Most families need to stick to a budget when they travel. But tracking daily expenses, especially in a foreign currency, can be tricky. Here are some easy tips to make it easy to keep track of how much you’re spending.
Before you leave:
Create an email folder for your trip. Each time you make a booking, place the itinerary confirmation and receipt into the folder. You can use the folder to help you build your final itinerary before you leave, too.
Set a daily budget that includes lodging, food, transportation, and entertainment. During the trip you can track your spending against this goal.
Find out how much it costs to get money, and know which source is the cheapest. For example, what fees does your bank charge for using an international ATM and withdrawing foreign currency? What about your credit card? What is the exchange rate? If you expect to travel a lot, you might consider opening a Capitol One credit card with no international transaction fees.
On your trip:
Develop a rule-of-thumb for converting between currencies. You’ll do a better job of reining in your purchases if you know how much you are spending. Your rule-of-thumb doesn’t need to be exact. For example, at today’s rate of 1.57 US Dollars to the Euro, I would multiply any price I saw by two and then subtract 20%. (Meaning a 30 euro item is approximately $60-$12=$48.) This accounts for any transaction fees, and slightly overestimates the cost of each item so that there aren’t any nasty surprises when I return home.
As you get receipts, write on each what it was for.
Bring an envelope for receipts. If some expenses are deductible, reimbursable or shared, bring separate envelopes for each type of expense. At the end of each day, empty your receipts from your wallet into your envelope.
Keep the cash for the day separate from the rest of your cash. For example, you get $300 out of the ATM and you want that to last you 4 days, so that’s $75/day. Put $75 in an easy to access part of your wallet and you put the rest in a harder to reach spot. If you see yourself going into the hard-to-reach spot, you know you’re going over budget.
If you need a more detailed accounting that includes smaller cash transactions, or want more accountability, carry a small notebook. Record each transaction in the notebook (including snacks, bus rides, etc). Each evening, total your expenses and note where you wasted money and can do better the next day. This tip helped us cut our budget significantly by doing things like buying bottled water and snacks at local grocery stores to carry with us when we travel.
Not only will having a detailed accounting of how much you spent on your trip help you keep expenses down, it will help you do a better job of estimating expenses for your next trip before you leave home.
J.D.’s note: On our trip to Europe last summer, I did all of these things based on reader advice. They worked like a charm. I was able to adhere closely to my intended budget. This may sound like too much work, but it really alleviates a lot of hassle, making travel easy and care-free. Photo credit: Refracted Moments.
Anyplace, a marketplace startup that offers people find flexible-term furnished housing, aims to draw digital nomads and other temporary residents to the fold. A recent email outreach from their PR company (EZPR) prompted the following early assessment.
Started back in 2015 with angel capital from East Ventures, Anyplace works with extended stay hotels, serviced apartments, furnished rentals, and co-living companies to supply turn-key mid-term accommodations, has just raised another $2.5 million. The round, headed by UpHonest, FundersClub, East Ventures, and others, should extend the startups reach.
The startup, which prides itself on its B2C core logic, is being billed as a predictability value over Airbnb and other shared property innovations. With a growing roster of longer-term stays from San Francisco to Guadalajara in Mexico, the company says they’re looking to expand to Europe and Asia by 2020. This may, in fact, come to pass, but “listing” 50+ properties in 9 cities for any rental marketplace should not be seen as a market takeover. The market for such an endeavor exists, but here’s where I see Anyplace in the current scheme of things.
The website traffic numbers at Anyplace do not speak of massive volumes of business people relocating at Anyplace offerings, but this says nothing for the company’s mobile app numbers. But, 6 reviews at the iTunes app store do indicate slow uptake, however. A slim Facebook (under 500 likes) presence, along with one social post per 3 months does not a modern digital age game changer make. Ditto for Twitter (111 followers), Instagram (35 subscribers – no posts), and LinkedIn (No posts). The lack of effort here is symbolic of companies I’ve seen hit the TechCrunch “dead pool” before.
In addition, the fact the Anyplace team is searching for backend and full-stack engineers willing who are founding members does not bode well for the extended development this far into the funding. What this means to me is that the CTO and co-founder Kouichi Tanaka is probably doing most of the app and backend development with a very small team. And while this is not a bad thing, it is not $2.5 million dollar investment level staffing. Looking at LinkedIn profiles for Anyplace employees I found the front-end user interface developer, a freelancer from Germany named Martin Broder, iOS engineer Arpit Agarwal, and front-end developer, Michal Ittah of the 17 employees listed for the startup.
I hate pouring cold water on a PR outreach since I once owned one of Europe’s most successful boutique hotel tech PR companies, but there’s some homework left to do at Anyplace, PR and otherwise. Short version, Anyplace needs to step up its game now. The fact they closed this round in 2018 and are only now reaching out for media is another negative for anybody who looks close. Given the massive potential for Alt Living innovations, Anyplace has a big potential, so my cautions should be taken with a grain of industrial salt.
This report at NFX reveals the positive side for Anyplace’s founder and investors. Lifestyle shifts, non-traditional transactions, technology empowered markets, and so forth – make Anyplace a good prospect. The downside is the lack of commitment of both funding and human resource. One thing I really like about this startup is its B2C heart – which flies in the face of Airbnb and the customary access economy giants. In my former business, hoteliers were literally freaking out over lost business to Airbnb. Anyplace-like value can mitigate at least some of this lost revenue. But that’s far off in my view, at a point when this startup has $100 million in funding and 25,000 Facebook fans.
