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These capital projects start with a capital budget, which defines the project’s initial investment and its anticipated annual cash flows. The budget includes a calculation to show the estimated payback period, with the assumption that the project produces the expected cash flows each year. Companies often create more than one scenario, with differing initial investments or payback amounts, to choose a most-likely scenario that meets their risk level and other requirements for taking on the project....

Just because you can chat for hours with your friends or families on the phone, make successful sales calls, or lead awesome phone meetings does not mean you’ll automatically ace an interview. Brush up your phone interview etiquette with these do’s and don’ts for a successful job interview. When the day comes, wear clothes that help you feel confident, capable, and professional. Then, set up a quiet space where you can sit at a table with a copy of your cover letter and resume....

Typically, after you have submitted a mailed or online application for a job, you may receive an email from the employer asking that you schedule a time with them for an initial phone interview. Why Employers Conduct Phone Interviews Employers use phone interviews as a way to determine if a candidate fits the hiring requirements for the job. Candidates who successfully ace the phone interview will move on in the interview process....

Clinton is the most admired president in the past 25 years. Why is he so popular, despite being impeached? Primarily because his economic policies created a decade of prosperity. During his presidency: More than 18.6 million new jobs were created, more than any other president.Unemployment dropped from 7.5% to 4%.Homeownership was 67.7%, the highest rate ever recorded.The budget deficit dropped from $290 billion to a budget surplus of $128 billion....

Which is a better buy? That’s actually a trick question because smaller square-foot homes command higher per-square-foot costs. Larger square-foot homes command lower per-square-foot prices. It can be a little like comparing apples and oranges. Average Price Per Square Foot You can arrive at the “average” per-square-foot cost of a home by adding the square-foot cost of each home that’s sold in a given area then dividing that by the number of homes that sold....

The producer price index (PPI) jumped 1.3% in January on a seasonally adjusted basis, compared to a 0.3% rise in December and triple analysts’ mean estimate for a 0.4% gain. It’s the biggest gain since at least 2009, when the data started being tracked. Separately, another measure that excludes the volatile food and energy sectors rose 1.2%, which was the largest increase for that figure since it was introduced in Sept....

A professional degree, also known as a first-professional degree, is a degree that prepares you for a particular career. The most common examples of professional degrees are law degrees (J.D.s) and medical degrees (M.D.s). However, there are many others. Professional Degrees vs. Academic Degrees It is helpful to know what degree programs are available, and which tend to lead to well-paid positions. This can help you pick a program that fits your skills, interests, and needs....

The Value of Thank-You Notes Consider your job interview thank-you letters as follow-up “sales” letters. This is an opportunity to say why you want the job, what your qualifications are, and how you would contribute to the company. Your thank-you letter is also the perfect opportunity to discuss anything of importance that your interviewer didn’t ask or that you didn’t answer as well as you could have. Here’s information on when to say thank you and whom to thank, different types of professional thank-you letters, and when to use them....

Online banks can offer higher yields for savers along with fewer fees compared to traditional brick-and-mortar banks. That combination can help you grow your money faster while hanging on to more of the interest you earn. But, online banks aren’t the right choice for everyone. If you’re looking for a place to park your savings, take a look at the pros and cons of choosing an online bank over a traditional brick-and-mortar bank....

So, why are we so often reckless with our 401(k) in ways we would never be with an automobile? In other words, why do we borrow from our 401k? Here are some of the most common (and potentially risky) reasons people borrow from their retirement savings, accompanied by reasons you shouldn’t borrow from your 401(k). A House Down Payment This one seems to make sense on the surface, as you are moving money from one investment to another, assuming home values rise while you own your home....

The Cost of a High-Interest Rate Credit Card It costs more to carry a balance on a high-interest rate credit card. That’s because your monthly finance charge is based on your interest rate and your balance—the higher your interest rate, the higher your finance charge will be. Not only that, the longer you take to pay off the balance, the more money it costs you. Paying off high-interest-rate debt first saves money and usually lets you pay off your total debt faster....

The 2008 financial crisis affected many people’s retirement plans, as most families saw their net worth plummet along with the stock market and housing prices. When the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates (common monetary policy in a recession), it created an environment where savers received a much lower return on fixed-income investments. At the same time, many investors became fearful of re-investing in stocks. Longer life expectancies, less help with retirement funding, and economic and global circumstances are making it more difficult to retire....

It’s important to start your retirement on the right note. One way to do this is to let your boss know about your retirement plans in a thoughtful and professional way, which includes writing a specific type of resignation letter informing the company of your retirement. Tips for Giving Notice of Your Retirement While you are beginning a new phase in your life, remember that you are leaving behind a job you were well qualified for, with years of experience to share....

Thomas Barwick / Getty Images Importantly, this information applies to more than just teachers: Principals, custodians, administrators, and other school district employees often use the same retirement programs. Types of Retirement Plans for Teachers Retirement savings plans are generally broken down into two categories. Teachers often have both types available to them. Defined contribution plans: In a defined contribution plan, you choose how much to contribute. How much money you have for retirement depends on how much you put into the plan and how well your investments perform by the time you retire....

If anything of even limited value is left out of the trust and remains in the Trustmaker’s individual name, including as a tenant in common, at the time of the Trustmaker’s death, then a probate administration may be required. The only way to ensure that probate of the Trustmaker’s estate will be avoided is for the Trustmaker to fully fund the revocable living trust and update all beneficiary designations before the Trustmaker dies....

U.S. consumers’ total revolving credit balances fell 11.2% in 2020, reaching their lowest level in over three years, as the pandemic and a tough labor market pushed people to avoid debt. In December, total revolving credit—made up mostly of credit card balances—fell 3.6% month over month, according to data released by the Federal Reserve on Friday. At $975.9 billion, balances haven’t been lower since April 2017 and have fallen $122....

Safeco offers a usage-based auto insurance program called RightTrack. Auto insurance customers who are safe drivers have a chance to earn as much as a 30% discount on their premium through this program. It uses a telematics device that monitors driving habits and then reports them back to the insurer. As of 2022, RightTrack is available in almost every state. Arkansas, California, Delaware, Hawaii, North Carolina, and the District of Columbia are exceptions....

Other examples of Sallie Mae products include credit cards and online savings accounts. How Sallie Mae Works The Sallie Mae of today is different from the original Sallie Mae. In 1972, the Student Loan Marketing Association, also called SLMA or Sallie Mae, was created by Congress as a “government-sponsored enterprise,” or GSE. In other words, it was a private, for-profit corporation that had to follow specific regulations from the government....

The Right To Request Validation Federal law gives you the right to request a debt collector provide proof that you owe a debt. It’s the best way to ensure that you’re not paying a debt you don’t owe or a debt that the collector isn’t authorized to collect on. The debt validation request is time sensitive. You must make your request in writing within 30 days of the debt collector’s initial contact with you....

You might want to request career advice from someone in your network who has expertise in your industry, someone you attended college with who has expertise in your industry or your companies of interest, or someone who works for a company you are interested in. One of the best ways to do this is to write letters or send email messages requesting advice. Best Practices for Writing a Letter Requesting Career Advice An effective career advice request letter should do the following: Explain who you are....