definition

  • Gift Card Definition, Types, and Avoidance Scams

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    Coyote Hunters Team

    How Do Reward Cards Operate?

    A prepaid debit card with a fixed amount of money on it that may be used for a variety of purchases is called a gift card. business gift cards are meant to be used at specific merchants or stores, whereas general-use prepaid gift cards are not linked to any single business and can also be used to withdraw cash from automated teller machines (ATMs).

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    The Way a Gift Card Works

    Gift cards are prepaid debit cards loaded with cash for use at a later time. There are two primary types of gift cards: open-loop and closed-loop. Both types may often be used offline as well as online.

    Many gift cards, sometimes called stored value cards, have a minimum and maximum initial loading amount. For example, a $500 limit and a $10 minimum may apply. In certain situations, gift cards can be used to pay for part of a transaction; cash, debit, or credit should be used for the remaining balance. A lot of gift cards may also be registered online, which lowers the risk of theft and makes it possible to track and freeze the remaining balance in the event that a card is lost. In this sense, some gift cards are safer than cash.

    Closed-loop sales cards

    Closed-loop gift cards, which allow the bearer to purchase anything from that specific retailer, are often advertised by stores. Closed-loop cards are often limited to usage at a single merchant, either in-person or online. However, if a single company owns several locations, it could provide gift cards that can be used at each of its retailers. One such business is Gap Inc. (GPS); all of its partner stores, including Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, and Athleta, frequently take its credit cards.

    Closed-loop gift cards frequently don’t require an activation fee. Instead of the name of the financial services company that actually oversees the transaction mechanics, the merchant’s logo appears on these gift cards, acting as a sort of commercial advertisement.

    A closed-loop gift card is essentially worthless once the balance is used up because it cannot usually be topped again. Furthermore, a closed-loop gift card’s balance may contain an expiration date that the user must meet. Closed-loop gifts are popular on baby and wedding registries. Many companies now provide closed-loop gift certificates as a bonus to customers who register for their registries.

    Cards that have an open loop

    If anything, open-loop gift cards work like cash—that is, like a credit or debit card that may be used online and at any participating retailer. Many of the main charge and credit card issuers and processors, such as American Express, Visa, Discover, and MasterCard, provide open-loop gift cards. These cards bear the payment processor’s logo and may be used virtually anywhere to make any form of electronic payment.

    The ability to utilize open-loop gift cards much like traditional prepaid cards is an additional advantage. The user can add money on their own because these cards are frequently reloadable.

    Digital Present Cards

    Gift cards were first introduced in 1994, according to Mageplaza, an extension marketplace for the open-source Magento commerce platform. More and more companies are opting to provide digital gift cards to customers in an attempt to encourage them to make larger purchases.

    Upscale department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman provide bonus gift cards to their loyalty program members (who have spent a specified amount during a campaign or over a given time period). However, according to a National Gift Card (NGC) industry survey, physical gift cards still account for 75% of gift card program redemption volume, with digital gift cards accounting for 25%.

    Scams That Use Gift Cards

    Gift cards are becoming a more popular target for scammers. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that during the first nine months of 2021, consumers reported losing $148 million to gift card frauds.

    These con games mostly involved con artists asking their victims to purchase gift cards to be used as payment. The consumer provides the con artist the gift card number, thinking they are making a legitimate purchase. The con artist then takes off with the money.

    Another scam involves physical cards that are stolen at a retailer. Con artists manipulate the cards in order to obtain the gift card number. After the card is purchased, the con artists can use it to make purchases and then take the money that the buyer deposited onto the card.

    Con artists love Target gift cards so much that they were responsible for $35 million in losses that were reported in 2021.

    Explain a gift card.

    A gift card is a prepaid card that may be used for purchases and other financial transactions. Gift cards come in two varieties: open loop and closed loop, which have an impact on the card’s limitations on usage.

    Is it feasible to use a gift card to withdraw cash from an ATM?

    You can use the gift card to get cash out of ATMs if the card allows it. Typically, this is restricted to open-loop cards, or cards that aren’t associated with a certain brand or merchant.

    Do gift cards include fees or a date of expiration?

    Depending on the details, a gift card may expire if the money loaded onto it is not spent within a set period of time. Furthermore, there are fees involved with activating a new gift card or replenishing an old one. Numerous prepaid gift cards may also come with monthly or dormant-account fees.

    The Last Word

    Gift cards are useful for online and in-store transactions. You may purchase them as gifts for your loved ones, or you could be eligible to get gift cards as compensation for your purchases from a certain merchant. To avoid expenses and the chance of a gift card expiring, it’s essential to understand how gift cards work and the places they may be used. But it’s important to be on the lookout for gift card theft, especially around the holidays when more people buy and use them for transactions.

  • Factor Definition: Conditions, Advantages, and Illustration

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    Coyote Hunters Team

    What Constitutes a Factor?

    A factor is a middleman who buys businesses’ accounts receivables in order to give them cash or finance. In essence, a factor is a source of capital that consents to reimburse the business for the amount of an invoice minus a commission and fee reduction. Selling their receivables in exchange for a cash infusion from the factoring provider might help businesses better meet their short-term liquidity demands. Accounts receivable financing, factoring, and factoring are some other names for the activity.

    Read More: factoring programs

    Awareness of a Factor

    Through factoring, a company can get cash now or cash depending on future revenue attributable to a specific amount owed on an invoice for goods or services. Receivables are sums of money that clients owe the business for purchases made on credit. Receivables are included as current assets on the balance sheet for accounting purposes since the money is often recovered in less than a year.

