Category: Finance

Finance

car insurance

How a DUI can impact your car insurance premium

David Jackson

Your driving record and your insurance premium are connected at the hip. The worse your history looks, the more you’re going to pay for coverage and vice versa. Add a DUI into the mix, and you can expect your insurance premium to skyrocket. Here’s how a DUI affects your premium and why. 

The Risk Factor

For insurance companies, premiums are determined by the driver’s risk factor. Risk is simple the likelihood of you being involved in an accident, which means the company would have to pay to cover everything from damages to injuries.

It’s a betting game for insurance companies. They hope you’ll pay into insurance for a lifetime and that they will never have to pay out. That’s how they make their money. So, the compile a list of factors to determine your level of risk. 

Pre-existing conditions that cause impairments, speeding tickets, and the length of time you’ve been a driver all play a part. That’s why new drivers without a history of being behind the wheel, like teens, pay a higher premium. 

Accidents and Risk

Just one accident is enough to make your insurance premium skyrocket. While your cost may return to normal after five years, every accident in that timeframe compounds to increase your premium yet again. Every accident also increases your risk level, as do DUIs. 

DUIs and Risk

While the factors surrounding an accident can make you risk level vary, a DUI places you at high risk immediately. Any auto insurance agency knows how incredibly dangerous driving while intoxicated is since it affects the central nervous system and impacts your ability to drive at all. 

Even if it was a one-time mistake, your insurance company is going to assume you drink and drive often. They don’t want to take the chance that you’ll do again. So, they charge you a higher premium to help cover any future costs associated with drinking and driving. 

Lowering Your Premium 

After a DUI, time is the best way to lower your premium again. It can take years to get your cost back to normal, not to mention repair your driving record. Each DUI after your first is going to make this process take longer.

You can, however, work with legal representation to help lessen the consequences. You might rely on an attorney for a second DUI to lessen court costs, time spent without your license, and possibly keep your premium from skyrocketing. 

The Dreaded DUI

When law enforcement agencies say you can’t afford a DUI, they mean it. The costs associated with this infraction are astronomical, and that’s outside of an increase in your insurance premium. The best way to keep your monthly or yearly bill down is to practice safe driving every time you’re behind the wheel. 

As for drinking, don’t assume you’ll be fine to drive. You alone can tell how intoxicated you are, and that should let you know when you’re not alright to drive. Stick with the legal limit and use a rideshare service like Uber when you must. It’s better than getting a DUI. 

insurance agent examining car damage

Who Should Fix Your Car After A Car Accident?

David Jackson

Being involved in a car accident is never fun. In addition to the potential  emotional and physical damages you can sustain from the wreck itself, you’ve also got to worry about getting your car back in working order so you can continue about your everyday life.

While the specifics may vary from state to state (and depend on who’s at fault for the crash), you’ve usually got more than one possible outcome after you experience an accident. Today, we’ll explore some of the common avenues of pursuit and what you should know about getting your car fixed following a collision.

Insurance Generally Covers The Costs Of Car Repairs

By and large, if you’ve been involved in an auto accident and need repairs for your vehicle, an insurance company is who you will turn to in order to get at least some of the funds for those repairs.

Which insurance company you’ll be dealing with will depend in part on liability (who is at fault for the accident) and whether you’re in a “traditional fault” or “no fault” state. 

There are a few ways this might play out. In traditional fault states, if you can prove the other driver was negligent or they accept fault for the accident, you’ll typically be able to get that driver or their insurance to pay a standard amount for damages.

The upside here is that you won’t usually need to come out of pocket for any costs, but the downside is that it can take a considerable amount of time (sometimes weeks) and that’s time you’ll be stuck without your car in working order.

In no fault states, however, your own insurer will typically cover damages. This is more expedient, obviously, but will also require you to pay a deductible (and, in some situations, your own rental car fees while your vehicle is getting repaired). You might be able to get your deductible repaid, should the other party’s insurance company reimburse yours, but this is not always the case.

