Tag Archives: Insurance

Insurance

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

Insurancewide Has Cautioned The Public Of The Dangers Of Foregoing Life Insurance, Particularly During A Global Recession

Since the economic crisis began, countless businesses across a number of industries have suffered – and it’s no secret that the poor financial climate has also hit the insurance industry, particularly the life insurance sector. With global life insurance companies in trouble – Yamamoto recently claimed bankruptcy while AIG sold off its life insurance operations to pay back debt – it’s clear that the life insurance market has taken a large hit among other insurance sectors.

Reports have shown that nearly 36 million adults living in the United Kingdom do not currently have life insurance, with 28 per cent of the adult population in the country believing insurance products are unaffordable. Moreover, an increasing number of people are choosing to cancel their policies due to the economic crisis. But Insurancewide has cautioned the public of the dangers of foregoing life insurance, particularly during a global recession.

A necessity to protect those closest to you

While insurance is a precautionary expense, it can prove devastating for your family if they’re not covered in the event of your death. Hundreds of thousands of pounds of expenses and debt could be placed on your family if you’re not insured. However, a modest monthly outgoing for a life insurance policy could make all the difference.

Jonathan French, spokesperson for the ABI, reinforced Insurancewide’s warning when he told Money.co.uk: “Given that there is a credit crunch…it may well be that people look to cut back on their overall expenditure, and one of the things that they could look at to do that is their life and protection insurance.

“Of course the great irony, particularly when it comes to those products which would protect your income in the event of you being made redundant, [is that] those sort of products are at their most valuable potentially during times of economic uncertainty.”

Mr French added that policyholders should think “very, very carefully” before cancelling their life insurance cover.

Insurancewide continues to stress that while life insurance may seem like a luxury during the economic crisis, it is an absolute necessity to protect those closest to you. The insurance comparison firm also assures those who are looking to cut their expenses during the credit crunch that life insurance comparison could help them secure a policy that fits within their budget.

About Insurancewide

Insurancewide, also known as Insurancewide.com Services Limited, is an online insurance comparison website offering insurance comparison tools that allow users to search the market and procure the best insurance policies and quotes.

Insurancewide was launched in August 1999 as the first insurance comparison website on the internet. The site also powered tools used on popular website Confused.com.

Insurancewide is FSA regulated.

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

LV= Announces A Major New Protection Partnership With Standard Life

Leading protection provider LV= has announced a major new partnership with Standard Life.

The UK’s largest friendly society LV= will now provide its award winning Income Protection Plan and whole of life 50 Plus Plan to the customers of Standard Life, through Standard Life’s Direct Telesales team.

Standard Life will manage marketing and sales activity to its UK direct customer client bank, using LV= branded product literature. Customers will complete the sales process with Standard Life’s Direct Telesales team, acting as ‘introducers’ to LV=. LV= will then manage all underwriting, administration and servicing of the policies. The partnership will run for an initial period of three years.

Commenting on the new partnership with Standard Life, Stuart Tragheim, LV= Director of Distribution Strategy and Business Development said: “We are delighted to have won this partnership and to be the new provider of specialist protection solutions to Standard Life’s customers. We have award-winning product and service expertise in protection, and Standard Life recognised our financial strength and our ability to deliver bespoke product solutions for customers, and to get these to market quickly.”

He continued, “This partnership builds on our substantial experience in packaging life and general insurance products for the customers of other like-minded organisations. As a financially strong mutual organisation, we plan to extend our ‘partner of choice’ franchise going forward.”

Anne Gunther, Chief Executive of Standard Life Client Management said: “I am delighted LV= has been appointed to our panel of protection advisers. This arrangement will enable us to continue developing our direct to customer proposition and offer clients a holistic approach to their financial planning needs. LV= has a strong brand and track record of innovative thinking in the protection market.”

Through its existing partnerships LV= provides life, protection and general insuranceproducts to a wide range of organisations including Nationwide Building Society, T&G, AMICUS, Intune (Help the Aged), CSMA Club and the Royal College of Midwives.

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. We are also the UK’s largest friendly society (Association of Friendly Societies Key Statistics 2008. Total net assets) 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.

About Standard Life
Standard Life has approximately 7 million customers worldwide and provides an extensive range of products and services, aimed at meeting the financial requirements of customers throughout their lives.

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Financial Services, Insurance, Insurance Services, Money

BBC Money Programme exposes the shortfalls of irresponsible price comparison websites, but insurance comparison fared better in the programme than loans or energy websites and most insurance comparison websites do not focus on price alone; far from it

BBC2’s Money Programme (Price Comparison Sites: Deal or No Deal) was right to expose the shortfalls of irresponsible price comparison websites. Insurance comparison fared better in the programme than loans or energy websites and it’s important to remember despite the programme title that most insurance comparison websites do not focus on price alone; far from it.

