Annual Report

The current White House’s administration also has been trying to simplify it all for borrowers with loans backed

Borrowers can expect savings, but the banks aren’t required to give them today’s rock-bottom rates. Under the settlement, the new rate must be at least 0.25 percentage point

  • One
  • Two
What to Charge for a Company Liquidation

What to Charge for a Company Liquidation

Are you considering liquidating your company but unsure about the costs involved? How do you determine what's fair to charge for such a significant process?The goal of this article is to learn...

Unveiling the Fate of Gift Cards During Liquidation

Unveiling the Fate of Gift Cards During Liquidation

When a retailer goes out of business, can you ever imagine how it feels to receive a gift card from that store only to learn they are in financial trouble? What happens to the value stored in...

Can You Really Make Money From Gaming?

Can You Really Make Money From Gaming?

Gaming is undoubtedly the most popular hobby on the planet. The gaming industry is worth billions. Every year hundreds of new, amazing games are released. And every few years we are blessed with a new generation of consoles that push the boundaries of what game creators can do. We are lucky enough to be living in the golden age of technology. And gaming is thriving because of it.

There are many reasons people get into gaming. Some use it as an escape from reality. Finding peace in the fictional worlds within. Some use it as a way to relax. Enjoying comfortable games like Stardew Valley or Animal Crossing. Many use it as a social tool. Spending time gaming with their closest friends or with strangers online.

But some people use gaming as a way to make money. And we aren’t talking about those who create games. You may have heard a lot of stories about people making a lot of money from gaming. But how realistic a prospect is this? Today we are going to be answering the question: Can you really make money from gaming?

Professional Gaming

Video games are undoubtedly an art. They are a perfect mixture of so many visual and technical formats coming together to create something beautiful. The weaving of amazing stories. The beautiful art and moving music. But, aside from being an art, gaming is also a sport.

The term for gaming as a sport is often referred to as Esports. And it is as competitive and lucrative as any other sport. Being a pro gamer is a dream of most gamers. Getting paid to play your favorite game. And, as gaming has become more popular, the prize pools for Esport tournaments has increased. The largest prize pool for a gaming tournament was the ‘International’ which had a prize pool of $40 million dollars. No small amount.

Becoming a pro gamer is no easy feat though. It requires a lot of dedication and hard work. A professional gamer is an athlete like any other. They keep to a strict diet and exercise schedule to ensure their mind and body is in peak gaming condition. And they have to engage in regular practice.

To become a professional gamer you will need to start entering tournaments at the lowest level and work your way up. This could be as part of a team or solo. As you progress the prize pool for these tournaments will increase. If you become big enough you can earn a sponsorship deal, which is where a lot of pro gamers make most of their money.

Running A Gaming Server

Multiplayer video games are the lifeblood of the gaming world these days. They are the most popular type of game and it is rare to find a game that doesn’t have some form of multiplayer mode within it. Titles like Call Of Duty, Fortnite, League Of Legends, and Dota prove just how popular multiplayer gaming is.

A lot of multiplayer games will use a company’s own servers to allow players to interact with one another. But some, like Minecraft, instead allow users to create their own servers for people to join. And, with gaming being so popular, running a server is a great potential revenue source.

Just look at many of the most popular Skyblock servers for Minecraft. They have hundreds of daily users. And this is for a game that has been out for over ten years. The customer base is there. You just need to ensure your server is welcoming, fun, and carefully moderated. Nothing will sink a server faster than bad moderators who have gone power mad. Ensure you have vetted your moderators properly before handing them the power.

Your server needs to be running smoothly and constantly to justify having a price tag attached. If your server is laggy, you won’t get anyone willing to pay to play. You will also need to ensure it offers something people can’t find on a free game server. This could be a unique mod experience, or a welcoming community.

Streaming

This is perhaps the most popular, and often most difficult way of making money from gaming. Streaming started out as quite a fringe hobby. People did it for fun, not to make money. But these days Twitch has created a culture of streaming. And people have made very successful careers out of it.

When you first start streaming all the income you will earn will come from donations. So you need to ensure you are creating engaging content and also interacting with your viewers. They need to be drawn to you. Streaming is a competitive business. So you need to stand out. You will want to try carve out a niche for yourself. Perhaps this could be a unique challenge run you do in every game you play. Or maybe a unique style of audience interaction.

