There have been many blogs/articles outlining the benefits of AI in the financial sphere. But now there is a move to utilise this technology in a different way.

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The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has recently outlined plans to use automation to stop independent financial advisors from mis-selling products. If an advisor makes a false or misleading statement about a financial product, this is classified as mis-selling, as are omitting facts or not outlining risks associated with any investment.

The FCA’s Richard Monks told a recent conference that he wanted to explore the idea of using machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to investigate companies or individuals that are likely to mis-sell products. The predictions would be based on a wide data pool, including publicly available data, data about complaints and historical records of approved persons and/or controls. Using big data could help identify the advisors who were likely to mis-sell.

If you live in or near Wiltshire and are looking for an independent financial advisor Marlborough is a great place to start. A small market town and civil parish, there are a number of firms and independent financial specialists based there.

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Good financial advice should cost less than the benefits it generates in the long run. If you are looking for some independent financial advice, why not take a look at the website of a reputable firm such as https://chilvester.co.uk/ today?

Digital Reporting

Monks added the FCA is also looking to further increase investment in the digital reporting of transactions. Wholesale markets already offer almost real-time transaction reporting and analysis, but retail transactions do not. By adopting digitised transactions for retail, the FCA could be notified almost immediately of any transactions that meet its pre-defined criteria of ‘dubious’, ‘potentially fraudulent’ or ‘potential mis-selling’. This type of digitisation would also reduce the costs associated with regulatory reporting, as a considerable amount of data could be centralised.

IFA Numbers

Regulatory returns showed that at the end of November 2017 there were a total of 25,951 advisors in the UK (with 5270 firms employing at least one advisor). This was a small increase on the previous year.

Better data would enable the FCA to concentrate on high-risk investments made by those firms/individuals that are flagged up by AI as more likely to mis-sell.

If you’re at all worried about visiting a clinic because you think you might have a sexually transmitted infection (STI) – don’t be. There’s nothing to worry about, the whole service is completely confidential and the staff at the clinic are not there to judge anyone – just to make sure your sexual health is looked after.

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Male or female, LGBTQ+, old or young, the service is for everyone. Under 16s sometimes worry that the clinic will tell their parents – absolutely not. The service is for you, not your parents!

Expect discretion and confidentiality

As at any clinic, you’ll be asked for your name and contact details. The fact you’ve visited the clinic won’t be passed onto your GP unless you give permission. But if you still don’t want to give your real name, that’s OK. Just make sure you leave a valid contact point if you’re having tests where the results aren’t available immediately. This is just so that you can get the results. If you opt for a letter, there’ll be nothing on the outside of the letter to show where it’s from or what it’s about.

Try and remember dates and symptoms

When it comes to an STI test London has lots of clinics, and you can also do your own test, www.checkurself.org.uk/plus/ for some STIs before deciding to go to a clinic.

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When you get to the clinic, you can request a male or female doctor or nurse. You’ll be asked when you last had sex, and whether you’ve had unprotected sex (without a condom). The medic will want to know what symptoms you have, and what has made you think you might have an infection. There’s a good NHS guide to symptoms here: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sexual-health/#symptoms.

Tests and results

The next step is the tests. For some infections, test results, and even treatment, are available the same day. For others, you’ll need to be contacted later. A positive result means you’ll be asked to go back to the clinic, to discuss treatment. You should tell your sexual partner but if you can’t bear to – don’t worry – if you agree, the clinic can do it anonymously, without revealing your identity.

Don’t worry about visiting the STI clinic – it’s there to help you manage your sexual health, not to judge you.

Computer Numerical Control (CNC) milling has a number of advantages over the traditional method. It will definitely continue to be widely used in the future as CNC machines begin to be connected to other manufacturing processes and interfaces.

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Let’s take a look at some of the many ways in which this computer-driven process can benefit your business.

1. Training and Labour Costs Can Be Controlled

It’s hard to maintain production quality without an experienced operator when you’re using a conventional milling machine. However, while CNC operators do have to be trained, it’s a less intensive training. The machine contributes much more to the final product, and quality is much less dependent on the experience of the operator.

2. It’s Like Having Your Own Production Line

Conventional machines are great for one-off specialised products. But if you need to produce many parts of the same type, CNC milling from https://www.parallelprecision.co.uk/cnc-milling is definitely the way to go. You can program the machine to carry out the same cut repeatedly with exactly the same quality standard.

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3. No Need for Time-Consuming Prototypes

Using a CNC machine speeds up product development and production because you can run a computer simulation of a part, check it, refine it and get a working specification without having to actually produce the part. This is a far faster process than prototyping, producing and refining actual parts.

4. You Can Make Demanding Products and Grow the Business

With CNC, tricky and complex products that were previously not feasible can now be produced cost-effectively. That extends your business offer to clients and opens up possible new markets.

