relevant work experiences in detail. That’s why it’s called a resume – it’s a summary of the most important data relevant to the job you’re looking for. If you only have minimal work experience, don’t worry. Just go into detail on your responsibilities and highlight your skills – you still have a lot to offer. The best way to learn is to see how others fill up their cv, you can look at accountants cv examples and learn from them, their focus on relevant experience, and keywords connected with the job they are applying for.

Oh, and no listing hobbies – managers are interested in what you can offer to the company, not what you do in your free time.

Bullet Points for Accomplishments and Responsibilities

List your responsibilities under every job in bullets points. There should be 3-5 at most. Don’t use full sentences – keep things sweet and short. Bullet points will highlight key areas of your responsibilities the best and will make your resume easy to read and stand out from the crowd.

Education Information – Short and To the Point

Many job-seekers seem compelled to write as much information on their education as possible. That’s the wrong approach. You should always put this information at the end of your resume or after the work experience. You should also just list the name of college, your degree, and the year you graduated – nothing more.

If the company needs more information on your college degree, they’ll ask you personally during the interview. No need to list your high school achievements unless you have no education beyond it.

Keep the Resume to a Single Page

Your resume should never go over a single page. Don’t write two or more unless you believe the extra information is relevant to the job position you’re applying for. Keep things short and sweet and to the point. That’ll likely attract more attention from the company instead of a “book” where you list your accomplishments for no reason.

Korean Mail Order Brides: Find Out How to Meet Korean Wives

Sponsored by foreign-brides.net

Ever since online dating has become a thing, Western men have started venturing outside their local dating scene with local women and began looking for potential partners abroad. Asian women have gotten especially popular among those men, and there are many reasons for that. But even by those high standards, Korean women have constantly attracted immense attention from foreign men. Today we will tell you more about Korean mail order wives, where to meet them, and how to plan your strategy when you want to get a Korean wife.

Top 9 Websites to meet Korean Brides Online

  1. EasternHoneys designed for serious, real relationships.
  2. DateAsianWoman pretty Korean girls who want to meet you.
  3. AsianMelodies strong reputation among international marriage agencies.
  4. FindAsianBeauty — fantastic mobile experience.
  5. AsianBeautyOnline — lots of stunning Korean ladies.
  6. OrchidRomance — best for scoring the first date.
  7. LoverWhirl — one of the most reputable dating platforms.
  8. AsiaMe — very active female audience.
  9. AsiaBeautyDate — one of the leading online dating services in East Asia.

EasternHoneys

easternhoneys

Where to find hot Korean singles? EasternHoneys is definitely one of the best platforms that connect men to ladies from South Korea. Most of them are interested in serious relationships, which is why they really make an effort to make their profile as detailed and attractive as possible. Of course, that’s not the only reason why EasterHoneys is considered one of the best Asian dating sites—it also has great features from messaging to Live Shows and a lot of bonuses for new members. Of course, it has its cons, too, but the pros outweigh them. 

Pros Cons
There are thousands of active Korean singles Most women don’t message men first
Profiles contain plenty of photos There are no mobile apps available
Convenient payment system

DateAsianWoman

dateasianwomen

DateAsianWoman is one of the sites that make ladies send an official request and provide tons of information to create an account. That’s great news for men (who, by the way, can create an account in a few minutes), actually—they join the community where all women’s profiles are verified. On top of that, DateAsianWoman has a lot of great basic and special features, from text chat to calls and CamShare. Want to learn more about this site? Take a look at the list of benefits and drawbacks. 

Pros Cons
Active audience of Korean brides There are some profiles that are barely filled out
Phone and video calls are available Free members can see only one profile photo
Mobile apps both for iOS and Android

AsianMelodies

asianmelodies

AsianMelodies is one of the most popular Asian dating sites with lots of female members in Korea. Though members may have different relationship goals, most women here are looking for serious relationships, and many of them don’t wait until you contact them first. If you have a good profile you’ll get pretty many likes and winks (if you have a low-effort profile that’s not going to happen). Members can browse profiles and use search for free, but if they want to use premium features like chat, they should purchase credits.

Pros Cons
Search and profiles are just detailed enough Women rarely message guys first
Lots of ways to contact other users There are no mobile apps you can download
The cost of each paid feature is clearly listed in the FAQ

FindAsianBeauty

findasianbeauty

FindAsianBeauty is a site that has tens of thousands of members in Thailand, the Philippines, and, of course, South Korea. If you want to meet one of these beauties, you only need to sign up (it’s fast and completely free) and start browsing profiles. There are some free features (for example, you can “say Hi” without paying) but special features like text and video chat, as well as calls, are available to members who have enough credits. Is it worth joining? Take a look at its pros and cons to make the right decision. 

