The Alliance of Comprehensive Planners (ACP), a trade association for financial planners, will be holding its annual conference this October in Savannah, Georgia, and the event will feature two of the nation’s leading reverse mortgage lenders as key sponsors.
Plano, Texas-based Finance of America (FOA), currently the industry leader in the reverse mortgage space, and Paramus, New Jersey-based reverse mortgage lender and servicer Longbridge Financial will be sponsoring the event. The ACP annual conference is primarily designed for “tax-focused, fiduciary financial advisors who provide comprehensive wealth building strategies for their clients on a commission-free retainer basis,” according to an announcement of the event.
A full agenda has not yet been released, but keynote speakers include financial planning professionals who will speak about business topics relevant to the profession. The organization said it expects “over 100 members to attend this year’s conference — in addition to other advisors, partners, sponsors, vendors, and journalists.”
The presence of two reverse mortgage industry leaders at the event conforms with a stated desire across the industry to cultivate more solid and productive referral relationships with financial planner professionals. These professionals are a key constituency that reverse mortgage industry members believe can help to cultivate new business opportunities.
At The Gathering by HousingWire this past April in Scottsdale, Arizona, FOA President Kristen Sieffert suggested bringing more financial planners up to speed on reverse mortgage product mechanics.
She felt these professionals could potentially advise their senior clients about the use of a reverse mortgage to protect against sequence-of-returns risk, where a reverse mortgage line of credit is tapped in times of market volatility until an investment portfolio stabilizes.
FOA has also performed outreach to financial planners through its vice president of retirement strategies, Steve Resch. He recently told HousingWire’s Reverse Mortgage Daily (RMD) about how the industry’s conversations with financial planners have changed over the past few years.
In a 2022 interview with RMD, Longbridge CEO Chris Mayer explained the importance of facilitating reverse mortgage conversations between financial planners and their clients.
“For financial advisers to really learn and understand the products for them, to meet groups of people to talk with elder care attorneys or real estate agents, many of those are local conversations,” Mayer said. “And to be able to have that kind of impact, you’ve got to have people around the country who are able to […] have people who can have those on-the-ground conversations.”
According to Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) volume data compiled by Reverse Market Insight (RMI), FOA maintained the first-place position among the nation’s reverse mortgage lenders with 7,784 endorsements in the 12-month period ending May 31. Longbridge was No. 3 with 2,972 endorsements during the same period.
Eligible Chase cardholders can get rewarded this summer for fueling their vehicles, seeking fun away from home, and finding a silver screen to shield them from the heat.
From July 1 to Sept. 30, 2024, Chase Freedom Flex℠ cardholders can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined quarterly spending at the following merchants (activation required; 1% back on all other non-bonus-category spending):
Gas stations and electric vehicle charging.
Select live entertainment.
Movie theaters.
Gas stations, EV charging and select live entertainment are repeat categories from the Q3 2023 bonus calendar. Movie theaters are an addition this year, and were previously excluded from the select live entertainment category.
Chase Freedom® and Chase Freedom Flex℠ bonus rewards categories for 2024
Q1 (Jan. 1-March 31)
Grocery stores.
Fitness clubs and gym memberships.
Self-care and spa services.
Q2 (April 1-June 30)
Select hotel bookings.*
Restaurants.
Amazon.com.
Q3 (July 1-Sept. 30)
Gas stations and EV charging.
Select live entertainment.
Movie theaters.
Q4 (Oct. 1-Dec. 31)
TBD (In 2023: PayPal; wholesale clubs; select charities).
*Includes bookings made directly with the hotel and prepaid bookings through Chase’s travel portal.
The select live entertainment category includes most things you’d buy tickets for, including sporting events, zoos and aquariums, concerts, theaters, museums, amusement parks, circuses and carnivals. You’ll also earn bonus rewards at eligible ticketing agencies. However, exclusions include bowling alleys, horse racing tracks, casinos, dance halls, clubs, and any purchases through a hotel or concierge or as part of a travel package.
Merchants excluded from the gas stations category include truck stops, boat marinas, oil and propane distributors, and home heating companies. You also won’t earn bonus rewards on home-charging equipment for your EV.
🤓Nerdy Tip
Although the original Chase Freedom® card is no longer accepting applications, existing cardholders still earn 5% cash back based on the same bonus calendar and terms for the Chase Freedom Flex℠.
Beyond the rotating quarterly categories, Chase Freedom Flex cardholders can earn an uncapped 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase; 3% back on drugstores and dining; and 1% back on all other purchases. New cardholders also qualify for the following signup bonus: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
🤓Nerdy Tip
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is a World Elite Mastercard and offers additional benefits, including cell phone protection and perks such as offers with Lyft, Fandango and Shoprunner, among others.
Information related to the Chase Freedom® has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.
“Mortgage rates were trending lower over the course of last week until a stronger than anticipated employment report resulted in a bounce back,” MBA chief economist Mike Fratantoni said in the report. “Lower rates earlier in the week meant a strong increase in refinance activity, particularly for VA borrowers, who jumped on the chance to … [Read more…]
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mortgage rates eased again this week, though the latest pullback leaves the average rate on a 30-year home loan at close to 7%, where it’s been much of this year.
