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Health Savings Accounts, or HSAs, are growing in popularity among people who need affordable health insurance and among employers looking to save on health insurance costs. HSAs have many benefits beyond cost savings. Let's dive in and take a look at what exactly is a health savings account, the HSA contribution limits for each calendar year, how HSAs are one of the most flexible financial accounts you can open, and why it's a good idea to max out your annual HSA contributions. What is a Health Savings Account?Health Savings Accounts are a type of tax-advantaged savings account specifically for health care spending. Contributions are tax deductible in the year they are made, and grow tax-free. Withdrawals are tax-free when used for qualified medical expenses. In essence, a Health Savings Account is very similar to a combination of a Traditional IRA (tax deduction when you make the contribution) and a Roth IRA (no taxes on qualified withdrawals for medical expenses). This is a huge benefit! Health Savings Account EligibilityTo be eligible for an HSA, you need to participate in a qualifying High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) for health insurance. A plan may qualify as an HDHP if the deductibles are $1,350 per year or higher for individuals, or $2,700 per year or higher for a family plan. These deductibles are typically higher than average, hence the name, High Deductible Health Plan. High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) also limit the deductible amounts and out-of-pocket expenses. For 2019, these limits are $6,750 for self-coverage only, and up to $13,500 for family coverage. Advantages of HDHPsMany people choose these health insurance plans because they typically have lower monthly premiums due to the high deductible. Many employers offer these HDHP plans for the same reasons. The goal of the higher deductibles is to save costs for everyone, incentivize policyholders to become smarter with their healthcare spending and give you the option of setting aside money pre-tax to pay for healthcare. On the flip side, you need to have sufficient funds to pay your portion of the deductible. So only choose an HDHP if you have some money set aside in an emergency fund or cash savings. Tax Advantages of Health Savings AccountsYou can set aside pre-tax income in an HSA for use specifically on health spending. HSAs are often compared to and confused with Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). The two are similar in that you set aside pre-tax income for health costs, but FSAs have a serious downside that HSAs do not. With an FSA if you do not spend all of the funds in your account by the end of the year you forfeit the remaining balance of your account to the plan administrator. With a Health Savings Account you never lose the funds. In fact, you could set aside money this year in an HSA and use it 40 years from now (some people even pay for their health care out of pocket now, and use their HSAs as another way to save for retirement). And as long as the funds are used for healthcare spending, you won't pay any tax on the withdrawals. 2019 HSA Contribution LimitsHow much money can you set aside for future healthcare spending with an HSA? The maximum annual contribution is dependent upon whether you are on an individual or family plan. The maximum HSA contribution limit is $3,500 per year for an individual, while families can contribute $7,000. There is also a catch-up contribution limit of $1,000 for those who are age 55 or older (note: catchup contributions for retirement accounts start at age 50). Here is a list of contribution limits from recent years, including the HSA contribution limits from 2010 – 2019:
What Happens If I Contribute Too Much to an HSA?If you are contributing funds to your HSA automatically through payroll deductions it should be virtually impossible for you to contribute too much to your Health Savings Account. However, it is possible to over-contribute by making deposits outside of the payroll system or simply through error. If you discover you have contributed too much to your HSA, you must take action to avoid paying penalties to the IRS.
