Author: Gary

Home Loan Repayments 101: How To Make Home Loan Repayments As Easy As 1-2-3

Posted on by Gary

A home loan is one major type of loan you will probably ever have in your entire life.  Having said that, managing a home loan would be a tedious task to accomplish every month; especially that you still have to deal with other equally important expenses.  However, there are certain things you need to be conscious or aware of in order to manage your loan home payments in an easy way.

Before applying for a home loan, you first need to formulate a strategy on your financial plan in order to successfully manage your home loan repayments.  In other words, you have to make it fit right into your monthly budget.  This way, you can make necessary adjustments ahead of time just in case some problems occur. 

Needless to say, home loans are quite a big deal; thus, it may take a big chunk out of your financial plan.  And, it is some sort of a necessary evil to deal with every month.  However, it is equally important to take note not to miss a single payment to avoid future complications and penalties.

Make your first repayment as soon as your home loan has been approved.  This will take off a big chunk of the amount from the principal even before the interest accumulates.  With this in mind, the amount of your repayment will be much lower than you have anticipated.

Coordinate with your financial institution that you prefer paying fortnightly instead of monthly.  This way, you will speed up the process of your repayments because you end up paying the equivalent of roughly 13 instead of 12.

If you have an extra monthly income that you earn from a bonus, then, it would be wise to make additional repayments.  Do this on a regular basis and you will end up reducing the cost and duration of your home loan.

Once your loan repayments will lower down due to a decrease in the interest rate; then, make sure you will not lessen your repayments.  This way you will be making a monthly extra repayment which will make you pay off your loan sooner and eventually save you money.  And, the best thing about this strategy is that you are not affecting your monthly budget because you are still deducting the same amount of money from your financial plan.

Another tip is to make arrangements with the financial institution to have your monthly income directly deducted by the amount of the home loan repayment.  This way, you will be assured that your financial obligation on your home loan will not be jeopardized.  Also, crediting companies would prefer this kind of payment system and would even give incentives—in the form of reimbursements or diminished interest rates—to their clients for timely repayment.  You can have the rest of your monthly expenses charged from your credit card with an interest-free period. 

By and large, if you are always alert with the financial movements of your monthly budget and linking them to your home loan and daily expenses; then, you will be assured of a successful and easy way of dealing with your home loan repayments.

Meet The Entrepreneur Behind The Cover Of The August 2021 Issue Of MoneyCentral Magazine: Steve Stanulis

Posted on by Gary

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Steve Stanulis is an award-winning filmmaker, actor, and the founder of Stanulis films who is currently adding to the revolution of the modern-day entertainment industry with his premium content and unmatched vision.

As the world continues to evolve digitally, high-speed internet connection has paved the way for the latest addition to the entertainment industry: streaming services that allow people to watch their favourite movies or shows online.

According to Action Elite magazine, Streaming services also brought about a significant impact on the roles of actors and actresses. They are no longer tied to major movie studios and productions exclusively. Rather, they can now earn through various online platforms because the advertisers in these digital channels pay them a certain fee to promote their products to their followers.

Leveraging this new wave of digital entertainment, Stanulis established Stanulis Films in 2019. His enterprise has already showcased early success, earning the award for “Best Documentary” in the New York Independent Film Festival for his documentary “Wasted Talent”.

Stanulis made a statement of intent with that documentary, alerting the entertainment world of his vision, creativity, and drive for triumph. Stanulis followed up this maiden success by bringing home the titles of “Best Drama” and “Best Ensemble Cast” with the hit 2020 film “5th Borough.” This casting award further lends credence to Stanulis’ creativity and a keen eye for detail in finding the right people for his films.

With longevity comes experience; with experience comes greater expertise. Stanulis didn’t appear from thin air to scoop up laurels. A former NYPD Officer and A-List Celebrity security guard, Stanulis honed his craft and garnered entertainment experience as a published and credited actor (starring in projects such as The Sopranos, The Interpreter, and I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry).

