Second Spearker was Penny Power founder of Ecademy.com:
Penny Power is the founder of Ecademy, website for Business networking and social networking. She left the corporate world in 1993, then she stared training and recruitment within Schools from 1993 to 1998 and she had two children. In 1998, she started a new venture; Ecademy website. Penny Power and her family lived through very difficult moments because she took risks and doing that has consequences, they lost all their money and they had to live in a caravan for a while. But now, Ecademy has become an international successful website through which they earn money; thanks to connecting people globally, advertising and selling information. They enjoy life by travelling with their children all around the world, according to Penny you shouldn’t separate family from work.
To create Ecademy, Penny Power needed 5 years to develop her website whilst working freelance, teaching and having children. It was difficult to have children and to maintain her previous lifestyle. Financially it was a hard choice – but worth it.
She explains that it’s not easy to make her family understand about running her business and to take risks. Also it takes lot of time at the beginning and we can’t take care and spend as much time with their family as you would like.
The World has changed, The Old World was closed, selective and targeted instead of the New World is opened us. One of the changes is thanks to Barack Obama’a election. There is an openess and transparency that did not exist before. Even if lots of things change, including technology, our needs are the same. At this point, we have to refer to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs:
- Physiological needs
- need of security
- need of belonging
- need of respect for yourself
- need of accomplishement of yourself
Starting a business is really difficult but you can be successful. There are two different ways to be a new entrepreneur, you can work at home or at the office. The home-worker should be adaptable for their clients, own values and contribution to success and he has to create a personal branding. Whereas a new entrepreneur should understand the world and its generations, so it’s better for him to collaborate on some projects with competitors instead of making ennemies.
For every entrepreneur, you’ll create an online brand in three steps:
- sharing knowledge with strangers and bringing it into the open
- sharing specific knowledge and making new friends
- creating opportunities with advocates
To conclude, I think the most important thing I learnt during this seminar is that you can be successful even if it’s difficult. It’s necessary to live through hard moments, be aware of the pitfalls and you should take risks, because it could be a real chance for your business to succeed. Penny Power, went from living in a caravan to living the millionaire lifestyle through all those good and bad choices as well as the risks: so go for it!
Showing posts with label franck robert. Show all posts
Showing posts with label franck robert. Show all posts
Tuesday, 21 July 2009
Friday, 17 July 2009
Women’s Masterclass: Your Work/Life Balance
First Speaker was Hannah McNamara:
At the time of Business Link on Thursday, 16th July, Hannah McNamara talked us about work/life balance for women who have their own business. Main reasons to open a business are to earn more money, to spend more time with family, to not have a boss...
According to them, you spend happy days when you work for yourself.
The differences between business and job is: your full time job will be Monday to Friday and will be normally over after your normal hours and business will take lot of time to start up, develop and generate money and it will not allow time off because you have to take care of delivering, administration and dealing with other businesses by yourself.
Furthermore, your company’s image is very important, you should network during events, but while you while you’re doing this you are not taking care of your work priorities and that’s also a big problem when you’re in a meeting, sick or in holidays.
As far as sales and marketing concern, you have to focus on people who want to buy your products/services and after you should continue building a relationship with them, they will feel important and it will be a crucial point for your business. You will need a website, it’s also necessary to save your database, to encourage contracts (clients/affiliates/employee/freelance) and to know how to use your software. The most important thing is to be legal as far as terms and conditions concern, with contract for each employees and a relevant insurance.
Then we did a workshop by group of five people, we determined some activities which can be out-sourced, we concluded there were accountancy, marketing, e-mail responses, website managing, graphic design, etc... It’s necessary to delegate some parts of your business because other people will have skills you don’t have and they can also become a partner in your business. They can also cover your business while you’re in meeting, you have big contract, during your holidays by using freelance. Finally, when you decide to out-source you must create a contract with non-disclosure agreement and without a conflict of interest (you should’nt work in the same field). You should use these steps to delegate i.e: because you will use during the year freelance few time and you don’t want to duplicate your work, you should write a detailed brief (on phone or face to face) and reccord a training video.
Some people who have a business, decides to work at home to take care of their children at the same time, often they are called Virtual Office and they use Virtual Office themselves but an important things to do is not to give home address and also you should separate home and business work and calls with a time line for you and for them. During the day you can commit a PA to manage to recall your contacts, to respond to your e-mails. With a Virtual Office you can rent a meeting room.
Business networking is a marketing method where business opportunities are created through social network. According to Hannah McNamara, networking is the best way to meet people who are interesting by your business and who want to buy from you. It’s an activity which takes lot of time but it’s interesting because you go to some events and sometime it’s a real opportunity. Networking can work for you because it creates opportunities to talk about your company at an event. They are mainly used to meet new contacts and you should be prepared your pitch and to questions we can ask you.
To reach this goal, it’s necessary to be curious and polite, to talk and to include everybody. But you don’t have to be egocentric and sell too much. Some advices if you go to an event where you don’t know anyone, you can forget your main goal, ask to someone to introduce you in a group or to talk to somebody who look lost.
Finally, when you met a personn who is interested by your business, you dropped them an e-mail and/or called them after few days (in the first send out e-mail you should let them know you will be calling in few days) to arrange a meeting. To sign the contract with them, you should ask them questions, to help them first and to learn about they’re need.
My Comment:
I think it was an exciting seminar because she gave us advices about networking and how to open a business. She was really dynamic and funny and her exercises allow us to meet some people and to calm our anxienty.
Justine Bataille
At the time of Business Link on Thursday, 16th July, Hannah McNamara talked us about work/life balance for women who have their own business. Main reasons to open a business are to earn more money, to spend more time with family, to not have a boss...
According to them, you spend happy days when you work for yourself.
The differences between business and job is: your full time job will be Monday to Friday and will be normally over after your normal hours and business will take lot of time to start up, develop and generate money and it will not allow time off because you have to take care of delivering, administration and dealing with other businesses by yourself.
Furthermore, your company’s image is very important, you should network during events, but while you while you’re doing this you are not taking care of your work priorities and that’s also a big problem when you’re in a meeting, sick or in holidays.
As far as sales and marketing concern, you have to focus on people who want to buy your products/services and after you should continue building a relationship with them, they will feel important and it will be a crucial point for your business. You will need a website, it’s also necessary to save your database, to encourage contracts (clients/affiliates/employee/freelance) and to know how to use your software. The most important thing is to be legal as far as terms and conditions concern, with contract for each employees and a relevant insurance.
Then we did a workshop by group of five people, we determined some activities which can be out-sourced, we concluded there were accountancy, marketing, e-mail responses, website managing, graphic design, etc... It’s necessary to delegate some parts of your business because other people will have skills you don’t have and they can also become a partner in your business. They can also cover your business while you’re in meeting, you have big contract, during your holidays by using freelance. Finally, when you decide to out-source you must create a contract with non-disclosure agreement and without a conflict of interest (you should’nt work in the same field). You should use these steps to delegate i.e: because you will use during the year freelance few time and you don’t want to duplicate your work, you should write a detailed brief (on phone or face to face) and reccord a training video.
Some people who have a business, decides to work at home to take care of their children at the same time, often they are called Virtual Office and they use Virtual Office themselves but an important things to do is not to give home address and also you should separate home and business work and calls with a time line for you and for them. During the day you can commit a PA to manage to recall your contacts, to respond to your e-mails. With a Virtual Office you can rent a meeting room.
Business networking is a marketing method where business opportunities are created through social network. According to Hannah McNamara, networking is the best way to meet people who are interesting by your business and who want to buy from you. It’s an activity which takes lot of time but it’s interesting because you go to some events and sometime it’s a real opportunity. Networking can work for you because it creates opportunities to talk about your company at an event. They are mainly used to meet new contacts and you should be prepared your pitch and to questions we can ask you.
To reach this goal, it’s necessary to be curious and polite, to talk and to include everybody. But you don’t have to be egocentric and sell too much. Some advices if you go to an event where you don’t know anyone, you can forget your main goal, ask to someone to introduce you in a group or to talk to somebody who look lost.
Finally, when you met a personn who is interested by your business, you dropped them an e-mail and/or called them after few days (in the first send out e-mail you should let them know you will be calling in few days) to arrange a meeting. To sign the contract with them, you should ask them questions, to help them first and to learn about they’re need.
My Comment:
I think it was an exciting seminar because she gave us advices about networking and how to open a business. She was really dynamic and funny and her exercises allow us to meet some people and to calm our anxienty.
Justine Bataille
Sunday, 12 July 2009
Validation!
I was on Twitter earlier today and came accross a great video from YourBigBook (follow her on Twitter)
Great content! I watched the video she recommended and wanted to pass it on!
I am training the next four days so will not have access to my blog : ( but will write real soon
Enjoy…some inspiration from an up and coming film maker!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbk980jV7Ao
Great content! I watched the video she recommended and wanted to pass it on!
I am training the next four days so will not have access to my blog : ( but will write real soon
Enjoy…some inspiration from an up and coming film maker!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbk980jV7Ao
Saturday, 11 July 2009
My Last note on Twitter for Business
Twitter is about creating relationship…
Look at Alexa.com it is good for traffic ranking (you can see how twitter was before and his today) so do the same for your site, blogs, etc…
Use Twitter Deck: is easier to use and manage.
Use Tr.im: for making shorter links and hiding affiliate link and it’s good for tracking the traffics (it makes your long URL a short one).
