Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Trump's win could provide a much-needed boost to the consulting industry.</li><li>Trump's proposed tariffs, tax cuts, and deregulation could drive demand for consulting services.</li></ul>President Donald Trump's election victory could spell good news for the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/consulting-firms-mckinsey-bcg-accenture-workers-leaving-2024-9">consulting industry</a>, which has recently faced declines in demand and hiring.Trump campaigned on several proposed policies — including global tariffs on imported goods and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-tax-cuts-social-security-boomers-benefit-fund-depletion-2024-11">sweeping tax cuts</a> — that could <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-presidency-affect-big-tech-2024-11">impact American businesses</a> and, in turn, demand for consulting services.Industry experts told Business Insider they expect <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-white-house-staff-cabinet-picks-list-2024-11">Trump's election</a> to increase demand for consulting, including strategy, management, reorganizational, and technical advisory services."I think the election of Trump is very favorable for the consulting industry," Michael Mische, a management consultant, former partner at KPMG, and professor at USC's Marshall School, told BI.Mische said the primary factors that drive consulting are typically macroeconomic health, government spending, CEO sentiment, free cash flows, and client need. He said there has been client need over the past couple of years, but some CEOs have been hesitant to act on it due to a tough macroeconomic environment, noting that the industry is highly vulnerable and elastic depending on what's going on in the world."Our entire consulting industry — it's predicated on the fact that it's the discretionary item. It literally is the luxury item of the CEO," Mische said.Unlike accounting or legal services, consultants are not a must-have, and they are quick to go when CEO sentiment is down or economic outlooks are uncertain. But Mische said Trump's election will likely boost CEO sentiment, noting that <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-invest-trump-win-election-stock-market-outlook-strategy-2024-11">the stock market reacted</a> positively to Trump's win.Trump's proposal to cut the corporate tax rate could leave more money for companies to put toward discretionary spending like consultants. The unrealized capital gains tax floated by Vice President Kamala Harris is also unlikely to happen now, another potential morale boost for companies.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-election-win-high-inflation-risk-tariffs-deportations-taxes-2024-11">Tariffs</a> might also favor the consulting industry, as responding to them could require "quite of bit of intellectual horsepower" and specialized skillsets that companies may turn to consultants for.Two days after the election, Mische said he was already seeing clients warm up to hiring more consulting services.<h2 id="0172b540-ba65-42fa-b2bd-4c6e3f78d704">Potentially a short-term bump</h2>Tom Rodenhauser, managing partner at the consulting market research firm Kennedy Intelligence, agreed that the industry could see increased demand following Trump's election, but he thinks it could be a "short-term bump."Rodenhauser said Trump comes with uncertainty, along with his promises of tax cuts and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-could-help-deregulate-tech-amid-a-trump-victory-2024-11">deregulation</a> — all of which, including the unpredictability, can be good for consultants."But the bad part is you're borrowing against the future. You're kind of having this very short-term outlook," he said.For instance, in recent years, there has been a push toward renewables as the energy of the future, but Trump's focus on oil and gas could lead to more focus and expenditures on those sectors, a move Rodenhauser said may not be ideal in the long term.He compared the situation to what happened during the pandemic: surging <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-consulting-business-demand-is-rough-right-now-2024-3">demand for consulting services</a> led to over-hiring, which led to layoffs and delayed start dates at some major firms, including <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/big-four-consultancies-deloitte-ey-cut-staff-pwc-accenture-2024-10">Deloitte</a>, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ey-graduate-hires-start-dates-delayed-slowdown-strategy-consulting-2024-10">EY</a>, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/layoffs-sweeping-us-these-are-companies-making-cuts-2024#:~:text=PwC%20is%20cutting%201%2C800%20employees.&amp;text=Big%20Four%20accounting%20firm%20PwC,will%20be%20informed%20in%20October.">PwC</a>."I think the danger for the big consulting firms is you don't want to seize upon an opportunity that's going to give you a short-term fix," he said.Doree Keating, a public sector industry leader at Ernst &amp; Young, had a more optimistic outlook on Trump's impact. "We're seeing tremendous opportunity for the government to leverage cloud technology, responsible AI, and data to drive efficiency and effectiveness across all agencies. Ultimately, our focus will be on helping modernizing government operations to deliver better results for the American people," she told BI by email.<h2 id="728a89b9-e57f-453a-b804-6c5d72e45ff6">'Business as usual'</h2>Two consultants both told Business Insider by direct message on Reddit that their firms are preparing for "business as usual" in Trump's second term. Both requested anonymity to avoid jeopardizing their careers but their employment was confirmed by Business Insider.One consultant who works at Deloitte said there would likely be a shift from federal to state-level work. "The prediction for more state government contracts comes across some of the policy ideas we've heard from the Trump administration; if there's certain federal social services that change or end, states have a lot of work to do to implement those changes but also address gaps it creates for the respective citizens of the state," they wrote.They added that Deloitte's leadership predicts a hiring surge next year to support staffing changes across agencies, new grant work, and implementing policy decisions Trump makes in his first year as president.Deloitte did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment.<h2 id="c6c80825-8c85-4b55-8f64-35597771189a">Three phases of preparing for Trump 2.0</h2>Mische said he expects three phases in how consulting firms respond to the new presidency. First, they'll need more confidence about what they think will happen in 2025. Next, they'll need to work through the backlog of extended but deferred job offers to see who is still interested in working for the firm. And once they have clarity in those regards, firms can start amping up their recruiting efforts.He expects much demand in the energy sectors, from fossil fuels to renewables, and an increased focus on more efficient government spending.The federal government spends billions annually on consulting services, and he said there may be increased demand from agencies Trump has suggested making major changes to, including the Department of Education, the Justice Department, and the Department of Defense.

