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Sustainability is becoming the top priority for the corporate world. Modern corporate firms are tasked with more than just being profit-driven organizations and revenue-generating machines. People now expect more from them.

Businesses today are expected to have an extra layer of ethics and showcase a moral sense of duty towards society. In recent years, there has been a considerable shift of minds. Investors are looking to invest in companies that include sustainable growth with the primary goal of wealth creation.

The boardroom has taken notes of these things and has started embedding business practices that promote sustainability. In fact, some organizations have started preparing sustainability reports disclosing their performance on the social front, things that have been done to save the environment, and governance parameters.

While many governments have not mandated the creation of this non-financial report, it is strongly encouraged in the industrialization community.

What Is ESG?

ESG – Environment, Social, and Governance – refers to an area of the organization that describes its characteristics. These are three factors that define your organization’s ethical impact and sustainability.

Today, most socially responsible investors check a company for its ESG value before making any investment decision.

To put it simply, ESG is a generic term used in the capital market by investors to evaluate the behavior of the company and its financial potential.

The number of investment funds has been growing rapidly since the beginning of this decade. Moreover, experts believe that this will only continue to grow over the decades.

Seeing how ESG is becoming the new norm for the corporate world, you must start implementing ESG in your business operations. Visit this website to get quotes from professionals.

Why Is ESG Important?

The strong performance of your business across these three pillars shows your business’s resilience. You must understand that even a simple task of reducing office waste is as important as reaching out for social activity. Businesses must be able to demonstrate their progress to their audiences in their non-financial reports.

The idea here is to showcase that the business has the capability to take a risk and protect the longevity of the environment and society they are operating in. Hence, you can say that ESG has implications throughout the entirety of business operations. 

Particularly the Supply Chain based companies.

After all, 90% of the GHG emissions are found in the organization related to the supply chain. 

How Is ESG Measured?

ESG performance throughout the supply chain is measured and rated. The measurement is similar to the risk and performance benchmarking common amongst financial institutions. 

However, there is some discretion regarding their method and framework governing the ESG scoring. Here are some best practices that you can look into.

  • Any verifiable disclosure related to ESG needs follows a specific set of mandatory and voluntary requirements.
  • Transparency needs to be clear in this matter. This is because the ESG report will decide which company comes out as a sustainability leader and the other as a laggard
  • For example, there might be a company that is not a carbon-neutral company but might be making efforts to become one. If the company is not transparent about its process, the investors and stakeholder might not show their interest.

Measurement of ESG is important to showcase your activity towards sustainability. This not only helps you become a better organization but also acts as a marketing tool to boost your company’s influence in the industry.

A Closer Look At ESG’s Pillars

Within each pillar, management firms and investors can evaluate different criteria. These criteria can be used to define how a company is performing on the sustainability front.

Here is what you can see when we dissect the three pillars of ESG.

Environment

To see the extent of your company on the environment, you must ask yourself – how is your company affecting the environment?

Admirably, it is a broad-based category. However, there are several issues that could risk the long-term sustainability of your business. This might include –

  • Dependence on fossil fuel for energy.
  • Poor management of water and other resources.
  • Pollution levels.
  • Disposal of hazardous materials.
  • How deep is the carbon footprint your company is leaving?

Social

As a company expands itself and holds influence over the customers, it becomes a social responsibility for them to guide them. This include –

  • Product safety and liabilities.
  • Employment quality.
  • Gender diversity.
  • Training and development.
  • Supply chain transparency.
  • Stance on various topics that affect social well-being.
  • Human rights.
  • Privacy issues.

Governance

The governance pillars support how the organization works internally. If every individual in the organization does not share the same goal, the company might not last for long.

The issues that might be considered while evaluating a company include –

  • Board and company diversity.
  • Actions were taken against bribery and corruption.
  • Compensation of employees.
  • Ethics and values.
  • Shareholder rights.
  • Transparency and anti-corruptions.

The Future Of ESG

The future of ESG is promising and challenging. Incorporating ESG in your corporate reporting is a powerful tool that helps you gain a competitive advantage over your competitors.

