How Japanese Casinos are Changing Slot Games

February 4, 2021

With the massive rise of the online community and so many business and stores making their products and services available to the masses of people who access the internet every day, it only makes sense that gambling has made its way to the online world as well. With online casinos, you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your own bed to get all the gambling experiences one would find in a regular casino and more.

An extremely popular game, that has become increasingly more popular as the years go by, is slots. However, more recently casinos have broken away from the traditional slot experience by adding in many new features and enhancing the quality of the games drastically.

Online Japanese casinos have done this exact same thing but have revolutionised it by adding their own twist. Japan has extremely strict gambling laws, however, they do have access to online gambling and they have definitely used this to their advantage. Continue reading to find out how Japanese casinos are changing slot games.

Bringing in new themes

Online casinos have been introducing different themes into their games for a while now, with ones such as movies for the film fanatics, music for those more musically inclined, and even video games for those more interested in game play. This is done by including elements of each theme through the use of different symbols on the slots, music to match each theme, and effects that suit the chosen theme.

Japan, however, has taken the slot game above and beyond, with popular gambling sites such as Casino X being an excellent example, it only takes a quick look at their homepage to see how anime styles have been implemented to appeal to the Japanese audience, as you can see below. If you want to see the anime styles implemented on Casino X you can find more information through this review from Manekineko Casino.

Anime is a style of animation that is deeply rooted in Japanese culture and the online gambling community in Japan have taken full advantage of this by making it desirable for the Japanese, not to mention that anime and Japanese culture has become very popular in the more western countries recently meaning that this game style is not only popular and refined to just one country.

Enhancing immersion

Traditionally, slot games are exceedingly simple. Sitting at a slot machine and merely just pushing a button or pulling a lever just to watch the reels spin can be incredibly boring, especially those who have been exposed to the already reasonably colourful world of online gambling.

Japan it taking massive steps to change the game completely by adding in characters that have full storylines which enhances the immersion as it gives players a reason to play other than just the potential money making aspect of the game. Japan has made gambling gamified to the extent where it feels more like an immersive video game than just regular old slots.

Within these types of games you have access to a whole map of kingdoms that players can choose from, having to defeat bosses to level up and progress to more difficult game. By doing this, they have made the game more of an adventure. Not only are these games bright, colourful, and enticing, but the lively animations also create a sense of excitement for a player.

Redefining the genre

Japanese casinos are completely redefining the genre by breaking away from the way that traditional slot games work and introducing so many more different features.

With these online Japanese casino games, you can speed up the game play so as not to waste your time on the boring part and get back to the narrative of the game. Not only can you do that, but by playing the games you can get points for beating certain games and clearing the levels, defeat characters written into the game such as bosses, and even get rewards such as free spins.

All of these are elements are gamification which is the use of gaming elements in a non-video game platform. These exciting new elements are still followed closely by the regular slot characteristics, such as the music, sounds, animations, and graphics, but are advanced dramatically, so there is still some sense of the old game ways.

Go to top

Three ways the disruptions of 2020 will permanently change global investment

February 4, 2021

By Ivan Illán

The global economic disruptions of 2020 were not unprecedented, but they were very different from the market disruptions of 2007 for example because nobody saw it coming – and very few were prepared for the massive global shutdown that occurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now we have a vaccine, and by year’s end this horrendous virus may be under control – but the biggest risk now lies in assuming that global economies and supply chains, and consequently global investments, will return to normal. They will not.

Big changes were already coming.

The pandemic has been a major catalyst for change, but it cannot be seen in isolation. As disruptive as it has been, the pandemic is in reality one of many such catalysts of the past few years that wrought major, and sometimes unexpected results in the global economy, global business environment and global investment landscape.

The pandemic served as a disastrous follow-on to multiple factors, resulting in a confluence of events for which the pandemic was merely the tipping point. The first factor was the reality that the manufacturing and heavy industry Renaissance hopefully desired in some political and economic spheres was simply not to be. The balance of power has shifted towards technology-based manufacturing and automation, the result being a dramatic increase in productivity, requiring less manpower on the factory floor and more on the technology development side. In those rapidly diminishing manufacturing scenarios where low-skill, low-tech shop ecosystems are still required and labor arbitrage still presents an advantage, Southeast Asia, Mexico and South America will continue to fill that need.

Available robust collaboration technology, a ubiquitous internet and a highly educated workforce in China and other Asian countries further means that those technology services which power modern manufacturing knows no borders. Adding to that the fact that the Chinese government has placed, for the last several years, very high priority on STEM education and the development of its tech industry, industry is no longer as provincial as it once was. Manufacturing is global – and that genie will not be put back into its bottle.

The global manufacturing footprint was not in itself a net negative for the domestic economy, but the response to it was. Two things happened over the last few years that set us on a dangerous path: Punitive tariffs and a trade war that did not accomplish its stated goals, and a tendency to seriously underestimate the economic strength and technological sophistication of China.

The economic fallout of a poorly thought out tariff structure, followed by the economic fallout of pandemic-driven global shutdowns was too much for the global economy to bear. In fact, US trade deficit has risen over the past few years, the polar opposite of intended consequences.

The West’s big mistake: Underestimating China.

