Tag Archives: Financial Services

Financial Services

Bankruptcy, Checking & Savings, Credit Repair, Debts, Financial, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, Money, Personal Finance

We Have All Seen The Credit Monitoring Commercials With The Funny Jingles, But Do You Know Who Is Behind Them?

Its 1:30 A.M. and your watching your favorite late night program. All of a sudden there are singing pirates telling you that if you are not careful, you will be serving fish to tourists. Sound familiar? So, who is selling you this information that could protect you from being a fish waiter, working for less than minimum wage? Thats right, the same 3 companies that provides it to potetial creditors and employers. Trans Union, Equifax and Experian. So what are they saying with these commercials? Our interpetation is that you better watch out because if you don’t, we will say anything about you we want, no matter if its true or not! And by the way, if you want us to watch your back and protect you from hearsay, it’s going to cost you $29.95 per month.

It seems as if everywhere you turn they are trying to sell you a credit bureau. And why should you even bother checking your credit Trans Union, Equifax, and Experian are supposed to be good companies that follow the rules and only report true and accurate information. Why should you worry? And why are these companies telling you to worry? Because in fact, the information on 79% of Credit Bureaus is innacurate acording to PIRG (Public Interest Research Group) Seriously innacurate enough to cost you a Job or not to be approved for a loan. So what do you do? First of all, don’t pay them a dime. You are entitled by law to a free credit report!

It is the Credit Bureaus responsability to maintain complete and accurate information in their files. (Section 607b of the FCRA) So why dont they do this? Because they are for profit corporations who depend on the negative information for profits. In todays age of technology they could perform regular audits very easily but they dont, Instead they make the consumers do their job for them by requiring them to perform tedious tasks when errors are discovered. This is the reason Credit Repair has become so neccesary for many americans trying to live the American dream. In fact if it wasnt for the good Credit Repair companies out there many consumers would remain victims of this nations broken credit reporting system.

So next time you see one of those funny commercials dont laugh and sing along, feel insulted and hurt because what they are doing is laughing and making fun of the American consumer, and clearly pointing out how faulted our credit reporting system is.

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Credit Cards, Debit Cards, Financial, Financial Services, Money, Personal Finance

M&S Money Credit Card Holder Margaret Claxton Is Celebrating After Winning A Caribbean Cruise

M&S Money has announced the name of the lucky customer who has won the latest M&S Money prize draw to win a Caribbean cruise.

Retired Margaret Claxton, of Heswall, The Wirral, will set sail on the P&O cruise ship Ventura after scooping the top prize in the competition organised by M&S Money.

The prize follows a competition in which anyone using an M&S Credit Card at M&Sstores or on the M&S website between 2nd April and 1st June 2008 was entered into a draw to win the cruise. Mrs Claxton used her card at the M&S store in Chester.

Margaret said: “I’ve never won anything like this – it’s amazing. I can’t wait to enjoy my first cruise with a close friend. It will be lovely to soak up the sun.”

This draw is just one of a series of competitions for M&S credit card customers and comes in addition to earning Marks & Spencer points and 0% interest on all shopping everywhere for six months from account opening.

The competitions are scheduled to continue at M&S Money, with the company currently offering their cardholders the chance to win one million M&S points worth £10,000. Cardholders are automatically entered into the prize draw upon purchase of financial services from Marks & Spencer. The offer ends on 29th October.

M&S Money was voted best credit card provider in the Your Money Awards 2008, which recognise excellence in online & direct service provision. The accolade means that M&S Money has won the award three years in a row.

About M&S Money:
M&S Money (originally called 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 insurance for homes, cars, travel, pets and weddings, as well as loans, savings and investments.

In November 2004, Marks & Spencer sold M&S Money to HSBC, one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organisations with over 9,500 offices in 85 countries and territories. The business continues to operate under the M&S Money brand, with an executive committee comprising an equal number of representatives from HSBC and Marks & Spencer.

The company employs 1,200 staff at its headquarters in Chester, delivering personal financial services to its customers, reflecting the core values of Marks & Spencer – quality, value, service, innovation and trust.

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Checking & Savings, College Finance, Financial, Financial Management, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, Insurance, Investment, Loans, Money, Personal Finance

New Research From LV= Reveals That Parents Spend A Staggering £233 Billion Supporting Their Adult Children

New research from insurance, pensions and investments group LV= reveals that parents spend a staggering £233 billion* on supporting their adult children (children aged 18 years or over), and are foregoing their own financial freedom to support their children.

