@import"https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Montserrat:ital,wght@0,300;0,400;0,500;0,600;0,700;0,800;1,400&display=swap";:root{--navy: #002241;--navy-deep: #001A32;--navy-mid: #00325E;--gold: #E1CD72;--gold-lt: #F3CF69;--gold-dim: rgba(225, 205, 114, .15);--white: #FFFFFF;--gray-300: rgba(255,255,255,.85);--gray-400: rgba(255,255,255,.65);--gray-500: rgba(255,255,255,.45);--text-light: rgba(255,255,255,.75);--text-muted: rgba(255,255,255,.5);--border: rgba(225, 205, 114, .15);--max-width: 800px;--max-width-wide: 1240px}*,*:before,*:after{box-sizing:border-box;margin:0;padding:0}html{scroll-behavior:smooth}body{background:var(--navy);color:var(--white);font-family:Montserrat,sans-serif;font-size:16px;line-height:1.7;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased}h1,h2,h3,h4{font-family:Montserrat,sans-serif;font-weight:600;line-height:1.2;color:var(--white)}h1{font-size:clamp(2rem,5vw,3.2rem);margin-bottom:1.25rem}h2{font-size:clamp(1.5rem,3vw,2.2rem);margin-top:2.5rem;margin-bottom:1rem;color:var(--gold-lt)}h3{font-size:clamp(1.2rem,2.5vw,1.6rem);margin-top:2rem;margin-bottom:.75rem}h4{font-size:1.1rem;margin-top:1.5rem;margin-bottom:.5rem}p{margin-bottom:1.25rem;color:var(--text-light)}a{color:var(--gold);text-decoration:none;transition:color .2s}a:hover{color:var(--gold-lt)}ul,ol{margin:0 0 1.25rem 1.5rem;color:var(--text-light)}li{margin-bottom:.4rem}strong{color:var(--white);font-weight:600}blockquote{border-left:3px solid var(--gold);padding:.75rem 1.5rem;margin:1.5rem 0;background:var(--gold-dim);border-radius:0;font-family:Montserrat,sans-serif;font-size:1.2rem;font-style:italic;color:var(--gold-lt)}hr{display:none}main{max-width:var(--max-width-wide);margin:0 auto;padding:0 2rem}.blog-hero{text-align:center;padding:5rem 0 3rem;margin-bottom:4rem}.blog-hero .eyebrow{display:none}.blog-hero h1{margin-bottom:1rem}.blog-hero p{font-size:1.1rem;max-width:600px;margin:0 auto}.posts-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fill,minmax(340px,1fr));gap:2rem;padding-bottom:5rem}.post-card{background:#ffffff06;border:1px solid rgba(225,205,114,.1);border-radius:0;padding:2rem;transition:border-color .3s,transform .3s,background .3s;display:flex;flex-direction:column;position:relative;overflow:hidden}.post-card:before{content:"";position:absolute;top:0;left:0;right:0;height:2px;background:linear-gradient(90deg,var(--gold) 0%,transparent 70%);opacity:0;transition:opacity .2s}.post-card:hover{background:#e1cd720a;border-color:#e1cd7247;transform:translateY(-4px)}.post-card:hover:before{opacity:1}.post-card .category{display:none}.post-card h2{font-size:1.35rem;margin:0 0 .75rem;color:var(--white);line-height:1.3}.post-card p{font-size:.9rem;color:var(--text-muted);flex:1;margin-bottom:1.5rem;line-height:1.7}.post-card .read-more{font-size:.75rem;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.1em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--gold);display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:.4rem}.post-card .read-more:after{content:"→";transition:transform .2s}.post-card:hover .read-more:after{transform:translate(4px)}.post-hero{padding:4rem 0 3rem;margin-bottom:3rem;max-width:var(--max-width);margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;position:relative}.post-hero:before{content:"";display:block;width:40px;height:2px;background:var(--gold);margin-bottom:1.75rem;opacity:.8}.post-hero .category,.post-hero .meta{display:none}.post-dateline{font-size:.8rem;color:var(--text-muted);margin:0}.post-dateline a{color:var(--text-muted);text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:#e1cd7259}.post-dateline a:hover{color:var(--gold-lt)}table{width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;margin:1.5rem 0;font-size:.9rem}th{text-align:left;padding:.75rem 1rem;color:var(--gold-lt);font-family:Montserrat,sans-serif;font-weight:600;font-size:.75rem;letter-spacing:.06em;text-transform:uppercase;background:var(--navy-mid);border:none}td{padding:.75rem 1rem;color:var(--text-light);border:none;background:transparent}tr:nth-child(2n) td{background:#ffffff08}tr,thead tr,tbody tr{border:none}.post-body{max-width:var(--max-width);margin:0 auto;padding-bottom:5rem}.cta-box{background:#ffffff08;border:1px solid rgba(225,205,114,.2);border-radius:0;padding:2.5rem;margin:3rem 0;text-align:center;position:relative}.cta-box:before{content:"";position:absolute;top:0;left:0;right:0;height:2px;background:linear-gradient(90deg,var(--gold),var(--gold-lt),var(--gold));border-radius:0}.cta-box .cta-eyebrow{display:none}.cta-box h3{font-size:1.8rem;color:var(--white);margin:0 0 .75rem}.cta-box p{color:var(--text-light);margin-bottom:1.75rem;font-size:.95rem}.btn-gold{display:inline-block;background:var(--gold);color:var(--navy);font-family:Montserrat,sans-serif;font-size:.85rem;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.08em;text-transform:uppercase;padding:.9rem 2.25rem;border-radius:0;transition:background .2s,transform .15s}.btn-gold:hover{background:var(--gold-lt);color:var(--navy);transform:translateY(-1px)}.data-chart{margin:2rem 0;background:#ffffff05;border:1px solid rgba(225,205,114,.12);border-radius:0;padding:1.5rem}.data-chart svg{width:100%;height:auto;display:block}.data-chart figcaption{margin-top:1rem;font-size:.78rem;color:var(--text-muted);text-align:center}.faq-section{margin:3rem 0}.faq-section h2{margin-bottom:1.5rem}.faq-item{padding:1.5rem 0;border-top:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.06)}.faq-item:first-child{border-top:none}.faq-item h3{font-size:1.1rem;color:var(--white);margin:0 0 .6rem;font-family:Montserrat,sans-serif;font-weight:600}.faq-item p{margin:0;font-size:.9rem}.related-posts{margin:4rem 0 2rem}.related-posts h2{font-size:1.6rem;margin-bottom:1.5rem}.related-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fill,minmax(220px,1fr));gap:1.5rem}.related-card{background:#ffffff06;border:1px solid rgba(225,205,114,.1);border-radius:0;padding:1.5rem;transition:border-color .3s,background .3s,transform .3s}.related-card:hover{background:#e1cd720a;border-color:#e1cd7247;transform:translateY(-3px)}.related-card .cat{display:none}.related-card h3{font-size:1rem;margin:0;color:var(--white)}.pub-favicon{width:20px;height:20px;border-radius:0;flex-shrink:0;object-fit:contain}@media(max-width:768px){main{padding:0 1rem}.posts-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr}.blog-hero{padding:3rem 0 2rem}h1{font-size:clamp(1.8rem,5vw,3.2rem)}.post-card{padding:1.5rem}.post-card h2{font-size:1.15rem}.cta-box{padding:1.75rem 1.25rem;margin:1.5rem 0}table{display:block;overflow-x:auto}blockquote{padding:.5rem 1rem;font-size:1.05rem}.related-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr}.post-body{padding-bottom:2.5rem}}h1 em,h2 em,h3 em,h4 em{font-style:normal;font-weight:800;color:var(--gold)}.post-body a.ladder-card{display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;gap:16px;margin:0 0 2rem;padding:18px 20px;background:#e1cd7212;border:1px solid rgba(225,205,114,.3);color:var(--white);text-decoration:none;transition:background .2s ease,border-color .2s ease}.post-body a.ladder-card:hover{background:#e1cd721f;border-color:var(--gold)}.ladder-card-copy{display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:4px}.ladder-card-copy strong{font-family:Montserrat,sans-serif;font-size:1.05rem;color:var(--white)}.ladder-card-copy span{font-size:.92rem;color:var(--text-light);line-height:1.5}.ladder-card-go{color:var(--gold);font-size:1.4rem;flex-shrink:0}.cta-actions{display:flex;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;gap:14px}.cta-secondary{color:var(--gold);text-decoration:underline;text-underline-offset:3px;font-size:.95rem;min-height:44px;display:inline-flex;align-items:center}.cta-box .cta-buyers{margin:1.25rem 0 0;font-size:.92rem}.cta-box .cta-buyers a{color:var(--gold)}@media(max-width:560px){.cta-box{padding:2rem 1.25rem}.cta-actions .btn-gold{width:100%;text-align:center;box-sizing:border-box}}#main-nav,.site-footer{--vc-navy: #002241;--vc-navy-deep: #001A32;--vc-gold: #E1CD72;--vc-white: #FFFFFF;--vc-gray-300: #B9C9D8;--vc-font: "Montserrat", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", sans-serif;--vc-max: 1240px;--vc-ease: all .4s cubic-bezier(.23, 1, .32, 1);font-family:var(--vc-font)}#main-nav{position:sticky;top:0;z-index:100;background:#002241f2;backdrop-filter:blur(20px);-webkit-backdrop-filter:blur(20px);border-bottom:1px solid rgba(225,205,114,.12);transition:box-shadow .3s}#main-nav .nav-inner{max-width:var(--vc-max);margin:0 auto;padding:0 48px;height:88px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;gap:32px}#main-nav .nav-logo-link{flex-shrink:0;display:inline-flex}#main-nav .nav-logo{height:72px;width:auto;object-fit:contain}#main-nav .nav-toggle{display:none;flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:center;gap:5px;background:none;border:none;cursor:pointer;padding:0;width:44px;height:44px;margin-right:-11px}#main-nav .nav-toggle span{display:block;width:22px;height:1.5px;background:var(--vc-gray-300);transition:transform .35s ease,opacity .25s ease,background .3s ease}#main-nav .nav-links{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:clamp(14px,1.6vw,28px);list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}#main-nav .nav-links li a{white-space:nowrap;font-family:var(--vc-font);font-size:11px;font-weight:600;letter-spacing:.1em;text-transform:uppercase;color:var(--vc-gray-300);transition:color .3s ease;position:relative;text-decoration:none}#main-nav .nav-links li a:after{content:"";position:absolute;bottom:-3px;left:0;width:0;height:1px;background:var(--vc-gold);transition:width .35s cubic-bezier(.4,0,.2,1)}#main-nav .nav-links li a:hover{color:var(--vc-gold)}#main-nav .nav-links li a:hover:after,#main-nav .nav-links li a.active:after{width:100%}#main-nav .nav-links li a.active{color:var(--vc-gold)}@media(max-width:1279px){#main-nav .nav-inner{padding:0 24px;height:72px;position:relative}#main-nav .nav-logo{height:56px}#main-nav .nav-toggle{display:flex}#main-nav .nav-links{flex-direction:column;align-items:flex-start;position:absolute;top:100%;left:0;right:0;background:#0a1525fa;backdrop-filter:blur(20px);-webkit-backdrop-filter:blur(20px);padding:32px 24px;gap:0;z-index:99;max-height:0;overflow:hidden;opacity:0;pointer-events:none;transition:max-height .45s cubic-bezier(.4,0,.2,1),opacity .3s ease}#main-nav .nav-links.open{max-height:calc(100dvh - 72px);overflow-y:auto;opacity:1;pointer-events:auto}#main-nav .nav-links li{width:100%}#main-nav .nav-links li a{display:block;padding:16px 0;font-size:15px;letter-spacing:.08em;border-bottom:1px solid rgba(225,205,114,.08)}#main-nav .nav-links li a:after{display:none}#main-nav .nav-toggle.open span:nth-child(1){transform:translateY(6.5px) rotate(45deg)}#main-nav .nav-toggle.open span:nth-child(2){opacity:0;transform:scaleX(0)}#main-nav .nav-toggle.open span:nth-child(3){transform:translateY(-6.5px) rotate(-45deg)}}html.nav-open,html.nav-open body{overflow:hidden}.site-footer{position:relative;z-index:1;isolation:isolate;background-color:var(--vc-navy-deep);padding:56px 0 0;margin-top:4rem;background-image:var(--vc-photo);background-repeat:no-repeat;background-size:cover;background-position:var(--vc-pos, center)}.site-footer:before{content:"";position:absolute;inset:0;z-index:1;pointer-events:none;background:linear-gradient(#002241d1,#002241d1)}.site-footer>*{position:relative;z-index:2}.site-footer .container{max-width:var(--vc-max);margin:0 auto;padding:0 48px}.site-footer a{text-decoration:none}.site-footer .sf-top{display:grid;grid-template-columns:minmax(0,1fr) auto;gap:48px;padding-bottom:40px}.site-footer .sf-logo-link{display:inline-block}.site-footer .sf-logo{height:64px;width:auto;object-fit:contain;display:block;margin-left:-7.5px}.site-footer .sf-line{margin:16px 0 0;font-size:15px;line-height:1.6;color:var(--vc-gray-300);max-width:34ch}.site-footer .sf-contact{margin:14px 0 0;display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:4px 20px;font-size:15px}.site-footer .sf-contact a{color:var(--vc-white);min-height:44px;display:inline-flex;align-items:center;transition:color .2s}.site-footer .sf-contact a:hover{color:var(--vc-gold)}.site-footer .sf-links{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(2,minmax(0,auto));gap:64px}.site-footer .sf-h{font-family:var(--vc-font);font-size:14px;font-weight:600;letter-spacing:0;text-transform:none;color:var(--vc-white);margin:0 0 10px}.site-footer .sf-group ul{list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0;display:flex;flex-direction:column}.site-footer .sf-group li{margin:0}.site-footer .sf-group a{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;min-height:34px;font-size:15px;color:var(--vc-gray-300);transition:color .2s}.site-footer .sf-group a:hover{color:var(--vc-gold)}.site-footer .sf-bottom{padding-top:20px;padding-bottom:28px}.site-footer .sf-bottom p{margin:0;font-size:14px;color:var(--vc-gray-300)}.site-footer{--vc-photo: url(https://www.vanlagroup.com/backgrounds/footer-sea-1024.webp);--vc-pos: 50% 60%}@media(min-width:1025px){.site-footer{--vc-photo: url(https://www.vanlagroup.com/backgrounds/footer-sea-1600.webp)}}@media(min-width:1601px){.site-footer{--vc-photo: url(https://www.vanlagroup.com/backgrounds/footer-sea-1920.webp)}}@media(max-width:860px){.site-footer{--vc-photo: url(https://www.vanlagroup.com/backgrounds/footer-sea-m-640.webp);--vc-pos: 50% 40%;padding-top:32px;margin-top:1.5rem}.site-footer .container{padding:0 24px}.site-footer .sf-logo{height:56px;margin-left:-6.5px}.site-footer .sf-top{grid-template-columns:1fr;gap:20px;padding-bottom:16px}.site-footer .sf-line{margin-top:12px}.site-footer .sf-contact{margin-top:4px}.site-footer .sf-bottom{padding-top:8px;padding-bottom:24px}.site-footer .sf-links{grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:16px}.site-footer .sf-group a{min-height:44px}}@media(max-width:860px)and (min-resolution:2dppx){.site-footer{--vc-photo: url(https://www.vanlagroup.com/backgrounds/footer-sea-m-828.webp)}}