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Financial Information

Business, Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Insurance, Insurance Services, Money

Health Insurance Is Cheaper Than You Might Think

In recent weeks it has been reported the National Health Service (NHS) will face a shortfall of funds as the previous big spending boom comes to an end in 2011. At the annual NHS confederation conference in Liverpool, the report ‘Dealing with the downturn: the NHS’s greatest ever leadership challenge’ stated if extra money wasn’t found for the NHS in 2011/2012, it was in danger of no longer being free at the point of service. This is the worst case scenario, but even if it doesn’t come to pass, Brits could face longer waiting lists and an overall poorer experience – alarming news for the many people who don’t have private health insurance.

insurancewide

There is the general view that private health insurance is an expensive and unneccessary cost to add to your monthly outgoings – however Insurancewide – a specialist UK insurance comparison website is urging people to take a fresh look, as it might not be as expensive as they think.

Cheap Health Insurance – Benefits and Comparisons

As with most types of insurance, health insurance can be as cheap as you like, or you could go for a more expensive option – when purchasing health insurance it’s definitely worth investing a little time and effort into making the right decision. There are usually three levels of cover on offer – budget, standard and comprehensive.

Budget health insurance covers treatment but usually sets the payouts at a certain level and limits the range of hospitals the patient is able to visit. Standard plans can cover some outpatient treatment and in some instances limited complementary therapies, and premium health insurance will cover elements such as home nursing, ambulance services, all complementary therapies and treatments with no limit on cost. If you fall ill, and you have even the most basic and cheap health insurance, you can rest-assured that you will be able to bypass NHS waiting lists, choose a private room for treatment and have most, if not all, your medical bills covered – depending on the length of your illness.

So, whilst you can buy expensive health insurance if you can afford it, basic plans can still give you the peace of mind of knowing you are covered should you fall ill and need treatment immediately – and with the latest doom and gloom predictions regarding the NHS such peace of mind is very valuable. Insurance comparison sites are a quick and effective way of comparing multiple health insurance quotes from various different providers, allowing you to make a decision based on your needs.

About Insurancewide

Insurancewide, also known as Insurancewide.com Services Limited, is an online insurance comparison website offering insurance comparison tools that allow users to search the market and procure the best insurance policies and quotes. Insurancewide was launched in August 1999 as the first insurance comparison website on the internet. The site also powered tools used on popular website Confused.com.

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Costs, Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Insurance, Insurance Services, Money

Carefully Reviewing Your Current Homeowners Insurance Policy Can Expose Potentially Expensive Gaps In Your Coverage

Carefully reviewing your current policy can expose potentially expensive gaps in your coverage.

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Making sure you are properly covered is the single most important aspect of an insurance policy, yet it’s one of the most common mistakes consumers make when seeking out homeowners insurance quotes.

If your residence is one of the most important assets you own, you should make sure it is properly covered by reviewing your policy with your local agent. InsuranceAgents.com recently published an article detailing the risks many homeowners fail to cover because of gaps in their homeowners insurance coverage.

According to the article, “many times these gaps aren’t realized until the homeowner tries to file a claim and realizes their policy doesn’t provide proper coverage …” It’s important that you review your policy to see if it covers antiques, jewelry, electronics, floods, personal liability, and many other critical coverages that most homeowners insurance companies offer.

The article goes onto explain that a personal injury coverage should be included in your policy. This additional coverage pays for things such as bodily harm, personal injury, libel/slander, or defamation of character to you, your family, or your guests while they are on the property. Typically this additional coverage is not expensive and can provide a significant amount of coverage for you.

You may want to consider other additional coverages like sewage backup coverage or flood insurance. The main point the article stresses is that there are a lot of available coverages available under your homeowners insurance policy that you should consider and it’s in your best interests to find out where the gaps are in your current or new policy.

It’s your responsibility to understand your rights and protect yourself and you don’t want to be left with potentially thousands of dollars in rejected claims because you lacked proper coverage. Check out InsuranceAgents.com for more helpful article like this one about how to use homeowners insurance to protect your home and other helpful tools to help you find a lower rate.

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Costs, Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Insurance, Insurance Services, Money

Term Life Insurance Presents Options for Family, Individual

Today’s economy has many people wondering about the future of their loved ones. Rightfully so; if they were to pass, not only would their family members have to deal with the emotional turmoil of their deaths, but they would also have to contend to funeral costs, financial debts, mortgage payments, and their own financial priorities.

Now there is even more reason to worry about their families; the recession continues to churn, and no one really knows if the worst has past or just begun. Unemployment has risen beyond 8.5 percent with no signs of decreasing in the near future. Many households are finding their incomes dwindle amidst rising costs. Compared to past years, more people are struggling to make ends meet. If the prime income holder was to pass away suddenly, and he or she had no life insurance, their loved ones could be financially devastated in the aftermath.

InsuranceAgents.com points out that now more than ever people should consider the benefits of life insurance. Term life insurance is a life insurance policy that insures almost anyone for a certain amount of time of your life. It is the less expensive option compared to other life insurance types, making it extremely easy to afford for anyone. There are some drawbacks to term life insurance, but its benefits at this time period outweigh the negatives.

InsuranceAgents.com suggests that anyone looking for life insurance quotes should search online. The sooner they get the best coverage and rate, the better off their families will be financially.

For more information, visit InsuranceAgents.com.

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

Prudential Reveals That Advisers Pin RDR Hopes Online

Prudential has released research demonstrating the need for providers to constantly adapt their services to help advisers in both the online and offline environment, with more than half of the advisers surveyed (58%) ranking better quality or more online information and service options as the most important element of the product provider/distributor relationship surrounding preparations for Retail Distribution Review (RDR).

While improving online servicing is seen as a must do by advisers, they also believe that solid account management relationships must go hand-in-hand with technology. This sentiment was highlighted by 40% of advisers citing more or better dialogue with an account manager as the next most important service element surrounding their preparations for RDR. With a combination of expert face-to-face and telephone account management teams readily available to guide advisers through obtaining and completing sales, this is a service Prudential is already supports.