With his expertise, a wealth of experience, ability to develop and find talent, and work ethic, Stanulis has been successfully steering the wheels of his enterprise in the right direction, creating amazing content all while staying within minimum film budgets.

Stanulis is not resting on his laurels yet, for his drive for success is new every morning. Leveraging on the rising independent film industry, the filmmaker currently has 10 upcoming films in the works through 2022, and with his precedents draped in awards and laurels, viewers have reason to be excited, for first-class entertainment is on the way.

MoneyCentral Magazine recently caught up with Steve to discuss his journey in the entertainment industry and here’s what went down:

Why Did You Decide To Be A Producer Above All Other Industry Job Roles?

I really enjoyed the business aspect of the entertainment industry. Being a producer allows you to run the show and make business decisions, which ultimately decide the success of the project.

What Was Your First Job In Film And How Did You Progress To Producer?

My first job in film was The Replacements with Keanu Reeves and Gene Hackman. I played Keanu’s backup quarterback and only had two lines, but I was hooked!

What do you look for in a script?

When reading a script, the genre, the dialogue, and character development are most important to me. Unfortunately, many writers fall short when it comes to character development.

How do you select a director?

I usually choose a director based on the genre of the film and their past success on prior projects. It’s also very important for us to be compatible and have the same creative vision.

Have you ever had to handle a difficult conflict in your career? What did you learn from it?

There have been many difficult conflicts, usually on the financial side. For instance, sometimes monies are counted on and at the last minute, investors don’t follow through. As a producer, you need to have a fallback plan and if for some reason you do not have enough time to raise the money, you have to decide where to cut the script where it doesn’t change the story.

What would you change in a movie you produced that you believe would make it better?

None- I have been blessed in the sense I have never looked back on a film or cast member and wished something was done differently.

What Film Projects Are You Working On Right Now?

We are currently shooting a project called “Monica”, starring Emily Browning and Patricia Clarkson. The film is about a transgender woman who comes home to take care of her sick mother, even though their relationship is estranged. We think the topic is timely and we are proud to be a part of this film.

Do you think it’s a good time to invest in films right now amidst this pandemic?

It’s never been a better time to invest in films, due to the fact when I first started in 1999, you either needed a theatrical release or a deal with Blockbuster. Now, there are so many platforms looking for new content. Therefore, it truly has never been a better time to have your work as a filmmaker distributed.

What Advice Would You Give To Those Hoping To Pursue A Career In Producing?

My advice would be to network, do your research, and try to find a mentor already in the business to help you learn the ins and outs. I’d also warn them that the journey is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. But if you stay motivated and remain tenacious, you will achieve all that you dream of!

Entrepreneur Spotlight: Find Out More About Fashion CEO Brittany Benton

Posted on by Gary

Fashion CEO Brittany Benton is about to launch an online series called “The Boutique Secret” aimed at helping new Entrepreneurs

Today, 54% of Gen-Z want to be an influencer according to a study by Morning Consult. That number is sure to rise, which means that a lot of people will be forgoing traditional careers and turning themselves into a brand. While thousands of content creators are making fortunes selling products and running their businesses on social media, there are far more who have lost fortunes.

Brittany Benton has launched an online series called “The Boutique Secret” aimed at helping young entrepreneurs and brands avoid common career-ending pitfalls, and learn how to get a business started far more successfully.

Brittany Benton, CEO, and founder of the hot new fashion line Benton1988 has persevered through immense obstacles and took massive risks but still triumphed. Since their launch in 2019 Benton1988 has sold millions of dollars of clothes and has amassed hundreds of thousands of followers on social media.

After spending years running every aspect of her business from her living room, with no employees or financial security to back her up in case it didn’t work out, Brittany has gained experience that she knows will be very valuable to anyone else thinking about becoming an entrepreneur.

Brittany’s online series of videos found here are a series of “how-to” videos designed to walk entrepreneurs through a variety of topics they need to know before they get started. Topics like how to start a business with little to no money, how much money to spend on Facebook ads, a vendor list in LA and abroad, and several other extremely helpful resources.

