DolceraWiki - User contributions [en]

About Virtual Office

2008-02-18T12:57:06Z

Issac2020:

The [http://www.offistart.com virtual office]: saves you time: saves you money: gives you freedom the virtual office is the ideal, instant, flexible and cost effective solution for the SME business community worldwide, - an ever increasingly important portion of the Web.

your secure space on the web for integrated scheduling, business communication, collaboration, information management.

•Quick start-up, simple intuitive navigation, instant access, bolt-tight security.
•Affordable - hosted service targeted at the SME business .
•Robust functionality - built-in technology to update software .
•Integrated applications – easy deployment of further applications.
•24/7 access from anywhere in the world.

Two out of three new businesses being started today are based in the owner’s home. They grow, and reach impasse – spending so much time on administrative tasks that they can no longer concentrate on growing their business… enter the VA. • with own fully equipped office space using advanced technological applications.
•constantly updated personal and professional skills.
•commitment to excellence and confidentiality .you escape the expense and commitment of having to manage office staff
•Pay on an hour to hour basis as needed.
•Administrative/executive/personal/research/creative/technical assistance.
•When and where you need it.
•Distance irrelevant in selecting the right person for the job
Perhaps you need:
•a professional representation?
•a fast, effective way to break into a new international market?
•a quick easy fix to a short-term sales-marketing campaign?
•a regional or national address?

You escape the expense and commitment of having to run an office..

•[http://www.offistart.com/Rent-Offices/ Rent Offices] [http://www.offistart.com/Temporary-Offices/ Temporary Offices]
•seize opportunities as they arise.
•when and where you find them.
*[http://www.offistart.com/Office-Space/ Office Space]/Conference Room/Meeting Space.
•taking advantage of prime sites anywhere in the world.
your virtual assistant -self-employed, highly skilled and experienced professionals provide remote support, often in a long-term collaborative partnership.

Working with a VA ([http://www.offistart.com/Virtual-Assistant/ Virtual Assistant])
•an independent or contract worker - no employment issues
•works from his/her own office - no need for extra equipment or office space.
•available on a project-by-project basis, short-term or long term
•bills for the time that has been spent on your project - no pay for idle time
•provides many services - no need to hire one staff for one project
already proficient - therefore no money spent on training

About Finance

2007-09-20T01:16:29Z

Issac2020:

'''Finance''' is a field that studies and addresses the ways in which individuals, [http://www.ofcpa.com businesses], and organizations raise, allocate, and use monetary resources over time, taking into account the risks entailed in their projects. The term [http://www.ofcpa.com finance] may thus incorporate any of the following:
* The study of money and other assets;

* The management and control of those assets;

* Profiling and managing project risks;

* The science of managing money;

* As a verb, "to finance" is to provide funds for business or for an individual's large purchases (car, home, etc.).
The activity of finance is the application of a set of techniques that individuals and organizations (entities) use to manage their financial affairs, particularly the differences between income and expenditure and the risks of their investments.<P>

An entity whose income exceeds its expenditure can lend or invest the excess income. On the other hand, an entity whose income is less than its expenditure can raise capital by borrowing or selling equity claims, decreasing its expenses, or increasing its income. The lender can find a borrower, a financial intermediary, such as a bank or buy notes or bonds in the bond market. The lender receives interest, the borrower pays a higher interest than the lender receives, and the financial intermediary pockets the difference.

A bank aggregates the activities of many borrowers and lenders. A bank accepts deposits from lenders, on which it pays the interest. The bank then lends these deposits to borrowers. Banks allow borrowers and lenders, of different sizes, to coordinate their activity. Banks are thus compensators of money flows in space.

A specific example of corporate finance is the sale of stock by a company to institutional investors like investment banks, who in turn generally sell it to the public. The stock gives whoever owns it part ownership in that company. If you buy one share of XYZ Inc, and they have 100 shares outstanding (held by investors), you are 1/100 owner of that company. Of course, in return for the stock, the company receives cash, which it uses to expand its business in a process called "equity financing". Equity financing mixed with the sale of bonds (or any other debt financing) is called the company's capital structure.

