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Confused.com Reveals That Keeping Diabetes A Secret Could Invalidate Life Insurance

New research by Confused.com has revealed that 26 per cent of people only have a vague idea what diabetes is, and worryingly 22 per cent of diabetes sufferers are not comfortable telling people about their condition, potentially putting their health at risk.

Keeping diabetes a secret not only makes diabetics more vulnerable but also means their life insurance could be invalidated.

This Confused.com research is supported by a survey conducted by Diabetes UK which shows that one in three people with diabetes have been keeping their condition a secret.

In light of this, Confused.com is warning against the dangers of keeping a medical condition secret and reminding people that their life insurance could be invalidated if they are not upfront about any condition they have been diagnosed with.

Diabetes is on the increase in the UK with one person diagnosed every three minutes. In fact 31% of people know someone with diabetes and there is an estimated half a million more people in the UK who are likely tohave diabetes but have not been diagnosed.

Diabetes is a more common condition than most people believe with an estimated 4 million people being diagnosed with this condition in 2025.

Matt Lloyd, Head of Life Insurance at Confused.com said: “Having a condition such as diabetes does not always mean you cannot get life insurance quotes. Particularly, if a person with diabetes is controlling their condition as directed by their doctor it is possible that they may be able to get a policy put in place. It is also worth going back to the insurer if you have made a positive change to your lifestyle since you were originally quoted for insurance because you may be entitled to a cheaper policy if you are healthier now than when you took out the policy.”

Via EPR Network
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Prudential Reveals Brits Hiding £4.6 Billion From Their Partners In Secret Saving Stashes

Prudential has revealed that fifteen per cent of Britons over the age of 40 and living with their partner choose to keep some or all of their savings hidden from their other halves.

The survey, which examines couples’ attitudes to financial planning, was conducted among savers over the age of 40 and living with a partner. It found that as many as 4.5 million* Britons could be concealing savings or investments worth an average of£1,037 from their spouse or partner – a secret stash of approximately £4.6 billion.

One in ten (9 per cent) of those choosing to keep their funds hidden do so because they don’t trust their other half’s financial decision making, while a further quarter (23 per cent) admit that this is a security measure, in case they should split up with their partner.

Women are more likely to keep their funds hidden from their partner, with 18 per cent admitting to hiding savings averaging £1,002. This compares with 12 per cent of men, who conceal an average fund of £1,072.

A prudent two in five (42 per cent) secret savers plan to use the money to supplement their retirement income – even though 20 per cent of those surveyed admit to never having discussed financial planning for retirement with their spouse or partner.

Vince Smith-Hughes, head of business development at Prudential, said: “By harbouring secret stashes of money, many couples are failing to plan sufficiently for their joint retirement. While it is understandable that some people in relationships want to be able to spend their own money, it is important for couples to have regular and open discussions about financial planning for the sake of maximising their retirement incomes. Only then can they decide how to make the best possible joint provision for the future.

“Consulting a financial adviser together is an important part of this on-going dialogue and can help couples to secure the income and lifestyle they expect in retirement.”

Prudential’s survey also found that nearly a fifth (17 per cent) of Britons feel uncomfortable about discussing financial matters with their partner. While two thirds (67 per cent) of couples say they have not received professional financial advice together in the past five years, one in 10 people claim that either they or their partner has independently visited an adviser within the past five years.

Via EPR Network
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Confused.com Launches Interactive Road Safety Map

Confused.com has launched an informative mapping tool that reveals the dangers of road rage. The interactive road safety map reveals the country’s most dangerous roads and junctions.

Cyclist and motorist rage is in the spotlight this Road Safety Week and, according to Confused.com, both cyclists and car owners have strong feelings about how to handle it.

Both cyclists and motorists are turning to social media to report incidents of road related anger with Confused.com identifying 2,674 tweets mentioning both ‘road rage’ and ‘cyclist’ during the first nine months of this year. In response to this emerging danger, Confused.com created the interactive map so that both cyclists and drivers can pinpoint rage blackspots.

In addition to the cycle safety map, a survey of 1,000 motorists and 1,000 cyclists carried out by Confused.com identified what sends cyclists into a ‘two-wheel tantrum’ and turns car drivers ‘cyclo-pathic.’ Along with the survey and the map, people can learn more about ‘cycle rage’ by watching a cycle issues video about the subject.