Pros Cons
Very detailed search Customer support is only available during limited hours
Smart Matches algorithm Free members can’t see all profile photos
There is a mobile app you can download for free

 

AsianBeautyOnline

asianbeautyonline

AsianBeautyOnline is designed exclusively for single men and Asian women who want to date them. Most female members are 24-35 years old, and most of them were never married (there are divorced girls, too). This is not one of the sites that only have 2-3 basic features—on this site, you can have a really great dating experience getting smart matches and using various tools, from CamShare to gift delivery. 

Pros Cons
Quick and easy registration Not all Korean women have perfect English language
Communication features for every taste and budget Search isn’t very detailed
Membership upgrade options are available

OrchidRomance

Orchidromance

What makes OrchidRomance stand out? Like many other international dating sites, it helps members interact online. They can use text chat, watch live shows, favorite others, send winks, etc. But there are some extra special features too. For example, a member can request another member’s contact details or send a real date request. What else do you need to know about the platform? Take a look at the list of its benefits and drawbacks. 

Pros Cons
Lots of Korean women online There are no mobile apps you can download
Date planning service is available The search could be more detailed
The site looks good both on desktop and mobile

LoverWhirl

Lovewhirl

LoverWhirl is a great and very easy-to-use website that works well for experienced online daters, as well as for beginners. This is a premium site with a wide range of special features like messaging, access to private photos, live shows, and more. However, unlike some other sites, it doesn’t make you pay for credits right after the registration—you get some free bonuses and can spend them on premium services. 

Pros Cons
Clean and modern interface The profiles are not too detailed
Some communication features are available for free There are no mobile apps available to download
The mobile version of the site looks as good as the desktop one

AsiaMe

asiame

AsiaMe is not just a dating site—this is a network of global dating sites with the largest number of female members living in Asian countries. Of course, it has Korean brides registered, too. Obviously, the platform works better for both men and women looking for serious relationships—the price of credits is not that low, but the platform really offers a lot of great tools, from gift delivery to international calls and video chat. 

Pros Cons
Thousands of women online at all times There can be too many chat requests from women
No empty or fake profiles There is no date planning service
You can use the service on mobile through an app

AsiaBeautyDate

Asianbeautydate

AsiaBeautyDate is an Asian online dating website that accepts male members worldwide. Though it is a premium site, there are a lot of free features members can use. In particular, they can apply tons of filters to find ideal matches, browse profiles, read the so-called Admirer emails, use the Say Hi feature, and even get free vouchers and bonuses. The best features (virtual and real gifts, calls, one-way and two-way video calls), however, are available to those who have enough credits. Other pros and cons of the platform are listed below. 

Pros Cons
Search and profiles are very detailed It takes time to get your profile approved
A smart matchmaking feature is available Not too many perks in a Premium membership
Various paid features

Where to find Korean mail order brides?

Mail Order Bride

As a gentleman living in the Western part of the world, you may be dreaming about dating Korean brides but you probably cannot run into Korean brides in the streets of your own city. Luckily, you are not out of options and you can meet the best Korean brides without even leaving your home.

What you need is one of the popular mail order bride sites. They are a safe and effective way to meet Korean women for marriage, but only when using a trusted site. To find the right dating service for your needs, you can ask your friends to refer you to one or look for dating site reviews from credible sources.

How to find a Korean bride?

Mail Order Bride - Korean

So, you’ve found an ideal dating service and are now ready to begin your most exciting adventure. However, there are many things to pay attention to before you can eventually meet your Korean mail order bride in person. These 5 tips will help you have a successful online dating experience:

  1. Invest time and effort into your profile. Your dating site profile is the first thing potential Korean wives will know about you, so you want it to paint an attractive picture of you.
  2. Pay attention to the photo. Don’t just upload a blurry selfie and call it a day. Use photos that not only demonstrate your best appearance features but also showcase your personality.
  3. Actively reach out to Korean brides. Don’t just wait around for them to notice you—these women get a lot of attention from men and may not find the time to browse men’s profiles.
  4. Make your communication meaningful. Talk about family, parents, work, children, and everything else that is important in a serious relationship, not just your tastes in pop culture.
  5. Develop the relationship. Koreans don’t like to wait for too long before the proposal, and you can start by arranging a date and visiting your woman and her family in Korea.

Difference between South and North Korean brides

When you visit site that talks about Korean women, this site means South Korean women in 9 cases out of 10. For obvious reasons, North Korean brides are not as popular in the West as South Korean ones. However, if you try hard enough, you can find sexy Korean women both in South and North Korea. There are definitely a lot of similarities between these two types of hot Korean women, but there are many differences as well. Here are the three most significant differences between mail order brides from North and South Korea.

