Category Archives: Personal Finance

Personal Finance

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

UK Workers In State Of Pension Inertia

New research f r o m Prudential shows that nearly a third (30%) of Britain’s 8.8 million active occupational pension scheme members pay no attention to how their retirement savings are invested and 29% – more than 2.5 million scheme members – have never reviewed how their chosen pension fund is performing.

The pension provider’s study also shows that 48% of workers aged 25+ have their money invested in the ‘default’ fund of their company pension scheme.

Pension savers are failing to take an active role in managing their assets to produce the best possible retirement income. Around 29% admit they have never reviewed the progress of their selected pension funds.

Prudential warns that workers who do not regularly review the progress of their pension fund to deliver asset growth, or simply select the default fund offered by their employer without studying any other options available to them or seeking advice, could then risk limiting the value of their pension pot at retirement.

Andy Brown, director of investment funds at Prudential, said: “It’s worrying that so many people who pay into a company pension scheme appear to be in this state of inertia and aren’t taking an active role in the management of their pension savings.

“You routinely check your savings, utilities, insurance cover, mobile phone contract and broadband arrangements to make sure you’re getting the best f r o m them, and checking the performance of your pension should be no different.”

Prudential urges workers who have not reviewed their pension investments, especially during the stock market turbulence of the past two years, to review them now as a priority to ensure they are correctly positioned to take advantage of any market upturn.

Many pension scheme members are doing virtually nothing to ensure their pension funds are invested in the best place to maximise growth and maintain the right balance to protect fund values in the last few years before retirement.

When it comes to paying more money into company pension schemes, Prudential’s research found that 37% of people with a defined contribution pension have either made Additional Voluntary Contributions to their pension fund or increased the amount they pay in.

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Banks, Bonds, Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Financial Statements, Investment, Money, Personal Finance

NS&I Finds The Luckiest Premium Bonds Regions

NS&I has released a list of the luckiest regions for winning Premium Bonds prizes showing that those firstly in the South West, and then in the East Midlands, win more Premium Bonds prizes of £1000 or more, than the rest of the UK. Ranking as third luckiest was Wales, while the North East of England emerged as the least lucky of all the regions.

Sally Swait, Premium Bonds manager at NS&I, commented: “Each month ERNIE randomly generates the winning Premium Bonds numbers from his home in Blackpool, where all eligible Bonds – regardless of their age – have an equal chance of winning.

“The last year has seen the South West region receive the greatest luck in having their numbers come up, though all other regions were not without their own significant wins. As the numbers are generated randomly each month, we may very well see a change in the rankings of the luckiest regions in the UK next year.”

NS&I also discovered that there are currently more than 599,000 unclaimed Premium Bonds prizes across the UK, worth over £35 million.

The good news is that there is no time limit for claiming prizes. Premium Bonds results can be found by using the Premium Bonds draw prize checker or writing in to NS&I.

Premium Bonds are an investment where, instead of interest payments, investors have the chance to win tax-free prizes. They were officially launched by Harold Macmillan, Chancellor of the Exchequer, in his 1956 budget.

At the end of June 2009, more than 23 million people had a total of over £40 billion invested in Premium Bonds. There are currently more than one million tax-free prizes from £25 to £1 million being won each month.

Calculations for the luckiest regions data is based on the total value of prizes (£1000 and more) won by counties with at least 100,000 Premium Bond holdings. Information is for the period July 2008 – June 2009.

The current Premium Bonds prize fund rate is 1.0% tax-free. The current odds of each £1 Bond number winning any prize are 36,000 to 1, so with average luck, an investor with £30,000 in Premium Bonds could win 10 tax-free prizes a year.

All Premium Bonds prizes are free of UK Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax!

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Banks, Checking & Savings, Credit Cards, Financial Services, Money, Personal Finance

M&S Money Has Announced That Its 10% Cashback Reward Offer To Customers Who Take Out A Personal Loan Is Being Extended Until 7th September 2009

The offer, which was originally due to end on 11th August, is now being made available to all customers who take out a personal loan for a repayment period of between 36 months up to seven years. This gives customers a refund of 10% of the interest they have paid once their final repayment has been made.

When the cashback reward is taken into account, the typical rate of 8.7% APR on a£10,000 loan over a 36 month period is equivalent to a rate 7.9% p.a.

Monthly repayment £319.48 total interest £1,501.28 total amount repayable£11,501.28. The cashback reward is not available on refinanced loans, loans repaid early or loans terminated by M&S Money.