And what of scenarios when the other driver is at fault but doesn’t have insurance? It’s not an enviable circumstance by any means, but in these situations, you may be protected by your own policy’s uninsured motorist coverage. There’s still a chance, though, that you’ll have to come out of pocket to pay a deductible.

Finally, though more rare, there are also instances where you may need to get an attorney involved to help you get damages paid for in the event of an auto accident. In such circumstances, it’s best to go with a skilled attorney, and make sure to follow their advice to ensure the best possible outcome for your case.

 

5 Great Ways to Reduce your Expenses

David Jackson

We are all looking for ways to cut down on our expenses and with the rising cost of living, this is not an easy thing to achieve. Aside from the obvious essential items we require in a daily basis, there are other items that are not classed as essential and by removing these from your shopping list, you can save a little on your weekly shopping bill. In this article, we will offer the reader a few money saving ideas to help you reduce your outgoings.

  1. Take Up Cycling – If you already have a bike, great, but if you don’t, then making a small investment now will likely see you saving money in the long term. You could, for example, bike to work if it isn’t too far, and any trip to the local shops can be on two wheels, which will not only save fuel costs, you will also become fitter and lose a little weight. Reducing the number of trips you make in your car will certainly have a positive effect on your finances, and prior to every car journey, you should ask yourself if it is really necessary.
  2. Start a Coin Jar – Coins might not seem like much, but if you drop all your coins into a jar when you come home in the evening, it won’t be long before the jar is full. Of course, you need to have the self-discipline not to use this money, at least until the jar is full, and when it is, you could deposit the cash into a savings account. Imagine how much you could amass in 6 months, or even a year?
  3. Limit your Festive Gifts – While it is nice to be able to buy all your friends and family presents over the festive holiday, it soon mounts up, and if you don’t have enough money for gifts, check out Nimble Christmas loans, which could provide a short-term solution. If you don’t have the money to buy lavish gifts for your loved ones, be honest and tell them and they will understand. You can also scale down the gift if you are having financial reasons, as it is the thought that counts and people understand this.
  4. Create a Weekly Budget – Admittedly, you must have a degree of self-control for this to be effective, but if you set yourself a weekly budget and make sure that you stick to it, then you will save money. People who work with money always plan, which is something everyone can do by working out a weekly spending budget, and with some resolve, you can save money using this strategy.
  5. Cut Out a Few Luxuries – While we all need some luxury now and then, if you need to cut down on your expenses, luxury items are the first thing to look at. Changing your daily routine can help with this, as with a new routine, you already have change, therefore you won’t miss the luxuries so much.

All of the above strategies will result in savings and by creating a weekly budget, you have a clearer picture of exactly where you can make cuts.

Explaining how a payday loan works

David Jackson

A payday loan is a type of loan that’s borrowed to finance anything for a short term. The lender, which in this case, will most likely be the bank, will provide a high-interest loan depending on the borrower’s income and credit score. In most cases, a payday loan’s principal amount is a portion of the borrower’s next monthly pay. So how exactly do banks or lenders earn the extra cut by providing payday loans? Through high interest rates. Other words that can be used to describe these loans are cash advance loans or check advance loans.

How do lenders make money through payday loans?

As mentioned above, payday loans are attached with a high level of interest. Borrowers are aware of what they are getting themselves into when they opt for a payday loan and don’t mind paying the extra hidden fees that’s normally not provided or detailed beforehand by lenders. In this case, it always pays to ask questions on the kind of interest rate coupled with the extra charges that need to be paid in the future.

How can one obtain a payday loan?

Small-scale banks typically provide payday loans, but these funds can also be acquired by credit merchants. Such merchants have physical locations provided and they also give credit applications at these locations to be approved later. A few payday loan services are also available through online channels, but if you’re not comfortable with this route, it’s always a good idea to walk or drive down to the physical location and see if everything checks out. 

If a borrower wants to successfully receive a payday loan, they must first provide proof of salary, or a pay stub. This is the amount that you receive after taxes and other charges have been deducted, showing the actual income level you have. A payday loan’s principal amount, which is the amount that isn’t counted with the interest, is normally given after calculation of the borrower’s short-term income. 