As it stands, Anyplace needs a solid product, a solid marketing team, and a tech PR firm listed at O’dwyer’s if they can afford it. A final note, an old associate of mine, Jason Calacanis of East Ventures, has invested in some of the most successful startups in Silicon Valley history including; Uber, Facebook, and many others. One of Silicon Valley’s most ethical and intelligent investors, I’m surprised Anyplace is not farther along. Jason, get these boys some help, will you?
Phil Butler is a former engineer, contractor, and telecommunications professional who is editor of several influential online media outlets including part owner of Pamil Visions with wife Mihaela. Phil began his digital ramblings via several of the world’s most noted tech blogs, at the advent of blogging as a form of journalistic license. Phil is currently top interviewer, and journalist at Realty Biz News.
Airline credit cards typically offer standard benefits, like bonus miles on airfare purchases, free checked bags and priority boarding. But one of the most valuable perks any airline credit card can offer is a companion ticket that can cut your cost of travel in half.
Thanks to its high welcome bonuses, earning structure and airfare discounts, the British Airways Visa Signature Card has long been considered one of the best credit cards from a foreign airline offered in the U.S., especially when you consider British Airways’ extensive U.S. route network. But it also comes with one of the most interesting companion travel benefits: the Travel Together Ticket.
The rules around redeeming this perk have recently been improved, and it is now easier to use and more valuable than ever.
Here are the details on this companion deal and how to maximize it.
How to earn the British Airways Travel Together Ticket
U.S.-based British Airways Visa Signature Card cardholders who spend $30,000 on their card in a calendar year can earn a Travel Together Ticket (posted within 4-6 weeks). The voucher is valid for outbound travel up to 24 months from the issue date (the return flight can be after that).
The British Airways Visa Signature Card offers 75,000 Avios after spending $5,000 in the first three months and exclusive offers when flying the carrier, such as a 10% discount on British Airways flights originating in the U.S., up to $600 in statement credits for award flight taxes and fees every year and earns 3 Avios per $1 spent with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia and Level. The annual fee is $95.
Only the main cardholder with a registered address in the U.S. is eligible to earn the Travel Together Ticket; additional cardholers are not. Only one voucher can be earned each calendar year, even if the cardholder spends more than $30,000 on the card.
Rules for redeeming The Travel Together Ticket
The Travel Together Ticket comes with several conditions worth considering when it comes time to redeem it, some of which are positive and some negative.
Previously, these vouchers could only be applied to award bookings using British Airways Avios and on British Airways-operated flights. However, this rule has recently been relaxed, so they can now be redeemed on flights operated by Aer Lingus and Iberia, though note you must still book your flight(s) through British Airways Executive Club.
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The Travel Together Ticket differs from other companion tickets, which are more like a two-for-one paid deal. In this case, you’re getting a two-for-one award redemption but are still responsible for the taxes and other carrier-imposed charges on your ticket (which can be substantial). This also means you’ve got to find two awards open on the same itinerary in the same cabin. If you wish to travel in first class, two award seats on the same flight can be tough to come by.
For solo travel, you can redeem it for 50% of the Avios required for one passenger, which is a handy perk if you would rather travel alone and save Avios.
Previously, the voucher could only be used on round-trip itineraries originating in the United States. However, this rule has also recently been relaxed, so voucher holders can now commence their itinerary anywhere in the world that British Airways, Iberia or Aer Lingus operates from (provided there is Avios availability).
Your companion must be booked in the same cabin on your itinerary (unless you redeem it for solo travel). So if you book a business-class award for yourself, you must find a second one for your companion on the same itinerary. Stopovers are allowed.
Though the terms are not explicit, you should plan to have your card open and in good standing at the time your want to use your Travel Together Ticket.
Related: How to avoid fuel surcharges on award travel
When it makes sense to redeem the Travel Together Ticket
Now we come to the real question: Is it worth using the Travel Together Ticket? The answer depends on how you plan to redeem it.
British Airways awards are notorious for high taxes and surcharges on flights through London. While this generally makes economy awards a bad value, it can still be worth paying less than $2,000 per person to fly in business or first class as part of an award ticket compared to shelling out the cash fare, which will be many thousands of dollars, especially with premium fares across the Atlantic as high as they currently are.
BA introduced a new option in 2022 called Reward Flight Saver to use more Avios to reduce the cost of the taxes and surcharges on Avios redemptions.
British Airways award availability between the U.S. and Europe tends to be much better than what U.S. and other European carriers make available. So if you want to book an award, your chances of finding it are good.
The other key benefit is that British Airways has retained an award chart, so you can be confident of how many Avios you will need on any day — no 400,000 points per flight pricing with this program.
Related: Dynamic pricing vs. fuel surcharges — which is the lesser of two evils for your next redemption?
Now, let’s take four scenarios and compare the cost of using the Travel Together Ticket compared to purchasing airfare to determine whether this is a good deal.
To make things simpler, we’ll look at a single route from Atlanta (ATL) to London Heathrow (LHR) over a single set of dates in November since award availability was open across all four cabins offered by BA on these flights (these are off-peak dates). The taxes and fees are typical examples of what you would expect to pay, both for two people traveling together and solo travelers, given the ticket can also be redeemed for solo travel.