Before COVID-19, few people in the West had heard of the city of Wuhan, and those who had did not understand its strategic importance to global industry. The city pushed its way into the Western mindset as Americans became aware of the existence of something called a “wet market,” a type of outdoor fresh food market commonly seen throughout Asia. Wuhan however, besides being like every other Asian city in its hosting of wet markets, is one of the largest industrial centers of China, and more importantly, it is one of the largest transportation hubs. Chances are, if a US-based company has any sort of component part coming out of China, that part, at some point in the supply chain, passed through a railyard in Wuhan. It is the Chicago of China. The government’s shutdown of that city immediately after the pandemic had repercussions in supply chains throughout the world.

The West’s first big mistake was in underestimating the growth and strategic global importance of the Chinese economy. Nationalistic fervor notwithstanding, the domestic economy would collapse without its organically grown Chinese connection. Politics aside, China and the US have developed a symbiotic relationship, especially as China has grown far more capitalistic and free market based than the politburo might want to admit publicly.

China’s rapidly growing middle class – and indeed the presence of many millionaires within the country’s borders – has given rise to a growing appetite for luxury goods from Europe, and on the industrial and financial side, knowledge based services from the West.

What will 2021 look like?

Confused investors anxious for a return to pre-pandemic norms will be disappointed, but those who understand the changing dynamic will be able to roll with the changes. One of the biggest factors in the machinations of industry is the supply chain, which was dramatically changed by the pandemic (and before that, the trade war). And while the politically astute may have predicted industrial disruptions resulting from the trade war, nobody saw COVID-19 coming. Not all global companies were completely blindsided though – those that had a supply chain strategy in place that included supply chain contingencies, risk management and did not rely on the easier path of least resistance have already come out ahead. Conventional wisdom in sourcing has always held a basic, cost-based focus, which led to a single-source or single-region supply chain in which the cheapest supplier wins, which works wonderfully until something like a devastating virus shuts down China’s industrial centers for an extended period of time. Supply chain managers may not have seen COVID-19 coming, but the more savvy among them prepared for it by building in a degree of optionality. Now others are seeing the wisdom of this strategy, and the result will be a permanent shift in supply chain strategy – which in turn changes the dynamic of where the money is going.

Another major change in 2021 that will become more evident is the United States’ inexorable move towards a service-based economy. That the US was the world’s leader in manufacturing from the ‘50s through the ‘70s was a post-war anomaly, a boom that was destined not to last as the rest of the world has finally caught up to the US to achieve a level of parity in manufacturing presence and sophistication.

Let us not equate service-based economy though, with low-wage, low-impact work: Much of service-based work is rooted in sophisticated technology and solutions. The shift towards a service economy does not mean we will become a nation of Walmart greeters and grocery store stockboys; export-ready service sectors include technology-as-a-service, and increasingly, services related to the financial industry (already a major source of US trade surplus) especially as China and other Asian countries see a dramatic increase in personal wealth, and those wealthy grandees in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and other destinations now look towards the West for the financial services required for that nation’s new crop of millionaires.

More than any other change afoot though, the biggest change in 2021 is the realization that first, pre-pandemic normalcy will never return, and second, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Companies being better prepared for unexpected emergencies, the emergence of new global markets and growth of lucrative domestic service-based industries will all be part of a permanent change. Will there be that manufacturing Renaissance, the return of massive steel mills and American dominance of heavy manufacturing? Unlikely. But in the end, we don’t need it, and the country will prosper as a result of this paradigm shift. Basic economics touts the mutual benefits of comparative advantage.

Global opportunities for the savvy investor in 2021 and beyond.

Opportunities in 2021 and beyond may be less dominated by heavy manufacturing, and more on the technology and global collaboration tools that power it. China will continue to represent a growing market for the US, especially as the country and its citizens grow wealthier, and the government takes on a greater willingness to allow foreign entities to operate more freely and without the joint venture overlay that was previously required.

Go to top

About the Author

Ivan Illán is an award-winning financial services entrepreneur and author of Success as a Financial Advisor For Dummies. He is Founder and Chief Investment Officer at Aligne Wealth Advisors Investment Management (AWAIM), offering proprietary global macro investment strategies through MML Investors Services, LLC, a registered investment advisor.

China – Peacefully Forward into the Great Change

February 4, 2021

By Peter Koenig

On 25^th January, during the first session of the virtual World Economic Forum (WEF), President Xi Jinping, in his address stated clearly that China’s agenda was to move forward in the World of Great Change, with their renewed policy of multilateralism, aiming for a multi-polar world, where nations would be treated as equals.

China will continue to vouch for strong macroeconomic growth – and pledge assistance for those that are suffering the most during this pandemic-induced crisis – in view of a balanced development of all countries.

There is no place in this world for large countries dominating smaller ones, or for economicthreatening and sanctions, nor for economic isolation. China is pursuing a global free trade economy. BUT – and this is important – when one talks of “globalism” – respect for political and fiscal sovereignty of nations, must be maintained.

At the same time, promoting cultural and research exchange, joint industrial and transport ventures between countries will bring people together, fostering cooperation and collaboration among nations.

This is the chief purposes of President Xi’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), or One Belt One Road (OBOR) – and also called the New Silk Road. Currently more than 130 countries and more than 30 international organizations are part of BRI, including 34 countries in Europe and Central Asia, of which 18 countries of the European Union (EU). OBOR offers the world participation – no coercion. The attraction is the philosophy behind the New Silk Road – which is shared benefits – the concept of win-win.

The same win-win concept is part of the recently signed (11 November 2020 in Vietnam) free trade agreement with 14 countries – the ten ASEAN, plus Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, altogether 15 countries, including China. The so-called Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP, was in negotiations during eight years – and achieved to pull together some 2.2 billion people, commanding some 30% of the world’s GDP. This is a never before reached agreement in size, value and tenor.

