Tag Archives: Management

How to Choose Brokerage Services

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One of the most important decisions you can make when you begin developing a financial portfolio is choosing the right broker to help you invest your money wisely. There are plenty of brokerage services in St. Paul which can make this task seem rather overwhelming. If you’re new to investing, here are some tips to help you find a brokerage service that will help you cultivate wealth and give you financial peace of mind.
Choose a Full-Service Broker
There are plenty of a la carte services available, but working with a full-service brokerage firm will help you get your feet wet. Novice investors lack know-how and confidence. As you begin to understand the market and the best ways to invest your money, you may want to venture out on your own and save a little cash. In the meantime, take advantage of the expertise and knowledge that full-service brokers offer.
Choose a Brokerage Service with a Reputation for Reliability
Start-ups can be found in every industry. While newly formed brokerage firms may offer incredible discounts on their fees to get investors to their sites, their customer service and overall experience may not be well honed. If you’ve never invested a penny in anything beyond a savings account, you need a service that has been in the business a long time and has a reputation for handling their clients’ money with care and precision.
Choose a Broker Who Also Has a Stone and Mortar Location
No one can argue how easily accessible the Internet has made investing. Many investors, novice and pros, rely on the internet to help them make last minute trades and stay up to date on the latest financial trends. While technology is great, you may not always be in front of a computer screen. And, let’s be real for a moment, you can’t talk to a computer screen. Sometimes you need a live person to guide you through the investment process.
Strictly online brokerage services may not be your best bet. Instead, search for a service that offers both ease of technology and personal service. Having an actual go-to broker is invaluable.

Look beyond the Broker’s Commission Rate
Many novice investors choose to invest their money without any professional help because they don’t want to pay commissions. While this is not the best financial strategy, neither is selecting a broker based on his or her fees. Sure, you don’t want to end up spending half the money you earn on fees, but paying less isn’t always going to yield you a high return on your investment either. When considering a broker’s fees, read the fine print carefully. Often lower fees are not included with over-the-phone transactions, options, or limit orders.
Make Sure the Minimum Investment Requirements Fit Your Financial Situation
Sometimes low-fee brokerage services require a hefty minimum investment. The average novice investor rarely has $10,000 or more to invest. In most cases, many individuals want to start off slow, investing less than $500. Do your research to find services that are willing to work with small investment budgets.
CustomerServiceMatters
Online brokerage services should be accessible by phone at reasonable hours. Ideally, you want to find a firm that has customer service reps available 24 hours day, 7 days a week who are able to answer questions about cash outs, problems with your account, etc. While you may not be able to speak with a broker 24/7, you should be able to have help accessing your account whenever you need it. Following these tips should help you find brokerage services in St. Paul that are reasonably priced and helpful getting you to your financial goals.

How Do Bed Bugs Get into the Office?

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Bed bugs are a serious problem across much of the country. While they’re most often associated with homes and apartments, they can be a nuisance for business owners as well. Even if a business doesn’t have beds for them to hide in, bed bugs tend to congregate in any building where there are a lot of people coming and going. Here’s how you can find them and use St. Louis commercial bed bug systems to get rid of an existing infestation.

Where Are Bed Bugs Most Common?
Bed bugs can live just about anywhere, but they’re more likely to be found in buildings with a lot of foot traffic. Businesses like hotels, restaurants, daycare centers, hospitals, and airports are some of the most common places to find these troublesome critters. Still, they can be found in any office, even if you take great pains to keep your building clean.

Top Bed Bug Cities
Some areas of the country are known for being hotspots for bed bugs. In general, large cities tend to have the worst infestations since bed bugs are drawn to areas where lots of people are present. Cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., New York City, and San Francisco are notorious for their bed bug populations and frequently top the lists of bed bug incidents each year.

How Bed Bugs Travel
Unlike many parasites, bed bugs won’t usually hitch a ride directly on you or your clothing. Instead, they’ll typically travel in your suitcase, briefcase, gym bag, or other containers. They don’t fly or jump, so usually elevating your bags up off the floor is enough to prevent them from hitching a ride with you. They are nocturnal and do most of their feeding and moving around during the night. They’ll hide in the carpet or in cracks in the walls during the day and are so small that they’re extremely difficult to spot until the infestation has really gotten underway.

How to Spot an Infestation
If your employees are complaining of getting itchy bites at home or in the workplace, it’s a good idea to check your building for bed bugs. Check around the bases of walls and any upholstered areas such as carpets, curtains, or furniture. You may find discarded shells left behind by the insects, or you may find tiny black spots of waste that the bed bugs excrete. You might even find some of the bugs themselves, especially if there is a large infestation. They are small, flat, and oval: about the size, color, and shape of an apple seed.

What to Do if You Find Bed Bugs
Immediate treatment with St. Louis commercial bed bug systems is necessary if you find bed bugs in your office. Bed bugs can lay hundreds of eggs over their lifetime, meaning your population can expand rapidly once it takes root. Vacate the infested area, and leave all your bags and other belongings behind for treatment as well. Advise your staff and customers that bed bugs have been spotted and that they should take precautions such as checking their clothing and bags for insects before they go home.