Business

Career options where you can help others

Published

2 years ago

November 28, 2022

sylvia J

Career options where you can help others

Just like change, another constant of life is inequality. Therefore, there will always be people who need help, whether for physical, mental, emotional, social or economic reasons. Fortunately, as a corollary, there will always be people who are willing to offer this help. They are the people who make social work their career. While there are other professionals whose work involves helping others, this blog post will focus more on social work as it is more specific in its approach and its impact on human lives is not merely incidental.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, social work is one of the fastest-growing professions in the US, with a projected growth rate of 12% by the end of the current decade.

However, social work is a blanket term that covers a wide range of career options that people can pursue in different fields of life. This blog post will explore what social work is and what career options are available to people who want to actively pursue a career where they can actively help others.

What is social work, and what do you need for a career in social work?

According to the Social Work License Map, social work is a practice-based profession that promotes social change, development, cohesion, and the empowerment of people and communities. In simpler terms, social work involves making life better for people and bringing groups of people together through development.

Social work is a fulfilling career path to pursue. However, social work can also be emotionally tasking. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that you are suited for social work before pursuing a career in the field. Below are some of the things to consider when choosing a people-focused career.

People skills

To pursue a career where helping others is the main focus, you must have certain non-negotiable skills that will put you in a better position to manage people and achieve results based on your interactions with them. People skills include effective communication skills, empathy, emotional intelligence, active listening skills, collaboration and teamwork skills, persuasion skills, mediation skills, reliability, tolerance, and a non-judgmental attitude.

Technical skills

Many people erroneously assume that the only thing they need for a career that involves helping people is a passion for people and societal development. However, helping people requires that you have some technical skills that can be applied to create change and measure results. Project management, strategic decision-making, problem-solving, business organizational tools proficiency, data analysis, writing and design are technical skills that will come in handy when building a career that involves helping people.

A nexus for your soft and technical skills

Another important consideration for a career in helping people is finding a job that fits your soft and technical skills perfectly and matches your personality and interests. For example, a writer looking to pursue a social work career will, by virtue of their writing experience, have learned the art of effective written communication, which can be a very useful skill to have when pursuing a career in advocacy and civil rights.

Credentials

Once you have decided vaguely on what career pursuits might interest you based on your personality and technical skills, you need to build competence in that specific field and gain credentials. Many people assume that they do not need to subject themselves to any form of institutional learning to help people.

The main difference between a person who wants to help people and volunteers their time and skills to do it and a person who wants to build their career around helping other people achieve their potential and live full lives is that the latter builds competence not just through experience but also through training.

A common credential that most people pursue is a Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited Bachelor of Social Work degree. This degree enables students to develop the core skills necessary to improve relationships, develop solutions and connect with clients on a deeper, more spiritual level.

Different career options where you can help others

Generally, any career path can be infused with social impact such that it becomes a career option where ‘you can help others’. For example, a fashion entrepreneur can create a sustainable project that is aimed at protecting our planet or a project where they donate items from their fashion business to underprivileged members of society. However, the following categories of work are available for people who are looking to create structured establishments and processes for change.

Child care and family support work

Child welfare and family support work involves creating systems to help vulnerable children, youths and families. Childcare and family support workers provide safe spaces and environments for these children and their families using various mechanisms such as counseling, providing monetary support, housing, and other amenities such as gas. They focus on building up the strength of the family. However, in the event that building up the family unit does not work, family support and child welfare workers focus on protecting children from abuse, harm and neglect and finding new ways to support them.

Substance abuse and mental health management

This type of work focuses on helping people with a history of addiction or substance abuse get their lives back together. They assess and treat individuals with mental, emotional or substance abuse problems. They use different mechanisms such as therapy, crisis interventions, client advocacy, prevention campaigns and education.

Working in this space, your role includes collaborating with counselors, physicians or nursing professionals on treatment plans based on their knowledge of the client’s specific situation and needs. They also monitor the progress of each of their clients by conducting timely reviews and assessments. Workers in this space can have any of the following job titles: case manager, clinical social worker, clinical therapist, counselor, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), mental health therapist, social worker, and substance abuse counselor.

Clinical health social work

Clinical health social workers are professionally trained to help people deal with personal and social factors that affect their health. They also work in healthcare planning, administration and policy roles. They sometimes engage in research and fieldwork to help drive health awareness, patient education and new policies.