  1. Culture. South Korean culture is famous all over the planet and has gotten a downright iconic status in the past years. Both other Asian countries and the Western part of the world are obsessed with this country’s culture and want to be a part of it. One of the biggest cultural phenomena is K-Pop, but there are many others to know about. The culture of North Korea is far less famous, mainly because life in this country is very restrained and we only know very few things about it.
  2. Life as a woman. South Korean society respects its women and creates plenty of opportunities for them to succeed and feel comfortable in their home country. Women in South Korea can do whatever they want with work and personal life. This is not something that can be said about women in North Korea. The government heavily controls every aspect of their lives. A typical North Korean girl cannot even visit site for dating like most Korean women in the South.
  3. Attitude to family. One of the North Korean traditions is for the women to get married relatively early and for the marriage to last forever. It’s simply not in the nature of women in North Korea to get divorced or to date casually until their mid-thirties. The situation is different in the South. Girls there are in no rush to get married. They spend their twenties and sometimes thirties looking for the right man, which is why they are also interested in Western men.

Why choose a Korean mail order bride?

Korean Mail Order Bride

We can talk a lot about the intricacies of the dating culture in Korea or how to meet beautiful Korean women. Still, we need to answer one crucial question before that: why should you consider dating Korean women and why are they so popular on international dating sites? There is no way to answer this question with just one sentence, but here are 5 reasons why you should date and marry Korean mail order brides.

Korean brides have beautiful features

The beauty of Korean women is as famous as the Korean music scene or movies. The features of a Korean bride are both delicate and strong. These women have gorgeous eyes, shiny dark hair, and bright-colored lips. Korean brides know how to highlight their beauty with makeup or flattering clothes. However, the important thing to know about the beauty of Korean girls is that it’s absolutely natural, and they wouldn’t go for plastic surgeries or other invasive ways to alter their beauty. Moreover, Koreans are famously ageless and look far younger than their actual age.

Korean ladies are educated and have a unique culture

Looking at a Korean woman is definitely one of the best feelings in the world, but talking to a Korean girl is something you will like even more. A typical Korean mail order bride is not just gorgeous—she’s intelligent and highly educated. She has at least one degree, has read hundreds of books, and is always looking for ways to learn more about the world. Mail order brides from Korea also have a one-of-a-kind culture that they will gladly share with you.

Korean women take dating and marriage seriously

When you get a Korean wife, you can rest assured you’ve found an ideal partner for life. Korean mail order brides, especially those actively looking for Western guys for marriage, want to tie the knot once and for all. They are loyal beyond belief and want to build a relationship on trust and mutual respect. Unfortunately, loyalty and devotion are not something they can always expect from Korean men. This is what motivates women to join international Korean dating sites.

Korean girls combine modern and traditional beliefs

When you first meet beautiful mail order brides from Korea, you can’t help but notice how they combine traditional and modern views. On the one hand, they want to enjoy all the wonders of the modern world. But, on the other hand, they want to live their lives like their mothers and grandmothers used to. Together, these two worldviews create a fascinating combination that will surprise you in more ways than one.

Brides from Korea are incredibly romantic

Many Western guys are stunned to find out that South Korea is one of the most romantic countries in Asia and worldwide. Romantic relationships are very important to a typical Korean woman, and she dreams about them when she doesn’t have a significant other. Once a Korean girl gets her perfect match, she will surround him with so much attention and romance that he will never want things to change.

Korean mail order brides cost

The pleasure of meeting Korean brides and turning them into Korean wives doesn’t come for free for Western gentlemen. The “cost” we are talking about here is obviously not literal, as you cannot buy any human being, let alone a wife. What we mean is the cumulative cost of the expenses associated with searching for Korean wives. The first group of expenses is the ones that concern online dating. This is how much it can cost you on average per month:

  • Premium membership: $50
  • Additional features: $100
  • Gift and flower delivery: $100
  • Translation services: $50
  • Matchmaking services: $50

The second group of expenses is when you finally visit the woman in Korea. This includes spending money on plane tickets, accommodations, food and entertainment, and transportation around the city you’re going to. Here is how much you will spend on average when visiting your bride in South or North Korea for a 14-day stay.

Country Tickets Hotel Food Transportation Entertainment Total
South Korea $1,100 $1,400 $500 $300 $400 $3,700
North Korea $2,000 $2,100 $700 $500 $300 $5,600

Korean wedding traditions (South and North)

Koreans take weddings seriously, and many traditions in these two countries are several centuries old. Here are the most important ones to know about.

