Former Kraft Finance CFO Takes Over Gap

GAP Incorporated, the world's former foremost clothing firm is to name Teri List-Stoll -- the Former CFO of Kraft -- to lead the vacant position in the company.

Ms List-Stoll formerly worked as the CFO of Dick's Sporting Goods and had left last August.

List-Stoll had resigned from Kraft after it split into two separate entities in 2012. She is also a part of the Microsoft and Danaher Corporation Board of Directors.

As newly-elected US President Donald Trump may make good on his promise to dismantle the Dodd-Frank financial reforms, she said that companies including Gap -- who intend to comply with the regulations and with happy shareholders -- are likely to keep the regulations in check.

Gap announced the resignation of former CFO Sabrina Simmons earlier this month. According to the clothing company

According to a Gap spokeswoman, Ms List- Stoll is a tested CFO of two public companies.

From her statement at the sidelines of the Financial Executives International Conference in New York last Tuesday, she needs to do a lot of things because they're the right things to do.

Her internment with Gap may begin after the company declares that Ms Simmons' hold on the CFO position will last by February 1, 2017.

Maybe It's Time To Go With Equities

Yes, the pound sterling is in very bad shape nowadays. With a 16 per cent drop to its 30-year-lowest of $1.28, the UK is facing huge rivalry against the EU and US. Given the UK's troubled economic situation due to the Brexit, it is entirely possible the UK could level down.

But once again, corporate stocks defy the odds.

According to official figures, the benchmark index of top UK stocks had defied expectations as it soars to its highest levels.

However, the UK is still bound to get a 'hard Brexit' according to Ayondo Markets Chief Trader 

Jordan Hiscott. He also said the Bank of England's cutting of interest rates had the pound less attractive to foreign investors.

British exporters and Britain's tourism industry is praising the lowered pound sterling as foreign markets are purchasing their products and services. More tourists from other countries have been purchasing pound sterling upon entry into the country, improving the industry's current outlook.

But for Britons planning trips abroad or even purchasing properties abroad, it would mean big trouble.

According to Mr Hiscott:

“It will make your holiday more expensive, particularly to Europe or the US, as sterling has fallen hardest against those currencies.”

I guess the best equities would be in the tourism industry. Indeed, now is the time to invest. From here, we can strengthen the economy once again.

Put Your Money Now If You're Thinking of Using 'Smart Funds'

The buzzword for this era is "smart".

Whenever anyone talks about "smart", it means it is capable of adapting to the needs of its owner.

For a "smart" fund, that means it adapts quickly to investor behaviour. The fund should cut more volatility and increase profits where possible.

Low or minimum-volatility funds hold stocks that are less likely to crash when the stock market should fail. Investors nowadays consider it as the new "rainy day" fund compared to the issue of crashing as a whole previously.

While it picks out blue chip companies, it picks ones that are known for their stable profits. It uses the idea  of consumer necessities fitting for a present situation, bringing out its "smart" function.

The trouble is, even with its low-risk trouble, if funds like these continue to become popular, it increases in risk.

In fact, it could very well be at risk as the Federal Reserve starts raising interest rates by the end of 2016. A climb could mean an increase in stock value, which could mean a huge number of sells depending on the investors' preference.

But even if the high demand continues the stock prices would continue to skyrocket, making it essential for investors to immediately put their money where it is right now: at a manageable position.

Reviewing The Moni 3

Whitewater Labs first released Moni in 2012. It was a simple personal finance management app made during the early days of Android. It was an easy-to-use financial management tool. I was able to keep track of all my mortgages, debt repayments and credit card limits easily.

Moni gained favours from me because of the colour codes. It handled Google's Material Design and flat design principles that gave it an attractive yet friendly look.

After three years, the Moni 3.0 arrives with new features. Before, the app only relied on your Google account where you could backup your information to a hard drive or an online cloud. Whitewater Labs had developed its own cloud system allowing you to sync and export your data in real time.

But of course, like all new applications (and methods to get you into their newsletter), Moni would require you to sign up for a Moni account.

One thing though, Whitewater Labs understands the interface was lovable for many users. New features include the ability to share financial information and update them in real time with friends and family. Now, you also have charts to keep track of your expenses.

It's an amazing tool that only keeps on giving. While there are many alternative personal finance management software out there, I think I'll stick it out with Moni 3.

George Osborne In Wall Street: Invest in Britain

The Brexit was the Tory's biggest nightmare. As it had come true, the government continues to try and plug the sinking ship that is Britain.

UK Finance Minister George Osborne has travelled from London to New York and would be travelling to China and Singapore to help convince investors to stay with the UK.

The upsell comes after immense pull-outs from investors after the Brexit's decision had come to pass. 

The vote had sent the pound to a 31-year-low as uncertainty looms in the background.

“While Britain’s decision to leave the EU clearly presents economic challenges, we now have to do everything we can to make the UK the most attractive place in the world to do business,” Osborne, who backed staying in the EU, said in a statement.

“Pursuing a stronger relationship with our biggest trading partners is now a top priority … my message to the world is that Britain may be leaving the EU but we are not quitting the world. We will continue to be a beacon for free trade, democracy and security, more open to that world than ever.”

Mr Osborne said tying up with the United States, Canada and Mexico would give the UK the leverage it needs to buoy itself off of stormy waters.

“As I will tell Wall Street, we want more finance in London, not less,” Osborne wrote, adding Britain and the United States were the biggest foreign investors in each other’s country.

Retail Investors in China Lose Money Over Huge Speculative Investments

I'm not going to say this once and I might say it again in the future, but if you're investing, don't let the promise of other people fool you. Instead, focus on looking at the industry's stability, stock performance and long-term growth.

I'm saying this because in China, thousands of retail investors have lost their life savings investing in online speculative platforms. Some of them lost about millions of Yuan, the equivalent of about hundred thousands of pounds in the United Kingdom.

According to the investors, local Chinese governments earn much from the exchange taxes. They said the local governments fully support the practice even if some found themselves duped due to outsized returns.

My only advice would be to learn from these investors. If a deal is too good to be true, it could be too good to be true.

Remember, stock investments and investing in general is all for the long-term growth and never the short game. There are methods to shorten the timespan of your money's growth, but that would mean turbulence and a load of headache.

UK Families Couldn't Afford A Cancer Treatment

According to Macmillan Cancer Support, cancer care is about £570 per month. UK families would be left with £365 monthly including standard costs for food, electricity, gas and utilities.

Unemployment and a large drop of income progress could make additional costs for cancer harder to absorb.

According to Macmillan Cancer Support's Chief Executive Lynda Thomas:

"At a time when thousands of families are struggling to make ends meet, a cancer diagnosis can be the straw that breaks the camel’s back, sending them into financial freefall.

"We’re talking about families whose world has already been turned upside down and now they’re having to stop going out or spending money on small treats such as toys for their children or magazines. And even then they’re still at risk of getting into debt. It’s got to be a very worrying, isolating place to be.

“When you’re diagnosed with cancer, the last thing you need to be worrying about is how to pay the bills and keep a roof over your head. But the one thing I would say is that you don’t have to do this alone – there is help out there. At Macmillan we offer financial information and support to help people get back on their feet.

"Last year we helped 90,000 people affected by cancer unlock £267million in benefits alone.”

Macmillan warned families may turn to debts and sell properties to cover the shortfall. With the possible real estate bubble pressing against UK cities, it may not be enough to cover the cancer treatment depending on length.

Statutory Sick Pay, a government allowance that pays just £88.45 weekly, wouldn't be enough to cover the costs as it could only last for about 28 weeks.