Category Archives: Financial Information

Financial Information

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

Prudential Has Further Developed Its Annuity Range This Spring With The Launch Of A Reinvigorated Flexible Lifetime Annuity

The launch comes at a time when falling corporate bond rates are putting downward pressure on conventional annuity rates and people in retirement are increasingly looking beyond traditional choices when considering their retirement income options.

Prudential Has Further Developed Its Annuity Range This Spring With The Launch Of A Reinvigorated Flexible Lifetime Annuity

The new Flexible Lifetime Annuity launches with a £35,000 minimum purchase price (after tax-free cash) – down f r o m £75,000 – and no maximum limit, making it more accessible to more customers.

The fund range is also improved and now comes complete with a range of 50 funds, 32 of which are new.

The increased number of funds will mean a wider investment choice for people who select the Flexible Lifetime Annuity in their retirement. It will include funds f r o m the leading investment houses including Artemis, AXA, BlackRock, Gartmore, and JP Morgan among others, while retaining the current range which includes funds f r o m Invesco, M&G, Newton and Prudential.

The rationale behind increasing the number of funds is to provide greater variety and flexibility within the four investment strategies offered by the Flexible Lifetime Annuity product.

Flexible Lifetime Annuity customers can choose f r o m one of four investment strategies – cautious, standard, adventurous and the self-managed investment strategy – which reflect the level of risk for each strategy, rather than the funds within the portfolio.

By increasing number of funds within the Flexible Lifetime Annuity customers will have an opportunity for greater exposure to a complete range of risk graded funds, each designed to suit both current and future appetite to risk, and with the built-in option to switch funds throughout the lifetime of their Flexible Lifetime Annuity.

Vince Smith-Hughes, Prudential’s head of business development for retirement income, said: “We are seeing a shift in the options that people are prepared to consider when selecting an annuity. Greater choice, flexibility and investment diversity are becoming increasingly important to our customer base as it becomes more sophisticated.

“A new lower minimum investment amount and a revamped fund range has increased the choice available to customers and is part of our strategy to offer the widest range of annuities in the UK.”

Via EPR Network
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Agricote And Saxo Banque France Partner

Saxo Banque France, the online investment and trading specialist, has announced an exclusive partnership with Agricote, the agricultural broker, allowing farmers to manage their selling prices and negotiate agricultural or commodity futures and CFDS online using the award winning SaxoTrader platform.

The partnership with Agricote reflects the evolution of the agricultural industry, and the reality that a new generation of farmers want to control their production and sales, using futures to hedge their output and manage risk. Using SaxoTrader, the partnership enables both producers and buyers to manage market volatility and trade agricultural futures and CFDs online 24 hours a day, with access to 23 stock exchanges.

Commenting on the partnership, Pierre de Perthuis, co-founding partner of Agricote, said: “Our partnership with Saxo Banque will enable farmers to move forward and manage their own production and sales. Farmers no longer want to suffer from the pressures imposed by a volatile market, and seeing farmers taking positions on an online future trading platform is an innovative step forward for the industry. We are very proud to support these pioneers. Farmers are now able to control their destiny”.

Pierre-Antoine Dusoulier, CEO of Saxo Banque France added: “We are pleased to partner with Agricote and acknowledge that the agricultural industry is changing and needs strong support. Agricote was looking for a trusted partner and we met its requirements: Saxo Banque is a perennial French Bank and we have a highly efficient online trading platform and services for fast deployment.”

Main characteristics of the partnership:
– Privileged access to International Futures Markets
– Ability to adopt and implement own marketing strategy
– An appropriate account with user profile
– Trading account access via PC, website or cell phone
– Personalized assistance by Agricote
– A free demo account for 20 days

Farmers will be able to access their online trading platform via a dedicated page on the Agricote website.

