Fellow GenXers: of all the fire drills weve experienced in our decades on Earth, it seems that many of us missed the retirementFIREmemo in our early adult years: Financial Independence, Retire Early.

Indeed, many members ofGen X now between the ages of 41 and 56 are still traveling the road to financial independence with retirement as a future destination, instead of a current reality. The opportunity to retire and say see ya to our bosses and employers has already passed us by. But its not too late to make a few smart money moves to help achieve financial security in retirement. Ill share them with you below.

But first, lets look at where weve been and where we are. When we started our careers and families, retirement seemed unattainable. We were slammed early in our adult years with the dot.com bubble, the Y2K scare and then the housing bubble. Financial panic defined our modus operandi.

To top it off, weve since evolved into the forgotten middle children, sandwiched between three living generations ahead of us (The Greatest Generation, The Silent Generation, and baby boomers) and three behind us (Millennials, GenZ and The Alpha Gen). We have the responsibility of caring for parents and children while trying to maintain our own fragile financial sanity and security.

Also see: How this woman went from six figures in debt and unemployed to financial independence

With around a decade or two before our first retirement milestone Medicare eligibility at 65 and the optimal milestone of Social Security income at 70 (the claiming age when monthly benefits are largest), our best course of action is FIRE drills. That means preparing ourselves for retirement readiness, better late than never.

By knowing where you stand, what you want and what you need to reach retirement readiness, you can achieve financial security. Heres how Im advising clients to do so:

Know where you stand.Your financial picture is best summarized by a Net Worth Statement. This statement lists all your assets (what you own) and liabilities (what you owe), with the difference between the two reflecting whats available after paying off debt.

Now that youve likely reached your high-earning years, consider these questions:

Know what you want.It is not easy detangling your identity from the familial and professional roles that demand your attention, time and money. As the sandwich generation caring for parents and children while holding middle- to senior management jobs, we have limited opportunities to determine what we want now, let alone plan for what we desire in the future.

Read: The FIRE movement confronts the 4% rule

Our confidence in retiring comfortably waivers with each decision that pulls at our financial resources and our human capital the ability to sustain the jobs that demand so much from us.

Many of us have taken a piecemeal approach to our personal finances, gathering money tips here and there from family members, co-workers and the media and financial professionals.

Most Americans still believe that financial planners are a luxury reserved only for the wealthy. According to a 2021 study by the Magnify Money site, only30% of Americans use a financial plannerto create and follow a dynamic financial plan anchored in their values and goals, reflective of key areas such as taxes, retirement, investments, insurance and estate planning.

Does this sound like you?

Know what you need.Fortunately, many Americans are living 30 years in retirement almost as long as our working careers. As such, we Gen Xers must modify our needs or adjust our strategy to support this newfound time.

Consider how much money you may need to support activities like travel and exploration. Dont forget about planning for rising health care costs or the possibility of long-term care, as well. According to the financial services firm Fidelity, a 65-year-old might need to earmark as much as $300,000 after taxes to cover themselves.

Finally, what have you done to prepare to leave wealth for the next generation? The Gallup polling firm recently reported that less than half of the U.S. adult population(46%) has a will. How about you?

Read: Im 52, wont live past 80 and have $1.6 million. I am tired of both the rat race and workplace politics. Should I retire?

Well likely need to revisit these drills until our retirement goals are realized. But by knowing where we stand, what we want and what well need to retire comfortably, we can reach our destination faster.

Lazetta Rainey BraxtonCertified Financial Planner Lazetta Rainey Braxton is co-CEO and co-founder of2050 Wealth Partnersand CEO and founder ofLazetta & Associates. She is passionate about amplifying diversity, inclusion, equality and belonging in the financial planning profession and does so through financial planning, public speaking, writing, consulting and coaching. She was named a 2021 Crains New York Business Notable Black Leader and Executive as well as one of the Top 10 of Investopedias 100 Top Financial Advisors in 2020 and 2021. In all her endeavors, she is on a mission to create wealth for the common good.

This article is reprinted by permission fromNextAvenue.org, 2021 Twin Cities Public Television, Inc. All rights reserved.

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FIRE drill: GenX, do you have what it takes to retire? - MarketWatch

HOBOKEN, N.J., Nov. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Celsius Network, the leading global cryptocurrency earning and borrowing platform, announced it has paid more than $1 billion in digital assets to its community of 1.2 million users - marking the most yield paid out to users by any crypto platform. Celsius achieved this feat in three years, a time during which the total assets on the platform have grown to more than $25 billion today.

"This achievement is a testament to the hard work our team has put in to deliver for our community and to drive unstoppable growth for Celsius," said Alex Mashinsky, CEO of Celsius at Web Summit 2021. "This impressive milestone shows that both doing good and doing well is possible."

Celsius provides yield on 46 different assets - including Bitcoin, Ethereum and stablecoins - with rewards paid out weekly on every Monday. The platform maintains some of the highest rates in the crypto lending industry, generating yield by lending to institutions, exchanges, and individuals in addition to staking, DeFi and mining operations.

With Celsius paying out yield at a rate of $15 million per week while banks continue to pay on average 0.01% - it is easy to see why so many have chosen to open accounts with Celsius and earn yield on crypto.

As part of its Proof Of Community (POC) and Rewards Explorer, Celsius provides real-time data about its assets, loans, users and rewards paid. Celsius users pay no fees and get weekly yield payments.

The news follows Celsius' recent announcement of a $400 million investment led by WestCap, a growth equity firm, and Caisse de dpt et placement du Qubec (CDPQ), a global investment group. The investment will reflect a valuation of more than $3 billion for Celsius.

About CelsiusCelsius helps hundreds of thousands of consumers worldwide to find the path towards financial independence through a compounding yield service and instant low-cost loans accessible via a web and mobile app. Built on the belief that financial services should only do what is in the best interest of the customers and community, Celsius is a blockchain-based fee-free platform where membership provides access to curated financial services that are not available through traditional financial institutions. For additional information please visitwww.celsius.network.

Media Contact[emailprotected]

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As an individual investor, it can feel overwhelming to choose among individual stocks, index funds, and other investment options to build your retirement savings.

High-performing assets earn the most money, and the old saying is true: higher risk can lead to higher rewards. But as you approach retirement age, you should tailor your portfolio to your age and have less risky assets.

Thats where target date funds come in. Target date funds are a mix of stocks and bonds in a single fund that automatically become less risky over time.

Theyre a simple way of investing with a single fund that adjusts the asset allocation mix over time to minimize risk, explains Fernanda Novaes, Portfolio Manager at Intercontinental Wealth Advisors.

If your investment goal is to save for financial independence, you might want to invest in a way that matches your risk tolerance without any effort on your part, which is exactly what target date funds do.

So what are target date funds? Lets look at what they are and how they work in practice.