The LV study, which was carried out amongst adults aged 40+ years who have children 18+ years, found that 94% of parents continue to contribute financially towards education and other major purchases such as houses and cars, plus living expenses, once their children have reached ‘adulthood’.

Over half of all parents surveyed (55%) admitted to helping their adult children with general living costs, indicating that the ‘credit crunch’ and rising living costs are impacting on the finances of adult children.

Nigel Snell, Communications Director at LV=, said: “Parents certainly like to financially contribute, if they can, towards large purchases for their adult children, such as weddings and deposits for first homes. However, it seems that the current economic climate is impacting on day-to-day finances. Parents are the hardest hit, with a large proportion admitting that they are helping to cover their children’s living expenses, as well as meeting their own financial commitments.”

One quarter (23%) of parents aged between 40 and 49 years still have children aged over 25 years old living with them, indicating that despite falling house prices, adult children are not in a hurry to leave the nest, and may not be able to afford to either.

According to the research, it is not just their own children that parents are paying for either. Of those parents with grandchildren, 79% reported supporting both their children and grandchildren.

Almost half of all parents aged 70 years or older (45%) are still helping their children financially. Despite generally being retired and living on a reduced income, 55% of these parents state that they help their children because they feel it is their responsibility as a parent, and 42% stated that they support their children ‘because they can afford to’.

In contrast, less than one third (29%) of the parents questioned said that they had received financial help from their own parents after they had left school. Now, 62% of parents say they help their adult children because ‘they need the assistance’ and 17% of parents say that their adult child actually asks them for financial support.

Nigel Snell concluded: “Our study shows that parents can no longer expect their children to pay their own way once they have flown the nest. More than ever it’s true to say that having children means signing up to a lifetime financial commitment.

“Many parents will have had to put some plans on hold to manage the costs associated with raising a family, and once their children are old enough, parents should begin to encourage their own children to make small provisions, so that the financial burden can be reduced and parents can enjoy more financial freedom in retirement.”

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Business, Costs, Debts, Financial, Financial Management, Financial Services, Money, Personal Finance

Falling sales of new cars are another indicator that today’s economic troubles are affecting people in every part of British society

Dropping sales of new cars should serve as a reminder that economic downturns can affect everyone, whatever their socioeconomic status, said debt management company GregoryPennington.com.

Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reveal that the number of new cars registered in August 2008 was down 18.6 per cent compared with August 2007. August is usually a quiet month for new car sales, but this year saw the worst August for new car sales since 1966 – just 63,225 registrations.

Premium brands, according to The Times, ‘were among the hardest hit, with Aston Martin suffering a 67 per cent drop to just 19 cars sold’. Land Rover sales dropped 58 per cent, and Jaguar sales 41 per cent.

“This kind of news challenges an often-held assumption that the impact of economic turbulence is more likely to felt among lower-income individuals,” said a spokesperson for the debt management company. “Even less-expensive new cars, while not ‘luxury’ products, tend to be purchased by people who enjoy a reasonably comfortable standard of living.”

Following, as they do, the news about declining sales in other market segments, the SMMT figures are a stark reminder of the decreasing spending power of the population as a whole. According to a report from comparison site uSwitch, the average UK household is £2,500 worse off than last year.

“While it’s good to see people taking sensible steps to reduce their non-essential spending,” the spokesperson for the debt management company continued, “that reduced spending will clearly have an effect on the health of British industry – in this case, the car industry.”

Furthermore, the savings people make are often ‘swallowed up’ by rises in essential bills, such as food and utilities. By definition, these bills can only be reduced up to a certain point.

Under certain circumstances, however, there may be ways to reduce monthly payments to secured and/or unsecured debts.

“Homeowners may find there are ways their mortgage provider could help them service their mortgage debt during a difficult period. Even temporary concessions can make all the difference to a household struggling to keep up with mounting bills, shrinking income, or both.”

Nonetheless, any change to the way they repay their mortgage can have a substantial impact on the borrower’s long-term finances. It may make more sense to look into the various forms of debt help which can could free up the necessary money by reducing their payments to unsecured debts.

Many people enlist a debt management company to negotiate with their unsecured creditors on their behalf: “Unsecured creditors may be willing to take a flexible approach to repayment agreements if this is the best way for the individual to repay the debt as soon as realistically possible.”