Failure to remove the excess contribution by the April 15th deadline and then withdrawing the funds at a later date will result in a 6% excise tax when you do withdraw the funds. Additionally, if you leave the funds in indefinitely, each year you must pay the 6% tax. However, there is one way to get out of having to remove the contribution and paying tax: leave the contribution in, but avoid the 6% excise tax by lowering the next year's contribution by the amount of the over-contribution. For example, an individual with an HSA contribution limit of $3,500 per year would have been guilty of contributing $100 too much if they contributed $3,600 this year. They could avoid paying the 6% excise tax by only contributing $3,400 next year (the $3,500 contribution limit minus $100). If they contributed the full $3,500 next year, they would then be forced to pay the 6% tax on the original $100 over-contribution. Can You Contribute if You Aren't Eligible for the Entire Year? Pro-Rated Contribution Rules ExplainedRarely do you start a new job on January 1st or end it on December 31st. When you gain and lose access to a high deductible health plan will impact your availability to contribute to an HSA. If you are not active in an HDHP for the entire year your situation is a gray area. Here is what the IRS says in one of its instruction manuals:
In other words, you can contribute the full amount if you are eligible as of Dec 1, of the calendar year. However, you may owe back taxes if you do not remain eligible from January 1 – December 31 of the following year. To avoid tax problems, your HSA contribution can be pro-rated. Simply divide your normal contribution limit by 12 to get your monthly contribution limit. For individuals, it is $291.66 and for families $583.33 (both numbers represent the 2019 tax year; just apply the current tax year to your situation). Each month that you had at least 1 day active in an HDHP counts as a full month for your contribution limit. Then simply multiply the number of months you were active in the health plan by your monthly contribution limit. For example, an individual that started a new job and gained access to an HDHP on March 12th and maintained HDHP coverage through December 31st would have 10 months of pro-rated contribution availability. They could contribute $291.66 x 10 = $2,916.60 for the year. If they contributed the full amount of $3,500 they would need to take the steps listed above to avoid penalties for over-contributing to their HSA. IRS Publication 969 has more info about HSA qualifications, contribution limits, distribution rules, and more. Benefits of Maxing Out Your HSA Account Each YearThere are numerous advantages to having an HSA. There is the immediate tax benefit in the year you make your contribution. And since your savings never expire, you can save the funds in your HSA or a linked investment account, and let your savings and investments grow over time. In fact, this can be a brilliant investment strategy: Using Your HSA as a Super Retirement AccountHealth Savings Accounts combine the best of the Traditional IRA and Roth IRA. Contributions are tax-deductible in the year they are made (like a Traditional IRA), and the earnings and withdrawals are tax-free if used for a qualifying medical expense (like a Roth IRA, when used for retirement). There are no age limits when using your HSA funds for a qualifying medical expense. So you can let your money ride until needed. Or just let it grow and pay your medical expenses out of pocket. What if you want to use your HSA for non-qualifying medical expenses? If used for anything other than a qualifying medical expense, you will pay taxes and a 10% early withdrawal penalty, just as you would with a retirement account. However, the rules change a little bit once you turn age 65. Once you reach age 65, the current tax rules allow you to make non-qualifying withdrawals from your HSA with the same tax rules as a Traditional IRA. So you would pay taxes on the withdrawals, but you would not pay any penalties. This flexibility makes your HSA one of the most powerful financial tools in your toolbox. Benefits of Long-Term HSA OwnershipI maximized my HSA contributions each year I was eligible to contribute to an HSA. We decided to take advantage of the investment opportunities through the HSA, so we elected to pay our medical costs out of pocket and invest our HSA funds. My health insurance plan has since changed, and I am no longer eligible to contribute to an HSA plan. However, I am not required to remove those funds until I decide to use them for medical expenses, or I decide I wish to withdraw the funds for other purposes. Since the funds are invested, I'd like to let them compound as long as possible. If we have a major medical expense, I can elect to pay for them with our HSA savings. And if we are lucky and don't have any expenses we can't pay out of our cash flow or savings, then I will have a large investment account I can tap into when I reach retirement age. I'm hoping for the latter! Where to Open an HSA Investment AccountThe first thing you need to do is qualify for an HSA with a compatible High Deductible Health Care Plan. Check with your employer if you have an employer-sponsored health care plan. If not, then you may be able to purchase a qualifying HDHP on the ACA exchanges or find one through a health insurance company such as eHealthInsurance (this is where I always found our health care plans after I became self-employed). Once you have a qualifying health care plan, you can shop around for different banks or investment accounts