Quantcast
Channel: Features
Viewing all 61683 articles
Browse latest View live

Here's how much the top Wall Street banks have earned in fees this year

0
0

Jamie Dimon

JPMorgan is leading the pack when it comes to Wall Street revenues, according to Dealogic's preliminary league tables for the first nine months of the year. 

Altogether, global investment banking revenue was down 14% from the same period last year. The only area where revenues were up was in M&A — particularly in healthcare M&A.

League tables are a contentious subject on Wall Street.

Banks use them when pitching for new business, and a good ranking means serious bragging rights. But the league table-data can also be sliced up to make a bank's performance look better (by narrowing the field very narrowly, for example).  

Though they're based on estimates, these tables are the broadest possible and a closely-watched indicator of who is up and who is down. 

Here's how the banks stacked up this time around.

JPMorgan ranked first for overall investment banking revenues

JPMorgan has a 8% market share and $4.3 billion in total revenues for the year to September 23. It was followed closely by rival Goldman Sachs, with $4.1 billion and a 7.6% share. Bank of America was in third place, with $3.4 billion.

Global investment banking revenue was $54.3 billion for the first nine months of 2015, which was down 14% compared to the same period last year.



JPMorgan also ranked first for revenue in debt capital markets

JPMorgan has made $1.3 billion in revenue in debt capital markets, giving it an 8.4% share. Bank of America followed, with just over $1 billion in fees, and Citi raked in $872 million to place third.

DCM revenue fell year-on-year, too, down 12% from the same period last year to $15.1 billion. Revenue from high-yield bonds dropped $25% to its lowest level since 2010. On the other hand, investment-grade bond revenue was up.



Guess who ranked first for equity capital markets? JPMorgan again.

JPMorgan had a 7.4% share in equity capital markets, followed closely by Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.

Equity capital markets revenue was down 15% year-on-year to $14.2 billion. Within that, IPO revenue was down 31%.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: This is what separates the Excel masters from the wannabes


What Netflix and Hulu look like in virtual reality

0
0

Oculus Rift

Two major services are coming to virtual reality: both Netflix and Hulu. That's huge! 

These aren't unique but potentially arcane virtual reality games, and they aren't demos aimed at showcasing some new type of "experience" in virtual reality. They're the standards in streaming media services, and they're both heading to virtual reality. 

Before you go thinking this means that you'll be sitting in the middle of a heated debate between Frank Underwood and Zoe Barnes, that's not quite it.

Instead, you'll be sitting in a virtual theater, or on a virtual beach, or, really, wherever you want. That's the beauty of virtual reality. And in that space, there will be a virtual screen where you'll watch existing, two-dimensional content, potentially with friends from all over the world who are also wearing VR headsets. Pretty neat!

This is what Netflix and Hulu look like in virtual reality.

First up, Netflix. This is your virtual living room.



And here's a representation of how the system works.



Another shot of the virtual living room.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: 4 ways to stay awake without caffeine

Where are they now? The original cast of 'Heroes' 9 years later

0
0

heroes claire

Thursday night, NBC is reviving its nearly decade old hit, "Heroes."

The show, which ran for four seasons before getting canceled, revolved around ordinary humans who gained super powers. 

"Heroes: Reborn" will take place five years after the first series ended. 

While we'll see some of the original cast, most of them won't return. Many have moved on to other hit TV shows and big movie franchises. 

Scroll on to find out what the original "Heroes" are up to today.

 

THEN: Hayden Panetierre rose to fame as Claire Bennett, the cheerleader who needed protection in order to save the world.



NOW: The actress graduated from hero to superstar. The fourth season of her hit show "Nashville" with Connie Britton just started on ABC. Panettiere is also a mom. She gave birth to daughter Kaya in 2014.



THEN: Jack Coleman played Claire's overprotective dad, known as the mysterious man with the horn-rimmed glasses.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Google's smartwatches get one critical thing wrong

0
0

huawei watch android wear notification email

When notifications in Android Wear get in the way instead of being helpful, there's a problem.

Android Wear is Google's smartwatch operating system that runs on several different smartwatches models from companies like LG, Motorola, Huawei, Asus, and Sony.

For the last week, I've been using the Huawei Watch, which runs Android Wear. It looks great and I love being able to chose my own watch face.

But using the Huawei Watch made me realize a fundamental flaw with Android Wear. When I get a notification, it appears as a "card" that takes up about a third of an Watch's display. It covers up some important parts of watch face, like a complication on the bottom, and even the minute hand.

Most importantly, it covers the beautiful watch face I chose.

Notifications are arguably the primary reason to get a smartwatch, and it's nice to check a notification on your wrist instead of pulling your phone out of your pocket. Just not when it takes away the "watch" part of a smartwatch.  

The  problem here is I get too many notifications, especially from emails. And to get rid of each notification to see my watch face, I need to swipe right.

Sometimes, notifications just appear there without me knowing I had one, and I need to swipe right to dismiss it to see my watch face and tell the time properly. It's not something I want to do when I was to glance at my watch to check the time.

