Tag Archives: Financial

Financial

Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, Insurance, Insurance Services, Loans, Money, Mortgage, Personal Finance

LV= Research Reveals That Homeowners Hoping To Recoup Some Of Their Mortgage Costs Are Fuelling A Rise In Risky Renting

The findings of new research from LV= reveals a 56% rise in properties available to rent over a three month period, with the vast majority (86%) coming from homeowners choosing to let their properties rather than sell in a depressed financial climate.

But home insurer LV= is warning that these reluctant landlords are putting themselves and their tenants at risk, with the findings showing that just 27% have signed up to a compulsory tenancy deposit scheme (TDS) designed to protect tenants and landlords from disputes over the lease. This is despite it being a legal requirement for landlords to ensure deposits are protected by the Government approved scheme.

Introduced in April 2007, the TDP scheme was set up to prevent legal disputes over deposits at the end of a tenancy. All rental properties where a deposit has been taken since April 2007 are legally covered by the scheme.

The high numbers of landlords not signing up means thousands of tenants and landlords could run into trouble at the end of a tenancy. The findings show that 77% of renters have previously had some or all of their deposit money unreasonably withheld, while 13% of tenants have refused to pay rent towards the end of their contract.

With the research showing that 20% of tenancies end in dispute, LV= is warning tenants and landlords to take the correct precautions, and ensure they have legal protection cover included in their policy.

John O’Roarke, Managing Director of LV= Home Insurance, said: “This research highlights the numbers of new landlords entering the market, many of whom may not be aware of their legal obligations. It also illustrates the need for the Government to raise the profile of legislation such as the Tenancy Deposit Scheme and for these to be more strictly enforced, to protect both renters and landlords, as awareness is currently very low. Although the majority of private landlords are undoubtedly honest, our research shows that many tenants have experienced problems getting their deposit money back in the past, and are worried this could happen again.

“The average deposit is over £500, which is a significant amount of money, so renters and landlords need to make sure they know their rights. Renters should also always ensure they have home contents insurance in place, as they are more likely to be burgled than home owners and some polices will include a legal advice helpline, which could be used in the event of a contractual dispute.”

About LV= 
LV= is a registered trade mark of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited (LVFS) and a trading style of the Liverpool Victoria group of companies. The new LV= brand identity was launched in March 2007.

LV= employs over 3,500 people, serves more than 2.5 million customers and members, and manages around £8 billion on their behalf. LV= is also the UK’s largest friendly society **** and a leading mutual financial services provider.

LVFS is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority register number 110035. LVFS is a member of the ABI, AMI, AFS and ILAG. Registered address: County Gates, Bournemouth BH1 2NF.

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Business, Financial, Investment, Money

The Profit-Taker: Solid Advice On The Stock Market

This phenomenal financial game was invented by the author of an international best-seller. A top-ten best-selling author of John Wiley & Sons, New York is raving mad … giving away his new book. Not only is he making a gift of the sequel to his best-selling book… now he includes a ‘Live’ stock market game.

“Why should the billionaires have all the fun?”, says Professor Don Abrams, best-selling author of The Profit-Taker.

“Don’t lose your investing skills during these bad times”, says Professor Smarba, “Hone them!”.

He invented it to reveal the finer secrets of his proven, rapid, money-maker in both good and bad markets. And it’s free… Zip. Zero. Zilch. No registration. No required email. No ‘funny’ paper money. No catches.

The Chicago Tribune says: “THE PROFIT-TAKER: SOLID ADVICE ON THE STOCK MARKET“.

The new free sequel reveals a proven strategy to grow rich – especially for late starters. It is a blueprint that awakens the self-actualizing quest to live long. Thousands are already playing the game. Modestly named ‘The Greatest Game on Earth’. It’s an adventure, not based on guessing – but on newly-gained knowledge. All this on www.profittaker.info.

Is your current investing on a grand, small or academic scale? Doesn’t matter. Is it fun? If not, the author says you’re doing something wrong.

The solution? Discover it here. Now you can control your own destiny…be your own person.

‘The Greatest Game on Earth” allows people the world over the opportunity to relish the ingenuity and pure fun of the Profit-Taker Concept.

The game provides ‘live’ examples for the free book ‘The Profit-Taker Equalizer for the Underdog’.

The game is aimed at investment professionals as well as beginners.

Unlike the ‘usual game’, it is the actual chosen common stock which decides your next move. No rolling of the dice. No dealing of the cards. No spinning of a wheel.

It’s the actual ‘game’ action that opens up possibilities. Opportunities!

Let the good times roll on www.profittaker.info.

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Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Management, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, Loans, Money, Mortgage, Personal Finance

New Research Shows That 15% Of Homeowners Taking Out A Remortgage In Late September And Early October Either Had Deals Turned Down Or Moved Onto Their Lender’s SVR

Financial solutions company Think Money have advised homeowners who are looking to remortgage that speaking to a professional mortgage adviser has become more important in recent months, as the availability of mortgage deals has remained lower than 2007 levels.

The new NMG Research Survey, carried out for the Bank of England, showed that at the end of September and beginning of October, 15% of people who had taken out a remortgage had previously either had applications turned down or had moved onto their lenders’ standard variable rate.

Standard variable rate mortgage deals – a lender’s basic mortgage rate – tend to be noticeably more expensive than the lender’s discounted variable-rate mortgages at any given time, according to a mortgage expert for Think Money.

