Nowadays, much of the discourse about how the Network Economy is changing the concept of work culture focuses on anecdotes about individuals who are modifying the time-honored model and, most certainly, the ongoing arguements over the benefits of business outsourcing and the emerging online freelance market.

Now a larger, more substantial alteration of employment relationships is now just beginning to come about. Companies are beginning to realize that knowledge is advancing and accumulating more rapidly in the latest external network than in the ancient internal closed model.  The ability to tap into talent and knowledge streams beyond the bounds of organizational boundaries is becoming necessary for companies striving to remain relevant and competitive.  And as a consequence, they are re-thinking their more familiar HR and IP solutions to align with this new business reality.

These implications are even more significant for the individual;  businesses, who provide the most established platform on which to build careers, are now re-defining their relationship with talent and knowledge, introducing uncertainty into what previously was a straight path to fulfilling careers and long-term financial well-being.  Also, the dynamic of the new idea of the network economy places demands on the pace of knowledge – and experience-acquisition that individuals will find difficult to find in a time tested single employment relationship.

Regardless of uncertainties, these developments are creating real opportunities on both sides of the talent equation. These recently available developments are now creating very real business opportunities for both business and worker: companies need to stay competitive, and will continue to search out and pay a premium for knowledge and know-how that add value and help distinguish their products and services;  individuals who want to provide their energies where they will be most effective can bypass the progressively more unsure corporate path and take direct control of their careers.

The development of the network economy has the capacity to develop robust virtuous cycles “repeating sequences of positive events that reinforce themselves through a feedback loop” to develop the interests of both individuals and organizations.

The Maven-link platform weaves together interrelated and mutually reinforcing professional, financial, and social cycles that improve both clients and individuals.

The financial cycle provides opportunities for both clients and consultants to continually increase ROI through more efficient projects and expand revenue opportunities through clearly demonstrated value. For most clients, the success of a project is typically measured initially by the degree to which the project deliverables meet expectations for quality, time, and cost; and in the larger analysis, by their associated ROI.  Mavenlink’s built-in project management tools help simplify the business process from proposal to payment.  Clients can propose, source, and run simultaneous concurrent projects easily from a single place.  As successes accumulate and add value, and ROI compounds, funding for additional projects is easier to sell and close. Internal and External project experience and data also enable clients to gain additional value from past planning and executing future projects.

For consultants, multiple project successes with clients result in improved revenue opportunities through healthier business relationships, greater confidence and credibility.  On top of that, consultants can leverage current and past success with one client when seeking new business from an potential client.  As time passes, consultants are able to deliver value more profitably through increased information and re-use, generating enhanced ROI for themselves and for clients.

The knowledge cycle explains the cyclical growth in clients’ and consultants’ abilities to access and participate in information streams.  Just about every project requires know-how and expertise in a particular domain or set of domains; to the extent that every single project is different, each is an opportunity for developing new knowledge.

With every successive project, consultants gain additional knowledge and skills, or apply existing ones in a new way.  Brand New clients, business partners, and collaborators all provide expanded opportunities to exchange knowledge.

Even highly professional skills, which may apply only to one client, contribute to general wisdom that helps consultants refine their “craft” and develop better methods and methods.

Clients gain the specific knowledge and competence that they contract for, but also acquire experience and authenticity that help them recognize and realize additional opportunities.  Clients and consultants who work together on successive projects benefit from an increased understanding of certain business goals, client needs, operational tools, organizational structures and personalities.

The reputation cycle is the social-networking aspect of Mavenlink; the virtuous cycle associated with social media is a major reason for its explosive growth.  With every collaborative project, clients and consultants have the chance to provide mutual feedback, which becomes part of their living profile.     Positive feedback from productive projects enhances your reputation and improvements your presence, which helps you extend your network and attract more business partners.

A favorable reputation helps you connect with high-quality projects and providers, and inspires confidence in both parties, streamlining the development of new associations.  In addition to this, your collaborators’ reputations reflect positively on your reputation, helping you to further expand your personal network, collaborate on more projects, and get more favorable feedback.

Mavenlink Insurance is now exclusively available to subscribers! Users will now be able to work exclusivley with our affiliate insurance professionals to find and purchase health insurance for their employees and families. Along with medical coverage, Mavenlink will also offer other benefits at pre-negotiated rates including dental, life insurance, disability, and retirement management for its members.

Mavenlink’s Member Services team, working closely with our affiliate partners, was also able to secure deeply discounted rates on commercial insurance products , like workers compensation, Professional Liability, and property and casualty coverage, essential coverage for many consultants who run their own business. Savings on these non-medical offerings are particularly dramatic; often half of what independent professionals would have to pay in the open market.