The survey found that 72 per cent of drivers have experienced one or more incidents involving a cyclist during the last two years. A quarter of these drivers were keen to see cyclists pay road tax and 14 per cent of drivers wanted to see cyclists displaying number plates on their bikes. Getting cyclists to pass a version of the driving test was a popular idea among 44 per cent of annoyed motorists, while 43 per cent said that they would like to see cyclists take out a form of insurance. Catching those who cycle through red lights was a top solution among 59 per cent of car drivers. Almost one third of motorists said that cycling on the pavement (which the Highway Code states is illegal) should be stopped.

Meanwhile, almost a quarter of the cyclists said they’ve been beeped at or sworn at by a motorist and more than one in eight had been knocked off their bike by a motorist. Additionally, 65 per cent of cyclists told Confused.com that they feel less safe than they did a year ago and 34 per cent say they’ve been a victim of road rage.

Cyclists have some suggestions about ways to improve their journeys. Some suggestions include legalising cycling on pavements (28 per cent), introducing more bike lanes (58 per cent) and increasing the availability of hire bikes (25 per cent).

Gareth Kloet, Head of Car Insurance at Confused.com, said: “Rage on the roads is a big problem for both motorists and cyclists and our research shows that both groups have much to complain about. Whilst both parties can point at differing solutions to help improve road safety, we urge all road users to exercise respect and courtesy as the roads are for everyone and tolerance could save people’s lives.”

Malcolm Shepherd, Chief Executive of Sustrans, the UK charity encouraging people to travel by foot, bike or public transport said: “People need to be more considerate and aware of all other users when making their journeys.”

Via EPR Network
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Saxo Bank Enables Online Islamic Trading

Saxo Bank A/S, the online trading and investment specialist, has enabled its clients to identify and trade Islamic compliant stocks and ETFs on more than 25 exchanges worldwide. The Bank selected IdealRatings Inc., a leading global Islamic compliant fund management service provider, as the most reliable source for identifying Islamic compliant instruments globally.

The compliance reasoning is based on commonly accepted and transparent Islamic guidelines defined by IdealRatings and Shariah Review Bureau with operations in Jeddah, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia and Manama. More than 12,000 stocks and Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are screened and researched on a monthly basis by IdealRatings.

Jakob Beck Thomsen, Regional head of Middle East and CEO Saxo Bank (Dubai) Ltd., said: “Islamic finance is one of the fastest growing sectors in the world today and we are excited to enable our clients to identify and trade Islamic compliant stocks online. IdealRatings is the industry’s most trusted brand for identifying and researching Islamic compliant stocks and we are confident in offering their data to our clients.”

Mohamed Donia, CEO of IdealRatings, added: “Saxo Bank A/S has always been an innovator and market leader in providing its clients with quality financial services and we are delighted to partner with them to provide this reliable information for their discerning investors.”

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The Choice Of His Broker Binary Options

The choice of his broker of binary options can sometimes be very complex, especially if we begin and if we do not still know the world of the on-line investment. The strategie-binaires.com site helps you to make the best choice.

Before beginning to trade by means of the binary options, it will be necessary for you to pass by an indispensable stage, the choice of your broker or on-line broker. Now, the brokers proposing this type of investment being more and more numerous on internet, the choice can sometimes turn out complicated, especially when we begin. It is then to help you to make the best possible choice that the strategy-options.com site decided to help you by explaining to you what are elements important to compare between each of the offers. Know besides that strategy-options.com also realized a comparative degree of the main brokers with for each of them precise explanations regarding their advantages and inconveniences.

In the meantime, here are some rules simple to apply during the choice of your partner broker of binary options:

The general characteristics of the brokers of binary options:

Before interesting us in the technical details, it is essential to have a particular attention on the general characteristics proposed by the broker whom you will choose.

According to your budget, you will also have to look at the conditions of deposits and at the minimum amount asked for each of the proposed options. Useless indeed to ruin you in a single investment there where other brokers will ask you for a less important amount of transaction. Once this detected information, you can also take into account offers of welcome proposed by the quasi-totality of the on-line brokers. These offers can take various forms (bonus of deposit, refund of the losses) and asks an in-depth study to determine which one is the most interesting. For that purpose, consult the present general conditions on the concerned sites. Do not also forget to verify expenses connected to the cash withdrawal and the extensions announced in this direction.

Finally, to guarantee you a legal resort in case of dispute, think of choosing only the brokers being approved by the European authorities in on-line investment and in brokerage.