Check out what I mean with the images below:

Just look at this beautiful watch face on the Huawei Watch.

I'm a huge fan of the silver bezels and blue face combination, and I love complications (although, there's one more complication than I usually like).



And bam.!It's obliterated with this hideous notification card.

The notification card takes up a third of the Huawei Watch's screen and watch face, and it completely hides the complication at the bottom, which tells me which day of the week it is.

If I wanted to check what day it was, I wouldn't be able to tell unless I swiped down to remove the notification card. 

The notification card itself is about 85% white background, which is totally unnecessary. The other 15% are the words that actually serve a purpose in notifying me.

 



And notifications in the power-saving mode, which you see more often than the screen at full brightness, looks like it's just patched on like an after-thought.

The card is gone, but the notification text overlaps the complication and the minute hand, which looks terrible.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: 4 ways to stay awake without caffeine

What Netflix and Hulu look like in virtual reality

0
0

Oculus Rift

Two major services are coming to virtual reality: both Netflix and Hulu. That's huge! 

These aren't unique but potentially arcane virtual reality games, and they aren't demos aimed at showcasing some new type of "experience" in virtual reality. They're the standards in streaming media services, and they're both heading to virtual reality. 

Before you go thinking this means that you'll be sitting in the middle of a heated debate between Frank Underwood and Zoe Barnes, that's not quite it.

Instead, you'll be sitting in a virtual theater, or on a virtual beach, or, really, wherever you want. That's the beauty of virtual reality. And in that space, there will be a virtual screen where you'll watch existing, two-dimensional content, potentially with friends from all over the world who are also wearing VR headsets. Pretty neat!

This is what Netflix and Hulu look like in virtual reality.

First up, Netflix. This is your virtual living room.



And here's a representation of how the system works.



Another shot of the virtual living room.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: 4 ways to stay awake without caffeine

These 10 creatively designed restrooms were just deemed America's best

0
0

Strataca 2- bathroom

The top 10 finalists in the 14th annual America's Best Restroom contest are far from ordinary.

The contest, hosted by corporate supply company Cintas, accepts nominations from all over the country. This year's winner will be announced at the end of fall. 

From a 50-foot toilet in the middle of an Alabama park to a bathroom plastered with "The Far Side" comics, these are America's best restrooms. 

SEE ALSO: America's 10 best ice cream shops, according to TripAdvisor

FOLLOW US: BI Life is on Twitter

CHARLESTON, SC: The restrooms at Charleston Distilling are within these giant barrels.



Here's what they look like inside.



MIAMI, FL: Cibo Wine Bar's restroom features motion-activated faucets suspended from the ceiling and artwork by Randy Cooper.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: The one thing you can add to coffee for even more energy in the morning

The 20 best-paying hourly jobs in retail

0
0

buying jewelryThe retail and fast food industries employ more people than any other sector. 

Glassdoor.com helped us to compile the companies that paid the best hourly wages in the industry over the past year.

We asked the job review site to consider retail companies. They included grocery, apparel, big box, and department stores. 

For the purpose of the report, managerial and senior leader roles were excluded. 

20: Francesca's Collections

Position: Key Holder

Hourly pay: $9.70

Source: Glassdoor Report



19: Anthropologie

Position: Sales Associate

Hourly pay: $9.97

Source: Glassdoor Report



18. Applebee's

Position: Line Cook 

Hourly pay: $10.00

Source: Glassdoor Report



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: McDonald’s released a 'Chick-fil-A killer' and it’s amazing

50 unnecessary things no one needs to buy

0
0

outdoor drinks

Useless purchases come in many forms. There's stuff that's used only a few times before being consigned to the basement or attic; stuff that's pricey to buy but could be rented instead; stuff that's outdated or soon-to-be obsolete; and stuff that you just don't need to begin with.

Here's a list of 50 things to avoid buying now or ever again.

SEE ALSO: 12 cheap ways to lifehack your way into being happier

Sandwich Maker. Small kitchen appliances that perform only one task are money wasters for many consumers. Designated gadgets for making quesadillas, panini, heroes/subs, grilled cheese, and breakfast sandwiches accomplish nothing that ordinary kitchen appliances cannot. They also create annoying cleanup and take up kitchen space -- that is, until they're relegated to storage or set out at a garage sale.

Formalwear. Dressing up can be fun, but rarely do most people find themselves in need of expensive black-tie formalwear. Renting party clothes saves money and allows for variety. Tuxedo rental has been in vogue for years; Men's Wearhouse offers reliable and affordable deals, and wedding websites such as The Knot run promotions for online and local outlets. Dress renting has come onto the scene more recently. Rent the Runway and Lending Luxury loan out designer dresses, usually for about four days, for as little as 5 percent of the retail cost.