“Our goal is to make it easier for self-employed professionals and small firms to run their business and to therefore be more successful,” said Ray Grainger, Mavenlink Chief Executive Officer. “Mavenlink’s Member Services, and our ability to offer healthcare and various insurance offerings for our US members, is a central part of carrying out that mission.”

Personal Benefits

• Medical - Mavenlink members are able to access pre-negotiated group and individual medical plans. All Mavenlink members will be entitled, free of charge, to a Comprehensive Summary Matrix of all available plans best suited for their specific needs and demographics. Enrollment assistance into any of these plans is also provided free of charge.

• Dental - Dental is provided to members through Reliance Standard with group rates that are extremely competitive and guaranteed for 2 years. Two PPO plans are available with over 80,000 providers to choose from nationwide.

• Life Insurance - Life Insurance is extended to members through Reliance Standard, an A rated carrier, without medical underwriting: If you have under 5 employees up to $50,000 in coverage. If you have 5-9 employees, plans are available from $75,000-$200,000 of coverage.

• Long & Short-Term Disability - Long & Short-Term Disability will be made available to member groups between 2 and 10 employees up to $7,500 per month of benefit, again, through Reliance Standard.

• Benefit Management - Participation in Mavenlink’s member benefit program includes an Electronic Platform for enrollment where appropriate and personalized claims assistance.

• Retirement Solutions - Plans are designed specifically for individuals and small businesses and include 401K, 403B, Simple Plans, Solo Plans, IRAs and Roth IRAs.

Commercial Risk

• General Liability - Insures a business against accidents and injury that may take place on the premises as well as exposure related to the products it sells.

• Errors & Omissions - Also referred to as Professional Liability, Errors & Omissions covers errors or “mistakes” which cause a financial harm to others.

• Internet Liability Insurance - Companies that disseminate information publicly via the web face the same legal exposure as publishers. New legislation continues to create potential liabilities mitigated by Internet Liability Insurance.

• Workers Compensation - Workers Compensation is required by law in all states for all employers. Over 20 markets will be surveyed to determine the most competitive position.

• Directors & Officers - Business owners can be held personally liable for their management decisions. Anyone, including the government can sue private and public companies and their boards for mismanagement.

• Claims Management Services - Helps to control the cost of your Workers Compensation premiums over the “long run” by managing the claims throughout the process acting as your liaison between you and the carrier.

• Property & Casualty Insurance - Covers equipment, computers, furniture, autos and other personal property against the loss from fire or theft.

• Employment Practices Liability - EPLI, as its commonly referred to, covers risks like wrongful termination, sexual harassment and discrimination.

Mavenlink, a software company that has built the first comprehensive online work environment for independent consultants and small consulting firms, today announced that it now offers affordable healthcare options and a range of other essential insurance products exclusively through Mavenlink.com.

Mavenlink is the first company to focus exclusively on improving the interactions between businesses and their consultants. We have started by creating an intuitive technology platform that embraces the consulting lifecycle, managing all business relationships and transactions so that your projects are a success. This is just the beginning, as we are going to continually deliver innovative technologies and services that forever change the way people work together.

To learn about Mavenlink’s insurance options, visit www.mavenlink.com, or www.mavenlink.com/insurance.

Author: HireLive

Learn these tips on how to become a successful sales representative

Have you ever considered pursuing a career in sales? If yes, then this article is just perfect for aspiring sales representatives like you. To start off, let me just say that a career in sales is both challenging and rewarding. It is challenging because it’s not really easy to sell new products and services to people nowadays.

Persuading clients and customers to buy your products over others requires a lot of dedication and persistence. On top of that, sales work can also subject you under stressful circumstances. On the other hand, a career in sales can also be rewarding especially if you become very good at it. Apart from receiving a basic pay, you also have the chance to earn unlimited income through commissions and bonuses. Some sales companies also offer flexible time opportunities to their employees, giving every sales representative a chance to work at their own time. Now does that sound good?

Well, if you believe you have what it takes to start a great career in the sales industry, then know these tips fully well in order to become a successful sales representative

1.     Believe in your product or service:

You can never be successful in sales if you dont even believe in the products or services youre selling. How will you effectively convince people to buy your products if youre not even convinced yourself of what youre selling? Consumers nowadays are getting more and more educated, and it only takes one knowledgeable passionate sales representative to really close the deal with his or her clients.

2.     Know your target market:

What specific market segment are you trying to penetrate? What are that segments current needs? How can the product or service that youre offering address those needs? These are just some of the questions that you need to answer before you even start doing your sales talks. Don’t expect to perform well in a market that doesn’t even find your product relevant. This is why it’s critical for you to conduct some market research first before launching your sales activities in a particular market or area.  For Example checkout a Career Fair put on locally in California by HireLive

3.     Build rapport:

One of the best ways to hold your customers’ interests is to build rapport with them. Understand and sympathize to their current concerns and needs. Once those are identified, explain to them how your products or services would be able to address those needs. This does not mean though that you have to be overly personal in terms of dealing with your customers. Doing sales talk must be a good balance of being professional and personal so that your clients will be convinced to actually buy your product.