The technical characteristics to be verified:

Once the general characteristics were studied and the best offers were brought out of the lot, you can proceed to a study of the technical constituents of each of the brokers. For that purpose, you have to know the main platforms of trading proposed on the market or inquire with the broker when this one developed only the technical solution. Among platforms the most spread on the market, we find very qualitative Metatrader who offers possibilities of evolution and very interesting programming for little that we are able of establishing complex strategies.

In every case, opt even there for a platform completely translated or developed in English to guarantee you an optimal use of each of the given tools.

Concerning these tools, their number and their quality also varies from a platform to the other one. To know which one of these platforms will offer you the services which you really need, think of determining in advance a list of indicators which seem to you essential in good investments. Useless indeed to block you of superfluous tools which will finally return your transactions less intuitive and more complex, especially if you are novices in trading. Before choosing a broker of binary options, think of testing systematically their platform thanks to the accounts of demonstration.

To know the main brokers of the market and their advantages and inconveniences, consult our evaluations on www.strategy-options.com.

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Vebnet Reveals Lack Of Appreciation Of The Benefits Package Is A Major Concern For Employers

Vebnet has revealed that for the third year running, over half of HR directors and rewards chiefs (56%) say lack of employee understanding or appreciation of benefits is their number one concern, yet the potential for better communication and greater financial education is still to be exploited by many.

This is one of the main conclusions to be drawn from the Annual HR Reward Survey*, conducted in partnership with employee benefits and solutions provider Vebnet and leading long term savings and investment company Standard Life.

Other findings of the annual survey were:
– Less than a third (31%) of employers say they conduct frequent employee research to help them understand their employee’s views and concerns around rewards and benefits.
– Just over a third (34%) of employers confirm their reward and benefit communications are personalised for each employee.
– Over half of employers (52%) don’t currently offer their employees any financial education and have no plans to do so.

Richard Morgan, director of consultancy at Vebnet, commented: “Many people are seeing an erosion of their income in real terms, thanks to pay freezes and inflation. So a drive for greater employee understanding and engagement has never been timelier. Benefits are typically worth 20-25% of salary and demonstrating this is an important message that is likely to be very well received in the current environment. More than ever, employees are likely to want to gain a much better understanding of how to plan for the future and to be extremely receptive to support in this area.

“But it appears that many employers are deferring addressing this issue. Clearly HR directors and benefit chiefs have many things to contend with just now, such as headcount reductions and budgets being squeezed. But they also need to tackle the issue of engagement and understanding head on. I believe the spotlight is about to turn towards engagement and that financial education is set to become as important as “wellbeing” in the workplace.

Ann Flynn, Head of Corporate Marketing at Standard Life added: “There is no doubt that the right communication is vital when it comes to employee engagement and with the introduction of auto-enrolment it can only gain in importance. We’ve already carried out additional research into auto-enrolment, which shows that when people are presented with the right information in the right way, they engage more and are likely to understand the value of their company pension scheme and stay opted in. That’s why Standard Life and Vebnet are working closely with employers to ensure the right communications are used to help drive engagement so that employees have a full appreciation of the benefits their employers are providing.”

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Confused.com Launches Exclusive Motor Brand Pink Pound

Confused.com has launched an exclusive motor brand called ‘Pink Pound’ on its insurance panel.

Pink Pound Insurance is a division of Right Choice Insurance Brokers specifically set up for gay and lesbian customers and cannot be found on any other major comparison site.

Every customer has the right to get a fair chance at getting car insurance and Confused.com, with its relationship with Pink Pound, allows every customer to be treated individually. The launch of the exclusive brand allows homosexual couples to get auto insurance discounts just like other couples.

‘Pink Pound’ insurance takes customers individual situations to identify ways of reducing their premiums, to obtain competitive rates, using some gay specific schemes whilst at the same time giving the most professional service.

Mike Joseph, Managing Director of Pink Pound said: “Pink Pound insurance was created to give the LGBT community the product, pricing and personal service that is lacking from most standard offerings.

“At Pink pound we have negotiated some fantastic premiums with our specialist panel of insurers and see Confused.com as the ideal partner to ensure that this brand reaches the maximum number of potential customers as possible. Whilst further enhancing Confused.com’s commitment to provide a specialist quote for every client, from every back ground with any specific needs.”