They typically work in clinical environments such as hospitals, mental health clinics, private practice, schools, child welfare and human service agencies. They provide support for people dealing with clinical illnesses that are chronic or terminal and the attendant emotional and mental issues. They also assist students in recovery and help them readjust to life outside of the clinic.

School social work

School social work is an area of social work focused on the psychosocial functioning of students to promote and maintain their health and wellbeing. School social workers provide mental health support, manage behavioral concerns, and provide academic and classroom support.

Their roles cover psychosocial assessment and intervention, student and family counseling, adaptive behavior assessment, recreational therapies, health education, assessing social and developmental histories of students with disabilities, identifying students at risk, integrating community resources into schools, advocacy, case management for identifying students in need of help and promoting systematic change within a school system, crisis intervention and conflict resolution.

Criminal justice and forensics

Criminal justice and forensics social workers work at the intersection of the legal system and social services. They collaborate with law enforcement institutions to advocate for reforms in the criminal justice system and create social systems to support families and individuals within the criminal justice system.

A criminal justice and forensics social worker must be familiar with the legal system and the agencies that enforce and initiate laws and law reforms. They may work on cases that involve domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, custody, juvenile delinquents, substance abuse, trauma, and incapacitation trials.

They also provide advisory and consultation services on policy and law reforms, behavioral science research and analysis, public education, safety assessments, alternative dispute resolution services, expert witness services, and recommendations for criminal and juvenile justice cases in terms of mental status, inability to testify and capacity.

Criminal justice and forensic social workers work in various settings, including correctional facilities, mental health institutions, welfare agencies, and centers for victims of trauma and abuse.

Geriatric social worker

With the increase in the aging population, the need for geriatric social workers has increased significantly. Also known as gerontological social workers, they coordinate the care of older patients in clinical and hospice settings. They act as advocates for patients, making sure that they receive the social, emotional and physical care they need. They serve as bridges between patients, their relatives and healthcare officials.

Civil rights, advocacy and community organization

Community organizers advocate work on a wide range of societal issues. They organize members of the community into groups to advocate for specific issues of interest that may range from health, climate action, gender equality, LGBTQ rights, racism, immigration, etc.

Disaster and crisis management

The anticipated and observed effects of climate change and climate disasters necessitate that more people who are interested in social work begin to look into disaster relief. Disaster relief workers support victims of natural disasters and other traumatic events, such as collapsing buildings, and help them cope afterwards.

Other career paths that social workers can pursue include disability and public welfare, occupational and employee assistance programs, international social work, and many more.

These career paths sometimes overlap, and your work in one role may transcend into other aspects of social work. Whichever career you choose, however, you should ensure that you are putting in your best and helping real people overcome trying times and build back their lives.

Business

Wealth Transfer and Estate Planning: Secure Your Legacy

Published

3 days ago

November 12, 2024

sylvia J

Wealth transfer and estate planning are essential for anyone who wants to protect their legacy and provide for future generations. Proper planning helps to ensure your assets are distributed according to your wishes while minimizing potential taxes and legal complications. Whether you’re just starting or revisiting your current plan, here’s a guide to wealth transfer and estate planning essentials.

Why Wealth Transfer and Estate Planning Matter

When it comes to your assets, a lack of planning can lead to unnecessary taxes, legal battles, and confusion for your loved ones. Estate planning ensures that what you’ve worked hard for is protected and goes where you intend. It covers everything from wills and trusts to gifting and tax reduction strategies, helping your loved ones avoid stress and financial challenges after you’re gone.

Key Components of Wealth Transfer and Estate Planning

Wills and Trusts

Will: A will is the cornerstone of most estate plans. It allows you to specify who will inherit your assets and property, name guardians for minor children, and appoint an executor to manage your estate’s distribution. However, a will goes through probate, a legal process that can be time-consuming and expensive.
Trusts: Trusts offer a more flexible way to distribute assets and often bypass the probate process. Options like revocable living trusts, irrevocable trusts, and family trusts can help you achieve specific goals, such as managing taxes or providing for a child with special needs. Trusts also offer greater privacy than wills, as they don’t become public records.

Beneficiary Designations

Assets like retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and payable-on-death bank accounts allow you to name beneficiaries. These assets typically transfer directly to your beneficiaries without going through probate. Regularly review these designations to ensure they align with your current intentions and family situation, as changes in relationships or life circumstances can affect your choices.

Power of Attorney and Healthcare Directives

A power of attorney (POA) grants someone authority to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf if you’re unable to. In addition, a healthcare directive, or living will, allows you to specify your medical treatment preferences and appoint someone to make healthcare decisions if you’re incapacitated. These documents ensure your wishes are respected during a medical emergency.