When retirement is many years away, investing in riskier options like stocks and equities is what experts suggest. Then, as retirement gets closer, you should gradually introduce less risky assets, such as bonds and treasury notes. Target date funds do this for you automatically, with no rebalancing on your part.

If you choose a target date fund, choose one thats closest to your anticipated retirement year. Our experts recommend broad-market index funds for most young investors.

Target date funds are what we call a fund of funds, meaning theyre a mix of other funds that are chosen for you, like an S&P 500 or a Russell 2000 fund. If you dont have the time or expertise to choose, it can be better to let the experts take care of it, adds Novaes.

When selecting a target date fund, youll typically select the date that most closely matches your anticipated retirement year.

If you want to retire in 40 years, youll want a 2060 target date fund. At todays point in time, it will start with more stock and equity exposure and less fixed-income exposure, says Michelle Katzen, Managing Director, certified financial planner, and CDFA at HCR Wealth Advisors. Over time, that fixed-income exposure will become a larger part of that investment bucket while the equity piece reduces, Katzen says.

The fund in this example would first focus on high-risk stocks with the potential for higher returns. As 2060 approaches, those investments will roll into lower-risk bonds that are less risky and with lower returns. Katzen calls this the glide path. Its a mandate on how your fund will be invested so its very clear on day one that each year, it will get more conservative by reducing equity allocation and increasing fixed income allocation.

Over the years, those shifting allocations might look like:

The exact percentages will depend on the fund you choose, but the idea is to create an automatic path toward the year of your retirement.

Index funds are another investment option that offer broad exposure to the market without having to choose individual investments. But unlike target date funds, index funds track the overall market, a certain industry, or a specific stock type.

The difference is in the rebalancing.

Index funds arent going to adjust the asset allocation for you. Whatever the fund is, its always going to remain in that asset. Theyre not going to take into account that you need money in 30 years for retirement like a target date fund would, says Novaes.

If you choose a high-risk index fund, it will always be high-risk and potentially have higher returns.

Compare that with a target date fund which does change risk level. Getting away from higher-risk investments in the final years before retirement means you can lose out on higher returns toward the end of the fund, but its keeping your investment safe, which is what its intended to do.

The best choice for you is one that matches your investment goals, investment timeline, and risk tolerance level. A good investment strategy asks for diversification and theres no one-size-fits all solution.

In fact, millionaire investor and founder of Personal Finance Club Jeremy Schneider says if he could redo his entire $4.5 million investment portfolio again, hed only invest in target date funds.

The target date index fund is actually, truly the most optimal, simple, low-cost investment strategy, Schneider tells NextAdvisor.

If you dont know where to start or want to invest without thinking about your portfolio, a target date fund is an excellent choice. You can always shift to other funds whenever you want.

The most important thing is to start investing and if target date funds provide the introduction, then thats great.

If you make the decision to invest with a target date fund, the best choice is one that most closely matches your anticipated retirement year. For example, if you think youll retire around 2057, a 2060 fund would make the most sense for your timeline.

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Target Date Funds Take the Guesswork Out of Retirement Investing. Heres How - NextAdvisor

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --100 Black Men of Greater Washington, D.C., in partnership with the Women Presidents' Organization (WPO), are proud to announce the honorees of the 2021 Women of Color Achievement Awards. A total of thirteen women are being recognized for outstanding professional achievement and demonstrating exemplary community service. Sponsored by UPS, the event will take place on Wednesday, November 3 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., at the Tower Club, 8000 Towers Crescent Drive, Suite 1700, Vienna, VA 22182.

"We are honored to host the Women of Color Achievement Awards in Northern Virginia, and excited to partner with the Women Presidents' Organization," said James Thompson, President of the 100 Black Men of Greater Washington, D.C. "We commend those being honored for their success in business, as well as their philanthropic generosity and community service. Similar to the Women Presidents' Organization, The 100 Black Men of Greater Washington, D.C., believes that the key to community improvement is through economic empowerment. We are pleased to support the organizations' efforts as they create pathways for financial independence, and serve as an example for people of color to emulate," Thompson said.

"We are thrilled to continue our partnership with 100 Black Men as we acknowledge this distinguished group of influential women business leaders. They demonstrate outstanding leadership qualities as the heads of multi-million-dollar businesses. They also devote their time and energy to improving the quality of life in their local communities. We salute all of Greater Washington D.C.'s powerful award winners," said Camille Burns, CEO of the WPO.

The following women will be honored:

Ida Abdalkhani, Ability to Engage

Robin Booth, Booth Management Consulting

Aisha Bowe, STEMBOARD

Denita Conway, Proven Management, LLC

Lilly Harris, Man-Machine Systems Assessment

Fatimah Moody, LinkVisum Consulting Group, Inc.

Tamara Nall, TLN Worldwide Enterprises, Inc.

Lynn Petrazzuolo, Avanti Corporation

Angela Reddix, ARDX

Suann Song, Appointed, LLC

Tabatha Turman, IFAS, LLC

Vicki Vasques, Tribal Tech, LLC

Kalilah Wright, Mess In a Bottle

About 100 Black Men of Greater Washington, D.C.The 100 Black Men of Greater Washington, D.C. was founded in 1995 in response to a call to action during the Million Man March. The organization is devoted to improving the quality of life for African Americans within the community through economic empowerment, education, health and wellness, and mentoring programs. Since 1995, the organization has mentored over 15,000 students with a 100% graduation rate over the past five years and has provided more than $3.5 Million in college scholarships and community investments.

About the Women Presidents' OrganizationThe WPO is the premier peer advisory organization connecting women who own multi-million-dollar companies. In monthly meetings across six continents, chapters of 20 women presidents from diverse industries invest time and energy in themselves and their businesses to drive their corporations to the next level. Local WPO chapters are coordinated by a professional facilitator and meet monthly to share business expertise and experience in a confidential setting.

The three WPO chapters in the Greater Washington, D.C. area are comprised of over 30 high-powered women business owners, with revenues ranging from $1 million to over $30 million. Industries vary from legal and financial services to real estate and event planning and beyond.

Prospective WPO members must have annual gross revenue of at least $2 million, if product-based, or $1 million if service-based. Entrepreneurs in who meet the WPO revenue requirements and are interested in joining should visit http://www.womenpresidentsorg.com.

SOURCE Women Presidents' Organization

http://www.womenpresidentsorg.com

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The 100 Black Men Of Greater Washington, DC With Women Presidents' Organization To Honor Outstanding Women Entrepreneurs Leading Successful Businesses...

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 27, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Gen Z is emerging from the pandemic with a greater focus on saving, financial independence, gathering life experiences, and seeking financial education many were without access to in their schools and communities growing up. This is according to new researchpublished today by Bank of America's Better Money Habitsexploring what this generation (ages 18 to 24) view as their greatest financial barriers, and how they are taking charge of their financial lives.