Gareth Kloet, Head of Car Insurance at Confused.com continued: “Adding Pink Pound to the ever increasing number of insurers that we compare prices for is a great result. We do not discriminate against anyone as it’s all about getting the right cover at the right cost and insuring that everyone has an equal opportunity in getting these deals.”

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Saxo Bank Receives Best Active Trading Tools Award At Shares Awards

Saxo Bank, online trading and investment specialist, has won the award for ‘Best Active Trading Tools’ at the annual Shares awards in London.

The Shares awards aim to recognise those organizations providing both innovative and high quality of service to the world of retail investment. The awards provide a platform for traders and investors to voice who are the best in the business.

Henrik Dyrholm Holst, Head of Platform Management at Saxo Bank, commented on the win: “Saxo Bank is proud to have been awarded for providing the industry’s leading trading tools. Saxo Bank is renowned for our online forex trading but SaxoTrader is a multi-product trading platform offering clients a wide range of opportunities to trade the world’s capital markets, from FX Options and Futures to CFDs on stocks, indices and commodities as well as popular investment products such as Stocks, Bonds and ETFs. We have continuously focus on making the trading experience for all types of traders as positive and intuitive as possible, and clearly guide users through the broad range of features on the platform. In 2011 we have also upgraded the platform with winners/losers stock in intraday real-time across all 23 stock exchanges covered by Saxo Bank. In addition, we continue our investment in optimizing and adding new trading tools and are happy to announce the imminent launch of our cutting edge trading apps for both Android and iPhone.”

Saxo Bank’s trading platforms have defined the company’s success in the online trading space for over a decade. Since introducing the SaxoTrader in 1998, Saxo Bank has enhanced and improved its platforms to meet the evolving needs of forex traders and investors in a continuously changing industry.

Shares is the leading weekly publication for stock market professionals and private investors and as such is read weekly by thousands of analysts, fund managers, stockbrokers, company directors and private investors. The Shares’ team of expert writers is highly regarded in the City and their comment frequently influences the market’s view of individual companies and their underlying share price. The magazine’s easy-to-read style and depth of analysis has made it the indispensable weekly read for those actively investing in the UK stock market today.

A full list of awards can be found at http://www.sharesawards.co.uk/awards/.

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Saxo Bank Releases New Video Commenting On Eurozone Crisis

Saxo Bank has released a macro view video featuring Steen Jakobsen, Chief Economist, analysing the situation for the Eurozone in light of heads rolling in the hot political seats of troubled nations, namely Greece and Italy. It goes without saying that despite the impending appointment of new heads of state the burdens in these nations are so heavy now that they can hardly be shrugged off.

Clean-up in both countries is a major task. While Greece is in the bailout phase and is undergoing a leadership change, the main focus is on Italy now which still has a chance to save itself. And it must as there is hardly a hand large enough to help the Eurozone’s third-largest economy. With the situation worsening by the hour though and the markets having clearly demonstrated a looming doomsday, with perilously high bond yield spreads, prompt action must be taken.

The problem in Italy is one of liquidity not solvency, unlike Greece, though it seems the difference hardly matters now in the eyes of investors. It is interesting to note that it only took Portugal, Greece and Ireland 14 days to ask the International Monetary Fund for help after their 10-year bond yield spread to German bunds passed 6.5 per cent, said Steen. Italy’s has been above 7 per cent for a few days now. So the pressure is definitely on Italy’s politicians in charge – whoever they might be – to activate reforms, move through austerity and create a credible plan. Until then the EURUSD is expected to remain under considerable pressure.

The full video, as well as other forex videos, can be found at video.saxobank.com.

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Confused.com Partners With Road Safety Charity, Brake

Confused.com is partnering with the road safety charity Brake, joining forces against menaces on the UK’s roads. Brake’s research shows that five people are killed and a further 65 seriously injured on UK roads every day.

Brake exists to make Britain’s road safer and by lobbying the government the charity has enticed thousands of people to petition for new road safety laws. This new partnership with Confused.com will strengthen Brake’s on-going campaigns to improve road safety in the UK, helping to combat serious issues such as drug driving, drink driving and reckless motoring.

Earlier this year, Confused.com discovered that 70% of drivers don’t think enough is being done about drug driving and 71% want to see the government do more to combat it. These are the type of issues the two organisations will campaign on in coming months.