South Korean wedding traditions

  • The union is not just between the bride and the groom, but also between the parents to form one big family.
  • The parents will wear outfits that signify their relationship with the newlyweds.
  • The parents will give the bride and the groom a wooden duck or goose to symbolize longevity.
  • In most Korean weddings, cash is the most common gift.

Marriage traditions in North Korea

  • Wedding venues are not at all common — the wedding is often celebrated at the family home or at work.
  • Like South Korean newlyweds, North Korean brides and grooms will wear traditional outfits on a Korean wedding — hanbok.
  • Instead of lavish wedding gifts to each other, the newlyweds will spend money on renovating and furnishing their future family home.
  • The parents and other family members will hold a special place at the Korean wedding ceremony and be honored by the bride and the groom.

How to marry a Korean bride?

Korean Bride - Marry

When you regularly visit site of your choice and talk to an Asian woman who caught your attention, you should keep in mind that it’s all for one important goal: to get you a Korean wife. However, even though beautiful Korean women are extremely popular both among Korean guys and Western ones, the process for marrying a non-US citizen is still more complicated than you probably imagine. You may have heard that foreign brides need a special kind of visa to marry American men, but there are a few more details you need to pay attention to. Right now, you have two options for marriage to a Korean woman:

  1. Consular processing. For this to work, you need to marry your mail order bride in her home country and then apply for her green card through the consulate in Korea. Besides the marriage certificate, you will need to provide Form I-130, Form DS-160, as well as complete a medical exam and an interview at the consulate.
  2. Fiancée visa. This is probably the most famous way of marrying a non-US citizen. You will need to apply for a K-1 visa, also known as the fiancée visa, have your Korean mail order bride arrive in the US, and marry her within 90 days. The essential condition here is that you need to see each other in real life at least once before the wedding. Form I-485 is required afterward to kickstart the process of obtaining a green card for your bride.

Korean women for marriage are popular beyond belief, and it’s not surprising. They have everything you could ever want to see in a life partner: strong family values, the best style, the amazing Korean culture, and a sincere desire to make their life partner happy.

What Are Singapore’s Best Online Brokerages?

Whether you like to buy/sell stocks or enjoy Forex trading, it’s important to choose the right online brokerage to assist. There are so many available options, but what is best for you in Singapore? How do you select a broker? 

Here’s what you need to know:

Saxo Markets

Saxo Markets is a great brokerage for many reasons. For example, the commission rate for ETFs and SGX stocks is 0.08 percent, which is the lowest within the market. 

Plus, this company offers a wide range of portfolio options, such as CFDs, FX, funds, futures, options, commodities, bonds, ETFs, and stocks. In fact, you can access over 19,000 stocks and 3,000 ETFs through 37 worldwide exchanges. These include SGX, NASDAQ, and NYSE!

There are three account tiers, as well. Classic has a $3,000 minimum, Platinum requires a $300,000 minimum, and VIP has a $1,500,000 minimum. When you choose higher tier levels, you get better trading conditions. These can include direct access to experts, priority support, lower prices, and much more. 

Tiger Brokers

Tiger Brokers is another great brokerage. It features a competitive commission rate of just $0.01 per share, but there is a minimum of $1.99 per order for ETF trading. With that, you also have access to more than 3,000 global ETFs on more than 30 exchanges worldwide, such as JP, AU, HK, SG, and US stock exchanges.

There are various online courses and educational videos available to those who sign up for and use the service. That way, you can learn about investing in ETFs. You also get customer support 24/5 for immediate issues.

Moomoo (FUTU)

Those who prefer ETFs are sure to like Moomoo. The minimum commission fee is $0.99, making it one of the lowest entry prices among online brokers. Plus, it features 3,000 global ETFs from 30 exchanges!

FUTU

Standard Chartered Online Trading

With this company, you can trade with fees as low as 0.18 percent, and there are no custody fees! Plus, if you’re a high-tier client, you have no minimum fees, either. That allows you to pay less when you trade more.

There are 15 stock exchanges available and 10 markets! Plus, you can trade using any device or smartphone. Trade on the go with no problems.

You’re even allowed to pledge your securities to maximize your trading opportunities. This gives you more flexibility and purchasing power. If that weren’t enough, the SGD deposits are insured by the SDIC for up to $75,000!

IG

If you’re into CFD trading, IG is the right company. It lets you trade CFDs through many products and instruments. These include options, SG indices, ETPs, digital 100s, knock-outs, commodities, shares, cryptocurrency, and Forex. With that, you’re exposed to more than 17,000 markets throughout the world.

Commission fees vary based on what you’re trading. For example, CFD indices have a 0.1 minimum spread, while stocks and ETFs are as low as 0.1 percent. 

