Low Rate Loans

As some of you know earlier this month I went up to Chicago for the first annual financial bloggers conference. I got to finally meet some of the CPF writers (who I havent already) as well as many other great financial bloggers. All in all it was a great experience and I will be going again next year.

While I was there I also met money-news reporter Stacy Johnson whose broadcast is viewed by approximately 15 million people on more than 80 network-affiliated broadcast channels nationwide.

I dont really seek out major media exposure and I tend to turn down most opportunities. But while I was there I went ahead and did a quick little interview with Stacy just for the fun of it.

In the past I have done a few gigs on radio, but I have yet to do anything that appears on television, so you can check it out if youd like here.

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The loan war continues to rage, with HSBC announcing that it is slashing the representative APR on personal loans of between £7,000 and £15,000 from 6.9% to 6.4%.

The new rate, which is available until November 13, makes it one of the most competitive deals for loans of this size currently on offer.HSBC loans are only available to the bank’s current account customers, though. < Full Article…

As I read through the 11,700-word press release on the 2013 BMW 3 Series today, learning about the increased dimensions and high-end technology to be introduced in February, I couldnt help feel like the 3 has outgrown its number and indeed its legacy.

As a former 3 Series owner, I fondly recall a time when the car was distinguished by a nuanced driving feel and exquisite chassis dynamics. Any electric or electronic feature was gravy 15-20 years ago. It was all about the mechanical elements.

The sixth-generation 3 Series has undergone a comprehensive redesign, growing by every measure except weight. Sure, it should be roomy and potentially ride better than the outgoing model. Its available camera-based technologies can alert of dangers from myriad directions and not only find a parking space, but steer the car into it.

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I know it’s surprising, but invoice factoring is actually a very old activity; some experts date it as early as the 13th century. It all started with trade financing, which was financed by factors, but the entire process was refined during the following centuries. In the early stages of factoring, the factor would simply buy (and often resell) goods, giving the producer a cash advance in exchange for them.

Factoring has grown fast in the U.S.A. during the last century, mostly due to the fact that the textile industry has developed extremely fast and the American banks were reluctant to lend their money to the business owners (not that this has changed since then). I

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Rising mortgage arrangement fees were one of the main factors which pushed inflation up last month.

The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) measure of inflation hit 4.4%, in July up from 4.2% in June and further away from the government’s target of 2%, due in no small part to a steady increase in fees related to financial services and products – particularly on mortgages.

According to some data-crunching from MoneySupermarket, the average arrangement fee (also known as an application fee) currently sits at £935, compared to £705 back in September 2009.  And this figure does not take into account separate booking fees which may also apply.

For some people a high arrangement fee can be worth paying. Others will be better off opting for a lower fee even if that means a higher interest rate. Th

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The Internet’s social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Google+ and the like, have become our virtual life linesespecially in times of major disasters, such as Hurricane Irene which will affect the U.S. East Coast this weekend.

According to the American Red Cross, two recent show an increasing number of Americans are turning to social networks and online during major events such as the 5.9 earthquake that reverberated through-out the eastern U.S. coast.

Some of the findings from the survey:

• 80 percent of respondents said they expect first-responders to monitor social media sites during major emergencies.
• More than one-third of respondents expect help to arrive within an hour of posting help on a social media site.
• 24 percent of respondents would use social tools to tell others they were safe during an emergency.
• One in five respondents who have experienced an emergency, posted something about the event on a social site.

Not surprisingly, the American Red Cross has set up its own Facebook page (facebook.com/redcross) and Twitter account ().

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