Month: September 2018

The Impact Of Metrics For Investment Banking Performance

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Financial investments are measured through metrics for investment banking performance. This is a way of gauging if a financial undertaking is worth the risk and the effort. There is no point of providing inputs if the output is not satisfactory and if it does not meet certain specifications of what needs to be achieved.

Depending on the investment, there are several Key Performance Indicators that one may look at before arriving to a conclusion whether the financial investment is earning or losing money. One of these things is the return of investment of ROI. To compute this, the total amount of investment should be subtracted from the incremental earnings or profits. The difference will then be divided by the investment to get the percentage. To be more accurate in the calculation, data analysis must also be used. Numbers that will show sales, outgoing funds, expenses, and such will give an analyst a clearer view on whether there is substantial return on investment or not.

Another metric used is the years the investment was active. This will help individuals or businesses know what return they want to calculate. It is not wise to make judgment for the feasibility of an investment if it was just active for one month. Therefore, there should be a substantial amount of data to be studied. The ideal number of data points to be compared or used in an analysis is 20 data points. This means that the results of an investment should be measure for a minimum of 20 weeks, or 20 months, or even 20 years. Only then will an analyst see the causal effects of actions taken and how these things can be corrected in an objective way.

Always take note that measuring the financial performance of a company should be data driven. Just because the company did not earn does not mean it should be closed. Action plans and decisions should never be based on assumptions. All of them should be backed up by numbers and data since numbers do not lie. With this, people will not be fired or blamed because of poor logic and unwarranted assumptions and politically motivated intentions.

Another performance indicator of an investment is yield. The yield should be calculated in percentage and this will show an investor how much his investment has made in profit. If the investor has a certain target in mind, what he has to do is to divide target by the yield percentage, to find out how much he needs to add to his investment. For example, an investor has $1,000,000 in investment to the bank and he wants to measure its performance. After a month, he received a profit of $100,000. His yield percentage is 10%. If his target profit is $150,000, this means he is short of $50,000.

To determine how much investment should be added, he should divide by $150,000 by 10. The result is $150,000. This means he has to invest $150,000 to get the profit he wants, in order to get a substantial result of his metrics for investment banking performance.

Infinite Banking – Scam Or Serious Investment Tool

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As a financial concept growing in popularity and demand, the Infinite Banking System is beginning to receive a backlash of negative criticism. There are those that say infinite banking is a scam. But those who do so misunderstand the concept of what is being sold.

The Infinite Banking Scam
Let’s start with what this system is not. It’s not a product that you can buy on the Internet. It’s not a get rich scheme. And it’s not for everyone. Those who claim there is an infinite banking scam misunderstand the premise of what perpetual banking is all about. The truth is, the basis for this system is not even a new product. It is an established, proven product that is being used in a new and innovative way.

The Infinite Banking System is a philosophy of personal banking founded on a properly structured, dividend-paying whole life insurance policy. As a financial tool, whole life policies are a proven product. Historically, insurance companies have been one of the safest places for your money. Life insurance companies invest in very safe financial instruments such as bonds, which means lower investment risks for policyholders.

So Why Isn’t Everyone Doing It?
At the core of the Infinite Banking Concept is the idea that you become your own banker. Doing this requires commitment to the idea, and discipline in carrying out the practices of Infinite Banking.

The Infinite Banking System means you are the Saver, the Borrower and the Banker of your own bank. You save money with your bank, you can borrow money from your bank (on terms that you set) and you pay the bank (yourself) both the money borrowed and interest on that money – meaning you are making money by financing yourself. Your “bank” is based and financed by your dividend-paying whole life insurance policy.

When used as a banking application a whole life insurance policy is structured differently than other insurance policies. The policy provides a death benefit to your heirs, but places a greater emphasis on your ability to access the cash value liquidity within your account to finance your life. The amount of the Death Benefit is reduced in order to increase the amount of your policy’s cash value.

Obviously, you could set up this same personal banking system with either a checking account or a mutual fund policy. But the financial gains are limited by the tax consequences of each. A whole life policy offers a bank-like platform but provides some tremendous additional benefits. By using the whole life platform, you benefit from the tax deferred growth of your money, tax-free distributions through your policy loans, and an income-tax free death benefit to your heirs.

