Monthly Archives: July 2019

Skin Deep: Your Ultimate Guide to Topical CBD

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ultimate guide to topical cbd


As the world embraces CBD for its medicinal value, CBD product manufacturers and other health professionals continue to discover more and more ways to take advantage of its health and medicinal benefits. This offers consumers more options and allows them to choose the method most convenient for them. Methods include oils, tinctures, edibles, patches, vape oil, and topicals in the form of creams, lotions, balms, and more.

Topical CBD, unlike other CBD products, doesn’t enter the bloodstream but is no less effective. Depending on the issue you’re trying to address, it could even work faster than say, tinctures and edibles, which are ingested, and work from inside the body. Because topical CBD is applied right to the skin and exactly where it’s needed, the cannabinoid is absorbed directly into the affected area so it’s able to work faster, providing quick relief.

Whether you’re new to cannabidiol and deciding which product is for you, or you’re just exploring other options, we’ve got everything you need to know about topical CBD right here.

What is Topical CBD? (and How Does it Work?)

Topical CBD is a product infused with cannabinoids, which are compounds found in the cannabis plant, and designed to be applied externally, onto the skin. It is known to provide quick localized relief without ingestion. Since topical CBD it is applied externally, it only affects the surface layers of the body. This is all it needs though. 

Inside each of our bodies is an endocannabinoid system (ECS) which is a network of receptors which can be found in the brain, nervous system, and other parts of your body. The ECS is also in our skin and is the key to how topical CBD works.

Topical CBD works by interacting with the ECS receptor points in our skin. When these receptors are activated, they start to seek out “stressed” receptors and bring them back into balance. When we have stressed out receptors, we notice symptoms ranging from aches and pains to general soreness and stiffness.

Now that you know a little about how CBD works topically, let’s discuss the various types of skincare products it can be found in.

[Can CBD for Athletes Speed up Muscle Recovery?]

What are the Different
Types of Topical CBD?

Topical CBD has essentially three different consistencies: creams and lotions, balms and salves, and oil. Here’s how they are different from each other.

CBD Cream and Lotion

CBD cream and lotion fall under the same category because while creams are slightly thicker than lotions, they have similar consistency and texture. These products make use of a small amount of water, along with moisturizing agents like shea butter, aloe vera, and other nutrients. These are formulated to moisturize and restore the skin barrier.

CBD Salve and Balm

Unlike creams and lotions, CBD salve and balm products do not use water, hence the more solid consistency. They are typically made with beeswax and fatty oils combined with CBD. They are thick and harder to spread throughout the skin compared to creams and lotions, therefore, these products are best used on specific, targeted areas that need relief.

Topical CBD Oil

Topical CBD oil often has other ingredients like olive oil or coconut oil. They are also formulated with other essential oils, vitamins, and minerals. They are the easiest to spread over large areas of the body and are best used as a massage oil to relieve pain and give your skin an over-all relaxing sensation.

How Do you Apply Topical CBD Products?

  1. Make sure to clean the affected area prior to application. It’s best to wash it with soap and water to rid the spot of any other product residues, dirt, or natural oils as these could affect your skin’s absorption of the product.
  2. Take a good amount of the product and massage it onto the problem areas. Leave it for a few minutes so it’s absorbed into the skin before covering it with a bandage or putting garments over it.
  3. Use as frequently as needed to get the best results. CBD products don’t get you high, plus topical CBD doesn’t really enter the bloodstream so it won’t have any effects to the rest of your body.
  4. Wash your hands when you’re done. CBD topicals have other active ingredients and while they provide relief to painful areas of your body, it could sting when it gets to your eyes and other parts of the body.

What are the Most Common Uses of Topical CBD?

CBD has been proven to have anti-inflammatory benefits, and because one of the most common causes of pain is inflammation, using topical CBD can provide relief and relaxation.

Sun Burn

Overexposure to the sun’s rays is what triggers sunburns. The affected skin then turns red and irritated, and in severe cases, it can cause swelling and blisters. These are signs of inflammation. CBD creams and lotions can help reduce the pain and inflammation and at the same time helps rehydrate the burnt skin.

