Saturday, May 30, 2020

New Study Fdic Insured 529 Plans

Savingforcollege.com's latest study, FDIC-insured products in the 529 marketplace, includes a review and comparison of the available college savings plans offering investment options insured by the Federal Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Because they are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government up to certain limits, FDIC-insured products are suitable for conservative investors interested in preserving capital without taking on excess risk. Currently, there are 23 plans that offer an FDIC-insured investment option, which include savings accounts and bank certificates of deposits (CDs). The study finds that yield on FDIC-insurance products vary widely, ranging from 0.03% to 0.92% for savings portfolios to 0.25% to 2.00% for CDs, depending on the duration. Total annual asset based fees for plans offering an FDIC-insured product ranged from 0.00% to 0.67%, and nine plans charge account maintenance fees unless certain conditions are met. At the time of the study, the Utah Educational Savings Plan offered the highest APY net of fees, at 0.92%, followed by Arizona's Bank Plan (0.90%) and Indiana's CollegeChoice CD 529 Savings Plan (0.90%), both managed by College Savings Bank. The study also examined cost versus returns, looking at published fees as reported by the plans. A wide disparity and lack of correlation was found between expense ratios and yield, where plans with no fees, including Ohio's CollegeAdvantage Direct 529, the Bank Plan and CollegeChoice CD achieved the highest yields with zero fees, and Achieve Montana, which has above-average costs and a low yield. FDIC-insured products in the 529 marketplace was administered by Savingforcollege.com and sponsored by College Savings Bank, a division of NexBank SSB. Click here to download the complete report Savingforcollege.com's latest study, FDIC-insured products in the 529 marketplace, includes a review and comparison of the available college savings plans offering investment options insured by the Federal Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Because they are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government up to certain limits, FDIC-insured products are suitable for conservative investors interested in preserving capital without taking on excess risk. Currently, there are 23 plans that offer an FDIC-insured investment option, which include savings accounts and bank certificates of deposits (CDs). The study finds that yield on FDIC-insurance products vary widely, ranging from 0.03% to 0.92% for savings portfolios to 0.25% to 2.00% for CDs, depending on the duration. Total annual asset based fees for plans offering an FDIC-insured product ranged from 0.00% to 0.67%, and nine plans charge account maintenance fees unless certain conditions are met. At the time of the study, the Utah Educational Savings Plan offered the highest APY net of fees, at 0.92%, followed by Arizona's Bank Plan (0.90%) and Indiana's CollegeChoice CD 529 Savings Plan (0.90%), both managed by College Savings Bank. The study also examined cost versus returns, looking at published fees as reported by the plans. A wide disparity and lack of correlation was found between expense ratios and yield, where plans with no fees, including Ohio's CollegeAdvantage Direct 529, the Bank Plan and CollegeChoice CD achieved the highest yields with zero fees, and Achieve Montana, which has above-average costs and a low yield. FDIC-insured products in the 529 marketplace was administered by Savingforcollege.com and sponsored by College Savings Bank, a division of NexBank SSB. Click here to download the complete report