The rate fell to 6.95% from 6.99% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.69%.
These summery home decor finds are so chic — and available at Walmart
Sometimes you just want to give your home a little bit of a makeover. The problem with that is keeping up with the latest trends in home decor — and regularly swapping out your furniture and decor pieces for the newest styles — can get very expensive, very quickly. Luckily, you can get tons of chic pieces at surprisingly affordable prices from Walmart.
Right now, Walmart has trendy furniture and decor that’s perfect for anyone looking to give their home a summer refresh. These pieces are light, bright and perfectly on trend — and you won’t be able to resist grabbing some of them for your home once you see these low prices. From side tables with trendy cane accents to Moroccan-inspired area rugs, arched full-length mirrors perfect for checking out your summer outfits and more, you can get everything you need for a mini home makeover fit for the season — and all without breaking the bank.
In this article: Better Homes & Gardens Springwood Caning Side Table, Light Honey Finish, Seven Six Home 5’x7′ Area Rugs for Living Room Washable Rugs Boho Moroccan Area Rug and BEAUTYPEAK Arched Full-Length Floor Mirror 64″x21.1″ Full-Body Standing Mirror
Scroll down below to check out 10 of our favorite summer finds from Walmart. These are so trendy and chic, people won’t believe where you got them — but you’ll love the savings.
If your home needs a refresh, you’ll want to check out these chic, affordable home decor pieces from Walmart
Better Homes & Gardens Springwood Caning Side Table, Light Honey Finish
This light and bright side table features two shelves for storage and trendy cane accents.
Seven Six Home 5’x7′ Area Rugs for Living Room Washable Rugs Boho Moroccan Area Rug
This Moroccan-inspired area rug has a neutral-colored geometric pattern that adds texture to your space but goes with any color palette.
This coffee table provides a storage shelf for conveniently tucking away items you don’t use every day behind trendy cane webbing, so they’re partially out of sight.
Crystal Art Gallery Midcentury Modern Geometric Potted Plants, Neutrals
Add some art to your walls with this neutral print of two potted plants inspired by midcentury designs.
Better Homes & Gardens Beige Cactus 20″ x 20″ Pillow by Dave & Jenny Marrs
This linen throw pillow is embroidered with a geometric print to add texture and visual interest to any space.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales.
Copyright 2024 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.
Redwood Trust is the latest nonbank lender to turn to the debt markets to support its operations.
The Mill Valley, California-based real estate investment trust has priced $85 million of senior unsecured notes due in 2029 at 9%. The underwriters have an option to purchase an additional $12.75 million for 30 days to cover over-allotments.
Proceeds can be used for Redwood’s residential and business purpose mortgage lending operations, acquiring mortgage-backed securities for investment and/or for funding long-term portfolio investments and potential acquisitions.
The new funds can also be used to purchase or pay down prior debt, including the 5.75% exchangeable senior notes due 2025 issued by one of its subsidiaries or the 7.75% convertible senior notes due 2027. The notes will be traded on the New York Stock Exchange. It is expected to close on June 18.
Net proceeds from this offering are expected to be approximately $81.7 million, or about $94 million if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full.
This is Redwood’s second debt offering this year. In January, it sold $60 million of senior unsecured notes at a 9.125% interest rate, with the primary reason being to pay down or repurchase the older debt above, as well as from the 5.625% convertible senior notes due 2024 offering.
In the latest offering, note payments will be made on the first day of each quarter, starting on Sept. 1. They can be redeemed in whole or in part anytime after Sept. 1, 2026.
Morgan Stanley & Co., Goldman Sachs & Co., RBC Capital Markets, Wells Fargo Securities, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods and Piper Sandler & Co., are acting as joint book-running managers for this offering, while Citizens JMP Securities is the co-manager.
In the first quarter, Redwood Trust had GAAP net income of $29 million. It locked $1.8 billion of jumbo mortgages during the period, up from $1.2 billion in the fourth quarter.
The REIT participated in three jumbo securitizations during the quarter totalling $1.2 billion, as well as whole loan sales of $202 million.
Redwood Trust also funded $326 million of residential investor loans in the first quarter, down from $343 million in the fourth quarter of 2023.
In March, Redwood Trust entered into an agreement with the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board for a $750 million transaction. The deal included a $250 million corporate secured revolving financing facility CPP provided to Redwood Trust, as well as creating a $500 million joint venture that will invest in residential investor bridge and term loans.
The CPP facility has a two-year term, with a one-year extension option.
Among some recent debt transactions involving publicly traded nonbank mortgage lenders includes Loandepot exchanging nearly $500 million in 6.5% notes coming due in 2025 for 8.25% notes due in 2027.
Rithm Capital, the parent of Newrez that is also structured as a REIT, in March conducted a $775 million offering of 8% unsecured senior notes to come due in 2029.
A January $1 billion debt offering from Mr. Cooper was one of the factors that pushed its common stock to a new high at that time. Subsidiary Nationstar Mortgage Holdings priced the senior notes at 7.125%, and they are due on Feb. 1, 2032.