Arthritis Pain

Arthritis is the inflammation of one or more of your joints, most commonly associated with aging. It causes moderate to severe pain, swelling, and stiffness, and could even limit your ability to move the affected body part. Topical CBD can help with the symptoms, according to a study made in 2015. It concludes that topical CBD application has therapeutic potential for relief of arthritis pain-related behaviors and inflammation without evident side-effects.

Muscle Pain

A lot of athletes have been using CBD to speed up muscle recovery after rigorous training. They often take it orally, but topical CBD has similar effects. CBD creams, salves, and balms can help relax the muscles and reduce inflammation and the physical discomforts caused by intense physical activities.

Other studies claim that topical CBD may prove helpful for other skin issues like acne, eczema, psoriasis, and more.

[Why You Should Not Buy CBD Oil on Amazon]

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What are the Different Factors to Consider When Choosing a Topical CBD?

If you’re new to topical CBD and trying to figure out which product will work for you, it’s best to take a look at the different factors and understand how they come into play with each product. Here are a few things you need to consider.

Ingredients

There would often be other ingredients in topicals apart from CBD and they’re not always the same. Different manufacturers use different ingredients and once you know what you want to use the topical for, you have to make sure that the added ingredients in it do not counter your desired effect.

For example, if you hope to treat skin issues by using CBD cream but the formulation includes other comedogenic ingredients that could block your pores, it could do more harm than good. Always read up and do your research.

Concentration

The potency of topical CBD affects its effectiveness so you might want to check if a product’s potency is strong enough to make it past the skin so that it can work on providing relief to the affected area. Always opt for high-quality topicals that are highly concentrated to get the best results.

Consistency

Different consistencies of topical CBD may vary in effectiveness, and depending on what you want to use it for, one product may be better for you than the other. For example, balms and salves are thicker than lotions and creams and may work better because its thickness makes it easier for the skin to absorb it. On the other hand, if you have dry skin and need a little bit of hydration, you might want to go for lotions and creams as they contain moisturizing agents that could ease the dryness. It’s always a good idea to match the products to your specific needs.

Manufacturer

Make sure you source CBD skincare products from manufacturers you can trust. Legit CBD companies have high-quality products and provide you with an accurate chemical breakdown of everything that they offer, allowing you to make an informed decision when it comes to choosing the kind of topical that’s right for you.

Final Thoughts

Topical CBD for skin, like other CBD products, is a great alternative to over-the-counter medicines. Studies have proven their anti-inflammatory benefits without the side effects that traditional, prescription medications often have.

To maximize the benefits of topical CBD, know exactly what your problem areas are—it’s always good to have a specific target. Then, do your research so you know how to choose the best consistency and the exact product that can address it. Finally, observe best practices when using it.

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6 Retirement Misconceptions

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Originally posted by Jerry Golden on Silvernest.com on Jul 31, 2017 9:43:09 AM

In an effort to keep things simple for people who are nervous about retirement – whether they are 42 or 62 – conventional planning strategies focus on how to save and invest money. If you save X amount and invest wisely you will live happily for N years. That is how retirement misconceptions begin.

Saving is good, but hard. Smart investing is good – and also quite difficult if the appropriate strategy is not deployed.

Hoping for the best as you draw down that savings to meet your budget in retirement – while absorbing the ups and downs of the stock market, inflation, medical and caregiver expenses – virtually ensures that you will remain nervous about your financial health up to and through retirement.

The problems with conventional wisdom

Misconception No. 1: 401(k)/IRA plans offer retirement income. Vehicles such as 401(k) plans and IRAs are good ways to save because you can build tax-deferred savings. And if you simply follow the mandated Required Minimum Distributions you will have a retirement drawdown strategy. The problem: While you are required to take distributions out of these plans starting at age 70½ – whether or not you need the money – it is not a retirement income strategy in the true sense of income. P.S. You can’t avoid paying taxes, but you can minimize them, as I explain here.

Misconception No. 2: Retirement calculators are accurate. When you research a plan for retirement, you will find many versions of devices called retirement calculators. It’s OK to fill in the blanks and let them provide a number. The problem: Calculators might give you a rough idea of how much money you must accumulate, but they won’t address your personal situation or help you plan for guaranteed, lifetime income.