The Cost of Infinite Banking
The basis of the system is a whole life insurance policy, and there are initial costs and administrative fees associated with that. Critics of the concept point to these fees as proof of the Infinite Banking Scam.

The truth is, any financial policy or tool will have administrative costs associated with it. With Infinite Banking, this cost is most visible in the first years of the policy when your access to cash values is less than the premiums you deposit. But like all legitimate financial tools, this system is concerned about long-term success and the improvement of people’s lives through financial independence. If policyholders are dedicated and diligent about their commitment to this system of banking, their eventual profits will more than compensate for the upfront cost of the insurance.

Understanding the Financial Industry
We can all agree that financing is a huge industry. It’s also an industry that works to the benefit of the lending institutions, and not to the consumer. Let’s start by pointing out the misconceptions surrounding interest. Individuals are sold on the concept of interest rates. If we get a 5% interest rate as opposed to a 6.5% interest rate, we think we’re getting a good deal.

Financial institutions, on the other hand, are concerned with interest volume. If you’ve financed the purchase of a home, for instance, the Truth in Lending Statement will spell out exactly how much interest you are paying. You may think you are paying 6.5% interest on your loan, but your TIL will show that over a 30-year mortgage you will actually pay double the price of your home in interest. That’s more like 50% interest, not 6.5%. So why do we do it? Because we don’t know a better way.

The Infinite Banking System offers people a better way – a way of breaking this cycle of making money for the banks. Of course, when policyholders are just getting started with the system, they won’t be able to immediately finance a new home. But they can start with smaller, personal loans. And if they are disciplined about paying themselves back, they will soon find they can finance a car purchase, and perhaps eventually a home. In fact, when used correctly, the more loans an Infinite Banking policy finances, the more money it makes for its holder.

The Successful Infinite Banker
The success of this system is predicated on the discipline of the policyholder as his or her personal banker. By borrowing from yourself and paying yourself back you will recapture more of the principal and interest that you normally were sending away. The structure of an insurance policy will reduce the number of payments required to payoff the loan, and by reducing the number of payments, there is an instant gain. More of the payment is applied to principal then interest.

Additionally, with whole-life insurance policies there are no transaction fees and funds are guaranteed to grow on a tax-deferred basis. Distributions from your cash values done as policy loans are tax-free. Withdrawals from the policy are tax-free up to the amount of your basis, or the amount of money you have contributed to the policy.

The Infinite Banking Scam is a fallacy. This is a proven financial tool that can improve the financial lives of those with the discipline and understanding to make it work.

BSES Online Bill Payment By Net Banking

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With millions of residents in Delhi and nearby regions, the need to have a smooth provision of electricity supply was paramount. Since long, people had been suffering due to erratic current cutbacks and lack of streamlined approach in supply. Further devastating was the lack of any rightful method of collection of bills from the residents. A few years ago, the scenario was reflected in long queues in the offices of Delhi Vidyut Board till July 2002. But then, power sector of Delhi was privatized and was taken over by BSES. This takeover also led to the transfer of various liabilities, assets, personnel and proceedings of the Delhi Vidyut Board in compliance with the transfer agreements. Now, majority of Delhi’s power distribution system remains under BSES Yamuna Power Limited or BYPL and BSES Rajdhani Power Limited and a third party North Delhi Power Limited, which is a venture between Tata Power and Govt of Delhi. With 3 separate jurisdictions for each of these units, Delhi’s power woes have almost ended. BSES New Delhi Apart from the facilities of efficient power supply by the BSES and NDPL, the losses have come down significantly and infrastructure improvement has been remarkable. But, one of the hallmarks of these changes through privatisation has been the convenience in the BSES bill payment by the residents. Earlier, people were required to pay through cash or demand drafts or cheques, which obviously is a cumbersome process for people in Delhi. They could deposit the bills in the customer care centres and kiosks. Currently, after the revision of the bill payment process and privatisation, a number of methodologies have been put forth by these organisations for the payment of dues. Bill payment kiosks are opened in various centres under the BYPL and BRPL. Residents can go to these places and pay by cheque or cash between 8 am and 8 pm, excepting the public holidays. There are also other options such as payment through counters, cheque in mail and drop boxes. But the one modality which has stolen the show is that of payment through net banking or BSES bill payment online. Online mode of payment is advantageous for few reasons: BSES Online Bill Payment By Net Banking Most people have online internet banking facilities, which are provided by their banks. Almost all the banks have nowadays facility to operate accounts online. Hence, payment of electricity bills monthly, doesn’t pose an issue for people. Rather, they would prefer doing so, as it allows them to make their payments from the comforts of their laptops and computers at homes and offices. It is but natural that electricity consumers in Delhi are opting for the internet banking facilities for BSES bill payment. The process of doing so is also quite easy. Consumers can select mastercard, visa card and other cards for banks like IDBI, SBI, PNB, Axis, and others. They can start by visiting the BSES Delhi official site and click on payment options. There will be an online confirmation and a transaction reference number. Then, the BSES account number would be asked, which consumers can fill in. A page then opens up, where consumers can see their particular bills for the said months, which is due. Payment process proceeds when they click on pay now option. On selecting the net banking option, customers would be redirected to their respective banks, where the user id and password has to be provided. Through a secured gateway, the amount would be instantly debited and it would reach the customer’s BSES account within 5 working days. BSES bill payment online has been a boon to the millions of power users in Delhi. With high end system of fee collections, lots of people have been benefited and quickly adopted this system of paying their bills without fail.