Ian McKenna, Director of the Finance and Technology Research Centre (FTRC) said: “RDR will make it essential for advisers to focus on the cost of doing business in ways they have never needed to previously. It is not giving the advice that takes excessive time but the preparation. Collating information manually is hugely time consuming, electronic services can deliver in seconds what might otherwise take hours. Historically the cost of those hours has been subsidised by commission, when it is the client potentially paying for the time racking up hours in this way will no longer be acceptable. Automated delivery of information to advisers will be a hygiene factor in a Post RDR environment.”

57% of advisers claimed that their volume of client enquiries regarding retirement planning remains unchanged. This is encouraging news in the current economic climate, proving that it is vital for providers to arm advisers with all the necessary tools to deal with their continuous day-to-day business.

Jon Cross, Head of eBusiness at Prudential said: “Our research shows that advisers are becoming increasingly dependent on online services to help guide them through the changes that RDR will bring. Prudential works very closely with advisers to develop its online services, we constantly review our content and navigational functionality, and will of course continue to evolve our systems to help advisers as they change their business models ready for RDR. We are committed to providing a high level of service to advisers to ensure that they spend as little time on administration as possible. Taking their business online frees up time that would have traditionally been spent processing paperwork.”

The benefits of online servicing are clear for advisers, allowing easy access to brochures, illustrations and valuations outside normal office hours. Prudential’s adviser website houses a wealth of useful material including product guides, support literature, real-time valuations and market analysis from industry experts. Advisers can also find a variety of interactive tools covering pension planning, drawing an income and annuitisation. The ‘Support for you’ section provides advisers with updates and news regarding regulatory issues such as TCF and RDR. Also under this section advisers can hear what Prudential experts have to say as they explore various opportunities and considerations advisers face in helping their clients save for and provide an income in their retirement.

Prudential surveyed 123 independent financial advisers during April 2008.

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, annuity products – including retirement annuity, pensions, savings and investment products. Registered Office at Laurence Pountney Hill, London EC4R 0HH. Registered number 15454. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

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The More Ways You Protect Your Home, The More Willing Insurance Companies Are To Offer Discounts

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Did you know that summer is the most popular time of the year for home burglaries in the US? During the summer months there is a burglary every 10 seconds since so many people are on vacation, away from their homes, and the weather is nice.

An alarm system is one of the best ways of making sure your home is properly protected. However, many people don’t realize that having a home alarm system means homeowners insurance savings.

According to a recent article published by InsuranceAgents.com, “For an insurance company, low risk is the name of the game. They like policyholders who have considered home safety and security and have taken necessary steps to thwart intruders …” This means investing in an alarm system and taking other precautions like installing dead-bolt locks and shatterproof windows can save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, in insurance premiums each year.

To many people the idea of installing an alarm system can sound too expensive, but when compared against the 5-20% savings per year on homeowners insurance quotes, the costs suddenly seem much more affordable. Even a simple alarm system can still save you 5% a year or more with most homeowners insurance companies. Also, adding a deadbolt to all entry doors in your home can qualify you for a discount of 5% at many companies.

The InsuranceAgents.com article explains that the more you can show the homeowners insurance company that you are protecting your house against break-ins the more they are willing to discount your policy. With the economy still struggling and people looking to save every penny they can, this is the perfect time to review your homeowners insurance policy and find out how you can start to save more money by taking advantage of available discounts.

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Business, Checking & Savings, Credit Cards, Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Interest Rate, Loans, Money

Rate Tarts Are In A Jam As 2 Million Balance Transfer Applications Are Rejected

The latest credit card market analysis from uSwitch.com, the independent price comparison and switching service, reveals that almost 2 million consumers have been rejected for balance transfer deals in the last year. This represents 57% of all credit card rejections, forcing these consumers to fork out £535 million in interest payments in the next 12 months as they are unable to switch to a new provider. In total, £3.5 billion of credit card debt is now stuck on interest bearing credit cards as consumers cannot switch to their next 0% deal.

Across all types of credit card, more than one in ten consumers, totalling 3.32 million, has had an application declined in the past twelve months. This is a clear sign that providers are still acting on the air of caution and only lending to those with a squeaky clean credit record. This is a huge problem in the credit card market, particularly for rate tarts. In 2008, consumers carried out an average of 650,000 balance transfers every month. For many people, the 0% party really is over as they have reached a dead end.

Alongside a drop in acceptance levels, the number of balance transfer deals available is also a problem for consumers. There are now 178 balance transfer credit cards, representing 74% of all credit cards compared to 204 this time last year. The biggest casualty of this has been the 10 month deals which have fallen by 83% to just 1 deal.

With just one provider, Virgin, offering a 16 month 0% balance transfer deal, consumers are pushed towards the more popular six month balance transfer deals which represent a third of the market (33%). However, with the average balance transfer fee currently at 2.9% consumers will have to pay £54.09 on the average balance of £1,846. Unless consumers are planning to pay the credit card balance during the six month offer period, this could be a costly way to move money around.

Louise Bond, personal finance expert at uSwitch, comments: “We can’t ignore the fact that the country is in economic turmoil – a situation which has been catalysed by bad consumer credit. The knock on effect for credit card customers is that those with a less than perfect credit history could find themselves being turned down for the next best 0% deal, forcing them to pay interest. This is a huge problem for switchers as these people have accumulated debt based on the fact they do not have to pay interest on it.

“The knock on effect of rejected credit applications is that it will appear on your credit report and, in the long term, have a negative impact on your score. With this in mind, it’s important to check your report before applying for products to make sure you stand a good chance of being accepted – constantly reapplying to different suppliers will make the situation worse. If you can’t get another credit card, think about using a 0% overdraft, an unsecured personal loan or, if there are no other options and debt is getting out of control, speak to your provider or seek professional advice.”

Bond’s credit card tips:

• Check your credit report before making any applications for credit.