"As Gen Z gets started financially and professionally, we see a great deal of motivation and positive steps toward building a solid financial foundation," said Christine Channels, Head of Community Banking and Client Protection at Bank of America. "At the same time, an unmistakable need for more financial education persists among this generation. Through our Better Money Habits platform, we're committed to connecting these young adults to a wide range of resources and guidance to help them develop financial know-how, and navigate barriers to achieving their goals."

Key findings from the researchinclude:

The research also explored the role of race, ethnicity and gender in access to financial education and opportunities, uncovering:

Black/African American Gen Z more likely to be financially independent, cite starting a business in their definition of success

Hispanic Gen Z highlight greater gaps in financial education, see homeownership as success

Gen Z women face financial knowledge and investing gaps, but are more likely to be taking steps toward financial wellness

"As a company and as a society, it is critical that we address the financial education and opportunity gaps that persist across the communities of young adults we serve," said Alberto Garofalo, Community Banking & Development executive at Bank of America. "This research is another step in our commitment to fully understanding the unique needs and priorities of diverse communities, so we can provide the resources and guidance to empower everyone on their journey to financial wellness."

Better Money Habits

As Gen Z prioritizes better money habits, they continue to seek advice and guidance as they look to take control of their finances and plan the future. Bank of America's Better Money Habitsplatform offers free financial education content and tools that break down financial topics in ways that are approachable and easy to understand. The platform connects people at all life stages to relevant tools that help build know-how to help them take action toward their financial goals. It also includes specific resourcescatered to Gen Z and young adults, covering topics including budgeting, building credit, borrowing, investing and more. We continually look for ways to expand the reach of Better Money Habits and also offerSpanish language resourceson the site.

Methodology

The study was conducted August 12 September 7, 2021, by Ipsos in English and is based on nationally representative probability samples of 1,024 general population adults (age 18 or older), and a partially overlapping sample of 635 Gen Z adults (age 18-24), including 28 Gen Z adults from a non-probability sample. This survey was conducted primarily using the Ipsos KnowledgePanel, the largest and most well-established online probability-based panel that is representative of the adult US population. Panelists are scientifically recruited into this invitation-only panel via postal mailings to a random selection of residential addresses. To ensure that non-internet households are included, Ipsos provides access to a tablet and internet connection to those who need them. Because of this probability-based sampling approach, KnowledgePanel findings can be reported with a margin of sampling error and projected to the general population. The margin of sampling error for the general population sample is +/- 3.3 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level.

Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 66 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 4,200 retail financial centers, approximately 17,000 ATMs, and award-winning digital banking with approximately 41 million active users, including approximately 32 million mobile users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and approximately 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information,visit theBank of America newsroomandregister for news email alerts.

Reporters May Contact:Betty Riess, Bank of America [emailprotected]

SOURCE Bank of America Corporation

http://www.bankofamerica.com

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Bank of America Better Money Habits Research Finds That, Despite Barriers, 80% of Gen Z Are Taking Positive Steps Toward Achieving their Financial...

Getting your first job offer is exciting joining the full-time workforce can mean a salary, benefits, and a path to financial independence. But before jumping to accept an offer, it's important to assess what exactly the company is promising you and negotiate your salary.

Most people hate negotiating (who can blame them) and don't do it. More than half (56%) of workers don't negotiate when given a job offer, according to CareerBuilder.

But here's a news flash: Most employers will negotiate even for entry-level employees. More than half (53%) of employers said they would be willing to negotiate first-time salaries, according to CareerBuilder. It's actually built into their strategy: Most employers will offer a lower salary to start, leaving room for negotiations. So, by not negotiating, you could be leaving money on the table!

And the payoffs from those negotiations can be huge in some cases, 11-20% higher, according to Jobvite's Job Seeker Nation Study.

So, let's say you get offered a starting salary of $40,000 11% of that is $4,400! And that's PER YEAR. So, if you stay at that job for 2 years, you would've made an extra $8,800. Three years that's $13,200. Plus, if in a few years you go for a promotion, you're negotiating that salary from a higher rung on the salary ladder. And, as you move up, you'll keep earning more than you would have if you settled for the first offer each time. That means paying off student loans more quickly, having more money in your pocket, being able to afford a nicer apartment/house you get the idea.

When you think of it that way, why wouldn't you negotiate?

More fromCollege Voices:How do you land your first job out of college?Why Black and Latinx women are more likely to struggle with impostor syndromeand how to overcome itWomen in STEM: 3 Challenges we face and how to overcome them

More than half (51%) of workers who don't negotiate fail to do so because they don't feel comfortable asking for more money, according to CareerBuilder. Nearly half said it was because they were afraid the employer would withdraw the offer. More than one-third said it was because they didn't want to seem greedy.

I sat down with some negotiation experts and those with some negotiation experience to talk through tips on how to approach your first job offer.

How to get over asking for more money

"You always negotiate a job offer job offers are dynamic," said Liza Babin, a 23-year-old who works in entertainment and negotiated her salary for her first two jobs. "They chose you because you were the best person for this job, and you have a lot of value."

Liza Babin

Source: Henry Platt

She recommends never accepting an offer on the spot and, instead, take some time to research the marketplace for this position. Once you know what you want from the negotiation, ask to talk through the offer "very calm, collected, and well-researched."

Kate Dixon, a negotiation coach and author of "Pay Up: Unlocking Insider Secrets of Salary Negotiation," said she tells her clients to phrase a salary negotiation as collaborative. Phrasing a salary increase in such a manner, keeps both sides on the same team. She suggested saying something along the lines of, "According to my research, jobs like this are paid between X and Y in the marketplace and I'm targeting the higher end. How close can we get?"

This kind of phrasing helps show that you've done your research and gives them a range of options to solve this negotiation, while also empowering you to begin your relationship with the company confidently.

But there are other options than just asking for a higher salary.

Peter Cappelli, a professor and director of the Center for Human Resources at the Wharton School of Business, said another strategy is to ask for one-time payments, such as a signing bonus or larger coverage of moving expenses. That may lead to more success than asking for the long-term cost of a recurring higher salary.

"Look for things that you think might be easier for them to give to you and things that are valuable to you," Cappelli said. He said knowing what's on the table to negotiate besides salary such as moving your start date back, more time off or job title makes your negotiation stronger than making demands they can't meet like higher salaries or health-care packages outside of their standard offering.

How to prepare for a negotiation

An important part of the negotiation process is being prepared for whatever might come your way. Knowing what a reasonable demand is shows the company that you did your research to make an equitable ask. Cappelli stresses that it's important to have a reason why you're asking to negotiate. For example, if people in your area, people at other companies in a similar position, or candidates with your education level typically earn more.

"You need a reason why more pay is merited," Cappelli said. "Just saying, 'I want more' isn't going to get you it and you start to look foolish."

Leveraging her prior experience as a basis for a salary increase was especially key for Alba Disla when she negotiated her salary at her first full-time job with the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team at Comcast in 2019.