First up, economy. A round-trip award on this itinerary for two people using the lowest surcharge Reward Flight Saver option would cost 120,000 Avios plus 300 British pounds ($393) in taxes/fees.
If you were using this as a Travel Together Ticket, you’d still be paying 60,000 Avios plus $393 for two tickets. This is because you would only be charged the Avios for one passenger but the fees, taxes and surcharges for both. Compare that to the regular economy fare on the same dates of around $1,000 per person for non-stop flights and this would be a great way to use Avios to save hundreds of dollars.
If you are a solo traveler, you can redeem the Travel Together Ticket for 30,000 Avios plus $196 in fees, taxes and surcharges, saving over $800 on the cash fares for the same flight.
Related: A review of British Airways’ A350 in economy from London to Dubai
Now for premium economy. Here’s a sample award from the same week that would cost 190,000 Avios plus 660 British pounds ($864) for two passengers.
A paid fare on the same dates would be $1,813 per person, so $3,626 for two passengers. With a Travel Together Ticket for two passengers, you would be charged 95,000 Avios plus $864, saving you thousands off the cash ticket.
Solo travelers could redeem 45,000 Avios plus pay $432 in taxes and surcharges, another excellent way to save big on the $1,813 cash fare.
Related: Is British Airways premium economy worth it on the Boeing 777-300ER?
In business class, British Airways will charge 360,000 Avios plus 900 British pounds ($1,179) in taxes and surcharges for two passengers at the Reward Flight Saver rate.
With the 50% reduction in Avios with the Travel Together Ticker, you would still be charged a huge 180,000 Avios plus the full $1,179 co-payment. However, with cash fares on these dates close to $4,000 each roundtrip in business class, you would still save thousands of dollars using the voucher.
For solo travelers, just 90,000 Avios plus under $600 in taxes and fees saves versus $4,000 for a cash ticket is a great deal.
Related: British Airways’ Club Suites don’t disappoint: On board a retrofitted 777 from London to New York
Reward Flight Savers are not offered in first class, so while you’ll only need marginally more Avios than the business class rates above, you must pay the full fees, taxes and surcharges. For two passengers using a Travel Together Ticket this would be 170,000 Avios roundtrip plus an eye-watering 3,263 British pounds ($4,279).
While this would represent a decent saving on the cash fares of almost $6,000 per person, given the thousands of dollars of surcharges you must pay for a first class redemption, using the voucher for business class instead would be a much better deal.
How to earn Avios
If you want to use a Travel Together Ticket but don’t have enough British Airways Avios in your Executive Club account, British Airways is a transfer partner of Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy, making Avios one of the easiest currencies to earn.
Points transfer from Chase, Bilt and Amex at a 1:1 ratio (in addition to occasional transfer bonuses of up to 40%), while Marriott points transfer to Avios at a 3:1 ratio. Plus, you’ll get a 5,000-Avios bonus for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred.
The following cards all currently offer strong welcome bonuses that you could easily convert to Avios:
American Express® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first six months of account opening. Terms apply.
The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Check to see if you’re targeted for a 125,000-point welcome offer through CardMatch (offer subject to change at any time). Terms apply.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: (see rates and fees) Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: (see rates and fees) Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Chase Sapphire Reserve: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Ink Business Preferred Credit Card: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Bottom line
The British Airways Visa Signature Card’s Travel Together Ticket can save you thousands of dollars on British Airways, Iberia or Aer Lingus flights from anywhere in the world by allowing two passengers to travel together, in any cabin with award availability and only pay the Avios required for one passenger. The spending requirement to earn the perk is high, though.
Following last years Reward Flight Saver rollout to allow passengers to reduce the notorious BA carrier-imposed surcharges by paying more Avios, this voucher is a valuable credit card perk for economy, premium economy and business class flights. However, the savings are less in first class as the Reward Flight Saver option is not available.
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Using Delta SkyMiles can be complex and frustrating due to frequent changes and a lack of award charts. However, once you accumulate enough miles and gain the necessary knowledge to navigate the program, you can extract significant value from them.
Historically, Delta has offered flash sales where round-trip tickets cost as little as 5,000 SkyMiles. They’ve also run flash sales for flights to Europe, including economy round-trip flights for 32,000 SkyMiles.
While it requires effort to understand and utilize SkyMiles effectively, many consider Delta’s inflight experience to be the best among domestic carriers — as does the data powering TPG’s own annual report on the best U.S. airlines (Delta took the top spot for the fifth straight year in 2023).
Today, we will explore five key things you need to know about Delta SkyMiles to maximize their value.
There’s no published award chart
Delta removed award charts from its website in 2015. If you want to save miles for a future award flight, you must search for your desired route on different dates to get an idea of the approximate number of miles required. However, it’s important to note that this range can change unexpectedly.
Another aspect to consider is the wide range of SkyMiles needed for the same route. For example, a domestic flight that costs 10,000 miles one day could be half that price just a few days later. To illustrate this, let’s look at the varying prices over one week for a short flight from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD).
The variance can be even more significant when it comes to international routes, especially in premium cabins. Within a week one-way, business-class flights from JFK to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) range between 237,500 and 480,000 SkyMiles.
Availability with award programs is always a challenge. Still, without set prices, these significant variances force you to plan your trip schedule around availability rather than SkyMiles rewarding you with your desired schedule.
