How to Choose the Right Lawyer to Represent Your Interests

There are many situations in life when your financial future depends on finding an experienced lawyer to represent your interests. Maybe you get injured in an accident due to someone else’s negligence. Perhaps you and your partner decide to get a divorce, or a parent dies without leaving a will. As scary as it is to think about these scenarios, they’re very commonplace, unfortunately. All you can do to overcome these types of issues with minimal inconvenience is to protect your rights with the help of a reliable legal expert.

Read on to discover how to choose the right lawyer to represent your interests.

Consider the Practice Area

Law is a complex and vast field, so legal experts specialize in one or several practice areas. To find the best lawyer for your needs, you have to consider the practice area your case may fall under. For example, if you want to take someone to court for causing you an injury, you need a legal expert specializing in personal injury cases. Similarly, if you need help during divorce proceedings, you must hire a lawyer who knows all the intricacies of family law. A lawyer with an outstanding reputation in the relevant practice area knows how to get the desired outcome. Contact a law firm like Skyview Law and discuss the particularities of your case with a team of accomplished legal experts before moving forward.

Check Background and Experience

A quick online search will reveal dozens of local lawyers specializing in different areas and available at various price points. To make an informed decision, consider researching their professional background. In the legal field, qualifications, education, and experience are all essential. To get the best results in court, you need the help of an accomplished legal expert with vast experience. However, if your case is fairly simple and you have strong evidence in your favor, it doesn’t necessarily make sense to pay for a lawyer who deals with very complex cases and charges premium fees. If budget is an issue, you can get valuable help at a comfortable rate.

Schedule a Call or Meeting

Once you have a list of lawyers with experience in the appropriate practice area, take the time for an in-person meeting or a phone call. Having direct conversations with a few potential attorneys can help you determine if you mesh well. It also gives you the chance to analyze their communication style. Being fully transparent and disclosing all facts and expectations is crucial when you’re facing a legal problem. Thus, you should feel comfortable discussing sensitive matters with your lawyer. A call or an in-person meeting can tell you if the lawyer you’re considering is responsive and attentive.

When it comes to legal and bureaucratic issues, the stakes are high. Use the tips above to find a lawyer who can communicate well, respect deadlines, and meet your expectations. A good lawyer can help you reduce the financial stress associated with key life events like divorce, accidents, bankruptcy, and many others. A good lawyer can also present you with solutions you may not have considered.

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How to Hire the Right Expert Witness

Expert witnesses are professionals who hold the fate of court cases in their hands.  Their professional insight can decide how a judge or jury views the information they’re given, and they can bring forward definitive evidence that changes the outcome.

How do you pick which one you hire, though?

Here are the top things to consider before making your choice and how they’ll affect the case.

Start Looking Earlier

When you think you’re going to need an expert witness, you need to start researching ones that fit what you want.  The main reason for this is that most will want at least a couple of weeks before the court case to study up and ensure they have the information necessary to help your case.  This will also give you a better chance at catching a good expert witness before they agree to work on a different topic instead of yours.  Look early, and let them know you’re interested.

Consider Your Budget

Before you try to hire an economic expert: make sure you know what you can afford.  The average expert witness costs around $250 an hour, and it can go up from there if they’re a medical expert or have some specialized training along those lines.  Although you may get the other party in the court case to cover the court fees if you win, you should be careful if you can’t afford much.  You don’t want to end up in severe debt if you do lose the case.

Look For Relevant Qualifications

What qualifications does this expert witness have?  Are they proficient in a particular line of work?  Do they have training that pertains to the case?  Is there an educational background that could help decide your court case?  Most expert witnesses either have training, knowledge, experience, education, or skill that allows them to answer questions some other people may not be able to answer.

Request Publications and References

Consider this interaction as you hiring them for a role.  Treat it like an interview, and ask for references and any publications they may have made.  This information will allow you to understand them better, see some of their skills in action, and find out what other people think of them.  If they refuse to offer any of this information, you should move onto the next possibility.  This witness may hold the key to whether you win or lose your case; you can’t leave it up to a guess that they might know what they’re doing.

