Amazing Things You Can With Google!

Wow, do you actually know there are so many "wow" things you can do with Google aside researching? Yes, you can do lots of other stuff with Google apart from its routine use as a search engine! Here they are:

1) You can use Google as a timer by entering the time in the search bar. Tick...tock...tick...tock...I was virtually screaming when I heard the sound of my old analogue alarm clock at the end of the count down.

World Most Creative Sculptures And Statues!

Our cities are full of majestic monuments, stunning sculptures and artistic statues, each having a story to tell. Thousands of them have been made but only a few of them are really extraordinary and picture-worthy. That’s why our readers set out to find the world’s most creative statues and sculptures, which add color and emotion to the most boring areas of the cities.

For the last two weeks, bored pandas from around

CHEAP CITIES/ TOWNS IN NIGERIA.

Nigeria is a country located in the western part of Africa, with approximately 150 million people, more than hundred ethnic groups and upto 200 native dialects. Nigeria is a multi religious country and has experienced lots of religious crisis in recent time, caused by Islamic religious sect referred to as boko haram, made up of Muslim religious fanatics. Nigeria is a country blessed with wide resources both mineral and human and offers a good enviroment for habitation and businesses.
Nigeria is a beautiful country, with many beautiful, cheap, and peaceful cities and towns perfect for people of all shades and strata.
Fortunately, these cities offer low cost of living with thriving economy, countless opportunities for investment and to earn money. The cities also offer laid back lifestyle, political stability and low cost housing.
Here are the cities/ towns that tops the chart. These cities share one principal similarity, which is low cost of living.

Ikot Ekpene

Ikot Ekpene is known as the ‘Raffia City’, is situated in Akwa Ibom state. The city is famous for its commercial activities and raffia business. Ikot Ekpene is the regional centre of commerce; it is famous for

COMMON RELATIONSHIP PROBLEMS AND HOW TO RESOLVE THEM!

Want to share some thought on this topic, because I consider it quite paramount. We constantly involve ourselves in relationships (friendship, marriage, family etc) directly or otherwise. Some of the points you will see here, I saw somewhere, edited and modified them to suit the topic while some are purely mine, so please feel free to add yours, after all, we live to learn!
With that in mind, I will start by saying, If someone ever says “I’ve never had an argument with my partner” or “we never fight”, they are lying! Every relationship has its fair share of issues, whether you want to call them conflicts, confusions or problems. What is more important is to get yourself out of these conflicting areas and ensure that they are kept at the bay.

Here are some of the common problems that malign most relationships on the planet.

1. Lack of crisis management
Some may think that crisis management is too vague a term to be used and thrown around. Well, that is not the case. Crisis management involves a deliberate effort towards assembling your thoughts and understanding the issues that cause fights and arguments in the first place. Ask yourself, “What is causing the problem?” Then think, “What can I do to solve it?” And lastly, “What can I do to prevent it?” It isn’t rocket science but then very few

THE DOWNSIDE OF BEING A BANKER.

The Downside of Being a Banker

Bankers at the top of their game enjoy rewards most people can only dream of, but if you're thinking of joining the profession, it's worth considering the potential downsides, as well as the ups. Once you've mulled over the possible disadvantages of becoming a banker, you may decide that money isn't everything.

Long Hours

If you want to keep regular office hours and have plenty of spare time to spend with your friends and family, a career in banking probably won't be for you. Investment bankers typically work in excess of 40 hours a week, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some first-year bankers can expect to put in 100-plus hours every seven days, while those in their second year average around 80, according to a February 2012 study by a researcher from the University of Southern California published in "Administrative Science Quarterly." The BLS advises that many bankers work weekends, evenings and public holidays. Some workers in the profession, especially those at the beginning of their careers, are regularly asked to "pull all-nighters," Alexandra Michel, an assistant management professor at USC's Marshall School of Business, discovered. Working in banking involves long hours and can lead to stress-related disorders.

Stress

With the long hours comes no small amount of stress. Investment bankers deal with huge sums of money and are expected to keep on turning a profit. Every one of the approximately two dozen entry-level bankers Michel observed over the first decade of their careers developed a stress-related condition. Some wound up with alcoholism, heart palpitations, insomnia, eating disorders or temper issues. John Chrin, a former managing director at J.P. Morgan Chase, told "The Wall Street Journal" he saw a junior staff member gain 30 or 40 pounds after just a couple of years on the job.

Stigma

Becoming a banker may do a lot for your bank balance, but won't do much for your street cred. Whether or not investment bankers were to blame for the financial crisis of 2008 and ensuing recession, people don't much like them. An August 2012 Gallup poll found that just 6 percent of respondents felt very positively about the banking sector, while 22 percent felt very negatively. Although bankers have never been among the country's most-adored professional groups, 15 percent of respondents felt very positively about them when the same survey was conducted in 2006.

Tighter Regulations

The post-2008 backlash against bankers has brought calls for tighter regulation of the industry and controls on the bonus culture that some feel contributed to the credit crunch. In February 2013, the European Union proposed capping bank bonuses at a year's salary. Even if U.S. policy makers fail to tighten domestic banking regulations, the country's employees working in other parts of the world could find themselves taking a hit if foreign governments decide to clamp down on pay and bonuses.

INVESTMENT BANKING: PROS

                       

Preamble:

Are You Ready for an Exciting and Rewarding Investment Banker Career?