Pennymac upsized its December debt sale by $100 million to $750 million of senior unsecured notes at a 7.875% rate.
Are you excited to find the best version of yourself possible?
If you are, then you were in the absolutely correct place right now.
When trying to form a new habit or break a bad habit, many times we get lost in the overwhelming feeling that we are just not capable of making any changes. That is why these 30 day challenge ideas will help you become the person that you desire to be.
We cover a bunch of different thirty day challenge ideas across many contrasting areas in your life.
In this post, you are bound to find something that you will want to do.
For me personally, I have jumped on the 30 day challenge concept because I know that just a couple of days of trying a new habit isn’t going to last. I need to do something over a longer period of time to actually have it become ingrained as a habit or part of my life.
So, let’s dig into the best 30 day challenge ideas to get you started.
And don’t worry, we cover what are some fun 30 day challenges!
What is a 30 day challenge?
Simply put, a 30 day challenge is thirty days in a row that you challenge yourself to do something specific.
There are many things that you can do within these 30 days.
But, the goal is to use a thirty day challenge tracker and cross it off each and every day.
If you are not sure what can be achieved in 30 days, then you have never tried one of these challenges. You are able to accomplish more than you thought possible by sticking to the challenge.
This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.
Does the 30 day challenge really work?
Yes, you will be transformed at the end of the month if you cross off a majority of your thirty days.
If you have not read Atomic Habits by James Clear, then I highly recommend getting this book ASAP.
This book will help you realize some of the things that you were doing without even realizing it, and causing you to have good or bad habits. Plus, it will help drive the desire to build good habits in your life.
For me personally, this book has helped me to build better habits and make progress. And I wished I read it when it first came out in 2018!
You need to get rid of bad habits that make your life a struggle. Thus, a 30 Day Challenge will help.
This is only true if you are committed to putting in the effort in time.
While you may skip a day and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. As long as you jump back on the bandwagon and continue the next day.
Types of Fun 30 Day Challenges:
Well, let’s be honest if you’re not going to make it fun, then you shouldn’t do it at all! Because it is much easier to complete a fun 30 Day Challenge rather than something that you’re forced to be doing.
So, in order to keep it fun, you can always have a reward tied to the end.
Once you complete your 30 day challenge, then this is your reward for completion.
Too many times we look at thirty day challenges as “what should I give up for a month,” when in reality, you are not really depriving yourself for a month, you are trying to build a better you and better habits.
Here are the fun categories for all of our thirty day challenges:
How to Do a 30 Day Challenge?
As you will see shortly, there are lot of ways that you can intertwine these 30 day challenges together in your life and your schedule.
You may do one of these challenges while you’re sitting in the car waiting to pick up children from their activities. You may carve out time, specifically to work on a new skill, how and when you accomplish these challenges is up to you.
At the end of 30 days though, you are going to find a new level of happiness, enjoyment and fulfillment by sticking to these challenges.
The best way for success is to track your progress! There are resources at the bottom to help you out.
If you fall off the bandwagon for a day or two, that’s okay. Shake it off, and jump right on.
Don’t skip, more than a day. You got to get back on and complete your challenge.
30 Day Challenge Health & Fitness
First of all, I don’t like the sound of a 30 day wealth loss challenge because managing your health and fitness is a lifelong skill.
While thirty day challenge will give you a kickstart, you need to continue focusing on your overall health and fitness level.
Here are quick things to improve your health and fitness in the next month with one of these 30 day health challenge.
1. Do Workouts at Home
There is no reason you must go to the gym, so find a workout that you can do at home. There are plenty on YouTube, as well as subscription services to get you started.
Are 30 day workout challenges good? Personally, I have found that they keep my motivation going and accountable.
2. Daily Yoga
This is a challenge that I completed in the month of September is every day to do yoga. Some days it may be just 10 minutes, other days I may do an hour, but it is just a simple challenge to keep improving my flexibility and movement. Here is my favorite yoga instructor.
3. Drink Only Water, Tea & Coffee
Without realizing it, it is really easy to add a lot of liquid into your body that may not be the best. So, a quick and easy health challenge is to only drink water, tea, and coffee.
Eliminate all extra drinks, especially mixed cocktails, sodas, or energy drinks.
4. Stop Snacking
In today’s society, we are bombarded with eating small meals, and snacking is good for us. However, with the constant influx of food, we are more in a habit of snacking, rather than out of hunger for food.
To stop snacking, focus on your main meals for 30 days. Evaluate how you feel afterward a month.
5. Walk Before Lunch or Dinner
Walk before you sit down to eat a meal. Get outside, stretch your legs and take a walk around the block. It does not have to be for long; it can be 10 minutes or 30 minutes.
But, by taking that time to walk beforehand, you are burning calories and at an opportune time before you eat your main meals.
6. Focus on Core Strength
A quick 10 minute abs / core strength exercise helps us in everyday life. Yet, we tend to forget about building up the strength in our core.
Head to YouTube and do a 10 minute ab workout. It is very quick and easy.
You can easily fit in, when you go to take a break, instead of jumping on Facebook or Instagram. Do a quick 10 minute ab workout, and that will improve your health and fitness level by the end of 30 days.