A debt management company will talk to each of their client’s creditors, explaining how their financial situation has changed, and negotiating concessions: “They may agree to accept lower payments, for example, freeze interest and / or waive charges, helping the borrower bring their expenditure back in line with their income.”

“Debt management is by no means the only option. Nor is it always the most appropriate – many people with financial problems could benefit more from a debt consolidation loan or IVA (Individual Voluntary Arrangement), either of which could help them reduce their monthly expenses, freeing up the money they need for essential bills. The important thing is to seek professional debt advice sooner, rather than later.”

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Banks, Financial, Financial Education, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, Loans, Money, Personal Finance

Simple tips military families should consider when selecting a bank or financial institution

For most families, choosing a banking institution can be a very involved process even in the best of economic times. But mix in the challenges of military life, tough economic conditions, and a lack of consumer trust in many different industries, and doing so can become a daunting challenge.

To help make the process easier, Pioneer Services has developed a free article for military families on how to comprehensively, effectively, and quickly choose a bank or credit union. Covering what fees to look for, convenience and service, the article also provides links to regulatory and ratings agencies for easy reference.

“Military families move around a lot, and even those who have used the same bank for years should make sure they get the best deal,” said Joe Freeman, Chief Operations Officer of Pioneer Services, the Military Banking Division of MidCountry Bank. “Add in that the banking industry is facing some tough challenges, and then trust also becomes a factor. We decided to provide our service members some easy-to-use information on what to look for when picking a financial institution, as well as give them resources so they can fully trust whichever one they choose.”

The free article, and more than 30 others on a variety of personal finance topics, can be read at PioneerServices.com.

Pioneer Services, the military banking division of MidCountry Bank, provides responsible financial services and education to members of the Armed Forces that enhance their quality of life and financial independence. For more than 20 years, Pioneer Services has been a leader in military lending. They offer the protection and security of a personal loan with the speed and flexibility service members need. Through a network of offices and on the Internet, Pioneer Services offers loans, financial education programs, and supports military families and communities through a variety of partnerships, programs, and sponsorships.

For more information, visit PioneerServices.com. For loan information, visit PioneerMilitaryLoans.com.

 

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Costs, Financial, Financial Management, Financial Services, Money, Personal Finance

As both consumer spending and saving slump, debt management company Gregory Pennington have said that the full extent of financial trouble in the UK is beginning to show

Debt management company Gregory Pennington have commented that the recent cuts in consumer spending and saving is a clear sign of the way the credit crunch and rapid inflation is forcing consumers to change their spending habits, and have advised consumers to do what they can to stay out of debt in the coming months.

As reported in The Guardian, spending and saving in the UK have taken a big hit in recent months. Following years of “debt-fuelled spending”, consumers are now being forced to reassess the ways they spend their disposable income. Just a few of the measurable effects include:

· New car sales at their lowest levels since 1966
· The number of people putting money into a personal pension fell by 1 million to 7 million over the last year
· Household savings are at their lowest since the 1950s, at an average of 1.1% of income in August 2008.

A spokesperson for Gregory Pennington said: “These figures paint a worrying picture for the economy, confirming many people’s fears about the extent of the problems we are currently facing.

“In a more stable economy, we would expect to see one of two things: spending going up and saving going down, or saving going up with spending going down. The two normally run opposite to each other. But due to the rapid rise in costs of living, we are actually seeing both go down, because people are increasingly being left with no money to do either.

“This is a dangerous situation – usually, we would advise consumers to make sure they are saving plenty to use as a ‘financial buffer’, should things get particularly tight. But the simple fact of the matter is that many people don’t have the money to do so.”

The Gregory Pennington spokesperson warned that the problems in the economy mean many people could be in danger of falling into debt in the near future: “Many people are finding that the financial commitments they made a year ago or more are becoming less and less affordable, particularly in the housing market,” he said. “Rising food, energy and transport costs have hit most of us hard, and while they continue to rise, more people are at risk of their outgoings exceeding their income. Once people fall into debt in this way, it often isn’t long before interest builds up and the debt can become unmanageable.

“We advise anyone who finds themselves falling into debt, or anyone who thinks they are about to, to contact an expert debt adviser as soon as possible. There are a range of debt solutions available to suit various situations, including debt management plans, debt consolidation loans and IVAs (Individual Voluntary Arrangements).”