Via EPR Network
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2009 SABEW Award For Mutualfundreform.com

The blog, www.mutualfundreform.com, has won the top award from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers (SABEW) in the best small blog category. The winning award was made as part of the 15th annual Best in Business Journalism competition, recognizing top publications,Web sites and the best business news reporting during 2009.

The blog,  mutualfundreform.com, won the award primarily for its original 7,000-word investigative series into how little-understood mutual fund fees, revenue sharing deals, high commissions paid to wholesalers and different share classes all benefit mutual fund salespeople and executives more than individual shareholders.

2009 SABEW Award For Mutualfundreform.com

The series, written by the site’s creator, Chuck Epstein, shows how these payments create conflicts of interest between shareholders and investment professionals which make it difficult for individual investors to obtain objective financial advice.

Other issues covered on the blog deal with the failure of SEC regulators, and the need for financial professionals to adopt the same fiduciary standards used by institutional investors and pension fund executives.

The site maintains that the need for mutual fund reform is essential since the load mutual fund industry currently has practices in place which essentially work against their own shareholders.

The creator of www.mutualfundreform.com is Chuck Epstein. He has been a senior writer for two large mutual fund companies and also won first place awards from the Mutual Fund Education Association (MFEA) in 2006, 2007, 2008 for writing and editing the best adviser and/or shareholder newsletters in the large-fund class category.

He also has held senior-level marketing positions with the New York Futures Exchange, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, and written by-lined articles for over 50 financial publications.

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

Moneystand.co.uk: Take Advantage Of Saving Strategies

Savers must look for smart new ways to make the most out of their accumulated wealth in the midst of continual drops in saving rates. With easy access and notice accounts both dropping their rates in recent months, savers must act swiftly to ensure they make the most out of any savings they may have remaining.

For those relying upon savings accounts to support their income the consistently low rates of the past 12 months will have been particularly difficult to stomach. Moneystand.co.uk founder Matt Spencer suggests that there are ways around this reality for individuals willing to put in the extra effort to ensure they actually see a real return on their savings.

“Savvy consumers who assess how separate bank details can be played off one another are likely to see the best return on their savings. In these tough economic times, it is always important to make your money work as hard as possible.”

Some savings accounts, such as the Santander offer will reward you for making regular monthly payments in to their account; paying 6% as long as at least £1000 is deposited per month. Other banks, such as the Halifax are offering £5 per month payouts as long as a minimum £1000 monthly deposit is made.

Clearly logic implies that multiple accounts across banks will ensure maximum return and with both of these banks accepting direct transfer from other banks this technique is completely plausible. Many customers are already making use of this process to ensure that they acquire the saving rates they need to ensure they see a real return after tax and inflation are taken into account.

Moneystand suggests consumers must be wary not to fall into the overdraft facility if they do decide to take this approach. Multiple current accounts, all of which have had their overdraft facility used will reflect very negatively upon an individual’s credit rating and must be avoided at all costs. Proper planning must go in to making this decision to ensure that all accounts are clearing whilst still in the positive.

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

Via EPR Network
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A New Government-Run Service Is Set To Provide Impartial Financial Advice For Millions Of UK Citizen

A new Government-run service is set to provide impartial financial advice for millions of UK citizens looking for help with money matters.

A New Government-Run Service Is Set To Provide Impartial Financial Advice For Millions Of UK Citizen

The service – called Moneymadeclear – was launched by Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling and will provide free consumer advice from independent financial experts.

Moneymadeclear gives people the chance to pick up the phone, talk face-to-face or get information online with regard to money worries, financial planning and information on consumer rights.

The service also gives advice to consumers who think they may have been mis-sold a financial product and don’t know what action to take.

A service such as this is long overdue says life insurance comparison site QuoteBoffin.co.uk:

“Consumers have long deserved a service that is concise and impartial as Moneymadeclear, especially for people who have concerns over money but do not know who to turn to.

Moneymadeclear also supports the different ways in which people take in information as well as the resources consumers have available. For example, some people prefer to use the web to get information whilst others are more comfortable meeting an advisor face to face and so forth.”