that offer HSAs. I wrote an article about the process of opening an HSA account, which bank I chose, and why. I decided to open my HSA account with HSA Bank, in part because they have easy access, very low fees (which can be waived if you maintain a certain minimum in your account and because they make it very easy to link your HSA account to a brokerage where you can invest your HSA funds. HSA Bank offers two investment options. I chose to invest with TD Ameritrade, because of their excellent reputation and access to several hundred fee-free ETFs for trading. So I've never paid anything to make a stock purchase at TD Ameritrade because I invested in ETFs that didn't have any associated trading costs. You can visit TD Ameritrade to learn more or to open an account. Health Savings Accounts are one of the most flexible financial accounts you can open. If you are eligible to open an HSA, I recommend maxing out your contributions each year. And if you can swing it, try to pay your medical expenses out of pocket. This will allow your HSA contributions to grow tax-free indefinitely, allowing you to increase your net worth. The post 2019 Maximum HSA Contribution Limits – How Much Can You Save for Your Medical Expenses? appeared first on Cash Money Life | Personal Finance, Investing, & Career. To be honest with you, I'm not camping's biggest fan.But as it is a cheap way to get away with all the kids so hubby and I have resolved to 'get more into camping'. If you are struggling to get yourself over the line to catch the camping bug, do what I did – inspire yourself with camping hacks! You'll be off camping just to try out some of these ingenious hacks, and before you know it you'll be having a great time! 1. Corn chips (I tried with Doritos) make a great substitute for fire starters or kindling when starting a camp fire.Always check fire restrictions before starting a fire. 2. Adding bunches of sage to your campfire or fire pit keeps mosquitoes and bugs away.3. Place foam floor tiles on the bottom of your tent for a softer floor.These are amazing for camping because it is portable and easy to put together! Lets you sleep better, too! 4. IMPORTANT!Study up on these poisonous plants + what to do – just in case! 5. This hack is for all the coffee lovers out there.Just like what you'd do with a tea bag, pour some coffee grounds on a coffee filter and then tie it up. 6. Place rosemary on (smouldering) coals to infuse flavour and then cook meat or veggies on grill as normal.7. When bitten by a mosquito, apply some deodorant to the bite to stop itching.8. Break the soap up into single use leaves using a vegetable peeler. This way you preserve and lengthen the life of your soap – portable, too!9. Make sure you have a portable first aid kit on hand.An old prescription bottle is a great option. Fill it with band aids and gauze pads and some necessary medicine if there's still space. 10. Place toilet paper inside an old blank CD packaging. Genius, huh?11. Create a makeshift shower using a large water jug and a watering can head.12. Keep all your toiletries together on a lanyard then hang it over the camp shower. Convenient!13. Mark your trail using a biodegradable tape. You don't get lost and you also help minimise the negative impact to the environment.14. Here's a great hack to keep ingredients and food cold and so you can bring water, too!Freeze bottles of water and place it inside your ice chest along with the other food. When you arrive, you have cold water and your food and drinks are kept cold! 15. Make sure your stuff stays dry no matter the weather by lining your bag with heavy duty garbage bag.16. Prevent cookware from rusting by keeping silica gel packs.17. A hillbilly washing machine! Click here for instructions on how to create one.18. And this one's an awesome DIY loo.19. Pre-scramble the eggs and put it in an empty water bottle. Saves space and lessen your stress.No need to worry that the eggs might break. 20. Here's a great idea just in case you forgot to bring a spoon!21. There's less to clean up after eating if you line your jaffle iron with foil.22. Here's a convenient way to bring spices on your camping trip. Empty tic tac boxes – what a clever idea!23. Pack light! Leave your pillow at home and use your bag filled with clothing as a pillow.24. If you want a hack on how to dry your soaked shoes, well here it is!Stuff a wrinkled newspaper inside each shoe – it dries faster! 25. No hanger? No problem! Use bread tag to hang your shirts.26. Dab toothpaste on to a paper plate then let it dry. Cover it with another paper plate, put in a plastic bag then bring it with you during camping.27. Prepare meals in advance and vacuum seal for easy storage and transport.28. Make a pre-made pancake mix using shortening and dry milk – no need to refrigerate.29. Secure the main centre line using a small stick. See the photo below!The stick is great in tightening the line evenly. 30. Put a battery-powered tea light candle into an empty jam jar to make portable lanterns.31. Strap a head lamp to a gallon jug of water and you'll have plenty of light.32. Here's a cool way to light up the tent! The kids will love this DIY Paint Lantern!33. Place rocks in the bin before lining it with a garbage bag. It won't be blown away easily in case of strong winds!34. In case you run out of candles and run out of phone battery for a flashlight, this DIY orange candle will save the day (or night).35. This DIY Calamine Lotion is definitely better than store-bought ones.Make some before your camping trip and bring it with you in case of sunburn or itchy bug bites!
