Farnoosh Torabi's Blog, page 42

Get a Raise in 30 Days

[image error]Getting a raise at work involves more than just asking; it’s having strategy, and preparing those around you to trust and rely on you so that when raises are handed out, you’re top of mind.  Nicole Williams, best-selling author, consultant, and career expert for LinkedIn, offers ten steps to better position yourself for rewards at work.  If you start now, you could be well on your way to a raise in as little as one month.

Step #1: Be the Go-to Guy or Gal

Every time someone new depends on you, even if they’re not your boss, your “irreplaceability” factor increases. Know what deadlines your colleagues have coming up and figure out how you can be of help to them, even if it’s not about work.  “People will be just as thankful that you’ve recommended the perfect restaurant for their friend’s birthday party, as they are when you offer to look over the report they’re working on,” says Williams. Is your work buddy overwhelmed?  Step in and lend a hand.  Is your boss a techno-phobe?  Show her a new app or teach her to pull her email from her POP account to her phone.  Being helpful around the office can pay quick dividends in popularity, visibility, and even raises.

Step #2: Build a Track Record 

Whether you’ve been at your job for weeks or for decades, the only way to a raise is to demonstrate value.  And the only person who knows exactly what you contribute day in and day out is you. So, keep a list of all of your accomplishments and achievements at work, and write them down.  Don’t assume you’ll remember all these personal “pats on the back” if ever you’re put on the spot.  A well-documented (if only in your mind), and well-prepared argument go a long way in convincing those you work for just how valuable you are. Qualitative evidence helps, too: did sales jump after you suggested more prominent placement of the new merchandise?  Did your co-workers productivity increase after you implemented a new workflow?  Be ready to talk about your sucesses if and when the opportunity presents itself.

Step #3: Seek Feedback

Don’t just wait around for someone to tell you what you’re doing is right — or wrong, for that matter.  Reviews are a great time to ask for feedback, but that opportunity may only come up once a year. Why wait that long just to find out that there’s something you’ve been missing?  Be proactive, and ask.  Find out what your supervisor thinks your weaknesses are.  She’ll appreciate your willingness to learn and will probably be thankful she didn’t have to bring it up herself.

Step #4: Better Yourself

Once you know what you need to work on,  take immediate action to improve in this area. Get the training you need, practice, rehearse, read books, i.e., do whatever it takes to get better at whatever it is you’re lacking. You’ll be better off than your competitor who might try to cover up her lack of skills by ignoring them.

Step #5: Learn Something New

Relatedly, in addition to getting better at what you already do, try learning a brand new skill relevant to your work.  “This is the fastest way to increase your value and up your chances of a raise,” says Williams. “Figure out what your colleagues one or two levels above you know that you don’t, and get on it. Even if you have to spend a little money on the side to get the knowledge you need, it’s an investment that is likely to pay for itself sooner than later.”  Williams recommends checking out the competition on LinkedIn, by doing an ‘Advanced People Search’. You can check out the skills and programs your co-workers list on their profiles. Take a class, earn a certification, or sit in on extra training meetings.  You never know when these enhanced proficiencies will prove their worth.

Step #6: Implement Organization

Anytime you can offer a solution to make “the way things have always been done” better, do it. Maybe it’s offering to type up and distribute meeting notes after your weekly meeting. Or perhaps it’s coming up with a system to improve quality assurance. Williams reminds us that,”Even unorganized people love organization—[maybe] they’re just waiting for someone to do it for them.”

Step #7: Find a Mentor

The senior-level staff at your company probably have a wealth of information and experience — valuable institutional knowledge, as well as sage career recommendations. Consider this advice free and ripe for the picking.  Find a person you don’t work directly under whose business style you admire, and ask if she’d like to grab coffee while you pick her brain. As you maintain the relationship and continually demonstrate your desire to succeed, you’ll gain a powerful ally who will have good things to say when your name comes up.

Step #8: Take on a New Project

One of the best ways to chase a raise or promotion is to be doing the work of the position you want already, therefore it’s unlikely you’ll ever get a raise without increasing your workload.  So, buck up and make more work for yourself, whether it’s expected of you or not. If you’re unsure where to begin, ask your boss what areas of the company she’d like to see improve, and then come up with a plan of attack.  Pitch her your idea for a project, and then make sure you execute on what you promised.