Consumers MUST be able to trust insurance comparison websites. It’s the job of a decent aggregator to be on their side, to help them understand exactly what level and type of insurance cover is being recommended and pay only what the sites have quoted them in their initial search for a policy.

As the BBC points out, comparison websites are a growing industry and are here to stay. We have a responsibility to provide accurate and clear information including guides and advice about all types of insurance. That’s surely the only way people can make informed choices.

As the original insurance comparison website, pioneering the industry since 1999, we see ourselves as the custodians and we’re concerned that some insurance comparison websites are making it difficult for consumers to trust the industry. At Insurancewide we guarantee clarity, honesty and privacy and there are no surprises. We want our customers to trust us; we’re on their side.

We reject insurers who ‘spam’ our customers or misuse their information and we reject insurers who do not return accurate prices. And the BBC was wrong about self regulation “fizzling out”: we have been closely involved all year in discussions with regulation bodies about the rules that govern our industry. It’s simply not in our interest to flout guidelines or mislead customers.

The Money Programme was also incorrect in saying that all comparison websites are paid by revenue from ‘click-throughs’. Insurancewide.com only ever receives a fee if its recommendation is taken up by the consumer and the policy is bought.

About Insurancewide
Insurancewide, also known as Insurancewide.com Services Limited, is an online insurance comparison website offering insurance comparison tools that allow users to search the market and procure the best insurance policies and quotes.

Insurancewide was launched in August 1999 as the first insurance comparison website on the internet. The site also powers tools used on popular website Confused.com. Insurancewide is FSA regulated.

Harvey is passionate about getting you the best insurance deals possible.

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

LV=, the investment, pensions and insurance group, has revealed that the credit crunch, stock market volatility, and fears of a recession are growing concerns for the nation’s pre-retirement population

Six months after the LV= ‘State of Retirement’ report* first identified the rise of ‘FREDs’ – people approaching retirement who are Facing Retirement Earnings Doubts – new research shows that 69% of pre-retired people are now more concerned than ever about their financial security. This equates to 7.1m people**, an increase of 600,000 since the first LV= ‘State of Retirement’ report was published in May 2008***.

The rising cost of utility bills and food prices remains the biggest worry for people facing retirement, with 71% of those surveyed. However, this is marginally down on six months ago (76%), whereas worries regarding the credit crunch, stock market volatility, and fears of a recession are now all on the increase.

The credit crunch has become a concern in the last six months for an additional 2.1m pre-retired people, making a total of 4.2m. In addition, a further 1.8m people have become more anxious about a recession and a further 1.5m about stock market volatility, totalling 4.5m and 3.1m pre-retirees respectively. Over 50s are also more concerned about job insecurity. These three issues have increased in importance over the last six months, further contributing to the growing number of FREDs.

Despite the increase in those admitting to being more concerned about their financial situation in retirement, 20% are not saving anything towards their retirement, while 51% have not increased the amount they are saving. Of the 10% who have increased the amount they save each month, the average is £225 a month, £35 more than the average monthly amount from the survey six months ago.

Mike Rogers, LV= group chief executive, said: “In just six months the number of FREDs has increased, indicating that pre-retired people across the UK are more concerned than ever about their retirement finances. Unsurprisingly, the credit crunch, stock market volatility, and fears of a recession are now huge issues for these people, along with the perennial concern about the rising cost of living.”

The latest LV= report also shows that the number of people approaching retirement who haven’t taken any form of financial advice about retirement planning has increased to 60%, compared with 56% previously.

Mike Rogers continued: “The FREDs of this world have at least received some small comfort from the recent Pre-Budget Report, with the announcement of increases in both the state pension and pension credit. This goes some way towards bridging the gap between income expectation and reality in retirement, that our survey revealed is an issue for many people.”

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from online Opinium Research

* Sample size was 1042 adults over the age of 50 years. Fieldwork undertaken 14th – 19th April 2008. ** The over 50s population in the UK is 21,011,000 (Source: Population projections by ONS, 2008). According to the research, 49% of those people are not retired. The research also shows that 69% (7.1m people) agreed they have become more concerned lately about retirement finances. *** Sample size – 1655 adults over the age of 50 years. Fieldwork undertaken 3rd – 9th April 2008.

