Esteam Health logo
Esteam Health brings arts and health programming to aging care.

Alyssa Janney, Founder and CEO of the start-up company Esteam Health, will be keynoting at an upcoming Virtual Symposium titled: A New Methodology in Aging Care - Interdisciplinary Arts & Health Programming, on Nov. 2, 2022. 

Esteam Health is a private company that will be launching evidence-based, interdisciplinary arts and health programming as a service to aging care facilities in 2023. Esteam Health programs have a primary goal of producing improvements in intrinsic capacity for older adults in aging care facilities. Keynoting in this virtual symposium will provide an opportunity for Janney to make the case for what makes interdisciplinary, evidence-based arts and health programming different than what is commonly available in aging care facilities now. Janney reports, "The challenge that program developers have had is that due to high turnover rates in aging care facilities, program quality and continuity can suffer. But there are also serious opportunity costs for residents who may depend upon evidence-based programming for their cognitive, social, emotional, physical and spiritual health." 

Alyssa Janney, MBA, has worked at the cutting-edge of the global arts and health field for 18 years. Throughout the years, she has built relationships with other top experts in the field. Esteam Health is proud to be a title sponsor for the Symposium and would like to invite anyone engaged in the business of aging care to join leading artists, academics, health experts, research scholars, aging care experts, business executives and creative arts therapists for a virtual symposium exploring the arts as a new frontier in health, aging care, and wellbeing. The symposium is being offered by the Esteam Health Foundation. (http://esteamhealthfoundation.org)

ESTEAM HEALTH LLC

We believe it's time for a paradigm shift in aging care. We are innovating at the intersection of science, medicine, technology and the arts. 
An interdisciplinary body of knowledge is building identifying opportunities to employ these discoveries in sustainable ways so that we can address some of the most challenging problems in eldercare. We know that arts experiences measurably change the body, brain, and behavior, and we are translating this knowledge into specific practices that improve intrinsic capacity, meaning lower resident dependency rates in eldercare. These benefits are expected to create a ripple effect of efficiency improvements that will transform eldercare in ways that are pleasing to insurers, healthcare providers, eldercare organizations, employees and most importantly…residents of eldercare facilities.  

iQuanti: Collateral loans, also called secured loans, let you use a valuable item you own to borrow money. The lender can take this item if you don't repay, reducing their risk. As a result, collateral loans often have lenient requirements and offer larger loan amounts and lower interest rates.

There are many types of collateral loans available, and each one may suit a different type of borrower. So, in this article, we'll cover some collateral loan types to consider in 2022.

1. Title loans

Title loans let you use your vehicle title if you own the car outright and have no liens on your title. The title lender will appraise your car, then ask for proof of income and employment. Many title lenders have less strict credit score requirements, so you may get approved with poor or fair credit. 

After that, the lender will offer you a loan of 25% to 50% of your car's value. If you accept the loan offer, you can get the funds you need as soon as that same day. Many title loans are due 30 days to a few months after you get them. You get to continue driving your vehicle while the loan's outstanding, but the lender may ask for a copy of your car key.

2. Pawn shop loans

Pawn shops let you use almost anything as collateral for a fast loan. First, bring the item you want to use as collateral to the pawn store. Ideally, you go to a pawn store specializing in your item. For example, if you want to use a piece of jewelry, find a pawn store specializing in jewelry. Regardless, the pawnbroker will appraise the item and offer you a loan amount and set of terms. If you accept, you'll exchange your item for the amount and a claim ticket.

Many pawn shop loans last 30 days. You'll owe the principal plus finance charges on the due date. You'll also bring your claim ticket to the pawn store to pick up your item. If you fail to pay, the pawn store takes your item and sells it, but there are no further consequences. So, these can be good for borrowers with poor or no credit.

3. Installment loans

Installment loans let you borrow lump sums of money and repay them in predictable monthly payments at a fixed interest rate. This makes them easy to budget for, and they can be great for some borrowers who need larger loan amounts. Secured installment loans operate the same way, but require collateral. Borrowers can provide many items as collateral, from physical items like jewelry to savings accounts and more.