Individual Magazines. Magazines are located by registers for a reason -- the covers lure impulse buying. But think about it: They stack up on the coffee table and the dollars spent to do no more than page through mount up oh so fast. If you read and enjoy magazines, opt for a subscription, which likely costs about $20 for 12 issues rather than $4 to $5 for each issue.

Lottery Tickets. Most people acknowledge that playing the lottery wastes money, but the thought of "why not me?" still lingers. The North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries reports that Americans spend more than $70 billion a year on lotto tickets. The odds of winning: a frequently cited statistic is somewhere around 1 in 175 million. Bay News in St. Petersburg, Florida, points out that people are more likely to give birth to conjoined twins, be attacked by a shark, get crushed under a vending machine, or become president of the United States than to win the lottery.

DVDs and CDs. In this age of streaming and downloading, many people have already given up buying DVDs and CDs, but for those who haven't, consider that a single purchase costs almost as much as, or more than, an unlimited-access subscription to Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Hulu for movies and TV and to Spotify, Rhapsody, or Google Play for music. Each costs $5 to $10 a month.



GPS. Except in the hands of intense wilderness buffs who regularly roam rugged areas lacking cellphone service, a stand-alone GPS device won't get much use. Dedicated GPS navigators cost about $100 or more, whereas most folks already own smartphones with GPS tracking. Apps that beef up the phone's GPS capability cost less than $10 and most new cars come with built-in GPS navigation on the dashboard.

Baby Shoes. Face it: Babies don't need shoes. Moreover, children probably won't tolerate wearing them, so they'll be kicked off and lost. Infant booties and shoes are cute but senseless expenditures, so don't open your wallet.

Identity Theft Insurance. There's no doubt that credit card fraud and identity theft represent scary, increasingly prevalent problems, but paying $100 or so a year for credit monitoring and fraud insurance doesn't necessarily provide useful protection. Most banks and credit card companies monitor and safeguard their clients -- for no additional fee -- by issuing alerts and account freezes when they detect suspicious activity, and they almost always waive responsibility for fraudulent charges.

Pizza Gadgets. The Internet abounds with retailers hawking pizza makers, pizza toaster ovens, pizza peels (for transporting the pie from the oven to the counter), pizza kettle grill attachments, pizza cutting shears, forks with mini pizza slicers, etc. Really, pizza making requires only ingredients, an oven, and regular utensils. Maybe pick up a round pizza slicer at the dollar store, but that's about the only worthwhile pizza-related gadget.

Landline. Some might disagree, but living on a budget means dropping the landline. Most cellphone plans already carve a big hole in monthly budgets, and a landline's utility is waning. Emergency-related concerns about cellphones (i.e., 911 dispatch might not locate mobile calls) have fallen by the wayside due to Enhanced 911 on most mobile devices. Except for folks who live in places with very spotty cell service, landlines need to go.



Shopping Cart Cover. Swiping disinfecting wipe over a shopping cart child seat is as effective as plopping a baby into a fabric cover, according to Consumer Reports. Moreover, the cover itself can hold germs and is probably more difficult (and certainly more of a hassle) to disinfect than the metal cart. Many online reports by caregivers suggest that seat covers are more trouble than they're worth.

Butter Bell. The fancy French pottery dish known as a butter bell or butter crock claims to keep butter at perfect spreading consistency without refrigeration, using a base filled with water holding an inverted cup of butter. Is it worth the money and preparation time? Probably not. These devices don't always succeed in separating the butter from the water and tend to breed mold, according to comments posted at The Kitchn. This is another unnecessary expense, albeit small, that's likely to end up in the trash or at a yard sale.

Digital Camera. Anyone with a smartphone probably has no need for a digital camera. The latest smartphones have powerful cameras with plenty of megapixels, large storage capacities, and a litany of special features for taking photos and recording video, essentially replacing point-and-shoots.

Fancy Bath Products. When in need of a pick-me-up or an impersonal yet suitable gift, why not purchase a shower gel, cream, spray, or balm in an appealing scent? Well, first of all, these items tend to accumulate at a rapid clip, soaking up shelf space, if nothing else. Some seem virtually bottomless and may be invaded by bacteria or expire long before they can be used up. The scents are often overwhelming and off-putting to all but the hardiest of noses.

Specialty Kitchen Tools. Single-use kitchen devices run the gamut from "sounds helpful" to "really?" Overall, it's wise simply to skip designated garlic peelers, melon wedgers, banana slicers, asparagus peelers, peach pitters, avocado cutters, and onion dicers. Regular old knives and forks should take care of fruit and vegetable prep tasks.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

JANET YELLEN: One of these 9 slides makes me think we could get inflation wrong

0
0

janet yellen

Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen gave a speech on inflation and monetary policy at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Reviewing the history and the current state of inflation, Yellen used nine slides to argue that inflation expectations are critical for the actual realized direction of inflation.

Furthermore, she argues that the forces holding back inflation today are "transitory" and likely to let up on prices.

"I expect that inflation will return to 2% over the next few years as the temporary factors that are currently weighing on inflation wane, provided that economic growth continues to be strong enough to complete the return to maximum employment and long-run inflation expectations remain well anchored," she said.