The extended offer is also available with the M&S Car Buying Plan, which means that the cashback reward offer is likely to be of particular value customers who are considering buying a new vehicle at the start of September. The M&S Car Buying Plan also allows customers to defer a fixed percentage of their loan, as well as giving them several options at the end of the term. Customers can keep the car and carry on making monthly payments until the whole of the loan is repaid, keep the car and pay off the remainder of the loan with a lump sum or sell the car and use the money to pay off the remainder of the loan.

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Financial, Financial Information, Financial Management, Financial Services, Insurance, Investment, Money, Personal Finance

The Cost Of University For This Year’s Recent A-Level Graduates Could Be As High As £25 Billion – Almost £3 Billion More Than Last Year

The Children’s Mutual has reported the cost of university for this year’s recent A-level graduates could be as high as £25 billion – almost £3 billion more than last year. The Children’s Mutual warns that thousands of young adults celebrating their A-Level results and their parents may remain unaware of this rising cost.

The Cost Of University For This Year’s Recent A-Level Graduates Could Be As High As £25 Billion - Almost £3 Billion More Than Last Year

According to the leading Child Trust Fund provider, the average student needs to find about £42,000 to fund three years at university, but this doesn’t take into account the costs of any further training they might want to do after their degree. Currently 87% of young people in the UK are receiving financial help from their parents and help towards university costs is something many students expect and parents expect to give*. Increases in year-on-year university costs also mean this bill will rise in future years.

One way parents of future scholars can help mitigate the rising costs is by saving regularly from when their children are very small. The Child Trust Fund (CTF) was created by the Government to provide every eligible child with a nest egg when they turn 18, with parents, friends and family all encouraged to help save. Launched in 2002, more than 4.4 million children now have a CTF account. Topping up a child’s CTF on a monthly basis could result in a significant lump sum when the child turns 18, perfect for helping with university costs.

David White, Chief Executive of The Children’s Mutual, said: “University can be as much of a millstone as it is a milestone. While parents will be pleased about their children’s successes as they receive their A-level results and many look forward to university, the high costs involved can be a real financial strain to a huge number of students and their parents. For families planning to support their children through university, finding a lump sum to cover the costs can be very difficult. Often, parents are left with no other option but to dip into their savings or remortgage their house. This can have a serious impact on their own financial future.

“From 2020 all 18 year-olds will have access to their maturing Child Trust Funds as they enter adulthood and the money saved in these could make a real difference to both future university students and their parents.”

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Financial, Financial Services, Money, Personal Finance

Gold Recycling Service To Exchange Unwanted Jewellery For Cash

H.Samuel has announced the launch of its new Gold Recycling service. With over 140 years experience selling watches, jewellery and gifts, H.Samuel, is now offering consumers the opportunity to recycle their unwanted white, yellow and rose gold jewellery for cash through a reputable and secure retailer.

Gold Recycling Service To Exchange Unwanted Jewellery For Cash

The popular high street jeweller’s Gold Recycling scheme offers competitive rates for precious gold jewellery from 9 carat up to 22 carat, free postage and free valuations combined with the assurance of security. All jewellery sent to the Gold Recycling service is insured to the value of £500, unpacked in a secure area, valued by trained jewellers and there is no obligation on the customer to accept any offers made.

This means that consumers can send their necklaces, bracelets, chains, pendants, lockets, crosses, crucifixes, etc to H.Samuel, safe in the knowledge that they will be offered competitive prices and receive swift payment or their goods will be returned to them for free.

The service is simple and easy to use. Any customer looking to recycle their gold simply has to visit the website and then follow four easy steps.

Customers simply fill in their details and a Gold Recycling pack will be sent to them for free. Customers who don’t have an internet connection can call the Gold Recycling helpline on 0845 609 2000 to request a pack.

When a customer receives their Gold Recycling Pack, they just have to complete the enclosed form and place the gold into the protective packaging provided. The items are then posted using the prepaid special delivery envelope. Postage is free and the package is insured for up to £500.

H.Samuel will then contact the customer with a valuation by phone or email. The customer can then either accept or reject the offer. If the customer accepts the valuation, a cheque will be sent to them within a few days.

H.Samuel will buy gold in any condition, even if it is tangled, broken or has missing stones. This even applies to rings (not stone-set), earrings (singles or pairs), loose earring backs and body jewellery, cufflinks, tie pins etc, hallmarked and un-hallmarked gold, and gold which has been purchased abroad. There is no need for customers to clean or sort items before sending.

Gold Recycling at H.Samuel is perfect for consumers who want to exchange gold for cash with a trustworthy and secure service.