The Government has trialled the service in the North East and North West since last April. The trial helped 500,000 people and is expected to assist a million people in the next year alone.

Chancellor Alistair Darling said:

“Moneymadeclear is free, impartial advice for all, whether you are unsure about the small print in a mortgage form; want advice opening a savings account for your children or grand-children or want some help dealing with repayments before they get out of hand.”

In a post recession economy the importance of financial support for concerned consumers will undoubtedly be welcomed by people looking to firm up their finances.

QuoteBoffin.co.uk went on to say “Although the UK has officially left the recession it’s going to take many years to see a full recovery. This means that continued job losses, mounting debt and high interest rates will put continued strain on consumers.

Via EPR Network
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LV=, Insurance, Pensions And Investments Group, Has Announced That It Is Opening New Offices In Huddersfield

This is in addition to LV=’s road rescue company, Britannia Rescue, which is already based in Huddersfield town centre, employing around 100 people. The new LV= offices will be in Folly Hall and are scheduled to open in July 2010. This will also become the new home to Britannia Rescue, which will be moving from its current offices in Station Buildings, where it has been based for over 20 years. Having celebrated its 25th year of operation in Huddersfield last year, Britannia Rescue has reached capacity at Station Buildings and needs to move to enable the business to expand further.

LV=, Insurance, Pensions And Investments Group, Has Announced That It Is Opening New Offices In Huddersfield

As well as the Britannia Rescue management team, LV= will open a new 24-hour call centre in Folly Hall to deal with both calls from LV= car insurance customers who have been involved in an accident, and Britannia Rescue breakdown calls. The 24-hour service will also be expanded to LV= home insurance customers during 2010 and the new office is set to become the company’s primary 24-hour call centre.

The new jobs there will be advertised later in the year and will include customer service advisor roles, team leader positions and management opportunities.

LV= is a leading mutual financial group with over 3.6 million members and customers. The company offers a wide range of financial products including insurance, pensions and investments.

The new LV= office at Folly Hall will have the capacity for around 175 people. It is located 10 minutes from the station in a Grade II listed building which has been renovated as part of the regeneration of Huddersfield’s Waterfront Quarter.

Simon Stevens, general manager of LV=’s Huddersfield operation, said: “We are delighted to be expanding in the town. Huddersfield has been a fantastic base for our Britannia Rescue business and with our positive experience here we are confident that Huddersfield will also be a great location for part of the LV= car insurance claimsoperation.

“We are committed to Huddersfield and to providing new jobs in the area. LV= is a fast-growing general insurer and when many other financial companies are making redundancies we are actually expanding. This means that not only is there the opportunity for local people to join us, but there are also great career prospects and the chance to move up in the company.”

Cllr Mehboob Khan, Leader of Kirklees Council, said: “It is excellent news that such a well known and respected company is investing in our area. We have a good relationship with LV= through their Britannia Rescue operation which has been based in the two for many years and we are delighted they have chosen to expand their operation in Huddersfield and create jobs for local people. Working with Kirklees businesses, from small traders to larger organisations, is one of the many ways in which the council continues to tackle the problems caused by the recession.”

Barry Sheerman, MP for Huddersfield, said: “The fact that LV= is expanding in Huddersfield is an excellent omen. Increasingly Huddersfield is being seen as an exceptional place to live and work, and in which to find talented and hardworking employees. The Folly Hall scheme adds to the innovative regeneration of our waterfront development and I hope that LV= and the town prosper together.”

Via EPR Network
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VocaLink Scales Charity Heights

VocaLink, the specialist provider of transaction services to banks, has launched a scheme to help raise money for Bonita Norris in her attempt to become the youngest British female to reach the summit of Mount Everest, in order to raise money for Global Angels.

VocaLink Scales Charity Heights

VocaLink, as the official sponsor of the challenge, is trying to raise funds for Bonita and the Global Angels charity through its network of almost 50,000 Mobile Phone Top-Up (MPTU) ATMs across the UK.

