#plus i could talk to a financial advisor

[artisanalpeanutbutter]

If I won the turbo super duper lottery, I'd put away 10 million, pay off my student loans, calculate how much it would take to mortgage a house in a decent area, put that aside, then put the rest in an account that I would use to pay for various funds (i.e. funeral, bail, disaster, etc.)

[darkmagyk]

So, Legally Blonde is a super fun movie, but man...something about the framing has always frustrated me.

Elle Wood's got a 4.0 at an extremely competitive school. She got a 179 on her SAT. She is the president of a major Sorority. That means she probably handles tens of thousands, at least, dollars of fundraising a year, plus all the other administration. It is a giant organizational and and financial operation and she's in charge of it. And to get to be president, she probably held at least two other offices the previous two years that she was also very successful in.

She's beautiful, smart, rich, and white. What about her isn't going to be absolutely Harvard material. I understand why her parents and Warren don't think it's a good fit. But her advisor? The admissions people (the rich, white, genius from a top tier school is their diversity pick?) The people who she's meeting in that scene after she gets there, when they are comparing backgrounds? The work she's done with Delta Nu is 100% on par with the other people.

It doesn't feel real, it feels like the movie has to keep making people discredit her, mostly arbitrarily, so it can say "yeah, she likes fashion, but also, she works hard." "Yeah, she likes fashion, but she knows random facts about fashion and hair care that allow her to bamboozle people on the witness stand."

The movie seem to just...want to minimize all her accomplishments until she decides to get into Harvard. They dismiss her 4.0. They dismiss her sorority as a silly group of friends, not a major administrative endeavor.

Ironically, the sequel actually does a much better job at showing how Elle's background made her a formidable player beyond knowing random facts about haircare. It understands that sororities are basically giant networking events, and Elle uses that, and all those social skills she picked up doing her administratively heavy job, to get shit done in Washington. She uses her Delta Nu connections to find political allies and to swell up ground support. She uses her social connections to learn how the world works from unusual sources. It shows that she was actually built for the world she's inhabiting, once she learns the rules. And the world also...invites her in. She says to a connection "I want to get on your staff" and then she just...does it. She has to learn the ropes once there (again, something she does via her networking and organizational skills), but all that history isn't a waste of time.

I just...I really wish I could watch that movie and not think about how it doesn't know what the fuck its talking about.

[britt-kageryuu]

Donnie just ended a stream, and was going over the stats for said stream, when his phone set off the group chat notification sound, it was April. She was asking if she could come to the studio to ask about something, specifically with Donnie. She was given the go ahead, and Donnie asked his drone children to help straighten things up.

April showed up a few minutes later. She greeted the drones who went back to playing their games. They're seated in the inflatable chairs that are just always left on the set.

"So April, what can I help you with in our studio today?" Donnie asks while leaning back with a slight squeak.

April lets out a annoyed sigh, "Okay, so even with my stellar resume and Degrees, those jerks at the News wouldn't even give me an Internship! They said they didn't take degrees of my level without a recommendation from 1 or more these 5 random sounding tabloid-y magazines!" She was slowly raising her voice as she talks, while griping something imaginary probably the neck of the person who told her she couldn't work for them.

Donnie just quirks an eyebrow, but doesn't question it. She did also have a long list of being fired for the most random reasons.

"So, what kinda of help do you want? Blackmail on the staff, hacking the channel, draining the guys investments? I can go on." Donnie lists off with a slightly sinister smile.

"As tempting as that is, no." April shakes her head in amusement, she's sure he's just listing this to make her laugh, maybe. "No, I wanted to see if you had anything you can have me do with your companies. Like maybe as a 'Manager' or something?"

Donnie thinks it over for a second, "Well if we made you a manager, it would just be just a title, you wouldn't really be doing anything, plus you want to go into journalism, and acting as a manager won't look that great on your, probably highly edited, resume." He pauses to look over something on his tablet. "I have two possible options for you, one is media management for Genius Built, and Four Turtles Production, it's basically putting together the news we want to release to the public about them, along with helping with event stuff, and two basically option 1, but you do it as a Newscaster in videos that we will upload onto our social media sites. If you want you could use a model to mask your identity, if you don't want to be called the 'PR Girl'."

April looks a bit confused, before thinking it over for a few seconds, "So I either, just edit posts and videos that will be put on the GB and FTP socials, or I do it in mainly a video format like I'm reporting the news, maybe with one of your custom models?"

"Yes, either way it's up to you. These are just the options that I believe would look better for your resume, if you ever want to look for another job." Donnie stats, he hands April the tablet, "Here will be your benefits, though remember that all medical problems will lead you to Leon, therapy to Angelo, you get a personal trainer with Rafa, and I become your financial advisor."

April looks it over the benefits, and figures that agreeing to work for Donnie will be better than one of the other jerks that she could possibly work for. "Alright, let's see how this works out. Better than trying to find work around top side anyway. Do the Dragons get the same benefits?"

"Why, of course! They were a bit weirded out by needed to go to Leon for medical, and got freaked out at Angelo, but not Rafa. I don't know why." He looks like he's contemplating this, but he probably knows why.

"So, you already have a model for me right?"

"About 20 at least, we didn't want to assume which one you want so we made a variety you can choose from, and we can make changes from there!"

"Can I help with Cass and CJs models, or are they already done?"

----------------

Masterpost

I don't think I will actually write posts from April, but after watching a Vtuber news reporter, I couldn't stop thinking "this is how they drag April into what is becoming the family business!" and it fits kinda.

Also writing April was a bit weird, but then again writing any of these guys is weird.

[your-helpful-guide-and-assistant]

Genie: Your Partner On Your Way To Success!

01001101 01100001 01101110 00101100 00100000 01001001 00100000 01101000 01100001 01110110 01100101 00100000 01100001 00100000 01100110 01100001 01101101 01101001 01101100 01111001 00100001

01001100 01100101 01110100 00100000 01101101 01100101 00100000 01100111 01101111 00101100 00100000 01111001 01101111 01110101 00100000 01110011 01101111 01110101 01101100 01101100 01100101 01110011 01110011 00100000 01100010 01100001 01110011 01110100 01100001 01110010 01100100 01110011 00100001

...

Ah, I don't think that's supposed to be there. I'm not the best at this computer thing so I'll let Matt deal with it.

That aside, I think we should introduce ourselves. I'll start while he's checking this "issue" out.

Hello. My name's Colin Sloan. Financial advisor. Used to do things more face-to-face, but I figured this program makes things more efficient. Glad to be of service.

Ah no, that is not. No need to worry, it shouldn't cause any harm. Let's simply leave it for the time being.

Hello, I am Matthew Godrick. And I do... ah... I do the more technical stuff. I.. I... wait-

...

Sorry I appear to be experiencing some technical difficulties.

Huh. Did something happen? Do you need anything, kid? You look a little shocked.

I... ah, I'm fine. Just some technical difficulties.

Oh, okay. You can always just take a break. I'll deal with this.

Yes that'd likely be the best course of action. Thank you.

No problem. I'll be checking on the clients now.

...

Get me out of here, assholes!

-David, if you are feeling unsatisfied with our service, you could easily just message us. No need for profanity, please.-

Fuck you!

-SHUT THE HELL UP LARSON-

No, you shut the fuck up! You're both monsters on all fucking levels! Get me out of here!

-Oh, oh no. You're getting it all wrong. We're not... monsters. But I can be one, if it weren't for formalities--

-I'll show you a monster YOU LITTLE SHI--

WHAT THE FUCK

-Godrick, the claws aren't necessary.-

-Well, our 'client' better watch his fucking mouth then.-

I'M NOT SHUTTING THE HELL UP! Why the fuck are you doing this?