Finance is used by individuals (personal finance), by governments (public finance), by businesses (corporate finance), etc., as well as by a wide variety of organizations including schools and non-profit organizations. In general, the goals of each of the above activities are achieved through the use of appropriate financial instruments, with consideration to their institutional setting.

Finance is one of the most important aspects of business management. Without proper financial planning a new enterprise is unlikely to be successful. Managing money (a liquid asset) is essential to ensure a secure future, both for the individual and an organization.

==Personal finance== Questions in [http://www.ofcpa.com/Personal-Finance/ personal finance] revolve around
* How much money will be needed by an individual (or by a family) at various points in the future?

* Where will this money come from (e.g. savings or borrowing)?

* How can people protect themselves against unforeseen events in their lives, and risk in financial markets?

* How can family assets be best transferred across generations (bequests and inheritance)?

* How do taxes (tax subsidies or penalties) affect personal financial decisions?
Personal financial decisions may involve paying for education, financing durable goods such as [http://www.ofcpa.com/Renting-Real-Estate/ real estate] and cars, buying [http://www.ofcpa.com/Insurance/ insurance], e.g. health and property insurance, [http://www.ofcpa.com/Investing/ investing] and saving for retirement.<P>

Personal financial decisions may also involve paying for a loan.

==Business finance== In the case of a company, managerial finance or [http://www.ofcpa.com/Corporations/ corporate finance] is the task of providing the funds for the corporations' activities. For [http://www.ofcpa.com/Small-Business/ small business], this is referred to as [http://www.ofcpa.com/Small-Business/ SME finance]. It generally involves balancing risk and profitability. Long term funds would be provided by ownership equity and long-term [http://www.ofcpa.com/Credit/ credit], often in the form of bonds. These decisions lead to the company's capital structure. Short term funding or working capital is mostly provided by banks extending a line of credit.

On the bond market, borrowers package their debt in the form of bonds. The borrower receives the money it borrows by selling the bond, which includes a promise to repay the value of the bond with interest. The purchaser of a bond can resell the bond, so the actual recipient of interest payments can change over time. Bonds allow lenders to recoup the value of their loan by simply selling the bond.

Another business decision concerning finance is [http://www.ofcpa.com/Investing/ investment], or fund management. An investment is an acquisition of an asset in the hopes that it will maintain or increase its value. In Investment management- in choosing a portfolio - one has to decide ''what'', ''how much'' and ''when'' to invest. In doing so, one needs to
* Identify relevant objectives and constraints: institution or individual - goals - time horizon - risk aversion - [http://www.ofcpa.com/Tax/ tax] considerations

* Identify the appropriate strategy: active vs passive - hedging strategy

* Measure the portfolio performance
'''Financial management''' is duplicate with the financial function of the Accounting profession. However, Financial Accounting is more concerned with the reporting of historical financial information, while the financial decision is directed toward the future of the firm.

==Shared Services== There is currently a move towards converging and consolidating Finance provisions into shared services within an organization. Rather than an organization having a number of separate Finance departments performing the same tasks from different locations a more centralized version can be created.

==Finance of states== Country, state, county, city or municipality finance is called public finance. It is concerned with
* Identification of required expenditure of a public sector entity

* Source(s) of that entity's revenue

* The budgeting process

* Debt issuance (municipal bonds) for public works projects
==Financial economics==

Financial economics is the branch of economics studying the interrelation of financial variables, such as prices, interest rates and shares, as opposed to those concerning the real economy. Financial economics concentrates on influences of real]] economic variables on financial ones, in contrast to pure finance.