To raise the money, VocaLink has managed to get together some of the major UK banks* who have agreed to donate 5p to Global Angels every time someone tops-up a mobile phone** during March and April using a VocaLink ATM.

Bonita will be climbing Mount Everest to raise money for Global Angels, an international foundation which champions the causes of children around the world to help provide sustainable solutions. Every pound received from public donations goes directly to projects working at grass-roots level to empower children and their communities.

Bonita will be looking to climb Mount Everest’s towering 8,848 meters during May 2010 when conditions are at their best. To complete her climb, Bonita will be putting herself at risk from the dangers of frostbite, hypothermia, snow-blindness, alongside the many other perils associated with extreme altitude climbing.

The MPTU service is available through ATMs bearing the green top-up logo which include Barclays, Bank Machine, Cardpoint, Cashzone, Clydesdale Bank, Cooperative Bank, Coventry Building Society, First Trust Bank, Halifax, Hanco, HSBC, Infocash, Lloyds TSB, Nationwide Building Society, Nat West, Note Machine, Royal Bank of Scotland, Sainsbury’s Finance and Yorkshire Bank.

In addition to the Mobile Phone Top-Up service, Bonita is also auctioning 3 flags which will feature the highest bidders name or personal message. Bonita will take the flags up Mount Everest on her record breaking journey. The first flag auction will run from the 8th to the 14th March, the second flag 15th-21st and the third flag 22nd -28th.

Via EPR Network
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Ditch The Cigarettes On No Smoking Day To Save A Bundle On Your Life Insurance Premium

On Wednesday the 10th of March 2010, hundreds of thousands of people up and down the UK will stub out their final cigarette as they kick the habit and give up smoking for good. Smoking currently claims around 106,000 lives in the UK each year due to a plethora of smoking related diseases such as cancer, heart disease and emphysema.

Ditch The Cigarettes On No Smoking Day To Save A Bundle On Your Life Insurance Premium

Treatment for illnesses caused or aggravated by smoking costs the NHS £5 billion annually.

Life insurance comparison website – Quoteboffin.co.uk – are calling for smokers to embrace No Smoking Day as the perfect time to ditch their addiction.

A QuoteBoffin spokesperson said, “For years smoking has been recognised as something that’s bad for us although it would appear it takes more than just health risks to encourage some people to stop.

Last year No Smoking Day was the catalyst for 1 in 10 people kicking the habit; that’s the equivalent of 900,000 people who will now enjoy improved health and increased life expectancy through one simple lifestyle change.”

Aside from the health benefits, quitting smoking could also save individuals a bundle on their life and health insurance premium.

On average, life insurance premiums for smokers can be more than three times higher than non-smoker premiums; boasting a saving of thousands of pounds for those who are
willing to quit.

QuoteBoffin.co.uk point out the kind of extra expenditures smokers unwittingly make: “The cost of smoking doesn’t just stop at the cigarettes. Smokers depreciate the value of their cars and homes with the smell of cigarette smoke and damage caused by falling ash. Home owners can also expect to pay more for their home insurance since cigarettes cause house fires.

Life insurance provider Aviva recently conducted some research into insurance premiums for smokers. They found that a 25-year-old male smoker will pay £1,800 more over the course of 30 years for £125,000 of cover than his non-smoking counterpart. With smoking causing a massive strain on an individual’s physical and financial well being, the real test comes down to will power; something the No Smoking Day charity are there to help with.”

More information and support for smokers looking to quit can be found at:
http://www.nosmokingday.org.uk/index.htm

Via EPR Network
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VocaLink Take Home Pay Index Slumps To Lowest Level On Record

The VocaLink Take Home Pay Index for February has continued January’s downward spiral to hit an all-time low of 1.0%. The combination of the two recent consecutive falls has nearly halved the index during that period, taking it from 1.9% in December to 1.0% in February, signifying the Index’s lowest level since its inception in September 2004.