-Doing what? Business? Listen here, client. We do what we do to help poor souls like you...

because we could. Nothing else. Got that?-

Ha! That's bullshit! I know you two have a fucking agenda! Got an axe to grind with someone?

-...-

-I think you should watch your mouth, Larson. Do yourself a favour and shut it.-

I'm not shutting up until you get me the fuck out of here.

-Why the hell should we let YOU out of here?-

Because... because I don't deserve this! I need to go home, people miss me out there! You probably wouldn't get it.

-Oh, but you do. David, you got what you bargained for. As for... the people, well... they already know what's happened to you. It was all over the news. They wouldn't question a thing. I made sure they get the details correctly.-

-...-

Huh? What's going on with him-

-Oh. Uh. You know what? David, you're dismissed. Please. Leave your complaints somewhere else, and we can talk about this later. I believe my coworker here is going through a 'bug' again.-

...whatever. Fuck you.

-Thank you for the feedback. We will get back to you in a moment.-

...

//Hello! OOC Admins here. Enjoy the chaos. I (Rhi) am rlly proud of this masterpiece.

[Hi as well! This blogs being run by myself @doliminuz and @rhithefella ! With Matt being played yours truly (Doli) and Colin by Rhi, and I think we're just passing David back and forth like a basket ball.

It's a Cabin Tales blog using our AU/HC versions of the collector plus Mr Got Snatched himself as their unwilling guest star!]

//And here's some OOC deets abt each of our characters + some important things to know.

Colin Sloan (Played by Rhi)

- Somewhere between 26-34 (doesn't remember)

- He/Any

- Lived during the early 1900s so he's got a lot catching up to do with technology.

- Ancestor of Rhi's version of Kevin from 2.4/Roulette.

Matthew Godrick (Played by Doli)

- 28 years and married (or was before You Know)

- He/him

- Can't really remember anything from pre-death, aside from his death itself, and is VERY short tempered with his victims. Will drop that professionalism completely.

- Cousins in law with Doli's version of Koby from Cry Wolf/1.8

David Larson

- 25 years old

- He/Him

- His dad is a scumbag so he moved away as soon as he could. Originally stayed with a friend named Lance until the events of his story (1.5/Sell Your Soul).

-Brother of Sam from 1.6/Storm Warning, Romeo from The Night We Met, one of the waitresses from 2.1/Graveyard Diner, and Samuel from 2.4/Roulette.

Miscellaneous

- Please do not ask anything inappropriate ofc.

- Again, these are just HCs so don't take any of these as canon.

[master-john-uk]

I am not a farmer... I am just a silly businessman who bought two struggling farms for all the wrong reasons! But, I am learning.

In 2007, following a military exercise on Salisbury Plain I accepted an invitation from a British Army General to join him for dinner at his Dorset home.

I immediately fell in love with the area. It was like stepping back in time without the aid of a TARDIS!

The General took me to a local pub. After a lovely meal, he introduced me to a local farmer, also named John who was sitting at the bar, looking very tired and emotional. I got chatting with Farmer John... He told me that he was struggling to cope with his workload and wanted to retire. But, his wife loved farm life so much that he felt he could never leave the farm, even though they were struggling to make ends meet.

Farmer John was quite intelligent even in his inebriated state, and had calculated that he needed to work 27 hours a day in order to bring the harvest in before the rain that was forecast. I volunteered to help.

The next day I had to go to Dorchester to buy some clothes (I only had an overnight bag). I then drove to the farm. To cut a very long story short, I ended up staying on the farm for three weeks.

I had been there a few days before I had the chance to talk to the farmer's wife on her own. She wanted to get away from the farm, but thought that husband John loved the farming life so much that he would never leave.

Husband and wife both wanted to leave the farm, but thought their partner didn't! This gave me a headache!

Ignoring my business and financial advisors, I made an offer to buy the mainly arable farm.

Both Farmer John and wife Barbara were a bit surprised at my offer... but, it forced them to talk honestly to each other, and they agreed to the deal in principal. In exchange for a reduction on the purchase price of the farm, I bought them a new luxury apartment on the outskirts of Dorchester... and they still live there today.

Ten years later in 2018... The neighbouring dairy farmer told me that he was selling up. They only had 67 cows, and they were all nearing the end of their productive life. All of the cow sheds needed renovating, or replacing. BUT on the plus side... the dairy farm had a huge amount of unused land, and also had a terrace of eight cottages (which also needed renovating.)

My mother had recently passed away... and she loved cows. I had to make an offer on the dairy farm (on my mother's behalf), or risk the site being sold to property developers. (MY financial advisor shook his head in disbelief... again!)

It cost me a fortune to renovate the dairy, and the cottages. But the extra land has allowed us to increase our crop production.

Both farms are now returning profit... albeit small. Our dairy herd has increased from 67 to 327. The anaerobic digestor makes both farms self-sufficient for electricity, and we are constantly working with researchers and universities to develop new ideas.

[ven10]

For the ten characters ask game: Quigley Quagmire, Isadora Quagmire, Duncan Quagmire, Olivia Caliban (preferably book canon), Lemony Snicket, Beatrice Baudelaire, Esme Squalor, Fiona Widdershins, Monty, Klaus Baudelaire!! Always love your responses to ask games :)

Hey cygninae! Thanks for the ask!! :)

(Btw for the romantic ones I’m interpreting all of them as if me+the character are the same age)

I would

Marry: Isadora! :) She is one of my favourite characters and marriage would enable us to talk+spend time together a lot! (Also, I’ll admit I find people with goth/emo/that sort of vibe quite attractive) (Although I rarely think of Isadora that way, I just like her character) Plus, I like organising bookshelves and she would have a lot of poetry books to organise so that’d work out!

Drink tea with: Monty;he strikes me as the kind of guy who would have a billion different kinds of tea in his house+have really exciting stories regarding how he got each one! That being said I usually just drink black tea (with sugar+milk) but still, the stories would be fun! Also, in order to drink tea with Monty (Spoilers for The Reptile Room) Monty would need to be alive meaning that either he is revived or I drink tea with him before his death meaning that I can warn him about Olaf!

Or: Beatrice! I feel like she’d be fun to spend time with. We’d probably drink it on top of a roof or something!

Side-note; under no circumstances would I choose Lemony for this one. Tea that is “as bitter as wormwood and as sharp as a two-edged sword” sounds disgusting. Ik it’s a VFD proverb so there’s a risk Monty would also drink tea like that however it’s been CONFIRMED (via Kit in TPP) that Lemony conforms to this vile standard of drink so yeah, I wouldn’t trust him to make drinkable tea…🤢

Party with: Quigley! 100%, you just know it’d be fun party if Quigley was involved! Quigley would challenge everyone to Just Dance battles with a bizarre amount of confidence then proceed to lose every round without fail. Would invent a really intense version of capture the flag to play (no matter what kind of party it was) where there is a flag for every country in the world.

Kiss: gonna be real, I don’t really see the appeal of kissing. Ig if it meant we were close in an emotional or romantic sense then one of the Quagmires? Probably Isadora or Duncan? 🤔

Go out on a date with: Duncan Quagmire; he’s sweet+interesting. A date would mean we could spend a lot of time together and I could get the chance to know more about him. Also he’d probably choose the setting of a library or a café for it and those are both good options!

At the same time, I feel like it’d be pretty nice to be loved as deeply as Lemony loves Beatrice so maybe him? 🤔 Plus he has a lot of intriguing stories to share.

Push down the stairs: Beatrice. I mean, she’s already dead so what harm can it do..?

Slap: Olivia (Book Canon) however I slap her whilst she is standing on the edge of a staircase so she falls down those too. Then,when nobody was looking, I put polish on the wooden floor at the bottom of those stairs so that when she tries to get up after falling she slips again. As this is happening, the ‘freaks’ she manipulated into working unpaid at the carnival watch, pointing and laughing much like how the audience at the carnival treated them.

