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financial crisis

Restoring Confidence in the US Banking System

Considering the 2008 financial crisis, how can the US restore confidence in the US banking system?

 

The Global Financial Crisis of 2007-2009 had a profound effect on US and global financial markets and destroyed confidence in the banking systems in the US and other major economies. It caused a global economic recession and resulted in massive bailouts of US and other financial systems, and the global economy is only just recovering from the effects of this crisis.

 

The crisis highlighted weaknesses, in the US banking system, which will require a combination of different measures in order to be addressed. Among the myriad issues highlighted by the crisis the biggest issue is, arguably, the need to address the systemic risks inherent in the banking system.

 

The systemic risks inherent in the banking system have been widely discussed in the aftermath of the crisis. Systemic risk arises in the banking system because of the potential for the failure of one bank or financial institution to affect other banks or financial institutions to such an extent that those other banks also face financial problems or even failure as well. Banks are connected to each other through the payments system and the financial system, and if a bank faces difficulty meeting its obligations to other banks this could, in turn force those other banks to face difficulty fulfilling their own obligations thus triggering a chain of bank failures. The risk posed by this ‘interconnectedness’ of banks to each other is currently the biggest headache for bank regulators around the world.

 

Restoring confidence in the US banking system requires properly addressing this systemic risk. There are two aspects to this. The first is ensuring that banks are well capitalized and well run so that they are resilient and do not run into financial problems. The second is ensuring that when banks run into financial problems there are efficient, well laid out plans for dealing with those banks so that the problems do not spill over to other banks or the wider banking system.

 

Ensuring that banks are well capitalized and well run requires the type of comprehensive, far-reaching regulation that can be found in the Obama administration’s Dodd Frank Act 2010. The legislation improves the overall structure of bank supervision in the US, closes loopholes in banking regulation, protects consumers and provides the US authorities with the tools they need to manage future financial crises. Despite this progress that has been made there remains more to be done to restore confidence in the US banking system. The banks themselves are already failing to live up to the new standards set by the regulation- in 2015 some of the biggest US banks struggled to pass the Federal Reserve’s ‘stress tests’. Goldman Sachs Group Inc, Morgan Stanley and J.P Morgan Chase & Co had to make adjustments to their capital buffers, while Bank of America Corp had to submit a revised plan, addressing its shortcomings, to the Federal Reserve.

Stress tests are used by regulators to determine whether a bank has enough capital to withstand the impact of unfavorable or adverse scenarios such as a deterioration in global economic conditions. The fact that some of the largest US banks are struggling to pass stress tests is worrying and should serve as a wake-up call to the banking industry to put its house in order.

 

Ensuring that there are efficient plans for dealing with banks that do run into financial problems has become another top priority for regulators in the aftermath of the crisis. It is unrealistic to expect that banks will never face financial problems and bank failures can always be prevented. The more responsible view is that there will be some banks that run into financial problems and there has to be a way to deal with such banks so as to avoid the problem spreading to other banks and thereby adversely affecting the banking system. This is the reason regulators have embraced the idea of Recovery and Resolution plans (also referred to as ‘living wills’) for banks.

 

Dealing with failing banks in an efficient manner can also help to avoid bank bailouts whereby taxpayers’ money is used to rescue struggling banks. Bank bailouts encourage what economists refer to as ‘moral hazard’, a situation where one person or institution takes more risks because it knows someone else will bear the costs of those risks. There are, however, signs that the banking industry is not taking the issue of recovery and resolution as seriously as the regulators- the Recovery and Resolution plans of five of the largest US banks were rejected by the Federal Reserve and the FDIC because the regulators were not convinced they would ensure an orderly and efficient resolution of those banks if they faced financial difficulties. J.P Morgan Chase & Co, Wells Fargo & Co, Bank of America Corp, State Street Corp and Bank of New York Mellon Corp have been given until October 1 this year to re-submit revised plans that convince the regulators that their Recovery & Resolution would not require tax-payer funded bailouts.

