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Braidwood Capital Review: Not The Right Way To Manage Money During The Coronavirus

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Braidwood Capital has begun flooding the market with debt consolidation and credit card relief in the mail. The problem is that the terms and conditions are at the very least confusing, and possibly even suspect. The interest rates are so low that you would have to have near-perfect credit to be approved for one of their offers. Best 2020 Reviews, the personal finance review site, has been following Braidwood Capital, Tiffany Funding,  Nickel Advisors, Coral Funding, Neon Funding, Ladder Advisors (also known as Carina Advisors, Corey Advisors, Pennon Partners, Jayhawk Advisors, Clay Advisors, Colony Associates, and Pine Advisors, etc.).

Several Americans have been affected by the ongoing pandemic that’s left them in a state of weakened financial health and financial devastation. The number of people losing their jobs and filing for unemployment is increasing with each passing day.

However, there are still plenty of employees that haven’t experienced the turmoil of a financial crisis. According to a recent survey conducted in the second week of April, almost a quarter of the working-class admitted that their financial circumstances hadn’t been impacted heavily by the coronavirus pandemic.

But that number is still not high enough as companies continue to lay off employees every day. The pandemic has forced many organizations to make salary cuts and hinder 401(k) match programs that have impacted the financial stability of the working class.

The citizens that continue to be employed are faced with an increased need to understand and manage their financial matters as the situation continues to be uncertain, and there’s no promise of employment security. This looming threat of financial uncertainty should push you to make smarter financial decisions and prepare for the upcoming uncertain times.

If you’re one of those lucky people who have managed to retain their jobs, then the responsibility of keeping your financial situation stable falls upon you even more. This time of social distancing and limited movement needs to be turned into your favor to eliminate the risk of a possible financial struggle and even help you improve your overall financial standing.

If you’re wondering how to turn this situation into your best interest, then we have some essential tips for you to accelerate your debt elimination process, increase your savings, and redesign your budget while you continue to work from home. Let’s get straight to it.

Shift from spending to saving

Staying at home has its benefits, especially financial. You cut a lot of costs on gas and commute. The absence of social commitments and outdoor activities saves up hundreds of dollars in your budget. The habit of eating out has changed to having homemade meals, which is a much cheaper alternative.    

If the amount you’re saving isn’t going in helping others, it most definitely should make its way into your emergency funds. Ideally, you should have enough savings to cover your living cost for the next four to six months. However, that might not be possible for everyone to manage, so you should at least start saving up for the upcoming month and then build upon it from there.

If you’re fortunate enough to already have a substantial emergency fund, then the money saved from the lack of social interactions should go into paying off your debts and strengthening your retirement plans. Let’s discuss them below in further detail.

Prioritize paying off your student loans

In light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, most federal student loans have suspended payments and made them entirely interest-free until the end of September 2020. This was a very welcome decision and can play an especially favorable role in your situation.

If you start catching up on your student loan at this time, it would mean that you’ll be directly reducing the principal on your entire student loan. This has the potential to save you thousands of dollars in the longer run.

However, paying off your student loans shouldn’t take precedence in priorities if your savings are needs to meet other urgent situations. For example, if you also have a credit card loan to your name, then using your savings to pay off debt with higher-interest rates first.

Bulking up your emergency fund should also be higher on the list of your priorities if you aren’t covered for the upcoming months.

Moreover, if you’re already on a public service loan forgiveness program or any other program of the sort, then expediting your payments may not work in your best interest in the long run.

Boost your 401(k) contributions

In the ideal case of having a substantial emergency fund and a comfortably manageable debt, you should divert your attention towards boosting up your retirement savings.

You can make contributions to your 401(k) or 403(b) retirement plans by purchasing shares at discounted prices offered in these months compared to peak months like February. Planning a boost for your retirement plans this year gives you the opportunity to it at reduced prices and increased returns when the situation goes back to normal.