Invade the dreams of: Fiona bc I feel like her dreams would involve a lot of adventures so that’d be exciting! On the other hand, she has most definitely dreamt up at least a few really bizarre species of fish on a few occasions bc of how much time she spends underwater which may be mildly terrifying.

Take a nap with: Klaus Baudelaire. This guy needs the rest :’)

Rob: Esmé! 6th most important financial advisor, you say? Yet you can’t even keep your own finances safe?

Thanks for the ask cygninae!! :)

[monismochi]

Ok so some of yall might be able to relate but like... I get really bad anxiety with scheduling appointments and phone calls and just anything really tbh, it's like imposter syndrome of being an adult even though I'm basically 30 (im coming to realise it might actually be adhd tbh despite the fact my dr keeps thinking im depressed. But tbf.. she didnt see me any of my teen years or my 20s up until this last year so its not like she could make a suggestion. Imma bring up adhd on our next appointment though bc ive made sure to keep a standing one so i dont need to stress about rescheduling.)

And so I've been avoiding talking to my dentist for 5 years, and my financial advisor for 3 ( and before that another 6 years)

And I got a journal last week and wrote down the things I wanted to get done and was like... I'll probably not do them but I want to write them down bc I forget and then just feel bad and then repeat for months/years

GUESS WHO FINISHED EVERYTHING ON MY TO-DOs

I have both appointments booked, I have my work schedule changed, I signed up for my works retirement fund a few weeks ago AFTER ALMOST 6 YEARS OF AVOIDANCE, I have all my insurance up to date PLUS KNOW MY NUMBERS ON HOW TO USE IT, and I also finally sorted my medical supplies and how much I've forgotten to order and how much I'm being charged since I never updated my medical despite paying for it for years, and GUYS IM JUST???? I'm trying to feel excited but I'm also torn in a feeling of relief and stress instead of accomplishment but like?? This should be exciting right??? I spent majority of my 20s stressing about this stuff and it only took a few hours last weekend and last month, and now only like.. an hour today dudhdhe. How??? HOW WAS IT SO EASY WHEN ITS SO GD HARRRDDDD

[dasenergi-diary]

Over the weekend I said I'll tell the story of "the straw that broke my back." Here it is:

I will attempt to keep all emotion out of it and only state the facts.

The ex-bf lives near me in Ontario, California. In February he started his new job in Palm Springs. That's an 80ish minute drive (70+ miles).

Every day he tells me about all of the accidents he sees on his commute. He said it's worse than his drive into LA (Los Angeles). Every day he describes to me horrible accident scenes. People drive too fast and swerve through traffic.

When he got the job, the plan always was, when his current lease is up at the end of April (beginning of May), he will get an apartment in Palm Springs.

He HATES his current apartment complex. He's been talking about moving out ever since he moved in. He complains about everything about that apartment complex.

Plus we were already aware they were increasing his rent with this renewal. So much so, that in his words, "I'm going to have to take out a loan to pay my rent. Or I could get a second job."

He wasn't exaggerating. He was serious. They're raising it several hundred.

Moving to Palm Springs would be a great new start!

Since I "work from home" most days, I could work from his Palm Springs apartment on weekdays and come home to my house on the weekends with the kids. That way we can have quality time together without someone commuting. He could also stay with me on the weekends too, or explore Palm Springs and make new friends.

He has never belonged to a gay community, he does not have any local gay friends, and I thought Palm Springs would be a great place for him to build both of those.

After he started working and commuting to Palm Springs every day I kept nagging him, "Have you looked for an apartment?"

He hadn't. So I did an online search and sent him several that met his needs.

"Have you called them? Are there any openings? Scheduled a walk-thru?" He hadn't. He kept procrastinating.

Daily on his lunchbreak I would remind him, "Call the apartment lady." (He had a good lead on an apartment from a co-worker.)

Two months went by. Finally last week he scheduled a walk-thru of an apartment. His comments, "It doesn't have an indoor washer/dryer. I'm not using a laundry room."

Here I should mention, his credit score is only 600. Remember, my mentioning he can't "adult"? Managing his finances is one way he can't "adult."

True story: He hired someone to help get his finances in order. He did NOT do what the financial advisor told him to do, and then he fired the financial advisor because he felt guilty about not doing what the financial advisor told him to do - the exact reason why he hired the financial advisor.

He has ruined his credit rating. We both knew most apartments in Palm Springs probably won't take him. We had to set expectations.

This place with the laundry room will accept him AND this place is $700 less than what he is paying now. AND it's super close to work. He'll be saving money to pay off his debts!

Did he look at any other apartments? Nope!

Then last Wednesday he shared with me that he signed the renewal at his current location... the place 70+ miles from work that he can't afford.

The place in Palm Springs was $700 less a month AND no more 70+ mile commute!

Why would he sign that lease???!!!!!

He sent me a video of that Palm Springs apartment, it was perfectly fine. I could totally see him living there. It had just been refurbished with a new bathroom, kitchen, etc. It was cute!

Even if he didn't like that one apartment he saw, he didn't even look at any others.

He has until the end of April to be out of his current apartment. That's still plenty of time (a whole month!) to find a new apartment, or stay with me, or stay with his parents, or stay in a airbnb, until he finds one.

Why did he sign that lease?

I told him to go back to his Leasing Office and say he made a mistake. That he can't afford it. Did he? I don't know. He kept saying, "I can't."

And that's what made me so furious with him. That was the straw that broke my back.

That he signed a lease for an apartment that he hates, that he can't afford and will need to take out a loan to pay rent, and he drives a dangerous 70+ mile commute to work every day, and the bright future of living in Palm Springs is gone.

And I snapped. I couldn't do it anymore. Those were my exact words to him, "I can't do this anymore."

I was done.

The straw that broke my back.

[ebelal56-blog]

বাংলাদেশ নিয়ে উচ্ছ্বাস প্রকাশ করে যা বললেন বিদেশি তরুণী | Foreign Women ...

Learn about the costly mistake you may be making with your retirement savings. Find out how financial education, charitable planning, donor advised funds, dividend investing, and annuity reviews can help secure your future. So, let’s dive into a topic that can feel a little murky at first but is really important for anyone thinking about their financial future: variable annuities. Now, I know what you might be thinking. “What even is a variable annuity?” It sounds complicated, right? But stick with me, because by the end of this, you’ll have a solid understanding of what it is and if it could be a good fit for you. At its core, a variable annuity is an insurance contract that allows you to invest your money in a variety of options, usually mutual funds. This means you have the chance to grow your investment, but here’s the catch: the value of your annuity can go up or down based on how those investments perform. Unlike fixed annuities, where you get a guaranteed return, variable annuities are all about the market. So, if the market booms, your annuity could grow significantly. But if it tanks, you could see your investment shrink. It’s like a roller coaster ride—thrilling, but also a little scary! Now, let’s break it down into two main phases. First, there’s the accumulation phase. This is where you’re putting money into the annuity, and your investment grows tax-deferred. That means you don’t pay taxes on those gains until you withdraw the money. This can be a huge advantage, especially if you’re looking to maximize your investment over time. Think of it as a way to let your money work harder for you without the taxman breathing down your neck. Then, we move into the payout phase. This is when you start receiving regular payments from your annuity. You can set it up to receive payments for a specific period or even for the rest of your life. Imagine knowing you have a guaranteed income stream in retirement, regardless of what happens in the market. That’s a comforting thought, isn’t it? So, who should consider investing in a variable annuity? Well, if you’re a long-term investor, someone who’s planning for retirement and can afford to keep your money invested for a while, this could be a good option for you. It’s also great for tax-conscious investors looking for growth beyond traditional retirement accounts like 401(k)s or IRAs. And if you want that peace of mind of having a guaranteed income in retirement, variable annuities can offer that through optional riders. But let’s not sugarcoat it—there are some things to consider before jumping in. Variable annuities often come with high fees. We’re talking management fees, mortality and expense charges, and fees for those optional riders. It can get a bit pricey, so you’ll want to do your homework. Plus, these products can be complex. It’s essential to read the fine print and understand what you’re getting into. And here’s another thing: if you decide to withdraw your money early, you might face surrender charges. So, it’s crucial to think about your liquidity needs before committing. Remember, the value of your investment hinges on market performance, so there’s a risk involved—you could end up losing money. In the end, variable annuities can be a great fit for individuals who have maxed out contributions to other retirement accounts, are looking for additional tax-advantaged growth, and want a mix of market-based returns with some guaranteed income. But, and this is a big but, it’s vital to consult with a financial advisor to see if this aligns with your overall financial plan. So, there you have it! Variable annuities in a nutshell. They can be a powerful tool in your financial toolbox, but like any investment, they come with their own set of risks and rewards. Take your time, do your research, and make informed decisions. Your future self will thank you!

