Now is by far the best time for good financial advice.

By Chris Clare

We tend to turn to professionals when it comes to needing advice with important things in life, such as doctors, dentists, accountants and the like. However a lot of us can be reluctant when it comes to seeking financial advice. People only use an independent financial advisor, or IFA, when they need something, and don't generally ask for their advice or expertise beforehand.

So what exactly is an Independent Financial Advisor then? Well, simply put, he or she is a person who works independently of the insurance companies, advising the best ways I which to deal with your individual financial situation. Now while it is true that it is a commission based job, independent means that he or she is not tied to any specific company. An IFA also has to put any advice that is given on record in writing and as such is held responsible for the advice given. With that in mind it is obviously in the IFAs best interest to give unbiased advice which can be clearly seen to be in the best interests of the client.

So what is it that Independent Financial Advisors give advice on then? Well basically any product within the financial market. That is to say, mortgages, life insurance, private pensions, savings plans. Some also deal with will writing and inheritance tax planning.

You may be asking yourself, "Well, all these services can be acquired anywhere on the high street, so why should I go to the bother of hiring an IFA?". The reason is that IFAs are not sales people. You don't just ask them to sell you life insurance, for example. In approaching an IFA you will be asking them if you need life insurance at all, and if so, which is the best option available to you.

A financial advisors process will involve sitting down with you for a couple of hours going through all the things you currently have such as the policies that you already pay into. They will asses your attitude to risk which means they will establish how much risk you are prepared to associate with particular areas or you financial planning. They will also establish what you can afford and how much money you are prepared to commit to dealing with any particular need you may have.

Then they will look at your future financial aspirations. They will ask you about the quality of life you would like in the years to come. Maybe you would like to retire earlier in life, get sickness coverage to cover future events or pay your mortgage off before the term stated.

By asking all of these questions, an IFA is then able to ascertain what you need and what sort of budget you have available in order to achieve it. They can then create a personal profile and use it to go away and source what financial services best fit your needs and budget.

They will then come back to you and see if you think that the solutions fit your purposes. If you are happy with their proposals then they can proceed to put the financial plan in place for you.

You may think that this is the end of the process, but you would be wrong. It is also the job of an independent financial advisor to keep in contact with you every year to make sure that the services you have are still what you need. Circumstances change, and in doing so, the type of financial cover you have will also naturally shift. It is important to have a financial health check every so often to make sure you are properly protected.

So to summarise an independent financial advisors job entails gathering information about you and researching the best products for you then sitting down with you to ensure that you know exactly what you have and what they propose and then carrying out regular reviews to ensure that the advice stays current and relevant. So I think you will agree they are worth their weight in gold, especially in these financial times when we should all be reviewing what we have and most of all why we have it.

About the Author:

Quality financial advisors can be difficult to come by so why not come along to Invest & Protect ltd we are specialists in offering independent financial advisors.

Building Credit with Credit Cards

By Larry Van-Doren

If you have bad credit, it is important to keep up with your spending to avoid poverty. If you are searching for a low interest credit card to repair your credit, remember most cards available have high initial fees and APR. Regardless if you have filed bankruptcy, have bad credit or do not have credit at all the lenders are opening the doors inviting all to join. Since, millions of people today have filed bankruptcies the lenders are considering option to help these people get back on their feet, while others are considering options to bring the debtors further to the ground. We live in a rich man's world, with selfish, irresponsible, undignified individuals running the show. Therefore, if you are looking to build your credit with credit cards then there are things you should know.

Most lenders will shut the door in your face if you have filed bankruptcy when you apply for credit cards. They may refer you to debt consolidation balance transfer credit cards lenders to help you get your feet on the ground again. Be advised that many debt consolidation programs, are like few of the card lenders and their mission is to put your under. Secured Credit Cards are used for rebuilding your bad credit.