“Most mortgage deals advertised in the shop window or online are introductory deals,” she said. “Fixed-rate mortgages are usually priced based on the lender’s own long-term projections, but most new variable-rate deals are actually discounted from the standard variable-rate. So the only time homeowners will usually pay the standard variable-rate is when the pre-agreed terms finish – unless they remortgage.”

The Think Money spokesperson added that the recent base rate cuts by the Bank of England have meant that remortgaging can save homeowners a significant amount of money.

“The base rate has fallen from 5.75% to 2% in just under a year and a half, and while mortgage rate cuts have not been quite so pronounced, they still represent good savings for people who entered mortgage deals two or three years ago.

“For example, while at the peak of the market in July 2007 the best mortgage rates stood at around 6% to 6.5%, we are now typically seeing rates of 4.5% to 5%, and even 4% for homeowners with a particularly high LTV (loan-to-value) ratio.

“To put that in perspective, on a typical £120,000 mortgage, a homeowner moving from a 6% interest rate to 4.5% can save around £104 per month, or £1248 per year.

“What’s more, many economists are predicting further base rate cuts – so homeowners with tracker mortgages could benefit even more in the future.”

The spokesperson was keen to emphasise the importance of mortgage advice in the current market. “With lenders still cautious about offering mortgages, it can take a little longer to find the right mortgage deal compared with, say, 2007. That may explain why so many people questioned for the Bank of England’s report had been turned down by some lenders.

“A professional mortgage adviser can take a look at the homeowner’s circumstances, and based on that can search a range of lenders for the best mortgage deal available to the homeowner.”

The Think Money spokesperson urged homeowners to consider their remortgage deal early to allow plenty of time to find the best rates. “It’s often possible to‘reserve’ mortgages with lenders, so if the homeowner likes the look of a deal a little while before their current mortgage terms finish, they can ensure they get the lower rate later in the year. Of course, it’s possible rates could fall more, so homeowners may want to wait and see what happens in the mortgage market before making a move.”

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

Changes To Home Information Packs

The Government has announced changes to Home Information Packs, which will take effect from 6th April next year. The new measures are designed to ensure consumers receive more helpful information at an earlier stage in the home buying and selling process.

A new Property Information Questionnaire (PIQ) will be included in the pack, which will provide a summary of information about the property in one place. The summary, to include flood risk information, gas and electricity safety, details of any structural damage, and parking arrangements, should help buyers decide whether to view and ultimately purchase a property.

The new PIQ will go alongside the existing contents such as energy performance certificates.

From April, HIP’s will have to be made available from the first day of marketing. The current temporary measure allows sellers to market their property for up to 28 days before the pack is available, as long as it has been commissioned, and arrangements have been made to pay for it.

Housing Minister Margaret Beckett said:
“Home Information Packs are potentially a vital aid to consumers who are seeking to purchase a home, and I am firmly committed to ensuring they work as well as possible. That is why the changes made today will make sure consumers are better protected, better informed and better assisted when buying a home.”

A basic HIP is expected to take 3 to 5 days to compile.

For more information and no-fee mortgage advice, borrowers should call L&C free on 0800 373300.

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

L&C is a Climate Neutral company and for the last seven years has invested in climate friendly projects and tree-planting to help offset its emissions and those of its customers. For more information, go to www.lcplc.co.uk/green.

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

Lloydstsbcompare.Com Raise Public Awareness Of The Need To Tackle Household Bills Ready For The New Year

Skyrocketing energy costs have been a prime concern for many Brits in 2008 but switching suppliers could save a typical household up to £454 – that’s £7,384 million across the entire country.

To help raise awareness, LloydsTSBCompare.com declared December 30th to be ‘tackle your bills day’ to encourage people to assess their household bills and save money in 2009.

According to research by LloydsTSBCompare.com, 80 per cent of people have seen a rise in their energy bills this year. Over one in four (27 per cent) of UK households saw their energy bills rise by more than £40 per month and 30 per cent think they could rise by a further £40 per month this winter.

Despite the pressure from rising bills, one in three (36 per cent) households has never switched energy providers and one in four believes shopping around will not make any difference. But those who have used comparison sites to switch providers have, in recent months, benefited from average annual savings of £284.

By using a comparison site such as LloydsTSBCompare.com customers can compare gas and electricity, telephone and broadband providers, as well as travel and car insurance. The site also has supermarket and petrol price checkers, helping customers to secure the best deals in and around their local area.

Steve Grainger, LloydsTSBCompare.com, said: “A concerning 40 per cent of Brits said they don’t know how they will cover their bills if prices continue to increase. December 30 was the perfect day for us all to concentrate on getting on top of our finances for the New Year. LloydsTSBCompare.com gives customers all the tools they need to cut their household bills and save money.”

Stealing the crown from TescoCompare, LloydsTSBCompare.com was recently named ‘Britain’s best car insurance comparison site‘ by Defaqto, the independent product research company.

The ‘tackle your bills day’ declaration comes at a time when many UK households are feeling the pinch and LloydsTSBCompare.com hope it will encourage homeowners to push sorting out their personal finances higher up the list of new year’s resolution for 2009.

About LloydsTSBCompare.com:
LloydsTSBCompare.com has been developed by Lloyds TSB Insurance Services Limited to offer our customers a choice of independent impartial quotes from a wide panel of insurance providers and energy suppliers. Comparison features include price, policy benefits, plan features and customer service rating, so consumers can make sure they get the policy that best meets their individual needs.

LloydsTSBCompare.com is a trading style of Lloyds TSB Insurance Services Limited registered in England and Wales under company number 968406, with registered offices at 25 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HN.