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Banks, Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Software, Financial Solutions, Money, Online Banking

Barclays Has Become The First Bank To Offer Complete Free Online Security Software To All Its Customers

Barclays has become the first UK bank to offer all its two million online banking customers free internet security software covering not only anti-virus software but also spyware, adware, firewalls, parental controls and spam filters.

The offer is available to all Barclays customers who sign up for its online banking. The software provided by leading internet security firm Kaspersky normally retails for £51 for an annual subscription, but Barclays will offer it completely free of charge with customers able to download it from its online banking website.

This follows on from Barclays becoming the first UK bank to roll out its two factor authentication system, PINsentry, in 2007 which protects customers against phishing attacks and fraudsters getting hold of customer security information. Over 1 million PINsentry readers have already been sent out to customers.

Sean Gilchrist, Director of Digital Banking for Barclays, said: “For the last two years we have offered customers free anti-virus software, but as internet fraudsters become more sophisticated it is important that customers protect their computers from all threats and not just viruses. Kaspersky has one of the best reputations in the business and together with PINsentry we believe Barclays online customers will have one of the best security packages of all online banks.”

Barclays has signed a two year agreement to provide the Kaspersky software which will be worth £102 to customers. Barclays will also allow customers to download the online security software on up to three personal computers for each licence so that customers can protect all the computers in the same household.

Barclays customers that do not currently bank online can register by going toBarclays.co.uk. Non-Barclays customers can gain access to the free software by opening a Barclays current account in branch or online.

Notes to editors:
Registered users can download additional online video content including a number of clips of Sean Gilchrist, Barclays Digital Banking Director, outlining the launch of Kaspersky, the importance of security and top tips for consumers to keep them safe. Downloads are available from www2.vismedia.co.uk/login.php

About Barclays
Barclays is a major global financial services provider engaged in retail and commercial banking, credit cards, investment banking, wealth management and investment management services, with an extensive international presence in Europe, the USA, Africa and Asia.

With over 300 years of history and expertise in banking, Barclays operates in over 50 countries and employs 143,000 people.

Barclays currently moves, lends, invests and protects money for over 38 million customers and clients worldwide.

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Financial, Financial Education, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, Insurance, Investment, Money

Quest CE moves to larger offices in Milwaukee’s Two Park Plaza to keep pace with the company’s vigorous growth

Quest CE the nationwide provider of continuing education and compliance solutions for financial services professionals, today announced it will be moving to new corporate headquarters. The move to new offices in Milwaukee’s Two Park Plaza will accommodate Quest CE’s current staff and make room for expansion to keep pace with the company’s vigorous growth.

“Quest CE’s service and technology orientation and emphasis on client service have provided a solid foundation for our tremendous growth,” said Alan Krenke, Quest CE’s President and CEO. “Our continued success relies on our ability to provide products and services that innovate while maintaining the customer service that we are known for. We’ve developed our new headquarters to be both functional and to inspire so we are able to attract and retain the service-oriented professionals who are central to our continued success.”

Quest CE’s new headquarters offers a modern and open layout. All combine to create a working environment that fosters creativity and the open exchange of ideas among Quest’s staff and between Quest and clients.

Initially, Quest CE is occupying 6,000 square feet of the 18,000 square foot 10th Floor of Two Park Place, with options to expand as the company continues to grow. Quest will begin operating out of its new headquarters on Tuesday, September 2, 2008. The company’s new address is:

Two Park Plaza
10850 W Park Place
Suite 1000
Milwaukee, WI 53224

Telephone and fax numbers.
Toll Free: (877) 593-3366
Local: (414) 375-3400
Fax: (414) 375-3449

About Quest CE
Quest CE is a nationwide provider of continuing education and compliance courses to licensed professionals and financial planners. Each year Quest CE delivers over 150,000 continuing education courses either over the Internet or through live CE training. To find out more information about Quest’s Corporate Discounts and large volume orders go to the company web site at www.questce.com or call 877-593-3366.

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Bankruptcy, Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Management, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, Loans, Money

Financial Consequences Of An Expensive Holiday Can Outweigh Any Beneficial Effects

Responding to a study suggesting that a quarter of British adults have shelved their holiday plans to ease the strain of the credit crunch on their finances, debt management company Gregory Pennington (www.gregorypennington.com) have advised other people struggling with their finances to consider following suit and not risk getting into debt this summer.

