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Apache is functioning normally

This year’s down market has shifted what mortgage lenders are seeking from their technology partners, because the spare dollars for nice-to-haves are no longer around. The booming housing market the past few years brought with it a surge in mortgage tech adoption, and while this movement towards innovation has been welcomed by mortgage parties, now more than ever lenders are looking at the data behind these mortgage tech claims. Return on investment and cost savings around must-haves are now the focus in a lot of tech partnerships. 

To learn more about this shift in mortgage tech needs and the changing dynamic in vendor-lender partnerships, HousingWire interviewed John Hedlund, California Mortgage Bankers Association (CMBA) chairman and chief operating officer at AmeriHome Mortgage Company and Wes Iseley, CMBA board president of residential and senior managing director of Carrington Holding Company.

California is home to some of the largest lenders which allows the association to keep a very strong pulse on the needs and trends in housing. The associations’ annual Mortgage Innovators Conference in Anaheim, California in June is designed to explore the revolutionary world of mortgage technology and helps attendees gain valuable insights from experienced industry professionals. 

“The Mortgage Innovators Conference is unique in our space because there’s more of a conversation and interaction with lenders and technology companies, or innovators. It was part of our goal to not just have a bunch of booths where people are pushing products and instead where they’re solving problems that lenders have today,” said Hedlund.

“The beauty of the Mortgage Innovators Conference, and what we’re trying to build there, is really more of that two-way dialogue. The companies that are coming are listening and trying to enhance, improve and develop their products, and will reposition what they’ve already built or are in the process of building,” he said.

This collaborative mindset is what will define the lenders and tech providers that grow. In the following Q&A, Hedlund and Iseley discuss what innovation looks like today, the current table stakes in mortgage tech, what tech companies should keep in mind when talking to lenders and more. 

HousingWire: What are some of the biggest areas that lenders are looking at technology to solve?

John Hedlund: In 2021, business was crazy good, and lenders had more money. You had a lot of vendors and startups selling, for lack of a better term, bells and whistles. They were, in my opinion, nice-to-haves and didn’t really move the needle. You’d have an LO come over to your company, saying that they need a certain software because they’re comfortable with it, so lenders would buy it because they could afford it. We’re in a different world now. Most lenders lost money last year.

So when I think of technology today, I talk to our providers about how they need to show their economic value add more than ever. How do you take costs out of my business? How have you proven that, factually?

When I talk to clients and ourselves, I focus on “what do we really need that moves the needle?” And, “What is just nice to have?” I’m getting rid of the nice-to-haves, and we’re finding other vendors that want to come in.

For most of the guys today, it’s all bottom-line driven. They need to be liquid, and they don’t know what’s next with rates.

Wes Iseley: There are some real issues that are still out there with speed to close. The first thing with speed to close, anything we can do to income verifications, which we have come a long way in bringing that in. There are different models out there trying to bring in income verification quickly.

The second one would be from a compliance standpoint — wire fraud. Everybody has to have that compliance and quality in place because that will drive costs up. 

So the whole time we’re speeding things up, and at the same time, we need to have our protections in place so we don’t have surprise losses. There’s a lot of work going on the front and the back end from a compliance perspective.

HW: What are the new table stakes when it comes to technology?

JH: There’s always way more ideas than are actually going to ever catch on. It’s hard to carve out a new niche where there’s really a value add, but ultimately, that’s where I would start. What is my value proposition? And, it has to be somewhat hard today; it can’t be soft. By soft, I mean that it’s a nice-to-have. I think of an economic value-add. If followed all the way through the process, does it move the needle somewhere? 

WI: Right now, if you can’t make it easy for the customer, that customer is going to get frustrated and go away. It’s tough out there right now. This includes the ease of use for the customer and the communication in keeping all people involved in that transaction informed as it goes along. Especially in a purchase money close, you can’t mess up the close when the moving truck is outside. Keeping everybody informed as the process goes is a must.

HW: What should mortgage tech companies keep in mind when talking to lenders?

JH: There’s a lot of value in talking to a variety of different lenders in different markets, and testing, tweaking and revising your business model when it needs change. If you want to have something that isn’t a niche product, it has to ring true with the masses. 

When we started AmeriHome, our mindset wasn’t to chase shiny objects. From the start, our goal was to be a top-five correspondent lender, and so we built the company with scale in mind and our value prop very simplistically became, “How are we going to add value to our clients?” 

I see a lot of tech vendors that have great ideas in isolation that aren’t ever going to necessarily be at scale because it’s a niche-type model. In most cases, I wonder if they’ve vetted that and spent, not an hour, but weeks or months finding out what their clients really need and solving a problem versus creating a product to try and find a problem.

HW: What does housing innovation look like in today’s market?