Other factors that will decide the outcome of being eligible for a payday loan depends on the borrower’s credit score and their history. If their habits of returning previous loans with interest have been punctual, they have a better chance of receiving that payday loan.

What kind of interest can one expect to pay on a payday loan?

Short-term borrowing habits are capitalized here, as borrowers can be charged up to a whopping 500 percent in annual percentage yield. In most regions, there are laws that limit the interest rate to 35 percent, while in others, you could be paying a heck of a lot more, which in some cases, is absolutely necessary.

If you’re looking to borrow some funds for a short period of time, payday loans site usfinancer.com can help you out. Even if you have reasonably poor credit, you can still apply for a payday loan here.

Benefits of Cell Phones for Students

David Jackson

There is no mistaking the impact that cell phones have had in our lives. Being able to control almost all aspects of our lives with just a few taps and swipes has brought a level of convenience that we have not had before in our lives.

This means that even students can gain the benefits involved with cell phones. Sure, they probably spend a little too much time on social media or texting their friends, but cell phones have huge benefits in other aspects of their lives.

Best of all, parents don’t have to worry about expensive plans of days past. With alternate carriers like Mint Mobile and H2O wireless, it is easier and more cost-effective than ever to get the kind of phone and plan that benefits the situation most.

More Security

One huge impact on student life that cell phones have had is in personal security. For parents, they want to know that their kids off at college are safe and doing well. With a cell phone, students can stay safer than ever before.

Having the ability to call a friend, family member, or emergency services in a flash can mean all the difference in the world. This can also involve location services so that those close to you can know where you are when you need them to know.

It provides a sense of relief for both family and student knowing that they have an extra layer of security to watch over them and make things safer than ever before.

Help boost memory

Another benefit that students have is in boosting their memories. In college especially, when notes and lectures are most of life, it is essential to ensure that all of the right information is being transcribed. Missed or incomplete notes can lead to inaccurate information, which can lead to issues further on.

Having all of the necessary notes, pictures, and videos right there on their cell phones means students can also get the instant refresher that they need right before an exam, test, or assignment to ensure that they have all of the details right.

These little helpful applications can go a long way in the complicated and stressful world of academics. Being able to fact check or verify information can leave the students feeling secure that they have all of the proper information. This allows them to better absorb the information in order to develop a better understanding of the subject matter.

 

How to get the Best truck Finance

David Jackson

Are you looking to get the best truck finance? If yes then you came to the right place because in this article You will 6 important things before getting truck finance. Such as you must check affordability, check out different types of companies, compare truck finance features, consider saving and factors in charges.

Check affordability

Most important element before getting finance truck is how much affordable it’s maintaining cost Getting a truck is a large investment in your career, and you have to pay a large amount every month also.

So before selecting truck finance, it will be good If you understand the affordable price for monthly payments because it can also tough for your home finance

By taking it seriously before, you can easily find those truck finance providers which fit your situation and you can enjoy a great deal in the result. AGM Finance Brisbane Best example for amazing truck finance.

Checkout Different types of companies

There is a vast number of companies that claim that they are the number one in truck finance. But you can find which one is best for you by looking at several finance truck choices before selecting one of them.

This could mean utilizing examination sites, counseling with truck finance specialists, or directing your very own investigation into a couple of companies before concentrating on a chosen few, yet anything that approach is taken, it will help ensure you locate the most ideal company.

Compare truck finance features

You should also consider financing costs provided by the truck finance company, many features that can affect the benefit of this kind of credit.

How much the flexibility of finance in case you lost the work? What are the policies for repay? How much longer will the cost be? Is expansion accessible?

You must consider these questions whenever you are looking to get truck finance. these questions will help you to get the best truck finance.

Consider savings

While it might be simple and helpful to get truck finance for the full cost of the vehicle, having some cash put in a safe spot for the buyer can be unfathomably valuable. 