The new H Samuel Gold Recycling service is unfortunately unable to accept: gold plated jewellery, platinum, silver, stone set jewellery (eg. diamond rings), coins, bars, ingots, sovereigns and kruggerands, watches, new items or items that appear new (eg, price tagged) or dental gold.

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Banks, Financial, Financial Services, Home Equity, Interest Rate, Loans, Money, Mortgage, Personal Finance

Tracker Rate Mortgages Gain In Popularity

So far this year, fixed rate mortgages have been by far the most popular choice of deal as borrowers have sought the security of a fixed rate during the recession.

Gain

However, August has seen an increase in interest for tracker rates which are linked directly to the Bank of England Rate. Earlier this month, the Bank of England announced it was keeping rates on hold at an all-time low of 0.5%. It then published its Quarterly Inflation Report and predicted that rates would remain at their record low for some time to come.

Richard Morea, Technical Manager at L&C said, “With signs that interest rates could remain at 0.5% into 2010, many borrowers are deciding that they are willing to take the risk of having a variable mortgage rate, in order to benefit from low interest rates. Tracker mortgages are not for everyone though – if you’re on a tight budget and are worried about being able to afford a rise in mortgage payments, then a fixed rate mortgage is still a good bet.”

London & Country (L&C) is the UK’s leading no-fee mortgage broker. Based in Bath, it provides whole of market advice via telephone and post to clients nationwide. As well as residential mortgages, it also specialises in the Buy-to-Let and adverse-credit sectors.

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Banks, Financial, Financial Services, Home Equity, Interest Rate, Loans, Money, Mortgage, Personal Finance

With The Bank Of England Rate Remaining At An All-Time Low Of 0.5% In August, Now Could Be A Good Time For Many Borrowers To Consider An Offset Mortgage

An offset mortgage works by using savings you have to reduce the amount you owe on your mortgage and therefore the amount of mortgage interest you pay. For example, if you have an outstanding mortgage of £120,000 and savings of £20,000, you would only pay interest on a mortgage of £100,000. You don’t receive interest on your savings, but that also means that you don’t pay tax on that interest.

This tax benefit, added to the fact that mortgage rates are typically higher than savings rates, means that you could save thousands of pounds in interest with an offset mortgage. Taking a mortgage rate of 3.99%, a basic rate taxpayer would need to earn at least 4.99% from a savings account to get the equivalent benefit. A higher rate taxpayer would need to earn 6.65%.

You could also cut years off your mortgage term by using the saving to make regular overpayments.

Richard Morea, Technical Manager at L&C said, “If you are frustrated with the low interest rates you are earning on your savings in the current market, then an offset mortgage is worth considering. They are not suitable for everyone, but if you have a decent amount of savings, offsetting them against your mortgage could save you thousands of pounds in interest.”

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

The DebtBuster Corporation Recognized As Finalists In The Las Vegas Chamber Of Commerce Small Business Of The Year Competition

The DebtBuster Corporation (DebtBusters), the nations most trusted debt settlement firm, announced today that it has been recognized as one of three finalists in the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year competition. Small Business of the Year, awarded as part of the LVCC Annual Biz-E‘s honors a for-profit venture with 50 or fewer employees, demonstrates commitment to community stewardship and is active in the business community of Southern Nevada. The final event, and announcement of the winner will take place at The Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV the afternoon of September 17th, 2009.

The DebtBuster Corporation

David Fishman, the owner of The DebtBuster Corporation, gladly accepts the recognition as a finalist on behalf of his employees. “This is a great honor”, said Mr. Fishman who is also known as Dr. Debt, “we really couldn’t have done this without our great staff and our dedication to excellent customer service. Our goal is to assist everyone that needs help with credit card debt, regardless of whether or not they become our client”. Mr. Fishman went on to say that people who need debt relief, don’t generally ask for it until it’s too late. “Bankruptcy alternatives are available for most people”, said Mr. Fishman, “if you know where to look”.

About The DebtBuster Corporation
Formed in 1998 as subsidiary of the 20 year old commercial debt settlement firm, Arbitronix INC, The DebtBuster Corporation was created to assist consumers by negotiating their unsecured debt directly with creditors, often saving consumers thousands of dollars in the process. Accredited by the Better Business Bureau in 2002, DebtBusters is one of the few debt settlement firms in the country which has achieved an A+ BBB rating. Their dedication to customer service is unparalleled and their motto, “No Obligations. Only Answers.”, shows their willingness to help anyone who calls the Dr. Debt national helpline at 1-800-464-DEBT, regardless of whether or not the caller becomes a DebtBusters Client.