In addition, China and Russia have a longstanding strategic partnership, containing bilateral agreements that also enter into this new trade fold – plus the countries of the Central Asia Economic Union (CAEU), consisting mostly of former Soviet Republics, are also integrated into the eastern trade block.

The conglomerate of agreements and sub-agreements between Asian-Pacific countries that will cooperate with RCEP, is bound together by, for the west a little-understood Asian Pact, called the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). The SCO’s purpose is to ensure security and maintain stability across the vast Eurasian region, join forces to counteract emerging challenges and threats, and enhance trade, as well as cultural and humanitarian cooperation.

In the hard times emerging from the covid crisis, many countries may need grant assistance to be able to recover as quickly as possible their huge socioeconomic losses. In this sense, it is likely that the new Silk Road / OBOR may forge a special “Health Road” across the Asian Continent. President Xi says China is committed to assisting in lifting the world out of this gigantic macroeconomic crisis.

The RCEP may, over time, open a window of opportunity for integrating the huge Continent of Eurasia that spans all the way from western Europe to Asia and covering the Middle East as well as North Africa, of about 5.4 billion people, stretching across some 55 million square kilometers.

The RCEP agreement’s trade deals will be carried out in local currencies and in yuan – no US dollars. The RCEP is, therefore, also a convenient instrument for dedollarizing, primarily in the Asia-Pacific Region, and gradually moving across the globe.

China’s new digital Renminbi (RMB) or yuan may soon be rolled out internationally as legal tender for international payments and transfers. This will further drastically reduce the use of the dollar. The new digital RMB will become attractive for many countries which are fed up with being subjected to US sanctions, because using the US-dollar, they automatically become vulnerable to being punished with dollar blockages, confiscations of resources, whenever their international “behavior” doesn’t conform with the mandates of Washington’s.

The yuan is already increasingly used as a reserve currency and may within the next three to five years dethrone the dollar as chief reserve currency. The RMB / yuan is based on a solid economy, whereas the US-dollar and its European offspring, the euro, are fiat moneys, backed by nothing.

Entering this new “Time of Great Change”, China may envision leading a reform of the west-biased WTO – to give the Global South, alias developing countries, a greater say in international trade policies, to bring the world onto a more balanced development for all countries.

China may also strive at shifting the IMF’s fiscal policies, to better allow emerging countries to develop their own capacities and use their natural resources independently, according to their needs, and if necessary, with international technical assistance that does not enslave them – which under current IMF / World Bank rules and conditions is not the case.

In this sense, China may take a leading role in helping better coordinating countries’ macro-economic policies, through the G20 mechanism.

Thanks to China’s endless creation and peaceful advancements, she has gained experience in resistance and resilience against adversities. Therefore, when in early 2020 the Chinese economy was in covid-shock, the Chinese Government applied drastic and disciplined social measures. The country recovered in the same year.

China, like no other major economy in the world, grew in 2020 by about 2.3% – maybe more when the final figures are in. China has mastered the covid crisis within six to eight months, and has revamped an industrial and construction apparatus that was basically locked down by 80% during the 4 or 5 covid-peak months. By the end of 2020 it was 100% back in operation.

Compare this to western economies which are way down – Europe, according to official figures, by 12% to 15%. In the US, the FED predicted already last November that the country may lose up to a third of its economic output / GDP in 2020 / 2021.

The situation in the Global South is much worse. Catastrophic labor losses due to uncountable bankruptcies, are the result of generalized lockdowns in all 193 UN member countries simultaneously.

The International Labor Office (ILO) has predicted that global unemployment in 2021 may reach up to 50% of the world’s labor force of 3.5 billion (WB, June 21, 2020); meaning, about 1.7 billion people may be jobless. Most of them in the Global South, where about 70% of labor is informal, no contracts, no social safety nets, no social health care, no income, no shelter, no food — leading to total despair. According to both the British Lancet and the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) – suicide rates are rampant.

Over the past 40 years, China has made historic gains in ending extreme poverty, bringing over 800 million people out of poverty, representing over 70 percent of global poverty reduction. In 2020 – despite covid – China has achieved zero poverty.

The most effective condition to achieve prosperity is societal harmony and PEACE. President Xi, in his address to the WEF last Monday, also called on the world to avoid confrontation. Instead, the world should stick to cooperation based on mutual benefits and resolve disagreements through consultation and dialogue.

To conclude, China has committed herself to help alleviate this ongoing epic crisis, Striving for balanced development for all countries, with the objective of an enhanced and continued cooperation for a world community with a shared future and common prosperity for mankind.

Go to top

About the Author

Peter Koenig is a geopolitical analyst and a former Senior Economist at the World Bank and the World Health Organization (WHO), where he has worked for over 30 years on water and environment around the world. He lectures at universities in the US, Europe and South America. He writes regularly for online journals and is the author of Implosion – An Economic Thriller about War, Environmental Destruction and Corporate Greed; and co-author of Cynthia McKinney’s book “When China Sneezes: From the Coronavirus Lockdown to the Global Politico-Economic Crisis” (Clarity Press – November 1, 2020).

Peter Koenig is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization.

First published by the New Eastern Outlook – NEO

How to Get Homes to Sell Faster in Atlanta

February 4, 2021

Why Sell Vacant Houses and Dwellings?