Step #9: Toot Your Own Horn

Related to #2 above, Williams says, “No one like’s a braggart, unless of course whatever you’re bragging about is useful to them.” Make sure the right people know that what you’re doing at work is contributing to their success, whether it’s alerting them you’ve established a valuable contact at a networking event, or updating them on the advancements you’ve been making on that “special project” you took on (above). In other words, don’t be shy about status updates, progress reports, or how your actions are making everyone look good.  It’s possible no one would ever know otherwise.

Step #10: Ask for It!

If you’ve successfully implemented the other nine tips, people at your company have probably already noticed. But that doesn’t mean these actions will automatically manifest into more green.  For that, you have to ask — directly.  Schedule a meeting with your boss, present your proven value, and name your price (within reason, of course)!  You may be pleasantly surprised by the results.

Photo Courtesy of: www.farnoosh.tv/wp-content/career-big.jpg

Financial Skinny: Life Insurance

Life insurance may seem like a throwaway expense until you need it.  Recent reports find that too many Americans die without adequate coverage, often leaving behind families to sort through a financial mess.

According to the Life Insurance and Market Research Association, 56 % of U.S. households don’t own an individual life insurance policy – nearly a third of those surveyed have no coverage at all. Laura Adams, senior insurance analyst at InsuranceQuotes.com says the investment in life insurance is best made once you’ve started a family, or have any dependents. “No one wants to think about his or her own death,” she says, “But remember that it’s not about you. It’s for your family.”

I spoke with Adams recently to discuss life insurance options, how to know which is right for you and getting the best rates.

Term vs. Permanent Life Insurance

“Life insurance is a pretty broad product,” says Adams. “Most people don’t know where to start in making a decision between what are called “term” and “permanent” life insurance. Term insurance is just that, she says. With it, a consumer buys into a policy to be covered over a certain period of time (usually one to 20 years.) You pick the payout and a beneficiary, make monthly payments and, in the event of your demise, your family is compensated. If you outlive the term of your policy, you can always renew – usually at a slightly higher rate.

Permanent or “whole life” insurance also pays out once you’re gone but operates a little differently. For one, it covers you over the remainder of your life.  As such, perm premiums tend to be more expensive (five to 10 times more.)

Adams says that the average consumer will only need term insurance but those with the need for a little added security should consider a permanent policy. Say, for example, you have teenage children. You’d probably want to be certain they’d have support up until their early 20′s, until they can become financially independent. In that case, a 10-20 year policy might be best. That changes a bit if you have a child with a disability and a need for lifelong care. For that family, a policy that covers you no matter when you die would be the best buy.

Picking a Policy

Adams says, when picking a provider, get a quote from a company that you really trust. “It’s a long-term investment so be sure to pick a company with a good reputation that you feel confident will be open down the road,” she says. “Compare rates but, because policies will vary based on terms, be careful when making an apples-to-apples comparison.” Always review the deductible, length of the policy and coverage.

Determining Coverage

Lots of things go into how much coverage each family needs, but overall, Adams says, you should factor in how much you’d need to replace your income. Also consider the cost of paying off your mortgage, debts, your funeral – which can be up to $20,000 – and other expenses like putting your kids through school.

Getting the Best Deal

“The key to securing the best possible rate is to start early,” says Adams. “Many young people don’t have life insurance but, when you’re super young, it’s really cheap. Buy it while you’re young and healthy and stretch it out for a long as possible.” She says you can get the biggest bang for your buck by starting with a term policy at a low rate so when it comes time to renew the policy, the increase will be minimal.  As always, shop around between companies to compare deals.

Get Your Premium Back

A lot of people don’t know this but there’s a third option along with term and permanent life insurance. It’s called a “return of premium” policy. Adams says, it’s a type of term policy where, once you’ve outlived it, the premium you’ve paid over the years is returned to you. “Of course the premiums are higher,” says Adams, “but it’s a good option for someone that’s leery of life insurance. They’ll have the peace of mind that they could get it all back.”

Photo Courtesy, mohamad_oops.