 

This cash could make it simpler to get the truck finance you need or help pay for basic additional items like insurance and add-on highlights that you need for your truck. 

At any rate, it could chop down the measure of cash you need to pay for the credit, so it is well worth having a few investment funds available.

Factor in charges 

Truck buys are frequently an operational expense, so there are distinctive duty concessions that can be offered to make the venture progressively valuable for sole merchants and entrepreneurs. 

While it tends to be hard to make sense of the expense expenses and findings that can be produced using a truck buy, most truck finance administrations will have this data promptly accessible upon inquiry. 

The more that is found out about the assessment factors for truck buys, the more educated a choice about finance can be, so it merits examining or getting some information about this side of truck finance at some phase of the procedure.

Timeless Tips for Profitable Investments

David Jackson

Instead of working for money, you can have your money work for you. But figuring out how to invest it can be not only challenging but also anxiety inducing. You’re not sure what you’re doing and you don’t want to lose the money you worked hard for. 

It’s impossible to cover everything there is to know in one article and too much information can be overwhelming. 

Hopefully the following tips will help you gain enough clarity, confidence and interest to take your very first steps in financially preparing for the future.

 

Research your options

When you invest your money, you are basically either buying a portion of a company or a commodity and your profit comes from the value of said company or commodity increasing over time. 

Your main options are:

  • The Stock Market: On the stock market or stock exchange you can buy, sell and trade stocks, small portions of a public company. The price is determined by how much money that company is making. Your profit comes either from dividends, rewards usually consisting of cash payments made by the company to its shareholders, or by selling your stock at a higher price than what you paid for it. 
  • Investment Bonds: Typically considered “less risky” than the stock market, they are essentially loans to a company or a government. The company or government will pay you interest on this loan for the duration of its lifecycle.  Bonds may offer a smaller potential for returns, but some also offer a guarantee that you won’t get back less than what you invested. 
  • Mutual Funds: Investing in a mutual fund means investing in a portfolio of stocks, bonds and other securities managed by a professional money manager in exchange  for a fee. Each shareholder is involved in the fund’s gains and losses.
  • Savings Accounts: You simply put your money in a saving’s account and collect interest. The least risky option but also the least profitable one. 
  • Physical Commodities: Such as real estate, buying gold or silver, you invest in a tangible object that you can later sell at a higher price. 

 

Make a plan

In order to have a stable investment plan you need to ask yourself why you’re investing and what you hope to achieve. Once you have the answers to these questions, you can pick which options are most likely going to help you reach your objectives. 

Your plan must include:

  • How much money you can set aside for investments 
  • Time frame of how long you can wait until you access the money you invested 
  • What risk profile of investments are you comfortable with
  • What degree of return you expect

Once you start, you need to keep a close track on all of the investments you have made (it’s better to diversify) with reference to profits and losses. This will allow you to observe which types of trades were most lucrative for you and change your strategy accordingly. 

You can also calculate the IRR (Internal Rate of Return) online and be better able to  choose which investments go well with your plan. 

Develop your own set of rules

Investing can be an emotional activity and impulsive decision rarely turn out to be good ideas. For this reason, it is important to have a set of rules that you follow 100%, you can change them as you gain more experience but you don’t make exceptions based on emotions. It can be anything from spreading your risk by adhering to a portfolio of low-correlation investments or investing only in what you understand. 

Keep learning

As you go along you’re going to keep learning new things, or at least you should be. Becoming a good investor implies learning continuously and indefinitely. The more you absorb new approaches and strategies, the more often you will be able to make changes that pay off.

Use stop-loss orders

This is maybe the most important tip in this article. A stop-loss order is an offsetting order that automatically exits a trade once a certain price level has been exceeded, let’s say at 5 percent below the rate at which you purchased the share. 

As an example, let’s assume you bought Tesla Inc. shares for $220 each and they’re now trading for $260. In order to participate in any future price appreciation, you want to continue holding the stock. You don’t want to risk all the unrealized gains you’ve accumulated with the inventory so far. The profits are unrealized if you have not sold the shares; they are realized gains after they have been sold. If TSLA shares fall to $250, you decide you’d like to sell out of your position.