A slower than expected recovery in manufacturing production has contributed to the significant decrease in the VocaLink manufacturing index which also fell to its lowest level on record by tumbling from 1.1% in January to 0.4% in February. Services sector pay growth followed the downward trend with the index recording a drop of 0.3 percentage points to reach 1.3% in February. Though the reduction is relatively modest, a fall of this size is still significant given the index’s current low level.

The bleak news reflects the fragile state of the labour market which is showing few signs of recovery.

The latest official labour market statistics show that unemployment rose in January offsetting the falls seen in November and December. Specifically, the claimant count measure of unemployment increased by 23,500 in January from December which represents its biggest monthly increase since July 2009. The current doubts around economic recovery are exacerbated by the uncertainty caused by the impending general election with employers waiting to see what fiscal policies are put in place by the new government before making significant decisions regarding employment and compensation.

Marion King, chief executive officer at VocaLink, said: “The fact that the VocaLink Take Home Pay Index Report has reached the lowest level in its history reflects the gravity of the current economic situation. The Index has now fallen below the previous low of 1.1% reached in May of last year when we were still in the depths of the recession. This continued fall in wage growth rates combined with rising inflation means that household finances are still under great pressure. Either the recovery will have to strengthen significantly or it will take a long period of slow growth before upward pressure on wages begins to build and the spending power of households begins to recover.”

VocaLink processes more than 90% of UK salaries and the VocaLink Take Home Pay Index, established in 2004, provides the most timely and accurate disposable income data available in the UK. It is based on salary payments made to employees on a three-month moving average compared with the same continuation measure a year earlier. It is affected by changes in tax rates, National Insurance and other employer payments or deductions.

About VocaLink
VocaLink’s switching platform connects over 60,000 ATMs, the world’s busiest network, while the euro payments platform processes more than 500 million payments per month.

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Principle First To Offer Remote Financial Advice

Principle First now offers clients the ability to interact with an adviser online, as they are brought across to his screen to discuss their financial plan using a range of graphical tools, charts and graphs illustrating their proposed or current investments.

Principle First’s remote financial advice service has already been rolled out as a pilot project, and has passed the test with flying colours.

Gareth Flanagan, founder and managing director of Principle First, said: “Our clients have already given our remote advice service a very strong ‘thumbs up’.

“I think people love the idea of tending to their future and current financial planning from the comfort of their own home.”

A potential client can log onto the Principle First website to make an investments enquiry.

The Principle First remote advice service offers visual and graphical illustrations to complement discussions on mortgages, life insurance, tax planning and savings as well.

Gareth Flanagan added: “The real beauty of remote financial advice is its ability to cut through the resistance of many consumers to visit a financial adviser.

“It’s amazing to think that only 20% of consumers seek and accept free, no-obligation help with their financial plan and pensions. Many of those consult only banks and building societies who, due to their limited product range, place their funds in the worst-performing sectors.”

Principle First has found that this resistance is based on three erroneous beliefs, which undermine a customer’s self-confidence in approaching an adviser.

Consumers often believe that financial planning is only for the wealthy, and that they simply do not have enough wealth to justify the attentions of a professional financial adviser.

Via EPR Network
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Trading Floor Launch News Widget

Trading Floor, the website featuring commentary by Saxo Bank’s strategy team, is launching a news widget – a ‘mini web site’ – allowing the latest stories from Trading Floor to be placed on any website or blog by pasting a few lines of computer code.

Trading Floor Launch News Widget

The widget is the first of several FX Tools under development that will be launched during 2010. The tools will support Trading Floor’s aim of providing the best knowledge to online traders in Forex trading, equities, FX options and CFD trading. The code can be copied from tradingfloor.com/FX-Tools and links are provided to help on how to add the code to the two of the most widely used blogging platforms.