But she rounded out her slides with an unsettling chart of Japan's experience with inflation.

"The economic outlook, of course, is highly uncertain and it is conceivable, for example, that inflation could remain appreciably below our 2% target despite the apparent anchoring of inflation expectations," Yellen said. "Japan's recent history may be instructive ... I believe that it illustrates a problem faced by all central banks: Economists' understanding of the dynamics of inflation is far from perfect."

All of this is critical as one of the Fed's mandates is price stability. Importantly, as the Fed begins to tighten monetary policy, it has to be mindful of price stability moving forward.

Scroll for the charts.

SEE ALSO: This Alan Greenspan speech from 2004 holds the key to understanding how the Fed thinks about the world

The Fed hasn't always been successful about keeping prices stable.

"The Federal Reserve has not always been successful in fulfilling the price stability element of its mandate. The dashed red line in figure 1 plots the four-quarter percent change in the price index for personal consumption expenditures (PCE) — the measure of inflation that the Fed's policy-making body, the Federal Open Market Committee, or FOMC, uses to define its longer-run inflation goal. Starting in the mid-1960s, inflation began to move higher. Large jumps in food and energy prices played a role in this upward move, but they were not the whole story, for, as illustrated here, inflation was already moving up before the food and energy shocks hit in the 1970s and the early 1980s. And if we look at core inflation, the solid black line, which excludes food and energy prices, we see that it too starts to move higher in the mid-1960s and rises to very elevated levels during the 1970s, which strongly suggests that something more than the energy and food price shocks must have been at work.

"A second important feature of inflation over this period can be seen if we examine an estimate of its long-term trend, which is plotted as the dotted black line in figure 1. At each point in time, this trend is defined as the prediction from a statistical model of the level to which inflation is projected to return in the long run once the effects of any shocks to the economy have fully played out.3 As can be seen from the figure, this estimated trend drifts higher over the 1960s and 1970s, implying that during this period there was no stable "anchor" to which inflation could be expected to eventually return--a conclusion generally supported by other procedures for estimating trend inflation ..."



Lately, inflation has been low.

"As figure 2 highlights, the United States has experienced very low inflation on average since the financial crisis, in part reflecting persistent economic weakness that has proven difficult to fully counter with monetary policy. Overall inflation (shown as the dashed red line) has averaged only about 1-1/2 percent per year since 2008 and is currently close to zero. This result is not merely a product of falling energy prices, as core inflation (the solid black line) has also been low on average over this period ..."



Real wages adjust for inflation.

"An unexpected rise in inflation also tends to reduce the real purchasing power of labor income for a time because nominal wages and salaries are generally slow to adjust to movements in the overall level of prices. Survey data suggest that this effect is probably the number one reason why people dislike inflation so much. In the longer run, however, real wages — that is, wages adjusted for inflation — appear to be largely independent of the average rate of inflation and instead are primarily determined by productivity, global competition, and other nonmonetary factors. In support of this view, figure 3 shows that nominal wage growth tends to broadly track price inflation over long periods of time."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: RED EVERYWHERE: It’s a global market meltdown

People are already forming huge lines for the new iPhone

0
0

australia iphone 6s line

It's time for people to start lining up outside Apple Stores around the world for the new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.

For some, lining up is more like survival, like these folks in Sydney in the picture below, who are braving a cold wet evening.

But they don't care as long as they get their hands on Apple's latest phone. 

 

 

Singapore is a full 12 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time in NYC, so it's no surprise they're one of the first to start lining up for the new iPhone.

Instagram Embed:
http://instagram.com/p/7_zputQ6SR/embed/
Width: 658px

 



Then there's Lucy, the robotic iPad girl waiting in line for the new iPhone in Sydney, Australia.

 



The line in Sydney was nearly dispersed by the police, apparently.

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: Why I switched from an iPhone to a Samsung — and I'm not going back

Fed Chair Yellen had a health scare during a speech, but she's feeling fine now

0
0

Janet Yellen

Fed Chairwoman Janet Yellen gave a scare Thursday while giving a speech on monetary policy and inflation at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Near the end of her prepared remarks, Yellen appeared to be experiencing some physical discomfort. She paused several times to cough before saying she would stop.

"[I]f the economy surprises us, our judgments about appropriate monetary policy will change," she said. "Let me stop there. Thank you."

She gathered her notes, gave several smiles, and stuck around to be presented with a gift before she made her way offstage.

Several news outlets reported that she proceeded to receive medical attention, but now she seems to be in the clear.

"Chair Yellen felt dehydrated at the end of a long speech under bright lights," a Fed representative said in a statement. "As a precaution, she was seen by EMT staff on site at UMass Amherst. She felt fine afterward and has continued with her schedule Thursday evening."

"Shauna Rice, director of administration at UMass emergency medical services, separately confirmed that Yellen is all right and did not got to the hospital," Bloomberg reported.

