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What you should know about whole life insurance policy

20 Jan

Are your family members depending on your income? You can purchase a whole life insurance policy and secure the future of your family members. It is basically a contract between the policyholder and the insurance company. The policyholder purchases the policy and pays the premiums; in turn, the insurance company promises to pay the beneficiary a certain amount of money in the event of the policyholder’s death.

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Healthcare for children

20 Nov

In 2006, the figures released by the Census Bureau suggested that almost nine million children in the US were uninsured. This is despite the fact that about 28 million children were allowed access to Medicaid and a further seven million received help from the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. Put another way, almost 12% of children were uninsured. In a society that claims to protect the interests of children, this makes for depressing reading.

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How should society react to the problems of the poor?

13 Nov

There’s a darker side to America. It boasts it’s the land of the free. It claims it’s a level playing field and everyone can make it if they try hard enough. This myth of hard work always being rewarded with big bucks is dangerously misleading to the many who hope to improve their lot. Now add in the tenet that everyone should take responsibility for their own lives. This is the land of the individual, they claim. People should keep what they earn. Everything else is socialism and evil. Society should never help the weak and disadvantaged because it only encourages freeloading. As an example, you only have to look at the campaign against reform of the healthcare industry. Raise taxes on the rich to pay for healthcare for the poor is dragging the US into the same pit as Russia and all those other communist states.

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Keeping your business protected from external risks

01 Nov

You are prosperous and you feel like the world is at your feet. Yes, many of us want to believe we own the success and we stand behind it alone. But in reality, there are people standing behind our back that are involved in our rises and falls. These people are the employees. Therefore you need to think of them as a part of your team that was there to get you to the top of the world. You should know your staff needs a reward. But how could you possibly reward them? If your company takes care of more than two but less than 50 people, there is an insurance that works for you and your business. It is very valuable when people that run the business for you are proficient employees who are in charge of their duties. But no matter what happens in the companies, no matter how many mistakes one can make, because we are only human after all, the staff needs to feel like they are cared even when they fail, as it can happen to anyone.

The “cream” off the top of the Policy

Right before you head into the office of the insurance company and put your signature somewhere get yourself together and remind yourself why you are there. Make a list of questions you need to ask before you sign anything. Make sure all the answers satisfy you. It is preferable to show up with statistics about the staff you want to insure, gather all of the important information on them that is necessary to apply for the coverage. Remember to introduce the slightest details and help the insurer to collect all the fact as accurately as possible.

There are certain discounts and special offers that the business insurance allows you to take advantage of. They are the following:

  • Medical assistance. The insurance will take care of all the events that would involve you or any member of your team getting hurt.
  • Tax-free options. All the co-workers have a possibility to economize some money on taxes and some special payments.
  • Low payments. If you are the owner of a small enterprise – small business insurance will cost you less than other policies would normally cost you if purchased separately. Therefore it always makes sense to shop around some more instead of jumping on the first opportunity you see.

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Personal Finance. Credit Agencies Refused Access To Information About Student Loans

12 Sep

These days, when you apply for a mortgage, loan or other form of credit, the lending industry will automatically scrutinise your personal credit history. In practice, you hardly need to tell them anything as within a fraction of a second, the lenders computers will lock into your credit file held by any one of the big three credit agencies; Experian, Callcredit or Equifax And you’ll be amazed what they know about your finances!

For many years now banks, building societies and other lenders have been providing information about your finances to the credit agencies. They know about every credit applications you’ve made, the occasions you’ve been late or missed paying a loan, mortgage or credit card, the balances on your loans and credit cards and whether you just pay off the minimum each month – even your credit limits! The agencies also accumulated lots of other information about you provided by public records, the voters’ roll and the public register of court actions where all county court judgements are recorded. Their computers then statistically analyse all this information and assess your application. So in this context, the credit industry argues that the more information they have about you, the more accurately lenders can make lending decisions.

Yet within this mass of information, there is one notable omission. Despite representations to the government, information about student loans and their repayment history’s, is not provided to the credit agencies. The data is refused because student loans are a debt to the taxpayer, not a commercial business.