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. LV= employs more than 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 (Association of Friendly Societies Key Statistics 2008. Total net assets) 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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Checking & Savings, Credit Cards, Financial, Financial Services, Forex, Money

MS Money Reports Weak Pound Sees Travellers Digging Out Foreign Currency To Exchange For Sterling In Time For Christmas

As the pound continues to fall in strength against foreign currencies, Christmas shoppers have been digging-out their old foreign currency to exchange for sterling.

M&S Money has reported that November saw a record number of people exchanging foreign currencies for sterling across the network of in store bureaux de change.

There has been a particularly high demand to exchange US dollars for sterling – a 53% increase in turnover over the past three weeks compared to the same period last year. Other popular ‘buy back’ currencies in November were the Swiss Franc and Japanese Yen.

Fraser Millar, M&S Head of Travel Services, said: “This time last year travellers heading to America were getting a great deal – almost US$2 for every £1. At that rate you would be wise to hold on to any dollars brought back to the UK and use them on your next trip.”

He continued, “Now the pound has weakened against the dollar – around US$1.44 for every pound – so travellers are getting less for their money in the US. Travellers returning home with cash that may have previously held on to the currency are now keen to grab the relatively low ‘buy back’ rates.”

Previous research carried out by M&S Travel Money found that 80% of Brits bring back foreign currency when they return from a break abroad. Almost a third (28%) of those return home with more than £50 worth.

Over three quarters (76%) of British travellers that bring back foreign money said they do not bother or just forget to change the money back into sterling and a third (33%) simply leave it untouched in a drawer, wallet or handbag.

Fraser added: “As families continue to face financial pressures, the trend to keep currency rather than change back to sterling is likely to decrease. M&S offers a commission free buy-back service, so travellers don’t have to worry about bringing lots of cash home with them.”

About M&S Money

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

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.

With a market capitalisation of US$190 billion (7 October 2008), the HSBC Group is one of the world’s largest financial services organisations. Over 100 million customers worldwide entrust HSBC with US$1.2 trillion in deposits. With a tier one capital ratio of 8.8% and a loan to deposit ratio of 90% (30 June 2008), the Group remains one of the most strongly capitalised and liquid banks in the world.

M&S Money has 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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Financial, Financial Services, Insurance, Insurance Services, Mortgage, Personal Finance, Retirement

Prudential Research Has Revealed The Importance Of The Family Home With Millions Of Childhood Bedrooms Preserved

New research conducted for Prudential shows that more than 4.6 million UK adults have their former bedrooms preserved by parents who cannot quite let go of earlier memories of their children.

A staggering 42% of UK adults (around 4.6 million people) whose parents still live in the family home say their former bedroom is still decorated as it was when they were a child, with 44% sleeping in their childhood bedroom when they return to see their parents.

It is not just the parents who hang onto those childhood memories, almost half (46%) of UK adults whose parents still live in the family home say they still regard their childhood bedroom as their room despite moving out.

However, much more than just the decoration remains unchanged. A third (33%) of UK adults whose parents still live in the family home say they sleep surrounded by childhood photographs, 27% with old school books and folders and 20% with their childhood toys when they visit their parents.

The research from Prudential also showed that a further 10% face the dubious retro-pleasure of childhood posters and 22% say their former childhood bedroom still contains trophies, awards and certificates from their formative years.

Keith Haggart, director of Prudential Lifetime Mortgage said: “The connection with the family home remains strong throughout our lives and our research has shown that around a third of UK adults say the home they grew up in is still lived in by their parents, so it is understandable that many people are loathe to sell the family home even if it means having to struggle to make ends meet, especially in retirement.

“But there are other options available and equity release can provide a good way for people to get hold of the money they have tied up in property equity without having to sell their family homes and downsize.”

In addition to preserving their childhood bedroom, 60% of UK adults whose parents still live in the family home say their parents store a range of belongings for them, with eight per cent having left letters from former boyfriends or girlfriends at their parents home, four per cent having left animals and pets with their parents and eight per cent using their parents house to store bicycles.

The most popular items to store at parental homes were school books and folders (left by 34% of UK adults), with photographs (32%), books (31%) and clothes (20%) all scoring highly.

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.

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from Research Plus. Total sample size was 1033 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 15th and 21st July 2008. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).

About Prudential
Established in 1848, today Prudential plc is an international financial services company with a product range which extends from personal banking, insurance, pensions and retail investments, to institutional fund management and property investments.

In the UK Prudential is a leading life and pensions provider with around seven million customers.

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Financial, Financial Services, Insurance, Insurance Services

Mevsinc Launched Their Online Insurance Website To Assist More Customers In Obtaining Help With Their Insurance Quotes

Customers who use the MevsInc service are now able to complete a short application process 24-hours a day, 7 days a week in order to get the cheapest insurance quotes.

