Home Mortgage Loan : Things You Need to Know

Home Mortgage loan can be an important event in your life. It will help define your credit history from that point on. Moreover, a home mortgage loan will help you to save equity in your house. Thus, it is important for you to know everything relevant about a home mortgage loan so that you can make the best possible decision. Home mortgage loans are classified in two ways:

1) Fixed Rate Home mortgage: In this type of a mortgage, the interest rate is fixed and thus your monthly payments will not change. This means that if you get a house mortgage for 20 years and your monthly payment is $760, then you will continue to pay $760 every month for 20 years.

2) Variable Rate Home Mortgage: This is a type of a mortgage in which your interest rates will vary. Usually your interest rates will be reappraised every 1 to 3 years. In this type of a mortgage, your monthly payments can change and you may end up paying less. However, you will need to take into account economic crisis etc. as in those situations you may end up paying more.

As far as the functionality of the home mortgage loans are concerned, there are two main types of mortgage.

1) Primary (First) Mortgage: This is the mortgage that you get, when you first buy your house. This mortgage will continue until you either pay off all your mortgage debt on the house or until you sell the house. When you sell the house, you will be responsible for paying off your debts so that the deed can be transferred to the new owner. If you default on your payments, then you may face a foreclosure on the house by the bank.

2) Equity Loan(Second Mortgage): This is the loan that you can get based on the amount of equity that you have on the house. It is called the second mortgage, as the creditor will be the second holder of the house, after the first creditor for the first mortgage. This type of a loan is generally used for debt consolidation purposes.

Now whenever you are thinking of getting a mortgage, then you should review your options carefully. Whether you are getting your first mortgage or a home equity loan doesn’t matter. You have many options that are available to you and you should use them to the fullest of your ability. You should search various banks and lender institutions for competitive interest rates. This is important as the mortgage will be with you for 10 to 30 years and thus it is not a light decision to make. You should review all of your options carefully. If possible, hiring a mortgage broker can help you solve your problems easily. This way you can make sure that you are getting all the information that you need in order to make well informed decision. In addition, you can save substantial money in the process.

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Verify This When You Get A Free Car Insurance Quote

When you get a car, it means that you have independence, mobility and the ability to get around, but it also means that you also need to think about getting car insurance! Car insurance is one of the cold hard facts of driving, but you'll quickly find that not all types of car insurance are created equal!

When you start shopping for car insurance, you'll soon realize that a free car insurance quote can be your best friend. In many places, both online and off, you can get them without any problems. When you are looking to get information on your car insurance, there are a few things that you should know.

When it comes to car insurance, the first place that you can look is online. This is a great way to learn about what is out there, and you can focus searches that will tell you which plan will help you. When you are looking for a free car insurance quote, take a look at the calculators that you will see, but even when you do this, there are things that you should remember.

First, remember that you need to compare plans that are quite similar. Comparing insurance plans solely on the basis of a single fact will create a deceptive picture. Make sure that all of the factors are compared, from the liability to the coverage to the deductible. Find out what extras are offered and make sure that you are in a good place to qualify them. A spreadsheet, whether on the computer or on a sheet of notebook paper can keep things straight for you.

When you have a few companies that you have managed to get a good free car insurance quote from, remember that it is time to get information from other sources. Do any of your friends have dealings with the insurance company? Word of mouth is still a great way to get car insurance. Make sure that before you buy a policy online that you give the company a call to judge them on their customer service. Similarly, it is worth figuring out who you would need to file a claim with in the area should it become necessary. You may also want to call the Better Business Bureau to figure out if any complaints have been made against the company, and you might also want to contact your state's Department of Insurance as well.

There are many different things that you should keep in mind when you are buying your car insurance, but a free car insurance quote can be a great place to start. This is a good way to figure out exactly what you can pay and how to maximize the money that you spend. But above all, make sure that when you are comparing various quotes, that you are really comparing apples to apples. The standard coverage on one policy might be an optional coverage an another policy, so take the time to make sure that you are comparing identical quotes before you decide which one is most cost effective for you.

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How Insurers Make a Car Insurance Estimate

The things that are looked at in a car insurance estimate can be mystifying. Why should it matter whether your car is paid off? And who cares whether it is a Ford or a Dodge?

Insurers know what they're doing. Their estimates are based on a wide variety of factors that go together to determine their risk. When you take out an insurance policy, what you're really doing is asking them to take some of your risk and paying them to do it – so the only fair way to determine this is to look at all your risk factors.

The most obvious factor as to whether you are likely to cost them money is you and your driving record. Are you a safe driver? Do you have tickets, and have you been found at fault in accidents before? Even if you were not at fault in an accident where you were a driver, insurers take this into consideration because people who have an accident where they were 100% not at fault still have accidents at a higher rate after this first one. If you have taken a driver safety course, you may be able to get a lower rate.

Your age is a consideration; very young drivers, especially teenage males, tend to have more accidents. Very old drivers also have accidents at higher rates. A good car insurance estimate takes this into consideration, as well as smoking and drinking habits if it has a record.

Beyond your risk of being in an accident at all, insurers want to look at how much damage will actually be done to passengers in an accident that does occur. If you do not wear your seat belt, you will pay a higher rate because you are more likely to be seriously injured. (Ironically, motorcyclists who don't wear helmets often get a lower rate because they are likely to be killed in an accident, which costs the insurance company less.) Safety devices like airbags count for something, as does equipment on your car like anti-lock brakes. You may pay a higher rate with some insurers if you have a lot of passengers on a regular basis, like if you drive the neighborhood soccer team to practice. And if you drive more, you'll also be hit with higher rates.

Where you live is a factor. Some neighborhoods have higher rates of vandalism and theft, and some also have higher accident rates. The insurers can charge you more just based on your zip code. In some states, insurers are legally required to cover certain repairs no matter what, like damaged windshields; in others, tight, winding, snowy roads may lead to more accidents. Either case ratchets up your payments.

