Whiplash is an injury that if often sneered at and some people seem to think it is a bit of a joke.  We guarantee that none of them have ever been a victim of a whiplash injury, because if they had they would realise how very painful and disabling it can be.

Whiplash is when the muscles, tendons and ligaments in your neck are damaged, and a sudden jolting movement to your head usually causes it.  Although it has not always been the case, these days most whiplash injuries happen in road traffic accidents.  It is the most common of all motoring injuries and in 2012 over three quarters of all motoring injury claims were for whiplash injuries.

If your whiplash injury was caused by someone else, some time in the last three years, you may be entitled to compensation and should be considering making a personal injury compensation claim.

Making your claim

Before you start your claim, the first thing most victims want to know is how much are they likely to be awarded.  By using a whiplash injury compensation calculator you can get an estimate of the amount.  Some calculators do no more than give you the figure, but if victims are on the right website they can claim for whiplash using calculator.

Answering a few simple questions about the accident, your injuries and yourself can produce the estimate you require and kick start your claim for compensation.  Two of the questions are your name and phone number.  This is so an expert claims advisor can give you a call to discuss the ins and outs of your accident and injuries.  After going through the finer details with you, they will provide you with all the information you need to decide if a personal injury claim is the way forward for you.

The will not pressurise you to make a claim, or make you feel obligated to do so.  It is a decision that needs to be yours alone.

Carrying On

If you decide to continue with your compensation claim, an experienced lawyer will handle your claim.  The lawyers are all specialists in the field of personal injury claims; it is their chosen arm of the law.  They have many years’ experience in making claims, and have already helped many thousands of victims get the access to justice they were entitled to and the compensation they deserved.

The helpline being open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week means that you can call the freephone number at a time to suit yourself.

You will not have to worry about finances because your claim would be under the no win no fee agreement.  This means you do not have to pay any money to start your claim, or if your claim is lost.  This is the only way that making a personal injury claim is accessible to everyone as the litigation costs will not have to be a consideration.

Are you facing audit from Internal Revenue Service (IRS)? You may take help of a proficient tax lawyer. For solving any kind of complicated legal issue it is advisable that you should seek help of this professional.   With a plethora of attorneys available in the industry, it becomes difficult to come across the right person. Like other lawyers, all the tax attorneys do not have the same potentials and experience. Finding the right attorney who is suitable for your situation is the call of the season. Here is list of questions that you may ask your attorney to gauge the knowledge of your favorite lawyer.

Do you have specialized training?

Tax law is highly complicated area that helps you to understand different aspects of legal system and also other associated disciplines such as finance, accounting as well as banking practices. While any lawyer may practice law so long he is admitted to state bar where he works, you may catch hold of tax lawyer with specialized training. The best idea is to hire a professional who has gained Master’s degree in law and also have gathered knowledge in finance as well as accounting.  Although education does not guarantee the expertise of the lawyer completely, it is definitely one of the important yardsticks to measure the efficiency of any professional.

Can You Handle My Case?

Generally a good tax attorney has specialization in a particular aspect of law and you have to find the professional who is suitable for your case. For example, there are lawyers who are expert to deal with different issues of industrial or commercial tax.  Few lawyers are proficient to deal with special criminal cases that are related to tax issues. Your lawyer should be able to convince you that he or she is the best person to deal your case. If you are convinced about his or her expertise you must immediately look for alternative option.

How much do you charge?

Certainly your attorney will not take your legal case out of sheer joy. Like any other professional, your attorney too will charge hire a fee. Therefore you should try to know the details of fee and mode of payment. It will help you to take decision accordingly. Ask whether the professional charges money on basis of flat-fee or on hourly basis. Often the amount exceeds depending on complexity of case and types of special services involved. Besides it is vital that you prepare fee agreement and get all the cost details in writing.

Go through the questions that help you to get hold of a proficient lawyer without any difficult.