Alba Disla

Source: Debbie Rabinovich

"I was very nervous because I just wanted any job at all and I was so ecstatic I even got the offer," Disla said about what was her dream job at the time. "I didn't have any formal corporate experience, but I had a lot of prior experience in an academic setting, so I used that to buffer my counterargument."

Disla ended up getting her offer raised by $4,000.

"I was really happy that I successfully negotiated because it was something I was very scared about, but I know it's important as I start my career, especially as a woman of color," Disla said.

"It's really important to advocate for yourself early on."

Dixon said it's common for first-time negotiators to be nervous about the negotiation, but it's important to not take what amounts to a business transaction personally.

"If you can get a little bit of emotional distance, it enables you to be much more effective in salary negotiations," Dixon said. "What a company offers you says more about how they value that job than you're worth as a human being."

Negotiation risks

One of the biggest concerns people have when negotiating is often that the offer will be taken away. Negotiating a first job can feel particularly risky, since you're coming from a place of no employment and you feel like you don't have leverage.

But the experts I spoke to said that the biggest risk is only that the company will say "no."

"I have never seen an offer pulled for somebody negotiating in good faith," Dixon said. "The risk of getting your offer pulled for doing a negotiation is practically nil."

Disla said that was exactly what she was afraid of going into the negotiation.

"A really big psychological thing for me to get over was part of me didn't want to confront them or counter because what if they take the offer away?" Disla said. "But it just doesn't happen that way The worst case is you get the original offer back."

However, Dixon cautioned that trying to push someone beyond a "best and final offer" can lead to frustration from your potential employers. Asking for more once the line has been clearly drawn is the only negotiation that can be considered a "risky proposition."

She recommends approaching a negotiation with gratitude and excitement for the offer to set the negotiation up in positive way. Thinking about the negotiation as a collaboration rather than a competition will make for a productive conversation rather than an aggressive situation.

Recognizing your worth

"Even if you don't get anything monetarily, you're still showing who you are as an employee. You're showing them, 'Hey, I advocate for myself. I understand my worth,'" Dixon said.

Understanding her worth is something Babin reminds herself of before entering a negotiation.

"Coming from that place of insecurity when you are leaving college and you have nothing to fall back on, it's so important to know your worth and be able to stay strong during those negotiations," Babin said. "Make sure you remind yourself of your own worth throughout the process, because it can be very easy to get discouraged."

For women especially, negotiating a first job is an essential way to start at a fair financial point. Hired found that 63% of the time, men were offered higher salaries than women for the same job. However, only 7% of women even attempt to negotiate their first salary, while 57% of men do, according to a study done by Carnegie Mellon University professor Linda Babcock.

So, negotiating is essential to getting a fair offer especially for women.

Jordan Mathews said she negotiated her most recent job offer, despite knowing how difficult it is to negotiate a salary with the government, because she felt that as a woman, it was "a priority" to at least try. After three months of negotiations and undergoing a security clearance, Mathews started her job as a program analyst with the Community Relations Services team at the Department of Justice. Mathews said she doesn't regret the amount of time and effort she put into negotiating as she's "very happy with the final result."

Jordan Matthews

Source: Kamil Hamid

"I knew that I had a lot of skills and experiences that were valuable and deserve to be recognized in my salary," Mathews said. "Don't undercut or undersell any skill that you have that might be relevant. Everything is valuable You have the most power when they want you."

So, for anyone out there questioning whether or not to negotiate a job offer, you have very little to lose and possibly a lot to gain!

The experts I spoke to recommended LinkedIn videos, the NPR Life Kit podcast, or negotiation books to educate yourself. Once in negotiations, Glassdoor and PayScale are great resources to get a sense of the market wage for your position. For Mathews, Disla, and Babin, having a mentor who supported them through the process was essential in helping them direct negotiations with end results they were happy with. Ultimately, don't be afraid to negotiate for what you think you deserve.

"People feel like millennials can be entitled in that we don't want to come off a certain way, but I think we need to shift our perspective," Mathews said. "Having employees coming in who recognize their value and what they're going to add to a team is something hopefully [companies] want. It actually shows confidence."

CNBC's "College Voices is a series written by CNBC interns from universities across the country about getting their college education, managing their own money and launching their careers during these extraordinary times.Kelly Heinzerling received her undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and her master's degree from Northwestern University. She was an intern on CNBC's creative services team in the summer of 2021. The series is edited byCindy Perman.

Disclosure: Comcast is the parent company of CNBC.

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How to negotiate the salary for your first job offer - CNBC

Millions of individuals envision being their own boss and gaining financial independence, and those are just two reasons why starting a business can be an exciting prospect.

Novice entrepreneurs are likely familiar with just how difficult it can be to get going and sustain a business for years. The United States Department of Labor Statistics says 20% of small businesses fail within the first year. By the end of five years, nearly 50% have closed their doors. This information shouldnt make aspiring entrepreneurs run for the hills, but it can serve as motivation to avoid common mistakes and learn from others.

Every new business venture is met with obstacles along the way. Recognizing potential challenges and learning how to sidestep them is an important part of growing a successful business.

A business plan is crucial and will begin with your vision and what you want to achieve. The business guidance site The Balance: Small Business suggests including the following in your business plan: a mission statement; list of the products or services that will be offered; the niche a business intends to establish itself in; marketing strategies; which problems a business will solve in its industry; and how business owners plan to position themselves against competitors. An effective business plan can serve as a guide that business owners can use to get started and then return to as their business grows and evolves.

The business solutions company Dont Do Business Without It says choosing the right employees or cofounders is very important. It may be tempting to hire a friend or family member because you want to do them a favor. You may even have had a successful working relationship in the past. But its best to base hiring decisions on applicants competence and skills. Integrity also is a good trait to look for in an employee.

Strategies for retention also should be a priority. Pew Research says roughly 40% of millennials will change jobs in a years time. Figure out how to make your business so attractive that employees will want to become long-term fixtures.

All business owners experience problems from time to time, but the obstacles a business faces have no doubt challenged others in the past. Business owners should not feel as though they need to go it alone to prove their mettle. Business owners can reach out to a mentor or someone in their professional network when faced with a new and challenging obstacle. A study by UPS showed that 70% of business owners who received mentoring survived for five years or more. Thats nearly double the rate of those who didnt seek assistance. Asking for help with problems can also free up energy for other components of the business, which allows owners to play to their strengths.

Any business will face obstacles and adversity, but with the right mindset and people, any obstacle can be overcome.

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How businesses can persevere in the face of adversity - Fairfield Daily Republic

Boris Johnson should introduce financial penalties, including cuts to pensions, for former ministers and officials who flout lobbying rules, according to a major report calling for a reform of standards in office.

The independent Committee on Standards in Public Life, which was set up by John Major in 1995 to advise prime ministers, argues the existing system for transparency around lobbying is not fit for purpose.

