Types of Direct Marketing Tactics The world of marketing is always evolving, but common types of direct marketing include: Telemarketing (phone calls) Robocalling (automated phone calls) Text messages Emails Targeted online ads Social media interactions and Ask-Me-Anything posts (AMAs) Television infomercials Coupon ads Direct mail Flyers and handouts Kiosks and stands Door-to-door solicitation Example of a Direct Marketing Campaign You can find examples of direct marketing campaigns in many parts of your daily life, not just your mailbox....

To get approved for certain types of insurance policies, specifically in excess of an insurance company’s guaranteed issue amount or if you apply for coverage outside of your designated new-hire enrollment period, you may need to submit evidence of insurability. You may also be asked for evidence of insurability if you’re adding additional coverage or another person to your policy. The exact type of documentation you need for an EOI varies from insurer to insurer....

But what, exactly is Fannie Mae? Learn what Fannie Mae is, how it works, and how it affects investors and homeowners. Definition and Examples of Fannie Mae Fannie Mae is short for “Federal National Mortgage Association” (FNMA). A government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) founded in 1938, Fannie Mae is a privately held agency established by Congress to improve credit flow in parts of the U.S. economy. A GSE provides financial services to the public for various things, especially mortgages, by maintaining capital market liquidity....

There are different rates for loans of different durations (short-, mid-, and long-term) and with different compounding periods, such as annual, semiannual, quarterly, or monthly. The IRS “imputes” or assigns to lenders the interest income they would have received at AFR rates if they extend a below-market loan. They charge no interest or interest at a rate that’s less than the AFR, regardless of whether they actually receive the money....

QE is a monetary policy tool, an expansion of the Fed’s open market operations, which is how it influences the supply of money. Other tools include lowering interest rates; the Fed uses QE after it’s lowered the fed funds rate to zero. (The Fed funds rate is the basis for all other short-term rates.) In the United States, only the Federal Reserve has this unique power. That’s why some people say the Federal Reserve is printing money....

One example of redlining is a residential map of Chicago in which the western section of the city is shaded red. So, if a Black family from that area applied for a home loan, two things could happen. First, they would be much more likely to be denied the loan. Or they may be required to pay a higher interest rate than a White family from a non-redlined area....

In a more technical sense, however, retirement implies a backdrop of financial planning, whether through specialized retirement accounts that you contributed to during your working years (such as an IRA or employer-sponsored 401k), other general investment tools, or through Social Security benefits. People who work in the public sector may have pensions or similar government-sponsored retirement plans as well. It is common when planning for retirement to utilize many of these sources of funding in combination....

Sustainable investing, specifically, means investing in companies that follow sustainable practices in their business activities. Sometimes, the kind of accounting framework used is referred to as the “triple bottom line,” meaning a company’s financial decisions include a focus on people, profits, and the planet. This article will address the broader meaning of sustainability; related terms such as environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing; and ways you can invest in sustainability....

Here’s how the 28/36 rule of thumb works, as well as what it includes and excludes, plus example calculations and some caveats for using the rule. What Is the 28/36 Rule of Thumb for Mortgages? When mortgage lenders are trying to determine how much they’ll let you borrow, your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) is a standard barometer. The 28/36 rule is a common rule of thumb for DTI. “The 28/36 rule simply states that a mortgage borrower/household should not use more than 28% of their gross monthly income toward housing expenses and no more than 36% of gross monthly income for all debt service, including housing,” Marc Edelstein, a senior loan officer at Ross Mortgage Corporation in Detroit, told The Balance via email....

Because Roth IRAs offer tax-free growth of invested funds, the IRS discourages using this money for non-retirement purposes by assessing a 10% early withdrawal penalty. This penalty applies to many Roth IRA earnings distributions before age 59½. However, original contributions to a Roth can be withdrawn without early withdrawal penalties, and Roth IRAs offer exceptions to the 10% penalty. Learn about situations that might lead to a Roth early withdrawal penalty and important exceptions allowing earning withdrawals from a Roth IRA before age 59½....

The U.S. federal budget has two categories of spending that are unusual. The mandatory budget pays for benefits established by prior acts of Congress. These include Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and other such benefits. This budget estimates the costs to administer the benefits. It cannot be changed without another act of Congress. The interest on the national debt must also be paid, although it’s not part of the mandatory budget....

Learn about the history of the FSLIC and which alternatives exist in 2021. Definition and Examples of the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation Before it went defunct in 1989, the FSLIC offered protection against money loss due to institutional failure if a customer had a deposit account at a savings and loan institution. It was created as part of the National Housing Act of 1934, and the Federal Home Loan Bank Board (FHLBB) was responsible for its administration....

Alternate name: S&P 400 How Does the S&P MidCap 400 Index Work? Mid-cap stocks are sometimes said to represent a “sweet spot” of investing. That’s because mid-caps have greater growth potential than large-cap stocks. They also often have more price stability than small-cap stocks. Mid-caps are popular with those who want to add diversity while maintaining an aggressive portfolio. You may be able to achieve greater exposure to the entire U....

Learn how the UPC works and the main types of UPC barcodes, as well as whether your business needs them and how to get them. What Is the Universal Product Code (UPC)? The UPC is a product identification system used for retail products worldwide, but most commonly in North America. An eight-to-12 digit number known as a UPC or a UPC code is assigned to each product to identify it during sales transactions....

If you’re one of those millions, you may be dealing with shock, grief, and anger, along with stress and anxiety, especially if you lost your job unexpectedly. However, we’ve got some tips to guide you through the next steps after a sudden job loss. Get Your Finances in Order Although there are emotional effects from losing your job, it’s the financial ramifications that can cause the most distress. In fact, unforeseen loss of income can deal a significant blow to your emotional health, so you’ll feel better if you can get your finances in order as soon as possible....

It’s also easy to get caught up in practicing interview questions and answers and completely forget to review the basic ideas you should express. Important Things To Say During a Job Interview We’ve done the work for you and compiled a list of the most effective expressions to use in an interview. However, you need to use common sense when incorporating these statements in your interview. Don’t feel like you have to hit every single one: in fact, that might sound a little silly....

Collectors Can Call Only Between Certain Hours Debt collectors aren’t allowed to call you early in the morning or late at night. The law specifically states they can only call you between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., your local time. Calling you at any other time is a violation of the FDPCA. If you’d prefer a debt collector to call you outside these hours—for example at 6 a.m. because of your work schedule—you can request that they call you at that time....

Three Ways to Figure Out Your Credit Card’s Due Date The best way to figure out when your credit card bill is due is to read your credit card billing statement. Information about your credit card payment, including the minimum payment amount and the due date, will appear at the top of your statement and on the coupon that you include with your mailed credit card payment. If you’ve created an online account to access your credit card account, you can also check your due date by logging in to verify the next payment’s due date....

According to a study from Vistaprint, 62% of people in the U.S. want to become business owners. But how many actually know what it takes to start, run, and grow a business? And is it the right time in their life to begin one? “Not all ideas are unique, and they are not given to just one person,” said Toni Coleman Brown, founder of the Network for Women in Business, in an email interview with The Balance....

Why Is It Important to Calculate Work Time? An important reason for calculating work time accurately is for payment of overtime to employees that meet overtime pay criteria. If a non-exempt employee works more than 40 hours in a workweek, he or she must be paid overtime at a rate of 1 1/2 times, per the Fair Labor Standards Act (FSLA) enforced by the Department of Labor (DOL). This includes all non-exempt employees who paid an hourly rate and any lower-paid exempt employees who are entitled to overtime....