Financial advice has always been important, now more than ever.

By Chris Clare

Why is it that although people have no compunction in seeking advice from doctors, dentists, lawyers, and other such professionals, when it comes to financial advisors, consideration would not appear to be that forthcoming. An IFA, or independent financial advisor is only approached when a savings plan or private pension plan is needed and it always seems to be at the last minute.

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 exactly can these independent financial advisors offer? Well, they can offer almost all financial products on the market such as life insurance, pensions, savings plans, investments and of course mortgages. Some advisors have additional services such as inheritance tax planning and will writing services.

Now that's all well and good, I hear you say, but can I not get these products by simply taking a stroll down the high street on any given day. Yes you can, but the big difference is that an Independent Financial Advisor does not just sell these products. The companies sell the products, as such. If you require life insurance they will sell you life insurance but an IFA is there to advise you whether you actually require life insurance in the first place.

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.

They will also ask what you are planning for exactly. Do you want to pay your mortgage off early, do you want to retire at a certain age, do you want to protect yourself against the possibility of illness in the future? Important factors to consider.

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.

Now with an ordinary financial advisor this would usually be the end of the process. The difference with an IFA is that they view it as being an ongoing process. This means that they will maintain contact with you in order to ensure that the plan is constantly working for you to the best financial ends. Remember that your situation will almost never remain constant and the role of an IFA will be to give you advice with regards to your plan and your changing situation.

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.

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Making a Budget: The Basic Steps

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. Write out your budget (based on the last month that you recorded). Compare that budget with your income. If you have more going out than coming in, then it's time to make some changes. You can either cut your expenses or you can make more money.

5. Take some time to think about the budget you have planned. You might find some that some changes need to be made. For instance, if you tend to watch a very small amount of TV each week, you might decide that you don't need to pay for cable each month. If your closet seems overly full, plan to shop less.

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.

If you want to live a frugal life then it is important to understand your spending and learn to get it under control. Setting up a budget is a first step towards that prosperous way of life.

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Dealing With The Debt Collectors

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.

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Credit Cards: Guidelines on Choosing and Comparing Them

By Louis Soul

With credit cards, other people will choose to get a credit card and use it for instant cash purposes. This way, they can use their credit card at an ATM and get instant cash, which is great for travel or going on a long and extended vacation. If this is why you want a credit card, you should look for one that has the lowest rate possible for instant cash transactions.

One important area to look at when choosing your credit card is the incentives. There are several cards out there that will give you incentives, such as reward points and even cash back with purchases that you can use towards paying back what you owe. There are several incentives out there with credit cards, all you have to do is look around and compare.

One concern with choosing your credit card is the minimum payment amount. Most minimum payment balances will start around 3%, although some can be lower while others tend to be quite a bit higher. The interest free period is a concern as well, as you will obviously want to choose the longest period that you can keep the payments down.

When you are in the market for a new credit card, the features you have to choose from may draw you to the card. Low interest rates and the types of rewards you can get, are what draw many to reward credit cards. Those of you who have good credit, will more than likely be able to get reward cards that boast 0% APR. This does have an introductory period, normally 1 year that goes along with your new reward card.

If the sound of rewards with your credit card purchases sounds enticing, you should look into getting a reward credit card. These cards are great to have, as most include low APR with great reward incentives. They can save you money as well, which is great for those on a budget. With a reward credit card - no matter what you choose you'll come out a winner.

Ways of comparing credit cards

When you start to compare offers, you should make sure that you look at the APR and the fees. The APR is very important, as this will tell you your interest rate. You want to get the lowest APR possible with your credit card. If you look at a credit card that has an unusually high APR, you should immediately rule it out. Credit cards that come with high APR rates can easily lead you on a roller coaster towards credit card debt. No matter how good your credit may be, high APR rates can leave you with charges that are really difficult to pay.

Discover is one type of credit card, although it isn't near as popular as the three above. Discover does have some great benefits to offer you, although it isn't accepted in other parts of the world. Most people who have Discover credit cards stay local and use their cards in the event of an emergency. If you don't have a credit card and have been thinking about getting a Discover card, you should really think about that decision and choose either Visa or MasterCard instead.

All in all make sure that you make a wise choose and fully read all the benefits you will and can get from your credit card supplier. Use online services for updated information and guidelines.

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Foreclosure Information Available Free To The Public

By Michael Geoffrey

Foreclosure has, unfortunately, become a sad reality of life for many individuals and families who own homes. This is especially true in certain parts of the United States. Any person who might be interested of purchasing a home at an exceptionally low price as a result of a foreclosure can get helpful information from court filings and newspaper advertisements.

Lenders who make the decision to foreclose on homes are required to file a claim with a local court in most states. This court claim provides reasons as to why the lender needed to foreclose such as evidence of allowing the loan to go to default.

Following the judge's official review of the foreclosure information, they will make a judgment regarding the claim. The individual being foreclosed on is then given a certain amount of time, often thirty days, by which they must pay back their entire loan. The home can be auctioned by the court after the designated period of time is up.

There are still some options available to the homeowner even when the court has agreed to foreclose. They can pay back the money before the house is auctioned. Since all court proceedings regarding home foreclosure is made available to the public, an individual interested in purchasing a home could find information about the homeowner and contact them to buy their house before it ever goes up for auction.

