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What are the best offshore jurisdictions? by Bowman Offshore Bank Transfers

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What are the best offshore jurisdictions? by Bowman Offshore Bank Transfers

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British Virgin Islands Business Company

The British Virgin Islands has a strong offshore regulatory environment. They have a distinct combination of oversight and a laissez faire approach which makes it both easy to do business – yet reputable with banks and other jurisdictions around the world which makes it very simple and easy to bank and do business with a BVI company.

BVI BC companies are commonly used vehicles for offshore savings and investments, international corporate banking, forex and stock trading, e-commerce and internet businesses, international trade and professional services as well as a holding company, ship and aircraft registration, captive insurance and estate planning.

Most business companies in the BVI are used as asset protection vehicles, very often in combination with a Trust as a holding company. The directors of the BVI BC may protect the assets by transferring its assets to another company, Trust, Foundation, Association or Partnership. The Directors can also merge or consolidate with any other company or can re-domicile the BC to another jurisdiction entirely.

BVI Business Companies are exempt from local taxes and stamp duty, even if they are administered in the BVI.

Corporate maintenance of BVI companies is simple: no annual meeting requirements, no financial statements, annual return filing and no yearly audits.

Furthermore, only one shareholder and director is required, who can be the same person, and there is no minimum paid in capital.

Nevis LLC

The Nevis jurisdiction is a “No-Tax” offshore domicile operated by the small Caribbean island of Nevis within the country of St Kitts and Nevis.

Nevis LLCs are tax transparent entities, all profit received by the LLC is considered to be transferred to its members and taxed at the personal level.

LLCs are for the most part very flexible. You have the choice of a manager-managed LLC with multiple members or a member-managed LLC with multiple members.

A distinct advantage of a Nevis LLC is the ability to incorporate with a single-member. Although Nevis isn’t the only place this is possible, the strong asset protection laws of Nevis are favorable compared to other jurisdictions.

Nevis offshore statutes for Nevis LLCs are actually derived from jurisdictional law of the state of Wyoming. A single-member LLC in Nevis has charging order protection and other benefits of a Wyoming LLC while located in an offshore jurisdiction with Nevis courts governing. All of the benefits of the strongest LLC in the United States, located offshore.

To bring an action against a business incorporated in Nevis the creditor would need to hire a local lawyer licensed in Nevis and post a $25,000 cash bond with the court. In addition attorneys in Nevis are not allowed to work on contingency basis. The creditor must pay for all legal services up front and in full.

There are very few company records to be maintained, such as corporate minutes. Your company meeting can be held anywhere and an operating agreement can be tailored to your exact specifications.

Nevis has no public registry. Nevis does not have a database of corporate records accessible to the public.

Nevis is one strongest structure from an asset protection standpoint to hold personal assets or run a business that is fraught with liability.

Cayman Islands LLC

The Cayman Islands has an excellent legal, fiscal, financial and professional environment for the incorporation of international business companies.

The jurisdiction is a world leading offshore financial services jurisdiction due to its political and economic stability and its broad offer of banking, trust, hedge fund formation and investment, structured finance and securitization, captive insurance and international business services.

A Cayman LLC has no company structure requirements for its management, nor are there provisions for company meetings, directors, secretary, or capital. Its operating agreement may be arranged by its members according to their needs.

In Cayman Islands, there are no direct taxes. No corporation tax, income tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, gift tax or wealth tax. Certain documents may be subject to a nominal stamp duty.

There is no exchange control and no restrictions on the movement of funds to or from the Islands.

Reporting requirements are limited to an annual return confirming that no business has been conducted within the jurisdiction. There is no need to file financial statements and audits are not required, unless the company is an investment fund regulated by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority.

LLCs also benefit from confidentiality. Details of company members are not required to be filed with the Registrar of Companies.

Companies incorporated in the Caymans also benefit from a wide range of financial and professional services. There are about 324 banks and trust companies licensed in Islands, including 47 of the 50 largest banks in the world and high-end professional services, including lawyers, accountants, insurance managers, mutual fund managers and administrators, among others.

The Cayman Islands LLC is an excellent entity for movable and immovable assets holding, asset protection, investment funds, joint venture companies, private equity transactions, securitizations and other corporate transactions and international structures. In combination with a trust, Cayman LLCs are also powerful vehicles to carry out Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs).

Labuan Ltd.

Labuan International Business and Financial Centre is a reputable free trade area located in the Federal Territory of Labuan, an island off the coast of the state of Sabah in East Malaysia.

Labuan is becoming a one of the major financial hubs of Asia due to its pro-business regulation, low taxes and compliance with international standards on due diligence and transparency.

Companies incorporated in Labuan benefit from an attractive tax regime. Trading profits arising outside of Malaysia are taxed at 3% or at a flat tax of Rm 20, 000.