Many of the debt consolidation programs, like most credit cards for bad credit consumers have high interest rates and the repayments with attached fees often make it difficult for the cardholder or debtor to pay the dues.
The best answer for building credit is to save your money, by cutting back expenses. After you weed down the debts, you can then apply for a credit card. Once you have reduced your debts and waited about six months you are likely to find a credit card with lower interest rates and lower fees. The card lenders may even offer you a card with no annual fees.

If you have difficulty managing your money, you may want to ask a responsible family member to help you out. You may even want to invest a small fee into software programs with managing tools. The programs often provide a budget structure to help you maintain you cash.

On the other hand, if you must have a credit card to build your credit, then make sure you ask your self-important questions before applying. The questions should include, why do I need a credit card? Am I responsible to make the payments on time and use the card to get out of debt? What is involved with owning a credit card? Am I at risk of loosing my card, or am I responsible to put my cards in safe places?

You will also need to take into consideration that cards have Terms & Conditions. Are you knowledgably about credit cards? Do you have enough information in your databank to avoid getting taking? Do you have the ability to research and compare cards to avoid loss? Do you understand what each card offers and how it can benefit you?

Even if you find a lender that will give you a credit card, and the card comes with initial fees and high APR, it might be wise to take the offer if you can afford to. This will help you build your credit if you use the card wisely and repay your debts on time. Also, once you have held the card for six months and paid faithfully you can contact the card lender and demand or request lower APR. Therefore, you must have negotiation skills, coupled with knowledge, understanding, and many other human necessities to handle a credit card to rebuild your credit.

If you feel that credit cards are threatening then you can take steps to repair your credit without applying for a credit card; One of the best solutions for repairing credit is to save, contact your creditors asking for extensions, etc.

Finally, credit cards are nice to have, and before it is over, we are all going to need a credit card to make a purchase. Therefore, build your credit now and get the credit card you deserve later!

About the Author:

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The Basic Steps for Building a Budget

By William Blake

If you want to start living a more frugal life, you will need to start the process by doing some important planning. The most important part of planning for your finances is making a solid budget. Regardless of how much you make, how you make it, and how much you have now, you can make a budget that will work for you. Consider the following steps that will help you take the first step to a thriftier lifestyle: making a budget.

1. Keep track of your spending. You need to know what your current spending habits are before you can adjust them by means of a budget. Bring a small notepad with you wherever you go and note how much you spend every time you make a purchase. That way you can track your spending.

2. List out your expenses. This will include monthly bills as well as the money spent that has been written down in your notepad. Organize the purchases you have made into categories and then total them up to see how much you have spent.

3. Write down how much money you make and how often you receive it, whether that be on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis. Then total up how much you earn.

4. Based off of the information you have gathered during the last month, make a budget. Once you have it written out, compare it to your total income and make any necessary adjustments so that your income is more than your budget is, either spending less or making more money.

5. Study your budget and even take a few days to really think about the items you have listed there. Make better choices. If you only watch your television once a week then cancel your cable. Save that money for something else. If you have so many clothes that you can't open your closet then determine to pass on the shopping for a while. Decide to choose a future instead of a fleeting present.

6. Once you have cut out all possible expenses, look at your budgeted totals for earnings and spending. If you still wind up spending more than you earn, you might consider getting a better or second job. Your budget will not be able to help you save money if you plan to spend more than you earn.

7. Review your budget. Since our lives are in a constant state of flux, your budget will no doubt need to be adjusted from time to time. As your lifestyle gets progressively more frugal, you may notice more expenses that can be cut.

Having a keen understanding of your own spending habits will enable you to live frugally, successfully. Making a budget and sticking to it is an essential first step.

About the Author:

Are you looking for more information about how to cancel credit card account? Visit http://www.debtopedia.com for more tips about consolidating credit debt and other credit card payoff tips.

Is A Poor Credit Mastercard Getting You Down?

By James Dean

In these current times irrespective of whether you have a poor credit history it is still possible for an individual to get a credit card from the mass that presently flood the market. Nevertheless, people who are now in a poor credit situation will learn that that Mastercard and Visa are the two finance companies most likely to agree to issuing a credit card. Actually the main question you should ask yourself is more to do with which of the two you need to consider applying for - a Visa credit card or a poor credit Mastercard?