Many installment lenders will check your credit, but they may have less strict requirements and consider additional factors like your income and employment history. Once you get the loan, you'll make monthly payments in the loan agreement throughout the loan term. You'll get your item back once you pay off the loan.

4. Secured credit cards

Secured credit cards let you borrow money on demand up to a specified credit limit. You can then pay back the borrowed amount at your leisure. You'll need to put down a cash deposit as collateral to get a secured credit card. This amount becomes your credit limit. For example, if you put down $500 for a secured credit card, you can borrow up to $500 before repaying. Secured credit cards are very flexible and can help cover unpredictable expenses, like emergencies.

The bottom line

Secured loans can help you get more money at lower interest quite quickly. There are many kinds, each suited to different borrowers. Title loans can work well for borrowers who own their cars outright and have lien-free titles, whereas pawn shop loans are often good choices for some borrowers with poor or no credit.

Meanwhile, installment loans can work well for borrowers making larger purchases and want a predictable payment to budget for. Finally, secured credit cards can be great tools for borrowers who need a flexible loan for unexpected expenses. Regardless of which collateral loan is the right fit for you, shop with multiple lenders to get terms that work for your budget and needs.

Inspiring Vacations
Inspiring Vacations

According to travel industry experts, Inspiring Vacations, who offers outstanding experiences around the world including tours to Egypt and tours of Cape York, whether travellers are in the research phase of planning a trip or they've already booked, now is the time to ensure they are covered. Here they share why it's critical to invest in travel insurance.

As Inspiring Vacations explains, the cost of travel insurance varies based on the destination, duration of the trip and the traveller's personal characteristics such as age and the kind of cover they would like. Essentially, the cost of travel insurance is calculated based on the amount of risk to the insurer. While some travellers may not deem it necessary, Inspiring Vacations says the potential loss from a cancelled trip, delay or emergency is likely to be greater. 

Insurance for international trips such as Egypt tours tends to be pricier than domestic travel such as tours to Cape York and insurance for each country or region attracts different levels of risk determined by insurance companies. 

Travel insurance can help cover emergency medical treatments, which is especially relevant for those with any pre existing medical conditions or those planning to travel for a significant amount of time. Some insurers won't cover pre existing medical conditions while others will increase the premiums to compensate for the risk.

Inspiring Vacations explains that even if a country has nationalised health care, non citizens may not be covered and those without travel insurance can be stuck paying hefty medical bills out of pocket. 

Trip cancellation is included in many comprehensive travel insurance plans, with the potential for travellers to claim up to a 100% reimbursement for a pre paid trip. Inspiring Vacations says there are many reasons a trip may need to be cancelled such as unexpected injury or illness or another situation out of the traveller's control. As with any type of insurance policy, Inspiring Vacations recommends travellers carefully review the acceptable reasons for a trip cancellation approved by the insurance provider.

To discover the great range of experiences on offer such as Cape York tours and the best guided tours Egypt wide, get in touch with Inspiring Vacations.

Home Loan
Home Loan

In today's market, the road to homeownership for first-time buyers can be a long one — but Liberty says there are always opportunities to buy.

Faced with a higher cost of living and a series of recent rate changes, many first-time buyers are feeling less optimistic about their chances of stepping foot on the property ladder in the coming months. The recent First Home Buyer Survey from financial comparison site Canstar revealed 90% of potential first-time buyers have concerns about saving a sufficient deposit for a home loan. But with property prices falling and a renewed First Home Guarantee Scheme, non-bank lender Liberty says there is plenty for first homebuyers to feel positive about.

According to Head of Communications Heidi Armstrong, recent shifts in the housing market have brought about new opportunities for first homebuyers. "With fewer investors in the market, there's less competition than this time last year. And hybrid working is giving buyers more choice when it comes to location," she said.

A leader in the Australian mortgage space, Liberty works closely with customers looking to buy property and understands the challenges that many face. "We support homebuyers at all stages of their property journey — including first-time buyers who may not qualify for a home loan through traditional assessment methods."