Every individual aspires to make the most out of an opportunity. Real state giants always search for vacant spaces to expand and build on. Whether the houses are constructed and designed on old techniques, they can still be rebuilt and modified. Keeping vacant homes is entirely a loss; the owner can look for better opportunities and plan to build on them. Empty houses pile up property taxes and other problems; you should always consult a real state agent or a registered company to help you sell your home at handsome rates. The property seller can plan to invest the money from property in many profitable ventures and earn attractive rates of returns, or he can look up for better and more furnished living spaces in his favorite neighborhoods. Consult Atlanta home staging experts to get fair ideas and rates and plan to sell your property.

What Is Home Staging?

Vacant home spaces and dwellings do not attract potential buyers and visitors. It is always smart to sell a furnished home with attractive walls, kitchens, bathrooms, and a sitting lounge. A private place or residence for sale is prepared and made lively by adding more details to vacant spaces. Home staging directly attracts potential prospects who are interested in buying the residence. The more appealing the area, the buyer shows more intense interest in purchasing the property. With home staging, you can add charm to your vacant living space, simple things like installing tongue and groove joints can help you sell it smartly and more conveniently. A talented team of interior designers can always work to make your property more presentable.

What Does Home Staging Include?

Home staging is adding a few furniture pieces in your vacant house space, setting up an attractive sofa and carpet near the fireplace. It includes painting the house’s main walls and prominent areas and fixing deco lights on the ceiling to present a more beautiful and appealing comfortable living environment. Home staging might cost a little expensive at times, but this smart move always helps you speed up your selling process. Home staging is ideally vital as it presents a definitive idea in buyers’ minds about the vacant house space and helps them make a swift and prompt decision.
Advantages of Home Staging

Home staging makes your property more fascinating and adds a touch of flair and shine to essential details. Home staging is also considered a vital online, real state marketing strategy. It catches buyers’ eye scrolling on online real estate websites and builds their interest in buying your property. In the era of digitalization, the more presentable is the product, the more audience it engages. According to real state mindset, the more engaging pictures of the property, the more attractive clients and offer it gets. Without a well-planned home, staging rooms seem relatively small, where detailed furniture sets can occupy spaces and present a more detailed look. The buyer always emphasizes living, dining, and bedrooms that they must be comfortable and attractive. Home staging adds to the charming look of your vacant, ready to sell the property.

Go to top

How to Throw Your Dream Wedding on a Budget

February 3, 2021

Your wedding day is supposed to be one of the greatest days of your life. However, it’s important to remember that one of the leading causes of divorce is money issues. Make sure not to get yourself into so much debt on your wedding day that you begin to build the path to your marriage’s end. There are plenty of ways to have a magical wedding day that you have always dreamed about without sacrificing your future. Whether it’s looking into Whitsundays wedding packages, the rings, the decors such as Backdrop Event Drapes, entertainment or food and drinks there’s plenty of different areas that you can choose to save money on depending on what sort of wedding you want to have.

The Engagement Ring

The first step towards saving money can come in the form of the engagement ring. However, it is important to be careful if you are trying to save money here. Some women are not going to be satisfied with anything other than a large diamond ring.

Casually discuss how your prospective bride feels about engagement rings at some point before buying. You can do this by watching a movie that features a wedding. That way, it will seem natural to bring it up. You might also want to have the conversation well before you actually propose if you hope to keep it a surprise.

If your potential fiancé is open to a less traditional ring, you can both save money and get her a bigger stone. A large sapphire is a much more impressive look than a small diamond. If she still wants the look and feel of a diamond, but without the price tag, take a look at Moissanite engagement rings, visit the website here.

There are many arguments out there against diamonds for engagement rings. First off, they are boring. They are impressive geologically due to their hardness, but they are boring, with their colorless look. Stones like sapphires, rubies, emeralds, and topaz come in beautiful colors and cost a lot less, so you can afford a big center stone. If you still want diamonds, you can have tiny ones that surround and complement the center stone.

Another argument against diamonds is that they are not nearly as traditional as many people seem to think. Diamond engagement rings did not become popular until 1947.

With so many diamonds also being tied to conflict and bloodshed, insane costs, and boring looks for smaller rocks, going with an alternative could be a great option.

Picking her birthstone as the center stone is a great way to add that little personal touch to the ring and make it special. However, if she was born in April, then her birthstone is a diamond, so that won’t help you to get away from this expensive rock.

Decide What Is Important to You as a Couple

One of the things you absolutely must do when deciding on where to save money when it comes to your wedding is determining what is most important to you both. Is it important that you share the same name after your wedding? If so, do some research on how to legally change your name. You will likely find that there are some things you both care deeply about and other areas where you could not care less. One option that can add a little cost to your wedding but protect you from devastating bills in case of a disaster is wedding event insurance.

DJ or Band?

How about neither. Instead of paying far too much money on a DJ or wedding band, you can simply make your own playlist, rent a wireless speaker and connect your laptop. Then you just need to press play and have someone adjust the volume between dinner and dancing, and you are good to go.

Even a good wedding band isn’t going to sound as good as the original artist, and an expensive DJ is likely to have at least one or two songs that don’t hit the mark for you. Create your playlist yourself, and it will simply be one hit after another.

Nobody Needs a Monogram

Wedding favors might seem like a great way to thank your guest and share your special day with them. However, the reality is that aside from your mothers and grandmothers, your guests probably aren’t going to care too much about memorabilia from your wedding. They will care much more about food and drink and remember it fondly from photographs.