It studies:
* Valuation - Determination of the fair value of an asset

* *How risky is the asset? (identification of the asset appropriate discount rate)

* *What cash flows will it produce? (discounting of relevant cash flows)

* *How does the market price compare to similar assets? (relative valuation)

* *Are the cash flows dependent on some other asset or event? (derivatives, contingent claim valuation)

* Financial markets and instruments

* *Commodities - topics

* *Stocks - topics

* *Bonds - topics

* *Money market instruments- topics

* *Derivatives - topics

* Financial institutions and banking and regulation

About Financial services

2007-09-14T05:58:33Z

Issac2020:

'''Financial services''' is a term used to refer to the services provided by the finance industry. [http://www.normalforce.com/financial-services/ Financial services] is also the term used to describe organizations that deal with the management of money and includes [http://www.normalforce.com/bank-loan/ merchant banks], [http://www.normalforce.com/credit-card-online/ credit card] companies, consumer finance companies, government sponsored enterprises, and stock broker ages. Financial services is the largest industry (or industry category) in the world, in terms of earnings; as of 2004, the industry represents 20% of the market capitalization of the S&P 500.

== History of financial services ==
===United States: Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act=== The term ''financial services'' became more prevalent in the [http://www.normalforce.com/bank-of-american/ United States] partly as a result of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of the late 1980s, which enabled different types of companies in the US financial services industry to merge. Critics of this act say the term ''financial services'' attempts to make the unison of these operations sound natural, ignoring the history of problems that have arisen from combining them, such as conflicts of interest and Monopoly|monopolization. Others, noting that many of the restrictions abolished by the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act had never existed in other countries or had been abolished earlier than in the U
S, say the term ''financial services'' is a natural one, in long term use, which means nothing more than its constituent words.

In the USA almost every company now which previously described themselves as a bank, [http://www.normalforce.com/insurance-companies/ insurance company], or brokerage house, now describes themselves in some way as a financial services institution. [http://www.normalforce.com/state-insurance/ Allstate Insurance], for example, now provides certificates of deposit|CDs and investment brokerage services. [http://www.normalforce.com/bank-of-american/ Bank of America] offers full-featured brokerage products, while E* TRADE has expanded into offering [http://www.normalforce.com/bank-account/ bank account]s and [http://www.normalforce.com/cash-loans/ loan]s. Companies usually have two distinct approaches to this new type of business. One approach would be a bank which simply buys an insurance company or an investment bank, keeps the original brands of the acquired firm, and adds the acquisition to its holding company simply to diversify its earnings. Outside the U.S., e.g., in Japan, non-financial services companies are permitted within the holding company. In this scenario, each company still looks independent, and has its own customers, etc. This is essentially the style of Citigroup and
JP Morgan Chase.

In the other style, a bank would simply create its own brokerage division or insurance division and attempt to sell those products to its own existing customers, with incentives for combining all things with one company. This is the style of Washington Mutual and Wells Fargo.

==Banking Services: ''What do banks do?''== The primary operations of banks include:
* Keeping money safe while also allowing withdrawals when needed

* Issuance of [http://www.normalforce.com/bank-checks/ checkbooks] so that bills can be paid and other kinds of payments can be delivered by post

* Provision of loans and [http://www.normalforce.com/mortgage-loan/ mortgage loan]s (typically loans to purchase a home, property or business)

* Issuance of credit cards

* Allow financial transactions at branches or by using Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs)

* Facilitation of standing orders and direct [http://www.normalforce.com/credit-debt/ debt]s, so payments for bills can be made automatically

* Provide overdraft agreements for the temporary advancement of the Bank's own money to meet monthly spending commitments of a customer in their current [http://www.normalforce.com/bank-account/ account].

* Provide Charge card advances of the Bank's own money for customers wishing to settle credit advances monthly.