While some buyers focus solely on saving for a deposit, there is much more that goes into a credit assessment. As well as your income, expenses, assets and liabilities, lenders will also consider recent loan enquiries, credit card limits and other debt.

By taking the time to look at the bigger picture, Liberty can offer free-thinking home loans tailored to each customer's individual situation. "There are many routes to buying your first home regardless of your financial journey. At Liberty, we work to ensure each borrower receives a solution to fit their needs."

With a range of solutions, and online indicative pre-approval, Liberty can help first-time buyers assess their options and find the home loan that's right for their situation.

Approved applicants only. Lending criteria apply. Fees and charges are payable. Liberty Financial Pty Ltd ACN 077 248 983 and Secure Funding Pty Ltd ABN 25 081 982 872 Australian Credit Licence 388133, together trading as Liberty Financial. 

Make Us Wise, Ed Gumbrecht
Cover art: Make Us Wise, Ed Gumbrecht, October 2022

Today, an original song arrives from Ed Gumbrecht, announcing a new season of resonant and expressive music. Make Us Wise became available on all streaming services starting at midnight, 10/29/22. In a year where the standard fare of catchy and campy music feels out of sync with the times, Gumbrecht delivers a refined alternative.

The song is a meditation on loss and the comforts of relationships. It suits a middle sensibility, neither too bright nor too somber. With a bassy melody and spare acoustic production, it has an intimate friendly quality. Its message is poignantly ripe for the season.

Make Us Wise as a single release is a prelude to Gumbrecht's upcoming album, Enter the Muses (out in November) -- a textured panoramic rendering of modern life's cares and surprises. His February 2022 release, Colorshow, revealed the artist as a poetic storyteller. His new album presents a deeper and more evocative collection of songs.  

Gumbrecht's growing oeuvre contains a harvest of music that will leave you feeling encouraged and alive in any season. Fans of the songwriter, folk rock, rock and country genres especially should listen, and add Make Us Wise and Enter the Muses to your Fall playlists. 

iQuanti: When disaster strikes, the last thing you want is to be unprepared, but it is becoming a reality for more and more Americans. With rising costs for materials and labor, you may be shocked to find you can't afford your next car repair bill. 

In those situations, it's important to have backup options for funds so that the necessary expenses are covered. Next time you're in a pinch, consider these choices for upcoming or surprise car repair and maintenance. 

Get a personal line of credit

In a pinch, a line of credit can be extremely helpful. Extremely similar to credit cards, a person is able to access up to a pre-determined amount of funds within a credit limit. You'll only want to take what you need as, just like a credit card, you'll owe interest on the amount you've borrowed. While there is flexibility to pay back the funds, it's important to be wary of how interest can accrue the longer the balance is outstanding. 

Borrow from family and friends

One of the easiest and least complicated methods to obtain money in a pinch is to ask for help from loved ones. Sure, not everyone has the luxury of accessing money from family and friends or necessarily wants to, but if you can, it may provide a more flexible method of repayment.

Plus, you can skip the fees and only borrow and repay the amount that you've borrowed. But if money is a sensitive subject in your family or social circle, it may be smart to avoid this method unless absolutely necessary when no alternatives are available. 

Get an installment loan

Installment loans come in handy when you need a manageable repayment schedule with stable interest. With these loans, you can receive a lump sum of money all at once. Then, you'll pay it back over time in fixed monthly payments, or installments. Repayment terms can last from a few months to several years. The benefit of these is that you'll have all the information you need to properly repay the loan from the beginning. 

Use a credit card 

Credit cards are a huge tool for unexpected expenses, so long as you have one in place prior to the expense. Something important to note with a credit card is that there is usually a credit limit that maxes out the amount you can spend. 

For new credit borrowers, that amount could be minuscule, such as $1,000 or less, especially in the case of secured cards. On the other hand, seasoned borrowers or those with favorable borrowing characteristics may be able to access tens of thousands in credit. For high expenses like home repair or unexpected medical bills, this can help keep you afloat. 