The report, which also calls for an overhaul of the ministerial code, comes after the Greensill lobbying scandal, when it emerged David Cameron had privately messaged senior ministers, and concerns over ministers breaching the code without facing sanctions.

In a withering verdict of the current systems, the authors warn: It is clear to this committee that degree of independence in the regulation of the ministerial code, public appointments, business appointments and appointments to the House of Lords falls below what is necessary to ensure effective regulation and maintain public credibility.

The committee said it recognises widespread discontent over the operation of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) a system that vets jobs taken on by former ministers and ex-senior civil servants.

The report recommends extending a lobbying ban to five years in certain cases where officials were privy to privileged information, and stressed: The lack of any meaningful sanctions for a breach of these rules is no longer sustainable.

Chaired by the former MI5 chief, Jonathan Evans, the committee added: The government should set out what the consequences for any breach of contract will be.

Possible sanctions may include seeking an injunction prohibiting the uptake of a certain business appointment, or the recouping of a proportion of an office holders pension or severance payment.

Lord Eric Pickles a former Tory cabinet minister who chairs ACOBA has previously expressed concerns about anomalies in the vetting system when it emerged a former official held a role at Greensill Capital while remaining as a civil servant.

On the ministerial code, the report suggests there still needs to be greater independence in the regulation ... which lags behind similar arrangements for MPs, peers and civil servants.

The recommendation follows last years controversy when Sir Alex Allan resigned as Mr Johnsons ethics adviser after the prime minister overruled his findings that the home secretary, Priti Patel, had bullied staff in breach of the ministerial code.

The report, published today, urges the government to enshrine the ministerial code in primary legislation and ensure it details sanctions prime ministers may issue, apologies, fines and asking for a ministers resignation.

Taking power away from No 10, it also suggests the prime ministers independent adviser should be able to initiate investigations into breaches of the ministerial code and have the authority to determine breaches of the code.

Mr Evans said there was a particular need for reform in central government, adding: It has become clear that a system of standards regulation, which relies on convention, is no longer satisfactory.

He stressed: Whereas parliament has undergone significant reform in recent years, and local government was reviewed by this committee in 2019, many of the arrangements in central government have not changed for over a decade.

Lord Evans added: We concluded that the current system of standards regulation is overly dependent on convention. The ethics regulators and the codes they enforce should have a basis in primary legislation, and government requires a more thorough and rigorous compliance function.

The arrangements to uphold ethical standards in government have come under close scrutiny and significant criticism in recent months. Maintaining high standards requires vigilance and leadership. We believe our recommendations outline a necessary programme of reform to restore public confidence in the regulation of ethical standards in government.

Responding to the report, the deputy leader of the opposition, Angela Rayner, said the Labour Party welcomed the recommendations. She said: Boris Johnson and his Conservative colleagues actions have repeatedly undermined standards in our public life.

The system is supposed to uphold the ministerial code. Lobbying rules, business appointments and transparency is clearly unfit for purpose. Ministers have disregarded the rules and it is about time for a radical overhaul of the system.

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Boris Johnson urged to impose financial penalties on ex-ministers and officials flouting lobbying rules - The Independent

Like many other aspects of our lives, COVID-19 affected the treatments too. Read on to know how the pandemic affected fertility treatments for infertile couples.

Written by Editorial Team | Updated : November 1, 2021 10:31 AM IST

Covid-19 has been a stressful experience for all of us and has negatively impacted our way of life. Unfortunately, aspiring parents are not exempted from the impact of covid-19 in their quest towards parenthood through fertility treatments. The rising number of infertility cases of young couples in India has increased drastically, with the number of couples seeking fertility treatment in recent times higher than ever before. But how has Covid-19 impacted their chances of parenthood?

Understanding the causes for increasing infertility is critical to determine the impact of covid-19 on couples seeking diagnosis or treatment. In terms of identifying variables that contribute to decreased fertility among couples, some recent trends indicate that the average age for marriage has risen for couples due to a greater emphasis on education. Thus, the advanced age at which couples begin attempting to have children is responsible for a significant portion of the increase in infertility among couples. Off late there are a lot of elderly couples who have lost their child to covid and they want to try again.

This increase in age can be ascribed to the fact that couples prioritize financial independence over having children. It has also been shown that the average age for marriage in metropolitan settings has grown, which has shortened the time of increased fertility, particularly for women. Although males may not have the same reproductive constraints as women, they are also more likely to experience fewer problems when attempting to conceive when they are young. Lifestyle changes may also be a cause of lower fertility rates. I see at least 2-3 cases in a day with couples in the age group of 25 -45 years.

There are many varied advanced reproductive therapies such as in vitro fertilization or IVF, intra-cytoplasmic sperm injections, oral hormonal pills, or intrauterine fertility injections that increase fertilization chances. These treatments are considered after the couple has undergone testing and has been diagnosed with certain levels of infertility. Further, because of advancements in technologies used in reproductive therapy, procedures now have higher success rates. For example, IVF success rates of approximately 10% in 1990 have risen to 50%-60% today.

Despite these encouraging statistics, pandemic-induced intermittent lockdowns enforced following the first and second waves of the pandemic have affected aspiring couples and have restricted their options for treatments. Specialists have also seen a decrease in the number of people seeking treatment because of the increasing costs of both the procedures and keeping with the safety regulations that must be followed as per government Covid-19 regulations. These new regulations also add extra expense to the treatment. The other consequence of the pandemic has also resulted in many losing jobs and taking pay cuts that do not allow them to access these expensive reproductive therapy procedures. The sudden decrease in income has hindered many couples who would have otherwise undergone these procedures to forgo their chance for the immediate future.

Since most of these procedures require consistent treatment across the woman's menstrual cycles for adequate success, both physicians and patients are becoming increasingly unwilling to engage in these procedures in the face of uncertainty. In addition, patients and doctors were also afraid to begin these procedures, some of which needed general anaesthesia, for fear of testing positive for Covid-19, especially when patients have co-morbidities or are immunocompromised.

In such cases, most fertility clinics and specialists encourage patients to begin fertility treatment only after taking both doses of the vaccinations available and then begin more invasive treatments for their safety.

(The article is contributed by Dr Shivani Sachdev Gour, Infertility Specialist at SCI IVF Hospital in New Delhi)

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Coping With Coronavirus: Here's How The Pandemic Disrupted Fertility Treatments - TheHealthSite

Financial exploitation is one of the most prevalent forms of elder abuse and is a major public health problem.1 Older adults are more likely to have a nest egg, own their home, have excellent credit, and they are generally raised to be polite and trusting. Moreover, with age also comes reduced sensitivity to negative arousal cues, so even cognitively intact older adults can have functional changes that may render them financially vulnerable.2-4 Estimates by MetLife indicate that senior citizens lost $2.9 billion to elder financial abuse in 2010, and up from $2.6 billion in 2008.1,5 The Federal Trade Commissions survey on fraud prevalence in the United States revealed that African American and Latino consumers were more likely to become victims of fraud than non-Hispanic whites.6

Given that elder financial exploitation is associated with mortality, hospitalization, poor physical and mental health, lower quality of life, loss of independence, and significant financial hardship, fighting the crime of the 21st century is of utmost importance. As the elderly population continues to grow and become more diverse, primary intervention strategies will benefit both elderly and minority populations.