Gifting Strategies

Gifting assets during your lifetime can reduce the size of your taxable estate and transfer wealth in a controlled manner. Each year, you can gift up to a certain amount (currently $15,000 per person in the U.S.) without incurring gift taxes. Larger gifts can also be made using your lifetime gift tax exemption, though they may require careful planning to avoid tax consequences.

Estate Taxes and Tax Reduction Strategies

Estate taxes, sometimes called “death taxes,” can take a significant portion of an estate’s value. Federal estate taxes apply to estates over a certain threshold, which varies, but some states also have their own estate or inheritance taxes. Strategies like trusts, lifetime gifting, and charitable donations can reduce the taxable portion of your estate, preserving more wealth for your heirs. Learn more about estate taxes here https://retiretrunorth.com/our-media/.

Business Succession Planning

If you own a family business, succession planning is essential for ensuring a smooth transition of ownership and management. This might involve passing the business to family members, selling it, or setting up a trust to control ownership. Planning for succession early on allows you to identify successors, train them, and ensure your business continues according to your vision.

Wealth Transfer Tips for Protecting Your Legacy

Start Early: The earlier you begin planning, the more options you have. Early planning also allows you to adapt as tax laws and family situations change.
Communicate with Loved Ones: Let your heirs know about your plans, especially if you choose an unequal asset distribution. Clear communication helps prevent misunderstandings and family disputes later on.
Review Regularly: Life changes such as marriage, divorce, the birth of children or grandchildren, and significant increases in wealth all warrant a review of your estate plan. Ensure your documents reflect your current wishes and keep your beneficiaries up-to-date.
Seek Professional Help: An estate attorney or financial planner can help you navigate the legal and tax complexities of estate planning and suggest strategies to minimize taxes and maximize the benefits for your heirs.

Wealth Transfer Options to Consider

Charitable Trusts: Charitable remainder trusts (CRTs) or charitable lead trusts (CLTs) allow you to donate a portion of your estate to a charity while providing tax benefits. They can be structured to provide income to your heirs or yourself for a period, with the remaining assets going to the charity.
Generation-Skipping Trusts: A generation-skipping trust enables you to transfer wealth to grandchildren or even great-grandchildren, bypassing the estate taxes that might apply if assets pass from generation to generation.
Life Insurance Policies: A life insurance policy can be a simple way to provide liquid assets to your heirs, helping to cover estate taxes or supporting beneficiaries without tying up other estate assets.

Building a Lasting Legacy

Wealth transfer and estate planning aren’t only about financial security; they’re about creating a lasting legacy. Whether that means supporting your family, contributing to causes you care about, or preserving a family business, your estate plan ensures your values and vision continue after you’re gone.

Taking proactive steps now to plan your estate and wealth transfer ensures you’re ready to safeguard what matters most and lets you focus on what’s truly important: creating lasting memories and a meaningful impact with those you love.

Business

Timing and Scheduling Considerations – Safe Ship Moving Services

Published

2 weeks ago

November 4, 2024

sylvia J

The timing and scheduling of local versus long-distance moves vary significantly, and understanding these differences is crucial for ensuring a smooth transition. Whether you are moving across town or across the country, careful planning and organization are key to avoiding delays, unexpected costs, and logistical challenges. Here’s how timing and scheduling differ for each type of move and strategies for managing both efficiently. Now let’s look at what the experts like Safe Ship Moving Services say.

Local Moves: Flexibility and Shorter Timelines

Local moves, typically defined as moves within the same city or metropolitan area, offer much more flexibility when it comes to timing. Since the distance between your current location and your new home is relatively short, the entire move can often be completed within a single day. This allows for more leeway in terms of scheduling.

Same-Day Completion

One of the key advantages of local moves is the possibility of completing the entire move in one day. Movers can arrive in the morning, load your belongings, and transport everything to your new home within hours. There is no need to plan for overnight stays, extended travel, or multi-day loading and unloading processes.

Strategy: If you are moving locally, you can take advantage of this flexibility by scheduling your move on a weekend or holiday when you have time off. You might also be able to make multiple trips in case you don’t want to move everything at once.

Last-Minute Adjustments

Local moves are often less stressful to organize because you can make last-minute changes to your schedule if necessary. If you encounter an issue, such as unexpected rain or a delay in your new lease start date, rescheduling with the moving company may be easier, as their availability is typically more open for short-distance moves.

