Author: Complete Controller

Suppose you are among the fifty million Americans who believe that staying young and healthy means you do not need health insurance; you are wrong! It is an effortless way to avoid monthly insurance premium payments and other associated costs. However, you are putting yourself at significant financial risk. Let us discuss why we need health insurance and how it helps us.

• It is a substantial financial risk

For a moment, it may seem like you are saving a pile of money by not going for health insurance, but the future is always uncertain. Heart conditions are the leading cause of death in the United States, and open-heart surgery costs $324,000. Even a mortgage payment on that would cost you around $2,000-$3,000, which is much more than the insurance premium. Honestly, it is a considerable risk you do not want to take.

• It will affect the people around you

Uninsured people avoid regular checkups and wait for their condition to get severe enough to enter the emergency room. When they fail to pay the emergency room expenses, the hospitals divide the unpaid liability of the uninsured person across the board, where a fraction of that expense goes into the account of the other patients.

• Preventive care

People with health insurance tend to go for regular checkups, which helps them identify deadly diseases early. On the other hand, uninsured people avoid going to a doctor at all costs to avoid any expense. Avoiding healthcare results in a late diagnosis of a disease or mental condition they have. And since prevention is better than cure, it is wise to take necessary preventive actions.

• Better to pay for insurance than to go bankrupt

You can never predict the future. Even a single accident on a skiing slope can cost you thousands of dollars. Medical emergencies cost you more. You cannot cover the medical bills based on your salary, especially when you will not be working then. It is not possible to cover the expenses without health insurance. 

• Affordable care act

The latest changes under this Act require a person in his twenties to sign up for health insurance, considering Americans’ recent bankruptcy in terms of medical expenses. If you do not sign up for it, you will get penalties. Always be careful while signing up for health insurance, and go for the best company in town. Do not confuse health shares with health insurance.

• The necessity

People consider health insurance a luxury. It is not a luxury but a necessity. If you are trying to save money, cut the cable, cancel the gym membership, and stop eating out in restaurants before giving up your health insurance. You can always look for low-cost health insurance, but do not avoid it to save bucks. It might end up costing you more. 

Nowadays, colleges require students to sign up for health insurance before taking admissions. It is becoming necessary considering the cost of medical services in the United States. If you decide to live without medical insurance, make sure you have thousands of dollars set aside in case of an emergency. Even a minor surgery or a single accident can cost you more than $20,000, which a person on an average pay rate cannot afford to pay suddenly. 

All in All

If you are trying to save money, you can cut back on luxury items that are not a necessity. As mentioned earlier, a cable connection or a gym membership is unnecessary. You can even sell things on eBay to save money for monthly premiums. Do not put yourself in danger just for the sake of money. About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

Business owners all over the world understand the importance of financial forecasting. Business forecasting helps your business in navigating the complexities of the business environment. Usually, CEOs and business leaders are busy. With their little time, having another responsibility on their hands can be incredibly challenging. You should hire a financial advisor or a CFO to forecast for you.

A financial forecast estimates future incomes and expenses for any business over time the following year. They are used to help develop projections for the sake of profit and loss statements, burn rates, balance sheets, and cash flow forecasts.

It is a fiscal management tool that presents estimated info based on the present, past, and projected budgetary conditions. Tools will help identify future expenditure and revenue trends that have an immediate or long-term influence on government policies, community services, and strategic goals.

Why Should You Create a Financial Forecast?

As an entrepreneur or CEO, your time is valuable. Your efforts and focus are expanding your business, looking for new opportunities, making sales, and investing in marketing. All these pursuits demand a significant amount of time, leaving you little to no space for anything else.

There are other pressing matters for business leaders than financial forecasting; therefore, it often goes overlooked. You can use economic forecasting to achieve long-term success. It provides more than just a simple outlook towards the future of your business. Instead, it offers a roadmap to follow, setting goals accordingly and measuring your success.

A Clear Direction for the Future

Your business will likely have sales targets, growth strategies, and revenue goals. You also have reporting meetings for each month, quarter, and year. These are just the standard business practices that help you plan for the near future. Conferences are so joint that they often become part of the business routine. It might have reached a state where you no longer think about the numbers you generate or have no goals to achieve.

Without a clear sense of direction, you will set arbitrary goals. Having a financial model helps you create concrete plans and expectations. If you are thinking about a suitable place to start, do a one-year program for now, given the current state of your business.
Ask questions like: Where do I want to be at the same time next year? Where else do I want my business to have?