5. CNC Future-Proofs Your Business

It’s important to be ready to meet future developments and challenges. CNC helps you to prepare for a digital future. With 3D printing and robotics on the horizon, the future for manufacturing and engineering can look problematic. But getting into CNC now will help you to see these new developments as opportunities.

6. Improved Productivity, Lower Costs

You can rely on the CNC machine to minimise the amount of human error and yet maintain the required quality. That leads to increased productivity. In fact, it can also lead to lower numbers of operators being required.

Don’t get left behind – join the CNC revolution and let your business reap the benefits.

Banking online can be a fantastic way to save you time and even money.  Most large banks now offer online banking or online account access, and for the most daring: some banks are only available online.  With the latest in web safety, these sites are heavily encrypted and designed to be hack-proof.  The largest cause of accounts being hacked into actually falls upon the account holders.  There are several simple steps that can be taken to avoid your account, money, and personal information being put at risk.  Some may seem simple, but it is better to be safe!

1) Never give out your username or password.  Your bank will not ask you for your password or even username.  They already have it.  They will not lose it, and only a very select group of employees can even access it.  If you think you need to address this issue, call them at the number your normally call, do not take the phone number off an email or a website, look in the phone book or just stop in at your local branch.

2) If you access your accounts from more than one computer, be sure that computers used by others have up-to-date antivirus software.  You should also make sure that the machine is running an up to date browser that can support the standard 128-bit encryption used by most secure websites.  When you are done, always be sure to log off and even clear the Auto complete bar also, it can make it too easy for someone to log in and guess your password.

3) A good password in very important, also, using more than one password can be just as valuable.  If a hacker, worm, or virus is to get into your computer and find a password, they will try that same password in all of your cached login areas.  It also helps drastically to use letters and numbers.  Birthdays, pet names, and nicknames also tend to be easiest to guess.

4) Never trust any email sent to you that links directly to your login page.  This is the number one trick for hackers to “cloak” or “phish” you out of your own private information.  Even though the site looks like the site you are familiar with, it may not be.  These thieves have become experts at copying the look of real sites with their own copies designed to extrapolate victim’s bank numbers and more!

By following these steps, you can be confident that your identity and information is still yours and still protected.  There are thousands of people and programs trying to steal your information, but you have plenty of tools, people and strategies on your side also!  Go ahead save yourself some time and gas money!

There are a number of factors affecting the likelihood of the accident claims’ success.

* Timescale. It is unlikely that a solicitor will be willing to deal with the case if the incident occurred more than three years ago. The limitation period for most personal injury claims is three years and if the case is not settled or proceedings have not been issued in a court of law prior to that time then the matter becomes statute barred. There are exceptions to this rule. The most important one being that time does not begin to run until a person reaches the age of 18 years. There are other exceptions and accident claim advice should always be sought in regards to matters relating to limitation.

* Injuries. The doctor who originally treated the injury will hold medical details, which are of paramount importance when making a claim. The solicitor will use this record as evidence of the type and cause of the injury and if necessary will obtain another specialist’s medical opinion as the case proceeds. It is therefore extremely important that medical advice is obtained as soon as possible after any accident either from a General Practitioner or from the local hospital Accident and Emergency department.

* The Police. A specialist accident claims advice solicitor will liaise with any police officers who witnessed the accident or the occurrences shortly after the accident and will usually obtain a copy of the police accident report which will be made available as soon as any relevant criminal prosecutions are completed. A policeman may be called to give evidence in any civil court case for damages if necessary.

* Witnesses: Sometimes there are witnesses and it helps if their statements are collected immediately. Witness statements greatly support the claimant’s case. However, these statements should never be obtained personally by the injured person. A solicitor or a private inquiry agent employed on the client’s behalf will usually obtain signed statements which will verify the client’s version of events.

* Evidence. The more evidence and information gathered, the greater the success rate. Clients are recommended to take detailed photographs of the location and any injuries. A daily diary charting the recovery from injury is also useful in assessing any compensation payable for pain and suffering. This should include any entries on what kind of activities you can no longer enjoy, or how the pain intrudes on your ability to enjoy a ‘quality” life. All receipts for expenses incurred should be carefully kept and filed (be sure to make photocopies).

One of the most maddening things that can happen to a human being is being itchy. It’s made even worse if it’s a particular itch that you cannot scratch or if you do you find that it gets progressively worst. What makes us feel itchy? A lot of the time its set of by looking at crawling bugs or being told when someone has nits or that a Dog or Cat may have fleas. The itching that we feel in those case is quite psychological not and actual physical manifestation. Situations and environments also play a part. If one colleague of goes down complaining of itching than it can have a knock-on effect where all the other office members start to feel the same.  That can be easily rectified especially if you get the assistance of a Commercial Cleaning Company Cheltenham way like http://cleaningcompanycheltenham.co.uk/ at least that way you’ll be able to rule out the office being a festering bed of fleas.