Non-trading profits such as those arising from the holding of investments in securities, stocks, shares, loans, deposits or other properties are not subject to taxation.

Furthermore, payments on dividends, royalties, interests, and technical and management fees are exempt from withholding taxes.

A Labuan company may trade with Malaysian residents but transactions must be reported to the Labuan authorities and profits arising from those transactions may be subject to the Malaysian corporate income tax standard rate which is 24%.

Labuan is ideal for import-export businesses. As it has a free-port status, indirect taxes do not apply. Stamp duty is also exempted on all instruments executed by a Labuan entity in connection with its Labuan business activity.

In addition, Labuan incorporated entities may benefit from some of the tax treaties that Malaysia has concluded.

Expatriate directors and employees of a Labuan company can secure a 2-year multi-entry business visa, together with their dependents and directors might enjoy a 100% tax exemption on their salary income.

In summary, the Labuan private limited company is an excellent vehicle for ASEAN market entry, fund management, group holding company, IP holding, tax structuring, international trade and professional services, among others.

Hong Kong Co., Ltd

Hong Kong is a vibrant, densely populated urban center with a skyscraper-studded skyline and is a major regional free trade port and a global financial hub.

This jurisdiction has one of the most liberal, competitive and laissez-faire economies worldwide. Characterized by simple taxation with a competitive level corporate tax rate of 16.5%, capital gains and dividends free from taxes, no sales tax and no customs duties.

Although there is no specific legislation for international companies due to its territorial tax system, a correctly structured and managed company may qualify for a 0% tax for its business carried out outside the jurisdiction.

HK is supported by a legal system derived from Common Law, which is very scrupulous in respect of private property and an independent judicial system in which the rule of law applies to legal and contractual procedures.

A high international reputation and business-friendly jurisdiction provides a great atmosphere to establish companies and it can be done in one week from the comfort of your couch.

You will be required to hire a Hong Kong certified public accountant to submit yearly audited financial statements to the IRB, but prices are competitive. However, it might be useful to have your accounts pristine and properly audited if, for instance, you are looking for funding.

Hong Kong is also one of the safest and convenient places to do banking. Being home of some of the most solid banks worldwide with the highest levels of solvency and liquidity. No exchange controls and availability of multi-currency accounts, merchant accounts and payment processing services.

In addition, it is the gateway of one of the largest and fastest-growing markets worldwide, China. The Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) provides that companies incorporated in Hong Kong will have preferential access for goods and services entering the mainland Chinese market.

Hong Kong is an excellent jurisdiction to incorporate and its Ltd Co is a powerful vehicle for international trade, start-ups, and internet entrepreneurs and as a holding company.

Singapore Pte Ltd

Singapore is the trading hub of Southeast Asia. Home of the busiest port in the world, Singapore is a developed country in one of the fastest growing regional economies.

It has enormous potential for startups and internet entrepreneurs from all over the world. The country fosters entrepreneurship and the government supports the free market.

One of the most advantageous parts of doing business and setting up a company in Singapore is the clear and transparent tax scheme and the availability of several tax breaks and incentives for startups and technological innovation.

Singapore has a territorial tax regime which means that (in general) you’ll only be taxed on business that takes place in Singapore.

Furthermore, companies incorporated in Singapore can benefit from a broad list of more than 70 tax treaties that Singapore has concluded with foreign jurisdictions.

Private Limited companies are required to prepare and maintain financial statements and file them in their annual return to the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) and pay the annual filing fee. Audits are only required if company gross revenue or assets exceeds SGD 10M.

Singaporean companies require a local director, which may add extra costs.

There are many different government grants, incubators, accelerators, private equity funds and banks who can provide financing for your business at every stage of development.

Financing is a core component in any business and Singapore provides the best alternative investment market in the entire world.

Courts in Singapore come under Common Law jurisdiction, which is known for being speedy. For entrepreneurs who want boots on the ground sourcing from the vast resources in Southeast Asia the Singapore court system can give them a confident backing for hiring, clear laws and a good government with low corruption levels.

The country is also an important international financial hub. Singapore is recognized as one of the world’s best private banking sectors offering top-notch corporate banking facilities and a broad-range of banking services, investment funds and insurance services, among others.

Singapore’s immigration policy is geared towards attracting foreign talent with several visa schemes to attract high-skilled foreign employees, entrepreneurs and investors.

Singapore is an excellent jurisdiction to incorporate and its Pvt Ltd Co is a powerful vehicle for international trade, start-ups and internet entrepreneurs. One can also obtain Residency Visas by incorporating there.

Malta Ltd

Malta is a reputable, compliant and transparent financial hub and gateway to the European Union, a market of more than 500 million people.

Due to its advantageous tax regime, Malta is the jurisdiction chosen by a large number of international companies and holding companies that desire to establish their headquarters and do business in the European Union.