Prior to September 1998, graduates repaid their student loans by mortgage style direct debits collected once the graduate started earning over £15,000. But more than 59,000 of graduates from before 1998 graduates are understood to be in payment arrears to the tune, on average, of around £2,750 per graduate.

After September 1998, the system of collecting student loans changed. These days, repayments are deducted directly from salaries by employers along with national insurance and income tax. This method is far more efficient and avoids the possibility of bad debts.

The credit industry argues that it needs the information on student loans as they can represent a significant strain on the graduates’ finances – especially following the introduction of top-up fees which results in the average student loans being much larger. These loans are repaid at the rate of 9% of the graduates’ income in excess of £15,000 and can represent a significant drain on their monthly income.

Therefore, to fully assess graduates’ financial situation the credit industry argues that it needs student loan information. The Association Consumer Credit Counselling Service agrees. A spokes person said, “Knowing whether a young person has a student loan and whether it is being paid back, is useful.”

Yet despite the pressure to share its information, the Department for Education and Skills remains steadfast in its decision to refuse permission to the Student Loan Company to provide information to the commercial sector.

Even the Citizens Advice Bureau wants this decision changed arguing that lenders need information on student loans to help ensure that graduates avoid taking on so much debt that they can’t maintain their repayments.

But for now at least, the situation remains. The credit industry cannot obtain any history about student loans.

Michael writes for Scrouge Online who offer Life Insurance and Loans

 
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5 Easy Tips for to Save Money on Credit Card Balance Transfers

12 Sep

In today’s financial market more and more people are turning to credit card balance transfers instead of the traditional home equity lines that they have been used in the past. During the refinance hay-day throwing a tax deductible line of credit on the home to wipe out the credit cards was a no-brainer. Nowadays, shrinking home values and a turbulent secondary market are causing most banks have to hold these loans as opposed to selling them. This means the HELOCS of yesterday are only available to those with impeccable credit who have an abundance of equity in their homes.

Luckily, interest rates are low and balance transfers are a pretty good alternative if your credit card debt is out of control and need some help. This being said there are a few things that you want to look out for when transferring credit card balances from one card to another. The golden rule is that when you use a balance transfer card as an avenue to pay off balances on your other cards let this be your sole purpose. Make a budget and timetable to pay off the debt where there is a beginning and an ending payment otherwise you may get yourself into deeper debt.

Things to look for when transferring credit card balances:

Life of Balance Transfer cards – Life of balance credit cards are just what their name implies, they offer a low rate that applies to the balances you transfer within a certain time period. What you want to look for is a fixed rate that will not fluctuate over time. Depending on your credit level these may not be available to you, however if they are we highly suggest that you seek these cards out. The “gotcha” with this class of cards is that they usually will give you an extra thousand or two on your limit in hopes that you spend it at a higher interest rate, and most people do.

Again, we suggest that you use balance transfer credit cards for the single purpose of transferring higher interest credit card balances to a lower fixed rate. Once the transfer is completed, we recommend that you shred the transfer card and the one you transferred from to keep yourself from using them again. Over 75% of people that transfer balances use the transfer card and the old card again and end up owing more money than they did before the transfer. If the cards do not have an annual fee keep the accounts open for emergencies but shred the cards to keep yourself honest.

The Fine Print – If credit card issuers are similar in one area it is most definitely their fees and the fine print. It seems like they have fees for everything including one for on-time payments. Seriously you need to read the fine print and weigh the fees that apply for balance transfers, late payments, grace periods and other “gotchas” like universal default clauses. Over 80% of people that apply for credit cards will not read the fine print from beginning to end only to be surprised when their bill arrives in the mail. Most credit card websites offer handy calculators to help you calculate the best deal considering all of the fees.