    When a company’s short-term obligations or payments surpass the revenue from sales, it may occasionally face cash flow shortages. If a business relies heavily on accounts receivable for a percentage of its sales, it may not be able to pay off its short-term payables with the money collected from the receivables in time. Consequently, businesses can get cash by selling their receivables to a financial source known as a factor.

    When a factor is involved in a transaction, three parties are directly involved: the company selling its accounts receivable; the factor buying the receivables; and the company’s customer, who now owes the money to the factor rather than the original company.

    Necessities for an Factor

    The terms and circumstances that a factor sets may differ according on its internal procedures, but generally speaking, the money is transferred to the seller of the receivables in less than 24 hours. The factor receives a fee in exchange for giving the business cash for its accounts receivable.

    The factor usually retains a portion of the amount of the receivables; however, this portion may change based on the creditworthiness of the clients who pay the receivables.

    The financial institution serving as the factor will charge the business selling the receivables a higher fee if it determines that there is a greater chance of suffering a loss as a result of the customers’ inability to pay the sums owed. The factoring fee assessed to the business will be reduced if there is little chance of suffering a loss on the receivables collection.

    In essence, the business selling the receivables is giving the factor the risk of a client default or nonpayment. The factor is therefore required to levy a fee in order to partially offset that risk. The factoring charge may also vary depending on how long the receivables have been past due or uncollected. Different financial institutions may have different factoring agreements. For instance, in the case that one of the company’s clients fails on a receivable, a factor can need the business to make additional payments.

    Advantages of a Factor

    Selling its receivables gives the company a quick cash infusion that it may use to increase working capital or fund operations. Because it shows the difference between short-term cash inflows (like revenue) and short-term expenses or financial commitments (like loan payments), working capital is essential to businesses.

    A financially constrained corporation can avoid defaulting on its loan payments to a creditor, such a bank, by selling all or a portion of its accounts receivable to a factor.

    Even though factoring is a more costly type of funding, it may assist a business in increasing its cash flow. Factors offer a useful service to businesses in sectors where it takes a while to turn receivables into cash as well as to businesses who are expanding quickly and want funds to seize new business possibilities.

    The top factoring firms get additional advantages since, in return for upfront funding, the factor can acquire assets or uncollected receivables at a reduced cost.

    Instance of a Factor

    Assume Clothing Manufacturers Inc. has an invoice for $1 million that represents unpaid receivables from Behemoth Co. and that a factor has agreed to buy. The factor agrees to provide Clothing Manufacturers Inc. a $720,000 advance in exchange for a 4% reduction on the invoice.

    The factor will provide Clothing Manufacturers Inc. the remaining $240,000 as soon as it receives the $1 million accounts receivable invoice for Behemoth Co. The factor received $40,000 in fees and commissions from this factoring agreement. The factor is more interested in Behemoth Co.’s creditworthiness than in the creditworthiness of the business from whom it acquired the receivables.

    Is It a Wise Investment to Factor?

    The evaluation of “factoring” as a profitable venture for an organization is contingent upon several aspects, mostly related to the company’s particulars, including its nature and financial standing. In general, factoring is a wise financial decision for a company since it lowers the requirement for excellent credit, boosts cash flow, boosts competitiveness, and decreases dependency on conventional loans.

    How Is Factoring Operational?

    A business that has receivables is awaiting payment from clients. Depending on its financial situation, the corporation could require that money to support expansion or carry on with operations. A business’s ability to operate is negatively impacted by the length of time it takes to collect accounts receivable. By using factoring, a business may sell off all of its receivables at once instead of waiting for client collections. Because the receivables are being sold at a discount, the factoring business may pay the company that owns the receivables 80% or 90% of the receivables’ value, depending on the terms of the deal. For the business to get the capital infusion, this could be worth it.

  • Definition of a Notary, Duties, Where to Notarize, and Examples

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    Coyote Hunters Team

    What Does a Notary Public Do?

    A officially appointed person who acts as an unbiased witness to the signing of a legal document is known as a notary. Signings of real estate deeds, affidavits, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, bills of sale, and other legal transactional papers typically require the services of a notary. A notary’s primary function is to prevent fraud.

    Read More: Notary Near Me

    Comprehending a Notary’s Function

    A notary, often known as a notary public, can be employed to confirm that a transaction took place and was duly documented or to produce reliable documents. A declared commitment is required in order for a document to be notarized. The parties’ original signatures on the paper are also required.

    Notaries require picture identification from all parties before they will sign a document. If there is proof of fraud or if the notary is unsure of the signing parties’ identities, they may decline to authenticate the document. After that, the document is sealed with the notary’s seal and a notarial certificate attesting to the signatures.

    History of Notaries

    The National Notary Association (NNA) claims that notaries were in use in Egypt and Sumeria as early as 2750 BCE. Known as scribes by the Egyptians, these authors and eyewitnesses recorded a significant portion of ancient history. The Roman Empire created official records and recorded everything from speeches to the weather using notarii and scribae. Tiro, a Roman servant who invented a shorthand for voice recording, was the first known notary.

    The Chinese also used scribes to record labor and resource statistics, events, and lectures, as well as to provide thorough accounting services to the state.

    Notaries included writer Mark Twain, Salvador Dali, Leonardo Da Vinci, and the 30th president of the United States, Calvin Coolidge, as sons. As of right now, Coolidge is the only president whose father served as a notary public.