Citing school spokesman Ed Blaguszewski, Bloomberg also reported that Yellen was heading to a scheduled dinner.

yellen

Screen Shot 2015 09 24 at 6.25.54 PM

yellen

Screen Shot 2015 09 24 at 6.29.37 PM

Screen Shot 2015 09 24 at 6.29.28 PM

Yellen argued that should inflation as well as the economy meet the Fed's expectations, then we could see the Fed begin to tighten monetary policy with interest rate hikes.

"I expect that inflation will return to 2% over the next few years as the temporary factors that are currently weighing on inflation wane, provided that economic growth continues to be strong enough to complete the return to maximum employment and long-run inflation expectations remain well anchored," she said.

But inflation is a complicated thing. Below are 9 charts on inflation Yellen shared during her presentation.

SEE ALSO: JANET YELLEN: Here are 9 charts on inflation I'd like to share with you

The Fed hasn't always been successful about keeping prices stable.



Lately, inflation has been very low.



People might not like inflation, but real wages adjust for inflation.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: Fed's Bullard gave us a great baseball analogy to explain what the Fed is doing wrong

Russia's most embarrassing military failures

0
0

Russia boat in beach

There are some projects that the Kremlin would love us to forget.

The Russian military has long been a bogeyman for the West, with Cold War memories lingering even after the fall of the Soviet Union.

However, over the years Russia's fierce competition has produced a number of duds alongside its successes, as the country has scrambled to stay one step ahead of its geopolitical rivals.

The following is a collection of some of the most ambitious military projects that resulted in spectacular failures. 

The Tsar tank has achieved almost mythical status since the unusual vehicle was first tested in 1914. Due to weight miscalculations, its tricycle design often resulted in its back wheel getting stuck and its lack of armour left its operators exposed to artillery fire.



But it wasn't Russia's only tank failure. The Soviet Union's T-80 was the first production tank to be equipped with a gas turbine engine when it was introduced in 1976.



When it was used during the First Chechen War it was discovered that when the tanks got hit on their side armour, its unused ammunition exploded. The performance was so poor that the Ministry of Defence cancelled all orders for the tanks.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Take a look at Facebook's first-ever ad sales pitch deck: 'What is thefacebook.com?' (FB)

0
0

Mark Zuckerberg

Facebook was launched on February 4, 2004. Founder Mark Zuckerberg was famously disinterested in selling ads on the site, which at the time served only Harvard University. But "thefacebook.com," as it was known, grew from campus to campus, and CFO Eduardo Saverin became increasingly enthusiastic about getting revenue for the site from ads.

This is the sales pitch deck, and some of Facebook's internal documents — including early spreadsheets of user data — used by Josh Iverson from October 2004. Iverson was employed by ad sales agency Y2M, and he made deals to put the first big brands on Facebook, including MasterCard, Paramount, Ford, The North Face, and (surprisingly) Apple. We believe it is Facebook's first ever ad sales deck.

It shows how few people were on Facebook at the time — some universities had only dozens of users — and how Saverin and Iverson hoped to get $15,000 from each advertiser who wanted to reach their users. These slides date back to October 2004.

Thefacebook.com was originally intended to replace actual face-books used by individual colleges at the time. Originally physical paper books of photographs, they had migrated online to college web sites but were often clunky to use.



"What is thefacebook.com?" ... "an expanding online directory"! Now you know.



The original Facebook had very few functions. One of them was "Social net: displays 10 random people from user's school."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: How to supercharge your iPhone in 5 minutes

15 healthy eating habits that work according to scientists

0
0

sugar

With options as varied as the Paleo diet and the 21-day challenge, there's a fad diet for practically everyone.

But as fun as the diets may seem, it's often difficult to stick with them for more than a few weeks, and as a result few people actually see any long-term results.

Rather than trying one of those, here are 15 science-backed habits that can help boost your health and may help with weight loss as well.

RELATED: 11 fitness 'truths' that are doing more harm than good

NEXT: An exercise scientist told us the biggest mistake people make when they decide to eat healthy

Eat food you enjoy.

It may seem as if the easiest way to lose weight is to stop eating the foods you overindulge in. But this can be short-sighted, Lisa Sasson, a New York University nutrition professor, told Business Insider. "If you pick a diet with foods you don't like, you're doomed to fail," Sasson said. Food is a pleasurable experience; if you cut out all the foods you like, you probably won't stick to your plan.

And as studiescontinue to show, coming up with an eating regimen you can stick with is critical.



Portion sizes are key.

There's a psychological component to eating, especially when you have weight loss in mind. Being conscious of losing weight and sticking to the right portion sizes is half the battle, Sasson said. This phenomenon is why most people in studies lose weight, regardless of whether they're in the group assigned a special diet. Simply being studied can lead to people being more conscious of what they're eating.

But overall, keeping an eye on portion sizes is a great way to help avoid overeating— especially with portion sizes rising since the 1970s.