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NS&I Report Reveals Future Families Founded On Fortune

The new National Savings and Investments (NS&I) commissioned report, ‘Families, Finance and the Future’, suggests the existence of a new institution of British life – the ‘Financial Family’ – a collaborative unit of close friends and family marked by financial interdependence. It does not simply show a steady flow of cash down the generations, or the ‘sandwich generation’ arrangement observed in recent years, but also shows flows of money and advice, up and down the generations as well as between siblings.

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The costs of living and care for the elderly are recognised as rising, and the report suggests that the traditional family unit is shifting – yet family ties will be stronger than ever, and people will rely much more on financial networks. By 2029, there will be more cohabiting couples, and more single-person households than married couples living together** – so the Financial Family will be important even after the traditional family has declined.

According to the new survey research, the majority of people felt financially responsible for family members (54%), while 70% stated that current economic trouble meant families needed to support each other (70%).

Young people are more engaged with the Financial Family, with 50% of 16-24s identified as members of a Financial Family, compared to 30% of 25-34s and 20% of 35-44s. As this generation grows up, the Financial Family will become more and more widespread.

Technology will also mean that people are better equipped to share financial advice – but will also make it more important they do so. As the amount of information that tries to reach consumers increases, people will rely on the insights of their financial network to process this mass of information. This network is likely to revolve around the family as most people feel comfortable discussing financial matters (55%) with close friends and family, or sharing financial tips and advice (60%).

Barry Clark, Associate Director at the Future Foundation said: “We feel we’ve revealed a new way for people to look at British family life – and one that will become increasingly common. When we look at several demographic trends, like the rise of single-person households, the advance of technology and young people’s involvement in financial matters, we can expect the Financial Family to be a very important feature in the future. The Financial Family is here to stay.”

Tim Mack, Savings Spokesman at NS&I, said: “We started from an intuitive feeling that discussing money isn’t taboo any more, but the results far exceeded our expectations. The research shows that the discussion of finances, and our relationship with money, extends beyond the traditional family.”

About NS&I
NS&I is one of the largest UK investments and savings organisations, offering a range of savings accounts and investments products, including fixed rate savings bonds, fixed term investments, Premium Bonds, savings certificates, and ISAs to almost 27 million customers. Established in 1861.

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According To A New Research Dads Worth An Additional £17,000 To Families

According to new research by the leading Child Trust Fund (CTF) provider, The Children’s Mutual, today’s dads undertake a wide variety of tasks in and around the home, such as cooking, assembling toys, acting as the children’s taxi service, doing the school run, organising family finances and doing DIY. This unpaid work is worth up to £17,000 a year, and is on top of the contribution to family life that a working dad’s salary provides.

It is the children that really benefit from dad’s helping hand, as their number one activity during the week is spending time with their children (4hrs6mins). This is followed by cooking (3hrs19mins), DIY (3hrs11mins) and arranging family finances (3hrs9mins).

David White, Chief Executive of The Children’s Mutual, said: “Dads play such an important role within the home and in the lives of their children – our calculations show the additional monetary value that dads now have around the home, quite apart from the emotional value that they have, supporting their partner and children. It’s great that looking after their children is so high on dad’s agendas, but it’s also really encouraging to see just how high up arranging the family finances are.

“Even in the current climate, dads are still looking to the future with 23% of working dads saying that saving for their children’s futures is a top priority. Currently 57% are working on this by trying to save what they can regularly. Contributing towards a CTF is one of the ways dads can save for their children’s futures. By saving regularly, and over the long-term, dads can help to give their children a financial springboard into adulthood that could be worth up to £37,100 when they reach age 18. This could be a massive help towards the cost of university or a deposit for their first home”.

Child Trust Funds are designed to provide a tax efficient, long term savings vehicle for all eligible young children. Each eligible newborn child (born on or after 1 September 2002) receives £250 (£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. The Government’s preferred option is a Stakeholder Child Trust Fund account which is subject to strict guidelines governing investment type and charges. The Child Trust Fund provider manages the account until it matures and becomes available to the child when they are 18.

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Students Are Struggling To Fly The Nest, Reveals Lloyds TSB Student Banking

A survey by Lloyds TSB Student Banking has shown that almost half (47%) of young people starting university degrees this autumn believe they will be the most financially disadvantaged students for many generations.

Students Are Struggling To Fly The Nest

The survey of more than 1000 17-25 year olds who plan to go to university this year showed that those going into higher education have a bleak outlook on the financial costs of the course. Almost one third (31%) of those questioned said they thought that the costs of going to university would soon outweigh the benefits of a degree.