Even though there was often thought to be a difference, ordinarily in favor of Visa, because of the number of outlets it was recognised in, these days there is no longer this difference. Nonetheless, in the present day you will probably see that it is actually Mastercard that's established and received in a larger number of places.

This aside, for many people with a poor credit score, probably both of these cards will appear remarkably alike and they in all probability would be happy to accept either of them. Naturally, the monthly interest fee charged on both of these credit cards will be a little higher than those for individuals with high credit histories, although generally the benefits will be close to identical. Nevertheless, providing the individual supplied with a Mastercard uses it in a reliable way, and makes the payments before they are due, they will soon see improvements in their credit history. This behavior may also have a lower interest rate on your account once the credit has been cleaned up.

It's a good idea, especially if you have acquired a poor credit record and are seeking a credit card, to study the terms and conditions before signing on the dotted line. Like virtually every subject you care to mention at the moment, the speediest way to discover more and study the options you may have is to use the power of the Internet. Individuals with an adverse credit history can see without any fuss which credit card companies will issue a Mastercard to someone .

Because there are a few you may be eligible to try for it is to your advantage that you are aware of exactly what advantages each one offers so we will take a look at these below:

1. Continental Finance Gold MasterCard

Should you choose this card you can be certain, reports are sent to the three main credit reporting agencies on how responsibly you are using your card that allows an up-to-date method of repairing your credit history. Strangely a credit company will increase the limit available on the card when they can see the individual it has been made out to is acting sensibly and making their payments when they are due.

2. Orchard Bank Platinum MasterCard

Normally, finance companies will call for an initial payment prior to issuing the credit card which can be difficult for some people but that is not the case with this card and irrespective of this they still provide security on all the goods it is used as payment for. Of course this card too sends in depth reports to the main credit establishments just as the bad credit Mastercard supplied by Continental Finance. The two primary advantages to this particular card over similar versions includes the closely matched APR it enforces and a much lower annual fee which can be of tremendous assistance to those who do not have complete control over their finances yet.

About the Author:

You can visit: no credit mastercard and Mastercard Application for more information.

How is this economy treating your small business?

By JR Rooney

You would have to be living in a cave not to be aware that we're in the worst financial crisis in our lifetimes in the United States. If you find yourself worried about your business and what can happen next, you're certainly not alone.

As I write this, the next few days bring great uncertainty about what the government is going to do to try and help bail out the failed banking system in the US. While it's not clear what form the assistance will take, it appears almost certain that the US government will have to do something to fix the mess created in the financial system by rampant greed. "What's going to happen?" you ask, Who knows! What is obvious is that the vast majority of Americans are extremely unhappy with the current situation and quite angry about spending billions of dollars to bail out an industry known for greed.

The fact of the matter is, a bailout is not the end of the troubles for those of us who run small businesses. The United States economy is in deep, deep trouble and this will not be fixed very quickly. All the major news outlets have commentaries about what's happening and what to expect. It seems the consensus is that it's unlikely we're going to experience a level of unemployment seen during the Great Depression. That's the good news. The bad news is that things are ugly and their likely get much worse before they get better. And if that wasn't enough, things are probably not to get better in the near future.

Small business owners are highly unlikely to land the line of credit they need in order to expand their business in the near future. So what can you do? No one can tell you what you need to do in your particular business, but I've always been a huge supporter of the low-cost direct marketing style in my businesses. I suggest you start rethinking all the many ways you can seek out additional revenue at a minimum cost. This means not only getting new customers at that minimum cost, but just as important, you need to try to sell more services to the customers you already have.

The situation is a lot more complicated than simply not being able to obtain credit, but it is also going to be difficult for many business owners to even make it through the next several years. There has already been a big drop in consumer spending in the US, and getting new customers as well as maintaining the ones you already have is going to get more difficult. That is why this is the time to get yourself back to the basic and most important task which is to get your business well marketed. There is nothing more important for your business in difficult times such as these than your marketing efforts.

