Financial Services

You do not have to look far when you need to get one of balance transfer cards. It seems that every financial institution is providing this kind of cards these days. If you learn some details about the balance transfer credit cards before applying, it can be very useful.

Though you do not have to pay interest charges on the amount you transfer on this new account, however this does not imply that this APR will stand as long as you use this card. This simply means that you are given a promotional advantage with this card and there are no interest charges for anywhere from 6 to 15 months, but then you get an average annual percentage rate. Read more…

Getting married is oftentimes one of the best things to happen in someone’s life. While most couples plan on staying together forever, sadly many marriages fall apart. Some couples recognize this and opt to sign a prenup before they say their vows. However, other couples avoid signing a prenup because they believe their love will stand the test of time.

Do you have a prenup? Why or why not? If you aren’t married yet, do you plan on signing a prenup when you get married?

Tell us if you have a prenup and we’ll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

We’re doing three giveaways — one for random comments, one for random Facebook “Likes”, and another one for random tweets.

If you’re inspired to write a whole blog post OR you have a photo on flickr to share, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

Giveaway Rules:

Good Luck!

More heating oil dealers in Pennsylvania are refusing to offer pre-paid oil contracts because of volatility in oil markets and unpredictability of prices.

Heating oil prices are now between 60 cents and $1 a gallon more than they were this time last year, readingeagle.com reports.

Historically oil prices are low at this time of year before beginning their seasonal climb during winter. That has enabled customers to lock in cheaper oil deals early in the season to guard against spiking winter prices.

But some dealers and a US Energy Department economist say current prices are artificially high and could even drop in the near term if demand falters and investors decide to pull their money from oil markets.

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Group life insurance will grow by 10% a year over the next 15 years, according to new research by Rice Warner Actuaries.

Its Risk Insurance Market Projections Report also predicts life insurance sold outside superannuation will grow 9% a year during that period.

Rice Warner Director Richard Weatherhead says the current regulatory reforms will increase sales of life insurance outside superannuation.

But group policies will grow as part of enterprise agreements and the increased use of master trusts for employer superannuation schemes.

“The overall life insurance market will grow at the rate of 8.4% a year during the 15 years to June 30 2026,” he said.

“This represents a slowdown from the growth rates experienced in recent years. Growt

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Yahoo Finance

The news today about the resignation of the chairman of the Swiss National Bank made us wonder how that whole currency peg is working out for them.

Switzerland faced an unusual problem this year — it’s economy was doing so well that nervous investors around the world started flocking to its currency. That made the value of the franc shoot up — which caused big problems for the country’s exporters.

In September, the central bank announced that it would “buy foreign currency in unlimited quantities” in order to drive the value of the franc down. Essentially, the bank pledged to sell as many francs as investors wanted and to take in their euros, yen and dollars in return. The

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Australia

Mon, Jan 2 2012 – New Year’s Day (Observed)

Thu, Jan 26 2012 – Australia Day

Fri, Apr 6 2012 – Good Friday

Mon, Apr 9 2012 – Easter Monday

Wed, Apr 25 2012 – ANZAC Day

Mon, Jun 11 2012 – Queen’s Birthday

Mon, Aug 6 2012 – August Bank Holiday

Mon, Oct 1 2012 – Labour Day

Tue, Dec 25 2012 – Christmas Day

Wed, Dec 26 2012 – Boxing Day

Canada

Sun, Jan 1 2012 – New Year’s Day

Fri, Apr 6 2012 – Good Friday

Mon, Apr 9 2012 – Eastern Monday

Mon, May 21 2012 – Victoria Day

Mon, Jul 2 2012 – Canada Day

Mon, Sep 3 2012 – Labour Day

Mon, Oct 8 2012 – Thanksgiving Day

Sun, Nov 11 2012 – Remembrance Day

Tue, Dec 25 2012 – Christmas Day

Wed, Dec 26 2012 – Boxing Day

France

Sun, Jan 1 2012 – New Year’s Day

Mon, Apr 9 2012 – Easter Monday

Tue, May 1 2012 – Labour Day

Tue, May 8 2012 – Victory Day (Fête de la Victorie)

Thu, May 17 2012 – Ascension Day (Ascension catholique).