7. Check out Fasting
Fasting is not for everyone. However, this statement intrigued me… the word breakfast means breaking your fast.
We are bombarded with food options 24/7, but maybe our bodies need a break from eating consistently. Check out this book for more info and talk to your doctor first.
8. Fit Bride-to-be Workout
If you are an upcoming bride, you probably want to be at the best possible fitness level that you are capable of doing. So here is a 30 day workout challenge, just for brides.
30 Day Challange Happiness & Gratitude
We all need a little bit more happiness in our life, and we all could express more gratitude. It does not have to be difficult.
These are simple concepts, but we get too focused on everything that is going wrong in our life. Thus, we do not look around and see the beauty and all of the good that is happening.
9. Walk Outside for Fresh Air
Did you know that fresh air is beneficial for your health? Also, it instantly improves your happiness level. So, all you have to do is step outside and take a fresh breath.
10. Start a Gratitude Journal
This helps you focus on three things. Each day wrote down three positive moments in your life. After you do this over the course of 30 days, your happiness level will improve, as well as your gratefulness.
11. Take Control of Your Phone
There is a great book written by two previous Google employees on how to use your technology appropriately and not have your technology take over your life. Check it out. You need to use your phone for the purposes of your phone, and not as a distraction tool.
12. Take a Social Media Break
Every day you are overwhelmed with the picture-perfect life of everybody else on Instagram and Facebook. Studies prove that will leave you discouraged and unhappy with your real life.
Take a thirty-day break from social media and stop focusing on everybody’s highlight reel. During those 30 days, connect with real people and have real conversations, and let your mind focus on the reality around you.
13. Buy a Bouquet of Flowers
Every once in a while, I splurge and buy a bouquet of flowers to put on the table – just because it brings a smile to my face every time I walk through that room. It is something very easy. Plus for my frugal side, I always buy flowers under $10.
14. What Brings Joy in Your Life?
For a quick minute, think about what just brings that extra joy in my life. Focus on those things. Plan to dedicate extra time to what you want out of life and not what others want for your life.
15. Take a Day for You
This is true for everyone, but right now I am going to speak directly to the mamas out there first. As a mom, we put our family and our kids first. We always make sure that we are available and ready to help them in every possible way. This will leave us drained over the course of a day, week, month and year.
Plan a day for yourself. Take a mental break from being in that role of a mom.
This applies to everyone; take a day to recharge your batteries. Then, you will be able to come back for another day with a fresh gusto!
16. Say Yes to that Hobby
We always have a reason or excuse why we are not going to start that hobby that we have thought about for many years. So, what better time to be happy, and give it a try? Try your new hobby for thirty days and see how it works out.
Resources for More Happiness & Gratitude Ideas:
30 day Financial Challenge
One of the hardest parts of managing money is it takes time to make progress. In a couple of days, you are not going to notice a significant change in one direction or another with your money.
At the end of 30 days, you can actually start to see progress with your money and your habits.
Here are the best financial challenges that you can do within a 30 day time period.
17. No Spend Challenge
If you have never participated in no spend challenge this 30 Day financial challenge is just for you. Learn how you spend money, and why you spend money.
That will help you evaluate whether spending money is worth it or not. Check out how to participate in a no spend month.
18. Have a 24 Hour Buy Period
Oh, retailers love to make a spend, spend, spend. This is your “conscious” way to pause your spending. Wait 24 hours before you could buy anything.
While this may not be convenient, it is a good way to see if you actually truly wanted that item, or if you are buying it for no specific need.
19. Envelope Challenge
With this super popular 100 envelope challenge, there is absolutely no reason that you cannot just do 30 days. Your results will vary on how much you end up saving. But, something is more than nothing!
If you decide to just do the numbers one through thirty, you will end up saving $465 at the end of the challenge. If you keep all the numbers 1-100 and randomly pick thirty envelopes, then your results are going to be different based on what envelopes you pick.
But either way, it is a good way to start saving money.
20. Financially Stable Habits
Regardless of where you are on your money journey, you can pick one of the financially stable habits and focus on those for the month. Pick a few habits to focus on for 30 days. If you want to be successful with money long term, you need to learn how to be financially stable.
21. Pick a Habit of a Thrifty Person
Being thrifty is a great quality to have! You are not cheap with your money, you know when to spend on quality, but a lot of times people look frown upon those who are thrifty.
By being thrifty, you will actually end up saving money in the long term. And that will impact your finances, so learn a quality of a thrifty person.
22. 30 Day Money Saving Challenge – Save $465
Our money saving challenges, here at Money Bliss, are extremely popular, and for good reason, it sets you up for financial success.
There are plenty of options to save money in thirty days. You can save $5 a day over the course of 30 days, and end up saving $350. Or find ways to stop spending money and save $20 a day, then you accumulate $600 in just one month.
30 Day Journaling Challenge
In this section, some people either love or absolutely hate it because journaling can be overwhelming (mostly thanks to Pinterest). We always feel like our journaling is not as good as others, or our handwriting is not as pretty. Or that you do not have the time to dedicate to journaling.