Offshore Online Banking Guide – Critical Information You Must Know

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There are several legal and regulatory compliance implications with offshore banking that I’d like to cover in this article. However, please don’t construe information on this site as legal guidance. I am providing this information for free based on my own experiences. Please consult your professional attorney or CPA (accountant) before you get involved with offshore internet banking.

What is an Offshore Bank

To be over simplistic, an offshore bank is a financial institution outside the shores of your country. If you are in Australia, a bank in the United States is an offshore bank to you. If you are in the United States, a bank in Singapore is an offshore bank to you. Therefore, the idea of offshore banking is relative.

A business or an individual, in this case you, may select an offshore bank account in a jurisdiction that is typically favorable in terms of taxes (often referred to as a tax haven by media), as well as in terms of legalities. In addition to choosing a jurisdiction with no to little income tax, for many, privacy and “secrecy” of banking activities are two of the bigger key considerations.

It goes without saying that access to your funds is important, as well as protection from corruption and stability in terms of certainty.

List of Common Offshore Online Banking Services

This is a brief list of services offered by offshore banks. This list is by no means a full comprehensive list of an offshore bank’s offerings, but rather a list of some of the most common offshore online banking services that businesses and individuals are offered:

Remote Deposits of funds
Direct Deposits of funds
ACH / Wire Transfers / EFT – Electronic Fund Transfers
Consumer and Commercial Lending
All Basic Credit Activities
Access to Capital – Offshore Debit Cards
Forex – Currency Exchange
Wealth Management
Offshore Trading Account
Offshore Brokerage Account
Administrative Services
Trustee Services

Note: Offshore banks typically tend to focus on either consumer or commercial banking. Within consumer, banks differentiate between retail consumer (the average individual) or private banking (meant for high net worth individuals).

Because each concentration involves a different cost structure from the bank’s perspective, when selecting an offshore bank for yourself, be clear on what type of consumer you are and what offshore online banking services you need. Gaining this clarity will ensure you are not disappointed in your choice.

List of Common Offshore Banks

No doubt the two most common names in offshore online banking are Switzerland and Cayman Islands. Just pick up any business journal or pop in a business based Hollywood flick. There is likely a mention of a Swiss bank account somewhere.

This is because as of at least 2012, these two jurisdictions held the most number of total deposits amongst all offshore online banks. Some other jurisdictions that offer offshore online banking are the following:

Singapore
Malaysia
Panama
Cook Islands
Dominica
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Antigua
Malaysia
Anguilla
New Zealand
Luxembourg
Bahamas
Barbados
Bermuda
British Virgin Islands
Cyprus
Cook Islands
Channel Islands
Monaco
Mauritius
Hong Kong
Malta
Macau
Regulating Offshore Online Banking

With complexity comes increasing regulation. The regulation around offshore online banking activities has steadily increased over the years, but according to many of its supporters it is still not enough. This means much more is in the pipelines. Regulation has particularly increased significantly after the significant events of September 11, 2011.

