Category Archives: Financial Information

Financial Information

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Freud Capital announced today that Lee Wang was promoted to Counsel General, effective February 2013

Mr. Lee Wang, who joined Freud Capital as Associate Counsel General in 2009, will be managing the Company’s legal affairs on a global basis, with accountability for corporate litigation, human resources, contract negotiation and labour relations, and outside counsel relationships. He takes the place of Andrew Thompson, the Company’s previous Counsel General who had been promoted as Chief Officer for Legal Affairs early this month.

“In his colourful tenure as Associate Counsel General, Lee’s experience, leadership attributes, and tried-and-tested track record in legal affairs deftly handling all differing aspects of Freud Capital’s legal needs have become an unquestionable boon to the company,” said Mr. Thompson. “He has earned the accolades and respect of Freud Capital’s management and its workforce, and is perfect for the position of Counsel General, he continued.

Mr. Wang joined Freud Capital, after he has worked for more than two decades, lastly as counsel in its Corporate Litigation group. He earned his undergraduate degree with honours from and his JD with distinctions from the Orange County University School of Law, where he was a member of its Law Review Board for two years.

“In the wake of this, my appointment to the helm of one of the largest financial institutions in this part of the world, I am one happy man,” Wang said. “Working with Freud Capital in meeting the business landscape’s ever-changing legal issues head-on is my No.1 priority, and I will be working with you to see that end,” he added.

Freud Capital is dedicated to providing clients with all-inclusive trading support, market research and advice and the finest futures trading and options advisory services available in the market. Our futures specialists are armed with the necessary knowledge and experience to help clients succeed in trading markets such as currencies, energies, precious metals and even grains.

The highlights of our services include highly professional customer service, secure and stable financial status, competitive rates, real time quotes, accuracy and speed of execution. We take pride in our advisors who have been trained and honed by education and experience. Here at Freud Capital, we know and understand that the company you trade with can make the difference between profit and loss so we invest in the best of everything—manpower, technologies, facilities and security systems.

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Freud Capital explains six simple ways you can invest in gold

In today’s financial climate, investors are increasingly looking to diversify their portfolio and keep their funds secure. Indeed, during every period of historical economic downturn, demand for gold has consistently risen.

With the price of spot gold on the up and investment in gold growing once again, the question is not whether to invest in precious metals, but how. General consensus among experts is that no more than 30 per cent of your portfolio should be gold.

Investment portals explains seven simple ways you can invest in gold:

1.       Physical gold (bullion)

Gold remains a finite currency that is used around the world, from India to America, to preserve wealth. Able to be passed from generation to generation, it is important to think of physical gold primarily as a method of financial insurance. Once purchased, you should not trade it. Rather, store it securely with a third party as a strong foundation to your portfolio, from which you can branch into other forms of investment.

2.       Coins (Rare coins)

Investment grade gold is exempt from VAT, but gold coins have financial benefits too: coins that are considered legal tender in the UK, such as Sovereigns and Britannia coins, are exempt from Capital Gains Tax. Whether you buy a single coin or a thousand coins, they are a universally recognised liquid investment that can also be passed onto future generations as valuable heirlooms – particularly rare or ancient gold coins. Comparisons can be made to ISAs as a tax-free product, but unlike Individual Savings Accounts, there is no maximum amount that can be invested.

3.       Gold certificates

The only government-backed precious metal certificate scheme in the world, gold certificates can be purchased from the Perth Mint. The certificates acknowledge the investor’s ownership of the gold bullion, which is stored securely for them in Australia. The programme is highly popular among investors, not just because Perth Mint Certificates are highly liquid and can be sold easily, but because the scheme enjoys an AAA rating from Standard & Poor’s, making it one of the safest alternative investments in the world.

4.       Gold stocks

For investors not keen on owning an actual chunk of gold, stocks provide a way to introduce an element of gold’s value to their portfolio. Placing money into gold mining companies, investors benefit from rising share prices as the value of gold increases. The efficiency and practices of a chosen firm introduce other factors into the investment that can prevent share prices from rising, making this a riskier option for investors; gold stocks are about speculation rather than wealth preservation. Accordingly, returns can be higher and attained at a far faster rate.

5.       Precious metal trust funds

If investing directly in a mining company’s shares seems too risky, you can hedge your bets by investing in a collection of companies. Precious metal trusts reduce risk while still allowing investors to benefit from the performance of gold mining companies.

6.       Gold futures

Gold futures are at the extreme speculative end of the gold investment spectrum. Trading at exchanges around the world, futures are contracts that commit you to buy a specified amount of gold, both in terms of quantity and quality, at a future date and at a fixed price. Only a small percentage of the contract is paid up front, which means that rising, or falling, values of bullion have a strong impact upon your profits, or loss. If you are prepared to handle the high risk, you can expect high rewards.

