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Did you know that the number of Americans using solar power is expected to triple by 2030? This should come as no surprise, especially when you realize that going solar is beneficial for communities, homeowners, and the planet as a whole. While you may think you know about the benefits of solar power, the basics are only the tip of the iceberg.

Let’s look at the five surprising benefits of going solar and why you should make the switch.

1. Increases Home Value

Most homeowners are always looking for ways to increase the value of their homes. There are many ways to accomplish this task, but solar panel installation is one of the best methods. This can raise your home’s value by 4.1% across the U.S.

Of course, there is always some variation on exactly how much it will improve your home, but the consensus is that if you go solar, you’re sure to see your home’s value increase.

Have a hard time believing us? It’s time you see for yourself.

2. Reduces Water Pollution

It’s no secret that fossil fuels and other energy sources create potential hazards for our environment. They emit chemicals into the air, which wreaks havoc on the climate. However, many resources are being used to generate energy with traditional sources, including solar power.

One of the best examples of a resource threatened by traditional energy sources is water. Going solar can help reduce water pollution by generating energy from renewable sources instead of relying on fossil fuels.

3. Homeowners Save Money

Not only can homeowners enjoy the fact that solar panels will increase the value of their homes, but they’ll also appreciate that they’ll save money by switching to solar energy. The amount you save depends on which state you live in, sunnier states tend to be at an advantage.

There is an obvious up-front cost when you install solar but afterward, expect to save tens of thousands of dollars over the years. This is because you’ll be able to choose more affordable electricity rates that will help lower your power bill significantly.

4. Simple Installation

You might worry that solar panel installation will be frustrating and time-consuming, but the reality is that installation is simple. They can be installed anywhere, utilizing both vertical and horizontal spaces. This makes it a flexible source of energy that can be expanded at any time.

5. No Noise Pollution

There are specific renewable energy sources that create noise during the process of generating energy; take wind, for example. This can be a detriment. Solar energy requires no moving parts, so you don’t need to worry about noise pollution.

Benefits of Going Solar

Switching to solar energy continues to grow more popular. Not only are you helping the environment but you’ll be saving a significant amount of money on your energy bills. Once you know all of the benefits associated with it, it’s difficult not to make the switch yourself.

Although it may seem like a large commitment initially, you’re sure to enjoy all of the benefits in no time.

Looking for more articles like this? Be sure to check out the Investing section of our blog.

The total global gross domestic product (GDP) is right around $85 trillion. GDP is the total valuation of all goods and services available in the marketplace. The benefits of free trade have let the global GDP flourish to these heights.

While not all countries have free trade policies, those that do tend to be more economically successful than those that don’t. This may lead one to question “is free trade good or bad?” The answer to this question is contextual.

A free trade agreement between nations can benefit or destroy a country depending on the context they find themselves in. They are beneficial if done right, however. Read about the social and economic benefits of free trade here.

What Is Free Trade?

Free trade is unrestricted trade between two or more national entities. Having a free trade network means keeping tariffs, embargoes, and other means of economic control out of the trading process.

Free trade is an inherent state between two nations. As long as nations don’t levy any additional restrictions or fees on each other, their trade is said to be free.

Free Trade vs Protectionism

In a free trade situation whoever can produce goods and services for the cheapest price will reap the most rewards. If a country has a domestic market that produces the same thing, this market may be handicapped by free trade.

The cure for this is ingenuity and streamlining production processes. Some countries however take the easy way out and levy tariffs or make restrictions to help protect domestic marketplaces. This is known as protectionism.

Economic Benefits of Free Trade

Having free trade policies opens up the door to new markets. These markets may have products and services not found within the borders of your nation. Free trade can also get you products for cheaper than domestic markets.

Free trade also fosters ingenuity in your domestic sectors. To compete on a global scale, your business leaders will need to step up their game. Joseph Stiglitz highlights some other important economic benefits of free trade.

Social Benefits of Free Trade

In addition to fostering positive economic conditions, free trade also benefits society in general. It is conducive to diplomacy and helps strengthen relations between different nations. It also helps spread the idea of multiculturalism.

A populace in a country reaping the rewards of free trade will have access to a wide variety of goods and services for affordable prices. In this way, free trade raises standards of living and improves the lives of all your citizens.

Live Free and Prosper

The best way to ensure prosperity for a nation’s people is to have free trade policies in place. The benefits of free trade don’t only extend to the economic sector, they also make people’s lives better for their day-to-day existence.

