The Effects of Globalization and Economic Expansion on Russia Research Paper

The Effects of Globalization and Economic Expansion on Russia - Research Paper Example Therefore, Russia acquired worldwide affirmation as the sovereign replacement to the Soviet Union. Russia was respected with a perpetual seat to speak to the Soviet Union in the United Nations Security Council, and different situations in provincial and worldwide associations. 7 Russia sits on both Europe and Asia. Be that as it may, it is neither Asian nor European in its angle and culture. Russia has remained the biggest nation on the planet, much after the division of the Soviet Union in 1991. Ziegler brings up that the country â€Å"occupies about 6.6 million square miles of domain, and is almost double the size of the United States. From East to West, the nation extends more than 5,000 miles and involves 11 time zones† (1). After the separation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Russia relinquished quite a bit of its entrance to the Black ocean. Because of this fracture, Russia was left littler, landlocked, and topographically segregated. The previous Soviet Unio n was the third-biggest country on the planet with a populace of roughly 200 and ninety million individuals. Regardless of the way that Russia is truly the biggest country on the planet, its populace has been declining throughout the years. In such manner, it turns into the ninth biggest country on the planet following â€Å"China, India, the United States, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nigeria† (Ziegler 2) regarding populace. More than 80% of the number of inhabitants in Russia lives on the western side of the country, while the remainder of the populace lives in Siberia and Russia’s Far East. 8 Western Russia is populated with larger part of Russia’s streets, railroads, and air courses. Ziegler attests that â€Å"Siberia is incredibly wealthy in characteristic assets oil, flammable gas, gold, precious stones, hides, and lumber yet a lot of its riches is for all intents and purposes unavailable or expensive to separate due to the country’ s frail transportation system† (2). Today, Russia is all the more ethnically joined contrasted with the previous Soviet Union and royal Russia. This is on the grounds that before the defeat of the Soviet Union, it had just fifty one percent ethnic Russians. Nonetheless, the Russian Federation today includes eighty two percent ethnic Russians. Tatars are the second biggest ethnic gathering in the Russian Federation; the gathering originates from Mongols relatives, who controlled the terrains in Russia in the thirteenth century. Three percent of Russia’s populace includes the Ukrainians, who are Russian’s Slavic cousins. Twelve percent of the populace is comprised of Jews, Germans, Belarusians, Turkic individuals, Caucasians, and little clans structure Siberia. The ethnic gatherings in Russia for the most part relate quite well, yet every now and then, upheavals of viciousness happen against non-Russians. 9 According to Ziegler â€Å"Russia all in all untruths a l ot further north than the United States; in this sense it is increasingly equivalent to Canada† (2). Russia has a great deal of ripe horticultural land, yet its area in the north outcomes in chilly climate and short developing seasons. Subsequently, most harvests don't passage well on Russian soil. At the point when it was a piece of the Soviet Union, Russia had incredible cropland. This was anyway lost when the Soviet Union was broken up, extraordinary cropland situated in Kazakhstan and Ukraine was lost. Harvests developed in Russia incorporate rye, winter wheat, potatoes and sugar

Grocery Market Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Staple Market - Assignment Example IGD predicts that advancement of the UK basic food item retail market will keep on being limited by a mix of moderate populace development, value rivalry and development in the foodservice division as an elective channel. (Source from site http://www.foodanddrinkeurope.com/news/ng.asp n=61268-ASDA-rearranges as) ASDA is an easily recognized name in the UK. It has a scope of items from staple goods to dress to adornments. Purchased over by Wal-Mart Stores in 1999, ASDA is the UK's second-biggest food retailer. It works around 280 huge stores (counting 19 ASDA Supercenters and 10 independent George attire stores) and its emphasis is essentially on food supplies and clothing. It additionally sells books and recordings, family unit things and has a photograph place. It likewise offers ethnic remove suppers. Its union with Wal-Mart, has started a value war in the UK ASDA reflecting Wal-Mart's forceful value rollback program and changing over stores to Wal-Mart's supercenter design under the ASDA-Wal-Mart pennant. (Source from site http://www.hoovers.com/ASDA/ - ID__90031- -/free-co-factsheet.xhtml) It 'turned out to be a piece of the Wal-Mart family' - on 26 July 1999 for $10.8 billion. From that point forward, ASDA claims that it has increased one million new clients. It is changing over certain stores to Wal-Mart's too focus design under the ASDA-Wal-Mart standard. ... This cost is consistently and isn't a deal or limited time cost and clients come to ASDA realizing that they generally have the most minimal costs. ASDA states its motivation as To make merchandise and enterprises progressively moderate for everybody It underscores that it needs to offer ordinary low costs without settling on quality and is keeping watch for new items and administrations that it can sell and essentially wind up offering better an incentive to the client. (Source from site http://www.wherewomenwanttowork.com/proof/evidence2.aspid=1220&qid=1&eid=890) Upper hand Michael Porters Generic Strategies for upper hand expresses that, For an association to get a manageable upper hand, they ought to follow both of three conventional systems (Porter, 1980) Cost Leadership: In this technique, the association attempts to be the most reduced cost supplier in the business. This is accomplished by minimizing expenses directly from creation to the sourcing to work costs. Enormous volumes that make up for the low edges and ease accomplish this. Separation: In this system, associations attempt to separate their items. By permitting the client to see a separated an incentive to the item, the association can order a superior value utilizing this discernment. For this procedure to work, their item needs to stand apart from comparable items. Anyway substitute or duplicated items represent the peril of upsetting the estimation of the item. Licenses likewise terminate and afterward the serious edge is lost. Specialty Strategies: In this system, the association takes into account one specific section and turns out to be notable for giving

Brave New World :: essays research papers

- â€Å"Brave New World† - By: Aldous Huxley Creator: Aldous Huxley was conceived in 1894, and kicked the bucket in 1963. He initially went to Eton, and at that point to Oxford. He was a splendid man, and turned into a succesful essayist of short stories in the twenties and thirties. He likewise composed articles and books, similar to 'Exciting modern lifestyle'. The first books he composed were remarks on the youthful age, with no objective at all, that lived after WW I. Before he turned into the essayist as we probably am aware him, he filled in as a columnist and a pundit of show. In his books, particularly the later ones, he once in a while introduces himself as an educator or a rationalist, to proficient us as perusers. Close to books, expositions and short stories he likewise composed sonnets, life stories, plays, political/science fiction books, travel books and even a record of his investigations with drugs. 'Exciting modern lifestyle' was first distributed in 1932, and has been reproduced ordinarily after that. Fundamental Characters: Bernard Marx Lenina Crowne John Savage (Son of Tomakin, Bernard's chief) Helmholtz Watson Huxley attempts to say something with this book, he attempts to make something understood to the peruser. To do this he utilizes characters, yet they're irrelevant to what his genuine aims are, he just uses them to communicate his thoughts, therefor their attributes and thoughts are not significant in the entire picture. There is not really any charaterisation in the book to represent the people. Topic: In the foreword Huxley states: "The subject of 'Exciting modern lifestyle' isn't the headway of science in that capacity; it is the progression of science as it influences human individuals." The image of the world given in the book depicts the state of the human individual in a western development in a 'not so distant' future. The general public has transformed into a all around oiled machine, where everything is controlled, even the future calling of the individual is resolved before birth. It's a general public wherein the person just serves a sociological and scientifical reason, the individual idea is overruled by one major extremist state, in like manner feeling and activity are precluded. Conceiving an offspring is prohibited, sex is the most ordinary thing on earth, and even medications is taken with the daily schedule and measure of ordinary dinners. Just a little gathering of the genuine man exists, be it's far outside the 'acculturated' world. John Savage is one of them, representitive of individual opportunity and thought, conflicted between two social orders. Huxley cautions for material and specialized reliance, that will inevitably bring obliteration upon humankind. Attributes: The story is set in our reality, later on (somewhere in the range of quite a while from now).