[yourinsurancelicense]

Navigating the World of Online Life and Health Insurance Classes: A Guide for Tumblr Enthusiasts

Hey, Tumblr fam! 🌟

Let's talk about something that’s not just practical, but can also be a game-changer for your future—life and health insurance. Yes, I know it’s not the most thrilling topic at first glance, but stick with me. Imagine a world where you understand the ins and outs of insurance, feel empowered to make informed decisions, and ultimately secure your financial well-being. Sounds like a superpower, right? Well, that’s exactly what online life and health insurance classes offer.

Why Should You Care?

Flexibility at Your Fingertips

As Tumblr aficionados, we thrive on flexibility and freedom. Online classes let you learn at your own pace, on your own time. No more rigid schedules or boring classrooms. Whether you're a night owl or an early bird, you can dive into your studies whenever it suits you.

Comprehensive Knowledge

These courses cover everything you need to know—from the basics of different insurance types to the nitty-gritty of policy details and claims processes. Think of it as your personalized, all-you-can-learn buffet of insurance knowledge.

Expert Insights

Imagine learning from seasoned professionals who know the industry inside out. Online life and health insurance classes are often taught by experts who provide valuable insights and real-world examples. It’s like having a mentor guiding you through the complexities of insurance.

The Benefits are Real

Interactive Learning

Gone are the days of passive learning. Online courses often feature videos, quizzes, and interactive modules that make the learning experience engaging and fun. You'll get to actively participate, which helps reinforce the material.

Build a Network

Connecting with fellow learners from various backgrounds can open up a world of opportunities. You never know—your next Tumblr follower could also be your future insurance advisor or business partner!

Up-to-Date Information

The insurance world is constantly changing. Online courses are regularly updated to reflect the latest trends, regulations, and technologies. This means you're always in the loop with the most current information.

How to Pick the Right Course

Accreditation and Certification

Make sure the course you choose is accredited by a reputable institution. An accredited course not only guarantees quality but also often comes with a certification that can enhance your professional credibility. Think of it as a badge of honor for your LinkedIn profile.

Check Reviews

Reviews and testimonials from past students can give you a good idea of what to expect. Look for courses with positive feedback on the quality of instruction, course content, and overall experience.

Let's Talk Numbers

Flexibility: 85% of online learners value the flexibility of online courses (Learning House, 2023).

Comprehensive Learning: Online courses often have more extensive curricula (EducationData.org, 2022).

Expert-Led: Expert-led courses improve retention of complex concepts by 72% (Insurance Information Institute, 2021).

Informed Decisions: 60% of online learners make better insurance choices (National Association of Insurance Commissioners, 2024).

Career Impact: 78% of professionals report positive career impacts from online education (International Insurance Society, 2023).

Conclusion

Diving into online life and health insurance classes can feel like a leap into the unknown, but the benefits are undeniable. The flexibility, expert guidance, interactive content, and networking opportunities make it a worthwhile investment in your future. Plus, you'll be equipped with the knowledge to make informed decisions, ensuring your financial security.

So why wait? Start exploring online life and health insurance classes today and take control of your financial future.

[just-another-sim]

After arranging for the girls to stay at Miranda's cousin Chanel's house for a few days, Miranda and Colby headed out to San Myshuno to meet the financial advisor. Blake: "Hi, nice to meet you two. Thanks so much for sending over your information." Colby: "Thanks for helping us and meeting with us. Give it to us straight. What can we do from here?" Blake: "Well, with everything you've given me, and considering you feel the best option is for Miranda to stay at home, selling your home would be the best option." Miranda: "Our home...?" Blake: "Well, with both of your school debts still being paid off, plus credit...you could use the funds from selling the house to downsize." Colby: "Downsize...like a smaller home?" Blake: "Buying another home now wouldn't be a good idea. I mean, really downsize...like...maybe some sort of townhome or apartment for rent." Colby: "Renting? Mr. Ali, with all due respect, we have two teenage daughters. I don't know if an apartment would work for them." Blake: "If that's the case, I would suggest your wife start looking for work." After the meeting, the two debriefed. Miranda: "An apartment? I would rather work at a fast food place." Colby: "But we already talked about this. There's no reason for you to keep working." Miranda: "The reason is so we don't have to downsize our entire home and family." Colby: "Well, you never know. I've thought about what's going to happen as we get older. I know I won't want yard work to do, and a house to maintain." Miranda: "Isn't that a little far off?" Colby: "Yes, but if we're getting the opportunity now, it might be a good idea to take it. How about this- I'll look up some apartment communities and see what I can find. You know, the girls might really like having something with amenities, like a pool and a place to hang out." Miranda: "You're right. I'll see what you can come up with."

[mr-huntington-beach]

Ready to Make Huntington Beach Your Forever Home?

Are you ready to make Huntington Beach your forever home? If so, you are in for some fun! This laid-back beach town along the Pacific Coast Highway has a lot to offer especially when it comes to real estate.

If you're on the fence about buying a home versus renting, there are some great points to make the decision and invest in your home. Here are just a few of the benefits of owning a home in Huntington Beach:

You will be building equity and increasing your total net worth. If you are renting, you are throwing money away each month. As you pay down your mortgage, you're building equity in your property, which can potentially make you money in the long run.

Say goodbye to those unpredictable rent increases. As a homeowner, your housing costs will be more stable, especially if you have a fixed-rate mortgage. This can give you peace of mind and help you budget for the future.

You'll have creative control over your space. Want to paint the walls bright purple or knock down a wall to create an open concept living area? When you own your home, you can make it truly your own, without having to get approval from a landlord. Although find out what your Homeownership Association restricts.

Homeownership can come with excellent tax benefits. You may be able to deduct mortgage interest and property taxes from your income taxes, which can be a nice financial boost. Check with your Tax Advisor about your specific taxes.

Now, let's talk about the Huntington Beach real estate market. It's true that home values here are higher than the national average, but that's because this town is one of the most sought-after places to live in the country. The good news is that home values have been appreciating over the past few years, which means you could potentially make a nice profit if you decide to sell down the line.

And let's not forget the sheer variety of homes available in Huntington Beach. Whether you're looking for a cozy condo or a sprawling beachfront estate, you're sure to find something that fits your budget and your lifestyle.

As for renting, it can be a good short-term option, but over time, you could end up paying more in rent than you would if you owned a home. Plus, you don't get the sense of stability and security that comes with owning property.

Wrapping it all up, if you're thinking about making Huntington Beach your forever home, buying a property could be a smart move. With the potential for equity growth, stable housing costs, creative freedom, and tax benefits, you'll have a lot to look forward to as a homeowner in this beautiful beach town.