As part of the partnership, Confused.com will sponsor Brake’s e-bulletins and campaigns as well as launching a joint campaign in the New Year.By providing support and working together with Brake, Confused.com hopes to see an improvement in road safety legislation and enforcement and overall better driving and safer roads.

Road safety is an issue which Confused.com has put at the core of its business. In November 2010, the comparison website was involved in the Transport Select Committee’s investigation behind the causes of soaring car insurance costs. Confused.com believes that better driving will reduce incident rates and claims, which will lower car insurance premiums for all drivers in the long-term which will hopefully create better driving and safer roads as a result.

Katie Shephard, spokesperson for Brake, says: “Brake is delighted that Confused.com has chosen to support Brake this year and made a donation to the charity to support our cause. By supporting Brake, Confused.com is helping to raise awareness about road safety and every penny donated will go towards Brake’s work supporting families affected by road crashes.”

Gareth Kloet, Head of Car Insurance at Confused.com says:”Confused.com recognises the importance of road safety and has supported many of Brakes campaigns, including the graduated driving licence. We were overwhelmed by the response from motorists and look forward to similarly heavyweight campaigns.Confused.com will be working closely with Brake with the run up to Road Safety Week and throughout next year we will be supporting Brake on a number of road safety issues as well as unveiling our own campaign in partnership with Brake.”

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Confused.com Research Reveals The Decline Of The Driving Test

Confused.com has unveiled that 13 per cent of people know someone who is driving on roads without a driving licence, identifying a menace on today’s roads, the driver that hasn’t taken their driving test.

The research shows that there has been a dramatic fall in the number of people learning to drive in a short time period as a result of huge rises in the cost of motoring. According to figures from the Department for Transport, between April and August this year, fewer than 640,000 driving tests were taken in the UK. This represents a 5 per cent fall on the same period in 2010, and a huge 15 per cent decrease when compared with the same period the year before when learners sat almost 750,000 tests.

This drop in the number of people learning to drive also correlates with a 2.7% or£22 hike in the cost of comprehensive car insurance in the second quarter of 2011 and a 24% rise in second quarter year-on-year prices.

As a result of the increasing cost of motoring, 20% of people say they cannot afford to be on the road or take their driving test, with 21% of the age group 18-24 claiming they are most affected by cost.

Research has shown that drivers under the age of 25, and particularly men aged between 17 and 24, are those who are faced with the most dramatic rises in the cost of car insurance. In the second quarter of 2011, the average cost of a comprehensive policy for a male driver under age 20 broke through the £4,000-a-year level for the first time. This was an increase of almost 25 per cent on the previous year.

Gareth Kloet, Head of car insurance at Confused.com, said: “A new shocking trend is emerging where people no longer bother taking their driving test. As the price of car insurance increases, we are seeing that the rate of people taking driving tests is falling. This is worrying as it suggests not only that drivers are going to be tempted to drive uninsured but now they might be tempted to not even take their driving test in the first place.

“With more than 28.5 million cars on the road, people must drive safely, so they need to take their driving test and ensure their vehicle has adequate car insurance. People will need to be as savvy as ever to find the cheapest and best deals for them by shopping around on comparison sites.”

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Friedman Global Announces James Cross Joins Research Team

Friedman Global, a leading supplier of financial services has recently announced that James Cross has joined the company’s research team. With more than a decade’s worth of experience, he will be very critical to the growth of the business as well as the continuous rise of the company.

“Friedman Global has increased revenues for the past couple of years and improvement of the organizational foundation is a testament to that rate of growth,” said Michael Stone, COO of Friedman Global. “James Cross’s passion and knowledge makes him an invaluable member of the Friedman Global team.”

James Cross will be assigned to making analysis and forecasts on trends of the economy, other than observing developments that will in turn affect the economy as well as the investors. Besides giving critical information to Friedman Global’s clients, Cross will be monitoring all the products of the company.

“One of the most important things to note as of recent is that analysis of the market has now become very important for investors,” said Mr. Cross. “There are no words to describe my excitement in joining a firm that has a global reach and a commanding presence in the industry.”

Friedman Global has hundreds of customers that are being serviced for more than millions upon millions of requests for information on an annual basis. James Cross will be joining the company in the best time possible as Friedman Global has shown a record-setting development and growth due to its new product lines. Before becoming a member of Friedman Global, James Cross was an economist. He started his career at an early age and spent more than a decade in one of the most prestigious brokerage companies in the US.