So when it comes to this 30 Day journaling challenge, I challenge you to do what you can do and not compare yourself to others.
Personally, my handwriting and the beauty of my journals are not great either. I do bullet points mostly and that works for me. I just find ways to clear my head and write down my thoughts.
23. Set a Time to Journal
You must dedicate time to journaling. Block out time to journal. If not, It is not gonna happen. You need to set a time for you to journal, whether it is five minutes, ten minutes, thirty minutes, or an hour!
Take time for whatever you need to journal what is on your heart.
24. Find Journaling Prompts
Do not go into your journaling time without an idea of what you should journal about. In advance, look for journaling prompts that work for you where every day you focus on a different part of your life.
For example… Day one is work. Day two is your family. The third day is your friends, and keep going from there.
Or start with these money affirmations to guide you.
25. Create a Bucket List
We all have goals, aspirations, and dreams. Nevertheless, have you ever written them out on a list? This is your time to create a bucket list. Start thinking about what you want to do, where you want to go, and how it is going to happen.
26. Write a Letter
Letters are a great way to share your thoughts with others. You may find finishing a letter may take a little bit longer than one day (and that is completely okay).
These letters could be written for future events like once a person graduates from college, gets married, finds their first job, or has a baby – whatever it may be, the letters share your heart now to be opened later down for a future.
27. Journal about your Pet Peeves
If you have certain pet peeves that drive you crazy, then why not journal about them? Then, you can notice signals to stop them before they start or get worse. Consequently, you can also find happiness at the same time.
28. Learning Opportunities
Write a list of all the things that you want to learn. Next, journal about the action steps you need to take in order to start learning and doing.
29. Describe your Life in 5 Words
Sometimes we do not want to write at all, sometimes we want to write a ton, and that is completely okay. If somebody asked you today, describe your life in five words, what would you say? Journal about that.
30 day Self-Care Challenge
It is okay to participate in self care. This is extremely important for your mental health.
Don’t keep putting this off until tomorrow. Wellness at home is extremely important!
This is your chance at self care if not all the other people in your household will be begging for your attention.
30. Extra Time for You
We go through the day focused on everything that needs to be done and a lot of times we do not take a breath. Blocking out time for you is extremely important for self care. Right now, set a timer in your phone for 5-30 minutes of just extra time, just for you, and spend it how you choose.
31. Be Still
Plan the time to take an extra 10 minutes to get away and have time for yourself. Just to be still. It could be when you get ready in the morning, be early to a meeting, or while waiting for kids to be picked up. Give yourself an extra 10 minutes to get ready.
32. Get a Massage
Work out all those kinks in your neck and your back plus all that tension. Get a massage for yourself. If you cannot afford regular massages, then look at the handheld massager to use at home.
33. Take a Detox Bath
Soaking in a bathtub is a great way to help with self care. Even soaking your feet is an indulgent experience. By doing a detox bath, you are able to draw out the impurities in your skin. Here are good detox sea salts to evaluate your soaking time.
34. Get Enough Sleep
If you are not sleeping well, then you need to get to the core of the problem. Everybody needs around eight hours of quality sleep. So, pull the drapes, cool the room, and get the rest you truly need.
35. No Phone for a Day
This one is probably going to be a challenge for most of us, but by having a phone-free day you will realize how different you react to things and how different your life actually feels. Sundays are a great day to do this!
36. Get your Hands Dirty
For some people, this may be gardening in the dirt. For others, it may be kneading dough in the kitchen. Whatever it is, getting your hands dirty and activating your hand muscles is therapeutic.
37. Listen to your Favorite Music
Indulge in your favorite tunes. Take time to fill your mind with music that you enjoy! Even better, upgrade the subscription so you have ad-free listening time. Did you know with Amazon Prime, you have access to over 2 million songs for free.
38. Get Dressed Up – Just Because
Dressing nicely brings out confidence. You do not need a reason to dress up. Pick out your favorite dress or dazzle an outfit with fun heels or jewelry. Just because.
Resources for More Self Care Ideas:
30 day Self-Improvement Challenge
You cannot just say you want to improve. You have to put action behind those plans.
Self-improvement is one of the hardest areas to overcome.
We feel like there is too much self-improvement to be done. So, go into this section on simple habits you can start doing today that will make a difference in the long run.
39. Write a List of Areas to Improve
You may have grand goals for everything you can do for self-improvement. But, in reality, we cannot accomplish all those things overnight. So, write a list of areas that you can improve in. Then, focus on certain aspects over the next 30 days. Stick with only three to five of those items on your list.
40. Say Yes
There are many times that we are too afraid to do something new that we will not even give it a try. If you want to improve something in your life, then take the initiative and go ahead and say yes to trying something.
41. Read a Book
Spend at least 10 minutes reading a book. Ultimately, you should spend at least thirty minutes or more a day of reading. Pick a nonfiction book in an area you improve in your life. Make sure it is a topic you enjoy.
Great Self-Improvement Books:
42. Improve your Habits
As said in the book Atomic Habits, you are unable to make progress in life if you don’t start building solid habits. There is no faster way to improve than my daily progression of your habits. Grab a habit tracker and commit to the best 30 days.
