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Valentine’s Day is just a week away, and is one of the most popular holidays for consuming chocolates. But according to two notices from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), buyers of select M&M products are at risk of adverse health consequences due to undeclared allergens. Here’s what you need to know. What’s happened? On January 26, Beacon Promotions Inc initiated a voluntary recall of some of its M&M products. Beacon Promotions, based in Minnesota, sells third-party products featuring its clients’ logos and branding. Businesses use promotional product companies like Beacon to produce everything from tote bags to chocolate with their logos, which they then give out as freebies to employees or customers. One of the products Beacon offers is packages of candies, including M&M’s. It is some of these M&M products that Beacon produced that the company is now recalling. But according to two FDA enforcement reports, the M&M products aren’t being recalled because there is nothing abnormal about the candy itself. Instead, the promotional M&M products Beacon made that are included in the recalls did not have the required allergen warnings on the packages. The lack of these warnings means that people who are vulnerable to allergens, including milk, soy, and peanuts, may mistakenly believe that M&M candies are safe for them to eat. Class II recall may cause adverse health consequences The FDA’s enforcement reports for both recalls state that each recall is classified as a Class II recall. According to the agency, a Class II recall means the recalled product “may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.” What M&M products are included in the recalls? The two recalls cover more than 6,000 units of M&M products. The first recall covers 541 units of the following: Repackaged M&Ms Peanut candies, Net Wt 1.3 oz. Item BB471BG. Lot M1823200 Best By dates: 4/30/2026 Labeled as Make Your Mark. The second recall covers 5788 units of the following: Repackaged M&Ms candies, Net Wt 1.3 oz. Item BB458BG. Lot L450ARCLV03, Best By 12/1/2025 Lot L502FLHKP01, Best By 1/1/2026 Lot L523CMHKP01, Best By 6/30/2026 Lot L537GMHKP01, Best By 9/1/2026. Labeled with the following promotional company names. 1. Next Up, 2. Smith Pro, 3. Jaxport, Jacksonville Port Authority, 4. Climax Molybdenum, A Freeport-McMoRan Company, 5. University of Maryland, School of Public Policy, 6. Liberty University Environmental Health & Safety, 7. Subaru, 8. Trinity Cyb3r, 9. Candy Treats, 10. JSE, Jordan & Skala Engineers, 11. Dropbox DocSend, 12. PP, Prosperity Promotions, 13. Northwest Indian College Foundation, 14. FES Branding Solutions, 15. Berkshire Hathaway Guard Insurance Companies, 16. merry maids Annual 26 Conference, 17. BW, Best Western, 18. Morgan Stanley, 19. tufin, 20. Compliments of Pioneer, 21. A.D. Morgan, Construction Manager, Design Builder, General Contractor, 22. Adobe, 23. xfinity, 24. Fundermax Interiors, 25. White Cup, 26. Acadia Commercial, 27. Aviagen, 28. ORG Expo, 29. Make Your Mark. Where were the recalled products distributed? According to the FDA enforcement reports, the recalled M&M products were distributed in 20 states, including: Arizona California Florida lowa Kansas Kentucky Massachusetts Maryland Minnesota North Carolina New York Ohio Pennsylvania South Dakota Tennessee Texas Virginia Washington Wisconsin What should I do if I have the recalled M&Ms? The FDA enforcement notices do not give specific advice on what to do if you have the recalled M&M products. As a best practice, a prudent course of action is to ensure the recalled M&M products do not fall into the hands of anyone who could be harmed by consuming the improperly labeled products. View the full article

If you’re looking for a good reason to stop staring at screens this weekend, we’ve got you. This weekend, there’s an exciting astronomical event taking to the skies. The 2026 Planet Parade, an extraordinary event where six planets will be visible all at once, just for a moment, is coming. If you’re a seasoned skywatcher, you might remember that in 2025, there was a Planet Parade, too. Last February, seven planets, including Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, all lined up just after sunset. This year, only six planets—because Mars is taking a raincheck—will make an appearance. And, according to astronomers, the show will be just as quick as last year’s. What is a planet parade? As our planets orbit the sun, occasionally, they line up on the same side of the sun, making them visible to us at the same time. According to NASA, planet parades aren’t as rare as you might think. “Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are frequently seen in the night sky, but the addition of Venus and Mercury make four- and five-planet lineups particularly noteworthy,” the site explains. It continues, “Both orbit closer to the Sun than Earth, with smaller, faster orbits than the other planets. Venus is visible for only a couple of months at a time when it reaches its greatest separation from the Sun (called elongation), appearing just after sunset or before sunrise. Mercury, completing its orbit in just 88 days, is visible for only a couple of weeks (or even a few days) at a time just after sunset or just before sunrise.” How can I see the planet parade? If you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of six planets all at once, you’ll have to look up at the exact right moment and in the right direction. According to Star Walk, the best time to try will be around an hour after sunset on February 28. You’ll want to look West, toward the sunset. But even with the planets on the same side of the sun, you’ll need luck on your side to see them all at once, too. “Four of them (Jupiter, Saturn, Venus, and Mercury) will be easily visible to the naked eye,” the site explains. However, some planets will be tougher to spot. “For Uranus and Neptune, get a pair of binoculars or a small telescope.” Along with luck, you’ll need good weather, and little light pollution, which can impact your view, as well. And, according to Space.com, not only will you need an unobstructed view and binoculars, but you may also need “a healthy dose of imagination.” View the full article

Five years ago, a retired police officer spotted a 7-year-old girl walking alone in her New Jersey neighborhood. The stranger stopped her, questioned her about where she lived and whether she was alone, then called the police. When officers arrived, the girl gave them her address which was just a few blocks away. They walked her home and met her parents. But instead of leaving, the officer demanded ID. When the parents refused, arguing they’d done nothing wrong by letting their daughter go for a walk in the neighborhood, the officer called for backup and threatened to take their daughter into protective custody. The father tried to comfort his crying daughter. Police wrestled him to the ground, arrested him for obstructing justice, and took him to jail in handcuffs. He was later found guilty and fined $133. We Americans talk big about freedom, but when a child is learning to be independent, the cultural reaction today is to think something is terribly wrong. Way back in the olden days, if a stranger walked up to a child asking questions like “Where do you live?” and “Are you alone?” the stranger was considered suspicious. Countless PSAs were made about this stuff. But now, a stranger asks those questions, follows the child home, gets the child’s dad arrested, and is considered a hero. Freedom to move What does this have to do with urbanism? Well, it seems pointless to design streets for all ages if all ages aren’t allowed to freely move around. In the 80s, when my sister and I got home from school, we’d have a snack, change clothes, and go play. If it wasn’t pouring rain, a significant amount of playtime was outside—not because we felt some bond to nature, but because that’s just what you did. Also, mom was teaching piano lessons in the living room, so being loud in the house wasn’t an option. We lived in a suburban neighborhood developed in the 1960s and 70s. Everything was within a 10-minute bike ride: playgrounds, soccer fields, the pool, the library, everybody else’s house, and the woods. (The woods is what we called any bigger-than-your-yard area of trees—it had creeks, “secret” passageways to other streets, mysterious remains of tree forts, and places to hang out away from grown-ups.) By 3:30pm on any given weekday, we (and kids across America) were knocking on doors asking: “Can you come out and play?” or “You wanna ride bikes?” We’d shoot hoops until our arms got tired. We’d use saws, hammers, ropes, chains, and other found tools to make stuff. A few of us once made what in hindsight I’d call a cargo bike train. Multiple injuries followed. Walking everywhere My point about these neighborhood adventures isn’t that we became one with nature or longed for healthy exercise. The big difference between then and now is the getting from here to there. We were walking or biking everywhere. Parents were either at work or home doing parent things. No kid in their right mind was asking for a ride to the playground. You got yourself there. If you didn’t have a similar childhood, I’m sure someone close to you did. We Gen Xers love sharing the glory days of when we could be left to our own devices. I think one reason my generation is so nostalgic is that our ordinary youth seems otherworldly by today’s standards. Good urbanism isn’t any good if you’re not allowed to walk or bike. Besides the infrastructure itself, neighbors and cops now interfere with healthy childhood development. There’s a case to be made that a safe place to grow up allows for risky childhood behavior. I use “risk” loosely because expectations for child development have changed dramatically in our culture. Childhood independence Town councilman Keith Kaplan witnessed the New Jersey incident and was outraged. He drafted a Reasonable Childhood Independence bill stating that letting kids walk or play outside isn’t negligence unless they’re in obvious, serious, and likely danger. The bill passed and became law in 2025, making the New Jersey town a place where kids can be kids and parents can breathe a little easier. That bonkers story about the police investigating an independent child isn’t an outlier. So many parents are threatened with legal action that groups like Let Grow have been established to help restore freedom of mobility for people of all ages. Town planners and urbanists talk about designing streets and public spaces to work for everyone, from children to elderly people, from wheelchair users to marathon runners. The idea is that if your infrastructure isn’t safe and comfortable for an 8-year-old and an 80-year-old, it’s not good design. But that’s a futile exercise if the cultural norm is to be suspicious of independent children. Personal stories are powerful tools to help convert policy jargon into infrastructure practice. It’s important to talk and write about your own experiences and what you’re hearing from others. Watch for stories that might have a headline about parenting or education but have deeper roots in land use or transportation policy. Walk-friendly, bike-friendly neighborhoods are incredibly important for human flourishing. But they’re also only as good as the local authorities allow them to be. Legalize good urbanism and legalize healthy childhood development. View the full article

