Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Why Business Is Booming In The Gold Industry


You are probably wondering how any industry is going to do well with the current economic hardship that we, the United Kingdom, and many other countries all other the world are facing at the moment.However, there is one industry that is booming in this time of economic crisis, and that is the gold industry, especially many metal commodity specialists that are providing their customers with tax free gold, such as Physical Gold.

What is tax free gold?


The clue is in the name, you do not pay tax when investing in this type of gold.
There are also a large amount of benefits that come attached with investing in tax free gold, for example, these gold coins are low gold price with a high buyback price. The small coins also allow for easy, cheap and secure storage. This is a main concern of many gold investors, as there are storage options available but they do some at a price.

Uncertain times


In this climate, no one knows what is coming around the corner. This is where gold comes in as a sensible option for many who are looking to keep their money safe and secure. This is why gold is often referred to as an insurance policy in terms of money as well as protection for your wealth.

This uncertainty refers to governmental uncertainty, financial uncertainty and foreign issues / war uncertainty. When your money is invested in tax free gold, it is essentially locked and therefore no one a part from you can touch it.

Future proof


Gold is seen as a future proof investment. This is because the demand for gold is always going to be there. Gold is so widely used within many industries at this current time, including technology, space exploration, medicine and dentistry.

With growing technological and medical advances, the need and demand for gold will only go up and will not diminish.

This is why gold is doing so well in terms of an investment choice, as the demand will always be there and so it will be hard to lose any more, providing you do everything correctly of course.

Great for pension security


Pension gold is doing great at the moment. This is mainly due to the fact that prices are so low for pension gold at the moment that many people are choosing to put their money into gold to secure it for the future.

Coupled with the fact that gold is now considered a SIPP (Self Invested Pension Plan), many are now turning to this means of making sure they can enjoy retirement with no worry about financial hardship.
Altogether, the gold industry is doing so well at the moment due to a number of factors which make gold a desirable investment choice for many. The fact that tax free gold has a high buyback rate, it is future proof and it is great for pension schemes makes it a favourite commodity to invest in.


Investment Properties: The Purpose of Chain of Title Report


When it comes to property, most people want to be able to make some kind of investment. Some people end up using a system known as “flipping” which causes the property to pass from one owner to another within a very short space of time. As a result, it is important to take a look at the different requirements that banks will give you if you want to take out a loan for a specific property. It is interesting to note that there are a lot of people who end up artificially inflating the prices of houses. As a result, this can end up causing a lot of problems within a local area’s property market. This is sometimes viewed as fraud and therefore banks and lenders will usually require what is known as a chain of title report.

A chain of title report is also a document that many would like to view as part of the purchasing process to know the history of the property. This is especially true with businesses. property owners need to know how the property was used in the past for historical accuracy as well as for environmental purposes. With this report, you will know exactly what the property was used for and if you need to go ahead with further testing on the property such as an environmental data assessment. 

What is a Chain of Title Report?


In essence, a chain of title report is simply a report on all of the people who have owned the property within a certain period of time. Depending on the bank or lender you get, you will usually have to have a report that stretches back at least two years. This tends to be one of the more standard requirements, so it is usually nothing to worry about. Of course, there are some banks that will only allow one person to have owned a property within at least the last year. This is where the bank decides to take a close look at fraud and makes sure that prices are not being inflated artificially.

When it comes to a chain of title report, you need to make sure that you get all of the necessary information. A lot of people may be concerned when it comes to buying a house, or even if they are just investing in the property. You therefore end to take a look around at the different banks in order to see what they will accept. Some banks can be a lot stricter than others and this can end up causing people to run into problems.

When getting a chain of title report, always make sure to tell the truth to your lender. The last thing you want is to be done for fraud. It may be nerve-wracking especially when you feel that there are not many lenders out there who will be happy to lend you money. What you need to do is make sure that you keep an eye on the property’s value and make sure that you speak to a lawyer if you happen to have any concerns. This will allow you to find out what can be done when it comes to getting a loan for your property.