Being Able to Adapt

One of the most significant demands of the business world today is flexibility and adaptability. You will not survive for long if you have a fixed and rigid way of running a business. Financial forecasting shows how flexible you can be in your business based on your current resources.

When you understand your potential, you immediately realize what goals are achievable and which will take time. Money is one of a company’s most significant assets; therefore, you need to ensure that you have enough to make the right changes.

What Resources Do You Need, and When?

One of the most significant factors of inefficiency within any company is the failure to understand what resources are needed and at what time. Will the help be in cash funding, or how much to ensure before you run out? How do employees prevent overstaffing and even materials your company can benefit from?

Intelligent forecasting is the closest to getting to a crystal ball. Even though your forecast intelligently details how to achieve goals, the more degrees of inaccuracy, the more you waste resources. Predictions are supposed to be living documents. A skilled CFO will use a forecast to guide your budget, regularly compare to forecast, and ensure your goals are on track.

Bottom Line

Financial forecasting is and will always be essential to long-term business success. It is a visual representation of your business’s future so that you can decide what you need to change. Learn to approach your business goals with strong intentions rather than following old patterns.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

Data Security is a top priority for businesses with highly confidential data. Every company tries its best to avoid data breaches, but sadly, even the complete security protocols may fall vulnerable to a data breach.

The data breach is monetarily detrimental and damages your company’s reputation, resulting in your customer’s disappointment and loss of trust. This blog lists the top data security risks every business should address to eliminate threats.

Accidental Data Exposure

Data exposure and breaches often happen due to the clever work of the hackers who steal data by their methods, and many times, it happen accidentally. Violations due to the employee’s negligence are common and add to a massive chunk of data breach percentages in a business. 

There have been countless instances of people accidentally leaking their company’s private data online or sending it to the wrong person. It is essential to educate your employees about the SOPs and encourage them to follow them to avoid future data breaches. 

Ransomware Attacks

Ransomware attacks are common in the digital world and are a massive data security risk. They are malware that can encrypt your files, and then the attacker would ask the victim to give him a certain amount to gain access to their information. 

The attacker also gives the victim the payment method to buy the decryption key. Mostly, ransomware attacks are done via phishing and sent via email, which the victim may mistake for a trusted file. 

Protecting yourself from ransomware attacks is essential by installing a trustable antivirus and avoiding opening suspicious emails. 

Also, ensure to keep a backup of all your essential files frequently. Although it wouldn’t stop a malware attack, it will give you access to your data.

Third-Party Data Security Risk

When a business shares its data with a third party, it becomes vulnerable to a security risk. The company may give its financial information and other valuable data to a third party exposed by a hacker, resulting in a data breach.

Always analyze the third party’s cyber-security risks before dealing with them. Give only limited access to your data to the vendor if necessary. If you let the vendors have available data, it will increase the chances of a data breach. Consistently collaborate with trusted third parties only.

In-House Data Breach

Whenever a business or organization thinks of a data security risk, they think of outside sources and how they can steal or encrypt their data. Inside sources are of minor importance, including current and ex-employees and partners. 

Limit the data access to each employee and partner and carefully monitor how they use the data. Sign contracts with the employees and partners, which require them to pay heavy bills and a loss of collaboration in case of a data breach.

Poor Login Credentials

Easy and guessable passwords result in a data breach and are a massive data security risk. Google reported in a study in 2019 that 1.5% of the login credentials contributed to a data breach, which resulted in stealing the company’s detailed information and using its data against itself.

When the passwords are easy to guess, anyone can access the company’s confidential data despite the vital security protocols. Every business should keep its passwords updated on time, set up solid and complex passwords, and share the credentials with only trusted and relevant people.

Untrained Employees

Untrained employees are one of the biggest data security threats, as they are an easy target of phishing emails, may set up easy passwords, distribute confidential data, and download malware. 

It is essential to train all your employees to avoid data security risks. Even if you get the best security tools, they would be useless if your employees are not acquainted with the security risks and threats.

Conclusion

A data breach can take any business under its wings and destroy it. It is essential to take preventive measures to safeguard your business and its data from potential threats. 

Many businesses shut themselves up for fear of a data breach. Rather than making your business vulnerable, you and your team should always be ready to tackle data breaches persistent. About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

“I am easily satisfied with the very best.”

