US Weekly Digest – May 25, 2022 Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. President’s comments signal change from strategic ambiguity policy with China During a visit to Tokyo, President Biden said that the US would intervene militarily if China were to invade Taiwan. Starbucks follows McDonald’s out of Russia for good The coffee chain announced… Read more
Sometimes you want to try something new when it comes to networking with other business owners. Here are some unconventional ways for you to grow your network and bring in new leads. 1. Collaborate with others in the industry You know your niche, so you know the questions to ask others when it comes to your industry. Collaborate with people who fit your ideal market. For example, you could create… Read more
US Weekly Digest – May 18, 2022 Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Gas prices of $5/gallon could become the norm The price of gas hit a new record high on Monday, reaching $4.48/gallon. Prices have increased 40 cents in a month, and are now 27% higher than they were the day before Russia invaded… Read more
Early retirement may sound like a big dream, but it is achievable if you’re willing to do some planning and stick to your strategy. Here are four steps you can take to put yourself in a position to retire early. 1. Figure out how much money you’ll need after you retire This involves figuring out what age you want to retire at–if you want to retire at 55 you’ll need… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Americans rapidly taking on debt Consumer debt levels climbed by $52.4 billion in March, according to Federal Reserve data released Friday. Pent-up spending after lockdown and consumers turning to credit cards to cover rising cost of living are likely factors, says credit analyst. Feds increase interest rates by 0.50%… Read more
As a parent, you may worry about how to ensure your child can receive a post-secondary education. Costs are constantly rising, and you may face high tuition fees as well as cost of living expenses if your child has to live away from home. Here are some steps you can take to save for your child’s education. Be clear about what you can and cannot afford to pay Being clear… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. US GDP falls The US GDP fell 1.4% in the first quarter, the first time the economy has shrunk since early in the pandemic. S&P 500 drops more than 13% The S&P 500 had its worst four-month start to a year since 1939, falling more than 13%… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Government Sees Strong GDP Growth in 2022 While the government sees more risks to the economy in the months ahead due to rising prices and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it still expects healthy GDP growth in 2022. This comes after the International Monetary Fund estimated that the US will… Read more
If you want your business to continue growing and thriving, you’ll need to find ways to bring in new clients. Here are 5 ways you can find new clients for your business. 1. Set aside time for marketing Regardless of whether marketing is your preferred activity, you need to set aside time for it. It’s easy to put marketing at the bottom of your priority list, but doing so makes… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. CDC Removes All Countries from COVID “Do Not Travel” List The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has removed all countries from its “Do Not Travel” recommendations. The highest Level 4 designation will now be reserved for “special circumstances” reflecting a dangerous spike in COVID-19 cases, a new… Read more
Virtually everyone can use a savings account to help build up their wealth, but with so many options available, how do you pick the best savings account for you? The number of options available might make it more difficult to select which savings account to choose, but it also means that with a little bit of knowledge, research and strategy, you can almost certainly find a savings account that fits… Read more
Don’t be left up in the air by traditional IT solutions. Check out the top 9 advantages for small businesses switching to cloud computing. Cloud computing is fast becoming the norm because storing information and using software hosted on the Internet has many advantages. 1. Save money Traditionally, a small business spends money licensing software or buying packages to install or download onto individual computers. Cloud computing, on the other… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Consumer Prices Rose 8.5% in March Headline CPI in March rose by 8.5% from a year ago, representing the fastest annual gain since December 1981 and one-tenth of a percentage point above the Dow Jones estimate of 8.4%. The increase in food, energy, and shelter costs contributed to the… Read more
As a small business owner it’s hard to juggle your work and outside responsibilities. It’s important to run your business effectively and still have a life outside the office. You need a good balance between work and play for your health and well-being. Small business owners often fall into the trap of working too hard, ending up exhausted from the constant work demands associated with self-employment. Why you need balance… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Fourth COVID-19 Booster Shot Experts and health officials are recommending a fourth shot of a COVID-19 vaccine to protect vulnerable groups such as older adults and immunocompromised individuals. This decision comes as BA.2, a highly transmissible version of the coronavirus, accounts for as much as 70% of US infections.… Read more
Q. I am finding it tough. Sales are slowing but I can’t figure out exactly why. No-one seems to be unhappy with what we do, and no competitor has entered the market. People seem to be buying less often and in lower numbers. Your existing customers are your most valuable asset. This is because it’s easier and far less expensive to get an existing customer to buy off you again… Read more
One of the most puzzling side effects of COVID-19 is a syndrome called “covid brain,” which is characterized by sluggish thinking and memory problems. Neuroscientists have begun identifying commonalities between covid brain, chemo brain, and Alzheimer’s disease. So far, the studies are small and do not indicate avenues for treatment. However, the studies confirm the seriousness of the brain effects of infections and provide hope that treatments may be developed… Read more
Electronic signature software offers small business a number of time and cost-saving benefits. If you’ve considered going paperless but haven’t yet made the plunge, here are 6 excellent reasons to start using digital signatures today. 1.Get paid faster Digital signatures make it easy to close a sale on the spot, turn around contracts faster, and finalize documents that require signatures from multiple parties. Electronic signature software can also streamline the… Read more
While the omicron variant surge is subsiding, researchers are keeping a close eye on a subvariant known as BA.2. This variant is more transmissible, but its rapid spread overseas also coincides with a drop in protection measures in Europe and low rates of effective immunization in Hong Kong. However, in the US, this variant may not result in a new surge because vaccines and boosters plus antibodies from previous infections… Read more
Good news for small business owners: according to the US Small Business Administration, nearly 80% of small businesses survive their first year. However, that number begins to drop as time rolls on. Only half of small businesses pass the five year mark, and a mere third celebrate their tenth anniversary. Taking steps to create a good foundation in the early days of your business is essential for a sustainable and… Read more