Instead of monitoring the market five days a week just to make sure you sell the stocks if the price drops, you can enter a stop-loss order to track it and do it for you. 

Keep up with financial trends

Read reports from the industry and examine as carefully as possible broad-based financial data. Whether the Federal Reserve might raise interest rates, or the government launches a massive tax cut, or a war were to break out in Saudi Arabia, you need to be aware of these changes and to consider how they impact your investments. Major events will influence the investments you make, and your responsibility is to recognize how these circumstances can affect the short-term and long-term values of the stocks you hold.

It has been shown over and over again, the more active you are as an investor, the worse the outcomes of your trading. Most people drift from one investment to another, reacting to the latest trends or fads, instead of granting their ongoing investments sufficient time to play out.

Work out a plan, adhere to your set of rules and develop the patience necessary to let your investments produce returns. Stock prices are typically based on businesses, and those businesses take time to grow. They don’t operate by the hour or by the minute, but in three-month windows. 

If your goal is to invest like those who seem to always or almost always make a profit, then implement as many of the above points as possible. 

3 Bitcoin Apps You Have to Try

David Jackson

Technology has completely changed the way we trade and use monetary currencies. From on-line banking to Apple-Pay, cash seems to be a thing of the past. Vast amounts of money are traded and used each day for transactions without the trader ever seeing an actual dollar, note or coin.

Cryptocurrency is yet another player that has caught the eye of financial investors, digital geeks and those who want no part in the storing and use of physical money. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Tether, Ethereum, Litecoin and others are alive and well – the digital alternative to hard cash and bank account-based tools like Venmo and PayPal.

As expected, apps are popping up to aid in the use of cryptocurrencies – from paying with Bitcoin to trading with Tether, these apps are helpful in learning how to use and trade cryptocurrencies.

We’ll review three cryptocurrency trading apps that help aid the crypto-newbie in how to trade these digital currencies.

Bitcoin Evolution is an automated software tool that helps the user make trading decisions for the cryptocurrency being traded. The Bitcoin Evolution team claims the user can make upwards of $13,000 per day – a bit high perhaps, but some reviews have shown fairly positive results from those using the software.

Begin by registering and opening an account with Bitcoin Evolution, deposit the amount you choose to trade with the broker, set your trading parameters and you’re ready to go. Using the software’s trading algorithms, the app suggests and makes trades based on these parameters. Profit potential is based on the initial amount you deposit and the amount of money used for each trade.

Bitcoin Trader is another automated cryptocurrency trading bot that does most of the trading work for you.  You set the minimum deposit for trades, register and setup the Bitcoin Trader account, set your trading parameters and then let the software do the rest. The value of a trading app like Bitcoin Trader is that the bot can make trade decisions much faster than a human and even claims that this tool executes trades up to .01 seconds faster than other competing trading bots.

Bitcoin Future makes it’s name from being one of the most reliable crypto-trading apps as it scans, reads and evaluates real-time crypto market data and then analyzes that data to determine successful trades for a variety of cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin Future boasts an 80-92% success rate for trades. Straight-forward and easy to use, using Bitcoin Future is as easy as creating the account, depositing the amount you would like to work with, setting your trade parameters and then watching the software do it’s thing.

There are many cryptocurrency trading platforms available. These three appear to be most reliable, easy to setup and use and give good returns.

 

 

How to get the best and safest personal loan?

David Jackson

Emergencies are certain in life. No matter how much you try to prevent it, emergencies occur. In financial crisis, people need access to easy money. This can be done in many ways. Personal loans are one of the ways in which you can get out of financial crisis. 

There are many personal loans providers in the market. This makes it difficult to choose the right personal loan. Fortunately, there are many factors that can be taken into account to make a well informed choice. Here is how to get the best and safest personal loan:

  • Requirements for personal loans

This is the first and foremost thing to take into account. You need to check the requirements for personal loans. Typically, all the personal loans out there are unsecured. This means that there is no need to put up any collateral which will be confiscated in case of default. However, most of the lenders look out for the creditworthiness of the borrower. This is why you need to make sure your credit history is reliable. 