Conclusion

Many people enjoy trading and want to earn a passive income with the extra money they have. If this sounds like something you might like, it’s best to go with the best online brokerage in Singapore. While this list talked about some of the most popular options, there are countless others. Moneysmart can help you compare them all and choose the most appropriate one.

Biden’s ‘Global Tax’ & the 40-Year US Corporate Tax ‘Shell Game’

By Dr. Jack Rasmus

The corporate media in recent days has been busy resurrecting and re-reporting the deal negotiated weeks ago by Janet Yellen, US Treasury Secretary, to get 100+ other nations to sign on to and introduce a 15% global corporate alternative tax in their countries.

But why is the mainstream media bringing it up again now? Is it to soften the blow of Biden’s repeal of his proposal to hike corporate taxes in the US from Trump’s 21% to 26%? (It was 35% pre-Trump)? Or is there something else as well that explains why the media is running the global tax story that’s already weeks old?

The global sign on to Biden’s 15% global minimum tax, announced weeks ago, is purportedly designed to prevent big multinational corporations’ manipulating governments by seeking out, and getting, special tax deals in certain countries at the expense of others.

A notorious example is Ireland, where US and other multinational corps locate their headquarters and book their global tax payments at Ireland’s lower corporate tax rate which is, on average, only 2%-3%, for most corporations.

Ireland is also the favorite locale for what’s called the ‘Inversion’ tax loophole. Per the loophole, US multinationals sell products or services in large quantities in other countries, but book their profits in Ireland simply because they locate their company headquarters there. They make nothing in Ireland, in many cases, but get to pay the Ireland much lower corporate tax rate instead of much higher tax rates in countries where the corporation actually does make and sell goods and services.

The biggest US corporate beneficiaries of this Inversion loophole have been US pharmaceuticals, tech companies, finance companies, corporate consulting companies, and many others. Under Clinton US corporations got to activate the loophole by simply ‘checking a box’ on the US corporate tax forms.

But Ireland is not the only back door out of domestic corporate taxes. There’s a host of others. Luxembourg and Netherlands in Europe also come to mind. There are others outside Europe as well.

The inversion tax loophole has enabled US corporations in particular to play one country against another and choose the lowest in which to relocate headquarters and book global profits at lowest rates.

The inversion loophole isn’t the only tactic US multinational corporations use to move their profits around to pay lower rates outside the US’s.

Another favorite tactic of US multinational corporations is to engage in what’s called manipulation of ‘internal’ pricing. That’s where a company manipulates its prices between its global subsidiaries: for example, it makes its US operations pay artificially higher prices for parts and materials it purchases from its subsidiaries offshore. That way the US operation records higher costs, and thus lower profits; from the higher prices it charges its US operations, its subsidiary gets higher sales revenue and higher profits. But it pays a lower profit rate in the offshore operations. In short, by clever internal pricing the US multinational corp reduces its profits and tax in the US, while increasing profits and tax offshore. Its net global tax payment is reduced.

The Biden administration has hyped the benefits of a global 15% minimum corporate tax as a way to make the biggest US corporate tax avoiders what more operations offshore, employ inversion loopholes, or just engage in ‘internal pricing’ to pay their fare share. Some have been paying nothing despite billions in sales revenues. But Biden’s 15% proposal does nothing for corporations manipulating internal pricing and nothing as well for ending inversions.

The global corporate tax ‘race to the bottom’ that Biden’s 15% minimum tax is supposed to correct is similar to the ‘race to the bottom’ tax game US corporations have been playing between the 50 US states for decades. For years, US corporations have been moving their headquarters operations from one state to another to lower their taxes; or else threaten to do so in order to get states and cities give them special tax breaks just to remain. They just don’t call it ‘inversions’ when carried on within the US.  In recent years US multinational corporations have exported and adapted this tax strategy to the global stage as well. Biden’s global tax is designed to try to do something about it on the global stage, while doing nothing within the US.

The 15% minimum is supposed to stop corporations manipulating countries’ tax systems. At least that’s what Biden and US Treasury tells us. But don’t trust the much hyped global 15% corporate minimum to accomplish what they say it will. Here’s just three reasons why not:

First, Biden’s 15% tax may never see the light of day. It will take all the 100+ countries–including the USA–to also pass actual tax legislation after the recent, much hyped 15% deal. The 15% treaty only says the 100+ are committed to try. It will take years just to get half of them to pass enabling legislation.