With the right implementation of ESG, you can strengthen your internal business operations and maintain a healthy relationship with your investors and stakeholders.

Companies that want to sustain their business for the long term are expected to increase their efforts toward ESG. 

Perhaps you’ve lost your job, suffered an injury or become ill, and you’re finding yourself trying to cope with severe financial difficulties as a result. Debts are piling up, and you aren’t sure what to do next. While you may be feeling overwhelmed, there are steps you can take to begin to manage your financial situation. Read on to learn about some of them.

Make an Assessment

First, you’ll need to make a full assessment of your financial situation. Begin with the latest copy of your budget, and determine what has changed in your income and expenses. If you don’t have a budget, make one now. List all your sources of income and all your monthly expenses in two columns, and see how they balance out. You should also calculate your current level of debt and jot down information like due dates and interest rates. This information will at least let you see exactly how you’re doing financially.

Cut Your Expenses

If your budget refuses to balance and you find yourself in the red, then you’re going to need to cut some expenses. Look first at how much you spend on entertainment and technology each month. You might be able to unsubscribe to some streaming services, stop going out to eat, or switch to a cheaper cell phone plan. This may seem painful, but remember your priorities. You and your family need food and shelter before movies and games. You may also have to switch from brand-name products to generic options, shop at less expensive stores or even thrift stores for some items and skip the extra treats for a while.

Boost Your Income

On the other side of the equation, you should also be looking for creative ways to boost your income. These days, there are plenty of “side gigs” available that you could dig into for extra cash. Play up your talents. If you like to write, apply for some freelance writing jobs. If you have a knack for working with animals, set up a side job as a pet sitter. There are many possibilities, so do some research on side gig and work-from-home job sites, and try a couple of options.

Get Some Help

Finally, you may have to get some help in the midst of your financial difficulties. This could mean taking out a loan. You might do so informally by borrowing money from a relative or friend. To keep everything fair, draw up an agreement that clearly states the amount borrowed, the rate of interest, payment requirements and the expected due date. Sign the agreement, and have it notarized if you feel that’s necessary. Alternately, you can visit with a loan officer at your local bank or credit union to see about taking out a loan in that way.

If your financial situation is truly dire, you may need to speak with a financial counselor or lawyer. Ask about options like a domestic asset protection trust or even bankruptcy and for guidance to determine the best course for your circumstances.

Financial difficulties can cause serious stress, but there are ways to cope if you make a firm commitment to doing so.

Personal loans are an excellent financing option in monetary emergencies that borrowers can use to fund their wedding, vacation, education, home improvement projects, or take care of medical emergencies. Financial institutions do force the usage of personal loan. 

A personal loan also aids in the consolidation of debts. The loan amount closes multiple debts with a single EMI. Multiple loans tend to become burdensome over time. Tracking several instalments is bothersome, and in case of a miss in the repayment of even a single EMI attracts penalties. A debt consolidation loan simplifies the financial outgoings of the borrower through a single payment process. The borrower no longer has to track different loan EMIs and is responsible for back the borrowed loan principal and the interest in equated monthly instalments for the duration of the loan tenure. 

The borrower has to return the cumulative borrowed amount of all the debts together but in a single instalment. A personal loan debt consolidation is a viable option because of the following reasons:

Single EMI: After consolidating multiple debts, the borrower has to take care of only a single EMI payment which is easier to track and manage. Lenders offer a personal loan EMI Calculator on their online portals that calculate the EMI based on the loan amount, interest rate, and loan tenure. 

Lower interest rate: Multiple debts with different lenders often incur a high-interest rate when added cumulatively. A personal loan is available at low interest with a good credit score and repayment history. The total cost of the loan gets reduced with a low-interest rate deal.

Fixed loan tenure: A personal loan is available for 1-5 years. Borrowers can get rid of their liabilities quickly if they go for a personal loan for a loan duration within which they can repay the borrowed amount. 