If you have full coverage (as you must if there is still a bank lien on it), your insurance company will charge even more based on a variety of factors: how old the car is, how much it is worth, what its safety record is, how much it typically costs to repair damage to the vehicle. In addition, some insurers take into account things like car color. They look at car model – it's more tempting to drive a red Mustang convertible fast than it is to speed in a lime-green minivan. And they look at that specific car's overall accident record to see if it's higher than the average.

You can minimize your car insurance estimate by looking at all these factors and eliminating the ones that are in your power. Never pay more than you must for insurance.

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The Harsh Reality of Insurance Fraud

One of the reasons so many commit this crime is a failure to recognise it as an offence. It is a common held belief that home insurance companies make vast sums of money out of people's fear and misfortune, and it is therefore acceptable to, for example, claim for a bigger more expensive television, than the old stolen one.

However, insurance fraud is a serious offence, and an individual found guilty of is liable, upon conviction, to a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment. The same applies if you deliberately lie on any aspect of your original home insurance application to achieve a lower premium. For example, stating there are heavier duty locks in place for a cheaper quote is "obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception", and again, is punishable by up to five years.

It is interesting to note that all these offences are covered by The Theft Act 1968. However, the majority of people involved in this "white collar" crime, would be appalled at the idea of stealing from a shop. It is a both a psychological, and sociological question as to whether people commit home insurance fraud because they think they'll get away it, or whether it is because they think it's something they're entitled to.

Ultimately it is a class issue, and people who commit this type of fraud should examine their hypocritical attitude. They should question their motivations. Why do they think they're entitled to something for free if they believe a mother should be sent to prison for stealing to feed her family? Why are they more entitled to claiming a bigger television than the person who stole theirs in the first place?

Insurance fraudsters claim they are not getting something for nothing. They have paid for their premiums, and they themselves have been a victim of crime. However, home insurance companies argue the reasons their prices are so high is because of the number of fraudulent claims. If this is the case, then fraudsters are doing nothing more than stealing from those more honest than themselves.

There is nothing wrong with insurance fraud per se. However, there is something inherently wrong with hypocrisy. There are no moral justifications - it is about greed. If you're not prepared to support those committing other crimes, often for far better reasons, then don't commit fraud.

The reality is most people engage in insurance fraud because it's a soft option which they can falsely justify to themselves. We need to seriously rethink our attitude towards "crime" and apply some consistency. This could mean we decide to screw capitalists at each and every opportunity. It could simply mean we re-evaluate how we view others committing crime. Or it could mean we banish all crimes of fraud and deception from our lives. Any of these options are better than an erroneous morality only benefiting those already wealthier than the majority of the world's population.

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Financial Success with Immediate Annuities

Immediate annuities have been getting a good deal of attention lately. Simply stated what they do is allow an individual to convert a lump sum of money into an immediate source of income. With payments generally starting about a month after the immediate annuity is purchased, allowing you to supplement your current income.

Immediate annuities offer something no other retirement plans do the opportunity to start getting income right away by allowing you to receive a stream of income now, with payments structured to fit your needs.

Originally developed to provide guaranteed and convenient periodic income payments immediate annuities shouldn't be confused with deferred annuities. When considering this type of annuity you should be aware and keep in mind that they are not intended to offer liquidity or growth potential. This is a security in which the insurance company immediately begins payments for life or for a specified amount of time in exchange for your one-time contribution. What they do very well is provide dependable financial security in the form of a stream of income payments guaranteed to continue for the rest of your life or for a period you select.

Just like deferred annuities they can be fixed or variable, and also just like deferred annuities you are able to convert a lump sum into an income stream over a set period of years or for as long as you live. Providing income for your lifetime, regardless of how long you live.

Immediate annuities are funded with a single payment because income payments begin shortly after the contract is purchased. They are known as an excellent option if you are seeking the security and convenience of a periodic income payment. Often purchased by retired individuals who no longer work or who require additional income to supplement part-time employment.

Immediate annuities may also suit people who are near or already retired and want to fix the amount of income they will have every month.

You’ll find many immediate annuities are offered by life insurance companies.

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Life settlement broker: help to retired people

Everyone knows that life is completely unpredictable. No one knows what would happen the very next moment. We save some amount from our monthly income, to live a hassle free life after retirement. One has to deal with the hardest situation when the need of money arises urgently. A person who is employed can deal with this situation as he possess the financial resources to arrange any amount but the person who is retired will find it difficult to manage. This is because no bank or any financial institution would like to bear the risk of financing their requirements. Fortunately, there is life settlement procedure which can be availed with the help of life settlement broker who can make things easier. It helps in meeting their old age requirements without hurting their self respect.


One needs to utilize all the tools in order to find a good type of investment advisor. One should investigate and research the potential broker and travel around to know the details before signing any agreement. It is a matter of commonsense to research for a good life settlement brokeras huge amount of cash is involved in this process. A dishonest broker can waive away with your money and you would be left empty handed. It is regardless of what and how bad one needs the money; one must research for a good life settlement broker. This is a life altering choice and has to be done with utmost care. Now there is no need to worry about the retirement as there is a helper who can solve all one’s problems related to finance. Seniors can now secure their future without any tensions. Now they can pay for their own expenses.

In order to avail the facility of life settlement facility, one must be at least 65 years old and must have a minimum amount of policy face value. This minimum amount varies from company to company. By the time at which the policyholder approaches the provider the policy must have crossed the contestability period, which is generally two years from the date the policy is taken. The life settlement broker carefully analyzes every aspect the settlement policy before making any proposal for life settlement like number of paid premiums, face value, your estimated life and type of policy. If one is worried how one will perform such a lengthy calculation then one can feel relaxed as there is life settlement broker to take the pains.