    According to the NNA, the number of female notaries has surpassed that of male notaries since the 1900s.

    Getting Started as a Notary

    Every state has a different process for becoming a notary. In general, notaries must live in the state in which they have a license and be at least 18 years old.

    The cost of becoming a notary includes the oath of office, supplies, training, and a bond. Legal advice cannot be given by notaries, and they risk fines if they do. They must also refrain from acting in circumstances in which they have a personal stake.

    State laws differ, but generally speaking, most states demand that you:

    fulfill all state obligations

    Enroll in and come to a notary training that has been approved.

    ace the test

    Fill out an application, get it notarized, and send it in with the necessary supporting paperwork.

    After being approved, purchase your notary seal, pay a fee, and take the oath of office.

    Where Can a Document Be Notarized?

    In addition to offering their services, many notaries also make contact-information-rich listings or web sites. Notaries are hired by several package stores, postal centers, postal services, and copy centers. A few locations where you can notarize a document are:

    Postal stations

    Credit unions and banks

    Real estate companies

    Accounting and tax offices

    Libraries

    Universities

    transporting shops

    Additionally, you may search online for local online notaries. Amid the Covid-19 outbreak, some jurisdictions started investigating alternatives for electronic and distant notary services.After the Covid-19 epidemic and outbreak, some states passed laws allowing Remote Online Notarization (RON).

    As long as the conditions set by your state are fulfilled, you can use RON to obtain notary services online from any location. You can check with your Secretary of State to see if RON is accessible. In most states, the Secretary of State’s office is responsible for regulatory compliance.

    What Is the Role of a Notary?

    A notary public is an individual appointed by a state government to witness signatures and confirm that transactions or events reported on paper really took place.

    What Requires One to Enter the Notary Public?

    In addition to fulfilling your state’s standards, you must complete an application and education procedure in order to become a notary. It can also be necessary for you to take a test. You are sworn in as a notary after passing.

    How Much Does Becoming a Notary Cost?

    State-by-state variations exist in notary fees. The costs are increased by the need for notaries to recertify in some states. They also need to purchase their seal.

    The Final Word

    For thousands of years, notaries have played a crucial role in both government and society. Notaries continue to make sure that information presented can be trusted, from recording previous crop yields to electronically validating papers and signatures.

    Notaries are present in every county and state. A notary public may be found in a lot of places of business; one may even reside next door. Many states have passed legislation to make it simpler to get your documents notarized remotely using technology if you reside in a distant place or are unable to locate a notary in any other way.

  • Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Definition

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    Coyote Hunters Team

    A vast range of liver malignancies can be diagnosed and treated at Mount Sinai. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the term for primary liver cancer, or cancer that originates in the liver. Although it is the third most prevalent cause of cancer-related mortality globally, it is the sixth most common kind of cancer overall. Almost invariably, individuals with long-standing liver illness get HCC. Hepatitis C virus infection is the most frequent cause of liver cancer in the US.

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    Hepatitis C has historically been a factor in around half of our Mount Sinai HCC patients. Since the introduction of effective therapy for hepatitis C in 2014, this number has been significantly declining. Nonetheless, alcoholic liver disease-related HCC is increasing in frequency. The rise in fatty liver disease is much more noteworthy. This is a result of the growing numbers of diabetes and obesity. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is the name of the disorder that is quickly rising to the top as a cause of HCC. On the outskirts of Harlem is where you may find Mount Sinai Hospital. The incidence of liver cancer in Harlem is around 20 incidences per 100,000 persons, largely due to high rates of fatty liver disease, alcohol misuse, and hepatitis C.

    Hepatitis B virus is the primary cause of liver cancer worldwide. In China, the prevalence of hepatitis B is around 7%. Over a million people who were born in Asia live in New York metropolis, the most ethnically diverse metropolis in the US. Of these one million persons, around 15% have hepatitis B. Asian patients make up roughly 25% of our HCC patients at Mount Sinai.

    The majority of patients with HCC have cirrhosis, a condition where scar tissue accumulates as a result of years of liver injury. If HCC is detected early enough, it can typically be treated since it normally develops slowly in its early stages.

    Examining

    Individuals who have cirrhosis of any kind have the risk of becoming HCC. It has been shown that doing scans every six months can save lives. Even though ultrasonography screening is widely accessible and reasonably priced, research has shown that up to 30% of early malignancies may go undetected. At Mount Sinai, we thus favor the use of more sensitive techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography.

    Identification

    Most cancers are diagnosed by having a biopsy, or taking a sample of tissue and examining it under a microscope. However, this isn’t necessarily required for HCC. To make a diagnosis, we can often employ magnetic resonance imaging scans with dye injection or computed tomography. We can detect HCC in a cirrhosis patient if there is a tumor in the liver with a very abundant blood supply. However, sometimes a biopsy is still necessary. Additionally, biopsies are used for genetic analysis, which may be required to create individualized therapy regimens.

    Setting Up

    We use a process known as “staging the cancer” to assess the extent of your disease and develop the best course of action. We follow the American Joint Commission on Cancer recommendations for the majority of cancer types. However, we employ the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Staging System for liver cancer. Developed by Josep Llovet, MD, director of liver cancer research at Mount Sinai, and colleagues, this method is utilized in Europe and the United States. The four classifications of liver cancer, tumor size, and estimated survival are shown in the chart below.

