Universal Careers offers EMT sample quiz

Universal Careers wants to make sure that its students receive help in achieving their success.

The EMT/paramedic training school is offering its students the opportunity to take sample quizzes online. Students can assess their skills and knowledge against practice assessments for national training.

Universal Careers has been offering students an opportunity to train with experienced EMT/paramedic instructors in state-of-the-art classes since 2005. Students work with actual medical equipment and travel to emergency rooms and hospitals, rather than remaining in traditional classrooms. And graduates are able to certify as EMTs in as little as 14 days through and intensive program.

In addition, Universal Careers offers graduates extensive and aggressive job placement assistance using UC's database of clients and graduates.

“Universal Careers has a reputation for helping our students achieve success,” said Kevin Simpson, program manager for Universal Careers. “One of our strengths has been our online program, so offering these quizzes helps our students see what skills are necessary for the Emergency Medical Services field.”

“The quizzes help me focus,” said UC student Len Jacobs. “I can take what I'm learning form the paramedic instructors and figure out how it works in what I'm supposed to know for certification. Plus I learn better from nontraditional methods, so UC and the online prep really helps me.”

Universal Careers offers programs for new EMTs and professionals who want to update their skills. With a projected growth of 9% over the next decade, the Emergency Medical Services field is one of the most in-demand fields right now.

For more information about Universal Careers, please call (213) 290-4682 or visit the web site at www.universalcareers.org.

Universal Careers is a national leader in EMT and paramedic training and preparation. With customer service offices in Los Angeles, Calif., and a training partner in Fredericksburg, Va., UC is a state-of-the-art provider of training for individuals interested in joining the health care field. Upon successful completion of the Universal Careers EMT Basic course, students will receive additional help in obtaining their EMT Certification which makes them eligible to work with paramedics in nearly every state in the U.S.

Know the difference between mortgage interest rate and APR to become a knowledgeable borrower.

Mortgage APR Vs interest rate: The difference clarified

When you consider taking out the most affordable home mortgage loan, you possibly think about the interest rate only. Though an affordable interest rate is essential for a good offer, you must also understand that there are other fees associated with a mortgage that might make it costlier than the interest rate suggests. For assisting consumers to figure out the true cost of borrowing a home loan, lenders can work out the APR or annual percentage rate on the mortgage. They are essentially necessitated by law to advertise this useful figure beside the base interest rate of the loan.

The interest rate on your mortgage is the fee that the lender asks for as a cost of using the loan for a particular period of time. If you have good credit, then you can qualify for a better interest rate. The interest rate is not the only cost for a mortgage. There are other mortgage fees and charges that make a loan more expensive.

This is where the APR comes into play. The annual percentage rate is formulated to take into consideration the overall cost of the loan by including not only the base interest rate but also the points, closing costs and other fees. 

For instance, you might need to pay a particular amount of points for getting your mortgage. One point is equal to 1% of the total loan amount. You typically pay points for reducing the interest rate on your loan. A reduced interest rate implies the lender would gain in the long term. Hence, he would ask for the points as an upfront fee to compensate for the loss in profit. If you paid one point on a loan amount of $300,000, you would be paying $3,000. With the annual percentage rate, this amount would be summed up with the base interest rate to show the cost of the loan more precisely.

The other major charges included in the APR are the closing costs. These include fees like private mortgage insurance (PMI) and application fees. Any service offered by the lender during loan processing is incorporated into the APR. Closing costs can amount anywhere from $200 to $2,000 depending on the neighborhood and your home value. When you add closing costs and points to the base interest rate, they raise the overall cost of the loan and make the APR higher than the interest rate.       

Knowing the difference between the APR and the interest rate would help you become a more competent loan aspirant. Use the annual percentage rate to compare loans. This would make sure you compare apples to apples, helping you choose the cheapest loan for your needs.  

    

Know what roles stocks and mutual funds play in your investment portfolio and how you can gain from diversifying your equity investment.

What role do stocks play in your investment portfolio?

Many investors want to include some equity or stock investments in their investment portfolios. They might buy some common stocks or equity mutual funds or a blend of the two. However, mutual funds and stocks are not the correct investment option all the time.

Who are the potential investors of stocks and mutual funds?

People who prefer to invest in stocks and mutual funds are those who frequently:

feel at ease with assuming some risk to go after higher returns
have an extensive time period (they have a long period to invest, hence they can select the time to sell)

Who are less probable to invest in stocks and mutual funds?

People approaching retirement or any other occasion when they would want their money don’t wish to invest in mutual funds and common stocks. They shift their money to investments with a steadier or assured return. For instance, they might invest in preferred stocks as a means to generate a stable flow of income.

Stock diversification in your portfolio

Stock diversification in your portfolio refers to having a blend of various types of stocks in your portfolio such as stocks of companies from various sectors. It can also suggest investing in holding company stocks or equity mutual funds. Through diversification of your equity investments, you can minimize risk and expect improved returns.

Are mutual funds and stocks good options for you?

The right blend and categories of equity investment might vary as time passes by. Question yourself:

Is there any logic to raise or lower the level of mutual funds and stocks in my portfolio?
Has the time come to modify my equity investments - either through buying or selling?

You should keep in mind that your investments should suit your age and risk tolerance level. These might vary with time. Make arrangements to evaluate your equity investments once every year as a minimum either without help or with the assistance of a financial counselor.  

Whether it is debt consolidation, taking out a mortgage, buying insurance or depositing money, a financial company can help you in different ways.

How would a financial company help you?

A financial company may help you in many ways. It may be an insurance company, a debt consolidation company, a mortgage lender or a bank. Financial companies offer different types of financial services to the consumers. Possibly, the most significant financial service offered by these companies is they act as financial intermediaries. Most financial companies are strongly regulated by government authorities to prevent unfair practices. Now, how would a financial company help you? Go through the details given below to get a better understanding: 

Debt consolidation services

No one wants to be in debt. Debt consolidation is the process of combining all your debts into a single monthly payment and paying them off. You can pay off your credit cards, personal loans, student loans and other unsecured debts through consolidation. But how can you choose the best debt consolidation company for your needs? Selecting the best debt consolidation company is not easy when there are so many companies that claim they can make you debt free without much hassle. To find the best debt consolidation company that would suit all your needs, you’d need to shop around and look for the one that has a good track record. The main benefits of consolidation are reduced interest rates and reduced monthly payments.

Insurance

In today’s world, insurance is indispensable for everyone. You need to insure yourself, your car, your health and your properties. An insurance company can also help you protect your dear ones when you are no more. Having an insurance policy in place can save you from unforeseen expenses arising from an accident or any other contingencies.

Mortgage lending

Nowadays, no one can think of buying a home without a mortgage loan. There are different types of mortgage loans offered by lenders to fulfill a variety of requirements of the borrowers. There are adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs), fixed rate mortgages (FRMs), balloon mortgages and hybrid mortgages. Each of these loan products has been designed to meet the specific needs of the borrowers. Whether you’re a first time homebuyer or buying a home for the third time, you would need a mortgage to buy your dream home.

Banking

A bank is basically a deposit-taking institution that receives and handles deposits and converts them into loans. Hence, a bank works both as a savings and lending institution. If you want to save, you can deposit your money into a savings or checking account in a bank. On the other hand, you can borrow from a bank to buy a home, a car or use the money for any other purposes.