In 2010, approximately 1 in 5 Americans aged 65 years or older fell victim to financial abuse.5 Decision-making processes to avoid elder abuse require higher-order cognitive processes that decline with age. Even cognitively intact older adults can have functional brain changes that may render them financially vulnerable. The elderly population (aged 65 and older) is projected to reach 70 million by 2030. These estimates raise concern that increased susceptibility to deception will drive reduced quality of life and loss of independence, thereby negatively impacting the health status for a large segment of the US population.3,7

Individuals with cognitive impairment are at increased risk of becoming victims of scams due to decreased awareness, overestimation of competency in financial matters, social vulnerability, and changes in perceptual speed, episodic memory, and working memory.8,9 Furthermore, individuals with Alzheimer disease (AD) are more likely to suffer the loss of twice as much money per case of financial exploitation.10 Poor decision making and greater susceptibility to scams have also been linked to mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and these vulnerabilities can emerge even prior to a diagnosis of actual MCI.11 The prevalence of individuals with AD in the US population is growing and will increase almost threefold to 13.2 million by 2050.12 Current estimates project that 1 in every 45 Americans will have AD by 2047.13 In adults with MCI and AD, structural brain changes and deterioration in cognitive capacitates such as processing speed and episodic memory exacerbate susceptibility to scams.9,14 Diminished cognitive functioning has been linked not only to greater financial victimization in old age, but to AD onset as well.15,16

Family Caregiver Burden

The disease burden of AD is associated with weakened financial capacity and financial autonomy, thereby increasing family caregiver burden.17,18 Financial capacity is crucial for independent activities in daily life; however, individuals with AD and cognitive decline often demonstrate total loss of financial capacity, which can lead to psychological burden and distress.19 Impairments in financial capacity also contribute to economic hardship, significant concerns for patient welfare, and family caregiver burden. This is particularly important in light of a recent survey of 2000 nonprofessional caregivers which found that 92% provide financial assistance for the adults they care for.20 Managing AD patients disease and functional independence is an expensive endeavor, and financial exploitation only exacerbates the problem. Moreover, financial mismanagement among cognitively impaired individuals is one of the greatest sources of perceived caregiver burden.

As the number of older adults diagnosed with AD is expected to rise,12 safeguards are crucial to protect this population and their caregivers from scams. The chronic burden associated with fighting a degenerative disease, lapses in memory and judgment, and caregiver fatigue are examples of why individuals with MCI or AD and their caregivers are vulnerable targets for the crime of the 21st century. The impact of financial scamming on older adults and their families has direct implications for clinical care, particularly as psychiatrists and other mental health experts may be in a prime position to identify at-risk individuals before financial loss occurs.

Case Vignette

Mr Xavier is a 76-year-old gentleman recently diagnosed with MCI who receives a phone call from someone who claims to be his grandchild. The caller is frantic and explains that they are traveling abroad and have come into health troubles. They would like Mr Xavier to urgently wire money in order to settle the emergency. Specifically, the caller indicates that they require the money in order to pay a pressing hospital bill. The caller indicates just enough information to make the situation seem plausible. The caller then turns the phone over to a doctor who legitimizes the story. The caller seems quite embarrassed by the medical emergency and asks Mr Xavier to keep his financial assistance a secret from other family members and friends (eg, Dont tell mom; dont tell dad!).

Synthesis of Research

The current best protection against scams is education for the elderly and their caregivers. As examples, the FBI, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, USA.gov, and AARP all provide guidance on protection from scams. The status quo, as it pertains to prevention of scamming, includes hotlines, info-commercial home-based online education, legal interventions, and public lectures by law enforcement officials. Although these approaches have been shown to be cost effective and provide rapid response, major limitations to these intervention methods are that they: 1) do not preemptively target populations cognitively vulnerable to deception; 2) are not holistic and do not incorporate caregivers; and 3) are not often accessible to multilingual populations. A priori screening for susceptibility to deception and educational interventions would minimize adverse health outcomes and high costs of care, and may provide crucial interventions to both patients and their caregivers.

It is paramount that interventions for scamming specifically target vulnerable populations. Practicing psychiatrists and other mental health care providers are well positioned to conduct cognitive evaluations, assess capacity for financial decision making, and advise in advance care planning such as setting up trusts or facilitating discussions about creating a durable power of attorney. A behavioral science-based primary intervention approach would facilitate overcoming barriers, thereby opening new horizons for reducing public health burden due to financial fraud.

Dr Getz is an instructor in the Division of Neuropsychology, in the Department of Neurology of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Dr Galvinis a professor of neurology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and founding director of the Comprehensive Center for Brain Health.

Acknowledgements and Funding Sources

This study was supported by grants to SJG from the American Academy of Neurology, American Brain Foundation, and McKnight Brain Research Foundation, and to JEG from the National Institute on Aging (R01 AG071514, R01 AG069765, R01 AG057681, and R01 NS101483), the Harry T. Mangurian Foundation, and the Leo and Anne Albert Charitable Trust. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

References

1. Acierno R, Hernandez MA, Amstadter AB, et al. Prevalence and correlates of emotional, physical, sexual, and financial abuse and potential neglect in the United States: The National Elder Mistreatment Study. Am J Public Health. 2010;100(2):292-297.

2. Samanez-Larkin GR, Knutson B. Decision making in the ageing brain: changes in affective and motivational circuits. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2015;16(5):278-289.

3. Carstensen LL, Turan B, Scheibe S, et al. Emotional experience improves with age: evidence based on over 10 years of experience sampling.Psychol Aging. 2011;26(1):21.

4. Harl KM, Sanfey AG. Social economic decision-making across the lifespan: an fMRI investigation.Neuropsychologia. 2012;50(7):1416-1424.

5. Amstadter AB, Zajac K, Strachan M, et al. Prevalence and correlates of elder mistreatment in South Carolina: the South Carolina elder mistreatment study.J Interpers Violence. 2011;26(15):2947-2972.

6. Anderson KB. Consumer fraud in the United States, 2011: The third FTC survey. Federal Trade Commission. April 2013. Accessed October 26, 2021. https://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/reports/consumer-fraud-united-states-2011-third-ftc-survey/130419fraudsurvey_0.pdf

7. Dong X, Simon MA. Elder abuse as a risk factor for hospitalization in older persons.JAMA Intern Med. 2013;173(10):911-917.

