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Financial Information

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BestForexAccount.net Revealed Truth About Trading Forex Platforms!

Do you know what is the most important thing that you should do before starting a Forex business? It is to find a Forex Trading platform. But how would you do that when more than half the websites on the internet provides malicious and unauthentic information about such platforms? There would be a million recommendations for a specific platform but how would you check its authenticity? The answer is simple. Go by its user’s reviews and comments. BestForexAccount.Net is one such site which is gaining lukewarm acceptance more or less solely through the word of mouth factor.

But why should you listen to somebody? Don’t! Instead try it out yourself and then make your own judgment on the basis of your own experience. One visit to this site will make you understand the real difference between this site and other Forex related sites. Firstly, while choosing a Forex platform you need to check their reputation. Do they have a sound background or you can smell some bankruptcy? Then you should consider is the package they are offering. Does it include any free demo/trial accounts? Or should you directly take the risk of investing in their service. And lastly focus on the superfluous services. What are the compliments they are willing to offer? Free utilities, free trading advice, regular and instant market updates/alerts and how secure would be your transaction through their server etc. Indeed performing such an extensive assessment would be time consuming and often the results could be misleading. Now that is why people sought to take the help of BestForexAccount.Net. This site regularly publishesForex articles and reviews that advise people on what and how should they choose their Forex trading platforms. The site even summarizes and lists answers to all the above questions in a tabular format for the ease of the visitor.

Now who would do such a thing for a total stranger like you? Only a person who believes in helping people in the right direction and so is the owner of the site, a Forex investor since 3 years and whose free tips and advice has helped many Forex traders flourish. The site in fact has brought forth certain facts regarding different trading platforms that otherwise would have been hid by other biased sites. It has compared and listed the Pros & Cons of different Forex trading platforms such as eToro and EasyForex on the basis of their site popularity, registration speed, leverage, spreads and minimum deposit required etc. Never would you find a site which has presented such impartial statistics about so many Forex trading platforms.

You may even feel free to state your queries and doubts regarding Forex trading directly and a prompt reply is guaranteed. Also the site as a matter of fact could be considered a democratic site since any visitor is free to express his/her opinion through the feedback section which will be then listed on the rightmost pane of the site. This doesn’t even ask for a sign up. The site’s transparency and professionalism is beyond question.

The site’s extensive comparison about the different aspects of the platforms and the overall rating of each platform within a scale of 5 allows the visitor to immediately conclude the best platform he/she should take for their business. The presentation of data with proper authentic citing and references assures the visitor that their decision won’t go vain. Also the links to the official site ensures two things: firstly that they wouldn’t have to roam about surfing the internet for the platform’s official site and secondly they needn’t worry about its legitimacy and the site’s professionalism.

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Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Information, Financial Management, Financial Services, Insurance, Investment, Money, Personal Finance

The Children’s Mutual Reports Parents Persist In Saving

The Children’s Mutual, a leading Child Trust Fund provider, has reported that the latest figures from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) show that parents are persisting in saving for their children and engaging with the Child Trust Fund.

The Children's Mutual Reports Parents Persist In Saving

The new quarterly Child Trust Fund statistics released by the HMRC have revealed that nearly three quarters of all Child Trust Funds (CTFs) are proactively opened within a year of a child’s birth. However, according to a new analysis from The Children’s Mutual, this figure only tells part of the story of parents’ engagement with saving for their children.

The award winning Child Trust Fund provider found that while the vast majority of parents open an account for their child rather than waiting for the Government to do so, many of those who don’t are making a proactive decision not to while others are understandably busy with their new baby.

David White, Chief Executive of The Children’s Mutual, said: “Because the CTF is universal, every single eligible child receives an account, but what is impressive is that nearly 75% of parents choose to proactively open the account and around half of our customers start saving on a monthly basis immediately.”

According to its research among parents of young children, over one in 10 parents actively choose not to open an account and to let the Government do so on their behalf, citing their lack of familiarity with financial matters. In addition, research among parents who haven’t opened accounts found that 27% say it is because they haven’t had time to think about it – not surprising considering a new baby has a profound effect on family life.

Mr White said: “Attention is often paid to the quarter of parents who do not open accounts, accusing them of not engaging with, or being interested in the CTF, but our research shows that parents are far more engaged than many would believe. We found that over one in 10 parents, with CTF vouchers to place, said they would choose to let the Government open their child’s CTF and of those who haven’t opened accounts, the number one reason is because they are understandably focusing on the here-and-now. The beauty of the CTF is that it allows for this, with the Government opening accounts on behalf of parents if they don’t do it themselves, meaning that no child will miss out.

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Prudential Warns Of Widespread Over-Reliance On State Pension

According to new research from Prudential, nearly a fifth (18%) of people planning to retire in 2010 will be retiring on the State Pension and savings.

Prudential Warns Of Widespread Over-Reliance On State Pension

But 31% of the people surveyed in Prudential’s nationwide Class of 2010 study either do not know how much the basic State Pension pays or over-estimate the individual weekly amount by £25 or more.

Prudential warns the basic State Pension alone may not provide sufficient retirement income for many and urges people who are still working to save as much as possible for their old age in company and personal pensions as well as savings and investments.

“Given that so many people expect to retire on the basic State Pension, particularly when only half know how much it pays, there is still a clear need for people to understand the consequences of not making adequate provision for their retirement,” said Martyn Bogira, Director of Defined Contribution Solutions at Prudential.

“If the basic State Pension is your only source of income you could be in an extremely precarious position financially. Just one significant financial emergency, like your central heating system unexpectedly breaking down, could cause serious financial hardship for people expecting to retire on the State Pension alone.

“On its own the basic State Pension, paying just under £5,000 a year, should only really be used to supplement other sources, such as income from a pension or an annuity.

“We would urge people to pay as much as they possibly can into their retirement savings, because the State alone is unlikely to be able to support you in your retirement. The sooner you start saving, either into a company pension, personal pension or other savings, the greater the amount of money you can build up to help provide for you when you do come to retire.”

Average expenditure in households headed by someone aged 65 to 74 was £321 a week, according to the most recent Office for National Statistics figures from 2007, and £218 a week for households headed by someone aged 75 or over, but today the basic State Pension for married couples lags behind this figure by paying £152.30 a week.

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Understanding Texas Home Insurance Options

It is a smart idea that no matter what state you live in, you familiarize yourself with the types of policies and market rates for that particular state. Texas is no exception to this rule so it is important that when you’re shopping online for home insurance quotes you know what policies insurance companies in Texas offer.

Understanding Texas Home Insurance Options

According to an article recently published on InsuranceAgents.com, searching for homeowners insurance quotes in Texas is just like searching for homeowners insurance quotes in any other state, only the rates may fluctuate from company to company. However, the types of policies are usually standard no matter what company you check out.

The article states, “Insurance companies in Texas offer their own particular policies that are relevant solely to Texans. Once you have a sampling of what Texas homeowners insurance offers you can shop for homeowners insurance quotes more effectively.”

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Business, Financial, Financial Information, Financial Statements, Money, SME

npower Warns Outdated Financial Records Could Prolong Financial Instability

npower warns that despite evidence showing the UK economy is now out of recession, out of date financial records could prolong financial instability for many UK businesses. This is likely to impact credit ratings, reducing businesses’ access to finance and essential supplies, like energy.

power Warns Outdated Financial Records Could Prolong Financial Instability

Companies House records can be anything from 12 to 18 months out of date, which means that a company’s financial viability will be judged on its performance mid-recession, irrespective of how well it is doing now. Major credit rating agencies typically use these statutory accounts to assess financial health and, despite the scale of the problem, a large number of businesses have a lack of understanding on how their credit rating can impact their business.

Wayne Mitchell, head of corporate sales at npower, explained: “Poor credit ratings mean insurance companies are withdrawing credit insurance for businesses, a necessary guarantee that allows them to negotiate contracts with suppliers. This is impacting businesses’ access to essential supplies like energy and in the worst cases, could lead to tighter payment terms, restricted forward purchasing and even security deposits. In 2009 more than £100m worth of insurance was withdrawn for our business customers and we predict it will continue to be an issue for many businesses in 2010.

“That is why we are calling on businesses, energy suppliers and credit insurers to work together to avoid a credit crisis and prevent businesses facing challenges in securing energy supplies. There needs to be open dialogue and information sharing so that financial decisions are based on real-time data and are not solely reliant on the information held by Companies House.”

npower is also working closely with the Major Energy Users Council (MEUC) to reach businesses and bring to their attention the importance of carefully managing credit insurance.

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Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Insurance

LV = Launches New 50 Plus Plan TV Advert

LV=, the insurance, investment and pensions group, has launched its fifth TV advertising campaign to promote its ’50 Plus plan’. The new TV advertisement was created by creative marketing agency ‘redtag’ to promote the LV= life insurance policy.

The new TV advertisement has been developed with the LV= brand and features three different families, with each one giving their perspective on losing a parent. It highlights how the money they received from the 50 Plus insuranceplan provided by LV= helped them at a difficult time. The theme of the advertisement is to ‘Look after what you love’.

Geoff Bates, Head of Direct Distribution for LV=, said: “We get a lot of feedback on the reasons why our customers buy our product, and leaving a legacy that helps their family at a difficult time is at the core of those reasons. We are pleased that the new advertisement demonstrates so clearly that protecting families is at the heart of our business.”

Launched in October 2004, the LV= 50 Plus plan is aimed at 50 to 80 year olds, living in the UK. The over 50 life insurance policy provides guaranteed cover with a cash lump sum payable on death, without the need for a medical or answering any health questions.

Kevan Kelsey, Creative Director at redtag, said: “It’s a new approach that takes the tried and tested formula we know customers like and uses it in a dynamic and emotive way”.

The life insurance advertisement was previewed on Facebook and YouTube in December 2009 before being launched on terrestrial, satellite and cable channels in January 2010.

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Assets, Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Insurance, Insurance Services, Money

Finding Cheap Life Insurance Easier Than You Think

To those who have wondered whether or not a cheap life insurance policy exists today, a newly published article on InsuranceAgents.com answers with an emphatic “yes.”

Finding Cheap Life Insurance Easier Than You Think

“Cheap life insurance does exist and its target market are people under 30, that are starting a family,” the articles, ‘Cheap Life Insurance’ states. “Most times cheap life insurance is term life insurance.”

Term life insurance is a policy that has an expiration date. After the term is over, the coverage ceases, as well, unless the policyholder passes on during the term. It’s typically the cheapest life policy to buy. More expensive (but more comprehensive) is a whole life insurance policy—these policies aren’t cheap unless you invest in them very young.

Life insurance can be the line between a financially-broken grieving family and a family that can focus on the death of a loved one because they don’t have to worry about income.

“The death of a loved one is tough enough; combine that with financial devastation and the situation just got worse,” the article states. “A life insurance policy takes care of those you love, should the unthinkable occur.”

The funds from a life insurance policy can be used for any number of things the beneficiary(s) may need to pay for like funeral costs, any mortgage or debts left behind, sending the children to college, and even allowing the family time to grieve before returning to work.

A great way to find cheap life insurance rates is to search online for quotes. You can obtain several life insurance quotes and policies, allowing you the opportunity to compare coverage, rates and insurance providers.

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Prudential Launches Five New Risk Rated Portfolios

Prudential is launching five new actively-managed, risk-rated, multi-asset funds designed to help advisers to focus on client management through an extension of its partnership with independent investment specialist Old Broad Street Research (OBSR).

The partnership gives advisers access to the asset allocation expertise of Prudential’s Portfolio Management Group (PMG)*, which currently manages over £100 billion of capital, and the fund selection and recommendation experience of OBSR in one place.

Prudential is launching the funds in response to demand f r o m advisers for investment solutions which can help them respond to the changes driven by the Retail Distribution Review and the ongoing focus of the Financial Service Authority’s Treating Customers Fairly (TCF) initiative. In addition, customers will benefit f r o m the choice of a wide range of funds across tax wrappers that are designed to meet the needs of identified groups and are targeted accordingly.

Crucially, the funds will be actively risk managed in line with their portfolio investment objectives and may help reduce the risk of potential TCF issues through running static portfolios.

The five portfolios – Defensive; Cautious; Cautious Growth; Balanced; and Adventurous – will be available on a range of Prudential personal pension products, income drawdown, onshore and offshore bonds. The risk ratings of each portfolio can be mapped against all the major independent risk-rating tools.

Andy Brown, Director of Investment Funds at Prudential said: “Asset allocation and fund selection are vital in ensuring that client needs and long-term investment expectations are met. However, both are potentially demanding and time-consuming.

“Advisers need cost-effective support with their investment management to address the changing regulatory environment. We are determined to address that issue and are delighted to be expanding our partnership with OBSR.”

Phil Lindsay, sales & marketing director for OBSR said: “The objective of the ‘Prudential Dynamic Portfolio’ risk rated funds is to consistently conform to specific risk profiles by utilising the strengths of Prudential’s Portfolio Management Groups’ asset allocation capabilities and OBSR’s fund research and portfolio construction skills thereby assisting intermediaries in developing solutions in line with client attitudes to risk.”

Prudential’s Portfolio Management Group will be responsible for asset allocation, determining the macro asset mix of the portfolios with the long-term aim of ensuring the portfolios conform to their stated risk objectives. They will have the flexibility to implement strategic and tactical changes within given ranges which over time will result in changes in the broad asset mix. These changes will be made to ensure the funds remain within the risk parameters set.

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Prudential Warns Of State Of Ignorance Over Retirement Age Rise

New research from Prudential shows that nearly half (47 per cent) of 45 to 49 year-olds and two-fifths (39 per cent) of 50 to 54 year-olds are unaware of the rise in the minimum retirement age from 50 to 55 which comes into effect on 6 April this year. The increase in the minimum retirement age could be a particular blow to people aged 50 to 55 who are planning to retire this year, Prudential warns.

Prudential is urging people who will be affected by the increase in minimum retirement age to speak to financial advisers and pension providers ahead of the 6 April deadline and stresses there is still time to act.

The new minimum retirement age – first announced by the Government in 2004 – will prevent many people aged between 50 and 55 from claiming private or company pension benefits and especially taking the tax-free cash element of their pension fund until they
are 55.

For those who had planned to retire at 50, the higher minimum age will mean five years without access to pension benefits or tax-free cash.

Prudential’s research has found that 6 per cent of the UK’s 3.9 million adults aged 50 to 54 – equivalent to more than 230,000 people – said they planned to retire in 2010.

Karin Brown, Director of Annuities at Prudential, said: “People who want to take their pension benefits and any tax-free cash allowance still have nearly three months to decide what they want to do.

“Prudential strongly urges people approaching retirement to contact a financial adviser or talk to their pension provider about the options available.

“The Government first announced the changes to the minimum retirement age nearly six years ago so there has been plenty of time for the news to sink in. It is worrying that so many are still unaware but there is time to act before rules change.”

The information contained in Prudential UK’s press releases is intended solely for journalists and should not be used by consumers to make financial decisions. Full consumer product information can be found at www.pru.co.uk.

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Prudential Reveal Concern Over Asset Allocation And Fund Selection

Prudential has revealed new research that shows nearly six out of 10 financial advisers are concerned about possible regulatory action over asset allocation and fund selection decisions. The research found that 39 per cent of advisers are concerned they could face problems justifying decisions while another 19 per cent are concerned but have plans in place to deal with potential regulatory issues.

Prudential Reveal Concern Over Asset Allocation And Fund Selection

The survey f r o m Prudential also shows that 50 per cent of advisers would welcome support f r o m providers on asset allocation and fund selection as they battle to cope with the fallout f r o m the recent extreme stock market volatility.

With the research showing advisers currently spending around five hours per week on asset allocation and fund selection, 56 per cent of firms say expertise in these areas is important to the success of their business model. One in five advisers suggest that this activity could be outsourced.

Andy Brown, Director of Investment Funds at Prudential, said: “The unprecedented economic and market events of the past 18 months have increased the need for advisers to help their clients understand the implication of their risk and fund selections.

“Providers should be doing more to support advisers and giving them access to expert advice and help. It is in the interests of advisers and providers to come up with innovative solutions that meet clients’ expectations and their assessed risk levels.

“Asset allocation and fund selection are vital in ensuring that client needs and long-term investment expectations are met. However, both are potentially demanding and time-consuming. Finding reliable sources of both can enhance the service advisers offer to their clients.

“We believe that the interests of intermediaries and their clients are best served by providing risk-rated portfolios that can be mapped to the independent profiling systems used by advisers to assess their client’s attitude to risk. This is a better solution than relying on tools offered by product providers.”

Prudential and Old Broad Street Research (OBSR) have been working together since 2008 on the PruSelect fund range which offers 100 ‘best of breed’ funds as part of a drive to help advisers with fund selection and asset allocation.

Andy Brown continued: “This research demonstrates there is a real need for support f r o m providers to help advisers with the increasing regulatory pressure they face. In addition, the time advisers are currently spending on asset allocation and fund selection cannot be underestimated. We only see this requirement increasing over the next 12 months and we estimate more advisers will look to providers for support in meeting their regulatory obligations.”

Prudential’s research also reveals that only just over half of advisers (52 per cent) say they feel very confident in their level of knowledge of investment products and how to invest which points to a real need for support in this area f r o m providers.

The information contained in Prudential UK’s press releases is intended solely for journalists and should not be used by consumers to make financial decisions. Full consumer product information can be found at www.pru.co.uk.

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Invest in Life Insurance Now for Your Children

Nothing is more precious to a parent than the guaranteed protection of their children. Children’s life insurance is among the most valuable protection a parent can invest in. It offers a variety of benefits and is affordable. According to a recent article by InsuranceAgents.com, parents willing to spend several dollars each month can obtain valuable coverage for their children throughout their lives.

No parent wants to contemplate about the time when their child—whether they’re 8 months, 8 years, or 80 years old—will pass on. But it can be a very valuable and wise to make the investment when it’s at its most affordable, according to the InsuranceAgents.com article, ‘Children’s Life Insurance: A Solid Investment.’

There are many reasons to compare life insurance rates for children, though parents may not want to think about any of them. Some reasons include:

1. Funeral/burial costs. A child’s death yields some expensive funeral expenses—bills you won’t want to worry about if you need to grieve. Burial costs and grief counseling alone can range between $6,000 and $15,000.

2. It won’t cost much. Children’s life insurance can cost mere dollars a month. And if you fix the rate at the earliest opportunity, your child could have life insurance coverage throughout their life and benefit from such an amazingly low rate.

3. Ultimate protection. “Life insurance can be hard to obtain for people with unfortunate genetic traits or preexisting conditions. Investing in children’s life insurance cuts the risk of your child being denied coverage later on in life if they develop a disqualifying condition,” the article states.

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The Children’s Mutual Launches New Pocket Money Site To Help Families

According to new research from The Children’s Mutual, the old saying that good manners cost nothing is not strictly true, as 44% of children are now financially rewarded for good behaviour.

Award winning Child Trust Fund Provider, The Children’s Mutual, has revealed that as well as good behaviour, parents are also offering an ‘honest wage’ for a hard day’s work. 37% of children ‘earn’ their pocket money by helping out with chores around the home and 19% fill their piggy banks by helping out with the family pet.

As the Government announces plans to make financial education compulsory for children as young as five from 2012, leading Child Trust Fund provider The Children’s Mutual has launched a new Pocket Money Petz microsite which has been created to help parents teach their children about pocket money and saving.

Children can choose a ‘virtual’ pet, from a dog to a dinosaur, to help them learn to boost, manage and save their pocket money earnings, and while children have fun deciding which character to accompany them through PocketMoneyPetz, their parents can put a value against each chore to help them learn the value of money.

Tony Anderson, Marketing Director at The Children’s Mutual, said: “As children are receiving more and more pocket money in return for undertaking household chores, helping with the family pet and their good behaviour, we created Pocket Money Petz to help spark their imaginations about earning and saving money.”

According to The Children’s Mutual research, the going rate for pocket money has increased by a whopping 83% in a single generation from when their parents received pocket money until today. Parents are already giving an average of £2.85 a week to their child, with many (27%) parents expecting to increase this amount by £1 each year.

However, despite the rise in pocket money, The Children’s Mutual research showed that parents are often unsure of how much to ‘pay’ their children and can feel pressurised to compete with how much other parents give. Nearly one in five (18%) said there was pressure to conform to a ‘market rate’ and 16% said they feel they pay too much but ‘have to go with what everyone gets’. In response to these concerns, The Children’s Mutual has also created a Parents’ Pocket Money Guide which offers advice on teaching children about money, how to give pocket money, when to start and how much to give and how often.

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One In Five Parents Has A Will

According to new research by leading Child Trust Fund (CTF) provider The Children’s Mutual, just 18% of parents have written a will, yet many are unaware that should the worst happen and the parents die without having appointed a guardian, the child may not be looked after by their chosen carer and it will be up to the courts to decide where they live. The Children’s Mutual is therefore urging parents to make and keep just one New Year’s Resolution this year – to write a will.

According to research by The Children’s Mutual, the majority of parents who hadn’t written a will said it was because the task was ‘sitting on the to do list’ but wasn’t a priority (35%), 32% said they hadn’t found the time and 27% said they couldn’t afford to write a will. To help address these concerns, The Children’s Mutual has put together a simple Will Writing Checklist which is available on request to assist parents ahead of writing a will and is offering a discounted rate for a standard will of £50 plus VAT through its Will Writing Service in partnership with Flint Bishop Solicitors.

The Children’s Mutual is calling on parents to act to protect their children and is urging the one in three (27%) parents it surveyed who said they planned to write a will, to do just that this year.

Tony Anderson, Marketing Director at The Children’s Mutual, said: “The majority of parents have writing a will on their to do list but we’re urging them to put their New Year’s Resolutions to good use in 2010 and make it happen. While it’s something no parent wants to think about, getting a will written and their paperwork in order so they know their child will be cared and provided for will be a huge weight off their mind.”

Of the parents questioned who have a will, their top reasons for writing one were to ensure their partner inherited their estate and because they wanted to decide who would look after their children should the worst happen.

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Banks, Credit Cards, Debit Cards, Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Money

Supermarkets Beat Big Banks In Credit Cards Customer Satisfaction Awards

•Supermarket sweep: M&S and Tesco credit cards (89.4%) top the table for overall customer satisfaction, closely followed by Amex (88.6%)

•Poor service: nearly two million customers dissatisfied with the everyday customer support from their credit card companies with Halifax, Lloyds TSB and Natwest coming bottom of the table

•Biggest improver: MBNA jumps from bottom slot to eleventh place in poll of 16 – overall satisfaction score rises six percentage points from 68% to 74% satisfied

•Better the devil you know: half of customers (50%) have held onto their main credit card for over 5 years, yet over 1 in 3 (34%) don’t know if the interest rate is competitive
•Growing gap: difference in customer satisfaction between the best and worst providers widens to 22% making it more important than ever for consumers to check they are on the right deal.

As 2009 proved to be another rocky year for borrowers and lenders alike, the annual credit card Customer Satisfaction Survey from uSwitch.com reveals supermarket brands to be stealing a march on traditional financial institutions. Marks & Spencer and Tesco have together narrowly taken the top spot from American Express to win Best Overall Satisfaction, but with less than a one per cent difference between the top three, the credit card companies still have everything to play for. The survey of over 10,000 credit card customers also reveals that nearly two million are dissatisfied with the everyday service provided by their card company, and a staggering 22% gap in satisfaction levels between the best and worst provider.

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Financial Experts Predicting Rapid Dollar Devaluation in a Coming Burst of the ‘Dollar Bubble’

Many news commentators are echoing the same resounding assurance: the recession is over. But not everyone sees it this way. Who’s right? Just look at the facts.

While Wall Street, thanks to the help of the Federal Reserve, rallied for a big end-of-the-year win, at least for top executives, they’re getting big bonuses while Main Street investors suffer. Rising unemployment figures, increased foreclosures and a loss of wealth continue to plague the average Joe.

Times Magazine named Chairman of the Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke, “Person of the Year” for 2009. The National Inflation Association, a grassroots group that warns people of the dangers of hyperinflation, named him “Villain of the Year.”

The Fed’s policies have made the value of the US dollar artificially high and before long the dollar bubble is bound to burst, leading to hyperinflation with prices of consumer goods rising sharply. According to Phoebe Chongchua of the Denver-based Nabers Group, the U.S. is already beginning to experience this kind of runaway inflation.

Nabers Group has issued a warning to U.S. consumers on its blog about the impending devaluation of the U.S. Dollar’s value in a period of hyperinflation.

“Hyperinflation can really be thought of as a silent tax, especially if artificially created by U.S. monetary policy. If the dollars you have today can purchase a fruit punch, a sandwich and a bag of chips but that same money in the future can only purchase the fruit punch, then your money has been devalued—you have lost purchasing power. Ultimately it’s the average middle class consumer who ends up getting the short end of the stick,” says Chongchua.

For most people, the major concern is how to preserve their dwindling wealth. CEO Jeff Nabers, encourages clients to diversify their portfolios using an exceptionally flexible investment vehicle known as the Solo 401k.

“The Solo 401k is designed specifically for a business owner who has no full-time employees. One of the most powerful benefits of the Solo 401k is the plan’s participant loan feature, which offers a tax-favorable alternative to withdrawing money from a retirement plan as a distribution,” says Nabers.

Preserving your wealth doesn’t have to be an uphill battle even as we head into rising inflation and the devaluing of the dollar if people act now to protect their wealth.

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Responsible Homeowners Receive Lower Home Insurance Quotes

A recently released InsuranceAgents.com article, “Maintaining Your Home Could Lower Your Home Insurance Rates,” seeks to show homeowners how proper up-keep of a home will help save them money on their premiums.

“You can lower your annual premiums by properly maintaining your home throughout the year,” the article states. “Take the safety and well-being of your home seriously.”

Here are some ways to protect homes from the most common sources of damage:

• Fire – Smoke detectors, multiple fire extinguishers, properly cleaning and maintaining the fireplace, etc. are all ways to protect against fire and find significant homeowners insurance discounts.

• Theft – Deadbolt locks, security systems, motion sensor lights will protect homes from burglary as well as lower home insurance rates. Taking this initiative shows insurers their client is a low risk and takes protecting their property seriously.

• Water – Leaky pipes can cause extensive water damage to homes. Check the heating and cooling systems regularly for any irregularities and patch them up as they come along.

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What To Ask When Getting Home Insurance Quotes

Homeowners insurance rates are rising in many states. As such, it’s more important than ever for homeowners to find ways to save money on their home insurance policies. Just as important to homeowners, they need to be aware of what factors affect their home insurance premium. As a recently published article on InsuranceAgents.com states, too many homeowners are not aware of what questions to ask agents and thus are unable to determine what is important when it comes to designing a policy.

The InsuranceAgents.com article, “What To Ask Agents: Homeowners Insurance Quotes Shopping,” lists different coverage options and questions homeowners may want to discuss with their agents. Doing research beforehand will result in homeowners being more confident and becoming aware of what specifically they want in a home insurance policy.

First, homeowners need to know what factors affect whether they find affordable or costly home insurance quotes.

“These days it’s about money, money, money. The whole reason to invest in insurance is to guard against financial loss. But no one wants to take out a second mortgage just to pay the premiums. So of course homeowners will need to know what factors (credit history, age and condition of the home, pets, lifestyle, etc.) cause home insurance quotes to skyrocket and which factors yield the most affordable rates,” the article states.

Also, to determine that your agent is someone whom you can trust to help you customize your home policy, you may want to conduct quick informal interviews with the agents who offer you home insurance quotes. Your agent should be reliable, trustworthy and experienced (find one with at least a few years’ worth of insurance experience.

“Check with your state’s insurance department to make sure any agent you interview is licensed. Better yet, ask the agent for proof of their license. Furthermore, conduct interviews with any agent you’re considering giving your business to. As a homeowner, that’s your right,” according to the article.

Homeowners should also look into what special hazards their area presents; any additional risks to your property need to be included in your home insurance policy to make it more thorough. Read the article on InsuranceAgents.com to discover more questions to ask your agent and educate yourself on the importance of a home insurance policy.

Via EPR Network
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Debts, Financial, Financial Information, Investment, IVA, Loans, Money, Personal Finance, Profits

Consumer Price Index Rise Hits UK Savers Pockets

With bank rates predicted to stay low for the next 12 months, savers are in an increasingly tricky situation, according to personal finance website MoneyStand.co.uk.

As the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) is often greater than the savings account interest rates, MoneyStand.co.uk believes some individuals are actually poorer in real terms by keeping money in certain accounts. The UK website, which focuses on giving advice and information on personal finance, debt solutions, and IVA, has stated that simple and well thought out decisions can make all the difference to consumers in these instances. These are particularly testing times for those who live off the interest of their accumulated wealth to subsidise their pension.

Due to the low interest rates affecting most banks within the UK and the erosive affects of rising inflation, individuals with savings are feeling the brunt of the economic downturn. Even with substantial savings, British savers are missing out on a solid return on their investments once tax is taken into account.

With the Consumer Prices Index rising to 1.9 per cent, basic rate taxpayers need their banks to provide a minimum savings rate of 2.375 per cent before seeing any real return on their investments, and higher rate tax payers need a sizeable 3.166 per cent to see a return. In reality, currently only 9 out of 744 variable rate savings accounts available in the UK actually offer an interest rate higher than this. Compared with November, when 69 out of 744 accounts paid above this rate, experts argue that banks are profiteering at the expense of their customers, warning that the situation will now get even worse for the basic rate taxpayers.

Following a widespread media campaign for better deals for UK savers, the UK government has promised to start taking action against these low yield savings accounts. Despite these claims, Moneystand.co.uk suggests that UK individuals will soon have almost no reason to save.

Founder Matt Spencer said, “Due to the worsening interests rates offered by the banks, we have approached the stage where taxpayers are better off investing their money into gold bullion than they are with savings accounts.”

“Due to the Consumer Prices Index rising beyond economists’ expectations from 1.5 per cent to 1.9 per cent last month, basic rate taxpayers will also feel the knock on effects of the increase for some months to come. Economists have attributed this to amongst other things, rising fuel and energy costs.”

Personal Finance weblog MoneyStand.co.uk has been providing unbiased personal finance, IVA and debt related information since early 2008 specifically to help people through these testing financial times. The authors realise people are facing particularly pressing financial times and seek to alleviate this where possible by providing clear and easy to understand information.

“In times of recession individuals and families often overlook simple financial decisions that can make huge differences to their financial health.” Matt Spencer explained, “Our aim is to highlight and offer financial advice on these sensitive topics.”

For the latest financial news and advice on IVA, debt and insolvency visit our personal finance blog, http://www.moneystand.co.uk.

Via EPR Network
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Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Financial Software, Financial Solutions, Forex, Investment, Money, Stocks, Trading

Saxo Bank announce Outrageous Claims for 2010 now live on Trading Floor

Saxo Bank’s annual ‘Outrageous Claims’ now has its own page on tradingfloor.com, the home for news from the Denmark-based online bank’s strategy team.

Among the 10 ‘Outrageous Claims’ for 2010 are predictions of the devaluation of the CNY, the emergence of a third political party in the US, a massive fall in the price of sugar, a positive US trade balance for the first time since the 1975 oil crisis and the US Social Security Trust Fund going bust.

The online futures trade and investment specialist’s ten claims are an annual thought exercise to predict rare but high impact ‘black swan’ events that are beyond the realm of normal market expectations. The exercise aims to challenge market conceptions. Compiled as part of the bank’s 2010 Outlook, the claims this year paint a picture of a more positive year ahead but with a few tremors along the way.

David Karsboel, Chief Economist at Saxo Bank, commented: “We believe that 2010 will be a year of reflation, but structural headwinds lie ahead of us and could turn 2010 into a rollercoaster ride.

“One of the most likely structural headwinds will be a shift in investor focus towards slowing GDP and timing issues regarding the path of FED tightening. This will bring risk aversion back into markets.

“Whilst our annual ‘Outrageous Claims’ should be seen as the black swans of the market rather than outright predictions, we do believe that the odds of these events happening are somewhat higher than what is currently priced into the market,” David Karsboel concluded.

Via EPR Network
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