Category Archives: Financial

Financial

Banks, Bonds, Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Services, ISAs, Mortgage, Personal Finance

Northern Rock Adds Helpful Savings Video Guide To Its Website

Northern Rock has added another helpful video guide to its interactive savings website to help consumers with their savings choices.

The video – Northern Rock’s Guide to Savings – is the third guide in the series recently introduced by the bank to add a further dimension to its award-winning website. Existing videos include Northern Rock’s Guide to ISAs and First Time Buyers Guide, which can be viewed on the Northern Rock website alongside the new addition.

The newest guide is designed to help customers make the most of their money in an accessible way, by highlighting the need to consider debt and budgeting as well as the benefits of the wide range of competitively priced savings products on offer at Northern Rock.

The colourful video guide, which is also available via the bank’s YouTube channel, covers key areas such as planning for emergencies and saving for a rainy day.

Northern Rock offers a range of variable and fixed rate savings products, including online savings accounts, instant-access products and tax-free savings options. Northern Rock also offers customers a free savings review.

Further detail about Northern Rock’s range of savings products is available on the website, which is populated with useful advice and information for different savings customer groups, financial planning information and at-a-glance guides to help people choose between different types of savings account.

The site also includes a range of interactive tools such as a jargon buster and budget planner to help take the complexity out of selecting the right savings product for a customer’s own individual circumstances, and a product calculator for each of Northern Rock’s products, such as a mortgage calculator and a calculator for its Cash ISA, to help work out the estimated return on investment.

Northern Rock customers also benefit from the bank’s unique savings promise. This is a commitment to its customers that it will provide a minimum of two months’ written notice of any reduction to the interest rate on their account. Where customers have a notice period for access to their funds of greater than two months, Northern Rock will give them that equivalent notice period of any reduction to their interest rate. Northern Rock will also write to all savings customers at least once a year with details of all its available variable rate savings accounts. And it will give savings customers a minimum of two months’ written notice of any changes to the terms and conditions of their account.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

Banks, Business, Currency, Financial, Financial Information, Financial Management, Financial Services, Financial Software, Financial Solutions, Forex, Investment, Money, Profits, Trading

Saxo Bank Stays With Riis Cycling in 2012

Saxo Bank and Bjarne Riis, owner and manager of Riis Cycling A/S, have announced that Saxo Bank, a sponsor for the cycling team since 2008, will remain co-title sponsor in 2012 with SunGard, one of the world’s leading software and technology services companies.

Bjarne Riis said: “It is indeed a great day for our cycling team. Saxo Bank is an extremely professional company, so I am proud that Saxo Bank has a strong faith in our work and continues to see the commercial benefits in sponsoring our team.”

“Since 2008 we have shown in both words and actions that we are a great match, and I am convinced we will continue to grow together because of the obvious benefits in a long term relationship. The continuity in our partnership also means a lot for the riders and for me personally. Now we can focus all our attention on creating results and the working process of putting together a strong rider group for next year.”

Saxo Bank, the online trading and investment specialist, recently launched Saxo Privatbank, combining traditional banking services with a professional investment universe, and the bank says it has taken a strategic decision to continue the sponsorship in 2012.

In a joint statement, Kim Fournais and Lars Seier Christensen, co-CEOs and co-founders of Saxo Bank, said: “Saxo Bank has always believed it was a sound commercial decision to support Bjarne Riis and the rest of the team but at the same time, it is hard to exaggerate the impact Bjarne Riis has on Danish and international cycling. We have a genuine desire to support Bjarne and provide the team with the necessary resources it takes to stay on top. Bjarne Riis and the team are a huge inspiration and motivation for many young talents, and Saxo Bank is proud to continue to ensure a world class cycling team in Denmark.”

The name of the team will remain ‘Saxo Bank-SunGard Professional Cycling Team’.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

Debts, Financial, Financial Services, Loans, Money, Personal Finance

Payday Express Takes A Leap For Charity Concern

A brave employee of short-term loan service Payday Express is taking the plunge for charity on June 27 by doing a solo skydive in aid of Concern, which supports poverty-stricken communities in third world countries.

Payday Express and its staff are sponsoring contact centre agent Kylie Taylor to undertake her plucky move after a two-day training course. Kylie will jump from the plane alongside her instructor – but without the reassurance of being attached.

Kylie said: “This is my first charity event but I’m hoping it won’t be my last. Next I want to move on to more daring events to raise more and more money.”