• If you are rejected for your next credit card, do not any further applications until you have checked your credit record. Failed applications for credit will have a negative impact on your credit score.

• You must also close down any credit card accounts you are not using. The available balance on these accounts will be taken into consideration when you are applying for a new card.

• Missed credit card payments also impact your credit score, the best way to avoid this is to set up a monthly direct debit for the minimum payment.

• If you are not planning to pay the balance off in full during the 0% balance transfer period you should consider life of balance cards. This will provide one low rate of interest for the entire time the balance is on the card.

• Depending on which issuer your balance transfer card is managed by, you may not be allowed to switch your balance to another card within the same group. By using uSwitch.com’s balance transfer tool, you will only be allowed to apply for cards that are available at you.

About uSwitch:
uSwitch.com is a free, impartial online and telephone-based comparison and switching service, helping consumers compare prices on gas, electricity, water, heating cover, home telephone, broadband, digital television, mobile phones, personal finance products and car insurance.

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401K, Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Education, Financial Information, Financial Services, Investment, IRA, ISAs, Money, Retirement

Historic Losses For 401K Plan Participants

Retirement savings have dwindled significantly over the past 18 months. The median rate of return on 401k balances was negative 28.3% in 2008 according to a study by human-resources consulting firm Hewitt Associates. The average 401k balance dropped from $79,600 at year-end 2007 to $57,200 at the close of 2008.

401kinvesthelp

In the 12 months following the stock market’s peak in October 2007, more that $1 trillion worth of stock value held in 401ks and other “defined-contribution” plans was wiped out, according to the Boston College research center.

Alan Weir, who turns 60 this month, showed 60 Minutes his latest 401(k) statement, which he hadn’t had the courage to open up. “I’m afraid,” he told correspondent Steve Kroft. There’s good reason for his trepidation: nearly half of his life savings have vanished in a matter of months. “It went down again,” Weir told Kroft after opening the statement. Overall, he said he was down about $140,000.

Another woman in a similar situation told Kroft her 401(k) was worth less now than it was in 2005. “And another one went down almost $40,000. One was 80 – 88,000. And then, and then it went down to 50(k),” she told Kroft, crying. The saddest part of this story is that it is being repeated all over the country.

In eastern Pennsylvania, 59-year-old Iris Hontz lost her accounting job and half of her 401(k) investments.

“Unlike Wall Street executives, American families don’t have a golden parachute to fall back on,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA).

www.401kinvesthelp.com is a site designed to assist the Individual in their noble attempt to save for retirement. How does it guide investors? The number one problem investors have while saving for retirement is the potential of suffering devastating losses of 30% or more in stock mutual funds. The ideology of just “buy and hold,” “invest for the long term” only work a small percentage of the time. In addition to the latter problem, 80%-90% of the mutual funds offered within these retirement vehicles are more risky than the benchmark or index they follow. It’s about time someone stepped in to assist Americans with their retirement accounts rather than leaving them helpless and alone. The indicators used within the site are designed to give individuals a sneak peek into the economy and the financial markets. Is it safe to be invested fully? Should I take some off the table and be only partially invested? These are questions everyone has and generally know the answers to, but need someone to help reinforce that decision. The indicators are updated every 1st business day of each week and an email is sent to each subscriber alerting them of any changes, as well as a brief commentary on the financial markets. Investing smart bodes well for those who understand, “It’s just best to sit on the sidelines and watch the fireworks at times.”

If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Leonard M. Rhoades, please call Andrea Rhoades at 616-581-5696 or email support@401kinvesthelp.com.

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According To The Latest Survey From Prudential, Financial Advisers Are Not Convinced That Their Clients’ Retirement Planning Is On Course

The new Prudential survey found that over two-fifths of advisers (43 per cent) said they are either not that confident or not at all confident, that their clients’ retirement planning is on course, compared to just a third (34 per cent) who said they are either reasonably confident or very confident.

However despite their doubts about how well their clients are prepared for retirement, a third of advisers (33 per cent) actually reported an increase in the number of enquiries from clients about pensions and retirement planning over the past three months. Additionally, half of the advisers surveyed said they had seen an increase in the number of clients using the open market option when shopping around for their annuity in the past three months.

Andy Curran, Director of Intermediated Sales at Prudential, said: “Advisers and providers have taken a fair amount of flak over the years for apparently not informing people that they have the freedom to shop around for the retirement products which best suit their needs.

“It’s good to see that half of advisers say they’ve seen an increase in the number of people using the open market option but it seems to me that it’s taken a financial crisis for people to start their financial planning.

“What is worrying is the feedback from advisers that their clients’ retirement planning is not on course, especially in these unprecedented times when personal financial security should be top of the agenda for everyone.”

Prudential surveyed 123 independent financial advisers during April 2008.

About Prudential:
“Prudential” is a trading name of The Prudential Assurance Company Limited and Prudential Unit Trusts Limited. This name is also used by other companies within the Prudential Group, which between them provide a range of financial products including life assurance, pensions, savings and investment products. The Prudential Assurance Company and Prudential Unit Trusts Limited are registered in England and Wales under number 15454 and 1796126. Registered Office at Laurence Pountney Hill, London EC4R 0HH. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

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NS&I Reveals That Brits Are Failing To Make The Most Of Summer Savings

According to the latest NS&I Quarterly Savings Survey, much of the British population is failing to make the most of money saved on household bills and outgoings during the summer months as the increased sunshine makes them forget their budgets.

More than two-fifths (42%) of Britons think they spend less on outgoings such as utilities and groceries during the summer months, with people expecting these summer savings to average more than £75 (£77.39) a month. However, rather than setting these extra pounds aside, it seems they’re being spent on leisure actives. Nearly half (48%) of the population think they spend more on leisure activities in summer, this is more than likely to be impacted by children’s school holidays. During this season, outgoings on activities like socialising with friends, parties and holidays increase by a monthly average of more than £100 (£109.80). The warmer weather carries much of the blame for this rise in spending as 43% of Britons say improvements in the weather made them feel more relaxed about their outgoings.