Mon, May 28 2012 – Whit Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte)

Sat, Jul 14 2012 – National Day (Bastille Day)

Wed, Aug 15 2012 – Assumption Day

Thu, Nov 1 2012 – All Saints’ Day

Sun, Nov 11 2012 – Armistice Day

Tue, Dec 25 2012 – Christmas Day

Germany

Sun, Jan 1 2012 – New Year’s Day

Fri, Apr 6 2012 – Good Friday

Mon, Apr 9 2012 – Easter Monday

Tue, May 1 2012 – Labour Day

Thu, May 17 2012 – Ascension Day

Mon, May 28 2012 – Whit Monday

Wed, Oct 3 2012 – Day of German Unity

Tue, Dec 25 2012 – Christmas Day

Wed, Dec 26 2012 – Boxing Day

Hong Kong SAR

Mon, Jan 2 2012 – New Year’s Day

Mon, Jan 23 2012 – Lunar New Year’s Day

Tue, Jan 24 2012 – Lunar New Year Holiday

Wed, Jan 25 2012 – Lunar New Year Holiday

Wed, Apr 4 2012 – Ching Ming Festival

Fri, Apr 6 2012 – Good Friday

Sat, Apr 7 2012 – Holy Saturday

Mon, Apr 9 2012 – Easter Monday

Tue, May 1 2012 – Labour Day

Sat, Jun 23 2012 – Tuen Ng (Dragon Boats Festival)

Mon, Jul 2 2012 – HKSAR Establishment Day

Mon, Oct 1 2012 – Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival

Tue, Oct 2 2012 – National Day

Tue, Oct 23 2012 – Chung Yeung Festival

Tue, Dec 25 2012 – Christmas Day

Wed, Dec 26 2012 – Boxing Day

Italy

Sun, Jan 1 2012 – New Year’s Day

Fri, Jan 6 2012 – Epiphany

Mon, Apr 9 2012 – Eastern Monday

Wed, Apr 25 2012 – Liberation Day

Tue, May 1 2012 – Labour Day

Sat, Jun 2 2012 – Anniversary of the Republic

Wed, Aug 15 2012 – Assumption of the Virgin

Thu, Nov 1 2012 – All Saints’ Day

Sat, Dec 8 2012 – Immaculate Conception

Tue, Dec 25 2012 – Christmas Day

Wed, Dec 26 2012 – St. S

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If you’re like me, you like to learn from the experience and wisdom of others. It’s much cheaper that way! When it comes to being an investor, few things can beat the knowledge you and I can absorb by reading books. Plus I just like to read.

Photo by jeffpearce

The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham. Graham was Warren Buffet’s professor and Buffet has declared that this book is “the best book on investing ever written.” Strong words from someone who’s used those investing strategies to make billions.

Payback Time or Rule #1 both by Phil Town. Town’s investment philosophy mirrors those of Warren Buffet and Ben Graham, that price and value are two different things. He shows you how to intensely scrutinize any business you invest in and how to make an educated guess about it’s value based on its past, present, and predicted future.

The Little Book That Beats the Market by Joel Greenblatt. The author’s private investment partnership, Gotham Capital, has produced 40 per cent a year returns over the past 20 years. The last time I c

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No, this is not another article about how to save money on gifts. There are already way too many people out there whose only “financial” thought right now is whether to buy their nephew an expensive new iPad or stick with a cheaper video game. And while that’s an important decision, there are also a number of personal financial loose ends that you should be taking care of before the end of the year.

Here are some ways to save (or at least not lose) your hard-earned money:

Season of giving.

Do you itemize deductions on your income tax? If so, donating to a non-profit serves two purposes: you get to feel good for doing good and lower your taxes at the same time. Just be sure to check out the rules for donating from the IRS.

Flex your (medical spending) muscles.

Remember that flexible spending health care account you signed up for at the beginning of the year? The one where you could put money into an account for medical expenses and not be taxed on it? Prett

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The lender does a proper analysis of your credit report before providing a loan to you. They understand all the pros and cons of your credit report and also take the credit score into the consideration mainly. If you can establish yourself as a trusted borrower, then you will be granted a loan. Now you have learnt about why you need a credit report. Now the next question is – how to get it? Well the steps are simple. You can get your 3 agency credit reports easily from the internet. If you are worried about the accuracy, you can also look for the services which provide paid or free credit report monitoring.

There are many companies and websites which do not provide an authentic free 3 in one credit report, and if you want to avoid having to put up with some of these sorts of businesses then you should simply go to AnnualCreditReport.com to get all three of your credit reports for free.

This website will not necessitate that you present them any credit card information so if you don’t have a credit card then you can still get the right of entry to your yearly credit report if you would like to. Y Read more…