Unlike other websites that use nationwide services to fill customer insurance requests, MevsInc.com aims to provide its users with results from insurance companies that the individual can meet with face-to-face.

Founder of the MevsInc.com, Grigoriy Anoshenko stated, “Unlike other services that provide a 1-800 phone number and a website for customers to contact, we provide a local address, a local phone number and even driving directions if they are needed.”

The decision to go online with the website has allowed the MevsInc company to extend its normal operation hours to accommodate clients that required services beyond the standard 9-5 Eastern Standard Time operating hours.

The MevsInc.com website covers most insurance types with auto insurance, life insurance, health insurance, and home insurance being at the forefront of their services. Users simply enter their zip code and fill in a short survey based on the type of insurance they are interested in purchasing.

Auto insurance quotes are available on any vehicle type and rate comparisons are provided to make sure customers receive the best rates locally. In addition, all insurance types (auto, home, life and health) provide discounts that have been established through exclusive partnership programs between MevsInc.com and local representatives.

The website includes a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section which points out not only the positives of insurance services but also the negatives. In addition, customers with questions are encouraged to contact the MevsInc customer service department for clarification of terms and offerings.

In the end, it is the customer who wins, both by receiving excellent rates on insurance and by being able to invest their resources locally with insurance companies that share the common goals of success with the customer.

For more information regarding MevsInc offerings, please visit their website.

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

Prudential Has Revealed That UK Workers Are Missing Out On £5.07 Billion A Year By Failing To Join Company Pension Schemes

Prudential, the UK based financial services company, has announced the results of recently conducted independent research which reveals that UK workers are missing out on £5.07 billion a year by failing to join company pension schemes.

The findings from Prudential show that 66% of UK workers (full time and part time) knew their employers offered a company pension as part of their remuneration package. Those polled also said that employers will pay an average of 11.33% of earnings to their schemes.

Yet despite this, 18% of these workers are failing to join the occupational pensions on offer which, based on the average annual UK salary of £19,494.80 for full and part time staff, means they are turning down an extra £2,208 a year on top of their salaries. The 18% of workers who have not joined their occupational pension schemes are therefore surrendering over £5 billion of pension perks every year.

Additionally, the research found that more than one in four (26%) of UK working adults believe that their employer does not offer a pension scheme as part of their employment package, with this number rising to 37% among 18-24 year olds. This is despite all companies being legally obliged to provide a stakeholder pension scheme as a minimum part of staff employment packages.

On the back of these findings, Prudential is calling for employers and their staff to work together and ensure that they take the pension benefits they are entitled to.

Martyn Bogira, Defined Contributions Director for Prudential, said: “Britons are taking voluntary cuts of over £5 billion per annum in their employee benefits by failing to join acompany pension scheme. Missing out today on these benefits will play havoc with peoples’ retirement plans in the future. But it’s a problem with an easy solution. We would strongly encourage all staff to check the terms of their company pension and ensure they understand how much additional money they are losing out on by failing to join these.

“It is critical that UK adults ensure they are building an adequate retirement savings pot if they are to enjoy a financially secure future and avoid having to work past traditional retirement ages or having to significantly reduce their standard of living in retirement.

“Two steps are all that’s needed to stop losing out. Firstly, employees should check with their employer to find out what occupational scheme is available to them. Secondly, we would encourage people to visit an IFA (Independent Financial Advisor) to ensure all their savings and assets, together with the benefits offered to them as part of the their employment packages, are working for them to enable them to build the retirement fund they need to achieve their goals.”

Prudential has launched an easy to use retirement planning website to help consumers and employers tackle retirement issues.

About Prudential:
Established in 1848, Prudential plc is an international financial services company with a product range which extends from personal banking, insurance, pensions and retail investments, to institutional fund management and property investments.

In the UK Prudential is a leading life and pensions provider with around seven million customers.

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Credit Cards, Financial, Financial Management, Financial Services, Insurance, Insurance Services, Money, Personal Finance

M&S Money Has Urged People Travelling Abroad This Christmas To Make Sure That They Have Travel Insurance At The Top Of The Christmas Shopping List

M&S Money, the financial services division of Marks and Spencer, has reported that up to one million people are planning on visiting friends and family abroad this festive season. As such, the financial services company is encouraging those travelling to make sure travel insurance is at the top of their Christmas shopping list.

M&S Money has revealed that DIY holidays have become more popular than traditional package holidays in recent times, increasing by six million in just five years, with fewer than half of Christmas trips abroad booked as complete packages from a travel agent.

