Category: Money

7 Online Buying Tricks Revealed: Your One-Stop Guide to Selecting a Reputable Precious Metals Dealer

precious investmentsIn uncertain economic times, having gold on hand is a surefire way to liquidize and protect your assets. Even in a stable economic environment, gold is a safe haven asset that will never fail you. This is because gold’s value increases instead of decreases in direct relation to the decline of value in paper investments, such as stocks and bonds.

To minimize or even eliminate a fall in portfolio value during economic collapse it’s best to invest in uncorrelated investments. What this means is that you want to own assets that will move the opposite way of other investments when economic times become uncertain. Gold is one of the few guaranteed investments that are uncorrelated to many other investments. This makes it a very safe investment that has proven to remain positive when stocks fall.

This means that allocating some of your investment to gold is a sensible and solid choice. However, the buying of gold bullion is not always as straightforward as one would hope. There are plenty of precious metal dealers who will gladly take your money without having your best interests as a customer at heart. To avoid falling for an unscrupulous dealer, you’ll have to do a little research into finding the best dealer so you can purchase gold with confidence.

Online vs. Local

In general, there are two main ways to buy gold: online or locally (in person).

Local precious metal dealers can be found in cities around the world. However, brick and mortar stores will often come with a lot of overhead. This is due to rent, paying employees, security, and more. This added overhead and the fact that local gold dealers often have lower sales volume means that they will often have to charge more for gold bullion to make up for their costs.

On the beneficial side, a local gold dealer will mean that you will be able to physically inspect the bullion and take immediate possession of it when you purchase it.

Local dealers also have more of a reason to care about their reputation in the immediate community they serve, which may translate into higher quality of service when dealing with them.

Also, if you’re only buying small quantities of gold and you’re paying for it with cash, your purchases at a local dealer might not be reported to the tax authority and can stay confidential. If this is something you are considering, make sure you discuss it with your dealer to make sure you stay below the threshold for reporting.

The other option for purchasing gold bullion is through an online dealer. Online dealers typically do more business and will have higher volumes of sale and much lower fixed costs. This means that you can often find good gold bullion at a solid discount online.

Online dealers will have a much more varied range of products in stock and many even offer convenient buy-and-store programs that permit you to purchase the gold bullion and then keep it in an insured and protected location made available by the dealer. This can be very beneficial since storing your own precious metals can be risky.

Some people are nervous buying bullion online, since it is such an expensive product. However, if you are able to find a dealer with a long, solid history and positive reviews, you will most likely be in good hands.

Unfortunately, buying gold online means that you will have to pay for shipping and handling costs (which are not cheap when it comes to materials of this value), and you will have to wait to physically take possession of your gold. Some online gold dealers like Lucius Precious Metals offer free local delivery for orders over a certain price point, which can be something to consider if you’re in the area.

What to consider when buying gold for delivery

If you are purchasing gold online and looking to have it delivered to you, you’ll want to consider a few things.

First, you want a dealer that has a strong and solid reputation and years of reliability. Read customer reviews and check out investment forums to make sure your chosen dealer doesn’t have any shady reports out on them.

You also want to make sure that the dealer sells only gold coins and cold bars from LBMA-approved wholesalers. This is your best guarantee that you will be purchasing authentic coins and bars.

You’ll also want to check out the dealer’s premiums on bullion. This can vary widely throughout the industry and is not a set-in-stone number. Lastly, check out the difference between buying and selling prices on the dealer’s site, which can be as high as 10% or more.

To maximize your long-term profits, you need to work to find a dealer who is reputable and trustworthy and offers low premiums.

What to consider when buying gold for storage

If you’re buying gold for storage, you still want to check out a dealer’s reputation, bid-ask spread, and other factors mentioned above, however there are other factors that come into play when buying gold for storage.

For one, you’ll want to examine the storage facilities where your precious metals will be kept.

Gold bullion should be stored with a reputable, separate entity so as to reduce counterparty risks. Ideally, you’re looking for an LBMA-approved vault provider like Brinks. These types of companies store gold reserves for massive financial institutions and government bodies. This assures that your gold is being stored in a secure environment.