If anyone wants to know about the type of one’s policy, he can have a telephonic conversation with the life settlement broker. He will explain every aspect of the policy. Life settlement broker can help one in restructuring his policy so that he may be able to settle his policy in future. One should be always conscious while searching for a life settlement broker as only the reliable broker can give guarantee of successful settlement of one’s unwanted policy. Therefore, go ahead and take the benefits of the broker through which one can reap benefits.

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All about Visitor Medical Insurance

Visitor Travel Medical Insurance plans sometimes referred to as Visitor Medical Insurance or Visitor Health Insurance plans can be purchased anytime even during the middle of a trip.

Medical emergency is a condition that would lead a "prudent layperson" (someone with average knowledge of health and medicine) to believe that a serious medical condition existed, or the absence of medical attention would result in a threat to his or her life, limb or sight and requires immediate medical treatment or which has painful symptoms requiring immediate attention to relieve suffering.

Visitor Travel Medical Health Insurance is ideal for tourists to US, and for parents and other family members visiting the United States. Medical expenses while traveling overseas can be very high especially when it involves hospitalization.

There are many online sources and services that enable you to get free visitor medical insurance quotes and better understand the terms of this type of insurance.

This is very mis-understood type of insurance and many people wonder if they can get immediate visitor health insurance coverage online. The answer is yes but you should be aware that Exchange Visitor Health Insurance policies may establish a waiting period before it covers pre-existing conditions (that is, health problems you had before you bought the insurance), as long as the waiting period is reasonable by current standards in the insurance business.

One school of thought to save money on Visitor Medical Insurance to is obtain a Dental Discount Card and an RX Prescription Card separately from your visitor health insurance program.

You can reduce the financial risk of unforeseen accidents or medical emergencies by buying visitor medical insurance.

Travel Medical Insurance plans focus on providing coverage for your medical expenses resulting from sudden illness or injuries during your trip, with many policies covering trips from seven days to 3 years.

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Asking to Raise Credit Limits Can Lower Credit Scores

One of the quickest methods to raise your credit scores is to just increase the credit limits on your credit cards. As long as you avoid temptation, and don't max out your new limits!

What is the best way to request a higher credit limit? There's a smart way to do it and a not-so-smart way.

Asking for the Credit Limit Increase

Were you aware that when we ask for a higher credit limit, our credit score rating can actually go decrease?

The kind of credit inquiry the credit card company makes when you ask them to raise your credit limit is the type that can also decrease your credit scores.

Is it possible to know if a particular inquiry decreases your scores? Easy—pull your FICO credit scores before you request the higher limit. Then, pull your credit scores after. If the scores decreased, the credit inquiry is the reason.
Even better, just subscribe to a good credit report monitoring service and you'll find out the minute something changes on all three of your credit reports.

3 Ways to Prevent the Penalty

It's a sad fact of life, but the number of credit inquiries that you initiate is a gauge of how risky you are to a lender.

Can we beat them at their own game? How can you shop for credit without being penalized? Here are some options...

1. Never ask them to raise your credit limit. Be content with the regularly occurring credit limit increases that your credit card companies offer. This is the least loved method. It's not proactive enough. When it comes to increasing your bad credit scores, you don't want to be passive. Furthermore, some of them will never raise your limits unless you request it.

2. Request the increases and take the hit from the credit inquiries. This is better than option 1, however we can do even more.

3. Minimize the effects of the credit inquiries by applying for credit limit increases only on credit card accounts where you have the best chance to significantly impact your FICO scores.

Account Review Credit Inquiries Won't Affect Scores

Credit card companies periodically read and evaluate your credit report to decide if they should:

A. Renew your accounts
B. Close your accounts
C. Increase (or decrease) your credit limits
D. Increase (or decrease) your interest rates

This is a standard procedure in managing your accounts. The larger credit card companies will do this either monthly or quarterly. It's referred to as an account review.

The cool thing is that an account review inquiry will not affect your credit scores.

The reason is that you didn't apply for the credit limit increase. Since you didn't initiate the inquiry, your credit scores won't decrease.

Do Idle Credit Limits Decrease FICO Scores?

They do not.

Many times, people advise that you should use charge up your credit card as high as possible. That's not a good strategy.

The honest answer actually that the higher your credit limits and the lower your balances are, the higher your FICO scores will be. Your plan should be to have the highest limit and the smallest balance you can.

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Taking Control of Your Credit Identity

The belief that you are in complete control of your own life is something that can get you into some pretty serious trouble if you aren't careful. Your unique identity, your reputation and especially your credit scores are ruled by your own actions, but only to an extent. To truly know that your life and your identity and under your own control, you need to take identity theft prevention measures.
Identity theft protection enables you to rest secure in the knowledge that your financial status will not be threatened by an inaccurate credit score. What if your personal information was stolen by a hacker? How quickly would you become aware of that fact?

All too often I receive phone calls from people telling me that after reading my newsletter they decided to check their own credit reports, only to discover that they weren't in the clear after all. Whether you see a credit report with accounts that are not your own or receive calls or letters from collectors calling about debts that you never incurred, it's not a good feeling.
Unfortunately, I can't exactly give these people good news immediately. Through no fault of their own, these people have a long hard road of clean-up work ahead of them. It can take years to recover your credit identity.
Current reports state that 10,000,000 people, this year alone, will have their identities stolen and that 1 in 4 credit reports contain information that is damaging and even, worse, inaccurate. This will have some pretty negative results, including the loss of employment or rental opportunities, higher insurance or interest rates and the potential for being denied credit.
One of the main places that data is stolen from is from very large databases such as those found in universities, state and federal entities and private businesses. These databases are more or less gold to a thief. Once your personal information is in the hands of an identity thief, they can control your life to a very unsettling degree.
Even scarier, your information can be bought and sold multiple times. In the cases of children's identities, thieves can use and sell their Social Security Numbers, usually for years without even being detected. When the child grows up and discovers that their identity has been stolen, they face years of work to reclaim an identity that they have never even used.
When it comes to identity theft prevention, it's important not to rely on anyone other than yourself to safeguard your information. It is always easier to protect your credit proactively than it is to react once your identity has been stolen.
Here are a few identity theft protection resources:
www.attrition.org/dataloss -A database that includes a running list of reported data breaches.
Annualcreditreport.com-The only legitimate place to obtain your annual free credit report. Call this toll free number: 877-322-8228.
National Do Not Call Registry: (888) 382-1222 or www.donotcall.gov to reduce telemarketing.
888) 5-OPT-OUT / (888) 567-8688 or opt out online at www.optoutprescreen.com to opt of pre-approved credit card offers.