The rise of independent travel makes insurance even more important, but further research reveals that 49%of consumers don’t know what their travel insurance covers them for. For example, most policies don’t offer cover for the collapse of an airline, as thousands of people found to their cost in recent months.

However, M&S Premier Travel Insurance now includes independent traveller cover as part of its annual multi trip policy and as an optional extra with single trip and standard trip travel insurance. This means people who book a holiday without using a tour operator will be covered if their flight is cancelled and if other parts of their holiday are affected.

Judith Roberts, M&S Money Insurance Manager, commented: “For most people, Christmas is all about spending time with friends and family, even if that means making a trip abroad. Travel insurance was originally designed for the package holiday market and we felt that it was time to improve our policy as so many people now book independently. For example, if your flight is cancelled you may be unable to claim for subsequent connections and face the cost of new flights or accommodation. M&S Premier Travel Insurance is one of only a few policies that covers these types of situations that are often not included in traditional policies.”

About M&S Money:

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

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.

With a market capitalisation of US$190 billion (as at 7 October 2008), the HSBC Group is one of the world’s largest financial services organisations. Over 100 million customers worldwide entrust HSBC with US$1.2 trillion in deposits. With a tier one capital ratio of 8.8% and a loan to deposit ratio of 90% as at 30 June 2008, the Group remains one of the most strongly capitalised and liquid banks in the world.

M&S Money has 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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Financial, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, Insurance, Insurance Services, Money, Personal Finance

LV= Has Reported That One In Three People In The UK Believe That Their Neighbourhood Has Declined Since They Moved To The Area

LV=, the UK insurance company, has commissioned a new report that has revealed that UK neighbourhoods appear to be in decline, with one in three people (33%) believing that their neighbourhood has gotten worse since they moved to the area. Moreover, a quarter of people said that they would like to move out of their neighbourhood, with less than one in ten saying that they would like it to remain ‘as it is’.

The ‘UK Neighbourhoods Report’ from LV, commissioned amongst more than 4000 home owners and home renters in the UK, paints a bleak picture of the declining standards of neighbourhoods in the UK. People say that compared to five years ago, they feel less safe, that local amenities and services have deteriorated, plus they have a growing fear of becoming a victim of street crime.

The report revealed that for most people, the concept of an ideal neighbourhood is one where they can live a quiet life free from the threat of street crime and anti-social behaviour. However, one in three people (32%) in the UK said that they feel they have seen an increase in street crime in their neighbourhood, with only 8% of people saying they have seen a drop over the last five years. This led to one in four people (28%) saying they feel unsafe walking in their neighbourhood at night.

Recently the Government announced that crime prevention and neighbourhood safety would be taken more seriously, with Communities Minister Baroness Andrews announcing a £500 million plan to revive deprived communities across the country, with the aim of cutting crime levels, improving educational achievements and boosting job opportunities.

John ‘O Roarke, managing director of LV Home Insurance, said: “This report shows that a large number of people throughout the country are not happy with the area they live in and, although there are many reasons for this, part of this is because of the apparent rise in street crime over the years. It is only natural for people to feel they should be able to rely on the police and crime prevention measures to make them feel secure but most people see standards largely as ‘average’, with a further quarter saying they actually regard it as poor.

“This paints a bleak picture of how large parts of society view their local areas, so this announcement by the Government to inject £500 million into certain areas to help tackle street crime is much needed.”

According to the report from the home insurer, the most popular thing that people in the UK want to change about their neighbourhood is the level of council tax they pay, with four out of ten people (40%) saying this is the biggest issue for them.

John ‘O Roarke continued: “Council tax has never been the most popular of bills but the fact that so many people are unhappy with the level they are paying can probably be linked back to the fact that people generally appear to believe that their local services need a lot of improvements made.

“It’s all too easy to say that if people are that unhappy with their neighbourhood, then they should move to somewhere else but with the current housing market decline and the credit crunch, it’s a difficult period for those who are aiming to sell their homes or move on. The Government has announced a number of steps to tackle neighbourhood concerns but only time will tell if they are enough.”

About LV=
LV= offers car insurance, home insurance and travel and pet insurance direct to consumers by telephone from its UK call centres in Bournemouth and Croydon and online.

LV= is a trademark of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited (LVFS) and LV= is a trading style of the Liverpool Victoria group of companies.

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Financial, Financial Services, Insurance, Insurance Services

Insure4USA.com Announced The Launch Of Their New Online Service Which Provides Individuals With Fast, Free Insurance Quotes From Their Local Insurance Representatives

Insure4USA.com recently announced the launch of their new online service which provides individuals with fast, free insurance quotes from their local insurance representatives. Unlike other websites that use nationwide services to fill customer insurance requests, Insure4USA.com aims to provide its users with results from insurance companies that the individual can meet with face-to-face.