Natural Disaster of Hurricane Katrina

Cataclysmic event of Hurricane Katrina Moral Dilemma: Natural Disaster of Hurricane Katrina-Insurance Companies Deny ClaimsHurricane Katrina was a typhoon like no other in our countryâÆ'â‚â‚s history. Its furystruck the inlet coast on August 29, 2005 and similarly as with 9/11, we were immersed withimages from TV and papers twenty-four hours every day, seven days per week. We were direct observers to the human enduring of individuals disappearing to their rooftop tops, sticking to tree limbs and bodies coasting in the rising waters. There was extraordinary pulverization to property as well as to the lives of the individuals who possessed the Gulf Coast area. Likewise with 9/11, there has additionally been an incredible effect on the protection business. Theessentialness of protection is to permit the reconstructing of pulverized homes, organizations, and networks and to permit individuals to return to living their lives by and by. So as to adapt with the impacts of calamities the business needed to ÂÆ'â‚â‚â come up with instruments that would save the nationâÆ'â‚â‚s protection industry in the outcome of normal or man-madecatastrophes.ÂÆ'‚‚Â(Tuckey, 2006)There are numerous issues that the protection business faces since this catastrophic event happened. The effect of Katrina has been significant and far reaching and has influenced the client in a negative style because of the dissatisfaction of recording cases and battling with insurance agencies. Will the all out effect demonstrate impeding to the business all in all? These and numerous different issues should be investigated so as to increase total understanding into what precisely happened that game changing day and what will the future bring to the industry.A progression of disasters can raise the phantom that bankruptcy may turn into a chance. ÂÆ'‚‚ÂThe administrative objective of guaranteeing dissolvability, in any case, clashes with the objective of guaranteeing moderate and accessible coverage.âÆ'↚â‚â (Berliet, 2006) With such a lot of cash being paid out...

Sample Q Free Essays

Pick the one elective that best finishes the announcement or answers the inquiry. 1) When supported by purchasing power, needs become A) confidence needs B) physical necessities C) requests D) trades E) social needs 2) When managing a(n) chiefs must conclude whether to put resources into it trying to incorporate it with a star or money dairy animals or whether to eliminate it. A) money dairy animals B) feline C) outcry mark D) hound E) question mark 3) Because of expanding Americans will request more excellent items, books, magazines, travel, PCs, and Internet administrations. We will compose a custom paper test on Test Q or on the other hand any comparative subject just for you Request Now A) levels of training B) family size C) quantities of nontraditional females D) ethnic decent variety E) social class mindfulness 4) Causal research Is utilized to A) test speculations about circumstances and logical results connections B) assemble fundamental data that will help characterize issues C) reveal data in an unstructured way D) measure perceptions that produce bits of knowledge impractical through different types of research E) portray promoting issues or circumstances 5) Donna needs to purchase another coat. During the phase of her buy procedure she will request that her companions suggest a store or potentially a style of coat. She will look the paper for coat deals, and she will visit close by stores to perceive what is accessible in her value go. An) item assessment B) data search C) buy choice D) need acknowledgment E) elective assessment 6) When Burger King targets kids, adolescents, grown-ups, and seniors with deferent advertisements and media, it is rehearsing division. A) conduct 8) way of life C) age and life-cycle D) client status. The most effective method to refer to Sample Q, Papers

Why Waking Up at 5 AM Every Day Just Makes Sense

Why Waking Up at 5 AM Every Day Just Makes Sense Waking up early might be either a good or bad thing depending on your sleep pattern and your daily priorities.Sometimes, it can be really frustrating to wake up an hour or two before the alarm goes off, especially after you worked yourself to the bone all night.What’s even more frustrating at times is that after you wake up, you can’t get back to sleep no matter how much you want to.If you’re the kind of person who pushes paper all day and has very little room for rest, this might not be the article for you.However, you will find that most of the world’s successful, hardworking and unique individuals wake up earlier than the rest of the common folk and have a set routine for the morning. Some of those famous individuals include;Apple CEO Tim Cook gets up at around 3:45 am.Vogue editor Anna Wintour gets out of her bed at 5:45 in the morning to play tennis.Virgin Group founder Richard Branson 5:45 am.Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz 4:30 am.The reason why this is the case is so t hat you can get a headstart in the morning and be more productive. By adopting this attitude, you’ll be one step closer to being like one of the most popular and successful folks on earth.It’s all about the sense of control and the heightened willpower you obtain from defeating the inner voice that wants you to get back to bed.Here are some of the reasons why getting up at 5 am could be the best thing to get the most out of your day:1.  