A personal loan debt consolidation comes with the following features:

  • Personal loan applications are quickly approved. The lenders verify the documents and disburse the loan timely.
  • One can apply for a personal loan through the online portals of banks, NBFCs, and financial institutions. Fintech companies like LoansJagat offer a comparative platform wherein the borrowers can compare over 40 lenders for their offerings on the loan amount, interest rate, processing fees, pre-payment charges, loan tenure and EMI to choose the one which best suits them. 
  • Personal loans are unsecured and don’t require any collateral or security to be attached. 
  • Personal loans are flexible and allow pre-payment to wind off the loan quickly.

But, before one considers a personal loan for debt consolidation, it is advisable to keep the following aspects in mind.

  • Don’t opt for debt consolidation if repayment is possible in a short time.
  • The credit score determines the interest rate offered on a personal loan. If the borrower has a low credit score, it is not advisable to shift to a single EMI payment. A personal loan is advisable if one gets a low-interest rate deal. 
  • Different lenders have different eligibility criteria. To avoid rejection of the loan application, the borrowers must check and compare lenders for their eligibility criteria. 
  • Different lenders offer different interest rate deals varying from 10.99% per annum to 24% per annum. To grab the best offer, compare before zeroing on the lender.
  • Personal loans have short loan durations. When opting for debt consolidation, make sure that you can pay off the loan amount in the chosen loan tenure.

Personal loan debt consolidation minimizes the debt burden. Get a personal loan in Bangalore at the click of a button. Weigh the pros and cons of personal loan debt consolidation before opting for one.

 

Couples aren’t often on the same financial schedules. The relationship often starts when one person has more than enough money and the other person is trying hard to make ends meet.

That’s why financial tips for couples are so important to learn. If this rings true for your relationship, it’s time to take action.

In this article, we will discuss some money tips that couples can follow.

Financial Tips for Couples

Couples who are in a relationship should discuss their financial goals and needs early on. This will help avoid any surprises or arguments down the road. It’s important to be on the same page when it comes to your finances, especially if you plan on marrying or living together.

Here are a few tips for couples to help you stay on track.

  1. Discuss With Your Partner

It’s no secret that money is one of the leading causes of stress and arguments in relationships. If you’re not on the same page financially as your partner, it can lead to serious problems. That’s why it’s so important to communicate openly about your financial goals and expectations.

Sit down with your partner and talk about your short-term and long-term financial goals. Discuss how you’re going to save money, how much you’re comfortable spending, and what you’ll do if there’s a financial emergency.

By communicating openly on how to manage finances, you can avoid arguments and ensure that you’re both on the same page. This will help you build a strong foundation for a healthy and happy relationship.

  1. Create a Budget That Works for Both of You

Planning and managing money can be stressful for couples. Both partners need to be on the same page when it comes to spending and saving. One of the best ways to achieve financial harmony is to create a budget that works for both of you and stick to it.

Make sure to include all of your income and expenses in the budget. Once you have all of your expenses accounted for, you can start making adjustments to ensure that your spending aligns with your goals.

It’s important to be realistic when creating your budget. If one of you is a spender and the other is a saver, you’ll need to find a middle ground that works for both of you.

Finally, don’t forget to review and adjust your budget on a regular basis. As your income and expenses change, so should your budget.

  1. Be Open and Make Decisions Together

When it comes to finances, it’s important to keep your partner in the loop and make decisions together. It can be easy to keep secrets when it comes to money, but this can lead to problems down the road.

Be transparent about your financial situation, income, debts, and credit score. This will help you avoid any surprises and help you make informed decisions together about your finances.

By staying informed about your financial situation and making decisions together, you and your partner can avoid financial arguments and build a strong financial future together. This also includes decisions on whether or not you should file taxes jointly or separately

  1. Save Money Regularly to Reach Your Financial Goals

Saving money regularly is one of the most important things you can do to reach your financial goals as a couple. There are a few key things to keep in mind when doing this.

First, make sure you have joint savings account that you both contribute to equally. This will help you stay on the same page financially and make it easier to reach your goals.