43. Write Down Future Goals
If you’re not sure where you want to go in life. If you want to improve in areas you don’t even know where to start. So create a list of goals of what you want to do.
Find: 100 Self Care Ideas For A 30-Day Self-Improvement Challenge
30 Day Productivity Challenge
By being productive, you can get more done. Just because you are getting more done, it doesn’t mean that you need more time.
It means that you are more effective with the time you have in what you can get done.
44. Use a Timer
This is the best way to get focused quickly. Use a timer, set it for 30 minutes, and get to the task at hand. Get it done and move on. By focusing on one thing at a time, you are more likely to be extremely productive during that time.
This is the timer I use.
45. Limit Distractions
If the distractions are notifications on your phone or on your laptop, remove those while you are trying to be productive in whatever you are currently working on. Do not be tempted to do something else. Move the distractions to a different area (hint: your phone)!
46. Habit Tracker
If you really want to be productive, then use a habit tracker! You can cross off all the habits you are specifically focusing on each and every day. By doing this, you are able to be consistent and focus on building those good habits.
47. Plan your Day in Advance
Don’t let life plan you. You must be planning your day in advance. Make a list of the things that you want to accomplish. That is how you become productive.
48. Track Your Time
Use a tool like Toggl or a written plan to track your time. This is different than planning your time in your calendar. This is how you actually spend your time. Also, this helps you to realize where your infinity pools of wasted time happen and you can dedicate time towards self car.
Don’t just guess how you spend your day; actually, figure out how you spend every single hour of your day.
49. Understand Time Freedom
If you have never heard of time freedom, then you are missing out on the best self improvement tool available. If you’re wasting a good portion of your day doing things that are not going to make a difference at the end of the day, then what is the point?
Your time is important. Make sure you experience all life has to offer!
30 Day Creativity Challenge
Just for those of us who feel not creative enough, this is for you!
You do not have to worry about being super creative; just by using that other side of your brain, you are able to create new neuropathways and lower many aging conditions.
50. Color Daily
You can pick up a great coloring book for adults that are beautiful and you can spend time coloring yourself. Start with coloring for ten minutes a day and see how you feel.
51. Sidewalk Art
Let your creativity escape onto the sidewalks and driveways. Every day write an inspirational message for others to read. You may start a trend of people stopping daily on their walks.
52. Dance Like Nobody’s Watching
Let your mind and your body move just because you are enjoying the song. Move to how you feel your body needs to move. Let that creativity come out in ways that you have not experienced since you were a child.
53. Drawing Challenge
Drawing is not my strength. However, over the past year, I have been working with my daughter on drawing challenges for kids. It has helped to overcome my fears, actually improve, and given me more confidence to draw. Here is a great drawing channel to help you start.
54. Play Music
Find ways to be creative and just play music. Just play to play. Do not play to practice. Play for pure enjoyment.
55. Try a New Craft
Head to the craft store and find something that you want to do. There are plenty of crafts to suit your personality. Plus some are a great way to decompress and destress.
One of my friends started knitting hats as a way to pass the time while she was waiting for kids at sports activities.
30 Day Organization Challenge
By far, the most popular 30 day challenges are for organizing your home, your life, your stuff, your clothing, etc. More than likely, it is probably what you first associate with any 30 day challenge ideas.
Organize, declutter, spring clean … Get rid of the extra stuff in your house.
Take time to clean those areas that you have been neglecting. All great ideas, so let’s dig in!
56. Spring Clean
There is a great feeling of getting rid of stuff and the process of spring cleaning. You can feel this freshness in the area. Honestly, this is something we all should be doing each year. Here is a great spring cleaning checklist to help you get started.
57. Sell Your Stuff
Get rid of extra stuff in your house. If you have not used it for the last month, then you more than likely probably do not need it in your house. Start selling your stuff and here is a great resource to help you.
58. Declutter. Declutter Declutter.
There are lots of resources on decluttering. Just remember, decluttering is extremely important because every single day we have more and more stuff coming into our life, but we are not getting rid of more and more stuff.
Take time and declutter by doing a 30 day challenge. You are only focusing on a small area every single day and by the end of thirty days, you have made great progress.
Decluttering Resources for You:
59. Big 30 Day Decluttering Projects
Let’s face it, not every place in our house, we can organize in a day and sometimes they take a month. Perfect examples are the basement or garage. So on those bigger areas, you can still break them down and every day check one thing off the list.
During the overall decluttering challenge, focus on one area or one shelf per day in that space that needs help. Also, give yourself the grace to actually accomplish what you need to get done.
60. Keep a Clean House
Guilty of not being the best housekeeper? Don’t worry most of us are not great. Thankfully, you can easily check off tasks with this clean house checklist!
61. Take in Less
This is something that you can do on a daily basis. Your goal is to nothing or very little into your house, and have zero impact on the trash and waste. Your home slowly producing a minimalistic vibe. This is known as frugal green.