To obtain this report, you will need to visit local government offices such as the Courthouse in the county in which the property resides. The courthouse will be home to the information and records you need to begin your search. Speak with employees of the Title Department to be able to learn how to begin your search. You may be given access to a computer database and can simply use the address to find the previous owners of the property. every search will be different based on where the property is located but with a friendly nature and a little investigating, you will be able to determine who owned the property before you and how it was used.

Author Bio:

Ashley is a freelance writer and blogger. She writes for a wide range of different companies and creates website content for different websites. She has found that Chain of Title Report are essential to investment success. 


How to Overcome a Personal Finance Crisis in Retirement

retirement
retirement (Photo credit: 401(K) 2013)
Having financial troubles when you're retired is the pits. A financial crisis can strike at any time, however, and completely wipe you out. You've got little or no savings, and you just don't know what you'd do if you had to pay for a major car repair, a new furnace, or if you had to loan money to a friend in need. 

Go To Work Part-Time


One option that many seniors consider these days is going back to work part-time. Part-time work can include anything from a dietician or nutritionist to a mediator to Santa Claus during Christmas time. Now, dressing like Santa might not seem like it would rake in the big bucks, but it can. If you negotiate a 40-day season contract, you can reasonably earn between $10,000 and $50,000, depending on where you live.

That's more than some people make in an entire year. Of course, it all depends on your expertise. Entry-level Santas only make $10 per hour. 

Sell Your Annuity Payments


If you're desperate for cash, selling an annuity payment can help. This is mostly a last-ditch effort kind of thing though. Most courts in the U.S. make it difficult to sell payments to a third-party funding company unless there's a good reason for doing so.

Basically, you must prove that you will be put into a better position financially if you sell the annuity. Since annuity payments protect you from the possibility of spending through all of your retirement, many judges are reluctant to allow these transactions to go through. But you can convince a court if you wanted to, say, pay off a large debt or debts, if you were planning on using the money for emergency purposes, or if you needed the cash to pay for health insurance deductibles or an expensive medical procedure. 


Get a Reverse Mortgage


Reverse mortgages were popular in the mid-2000. They've mostly fallen out of favor because they were oversold. Still, for the right person, a reverse mortgage could be the right move. Basically, a reverse mortgage turns your home into a sort of savings account. Your home's equity is opened up, and you're allowed to spend it "at will."

Some companies encourage you to use an annuity in combination with the reverse mortgage, but many do not.

Now, because it's a mortgage, it's technically a loan against the property. The bank charges interest and fees, like closing costs, so there's a lot to consider before rushing out to sign paperwork.

One of the benefits of this type of loan, however, is that it does not need to be repaid prior to your death. If you plan on staying in the home forever, the reverse mortgage will be repaid either by your children or the home will be given back to the bank and the bank will sell it.

You can get around this by buying a life insurance policy that's just large enough to pay off the mortgage when you die. That way, the house stays in the family, but you get the lump sum of cash you need right now.

Anthony Jensen has worked with a number of retirees. He is thrilled to help people through difficult financial times.



Advice for Job-Seeking Caregivers

Individuals seeking employment as caregivers are in a great position; the demand for caregivers is at an all-time high. 

According to the Pew Research Center, an average of 10,000 Baby Boomers in the United States turns 65 years old every day.

The need for caregivers will only continue to increase as Baby Boomers enter retirement. Government studies estimate 7 in 10 Americans over the age of 65 will need long term care at some point. 

Being a carer takes a lot of patience and empathy, but it can be a highly rewarding career that enhances the life of those that are looked after. If you were to take on one of many Jobs for live-in caregivers in Philadelphia, you'll always be looking to give your services to clients that really need it in order to enhance their quality of life. 

Services can vary depending on the needs of your senior you will work for. For example, some individuals simply need companionship, safety supervision, and assistance with daily activities. Others require more help with hygiene and medical needs such as being reminded to take their medicine. Live-in caregivers can also help with transportation needs, cooking, running errands, and light housework.

It’s important that, as a caregiver, you understand how to give off a good impression throughout your job search in order to succeed at landing a job in this high demand market.

Creating a resume may sound obvious, but many people applying to be a caregiver skip this step entirely. Bringing along a professional resume that lists your previous employment and any related experience will help tremendously. 

