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Data Reveals the Best Luxury Watches to Invest in

Claire James
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Data Reveals the Best Luxury Watches to Invest in

In these ‘stagflation’ times, it’s difficult to know where you can really make a return on your cash. This is a time when most people want to play it safe, and hold onto what they have. Yet others, this is a time of speculation.

In recent times, there has been a lot of noise about speculative cryptocurrencies. However, an asset which has been a lot steadier – and a lot more profitable for many – is nothing technological or newfangled. In fact, it’s an item that’s almost as old as time itself – watches.

Of course, not all watches make a good investment. But research from Luxe Watches shows that many luxury watches have performed as exceptionally good investments over the past five years.

In fact, the numbers show that many luxury watches have not only increased in value over the past 5 years – they have actually outperformed other asset classes, including the S&P 500.

Better than the stock market?

The S&P 500, an index which tracks the USA’s 500 biggest publicly traded companies, is seen by many as the safest and best place to invest your money for strong, reliable returns. However, the data suggests that investing in the luxury watch market has significantly higher returns over the past five years. On average, Rolex watch prices have increased around 90% over five years – similar to the S&P 500. However, Patek Philippe watches have dwarfed the S&P 500s gains, with over 200% returns.

A better investment than real estate?

The property market has almost always been considered as a safe bet. That might be true now, and it has certainly been true in the past. However, the data is clear that for those astronomical returns, luxury watches outperform real estate. The UK House Price Index demonstrated just over a 20% return over the past five years. However, many Rolex watches increased in value around 90%.

Which watch brand is best?

Rolex is the best-known luxury watch brand out there. However, it is not the highest-performing watch brand in terms of its investment value. That title goes to Patek Philippe.

The Rolex brand is recognised around the world, and the data shows that Rolex investments, with an average ROI of 93%, outperformed most other asset classes – including real estate and the S&P 500. That’s certainly not bad going!

However, Patek Philippe is the winning brand in terms of its investment value. With an ROI of 207% over the past five years, it leaves even Rolex in the dust. The second place honours go to Audemars Piguet, which yielded 158% on average.

Not all luxury watch brands can claim to share this outstanding price performance. Vacheron Constantin watches produced an ROI of 55%, and A.Lange & Söhne an ROI of 18% over the past five years. That’s certainly not bad, although it pales in comparison to the staggering returns from Patek Philippe.

As inflation continues to rise, it’s hard to know how the prices of any asset class will look in the next five years. But if the last five years are anything to go by, luxury watches remain in high demand, with rising prices that reflect that demand.

AMAZON INVESTIGATED: CEO OF RIVAL MARKETPLACE COMMENTS ON INDUSTRY ISSUE

Sam Allcock
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AMAZON INVESTIGATED: CEO OF RIVAL MARKETPLACE COMMENTS ON INDUSTRY ISSUE

Amazon is subject to an investigation by the antitrust Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) watchdog over concerns that some of its UK practices are anti-competitive and result in worse deals for customers. 

The investigation will assess whether the multinational is distorting competition by providing its own retail business, and sellers that share its service, with an unfair advantage over other third-party retailers.

Following news of the probe today, the CEO of the UK’s most trusted online marketplace, OnBuy, has released a statement condemning poor business practices and calling on the industry to act in the interest of consumers and retailers alike. 

Cas Paton said: “Any online marketplace that uses third-party seller data to gain an advantage over onsite retailers or favour certain sellers is, by definition, creating an unfair and unequal business environment. 

“This is not the way the industry should operate. 

“Online marketplaces should be a place where retailers and consumers come together. There is no reason why, when operated correctly, marketplaces should not offer shoppers a good deal – and sellers a lucrative platform to trade on. 

“Any business practices that actively attempt to promote the opposite by distorting competition should be condemned. 

“That’s because when competition is limited, it’s the consumers that lose out. This results in prices for products going up and, in many cases, consumers having less choice, therefore access to a lower quality of product than might otherwise be available. 

“As of today, Amazon is subject to an investigation, so it would be wrong to denounce any of their practices at this stage. However, we have faith that the CMA will do its job and get to the bottom of whatever wrongdoing, if any, was committed.”

Benefits of Financial Planning

Sam Allcock
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Benefits of Financial Planning

When it comes to personal financial planning, you may feel that you don’t earn enough or are simply too young to think about managing your finances. However, you are never too young to start preparing for the future, and it is not dictated by your salary or asset level, financial planning is available to everyone.

There are a number of reasons why financial planning is important, one of the main reasons is that it helps in providing financial security for the future. It does this by helping you to reserve a future cash flow which can be used to reach your financial goals, support you in the case of an emergency or even lead to an early retirement. In this article we explore some of the key benefits of financial planning.