Strategy: If you are moving locally, consider booking your movers during off-peak times (midweek or mid-month) to ensure more flexibility. Having a backup plan, such as access to a storage unit or alternate transportation, can help in case of last-minute changes.

Shorter Packing and Preparation Times

Because of the shorter distance, you may not need to pack everything at once. For example, with local moves, you can gradually move non-essential items ahead of time, leaving only the larger or more important items for moving day. This means you don’t have to pack your entire home in one go, reducing the pressure to prepare everything quickly.

Strategy: Create a staggered packing schedule if possible, moving items you don’t need right away in small batches. This can lighten the load on moving day and make the transition less stressful.

Long-Distance Moves: Planning and Precision

Long-distance moves, which typically involve moving to a different city, state, or even country, require more precise planning and attention to detail due to the increased complexity of logistics, transportation, and timing. These moves usually span multiple days and involve far more coordination than a local move.

Extended Travel Times

Unlike local moves, long-distance moves require careful planning around travel times. You need to account for the time it takes to transport your belongings to the new destination, which could take several days depending on the distance. Additionally, you may need to plan for overnight stays, fueling stops, and navigating different weather conditions, particularly if your move spans a large region.

Strategy: For long-distance moves, it’s essential to plan your timeline several weeks (or even months) in advance. Start by booking your moving company as early as possible, and confirm their estimated delivery time. Keep in mind that delivery may take longer if other customers’ belongings are being moved at the same time (common in long-distance moves).

Precise Scheduling with Movers

Long-distance moves often require more detailed coordination with your moving company. Delivery windows for long-distance moves are generally broader, as the truck carrying your items may need to make multiple stops. Your belongings could arrive several days after you do, so it’s important to plan accordingly.

Strategy: Confirm your delivery window with your movers in advance, and prepare for any potential delays. Pack a separate essentials kit (including clothing, toiletries, and important documents) to have on hand during the interim period before your belongings arrive.

Handling Unforeseen Delays

Long-distance moves are more vulnerable to external factors such as weather, traffic, or logistical issues, which can lead to delays. These variables are harder to control when moving over longer distances, so having contingency plans in place is essential.

Strategy: When planning a long-distance move, be flexible with your moving dates and leave extra time between your moving date and any important deadlines, such as starting a new job or finalizing a home purchase. Stay in close contact with your moving company for updates and have alternative accommodation plans ready in case of delays.

Advanced Notice for Utility Transfers and Address Changes

Unlike local moves, where utility transfers and address changes can be managed relatively quickly, long-distance moves require you to notify utility companies, government agencies, and service providers well in advance. This is particularly important for utilities like internet and electricity, which may take longer to set up in a new state or city.

Strategy: Start notifying your utility providers and updating your address at least two weeks before your move. This will ensure that your services are active when you arrive at your new home. Additionally, set up mail forwarding through the postal service to ensure you don’t miss any important correspondence during your transition.

Careful Coordination of Multiple Logistics

With long-distance moves, you may need to coordinate several moving parts, including transportation for your belongings, your own travel arrangements, and the timing of your arrival at the new location. Flights, hotel stays, and vehicle transportation may also need to be arranged alongside your moving logistics.

Strategy: Create a detailed moving plan that includes every aspect of the move—from your movers’ schedule to your own travel itinerary. Having everything mapped out in advance will help you avoid confusion and keep the entire process on track.

Conclusion

Timing and scheduling play a critical role in both local and long-distance moves, but the considerations for each are quite different. Local moves offer flexibility and can often be completed in a single day, while long-distance moves require precise coordination, advanced planning, and careful handling of potential delays. By understanding the differences in timing and logistics, you can plan each type of move more effectively, ensuring a smooth and well-organized transition to your new home.

Business

How to Customize Your Withdrawal Plan with an SWP Calculator

Published

3 months ago

August 18, 2024

sylvia J

How to Customize Your Withdrawal Plan with an SWP Calculator

Financial independence is one of the most sought-after forms of autonomy. No matter the stage of your life, it is always better to have adequate personal finances. Although friends and family are always there for your support, your financial prudence could go a long way. Whether you are just starting your investment journey or getting ready to retire, the customisable SWP calculator is your new best friend.

This calculator takes the guesswork out of generating passive income from your nest egg. Tailor a withdrawal plan that aligns with your personal financial goals. Financial independence doesn’t happen by accident. But equipped with the SWP calculator, you can optimise withdrawals from investments to supplement your income.