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Bank of America and Chase Credit Cards Offer Instant Approval!

Both Chase and Bank of America offer instant approval when you fill out your application online. This service is helpful for those who would like a credit card instantly, as well as those who would like to inquire and see if they are accepted.

If you are working on improving a less than perfect credit score, using online credit card instant approval is one quick way to see how you are doing. By simply filling out the information online, you will get an answer back from the issuing company within sixty seconds as to whether or not you are accepted.

Once you are accepted for a card credit, instant approval means that your new Bank of America or Chase credit cards will be in your hands within five to seven business days of your application's acceptance. You will be able to use all of the great services that Bank of America and Chase credit cards have to offer, such as no annual fee, a zero percent introductory annual percentage rate that covers not only your purchases but also your balance transfers, and high credit lines.

There are other benefits of using your newly available card credit. Instant information about your account activity, points management and balance is available when you need it anytime of the day or night through online customer service. This is a handy feature for people with an especially busy lifestyle, because you can check on your Bank of America and Chase credit card's information at your convenience anytime it fits into your schedule.

Many Chase credit cards, as well as Bank of America cards are available with no annual fee. Credit card companies want your business, and many are willing to offer a annual-fee free card in order to get it. Plus many of the instant approval credit cards offer great rewards and discounts. You can earn points that you then turn in to redeem for cash, products, gift certificates for restaurants, and the very attractive travel bonuses.

You can select from Visa or MasterCard brands offered by Bank of America and Chase. These two famous logos are recognized and accepted at your favorite restaurants, hotels, theatres, and stores around the world, making them very useful not only for making purchases at home but also when you are out and about traveling. Taking advantage of card credit instant approval programs is an easy way to access the benefits of credit as well as check in on your current standing.

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Using Credit Card Consolidation To Repair Your Rating

If you have been in a life situation like a divorce or sudden medical emergency that leaves you with a bad credit rating, there are still different credit cards that are available for your use. By starting fresh with a low APR credit card, you can actually rebuild your credit rating, as these card companies reporting to the three major credit bureaus each month. As you pay your bill on time, the credit bureaus will hear about it, and in this way you can improve your current credit standing.


There are a couple of steps you can take to improve your credit rating. One is to look into credit card consolidation, and the other is to compare credit cards for the best opportunity to improve your credit standing.

Credit Card Consolidation Facts

One main way that people can improve out of control card balances is to consider credit card consolidation. Many people do this by taking out a second mortgage against the equity they have in their houses or their cars, and then taking that money to pay off the credit card balances. Not only does this wipe out your credit card debt, but you can then count your monthly second mortgage interest payments as tax deductible, unlike credit card interest payments.

Another advantage to credit card consolidation is that it allows you to pay one single payment rather than several smaller ones. That is a lot of time saved each and every month. Credit card consolidation can also be used to help you find a lower interest rate or to receive a fixed interest rate. Variable-rate interest cards are often based on a percentage rate plus the prime rate, so it can change from day to day due to variances in the prime rate. With a fixed rate, there are no surprises.

Compare Credit Cards to Find a Low APR Credit Card That is Right for You

Orchard Bank offers both MasterCard and Visa credit cards that will provide you with protection on your purchases. They also offer, in addition to monthly credit reporting, credit increases at regular intervals. They also give all their clients 24-hour online customer service, so that you can pay your bills and access your account anytime you wish.

Centennial Gold also offers a MasterCard/Visa that offers this under ten percent low APR credit card for your purchases, and they also report to the major credit bureaus.

You will want to compare credit cards to find the best deal offered that will not only give you a low APR but will also help to improve your current credit score.

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Balance Transfer Credit Cards

The credit card balance transfer is popular with credit card users.

The balance transfer can offer interest-rate savings on credit card debt. A
balance transfer simply means moving debt from one or several credit card
accounts, to a low or no-interest credit card account. These super-low teaser
rates will last for about six months to a year, on average, with most card
issuers. A cardholder may be offered a low-interest balance transfer rate by one
of their current credit card issuers, or they may choose to apply for a new
credit card to get this tempting rate.

Before you consider any credit card for any reason, know what you're getting
into. Start by reading and understanding all the terms and conditions of the
credit card, not just the ones pertaining to the transfer in big, bold letters.
Find out the annual fee, default and other rates, and know what the card's APR
will be when the introductory period is over. I can't count how many times I've
received an offer that looked interesting until I got half way through the fine
print on the back page.

Credit card issuers still plan on making money from this deal.

Before you decide if a balance
transfer credit card offer is right for you, you should consider the other
side of the coin. Why would the card issuer offer such a low rate to begin with,
and what's in it for them? Understand that when a credit card issuer offers a
low-interest balance transfer, they are making an investment. Why else would
they loan you money for free? Credit card issuers are in the business to make
money, and this is a creative way for them to potentially increase their profits
in the long run.