About the Author:

JR works with a full service debt Collection Agency. When your clients can't pay, hire his Collection Company

Fair Debt Collection Practices

By Darren Cason

Anyone can be anxious when the debt collectors are constantly ringing up and sending threatening letters of demand. But rest assured that there is protection in a number of forms and ways that you can deal with the debt collectors that hassle you.

There is an Act that lays down the guidelines as to what a debt collector can and cannot do when they are trying to collect a debt. It is called the "Fair Debt Collection Practices" Act. This Act states, amongst other aspects, that the debt collectors are not allowed to call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.; they cannot garnish wages in those states where it has been made illegal and they must cease the continual phone calls if you ask them to.

[For the full text, see: http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpa/fdcpact.htm#801]

There are several things you can do.

Don't take the call. Use an answering machine to screen calls. For those people who have caller ID or call blocking, you will be able to get rid of the call entirely.

If you do decide to take the call, it is entirely reasonable for you to request that they do not contact you further. If you send the agency a "cease and desist" letter, they are then legally prevented from contacting you. Any legal action can be expensive, so it is wise to try other ways first.

If the debt is in fact yours to pay, if you are able to, you should think about paying it. After all it is your responsibility and should be paid. If you are truly finding it difficult to pay, then perhaps you can negotiate a way of making regular, lower payments until the debt is paid in full.

Make the committment and stick to it and the annoying calls should stop. These debt collectors are real people just doing their job, even if some of them are less than pleasant about it and they will usually not bother you once you have an agreement with them.

Maintain a record of calls that have been made either by you or to you in a diary, together with any arrangements that have been made. Keep a record of when you have asked them to stop calling - this is most important if they have been calling you at your workplace. If it is legal in your state, you may consider taping the phone call, but keep in mind that often means that you have to tell the other person that you are recording them.

There are not many debt collectors that are brave enough (or unwise enough) to say things that may compromise them when they are aware they are being recorded. The record or diary will be helpful if you have negotiated a change in the payment regime.

The majority of debt collectors are able to agree to a lower payment, but because they usually get a commission based on the percentage of their collection, they will push you to pay as close to the whole amount as possible. However, they do understand that if you are able to pay 50% of $500, it is preferable to receiving 100% of nothing at all.

When you make an agreement, the debt collector should also make their own commitment that they will not put any further adverse comments on your credit report or credit rating. Ask them to report any increase on your credit score as well as the payments that you do make as soon as possible so you can adjust the amount owed accordingly.

Be sure that you obtain agreements in writing before you send any substantial amounts of money. A "good faith" payment is fine as it will show that you are sincere in your efforts to clear the debt, but if you send too much at one time, they will be less inclined to adhere to their side of the bargain.

There are three things that you should always retain when you are dealing with debt collection: patience, a realistic outlook and remaining calm when discussing matters financial. If you remember these, you will reduce the stress of the situation.

About the Author:

Join Darren Cason at www.debtjerk.com. Today is the perfect time to find out more about increase credit rating.

Qualifying for a Reverse Mortgage

By Leon J. Thorson

Challenging economic times, high prescription drug costs, and bills coming in; it is the standard day in America. Times are tough especially for our seniors.

There is hope; there is the reverse mortgage. Not only is it gaining popularity to help people pay for day to day life, it is helping people enjoy life again. With few requirements, it maybe easier to qualify than you thought.

The requirements are:

You must be at least 62 years of age.

Ownership of your residence

Equity in your residence

Getting a reverse mortgage will certainly make life easier to live, if not far more enjoyable. It is important to know that you are still responsible for your home. All maintenance and upkeep is yours to do or hire and proper insurance must be adhered to. Taxes are also the responsibility of the homeowner as well.

Reverse mortgages offer tremendous benefits to those that quality, but they are not appropriate for everyone. If your property is in poor condition, it may not qualify as homes need to be inspected and meet specific standards through either the loan company or the government. If you are planning on selling or refinancing a home within the next few years, a reverse mortgage is also not for you.