Second, the recently announced 15% global minimum tax is a negotiated treaty. That means, per the US Constitution, it must be ratified by the US Senate first (even before any US enabling legislation is introduced in Congress). Does anyone really think the current US Senate will approve that treaty? After it’s just done everything to prevent any stimulus legislation from being funded by reversing the Trump tax cuts?

Third, even if the 15% passes legislatures in the US and the 100+ countries who signed on to the treaty, what will prevent each country also passing more tax loopholes to the 15%, with accompanying exemptions, exceptions, off-setting tax credits, and so on?

The Corporate Tax 40 Year ‘Shell Game’

The ‘shell game’–i.e. trading off corporate tax rates for loopholes and then loopholes for rates–has been going on for years, especially in the USA.

The four decade shell game occurs when the public learns of the massive loopholes that have been created and demands they be closed, Congress passes partial laws to close a few of the loopholes and exemptions, but then lowers the corporate tax rate.

Just look at the US tax system since 1980: whenever corporate tax rates got too low and it raised the public ire, Congress partially raised back the nominal corporate tax rate but in the same legislation increased the loopholes, exemptions, etc. That trend is evident in the 1981 Reagan tax cuts, followed by the 1986, thereafter by Clinton in 1997, then a series of Bush Jr. tax cuts in 2001-04, then Obama in 2012-13.

The pretense of the ‘shall game’ was ended altogether by Trump in 2017, however, when he massively cut corporate tax rates but didn’t even bother to close any loopholes.  He also ended all semblance of a corporate Alternative Minimum Tax.  Corporate America got a triple whammy windfall. With Trump the ‘shell game’ itself disappeared. The ‘pea in the shell’ was evident for all to see. Instead of ‘now you see it, now you don’t’ we got ‘now you see it, and now you see it even better’!

This ‘shell game’ of trading rates for loopholes over time results in corporations paying less and less in total net taxes. The US corporate tax rate used to provide more than 20% of US government tax revenues in the 1960s; it now provides barely 5%.

The shell game goes on with the Biden 15% minimum corporate tax. It will be easily negated by US multinational corporations continuing to manipulate their internal pricing between their US operations and offshore subsidiaries; it will continue so long as the inversions loophole remains. The 15% looks good on paper but for various reasons stated above, is almost certain not to take effect for many years–if even then. If it’s a treaty and doesn’t pass the Senate, for certain other countries will not implement it if the US fails to do so.

The Corporation As Capitalist Conduit

What the mainstream media refuses to say when hyping the global minimum tax (or any of the chronic corporate tax cutting that’s been going on for decades) is the role it plays in the ever accelerating income and wealth inequality in the US today.

The corporation is the conduit for distributing massive amounts of income and wealth to capitalist shareholders. In the past decade more than $12 trillion has been distributed by corporations in the US to their shareholders in the form of stock buybacks and dividend payouts. During the Obama years these combined distributions rose from $700 billion a year to nearly $1 trillion a year. Under Trump, 2017-2019 the amount averaged $1.2 trillion a year. This year, 2021, under Biden it is projected to rise to $1.5 trillion. The massive distribution of income enriches individual capitalists, who then mostly reinvest it into stocks, bonds and other financial securities–i.e. forms of wealth–thus driving wealth inequality as well as income inequality. The assets of wealth (i.e. stocks, bonds, etc.) then throw off even more income as the buybacks and dividends keep rising further.

If the corporation is the institutional conduit for funneling more and more income and wealth to the capitalist class, then the corporate tax shell game is the liquid that flows through that conduit.

As capitalist investors accumulate more income and wealth due to corporate distributions rising made possible by the tax ‘shell game’, the individual wealthy capitalist-investors get to keep more and more of what the corporation distributes to them as well. Individual tax rates and loopholes are also expanded so that the individual capitalists get to keep more of what their corporations distribute to them in buybacks and dividends.

Corporate Tax Hikes as Political Marketing

This shell game will not end with the global 15% tax. Nor will it end with the recent proposals for an individual billionaires tax or a tax on billion dollar profit companies that the Democrats are now proposing as ‘smoke and mirrors’ funding for Biden’s Build Back Better plan (see my article of last week, ‘The Smoke & Mirrors Billionaires Tax and 15% US Corporate Minimum Tax’). The Global tax is of the same species, just a different genus. All are about creating a facade for politicians to make the public think something is being done about the tax system that ever enriches the wealthy and their corporations.

The recent proposals by Biden to raise the corporate tax in the US back a little, from Trump’s 21% to 28%, would have contributed to reversing the trend. So too would the proposal by Biden to raise the personal income tax on the wealthiest back to 39%. Before Trump the corporate tax rate was 35%. He reduced it to 21%. Biden originally proposed to raise it back in part to 28%. Then he lowered that to 26%. Now he’s dropped it altogether in his latest ‘framework’ for his Build Back Better bill.