Concern was founded in Africa in 1968 and works in both emergency situations and long-term development programmes. On 13 June, the charity organised a meeting in Washington DC with campaign group Bread For The World entitled 1,000 Days To Scale Up Nutrition For Mothers And Children, to pressure G20 leaders to make a financial commitment to improving nutrition in the world’s poorest countries.

Payday Express Operations Manager Sarah Carroll said: “This is such a worthy cause and we’re honoured to be able to help. One of Concern’s main schemes is in Quetta, in Pakistan, where it runs drop-in centres for children who make money for their families by scavenging on rubbish tips and selling their finds.

“Concern offers education, food and healthcare, as well as the chance to play with toys. The charity also supplies protective clothing to protect the children from injury and infection; and training in manual trades to give them a better chance for the future.”

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

Financial, Financial Information, Financial Management, Financial Services, Financial Software, Investment, Money

Vebnet Announces Partnership With vielife

Vebnet has enhanced its employee benefits, offering to allow global access to an online health and wellbeing solution, by partnering with employee health solutions specialist vielife.

Employers using Vebnet’s reward and flexible benefits technology can now offer their employees a personalised, multi-language and interactive health and well-being service through vielife Online. The service lets employees measure and monitor their sleep, stress, nutrition and physical activity levels and encourages them to make healthier lifestyle choices, while helping employers to improve employee engagement and combat reported rises in sickness absence.

Employees start by taking an online assessment. This forms the basis of a personal report which identifies any areas of concern in their lifestyle and gives practical advice on how to address them. The recommendations can also be tailored to help employees make the most of the benefits their employer provides. Employers can also build lifestyle communication programmes to support employee engagement and employees can regularly re-assess themselves as their lifestyles change.

For Vebnet, part of the Standard Life group, the partnership with vielife provides a multi-modal health and wellness platform that is integrated within its own global employee benefits and reward portal. Importantly, vielife Online’s management reporting capabilities can help employers pinpoint specific staff health and wellbeing issues, creating highly targeted corporate employee health and wellbeing strategies strategies which in turn lead to greater employee engagement with Vebnet’s technology and higher solution return on investment.

Mike Beason, managing director, vielife, said: “As the population ages and organisations downsize to cope with economic pressures, more employers will start taking an interest in the health and wellbeing of their employees.

“Our technology provides a platform for global businesses who want to help their workforce make healthier lifestyle choices. Wellbeing is no longer perceived by employers as just another company perk, rather it’s a highly effective channel for increasing productivity, reducing sickness absence and improving job satisfaction.”

Richard Morgan, director of consultancy, Vebnet, commented: “Our reward and flexible benefits portal is already helping employers to enhance their total employment proposition and this latest addition forms the cornerstone of creating a joined up approach to health and wellbeing strategies.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

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

Standard Life Warns Public To Inflation Proof Retirement Incomes

Standard Life is warning anyone thinking about retirement to consider the effects of inflation eroding their income. New data released today by the savings and investments specialist shows that many people could see their retirement income swallowed up by the basic costs of living within seven years, as the effect of inflation impacts their spending power.

Using Office for National Statistics data and official Government inflation figures, Standard Life has calculated that someone with a personal pension pot of £80,000, buying a level annuity, will spend their entire monthly income (from private and state pensions) on basic living costs like food and fuel within just 7 years of retirement*.

John Lawson, Head of Pensions Policy at Standard Life said: “The cost of living is rising fast for most people in the UK, but this can be particularly acute for pensioners. Their spending habits are driven by commodities such as food and fuel bills and these inflation rates are much higher than the overall UK inflation rate**.

“People need to consider how to protect their buying power in retirement from the ravages of inflation over a long period of time, which could be 30 years or more. If pensioner inflation remains at around 6% a year, people with a fixed income could lose almost half of their spending power within a ten year period.

“There are many options to consider at retirement which could minimise the impact of inflation on your income, so seeking professional financial advice is vital.”

For further information on inflation proofing retirement income, and the choices available, interested parties can visit www.standardlife.co.uk/retirement_solutions/search.html.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

Banks, Bonds, Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Services, ISAs, Mortgage, Personal Finance

Northern Rock Cuts Mortgage Rates

Northern Rock has reduced mortgage rates, making its range even more competitive. As well as reducing selected rates across its core mortgage range by up to 0.50%, it has improved its 2-Year Fixed rate deal available exclusively through Northern Rock’s intermediary partners. The product is now available at 2.99% for those with a 30% deposit (70% LTV).