Misconception No. 3: Set your asset allocation and forget about it. Most investment advice will tell you to make sure the money in your 401(k) or IRA is diversified. Your savings shouldn’t be invested in just one type of asset class, like growth stocks, for example. The problem: What the advice doesn’t say is this: When you are about to retire you need to reconsider your pre-retirement asset allocation and add other choices to the mix. The plan you developed when you were 35 won’t work at 65.

Misconception No. 4: All annuities are bad.That is what you will hear in a drumbeat of advertising and social media from advisors who have built businesses out of selling based on the stock market and other returns. The problem: The headlines do not distinguish between different types of annuities. An income annuity, for example, is the only product that provides guaranteed lifetime income, similar to Social Security or a pension. If you decide an income annuity should be part – never 100% — of your portfolio, the question becomes how much of your retirement income do you want it to provide?

Misconception No. 5: All reverse mortgage strategies are bad. As with annuities, an industry has grown to convince you never to utilize a reverse mortgage. The problem: Again, retirees should consider whether this option might provide benefits as one part of a diversified retirement strategy. In moderation, and properly managed, a reverse mortgage provides peace of mind in the form of tax-free cash flow and long-term liquidity for a retirement plan.

Misconception No. 6: Financial advisors consider all options. Your financial advisor has discussed asset allocation with you. How much of your money should be invested in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, cash? The problem: Advisors don’t talk enough about product allocation. What do you do specifically with your major sources of savings – rollover IRA/401(k), personal savings, deferred annuities and equity in your house – to create retirement income? Each has its own tax and other considerations. Deciding how to use them most efficiently in your retirement income plan may be the greatest contributor to retirement income success.

Saving money is a simple but important concept. As you approach retirement, it is just as important to determine how much income your savings can provide. When you concentrate on the income power your savings have, your decisions will become easier.

I have helped consumers achieve satisfying retirements for more than 40 years. Visit Go2Income for more information about how to plan your retirement using income annuities, and look for more information about the power of income in coming articles.

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6 Top Tips For Getting The Best Out Of Your Company Vehicle

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Your company is going places, quite literally. You’ve got the services that your customers want, and now all you need is the van to take it to them.

Running a company van means lots more things to think about. You will need to make sure that your vehicle is kept in good repair, and is road legal. This would include seeking insurance at a good price, such as cheap van insurance uk. Also, you will need to pay any taxes on the vehicle. 

Your Branding 

Your van is a moving advertisement for your company. If you do not have an eye-catching logo and enough information on the side of your vehicle to catch the eyes of potential customers, you are missing a trick. Get yourself a designer who can help you create the impression that you need to be making. 

If you ever change anything about your design, you will need to know how to remove car wraps from your vehicle.

Keep It Clean

As you are driving around a representation of your business, you need to show that you care and have attention to detail. Keeping your vehicle clean and tidy, will show your potential customers that if you care this much about your van, you will care about the service you are providing them.

Drive Well

This shouldn’t need pointing out, but if you are cutting up drivers, or tailgating in a company vehicle, then it does not give a good impression of your business at all. If you let staff out and about driving the vehicle, have some contact information on the back where people can feedback about the driving of your team. This will make them think twice about aggressive driving. 

Think about doing some driver etiquette training with your team. Being courteous costs nothing when you are on the road, however being rude or driving dangerously, may cost the driver their license and, you, your business reputation. 

Mod Cons

Make sure your van has things like a built-in sat-nav and Bluetooth connectivity. Making sure you and your team don’t need to be handling phones while driving will keep you, and other road users, safer. 

Using mobile phones while at the wheel causes a lot of accidents these days, and your company should not become part of a statistic. 

Servicing Your Vehicle

You will need to make sure that your vehicle is regularly serviced. You’ll probably find that you are doing a lot of miles in the van, so you should try and get it into a garage as often as possible to have the oil changed, and everything checked over. 

Lease Hire

One great option for running a company vehicle might be to find out about lease hire agreements. Another company owns the van, and you pay them for renting it. Often these come with service contracts, and they will allow you to swap the vehicle as it gets older. It can take some of the hassles out of managing company vehicles, especially if you need a fleet. Check with the lease hire company regarding their policy around putting your branding on, as this may differ. 