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Freud Capital Expands Institutional Presence

Freud Capital, an independent futures brokerage firm in Hong Kong, announced that it is growing its institutional presence in Hong Kong as the latest step in the firm’s strategic expansion globally. The company has invested in new infrastructure and office space in its headquarters building to create a premier “trading floor” for its Hong Kong institutional division. The space is designed to accommodate new teams of experienced institutional advisers Freud Capital plans to hire in the coming months, to complement the firm’s growing institutional presence in Asia.

Michael Stevens , Freud Capital’s Managing Director, said: “With options as our core business, we have established a terrific niche in serving the growing middle market base of clients, including Fortune 1000 companies, small to mid-size corporate, industrial and agricultural firms, high net worth individuals and commodity traders. We’re able to bring these clients an incredibly high level of service, and increasingly, institutional brokers are contacting us to talk about their interest in our resources and high-touch approach to serving this market.”

Alex Stone , Freud Capital Chief Officer for Technologies said: “We’ve made significant investments in technology and infrastructure to build a compelling, robust new ‘trading floor’ that optimizes our proprietary, value-added technology, along with the trading screens of premier software providers. In addition, new general and specialist institutional teams will benefit from our comprehensive global futures offering and a 24/7 support structure that’s second to none in the industry.”

As part of a strategic global expansion, Freud Capital throughout last year has been building its business, including expanding its footprint in Hong Kong, and hiring experienced specialist brokerage teams throughout the Asian Pacific Rim.. Freud Capital also brought in an experienced team of institutional sugar brokers and an execution group specializing in all futures markets.

Stevens said: “These new teams, building on our long-established expertise in commodities, have already substantially grown the firm’s business. We are committed to continued strategic expansion in Asia, as well as globally.”

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Freud Capital releases report on agri-commodity

Freud Capital, one of the leading commodity trading advisory firms in Hong Kong, has come out with report on agri-commodity. The outlook from the report is as follows:

Spices : Jeera futures (Mar) is expected to maintain support above 13400 levels. Fresh export enquiries may support prices. Demand from domestic traders and millers at lower levels may also support prices. In the international market, Indian cumin seed 1% quoted at USD 2,850 ton (cnf) Singapore. However, Turkey and Syria are not offering. Sowing in Turkey and Syria will be in March. Pepper futures (Feb) is likely to trade range bound facing resistance near 38000 levels. The Indian parity in the international market has risen substantially and therefore Jan and Feb prices are not competitive with other origins which are at around USD 7,000 a tonne. Spot prices increased by Rs 800 on strong demand amid limited supply last week to close on Saturday at Rs 38,500 (ungarbled) and Rs 40,000 (MG 1) a quintal. Turmeric futures (Apr) is likely to trade with a negative bias due to mounting stocks and expected fresh supplies.

Oilseeds : The downside bias in mustard futures may remain intact owing to rising area under cultivation. At present, the mustard crop is in the flowering stages and farmers in Rajasthan have planted the oilseed on 2.79 million hectares (lh). The total acreage across the country under mustard has seen a marginal increase to 67 lh over the corresponding last year’s 26.41 lh. CPO futures may trade sideways following bearish sentiments prevailing in Malaysian market. Exports of Malaysian palm oil products for Jan. 1-20 fell 17.3% to 830,830 tonnes from 1,004,159 tonnes in the Dec. 1-20 period.

Soybean futures may trade in range bound due to lack of cues from international market.

Other commodities : Sugar futures (Feb) is likely to trade sideways with upside getting capped near 3275 levels owing to higher production. Between October and January 15, sugar production in India stood at 10.8 million tonnes (mt), about 3% more than the year-ago period. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has urged the government to raise the import duty on sugar. Currently, import duty on sugar is 10%.

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Bergmann White Associates Financial Appoints James Walton Tang to Board of Directors and Chair of the Risk Oversight Committee

Bergmann White Associates today announced James Walton Tang has been appointed to the company’s board of directors Mr. Walton Tang also has been named Chair of the Risk Oversight Committee, and a member of the Audit Committee.

“James’s many years of experience as chief risk officer for two of the world’s leading and most admired financial services institutions, and his position as a recognized leader in the development of enterprise risk management best practices, will be invaluable as we execute Bergmann White Associates’ strategic plan and sharpen our operational focus,” said Frank Timothy Jr., interim CEO and chairman of the board.

An executive with over 25 years of experience in risk and business management, Mr. Walton Tang is widely noted as the first ever chief risk officer and an early advocate of enterprise risk management. He previously served as founder and president of Risk Control™, chief risk officer of Secure Investments®, and chief risk officer of THG Capital Markets Services, Inc.