Trading Floor’s strategy team writes posts throughout the trading day, starting with the opening of European markets to the close of Asian.

Trading Floor offers a range of news and market analysis including the daily trading stance which highlights the important signs to watch for in economic indicators and key levels for the major currency crosses, FX options and commodities. This includes a calendar for important earnings announcements and macroeconomic events. Trading Floor also publishes a wide range of reports covering macroeconomic indicators, and trading suggestions for FX and equities which are all free to download. Trading Floor also offers two to three interviews a week covering FX, equities and commodities. Commodities are covered with Ole Hansen on Wednesday and the FX and equity update is broadcast on Friday. Extra interviews are posted for significant macroeconomic indicators or reports.

Commentary on Trading Floor is written by Chief Economist David Karsbøl, Equity Strategist Christian Tegllund Blaabjerg and Forex expert John Hardy. Futures and Fixed Income expertise is provided by Ole S. Hansen and Alan Plaugmann. Also commenting are Market Strategist Mads Koefoed and Research Analyst Robin Bagger-Sjöbäck.

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QuoteBoffin.co.uk Highlights Insurance As One Of The UK ‘s Few Remaining Essentials As Britain Climbs Out Of The Recession

It’s official, the recession that flaunted a stranglehold over the world’s economic superpowers during 2008/09 has finally loosened its grip.

QuoteBoffin.co.uk Highlights Insurance As One Of The UK 's Few Remaining Essentials As Britain Climbs Out Of The Recession

The end of the biggest recession in 70 years doesn’t mean a return to frivolous spending or reckless borrowing however as a continued slump in car sales and slow growth in house prices shows consumers have quickly come to re-evaluate what constitutes life’s ‘bare essentials’.

As the economic climate remains undeniably gloomy, it’s understandable that many consumers will continue to worry about the security of jobs, borrowings and their ability to pay off debts and other household bills.

In light of this, life insurance comparison site Quoteboffin.co.uk is calling for greater emphasis to be put on the importance of insurance with regard to peace of mind and preparing for the unforeseen especially at an already difficult time.

Quoteboffin.co.uk said it acknowledged the pressure consumers are under in light of escalating debts: “Household debt has been growing at a rate of 6.8% a year and with increased borrowing in the form of credit cards, mortgages and loans it’s understandable that many consumers are feeling considerable financial strain like never before.

From as little as £5 a month consumers can invest in affordable insurance packages like life cover and income protection from market leaders such as BUPA, Aviva and Standard Life. With the economy in a continued state of flux, a monthly premium of£5 is a small price to pay for greater peace of mind.”

On a brighter note, the recession can also harbour some positives for the consumer such as greater financial awareness, decreased impulse spending and a move towards taking out personal insurance cover rather than relying on packages that come part and parcel with employment.

QuoteBoffin.co.uk echoed this idea: “Unfortunately the reality of today’s economy means more and more job cuts are a likely to be forecast. People who have been made redundant or shifted role during a departmental reshuffle need to remember that their employment benefits may no longer include financial protection such as life or health insurance.

Consumers need to take control of their money and appreciate that during times of uncertainty increased financial protection such as insurance can easily become one of life’s most important bare essentials.”

Via EPR Network
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Research: Britons Not Yet Planning For New ISA Limits

NS&I has revealed new research that shows people across Britain are not yet planning for the changes to ISA entitlements this year and risk missing out on tax-free returns. Just 15% of Britons surveyed say they understand the new limits, which enables individuals to save up to £10,200 per year tax-free.

Research: Britons Not Yet Planning For New ISA Limits

Research shows that a quarter (25%) of those surveyed incorrectly believe ISA allowances will remain the same in the new financial year while 24% are aware new changes are due, but are unsure what these will be. A further 10% think the ISA limit will be higher for over 50 year-olds only, which is no longer the case once the changes come into effect

It is not just the changes to the ISA entitlement that Britons are unsure of, but ISAs in general.16% of those who are aware of ISAs say the reason they haven’t invested in an ISA is because they find it confusing, while one in ten people (10%) admit that saving money in an ISA this year has never occurred to them.

