Archive for the Hiring A Financial Advisor category

Step by Step Procedure for Structured Settlement

Posted under Hiring A Financial Advisor by on September 7th, 2010 2:33 pm

The structured settlement procedure entails a negotiation where the parties come to an agreement on a schedule of benefits to match needs of Claimant and Insurance carrier. Structured settlements have gained popularity over the lump sum amount of money. They are the new alternative payment system to a lump sum cash settlement where you get the payments over the period of time. If you already have structured settlement annuities, and are looking for ways to sell your structured settlement, then here is a brief procedure.

If you are interested in selling structured settlements then before that you need to get a court order. To sell structured settlement USA, in different there are different federal and state laws. Hence, you need to hire a lawyer and structured settlement advisors, who can help you to get cash for structured settlement payment.

Once your petition is filed in the court, then the court will legally examine the financial need of the claimant and review the transactions. Then in the court, the legal advisor will present the arguments in the favor of sale of annuity. On your part, you have to show court your interest and say how immediate lump sum of cash will prove beneficial for you. This will help you to meet your immediate medical expenses, and family needs well.

The complete factoring can take approximately 6-8 weeks. Usually it is recommended to take the help of a structured settlement company. They will take care of different legal aspects of the transfer. This includes

* Completing legal documents and formalities

* Getting approval from insurance company for selling the settlement

* Hiring a legal advisor

* Drafting of documents

* And taking care of other underwriting procedures

To read the detailed step by step procedure for structured settlement, visit prosperitypartners.com

 

Online legal help: Getting legal advise and services has become really simple & convenient

Posted under Hiring A Financial Advisor by on September 6th, 2010 1:53 pm

Till some tome back, finding qualified income tax advisors or life insurance advisors or getting divorce lawyers and availing their services was lengthy and arduous. One had to search local directories or yellow pages to know about the legal service providers in one’s area or region, visit their offices, and wait impatiently outside their cabin to get an opportunity to discuss their legal requirements with them.

But, thanks to online legal help service providers, one can get the best legal advise and services from the comfort and convenience of one’s own home and office. Online legal help providers have business websites that provide complete details about the legal services offered by them, their total experience in providing particular online legal help, the qualification of their life insurance advisors or income tax advisors, the fee charged for providing the legal help, and so on.

This is not all. There are some online law firms that provide online forms to let the visitors to their site provide details about them and their particular legal requirements. The online legal help service providers provide free initial consultation to help one decide whether the legal solutions and services offered by them meet their specific needs and requirements or not.

If you are planning to use divorce legal help or hire income tax advisor or life insurance advisor, you may visit www.mypowerofattorney.info The website offers the best online legal help for a wide range of legal issues including divorce law, financial law, income tax law, and life insurance law.

How Life Settlement Funding Can Benefit You In Your Senior Years

Posted under Hiring A Financial Advisor by on September 5th, 2010 1:49 pm

Life settlement funding is gaining awareness as a means of obtaining additional cash and financial comfort in senior years.

In the past, life insurance benefits were only realized upon death; however, in recent years, life settlements have emerged and evolved to become a viable way of enjoying the rewards while you are still alive. Basically, there are two ways that you can capitalize on your life insurance policy and obtain living benefits.

A Viatical Settlement is the sale of a life insurance policy applicable for people who have become terminally ill. Life Settlement funding is fundamentally similar, but without the chronic illness stipulation, making it possible for seniors to liquidate their unwanted or unneeded life insurance policies for a cash value.

Life settlements are becoming more commonplace as experts and advisors are learning of the benefits and advantages to this financial planning tool. Customers are now realizing the option of selling their policies on an open market for a greater price than the surrender value they would receive from insurance companies.

How Does Life Settlement Funding Work?

If you have any type of life insurance policy that you wish to liquidate, a broker or life settlement company will help you find an investor who will purchase your policy for an agreed upon cash amount. The buyer now becomes the beneficiary, paying the premiums from the date of transaction, and receiving the benefits upon your death.

The settlement will be somewhere between the surrender value and the benefit payout amount, with the offer depending on such factors as your age, life expectancy, premium costs, insurance rating, and other pertinent details outlined in your policy.

