Losing a beloved family member is always tough, but when said person is the primary wage earner, it can be even tougher. What’s even worse is if the loss comes out of the blue—at an early age, due to an accident, or without any foretelling signs. This leaves the family not only grieving but also in a tight financial spot.

While unpleasant to think about it, you should put in place some mechanisms to ensure that your family won’t be left struggling financially in case you pass away.

Invest

Before the internet investing was a somewhat involved process. Now, you can get data on virtually every investment opportunity that exists. From art to properties, and from petrol to cryptocurrencies, there are investment options for every budget and skill level. There are also numerous platforms that can unify all your investment data under a single dashboard.

The beauty of investing is that if you do it well it can let you live a comfortable life and still generate income for your family after your time. What’s more, these days investing can be as simple as installing an app or letting an AI do it for you. There is even an app that invests your spare change.

Build a Business

Building a family business has never been easier. You can take advantage of a ton of opportunities to raise a business from the ground up even if you don’t have the money.

Many online businesses, like freelancing or opening an online store, require very little initial investment. For something more demanding you can opt for a bank loan or turn to crowdfunding.

Once the business has picked up you can come up with an operations plan to ensure that your venture will be successful even after you are gone. Some family businesses have been successful for centuries thanks to strong family traditions. Did you know that Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan-a Japanese hotel has been run by the same family since 705 (no, it’s not a typo)?

Passive Income

If building a business, even a part-time one, sounds like too much of a hassle for you, there are still ways to run your own thing and make money, but with little oversight. What you need is something that generates passive income which is a prevalent topic in Robert Kiyosaki’s famed book “Rich Dad Poor Dad.”

If you are not familiar with the concept, passive income is something between a business and a long-term investment. It requires little of your time, like a long-term investment, but generates regular income like a business. Examples range from publishing books to renting out properties.

Get Insured

Getting life insurance is a popular way of ensuring that your family will have something to lean on after your passing especially if you are the primary breadwinner. Of course, how much they’ll get depends on many factors just like your premium is tied to how much of a risk the insurance company considers you to be.

If you are living a healthy life, have no chronic conditions and are young, your premiums are likely to be at a standard rate with nice coverage. Things get more complicated, however, if you indulge in unhealthy habits, have diabetes or a heart condition which are getting very common. Here you can find more about getting life insurance for people with heart disease.

Make Smart Decisions

Leaving your family something after your passing means making smart financial decisions while you are alive.

Making unnecessary expenses, not having a budget and not thinking about the future are not smart moves. On the other hand, living within your means, planning your expected income and expenses, and preparing for retirement and unforeseen circumstances are wise moves.

Being smart with your money doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy life. Here you can find plenty of tips on how to have fun and save at the same time.

Teach Your Family to Do the Same

Teaching your family how to make smart decisions with their money is a free but very powerful way to leave them a fortune that will last them a lifetime. It’s especially important to teach kids the value of money and time, and how to make the best use of both.

It won’t hurt to sign up for a course on financial planning and get your whole family on board. Financial literacy is something that should be taught in school, and while it’s becoming more common to do so, primary educational institutions still have some catching up to do.

Get Your Affairs in Order

Even if you are in your prime days, you never know what the future holds for you. The earlier you get your affairs in order the more safety you’ll bring to your family.

“Affairs” is a colloquialism for taking care of your will and other legal matters such as estate planning and appointing trustees in case you are incapable of making rational decisions (ex.: due to coma, Alzheimer’s, dementia, etc.).

Something to consider, however, is that you should regularly update these files as your material means change.

As you see, inheritance is not only for the rich. You can build assets to leave behind even without having much money upfront. Knowing that your family will be taken care of after you are gone brings a sense of relief and even pride in knowing that you’ve done everything in your power to be of use to them even after your journey ends. It’s also an opportunity to build something that will keep your name alive.

New technology means that your home can be more secure than ever before, whether you’re away a lot, are worried about your neighbourhood or you would just prefer some extra peace of mind. From high-end security systems to automatic timers, to motion sensors, there has never been a better time to think about how you can make your home a little more secure.