WI: The big issue out there is affordable housing. While there are modular homes, manufactured homes and factory-built homes, there are so many restrictions. In California for example, there’s a fee to transport the manufactured house, which adds $25,000 to $30,000.

You need to get down state by state and say what are the restrictions? I think factory-built housing and the precision of the building itself is of a higher quality and that’s a way to solve for affordable housing. You’re not going to affect land price, so it’s the build. This is a big solution that everybody should be working on.

Source: housingwire.com

Apache is functioning normally

Do you have something that drives you absolutely crazy, even though nobody else is fazed by it? We all do—whether it’s someone taking the last of the coffee without refilling, or seemingly arbitrary office policies. It’s strange when we get angry over nothing… but sometimes it’s also oddly liberating. 

It seems like it’s something different that tips everybody over the edge—so let’s talk about some of the most common things that make us irrationally angry.

1. YouTube Video Recommendations

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

One user posted, “YouTube recommending videos that don’t start with the first one of a series. Why start on part 6…?”

“YT can’t count. You’ve watched episodes 1, 2, and 3 out of a series? What comes after episode 3? Episode 7, obviously. Next up is episode 21. Followed by episode 2 even though you’ve already watched it. It’s baffling how a simple episode list is beyond YT’s algorithm to understand,” one user replied. 

Another user also commented, “Yeah, but 7 has higher engagement metrics than 4,5, or 6, so YT thinks that is more important than chronology.” 

One responded, “For me it’s the 30s of unskippable ads, followed by another ad 25s into the video.”

2. Motion Sensor Doesn’t Work

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

One user posted, “When the motion sensor on a paper towel dispenser doesn’t work.”

Another user replied, “I hate it when you have to negotiate to get soap, water and towels but the germaphobe in me really likes not touching anything.”

One user commented, “As a fellow public toilet germaphobe, it shits me to tears when the amenities are designed to be no touch (sensor soap and paper towel etc) and then the door has a handle.” 

Another user stated, “As long as they use real paper towels and not those shitty hand dryers, you can use the towel to grab the door handle. Some places now have the thing at the bottom of the door where you can use your foot. That is also pretty handy. It’s pretty gross though when you see some absolute slob come out of a stall and go right out the door using the handle you have to touch. I wouldn’t describe myself as a germaphobe by any stretch, but there is a level of basic hygiene that everyone should be at.”

3. People who Won’t Let you Merge

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

One Redditor posted, “When people speed up when I indicate a lane change.”

Another responded, “Omg thank god someone said this. Knew those jerks do that… on purpose lmao.”

One user also commented, “Me too, and I always wondered why they do that.” 

Another Redditor added, “Some people are mean on purpose. Some people aren’t paying attention to their speed and when they notice they’re going slow cuz someone is trying to pass them, they correct.” 

“I get [annoyed with] people who cut me off on the right, while my blinker to change lanes to the right is active and I’m intentionally trying to move over to the slow lane. They’re so eager to pass me that they won’t even let me get over to the slow lane or exit lane. I’m trying to move over, and it’s infuriating,” a user replied. 

4. People who are Confidently Wrong

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

One user added to the thread, “Overconfident people who are clearly not very bright.”

Another responded, “People that [make up] an answer instead of admitting they don’t know something.”

Another one added, “I agree this is cringe but unfortunately as a medical student, doctors get pissed if I say ‘I don’t know’ to some of their random… questions, so I have to force myself to make up some [crap] instead.” 

“My 11th grade English teacher was one of those teachers. He also got mad at you for making stuff up though and refused to use anything but your full legal name (first and last) but the second you tried to call him Mr instead of professor he’d yell at you and lecture the whole class about respect and if someone has a name/title preference you should accept that so [idk] what his problem was lmao.” 

5. No Headlights in the Rain

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

One user commented, “Drivers who don’t turn their headlights on when it’s raining.”

Another user added, “Or ones that don’t use turn signals when turning.”

“They use it as they turn instead of before,” one Redditor replied.

Another user responded, “And it always seems to be gray or silver cars that completely blend in with the haze.”

6. Blocking the Grocery Aisle

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

One Redditor posted, “When people block the entire… aisle with their shopping carts.”

Another user responded, “Lmao my wife gets so pissed when people do this. She literally moves their cart for them.”

One user added, “I do that, too. I’ll pick up the end of their cart and just move it out of the way. Usually people are apologetic about it and I’m outwardly nice to them but I’m always thinking ‘If you’re so sorry why… did you do it in the first place??’”

One user shared, “My grocery store trigger is when someone stops in an aisle to peruse a section, and they leave their cart dead center in the aisle…preferably at an angle to ensure maximum blockage.” 