1.   Helps you to better understand your money

Although you probably have a basic understanding about money and that you use it to spend on things you need and want, knowing the real value of your money and how it works comes with research to deepen your understanding. You can deepen this understanding by reading financial management blogs, books or even using an independent financial advisor.

If you want to fully understand your money and financial planning, it is important to be financially literate and have a good financial management plan in place. This will allow you to control your money, rather than your money controlling you.

2.   Enables you to properly organise your finances

As discussed in the previous point, your knowledge of money may be limited but with the right understanding of financial planning, you will be better able to keep track of ingoings and outgoings. This will result in you knowing exactly where you spend your money and if it doesn’t go towards essentials such as bills, rent etc, then you can cut them out and add this extra money into your savings.

Top tip: Effective personal financial planning priorities savings over expenses. Therefore, before you spend any money, you should set aside a portion for your savings pot.

There are a number of useful tools you can use to manage your outgoings and savings.

  • Firstly, you could create two separate bank accounts with separate cards. You can use one for daily expenses which you take out and about with you. The other card will act as a safe where you hold your savings etc.
  • Another way to monitor your expenses is by one of the many financial apps available for smartphones. This way you can track what you spend and will know if you are spending over your limit.
  • Make a checklist- If you prefer a more traditional route, you can use a calendar or post notes to display your bills. Simply make a list of the bills you will pay for the month and manage your budget for expenses accordingly.

3.   Allows you to establish clear financial goals

Financial planning is also an excellent way to establish clear financial goals. For example, if you are on a mission to become financially free, this should be one of your financial goals. Other goals include limiting your expenses and saving more money. A good way to do this is to keep track of daily expenditures. Some ways in which you can establish financial goals is through the following:

  • Assess and identify where you priorities lie
  • Set SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time bound)
  • Apply a budget
  • Track and reevaluate your progress

Independent Financial Advisor for financial planning

If you do not feel overly confident when it comes to finances, or you do not have the time to actively plan financially, it may be worth contacting an independent financial advisor (IFA). An IFA offers independent advice on financial matters including financial planning. The benefits of using them include their expertise, security, personalised guidance, all of which can help to reduce tax, grow the value of your pension and lead to earlier retirement. 

One of the leadings independent financial advisor firms is Suttons IFA who offer expert financial advice on a range of financial matters including:

  • Savings
  • Pensions and retirement planning
  • Mortgage and equity release
  • Investment advice
  • Illness and life insurance
  • Inheritance tax

Most Significant Investment Funds: Taking A Look At The Largest Private Investment Funds and Sovereign Wealth Funds

Sam Allcock
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Most Significant Investment Funds: Taking A Look At The Largest Private Investment Funds and Sovereign Wealth Funds

Investment funds are a pool of money from several investors or participants used to buy financial instruments all at once. The investor retains all ownership rights regarding his investment in the shares. Among the many types of investment funds are exchange-traded funds, hedge funds, money market funds, and mutual funds. Similarly, sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) are government-owned investment funds made out of government income. They frequently come from a nation’s excess reserves. Both residents and a country’s economy can benefit from SWFs. State transfer payments, trade surpluses, foreign exchange operations, privatization proceeds, and bank reserves are some of the resources that can be used to fund a sovereign wealth fund.

Most investors and businesses rely on intermediary firms, typically known as asset management companies, to make investments and oversee portfolios. These companies manage investments and decide which investments to undertake. A similar investment company in the MENA region is Dubai Investment Fund (DIF), having more than 20 years of investing experience. However, some companies are designed for extremely rich investors who often give managers complete control over their investment portfolios so that they may focus on managing their holdings. In this post, you will learn about some of the world’s top investment management companies. You will also get a quick review of funds, what SWFs are, and the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds.

A Detailed Look At Investment Funds

Investment funds allow for the management of assets without involving individual investors in investment decision-making. An investor evaluates several factors, including risk assessment, investment objectives, and cost to choose funds. After choosing the fund, the management of the entire investment process is the responsibility of a fund manager. Investor decisions, such as which securities to hold and how many to hold, and when to buy and sell, are made by the fund manager. An investment fund can either be a versatile investment like an index fund or a highly specialized one like the exchange-traded fund. An index fund monitors the S&P 500 index, while an ETF invests primarily in small-cap technology firms.