What Trump's win means for the consulting industry

<keyword id="22782965" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ashima-Gulati" source="keywords">Ashima Gulati</keyword> is a lawyer turned <keyword id="22782966" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="policy-consultant" source="keywords">policy consultant</keyword> with over 7 years of experience in India's public policy arena. Starting off with a B.A.LL.B. (Hons.) from the National Law Institute University in Bhopal, Ashima kicked off her career as a securities and capital markets lawyer in Mumbai. Craving a deeper understanding of India's socio-economic landscape, she made a switch to the development and policy sector. Since her stint in Mumbai, Ashima's had quite the journey, including a two-year fellowship where she taught 70 students from a low-income community and co-founding a non-profit to improve healthcare access for marginalised communities. More recently, while Ashima was working as an independent consultant, collaborating with government, non-profit, and private organisations to build climate resilience and adaptation strategies for these groups, she went on something of a spree and applied to 10 master’s programs that combined general policy insights with climate change and sustainable development. But here’s the kicker: she got into ALL of them and bagged over USD 200,000 in <keyword id="19897091" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="scholarships" source="keywords">scholarships</keyword>! The impressive list of colleges and universities she got accepted into include Oxford, Columbia, <keyword id="191548" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cornell" source="Orion">Cornell</keyword>, <keyword id="142498" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="university-of-chicago" source="Orion">University of Chicago</keyword>'s Harris School of Public Policy, The Fletcher School at Tufts University and Geneva Graduate Institute, to name a few. As Ashima prepares to leave for Oxford, where she will pursue Master of Public Policy, we got in touch with her to ask her how she managed to achieve this monumental feat. While she works towards her ever-evolving passion for public policy and sustainable development, other aspirants can probably take a page or two out of her book! Ashima attributes her success in applying to international universities to the a few unique aspects. Here are five such major factors that helped her application stand out from the crowd in her own words: Demonstrate the uniqueness of candidature through evidence “I believe it is of utmost importance to be able to substantiate the claims that one makes in their applications with respect to their profile, work experiences, leadership qualities, and most importantly, the impact that one has created in the society. Since my college days, I have maintained a detailed record of all initiatives and opportunities I have engaged in, documenting my involvement thoroughly. For my master’s applications, I included such documentation through publications, data evidence, and other relevant sources. Additionally, I encouraged my recommenders to provide evidence supporting the qualities they intended to highlight in their letters. This approach fosters transparency and credibility in the application, avoiding the use of superlatives and ensuring grounded presentation of one’s profile.” Showcase alignment with the specific program and the university “It is essential to thoroughly research and understand the focus and advantages of the specific program before drafting application essays. This ensures that you can effectively align your profile and professional experiences with the program and the university. The application should clearly demonstrate how the program’s unique features will enhance your knowledge, skills, and career goals. In my view, the applications should be highly tailored to the specific program and university to which one is applying to.” Be honest with one’s limitations and gaps in current knowledge and skill set “In my view, there has to be a demonstrated need for upskilling and applying to the program. One should be able to discuss the obstacles and hindrances one has experienced in their current profile, and a genuine need to upskill to overcome such challenges. Additionally, the application should also discuss how the program/university will help the applicant in addressing such challenges, and in helping one grow in their professional journey.” Connect with alumni and articulate well-considered future goals “Applicants should clearly outline their professional goals, both short-term and long-term, within their applications. It is important to demonstrate that you have engaged with alumni to gain insights into the opportunities provided by the program and the university. Additionally, the application should detail how the program and the university will support you in achieving these advanced goals. This approach reflects thorough research and preparation, showcasing the uniqueness of the program and university as your commitment to leveraging these opportunities effectively.” Discuss your contribution to the growth of the program/university “Many applicants overlook this aspect in their applications. It is crucial to articulate how you will contribute to the program and university both as a current student and as an alumnus. This demonstrates a strong commitment to the institution. You should describe how you plan to leverage your skills and knowledge in specific areas, such as conferences or journals, to contribute meaningfully to the institution. This reflects your genuine interest and dedication to the institute, and a mutual relationship that you wish to nurture with the institute.” While the pointers Ashima shares are undoubtedly helpful, she stresses on how its the candidate profile that matters most. You can check out her profile <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashima-gulati/?originalSubdomain=in" data-type="tilCustomLink">here</a>. Furthermore, as dedicated as Ashima is towards her cause and her <keyword id="19907717" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="education" source="keywords">education</keyword> at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, she acknowledges that letting go of the financial stability that her career in law afforded her was not an easy choice to make. However, these acceptances served as affirmations that traditional notions of what a career must look like are evolving, she asserted. She now knows that taking risks in one’s career can be rewarding if done right! Going forward, Ashima is committed to using her education to advance her career in the public policy sector with the goal of contributing to the well-being and uplifting of marginalised communities, mostly by addressing the intersections of education, healthcare and climate change. And we wish her all the very best! <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112316410" title="I moved from the US to Germany for college. Tuition is mostly free, but I miss the American school spirit." mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

This Amritsar resident got into Oxford, Columbia, Cornell, and 10 major international programs with over Rs. 1.6 crore in scholarships! She shares 5 tips for fellow applicants

