Finding the Very Best Insurance Rates

Finding the Very Best Insurance Rates

admin    3/08/2020    Comment   

In order to spend less on your auto insurance, property insurance, life insurance policy or another type of insurance that is available in the industry today, there are a number of things that you can do. It is necessary to know about the do's and dont's for you to get cheap insurance rates from among the best providers available on the market. So, it is very important that everyone does their research well ahead of time before making an investment. In particular so, if you're planning to get the cheapest rate possible when another policy term comes effective. Having this in mind, listed below are a few tips that you can share with other people who have the same or similar goals and objectives.

Shop Around for the very best Insurance Companies

One of the first steps in looking for the best insurance rates is searching for the most beneficial insurance providers in the industry. This action doesn't have to be complex as there are a variety of websites that will provide the consumer with this kind of info. From reviewing websites that list the top ten insurance companies on the market to checking a number of different official sites to see what products they are offering, there is a lot of great info online that people have access to today.

Alongside reviewing internet based insurance quotes, another excellent way to find the best insurance firms is usually to network. Some of these networks may be within one's family, on the job, social setting and among friends. There are several means now available that people might use to discover the information that they would need. For instance, when someone likes their own insurance firms, they are surely very willing to share what they have learned over time. So, they can point those who are on the lookout for good insurance coverage at an affordable rate in the right direction.

Contrast Insurance rates from Different Companies

Once it is time for an insurance plan to get renewed, the majority of folks are likely to settle for the new rates that they're given without asking any questions. Even if the new rate could be the best rate that they may find, a lot of people do not take some time from their schedules to look for a better rate. Sadly, this is not always the most suitable practice for people that actually want to save money on their family's budget. In truth, it is within this period that individuals have a chance to reduce their monthly expenses quite significantly. To illustrate, once the new policy renewal comes in, among the first things that every individual requires to do is begin looking around for multiple quotes. A lot of people highly recommend securing a minimum of three insurance quotes from multiple providers to compare. Before you start this process, however, it is very important for everyone to remember that these insurance quotes can only be compared accurately when the features of the insurance plan are the same. Meaning if the individual is aiming to secure a quotation for an auto insurance policy, they have to request the exact deductible amounts from each company in order that computations will be identical. If that recommendation is not followed, the best rate could be based of lesser coverage.

Go for a Lower Insurance deductible When Inquiring about Insurance Quotations

In addition to comparing quotations from multiple organizations, another wise way of managing monthly insurance payments is to choose lower deductibles. Lower deductibles will automatically lower the value that individuals are required to pay each and every month. However, before these amounts are changed significantly, it is necessary for the covered person to know that this amount comes out of the pocket first whenever a claim has to be filed. So, it is very important for individuals to take into consideration their insurance deductibles very carefully prior to signing the documents.

Inquire about Insurance Quotes Discount rates that Policy owners Qualify for

The insurance coverage rates for policy holders can vary greatly from one to another. This is because the amounts for each person can differ dependent on several types of discounts. One of these may involve buying multiple type of insurance policy from the same company. Because insurance companies are attempting to get as much business from the customers as they possibly can, such a discount may be a win win for both the client and the insurance provider. Another common discount that some people may or may not be familiar with is discounts for those who take defensive driving courses in case of automotive insurance. The reason being these programs teach their students how to make good driving decisions, as well as avoiding accidents. Each discount can help to lower the payments a bit or a lot so it's essential for individuals ask about every type of discount offered, especially if they need to get the maximum benefits.

Conclusion

If you are thinking to invest in a fresh insurance policy for one's vehicle, home or other items, you can acquire the ideal rates possible by looking around in advance. Even in the event the insurance policy comes up for renewal, it's a sound practice to revisit the insurance policy rates so that you can still get the ideal deals. Furthermore it is worth noting that many professionals in the industry can offer great ways to get one of the best quotes. Several of which includes, obtaining multiples quotes from different companies, choosing lower deductibles, and asking about additional discounts.

Lets say you just can't get satisfaction out of your current insurance provider?