All of the remaining reduced deals are available to both purchase and remortgage customers, the latter benefiting from Northern Rock’s usual incentive of a free basic valuation and free standard legal costs.

Northern Rock has reduced rates for customers with a 25% deposit. A 2-Year Everyday Fixed rate deal with a £995 product fee is available at 3.19% for those with a 25% deposit (75% LTV). The same deal is available without a product fee, priced at 3.65%.

Alternatively, those with a 25% deposit (75% LTV) can choose a 3-Year Fixed rate mortgage with a £995 product fee at 3.93%, and a 5-Year deal with a £995 product fee is 4.59% up to 75% LTV. Those who choose not to pay a product fee, can secure the same product at 4.79%.

Competitive Buy to Let rates start from 3.39% for a 2-Year Everyday Fixed rate mortgage with a 3.5% product fee, up to 60% LTV. Those preferring a flat fee of £1,995 can choose a 2-Year Fixed rate up to 60% LTV, priced at 4.79%.

Everyday mortgages offer customers simple, straightforward mortgage deals with competitive rates and the ability to make overpayments of up to 10% each year, as well as the option to apply for payment holidays. Northern Rock continues to operate its mortgage product range within the constraints of the competitive measures agreed with the European Commission.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

Angel Investors, Business, Financial, Funding, Investment, Money, Profits, Stocks, Venture Capital

New Site Positioned to Take Over Daily Deals Market Seeking Investors

SocialDealSpot made a splash in the Washington D.C. market this month when it launched its first deal – saving hundreds of local families 50% on a summer camp for children. Complete with all the technical functionalities of its bigger competitors, the folks at SocialDealSpot are ready and able to take on the big boys in the daily deal offerings market.

Consumer-driven SocialDealSpot gives the people what they want (daily notifications of up to 90% in savings) while it boosts the local economy by bringing customers to small, local businesses. SocialDealSpot focuses its efforts on connecting consumers with local businesses. Their unique business model is set up to harvest subscribers interested in receiving deals prior to soliciting for area business partners. An iPhone application will be launching soon as will a forum for business partners to share their “deal offering” experiences. In addition, SocialDealSpot will be launching deals all over the country in the very near future.

They have proven their capabilities and now it’s time to grow. “We have a small team of people with a lot of heart,” says Michelle Peters, SocialDealSpot spokesperson, “our site is set up with the same functionalities you get with sites like Groupon and Living Social and we’ve gotten far with only a handful of committed staff members who believe what we’re doing is making a difference. But, it’s time to take it to the next level – we’re full of ideas of differentiating ourselves from the competition.”

Along with the plans for a larger web presence, SocialDealSpot’s audacious goals include mass media advertising through billboards, radio and television. “Marketing costs money,” says Peters, “but we’re worth it!” An infusion of investment capital will surely take this optimistic team to the next level to compete successfully with the likes of daily deal moguls such as Living Social and Groupon.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

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

Confused.com Launches New Savings Site

Confused.com has announced the launch of its new online savings site to help savers compare interest rates, find the most competitive ISAs and understand some of the jargon often found in financial documents.

Confused.com have also launched a new redesign of the savings section of the site to help users navigate the page easily and quickly find the best deal on their savings accounts.

With the brands such as Nationwide, Santander and ING on board, Confused.com’s savings offering is free and independent. Savers can quickly and easily compare different types of savings accounts, from simple instant access accounts to tax free ISAs and fixed rate bonds. This service compliments the existing loans, mortgages and financial services products already compared by Confused.com, which compare deals from the major high street and online financial service providers.

Chris Griffiths, head of savings at Confused.com said: “With interest rates being low and inflation high, it’s important to check that your savings are in a competitive account otherwise you could be missing out on improving your interest earnings. We aim to give savers more information about the different accounts available, as well as information on each specific account and its provider – ultimately to allow our customers to quickly and easily compare a variety of savings products to find the best one for their needs.”

Confused.com has provided information for customers about savings and how to switch their accounts on its savings account page on the website.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

Business, Career, Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services

Claude Penland and Sally Ezra Launch Ezra Penland Actuarial Recruitment in Chicago, Illinois

Claude Penland and Sally Ezra, two global leaders in the international actuarial recruiting industry, today as partners announce the launch of their company, Ezra Penland Actuarial Recruitment (“Ezra Penland”) in Chicago, Illinois.

