DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

Christopher Gregory/Getty ImagesDonald McGahn, Trump campaign counsel: I was at the top. Trump's 2016 campaign aides said they paid about 50 people, including part-time actors, to appear as supporters for his 2016 campaign announcement. Corey Lewandowski, Trump campaign managerCorey Lewandowski: I called my wife just as we were getting onto the plane. Stuff that would be from Mars on any other campaign was perfectly normal for the Trump campaign. Mark J. Terrill/AP photo Show less Trump at the Republican National Convention while Cruz speaks on July 20, 2016.

☆ Renault CFO: Nissan eyeing equity stake in electric and software unit Ampere
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PARIS, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Nissan (7201.T) is considering taking an equity stake in the Ampere unit, which could be listed on the stock market at the end of 2023, Renault (RENA.PA) chief financial officer Thierry Pieton told an investor presentation on Tuesday. The scale of Renault's planned overhaul- encompassing the gasoline engine business it has code-named "Horse" and the electric one code-named "Ampere" - speaks to the pressure automakers now feel from investors and regulators to quicken their move to electric vehicles, with Europe having effectively banned combustion engines from 2035. Reporting by Gilles Guillaume and Sudip Kar-Gupta, Editing by Louise HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Renault's joint venture with Geely will employ 19,000 people at 17 powertrain factories and three research and development hubs, the companies said, adding they expect to reach a final agreement and launch the new company in 2023. Renault and Geely will each hold 50%, the companies said in a statement that did not detail other financial terms. Nissan has said it is considering an investment in the Ampere electric venture. Renault and Geely said they expect their new joint venture would supply internal combustion engines and hybrid powertrains to both Nissan and the junior partner in Renault's existing alliance, Mitsubishi Motors (7211.T). Renault and Geely have an existing joint venture in South Korea.

☆ Want to buy a house, but spooked by 7% rates? A mortgage broker lays out 4 things to do to make it happen.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( Kelsey Neubauer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Top mortgage broker Erica Davis gave 4 tips for people hoping to buy despite the high rates. But there's hope for those that want to forge ahead and buy a house anyway, Erica Davis, a mortgage broker at Guild Mortgage, a Myrtle Beach, South Carolina-based firm, told Insider. Not only are rates high, but closing costs are high, too. For a $300,000 mortgage, closing costs will likely be between $6,000 and $15,000. A credit score of 620 — which is in the "fair" range — or higher can generally allow buyers to secure a mortgage, according to Quicken Loans, a mortgage-loan provider.

☆ Edtech firm Classera raises $40 mln in round led by PIF's Sanabil
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Yousef Saba | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Series A round was led by Sanabil Investments, fully owned by Saudi Arabia's sovereign Public Investment Fund (PIF). Other investors were Global Ventures, Endeavor Catalyst, 500 Global, Sukna Venture and Seedra Ventures. "The round additionally included a diverse set of investors from Silicon Valley, emerging markets, and global family offices," the company said in a statement, without naming them. "Many learning institutions, especially after the pandemic, are convinced they need the next generation of e-learning solutions," Classera co-founder and CEO Mohammad Almadani said in the statement. Sanabil said in the same statement it was "fully committed to enable Classera to further expand its reach to learners across all socio-economic backgrounds."

A fixed-rate mortgage locks in your interest rate for the entire life of your loan. To determine how much interest you'll pay and whether your rate will change later, you'll choose between two types of mortgages: a fixed-rate mortgage or adjustable-rate mortgage. Fixed-rate mortgagesWith a fixed-rate mortgage, your interest rate remains the same for the entire life of the loan. Adjustable-rate mortgagesWith an adjustable-rate mortgage, commonly referred to as an ARM, rates and monthly payments remain the same for a set period of time, then change periodically. Calculate your monthly mortgage paymentUse our free mortgage calculator to see how different rates could affect your payments over the years.

But there are fans of another court-based sport that are greeting the news with much less enthusiasm: tennis players. In apartment complexes and retirement centers across the country, tennis courts are being scrapped in favor of pickleball courts. Its courts are similar to tennis courts, just smaller, so many players repurpose tennis courts with chalk or paint to lay out the pickleball dimensions. Yet dozens of new dedicated pickleball courts are being built all over America, which will soon help ease the problem of overcrowding. So for any tennis players out there worried that pickleball will demolish your own game’s success, you can rest easy.