When storing gold, make sure that your dealer offers insurance that will cover the full replacement value of your coins or bars in the event that something were to happen to them. Full replacement means that you will get back the physical equivalent of the gold lost, and not just the cash value—which is based on the spot price of the metal.

You’ll also want to make sure that your gold is fully allocated to you. This means that it is held in your name, you are the outright owner, and the gold can be made available for delivery or sale at any moment. Unallocated gold bullionis shared by investors who own an interest in the bars, which raises all kinds of liquidity issues that we recommend avoiding.

Need Urgent Cash? Try These Tips

need money urgentlyCash in a Flash! Well, How to Generate Funds Quickly, Anyway

Short of robbing a bank (which incidentally, we’d NEVER advocate, just for the record) there’s precious few ways to get our hands on a lump of cash in an instant. Or so you might think. However, there are far more legit ways to fund ourselves, which involve neither masks depicting former Presidents of the United States and/or a job lot of Mini Coopers, if we’re mixing our heist movie metaphors. So, what other avenues can you venture down to put your hands on a shed load of money before you can say “This is a hold up!”

Which of course, it isn’t/won’t be.

Finding ourselves short of cash at times when we need it most in our life is not unheard of. On the contrary, as most of us will experience this feeling at some point in our natural, as it can happen to pretty much anyone. Scenarios which tend to create this sense of dread and subsequent cold sweat/blind panic include unforeseen car problems, unpredicted job losses and/or an undetected illness coming to bear. The question is, who do you turn to for help in your darkest hours?

Many people would suggest that you try a good payday loan lender, and there’s many arguments as to why this would be amongst the best choices you could make when faced with this situation. But then you must also be aware that aside from payday loan lenders there are a number of alternative methods you could look into, all of which might be able to free up some much needed funds here and now. Below we take a quick look at just a few of these.

Cash in Your Life Insurance Policy – Not all of it, obviously. It’s just that should you have been in possession of a whole life insurance plan for so many years; the chances are that you’ll have accumulated a decent amount of equity that you could, hypothetically, borrow against. Understandably, if you exercise this right at this juncture, the upshot is you’ll reduce the amount paid out at a later date, but on the plus side at least you won’t be accountable for any taxes if you choose to cash out (as it were) right now.

Home Equity Loans – Adhering to a similar principle to the one outlined above re: life insurance policies, providing that you’ve paid a decent amount into your existing mortgage plan already, you could be able to borrow against the equity of your property. Reverse mortgages could also be a makeweight at this testing financial time in your life, although they only really come into play for those who own their homes outright. But as a cautionary note, it’s worth remembering that both these types of get out of jail free cards come at a price. That price being both types of short term loans to yourself will need to be repaid further down the line. Failure to do so might put your home in jeopardy.

Consider Visiting a Pawn Shop – Careful how you spell/pronounce this one, but actual pawn shops (the modern, more socially acceptable version of these being the likes of Cash Converters et al) are in the business of giving you no-questions-asked short and medium term loans. And the best bit is, there’s usually no restrictions placed on the arrangement of said loans or how you choose to spend the funds recruited. The flip side is that pawn shops only ever lend you a percentage of your item’s monetary worth, plus they do have a habit of charging significantly high interest rates. Oh, and don’t forget. If you fail to repay the loan, your possessions become the loan providers. So think on, if it’s a family heirloom you’re swapping for some much-need folding stuff. That said, if needs must there are worse ways…..

Cards are a Gift Horse – A recent study revealed that in the region of £300 million worth of gift cards went unused in the past few years, which is a staggering amount of money to be sitting on and not actually doing anything for you. Collectively, that is. There are various ways in which to cash in your unused or wanted gift cards too, where monetary recompense isn’t quite the face value, but nevertheless better than the nothing it’s generating sat in your wallet or purse.

Rent a Room out – Most people are under the wrong impression that Airbnb rentals are all about summer holidays, and homeowners who allow you to rent out their gaff whilst they themselves are away somewhere for varying lengths of time. But this couldn’t be further from the truth, as a growing number of the website’s listings encompass both extra and/or shared room arrangements. So, effectively, you still live in your house but allow other (rent-paying folk) to come and go. Works better of course, if you live in a picturesque area and not next to a cement works or something.