The study from CreditExpert.co.uk, the online credit monitoring service from Experian, showed that 43% of those questioned were worried about the impact of a holiday on their finances, yet only 24% have changed their plans.

The study also claimed that 2.8 million British adults will get into debt in order to fund holidays this year – twice as many as this time last year.

A spokesperson for Gregory Pennington commented: “It’s encouraging that many people are considering changing their plans with regards to holidays this year, although it’s still a concern that so many people are still spending beyond their means.

“The relatively easy access to credit in recent years has meant it is now common for people to get into debt to fund expensive holidays, and this debt can become a serious burden if it’s not managed properly.”

The study also claims that 33% of those in the 18-24 age group say that peer pressure often forces them into holidays they cannot really afford. “This is a common problem,” says the Gregory Pennington spokesperson. “We live in a culture where we can take many things for granted, and it seems to many people that includes holidays. But if that involves racking up large debts, it might be best to carry on saving and maybe even wait until next year.”

Of the people attempting to cut back on holiday debts, it was revealed that 19 per cent would be sharing with family or friends in an attempt to cut costs. This figure rises to 37 per cent in the 18-24 age group.

The spokesperson commented: “Sharing is a good way of minimising holiday debts this summer, and some people may be able to avoid getting into debt entirely this way. Certainly, if you are still intending on going on holiday, we advise people to cut costs wherever possible, unless you are completely sure you can afford it.

“The credit crunch is putting pressure on most of us at this time, and there is the risk that unless you are very careful, you could arrive home with potentially unmanageable debts to deal with.”

The spokesperson went on to point out how easy it is to get into debt unintentionally. “Many people book holidays well in advance, up to a year in some cases. Much of this is done on credit, under the belief that they will be able to save up enough money in that time to cover the holiday.

“But the pressures of the credit crunch and rising costs of living mean that many people may be finding it much harder to pay for their holidays than they anticipated. If this happens, it doesn’t take long before the interest begins to add up and the debts could become unmanageable if they are not taken care of quickly.

“We advise anyone in this situation to contact an expert debt adviser, who can discuss your situation and help decide the best plan of action. There are various debt solutions available to suit different situations, including debt management plans, debt consolidation loans and IVAs. Choosing the right debt solution could help you cut down your monthly costs and prevent your debts from continuing to grow.”

Gregory Pennington (http://www.gregorypennington.com/) are a financial solutions company based in Salford Quays, Manchester. The company specialises in a range of financial services, including mortgages, loans, debt help and advice (including debt management plans, IVAs, and debt consolidation).

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Bankruptcy, Banks, Business, Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, Loans, Money, Personal Finance

ThinkMoney.com advised people with large debts to seek expert debt advice

Commenting on a recent survey by R3 (a leading professional association for insolvency) suggesting that seven out of 10 insolvency practitioners expect the number of people unable to keep up with their debts to rise during the coming year, a spokesperson for ThinkMoney.com advised people in debt to take early action and seek expert debt advice.

The ThinkMoney.com spokesperson said: “The ongoing credit crunch, and the possibility of a recession, would indeed indicate that people with large debts may struggle more than most in the coming months.”

She echoed the survey’s findings that debt has “become a way of life” for many, and urged people to avoid unnecessary debts, including consumer finance on goods such as electronics, and where possible, credit cards.

She continued: “It’s more important than ever to do what you can to stop your debts growing. The larger your debts, the longer it will take (and the more difficult it will be) to get rid of them.

“If you think your debts are becoming unmanageable, it’s essential you seek professional debt advice from an expert. They will be able to discuss your situation and help decide which debt solution is most suitable for you.”

She added: “There are a number of debt solutions for people with unmanageable debts – and each are better suited to different situations. Speaking to an expert debt advisor will help you make the right decision and make the process as straightforward as possible.”

About Think Money
Think Money are a financial solutions company based in Salford Quays, Manchester. The company specialises in a range of financial services, including mortgages, loans, debt help and advice (including debt management plans, IVAs, and debt consolidation).

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Banks, Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, Home Equity, Loans, Money, Mortgage, Personal Finance

ThinkMoney.com advise homeowners not to become complacent about protecting themselves against the current downturn in the housing market.

Responding to the recent report from the National Housing Federation suggesting house prices will recover and rise by 25% by 2013, financial solutions company ThinkMoney.com advised existing homeowners to remain optimistic, but warned them not to become complacent about protecting themselves against the downturn in the housing market.