Joining Sally and Claude at Ezra Penland are five outstanding employees. They include Debbie Charbonneau, Kevin Elliott, Dana Kelly, Yvonne McArdle and Emily Moss. To read more about their top quality staff, see EzraPenland.com/recruiters.

Initially, the Group of Seven will be focused on the North American actuarial recruitment market, and then rapidly expand into the global market. It is Ezra Penland’s plan to be the market leader in their niche, as Sally Ezra has spent nearly two decades recruiting actuaries, has developed strong professional relationships and a vast network of clientele. They value her commitment, resourcefulness, her personal attention and, above all, her high level of professional ethics.

Claude Penland is an Associate of the Casualty Actuarial Society and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries. He has over twenty years of experience as a casualty actuary and as a web strategist for actuarial recruitment organizations.

Ezra Penland additionally announces the timely publishing of their 2011 industry standard United States actuarial salary surveys at EzraPenland.com/salary. These 11 salary surveys include unprecedented detail on compensation for Property and Casualty, Life, Pension and Health actuaries. The details further break salaries down by consulting, reinsurance and insurance/all other employers of actuaries. An Adobe Acrobat file of all surveys is immediately available to be downloaded, printed and shared.

Ezra Penland is becoming known as the publisher of C-level insurance and reinsurance US salary surveys at EzraPenland.com/c-level. These CEO/CFO/CRO/etc. studies can also be found at  LifeSalarySurvey.com,  HealthSalarySurvey.com, CasualtySalarySurvey.com and ReinsuranceSalarySurvey.com.

To read more about their mission, types of searches and their specialities, see EzraPenland.com/about. Past clients and candidates recommend their services highly at EzraPenland.com/testimonials.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

Banks, Bonds, Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Services, ISAs, Mortgage, Personal Finance

Northern Rock Wins Prestigious National Big Tick Award

Northern Rock has been heralded among the most responsible businesses in the UK after receiving Business in the Community’s (BITC) coveted national Big Tick for its work to tackle financial exclusion in partnership with credit unions.

The Big Tick award is the first level of award available to entrants of the national BITC Awards for Excellence, which recognises inspirational programmes that are making a positive impact on the community, the environment or wider society.

Northern Rock’s contribution, which involved volunteers skilled in a number of disciplines, helping to rebrand and relaunch South Tyneside Credit Union as Bridges Your Community Bank, has also been shortlisted for consideration for the title of Example of Excellence – the overall winner for the Building Stronger Communities category.

The final results will be announced at the BITC Awards for Excellence Gala Event, sponsored by Unilever, which will be held at the Royal Albert Hall on 5 July.

Northern Rock’s Customer and Commercial Director Andy Tate said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this Big Tick in recognition of our important work in the local community, in this instance for our work with Bridges.

“We are also honoured to have been shortlisted for the overall Example of Excellence and we are very proud of what has been achieved through the dedication of our staff.”

Stephen Howard, Chief Executive of Business in the Community said: “I congratulate Northern Rock on achieving its Big Tick. It is a challenging time for business, but this is a sign that companies are not losing their focus and are transforming their businesses to make a positive impact on people and society; and are prepared to lead by example. That’s what Business in the Community’s Awards for Excellence is all about – celebrating responsible business, the leadership that makes it happen and the benefits to the business and society of doing so.

“Communities and consumers need to see that businesses are proactive, visible and engaged on the big issues of the day, as Northern Rock has demonstrated.”

Representatives from Northern Rock will be presented with the Big Tick award at a regional celebration event at the Gateshead Hilton at the end of June.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

Business, Financial, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, Money, Trading

NursesStore in Peak Condition with New Website

NursesStore.co.uk, a supplier of nursing tools and accessories to healthcare professionals, has selected SecureTrading, the UK’s leading independent payment processor, to process its global payments for its new website.

NursesStore.co.uk selected Ascensor, a web design, ecommerce and digital marketing specialist, for its website redesign. Ascenor then recommended SecureTrading for the payment processing based on the company’s reputation of excellent customer service and a secure payment platform.

Patrick Bowes, Commercial Director at NursesStore.co.uk, said, “We needed a new online store so our business could perform more competitively. We also wanted a website that had a robust payments system and could properly support trading at all times.”