Meet In Person To Check For Charisma

Although it would be great if facts and information decided court cases, it’s not always the case.  It would help if you met with the witness in person to decide whether or not they’re a good fit for you.  Check if they can maintain eye contact, if they’re personable and if they seem confident in their knowledge.  Do they say ‘um’ a lot?  Do you notice they seem constantly distracted?  They might not be who you want to call on in court.  Although not everyone is excellent in front of a crowd, if you’re hiring them to help decide the fate of your case, you need to make sure they’re someone who will help.

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How To Start A Wholesale Real Estate Business

Wholesaling real estate can be one of the best short term investments an entrepreneur can make. However, the process of learning how to wholesale can be quite tricky. Wholesale real estate is a bit more complex than entrepreneurs initially assume. Wholesaling real estate is entirely different from flipping houses or selling traditional real estate. Find out what entrepreneurs need to know to start a wholesale real estate businesses below.

Know What You Need

It is important for first time real estate wholesalers to recognize that a real estate license is not necessary to wholesale homes. This is part of real estate property investment 101. Entrepreneurs can save themselves a lot of money by not pursuing a real estate brokerage license. In addition, the ability to not pursue a realtor’s license saves time. That means entrepreneurs can start making money much sooner. For those that want to learn how to start wholesaling real estate, you must first know that you do not need a real estate license to do so.

Incorporate The Business

Before you ever start selling wholesale real estate, you need to establish a business structure. Form a corporation to conduct your real estate business. In order to do this, entrepreneurs should have a business name in mind. In addition, they must also have the money to cover the incorporation application fees. Filing incorporation paperwork is a necessary step to becoming a wholesaling real estate business owner. Make sure to incorporate your business before you learn anything more about how to start wholesale real estate operations.

Look For Potential Properties

Once you get started, you should begin to look for distressed properties to buy in your local area. Specifically, Georgia has plenty of market opportunities because of the growing population and competitive development. Distressed properties are the best types of real estate to use for wholesaling purposes. With a distressed real estate property in Atlanta or surrounding areas, entrepreneurs can often get a much better deal on pricing by any valuation services’ standards. Houses in disrepair are much more likely to sell for less than market value. That saves wholesaling real estate owners much needed investment capital. According to Skystone Acquisitions, “To find Atlanta wholesale properties , you have to deliver consistent premium deals straight through in-house marketing, MLS, and investor/agent connections.” Following this advice will make it much easier to successfully become a real estate wholesaler.

Find The Necessary Capital

Next, you need to find the necessary capital to invest in wholesale real estate properties. In order to wholesale properties, you must first buy them and then sell them to an interested buyer at a markup. Having access to the capital required for buying property and making these real estate investments can make an entrepreneur one of the most desirable real estate buyers. That makes it easy to actually be approved to buy a wholesale property, particularly if other potential buyers would need to finance the property. As long as you have access to investment capital, you have completed the most difficult step of learning how to start wholesale real estate sales for income.

Connect With Interested Buyers

The final step to wholesaling real estate properties is to locate interested buyers for your property. Entrepreneurs need to be familiar with the real estate sales process in order to effectively find potential buyers. Real estate marketing strategies can be very useful tools to locate potential buyers who want to expand their real estate portfolio. On the other hand, entrepreneurs should also utilize their own personal and professional network to find buyers for a property. Always be up front with potential buyers too, so that you do not reflect your business poorly. Once you have found a real estate buyer for your property, you will have successfully completed your first wholesale property sale.

Final Thoughts

Starting a real estate wholesaling business does not have to be hard. You just have to heed the advice above to learn how to start wholesale real estate sales. Just like any other business, it takes a lot of determination, hard work and discipline. You do not need to waste time getting a real estate agent license. Then, incorporate your business and locate potential wholesale properties to invest in and the investment capital needed to finance the distressed properties. Once you have bought a distressed property to resell wholesale, all you need to do is find potential real estate buyers interested in your property. Use your real estate marketing savvy to sell wholesale properties and start your own real estate wholesaler business successfully.