–   Winston Churchill

The above quote is what separates average leaders from agile leaders in the business world. Agile leaders always seek opportunities to improve and never settle for good enough. Being agile is about executing critical business objectives and taking the initiative quickly. When you have agile leaders in the organization, the sky is the limit for your business.

One of the biggest struggles of leaders in the business world is coming up with a strategy, which takes a lot of work. Whether it’s about making small decisions like improving employee workstations or something more complex like coming up with a new product – agile leaders don’t panic; they take focused actions.

Here are a few essential traits of agile leaders in healthcare:

• Agile leaders always follow the best

Agile leaders seek advice from experienced leaders who have achieved outstanding results inside and outside the industry. These people have networks with other, more successful leaders and know what’s happening in the industry. Agile leaders immediately see how success happens and explore how they can achieve similar results.

• Agile leaders are relentless

Agile leaders pay consistent attention to matters of great importance and expect their staff to do the same. They realize that it’s impossible to focus on everything all at once. Therefore, they ensure the team is transparent on what processes and behaviors are more important than others. They also ensure everything is addressed and reported daily when things are done well and when they are not.

• Agile leaders are self-aware

Agile leaders are confident and always willing to act, even in situations they have never encountered. This powerful trait, followed by self-reflection, allows them to understand their strengths and weaknesses. One of the best traits of agile leaders is admitting their mistakes and learning from them. When it comes to improving the outcomes, they always start with the self.

• Agile leaders never underestimate the metrics

Agile leaders never take the results of their staff for granted and never give excuses for poor performance. They pay close attention to numbers and identify performance patterns. These statistics help them, and their team sees both big and small wins as they work towards their goals.

• Agile leaders are curious

Agile leaders have a strategy in their DNA. No matter which industry they serve, agile leaders are tirelessly and naturally inquisitive wherever they may be. Also, they have a hunger to learn more and expand their horizons, entertaining new perspectives. One of the best traits of a leader is that they are not afraid to start from the beginning. They also ask bold questions and give all hypotheses a fair chance.

• Agile leaders are courageous

Agile leaders are bold and audacious. Successful leaders are known for taking risks and not being overwhelmed by what might happen, but they are not reckless or careless. Agile leaders make calculated and intelligent decisions. They gather all the critical information, do their homework, keep a close eye on the competition, and when the time is right, they don’t hold back. Agile leaders don’t spend too much time worrying about what others might think if the plan went south; they are strong enough to face criticism.

• Agile leaders are creative

Agile leaders have impeccable imaginations. They may not be coming with the “Next Big Thing” but will look for new and innovative ways to improve their team’s performance. These leaders aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo in the value chain. They are dedicated to experimenting and being playful with new combinations and ideas, helping their business be more cost-effective, customer-centered, and productive.

• Agile leaders set directions

A leader is unafraid to take charge and can stand up when needed. Agile leaders clearly understand where they want to reach and communicate that with ease. They know how the team, the organization, and other constituents respond to industry changes. Agile leaders are known for seeing the bigger picture and continuously making things easier for those who follow.

Bottom Line

Plain and simple, your key responsibility is implementing strategic objectives and not feeling frustrated by your problems as a leader. We hope these tips helped you get a clear picture and gain a better leadership perspective. About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

Here are a few trends and innovations to consider if you enter the housing market this year.

Rising Prices

Rising prices shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. Prices in the housing market have been rising for some time now, having more than doubled in the past 30 years. This trend isn’t about to change, but the data shows that prices are now rising slower than they have been in previous years, so that’s undoubtedly a good sign.

Low Inventory

The primary cause for the consistent rise in prices in the industry is a low inventory; too many people are trying to buy houses, and not enough places to buy. Covid-19 exasperated this issue further when people started trying to move to locations with lower infection rates. Even after the pandemic ends, it’s unlikely that this problem will solve itself any time soon.

Rising Mortgage Interest Rates

Not long ago, when middle-class people could no longer afford to pay the total price for a new house, all they had to do was take out a mortgage loan and pay it back gradually over time. This has become increasingly difficult in recent years as mortgage rates have risen to impossible highs.

The Covid-19 pandemic might have positively impacted mortgage rates, as rates across the country fell in 2020. Market analysts predict this decline should continue downward throughout 2021, or at least until the pandemic continues.