* Provide cheques guaranteed by the Bank itself prepaid by the customer which are the recognised as valid by other Banks;sometimes called [http://www.normalforce.com/bank-checks/ travellers cheques].
===Virtual banking=== Banking from home is called ''[http://www.normalforce.com/online-banking/ virtual banking]'', because it allows transactions that bypass branches and ATMs; in the case of [http://www.normalforce.com/online-banking/ Internet banking], there is no need to contact a bank staff member. Virtual banking has changed the way people bank in many ways. In the past, people opened a bank account when they first started work and stayed with that bank for their whole lives; now, it is much easier to move an account, mortgage or loan from one banking institution to another. Many customers look at what other banks are offering and [http://www.normalforce.com/bank-account/ change their account] if they find a better deal, so banks now have fewer loyal customers. It is common for credit card companies to entice new customers with offers such as zero per cent interest for the first six months.

==Commercial bank== A ''commercial bank'' is what is commonly considered a 'bank'. The term 'Commerce|commercial' is used to distinguish it from an 'investment bank', a type of financial services entity which, instead of lending money directly to a business, helps businesses raise money from other firms in the form of Bond (finance)|bonds (debt) or stock (equity).

About Cycling

2007-09-12T04:53:35Z

Issac2020:

'''Cycling''' is a means of [http://www.vulturesknob.com/Road-Bike/ transport], a form of [http://www.vulturesknob.com/Bmx-Bike/ recreation], and a [http://www.vulturesknob.com/sport-Bike/ sport]. The bicycle carries riders across land, through tunnels, over bridges, or, much less frequently, over ice. [http://www.vulturesknob.com/cycling/ Cycling] involves the riding of [http://www.vulturesknob.com/ bicycles], unicycles, tricycles, [http://www.vulturesknob.com/Quad-Bike/ quadricycle] and other similar human powered vehicles (HPVs).

==Introduction== As a sport, [http://www.vulturesknob.com/cycling/ cycling] is governed internationally by the Union Cycliste Internationale in Switzerland (for upright bicycles) and by the International Human Powered Vehicle Association (for other HPVs, or human-powered vehicles). Cycling for transport and touring is promoted on a European level by the European Cyclists' Federation, with associated members from the USA, Japan and elsewhere. Regular conferences on cycling for transport are held under the auspices of Velo City, whereas global conferences are coordinated by Velo Mondial.

===What to get=== World-wide, the vehicle most commonly used for transportation is a [http://www.vulturesknob.com/ utility bicycle]. These have frames with so-called relaxed geometry, placing the rider further behind the [http://www.vulturesknob.com/Bike-Pedals/ pedals] and with a greater [http://www.vulturesknob.com/Bike-helmet/ helmet] or angle in the front forks. Both these factors reduce shocks from the road surface and make the [http://www.vulturesknob.com/ bicycle] easier to steer at low speeds.

The most popular types of bicycle in the western world, where cycling for recreation is more common, are [http://www.vulturesknob.com/Mountain-Bike/ mountain bike]s and [http://www.vulturesknob.com/road-Bike/ road bike]. The latter tend to have a more upright shape and a shorter wheelbase, which make the bike more mobile but harder to ride slowly. The design, when coupled with low or dropped handlebars, requires the rider to bend forward more, which reduces air resistance as speeds increase.

The price of a new bicycle in the USA can range from US$50 (on sale) to more than US$23,000 from [http://www.vulturesknob.com/Bicycle-Shop/ Bicycle Shop], depending primarily on the quality, type and weight (the most exotic road bicycles can weigh as little as 3.55kg (7.8lb)). Being measured for a bike and taking it for a test ride are recommended before buying.

The drivetrain components of the bike should also be considered. A middle grade dérailleur is most likely sufficient for a beginner, although many utility bikes come equipped with hub gears. If the rider plans a significant amount of hill climbing, a triple-crank (three chainrings) front gear system may be preferred. Otherwise, the relatively [http://www.vulturesknob.com/Bike-Lights/ lighter] and less expensive double-crank (two chainrings) system may be a better selection. Many [http://www.vulturesknob.com/road-bike/ road bikes] include [http://www.vulturesknob.com/Bike-pedals/ clipless pedals] to which special shoes attach via a cleat mechanism, permitting the rider to pull on the pedals as well as pushing them.