It’s not an easy time to take control of the Federal Reserve, and Janet Yellen has a demanding job ahead of her. She will be expected to further the progress made under Ben Bernanke in bouncing back from the recession, and there will no doubt be a great deal of pressure in the position. If the country seems to be sinking back into recession, Yellen will certainly be under fire.

However, the announcement of Yellen as successor to Ben Bernanke did not come as a surprise to most of those on Wall Street, as she had long been considered a favorite of President Obama. Supposedly the most qualified of any Fed chief in history, Ms. Yellen has been the vice Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.

While the Fed chief no doubt has some influence over the financial characteristics of the nation’s monetary policies, it is unlikely that Ms. Yellen’s decisions and policies specifically will differ significantly from those of her predecessor Ben Bernanke.

Yet some feel that under Ms. Yellen interest rates might be kept lower and controlled even longer at an abnormally low rate than they would have been under Ben Bernanke. This would keep mortgage rates under control and hopefully facilitate the recovery of the housing market.

It has been predicted that Ms. Yellen’s nomination will mean a likely continuation of quantitative easing policies. As the recovery from the recession has been coming along so slowly, Ms. Yellen will no doubt remain cautious and reluctant to make quick changes that would reestablish a less regulated economy. It was assumed that Ms. Yellen’s major rival in securing the Fed chief position- Larry Summers- would’ve brought an end to quantitative easing practices much faster than Ms. Yellen will.

The major goal behind Ms. Yellen’s policies will no doubt be to restore stability across the economy. The Fed is doing its utmost to boost the American economy, and in so doing it is pouring money into economic measures. Unfortunately, the fragile recovery of the economy comes at a time when a great deal of contention and controversy is seen in Congress’s inability to compromise on budget measures. The conflicts in Congress have in the past shown effects on stock market trading and caused the nation’s credit rating to be downgraded in

Hopefully, Ms. Yellen will continuously bring us closer to enjoying a strong economic comeback. Recent economic indicators such as a lowering unemployment rate seem to foreshadow a continuing- but slow- recovery through 2014.

Author Bio :

Kay Bradford is a financial consultant whose most recent position has involved budgeting marketing efforts for insurance authority Insure a GoGo. Kay also has her own blog that focuses on monetary and fiscal policy in the United States government.

Student loan debt is definitely a serious issue. As per the recent reports, consumer debt is on a rise and the main reason behind this is student loan debt. The limit of student loan debt has already exceeded the $1trillion mark. In such a circumstance, if you really want to keep your overall debt under control, then you must manage your student loans carefully.

3 Tips to manage student loan debt successfully

Well, managing student loan debt isn’t a cakewalk at all. Still, with proper planning and determination you can eliminate the debt successfully. Here are some wise tips that may help you to manage student loan debt with ease. Have a look at the tips below:

1. Plan to repay from the very beginning: Early planning will make it easier to make the ends meet. So, you should start planning for the repayment from the very beginning. First of all, try to understand the repayment options. Federal loans and private loans come up with different payment options. Federal loans like Stafford loans and Perkins loans have specific grace periods for borrowers who miss their payments. For Stafford loan the grace period is 6 months and for Perkins loan it’s 9 months. However, private lenders may offer different grace periods for the borrowers. So, you should talk to your lender and get complete idea about the specific repayment option to plan accordingly.
2. Get help of forbearance and deferment: If you’ve federal student loan, then you can opt for forbearance and deferment. When you don’t have a job, it becomes extremely difficult to continue the payment every month. In such a circumstance forbearance and deferment may help. In deferment, borrowers are allowed to avoid making payment for a while. During the deferment period, no interest rate will be charged on the loan. You’ll have to prove your financial hardship in order to qualify for deferment. If you can’t qualify for deferment, then you may opt for forbearance easily.
3. Never miss your payments: If you’ve private student loan, then you should take extra care of your payments. Make it a point not to miss your payments even for a single month. If you’ll miss payments, then interest rate will keep increasing your overall debt. This will ultimately take a toll on your finances. So, be careful and continue your monthly payments.