Bowes continued, “As we take our business to the next level we have hit a bottle neck on what we could offer customers. With our new site we can offer customers free postage on orders over a certain value. We also have the flexibility to offer certain special offers.”

Tim Allitt, Head of Sales & Marketing, SecureTrading, said, “We’re delighted to be able to support the payments of an organisation like Nurses store.co.uk. It’s crucial that when a business re-launches its site, it remains confident that its customers payments will be processed quickly and without issue so they receive a great experience.”

Andrew Firth, Director, Ascensor, said, “This new site will allow Nurses store.co.uk to offer an even better service to its customers with greater flexibility and much improved site navigation.”

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

Banks, Business, Currency, Financial, Financial Information, Financial Management, Financial Services, Financial Software, Financial Solutions, Forex, Investment, Money, Profits, Trading

Markit BOAT to Provide First CFD Trade Reporting System to Saxo Bank

Markit, a leading, global financial information services company, has announced that Saxo Bank, the online trading and investment specialist, will begin to report its contract for difference (CFD) trades via Markit BOAT, the trade reporting platform, in September 2011.

Saxo Bank will become the first financial institution to report its CFD Single Stock trades on a voluntary basis, in a bid to bring greater transparency to this fast growing market.

Sophia Kandylaki, Director, Head of Markit BOAT at Markit, said: “We are excited that such a large player in the CFD market has decided to report its trades via Markit BOAT. We will be enhancing our platform to identify CFD trade reports with a unique trade flag. This will differentiate these trades from all other cash equity trades reported to our venue and support Saxo Bank’s efforts to make this market more transparent.”

Claus Nielsen, Head of Markets at Saxo Bank, said: “Saxo Bank has always been a leader and innovator when it comes to transparency and fairness in the trading arena. We are committed to set new standards and by taking an over the counter CFD product like CFDs, and publishing our execution to Markit BOAT, we will bring added value to our clients. This initiative makes the CFD product 100% comparable with the listed stocks traded at the exchange which will have a positive impact on the industry.”

CFDs are over the counter (OTC) contracts between two parties in which the buyers pay the sellers the difference between the current value of an asset and its value at contract time. CFD trades do fall within the scope of the European Union’s Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (Mifid) but trades are not required to be reported to the market.

Markit BOAT gives users access to trade reports on an average of EUR 375 billion of OTC trades in equities every day. This is equivalent to approximately 70% of the daily volumes reported on all European OTC equity markets.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

Assets, Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Investment, Money, Personal Finance, Profits, Retirement, Stocks, Trading, Venture Capital

Brainwashing Book Readers Prepared For Stock Market Correction — Again!

“The Brainwashing of The American Investor”, now in its second edition, provides you with a proven methodology for successful personal investment portfolio management. Step by step instructions for asset allocation, security selection universe creation, diversification, and profit taking are presented in an anecdotal manner, based on the Author’s hands-on professional experiences.

Author and former private investment manager Steve Selengut developed the Market Cycle Investment Management (MCIM) methodology in 1970, way ahead of the Wall Street product development curve that has now succeeded in bringing the most speculative and risky ventures on the planet into your investment portfolio.

MCIM is a disciplined, common sense, approach to investing without needless speculation. It is an approach that semi-automatically takes your profits out of bubbling markets, and for all the right reasons, re-enters weaker markets systematically in preparation for the inevitable “next” rally.

“The Brainwashing of the American Investor” teaches you about old-school investing without gimmicks, derivatives, incomprehensible “modern portfolio management” techniques, funds of funds, or astrological charts.

The Market Cycle Investment Management methodology helped navigate thousands of “Brainwashing” book readers around and through the three major financial crises (stock market meltdowns) of the author’s lifetime: the “Crash of 1987”, the “Dot-Com Bubble”, and the recent “financial crisis”.

The first time through “Brainwashing” you’ll learn about Wall Street, and why they would prefer that you didn’t read the book in the first place. Your eyes will be opened by the simplicity of the security selection process, the no frills approach to sensible asset allocation, and the ease with which you can increase your annual investment income in a reduced risk environment.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

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

Confused.com Reveals 56% of Drivers Forget Where They Park

Confused.com has revealed that 56% of UK drivers have at some point, forgotten where they have parked their car, and 3% have picked up the phone to ask their breakdown service to help them find it. More than 50 in 2,000 drivers in the UK admit to making that call according to a new survey by car insurance comparison site Confused.com.