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6 Steps To Getting A Car Loan For the First Time

Shopping for your first car can certainly be exhilarating and exciting. It can also invoke feelings of fear and anxiety, particularly if you are uncertain about how to pay for it. Getting a car is considered a rite of passage of sorts, but it also comes with certain responsibilities that must be taken into consideration. Since many car buyers will seek out financing options to get into the car best suited to them, it is important to consider all of your options before making your final selection. While it is always a good idea to buy a car with cash, not everyone has the discipline to save up enough money.  With that in mind, consider the following five steps meant to help you as you apply for a car loan for the first time.

Set Your Budget

Before you set out to purchase a new car, it is important to consider how much you can realistically afford to pay. If you are planning to finance the car, you will want to consider your monthly payments into that equation. The more you can pay down as a deposit on the car, the better, as you will then enjoy lower overall monthly payments and finance charges. There are many types of car loans for first-time buyers, so shop wisely.

Decide Between New and Used

A big decision to be made is whether or not you want, or even need, a new car. While there are advantages to going with a new car, such as an extensive warranty and perhaps better reliability, it comes with the caveat of being much more expensive as well. There are some great used cars out there that offer exceptional value for your money. Check out my guide for how to get a good deal on a used car for help.  It really comes down to what you, as a first time car buyer, are comfortable with. Assess your needs, such as how often you will be driving the vehicle and under what conditions, and then decide from there.

Choose a Lender

If you are like many first time car buyers, you will be financing your purchase. However, you will want to carefully consider your choice of lender before you sign on the dotted line for any vehicle. If you have good to great credit, you will be in the position of being able to shop around for your car loan. Make sure you take advantage of this, and do not feel that you need to select the first lender that makes you an offer. You want to look for the lowest possible interest rate that you can get in order to get the best possible deal on the vehicle. This will also help you to stretch your budget even further.

Negotiate the Price

Shopping for a vehicle is really similar to some other purchasing activities. Generally speaking, you are able to negotiate the price and terms of many vehicles. Keep that in mind as you try to find a way to afford the car of your dreams, as it might be more within your reach than you realized. You might also want to do your car shopping during major holiday seasons, as this tends to be a time when dealerships are offering their best promotions. Another strategy is to wait until a new model year comes out, and then work to negotiate a great deal on the previous year’s vehicles. You will not notice that much of a difference, and you could save a noticeable amount of money in the end!

Sign and Start Driving

Once you have successfully navigated the previous five steps, you will be ready to sign the purchasing contract and drive your new car off the lot. This will be an exciting day, but take some time to assess your situation and the responsibility that you are taking on. You want to make sure that you are able to easily pay for the vehicle, so keep that in mind before signing. Get some car insurance and make sure that you are protected throughout.

Final Thoughts

As a first time car buyer, there are many things to consider. These are just five steps that you want to consider focusing on. Take your time and get the vehicle that is right for you in the end.

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Looking for an Accounting or Finance Job?

If you are looking for a job in Accounting or Finance, then it often pays to use a headhunting service to help fast-track your job search.  Headhunters can help you more quickly find the right company for you that will be a good culture fit as well as meet your salary requirements.  One of the most prominent headhunting firms in this arena is Beacon Resources.

What Is the Easiest Way to Get in Touch With Beacon Resources?

The smart finance headhunters at Beacon Resources can be reached a number of ways depending on your preferences and your location. It’s easy to reach out today to inquire about CPA jobs or any of your headhunting or staffing needs.

Leave a Message Online

For both jobseekers and employers, it’s easy to get in touch with the best finance headhunters Chicago has to offer or even your city of choice by leaving a message online. Beacon Resources offers separate contact forms, with a form for employers and a form for jobseekers. Each form lets you specify which office you would like to query, and select the type of information you’re seeking before filling out your contact information and submitting a personalized message.