62. Minimalism
One of the best ways to live life with less and spend less money on a regular basis is to be a minimalist. You can choose your level of minimalism. This means that your cupboards are not allowed to overflow with extra stuff; those shelves must fit only what you need and what you use. Check out this minimalism challenge.
30 Day Challenge For Kids
Let’s not forget why we are trying to build good habits for ourselves, we can also instill good habits into our kids!
These are the 30 day challenge specifically designed for kids. All of them are fabulous 30 day challenge for students!
63. Teach Kids to be Grateful
Most children in America are extremely privileged and have access to things, and resources than most of the world and more than their own parents. They have become accustomed to the little things in life and take everything for granted.
So, we must teach our kids to be grateful. Here is a great gratitude challenge for kids.
64. Kindness Challenge
We all know the trouble that happens at our schools. Also, we know kids are choosing mean words, without realizing it, or maybe doing it on purpose. Either way, we need to instill kindness into our children. Here’s a great kindness challenge for kids to get you started.
65. Money Challenge for Kids
Kids need to be taught to save money. There is no way around it. If they are not taught at home, they will not have those lessons as adults. So, teach them to save their age, every single year growing up.
If they start this at age three, by the time they graduate, they will have over $2,000, not including interest in their accounts. Here is the Save Age challenge for kids.
66. Drawing Challenge for Kids
Every kid wants to learn to draw. Let them use their creative side and have fun. It is a simple project to complete each day. Plus when someone joins them, it becomes a fun experience to share. Use this drawing challenge to get the creative juices flowing!
67. Back to School Decluttering
Get the kid’s help on back-to-school decluttering! They need to learn to be responsible for their things too! Make it fun with a scavenger hunt with this back to school calendar decluttering list.
Success happens when you are able to track your progress!
Are you Ready for your Thirty Day Challenge?
The goal of this post is to get you motivated to find fun 30 day challenges for 2021!
It is not overwhelming with all of the possibilities that you could do in order to become fitter more healthy, improve your self care, improve your productivity, or clean out your house.
The goal of these challenges is to provide opportunities for you to choose what you want to do. You can find plenty of 30 day challenges on Instagram, TikTok, or Pinterest. But, don’t get caught up in trying to find all of these challenges.
Pick the thirty day challenge that is on your heart and you want to do. The best 30 day challenge is one that you deep down you need to accomplish.
No one else can write that, or find the challenge for you – only you can do that.
Right now, set a timer for five minutes and think about what areas would you like to do a 30 day challenge.
We have given you plenty of 30 day challenge ideas, but now you need to decide what works for you.
One of the great things about many of these challenges is they overlap.
Above you will find all of the their day challenge examples. Which one is your favorite challenge idea?
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
Did the post resonate with you?
More importantly, did I answer the questions you have about this topic? Let me know in the comments if I can help in some other way!
Your comments are not just welcomed; they’re an integral part of our community. Let’s continue the conversation and explore how these ideas align with your journey towards Money Bliss.
Earnings calls and earnings reports recap a company’s quarter or fiscal year, giving investors critical information as to how a company is functioning and faring. Understanding what’s going on with stocks can be tricky for both new and seasoned investors. It’s not always clear where you can turn for accurate information that will help with investment decisions — that’s why earnings calls or reports may be helpful.
But an earnings report doesn’t tell the whole story. Therefore, companies will hold earnings calls to provide context and backstory behind the data in an earnings report to help investors make informed decisions.
What Is an Earnings Call?
An earnings call is a conference call between the management of a public company and any interested outside party — usually investors, analysts, and business reporters — to discuss the company’s financial results and future outlook. Earnings calls are generally held quarterly, in the form of a teleconference or webcast; anyone can listen to an earnings call.
The earnings call often comes on the heels of the release of an earnings report and covers a given reporting period, typically a fiscal quarter or fiscal year.
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The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires that public companies disclose certain financial information regularly and on an ongoing basis. Companies must file Form 10-Q quarterly reports during the first three fiscal quarters of the year. A 10-Q includes unaudited financial statements and provides the government and investors with a continuing account of the company’s financial position throughout the year.
For the fourth quarter of the year, a company will file a Form 10-K, an annual report that shares audited financial statements, a look at the company’s business overall, and financial conditions over the previous fiscal year. The financial information and metrics included on these reports, like earnings per share, is discussed during an earnings call.
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What Is the Importance of Earnings Calls?
An earnings call is important because it allows a company’s management to discuss pertinent financial information and a company’s outlook.
Publicly-traded companies are not required to hold earnings calls; they are only required to release the details of their financial performance in a Form 10-Q or Form 10-K. However, most public companies have quarterly conference calls to keep shareholders up to date with the latest financial developments and provide context beyond the earnings data.
Earnings calls are also important for investors, especially those practicing fundamental analysis. These calls help long-term investors decide whether or not to invest in or continue investing in a company. For short-term traders, earnings calls may be helpful to capitalize on short-term volatility in a stock’s price immediately following an earnings call.
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The Structure of an Earnings Call
A company will announce upcoming earnings calls several days or even several weeks before the event. The company will usually issue a press release containing dial-in or webcast access information for stakeholders interested in participating in the call.