The lucrative, prestigious nature of investment banking job makes this a highly desirable and competitive field. If you have an aptitude for finance, a reasonable tolerance for risk, outstanding communication skills, and sharp analytical and mathematical skills, you’ve got the basics required to explore opportunities in the field. Add in a healthy dose of self-confidence, motivation and competition, and you’ll be primed for the exciting world of an investment banker! 

Just as banks are at the center of the global economy, investment bankers are key to structuring the financial deals that facilitate business operations and keep the economy moving forward. These highly-skilled, well-paid professionals advise companies on issuing stock and configuring stock offerings.

What is Investment Bank (IB)?

A financial intermediary that performs a variety of investment services, including underwriting, acting as an intermediary between an issuer of securities and the investing public, facilitating mergers and other corporate reorganizations and also acting as a broker for institutional clients. Finance dictionary.

Core investment banking activities:

Investment banking has changed over the years, beginning as a partnership form focused on underwriting security issuance, i.e. initial public offerings (IPOs) and secondary offerings, brokerage, and mergers and acquisitions, and evolving into a "full-service" range including securities research, proprietary trading, and investment management. In the modern 21st century, the SEC filings of the major independent investment banks such as Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley reflect three product segments: (1) investment banking (fees for M&A advisory services and securities underwriting); (2) asset management (fees for sponsored investment funds), and (3) trading and principal investments (broker-dealer activities including proprietary trading ("dealer" transactions) and brokerage trading ("broker" transactions)

In the United States, commercial banking and investment banking were separated by the Glass–Steagall Act, which was repealed in 1999. The repeal led to more "universal banks" offering an even greater range of services. Many large commercial banks have therefore developed investment banking divisions through acquisitions and hiring. Notable large banks with significant investment banks include JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Barclays, and Wells Fargo. In Nigeria Stanbic IBTC Bank tops the chart.

Another term for the investment banking division is corporate finance, and its advisory group is often termed "mergers and acquisitions". A pitch book of financial information is generated to market the bank to a potential M&A client; if the pitch is successful, the bank arranges the deal for the client. The investment banking division (IBD) is generally divided into industry coverage and product coverage groups. Industry coverage groups focus on a specific industry – such as healthcare, public finance (governments), FIG (financial institutions group), industrials, TMT (technology, media, and telecommunication) – and maintains relationships with corporations within the industry to bring in business for the bank. Product coverage groups focus on financial products – such as mergers and acquisitions, leveraged finance, public finance, asset finance and leasing, structured finance, restructuring, equity, and high-grade debt – and generally work and collaborate with industry groups on the more intricate and specialized needs of a client.

Investment Banker Job Outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that jobs in the securities, commodities and other investments industry will experience strong growth nationwide from 2008 through 2018. As global markets increase levels of investment, and baby boomers move into their retirement years, demand for investment bankers’ expertise will grow. Individuals with a strong background in accounting, finance and economics, industry certifications, and advanced education, such as an MBA in Finance, should have the best prospects for landing one of these competitive and high-salary positions.

Investment Banker Job Duties

Job duties of investment bankers revolve around connecting the businesses that need financing to the investors who will provide it, in the form of bonds or stock. They help private corporations go public by structuring initial public offerings, or IPOs. These offerings are subject to strict financial regulations, and the companies who undergo IPOs must meet stringent requirements.

Mergers and acquisitions are another specialty area of investment bankers. When companies are interested in becoming acquired, or purchasing or merging with another firm, they seek the expertise of mergers and acquisitions experts. Investment bankers in this specialty advise clients on how best to structure a deal, analyze potential gains or losses, and develop detailed agreements.

Much of an investment banker’s time is spent consulting with clients in person, by phone or through mobile devices. Other daily tasks may include conducting research, maintaining data in spreadsheets and creating reports. Analyzing data and making recommendations are additional activities of investment bankers.

Most investment bankers put in long hours, but are highly compensated for their time. Travel, including international, may be required in this job. In addition, these professionals may spend time outside work meeting with current and prospective clients and building industry relationships.

Potential Salary for Investment Bankers

The BLS reports that in May 2010, the average annual salary for financial services sales agents was $95,130. The middle 50% earned between $40,860 and $124,450. Salaries for the lowest 10% were approximately $31,330, while the highest 10% brought in upwards of $166,400 per year. Recent bachelor’s degree graduates will typically start out toward the lower end of the scale and move up in salary with experience, but every job seeker is encouraged to do independent research into local trends and requirements. In addition, investment bankers are typically paid commissions on the financial products they sell; success in sales can lead to higher salaries.

Education and Training for Investment Bankers

Breaking into the investment banking field requires a high level of education and skill. Employers expect at minimum a bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics or a related field. Entry-level analyst positions involve on-the-job training, and usually last from two to three years. Those with advanced degrees generally begin as an associate, and are typically in line for promotion to vice president.

The road to becoming a highly-compensated investment banker can begin with enrolling in a Master of Business Administration with a specialization in Finance degree program. Coursework typically includes portfolio analysis, financial markets and institutions, managerial accounting and investment management.

Employers can be confident that graduates of Advance Business/Finance degree program are able to:

• Solve real-world corporate-level problems in finance.
• Apply the techniques, theories and concepts behind investment policy and strategy development.
• Analyze interest rates and their determining factors.
• Evaluate portfolio performance.
• Leverage advanced skills and knowledge to succeed as an investment banker.

Feel free to leave your comments!

Gracia.