Archive for January, 2010

Preventative Measures a Concern for Insurers


22 Jan 2010

As Canada is now facing an aging population, insurance companies are now focusing on preventative rather than reactive measures when it comes to potential health issues. Insurers are now building comprehensive databases of health information for the clients that they insure. These databases contain the details of health issues that can range from drugs that are prescribed, chiropractic visits, etc. This information will be used for the purposes of being able to more accurately predict those who may be at risk of having and/or developing major health issues, i.e. chronic diseases.

By focusing on preventative measures, insurers hope to be able to effectively intervene before the health problem becomes severe, which usually also means more expensive, in order to help the individual take action to either manage and/or prevent the health condition from becoming worse. Not only is this strategy beneficial to the person, but also to the insurance company by keeping costs lower. Full Article…

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Tags: Concern Insurers Insurers

Lessons from Google’s Underwhelming Nexus One Show


20 Jan 2010

By most accounts, Google’s (GOOG) Nexus One smartphone isn’t lighting the mobile phone world on fire. PC Magazine reports lackluster sales and says the branded device lacks the “wow factor.” Although much criticism seems centered around connectivity issues and the lack of developer tools for the Android platform, Google lost an opportunity for a dramatic launch with its presentation on January 5, 2010.

Google chose to host a press event instead of a staged event with a broad audience. According to some presentation experts I’ve talked to, as well as some observers on Twitter, Google executives left their audience underwhelmed.

The most negative comments may have come from CNBC anchors and commentators. With a crawl that read “Nexus One Presentation a Snoozer,” a CNBC anchor posed this commentary to her panel of pundits: “Remember how mesmerized you were three years ago, when Steve Jobs took the stage—cool and confident—sporting his black turtleneck? In a slick-looking PowerPoint presentation, he unveiled the iPhone. Goo

Full Article…

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Tags: Nexus Underwhelming Nexus

Roth IRA conversion: Readers react, ask questions


19 Jan 2010

A lot of It’s Only Money’s wise readers e-mailed with questions and comments following Jan. 3rd’s column on the special opportunities converting retirement accounts to Roth IRAs this year. Here’s many of them, along with It’s Only Money’s best responses:

Gary wrote:

Regarding the Roth IRA conversion, are you sure that you can split and distribute the “taxable income” to one’s 2011 and 2012 returns?   I was told that ALL of the conversion would be taxed on the 2010 return but that “payment” of those taxes would be on an installment plan payable in 2011 and 2012.


IT’S ONLY MONEY is surer of that than it is the Trail Blazers winning an NBA title this year. But to reassure Gary, it checked with Jonathan Mishkin, a tax attorney in Portland. He s Full Article…

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Tags: Questions Roth Ira

Who is Your Disability Advocate?


18 Jan 2010

Trying to advocate for yourself once you’ve been admitted to a hospital is practically impossible. If you are lucky enough to have a family member who knows the ins and outs of hospitals and health insurance, you can focus on getting better. If you don’t, the hospital social worker will go toe-to-toe on your behalf with hospital staff, administration, insurance companies, etc. They are experienced and knowledgeable, and it’s their job to help you at a time when you cannot help yourself.

The same holds true for a sick or injured person with a disability insurance claim who is not getting the right treatment from the disability insurance company. You need to focus on getting better and taking care of yourself. Your advocate should be an attorney who will fight for you, who has the experience, knowledge and the aggressiveness required to do battle with a large company that simply doesn’t care.

If you read through our case studies on the blog and on our website, you will see how Frankel & Newfield fights for our clients. Our determination and relentless advocacy are well known by the insurance companies.

Full Article…

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Tags: Advocate

U.S. Mortgage Refinancing Applications Rose in the First Week of 2010.


17 Jan 2010

U.S. Mortgage Refinancing Applications Rose in the First Week of 2010.

Posted on | January 17, 2010 |

It seems like only yesterday that we were hearing about Option ARM Mortgage rates resetting, and that holders of those loans were unable to refinance because their house was worth less than the mortgage…. Oh, wait… it was yesterday.

Well, even so, things appear to be confusing in the housing market and mortgage industry still.

According to a recent Reuters article, the rise in mortgage applications the 1st week of this year is a reflection on the demand for refinancing loans. Demand for mortgages for new purchases only rose marginally.

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, the index of mortgage applications (both purchase and refinance mortgages) was up 14.3%, though the index was less than half of what it was a year ago. And

Full Article…

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Tags: 2010 Applications Rose First Week Refinancing Applications Rose

Mechanical faults highlight breakdown cover need


16 Jan 2010

Complacency causes breakdown cover calls and accidents. Drivers should make sure their vehicles are safe and get suspected mechanical faults looked at to avoid needing to call on breakdown cover or having an accident.

Research from road safety organisation Brake and insurer Direct Line revealed that 42% of drivers admit they have got behind the wheel of a vehicle with at least one serious fault in the last year.

The defects included broken lights and indicators, poor tyre treads and pressures, incorrect oil or water levels and faulty braking systems.

Some 73% of the motorists surveyed confessed their vehicle’s brakes are only checked at annual MOTs and 84% of drivers did not know how worn they were at the time of this inspection.

“This research shows a shockingly low level of knowledge and concern among drivers when it comes to the safety of their vehicle, particularly ‘out of sight, out of mind’ components such as brakes which are so safety-critical,” said Mary Williams OBE, chief executive of Brake.

Recent snow and ice means checking a vehicle for faults or damage is even more important if an accident or breakdown is to be avoided. Full Article…

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Stretch Your Food Dollar: Searching for Culinary Inspiration


15 Jan 2010

Do you ever feel like you’re uninspired in the kitchen? I’ve written about getting into a food rut before, but this is a constant challenge that all home cooks face from time to time. Food ruts can be dangerous, because it’s easy to start relying on convenience foods and restaurants to fill the void – and there goes the food budget.

One of my goals for 2010 is to try at least one new recipe each week. So far, I’ve been exceeding my goals. I’m so excited about trying new recipes that I’ve been making 2-3 new things each week. I’m still in the honeymoon phase of my New Year’s resolutions, but I think this one’s going to stick.

I think that one of the biggest hurdles that people face when they start cooking for themselves is the overwhelming fear that you’re going to fail. Don’t worry if a recipe doesn’t come out great – you don’t have to be perfect. Even experienced cooks make mistakes. Last week I made bowtie pasta with pesto and peas. Not the best thing I’ve e

Full Article…

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Tags: Food Food Dollar

Jump in those renting out spare rooms


15 Jan 2010

The number of people looking to rent out a spare room has risen 27% in the last year

The recession has hit us all in the pocket, and more and more people are thinking of ingenious ways to make some extra cash.
If you own your own property, one easy way to increase your revenue stream is to rent out any rooms that are going to waste.
And research has found this is just what many people have been doing, with figures showing the number of homeowners looking to rent out a spare room since the beginning of the year has jumped 27%.
House share website Spareroom.com said 2,487 people had placed adverts on its website looking for lodgers during the first two weeks of January, 27% more than during the same period of 2009.
It said the number of adverts posted since the beginning of January was already higher than during the whole of December last year.
Two-thirds of people who are looking to take in a lodger said it was because their finances were overstretched, and the extra cost of Christmas had forced them to take action.
The group said it had seen a record number of people advertising for lodgers during 2009, and it expected the trend to continue this year.
The average weekly rent charged for a room in a shared property is currently £87, the equivalent of £4,524 a year, the first £4,250 of which is tax-free under the Government’s rent-a-room scheme.

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