    Options for Treatment

    When treating HCC, our objective is to get rid of the tumor or eliminate it before it becomes bigger and starts to spread to other organs. Certain cancer-fighting therapies may be detrimental to liver health; this can be particularly problematic if you also have cirrhosis. The best course of action differs depending on the individual. At Mount Sinai, creating a customized treatment plan for you is done in a collaborative effort.

    Surgical resection: We can often remove the portion of the liver that contains the tumor if you have one tumor and normal liver function. The liver grows back, or regenerates, after about six weeks.

    Liver transplantation: We might not be able to remove merely a portion of your liver if it is not functioning regularly. The best solution in this situation is frequently a transplant. Priority placement on the liver transplant waiting list is available to patients with early-stage HCC who are unable to undergo resection. You may have to wait over a year for a donor liver, even with priority. We employ nonsurgical therapies to manage the malignancy while you wait. Furthermore, patients who have a competent and willing donor can see a significant reduction in waiting times thanks to Mount Sinai’s living-donor program.

    Locoregional therapy: With these nonsurgical techniques, we may frequently eradicate tumors with a diameter of less than three centimeters and regulate the growth of bigger tumors that cannot be surgically removed:

    Thermal ablation involves heating the tumor with microwaves using a specialized needle.

    Chemoembolization is the process of infusing chemotherapy-containing beads into the blood vessel supplying the tumor.

    Injecting radioactive beads into the tumor’s blood supply is known as radioembolization.

    stereotactic body radiotherapy, which targets the tumor with high radiation dosages

    Systemic therapy: Patients with class C HCC had a year or more to live following diagnosis, up until a few years ago. HCC patients do not respond well to traditional chemotherapy, but novel medications known as targeted therapies have been shown to extend survival by halting the cancer’s growth, sometimes for many months.

    Immunotherapy’s progress is much more promising. The purpose of our immune system is to recognize and eliminate cancerous cells. Checkpoints, sometimes known as “stop signs,” are a means by which malignant cells evade the immune system and eventually grow into cancer. These prevent them from being attacked and killed by the immune system. Checkpoint inhibitors are a kind of medication that can remove the stop signals and restore the immune system’s functionality. Even while these medications don’t work for everyone, when they do, the effects may be profound, long-lasting, and in some cases, even curative for patients with extremely advanced cancer. Determining why immunotherapy is effective for some individuals but not for others is a high goal for our research.

  • The Definition and Operation of an Angel Investor

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    Coyote Hunters Team

    What Is An Investor in Angels?

    An angel investor gives start-up companies their first round of funding in exchange for a stake in the firm.

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    Angel investors can be found among an entrepreneur’s friends and family or they might be involved in a number of initiatives only on a professional basis. An investor’s engagement might take the form of a one-time seed investment or a continuous flow of funds to bring a product to market.

    Typically, angel investors do not work in the credit industry. They are investing in a concept they find appealing, with the understanding that they will only get paid if and when the company succeeds.

    Comprehending Angel Funders

    The majority of angel investors are affluent individuals seeking a greater rate of return than conventional investment options. They look for firms with exciting concepts and provide their own funds to help them grow.

    The undertakings are quite hazardous by nature. According to a poll conducted by The Angel Capital Association, the success rate of these kinds of projects is only 11%. Their average investment in each endeavor is quite small, at $42,000.

    The majority of angel investors limit their investment in businesses to no more than 10% of total assets.

    Why Seek an Angel’s Help?

    An entrepreneur that prefers less traditional financing can look to angel investors. In fact, the angel investor doesn’t anticipate receiving their money back unless the concept is successful, and the terms are typically more advantageous. They frequently ask for a board position and an equity investment.

    Angel investors are more concerned with getting businesses off the ground running than they are with making a profit on their loans.

    Other names for angel investors are angel funders, private investors, angel investors informally, angel investors, and business angels. They look for opportunities through networks that combine money for bigger effects or through internet crowdsourcing sites.

    History of Angel Financing

    The phrase “angel investor” first used in the context of Broadway theater, when shows were frequently funded by affluent people rather than official lenders and payments were only expected if and when the production proved successful.

    William Wetzel of the University of New Hampshire, who founded the Center for Venture Research, used the phrase “angel investor” for the first time. Wetzel finished researching how business owners raised money.

    These days, concepts pertaining to software, artificial intelligence, or the internet are being funded, with Silicon Valley serving as the hub of the angel investor community.

    Who Qualifies to Invest as an Angel?

    Angel investors want to be active and have a sincere interest in innovation. Many have previously been business owners.

    An angel investor is someone with the capital and the passion to support start-ups. Cash-strapped entrepreneurs who are unable to obtain traditional bank loans or who would prefer not to take on significant debt until their ideas become successful welcome them.

    Agrément of Angel Financiers

    Accredited investor status is frequently attained by angel investors, however it is not required. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) oversees the accredited investor status, which is a statutory classification that grants people access to the private capital markets based on their assets and financial knowledge.

    According to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), an accredited investor is a person with assets worth at least $1 million, a couple with combined income of $300,000, or an individual who made $200,000 in income during the preceding two years. Additionally, applicants need to show that they comprehend complex investment ideas.

    Angel Funding Sources

    Angel investors often use their own funds; venture capitalists, on the other hand, combine funds from many investors.

    Even while angel investors are often private individuals, the organization that really supplies the money might be an investment fund, a limited liability corporation (LLC), a trust, or a business. These are vehicles that the investor establishes for legal or tax reasons.