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What are CBD Edibles?

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What are CBD Edibles?

CBD edibles are edible nutritional supplements that come in the form of a chocolate or tasty chew. Made to mask the earthy flavor of hemp, edibles are a pleasant CBD option. The great taste of these products makes CBD appealing to a wide audience. With CBD edibles, you don’t have to sacrifice taste for strength; edibles are as potent and nutritious as other supplement forms.

Hemp-derived CBD edibles are legal in the United States and do not require a medical card for purchase. These products have the legal level of THC (less than 0.3%) and are non-intoxicating. With CBD edibles, you can enjoy the benefits of CBD without a high.

Why Should I Choose a CBD Edible?

The number one reason why customers choose edibles is for taste. Hemp has a distinct flavor that, to some, is difficult to get used to. (Watch: What Does Hemp Taste Like?) With edibles, the flavor of hemp is completely covered. A piece of chocolate or a gummy bear can serve both as a nutritional supplement and a sweet treat!

Edibles are a great introductory CBD product. They come in a familiar form and require no instruction. If you are consuming a different form of CBD, edibles can be used as a replacement for your daily bite of chocolate or gum for an extra serving of CBD.

When something is as delicious as CBD edibles, it’s difficult to forget to take them each day. These products taste so great that you’ll look forward to supplementing your routine with CBD!

How Do I Choose a CBD Edible?

There are many types of CBD edibles on the market which can make it difficult to know which product to choose. We suggest considering two things: potency and form. First, edibles can range greatly in potency. Some edibles have a low potency; with these products, you may need to take an additional supplement. There are other edibles that have a higher potency and can be taken as a sole daily supplement. (Read: How Much CBD Oil Should I Take?) Second, choosing an edible is a matter of preference. Do you like chocolate or more fruity treats? With the many options to choose from, you are sure to find a product that suits your taste.

How Many Edibles Should I Eat Per Serving?

Servings are going to differ by product and person; it is best to start with the recommended serving size on the label. You may find that your ideal serving size is more or less than the recommended amount. It’s best to take your time and try out different serving sizes to see what works best for you. Some people enjoy taking CBD in the morning with other nutritional supplements to start their day while others enjoy taking CBD at night for its calming effect.

Learn More About CBD Hemp Edibles

With CBD edibles, nutritional supplements are easy to remember and pleasant to take! If you struggle to remember to take nutritional supplements, then CBD edibles may be perfect for you.

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5 Guaranteed Mood Lifters for Dreary, Down Days

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Aren’t those days the worst? Your alarm blares out annoyingly, the rain pours down and you open the fridge to find the milk carton is empty. Everyone experiences dreary, down days that seem unavoidable, but there are ways to turn your bad day into a positive one. When you’re caught in a negative spiral it is important to find activities that are guaranteed to trigger happier emotions inside your body. If you find yourself in these situations regularly, then consider some of the following mood lifters right now.

1.Music

Listening to some upbeat and quirky tunes can work wonders when you’re trying to lift your spirits. Expand the type of music you listen to and try out new genres here https://stockmusic.net/blog/western-movie-music/. You will be surprised at the type of songs that spark inspiration and happiness inside of you. Try to take on projects that might require music too, such as home movie making or video editing; this will help to refocus your mind and give you an instant lift in positive endorphins.

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2. Talking

When you’re having a bad day, the last thing you want to do is talk about the embarrassing reason why you’re feeling down. However, if you can talk to someone who is neutral and understanding, you will feel a whole lot better. Call up a close friend or go out for coffee with a colleague and you will feel like a weight as been lifted.

3. Moving

Exercise releases a rush of endorphins that can instantly make you feel better when you’re having a terrible day. Even though you might want to spend the day on the sofa eating cookies and watching romantic comedies, you might find it more beneficial to head to a dance class or go for a run!

4. Cooking

The methodical and therapeutic process of cooking should never be underestimated. Even if you aren’t the greatest chef in the world, you will probably end up with some delicious dishes in the end. Use some online recipes to start of simply and then branch out to more complicated foods when your confidence has grown. A couple of hours on your own in the kitchen will give you the time and space you need when you’re having one of those days.