7.  People Stopping in Busy Stores

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

One user posted, “Pet peeve… people having friends and family gathering in the busiest intersection in the store right in front of the items everyone needs to get at with their kids running around, and getting in everyone’s way. Not slightly to the side by the frozen dinner entrees, or something, but in the worst imaginable spot impeding every other customer’s ability to get around, and get the stuff they need.”

One added, “I swear lockdown made everyone dumber. People can’t drive [at all] now and it seems to be the social norm to go slow as [heck] down isles and stop I the center of the isle.” 

8. Setting Multiple Alarms

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

One user added, “My wife’s second and third alarms in the morning when I don’t have to get up for work.”

Another replied, “When you get into bed looking forward to a good night’s sleep, knowing you’ll be getting quite a lot of hours in bed before you have to get up for work the next day, and then what feels like just one blink later…”

One user then asked the OG commenter, “Do you have sleep apnea or insomnia? I’ve got relatives who have one or the other and it doesn’t seem fun. The one with sleep apnea got the CPAP machine and now he can function on 4 hours of sleep whereas before the machine, he would get 8 or so hours of sleep but still be extremely exhausted because his body wasn’t fully going to sleep. I get acid reflux, where if I eat too late I will wake up choking on stomach acid (or just throw up).” 

The OG commenter answered, “I have narcolepsy, but you’re on the right lines yeah.”

9. When your Headphone Cord Snags

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

One Redditor posted, “Headphone cord snag.”

One user added, “On the kitchen drawer… WHILE I’M COOKING.”

One also shared the same sentiments and replied, “I’m so… angry just reading your comment.”

Another also added, “Similar rage level- you must carry some stuff, you’ve found a way to stack everything securely to carry in one trip. But it requires both hands. You manage to open a door with either your foot or by carefully stretching your fingers…. Then your belt loop/baggy top gets caught on the door handle when you’re almost fully through.” 

10. Printers

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

One user commented, “Printers. If I plug you in, you should work. WHY YOU NO WORK?!”

“PC Load Letter? What the [heck] does that mean???” one user replied.

Another added, “Sounds like someone’s got a case of the Mondays…”

One user said, “Haha. The cry of the IT guy!!”

Source Reddit.

Image Credit: Shutterstock – Denis Makarenko

Who is one actress you can never stand watching, no matter their role?  After polling the internet, these were the top-voted actresses that people couldn’t stand watching.

10 Actresses People Despise Watching Regardless of Their Role

These 7 Celebrities are Genuinely Good People

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

We’ve all heard the famous adage that “no publicity is bad publicity,” and while it tends to be accurate, there are certainly exceptions. But what about those few stars who stay out of the limelight and get along without a hint of trouble? 

These 7 Celebrities are Genuinely Good People

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Have you ever known someone and thought you liked them—until you learned about their hobbies? Then you get to know them and then you’re like, “Wow, red flag.” Well, you’re not alone.

These 10 Activities Are an Immediate Red Flag

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

Some celebrities definitely seem to enjoy the limelight and keep working to stay in the public eye. While others quickly move out of the spotlight. Many of these actors and actresses stepped out of the spotlight to live a more private life without constant media pressures.

10 Celebrities That Made the Big Times Then Disappeared Off The Face of the Earth

Image Credit: Troma Entertainment

We’ve all been there – sitting through a movie that we can’t help but cringe at, but somehow it still manages to hold a special place in our hearts.

These 10 Terrible Movies Are Still People’s Favorites



About the Author



Source: financequickfix.com

Apache is functioning normally

I am sick. For the past ten days, I’ve been wrestling with a high fever, a cough, a persistent sore throat, and a general malaise that’s kicking my ass. Basically, I’m the sickest I’ve been in over a decade. (The last time I was this sick? The evening that The Fellowship of the Ring premiered. I went to see it with friends, but don’t remember a thing about that night because I was sick with a high fever. High fevers suck!)

Normally, I don’t go to the doctor. My family has a funny thing about doctors, and usually prefer to let an illness run its course rather than to pay a doctor to tell us to “let the illness run its course”. Last Tuesday, though, I decided that sometimes discretion is the better part of valor. After four days with a high fever, and after sensing that something wasn’t quite right with my lungs, I drove myself to urgent care.

“You have the flu,” the nurse practitioner told me. “And it’d be even worse if you hadn’t had your flu shot. As it is, you may have pneumonia. It’s been going around.”

She prescribed an inhaler, steroids, and an antibiotic, but she seemed skeptical that they’d help. “Make sure you call us if things don’t improve,” she said. “In the meantime, you need to spend 72 hours in quarantine. You don’t want to give this to anyone else, and you don’t want to catch anything else that might be going around.”

So, for three days last week, I confined myself to my apartment.