Gaming and streaming go hand in hand. A lot of people watch streamers so that they can view playthroughs of games they might not have access to. So you will want to ensure the games you are playing are popular. This doesn’t necessarily mean they need to be the newest titles though. There is a lot of money to be earnt in retro game streaming. Speedrunning is also very popular for streaming. And it is one of the formats that tends to bring in the most donations.

Why 2024 Is The Time To Invest In Real Estate

Why 2024 Is The Time To Invest In Real Estate

Are you wondering if you have missed out on investing in real estate? Well, be assured that you haven’t missed out on anything.

2023 might have experienced a significant increase in the value of real estate but 2024 will likely be better.

Real estate is one of the Industries that increases in value over time. 2024 promises to be a great year for real estate investors. Currently, the demand for real estate is relatively high as there are more buyers and fewer houses.

One of the most important reasons why 2024 is the best time to invest in real estate is that you can easily meet up with the current housing trends.

As a 2024 real estate investor, you have the upper hand over the investors of previous years. How is this possible? The building standards of the previous years are different from the present standards.

It is difficult to find buyers for out-of-trend buildings as the year goes by. As a 2024 real estate investor you are likely to buy and sell modern buildings with ease.

Real estate investments likely to produce high returns in 2024

If you are wondering about the best real estate investment to make in 2024, here are some ideas.

Commercial real estate

Commercial real estate refers to properties used for business purposes. Many advantages come with commercial real estate, as this makes it a good investment for 2024.

Investing in commercial real estate involves the following;

  • Low risk
  • It is reliable
  • It produces high returns
  • It can be easily improved
  • It costs less than investing in residential real estate

Real estate investment trusts (REITs)

This is a great option for first-time investors. It is less expensive, and it comes with low risk too. Real estate investment trusts refer to companies that are into commercial real estate. Examples of these commercial real estate are; hotels, complexes, warehouses, office buildings, Mall, etc.

Investing in REITs is quite easy, all you need to do is buy shares in these companies on the stock exchange. REITs offer significant dividends yearly, and that’s how you make your money. The good thing is you can maintain a long-term investment, and you can always sell your shares whenever you want.

Flipping

Flipping a house simply refers to buying a house with low value, to fix it up and resell it at a higher price.

For example, you can convince a seller to sell a fire damaged property to you at a very low cost, you can then proceed to fix the house, and resell it at a higher price.

As simple as this sounds, it is no easy task, and it requires a lot of care and process.

  1. Firstly you need to ensure that the impact of the fire damage is not so intense.
  2. Secondly, be careful not to overspend, to avoid cutting profit.
  3. Thirdly, try not to waste so much time during renovation.
  4. Lastly, the building has to meet up to the state’s building codes.

With all this in mind, you are set to make a profit in the real estate market in 2024.

Raw land investment

This is also a very good real estate idea for 2024. You can either decide to buy raw land and resell it when the value appreciates, or buy and build on the land. While the first option is great, the second option is more rewarding.

The real estate market has experienced significant evolution over the years. Most people now prefer modern, sustainable buildings.

Some of the available real estate is not as modernized as it should be in 2024. When you buy raw land, you can build it according to the standards of the latest modern buildings.

Factors to consider before investing in real estate in 2024

  • Your budget: Try not to go above your budget when investing in real estate in 2024. Your budget should serve as a guide for the property to invest. When creating a budget, always remember that the size of the budget can determine the type and value of your real estate investment
  • The type of property: When buying a property in 2024 you need to consider the type and structure of the property you’re paying for. 2024 represents a digital era, to succeed in the real estate aspect of the year, you need to go for modernized sustainable buildings.
  • The location of the property: This is a constant factor to consider at all times. The location of a property matters a lot in determining the value of the property. Ensure that the environment where the property is located is safe and accessible.

Conclusion

2024 will likely experience a higher value in real estate than the previous years. If you looking to get higher returns for your investment, you should consider investing in real estate in 2024.

Finally, there is no better time to invest in real estate than the present.