Although its corporate standard rate is 35%, in practice there is a system of tax credits and refunds for individuals and corporate shareholders of part of the tax suffered on the distribution of profits.

The tax refund may be either a six-sevenths refund for trading income, a five-sevenths refund for passive interest and royalties, or a two-thirds refund for passive income. This may lead to a reduction of corporate tax to effective tax rates of between 5 and 10 percent, the lowest across the European Union.

Holding companies may benefit from a participation exemption. Dividend income, profits from a foreign P.E., and capital gains may be tax-exempt if the holding fulfil certain participation conditions. Furthermore, certain investments that yield a fixed rate of return may also be tax-exempt.

Malta is a full member of the EU and since 2008 has adopted the Euro as its official currency, with the benefits that it entails such as the availability of funding opportunities or the European tax directives including the Parent-Subsidiary Directive, the EU Mergers Directive and the EU Interest & Royalties Directive.

Malta has also signed a large number of Double Taxation Agreements. Companies doing business in Malta have access to an English-speaking, highly-skilled workforce making it even more attractive to incorporate there.

Malta costs to obtain and administrate licenses are one of the lowest in the European Union and are often valid for the whole EU territory. This makes Malta an attractive jurisdiction to establish businesses related to e-gaming, shipping, airline or investment funds.

Malta is a reputable jurisdiction and its private company limited by shares an excellent vehicle, whether to conduct international trade, hold immovable assets and intellectual property, conduct e-gaming business, or as a holding group company, a ship-owning company, an investment vehicle or a captive insurance company.

You can check out further information on these and more at incorporations.io, our dedicated app to compare jurisdictions and legal entities from a tax, legal and economic standpoint.

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Devin Fitzpatrick Art Consultants Review: Een passie voor design

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Devin Fitzpatrick Art Consultants Review: Een passie voor design

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Devin wordt vaak beschreven als een professioneel uitgerust met zoveel passie in het doen van een briljante kunst gerelateerde werken. Ze is toegewijd in het ontwerpen van ruimten voor kunst en met inbegrip van kunst in bestaande ruimten. Wenst u een expert te kapelaan en artwork voor uw huis of commerciële ruimte, Devin Fitzpatrick Art Consultants kunnen van enorme hulp omdat Devin staat te doen geen kunst gerelateerde capaciteit en werk binnen elk budget. Haar dienst varieert van het unieke kunstwerken, kopen van lokale galerieën tot de aankoop van kleinhandelswebsites inbedrijfstelling.

Devin heeft een echte en opgeleide inzicht in de waarde van kunst met haar graad in Art History en een certificaat in decoratieve en Fine Art beoordeling Studies uit New York University. Haar talent en passie voor kunst zijn zo opmerkelijk dat haar master's thesis getiteld "De interrelatie van Art en ruimte: een onderzoek laat de 19e en vroege twintigste eeuw Europese schilderkunst" de Joel Polsky Achievement Award van de ASID ontvangen Educational Foundation en is gekenmerkt in de IIDA Knowledge Center. Ze studeerde de betekenis van kleur, textuur, plaatsing, schaal en context van kunst in de ruimte in haar bovengenoemde proefschrift. Dit wordt ook gemaakt vanwege haar enorme interesse in de relatie tussen kunst en ruimte. En vanwege haar ware passie voor kunst, de National Gallery of Art in het ontwerp en de installatie departement benoemde haar een Graduate stage geserveerd op Washington State University's selectie Kunstcommissie ook.

Devin Fitzpatrick Art Consultants rekening wordt gehouden met de begroting, de doelstellingen en de stijl van elke klant bij het maken van een zorgvuldige en curator interior design en kunst raadpleging. Devin zorgvuldig plannen alles maken van tijdloze en geïnspireerd interieurs die zijn op maat gemaakt naar elke client. Ze heeft altijd een prachtige job door het vinden van inspiratie in de rijke details van het verleden en moderne eenvoud.

U kan ook afhangen van Devin Fitzpatrick Art Consultants aanbeveling op nieuwe verfkleuren, suggesties op nieuwe meubels, en beschrijving van een compleet interieur. Devin is echt betrouwbaar met een residentiële en reclamespots projecten of ze nu groot of klein. Als het je eerste keer te verwerven van de service van dergelijke professional, aarzel dan niet om Devin een gesprek. Ze is zeer enthousiast in het werken met cliënten met name voor de eerste timers. Ze geniet van het gezelschap van een team en het omgaan met de belangen van de cliënten individueel. Devin is erg bekend vanwege haar vorm en zachte aanpak, en haar totale passie voor kunst en design.