5. Laughing

The benefits of laughter are undeniable, so why not go out of your way to have a giggle? Watch a funny film, rewatch your favourite comedy series or call up your most hilarious friend. Forcing yourself to laugh might sound crazy, but it will be an instant mood booster.

Some of these ideas might seem pretty obvious from afar, but have you ever given them a try? The next time you wake up with negative energy, you should try a handful of the activities mentioned above. Don’t allow a bad morning to spiral into a terrible day; uplift your mood using tried and tested techniques that work for you!

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3 Genius Ways You Should Train Your Employees

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Even if you hire the best employees, they could still do with some training. Training your employees means they learn new things and develop new skills – which will only benefit your business. 

However, training courses cost money, so you don’t want to spend cash on loads of different things that won’t benefit you or your employees. Bearing that in mind, how should you train your staff? Here are a few ways that you’ll find more than beneficial: 

Health and safety 

All of your employees need to go through the relevant health and safety training to work for your company. Without this training, they won’t know how to conduct themselves in your workplace. As a result, accidents can happen that lead to lawsuits and a lot of stress for you. Consider booking them onto workplace safety or site safety training courses. By doing this, they’ll be aware of the risks in your work environment and what to do to prevent accidents. Plus, if something does happen, they know what to do to control the situation. A company with a high accident count doesn’t look very trustworthy or professional at all. So, health and safety training can help preserve your reputation while ensuring everyone stays safe!

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Team building 

Another good way to train your employees. Team building helps bring your team closer together and provides more synergy. It’s all well and good hiring individuals who are excellent at their jobs, but you need to ensure they work well together. You can’t guarantee this until you give them time to gel with one another. Team-building training exercises force your employees to work with each other in different scenarios and get used to working as a team. The things they do will translate back into the workplace, creating a more efficient and productive company. Plus, it helps improve employee relationships as well. In turn, this could also boost the overall mood of your business and improve employee satisfaction rates. 

Upskilling

There’s always room for improvement, which is why upskilling is a brilliant idea. With this type of training, your employees learn new skills. It’s a fantastic way to help them develop as professionals and become more qualified to take on additional tasks. With upskilling, you can train, say, an office assistant to use your payroll software. Now, they handle some financial responsibilities as well – which prevents the need to hire a new person specifically for that. You benefit from upskilling by keeping people in your business and making them better at their work. Your employees benefit by developing new skills and adding extra abilities to their resume!

These three training ideas are cost-effective as they help improve your business in some way. You can find other training options, but there’s no point spending extra money on things that don’t provide almost instant benefits. It’s not essential to try all three of these ideas – apart from health & safety training – but choosing one or two can help your company grow and get better than it already is. 

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How To Pursue Your Passion

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No one likes the idea of getting a job in a field which they simply don’t care about. Having to spend a good portion of your time in a place which you don’t like will make life feel boring, but a lot of people find themselves in this position. Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of dream jobs to go around, forcing those who want to achieve their goals to push themselves a lot harder than those around them. Of course, though, while your goals may be hard to make into a reality, it isn’t impossible to get a job that you love, and this article is going to show you how to do it.

What Do You Love?

One of the hardest parts of all of this for a lot of people is figuring out what they are passionate about in the first place. School never does much to help people with this, forcing them to figure out their own path in life. Instead, you need to think about what you most enjoy doing in your spare time, followed by figuring out a career which would give you elements of this in your daily life. For example, if you like to listen to music and can’t stop tinkering, looking at some audio engineering schools could give you an opportunity to start learning skills which you’ll enjoy using. This is much better than working at a job you hate.

What Can You Do To Get There?

The scope of your career will always be determined by the level of education you’re able to attain before you start building it. Not everyone has the same opportunities in life, and this makes it worth melding your path to suit the opportunities you have. For example, you may not have the money or time to go to school again, but may know people who already have roles in the field you like. You need to leverage the areas which you are able to work on the most, and this may involve climbing the ladder a little. As long as you’re still earning something, though, this shouldn’t be too painful to pull yourself through.