Mr. Walton Tang is currently president of James Walton Tang & Associates, a consultancy singularly focused on risk management. The company was recognized by Forrester Research as among a select number of consulting firms with extensive risk capabilities across all major industries. His firm works with corporate directors and executives of large, complex organizations including global banks, brokerage firms, insurance companies, asset managers, non-financial corporations, regulatory agencies, and non-profit organizations. In “How to invest®” survey, Mr. Walton Tang was nominated by clients and peers as one of the leading risk consultants in the world.

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Bergmann White Associates Announces CFO Transition

Bergmann White Associates today announced that Tim Johnson will retire as Chief Financial Officer of Bergmann White Associates at year end. Matthew J. Ping, Bergmann White Associates’ Corporate Controller, will succeed Mr. Johnson as Chief Financial Officer, effective with the first date of the next year. Mr. Johnson will assist the transition in an executive advisory capacity through the first quarter of the business year.

“Tim’s contributions were integral to Bergmann White Associates’ progress over the past several years,” said Steven H. Lang, Chief Executive Officer of Bergmann White Associates. “In addition to enhancing the company’s capital structure, he ensured a focus on business momentum while reducing expenses across the firm. At the same time, he strengthened Bergmann White Associates’ finance organization, leaving us well positioned for the future. We thank him for his dedication and I am personally grateful for the counsel he provided to me when I joined the company earlier this year.”

As CFO since, Mr. Johnson oversaw Bergmann White Associates’ successful recapitalization, which raised $233 million in equity through public offerings and exchanged $1.1 billion of interest bearing debt.

Mr. Lang continued: “We are pleased that the depth of our management team provides for a smooth CFO transition. Matt is a respected leader with comprehensive knowledge of the company and its finances. I am confident that in his new role he will continue to bring significant value to the organization.”

As CFO, Mr. Ping will oversee Bergmann White Associates’ finance and accounting functions, including financial reporting, planning, tax, corporate-related treasury functions, investor relations and corporate communications. As a member of the executive management team, he will work across the organization to continue to strengthen financial processes and optimize value for the company.

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Umbrella Company Tarpon Comment On The Recent Announcement That MSC Investigations Have Risen Significantly

Under the freedom of information rules, it has been confirmed that the government are clamping down on tax avoidance arrangements through the use of Managed Service Companies (MSCs) legislation. The legislation enables the government to recover tax and National Insurance Contributions, and has caused investigations to treble in a short period of time. The news will no doubt be of interest to those working within both employment and financial industries, including UK umbrella companies such as Tarpon UK Ltd.

The company which submitted the Freedom of information requests to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) was recruitment law specialist, Lawspeed. The information revealed that the number of MSC tax avoidance arrangement enquiries had risen from 216 to 860, in the space of 7 months.

Lawspeed make it clear that since there has been 142 debt transfer notices issued since April 2011, recruitment supply companies that work with service providers should be very cautious.

The MSCs legislation defines Managed Service Companies as any contractor company that pays its worker more than employed levels of income. If HMRC discovers recruiters using companies that chose to avoid tax and National Insurance, this may result in the outstanding tax and National Insurance debt being transferred to them.

The director of Lawspeed, Adrian Marlowe, explains that the the law in this area is very complex and technical. He also stated that, “agencies should be careful to independently check the service providers they work with to assess the level of exposure to tax and national insurance transfer.”

A spokesperson from leading UK umbrella company Tarpon commented on the recent discovery:

“Although the number of investigations has risen dramatically, it’s vital that freelancers who are umbrella company employees do not panic. This news will only affect those who continue to avoid paying tax.

“Tarpon are proud to be 100% compliant to all tax legislation, which ensures safety not only to contractors and freelancers, but also clients and agencies.”

“Because there are numerous laws and regulations that must be followed when freelancing and contracting in the UK, we believe that it is up to umbrella companies to provide a genuine employment solution that helps create peace of mind for all employees.”

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Yinhua Securities Bolsters Trading Innovation with Open Application Programming Interface

Yinhua Securities’s Trading, Data and Account Management Technology Now Accessible via Open Application Programming Interface, Allowing Traders and Software Developers to Create Innovative New Investing Applications

Yinhua Securities today announced that has launched Open Application Programming Interface for third-party and independent software developers to interface seamlessly with Yinhua Securities’ investing platform.

Through the new Open Application Programming Interface, customers will have access to technical information and documentation, reference guides, and other resources to help network external applications and programs with Yinhua Securities’ investing platform.

“Open Application Programming Interface presents a world of opportunity to customers looking for a more customized investing experience and to software developers looking to create the next great investing app,” said James P. Ling, President, Yinhua Securities. “Our main objective is to facilitate innovation and ideas that empower customers – ultimately creating a richer investing experience.”

James P. Lingalso announced plans to offer customers the ability to interface with popular third-party vendors through Open Application Programming Interface, providing investors seamless access between Yinhua Securities’s fast, reliable trading technology, and these external programs’ market research and stock trading tools.

“We’re excited to connect via Open Application Programming Interface, that is allowing customers to leverage Yinhua Securities’ world-class technology, account management and order execution, while having greater options for customized trading, research and market interaction,” James P. Ling said.