How to Recognize a Stock Investor You Can Trust

How to Recognize a Stock Investor You Can Trust

When trying to make it big on the stock market, finding an investor you trust is an important step to ensure success. If you are inexperienced in the stock market, then an investor can be a wise step on how to get your bearings to the ins and outs to stock investing. There are many different stock investment platforms that tailor to different personal goals and investment styles, and that is why you need proper research when choosing one. If you are completely new to stock investing platforms, then we recommend reading the Motley Fool full review article on Joy Wallet for a good overview of these platforms and a strong starting point. However, if you still need further preparation then read this article below for some tips to look out for.

Communication

It is important to find an investor who is transparent in their operations and is willing to have a conversation about the services they provide. Do not be afraid to ask questions and be wary of anyone who avoids answering. In order to find exactly what you are looking for in an investment platform then you need to complete as much research as possible. Good investor platforms will have many helpful tips that will guide you in tackling the stock market, while also describing their process in the most simplest of terms.

It is also important to see whether the reputation of that particular stock investor is easily found online. Look for customer reviews or their standing within the industry; good stock investors should have this information readily on hand. Don’t fall victim to being sold a bill of goods and seeing no return on your investment. Look for that platform’s track record to ensure they have been seeing profits on the investments they have been making. If you’re looking to make it big, you need to ensure you are properly spending your money in the right places.

Education and Credentials

Good stock investors should come from a background in finance or stock investment. These platforms should be run by professionals in order to see professional service. Look into who exactly is providing these services and consider a quick search online to see what information you can find out. It is vital that the stock investor has an understanding of the markets and has proven they know what they are doing. This can come from their track record, however, this may not be entirely accurate on that individual’s performance.

After verifying that your investor is at least well educated in the stock market, next is to look at any credentials they have attached to their name. Coming from a background of stock education is one thing, but acceptance from their peers by belonging to a professional organization is proof of trustworthy service. Your investor may also be a chartered financial analyst which is a good way to prove they have a strong knowledge of the industry.

Conclusion

A lot of how you’ll be seeing profits on the stock market can come down to luck and patience, however, making a bad call on a stock investor is down to poor research and planning. Always be on the lookout to learn as much as possible about your stock investor and ensure that you are playing with a full deck of cards when trusting someone with your investments. Don’t become complicit and always look for new ways to learn more about stock investment as this will be the only way to become a trusted professional yourself. Knowing when to spread the risks of your investments is an important skill that only comes from watching professionals at work. By recognizing those professionals you’ll be earning big money in no time.

The Complete Guide to Making Money as a Streamer

As technology and social media are growing at a very rapid rate both in terms of their popularity and usage we have seen more and more people take their careers online and become streamers as their full-time profession. Streaming has the potential to make you much more than just someone who plays games for an audience and you could actually bring your whole career onto an online platform where you can build a reputation and brand with the opportunity to earn a very nice income. The great thing about having a career like this is that it provides flexibility both in the hours you will need to work every day and the creative vision that you would like to take your work in will be completely up to you, rather than having to report to a board of creative directors who could dictate the content you produce.

In order to make money as a streamer, you will need a certain awareness of the way that the world works and how you can attract certain audiences and ensure that your message is clearly portrayed within your videos, and there are many things that you can do to achieve this.

Equipment

If you want to be taken seriously within your chosen platform then it is very important that you earn the money to invest in high-quality recording and editing equipment, these days most streamers are able to record in the highest definition of picture quality so anything less than this standard that has been set is likely to affect the fan response you receive. Recording equipment doesn’t have to be expensive and you will find some pretty reasonably priced models on the market that will help to ensure your lighting and quality is sharp and clear.

Create High-quality Gaming Content

The final way that you can make money as a streamer and ensure that you are taken seriously in such a crowded industry would be to make sure that you are putting thought and effort into the streams you are doing and the content you are making. For gamers who are struggling with performing well on games during streams then it may be a good idea to use hacks to help until you improve, the most recent apex legends hack is said to be one of the best so I would definitely check it out.