A variety of accessories may be purchased for the bicycle and the cyclist. These include [http://www.vulturesknob.com/Bike-Lock/ bike lock], mudguards/fenders, luggage racks and pannier bags, water bottles and bottle cages. For basic maintenance and repairs, cyclists can choose to carry a bicycle pump, a spare inner tube, a puncture repair kit and tyre levers. Cycling can be more efficient and comfortable with special cycling shoes, cycling gloves, and cycling shorts or pantleg clips. Riding in wet weather can be more tolerable with waterproof clothes, such as cape, jacket, trousers and overshoes. Items legally required in some jurisdictions, or voluntarily adopted for safety reasons, include [http://www.vulturesknob.com/Bike-helmet/ bike helmet], generator or battery operated [http://www.vulturesknob.com/Bike-lights/ bicycle lighting], and audible signaling devices such as a bell or horn. Extras include studded tires and a cyclocomputer.

==Types of cycling== ===City=== Cyclists and motorists make different demands on road design which may lead to conflicts both in politics and on the streets. Some jurisdictions give priority to motorised traffic, for example setting up extensive one-way street systems, free-right turns, high capacity roundabouts, and slip roads. Other cities may apply active traffic restraint measures to limit the impact of motorised transport. In the former cases, cycling has tended to decline while in the latter it has tended to be maintained. Occasionally, extreme measures against cycling may occur.

In areas in which cycling is popular and encouraged, cycle-parking facilities using bicycle racks, lockable ''mini-garages'', and patrolled cycle parks are used to reduce theft. Local governments also promote cycling by permitting the carriage of bicycles on public transport or by providing external attachment devices on public transport vehicles. Conversely, an absence of secure cycle-parking is a recurring complaint by cyclists from cities with low modal share of cycling.

===Commercial=== The postal services of many countries have long relied on bicycles. The British Royal Mail first started using bicycles in 1880; now bicycle delivery fleets include 37,000 in the UK, 25,700 in Germany, 10,500 in Hungary and 7000 in Sweden. The London Ambulance Service has recently introduced bicycling paramedics, who can often get to the scene of an incident in Central London more quickly than a motorised ambulance.

Police officers adopted the bicycle as well, initially using their own. However, they eventually became a standard issue, particularly for police in rural areas. The Kent police purchased 20 bicycles in 1896, and by 1904 there were 129 police bicycle patrols operating. Some countries retained the police bicycle while others dispensed with them for a time. Bicycle patrols are now enjoying a resurgence in many cities, as the mobility of car-borne officers is becoming increasingly limited by traffic congestion and pedestrianisation. They also have the advantages that the officers are inherently more open to the public, and the transport is quieter to permit a more stealthy approach toward suspects. The pursuit of suspects can also be assisted by a bicycle.

===Recreational=== Bicycles are used for recreation at all ages. [http://www.vulturesknob.com/Bike-tours/ Bicycle touring], also known as cyclotourism, involves touring and exploration or sightseeing by bicycle for leisure. A brevet or randonnée is an organized long-distance ride.

One popular Dutch pleasure is the enjoyment of relaxed cycling in the countryside of the Netherlands. The land is very flat and full of public [http://www.vulturesknob.com/trail-map/ bicycle trails] where cyclists aren't bothered by cars and other traffic, which makes it ideal for cycling recreation. Many Dutch people subscribe every year to an event called ''fietsvierdaagse'' — four days of organised cycling through the local environment. Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP), which began in 1891, is the oldest bicycling event still run on a regular basis on the open road, covers over 1200 km and imposes a 90-hour time limit. Similar if smaller institutions exist in many countries.