Call Toll-Free

For a more personal touch and immediate, direct response, you can call Beacon Services at 1-844-500-8100. The number is toll free, and a friendly professional will be happy to speak with you to answer your questions or set up an initial consultation. Whether you are an employer or a candidate, calling the toll-free line is a great way to get started on your hiring process. Professionals will be able to respond to your inquiries in real-time, and forge a personal rapport that is only the start of a long-term relationship focused on achieving your goals.

Stop by the Local Offices

Beacon Resources maintains offices in Orange County, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago. The Orange County office is located in sunny Newport Beach, while the two Los Angeles area offices can be found in Woodland Hills and Century City. For San Francisco Bay area professionals, you can find Beacon Resources in Walnut Creek, and for the greater Chicago area you can discover them right on Michigan Avenue in Chicago proper. The contact page provides complete addresses, as well as maps to quickly and easily find the office locations.

Final Thoughts

If you have been thinking about changing jobs, or find yourself looking for opportunities, get in contact with Beacon Resources now and put them to work for you!

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5 Ways to Save Money on the Latest Electronics

It seems that every day there is a new tech gadget available for enthusiastic early adopters who are willing to shell out major funds to get the latest and greatest. However, savvy shoppers know that there are plenty of opportunities out there for reduced-priced electronics — even the newest offerings – for those who know how to find it. Check out these five tips for getting a good deal.

Buy Refurbished

Plenty of consumers fork out the dough for brand-new technology, only to find after a few days that it is not the right fit for them. They return perfectly good items to the store, and the store sends it back to the manufacturer. After the factory gives it a good check to make sure it is functioning, they sell it again as a “refurbished” item, likely at a steep discount but still with a full warranty. This is a good time to swoop in and snag yourself the latest tech for a lower price. Just be sure the item you buy comes with a factory certification label.

Watch for Coupons

There are plenty of resources for percentage-off coupons both in print and online. Checking the internet for coupons is easier than going out and buying a newspaper, but if you find print coupons, they are a great choice. Often, retailers accept online coupons at their bricks-and-mortar stores when you display them on your phone. If you have some preferred stores that offer apps, you likely will find daily coupon offers there. Or, many retailers send out daily emails with coupon bar codes that are ready to print.  You can also find good deals online at places such as eBay and Amazon. In fact, sites like Coupon Sherpa are amazing at finding Amazon coupons, among other deals and discounts.

Use Coupon Codes

Related to actual print or electronic coupons are coupon codes. These are code words or phrases you type into a special field during checkout to reduce the price of your purchases. You can search online for the name of your favorite electronics store and the words “coupon code” in order to find deals. There also are helpful online websites that share coupon codes for people who subscribe to the site. You can visit http://www.dontpayfull.com/blog/how-to-save-money to learn more about how these work.

Look for Open-Box Deals

If you are shopping in a retail store and see a box that is partially opened or slightly mangled, you might be looking at an opportunity for savings. Ask the manager for an “open box” discount and show him or her the damaged packaging. Most likely, the manager will be more than happy to let the item go at a discount rather than see it sit on the shelf because of its condition.

Simply Ask

Never underestimate the power of simply asking for a discount. If you are respectful and polite about it, you stand a better chance at being successful. Plus, you also are buying accessories, cables or cases for the electronic item, you can ask for a bundle price for all your purchases. Simply ask “I’m buying all these items. Is this the best price I can get today?” The worst they can say is no, and you might be pleasantly surprised.

5 Ways to Save Money on the Latest Electronics – Final Thoughts

Resourceful consumers know how to get the latest gadget without paying full price. It pays to shop around, but you might find that DontPayFull.com is the best source to find coupon codes, promo codes and deals on the Internet.

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What’s the Difference Between Selling Your House at an Auction vs. Selling It on the Market?

Are you thinking about downsizing you home? Looking to move to another neighborhood? Or have you just outgrown your current home? Whatever the reason, the decision to sell your home is a big step forward, but there is one more decision to make before you “pull the trigger.” Should you sell your house at an auction or on the open market? As with all things in life, there are pros and cons to each side of this real estate selling coin.