ITS THE BEST TIME FOR WORKYou may have noticed how often you, as well as several other workers, check their media devices during office hours and that happens more often than you’d think. It is quite a major distraction and while you may pledge to put it away (some people actually do), it becomes very challenging to do so due to the depth of your urgent responsibilities.This is especially true when you need to check up on your kids if they’ve gotten back from school safely or are not sick. It’s also common to constantly check your email or Slack in order to reply to important messages.Thankfully, those messages and distractions won’t be a bother to you at 5 in the morning. It is literally the best time you can actually have to focus solely on work without having anything else get in the way.You’ll soon realize how much you can accomplish in three hours from then before you get to your office.2.  YOU HAVE MORE TIME TO YOURSELFReserving nighttime for work can be quite distracting due to friends and family members coming home for a visit, your favorite sports game is one and what’s worse is that you’ve been drained from your day.Therefore shifting your personal time for the mornings can give you a chance on all of the favorite things you want to do. It becomes easier for you to do exercise, practice some dancing, read up on some books and catch up on the latest news among so many other things. The best in all of this is that there are no distractions, so you can lounge around however you want.Many of the successf ul early wakers found that doing this leaves them energized for the whole day. They become much more focused on the tasks at hand and become less anxious about their responsibilities.People who don’t do this usually go to work in a rush and are left without having any time to think about what they want to accomplish.Hence, transitioning to mornings reportedly yields more productive results and less anxiety.3.  YOU BUILD DISCIPLINEWhen we normally get up in the morning, with the covers on our face and the alarm ringing at the side of our bed, the little voice in our head saying I’m exhausted.You won’t get used to getting up early with a habit like that. Therefore, you’ve got to reform your habit and the way to do that is by building discipline.This means you’ve got to cultivate this habit into your routine by pretty much forcing yourself out of bed when the 5 am alarm goes off. It won’t just give you enough time to prepare yourself for the morning, but also for life itsel f.If you’re one of those hardwired night owls, you can catch up on as much sleep as you want. But if you haven’t found that stride yet, then perhaps waking up early is the best time for you to hit that peak in productivity. And early doesn’t really mean 5 am, just earlier than when you usually get up.4.  YOU HAVE TIME TO EXERCISE When you’re an early bird, you just enough time to lose some of those unhealthy calories you’ve been putting on. That means you can no longer make any excuses about full schedules or over-demanding office clients and all that. Three hours is plenty enough time for at least a 30-minute brisk walk.It’s up to you and what kind of weight-reducing activity suits you best, be it lifting weights, doing push-ups, cycling or even practicing yoga or tai chi.5.  YOU GET HUNGRIER ALL DAYBecause you wake up early and the fact that you commit yourself to an hour’s worth of exercise, you may feel hungrier for an entire day. So long as the post-exercise enzym es in your stomach are active, you can eat a hearty meal as the digestive process moves your food along quicker.6.  START YOUR DAY WITHOUT FEELING RUSHED We’re pretty sure you’ve had your moments about waking up later than when you were supposed to and then realized that you overslept. This gives you a shot of adrenaline as you quickly go to the shower, make breakfast and make a beeline for your office.Starting your day while feeling rushed is not the right way as you come into the office looking less organized and aware of your daily responsibilities. That’s why getting up early should be part of your everyday habit.It’s okay to be late once in a while, but if this happens constantly, then you need to fix this. It’s the kind of habit that does not fit in well with your boss, friends, and loved ones.7.  YOULL RELISH THE SILENCEWaking up early presents one of the greatest benefits of a hard-working individual like yourself silence. That’s right! Not waking up to kids scr eaming, crying babies, car honking, lawn mower, leaf blower or even television noises is truly the best experience you could wish for.And since you can’t hear anything but a pin drop, you can use this opportunity to take care of any important task you have pending for the office or for the house.As a matter of fact, former general manager of Microsoft, Jeremy Krost, wakes up at 3.30-4 am for two reasons: quiet time and clarity of thought. As the once wise Blaise Pascal used to say, “the sole cause of mans unhappiness is that he does not know how to stay quietly in his room.”This couldn’t be any truer and once you have developed your new morning habits, you will grow to appreciate peace and happiness in the morning hours.8.  