Skip the restaurant and pack your lunch.

Portion sizes in American restaurants have increased by as much as three times in the past 20 years, and it is changing what we think of as a normal meal.

"One way to keep calories in check is to keep food portions no larger than the size of your fist," Elizabeth G. Nabel, director of NIH's National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, writes.

If you're trying to control your portion sizes, it is best to pack your own lunch because restaurants will give you more calories than you need.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: People were baffled by 50 sharks circling in shallow waters off the English coast

These 10 up-and-coming startups are on Goldman Sachs' radar

0
0

Getaround founders

Which startups are on the radar of one of the biggest investment firms in the world?

You might be surprised.

In a research report this week, Goldman Sachs interviewed executives from ten startups from around the world that they're interested in.

These startups aren't billion-dollar companies — they're early-stage and growth-stage companies that are tackling industries ripe for disruption, from the automobile industry to real estate and banking.

Interestingly, of Goldman's list of up-and-coming startups they're interested in, four are from New York City, two are from London, and only one is from San Francisco.

SEE ALSO: The 25 hottest under-the-radar startups in America

Appear Here lets you book a storefront like you'd book a hotel room.

What it is:Appear Here is a marketplace for business owners to find short-term retail locations. It's meant to help owners find locations for pop-up shops. According to TechCrunch, 10,000 brands use Appear Here to find pop-up shop locations to rent.

When it was founded: 2013

Where it's based: London

Funding:$9.4 million from Balderton Capital, Forward Partners, Marc Hazan, Meyer Bergman, MMC Ventures, Playfair Capital and others.



EquipmentShare wants to let construction workers rent equipment.

What it is: Missouri-based Y Combinator startup EquipmentShare gives contractors a place where they can rent and lend construction and excavation equipment. Need a lift or an excavator? There's probably someone in EquipmentShare who's looking to rent you one. EquipmentShare says it provides background checks, insurance validation, payment processing and a rating system for equipment and lenders. 

When it was founded: 2014

Where it's based: Columbia, Missouri

Funding:$2.2 million from FundersClub, Great Oaks Venture Capital, Paul Buchheit, Romulus Capital, Sound Ventures, Wefunder, Y Combinator



Getaround lets people share their cars with strangers.

What it is: Getaround is an app that lets you rent a car on demand. (You can reserve one ahead of time, too). To use it, you fire up the app, find a car near you, and rent it by the hour. When you're finished, you park the car on the street or a designated parking lot. 

When it was founded: 2009

Where it's based: San Francisco

Funding:$43 million from Cox Automotive, Menlo Ventures, SOSV, Triangle Peak Partners, A-Grade Investments, Marissa Mayer, and others.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: This Excel trick will save you time and impress your boss


Here are the biggest threats to music streaming services, as outlined in Deezer's IPO filing

0
0

Hans-Holger Albrecht

French music streaming service Deezer has outlined its plans to go public in Paris, and its IPO filing gives a fascinating look at the way the music streaming service works.

As well as user numbers and revenue, the document also indicates the risks that the business may face in the future. Deezer talks in-depth about rival music streaming services such as Apple Music and Spotify, and also about the difficulties of negotiating with record labels to bring music to its platform.

Here are some of the most interesting sections of Deezer's IPO filing:

First off, let's start with Deezer's revenue. It's not profitable.



Here's how Deezer's revenue breaks down by country. France is where it's most popular.



This is another key chart: The number of Deezer subscribers. "Bundle subscribers" are users who became a subscriber via a deal with one of Deezer's carrier partners.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: How to supercharge your iPhone in 5 minutes

These easy DIY costumes will make you seem super creative

0
0

Halloween Masks

A clever homemade costume is ideal on Halloween — but it can be tough to think of something that hasn't been done to death.

Luckily, costume-makers from years past have shared their own cheap, easy, DIY costume ideas on social media.

We rounded up the best DIY outfits sure to please a crowd with minimal effort. Scroll down for Halloween inspiration.

Illusion costumes are a creative way to make your friends laugh. This "Royal Baby" rendition from Redditor /u/therealfreshy is spot-on.

Source.



Taking inspiration from a kitchen staple, "Morton Salt Girl" is a unique but easy costume to pull off.

Instagram Embed:
http://instagram.com/p/u3X-xLLAt5/embed/
Width: 800px

 



This recreation of an absurdly long receipt from CVS is great inspiration for spin-offs. All you need is a local printing store.

Source.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: 4 ways to stay awake without caffeine

31 photos of Facebook's rise from a Harvard dorm room to world domination

0
0

mark zuckerberg, facebook, sv100 2015

Facebook is a classic Silicon Valley success story: From a Harvard dorm to the top of the world.

It has made Mark Zuckerberg into a legendary figure, and turned a hoodie and tennis shoes the height of tech industry fashion.

These days, Facebook is worth $265.3 billion, with over 1.5 billion people using the site every month.

Here's the story behind Facebook's insane growth, from February 2004 through today.