Food and Drinks Matter

When it comes to your guests, the most important thing is making sure they are well fed. The majority of the people at your wedding will be satisfied as long as there is good food and they get enough of it. However, there are cheaper ways of doing this and more expensive options. Having a plate made up for each individual guest is typically one of the more expensive routes to go.

Cheaper options are a buffet, and if you are up for it, you could even have the wedding reception be potluck style with everyone bringing something to contribute. You can also do a combination of the two. That way, you can ensure that you have a certain food that you desire and fill out the rest of the menu with items from some friends and family who have a better track record in the kitchen.

Drinks are another important aspect of your wedding day but can get real expensive real quick. You will likely have many guests who want to wet their whistles, but they do not necessarily need a full bar with any drink they could imagine. Sticking to beer and wine is a way to keep costs down but still satisfy your guests.

If you need to cut costs further, you can even forego a bartender altogether. Instead, get tubs filled with ice on a table where your guests can help themselves to a drink.

The Dress

Fashion changes. You may end up looking back at that extravagant wedding dress in 10 or 20 years and wonder what you were thinking. Simple and elegant tend to stand the test of time and cost a whole lot less. A more understated dress can still be stunning to look at without the stunning price tag.

Saturday in Summer

Do you have to get married on one of the most expensive days of the year? A summer wedding is going to be your most expensive option for when to get married. Switching from Saturday evening to Tuesday morning might not be an option you are willing to consider if you want a big party and for guests to actually attend your wedding.

However, switching the season still gives you the option to have the big party you dreamed about while saving a ton of money on your venue.

Do You Really Need to Invite Bob From Work?

There will be a lot of pressure to invite everyone you know to your wedding, but you should not cave to that pressure. Each attendee adds cost to your wedding. Consider who is likely to still be an important person in your life in five years. You will be looking at the pictures for the rest of your life.

One easy way to whittle down your guest list is to create a little test with questions like:

What is their favorite color?
Do they have pets?
What is their middle name?
Have you ever spent time with them one on one?
In which month were they born?

If you cannot answer a single question, then they might not be someone you care enough about to invite them to your wedding. It is your special day. Make sure it stays that way.

Go to top

What is Bankruptcy Services? And How it Works

February 3, 2021

Going bankrupt is a status you find yourself due to unavoidable circumstances. And deciding to declare that you are bankrupt is not as easy as it sounds. Many people have a negative perception about bankruptcy; however, sometimes, it can be the best approach to start a new and clean slate financially. To save your financial woes, you can strike a deal with creditors by filing a consumer proposal.

The only downside to declaring bankruptcy is the implications you get for your credit ratings. Also, it affects your debt and your current plus future financial standing. It will affect your credit report from 7 to 10 years and prevent you from opening any credit accounts or requesting loans with promising interests. But the benefits exceed the negatives when you try to weigh both sides.

If you are contemplating whether to take bankruptcy status, here is the information you should understand first.

Understanding Bankruptcy

Going through the process bankruptcy process is not for a faint-hearted. It is a complicated procedure that requires somebody to help you maneuver through to the end. The best way to successfully beat the process is hiring an experienced attorney to help you go through the needed procedures to make sure you comply with all the applicable governing proceedings.

Before filing for bankruptcy, you need to meet certain requirements. First, you need to prove that you can repay all your outstanding debts and ready to undergo credit counselling provided by a government-approved credit counselor. The counseling session helps you assess your financial standing, figure out any alternatives to bankruptcy, and guide you by creating a personal budget plan.

If you decide to proceed with bankruptcy, you need to choose either chapter 7 or chapter 13. Both of these bankruptcy chapters can help you eliminate unsecured debt, stop repossession, foreclosure, debt collections, utility shut-offs and irs wage garnishment.

Choosing either of the two chapters, you are the one to pay all the expenses, both the attorney fees and court costs. But here is how the two chapters differ in relieving you from debt.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

In other words, it’s also called straight bankruptcy, and many people consider it to be straight when filing chapter 7 for the first time. Under chapter 7, you are required to let a federal court agent oversee the sale of assets that are not let off. The amount of money that is collected is used to pay creditors. And the remaining balance that you owe is excluded after the bankruptcy is settled.

Choosing Chapter 7 does not guarantee you to clear all types of debts. You are required to pay child support, court-ordered alimony, student loans, and taxes.

What are the Consequences of Chapter 7?

You may lose your property, and negative bankruptcy information on your credit card will not be removed for ten years starting from the day you filed bankruptcy. Additionally, if you get into another debt, it is impossible to file for bankruptcy again for 8 years.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Chapter 13 differs from chapter 7 in several ways. For instance, you can keep your property after you agree to repay your debt entirely or partially. Under this chapter, the court and attorney may negotiate a 3 to 5 years plan repayment plan. During the negotiation, you may agree to settle all the debt you owe or partially for the given repayment period.

After you honor to complete the agreed amount during the given period, your debt is discharged irrespective of whether you settled the original amount you owed. While both chapter 7 and 13 negatively affects your credit ratings, the latter is more favorable. Because this chapter 13 allows you to settle all amount or part of it and still retain some assets.

Chapter 13 bankruptcy cycles off your credit report after 7-years, and you may be eligible to file even within 2 years.

Advantages to Filing for Bankruptcy

When you file for bankruptcy, you are granted an “automatic stay,” which prevents creditors from proceeding with any action to collect a debt from you or repossessing any of your assets such as a house or car. Additionally, it hinders them from contacting you, sending letters or suing you.