Hunting for Health Insurance

But this article isn’t about how sick I’ve been. This article is about my quest for health insurance. Earlier this year, I promised to share my experience as I looked for an individual policy.

As background, I’ve always had insurance through Kris. Because we were married, my insurance was covered by the policy she had through her employer. And before that — long before that — I was on my parents’ health insurance. For 43 years, health insurance has been a non-issue for me.

That changed, though, when I asked for a divorce last autumn. I knew that I’d have to find my own coverage. In fact, Kris wouldn’t allow the papers to be filed until I could demonstrate I had replacement coverage.

“No problem,” I thought. “How hard can it be to find health insurance? I’m the healthiest I’ve been in my life!” Haha. Turns out, it’s not as easy as it sounds.

A Wild Goose Chase

My first stop was eHealthInsurance.com. Many people (including several GRS readers) had recommended this site as a great way to compare health insurance and to apply online without much hassle. It sounded perfect. Before Kris and I left for our trip to South America in February, I filled out an application. It seemed simple, and I had no doubt I’d be approved.

I wasn’t.

My plan options at eHealthInsurance
Some of my options at eHealthInsurance

While we were in Argentina, I got an e-mail that said my application for health insurance had been rejected, but didn’t offer any explanation. When I got home, there was a letter waiting for me in the mail that gave more detail. Turns out, I had a pre-existing condition that caused my application to be rejected. Five years ago, when I was fifty pounds heavier, I suffered from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a risk factor for other diseases, and insurers don’t like it. Never mind that I no longer have sleep apnea, that I’m fifty pounds lighter than when I had it, and that my health has never been better. There’s no way to convey that info on an application. Instead, I was turned down for health insurance.

Fine.

I went back to eHealthInsurance.com to apply for a different policy, but there’s a question on every application: “Has any other carrier turned you down for health insurance during the past 90 days?” It turns out that once one carrier turns you down, all carriers will turn you down. (This isn’t strictly true, but it’s mostly true.)

Fine.

I decided that my best bet was to just just continue receiving coverage through my same carrier. My logic was impeccable: I’d been with them for years already and they knew my medical history, so surely it would be a piece of cake to carry things forward. Again, this didn’t turn out to be true.

I called my carrier to ask about porting my policy from Kris’ work account to individual insurance. “We can’t do that,” they told me. “You have to call the employer that has the policy.” So I did. But Kris’ employer told me they couldn’t port it forward either. “Your only option is COBRA,” they told me. (COBRA is ongoing medical insurance available when your existing policy ends. It’s expensive.)

I’m telling this story in a calm, even-handed fashion, but I wasn’t feeling calm and even-handed during the process. I was feeling frustrated. I couldn’t figure out where to turn.

Finally, I started talking about my health insurance dilemma with everyone I met. I asked my self-employed friends what they do for health insurance. (Shocking but true answer: Most of them don’t have health insurance. No joke.) When I met other folks who’ve been through a divorce, I asked how they handled the health insurance question.

In the end, it was my colleague Mark Silver from Heart of Business who provided the answer. “I used an insurance broker to find health insurance,” he told me. “Here. I’ll give you his contact info.”

Taking Matters Into My Own Hands

Because I hate e-mail conversations and because I hate getting the run-around by phone, I tend to prefer face-to-face business transactions. Yes, they take more time, but I find them easier. It’s possible to discuss shades of grey and to explore multiple possibilities in person. For this reason, I drove across Portland to visit Ron Tate at Tate Insurance Services. I explained my situation.

“I need health insurance,” I said. “But I only want catastrophic insurance. I’m willing to self-insure almost everything.” Because I have substantial savings, I’m willing to pay more for routine coverage if that means my monthly insurance premiums are low. In the long-term, this should save me tons of money.

“No problem,” Mr. Tate told me. “We have several options.” He walked me through them. I chose the option that seemed to offer the best balance of cost and coverage, filled out the application. And waited. And waited. And waited.

After a week of waiting, I got word that my application had been rejected. Again. And again because of sleep apnea. “We have a couple of options,” Mr. Tate told me. “Because you’ve been rejected, you qualify for the Oregon Medical Insurance Pool, which is for high-risk customers like you. It’s nto cheap though. Or you can apply elsewhere. Or we can ask for an exclusion for the sleep apnea. That means you won’t have coverage for that condition, but everything else will be normal.”

“To be honest,” I said, “I just want to get this finished. I feel like I’ve been working on this for weeks, and I’m tired of it. It shouldn’t be this hard to get health insurance.”