Even if you have no prior professional care giving experience, you should list other jobs you have had to prove you are a dependable employee. Include any community volunteer or charity work you participate in, as well.

When you are searching for interviews, use social media to your benefit. There are tons of job listing sites for caregiver jobs NYC and many websites specifically designated for potential caregivers. 

Make detailed profiles and scour the online listings to find agencies and opportunities that match your needs. Do some research in advance to be sure you understand the average pay for caregivers in your area, both at agencies and when working independently, in order to decide your best route.




Always arrive early to an interview, dressed in clean, simple clothing that you would wear on the job. Being reliable is a vital part of being a caregiver and showing up a few minutes early never hurts. 

Ask questions and prove that you have done some research on the company, its mission, and how it is run. Demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively and solve problems, which are two huge parts of being a successful caregiver.

Don’t be afraid to be friendly and laugh when talking with a potential employer. People want to know that you are not rigid and serious and will be able to connect with others, especially the person for whom you provide care. 

Be warm and show that you have a sense of humor. Explain why you became a caregiver and display your passion for the profession.

A Scan Foundation report estimates that 27 million people in the United States will need long term care by the year 2050, and the need for caregivers will continue to increase as Boomers retire en masse over the next few decades.

Connecting and engaging with your potential employers can make all the difference in finding a caregiver job that fits what you are looking for. 

Take time to think about why you chose the path of caregiving, be genuine and honest in your interviews, and you may find the job search process just a bit easier!

About the Author: Barbara Davis is a big fan of all things N'awlins. When she is not exploring the culturally rich nooks and crannies of The Big Easy she enjoys working on her freelance writing career, frequently writing on such topics as retirement, Baby Boomers, and health care.

Eight Workplace Injuries That May Require a Worker’s Compensation Attorney

Any employee in any industry can be and will be exposed to workplace hazards that can lead to minor and even major injuries. If you are an employee and you are worried about such workplace injuries, a workers compensation attorney can help you with a present case and get you the financial and medical benefits that you need. Here is a list of eight workplace injuries that may require you to see a workers compensation attorney on a regular basis. 

1. Burns


Many employees have experienced getting burned from their job. There are many types of burns which include electrical exposure, chemicals and flames. Employees that are at highest risk in getting burns from their occupation are those who work in the food service industry, electricians and nurses. 

2. Falls


This is also one other most common issues that might occur for those who work in the office. Although many companies might consider this a personal injury, if it happens in the workplace due to the environment or furniture around the office or workplace, it is still a workplace injury. The number of annual occurrence of office falls and slips are around 25,000 cases per year.

3. Foot pain


For those employees who spend most of their work hours standing such as nurses and other professionals in the medical field, foot pain can be a frequent complaint because of those long hours standing. For those individuals who work many hours and are not getting enough breaks and time off may start experiencing unbearable foot pain thus causing them to be ineffective to work. 

4. Crushing injuries


This is another quite common office concern that may be cause from tall bookshelves being over-burdened and falling over. Office employees are also eligible for the same benefits as those in other professio
ns that may be considered a higher risk, such as law enforcement and construction. 

5. Motor vehicle accidents


Those individuals who work in a construction field are frequently at risk of being struck by some type of motor vehicle. Some incidents may unfortunately lead to serious injuries or even death. A workers compensation lawyer can represent the injured party and his or her dependants to make sure that they get financial support from their employers. 

6. Back and spine injuries


In almost any field, back and spine injuries can be an issue. Those who are physical laborers who tend to carry very heavy objects, healthcare professionals who stand on their feet for many hours every day and other workplaces that may be strenuous to the body may cause these types of injuries. A workers compensation lawyer can work with those who experience these types of injuries to gather information about the working conditions in preparing a case. 

7. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome


This medical condition can actually cause a person to stop working on the computer or doing other tasks related to their job. Cases of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome are often linked to poor ergonomics at the work desk. This could mean that they are typing at an awkward angle, poor posture at the desk and repetitive and constant use of a computer mouse. 

8. Heart attacks


Those employees who work in hard labor positions may be pushed so hard in extreme conditions and high temperatures. This could lead to sudden heart attacks and other serious medical problems such as high blood pressure or a spike in blood sugar levels which could be very dangerous.