Life settlement funding requires no application costs, no upfront or out-of-pocket fees, and is not a loan so none of the money will need to be paid back. Furthermore, it is not based on your income level or the value of your assets, and there are no rules or restrictions on how you can use the additional funds. You will be able to use the money however you desire, whether that be supplementing income, covering medical costs, paying down debts, taking a vacation, or donating to charity.

It is important to note that your life settlement broker will be entitled to a fee; however, this charge is included in the offer so it will not be an additional expense for you.

When Should You Consider Life Settlement Funding?

Life settlement funding can be considered for a variety of reasons and used as a tool to meet several different needs.

1. Your financial situation may have changed or you may have an immediate need for additional cash.

2. Policy premiums may be too expensive.

3. Your coverage needs or beneficiary may have changed due to the death of a spouse or retirement.
Certain coverage may no longer be required or there may no longer be anyone who will benefit from the policy.

4. You may be suffering from an illness or require long-term care.

5. You may be considering surrendering your policy but want a more lucrative alternative.

6. You may think your insurance is underperforming and would prefer to get cash out of your policy now so you can use it for immediate benefits or put it into investments with higher rates of return.

Reasons will differ depending on personal situations, and a good financial advisor will be able to tell you if life settlement funding is the right option for you.

Who Is Eligible?

Though regulations and guidelines may vary, life settlement is generally available to seniors 70 years of age or older with a life expectancy of 3-15 years who have a life insurance policy that has been in place for a minimum of 2 years and a benefit amount of at least $250,000.

You can take a simple test to see if you are eligible or qualify as a candidate for life settlement funding. Complete a quick questionnaire online, or consult with a professional financial advisor.

Life settlement funding can be an excellent way to obtain additional cash; however, it is important that you have a thorough understanding of this option and are aware of all the regulations for your particular state. It would be advisable to hire an expert or professional life settlement company that has experience in this area and will be able to guide you through the process.

The Philosophy Of Business Mentoring

Posted under Hiring A Financial Advisor by on September 3rd, 2010 1:56 pm

Whenever I’m discussing my philosophies on the purpose of hiring a mentor service, I sometimes notice an elephant in the room that no one wants to address: Just what the heck IS a mentor anyway? Sometimes it slips my mind that there isn’t a clear definition of what these types of services are for in business. My own personal definition of a mentor is pretty much the norm for the business world, but should probably be reviewed, regardless.

I’ve always felt that a mentor is not there to buy, sell or negotiate. A mentor provides a service. In essence, mentoring is simply helping someone else play their cards right and become successful in their home business or other endeavor. They’re not there to do anything for you, but rather listen and advise you based on their own experiences. Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, etc, etc.

So that’s my definition of a mentor and it’s important to note that this brand of mentoring has been a business practice for awhile now. Ask any person involved in a successful business and they’ll admit that using a mentor was a standard business practice for them at some point.

Something I’ve noticed that people don’t keep in mind about mentors is that benefit in this arrangement to them is the experience, not the monetary reward. When you’re working in the capacity as a business mentoring advisor, you’re there to share what you’ve learned in the trade, but also to try to learn a few more nuggets along the way. After all, what good is information and experience if you don’t share it with someone who needs a mentor down the line?

There is a “holy trinity” to being a successful a mentor. You’ve got to think in terms of a trainer, a financial expert, and a technical advisor if you want to help someone start their business.

Personal Trainer-

You’re there to motivate them and keep them focused on their goals for success. They’re going to become discouraged and they’re going to need to be built up by someone that isn’t just placating them. You’re there to keep them meeting their own personal best so that they can push through every failure and not be enamored with every minor success.

Financial Advisor-

You’re there to rein them in when they may get a “pie-in-the-sky” financial scenario that isn’t feasible. It’s extremely simple to think that the right office or a large staff of employees or a brand new delivery van with all of the trimmings will be the best tools for their business. Maybe these items will be, but making sound financial decisions with an objective voice of reason works a lot better than going with your first gut instinct.