My plan options at my insurance provider
My plan options at my insurance provider

In fact, I was so frustrated that I went home from Mr. Tate’s office and took matters into my own hands. I did what I should have done from the start. I went to the website for my current carrier and filled out an application for personal health insurance. I chose the cheapest policy (which still costs $128 a month!) and indicated I was a current customer. And then I waited. Within a couple of days, I’d heard back that my application was approved.

An Unhealthy System

That’s a long, boring story, I know, but I’m certain it’s typical of what everyone goes through when attempting to find health insurance on their own. It’s not easy. In fact, it seems a little crazy that it takes that much work to get coverage.

During the process, I spoke with dozens of people about their own experience getting insurance, or about their experience with family members who’ve had to use health insurance lately. I’ll be honest: I came away jaded. I’m far from being a socialist, but there’s no question in my mind that the current health insurance system in the U.S. is broken. It’s tough to find coverage, that coverage is expensive, and once you have it, it’s like a game for the insurance companies to get out of paying. This is dumb. I’d be happy to try some sort of socialized medicine as an alternative, and so would every single person I spoke to during this process. (But, of course, I live in Portland where even moderates like me would be considered liberal in other parts of the country.)

And, of course, the conclusion of this story is that I had to put my insurance to use last week. I have no idea how much my doctor’s appointment, x-ray, and prescriptions would have cost without insurance (and neither do the doctors, actually), but I do know that my total out-of-pocket cost was $29.26. (This may go up after the insurance company decides whether I owe more, but that’s the current total.)

I’m still not healthy. There’s still gunk in my lungs. I’m still running a mild fever. I still feel like sleeping all day. But it’s good to know that if I do need medical help, I have the insurance situation sorted out.

Source: getrichslowly.org

Apache is functioning normally

While retirement may be associated with leaving the workforce behind, most Americans plan to work past the age of 65. In fact, a 2022 study from the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies found that around 57% of workers plan to work either full-time or part-time in retirement. Financial reasons and a desire to remain active were cited as the main motivators. Here are eight jobs that can keep you active, boost your income and let you work remotely.

If you’d like personalized help managing your finances in retirement, consider working with a financial advisor.

8 Great Work-from-Home Opportunities for Retirees

While there is a myriad of opportunities for retirees to work from home, what follows are some of best, who might be a good fit for the work and estimated pay, per salary.com as of May 1, 2023.

Bookkeeper —

Bookkeepers maintain a business’s financial records, including purchases, sales, invoices, payments and other transactions. The job will require a high level of accuracy. And it will likely take some technological savvy given that many, if not most, businesses use software to manage their finances.

Best for:

Organized and detail-oriented workers with a solid grasp of basic accounting principles.

Average salary: $42,854

Telehealth Nurse —

If you have a nursing degree but hope to transition to remote work, the growing demand for telemedicine may be a great opportunity for you.

Telehealth nurses “see” patients via email, phone and chat. They also videoconference and answer their questions, determine the next medical steps, conduct follow-up appointments and deliver medical treatments.

Best for:

This is good for people who already hold a nursing degree, of course. And in a remote environment, communication skills become more important than ever for treating patients with sensitivity.

Average salary: $85,045

Administrative Assistant —

You may think of an administrative assistant as someone who mans the reception desk, makes copies and orders more coffee. But the remote role has slightly different responsibilities. You can expect to answer phone calls and emails, schedule meetings and appointments and handle many of the things that keep a remote office running smoothly.

Best for:

This is good for people with excellent customer service and time management skills. Being able to multitask is a plus.

Average salary: $45,003

Paralegal —

Paralegals serve as assistants to lawyers, helping investigate and research legal cases, maintaining records, drafting correspondence and putting together documents for trials. The job descriptions for a paralegal will vary widely depending on the law firm, what type of law is practiced, its size and the paralegal’s own qualification level.

Best for:

Those who already have a certification or degree in paralegal studies—though the qualifications required to become a paralegal depend on the hiring firm and an actual degree or certification isn’t always necessary.

On the other hand, if this interests you, paralegal certification programs and associate’s degrees in paralegal studies can be relatively affordable and can require as few as 12-24 months of study.

Average salary: $58,630-117,990 (salary ranges widely vary)

Tutor

Tutoring is another job with a wide variety of possibilities, depending on the age and education level of the students, the subject or subjects taught and more. You can be a generalist who works with elementary school kids on any subject they need help with.

You can also be a specialist who works with college students on writing assignments, an ESL tutor who helps adults learn English, and all kinds of varieties in between. In the big picture, a tutor works with students outside of their classes to help them better understand and implement the concepts they’re learning.

Best for:

People who are patient, good at breaking complex concepts into simple ideas and steps and hold the required credentials. Some tutor positions only require a GED, while others may require a college degree in the subject you intend to specialize in, such as a bachelor’s degree in math for a math tutor.