LloydsTSBCompare.com is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (Registration number: 310738).

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Banks, Debts, Financial, Financial Management, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, IVA, Loans, Money, Mortgage, Personal Finance

Debt Advisers Direct remind consumers with debt problems of the importance of seeking debt advice early on, before their finances are further affected by the recession

Commenting on the nation’s economic troubles, Debt Advisers Direct stressed the importance of seeking debt advice in time, before debt problems can escalate out of control.

“Whatever the economic climate, it always makes sense to address debts at the first sign of trouble,” said a spokesperson for the company. “During times of economic uncertainty, it’s more important than ever.

“The problems in the housing market alone pose a significant threat to the livelihoods of people in all walks of life. What was initially seen as an issue for estate agents has grown to affect builders, movers, decorators, furniture stores and so on – after months of negative news from companies directly linked to the housing market, we’re now hearing of problems in a much wider range of industries.

“With so many either out of work or facing the possibility of unemployment, people are spending less and problems in the housing industry are spilling over into the high street, placing even more jobs at risk – at a time when new employment may be hard to find.

“Coping with a period of reduced income is never easy, but people with high levels of debt are far more likely to experience financial problems almost as soon as their income drops.

“This underlines the need to tackle debt problems sooner, rather than later. Many people with smaller debt problems may find a chat with a debt adviser could help them get on top of their finances without making any major lifestyle changes. Once the adviser understands their financial circumstances, they should be able to provide some budgeting advice and suggest practical ways of reducing their level of debt.

“When it comes to more serious financial problems, however, many people are put off by the sheer size of their debts. Someone who owes tens of thousands of pounds may not feel there’s anything they can do to make an appreciable ‘dent’ in their debts.”

In most cases this is unlikely to be true: “However much they owe, they may still have a range of options, depending on their circumstances. A debt consolidation mortgage, for example, could be right for someone who wants to reduce their monthly outgoings and simplify their finances, while an IVA (Individual Voluntary Arrangement) could help someone who literally can’t keep up with their debt repayments – and who can’t realistically expect to repay their debts in a reasonable timeframe.

“We were very pleased to see the emphasis which the Chancellor’s Pre-Budget Report placed on debt advice – the Government is dedicating more than £15 million of additional funding to ensure people can access debt advice when they need it. Similarly, we were pleased to see certain credit card providers and mortgage lenders extending a ‘grace period’ to people who fall behind on their repayments.

“Even so, we remind borrowers how important it is to talk to a debt adviser before things reach the stage where they’re missing payments of any kind: taking steps to tackle their debt today is virtually certain to improve their chances of getting through the recession with their finances in a good state.”

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Financial, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, Loans, Mortgage, Personal Finance

Top Mortgage Company Agent Adam Thomas From Invis Inc. Has Become A Business Referral Partner With Debt Settlement Service Companies To Assist Canadians In Debt Elimination

 

Top mortgage company agent Adam Thomas from Invis Inc. becomes business referral partner with debt settlement services companies launching a new website www.HomeOwnerDebtRemoval.com that reportedly aims to assist Canadians with debt relief programs and debt relief assistance.

In a society where residents are weighed down with debt repayment and debt consolidation problems, the new website promises debt relief/debt assistance by paying off such debts, lowering monthly payments and increasing cash flows. This would help them to stay debt free and increase their savings for retirement, renovations, and children’s education or make purchases they desire, while improving their overall financial situation. Our average client saves $500 to $1000 per month and more in some situations, as well; we follow up with ongoing support, guidance and planning as well.

The website further proposes to assist people in debt relief through various mortgage financing programs for their primary residence, investment properties or commercial property tailored to meet their situation and needs. It offers solutions relating to individual credit, income, assets and property equity positions. Programs are also available thru this partnership to assist those homeowners who don’t have the ability to obtain financing and who truly need debt relief. The site has been developed to be a complete one-stop shop to help everyone to receive debt relief help no matter what their current financial situation may be.

Proposed methodologies of www.HomeOwnerDebtRemoval.com is assessing each individual applicant according to their income, credit, assets and property equity position and thereafter formulate plans to sort out the problem through a first or second mortgage, private funding or thru a debt settlement agreement plan.

“No planning is finalized without due approval of the client and each step is followed up leading the client from initial through final stages of the process” declares Thomas. “Thru this partnership customers are able to receive financing and debt relief assistance. Though the customer’s we most often help are homeowners with high debt balance, we will of course try to help all who apply even non-homeowners. During the process, we will review and analyze all options available to the client and explain to them what programs we have to help them, we then make recommendations for the client to succeed in what they want, this way the client can make a informed decision on what’s best for them,” he adds.

The partners claim that they can help in debt elimination of their clients under their debt relief assistance programs since it has built sound relationships with mortgage agents, debt settlement companies and trustees. Either a straight refinance for debt removal or other debt settlement agreement plans, ensuring debt relief would put clients into a better financial condition, they assert.

The partners also assure their clients that they can provide adequate support where people with multiple loans and consequential higher premiums do not know the way out. With only one consolidated payment substituting your multiple premiums, your savings would be considerable, they claim.

About Adam Thomas:
Top Mortgage Agent Adam Thomas of Invis Inc. the leading mortgage brokerage company in Canada dealing in financing to help with debt consolidation and mortgages of all types, with the aim of expanding operations, has now become a business referral partner with other debt settlement and trustee firms, who have come up with the new website www.HomeOwnersDebtRemoval.com providing a number of services related to debt consolidation and debt settlement for its clients.