<ul class="summary-list"><li>This post originally appeared in the Insider Today newsletter.</li></ul>Welcome back to our Sunday edition, a roundup of some of our top stories. Studying computer science was supposed to be the ticket to job security. Not anymore, according to a professor at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tech-degrees-job-berkeley-professor-ai-ubi-2024-10">UC Berkeley</a>.On the agenda today:<ul><li>Consulting firms are facing a reckoning as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/consulting-firms-mckinsey-bcg-accenture-workers-leaving-2024-9">workers head for the exits</a>.</li><li>4:30 a.m. wakeups are part of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apollo-ceo-marc-rowan-management-tactics-430-am-wakeup-call-2024-10">Apollo's new management strategy</a>.</li><li>Retirees are selling their businesses. It's a $10 trillion <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boomers-selling-small-businesses-investment-opportunity-millennials-gen-z-retirement-2024-10">opportunity for millennials</a>.</li><li>Introducing our list of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/top-wall-street-executives-rising-stars-investing-trading-2024">Wall Street's rising stars</a>.</li></ul>But first: Making sense of a huge month for hiring.If this was forwarded to you, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/subscription/newsletter/insider-today-sunday-edition">sign up here</a>. Download Insider's app <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/app">here.</a><h3 id="58506b3b-b008-4ead-9e90-71439c9e98dd">This week's dispatch</h3><h2 id="2a7b4701-4b9e-48dd-b7c6-5bd656268197">Hot jobs report</h2><div type="image" title="A line of people waiting for an interview" height="1500" width="2000" msid="113986358" hostid="261" sizebytes="312640"></div>The US economy added way more jobs in September than expected.The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/september-jobs-report-unemployment-rate-nonfarm-payroll-growth-federal-reserve-2024-10">jobs report</a> on Friday showed 254,000 jobs added, way ahead of the 147,000 expected, while unemployment dropped to 4.1%. Jobs growth in July and August was also revised upwards."Any way you slice it, September's employment report was much stronger than expectations," said one investor in response to the report.Here's what it all means:Rates: The strong job numbers likely mean a longer wait for lower rates. Investors responded by immediately lowering their expectations for another <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/september-jobs-report-fed-rate-cut-outlook-november-labor-market-2024-10">jumbo rate cut</a> from the Fed in November. Many now predict the Fed will wait until December to cut rates.Stocks: A low-inflation, low-unemployment environment is the ideal scenario for stocks. The Dow closed at another <a target="_blank" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stock-market-today-strong-jobs-report-soothes-fears-economic-slowdown-2024-10">record high</a> on Friday, and some see a "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/economy-hitting-roaring-20s-stride-fed-rate-cuts-gdp-growth-2024-9">Roaring '20s economy</a>" emerging.Election: The strong hiring numbers represent a boost for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/blockbuster-jobs-report-kamala-harris-election-trump-inflation-economy-2024-10">Kamala Harris' presidential campaign</a>. Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly attacked President Joe Biden and VP Harris over their handling of the economy, but polls suggest the Harris campaign may be winning over more <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kamala-harris-economy-inflation-polling-donald-trump-joe-biden-2024-8">Americans on her handling of the economy</a>.Vibes: Don't bet on these numbers changing the mood much. Yes, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inflation-august-consumer-price-index-federal-reserve-rate-cuts-2024-9">inflation</a> looks to be under control, but prices in the grocery aisle are much higher than they were four years ago. Yes, unemployment has dropped, but many still feel like getting a new job is <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/finding-job-awful-right-now-drop-in-openings-tough-search-2024-9">harder than ever</a>.<h2 id="8de1f093-db58-438e-a296-ab09ff92ad5c">Consultants head for the exits</h2>For decades, ambitious students have aggressively pursued careers in consulting. But young workers are starting to reconsider amid a tough stretch for the industry.Layoffs and delayed start dates at firms like Deloitte and Accenture have pushed some consultants — including those who've been at it a while — to reconsider a gig once synonymous with generous expense accounts and stability.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/consulting-firms-mckinsey-bcg-accenture-workers-leaving-2024-9">How consulting lost its cool</a>.<div type="image" title="Marc Rowan between other speakers on a panel." height="2464" width="3500" msid="113986360" hostid="261" sizebytes="290056"></div><h2 id="8d221ec2-a40e-4d73-80e7-638d6c30f428">Playing to win</h2>Apollo Management aims to double its assets in five years, but getting there won't be easy."We have woken the team up at 4:30 a.m. in the morning for meetings to prove to them that we need to do a wake-up call and something different," Apollo Management CEO Marc Rowan told investors. These tactics are part of a new strategy to teach employees to "play to win" amid changing market conditions, Rowan said."<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apollo-ceo-marc-rowan-management-tactics-430-am-wakeup-call-2024-10">We have to adapt, and we have to change</a>."<div type="image" title="Stock graph with younger woman and older woman on opposite ends of the upward arrow" height="1500" width="2000" msid="113986367" hostid="261" sizebytes="476442"></div><h2 id="69bad2e5-a5bf-4ba9-b958-e3eff00ffc5b">The great boomer fire sale</h2>Scrappy, entrepreneurial millennials have a new path to retirement: Scooping up boomers' businesses.As they enter their prime wealth-building years, many millennials are anxious about how they'll save for retirement. Retiring boomers looking to sell off their companies present millennials with a $10 trillion opportunity.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boomers-selling-small-businesses-investment-opportunity-millennials-gen-z-retirement-2024-10">How millennials are cashing in on boomer wealth</a>.<div type="image" title="Photo collage of popular luxury items for Wall Streeters" height="1500" width="2000" msid="113986364" hostid="261" sizebytes="262060"></div><h2 id="dc96d953-8312-4bf5-8432-dfb9ba5779e5">Wall Street's finest</h2>Every year, Business Insider taps its contacts to put together a list of who to watch on Wall Street. The nominees, each 35 or younger, are shaping the future of finance.This year's list includes 25 rising stars from firms like JPMorgan, Bridgewater, and Apollo. We asked each of them to share their successes, challenges, and best career advice.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/top-wall-street-executives-rising-stars-investing-trading-2024">See who made the cut</a>.This week's quote:"Removing layers, operating with fewer managers and flattening the organization are all in focus to move faster."— A Morgan Stanley note estimating <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-could-cut-managers-save-3-billion-analysts-2024-10">Amazon could save $3 billion by laying off 14,000 managers</a>.More of this week's top reads:<ul><li>Microsoft won't follow an Amazon-style RTO policy — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-wont-follow-amazon-rto-unless-productivity-drops-exec-2024-9">unless productivity slows</a>.</li><li>Nvidia's next target: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jensen-huang-nvidia-robots-huamanoid-self-driving-cars-2024-9">the burgeoning robotics market</a>.</li><li>Leaked document shows Amazon rolled out <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-cedric-safer-ai-chatbot-employees-2024-9">a ChatGPT replacement for employees</a>.</li><li>Google's ad business could be <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-adtech-should-be-spun-off-b-corp-arete-analysts-2024-9">saved by a $150 billion spinoff</a>.</li><li>Credit card companies are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/high-credit-card-interest-rates-americans-debt-bills-fees-spending-2024-10">ripping you off like never before</a>.</li><li>The investors behind <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/openai-investors-latest-funding-round-2024-10">OpenAI's historic $6.6 billion funding round</a>.</li><li>Google Search is about to see <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-search-lens-ai-gemini-overviews-new-features-2024-10">'a pretty dramatic shift.'</a></li><li>OpenAI's rivals are on the prowl after an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/openai-rivals-anthropic-perplexity-on-prowl-after-wave-exec-departures-2024-10">exodus of high-level executives</a>.The Insider Today team: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/dan-defrancesco">Dan DeFrancesco</a>, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/jordan-parker-erb">Jordan Parker Erb</a>, editor, in New York. Grace Lett, editor, in Chicago. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/amanda-yen">Amanda Yen</a>, fellow, in New York.</li></ul>