Average salary: $42,422

Receptionist

A virtual receptionist serves the same role as a traditional, in-person receptionist: They ensure that all customer concerns are taken care of.

While there is some overlap with a virtual administrative assistant, a receptionist will be more focused on the customer side of the office than the administrative, answering phone calls and emails, helping customers who need assistance, scheduling appointments and more.

Best for:

This is good for those with good multitasking and people skills. And some technological savvy ensures that customers don’t slip through the cracks in a remote office.

Average salary: $41,704

Customer Service Representative

In a brick-and-mortar retail shop such as a hardware store, a customer service rep may be walking the floor, answering questions about what someone should buy for their upcoming home improvement project.

In a remote business, customer service representatives serve much the same purpose: answering customer questions, helping them with problems and troubleshooting any issues.

Best for:

People with patience, great communication skills and a solid knowledge base of the products or services being sold by their employer.

Average salary: $37,623

Transcriptionist

The transcriptionist job is a straightforward one: You simply type up recordings. Some transcriptionists work exclusively in one industry. For example, they can work in legal or medical industries, which necessitates a certain level of knowledge of the terminology used in that profession. Others may do general transcription work, typing up whatever is needed.

Best for:

This is good for fast and accurate typists looking for low-intensity work. While some may find this kind of work boring, the right person may find the audio or video they transcribe interesting and value the calm.

Average salary: $41,453

Things to Consider When Looking for Remote Jobs

Don’t Get Scammed

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), a common scam is for a fake company to hire you. And then they send you a check to buy equipment with the caveat that you should send the extra money back. The check is bad and will be returned.

The FTC advises that you carefully review any job offers, only apply to jobs on legitimate websites and never rely on a “cleared” check your employer sends you.

Use Your Career Expertise

One of the best ways to find a new remote job is to use the skills you already have. You may be able to find a less demanding and remote version of your previous career. And going into this new job with your years of experience can be valuable to your employer. And it can potentially earn you a bigger starting salary.

For instance, if you had a career as an editor, you may be an excellent English tutor. You can help students understand the rules of grammar and how to improve their reading and writing skills.

Understand How Working Can Impact Your Social Security Benefits

Working can still be the right choice for you, but make you know how your benefits could be affected. According to the Social Security Administration, while you can work and still receive benefits, there’s a limit to how much you can earn before they begin to reduce your benefits if you’re not yet full retirement age.

In 2023, the limit is $21,240 for those under full retirement age. And it’s $56,520 for the year that you reach full retirement age.

Bottom Line

It’s common for retirees to continue working in retirement. It could be due to financial reasons or just finding ways to keep busy. However, you may not want to stay with the same career track you worked in previously. You may be looking for something less demanding, more flexible or a job you can do from home. But before you decide to work, do your due diligence in finding the right opportunities.

Retirement Tips

  • Consider working with a financial advisor to get the most out of all the benefits the SSA provides. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
  • The SmartAsset Retirement Guide offers a calculator to show you how much you need to save for retirement. It also has a retirement tax friendliness calculator to help you weigh various options if you are moving after your retirement.

Photo credit: ©iStock.com/jacoblund, ©iStock.com/jacoblund, ©iStock.com/Ridofranz

Source: smartasset.com

Apache is functioning normally

What is luxury real estate really? On today’s podcast with luxury expert Harold Clarke, we discuss what luxury real estate is and what Realtors need to know in order to truly serve high-net-worth clients. In addition to offering advice on breaking into the luxury niche, Harold shares strategies that agents can use to corner any market. We also discuss how COVID-19 affected Hawaiian real estate, what luxury living looks like in 2022, and why real estate agents should always be truthful with clients.

Listen to today’s show and learn:

  • About Harold Clarke [3:46]
  • What luxury real estate really is [4:21]
  • Five-star service at home [8:28]
  • Understanding how high-net-worth clients feel [12:03]
  • Current events and how they affect luxury real estate sales [13:28]
  • How COVID-19 has changed Hawaiian real estate markets [14:25]
  • Why interest rates aren’t affecting luxury sales in Hawaii [16:48]
  • Advice on getting into the luxury niche [18:34]
  • Why you can’t fake expertise in the luxury niche [22:32]
  • One of Harold’s best recent experiences with a client [24:11]
  • Collecting clues for follow-up [25:42]
  • Interacting with people from all walks of life in Hawaii [26:35]
  • Harold’s advice for real estate agents: be truthful [27:26]

Harold Clarke

Harold X Clarke knows quite well the nuances of wealth, through intimate experience. He developed a strong sense of ownership for the real issues and tough decisions required of individuals with great wealth at a young age. His competitive and perfectionist instincts, coupled with a deep, personal understanding of the wealthy elite’s mindset, allowed him to develop his proprietary method of catering to the discreet needs of the world’s most discerning clientele.

