Why freelancers should attend self management seminars

Self management sessions have become widely accepted, in the corporate sector, and for top class businessmen. These sessions actually prepare us to face critical issues in a much better way. When I was working for a financial firm, my firm had a regular annual schedule for their employees, to undergo self management training. It was something, which helped us reflect on ourselves, and see if we are treading the right path. 

 Image credit: ximagination / 123RF Stock Photo

Being a freelancer myself, I found that working alone can be the most difficult part. You don’t have anyone to tell you anything. You can wake up at 5'O clocks in the morning, or even at 8 or 9 in the morning. No one’s going to tell you. You are not accountable, nor answerable to anyone. But, when you work in the office, you have to follow a schedule, which has been fixed by your employers. You can’t be late for your office in the morning. This is where freelancers fail. 

Why International Growth Is Key for Healthcare Giant Aetna

Aetna Inc. (NYSE:AET), which is one of the major players in the healthcare insurance industry in the US, recently announced a 12.5% rise in its quarterly dividend and has maintained its guidance for 2014. However, the company has conceded that the rising costs of Medicare due to the effects of Obamacare will have a negative impact on the company's earnings. 

Image credit: kurhan / 123RF Stock Photo

On the other hand, the company has been investing substantially in foreign shores, and this has started to bear fruit. Further, the company retains a justifiable confidence in its balance sheet. This coupled with its smart international moves, is expected to help the company's growth potential going forward.

5 of the Most Lucrative Stocks of the Century

Every investor has a goal of getting lucky and eventually finding the goldmine of stocks - those that cost dirt cheaper to buy but eventually become fabulously pricey. This happens when a company with low market expectations takes off to the surprise of everyone - except for those few lucky investors that got in early. What have been some of the most profitable stocks in history?

Image credit: ginasanders / 123RF Stock Photo

Berkshire Hathaway

Berkshire Hathaway is an investment firm that was taken over by Warren Buffet in 1965 and is currently the ninth largest public company in the world. In 1962, one share of Berkshire Hathaway’s cost $7.56. After Buffet begun changing the company’s investment strategies and adding on new clients, the company began to experience rapid growth that has not stopped to this day. Today, buying one stock for this company will cost you $170,420 each as one of the biggest increases in share price, in the history of the stock market.

Buy Disney for Profits in 2014

Walt Disney Co. (NYSE:DIS), which is better, known as an entertainment powerhouse has been in the news for its acquisition of LucasFilm and the box office successes of films like Iron Man 3. Though it is true that these along with its other acquisitions and investments in the box office space will help increase revenue growth in the coming year, box office revenue is by no means the only, or even the major, contributor to the rise in Disney's revenues. As we shall see below the company has been making significant profits from its theme parks, as well, these, along with a decent balance sheet may well give DIS a fairytale run in 2014.

Facebook Predictions for the Year 2020

Everyone will agree with the fact that Facebook changed the face of social media. However, when Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook decided to issue public shares, many started evaluating the prospects of Facebook growth. Prior to its decision of initial public offering (IPO), a study pointed out that its phenomenal growth had started receding. The growing membership at 845 million active users on a monthly basis, which the company mentioned at the IPO prospectus, had slowed down. It meant that the company’s income had also begun effecting. It was the beginning many analysts believe was enough to predict something momentous about to change.

The initial public offering was stained with controversies. A big disappointment was felt on the first day of the closing bell when Facebook’s share price fell $3.82 from its opening bell value. Though, there was hype surrounding Facebook’s first sojourn into the stock market, yet, investors were taken aback partly due to Facebook’s policies and partly due to the change in the technological scenario.