36. Organise your kitchen utensils during the camp with a shoe organizer like the one in the photo or something similar.37. Use an old belt and some hooks to hang pots and pans!38. Empty bulk-size washing detergent packs can be reused as a camp hand washing station.Do you have more camping hacks to share?
Kate's bathroom makeover is so fun! You need to see what it looked like before!! I totally agree that these will be big trends in 2019. But these trends? I'm not convinced Have you signed up for my brand new newsletter??? I'll be sending out my very first one this weekend so sign up here to get the scoop. The cold but mild weather here in Toronto (we haven't had any snow last more than a few hours!) has strangely put me in a mood where I'm thinking ahead to spring. This post is making me rethink my love of gravel. The Joanna Gaines' At Home Spotify playlist is really lovely for a weekend afternoon Joni has all the kid's room inspiration and tips you need Have you packed the last of the decorations away? Here's some great organizing tips if you haven't! I'm convinced. I need more soup in my life. And Emily's top posts of 2018 countdown is one of my favourites Amber Interiors Bold black in the kitchen is a trend we love. Black is a neutral with a bit of edge. Paired with light woods, marble counters, and white walls it creates a dramatic contrast and makes a statement. Pair it with traditional elements, and it takes on Old World warmth. Add it to aRead More The post Design Trend 2019: The Black Kitchen appeared first on BECKI OWENS. This was our first official full week in the office since before Christmas (last week was a half week, plus we were up at the mountain house on a team retreat) and half the team was in and out sick with something. Starting the year strong here… But, we're back in the swing of things and so excited to announce a BRAND NEW series on the blog. Every week, on Sunday, we'll be publishing a quick and simple list of all the things we buzzed about during the 5 days prior: things we read, things we Pinned, things we bought and truly, truly loved…basically, things we couldn't help but share with each other (and now all of you). It's what we'd tell our friends, cocktail chatter, but online on Sundays. I know we kind of started this in the summer, where we had that Sunday newsletter of all the things I loved at any given time, but this one will be a team effort. Sometimes, you might hear just from me, but mostly, it'll be a marriage of what has Team EHD excited. Alright, let's kick things off… I'm anxiously awaiting the RSVP to Cup of Jo's Soup Group. #JanStewary is a revolution people…it's spreading faster than spilled bone broth on a sloped countertop. I've lived in this insanely comfortable T-shirt basically for three months straight, and it's more than half off right now. Love this girl's blog and appreciate her honesty, especially regarding spirituality. That *ish is hard to put out there. At least four of us, me included, are super pumped about Leanne Ford's new lighting collection for Target that's launching February 10 (pictured above). This one will absolutely sell out (probably at the hand of my team alone), so set your alarms. The end of a design-blogging era… Everyone was convinced that this ceramic bowl was some crazy expensive (or vintage) find, but really, it was from Target (who's killing it in the ceramics game right now). The “holy grail” foundation that Arlyn can't stop blabbing about to literally anyone who will listen (she wears Natural Beige). This article about millennials being the “burnout generation”, of which Arlyn, Sara and Ryann read every word, every pull quote and discussed at length while obviously avoiding doing “work” for a solid 10 minutes. From Arlyn: “It's the millennial mike drop.” Sara hasn't stopped undoing all the benefits of souping for Team EHD since she cracked open the spine of the Food52 Genius Desserts cookbook and spoils us with sweet treats basically every day. Thanks for nothing, Sara. (If you've sworn off sugar and other evil things this new year, she says their other cookbook, Genius Recipes, teaches you how to conquer cooking basics in a “foolproof yet elegant way.”) Grace really loved this article from Refinery29 about finding a healthy, physical activity that actually makes you happy (dancing, walking the dog, volleyball!). You don't have to make it a whole thing, just start. These are Sara's absolute favorite pans, and the only two that she's been using for EVERYTHING lately-soup, pasta, veggies, meat. “I've actually gotten rid of most of my other pans.” Our resident outdoor enthusiast Julie saw this heart-pumping movie by National Geographic filmmaker Jimmy Chin of Alex Honold climbing one of the largest rock faces in Yosemite National Park without any ropes…this is watch-through-fingers stressful yet exhilarating. If you're as obsessed with Myers-Briggs as we are (and notorious for not sticking to your New Years resolutions), read this. Alright, come back next Sunday