The Confused.com survey has revealed some of the gaffes of UK drivers, which have led them to phone for their breakdown service, like 25% of drivers have locked their keys in the car and 10% of drivers have had to call for their breakdown service to help them sort the problem out. Putting the wrong fuel in the car has happened to more than 10% of Brits, with half of those affected (5%), also calling for assistance from a breakdown service to put things right. A small number of UK drivers also admit to calling the breakdown service, not just when their car fails but when they get lost (3.5%), lose their car (3.5%) or the sat nav is playing up (2%).

Needing help changing a wheel (21%) and topping up oil or engine coolant (13%) are other reasons why drivers have called out their breakdown service.

When it comes to forgetting where they’ve parked, women fare worse than men with 63% of women owning up to losing track of where they parked, compared to 43% of men. A whopping 78% of women have run out of petrol, with 69% of men admitting that gaffe. 9% of men and 5% of women have called their breakdown service to help them when their fuel ran dry. This is assuming they’ve managed to put the correct fuel in the car in the first place: more than 14% of men have put the wrong fuel into the car, compared to just 8% of women.

Gareth Kloet, head of car insurance at Confused.com said: “This survey just goes to show how much people use and appreciate their breakdown cover, especially when they get themselves in a potentially embarrassing situation. Shopping around for breakdown cover by using a website like Confused.com can make it more affordable. Although it’s no substitute for remembering where you parked.”

According to the survey of 2,000 drivers, which was carried out at the end of May 2011, almost a quarter of men and just under a quarter of women do not have any breakdown cover.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

Banks, Business, Currency, Financial, Financial Information, Financial Management, Financial Services, Financial Software, Financial Solutions, Forex, Investment, Money, Profits, Trading

Saxo Bank Launches Retail FX Trading Platform ForexTrading.com

Saxo Bank, the online trading and investment specialist, has announced the launch of ForexTrading.com which will offer retail investors a select range of FX crosses and CFDs with variable spreads – as low as 0.8 pips. ForexTrading.com provides investors with a range of basic functionalities designed to make trading flexible and straightforward.

ForexTrading.com is powered by Saxo Bank, which is renowned for aggregating liquidity from the world’s leading FX dealers. ForexTrading.com gives traders the ability to trade in the world’s most liquid currency pairs and global commodity CFDs at very competitive spreads.

Claus Nielsen, head of markets at Saxo Bank, said: “Saxo Bank will continue to cater for high-net-worth and institutional traders who increasingly demand usability, mobility, performance, and service when executing online trades and orders. At the same time, ForexTrading.com will appeal to Forex and CFD traders who are price sensitive and do not require a personal service, but still want the ability to utilise an award-winning online trading platform.

“We believe the retail foreign exchange market will maintain its growth trajectory for the next 10 to 15 years and we want to cater for high-net-worth investors as well as high-frequency traders to who tight spreads and deep liquidity are essential. There is no additional commission on ForexTrading.com and we see ForexTrading.com as bringing new competition to the smaller competitors, outside the tier-one banks, in the market focused on foreign exchange.”

The minimum initial deposit when opening an account with ForexTrading.com is $2,000 or equivalent and no interest will be paid on funds on deposit. ForexTrading.com will only offer English support and service and ForexTrading.com only supports retail trading accounts.

More information on Forextrading.com forex accounts can be found on the ForexTrading.com website.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

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

Prudential Research Finds Many 2011 Retirees Unable to Leave Inheritance

According to new research from Prudential, only half of those retiring this year will be able to afford to leave an inheritance. Just 52% of those questioned are confident they have enough income and assets to fund their retirement and still be able to leave money to relatives and dependents.

Prudential’s Class of 2011 research questioned people planning to retire this year and found that 26% have already ruled out being able to leave any inheritance while another 22% were unsure whether their personal savings would be sufficient to fund their retirement. The results also show that 9% of those planning to retire this year will cancel their inheritance planning in order to boost their own retirement income.

Gerry Brown, a tax and trusts expert from Prudential said: “Obviously the focus for retired people has to be on their own retirement income and so leaving a financial legacy can become a secondary consideration. Our research shows that inheritances are increasingly in the ‘nice to do’ rather than the ‘need to do’ box because of uncertainty around being able to afford a comfortable retirement.

“For those who do hope to leave a financial legacy there is a risk of assets that increase in value being left exposed to tax as the threshold for inheritance tax is frozen until 2015.