>Use Tweet Later: is like an auto responder – it will tweet people right back but be cool on it because people could get scare. Set up Auto Replied: go to my Twitter account, then its easy to fellow the step automatically.
Use Twollo.com: to help you finding targeted people via conversation subject / interests (like google keyword) – but go slowly as lots of people will tweet right back to you. You can use it too get more follower on you Twitter: (auto fellow up) via keyword like: work from home, Magnetic Sponsorship, MLM, Network Marketing, Home Business, etc…
>Use Ping.fm: to update your social network via tweeter to everywhere i.e.: facebook, Myspace, etc…
Use MyTwitterToolbar.com: it’s from the guy from “The Secrets” its very good for twitter tips & twitter tools and all for free.
Go to http://twitter.com/curtsecret to gets the best tips & video from the guru (create an account on Twitter to just fellow gurus – no friends and family) i.e.: http://twitter.com/francksecret PS: it’s good to schedule time like 15mns to get Gurus (fellow the list of gurus) then 15mns replying via your personnel twitter account. It can be time consuming so make it effective.
Note:
You need to create a relationship and the way to do it is by following your follower and its easier with Twitter Deck so you can reply directly, interact, etc…
Note:
You can Change your twitter background, go to setting, and then designed, change background image.
PS: You can also add flash widget to your blog and Social Network it’s useful too.
Try on Twitter:
By (Jesse Newhart on Twitter)
Example: Get Twitt by stranger like mad:
Go to: JesseNewart he talk about Mayhemstudios
How to help people:
by re-twitt other twitter friends (if they good article)
Reply to people,
Participate,
Answer question (if you know the answer)
See: barefoot_exec she twitt people and add other people twitt a lots
Click Search Technique, and then enter a search
i.e.: Iphone a result will be show; press control and scroll on your mousse field (to get all avatar field minimise on the same page) then click control and click avatar that will open all their profile avatar in different tabs, skip the no pictures on avatar as they normally like to stay anonymous so they probably will not come back to you anyway,
Select the one you like i.e.: look if they speak English, ratio, go for people who have a lots of following (that show they are pro-active) so they should follow me back, click control + W (to close window) keep doing it,
Tips new search: rt = retreat, then click control + W (to close window) keep doing it,
Follow limit is 2000 people so do 900 to start then do it again after few days to a week as people can get busy, you should get about 2 third of people who will come back to you (about 600)
New search: click your Twitter karma in google click whack, then your twitter username and password, it will load up. 5 options go for only following, click all boxes, then click bulk unfollow, you want to clean up your Twitter Stream as you can follow only 2000 people so make it worth, its easy and some people will say it’s a spam so go to:
www.socialtoo.com (Guy Kawasaki love this site)
Twitter Profile It is good for auto-response and other,
http://friendorfollow.com is good to find people then click control + W (to close window) and make sure you follow them or not.
Let’s say:
Monday your follow 999 people, few days later I unfollow the people who didn’t follow me then on Thursday
I do it again, keep doing it twice a week and you should get 1000 people a week on twitter,
My comments:
It was great stuffs (solid stuffs as they keep sayingJ) Thanks curtfrieden,
I will definitely worth it and I will fellow you and see if you fellow me…J
I learn lots but its more to learn as I understand and it’s a great Marketing tools too.
You need to participate to get result because it’s about creating a relationship.
See you all on Twitter soon…
Franck Robert
(on behalf of Amanda Steadman)
Look at Alexa.com it is good for traffic ranking (you can see how twitter was before and his today) so do the same for your site, blogs, etc…
Use Twitter Deck: is easier to use and manage.
Use Tr.im: for making shorter links and hiding affiliate link and it’s good for tracking the traffics (it makes your long URL a short one).
>Use Tweet Later: is like an auto responder – it will tweet people right back but be cool on it because people could get scare. Set up Auto Replied: go to my Twitter account, then its easy to fellow the step automatically.
Use Twollo.com: to help you finding targeted people via conversation subject / interests (like google keyword) – but go slowly as lots of people will tweet right back to you. You can use it too get more follower on you Twitter: (auto fellow up) via keyword like: work from home, Magnetic Sponsorship, MLM, Network Marketing, Home Business, etc…
>Use Ping.fm: to update your social network via tweeter to everywhere i.e.: facebook, Myspace, etc…
Use MyTwitterToolbar.com: it’s from the guy from “The Secrets” its very good for twitter tips & twitter tools and all for free.
Go to http://twitter.com/curtsecret to gets the best tips & video from the guru (create an account on Twitter to just fellow gurus – no friends and family) i.e.: http://twitter.com/francksecret PS: it’s good to schedule time like 15mns to get Gurus (fellow the list of gurus) then 15mns replying via your personnel twitter account. It can be time consuming so make it effective.
Note:
You need to create a relationship and the way to do it is by following your follower and its easier with Twitter Deck so you can reply directly, interact, etc…
Note:
You can Change your twitter background, go to setting, and then designed, change background image.
PS: You can also add flash widget to your blog and Social Network it’s useful too.
Try on Twitter:
By (Jesse Newhart on Twitter)
Example: Get Twitt by stranger like mad:
Go to: JesseNewart he talk about Mayhemstudios
How to help people:
by re-twitt other twitter friends (if they good article)
Reply to people,
Participate,
Answer question (if you know the answer)
See: barefoot_exec she twitt people and add other people twitt a lots
Click Search Technique, and then enter a search
i.e.: Iphone a result will be show; press control and scroll on your mousse field (to get all avatar field minimise on the same page) then click control and click avatar that will open all their profile avatar in different tabs, skip the no pictures on avatar as they normally like to stay anonymous so they probably will not come back to you anyway,
Select the one you like i.e.: look if they speak English, ratio, go for people who have a lots of following (that show they are pro-active) so they should follow me back, click control + W (to close window) keep doing it,
Tips new search: rt = retreat, then click control + W (to close window) keep doing it,
Follow limit is 2000 people so do 900 to start then do it again after few days to a week as people can get busy, you should get about 2 third of people who will come back to you (about 600)
New search: click your Twitter karma in google click whack, then your twitter username and password, it will load up. 5 options go for only following, click all boxes, then click bulk unfollow, you want to clean up your Twitter Stream as you can follow only 2000 people so make it worth, its easy and some people will say it’s a spam so go to:
www.socialtoo.com (Guy Kawasaki love this site)
Twitter Profile It is good for auto-response and other,
http://friendorfollow.com is good to find people then click control + W (to close window) and make sure you follow them or not.
Let’s say:
Monday your follow 999 people, few days later I unfollow the people who didn’t follow me then on Thursday
I do it again, keep doing it twice a week and you should get 1000 people a week on twitter,
My comments:
It was great stuffs (solid stuffs as they keep sayingJ) Thanks curtfrieden,
I will definitely worth it and I will fellow you and see if you fellow me…J
I learn lots but its more to learn as I understand and it’s a great Marketing tools too.
You need to participate to get result because it’s about creating a relationship.
See you all on Twitter soon…
Franck Robert
(on behalf of Amanda Steadman)
Friday, 10 July 2009
Website Top tip: Make sure fonts are legible
Website Top tip:
Make sure fonts are legible
As more and more complex systems are being developed online, design guidelines are constantly being updated. However, basic guidelines are no less important and ensuring that text used on a website is legible is a fundamental part of a sites’ design. These top tips will ensure your site can be used by people with poor eyesight. But remember clear, legible fonts are appreciated by all users no matter how good their eyesight.
1. Ensure you use a suitable size No matter how good the content, there’s no point providing it if users can’t see it. Small fonts can be annoying to those with good eyesight, and render a site unusable for others. Ensure all text on the site is large enough for people to read easily. Aim for size 10 or higher.
2. Don’t use overly complex fonts (anywhere) People don’t read from screens the same way they do from a book or magazine. Instead they scan and a complex font could get in the way. Virtually all sites use a simple font for their body text, but complex fonts are still sometimes used in banner adverts and for headings. Headings and banners need to be just as legible as the rest of the page or they aren’t doing their job.
3. Remember to have a high contrast Make sure the contrast between the background colour and text is high. If the contrast is too low users will struggle to make out the text. There are various online tools you can use to check this, such as the Juicy Studio Contrast Analyser. Pay particular attention to banners as these often superimpose text over a picture of varying contrast.
Great stuff From Webcredible
Make sure fonts are legible
As more and more complex systems are being developed online, design guidelines are constantly being updated. However, basic guidelines are no less important and ensuring that text used on a website is legible is a fundamental part of a sites’ design. These top tips will ensure your site can be used by people with poor eyesight. But remember clear, legible fonts are appreciated by all users no matter how good their eyesight.
1. Ensure you use a suitable size No matter how good the content, there’s no point providing it if users can’t see it. Small fonts can be annoying to those with good eyesight, and render a site unusable for others. Ensure all text on the site is large enough for people to read easily. Aim for size 10 or higher.
2. Don’t use overly complex fonts (anywhere) People don’t read from screens the same way they do from a book or magazine. Instead they scan and a complex font could get in the way. Virtually all sites use a simple font for their body text, but complex fonts are still sometimes used in banner adverts and for headings. Headings and banners need to be just as legible as the rest of the page or they aren’t doing their job.
3. Remember to have a high contrast Make sure the contrast between the background colour and text is high. If the contrast is too low users will struggle to make out the text. There are various online tools you can use to check this, such as the Juicy Studio Contrast Analyser. Pay particular attention to banners as these often superimpose text over a picture of varying contrast.