“The fans of my brand have been so supportive this entire journey and our team has heard from so many of them who want to run their own businesses like me one day. It’s inspiring and pushes us to reach a higher standard every day, so we can show these people that they can make millions of dollars doing what they love as well.” Brittany said when reached out for comment.

According to our sources, several massive influencers and models in Hollywood have reached out to Brittany about potential collaborations for global campaigns with her fashion line, because they see her product as an easy sell. In a relatively short time span Benton1988’s bold styles, empowering outfits, and Brittany’s captivating personality have convinced the fashion industry and fans online that her products are the next big thing.

You can follow Brittany on Instagram @the.brittany.b and Benton1988 @benton.1988 to learn more about their upcoming announcements and high-profile collaborations.

5 Surefire Tactics For Reducing Overall Business Debt

Posted on by Gary

Debt can be a drain on a business, especially if you are hoping to end the year in green, we will discuss some strategies to help you get closer to that goal.

Considering a renegotiation of loans whilst also pursuing other opportunities such as grants can be a great way to reduce or eliminate this debt.

Keep reading for three other life-saving methods to consider as well.

Renegotiating the Terms of your Current Loans

If you currently have loans that are proving difficult to pay back due to existing debt, it might be worth considering with your lender if you are able to renegotiate the terms of these loans and sort out a mutually beneficial agreement.

By expressing the hardship of the current loan on your finances, you may be able to secure an agreement to change the terms of the loan. This could be a reduction in interest rates for example, or simply changing how frequently the loans are paid, allowing you that extra time for other beneficial financial decisions to help keep your business up and running, allowing you to build towards the reduction of your debt.

Using Grant Opportunities

It is extremely likely that your business may be eligible for grants from entities such as the government or other entities with a goal in mind that you help to pursue. For example, your firm may specialise in an area that supports a key government objective, and if you believe this may be the case, it is worth getting in contact with them to explore any options available.

Further to this, in the current pandemic, you are likely to be able to access some potential grants to support you at this difficult time, and these are great at reducing your current debt.

Focusing on Eliminating the Debt as Opposed to Other Objectives

If you are in a stable position in regard to your company, and your finances appear to be the only difficulty, it might be worth diverting your attention away from other opportunities for growth to focus on eliminating your debt.

It may be worth making conservative decisions at this time, such as not hiring new employees such as marketing directors to promote your social media presence if it is relatively stable at this point in time. This allows you to focus on the task at hand, reducing extra unnecessary costs in the short term.

Focus on Increasing your Sales

However, as a business, you must run an analysis to see if the previous point is the best option, as it may be worth incurring that short term cost if it is likely to return positive results, such as increased sales, money from which can be used to pay off such debts. In which case, alternate strategies may be necessary to pursue.

Tapping into Your Networks

Finally, if you have crippling debt, consider using your network to help you. You may have family and friends who can help you pay off existing loans if they believe in the long-term success of your business.

Top 5 New Challenges Facing Entrepreneurship, and How to Rise Above Them

Posted on by Gary

The world continually challenges us to be our best possible selves, but how can entrepreneurs best ensure that they are prepared for these challenges?

From company conduct to company communication and the impact imposed by COVID-19, we will discuss the best responses for entrepreneurs to take.

Keep reading for 2 more challenges that entrepreneurs must consider in their future plans as well.

Company Communication

The COVID-19 pandemic has revolutionised the way that we work. We have begun to take to our desks at home to get the job done, and this has severely impacted the ability of your company to communicate with each other. As workers are no longer in a concentrated area in their offices, entrepreneurs are becoming increasingly worried as to how best to meet company targets.

A great way to boost communication methods is through the use of video streaming services such as Zoom. This allows the concentration of your team into one area once again, and assuming no technical difficulties, allows the re-establishment of clear communication.

Company Conduct

Consumers are becoming increasingly interested in a company’s position on social issues, and this is a crucial challenge to entrepreneurship. If you are unable to understand what your consumers want, it might be difficult for your company to appear reliable.