Establishing a Fanbase

A huge part of making money as a streamer is the relationship and loyalty you build within your fans, for those of you that are just starting out I would highly recommend that you start marketing your social media accounts to try and build the number of followers that you have. Once you have increased your followers you will attract the attention of brands who will offer partnerships in exchange for you advertising products to your fans, this will not only help you make money but also build your relationship with brands who could offer more work in the future.

Merch

Another great way for you to make money as a streamer would be to design and create merchandise featuring some of your iconic logos or graphics work to be sold to your fans. In this industry, it is important to diversify your career and to set up your own branded merch. You are provided with peace of mind that should the streaming industry decline you will still have a business that you can profit from and expand. This is also a great way to further your relationship with your fans as you are giving them the opportunity to buy and collect one-of-a-kind items featuring someone they like.

How Do Medical Insurance Companies Make Their Money

If you are someone that is unfortunate enough to live in a country that doesn’t offer free healthcare to all of its citizens, then you are probably familiar with the world of medical insurance. Medical insurance gives you the opportunity to cover medical bills that you may not have thought possible to overcome. However, if you look into it, the money that you put into your medical insurance really doesn’t add up with the estimated costs of your injury or illness.

Though this may seem confusing, it makes sense if you think about it. After all, what would be the point of insurance if you were still paying the full cost of the surgeries that you have? This means that your medical insurance is covering the rest of your bills. However, this begs another question. If medical insurance companies are only taking in a margin of what the medical bills actually cost, but are still paying the bills, then how do the companies make money?

Though this may seem confusing, you only need to meet someone that works in medical insurance to know that most medical firms are making plenty. Working in insurance is an extremely desirable job due to just how much money some of the bigger players in the sector are able to make every year.

How do they make money?

Insurance companies face no struggles when it comes to making money and there are in fact two primary streams of revenue for most insurance companies out there. These are known as investment income and underwriting income, but in the complicated world of insurance, it can be a difficult task to differentiate the two. Worry not, we have done the work for you.

Underwriting Income

Underwriting income may be the most popular way of making money that you may be familiar with in the world of medical insurance. If you have a healthcare policy, then you will know that you have to pay a monthly insurance premium. This is basically the set cost that you have to pay in order to have your medical bills continuously covered.

Premiums differ depending on the plan that you selected when you first joined your insurance company, yours may be more or less than the average depending on how much money that you spend every year.  Unless you have an ongoing medical condition, it is unlikely that the insurance company will have to use your money to cover any medical costs for yourself and so this money is pooled. This pooled money is used in many ways. If you are under a medical firm then it is likely that your money will be pooled with others that haven’t required any medical attention that month. This money will be partly used to cover the medical bills of someone else under the same firm, but a lot of money will be leftover.

The law firm will use some of this remaining money for the general running of the business, and new laws mean that insurance firms need to spend at least 25% of their income on administrative costs, which are the costs for the general running of the business. So the profit for the business is assessed this way by adding up the premiums that are collected by the firm and taking away the costs of any expenses or claims that have been paid by the company.

Investment income

Something that you may not know about the world of business firms is that the money that isn’t spent on claims or other expenses is usually invested. They could leave the money as it is, but this usually means there is very little income left over. What the company chooses to invest the remaining money on really depends on a number of personal factors and insider knowledge that the firm owner may have. The usual ways in which this money is invested are through stocks and real estate as companies tend to try to avoid gambling the money that they make. This money is then given out as a wage.

Do the companies make a direct profit from customers?

As previously discussed, the money that you invest into your medical insurance usually never meets the overall costs. Because of this, it isn’t very common for medical insurance businesses to make a direct profit from customers, instead, they are required to use the money wisely.

Can you make a profit from medical insurance?

Though it is more common to work as a part of a firm, there is such a thing as independent brokers. These medical insurance brokers work independently and often charge higher premiums. These higher premiums mean that they are able to cover bigger medical bills, which makes them a favorable option for people who worry about medical issues.

If you want to get into the industry, it is actually relatively straightforward as all you need to do is find medical injury leads and work from there. If you need to purchase personal injury leads for sale there are plenty of online resources or independent companies that you can contact who will be happy to help you. However, there are certain laws you need to follow in order to run your business ethically. There are also a number of certifications that you need to earn in order to allow you to practice, but once you have that sorted out then you should be fine.

Subscribe to News