Technical Advisor-

You’re there to get them the tools to start and grow their business in the best possible fashion whether that’s incorporation documents or the best tools for search engine optimization. You’ll find out that it’s not a matter of the client being ignorant, but uninformed about what’s available to them in terms of resources and options. Being a helpful, knowledgeable, and quick with a recommendation should a need present itself will make you an asset.

You’ll wear many hats in this type of job, but these are the three that matter most.

Why go through this all on your own? Why make the same mistakes that have already been made by others? Find an experienced person that knows the three aspects to successful mentoring. Find someone who can help you on the road to success by giving you the benefit of their experience. At Ethos Mentor (www.EthosMentor.com) your mentor’s hindsight becomes your foresight.

Advice to Women Social Entrepreneurs Who Want to Manage Their Money Wisely

Posted under Hiring A Financial Advisor by on September 2nd, 2010 2:05 pm

As women social entrepreneurs, we have a sense of personal and social responsibility that needs to be reflected in the way we manage our personal finances. Doing good starts â€Ŕat home,†taking good care of our money by making wise financial decisions. These wise choices will allow us to create financial stability in the present and our financial independence in the future. Furthermore, we will be able to create sufficient wealth to take care of ourselves and to share part of our wealth with others. So, what steps do we need to take to ensure that we are managing our money wisely?

Step 1: Connect with your â€Ŕhigher self†and get clear about your values and priorities. Define clearly what is important to you, which determines how you will spend your money. As wise women, we will understand how much is â€Ŕenough†and shift our focus away from excess consumption and accumulation of things we do not need to be truly happy. This first step is critical as it will determine our financial goals. You may wish to heal your relationship with money as you go through this first step. Go to the â€ŔResources†section of Sabia Partners for suggested readings.

Step 2: Clarify what you want your money to do for you now and in the future. In other words, write down your short term (less than two years), intermediate term (2-6 years), and long term (over 6 years) financial goals. These goals need to be specific and measurable. For example, a well drafted financial goal would be the following: â€Ŕto accumulate $20, 000 in 3 years for a down payment of my primary home.†Another example of a well written goal: â€Ŕto pay down $5,000 of credit card debt in 12 months.†And a third example: â€Ŕto build a reserve fund of $6,000 in 18 months.â€Â

Step 3: Acquire a basic understanding of credit, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, real estate, insurance, mortgages, and financial planning. Most women do not know what they do not know about money, particularly investment vehicles and strategies to accumulate capital. This lack of basic financial and investment literacy does not make it possible for you to ask the right questions before executing a financial transaction. In most instances, a commission-based financial advisor (more a salesperson than advisor) will be offering you the insurance or investment product. Unfortunately, in too many instances, these representatives are either not well trained or are more interested in their commission than in your interests. With proper financial knowledge, you will be in a better position to protect your income and assets by asking the right questions and making well informed financial decisions.

Step 4: Hire a fee-only Certified Financial Planner with at least 5 years of full-time experience in personal financial planning. A good place to start your search is the Garrett Planning Network. The planner selected should be a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) with the Securities and Exchange Commission and with your state of residence. There should be great affinity with this planner as he/she will be a very important person in your life. The relationship needs to be open, respectful, and based on total trust. If it does not feel 100% right, move on and interview other candidates until you find the right financial planner for you.

Step 5: Follow your financial planner’s recommendations throughout the financial planning process. Give him/her all data needed for your financial analysis and when your plan is completed, have your questions answered and start implementing recommendations as soon as possible. Only by implementing your individualized financial plan, will you experience the joy and peace that comes from knowing that you are managing your financial resources as wisely as possible. You will be on your way towards achieving your financial goals and will feel the power that is present when you know you are in control of your money and your life.

Founder of Sabia Partners Inc. the alliance of wise women entrepreneurs. She is also the host of http://www.sabiatalkradio.com , a weekly global conversation with women social entrepreneurs. Her writing can also be viewed on her blog.

Consider Five “r?s” When Looking for Ideal Mortgage Broker

Posted under Hiring A Financial Advisor by on September 1st, 2010 2:09 pm

Locating an ideal mortgage broker could not only be a daunting task, but could also bring you unexpected surprises. To avoid such before hiring one, it is very significant to shop for one that is resourceful, affordable and reliable.