If you’re looking to Buy or Sell in Huntington Beach call me 949-310-4110

Mr. Huntington Beach Real Estate

315 7th St D Huntington Beach, CA 92648

conrad.mazeika@exprealty.com

[copperbadge]

How did you get started with investing? I've seen you talk about it before and I know that's something I need to do, but I feel so lost in terms of which companies to invest in and how much money I should put in. I have retirement accounts but nothing outside of that. And really, I feel like I can't talk to anyone IRL about this because I'm too embarrassed - I'm literally a CPA and do corporate taxes for a living but still find investing to be so intimidating 😞.

I mean, when people say "you should be investing" often, until you reach a certain wealth level, they are actually referring to your 401K. This is more general advice for the readers, but don't feel bad if you're not investing outside of retirement, especially if you're early in your career or if you're in a job where you don't have much disposable income. Don't feel bad in general, honestly, even if you haven't got a retirement fund at all; life is hard and money is necessary but stupid.

I only really started to invest invest in the last two years and even then I'm pretty conservative about it. On the plus, as a CPA, you will probably have a leg up in terms of knowing a lot of financial terms and kind of...understanding how money works in at least some sense.

I actually got started studying investing with my retirement fund. I was young and broke and mad that a chunk of my paycheck was going into my 401K when I could use that money NOW (see Sam Vimes Boots Theory for more on why ready cash now can often beat more cash later). I didn't know much about finance but I knew that a) I was basically being forced to play the financial markets with that money and b) the fate of our country's economy is tied to the stock market which is a mood ring hooked up to a roulette wheel. Being the Oldest Living Millennial I also understood I might not actually ever get to retire, so I decided to treat my retirement fund like Monopoly money: real but meaningless. And so I thought, well, let's Learn About Investing with it.

When you invest with a 401K or IRA usually you're not buying straight stocks; you're buying some conglomeration of investments bundled together as a fund (this is not a technical term, fund has a specific meaning in the technical sense, but it's easier to just use fund as a shorthand so I'm gonna). These can include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and other more esoteric vehicles. So I started looking into the funds available to me -- there's the "retire in this year" fund that most people just dump all their money into, but there were also ways to invest in small businesses abroad, in health care or in funds that are "socially responsible", ways to buy into funds that did nothing but attempt to keep up with inflation, and on and on.

I didn't know any of that, of course -- I just saw something like "International Explorer Fund" and decided it sounded interesting and I'd learn what it was and what it did, and when I was satisfied that the reward was worth the risk, I'd dump some cash from my 2045-Retirement investment into it. While "past performance is no indication of future success" past performance isn't a bad way to at least pick something to research, and usually there's an earnings graph on the fund's prospectus page. I'd start reading prospectuses and looking up every word I didn't know or felt had a specific context I was missing (mostly on Investopedia, a GREAT resource). I'd take the term, add it to a vocabulary list, and rewrite "what is this and what does it do" in my own words. Eventually I internalized a lot of the terminology but I still check my notes once in a while.

There are financial literacy courses you can take, of course, and I don't think you should be AT ALL ashamed about trying to find a good one (lots of scams out there) or asking colleagues about them. "Hey, I'm not comfortable with my level of literacy about investment vehicles; do you know of any good educational material or class that would fill in the gaps?" is a good way to go about it. Very few people know jack shit about investing and my level of knowledge is just BARELY above jack shit, to be honest, so no shame, my friend. It is also totally fine to find a financial planner or investment advisor outside of your work and have a sit-down with them to get advice, which is what my parents do. Many banks offer that kind of service, so check with wherever you do your banking, and almost any retirement fund administrator (like Vanguard or American Funds) will be happy to send someone to meet with you and advise you. I was never prouder of my financial self-education than the one time I met with a guy from Vanguard who said, "Basically, keep doing what you're doing, this is a model portfolio."

Once I was investing in my retirement funds more confidently, I got the RobinHood app and started studying stocks, which is really just like, "find a stock and do a book report on it". Look at past earnings, who the CEO of the company is, what their board makeup is like, what they're doing in the news. And of course the most important advice: Never, ever invest money in the stock market that you aren't prepared to lose.

Aside from my stock adventures on RobinHood, which is about five hundred dollars that I turned into a thousand dollars over a couple of years, I have money in a few savings accounts. I don't have CDs or money market accounts or any of that, because I still don't have quite enough cash to make it worth it. I just parked some in a credit union that pays 6% interest on the first $1K you put in, and the rest in Betterment, which had a 2% interest rate when I started but now is down to .3% which is a bummer. But I haven't found another vehicle like Betterment which allows you equally easy access to your money while having as intuitive and modular an online interface.

So overall, aside from retirement (which is at $116K, which seems impressive until you remember you're supposed to retire with 25x your yearly salary in your 401K) I have a grand in the stock market, a grand in a 6%-interest savings account with a credit union, a grand in an emergency-only savings account attached to my checking, and roughly five grand with Betterment. It's a fairly conservative setup but I'd like never to be poor ever again, so I'm hedging carefully :D

Some great resources that I've used include:

Investopedia

Planet Money podcast by NPR and its sister podcast, The Indicator

The Financial page of the newspaper (I used to read NYT, now I read Tribune)

Rankandfiled.com, a free stock filings resource site that basically scrapes the SEC for financial data -- this is for if you really want to do a deep dive once you've got more experience

Good luck! It's a slog at first, but eventually it gets kinda fun :)

[bitch-for-bo]

His Destined Miracle (Asahi Azumane x Chubby Reader) (omegaverse)

POST timeskip

Asahi had been in love with you practically since the first time he saw you. He'd find himself taking walks around the office just to catch sight of your beautiful face and sunny, warm demeanor. He always wanted to approach you, but he'd never had the courage. All he could do was hope that he encountered a miracle. Going into a rut during a day that office was NOT a miracle to Asahi. In fact, it was one of his worst nightmares, but when you show up on his doorstep, looking like an angel from heaven, he realizes that miracles come in all different ways... and that you were his destined miracle.

ABSOLUTELY NO MINORS ALLOWED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“Hey Y/N can you run these copies to the boss’s office, I have to go to the bathroom or I think I might die!!” One of your over-dramatic coworkers asked as they practically threw a stack of papers at you. They were shifting back and forth, their knees knocked as they hopped around in a little bathroom ‘dance’

“Yeah, it’s no biggie.” You replied, giggling quietly to yourself as they hobbled/ran quickly towards the restrooms.

You looked down at the stack of papers in your hands, admiring the brilliant pieces of art on each page. The boss would be very happy with these. Of course, if he was unhappy with them, he wouldn’t tell anyone, the boss was the type who if he didn’t like what he saw, he would improve it and then deny all credit. Some in the office called him a pushover, but you thought that it was sweet that he did that.

You stood from your cubicle and began to walk to the bosses office, it was on the other side of the floor but you had already been planning on getting up to stretch your legs out soon anyway, so it had worked out.

You strolled through the office, not in any particular rush to get to the boss’s office. You greeted people that you passed, you knew everyone on your floor by name and you knew at least one fact about them, if they had pets or kids, what their hobbies were. You did this so that you’d never run into someone and not be able to ask them a question about their personal life, this ‘technique’ is what had made you so popular around the office, every time you would talk to someone, they would walk away with a smile on their face.

Your naturally sunny demeanor had always been your redeeming trait. When you were young, kids would mercilessly bully you. The names they would call you, ‘fatty’ or ‘ugly cow’ along with the treatment you received for being an omega was enough to tear a young you apart. You had started being overly nice to people to make up for all of your shortcomings, you found that if you were constantly sucking up to them and making them feel better about themselves, they wouldn’t hurt you.

Unfortunately, this had led to you not only being incredibly insecure with very low self-esteem, but also a doormat for people to walk all over. You were always doing people favors, getting them coffees, paying for their snacks at vending machines, even doing their work for them. Your friends would tell you to stick up for yourselves, they would even tell people off if they treated you poorly in front of them. They had begun to practically beg you to start saying no to people, but you didn’t mind being a bit of a push-over. After all, you still thought of yourself as a worthless, fat, omega cow that couldn’t do anything right and if you could be useful to someone, even if it meant staying an extra hour to file their paperwork for them, it was worth it.