Most credit cards have reduced the grace periods for repayment from 30 days to 20 days in an attempt to earn more fees and interest. If you are like most people, including yours truly, you pay your bills at a certain time of the month that usually coincides with your pay periods. The problem with this is that the 20 day grace period is relative to the due date of last month’s charges and is forever changing. If you pay your bills once a month like I do this will cause you to get late payment fees and could even trip the universal default clause which brings me to my next topic.

Universal Default Clauses – A universal default clause is a nasty little trick that credit card issuers use to jack-up your rates and fees to intolerable heights. If you look at the top of the fine print on each credit card you will usually see the regular APR and one below it that is through the roof. The one below it is the rate you will get should you pay late or even if your credit deteriorates. These clauses range from annoying to nasty and most states are trying to outlaw them but the majority of credit cards still have them.

The only card issuer that I can think of that doesn’t have this clause across the board is Capital One. I’m sure there are others but the clauses differ from issuer to issuer and card to card. Read the fine print for each card you are considering, see what their rules are that will trigger this clause. Some are mild which apply only if you are habitually late, where others monitor your credit and can jack up your rates and fees if your credit is deemed riskier than when they issued the card.

Introductory & Variable Rates – Beware of the asterisks. When you see one of these next to an interest rate you can bet it’s going to change on you. Most cards will advertise 0% interest on balance transfers 12 – 15 months but have cute little asterisks next to the rate. Find the fine print; chances are that your sexy 0% rate is going to morph into a giant wallet munching monster after the intro rate is over. Find out what the adjusted rate will be.The “gotcha” here is that most people know their rate will adjust in the future but they rationalize the transfer thinking that they will have the balance paid off in that time frame. Chances they won’t and the credit card companies know this. How else do you think they can offer 0% interest rates?

Variable rates are almost inescapable because 95% of all cards have variable rates. The ones that do not have them are hidden deep within most websites and offer very few frills. The reason they are hidden is that they are a little tougher to qualify for and offer lower profit margins to the issuers. When searching credit card websites take an extra minute to go all the way to the last page in each category, you may be surprised what you will find. Most credit card websites are arranged with the most profitable credit cards on the first few pages, these are rarely the best credit cards.

Reward Cards – If you are using your balance transfer card as you should, the bells and whistles on reward cards shouldn’t concern you. The bells and whistles cost you more, period. They cost the issuer more and they pass the cost right back to you. If you stay true to the purpose and transfer your balances in order to pay them off you should get a plain-Jane generic card without the usual frills hat comes with most cards. The only frills you should seek are the life of balance feature, fixed rate and a manageable or nonexistent universal default clause.

In closing I hope these tips help you get your very best deal should you decide to use a balance transfer card. This category of credit card is becoming more and more popular every day due to the financial chaos surrounding us today. This is generally a good thing though; this causes the card issuers to come up with different cards that offer better deals to keep up with their competition. Just remember the golden rule, only use balance transfer cards with a specific plan to pay off a balance. If you are “robbing Peter to pay Paul” the credit card companies will usually win in the end. Remember, Las Vegas wasn’t built on winners and neither are large credit card companies.

Aubrey Clark is an author and editor for Direct Banc. He is a graduate of Johnson and Wales college and resides with his wife and four children in Atlanta Georgia. His area of expertise is primarily financial in nature and ranges from topics like how to find low interest credit cards and tips and tricks on how to find no transfer balance fee credit cards.

 
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Are You Practicing Financial Self-deception? a Personal Finance Quiz

12 Sep

Financial self-deception is a form of slow-motion financial self-destruction. If you keep ignoring reality, you’ll dig yourself a hole so deep you’ll never recover.

Take this brief quiz to learn if you’re on the brink of financial self-destruction.

1. Do you blame external forces, events or other people for your financial problems?

Example: “If the transmission on my car didn’t go, I would have been able to pay the rent this month.”

Example: “If the stock market didn’t nosedive last year, I could have retired by now.”

Change your outlook, change your life. We can’t predict mechanical breakdowns, stock market swings or unexpected health problems, but there are many steps we can take to protect ourselves financially if worst-case scenarios occur.

