Fast Five

SWC’s Fast Five

It’s money, money, money for today’s Fast Five – how to prepare to earn it on your own, earn more of it, why you can do that better in the U.S. than other countries, keep more of it and give it away.

So, here’s this week’s Fast Five:

1 Giving machines debut in Kansas City

Designed like a vending machine with cash-free payments, instead of dispensing snacks, the machines offer gifts to local and global charities. They range in dollar size from $5 to $300, with 100 percent of donations going towards charity-specific gifts chosen by donors.

2 Capital One to ditch all consumer overdraft fees

Capital One is eliminating all overdraft fees for retail banking customers. It’s the largest U.S. bank yet to end the industry practice of charging customers a hefty fee, typically $25 to $35 in each instance, for allowing transactions that exceed a customer’s balance.

3 Top 10 jobs to get ahead

Some jobs, industries and cities offer far greater promise for career advancement than others. The top 10 jobs where promotions are above average include product management, marketing, program management, accounting, human resources, business development, finance, sales, consulting and purchasing.

4 Nine money moves to make before becoming your own boss

Amid the “Great Resignation” and ongoing pandemic, millions of Americans are quitting their jobs to become their own bosses. Before striking out on your own, you’ll need to outline a business plan for your new endeavor, potential income streams and be clear about what’s a personal expense versus a business one.

5 Wages are going gangbusters in the U.S.

U.S. workers are getting their largest pay bumps in three decades, while wages in the U.K. are outpacing inflation. But for employees in some large Asia-Pacific economies, it is the opposite experience. Many are struggling to negotiate a wage increase—if they can get one—that covers higher consumer prices.