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Bankruptcy, Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Management, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, IRA, Loans, Money, Personal Finance

Sunwest Trust Claims Their New Friends And Family Lending Program Will Be A Contributing Solution To The Credit Problem

In the wake of the National Credit Crisis, Sunwest Trust, Inc., a leading financial company, unveils its new “Friends and Family Lending Program”. The program seeks to interchange the roles of lending banks with financially solvent family members taking up such a role.

Outlining their new plan, the Company insists that solvent members in the family can assume the role of bankers. They could be lending to such members who are seeking loans for purposes such as having a new home. “The ability to fall back on solvent family members for financial support would be a welcome alternative for people who are finding that getting loans is difficult,” says Terry White, CEO, Sunwest Trust, Inc.

http://www.sunwesttrust.com/

The logic behind the argument advanced by Sunwest Trust is that such lending could result in mutual benefit for the lender as well as the debtor. The debtor would benefit from the lower interest rates and the convenience of getting financing. Lenders, on the other hand, will gain from higher interest rates than they could get in comparison for their deposits made in the bank. “Thus, it will be higher income for the lender while a lower loan burden for the debtor,” adds White.

Another aspect of their statements in favor of the new plan is that with such loans, the lender’s money is more secured in comparison to those lent out to strangers. At the same time, the debtor gets significant income tax benefits.

Sunwest Trust, Inc. assists clients through the process by administering the loan in such manner that everything is well organized. “We can collect for taxes and insurance payables on a monthly basis so that the payments are spread throughout the year”, denotes White.

“Payments will be made to Sunwest Trust who will allocate these payments dividing them to principal and interest. The money can be deposited directly into your checking, money market, or savings accounts”, White further adds.

The Company cautions its clients that every investment is coupled with the risk of loss; however, this is a preferable risk being helpful both for the lender and their family members.

Sunwest Trust is confident of the success of their new program and the “Friends and Family Lending Program” is now currently offered to interested parties nationwide. Learn more by watching our video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDXc6JtzPsI

About Sunwest Trust
One of the leading financial Companies in Albuquerque, Sunwest Trust Inc. is the only one dealing with both escrow and completely self directed IRA simultaneously. The New Mexico Financial Institutions Division granted it with Trust powers in the year 2003, but has been an escrow company for over 21 years. While Sunwest specializes in self directed IRA, they also deal with real estate contracts, and mortgages. The Company is presently servicing over $900 Million in assets for over 12,000 individuals.

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

New Research From Barclays Financial Planning Shows A Worrying Trend Of People Not Providing Themselves And Their Families With A Suitable Financial Safety Net

Despite the level of fear surrounding unemployment and debts in the current environment, an online poll of 2001 British adults between 24th and 28th October 2008 conducted for Barclays Financial Planning by Opinium Research shows a worrying trend of people not providing themselves and their families with a safety net.

According to the research, over half the people questioned are worried about being able to maintain their outgoings over the next 12 months, pushing essential safety nets like income protection and critical illness cover to the bottom of their priorities. The results show, nearly half (47%) of UK adults have no protection policies in place whatsoever, to protect them and their families in the event of losing their income, health issues or even death.

The safety net gap:
52% have no life insurance
75% have no critical illness cover
78% have no income protection cover

Those aged between 35 and 54 often have the most responsibilities in terms of dependants and outgoings, but showed a large gap in their protection cover, with 45% having no life cover and 74% with no income protection insurance.

Alison Tattersall, Head of Customer and Proposition at Barclays Financial Planningsaid: “When finances are tight it is often responsibilities like protection policies that fall to a lower priority, and of course these policies protect outcomes that people don’t want to think about. But people must consider the financial consequences of what would happen if they were unable to work, or their dependents’ situation if they died, it would be far worse than any concerns they currently have over struggling to meet their outgoings.”

When looking at what other safety nets people could be relying on, the research reveals that 60% of people admit to having nothing saved, having less than one month’s salary in the bank, or not knowing what they have in savings at all. Worryingly the report also reveals that nearly 40% of people don’t receive benefits such as sick pay, death in service or health insurance, or simply do not know if they would be entitled to them. Coupled with 81% of people not knowing what they would receive in benefits from the state if they were too ill to work.

Alison Tattersall continued: “This is a worrying trend. People need to know what their state and employee benefits are before they are able to plan their protection needs properly.

“Over half of people that do have protection policies said they did not take advice or did not know if they had taken advice when buying their cover, and over 70% do not know or only have a rough idea what level of payout their policies would give them if a claim was made. This could clearly mean people end up without the right cover for their needs, which is often just as bad as having no protection at all. We urge people to seek professional advice and review the level of protection insurance they have to cover themselves or their family.”

About Barclays Financial Planning
Barclays Financial Planning (BFP) provides tailored financial advice on life, pensions and investment products across a carefully selected range of products from a range of product providers according to customer needs. It is one of the largest financial advisers in the UK, with over 700 advisers. A no obligation financial planning consultation is available to personal, business and corporate clients, and our advisers have a range of solutions available for businesses wishing to discuss succession planning.

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Financial, Financial Services, Insurance, Insurance Services, Personal Finance

What are the risks that this financial crisis might pose to the insurance industry?

It’s great when you are confident in safety of your money in general, and in your insurance company’s reliability in particular.