Allocate a fixed portion of each paycheck to an emergency savings fund so unanticipated expenses don’t mushroom into full-blown financial crises. Contribute as much as you can without seriously shortshrifting yourself elsewhere.

Millions of Americans have suffered substantial losses in the stock market or worse, as those who invested with Bernie Madoff can attest. Lingering regrets will keep you living in the past. The only practical thing to do is to learn from your mistakes and move forward.

2. Do you allow the full balance of your credit card bill to go unpaid?

Example: “The balance on my Visa bill can wait another month, because we need to buy [fill in the blank.]“

Change your outlook, change your life. If you don’t pay your credit card balances in full each month, you’re a darling of the credit card industry because you’re tolerating additional interest and late fees on unpaid balances. If you’re unable to pay monthly credit card bills, you’re clearly living beyond your means, and that can’t continue indefinitely. More than any other type of financing or loan (short of money obtained from loan sharks or payday lenders, which isn’t recommended), credit card rates and fees are exorbitant.

Used responsibly, credit cards are a convenient tool for making purchases when carrying large amounts of cash isn’t practical. But paying with plastic demands the same caution and risk awareness you use when lighting a fire in your woodstove, and carelessness in both instances could get you burned.

3. Did you buy a champagne house on a Pabst beer salary?

Example: “Yes, but our realtor said to buy as much house as we could afford.”

Change your outlook, change your life. You probably realize now that houses don’t always appreciate in value. And plunking down thousands more for that extra bedroom you don’t need, the third bath, or the finished basement isn’t just a one-time expense. You’ll be paying to heat that extra space in winter, and cool it in summer, for the rest of your life, not to mention paying higher property taxes for as long as you own the property. And since you probably won’t be content with an empty room, you’ll spend thousands more to furnish it.

There’s no better time than a recession to get rid of the “more is always better” mentality. Forget about weaning yourself off extravagances, do it cold turkey. As with all things in life, purchase only what you really need.

4. Do you take your full pay rather than setting something aside in your retirement accounts?

Example: “I’m young and just starting out. There’s so many things I need to save for; funding my 401(k) and IRA can wait.”

Example: “My husband and I are 40-somethings with a growing family. College tuition comes first, and we won’t have too many more vacations together as a family, so 3% is all I can afford to contribute to my 401(k).”

Example: “I’m scared. I’m 59 years old, and I only have $25,000 saved for retirement. I guess I’ll be working until I’m 80.”

Change your outlook, change your life. Ultimately, only you are responsible for saving for your retirement. Absent Congressional intervention, Social Security payouts will begin exceeding tax revenue not long after the huge number of baby boomers have retired, in roughly 32 years. With fewer young people paying into the system, cutbacks in benefits or an increase in eligibility age appears likely.

So do you want your golden years to truly sparkle, or will you settle for a steady diet of macaroni and cheese? Based on historical averages, a 20-year-old investing the maximum amount ($15,500) into a 401(k) earning 9% will save $1,000,000 before she’s 45. (The average annual return of the S&P 500 index from 1926 to 2007 was 10.36%, according to Ibbotson Associates. Of course, past performance is no guarantee of future results.) But if you wait a decade or more to start making contributions, reaching the big milestones becomes much harder.

Even if you can’t invest the maximum permitted by law, early and regular 401(k) contributions can substantially boost your rate of savings over time.

If you’re in mid-career, it’s also a great time to pump up your retirement savings. If you haven’t done a good job of doing so in the past, you can still catch up now while you’re in your peak earning years. Wouldn’t you rather suffer a little deprivation now, in terms of cutting back on eating out or the second annual vacation, instead of worrying about healthcare expenses in your 80s? The choice is yours.

Those less than 10 years away from retirement face the biggest retirement challenge. The bad timing of the stock market downturn means you’ll have to work double-time to build up your savings and make up for losses.

5. Have you “borrowed” money from sources already earmarked for other things?

Example: “I want to put in a swimming pool, so I’m going to tap my 401(k) and then pay it back later.”