6 Lazy—But Valuable—Home Improvement Projects

It’s officially spring and a perfect time to tackle your home improvement to-do list. And good news for those of us on a budget – and with not a lot of time – even the simplest renovations can increase your property’s value. I visited Lowe’s with Sabrina Soto, design and lifestyle expert and author of “Home Design: A Layer by Layer Approach to Turning Your Ideas into the Home of Your Dreams.” She offered great tips on lazy and inexpensive home renovations with the biggest bang for your buck. Read more here. What are some of your home improvement budgeting tips? Connect with me on Twitter @Farnoosh and use the hashtag #finfit.

Financial Skinny: Retirement Plans

Retirement saving is one of the most important facets of personal financial planning, but not enough Americans are on a path toward affording this milestone comfortably.

Nearly half, 49%, of Americans aren’t contributing to a retirement plan, According to a 2012 survey by the Life Insurance and Market Research Association (LIMRA.) The research also found that young Americans, those ages 18-34, were the most likely to be among those not saving.

With the prospect of kicking back in your later years, what’s getting in the way of Americans and retirement saving? Other research may shed light on that question. According to a recent survey by Wells Fargo, only 50% of Americans thought they were responsible for their retirement. The rest relied on the government through Social Security and employers through a pension. In addition, most of those surveyed severely underestimated how much they’d need after retirement and the cost of expenses like healthcare.

If you’re one of many Americans with no plan for retirement, no investments and not making contributions, here’s the skinny, a few basics, to retirement planning to get you started today.

 

Estimate How Much You’ll Need

Naturally, the first question you might have is how much will you need to retire. The answer is different for each of us. It’ll of course be based on the age at which you’ll stop working and your living expenses. The ideal retirement age has slowly risen to 67 for the average American worker, according to a Gallup poll. At the same time life expectancy is rising to about 85. That means you’ll need about 25 years of savings.

Lots of factors go into exactly how much you’ll need including: cost of living, healthcare expenses and personal goals for your post-retirement lifestyle. In making your calculations, it’s best to consult a fee-only financial planner but you can also start a simple estimate using one of many calculators available online. CNNMoney has one. Others are available through AARP, FINRA and Bloomberg. Another great tool is the  Economic Security Planner, created by  financial economist Laurence Kotlikoff of Boston University. It takes your estimate a step further by allowing you to account for factor such as when you’ll stop helping a child through college.

What Are the Options?

Retirement planning is a unique patchwork, which really should be designed to each individual. It can include a selection of stock investments, saving accounts, pensions, self and employer-provided accounts – among other options. Plans should be weighed with the help of professionals according to their flexibility, eligibility, fees, benefits and tax implications. See the IRS guide for a complete listing of the types of retirement plans. Here’s a brief breakdown of the most common.

Traditional IRA – “IRA” stands for individual retirement account. In essence, it’s is a tax deferred account that individuals can establish without the help of an employer. In it, funds aren’t taxed until they’re withdrawn –  although there is a penalty for withdrawal before age 59 ½ and you must withdraw money by 72½. Contributions in 2013 are tax deductible up to $5,500 a year or $6,500 if you’re 50 or older.

Roth IRA -  This plan, named after Senator William V. Roth, Jr.,  behaves a lot like a traditional except your initial contribution to it is not tax deductible and interest earned from a it doesn’t qualify as taxable income. In other words, unlike a traditional IRA where you you pay taxes when you withdraw money in retirement, you pay if upfront with the Roth. There are also income limits when it comes to contributing to a Roth IRA, making those who earn under certain amounts annually ineligible to take advantage of them.

401(k) Plans - Finally, 401(k) plans are perhaps the most popular vehicles for retirement savings. Unlike IRAs, they’re employer-sponsored plans where contributions are made before taxes-taxes and employers sometimes match those contributions up to a certain amount – giving workers, in essence, free money, helping them to reach goals sooner. Like traditional IRAs, there is a penalty for withdrawing funds before age 59 ½ and contributions and interest income is tax-deferred.

Photo Courtesy,  401(K) 2013.

A Side Gig That Helps to Heal

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Searching for catharsis after a recent health scare, Brandi Graham-Magaro finds peace – and extra money – selling customized jewelry.

About two years ago, the mom discovered an abnormal growth that her doctors later identified as a desmoid tumor.  The diagnosis is rare – there are approximately 900 documented cases per year in the US – and the aggressive nature of the tumor can often require a combination of treatments.  While debating with doctors as to when to begin the process, the tumor, miraculously began to shrink on its own.