You may discharge your responsibility to repay part of dischargeable debts.
When you file for bankruptcy it prevents eviction and foreclosure.
While a bankruptcy will remain on your records for 7 to 10 years, the majority of debtors start to improve their credit ratings after filing for bankruptcy.
You get relief from losing the things you value and the mental anguish that comes with debts. It allows you to start life afresh with less stress.
When you file for bankruptcy, you get access to financial counseling that gives you a chance to free tools to help you learn and balance your debt plus better manage your life in future.
Filing for bankruptcy helps you retain some assets and manage your payments by settling small amounts.

Disadvantages of Filing for Bankruptcy

Although filing for bankruptcy gives you relief and better focus on your future. It can affect your normal life and financial standing for the long term. Here are the disadvantages of filing for bankruptcy.

Your bankruptcy report will have bad credit ratings between 7 to 10 years.
You will have a hard time getting accepted for a new credit card request as many creditors will cancel your credit cards upon filing for bankruptcy.
When looking for a job or to a new home, employers and landlords may unfavorably treat you due to bankruptcy filing.
Since your bankruptcy filing becomes a public record, it may be hard for you to secure a good job.
If you have joint accounts, creditors may ask to be paid from cosigners on those accounts or non-bankrupt debtors.
Filing for bankruptcy may affect your social life as you may find it embarrassing when others learn about your bankruptcy status.

Bottom Line

When you cannot repay your debt, as you earlier agree with your creditor, it can negatively impact your credit. Some of the available debt relief comes with consequences that are long term than others and damaging. Therefore, it is advisable to make a sober decision before opting to file for bankruptcy. You can research other options, including seeking professional guidance from a qualified credit counselor. After that, you’ll weigh your choices and see which option impacts your financial future positively.

Go to top

How a Medical Malpractice Case Works

February 3, 2021

Every state in the U.S especially New York is populated with hospitals and clinics, these places consist of medical professionals who work day and night to help people out, no matter how big or small their injury is. Since these professionals are probably tired from working constantly, they can easily make mistakes and cost people thousands of dollars as a result. These mistakes are known as medical malpractice, which can be dangerous and can cost you your life.

If you or someone you know has been a casualty of medical malpractice, it’s never too late to hire a lawyer whose expertise is cases concerning medical malpractice rockland county to file a lawsuit against the medical practitioner or the hospital itself. This lawsuit will compensate for any financial debt the malpractice has put you in and can make sure you aren’t ever in any emotional pain or suffering again. Although not all mistakes made by medical professionals are considered malpractice or eligible enough to file a suit against, there are some that can negatively affect the patient’s health.

The medical malpractice lawyers baltimore detail three of the most common medical errors that can occur so you can recognize if they in fact occurred to you or a loved one. If the doctor in charge of your care acted out of negligence, and their negligence led to a medical mistake, you may be eligible to file a medical malpractice lawsuit and pursue compensation for your injuries.

Most medical malpractice cases have three common characteristics:

Violation of standard of care:

When looking for a course of action in some special cases, medical professionals usually look towards the medical standards set by others and by accepting these standards, start the diagnosis, but this is where it can get tricky. Practitioners of medicine may be acquainted with every procedure in the book, they can still fail to deliver the standard of care that their patient needs, and by overlooking that they end up just doing a simple diagnosis and become negligent.

Negligence having unfortunate outcome:

Violating the standard of care is the most negligent characteristic a medical practitioner can have, this can cause their patient even more injuries than they were brought in with while also risking their lives, and often resulting in death. To prove to a jury that the extended injuries were because of medical malpractice, you will be required to be 100% truthful to your lawyer.

Injuries damaging a patient:

Although physical and medical damages after being a casualty of medical malpractice are common, there’s one more aspect that not many people have grasped yet and that’s when medical malpractice occurs, you’re required more care and attention by the hospital, often resulting in you overstaying your welcome and leaving with thousands of dollars in medical bills. The financial, emotional, and physical damage a case of medical malpractice can leave you with is second to none, which is filing a lawsuit and getting compensated is your best bet at getting back on your feet.

Is medical negligence just as bad as malpractice?

While medical negligence disapproves of the visualization of intent, it is known to be just as bad as medical malpractice. Since it’s extremely hard to prove to a jury that the negligence was intended and that professionals simply “can’t” make mistakes, no one will ever file a case of medical negligence since it’s expensive, time-consuming, and unworthy.

Go to top

Student Loan Forgiveness: Understanding Your Current Options For Paying Off Your Student Loans

February 2, 2021

The new administration is debating whether to forgive a portion of student loans for everyone or to expand the terms of current student loan forgiveness programs. Know that regardless of what action the administration ultimately takes, there are methods currently in place for you to get some or most of your student loan debt forgiven or to delay or reduce your monthly student loan payments in cases of financial hardship.

This information comes from the office of noted Bryn Mawr bankruptcy attorney David Offen.

Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

If you work full-time for the government or for a non-profit or not-for-profit organization, you may qualify for forgiveness of the balance of your Direct Loans after you’ve made 120 qualifying payments (ten years of payments) under an income-driven repayment program.

Teacher Student Loan Forgiveness

If you teach full-time for five complete and consecutive academic years in a “low-income school or educational service agency” after the 1997-98 school year, you may be eligible for forgiveness of up to a combined total of $17,500 in eligible federal student loans.

A “low-income school or educational service agency” is a school district or other educational service agency that serves low-income families. You must take out the loans that you seek to have forgiven before the end of the five-year teaching term.