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Confused.com Launch Cash Back Credit Card Offer In Time For Christmas

Confused.com has launched a £30 cashback offer for customers looking for a new credit card to cut down interest payments on current balances or to spread the cost of their Christmas spending.

Customers will get £30 cashback once they have been accepted for a Barclaycard and transact over £250 within the first 60 days of opening their account. The £30 will be delivered straight to the customer’s door in the form of a cheque, as a little extra treat from Confused.com.

Using a Barclaycard for Christmas spending could help make shopping more effective, whether shoppers want to spread the cost with 0% interest or earn rewards with the Freedom reward scheme, as well as the £30 bonus from Confused.com.

Chris Griffiths, Head of Credit Cards at Confused.com, commented: “For those customers in the market for a new credit card we are delighted to be able to give away £30 as an early Christmas present to say thank you for using our site. This offer means customers can now get the market leading balance transfer card, Barclaycard’s Platinum, which offers 22 months 0% interest, and get an extra £30 back in your pocket.

“Sorting out your finances is often a New Year’s resolution, but if you have any outstanding credit card balances that are accumulating interest then waiting until 2012 will just add even more interest to your balance, meaning you’ll have more to repay after the joys of Christmas.Therefore a credit card with 0% interest on purchases could be a cheaper option as it can allow you to spread the cost interest free.

“When considering a new credit card it is important to shop around to find the best deal, consider how you want to use it as different cards are better suited for different purposes. Remember that the leading offers are often reserved for new customers, and most providers won’t allow you to transfer balances between cards from the same institutions. Lastly, consider the criteria for being accepted for a card, you can try our free Card Matcher tool that can help you find the right credit card for your credit profile.”

Confused.com offers a free comparison service that compares the whole UK credit card market, and offers a Card Matcher tool that can let customers know whether they are likely to be accepted for the card they want before they commit to completing an application. This service is completely free, secure and it won’t damage users’ credit score.

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Friedman Global Launches Commodities Index Desk

Friedman Global today launched its commodities index desk which will be working with its technologically-advanced hybrid model. Michael Stone, COO of Friedman Global and an expert on the credit subsidiaries and launching markets, is supervising the launch as well as the performance of the index desk.

Friedman Global, which has been a leading force in the commodities industry gained over hundreds of clients that is focused on credit default swaps brokering, positioning itself as one of the leading companies in the industry.

Andrew Lee, Head of Reasearch of Friedman Global states “Friedma Global is already one of the leading indication brokers in Hong Kong. The company has a proven record and we are very certain our detailed compendium experience can fill a need that our customers require.”

Michael Stone, adds, “We carefully put a watchful eye on the commodities markets and industries so we know how we can make our mark. By doing so, we can assure our clients of the quality of work we are doing and that Friedman Global is a cut above the rest.”

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Confused.com Compares Professions: Mobile Disco Owners Face The Music With Average Quotes Of £6,800

Confused.com has revealed that, despite many not realising it, their profession may have an effect on the car insurance quote they are offered.

Airline captains could be quoted as little as £320 per year to insure their cars compared with a mobile disco owner whose average cost per year is a whopping £6,800 and apprentice footballers who are tackling quotes above £6,200.

Confused.com has compiled a list of the top ten professions which generate the highest average quotations and also the lowest, based on a year’s worth of quotations. Professions generating the highest average quotations included professional footballers (£6,263.61), nightclub owners (£3841.29), students (£3,006.18) and mobile disco owners (£6,809.57). Professions with the lowest average premiums included airline pilots (£320.81), toy makers (£337.87) and china restorers (£336.44) on average receive the best car insurance quotations.

Confused.com is reminding drivers that if they change their job significantly then they will need to let their insurer know, and it may save money if the individual’s new role is statistically less risky.

Gareth Kloet, Head of car insurance at Confused.com said: “The cost of insurance is calculated on different factors such as the type of car you drive, the area you live and your own driving history as well as statistics for others of a similar demographic to yourself. This does not mean that every airline captainwill be landing a cheap deal -each individual will be quoted on their own data- but your profession can significantly affect your insurance cost so if you change jobs it’s worth letting your insurer know. Contributing factors will include the type of car you choose to drive, the average age of people with that profession and of course your claims history as a driver.

“Regardless of your profession, it’s always advisable to use a trusted comparison site such as Confused.com to get yourself the most competitive quote you can.”

For a more detailed breakdown of the most expensive professions for car insurance, visit Confused.com.