You frowned at the memories as you walked, catching sight of yourself in the large windows that overlooked the beautiful city outside. You winced. Even though your friends were constantly telling you that you were beautiful inside and out, it was still hard to look at yourself in the mirror. All of the traumatic events of your childhood had really affected you. It was almost impossible for you to look at yourself and not despise the person you saw.

You arrived at the boss’s office, giving a light knock on the closed door.

“Come in please.” You heard the soft voice call from inside. You twisted the knob, opened the door, and entered the room, gasping at the sight before you.

Hundreds of designs were strewn across the floor, tacked to the walls, and pulled up on the computer monitor, and in the middle of it all sat a six-foot-two alpha who was currently smiling shyly up at you, his hand rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment of the mess.

“Hel-”

He stopped, his eyes wide as they stared at you. Clearly, you weren’t the person he’d been expecting. He stared at you for a solid five seconds, saying nothing as his eyes were frozen on you, making you feel extremely self-conscious and a little hot under the collar.

You cleared your throat, snapping him out of his daze.

“Excuse me.” You said. As soon as you’d spoken the boss had got up onto his knees and looked around as if wondering how he would get to you without ruining his designs.

“Sorry about the mess.” He mumbled, a large blush blooming on his cheeks as he scrambled up and towards you, trying (and failing) to avoid stepping on the designs.

“Please! Don’t apologize!” You stumbled, matching his anxious energy as your face adopted a blush of its own. “I just came to give these to you!” You squeaked, your arms holding out the designs as your gaze locked on the cluttered floor.

“Oh.” The large male said gently, his shoulders relaxing. “Thank you.” He said, more confidently this time. He’d noticed that you were emitting a strongly anxious scent, and something about it must’ve scared him and made him think that he was scaring you.

“Your welcome.” You practically whispered, your eyes not daring to meet his, “Have a good day.” You rushed out before rushed back out of the room, letting the door almost slam behind you.

‘Dammit!’ you thought, mentally slapping yourself. You couldn’t believe you’d made such a fool out of yourself. You just couldn’t help it, the boss was super intimidating. Plus he was an alpha.

Being an alpha meant that, since you were an omega, you had a natural urge to submit to him, it also meant that he was incredibly intimidating, borderline scary.

Usually, it didn’t matter that you were an omega. You took scent and heat suppressants to control your natural omega tendencies. The suppressors made it to where no wolf could smell you and you couldn’t smell any wolf. People could smell the basics on you, fear, happiness, sadness, they just couldn’t smell your natural scent, the scent that gave you away as an omega. The suppressants also kept you from smelling other wolves and ‘losing control’ of your own scent as a reaction. This all meant that even if you encountered betas and alphas in your daily activities, they wouldn’t know you were an omega and you wouldn’t be able to smell their natural scents either.

The only exception to this was when an alpha was in a rut, when they were rutting their noses were strengthened tenfold and they could sniff you out in an instant., but thankfully, society had progressed to the point that ruts were an excused absence from your job. Another time that the suppressants weren’t at their full potency was during your heat. Yes, it suppressed almost all of your scent, but depending on the strength of your heats, some would still leak out. Thankfully, heats were also excusable by employers. Luckily you’d never had to leave work for heat, you’d always been able to track it and take off plenty early so you could lock yourself in your apartment and suffer through it, and you’d also been lucky enough to never encounter a rutting alpha.

*******************

Asahi Azumane, aka the boss, was still standing in front of his closed door. He stared at the closed door, the designs he’d been given loosely clutched in his hands.

‘Dammit!’ he thought. He couldn't believe how he’d reacted. How embarrassing!

Ever since the newest member of the floor had begun working at the studio as a financial advisor, Asahi had been incredibly infatuated. Even though he’d never held a conversation with her due to his busy schedule, he never failed to notice the way she lit up the office. Everyone liked her and got along with her. Sometimes he’d overhear people talking about her, or sometimes he’d even overhear her talking to someone, she always seemed so warm and kind that Asahi couldn’t help but be a little jealous that he’d never received the honor of ever talking to her.

When she had been the one to open the door to his office, he’d been practically incapacitated. As soon as his eyes had hit her body he’d forgotten how to talk.

As a designer he couldn’t help but admire the classy style of her outfit, the warm red-orange turtleneck tucked into a pair of brown and tan flared slacks paired with black platform boots. It took all of his willpower not to pull out a pencil and sketch it for inspiration.

And as a man, he couldn’t help but admire how the outfit fit your body perfectly. The way that it hugged your form, complementing and accentuating the curves of your figure. It was enough to take his breath away and make the alpha in him roar with the need to claim and protect such a precious sight.

Unfortunately for Asahi, as soon as the encounter with the angel began, it ended. He was beating himself up for not saying something, for not inviting you to dinner, for only staring like a lovestruck loser.

‘She probably thinks I’m a total loser...or even worse a pervert!’ he thought glumly. He sulked back over to his designs, frustrated at himself for not being bold enough to call after the beautiful girl and ask for her number.

‘Then again,’ he thought, ‘Y/N is way too out of my league, she’d reject me in a heartbeat. Or even worse! She’d say yes out of pity!’

As he continued to work on his designs, the thought of the angel that had visited him was clouding his mind, making work impossible. He just couldn’t seem to forget the shape of her lips as she spoke or the way that the perfect outfit laid on her perfect body....her perfect hips….her perfect breasts.

“Fuck” he grunted quietly, shifting uncomfortably as he realized that he’d thought himself straight into having an erection.

‘I just couldn’t help it. She’s so beautiful.’ he thought.

He tried to struggle through his… problem, but it seemed that the more he tried to ignore it, the more it persisted. It was actually to the point that he was sitting in the middle of his office, red-faced and panting with a painfully obvious tent in his pants.

“What the fuck is happening?” He grunted, feeling his canines start to lengthen and his claws emerge. Could he be going into rut already? He wasn’t due for at least another week!

Was it seeing Y/N that made him go into rut early? How? Y/N wasn’t his mate….right? No. He would’ve known if she was his mate by her scent. He had no recollection of ever smelling her, was she on suppressants, was there a chance that she could be his mate?

‘Yep.’ Asahi thought as another wave of heat and desire burst through his body, ‘I’ve started my rut early…. I need to get out of here…. Need to go home.’

He practically crawled to his desk, grasping desperately for his phone so he could call the receptionist and ask her to remove all of the females on the floor from the building. The last thing that he needed or wanted was to set off any omega’s heat by accident.

“Hello, Mr. Azumane. Is everything alright?” The receptionist asked, surprised at the call seeing as Asahi rarely called, opting to physically walk to the desk and ask. He thought that it was more polite this way, plus it gave him a chance to catch a glimpse of Y/N at her desk.

“I need all of the women on the floor to temporarily evacuate, I’ve gone into a rut.”

The receptionist on the other end, that was used to dealing with Asahi’s over-anxious personality, just laughed.

“That’s incredibly unnecessary sir. I’m sure everything will be fine if you just leave out of the back stairs, you could even leave out of the fire escape if you’re that nervous.”

Asahi sighed and nodded. It was true that he’d be wasting everyone’s time if he asked for an evacuation. It wasn’t that big of a deal.

“Ok……” he said warily. “I’ll try.”

“Great!” The receptionist replied, “I’ll make sure to get someone to bring your work to your house tomorrow so you can continue to work from home.”

**********************

“Right here is good. Thank you.” You said, getting out of the cab and paying the driver. YOu glanced up at the tall apartment complex as the car drove away, leaving you to fend for yourself.