The same percentage – up from 27% in 2008 – is looking to stay at home to save money, meaning they will miss out on their first taste of independent living. The Lloyds TSB Student Banking research also revealed that almost a quarter (24%) of students believes that getting into debt while they study debt is inevitable because of the state of the economy. To compound their fears, one in five (20%) believes that it will be difficult to find a job after graduation.

Catherine McGrath, director of current accounts at Lloyds TSB, said: “It’s no surprise that in the current economic climate young people are thinking about how their university career will affect them financially and are considering the ways to make their money work harder.

“It’s important that students-to-be concentrate on their studies and don’t spend unnecessary time worrying about the future. Therefore picking the right bank accounts, using sound money management techniques and considering part-time work are all important steps that will help students manage their finances during their degree course.”

Although the majority students-to-be said that they relished the opportunity to manage their own money, more than a quarter (28%) of potential freshers admitted to being worried about managing their own finances, with 25% saying that they hadn’t received any financial guidance in advance of starting their course.

Independent financial expert, Alvin Hall, commented: “The current economic climate is very daunting for young people, many of whom may be wondering whether spending money on their education really is the best bet.

“Young people need to remember that a degree is an investment in themselves and that sometimes it takes a while for that investment to pay off. In the meantime, they need to do everything in their power to make every penny count and ensure that, when they are standing on their own two feet as graduates, they can look back on their studying and spending without regrets.”

About Lloyds TSB:
Lloyds TSB offers customers a wide range of current accounts, savings accounts, insurance, student accounts and credit cards, investment and cash ISA accounts designed to meet different customers’ needs.

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Equity Mix Remains Top Choice For Pension Investments

Prudential has reported that more than one in three people retiring within the next 10 years say they would prefer their pension to be invested partly in the stock market and the remainder in other types of investments, according to new research*.

Equity Mix

The nationwide study shows that consumer confidence in the stock market continues despite recent market and economic upheavals.

Prudential asked 1002 men aged 55 to 64 and women aged 50 to 59 who have a pension how they would want their pension fund invested if they could choose:

– 35% said partly in the stock market and the remainder in other investments (40% men, 29% women)
– 29% said only in cash or very low-risk investments (29% men, 30% women)
– 22% said they did not know (18% men, 28% women)

Since the FTSE 100 index of leading shares hit a five-year low of 3530 in the week of 2nd March this year, it has climbed back up. Currently the FTSE is at 4615 w/c 27 July 2009, compared to 4413 w/c 26 July 2008 so is 202 points higher than this time five years ago.**

Andy Brown, Prudential’s director of investment funds, said: “Despite immense volatility in the stock market over the past year or so, there is still evidence of consumer confidence in equities to deliver a promising return for pension investments over the long-term.

“What is certain as well is that many people have been spooked by the recent economic maelstrom and, unsurprisingly, would prefer their pension to be in cash or lower risk investments as they near retirement.

“We’ve seen a marked increase in the numbers of people looking for a home for their money which they can trust, knowing that it has a solid capital base and a long-standing history which will stand it in good stead for the future.

“I think investors can feel confident in stock market opportunities if they are given a decent choice in how they access real assets such as the equity market. Investors can really capitalise on the markets if they can access funds across a number of asset classes and sectors from a range of different investment managers allowing diversification across assets and manager styles.”

* Survey conducted by Research Plus among 1,002 UK males aged 55-64 and UK females aged 50-59 between 23 and 30 April 2009 using an online methodology
** Source: Yahoo finance FTSE 100 charts – correct as at date of issue: 27th July 2009

About Prudential:
“Prudential” is a trading name of The Prudential Assurance Company Limited, which is registered in England and Wales. This name is also used by other companies within the Prudential Group, which between them provide a range of financial products including life assurance, savings and investment products, such as a bond investment and pensions, including advice on company pensions.

Registered Office at Laurence Pountney Hill, London EC4R 0HH. Registered number 15454. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

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Banks, Bonds, Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Financial Statements, Investment, Money, Personal Finance

National Savings And Investments, The Government-Backed Savings And Investments Provider, Today Announced Its Annual Results For The Year To 31 March 2009 And For The First Quarter Of 2009-10

Highlights for the financial year for year ending 31 March 2009 included net financing of £12.5 billion – against a revised November 2008 forecast of £11 billion (within a range of £2 billion either side) – due to unsolicited savings deposits following the ‘flight to safety’ which began in mid-September last year and making sales of £8.5 billion through premium bonds – an increase of almost £2 billion from the previous year.