While 92% of people say they use less heating in summer, four-fifths (82%) hang washing outdoors rather than use the tumble drier and more than two-thirds (70%) save on transport by walking more – there are other expenditures which outweigh these savings. Nearly two-thirds (60%) of the population confess to spending more on holidays in summer than winter and almost two-fifths (39%) are more likely to spend money going out to bars and restaurants with friends.

Dax Harkins, NS&I‘s savings strategist, said: “Everyone loves to see the sunshine, but people should try not to be so dazzled that they forget their finances. It’s great that many essential household costs are less during the warmer months, but Brits would be wise to try and make the most of these savings by putting some of this money away. Summer fun doesn’t need to be expensive.”

In fact, by taking a careful look at their finances, Britons could make even more seasonal savings. More than a quarter (26%) of the population feel there are more opportunities to set money aside during the summer of which they currently aren’t taking advantage. Further, 23% believe that they could look more carefully at the amount they spend socialising to reduce their outgoings

Harkins continued: “Some people (7%) say that they’re too busy to budget properly. I would urge everyone to try and set aside a small amount of time, even just half an hour each month, to review their incomings and outgoings and to assess how they can better plan their budget – and as a consequence make their longer-term finances healthier.”

NS&I’s Savings Survey
For a copy of NS&I’s Savings Survey, case studies or further information on the statistics supplied in this release please contact the NS&I media team. Previous copies of the survey are available from http://www.nsandi.com/press-room/savingsurvey/index.jsp. Selected regional data is also available on request.

The telephone survey was carried out by TNS among 1003 GB adults aged 16 and above, 1 – 3 May 2009.

About NS&I
National Savings and Investments is one of the largest savings organisations in the UK, offering a range of savings and investments to almost 27 million customers. NS&I is best known for Premium Bonds, but also offers a range of savings accounts including easy access savings accounts, savings bonds, investment accounts and high return savings. All products offer 100% capital security, because NS&I is backed by HM Treasury.

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Huge Black Hole In Unclaimed UK Business Travel Expenses Revealed By Barclaycard

The new Barclaycard 13th Annual Commercial Business Travel Survey has highlighted a worrying trend that employees might not be as prudent with managing their own business travel expenses as they perhaps should be. Thirty two per cent of the business travellers surveyed stated that they fail to claim back all of their expenses, amounting to an average £373 in unclaimed business travel expenses each year. The survey also found that the more senior an employee is, the more money they are likely to lose in unclaimed expenses. There is also a clear division between the sexes as it appears men are lazier about claiming expenses than their female colleagues.

barclaycard

There are 38,486 companies employing more than 100 people in the UK, according to the Office of National Statistics, and even assuming each of these companies only employs 100 people and a third of these employees do not claim back, the total loss in unclaimed expenses would amount to a staggering half a billion pounds (£473,724,174) in the past year.

Worryingly, if employees tried to claim back almost half a billion in travel expenses from last year, companies could be crippled in an already pressurised economic environment. This begs the question does the government have an obligation to both the individual and businesses to lay down general guidelines on claiming expenses that will protect both parties?

In addition, Barclaycard found that only 61 per cent of respondents claim back all of their expenses – a drop from 79 per cent last year – suggesting that the UK is becoming less rather than more financially prudent as a nation and there is a growing problem with British business travellers managing money.

Neil Radley, Managing Director of Barclaycard Commercial, commented: “Anyone who regularly travels on business knows keeping track of all expenses can be tricky, especially when your top priority is your performance. Managing incidental and often small costs can drop to the bottom of the list of priorities. Barclaycard has found that the most sensible action companies can take is to help their employees to centralise their costs and to give them the facility to create automatic records by using company credit cards responsibly to keep better track of their expenses.”

About Barclaycard Commercial
The 13th annual Barclaycard Commercial Business Travel Survey was conducted in December 2008, amongst a nationwide sample of Barclaycard Commercial card holders. A total of 2,202 respondents (CEOs, chairmen, non-executives, financial directors, executive directors, managers and personal assistants) provided their thoughts on all aspects of business travel including attitudes to the environment and in-flight technology, airlines and hotel preferences and online bookings.

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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Prudential UK Is Set To Improve The Service Delivery Offered To Advisers In The Defined Contribution (DC) Pension Market With The Roll-Out Of A Newly Enhanced Systems Platform

Prudential UK is set to improve the service delivery offered to advisers in the Defined Contribution (DC) pension market with the roll-out of a newly enhanced systems platform. The platform will introduce improved delivery capability and functionality for both new and existing clients and is a clear sign of Prudential’s further investment in the DC market. It also signals a serious commitment to clients and their members through the delivery of enhanced levels of service.

The new platform introduces a step change in the online services provided by giving clients greater branding options and easy access to key data. Recently enhanced retirement planning and investment comparison tools are also available to assist members in making more informed choices to help achieve their retirement goals.

The enhanced platform is designed to sit alongside Prudential’s dedicated account management programme and will produce continued improvements in both quality and member response times.

Martyn Bogira, Director DC Pensions, Prudential said, “Not only have we improved functionality for our clients, we also now have the flexibility to further tailor our service to the specific client and their members. We believe that the new platform in conjunction with our innovative investment solutions, and our communications capability will enable consultants to design bespoke solutions for our shared clients.”

Prudential’s proposition is powered by Capita Hartshead’s HartLink technology and brings together the systems expertise of the Capita Hartshead team and Prudential’s extensive experience in the DC market.

HartLink is one of the largest pension administration databases in the UK and is currently used to administer the records of over 3.4 million members. HartLink has proven to be highly scalable and the underlying architecture is effectively limitless in terms of database storage capacity.

About Prudential:
Prudential is a trading name of The Prudential Assurance Company Limited, registered in England and Wales. This name is also used by other companies within the Prudential Group. Registered Office at Laurence Pountney Hill, London EC4R 0HH. Registered number 15454. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

Prudential has been in the corporate pensions and group pension schemes market since 1929 and now provide DC pensions for over 5,700 schemes. Prudential employs an experienced team of individual’s to support the DC proposition. The DC area spanning servicing, marketing, account management and investment supports over 660,000 scheme members.