The Insure4USA.com website covers most insurance types with auto insurance, life insurance, health insurance, and home insurance being at the forefront of their services. Users simply enter their zip code and fill in a short survey based on the type of insurance they are interested in purchasing.

Auto insurance quotes are available on any vehicle type and rate comparisons are provided to make sure customers receive the best rates locally. In addition, all insurance types (auto, home, life and health) provide discounts that have been established through exclusive partnership programs between Insure4USA.com and local representatives.

“Insure4USA.com aims to add a personal approach to the online insurance market,” founder Alex T. stated. “Unlike other services that provide a 1-800 phone number and a website for customers to contact, we provide a local address, a local phone number and even driving directions if they are needed.”

It is this personal approach that both propels and separates Insure4USA.com from its much larger and less intimate competition. The company’s goal in creating the website was to provide the possible customer-centered experiences in ways that matter to is user base.

“We realized early on that it’s difficult to compete with monster-sized insurance company finders that aim to provide traffic to equally monster-sized insurance companies. So, we decided that we would work for the local insurance companies, the ones whose core values remained unchanged and whose customer service and personal approaches have kept them in business for decades,” Alex T. added.

In the end, it is the customer who wins, both by receiving excellent rates on insurance and by being able to invest their resources locally with insurance companies that share the common goals of success with the customer.

About Insure4USA
Insure4USA has been offering free auto, health, home and life insurance quotes online since 2008. For more information, visit Insure4usa.com (http://www.insure4usa.com).

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Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Management, Financial Services, Insurance, Insurance Services, Money, Profits, Retirement

LV= Strengthens Its Enhanced Annuity Offering Meaning People With Minor Medical Conditions Could Be Entitled To Higher Levels Of Income

Flexible retirement solutions provider LV= has improved its enhanced annuity product by increasing the number of medical conditions accepted for enhanced terms under its conventional and with-profits annuities.

In addition to the medical conditions already accepted, customers who have a combination of milder conditions, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and disclose them at application, may now be eligible for an enhanced annuity rate and an increased income in retirement.

Customers suffering from two or more mild medical or lifestyle conditions may now be able to qualify for enhanced annuity rates offering up to 7.5% more income than a standard annuity from the market leading provider. The new qualifying conditions include high blood pressure, being overweight, high cholesterol, smoking cigars, and smoking less than 10 cigarettes each day.

Matt Trott, Head of Annuities at LV= commented: “We hope the improvements to our enhanced annuity will encourage more people to apply and potentially receive a higher income in retirement. Many conditions that people may think are trivial and won’t enable them to qualify for an improved annuity, such as high blood pressure, may in fact open the door to enhanced annuity terms.

“It is therefore even more important that customers are open and honest about their health and medical conditions with their financial adviser. Even relatively minor conditions could increase the income they receive in retirement for the rest of their life.”

Examples of potential income increases, with the improved LV= product, compared with a standard annuity from the market leading provider:

– A 65-year-old male smoker could receive an extra £147 in income each year, equivalent to an increase of 3.2%, having disclosed he is receiving treatment for high blood pressure and high cholesterol, as well as being obese.

– A 65-year-old male smoker who is overweight who purchases a joint life annuity that will provide a 50% dependant benefit to his 62-year-old wife, will receive an extra £167 in income each year, equivalent to an increase of 4.8%, having disclosed he is receiving treatment for both high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

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. We are also the UK’s largest friendly society (Association of Friendly Societies Key Statistics 2008. Total net assets) 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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Financial, Financial Services, Insurance, Insurance Services

Insurancewide.com Has Signed A Fourth Annual Agreement With Tiscali To Continue Acting As Tiscali’s Preferred Insurance Comparison Partner

The alliance offers visitors to the Tiscali website a respected online comparison service for those seeking motor, home, travel, life, pet and many other types of insurance as well as advice on how to navigate the crowded insurance market and decipher the small print.

This agreement with Tiscali is the most recent in a series of significant partnerships for the newly relaunched http://uk.insurancewide.com and further consolidates the site’s position as the leading provider of an impartial, consumer-facing insurance service.

A spokesperson for Tiscali says: “Insurancewide provides a real plus to visitors of our Money Channel and increases the probability of finding the most relevant insurer for their needs, which is the first crucial step to finding the best price.”