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Finally, with no fixed prices, last-minute SkyMiles award tickets function like revenue tickets: They tend to be significantly more expensive.
This is a major drawback to collecting SkyMiles compared to other legacy carrier miles. In this Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) to Cancun International Airport (CUN) example, close-in award tickets are roughly double than tickets a week or more out:
That said, it’s worth noting that you can reticket most Delta award flights (excluding basic economy) when the price drops. Many times, this can be accomplished right in the Delta app.
TPG director of content Nick Ewen did this twice on a one-way award ticket from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) for him and his family earlier this year. He initially booked three tickets at 25,000 miles apiece, but the price dropped to 20,500 miles and then 19,500 miles. Both times he was able to rebook his flight, ultimately putting 16,500 miles back in his SkyMiles account.
Related: Complete guide to changing and canceling award tickets
Adding segments can lower your award ticket price
Surprisingly, longer flights can sometimes result in lower award rates for a Delta award ticket. Delta tends to have limited competition on routes originating from its main hubs.
As an example, here’s a search from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in economy class:
When you shift your origin to JFK, which is served by more carriers, the prices drop significantly — with many itineraries on these days connecting in Detroit:
Related: How to redeem Delta SkyMiles for maximum value
Partner award prices are now higher
In late 2022, award rates skyrocketed on partner flights booked through SkyMiles, as pricing was largely brought in line with itineraries entirely operated by Delta.
In short, it now costs a lot more to fly with partner airlines on flights to and from the U.S. — especially for business-class awards.
For example, Virgin Atlantic flights to and from the U.S. now cost around 210,000 miles when there’s award space — instead of the previous 86,000-mile price.
For reference, you can typically book this same business-class award for 47,500 Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points plus $926.70 — though it’s even cheaper (33,200 points) through Sept. 30 thanks to Virgin’s 30% discount on award redemptions this summer.
You’ll see similar increases on Aerolineas Argentinas, Aeromexico, China Airlines, China Eastern and Korean Airlines flights originating from the U.S.
Related: Leisurely luxury: A review of Virgin Atlantic’s A350 leisure configuration in Upper Class from Manchester to Orlando
Keep an eye on SkyMiles sales
Delta routinely offers SkyMiles sales. One of its most recent was round-trip airfare to Auckland Airport (AKL) from most major U.S. airports for just 37,400 SkyMiles round-trip. Last year, the airline offered round-trip awards from JFK to various gateways in the Caribbean and the Bahamas for just 8,000 miles round-trip.
We even saw select flights from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to beach destinations at just 2,500 miles each way back in Feb. 2021.
Keep an eye on Delta’s SkyMiles sales page to find these deals.
Related: The ultimate guide to Delta One Suites
You can earn elite status without ever flying
Delta SkyMiles lets you earn Medallion status without flying.
If you have both of the Delta cobranded cards issued by American Express that earn Medallion Qualification Miles (either the consumer or business versions of each card), you could spend your way to upper-level Platinum Medallion status without ever setting foot on a Delta plane.
Here are the four cards and the Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) they allow you to earn:
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Earn 10,000 MQMs after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to two times. Thus, you can earn a total of 20,000 MQMs by spending $50,000 in a year. The card’s annual fee is $250 (see rates and fees).
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card: Earn 10,000 MQMs after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to two times. Thus, you can earn a total of 20,000 MQMs by spending $50,000 in a year. The card’s annual fee is $250 (see rates and fees).
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Earn 15,000 MQMs after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to four times. Thus, you can earn a total of 60,000 MQMs by spending $120,000 in a year. The card’s annual fee is $550 (see rates and fees).
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: Earn 15,000 MQMs after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to four times. Thus, you can earn a total of 60,000 MQMs by spending $120,000 in a year. The card’s annual fee is $550 (see rates and fees).
If you hold the Delta Platinum Amex and the Delta Reserve Amex and can put $50,000 and $120,000 in spend on them (respectively), you’ll reach Platinum status. That’s because you’ll have 80,000 MQMs (just ahead of the required threshold of 75,000) and will waive the Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) requirement for Silver, Gold and Platinum Medallion status.
While not Delta’s top tier, Platinum Medallion still comes with unlimited upgrades and a selection of Choice Benefits that can improve your flying experience.
For reference, the Diamond MQD waiver only kicks in once you’ve spent $250,000 on eligible purchases across your Delta cobranded American Express credit cards.
Note that all four of these cards also include a 15% discount on Delta-operated award flights when you redeem your SkyMiles and pay the taxes and fees with the card. This doesn’t apply to partner tickets.
Related: Best Delta credit cards
Bottom line
Delta SkyMiles remains a solid choice for Delta travelers. I continue to find great value in using SkyMiles for domestic flights for me and my family, and I find equal value in holding Delta Platinum Medallion status. However, SkyMiles isn’t the currency to hold if you’re looking for aspirational or long-haul premium cabin awards.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex Card, please click here. For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business Amex Card, please click here. For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex Card, please click here. For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Amex Card, please click here.
Additional reporting by Ryan Smith, Nick Ellis and Richard Kerr.