LESS TIME WASTED AT NIGHTS AND WEEKENDSWaking up early can make you less inclined to late-night activities, parties or gaming.The reason why that’s a good thing is that it saves you up on much-needed energy for the morning and you won’t end up feeling tired or unprepared for the office, which is also a plus for your health. You also become less inclined to go out on weekends, which allows you to donate more time to your family and relatives for instance.As such, you end up wasting less time during the weekends and nights as well. Going over the clock means that your productivity levels take a nosedive.9.  SAVE TIME AND ENERGY ON COMMUTINGRush-hour traffic can be a real problem if you go to your office like you do every morning. Fortunately, waking up early can easily quell this problem. Taking an earlier bus or train is suitable since it is less busy.It’s more pleasant to travel and you can get to work faster and earlier just to tackle some leftover assignments. If you have a personal commute, you can reduce heavy gridlocks and lower your journey time significantly.10.  YOU SLEEP BETTER It turns out that waking up early allows us to get to bed earlier at night. Because of this, we are able to sleep quicker and easier. This is quite beneficial since office workers no longer feel the need to work right before bed.It’s relatively tougher to sleep after grinding through all that paperwork and emails. But waking up at 5:00 am makes it easier to wind down. Sometimes you may get fewer hours of sleep but you feel better because of the deeper sleep. And using sleep-inducing apps and gadgets makes the experience much better.Another additional advantage is that you may not experience anxiety about the things that you want to do for the next day. The decreased levels of stress can also lead to higher levels of satisfaction.So simply put, getting up early allows you to take care of extra work, get some exercise, save up time and energy on your commute, and lounge however you want. It is by far the most productive and energetic part of your day that you can’t hope to miss out on.Most of the time, evenings are rarely considered the most productive, even for night owls. Many folks spend their evening mindlessly watc hing TV, wondering what kind of drink to have or just doing other stuff around the house. This is obvious as we spend most of our energy for the whole day.Waking up early allows you to structure your day around the peaks of energy. Of course, it doesn’t mean that your new wake up time has to be 5 am automatically, not if you’re a 7:30-8:00 am regular. That’s because getting rid of 2-3 hours of sleep overnight is setting yourself up for failure.HOW TO BE AN EARLY RISERIn order to wake up early at 5:00 am, you’ve got to condition your body by hammering down a few new habits if you want to get there, such as:Establish a Night Time RoutineGetting your body to wake up early requires a good plan. You can’t just automatically make yourself get up at 5 am, especially if your usual wake up time is 7 am.One of the ways to prep your body to wake at 5 in the morning is to start winding down earlier than you normally do. Create a proper night routine that you can stick to every night.P lease note that waking up early is going to be hard and you will find yourself making plenty of excuses to get more sleep. You have to minimize these negative effects by planning ahead with the following:Keep a book or a journal in placeKeep your gym clothes or running shoes laid outEnsure your coffee or energy supplement is ready to goKeep your phone or alarm clock in a position where you can hear it and get out of bed immediately without knocking it down or hitting the snooze button and falling over.Switch Off Your Digital DevicesBe sure to keep your digital devices away for the last 30-60 minutes of the day before going to sleep. Every hour that you’re exposed to your phone or tablet’s blue light, the melatonin production in your brain stops, which is the key hormone for sleep.Focus on BreathingSome of the biggest sleep preventers are your negative mood swings such as anger or frustration, especially after you’ve had a long day. To get around this, focus on your breathing p atterns to change your physiology so that you can get to bed with a relaxed mind instead of always thinking about your problems.Visualize Your Way to Sleep Several studies show that when Olympic athletes visualize for an hour, it’s equal to seven hours of physical practice. So before going to bed, it is imperative that you put your electronic devices away and devote 5-10 minutes using various visualization techniques.Tire Yourself to BedIf you want to go to bed earlier but aren’t tired, then make yourself tired by reading a book or listening to a podcast.Open Curtains Before Going to BedBefore going to bed, it is important to open your curtains so that you can be exposed to the first rays of the sun in the morning. This contains a range of benefits such as promote calcium absorption, empower immunity and strengthen bones.CONCLUSIONSo now you see how productive and efficient your day can become by waking up early in the morning. It’s worth noting that waking up at 5 in the morn ing is a bad idea only if you’re trying it out and don’t have any plans for the wee hours.You don’t need to wait until 2019 to create a resolution plan to wake up early since most resolutions fail anyway. Instead, you should try making the habit of getting up early into a ritual for December.That’s because the holidays are usually the time when you eat and drink more.But be sure to keep those calories in check by waking up early and going to the gym. It may be a hard journey, but it will be worth it in the end.