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TCG Tokyo Consulting Group Japan: Outsourcing Services

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TCG Tokyo Consulting Group Japan: Outsourcing Services

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Outsourcing in Japan

Permanent Employment (Permit No : 13-Yu-300904)

Tokyo Consulting Group, with its independent human resources department, constantly aims to be the best at satisfactorily matching employers and employees for its customers' outsourcing needs in Japan. We believe that the success of a company is always linked to the quality of its human resources. Tokyo Consulting Group employees are experienced with such human resources challenges, and can thus provide insightful analysis and advice to its customers. In addition to these challenges, cultural natural differences can often hinder the human resources qualities of a company. For instance, the recruitment of international staff in Asian countries might result in issues that would be unexpected for inexperienced companies. Through its extensive Asian presence and long-lasting international experience, Tokyo Consulting Group is fully equipped to proactively handle such issues. This ability has been extremely useful to our customers when starting - or planning to start - their business abroad, as it allows us to provide them with high-quality outsourcing services in Japan.

Temporary Employment (Permit No : Han13 - 301254)

The majority of Tokyo Consulting Group's staff, whether temporary or permanent, is highly experienced in at least accounting, taxation, or labor, in different types of industries. Moreover, all members of staff are trained as management leaders, with a strong emphasis on quality of communication skills. Our employees communicate in English daily, and are capable enough to use English in a professional context.

In addition to introducing professional staff to companies in Japan, Tokyo Consulting Group also outsources employees in foreign countries regardless of industries. Working environments are different in every country, and it may not be an easy task for foreign companies to hire employees. Tokyo Consulting Group's outsourcing services are quality-based. Hence, both employees' and employers' needs are met with the highest levels of satisfaction that eventually leads to value creation.

Thus, our employees are equipped with the appropriate knowledge and specialized experience that is necessary when offering outsourcing services in Japan. But most importantly, Tokyo Consulting Group is comprised of consultants who share, respect, and dedicate themselves to clients' views and objectives, thus assuring a constantly high-quality service.

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The Debate Is Over: The Margarita Was Invented In Galveston

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The Debate Is Over: The Margarita Was Invented In Galveston

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The inspiration for this margarita story was Robert Stanton's, Galveston: An Island of Firsts. Robert referenced Bob’s Galveston Island Reader, which was originally published in 1983. In Texas, Galveston had the first custom house, post office, opera house, and the list goes on and on.

But, what about the Margarita?

I’ve always heard that the Margarita was invented at The Balinese Room by Santos Cruz for singer Peggy Lee.

Today, I noticed this Facebook post that my friend Jack Morris, owner of  Third Coast Gallery, shared that stirred up the debate. What’s this about Paco’s in Taxco, Mexico?

Blasphemy!

So, I did some Googling. We have lots of competition for that title!

Smithsonian Magazine ran an article that discusses Carlos "Danny" Herrera, who claimed to have created the drink in a Tijuana restaurant. They then referenced another source that claims Dia Blue of Jose Cuervo Tequila fame invented it. Even a Texan was mentioned:  Margarita Sames, a Dallas socialite. But, what about our Santos Cruz?

Feeling hopeful, I found a story by Texas Monthly. Surely, they would get it right! Right?

Nope. They go on and on about some guy, Pancho Morales, who drives a milk truck in El Paso.  He claims to have invented it in 1942.

And, then I stumpled upon Wikipedia. Woohoo! At least Santos Cruz from Galveston got a mention.

I don't know who this merry band of narcissists are, and why the tequila and lime laced spotlight is on them. For me, the proof is clear.  110 proof like a good bottle of tequila.

As an Islander, I will proudly boast that Santos Cruz of Galveston Island, Texas invented the Margarita.

I dare you to prove me wrong. Give me your best salty shot. There's a comment box below.

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The Debate Is Over The Margarita Was Invented In Galveston

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The Massive Russian Cybercrime Operation Stealing Millions from Advertisers - Inside ‘Methbot’

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The Massive Russian Cybercrime Operation Stealing Millions from Advertisers - Inside ‘Methbot’

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Security experts have uncovered what appears to be the biggest and most profitable advertising fraud scheme known to date.

In a report released Tuesday, cybersecurity firm White Ops mapped out a massive operation through which Russian cybercriminals are stealing millions of dollars from publishers and advertisers in the form of fake video views.

Nicknamed "Methbot" for the frequent references to the drug in its code, the ongoing scheme involves an army of bots whose sole purpose is to watch as many as 300 million video ads per day, thus tricking brand advertisers into paying millions of dollars for fake views.

The company believes it to be the work of a ring of Russian hackers, who researchers say have netted upwards of $180 million in profits since launching the operation in September.

While employing automated users to scam ads is nothing new — it's the foundation of the multibillion-dollar ad fraud industry — the company says the staggering scale and technical intricacy at play here are unprecedented.

"This is an attack perpetrated against the entire industry," says White Ops CEO Michael Tiffany. "It was robbing both advertisers and publishers, and it was operating at a level of sophistication that's just unheard of."