What You Get With an Auction Sale For Your Home:

You Get a Short Window for the Sale

Whether you’re selling a rare painting or a home by auction, there is a sense of urgency generated around the sale. This is the only chance a buyer will get to bid on that property. If they miss this chance, they could be missing out on a deal of a lifetime. From the seller’s perspective, you get to set a date and time for the sale. Once the auction takes place, you’ll know in a very short amount of time what your home is selling for. For instance, the auction can start at 9:00, and you’ll have an answer by 9:15.

You Get Price Protection

The first thing you do when you consider selling your home is come up with a price. That number can be derived using many factors. At an auction, this becomes your reserve price. Your home won’t sell for anything less than that price, or it will be pulled from auction. On the flip side, the bidding can go a lot higher than the reserve price. That’s where things get very interesting for the seller.

You Get to Set the Terms

On many levels, selling a home at an auction is a lot like an “as is” sale. There won’t be any inspections or charge backs that can impact that final sale price. The buyer assumes those risks. There also won’t be the proverbial “cooling off” period where a buyer can back out of the deal. Setting the terms for your sale puts you in control of the situation.

What You Get With an Open Market Sale For Your Home:

You Get a Wider Pool of Potential Buyers

Auctions aren’t for everyone. Even the financial conditions of the sale might shrink your potential pool of auction buyers. Plus, that specific date could also be a hindrance if someone can’t make the auction. Then there is the intimidation factor for a buyer. It could be just too much angst to get into a bidding war. On the open market, you can cast a wide net among potential buyers. That’s because once your home is listed, there will be plenty of time for open houses and tours.

You Might Not Spend as Much Money to Market

Several brokers who are looking for their clients will pick up a home that is listed on the open market. If you have your own broker, they will be doing most of the marketing for you. That shouldn’t cost you any upfront money. Instead, they will earn that back through their commission.

Speaking of commission, you won’t be selling your home by auction commission free. Sometimes those commissions could be higher than with a real estate broker. It is something to negotiate with either type of sale before signing a contract.

What’s the Difference Between Selling Your House at an Auction vs. Selling It on the Market? – Final Thoughts

You might discover during this process that working both sales methods could be a benefit. If you don’t get any offers on the open market that are acceptable, you could set up that reserve price auction to make sure you get at least what you’re asking for. It might also help to attend an auction so you can see the process unfold for yourself. The more informed you are as a seller, the stronger the sale will become.

Anum Yoon is a personal finance blogger and writer. She created and maintains her personal finance blog Current on Currency. You can subscribe to her blog newsletter right here for her weekly updates.

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What You Need to Know Before You Agree to a Structured Settlement

Often, in order to avoid going to court and wasting money on costly court fees, liability cases will be settled among the two parties and their lawyers. The defendant agrees to pay money for damages to the plaintiff, and this sum can often be hundreds of thousands of dollars. Very few people have this money on hand to pay in one lump sum and be done with it. Instead, the settlement money is structured into regular payments that last over an extended period of time. The defendant is now able to pay damages to the plaintiff without going bankrupt in the process.

It sounds like a good deal from both sides of the bargaining table. The defendant surely won’t be happy about having to pay money in the first place, but regular payments is better than having to take out a loan, get a second mortgage or sell the house to make ends meet (if they’re lucky, the defendant will have a good insurance plan that pays most of the settlement anyway). The plaintiff is typically happy to get what amounts to an extra paycheck every month. This guaranteed, passive income also accrues interest over time, just like an investment.

So clearly it’s a win-win, right? Well, there are still some things to think about before you agree to a structured settlement.

Negotiate a Structured Settlement Carefully

The terms of a structured settlement are negotiable, but only in the beginning. Once the settlement is agreed upon, you will have a very difficult time changing the terms down the road. At that point, your best option is to sell your structured settlement payments, but you often will lose money doing this.