Prudential Financial, Inc, or Pru, has been in the financial services and insurance business for almost 140 years. The company has been helping both individual and business clients to both grow and protect their wealth throughout that time. Pru is considered to be one of the largest financial services institutions in the world, with operations in the U.S., as well as in Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
The company has for many years had one of the most recognized brand symbols across the globe, as “The Rock” – its icon of strength, stability, expertise, and innovation – is known by both investors and non-investors worldwide, as is the company’s long-running corporate slogan, “Get a piece of the rock.”
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The Company and Its History
Prudential was founded in 1875 in Newark, New Jersey, by insurance agent John Fairfield Dryden. The company began in a basement office as “The Prudential Friendly Society.” The goal of Dryden was to make insurance coverage available to the working-class people, and it sold primarily industrial insurance – a type of coverage that provides burial and funeral coverage for low-income families. At that time, some of the policy premiums were as low as three cents per week.
Within just a few years, The Prudential Friendly Society expanded into Philadelphia and New York City, and its assets had reached $1 million. By 1885, the company had even sold its one-millionth policy. That year, the company’s name was also officially changed to The Prudential Insurance Company of America. It also adopted The Rock of Gibraltar as its company symbol.
Today, Prudential serves customers in 41 countries and territories, and it has roughly 47,000 employees around the world. The company holds approximately $1.176 trillion in assets under management.
Products Offered By Prudential
Prudential offers a variety of insurance and annuity products to both consumers and the business market. For consumers, the following insurance products can be found:
Term Life Insurance – Term policies provide “temporary” protection for a set period of time, such as for 10 years, 15 years, 20 years, or 30 years. This type of coverage can be quite affordable – especially if the applicant is young and in good health at the time that he or she is applying for coverage. If you are not in the best health and you feel a policy for life insurance with no exam is the best way to go for you, we can help find the best carrier for your needs. This is because term life provides only pure death benefit protection, without any type of cash value or investment build-up. Term life can be a good choice for those who are seeking to pay off the balance of a mortgage or other temporary needs, as well as for those who are looking for a large amount of death benefit protection but who do not have a large premium budget.
Universal Life Insurance – Universal coverage provides both death benefit protection, as well as a cash value component. The cash value is allowed to grow on a tax-deferred basis, meaning that no tax is due on the gain of the cash value until the time it is withdrawn. This means that the cash can essentially grow and compound exponentially over time. Universal life insurance offers policyholders a great deal of flexibility in that they can choose – within certain parameters – when they make their premium payment, as well as how much of that payment is allocated to the death benefit and how much of it is allocated to the cash value component.
Variable Universal Life Insurance – Similar to regular universal life, variable universal policies provide a death benefit and a cash value component, along with tax-deferred growth. However, the cash value component is tied to underlying market performance. This provides the policyholder with the ability to grow their cash even more – provided that the market performs favorably. Conversely, these policies can also be riskier if the market has poor performance.
In addition to life insurance, Prudential provides fixed and variable annuities. These products can help those who are either already retired, or those who are approaching retirement, to meet various goals. For example, those who are saving for retirement can participate in tax-deferred savings. Those who are seeking income can choose from a variety of different income options – including a lifetime option where they may receive income for the remainder of their life, regardless of how long that may be.
Prudential also offers additional types of insurance coverage products such as auto, home, RV, watercraft, and personal liability insurance, as well as retirement planning products and investment services to its customers in order to help them meet both their short- and long-term financial needs and goals.
Additional services that are offered by the company include the firm’s “Special Needs Solutions,” which address the unique concerns of parents who have children with special needs, as these families may require specialized life insurance and financial planning advice.
Financial Strength Ratings
Prudential holds strong ratings from the ratings agencies. These include the following:
A.M. Best
Standard & Poor’s
Moody’s Investor Services
Fitch Ratings
A+
AA-
A1
A+
Advantages and Drawbacks
While Prudential is a strong contender in the insurance and financial services industry, the company has both advantages and drawbacks. With that in mind, it is important to consider all of these prior to moving forward with the purchase of a policy with the company in order to ensure that the policy that you choose meets all of your particular coverage needs and goals.
On the plus side, Prudential provides a nice selection of term and universal life insurance products. These particular plans all have strong features – and because they are backed by Prudential, policyholders can be assured that they have coverage that is backed by an extremely strong life insurer.
In addition to providing very good policy rates to those who are in good health, Prudential may also offer favorable rates to those who are tobacco chewers, as well as to those who are cigar users.
In addition to the product positives, Prudential also has high rankings for its customer service. Representatives can be reached in several ways, including via phone or through live website chat. Reps can also be reached through Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. This makes it extremely easy for policyholders who need answers to their questions, or even for those who are researching whether or not to purchase new or additional coverage. Additional information can be found on Prudential’s customer service FAQ page on the company’s main website.
Unfortunately, even with all of the good, there are a few drawbacks to Prudential. First, those who are seeking whole life coverage are out of luck, as the company does not offer this type of policy. So, while universal life policies provide individuals with flexibility, not offering whole life to those seeking guarantees leaves out a potentially huge area of the marketplace.
In addition, those who may have adverse health conditions could have a difficult time finding coverage directly from Prudential’s online quote page. Therefore, in these instances, it is likely best to work with an agency or company that specializes more in higher-risk cases and who can provide more of a comparison shopping experience.