●     The Concept Of Funds: Describing How They Are Used

Funds are referred to the amount of money that has been set aside to accomplish a particular objective. There can be multiple reasons for setting up a fund. Creating a fund for a city’s civic center, a college’s scholarship fund, or an insurance company’s claims fund are a few reasons why funds are established. Governments, individuals, and corporations use funds to meet emergency needs. Emergency funds or trust funds can be designated for a specific event or a person. On the other hand, funds also serve the objective of making money because individual investors and companies can invest money in different funds to generate profits. Mutual funds, hedge funds, and government bond funds are a few examples of funds. A mutual investment fund gathers funds from many investors and invests them in a variety of assets. Investments by hedge funds aim to earn above-market returns on the assets of individuals and institutions that hold high-net-worth. Similarly, specific government expenses are paid by special revenue funds, such as those derived from taxation.

●     The Working Structure Of The Largest Asset Management Companies

Asset management companies prefer to work with big establishments, institutions, and organizations, such as giant nonprofit institutions, large corporations, or alliances. However, several well-known companies cater to the needs of individual investors. Many asset management companies charge fees depending on the asset value they manage, while some demand fixed rates. These companies also provide brokerage services and may collaborate with their rivals to trade mutual funds. Investors may purchase and sell mutual funds from a rival business through the online marketplace of another asset management firm. DIF is an independent investment management firm that offers investment solutions such as funds, tailored investment guidelines, and ETFs based on the needs of its clients. Fixed income, stocks, and multi-asset strategies are some of its investing approaches.

●     Six Top Companies That Manage Investments

In a sector that consistently experiences annual growth, the following top six investment firms in the world are increasing at a remarkable rate. What is the market value of the investment management sector? In 2022, investment securities are projected to grow from approximately $64 trillion to $102 trillion. It shows an increase of nearly 6% CAGR. BlackRock, The Vanguard Group, UBS Group, Fidelity, State Street Global Advisors, and Dubai Investment Fund (DIF) are the top six investment firms. An investment company gathers investors’ funds and invests them in the right securities to increase the value of the original investments. The most reputable asset management firms have been listed below. Based on their most recently reported balance sheets from February 2022, these rankings are determined according to how many funds are under their control.

1.    BlackRock: The Company Manages $9.464 Trillion In Assets

With $9.464 trillion in assets under management, BlackRock is the world’s largest asset manager. A worldwide investment management company based in the US, BlackRock was established in 1988. It presently serves clients from 70 offices spread over 30 countries. BlackRock, which is regarded as the biggest shadow bank in the world, has 14,900 employees. The business is renowned for having pioneered the development of ETFs. In addition to investing in equities, fixed income, and money market securities, BlackRock offers a variety of funds and portfolios.

2.    The Vanguard Group: The Company Manages $8.4 Trillion In Assets

Vanguard is a well-known American licensed asset manager noted for its passive investing method. With USD 8.4 trillion in assets under administration, the business has its headquarters in Malvern, Pennsylvania. In terms of ETFs, Vanguard is the second-largest corporation in the world behind BlackRock. In addition to financial planning, trust services, and brokerage services, it offers educational account services, variable and fixed annuities, and a wide range of brokerage services.

3.     UBS Group: The Company Manages $4.432 Trillion In Assets

Having USD 4.432 trillion in AUM, the USB group comes in third place among the six top companies. Swiss-born UBS Group is a global investment company and provider of different financial products. UBS is developing its financial offerings by embracing blockchain solutions. It is improving its cybersecurity and customer activity encryption through a research facility based in London. Its confidential organizational culture and maintaining the privacy of clients have made it a profitable asset management organization. In addition, the group provides both asset and wealth management services to its users.

4.    Fidelity: The Company Manages $4.23 Trillion In Assets

Fidelity ranks fifth among all asset managers globally with USD 4.23 trillion in AUM in 2022. With more than 50,000 workers globally and over 30 million clients, Fidelity is an American-based financial services provider with headquarters in Boston. The core financial product of Fidelity is managing a vast family of mutual funds as a brokerage company. Besides investment advice and fund distribution, it also offers wealth management, cryptocurrency, life insurance, and other services. Investors can use Fidelity’s website to trade securities. The company is a discount broker and asset management company.

5.    State Street Global Advisors: The Company Manages $3.68 Trillion In Assets

The fifth largest investment firm is State Street Global Advisors. In addition to offering investment services in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia, State Street Global Advisors has 25 locations around the world. It handles assets for a broad spectrum of corporate investors, spanning non-profits, regional governments, organizations, and even academic institutions. Further, the firm offers a wide range of financial products including asset management, mutual fund, exchange-traded fund, and sub-advisory services.