So think hard about whether you’d like to receive payments on a monthly basis, twice a year, yearly, or on an entirely different schedule. If you tend to make a lot of impulse purchases, maybe a once-a-year payment option isn’t such a good idea; weekly or monthly payments will help you manage your money better.

You can also opt to receive a lump sum payment up front and the rest of the settlement in structured payments. This is an attractive option if you are unable to work due to injuries or you have a lot of medical expenses to pay for. The lump sum payment can help you get back on track financially.

Other payment options exist that are useful for planning for retirement. You can turn your structured settlement into a comfortable retirement savings fund by choosing to have the payments increase over time (i.e., you’ll receive more money as you age and get closer to retirement), or to even delay payment altogether until you reach a certain age or choose to retire. On the other hand, if you receive payments well before retirement, you could possibly invest them and earn an even greater passive income over time.

There’s even a possibility of receiving payments over your lifetime, which is a great proposition if you expect to live a long and healthy life; you’ll have a stable income during retirement this way for sure. However, it can be a bum deal if you are in poor health and have a short life expectancy, because your payments will often be non-transferable. In other words, your family won’t receive a penny of your settlement money after you die.

When to Decline a Structured Settlement

If the money you’re owed in the settlement is less than about $100,000, the advantages to having payments spread out over time aren’t very high. There’s also little chance that you’ll earn much interest on smaller settlement payments. In this case, a lump sum payment is just as useful and helps you take care of your current financial needs, without having to wait around for the rest of the payments.

But if you’re owed something like $1 million, that’s a different ballgame altogether. It is much easier to spread this amount of money out over the course of 30 years or more, giving you ample time to benefit from the structured settlement annuity and helping you manage such a large sum of money responsibly.

What You Need to Know Before You Agree to a Structured Settlement – Final Thoughts

With so many variables to think about, it’s important to consult with your lawyer or a financial advisor. These professionals can help you decide a course of action that makes the most sense for you now and in the future.

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Protect Your Inheritance -Hire a Lawyer to Contest a Will

Getting a house or a property through a last will and testament of a deceased family member is great because you get to own a property and that can be an investment for your future. However not all wills are easily ruled to your favor. Often, there are people who would fight over the ownership of the property, which means you’re at stake of losing a future investment.

The will of a deceased person decides who gets their property and how much or what part of it they’ll get. In most cases, it is final. But for some, there are grounds for the will to be contested. Whether it was the incapacity of the testator to make the will or any other technical flaw in the creation of a will, the way the assets would be distributed could still be changed. Through the right process and getting the help of experienced lawyers, such as those from Contesting a Will NSW, you would be able to successfully get what you think you deserve and have a better future ahead, with an asset such as a house.

Am I Allowed to Contest a Will?

The law specifies that only certain people could contest a will. The law states that only a person or entity who have standings can challenge a will, which means only those who are directly affected by the outcome of the case can do so.

There are usually two types of person who may contest a will, one who is named in the will being contested, or one who should have benefited if the will was voided. This includes spouses, former spouses, de facto partners, children, grandchildren, and named beneficiary entities. Without the proper standing, you wouldn’t be able to proceed contesting a will.

Will You Be Able to File a Will Contest in a Timely Manner?

This all depends on where you live!  If you happen to live in Australia, there is usually a time limit in contesting a will. For example, in Victoria this ranges from 6 months from the date of a grant of probate, and for almost a year after the death of the testator in New South Wales. If you would not be able to file a will contest within the given time-frame, you would not be given another chance to do so. If you are eligible to contest a will, you should do so as soon as possible.

Do I Have Grounds to Contest a Will?

If you are contesting a will just because you think it is unfair to you, chances are the court is going to junk your case. For you to be able to successfully contest a will, you should have the right grounds for doing so. State laws consider a wide variety of reasons to contest a will. Grounds allowed by law ranges from the mental incapacity of the testator to make the will, another party’s undue influence to the testator, the lack of particular legal requirements when making a will, to fraud and forgery of the will.

Would You Be Able to Get the Right Help?