Need to How to take advantage of a free Legal Consultation?

legal supportsFacing a legal case is a nightmare for ordinary people these days. The main reason that people try to avoid legal proceedings is the higher fees of attorneys and advocates that they have to pay for them. But a thing that provides some sigh of relief for clients is the competition between these clients to attract more people towards them. For this purpose, attorneys provide several specific and unique services.

One such tactic use by few of these attorneys is providing free legal consultation to their clients. This free consultancy on initial level is really precious in the scenario that high fee is charged on most of occasions. An ordinary person needs several clarifications before even hiring an attorney. Such free legal consultancy can be helpful in these circumstances.

But such type of free legal consultancy is not provided by all attorneys. There are several reasons for which few attorneys would like to provide free consultation to their clients. Few of these include:

  • The most important reason is competition in the market. Attorneys will compete against their counterparts for which they try to lure clients towards themselves. For this purpose, several incentives are provided that may also include free consultation services. It assists them in finding new clients and turned them into their permanent customers.
  • Different attorneys have different type of specialties and experiences and they like to evaluate cases that are fit for them. Through free consultation, they can easily figure out the nature of your case and its suitability for them.
  • On rare occasions, it is a possibility for attorney that they are going to tackle a case of a person who has some legal issue with their previous client. In this situation, attorneys prefer to leave that case as they consider it unethical.

How to find free legal consultation?

There are several ways through which you can find and locate attorneys that provide free consultation either on general cases or specific cases related to you.

  • Nowadays, most of attorneys use modern technology for progress of their business and provide important information to their potential clients. They also provide information if they are offering initial free legal consultation on their website. The easiest way to find them is by using any famous search engine through related query like free legal consultancy in New York, free PRO services in Dubai, free initial consultation etc.
  • Many law firms still use and prefer advertisement on print media and electronic media for providing information about their services. You may also find the offer of free legal consultancy through these ads on newspapers and TV programs.
  • Don’t limit yourself for latest techniques while finding free legal consultancy. Many lawyers still use old methods for their advertisement. Phone book is an example where you can find law firms advertising their services that may also include free initial legal consultancy for clients.

After finding these attorneys that provide free legal consultancy in your area or city, you can take further information by contacting them via email or telephone. Just make a list of all the necessary questions related to your case. This will allow you to get details about your potential lawyers and choose the best one suited for you.

Author Bio: Mona is working as a content writer in a Dubai-based consultancy firm, Riz& Mona Consultancy. She has experience of more than 6 years. During her career, she has acquired lot of experience in writing for various business and legal subjects including trade, finance, legal consultation, taxation, and others.

Mistakes To Prevent When Getting A Bridging Loan In Manchester

linking loansIn buying new properties, individuals eye bridging loans as their first option. This is especially applicable if they don’t have the required cash yet. Most of the home buyers choose to avail this type of loan because of the fast processing time compared with other loans that need longer waiting time. The best thing about bridging finance is that you can also use it for business purposes.

Bridging Loan for Business

A business can take full advantage of a bridging loan to ensure smooth-sailing business operations for a definite period. A specific business can avail this type of loan depending on the overall value of the business’ office and premises. The sum that will be loaned can be used to tide the company over a specific time. Acquiring the appropriate bridging loan for your business lets, you enjoy the benefits and advantages.

For instance, it can cost more compared with other loans if you commit these common mistakes in applying for fast bridging loans.

Unable to Clarify the Details of the Interest Rates

One of the most significant deciding factors, whether you’ll pursue a loan or not, is the interest rate. It can also determine how expensive and costly a loan can be. To avoid having a problem, don’t sign up for a loan that incurs a higher interest rate. It will surely be a burden that is hard to handle.

It’s best if you will canvas first for the best terms and most affordable loan for your business. You might think that you know how to calculate your interest rates, but most often you don’t. Before signing a contract, make sure that you can compute and double check for the interest that it’ll incur over the months or years of loan payment. Remember, the interest rate varies, and it could depend on how an individual or business handle their finances. The interest rate can be compounded over time if payments are delayed. If you came across a bridging finance provider, talk with their professional bridging loan broker to know the available options for you.