Keeping Yourself On The Right Track

It can be all too easy to give up when you’re approaching such a difficult goal. Getting a job which you love is something which most people never get to enjoy, and this shows that it won’t be an easy task. Instead, you will have to work extremely hard, pushing and motivating yourself along the way. Thankfully, though, there are loads of ways to help yourself with this. You need to think about the reasons you have for the goals you want to overcome, giving yourself the drive to get up each morning and push as hard as you can.

With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to get started on pursuing your passion. A lot of people struggle with this sort of work, finding it hard to know what needs to be done when they want to improve their career.

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10 Retirement Building Blocks for a Long, Financially Strong Life

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Originally posted by Jerry Golden on Jun 11, 2017

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In a world where political ideas come and go, trends surge and falter, revolutions bloom and then fade, a few foundational concepts for retirement remain true: Income is of prime importance, planning for your specific circumstances will increase your financial stability, most retirement calculators are seriously flawed, and you can lessen – but not eliminate – the burden of taxes.

We recently completed a survey of the advice I have offered in this space for the past five years. Here are 10 retirement building blocks that I expect will remain useful no matter how long your retirement lasts.

The retirement foundation

To understand how to build a solid retirement, start with the idea that income is the prime goal. Savings are good, but only if they can be converted into spendable income to maintain the quality of life you had before retirement. Income is money that you can count on whether the stock market is plunging or your party is out of office. Social Security and company pensions set the standard. You can follow this guide to producing pension-like retirement income.

Think about retirement in two stages

Too much of the financial literature treats retirement as a single event. We are generally living longer, however, and our requirements change during those additional years. I plan for a two-stage retirement to account for different needs and wants as we mature. This video explains the benefits of looking at retirement in this way.

Optimize Social Security

For most of us, our Social Security payments represent a substantial percentage of our retirement income. Waiting to tap this valuable resource will increase your payments. Here I suggest how to wait as long as possible to start Social Security, in combination with other opportunities.

Minimize taxes

If you have a 401(k), a rollover IRA or own securities that have appreciated, taxes may take a large chunk out of your retirement savings. I explain how to defuse this tax bomb. I also believe it is prudent to minimize taxes and manage for income.

Learn about income annuities

Especially around Tax Day, you will hear many opinions about income annuities. I dispel some of those myths in this article. And in this blog I explain the benefits that I find in income annuities.

Why retirement calculators may fail you

There is no magic number for your retirement savings. Calculatorsgenerally input your retirement age, your income goal and number of years of payments, and then solves for amount of savings you need. Based on the results, the calculator (or an advisor) will tell you to save more or spend less. Here is my advice to increase peace of mind: Plan beyond the averages.

Add deferred income annuities and QLAC to the equation

A deferred income annuity from a top-rated insurance company can provide income guaranteed for life at a date in the future, similar to Social Security or a company pension. For the second stage of retirement, an income annuity called a Qualifying Longevity Annuity Contract, or QLAC, purchased out of your Rollover IRA account can provide income to cover late-in-retirement expenses.

Develop spendable income

During your working years, you depend on getting a regular paycheck. Dependable, spendable income is the key to retirement, too. A large savings account doesn’t necessarily translate into income, as I illustrate in this article.

Save a legacy for your heirs

I argue that you should take care of yourself first. I refer to a couple of books that help you decide what is important to you and how you might be able to provide for all of it.

How to work with financial advisors

The decisions you make about your finances during retirement are some of the most important you will consider. Learn enough about your options so you can ask the right questions of your advisor – and trust your own judgment. You might find that advisors tend to operate in silos, constrained by the types of products their company sells. Educate yourself to feel more comfortable while you shop for retirement products.

Managing around life events

The closer we get to retirement, the more we realize that life happens. We can plan for some events, and others cause us to react. Second marriages, transitioning to a single life, and other life-changers are all events that can be managed for optimal financial outcomes, even if they are surprises.

Visit Go2Income for more information and guidance on how to create a plan that fits your retirement needs.

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How CBD Oil Prices Have Changed from 2012 to Today

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CBD oil prices quietly hit a historical low recently, and nobody is talking about it. We dug through the archives of cannabidiol prices to see just how major the change is, found the events which caused these changes, and attempt to predict the future of CBD product pricing.