But proposals for actual tax rate hikes on corporations and wealthy capitalists have been abandoned this past week by Biden and the Democrats as they capitulated to corporate lobbyists–and their shills in the Senate (Manchin, Sinema) and House (Cuellar).
Now in lieu of actual tax hikes on corporate America we get the smoke & mirrors of taxing billionaires and the ‘looks good on paper only’ global 15% corporate tax.  Watch for still more abandonment of proposals to make the rich and their corporations pay and in their replace tax increases that look good on paper but which the politicos know can never result in any real revenue.

What’s needed instead is a total radical overhaul of the US tax system. That system has, according to this writer’s calculations, provided US corporations and their shareholders and wealthy financial speculators no less than $15 trillion in total tax cuts since 2001!  Reforms are no longer possible. The income and wealth shift through the current tax system has reached such proportions that tinkering with it will not be enough. Something more fundamental is required. But that’s another story.

About the Author

Dr. Jack Rasmus

Dr. Jack Rasmus is the author of the 2020 published book, ‘The Scourge of Neoliberalism: US Economic Policy from Reagan to Trump’, Clarity Press. His website is http://kyklosproductions.com, twitter handle @drjackrasmus, and he blogs at http://jackrasmus.com. He hosts the Alternative Visions radio show every Friday at 2pm eastern time.

When Does It Make Sense to Purchase Mortgage Points?

If you are in the process of taking out a mortgage and are currently comparing the rates and terms of different lenders, it may also be worth considering how much are lenders selling mortgage points for. Mortgage points help you lower your mortgage rate against a cost that is typically 1% of the amount borrowed.

What are mortgage points?

Mortgage points can be purchased by borrowers who want to reduce their mortgage rates. These are also called discount points. One discount point will lower the mortgage rate by 0.25% and it typically costs 1% of the total loan amount. For example, if you take out a mortgage of $200,000 at a mortgage rate of 3.5%, one mortgage point will cost you $2,000 and will reduce your mortgage rate to 3.25%. Borrowers can compare between lenders and negotiate with them in order to get the best deal.

Another type of mortgage points are negative points. Negative points are typically used when you do not have enough funds to pay your closing costs. In this case scenario, the lender rolls the closing costs into the loan balance in return for a higher mortgage rate, which then translates into a higher monthly mortgage payment.

Break-even period

The purpose of a mortgage point is that it allows you to save interest throughout the years by lowering your mortgage rate. A lower mortgage rate means that you will make a lower mortgage payment monthly. However, a borrower will not really be saving anything until they have fully made back what the mortgage point cost them in the first place. Continuing the previous example, you will have to first break even on the $2,000 that you initially spent to purchase the point. This period of time where the interest “saved” makes up for the cost of purchase, is called the break-even period. Only after the break-even period has passed can a borrower truly take advantage of the mortgage point that they initially bought. You can calculate the break-even period and interest savings from your mortgage points by using a mortgage points calculator.

Is it worth it to purchase mortgage points?

The answer to this question largely depends on how long you plan to stay in your home before moving out or how long before you refinance your mortgage. The longer these time periods, the more you will end up saving in interest by purchasing mortgage points.

There are a number of scenarios when purchasing mortgage points makes the most sense:

1- When you plan to stay in the home forever – If the home that you are purchasing is your forever home, then purchasing mortgage points will save you money from the time that the break-even period ends until the whole loan is paid off. You will be saving the money you would have otherwise spent on the larger mortgage payment. This is only if you don’t refinance the mortgage during this time.

2- You have enough funds – If you have enough cash to put a large amount down upfront and you can still afford to purchase mortgage points, then buying points to lower the mortgage rate can prove to be worth it.

3 – You plan to keep the loan longer than your break-even period – As mentioned previously, you will only save money once the break-even period of your mortgage points has passed, since up to that point, you will only be making what you spent to purchase the mortgage points. For example, if the break-even point of your mortgage points is 70 months, you should only purchase mortgage points, if you plan to keep the loan longer than 70 months.

In other cases, purchasing mortgage points may end up costing you more than what you will end up saving. Some of these scenarios include the cases when:

1 – You sell the home or refinance before the break-even period has passed – If you end up selling or refinancing before the break-even point, then the cost of the mortgage point will be greater than what you will end up saving in lower mortgage payments up to the point you sell the home or refinance the loan.

2 – You can’t afford it –  You should first make the down payment and pay for closing costs, and after, you can consider purchasing mortgage points. If you have no leftover cash once you pay your other obligations, then you should not purchase the points.