To begin with, many card issuers charge a balance transfer fee; 3% of the
balance is pretty standard, now. So, add that 3% to whatever rate they're
offering you, to get a realistic idea of the balance transfer savings. There may
be a dollar-amount cap on the fee, which may range from fifty dollars to
three-hundred, or no cap. These fees are usually charged immediately when you
start the balance transfer process. It's important to know what up-front fees
you'll be paying for the interest savings; read all the fine print carefully.

Know that their best rates are reserved for consumers with excellent credit.
The credit solicitation may have "0% balance transfer" in big bold letters on
the front of the credit offer, but that will be the best terms possible to those
with perfect credit. Receiving a pre-screened credit offer does not guarantee
that you will get the best terms that are advertised. If you respond to the
credit offer with less than perfect credit, the credit card issuer may adjust
the introductory rate to one that they deem appropriate for your credit
standing. Those with credit blemishes or new credit histories may not realize
that they are transferring a balance to a new card that doesn't offer much
benefit in the way of interest savings. Be sure to check out the actual rate
you've been given once you receive your new credit card.

Also, see if the interest rate applies only to the transfer amount, or if new
purchases will also get the low rate. If different rates apply to new purchases
and balance transfers, many card issuers will apply your payments to the lowest
interest debts before they apply it to your higher rate debts. So if you
transfer a balance of $5000 at 0%, and your new purchases get the standard 18%,
you'll be paying that higher rate on everything you buy, without a grace period,
while you're trying to pay off the original $5000. If you choose a credit card
that works this way, the best thing to do is to not use the card at all, until
you knock down the amount transferred.

Be sure you are able to keep up with the payments if you choose to move all
your debt to one credit card. Many cards that offer super-low introductory
balance transfer rates are often the ones that charge extremely high default
rates. If you don't keep your end of the bargain, they will more than make up
for what they gave you. Some card's default rates are as high as 28%, which is
enough to bury someone in the debt they were trying to get out of. One day late,
one returned payment, or one dollar over your credit limit is enough for many
card issuers to apply the default rate.

In addition, card issuers are banking on the chance that you will not pay the
debt off in time. Not only do many consumers fail to pay off the debt, but
oftentimes the debt is higher than they started with, due to new purchases. This
leaves the cardholder with a substantial debt to pay interest on. In order to
make up for their 0% interest offers, credit card issuers must recoup their lost
profits when the introductory period ends. The APR that the card will revert to
may possibly be anything but competitive.

You can benefit from a balance transfer if you are diligent in paying off the
debt and controlling new purchases. If you are considering a balance transfer,
you're probably hoping to save interest fees and to get ahead of your debts.
Develop a realistic plan to pay down your debt before the teaser rate period
ends. It will do no good to transfer thousands of dollars in debt to another
card, only to pay the minimum payments until the rate skyrockets. Paying the
minimum payments on credit cards can literally keep you in debt for decades;
take advantage of the low-interest period to make a serious dent in your credit
card debt.

Be cautious about whether to keep the other credit card accounts open once
the balances have been transferred to your new account. Nobody likes to admit
they are irresponsible with credit, but if overspending is what brought you to
consider a balance transfer to begin with, then closing the old accounts may be
your smarter choice. Someone who really loves to shop or splurge is likely to
see the zero balances on all their other credit cards as an invitation to spend
money. If old accounts are run back up after a balance transfer, you can easily
end up with twice the credit card debt than you were trying to pay off to begin
with!

Closing the old credit card accounts may be the wiser choice, but be aware
that it can your hurt credit score by reducing the average age of your credit
accounts. You may be better off keeping a credit card that you've had for a long
time, and especially if that card's APR is better than what the new card's
normal rate will become after the intro period. There's no reason to give up a
card with otherwise excellent terms unless you know you'll run the card back up
if you keep it open.

Some credit card users have perfected the balance transferring act, and move
from card to card to chase those teaser rates, in an attempt to delay interest
payments on their credit card debts. This system can work if you are determined
to pay off your debts as soon as possible. This system can backfire if you run
up new debt or show a habit of jumping from card to card. Card issuers will
recognize someone who overuses the balance transfer, and may stop offering
low-introductory rates to those they suspect will flee before they can make any
real money from them. Also, as said before, continually closing accounts can
hurt your credit score if you don't have other accounts for some time, as it
prevents you from establishing long term credit history.

The credit card industry is fiercely competitive; they continually come out
with some new ploy to earn new customers, but if it doesn't work out for them,
they may discontinue certain offers. It may become difficult for them to make
money on the deal, due to increased competition and lack of consumer loyalty.
It's better to use a balance transfer as a temporary measure to finally get
ahead of your credit card debt, as opposed to being a permanent debt management
trick. You never know when you'll get your last offer for a low-interest balance
transfer.

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Using 0% Balance Transfers to Alleviate Debt

Credit cards are extremely convenient and useful, but they have a dark side that is often difficult to escape once you're in too deep. Credit cards can get you into a terrible mess when used irresponsibly, without paying them off or down significantly as you go along. You have the potential to be left in debt for years, ruining your credit and thus, your chances of being able to acquire assets like vehicles or homes. Rest assured that, if you find yourself drowning in credit card debt, you are not alone. Millions of people are in the same situation, and because of the size of the problem, there are plenty of ways to get out of it.