Insider Today: Consultants hit the exits

In a boost to Elon Musk's <keyword id="20034452" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="starlink" source="keywords">Starlink</keyword>, Communications Minister Scindia has said the spectrum for satellite broadband will be allocated and not auctioned as sought by Indian billionaires Mukesh Ambani and Sunil Mittal. The satellite broadband spectrum will however be not given free and sector regulator Trai will fix a price for the resource, he told PTI in a text and video interview. "Every country has to follow the <keyword id="20848482" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="international-telecommunications-union" source="keywords">International Telecommunications Union</keyword> (ITU), which is the organisation that lays out the policy for spectrum in space or satellites, and the ITU has been very clear in terms of the spectrum being given out on an assignment basis. In addition, if you look across the world today, I cannot think of a single country that auctions spectrum for satellite," Scindia said. India is a member of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a UN agency for digital technology. Musk's Starlink and global peers like Amazon's Project Kuiper back an administrative allocation. While Ambani's Reliance Jio has been vocal about the need to allocate such spectrum through an auction to provide a level playing field to legacy operators who buy airwaves and set up infrastructure like telecom towers, Mittal last month at an industry event where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also present articulated the need to use bidding for such allocation. Jio and Mittal's Bharti Airtel - India's largest and second-largest operators, respectively - feel that giving away the satellite broadband airwaves at a pre-decided price by the government will create an uneven playing field since they had to compete in an auction to get spectrum for their terrestrial wireless phone networks. The two are vying for a piece of the satellite broadband segment as well. Musk-led Starlink is demanding administrative allotment of licences in line with the global trend as it looks to tap into the world's fastest-growing mobile telephony and internet market. Scindia said the Telecom Act of 2023 passed in December has put the matter in 'Schedule 1', which means that the Satcom spectrum will be allocated administratively. Such an allocation will be at a government-decided price, and allow foreign firms like Starlink to offer voice and data services. If the spectrum were to be auctioned, it would have made it costlier for Starlink to roll out services. Starlink has applied for a licence to start operations in the country. Scindia, however, offered no clues on the fate of his application. The minister said that the regulatory process is very clear and transparent. The new Telecom Act has been passed, and the Satellite spectrum is very clearly a part of that in schedule one, he pointed out. "...and therefore, we are open to looking at the application of any entity that wants to invest in India at this point in time. I think only one or two licenses have been given out. And whoever else wants to participate, India is surely going to welcome that," the minister said. Last month, Musk, in a post on X, termed the demand made by Jio for shunning sector regulator Trai's consultation paper on satellite broadband being allocated and not auctioned as "unprecedented", and when Mittal made the pitch in the presence of the Prime Minister, he asked if it was "too much trouble" to allow Starlink to provide internet services in India. This was perhaps the first time that Musk, whose networth of USD 241 billion is more than the combined wealth of Ambani, Mittal and Gautam Adani, had spoken directly against demands for a level playing field made by the Indian firms. Musk, the mind behind PayPal, founder of Tesla and SpaceX and owner of X (formerly Twitter), uses his social media platform on a daily basis to make his views known on a vast array of topics.