The ‘flight to safety’ is now over and NS&I is operating in a more challenging savings environment; however, the focus remains on balancing the interests of savers, the taxpayer and supporting stability in the wider financial services marketplace by maintaining an appropriate competitive position

Jane Platt, NS&I’s chief executive, said: “The global financial crisis, which began last September, meant that demand for our products increased dramatically despite us cancelling all discretionary marketing and led to us delivering £12.5 billion of net financing last year. I’m proud of the way the teams at our operations centres responded to this challenge and helped to ensure we remained open for business and maintained our high customer service standards, in spite of the unsolicited inflows of money.

“As the Bank of England base rate continued to fall rapidly and financial markets remained unusually volatile, we agreed with HM Treasury that NS&I’s Value Add target for 2008-09 would be temporarily suspended and no target set for the coming year. Our decision-making is now driven by the need to maintain a balance between offering a fair rate to our customers, delivering cost-effective finance to Government, and the need to support stability across the wider financial services marketplace by maintaining an appropriate competitive position.”

NS&I’s Annual Report and Accounts 2008-09 were presented to the House of Commons on 15 July 2009, pursuant to section 7 of the Government Resources and Accounts Act 2000.

About NS&I
NS&I is one of the UK’s largest financial providers with almost 27 million customers and over £94 billion invested. It is best known for premium bonds, but also offers inflation-beating savings accounts, guaranteed equity bonds and guaranteed growth bonds in its range. All products offer 100% security, because NS&I is backed by HM Treasury.

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401K, Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Services, Investment, IRA, Loans, Money, Personal Finance, Retirement

Sunwest Trust Is Now Offering Their Latest Product – The Individual 401k, Aka I401k

Sunwest Trust, Inc. announces the launch of the Individual 401k or i401k. “The i401k gives self-employed business owners the same tax benefits that large corporations have enjoyed for years,” says Terry White, CEO of Sunwest Trust, Inc. as well as White adds, “a number of additional benefits not offered by the traditional self directed IRA.”

Individual 401k

With an i401k, business owners may be eligible to contribute far greater amounts to their 401ks than they could with any other type of retirement plan. In addition, the i401k is much simpler to administer than a typical 401k plan.

Another advantage to the i401k is the Roth contributions that you are eligible to make. You can designate some or all of your deferrals as Roth contributions. Roth contributions are after-tax dollars, so those contributions will grow tax-free.

Unlike self directed IRA, you may take loans from your i401k.

Also, the i401k has lower administrative costs than most retirement options for a small business owner. Unlike a self directed IRA, with the i401k you do not need to have a self directed IRA custodian for your i401k. You may act as trustee for your own plan.

White does note, “that the i401k is not for every small business owner and that there are restrictions and guidelines someone must follow in order to be eligible.” White recommends, those who seek to invest using the i401k, “consult a tax professional to make sure that they are making their contributions correctly and to help them fill out the form 5500-EZ when their i401k accumulates over $250,000.00.”

To be eligible to have an i401k, you must be a self-employed business owner with no full-time employees other than your spouse. Whites also states, “investors need to make sure to check with their tax professional to find out the limitations and amounts that can be borrowed from the i401k plan.”

White adds, “The timing of the i401k could not be better for business owners as well as the company. Despite the tough economy, Sunwest Trust continues to grow. By adding new products and providing the same great customer service their clients have come to expect, Sunwest Trust is well on their way to another record setting year. The company has already seen 16 percent growth from this time last year and there are no signs of slowing down anytime in the near future.”

One explanation for the sudden growth over the last two years has been the volatility of the stock market. When the stock market hits uncertain times, many investors would rather not gamble their future on Wall Street and investors look for more stable investment opportunities. Self-directed IRAs and 401ks allow savvy investors the opportunity to find the investment that best fits their investment needs, risk tolerance and retirement goals, whatever it may be.

White adds, “not all investments are ideal and whenever you make an investment there is always inherent risk involved. Each investor should acquire competent legal counsel and commit to completing the proper due diligence prior to shifting their retirement dollars into an alternative investment.” He adds, “just as it is not your local bank’s responsibility to validate the veracity of an investment, neither is it the IRA custodian’s job to validate the authenticity of the investments you make with your IRA/401k dollars. The last thing you want to do is gamble away your hard earned retirement savings blindly without verifying the genuineness of the investments your are making.”

About Sunwest Trust, Inc.