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Why do I need bicycle insurance?

The number of bicycles being pedalled on Britain’s roads this summer looks set to increase, according to various accounts. The reasons for this expected rise are numerous: for starters, the weakness of sterling against the euro and the dollar has meant that Brits are holidaying at home instead of abroad this year, and a number of these holidaymakers will be opting to take cycling breaks as a relatively cheap and healthy option.

In addition, the Met Office’s prediction that 2009 will bring three months of hot and dry summer weather is likely to be a motivating factor for many people who would not usually cycle for fear of getting caught in a downpour. Also, with more households than ever before reassessing their energy use in an effort to lead a greener lifestyle, cycling is becoming the transport mode of choice for many individuals across the country.

However, whether you’re a new cycling convert or you’ve been taking to the roads on two wheels for a number of years, it’s important to ensure that you have sufficient bicycle insurance for your needs.

Why do I need bicycle insurance?

Essentially, bicycle insurance provides you with much needed cover should you get caught in a cycling accident or if your bike is stolen. A recent survey from Halifax Home Insurance revealed that there has been a 50 percent increase in bike sales this year; at the same time, research from consumer magazine Which? claims that bikes were among the most popular outdoor items stolen from households, along with garden furniture and plant pots. So, with the cost of replacing an average bicycle now a staggering £350, the value of comprehensive bicycle cover should not be underestimated.

Insurance is particularly important for inexperienced cyclists, who may be more likely to get in an accident either with other cyclists or cars. At the same time, whilst seasoned cyclists perhaps enjoy lower accident risks, it’s crucial not to be complacent about the threat posed by bicycle thieves. One of the most famous victims of bicycle theft in the UK is Conservative Party leader David Cameron, whose bike has been stolen twice in a year – first in June 2008 and again in May 2009. The incident highlights how vigilant cyclists need to be in deterring thieves and that safety precautions should always be taken.

How can I safeguard against bicycle theft or accidents?

Safeguarding against bicycle theft is simple, if you take the right steps. For instance, invest in a hardened, D-shape lock rather than a cable one, as these are more difficult for thieves to cut through. In addition, make sure you lock your bike up in a well-lit, busy area so in the event that your bike is stolen, it is more likely there will be witnesses or CCTV footage to help you find the perpetrator.

Protecting yourself against cycling accidents, can be achieved by always wearing a bicycle helmet and donning high visibility clothing – like a neon yellow jacket or vest – so that other cyclists and motorists can see you from afar.

Following these easy steps is likely to significantly reduce your chances of becoming a victim of bicycle theft or having an accident, whilst a comprehensive bicycle insurance policy will give you the peace of mind that you will be covered if an unfortunate event does occur. With insurance comparison websites making it easier than ever to find affordable bicycle insurance, prohibitive cost should no longer be a barrier either.

About Insurancewide

Insurancewide, also known as Insurancewide.com Services Limited, is an online insurance comparison website offering insurance comparison tools that allow users to search the market and procure the best insurance policies and quotes. Insurancewide was launched in August 1999 as the first insurance comparison website on the internet. The site also powered tools used on popular website Confused.com. Insurancewide is FSA regulated.

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Business, Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Insurance, Insurance Services, Money

Expats Should Seek Health Insurance For Swine Flu Protection

If the outbreak of swine flu has proven anything, it’s that healthcare systems in Western countries – despite all their flaws – are generally better prepared to deal with such pandemics than their poorer counterparts in Africa, Latin America and parts of Asia. Moreover, whilst the British government may be stocking up on Tamiflu and Relenza to treat people in the UK who contract the H1N1 virus, this is likely to be of little comfort to British expatriates.

health-insurance-comparison

As a result, many experts have urged expatriate communities to seek out comprehensive health insurance policies to protect their medical interests, particularly in countries where hospitals and medical facilities can be unreliable. Navigating the minefield of international medical cover can be difficult – what kind of insurance will you need and how much should you pay? By keeping your most important requirements in mind – and seeking some advice from knowledgeable sources – finding the answers to these questions needn’t be difficult.

How to approach buying international health insurance

As technological advances and the globalised economy continue to make the world a smaller place, British expatriate communities are expanding. For many of these people, dealing with healthcare systems in their chosen country of residence can be the hardest thing about living abroad. For starters, accessing medical treatment on the NHS in the UK is largely free – in other countries, this is unlikely to be the case. Therefore, finding an international health insurance policy that covers the costs you may incur when being treated abroad is essential.

Expatriate financial website ShelterOffshore.com highlights the fact that most international health insurance policies offer similar ‘one-size-fits-all’ policies, wherever in the world the policyholder may live. Depending on which level of cover you opt for – from basic packages to comprehensive policies – these can include a range of benefits, from recouping the costs of GP visits to covering repatriation in the most severe cases.

However, it may not always be necessary to have all of these cover options. In countries with exceptional medical facilities, such as Germany, it’s unlikely you will need to be flown back to the UK for treatment. On the other hand, if you live in rural China, you’re likely to need more sophisticated health insurance in order to cover the cost of transport to the nearest urban centre with access to high-quality healthcare . In fact, one US-based insurer recently revealed to The Telegraph that it could cost up to £20,000 extra to airlift a patient from rural China to Hong Kong or Singapore for medical treatment.

Getting the most out of an expatriate medical insurance policy

If you’re keen to purchase an expatriate health insurance policy that can be moulded to your needs, it’s best to contact a well-established medical insurer – for example BUPA or AXA PPP Healthcare – directly. Alternatively, ask others in your expatriate community who they would recommend for medical insurance. If you work for a multi-national organisation, it’s also possible they already have a preferred health insurance provider with discounted rates for employees.