6.    Dubai Investment Fund (DIF): The Company Manages $320+ Billion In Assets

Dubai Investment Fund (DIF) is the sixth largest privately owned investment firm headquartered in Dubai. In almost all areas of the international securities markets, Dubai Investment Fund is well-established and has a proven track record. DIF has developed into one of the largest global investment funds. It was founded in 2001 and serves a diverse spectrum of private and institutional customers worldwide, including pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, fund sponsors, insurance companies, and many others.

Getting To Know Sovereign Wealth Funds: An Overview 

Since more nations establish funds and invest in well-known businesses, SWFs have gained much traction among countries and their governments. Countries can invest surplus funds in stocks or other asset securities through sovereign wealth funds, which ultimately address the concerns of a growing economy of any country. Sovereign wealth funds are used by countries as a means of accumulating wealth that can be used to boost their economies and benefit their population. In general, sovereign wealth funds serve two main purposes: diversifying the economy and producing wealth for the next generation. Governments manage and control sovereign wealth funds, which are invested in several assets and securities. Instead of holding extra funds or reinvesting them, a country with surplus funds invests them through a sovereign wealth fund.

●     What Kind Of Investments Do SWFs Make?

Typically, SWFs have been long-term, passive investors. Government bonds, stocks, and foreign direct investment are just a few of the asset classes in which SWFs invest. Hedge funds and private equity that are inaccessible to the majority of regular investors are becoming a more popular choice for funds for investments. Different investing techniques are employed when investing in sovereign wealth funds. Several firms only make investments in financial assets that are traded publicly while others make investments across all significant investment vehicles.

●     Five Arab Region’s Biggest Sovereign Wealth Funds

SWFs are becoming more influential in the international economy. Sovereign wealth funds are state-owned institutions that get financing from several sources with ties to the state. They use those funds to make investments in securities like stocks, bonds, and real estate that have the potential to increase in value. The top five largest wealth funds in the Arab region, as measured by total fund size, are listed below.

1.    Abu Dhabi Investment Authority With Asset Under Management $696.66 Billion

The ADIA was founded in 1976 and has been declared the largest SWF in the Middle East. The money earned from Abu Dhabi’s oil exports serves as ADIA’s main financing source. Over 24 distinct investment vehicles and subcategories make up the SWF’s global range of investments. AIDA has not provided any further information regarding its particular investments and fund size.

2.    Kuwait Investment Authority With Asset Under Management $592 Billion

KIA was founded in 1953, making it the oldest SWF in the entire world. This fund was established to invest surplus oil export earnings and lessen the country’s dependence on oil resources. In its fiscal year ending March 2020, Kuwait decided to deplete seven billion dinars to cover its deficit. Despite this move, the KIA is likely to keep its position as the Arab world’s second-largest SWF.

3.    SAMA Foreign Holdings With Asset Under Management $505.76 Billion

SAMA was founded in 1952 to handle Saudi Arabia’s significant oil surpluses and meet the nation’s spending requirements. Unlike the Public Investment Funds, SAMA Foreign Holdings has a different investing approach. It primarily places a lot of emphasis on safe fixed-income assets such as government debt instruments, especially US Treasury bonds. Low-yielding US bonds are likely to make up the majority of their holdings.

4.    Public Investment Fund With Asset Under Management $320 Billion

The PIF, which was founded in 1971, has seen a major transformation after the launch of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. According to Vision 2030, the fund will have assets worth over $2 trillion, making it the biggest sovereign wealth fund in the world. Public Investment Fund has massive investments in many high-profile organizations and projects, including Virgin Galactic, the Softbank Vision Fund, and many others.

5.    Qatar Investment Authority With Asset Under Management $320 Billion

QIA was established in 2005 to manage and invest the funds or assets of Qatar states. The purpose of this SWF is to develop the country’s economy and produce long-term benefits for the nation. It makes investments in publicly listed assets and invests directly in initiatives including real estate, infrastructure, financial institutions, business, and investment funds.

Buy Now Pay Later – An Old Idea Gets updated

Sam Allcock
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Buy Now Pay Later – An Old Idea Gets updated

New technology often results on old ideas being repackaged as new. Whether it is Uber reinventing the taxi service, Airbnb disrupting the travel accommodation market, or Wework attempting to change the office space rental market, the addition of technology is an opportunity to open up an existing way of doing things to a new market. In addition, it can refresh the product and make it more exciting than the old way of doing things.

And so it is with Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL). Older readers will remember getting catalogues sent to the door (before the internet!), and it was possible to buy products, then pay in installments at a later date.

As part of the fintech revolution, several BNPL providers have come on to the market, offering pretty much the same product. However, there is one key difference. Whereas the old-style catalogues would generally charge a premium for the longer payment terms, usually in the form of interest, these new providers give the user longer to pay without adding any interest.