The Demographics

Since 2019, Millennials have surpassed Gen X and Baby Boomers as the dominant age group in the home buyer market. This trend will continue in 2021 as more millennials consider buying their first homes.

From Cities to Suburbs

More and more people have started to migrate away from urban city developments instead of looking for homes in smaller suburban communities. As the new predominant demographic in the buyers’ market, millennials prefer suburbs over city residences because they’re more affordable and experience lower crime rates.

Virtual Reality

As millennials have taken over as the primary demographic in the housing market, the tech-savvy generation has brought new technological innovations that are quickly pushing the industry in a bold new direction.

One such innovation is the use of virtual reality in the housing market. Virtual reality housing tours were already a niche practice offered by a few realtors and agencies before 2020; the pandemic saw VR becoming a popular method of conducting long-distance house tours.

VR home tours have many advantages over in-person ones for both agents and buyers. 

• VR allows real estate agents to market and sell properties with little investment.
• It will enable buyers to participate for several hours daily, making their home-buying journey much faster and more efficient.
• Thanks to VR, buyers can experience house tours from their homes and across cities and countries if they hope to move internationally.
• It allows potential buyers to experiment with the interior design and décor of the house by instantly customizing a digital 3D representation of it in VR, as per their liking, when such modifications to the actual place would be time-consuming and expensive.

Apps

Since smartphones started using apps over a decade ago, they’ve become essential to our everyday lives. There seems to be an app for everything, and we use our smartphones in some capacity. Seeing this, real estate agencies have decided to leverage the power of apps, creating apps that make the home-buying experience easier and more efficient. Apps allow buyers, sellers, and agents to remain connected and provide a platform upon which buyers can find the best options currently on the market.

Cryptocurrency

The sky-high price of bitcoin has made it difficult for the virtual currency to function as a standard means of exchange, but with prices rising every day, the housing market may be the perfect space for bitcoin to thrive.

Experts believe the technology upon which cryptocurrency is produced and traded, blockchain, could also be a tool for innovation in the housing industry. Still, we’ll have to watch how the technology develops further before taking that plunge into the future.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

In the last decade, it has been inclined towards artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. AI can potentially change the world, becoming common in our everyday life. Whether it is weather prediction, self-driving cars, or space exploration, AI impacts every field.

History of AI

Artificial intelligence is not a newly introduced concept. About a century ago, AI turned into reality from fictional books. In 1950, Alan Turing introduced machines and created a “Turing Test” to measure a machine’s ability to think and work like a human being. The term “Artificial intelligence” was coined in the mid-1950s after the death of Turing.

In 1959, an American cognitive scientist, Marvin Minsky, established the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s AI Laboratory. The increased use of personal computers in 1980 shed further light on AI. However, people took several decades to accept and recognize the true potential of AI.  

The most significant advantage of artificial intelligence is its ability to learn from collected data constantly. The machine predicts better when algorithms collect and analyze massive data. For example, if you are unsure which movie to watch today, Netflix will suggest some films based on your viewing history.

Evolution of Artificial Intelligence from Fiction to Reality

Researchers have designed software focusing on survival in the best possible conditions and increasing efficiency for each generation without human involvement. The creation of algorithms takes time. An example of machine learning is translating languages and self-driving cars.

These networks resemble a brain’s structure and learn from the collected data. Smaller neurons are responsible for specific tasks, such as recognizing road signs. It is not a matter of a day; it takes several months to complete and adequately integrate this technology.

Recently, processes have been faster through the automation technique. But these programs connect circuits created by humans. It limits the output to the thoughts and biases of engineers and developers.

Google’s computer scientist, Quoc Le, designed AutoML-Zero software to create effective AI programs without human aid. The program comprises fundamental mathematical concepts that every high-grade student would know.

The program is intended to identify algorithms through evolution approximation. It begins with creating the population set of 100 people algorithms and connecting them with random mathematical functions. A test, like image recognition, is conducted to identify whether the image portrays a cat or a dog.

Each time, the algorithm’s performance is compared against the manual one. Artificial intelligence alters top-performing copies by random replacement, edition, and deletion. Adding children to the population can lead to slight algorithm variations, and the cycle continues.

The system can create thousands of population sets at once, which algorithms analyze. The program is good at speeding up the search process through algorithm exchange and duplication. The evolution of artificial intelligence has made processes more manageable than before.