8. Pinsker DM, McFarland K, Pachana NA. Exploitation in older adults: social vulnerability and personal competence factors.Journal of Applied Gerontology. 2010;29(6):740-761.

9. Han SD, Boyle PA, Yu L, et al. Grey matter correlates of susceptibility to scams in community-dwelling older adults. Brain Imaging Behav. 2016;10(2):524-532.

10. Jackson SL, Hafemeister TL. APS investigation across four types of elder maltreatment. Journal of Adult Protection. 2012;14:82-92.

11. Boyle PA, Yu L, Wilson RS, et al. Poor decision making is a consequence of cognitive decline among older persons without Alzheimers disease or mild cognitive impairment. PLOS One. 2012;7(8):e43647.

12. Hebert LE, Scherr PA, Bienias JL, et al. Alzheimer disease in the US population: prevalence estimates using the 2000 census. Arch Neurol. 2003;60(8):1119-1122.

13. Van Duijn C. Epidemiology of the dementias: recent developments and new approaches. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1996;60(5):478-488.

14. Catalano LA, Lazaro C. Financial abuse of elderly investors: protecting the vulnerable. Journal of Securities Law, Regulation & Compliance. 2010;3(1).

15. James BD, Boyle PA, and Bennett DA. Correlates of susceptibility to scams in older adults without dementia. J Elder Abuse Negl. 2014;26(2):107-122.

16. Boyle PA, Yu L, Schneider JA, et al. Scam awareness related to incident Alzheimer dementia and mild cognitive impairment: a prospective cohort study. Ann Intern Med. 2019;170(10)702-709.

17. Marson DC, Martin RC, Wadley V, et al. Clinical interview assessment of financial capacity in older adults with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2009;57(5):806-814.

18. Earnst KS, Wadley VG, Aldridge TM, et al. Loss of financial capacity in Alzheimer's disease: the role of working memory. Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition. 2001;8(2):109-119.

19. Moye J. Theoretical frameworks for competency in cognitively impaired elderly adults. Journal of Aging Studies. 1996;10(1):27-42.

20. Lynch M. The Journey of Caregiving: Honor, Responsibility and Financial Complexity. Merrill Bank. 2017. Accessed October 26, 2021. https://images.em.bankofamerica.com/HOST-03-19-0704/AgeWaveCaregivingWhitepaper.pdf

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Vulnerability to Financial Scamming: Victim and Family Protection - Psychiatric Times

We have nowhere to go. said 19-year-old Sadia*, with tear-filled eyes. Her abusive older brother had forbidden her and her older sister (20) from going to university because he hated the idea of them going out and wanteded them to focus on chores at home.

Standing under the shade of a big tree near the university departments main gate, Sadia looked sideways as if checking whether she was safe and nearly whispered. He locked us up in a room. We jumped from the window to get here. But we dont have anywhere else to go!

Over the next ten minutes, while the rest of girls and boys called their cab rides, boarded university buses, and called their drivers to pick them up, all visibly helpless and scared Sadia could reiterate was that she had nowhere else to go

This was in 2017. Five years on, unfortunately, the situation is no better. Countless women suffer abuse at the hands of their family members parents, siblings, spouses or guardians. Saima Ali (shot dead by her husband) and Qurutulain Bureni (tortured to death by her husband) are just few of the many cases that have surfaced. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone, 180 women were murdered in their households in 2018. In 2019, the figure rose to 217. Thirty-six women reported physical abuse at home in 2019, three times more than in 2018.

Every day the number of crimes against women increases. According to reports from March 2021, cases of violence against women and rape in Pakistan were doubled in the last six months of 2020 as compared to the first six months of the year 2021.

The light albeit dim at the end of the long tunnel of alienation and abuse is that women today are conscious of this mistreatment and are actively working to break free not just themselves but also those around them. They are eager to get educated and be financially independent. In 2020, womens participation in the labour force was 22.2 per cent.

According to Uzma Noorani, the Managing Trustee of Panah, a shelter for women survivors of violence, Financial independence is imperative for women; without it there is no moving forward. However, when women have to return to the same houses and partners, who very often believe they have a right to the womans income, financial independence alone becomes insufficient.

To be completely safe and free, and to grow as people, women must remove themselves from such environments and households. That, however, is an even bigger challenge. There is nowhere they can go.

The idea of women living alone and independent of their families is still an alien concept in Pakistan, shares Shumaila Roohi, a development specialist who has been living alone in Karachi for 9 years. However, Shumaila had to fly in her husband from another city to sign the rent agreement. The property dealer asked me if I was married and I said yes. When he found out my husband lived in another city, he immediately became uncertain. On finding out that even my kids wont live with me, he was almost in shock. So my husband came all the way from Rahim Yar Khan to formalise the deal. Now I live with two amazing flatmates to cut costs.

While there is no official data on exactly how many women own properties or rent their own spaces, it is clear that they are few and far between. A fair estimate can be taken from the fact that, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, there are only some three million female household heads as compared to the 28 million male heads. However, a number of brave women have managed to escape from abusive and detrimental households and have utilised a range of available options from renting or buying property to living in shared spaces or hostels. Each option, inevitably, comes with a set of challenges that women have to face.

The first option is to buy their own place, but unsurprisingly that is also the least practical for financial reasons, informs Maria*, a journalist in her mid-twenties. Most women who choose to move out are either running away from families or going against their express wishes and, therefore, have no financial assistance from them some of them even have to keep sending back money for an ailing parent or sibling.

How this situation affects women is visible from what Shakir*, an estate agent in Karachi, had to say one of the biggest problems with renting out places to women is that one never knows if theyll pay on time. And these preconceived notions make a womans journey to have a home/room of her own tedious.

Amna*, a 35-year old teacher from Karachi and the mother of one, found out one fine day that her husband had remarried and she was asked to leave his house. This house I had partially paid for working as a teacher, but we bought under my husbands name so its technically his house, she rues. My family refused to take me in because it was a love marriage. Amna then turned to real estate agents in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal neighbourhood of Karachi with whatever little savings she had.

One after the other, they informed me that getting a house for a single woman would be impossible because what respectable woman would want to live alone? One agent said that landlords did not want single women in their apartments because who knows what business they would end up involved in. One offered to rent a husband for me to allay the landlords concerns. Another messaged me late in the night telling me that I was beautiful and my husband a fool for leaving, narrates Amna, who eventually chose to remarry and had to part with her child to do so.

For women who choose to live away from families, living as paying guests or sharing spaces is ultimately the best option. Maria claims, It is a good idea to share an apartment with people because its really the safest. Living absolutely alone, especially, if youre in your 20s or 30s is crazy expensive and youre always scared. This way you know someone has your back if youre running too late or something.

Hafsa, a 38-year old freelancer from Lahore, opines, Assuming that a woman has sorted her finances and has somehow managed to find a landlord willing to take her in, she now faces a new set of challenges. But really, the biggest challenge I faced when I decided to leave my parents homes alone was safety.