4.     Ask to close the deal:

Be proactive in asking your clients whether they’ll benefit from what you’re selling or not. This will allow your clients to really think about their current needs and how the product or service you’re offering would really address their present concerns. Be more open as well when it comes to entertaining questions. Do your best to clear all their doubts so that your clients will be fully convinced on buying what you’re selling.

5.     Go for referrals:

One of the best ways to increase your pool of customers is to ask for referrals. Once you’re done with your sales talk, ask your clients to list down all the possible people that they know who would really benefit from the product. Do this proactively and not as if your clients are just doing you a favor.

Being a sales representative may not be easy, but following the tips above can help you hurdle the challenges. Just keep on mastering the nature of the sales profession and you’ll surely find yourself closing many sales deals anytime soon.

Source: HireLive.com

About Author:

HireLive is a National Sales, Retail and Management Recruitment and Marketing Firm specializing in face-to-face recruiting events!

With over 10 years of experience in connecting job seekers with potential employers, our objective is to provide the highest quality recruiting events and job openings for the top sales, retail and management candidates across the country.

The life settlement industry has given birth to a secondary market for buying and selling of life insurance policies from qualifying life insurance holders, who receive an offer guaranteed to exceed the current cash value of the policy. In 2002, life settlement providers paid about $340 million to buy policies with an aggregate cash value of $94 million.

Life Insurance Policyholders who qualify for life insurance settlements are generally older than sixty five years of age; have deteriorating health, but are not considered terminally ill; and have “ascertainable and limited” life expectancies between two and 15 years. Qualified policies are at least two years old, pay death benefits between $100,000 and $5 million and are issued by an “A” rated insurance company.

A CHANGING INDUSTRY

Relatively new, the life insurance settlement industry evolved from “viatical” settlements, which catered to the specific needs of terminally ill policyholders. Viatical life settlements enable an insured to receive benefits, before death, to pay for the high costs of medical care. Life settlements, also known as senior settlements, do not involve a terminally ill policy holder (less than 24-month life expectancy) but a determinable life expectancy based upon the insured’s age, health and lifestyle.

The life insurance policy’s fair market value is the present value of the death benefit, considering the policy’s duration and carrying costs. Other factors affecting the fair market value include the type of life policy, the policy’s cash value and any loans against the policy.

A life insurance settlement transaction creates a taxable event with two tiers. The first tier is the difference between the cost basis and cash value, most likely taxed as ordinary income. The second tier is the excess of life settlement proceeds over the surrender value.

The IRS has not provided any specific guidance yet, however, whether this money is considered to qualify as a long-term capital gain. The tax treatment of a viatical settlement is markedly different. The Internal Revenue Service considers these tax-exempt accelerated death benefits.

WHEN SHOULD I SELL OR BUY LIFE INSURANCE?

Life settlements are a great option when you can’t afford your premiums. Declines in interest rates on the short end have cut down the cash flow of seniors living on a fixed income. With life insurance settlements, premiums disappear and distressed policy holders receive cash up front.

Potentially the senior citizen has outlived all beneficiaries and the payout of life insurance would create a taxable estate. What if the senior citizen, due to health issues, doesn’t qualify for long-term care insurance. Life Insurance Settlement funds could be used to pay for long term health care.

From a financial perspective, life insurance settlements should be considered when a business is for sale or the owner is retiring. If your client is a non profit, or charity, it may be possible to consider selling donated life policies to realize cash and eliminate future premiums

Why do individuals want to buy life insurance policies? Many life insurance settlement providers are funded by big banks that view life insurance as an asset in a diversified investment portfolio. These financial conglomerates] rely on actuarial and other quantitative data to acquire a favorable life insurance policy that will produce a expected rate of return at maturity. These insurance policies are held in a blind trust that may be used as collateral for a bond offering in a process known as secondary market securitization.

POTENTIAL FIDUCIARY ISSUES

Life insurance products are acquired] for a host of reasons and should be a part of every estate and financial plan. As with any financial vehicle, these policies should be reviewed frequently. Usually they are not.

A good insurance policy at the time of purchase does not mean you have a good policy years later. In today’s low short term interest rate environment, many policies written in an environment when rates were substantially higher might require replacement?

There are significant differences between all of these alternatives to Bankruptcy, but they are not for everyone.  Be Careful and make sure you do your research before you start any Debt Settlement Program.  Often Online Debt Negotiatin is confused with Debt Consolidation or Debt Management.