How it works

The whole operation takes place within a sort of Potemkin Village version of the internet located entirely within the bounds of Methbot's servers.

To populate it, the hackers took over more than half a billion IP addresses — unique strings of characters designed to identify web users — from two major registries and broke them into chunks, which were then assigned to various internet service providers like Comcast and Verizon.

Doing so created the illusion that each of these millions of bots were real web surfers spread across America rather than programs operating out of one of two centralized data centers in Amsterdam and Dallas.

The perpetrators also built custom software designed to make the bots appear convincingly human — they mimicked clicks and cursor movements; installed fake cookies that indicated demographics, online browsing histories and other targetable traits; and even gave them fraudulent social network credentials that made it appear as if they were logged into Facebook or other social media accounts (though no such accounts actually existed).

This elaborate operation goes far and beyond that of your average ad fraudster, Tiffany says. In a typical operation of this kind, bots latch onto the addresses of actual people through malware so that hackers don't have to go through the trouble of creating identities out of whole cloth.

"We've never seen anything like that before," Tiffany says. "It's just astonishing."

But spawning this army of robo-users was just one piece of the puzzle; the cybercriminals also generated more than 6,000 imitation sites designed to resemble major outlets across the web.

These include fake versions of publishers like CNN, the New York Times, BuzzFeed and Mashable; platforms like Facebook, Yahoo and Quora; and even some brand websites like those of Air France and Pokémon.

The fake sites allowed the thieves to take advantage of a common form of arbitrage in the ad tech industry in which unsold ad space is bought from an outlet then resold at a higher price. The criminals would pretend to be reselling space on, say, CNN's website through an automated ad exchange but then instead direct the ad to their shell version of the site that nobody could actually see.

There, the brand would unwittingly pay to have its video ad viewed solely by the millions of bots assigned to visit each of these sites.

As a whole, the operation racked up between 200 to 300 million views per day and bilked advertisers and media companies out of $3 million to $5 million in revenue.

Such intricate attention to detail might seem excessive for a scam that's already considered to have the lowest risk and highest reward of any form of cyber crime.

But the whole plan was put in place in service of making the machine as profitable as possible at every level. Bots imbued with a targetable profile and brand-name outlets are worth much more to advertisers than unknown visitors to a no-name webpage, and video is the most expensive form of online advertising.

"By using these very sophisticated mechanisms to hack some of the architectural systems of the internet, they were then able to unlock much greater profit potential than other operations usually have," Tiffany said.

What's next

White Ops, which specializes in ad fraud detection, first took notice of the operation in October, when its system picked up on some of the bots. The rest of the scheme unraveled from there.

"We had this one thread to pull on, and then as we pulled on it, we uncovered layer upon layer upon layer of complex forgeries," Tiffany said.

Now that the report is out, White Ops is releasing a full list of fake addresses and domains so that ad networks and other fraud detection firms can block accordingly. It is also working with U.S. law enforcement authorities to try to track down the parties responsible.

While the massive scale of Methbot might make other ad fraudsters seem like small-timers in comparison, ad fraud as a whole remains a huge headache for the advertising industry. A research report from an advertiser trade group last year predicted that it could cost digital advertisers around $7.2 billion this year alone.

Tiffany says it's entirely possible that ad fraud rings of comparable scope are currently operating undetected. The murky nature of the crime makes it uniquely hard to suss out.

"It hardy ever leaves traces of the crime behind," he says. "It's such an extraordinarily successful form of theft because nothing goes missing."

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Singapore Huxley Associates International
Financial: The perfect match – why job hunting is like dating

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Singapore Huxley Associates International
Financial: The perfect match – why job hunting is like dating

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Looking for a career match this Valentine’s? Play the job hunting game like you do the dating one and the perfect match could be just around the corner.

Finding the right job (or the right candidate) is a lot like playing the dating game – first impressions count, and we all have things on our ‘deal-breaker’ list. Read on for our tips on how to find the perfect match this Valentine’s Day (and beyond!)…

Know what you want in a potential partner? Make a list of deal-breaker criteria when sizing up possible suitors, to ensure you don’t get carried away by the thrill of the chase.

Quick fling or long-term togetherness? – Do you want your next career move to be ‘the one’, or is forever for later?

Cast your net wider – think outside the box about what will give you job satisfaction and fulfilment. The perfect match could be in the least expected of places, or your skills could be well suited to a role you never considered before.

Be honest with yourself and them – if a job isn’t going to make you happy – be it at application stage, interview or beyond – avoid staying in the relationship for the sake of it.

Pursue happiness, not just material gain – it’s just not about making others jealous or commanding a huge salary for the sake of it. What’s truly going to make you relish getting up every morning?

Don’t judge by appearances – the best looking organisations aren’t necessarily the most wonderful work for, or might not be a good fit for you, so be sure to look beneath the surface.