    Profile of Investments

    When early-stage firms fail, angel investors lose all they invested in them. Professional angel investors seek for possibilities with a clear exit plan, acquisition potential, or involvement in an initial public offering (IPO) for this reason.

    One research found that the effective internal rate of return for angel investors on a profitable portfolio is around 22%. While entrepreneurs may find this to be excessively costly and appealing to investors, these kinds of company endeavors typically do not have access to alternative funding sources. Angel investments are therefore a suitable option for an entrepreneur who has a great concept but little or no capital to develop it.

    What Kind of Ideas Are Funded by Angel Investors?

    Though it may be most strongly linked to the IT sector in Silicon Valley, some angel investors search far and wide for innovative projects to fund.

    One website for entrepreneurs, Ask for Funding, features a list of recent proposals that have received support from its users. These include an anesthesiologist’s quick-dissolving pill, an electronic instrument carrier developer, and a plan to construct a chain of archery facilities.

    But a large number of the proposals were from entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs looking to launch or grow a company. A marijuana shop in New York is looking to grow. A UPS employee wishes to launch a franchise.

  • Alternative Investments: What Are They? Definition and Illustrations

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    Coyote Hunters Team

    A financial asset that does not fit into one of the traditional investment categories is called an alternative investment. Traditional categories consist of cash, bonds, and stocks. Venture capital and private equity, hedge funds, managed futures, art and antiques, commodities, and derivatives contracts are examples of alternative investments. Another common classification for real estate is alternative investments.

    Read More: Fund experts

    Comprehending Alternative Investments

    Due to its complexity, lack of regulation, and level of risk, institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals own the majority of alternative investment assets. Particularly when contrasted with mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), many alternative investments have high minimum investments and fee structures. Additionally, there are fewer opportunities for these investments to market to potential investors and release performance data that can be verified. Due to lesser turnover, alternative assets usually have lower transaction costs than traditional assets, notwithstanding the possibility of high starting minimums and upfront investment fees.

    Comparing alternative assets to their traditional equivalents, the majority are somewhat illiquid. For instance, due to a restricted number of purchasers, investors are likely to find it far more difficult to sell an 80-year-old bottle of wine than 1,000 shares of Apple Inc. Because alternative investments’ assets and the transactions that involve them are frequently uncommon, investors may find it difficult to even value them. For instance, because only 11 of these coins are known to exist and only one may be lawfully acquired, a seller of a 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle $20 gold coin could find it challenging to determine its worth.

    Alternative Investment Types

    Property

    Investing in real estate might involve purchasing tangible assets or securities with a property component. Additionally, it might involve making investments in real estate mutual funds, REITs, and crowdfunding platforms. Investors seek operational income as a possible source of continuous, steady cash flow in addition to the capital appreciation of tangible assets.

    Goods and Services

    Raw materials like gold, silver, oil, and agricultural items are called commodities. Because of their fundamental qualities, investors may invest in these physical items that have real-world applications and frequently endless demand. For instance, due to its widespread use and reputation as a store of value, gold is seen to have a more stable price.

    Agriculture

    Farmland is an alternate investment option that combines real estate and commodities. Farm owners may enjoy continuous cash profits in addition to the advantages of owning actual, physical property, if their activities and commodity sales are profitable.

    Collectibles and Art

    Art, sports memorabilia, entertainment memorabilia, and other collectibles can serve as alternative investments for those who want to combine their finances with a pastime. These objects could be valuable historically or in the future when connected parties—such as the artist, the linked athlete, or the affiliated movie star—become more notable.

    Digital Money

    Since cryptocurrencies are a new kind of digital currency that falls outside the conventional stock and bond market, they are viewed as alternative investments. Although some would argue that cryptocurrencies don’t provide a robust hedge against other risky investments, they might offer capital growth or passive income in the form of incentives for staking.

    Private equity and venture capital

    Venture capital and private equity are essentially a sophisticated subset of stock investments, blurring the boundaries between them as alternative investments. Investors may look for other ways to invest in start-ups or private businesses rather than exchanging shares of publicly traded corporations on an open market.

    Inter-Peer Financing

    Investing in peer-to-peer lending is lending money to people or companies using websites that match investors and borrowers. Although peer-to-peer lending occurs on more private marketplaces and frequently involves dealing with riskier clientele, it functions very similarly to bond investment. Higher returns are possible, but not guaranteed.

    Alternative Investment Regulation

    Due to a lack of restrictions, alternative investments are vulnerable to fraud and investment scams even when they don’t include rare commodities like coins or paintings.

    Compared to traditional investments, alternative investments may fall under a less defined legal framework. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act does apply to them, and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) may investigate their operations. They are often exempt from SEC registration requirements, nevertheless. As a result, unlike mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, they are not subject to SEC oversight or regulation.

    For this reason, while thinking about alternative investments, investors must do a thorough due research. Certain alternative offers may only accept investments from authorized investors. Investors that meet the eligibility requirements include those who have a net worth of more than $1 million, excluding their principal property, or who earn at least $200,000 (or $300,000 + spousal income) annually. Accredited investors can also be financial professionals with a FINRA Series 7, 65, or 82 license.

    Advantages of Diverse Investments

    Alternative investments may have poor correlations to traditional investments like stocks and bonds due to their distinct character and deviations from traditional markets. As a result, in order to perhaps assist diversify an investment portfolio and lower overall portfolio risk, investors typically look to alternatives.

