Good businesses are proactive, not reactive. They stay up with current trends and strive to be first to market with their own innovative concepts or technologies. While you may not associate big box stores with innovation (after all, they’re supposed to be carrying and selling the products you’re pining for), retail wars are nothing new. … Continue reading “Look Out Walmart and Amazon — Target Has Entered the Delivery Market”

Planning on getting away for a vacation this summer? If so, it might be a good time to cash in any frequent flier miles you’ve been stockpiling. Or rent a car and drive instead of flying. We say this because airlines are warning consumers that prices to fly are likely to escalate this summer. Why? … Continue reading “Airline Tickets are Going Up — Here’s Why”

Student loan debt in America — it’s become a punchline. As of 2017, the average student loan debt for graduates was $39,400. This number has been growing. Student loan debt recently hit $1.5 trillion total, with women holding $860 billion of the debt. And though lowering college tuition may help with reducing future student loan … Continue reading “Student Loan Debt Hits $1.5 Trillion — What Does This Mean?”

Entrepreneurs interested in beginning their first business may want to consider the advantages of a franchise. Franchises give business owners access to tried-and-true business models, experience, and training. In America alone, there are thousands of franchises available — from boutique businesses with a handful of franchised locations to large, global chains. Every year, Entrepreneur creates … Continue reading “The Best Franchises to Buy in America in 2018”

Why not maximize what you get in return when it comes to all of the purchases that you make? If that’s your line of thinking, then you should definitely rethink what credit cards you’re carrying in your wallet. Whether you’re a frequent traveler or just want to earn cash back rewards (or other types of … Continue reading “These are the Best Credit Card Rewards Programs”

In most cases, working from home is a win-win both for the employer and employee. Employees typically love it because it means no commute into the office, no dress code, a greater sense of empowerment and, in many cases, greater productivity. For many, this all leads to happier overall employees, and studies indicate that the … Continue reading “Working From Home? It Could Cost You”

Microsoft recently passed Google in valuation and the company’s stock price has never been higher. At $760 billion, Microsoft’s market cap now surpasses Google’s $745 billion, and falls behind Amazon by a mere $30 billion. Just this year alone, Microsoft has seen its value increase by 15%, in no small part due to its cloud … Continue reading “Microsoft’s Ascent: How Microsoft Passed Google in Valuation”

A global stock market selloff may be sparking a new crisis throughout Europe, fueled by concerns regarding the stability of Italy’s government. On May 29th, the DJIA dropped 400 points, shares in Asia dropped sharply, and the Euro fell to a ten month low against USD. Though there was some recovery, the future remains uncertain. … Continue reading “The Future of Italy and How It Impacts the Global Market”

If you currently work at a job where you receive a pension plan among your other benefits, consider yourself very lucky. It’s currently estimated that only about 10 percent of Americans have pensions. Considering that this number was close to 40 percent about 25 years ago, this is significant, as many employers have cut pensions … Continue reading “Is An Annuity Right for Your Retirement Plan?”

We probably don’t need to tell you how hot Netflix is these days. No, chances are you already know that based on your long-running subscription to the streaming juggernaut and your love of hit Netflix originals like “Stranger Things,” “13 Reasons Why,” “Making a Murderer” and more. Yes, with thousands of hours of original content … Continue reading “Netflix Continues its Market Surge — What’s Next?”

Founded in 2006, GreenSky is an online consumer lending platform specialized in home renovations and medical bills. The company recently held its IPO, through which it was able to raise over $800 million. Since then, GreenSky’s shares have stalled out — however, the lending “unicorn” may have some interesting implications for the future of banking. … Continue reading “GreenSky, Online Lending Platform, Raises $800 Million in IPO”

In the past, the Trump administration has spoken out in favor of the automobile industry and strengthening the general North American automobile market. Consequently, it’s come as a surprise that they are currently considering moves that could lead to heavy auto tariffs, potentially impacting quite a few companies. Many of the trade deals recently adjusted … Continue reading “What Auto Tariffs Are Doing to America”

Teladoc (NYSE: TDOC) has emerged as a stock with spectacular long-term potential, and it’s easy to see why. It is no secret healthcare in the United States is becoming more expensive. The current healthcare model will eventually be upended, or at least dramatically altered. It is not a question of if but when such changes … Continue reading “Does Teladoc Belong in Your Portfolio?”

If you are following Facebook (NASDAQ: FB), you are likely wondering if the bad news will keep on coming, or if the storm has passed. Even if more information about data breaches and other violations of privacy are revealed in the days to come, no one will be surprised. The question is whether the bad … Continue reading “Facebook Post-Data Crisis: Buy or Sell?”

Warren Buffet said what about bitcoin? There were how many people at the annual CoinDesk Consensus cryptocurrency conference? And young Americans love bitcoin because…? Yes, despite some ups and downs in 2018, Bitcoin is still a hot investing option with significant returns – and news about cryptos like it is moving so fast that it … Continue reading “Don’t Expect Cryptocurrency to Go Away Any Time Soon”

Seattle recently passed a controversial “Amazon tax,” targeted towards reducing the homelessness that has become an epidemic across the city. This has been one of multiple new tax initiatives taken against Amazon and global e-tailers, and may have some consequences for the company, its stock, and its profitability. The issue itself is a complex one, … Continue reading “Does Amazon Really Need to Pay More Taxes?”

In 2017, Sears announced the closure of 400 stores — and no one was taken by surprise. A company with hundreds of years of history, Sears has been unable to adapt to modern times, often struggling to find its place within the new markets. While some analysts blame a slow e-commerce adoption for the company’s … Continue reading “Sears Continues to Struggle: What’s Going On With the Aging Retail Giant?”