“It was a really scary time,” she confesses.  “I had become so overcome with what everybody else needed that I had lost sight of myself.  Even though my number one goal is to be a good wife and mother, I am neither of those things if I am not taking care of me…  So, I am in the process of reinventing myself.”

The medical scare was a wake up call, and Graham-Magaro realized she needed to start doing more for herself.  Last fall, Graham-Magaro discovered Origami Owl, a direct sales company that offers a line of customizable charm necklaces called Living Lockets. “Jewelry is supposed to make you feel special.  But when you see somebody else wearing the same thing, it takes some of that special feeling away.  What makes these charms so great is that every piece tells a story that’s as different as the person who wears it.”

The self-described introvert has broken out of her comfort zone as an Origami Owl Independent Designer, helping a growing number of women throughout North Central Pennsylvania tell their story through jewelry. “It has exploded locally.  Women are really excited about this product.  This week alone, I have three parties,” she says.

[image error]While Origami Owl offers a generous commission plan (30-50% on all items) and Hoot Loot rewards on all purchases, life as an Origami Owl designer is not always a party.  Currently, Brandi must foot the bill for hostess rewards and pay for party packs that start at $149 for a business basics pack and go up to $399 for the 10 person party pack.  Plus, there is a heavy amount of planning — finding a host, sending out invitations, following-up with guests, setting up displays, and placing orders — that goes into pulling off a Jewelry Bar party that feels “relaxed and fun.”

The additional workload is quite a change for Brandi, her husband, Ryan, and their three kids, Enzo (5), Milla (3), and Aria (2).  “We are in the process of discovering how this is going to work for my family,” says Graham-Magaro, who also finds time to work with developmentally challenged children as an early intervention specialist.  “We both want to make sure it’s worth it for me to be doing this.  He gets home at 4:30 and I leave at 5:30.  He works all day and then comes home and has to take care of the kids all night.”

To make sure that her charming endeavor remains worth the sacrifices, Brandi has set a personal goal for this year.  “I don’t just want to blow through the extra money I’m bringing in.  I want to use it take Ryan on a wine tasting trip through Patagonia for our tenth anniversary,” she says.  ”Hopefully in a few months, I’ll be making a down payment on the trip.”

As for her rare medical condition, doctors have Graham-Magaro on what she describes as a “wait and watch.”  That she has been able to manage her condition without medicinal treatment may not be the direct result of her new side gig;  It does, however, offer testament to the power of mind over matter.

Best Tools for Stock Investors

[image error]The stock market is back, but the average American isn’t benefiting from this economic rebound.

Earlier this month, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 14,164.53, the highest its ever performed, beating a record set in 2007 – before the housing crash and economic recession. A booming stock market hasn’t had much measurable impact in the wallets of most Americans, however. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, median household incomes fell by about 8% between 2007 and their most recent survey in 2011. Home prices are rebounding, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, but nowhere near where they were in 2007.

In 2011, Gallup conducted a poll of American households and found that almost half of those surveyed, 46%, didn’t own stocks. It’s a figure that’s been on the decline every year since 2007.

With investors excited about the market again, and others looking to get in, here’s a roundup of some of the best websites, apps and other tools to manage your investments.

For Practice…

Those looking to get their feet wet in the stock market should perhaps start with a test run. Available online are quite a few investing simulators. Tech site Mashable.com has a list of  ”5 Great Games for Learning Stock Market Strategy” that includes games such as Wall Street Survivor, HowTheMarketWorks and Young Money Stock Market Game. The great thing about these games, aside from being free, is that they have features that help simulate a real trading environment like commission fees and market closing times.

Staying In the Know

Every investor needs the latest in economic trends and financial news. Luckily, in this day and age, that information is something you can have at your fingertips. For news, download apps by Yahoo! Finance, Bloomberg and CNBC to your smartphone. You’ll get more than just a stock ticker. These apps offer customizable features that will let you pick news, quotes and headlines based on your investments. For a more in-depth look, TheUpDown.com, PredictWallStreet.com and FelingBullish.com are online communities where investors can share analysis, tips and strategies.

Monitoring Your Stocks

Finally, keep constant track of your portfolio’s performance with apps by SigFig, Motif Investing, Wikinvest and Personal Capital. These tools are among CNNMoney’s best apps to invest smarter and help you manage your own personal economy by linking your brokerage accounts. A few even allow you to import other investments, 401(k) and IRA, all into one central dashboard.