Been Involved in an Accident Through No Fault of your Own?

A woman is loaded into an air ambulance that l...
Accidents happen all the time, on the roads, at work, in schools, at the shops… the list goes on and on. As the number 1 accident claims company, we have seen it all. We all hope we will not be a victim of an unfortunate accident, but they are always sudden and unexpected, so who knows which one of us will be next? If you have an accident, and it is not your fault, you may be able to make a personal injury compensation claim, but there are things that need to be done to make sure your claim is successful. For the purpose of our 10 step guide we are going to assume, firstly that you have survived the accident and secondly that your injuries are such that you are conscious and mobile. As it is the most common type of accident, we shall use a road traffic accident as our example.

Our scenario is that you are on a B road; another car doesn’t stop at a junction and crashes into the passenger side of your car. He wasn’t going slow, so has spun your car and his own hit a tree.

10 Steps to Take if you Have Been Involved in an Accident That Was not your Fault


Step 1 – Turn off your engine, get out and see if there looks to be any further immediate danger to anyone. If possible, it is best to get everyone out of the vehicles, but do not move anyone that is in pain, you could do more harm than good.

Step 2 – Hopefully, you or someone else has a mobile phone. Telephone the emergency services so that driver and passengers can be checked out to see if anyone needs to go to hospital. When emergency services are summoned to a road traffic accident, the police attend automatically.

Step 3 – If anyone involved is up to it, have them stand in a safe position guiding other cars round the accident. The last thing you need is another car ploughing into the mess, which could just cause far more serious injuries on top of the ones you already have.
Step 4 – Swap personal and insurance details with the other driver. This would be an important step to take even if no injuries were involved, but as we think you have a broken arm, broken collarbone and probably whiplash, their details will make everything easier.

Step 5 – If there were anyone around when the accident happened, ask them if they would mind acting as a witness in the future if you need them to. If they are OK with that, take their name, address and telephone number.

Step 6 – By now, the police should have made the area safe and traffic should be flowing again. They will talk to every one involved as well as any witnesses, and from all this information, have to compile an accident report. Make sure that you get your view across to them as calmly and clearly as you can, they are far more likely to believe someone with this demeanor than a raving nutcase.

Step 7 – Make notes about the scene and how the accident happened while it is still fresh in your mind, although with that broken arm you may have to wait till you are at home and dictate it to someone. If the other driver does not admit he was at fault and the case goes to court, those notes might prove very useful to you.

Step 8 – You are probably on you way to hospital by now, that arm will need putting in plaster and they may well want to Xray your neck to make sure the injury is soft tissue and no broken bones. You will possibly be there quite some time, so for now sit back in the waiting room and take it easy. When they release you, take care to follow whatever instructions they give you.

Step 9 – Once you are home, and probably after a couple of days rest to relax you a bit more, you need to consider making a personal injury compensation claim against the driver of the other vehicle. There is actually a UK law that says if you have been injured in an accident that was not your fault, the guilty party should give you recompense. In reality, it wont be the young lad driving the other car that will have to stump up, his insurance company will settle any claim you make.

Step 10 – Find a good law firm to act on your behalf for your personal injury compensation claim. You could try and do it yourself, but we would not recommend that. Insurance companies are notoriously difficult to deal with. Their legal team will do their best to pay you as little as possible, quite rightly so. That’s what their job is. Just like the job of a specialist injury claim lawyer, is to make sure they get you as much as possible. Insurance companies would rather deal with the experts; they understand one another and speak the same language, legal jargon. It just makes every ones job easier, and will without a doubt, be a lot easier for you. Use a firm that is reputable, that you can find recommendations from previous claimants, and look to see if there are any other people that recommend them. Gather all your evidence, notes details of the other driver and witnesses and give them a call. If they are worth their salt, they will give you free advice about your claim and will ensure that every aspect of the effect of the injuries is accounted for.

So now we are at the end of our 10 Steps to take if you have been involved in an accident that was not your fault, you can hopefully go out in your car without worrying about what you need to do, and avoid that junction on the B road just in case someone shoots out of there without stopping. All part of the service from the Accident Advice Helpline, the no. 1 accident claims helpline.



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