I understand how hard it could be to attempt to find the right insurance provider you need, but if you want to really look for the best out of insurance companies, you will need to discover tactics that work amazingly well. These tactics are simple to grab and do not take a lot of your time. You can discover methods to decrease your insurance premiums in this article here: Insurance quotations

Don't give up hope, it's NOT impossible. Get more ways of getting cheap insurance for teen drivers by clicking the link.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9569344

Why Real Estate Title Agents Need Errors And Omissions Insurance

Why Real Estate Title Agents Need Errors And Omissions Insurance

admin    3/08/2020    Comment   

In fact, no matter if you have been in business for quite some time, or you are new to the real estate industry, the risks you face daily, from errors in closing costs and payoff amounts to failing to meet client expectations, make you a major target for lawsuits. Even if you are cleared of all claims, the fees spent on defense, the time spent away from your business, and the added stress of dealing with the situation can prove costly. Without the right coverages, real estate agents may put their professional and financial future on the line.

Also, it is the title industry's role to safeguard the client's escrow and other funds by providing a means for the secure transfer of their real estate in the industry. If an error or breach occurs during this transaction, the agent is held accountable for damages incurred resulting from the error or breach.

Title Agents Errors and Omissions Insurance protects title agencies, including the escrow agent, closing cost agent, title searcher, and more, against the impact of a lawsuit incurred as a result of title agents omissions and errors and fraudulent wire activities.

This insurance covers all costs suffered as a result of an emerging lawsuit claiming alleged errors in the title documentation process, including title searches and escrow. Under this coverage, the insured is compensated in the event of final settlement up to the policy limit, as well as compensation for defense costs.

Title Agents Errors and Omissions Insurance Under the Fidelity-Pak Program

Title Agents Errors and Omissions Insurance Coverage under the Fidelity-Pak Program provides a wide range of comprehensive errors and omission coverage for real estate title agents, including:

Claims related to defect or deficiency coverage

Sometimes the real estate process can become damaged due to a defective or unmarketable title, also known as a title defect, which means there is an omission, error, or other complication related to the ownership of the property that makes it unsuitable for sale to a valid buyer.

Typically, as part of the settlement process under a contract of title, the buyer will pay the title company or attorney to search the title to the property to ensure the seller has a valid and marketable title to transfer without title defects to protect the buyer's right to the property. However, sometimes important details related to the property are not recorded in state and county records, which prevents certain information from being known, which puts the agent at risk.

The claims related to defect or deficiency insurance covers claims related to defect or deficiency claims resulting from a deficiency or defect not recorded in public.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Matters (CFB) Coverage

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau protects consumers from abrasive, unfair, or deceptive practices and takes action against businesses that break the law, such as predatory lending.

If a consumer files a complaint against your company with the CFPB, and upon investigation, the CFPB decides that your company has indeed violated federal consumer financial laws, it could result in a court proceeding.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Matters Coverage assists with costs incurred as a result of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau matters. Under this coverage, Insureds receive up to $150,000 sub-limit coverage for relevant attorneys' fees, costs, and expenses, including civil investigation, hearing, subpoena, or civil action conducted or received by the CFPB.

Claims Caused by Independent Contractors

The claims caused by independent contractors insurance covers Insureds against a claim caused by independent contractors.

Occasionally, you may need to hire an independent contractor to assist you in your real estate business. During these times, it is important to verify that the contractor is covered by insurance, which will cover damages if the contractor's errors or accident causes damage.

Prior Acts Coverage

Title Agents Errors and Omissions Insurance covers prior acts coverage is a feature of liability policies that extends the coverage of insurable occurrences to dates before the purchase of the policy. In other words, it covers the time between when services are provided and when claims are filed as a result of those services. Under this coverage, all claims caused by wrongful acts following the retroactive date and before the end of the policy period are covered.

Fraudulent Email Wire Transfer Coverage (Third Party)

Under the Fraudulent Email Wire Transfer Coverage, compensation is paid on behalf of the Insured, those sums insured become legally obligated to pay up to $1 m for a covered loss as a result of an employee transferring escrow funds from an account of the Insured in dependence upon fraudulent email instructions relieved from a criminal claiming to be a lawful party to the transaction.

For more information on Title Agents Errors and Omissions Insurance, contact Riebling Insurance Agency, a leading commercial insurance firm specializing in Title Agent E&O insurance for both small and large companies, at RieblingInsurance.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9671694

How to Get Cheap Health Insurance Plan?

How to Get Cheap Health Insurance Plan?

admin    3/08/2020    Comment   

The United States Government has been presenting several schemes and plans to help the American residents enjoy health insurance benefits to the fullest. "Obamacare" is one such scheme that provides health insurance facilities for both the high-income and low-income groups in America. However, a report from a Washington D.C. firm, named Avalere Health, reveals that the price for one of the plans in Obamacare, called the silver plan, will rise to about 34% in 2018. The silver plan provides a decent coverage policy and is a bit high on the monthly premiums. For those who cannot afford to pay such high premiums; they need not worry, as there are policies besides this and a subsidy scheme, which will provide health insurance at low cost.