So, if you’re struggling to manage your student loan debt, then make sure to follow these 3 important tips and manage student loans with ease.

With the economy as it has been, there are many home owners who are looking at the potential benefits of a reverse mortgage to help pay off debt and also simply free up some extra dollars. If you own a home and are facing financial issues that are causing you to seek out potential solutions, then it may be time to consider the benefits of a reverse mortgage. Because a reverse mortgage is a major financial decision, all options should be carefully considered before making this leap. Fortunately, such a decision may just provide you with the assets that you need to regain financial stability in your life sooner, rather than later.

What are the Requirements?

The most important stipulation to note is that a reverse mortgage is a loan available only to people over 62 years of age. Other stipulations include the requirement that the owner lives in the home, that there is equity in it, and that you do not currently have another type of outstanding mortgage. The recent Reverse Mortgage Stabilization Act changed some of the requirements and application process, so be sure that you understand what this means for you by talking to a trusted mortgage professional.

What are the Benefits?

The benefit of this type of loan is that it allows borrowers to convert a portion of their equity into cash. The reason these mortgages are called reverse mortgages is because the conventional terms of the loan are, in essence, reversed. Instead of making payments to the lender, the lender will be making payments to the borrower.

These payments are not required to be returned until the house is sold or the owner moves out of the property for more than 365 consecutive days. This means that an individual can reap the rewards of their home’s equity today in anticipation of it selling at a price to meet that equity value at a later date.

What are the Considerations?

The important considerations to take into account when deciding whether or not you should apply for a reverse mortgage include whether or not you qualify, and whether or not you believe that the equity you are borrowing against will still be intact at the time of a future sale. If the market and future equity projections are stable, then engaging in a reverse mortgage may be a great low-risk option to consider.

Also take a look at your equity. If you do not have much equity, moving into a new mortgage may not be of a large enough financial gain in the long run, due to the up-front costs associated with a new mortgage.

These reverse mortgages can be effectively used by many people in order to gain early access to their equity, and many elderly individuals may want to use them to gain access to money they could use for different medical procedures, or even a long-delayed trip. In short, a reverse mortgage is an important financial tool to keep at the ready for those individuals who qualify.

Remember, talk to a trusted professional and carefully weigh your options. Good luck!

There is a reason out of all precious metals, gold remains the most popular investment choice. Touted as the most consistent investment asset, gold has maintained its high value through the years. Because of its safety relative to the current volatility of the market, gold is a great choice for families looking to start a new investment venture.

Eric Sprott, Sprott Asset Management’s chief executive officer, mentioned in a statement to the press that” gold equities are investment opportunities of a lifetime.” Furthermore, the executive predicted that gold will have a value twice its current worth in 2014. Head of households will find security in the fact that gold has proven itself such a safe haven for family funds.

Here are more reasons why gold is a great investment for families.

1. Inflation and deflation

Due to the phenomenon of gold’s price increasing with respect to the cost of living, the precious metal remains as a fail safe investment against inflation. The Motley Fool cites a great example of this. Back in 2008 during the financial collapse, the demand for gold skyrocketed to unexpected proportions. What followed was an increase in the value of gold.

Although deflation in current times is seen as a rarity, financial analysts believe firmly that gold assets will remain stable in case a global deflation occurs. During the Great Depression, gold investments became the world’s most valuable assets as other commodities dipped to the lowest of lows.

2. A global rise in demand

Taking a look at the so-called ‘emerging markets’, observers noticed that gold is a valuable cultural commodity. These emerging markets include countries such as India and China, where gold has a large traditional value. Businesses consider these emerging markets as a goldmine. Telecoms and outsourcing opportunities are being invested there, and it’s no surprise that a naturally valuable item in the local market equates to wider possibilities for profit.