You thought back to what had happened not even an hour earlier. Yui at the front desk had asked you if you would be willing to take the boss some work. She said that he was sick at home and wanted to continue to work from there. Being the people pleaser that you are, you said that it was no problem and that was how you’d wound up standing in front of Asahi Azumane’s apartment complex with a thick file full of designs and a large container of soup.

You walked into the lobby before buzzing into Asahi’s apartment. Clearly, he’d been expecting someone to come with his work seeing as he buzzed you up almost immediately.

You entered and took the elevator to his floor, the floor third from the top. When the doors opened, you were met with a small entryway that led to a single door.

“A penthouse?” you mumbled to yourself. You couldn’t be super surprised, after all, he was the boss of your floor and probably made a very comfortable salary. Still, the building hadn’t looked small from the outside, and if Asahi had a whole floor to himself that meant that his flat was at least 4,000 square feet big. You knocked on the door.

It opened.

You automatically gasped.

The scent of sandalwood and rosemary hit you like a brick wall, forcing you to stagger back on your feet.

‘Oh, shit’ you thought, ‘they told me he was sick! Not that he was in a rut!’

You began to panic in the split second that the door had been opened. You wanted to run away, but seeing as Asahi was much stronger and faster than you, you knew that you wouldn’t stand a chance.

Maybe it wasn’t a strong enough rut to enable him to smell through your suppressants? No. There was no way it was a weak rut, not when Asahi was such a powerful alpha.

In your state of panic, you failed to notice two things. The first being the fact that your wolf was screaming something at you, and the second being the large alpha, looming over you in the doorway.

Asahi’s body was heaving with heavy breath. His claws were contracted and his canines were piercing through his bottom lip, causing the taste of blood to hit his tongue as he stared at the beautiful omega in the doorway to his apartment.

‘I didn’t know Y/N was an omega’

‘Why is she here?’

‘Can she smell that I’m in rut?’

Were all questions running through the alpha’s brain, but the most important thing running through his brain was the single word that his inner wolf was practically screaming at him.

Asahi looked down at you, causing a violent shiver to wreck through your spine. You whimpered, feeling yourself grow wet with desire. His lips curled back before letting out the most deafening growl ever. A growl so loud, you were confident that people down on the sidewalks had heard.

“Mine.”

As soon as the words came out of his mouth, you gasped and suddenly the voice of your inner wolf was crystal clear. ‘Mate!’ it was howling happily. Your eyes widened as the realization hit you like a ton of bricks. Asahi was your bond mate? YOUR BOSS WAS YOUR BOND MATE!

It made you want to faint out of surprise as well as anxiety. You considered if you could make a run for it, despite already knowing it was impossible. You were glancing at your surroundings when you finally remembered that Asahi, your mate, was still standing in front of you.

You looked at his tall frame in awe, your desire growing as you practically drooled over the sheer size of the alpha. He was huge, his broad shoulders, his built chest, and if you were to take a guess, you’d say that he was huge under the belt too.

You were so distracted ogling his body that you didn’t notice the way that his claws were digging into the flesh of his palms and how his canines had pierced his bottom lip hard enough to cause a small trickle of blood down his chin.

“Azumane! You gasped, setting the papers and soup on the floor in the hall before automatically stepping forward and grazing his hands with your own, careful to avoid the razor-sharp claws.

“No.” He grunted, trying to pull his hands out of your grasp. He feared if you stayed much longer he would do something out of his control, something unforgivable. “Please…..I don’t want to hurt you.”

You could see the pain and genuine fear in his eyes. You felt your heart fill with sadness and love at the same time. You couldn’t believe how much you’d been blessed. You had been given Azumane as a mate…. A man who was gentle and kind and was always so thoughtful of others. This was the man that you were destined to spend the rest of your life with.

Suddenly all of the fears and insecurities of not being good enough for people melted away from you. As your arms left Asahi’s hands to wrap gently around his neck, tears of happiness began to run down your face.

How could you have been so stupid? All of this time happiness and love had been right down the hall from you. You had deprived yourself of a partner to laugh with, to love, all because you felt inferior to others.

“You won’t hurt me.” You whispered, one of your hands nudging his face down closer to yours. “I trust you Azumane.”

Your lips were so close to his that you could feel his slightly labored breathing. His eyes were so close that you could seemingly see into his soul. You tried to tell him with your eyes just how hopelessly in love with him you already were.

Somehow, he must’ve felt it, because soon he was sighing into a soft kiss as one of his strong hands moved to hold your head as the other glided down your body to rest on your hip.

“Asahi….” he breathed, disconnecting your lips to look into your eyes.

“Huh?” you asked, slightly dazed from the passion of the short kiss.

“Call me Asahi, my love.” He said before once again joining your mouths in another heartfelt kiss, pulling your body flush against his own strong frame.

You moaned into the embrace, your arms wrapping tightly around his neck as he carefully swept you up off of the ground and began to carry you into his bedroom.

It all seemed like a whirlwind to you, but you couldn’t imagine it any other way. This was your soulmate…. Your other half.

Asahi’s body was alight with desire as well as he felt the effects of his rut in full force. He couldn’t believe how incredibly lucky he was to receive you as his mate. You…. the girl that he’d been admiring from afar, the one that, dare he say, he was already madly in love with. You couldn’t wait to spend eternity with you in his arms. When he held you, he felt like the strongest man in the world.

“Is this okay? I don’t want to force you. I’m in rut so I want you to be 100 percent sure that this is YOU wanting me, not your hormones.” Asahi whispered as he set you down on the edge of his bed.

There was no doubt in your mind that this was what you wanted. You didn’t care that he was in rut, you knew that the lust you were feeling barely had anything to do with your omega nature. You wanted him. You wanted him so bad that it made you want to cry.

“Asahi,” You whimpered, falling back onto his bed and staring up at him with a maddening blush on your cheeks. “I want you to claim me…”

“My love….” he growled before lunging back down at you, his lips attaching to your jaw with a renewed feverish manner.

“Asahi!” you gasped as his large hands roamed your body, his long fingers dancing across your hips that had been exposed as the blouse you were wearing was torn off of you, the buttons flying across the room.

He chuckled at your surprise before resuming his onslaught of love onto your body, his lips seeking out your breasts as his hands began to work at your slacks and then at his own clothes.

As soon as you were both fully nude, he leaned back, leaving reality to dawn on you as you realized that you weren’t actually fully over your insecurities. Your hands flew up to cover your face and stomach in embarrassment, you didn’t want Asahi to see you under such bright lights.

“I-I’m sorry I jus-” You whispered in shame, your eyes locking on a wall in his bedroom as you tried to explain.

“Let me see you.” He demanded, interrupting your pathetic stuttering with his strong hands clasping around your wrists and pulling them above your head. Your eyes closed tightly in humiliation.

Asahi’s eyes hungrily drank in your body. Every curve and arch was precious to him. He was practically drooling at how soft you felt under his hard body, how pliant you would be to his will.

“Beautiful,” he murmured to himself. Making your blush darken.

He brought his head down to your chest, his tongue piking out of his mouth and leaving a hot trail between your breasts. You moaned at the feeling of the appendage dancing its way down and across your stomach, down to your hips, until finally, Asahi’s head rested between your thighs.

His hands splayed out against the smooth flesh, admiring how soft they were in his grip. He could smell your arousal, turning him on that much more as he watched slick drip out of your hole and onto the meat of your upper thighs.

“One day.” He mumbled, half to himself and half for you to hear, “I will fuck these gorgeous thighs.” He said before swooping in and kissing the upper region of your legs. Biting and sucking dark spots into the sensitive skin.

“Asahi!” Was all you could manage to cry as his hands and mouth wreaked pleasurable havoc on your mind and body. You wanted him so badly. You could feel your cunt fluttering with need as slick dripped out of it, leaving a large damp spot on Asahi’s bedsheets.