 

Tackling systemic risk is the key to restoring confidence in the US banking system, and this involves all stakeholders playing their part. The regulators have increased the level of supervision of the banking industry after the crisis and the onus is now on the banking industry to show that it recognizes, and is prepared to deal with, the systemic risks in the banking system. If the banking industry fails to get its act together then there is a greater likelihood that there will be another major financial crisis. It is, therefore, important for the banks to ensure that, at a minimum, they are complying with both the spirit and the letter of the new regulatory rules.

Maternity Insurance

 

First and foremost, if you are planning on becoming pregnant, you need to make sure you have health coverage that includes maternity insurance. If your bundle of joy is unexpected and you find yourself without insurance, you are not alone.

 

Approximately 13% of women who become pregnant each year are not insured. The sheer joy of being pregnant can quickly turn to feelings of anxiety and financial burden unless you have maternity health insurance to help defray costs and keep nerves from fraying.

 

Fortunately, we can help. If you’re thinking about having a baby, insurance may be the last thing on your mind. But you can save yourself a lot of money, and buy yourself some peace of mind if you take a few minutes to investigate whether you should buy maternity insurance. Even if you already have health insurance, it may not cover some of the expenses associated with pregnancy. When you are pregnant, you will probably make many visits to your doctor, maybe as often as twice a month for the whole nine months of your pregnancy. Check to see if your current health insurance covers this many visits. Women whose insurance does not pay for multiple doctors’ visits during pregnancy sometimes skip visits to save money. But this can create problems for both you and your baby. Health Insurance and Prenatal Care Many women who do not have pregnancy coverage put off going to the doctor for prenatal care, an essential step in having a safe and health pregnancy. Uninsured pregnant women wait until the second trimester or later to begin prenatal care. To protect your health and the health of your baby, you should see your doctor as soon as you learn you are pregnant. Early, consistent prenatal care is the best way to avoid any problems that may come up with your pregnancy.

 

Maternity insurance covers this type of attention. Of course, you will also have a large hospital bill when you have your baby, and you may need to make several visits to your doctor after your child is born. Some health insurance plans cover all or most of these expenses, but others do not. It pays to find out just how much is covered as soon as you learn you’re pregnant. Unfortunately, not every pregnancy goes smoothly. Complications for the mother or the baby can run up huge hospital bills. If you or baby needs special care, you don’t want to be thinking about how to pay for it. In these situations, maternity insurance can put your mind at ease.

 

Look for a plan that places few restrictions on the treatments it covers. Remember, though, that maternity insurance covers only expenses related to your pregnancy. It does not cover other health problems you may have. The best time to buy maternity insurance is before you are pregnant. Some companies offer maternity insurance to women who are already pregnant, but some do not. To keep your options open, look into getting maternity insurance as soon as you start to consider becoming pregnant.

 

If you cannot afford private maternity insurance, you can apply to a public program for help with the cost of your pregnancy. All states offer some type of maternity health care assistance, either through Medicaid or through some other plan designed specifically for pregnant women. Be sure to take advantage of all the services you are entitled to. Your state may offer nutrition assistance and educational services in addition to paying for medical care.

 

Society has a vested interest in healthy babies and mothers. And that’s all society, because unhealthy babies and mothers impose a cost on everybody — in the expense of caring for them as wards of the public, and in the waste of social resources that comes from children unable to reach their full potential as members of society because of injuries or illnesses caused by poor prenatal and postnatal health. Child mortality rates are among the most important indicators of a nation’s overall health profile, and the U.S. rate stinks compared with the rest of the industrialized world’s — at 7 deaths of children under age 5 per 1,000 live births, it’s worse than Israel’s, South Korea’s, Japan’s and every Western European nation’s. That’s why maternity and newborn care and pediatric services are among the 10 health benefits that Obamacare requires to be part of every health plan. Some of these benefits are so important, they’re required to be among the free benefits of catastrophic health plans that may be sold to individuals under the age of 30. They include anemia screening for pregnant women and folic acid supplements for women of childbearing age.