Balance transfers are one of the most common ways to take steps toward paying off credit cards. Shifting high-interest debt to a low or 0% balance transfer credit card is a great way to save money on interest when you're ready to be serious about chipping away at that balance. It's easy to do a balance transfer, but just like with using credit cards, there are pitfalls to this method that must be avoided for it to work in your favor. First, obtain your credit reports so that you know what your history and score are looking like right now. You should have no problem getting approved for a 0% balance transfer interest rate if you have good credit. Some people are lucky enough to even find a card that offers a no fee balance transfer, but these are rare. You can pretty much bet that there will be an average fee of 3% of the amount you wish to transfer, so prepare yourself for that.
Most credit card companies impose limits to the amount you can transfer. If your debt is more than $10,000, you probably won't be able to transfer the whole thing--and it's likely you wouldn't want to because of the additional 3% fee that would be tacked onto that. At this point, you need to decide how much you are willing to transfer to one card. You may also consider transferring one large debt to two different cards assuming they both have 0% balance transfer rates. If the idea of obtaining two more cards makes you wince in financial anguish, simply transfer as much as that balance as you can stand to a 0% interest card--this alone could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in interest while you pay off the rest.
Transferring a balance can be a really smart debt relief move, but remember that it takes time and discipline to pay off large credit card balances. Get ready to buckle down and stop charging your credit card(s). This is the only way you'll get the best possible results from your balance transfer. If you have a low or 0% balance transfer interest rate, chances are it will not last forever--12 months at the most. The name of the game now is paying off as much as you can in as little time as possible. Use foresight when managing your finances from now on. So many people wait until it's too late to begin taking steps toward correcting their debts. If you can regulate debt early on, you'll have more of an opportunity to be debt free later in life.

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Credit Identity Theft Protection and Technology

Identity theft prevention becomes more and more complex as the technology involved changes and evolves. You can now buy Radio Frequency Readers (also know as Remote Frequency Readers) online for less than $100. This is great news for thieves, as these electronic devices can scan and steal the personal information from your driver's license, your credit card, university and corporate IDs, speed passes and passports, all of which contain RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags.
A Miami ABC station, WPLG, aired an eye opening report on this new phenomena. An investigative reporter from WPLG was able to purchase on of these readily available devices with no difficulty on the web. She then set out to determine just how it easy it really was to steal information from her unsuspecting targets- her co-workers. For investigative purposes, she activated her reader with an alarm to allow her viewers (and her targets) to hear an audible signal every time the reader successful skimmed data from one of her co-workers.

With the device in her purse, the reporter then walked casually by an unsuspecting co-workers desk. A sudden beeping noise emanated from her purse. She then set her purse down on another employee's desk, which also was followed by beeping. She continued on down the office hall past more of her co-workers, the alarm beeping with each target she passed.
All of her co-workers believed their personal effects and information to be safely hidden away, yet that was clearly not the case. An actual thief would clearly not be using an audible alarm on their reader, meaning that most people never realize anything has happened until the damage has already been done. Thieves often work in teams- on person skilling information with the reader while the other captures the target's image via a cell phone, effectively collecting everything they need to steal your identity completely.
It is difficult to imagine just how much classified information could be skimmed from airports, universities, shopping malls and sporting events without anyone being the wiser. Likewise, the amount of damage (or doors opened) that can be done with that information. Confidential information that is stored on personal badges and key cards, if stolen, could certainly provide a thief access to protected facilities, computers and information.
Identity theft protection has become much more based on technology as we try to avoid hackers, ID theft, data breaches, and fraud. The days of worrying simply after our physical possessions and what's in our wallets are long over. As more and more of our identity gets put into RFID tags (new passports and quick-pay credit cards now contain this information) skimming is becoming more and more popular among criminals looking to perpetrate identity theft and other more dangerous crimes.

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How To Evaluate Low Cost Car Insurance

People hate paying more for car insurance than they absolutely have to, even if it’s termed as low cost car insurance. Actually, most people hate paying more than they absolutely have to for anything. Period.

This does not mean though, that you should spend all your time trying to get the best deals possible. Time itself is very precious; how you make use of it is completely up to you.

Spending months and years evaluating the last nickel’s worth of premium charges on your insurance quote might not be the wisest decision to take; there are innumerable other things you could and should be doing.
To begin with, you should shop around. Being with the same brand name agency for a considerable time period does not make it more credible. On the other hand, it is quite possible that you’re being overcharged simply because the amount of comparison shopping you have done, if any, is negligible. An astute consumer would do comparison shopping on a regular basis, probably about once a year. What was the best deal in low cost car insurance two years ago might not be so today and therefore comparative valuation is important.

The next step is to find out what coverage in your state is mandatory and what is optional. This goes for both state mandated coverages as well as coverage desired by you or necessitated by your finance company. For example, if you choose a particular policy that does not have the $275,000 liability coverage as required by your state, find out how much the policy costs if you raise it to that amount, and then reevaluate. Again, if your car is not fully paid for, collision insurance coverage will almost surely be a prerequisite of your finance company.

While comparing car insurance quotes, you’ll need to look into various other matters to make sure that your comparisons are apt. If a certain low cost car insurance policy has a liability coverage up to $250,000 and another one has the same coverage up to $25,000, it is no mystery as to which one will be cheaper.

While we’re on collision coverage, it should be noted that this is probably one of the most expensive types of coverage, though it is worth it if you’re in a major or even minor accident. One aspect that radically affects the cost of collision coverage is your deductible. It is the deciding factor on how much you need to pay when making a claim for collision. If you choose a $150 collision rather than a $550 deductible, the overall cost of the insurance policy may go up to three times as much.

Finally, don’t be afraid to shop for your car insurance needs. Quality car insurance companies quoting low cost car insurance online are many and can be priced quite assertively. The bottom line is to be sure to shop around, because if you don’t, chances are that you’re wasting hard-earned money on your car insurance. So a do your research well enough and the savings you make will be well worth the effort.

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Global Futures Public/Member Short Sales Ratio

The NYSE Members Report is compiled by the SEC and issued about two weeks after the applicable date. This indicator is a useful tool to determine what the experts are doing. The NYSE Member Short Sales Ratio is computed by dividing the total member short sales by total short sales. A moving average should be applied to smooth out the swings. Members of the NYSE are professionals and normally right about the trend of the market. If they are shorting heavily the market is usually ripe for a correction. On the other hand, if they are doing relatively little shorting it is most likely that the market has hit bottom, especially if public- and odd-lot short sales increase at the same time.
The NYSE Members Report is compiled by the SEC and issued about two weeks after the applicable date. This indicator is a useful tool to determine what the public or the so called crowd is doing. The Public Short Sales Ratio is computed by dividing the total public short sales by total short sales. A moving average should be applied to smooth out the swings. The public is usually wrong about the trend of the market. If they are shorting heavily the market is usually ripe for an upturn. On the other hand, if they are doing relatively little shorting it is most likely that the market is near a correction, especially if specialists short sales increase at the same time.