Insurancewide.com‘s cutting edge search technology enables the service to interpret each customer’s unique, keyed-in requirements quickly and accurately, and to provide an instantly accessible list of relevant, best-value insurers.

Insurancewide supplies this online comparison technology to more than 50 websites across the UK. Many are of these are white label agreements, reflecting the credibility of Insurancewide.com for finance portals as a respected, integral part of their core service.

James Harrison, chief executive of Insurancewide.com, says: “This partnership gives us another opportunity in our rapidly growing network of partners to offer genuine choice to people who want to compare relevant insurers; we don’t just identify the cheapest prices at any cost.”

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Credit Cards, Financial, Financial Services, Insurance, Insurance Services, Investment, Loans, Money

M&S Money urge pet owners to ensure household medication is securely stored following increase in reports of pet poisonings

M&S Money has urged pet owners to ensure medication is securely stored around the house following a large increase in reports of pet poisonings.

The potentially fatal mishap is a growing problem across the UK, with a 34% year-on-year increase in reported cases to Vetfone – a 24-hour advice line available to M&S Pet Insurance customers. Vetfone is manned by qualified veterinary nurses who can give concerned animal lovers immediate advice on a pet’s condition. Around 70% of calls to the service by M&S Money customers are made out of normal veterinary hours.

One of the major increases of poisonings seen involves nicotine-based products, including nicotine patches, chewing gum and inhalers.

The toxic dose of nicotine in dogs is five milligrams per pound pet bodyweight and a dose of 10mg/lb can be lethal. While a cigarette contains 15-25 milligrams of nicotine, nicotine patches can contain much more at between 8-114 milligrams of nicotine and even nicotine inhalers contain around 10 milligrams of nicotine. Signs of toxicity are dose-dependent and include tremors, weakness, depression and vomiting.

Vetfone Operations Manager & Senior Emergency Vet Nurse, Louise O’Dwyer, said:”It is very concerning that there has been such a large increase in reported pet poisonings.

“Nicotine poisoning can be particularly serious. Remember prevention is better than cure, so ensure products such as cigarettes, nicotine patches and gums and even ashtrays containing cigarette butts are kept away from your pets reach.”

M&S Money Insurance Manager, Judith Roberts, said: “Anyone who suspects that their pet has swallowed household medication should first try and identify what’s been eaten, by recovering packaging such as blister packs or boxes and then seek immediate veterinary advice.

“M&S Pet Insurance policyholders can rest assured that a qualified veterinary expert is available round the clock to provide advice and answer questions should a pet become unwell.”

About M&S Money

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

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.

M&S Money has 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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Financial, Financial Services, Insurance, Insurance Services

UKs Best Online Insurance Comparison Service, insurancewide.com, Breaks New Ground This Week In A Re-Launch Of Its Website For Insurance-Seekers.

The UK’s original and still the best online insurance comparison service, insurancewide.com, breaks new ground this week in a re-launch of its website for insurance-seekers. Its promise to deliver an insurance comparison service for every type of customer sets it firmly apart from other aggregators.

The new service will guarantee accurate live prices with no surprises and a ‘buy-now’ option, the best quality insurers, a clear insurer ratings system and supportive guides for every type of insurance. Car insurance remains the largest part of the business but the service also compares every other type of insurance relevant to individuals, their families and their homes.

In addition, the site re-launch features a brand new travel insurance comparison tool. It is the only complete travel insurance comparison service in the market, providing guaranteed live prices and a guaranteed minimum level of cover and immediate buy-now links to current policies from the top travel insurers. Unlike all other travel insurance comparison services, you only fill out one form in the entire process and your details will be remembered when you revisit.

Insurancewide.com will lead the crowded comparison website field with its new promise: “Insurancewide, we’re on your side.” Launched by current chief executive James Harrison in 1999 and now in its fourth phase of evolution, Insurancewide.com believes it has thought of everything. Mr Harrison described the new site today as,“finally, the insurance comparison service you can trust.”

He adds: “This project has been two years in the making. We’ve simplified the user experience but behind the scenes we’re proud of our unmatched attention to detail. In short, we have revolutionised the way people are able to shop for insurance. We did it when we launched the very first comparison website, and now we’ve done it again. We’ve confronted all the issues that consumers face when using aggregator sites and we’ve solved them.

“We cater for the most unusual insurance requests. Whatever your history and circumstances, we’ll direct you to the right insurer, whether you’re a driver with convictions or own a 7-seater imported land rover; a long-haul adventure traveller or the owner of thatched cottage with a flood risk.”