Unaware of Hidden Charges

When dealing with bridge financing, you need to consider the origination fees. Most lenders charge borrowers with charge origination fees which are deductible to the original loan amount. The cost can have a significant impact on the interest rate you are paying, depending on the amount of money borrowed. The concept is similar to ATM fees that seem like a very minimal amount but can cost you big over the long run.

When borrowing bridging loan fast processing and releasing, be aware of all the accompanying fees along with the capital infusion. These fees can include the application fees, contract fees, processing fees, and other kinds of fees set by the lender. Carefully consider your options to avoid unsettled and delayed payments.

Opportunity Cost as Real Cost

Most banks take up to half a month to review a loan application either by an individual or commercial. After approval, there is still a waiting time for the actual release of the fund for the loan.

Treat time as money. Look for reputable lenders who can move and process your application at the speed of today’s business. Choose a lender who can streamline the application process so you can spend your time on other important things.

Intangible Costs for Short Term Loan

In bridging loans, your loan amount and payment terms matter. Some companies that are in need of working capital are availing smaller amounts and paying it within a short period.

In this kind of situation, the interest rate is not that significant since the amount borrowed is small and paid back quickly, such sort of financing would not provide the substantial amortization costs that are accrued on loans accrued in the more extended payment period.

You Are Not Aware That You are Financing

Most financing errors happen without you realizing it. You should know that the situation wherein you are financing, so you will not be caught off guard of all the incurring fees during the repayment due date. Being aware will also help in preventing misconceptions and misunderstandings regarding your loan terms. Or better yet, talk to the best bridging loan broker who can enlighten you regarding all the technicalities of bridging finance.

Financing is essential not only to individuals but companies as well. To get the best out of it, one should understand the factors and considerations before pursuing a loan. Avoid making mistakes when dealing with finances to ensure that you’ll get the value you deserve for your loan needs. Are you decided to file bridging finance? Check out a bridging loan in Manchester and explore the options made available to you.

Fear? Not If You Use forex The Right Way!

forex optionsWhat separates successful forex merchants from all of those other packs? Exactly why is it that only 5% really make it in forex trading? How have these traders undertaken it? While all successful forex stock traders have their proven forex trading strategies and systems to call and control their deals, they know that it is important to give attention to enhancing themselves.

Because the investor is the best source that can react to produce the required trading results, she or he must be sure this tool is primed and successful to execute its best at forex trading. Consequently, successful forex stock traders pay great focus on the points the following which elucidates how each goes about their forex quest.

Treat Forex Trading just like a business

Top forex merchants know that trading is a significant business plus they accord it such importance by considering key factors that influence all businesses. From the forex trading point of view, these factors include the writing a forex trading plan; getting started with a proper trading consideration size; knowing cost factor of trading; sustaining and growing the forex account; and acquiring the right forex trading knowledge, skills and equipment.

Keep your ego in balance

Trading faults can occur from emotional reactions directly associated with one’s ego. A forex investor that should be right will allow ego prevails and inflicts the wreck to his or her forex bill, always endeavoring to will the marketplace which he or she denies can’t be operated. Being egoistic does mean not acknowledging one’s trading blunders and for that reason not learning from them. For example, the ego will egg the forex investor on to keep a burning off a trade rather than taking the right action of reducing loss at the correct time.

Be disciplined

That that directly influences the forex trading bill important thing is trading self-control. The serious forex investor practices his/her trading intend to the notice and adheres to it around humanly possible (even successful stock traders make blunders). Trading self-discipline includes guarding trading capital and sensibly allocating risk per trade; only taking deals that gratify risk/reward variables and create correctly; remaining on the sidelines all the time rather than forcing a trade; slicing deficits quickly via pre-determined stop damage levels; allowing a good trade trip but protecting successful from turning out to be a loser. Essentially, being disciplined allows the successful forex investor to show income constantly and rein in a loss should any trading period grow to be a rough trip.

Protect Your trading capital

The most experienced forex investors treat their trading money very real, as it is what permits trading to be achieved. Additionally, it is the aim of forex trading to make the successful trades to develop a huge amount of money. Thus, the successful forex investor will shield his or her capital zealously, making certain risk per trade is manipulated so that losers only rot the forex bill, not chew up an opening in it. This guarantees the forex investor that his or her forex business can continue, today, tomorrow and in the upcoming days.