This index is calculated by dividing the weekly odd-lot short sales by the weekly short sales by floor traders for better comparison. Introduced by Wall Street Courier, the Odd -Lot Short/Floor Trader Short Ratio indicates the market sentiment of small investors who purchase less than 100 shares of a stock (odd-lot). Unlike the more sophisticated floor traders, the odd-lotters are usually wrong about the direction of the market and this indicator is therefore considered to be a contrary opinion sentiment indicator.

Global Futures Odd-Lot/Specialist Short Sales Ratio

This index is calculated by dividing the weekly odd-lot short sales by the weekly specialists short sales for better comparison. A 4-week moving average is applied to smooth out the swings. Unlike the well informed specialists, the odd-lotters are usually wrong about the direction of the market and this indicator is therefore considered to be a contrary opinion sentiment indicator. High readings indicate heavy shorting by odd-lot investors and therefore bottoms, extremely low readings tops.

Global Futures Public/Member Short Sales Ratio

This index is calculated by dividing the weekly public short sales by the weekly member short sales for better comparison. A 4-week moving average is applied to smooth out the swings. Members of the NYSE are professionals and normally right about the trend of the market. If they are doing relatively little shorting it is most likely that the market has hit bottom, especially if public short sales increase at the same time. High readings indicate heavy shorting by the public (the so called crowd) and therefore bottoms, low readings indicate tops.

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Money markets matter

Just tell me whether the market�s going up or down!� It was January 2001, and George had bought technology stocks for his clients in 2000 at the peak of the Internet bubble. He needed those trades to at least break even before his next reporting period ended. He really wanted to hear some good news about the outlook for stocks. �But the spread between the three-month and the 10-year is positive!� he wailed. He felt entitled to a stock market rally; in fact, his job depended on it.

The yield curve, however, was not normal from three months to one year. Most people do not pay much attention to these very short-term securities because they usually have the smallest return; they do, though, have a large impact on the financial markets, the economy, and your investments. These are money market instruments.

Money market securities mature within one year and include both corporate and government instruments. In fact, every fixed-income security of any length eventually falls into this category as it nears maturity. If you buy a 30-year Treasury bond and sell it after 29 years, your broker executes your trade through the money market rather than the bond-trading desk. We can get useful information about the economy and the stock market from both corporate and government money market instruments.

Some economists pay special attention to yield curves in a segment of the corporate money market, commercial paper. Commercial paper is an unsecured debt of, or a good-faith loan to, the corporation that matures within 270 days and usually comes in round lots of a million dollars. This paper appeals to large institutions such as mutual funds because, while only the highest-quality firms are able to borrow in this manner, they still must pay more than the U.S. Treasury pays. You probably own more commercial paper than you think because so many banks, insurance companies, and mutual funds buy it for your accounts.

Economists see commercial paper as a window into the issuing firm�s order book. The commercial paper yield curve is one place where we may be able to see into the cash flows of the firm. To oversimplify, let us say that General Electric (GE) does not expect to sell a lot of lightbulbs in the next six months. The company therefore may not pay a high interest rate on short-term commercial paper it issues for fear of attracting money to that part of the yield curve. If the GE treasurer thinks that interest rates will decrease over the next six months, he offers an even lower rate and his yield curve slopes downward even more. George�s problem was that the treasurer at GE saw customers cutting the night shift at their factories and GE�s lightbulb order book was drying up. The treasurer thought that interest rates might decline during the next three months as well, so his yield curve sloped steeply downward. GE�s yield curve probably inverted like that shown in Figure 3.2, created from historical data on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York�s web site at Commercial paper and other money market interest data are in the financial press and on the Internet every day.

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The Stock Market Umbrella

Most people, even if they have never invested in shares, have heard of the stock market. Most will know this is the place where shares are bought and sold. But what they might not realise is that the stock market is actually an umbrella term for a number of different markets run by the London Stock Exchange (LSE) where shares in different types of companies can be traded. These firms might be big blue chip household names, foreign businesses or small unquoted companies.

There are more than 2,700 companies, worth over £1.4bn, quoted on the London Stock Exchange’s markets! If you are planning to buy shares it is worth knowing which type of company is quoted on each of the markets run by the London Stock Exchange as it will help you make the best decisions about your investments. It could even introduce you to a world of investing you never knew existed. There are also other markets you may wish to consider.
London Stock Exchange markets:

The Main Market
Alternative Investment Market (AIM)
Overseas markets
OFEX

The Main Market

Undoubtedly the market most people would identify as ‘the UK stock market’ is the London Stock Exchange’s Main Market. This is the world’s most active international equity market with companies from all areas of the business world, including retailing, technology, finance and manufacturing. More than 2,000 companies, including more than 500 overseas companies, have securities which are quoted on this market.

Some international companies prefer to list Depository Receipts, which represent ownership of the underlying securities and can be listed and traded independently. These shares are usually denominated in US Dollars (ADRs) or Euros (EDRs)

Under the Main Market’s umbrella there are special groupings for certain sectors. One of the most well-known is techMARKTM, the international market for cutting edge technology companies that was launched in 1999. There is also techMARK mediscienceTM, a market for healthcare companies.

Professional and private investors alike track the performance of securities admitted to trading on the Main Market using a variety of indices.

