What Are Traveler’s Checks, Anyway? That’s a fair question in the modern world. Traveler’s checks are paper documents that can be used like standard paper checks and cash. Traditionally, travelers carried these checks to get cash in local currency and pay merchants. Issuers print checks in varying denominations, and checks can be replaced quickly if lost or stolen. With the spread of digital payment options and ATMs, traveler’s checks have become less popular and more difficult to use....

It is important for any office employee to know what steps go into creating an effective presentation and what presentation skills are most important to employers. Highlighting these skills will also help you stand out during your job search. What Are Presentation Skills? Presentation skills refer to all the qualities you need to create and deliver a clear and effective presentation. While what you say during a presentation matters, employers also value the ability to create supporting materials, such as slides....

The Escrow or Impound Accounts In some parts of the country, these accounts are referred to as escrow accounts. The terms are used interchangeably. Impound Accounts are separate savings accounts set up by mortgage lenders to pay property taxes and property insurance on behalf of the homeowner. Example of an Impound Account Payment If the taxes are $1,200 a year, the lender will collect $100 per month. If the insurance premium is $600 per year, the lender will collect an additional $50....

If you’re in a serious relationship, one of the decisions you may find yourself thinking of making—and that many people have done—is combining auto insurance policies with your partner. That’s right: unmarried couples are starting to purchase their automobile insurance together. If you’re in (and can prove that you’re in) a serious long-term relationship, then you might be able to insure your partner’s car. But that doesn’t mean that it will be a simple process, or that it’s a good idea....

Dividends or Interest? Interest payments are the amount the bank pays you to hold your money in an account there. The interest rate you can earn varies by bank as well as by the account you choose. Dividends on a bank account are basically the same as interest payments; the term is most often used at credit unions, as opposed to banks. As credit unions are customer-owned institutions, they sometimes use different terms....

That’s not a small query, and can be a tough question to answer, as it’s so open-ended. What the Interviewer Wants to Know Interviewers are generally looking to see if you can be self-sufficient during your training period, and make significant contributions early on in your time on the job. Remember, just because it’s an open-ended question doesn’t mean that any response goes. How to Answer ‘What Do You Hope to Accomplish in Your First Weeks?...

One of the questions you may be asked is, “What makes you unique?” as the recruiter evaluates whether you have elements in your background that are likely to lead to success on the job. What the Interviewer Really Wants to Know Interviewers ask this kind of question to understand what specific skills or qualities make you stand out from the other candidates. Essentially, if you are one of many candidates with the same qualifications, why should they hire you over them?...

Employers place the highest value on candidates who will be assertive about learning the job, blend in with the team, and become productive as soon as possible. Expect to answer interview questions about how you’ll adjust and what you’ll do during your first few weeks on the job. What the Interviewer Wants to Know When you’re asked about what you’d accomplish during your first 30 days on the job, the interviewer wants to know how you would transition to the new organization....

For some jobs, education will relate specifically to the qualifications required for the job for which you’re applying. For others, especially entry-level positions, it will be an indication of your ability to handle the role. What Employers Want to Know During a job interview, you will likely get one or two questions about your educational background. You might get a general question such as, “Tell me about your educational background,” or a more specific question like, “What coursework have you taken that relates to your career?...

Despite this popularity, investors should be aware of a few key risks. The country’s safe-haven status is no secret, which means that Swiss francs and securities can rapidly become overvalued during times of crisis. These actions can even lead to dramatic actions by the country’s central bank like its 2011 decision to tie the franc’s value to the euro to curb its rise. Investing in Switzerland With ETFs The easiest way to invest in Switzerland is through the use of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which let investors easily purchase a broad basket of assets in a single security....

Unit Investment Trusts (UITs) A UIT is effectively an investment firm or company that bundles investments, typically stocks or bonds, into one unit. These units are sold to investors to hold onto for a predetermined period of time. The goal is that the investments will appreciate and produce income. Think of a unit investment trust as a collection of other investments, just like a mutual fund. In the bond world, a UIT is essentially a collection of bonds, bond funds or bond derivatives....

If you don’t have an escrow account and don’t pay your home insurance premium or property taxes, the lender can take certain actions. The lender may add an escrow account to your mortgage or add the delinquent amounts to your mortgage balance. In certain cases, a lender may also buy a homeowners policy that costs more than the one you purchased, then send you a bill. What Is Homeowners Insurance?...

For some job applicants, a one-page resume will suffice. These include entry-level applicants, people who are making a career change, and older professionals who have worked at the same company for most of their careers. Why You Should Consider Creating a Two-Page Resume If you are a mid-level professional, there are several good reasons for creating a two-page resume. Perhaps the most important of these is that many companies now use an automated applicant tracking system (ATS) to carry out the initial screening of the resumes they receive (especially through digital application processes)....

Watercraft Exclusion Most general liability policies contain an exclusion under Coverage A (Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability) entitled Aircraft, Auto or Watercraft. The exclusion eliminates coverage for bodily injury or property damage arising out of the ownership, maintenance or use of any watercraft that you (or any other insured) own or operate. It also excludes claims arising out of any watercraft that you (or any other insured) rent, borrow or entrust to someone else....

Justin Paget/Getty Images The number of people initiating claims for unemployment insurance rose for the second straight week—unexpectedly this time, likely due to the economic effects of increasing virus cases. Initial claims for benefits rose to 351,000 for the week through Sept. 18, an increase of 16,000 from the previous week’s revised level, according to seasonally adjusted data released Thursday by the Labor Department—a surprise to economists who had expected claims to drop....

In the U.S. Congress, there are four joint committees. They are the Joint Economic Committee, the Joint Committee on Taxation, the Joint Committee on Printing, and the Joint Committee of Congress on the on Library. They are all standing committees, which means they are permanent. Joint Economic Committee The Joint Economic Committee advises Congress on economic issues. Its primary tasks are to review economic conditions and recommend improvements in economic policy....

How Much Can I Expect to Receive? As with the first two rounds of stimulus checks, the federal government will use the adjusted gross income (AGI) listed on your tax return to determine whether you qualify and for how much. Your tax filing status is also very important, since heads of household have a higher income limit than individual taxpayers. Full payments of $1,400 per person, including per dependent, will go to: Individual taxpayers, or single filers, with an AGI of $75,000 or less Heads of household with an AGI of $112,500 or lessMarried couples filing jointly with an AGI of $150,000 or less...

With nearly a decade of experience as a freelance journalist in print, web, and multimedia, Kindra has worked in-depth with the small business and financial industry. For instance, she spent three years as the head of digital marketing at the Lawrence N. Field Center for Entrepreneurship at Baruch College, where she worked closely with local entrepreneurs to generate content focused on small businesses. In addition, Kindra served as a content manager for Fibrick, a financial services firm based in New York City....

DreamPictures / Getty Images The length of your listing is your decision; it is not your agent’s decision. Your agent may suggest a time period, but it is up to you to choose the length that works best for you. You have the final word. Reasons for a 30-Day Listing Length of Time If the market is steaming hot and homes are flying into pending status within days, your agent might be agreeable to a 30-day listing....

Liability insurance for mobile equipment can be a little confusing. Most claims against a business that arise out of the operation of mobile machinery are covered by the firm’s general liability policy. However, the policy excludes certain claims that arise from accidents occurring while the machinery is driven on a public road. Such claims must be insured under a business auto policy. What Is Mobile Equipment? In the standard commercial auto and general liability policies, mobile equipment means a land vehicle (including any equipment attached to it) that fits any of the categories listed below:...