Photo Courtesy,  401(K) 2013.

Best Cell Phones for Kids

It’s only a matter of time when your young child starts begging for a cellphone. While there’s no absolute rule as to when a cell phone begins to be age-appropriate, a Pew Research study found that most parents buy their child a phone for the first time around 12 or 13 years old. In fact, 58% of 12-year-olds carry a cellphone today, up from just 18% in 2004. If you feel the time is right, here are some responsible and affordable options for kids, tweens and teens. Read more here.

We want to hear from you: what are some ways you’re saving on child’s cell plan? Connect with me on Twitter @Farnoosh and use the #FinFit.

Manage Your Life Better With Your Smart Phone

[image error]Remember a time when the concept of a shiny rectangle of light that could give you directions, answer questions, play music and deliver calls — all by using your voice or a slight of the hand to control it — was a magical thing of the future?  Well, the future is now.

Smart phones are capable of so much these days, and my guess is that we’re only taking advantage of 50% of their capabilities.

Here are some ideas on how to better manage your life — the best apps, reminders, fitness pals, and “to do” lists — and turn your smart phone into an organizational focal point.

Use Existing Tools

Don’t neglect the built-in tools and settings that already come with your phone or tablet. For example, make use of settings that preserve your battery (turn down your screen’s brightness) or connect to your home’s wifi automatically (they don’t have to be mutually exclusive!  Check out:  Carat or One Touch Battery Saver for Andriod or Battery Doctor Pro for iPhone).  And are you accessing your calendar from your smart phone yet?  If you’re a bit of a luddite, start there. As reported in The New York Times, Matt Tatham, a spokesman for market research firm Experian Simmons,  says “[Only] 22 percent of online adults maintain a calendar on their cellphone or their tablet.” If you didn’t get the (mimeographed and faxed memo): paper is out. Electronic (everywhere) is in.

Store Your Stuff  

Speaking of everywhere, Dropbox or similar cloud media servivces is pretty much a necessity for anyone using multiple computers or sharing information and files with others. Dropbox accepts any kind of file and is universal — it works with Mac, Windows, Linux, iPad, iPhone, Android and Blackberry, so anything you create at home can be called up anywhere you’ve installed Dropbox, including your smartphone. Similar services include GoogleDrive and SugarSync.

Got too many passwords and can’t keep it all straight?  Open a virtual filing cabinet with LastPass. It’s safe and secure and, best of all, free.

Keep Things Straight 

Evernote is a free notebook for all the stuff you want to capture like your ideas. Best of all, it’s tagable and searchable, and if you take a picture of a To Do list you scratched onto a scrap of paper or napkin, it can search the words on the napkin. It’s also handy for music, pictures, text, screen shots, spreadsheets, links, etc.

If your ears perked up at “to do list” – Reqall is a ‘To Do’ list on steroids, free for Android users. It turns your smartphone into your own personal secretary.  You can talk to it, email it, text it what you have to do but better still, Reqall is smart.  It reminds you what you need to do that day, and even figures out if you happen to be the in the right neighborhood to get your errands done. It’ll ping you to pick up your dry cleaning on your way home from yoga, for example.

Catch is another free app for iPhone or Android that helps you keep track of stuff, particularly when doing research or shopping for items. You can take photos, jot down prices and record notes. There’s even a “wheel” you can spin to select your action item (a mic to record voice, a “to do”button, a “reminder” function, etc).

Get Things Done 

Alarmed is best for waking you up, and not because your current alarm isn’t sufficient. It’s because it’s not as cool:  want to wake up to your iTunes playlist instead of an annoying squawk?  Check.  Want the music to play louder and louder each time so you can’t avoid it?  Done.  Want to set your snooze for the kind of day it is — by the minute, or by the hour — for free?  You got it!

If you have a goal in mind, MindMeister helps you map the steps you need to take.  It’s good for organizing large, long-term projects.

30/30 is a free app best for managing your time. Have a To Do list a mile long, but want to make sure you’re not spending too much time on any one thing?   Create your list of action items, put them in order of priority, and then assign a set amount of time to each — 30/30 will keep track for you by alerting you when time is up for each task.  You can adjust it by 10 minutes in either direction with a quick tap.