Google has just revamped its Search functionality, introducing powerful new features aimed at enhancing how users engage with the platform. The tech giant now offers Gemini 3 as the default model for AI Overviews, enabling users to pose complex questions and receive thorough, insightful responses directly on the results page. This shift to a more conversational AI approach promises to reshape how small businesses leverage Google Search for important information. For busy small business owners, the implications of these updates are significant. With Gemini 3, you can expect a best-in-class AI response aligned with your inquiries, no matter how intricate. Whether you’re seeking market research, industry trends, or even specifics about competitors, the advanced AI can provide quick snapshots of essential data. This tool becomes increasingly valuable as small businesses often need to make critical decisions based on timely information. The seamless transition to a conversational mode further enhances the utility of the search experience. Business owners can now engage in meaningful dialogues with the AI, allowing for follow-up questions that keep the conversation contextually relevant. For instance, if you inquire about social media marketing strategies, you can immediately follow up with a question regarding best platforms for engagement without shifting gears. This fluidity reduces the time spent searching for insights, allowing entrepreneurs to focus on strategic tasks. “The ability to ask whatever’s on your mind — no matter how long or complex — delivers exactly what users need,” said a Google spokesperson. “We’ve found that users prefer an AI that flows naturally into a conversation.” This user-focused enhancement emphasizes the importance of an intuitive search experience, a feature that small business owners can certainly benefit from. While the advantages of Gemini 3 and AI Mode are compelling, there are potential challenges that small business owners should consider. The enhanced capability of AI in Search raises the bar for content. Businesses may find they need to produce high-quality, relevant content to ensure they stand out in search results. As the AI becomes better at understanding intricate queries, your online presence must also evolve to match the growing standards of search performance. Furthermore, relying on AI for insights can create over-dependence on technology. While AI provides valuable information, it lacks the nuanced understanding that human insight offers. Small business owners must balance the use of AI tools with their expertise and experience to make the most informed decisions. Despite these challenges, the practical applications of Gemini 3 in business operations are expansive. For example, if you are a restaurant owner, you could leverage the AI to find trends in local dining preferences or inquire about effective marketing strategies during peak seasons. Similarly, a retailer can explore consumer behavior analysis by simply asking the right questions within the search bar. As small business owners navigate their daily responsibilities, the ease of access to comprehensive information can lead to better decision-making and strategic improvements. The integration of AI into everyday searches allows for a more dynamic and responsive approach to gathering the data that matters most. In a world where time is often scarce, the enhanced capabilities provided by Google’s latest AI advancements serve as a reminder that technology can significantly streamline processes. By tapping into these new features, small business owners can harness the power of AI to foster growth and remain competitive in an ever-evolving marketplace. For those interested in learning more about these changes, the original details can be found on Google’s blog here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Google Enhances Search with Seamless AI Conversations and Insights" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Google has just revamped its Search functionality, introducing powerful new features aimed at enhancing how users engage with the platform. The tech giant now offers Gemini 3 as the default model for AI Overviews, enabling users to pose complex questions and receive thorough, insightful responses directly on the results page. This shift to a more conversational AI approach promises to reshape how small businesses leverage Google Search for important information. For busy small business owners, the implications of these updates are significant. With Gemini 3, you can expect a best-in-class AI response aligned with your inquiries, no matter how intricate. Whether you’re seeking market research, industry trends, or even specifics about competitors, the advanced AI can provide quick snapshots of essential data. This tool becomes increasingly valuable as small businesses often need to make critical decisions based on timely information. The seamless transition to a conversational mode further enhances the utility of the search experience. Business owners can now engage in meaningful dialogues with the AI, allowing for follow-up questions that keep the conversation contextually relevant. For instance, if you inquire about social media marketing strategies, you can immediately follow up with a question regarding best platforms for engagement without shifting gears. This fluidity reduces the time spent searching for insights, allowing entrepreneurs to focus on strategic tasks. “The ability to ask whatever’s on your mind — no matter how long or complex — delivers exactly what users need,” said a Google spokesperson. “We’ve found that users prefer an AI that flows naturally into a conversation.” This user-focused enhancement emphasizes the importance of an intuitive search experience, a feature that small business owners can certainly benefit from. While the advantages of Gemini 3 and AI Mode are compelling, there are potential challenges that small business owners should consider. The enhanced capability of AI in Search raises the bar for content. Businesses may find they need to produce high-quality, relevant content to ensure they stand out in search results. As the AI becomes better at understanding intricate queries, your online presence must also evolve to match the growing standards of search performance. Furthermore, relying on AI for insights can create over-dependence on technology. While AI provides valuable information, it lacks the nuanced understanding that human insight offers. Small business owners must balance the use of AI tools with their expertise and experience to make the most informed decisions. Despite these challenges, the practical applications of Gemini 3 in business operations are expansive. For example, if you are a restaurant owner, you could leverage the AI to find trends in local dining preferences or inquire about effective marketing strategies during peak seasons. Similarly, a retailer can explore consumer behavior analysis by simply asking the right questions within the search bar. As small business owners navigate their daily responsibilities, the ease of access to comprehensive information can lead to better decision-making and strategic improvements. The integration of AI into everyday searches allows for a more dynamic and responsive approach to gathering the data that matters most. In a world where time is often scarce, the enhanced capabilities provided by Google’s latest AI advancements serve as a reminder that technology can significantly streamline processes. By tapping into these new features, small business owners can harness the power of AI to foster growth and remain competitive in an ever-evolving marketplace. For those interested in learning more about these changes, the original details can be found on Google’s blog here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Google Enhances Search with Seamless AI Conversations and Insights" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Looking back on the first year of his second term, President Donald The President boasts that he has resurrected the American economy by imposing big import taxes on foreign products. He made his case in a recent opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal, chiding the paper and critics, including mainstream economists, who predicted that tariffs would backfire, raising prices and threatening growth. “Instead,” he wrote, “they have created an American economic miracle.” But the proof he offers is often off-base or wrong altogether. Here’s a look at the facts around The President’s assessment of tariffs. CLAIM: “Just over one year ago, we were a ‘DEAD’ country. Now, we are the ‘HOTTEST” country anywhere in the world!’ “ THE FACTS: This is a standard statement from The President. But the U.S. economy was hardly “dead” when The President returned to office last year. And in The President’s second term, it’s performed strongly — after getting off to a bumpy start. In 2024, the last year of the Biden presidency, American gross domestic product grew 2.8%, adjusted for inflation, faster than any wealthy country in the world except Spain. It also expanded at a healthy rate from 2021 through 2023. The numbers for all of 2025 aren’t out yet. But during the first three quarters of the year, The President’s tariffs — or the threat of them — delivered mixed results for the American economy. From January to March, U.S. GDP actually shrank for the first time in three years. The main culprit was easy to identify: a surge in imports, which are subtracted from GDP, as American companies rushed to buy foreign products before The President could impose tariffs on them. But growth rebounded in the second half of the year. From April through June, the economy expanded at a healthy 3.8% pace. And from July through September, it grew even faster — 4.4%. A big part of the surge was a drop in imports, likely reflecting The President’s tariffs as well as the fact that importers had already stocked up at the start of the year. Strong consumer spending also drove economic growth. The President also likes point to solid gains in the U.S. stock market. He noted that stocks hit new highs 52 times in 2025. It’s true that the American stock market did well last year. But it underperformed many foreign stock markets. The benchmark S&P 500 index climbed 17% — a nice gain but short of a 71% surge in South Korea, 29% in Hong Kong, 26% in Japan, 22% in Germany and 21% in the United Kingdom. CLAIM: “Annual core inflation for the past three months has dropped to just 1.4% — far lower than almost anyone, other than me, had predicted.” THE FACTS: The president is using cherry-picked data to vastly exaggerate where inflation stands. His figure for annual inflation in the past three months — which excludes the volatile food and energy prices — is low, but reflects data distorted by the government shutdown in October and November, which disrupted the government’s data collection and forced the agency that compiles the figures to plug in rough estimates in some categories that artificially lowered overall inflation. Annual core inflation for the final six months of 2025 is higher at 2.6%. That is down from January 2025’s level but about where it was in October 2024. Overall, inflation has leveled off this year, and was 3% in September before the government shutdown, the same as it had been in January 2025. It’s true that inflation hasn’t been as high as many economists worried it would be when The President started rolling out tariffs last spring, but that is partly because many of the “Liberation Day” tariffs were withdrawn, reduced or riddled with exemptions. When Democrats won some high-profile elections last year by highlighting “affordability” concerns, the administration rolled back existing or planned tariffs on coffee, beef and kitchen cabinets, for example, a backhanded acknowledgment that the duties were raising prices. The impact of tariffs can be more clearly seen in core goods prices, which also exclude food and energy. Before the pandemic, core goods costs typically barely rose — or even fell — each year, but last December they were 1.4% higher than a year earlier. That was the largest increase, outside the pandemic, since 2011. Alberto Cavallo, an economist at Harvard and the author of a study on the impact of tariffs cited by The President in his op-ed, has found that The President’s tariffs have boosted overall inflation by roughly three-quarters of a percentage point. _ CLAIM: “The data shows that the burden, or ‘incidence,’ of the tariffs has fallen overwhelmingly on foreign producers and middlemen, including large corporations that are not from the U.S. According to a recent study by the Harvard Business School, these groups are paying at least 80% of tariff costs.” THE FACTS: The study The President cited appears to conclude the opposite of what The President claimed. Authored by Cavallo and two colleagues, it finds that “U.S. consumers were bearing roughly 43% of the tariff-induced border cost after seven months, with the remainder absorbed mostly by U.S. firms.” Cavallo said by email that import prices hadn’t fallen much, “which suggests foreign exporters did not reduce their pre-tariff prices enough to shoulder a large share of the burden.” CLAIM: “We have slashed our monthly trade deficit by an astonishing 77%.” THE FACTS: This claim involves more cherry-picking, reflecting the percentage drop from a very high trade deficit in January 2025, when the president took office, to a super-low deficit in October. The story is more complicated than the president makes it. The trade deficit — the gap between what the U.S. sells other countries and what it buys from them — has actually risen since he returned to the White House. From January through November in 2025, the U.S. accumulated a trade deficit of nearly $840 billion, up 4% from the same period of 2024. In the first three months of 2025, importers rushed to buy foreign products — before The President could slap tariffs on them. After that, monthly trade deficits came in consistently lower than they were in 2024. But the January-March import surge was so big that the 2025 year-to-date trade deficit still exceeds 2024’s. CLAIM: “I have successfully wielded the tariff tool to secure colossal Investments in America, like no other country has ever seen before. … In less than one year, we have secured commitments for more than $18 trillion, a number that is unfathomable to many.” THE FACTS: The President did, in fact, use the tariff threat to pry investment commitments from America’s major trading partners. The European Union, for instance, pledged $600 billion over four years. But The President hasn’t said how he came up with $18 trillion. The White House has published a figure of $9.6 trillion, which includes private and public investment commitments from other countries. Researchers at the Peterson Institute for International Economics last month calculated the investment pledges at $5 trillion from the EU, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and the Persian Gulf states of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. And they raised doubts about whether the money will actually materialize, partly because the agreements are vague and sometimes because the countries would strain to afford the commitments. But all the numbers are huge nonetheless. Total private investment in the United States was most recently running at a $5.4 trillion annual pace. In 2024, the last year for which figures are available, total foreign direct investment in the United States amounted to $151 billion. Direct investment includes money sunk into such things as factories and offices but not financial investments like stocks and bonds. Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck. —Paul Wiseman and Christopher Rugaber, AP Economics Writers View the full article