    Alternative investments have the potential to yield larger returns than standard investments since they are regarded as riskier investments. Furthermore, alternative investments are available in a variety of shapes and sizes, allowing investors to select the one that best fits their objectives, risk tolerance, and personal tastes. Investors may have a preference for specific cryptocurrencies due to the possibility of passive income.

    Markets that are closed off to typical investors may be accessible through alternative investing. Investors could find this more intriguing (for example, a baseball lover would be more passionate about purchasing an autographed baseball), but they might also find it harder to sell the item since there might be fewer buyers, which would reduce the market’s liquidity. As a result of fewer opportunities for panic sales or hasty transactions motivated by emotion, investors may view this as a positive development that will improve price stability.

    Drawbacks of Alternative Investments

    Compared to standard investments, alternative investments sometimes have greater fees and charges due to their limited accessibility. For instance, large management and performance fees are sometimes levied by hedge funds and private equity, which can drastically lower investor returns. Six Many alternative investment products have a fee associated with them, even though many brokers provide free trading of various stocks and bonds.

    As was already indicated, one advantage of alternative investments may be their frequent illiquidity. But think about the scenario when an investor wants the money badly enough to sell a rare piece of movie memorabilia immediately. They might not be able to sell the item fast or readily without paying high transaction fees or losing value since there might not be a strong or active market.

    Since alternative investments might not be often listed on public markets, it could be more challenging to find market information on past patterns or prices. While publicly traded corporations are bound by several reporting regulations, certain alternative investments can face reduced regulatory supervision and a greater potential for fraud, misbehavior, and other abuses. As was also previously noted, alternative investments typically yield larger returns, but this is because they are riskier.

    Additionally, alternative investments are frequently difficult. Investors may find it challenging to comprehend intricate structures and terminology in some cases, which raises the possibility of making ill-informed or improper investment selections. Some might not have easily accessible market values, which makes it challenging to ascertain their actual worth.

  • Examples, Where to Notarize, What Notaries Do, and Their Definition

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    Coyote Hunters Team

    A Notary: What Is It?

    A officially appointed person who acts as an unbiased witness to the signing of a legal document is known as a notary. Signings of real estate deeds, affidavits, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, bills of sale, and other legal transactional papers typically require the services of a notary. A notary’s primary function is to prevent fraud.

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    Recognizing a Notary’s Function

    A notary, often known as a notary public, can be employed to confirm that a transaction took place and was duly documented or to produce reliable documents. A declared commitment is required in order for a document to be notarized. The parties’ original signatures on the paper are also required.

    Notaries require picture identification from all parties before they will sign a document. If there is proof of fraud or if the notary is unsure of the signing parties’ identities, they may decline to authenticate the document. After that, the document is sealed with the notary’s seal and a notarial certificate attesting to the signatures.

    Notary Past

    The National Notary Association (NNA) claims that notaries were in use in Egypt and Sumeria as early as 2750 BCE. Known as scribes by the Egyptians, these authors and eyewitnesses recorded a significant portion of ancient history. The Roman Empire created official records and recorded everything from speeches to the weather using notarii and scribae. Tiro, a Roman servant who invented a shorthand for voice recording, was the first known notary.

    The Chinese also used scribes to record labor and resource statistics, events, and lectures, as well as to provide thorough accounting services to the state.

    Notaries included writer Mark Twain, Salvador Dali, Leonardo Da Vinci, and the 30th president of the United States, Calvin Coolidge, as sons. As of right now, Coolidge is the only president whose father served as a notary public.

    How to Take a Notary Course

    Every state has a different process for becoming a notary. In general, notaries must live in the state in which they have a license and be at least 18 years old.

    The cost of becoming a notary includes the oath of office, supplies, training, and a bond. Legal advice cannot be given by notaries, and they risk fines if they do. They must also refrain from acting in circumstances in which they have a personal stake.

    State laws differ, but generally speaking, most states demand that you:

    fulfill all state obligations

    Enroll in and come to a notary training that has been approved.

    ace the test

    Fill out an application, get it notarized, and send it in with the necessary supporting paperwork.

    After being approved, purchase your notary seal, pay a fee, and take the oath of office.

    Furthermore, having a past felony or misdemeanor conviction bars a person from becoming a notary in several states.

    Where Can a Document Be Notarized?

    In addition to offering their services, many notaries also make contact-information-rich listings or web sites. Notaries are hired by several package stores, postal centers, postal services, and copy centers. A few locations where you can notarize a document are:

    Postal stations

    Credit unions and banks

    Real estate companies

    Accounting and tax offices

    Libraries

    Universities

    transporting shops

    Additionally, you may search online for local online notaries. Amid the Covid-19 outbreak, some jurisdictions started investigating alternatives for electronic and distant notary services. After the Covid-19 epidemic and outbreak, some states passed laws allowing Remote Online Notarization (RON).

    As long as the conditions set by your state are fulfilled, you can use RON to obtain notary services online from any location. You can check with your Secretary of State to see if RON is accessible. In most states, the Secretary of State’s office is responsible for regulatory compliance.

    How Do Notaries Work?

    A notary public is an individual appointed by a state government to witness signatures and confirm that transactions or events reported on paper really took place.

    How Do You Become a Notary Public?

    In addition to fulfilling your state’s standards, you must complete an application and education procedure in order to become a notary. It can also be necessary for you to take a test. You are sworn in as a notary after passing.