This has proven incredibly popular with younger consumers, who love to be able to buy goods and then spread the payments over a longer period. The main BNPL providers usually offer the possibility to pay in 3 or 4 instalments, generally over 6 – 8 weeks.

BNPL Risks:

As BNPL products are relatively new, they are not yet officially regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK. This has led some to call for their regulation, as there are concerns that some people may do too much shopping via these services, and not be able to cover all of the payments. This can be problematic as most of the providers will resort to debt collection if they cannot recover payments, and it can adversely affect the customer’s credit rating.

Buy Now pay Later Providers:

Klarna:

Sweden’s Klarna are probably the best known BNPL provider, and the oldest, having launched initially in Sweden in 2005. After launching in certain key European countries such as Germany, they entered the UK in 2012, and launched their BNPL product in 2017. Since then they have gained over 16 million users and are available as a payment solution with over 5000 merchants.

Zilch:

Zilch was founded in the UK in 2018. They offer a 4 installment payment plan, with 25% paid up front, and then 3 more payments of 25% of the total, with the last payment being due 42 days after the initial purchase. Zilch are the only of the main BNPL providers in the UK who are regulated by the FCA. You can see Zilch reviews here.

Laybuy:

Laybuy was launched in 2017 in New Zealand, and began operations in the UK in 2019. Currently it has over 600,000 users. They offer a ‘pay in 6’ feature, where you can pay 1 sixth of the cost upon purchase, then a further 5 weekly payments.

BNPL Is Here To Stay: Despite some concerns over BNPL and risks for customer in regard to defaults and credit ratings, it is clear that the flexibility and ease of use they offer are very attractive to consumers, so it looks like these companies will become a fixture of the UK retail payment scene.

Former head of Estonia’s financial regulator appointed to establish new office for crypto fintech SG Veteris

Sam Allcock
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Former head of Estonia’s financial regulator appointed to establish new office for crypto fintech SG Veteris

Today, global cryptocurrency-based fintech services group, SG Veteris, which is headquartered in London, has announced the appointment of industry heavyweight, Raul Malmstein, to establish a new office in Estonia, SG Veteris Estonia OÜ and to secure a cryptocurrency license. 

In this newly created role, Raul is responsible for day-to-day business activities in Estonia with a focus on its two main brands, Bitpace (instant payment processing services) and Koinal (enables individuals to buy, sell, deposit or withdraw cryptocurrencies), and reports into SG Veteris CEO, Anil Oncu.  He will also act as Director and MLRO for the Group, delivering a risk-based approach for the prevention of AML (anti money laundering) and countering the financing of terrorism.  

Raul has nearly 30 years’ experience in the financial services sector and is the former chairman of the Management Board of the Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA), a position he held for eight years.  He also served as the EFSA representative on the Committee of European Securities Regulators.  

Prior to that he worked for Cresco Securities AS, where he served as chairman of the Management Board.  Previously he spent several years with the Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs, and worked for Hansa Asset Management, a subsidiary of Hansabank.  More recently he was founder of Skuuper, a professional and cost-effective translation service for SMEs and Sharpminder, a political blog. 

Raul has a diploma in Economics (M.A.) from Tallinn University of Technology, and he received a M.Phil (sociology) from the Graduate School of the City University of New York.

This follows the company’s recent announcement that it has established an office in Lithuania. 

Commenting on the appointment, Anil Oncu said:

“We want to continue being at the forefront of anti-money laundering risk analysis and in embedding robust alert and reporting mechanisms into all our cryptocurrency payment and trading platforms. Raul’s wealth of experience in AML and as a financial regulator will put us in a market leading position to prevent and combat anti-money laundering threats and crimes, as well as in meeting the highest industry standards.

“He has a long track record in business planning, corporate finance, entrepreneurship and strategy which will be invaluable as we are increasingly operating in a fast-changing commercial and regulatory landscape. I am delighted that he has chosen SG Veteris for the next stage of his career and to welcome him to the team.” 

Raul Malmstein adds: 


“SG Veteris enables both businesses and individuals to take advantage of the opportunities offered by cryptocurrencies.  This new role provides me with a unique opportunity to work at the frontiers in global finance and allows me to combine my experience in the financial services sector with that of being a creative builder of new organisations.

“I am excited to be able to contribute to SG Veteris’ evolving journey and to establish it in Estonia.  It is one of the leading countries for cryptocurrency and blockchain businesses and is strictly regulated, making it one of the safest places to set up a company and do business.  SG Veteris is at an exciting stage of its development, and I am looking forward to being part of its clear growth trajectory and playing a part by contributing in a significant way.”