While shopping for cheap health insurance plans, one should have sound knowledge about health insurance policies. Senior Vice President of Advisor Services at Manning & Napier, Shelby George advises the shoppers to always look for how much coverage is provided for the costs a company provides. In other words, one should not get carried away by the cheap rates, but should rather focus on how much coverage the insurance companies are providing for those cheap rates they advertise.

In order to get best cheap health insurance, here is an explanation of the different policies available and a description of, whether one can get insurance for "free".

Subsidies and other Health Insurance Plans:

With an aim to provide all Americans with Health Insurance coverage, one of the many useful plans proposed by the Government, is that of 'subsidies'. A subsidy, in simple words, is the amount paid by the Government to the insurance companies to provide health insurance facilities to those with low incomes. This means that people falling into the low-income group will be able to enjoy health insurance benefits through the use of subsidies, which would otherwise be rejected by insurance companies on any other short-term policy claim.

An individual who earns about $48,000 and a family of 4, which earns somewhere less than $98,000 are those who can enjoy the benefits of subsidies. Hence, people with low incomes can enjoy good cheap health insurance with the help of subsidies. However, these subsidy schemes proposed by the Obamacare plan are more likely to be altered or eliminated on the whole by the Trump administration.

Talking about other health insurance plans, a silver plan will cover up to 70% of a person's health care charges while a bronze plan will cover up to 60% of the costs and the remaining percentage of charges will have to be paid out of the person's pockets. Now, comparing these two plans, if one wishes to spend absolutely NO money out of one's pockets, then choosing a bronze plan along with a subsidy will be of great help. For those who cannot afford to pay out of one's own pockets, the bronze plan coverage of 60% along with the remaining 40% covered by subsidies will help to enjoy cheap health insurance.

What Type of Policy One Can Choose?

The first step to get hold of the best cheap health insurance is to be aware of what policy suits one's needs. Here is a list of two options explained briefly, so that one can choose the best fit.

1. Short-Term Policy: 

A short-term policy is for those people, who do not qualify to avail subsidies. In other words, people for whom it becomes 'unaffordable' to get health insurance are advised to choose this policy. Here the term 'unaffordable' is described as the cost that exceeds above 8% of an individual or a family's annual income. According to, Nate Purpura, the Vice President of Consumer Affairs (ehealth.com), individuals whose income ranges from $49,000 to $69,000 and families that earn somewhere between $99,000 and $129,000, are supposed to go for short-term policies.

Hence, if one finds it difficult to pay expensive premiums and avail health insurance, then going for the short-term policy is highly recommended. However, there are no penalties if one doesn't wish to have any health insurance. But, on a positive note, it is beneficial for the individuals themselves, if they have some financial protection that will be of benefit in unfriendly circumstances.

Here are a few noteworthy details about short-term policies:

• These policies usually last up to 3 months and can be extended till 9 months (in 3-month period renewal).
• According to the new rules proposed by President Trump, having a short-term policy will be mandatory for all individuals. However, this rule has not yet been passed, but will soon be in effect.
• These policies do not provide coverage for pre-existing illnesses, i.e. diseases that one is suffering from, before applying for the policy.
• If at all one wishes to include such pre-existing illnesses in the coverage plan, then the premiums will increase substantially.
• Unlike Obamacare schemes, short-term policies will not cover charges for maternal care, injuries due to abuse, and mental health treatment.
• On having a short-term policy, one can avail decent health care facilities at about $100 premium a month.

On an overall basis, despite the low coverage options it provides, those who are looking for cheap health insurance for individual or cheap health insurance for families, can avail great benefits from this policy.

2. Combined Policy or Combo of Policies:

Traditional policies or in other words plans with higher premiums will provide coverage for all the expensive hospital bills in case of risky illnesses or accidents. Whereas, choosing short-term plans will simply cover the normal doctor-visits. But if one wishes to avail the benefits of both the policies, i.e. get coverage for risky illnesses as well as for normal or routine sickness (like a cough, cold, fever), then insurance companies these days are offering combo packages.

In the recent past, people used to apply for both policies separately in order to avail coverage in both cases. This was getting difficult for the insurers to calculate different percentages and amounts; hence the plan for combo policies came up, allowing people to avail both benefits within a single policy. However, as evident as it seems, going for these policies will definitely cause one to pay premiums higher than usual.