Saturday, May 16, 2020

Pulque, Ancient Mesoamerican Sacred Drink

Pulque is a viscous, milk-colored, alcoholic beverage produced by fermenting the sap obtained by the maguey plant. Until the 19th and 20th centuries, it was probably the most widespread alcoholic beverage in Mexico. In ancient Mesoamerica, pulque was a beverage restricted to certain groups of people and to certain occasions. The consumption of pulque was linked to feasting and ritual ceremonies, and many Mesoamerican cultures produced a rich iconography illustrating the production and consumption of this beverage. The Aztec called this beverage ixtac octli which means white liquor. The name pulque is probably a corruption of the term octli poliuhqui or over-fermented or spoiled liquor. Pulque Production The juicy sap, or aguamiel, is extracted from the plant. An agave plant is productive for up to a year and,  usually, the sap is collected twice a day. Neither fermented pulque nor the straight aguamiel can be stored for a  long time; the liquor needs to be consumed quickly and even the processing place needs to be close to the field. The fermentation starts in the plant itself  since the microorganisms occurring naturally in the maguey plant start the process of transforming the sugar into alcohol. The fermented sap was traditionally collected using dried bottle gourds, and it was then poured into large ceramic jars where the seeds of the plant were added to accelerate the fermentation process. Among the Aztecs/Mexica, pulque was a highly desired item, obtained through tribute. Many codices refer to the importance of this drink for nobility and priests, and its role in the Aztec economy. Pulque Consumption In ancient Mesoamerica, pulque was consumed during feasting or ritual ceremonies and was also offered to the gods. Its consumption was strictly regulated. Ritual drunkenness was allowed only by priests and warriors, and commoners were permitted to drink it only during certain occasions. The elderly and occasionally pregnant women were allowed to drink it. In the Quetzalcoatl myth, the god is tricked into drinking pulque and his drunkenness caused him to be banished and exiled from his land. According to indigenous and colonial sources, different types of pulque existed, often flavored with other ingredients such as chili peppers. Pulque Imagery Pulque is depicted in Mesoamerican iconography as white foam emerging from small, rounded pots and vessels. A small stick, similar to a straw, is often depicted within the drinking pot, probably representing a stirring instrument used to produce the foam. Images of pulque-making are recorded in many codices, murals and even rock carvings, such as the ball court at El Tajin. One of the most famous representations of the pulque drinking ceremony is at the pyramid of Cholula, in Central Mexico. The Mural of the Drinkers In 1969, a 180 feet long mural was discovered by accident in the pyramid of Cholula. The collapse of a wall exposed part of the mural buried at a depth of almost 25 feet. The mural, dubbed the Mural of the Drinkers, portrays a feasting scene with figures wearing elaborate turbans and masks drinking pulque and performing other ritual activities. It has been suggested that the scene portrays pulque deities. The origin of pulque is narrated in many myths, most of them linked to the goddess of maguey, Mayahuel. Other deities directly related to pulque were the got Mixcoatl and the Centzon Totochtin (the 400 rabbits), sons of Mayahuel associated with the pulque’s effects. Sources Bye, Robert A., and Edelmina Linares, 2001, Pulque, in The Oxford Encyclopedia of Mesoamerican Cultures, vol. 1, edited by David Carrasco, Oxford University Press.pp: 38-40Taube, Karl, 1996, Las Origines del Pulque, Arqueologà ­a Mexicana, 4 (20): 71

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

New Tax Policies Imposed On The Colonies Essay - 2365 Words

In 1765 Boston life in the colonies has been relatively tranquil certainly it has for Thomas Hutchinson a fifth-generation Bostonian. Hutchinson has enjoyed good fortune and political success. The King appoints him Chief Justice and lieutenant governor of Massachusetts. For years Thomas Hutchinson has been one of the colonies, most admired citizens until now. Hutchinson s life is about to take a dramatic and ugly turn an angry mob is surging through Boston and Hutchinson is about to find out that he s the man they are after. He s the man in charge of the Intolerable new policies imposed on the colonies by their British rulers, tax policies that have incited an increasingly violent rebellion among the people, a rebellion against attacks imposed not by their own local representatives but by Parliament 3,000 miles away in England. Lieutenant governor Hutchinson is duty bound to enforce this controversial new tax, even though he personally opposes it. He is being denounced as a traitor. Massachusetts has never seen a mob as violent as this, they re not just angry about the money, they re angry at the assault on their Autonomy by English rulers who neither know them nor represent them. The revolt spreads like an epidemic through all 13 colonies, it s hard to imagine that the fallout from this tax will ignite a social revolution unlike any other world has ever seen. Across the Atlantic England s King George the third is losing his patience, his colonies are acting like aShow MoreRelatedAmerican Of British Policies After 1775764 Words   |  4 PagesBritish Policies before 1775 There were several ways in which the American Colonies resisted Imperial policy before 1775, which led to the American Revolution. Britain’s taxation and infringement of basic rights of the colonists unified the colonies. Many significant events, including the Stamp Act, the Intolerable Acts, the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party, occurred before 1775. 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The passengers on the boat that left England had a vision, to be an example for the rest of the world. And for over 100 years, Great Britain ruled over these colonies, under the undocumented policy of salutary neglect. Salutary neglect was a long standing policy that allowed the colonists to violate the laws of trade. However, the British reversed this policy to raise taxes for the debtsRead MoreThe Success Of The Boston Tea Party Essay1707 Words   |  7 PagesDecember 16th 1773, 5,000 people gathered at the Old South Meeting House to plan the Boston Tea Party. This essay will examine the causes of the movement, the ships, how the Sons of Liberty arrived to destroying the te a, the loyalty whether to the colonies or Britain, the damage and the influence it has today. The Sons of Liberty were made up of males from all spheres in the colonial society, they were laborers, tradesmen, and even artisans, all determined to defend their rights and undermine the British