    How Much Does Becoming a Notary Cost?
    State-by-state variations exist in notary fees. The costs are increased by the need for notaries to recertify in some states. They also need to purchase their seal.

    The Final Word

    For thousands of years, notaries have played a crucial role in both government and society. Notaries continue to make sure that information presented can be trusted, from recording previous crop yields to electronically validating papers and signatures.

    Notaries are present in every county and state. A notary public may be found in a lot of places of business; one may even reside next door. Many states have passed legislation to make it simpler to get your documents notarized remotely using technology if you reside in a distant place or are unable to locate a notary in any other way.

  • Workers’ Compensation: Definition, Operation, and Payment Source

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    Coyote Hunters Team

    Workers’ Compensation: What Is It?

    Often known as “workers’ comp,” workers’ compensation is a government-mandated program that pays benefits to employees who are hurt on the job or develop an illness as a result of their work. In essence, it’s a workers’ disability insurance policy that pays out cash benefits, healthcare benefits, or both to employees who are sick or injured at work.

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    In the US, the individual states are mostly in charge of workers’ compensation. States have somewhat different requirements for benefits.

    The only state that exempts companies from having to keep workers’ compensation insurance is Texas.

    Comprehending Workers’ Compensation

    One of the benefits of workers’ compensation might be a partial salary replacement for the time the employee was unable to work. Occupational therapy and medical service reimbursement may also be included in the benefits.

    Private insurers fund the majority of workers’ compensation systems with premiums that each individual employer pays. A Workers’ Compensation Board is a state organization that manages the program and resolves disputes in each state.

    government personnel, longshore and harbor workers, and energy employees are all covered by government workers’ compensation systems. Benefits for coal miners and their family in case of death or disability are managed by the Black Lung agency, another government agency.2. The Department of Labor, U.S. “Compensation for Workers.”

    Benefits from Workers’ Compensation

    States have different requirements for workers’ compensation, and some do not cover all employees. For instance, small enterprises are exempt from the requirement to be covered in several states. Others have distinct needs depending on the industry. A list of every state’s worker compensation laws is kept up to date by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).3.

    Replacement of Salary

    Under workers’ compensation, an employee usually receives a wage replacement that is less than their entire income. The most generous plans cover around two-thirds of an individual’s gross compensation.

    Benefits from workers’ compensation are typically fully compensated for lost wages since they are not subject to federal or state taxes. Recipients who additionally receive income from the Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability programs may be required to pay taxes.

    Survivor Benefits and Reimbursement for Medical Expenses

    The majority of compensation plans only cover medical costs for accidents that are directly connected to work-related ailments. For instance, a construction worker may be eligible to receive benefits in the event of a fall from scaffolding, but not for harm sustained while traveling to the working site.

    Employees on medical leave may also be eligible to receive sick pay comparable to what they would in other circumstances. Workers’ compensation pays benefits to the worker’s dependents in the event of an employee’s death resulting from an incident at work.

    Recipients Abandon Suit Rights

    Employees forfeit their ability to bring negligence claims against their employers when they consent to accept workers’ compensation.

    The goal of this pay agreement is to safeguard both employers and employees. In return for guaranteed compensation, workers give up further rights, and employers accept some culpability in order to avoid the possibly higher costs of a negligence action.

    Particular Points to Remember

    An employer may contest a workers’ compensation claim. The matter can then be brought to the Workers’ Compensation Board for resolution.

    Conflicts may emerge over the employer’s real liability for a disease or harm.

    Insurance fraud can potentially affect payments made to workers’ compensation recipients. An employee could fabricate an injury, inflate the severity of an ailment, or declare fraudulently that they were hurt at work.

    Indeed, according to the National Insurance Crime Board, medical insurance companies are the target of fraudulent claims made by “organized criminal conspiracies of crooked physicians, attorneys, and patients” for workers’ compensation and other benefits.

    An exception for independent contractors

    Independent contractors are not entitled to workers’ compensation in the majority of states; only regular employees are. That was one of the key points of disagreement in the discussion surrounding a ballot initiative in California that aimed to provide drivers for ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft access to employee benefits.

    Employee benefits and workers’ compensation are persistent issues, much like the so-called gig economy. About 17 million Americans worked as contractors full-time in 2020, while over 34 million did so part-time or sometimes.

    Workers’ Compensation Types

    The several states in the United States are in charge of workers’ compensation regulations. The Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs under the U.S. Department of Labor is in charge of covering workers who work for the federal government, longshoremen and harbor workers, energy companies, and coal miners.8

    States have very different regulations for the same types of injuries since there are no federal standards for workers’ compensation.

    Depending on where a worker lives, they may be eligible for drastically different types of compensation for identical injuries. In a report, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that 50% of the expenses associated with occupational illness and injuries are carried by the persons who suffer from them, categorically labeling workers’ compensation as a “broken system.” Workers with low incomes and immigrants frequently don’t even apply for assistance.

  • Alternative Investments: What Are They? Definition and Illustrations

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    Coyote Hunters Team

    A financial asset that does not fit into one of the traditional investment categories is called an alternative investment. Traditional categories consist of cash, bonds, and stocks. Alternative investments can include private equity or venture capital, hedge funds, managed futures, art and antiques, commodities, and derivatives contracts. Another common classification for real estate is alternative investments.