Presentation is everything – first impressions count, so make sure your online profile, CV and covering letters send out the right messages. Likewise, think carefully about the signals you’re giving off at interview, with everything from what you wear to how you sit and the answers you give.

Don’t rush into things – accepting the advances of the first recruiter or business that pays you some attention is a recipe for disaster. Think things through before you take the plunge and leap in head first.

Play hard to get – you’ve aced the interview and clinched the job, so now it’s time to lay down a few ground rules. Ensure the rules of engagement are on your side when negotiating your salary and package.

Make sure there’s chemistry – having a connection and similar values are important in all relationships, personal and professional.

Remember, it’s not all about you – ask questions, listen carefully and take a genuine interest in what your match has to say. Think of it as professional flirting.

Be selective yet realistic – pickiness is essential when sourcing potential partners but remember that nobody’s perfect.

Plenty more fish in the sea – rejection can hurt but don’t let it affect your self-worth. Keep your search focused, be proactive, network and follow up all potential leads in a timely fashion and your career soul mate will come along sooner or later.

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3 Ways to use Social Media in Public Relations, Bacall Associates

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3 Ways to use Social Media in Public Relations, Bacall Associates

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It’s given that social media helps public relations (PR). The birth of social media seem to start in the era of Friendster and Myspace, but the meteoric rise in popularity of social media begins with the introduction of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and other newer platforms. It began as a personal use, but several business owners today engage in social media to promote their business.

No wonder why a lot of small and online-based businesses utilize social media for their PR because it is perfect for direct engagement with both customers and the press. Bacall Associates, a boutique PR, marketing and sales support agency, will share a few tips to help you get started.

Create awesome content

Publish an awesome and social-media friendly content that your customers will surely value, share and buy. You should always keep your mind in creating your content. Don’t forget to use easy to share social media buttons on your posts because some don't have the time to copy and paste your content in order to share them.

One example of effective content is using case studies because they are some of the most powerful quantifiers you can use on the web. They provide perspective in the results as well as a clear and concise data. You must present it in the right way to get an emotional response, which can cause engagement and potential sharing. Major media outlets often share case studies provided by companies of many sizes and influence. You may also want to add images or videos to add spice in your content. Publishing good content can be a great help to improve your PR and brand image.

Make your business caught bloggers' attention

Seeking bloggers' coverage can also help you promote your brand. As you may have recently read, the blogosphere is the nexus between social media and PR. Bacall Associates confirmed that social media is also being used by bloggers and are active on those platforms, and many of them are closely monitored by journalists. You can get mentioned by popular bloggers in different ways such as providing your expertise, being a contributor and having your service or product reviewed.

Connect with the press on social media

The Internet has been the home of media these days since they can get a tremendous amount of information from there. Major publications have been using Reddit to source interesting stories while Twitter is being covered by major news outlets by using trends and hashtags. Indeed, social media platforms have become a solid part of journalism.

It'll be fast to connect with the media using social media sites. If you have a good story to cover and proper use of hashtags and social media tagging, you can get a solid media coverage. But remember, you shouldn't abuse the use of hashtags.

Bacall Associates has been involved in this practice for several years now and they are using social media to heighten their influence to their customers. The impact of social media on public relations is undeniably remarkable and brought great change to this practice that helped a lot of businesses worldwide.

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3
Lessons Young Singaporeans Can Learn From the Retrenchment of Middle Aged PMETs

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Lessons Young Singaporeans Can Learn From the Retrenchment of Middle Aged PMETs

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Once upon a time, getting a cushy PMET job and rising to senior management was the Singaporean dream. Claw your way to the top of the corporate ladder and you’d be in for a lifetime of cruising around in your Porsche and golfing at the country club.

But those days are gone, and middle-aged, highly-trained PMETs are now first in line for retrenchment at many companies. These people have not only been most affected by the increased spates of retrenchment last year, but are also having the hardest time finding jobs. Many of those who do find jobs take a huge pay cut or end up doing things like driving taxis.

Now, all this might sound awful, but is life really worse for someone who’s been earning $10,000 for the past 10 or 20 years only to lose his job, or for a lower income earner who’s been toiling away for 30 years but earning only $1,000 a month?

Obviously, the PMET should be in a much better place than his lower earning counterpart if he has played his cards right in his economically active days and saved and invested wisely. Unfortunately, we often get the reverse scenario, where PMETs are so mired in debt and their lifestyles are so expensive to upkeep that losing their job immediately becomes disastrous.

You might be young now, but in a decade or two you could be facing the same risk of being made redundant. Here are 3 things to never forget along the way.

Jump start your retirement savings and investments when you’re young

Judging by the number of Chanel handbags you see on the streets, young Singaporeans aren’t prioritising saving and investing, figuring they can handle that when they’re older, more boring and have higher earning power.