As an entrepreneur, by gauging an understanding of consumer wants in your approaches to things, you may be able to implement more environmentally friendly initiatives, for example, showing consumers that you are a company that cares about the wider issues and not just about business.

Company Competitiveness

As an entrepreneur, you will always be competing against the next best person, but COVID-19 has severely changed the way that we do business. It is not worth targeting your marketing strategies to things that people are only going to see if they enter your stores, as online purchasing has skyrocketed.

For this reason, it is crucial that you develop your social media presence and begin creating a presence on there that your consumers can interact with, allowing you to remain more competitive in a much more difficult world.

Company Health

Whilst doing business is the primary goal of any entrepreneur, considering that your workers, and yourself, need to take care at such a critical time is also crucial to productivity and overall happiness. This is because it can actually damage internal relations if people are dissatisfied, making this a top priority matter.

Taking frequent breaks is a great way to look after yourself, and understanding that some workers may be more affected than others shows your willingness as an entrepreneur to be considerate and caring of your workforce.

Company Finances

Finally, money may be tight at the moment due to the impositions of the pandemic, and it is important to realise that asking for help is necessary at this time.

If you have loans, speak to your bank about potential extensions, and tap into your network to see if they are willing to support you in any way possible.

What Is Personal Branding And 5 Good Reasons Why It’s More Important Than Ever

Posted on by Gary

Living in a digital world, it is incredibly important to focus on your personal branding. Your brand is something that will get people to talk about you. It’s what inspires people to turn to you for the particular expertise that you offer. Your personal branding is how others view you, making a significant difference in the likelihood of job prospects or selling your products or services. This article will look at the top 5 reasons why personal branding is so crucial to your success.

  1. Building an Audience

In a digital world, your audience will actually determine your value to other potential customers. For instance, imagine a popular YouTuber. A good YouTuber, one that has a solid fanbase, has a massive audience. This audience attracts new people to their audience. The same applies in the business world. People will see your value thanks to your personal branding, which means that they will be more likely to hire you or trust you to provide the quality products or services that they are looking for. Once you build an audience, you can leverage them to be more successful.

  1. Have a Competitive Edge

There is a lot of competition in the digital age, so having a strong personal brand can give you the competitive edge that you need to stand out. They want to trust someone who is an authority in their specific field. You get the credibility that you need that will make customers more likely to trust you to offer the solutions they are looking for. Strong personal branding makes you more valuable than your competition, who may not have as strong of a personal brand.

  1. Create Relationships

Connecting with other people is so important these days. You need to network and market yourself to be more attractive to prospects. Through personal branding, you can connect with other people. As you connect with people and form relationships, you can spend time nurturing these relationships. Through developing relationships and focusing on them, you create creating loyalty to your brand and increase the chances of people returning to you for your products and services.

  1. Better Networking Abilities

These days, networking is so important no matter what your industry is. If you have strong personal branding, you will be more likely to get invited to events that allow you to connect and network with others. These events can often be so important to being successful and climbing the career ladder.

  1. Better Opportunities

Probably most importantly, personal branding can unlock amazing opportunities for you. After you have created an audience, built up your authority in the industry, and formed relationships, you can start unlocking better opportunities. You can capitalize on your personal branding to get a better job, achieve your goals of being an influencer, or start getting more sales.

Personal branding is essential to helping you become more successful and advance your career. This is why it’s so important to focus on building a strong personal brand.

Fear of Rejection: How to Effectively Overcome It As An Entrepreneur

Posted on by Gary

As an entrepreneur you are going to run into rejection, it’s inevitable. You might turn in a proposal that gets denied or try to sell your services and get denied. Either way, it’s important to remember your goals and keep pushing towards them. Don’t let a simple no stop you from achieving your goals. Some of the most successful people have been denied multiple times before reaching their spotlight. Just keep that in mind on this journey of entrepreneurship.

Never take it personally. Most rejections are based on the well-being of the other company. If you get rejected it’s simply because they don’t think it’s a good fit. It’s not because you suck and your company sucks. It’s literally just business. Let business be business, and don’t take it to your heart. Don’t let it affect your motivation, or ability to market yourself.