Sunwest Trust is an independently owned private company that offers self directed IRA custodian, escrow and now Individual 401k services. The company offers a huge range of financial services providing post retirement benefits, private mortgages, real estate contacts and other related fields for its clients. FDIC insured banks back the self directed IRA funds of their clients. For more information on the activities of the company, please visit http://www.SunwestTrust.com.

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Britain’s Disposable Expenditure On The Up For First Time Since Credit Crunch

Spending on non essential products and services is on the increase after a hesitant start to consumer spending in 2009. Research conducted by Kublax, an online money management service, reveals that discretionary spending is on the up.

Kublax - money mangement platform

Products and services, such as shoes and gifts, are usually the first areas of spending to be cut down on in hard economic times. The fact that a lot of these spending areas are showing signs of recovery is good news for the economy, as it indicates that consumers are regaining confidence. This circulates money through the economy, creating a multiplier effect, rather than leaving it stagnant in savings accounts.

Kublax took a sample of 1000 adult users and studied their specific spending habits through their finance software, from everyday living to luxury purposes. The report found a massive increase in spending in the second quarter when compared to the first quarter of 2009.

The ‘Kublax Spending Index’ revealed holiday expenditure increased by a staggering 117% in the second quarter, rising from an average spend of £511 in the first quarter to an average spend of £1107.

Other spending categories with notable increase in the second quarter include:

• 62% increase on spending on children
• 28% increase on gifts and flowers
• 12% increase on clothing

These statistics indicate a more positive economic outlook for the summer period. Tom Symonds, CEO of Kublax comments, “The correlation between the arrival of summer and an increase in monthly outgoings may also be due to a seasonal change in attitude; as the weather brightens, so too does the mood of the British public as they unwind and treat themselves more.”

The results of the ‘Kublax Spending Index’ also correlated with other industry surveys of the same period, which found decreases in spending on eating out. Kublax found 42% decrease on coffees/sandwiches/snacks, and an 11% decrease in restaurants/dining spending.

Although launched in May 2009, the site has been in beta testing phase from September 2008 and collected the data from January 2009 to June 2009.

Kublax is a money management platform through which users are able to simplify their finances. The finance software works by pulling together all building society, bank and credit card accounts into one easy access location. Once all information has been compiled, users are able to budget and manage their finances more effectively than by viewing different statements from multiple banks. Kublax automatically categorizes spending and produces diagrams and charts illustrating how you are spending your money. Comparisons to user averages as well as an effective alert and reminder systems provides a sense of financial benchmarking and real time money management that is innovate, extremely useful, and is likely to save people money and reduce stress.

With set up taking a matter of minutes, Kublax is perfectly placed to help the online generation, who hold on average two current accounts and two credit cards, deal with their ever more complex finances.

To find out more about Kublax’s online finance software, or to read more about spending habits in the UK, visit http://www.kublax.com.

Via EPR Network
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Molly Is The New Face Of M&S Pet Insurance

A beagle from South Wales is to become the new face of M&S Pet Insurance after winning a national competition to find a cat or dog with true star quality to feature in a future marketing campaign.

To enter the competition, which ran from April until the start of June, M&S pet insurance customers were asked to simply submit a photo and a few words about why their cat or dog is a star. Following the huge response to the competition and after some close deliberation by the judges, five-month-old Molly, who lives with The Mainwaring family in Blackwood, Gwent, was named the M&S Pet Star contest top-dog.

This means that Molly will now have a professional photo shoot and be featured in promotional material for a forthcoming M&S Pet Insurance campaign. The Mainwaring family will receive £100 worth of M&S vouchers. Sian Mainwaring said: “Molly is very mischievous and certainly has a mind of her own but we forgive her anything – most of the time. She means so much to us and it is wonderful that she will now be the face of M&S Pet Insurance.”

Amanda Newman, M&S Head of Marketing, said: “The huge response to the competition illustrates the fact that we are a nation of cat and dog lovers. It was wonderful to spend time looking through all the photos and reading why the cats and dogs mean so much to their owners.”

About M&S Money
M&S Money (the trading name of Marks & Spencer Financial Services) was founded in 1985 as the financial services division of Marks and Spencer Group plc. The company is now a top ten credit card provider and the second largest travel money retailer in the UK. M&S Money also offers a range of insurance cover, including travel insurance, home insurance, car insurance, loans, savings and investment products.

In November 2004, Marks & Spencer sold M&S Money to HSBC. The Group serves customers worldwide from around 9,500 offices in 86 countries and territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa. With assets of US$2,527 billion at 31 December 2008, HSBC is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organisations. HSBC is marketed worldwide as ‘the world’s local bank’.