Earnings calls are generally scheduled in the morning, before the stock market’s opening bell, or in the afternoon, following the end of the day’s trading. These calls occur shortly after an earnings report is made public.
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Safe Harbor Statement
When the call begins, a company representative will likely share a safe harbor statement, which is a disclaimer about some of the comments executives will make. Specifically, some statements might be “forward-looking” and discuss future revenue, margins, income, expenses, and overall business outlook. Because no company can predict the future, the SEC requires that each warns investors that forward-looking statements may differ from actual results and trends.
Overview of Financial Results
The earnings call is usually led by the CEO, CFO, or other senior executives. During the call, these executives will deliver prepared statements covering financial results and the company’s performance for the reporting period.
This section of the call allows company leaders to give a more in-depth look at the company from their own eyes beyond the data found in the earnings reports. Executives may discuss market trends or even unpredictable factors that could influence how the company moves forward. Management will also likely share risks and their plans to take them on.
Question and Answer Session
At the end of the call, there may be a chance for investors and analysts to ask questions about the financial results the company presents. However, not everyone will get to ask a question. The company’s management may answer these questions, or they may decline or defer answering until they have the correct information to make an accurate response.
Preparing for an Earnings Call as a Shareholder
Before listening in on an earnings call, it may help to research the company and its earnings history and listen to previous earnings calls. Here’s additional information to know how to listen to an earnings call.
Where to Find Earnings Call Info?
Companies will send out a press release announcing when they will give an earnings call. Investors can also check the investor relations section of a company’s website for scheduled earnings calls. Additionally, some financial news websites may keep calendars of expected upcoming earnings reports and calls investors can check to stay current.
Many companies will post audio from the call on their website, making it available to investors and analysts for a few weeks. Companies also frequently offer transcripts of the call to read. This is especially useful for investors who may have missed an earnings call.
Much of the information discussed in conference calls, including Forms 10-Q and 10-K, are part of the public record and searchable on the SEC’s website. To find a company’s public filings, the SEC has a searchable Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system (EDGAR).
How Long is an Earnings Call?
An earnings call usually lasts for less than an hour. However, there are no requirements for how long an earnings call should be.
What to Listen For
Investors should treat earnings calls as valuable information on a company but know that it doesn’t typically paint the complete picture of its potential performance.
Some key things investors should listen for in an earnings call are:
• How the company performed compared to analysts’ expectations
• What the company attributes its financial performance to
• Any changes in guidance for the future
• Any significant challenges or headwinds the company is facing
• Questions from analysts and how management responds to them
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Additionally, it may help to listen to the tone of the company’s executives when they are talking about the company’s performance. It isn’t quantifiable, but learning to pick up on the tone of management’s description of the company’s financials and the answers to analysts’ questions can help investors better understand the outlook for the company.
The Takeaway
Earnings calls provide investors with valuable insights into a company’s financial performance and outlook. These calls, paired with quarterly earnings reports, give investors a thorough understanding of the company, which helps with making investment decisions.
While earnings calls and earnings reports can be helpful to investors, keep in mind that they don’t tell the whole story. You’ll want to do your due diligence and further research to better inform your investment decisions, too.
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Today saw the average conventional 30yr fixed rate rise ever so slightly for top tier scenarios. Most lenders are still quoting those scenarios just under 7%. Depending on the specific details of any given scenario, rates range from the mid 6’s all the way up to the mid 7’s.
Unlike each of the past two days, there weren’t any major flashpoints for the bonds that underlie mortgage rate movement today. There were a few economic reports, but neither had a big impact on the market. All in all: a very calm and boring day–especially compared to almost any other day since last Friday.
From here, the market will wait for the next big ticket economic report: Tuesday’s Retail Sales. There are a smattering of other reports next week, punctuated by a holiday closure on Wednesday for Juneteenth. The biggest, most significant movement likely still depends on the economic reports that we just saw and won’t see again for nearly a month. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see a more sideways, slightly choppy trend between now and then.
Our goal here at Credible Operations, Inc., NMLS Number 1681276, referred to as “Credible” below, is to give you the tools and confidence you need to improve your finances. Although we do promote products from our partner lenders who compensate us for our services, all opinions are our own.
Home equity loan
Home equity line of credit (HELOC)
Interest rate
Fixed
Variable
Monthly payment amount
Fixed
Variable
Closing costs and fees
Yes
Yes, might be lower than other loan types
Repayment period
Typically 5-30 years
Typically 10-20 years
FAQ
What is a rate lock?
Interest rates on mortgages fluctuate all the time, but a rate lock allows you to lock in your current rate for a set amount of time. This ensures you get the rate you want as you complete the homebuying process.
What are mortgage points?
Mortgage points are a type of prepaid interest that you can pay upfront — often as part of your closing costs — for a lower overall interest rate. This can lower your APR and monthly payments.
What are closing costs?
Closing costs are the fees you, as the buyer, need to pay before getting a loan. Common fees include attorney fees, home appraisal fees, origination fees, and application fees.
If you’re trying to find the right mortgage rate, consider using Credible. You can use Credible’s free online tool to easily compare multiple lenders and see prequalified rates in just a few minutes.