Great stuff From Webcredible
Thursday, 9 July 2009
How To Find Great Links For Twitter That Get Retweeted Like Crazy
Go to Google reader, you will find a site call popular with the best talk about info via other sites, click in search i.e.: web design, click enter, you will see best RSS feeds and click sign in for the one you like. Subscribe to good blog is good for the content.
· i.e.: tweetmeme show popular story on tweeter, you can look at what your friends see
· i.e.: friendfeed to share your Google reader, pretty good to retweet, etc…
· i.e.: Stumbleupon, you can search on it, (i.e.: web design) and you will best story
What happen it’s because its popular then you get popular…because people love great information and love to share it with other…easy!
My comments:
Jesse Newhart is very good with clear information about Tweeter; I highly recommend it for newbie and/or just to stay in touch with latest on Tweeter.
Franck Robert (on behalf of Amanda Steadman)
· i.e.: tweetmeme show popular story on tweeter, you can look at what your friends see
· i.e.: friendfeed to share your Google reader, pretty good to retweet, etc…
· i.e.: Stumbleupon, you can search on it, (i.e.: web design) and you will best story
What happen it’s because its popular then you get popular…because people love great information and love to share it with other…easy!
My comments:
Jesse Newhart is very good with clear information about Tweeter; I highly recommend it for newbie and/or just to stay in touch with latest on Tweeter.
Franck Robert (on behalf of Amanda Steadman)
Sunday, 5 July 2009
Freeing up the Money and Cancelling Credit Card Debt
Great News..the UK lenders are starting to offer 0% credit cards again and personal loans and mortgages should start to move again! Hurrah!
This is a good sign…and spring is on its way as I watch the snow melt outside!
Credit Cards
Also we are in touch with a company that is cancelling out credit card debt and are helping many, many people in the UK. There are also new products coming out that are related to other financial products which will aleviate some of your credit worries. Please contact us @ “>
This is a good sign…and spring is on its way as I watch the snow melt outside!
Credit Cards
Also we are in touch with a company that is cancelling out credit card debt and are helping many, many people in the UK. There are also new products coming out that are related to other financial products which will aleviate some of your credit worries. Please contact us @ “>
Thursday, 2 July 2009
10 Reasons to be Properly and Property Optimistic
The sun is out (ish), the trees are budding up (indeed) and the bunnies are bouncing …cheeky bunnies :- ).
Property prices appear that they may no longer be in free fall, having resumed a more orderly decline. In light of this we go in search of 10 reasons why landlords should be optimistic.
1. House prices are stabilising
We can’t produce evidence of a bounce in house prices for landlords, or even details of a much vaulted ‘green shoots’; but figures are emerging that suggest that the rate of fall is slowing, giving landlords more visibility on when we might hit the bottom. March saw the typical house increase in value for the first time since October 2007, rising 0.9% according to the Nationwide and a respected consultancy Lombard Street Research (LSR) has suggested property prices may bottom by Xmas.
2. Mortgage approvals are up.
The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has reported a rise in the number of house purchase loans approved in February up to 24,300 from 23,400 the month before. Lending is critical to get the house price market moving and now the banks are re-capitalised with tier 1 capital at very high rates. Lending should start to flow once more.
3. Tenant demand remains high
Your Move recently reported that tenant demand was up strongly in February, 46% up on the previous year. Clearly if people can’t buy or are fearful of buying because of potentially further falls in house prices they rent. This can only be good news for landlords.
4. Rents are stable or may even be rising in some parts of the country.
For many landlords talk of falling rents is a mystery. It may be happening in the swankier post codes in London as impoverished bankers are forced to cut back. For many ‘average’ landlords rental levels have been holding up well. The latest figures from the Rent Index indicate that rents have actually being rising up 1.7% and 2.6% over the last 1 month and 3 months respectively. However in other parts of the country where I have properties…they have been going down! In particular Manchester town centre and Brighton areas.
5. Interest rates are at historic lows
With the base rate at 0.5% and at a historic low many landlords on tracker related buy-to-let mortgages are paying record low mortgage payments. The other good news is that latest predictions forecast that these rates could remain well into 2010 as the government battles the spectre of ‘deflation’. This means that landlords could bask in the sensation of cheap money for some months to come – however don’t ‘bank’ on it as I am sure the financial establishments are keen to increase them sooner rather than later! So dont get too comfy.
6. Record rental profits
Low interest rates means many landlords are experiencing unprecedented ‘rental profits’.
Some landlords are making a profit for the first time ever, and other portfolio landlords are generating £100,000‘s in annual rental profits. Not bad for a sector that is supposedly on its knees and at a time when other businesses are making huge losses and slashing jobs. Again we don’t know how long it will last so make contingency plans.
7. Costs are falling
Not only are finance charges falling, but because of the deteriorating employment situation building, repair, cleaning work for the first time in decades is getting cheaper. No longer do landlords have to beg and plead to get a quote. With the jobs situation deteriorating by the day it won’t belong before plumbers will be phoning up landlords and asking for work and at a discounted rate – oh joy!
8. Disappearance of the FTB whinger
How many landlords have got fed up with the stories over the last decade blaming landlords and buy-to-let for forcing up the price of housing so that ‘little Jemima’ cant afford to buy her 1 bed starter flat in Clapham because of all the landlords pricing her out of the market. Well the great news is that Jemima and all her winging cronies have all gone very quiet…this can only be a good thing for landlords and the rest of humanity!
9. Property bargains
There is nothing like a crash and a good economic shake out to allow a landlord to pick up a true long-term property bargain. It’s been true through out the centuries and any investment analysis will tell you. “The real money is made by investors who buy at the bottom and sell at the top.” Well we might not be quite at the bottom, but arguably you never know the market has bottomed until it’s too late. The next few years will certainly throw up some good long term for investments for property investors.
10. Hedge against inflation
Whilst the current talk is about deflation many economic experts are warning about the prospect of inflation taking off once all the money injected by the Government through the likes of ‘quantitative easing’ and the like have worked there way through the system. We all know the best hedge against inflation. You’ve guessed it – property. Sometimes being a landlord has its perks as well as its pitfalls (now that’s another article!)
Property prices appear that they may no longer be in free fall, having resumed a more orderly decline. In light of this we go in search of 10 reasons why landlords should be optimistic.
1. House prices are stabilising
We can’t produce evidence of a bounce in house prices for landlords, or even details of a much vaulted ‘green shoots’; but figures are emerging that suggest that the rate of fall is slowing, giving landlords more visibility on when we might hit the bottom. March saw the typical house increase in value for the first time since October 2007, rising 0.9% according to the Nationwide and a respected consultancy Lombard Street Research (LSR) has suggested property prices may bottom by Xmas.
2. Mortgage approvals are up.
The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has reported a rise in the number of house purchase loans approved in February up to 24,300 from 23,400 the month before. Lending is critical to get the house price market moving and now the banks are re-capitalised with tier 1 capital at very high rates. Lending should start to flow once more.
3. Tenant demand remains high
Your Move recently reported that tenant demand was up strongly in February, 46% up on the previous year. Clearly if people can’t buy or are fearful of buying because of potentially further falls in house prices they rent. This can only be good news for landlords.
4. Rents are stable or may even be rising in some parts of the country.
For many landlords talk of falling rents is a mystery. It may be happening in the swankier post codes in London as impoverished bankers are forced to cut back. For many ‘average’ landlords rental levels have been holding up well. The latest figures from the Rent Index indicate that rents have actually being rising up 1.7% and 2.6% over the last 1 month and 3 months respectively. However in other parts of the country where I have properties…they have been going down! In particular Manchester town centre and Brighton areas.
5. Interest rates are at historic lows
With the base rate at 0.5% and at a historic low many landlords on tracker related buy-to-let mortgages are paying record low mortgage payments. The other good news is that latest predictions forecast that these rates could remain well into 2010 as the government battles the spectre of ‘deflation’. This means that landlords could bask in the sensation of cheap money for some months to come – however don’t ‘bank’ on it as I am sure the financial establishments are keen to increase them sooner rather than later! So dont get too comfy.
6. Record rental profits
Low interest rates means many landlords are experiencing unprecedented ‘rental profits’.
Some landlords are making a profit for the first time ever, and other portfolio landlords are generating £100,000‘s in annual rental profits. Not bad for a sector that is supposedly on its knees and at a time when other businesses are making huge losses and slashing jobs. Again we don’t know how long it will last so make contingency plans.
7. Costs are falling
Not only are finance charges falling, but because of the deteriorating employment situation building, repair, cleaning work for the first time in decades is getting cheaper. No longer do landlords have to beg and plead to get a quote. With the jobs situation deteriorating by the day it won’t belong before plumbers will be phoning up landlords and asking for work and at a discounted rate – oh joy!
8. Disappearance of the FTB whinger
How many landlords have got fed up with the stories over the last decade blaming landlords and buy-to-let for forcing up the price of housing so that ‘little Jemima’ cant afford to buy her 1 bed starter flat in Clapham because of all the landlords pricing her out of the market. Well the great news is that Jemima and all her winging cronies have all gone very quiet…this can only be a good thing for landlords and the rest of humanity!
9. Property bargains
There is nothing like a crash and a good economic shake out to allow a landlord to pick up a true long-term property bargain. It’s been true through out the centuries and any investment analysis will tell you. “The real money is made by investors who buy at the bottom and sell at the top.” Well we might not be quite at the bottom, but arguably you never know the market has bottomed until it’s too late. The next few years will certainly throw up some good long term for investments for property investors.