M&S Money has an executive committee comprising an equal number of representatives from HSBC and Marks & Spencer.

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Barclaycard Launches Waterslide iPhone Game

Barclaycard has launched a free iPhone game to coincide with its acclaimed Waterslide advertising campaign. The game, called Waterslide Extreme, is a first for the financial services industry and reinforces Barclaycard’s commitment to embracing new ways of connecting with current and potential customers.

The Waterslide Extreme game, developed by fishlabs and Dare for Barclaycard, has nine levels with the objective to steer a character down an increasingly difficult waterslide in the quickest time whilst collecting points and avoiding objects along the way. Visitors to an Apple Store or ITunes can download the application for free from mid July.

Paul Troy, Head of Advertising and Sponsorship at Barclaycard, said: “The launch of the iPhone ‘Waterslide Extreme’ game is a first in financial services. The Waterslide ad has engaged millions online and this game gives consumers the opportunity to go on the Waterslide themselves.”

CEO & Co-Founder Michael Schade, from fishlabs said: “We expect the game to be a great success from the feedback we received from the customer testing. It is great to work with a client such as Barclaycard that wants to do something different and fun and we are delighted with what we have produced.”

The concept for the mobile game is taken from Barclaycard’s latest advertising campaign that demonstrates the ease of contactless payment.

Barclaycard continue their innovation drive by being one of the first brands to use Sky’s new green button technology, providing consumers with behind the scenes footage of how the TV ad was made. An animated introductory spot to the 40″ Waterslide advert has also been created in partnership with Sky to invite viewers to engage via their green button.

About Barclaycard
Barclaycard, part of Barclays Global and Retail Commercial Banking division, is a leading global payment business which helps consumers, retailers and businesses to make and accept payments flexibly, and to access short-term credit when needed.

The company is one of the pioneers of new forms of credit card payments and is at the forefront of developing viable contactless and mobile payment schemes for today and cutting edge forms of payment for the future. It also issues credit and charge cards to corporate customers and the UK Government. Barclaycard partners with a wide range of organisations across the globe to offer their customers or members payment options and credit.

In addition to the UK, Barclaycard operates in the United States, Europe, Africa and the Middle and Far East.

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The Children’s Mutual Reveals Child Trust Funds Top 4.4 Million

The Children’s Mutual has highlighted that the latest figures issued by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) show the continuing revolution in children’s savings and demonstrates parents’ commitment to their children’s futures in the current environment. The quarterly Child Trust Fund (CTF) statistics released by HMRC have revealed that 4.4 million children under seven in the UK now have a Child Trust Fund.

David White, Chief Executive of the Child Trust Fund provider, The Children’s Mutual said: “These latest figures show that the Child Trust Fund generation is growing steadily and, unlike any generation before them, in 11 years’ time the first CTF recipients will reach adulthood with greater financial knowledge and an important financial headstart. The average amount saved each month by our CTF customers is £24. Over 18 years, these savings could produce a fund of around £9,750*, a significant financial help for young adults who may want to attend university or put down a deposit on their first home.

Recent research by The Children’s Mutual found that despite the recession parents still feel that saving for their children and giving them the best future they can is very important. In the last year The Children’s Mutual has seen a considerable rise in the number of CTFs being opened and a 16% increase on 2007, with record months for the number of parents with newborns opening CTF’s online in May and June.

David continued, “It is now more important than ever during these challenging economic times, that parents take the time to choose where to open a CTF and start saving towards their child’s future. And now that parents no longer have to hand over a CTF voucher when opening a CTF, it’s even easier and faster for them to set up their child’s account.”

Had a product similar to the CTF existed 18 years ago and family and friends saved£100 a month in a shares-based plan for a child over that time, that youngster could now have the benefit of a fund worth £37,400**.”

* Projected values quoted based on investing £24 a month (plus £250 government vouchers at birth and age 7) for 18 years in a stakeholder CTF account. 7% per annum assumed investment return, with charges of 1.5% of the CTF account value each year. Projected values cannot be guaranteed as shares can go up or down. Final payout could be more or less than this.

** The assumed maturity figure is based on a hypothetical calculation, tracking the real performance of shares over 18 years, from 1991 to 2009. They include £250 invested at the child’s birth and at age seven and 1.5% charges, as with the Stakeholder CTF today. This assumes investment in the FTSE All-Share index over that period including reinvestment of the dividend yield. The figures also include lifestyling. Amount Received as at end May 2009

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

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

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