Leveraging AI in Businesses

Machine learning techniques are a source of increased workforce productivity. Artificial intelligence transformed businesses from workforce management and prediction analysis to brand advertising. In recent years, a Japanese firm nominated an AI board member for the faster prediction of market trends.

Big data is a benchmark of success for businesses, but some organizations are sinking into it. It is a significant driver of AI development, as machine-learning techniques make predictions from many gathered and administered data sets. It enhances business efficiency by decreasing critical risks.

Artificial intelligence helps you determine uneven patterns and keeps an entrepreneur alert of suspicious activities, such as payment fraud and spam filtering. Organizations can utilize AI to manage incoming customer support calls. Companies can optimize sales through database scanning and web searching to identify similar buying patterns.

Artificial intelligence has a significant potential to revolutionize organizational processes, and it is becoming harder for businesspeople to imagine their company’s future without AI. Machine-learning technologies are becoming much more inclusive, where a machine can replace the work of 10 humans.

AI created a space for both machines and humans to live peacefully and learn from each other. Machines optimize the return on investment through systematic exchanges and allow advertisers to create eye-catching content.

Several factors evolved artificial intelligence, including open data, updated computer systems, historical data, next-generation technology, etc. It all started with science fiction and the representation of machines through gendered and emotional people. Otherwise, people would not accept or care about machines without human sensation. About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

The Credit Score evaluates how you manage your accounts and credits. The score is a Credit Bureau rating, a Credit Information Society (SIC) generally consulted by institutions that grant credit. If you have ever used credit, telephone services, or pay television, you are in a credit bureau, regardless of your credit profile.

How Does the Credit Score Work?

A Credit Score depends on several factors, but the most important is how well and consistently you repay debts. The Credit Bureau uses a range of 400 to 850 points to evaluate you. The lower the score, the less likely a lender will be to extend credit or a favorable interest rate. For example, if your score is 400 or close, few lenders would see this as a desirable and reliable credit score that reflects your creditworthiness. If there is a lender who will extend credit when you have a low score, then be wary. Significant interest rates may accompany loans in that situation, further pushing you into debt and making it difficult to increase your score.

However, everything is different if your score is 850 or similar. In this case, many credit institutions will consider you a reliable person, and you will likely be able to obtain much lower rates. But beware, having an excellent score does not guarantee that you will be approved for every credit extension or secure the best rates since institutions evaluate other variables, such as your ability to pay or level of indebtedness.

Credit Activity

Suppose you were thinking of keeping your credit card forever or not asking for any type of financing. In that case, this may cause your score to go down because the credit bureau, like any SIC, cannot evaluate or assign points to someone who does not report any credit activity. Similarly, do not close the credit card or credit account with the longest, most consistent repayment history. This history shows a lender that you have the ability and willingness to repay a loan on time.

Number of Credits

Your score also falls among your most active credits because of your ability to pay. No matter how well you pay, your score will be low if most of your income is committed to paying loans or credits. Be cautious about using and repaying credit cards with low-interest rates. Overextending your payment on credit debt is unwise and can have disastrous consequences. 

Excess of Consultations

 If you have more than five queries of your report in less than six months, the credit bureau will think you are desperate for financing. This will negatively impact your credit score and automatically lower it.

Improving a Credit Score

Check your history

You can get a free copy every 12 months of your credit history, and then you can see who you owe or who you fell behind. While it may cause anxiety, especially if you have never looked at your credit history, it is far worse not knowing what debt you have. Similarly, many banks will let you know your credit score if you have an account with them. Then, you can monitor it without delving deep into your credit history.

Payment plans

Approach the institution with which you have the debt and negotiate a payment plan. Many institutions will be willing to enter into reasonable repayment agreements because this shows the institution you are ready to pay and increases their confidence in you as a customer.

Be patient

Improving your score takes time, so do not despair, but work to correct it as soon as you can. Consider that the more outstanding the debt or the longer you have taken to repay your debt is negative financial behavior, but you will need time to improve your score

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

Imagine what the world would be like without cars. Without all the pollution they produce. A world without the noise from running vehicles. The dangers of being in a car crash. Now, think about a self-driving car with you sitting in the driving seat. While both scenarios may seem like a figment of your imagination, the second thought is not. Self-driving vehicles are a reality because companies like Google and Waymo are working on self-driving cars that can maneuver with the utmost ease. While there were challenges in developing this technology, and some vendors are still testing their variants, Google’s self-driving car was a concept that turned into reality thanks to the relentless focus on developing a quality, affordable product.