Recognizing big-box corporate real estate brands fall increasingly short fulfilling the real estate needs of the UHNW, and observing the small number of developments in the world that check all the boxes for these individuals, Mr. Clarke founded private real estate consultancy Harold Clarke Advisors for the world’s top .001% of individuals and global developers, to reshape the luxury lifestyle market and fill the void.

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Thank You Rockstars!

It might go without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway: We really value listeners like you. We’re constantly working to improve the show, so why not leave us a review? If you love the content and can’t stand the thought of missing the nuggets our Rockstar guests share every week, please subscribe; it’ll get you instant access to our latest episodes and is the best way to support your favorite real estate podcast. Have questions? Suggestions? Want to say hi? Shoot me a message via Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Email.
-Aaron Amuchastegui

Source: hibandigital.com

Apache is functioning normally

By Contributing Author 10 Comments – The content of this website often contains affiliate links and I may be compensated if you buy through those links (at no cost to you!). Learn more about how we make money. Last edited May 20, 2013.

The Roth IRA (and its cousin, the Roth 401k) are getting press lately and with good reason. There is a fear that taxes will need to rise over time and we will all find ourselves retiring in a higher tax bracket than we are in today.

Let’s first take a step back to understand what these account are and how they work.

What Is An IRA, And How Does It Work?

A traditional IRA account or 401(k) account allows you to deposit money into an account prior to having it taxed. If you are in the 25% bracket ($67,900 taxable for married filing joint or $33,950 filing single) you can put $5000 into the IRA ($6,000 if you’re over 50 this year) or you can pay $1,250 in taxes and clear $3,750.

With the introduction of Roth a number of years ago, you have a new choice, to pay the taxes now, clearing that $3,750 and after depositing into the Roth account (or Roth 401(k) where the limits are $16,500 or $22,000 if 50 or older) and not paying any taxes when you withdraw these funds at retirement.

At some level this is a simple choice, pay tax now or pay it later. Let’s think about this a moment. Do you know your current marginal rate? Do you know what “marginal rate” means? A simple way to look at this is that your marginal rate is the (federal) tax you’ll pay on the next $100 of taxable income. You may make over $80,000 and see that your taxes aren’t quite $10,000, but the next $100 is taxed at 25% or $25. An important distinction to understand. Fairmark offers a nicely presented chart to see marginal rates, it’s important that you understand this concept before making any decisions. Knowing your current marginal rate is easy, projecting what it will be at retirement, not so easy. It’s this ‘not knowing’ that may prompt you to go one way or the other, but there are steps you can take to improve your decision process.

When To Put Into A Roth IRA

At the beginning of your career (and younger, if you are working as a teen), there’s a good chance you are in the 15% bracket. Now is a good time to put some money away in Roth accounts.

As your salary increases, you are likely to take on a mortgage, and perhaps start a family. This gives you deductions for the mortgage as well as the additional exemption (and perhaps earnings) of your spouse. If despite that, you are in the 25% bracket or higher, I’d suggest using pretax savings, the traditional 401(k) and IRA accounts. Now is the time in your life to learn to project out what your retirement will look like. Are you on track to have $2 million dollars in pretax accounts? If not, continue to save pretax. Why $2 million? A conservative withdrawal rate is about 4%/yr. This results in $80,000/yr upon retiring, and right now that will put you toward the top of the 15% bracket. Also, keep in mind that few people work 40 years with no break or disruption to their income. Use these disruptions (times you will drop into a lower bracket) to convert funds from a traditional IRA to a Roth, in essence “filling up the bracket” just enough to top it off but not go into the next.

Last, toward the end of your working career, the decision becomes very simple. With retirement only a few years away, you should be able to calculate what your marginal rate will be after you retire. If the same or higher, go with Roth, if it will be lower, go with traditional.

Once retired, continue to take advantage of the Roth conversion option. In 2009 a married couple can have $86,600 in gross income and still be in the 15% bracket. If they are withdrawing say $40,000 per year from pretax accounts, they should consider converting right up to the $86,600 figure and pay the 15%. This money will never be subject to RMDs (required minimum distributions) and when you pass, your heirs will not have to pay income tax on the withdrawals as they would from a traditional account. This also will help you avoid that higher 25% bracket as the equation to calculate your RMD continues to force you to take a larger portion of your account out each year.

Are you currently taking advantage of a Roth IRA? Why or why not? What types of retirement accounts are you investing in and why?  Let us know in the comments!

This is an article by Joe from JoeTaxpayer.com. Stop by his site and subscribe to his feed for more great articles!