In a win for Elon Musk, Scindia says no to spectrum auction pitch from Ambani, Mittal

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Payouts to partners at the Big Four consultancies are falling.</li><li>Annual returns are being affected by a slowdown in sales and an increase in the number of partners.</li></ul>Partner payouts at the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/big-four-consultancies-deloitte-ey-cut-staff-pwc-accenture-2024-10">Big Four consultancies</a> are falling as demand for professional services declines and firms increase the number of partners.At EY, partner payouts in the UK, where the global consulting and accountancy firm is headquartered, were down 5% this year. UK partners received an average of £723,000 ($938,000) compared to £761,000 ($987,000) the previous year.The firm said in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.ey.com/en_uk/newsroom/2024/10/ey-uk-net-revenues-grew-3-percent-in-a-challenging-market">a press release</a> that the decrease in pay reflected a rise in the number of partners during the 2024 financial year. EY now has 903 partners as of June 2024, up from 866 at the same point in 2023, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.ft.com/content/39095b58-5940-46f3-92e5-759a2923334d">the FT</a> reported.Revenue growth at EY fell from 16% in the previous financial year to just 3% in FY2024. The drop in performance was driven by declines in some of EY's key divisions, with its consulting and strategy business decreasing by 4% and transactions decreasing by 13%."With depressed UK and global deal activity and weak levels of corporate confidence during FY24, we have responded to the market to ensure we have the right platform for continued long-term growth and profitability," said Hywel Ball, EY's outgoing UK managing partner.Senior employees at the Big Four consultancies, which are all privately held, can be <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-get-onto-partner-track-make-millions-management-consulting-mckinsey">promoted to partner status</a>, and some are offered equity ownership in the business. In addition to salary and bonuses, equity partners traditionally receive a share of annual profits.At PwC and Deloitte, partners have also seen their payouts drop this year as growth slows.UK partners at PwC took home an average of £862,000 ($1.11 million) this financial year, 5% less than the same period in 2023. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.pwc.co.uk/who-we-are/annual-report.html">PwC reported</a> that its total revenue growth was down to 9% compared to 16% growth in 2023.At Deloitte, partner payouts were down by 4.5% to around £1 million ($1.3 million), leaving equity partners taking home roughly £50,000 less than the previous year.The fall in pay comes as the Big Four — which consists of Deloitte, EY, KPMG, and PwC — attempt to balance operations following the end of the pandemic-era rush on advisory services.Many <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/consulting-firms-mckinsey-bcg-accenture-workers-leaving-2024-9">consultancies hired rapidly</a> to meet soaring demand in the early 2020s. As the workload slowed, revenues declined. The major firms have been making adjustments in order to balance operations, such as <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ey-graduate-hires-start-dates-delayed-slowdown-strategy-consulting-2024-10">delaying start dates</a> for new hires and laying off employees. However, the impact of policies is not expected to be immediate.Despite the current slowdown in growth, many firms believe <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-questions-consulting-firms-are-answering-for-clients-2024-6">AI</a> will provide a necessary boost to business as more companies look to consultants for advice on how best to get started and optimize their operations.

Partner pay at Big 4 firms is dropping, the latest sign of the consulting slowdown

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Trump could soften his economic agenda to appease investors, Wharton's Jeremy Siegel said.</li><li>That's because Trump is "the most pro-stock market president" in history, Siegel told CNBC.</li></ul>Donald Trump might hesitate to carry out some of his sweeping <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-tariffs-higher-inflation-fed-interest-rates-taxes-mortgage-rates-2024-11">economic agenda</a> to avoid losing the approval of stock and bond investors, Wharton professor Jeremy Siegel said on Monday. .<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bVRO1DwHLU">In an interview with CNBC</a>, Siegel said he believed Trump would adopt a strong pro-market stance over his next term, even at the expense of some of his proposed economic policies. The top economist pointed to Trump's eagerness to point to the stock market as a measure of success in the past as a reason he might not want to upset the roaring bull market. "President Trump is the most pro-stock market president we have had in our history," Siegel added. "It seems to me very unlikely that he's going to implement policy that will be bad for the stock market." A reaction to some of Trump's proposed policies, which economists believe will add to the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/harris-trump-fix-national-debt-how-to-invest-portfolio-protection-2024-10">federal deficit</a> and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-tariffs-higher-inflation-fed-interest-rates-taxes-mortgage-rates-2024-11">stoke higher inflation</a>, was already seen in the bond market last week. Following the election, the yield on the 10-year US Treasury spiked past 4.4%, its highest level since July. Though yields have pulled back and stabilized since, Siegel said it's a sign that bond investors could be ready to protest any policies that pile on more government debt or fuel inflation. It could also be a sign investors are <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-rate-cuts-uncertainty-trump-presidency-inflation-tariffs-2024-11">concerned over the potential for higher inflation</a>, and are anticipating higher interest rates from the Federal Reserve. "I thought what happened on Wednesday after he won when those yields went up was a shot across the bow, saying, 'Hey, you know, just watch out what you do. We're there, and all the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tax-cut-tariff-plan-outlook-presidential-election-scenarios-harris-trump-2024-10">tax cuts</a> you promised, we're very skeptical,'" Siegel said. "Both the bond market and the stock market are going to be really big constraints on many of Trump's programs."With a Republican-led Congress, Trump's proposal to extend his 2017 tax cut package looks like a "slam dunk," Siegel noted, though he said anticipated challenges to Trump's other <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tax-cut-tariff-plan-outlook-presidential-election-scenarios-harris-trump-2024-10">proposed tax cuts</a>. If Trump were to implement all of his proposed cuts, yields could end up rising past 5%, Siegel predicted."So I think the trend of higher long-term rates is going to be with us," he added.Sigel added that the former president is also unlikely to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-inflation-interest-rates-fed-rate-cuts-fomc-meeting-outlook-2024-11">wrest control from the Federal Reserve</a>. Though Trump was reported to be making plans to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-control-federal-reserve-jerome-powell-tariffs-inflation-2024-9">exert more influence</a> over the central bank's policy decisions, the move would probably prove unpopular with markets. "He might want a little bit more consultation, but the market likes the independence for the Fed. If he messes any substantial way with the independence of the Fed, that's not going to be good for the bond market or the stock market," he added.