Current Projects

It can be argued that self-driving cars are here to stay, given their need and scope. Many notable automobile makers are now considering the possibility of developing self-driving cars. Some have progressed well but are going through the testing phase. Google’s self-driving car developer, Waymo, once claimed that the world would see self-driving vehicles on the road by 2020. While that did not happen by 2020, the delay is not in the over-arching self-driving car project. There have been delays in the past, but the project will continue for some time.

Technology

Many companies are doing their part to develop self-driving cars, and there have been instances when these cars were tested. When we discuss self-driving vehicles, Google’s self-driving automobile comes to mind. The car has been around since 2006 and has been going through rigorous testing ever since.

The car is a marvel of cutting-edge technology, using a combination of microchip-based processing units and software to operate the vehicle. Google has been rigorously working on and testing many prototype vehicles for years. The self-driving car has covered several laps of 100-mile runs and continues to do so. The self-driving vehicle is progressing through a testing phase during which the technology is established for reliability, affordability, and the response of installed systems. The car is expected to include limited functionality with other manually controlled functions. For example, the driver can drive and park the vehicle manually or automatically. Automatic assisting for brakes is also there for improved survivability.

Once the prototype phase is over, many companies will present their self-driving cars and robots. Delays in the project are temporary, and self-driving vehicles are anticipated to be on roads before 2030. The improving technology indicates that these cars are about to hit mass production.

The Future of Cars

Driving a car can be a hectic experience, and taking your vehicle on a long drive can make you feel tired and frustrated. Surprisingly, humans tend to feel bored and tired even when driving a luxury car with top-of-the-line features. With smart cars soon on the road, you do not need to worry about becoming sleepy and bored while driving. This automotive revolution is just around the corner, with many vendors trying their best to include features that will get you to your destination in no time. Self-driving vehicles are all set to be affordable without compromising your family’s safety.

Improvements

The preparation of prototypes was completed years ago, but comfort, automation, and integration drive improvements to the design. Automated cars will revolutionize how we drive by helping us save money through fuel economy without compromising mileage. Two concepts currently being developed include cars with hybrid propulsion and electric propulsion. Both will improve fuel economy through a cutting-edge ecosystem that monitors fuel status and displays the information to the driver. The driver will be there and can take over by pressing a button if he prefers. About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

Have you considered improving your business and taking it to the next level? This will be impossible without human resource management. First, running a business is not easy, and an entrepreneur must focus on multiple operations areas. This means managers and the human resource department are responsible for meeting targets and company goals. However, operating under outdated methods will no longer work; the same applies to old technologies. Do you expect your managers to meet your expectations in the 21^st century using technologies of the previous century? Certainly not. Effectual use of technology and efficient human resource management is essential. You can make sure to manage your human resources by doing the following:

Anticipating Needs

One of the roles of any modern Human Resource (HR) department is to anticipate the requirements of an expanding company. The HR department must monitor company plans to accommodate a plan of expansion. Sometimes, companies initiate mergers with other businesses, and no matter how small or big the organization, a merger puts the HR department at attention. The HR department must anticipate future business needs and operate accordingly while keeping the current needs of the business and employees in view. Now, the role of HR will expand twofold as they are responsible for managing the existing workforce while anticipating partial recruitment for the future. It is worth noting that these hirings are limited and not expansive and replace current underperforming employees or those who left.

Focusing on Growth

The first thing to consider is business growth. HR must maintain focus on where the business is headed. The department should expect to recruit and onboard new associates if the business is trending toward growth and expansion. HR departments must stay in touch with upper management to know when to act and plan for recruitment. Expected business growth will likely initiate the recruitment process so the HR department must be kept involved in an expansion plan.

Understanding the Mission Statement

As a matter of principle, every human resource department must understand the business’s mission statement. The mission statement is the driving force for any company and projects it towards a desired growth level. This becomes possible when the human resource executives understand company objectives correctly, and there is little to no room for error. Human resource managers understand what is at stake and do all they can to meet required performance levels and objectives.

Ensuring Employee Retention

Employees are the biggest asset for any company, so pushing employees unnecessarily or forcing them to quit is not a desirable practice. A proficient HR team will ensure employee retention at all costs. Experienced employees understand their job well and know what the company expects from them. Employee retention can improve profitability and help the business expand without the risk of incurring losses. The inability to ensure a high-profit margin while increasing losses is something every HR team must avoid. As such, retaining experienced employees and hiring new candidates when needed are primary responsibilities for HR.