You should use rejection as a tool to figure out what your next step is or even how you could present yourself better next time. Take it as a learning opportunity and figure out what needs to change in order to land that next deal. Your goal is to be successful and grow your company, so use rejection as a tool to guide you in a better direction. Just because one person denied you doesn’t mean there’s not someone else out there that has been looking for someone just like you.

Never be afraid of rejection. Rejection is part of the growth process, and without it, you wouldn’t know where to begin, or even where you should go next. You should never fear being denied because a denial is all it is. It doesn’t affect you negatively to be rejected. If anything, you and the person that denied you are the only ones that are even aware of the rejection. You don’t have to showcase how many rejections it took until you succeeded. Just remember that each rejection leads to another possible deal. Don’t hesitate to put yourself out there in fear of being rejected. Just live for the moment and if you get denied then that’s all that has happened is you got denied. You are still an entrepreneur and you are still striving.

Another thing is don’t give your hopes up to soon. Just keep in mind that rejection is inevitable, and it’s bound to happen to you at some point while venturing as an entrepreneur. Stop hesitating to put yourself out there, because, in the end, it will be nothing but beneficial. You can’t land deals, without putting yourself out there. Regardless of rejection, you are still an entrepreneur and you still need to get your services out there. You can’t wait around and expect something to come to you because that is not realistic. Like I said, rejection is bound to happen on your journey, just don’t let it stop you from marketing your services or company. Use it as a tool to succeed.

The 5 Biggest Challenges Faced by Entrepreneurs Today

Posted on by Gary

 

The world continually challenges us to be our best possible selves, but how can entrepreneurs best ensure that they are prepared for these challenges?

From company conduct to company communication and the impact imposed by COVID-19, we will discuss the best responses for entrepreneurs to take.

Keep reading for 2 more challenges that entrepreneurs must consider in their future plans as well.

Company Communication

The COVID-19 pandemic has revolutionised the way that we work. We have begun to take to our desks at home to get the job done, and this has severely impacted the ability of your company to communicate with each other. As workers are no longer in a concentrated area in their offices, entrepreneurs are becoming increasingly worried as to how best to meet company targets.

A great way to boost communication methods is through the use of video streaming services such as Zoom. This allows the concentration of your team into one area once again, and assuming no technical difficulties, allows the re-establishment of clear communication.

Company Conduct

Consumers are becoming increasingly interested in a company’s position on social issues, and this is a crucial challenge to entrepreneurship. If you are unable to understand what your consumers want, it might be difficult for your company to appear reliable.

As an entrepreneur, by gauging an understanding of consumer wants in your approaches to things, you may be able to implement more environmentally friendly initiatives, for example, showing consumers that you are a company that cares about the wider issues and not just about business.

Company Competitiveness

As an entrepreneur, you will always be competing against the next best person, but COVID-19 has severely changed the way that we do business. It is not worth targeting your marketing strategies to things that people are only going to see if they enter your stores, as online purchasing has skyrocketed.

For this reason, it is crucial that you develop your social media presence and begin creating a presence on there that your consumers can interact with, allowing you to remain more competitive in a much more difficult world.

Company Health

Whilst doing business is the primary goal of any entrepreneur, considering that your workers, and yourself, need to take care at such a critical time is also crucial to productivity and overall happiness. This is because it can actually damage internal relations if people are dissatisfied, making this a top priority matter.

Taking frequent breaks is a great way to look after yourself, and understanding that some workers may be more affected than others shows your willingness as an entrepreneur to be considerate and caring of your workforce.

Company Finances

Finally, money may be tight at the moment due to the impositions of the pandemic, and it is important to realise that asking for help is necessary at this time.

If you have loans, speak to your bank about potential extensions, and tap into your network to see if they are willing to support you in any way possible.

5 Marketing Strategies to Fuel Your Business Growth

Posted on by Gary

Not all people who want to enter the world of business possess a booming marketing skill. This brings fear to a small business owner who finds it difficult to start with just a small capital. However, there are several ways you can learn to acquire this certain skill to make an incredible income. Most entrepreneurs experience the same feeling you have when they started their business so don’t be scared – you can be successful, too.