10. Hedge against inflation
Whilst the current talk is about deflation many economic experts are warning about the prospect of inflation taking off once all the money injected by the Government through the likes of ‘quantitative easing’ and the like have worked there way through the system. We all know the best hedge against inflation. You’ve guessed it – property. Sometimes being a landlord has its perks as well as its pitfalls (now that’s another article!)
Monday, 29 June 2009
The Google Online Marketing Challenge 2010
Amanda Steadman @WealthBabes – The Google Online Marketing Challenge 2010…
It`s worth to Enter: http://tinyurl.com/yw7j2m
The 2010 Challenge is now on!
The Google Online Marketing Challenge is a global student online marketing competition open to any higher education institution, anywhere in the world.
Developed by professors in collaboration with Google, the Challenge is a great opportunity for students to gain practical, real world online marketing experience. Students also get the excitement of competing on a global level, with the overall winners and their professor/lecturer receiving a trip to the Googleplex in Mountain View. In addition, regional winners and their professor will receive a trip to their local Google office.
The 2008 Google Online Marketing Challenge saw more than 1600 student teams from 47 countries around the world taking part in this global competition. Find out more about our 2008 winners and finalists here.
How does it work?
Student teams receive US$200 of free online advertising with Google AdWords and then work with local businesses to devise effective online marketing campaigns. Teams outline a strategy, run a campaign, assess their results and provide the business with recommendations to further develop their online marketing. Teams submit their reports and are judged by a panel of independent academics from all over the world.
Who can enter?
The Challenge is open to any higher education institution from anywhere in the world.
Registrations for 2009 have now closed but you can register your interest for 2010.
Click on the markers to see the institutions and number of teams that registered for the 2009 Challenge.
It`s worth to Enter: http://tinyurl.com/yw7j2m
The 2010 Challenge is now on!
The Google Online Marketing Challenge is a global student online marketing competition open to any higher education institution, anywhere in the world.
Developed by professors in collaboration with Google, the Challenge is a great opportunity for students to gain practical, real world online marketing experience. Students also get the excitement of competing on a global level, with the overall winners and their professor/lecturer receiving a trip to the Googleplex in Mountain View. In addition, regional winners and their professor will receive a trip to their local Google office.
The 2008 Google Online Marketing Challenge saw more than 1600 student teams from 47 countries around the world taking part in this global competition. Find out more about our 2008 winners and finalists here.
How does it work?
Student teams receive US$200 of free online advertising with Google AdWords and then work with local businesses to devise effective online marketing campaigns. Teams outline a strategy, run a campaign, assess their results and provide the business with recommendations to further develop their online marketing. Teams submit their reports and are judged by a panel of independent academics from all over the world.
Who can enter?
The Challenge is open to any higher education institution from anywhere in the world.
Registrations for 2009 have now closed but you can register your interest for 2010.
Click on the markers to see the institutions and number of teams that registered for the 2009 Challenge.
Saturday, 27 June 2009
The Prioritisation Game..
Staying Focussed….
Recently many of our clients are saying that there is SO much to do and SO many distractions so I have put together an article to help those focussed challenged busy people! Have a groovy week people!
Amanda x
The Prioritisation Game
Staying on Target
When Prioritising you may want to ask yourself specific questions to make sure you are using your precious time for the highest pay off items on your agenda.
Whether you are self employed or employed, TIME is your rarest resource so use it well and the rewards are endless!
In today’s work and play place – the biggest distractions, namely the internet and mobile phone will tempt you away from the tougher, higher pay off tasks that you know will make the most amount of difference to your day and objectives. So, what are you going to do about it!
Once you get clear about your longer term, higher objective or goal this seriously helps you figure out WHAT is MOST IMPORTANT and not necessarily the most urgent. So take a look at the questions below and go on a Focussed Self Discovery Session to make sure you stay with your actions that take you closer to those all important goals that lead to ….more money, more time, more fulfilment and more happiness rather than busy-ness!
What do you stand for? What do you want out of life? How important are your ‘goals to you?
Prioritise these goals in order of importance and make your decisions based on ‘ is it taking me further or closer to my goals?’ If further away – don’t do it!
How are you spending your time? Is it in the areas you want to and with the people you want to be with? Make tough choices on your time spending!
What is your purpose? Heavy questions I know but CRITICAL so you don’t spend all your life doing something you don’t like! What would you do for free because you love it so much? If we handed you $10 million – after you’d spent some of it on THINGS then what would you DO with the rest of your time?
What are your values – you will spend all your time and money on your values. If you love sport..most of your time and money is going to g there. If you love learning – it will go on courses, books and DVD’s. What you spend the majority of your money on (excl expenses of course) and what books you have on your shelves will give you a good idea of what your values have! Once you are clearer on this – its even easier to make decisions, then prioritise and focus on what you need to.
Once you have got a list of your key goals, values and what you need to do. Pick the 3 most important things that HAVE to be done the night before and have it written down on a piece of paper – out of your mind! Download it. Use a weekly/monthly planner either on paper or PC/Mac
Get the highest pay off tasks done before 12 noon! Do NOT do anything else until those 3 things are done (if it’s a big project at least 3 key parts/pieces of that project that are the most important!)
Keep your work area as clear as possible – get rid of all loose bits of paper, booklets stuff that you know you will always be able to find on the internet anyway! Do not be distracted by shuffling papers, rearranging your pencils and leave your mobile/blackberry facing downwards or even off for two hours in the morning if you can!! (It’s a challenge I know but form a new habit, I promise it will pay off!)
Scan your email for any urgent ones for 5 minutes MAX in the morning then do not look at them again until 12 noon. Do not be tempted to keep replying to all your friends of check Facebook at 9am..you know what will happen. It will be noon and your 3 highest pay off tasks have not been done!!
Reward yourself every time you complete any of those 3 key tasks! Have fun working on what you know is going to bring you the greatest results. Good luck in reaching all those wonderful goals you’ve set and to taking more control of your time and destiny!
Amanda Steadman
www.WealthBabes.com
Wealth and Success Coach, UK
Recently many of our clients are saying that there is SO much to do and SO many distractions so I have put together an article to help those focussed challenged busy people! Have a groovy week people!
Amanda x
The Prioritisation Game
Staying on Target
When Prioritising you may want to ask yourself specific questions to make sure you are using your precious time for the highest pay off items on your agenda.
Whether you are self employed or employed, TIME is your rarest resource so use it well and the rewards are endless!
In today’s work and play place – the biggest distractions, namely the internet and mobile phone will tempt you away from the tougher, higher pay off tasks that you know will make the most amount of difference to your day and objectives. So, what are you going to do about it!
Once you get clear about your longer term, higher objective or goal this seriously helps you figure out WHAT is MOST IMPORTANT and not necessarily the most urgent. So take a look at the questions below and go on a Focussed Self Discovery Session to make sure you stay with your actions that take you closer to those all important goals that lead to ….more money, more time, more fulfilment and more happiness rather than busy-ness!
What do you stand for? What do you want out of life? How important are your ‘goals to you?
Prioritise these goals in order of importance and make your decisions based on ‘ is it taking me further or closer to my goals?’ If further away – don’t do it!
How are you spending your time? Is it in the areas you want to and with the people you want to be with? Make tough choices on your time spending!
What is your purpose? Heavy questions I know but CRITICAL so you don’t spend all your life doing something you don’t like! What would you do for free because you love it so much? If we handed you $10 million – after you’d spent some of it on THINGS then what would you DO with the rest of your time?
What are your values – you will spend all your time and money on your values. If you love sport..most of your time and money is going to g there. If you love learning – it will go on courses, books and DVD’s. What you spend the majority of your money on (excl expenses of course) and what books you have on your shelves will give you a good idea of what your values have! Once you are clearer on this – its even easier to make decisions, then prioritise and focus on what you need to.
Once you have got a list of your key goals, values and what you need to do. Pick the 3 most important things that HAVE to be done the night before and have it written down on a piece of paper – out of your mind! Download it. Use a weekly/monthly planner either on paper or PC/Mac
Get the highest pay off tasks done before 12 noon! Do NOT do anything else until those 3 things are done (if it’s a big project at least 3 key parts/pieces of that project that are the most important!)
Keep your work area as clear as possible – get rid of all loose bits of paper, booklets stuff that you know you will always be able to find on the internet anyway! Do not be distracted by shuffling papers, rearranging your pencils and leave your mobile/blackberry facing downwards or even off for two hours in the morning if you can!! (It’s a challenge I know but form a new habit, I promise it will pay off!)
Scan your email for any urgent ones for 5 minutes MAX in the morning then do not look at them again until 12 noon. Do not be tempted to keep replying to all your friends of check Facebook at 9am..you know what will happen. It will be noon and your 3 highest pay off tasks have not been done!!
Reward yourself every time you complete any of those 3 key tasks! Have fun working on what you know is going to bring you the greatest results. Good luck in reaching all those wonderful goals you’ve set and to taking more control of your time and destiny!
Amanda Steadman
www.WealthBabes.com
Wealth and Success Coach, UK
Wednesday, 24 June 2009
Wow we are a 10th into 2009! How are your wealth goals going?
Well – its already a 10th into 2009 and how are you getting on with all your new year resolutions? Have you started your savings plan? Have you scheduled those special dates with your loved one?
Check in with yourself as you how you are spending your time.
Are you focussing on what we call ‘your highest pay of tasks?’. A highest pay off task of one that will get you closer to your goal faster. For example. We have worked with quite a few sales people and a great salesman told me once ‘ Write a note for your desk and put is somewhere prominently. Write on the note ‘Is what I am doing right now making me money’. This advice has helped me and many of my clients to get focussed on the task at hand and their sales went up!