So a gist of all the above-discussed points is that one should not always get attracted by offers that merely advertise of providing cheap health insurance for individuals, instead one should look for the quality of coverage they provide for the cheap insurance rates. Shopping for health insurance also requires thorough research and study, just like any other insurance policies. Since this is an issue concerning one's health; it is nowhere worthy to just be worried about money. Quality service always comes at pay hence one should be wise enough to search for policies that provide affordable and quality health insurance plans.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9964889

5 Basic Insurance Mistakes to Avoid

5 Basic Insurance Mistakes to Avoid

admin    3/08/2020    Comment   

Having basic insurance coverage is essential. If you don't apply for insurance, know that it will be a big mistake. Therefore, you may want to have enough coverage to meet your needs. Also, it's important that you realize the importance of insurance. Given below are a few common mistakes that you may want to avoid when it comes to buying insurance.

Ignoring the Importance of Basic Insurance

You must have at least basic insurance. For instance, it can protect you in case of car theft and accidents. In addition, basic health insurance can help you save on your medical bills. If you can't go for a comprehensive policy, make sure you get a catastrophic or deductible plan.

According to the Affordable Care Act, you must have health insurance. Otherwise, you may have to face fines at the time of filing your taxes. The health plan you opt for should meet your minimum requirements. A plan designed for disability protection, for instance, can protect you if you fall seriously sick or get injured.

Opting for an Expensive Plan

Another common mistake is to purchase a plan that is more expensive. It can be hard to estimate how much you should spend on a plan, especially when it comes to liability insurance. Therefore, we suggest that you have a discussion with an agent about your assets. At young age, you won't have to pay for an expensive plan as you won't have a lot of assets to protect.

Opting for a Cheap Plan

Under insuring yourself is another common mistake. Ideally, your basic plan should be able to cover your expenses. In other words, in case of an accident, your plan should be able to pay for all the medical expenses.

For a health plan, the same is true. If you are in the United States, one million dollar can be enough. However, if you have a major illness like cancer, your medical expenses will be much higher.

Opting for the Wrong Insurance

Getting the wrong type of insurance policy is another common mistake. It's not a good idea to opt for policies that won't be of any use to you. For instance, if you are under the age of 30, you don't have to get different types of policies.

Keep in mind that you don't have to go for all types of policies. If you know what you are going to get, you won't have to get surprised at the time of filing a claim.

Not Considering Different Policies

Make sure you shop around before deciding on a policy. It's better to do this every now and then. This will help you save money by opting for a different policy. In addition, you may consider policies that offer discounts based on your location or profession. Shopping around won't take much time but save you a lot of money. Plus, it will help you avoid common mistakes.

In short, these are some common mistakes that you may want to avoid when it comes to buying the right type of insurance policy. It's much better to consult a health insurance agent to make an informed decision.

If you are looking for a California health insurance agent, we suggest that you check out Health Insurance Agent.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/10238774

Buy Gold and Silver - 3 Things You Must Know

Buy Gold and Silver - 3 Things You Must Know

admin    3/08/2020    Comment   

So you are ready to buy gold and silver! You've seen a ton of commercials on TV pounding the importance of physically owning your precious metals, and you've heard the myriad of reasons why you must own it. You've made the decision... you're ready now to start buying! Now what?

Do you know how to ensure a safe and confident purchase? I'm going to make this really easy and simple for you. There are three things you really must know to buy your gold and your silver the right way and with confidence. You do want to buy with confidence, right? OK, so here are three essential things you need to know.

Authentication: You need to know how to authenticate, so you know it is real. It would really be a shame if you finally went out and bought some bullion, only to find out later that it wasn't even real. To avoid this pitfall, you need to know how to authenticate your purchases before you buy. The subject can get deep and it is not realistic to go into the pros and cons of the various methods for authentication here, but I do want to briefly share what those methods are so are aware of your choices. There are three ways you can test the authenticity of your bullion... those methods are chemical testing, electronic testing, and physical testing. The testing methods you choose will be based on the types of purchases you are making, the volume of your purchases, and your budget for testing (particularly, some of the electronic testers can be pricey). Chemical and electronic testers are pretty much what you'd expect them to be. Physical testing includes testing weight, size, and sound (yes, sound) of the bullion you are testing.