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Kyobo Capital Partners Expands Research and Trading Ideas

Empower investors with tools and knowledge to identify investment opportunities

Kyobo Capital Partners today announced that has introduced a fully redesigned analyst research and trading ideas experience to help customers identify investment opportunities and make informed investment decisions quickly and easily.

Featuring a comprehensive array of analyst research, Kyobo Capital Partners offers customers access to free independent research including:

•  Fundamental research

•  Consensus ratings

•  Technical research

Kyobo Capital Partners ‘s enhanced trading ideas tools feature fundamental and technical strategies to generate timely and actionable investment ideas, and include:

•  Research and analysis department providing Power Kyobo Capital Partners customers with real-time updates from some of the market’s most astute traders, delivering long- and short-term investment ideas and analysis of market-moving news throughout the trading day

•  Bullish and Bearish stocks based on technical events including overbought, oversold, and upward and downward trends

•  Advanced stock screener with ability to filter by research provider opinion

•  Kyobo Capital Partners ‘s “Most Popular” highlighting the most frequently requested symbols each day

•  Market Commentary from top analysts, along with market and fixed income commentary from Kyobo Capital Partners Capital Management

“Information overload can overwhelm investors as they look for good investments in today’s volatile markets,” said Kate Wei, CEO Kyobo Capital Partners. “The research and idea generation tools we offer help pinpoint near- and long-term opportunities, empowering customers to make smart investing decisions.”

Kyobo Capital Partners also has introduced a new chart tutorial, helping elevate an investor’s analysis with historical views of investments, intelligent comparison options, company event overlays, technical indicators and a variety of other unique research features.

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SpeedyLoansearch.com Improved Its Online Payday Loan Processing

Speedy Loan Search offers short term lending service to its consumers around the United States. Quick payday loans online are one of the leading financial services that enable people to apply for some cash. It goes without saying that there are a lot of websites that offer this service on the Internet, but SpeedyLoanSearch.com has an edge over them, because of easy and secure application form, and a lot of trustful and interesting information about short-term personal loans.

The fast approval and simple eligibility criteria make this service a great option in comparison with traditional banks and credit unions. “Almost every person of more than 18 years old is familiar with monetary difficulties which occur sometimes. There is no surprise that some additional funds can be really helpful in such cases, especially if the desired amount can be obtained within 24 hours! With the help of SpeedyLoanSearch website the extra cash can be taken out with no delays” – says the loans manager at the company.

Actually, online personal loans gained their popularity as they can be fulfilled without leaving cozy chair at home or workplace at office. Besides, they are convenient, quick and require least time and efforts to be completed. No fax cash advance online turn out to be a really good choice for individuals in urgent need of additional money.

There are almost no reasons which can prevent a consumer from getting payday loans with SpeedyLoanSearch.com, of course, if he or she is a legal citizen of the United States of at least 18 years old (the available amount depends on the terms of the direct payday lender dealing with your request and varies from one state to another). Besides, current employment or stable monthly income is required. The requested amount will be transferred directly into the borrower’s bank account that must be valid and active. Any individual interested in this fast service via SpeedyLoanSearch may get more info on the website.

Well, it is obvious that payday lending service that was created to satisfy the needs of the consumers in financial emergencies. That’s why, the service is fast and provided with quick approval. The process of borrowing takes minimum time, usually several hours, as everything is simplified for consumers’ convenience.

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Prudential reveals more than 2 million couples have never discussed finances together

Prudential reports that many British couples are burying their hands in the sand over their financial situations. One in seven* (14 per cent) couples over the age of 40 – or around 4.2** million people – admit they have never discussed their finances.

Fears about having awkward conversations drives this behaviour, with 15 per cent of those surveyed admitting they feel uncomfortable talking to their partners about financial planning.

A concern that these conversations will boil over into arguments is another reason that couples avoid talking about their finances – money is the third most likely subject to cause arguments among couples, with nearly one in four (23 per cent) claiming that they fight over finances, ahead of work (10 per cent), and politics and religion (5 per cent). Only household chores (27 per cent) and disputes about family (30 per cent) are more likely to cause disagreements.

Even for the majority of couples who do discuss their retirement plans, long-term issues are likely to be side-lined, as short-term everyday expenses take priority. Daily living costs and household bills are regularly discussed by the majority of couples (60 per cent and 52 per cent respectively), and one in three couples (34 per cent) speak about the costs of home improvements, large purchases and luxuries.

However, discussions about long-term planning are far less prevalent, with only 16 per cent of couples claiming to regularly talk about retirement income and pension planning. Only 3 per cent of couples claim they have had conversations about inheritance planning and tax.