Example: “When we refinanced, we leveraged our home equity to finance our trip to Thailand this year.”

Change your outlook, change our life. Your home is not a piggy bank. Neither is your 401(k). If, for some reason, you cannot pay back the 401(k) loan (think layoff or a half-dozen other common “stuff happens” scenarios), the IRS will consider your loan a withdrawal, taxing you on the entire amount and adding a 10% early withdrawal penalty if you’re under age 59 1/2. More important for the long term, you’ll have shortchanged your future retirement. Realistically, can you pay back that loan and continue building on it without falling behind?

If you refinance and “borrow” from your home equity to pay for something else, and then roll over the extra money into the mortgage, you’re diluting the benefit of refinancing at a lower rate. That’s because you’re adding to your mortgage balance and increasing the total amount you’ll pay in interest and principal, as well as the time needed to pay it off.

Wouldn’t you like to retire with a mortgage that’s been paid free and clear? If so, don’t extend your loan terms by tacking on additional borrowed money. If you can’t afford to pay cash for what you need now, then wait and save up.

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, it’s time to take a hard look at your lifestyle, goals and priorities. Getting your finances in order is your personal responsibility.

Dawn Handschuh has earned a living putting pen to paper for 25 years, including 10 years in financial services, where she wrote widely on retirement planning, personal finance and specific investment products such as annuities, mutual funds and 401(k) plans. Dawn writes on CreditFYI and on CreditFYI’s Credit Blog.

 
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Settling Personal Finances

11 Sep

Before one begins on any investing endeavors, one is encouraged to settle his or her personal finances. The first step in doing so is to eliminate one’s credit card debt. The average annual interest rate for the billion plus credit cards currently circulating in the United States is 16%-21%(data taken from www.fool.com).  If a person chooses to make only the minimum payment required, it will take many, many years for that person to pay off his or her principal balance; moreover, he or she will end up paying close to double, if not more, the principal in interest alone. The second step in settling one’s finances is to develop a regular savings plan. Consumers should  ideally set aside 10%, but more realistically 5%, of one’s annual income. The main implementation of this savings plan is to live below your means and don’t spend what you don’t have. The third step in settling one’s finances is to create short-term savings to “cushion” one-self from life’s unexpected, costly events. Once a short-term cash cushion is established, one is encouraged to begin long-term savings, preferably tax-deferred like an IRA or 401K retirement plan. The fourth step is to learn all aspects of one’s personal finances. For example, one should consider expenditures, such as one’s kids and/or college, insurance, home, and vehicles. The fifth step in settling one’s personal finances is to know when to consult a financial advisor. Consumers should consider using the services of an independent, flat-fee advisor for situations that are critical, complex, or require major decisions in a short amount of time.

If after reading the above steps on settling personal finances, you find yourself stuck at step 1, eliminating credit card debt, the law offices of Smith & Gromann, P.A. may be able to help you. CreditLawGroup  can also assist you with debt settlement or debt consolidation. Additionally, if you find that your credit scores have been lowered due to inaccurate, outdate, or misleading information on your credit report, please call the CreditLawGroup toll free at 800-508-0041.

The CreditLawGroup.com website of Smith & Gromann, P.A. is a multistate law firm whose practice is limited to federal consumer and banking law under which the credit reporting system operates. The firm provides cost efficient legal representation in disputing inaccurate, incorrect or unverifiable information contained on credit reports from the three major credit bureaus, Equifax®, Experian® and TransUnion® and their affiliates. The firm also provides legal representation to victims of identity theft. Visit http://www.creditlawgroup.com for more information.

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Your Personal Finances in a Downturn

11 Sep

From pensions to mortgages and savings to insurance – difficult economic times impacts on every aspect of personal finances. Now, more than ever is the time to keep a close eye on your money and get the best possible advice.

Here are just a few of the points you should be considering:

Your Mortgage

If you have an existing mortgage, the most obvious change that you will have noticed is the rapid fall in interest rates. As the base rate falls, these changes can have a dramatic impact on the amount that you pay. If you have a tracker mortgage, then this is great news as your monthly payments will be falling. If you are paying a tracker mortgage then the option of overpaying your mortgage is worth considering – saving yourself thousands in interest and protecting the equity in your home as house prices continue to fall.