☆ Meet a couple who retired and then quickly went back to work because of sky-high inflation
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-16 | by ( Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Stephen and Karen White retired in 2021, but then they rejoined the workforce. The couple made the choice to retire in the beginning of 2021 after visiting Washington, but the pandemic's impact also played a role. After both officially retired in the summer of 2021, skyrocketing inflation pushed the couple to walk back their plans and go back to the workforce grind. Stephen went back to work in education. "Workers who say they've retired regularly return to work after some time away."

☆ China Q3 growth seen bouncing 3.4%, but 2022 set for worst performance in decades
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Kevin Yao | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Growth is expected to pick up to 3.8% in the fourth quarter, bringing the 2022 pace to 3.2%, far below the official target of around 5.5%. Investors will look for policy signals from a historic congress of the ruling Communist Party due to start on Sunday. The expected 2022 growth would be lower than 4.0% analysts had forecast in a Reuters poll in July and 5.0% in April's forecast. The government is due to release third-quarter GDP data, along with Sept. activity data, on October 18 at 0200 GMT. Economic growth is forecast to quicken to 5.0% in 2023.

The minimum credit score that you'll need to buy a house varies by lender and loan type. You may be surprised to learn that minimum credit score requirements will vary by lender and loan type. Minimum credit score: No minimum, but with a credit score of at least 640 you could qualify for streamlined credit analysisIt's important to point out lenders are free to set higher minimum credit score requirements than what the loan-backing organizations require. When it comes to your credit score, your bank or credit card issuer may provide your score for free. If not, you can also use a free credit score monitoring tool like Credit Karma or Credit Sesame.

How to shop for a mortgage in 5 stepsIf you plan to use a mortgage loan to buy a house, comparing your options is critical to getting the best deal. "Your credit score determines the rate you get, and the higher the score is, the better the rate becomes." With mortgages, you have two options: a fixed interest rate or a variable interest rate, also called an adjustable rate. Insider's Featured Mortgage Lenders Rocket Mortgage by Quicken LoansAmeriSave Mortgage Corporation MortgagesNew American Funding Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. It could help save you significantly on your interest rate, payment, and long-term costs as a homeowner.

Pros Check mark icon A check mark. If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards customer, you can get discounts Check mark icon A check mark. Pros Check mark icon A check mark. Advanced tool for seeing personalized rates and payments Check mark icon A check mark. Pros Check mark icon A check mark.

Mortgage interest rates are always changing, and there are a lot of factors that can sway your interest rate. Average mortgage interest rate by stateThe state where you're buying your home could influence your interest rate. Here's the average interest rate by loan type in each state according to data from S&P Global. A mortgage rate, also known as an interest rate, is the fee charged by your lender for loaning you money. In general, you can consider a good mortgage rate to be the average rate in your state or below.

☆ I make 6 figures a year as a freelance virtual assistant. Here are 3 things that help me work smarter and faster.
▼ + stars: | 2022-07-05 | by ( Robin Madell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Hannah Dixon is a freelance virtual assistant and coach who juggles a lot of different projects. When I was starting out as a freelance virtual assistant, I juggled a lot of clients with very different projects and very different deadlines. An online Mastermind group is a collection of people who are working toward similar goals but bring different expertise to the table. I joined my first Mastermind group about a year and a half into my freelance career. Are you a successful virtual assistant with a story to tell?

Having a full and realistic estimate of your monthly expenses is key before quitting a job. AdvertisementQutting a full-time job without having another one lined up may seem like a risky thing to do. She divides her budgeting spreadsheet into five main areas: income, required expenses, discretionary expenses, annual expenses, and surplus or savings. Start small and watch your retirement fund grow over time. For one, having alternative income streams such as freelancing or dividend-paying investments can help boost your savings and increase your retirement fund.