Choosing the right lawyer to help you is very important in successfully contesting a will if you want to be able to meet the requirements mandated by law. If you are in Australia, looking for help in contesting a will, NSW has plenty of credible law firms to hire. Simply search online and you can find an expert in the field. By carefully choosing who will represent you in the court, you give yourself the best chance of successfully contesting a will.

Protect Your Inheritance – Hire a Lawyer to Contest a Will – Final Thoughts

There can be many reasons you may feel the need to fight a will.  Maybe you are newly married and your spouse forgot to update their will or maybe the will is just not that well put together.  It may be necessary to fight for the property given to you by your deceased love ones. After all, real estate is a good asset and investment.

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8 Ways to Tell if You Need A Raise

Do you feel as though you’re properly compensated for your efforts at work? If not, when’s the last time you asked for a raise?

Typically, many workers receive salary increases once a year following their annual review. This, of course, is assuming they’ve worked hard all year, developed their skills and taken on more responsibility.

Then there are those who are luckier. They receive raises more frequently than once a year.

Finally, there are those poor saps who haven’t had a salary uptick in years.

Are You Due for a Raise? Here Are 8 Ways to Tell if You Need a Raise

No matter where you fall on the spectrum, you’re at least somewhat interested in boosting your salary. You’ll never get a raise if you don’t ask for one. With that in mind, let’s take a look at eight telltale signs that indicate it’s time to ask for a raise.

1. Your clients are extremely happy — and they’re vocal about it.

Are your clients enthusiastic about your work? Are they routinely buying additional assets and extending and expanding their contracts?

If so, it’s a clear indication that you’re in a prime position to ask for a raise. Your boss certainly wouldn’t want you to seek employment elsewhere and then have to tell thoroughly satisfied clients you’re being replaced.

2. Your boss is in the greatest mood of all time.

Is your boss grinning from ear to ear? You might want to use his or her great mood to your advantage. If everything is going well at the office and your boss seems to be in an approachable mood, why not ask if you can have a brief meeting to discuss your compensation?

It sure beats asking for a raise when your boss is angry.

3. It’s not uncommon for folks in your industry to get raises regularly.

If you wait tables, you might not be successful in asking your boss for a raise.

But if you work in other industries where folks get raises often — such as marketing or finance — you need to proactively ask your boss for a raise, assuming you haven’t had one in some time. If everyone else is getting a raise, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be.

4. Your organization doesn’t have a strict policy on raises.

Does your company review every employee’s performance at the end of the year and then make corresponding salary adjustments? Or is there no rhyme or reason to how your company approaches compensation?

If your company doesn’t have a strict policy on when raises are given, ask your boss for a meeting when the time is right. A good time would be, for example, after you dominated a project and received excellent feedback.

5. You’re getting more and more work on your plate.

When you receive more and more work on a regular basis, it might be time to ask your boss for a raise, particularly if you’re salaried and your company isn’t too keen on overtime pay.

6. Your company is crushing it.

If your organization has been doing very well, you might want to strike while the iron is hot and ask your manager for a raise.

You work hard all week long, and partially because of your efforts, your company is thriving. Management should share the wealth, but you need to ask them to.

7. Another company expresses an interest in you.

Have you been doing so well at work that an organization is trying to poach you?

Let your boss know right away. Tell him or her that you love working for the organization, but you want to be compensated more. Give your boss the chance to offer you a number that’ll encourage you to stay put.

8. You got promoted.

There’s no sense in taking on more responsibility if you’re not going to get compensated additionally.

Believe it or not, some folks get promoted and don’t receive raises. This is probably due to the fact that they don’t ask for them. When you’re on the receiving end of a promotion, by all means ask your boss how much more money you’re going to make as a result.

Good luck!

Anum Yoon is a personal finance blogger and writer. She created and maintains her personal finance blog Current on Currency. You can subscribe to her blog newsletter right here for her weekly updates.

The post 8 Ways to Tell if You Need A Raise appeared first on MoneyAhoy.

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