Annuities Offered by Prudential
Another product that is offered by Prudential is its retirement investments. One way that they do that is through annuities. Annuities are contracts that you hold with an insurance company (in this case, Prudential), and it’s a safe way to invest your money. Annuities are one of the most popular investments for people as they start planning for their retirement. The money is invested in a professionally managed portfolio, where it grows money tax-deferred. Once you retire, you can start receiving a paycheck to fund your retirement dreams.
If you’re going to purchase an annuity from Prudential, then you’ll be buying a variable annuity. Unlike a fixed annuity, the variable annuity could fluctuate depending on the investments inside of the annuity.
When you want to access your money, there are some restrictions on getting your hands on your investment money. If you want to start making withdrawals before you are 59 and ½, then you’re going to be subject to an additional 10% federal income penalty on top of the income taxes that you’ll already be paying.
How and Where to Buy the Best Life Insurance Coverage
To get the very best life insurance for your specific needs and goals – regardless of your particular health condition at the time of application – it is always a good idea to first make comparisons.
Just like the purchase of any other key product or service, you will want to make sure that you are obtaining the very best deal possible. This is a product that you are purchasing to protect the people who are most important in your life. With that in mind, you should expect it to be the very best – and that it be there for the long haul.
If you are ready to begin making life insurance policy and premium quote comparisons, my preferred partner is here to help. They work with many of the best life insurance companies in the industry today – and can help to provide you with all of the information that you need. They are also available to answer any of the additional questions or concerns that you may have.
When you’re ready to begin the process of locating the life insurance policy and premium that is best for you and those you love, use the form on the side of this page to run your own quotes and work with our preferred life insurance partner.
I understand that purchasing any type of insurance, such as life or health insurance, is a big decision, and we want to ensure that you have all of the information that you need before moving forward. So, feel free to contact us now – we are here to help.
The comprehensive analytical research report, titled “Global Home Decor Market – by Player, Region, Type, Application, Forecast 2023-2030,” offers a thorough examination of the worldwide Home Decor market. The report goes beyond presenting current trends and future predictions, providing a careful assessment of prime investment areas. It furnishes in-depth details on emerging growth prospects, drivers, challenges, and global market dynamics.
Moreover, the report places a strong emphasis on the competitive landscape by highlighting a roster of well-established companies operating in various regions. This inclusion aids in comprehending the level of competition prevailing in the market.
The research report incorporates a comprehensive analysis of key players and manufacturers in the industry. These entities have undergone thorough examination, and their profiles, encompassing business overviews, product portfolios, financial performance, and strategic initiatives, are detailed within the report. This information on key players and manufacturers offers valuable insights into the competitive landscape of the market and facilitates a better understanding of market dynamics and the strategies implemented by leading companies.
Major Companies Examined in the Research Analysis:
IKEA
Kimball International
Herman Miller
Hanssem Corporation
Philips
Conair Corporation
Suofeiya Home Collection
Springs Window Fashions
Siemens
Zepter
Samson
Oneida
OSRAM
GE Lighting
Panasonic
Acuity Brands
Hubbell Lighting
Ashley Furniture
American Textile Systems
Mohawak Flooring
Shaw Industries Group
Mannington Mills
Armstrong Flooring
Crane & Canopy
Get sample report at: https://courant.biz/request-sample/?id=97448
Here are some of the important questions addressed in the Home Decor market research report:
What are the financial aspects, including cost, profit, production value, and capacity, of the global Home Decor market?
What are the projected production value and capacity of the global Home Decor market?
How does the market chain analysis encompass downstream industries and upstream raw materials?
What are the marketing channels, economic impact countermeasures, and entry strategies employed by key players?
What is the current economic impact on the global Home Decor market?
Which manufacturing technology is utilized for the production of this product?
Which application segment dominates the global Home Decor market?
Can you provide a list of key players in the global Home Decor market?
Which strategies do market participants adopt to gain a competitive edge against their rivals?
Please check scope of report in-detail: https://courant.biz/report/comprehensive-study-of-home-decor-market/97448/
Furthermore, our research report goes beyond the aforementioned aspects by dedicating a chapter specifically to segmentation. This division is based on product type, end user, application, sales channels, region, and their respective countries. Such segmentation enables a more comprehensive analysis of the market, offering valuable insights into various aspects of the industry in a detailed manner.
Moreover, our report includes a comprehensive section dedicated to geographic assessment. Within this section, we provide extensive information about each region, including specific countries within those regions. This detailed regional analysis aids stakeholders in obtaining a deeper understanding of investment opportunities and potential areas for growth within specific geographic locations. By presenting in-depth information about regions and countries, our aim is to facilitate informed decision-making for our readers and stakeholders, enabling them to make well-informed choices.
Global Home Decor Market Segments by Product Type:
Furniture
Textile
Flooring
Lighting
Others
Global Home Decor Market Segments by Application Type:
Online Sales
Offline Sales
Global Home Decor Market Segments by Sales Channels:
Direct Channel
Distribution Channel
Regional Segments:
North America (United States, Canada and Mexico)
Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Russia and Spain etc.)
Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia and Southeast Asia etc.)
South America (Brazil, Argentina and Colombia etc.)
Middle East & Africa (South Africa, UAE and Saudi Arabia etc.)
Additionally, our report incorporates a distinctive chapter that explores the influence of political and economic factors on the global market. In order to gather information, we utilized a combination of primary and secondary research methods. This involved leveraging paid databases, journals, data sheets, and business magazines. To ensure the accuracy of the data, we conducted interviews with renowned companies operating in the industry. By employing these comprehensive research techniques, we aim to provide reliable and well-rounded insights for our readers.