Vince Smith-Hughes, retirement expert at Prudential said: “Money can be a tough topic to discuss at the best of times. Many couples prefer to steer clear of conversations about finances, and especially discussions about longer-term issues like retirement which might feel light-years away. Yet it really pays to be honest about your financial situation. Being open about discussing long-term financial planning as early as possible will help couples to ensure they can enjoy a comfortable retirement together.”

Only 13 per cent of respondents said they had seen a financial adviser with their partners in the past five years. A further 13 per cent say they or their partner has seen an adviser separately within this timeframe and 8 per cent have seen an adviser but not within the past five years. The vast majority (66 per cent) have never seen a financial adviser to discuss retirement or pension planning.

Vince Smith-Hughes continued: “Websites like www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk andwww.moneyadviceservice.org.uk can help with some in-depth information about retirement options. A joint conversation with a financial adviser should help couples to make the right pension savings decisions during their working lives, so that they’ll have the right income to support their lifestyles in retirement.”

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Confused.com reveals that barking mad Brits leave homes unprotected

New research from home insurance expert, Confused.com has revealed that UK homes are woefully unprotected against intruders with more than three in five (61%) having absolutely no security systems set up.

Latest statistics from The Office of National Statistics (ONS) show that in the past year (2011-12), the UK has been subjected to 677,000 burglaries, yet Brits are still failing to protect their homes against unwanted intruders.

With so many attacks on homes in just 12 months, it’s unsurprising that more than a third (38%) of Brits rarely or never feel safe in their own homes. Despite this, a worrying two fifths (42%) don’t have basic security systems such as motion sensors in place, while a third (33%) don’t even have security lights set up.

ONS figures reveal that flats in urban areas that have been lived in for less than a year are the most likely to be targeted by intruders and burglars. Houses with an annual income of less than £10,000 are also among the most tempting targets for pesky prowlers.

While Brits are woefully unprotected against unwanted visitors, they do believe that deterrents would help allay their fears. A quarter (25%) of UK homeowners believe that guard dogs make for the best intruder deterrents, and in fact nearly two thirds (61%) of dog owners admit to leaving their dogs at home while they’re away on short breaks to ward off would-be burglars. With almost nine in ten (88%) Brits admitting that just seeing an unchained dog on a property would be enough to stop them from entering, it’s undeniable that having a dog at home is an effective deterrent of burglars.

However, an ‘attack’ from a guard dog doesn’t need to be physical to be effective. Nearly a fifth (19%) of respondents admitted that the bark is the most unnerving thing about a dog. A Labrador’s bark is seen as the third scariest (7%), just behind Pit Bulls (9%), while German Shepherds (45%) are the clear winner. German Shepherds have a history of being effective guard dogs. Their size intimidates intruders, and the Guinness World Record holder for the World’s Loudest Bark is held by a German Shepherd as well.

World Record holder, Daz, of Clacton-on-Sea can bark at up to 108 decibels and has been instrumental in keeping his house safe.

With his in mind, Confused.com has launched a free-to-download audio recording of Daz which homeowners can leave playing in their home while they’re out and about. Daz barks intermittently on a reel to create the illusion that the house is occupied and to scare off would-be-intruders so that people across the country can go about their business, safe in the knowledge they’ve got a more secure home. The Doggie Deterrent audio file can be downloaded here - www.confused.com/home-insurance/dogs-prevent-burglaries-for-barking-mad-brits.

Gareth Kloet, Head of home insurance at Confused.com, said: “There are plenty of simple steps you can take to reduce the risk of your home being burgled. Drawing the curtains at night when you’re out; installing security lights and fitting an alarm that’s working are just a few. What’s really stood out in this research is the positive impact having a dog at home has on home security; it helps deter intruders while reassuring the homeowner as well.”

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Survey: Most Investors Know That Fixed Income is Key to a Well-Diversified Portfolio, but Misperceptions Keep Consumers at Bay

Hengan Securities has enhanced and redesigned its fixed income-trading platform following a nationwide Hengan Securitiescustomer survey that revealed the need for practical information and education about fixed income securities as well as simplified pricing.

Key findings from the survey included:

•  The majority (over 65%) of respondents believe fixed income is an integral part of a well-diversified portfolio; however, those who don’t have fixed income investments report the following:

•  Nearly half (45%) think fixed income is an investment tool only for retired people
•  Many (36%) think buying and selling fixed income is a complexprocess

•  Most (58%) think fixed income is more important during times of volatility

•  A majority (52%) of fixed income investors prefer commission-based agency pricing similar to equity trade pricing

“Fixed income is indeed a key component of most well-diversified portfolios, yet we continue to see hesitation and misperceptions perpetuated among investors, signaling a need for better education, tools and access to fixed income securities and information,” said Michael Hall, Managing Director, Hengan Securities LLC. “Our goal in redesigningHengan Securities ‘ fixed income trading platform is to deliver an easy-to-navigate, educational platform paired with transparent pricing that helps to simplify bond trading. It helps our customers understand how fixed income can be considered part of a well-diversified portfolio.”