Check The Facts Before Making Offer

While the foreclosure information provided to the court is likely to be accurate, potential buyers should look at several issues that may affect the purchase of the property, especially if it is being purchased as an investment. If the home loan is relatively new and has not time to build up a lot of equity, the amount needed to purchase the home may be higher than the home's value, once associated costs are calculated into the price.

For buyers, looking for information on the homeowners of foreclosed homes in newspapers can help you to get in contact with them and thus begin negotiations without having to go through a lender or other individual.

Lenders earn quite a bit of money as a result of civil action and auctions so they want the home to be sold by means of foreclosure. Even though it is uncommon, a person could try to get their lender to take a sum lower than the total mortgage.

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How do I know if I should use a Collection Agency Service?

By JR Rooney

Do you have customers that avoid doing business with you because they owe you money, if so a Collection Agency may be of help to you.

By hiring the proper Collection Agency you will accomplish many things. Not only is a well established Collection Agency successful in collecting your past due accounts, but once the accounts have been collected the customer that was avoiding you may very well come back into your company to do business with you again.

Are your employees spending too much time trying to collect past due accounts rather than doing the job you hired them to do in the first place? This is where a Collection Agency can really help your bottom line.

A Collection Agency that has experienced professional collectors can be highly successful in pursuing and collecting your past due accounts and at the same time allowing your employees the time to do the job you hired them to do.

In the end you have to decide if paying a small fee to recover the money that if rightfully yours is worth it.

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?Foreclosure Law: Important Details You Should Know

By Michael Geoffrey

Before buying a home, read the fine print of your contract so that you are aware of the details. This is especially true if you are purchasing a home with a subprime loan. If you can't make your loan payments and you face foreclosure, you will want to have already become familiar with foreclosure law.

According to foreclosure law, you will have a set amount of time to leave your home if you can't afford it. If you ever find yourself in this position, you will be better off if you already know your rights by reading your loan agreement before signing it.

Subprime Mortgage Lending

Nowadays you hear it all over the news. People are being foreclosed on and are losing their houses because they can no longer afford their homes. These people probably got taken in by subprime mortgage lenders. These lenders promise people that they'll help them fulfill the American dream of becoming home owners.

These same lenders often claim that good credit is not important, that anyone can get a low interest rate. The loans that such unscrupulous lenders offer, however, only have a low introductory interest rate. In just a few short years, those interest rates skyrocket, a fact which people would know if they would only take the time to read the fine print of their loan agreements. When interest rates go up quickly and unexpectedly, many individuals find themselves unable to pay their loan and thus are foreclosed on.

Notice To Vacate

Foreclosure law states that a homeowner will have to vacate the premises of their home within a set period of time after they have failed to pay their home loan payments. When payments are not made, the bank or other lending agency with whom you took out your loan will inform you of the date by which you must leave your home if you cannot make your payments. The police will get involved if you refuse to leave by the set date. In many cases people are being forced out of their homes because they did not take the time to read the details of their loan agreements and were not able to afford their payments after the interest rate went up.

You can protect yourself from foreclosure by doing all you can to make sure you will be able to pay back your home loan. That way you will be able to stay in your home without worrying about losing it to foreclosure. The Internet is a useful tool for individuals who would like to learn more about foreclosure. You can read people's personal experiences with foreclosure as well. If you want more information, speak to a lawyer who works with foreclosure law.

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Beginner's Guide To Reducing Credit Card Debt

By Jenni Snook

Nowadays, most of us possess at least 1 credit card. On average, an American family owes money to more than 10 different lenders, and almost half of this is on credit cards. Owning a credit card has become much easier than in previous years. There have been both good and bad consequences of this. Credit cards have allowed to get what we desire at a much quicker pace, however we are ending up paying more for it in the long term.

If you don't see yourself giving your credit cards the chop, then this article will assist you in saving money. In fact, you can start seeing your monthly bills dropping at a quicker rate with just some simple and easy planning.

Charging interest is the main way credit companies make their living. This is the way your payment is used. Firstly, a portion goes to clearing the balance. Secondly, whatever is left over goes to paying the interest.Nowadays, some credit companies have begun charging ridiculously high rates of interest. Store cards are culprits in this practice, often charging between 30 and 40 percent interest. People who find themselves in such a situation has little options. It's recommended that you get yourself a credit card from a large provider such as Mastercard and Visa. Depending on which bank you do it through, their interest rates will vary.

Nevertheless, the rate charged by these companies are much lower compared to those of store cards. In addition, you are generally allowed higher limits with major credit cards. Therefore, it's very possible to replace all your store with 1 major credit card and in the process save a whole heap of money.

If you've already got a heap of major credit cards, then here are some money saving tips for you. Look around you and you will see a lot of credit card companies competing for business. This creates a few opportunities for customers. You should first phone your credit card company and simply ask for a lower rate. You should be surprised if they give you a lower rate especially if you've been paying your bills on time.

Nevertheless, if you are not successful in doing this, it's recommended that you look around for better deals. All you need to do is to apply for a card that offers a lower interest rate and transfer the old balance onto the new card. You'll be pleasantly surprised at the amount of money you can save by reducing your interest rate by 2 or 3 percent.

In the long run, credit cards can become a costly investment. However, by following the money saving tips in this article, you can reduce your payments significantly and keep more money for yourself.

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Jenni Snook is the premier writer of http://www.HealthyWealthySoul.com, a website dedicated to giving individuals advice and tools on personal finance planning to achieve both financial and spiritual bliss in their lives.