Second, make sure you are automatically transferring a fixed percentage of your income into your savings account each month. This will help you make headway on your goals without having to think about it.

Finally, make sure you have a plan for your savings. Decide what you are saving for and set a timeline. This will help you stay accountable and on track.

By following these simple financial tips, you will be well on your way to reaching your financial goals as a couple.

  1. Attending Financial Counseling Sessions

If you and your partner are having trouble communicating about money, it may be time to seek out financial counseling sessions together.

These sessions can help you and your partner learn how to better communicate about finances and work together to make joint financial goals.

Financial counseling can also provide you with tools and resources to help you make better financial decisions as a couple. If you’re not sure where to start, look for a reputable financial counselor in your area that offers couples counseling services.

  1. Have Separate Accounts and Joint Account

Money is often one of the biggest issues couples face.

One way to help alleviate money fights is to have separate accounts but also have a joint account for shared expenses. This way, each person has their own money to spend as they please but you also have an account to cover shared expenses like rent, groceries, and utilities.

Discuss with your partner what expenses will be covered in the joint account and make sure you are both comfortable with the arrangement.

Having separate accounts can help prevent arguments about money and give you both financial freedom.

Financial Tips for Couples

Communication and being on the same page are the keys when it comes to finances in a relationship.

It’s important to be honest about spending, make a budget together and understand each other’s financial goals. By following these financial tips, couples can help avoid arguments about money and manage their finances in a healthy way.

Do you want more advice on how to improve your finances? Take a look at our blog for more!

 

 

When you think about investing in crypto, you might have heard about its incredible security. However, you might not know that over $100 billion in Bitcoin has been lost. And there’s no printing more – that crypto is gone forever.

So with the risk of never seeing your money again, you might hesitate on your purchase. Fortunately, there are ways of adding extra layers of protection to your digital currency. Keep reading to learn how to store crypto safely.

What Is Crypto?

Crypto, short for cryptocurrency, is a digital token representing the value of a transaction. The currency uses encryption and decentralization to skip intermediaries. This allows for safer and quicker transactions.

While this sounds great on the surface, it also means that if your crypto is lost or stolen, there’s no way to get it back. When you think about using it, you’ll have to know how to store crypto safely. Investigating security measures allows you to take advantage of the benefits that crypto brings to your transactions.

What Are Crypto Wallets?

Digital currency works differently than traditional currency. There is no centralized vault where your tokens go, and you don’t have to buy a leather wallet and carry it around. Instead, your crypto is stored on a digital public ledger, or a blockchain, which is secured with a variety of methods. 

To access your collection of crypto, you are provided with a public and private digital key. Losing this key means losing access to your money, and without security measures, there is no way to retrieve it. Crypto wallets provide an extra measure of safety in the event your key goes missing.

A few types of crypto wallets exist ranging in level of security and ease of use. The types of wallets include:

  • Custodial wallets
  • Cold wallets
  • Hot wallets

When you purchase crypto on an exchange platform such as Coinbase, you get default storage called a custodial wallet. The platform ensures your crypto is safe in exchange for them having partial access to it. Visit this homepage to learn more about Nested, an exchange that makes using your crypto easy.

There are other ways to ensure your digital currency is secure without giving your key to someone else. Hot and cold wallets are intermediaries that store your crypto online or offline, depending on your preference. They give you sole control of your money and provide extensive security measures.

How to Store Crypto Safely

Even with the use of crypto wallets, you can always add extra layers of security to your digital money. Actions that you can take to further protect your crypto include:

  1. Enable two-factor authentication on all of your accounts.
  2. Store sensitive information in a secure offline location.
  3. Use a variety of passwords.
  4. Update the security of your email accounts.

In addition to these effective security measures, it is important to know the common scams involving crypto. Never give away your personal information and use caution when entering your password on unknown websites. When in doubt, use trusted service providers.

More on Crypto Security

As currency continues to go digital, knowing how to store crypto safely is imperative. For more on digital wallets and what to do with crypto, check out our Finance section.