Global Home Decor market Report Scope:
Previous / Historical Analysis: 2017-2022
Considered Base Year: 2022
Forecast Analysis: 2023-2030
Measurement metrics” Revenue in USD Million and CAGR from 2023 to 2030
Segments Analyzed Types, Applications, Sales Channels and more
Coverage of the Report Market Revenue Forecast, Players/Companies Ranking, Factors Driving Growth, Competitive Landscape, and Trends
Geographical Coverage: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America & Middle East & Africa
Check Table of Content:https://courant.biz/report/comprehensive-study-of-home-decor-market/97448/
Customisation of the Report:
Our report can be personalized to cater to your specific requirements. Please contact our sales team at ([email protected]) to discuss your customization needs. Our dedicated team will ensure that you receive a tailored report that aligns with your needs. You can also reach out to our executives at +1 (210) 807 3402 to share your research requirements.
Our friends have a profound effect on our personal finance habits. Some friends can lead us to spending and to debt. Others offer insight into the virtues of thrift. For me, my friend Sparky has been the latter. Through his example, I learned that frugality can help me achieve my goals.
“Develop a plan that is so amazing, so glowing, that you are willing to walk blurry-eyed to work every day to make the money necessary to reach the light.” — Sparky’s advice to GRS readers in 2006
After my friend Sparky graduated from college, he drifted. He couldn’t hold a steady job, and he didn’t stay in one place for long. He traveled to Mexico. He moved to New England. He lived in various cities in Oregon and Washington.
“I don’t know how you can do it,” he told me once when he saw our new house. “You have a home and a wife and the same job you had five years ago. I’d hate that.” He lived as a First World nomad.
Choosing Freedom
I visited Sparky once in early 1996. I stayed overnight at his apartment in Eugene while I played in a nearby chess tournament. I was amazed by his Spartan lifestyle. He had no television. He had few books and little furniture. Most of what he owned had been purchased second-hand. His refrigerator was almost completely empty. (In my memory, it contained only two items: a carton of milk and a bottle of ketchup.) Sparky’s only indulgence seemed to be a collection of bootleg U2 CDs.
“How can you live like this?” I asked him. “Where’s all of your Stuff?”
Sparky smiled at me. “I don’t need a lot of Stuff, J.D. The Stuff is not important. To be honest, I don’t know why you have so much Stuff. How do you live like that?”
I didn’t know what he meant at the time. To me, life was all about the Stuff. I had hundreds of CDs and thousands of books. I had a TV, a stereo, a house, and a car. I wanted more. Sparky had none of these, but he had something I did not. Sparky had freedom. His frugal lifestyle allowed him to save and invest. I marveled at how he squirreled away his money. I didn’t understand how he managed it. I made at least twice what he did, but he had money in the bank and I had none. Instead, I had $20,000 in debt and was taking on more every day.
For some reason, I could not see the connection between Sparky’s thrifty lifestyle and his financial success. I could not see the connection between my own profligate ways and my mounting debt. I was blind.
The Razor’s Edge
During the summer of 1997, Sparky and I went for a hike. As we walked, we talked. He told me about his plans and his goals. He was living in a small town in northern Washington, working two full-time jobs, a part-time job, and getting free rent in exchange for housesitting with an elderly homeowner. “I’ve only had five or six days off in the past eight months,” he said.
“That seems crazy,” I said. “Why are you working so hard?”
“I want to travel around the world,” he said. “You know that I don’t have a lot of Stuff. There’s a reason for that. Material possessions tie a person down to one place. I can’t travel if I have a house and a car and all of that other Stuff.”
He told me about the trip he had planned. He had a one-way ticket to Thailand. From there, he hoped to travel to India and then Israel, but he didn’t have any sort of agenda. “I’m just going to go,” he said. “I’m going to travel as long as my money holds out.”
“You sound like Larry Darrell,” I said, referring to The Razor’s Edge, W. Somerset Maugham’s 1944 book about a young American disenchanted with the way of the West. “Larry lives like a pauper, but is able to loaf around Europe and India while searching for enlightenment. It’s a great book. You should read it.”
“Maybe I will,” he said. And then he added, “Do you want to come with me?” Of course I did, but I couldn’t. I was in debt. I had no savings. I couldn’t afford to drop out of Real Life for five months. How would I pay for all of my Stuff?
Sparky went on his trip. He backpacked across the world alone, and he loved it. He sent me postcards from stops along the way: from Thailand and India, from Nepal and Israel and Jordan and Egypt. He was gone for five months. Because he was not burdened by Stuff, he returned to a financial position similar to the one he had left. He didn’t have a mortgage or other debt. His savings and investments were still intact. He had lived for five months without an income, it’s true, but he’d spent exactly what he budgeted, and he’d had the experience of a lifetime.
Quiet Wealth
When Sparky got back, he settled down to a more normal way of life. He got a real job. He even bought a house. Still he continued to pinch his pennies, spending only on the things that really mattered to him. Eventually, I began to see the connection between his lifestyle and his quiet wealth.