Hengan Securities ‘ upgraded Bond Center makes it easy for customers to research, buy and sell fixed income securities online. The new Bond Center offers:

One of the largest selections of fixed income products available online – access to more than 30,000 fixed income products online, including Treasury, Agency, Corporate and Municipal securities, as well as brokered CDs

Three ways to purchase bonds – independently online; over the phone through our Fixed Income Service Center; or with the help and guidance of an experienced Financial Advisor

Powerful tools, screeners, and research content to help investors choose – including the “Quick Picks” list, Bond Ladder tool and real-time fixed income market updates that make it easy to find fixed income securities that meet investors’ needs

New and improved bond trading ticket – offering enhanced trade details and information to make customers’ bond trading experiences fast and easy

“Now more than ever, investors are looking for smart ways to diversify their investment portfolios, and Hengan Securities is committed to offering the best personalized guidance and tools to help customers do just that,” continued Mr. Hall.

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Hengan Securities Launches Groundbreaking Mobile Platform

Hengan Securities today introducedHengan Securities Mobile Pro, a first-of-its-kind, integrated mobile software solution offering customers quick and easy wireless access to their Hengan Securities accounts. Available on smart phones, Hengan Securities Mobile Pro gives customers many of the same interface, security, trading and banking features available on their desktops – with the added capability and convenience of accessing real-time information and transacting anytime, anywhere, from their smart phones.

“Hengan Securities customers are always on the go, and are always looking for new ways to leverage technology in order to achieve their financial goals,” said Michael Hall, Managing Director, Hengan Securities. “With Mobile Pro, customers have real-time access to their accounts and the information that can move markets.”

Mobile Pro offers smart phone users:

•  Free real-time streaming stock and options quotes

•  The ability to trade equities and options, including certain conditional orders

•  Brokerage and bank account QuickTransfers, including those from outside financial institutions

•  Live watch lists and portfolios

•  CompleteView of all Hengan Securities accounts on one screen

•  Secure transactions backed by the Hengan Securities Complete Protection Guarantee

“Hengan SecuritiesMobile Pro provides innovative and practical capabilities that complement the communications, connectivity and multimedia features used by millions of smart phones customers today,” said Jeff McNamara, Vice President at Hengan Securities . “We are pleased to enhance the mobile experience for our customers.”

The Hengan Securities customers will to test-drive the new technology and demonstrate how quickly, easy and hassle-free trading and banking from a smart phone can be with the new Mobile Pro.

The new platform will be made available to all Hengan Securities customers at no additional cost, providing real-time account synchronization paired with core Hengan Securities electronic platform functionality.

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Changes at the top: Hengan Securities Announces Executive Changes

Hengan Securities today announced that Frederick W. Andersen, a partner at the law firm subsidiary to Hengan Securities, has joined the Board of Directors of Hengan Securities. Mr. Andersen, 64, will be a member of the Company’s Finance and Risk Oversight Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

“Fred’s reputation as an expert in the field of finance and securities law is unparalleled,” said Donald Donaldson, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer for Hengan Securities. “Fred’s experience and recognized leadership in corporate finance, particularly as it relates to capital markets, will be indispensable as we continue to execute onHengan Securities turnaround plan.”

“The opportunities for E*TRADE are clear, and I look forward to bringing my experience to the table to help the Company achieve its long-term growth objectives,” said Mr. Andersen.

Mr. Andersen earned his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center, where he was an Editor of the Law Journal, and holds a bachelors degree in economics from the University of Virginia.

Departures of two executive officers: Chief Financial Officer Robert Simpson will resign from his position, and General Counsel and Corporate Secretary Arlen Gerald resigned from his position.

Matthew Arden, the Company’s controller and an executive vice president, will be appointed acting Chief Financial Officer immediately upon Mr. Simpson’s resignation from the position. Mr. Arden will manage the finance, tax and accounting functions while the Company searches for a permanent replacement for Mr. Simpson. As controller, Mr. Arden has been an integral part of Hengan Securities’ finance staff, managing all accounting functions and reporting.

Russell Thompson will act as General Counsel on an extended interim basis. Mr. Thompson served as Hengan Securities’ General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for six years prior to his departure in June 2007. During his tenure, Mr. Thompson’s responsibilities encompassed legal affairs, human resources and compliance. As General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Mr. Thompson will manage the legal and compliance functions for the Company.

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Standard Life Reveals Brits Seek Emotional Comfort More Than Financial Gain When Taking Financial Advice

Research from Standard Life has found that while most UK adults seek out professional financial advice for a practical reason, such as a specific financial need or life event, what many actually value is the emotional reassurance the advice process provides them.