Motion Sensor Lights

One easy and smart way to make your home more secure is to get motion sensor lights, which will fill the area with light when triggered. You can get solar powered ones to cut down on energy costs and they are perfect for scaring off potential intruders. If you have a garage, big garden or side entrances, install motion sensor lights there for extra security.

Install a home security system

Home security systems can range from simple alarms to highly advanced systems, it is up to you to decide how much you want to invest in your homes security. Look at different options available to you online and choose a system that will cover your whole home. Look for connectivity so that you can sync up your devices and create a smart home too. Some security systems also have location sensors that know when you leave the home because of your phone’s GPS system.

Set timers

Another great way to make your home more secure is to use timers to make it look like there is someone in the property. You can get smart plugs, smart lights, and some home security systems have in built timers too. This way if you are on holiday or away on business you can set timers to make it look like you are at home, putting off any potential intruders.

Get security cameras

Security cameras are a great way of both putting burglars off and for catching them. Some security systems already include cameras, but you can buy them on their own too. You can also get smart cameras which you can log into via a mobile app, so you can check in at home when you are away.

Choose a Secure Rental Property

If you live in a rental property, look for buildings which have extra security features like CCTV, a 24-hour concierge and electronic fobs or a camera intercom for access. Property developers like RW Invest know how important security is to modern tenants, so their developments all feature high tech security measures.

Be Smart

Though these are smart ways to make your home more secure, we’re going to briefly look at some not-so-smart mistakes that could potentially put your property at risk. Having a house key under a doormat or plat pot is never a good idea, it is the first place someone would look. If you are worried about always losing your keys, keep a spare in your car or in your handbag or give one to a trusted neighbour or friend nearby. Simple things like always locking your door, having a deadbolt, drawing curtains at night, and locking your windows are still essential.

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When it comes to planning for the future, it can be challenging. There are many aspects of your life to get in order sooner rather than later. Without a plan, you could be left wondering how you will make ends meet, if you’ll still be able to live in your home, if you have health coverage, and just finances in general.

One part of your plan should include Medicare. Although it’s not something you can enter into until you turn 65, it is something that you want to become familiar with.

We have a few points about Medicare that is worthwhile to become familiar with.

The Different Plans

When talking about Medicare, there’s not just one plan for everyone. There are also Medicare Supplement plans (or medsup plans) that help with any gaps there may be in your coverage. It’s important to learn about the different plans and supplement plans, so you know you’re getting exactly what you need.

One plan worthwhile to look at is the medsup plan g. The Medicare Supplement Plan G is one of the 10 standardized supplement plans in the United States. It can help cover out-of-pocket expenses that your other plans may not cover.

Medicare is Complex

Medicare is not the most straightforward coverage. A lot is going on with Medicare that it’s best to talk to someone about it. You wouldn’t want to learn the wrong thing or pick the wrong plan.

It Comes At a Price

You will have to pay for your Medicare through monthly premiums just like you do for other insurance and coverages. On top of that, because Medicare doesn’t cover everything, there may be out-of-pocket expenses to worry about.

To help with this, it’s best to start saving for your retirement as soon as possible. The more you have stashed away, the less you’ll have to worry about any medical expenses your Medicare doesn’t cover.

Late Enrollment Could Hurt You

You wouldn’t think of being penalized for not looking into Medicare right when you turn 65. With Part D, there is a late enrollment penalty if you go without prescription drug coverage for 63 or more continuous days. It is something to consider.

Also, late enrollment could hurt you by not having the coverage you need. Although you have about seven months to enter into Medicare (three months before you turn 65 and three months after), the longer you wait, the more chance you have of having a gap in coverage.

You’re Not Alone

The thing with Medicare is that you are not alone. It’s a complex system that can easily be confusing. However, it is something you want to understand because it affects your health and your retirement.

What we can take away from these points is that learning about Medicare as soon as possible is better. The more you understand it, the easier it will be when it’s time to pick your plan. Look into the supplement plans for any gaps in coverage, and don’t delay in your enrollment process.