So where could you write a little note that will keep you on track on a daily basis!
Give it a go and see the results!
Have a great week!
Check in with yourself as you how you are spending your time.
Are you focussing on what we call ‘your highest pay of tasks?’. A highest pay off task of one that will get you closer to your goal faster. For example. We have worked with quite a few sales people and a great salesman told me once ‘ Write a note for your desk and put is somewhere prominently. Write on the note ‘Is what I am doing right now making me money’. This advice has helped me and many of my clients to get focussed on the task at hand and their sales went up!
So where could you write a little note that will keep you on track on a daily basis!
Give it a go and see the results!
Have a great week!
New buyer enquiries are up and there are green shoots of recovery for the housing market….
New buyer enquiries are up and there are green shoots of recovery for the housing market….
But we’re not at the bottom yet!
It has been a traumatic 18 months for those working within the property industry.
As lending by the banks dried up, sales fell to a near standstill, and estate agents started dropping like flies.
Well, every cloud and all that.
Everything must go
However, new figures from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors have revealed housing sales are slowly creeping up again.
According to the trade body, surveyors have completed an average of 10.6 sales over the past three months, up from 9.7 in the three months to both March and February.
As a result, the trade body has recorded an improvement – if we dare call it that – in the house price situation, with the balance of surveyors reporting rising prices rather than falls moving from minus 72.1 to minus 59.9 in April. That’s right, we’re still in minus figures here. Do you detect a few straws being frantically grasped at?
We have reached the stage where even the most farcically minimal improvement in the housing market provokes raised eyebrows and a heart flutter, as if we are finally through the worst.
Those tiny shafts of light
RICS is far from alone in focusing on the positives. When Nationwide Building Society claimed house prices had increased by 0.9% during March, it sparked incredulity that such an astonishing event could possibly have happened. And lo and behold, the very next month a chunk of that increase had been wiped out with a further fall of 0.4%.
The various other indices from outfits like Halifax and Hometrack have been nowhere near as positive, frequently identifying further falls, albeit at a slowing rate.
And then last weekend, the Lloyds Banking Group, the biggest lender in the UK, started suggesting that house prices have only a further 6% to fall before a rise by the end of the year.
Have they gone completely crackers? Is this the sort of barmy thinking that led to the HBoS deal in the first place?
Always look on the bright side of life
Or are the boffins at Lloyds on to something? After all, the RICS figures demonstrate the demand is there – new buyer enquiries have increased for six straight months, and at the fastest pace since the heady days of August 1999, when nobody had heard of quantitative easing, toxic debt or Robert Peston.
Meanwhile, Hometrack’s most recent survey found that applicant numbers were up 6% in April, and 32% in the last three months.
The thinking seems to be that the sharp fall in house prices, which stands at 18.4% peak-to-trough according to Nationwide, has made property more affordable for our old friends, the first-time buyers.
As they see properties begin to fall within the range they bracket as affordable – and according to Halifax, affordability has more than trebled for first-time buyers since mid-2007 – interest picks up and these buyers trundle along to their estate agents to see where they stand.
And so long as those buyers have a healthy looking deposit, and the squeakiest of squeaky clean credit records, they stand a decent chance of getting a mortgage.
In addition, those already on the ladder and with a decent amount of equity in their property are in a position to move onwards and upwards at a better price – and likely with a cheaper mortgage at a small loan-to-value – than they could previously.
Anecdotal evidence seems to suggest this may be happening. My own father, whisper this quietly, is an estate agent and has recently been recruited by a former employer because they are swamped with enquiries and need all hands on deck. And my mortgage broker has started sleeping at night again, thanks to a jump in the number of potential borrowers looking to snap up a bargain.
Building castles in the sky
But that is all it is, anecdotal. We can all go through the various house price indices, and desperately cling on to the vaguest sign of positivity, the merest morsel on which to finally proclaim the market has reached the bottom, and everything will be rosy again.
The Council of Mortgage Lenders got it spot on – and that in itself is something of a miracle – when it described the current situation as ‘green shoots with no roots’.
There may be the odd artificial improvement in sales or house prices, but there is precious little foundation for a sustained recovery, particularly while the situation with unemployment remains so uncertain.
Because the market is not at the bottom, and it won’t be for a while yet. Until the banks and building societies feel able to devote a few more pennies to their mortgage lending, prices are going absolutely nowhere. And all the cautious optimism in the world will not make a jot of difference.
Very good Article by www.lovemoney.com
But we’re not at the bottom yet!
It has been a traumatic 18 months for those working within the property industry.
As lending by the banks dried up, sales fell to a near standstill, and estate agents started dropping like flies.
Well, every cloud and all that.
Everything must go
However, new figures from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors have revealed housing sales are slowly creeping up again.
According to the trade body, surveyors have completed an average of 10.6 sales over the past three months, up from 9.7 in the three months to both March and February.
As a result, the trade body has recorded an improvement – if we dare call it that – in the house price situation, with the balance of surveyors reporting rising prices rather than falls moving from minus 72.1 to minus 59.9 in April. That’s right, we’re still in minus figures here. Do you detect a few straws being frantically grasped at?
We have reached the stage where even the most farcically minimal improvement in the housing market provokes raised eyebrows and a heart flutter, as if we are finally through the worst.
Those tiny shafts of light
RICS is far from alone in focusing on the positives. When Nationwide Building Society claimed house prices had increased by 0.9% during March, it sparked incredulity that such an astonishing event could possibly have happened. And lo and behold, the very next month a chunk of that increase had been wiped out with a further fall of 0.4%.
The various other indices from outfits like Halifax and Hometrack have been nowhere near as positive, frequently identifying further falls, albeit at a slowing rate.
And then last weekend, the Lloyds Banking Group, the biggest lender in the UK, started suggesting that house prices have only a further 6% to fall before a rise by the end of the year.
Have they gone completely crackers? Is this the sort of barmy thinking that led to the HBoS deal in the first place?
Always look on the bright side of life
Or are the boffins at Lloyds on to something? After all, the RICS figures demonstrate the demand is there – new buyer enquiries have increased for six straight months, and at the fastest pace since the heady days of August 1999, when nobody had heard of quantitative easing, toxic debt or Robert Peston.
Meanwhile, Hometrack’s most recent survey found that applicant numbers were up 6% in April, and 32% in the last three months.
The thinking seems to be that the sharp fall in house prices, which stands at 18.4% peak-to-trough according to Nationwide, has made property more affordable for our old friends, the first-time buyers.
As they see properties begin to fall within the range they bracket as affordable – and according to Halifax, affordability has more than trebled for first-time buyers since mid-2007 – interest picks up and these buyers trundle along to their estate agents to see where they stand.
And so long as those buyers have a healthy looking deposit, and the squeakiest of squeaky clean credit records, they stand a decent chance of getting a mortgage.
In addition, those already on the ladder and with a decent amount of equity in their property are in a position to move onwards and upwards at a better price – and likely with a cheaper mortgage at a small loan-to-value – than they could previously.
Anecdotal evidence seems to suggest this may be happening. My own father, whisper this quietly, is an estate agent and has recently been recruited by a former employer because they are swamped with enquiries and need all hands on deck. And my mortgage broker has started sleeping at night again, thanks to a jump in the number of potential borrowers looking to snap up a bargain.
Building castles in the sky
But that is all it is, anecdotal. We can all go through the various house price indices, and desperately cling on to the vaguest sign of positivity, the merest morsel on which to finally proclaim the market has reached the bottom, and everything will be rosy again.
The Council of Mortgage Lenders got it spot on – and that in itself is something of a miracle – when it described the current situation as ‘green shoots with no roots’.
There may be the odd artificial improvement in sales or house prices, but there is precious little foundation for a sustained recovery, particularly while the situation with unemployment remains so uncertain.
Because the market is not at the bottom, and it won’t be for a while yet. Until the banks and building societies feel able to devote a few more pennies to their mortgage lending, prices are going absolutely nowhere. And all the cautious optimism in the world will not make a jot of difference.
Very good Article by www.lovemoney.com
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
Interest rates may stay low til 2010 -What should you be doing about it?
The Bank of England reckons inflation will fall and the base rate will remain at 0.5%for the next year. What should savers and borrowers do with their money?
Below are some suggestions, however if you want something specific to yourself do contact us on the contact page for your own Money & Financial Game Plan- www.wealthbabes.com
Pay attention: here comes the science
First of all the boring stuff – the figures themselves.
The Consumer Price Index – what the Bank of England uses to measure inflation – is currently 2.9%, almost a whole 1% above its target. However, the Bank is convinced this figure will fall below 2% later this year, as the massive jumps in food and petrol prices from a year ago fall off the measurement.
In addition, the Bank dropped some extremely heavy hints that the Base Rate is likely to remain at 0.5% for at least another year. But what does this mean for you and me?
Go for a fixed rate mortgage
It goes without saying that mortgage borrowers on tracker rates have been the big winners so far. But if you’re shopping around for a new mortgage this year, you may be better off with a fixed-rate mortgage.
Figures out this week from the Council of Mortgage Lenders have shown that first-time buyers and home-movers are currently benefitting from the lowest mortgage rates since 2004.
In other words, if there was ever a time to fix, it is now.
If you want the security of a fixed rate but the flexibility of a short-term deal, then HSBC has the lowest rate at 2.89% for two years, though it carries a whopping £1,499 fee and is only available with a 40% deposit or equity stake.