 

 

Society has a vested interest in healthy babies and mothers. And that’s all society, because unhealthy babies and mothers impose a cost on everybody — in the expense of caring for them as wards of the public, and in the waste of social resources that comes from children unable to reach their full potential as members of society because of injuries or illnesses caused by poor prenatal and postnatal health.Child mortality rates are among the most important indicators of a nation’s overall health profile, and the U.S. rate stinks compared with the rest of the industrialized world’s — at 7 deaths of children under age 5 per 1,000 live births, it’s worse than Israel’s, South Korea’s, Japan’s and every Western European nation’s. That’s why maternity and newborn care and pediatric services are among the 10 health benefits that Obamacare requires to be part of every health plan. Some of these benefits are so important, they’re required to be among the free benefits of catastrophic health plans that may be sold to individuals under the age of 30. They include anemia screening for pregnant women and folic acid supplements for women of childbearing age.

 

Universal coverage is the only way to make maternity coverage affordable. Up to now only 12% of policies in the individual insurance market offered maternity coverage. Those that offered the coverage often did so as separate riders imposing huge deductibles for maternity care alone — $5,000 for maternity services, according to a 2010 survey by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and limits on benefits of only a few thousand dollars. The cost of maternity and newborn care is the principal reason that, pre-Obamacare, women were systematically charged more for health insurance than men.Because insurers pitched maternity coverage in the individual market only to buyers of childbearing age, the premiums were high and they still made almost no money on them. One company internal memo reviewed by the committee stated that its loss on maternity riders came to 90% of income, a money-losing ratio,” the memo said.But that’s what happens when you sell an insurance benefit to a narrowly defined market. Without the cross-subsidies inherent in a large pool of insured people, no single coverage is affordable to those who specifically need it.

 

Bibliography

“Maternity Insurance Coverage, Affordable Maternity Health Benefits” . n.p., 1 Jan. 1970.Web. 21 Feb. 2016.

Relationship Counseling

Marriage Counselling Video - His Needs vs Her Needs - W.F.Harley

Relationship counseling is a good career choice in that it offers a number of different opportunities. In fact, the growth rate for marriage counselor jobs is expected to increase at a faster rate than other professions. There is an expected rise of thirty percent by the year 2016.

In fact, it has been reported that since the 1970s there has been a fifty-fold increase in the number of marriage counselors. The expected salary for a marriage counselor depends on experience, education as well the type of agency that you work for. Working in a public agency may pay less than a private agency. The median salary for a marriage counselor is around $45,000 a year with experienced private sector workers making much more than this.

Overall becoming a marriage counselor may be a good choice for you. It can provide a lot of job satisfaction and opportunities for employment both in the public sector and the private sector.

Before you decide to become a marriage counselor, you need to look at the time commitment as well as the licensing requirements for your state.

You may also want to talk to a practicing relationship counselor to get a better feel for the job from someone who is actually doing it. And of course, don’t forget to search for psychology schools offering programs to become a marriage counselor in our graduate school search engine. In the end, only you can decide if being a marriage counselor is the right job for you.

Marriage Counselor is just one of the many options available when it comes to deciding which area of psychology that you would like to focus on. Before deciding that you would like to become a marriage counselor, there are a number of things that you need to consider. These range from what does a marriage counselor do as well as how do you become a marriage counselor.

What Does A Marriage Counselor Do?

One of the first things to realize is that a marriage counselor does not only work with people who are married but can also work with any couple that is experiencing difficulties. This can include married couples, unmarried couples, and even same-sex couples.

You may decide to focus on individual counseling, group counseling or conjoint therapy. You can work in one or all three of these areas. You may also decide to focus on particular age groups ranging from children all the way to senior citizens. As a marriage counselor, it is your decision as to what, if any, specialization you would like to focus on.

The first step in becoming a marriage counselor is to complete your education. Most relationship counseling professionals will have at a master’s degree, doctoral degree or have completed a post-graduate clinical training program.

What Are The Marriage Counselor Requirements?

In the United States, the profession of the marriage counselor is regulated and licensing exams are required. The Federal government classifies marriage and family therapy as a “core mental health profession” in the same fashion as it views psychiatry, psychology, social work or psychiatric nursing. Approximately forty-eight states require licensing or certification to work as a marriage counselor.