Use the information in this guide as part of your understanding of the global economic system. If you are allowed to vote, lean on the side of free trade for a better tomorrow.

Take a look at the rest of our website for more helpful information like this.

With thousands of brokers operating in the financial markets, it is no wonder that most people are flummoxed and confused. In fact, many sign up with platforms that look put together at first glance, but fall apart once you begin using their services. It can be extremely annoying to have your time and money wasted, so it is best to check for some important features to ensure you are choosing right in the first go. Rather than relying on the website alone, it is a good idea to go over this GoldVence review to check if all necessary features are available.

This might seem like a bit of work initially, but you have to bear in mind that it pays off because you will not have any regrets about your decision later. GoldVence is a forex and CFD brokerage that offers its trading services globally, but does it have the features essential to you? Check the review below to find out:

Trading products 

It is necessary to check the trading products that a broker has put together for its clients because you want to ensure the ones you want are available. Just because a broker promises forex currency pairs doesn’t mean it will have the pairs you are after. Therefore, checking thoroughly is essential and doing so with GoldVence reveals that they are providing access to some of the best trading products in the market.

Instead of focusing on just one, they have added access to different financial markets, such as stocks, forex, indices, cryptocurrency and commodities as well. Thanks to this variety, anyone using GoldVence will be able to diversify their investment portfolio and easily find instruments that suit their risk tolerance. It can also help you achieve your trading goals, while balancing your risks.

Trading software 

One of the most important features that you need to check is the trading software that the brokerage is offering. A software that’s too complex or slow can lead to poor trading performance and this is a disaster you want to avoid. Fortunately, you will find that GoldVence has not made any such mistake because they have developed a sophisticated and innovative trading software for their clients.

The first thing you should know is that it is web-based, which means you have to visit the broker’s website to access it. There is no need to download or install the platform. They have developed a simple yet powerful user-interface that can be used for delivering quick trade execution. The platform that you will find at GoldVence has also been integrated with some of the top tools in the market, such as fundamental and technical analysis tools and price alerts, which can enhance your decision making and performance.

Trading accounts 

Another feature you need to check are the trading accounts that GoldVence has added to its offerings. Yes, it is the norm for brokers to offer more than one trading account to their clients to choose from. The purpose is to allow every trader, regardless of their background or experience, to find an appropriate account that helps them achieve their goals. This is what you will here as well, as there are three trading accounts to choose from.

There is no fee involved in setting up the account and you can choose from Basic, Standard and Premium accounts. The Basic account is ideal for newbies and beginners, the Standard for intermediate traders and skilled and expert traders can choose the premium account. The leverage ratio for each account at GoldVence is 200, 300 and 400, respectively. 

As far as other features are concerned, you will that GoldVence has added a personal manager, financial calendar, news feed, welcome bonus and more to these accounts for the convenience of the users.

Final Thoughts 

As long as GoldVence is able to provide you with these important features, you can open an account with them and begin taking advantage of the trading opportunities. 

Introduction: What is a Delaware Statutory Trust (DST)?

A Delaware Statutory Trust (DST) is an estate-planning strategy used to protect assets from creditors.

The DST has the same tax treatment as the grantor’s other property. The trustee has no obligation to distribute any income or corpus to the grantor or any other person but is required to distribute all of the income and corpus exclusively for the benefit of designated charitable beneficiaries.

What Qualifies as Income for a DST?

The term “income,” as it is used in the Delaware Statutory Trust Code, has a very broad definition. It can include income from any source, which means it does not refer to capital gains, tax refunds, or other things that are not actual income.

How are DSTs Taxed?

Delaware Statutory Trusts are a special type of estate planning tool that supplements the laws of trusts in Delaware. They are taxed at two levels: the first time when you transfer your assets into the trust, and again when assets are distributed.

This article will explore how a DST is taxed in various scenarios. It depends on how much income they receive from the trust for individuals. If there is more than one beneficiary, then the trusts can reduce federal income tax obligations for all beneficiaries over time. For corporations, it depends on whether or not they own 100% of the stock in a subsidiary. If they do not own 100% of the stock in a subsidiary, then the company might be deemed as an affiliated person.

The major distinction between DSTs and other types of trusts is that there is an initial tax liability incurred whenever assets are transferred into them. This tax liability can be spread over time by paying out annual interest to beneficiaries of these assets before distributing them to their beneficiaries.