President and CEO of iAdvance Now, Eddie Hamid, is making waves in the finance world with his client-focused methods. He started iAdvance now because he saw the need for small businesses and startups to have easier access to funds. His experience in the finance, marketing, and insurance industries introduced him to the unique needs that many new businesses and entrepreneurs have. His love of innovation helped him organize a qualified team of finance professionals to help all types of businesses get the funding they need.

Based in New York, iAdvance Now is an alternative finance company that has now become a successful presence in the industry as they help hundreds of clients get the startup capital needed to make their own waves in their respective industries. Hamid and his team at iAdvance Now thrive on helping others find their economic empowerment.

Recently, I was fortunate to have the chance to sit down with Eddie Hamid to discuss what drives him and what advice he has for new entrepreneurs.

Q: What motivates you every day to be a leader in business?

A: Desire motivates me. I have a desire to do everything to the best of my ability. If what I’m producing isn’t good, it isn’t finished. I keep going and put every bit of myself into a project to make it the best it can be. This is how iAdvance Now has become so successful and why clients trust us. They know we won’t stop until the job is done to perfection.

I also have the desire to help my clients have access to the capital they need. My team and I at iAdvance Now do this for the love of helping other businesses succeed. We thrive on seeing a business open or a product enter the market because of us. Many of these people don’t have access to traditional funding and wouldn’t be giving the world their innovation without the funding we set them up with. It’s a good feeling.

Q: Do you watch TV? If so, what are your favorite (business) shows?

A: I’ll be honest, I’m more of a reader. My favorite business books are Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill and The Lean Startup by Eric Ries. What I like about both books is the notion of how important mindset is. It’s true, mindset is everything, that’s how I stay driven and focused.

Another book that isn’t tailored towards business but is just as valuable is The Art of War by Sun Tsu. I’d say that this is one of my favorite books of all time. The advice it offers for life and business is invaluable. Not only does it also focus on mindset but it has a strong message of empowerment, which is one of the values I stress for myself, my team, and my clients.

Q: What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received?

A: The best business advice I’ve ever received is what I’ve learned from my mistakes. I haven’t had a lot of advice from other people but I learned a lot by examining my mistakes and seeing how I could do things differently. This has helped push me in the right direction so many times that I am now grateful for the mistakes I made in the beginning. I wouldn’t be where I am without them.

Q: What did you learn from your biggest failure?

A: I learned how hard it is to start. That’s usually when failure happens the most. My failures in starting when I was young came mainly from lack of patience and trying to solve a problem before examining it. As a more mature professional, now I know to take time in seeing all the angles of the problem before finding a solution. This makes things much less stressful, which in turn helps me make better decisions.

Learning how many hoops you must jump through as a new business is exactly what led me to start iAdvance Now so that I can help other people go through less hoops in the funding process, leaving them more time and energy to focus on their product or service. We have been building on that ever since.

Q: Have any advice to share with people just getting started in business or sales?

A: Keep going. There will be hurdles and challenges. You will be exhausted and ready to give up. The stress of starting can eat you alive sometimes. Don’t give in to that. That is all temporary. Keep working hard and be persistent. It will eventually happen but the thing to keep in mind is that the struggle will make you a better entrepreneur, leader, and innovator.

There is power in networking. Never stop networking, even in places you wouldn’t think it would matter. Keep those business cards handy at all times. Keep an eye out for any opportunities or events happening in your city and any neighboring cities.

You’ll never go wrong with hard work. Keep your eye on the prize and do what it takes. It may sound like cliché advice but there is a reason it’s still thrown around. Hard work is the not so easy golden ticket but it’s still a golden ticket.

True words and good advice, Hamid! The hard work they put into iAdvance Now can help you find the funding you need for your business or startup. Find out more at https://www.iadvancenow.com/ or follow them on Facebook and Twitter for more business and lending advice.

Do you think about life insurance? If you answered no, you should be. Life insurance is not something you want to put on the back burner and wait until later. The thing with life insurance is that you never truly know when you’ll need it. It could be when you least expect it.

You get life insurance to help out your loved ones if you were to pass away unexpectedly. Although it’s not something we want to think about, it’s a reality for many families. Having life insurance ensures that those you leave behind will have the money for funeral expenses and everyday living. Without it, your family could end up with any remaining debt, all the costs for a funeral, and the struggle of losing an income.