Its Never Too Late to Start Your College Plan

The need for college planning has never been more important. The cost of attending college continues to rise. The average cost of four-year private school during 2016-17 was over $45,000 - an increase of 3.4% from 2016. The cost to finance an education will also increase. Rates on Stafford and Parent Plus loans are set to rise this July to 4.45% and 7% respectively. Additionally, the current administration is proposing to eliminate the federal subsidized student loan program, a program where the government pays the loan interest while the student is attending college. For parents with children in high school, this poses a serious question. What is our best ï ¿ ½Late Stageï ¿ ½ planning strategy to pay for college without jeopardizing our own retirement? Here are some tips to consider: Save Itï ¿ ½s never too late to start, even if your children are entering or in high school. Your best option is with one of two types ofï ¿ ½529 accounts: 529 SAVINGS PLANS These are state-sponsored savings vehicles that allow assets to grow tax-free. Distributions are also tax-free as long as theyï ¿ ½re used forï ¿ ½qualified educational expenses. Plan beneficiaries can be changed and the impact on financial aid is minimal. This makes them ideal ï ¿ ½late-stageï ¿ ½ savings vehicles. Each state offers different investment options and some provide tax deductions for contributions. You will need to research your options or work with a financial advisor who specializes in college planning to determine the ideal plan fit and investment allocation. 529 PREPAID PLANS Prepaid plans allow you to contribute funds that buy future tuition at current rates. They are offered by some states and also through the Private 529 Plan which is sponsored by over 300 private schools. Unlike savings plans in which the chosen investments might lose value, prepaid plans shift the risk to the sponsoring entity. There are no fees and there is zero market risk. These plans make sense for families wanting a guaranteed return on their investment but can also can also be combined with 529 savings plans for a more diversified savings strategy. RELATED: College Savings Timeline- The home stretch College selection One of the primary focusses of your college plan should be finding schools where your child will fit in best and graduate on time. Factors to consider are the size of the campus, its proximity to home, school curriculum, the relative competitiveness of the student body, class sizes, and social activities, such as fraternities and athletics. The key here is ï ¿ ½check the boxesï ¿ ½ off for a small number of schools that meet the profile of your child. Once youï ¿ ½ve narrowed your search down to six to eight schools you can then focus on financial aid. Yes, the schools you select will to a large extent determine your eligibility for merit based financial aid. Your goal should be to position your child in the top 25%, from a grade and test perspective, of the incoming freshmen class. This will not only increase your chances of admission but also put you in a stronger position to receive financial aid in the form of grants and scholarships. If you receive a better financial package from a school other than your primary choice, you may be able to use that award as a negotiation tool. Tax aid An often overlooked yet valuable planning strategy for college planning is tax aid. For example, theï ¿ ½American Opportunity Tax Creditï ¿ ½can provide up to $10,000 toward the cost of college for each child. If you canï ¿ ½t take the credit yourself, find out if your child qualifies. Consider the tax benefits of shifting appreciated assets, such as stocks, to your child. Your child can potentially sell the assets in his or her name to help pay for college, and pay taxes at a lower rate. Make sure that the additional income wonï ¿ ½t impact need-based aid eligibility and that it properly navigates theï ¿ ½"kiddie tax". RELATED: Can I use 529 funds to pay for college and use the American Opportunity Tax Credit? Do you have your own business? If so then hiring your child can provide tax benefits as well as business experience. The work must be tied to the business and the wages must be reasonable. One strategy would be to pay your child up to their standard deduction ($6,350 for 2017). They will not owe any income taxes and can use the proceeds towards the cost of college. If your child is under the age of 18 then you can avoid paying Social Security, Medicare and unemployment taxes like you would for a regular employee. Your children will have far more options to pay for college then you will have to fund your retirement. Far too often families will mortgage their home, take out loans, access their retirement accounts or use their savings to pay for their childï ¿ ½s education. These actions can have serious implications on achieving your own goals. Developing a balanced college plan that incorporates saving and ï ¿ ½late stageï ¿ ½ payment strategies should help protect your own assets and help your children graduate with minimal student loans. RELATED: Picking a financial advisor for your college planning strategy - What to ask About the author: Brett Tushingham, CFP, is a financial advisor and the founder of Tushingham Wealth Strategies in