“Both China and Russia are now greatly increasing their gold purchases and disposing of their US dollars as fast as they can, and the Chinese Government is also publicly encouraging its citizens to buy gold,” said Byron Legrand, general manager of Grand Private Equities. Gold investments in Australia are among the most common of investments in Australia according to the Motley Fool.

In the Philippines, gold mining is one of the most robust local industries. Renato Claravall, the Chief Financial Officer of Benguet Corporation, the country’s oldest and largest mining firm, said that investments in gold would stand firm and attract more and more people. “Investors keep getting drawn to gold because of the confidence that you’ve invested in something tangible, something that exists physically,” he continued.

3. A brighter glimmer

Gold is gaining credence fast. The modern Islamic dinar is a currency that was proposed, made of pure gold. In Argentina, the president suggested a gold plated currency to aid in the financial crisis. While in some countries in Europe, gold-backed currency is also being considered. Chinese demand, which spells dollar signs to anyone involved in the financial game, is expected to rise sharply.

Because of these predictions of good gains and a relatively safe environment, casual investors such as families are encouraged to make investments now . Right when the iron is still hot, the gold investment industry could potentially be the best place for family finances.

It’s a good idea to review your investments regularly to ensure they’re working for you. Reviewing your investments allows you to discover whether there are any changes in your investment needs. You may discover that your chosen investment isn’t working hard enough for you and giving you the return you need. Therefore it’s good to know this in order to make changes now before retirement.

It’s likely that you may have multiple investment funds across equity, property, bonds and pensions. So managing all of your investments with one company will allow you to clearly see their value and performance in one easy to manage place. However having all of your investments in one place is not a guarantee of higher returns. It is far better to have a diverse investment portfolio.

When you come to review a fund’s performance it’s important to keep a few things in mind.

• Set yourself a date in which to review your investment. It’s considered that investments should be held for 5 years to maximise their potential.

• Performance in the past is not intended to project future performance.

• Keep track of fixed-term investments, so you can review them as soon as the term ends.

• Ensure that you are comparing investments which have the same objectives and policies.

• Reconsider your attitude to risk. Take an online survey and discover whether you could get a greater return with more or less risk.

In terms of investing, the term return refers to the amount of interest on the money you have invested. For instance, if you invest £100 and earn £15 interest, then your return is £15 or 15%. The total return you make is calculated by your annual gain or loss on an equity or debt investment. This includes dividends or interest and any fluctuations in the market value of the investment.

It is calculated by dividing the total investment return by the original cost of the investment. For example if the same £100 investment lost 5% of it’s current interest value of £15, it’s total return would be £10 -10%.

Investments have periods where they don’t perform as well as others, however it doesn’t mean that you should immediately get rid of an investment. Take a look at other factors that may affect the performance at that time such as the buoyant economy. The investment may in time recover but if it has taken a long term turn for the worse then it’s probably time to change your portfolio.

Speaking to a financial adviser will enable you to discover where your investments better lie. However sometimes a financial adviser may become costly quickly. Sourcing online pension advice is a great way of getting an understanding of where you should invest for retirement. You can discover which investment strategy is right for you and whether your pensions are on track.

Your bank loan application has been rejected, which may not be surprising considering the current economic situation (read: tight credit, loan defaults, and even bailouts of major credit institutions) in the United States. But don’t despair just yet about finding funding for your business venture because there are several steps that you can do to reverse your fortune, so to speak, starting with contacting one of the best Rochester consulting firms.

1. Ask Questions

Asking questions can result in favorable outcomes including but not limited to: Continue reading “Rising Above Rejection for Bank Loans” »

Bankruptcy is a more complicated thing than many people think. While the movies may suggest that when you go bankrupt you are stripped of everything you own, but all of your debts magically disappear, this isn’t strictly the case. There are two main forms of bankruptcy in America that apply to individual cases (there are some others that relate more to businesses, however for the average person these two are the ones to learn about) – chapter 7, which is also known as liquidation bankruptcy, and chapter 13, which is sometimes called reorganization bankruptcy.