A 2014 report revealed that 36% of young Singaporeans had no savings at all, while 25% had less than $6,000. The generation before didn’t fare too well either, with an average of just $60,000 in savings.

The problem with this mentality is that it’s premised on the belief that it’ll be easier to save money at a later age. That isn’t the case for many of the PMET’s who’ve been retrenched and found that they were bogged down by car loans, housing loans and dependents to support.

If these people had prioritised saving and investing when they were younger, getting laid off might not have been as scary as it is right now.

Sure, they would have been earning much less in their younger days. But with the help of compounding interest and the benefit of a burgeoning economy, their money could have grown significantly over time—probably much more than it will ever grow in their remaining years before retirement.

The best time to start saving for retirement is when you’re young. Even if you can’t save as much as you think you will when you’re older, if you invest it wisely your money can work a lot harder than it can if you only start in middle age.

When you reach your forties or fifties and your risk of getting retrenched rises, if you already have a decent nest egg saved up you might see your derailed career plans as a rather welcome sign that it’s time to take it easy. If you haven’t, however, good luck.

Be wary of inflating your lifestyle as you rise through the ranks

The most recent Straits Times report on PMET retrenchment mentioned that some of the retrenched folks complained about being bogged down by financial obligations like car loans and housing mortgages, and lamented having to adjust their lifestyles.

That makes you wonder just how much of their lifestyle inflation was necessary to begin with, and how much was due to their wanting to live the high life and being complacent enough to think they’d be able to enjoy such high salaries for the rest of their careers.

Sure, your financial obligations do increase when you buy a home or have kids. But is it really necessary to go into debt just so you can be seen driving a BMW or pay more than a million bucks for a condo?

Young Singaporeans who are lulled into a false sense of security by a job market that makes employment readily available to the young and relatively cheap should take heed that the higher you climb, the more precarious your position will be, unless you are in field that renders you more or less immune to retrenchment (meaning you’re a teacher, doctor, data scientist, civil servant or similar).

You don’t really want to live like a king when the throne can be snatched from under you at any moment.

Never get complacent at work

Retrenchment might sound unfair to an outsider—after an employee has given a company the best years of his life, casting him aside sounds barbaric.

But ask any young Singaporean who’s been subject to the incompetent tyranny of middle and upper management folks well past their prime, and you’ll receive a different opinion.

Complaints about supervisors who are even less competent than rookie hires and manage their teams terribly are sadly quite common, and it’s not very difficult to say why these folks would be the first to get laid off.

Due to the fact that workplaces in Singapore are generally very hierarchical, many employees who are senior enough to become supervisors or managers get complacent about their jobs, thinking they can now rely on their subordinates to take the rap if things go wrong at work. Of course not everyone is like that, but ask around and you’ll find it’s more common than you think.

As a young employee who might one day be promoted, never forget that the higher your salary is, the harder it is to show you deserve it. You have to be more knowledgeable and better at your job than your subordinates are or risk being replaced.

That means constant upgrading, learning new things and at times being made to feel like an old dog trying to learn new tricks. It may sound like a bother, but that’s what you’re really being paid for.

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AXIA Consulting has extensive experience assisting and advising clients in key service areas across industry lines. Our consultants deliver focused results across a broad range of areas from Client Advisory to Systems Implementations services. AXIA’s consultants have the years of experience to craft each project to meet the needs of our clients, taking into account each client’s unique set of circumstances. AXIA’s services include:

• Client Advisory

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• System Implementation

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Richard
Isaacs MD: Kaiser’s summer internship program

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Richard
Isaacs MD: Kaiser’s summer internship program

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Kaiser’s summer internship program gives high school students a chance to see if medical field is right for them

Valley High School senior Faith Allison thought she was interested in cardiology when she started a paid internship at Kaiser Permanente’s South Sacramento Medical Center this summer, but she liked the variety she saw in trauma.

Luther Burbank graduate Melany Caldera figured “you can’t go wrong with health care,” but she got dizzy every time she saw blood. Human resources, she likes.

The idea behind the Kaiser internship program is to give underrepresented and low-income students a close-up view of the career promise of health care before they make a career choice. A comprehensive program that focuses on careers in demand, it can also serve as a pipeline for future Kaiser employees.

“It’s really important for people who have an interest to see their destination before they begin their journey,” said Dr. Richard Isaacs, physician-in-chief at Kaiser’s South Sacramento hospital. “Our hope is they will go back to their own community with a better idea of what they can and want to do.”

The Summer Youth Employment Program is one of the community benefits Kaiser offers in exchange for tax-exempt status. There are 215 participants in Northern California this summer, about 30 in the Sacramento area.

Eleven high-achieving students were selected from 150 applicants for internships at Kaiser South Sacramento.

The full-time program runs for eight weeks. Students do workshops, projects and rotations in departments, meet weekly to share information — and get paid $8 an hour at a time when many high school students have trouble getting a job.