You Are Not Alone and other charitable foundations: Supporting local healthcare capabilities in the drive for health equity

Sam Allcock
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You Are Not Alone and other charitable foundations: Supporting local healthcare capabilities in the drive for health equity

Philanthropic organizations like You Are Not Alone Foundation are adapting their healthcare funding strategies for the future, with an increased focus on training and supporting local capabilities.

The coronavirus pandemic highlighted health inequity around the globe, with developing countries and socially disadvantaged communities everywhere bearing a disproportionate impact from both the virus and its economic consequences.  

When COVID-19 began to spread in early 2020, it rapidly became apparent that healthcare systems already under-resourced and stretched to the limit would soon be overwhelmed. The response from development organizations and private philanthropy was immediate and substantial: in the US alone over €18bn was raised in pandemic relief in 2020.

Philanthropy and development aid has already played a major part in funding gains in health equity that have been achieved in recent decades – like the 50% reduction in the mortality rate for children under five achieved between 2000 and 2020.   

But COVID-19 shows how much remains to be done to achieve real health equity – equal access to basic healthcare, medicines and vaccines. In March 2022, 2.8bn people in low-income countries were still waiting for a first vaccine. Moreover, disruption caused by the pandemic to local healthcare services and aid from external sources reversed years of progress in tackling diseases like malaria and tuberculosis.

However, just as the pandemic response has brought some lasting benefits – for instance, the accelerated spread of cycleways across many cities and the new availability of hybrid and more flexible working – there is also hope that it can galvanize the drive to achieve health equity across all countries.

There are three main reasons for this: firstly, it is abundantly clear that improving what’s termed ‘pandemic preparedness’ in low-income countries must be an essential part of the strategy to deter the global spread of another novel virus.

Secondly, it is evident that pandemic preparedness cannot be tackled in isolation from overall health equity in the form of improved healthcare access and services. The two go hand-in-hand.

Thirdly, every donor organization active in pandemic relief, from charities focused on one country to global philanthropic foundations and development aid entities, has learned from experience. Now, they are adapting their healthcare funding strategies for the future, with an increased focus on training and supporting local capabilities, from medical supply chain logistics to hospitals and primary health care facilities such as community clinics.

The You Are Not Alone Foundation (YANAF) supports healthcare and education for children in Uzbekistan, the homeland of founders Lola Tillyaeva (Till) and Timur Tillyaev, by providing state-of-the-art medical equipment and supplies, building new medical facilities and, in partnership with French NGO La Chaîne de l’Espoir (Chain of Hope), funding cardiac surgery for children with congenital heart conditions. Since 2015, 135 children have undergone lifesaving surgery in Uzbekistan by surgeons brought in from France, while 21 complex cases were flown to France for surgery and aftercare.

This work was briefly put on hold during the pandemic but resumed in 2022 when visiting French surgeon Dr Olivier Baron, with his Uzbek counterparts, performed surgery on six Uzbek children and provided consultation to another 60.

Founders Lola Till and Timur Tillyaev say that the interruption caused by the pandemic has led YANAF to focus even more on building local capabilities in Uzbekistan: “Covid-19 made many philanthropic initiatives more difficult with vulnerable children suffering the most. This has made it even more imperative that we continue our work providing lifesaving surgery and training to local healthcare professionals. You Are Not Alone was founded to ensure that underprivileged children in Uzbekistan can live a fuller, healthier, and happier life. By training local doctors, many more children will be able to benefit from lifesaving surgery in the future.”

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is well-known as the largest private foundation that provides global support to improve healthcare and reduce extreme and has always worked closely with local healthcare professionals. Since January 2020, the Foundation has committed over $2 billion to the global pandemic response. Recently, the Foundation stressed the need to learn from the lessons of Covid-19 by accelerating the drive to improve health equity which will, it says, help prevent another pandemic, because ‘…the systems and tools the world develops to address diseases that already plague lower-income countries are the same tools needed to fight future novel viruses.’ 

In June 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched its Primary Health Care (PHC) strategy for the European region (53 countries across Europe, Central Asia and Asia). The new strategy is based on the bold actions taken by countries in response to the pandemic, which have transformed how PHC is delivered to people in their communities. This follows the April launch of an initiative to demonstrate well-performing PHC facilities by bringing key healthcare professionals and decision-makers from other countries for 3-to-5-day structured on-site visits.

Another cause for optimism is that, in a recent report by Deloitte, digital transformation is listed, along with health equity, as one of the six key healthcare issues shaping the future of global healthcare. Digitally-enabled care can help improve health equity worldwide by serving patients in their local communities and decreasing the burden on healthcare providers.