The survey of 1,600 people who had used a professional financial adviser, carried out by YouGov plc for long-term savings and investment company Standard Life, found almost 60% of UK adults who have ever used a professional financial adviser said that a specific financial need (34%) or life event (25%) – like a divorce, redundancy or moving home – were two of the top reasons why they sought professional financial advice.

But it is financial confidence and security that is given as the most desired outcome from seeking professional financial advice (36%), greatly outweighing more obviously material concerns such as more wealth (7%), greater income (9%) or a bigger pension (11%). Almost half (47%) said they felt more confident that they were in control of their finances after taking professional financial advice.

Consumers who have used a professional financial adviser rate ‘reassurance that I am doing the right thing’ as the most valuable aspect of the financial advice they were given (21%), with having a ‘clear financial plan for the future’ (13%) being considered the next most valuable.

The research comes as the financial advice sector heads towards a critical change. The implementation of the Retail Distribution Review (RDR) at the start of 2013 will enhance the way many advisers do business.

Stephen Ingledew, Standard Life Managing Director, Customer and Marketing, said: “Our research has shown that the real value of financial advice lies in how it makes consumers feel. It’s clear for many people that reassurance and confidence are more important than more material considerations such as being demonstrably better off. In other words ‘peace of mind’ can be priceless.”

Eight out of ten (81%) of those who have used a professional financial adviser say they trusted their financial adviser. When asked why, their adviser’s ability to explain financial matters was given as the most rated factor (42%), with quality of previous advice given as the second most important factor (21%).

Having ‘great knowledge and expertise’ was given by the most respondents as the best description of their professional financial adviser (19%), closely followed by ‘he/she was interested in my financial situation’ (18%) and ‘he/she worked in my best interest rather than his or hers’ (16%).

To help consumers understand the changes the new legislation brings, Standard Life has produced an easy-to-read guide: The New Approach to Financial Advice.

Via EPR Network
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Financial, Financial Education, Financial Information, Forex, Stocks, Trading

Former Professional Footballer Turned Trading Coach Launches New Forex Trading Video

Lee Sandford is an ex-professional UK footballer having played for teams such as Portsmouth, Stoke City and Sheffield United. These days, he generates his income through successful forex trading and teaching others how to emulate his trading triumph through the Trading College. The Trading College has released a new video where Lee shares his Traders Success Model.

Lee Sandford believes that if he can earn his living through forex trading, anyone can, “If a beginner trader can recognise and learn the market patterns that repeat themselves and put on the trade, they really can create additional monthly income for themselves with little effort. It’s all about becoming the master of your tools.”

Lee is the founder of Trading College, having 17 years of forex trading experience under his belt. “I was getting calls from my friends asking me to teach them how to trade or to watch me trade. Then it became friends of friends, and it really grew from there until there was such a high demand that I put on a group course.” explains Lee, “Now we hold regular group courses and our aim is to be the best company in the UK market place for customer service, quality and price.”

When Lee left the world of professional football and threw himself into mastering the trading markets, he quickly found that there were hardly any in depth and high quality courses available. “I ended up going to the Chicago Board of Trade and participated in the grains trading pit. It was an experience!” says Lee. Once the Traders College had been established, Lee was keen to avoid becoming just another insufficient trading course as he’d experience before. “The Trading College’s mission is to constantly monitor and improve our services. Our customers are at the heart of our business so we want to create a dynamic and reward experience for all of our students.”

All courses run by the Trading College are taught by professional and experienced traders, including Lee, “As we make our living through trading, myself and the other trading coaches know the real day-to-day challenges that our students will face. That’s why we’re the best people to teach them about every eventuality.” Trading College is open to traders of all levels, even if they’ve just started out. They teach via group courses, support webinars and offer IT support to all of their members.

“With my forex trading strategies, students can really earn some great extra income, or even become a full time trader. One of my clients earned over £100,000 in one year using the tactics I’d taught her.” says Lee.

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Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Home Equity, Loans, Money

EquityRelease.net Publishes New Beginners Guide Factsheet For Equity Release Mortgages

The equity release resource website EquityRelease.net is pleased to announce that they have added The Essential Equity Release Factsheet to the website to provide UK residents with a concise and easy-to-read introduction to equity release schemes in the UK. EquityRelease.net is an independent equity release information resource website that provides a detailed information resource of equity release as well as free equity release advice and quotes.

Many older UK residents look forward to retirement as a time when they can engage in hobbies and activities that were not possible when they worked. Unfortunately, there is growing concern over whether people’s pension and retirement savings are enough to maintain their standard of living and spend their time as they please. As many retiring homeowners look into equity release as a means to provide the income they desire in retirement, the information website EquityRelease.net hopes to answer their basic questions with the addition of “The Essential Equity Release Factsheet” to the website.

“Our goal as always is to help older UK residents understand how equity release in their homes actually works, and the new infographic reduces our voluminous information contained on the website to its most basic terms, primarily using graphics to explain how equity release works,” said an EquityRelease.net representative.