John Prout, Sales Director at NS&I said: “The fact that all interest earned in an ISA remains tax-free means it’s a must-have product for people looking to maximise their hard earned savings. Understanding the allowances and reviewing the terms of the product is vital for savers. With less than two months to go until the end of the tax year, there is no time like the present for everyone to check their finances and plan to benefit from tax-free savings.”

Uncertainty about ISAs can result in people failing to take full advantage of their entitlement. Just 16% say they will definitely use their full tax-free ISA allowance and feel it is important to do so. 15% of the population say they will take up a proportion, but do not expect to use all of it.

35% of people aware of ISAs have been put off the account in general by the current low ISA interest rates on offer, while under a third (29%) of people say they are not planning to use their full ISA allowance because they can’t afford to. A similar number of people (31%) say the current climate and outlook for 2010 means they will look at other financial products, rather than ISAs. 29% say wider economic pressures have also led them to start diversifying their financial portfolio, perhaps a reason for not using the full entitlement.

Via EPR Network
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QuoteBoffin.co.uk Calls For Better Consumer Education On Life Insurance In Order To Tighten Protection Gap

Quoteboffin.co.uk – a new money saving website that offers price comparison on life insurance – is today calling for better education on financial products to be made available to UK consumers.

In a recent report conducted by global reinsurer, Swiss Re, it emerged that just 34% of UK citizens aged 21 – 34 have life insurance.

Uptake on life insurance is much higher for older generations with 74% of consumers aged 35 to 54-years-old securing financial provision.

QuoteBoffin.co.uk believe that the key to tightening the protection gap between the generations lies in an emphasis on planning for the unforeseen at any age.

“The importance of financial protection like life cover can be difficult for consumers to appreciate until the unforeseen actually happens. Given their age, young people might not think life insurance is relevant to them or view it as a sensitive topic that is difficult to discuss with family or friends. Given today’s financial climate that’s seen increased job losses and economic uncertainty as whole, it’s never been more important to build a strong financial foundation, regardless of age.”

71% of people still believe that their household finances are stable enough to cope in the event of a long-term illness, disability or death; regardless of low levels of financial provision.

Although the past five years has seen a jump of 7% in the number of consumers applying for life insurance, the main reason for UK citizens choosing to ignore financial protection is an understanding that the product simply isn’t necessary.

Via EPR Network
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Get Free Credit Reports And Best Credit Cards Deals At Free-Credit-Reports.com

To make it easier for the customers to understand the competitive credit card and credit report market, Free-Credit-Reports.com has introduced a reliable and quick free credit report online service free of cost. A good credit history is very important when customer is looking to get a certain amount of money from the lending institution or banks. To maintain a good credit history, customer will be regularly updated about the credit status so that any blemish can be removed, if it is there.

Get Free Credit Reports And Best Credit Cards Deals At Free-Credit-Reports.com

In response to the query via email, spokesman of Free-Credit-Reports.com said, “All the credit reports provided are organized in a comprehensive way. The customer can go through all the pages in a very easy to understand format. Free-Credit-Reports.com has a tie-up with the reputed and tested players in the credit card market like Visa, MasterCard and American Express. So the customers can rely on our reports for their credit history. Irrespective of the credit history of the customer, one is sure to find a credit card at the Free-Credit-Reports.com.” He also went on to add that Free-Credit-Reports.com also provides the guide to understand the various reports.

The spokesperson also stressed that Free-Credit-Reports.com will provide a chart with which the credit eligibility of the applicant is decided. This helps in convincing the lender or creditor in lending the money or providing the credit card to consumer. All the information provided to the Free-Credit-Reports.com is kept secret and is not disclosed to third party. In today’s world the internet is growing at a fast pace and with the growing e-commerce the chances of identity theft have increased manifold. To counter this Free-Credit-Reports.com also provides the services in which they will provide protection against any sort of identity theft.