Spoiler alert: It involves a lot of beer.

SEE ALSO: 32 photos of Apple's early days before it ruled the world

Facebook got its start at Harvard's Kirkland House dormitory.



In 2003, Harvard sophomore Mark Zuckerberg would build a program called "Face mash." It was a Hot or Not-style app using the pictures of his classmates that he hacked from the school administration's dormitory ID files. It got 22,000 page views from 450 people in the first four hours it was up. A few days later, Harvard ordered it to be taken down, citing copyright and security concerns.



Zuckerberg faced disciplinary action from Harvard, but was allowed to stay at the school. Undeterred, he launched Facebook on February 4, 2004.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: People were baffled by 50 sharks circling in shallow waters off the English coast

Financial planners share their best advice for saving money

0
0

meeting

Saving money is one of the most important steps people can take to bolster their financial security and plan for the future. But it's not as simple as it might seem because there are many ways to go about it.

A tried-and-true savings plan doesn't have to be a challenge when you've got the right money-saving tips from financial experts versed in building wealth.

To help you pinpoint a savings path that's right for you, GOBankingRates reached out to 25 noted financial planners with the question, "What’s the most important thing to consider when building a savings plan?" Read on for the answers.

SEE ALSO: A financial planner helps a 29-year-old decide what to do with her savings every month

1. Time your investments.

Ric Edelman, chairman and CEO of Edelman Financial Services, and radio host of "The Truth about Money with Ric Edelman":

"Your time horizon. This determines where you should invest."

Read: 10 Money Tips to Master From Warren Buffett

2. Start early.

Lisa G. Hay, a certified financial planner and lead advisor with Cornerstone Capital Advisors:

"The most important thing is to start early and save regularly. Automating your savings as a direct deduction from your paycheck is a great way to do this. Also, don’t let lifestyle creep prevent you from increasing the percentage that you save as your income increases. When you receive an increase in compensation or a bonus, put at least a portion of that money towards retirement savings."

3. Sustain savings.

Dara Luber, senior manager, retirement, TD Ameritrade:

"Make sure the savings plan you’re putting in place is sustainable. If you’re overestimating the amount of money you’re able to save, you will be miserably frugal now and disappointed in the future when you don’t reach your financial goals. Set yourself up for success by prioritizing your current expenses in a list, from what makes you most happy to least, and then cut from the bottom instead of the top to find savings and still enjoy the things that give you the most pleasure.

"This can lead to a less frustrating budgeting experience (and) a healthier financial perspective. This approach to budgeting will likely be much easier to maintain for the long term. Consider increasing the amount you save as you start earning more income. No matter when you start saving or how much you save, the important thing is that you regularly put money away for the future."

4. Divvy up dividends.

John Cuti, vice president and senior branch manager of Fidelity Investments in New York:

"Understand your mandatory expenses versus discretionary expenses. No matter how much you earn, we all have mandatory expenses to account for, like food, housing, electric or gas bills, taxes, healthcare costs or a car payment. Once you determine how much is leftover after mandatory expenses are paid, you will know how much you can afford to put away in an emergency fund or other savings plan.

"Try our 50/15/5 rule of thumb as a simple guideline:

• "50 percent or less of your income should go to essential expenses

• "15 percent should go to retirement savings

• "5 percent should go to short-term savings

"As long as you stay within those guidelines, the remainder is yours to save or spend as you see fit. Fidelity offers a Savings Planner and Budget Snapshot tool to help get started, as well as resources to help find a way to balance spending, saving and debt."

5. Compound without complexity.

Julie Lambert, vice president and branch manager of Charles Schwab in Plano, Texas:

"The earlier we start to save — whether for retirement or other goals — the less difficult the challenge becomes. For example, if you start saving for retirement in your 20s, 10 percent of your salary before taxes each year is a good goal. Even a small contribution like that can grow substantially over time. Much of that is thanks to the power of compounding reinvesting earnings and keeping them invested to generate more earnings. If you wait until your 30s, that number needs to bump up to 15 percent. Wait until your 40s, and you’ll have to put away 30 to 35 percent each year. So clearly, the longer you delay, the more you’ll have to put aside."



6. Calculate your number.

Jerry Linebaugh, founder and CEO of JLine Financial:

"Start with the end number in mind. You can do this if you have a monthly income figure for your retirement budget. Using software or sitting with a professional that has such software, they can gross up that monthly figure for inflation and taxes. You might actually be in retirement longer than you actually worked. If you are married, studies show that between the two of you, there is a 50 percent chance that one of you will still be alive at age 94.

"So you might want this monthly number to gross up for inflation and after taxes till at least that age or beyond. Once you have this end number in mind, now it’s a lot easier to see how much you need to put into your retirement accounts and how much risk you should take, not just how much you are willing to take."

7. Make saving second nature.

Christopher Van Slyke, certified financial planner and partner at WorthPointe Wealth Management:

"Automate it. Suck it right out of your paycheck. Save one third of your earnings right off the top. Then spend."