This video can also be found On Netdebt.com

Debt Settlement Companies continue to be targeted as a problem industry, a scam, or a fraud. They are easy targets in these tumultuous times, and for good reason. Many of these “Debt Settlement Companies” “Sell” Their service without full disclosure about the risks involved and many of them don’t educate their clients about all of their options, including Debt Consolidation, Debt Management, Credit Counseling, and Bankruptcy.

The rise of the Debt Settlement industry is a result of other underlying issues including but not limited to, credit card companies, Lobbyist’s, bad Laws, lack of government regulation, and most importantly our CULTURE.

Clark Howard recently said “…when the bankruptcy laws changed in our nation. At that time, the giant banks that control the credit card portfolios stopped being cooperative with affiliates of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), which helps consumers manage and eliminate their debt. The banks were cynically trying to force people into a position where they had no choice other than to pay up. That environment created an opportunity for the debt-settlement firms to pop up with their false promises that they alone knew how to defeat the banks.”

We live in a capitalist economic system. The rise of Debt Settlement is directly related to the dire need for change in our Culture and specifically changes to the Credit Card Industry. Until Credit Card Companies are brought back into check the need for Consumer Debt Relief companies will always be there.

Debt Settlement

Debt settlement, also known as debt arbitration or debt negotiation, is an approach to debt reduction in which the debtor and creditor agree on a reduced balance that will be regarded as payment in full.

As long as consumers continue to make minimum monthly payments, creditors will not negotiate a reduced balance. However, when payments stop, balances continue to grow because of late fees and ongoing interest.

Consumers can arrange their own settlements by using advice found on web sites, hire a lawyer to act for them, or use debt settlement companies. Some settlement companies may charge a large fee up front; or take a monthly fee from customer bank accounts for their service, possibly reducing the incentive to settle with creditors quickly. One expert advises consumers to look for companies that charge only after a settlement is made, and charge about 20 percent of the amount by which the outstanding balance is reduced.

Debt Consolidation

Debt consolidation entails taking out one loan to pay off many others. This is often done to secure a lower interest rate, secure a fixed interest rate or for the convenience of servicing only one loan.

Debt consolidation can simply be from a number of unsecured loans into another unsecured loan, but more often it involves a secured loan against an asset that serves as collateral, most commonly a house. In this case, a mortgage is secured against the house. The collateralization of the loan allows a lower interest rate than without it, because by collateralizing, the asset owner agrees to allow the forced sale (foreclosure) of the asset to pay back the loan. The risk to the lender is reduced so the interest rate offered is lower.

Credit Counseling

Credit counseling (known in the United Kingdom as debt counseling) is a process offering education to consumers about how to avoid incurring debts that cannot be repaid. This process is actually more debt counseling than a function of credit education.

Credit counseling often involves negotiating with creditors to establish a debt management plan (DMP) for a consumer. A DMP may help the debtor repay his or her debt by working out a repayment plan with the creditor. DMPs, set up by credit counselors, usually offer reduced payments, fees and interest rates to the client. Credit counselors refer to the terms dictated by the creditors to determine payments or interest reductions offered to consumers in a debt management plan.

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debt_settlement

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debt_consolidation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debt_counselling

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/personal/06/04/clark.howard.debt.settlement/

Debt Management

When your problems go out of hand, always remember that there are still options for you. If money becomes a problem, then you can choose on different types of loans. If you have assets which can serve as collateral, then you can choose to get a secured loan. Secured loans could either be car loans or house loans. The absence of assets does not mean you could not incur loans. There are still unsecured loans which can help you. Unsecured loans can come in the form of credit card debt, shop cards or departmental cards. Once you get a loan, you temporarily find answers to your financial problems. But because the loan is a temporary answer, paying back the loan is another problem that you have to face.

One loan will be easy to pay. But if you have around 3 loans that you have to pay monthly, it will be very stressful and problematic for you. The first problem is the interest rates per loan which will pile up if you fail to pay them religiously. The second problem is paying back the principal amount that you borrowed. You will be facing the dilemma of which loan to pay back first or which rentals you must not pay first just to be able to pay your loans.

If you are now facing a crisis of paying back a number of loans at the same time, then debt management could be a good option for you. Debt management plan encompasses taking note of all your debt, to re-assess your current financial status, and to renegotiate with the lenders the interest rates and the payment schemes of your loans. If you do not know where to find the companies to help you manage your debt, you need not look far. Debt Management companies are now all over the internet. There are companies which offer debt management plans with fee charges or for free.

You need the company to represent you to the creditors. They will be the ones to present your current financial situation, and to present your renegotiate payment scheme as well as the interest rates. The prerogative to approve the debt management proposal or plan lies on your creditor. Most creditors will check your financial status first before they approve or reject anything.

When you talk to the company which will represent you, always bear in mind that the terms which you must present must be attainable. If not, your debt management plan will be pointless.