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The Children’s Mutual Reports Growth Of Parents Funding Their Adult Childre

The Children’s Mutual, a leading Child Trust Fund provider, has revealed that the cost of having adult children is hitting parents hard, with its new research showing they expect the cost of supporting an 18 to 30 year old to exceed £30,000. Their findings highlight the growth of a generation of Yuckies (Young Unwitting Costly Kids), with 93% of parents funding their adult children.

The Children's Mutual Reports Growth Of Parents Funding Their Adult Childre

Yet many of these parents haven’t planned for the costs and are putting their own financial futures on the line – 28% have either remortgaged or plan to remortgage to fund their Yuckie, with more than half of all parents borrowing to assist with costs.

The Children’s Mutual also found that it’s the Yuckies who are necessitating everyday purse tightening in families – two thirds of parents say they have had to or will reduce their day-to-day living costs to fund their adult child, from shopping more economically for food (28%), selling their cars (7%) and monitoring the use of heating and lighting at home (42%).

David White, Chief Executive of The Children’s Mutual, said: “These figures unveil the stark reality of the cost of being a parent. No longer does turning 18 mean financial independence – in fact 16% of parents questioned expected their child to remain financially dependent on them into their thirties and beyond.

“The families we questioned had just one message for parents whose children are still young – save, save, save. More than half agreed that if they’d have known when their child was born what they now know about the cost of having an adult child they would have saved more through the years, with just 13% having saved regularly in preparation. These figures give us a very clear warning – children aren’t financially independent at 18 and parents need to plan for this to save their whole family’s financial future.”

Child Trust Funds are designed to provide a tax efficient, long term savings vehicle for all eligible children. Each eligible newborn child (born on or after 1 September 2002) receives a £250 Child Trust Fund voucher (£500 for low income families) from the government when their parents register for Child Benefit. The government will make a second contribution of £250 (£500 for low income families) when the child reaches seven and is considering a third in the child’s teenage years. Parents, family and friends can all then add to this account up to a maximum value of £1,200 each year.

Via EPR Network
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Life Insurance Packages From Aviva And BUPA Now Available Via QuoteBoffin.co.uk

A new money saving website that compares prices on life insurance packages has announced customers can now get quotes from market leaders BUPA and Aviva when they enquire via QuoteBoffin.co.uk.

Life Insurance Packages From Aviva And BUPA Now Available Via QuoteBoffin.co.uk

QuoteBoffin.co.uk which launched early this month, is the latest price comparison site to hit the ether. The price comparison industry itself has proved a recession defying success given its 30-50% growth in the past couple of years alone.

QuoteBoffin.co.uk believe their partnership with brokers who offer life insurance packages from market leaders will immediately stir up interest among consumers:

“Although a new company to the price comparison field, QuoteBoffin.co.uk want to offer consumers the very best products from the word go. To do so QuoteBoffin.co.uk will work with brokers that cover life insurance providers such as BUPA and Aviva. This means consumers are not only getting tried and tested life cover from long established companies but are also ensuring they get a highly competitive price at the same time.”

Market leaders for life insurance in the UK and beyond, BUPA and Aviva offer consumers and their loved ones peace of mind and financial support at an understandably difficult time.

Although both providers offer a lump sum towards unpaid bills and other financial obligations, there are also added extras such as access to expert support through the BUPA HealthLine and a £15 Marks and Spencer voucher for Aviva customers.

QuoteBoffin.co.uk thinks consumers will not only be impressed with the price of life insurance but the range of packages available as well:

“A wide range of providers is important not only so consumers can compare prices but also so they get a level of cover that’s right for them. As a company, we appreciate that one person’s circumstances, preferences and budget will differ greatly from the next so QuoteBoffin.co.uk is celebrating diversity as well as customers getting a great deal on their life insurance.”

Via EPR Network
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