The first mainstream CBD product 

The year is 2012. CBD is such a well-kept secret that even a Google search renders virtually no results on the topic. Unless you’re ready to trek through pages of scientific research reports, looking up the definition to every other word that even the deepest depths of your biology class memories won’t help you decipher. 

There is one good (ish) thing about CBD in the year 2012. There’s only one CBD product on the market, so you aren’t trying to compare multiple different brands. 

The one CBD product available was a little ½-ounce bottle containing 100 milligrams of CBD. Although, there were no lab tests available to prove that CBD content, so it was on the honor system. 

The price tag? $90.

Fast forward to today, and there is an abundance of options in terms of CBD products. Whether you are a casual user or a business purchasing wholesale CBD products to sell to customers (which is made possible thanks to websites like Laurelcrest.com), you won’t struggle to find the right products. But there is more good news; you won’t have to pay anywhere near as much as back in 2012.

CBD Oil Prices are 88% less expensive today than in 2012 

Today, the price of CBD is 88% less than it was in 2012. Coming to that conclusion requires a little math, as we’re not comparing apples to apples. CBD products are larger in size and significantly more potent today. 

To start, let’s compare a typical CBD oil tincture price in 2012 versus 2019. 

  • 2012: 0.5-ounce (100mg CBD) $90
  • 2019: 1-ounce (1,000mg CBD) averaging about $110 

Sure, the 2019 tincture costs $20 more, but it’s double the size and contains 5x more CBD by volume. So, we can’t just look at the overall price tag. 

In order to accurately compare the price of CBD products, you must calculate how much it costs per milligram of CBD. This way, you know exactly what you’re paying for the CBD content, which is what we care about. 

To break the price down, it’s 11¢ per milligram of CBD as compared to 90¢ in 2012. 

To get those numbers, take the product’s price and divide it by the total amount of CBD. 

  • 2012: $0.90 per milligram of CBD 
  • 2019: $0.11 per milligram of CBD 

Even though the price of a bottle of CBD oil hasn’t changed that much, the bottles are much larger and contain an exceptionally higher amount of CBD. You won’t find a bottle the same small size and low potency as in 2012. The closest you can get is typically a 1-ounce bottle with 300 milligrams of CBD, which runs at around $50. That’s still 17¢ per milligram of CBD instead of 90¢.

You get what you paid for 

There is no truer time to say, “You get what you paid for,” than with CBD oil prices. 

Even though the price of CBD products has dropped significantly in recent years, that doesn’t mean we should be looking for the cheapest option possible. It’s okay to compare prices, but always be suspicious of abnormally cheap prices. 

The raw hemp extract that’s used to craft CBD products is not inexpensive for business to make or purchase. So, when a product costs less than even that raw material they claim is in the product, something is wrong. Either there’s no CBD in it, or it’s made with CBD isolate. Isolate isn’t bad, but when you’re specifically shopping for a full-spectrum hemp oil product, misleading labeling can be very frustrating. 

To protect yourself from snake oil as you compare CBD prices, always ask for a certificate of analysis (COA) and find out where the hemp oil is sourced from. If it’s sourced from overseas, you should take the extra step of asking for a third party lab test of the hemp oil, which will prove that there are no pesticides or heavy metals. 

Snake oil products can look very convincing on a website. However, as soon as you start asking the manufacturer questions, you can quickly sniff out a sketchy company. 

CBD is still a very new supplement. Eventually, it will become much more regulated to prevent snake oil from being the problem that it is today. Until then, either stick to a reputable company or do your due diligence to inspect a CBD product before purchasing.  

Why have CBD prices gone down, while demand has gone up? 

The reason CBD saw such a major drop in price is thanks to the 2014 and 2018 Farm Bills, which opened the doors for farmers in the United States to grow hemp. Before those bills, CBD had to be sourced from hemp grown in other countries. 

Most companies sourced from Europe, where growing standards are very top-notch and organic. The quality is excellent, especially as compared to cheap hemp from China that never seems to test well, be it contaminants or lower than advertised CBD content. 