“It is therefore imperative for people looking to leave an inheritance and secure a comfortable retirement income to seek professional financial advice in the run up to retirement and to save as much as possible, as early as possible.”

Men are more confident of leaving a financial legacy – the research results show that 56% of male retirees plan to leave an inheritance compared with 48% of women.

The Class of 2011 research has previously found that this year’s average expected retirement income is£16,600 with just 39% confident they have saved enough for a comfortable retirement.

Across the UK those planning to retire in Scotland this year are the most positive about their ability to leave an inheritance – 67% of them believe they will be able to leave a financial legacy for their families, compared with only 43% of retirees in Wales.

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

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

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

Confused.com Reveals The Unluckiest Make Of Car

Confused.com has revealed the unluckiest make of car in the UK by looking at 12 months’ worth of customers quotes and finding out which make and model had the highest accident rates.

Top of the list was Honda’s FR-V six-seater. 2,529 owners of this vehicle made 466 accident claims in the past five years. That’s a claim rate of 18.4 per cent, or almost one in five.

Next came Volvo’s XC90. Of the 3,886 drivers of this model who bought cover through Confused.com, 619 made claims for accidents – a rate of 15.9 per cent.

The Lexus RX had a claim rate of 15.5 per cent (574 claims out of 3,701 drivers), followed by the Mazda 5 (15.3 per cent, or 373 out of 2,431).

Also in the top 10 vehicles for claims were Honda’s Jazz and CR-V models, Volkswagen’s Touran, the Hyundai Santa, the Toyota Rav and the Mazda 3. Each had a rate of about one accident claim for every seven vehicles insured through insurers on the Confused.com panel.

Confused.com also looked at which cars were least likely to be involved in accident claims.

Apparently the ‘safest’ of all was the Mazda 2 TS TD – out of a total of 1,076 owners, only nine accident claims were recorded in the last five years. That makes a claims rate of less than one in 100. Also hovering around the 1 per cent claims-rate mark were Nissan’s Skyline, the Ford Focus RS and the Fiat Cinquecento.

Confused.com’s head of car insurance, Gareth Kloet said: “Car accidents are rarely a result of mechanical failures: they are more often caused by human error or just bad fortune. It could be that drivers of this model happen to be more careless or reckless than other motorists. Or it could simply be that this group of road users has been particularly unlucky in the period when the data was collected.”

Confused.com’s statistics show just a snapshot of accident-related claims made by owners of a particular make and model of vehicle. So it is worth stressing that if one particular car appears to have a relatively high rate of claims, it does not follow that this vehicle is inherently more dangerous than others.

This research reflects only the experience of Confused.com customers: other companies’ figures could show different trends.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases

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

Confused.com Reveals The 10 Most Popular Car Games

Confused.com has revealed the 10 most popular games families play in cars on long journeys.

52% of UK car owners avoided the tailbacks on the Bank Holiday and stayed at home or used another method of transport, according to new research from car insurance comparison site Confused.com.

But for those who stuck with tradition, a car packed with kids, pets and picnics awaited. Gareth Kloet, head of car insurance at Confused.com said: “Keeping your kids entertained on long car journeys is always a challenge.Of course there are a lot of gadgets such as games consoles and DVD players that can help time pass more easily, but some families might prefer a more sociable solution.

“Car games that mum and dad can play with their kids have a long tradition in Britain – so we’ve tracked down 10 of the best to help you stave off boredom on those long trips.”

Classic games such as ‘I spy’ and ’20 questions’ made it on to the list, alongside more educational pursuits such as encouraging children to help with map reading and getting them to spot landmarks as they are approaching.

Many of the games which made the list focus on what things children can spot while they are travelling. These include the ‘yellow convertible mini’ game, where children have to spot a yellow car, a mini or a convertible, but get more points for spotting combinations of the three. There is also the ‘three for a pig’ game, where different amount of points are awarded for all the different animals that are spotted, and the alphabet game, where children aim to spot consecutive letters of the alphabet on road signs or registration plates. Children can also make a simple game out of counting cars, and trying to be the first to spot a certain number of a particular colour or make.

Other games to make the list were ‘I went to the shops’, where children try and list items while working through the alphabet, and ‘What can you do with?’ where players think of all the possible uses for household objects.

No doubt the most popular game amongst travelling adults is ‘sleeping lions’, where children have to try and keep quiet for as long as possible.

Via EPR Network
More Financial press releases