Wilmington, North Carolina The need for college planning has never been more important. The cost of attending college continues to rise. The average cost of four-year private school during 2016-17 was over $45,000 - an increase of 3.4% from 2016. The cost to finance an education will also increase. Rates on Stafford and Parent Plus loans are set to rise this July to 4.45% and 7% respectively. Additionally, the current administration is proposing to eliminate the federal subsidized student loan program, a program where the government pays the loan interest while the student is attending college. For parents with children in high school, this poses a serious question. What is our best ï ¿ ½Late Stageï ¿ ½ planning strategy to pay for college without jeopardizing our own retirement? Here are some tips to consider: Save Itï ¿ ½s never too late to start, even if your children are entering or in high school. Your best option is with one of two types ofï ¿ ½529 accounts: 529 SAVINGS PLANS These are state-sponsored savings vehicles that allow assets to grow tax-free. Distributions are also tax-free as long as theyï ¿ ½re used forï ¿ ½qualified educational expenses. Plan beneficiaries can be changed and the impact on financial aid is minimal. This makes them ideal ï ¿ ½late-stageï ¿ ½ savings vehicles. Each state offers different investment options and some provide tax deductions for contributions. You will need to research your options or work with a financial advisor who specializes in college planning to determine the ideal plan fit and investment allocation. 529 PREPAID PLANS Prepaid plans allow you to contribute funds that buy future tuition at current rates. They are offered by some states and also through the Private 529 Plan which is sponsored by over 300 private schools. Unlike savings plans in which the chosen investments might lose value, prepaid plans shift the risk to the sponsoring entity. There are no fees and there is zero market risk. These plans make sense for families wanting a guaranteed return on their investment but can also can also be combined with 529 savings plans for a more diversified savings strategy. RELATED: College Savings Timeline- The home stretch College selection One of the primary focusses of your college plan should be finding schools where your child will fit in best and graduate on time. Factors to consider are the size of the campus, its proximity to home, school curriculum, the relative competitiveness of the student body, class sizes, and social activities, such as fraternities and athletics. The key here is ï ¿ ½check the boxesï ¿ ½ off for a small number of schools that meet the profile of your child. Once youï ¿ ½ve narrowed your search down to six to eight schools you can then focus on financial aid. Yes, the schools you select will to a large extent determine your eligibility for merit based financial aid. Your goal should be to position your child in the top 25%, from a grade and test perspective, of the incoming freshmen class. This will not only increase your chances of admission but also put you in a stronger position to receive financial aid in the form of grants and scholarships. If you receive a better financial package from a school other than your primary choice, you may be able to use that award as a negotiation tool. Tax aid An often overlooked yet valuable planning strategy for college planning is tax aid. For example, theï ¿ ½American Opportunity Tax Creditï ¿ ½can provide up to $10,000 toward the cost of college for each child. If you canï ¿ ½t take the credit yourself, find out if your child qualifies. Consider the tax benefits of shifting appreciated assets, such as stocks, to your child. Your child can potentially sell the assets in his or her name to help pay for college, and pay taxes at a lower rate. Make sure that the additional income wonï ¿ ½t impact need-based aid eligibility and that it properly navigates theï ¿ ½"kiddie tax". RELATED: Can I use 529 funds to pay for college and use the American Opportunity Tax Credit? Do you have your own business? If so then hiring your child can provide tax benefits as well as business experience. The work must be tied to the business and the wages must be reasonable. One strategy would be to pay your child up to their standard deduction ($6,350 for 2017). They will not owe any income taxes and can use the proceeds towards the cost of college. If your child is under the age of 18 then you can avoid paying Social Security, Medicare and unemployment taxes like you would for a regular employee. Your children will have far more options to pay for college then you will have to fund your retirement. Far too often families will mortgage their home, take out loans, access their retirement accounts or use their savings to pay for their childï ¿ ½s education. These actions can have serious implications on achieving your own goals. Developing a balanced college plan that incorporates saving and ï ¿ ½late stageï ¿ ½ payment strategies should help protect your own assets and help your children graduate with minimal student loans. RELATED: Picking a financial advisor for your college planning strategy - What to ask About the author: Brett Tushingham, CFP, is a financial advisor and the founder of Tushingham Wealth Strategies in Wilmington, North Carolina