The National Housing Federation anticipates further falls in house prices for the next two years – 4.4% in 2008, with a further fall of 2.1% in 2009 – after which prices will begin to recover, rising by 25% by 2013.

However, the report itself acknowledges that the figures depend on a ‘robust employment market’, and warns that if employment and consumer spending levels fall by too much, the housing slump could be more severe than they have predicted.

A spokesperson for ThinkMoney.com said: “We would advise homeowners to continue saving well, spending responsibly, and to remain aware of the potential problems facing the housing market. Your financial planning should, as always, be geared towards making sure you are prepared for any problems that could arise.

“The report is only speculative, and as with anything, it is very hard to predict what will happen in the next five years. The predictions are essentially a best-case scenario,” she said.

“In a sense, it’s healthy to be slightly cautious when it comes to money, especially with an important financial commitment like a mortgage.”

The spokesperson said that there are a number of ways homeowners can protect themselves. “Savings are the key,” she says. “Falling house prices means that equity tied up in the value of your home is decreasing, so it’s wise to try and counteract that by saving money where possible.

“This also acts as a buffer if you find the interest on your mortgage payments going up in the next few years, which is quite possible. Without savings to fall back on, mortgage payments could become simply too expensive for poorer families, and that brings the possibility of falling into debt – especially with other costs of living rising so quickly too.

“Likewise, it’s important to keep an eye on spending and make sure unnecessary purchases are kept to a minimum. Avoid taking out consumer finance loans on expensive goods, as they can become a big financial burden when things get tight,” she continued. “In fact, avoiding any form of personal loans or credit is the best defence against getting into debt.”

The ThinkMoney.com spokesperson advised homeowners to remain positive. “Many homeowners will be relatively unaffected by the problems in the housing market, so long as they are willing to stay put,” she said.

“A loss in the value of your home only affects you if you are looking to sell, but it still pays to save well in case of emergency. And once the market does recover, you may even find yourself in a better financial situation than you were before all the trouble started.”

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Bankruptcy, Banks, Business, Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, IVA, Loans, Money, Personal Finance

ThinkMoney.com anticipates the rise in insolvencies as the slowing economy begins to affect more consumers.

Financial solutions company ThinkMoney.com anticipates a rise in the number of people experiencing debt problems in the coming months, despite a year-on-year fall in individual insolvencies.

A recent report from the Insolvency Service suggested that the number of people entering into IVAs in the second quarter of 2008 had fallen to 9,256, down from 10,561 a year previously – a drop of 12.4%.

At the same time, bankruptcies had fallen from 16,214 in the second quarter of 2007 to 15,297 in the second quarter of 2008 – a fall of 5.7%.

Given the onset of the credit crunch in recent months, the statistics may come as a surprise to many. But Melanie Taylor, Head of Corporate Relations at ThinkMoney.com, said that the falls in both IVAs and bankruptcies should not be taken as a sign of long-term recovery. “Most economists are predicting an economic downturn,” he says, “which certainly doesn’t raise hopes of the number of people in debt decreasing anytime soon.”

Other indicators, such as the Financial Services Authority’s report that repossessions rose 40% in the first quarter of 2008 compared with the same time last year, do indicate a sharp rise in the number of people facing financial difficulties.

Ms Taylor suggested that this could be an early sign of things to come. “As things stand, we would expect the number of people experiencing debt problems to increase fairly significantly, due to a combination of the credit crunch, rapidly growing costs of living and rising unemployment.

“These things take a while to ‘filter through’ to the wider economy. Typically, lower-income families will be hit first, since they have less money to spend – but that then hits the companies where they usually spend money, so their staff are affected too. Eventually, most people are affected financially in some way.

“This in turn could lead to increasing numbers of people who can no longer manage their debts – and it’s essential that these people get expert help as early as possible.”

But Ms Taylor was keen to emphasise that both IVAs and bankruptcy are valid ways of getting out of unmanageable debt. “An IVA can be a great help to people with over £15,000 of debt,” he said. “It allows a significant portion of their debts to be repaid in convenient monthly payments, usually for five years – after which the remaining debt is written off.”

He continued: “There is something of a stigma surrounding bankruptcy, but in the right circumstances it may be the best possible way of making a fresh start.