In order to qualify for a license to be a relationship counselor, you need to graduate from an accredited program and complete an internship. This internship is usually around two years where you will be provided with close supervision.

After the internship, you will be qualified to write a state licensing exam. Instead of the state licensing exam, you may want to become a member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy which will also require you to take a national examination. This examination by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy can be used for the state certification requirement. You will need to carefully check the licensing requirements for the state where you plan on working.

 

 

Bibliography
“Marriage Counselor ” Is It Right For You?. n.p., 1 Jan. 1970.Web. 31 Jan. 2016
sex-therapy

Sex Therapist Secrets Every Person Should Know

Dr Marty Klien explains what Sex Therapy is

 

Is Sex Therapy The Most Trending Thing Now?

Ever wondered what sex therapists do (or don’t do), what issues they can help solve, and what happens in their offices?
We weren’t shy about asking the experts for the inside scoop on sex therapy. Here’s what we found out.

 

1. It Can Give You More Confidence in (and out of) the Bedroom

“What people don’t expect from sex therapy is how strong, confident and assertive they become in every area of their lives,” says Marne Wine, a licensed professional counselor, and AASECT (American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists) certified sex therapist in Westminster, Colorado. “Sex therapy is just life playing itself out in the bedroom. Are you willing to be OK with yourself because you don’t know everything or have all the answers? Are you willing to put yourself out there and risk ridicule and failure? Once you learn to do that in the bedroom—naked—you can do it anywhere.”

2. You Won’t Be Asked to Take Your Clothes Off

Wine says most people tense up when they think of sex therapy, mostly because they worry that the therapy might involve intimate situations. Fear not—standard sex therapy with a qualified sex therapist doesn’t involve nudity. “Although there are different types of people who work in the field of sex therapy, generally it simply talks therapy,” she says.

3. You Don’t Have to Worry About Saying Anything Taboo

Whether it’s a repressed memory, a sexual hangup or an issue of abuse that frightens you to talk about, there is no subject too taboo for a sex therapist. In fact, laying it all on the table is the first step to overcoming a sexual problem. And don’t worry about what the therapist will think. “Sex therapists have heard it all,” says Wine.

4. Finding the Right Therapist Can Make (or Break) Your Experience

Whether you’re considering seeing a sex therapist alone or with your husband, be picky, says Wine. “Check out his or her background. Is the therapist licensed in some professional counseling field—licensed psychologist, licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed professional counselor or licensed clinical social worker? You want that fundamental, graduate-level counseling education as a basis for him or her doing sex therapy.

The sex therapy certification should be in addition to the graduate-level education.” And if, after the first appointment, you don’t feel comfortable with the therapist, find another one—or ask for a referral. “A good therapist will keep your best interests at heart—not her ego. I always tell my new clients if they aren’t comfortable with me, I will help them find another therapist. This work is too important not to have the right fit.”

5. It Can Help People Who Already Have Great Sex Lives

You and your husband have a great sex life—so what could sex therapy do for you? A lot, says Isadora Alman, a marriage and family therapist, and a board-certified sexologist in San Francisco. “Most people believe that something has to be broken, or that they do, to seek sex therapy. What I do is more about sexual and emotional enhancement, making things better. The most frequent therapeutic outcome of any sex therapy is the relief that comes with being able to talk about sexual feelings, thoughts, and fantasies, just putting them out there to be examined.”

6. It Might Save Your Marriage

Sexual issues take a major toll on a relationship, says Sybil Keane, a psychologist and mental health expert for JustAnswer.com. “When a couple is having troubles with their sex life, a regular marriage counselor might say, ‘Well, make time for you two to connect’ when it’s way more than just connecting for sex. It won’t help if the desire isn’t there or it just feels like a fake attempt to revive the same old, same old.” Want different advice? “Ask a sex therapist,” she says. “They can talk way beyond what a regular marriage counselor can. I believe that most people think that a sex therapist is a last-ditch solution to a sexual, marital problem. If more people went to sex therapy before a problem arose, they might not have to seek divorce advice down the road. Although we all like to believe that sex is something that comes naturally, it isn’t.”