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    Comprehending Alternative Investments

    Due to its complexity, lack of regulation, and level of risk, institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals own the majority of alternative investment assets. Particularly when contrasted with mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), many alternative investments have high minimum investments and fee structures. Additionally, there are fewer opportunities for these investments to market to potential investors and release performance data that can be verified. Due to lesser turnover, alternative assets usually have lower transaction costs than traditional assets, notwithstanding the possibility of high starting minimums and upfront investment fees.

    Comparing alternative assets to their traditional equivalents, the majority are somewhat illiquid. For instance, due to a restricted number of purchasers, investors are likely to find it far more difficult to sell an 80-year-old bottle of wine than 1,000 shares of Apple Inc. Because alternative investments’ assets and the transactions that involve them are frequently uncommon, investors may find it difficult to even value them. For instance, because only 11 of these coins are known to exist and only one may be lawfully acquired, a seller of a 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle $20 gold coin could find it challenging to determine its worth.12

    Alternative Investment Types

    Property

    Investing in real estate might involve purchasing tangible assets or securities with a property component. Additionally, it might involve making investments in real estate mutual funds, REITs, and crowdfunding platforms. Investors seek operational income as a possible source of continuous, steady cash flow in addition to the capital appreciation of tangible assets.

    Goods and Services

    Raw materials like gold, silver, oil, and agricultural items are called commodities. Because of their fundamental qualities, investors may invest in these physical items that have real-world applications and frequently endless demand. For instance, due to its widespread use and reputation as a store of value, gold is seen to have a more stable price.

    Agriculture

    Farmland is an alternate investment option that combines real estate and commodities. Farm owners may enjoy continuous cash profits in addition to the advantages of owning actual, physical property, if their activities and commodity sales are profitable.

    Collectibles and Art

    Art, sports memorabilia, entertainment memorabilia, and other collectibles can serve as alternative investments for those who want to combine their finances with a pastime. These objects might be valuable historically or in the future as connected parties—such as the artist, the related athlete, or the associated movie star—become more notable.

    Digital Money

    Since cryptocurrencies are a new kind of digital currency that falls outside the conventional stock and bond market, they are viewed as alternative investments. Although some would argue that cryptocurrencies don’t provide a robust hedge against other risky investments, they might offer capital growth or passive income in the form of incentives for staking.

    Private equity and venture capital

    Venture capital and private equity are essentially a sophisticated subset of stock investments, blurring the boundaries between them as alternative investments. Investors may look for other ways to invest in start-ups or private businesses rather than exchanging shares of publicly traded corporations on an open market.

    Inter-Peer Financing

    Investing in peer-to-peer lending is lending money to people or companies using websites that match investors and borrowers. Although peer-to-peer lending occurs on more private marketplaces and frequently involves dealing with riskier clientele, it functions very similarly to bond investment. Higher returns are possible, but not guaranteed.

  • Definition of Skilled Nursing Facility vs. Nursing Home

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    Coyote Hunters Team

    A Skilled Nursing Facility: What Is It?

    A skilled nursing facility is an inpatient medical treatment and rehabilitation facility manned by medical professionals with the necessary training. These professionals offer the medically required services of audiologists, licensed nurses, PTs, OTs, and SLPs.

    Read More: skilled nursing facility near me

    Patients at skilled nursing facilities get round-the-clock help with daily living activities (ADLs) and medical needs. What may and cannot be done by skilled nursing institutions is governed by a number of federal rules.

    Nursing homes versus skilled nursing facilities

    A skilled nursing facility usually serves as a transitional home for individuals receiving medically required rehabilitation therapy. Conversely, a nursing home is often a long-term facility for those requiring custodial care. All the time.

    The Operation of a Skilled Nursing Facility

    Every patient who enters a skilled nursing facility is given an initial health examination, as well as continuing evaluations to examine their medicines, overall and mental health, and capacity to do daily living tasks like dressing and taking a shower.

    It is illegal for nursing homes and skilled nursing institutions to discriminate against their inhabitants on the basis of age, sex, race, color, ethnicity, religion, or any other protected trait. Authorities, including state nursing home regulating agencies and municipal long-term care ombudsmen, can be notified about skilled nursing institutions that break the law.3.

    For instance, a woman might report the event to the California Department of Public Health if she believes her mother was turned away from a certain California nursing facility due to her race. She may bring up the issue with the institution and attempt to get her mother accepted if her mother has no other choices for care. She could also think about selecting a different facility if there are other equally good possibilities.

    Particular Takeaways: Funding a Skilled Nursing Facility

    Medicare-eligible patients in need of post-hospital care may stay in a skilled nursing facility for up to 100 days as long as they fulfill Medicare’s criteria and the facility is accredited by Medicare. Medicare will either cover the whole cost of the patient’s stay or the patient will have to pay some or all of the bill, depending on certain evaluations that the facility and Medicare utilize. Patients bear full responsibility for all expenditures beyond the first 100 days, with the possibility of partial or complete coverage from Medicaid or private insurance for qualified individuals.

    The daily coinsurance for beneficiaries in skilled nursing facilities is $176 in 2020 for days 21 through 100 of extended care services during a benefit period.

    Unlike certain assisted living communities, skilled nursing institutions are not allowed to impose a buy-in fee. Instead, they must provide written information about their services and prices to the patient or their caregiver in advance.3.

    Long-term stays in skilled care facilities can get very costly. For example, a Genworth analysis on long-term care in 2019 found that the average annual cost of a private room in a skilled nursing facility or nursing home was $102,200.5.