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Confused.com Research Reveals Life Insurance Timebomb Of Co-Habitees

Confused.com, the price comparison site, has revealed new research which shows that 66% of people living together as a couple do not have a will.

The new survey of 2,000 co-habiting and married adults also revealsthat 50% of people living with their partner do not have life insurance. Unsurprisingly the number of people who do have wills rises with age: 66% of over 55s have a will, compared to just 24% of 18-24 year olds. However, 47% of over 55s who are co-habiting or married do not have life insurance.

Despite not having these plans laid for the future, 65% of couples do have mortgages, 45% of which are in joint names, and 28% say they could not afford the funeral if their partner or spouse died.

Matthew Lloyd of Head of Life Insurance at Confused.com warns: “Having a will is a sensible step towards providing for the future but if you don’t have life insurance too then your partner may find themselves facing money worries as well as grief should the worst happen. The cost of life insurance is lower the younger you are and so you can save money by signing up for a policy at a younger age. For example £100,000 of cover could cost as little as 17p a day.”

He continued: “There seems to be a myth that unmarried partners are automatically protected but this is not the case. If one partner in a couple dies but you were not married or registered civil partners then you won’t automatically get a share of your partner’s estate if they don’t have a will.”

5% of couples are embarrassed to talk to their partner about getting a will and this figure rises to 10% among over 55s. When asked how they would pay for a loved one’s funeral if the money was not there, 9% would opt for a pauper’s grave while 33% would turn to family for financial help, 19% would take out a loan and 20% would put the funeral on a credit card.

People without a will may wish to take advantage of Will Aid during the month of November where many solicitors will waive their fee in lieu of a donation to the charity.

Via EPR Network
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Saxo Bank Releases New Asian Focus Video

Saxo Bank has released new Asian Focus video featuring Andrew Robinson, correspondent for Saxo Capital Markets, analysing the effect of the Bank of Japan’s latest yen intervention and the sustainability of further actions before year end. He also commented on the Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision to cut rates, the first flow of PMI data in Asia and the noise surrounding the Chinese leader’s visit to Europe this week.

Japan’s Finance Minister Jun Azumi put his money where his mouth was with unilateral intervention to weaken the yen. This is the third intervention this year with estimates suggesting it is the largest one of the three. So far it has had the intended effect with the USDJPY holding at around the 78.0 level. History however shows that it could be a longer term struggle to keep it there as after the previous two interventions this year it took only about five days for the rate to drop back to pre-intervention levels. Concerning other action it is unlikely the Bank of Japan will instigate other measures like a trading floor for the pair, similar to the Swiss National Bank’s action, Andrew said.

The timing of the intervention ahead of the Group of 20 leaders initially took the market by surprise but in hindsight as Finance Minister Azumi had in recent weeks spoken almost daily about the problem of the strong yen it was ultimately only a matter of time before the Bank of Japan took action.

Meanwhile the Reserve Bank of Australia cut the official interest rate by 25 basis points for the first time since April 2009. Whether this is the beginning of a whole series of cuts or just a one-of is another story though and will depend largely on the development of the local economy and the degree of uncertainty globally. How effective the passing on of the cut by commercial banks to consumers will be on their spending behaviour will also remain to be seen.

Monthly Purchasing Managers Index data in the Asian region paints a mixed picture about the health of the manufacturing sectors with most attention on China and somewhat different stories being told by the official Chinese data and private sector equivalent report.

China is also drawing attention from its leader Hu Jintao’s visit to Europe during the lead up to the G-20 summit. Expectations are increasing that China will commit to supporting the European Financial Stability Facility but any announcement is hardly likely to occur before the G-20 meeting.

Further information and additional forex videos can be found at videos.saxobank.com.

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Confused.com Launches Its 2-For-1 Dining Card To Say Thank You To Customers

Confused.com has launched a 2-for-1 dining card in conjunction with Hi-Life to say thank you to customers who purchase car insurance or home insurance in November through Confused.com.

Discounts and offers on expenses like dining out and entertainment are becoming more important as inflation erodes people’s disposable income and many people have to tighten their purse strings.

Recent research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies identifies that there has been a fall in median net household income of 3.5%, the largest single-year drop since 1981.*

These additional pressures on incomes mean people are not only on the lookout for bargains but are also becoming savvier. To help, Confused.com is giving away a 2-for-1 Hi – Life dining card to all customers who buy a car insurance or home insurance policy in November 2011 through Confused.com. For customers this means 2-for-1 on eating out all day every day at over 3,500 participating restaurants for a whole year, meaning the savings keep on coming.