8. Develop discipline.

Jack Waymire, founder of Paladin Research & Registry:

"Do you have the discipline to save a specific amount of money each month? It is always easier to defer savings until next month."

9. Stay focused.

Bob Klosterman, a certified financial planner and CEO/chief investment officer of White Oaks Investment:

"A keen focus on the goals one wants to achieve and the amount of savings necessary is critical to success. Frankly, there is little that is noble about saving for saving's sake. A purpose that is important will provide adequate motivation to stay the course."

10. Plan and prioritize.

Kenyon L. Lederer, a certified financial planner and president of Pinnacle Asset Management:

"The most important things to consider when developing a successful savings plan is making it a priority over your other spending and making the contribution regular and automatic. These characteristics make 401k plans an extremely attractive option for retirement savings, but the same principles can be employed with saving for other goals [such as] with a 529 plan, a mutual fund with a periodic investment, or just a savings account at your bank. The key is starting, making the contributions automatic and keeping it a priority."



11. Picture this.

Michael P. Miller, a certified financial planner with Miller Premier Investment Planning: 

"It always starts with the destination. Your goals dictate the strategy and resources required to accomplish them. It is where all planning starts. Once you have a clear picture of your destination and where you are now, the possible routes (involving savings plans and strategies) become much more obvious."

12. Consider goals.

Brian Evans, a certified public account with Madrona Financial Services:

"Make sure you consider your own personal goals as they relate to risk versus security, to what extent you wish to leave a legacy, and you should always consult a CPA to make sure your biggest expense — taxes — [is] being optimized."

13. Track your progress.

J. Harold Williams, a certified public account and president and CEO of Linscomb and Williams:

"Most people know the conventional rules: Start early and be consistent. But perhaps equally important: Make assessments of your progress along the way and use professional help if you have doubts about your own skill in running the numbers.”

Related: 13 Expert Tips on Making and Saving Money

14. Build a budget.

Martin A. Federici Jr., CEO of MF Advisers:

"Without a doubt, you need a budget to make sure you can save your Ps and Qs for your short-term and long-term savings goals. That way, if your financial situation changes, if you lose a job or have large medical bills, you can adjust your budget and your savings plan as needed."

Read: 1 in 5 Americans Have Trouble Sticking to a Budget

15. Stick to it.

From Jeffrey C. Lewis, CFP, Planning Financial Futures:

"One's ability to stick to the plan every month. Good markets or bad, time in the market is what counts, not timing of the markets."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

21 signs you're about to be fired

0
0

confused, concerned

Most people are at least somewhat surprised when they hear the words "you're fired." Some are even shocked.

But upon looking back on the situation, almost everyone realizes there were signs — they just chose to ignore them, says Robert Dilenschneider, author of "50 Plus!: Critical Career Decisions for the Rest of Your Life."

Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job," says the savviest professionals always keep an eye out for the classic signs that their job is in danger. This way, if and when they notice red flags popping up, they can attempt to turn the tides before it's too late.

Here are 21 signs you may be getting the boot:

 

SEE ALSO: 12 signs you're about to be promoted at work

You receive a bad performance review (or two, or three).

A negative evaluation is not always synonymous with being fired, but in conjunction with other bad feedback, it can mean trouble, says Taylor. "Your employer needs to create a paper trail, so along with warnings, your employer will use a performance review to document the problem areas."

More than one poor performance review in a row is an especially bad sign, adds Michael Kerr, an international business speaker and author of "The Humor Advantage." "Depending on how bad your first performance review was, you may be given a chance to make corrections and improve, but a series of critical performance reviews could be a major sign that your job is in jeopardy."

If it's because of a lack of experience or lack of training in a certain area, then there's always a chance to fix it. But critical phrases to be mindful of during performance reviews include, "You're not a good fit for our culture," "You're not a team player,""Your personality or style doesn't seem to mesh with the team," or "You have a major attitude problem."

"If you hear any of these types of criticisms then it's time to break out your résumé, since it's often assumed that attitudinal issues are deeply engrained and unfixable," he says.



You're left out of the loop.

If it's suddenly hard to access important data that would help you perform well in your job, or you're not invited to important meetings or included on key emails, a pink slip may be coming your way, says Taylor.

"There could be other reasons for this happening, but certainly one may be that your leadership has lost the trust or confidence in your abilities, making you vulnerable when and if layoffs happen," Kerr says. 



Your job has become Mission Impossible.

"When you first assumed the role, you had your marching orders and could accomplish them. Now it seems that you’re tasked with projects akin to climbing Mount Everest blindfolded," says Taylor.

"You're being set up to fail," Kerr explains. "Sometimes this is due to lousy leadership, but occasionally it can be because a company wants to get rid of you, but they need solid evidence to do so, and setting you up for disaster is one way of getting the 'proof' you longer belong there."

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: The CEO who raised the price of a life-saving pill 5,000% is doubling down

Viewing all 61683 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images