  • Comparison shopping

There is a misconception in the market that there is no need to shop around when it comes to personal loans. Personal loans are generally available in a wide range of variety. There are many finance companies, credit unions and banks that will provide loans. This is why you should go for comparison shopping. If you shop around, you will come across different interest rates and requirements. Evaluate the pros and cons and make the right decision. 

  • Consequences of the personal loan

It is not only about getting the loan. You should also know what happens after getting the loan. Once you have received approval for the loan, you need to gather a lot of documents to make sure everything is legally complied with. You can get access to best legal personal loan in Singapore and many other places through different platforms. However, you must know all the consequences of getting a personal loan and terms you need to conform with. 

  • Maintenance of creditworthiness

It is of paramount importance to maintain creditworthiness after getting a personal loan. If you are not able to do that then you need to think twice about that. Good credit will have an impact on the interest rate. You should have a plan on how the loan will be repaid and the creditworthiness will be maintained. It is extremely essential to have this factor into account to make the right decision. 

  • Asking different questions

Perhaps the best tip to get the safest personal loan out there is to ask different questions. Asking different questions will help you to get hands on the right personal loan out there. There are many questions that must be asked. Following are some of the examples;

  • What is the interest rate?
  • Are there any hidden fees?
  • What is the nature of interest fees?

Above are some of the things that must be considered to make the right choice.

Avoiding Emotional Investing Decisions

Dwayne Rettinger

Financial market volatility can spook investors. And while shifting to a defensive posture may seem like the right thing to do, you need to carefully consider your options before taking drastic action.

When markets decline, investors experience a range of emotions, and that can trigger an irrational response. Agitation appears as the market begins to dip, followed by distress, despair and finally, dejection.

Somewhere on that downward spiral, strong long-term investments with great potential are abandoned in favour of safer alternatives that barely keep up with inflation. Yes, there’s some relief, but it’s often short-term and won’t make up for the long-term damage done to your portfolio.

Staying out of the markets means that your money is sitting on the sidelines in cash or short-term instruments. While there’s a place for cash in a balanced portfolio, by no means should it make up the bulk of your holdings. And while you’re on the outside looking in, your long-term personal rate of return can be dramatically affected.

For example, an investor who stayed fully invested in the S&P 500 Composite Index from January 1, 1990 to December 31, 2018, realized a 7.0% annual return (excluding dividends). Conversely, an investor who missed the 50 best days of the S&P 500 over that same time period realized a -1.3% annual return (excluding dividends). That’s just 1% of the total trading days.

When economic signals point to a possible recession, you should consider taking steps to protect your portfolio, particularly if you are nearing retirement. As well as staying invested to take advantage of buying opportunities, you should build your emergency fund and examine your expenses.

A three- to six-month cash cushion is recommended even when times are good. In a recession, it’s practically a necessity as you don’t know what the future holds in terms of job prospects and other income sources.

As for your daily expenses, living below your means is a sure-fire way to gain financial freedom. One way to accomplish this goal is to create a budget and stick with it. In a recession, you might need to find ways to tighten your belt.

Of course, a well-constructed financial plan takes every outcome into consideration. Such a plan is purpose-built to handle the vagaries of the stock market because it reflects your risk tolerance.

In the face of volatility and talk of a recession, you should stay calm and stick to your financial plan, while continuing to fund your long-term investment objectives, such as retirement.

Speak to a financial planner who has experienced economic instability and can coach clients through volatile periods in the markets. Remember that investing based on emotion leads to one thing: regret.

This is a general source of information only. It is not intended to provide personalized tax, legal or investment advice, and is not intended as a solicitation to purchase securities. Dwayne Rettinger is solely responsible for its content. For more information on this topic or any other financial matter, please contact an IG Wealth Management Consultant.