Unfortunately, the credit crisis affected virtually every sphere of life, and in times of the financial turmoil, like it is going now, many began worrying about its consequences for insurance and wonder to what extent the insurance industry was affected.

What are the risks that this financial crisis might pose to the insurance industry? What if my insurance provider won’t be able to pay for the claim? Should I switch the insurer, or even quit my insurance cover? All these questions are very urgent for many people today.

First of all, you should know that there is no reason to worry if you are satisfied with your insurance company and the way they work. Have they paid for the claims in time? Were there any problems with their quick and adequate respond to your claim? Make sure that you are aware of your insurer’s latest rates, and if they are ok for you, you can rest assured (whatever it meant).

Additionally, there are independent sites where you can learn practically every insurance company’s rating. The rating shows the company’s stability and reliability from an independent point of view, whether it will be able to meet its obligations in future, i.e. to pay for claims. According to the rating you can always decide if you should “quit” or switch your insurer.

Some more good news for you:

– an insurer’s activity is strictly regulated, and in most cases an insurance company is not involved in those risks which unregulated industries are vulnerable to; besides, the industry is now under tight control because of the banking crisis, which doubles reliability;

– in case an insurer is in bad financial condition, it will get aid from the state insuranceregulators, for the purpose of anticipating its bankruptcy, and the state which the insurer belongs to will take measures to save the company; moreover, it is a strict obligatory rule for insurance companies to pay into guaranty funds; so, a policyholder has nothing to worry about anyway, as he/she is going to get the money even if the insurer is insolvent;

– in some states there is a so called pre-assessment system,

– a kind of a pool for insurers to annually contribute money to, so as to secure future claim- payments.

As you may see, the sphere of insurance is rather protected from the threats of the world-wide financial crisis. Anyway, if you still have doubts, just shop around for a good and reliable insurance company, be careful and stay tuned.

About Insure4USA

Insure4USA has been offering free auto insurance, health insurance, home insurance andlife insurance quotes online since 2008.

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Banks, CDs, Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Services, Money, Online Banking

National Savings & Investments win industry award for successful MyLostAccount campaign

National Savings and Investments (NS&I) has been awarded the Most Effective Advertising Campaign at this year’s Financial Services Forum Awards for Marketing Effectiveness for the successful campaign for mylostaccount.

Launched in January 2008, mylostaccount is the free, ‘one-stop shop’ website to trace bank, building society and NS&I savings accounts. Designed to make it quicker and easier to search for lost savings, the website brings together the existing tracing schemes from the British Bankers’ Association (BBA), Building Societies Association (BSA) and NS&I.

mylostaccount was promoted by an extensive online and print campaign that commenced in February 2008. The campaign was fronted by a cartoon image, ‘Fetch’ the dog, and was designed to appeal to a wide audience.

Ayesha de Silva, Online Marketing Manager at National Savings & Investments who collected the award said, “To receive the award is a real honour for all of us at NS&I and our partners, the BBA and BSA. The mylostaccount website has certainly proved popular with the public in 2008 and the concept of ‘Fetch’ was a straightforward and fun way to make people aware of the new website.”

The campaign identity and advertising was developed and produced by CST and media buying handled by OMD UK. The website was built by Wrenhill.

In the first six months of mylostaccount, more than 140,000 people submitted search forms for money left unclaimed in dormant bank, building society and NS&I accounts. This compares with 44,000 claims in 2007, via the BBA’s, BSA’s and NS&I’s own tracing services, prior to the launch of the website.

The free website has also averaged over 760 claims per day since its launch, as savers have become more aware of this easy way of checking whether any of the estimated £1 billion lying in dormant accounts is rightfully theirs.

The Financial Services Forum Awards for Marketing Effectiveness, introduced in 2002, are dedicated to recognising and rewarding proven success in the presentation and promotion of financial services and products. At the award ceremony the site was also Commended for two other awards, in the Digital Activity and New Product, Service or Innovation categories.

About mylostaccount:
mylostaccount is a free website created by NS&I along with the British Bankers’ Association (BBA), the Building Societies Association (BSA), which is designed to help account holders search for lost bank, building society and NS&I accounts by simply completing just one application form.

About NS&I:
NS&I is one of the largest financial providers in the UK with 28 million customers and over £83 billion invested. It is best known for Premium Bonds, but also offers High Income Bonds, ISA accounts, Guaranteed Equity Bonds and Children’s Bonus Bonds in its range. All products offer 100% security, because NS&I is backed by HM Treasury.

NS&I products are available over the telephone, internet, post and by standing order. They are also available through a network of 14,000 UK Post Office branches.

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Business, Career, Financial, Financial Education, Financial Services, Money

Quest CE Announces They Are Now Offering Firms An Online Annual Compliance Meeting Solution

Quest CE is pleased to announce it is now offering firms an online annual compliance meeting solution. Quest’s On-Demand Learning Platform enables firms to hold pre-recorded meetings online without the costly time and travel expenses associated with live meetings.

FINRA Conduct Rule 3010 requires an annual compliance meeting to be held with all registered personnel.

Quest’s On-Demand Learning Platform provides:

• Online Questionnaire Automating the Q&A Process
• Deliver Annual Compliance Meetings On-Demand Over the Internet
• Online Q&A and Feedback Board for Post Meeting Compliance

Quest’s Online Annual Compliance Solution provides an innovative online solution to administer FINRA’s annual compliance meeting requirement and other online events, allowing firms to efficiently provide online registration, delivery, and tracking of meeting attendance.