Persons: —, Deborah L, Meyer, Loudenback, you've Organizations: Service, Quicken

☆ Capital One Spark Cash Select for Good Credit card review: Earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases with no annual fee, and you don't need perfect credit to qualify
▼ + stars: | 2021-09-29 | by ( David Mcmillin | Read More | Read Less | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +26 min

Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightReview: Is the Capital One Spark Cash Select for Good Credit the best credit card for you? Insider's Featured Small Business Credit Cards U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®Ink Business Cash® Credit CardInk Business Unlimited® Credit Card Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Apply now A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.8 out of 5 Stars Editor's Rating A tooltip OUR EDITOR'S RATINGS ARE PRIMARILY BASED ON 3 THINGS: SIMPLICITY, AFFORDABILITY, AND VALUE. Apply now A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.6 out of 5 Stars Editor's Rating A tooltip OUR EDITOR'S RATINGS ARE PRIMARILY BASED ON 3 THINGS: SIMPLICITY, AFFORDABILITY, AND VALUE. Apply now A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 5 out of 5 Stars Editor's Rating A tooltip OUR EDITOR'S RATINGS ARE PRIMARILY BASED ON 3 THINGS: SIMPLICITY, AFFORDABILITY, AND VALUE.

Requires excellent credit to qualify Highlights Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightReview: Is the Capital One Spark Cash Select for Excellent Credit the best credit card for you? Insider's Featured Small Business Credit Cards U.S. Bank Business Triple Cash Rewards World Elite Mastercard®Ink Business Cash® Credit CardInk Business Unlimited® Credit Card Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Comparison: Capital One Spark Cash Select for Excellent Credit vs other Capital One business cardsCapital One offers a number of other credit cards for small-business owners who have excellent credit. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightFees and costsThere is no annual fee with the Spark 1.5% Cash Select for Excellent Credit, which is excellent news for your business' bottom line.

Insider's Featured Small Business Cards Ink Business Unlimited® Credit CardInk Business Cash® Credit Card Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightReview: Is the Discover it Business card the best credit card for your small business? Many business owners want a credit card to use for purchases related to their business, and having a credit card is an easy way to keep business purchases separate from personal accounts. Alternatives to the Discover it Business Credit CardThe card that's closest to the Discover it® Business Card is the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card, which also earns a flat 1.5% cash back on every purchase. Here's our comparison of the Chase Ink Business Unlimited and Chase Ink Business Cash card for more information.

I was a bit naive about money when I started "Broke Millennial," but reading it has been a big help. What started as a blog titled "Broke Millennial" has now turned into three books, online courses, and multiple presentations about personal finance as it relates to young adults. As a young adult myself, I'd been aware of Lowry's books for a while, and recently sat down to read the first book in her "Broke Millennial" series. I liked that "Broke Millennial" promised to do more than just cover credit cards, debt, investing, and budgeting. "Broke Millennial" certainly lived up to these promises.

Persons: Erin Lowry, —, Lowry, I'd, you'll, George Mason Organizations: Service, George, George Mason University, Temple University, Quicken

I've taken a few steps to help me reach financial independence sooner: I boosted my income, keep my lifestyle costs low, and save 50% of my income. For me, I've begun to pursue financial independence as a way to safeguard my future as a freelancer. The goal is to achieve a measure of financial independence that would allow you to step away from paid work permanently. But as I've worked for financial independence, I've built up financial resources along the way. As a freelancer, the peace of mind created with this financial safety net is priceless to me.

Persons: I'm, I've, —, what's, we've Organizations: Service, FIRE, Quicken

You may be eligible for payment assistance toward your mortgage, car payment, credit card, personal loan, or private student loan. 34 banks helping customers impacted by the coronavirusAlly BankMortgagesYou can defer mortgage payments through Ally for up to 120 days. ChaseMortgagesChase is offering mortgage payment assistance. Car paymentsTo request payment assistance for a car loan or other type of consumer loan, visit Regions' loan assistance page or call 1 (866) 298-1113.Credit cardsTo request payment assistance for a credit card, visit Regions' loan assistance page or call 1 (866) 298-1113. Personal loansWebster is offering personal loan payment assistance on a case-by-case basis.

The Capital One Spark Cash for Business is no longer available to new applicants; however, Capital One has launched 3 new business cards for small business owners. Of course, finances are a huge consideration and small business credit cards can be a major asset, when used responsibly. Below, Select reviews the benefits of small business credit cards that can add up to increased savings and easier expense management. Receive travel and purchase protectionsSimilar to personal credit cards, business cards provide numerous travel and purchase protections. Don't miss: Best small business credit cardsHow to apply for a business credit card For rates and fees of the Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, click here.

Search resuls for: "Quicken"

22 mentions found