3 – Monthly savings are insignificant – If the difference in the monthly mortgage payments will be so small that it wouldn’t make a difference to your budget, then investing in mortgage points may not be worth it.

In conclusion, mortgage points present a great savings opportunity for borrowers who have the available funds to purchase them. It is very important to note that purchasing mortgage points only makes sense if you do not plan to sell the house or refinance the mortgage before you hit the break-even point. Otherwise, you will end up spending more on the points, than the amount you will be saving through mortgage payments.

4 Essential Financial Spreadsheet Templates for Businesses

Excel is the go-to choice for finance-related tasks in any business. Thanks to its simple interface and ability to enable complex analysis, it’s no wonder that finance professionals begin training in Excel from an early stage.

Regardless of what stage your business is in, whether you’re keeping your own books or have a team of financial analysts on board, Microsoft Excel is indispensable since almost every corporate budgeting and financial task begins in the software. What’s more, for many use cases, it’s possible to skip building your spreadsheets from scratch, as financial templates for Excel make a business owner and finance professional’s tasks even easier, thanks to prepopulated formulae and column formats.

Here are four templates that are indispensable for businesses.

Balance Sheet

An organization’s balance sheet lists all of its assets, liabilities, and equity. While cash flow is the lifeblood of a business, the balance sheet lists the company’s book value and net worth. Without it, business owners won’t know where they stand.

Unfortunately, creating balance sheets from scratch is a tough task. Data in a balance sheet comes from the company’s income statements, cash flow statements, and general ledger. Deciphering the amount of cash and equivalents in the bank is a simple task. However, documenting inventory levels and determining their value is a tough task that accounting professionals routinely deal with.

A template simplifies this process since pre-populated fields make it simple for business owners to identify which data they need to collect. If the balance sheet template is linked to other templates or your dynamic databases in the cloud, then filling the cells on the balance sheet becomes even easier.

All of this results in better working capital evaluation, which business owners can use to plan their next moves.

Business Budget Templates

Every business is different. Expenses tend to be unique depending on the nature of the business, and at first glance, it’s hard to think of a single template that can apply to every organization. However, budget templates tend to have a lot of common expenses, even if businesses refer to them by different names.

For instance, every business has capital expenditures and operating expenses. The line items under these categories might be different, but the categories remain the same. Similarly, employee-related expenses or petty cash expenses tend to exist, no matter the nature of the organization.

A budget template solves an important problem. Creating a budget from scratch and building pivot tables to track expenses against category limits is a time-consuming task. A template comes with all of that logic built-in, and finance departments or business owners only need to enter the data.

Some templates tend to dive to highly granular levels, while others offer surface-level automation. Whatever their nature, there’s no doubt that a business budget template is an essential addition to any organization’s finance processes.

Profit And Loss Statement

The profit and loss statement, or income statement in accounting terms, helps business owners keep track of their margins and expenses. As such, the numbers in a budget statement flow directly into this statement. The premise of a P&L statement is simple: It exists to help business owners understand what they’re spending money on and how it compares to what’s coming in.

Compiling P&L statements can be a tough task when done from scratch, since it has many moving parts. Like a balance sheet, it uses inputs from other financial records attached to the business, and it’s easy to get lost in the weeds.

A template simplifies the process by clearly stating which data fields need population, and business owners can quickly identify what they need to gather. In addition to this, a template can come with inbuilt automation that connects to other templates and simplifies data collection. This makes small business accounting simple.

As the record of a business’s top and bottom lines, the P&L template is a must-have for businesses of all sizes.

Cash Flow Statement

A cash flow statement records a company’s cash flows, both in and out. While the P&L statement (or income statement) accounts for non-cash expenses like depreciation, the cash flow statement looks at the actual cash position in a business.

This makes it a critical component of the business, especially the ones that have to account for significant non-cash items. While the profits can decrease due to large non-cash expenses, thereby making the business seem unprofitable, the cash flow statement highlights the real state of a business’ margins.

In addition, the cash flow statement also highlights the capital expenditures a business has to account for, something the income statement neglects. Thus, the cash flow statement provides a highly accurate look at how cash flows in and out of the business and the owner’s true earnings.

A template simplifies the process of creating a cash flow statement. Given this report’s critical importance to the business, it makes sense to reduce time spent on clerical work like preparing the columns in an Excel file and outsourcing it to a template. This leaves more time for employees to analyze data and boost a business’ profits.

Key Templates For Mandatory Functions

There is no end to the number of financial templates that a business can create in Excel. However, the four templates highlighted in this article are critical and cut right to the heart of a business’s health. Owners, FCOs, other executives and financial team members who use these templates will reduce the time it takes to gain insights into the company’s health.

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