When I started Get Rich Slowly, Sparky was enthusiastic. He talked to me about my newfound appreciation for personal finance. He shared his favorite books, his favorite tips, and his favorite mutual funds. A few of our conversations even became fodder for GRS stories:
Money blueprints: What our parents taught us about money
An entrepreneurial leap of faith
A brief conversation about money
Whereas I had once viewed Sparky’s ascetic lifestyle as a little strange, I began to understand it as a means to an end. Perhaps I couldn’t be as frugal as he was, but I could still learn from some of his lessons. We had some great conversations about money and about goals and about the future. I looked forward to learning more from him.
That’s not going to happen.
The Last Lesson
Sparky died unexpectedly last week. We had been close friends for 25 years, and he was an important part of my life. He challenged me. He believed in me more than I believe in myself. I cannot say that Sparky was without fault. Like anyone, he had his quirks. But on the whole, he was a positive influence in my life, and when it came to money, he was a shining example of how to live right. I’ll never have the chance to learn from him again.
Please, my friends, always remember that true wealth has nothing to do with money. True wealth is built from friends and family, from experiences and relationships — it is derived from a life filled with meaning. Without these things, money means nothing. Do me a favor this week, and spend some time with the people you love.
Research and Markets stated that the global real estate software market will grow significantly in 2023, from $10.07 billion in 2022 to $11.24 billion in 2023 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.6%. This growth is a direct result of the increasing demand for automation and efficiency in real estate companies. Research and Markets also forecasted the commercial real estate software market will reach $16.41 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 9.9%.
Per the Real Estate Software Market Global Market Report 2023, the main types of real estate software include:
customer relationship management (CRM) – with a global market projected to reach US$79.40bn in 2023.
content management – with global revenue projected to reach US$20.95bn in 2023;
financial management;
real estate contracts, and others.
The extensive adoption of these tech solutions is driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) used to develop applications that help real estate companies with marketing campaigns, managing property portfolios, leasing, accounting, operations, etc.
The report also details the COVID-19 impact on the real estate software market. Moreover, the Russia-Ukraine war disrupted the chances of global economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, impacting the global real estate software market, too.
The Real Estate Software Market Global Market Report 2023 will help real estate professionals and industry analysts:
Gain an in-depth perspective into the global state of the commercial real estate software market.
Understand the COVID-19 impact on the real estate market.
Assess the Russia – Ukraine war’s impact on agriculture, energy, and mineral commodity supply and its direct and indirect effects on the market.
Measure the impact of high global inflation on market growth.
Create regional and country strategies based on local data and analysis. The report covers Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East, and Africa.
Identify growth segments for investment.
Outperform competitors using forecast data and the drivers and trends shaping the market.
Understand customers based on the latest market shares.
Benchmark performance against key competitors.
The real estate software market presents ample growth opportunities, driven by the commercial and residential real estate activities surge. Leading real estate companies increasingly adopt software solutions to streamline operations, reduce errors, improve task allocation for large-scale projects, enhance communication, and optimize financial management.
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Mihaela Lica Butler is senior partner at Pamil Visions PR. She is a widely cited authority on public relations issues, with an experience of over 25 years in online PR, marketing, and SEO.She covers startups, online marketing, social media, SEO, and other topics of interest for Realty Biz News.
Don’t believe in love at first sight? I beg you to reconsider.
Because the Spring French Connection Homeware Collection had me at hello.
Even though I’m super happy with how far the Loft has come, now I have an itch to do it all again! Thank goodness the French Connection’s new “Soft Industrial” Collection isn’t available in the US because I’d be in big trouble. It’s like it was made with me in mind. Soft gray hues. A mix of textures and materials. Chic modern lines. And a safari chair!!
Even though I can’t get any of these pieces at the moment, that doesn’t mean I can’t start a wishlist should anyone across the pond want to do a little shopping and shipping for me!.
I am SO coveting that fisheye mirror. If you are in Europe, please let me know if these pieces are as fabulous as they look!
European bonds set the tone in the overnight session after a normally hawkish ECB member made dovish comments on the near term rate hike/pause outlook. German Bunds rallied a full 10bps peak to trough while US 10s barely managed 5bps over the same time frame. The AM econ data in the US created some 2-way volatility as the Retail Sales headline was at odds with internals, but bonds were already having second thoughts as evidenced by a clear run-in with resistance at 3.75% overnight. Yields were sideways and choppy until Europe closed for the day. After that, there was a modest drift toward–but not into–weaker territory. All in all an uneventful day that is perfectly in line with the broader sideways baseline expected between last week’s rally and next week’s Fed announcement.
Retail Sales
0.2 vs 0.5 f’cast, 0.3 prev
NAHB Builder Confidence
56 vs 56 f’cast, 55 prev
Industrial Production
-0.5 vs 0.0 f’cast, -0.5 prev
08:30 AM
Nice gains overnight with Europe. 10yr down 6.7bps at 3.742 and holding after data. MBS up 6 ticks (.19)
10:38 AM
Quick selling as traders reconsidered data, but recovering now. MBS at highs, up over a quarter point. 10yr down 5bps at 3.758.
12:41 PM
Weakest levels of the day at EU closes. 10yr still down 3.2bps at 3.777. MBDS up only 2 ticks (0.06).
04:31 PM
Leveling off a bit now after hitting weaker levels just after 3pm. 10yr yields down 2.8bps at 3.781. MBS currently unchanged after being down 2-3 ticks (0.06-0.06)
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