If you have a standard variable rate mortgage, then chances are you will not have seen such a huge change in your monthly mortgage payments as most banks have not passed on the entire fall in interest rates. If you have a fixed rate mortgage deal then you’re out of luck.

If by chance you are looking for a mortgage, or a remortgage, then it’s a good idea to take professional advice as to what type might be the most suitable for you. As interest rates can’t really go much lower, a fixed rate might be a sound idea. Of course, the real problem at the moment is getting a mortgage to begin with. As the banks are much more hesitant to lend, having access to the whole of the market through an independent financial adviser is key.

Your Pension

Pension funds have been hit by falls in the stock markets – affecting the amount of money that you will have in retirement. Depending on how far away from retirement you are, you might consider moving your pension fund or investing in other kinds of investments. Again, professional advice and sound retirement planning is key.

Your Savings and Investments

If you are a saver rather than a borrower, falling interest rates are obviously bad news. It may be worth looking at alternatives to simple savings accounts as a way of maintaining the value of your savings. Investments in gilts, bonds or even stocks and shares could potentially provide you with better returns – although again, your individual circumstances will have a big part to play.

It is also important that you make the most of any ISA allowances you may have, as even though returns may be low, there’s no reason to pay more tax than you have to.

ASU Insurance

Hard economic times can often lead to unexpected company closures or redundancies. Accident, sickness and unemployment insurance (ASU cover) can help ensure that the bills still get paid even if you are made redundant. It’s certainly something worth considering.

Whatever your own personal situation, the more challenging the economy becomes the more attention you need to be paying to your personal finances. You cannot afford to sit back and assume that your pension fund is on track or that your investment ISA is giving you the best possible returns. However, provided you get the best advice and have access to the whole of the market, you can make simple changes to ensure that your personal finances weather this economic storm.

Gareth Flanagan is a financial adviser with Principle First Financial Services, a firm of Chartered Financial Planners in the UK. He specialises in financial planning and financial advice.

 
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Personal Finance – A Guide To Easy Self Management.

11 Sep

Understanding how to manage your personal finance goals will bring rewards rather than despair. We all want a secure future so here are a few things to help you get started.

Firstly, know your current financial status. This can be a little intimidating for some but it is essential to a better financial future. This entails knowing three important things: your expenses, financial problems and financial desires.

Be aware of how much you spend in order to find out how much you can afford. Write down your monthly expenses if you have time, or use a personal finance program. Make allowances for problems that may arise such as unexpected doctors bills, school uniforms, tax returns.

Knowing your lifestyle aspirations is just as important. Taking note of your desires will help you decide which ones are reasonable and which ones are not. Focus on the reasonable ones as they will provide the motivation to manage your personal finances.

Honesty is another key attitude to managing your personal finance plan. If you decide not to accept the facts surrounding your current financial status, you are not likely to move ahead. Be honest with yourself in how much you can afford and how much you owe, otherwise your financial plan will most likely end in financial trouble.

Discipline is perhaps the most important when managing personal finance. Once you have discovered what you truly can and cannot afford, you must learn to say no when needed. This is easier said than done, but if you are determined on having a financially secure future, discipline is imperative.

Knowledge is most definitely power. You must be wise in your investments if you wish for success in your personal finance. Consult accountants and financial planners, research on trends on the market or speak with your friends and co-workers about their investments. This research is sure to pay off whereas lack of it will surely lead to more debts and deviating from your personal finance plan. Also, diversify your investments to reduce risk and leverage out your financial investment.

Very simply, the most effective method to improve your personal finances is to spend wisely. Do not spend more than you can earn. Make sure all your expenses are covered first. Understanding this will allow you to manage your personal finance a little better.

Terry Johnson is a finance consultant for Instant Personal Loans where he specializes in personal finance solutions.
 
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