In the event that no specialist international health insurance provider meets your needs, why not go local? Insurance comparison websites will help you find the insurer that best meets your healthcare requirements. Ultimately, the more research you carry out before purchasing your expatriate health insurance policy, the better you’ll be able to find comprehensive cover at a price you can afford.

About Insurancewide

Insurancewide, also known as Insurancewide.com Services Limited, is an online insurance comparison website offering insurance comparison tools that allow users to search the market and procure the best insurance policies and quotes. Insurancewide was launched in August 1999 as the first insurance comparison website on the internet. The site also powered tools used on popular website Confused.com. Insurancewide is FSA regulated.

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Business, Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Insurance, Insurance Services, Money

Insurancewide Warns Staycationers Of Travel Cover Importance

The first five months of 2009 have been filled with surveys from the travel sector predicting that the number of Brits holidaying at home due to the pound’s weakness against the euro and the dollar, will skyrocket this summer. Sainsbury’s Finance, for example, recently said that caravan holiday bookings are up by more than 40 percent on last year’s levels. Financial information provider Defaqto also revealed that the number of overseas trip taken by people in the UK in 2009 is likely to decline for the first time in 20 years.

insurancewide-travel-insurance

However, Insurancewide – a specialist UK insurance comparison website – is urging so-called ‘staycationers’ not to neglect purchasing travel insurance, even if they are only holidaying a few hours away from their home. Many insurers sell UK travel insurance policies for less than the cost of a cinema ticket, so there should be no financial excuse for forgoing cover on a holiday at home.

Purchasing travel insurance for a holiday at home might not seem as essential as if you were going on holiday in Europe, but it’s still an important consideration. For example, just because you haven’t left the country, that doesn’t mean there’s less of a chance of your belongings being stolen or misplaced. With travel insurance, this eventuality will be covered.

Similarly, UK travel insurance will cover disrupted travel arrangements – if you’re travelling to your British holiday destination of choice by rail and your train is cancelled or severely delayed, you could make a claim on your travel insurance policy – provided you’ve remembered to buy one before setting off. This could be particularly useful if you’re travelling over a long distance – for example, Aberdeen to Brighton – and a delay meant that you missed your connecting train in London. What’s more, many UK travel insurance policies also include a certain level of medical cover – so if you are injured and need a private ambulance to take you to the nearest hospital or back home, your insurance policy should take care of this.

Insurancewide lets travellers compare UK travel insurance online, allowing users to request quotes and contrast policy benefits from different insurers across the market. In addition to purchasing travel insurance, Insurancewide is urging stay-at-home travellers – especially those who are caravanning or camping this summer – to check their car insurance policy for breakdown cover. Many motor insurance providers do not include breakdown cover as standard and travel insurance policies are unlikely to incorporate this feature either, so anyone planning on driving during their holiday should ensure that they are adequately protected.

About Insurancewide
Insurancewide, also known as Insurancewide.com Services Limited, is an online insurance comparison website offering insurance comparison tools that allow users to search the market and procure the best insurance policies and quotes. Insurancewide was launched in August 1999 as the first insurance comparison website on the internet. The site also powered tools used on popular website Confused.com. Insurancewide is FSA regulated.

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Insurancewide, A Leading Insurance Comparison Provider In The UK, Is Urging Insurers To Offer Consumers More Flexibility When It Comes To Health Insurance

The call comes shortly after Tesco Insurance announced it was launching new levels of health cover in response to a customer survey asking for greater flexibility towards private medical insurance. The insurer revealed that it would be adding three new cover options to its list of health insurance products: Operations and Procedures, Consultations and Tests and Additional Therapies. New customers will also have the option of getting three months free when they sign up to Tesco Health Insurance.

Although figures from the Association of British Insurers indicate that the number of people covered by private health insurance is on the rise, with a 2.7 percent increase registered in 2008, Insurancewide believes that further measures can be taken to make medical cover more accessible to the general public.

Making UK health insurance policies more flexible

Since the UK has provided its population with free health care on the National Health Service for over half a century, many Brits tend to look upon health insurance as a luxury rather than a necessity. Yet with medical threats like swine flu making their way closer to home, and NHS waiting times showing no signs of getting shorter, many people have effectively come to consider private health insurance as a requirement and a valuable source of peace of mind.

However, despite this widening market, many health insurers continue to sell general medical insurance packages without giving customers much room to tailor their policy to their own requirements. For instance, a family of four may wish to have a policy weighted towards paediatric care, while a young, single man in his twenties may want to purchase a health insurance policy containing options for alternative therapies such as acupuncture and physiotherapy. Others – especially people who already have a life insurance policy in place – may want to pay less for medical insurance without accidental death cover.

Insurancewide allows customers to compare health insurance policies across the UK market, making it simpler for users to request quotes and contrast policy benefits in order to choose a plan that’s right for them. However, to provide consumers with even more flexibility, the insurance comparison provider urges medical insurers to offer consumers greater choice to build policies to their own requirements, and offer policyholders insurance packages that are bespoke, comprehensive and affordable.

About Insurancewide

Insurancewide, also known as Insurancewide.com Services Limited, is an online insurance comparison website offering insurance comparison tools that allow users to search the market and procure the best insurance policies and quotes. Insurancewide was launched in August 1999 as the first insurance comparison website on the internet. The site also powered tools used on popular website Confused.com. Insurancewide is FSA regulated.

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Business, Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Insurance, Insurance Services, Money

Taking Steps To Reduce Your Car Insurance Premiums

If you’re attempting to make savings on your household’s monthly expenditure, large outgoings such as car insurance payments can seem like a major drain on your resources. In fact, a recent Sainsbury’s Finance survey found that 579,000 people had reduced or cancelled their car insurance cover over the last year as a direct result of economic pressures. This is a worrying trend: car insurance may seem expensive if you’re trying to rein in your purse strings, but its benefits significantly outweigh its potential costs – particularly since car insurance is a legal requirement in the UK.

insurancewide

It’s important to remember that there are a number of alternatives to cancelling your car insurance policy or doing away with your vehicle entirely. By following a few prudent steps, you could actually make significant headway in your quest to find cheaper car insurance.