Unstuck for the iPad  is for when you’re blocked, don’t know what to do in a sticky situation, or feel overwhelmed.  Unstuck can take you through a series of questions, asking what’s important, how the decision will affect you and others, how you want to prioritize, and more.  It provides a plan and helps you determine alternatives to the plan.  Consider it the coach, counselor, friend or advisor you need when ‘stuck’ is how you feel.

Stay Fit & Healthy 

MyFitnessPal and LoseIt are just two apps that help you track your meals and exercise, with an easy-to-use interface and graphs to show your progress and help keep you motivated.  Runkeeper and Couchto5K are inspirational and useful tools to start or keep up a running regimin.

The OurGroceries app is helpful if you share a grocery list with a partner. Both people download the app and enter the same email address on the setup screen to access one joint account, to make shared shopping lists. Anyone can make a list or add an item. You can sort your grocery list by item type — meat, dairy, etc. — and you can title each grocery list.  Healthy meal planning is a breeze when two or more share shopping responsibilities.

Photo courtesy of: 

How to Say No at Work

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Most Americans feel overworked in some capacity. When it comes to lightening the load, how do you turn down a workplace request gracefully?

A survey of 2,000 workers found last year that the majority, 87%, feel as though they’re overworked. More than half of the respondents also said they were unhappy with their work-life balance. Overall, research is consistent in showing that Americans are working harder than ever, taking on longer hours, more responsibility and – thanks to modern technology – we’re instantly accessible. In all of that, there’s a risk in taking on too much and becoming burned out. Every now and then, it makes sense to say no to an assignment.

I spoke recently with Linda Galindo, accountability expert and author of “Where Winners Live.” Here are her tips to saying no at work (and keeping your job).

Get Over the Fear

Let’s be honest, in this economy, most are just happy to have a job. “People fear the perception of not being a team player,” says Galindo. “They’re afraid they won’t be asked again or that person asking them will make a note of it in an employee evaluation.” While the last thing anyone wants to do is rock the boat at work, the consequences of taking on too much can sometimes be worse than turning down an assignment. “Overcommitting is one of the most irresponsible behaviors in the workplace right now,” says Galindo and there are perfectly legitimate reasons to say no.

Discuss the Request

Before just blurting out “no,” make an effort to discuss the request with the person asking. “You need to fully understand what you’re saying no to,” says Galindo. “Ask plenty of  questions to clarify the scope of the request and be sure that there’s no way you can help.” Galindo acknowledges that it can be hard to get the full details of a request if you’re cornered in a hallway or put on the spot in a meeting but discussing it first will make “no” easier for the other person to hear once they know you’ve considered it.

Find an Alternative

Often, after discussing the scope of a request, you and the person asking can come up with alternatives that make it doable. “Ask for input, especially with re-prioritizing your workload,” suggests Galindo. “Focus on what you can do in all of what they told you and sometimes by changing just one thing the request becomes possible.” She also suggests exploring alternative deadlines where possible. Whatever you do, don’t commit a coworker – even if you think they’re not busy .

Just Say “No”

When it comes to things on which you’re not willing to budge, say a relocation for example, it’s important to speak in direct, unequivocal terms. In other words, just say no! Hemming and hawing will only complicate the matter and saying yes or maybe then eventually saying no could delay a deadline. Instead, it’s important to explain why you can’t help with a task and be firm if you know for sure it’s something you can’t do. “Sorry, but I can’t because…” Is a perfectly polite way to turn down a request, Galindo says.

Don’t Be a “Yes”-Person

As a final tip, Galindo suggests changing your habits. Many of us, particularly when it comes to work, want to please and make “yes” our first response. “There are alternatives to saying yes without saying no,” she says. “Make it a practice to say ‘Can I check my schedule and to-do lists?’ before committing.”

Photo Courtesy,  Victor1558.

Hidden Shopping Pitfalls

When it comes to saving money, most of us probably think we’re pretty good at spotting a deal. But some popular so-called “savings tips” can actually cost us in the long run. Here are five hidden shopping pitfalls and how to steer clear. Read more here.

We want to hear from you. Which shopping pitfalls have tricked you? Connect with me on Twitter@Farnoosh and use the hashtag #finfit.