Why Should I Consider Creating a DST?

For those who want to shield their assets but still have access to them, DST is a perfect solution.

The DST is a legal entity that anyone can create and own by anyone. It contains a trust document that lays out the entity’s duties, powers, and terms of ownership. The trust document also defines who is responsible for managing the trust’s assets and how they will be managed. It is often used by businesses looking to keep their finances more private or individuals wanting to keep their health and personal information more private.

One of the most important aspects of a will is determining what will happen to assets after death. This is where DST comes in. DSTs keep assets out of probate and offer peace of mind, which can help control the way assets are passed on to beneficiaries after their owner has passed away and eliminate any doubt and uncertainty about the process.

The DST is a very popular and effective strategy for bypassing probate and other potential pitfalls in the estate plan process. It also provides another layer of protection when it comes to protecting an individual’s assets from possible lawsuits, as any property that would otherwise be included in an estate plan such as a will or probate would instead be transferred to the trust.

The Advantages of a DST

Some of the advantages of a DST are:

  • The trust is taxed in the most advantageous way.
  • The trustee is not liable for trust debt or obligations, which frees up time or requires less personal attention to manage the trust.
  • It has flexibility in terms of controlling distributions to beneficiaries.
  • It can be funded by any property, including marketable securities, life insurance policies, retirement plans, and more.
  • There are few restrictions on who can be a trustee or beneficiary.
  • There are also a few restrictions on how the property within the trust can be invested.
  • A statutory trust has no formalities that must be observed, which means even small children can create their trusts with little effort.

Disadvantages of a DST

The most significant disadvantage of a DST is the inability to control the future of your assets. This type of trust is irrevocable, meaning it cannot be terminated in the future. It also cannot be modified, meaning any changes to the trust would require approval from all beneficiaries and grantors.

DSTs have a common issue that causes a lack of liquidity. Generally, a third party to the trust would need to be involved for a distribution of funds to happen. This typically means that the trustee needs to sell trust assets before releasing any funds from the trust.

Conclusion: What Are the Benefits of Creating a DST?

The benefits of creating a DST include:

-Protecting assets from lawsuits and creditors

-Reducing estate taxes

-Avoiding probate fees

-Shifting wealth to future generations

All these benefits support that the DST is a guaranteed way of securing your property and assets for yourself and your loved ones.

 

Tax planning is an integral part of running a business, but it doesn’t mean you have to pay more than you have to. You will reduce your taxes by maximizing deductions and credits to lower the amount you owe when you file your taxes. Now that we are coming into tax season, we want to share some things you can do as a business to keep your tax liability low. These simple tips are easy to do, but they can save you a boatload of money. This article will look at some of the items that will move the needle forward in your favor.

U.S tax laws are pretty complicated, and there is a lot to consider with your business. It is sometimes difficult to understand if you are a small business owner and what changes to expect in the upcoming tax season. This blog will take you through some of the tax planning tips you can implement in your business with the help of a CPA.

What are some tax planning tips that you can use for small business owners?

As a small business owner, you have to focus on many different aspects of your business. The most crucial element is doing everything to protect your business and your assets. You can’t do that unless you do an excellent job of tax planning. So what are some ways you can ramp up your savings for the 2021 tax year?

Here are four quick and simple tips:

  1. If you use your home as a home office, a certain percentage can be written off as a business expense even though it is not a traditional physical office.
  2. If you use your cell phone primarily as a business communication device, you can include the monthly billing expense of your device(s) to reduce your tax liability.
  3. If your vehicle is used to conduct business, you can leverage exemptions for this.
  4. Meals at local restaurants are a great way to boost the local economy and reduce your tax liability.

How can small business owners use tax planning to save money?

Entrepreneurs often get bogged down with the day-to-day operations of their business. However, they also need to be thinking ahead. As a business owner, don’t you want to pay as little as possible to the government? If so, then you need to think about tax planning. Getting tax services from a professional tax planner or CPA is the way to go.

Conclusion:

Tax time is coming up quickly! For many businesses, this means accounting for all the hard work you’ve put into your business over the past year and getting your business to a place where you can enjoy a little more free time. However, it can be a stressful and expensive tax month if you do not do your tax planning in advance! We hope the information provided in this blog post has been helpful to you in preparing for tax time. If you have any tips or tricks that you would like to share, please feel free to reach out.