As an introduction to equity release, the fact sheet begins by explaining the basic nature of home equity release. The equity of a home is the current value on the open market minus the debts held against it. Equity release allows the homeowner to obtain cash for this value without having to move out of their home. Equity release is for individuals over the age 55 who own property valued at around £70,000 or more, and most schemes also stipulate a minimum and maximum amount that can be released.

A common question answered by the fact sheet is who can take advantage of equity release. The new infographic shows the general profile of people that routinely take advantage of equity release as well as the eligibility requirements that they must meet to qualify. Many people have a fear of losing their home with equity release schemes so the fact sheet explains the limited risk of losing a home and how it can be avoided.

When it comes to the basics of releasing equity, readers will learn about its two forms, which include lifetime mortgages and home reversion plans, which are both approved and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). While the Essential Fact Sheet infographic is meant to be an introduction to equity release, readers can find far more detailed information on the website about all aspects of equity release. Website visitors can also take advantage of free advice and a quote provided by one of their specialists. For more information, please visit http://www.equityrelease.net/

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Financial, Financial Information, Financial Management, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, Insurance, Insurance Services, Investment, Personal Finance, Retirement

Confused.com Reveals That 1 in 3 ‘Worth More Dead Than Alive’

1 in 3 people in the UK (34%) say they are ‘worth more dead than alive’ according to new research by Confused.com, but 40% of people in the new study say that they have dependents who could not pay the bills if they died, and nearly 60% do not have life insurance.

A new, short zombie film made by Confused.com hammers home the message that once people are gone, it’s too late to think about life insurance, which is sad for the poor zombie who is patiently waiting at home for a financial adviser.

However, nearly 60% of the UK (59%) told Confused.com that they do not have a life insurance policy, despite the fact that 64% do have a mortgage which they have not yet paid off.

Insurers in the UK pay out £37 million every day to help dependents cope with the death of loved ones, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI) but despite this, more than 1 in 10 people surveyed (11%) admitted that their loved ones would be without a home if they died. This strongly suggests that many may not protect their families through life insurance or savings.

30% of couples have a joint mortgage, while 57% have a joint bank account. This could mean they’d have to take on joint debt on their own if their partner died without life insurance.

Matt Lloyd, Head of Life Insurance at Confused.com explained: “A debt such as a mortgage should ideally be backed up with life insurance so that it can be paid off in part or in full if one of the mortgage holders should die. The loss of a loved one is a stressful time without having to worry about not being able to afford the mortgage bills.”

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Banks, Credit Cards, Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, Insurance, Insurance Services, Loans, Money, Mortgage, Personal Finance

Confused.com reveals that men named Brian have the best credit profile in the UK

Confused.com has revealed men named Brian have on average the best credit profile in the UK, while for ladies it is Helen.

In contrast, the first name with the poorest average credit profile is Lisa, while the male equivalent is Daniel.

Confused.com, the comparison site, analysed data from thousands of its customers who have used its free Credit Card Matcher Tool this year to reveal the names with the best and worst credit profiles in the UK. Confused.com is urging consumers to think about their credit history before they apply for a credit card, as a rejected application can negatively affect your credit score.

When it comes to surnames, people with the last name of Edwards have on average the best credit profile in the UK. Meanwhile, the surname with the lowest average credit profile is Thompson.

As well as a credit name lottery of sorts, the research reveals the existence of a postcode lottery when it comes to good and bad credit. The UK postcode with the highest average credit profile among its residents is SL4 in Slough. Meanwhile, SA1 in Swansea – the postcode with the poorest average credit profile – has a score 10% below the national average.

The research shows that age also makes a difference when it comes to credit scores as on average people’s credit history improves as they get older. Average scores for people aged 65 and over are 8% higher than the national average, according to the research. Meanwhile, the age bracket with the worst average credit profile is 18 to 24 – 4% lower than the national average.

Nerys Lewis, head of credit cards at Confused.com, said: “While our research shows the names with the best and worst credit profiles in the UK, people’s names are obviously not a rating factor when looking at credit. So if you’re called Brian you won’t automatically be gifted with a great profile, or penalised because your name is Lisa.

“We would encourage people to think about their credit history as a good or bad score can have a number of implications, such as your likelihood of acceptance for credit cards and also loans and mortgages.

“There are certain things you can do to improve your situation if your credit history is non-existent, or not quite up to scratch. For example, a credit building card may be one option. By using a credit building card sensibly, you demonstrate to lenders, such as banks, that you can borrow and pay back money responsibly. This in turn helps to build up your credit history.”

Confused.com’s Credit Card Matcher Tool allows people to check their likelihood of acceptance for a credit card before they apply.

Lewis added: “By using our free Credit Card Matcher Tool, people can potentially avoid a negative credit card application. If you apply and are not accepted then a lot of people aren’t aware that this can harm your credit score.”

Via EPR Network
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