Using the 80/20 Rule to Think Critically

by Mike Figliuolo

Learn how an Italian gardener’s simple principle can make problem solving much easier. Critical thinking doesn’t only apply to coming up with recommendations. You need to think critically about the way you’re going to spend your time and energy. Those things are limited. You have too many problems to solve and not enough time. I encourage people to follow the 80/20 rule, also known as the Pareto principle. You can’t focus on that 80% that only drives 20% of the results. Focus your efforts on the meaningful. Click HERE to learn more.

Grow or Die: The Ultimatum Facing U.S. Banks

by Jeffry Pilcher

The Financial Brand analyzed the number of FDIC-insured banks and bank branches in the U.S. since 1935. The trends paint an alarming picture for the future of banking. In the next 20 years, half the banks around today will be gone, leaving fewer than 2,000 banks in the US by the year 2042. In 2012 there were 6,087 FDIC-insured institutions with $14.4 trillion in assets. By 2021, this number had dwindled down to just 4,236 banks but assets had grown to a whopping $24 trillion. In 2021, there were 141 fewer FDIC-insured banks and 2,740 fewer branches than there were the year prior -- a decline of 3.22% and 3.66% respectively. Over the last 10 years, the number of FDIC-insured banks has declined an average of 3.86%. There are now just over 4,000 banks left in the U.S. Click HERE to read on.

Implementation of 2021 ALTA Owner's and Loan Policies

from Investors Title

The 2021 American Land Title Association (ALTA) Owner's and Loan Policy forms were approved by ALTA effective July 1, 2021. Investors Title implemented the forms for new title commitments issued on or after August 1, 2022. The 2006 policy forms will be available upon request until they are decertified by ALTA on December 31, 2022. Largely, the revisions to the policy forms fall into two categories: 1) conforming the policy forms to the changes previously made to the 2016 ALTA Commitment; and 2) updating various terms to comply with changes in laws and regulations passed or revised after the implementation of the current policy forms in 2006. Some important additional coverage provisions have also bee added to the 2021 policy forms. Click HERE to review the highlights of some of the important changes broken down by the four sections of the policy forms.

4 Unexpected Realities Real Leaders Learn That Phonies Never Get

by Dan Rockwell

The tragedy of phoniness is an empty heart. Real leaders learn to bring their best selves to work. Phonies wear a mask. Phonies become phonies because they’re worried about opinions, approval, and recognition. Click HERE to learn the difference between a phony and genuine leader for optimal effectiveness in the workplace.

HELOCs Are Now "Raging Back"

by Bill Conroy

A combination of fast-rising home values and the fact that nearly two-thirds of borrowers with at least some home equity have mortgage rates below 4% — and would not benefit from refinancing — is helping to propel a resurgent market for home-equity lines of credit (HELOCs). The Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s second-quarter 2022 Household Debt and Credit Report shows that limits on HELOCs jumped by $18 billion in the second quarter of this year, “the first substantial increase in HELOC limits since 2011,” and an indicator of an increase in new originations. HELOC balances stood at $319 billion for the second quarter, according to the Federal Reserve report. Click HERE to read on.

A 1031 Exchange is a Tax-Deferred Way to Invest in Real Estate

by Aly J. Yale

A 1031 exchange is a type of real estate purchase allowed under Section 1031 of the US Internal Revenue Code. It allows you to defer capital gains taxes when selling a property, as long as the proceeds are used toward a similar investment within 180 days. A 1031 exchange can help you buy more profitable properties, diversify, or defer taxes associated with depreciation. Did you know that Virginia Title Center can assist you and your clients facilitate a 1031 Exchange through Investors Title's Exchange Corporation? Click HERE to learn more about the process.

How People Development Makes a Company More Competitive

by Dave Coffaro

Organization leaders hear it every day: “It’s difficult finding qualified employees.” “People don’t want to return to in-person work.” “Now we have to think about employee well-being; what’s next!”  In business, competition for the highest value resources — human, physical, economic, noneconomic — is constant. Today’s competition for human resources has taken on new dimensions. Differentiating an organization as a people development exemplar enhances its ability to attract the best available employees and demonstrates a core commitment to continually earn and sustain organizational relevance. Click HERE to learn more.

Lessons From the Largest Fraud in a Generation

by Nick Chandi

The first charges against Payment Protection Program fraud were filed in May 2020 — barely a month after the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed. The man in question was seeking over half a million dollars in fraudulent loans for businesses that did not exist or had long closed before COVID-19. Since then, small and midsize business (SMB) lending fraud has increased by 8.3%. At least 100 individuals have been charged and no one, not even celebrities, have been spared. Some estimate that $80 billion was stolen in PPP fraud schemes, about 10% of the money disbursed via 21 million PPP loans. Experts say this may be the single largest fraud in our generation. How did this happen? Click HERE to learn how, and what can be done to prevent it in the future.