PLUS: Behavioral finance vs. behavioral coaching. By Rory Henry The Holistic Guide to Wealth Management Go PRO for members-only access to more Rory Henry. View the full article

PLUS: Behavioral finance vs. behavioral coaching. By Rory Henry The Holistic Guide to Wealth Management Go PRO for members-only access to more Rory Henry. View the full article

Cellphones are everywhere—including, until recently, in schools. Since 2023, 29 states, including New York, Vermont, Florida, and Texas, have passed laws that require K-12 public schools to enforce bans or strict limits on students using their cellphones on campus. Another 10 states have passed other measures that require local school districts to take some kind of action on cellphone usage. Approximately 77% of public schools now forbid students from having their phones out during class—an increase from the 66% of schools that forbade students from using phones at school in 2015. Schools across the country are finding different ways to enforce no-phone policies. Some schools have students lock their phones in pouches that only open at the end of the day. Others use simple classroom bins or lockers. Some research shows that spending a lot of time looking at phones instead of people’s faces can make it harder for children and teenagers to get the basic human skills they need for developing and maintaining friendships and other relationships. As a scholar of educational leadership, I believe that school is about more than just classes—it’s where young people learn how to get along with others. When phones are put away, students actually start looking at each other and talking again. School hallways and the lunchroom turn into spaces where students learn to resolve conflicts face-to-face and make human connections. Putting phones away in Ohio Ohio is an example of a state that has clamped down on students’ cellphone usage over the past 18 months. In May 2024, Ohio went from suggesting some cellphone guidelines for different schools to adopt to requiring that all public districts limit students’ phone use during class. School districts could choose to allow phones at lunch or between classes. Many schools began using lockable pouches, plastic bins, or lockers to keep phones out of sight. They still needed to allow some students to have phones for medical reasons, like monitoring blood sugar on an app. Ohio then adopted an even stricter cellphone use policy in 2025. This new law required all Ohio public school boards to adopt policies by Jan. 1, 2026, that prohibit phone use during the entire school day, including lunch and the time between classes. A needed break In the fall of 2025, I surveyed 13 Ohio public school principals from rural, urban, and suburban districts. Principals reported that the partial phone bans increased students’ social interactions and reduced peer conflicts: 62% of principals described more verbal, face-to-face socializing during recess, at lunch time, and between classes. 68% noted that students can stay on one task for more than 20 minutes without seeking a quick digital break. 72% observed a shift from heads-down scrolling to active conversation in common areas such as the cafeteria. 61% reported fewer online social conflicts spilling over into the classroom. A tension for students In late January 2026, I also surveyed and spoke with 18 Ohio high school students about the new phone bans in place at their schools as part of research that has not yet been published. Their responses revealed a complex tension between understanding the need for the phone ban and feeling a significant loss of personal safety and autonomy. A few students said they felt safe knowing a phone in the main office is available for emergencies. Some students said they felt anxious about not being reachable if there is an emergency—like if a relative were in an accident, or if the younger siblings they care for required their help. Finally, 13 out of 18 students argued that they should be learning the self-discipline required to balance technology with focus. Students said that phone bans made them feel as though they were children who could not make responsible decisions—rather than young adults preparing for professional environments. Some students also said that not having their phones made it impossible to fill out college and scholarship applications during the school day, since many application systems require multifactor authentication and require phones to log in. Lessons from Ohio Rules are more likely to be respected when students feel they have a voice in the boundaries that affect their daily lives. I think that school leaders could address students’ safety and security concerns in different ways, including by establishing a dedicated family emergency hotline that people can call. Principals could designate supervised areas where more senior high school students can briefly use their phones for multifactor authentication. School leaders could also offer a specific time window for students to check messages on their phones, or an easy way for the school’s main office to deliver them messages from family. While these insights from Ohio students and principals offer a helpful starting point, they are just one part of a much larger conversation. More research is needed to see how these bans affect different types of schools and communities across multiple states. Because every district is different, what works in one town might cause unexpected challenges in another. By continuing to study these effects and listening to everyone involved, especially the students, researchers like myself can figure out how to keep classrooms focused and students interacting without making students feel less safe or less prepared for the adult world. Corinne Brion is an associate professor in educational administration at the University of Dayton. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. View the full article

They have to work in harmony. By Jody Grunden Building the Virtual CFO Firm in the Cloud Go PRO for members-only access to more Jody Grunden. View the full article

They have to work in harmony. By Jody Grunden Building the Virtual CFO Firm in the Cloud Go PRO for members-only access to more Jody Grunden. View the full article

Big Four accounting rival PwC will now audit oil major from 2027View the full article