Trump could dial back some proposed policies to avoid upsetting a roaring stock market, Wharton professor Jeremy Siegel says

<ul><li>India's real GDP grew at around 8.2% in real terms in Fy24: Economic Survey </li><li>Retail inflation dipped to 5.4% in FY24, notes Economic Survey</li><li>Unemployment dipped to 3.2% in FY24</li></ul><keyword id="19912360" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Finance-Minister-Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords">Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> is set to present the union budget on 23rd July, at 11 am. The budget session is scheduled to last between 22nd July and 12th August. This will be <keyword id="19956941" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="FM-Sitharaman" source="keywords">FM Sitharaman</keyword>'s seventh consecutive budget presentation under the third term of <keyword id="20205025" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bhartiya-Janata-Party" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Bhartiya Janata Party" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Bhartiya Janata Party">Bhartiya Janata Party</keyword> (BJP). All budget-related documents will be available at indiabudget.gov.in. You can watch the presentation live on Doordarshan, Sansad TV, and also on various official government YouTube channels. With this budget, Sitharaman will only precede former PM <keyword id="20342248" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Morarji-Desai" source="keywords">Morarji Desai</keyword>, who has presented the highest number of budget (10) till date, followed by <keyword id="22330828" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="P-Chidambaram" source="keywords">P. Chidambaram</keyword> with 9 budgets, and Pranab Mukherjee, who has 8 budgets to his credit. In her recent address in parliament, Sitharaman noted that significant social and economic decisions will be a highlight of this budget. Notably, she concluded <keyword id="901788" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="pre-budget-consultations" source="Orion">pre-budget consultations</keyword>, which began on June 19th, on July 5th, where she met 20 invitees across 10 groups, including representatives from agriculture, skill development, finance and banking, energy, <keyword id="17408" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Infrastructure" source="Orion">infrastructure</keyword> sector and more. <h2>Key expectations from Budget 2024</h2>Experts note that this budget will mainly focus on improving consumption, and boosting <keyword id="174143" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="infrastructure-development" source="Orion">infrastructure development</keyword>. Per reports, the government is also mulling raising the threshold of standard deduction under income tax regimes from the present Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh. Additionally, to boost healthcare accessibility for the underserved in the country, the government is also contemplating to double the annual coverage offered under the <keyword id="20097876" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ayushman-Bharat-health-insurance-scheme" source="keywords">Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme</keyword> from the present Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh over the next 3 years, along with also covering individuals aged over 70. Mr. Tashwinder Singh, CEO &amp; MD, Niyogin Fintech Limited, which offers credit to MSMEs, noted that upcoming regulatory changes should focus on simplifying compliance, taxation policies that encourage entrepreneurship, and incentivise innovations that drive R&amp;D investments. "We hope that the government takes measures to support the lending industry through access to capital and affordable interest rates, enabling entrepreneurs to realize their vision. Furthermore, we look forward to relaxed norms for NBFCs, allowing them to contribute more substantially to the economy. These measures will collectively propel India's economic growth, boost job creation, and position the Indian fintech industry as a strong contender in innovation and entrepreneurship", he continues. As for bolstering green infrastructure and clean energy production, Ms Aditi Balbir, Co-founder, EcoRatings notes that the 2024 union budget should prioritize investments in sustainable infrastructure projects and clean energy solutions, as 70% of greenhouse gas emissions stem from energy, industry, and buildings. "This will create a future-proof foundation for economic growth and help in achieving net-zero targets. Infrastructure is crucial in addressing climate change and meeting diverse societal needs. A transformative overhaul of our current and future infrastructure assets is essential. The budget should introduce financial incentives, such as lower interest rates on loans and dedicated grants, for companies committed to ESG compliance. This will create a clear link between sustainability efforts and economic benefits", she continued. <h2>Focus on Agri-credit, Real Estate in Budget 2024</h2>The government could also raise the target for agricultural loans disbursed during the year by up to 25%, setting the target at Rs 25 lakh crore. The government will also have to revamp the MSP (minimum support price) system in this space, focusing on challenges such as narrow coverage, dipping export competitiveness, discouraging private investment in this space and more. Another area that demands significant attention is real estate. Shubhi Jain, Principal Partner &amp; Head of CRM, Square Yards anticipates significant reforms in the upcoming budget under the new government. Securing industry status will unlock a plethora of legal and administrative benefits, along with much-needed tax incentives. "Also, while government’s focus on affordable housing under PMAY is commendable, recalibrating strategies in light of escalating construction costs is imperative for sustained inclusiveness and effectiveness. Moreover, enhanced tax reliefs and increased deductions on home loans, currently capped at INR 2 lakhs, are pivotal in stimulating demand and supporting prospective buyers", she says. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111946291" title="Union Budget 2024-25 key highlights: Assistance for Nalanda's development as a tourist center" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div><h2>Short-term outlook positive, notes Economic Survey </h2>FM Sitharaman presented the Economic Survey 2023-24 in the parliament today, ahead of the budget. The survey noted that the Indian economy had managed to recover and expand in an orderly fashion post the pandemic, with the real GDP growing by 8.2% in FY24. Going ahead, prospects for continued strong growth in FY25 remain robust. India also managed to bring down its current account deficit (0.7% of GDP in FY24), while projecting a 7%+ growth rate in the medium term. On the employment front, the survey noted that AI might moderate India's services export growth by as much as 0.3 to 0.4 percentage points annually over the course of the next decade. As such, greater emphasis and focus is needed on areas like blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, Internet of Things, cybersecurity, cloud computing, big data analytics, augmented reality, virtual reality, 3D printing, and web and mobile development. The Indian labour market indicators have significantly improved over the past 6 years, with unemployment rates dipping to 3.2% in 2022-23. However, even as net payroll additions to EPFO have doubled over the last 5 years, signaling a healthy formal employment market, job creation and increasing women participation in workforce remain key areas of concern. For all updates and latest information related to the budget, don't forget to follow <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Budget Insider</a>! SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/union-budget-2024-live-updates-finance-minister-nirmala-sitharaman-key-announcements-23-july/liveblog/111942008.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Union Budget 2024 Live Updates: FM Sitharaman announces internships for 10 million youth in 500 top companies</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/loan-limit-under-mudra-scheme-to-be-doubled-to-20-lakh-sitharaman/articleshow/111950024.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Loan limit under MUDRA scheme to be doubled to ₹20 lakh: Sitharaman</a>