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Discursive Construction of Strategists System †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss abut the Discursive Construction of Strategists System. Answer: Introduction: Alignment amongst all levels of an organization is as important as maintaining the alignment of the organization and its strategies (Friedli, Mundt and Thomas 2014). The smooth running of an organization depends upon the level of communication amongst each external and internal processes, throughout the managerial levels. Aligning strategies of a Company with its employees on one hand, and external dependents on the other, is a complex and herculean task. The various challenges faced in the process of applying strategies include aligning the strategies of a Company with the changing business scenario and evolving business goals, as well as within the managerial and production processes. The operational sector of a business management includes the Production, Logistics, IT, Finance, Marketing, Sales and Services processes. All the Value-driven activities that help with the delivery of services are categorised under the operational sector. The strategy engine of a company looks after the maximisation of the utility of resources applied. The strategy analyses external market scenario and suggests potential changes that could align the external conditions with the internal organizational strategy. A balance between the two sectors would ensure a smooth running of an organization, taking care of the quantity as well as the quality of production. Strategy lenses are the four distinguished angles from which an organizational strategy can be analyseddesign, experience, idea and discourse (Balogun et al. 2014). The design lens carefully evaluates the external and internal opportunities and threats of a company and hence helps to devise an appropriate strategy and clear direction. However, most of this is used in top-managerial levels, alienating the rest of the operational process employees. The experience lens looks at company strategies in light of previous strategies, practical experiences, culture, and values. This approach is more accurate than design lens but runs the risk of drifting into undesirable circumstances in the process of practical implementation. The lens of idea emphasizes on innovation and diversity of ideas with the changing market environment. It stresses on the way the internal members of the organization handle and respond to the changes in external and internal environment (Wong and Bajuri 2013). The lens of discourse looks at various available possibilities and chooses the most appropriate approach based on its legitimacy and rationality. It is important to strike a balance amongst all these lenses so that none of the conflicting strategies remains in the system (Dameron and Torset 2014). Too much emphasis in any one less would mean the exclusion of some other. In an ideal business setup, all four lenses are used to evaluate the strategies of a Company. As a curious student of business management and an aspiring business entrepreneur, enrolling for Masters of Science in Management programme at the University of Liverpool enabled and inspired me in more than one ways. It opened me the scope to participate in a global, online community of learners from all over the world. This exposure calls for a healthy transaction of ideas and knowledge, helping with an over-all progress. It connected me with other employees who share similar professional goals and interests. Working and learning with like-minded people enhances the effectiveness of knowledge. This helped me collaborate with various perspectives and new ideas in order to achieve the desired goals. Overcoming practical challenges with the help and support from fellow colleagues would give space for sharing concerns regarding how to perform better as an online Masters student. Therefore, joining this particular course has been immensely helpful for me. References Balogun, J., Jacobs, C., Jarzabkowski, P., Mantere, S. and Vaara, E., 2014. Placing strategy discourse in context: Sociomateriality, sensemaking, and power. Journal of Management Studies,51(2), pp.175-201. Dameron, S. and Torset, C., 2014. The discursive construction of strategists' subjectivities: Towards a paradox lens on strategy.Journal of Management Studies,51(2), pp.291-319. Friedli, T., Mundt, A. and Thomas, S., 2014.Strategic management of global manufacturing networks: Aligning strategy, configuration, and coordination. Springer. Wong, Y.C. and Bajuri, N.H., 2013. Corporate governance: Board structure, information technology and csr reporting.Sains Humanika,64(2).