for more of our weekly musings (and of course tomorrow, Monday, for regularly programmed design content!). OH, and please do share some of your favorite things from the week in the comments below. Xx The post The Link Up: All the Things We Couldn't Stop Talking About This Week appeared first on Emily Henderson. Maybe your basement would be a great play area for the kids, or maybe you're tired of looking at gray cement walls when you go downstairs. Whatever the reason, you've recognized the potential value of that extra space in your home. If you want to begin using that below-grade area confidently for storage, living or entertainment purposes, you also likely know that finishing a basement is no small project. And it may require a bit of creativity to work around a furnace, water heater, washer and dryer that are typically housed down there. Some advance work, though, can help make sure your project goes off without a hitch. Here are five things you should consider before refinishing your basement. 1. Identify Water IssuesStart by checking for water issues, the DIY Network suggests. Look for pools of water, dripping walls, water stains on walls or cracks in the foundation. It's also a good idea to check on appliances, such as water heaters and washers, and exposed water lines to identify any potential issues before you begin any work. It's typically easier and less expensive to make necessary repairs to these appliances or pipes prior to finishing the basement. A more rigorous method of inspection, suggested by This Old House, includes taping squares of plastic sheeting to the floors and walls. If, after a couple of weeks, condensation develops under the plastic, you may need to seal your foundation. Moisture on top of the plastic, however, may suggest a need to dehumidify the basement. 2. Look Into WaterproofingThe next step is to remedy areas of concern. The Family Handyman suggests starting outdoors by grading the soil to slope away from the foundation. This Old House also suggests extending your downspouts to divert water at least 10 feet away from your house. Inside, you'll want to repair any problematic cracks in the foundation, and install an efficient sump pump, according to This Old House. Consider both a battery back-up for the main pump and a secondary sump pump that will kick in if the primary pump conks out. You may also want to look into vapor barriers and mold-resistant drywall alternatives to help prevent any potential water issues in the future, says This Old House. 3. Check Permit RequirementsAs with many home improvement projects, a basement renovation may require a permit. The DIY Network suggests asking local officials whether you'll need one and whether an inspection is required. You should also make sure that you understand local building codes, says This Old House. For example, the minimum basement ceiling heights and maximum stair height are often dictated by code. 4. Run a Radon TestOne step that may get overlooked amid the bustle of working with contractors and picking out decor is a radon test. However, it's something the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advises homeowners to do on the lowest lived-in level of their homes, because the naturally occurring gas is linked to health risks. Fixing a radon problem is typically easier and less expensive before a basement is finished, says the EPA, so testing now may help keep expenses in check. Do-it-yourself test kits are commonly found in home improvement stores, the agency says. 5. Research Your Finishing MaterialsFinishing a basement used to require layers of materials and lots of custom work, and typically used moisture-prone lumber and drywall. But, homeowners have new options these days. For instance, This Old House says you can save steps with interlocking insulation panels that have the studs to support drywall, and channels to accommodate electrical wiring, already built in. The Spruce notes that you can take things a step further with a basement system - a suite of components ranging from insulated ceilings and walls, to trim and lighting - which is pre-designed and pre-cut for your space. Of course, you can still go the custom route, with individual components - but This Old House says you should use moisture and mold-resistance options if you do. Sure, a basement renovation can feel a bit more complicated than an above-grade remodel. But these five steps may not only help ease the process, they may also help protect your investment and ensure peace of mind. Originally published on April 10, 2013. The post 5 Things to Do Before Finishing Your Basement appeared first on The Allstate Blog. The Biggest Textile Fair in The World – London Textile 19: Today ends one of the largest fairs in the world of textiles, do you know London Textile? From 9th to 10th they had together a lot of textile companies, that came there to observe new technologies, trends and more about this sector. Stay with us and find out more about what happened in these two days!