Union Budget 2024: When will it be presented, what time, where to watch and what are various sectors expecting?

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Costco offers its members unlimited returns on most items.</li><li>The policy, unsurprisingly, has meant some people have donated particularly old or gross items.</li></ul>A big perk of a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/costco-first-timer-review-most-surprising-things-2023-10">Costco</a> membership is the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/costco-membership-canceled-return-policy-2018-8">unlimited returns</a> offered by the company.Customers can return almost anything without a time limit. Certain exceptions, like electronic goods, have a 90-day cap, and diamonds must be returned within 48 hours. Meanwhile, cigarettes, alcohol, gold bars, and silver coins aren't eligible for return.Aside from the handful of exceptions, customers have a 100% satisfaction guarantee.But it's a policy ripe that's for abuse.The internet is awash with examples of people using the policy outside its original intention and returning particularly <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/costco-return-policy-stories-employees-share-2019-3">old and/or gross items</a>.<h2 id="f27b958f-69b0-4dc1-b3d4-98cb56f71ce5">Wildest returns</h2>Earlier this year, a photo that appeared to show someone returning a TV from 2002 to a Costco store started to circulate on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Costco/comments/1bzbpfh/i_just_watched_someone_return_a_tv_it_was/">Reddit</a>, and once again drew attention to Costco's liberal returns policy.While the returns policy on electronic goods is now 90 days, until 2007, Costco members had an unlimited returns policy on electronic goods — excluding personal computers. It's far from the only example of Costco returns.A woman went viral on <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@xojacckss/video/7327451039567744298?q=costco%20returns&amp;t=1712830594910">TikTok</a> in January after she said that she successfully returned a 2.5-year-old couch to the store without a receipt.Yuliana Martinez and Louis Orellana also previously told Business Insider that they got a full $200 refund on their two-year-old used <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-costco-used-mattress-return-policy-works-2023-8">Costco mattress</a>.It's up to the discretion of Costco store managers whether they accept a return — and many of them have their own stories to tell about the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/craziest-things-returned-to-costco-2017-5">wildest returns</a>.Costco employees who have previously spoken to BI have shared that some <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/costco-return-policy-stories-employees-share-2019-3">customers have brought back "half-eaten food,</a>" that they said wasn't up to par.Another Costco employee previously told BI that a woman had returned two dirty, five-year-old toilets to the warehouse.<h2 id="8a25b8c1-50c6-4404-9d07-e287150d5267">Other retailers have cracked down on returns</h2>It seems like a way to hemorrhage money to refund customers half-eaten food, or well-worn pieces of furniture, but Costco continues to offer the policy while others have abandoned it.L.L. Bean used to offer a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ll-bean-kills-lifetime-return-policy-2018-2">legendary lifetime returns policy</a> but switched to a one-year return limit in 2018 after some customers abused it.Even online retailers are <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/free-shipping-free-returns-online-shopping-companies-charging-expensive-amazon-2024-2">cracking down on returns</a>.People have grown accustomed to using free shipping and no-cost returns to try on a range of different sizes and styles in the comfort of their own homes, at the retailer's expense. However, some have taken it to the extreme and have been barred from online shopping by various retailers for returning thousands of pounds of goods.<h2 id="8feac775-0cdd-43f5-b75a-256906e343aa">So why does Costco still offer the policy?</h2><div type="image" title="Costco membership" height="1500" width="2000" msid="112063022" hostid="261" sizebytes="191106"></div>Costco's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-costco-builds-customer-loyalty-low-prices-returns-hot-dogs-2024-7">business model</a> relies on maintaining customer loyalty, and unlimited returns help."I think it is one of the underpinnings of the company's success. Costco likes to go further for members, and this is one of the services that helps demonstrate that, " Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData Retail, told BI."Some people always abuse returns policies. However, most customers don't. And that's why the math stacks up for Costco," Saunders added.Katherine Black, a partner at global strategy and management consulting firm Kearney, told BI that it also encourages customers to splash out on big-ticket items and make impulse purchases, knowing that they can return them.Demonstrating trust in its members is a core part of maintaining customers' relationships with Costco. The club model "inspires loyalty, affinity, and accountability," Gina Logan, principal analyst at Kantar, told BI."By providing essentially infinite returns, it's keeping that promise to take care of its members, ensuring that they renew, and adding to the value of the upfront cost of the annual fee," she said.Even the crazy returns themselves help to bolster Costco's brand."The viral posts and articles about outrageous returns don't do anything to hurt Costco. In fact, they just add to the legend," said Logan.