Chapter 7 and Your Assets

Filing under chapter 7 will result in you having to give up most of your assets. There are some things that are exempt and can’t be taken from you, and the list of what constitutes these varies from state to state, but it usually only includes things like property you need for looking after your children or doing your job, and you are therefore likely to have to give up things you may be reluctant to part with like your car. In chapter 7, your property is sold off to pay back a portion of the money you owe, but you don’t have to make any further payments to your creditors. It is designed to help the poorest people, so you may be eligible even if you have no real assets to worry about, as long as your income isn’t too high to prevent you passing the means testing in your area.

If you don’t want to lose the things you own, and have an income, it is therefore generally more advisable to file under chapter 13 (and this may be your only option in any case).

Chapter 13 and Your Assets

Chapter 13 can be considered as a milder form of bankruptcy to chapter 7. On the one hand, you will have to pay off at least a portion of your debts in the form of monthly payments to the court over a period of 3 to 5 years. However, the amount you have to pay will be calculated based on your situation and will therefore be a reduction on what you are paying your creditors now. It also stops your creditors from contacting you. By using this method to handle unsecured debt like credit cards, you are still able to try and make repayments that may be more important to you long term, like on your car or mortgage. Because you are making repayments, your assets will not be touched in a chapter 13 bankruptcy, so it is actually possible to ‘go bankrupt’ without losing anything you own if you are able to make regular monthly payments.

For more information about how to file for either chapter 7 or chapter 13, and to test your eligibility, look for a good affordable bankruptcy lawyer in your area. Because many things relating to bankruptcy are region specific, including the means testing for chapter 7 and the items exempt from being seized, it pays to speak to someone familiar with local law.

Featured images:

•  License: Creative Commons image source

Monica Smith, the author of this article, works for Goldbach Law Group, professional chapter 13 bankruptcy attorneys in Whittier. She enjoys knitting and loves playing with her pets.

Unfortunately in the modern day more and more individuals are finding themselves in the position whereby they need instant credit. There are a whole number of reasons why this could be the case. Individuals often find themselves stung by unexpected expenses. This can range from a costly phone bill, to a repair of a household item, to an illness, and so on and so forth. Additionally, there are times when people end up not being paid by clients or losing their job. A sudden crisis can arise and the financial strain can be unbearable. Not only do you need to consider these circumstances, but many would agree that living prices have risen in the UK quite substantially. All you need to do is look at the cost of fuel to see that this is the case. Nonetheless, whatever the reason may be, the need for instant credit is evident and is something that is experienced by monumental numbers of people.

However, the good news is that there is a wealth of different financial products that are available to aid individuals who find themselves in this sticky situation. The options range from a bank loan, to a new credit card, to a loan against car, and much, much more. Yet, there is a bit of an issue for those people who have a bad credit rating. If this applies to you then you will find that you actually have a lot less options at your disposal when it comes to getting a loan. The reason why this is the case is because that the majority of loan application processes actually involve a credit record check. These are carried out because they want to see whether you are responsible enough to be lent a loan too. Will you make your payments back? Unfortunately, this means one little blip in your past can have major repercussions on your future.

But don’t go into panic overdrive just yet. There is one solution that offers you the way out of all of this. This is by opting for a loan secured on car. It is not that a log book loan lender does not care about your ability to pay back the loan – they do. However, they are not interested in your history to prove it, they merely want to know that you have a steady income so they know you have the capacity to pay back the money that has been leant. Aside from this, the only other thing you will need to provide is the V5c document to the logbook loan company. The lender will keep this until you have paid back the money owed.

So, if you are someone who has a bad credit history or in fact does not even have one at all, don’t panic. It’s not the end of the world. You still have an extremely effective and popular form of lending at your disposal in the form of a loan secured on car. So start looking online and find the perfect lender today.

Summary – There are lots of different lending options in the current day. However, most revolve around extensive credit checks. But finally there is a solution to combat this a loan secured on car.