Other local health systems offer internship programs for high school students, too. But most are unpaid.

“Any organized professional experience we can expose young people to — and high school seems to be the focus now — can pique interest in and provide direction for college and medical school,” said Scott Seamons, regional vice president of the Hospital Council of Northern and Central California.

A lot of exposure’

Karima Ziyarmal, now 23, was a 2006 summer intern at Kaiser’s South Sacramento hospital.

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Elliott Associates Inc Quality Therapy Center on Organizational Development Consultants

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Elliott Associates Inc Quality Therapy Center on Organizational Development Consultants

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Organizational Development Consultants (ODC) is a unique and responsive resource. Much like specialists you might call upon for assistance in other technical areas, ODC provides consultation and problem solving services related to your organization and its human resources needs.

We’ve carefully blended a staff of experienced professionals with the skills to provide precisely the kind of help you need, with the positive results you require. ODC offers a variety of services, designed to keep your organization and your employees healthier, and more productive. In a sense, we’ve become specialists in “Organizational Fitness.”

With over 20 years of experience, we’ve had the opportunity to demonstrate the value of our services in a variety of employment settings.  Banks, social agencies, schools, colleges, universities, medical schools, government agencies, hospitals and manufacturing firms, have all experienced the positive impact of our services.

We encourage you to consider Organization Development Consultants for your organizational needs.

Despite our increasing dependence on technology, and the importance of machines and procedures, it’s your employees who make things happen. People make the difference.

When you stop to think about it: It’s not procedures that meet your production quotas, its people. Machines don’t irritate customers or gain their trust, people do. Modern technology can’t generate or manage departments, people can. It’s not reports or quotas or even products or services that make your organization unique, its people… your employees.

Because your organization is unique, we’ve developed resources which enable us to work directly with you in examining ways to be most helpful and responsive. Our objective is to identify and provide services which you need, in order to build and maintain an even more dynamic, profitable organization. Our research has led us to offer these top three services to best assist you.

Employee Assessment

How many times have you felt certain that you had selected the “right” employee only to see them leave by their choice or yours a short time later because “things” didn’t seem to work out? The cost of such hiring mistakes is high considering the time spent in orientation, training, lack of production, effects on other employee’s moral and potential negative effects on customers and sales. You can look at a person’s resume and see what they can do but what they will does can only be determined by psychological assessment.

At ODC, we have have carefully identified and constantly upgrade to the finest psychological tests which are statistically proven to be effective in measuring human abilities and personality characteristics. Our assessment reports which are placed in the employees file are not only used for new hires. The psychological data in the reports is extremely valuable over the work life of the employee when it comes to such issues as promotion, team building, conflict resolution, reassignment, discipline, termination, retirement preparation and succession planning. Amy time a decision is being made about an employee, the test results can take the guess work out of the process and eliminate the risk.

Training of an Employee

in the Practical and Technical Issues is

ESSENTIAL

Selection of a Qualified Employee is

CRUCIAL

Psychological Assessment is a Keystone

In Selecting the

QUALITY EMPLOYEE

Employee Assistance Programs

“He’s the best worker I’ve got… when he’s here.” It is a widely accepted fact that personal problems affect employee’s abilities to perform on the job. Financial concerns, addictions, emotional problems, stress, family problems and many other factors can seriously undermine the effectiveness of your people….and your production.

Our Employee Assistance Program staff has counseled with thousands of employees and their families to produce a more productive and reliable work staff.  Many research studies have confirmed that helping employees in dealing with their personal concerns will result in keeping your working staff healthier, more productive and improve your bottom line.

Organizational Development and Training

ODC can work with your organization to explore effective ways to achieve your business objectives. We do this by first doing an organization assessment conducted by personal interviews and by anonymous questionnaire. Once we have determined the training needs, specific workshops and training modules are conducted to improve the work process individually and as a team. In addition, any discovered organizational problems will be noted and recommendations made for new procedures or reorganization.

People Make The Difference

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ARA Fraud & Forensic Services: Asset Investigations

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ARA Fraud & Forensic Services: Asset Investigations

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Does He or She Claim “I Don’t Have the Money?”

Determine whether or not your debtor is telling you the truth with our asset searchinvestigation services. In no time we’ll uncover collectible and hidden assets nationwide to determine the net worth of an individual or business that owes you money. Be prepared walking into court knowing what assets are available for seizure. Make sure you can realistically recover what is owed so you are properly prepared to take legal action. We can locate the following Assets on individuals and businesses:

·Bank Accounts

·Real Estate

·Vehicles

·Aircraft

·Watercraft

·Brokerage Accounts

·Liens, Judgments and Bankruptcies

·UCC filings

To request an asset search, complete the Asset Search Request Form and fax or email to us.

For more information about our services, contact us at 636-346-9273 or email info@arastl.com