7. It Can Help Solve a Range of Sexual Problems

What types of issues can sex therapy help with? According to Lynne Kolton Schneider, MA, Ph.D., a board-certified sex counselor in private practice, it can help with everything under the sun. “I see people who have difficulties with libido associated with cancer treatments; people who have sexual difficulties and dysfunctions related to surgical procedures; people who have difficulties with sexual positioning due to physical disabilities; and people who have problems being intimate because they have been sexually abused or raped.” And the list goes on: “I work with couples who haven’t had sex in months, or years, virgins who want their first experiences to be positive and women who have never had an orgasm.”

8. It Can Help You Be a Better Communicator

If your daily exchanges with your husband include “Take out the trash” and “It’s your turn to change the diaper,” a sex therapist could help you communicate in a more loving way. “Sex therapy is not always about sexual functioning,” says Dr. Schneider. “It’s probably equally as often about poor communication skills. Much of what I spend my time on concerns teaching patients how to communicate with each other—including how to fight fairly and when to choose to lose a ‘battle’ to win a ‘war.'”

Bibliography
“Sex Therapy Facts at WomansDay.com ” Sexual Health. n.p., 1 Jan. 1970.Web. 31 Jan. 2016.

Home Healthcare Nursing

The Ultimate Cheat Sheet on Homecare

Homecare

Home Health services help adults, seniors, and pediatric clients who are recovering after a hospital or facility stay, or need additional support to remain safely at home and avoid unnecessary hospitalization. These Medicare-certified services may include short-term nursing, rehabilitative, therapeutic, and assistive home health care. This care is provided by registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), physical therapists (PTs), occupational therapists (OTs), speech language pathologists (SLPs), home health aides (HHAs) and medical social workers (MSWs) as a limited number of up to one hour visits, primarily through the Medicare Home Health benefit. Professional Caregivers are trained to work with your family to develop an individualized home care services program. As part of this process, we match your loved one’s needs to a select group of compassionate in home care providers. With Elite Home Healthcare Services as your in home care provider, you are planned to be part of the caregiver selection process. Home Care Services with Elite Home Healthcare Services.

 

As your home care services provider, you will enjoy personalized service built around your needs. We know you have a lot of questions about home care services for your elderly loved one. The team of dedicated professionals at your local Elite Home Healthcare Services office is on hand to answer all your questions and to address any concerns you have. You can call your local Elite Home Healthcare Services franchised office at any time to learn about our in home care services. When you choose Elite Home Healthcare Services as your home care provider, we begin by reviewing your loved one’s needs. We will meet with involved family members and, when necessary, consult with the physician(s) of the care recipient, social workers, hospitals, or nursing home staff.

 

Our goal is to get a complete picture of your loved one’s in-home care needs. Our franchised agencies are trained to work with your family to develop an individualized home care services program. As part of this process, we match your loved one’s needs to a select group of compassionate in home care providers. With Elite Home Healthcare Services as your in home care provider, you are planned to be part of the caregiver selection process. Some of the services provided include:

 

  • Grooming Assistance

  • Dressing Assistance

  • Walking Assistance

  • Meal Preparation/Diet monitoring

  • Light Housekeeping

  • Errands and Shopping

  • Medication Reminders

  • Joyful Companionship

Respite Care for Family Caregivers Care is Available Mornings, Mid-Day and Evenings Temporary or Long Term Care is Available Weekends and Holiday Care is Available 24 Hour Care Available More

We Respond To Your After Hours Call In 15 Minutes or Less! Nothing is more frustrating than to get voice mail when calling an in home care services agency in the evening or on the weekends.

 

If you receive voice mail when you call Elite Home Healthcare Services, our franchised home care agencies are trained to call back within fifteen minutes. We’re committed to providing you with superior home care services and to meeting your needs in the way that’s most convenient for you! Find an Elite Home Healthcare Services Office Near You! You can learn more about our home care services and our compassionate caregivers by calling (678)-705-4424. We look forward to meeting your family!