In this article, we will explain how the SWP calculator functions.

What is a Systematic Withdrawl Plan (SWP)?

A systematic withdrawal plan (SWP) is a financial manoeuvre that allows you to withdraw money from your investment plan according to your requirements. Depending on the corpus left in your investment fund, you could use a SWP as a source of regular income.

Investors can select the frequency of withdrawals on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis. You could also choose the date of withdrawal that matches your budget requirements.

Let us understand the underlying benefit of SWP with an example. Consider, for instance, that you have 10,000 units in a mutual fund scheme in India. Depending on your requirements, you set a mandate to withdraw Rs. 4000 through the systematic withdrawal plan on the tenth day of every month.

Starting with January 10, when the fund’s Net Asset Value was Rs. 10 per unit, you would get 400 units. Next month, when the Net Asset Value touches Rs. 15, you will get 266.67 units. You can keep more units in your fund for the same withdrawal amount.

Please note that the above example would hold only when your particular fund is experiencing a growth trend, that is when the fund’s net asset value per unit increases monthly.

What is the SWP Calculator?

An SWP calculator is an automated investment calculator that estimates the possibilities of monthly withdrawals from your investment fund. It shows the total units and the amount remaining in the fund after every withdrawal. Investors in India prefer SWPS for regular monthly income in their retirement years.

Based on the concept of the time value of money, a swap calculator displays the future value of your mutual fund investment. You simply have to enter details such as your investment amount, preferred withdrawal per month, preferred tenure, and expected rate of return. Now, let us move on to understanding the usage of a SWP calculator in detail.

You can rely on the results of a SWP calculator because the final corpus amount is derived with the help of an authentic mathematical formula. A SWP calculator makes use of the following formula:

A = WMT ((1+r/n)^nt-1)/(r/n))

where,

‘A’ is the final value of your investment.
‘WMT’ is the withdrawal amount.
‘n’ is the number of periods over which the compounding will happen (12 for monthly, 3 for quarterly, and 1 for annual).
‘t’ is the tenure of your investment in years.

Your SWP calculator will show the final corpus based on the calculations done using this formula.

How to Use a SWP Calculator?

It is easy to understand how a swp calculator works. Here are the step to use the SWP calculator:.

Step 1:

Fill in your total investment amount held in the mutual fund.

Step 2:

Enter the monthly withdrawal limit (Please note that you can even opt for quarterly or annual withdrawals).

Step 3:

Fill in your expected rate of return.

Step 4:

Enter your preferred tenure in terms of years.

You can easily customise the entries of the SWP calculator to analyse the different scenarios that could arise with changes in these entries. Based on your entries made following the steps mentioned above, a SWP calculator will show the results displaying the total investment amount, total interest earned, and the final value of your investment. These results will serve as your aid in finalising your withdrawal limit.

Benefits of a Systematic Withdrawal Plan

There can be less doubt that a systematic withdrawal plan benefits your financial health. Let us understand the main benefits in detail.

1. Source of Regular Income

One of the most essential advantages of a SWP is that it can help you earn a regular income. You can withdraw the money monthly, quarterly, or annually depending on your requirements. All investors interested in earning a regular income can opt for a systematic withdrawal plan.

2. Retirement Income

SWPs offer a stable source of income in your after years. You can use this income to live a stress-free post-retirement life.

3. Availing Tax Benefits

Long-term capital gains to the tune of Rs. 1 lakh are exempt from payment of taxes. You are required to pay taxes only when your accrued gains exceed this threshold.

Benefits of a SWP Calculator

1. Seamless Calculation Process

A SWP calculator lets you accurately assess your final corpus simply by entering details such as the investment amount, expected rate of interest, and withdrawal amount.

2. Finding the Best Withdrawal Plan Calculator

A SWP calculator lets you calculate your corpus amount for different values. You can compare the corpus amounts per your preference and then select the corpus that would meet your requirements in future.

3. Ease of Use

Using an SWP calculator is quite simple. You get the results after entering basic details, such as your required corpus amount.

Conclusion

Who can deny that modern life is entirely uncertain? People need help maintaining their financial wellness. However, with modern instruments such as systematic withdrawal plans, it is easy to manage your financial wellness according to your own preferences.

All you have to do is use a SWP calculator and get an estimate of your corpus. Now that you know all the details of SWP, nothing should stop you from targeting a handsome corpus. For those looking to plan their investments from the start, combining the use of a SIP calculator and SWP calculator can provide a comprehensive view of your financial journey.