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The answer to why we feel itchy is pretty much all in our heads. There are two stages to the process of how we react to being itchy. This was laid down in the British journal of Dermatology after some extensive study, so they should know what they’re talking about. They found that the initial urge to be itchy is not related to the skin on your body. For example, if someone talks to you about lice, or fleas then the mind immediately kicks in by reminding you of what a flea looks like and what it feels like on the skin. This is a defence mechanism that the brain uses so that you try and avoid any contact with a flea ridden person and don’t end up the same way. However, it also starts a reaction in your skin to make you aware and this is when you start to feel the start of itching. What the Scientists did to prove this was to expose one group of people to images of insects and insects biting and monitored their reactions and asked them how they felt. The other group were not and went through the same questions, but both showed different reactions. The group with the insect pictures got itchy.

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The second phase of the cycle is the actual scratching. By this point the itch has become unbearable and then the scratching has started. The only problem with scratching is that whilst he takes away the sense of the itch it starts to make the feeling worse. Thus, you get into a never-ending cycle. Apparently, the best thing to do is to rub the area and focus on something else.

Success has a price. It’s the price of busy-ness, instead of business – unless you find the ideal partner who can take care of your orders and ensure they are fulfilled with you having no worry about the quality, quantity, and cost of the service. Sounds like a dream come true? Not at all – that’s the beauty about specialisation. That’s the beauty about outsourcing your needs. Most owners and managers agree: leave it to the experts; that’s how you become successful. You build on what’s great out there. You create time to focus on your own needs and tackle the most immediate problems one at a time. If you are in this position, then this one’s for you: here are the most important factors to consider when selecting a fulfilment partner.

Is it done right?

Find out what you need first. This is a critical point, because when you start guessing or are unsure of your own requirements, the door to miscommunication and misunderstanding is open. List it down, in terms that are as specific as possible – then see how your potential partner can help you with it. You want it to be done right, and it starts with you.

Background checks

Never be afraid to do a background check. On the Internet you may be able to find a lot of testimonials and wonderful phrases from customers, but you want to make sure they’re real and that the company truly does have that reputation. Do it the old-fashioned way; make some calls.

How advanced are they?

The modern business expects (rightfully so) that there is a certain standard of automation and efficiency. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and see how fast they can get the jobs done. Ask about the technology they use, what their efficiency rate is, and how often mistakes happen.

Location

Depending on their location, a fulfilment company may be able to help you in more ways than one. Or they may be able to recommend a great logistics partner, as well.

Cost and communication

Make sure you do your homework, read the fine print on the contract, and have open communication lines that are clear and transparent.

Last, but not least, you should also make sure the turnaround time fit your standards. Everything might be happening on time, correctly, and in a cost-efficient manner, but it should also happen fast – or at least at the speed you require. In the modern world, this usually means: the faster, the better (as long as it doesn’t diminish the efficiency and no mistakes are made). There’s no doubt getting the right fulfilment partner is a great choice, for any business. But do you research and make sure you do get the right one.

Your home may have provided the perfect habitat for you and your partner for a number of years, but it might not be large enough to accommodate a growing family. If you have a little one on the way and are relocating to a larger home, now’s the time to take your current property to the marketplace. However, if you need to sell your home as soon as possible, you might be worried you’ll have to accept an offer below your asking price. Fortunately, there are ways you can entice buyers to pay a fair price for your home regardless of how quickly you need to sell it.

Staging refers to the task of preparing a home to make it visually appealing to as many people as possible. Though spending money on a home you’re about to leave may not seem very wise, it only takes a few minor tweaks to make buyers more interested. Staging furniture in Perth is far from expensive, and it could mean the difference between a speedy sale and a low offer.

Of course, you should only buy furniture from a reputable provider  because you need to know your home’s new style will appeal to a large audience. The very best providers may also be willing to offer tips and advice with regards to the latest trends. Below, this article will take a look at why staging is so essential to selling your home.

Making Sure Your Home Sells Quickly

Selling your home quickly may be your number one priority, but you can’t afford to lose money. Luckily, for the reasons listed below, staging can help you secure a good asking price in a short space of time.

• Staging helps buyers imagine themselves living in your home – To make your home look appealing, you need to ensure property hunters can imagine themselves living there. Of course, you’ll need to have a spring clean and get rid of the clutter, but you also need to make sure it looks like a great place to live. Most people won’t buy a home that needs a complete revamp.
• Some estate agents believe staging increase a home’s value – Some surveys suggest that professional estate agents believe staging can actually have a positive effect on a home’s overall value. You might find that buying staging furniture turns out to be a smart investment.
• Gain more interest – Some studies also suggest that property hunters are more likely to walk around a home that’s been staged after viewing it online. If you can entice a large number of people to take a look at your home in person, you’re more likely to receive a decent offer.