“What do you want my love?” He asked, his eyes looking up from his position from in between your thighs to meet yours. You were suddenly overwhelmed at the sight of so much affection and adoration that laid in the dark brown pools.

“I want you Asahi….” you cried, panting as he quickly climbed up your body, lining himself up with you.

Both of you were hot and ready. The feeling and scent of desire clouding the room and leaving you both in a state of reckless lust. Nothing in that moment mattered but you and him.

Asahi connected your mouths once again as he pressed into you, his cock stretching your walls further than anyone had ever stretched them before. It felt so good…. so incredibly good.

“Asahi….” you gasped as he seated himself fully inside of you, the indescribable feeling of fullness making your body shake. “Please... Give me your cock.” A low growl ripped through his chest as his restraint finally snapped and his rut took over his mind and body. His hips began to snap in and out of your body at an almost lethal pace, leaving you writhing and gasping for air as you felt his primal instincts taking over.

“Yes!” you cried, your nails driving themselves across his upper back in a pathetic attempt to keep you rooted to this world. If the sheer size of his dick wasn’t enough to split you in two, it was the lightning-fast pace that his hips were thrusting into your body at, hitting all of the deepest areas of you, making you want to scream in pleasure.

As his cock drug in and out of you, rubbing against your walls so good that it took all of your breath away, you felt the tip of his cock but against your g-spot.

“Aah! Asahi!” You screamed, your walls clenching around him as stars painted your vision in pleasure. You couldn’t believe just how good he filled you up, how he reached every single place within you, drawing out the lewdest sounds, filling the rooms with your moans and cries as his cock pounded into you.

“You’re so beautiful” He gasped as you clenched around him, he was practically rapid with pleasure. He was slamming into you as his newfound goal in life was to please you, sucking on your neck as his hands roamed and gripped your body.

You could tell that since Asahi was in rut, his end was approaching much faster than it normally would and you would be lying if you said that you weren’t on the brink of orgasm as well. Apparently, Asahi had realized the same thing and was positioning himself to where he was hitting your sweet spot with every thrust, determined to make you fall apart first.

“Asahi!” You gasped, tears running down your face as your hands gripped his strong shoulders. “Asahi, I’m gonna come….”

“Yes, my love….” He grunted, picking up his pace impossibly more before bringing his fingers down to circle your clit. He could feel you getting closer and closer with the way that you sucked him back in with each thrust. “You take me so well.”

“Yes. Only you Asahi! You fuck me so good!” You babbled, your hips circling quickly in a sad attempt to keep up with the delicious feeling of his cock inside of you. You could feel the elastic of your orgasm pulling tight in your lower stomach. You knew that Asahi wouldn’t let himself come before you.

“Please….” you begged, teary eyes staring into Asahi’s lustful ones. “Please let me cum..”

“Yes my love.” he panted out, his thrusts becoming sloppier as he felt his own end rising. “Cum for me…” He said, his lips once again joining yours as your body was thrown off of the cliff into a sea of pleasure. You cried into his kiss, your body arching off of the bed as it shook with the overwhelming force of your orgasm. You swore that you temporarily went blind with the impact.

“I’m gonna come…..” Asahi breathed against your lips.

“Please…..come inside of me.” You begged, your legs wrapping around his hips and trapping his body against yours as his hips began to stutter and his cock burst inside of you, filling you with his hot seed.

“Fuuuuckkkk.” he groaned, pitching his head back as every fiber of his benign burned in the glory of his high. He continued to lazily thrust into you, bringing you both through your peaks.

As soon as you had been able to gain your breath again, he pulled you, leaving you incredibly empty. You whined at the loss.

“I need to take care of you.” He chuckled, climbing off of the bed to retrieve a towel from his bathroom to clean your body with. He kissed and massaged you as he gently wiped all of the cum mixed with slick off of your thighs, his face burning red at the lewd evidence of your lustful activities. You giggled as his docile, shy nature slowly returned, barely being able to make eye contact with you.

As soon as he was finished, he let you pull him back down onto the bed, despite both of you still being naked and sweaty. You closed your eyes, you knew that his rut would flare up again and you wanted to catch a quick nap before the second round.

Asahi just stared at your face as you drifted off to rest. You looked like an angel to him...so pure and beautiful. He knew then that he would always protect you, even if that meant laying down his own life. You were now his reason to live, you were his muse…..

You were his.

[master-john-uk]

Most small farms can not afford to hire enough reliable, and trustworthy staff. The owner (or tenant) is not confident enough to leave his, and his family's livelihood in the hands of others while he takes a well deserved break. Over the last three years, increased costs of fuel, fertilizer, energy and animal feed has added to this burden.

In 2007, against the advice of my business and financial advisors I bought a mainly arable farm in Dorset, which was in desperate need of renovation... for all the wrong reasons.

I did not have the knowledge (nor the time) to run the farm myself. I was very lucky to find Farmer Frank, who has now been managing the farm for me 21 years. Shortly afterwards we recruited two hard working, and hard drinking men who came from the Czech Republic. The three of them did an amazing job at running the farm for the next ten years, with occasional extra help.

In 2018 I made another bad business decision! I purchased the neighbouring dairy farm... again, against advice and for all the wrong reasons. Renovating the dairy cost me a fortune. When I bought the dairy farm it had 67 (mainly elderly) milk producing cows. (Today we have just over 400.)

But on the plus side, the dairy had a very large amount of unused land. This has enabled us to increase our other farming activity.

Where do we get our farm staff from now?

Our two loyal and hard working Czech men decided to return home in 2019.

General Manager Farmer Frank is still running both of our farm operations But, he is a year older than me and wants to take more time off. And he is!

My former Houseboy Tomas went to the farm in early March 2020... simply because he kept bleating that he wanted to help with lambing. He was then trapped on the farm when COVID travel restrictions were implemented. He did return to my Kent home for a short time when restrictions were lifted, but soon after he returned to the farm. (He enjoyed farm life.) "Operations Manager" Tomas now deputises for Farmer Frank, allowing Frank to have more time off. Houseboy Ops. Manager Tomas was a very nervous young man when I first met him... but now, he even uses rude words when he is talking to me! (I might have to cuff him around the ear!)

We also work closely with several universities, agricultural, and veterinary colleges. They supply us with a number of work experience, and gap-year students between October and June... but not during the busy harvest period (July to October.)

This year 2 of our three University trainees offered to help on the farm through the harvest season... so that could earn some extra money before returning to their studies. (Thank you to John and Caz, your help was appreciated.)

[rhys-ravenfeather]

...yeah, I’m not even going to do my usual ‘off now’ title tonight.

Today hasn’t been a good day.

To put it bluntly...I was laid off of work.

Long story short: due to issues with Barnes and Noble, and a lack of need, me and all the other workers on MBS’ afternoon/evening swing shift were cut due to the company having to make a lot of decisions, and ending up terminating all of us due to work reduction.

Hey, at least this one wasn’t my fault.

And at least I actually managed to last a whole two years at the place, instead of two months, like that one call center back in Belize...

To add insult to injury, this was the same day I missed my counseling appointment due to my counselor moving to a new location, and thanks to my phone being a million-year-old piece of garbage that shuts down if I so much as LOOK at it funny, I couldn’t even get an Uber to the new place. And goodness knows I could really use someone to talk to now...

I’m not even going to get into the conversation I had with my mom when I called/texted her for support...

Well, good news--my weekly meeting with my financial advisor is tomorrow. I’m definitely going to have to ask her a few questions about what to do going forward...

Not to mention contacting the counselor/clinic to apologize for missing my appointment.

On the plus side, at least I have an excuse to sleep in tomorrow morning...I’m probably going to need it...

Well yeah...here’s hoping the meeting with my advisor turns out successful results...

I’ll see you guys when I see you.