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Source: biblemoneymatters.com

Apache is functioning normally

Celebrities are an interesting bunch. Some celebrities are content to slide under the radar while keeping out of the public spotlight. Others seem hell-bent on traveling down paths of self-destruction, which many believe will ultimately lead to a lengthy stint in jail – or worse. After polling an entertainment forum, for examples, these celebrities have shocked the world by staying out of trouble or simply staying alive!

1. Ozzy Osbourne

Ozzy Osbourne
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

This legendary rocker is still going strong against all odds! As somebody who has dabbled in as many illegal drugs as Ozzy has, countless music fans are shocked that his heart still manages to function. Interestingly enough, according to one fan, his longevity has been such a hot topic of conversation that a team of doctors has vowed to investigate Ozzy – post-mortem!

1. Ozzy Osbourne

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

“There is literally a team of Cambridge doctors who are investigating how Ozzy is still alive,” the fan reports. “They’ve made arrangements with him to dissect and study his body after death.”

2. Chris Brown

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

The much-maligned musician found himself in legal and ethical hot water after allegations of abuse by his then-girlfriend Rihanna surfaced in 2009. 

2. Chris Brown

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

Based on Rihanna’s allegations, music fans worldwide are still stunned that Chris Brown didn’t end up behind bars for a long time. More than one person referenced Rihanna’s photos taken after the alleged abuse, which is unsettling.

3. Bam Margera

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

The one-time star of MTV’s Jackass TV series has reportedly hit rock bottom in recent years. The party lifestyle has caught up with Bam Margera, and people are bracing for bad news shortly. It’s a sad state of affairs for somebody once on top of the entertainment world.

3. Bam Margera

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

According to one person who got to know Margera while in rehab, the former star “blames everybody but himself” for his recent misfortunes.

4. Andy Dick

Andy Dick
Image Credit: Shutterstock – Tinseltown

Countless people are shocked that former Hollywood star Andy Dick hasn’t died or gone to jail. The over-the-top comedian-turned-actor made a name for himself by pushing comedic boundaries.

4. Andy Dick

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

An endless stream of sexual assault allegations later in his life has thrown Andy Dick’s career off track. His rap sheet is a mile long, and we’re with the consensus: how is he still living a life outside of prison?

5. Every Member of Mötley Crüe

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

It’s no secret that Mötley Crüe was the perfect picture of 1980s rock excess. They played hard and partied even harder, leading many people to wonder how they’re all still alive in 2023.

5. Every Member of Mötley Crüe

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

Although most of Mötley Crüe suffered serious drug-related emergencies, they’re all alive and well today. Many fans of the band will freely admit that this is shocking.

6. Bill Cosby

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

After being convicted of drugging a woman, Bill Cosby did spend three years in prison. However, as of 2021, the ex-TV star is free after serving his sentence.

6. Bill Cosby

People around the country are still outraged, as many believe he received nothing more than a “slap on the wrist” for his misdoings. Many also point to the fact that dozens of women have accused Cosby of drugging them, yet only one woman managed to avoid having the charges dismissed.

7. Gary Busey

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

One fan of the award-winning actor puts it plainly. “He’s living proof that a human body can keep on moving long after the brain has been destroyed,” he states. In 1988, Busey was severely injured in a motorcycle accident.

7. Gary Busey

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

Gary Busey was not wearing a helmet in the accident and suffered permanent long-term brain damage. However, he’s still alive and well over 35 years later.

8. O.J. Simpson

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

Of all the celebrities on this list, nobody is more polarizing than O.J. Simpson. After being acquitted of the 1994 murder of his ex-wife and her friend, many worldwide were shocked that he managed to avoid jail time, despite all evidence pointing to him.

8. O.J. Simpson

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

While O.J. Simpson eventually served time behind bars later in his life for stealing sports memorabilia, he was released from jail and is reasonably active on social media. Nevertheless, many still argue that he hasn’t paid his debt to society.

9. Marilyn Manson

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

Despite having millions of fans, there is an outspoken minority who can’t believe Manson hasn’t been put behind bars for the rest of his life. “I made the mistake of reading his autobiography years ago,” one person confesses.

“It’s almost 300 pages of him boasting about terrible things he’s done in an ‘I’m such a weird artistic genius’ fashion.”

9. Marilyn Manson

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

As far as his autobiography goes “I hate to think what his lawyers told him to leave out.” So add Manson to the list of celebrities. We wouldn’t be surprised to be arrested in the next few years.

10. Keith Richards 

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

Keith Richards from The Rolling Stones is no stranger to saying yes instead of no with substances known to kill a man. However, he’s still kicking and touring.

10. Keith Richards 

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

One quoted the late Robin Williams, “I know one day we will all be dead and gone, and it’ll be Keith Richards with five cockroaches.”

This thread inspired this post.

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