====Organized rides==== Many cycling clubs hold organized rides in which bicyclists of all levels participate. The typical organized ride starts with a large group of riders, called the mass, bunch or even peloton. This will thin out over the course of the ride. Many riders choose to ride together in groups of the same skill level to take advantage of drafting.

Most organized rides, for example Cyclosportives, Challenge Rides or reliability trials, include registration requirements and will provide information either through the mail or online concerning start times and other requirements. Rides usually consist of 25, 50 and 100 mile routes, each with a certain number of rest stops that usually include refreshments, first aid and maintenance tools.

====Mountain==== [http://www.vulturesknob.com/mountain-bike/ Mountain biking] grew in the late 20th century, including recreation and racing.

===Racing=== Shortly after the introduction of bicycles, competitions developed independently in many parts of the world. Early races involving boneshaker style bicycles were predictably fraught with injuries. Large races became popular during the 1890s "Golden Age of Cycling", with events across Europe, and in the U.S. and Japan as well. At one point, almost every major city in the US had a velodrome or two for [http://www.vulturesknob.com/Bike-Race/ track racing] events. However since the middle of the 20th Century cycling has become a minority sport in the US whilst in Continental Europe it continues to be a major sport, particularly in France, Belgium and Italy. The most famous of all bicycle races is the Tour de France. This began in 1903, and continues to capture the attention of the sporting world.

About Personal finance

2007-09-07T06:56:10Z

Issac2020:

'''Personal finance''' is the application of the principles of [http://www.normalforce.com finance] to the monetary decisions of an individual or family unit. It addresses the ways in which individuals or families obtain, budget, save and spend monetary resources over time, taking into account various financial risks and future life events. Components of personal finance might include [http://www.normalforce.com/bank-checks/ checking] and [http://www.normalforce.com/bank-account/ savings account]s, [http://www.normalforce.com/best-credit-card/ credit card]s and consumer [http://www.normalforce.com/cash-loans/ loans], investments in the stock market, retirement plans, social security benefits, [http://www.normalforce.com/accident-insurance/ insurance] policies, and [http://www.normalforce.com/income-tax/ income tax] management.

==Personal financial planning== A key component of personal finance is financial planning, a dynamic process that requires regular monitoring and reevaluation. In general, it has five steps: # '''Assessment''': One's [http://www.normalforce.com/financial-services/ personal financial] situation can be assessed by compiling simplified versions of financial balance sheets and income statements. A personal balance sheet lists the values of personal assets (e.g., [http://www.normalforce.com/car-insurance/ car], [http://www.normalforce.com/house-insurance/ house], clothes, stocks, [http://www.normalforce.com/bank-account/ bank account]), along with personal liabilities (e.g., [http://www.normalforce.com/credit-card/ credit card debt], [http:/www.normalforce.com/personal-loan/ bank loan], [http:/www.normalforce.com/mortagage-loan/ mortgage]). A personal cash flow statement lists personal income and expenses. # '''Setting goals''': Two examples are "retire at age 65 with a personal net worth of $200,000 American" and "buy a house in 3 years paying a monthly mortgage servicing cost that is no more than 25% of my gross income". It is not uncommon to have several goals, some short term and some long term. Setting financial goals helps direct financial planning. # '''Creating a plan''': The financial plan details how to accomplish your goals. It could include, for example, reducing unnecessary expenses, increasing one's [http://www.normalforce.com/employment insurance/ employment income], or investing in the stock market. # '''Execution''': Execution of one's personal financial plan often requires discipline and perseverance. Many people obtain assistance from professionals such as accountants, financial planners, investment advisors, and lawyers. # '''Monitoring and reassessment''': As time passes, one's personal financial plan must be monitored for possible adjustments or reassessments.

Typical goals most adults have are paying off credit card and or [http://www.normalforce.com/student-loan/ student loan] debt, retirement, [http://www.normalforce.com/college-loan/ college] costs for children, [http://www.normalforce.com/medical-insurance/ medical] expenses, and estate planning.