Regulatory guidance is issued and monitored by global bodies such as the International Monetary Fund or the IMF, who require financial institutions worldwide to maintain a certain level of operating or performance standard, specifically in terms of capital adequacy and liquidity. These key performance indicators are to be reported by banks on a quarterly basis to its designated regulator (such as the Fed or the FDIC in the United States).

The list of regulations is endless and quite comprehensive to say the least. Some notables are the Anti Money Laundering (AML) regulation and the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA). These acts require banks and financial institutions to immediately report suspicious activity resembling money laundering to local government authorities despite stepping out of the BSA jurisdiction.

Another example is the information sharing requirements between a certain group of countries with regards to capital flow and taxation which was initiated by members of the European Union. On the other side of the pond, the taxing body of the United States, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires financial institutions to report to it names of businesses and individuals who benefited from interest income resulting from deposits in US based institutions.

The most notable in my opinion of recently enacted regulations is the US Patriot Act, which permits the US Government to seize all assets of a financial institution if it suspects that the institution holds assets that belong to a potential criminal. Several other countries have since followed suit.

I personally feel these regulations strengthen the global banking infrastructure. But then again I am just one person. There are others who feel in all sorts of ways about offshore online banking.

Interesting Fact: Did you know that just until the 1990s, individuals were allowed to create their very own offshore banks. This practice was stopped and now only large institutions are allowed to do so.

Connotations and Implications of Offshore Online Banking

It is not illegal to conduct offshore online banking, but such activities tend to carry with them a certain set of connotations and legal implications that you must be aware of and comply with. There can be severe fines, penalties and legal repercussions if you fail to comply with the legal and regulatory requirements.

Why you must be thinking? Because offshore banking historically has been used and abused by those who intended to evade taxes, as well as those that used funds for illegal causes. For example, organized crime networks heavily use offshore online banking to launder money.

But like I said, conducting offshore online banking isn’t an illegal activity. All persons conducting offshore online banking are required by most countries (depending on their residency) to disclose the activities and the outcomes, such as interest income for example.

Specifically in the United States for example, a US resident’s income is taxed on a global basis. This means that even interest earned overseas is subject to taxation by US authorities. Now although financial institutions are not required to disclose this information to countries of interest due the bank secrecy guidelines, individuals are required to disclose this information.

Similarly, one can legally avoid taxes in certain situations. For example, a resident of Country X living and working in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) may not have to pay taxes if Country X does not tax the individual’s global income.

Because there is no taxation on income earned in many Arab nations, interest income earned from deposits in a UAE bank account is not subject to tax. Further, the income is also not taxed in Country X. This is a common reason why so many affluent folks change residency and citizenship status, one that resonates most with their financial goals and objectives.

It’s a very interesting dynamic and there is a ton of opportunity for strategizing as you can imagine.

Dollar Concentration in Offshore Online Banking

Although offshore online banking is not a subject delved into by the average individual, the numbers involved (concentration of wealth and financial activity) are quite significant. You may find a lot of these simply fascinating.

For example, specialized banking economists and analysts indicate that half of the global capital (money) flows through one of the many offshore banks out there. The so called Tax Havens (think Switzerland) have over a quarter of the global wealth (think high net worth individuals and big companies). These Havens also hold over 30% of profits generated by companies based in the United States.

And that’s not it. Over 6 trillion US dollars owned by high net worth individuals are also reported to be held in offshore bank accounts in one shape or another.

Illegal Monies in Offshore Bank Accounts

Opportunists have identified weaknesses in the offshore banking system and thus have taken advantage of the systems to launder monies generated through illegal means and used for illegal purposes. According to the IMF, this amount is as large as 1.5 trillion US dollars on an annual basis. To put things in perspective for you, this is roughly 5% of the world’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

In addition to illegal monies, there are also monies that have evaded taxation as well as monies that were generated through fraud, graft and corruption. All in all, the amounts are super significant. And as I stated above, the two jurisdictions with the biggest concentration of these amounts are the Cayman Islands and Switzerland (as of 2012).