For those adverse to such fees, and with a smaller deposit, I like the Royal Bank of Scotland two-year fixed rate at 3.09% up to 75% loan-to-value (LTV), which has a more reasonable booking fee of just £299.
However, for me, a longer term fixed rate is by far the safest and smartest move. The best rate on a five-year deal is available from – you guessed it – HSBC! The rate is 4.39% but it’s only available if you have a 25% deposit or equity stake, plus it carries a hefty booking fee of £999.
If you’d rather not pay such a large fee, Ulster Bank has a five-year deal fixed at 4.55%, with a paltry booking fee of £295.
Prefer a tracker?
If you are determined to gamble and go with a tracker, an important consideration will be the early repayment charges – if rates do start to rise quickly, you will want to be able to bail out as cheaply as possible.
As a result, your best bet may be to go for a two-year discounted variable deal from HSBC. The rate is guaranteed to be base rate plus 1.99%, and the early repayment charge is only 1% of the sum repaid. However, this is only available up to 60% LTV.
If you only have a 25% equity stake, you can still get a tracker at base rate plus 2.45%-2.49%, from lenders such as Alliance & Leicester, Principality Building Society and Market Harborough Building Society (though these each boast much higher early repayment charges).
Savings in a piggy bank
For savers, the choice is a little more clear cut. With the Base Rate likely to be rooted at 0.5% for some time, the prospects for your money in an easy access savings account are fairly grim.
Then again, inflation is set to fall dramatically. So, if you lock in at today’s interest rates, your return should be greater (in real terms) in the future.
In other words, if you are lucky enough to have a wad of savings burning a hole in your pocket, it may be time to look at a fixed rate savings product. So what’s out there?
The current two-year market leader is this fixed rate bond at 4.25% AER from Birmingham Midshires,* You only need £1 to invest, and interest is paid yearly.
If two years just isn’t long enough for you, Nationwide has a range of five-year bonds paying 4.13% to 4.15% AER, offering interest paid on a monthly, yearly or anniversary basis.
However, when thinking about a bond it’s always worth remembering that it is not always easy to get your money out, so only ever put in what you can do without.
For more about the top fixed rate bonds for different time periods, read Earn a top guaranteed rate on your savings.
Get an ISA
Alternatively, if you haven’t yet used up your ISA allowance, you may want to consider Leeds Building Society’s five-year fixed rate ISA. The rate is set at a juicy 4% tax-free – equivalent to a 6.66% standard savings rate for higher-rate tax-payers.
Just be warned there is a penalty of 180 days interest which is incurred if you withdraw more than 25% of your savings.
For more about ISAs, read Top 20 savings accounts and ISAs.
Keeping your savings regular
Of course, rates will probably start to rise again once the economy recovers, so you may prefer not to tie yourself to a bond at today’s low rates for more than a year. If this is the case, consider taking out a regular savings account, as these also offer fixed rates, but usually for just 12 months.
If you have young(ish) children then look no further than the Norwich & Peterborough Building Society’s Family Regular Saver, paying a whopping 6% fixed for one year. Available to customers with dependent children aged up to 16, or 18 if still in full time education, the interest is paid on an anniversary basis, and must be compounded.
If you plan to save no more than £250 a month, then Barclays’ monthly savings account will also pay a fixed rate of 6%, with interest compounded and paid on a monthly basis, though any withdrawals will see you hit with a 2.85% loss of interest.
But if you plan to put away a little bit more than that each month, then have a look at Scottish Building Society’s regular savings account. It pays a fixed rate of
4% on monthly deposits up to £1,000, with interest compounded and paid on a yearly basis, and there is no account fee.
The only downside is that you cannot make payments by direct debit – clearly the Society is not a fan of 21st century technology.
If nothing else, the Bank of England’s inflation report has offered some hope for a period of relative stability following the trauma and unpredictability of the last two years.
Whatever you choose to do, good luck!
FOR A FREE MONEY AND FINANCIAL GAME PLAN – CONTACT US FROM OUR CONTACT PAGE – www.wealthbabes.com
Below are some suggestions, however if you want something specific to yourself do contact us on the contact page for your own Money & Financial Game Plan- www.wealthbabes.com
Pay attention: here comes the science
First of all the boring stuff – the figures themselves.
The Consumer Price Index – what the Bank of England uses to measure inflation – is currently 2.9%, almost a whole 1% above its target. However, the Bank is convinced this figure will fall below 2% later this year, as the massive jumps in food and petrol prices from a year ago fall off the measurement.
In addition, the Bank dropped some extremely heavy hints that the Base Rate is likely to remain at 0.5% for at least another year. But what does this mean for you and me?
Go for a fixed rate mortgage
It goes without saying that mortgage borrowers on tracker rates have been the big winners so far. But if you’re shopping around for a new mortgage this year, you may be better off with a fixed-rate mortgage.
Figures out this week from the Council of Mortgage Lenders have shown that first-time buyers and home-movers are currently benefitting from the lowest mortgage rates since 2004.
In other words, if there was ever a time to fix, it is now.
If you want the security of a fixed rate but the flexibility of a short-term deal, then HSBC has the lowest rate at 2.89% for two years, though it carries a whopping £1,499 fee and is only available with a 40% deposit or equity stake.
For those adverse to such fees, and with a smaller deposit, I like the Royal Bank of Scotland two-year fixed rate at 3.09% up to 75% loan-to-value (LTV), which has a more reasonable booking fee of just £299.
However, for me, a longer term fixed rate is by far the safest and smartest move. The best rate on a five-year deal is available from – you guessed it – HSBC! The rate is 4.39% but it’s only available if you have a 25% deposit or equity stake, plus it carries a hefty booking fee of £999.
If you’d rather not pay such a large fee, Ulster Bank has a five-year deal fixed at 4.55%, with a paltry booking fee of £295.
Prefer a tracker?
If you are determined to gamble and go with a tracker, an important consideration will be the early repayment charges – if rates do start to rise quickly, you will want to be able to bail out as cheaply as possible.
As a result, your best bet may be to go for a two-year discounted variable deal from HSBC. The rate is guaranteed to be base rate plus 1.99%, and the early repayment charge is only 1% of the sum repaid. However, this is only available up to 60% LTV.
If you only have a 25% equity stake, you can still get a tracker at base rate plus 2.45%-2.49%, from lenders such as Alliance & Leicester, Principality Building Society and Market Harborough Building Society (though these each boast much higher early repayment charges).
Savings in a piggy bank
For savers, the choice is a little more clear cut. With the Base Rate likely to be rooted at 0.5% for some time, the prospects for your money in an easy access savings account are fairly grim.
Then again, inflation is set to fall dramatically. So, if you lock in at today’s interest rates, your return should be greater (in real terms) in the future.
In other words, if you are lucky enough to have a wad of savings burning a hole in your pocket, it may be time to look at a fixed rate savings product. So what’s out there?
The current two-year market leader is this fixed rate bond at 4.25% AER from Birmingham Midshires,* You only need £1 to invest, and interest is paid yearly.
If two years just isn’t long enough for you, Nationwide has a range of five-year bonds paying 4.13% to 4.15% AER, offering interest paid on a monthly, yearly or anniversary basis.
However, when thinking about a bond it’s always worth remembering that it is not always easy to get your money out, so only ever put in what you can do without.
For more about the top fixed rate bonds for different time periods, read Earn a top guaranteed rate on your savings.
Get an ISA
Alternatively, if you haven’t yet used up your ISA allowance, you may want to consider Leeds Building Society’s five-year fixed rate ISA. The rate is set at a juicy 4% tax-free – equivalent to a 6.66% standard savings rate for higher-rate tax-payers.
Just be warned there is a penalty of 180 days interest which is incurred if you withdraw more than 25% of your savings.
For more about ISAs, read Top 20 savings accounts and ISAs.
Keeping your savings regular
Of course, rates will probably start to rise again once the economy recovers, so you may prefer not to tie yourself to a bond at today’s low rates for more than a year. If this is the case, consider taking out a regular savings account, as these also offer fixed rates, but usually for just 12 months.
If you have young(ish) children then look no further than the Norwich & Peterborough Building Society’s Family Regular Saver, paying a whopping 6% fixed for one year. Available to customers with dependent children aged up to 16, or 18 if still in full time education, the interest is paid on an anniversary basis, and must be compounded.
If you plan to save no more than £250 a month, then Barclays’ monthly savings account will also pay a fixed rate of 6%, with interest compounded and paid on a monthly basis, though any withdrawals will see you hit with a 2.85% loss of interest.
But if you plan to put away a little bit more than that each month, then have a look at Scottish Building Society’s regular savings account. It pays a fixed rate of
4% on monthly deposits up to £1,000, with interest compounded and paid on a yearly basis, and there is no account fee.
The only downside is that you cannot make payments by direct debit – clearly the Society is not a fan of 21st century technology.
If nothing else, the Bank of England’s inflation report has offered some hope for a period of relative stability following the trauma and unpredictability of the last two years.
Whatever you choose to do, good luck!
FOR A FREE MONEY AND FINANCIAL GAME PLAN – CONTACT US FROM OUR CONTACT PAGE – www.wealthbabes.com
Saturday, 20 June 2009
The five golden rules of remortgaging
Switch and save the smart way when you come to change your homeloan.