The index that covers all securities listed on the Main Market is the FTSETM All Share but there are other indices covering various sectors, e.g. the FTSE 100, which tracks the performance of the biggest 100 companies listed on the market. These firms, often known as blue chips, are often household names, including Marks & Spencer, HSBC, BP and Glaxo Smithkline. Read more about Indices.

A two-stage admission process applies to companies who want to have their securities admitted to the London Stock Exchange’s Main Market. The securities need to be admitted to the Official List by the UK Listing Authority (UKLA), a division of the Financial Services Authority, and also admitted to trading by the London Stock Exchange.

Alternative Investment Market (AIM)

More commonly known as AIM, the Alternative Investment Market was launched in 1995 and is more lightly regulated than the Main Market.

More than 1,500 companies are traded on AIM and represent a variety of industries, including information technology, leisure and hotels, healthcare and biotechnology stocks.

While there are no specific suitability requirements for companies seeking to admit securities on the AIM market, there are some controls. The company must produce an admission document that gives potential investors information on, for example, directors, business activities and the company’s financial position.

The company must also get the support of a nominated adviser approved by the Stock Exchange. This adviser is responsible, amongst other duties, for ensuring the company is suitable for an AIM quotation.

Introducing a market such as AIM has enabled these companies to raise money from investors who, in turn, have the ability to invest in a wider range of companies.

But investors must also recognise that the lighter regulation afforded these companies does make AIM a potentially riskier place to invest than the Main Market.

Overseas markets

As well as investing in UK registered securities you may also wish to consider investing in foreign securities. Buying foreign securities diversifies your portfolio, which is an important way of reducing risk while maximising returns. For more on diversification, read Allocating your Assets.

Buying shares in foreign companies has not, historically, been practical for the vast majority of investors because of cost, lack of information and the extra risk of currency fluctuations.

But in recent years overseas trading has become easier, particularly as so much information is available on the Internet. Since the introduction of CREST Depository Interests (CDIs), which you can buy on the London Stock Exchange’s International Retail Service, it has also become cheaper.

There are a tremendous number of international markets but it is harder to buy shares on any but the larger exchanges. Among the most popular are DAXTM 40 index, the French CAC TM -30, the American S&P TM 500 and Japanese Nikkei TM 225. For more on buying foreign shares, click here. (link to Buying shares article)

OFEX

The ‘Off Exchange’ or OFEX market established in 1995 is another market for more adventurous investors to buy shares. It is not a regulated market and securities traded on it are unlisted and unquoted, although most members, as UK companies, are subject to the same company legislation as the biggest blue chip firms.

OFEX has existed for 35 years but has only been known under its present name since 1995. It is seen by some firms as a springboard to listing on AIM and the Main Market but others decide to remain with OFEX. stay with the Exchange permanently.

While the requirements required for trading shares on OFEX are not as stringent as for AIM and the Main Market companies must follow official rules. Shares can be suspended if they breach any of these regulations.

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Great Rewards With Hedge Fund Investments

A hedge fund investment offers an alternative strategy for the more aggressive investor to branch out on the road to untold wealth. In order to amass huge fortunes, the savvy hedge fund investor may risk considerable losses. Hedge funds use flexible strategies to create lucrative returns from pooled resources.

Hedge funds trade and invest in a variety of markets including currency, securities, and commodities. A hedge fund investment earned its name from safe guarding your investment interest by hedging or dodging market drops.

The hedge fund is set up for a limited amount of wealthy investors. In the United States, hedge funds are open to accredited investors only. To be considered accredited, an individual must possess a net worth of at least one million US dollars. But that is a very traditional view – with the recent popularity of hedge fund investing, there are many investment companies that do not require such a lofty net worth these days.

The hedge fund manager has his own money invested in the fund and is designated as the general partner. A hedge fund manager will diversify the financial portfolio to minimize loss. In the best interest of the investors, the well-informed manager has the ability to gauge the market, know when to sell, avoid the pitfalls, and achieve marked success.

The fund manager is paid a performance fee taken from the investment fund. Under less regulation than the more traditional mutual funds, a hedge fund investment allows the fund manager to share in the capital gains and losses. Hedge funds have in common with mutual funds that they are both investments in assets for future earnings. In operation, that is basically where the comparison ends.

A hedge fund has more flexibility in investment policies, standards, and procedures compared to a mutual fund. Hedge funds sidestep market falls by escaping restrictions placed on other funds. Private members in hedge fund investments are not subject to the strict rules that public mutual fund holders must follow. A hedge fund management firm is allowed to have both domestic and foreign investors. This practice allows hedge fund managers to collect money from all over the world.

Short selling, leveraging, and arbitrage are a few of the diverse methods that can be utilized in a hedge fund investment. These high-risk maneuvers are not allowed for mutual fund investors. Hedge funds are designed to invest in equity markets. Equity funds are bought cheap, restructured, and then sold. Hedge fund investments receive deferred capital gains.

Short selling permits the investor to sell stock that they don’t own for the chance to turn a profit when prices fall. This is another means for the knowledgeable investor to reap potential rewards by risking greater although capped losses. A worldly wise hedge fund manager speculates in purchasing stock to raise the price and then sell at a higher profit.

Leveraging is borrowing money for the purpose of investing.

The fund manager is somewhat who is very knowledgeable about the financial industry and this type of investing. He has further incentive to try to ensure profits since he has his own money invested as well, plus without good performance, he will not get the performance bonus.

Arbitrage is a common practice in stock trading. By buying and selling securities in different markets at the same time, a valuable return of investment is created from the price difference. Capturing only a slight difference in separate markets, arbitrage is a means for the hedge fund investor to buy low and sell high.

Hedge fund investors generally include rich individuals and organizations such as a corporation or retirement plan. They are taxed at a lower rate than the general public. Private equity partnerships pay a corporate income tax of 15% for capital gains. As private suggests, hedge fund investors do not disclose their activities to third parties, so there are no official hedge fund statistics.

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