According to Amna, while some landlords insist that the woman not be allowed to bring over her friends, they claim it is their right to come and visit unannounced to ensure that nothing shady is going on. And there would also be some who would try to hit on their tenants, assuming that a woman living alone will be easy.

Saima*, a 23-year-old freelancer who moved out last year, believes that neighbours and neighbourhoods are no better. My neighbours are always keeping an eye on me.

I think the biggest discomfort is just being single and looking for a place. Thats a big enough deterrent for many people to not rent out places. Somehow a single girl is a responsibility and must be up to no good, claims Hafsa, as she often hides the fact that she lives alone for fear that she may be stalked or harassed. Once my AC repairman, who knew I lived alone, decided to invite me to have sheesha with him and his friends. It gets pretty awkward at times.

On the other hand, Shumaila shares that the only problem that shes faced so far is that sometimes she gets terrible roommates.

But what happens if you dont have the finances to rent a whole place for yourself or even share the apartment? After all, sharing an apartment can also cost around Rs 20,000.

This is what Maria had to deal with. I had to move out at a moments notice because my dad wanted me gone the next day. I was so freaked out because I had nowhere to go. What do you do when you have nothing saved up and youve got to move out?

There arent many options for women. When they have to leave everything behind, a number of girls end up opting for shelters and hostels, offers Uzma Noorani.

But as she points out, shelters are few and far between. Even in Karachi, the largest city in the country, there are fewer than 10 shelters. Shelters can be a temporary stay, but we have rules that we cant forego because other women need to be protected. There are many times when the shelters become the first step for women seeking independence, to help them relocate to independent living to pursue their jobs or studies, she adds.

In Panah, an average of 30 to 35 women stay at any given time. Most of these girls are getting out of abusive divorces or households, and then they get married again and move out of here. But the problem is that there is always a dependency on men. What our women need is to be independent because whats the guarantee that the next marriage wont be abusive?

Most shelter house women from poor socio-economic backgrounds and are already strained for resources. They are constantly mired in controversy and women living in shelters are labelled as characterless, so people are unwilling to marry girls who have stayed at Dar-ul-Aman [a state-run shelter]. A report from 2017 claimed that women in Dar-ul-Aman felt they were no better than prisoners.

For working women, strict timings and rules prohibiting phones and internet access in the shelters are impossible to abide by, even though they are of paramount importance to the shelter authorities, who are often embroiled in legal matters on the behalf of the residents as well. Given these problems, hostels are slightly better options because they provide basic amenities to residents.

However, while they are excellent options for students, who often travel long distances to universities and do not have very hectic schedules, they are not permanent solutions for most women looking to make homes for themselves or for those who simply need space. Especially since some hostels dont want to host working women. Nasreen*, a 50-year old, who runs a small hostel for students in Karachis Gulistan-e-Johar tells, Im really not comfortable with working women. They have odd hours and can be a bad influence on younger girls. Keeping them is a risk I dont want to take.

However, as Maria rightly points out the desire to have ones own space, where one is comfortable or the desire to have ones own home, where one is safe albeit alone is not unique to a gender. Its also important to remember that women need to have each others backs. When I moved out, it was my friends who really helped me out and checked in on me regularly. Without them, it might have been impossible! she elucidates.

While a number of women in Pakistan are compelled to look for their own accommodation for the sake of escaping horrific circumstances, this does not necessarily have to be the case. A woman, as much as anyone else, should be able to move out for the simple reason that she wants to. It is incumbent upon each and every member of society to ensure that not only are women provided spaces, but that they are provided safe spaces. In this regard, Noorani suggests, One possible idea to achieve this is by having gated societies or apartment complexes for women. This would ensure that they are safe, while also removing the taboo from the concept of women living alone and exercising their agency.

*The names have been changed to protect identities

Continued here:

No home to call their own - The News International

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Independence Realty Trust, Inc. (IRT) (NYSE: IRT), a multifamily apartment REIT, today announced its third quarter 2021 financial results.

Third Quarter Highlights

Included later in this press release are definitions of NOI, CFFO, Adjusted EBITDA and other Non-GAAP financial measures and reconciliations of such measures to their most comparable financial measures as calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.

Management Commentary

The combination of favorable macro trends across our core markets and the execution of our growth initiatives continues to yield impressive returns, said Scott Schaeffer, Chairman and CEO of IRT. We delivered a 14.7% year-over-year increase in third quarter same store NOI, with our occupancy rate up 220 basis points to 96% and our average rental rate increasing 7.3% on a year-over-year basis. As we look forward, our ability to maintain occupancy, drive rental rates, and advance our value add program gives us confidence that we can continue to unlock value within our portfolio. We are also focused on the integration of the planned merger with STAR and are excited about the growth potential of our combined business.

Same Store Property Operating Results

Third Quarter 2021 Compared toThird Quarter 2020(1)

Nine Months Ended 9/30/21Compared to Nine MonthsEnded 9/30/20

Rental and other property revenue

9.4% increase

7.8% increase

Property operating expenses

1.7% increase

4.4% increase

Net operating income (NOI)

14.7% increase

10.1% increase

Portfolio average occupancy

220 bps increase to 96.0%

270 bps increase to 95.6%

Portfolio average rental rate

7.3% increase to $1,227

4.6% increase to $1,190

NOI Margin

290 bps increase to 62.2%

130 bps increase to 61.7%

(1)

Same Store Property Operating Results, Excluding Value Add

The same store portfolio results below exclude 13 communities that are both part of the same store portfolio and were actively undergoing Value Add renovations during the three months ended September 30, 2021.

Third Quarter 2021 Compared toThird Quarter 2020(1)

Nine Months Ended 9/30/21Compared to Nine MonthsEnded 9/30/20(1)

Rental and other property revenue

8.3% increase

6.1% increase

Property operating expenses

1.6% increase

4.5% increase

Net operating income (NOI)

12.8% increase

7.1% increase

Portfolio average occupancy

230 bps increase to 96.4%

250 bps increase to 96.1%

Portfolio average rental rate

6.3% increase to $1,219

3.3% increase to $1,186

NOI Margin

250 bps increase to 61.6%

60 bps increase to 61.5%

(1)

COVID-19 Metrics (1)(2)

Rent collections

3Q 2021

3Q 2020

2Q 2021

Rent collected for the period presented, as a percentage of rent billed (3)

98.4%

99.7%

99.4%

(1)

(2)

(3)

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we recorded a provision for bad debts of $122,000 in the third quarter of 2021. The table below presents additional details on the components of bad debt:

Components of Bad Debt (1)

3Q 2021

3Q 2020

2Q 2021

Amount

Percentage

Amount

Percentage

Amount

Percentage

Charge-offs, net

$534

0.9%

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Independence Realty Trust Announces Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results & Updates Full Year 2021 Guidance - Business Wire