The main reasons of we remaining in credit munch and mortgage condense mess is due to immoral and unfettered mortgage brokers preyed upon borrowers, which in turn get them inappropriately risky loans. No doubt, that there are excellent mortgage brokers still exists, it is just that the business has suffered due to the untrained and less reliable brokers. So, do not hesitate to get yourself a broker that fits the needs and do shop carefully.

5 R’s to consider when hunting for an ideal mortgage advisor/broker:

Recommendations – This works the best. You can ask your family members, relatives, friends, colleagues or known realtor to recommend their mortgage advisor to you. You can rely on them as they have worked with the people known to you.

Resources – The most important reason for you hiring a mortgage advisor or a broker is to shop for a loan from huge variety that you come across. So it is obvious that if your chosen broker does not work with huge banks or mortgage companies, it will be of less use for you in discovering the best deal. Make sure you ask them about their networks and connections. Make a list of those who carry large network and resources and choose then.

Recompense – No reliable broker would work for free, however many ugly brokers are known to take bribes from lenders in return of navigating customers for their way. Check properly and then make a move, look elsewhere if you are not satisfied. 

Reference – Many mortgage brokers and advisors may work in unlawful surroundings, and some have also been recognized to set up place after being banned or barred from one authority. Find out the broker’s locale, expert affiliations, and other main certifications. Then, check that his qualifications are yet current and in good status.

Rely – Handing with a broker to purchase a house or refinance a mortgage could be one of the largest financial projects for an entire life. It’s significant to board upon such a trip with some body that you could exchange a few words with and rely upon. Go with your instincts. In case, they wave a red flag, do not ignore it. Look for expertise and experience, but as well shop for somebody with whom you enjoy a happy rapport.

Is There a Secret to the Rich Being so Rich?

Posted under Hiring A Financial Advisor by on August 31st, 2010 1:57 pm

Have you ever wondered how the rich get so rich? Have you sat and wondered if there’s a secret, and if so, what the secret is? Believe it or not, there is a secret to obtaining wealth, but it most likely is not what you think. People who have accumulated financial wealth have done so with wise investments and the use of private investment counsel. When you hire a highly qualified private investment expert, you are paying people to personally handle your investments, carefully follow your directions and report back on a regular basis. Surprisingly enough, in most cases, the fees for these services are much less than traditional brokerage fees that you may be paying now.

To the dismay of many, general financial advisors get a hidden ‘trailer fee’ of your portfolio of about 1% annually, on top of the 0.4% commission fee. When the mutual fund companies’ own fees are also included, you will pay close to 3% a year. Investment council firms generally charge rates of about 1% to 1.5% of assets per year; more than one percentage point lower than what general financial advisors charge.

Hiring an investment counsel is often considered the next step after you’ve worked with a broker or financial planner to grow your portfolio to the stated private counsel minimum, which is usually around seven figures. This may sound like a hefty nest egg, but many Canadians reaching their retirement have managed to put a lot of money away. If you have not reached this financial minimum, many firms are willing to take you on for even less than their stated minimums if they see a lot of potential to grow your portfolio.

Private investment counsel firms will assign a highly qualified representative with a chartered financial analyst (CFA) designation, the investment industry’s most respected designation for managing money. They will go through a rigorous process to specify your risk tolerance, financial constraints, investment objectives and overall guidelines to managing your money (called an investment policy statement or IPS). They will generally provide a monthly report that will compare the performance of your investments to benchmark indices for the over-all market so that you can clearly see how your investments perform compared to the market as a whole. Private investment firms are not a service that’s sold, but rather a service that’s bought. The advice you get is informative and balanced, with no soft peddling of market risks.

There are many private investment firms out there to choose from. If you would like to begin investing, but don’t have any free cash available, you might want to consider a loan. Like with investment firms, selecting a lender should be researched as should fitting payments into your budget.

If you are suffering from bad credit, there are financial institutions that offer private loans specifically aimed at offering solutions to individuals with bad credit. Visit our Bad Credit Loans website today. Visit our blog for more articles about Bad Credit and Debt.