Highlight the benefits of your products or services

You do not have to compare your products to the competitors just to emphasize the values which make them different. Learn how to match the price based on the quality and value of your offers. In every feature of your product, associate it with its benefit. Most consumers value their money by purchasing goods that are useful and beneficial to them. Always remember the difference between buying a product because they need it or they want it.

Profile your potential customer

Base your offer on their gender, age, living status, household activities, and many other preferences so you know how to position your product or service. You may feel dismayed every time a customer ignores your direct offer due to their personal reasons. To gain their attention, ask few things which may let them express what they need so you can discover the ideal product they want. Listen to them and analyze the things they need.

Use many types of marketing platform through the powerful influence of the internet

Nowadays, social media has influenced its large number of users. In this way, your products can reach the awareness of millions of people which is the primary advantage provided by the internet. In addition, creating compelling content for your website can also attract more customers. Other forms of marketing strategy are crowdsourcing, affiliate marketing, and video marketing. Through your creativity and proper use of these tools, you can boost your sales in a short span of time.

Let customers provide their feedback or suggestions

The impression of customers is very important to help you produce a product that is efficient and valuable to many users. Use their feedback to help you meet their needs and resolve underlying issues before you spend a lot in producing products that you think will still be useful for them.

Track every single money you spent on your marketing campaign

This is very important because this will allow you to compare which of those marketing channels you use is more effective. The records will also help you analyze the resolutions you can do to improve your techniques. You can pinpoint the areas of your product which customers need and which ones needs improvement or changes. Through this guide, you can prevent the waste of money focusing on something that is not effective.

5 Ways To Create An Irresistible Brand Using Storytelling

Posted on by Gary

If you need to create an irresistible brand, storytelling is the way to go. Storytelling causes chemical changes in the brain that make the subject compelling to the reader and create a connection between the two. There are five features your story must-have for this to work.

The Brain Science Behind Storytelling

Our brains respond to storytelling because of the chemical processes in the brain.

Cortisol is released during tense or anxious moments. Oxycontin is the same chemical that is released when you look at puppies or babies. It promotes an emotional connection. Last, dopamine makes us feel good, hopeful, and optimistic.

A good storytelling pattern will start with empathy to create oxycontin and establish a connection with the reader. Then the writer will add tension or adversity to release cortisol. The last step is simply to solve the problem, and the brain will release dopamine.

A Means to Build Trust Between the Reader and The Brand

Besides processing the story, your brain also processes the emotions behind the story. Understanding other people’s feelings build empathy. Building empathy creates emotional connections, which, in turn, builds trust.

Establish a Connection with The Reader

It is critical to connect with your audience. If your demographic is the outdoor-loving crown, you need to resonate with outdoor values. It is especially helpful to design the brand as if the consumer is buying your story when they buy your product. This is the basis of every college swag product. When you wear something with a university name or logo, you declare yourself part of that university’s story and history.

The Struggles and Successes in the Brand’s History

Do not make the mistake of glossing over all the painful parts of your company’s history. Your story must not be all roses and lollipops. It is essential to include any adversity or conflict that your company faced. Last, do not forget to show how the situation was resolved.

Explain Why the Company Exists

Use the story to explain why your company exists, which must be a deeper reason than making money. Make this reason connect with the reader. Maybe you donate profits to after school programs or invest in saving the honeybees. Do you only buy organic ingredients or handmade African crafts? Are you working to improve the healthcare or customer service experience? Maybe you are supporting education by building a new platform to increase the effectiveness of online learning.

Describe What Your Brand Stands For

Finally, the last piece is to know what you stand for. You must have a robust definable mission that will resonate with your audience. Decide your brand’s values and how they line up with your target demographic’s values.

While writing a good back story may be difficult, this is one task you only have to do once. The return on investment for this will rebound year after year. Do not miss out on this must-do brand marketing strategy.