If your mortgage is coming up for renewal, you might be at a loss as to what to do. All the experts seem to be recommending fixed rates, but perhaps your lender’s SVR is dirt cheap and very tempting. Plus, with falling house prices plunging many homeowners into negative equity, and lenders having tightened the screws over the past two years, you might be worried you’ll be left with limited remortgage options.
Frankly, where do you start when it comes to remortgaging?
1. Speak to your lender first
You need to arm yourself with certain facts when you remortgage and your lender is the first port of call. Ask what your outstanding mortgage is, check there are no early repayment charges to move your homeloan (and if there are, how much are they?) and ask about the exit fee — a charge made by most lenders which usually costs at least £200.
Then ask your lender what will happen if you do nothing. You will probably revert to its Standard Variable Rate (SVR) which could be low, depending on your lender. Find out exactly what your monthly repayments would be, so you can compare it to a new deal easily.
Remember, if you stay on your lender’s SVR, you won’t need to pay a new mortgage arrangement fee, valuation fee or legal fees, which you will face if you move your mortgage.
But the downside is, your lender’s SVR will be variable. That means the rate goes up and down broadly in line with interest rates — so there is potential for it to rise. If you would prefer the security of a fixed rate, ask what deals your lender can offer you. Some will offer existing clients a fixed rate option even if your loan-to-value ratio (your mortgage as a proportion of the property’s value) is higher than its usual maximum.
2. Compare the deals available to you
Once you are armed with information from your existing lender, it’s time to shop around. Despite the mortgage market having contracted significantly during the credit crunch there are still hundreds of deals out there from dozens of lenders. The best, easiest and quickest way to compare mortgages is through a comparison service like the one provided by lovemoney.com. This allows you to input your requirements and search hundreds of deals in seconds, sorting them by interest rate for example.
When you compare mortgages, it’s useful to have considered the type of deal you want. Do you want the immediate low rate of a tracker mortgage or the security of a fixed rate?
Also consider whether you can afford to pay a large upfront fee or not, and whether you need flexible features such as the ability to overpay and underpay.
It will also be useful to have a rough idea on the current value of your property so you can work out your loan-to-value ratio and search for deals that are available to you.
3. Do your sums
When you have found a few deals you are interested in, it can be helpful to work out the total cost of these mortgages over a set period. If you are after a two-year fixed rate it makes sense to look at the total cost over two years for example.
To do this take the monthly mortgage repayment and multiply by 24 (months), then add on any fees and charges, and subtract any cashback the lender may offer. It is sometimes the case that the lowest rate is not in fact the lowest deal in terms of true costs, particularly if it comes with a hefty fee.
And don’t worry if you are not very good with numbers — when you compare mortgages at the lovemoney.com mortgage centre, you can get them listed based on the total costs as well as looking at other criteria.
4. Think about what you would do if rates rise
If you are looking at tracker mortgages or discounted variable deals, remember that these rates can move up and down in line with Base Rate. Although they are currently available at very low rates, it’s worth bearing in mind that they are actually priced at a wide margin to Base Rate. A tracker mortgage at 3% looks low, but with Base Rate at 0.5% the lender has a margin of 2.5 percentage points. If Base Rate was to go up to 5% (which is perfectly possible in the next year or two) your pay rate would be 7.5%.
If you cannot afford a large rise in your repayments it could be worth fixing your rate. There are some attractive fixed rate mortgages around for only a modest premium above tracker deals.
5. Speak to a broker if want face-to-face advice
Mortgages are not always straightforward and a broker could provide invaluable help and advice. They will find out about your financial circumstances, attitude to risk and preferences and search the market to find deals that will suit your needs.
All brokers are authorised by the Financial Services Authority and must have passed professional qualifications in order to give advice. More importantly they understand the mortgage market inside-out.
Unfortunately the credit crunch has led some lenders to solely distribute their mortgages direct to consumers rather than through brokers, meaning advisers do not always have access to all the best deals. However, the majority of products are available through intermediary channels, and the service that you get from a professional could be invaluable.
They have strong contacts with lenders and can rush through cases when necessary or help clients with unusual circumstances to get a deal through. If you have a history of bad credit, you are self-employed or you need a buy-to-let mortgage for example, a mortgage broker is still your best bet to get a deal.
Very good Article by www.lovemoney.com
If your mortgage is coming up for renewal, you might be at a loss as to what to do. All the experts seem to be recommending fixed rates, but perhaps your lender’s SVR is dirt cheap and very tempting. Plus, with falling house prices plunging many homeowners into negative equity, and lenders having tightened the screws over the past two years, you might be worried you’ll be left with limited remortgage options.
Frankly, where do you start when it comes to remortgaging?
1. Speak to your lender first
You need to arm yourself with certain facts when you remortgage and your lender is the first port of call. Ask what your outstanding mortgage is, check there are no early repayment charges to move your homeloan (and if there are, how much are they?) and ask about the exit fee — a charge made by most lenders which usually costs at least £200.
Then ask your lender what will happen if you do nothing. You will probably revert to its Standard Variable Rate (SVR) which could be low, depending on your lender. Find out exactly what your monthly repayments would be, so you can compare it to a new deal easily.
Remember, if you stay on your lender’s SVR, you won’t need to pay a new mortgage arrangement fee, valuation fee or legal fees, which you will face if you move your mortgage.
But the downside is, your lender’s SVR will be variable. That means the rate goes up and down broadly in line with interest rates — so there is potential for it to rise. If you would prefer the security of a fixed rate, ask what deals your lender can offer you. Some will offer existing clients a fixed rate option even if your loan-to-value ratio (your mortgage as a proportion of the property’s value) is higher than its usual maximum.
2. Compare the deals available to you
Once you are armed with information from your existing lender, it’s time to shop around. Despite the mortgage market having contracted significantly during the credit crunch there are still hundreds of deals out there from dozens of lenders. The best, easiest and quickest way to compare mortgages is through a comparison service like the one provided by lovemoney.com. This allows you to input your requirements and search hundreds of deals in seconds, sorting them by interest rate for example.
When you compare mortgages, it’s useful to have considered the type of deal you want. Do you want the immediate low rate of a tracker mortgage or the security of a fixed rate?
Also consider whether you can afford to pay a large upfront fee or not, and whether you need flexible features such as the ability to overpay and underpay.
It will also be useful to have a rough idea on the current value of your property so you can work out your loan-to-value ratio and search for deals that are available to you.
3. Do your sums
When you have found a few deals you are interested in, it can be helpful to work out the total cost of these mortgages over a set period. If you are after a two-year fixed rate it makes sense to look at the total cost over two years for example.
To do this take the monthly mortgage repayment and multiply by 24 (months), then add on any fees and charges, and subtract any cashback the lender may offer. It is sometimes the case that the lowest rate is not in fact the lowest deal in terms of true costs, particularly if it comes with a hefty fee.
And don’t worry if you are not very good with numbers — when you compare mortgages at the lovemoney.com mortgage centre, you can get them listed based on the total costs as well as looking at other criteria.
4. Think about what you would do if rates rise
If you are looking at tracker mortgages or discounted variable deals, remember that these rates can move up and down in line with Base Rate. Although they are currently available at very low rates, it’s worth bearing in mind that they are actually priced at a wide margin to Base Rate. A tracker mortgage at 3% looks low, but with Base Rate at 0.5% the lender has a margin of 2.5 percentage points. If Base Rate was to go up to 5% (which is perfectly possible in the next year or two) your pay rate would be 7.5%.
If you cannot afford a large rise in your repayments it could be worth fixing your rate. There are some attractive fixed rate mortgages around for only a modest premium above tracker deals.
5. Speak to a broker if want face-to-face advice
Mortgages are not always straightforward and a broker could provide invaluable help and advice. They will find out about your financial circumstances, attitude to risk and preferences and search the market to find deals that will suit your needs.
All brokers are authorised by the Financial Services Authority and must have passed professional qualifications in order to give advice. More importantly they understand the mortgage market inside-out.
Unfortunately the credit crunch has led some lenders to solely distribute their mortgages direct to consumers rather than through brokers, meaning advisers do not always have access to all the best deals. However, the majority of products are available through intermediary channels, and the service that you get from a professional could be invaluable.
They have strong contacts with lenders and can rush through cases when necessary or help clients with unusual circumstances to get a deal through. If you have a history of bad credit, you are self-employed or you need a buy-to-let mortgage for example, a mortgage broker is still your best bet to get a deal.
Very good Article by www.lovemoney.com
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
The Winners Mindset
Andy Murray, Britain’s No 1 Tennis Player, may not have won Wimbledon this time. But he is extraordinarily committed, focussed and determined to be the best. In these more competive and tougher times in business – are you doing all you can to please those customers, go the extra mile, be mindful of your competition but not distracted my them?
I read an article in the London Paper recently quoting Andy’s mindset regarding competition at Wimbledon ‘ Regardless of whether there’s 10 Brits, I’m still going to take care of my own business and not worry about what’s going on with the other players. If you start doing that, you kind of get distracted and you’re not putting 100% focus on yourself, which is what I need to do for the next couple of weeks!’.
It is important to have an awareness of what your ‘competition’ are doing but not necessarily be consumed or worried by it – they aren’t you at the end of the day! On the other side of the coin I have recently teamed up with various Joint Venture Partners who would normaly be ‘competition’ so this is also a great way of doing business in the current climate – collaboration breeds results too! Just like in Tennis where the individuals then go off to play their ‘doubles’!
Who could you be ‘teaming up with’ in order to add value to another business as well as yourself? Who else do you know who could form a mutual alliance/mailing list in order to serve your clients better? We’ll leave you with both those questions and to your health, wealth and success!
