Americans not satisfied with financial conditions
Posted on January 28th, 2012
A recent report from Gallup highlighted declining satisfaction among Americans, led by concerns about the economy and personal finance.
According to Gallup, an average of 17 percent of Americans (polls conducted throughout 2011) said they were satisfied with the way things are going in the United States.
This is a slight increase from the 15 percent mark seen in 2008 but is far below the 60 percent approval recorded in the year 2000.
The 17 percent average mark includes lows of 11 percent satisfaction observed in in August and September polls all the up to the 26 percent mark seen in May. The all-time low mark of 7 percent occurred in mid-October 2008, Gallup said.
In the most recent Gallup poll measuring satisfaction conducted December 15-18, 2011 64 percent of Americans mentioned the economy in some way, shape or form as the most important problem facing the country.
Efficiency of 2012 Ford Focus Electric surpasses 100 mpg equivalent
Posted on January 22nd, 2012
The adoption of fuel-efficient vehicles has been a slow one among consumers, but automakers are working hard to unveil new options and make the market more competitive. Ford is staying in the race to provide the most efficient and cost-effective products to consumers, and recently announced that its 2012 Focus Electric exceeds other 100 mpg equivalents. This accomplishment makes it the first five-passenger vehicle to reach the 100 mpg mark.
The new Ford electric vehicle is expected to host a number of other benefits that will allow it to remain competitive, the first of which is its cooling and heating system which maximizes its efficiency. The lithium-ion battery is equipped with a system that regulates the temperature of heating and cooling liquids based on outside temperatures.
Tags: Ford, Ford Focus
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Montana Regulators Make It Easier for Consumers to File Complaints
Posted on January 11th, 2012
Montana regulators have introduced an online form for consumer complaints about insurance after 2011 saw a 27 percent increase in funds recovered for policyholders as a result of wrongfully denied claims and improperly issued policies.
The state Commissioner of Securities and Insurance (CSI) recouped $4.7 million on behalf of consumers of auto, home and other types of coverage last year—a $1 million hike from 2010. CSI officials say the new paperless complaint forms are meant to make it easier for consumers who suspect they are being treated unfairly by their coverage providers to alert regulators.
“Things may change, but there will always be complaints,” Lucas Hamilton, CSI communications director, said in a phone interview. “If t
Gender specific companies will see fewer changes with new law
Posted on January 1st, 2012
Insurance companies with a higher ratio of women than men will have the smallest price change when European Court of Justice equality laws are implemented next year.
News Insurances found that if a company insurers more women than men, the statistics and information they would use to underwrite insurance would more reflect a woman than a man, leaving prices largely unchanged.
“A company that is more equally split will have a greater flow of premium going from women to men and therefor their prices will have to change more,” said Adrian Webb, Head of Communication at Sheilas Wheels.
“With female marketed insurers the ratio is so skewed in the favor of women, that the claims of the men that are with us will not end up having to be subsidised quite as much”
Currently, a company with an equal spread of men and women charge lower premium for women and higher for men based on current claims statistics.
When the laws are implemented it will become illegal to differentiate prices based on gender, so these companies will begin charging men roughly 10% less for car insurance and women around 25% more.
Webb said this ratio would be different for gender marketed companies.
“A large company at the moment that has an equal split of men and women will be charging lower premiums for the women and higher premiums for the men. If those
Tags: Law
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Calculating the Present Value of a Whole Life Insurance Policy
Posted on December 14th, 2011
One of the things people often want to find out when they have a whole life cover policy is how much it is worth in cash at that time. This can be easy to calculate as long as you know the cash surrender value. This is the amount of money you will get, if you decided to cancel your policy now.
To work out the present value:
Look at your most recent statement for the policy. Record the amount of your cash value account as this is the value that has been accumulated since you have purchased the whole life insurance policy.
Subtract any outstanding loan values from the total amount. These values are expected to be paid back into the policy so they will be deducted from your final cashing out value.
Remove the cash value of any surrender charges from the final amount. Read more…
Tags: Policy, Whole Life
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UK drivers Europe’s “bad Samaritans”
Posted on December 14th, 2011
UK drivers are the least likely among European neighbours to help fellow motorists in distress, an AXA survey has found.
The French insurer has labeled Britain a nation of bad Samaritans because just 6% of Brits questioned said they would always stop and ask a motorist who has broken down if they need help.
Tags: Drivers, Uk Drivers
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