“People who go through bankruptcy are subject to some restrictions – for example, they are highly unlikely to be able to borrow any more money for a number of years, and they will most probably be forced to sell any valuable assets they own. But once the bankruptcy process is complete, they will be legally debt free, and able to get on with their lives.”

Think Money are a financial solutions company based in Salford Quays, Manchester. The company specialises in a range of financial services, including mortgages, loans, debt help and advice (including debt management plans, IVAs, and debt consolidation).

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Business, Checking & Savings, Escrow, Financial, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, Investment, IRA, Money, Retirement

Sunwest Trust introduced a new portal dedicated on Self Directed IRA And Escrow Clients

Sunwest Trust, Inc. added another dimension in its profile in order to provide better services for prospective customers as well as existing client base in New Mexico. Albuquerque based Sunwest Trust Inc. re-launches sunwesttrust.com along with Best Online Results jointly. The new website has been introduced to strengthen the web presence of Sunwest Trust Inc. It is destined to suite the purpose in the role of a destination or a hub.

Sunwest Trust Inc. is known for its diversified business interests. These include self-directed IRAs that allow clients to invest their IRA in anything that the IRS will allow such as Real Estate, Mortgages, Limited Liability Companies and Private Stock. In addition, Sunwest Trust will act as escrow agent for most any transaction involving the exchange of money.

Sunwest Trust, Inc. is known in the pertinent industry for its excellence in providing an alternate option for IRA investors, especially those who are in search of an apposite process to make their retirement portfolio with a self directed IRA more diverse. The alternative procedure is such that it enables the IRA holders to make investments in affluent sectors of real estate, oil and gas, discounted notes and other alternative assets.

Speaking on this and terming the entire approach as an exceptional move for the Sunwest Trust Joshua Geary, Managing Member, Best Online Results, LLC and Senior Marketing Consultant for Sunwest Trust, Inc. says, “It is our sincere hope to see Sunwest Trust transition beyond the traditional Dot Com barrier held my most sites in this market space and become what they are capable of becoming, which is a Dot Community for their great brands and a resource for investors and for their thousands of satisfied clients who need Self Directed IRA and Escrow services. We feel this is an important step to making this vision a reality.”

Simultaneously, Terry White, Chief Executive Officer, Sunwest Trust, Inc. terms it as an exemplary approach that will make it easier for the clientele to cope with transitioning from a traditional “in the box approach” to growing a retirement account to a self directed IRA mentality. He said while commenting on this, “In the next few short years many baby boomers will be looking for alternative means to stretch and grow their retirement dollars as they recognize their need to truly diversify and view their retirement beyond just a safety net, but as a living breathing asset, which if used smartly can be used as a wealth builder. We needed a hub or new platform to do so.”

“Our new platform will not only allow our clients to check their accounts in close to real time, but also will have a new blog chalked full of resources for those who are curious and are looking at transitioning their investment portfolio into alternative assets like real estate. We are in the process of revamping our blog system to the latest technology so we may interact with our clients and put out information pertinent to account holders who need quick access to administrative tips as well,” he added.

Sunwest Trust offers neutral third-party accounting services to ensure accuracy and reliability for a nominal service fee. It also offers customer friendly services that are available by phone that helps customers get answers of their questions about payments, payoffs, disbursements, and other contract details.

About Best Online Results
Best Online Results is a renowned company that specializes in web optimization and Internet PR and as a result excels in its respective sphere of operation. The company was commenced with the intention of witnessing the growth of businesses on the Internet. From the very beginning, therefore, the company has been proceeding with poise to care the businesses of others and also to observe their successes.

Best Online Results located at BestOnlineResults.com, truly excels in receiving the traffic of any particular website that helps the website owner immensely. The association with Sunwest Trust, Inc. is destined to achieve new heights in industry.

About Sunwest Trust
Sunwest Trust, Inc. was formed under the auspices of the owners of Sunwest Escrow, LC for the sake of providing more extensive range of financial products. For this reason, Sunwest Trust, Inc., apart from providing its conventional concept of escrow service to the customers, nowadays is also active in the role of custodian for self-directed retirement plans that includes IRAs, SEPs and Simples.

From a small escrow company operating within the confines of the local Albuquerque market, Sunwest Trust grew through means of integrity and transparency to become a nationwide Trust company, which specializes in facilitating investors who wish to diversify their retirement through self-directed IRAs.

Via EPR Network
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