For more information on how Quest’s Online Annual Compliance Solution can save your firm time and money, contact Jim Hoehn at 877-593-3366 or jhoehn@questce.com

About Quest Compliance Education Solutions
Over the past 20-plus years, Quest CE has built a reputation of being the premier provider of Compliance Education to the financial services industry. Quest CE serves more than 100 leading insurance carriers, broker/dealers, banks, and other financial institutions. We are a privately held firm which allows us to quickly meet the ever-changing needs of our clients. Our commitment is to provide advanced custom solutions at cost effective rates while providing a level of service that greatly surpasses that of our competitors. Quest provides a single source solution for organizations training and compliance needs, saving you both time and money.

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Business, Career, Financial, Financial Education, Financial Services, Money

Quest CE Releases Their Complete Library Of Online Long Term Care Partnership Training Courses

Quest CE, the nationwide provider of continuing education for insurance professionals, announced the immediate release of their complete library of online Long Term Care Partnership training courses. The online courses enable producers to obtain their newly-mandated continuing education credits on the subject of long-term care and long-term care partnership programs.

Since the passage of the Deficit Reduction Act, most states have implemented a new long-term care partnership program. As part of the new programs, states require that all producers who sell, solicit, or negotiate long-term care insurance must complete training on this subject.

Quest CE offers courses designed to meet state-specific Long Term Care Training requirements. All of our courses are available online, complete with text, exam, and printable certificates where allowed by state. If you sell, or wish to sell long term care insurance, but unsure if you are affected by specific training requirements please visit our website (www.questce.com) for further information.

Quest CE offers Long Term Care Partnership courses in the following states:

Arizona
Arkansas
Connecticut
Delaware
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois
Maine
Maryland
Michigan
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
New Jersey
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
Wisconsin

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

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Anti-Money Laundering, Business, Career, Financial, Financial Education, Financial Services, Money

Quest CE Offers A Solution To New Red Flag Rules And Anti-Money Laundering Training

Quest CE announced today the release of their new 2009 Anti-Money Laundering and Red Flags online course designed to meet USA Patriot Act requirements. To demo the new course go tohttp://www.questce.com/AML-Course-Demo/Presentation_Files/index.html

The USA PATRIOT Act requires financial institutions to develop and implement an AML compliance program.

NASD Rule 3011 outlines minimum standards for broker-dealers’ AML compliance programs. It requires firms to develop and implement a written AML compliance program. The program has to be approved in writing by a member of senior management and be reasonably designed to achieve and monitor the ongoing compliance with the requirements of the Bank Secrecy Act.

NASD Rule 3011 also requires firms to provide ongoing training for appropriate personnel. This would include training for all representatives engaged in the business of providing financial advice, the sale of financial products or services, or deal in any way with the transfer of financial interests.

Quest CE offers a complete Anti Money Laundering (AML) solution for organizations of all sizes. Quest’s Anti-Money Laundering (AML) program offers advanced capabilities that other vendors do not offer. In coordination with industry experts, Quest CE’s team of IT and database professionals created a Learning Management System (LMS) to fit the AML reporting, tracking, and training needs of Quest’s clients.

“The system allows AML program administrators the ability to run real-time reports, upload new users instantly, and send reminder emails to users who haven’t yet completed their training,” said Patrick Torhorst, Vice President of IT for Quest CE.

In addition to offering this advanced technology in a fully customizable web portal, Quest CE is offering the industry’s lowest available pricing to companies interested in utilizing Quest’s AML program. For as little as $2 per user, firms can have a web portal built to look like their own AML eUniversity complete with full reporting and tracking capabilities, and including Quest CE’s robust library of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) courses.

Quest CE can also author any firm’s proprietary courses to meet specific training needs.

About Quest CE
Over the past 20-plus years, Quest CE has built a reputation of being the premier provider of Compliance Solutions to the financial services industry. In addition to offering CE for professionals holding insurance licenses and professional designations like the CFP, CIMA, CLU/ChFC, and CPA designations, we also provide a complete spectrum of financial compliance training solutions.

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Business, Career, Financial, Financial Education, Financial Services, Money

Quest CE Has Released Their 2009 Insurance, Professional Designation And Firm Element Course Catalogs

Quest CE announced today the release of their 2009 Insurance, Professional Designation and Firm Element course catalogs. Quest’s Curriculum Development Team worked closely with clients in determining content that would meet the ever-changing needs of the financial services industry.

The Quest CE-authored courses are available online through Quest’s Compliance Education Training website. To download a course catalog go to: http://www.questce.com/Downloads.html

Quest CE offers a complete approach to Insurance, Designation and Firm Element planning, training, and implementation. Quest helps firms and individuals meet their regulatory requirements in an efficient and cost effective manner. Quest offers complete or A-La-Carte training solutions.

For more information on Quest CE’s products, services, or to request a pricing proposal, contact Jim Hoehn at 877-593-3366 or jhoehn@questce.com

About Quest CE
Over the past 20-plus years, Quest CE has built a reputation of being the premier provider of Compliance Solutions to the financial services industry. In addition to offering CE for professionals holding insurance licenses and professional designations like the CFP, CIMA, CLU/ChFC, and CPA designations, Quest provides a complete spectrum of financial compliance training solutions.

Quest CE has trained and tracked more than 100,000 registered representatives and insurance agents in the past year. We offer more than 200 courses to fulfill continuing education requirements for Firm Element, state insurance and professional designation credits.