As U.S.-grown hemp became more readily available, it was an obvious switch for CBD manufacturers. Not only is the quality fantastic and reliable, but it’s also cheaper than sourcing from Europe because you’re skipping the expensive import fees. 

Future CBD price prediction 

Sourcing hemp oil from U.S. farmers is helping to lower the price of CBD and will most likely continue to cost less over the next few years. Farmers haven’t been growing for long on U.S. soil.  Currently, in the US, there are only 26,000 acres of hemp being farmed. A number we expect to rise in the coming years and thus decreasing the overall cost.   

Larger hemp fields paired with new and improved equipment will also increase efficiencies to grow and harvest hemp, again helping to decrease CBD product prices. 

On top of this, there are not many reliable hemp farmers in the U.S. right now due to the previous laws around the plant. As the competition grows, the prices will go down because, finally, there will be enough supply to meet the demand from CBD manufacturers.   

Price isn’t all that’s changed 

The legality of CBD was very muddy in the early days because the law wasn’t written clearly enough to draw a line between hemp and marijuana. Yet, it was readily available for purchase on major e-commerce sites, like Amazon and eBay. There were no rules against CBD because nobody knew what it was. 

Now, everyone has heard about CBD and the law has cleared up its legality. Yet, it’s now that there are rules against CBD on major e-commerce websites, social media, and banking solutions.

To be fair, a lot of things happened in between. In the early days of CBD’s popularity spike, companies and law enforcement freaked out because they weren’t educated on the difference between hemp and marijuana, and in turn, CBD and THC. Even in 2019, a grandmother was arrested at Disney World for having CBD oil, which law enforcement thought was the same as marijuana. 

Over the next couple of years, we expect companies to become more educated on CBD laws and remove CBD from their list of banned substances. Education is key for this to happen, and the hemp industry is on the right track to make a comeback for CBD that will make it a staple product in everyone’s home.

Contributed Post. Article originally posted on https://madebyhemp.com/

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Save Time and Boost Efficiency in Your Business

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All business owners want to create an operation that runs as smoothly as possible. A smooth-running, efficient workplace means that you are seeing the highest return on investment and achieving a high level of productivity and output. While running a 100 per cent productive workplace may be the dream, finding a way of turning that dream into reality can feel impossible. If you are hoping to improve the efficiency of your business, you may want to consider some of these options.

Efficient Production

Securing bigger orders for your business means that you need to be able to fulfil them. If you are looking for ways to win those bigger orders, you may want to consider investing in new machinery to help you achieve this.

Increasing the number of automated processes that you use may help. By increasing the amount of manufacturing automation you use in your company, you may be able to boost production and complete orders much faster.

Time-Saving Software

Duplicating effort is a common way in which productivity is impacted in the workplace. A duplicating of effort is a common problem with sales teams, who call a prospect without realising that a colleague has already contacted the same person. This scenario not only negatively impacts productivity, but it is also damaging to your business’ reputation, as potential customers may become annoyed with constant phone calls. 

To ensure your sales team are delivering excellent customer service and not duplicating their efforts, it is a good idea to use customer relationship management software (CRM) to help prevent this problem from arising. Utilising CRM software will ensure that your staff are working as efficiently as they can and are kept well-informed of the status of each customer. 

Examine Your Procedures

Taking a step back and reviewing your business processes and procedures can be a beneficial thing to do every once and a while. Looking at your business with fresh eyes will enable you to identify areas that could be utilising resources better and where efficiencies could be made.

As well as examining things for yourself, it is often useful to gain insights from your staff too. Allowing your team to let you know how they believe processes can be improved is a great way to gain feedback from people that are directly involved in the day to day activities of your business. 

Discovering which parts of their job your employees find the most time consuming and the biggest drain on their productivity, could help you to come up with some new ways of working that significantly improve efficiency. Your staff are also likely to feel more motivated to work and valued as employees if they think that you appreciate their input and respect their opinions, this, in turn, can help to boost productivity and encourage staff to take more ownership of their tasks. Don’t forget to report back to your team the outcome of their suggestions for improvements to business processes, so that they know you listened to their ideas.

Contributed Post.

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