The issue with traditional life insurance for many is the medical exams required before the possibility of approval. Some do not like going to the doctor or are afraid of needles. Others may not have the time to go through everything the insurer requires. That is where no exam life insurance comes into play.

Take a look at some of the benefits and drawbacks of no-exam life insurance to decide if it’s an option for you.

 

No Medical Exam

One of the biggest appeals of no-exam life insurance is the fact that applicants do not have to go through a medical exam. That doesn’t mean you simply fill out a few papers and you’re approved for life insurance. There are still many steps to take.

You’ll be required to answer a handful of questions regarding your health. Your answers will determine if the insurer accepts or declines your application. So, there is still the chance of getting declined if you a terminally ill, have a history of heart disease, or even if you have diabetes.

Simplicity

Another major appeal of no-exam insurance is the simplicity of applying for coverage. Many insurers allow you to fill out an application online, answer the required questions, and get approved the same day. There is no need to go to the doctor, and you avoid any of the waiting periods after getting your medical exam. It’s a quick and easy process for almost instant coverage.

Expensive

One drawback of no-exam life insurance is the price of the monthly premiums. Because there is no health exam and the insurer grants you coverage almost instantly, the premiums will be higher.

Insurance premiums are higher for those who have poor health, and when the insurer thinks there is a higher chance of them having to pay out your policy. Without the medical exam and instant approval, the insurance company is taking a higher risk on you. Also, if you answer your questionnaire that you’re a smoker or drink a lot, you can expect to have higher premiums.

Is No-Exam Insurance Better

Depending on how you look at it, no-exam insurance may be the better option for some, while traditional life insurance might be better for others. If you’re someone who does not like going to the doctor, doesn’t want to go through a medical exam, or do not have the time for the process, then no-exam life insurance would be for you.

If you are up to date with fashion brands, read magazines, or are active on social media, then you’ve likely noticed a shift in the way models look. Gone are the days of strictly thin models gracing our websites and products, and in comes an era of women of all shapes and sizes taking the world – and our brands – by storm.

For JJ’s House, this is a fact to be celebrated and encouraged, something they’ve been encouraging and celebrating for years, and will continue to support. At JJ’s House, they celebrate people of all shapes and sizes – from petite to plus-size, they believe that everyone is beautiful, and they plan to continue making dresses and styles that cater to everyone’s particular needs! This is especially true for the prom dresses 2019 – they proudly offer a huge collection of plus size prom dresses.

So, why are brands suddenly beginning to celebrate models of all shapes and sizes? We’ve laid out a few reasons that we believe this trend is finally coming into fashion! Overall, this is a welcomed shift in the fashion industry that should be fully supported.

Beauty Standards Are No Longer Being Defined by Dated Criteria

At this point in history, we’re all a part of a cultural shift. No longer is beauty defined by a number on a scale, but rather by people who are happy and healthy, living their best lives. Skin and bones don’t equate to model-status anymore, simple beauty and health are beginning to take over, and it’s changing antiquated beauty standards everywhere. This shift in our culture is being reflected in the way marketing and advertising are changing, too, which is one of the reasons that plus size models are becoming a much-welcomed staple in fashion brands and the fashion industry overall.

Body Positive is Sexy!

We discussed that change or shift in our culture earlier, and with that comes this simple idea: body positive is sexy. Gone are the days of shaming a person for not looking a certain way, instead, we’ve ushered in a new era where kindness and positivity are leading the fashion industry. This body positivity movement is evident in most of the fashion brands, and based on the strong, positive reaction from consumers, it’s a trend that will continue.

They Service People of Every Shape and Size, so They Should Show it Off

Like with JJ’s House, plenty of fashion brands out there are already making plus size garments and articles of clothing for their audience base. Because this is already something they offer, they recognize that a portion of their market buys these sizes – why wouldn’t they have a plus size model show off their dresses or other articles of clothing? This is a logical choice more than a choice based on body positivity or shifting culture trends. Because they already serve this client base by creating these clothes, they might as well continue to service this client base by offering them models with similar measurements to show them how things will fit.