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

The Bank Of England’s Decision To Cut The Base Rate Could Be Particularly Welcome Among People Looking To Remortgage

Welcoming the Bank of England’s decision to cut the base rate to 2%, financial services provider Think Money (www.thinkmoney.com) highlighted the positive effect this could have on people looking for a remortgage.

“Many people paying – or looking for – a mortgage will welcome the base rate falling to levels we’ve not seen in over 50 years,” said Melanie Taylor, Head of Corporate Relations at Think Money. “However, we anticipate the greatest sense of relief will be among people coming to the end of their mortgage term.

“Primarily, this is because these are the people who are tied to a specific time period. Most people moving house or buying their first home will have a degree of flexibility in the timing of their move, but when a mortgage term expires, it expires. This is an absolute deadline – and before they reach that point, the homeowner should have decided whether they’ll revert to their mortgage provider’s SVR or look for a new mortgage deal altogether.

“To anyone in that situation, the base rate cut will come as a great relief, as it could make either option more appealing. In some cases, it could make all the difference between being able to stay in the house and having to sell it.”

However, as the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has pointed out, lenders don’t necessarily benefit from cuts to the base rate in the way that many people believe. As the CML website states: ‘the cost of funds to lenders depends not on Bank rate, but on a range of other factors, including what they have to pay savers to attract deposits, how much it costs them to borrow in money markets, and the costs of holding capital and sufficient liquidity … Far more important than the Bank rate in determining lenders’ funding costs is the three-month London inter-bank offered rate (libor)’.

Nonetheless, the rate which the Bank of England charges lenders is still an important factor, affecting the entire monetary system: “Many mortgage providers passed the full 1.5% of November’s cut on to borrowers on their SVR deals. Various lenders have already announced they will pass on all or most of this latest reduction too, making the thought of reverting to their SVR much more attractive.

“At the same time, this reduction in the base rate will make it easier for lenders to lower the interest rates they charge for new mortgages of all kinds, helping people remortgage at a more attractive rate.”

But homeowners at the end of their mortgage term won’t be the only ones to benefit from the base rate cut. “According to the Bank of England’s November 2008 Inflation Report, around 7% of mortgagors are spending 35-50% of their pre-tax income on their mortgage payments – and 5% are spending 50%-100%. Given the historically high salary multiples we’re seeing in today’s mortgage markets, the ability to remortgage at a lower rate could make all the difference to the finances of many homeowners.”

“Of course, there’s always the question of Loan-to-Value (LTV), a particularly important ratio in today’s economic environment: with house prices dropping and credit relatively scarce, lenders are reserving the best deals for people with LTV ratios of 60% or less. Even so, a base rate of 2% is indisputably good news for most homeowners with mortgages across the country, whatever their situation.”

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

Debt Management Company Gregory Pennington Have Advised Anyone Currently Struggling To Repay Debts To Seek Professional Debt Advice

Responding to a new report from PricewaterhouseCoopers suggesting that over a quarter of borrowers are worried about their ability to repay debts, debt management company Gregory Pennington has advised consumers that all forms of borrowing should be planned well to ensure that the debts can be repaid, and has encouraged anyone struggling to repay their debts to seek professional debt advice.

The Credit Confidence Survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers suggested that over one in four people (27%) are worried about their future ability to repay debts, while 20% of UK credit customers are worried about the future availability of credit – suggesting a reliance on credit to pay off existing debts.

16% of those questioned reported that they were already struggling to make debt repayments, “very few” of whom have considered options to restructure their debt, such as a debt management plan.

The report also found:

• Unsecured borrowing has actually risen by 6% compared with last year – although secured borrowing has fallen ‘dramatically’
• Insolvencies increased by around 9% in the third quarter of 2008, compared with the second quarter
• Every working hour, over 100 adults enter into bankruptcy, an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) or start a Debt Management Plan

A spokesperson for Gregory Pennington commented: “Although the survey on the whole represents good confidence levels amongst a lot of borrowers, the fact that over one in four borrowers are worried about their future ability to repay debts highlights the importance of future planning when it comes to borrowing.

“One of the most important steps for borrowers to take before taking out a loan is to establish how much they want to borrow and how much they can afford to repay each month. There is also the matter of how long the repayment terms should be – the longer the terms, the more time there is in which the borrower’s circumstances could change, and a change in circumstances could affect their ability to make repayments.

“Of course, there are many cases in which unforeseen circumstances prevent borrowers from repaying their debts, such as unemployment or a fall in earnings.

“Whatever the reason, anyone struggling to repay their debts should take decisive action as early as possible. A debt adviser can provide information on a range of debt solutions that can help to minimise monthly outgoings, which could be crucial to those hard-pressed by the current economic situation.

“For example, a debt management plan through a professional debt adviser can enable people to pay back their debts at a more manageable pace, while reducing or freezing interest and other charges. However, this can mean the debts take longer to repay than originally planned.

“Alternatively, a debt consolidation loan can ‘group together’ the borrower’s debts, meaning they pay one creditor instead of many. A debt consolidation loan can also be spread out over a longer period of time than the original debts, meaning monthly outgoings are reduced – although this can mean paying more interest in the long run. However, if the borrower is consolidating high-APR debts such as credit cards, the lower interest rate can often mean that less interest is paid overall.

“For more serious debts, typically of £15,000 or higher, an IVA (Individual Voluntary Arrangement) might be the most appropriate option. An IVA involves working with an Insolvency Practitioner to draw up a proposal for lower debt repayments based on an amount that the borrower can afford. This normally continues for five years, and on successful completion the remaining debt is considered settled.