Reducing your car insurance, one step at a time

For starters, if you’re in the process of buying a new car, it’s important to choose correctly in order to ensure that your car insurance premiums aren’t too high. A Porsche , for instance, may seem like the ultimate in luxurious motoring, but the car insurance on such a high-end model will have a heavy impact on your wallet. Choose your new model carefully and consider its car insurance band before you make a purchase – safe, dependable models are definitely the right way to go, and your car dealer should be able to help you make a decision.

Once your insurance is in place, it’s important to protect your no claims discount. By preserving this, the likelihood that future insurance premiums will cost less is much higher and so, with the right amount of cautiousness, you’ll be making long-term gains. The easiest way to do this is to avoid driving when you’re less confident of your abilities – at night, in the snow or during periods of thick fog. You’re also much more likely to have an accident when you don’t know where you’re going, so invest in a satellite navigation system or make sure you have watertight directions when travelling to an unfamiliar location.

Limiting the number of people insured on your vehicle could also reduce the cost of your policy. For instance, if you, your partner and your children are all insured under your car insurance policy, its cost is likely to be much higher than covering yourself only. What’s more, people that drive your car only occasionally don’t need to be insured for an entire year – some insurers will let you insure extra persons for a day or a weekend, which can be a much more cost-effective option.

Looking for a new insurer

Sometimes the easiest way to get cheaper car insurance is simply to switch your insurer. Web-based insurance comparison sites provide a simple way to do this, allowing you to compare quotes as well as policy benefits. Some also offer introductory discounts – but if you’re choosing one of these policies, make sure you can afford the premiums once the discount period has elapsed. Ultimately, the key to finding a new insurer with cheaper cover is to carefullt shop around – with the right mixture of consumer know-how and prudent driving, you’ll have your premiums down to an affordable level in no time.

About Insurancewide

Insurancewide, also known as Insurancewide.com Services Limited, is an online insurance comparison website offering insurance comparison tools which allow users to search the market and procure the best insurance policies and quotes. Insurancewide was launched in August 1999 as the first insurance comparison website on the internet.

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Health Cash Plans Could Be Your Ideal Medical Insurance Option

Unlike in the United States, people in Britain very rarely think of health insurance as an essential outgoing thanks to the National Health Service (NHS), one of the world’s pioneers in the provision of social health care. However, as strains on the NHS grow across the country in the form of both population growth and the pressure to keep up technologically, many Brits are now considering health insurance as an added guarantee that they will be able to receive medical treatment – whether it’s public or private – in their hour of need.

insurancewide

Nevertheless, many of these people are also concerned about the effect this added expenditure may have on household budgets, particularly as the recession continues in the UK and fears of job cuts remain high. Yet it’s important not to let economic constraints get in the way of providing for your health – by looking in the right places, it’s possible to find affordable health care plans for both individuals and families. Health cash plans, for example, often provide a bespoke form of health insurance that can fit right into your monthly budget.

What you can get out of a health cash plan

Essentially, health cash plans allow you to claim back money against medical expenditure, including visits to the optician and the dentist – both areas of health care that are not completely covered by the NHS . If you have teeth that need special attention, this type of dental health insurance could be invaluable if it covers check-ups, dental x-rays and hygienist visits. What’s more, if you have less than perfect vision, optical costs covered by health cash plans often include prescribed glasses and contact lens subscriptions. Being able to claim back these costs could make a huge difference to your household budget.

Some health cash plans even provide insurance benefits which extend to complementary therapies, such as osteopathy, physiotherapy and even acupuncture. The ability to receive these treatments and claim back the costs on your insurance could make a significant difference to your quality of life. For instance, if you have a recurring back injury that is keeping you out of employment, physiotherapy treatments could be essential in helping you get back to work. In addition, acupuncture could be a beneficial way to beat the effects of stress, a common complaint during times of recession.

Compiling your health cash plan

To find the health cash plan that best suits your health insurance needs, it’s crucial to shop around to seek out the best deal. Some health cash plan providers may let you pick and choose your cover option in order to tailor-make your policy to your medical needs – a feature that could be particularly important if you suffer from a recurring condition. And with some insurance providers offering one month free or cash back benefits, you can be sure that you’ll find plenty of opportunities to find the health cash plan that’s right for you and your family.

About Insurancewide

Insurancewide, also known as Insurancewide.com Services Limited, is an online insurance comparison website offering insurance comparison tools which allow users to search the market and procure the best insurance policies and quotes. Insurancewide was launched in August 1999 as the first insurance comparison website on the internet.

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Patients Should Turn To Health Insurance For Dental Care, According To Insurancewide

As a recent study from SimplyHealth indicates that people in Britain are struggling with the cost of dental care, Insurancewide – a leading UK insurance comparison site – is urging people to turn to health insurance as a way of reclaiming this expense.

insurancewide

According to the Simplyhealth Annual Dental Survey released in April 2009, one out of every three Brits is struggling to find an NHS dentist, a figure that’s up from just under one in four in 2008. The situation is particularly bad in Plymouth, where over 50 percent of people cannot find an NHS dentist. What’s more, over half of the respondents said they were putting off visiting the dentist for fear of how much it may cost. As a result,Insurancewide is urging these patients to consider taking out a health insurance policy that includes dental cover as a long-term money saving measure.

What to expect in dental cover from a health insurance policy

Before choosing a health insurance plan with dental cover, it’s important to consider what’s most important to you – for instance, do you want regular check-ups with the dentist to be covered by your policy? Or you may consider emergency dental treatment a must in your cover options. Generally, most dental insurance plans will include cover for both these events, but it’s crucial to check your policy before purchase nonetheless.