Offshore Internet Banking for Corporations of All Sizes

I have already stated this earlier, but offshore online banking is not only for large companies, but companies of all sizes as well as individuals. There are a certain set of requirements that any institution, an individual or a company have to meet in order to open and maintain an offshore bank account.

In fact, it is easier for individuals to open and maintain an offshore bank account before companies are required to complete additional forms in a specific manner when establishing an offshore internet bank account.

Corporations typically engage in offshore online banking when they contemplate one or any mix of the following purposes.

Cost containment (bank fees and charges)
Paying and receiving payments from vendors and customers in local jurisdictions
Asset protection strategies
International acquisitions and investments
Compensating local employees in an offshore jurisdiction
Political reasons – Stability and predictability
Establishing a local business presence
Again, this is not a comprehensive list of why companies engage in offshore online banking. There are several other reasons why a company may decide to establish an offshore bank account. The only true way to find out the best offshore bank for you, and whether your objectives will be met through offshore internet banking is by speaking to a professional who can walk you through the entire process.

Concluding Thoughts on Offshore Internet Banking

I gave you a ton of information to read and digest in this article. As you have read, offshore internet banking is used by several different constituencies for several different purposes with several different intentions.

There are some significant advantages that can be derived from opening an offshore bank account such as entering new global markets and some serious offshore tax planning. I obviously recommend opening an offshore bank account for the right reasons, with full compliance with laws and regulations. For those contemplating abusing the system, understand that bank secrecy is a weakening concept, and one that will continue to weaken over the years.

Countries are increasingly sharing information, some voluntarily and some while succumbing to pressure by more powerful nations such as the United States.

Online banking review is a good option

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You may visit any bank today and you’re bound to find a wide range of bank accounts to choose from. Ranging from savings and current accounts, to investment and loan accounts, there seems to be an account service for every banking need. Whether you want to open a Deposit account, Money Market account, or Savings account at any bank, make sure to do a little research on that bank.

Online resources provides you a list of bank reviews that include basic information on the bank, address, minimum balance to open an account, interest rates, and fee. You may also share with different people around the net if you have had any experience dealing with a specific bank. These data points are included in search results to help you make the best choice and see for yourself the best bank reviews around the net.
The bank ratings, bank ratings stars, local bank ratings etc. are only some ways to gather information about a certain bank that you ought to invest in. There are several trusted sites online that will provide you with bank ratings list. Bank ratings guide are also important so that you will determine the parameter of these sites in rating the performance of the bank in many aspects.

There’s a whole other world of dedicated accounts for consumers to choose from. Current account is classified as a general type of account; a consumer might actually find a handful of different current accounts with any given bank – each with its unique set of features. However, despite the sheer selection of accounts available to consumers, banks usually make it pretty simple for consumers to compare their options and choose an account that fits their financial needs, bank comparisons and bank reviews ratings are also a wise step to take.

So, there’s no need to feel overwhelmed by the seemingly countless bank accounts available on the market. Once you understand the features that accompany every type of account, you’re sure to be able to make an informed account decision.

What’s more, banks usually make it just as simple for consumers to apply for a bank account, most often inviting online account applications. Yet, if you’re still unsure about the various features tied to a set of bank accounts, the next step is to contact the bank directly. A banking associate can explain to you which account features come with each type of account. Talking to a representative directly also gives you the opportunity to relay what you’re looking for in a bank account – thus, making it easier for banking associate to recommend a bank account that matches your needs.

Online is a good place to make initial bank comparisons and online bank reviews. Online Banks often clearly lay out their account options right on their website, so you can quickly and easily compare account features based on what you’re looking for. You’ll be able to compare account features such as any applicable monthly fees, whether the account comes with overdraft or identity theft protection, whether any type of insurance cover is included with the account or whether you get added perks with your account.

Bank technology has been in the headlines of late for all the wrong reasons. Banking downtime is becoming a more frequent occurrence, or at least an occurrence that gets noticed more often, it can be stressful dealing with your financial account every now and then, thats why investing in these reviews and comparisons is a great help. Discover banking experts share their mind with you and find out if you are banking in a right bank.