You Deserve a Good Offer

When it really comes down to it, you might miss your home a lot after you’ve moved on, so you need to ensure it sells for a high price. Spending a small amount of money on staging furniture from a reputable provider could end up being a very wise investment.

CRM systems have come a long way since their inception over a decade and a half ago. These days, namely due to the rapid advancements in technology, CRM systems are better coined as all-in-one software solutions that are ultimately inspired by pioneers like those behind the intuitive Apple user interface.

As technology expands to meet the needs of end users, and as it certainly becomes more affordable, more end users are relying upon SaaS to help meet or exceed their small business goals. In enters CRM systems and the laundry list of features and functionality that they offer.

But not all CRM systems are equal by any means. Forbes advises that one be scrupulous and diligent when seeking the right system for their needs. With so many different solutions out there, it begs the question: What features and functionality of CRM are serving to attract this influx of small business users?

Cloud Based Hosting

Previous CRM systems that were not hosted in the cloud struggled with updates, a slow and sluggish operating system, at behest of the user, and the inability to store files in the safety of the cloud. With newer cloud hosting options, all of these woes vanish in favor of a more capable system.

Custom Integrations

The CRM systems of the present day are replete with software integrations to suit any small business’ needs. This includes things like accounting modules, inventory management, shipping and returns software, analytics and just about everything in between.

Social CRM Systems

With social integrations being at the forefront of new CRM systems, the ability to find and nurture leads has never been better. Being able to monitor social streams, find trending hash tags and integrate directly from one platform with the ability to post network-wide status updates is unprecedented.

Email Marketing

Email marketing is a still a very viable and popular choice for businesses of all sizes. Whether that’s list outreach via opt-in lists or by using an organic newsletter subscribe list. Having the ability to manage and contact prospective customers via email from one platform is uncannily useful.

Reputation Management

Branding is everything these days. But a lot of businesses struggle to monitor their brand online. Newer CRM systems help you improve your branding and reputation while keeping you informed of what is being said about your business online, so you can respond and mediate in a timely manner.

Back-Up, Recovery & Security

The ability to back-up and securely store files and applications in the cloud is game changing for technology. Never before have files been more secure and more accessible than they are today. And it’s all because of the cloud.

Project Management

Let’s not overlook project management, a key staple of CRM. But the newer systems take it to a whole different level. With real-time chat, video and photo sharing, file sharing, calendars and task lists, the entire organization can be on the same page at all times.

Smartphone Compatibility

Last but certainly not least, there are smartphone integrations. No longer does a person have to be in front of their laptop or desktop computer just to access their CRM files. Rather, with smartphone integration, this can all be done via their handset. One can imagine how useful this simple feature can turn out to be for any networker.

As you can see, CRM systems have come a long way in just 10 years or so. As more time passes, and as technology progresses, it’s anyone’s guess at what the next evolution will bring.

The introduction of flexible hours and remote working is changing the look of the workplace and having a major impact on office design.

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With more remote working employees absent from the office for longer periods, the space can be utilised in different ways which fit better with the new working practices.

Thoughtful office design also has other benefits, affecting the well-being of the workforce at and away from the workplace, according to a recent study from Harvard.

Other research suggests that a sympathetic re-design can also impact on productivity, the holy grail of management teams.

This has meant a growth in design and office fit out companies offering a range of innovative ideas, such as those found at https://mobiusatwork.co.uk.

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Revolutionary

The biggest revolution in office space took place in the 1950s, when the idea of open plan workplaces caught on. The next decade saw a progression of this layout, when Robert Propst, the chief executive of Herman Miller, created the backbone of the modern office, the cubicle.

Despite the hopes for increased cooperation amongst workers as they were freed from walled offices and separate departments, and a positive impact on productivity, later research suggested that the environment was having a negative impact on motivation, as workers could be distracted.

Homogenous

Finally, as many companies began to rent warehouse-style spaces, there was a backlash against the cubicle and bench-style workstations appeared, creating a return to open plan, but without any improvement in wellbeing or productivity.

Modern design theories aim to tackle this with a mixture of old and new trends, creating a more comfortable homogenous working environment.

The new imaginative designs encourage employees to use the space differently, as the age of the personal desk fades. This can help blur the edges of personal and business life and the idea of a fixed working day, creating a blend of home and office and a true social space. This means average personal space may be reduced along with costs.

Technology has had a massive impact, with cloud access and shared files creating floor space and video conferencing meaning companies invest in huddle rooms. Cameras and speakers are new additions to the modern space, while research suggests traditional design elements such as decoration and art can improve worker satisfaction.

Finally, good design will impact on recruitment and drive the company forward.