“There’s been widespread debate about how accurate and trustworthy comparison websites can be. Many sites make false assumptions about a customer’s profile and so it’s impossible to guide them to exactly the right deal. However, we’ve developed the technology to be able to ask only the most relevant questions and to explain why we’re asking them. This means we provide a clear picture of what customers will get for their money. We constantly test our service with insurers to make sure the prices you see are the prices you get. In short, we are here to look after our customers. This includes ensuring that insurers never spam customers and or sneak in huge policy excesses.”

Insurancewide is home to an impressive distribution network supported by all major personal finance portals including Yahoo, eBay, AOL and Tiscali.

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Financial, Financial Services, Insurance, Insurance Services

With all the auto insurance ads on TV and the internet, people are bombarded by information from carriers claiming to offer the lowest rates

With all the auto insurance ads on TV and the internet, people are bombarded by information from carriers claiming to offer the lowest rates. But most consumers don’t want to take the time to shop around. They want quick, easy answers and Cheap Insurance. They don’t want to have to call multiple different agents, fill out countless long forms or spend a lot of time thinking about and comparing rates. That’s where we come in. We’re Cheap-Insurance-Rates.com and our goal is to help you find the right insurance carrier to meet your needs, and we make it easy for you. Visit our site, fill out one simple form and compare quotes for Cheap auto insurance from local, license agents. We take care of keeping your information safe thanks to state of the art security, and we only share it with licensed, prescreened professionals we match you with. Instead of shopping around for the best rates, spending your valuable time and effort, these agents compete for your business. You can save up to 70% on coverage for your car, truck or SUV. That’s what we do.

We’re ready to help you with all of your insurance shopping, from auto insurance to Home owners insurance, life insurance and even health and pet coverage. It’s simple and easy, for each type of insurance, you fill out a simple online form with your information and we do the rest for you, shopping different carriers, getting you the best quotes possible and bringing the agents to you, saving you time and money. On our website, you’ll find options for home owners insurance, renter’s insurance, family and individual health insurance coverage, auto insurance, term life insurance and even pet insurance that can help take care of your beloved pet in case of an emergency, and can even help with regular vet bills.

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Financial, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, Insurance, Money

A Surge In Pet Owners Changing Their Pets Diets And Swapping Meat For Vegetables And Fruit

The latest report from insurance provider LV= has shown that health concerns have led to a surge in pet owners changing their pets’ diets and swapping meat for vegetables and fruit.

40% of pet owners now feed their pets up to three portions of fruit and veg a day and according to the new research by pet insurer LV= there are now more than 145,000 cats and dogs in the UK on a vegetarian diet.

In turning their animals vegetarian, these pet owners are following celebrity dog-owners such as Alicia Silverstone* and Paul McCartney** who feed their dogs a vegan and vegetarian diet respectively.

One of the main reasons for the trend in vegetable heavy diets is the perceived health benefit, with 42% of pet owners who have increased the number of vegetables in their pets’ diet saying they have done so to improve the health of their animal.

16% of pet owners said they simply follow Government nutritional advice for humans, such as eating five portions of vegetable and fruit a day, and apply it to their pet.

According to the report from LV=, other reasons given include the cheaper cost of a vegetarian diet (12%), because organic pet food is a waste of money (29%) and because it’s more ethical (4%). Just one in four (24%) of the UK’s cats and dogs now exist on a meat-only diet.

The most popular vegetables to give to pets are carrots (19%), potatoes (12%) and peas (11%).

As well as pets eating more vegetables, the LV= research shows that 13% of UK pets are given vitamin or vegetable supplements daily.

Health-conscious owners say they have noticed a range of improvements from their veggie-eating pets, from fewer health problems (27%), glossier coats (21%), and a better digestion (28%), to loss of weight (13%).

Emma Holyer, Spokesperson for LV=, said: “As this research shows there are thousands of cats and dogs consuming vegetables in their diets without any problems. In fact, these diets are well known for relieving arthritis, skin and fur problems and obesity in dogs.

“However, pet owners thinking of putting their pet on a vegetable only diet should check with their vet. Cats cannot survive on a vegetarian diet and will need specialist supplements, and although dogs can survive, a sudden change in diet is likely to cause problems. Animals are just like humans in that they need a mixture of minerals and vitamins to keep them healthy, and cutting out whole food groups, like protein, can seriously damage their health.”

About LV=
LV= is a trademark of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited (LVFS) and LV= is a trading style of the Liverpool Victoria group of companies.

LV= employs over 2,700 people, serves more than 2.5 million customers and members, and manages more than £7.7 billion on their behalf. LV= is the UK’s largest friendly society offering a wide range of financial products including home, car insurance, pet insurance and travel insurance direct to consumers.

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