With a comprehensive dental insurance policy in place, patients can often claim back 100 percent of their dental costs (as long as they fall within their annual limit for the year). Claims can usually be made straight away and cover may be extended to include other family members at a minimal weekly or monthly cost. Dental health insurance also gives patients the opportunity to visit an NHS dentist or private orthodontist. So not only could it help eliminate the unpredictable cost of visiting the dentist, dental cover could even make it considerably easier for patients to find dentists in their local area.

Insurancewide specialises in allowing people in the UK to compare health insurance providers across the market and obtain competitive health insurance quotes. By carrying out an insurance comparison, it’s possible to consider both the price of health cover and what’s included in particular policies. For instance, some health insurance plans may include dental cover as standard; others may offer it at a higher premium. Initially, health insurance premiums may seem like an extra monthly outgoing but their long term benefits are likely to make visits to the dentist both more affordable and convenient.

About Insurancewide

Insurancewide, also known as Insurancewide.com Services Limited, is an online insurance comparison website offering insurance comparison tools which allow users to search the market and procure the best insurance policies and quotes. Insurancewide was launched in August 1999 as the first insurance comparison website on the internet.

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RxIndex Launched On BankRx.com

Bankrx.com has released RxIndex, a reliable and accurate measure of financial health of banks. The index is percentile ranking of the vitality and robustness of a given bank’s financial health banks with respect to the banks nationwide. The scoring is based on a number of macro and micro economic data. RxIndex can be used by a bank to reduce FDIC insurance premium, prepare for regulators, improve its credit worthiness, and minimize risk exposure vis-a-vis other banks. A very low RxIndex indicates a high probability of default.

bankrx

Determining a bank’s financial health is a complex matter. RxIndex encapsulates the inherent complexity of this process with the simplicity of a single score. This score will enable investors, analysts, bank personnel, consumers and job seekers to gauge the probability of a bank’s success.

BankRx is a web based service providing financial data and analytics to the banking and financial services professional. Consumers, analysts, and bankers alike will benefit from utilizing the peer groups available to measure and contrast similar institutions’ key ratios on www.bankrx.com. RxIndex is available for free to all levels of subscribers for the first thirty days.

The founders of BankRx have over 100 years combined banking experience. This experience is used to identify and accurately present the pertinent data in both a user friendly and economical manner. Banking executive George Patellis states, “The Rx Index is useful because it is easy to understand the score, which represents so much data. It is also very insightful to compare the capital adequacy and asset quality ratios within a peer group. The peer analysis model developed by BankRx is very comprehensive and has saved us a significant time and effort.”

Included as well is a post-mortem section, which takes a look at the statistics of recently failed banks. BankRx CEO Sunil Choudhary notes, “BankRx provides information that makes it easy for banks to measure their risk and prepare them for the new era of risk-based regulations. While our analytics are targeted at assisting banks analyze and reduce their risks, we want to point out that 80% of the 34 banks that failed so far this year, had a RxIndex of 2 or less out of a 100.”

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Tooth Fairy Tightening Purse Strings As Recession Bites

The Children’s Mutual’s annual Tooth Fairy Index has revealed that the average cost of a child’s tooth has fallen six per cent from £1.22 to £1.15. The index shows that even the Tooth Fairy is having to fight the economic gloom, giving away £1.3* million less this year than last, as the credit crunch extends its clutches to the magic realm of Fairyland.

Tooth Fairy Index

In 2008, the Child Trust Fund provider’s Tooth Fairy Index found the average cost of a tooth had risen by an impressive 16% on the previous year. But 12 months on, the tooth market is showing signs of decay as parents resist the ‘fairy pressure’ reported in previous years, with 24% now happy to pay less than average, stating this helps their children understand the value of money.

David White, Chief Executive of The Children’s Mutual said: “The fall in the value of teeth provides the perfect opportunity for parents to talk to their child about the value of money and the impact of the credit crunch. Talking about the value of money in terms children can easily understand can help them appreciate the importance of saving.”

Encouragingly, 55% of all children save some or all of the money the tooth fairy leaves in exchange for their teeth. Children in the South West have the most bulging piggy banks as over three quarters (77%) are saving their tooth pennies, while those in Scotland are choosing to splash their cash, with 51% spending all the money the tooth fairy leaves under their pillow.

The Children’s Mutual’s Tooth Fairy Index reveals that attitudes towards the tooth fairy vary widely across the UK. Children in Northern Ireland benefit the most from the tooth fairy’s generosity, as one in 8 children (12.5%) receive £5 or more for each tooth that wobbles free, whereas 12% of children in the Midlands have a gap in their purses as well as their mouths as they are forgotten by the tooth fairy altogether.

The report also indicates that the tooth fairy herself has changed over the years. Traditionally, the tooth fairy has been known for leaving money, letters, and a sprinkling of fairy dust on her nightly rounds, though some parents recalled receiving an orange, toys or a book as a special treat from the tooth fairy. Their children in turn are now the recipients of mobile phone credit and magazines as the tooth fairy flies into the twenty-first century.

About The Childrens Mutual
The Children’s Mutual’s mission is to help parents, grandparents, family and friends fulfil their hopes for today’s children and secure their financial futures. The company specialises exclusively in family-focused finance products, and is currently the choice of 1 in 4 parents for Child Trust Funds.

The Children’s Mutual, as an expert in savings for children, made a significant contribution to the Government’s Child Trust Fund consultation process and is widely recognised by the business community and press as an industry expert on family finance. This expertise has led several financial institutions and family-focused high street retailers to choose The Children’s Mutual as their stakeholder Child Trust Fund partner.

A breakdown of the average amount of money left per tooth in each region of the UK is available upon request.

All research conducted by 72 Point who interviewed 2070 parents with children aged 5-15 in May 2009
* Average number of children aged 6-11(4.8m) losing 4 teeth per year x the average tooth fairy rate of £1.15 – average number of children = 4.8m x 4 teeth per year = 19.2m; 19.2m x 1.15 = £22.8m. Last year’s value = £23.4m – this year’s value of £22.08 = £1.32m

The Children’s Mutual has a large database of case studies available. David White, The Children’s Mutual Chief Executive, is available for interview. 

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