Committed to entering new markets and increasing their volume of exports, textile companies continue to bet on the main world fairs to strengthen their international presence. Continue reading The Biggest Textile Fair in The World – London Textile 19 at Maison Valentina Blog. We've all been there. Tempted by that perfect piece of content, we gladly offer up our email addresses, only to regret it later. With each generic, templated email we receive, we're one step closer to hitting the unsubscribe button. Well, guess what. If you can sniff out a mass email from a mile away - so can your leads. Because the one thing we seem to keep forgetting is that no two subscribers are ever the same, and over-relying on the same played-out drip sequence won't help you win their loyalty. But what if you could close more deals with less effort by simply using your tech tools more intentionally? If you're looking for ways to use automation to connect with your leads on a deeper, more human level - keep reading. We've got some proven tips to help you use tech for good. Real estate drip campaigns are not a cure-allBefore we dive deeper into how to fix your drip campaigns, let's talk a little more about why they're broken in the first place. Because the irony is, we all know we need to nurture our leads. We've heard it a million times. We've read all about the business owners who make 50% more sales at 33% less cost because of their awesomely warmed-up databases. And the 18X more revenue targeted emails can bring. But these results often feel like they're meant for someone else, someone who has more time, more resources, or both. So what most of us end up doing is set up an automated drip sequence, and walk away. We feel good about having ticked another box off the “should-do” marketing list, but deep down, we wonder how effective it'll actually be. Because the truth is, in today's always-on age of chatbots and social media, having a drip campaign for the sake of simply “staying in front of” your prospects no longer makes sense. Buyers are more empowered than ever before. And though the volume of homes hasn't changed all that much (we're looking at the first major market shift in a decade), the ways in which we sell those homes have changed dramatically. It's time come out and say it: All this technology is making agents lazy.To be fair, maybe “overwhelmed” is a better word. But whichever way you cut it, not calling leads, ignoring emails and sending the same generic auto-responder to all prospects just proves most agents don't really understand their leads - and worse, they're not concerned with making themselves truly valuable to their prospects. Still, the numbers don't lie. 80% of marketing automation users have seen an increase in leads, and 77% have seen the number of conversions increase. The question isn't whether or not you should use technology - obviously, this stuff works. The real question is this: How can you use technology to stay one step ahead of the competitors, disruptors and ultra-informed leads who are permanently changing the way homes are bought and sold? Scrap the generic drip sequence and close more dealsFrom VR property viewings to transaction management via the blockchain, most agents are afraid of being replaced by technology. According to Joshua Smith coach, mentor and host of the #1 Most Downloaded Real Estate Agent Podcast, GSD Mode, “There are several things happening in our industry currently. First, we have a market shift that is taking place, but this is nothing new for our industry, just remember: 'There Is No Such Thing as a Bad Market, It Is Always Good for Someone'. As Real Estate Agents, we need to identify who the market is good for and adapt to serve their needs. That's how you thrive in shifts.” As disruptors continue to shake up even the most tried and true industry best practices, experts like Joshua say that what separates the winning agents from the rest is whether or not you can resist the urge to bury your head in the sand. “We need to take massive action on this as the future role of the real estate agent depends on it,” says Joshua. Segment your list based on what really mattersLet's imagine a perfect scenario where prospects walk right into your office with a complete profile including details about their knowledge of your brand, level of interest in buying or selling, what type of house they're into, budget, etc. That'd be amazing, right? But since it's rarely (if ever) the case that you have that much intel, you need to put a real effort into narrowing down your lead segments based on what you do know about them. Then, regroup your sales and marketing efforts to consistently deliver what they want, when they want it. Most CRMs allow you to get extremely specific, narrowing it down to:
In Follow Up Boss, we think a simple approach is best:
No matter which of the hundreds of CRMs you've singled out as the one that'll work for you and your team, it should be flexible enough to adapt to the real-world behaviors of your leads - and your team - so that you're always ready to act anytime a lead takes a big leap forward in their buying journey. Keep your emails succinct and humanThere's something about the 9-Word Email that makes it so effective. Business owners who use it say the engagement with their leads is higher and that leads convert faster. So next time you're sending out an email, why not try it out? You could write something simple like, “Are you still interested in housing in South Carolina?” or “Have you seen our new listings in Wrigleyville, Chicago?” In Follow Up Boss, you can create Smart Lists of segmented leads and send tailored follow up emails your leads will actually reply to. Here's a quick example: Hey [Lead Name], [Agent Name] Let's not forget, one of the main reasons consumers love technology is because it's so simple to get a fast, frictionless reply. Make it easy and they won't be able to resist. Plus, all customers care about the little things. Let's say you've closed a sale - this doesn't mean your work is done. Show your gratitude by using a personalized drip campaign to send a short “Thank you for trusting us” email, then add your new customer into a past client follow up sequence that includes a mix of direct mail, phone and email correspondence. Trust us, it will make a difference. Never forget the power of face-to-face interactionWe obviously believe technology is a force for good. But even we have to admit that it comes with a serious downside. For one, nearly half of the US population is lonely. No matter how many awesome tech tools are at our disposal, nothing can replace human connection. Successful real estate agents know it's important to truly connect with their leads and clients - on the phone, via video and, not least, in person. Want more on how to win with video? See how agents like Taylor Hack, Team Leader of HACK&Co use video to build a personal connection with leads. Leading agents use tools like BombBomb to put a face to their drip campaigns, making it that much easier to stand out above the noise get a face-to-face appointment. In fact, even simply using the word “video” in your subject line can boost open rates by 19% and clickthrough rates by 65%. This stuff is powerful. For times when you can't connect in person, sending a quick, personalized thank you video message is the next best thing. And if you want to get even more personal with your leads, check out how real estate agent Kinny Landrum uses BombBomb to send (belated but still awesome) birthday wishes. Your focus is all you haveWith technology taking over industry after industry, it's natural to feel a bit uneasy. But whatever you do, don't waste your time focusing on the wrong things. Because at the end of the day, your focus is the only thing that matters. It's the one thing you can count on to make sure that every time you pick up the phone, text a reply or hit send on an email, the person on the other side knows you're worth their time. So focus your full attention on the people who are most ready to buy. And do it every day. For everyone else, take a day or two to step out of the chaos and create a truly relevant drip sequence that delivers value at every step of the journey. Keep them short, sweet and use the tools available to you to show them you're a real person with real insights they can rely on. Automation is here to help you with that. But it can't do it all on its own. Today I am sharing an awesome cookbook with you guys. Vegan Burgers and Burritos by my friend Sophia DeSantis. You probably already know Sophia from her amazing food blog, Veggies Don't Bite. I think Sophia's cookbook can be summed up in one word: FLAVOR. OK, maybe two words: EPIC flavor. Keep reading to get a glimpse inside + enter my giveaway for a book!...Read more »
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