When exploring short-term loans, it’s vital to comprehend several key terms that can greatly impact your financial decisions. Grasping the principal, which is the amount you borrow, and the loan term, which indicates how long you have to repay, is fundamental. Furthermore, the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) reflects the total cost of borrowing, including interest and fees. Familiarizing yourself with these concepts not merely aids in making informed choices but likewise prepares you for what comes next in the borrowing process. Key Takeaways Principal: The original amount borrowed, which must be repaid and directly affects total interest costs over the loan term. Loan Term: The duration for repayment, typically ranging from a few weeks to one year, influencing monthly payment amounts. Annual Percentage Rate (APR): The total cost of borrowing, including interest and fees, essential for comparing loan offers and avoiding high-cost loans. Unsecured vs. Secured Loans: Unsecured loans rely on creditworthiness, while secured loans require collateral, affecting interest rates and loan approval chances. Hard Inquiry: A credit check conducted by lenders during loan applications that can impact credit scores and indicates higher risk with multiple checks. Annual Percentage Rate (APR) When you’re considering a short-term loan, comprehension of the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is critical, as it represents the total cost of borrowing. The APR includes the interest rate along with any additional fees, making it a significant factor in your decision-making process. For short-term loans, APRs can be alarmingly high, sometimes exceeding 400% for payday loans. This highlights the importance of scrutinizing the overall costs before committing. Understanding APR allows you to effectively compare different loan offers, ensuring you find the best short-term loan for people in debt settlement programs. By reviewing the APR alongside the short-term loan terms, you can grasp the full financial commitment involved in repayment. This knowledge is fundamental in avoiding predatory lending practices, which often accompany high APRs that can lead to further financial distress. Always prioritize clarity on APR to make informed borrowing choices. Loan Term Comprehending the loan term is vital for anyone considering a short-term loan, as it dictates how long you have to repay the borrowed amount. Typically, short-term loans have repayment periods ranging from a few weeks to one year, with most terms falling under twelve months. Commonly, you’ll find that these loans require repayment within six to eighteen months. A shorter loan term reduces the lender’s risk, which often means easier qualification and quicker access to funds for you. Nevertheless, be aware that shorter repayment periods can lead to higher monthly payments, increasing the risk of falling into debt if not managed properly. It’s important to understand how the loan term directly impacts the total interest paid and the overall cost of the loan. By grasping these details, you can make informed decisions that align with your financial situation and repayment capabilities. Collateral Collateral serves as a safety net for lenders, providing them with a tangible asset that can be reclaimed if you default on your loan. When you pledge an asset, like a vehicle for an auto title loan or personal items for a pawn loan, it reduces the lender’s risk and can influence the loan amount you receive. Typically, you can secure 25-50% of your collateral’s market value. Additionally, collateralized loans often come with lower interest rates compared to unsecured loans, making them an attractive option. Nevertheless, it’s vital to understand the risks involved. If you fail to repay a secured loan, you could lose the collateral. Collateral Type Loan Impact Vehicle (Auto Title) Lower interest rates Jewelry or Electronics Quick cash access Real Estate Larger loan amounts Stocks or Bonds Flexible repayment terms Principal The principal amount is the foundation of any loan, representing the original sum borrowed without interest or additional fees. In short-term loans, you’ll typically see principal amounts ranging from $100 to $2,000, depending on your qualifications and the lender’s policies. Repaying this principal reduces your loan balance, which can notably lower the total interest you’ll pay over time. This is vital for managing your finances effectively. Remember, the principal is the key figure for interest calculations, so comprehending it helps you gauge the overall cost of borrowing. By knowing your principal amount, you can better assess your repayment capacity and plan your budget accordingly. This knowledge as well helps you avoid falling into a cycle of debt, as you’ll be more aware of the impact of your borrowing decisions. In the end, grasping the importance of the principal is fundamental for making informed choices regarding short-term loans. Hard Inquiry vs. Soft Inquiry When you’re applying for a loan, it’s essential to understand the difference between hard and soft inquiries on your credit report. A hard inquiry happens when a lender checks your credit as part of the application process, which can lower your credit score for up to two years. Conversely, a soft inquiry occurs during self-checks or pre-screening for credit offers and won’t impact your score, making it important to know how each can affect your overall credit health. Impact on Credit Score Grasping the impact of credit inquiries is essential for anyone considering a short-term loan, as both hard and soft inquiries can greatly influence your credit score. A hard inquiry occurs when a lender checks your credit report during the loan application process. This can temporarily lower your score by a few points and stays on your report for up to two years. Conversely, a soft inquiry doesn’t affect your score and happens during self-checks or informal background checks. Multiple hard inquiries in a short time can signal higher risk to lenders, possibly leading to higher interest rates or loan denials. Comprehending these differences can help you minimize hard inquiries and maintain a stronger credit score as you explore loan options. Application Process Differences Comprehending the differences between hard and soft inquiries is crucial for anyone maneuvering through the application process for short-term loans. Here’s what you should know: Hard Inquiries: These occur when a lender reviews your credit report during the loan application process, potentially lowering your credit score temporarily. Soft Inquiries: These don’t affect your credit score and can happen when you check your own credit or when a lender does a background check without an offer. Lender Preferences: Most lenders conduct hard inquiries for short-term loans, especially for larger amounts. Risk Perception: Multiple hard inquiries in a short time can make you seem like a higher risk to lenders. Consider prequalification processes that use soft inquiries to compare loan options without impacting your credit. Credit Score Your credit score plays an essential role in determining your eligibility for short-term loans and the terms you’ll receive. It reflects your creditworthiness, influenced by factors like payment history and amounts owed. Importance of Credit Scores Grasping the importance of credit scores is essential when seeking a short-term loan, as these scores greatly impact your borrowing options. Your credit score, a numerical representation of your creditworthiness, typically ranges from 300 to 850, and higher scores indicate lower risk to lenders. Here are four key points about credit scores: Many lenders require a minimum credit score of around 580 for short-term loans. Higher credit scores often lead to better interest rates and loan terms. A poor score can restrict your borrowing options and increase costs. Regularly monitoring your credit report for inaccuracies can help improve your score, potentially leading to more favorable loan offers. Recognizing these factors can empower you to make informed financial decisions. Factors Affecting Scores Grasping the factors that affect your credit score is crucial for managing your financial health. Your score hinges on five main components: Factor Percentage Contribution Payment History 35% Amounts Owed 30% Length of Credit History 15% New Credit 10% Types of Credit Used 10% A single missed payment can lower your score by up to 100 points, impacting your borrowing options and interest rates. Keeping your credit utilization below 30% is important. Furthermore, opening multiple new accounts in a short time can lead to hard inquiries, negatively affecting your score. Finally, a diverse mix of credit types can demonstrate responsible management and positively influence your score. Improving Your Score Improving your credit score is achievable through strategic financial practices. Here are some key steps you can take to boost your score effectively: Check Your Credit Report: Regularly review your credit report for errors and dispute any inaccuracies to avoid negative impacts. Manage Your Credit Utilization: Keep your credit utilization ratio below 30% of your available credit to show responsible management. Pay On Time: Guarantee timely payments for bills and debts, as this accounts for about 35% of your credit score. Diversify Your Credit: Maintain a mix of installment loans and revolving credit to demonstrate your ability to manage various credit types. Implementing these practices can help you build a stronger credit profile over time. Credit Report When you’re considering a short-term loan, grasping your credit report is essential, as it plays a significant role in determining your eligibility for borrowing. Your credit report is a detailed record compiled by credit bureaus like Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. It includes information on your credit accounts, payment history, outstanding debts, and any public records such as bankruptcies or liens. Lenders use this report to assess your creditworthiness when you apply for loans. You’re entitled to one free credit report annually from each major bureau, which lets you monitor your credit standing. It’s important to review your report regularly, as inaccuracies can negatively impact your chances of loan approval and lead to higher interest rates. If you find any errors, make sure to dispute them quickly to maintain your credit health and improve your borrowing options. Grasping your credit report helps you make informed financial decisions. Unsecured Loans vs. Secured Loans When considering loans, it’s important to understand the difference between unsecured and secured options. Unsecured loans don’t require collateral, so lenders base their decision on your creditworthiness, whereas secured loans need an asset, like a car or house, to back the loan. This distinction affects everything from interest rates to repayment terms, making it essential for you to choose wisely based on your financial situation. Definition of Unsecured Loans Unsecured loans represent a financial option that doesn’t require you to put up collateral, such as a home or car, to receive funding. Instead, lenders base eligibility mainly on your credit history, income, and existing debt levels. Here are some key points about unsecured loans: They include common types like personal loans, credit cards, and student loans. Interest rates are typically higher compared to secured loans because of the absence of collateral. Fixed repayment terms and monthly payments help you manage your debt more predictably. Good credit can improve your chances of approval and better interest rates. Understanding these factors can assist you in making informed borrowing decisions customized to your financial situation. Definition of Secured Loans Secured loans offer a different approach to borrowing compared to unsecured loans. With secured loans, you must provide collateral—like property or vehicles—that the lender can seize if you default. This collateral reduces the lender’s risk, often resulting in lower interest rates than those for unsecured loans. If you have a poor credit score, you might find it easier to qualify for a secured loan since the collateral offsets some of the risk. Common examples of secured loans include mortgages and auto loans. Conversely, unsecured loans, such as personal loans and credit cards, don’t require collateral and rely solely on your creditworthiness, income, and financial history for approval, usually demanding higher credit scores. Loan Amortization Loan amortization is a systematic method of repaying a loan through regular monthly payments that address both the principal and interest over a defined period. Comprehending this process is vital for effectively managing your finances. Here are some key points to take into account: Each payment decreases your principal balance, lowering future interest charges. Amortization schedules show how much of each payment goes toward interest and principal, helping you track your progress. Short-term loans may not follow traditional amortization, often requiring lump-sum payments or having shorter terms, complicating the process. Evaluating the total cost of borrowing is fundamental to avoid falling into a debt cycle. Being aware of loan amortization allows you to make informed decisions about your borrowing and guarantees you can meet your repayment obligations without undue financial strain. Loan Origination Fee When considering a loan, it’s vital to understand the costs involved, and a key element is the loan origination fee. This fee is an upfront charge that lenders impose for processing your loan application, typically ranging from 0.5% to 8% of the total loan amount. It compensates the lender for tasks like evaluating your creditworthiness and preparing necessary documents. Different lenders may charge varying origination fees, which can depend on your credit profile and the loan type. It’s important to compare these fees across lenders since a lower interest rate might be offset by a higher origination fee, impacting your overall loan cost. Some lenders may even offer loans with no origination fees, but be cautious; these options may come with higher interest rates or less favorable terms. Always review and understand these costs before making a decision. Prepayment Penalty Although many borrowers focus on interest rates and monthly payments, comprehending prepayment penalties is equally important. A prepayment penalty is a fee lenders charge if you pay off your loan early, protecting their expected interest income. Here are some key points to reflect on: Loan Agreements: Not all loans have prepayment penalties, so read your agreements carefully to spot any fees. Variability: The penalty amount can differ considerably between lenders and loan types, often as a percentage of your remaining balance or a flat fee. Impact on Decisions: These penalties can discourage you from refinancing or paying off debt sooner, potentially costing you more in interest. State Regulations: Some states limit or prohibit prepayment penalties, so be aware of local laws when evaluating loan options. Understanding these aspects can help you make informed financial decisions. Cosigner When you consider taking out a short-term loan, having a cosigner can greatly impact your borrowing experience. A cosigner not only shares the responsibility of repayment if you default, but they can likewise help you secure better loan terms, like lower interest rates. It’s essential to understand the obligations involved, as both you and your cosigner will be legally bound to the loan agreement. Cosigner Responsibilities Explained A cosigner plays a vital role in the lending process, as they agree to share the responsibility of repaying a loan if the primary borrower defaults. Comprehending your responsibilities as a cosigner is significant. Here are some key points to evaluate: You’re legally obligated to repay the loan if the borrower defaults. Your credit score may be affected by the loan, including any missed payments. The loan will appear on your credit report, impacting your borrowing ability. Cosigning doesn’t grant you ownership of the loan; the primary borrower retains control. Being a cosigner can help someone secure a loan, but it’s important to fully grasp the financial commitment and potential consequences involved. Benefits of Having Cosigner Having a cosigner can greatly improve your chances of securing a short-term loan, especially if you have limited credit history or a low credit score. A cosigner provides extra assurance to lenders, often resulting in lower interest rates and a higher loan amount. Furthermore, if you default, the cosigner is legally responsible for repaying the loan, which can motivate you to make timely payments. In addition, having a cosigner can lead to faster approval times since lenders view the application as less risky. Establishing a positive repayment history with a cosigner can likewise boost your credit score over time, paving the way for future loans without needing a cosigner. Benefits Description Lower Interest Rates Cosigners provide assurance to lenders, reducing rates. Increased Loan Amount Lender considers cosigner’s creditworthiness and income. Faster Approval Times Less risk perception leads to quicker processing. Motivation to Repay Cosigner’s responsibility encourages timely payments. Improved Credit Score Positive history with a cosigner boosts your credit score. Debt Consolidation Debt consolidation serves as a strategic financial tool designed to streamline your repayment process by merging multiple debts into a single loan. This method can simplify your finances and potentially lower your monthly payments. Many people use debt consolidation to tackle high-interest credit card balances, which can save you considerable money over time. Here are some key aspects to reflect on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGC4bvUy0IA Loan Amounts: Personal loans for debt consolidation typically range from $1,000 to $250,000. Terms: Loan terms can vary from 24 to 120 months, based on your creditworthiness. Interest Rates: Lower APRs can notably reduce your overall borrowing costs, making it essential to compare rates. Monthly Payments: By consolidating, you may find it easier to manage just one monthly payment instead of multiple ones. Understanding these elements can help you make an informed decision about debt consolidation. When Are Short-Term Loans a Good Idea? When unexpected expenses arise, short-term loans can be a practical solution, providing you with quick access to cash when other financing options are unavailable. They’re particularly beneficial for urgent needs, like medical bills or car repairs, where immediate funds are necessary. If you have a poor credit history, these loans often have more lenient qualification criteria, allowing you to secure needed cash without extensive credit checks. When used responsibly, short-term loans can bridge cash flow gaps effectively. They might even improve your credit score if repaid on time, enhancing future borrowing potential. Moreover, their rapid funding—often processed within 24 hours—makes them ideal for small, urgent expenses. By consolidating multiple urgent payments into a single loan, you simplify your immediate financial management, making it easier to focus on repayment without the hassle of juggling multiple obligations. Frequently Asked Questions What Are the 5 C’s of Lending? The 5 C’s of lending are crucial for comprehending how lenders evaluate your creditworthiness. First, there’s Character, which looks at your credit history and reputation. Next is Capacity, evaluating your ability to repay based on income and debt levels. Capital refers to your financial assets that show your investment in the loan. Collateral involves any assets you pledge to secure the loan. Finally, Conditions consider the overall economic environment and loan terms. What Is the 3 7 3 Rule in Mortgage Terms? The 3-7-3 rule in mortgage terms suggests you should have a three-year fixed interest rate, followed by seven years of adjustable rates, for a total of ten years. This structure offers stability initially, but you’ll face potential rate changes after the fixed period. It’s important to evaluate how these adjustments might affect your monthly payments and overall financial planning, as not all lenders apply this framework uniformly. Comprehending it helps you make informed decisions. What Are the 4 Short Term Sources of Finance? You’ve got several short-term sources of finance to evaluate. Payday loans offer quick cash until your next paycheck, but watch out for high interest rates. Title loans use your vehicle as collateral, risking your car if you default. Cash advances let you borrow against your credit card, often at steep fees. Finally, lines of credit provide flexible access to funds, allowing you to borrow as needed, but be mindful of potential costs. What Are the Typical Loan Terms? Typical loan terms for short-term loans involve repayment periods of less than one year, often between a few weeks to six months. Loan amounts usually range from $100 to $2,000, depending on your financial situation and lender policies. Interest rates can be quite high, sometimes exceeding 400% APR. Furthermore, many short-term loans don’t require collateral, making them accessible for those with urgent cash needs or poor credit histories. Conclusion Grasping short-term loan terms is crucial for effective financial decision-making. By familiarizing yourself with concepts like APR, loan terms, and collateral, you can navigate the borrowing process more confidently. Knowing the implications of hard and soft inquiries, prepayment penalties, and the role of cosigners can further empower you. When considering debt consolidation or determining if a short-term loan is right for you, make informed choices to guarantee that your financial health remains a priority. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Key Short Term Loan Terms You Should Know" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