I read an article in the London Paper recently quoting Andy’s mindset regarding competition at Wimbledon ‘ Regardless of whether there’s 10 Brits, I’m still going to take care of my own business and not worry about what’s going on with the other players. If you start doing that, you kind of get distracted and you’re not putting 100% focus on yourself, which is what I need to do for the next couple of weeks!’.
It is important to have an awareness of what your ‘competition’ are doing but not necessarily be consumed or worried by it – they aren’t you at the end of the day! On the other side of the coin I have recently teamed up with various Joint Venture Partners who would normaly be ‘competition’ so this is also a great way of doing business in the current climate – collaboration breeds results too! Just like in Tennis where the individuals then go off to play their ‘doubles’!
Who could you be ‘teaming up with’ in order to add value to another business as well as yourself? Who else do you know who could form a mutual alliance/mailing list in order to serve your clients better? We’ll leave you with both those questions and to your health, wealth and success!
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
YOU MUST BE THERE! Amanda and Wealthbabes Marketers Cruise 2010
Greetings!
After experiencing the marvellous Marketers Cruise of 2009 I have decided to go again and invite all my friends, clients and anyone else who has a real passion to change the world on line and also create a great income.
If you are going to book…its ONLY a deposit of $250 until October!
We are taking bookings now so email us for more information at cruise@wealthbabes.com today and receive a free video link to Top Secrets of Taking Action! CLICK BELOW TO GET MORE INFO!!
Be there of be square…if you’re not fun..dont come!
GeekySpeaky: Submit Your Site!
After experiencing the marvellous Marketers Cruise of 2009 I have decided to go again and invite all my friends, clients and anyone else who has a real passion to change the world on line and also create a great income.
If you are going to book…its ONLY a deposit of $250 until October!
We are taking bookings now so email us for more information at cruise@wealthbabes.com today and receive a free video link to Top Secrets of Taking Action! CLICK BELOW TO GET MORE INFO!!
Be there of be square…if you’re not fun..dont come!
GeekySpeaky: Submit Your Site!
Saturday, 6 June 2009
Words of Wisdom from Bruce Lee July
I was going through my files and came accross a quote I loved that comes from Bruce Lee, although its related to face to face combat. It can easily be applied to your business and personal life…enjoy!
If you think you are beaten, you are. If you think you dare not, you don’t.If you like to win, but you think you can’t, It is almost certain you won’t.
If you think you will lose, you are lost. For out of the world we find
Success BEGINS with a fellow’s WILL. It’s all in the state of mind.
If you think you’re outclassed, you are.
You’ve got to think high to rise. You’ve got to be sure of yourself before You can ever win a prize.
Life’s battles don’t always go to The stronger or faster man. But sooner or later the man Who wins is the man WHO THINKS HE CAN!
If you think you are beaten, you are. If you think you dare not, you don’t.If you like to win, but you think you can’t, It is almost certain you won’t.
If you think you will lose, you are lost. For out of the world we find
Success BEGINS with a fellow’s WILL. It’s all in the state of mind.
If you think you’re outclassed, you are.
You’ve got to think high to rise. You’ve got to be sure of yourself before You can ever win a prize.
Life’s battles don’t always go to The stronger or faster man. But sooner or later the man Who wins is the man WHO THINKS HE CAN!
Monday, 25 May 2009
New Business Courses
A complimentary course coming up:
www.greatexpectations.info/play2win/index.php?param2=339_Amanda_Steadman
Boost your business and take it to the next level. A full on, fun packed 3 day course in London. Check it out!
EMG & Movo Academy Present Personal Development for Executives and Their Teams
http://www.emguk.net/bp_cpddirectory.asp?s=perd
www.greatexpectations.info/play2win/index.php?param2=339_Amanda_Steadman
Boost your business and take it to the next level. A full on, fun packed 3 day course in London. Check it out!
EMG & Movo Academy Present Personal Development for Executives and Their Teams
http://www.emguk.net/bp_cpddirectory.asp?s=perd
Friday, 22 May 2009
5 Top Tips on Business Blogging
Hey everyone. I listened in to a great Webinar from Hubspot who I randomly came accross whilst on the internet this week. This will be useful for some of the newbies on how to get going and avoid the mistakes lots of bloggers make! See below! Note the section on Monetizing at the end!
Top 5 Tips for Advanced Blogging
Identify Target Personas
Create a Mix of Posts
Write great posts
Sustain it! (Marathon not a sprint)
Spread it!
For more indepth info – click on
http://www.wealthbabes.com/page20.htm
for the full notes from the Webinar!
Top 5 Tips for Advanced Blogging
Identify Target Personas
Create a Mix of Posts
Write great posts
Sustain it! (Marathon not a sprint)
Spread it!
For more indepth info – click on
http://www.wealthbabes.com/page20.htm
for the full notes from the Webinar!
Wednesday, 20 May 2009
Women in Business – Passion & Inspiring women @ International Confex 2009
From The Seminar at International Confex 2009
With Jacqui Kavanagh @ Trinity Conferences
Women in Business – Passion and inspiring women
Introduce by Jacqui Kavanagh (the Presenter):
Her Background: She was a director of sale for company hotel but now she’s a Business Owner and works a lots online. She’s start from scratch again as she had a problem with her business associate. Clear vision, customer focus, getting to make your message out there via internet but a clear and easy message for everyone,
Ruth carter:
An important thing is passion, not want a pathologic fear of failure, tenacity.
Her Background: from exhibitions to events. She was an average manager so she did decide to be freelance, from scratch she brought (25 millions) with international business then took control of her destiny. If you think are you in the right job then its time to move. Work for (EMAP) force for few years then start again from scratch, if you think you are a women in business its bad as is people in business. Now she successful,
Mandy Jennings @ Principle Hayley,
We should be proud as women in business, we shouldn’t make difference between man and women but congratulate yourself for being there.
Her Background: work in hotel, after few years of trainings, work as a chambermaid. Then move to reception and events, then to events and sales. She like the deal, negotiation, engaging with people, now as a sale director and enjoy watching people and relationship growing.
Sarah Jones MD @ Trinity Events,
It is about what you want to do in business and not about man and women.
Her Background: left school at 15. Few jobs to start then because she always knew she wanted to work for herself. She started to do events freelance. Sold everything she had then started her own business. What make you tick, what make you getting out of bed and inspired you every day. It’s great to have your own business and it’s good to have your own coach to help you along. Being a bit selfish as you have only one life, be passionate and you can achieve a lot.
Izania Downie @ Eventia,
Her Background:
She left school at 15. Being made redundant twice from sale, she got advice from mentor but she was bullied by female boss to keep her on the job and stop her progressing. Don’t be afraid to make decision even bad one as fares are you going head. Having coach is good. You got to be relevant, you have to be real. She educates herself to the board director. Took some course and then feel empower to achieve more. More opportunity will come. Women are good with creation but they need to know more of finance to get more rounded skills. She a perfectionist and think you need to be to succeed. Be true to yourself.
My comments:
It was a very Inspiring event and it’s not finish, is still going for 2 days so I advice anyone to go and participate to these highly interesting Seminar where you can meet some very inspiring ladies.
Franck Robert
(On behalf of Amanda Steadman)
With Jacqui Kavanagh @ Trinity Conferences
Women in Business – Passion and inspiring women
Introduce by Jacqui Kavanagh (the Presenter):
Her Background: She was a director of sale for company hotel but now she’s a Business Owner and works a lots online. She’s start from scratch again as she had a problem with her business associate. Clear vision, customer focus, getting to make your message out there via internet but a clear and easy message for everyone,
Ruth carter:
An important thing is passion, not want a pathologic fear of failure, tenacity.
Her Background: from exhibitions to events. She was an average manager so she did decide to be freelance, from scratch she brought (25 millions) with international business then took control of her destiny. If you think are you in the right job then its time to move. Work for (EMAP) force for few years then start again from scratch, if you think you are a women in business its bad as is people in business. Now she successful,
Mandy Jennings @ Principle Hayley,
We should be proud as women in business, we shouldn’t make difference between man and women but congratulate yourself for being there.
Her Background: work in hotel, after few years of trainings, work as a chambermaid. Then move to reception and events, then to events and sales. She like the deal, negotiation, engaging with people, now as a sale director and enjoy watching people and relationship growing.
Sarah Jones MD @ Trinity Events,
It is about what you want to do in business and not about man and women.
Her Background: left school at 15. Few jobs to start then because she always knew she wanted to work for herself. She started to do events freelance. Sold everything she had then started her own business. What make you tick, what make you getting out of bed and inspired you every day. It’s great to have your own business and it’s good to have your own coach to help you along. Being a bit selfish as you have only one life, be passionate and you can achieve a lot.
Izania Downie @ Eventia,
Her Background:
She left school at 15. Being made redundant twice from sale, she got advice from mentor but she was bullied by female boss to keep her on the job and stop her progressing. Don’t be afraid to make decision even bad one as fares are you going head. Having coach is good. You got to be relevant, you have to be real. She educates herself to the board director. Took some course and then feel empower to achieve more. More opportunity will come. Women are good with creation but they need to know more of finance to get more rounded skills. She a perfectionist and think you need to be to succeed. Be true to yourself.
My comments:
It was a very Inspiring event and it’s not finish, is still going for 2 days so I advice anyone to go and participate to these highly interesting Seminar where you can meet some very inspiring ladies.
Franck Robert
(On behalf of Amanda Steadman)
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