Income-Driven Repayment Student Loan Forgiveness

Also called IDR, under an Income-Driven Repayment plan your loan balance is forgiven if you make a certain number of payments over a certain period of time, usually 20 or 25 years. There are several forms of IDR:

Pay As You Earn Repayment Plan (PAYE) and Revised Pay As You Earn Repayment Plan (REPAYE)

For Direct Loans only, PAYE and REPAYE provide a repayment plan with monthly payments of 10% of your annual discretionary income divided by 12. Your discretionary income is calculated by adjusted gross income, family size, and total eligible federal student loan balance.

Income-Based Repayment Plan (IBR)

For both FFEL Program and Direct Loans, IBR provides a repayment plan with monthly payments of 15% (10% if you are a new borrower) of your annual discretionary income divided by 12.

Income-Contingent Repayment Plan (ICR)

ICR provides a repayment plan with monthly payments that are the lesser of what you would pay on a repayment plan with a fixed monthly payment over 12 years, adjusted based on your income or 20% of your annual discretionary income divided by 12.

Military Service Student Loan Forgiveness

Special benefits and repayment options for service members’ student loans are available from the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Defense. Benefits include interest rate caps under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, Department of Defense student loan repayment programs, military service deferment, deferments after active duty, Veterans Total and Permanent Disability Discharge, and Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

AmeriCorps Award

Those who complete a term of national service in an approved AmeriCorps program are eligible for the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award which can be used to repay certain student loans. Approved AmeriCorps programs include AmeriCorps VISTA, AmeriCorps NCCC, and AmeriCorps State and National.

If you are not eligible for any of these student loan forgiveness programs but are experiencing financial hardship for any reason, contact your student loan servicer. They will advise you as to your options for delaying payments or reducing your payments under forbearance and deferment programs.

Go to top

About the Author

Veronica Baxter is a legal assistant and blogger living and working in the great city of Philadelphia. She frequently works with David Offen, Esq., a busy bankruptcy lawyer in Pennsylvania.

Investing in Indian real estate in 2021 could be the start of years of growth

February 2, 2021

Suchit Punnose, Founder and CEO of Red Ribbon Asset Management on why 2021 is a good year to invest in Indian real estate.

By 2030, India will be the third biggest real estate market in the world. And, according to the latest report from Savills India, private equity investment in Indian real estate will reach $6 billion this year – a 30% year on year growth.

This growth is predicated on regulatory and policy reforms leading to improved economic sentiment. The investment did, of course, dip in 2020 due to the pandemic and corresponding decline in economic activity, investors are now looking for new ways to boost their returns.

Why investing in Indian real estate is a positive move in 2021

Over the last decade, real estate has evolved rapidly in India. Government initiatives have shored up a transparent regulatory framework. And according to the report from Savills India (Beyond the ’20: PE in Indian Real Estate) we can expect to see a new wave of real estate investments.

There will be strong activity across the commercial and residential real estate in India. Driven by the increase in affordable housing, warehousing and data centres springing up across the country, there will be growing investment in India. The commercial office sector will also attract more investment.

According to a separate report from Colliers India, Q3 2020 saw commercial space occupancy rise to 58%. This is an excellent indication of consumer confidence, given the pandemic. India has the second highest number of COVID-19 cases in the world, with more than 10.3 million confirmed. The Government is just about to start a mass vaccination rollout that will see 300 million people protected by August 2021.

While India grapples with the pandemic, many companies are back in the office, and this will increase as the vaccination reassures both the population, company owners and investors.

Regulatory changes paving the way for a strong real estate sector

In June 2020, the Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) restored investor confidence by declassifying the status of a sponsor for Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvT) and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). This led to more investment in commercial real estate compared with alternative asset classes.

Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) are also considering investing in Indian real estate due to its reputation as a safe asset class. Insecurity is obviously rife among investors from India and from overseas and the focus is now on assets that will stay stable and lucrative.

India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and real estate continues to dominate for investors. Improved trade relations, a continuation of policy support from the Government and a swift rollout of vaccines will all drive sentiment through 2021.

Logistics and warehousing property have proven themselves as resilient asset classes so far in India since the pandemic began. We will see the leasing of warehouses increasing by around 60% in 2021 compared with figures from last year. This will ensure investors keep their eyes on the sector for the opportunity.

India’s real estate sector has a huge potential over the next few years

Last year was a line in the sand for industry sectors around the world. And the economy in India has proven remarkably resilient thanks to the strength of its underlying infrastructure. And its strength as an investment hub will also continue to prove its worth through this year and beyond.

India’s population is growing fast. If we add into this mix rapid industrialisation and urbanisation, then it’s clear why India is one of the most attractive regions in the world for real estate investment.

The potential of this sector for investors is massive, and research shows that by 2025 real estate in India will contribute around 13% to the country’s overall GDP. India’s economy is driven by the power of its 1.35 billion people. By 2036 this will reach 1.52 billion, according to the National Commission on Population (NCP) by the Indian Government.

According to these figures, in approximately 2031 India’s population will beat China’s and the country will be the most populous in the world. The same report shows that up to 70% of this increase will be in urban areas. By 2036, the urban population of India will reach 594 million – this is a growth of 57% from 2011 figures.

Current real estate investment trends in India

Demand for affordable housing is becoming more concentrated.