The bottom line

Car repairs, like any emergency expense, can provide unnecessary financial stress on top of the burden this life event causes. In order to be prepared, you'll want to make sure you have access to cash or have the means to get more funds, whether it be a loan or other option.  

iQuanti: The average salary within the nursing profession varies widely, impacted by many factors such as specialty, geographic location, and education level. Regardless of where your pay falls on the scale, it's always a good idea to plan for the next step in your professional journey. Whether you have student loans, other debt, or live in an area with a high cost of living, it can be especially beneficial to consider every opportunity to stretch your pay, earn more, and maximize your hard-earned salary. 

Complete a Nursing Specialty Certification

As a nurse, you have the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of your patients. You also have the opportunity to maximize your salary by completing a nursing specialty certification in your area of interest and expertise, such as a Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) or Pediatric Nursing certification (CPN). These certifications are conducted by major nursing organizations as a formal review and validation of your professional skills and knowledge. 

There are many different nursing specialties to choose from, so you can find one that fits your interests and career goals and corresponds with your license. The requirements vary depending on the specialty, but usually involve a combination of qualifying hours of work, classes, and an exam. For example, to become a CEN, you would need an active RN license and to pass the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing exam (two or more years of RN experience is recommended but not required). 

By specializing in a particular area of nursing, you can become an expert in that field and command a higher salary. 

Get Your Advanced Nursing Degree

Earning a graduate degree could be one way of furthering your goal to make a higher nursing salary. With a graduate degree, you can pursue a career path as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) or a nurse manager. If you want to take it one step further, a doctoral degree can offer career choices as a nurse educator, nurse researcher, or even healthcare administrator.

The APRN category covers many nursing roles including nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, and nurse midwives, all of whom earn average higher salaries that can be up to 50% higher than the average RN salary.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics can be a great resource, with lists of each nursing specialty by median hourly rate and educational requirements, such as Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), Bachelor Degree in Nursing (BSN), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).

Nursing Student Loan Refinance

An important consideration in maximizing your salary is reducing or resolving student debt you may be carrying. If you have private student loans for your nursing education and are looking to pay less over the lifetime of your student loan, a nursing student loan refinance could be an option. Refinancing your nursing student loan could offer you better terms like a lower interest rate or a shorter loan term for a quicker payoff through a private lender.

When refinancing a student loan, your new lender pays off your old loan with a new one. The lender can be a bank, an online financial institution, or a credit union. The new loan could have new terms that can benefit your budget. 

Note that refinancing may not be the right choice for all of your loans. The U.S. Department of Education recently announced a student loan debt relief plan which includes forgiveness of up to $10,000 for qualifying federal student loans and up to $20,000 for qualifying Pell Grant recipients. For more information, please read the announcement. Please note that if you refinance qualifying federal student loans, you may no longer be eligible for certain benefits or programs and waive your right to future benefits or programs offered on those loans. Please carefully consider your options when refinancing federal student loans and consult StudentAid.gov for the most current information.

Check if You Qualify for Professional Student Loan Forgiveness

If you have federal student loans, you may also be eligible for student loan forgiveness programs. There are several programs with varying qualifications that are worth considering. Learn more at studentaid.gov and look into whether you are eligible for any programs. Two that are often applicable for nurses include the following:

1. The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program

A program designed to aid nurses who work in high-demand areas is the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program run by the Health Research and Services Administration. This program offers 60% nursing student loan forgiveness over two years to registered nurses who work at nonprofit critical shortage facilities or Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA). In addition, for a third year of service, you may be eligible to have another 25% of your loan forgiven.

2. Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

A borrower that works for a not-for-profit or government organization may be able to receive loan forgiveness under the PSLF program. PSLF erases the remaining loan balance once the borrower has made 120 qualifying monthly payments while working full-time for a qualifying employer. 

Getting the Most from Your Paycheck

Taking steps to pursue specialties and graduate degrees could maximize your opportunities to advance your career and increase your salary in the long term. Meanwhile, strategies that reduce student loan debt could help to stretch every month's budget, achieve your financial goals, and get the most out of your current salary.