“As with anything debt related, it’s always advisable for borrowers to speak to an expert debt adviser before deciding on the appropriate solution for their debts.”

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Financial, Financial Education, Financial Services, Insurance, Money

Quest CE recently published the results for their 2008 Financial Advisor Education Survey

The survey focused on advisors’ opinions on the insurance and designation continuing education (CE) sessions offered in their branch offices by wholesalers and of the wholesalers themselves.

Quest CE recently invited over 30,000 financial advisors to participate in their annual survey on advisor’s perceptions of value-added insurance and professional designation continuing education (CE).

The 17-question survey focused on advisors’ opinions on the insurance and designation continuing education (CE) sessions offered in their branch offices by wholesalers and of the wholesalers themselves.

Results showed 77% of the advisors who responded make time to attend continuing education sessions wholesalers present at their office, and 94% agreed those CE presentations were relevant and informative.

“We assumed a majority of advisors would make time to attend CE events,” says Aaron Thompson, Director of Operations for Quest CE. “But even we were surprised by the overwhelmingly positive response the survey received.”

The survey asked whether the advisor was more likely to attend an instructor-led continuing education session than a product update meeting held by a wholesaler. Nearly 70% of the respondents said they were more likely to attend a CE session, further illustrating the fact that wholesalers who offer CE in branch offices can dramatically increase contacts and strengthen relationships with advisors.

Nearly 90% of respondents said they would be interested in receiving continuing education voucher cards from wholesalers who do not offer a “live” CE session in their office.

“It’s further proof that financial advisors are looking for ways to fulfill their state insurance and designation CE requirements,” says Thompson. “If they can’t get CE by sitting through the wholesaler’s product presentation, they would be interested in receiving a continuing education voucher card from the wholesaler that they could use to obtain continuing education credits via an online course.”

Final survey results and a White Paper summarizing the findings are available for download at www.questce.com/Downloads.html

To learn more about the survey or for information regarding Quest CE’s products and services contact Jim Hoehn at 877-593-3366 or jhoehn@questce.com.

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

PLoans4You.com is an internet payday loan service

An efficient service for payday loans and cash advances surfacing on the map of the World Wide Web, Ploans4You.com offers a system of swift online application and approval processes for loans up to $1,500.

The service is based on the simple concept of payday loans for people in need of swiftly borrowing funds. While the sum provided per loan (anywhere from $100 to $1,500) is relatively small, it perfectly reflects the idea and simplicity behind the PLoans4You.com online loan service.

For those unaware, payday loans consist of relatively small sums borrowed swiftly for urgent needs on a short-term basis. Such a cash advance is deposited into the recipient’s bank account and retrieved from there on a later set date to repay the debt. This allows the loan taker to deal with whatever emergency situations might arise with urgent cash needs. The site provides an online approval process that entails signing up online and awaiting authorisation. A steady monthly income is all that is required to receive approval, upon which the loan will be transferred to the recipient’s specified bank account in a matter of minutes. As such, just about anyone with a job and bank account is free to make use of this service.

Working with a wide array of payday loan lenders, Ploans4You.com matches loan requests with lenders capable of providing such loans based on a number of criteria, ensuring a fair transaction and trustworthy loan process from start to finish. Furthermore, the service requires a very limited range of documents, and unlike many other online loan services, provides swift and reliable support so that clients can always get in touch with the service and vice-versa.

The modern day world can be relentless and unforgiving when it comes to financial troubles, but despite any possible restrictions, Ploans4You.com staff work diligently to find a way for every loan recipient to receive the loan they seek. Operating with small sums means working specifically to aid regular people with average incomes in their cash-related troubles, be it paying the bills or any other short-term needs.

About PLoans4You.com
PLoans4You.com is an internet payday loan service. We offer our customers payday loans and cash advances when they need it most since 2007.

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Financial, Financial Management, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, Insurance, Insurance Services, Personal Finance, Retirement

Prudential Research Reveals UK Pension Contributions Have Plummeted As The Current Economic Downturn Forces UK Workers To Make Cut Backs

Independent research conducted by Prudential reveals that 18% of UK workers say they have reduced the amount they save for an occupational or private pension as a result of the credit crunch. Of these people, 36% do not anticipate they will be able to increase the amount they save into a pension in the future.

The research shows that voluntary pension contributions to private and company schemes have plummeted by 53% in just 18 months as the current economic downturn forces UK adults to cut monthly pension savings from an average £279.38 a month in March 2007 to just £129.35 a month now.

The findings also reveal that UK workers are on average saving just £1,552.20 a year into pension funds with women saving even less, around £74.95 per month or £899.40 a year.

In addition, more than half of all UK workers (55%) do not contribute to a company pension or private pension, leaving them completely reliant on the State pension or other savings.

The results compared to previous Prudential studies, the last of these conducted in March 2008, indicate that pension contributions have fallen by half from their March 2007 level of £279.38 a month to an average of just £144.57 a month, and the latest figures demonstrate that contributions have continued to fall still further from March to September 2008.

Martyn Bogira, Defined Contributions Director, Prudential stated: “It is staggering to see how much UK pension contributions are being scaled back as people look to reduce their outgoings but while a pension scheme may seem a relatively pain free way to increase disposable income today, the impact of this in retirement will be significant.

“We would urge people to think carefully before cutting pension contributions as it is vital that they build a strong savings pot to ensure they are in the best position possible to enable them to enjoy a comfortable retirement.”

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

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, 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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