Lower your mortgage rate

If you’re a homeowner on a mortgage, this might be a good time to refinance your mortgage. The interest rates on mortgages have been lowered due to the pandemic, which can help you lower your housing costs.

The benefit also implies to new homeowners because mortgage rates are down by at least 1% compared to last year, and it makes a significant difference in the long run.  However, with lowered interest-rates, more and more people will apply for refinancing, which could make it harder to qualify for it than before.

Help your community in crisis

Although helping your community financially doesn’t really add practical value to your standing, it can immensely help people in desperate need of it. If you use your stable financial standing to support small businesses, donating to local food banks, and helping the most vulnerable in your community, it will be an excellent way to give back to your community.

Spending money to help others reflect your moral values and will comfort someone in dire need in these times of uncertainty.

Conclusion

You’re indeed fortunate if you haven’t been that affected by the pandemic’s devastations, and that puts you in a higher position of responsibility towards improving your financial standing and helping those in need.

The idea of Bigtime Daily landed this engineer cum journalist from a multi-national company to the digital avenue. Matthew brought life to this idea and rendered all that was necessary to create an interactive and attractive platform for the readers. Apart from managing the platform, he also contributes his expertise in business niche.

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Remote Professionals Getting More Value for Their Work Thanks to Borderless Banking

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Not too long ago, the idea of working remotely from an island in Thailand or a co-working space in Berlin sounded like the kind of fantasy only tech moguls or backpacking freelancers could afford. 

Fast forward to today, and it’s as good as a global reality. Millions of professionals have cut the cord from traditional office life in exchange for flexibility, freedom, and a work-life balance that fits their personal rhythm and not their employer’s timezone.

However, as remote work has reshaped how people earn a living, it’s also pointed out the existing limits to most of the world’s financial systems. Traditional banking simply wasn’t built for a workforce that’s always on the move, operating in multiple currencies, and getting paid across borders. 

Thankfully, that’s where borderless banking like Black Banx have proven vital, and has quietly transformed the way money is managed for people vacationing and working overseas alike.

The Rise of the Remote Work Economy

Remote work isn’t just a pandemic-era trend that faded with Zoom fatigue—it’s become a defining feature of the modern workforce. A recent survey revealed that over 39% of Gen Z and Millennials planned to live and work abroad for extended periods this year, many staying six months or more in a single location. That’s beyond a short trip, and can be considered as good as a sabbatical with a substantial lifestyle shift.

According to recent estimates, the digital nomad economy now also contributes as much as US$787 billion annually to the global economy. And this isn’t just entry-level gig work. A third of digital nomads earn between US$100,000 and US$250,000, while another third take in US$50,000 to US$100,000 annually. 

It is indeed evident that the manner in which many make a living has changed. Unfortunately, most financial systems haven’t kept up.

Where Traditional Banks Are Still Falling Short

For those who have ever tried to open a bank account abroad or receive payment from a foreign client, they already know the drill: the paperwork is endless, delays are frustrating, and the fees? So much to do, even for the smallest amounts of money.

Just to name few of the hurdles remote workers still face with conventional banking:

  • Account setup restrictions: Need proof of residence, tax IDs, or a local job offer—things many digital nomads simply don’t have.
  • Slow international transfers: Payments can take days to process, which is a nightmare when rent’s due.
  • High foreign exchange fees: Currency conversions often come with steep, hidden costs.
  • Limited multi-currency support: Most banks still force users to operate in a single currency, making financial planning chaotic at best.

And perhaps most tellingly, many banks have digitized their operations but haven’t personalized their services. According to Accenture’s 2025 Banking Trends Report, while digital transformation has improved efficiency, it often sacrifices the customer experience. That’s not great news for people who live outside the lines.

Borderless Banking for Professionals Across the Globe

The concept of borderless banking goes far beyond wiring money internationally. Fundamentally, it’s also about being able to eliminate the friction between people and their money, no matter where they are in the world, and maintaining an ecosystem where geography, bureaucracy, and currency don’t stand in the way of financial freedom.