When exploring short-term loans, it’s vital to comprehend several key terms that can greatly impact your financial decisions. Grasping the principal, which is the amount you borrow, and the loan term, which indicates how long you have to repay, is fundamental. Furthermore, the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) reflects the total cost of borrowing, including interest and fees. Familiarizing yourself with these concepts not merely aids in making informed choices but likewise prepares you for what comes next in the borrowing process. Key Takeaways Principal: The original amount borrowed, which must be repaid and directly affects total interest costs over the loan term. Loan Term: The duration for repayment, typically ranging from a few weeks to one year, influencing monthly payment amounts. Annual Percentage Rate (APR): The total cost of borrowing, including interest and fees, essential for comparing loan offers and avoiding high-cost loans. Unsecured vs. Secured Loans: Unsecured loans rely on creditworthiness, while secured loans require collateral, affecting interest rates and loan approval chances. Hard Inquiry: A credit check conducted by lenders during loan applications that can impact credit scores and indicates higher risk with multiple checks. Annual Percentage Rate (APR) When you’re considering a short-term loan, comprehension of the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is critical, as it represents the total cost of borrowing. The APR includes the interest rate along with any additional fees, making it a significant factor in your decision-making process. For short-term loans, APRs can be alarmingly high, sometimes exceeding 400% for payday loans. This highlights the importance of scrutinizing the overall costs before committing. Understanding APR allows you to effectively compare different loan offers, ensuring you find the best short-term loan for people in debt settlement programs. By reviewing the APR alongside the short-term loan terms, you can grasp the full financial commitment involved in repayment. This knowledge is fundamental in avoiding predatory lending practices, which often accompany high APRs that can lead to further financial distress. Always prioritize clarity on APR to make informed borrowing choices. Loan Term Comprehending the loan term is vital for anyone considering a short-term loan, as it dictates how long you have to repay the borrowed amount. Typically, short-term loans have repayment periods ranging from a few weeks to one year, with most terms falling under twelve months. Commonly, you’ll find that these loans require repayment within six to eighteen months. A shorter loan term reduces the lender’s risk, which often means easier qualification and quicker access to funds for you. Nevertheless, be aware that shorter repayment periods can lead to higher monthly payments, increasing the risk of falling into debt if not managed properly. It’s important to understand how the loan term directly impacts the total interest paid and the overall cost of the loan. By grasping these details, you can make informed decisions that align with your financial situation and repayment capabilities. Collateral Collateral serves as a safety net for lenders, providing them with a tangible asset that can be reclaimed if you default on your loan. When you pledge an asset, like a vehicle for an auto title loan or personal items for a pawn loan, it reduces the lender’s risk and can influence the loan amount you receive. Typically, you can secure 25-50% of your collateral’s market value. Additionally, collateralized loans often come with lower interest rates compared to unsecured loans, making them an attractive option. Nevertheless, it’s vital to understand the risks involved. If you fail to repay a secured loan, you could lose the collateral. Collateral Type Loan Impact Vehicle (Auto Title) Lower interest rates Jewelry or Electronics Quick cash access Real Estate Larger loan amounts Stocks or Bonds Flexible repayment terms Principal The principal amount is the foundation of any loan, representing the original sum borrowed without interest or additional fees. In short-term loans, you’ll typically see principal amounts ranging from $100 to $2,000, depending on your qualifications and the lender’s policies. Repaying this principal reduces your loan balance, which can notably lower the total interest you’ll pay over time. This is vital for managing your finances effectively. Remember, the principal is the key figure for interest calculations, so comprehending it helps you gauge the overall cost of borrowing. By knowing your principal amount, you can better assess your repayment capacity and plan your budget accordingly. This knowledge as well helps you avoid falling into a cycle of debt, as you’ll be more aware of the impact of your borrowing decisions. In the end, grasping the importance of the principal is fundamental for making informed choices regarding short-term loans. Hard Inquiry vs. Soft Inquiry When you’re applying for a loan, it’s essential to understand the difference between hard and soft inquiries on your credit report. A hard inquiry happens when a lender checks your credit as part of the application process, which can lower your credit score for up to two years. Conversely, a soft inquiry occurs during self-checks or pre-screening for credit offers and won’t impact your score, making it important to know how each can affect your overall credit health. Impact on Credit Score Grasping the impact of credit inquiries is essential for anyone considering a short-term loan, as both hard and soft inquiries can greatly influence your credit score. A hard inquiry occurs when a lender checks your credit report during the loan application process. This can temporarily lower your score by a few points and stays on your report for up to two years. Conversely, a soft inquiry doesn’t affect your score and happens during self-checks or informal background checks. Multiple hard inquiries in a short time can signal higher risk to lenders, possibly leading to higher interest rates or loan denials. Comprehending these differences can help you minimize hard inquiries and maintain a stronger credit score as you explore loan options. Application Process Differences Comprehending the differences between hard and soft inquiries is crucial for anyone maneuvering through the application process for short-term loans. Here’s what you should know: Hard Inquiries: These occur when a lender reviews your credit report during the loan application process, potentially lowering your credit score temporarily. Soft Inquiries: These don’t affect your credit score and can happen when you check your own credit or when a lender does a background check without an offer. Lender Preferences: Most lenders conduct hard inquiries for short-term loans, especially for larger amounts. Risk Perception: Multiple hard inquiries in a short time can make you seem like a higher risk to lenders. Consider prequalification processes that use soft inquiries to compare loan options without impacting your credit. Credit Score Your credit score plays an essential role in determining your eligibility for short-term loans and the terms you’ll receive. It reflects your creditworthiness, influenced by factors like payment history and amounts owed. Importance of Credit Scores Grasping the importance of credit scores is essential when seeking a short-term loan, as these scores greatly impact your borrowing options. Your credit score, a numerical representation of your creditworthiness, typically ranges from 300 to 850, and higher scores indicate lower risk to lenders. Here are four key points about credit scores: Many lenders require a minimum credit score of around 580 for short-term loans. Higher credit scores often lead to better interest rates and loan terms. A poor score can restrict your borrowing options and increase costs. Regularly monitoring your credit report for inaccuracies can help improve your score, potentially leading to more favorable loan offers. Recognizing these factors can empower you to make informed financial decisions. Factors Affecting Scores Grasping the factors that affect your credit score is crucial for managing your financial health. Your score hinges on five main components: Factor Percentage Contribution Payment History 35% Amounts Owed 30% Length of Credit History 15% New Credit 10% Types of Credit Used 10% A single missed payment can lower your score by up to 100 points, impacting your borrowing options and interest rates. Keeping your credit utilization below 30% is important. Furthermore, opening multiple new accounts in a short time can lead to hard inquiries, negatively affecting your score. Finally, a diverse mix of credit types can demonstrate responsible management and positively influence your score. Improving Your Score Improving your credit score is achievable through strategic financial practices. Here are some key steps you can take to boost your score effectively: Check Your Credit Report: Regularly review your credit report for errors and dispute any inaccuracies to avoid negative impacts. Manage Your Credit Utilization: Keep your credit utilization ratio below 30% of your available credit to show responsible management. Pay On Time: Guarantee timely payments for bills and debts, as this accounts for about 35% of your credit score. Diversify Your Credit: Maintain a mix of installment loans and revolving credit to demonstrate your ability to manage various credit types. Implementing these practices can help you build a stronger credit profile over time. Credit Report When you’re considering a short-term loan, grasping your credit report is essential, as it plays a significant role in determining your eligibility for borrowing. Your credit report is a detailed record compiled by credit bureaus like Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. It includes information on your credit accounts, payment history, outstanding debts, and any public records such as bankruptcies or liens. Lenders use this report to assess your creditworthiness when you apply for loans. You’re entitled to one free credit report annually from each major bureau, which lets you monitor your credit standing. It’s important to review your report regularly, as inaccuracies can negatively impact your chances of loan approval and lead to higher interest rates. If you find any errors, make sure to dispute them quickly to maintain your credit health and improve your borrowing options. Grasping your credit report helps you make informed financial decisions. Unsecured Loans vs. Secured Loans When considering loans, it’s important to understand the difference between unsecured and secured options. Unsecured loans don’t require collateral, so lenders base their decision on your creditworthiness, whereas secured loans need an asset, like a car or house, to back the loan. This distinction affects everything from interest rates to repayment terms, making it essential for you to choose wisely based on your financial situation. Definition of Unsecured Loans Unsecured loans represent a financial option that doesn’t require you to put up collateral, such as a home or car, to receive funding. Instead, lenders base eligibility mainly on your credit history, income, and existing debt levels. Here are some key points about unsecured loans: They include common types like personal loans, credit cards, and student loans. Interest rates are typically higher compared to secured loans because of the absence of collateral. Fixed repayment terms and monthly payments help you manage your debt more predictably. Good credit can improve your chances of approval and better interest rates. Understanding these factors can assist you in making informed borrowing decisions customized to your financial situation. Definition of Secured Loans Secured loans offer a different approach to borrowing compared to unsecured loans. With secured loans, you must provide collateral—like property or vehicles—that the lender can seize if you default. This collateral reduces the lender’s risk, often resulting in lower interest rates than those for unsecured loans. If you have a poor credit score, you might find it easier to qualify for a secured loan since the collateral offsets some of the risk. Common examples of secured loans include mortgages and auto loans. Conversely, unsecured loans, such as personal loans and credit cards, don’t require collateral and rely solely on your creditworthiness, income, and financial history for approval, usually demanding higher credit scores. Loan Amortization Loan amortization is a systematic method of repaying a loan through regular monthly payments that address both the principal and interest over a defined period. Comprehending this process is vital for effectively managing your finances. Here are some key points to take into account: Each payment decreases your principal balance, lowering future interest charges. Amortization schedules show how much of each payment goes toward interest and principal, helping you track your progress. Short-term loans may not follow traditional amortization, often requiring lump-sum payments or having shorter terms, complicating the process. Evaluating the total cost of borrowing is fundamental to avoid falling into a debt cycle. Being aware of loan amortization allows you to make informed decisions about your borrowing and guarantees you can meet your repayment obligations without undue financial strain. Loan Origination Fee When considering a loan, it’s vital to understand the costs involved, and a key element is the loan origination fee. This fee is an upfront charge that lenders impose for processing your loan application, typically ranging from 0.5% to 8% of the total loan amount. It compensates the lender for tasks like evaluating your creditworthiness and preparing necessary documents. Different lenders may charge varying origination fees, which can depend on your credit profile and the loan type. It’s important to compare these fees across lenders since a lower interest rate might be offset by a higher origination fee, impacting your overall loan cost. Some lenders may even offer loans with no origination fees, but be cautious; these options may come with higher interest rates or less favorable terms. Always review and understand these costs before making a decision. Prepayment Penalty Although many borrowers focus on interest rates and monthly payments, comprehending prepayment penalties is equally important. A prepayment penalty is a fee lenders charge if you pay off your loan early, protecting their expected interest income. Here are some key points to reflect on: Loan Agreements: Not all loans have prepayment penalties, so read your agreements carefully to spot any fees. Variability: The penalty amount can differ considerably between lenders and loan types, often as a percentage of your remaining balance or a flat fee. Impact on Decisions: These penalties can discourage you from refinancing or paying off debt sooner, potentially costing you more in interest. State Regulations: Some states limit or prohibit prepayment penalties, so be aware of local laws when evaluating loan options. Understanding these aspects can help you make informed financial decisions. Cosigner When you consider taking out a short-term loan, having a cosigner can greatly impact your borrowing experience. A cosigner not only shares the responsibility of repayment if you default, but they can likewise help you secure better loan terms, like lower interest rates. It’s essential to understand the obligations involved, as both you and your cosigner will be legally bound to the loan agreement. Cosigner Responsibilities Explained A cosigner plays a vital role in the lending process, as they agree to share the responsibility of repaying a loan if the primary borrower defaults. Comprehending your responsibilities as a cosigner is significant. Here are some key points to evaluate: You’re legally obligated to repay the loan if the borrower defaults. Your credit score may be affected by the loan, including any missed payments. The loan will appear on your credit report, impacting your borrowing ability. Cosigning doesn’t grant you ownership of the loan; the primary borrower retains control. Being a cosigner can help someone secure a loan, but it’s important to fully grasp the financial commitment and potential consequences involved. Benefits of Having Cosigner Having a cosigner can greatly improve your chances of securing a short-term loan, especially if you have limited credit history or a low credit score. A cosigner provides extra assurance to lenders, often resulting in lower interest rates and a higher loan amount. Furthermore, if you default, the cosigner is legally responsible for repaying the loan, which can motivate you to make timely payments. In addition, having a cosigner can lead to faster approval times since lenders view the application as less risky. Establishing a positive repayment history with a cosigner can likewise boost your credit score over time, paving the way for future loans without needing a cosigner. Benefits Description Lower Interest Rates Cosigners provide assurance to lenders, reducing rates. Increased Loan Amount Lender considers cosigner’s creditworthiness and income. Faster Approval Times Less risk perception leads to quicker processing. Motivation to Repay Cosigner’s responsibility encourages timely payments. Improved Credit Score Positive history with a cosigner boosts your credit score. Debt Consolidation Debt consolidation serves as a strategic financial tool designed to streamline your repayment process by merging multiple debts into a single loan. This method can simplify your finances and potentially lower your monthly payments. Many people use debt consolidation to tackle high-interest credit card balances, which can save you considerable money over time. Here are some key aspects to reflect on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGC4bvUy0IA Loan Amounts: Personal loans for debt consolidation typically range from $1,000 to $250,000. Terms: Loan terms can vary from 24 to 120 months, based on your creditworthiness. Interest Rates: Lower APRs can notably reduce your overall borrowing costs, making it essential to compare rates. Monthly Payments: By consolidating, you may find it easier to manage just one monthly payment instead of multiple ones. Understanding these elements can help you make an informed decision about debt consolidation. When Are Short-Term Loans a Good Idea? When unexpected expenses arise, short-term loans can be a practical solution, providing you with quick access to cash when other financing options are unavailable. They’re particularly beneficial for urgent needs, like medical bills or car repairs, where immediate funds are necessary. If you have a poor credit history, these loans often have more lenient qualification criteria, allowing you to secure needed cash without extensive credit checks. When used responsibly, short-term loans can bridge cash flow gaps effectively. They might even improve your credit score if repaid on time, enhancing future borrowing potential. Moreover, their rapid funding—often processed within 24 hours—makes them ideal for small, urgent expenses. By consolidating multiple urgent payments into a single loan, you simplify your immediate financial management, making it easier to focus on repayment without the hassle of juggling multiple obligations. Frequently Asked Questions What Are the 5 C’s of Lending? The 5 C’s of lending are crucial for comprehending how lenders evaluate your creditworthiness. First, there’s Character, which looks at your credit history and reputation. Next is Capacity, evaluating your ability to repay based on income and debt levels. Capital refers to your financial assets that show your investment in the loan. Collateral involves any assets you pledge to secure the loan. Finally, Conditions consider the overall economic environment and loan terms. What Is the 3 7 3 Rule in Mortgage Terms? The 3-7-3 rule in mortgage terms suggests you should have a three-year fixed interest rate, followed by seven years of adjustable rates, for a total of ten years. This structure offers stability initially, but you’ll face potential rate changes after the fixed period. It’s important to evaluate how these adjustments might affect your monthly payments and overall financial planning, as not all lenders apply this framework uniformly. Comprehending it helps you make informed decisions. What Are the 4 Short Term Sources of Finance? You’ve got several short-term sources of finance to evaluate. Payday loans offer quick cash until your next paycheck, but watch out for high interest rates. Title loans use your vehicle as collateral, risking your car if you default. Cash advances let you borrow against your credit card, often at steep fees. Finally, lines of credit provide flexible access to funds, allowing you to borrow as needed, but be mindful of potential costs. What Are the Typical Loan Terms? Typical loan terms for short-term loans involve repayment periods of less than one year, often between a few weeks to six months. Loan amounts usually range from $100 to $2,000, depending on your financial situation and lender policies. Interest rates can be quite high, sometimes exceeding 400% APR. Furthermore, many short-term loans don’t require collateral, making them accessible for those with urgent cash needs or poor credit histories. Conclusion Grasping short-term loan terms is crucial for effective financial decision-making. By familiarizing yourself with concepts like APR, loan terms, and collateral, you can navigate the borrowing process more confidently. Knowing the implications of hard and soft inquiries, prepayment penalties, and the role of cosigners can further empower you. When considering debt consolidation or determining if a short-term loan is right for you, make informed choices to guarantee that your financial health remains a priority. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Key Short Term Loan Terms You Should Know" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Streaming services make it easy to listen to a lot of music, but they don't necessarily tell you much about the songs themselves. You can see how long each track is, who performed it, and maybe even the song writing credits, but you don't know why the artist wrote the song, or what each song is supposed to mean. You can, of course, scour the internet, looking at articles and blogs to learn more about your favorite music—or, you can skim Spotify's new summary cards that offer fun facts about each track. Spotify announced the new feature, called "About the Song," on Friday. The feature, which is launching in beta, is available in the app's Now Playing View. When you select it, you'll see story cards you can swipe through that tell you more about the song you're listening to. Spotify says the stories are summarized from "third-party sources," though it doesn't share what those sources are in the press release, or how the app summarizes those sources. (However, as I've tested the feature, I've seen sources like Hypebeast, Wikipedia, and fan sites.) I've reached out to ask whether the company is using AI for these summaries, and will update this article if I hear back. Credit: Spotify As with many of Spotify's new features, About the Song is only available for Premium subscribers. At this time, it's also limited to English accounts in the U.S., UK, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia. If you pay for Spotify in one of these regions, the feature is exceptionally easy to find. When you're listening to a song, just scroll down on the page until you see the "About the Song" card. If you don't see it, that song likely doesn't support the feature. Some songs will only have one summary card, but others may have more. If so, you'll see icons in the top right of the card window telling you which card you're reading. You can swipe left on the card to open the next. I've seen songs with as many as four of these cards, though it's possible some songs have even more. Some of those are all summarized from the same source—say, one Wikipedia article—while others pull from multiple sources to generate multiple About the Song cards. There are thumbs-up and thumbs-down options on each card to rate the summary, implying these are AI-generated. The summaries appear to be static once generated though—when I quit the app and return, the summaries are the same. I'd be curious to know if the summaries are the same for everyone who chooses a song, or if they're generated for each individual listener. Spotify has had a busy week. On Thursday, one day before announcing "About the Song," the company revealed its plans to start selling physical paper books, which sync with its digital audiobooks. The day before that, Spotify revamped its lyrics feature, including the option to download lyrics for offline viewing. View the full article

The logic behind electric vehicles benefiting public health has long been solid: More EVs means fewer internal combustion engines on the road, and a reduction in harmful tailpipe emissions. But now researchers have confirmed, to the greatest extent yet, that this is indeed what’s actually happening on the ground. What’s more, they found that even relatively small upticks in EV adoption can have a measurably positive impact on a community. Whereas previous work has largely been based on modeling, a study published this month in the journal Lancet Planetary Health used satellites to measure actual emissions. The study, conducted between 2019 and 2023, focused on California, which has among the highest rates of EV use in the country, and nitrogen dioxide, one of the gases released during combustion, including when fossil fuels are burned. Exposure to the pollutant can contribute to heart and lung issues, or even premature death. Across nearly 1,700 ZIP codes, the analysis showed that, for every increase of 200 electric vehicles, nitrogen dioxide emissions decreased by 1.1 percent. “A pretty small addition of cars at the ZIP code level led to a decline in air pollution,” said Sandrah Eckel, a public health professor at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine and lead author of the study. “It’s remarkable.” The group had tried to establish this link using Environmental Protection Agency air monitors before, but because there are only about 100 of them in California, the results weren’t statistically significant. The data also were from 2013 through 2019, when there were fewer electric vehicles on the road. Although the satellite instrument they ultimately used only detected nitrogen dioxide, it did allow researchers to gather data for virtually the entire state, and this time the findings were clear. “It’s making a real difference in our neighborhoods,” said Eckel, who said a methodology like theirs could be used anywhere in the world. The advent of such powerful satellites allows scientists to look at other sources of emissions, such as factories or homes, too. “It’s a revolutionary approach.” Mary Johnson, who researches environmental health at Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health and was not involved in the study, said she’s not aware of a similar study of this size, or one that uses satellite data so extensively. “Their analysis seems sound,” she said, noting that the authors controlled for variables such as the COVID-19 pandemic and shifts toward working from home. The results, Johnson added, “totally make sense” and align with other research in this area. When London implemented congestion pricing in 2003, for example, it reduced traffic and emissions and increased life expectancy. That is the direction this latest research could go too. “They didn’t take the next step and look at health data,” she said, “which I think would be interesting.” Daniel Horton, who leads Northwestern University’s climate change research group, also sees value in this latest work. “The results help to confirm the sort of predictions that numerical air quality modelers have been making for the past decade,” he said, adding that it could also lay the foundation for similar research. “This proof of concept paper is a great start and augurs good things to come.” Eckel hopes that, eventually, advances in satellite technology will allow for more widespread detection of other types of emissions too, such as fine particulate matter. That could even help account for some of the potential downsides of EVs, which are heavier and could therefore kick up more tire or brake dust than their gasoline counterparts. On the whole, though, she believes the picture overwhelmingly illustrates how driving an electric car is better not just for the planet but for people. Research like this, she says, underscores the importance of continued EV adoption, the sales of which have slumped recently, and the need to do so equitably. Although lower-income neighborhoods have historically borne the brunt of pollution from highways and traffic, they can’t always afford the relatively high cost of EVs. Eckel hopes that research like this can help guide policymakers. “There are concerns that some of the communities that really stand to benefit the most from reductions in air pollution are also some of the communities that are really at risk of being left behind in the transition,” she said. Previous research has shown that EVs could alleviate harms such as asthma in children, and detailed data like this latest study can help highlight both where more work needs to be done and what’s working. “It’s really exciting that we were able to show that there were these measurable improvements in the air that we’re all breathing,” she said. Another arguably hopeful finding was that the median increase in electric vehicle usage during the study was 272 per ZIP code. That, Eckel says, means there is plenty of opportunity to make our air even cleaner. Correction: This story originally misidentified the pollutant studied. It is nitrogen dioxide. This article originally appeared in Grist. Grist is a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Learn more at Grist.org View the full article

The European Union on Friday accused TikTok of breaching the bloc’s digital rules with “addictive design” features that lead to compulsive use by children, in preliminary charges that strike at the heart of the popular video sharing app’s operating model. EU regulators said their two-year investigation found that TikTok hasn’t done enough to assess how features such as autoplay and infinite scroll could harm the physical and mental health of users, including minors and “vulnerable adults.” The European Commission said it believes TikTok should change the “basic design” of its service. The commission is the EU’s executive arm and enforcer of the 27-nation bloc’s Digital Services Act, a sweeping rulebook that requires social media companies to clean up their platforms and protect users, under threat of hefty fines. TikTok denied the accusations. “The Commission’s preliminary findings present a categorically false and entirely meritless depiction of our platform, and we will take whatever steps are necessary to challenge these findings through every means available to us,” the company said in a statement. TikTok’s features including infinite scrolling, autoplay, push notifications, and highly personalized recommender systems “lead to the compulsive use of the app, especially for our kids, and this poses major risks to their mental health and wellbeing,” Commission spokesman Thomas Regnier said at a press briefing in Brussels. “The measures that TikTok has in place are simply not enough,” he said. The company now has a chance to defend itself and reply to the commission’s findings. Regnier said “if they don’t do this properly,” Brussels could issue a so-called non-compliance decision and possible fine worth up to 6% of the company’s total annual revenue. There was no deadline specified for the commission to make a final decision. The preliminary findings are the latest example of pressure that TikTok and other social media platforms are facing over youth addiction. Australia has banned social media for under-16s while governments in Spain, France, Britain,Denmark,Malaysia and Egypt want to introduce similar measures. In the U.S., TikTok last month settled a landmark social media addiction lawsuit while two other companies named in the suit — Meta’s Instagram and Google’s YouTube — still face claims that their platforms deliberately addict and harm children. TikTok has 170 million users in the European Union and “most of these are children,” Regnier said. He added that 7% of children aged 12 to 15 spend four to five hours daily on TikTok, and it’s “by far” the platform most used after midnight by children aged 13 to 18, citing unspecified data. “These statistics are extremely alarming,” he said. The commission said that TikTok fuels the urge to keep scrolling because it constantly rewards users with new content, leading to reduced self control. It said TikTok ignores signs that someone is compulsively using the app, such as the amount of time that minors spend on it at night, and how often the app is opened. The company has failed to put in place “reasonable, proportionate and effective” measures to offset the risks, it said. The commission said TikTok’s existing time management controls are easy to dismiss and “introduce limited friction,” while parental tools need “additional time and skills” from parents. Changes that the commission wants TikTok to make include disabling features like infinite scroll; putting in more effective breaks for screen time, including at night; and changing its “highly personalized” recommender system, which feeds users an endless stream of video shorts based on their preferences. TikTok says it has numerous tools, such as custom screen time limits and sleep reminders, that let users make “intentional decisions” about how they spend their time on the app. The company also noted it has teen accounts that let parents impose time limits on use, and prompt teen users to switch off in the evenings. Associated Press journalist Sam McNeil contributed to this report. —Kelvin Chan, AP Business Writer View the full article