About the Author:

A Minnesota Reverse Mortgage may possibly be a fiscal life saver for you or someone you care about. To learn more about if a Reverse Mortgage in Minnesota is right for you call Mike Kraus at (763) 355-8540.

This is generally how a real estate short sale works

By Rem

A surprising number of people are using the phrase "real estate short sale" currently and that has drawn a number of curious people to wonder what all the commotion is all about. Anyone who has read newspapers or watched TV has probably come across some sort of stories about the declining real estate market leading banks to consider real estate short sales as an alternative to foreclosure. Real estate prices have dropped dramatically, and the sell time has risen as well. Detroit and similar regions are, it is fair to say, experiencing a full real estate market meltdown. These declining real estate markets are the main reason for the rise in short sale real estate.

What is a short sale, you might ask? A real estate short sale is the name given to the process where banks allow properties to be sold for less than the amount owed to them. There are two conditions that must be met before a bank is likely to approve this: Firstly: Market values are such that the property's sale price cannot cover the outstanding mortgage balance(s). A further condition is that the owners of the property must not be able to continue making mortgage payments on the property.

For example, a property that was purchased five years ago with an adjustable rate mortgage for 217,000 dollars. Let's say that two years after purchasing the property the owners took out an additional 10,000 dollars second mortgage, which means that today the owners owe 227,000 dollars on the property.

Let's also believe that the property is in a part of the country where the market values have fallen to 215,000 dollars for similar properties, and that the adjustable mortgage interest rate has risen from seven to eleven percent. Finally, add the fact that one of the owners has just lost her job and the makings of a real estate short sale situation become apparent.

The bank may decide to save expenses and time delays that a foreclosure would cost by simply allowing a short sale. The reason is that it is far better to have a definite amount of money know and the property off the bank's books than waiting on an unknown amount of money at some unknown point in the future. If the lenders and owners do not agree on the terms of the sale, complications can result, but in general, that is how the real estate short sale works.

A real estate short sale is an unpleasant experience for an owner, but it is not the worst thing in the world. The methods may not be flawless, but it will beat having a foreclosure on the credit report. On the other hand, a truly savvy investor can take advantage of these short sales for excellent buying opportunities.

About the Author:

Also have a look at Cheaper Home Blog and Home For Less Blog

How To Process Payday Loans In The UK

By Rashel Dan

Payday loans in the UK are common and are actually easy to apply for. The most common way to do it, in fact, is to simply log online, apply, and have your application approved through the internet.

There are already several companies offering payday loans in UK. Although it may seem like a non-traditional way of getting financial help, it is one that many people have found to be quite helpful.

The Need

It's a fact of life. There are sometime when you really need payday loans in the UK to pay off bills that came in too early, or utilities that you need to pay off because you forgot all about them. A payday loan is the solution for problems like these, and as long as you have a stable job with a steady income, chances are that you are eligible to get a payday loan.

What Is It?

A payday loan is basically a short-term loan that is given to you by a loaning institution such as the bank. You can then use this money to pay off whatever it is that you need to. But you have to pay back the loan in about two weeks and it's easy if you have a steady paycheck because that can automatically pay it off for you with the right arrangements.

Why Use One?

Aside from the fact that you just might need the money earlier than you expected, payday loans in the UK actually do have advantages over regular loans. The first is that the transaction is quick and the processing can be confidential.

The next good thing about it is that the amount that you need can be deposited into your account the second that it is approved. The approval is actually instant once a lending institution sees just how qualified you are. Online, the process is even quicker and more convenient because you don't need to line up to apply and you can take your time filling out all the forms and fulfilling all the requirements.

Payday loans are fast becoming popular in an age where nothing seems free. Everything from products to services carries some kind of bill that you need to pay at regular intervals. This is where payday loans can become very useful especially when you are a little short on cash when you need it most. Try a payday loan in the UK today and see what all the fuss is about.

About the Author:

Apply for a quick payday loan UK. Know more about processing your payday loans in the UK now.