Some people may love to abuse Costco's generous returns policy, but it's a genius business decision

<ul class="summary-list"><li>New York's viral new trash bins were unveiled following a $1.6 million contract with McKinsey.</li><li>Mayor Eric Adams revealed the new bins as part of his "Trash Revolution," launched Monday.</li></ul>New York's much-discussed new trash cans have been shown off nearly two years after the city spent $1.6 million to contract with consulting giant McKinsey in 2022.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/530-24/mayor-adams-sanitation-commissioner-tisch-first-ever-official-nyc-bin-trash-pick-up-#/0">On Monday, NYC Mayor Eric Adams revealed the wheeled bin </a>alongside NYC Department of Sanitation Commissioner <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meet-the-tischs-2012-5">Jessica Tisch</a>, who symbolically put a black bag from his official residence, Gracie Mansion, into the container.Video of the launch, which saw Adams wheeling a bin onto the street while Jay-Z and Alicia Keys' "Empire State of Mind" played, quickly went viral, drawing memes and ridicule from citizens of cities that have <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/citchmook/status/1810718583225471117">had similar bins for decades.</a> Under the new rules, which come into force on November 12, 2024, all properties with one to nine residential units will be required by law to use one of the latch-lidded waste collectors, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bins.nyc/">now available to purchase online</a> from $46.The newly introduced requirement seeks to minimize the number of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nyc-rat-czar-stop-feeding-pigeons-tactics-2024-4">sidewalk rats</a>. It isn't known exactly how many rats are in NYC, but a 2014 study suggested there were around two million, and a pest control firm in 2023 estimated there were close to <a target="_blank" href="https://mandmpestcontrol.com/there-are-now-3-million-rats-in-new-york-city-study/">three million rats in NYC.</a>Adams said the program was part of his administration's "Trash Revolution," which aims to clean up the city's streets. Officials estimate New Yorkers produce around 14 billion pounds of trash each year. But with the new rule directed at removing about 70% of this, curbside garbage piles are hoped to become a problem of the past.Plans for the new bins follow the city's work with consulting giant McKinsey &amp; Company, which was drafted in to help the city assess how to contain its waste. A Sanitation Department official <a target="_blank" href="https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2022/10/03/exclu-sanitation-department-hires-mckinsey-for-containerization-study">told New York Streetsblog at the time that the project was worth around $4 million,</a> but a spokesperson for the department told Business Insider $1.6 million was paid out to McKinsey for the contract.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/07/nyregion/new-york-city-trash-mckinsey.html">According to an October 2022 New York Times article,</a> McKinsey was scheduled to spend 20 weeks working with the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/department-of-new-york-city-sanitation-worker-day-in-the-life">Sanitation Department</a> to determine what sort of bins would suit different streetscapes, what they should look like, and which vendors to use. The department told Business Insider that work on the contract concluded in April 2023.The goal was to design a program capable of combating New York's decadeslong garbage problem, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nyc.gov/assets/dsny/downloads/resources/reports/future-of-trash.pdf">looking at waste collection methods used in urban areas around the world</a> and focusing on containerization — or, in simple terms, putting trash bags in bins rather than on the street.A New York City Sanitation Department spokesperson told Business Insider, "DSNY's limited work with McKinsey a couple of years ago is not directly related to this week's wheelie bin announcement.""McKinsey did not determine or recommend policy — they did math around the fact that the City was interested in waste containerization, a strategy the Adams Administration is now aggressively pursuing," the spokesperson added. The bin design was the result of work conducted by city employees, another DSNY spokesperson told BI.The solution decided upon is similar to systems already used in cities like Barcelona, where fleets of colored, uniform bins are often found on residential blocks.The bin project is far from the firm's first consultation in New York. The Office of the New York State Comptroller shows that McKinsey has worked on at least <a target="_blank" href="https://wwe2.osc.state.ny.us/transparency/contracts/contractresults.cfm?ID=14808">10 other projects</a> with the state.McKinsey declined to comment when contacted by Business Insider.Correction: July 11, 2024 — An earlier version of this story misstated McKinsey's role in working with the New York City Sanitation Department. The department said that it hired McKinsey to help inform its efforts at waste management but that the decision to pursue the wheeled bins unveiled Monday was the city's and not a McKinsey recommendation. The story was also updated with a statement from a New York City Sanitation Department spokesperson and with new information from the department that the contract with McKinsey, originally said to be as high as $4 million, was ultimately worth $1.6 million.

You Searched For "policy consultant" and got 10 results

What Trump's win means for the consulting industry

Kelsey Vlamis,Lakshmi Varanasi

This Amritsar resident got into Oxford, Columbia, Cornell, and 10 major international programs with over Rs. 1.6 crore in scholarships! She shares 5 tips for fellow applicants

Ashmita Gupta

Insider Today: Consultants hit the exits

Matt Turner

In a win for Elon Musk, Scindia says no to spectrum auction pitch from Ambani, Mittal

PTI

Partner pay at Big 4 firms is dropping, the latest sign of the consulting slowdown

Polly Thompson

Trump could dial back some proposed policies to avoid upsetting a roaring stock market, Wharton professor Jeremy Siegel says

Jennifer Sor

Union Budget 2024: When will it be presented, what time, where to watch and what are various sectors expecting?

Ira Alok Puranik

Some people may love to abuse Costco's generous returns policy, but it's a genius business decision

Alexandra Bacon

New York's viral new trash cans unveiled nearly 2 years after a $1.6 million contract with consultancy giant McKinsey

Nora Redmond

Explained: Is surrendering your moneyback policy a wise idea?

Anagh Pal

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides