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Divorce Survival Kit Released as Ultimate Divorce Resource

The Divorce Survival Kit has just been released as the ultimate comprehensive resource for people experiencing divorce. The Divorce Survival Kit was developed by Carol Ann Wilson, one of the nation’s foremost experts on divorce and finances. The Divorce Survival Kit consists of a four (4) CD audio set and complete workbook filled with examples, forms and checklists. The product took over a year to complete, and it represents a great wealth of Carol Ann’s vast knowledge and experience. The Kit contains everything you need to know if you are going through a divorce and are concerned with how to survive financially.

The topics covered in the Divorce Survival Kit include:

  • Marital vs. Separate Property: Learn the truth about marital and separate property and how to keep what is yours. Don’t surrender it if you don’t have to!
  • Alimony/Maintenance: Find out if you are likely to receive alimony and how much. If you have to pay alimony, understand how to best protect yourself and minimize your losses.
  • Health Insurance: Did you know you could become uninsurable after your divorce? Protect yourself and your children.
  • Child Support: Learn what you need to know about the Child Contingency Rule that could save you from owing the IRS thousands of dollars.
  • Asset Division: Don’t ruin your financial future by failing to consider hidden assets and tax consequences. Discover the best ways to divide all your assets.
  • Dividing Retirement Accounts: This is often the biggest asset in the marriage. Avoid some common mistakes and make the most of this valuable asset.
  • Settlement Alternatives: Courtroom battles can be costly and expensive, but there are alternatives. Mediation, arbitration and collaborative divorce are explained.

Carol Ann Wilson, a Certified Financial Divorce Practitioner, is the founder of the profession of divorce financial planning. She has been working with divorcing clients and their attorneys for over 20 years.

Carol Ann’s dedication to helping couples financially survive their divorce has driven her to continuously develop more ways to help them. In addition to the Divorce Survival Kit, Wilson has authored many books and articles on divorce, has served as an expert witness in court for over 120 divorce cases, has developed software for professionals used in determining financial results in divorce settlements, and has trained thousands of divorce financial planners around the country how to work with divorcing clients to achieve fair and equitable divorce settlements.

Currently, Wilson is the president of the Financial Divorce Association, located in Longmont, Colorado, and an owner of the Academy of Financial Divorce Practitioners in Chicago. Her expertise, as the founder of the profession, is highly sought-after, and Wilson continues to consult with divorcing clients today.

“The Divorce Survival Kit is going to help a lot of people,” Carol Ann says. “I am excited to be able to offer all of my knowledge and experience in one complete package, that is affordable to anyone. I like to say that you get my 24 years of experience for less than the cost of 30 minutes with an attorney.”

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Lloyds TSB Insurance Reports Over 50s Driving Down Crime Rates

Lloyds TSB Insurance has conducted a new study that shows community-minded senior citizens are creating ‘safe havens’ with the lowest crime rates in the country.

Lloyds TSB Insurance, the home and car insurance provider, has revealed that Britain’s emerging ‘safe havens’ include North Norfolk, Berwick-upon-Tweed and West Somerset, which experience half the crime suffered in other parts of the country and whose population includes more than two in five people (43 per cent) over the age of 50.

Rates of burglary and malicious property damage are particularly low in these ‘safe havens’, running at around 40 per cent less than national levels.

The study suggests that low crime is promoted by the community-orientated mindset of older people. The over-50s are five times more likely than the under-35s to know their neighbours personally and are far more inclined to report suspicious behaviour in their area.

This anti-crime ‘halo’ created by older people is aided by much higher membership of community groups. One in six (16 per cent) are active in Neighbourhood Watch schemes, compared to a tiny proportion of those in their twenties and thirties (5 per cent).

The waning community spirit of younger Britons is explained in part by more transient, urban lifestyles. Many young people say they see “no point” in getting to know their neighbours and a hard core of one in twenty Londoners (7 per cent) has never met or spoken to anyone who lives nearby.

Phil Loney, managing director of General Insurance at Lloyds Banking Group said: “Our findings demonstrate that younger people aren’t as community-minded as their parents and this mindset can have a big impact on safety and security in our neighbourhoods.

“Young people can learn a huge amount from the older generation about security consciousness. Taking a little time to look out for other people’s property and reporting anything suspicious can have a huge impact on burglary rates and anti-social behaviour.

“We’ve spoken to some security conscious over-50s and have published some of their security tips on our website.”

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2017 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 27th-29th May 2009. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+). YouGov research questioned 18-35 vs. 50+ age cohorts. 4 per cent of over-50s know none of their neighbours personally, compared to 20 per cent of 18-35 year olds

About Lloyds TSB:
Lloyds TSB offers customers a wide range of current accounts, savings accounts, travel, home insurance, cheap car insurance, personal loans and credit cards, competitive home insurance quotes investment and cash ISA accounts designed to meet different customers’ needs.

Lloyds TSB Bank plc and Lloyds TSB Scotland plc are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and signatories to the Banking Codes. Lloyds TSB Bank plc Registered Office: 25 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HN. Registered in England and Wales no. 2065.

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National Lending Associates, Inc. Launches the TuitionFlex Program

National Lending Associates, Inc. (“NLA”) is formally announcing today the launch of its TuitionFlex SM tuition payment program. The TuitionFlex Program is a highly flexible and customizable tuition payment program for schools and colleges which currently do or do not offer this low cost financing option to their students and families. TuitionFlex is designed to be compliant with all federal and state Truth-in-Lending disclosure requirements. This turn-key program features a branded on-line application process, electronic signature, customizable reporting, automated payment processing and flexible servicing repayment terms.

“NLA is excited to launch this additional financing option for schools and colleges while leveraging the experience and expertise of our management team.  Our TuitionFlex Program was created as an alternative higher education financing option, which enables institutions throughout the country to provide effective financing solutions for their students during a time of economic uncertainly and limited private financing choices ” states Douglas Feist, Chief Executive Officer of NLA.

The TuitionFlex Program offers payment products aimed at providing tuition financing solutions for K-12 schools, colleges, and universities. With its TuitionEase™ (less than 12 months), TuitionExtend™ (contracts greater than 12 up to 120 months), and soon to be launched TuitionExtend Plus ™ (contract purchase option) products, the TuitionFlex Program provides alternatives to meet the current demands of all educational institutions.

For more information on the TuitionFlex Program go to www.tuitionflex.com or contact Tim Kulesha at tim.kulesha@NLALoans.com (602) 579-6555.

About National Lending Associates, Inc.
Based in San Diego, California, with offices in Ohio, Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and New York, National Lending Associates, Inc., is a nationwide specialty service company focused on providing financing solutions, loan and portfolio administration services, and technology options for the education financing marketplace (www.nationallendingassociates.com ).

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Take Time To Compare Car Insurance Policies Before Travelling Abroad, Says Insurancewide

Increasing numbers of travellers are taking to the roads instead of the skies to get to their European holiday destinations, and keeping their car as a mode of transport whilst they explore their vacation destination. However, Insurancewide, one of the UK’s leading insurance comparison websites, is urging holidymakers to check the details of their car insurance policies carefully – they might not be insured for driving abroad, in which case it’s vital to compare car insurance policies to get the correct cover.

If you are whisking your family away, it certainly seems somewhat easier to load up the boot of your car, put the kids in the back seat and take to the road with your satelite navigation programmed. But if you get into an accident without the proper car insurance, or aren’t aware of the rules of the road where you go, you could have more of an adventure than you bargained for.

Holidays can take time to plan but the one thing you shouldn’t miss out in the rush to get ready for your driving break is to thoroughly check your car insurance policy. If you find it doesn’t cover you abroad, or it’s expensive to add this on, go online to compare car insurance, using a comparison website such as Insurancewide. It’s important not to just assume you are covered under your existing car insurance policy before setting off. If you are not it’s essential to compare car insurance nad get the appropriate cover.

You should also check the general rules of the road for where you are going – different places in Europe can have different speed limits, and different road customs in the event of a breakdown. For example, when you drive in Belgium, France and Germany you must have a warning triangle in your car.

So, it’s clear not only should you compare car insurance using a quick and easy insurance comparison site like Insurancewide, you should look into local road rules, and do your best to prepare for your trip. Carry identification with you at all times in case you are stopped by the local police and check basic maintenance such as oil and water levels before you go.

About Insurancewide
Insurancewide, also known as Insurancewide.com Services Limited, is an online insurance comparison website offering insurance comparison tools which allow users to search the market and procure the best insurance policies and quotes. Insurancewide was launched in August 1999 as the first insurance comparison website on the internet.

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Term Life Insurance Protects Family, Future of Loved Ones

Term life insurance works by paying a predetermined amount of money to any beneficiary you choose if you pass away during the term of the policy. Term life insurance is the most popular type of life insurance policy because it is affordable, easy to understand, and simple to setup. It’s still important you understand how term life policies work before you go shopping for one so you know what questions to ask your life insurance agent.

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Understanding the differences between whole and term life insurance is a good place to start. According to a recent article on InsuranceAgents.com, “Term life insurance is cheaper than permanent life insurance, it’s temporary but usually renewable, it has no cash value element and no policy loan provisions, and it usually can convert or transfer to a permanent life insurance.”

If your financial needs aren’t permanent such as tax debt, a term life policy will benefit you the most since it is perfect for things such as paying off mortgages or student loans.

It’s important to remember that term life insurance starts off very affordably, but the costs do tend to increase over time. Sometimes these cost hikes are annual, but they can also be periodic throughout the course of the policy. Also, keep in mind term life insurance policies typically come in 15 or 30 year coverages and you will need to discuss with your agent which one is best for you. “When the term is up, so is the coverage. The insurance carrier will not pay the coverage if the insurer dies at any time (even a day) after the term,” according to the article.

If you don’t feel that term life insurance is the best choice for you, there are several other types like variable and whole. Discussing the available options with your life insurance agent is highly recommended on such an important financial decision like this.

To find a local agent and compare up to 5 life insurance quotes, try using a service like InsuranceAgents.com to find the lowest rate on a new policy.

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Accident Advice Helpline MD chairs Annual Claims Forum Conference

Accident Advice Helpline Managing Director, Darren Werth, in his capacity as Chairman of the Claims Standards Council, was invited to chair the afternoon session of the IEA and Marketforce’s 4th Annual Claims Forum Conference in London.

accidentadvicehelpline

Darren shared the stage with some of the insurance industry’s most significant players including Peter Hubbard, Former Chief Executive of AXA Insurance, David Williams, Managing Director Claims, AXA and John Higgins, Head of UK Personal Injury AIG.

It is thought to be the first time that a Claims Management company has been invited to participate at such a high level conference within the defendant insurance industry. Darren’s provocative and thought-provoking opening statement to the delegates echoed the warning shot issued by Lord Chief Justice Judge to lawyers at the ILEX Inaugural Lunch earlier this month that a failure to engage with the claims industry as a whole in the current environment may lead to the loss of opportunity, particularly as the future legal landscape remains very much under review.

Accident Advice Helpline remains at the forefront of the personal accident claims management industry trying to bring about reform. Accident Advice Helpline recently showed its intent to improve the industry as a whole with its acquisition and ongoing development of the Resolusion software system. The Resolusion software system will help settle claims more efficiently bringing about cost savings and streamlining the process.

About Accident Advice Helpline:
Accident Advice Helpline was established in 2000 following the removal of legal aid to accident victims with personal injury cases. The company was founded to provide access to justice for accident victims and, since its creation, has helped thousands of people claim compensation against the responsible parties.

The company has thrived and puts its success down to adhering strictly to its four key principles; integrity, dependability, reliability and accountability. As one of the most established companies in the industry, Accident Advice Helpline has worked tirelessly to ensure that making a claim is simple, fast and easy.

Working on a no win, no fee basis, the injury compensation specialist is the UK’s leading company of its kind and prides itself on quick and effective compensation claims processing, with high quality service and an admirable success rate. The level of customer satisfaction which Accident Advice Helpline is known for is characterised by television star Esther Rantzen’s continued support for the company, which she has steadily provided since 2003.

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The Children’s Mutual Finds Parents Prioritise Children’s Dreams

According to The Children’s Mutual over 5.5 million* young people in the UK are receiving financial help from their parents in order to realise their dreams and aspirations. In some cases this could lead to their parents abandoning their own dreams for the future and potentially undermining their finances.

thechildrensmutual

The research by the leading Child Trust Fund provider illustrates the finances that can be needed to realise an adult child’s ambitions and The Children’s Mutual is encouraging parents of today’s younger children to consider saving now if they want to be able to afford both these and their own retirement dreams.

Many parents of today’s 20 something’s have had to raid their own savings or sacrifice their retirement goals in order to help their adult children fulfil theirs. After spending years saving to fulfil their long-standing future plans, parents are finding that when the time comes the funds won’t cover the aspirations of both generations.

28%** of today’s 25 year-olds have financial support from their parents towards education, 23%*** towards their rent and 19%*** have financial support from their parents towards holidays and trips abroad.

David White, Chief Executive, The Children’s Mutual, commented, “We are highlighting to parents of younger children that by starting to save for their child’s future now, they can help avoid the struggles faced by the baby-boomer generation who regularly sacrifice their own dreams for those of their children.”

Research from The Children’s Mutual shows that 80%** of today’s 18 to 25 year-olds believe they can be ‘financially independent’ while still receiving financial support from their parents and 66%*** of those who are ‘completely financially independent’ still get some form of financial support from parents.

Starting to save small amounts regularly over the long-term into Child Trust Funds, is one way parents of today’s children could stand a better chance of fulfilling their own desires alongside being able to provide for their children as they enter adulthood.

David White continued; “Making the step into adulthood is often a strain financially. But from 2020 all 18 year-olds will be receiving their Child Trust Fund and those whose families have managed to save the maximum amount of £1,200 each year will have a fund that could be worth£37,100**** upon maturity. Those who save the average amount amongst our customers of £24 a month could have a fund worth £9,750 (based on investing £24 a month) when they reach age 18.”

* 6,309,156 (UK 18-25 year olds – source: statistics.gov.uk) / 100 x 87.2 (18-25 year olds who have had financial help from their parents according to The Children’s Mutual’s Financial Independence Report 2009) = 5,501,584
** Financial Independence Report commissioned by The Children’s Mutual February 2009
*** ibid
**** Projection includes monthly investment (plus £250 government vouchers at birth and age 7) for 18 years in a stakeholder CTF account. Assumed investment return – 7% a year, with charges of 1.5% of the CTF account value each year. Projected values cannot be guaranteed as shares can go up or down. Final payout could be more or less than this.

About The Children’s Mutual – Home of the Child Trust Fund
The Children’s Mutual’s mission is to help parents, grandparents, family and friends fulfil their hopes for today’s children. The Children’s Mutual is the only UK company that specialises in long term savings for children and is now the choice of 1 in 4 parents for their child’s Child Trust Fund, with more than 650,000 accounts.

The Children’s Mutual has won the The Moneyfacts Award for Best Child Trust Fund Provider every year since its 2006 launch.

This expertise has led several financial institutions and family-focused high street retailers to choose The Children’s Mutual as their CTF partner including ASDA, Boots, The Co-operative, Lloyds TSB, Mothercare and regional bank and building societies across the UK.

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Insurancewide Urges People To Take A Fresh Look At Health Insurance

As health insurance reform dominates the headlines in America – and has news pundits writing about it here in the UK - Insurancewide urges consumers to take a fresh look at the benefits of health insurance, which doesn’t have to have a prohibitive cost attached.

Barack Obama is atttempting to bring in sweeping healthcare reforms, which will mean the millions of Americans without health insurance can have access to good quality medical treatment – it’s estimated that 46 millions US citizens live with the worry of financial ruin if they were to fall ill.

Health Insurance For Peace Of Mind

Of course, in the UK we have the NHS which has always been free at the point of service, yet we have our own healthcare worries – waiting list numbers never seem to come down and hospital-related infections are still not under control. There are many reasons people in the UK seek out health insurance, and Insurancewide, one of the UK’s leading insurance comparison sites, is urging those who may not have considered it, to take a fresh look.

Private health insurance can give you the valuable peace of mind of knowing if you were to fall ill, or need treatment following an accident, you wouldn’t have to suffer the added worry or stress of being put on an NHS waiting list. Instead, with health insurance, you would receive quick attention at a private hospital knowing it was all covered under your premium (depending on the kind of premium you had purchased).

Health insurance offers a wide range of coverage – broadly speaking, it will cover short-term illness, accidents (though not of the kind relating to dangerous sports), in-patient treatments and also alternative remedies in some cases – each individual policy must be checked and evaluated before purchase.

The best way to check health insurance policies and compare quotes, is to use an online insurance comparison site such as Insurancewide. Comparison websites are useful not only for those new to health insurance but those people who already have a health insurance policy in place – you could find a more competitive quote or a policy with more benefits tailored to your needs.

About Insurancewide

Insurancewide, also known as Insurancewide.com Services Limited, is an online insurance comparison website offering insurance comparison tools which allow users to search the market and procure the best insurance policies and quotes. Insurancewide was launched in August 1999 as the first insurance comparison website on the internet.

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NS&I Has Announced The Launch Of A New Issue Of Its Guaranteed Equity Bond That Is Linked To The FTSE 100 Index

National Savings and Investments (NS&I) has announced the launch of a new issue of its Guaranteed Equity Bond. This will offer a potential return that is linked to the FTSE 100 index – up to a maximum of 40% over the 5-year term – without any risk to investors’ capital.

For example, if the averaged index end level is 20% greater than the averaged index start level at the end of the 5-year term, £10,000 invested would earn a gross return of £2,000 at the end of the term. If the index end level was 45% greater than the index start level at the end of the term, £10,000 invested would earn a gross return of £4,000, because the maximum return is 40%. The returns are calculated by comparing the start level of the FTSE 100 index (averaged over the first five days of the investment term) to the end level (averaged over the final six months).

While the returns paid on NS&I Guaranteed Equity Bonds are linked to the FTSE 100 index, NS&I does not invest the money in equities, so investments in the Guaranteed Equity Bond will not be eligible for dividends. Therefore investors may not get as high a return as they might through investing directly in the stock market. However, unlike investments in the stock market, any money invested is guaranteed 100% secure, backed by HM Treasury. If the FTSE 100 index end level is the same as or lower than the start level, investors’ initial capital would be returned in full.

Issue 18 of the Guaranteed Equity Bond will be on sale until 11 August 2009 (although it may close earlier if fully subscribed). Investments will earn interest at 0.5% pa gross until the Bond’s investment term starts on 26 August 2009. This interest will be paid when the Bond matures. The minimum investment level for this Guaranteed Equity Bond remains at £1,000 and the maximum investment is £1 million per person or £2 million for a joint investment.

This latest Guaranteed Equity Bond launch roughly coincides with the maturity of Issue 8 of NS&I’s 5-year Guaranteed Equity Bond on 28 July 2009, which went on sale in June 2004. NS&I has written to investors to inform them that their Bond is about to mature.

NS&I’s previous Guaranteed Equity Bond issue closed two weeks early as a result of customer demand. NS&I Guaranteed Equity Bond key features and further details available from the NS&I website

About NS&I
NS&I is one of the UK’s largest financial providers with almost 27 million customers and over £94 billion invested. It is best known for Premium Bonds, but also offers Inflation-Beating Savings, Guaranteed Equity Bonds and Children’s Bonus Bonds in its range. All products offer 100% security, because NS&I is backed by HM Treasury.

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4 Tips to Better Homeowners Insurance Quotes Published

One of the first things you do when you buy a new home is you start shopping for homeowners insurance quotes. Finding the right policy goes well beyond the right price. It’s critical that you get the appropriate coverages to make sure you, your family, and your property are appropriately covered. It may seem like a daunting task at first, but this article is designed to serve as a quick guide to getting a new policy quickly and painlessly. Below are some helpful tips for choosing the right homeowners insurance policy.

Look Into the Companies You Are Getting Homeowners Insurance Quotes From

In order to insure that the company you are looking at is financial stable and has a good history of paying claims, check into their background. Use services like AM Best to find out what their credit rating is. Use search engines like Google to investigate for complaints, lawsuits, or current criminal investigations. It’s also a good idea to check with your state department of insurance to see if they recommend any particular companies as being safe before you start getting homeowners insurance quotes.

Understand Your Available Options

Two important things to keep in mind are your cause-of-loss options and additional coverages for personal belongings such as jewelry, antiques, electronics, collections, appliances, etc… The cause-of-loss option comes in three forms: basic, broad, and special. Basic and broad very general and limited coverages. Many claims will not be covered by a basic or broad cause-of-loss policy. Special on the other hand is general much more comprehensive and covers nearly any property loss/damage, for nearly any reason.

Second, consider your options for additional coverages for your personal belongings. Most homeowners insurance quotes will be for a basic rate without any additional coverages for jewelry, etc… Make sure to tell your agent if you have anything valuable you own that you would like covered and to make sure you new policy actually covers the damage of theft of those items.

Make Sure you are FULLY Covered

It’s all too common that the average homeowners insurance policy doesn’t include enough coverage for the property its insuring. Neatly 60% of the households in the US are underinsured. Its critical that when you are looking at a new policy that your homeowners insurance quote includes an accurate appraisal of your home and its contents. Double check the insurance agents calculations to make sure they are accurate otherwise you could end up severely under compensated when you go to file a claim. This is the perfect time to get a second opinion on the estimated replacement value of the home by comparing the homeowners insurance quote you get with another agent or another company.

Compare and Save Big

Using a site like InsuranceAgents.com you can compare multiple quotes from local agents in your area. When agents start competing for your business you will be amazed at how much lower of a rate you end up with in the end. This is the most convenient and fastest way to compare several different homeowners insurance quotes from different companies all from the convenience of your computer.

For more information, visit InsuranceAgents.com.

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Health Insurance Is Cheaper Than You Might Think

In recent weeks it has been reported the National Health Service (NHS) will face a shortfall of funds as the previous big spending boom comes to an end in 2011. At the annual NHS confederation conference in Liverpool, the report ‘Dealing with the downturn: the NHS’s greatest ever leadership challenge’ stated if extra money wasn’t found for the NHS in 2011/2012, it was in danger of no longer being free at the point of service. This is the worst case scenario, but even if it doesn’t come to pass, Brits could face longer waiting lists and an overall poorer experience – alarming news for the many people who don’t have private health insurance.

insurancewide

There is the general view that private health insurance is an expensive and unneccessary cost to add to your monthly outgoings – however Insurancewide – a specialist UK insurance comparison website is urging people to take a fresh look, as it might not be as expensive as they think.

Cheap Health Insurance – Benefits and Comparisons

As with most types of insurance, health insurance can be as cheap as you like, or you could go for a more expensive option – when purchasing health insurance it’s definitely worth investing a little time and effort into making the right decision. There are usually three levels of cover on offer – budget, standard and comprehensive.

Budget health insurance covers treatment but usually sets the payouts at a certain level and limits the range of hospitals the patient is able to visit. Standard plans can cover some outpatient treatment and in some instances limited complementary therapies, and premium health insurance will cover elements such as home nursing, ambulance services, all complementary therapies and treatments with no limit on cost. If you fall ill, and you have even the most basic and cheap health insurance, you can rest-assured that you will be able to bypass NHS waiting lists, choose a private room for treatment and have most, if not all, your medical bills covered – depending on the length of your illness.

So, whilst you can buy expensive health insurance if you can afford it, basic plans can still give you the peace of mind of knowing you are covered should you fall ill and need treatment immediately – and with the latest doom and gloom predictions regarding the NHS such peace of mind is very valuable. Insurance comparison sites are a quick and effective way of comparing multiple health insurance quotes from various different providers, allowing you to make a decision based on your needs.

About Insurancewide

Insurancewide, also known as Insurancewide.com Services Limited, is an online insurance comparison website offering insurance comparison tools that allow users to search the market and procure the best insurance policies and quotes. Insurancewide was launched in August 1999 as the first insurance comparison website on the internet. The site also powered tools used on popular website Confused.com.

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Kublax – Free Online Money Management Service

A new online financial service has been launched in the UK, set to pioneer the way forward in personal finances by simplifying the way people manage their money. Called Kublax, the finance software works by aggregating all financial information in one place, such as bank, building society, and credit card accounts, and presents them in an easy to understand way.

Kublax aims to make money management an easier procedure, while helping users to save money and create better budgets in the process. The service offers a great alternative for anyone who finds budgeting and balancing their finances difficult, or those who are looking for a free online alternative to expensive desktop financial software.

In addition to pulling together all financial details to a central source, the new service features many useful interactive features, including alerts and budgets. Once a user has uploaded the details of their financial institution, the advanced software automatically categorises the users’ expenses in order to see exactly where money is spent each month.

By setting up a budget on the service, users can track their fixed budget against their actual spending. The handy alerts system also means users can be quickly notified of any usual account activity as well as always be reminded when bills are due to avoid paying late fees.

The new service also features a unique ‘compare me’ function. This tool allows users to anonymously compare their spending with others throughout the UK, and could help users identify clear budget categories they could cut down.

Displaying data visually in easy to read graphs and charts, the product aims to make budgeting a faster and easier process for the UK consumer.

Kublax’s initiative to help consumers have better control over their finances may also help them to save. Throughout the site, users will find suggestions on where they could save via switching account providers.

Users can also feel safe using the service, as it is completely secure. The site uses bank level security and is verified to be hacker proof by McAfee. The site has been qualified by the VeriSign security seal, while their privacy policy has been approved by TRUSTe. Because the site offers a read only service, no transactions can take place via the online software.

Although only launching the product a few short weeks ago, the original concept had already won the Seedcamp 2007 startup competition, and has been well received by the media.

The free financial management service should come as a relief to the millions of Brits who have found balancing their finances and building budgets to be a time consuming and difficult process. For more information or to use the product, visit http://www.kublax.com.

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Carefully Reviewing Your Current Homeowners Insurance Policy Can Expose Potentially Expensive Gaps In Your Coverage

Carefully reviewing your current policy can expose potentially expensive gaps in your coverage.

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Making sure you are properly covered is the single most important aspect of an insurance policy, yet it’s one of the most common mistakes consumers make when seeking out homeowners insurance quotes.

If your residence is one of the most important assets you own, you should make sure it is properly covered by reviewing your policy with your local agent. InsuranceAgents.com recently published an article detailing the risks many homeowners fail to cover because of gaps in their homeowners insurance coverage.

According to the article, “many times these gaps aren’t realized until the homeowner tries to file a claim and realizes their policy doesn’t provide proper coverage …” It’s important that you review your policy to see if it covers antiques, jewelry, electronics, floods, personal liability, and many other critical coverages that most homeowners insurance companies offer.

The article goes onto explain that a personal injury coverage should be included in your policy. This additional coverage pays for things such as bodily harm, personal injury, libel/slander, or defamation of character to you, your family, or your guests while they are on the property. Typically this additional coverage is not expensive and can provide a significant amount of coverage for you.

You may want to consider other additional coverages like sewage backup coverage or flood insurance. The main point the article stresses is that there are a lot of available coverages available under your homeowners insurance policy that you should consider and it’s in your best interests to find out where the gaps are in your current or new policy.

It’s your responsibility to understand your rights and protect yourself and you don’t want to be left with potentially thousands of dollars in rejected claims because you lacked proper coverage. Check out InsuranceAgents.com for more helpful article like this one about how to use homeowners insurance to protect your home and other helpful tools to help you find a lower rate.

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Costs, Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Insurance, Insurance Services, Money

Term Life Insurance Presents Options for Family, Individual

Today’s economy has many people wondering about the future of their loved ones. Rightfully so; if they were to pass, not only would their family members have to deal with the emotional turmoil of their deaths, but they would also have to contend to funeral costs, financial debts, mortgage payments, and their own financial priorities.

Now there is even more reason to worry about their families; the recession continues to churn, and no one really knows if the worst has past or just begun. Unemployment has risen beyond 8.5 percent with no signs of decreasing in the near future. Many households are finding their incomes dwindle amidst rising costs. Compared to past years, more people are struggling to make ends meet. If the prime income holder was to pass away suddenly, and he or she had no life insurance, their loved ones could be financially devastated in the aftermath.

InsuranceAgents.com points out that now more than ever people should consider the benefits of life insurance. Term life insurance is a life insurance policy that insures almost anyone for a certain amount of time of your life. It is the less expensive option compared to other life insurance types, making it extremely easy to afford for anyone. There are some drawbacks to term life insurance, but its benefits at this time period outweigh the negatives.

InsuranceAgents.com suggests that anyone looking for life insurance quotes should search online. The sooner they get the best coverage and rate, the better off their families will be financially.

For more information, visit InsuranceAgents.com.

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Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Insurance, Insurance Services

LV= Reveals UK Adults Set To Spend £178 Million Less On Weddings This Year

Research by home and travel insurer LV= reveals that cash strapped wedding guests are planning to reduce their spending on weddings this year, adding up to a total of £178 million less than before the recession kicked in. On average, men plan to spend £62 on wedding gifts compared to women, who plan to spend £40.

LV= research reveals that 11.1 million (23%) UK adults will attend a wedding this year. However, the impact of the economic climate has resulted in 2.7 million (25%) of those attending saying they cannot afford to spend as much going to the wedding and buying gifts as they would have otherwise. A further 24% said the bride and groom are not expecting them to spend as much because of the recession, with the average reduction in spend per person being £37.

Of the Brits set to attend weddings this year, 61% said that the recession has affected their attitude towards going. Nearly a third (31%) said they would be less willing to attend a wedding abroad this year if asked while 19% would be less willing to travel long distances in the UK due to the cost implications. A further 19% said they would avoid attending a wedding unless they were close to the people involved.

The research also reveals that the trend for weddings abroad is becoming increasingly popular. 2.8 million adults have attended a wedding abroad over the last 18 months and 1.4 million plan to do so over the remainder of this year. One of the most common reasons cited for attending weddings abroad is that the bride and groom are trying to keep costs down in the current recession.

John O’Roarke, Managing Director of LV= home and travel insurance, commented: “Weddings are clearly an expensive affair, but not just for the bride and groom. Despite the recession this research shows that the average couple will spend over £300 per wedding they attend. People planning on attending or holding their own wedding, both in the UK or overseas, should have travel insurance in place so that if they do have to change their plans at the last minute they won’t be out of pocket.

“In addition, much of this spend will be on wedding gifts so anyone planning their own wedding should check their home insurance policy to ensure it includes an automatic increase in home contents insurance to cover wedding gifts. The LV= home contents insurance policy automatically increases the sum insured by 10%.

“Finally, gifts such as cash will not be covered on most home insurance policies, so the bride and groom should make arrangements for any large amount of cash to be deposited somewhere safe rather than left in the house whilst they are on honeymoon.”

  • Opinium Research carried out a survey of 2,141 people between 16 and 20 Jane 2009. All population figures based on ONS statistics: 48,315,000 UK adults.

About LV=
LV= offers home, car, pet, travel and home insurance direct to consumers online and from its offices in Bournemouth, Croydon and Bristol.

LV= employs more than 3,800 people, serves more than 3.5 million customers and members, and manages around £7bn on their behalf. We are also the UK’s largest friendly society (Association of Friendly Societies Yearbook 2006/2007, total net assets) and a leading mutual financial services provider.

LVFS is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and entered on the Financial Services Authority Register No. 110035. LVFS is a member of the ABI, AMI, AFS and ILAG. Registered address: County Gates, Bournemouth BH1 2NF.

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Checks, Financial, Money, Personal Finance

Styles Checks Released The New “Grease” Product Suite

With hundreds of assorted designs for every collector, Styles Checks continues to expand and incorporate more designs to appeal to the many tastes of its consumers. With the addition of the new “Grease” design, Styles Checks gets a sassy addition to its current collection of check designs.

In June, 2009, Styles Checks released the new “Grease” product suite through its website, www.styleschecks.com. The personal checks offer four rotating scenes that feature some of the Pink Ladies individually and then one of them as a group. Against backgrounds of pink and yellow, each rotation features a quote typical of the Pink Ladies. “Eat your heart out” appears with Rizzo, “Beauty school drop-out” is written below a pink-haired Frenchie, “Too pure to be pink” is portrayed with Sandy, and the group shot features the words, “Love us or hate us.” The personal contact cards also feature the group picture of the Pink Ladies while the self-adhesive address labels feature six rotating scenes of the above quotes plus the Pink Ladies and Grease logos. Finally, the checkbook cover is black with pink accents that include the Grease car logo.

The addition of the new “Grease” design allows Styles Checks to appeal to the preferences and collections of even more customers. Styles Checks offers designs for checks and banking accessories that speak to the interests of every collector, hobbyist, or enthusiast.

About Styles Checks:
Whatever interest, hobby, or collection you may have, Styles Checks is sure to have something for you. Including checks that feature our favorite personalities, colorful designs, and famous brands, Styles Checks is certain to have something you can fall in love with! Visit our site to make your daily banking routine a little more interesting!

TM & © 2009 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

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Debts, Financial, Financial Management, Financial Services, Money, Personal Finance

IVAs: Help Avoiding Repossession

Responding to the latest figures from the CML (Council of Mortgage Lenders), debt management company Gregory Pennington has stressed the role which debt solutions addressing unsecured debt can play in helping people avoid repossession.

gregorypennington

Released on May 15th, the CML’s figures show that 12,800 repossessions were carried out by first-charge mortgage lenders in the first quarter of 2009. “Compared with many predictions, these figures are relatively low,” said a spokesperson for Gregory Pennington. “Indeed, the CML itself has used the word ‘pessimistic’ in reference to its own estimate of 75,000 repossessions throughout 2009, and has recently revised this figure downwards to 65,000.

“It’s good to see lenders and borrowers working together to keep the figure as low as possible, but it’s important not to become complacent. There were still around 23% more repossessions in Q1 2009 than in the previous quarter – and 50% more than we saw in Q1 last year.

“Looking ahead, the repossession figures for the rest of 2009 are by no means set in stone. They depend not just on the state of the economy and the forbearance shown by secured lenders, but on the attitude of borrowers and unsecured lenders alike.

“In this recession, many people are suffering multiple ‘shocks’ at the same time. With 2.2 million unemployed and many others dealing with reduced wages, homeowners are also facing the issue of falling equity. While there’s no direct link between low (or negative) equity and repossession, this is limiting many homeowners’ ability to access ways of dealing with their debt – from debt consolidation loans and remortgaging to downsizing to a smaller property.

“It all underlines the importance of finding a solution that addresses a borrower’s priority and non-priority commitments at the same time. A founder member of DEMSA (the Debt Managers Standards Association), Gregory Pennington has 15 years’ experience of dealing with lenders of all kinds.

“Secured and unsecured lenders alike clearly have a thorough understanding of the problems consumers face today. They understand the link between secured and unsecured debt problems.

“Secured lenders know that many of today’s borrowers are facing complex financial problems, trying to deal with unsecured debts as well as secured.

“Unsecured lenders, in general, appreciate that a homeowner’s secured debts must take priority – and that repossession is unlikely to improve the borrower’s chances of repaying their unsecured debt.

“This is one reason unsecured lenders will often agree to the terms of an IVA (Individual Voluntary Arrangement).”

A solution that’s designed to address the concerns of everyone involved, an IVA can help unsecured lenders recover as much of their money as realistically possible, and can help borrowers avoid the need to focus on their mortgage / rent at the expense of their unsecured debts. Insolvency Practitioners (IPs) achieve this by calculating how much the individual can realistically afford to repay per month after they’ve taken their mortgage / rent payments and other essential expenses into account.

“Even so, we always emphasise that entering an IVA is a serious step, and is by no means suitable for everyone facing debt problems. Depending on their situation, different homeowners may be better advised to consider alternative solutions to their debt problems.”

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Credit Cards, Debts, Financial, Financial Management, Financial Services, Money, Personal Finance

Debt Management Could Help With Unmanageable Credit Card Debt

Responding to a new report suggesting that there are more than 200,000 ‘secret credit cards’ in the UK – cards that are kept hidden from the holder’s partner – financial solutions company Think Money has advised consumers that while credit cards can be a useful means of funding purchases, borrowers should be careful to ensure that they can make their repayments in order to avoid debt problems in the future.

thinkmoney

Research from Halifax Credit Cards showed that people in the UK hide an estimated 217,000 credit cards from their partners. Reasons for doing this included buying items the card holder did not want their partners to know about, hiding existing debt from partners, or simply having emergency funds available.

According to credit card trade association APACS, there are 30.2 million credit card holders in the UK. Total credit card spending in 2008 was £126.2 billion.

Melanie Taylor, Head of Corporate Relations for Think Money, said that while there is nothing specifically wrong with having a ‘secret’ credit card, card holders should ensure they are hiding it for the right reasons – and not in order to hide problem debts.

“It boils down to the same principle as having any credit card. Credit cards can be a very useful source of additional finances, as well as a ‘safety net’ against any unexpected costs. Used correctly, credit cards should not cause the consumer any problems.

“However, it’s when the borrower starts delaying their repayments – paying only the minimum – that the problems can start.

“The trouble with credit card debt is that the interest is a lot higher than on many other forms of credit. If the borrower does not repay the full credit card balance at the end of the month, then the interest that accumulates on the remaining balance may be a lot higher than a lower-interest alternative, such as an authorised overdraft.

“Over time, the interest can begin to ‘snowball’, and it can become increasingly difficult to repay the remaining balance. It may not be long before the debt becomes unmanageable – which is why it’s important to get debt advice at the first sign of difficulty.”

Mrs Taylor added that the relatively low minimum repayment on credit cards means that some people can take a long time to clear the debt.

“Unlike personal loans, which carry fixed regular repayment terms, credit cards only require a minimum repayment each month. This makes it very easy to delay repaying the full balance, which is how problems start for many borrowers.

“In general, we advise people to avoid making large purchases on credit cards unless they can be absolutely sure that they can afford to repay the debt in the near future.”

Mrs Taylor said that anyone who does find themselves struggling to repay their credit card debt should not hesitate to seek professional debt advice.

“Because the interest will only continue to grow, finding the right debt solution is vital for anyone who can no longer afford to repay their credit card debt.

“One such debt solution is a debt management plan, which is an informal arrangement with the lender that can allow the borrower to repay their debt at a more manageable pace. It is often also possible to negotiate a freeze or reduction in interest, which could be especially helpful for repaying credit card debt.

“However, borrowers should always consider all options available to them. A professional debt adviser can recommend the best debt solution for the borrower’s individual circumstances.”

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Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, IRA, Money, Personal Finance, Retirement

Prudential Reveals That Advisers Pin RDR Hopes Online

Prudential has released research demonstrating the need for providers to constantly adapt their services to help advisers in both the online and offline environment, with more than half of the advisers surveyed (58%) ranking better quality or more online information and service options as the most important element of the product provider/distributor relationship surrounding preparations for Retail Distribution Review (RDR).

While improving online servicing is seen as a must do by advisers, they also believe that solid account management relationships must go hand-in-hand with technology. This sentiment was highlighted by 40% of advisers citing more or better dialogue with an account manager as the next most important service element surrounding their preparations for RDR. With a combination of expert face-to-face and telephone account management teams readily available to guide advisers through obtaining and completing sales, this is a service Prudential is already supports.

Ian McKenna, Director of the Finance and Technology Research Centre (FTRC) said: “RDR will make it essential for advisers to focus on the cost of doing business in ways they have never needed to previously. It is not giving the advice that takes excessive time but the preparation. Collating information manually is hugely time consuming, electronic services can deliver in seconds what might otherwise take hours. Historically the cost of those hours has been subsidised by commission, when it is the client potentially paying for the time racking up hours in this way will no longer be acceptable. Automated delivery of information to advisers will be a hygiene factor in a Post RDR environment.”

57% of advisers claimed that their volume of client enquiries regarding retirement planning remains unchanged. This is encouraging news in the current economic climate, proving that it is vital for providers to arm advisers with all the necessary tools to deal with their continuous day-to-day business.

Jon Cross, Head of eBusiness at Prudential said: “Our research shows that advisers are becoming increasingly dependent on online services to help guide them through the changes that RDR will bring. Prudential works very closely with advisers to develop its online services, we constantly review our content and navigational functionality, and will of course continue to evolve our systems to help advisers as they change their business models ready for RDR. We are committed to providing a high level of service to advisers to ensure that they spend as little time on administration as possible. Taking their business online frees up time that would have traditionally been spent processing paperwork.”

The benefits of online servicing are clear for advisers, allowing easy access to brochures, illustrations and valuations outside normal office hours. Prudential’s adviser website houses a wealth of useful material including product guides, support literature, real-time valuations and market analysis from industry experts. Advisers can also find a variety of interactive tools covering pension planning, drawing an income and annuitisation. The ‘Support for you’ section provides advisers with updates and news regarding regulatory issues such as TCF and RDR. Also under this section advisers can hear what Prudential experts have to say as they explore various opportunities and considerations advisers face in helping their clients save for and provide an income in their retirement.

Prudential surveyed 123 independent financial advisers during April 2008.

About Prudential:
“Prudential” is a trading name of The Prudential Assurance Company Limited, which is registered in England and Wales. This name is also used by other companies within the Prudential Group, which between them provide a range of financial products including life assurance, annuity products – including retirement annuity, pensions, savings and investment products. Registered Office at Laurence Pountney Hill, London EC4R 0HH. Registered number 15454. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

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Assets, Business, Financial, Financial Services, Money, Security

Battle Against Mortality Fraud Intensifies

In order to offer their customers increased protection against impersonation of the deceased (IOD) fraud, Tracesmart have considerably increased the coverage of mortality data they hold. The consumer data specialists have now incorporated the General Register Office (GRO) death indexes for England and Wales from 1980-1983 into their Tracesmart Corporate suite of services; this being only the beginning of their comprehensive death index digitisation project.

The GRO has collated registers of important civil events, such as births, deaths and marriages, since 1837, but it was not until 1984 that they began to digitise records. All registrations prior to 1984 are held on microfiche. In 2005 the GRO initiated the ‘Digitisation of Vital Events’ (DOVE) project to digitise the birth, death and marriage indexes, but unfortunately following major delays the project was put on hold, with only birth records up to 1934 and death records up to 1957 having been digitised; it is not known when the project will recommence.

Death index data is a pivotal tool in the fight against IOD fraud. With a lack of historical death data available electronically and having acquired microfiches holding all deaths registered in England and Wales covering 1960 – 1983, Tracesmart embarked on a comprehensive death index digitisation project. Utilising an offshore service provider, the company are ensuring 99.95% accuracy on all records digitised through a strict quality control procedure and, when completed in 2010, the project will yield approximately 14,500,000 death records in a digital format.

Tracesmart have completed the initial stage of this project and the 1980 – 1983 death indexes (some 2,500,000 records) have already been integrated into their mortality database. These additions make it both the most comprehensive and extensive commercially available mortality database in the UK.

Whilst the 1980 – 1983 death indexes will be essential for conducting comprehensive identity checks and data cleansing exercises, they will also play a significant role when financial institutions wish to trace people as part of an asset reunification program. From their considerable experience in tracing dormant account holders, Tracesmart know that many of the missing individuals will transpire to have died prior to 1984. Whereas to identify such events previously involved labour intensive research, it can now be done at the click of a button.

Commenting on how the new death records and their ongoing digitisation project will help their customers Mike Trezise, Managing Director of Tracesmart, noted,

“Following on from the integration of death registration information into our anti-fraud services last year, we are continuing to enhance our mortality database. From a service standpoint this data means we can improve and enhance much of our portfolio, especially our identity verification and mortality screening services. This, in turn, allows our clients to better defend against mortality related fraud, protecting both the company and consumer alike.”

About Tracesmart

Tracesmart Limited was formed in 1999 and supplies a diverse range of consumer data cleansing, identity check and people tracing tools to a wide variety of industries. The company’s client base ranges from SME to Blue Chip, who are all recipients of bespoke solutions, built around their specific needs.

Mike Trezise is the founder and Managing Director of Tracesmart. With over 25 years tracing and fraud analysis experience his unrivalled knowledge provides the company with a distinct competitive advantage.

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