A working example of this is Black Banx, a Toronto-based fintech founded by German billionaire Michael Gastauer. Since launching globally in 2015, it has grown to serve over 78 million clients in 180+ countries as of Q1 2025, proof that people take to digital banking solutions when it is accessible, affordable, and is useful in just about any locale.

In the first three months of this year, Black Banx had also earned US$4.3 billion in revenue and US$1.6 billion in pre-tax profit, more than double from the same quarter the previous year and showing it has consistently delivered tangible value to global customers—remote professionals included

How Borderless Banking Maximizes Value for Remote Workers

1. Instant Account Access—No Strings Attached

The times of hunting down local branches or collecting endless documents just to open an account are finished. With borderless banks, users can open an account in minutes using just a photo ID—no proof of address or income required. That’s a lifesaver for anyone living outside their passport country or hopping from one location to another.

2. Multi-Currency Mastery

Managing money in multiple currencies used to mean juggling several accounts—or worse, losing money on conversions. Borderless platforms like Black Banx support 28 FIAT currencies and allow real-time currency conversions at competitive rates. That means remote workers can:

  • Invoice clients in one currency
  • Spend or save in another
  • Hedge against local currency fluctuations
  • Avoid excessive conversion fees altogether

3. Seamless, Real-Time Global Payments

Getting paid late, or paying others late, isn’t just inconvenient; it can damage relationships and disrupt your cash flow. With real-time payment support, remote workers can receive funds instantly, no matter where their clients are. This is particularly valuable for freelancers and entrepreneurs juggling multiple contracts across time zones.

Plus, bulk payment features and API integration streamline processes for those running teams or businesses.

4. Built-In Crypto Options

It isn’t surprising that many digital nomads are already deep into crypto. Whether it’s for investment, faster transactions, or avoiding traditional finance red tape, crypto is becoming essential.

Since 2016, Black Banx has allowed users to send, receive, and convert crypto (like BTC and ETH) within their accounts. That integration saves users from having to manage separate crypto wallets, and adds another layer of flexibility to their financial toolkit.

5. Secure Transactions

Remote workers often log in to work from cafés, coworking spaces, and airports, to name a few. Of course, this flexibility of being able to work almost anywhere should never come at the cost of security. Borderless banks like Black Banx use end-to-end encryption, AI fraud detection, and two-factor authentication to keep accounts safe from risky elements.

Financial Freedom, Not Just Convenience

Perhaps the most overlooked benefit of borderless banking is the freedom it provides. Not just to access money, but to fully participate in the global economy. For millions of professionals in underbanked regions like Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia, borderless banking has become a gateway to financial inclusion and a way to take on opportunities that typically wouldn’t be available to them if not remote.

By removing barriers to entry, platforms like Black Banx empower underserved individuals to both take control of their finances and increase their earning power by working with companies from higher paying markets. This democratization of finance isn’t just good for individuals, it’s good for the global economy as a whole.

As Black Banx CEO Michael Gastauer put it: “Our multi-currency solutions enable businesses to tap into global talent without worrying about payment complexities. We make cross-border transactions as seamless as local ones.”

The Road Ahead

By 2030, the number of digital nomads worldwide is expected to soar past 60 million, according to the Forbes Technology Council. That means tens of millions of workers will be navigating foreign currencies, time zones, and financial systems—all while expecting the same seamless experience they’d get at home.

Indeed, remote professionals aren’t just looking for places to work—they’re looking for systems that work for them. In a lifestyle built on flexibility, traditional banking is proving too rigid, too slow, and too expensive.

Borderless banking services like those offered by the likes of Black Banx, on the other hand, offer exactly what today’s global workforce needs: instant access, multi-currency support, real-time payments, crypto integration, and enterprise-level security—all in a streamlined experience.

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