With the new sense of urgency instilled by this pandemic, development aid and philanthropic organizations can, by working closely with local healthcare experts and providers, accelerate the move towards equitable access to healthcare, medicines, and vaccines for everyone on the planet.

Top Influencer Marketing Strategies to Boost your Business

Sam Allcock
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Top Influencer Marketing Strategies to Boost your Business

In today’s digitally-oriented world, not using influencer marketing is one of the biggest mistakes a brand can make. Influencer marketing has evolved from a marketing fad to a considerable piece of marketing spend. But, it has to be done correctly. The best way to guarantee a top strategy that resonates with your audience and boosts your business is to work with an influencer marketing agency.

Influencer marketing agencies can help brands of all industries with any and all influencer marketing activity. Whether you want to activate a short-term influencer campaign or implement an always-on approach, a reputable influencer marketing agency can help.

Considering influencer marketing agencies have experience with thousands of influencer marketing campaigns, it’s safe to say they understand the strategies that work best to boost business. Not only this, but they understand the importance of tailoring every strategy to each client; what works for one, won’t work for another.

Here are three top influencer marketing strategies that your business can use to boost ROI:

1. Identify Your Objectives and KPIs

The first step to any successful marketing campaign is identifying your objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs). This will help you determine whether your campaign was a success or not, and help you identify any areas to improve on for next time.

For example, if your objective was to increase brand awareness, then you would track KPIs such as reach, impressions, and website traffic. If your objective was to increase sales, then you would track KPIs such as conversion rate and revenue.

Once you know what success looks like for your campaign, you can start to implement strategies that will help you achieve your objectives. Your objectives and KPIs are the building blocks of any successful influencer marketing strategy.

2. Work with Micro-Influencers

Micro-influencers are influencers with a smaller following, usually between 1,000 and 50,000 followers. Although they have a smaller following and reach, they actually have higher engagement rates than larger influencers, which is something many brands have begun preferring.

This is because their followers are more likely to trust their recommendations, as they feel like they have a personal connection with the influencer. When influencers begin to grow, their audience often begins to disconnect from them. Micro-influencers are also more affordable than larger influencers, so you can get more return for your investment.

3. Implement an Influencer Marketing Strategy that is Results-Driven

An effective influencer marketing strategy is one that is results-driven. This means that you need to focus on working with influencers who have a proven track record of driving results for brands like yours.

The best way to find these influencers is to look at their previous campaigns and see what kind of results they were able to achieve. You can also look at the engagement rates of their posts to get an idea of how popular their content is with their followers.

An influencer marketing agency can also help you identify the right influencers to work with, based on your campaign objectives. Agencies have access to influencer databases and platforms that can accurately breakdown an influencer’s audience demographic, engagement, followers and more. In addition to this, agencies have rigorous vetting processes for choosing influencers. Not only will they ensure an influencer’s metrics will match your brand, but they will also assess previous brand partnerships (to make sure there aren’t any direct competitors), tone of voice (to ensure it matches your brand’s messaging and voice), and whether or not the influencer is a potential PR risk for your brand.

These are just a few of the many different strategies that you can use to boost your business with influencer marketing. If you want to see real results from your campaigns, then it’s important to work with an experienced influencer marketing agency.

Understanding How The Television Revenue Is Increasing The Stature Of The Premier League

Sam Allcock
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0
Understanding How The Television Revenue Is Increasing The Stature Of The Premier League

The modern-day footballing empire known as the Premier League has evolved so much ever since its birth in 1992. The rise of the competition has been impressive, and one thing is for sure – TV rights and prize money played a pivotal role in its rise to the top.

Moreover, due to the high coverage of England’s top-flight competitions, bookies are known for having big sponsorships and investment in the league which helps the wheel of money rotate.

So, let’s take a closer look at what exactly is broadcast revenue in football, and how it is increasing the stature of the Premier League.

What is TV Broadcast Revenue?

Let’s take it step by step, first, we need to know what exactly is broadcast revenue. A general definition says that broadcast revenue is the money paid to the football federation and the clubs by its broadcasting partners (which can be TV networks or even online platforms), who subsequently have the right to display or cover certain games.

In modern times, all major sporting events rely very heavily on broadcasting revenues to generate profits, so you can see why they are so important to the Premier League.

So, How Does it Help With Increasing the Stature of the Competition?

To understand how the TV Broadcast Revenue helps the Premier League, let’s see some of the numbers. Earlier this year, it was announced that the PL’s income from broadcasting deals will see the competition break the £10 billion amount over the following three seasons.