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Mortgage loan officer licensing saw its first rise since 2022 as Fannie Mae projects $2.4T in 2026 volume. Experts eye a market reset amid improving affordability. View the full article

Last November, Google announced that it had managed to make Apple's AirDrop compatible with Quick Share on its Pixel 10 phones, allowing them to easily share photos and files with iPhones, iPads, and Macs. The feature was intuitive, and to quote my colleague Jake Peterson, it's worked so seamlessly that it was almost like Quick Share and AirDrop "were built this way from the beginning." But for other Android users, it continued to be business as usual, leading to awkward texts and emails to share files across iOS and Android. Now, though, Google confirmed it's working to bring AirDrop to other Android phones, too, including phones it doesn't make. At an event attended by Android Authority, Android Vice President of Engineering Eric Kay said, "Last year, we launched AirDrop interoperability. In 2026, we're going to be expanding it to a lot more devices." To a degree, we kind of knew this was coming. While many Pixel only features are implemented via a special Pixel-only system component, Google added AirDrop compatibility to the Pixel 10 by upgrading Quick Share from a system level feature to a full-on app, with its own APK. That laid the groundwork for other Android phones to eventually get AirDrop compatibility of their own, since they can all use this app. For instance, Nothing CEO Carl Pei said in November that his team was "already exploring" adding AirDrop compatibility to Nothing phones, while chipmaker Qualcomm said it "can't wait" for the feature to be enabled on Snapdragon—commonly used in Samsung's Galaxy phones—in the "near future." Now, it seems like the wait for AirDrop across the rest of Android won't be much longer. While Kay didn't give an exact timeline beyond 2026, he did say that Google is already "working with our partners to expand it into the rest of the ecosystem, and you should see some exciting announcements very soon." That's it as far as official communication goes, but I've reached out to Google for additional comment and will update if I can snag more details. In the meantime, we do have a few possible dates where we could expect the feature to be announced. The soonest might be the next Samsung Unpacked, where the company is expected to announce the S26 lineup of phones. According to rumors, that'll take place on Feb. 25, and it's not unusual for Google to make an appearance during Unpacked to discuss new features coming to Android that the new phones can take advantage of. Alternatively, Google might save the announcement for its next Google I/O event, which would likely be sometime in May. Or it could just drop the feature online without the fanfare of an official event. Either way, I can't wait. I take a lot of photos on my phone for this job, and while sending them from my personal iPhone to my work Mac usually isn't an issue, getting them off an Android phone I might be reviewing can be a much bigger pain. As someone who's got an Android tablet, an iPhone, a MacBook, and a Windows PC all within 5 feet of me right now, anything that helps bridge these ecosystems together is a good move in my book. View the full article

It’s the Friday open thread! The comment section on this post is open for discussion with other readers on any work-related questions that you want to talk about (that includes school). If you want an answer from me, emailing me is still your best bet*, but this is a chance to take your questions to other readers. * If you submitted a question to me recently, please do not repost it here, as it may be in my queue to answer. The post open thread – February 6, 2026 appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

Just because you’re an ultra-talented global celebrity doesn’t mean you’re a shoo-in for an amazing gig. In fact, even stars have to apply to jobs, just like the rest of us. Just ask Charlie Puth, who’ll be singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Super Bowl LX Sunday night. It shows how humility fuels success for even someone at the top of their game—in this case, a dream opportunity for one of pop’s biggest stars on entertainment’s biggest stage. In a recent Rolling Stone interview, the “We Don’t Talk Anymore” singer spoke frankly last month about how he applied and auditioned to sing the national anthem, and how he’s elated for the gig. He shared that performing the national anthem at the Super Bowl was a dream goal and seemed like he didn’t expect any preferential treatment: “I applied. I auditioned for it, but I made up my own audition because I’ve always wanted to do it.” He adds, “because I love it musically,” he told the magazine: “It’s the best song. Musically, it’s so special.” “I actually have always wanted to do this, and I recorded a little demo, just me singing with the Rhodes and sent it to Roc Nation. I’ve been told Jay-Z loved it, and it got Goodell and they all said that I could do it,” the 34-year-old said. The New Jersey native is a prime example of how even high-achievers and applicants at the height of their industry audition or apply for jobs. It’s that blend of humility and experience that can lead people to great things: Humility can be a very impressive personality trait, and the kind of authenticity that shows in Puth’s Rolling Stone answers is the kind that tells a hiring manager you’re grateful for the opportunity, and communicates real passion. There’s even research to back up that humility is a trait that can make you a more desirable candidate for a job. Puth kept that humility when talking about iconic Super Bowl performances from the past: “I’m going to be inspired by what Whitney did, but I can’t ever touch what she did,” he told Rolling Stone. “I just wanna show people that I can do it. I feel like people don’t really think of me as, like, a stand-alone vocalist at times.” To channel your inner Charlie Puth humility, try these strategies: Balance it with confidence: That’s especially the case for leaders. Have trust in your talents, but also be adaptable, empathetic, and open to learning from other people in your field. Model it for others: Sometimes deciding to be a model of supportive collaboration, trustful integrity, and taking responsibility can bring out your inner humility, which others can in turn learn from and be inspired by. Talk less about yourself: An easy way to unlock inner humility, this also helps you not compare yourself too much to others. Another element of a professional business persona is not to respond negatively to those who aren’t happy with your achievements. Puth responded with grace on X back in December after a snide social media post from a doubter. Striking a diplomatic tone, he wrote: “I’ll never claim to be as good of a singer as Whitney Houston ever was. But I assure you we’re putting a really special arrangement together—in D major. It’ll be one of my best vocal performances.” View the full article

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Design culture loves the fantasy of “blue sky” thinking. No constraints. No limits. Pure imagination. It sounds liberating, but it often produces design that only works in ideal conditions for an ideal user who does not exist. Blue sky leads to paper design—“great” ideas that never come to market. The truth is simple: Constraints fuel creativity. The most valuable constraint is the human one. When designers embrace real limits like limited dexterity, low lighting, fatigue, mobility restrictions, sensory sensitivities, small living spaces, and tight budgets, they stop designing for abstraction. They start designing for reality. That is where innovation becomes inevitable. That is where design becomes a successful game changer in business strategy. WHY CONSTRAINTS CREATE BETTER PRODUCTS Constraints do powerful things. First, they force clarity. When you cannot assume perfect vision, perfect grip, perfect posture, or perfect attention, you have to prioritize what truly matters. Second, they reveal opportunity gaps. The friction points that “average user” personas miss become visible. Those friction points are where unmet demand lives. Third, they raise the bar for usefulness. A product that performs under constraint often performs exceptionally well under normal conditions. That is why so many accessible innovations become mainstream. THE EDGE IS WHERE THE BREAKTHROUGH BEGINS Many of the features we now take for granted started as solutions for constrained conditions. Curb cuts were designed for wheelchairs, then they became indispensable for strollers, luggage, delivery carts, bikes, and scooters. Captions support deaf and hard of hearing communities, and they also help everyone in loud environments, quiet environments, and multilingual contexts. This pattern is not accidental. Designing for the edge forces teams to solve for higher friction. Once solved, the benefit cascades outward. A PRACTICAL CONSTRAINT FRAMEWORK If you want constraints to generate innovation instead of frustration, treat them as design inputs early, not late-stage fixes. Start with four questions: 1. What are the most common constraints in the user’s environment? Noise, glare, cold, clutter, time pressure. 2. What are the most common constraints in the user’s body? Dexterity, strength, mobility, stamina. 3. What are the most common constraints in the user’s mind? Cognitive load, stress, distraction, ambiguity. 4. What emotional constraints does the user bring with them? Fear of making mistakes, embarrassment, loss of confidence, and the desire for dignity, capability, and control. When those four constraints are treated as defaults, products stop proving they work and start proving they care. That shift is what separates good design from beloved products. Design as if those constraints are the default, not the exception. For every body, they are, or become, the default at different times and phases of life. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN “WORKS” AND “WORKS WELL” A product can technically work yet still fail. It can be compliant, yet frustrating. It can be usable, yet unloved. It can function, but make people feel like there is something wrong with them. Constraints help solve that gap because they push the product beyond minimum viability and toward genuine excellence. When you design under constraint, you make fewer assumptions. You write clearer cues into the form. You reduce steps. You decrease error. You create comfort. You remove shame. You build trust. CONSTRAINTS ARE NOT A LIMITATION—THEY ARE THE BRIEF The brands that lead next will not be those chasing novelty for novelty’s sake. They will be the ones willing to design inside real human boundaries and treat those boundaries as creative partners. Inclusion is not a constraint layered on top of design. It is the constraint that makes design better. When you stop trying to escape limits, you start making products that people can actually live with, love, and keep. Ben Wintner is CEO of Michael Graves Design. View the full article