Here are six options for legally getting out of an auto title loan, plus a few tips to protect your finances. The Ideal Solution The most straightforward approach is to pay off your loan, but that’s more easily said than done. If you had the money, you wouldn’t have borrowed in the first place. But if you now have the cash to repay, contact your lender, and ask for payoff instructions....

5 Things a Good Contractor Should Provide Do not expect to pay for the above information. A good contractor knows it’s part of the business when bidding on a job and working with insurance claims to give an estimate. You will need this information to present to your insurance adjuster so they can approve the repairs on your home. The claims process is usually longer for large losses and claims than it is for smaller ones....

What’s Included in COGS? Cost of goods sold includes direct costs related to the products you are selling: Cost of products for sale or raw materials, including freightStorage of products, raw materials, or parts used in production.Direct labor costs (including contributions to pensions or annuity plans) for workers who produce the productsFactory overhead and warehouse costs. Cost of goods sold doesn’t include indirect costs, including: General overhead costs for areas of your business not related to the production or storage of products....

Career pathing involves understanding what knowledge, skills, personal characteristics, and experience are required for you to progress your career ​laterally, or through access to promotions and/or departmental transfers. Career pathing requires you to take an honest look at his or her career goals, skills, needed knowledge, experience, and personal characteristics. Making a career path plan requires you to obtain what is necessary for each of these areas to carry out your career path....

If you are taking on a second job, you need to plan carefully so that it’s worth your time. You should have a long-term plan to solve the situation. You may even want to ask for a raise before committing to a second job. If that doesn’t work, here are some tips to make working an extra job a little easier. Find the Best Possible Second Job Consider all available options when choosing what your second job will be....

While this means the majority of Americans owe no estate tax, they may still owe an inheritance tax. This is payable by the beneficiary who receives property from the estate, and is based on only the value of those particular assets. The beneficiary is responsible for paying this tax, although some people include provisions in their wills to have the estate take care of this burden for them. For those with estates that are still taxable at the state and/or federal level, the following options may help reduce their overall liability: Gifts given during a person’s lifetime eat away at the hefty estate exemptions....

You don’t necessarily need to provide details to your employer. For example, you can simply state that you are leaving for personal reasons or family reasons. You’re not obligated to explain why you’re moving on. In some cases, you may want to give a reason. For example, if you are leaving because of a family illness or you are going to be a stay-at-home parent, you might share this. You may be interested in working for the employer in the future....

When discussing a price increase in a business-to-business environment, it is important to remember that our customers have probably had to have the same discussion with their own customers. A company exists only as long as it earns a profit and it can only do that if it delivers a quality product or service at the right price. This means that the key to any conversation about raising the price is to emphasize that such an increase will ensure product quality....

If you’re already in foreclosure, this may feel like too little, too late, but you still can make wise moves amid a foreclosure. Find out more about options for avoiding a foreclosure, as well as next steps, if your foreclosure is imminent. What Is Foreclosure? Foreclosure is the process by which a bank determines that your mortgage is behind in payments to a sufficient degree that it wants to take possession of your home and sell it, to recoup its losses....

When you first start working, you may be getting a feel for corporate culture and trying to decide if you really enjoy the job you are doing or if you want to adjust your career focus. Sometimes, real upward mobility is achieved by moving from one company to another. Staying at a job with no opportunity is one of the common career mistakes that people make. These questions can help you determine how long you should stay in your current position....

A good reference can make all the difference, offering insight into your skills, accomplishments, and character that a hiring manager can’t get from your resume and application materials alone. But, there are a few things to keep in mind, to use these references effectively (and to make life easier for your friends who want to help you get a job). Difference Between Personal and Professional References Professional References We spend the bulk of our waking hours at work, so it makes sense that our coworkers often become friends....

MStudioImages/Getty How to Use Venmo First, download the Venmo app to your mobile device, and create your free account (it’s available for iOS and Android phones). You can also set up your account online at Venmo.com. You’ll need to register with your email address or phone number to get started, or you can use your Facebook login to sign up. Once your account is open, you can begin linking your financial accounts to the Venmo app....

Here’s information on writing a resignation letter or email message, along with samples and templates you can use to write your own letter. What Is a Resignation Letter? A resignation letter is a document that notifies your employer that you are leaving your job. It formalizes your departure from your current employment and can be submitted by email or as a printed letter. The letter serves as written notice of your resignation and provides the details of your departure from employment, including information about the end date of your employment....

You need an operations plan to help others understand how you’ll deliver on your promise to turn a profit. Keep reading to learn what to include in your operations plan. How To Write the Operations Plan Section of the Business Plan In your business plan, the operations plan section describes the physical necessities of your business’s operation, such as your physical location, facilities, and equipment. Depending on what kind of business you’ll be operating, it may also include information about inventory requirements, suppliers, and a description of the manufacturing process....

This comparison of the differences between TIPS and I Bonds can help guide you when you’re making a decision as to which type of investment is best for you. Purchasing Caps According to the TreasuryDirect.gov site, the total value of electronic I Bonds you can buy in a single calendar year is capped at $10,000 per person as of 2021. You can buy an additional $5,000 in paper bonds if you direct your tax refund toward the purchase....

A few people/entities are involved in each credit card transaction: The customer (you) presents the credit card for payment. The merchant sells you goods or services. The merchant’s bank sends credit card transactions for approval. The credit card payment network is a liaison between the merchant bank and the credit card issuer. The credit card issuer approves and pays transactions. Most credit cards now come with microchip technology. These so-called “smart cards,” or “EMV cards” (Europay, Mastercard, and Visa) embed a microchip on the front of the card that contains information pertaining to the account associated with the card, similar to what is contained in the magnetic stripe on the back of the card....

Now, robo-advisors are poised to shake up the investing landscape, but there are some vital things to be aware of before you add them to your retirement planning. The term robo-advisors refers to automated platforms that use algorithms to match you with investments based on your comfort with risk and your time frame. These platforms are also called “automated investment advisors” or “digital advice platforms.” Robo-advisors were first launched in 2008 and have been offered to people on a much broader scale since 2010....

A blockchain allows multiple parties to collaborate without having to simply trust each other. With blockchain, in fact, the trust is baked into the technology. That is because no single entity controls the information involved in blockchain transactions. Many companies, including giants like IBM and Walmart, are looking at how to offer blockchain-related services or implement this new technology within their own businesses. Still other blockchain-associated companies are being formed as startups....

However, balance transfers aren’t ideal for everyone. Whether or not you should apply for a balance transfer card depends on a number of factors, including your current spending habits, the promotional offer, your budget, and your credit. What Is a Balance Transfer Card? A balance transfer card is a credit card that gives new cardholders a set period of time to pay off debt transferred from another card at a reduced rate, like 0% APR for 15 months....

A bonus offer advertising 100,000 extra points or miles may sound substantial, but the dollar value of welcome offers can vary greatly based on rewards program point values. Some rewards will go further than others, due to underlying flight and hotel prices (in dollars and in points), as well as other factors. What’s more, the biggest bonuses often come with steep spending requirements. As part of “Our Money’s on Travel”—our series on getting back to travel—we’ve spelled out the questions you should ask when weighing the value of a giant credit card welcome bonus....