Moreover, clubs are reportedly told that the broadcasting partnerships from abroad will generate more than the current domestic deals. From 2022 to 2025, overseas deals will be up to 30%, and in numbers, it translates to £5.3 billion, with the domestic deals being £5.1 billion.

So, you can imagine how the Premier League’s success in achieving such deals is very unique in football, as no other league in the world comes anywhere near these numbers.

Furthermore, new deals with Nordic Entertainment Group and NBC provide around £2 billion in that three-year period, but the contracts that broadcasters have are worth more than double that over their six-year terms.

These numbers show that the difficult times of 2020 are well and truly behind. In the 2022/23 season, Premier League champions will earn £176 million in prize money, which is an increase from the £153 million won this season.

Even the clubs at the bottom of the table will be guaranteed £106 million, 9 more than the previous season.

With these numbers in the equation, it is understandable why the Premier League has told clubs in the competition that they can now begin negotiation with the EFL (English Football League) about solidarity payments.

These numbers just show how big the international appeal is for the Premier League. Gone are the days when only domestic TV companies had the right to broadcast the competition. Nowadays, the Premier League is closely followed in the US, so, as you would expect, broadcasters from that region take matters into their own hands.

This money helps the teams to become more competitive both in the Premier League and in the Champions League. In fact, when you look at the odds, it’s really hard to predict who will finish where due to the competitiveness of the league. For example, this season, Newcastle, West Ham, Aston Villa and Leicester are all in line to fight for the 7th Position.

For this reason bettors are giving special promotions. One of the promotions you can always use is the Bet365 free bets, which can be very helpful in securing a nice win and if not you get the money back to try again. One of the offer being that you get Get £50 in Free Bets with the Bet365 Sign up Offer.

Which are the Main TV Partners of the Premier League?

There are tons of international partners of the Premier League, and they are all stated on the competition’s official website. Matches in the UK are broadcast live by BT Sport, Sky Sports and Amazon Prime Video.

This information relates to the main broadcasting partners of the Premier League, but there are other overseas partners as well. Licenses for other partners are handed out on a regional basis, and there is practically no place on earth where the Premier League is not broadcast.

Furthermore, BBC Sport is the free-to-air highlights broadcast partner of the Premier League in the UK.

In 2021, it was announced that all Premier League clubs agreed to conclude a three-year renewal of these broadcast agreements with the above-mentioned broadcasters. So, Sky Sports, BT Sport, Amazon Prime Video and BC Sport have the broadcasting right until the 2024/25 season.

The broadcasting money that the PL generates seems to increase with each new arrangement, and it seems that these numbers will be even bigger from 2025 and above, so it is clear to see why the Premier League is currently the number one football competition in the world.

Almost $2bn lost in crypto project security issue

Sam Allcock
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0
Almost $2bn lost in crypto project security issue

Even with the crypto market experiencing a downfall this year, data shows a major increase in criminal activities directed at the sector.

According to the study by the Atlas VPN team, based on the numbers provided by Slowmist Hacked, cybercriminals cashed in $1.97 billion from 175 crypto project attacks in the first half of 2022. The Ethereum ecosystem was the prime victim and lost over $1 billion in 32 attacks.

Monetary losses were calculated based on the conversion rate of a particular cryptocurrency at the time of a hack or scam event.

The Solana ecosystem occupies the second spot on the list. Cybercriminals stole $383.9 million from Solana-related projects in only 5 events.

Next up is the Binance Smart Chain (BSC) ecosystem, with $141.4 million in losses. In total, the BSC ecosystem faced 47 hack and scam events in the first half of this year — more than any other crypto project.

Meanwhile, non-fungible token (NFT) projects earned cybercriminals $84.6 million in 45 events, while the Fantom ecosystem brought in $54.8 million in 8 events.

Crypto project-related cybercrime nearly doubles in H1 2022

Cryptocurrencies are often advertised as a more secure alternative to traditional payment methods, but numbers tell a different story. In fact, the number of cryptocurrency project-related cybercrime events keeps growing.

If we compare this year and last year’s numbers, cybercrime numbers affecting crypto projects rose by 94%, from 90 in H1 2021 to 175 in H1 2022. Q1 of 2022 saw 79 cybercrime events — 108% more than Q1 2021 with 38 events. In the meantime, Q2 of 2022 had 96 cybercrime events, an 85% rise from 52 in Q2 2021.  Overall, cybercrime events increased by over a fifth (22%) from the first quarter of this year to the second.

To read the full article, head over to: https://atlasvpn.com/blog/crypto-hackers-stole-almost-2-billion-in-h1-2022

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