Equipping Employees

An employee given a goal but no tools to achieve it is ineffective. It is a common problem for many companies where employees lack the tools to achieve desired performance. The HR department must consider their requirements and promptly provide the tools they ask for to maintain increased business productivity and employee satisfaction. 

Considering Employee Competence

HR must assign employees targets based on their skills, competence, and portfolio.A fresh candidate may lack the expertise and knowledge of an experienced employee. Therefore, HR professionals must consider employee experience and knowledge before assigning tasks. Similarly, HR should recognize growth opportunities for employees to hone skills or areas to improve.

Initiating Best Practices

Identify HR best practices to achieve results without compromising employee performance. HR professionals must have the skills and expertise to know what it takes to extract better results from the team without making them lose their confidence. For example, making employees consistently work late can reduce their overall performance, but it may occasionally become pivotal to achieving monthly and quarterly goals. HR should identify which best practices to initiate and when to implement them to maximize production and employee approval.

Conclusion

Considering and putting these factors into practice is the best way to grow your organization, so implement these steps to effectively manage your HR efficiency. About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

The demand for organic food and products has grown exponentially in the twenty-first century as people have grown healthier and more environmentally conscious. The need for sustained farming is more important than ever, as science has shown that everyday agriculture practices have adverse effects on climate change, and the use of pesticides and artificial fertilizers has led to water contamination, pollution, and soil erosion. Although these farming techniques usually produce higher yields, they are done at the expense of the environment and negatively affect our health in the long run. The need to balance the growing rise in global food demand and the conservation of the environment has induced more people towards organic farming produce.

Despite producing lower yields than traditional farming techniques, studies have shown that organic farming is more profitable. Researchers calculated that organic farming earns approximately 22-35% more, as farmers can sell their certified organic produce at higher prices. The cost of producing organic goods is much lower as they do not rely on pesticides, chemicals, or other industrial items. However, they have a higher labor cost, which is beneficial as it creates more jobs and requires skilled professionals.

The demand for organic food has grown exponentially as millions of Americans become more health-conscious and actively seek healthy alternatives to their favorite foods. For example, Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods, the parent company of the Impossible Burger, have been offering meat-alternative plant-based patties and sausages to combat heavily processed fast food. It has become a multi-billion-dollar industry, with everyone actively pursuing more plant-friendly organic products. Supermarkets and big-box retailers like Walmart, Costco, and Target actively advertise their organic food sections and have seen massive spikes in sales.

The value of organic farms being eco-friendly and healthier cannot be overlooked. Still, organic food does not produce the exact yield as those harvested through traditional farming techniques. Additionally, their high price margins can discourage the average American, who might not want to spend much of their budget on organic foods. Individuals might be more inclined to consume regular processed food products since they are more affordable. Regarding cost, organic foods cannot compete with processed foods and are in danger of being a luxury item rather than a necessity. Despite availability almost everywhere in the country, people experiencing financial hardships might not be able to afford to buy organic foods regularly.

While organic farming is more profitable than traditional farming techniques, there are disadvantages. At the same time, farmers can earn a premium from selling their products as certified organic; it is a long-term investment. It typically takes years to produce a yield that can cover their expenses. Many farmers cannot financially afford to invest in something that will not see a return for years and are hopelessly dependent on pesticides and chemicals. Most farmers dedicate only a percentage of their farming land to organic products. Though they might slowly reduce their dependence on chemicals, it will still be many years before they fully transition into exclusively producing organic foods.

That means that the bulk of orders is being met by corporations, who have the capital and the means to mass-produce it that the average farmer cannot. This means companies use automation to produce large-scale orders, ultimately hurting the agricultural sector and dissuading farmers from entirely diverting from conventional farming methods. According to David Crowder from the Washington State University Department of Entomology, the problem could be solved if the government intervenes on their behalf and assists the industry.

“The challenge facing policymakers,” he explains, “is to develop government policies that support conventional farmers converting to organic and other sustainable systems, especially during the transition period, often the first three years.”

The only way for us to combat climate change and the degradation of the environment is by helping farmers use eco-friendly methods and boost profits during their first few years of transition. It is also crucial for the government to protect them from the threat of companies like Target and Walmart, whose pricing techniques ultimately cause more harm than good in both the short and long term.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.