Because more people are moving to cities and urbanisation is ramping up rapidly in India, this is changing the demand for housing. More and more available jobs are in the service sector and are located in the centre of towns and cities. This is pushing up the need for efficient and sustainable office and residential space. It is almost certain that demand will continue to outstrip supply, which means reliable investment opportunities.

Residential property is part of the rise in general standards of living

Global construction research shows that between now and 2025, India will be part f the expected 72% rise in the global building. This means, right now, infrastructure, connectivity and standards of living are rising all the time. Real estate in India will continue to develop at a global scale and house prices will also be subject to the changes in economic stability.

Rise in emerging micro-markets

There are pockets of extremely high demand for residential housing, and these micro-markets will continue to emerge.

Reaping the benefits of the 2017 reforms

Real estate is one of the most important contributors to India’s economy, and over the last couple of years we’ve seen the changes wrought by the progressive policy reforms brought in to boost the sector. These include the 2016 real Estate Regulation Act (RERA), has brought much more uniformity and transparency to the sector. This has pushed up the demand from buyers.

Combining industry expertise to provide exceptional investment opportunities

Red Ribbon Fund Management Limited has recently launched a multi-class India REIT along with partners RE RISE GmbH and Hamberg Capital. Called Red Ribbon Rise, the multi asset class closed end fund will invest directly into income and capital growth property projects.

The timing for investors could not be better and this fund draws on years of experience from all three businesses to create opportunities for investors. RE RISE has years of expertise investing in emerging real estate markets, while Hamberg Capital has been advising real estate funds for more than 30 years.

We will see immense growth in the real estate market in India, despite the pandemic and all of the challenges it has brought. The new fund is perfectly timed to allow investors to take advantage of these years of growth. More details can be found here.

Go to top

How Gambling is Regulated in Scandinavia

February 2, 2021

In countries across the world, the gambling industry is treated very differently. There are those nations who welcome the sector, recognising that it can be a major contributor in terms of overall revenue, while others choose to close their doors to the practise.

Against that landscape, many countries fall somewhere in between those two extremes and that’s certainly the case in Scandinavia. The focus is on the three recognised geographical nations, Sweden, Norway and Denmark, and it’s fascinating to see how each of them regulates the industry.

The Swedish Approach

Countries around the globe have had to assess the digital revolution and the potential for their residents to access any gambling website. There are many hundreds of operators available and new providers are coming online on a consistent basis so much of the legislation currently in place is very recent.

That’s the case in Sweden where regulations have kept pace with the transforming digital industry and, in the present day, all operators must abide by the Swedish Gambling Act which came into effect from the 1st of January 2019. Under the terms of this legislation, all companies looking to set up an online casino or to provide any form of gambling services to residents must be operating under a Swedish license.

All forms of sports betting, online casino play, lotteries and any practice where money is staked is regulated by the Swedish Gambling Authority. This is the body that issues those licenses after assessing a company’s credentials to see if they are suitable for providing gambling services.

In general, Sweden is a little more open in terms of gambling and some well known operators have their origins here. However, there are those strict regulations which require companies to apply for and obtain a license to trade here.

Norway’s Strict Outlook

Gambling laws in Norway are far stricter than in Sweden and, essentially, all platforms are run by the state. At present, only two companies are allowed to operate facilities to residents and they are Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto.

Established in 1948, Norsk Tipping is run by the Norwegian state and it was set up with a view to channelling profits into the country’s sports and cultural sectors. Norsk Rikstoto works in a similar fashion but the key differences between the two organisations relate to the types of gambling that is available.

Under the auspices of Norsk Rikstoto, customers can only bet on horse racing – both trotting and without the harnesses. With the Norsk Tipping organisation, the service is much wider and it covers sports betting, lotteries and keno.

Residents of Norway do, therefore, have a relatively wide choice in terms of the games that they play but that choice becomes far more limited with regards to available providers..

Gambling in Denmark

While Sweden is relatively liberal and Norway somewhat draconian in its approach, the country of Denmark falls somewhere in between. The relevant legislation here is the Gambling Act which was passed in 2012 and has been updated on occasions since that point.

For many years, Danske Spil was the only licensed company available to players but that position changed with the act of 2012. Now, residents can play online casino games and undertake sports betting with any company that has been approved by the Danish authorities and carries a license.

However, Danske Spil retains the monopoly on lotteries, horse racing, bingo; keno and other instant games and it is not possible for any other operator to obtain a license for these services

The Present and Future

As we’ve seen, it’s not possible to bracket Scandinavia as a whole when it comes to assessing the region’s attitude to the gambling industry. It is, however, possible to follow patterns and to identity similar approaches across the three main countries.

Technology is one area where Sweden, Norway and Denmark are likely to offer a similar approach. If it is not permitted to sign up and play with a specific operator due to residency, it should not be possible for the individual to access that particular website. Some form of error message will show and the viewer will essentially be blocked from that site.

Moving forward, it’s clear to see that Sweden is the most flexible of the three countries and we might expect them to continue to adapt to a changing gambling landscape. At the other end of the spectrum, Norway has remained defiant amidst calls for change and it’s unlikely that there will be any additions to the two available gambling operators in the foreseeable future.

In Denmark, the potential for change includes the possibility of expanding a list of operators for instant games but that also seems unlikely for now. Within the region, there are three very different approaches to the sector and it will be fascinating to see if there are any developments in the months and years ahead.

Go to top

1...934935936...1,130 Page 935 of 1,130

FOLLOW US!

EDITOR'S PICK OF THE WEEK

CFO's new mandate. CFO explaining the presentation

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

Anglea 0

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...