Catering for all tastes and price ranges, customers can enjoy 2-for-1 at Malmaison, Loch Fyne, Prezzo, Pizza Hut and thousands of other restaurants besides.

Click here for a full list of 2-for-1 dining offers from Confused.com.

Gareth Kloet, head of car insurance at Confused.com, said: “Saving people time and money is at the very heart of our business at Confused.com so the 2 for 1 dining card offer is something we believe will add real value to our customers. With Christmas fast approaching and so many people looking to cut back on expense without making lifestyle changes, we are hopeful it will be well received as an additional thank you for using our site.”

Mark Gabriel, head of home insurance at Confused.com, added: “The recent downturn has made us more careful about what we spend and made us savvier in searching for savings. The 2-for-1 dining card can be used for a year and gives great savings on well-known restaurants throughout the UK. Car and home insurance is a necessity so at Confused.com we wanted to give our customers a great deal on their insurance but a little extra at the same time.”

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Saxo Bank Releases New Video Commenting On Eurozone Meetings And Greek Referendum

Saxo Bank has released a new macro view video featuring Steen Jakobsen, Chief Economist, Saxo Bank, taking a look at the expectations for three key meetings this week: the Federal Open Market Committee, the European Central Bank and the Group of 20 leaders. He also addresses the implications of Greece’s surprise referendum on its aid package and austerity programme.

Jakobsen commented that the G-20 meeting (November 3-4) needs to deliver actions rather than more supportive talk for the troubled Eurozone. Focus will be on the announcement of concrete financial measures of commitment via the International Monetary Fund in order to appease the prevailing uncertainty.

This uncertainty was exacerbated by Greece’s call for a referendum on its new aid package and austerity measures, thereby possibly threatening European leaders’ attempts last week to secure the Eurozone’s future.

Prior to G-20 the Federal Open Market Committee meets. Despite a spate of moderately encouraging US data of late the committee is expected to merely confirm a supportive wait and see approach and possibly only allude to a third round of Quantitative Easing.

The European Central Bank meeting, also this week, which is the first to be chaired by the new President Mario Draghi will be interesting to watch to see if he already now cuts rates and thereby reverses the apparent error of his predecessor.

Jakobsen commented that being Italian and with much focus on his troubled homeland, there is an expectation that Draghi will be even tougher on ensuring that Italy shapes up, particularly considering a disappointing bond auction last week which indicates the increasing problem Italy has in financing its debt.

The full video, as well as other forex videos, can be found at video.saxobank.com.

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Prudential Reveals Research On The Importance Of Women’s Retirement Plans

Prudential has revealed that nearly half (46 per cent) of women over the age of 40 who live with a partner have no pension of their own, according to new research into couples’ attitudes to retirement.

The extent of women’s reliance on a partner’s pension and the State is not the only shock finding from the research, which also highlights that many UK couples could be sleep-walking into retirement poverty as they have no idea what pension income they will need to live on.

More than half (56 per cent) of couples aged over 40 have not worked out how much money they will need to live on in retirement, with two in five (40 per cent) admitting to having no financial plans in place for life after work.

British couples also seem reluctant to discuss with each other the finances that will support them in later life. One in five couples (20 per cent) admit to never having discussed joint retirement financial planning, while only half of those who have already retired made a joint decision about the annuity they bought.

Vince Smith-Hughes, head of business development at Prudential, said: “Pensions may not seem like the most exciting topic for a couple in their forties to be discussing, but couples who have not put time aside to discuss their retirement income plans run the risk of spending their later lives worse off than they had expected.”

In regard to retirement planning, Smith-Hughes stressed how important it is for women to discuss their future finances with their partner, and preferably with a financial adviser too. According to Smith-Hughes, women who don’t engage in these discussions could find themselves in financial trouble, especially if they outlive their loved one.

Smith-Hughes continued: “People may feel they can’t afford to significantly boost their retirement savings in the current financial climate, but taking even the smallest of steps can have a positive impact. Joining a workplace pension scheme, considering a joint life annuity, so the income will continue after one partner dies, and topping up National Insurance contributions are all options which can increase income in retirement. These crucial issues should be discussed between couples and, in turn, with their financial advisers.”

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