Valuation: You need to know how to determine value, so you don't overpay. To determine value, you must know the weight, the purity, and the trading price (known as the spot price). Weight is straight forward and is a measurement of the weight of a given piece of bullion. But weight is only part of the equation... we need to also know how much of the piece is pure. For instance, if a piece of silver bullion is 50% pure, then the silver content would be 50% of the weight. Once you know how much silver (by weight) is in the piece, you can easily figure the value using the spot price. Note that trading prices vary slightly based on premiums charged by dealers. I just cannot over stress the importance of your ability to determine value so you can make smart buying (and selling) decisions.

Strategy: You need to understand your own strategy, essentially the real reason why you are buying these precious metals in the first place. This is more important than you may initially think because it will help you choose the correct bullion. Bullion comes in many different sizes, shapes, and value, and you will need to make purchase choices based on your objectives. Your choices could differ if you are buying for wealth protection, or if you are buying to hedge against currency fluctuation, or if you are buying to prepare for an economic meltdown. Whatever your reasons, you must know why so you can make the right choices. And here's an extra tip: You'll also need a strategy for storage.

Buying gold and silver is simpler than you think, but one mistake can cost you big time. After all, precious metals are valuable, and your purchases can (and should) really add up. I hope you found this article helpful on your journey.

You can always learn more essentials about how to buy gold and silver on my informative blog, or even ask me a question there!

Thanks for reading. For more information on the right way to buy gold and silver, visit my blog using the link above.

Join my list for periodic relevant updates, and I'll send you my guide to getting free silver from banks (I wrote it). Join me here: http://InvestingGoldNow.com/freesilver

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9842983

5 Ways to Trade Gold

5 Ways to Trade Gold

admin    3/08/2020    Comment   

How is gold traded? The financial markets offer investors a platform to trade using several financial products.

Gold is a fast market commodity owing to its price volatility; usually experienced after a period of relative consolidation and price stability and securities markets reaction to the performance of the US Dollar.

Here are 5 ways to trade gold for investors:

1.ETF's

Exchange-traded funds (ETF's) for gold allow investors to trade gold without physically handling the bullion. Gold EFT's track the performance of gold spot prices against the various market indexes and hence provide investors with the opportunity to own gold without using it as leverage. The passive management approach of EFT's ensures that investors' gold shares are always valued at the optimum market level in tandem with the various market indexes. The virtual gold traded in EFTs is however backed by physical gold assets that are shared among the investors.

2.Miner single stocks

Investors can buy stock in the gold mining companies in speculation of a dividend due to profits from increased gold prices, or short-term trading opportunities. However, gold miner stocks, including junior gold stocks, are risky because their performance is leveraged against both the domestic market and by the gold spot prices. This gives the investment a 3-to-1 leverage on either side of investing. Traders can be spooked by either the gold spot price or by the domestic factors, making the investment volatile and hence suitable for investors with a large risk-tolerance.

3.Physical gold bullion

Unlike the EFT's, traditional gold trading entails purchasing and selling gold coins, bars and jewelry and storing them in a safe at home or in a deposit box at the bank. The physical gold inventory acts as a currency hedge or an alternative source of cash that offers high liquidity. An investor may alternatively purchase physical gold from the markets and resell in retail shops as bars, coins or accessories after value addition. The trader places a markup on the products based on the costs and sentimental value put on the gold products.

4.ETN's

Gold exchange-traded notes (ETN's) are debt facilities an investor extends to a bank, tracked against specified indexes. Upon maturity, the investor gets the equivalent of the index performance in the form of gold. This approach does not guarantee an investor of positive returns and hence it is risky as it lacks a principle guarantee. However, the flexibility of ETN's allows an investor to strategize gold trading as either long-term, short-term or pursue a mixed strategy.

5.Closed-end funds

These funds provide investors with a less risky opportunity to invest and trade in gold. The closed-end funds that specialize in gold trading have a portfolio of gold assists where traders chose to trade at a premium or at a discount. The closed-end funds select companies that are conservative, efficient and reliable hence provide a less risky opportunity for investments.

Chris Bouchard is a strategic consultant who works with non-profit leaders and social entrepreneurs to apply concepts and techniques to identify complex strategic issues, find practical solutions, and devise strategies to create and win a unique strategic position. He also offers project development, proposal writing, and project evaluation services.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9912977

Main Points To Be Kept in Mind While Selling Gold

Main Points To Be Kept in Mind While Selling Gold

admin    3/08/2020    Comment   

World has plenty of gold, which is mined. The mining activity gave the result to hundreds and thousands of gold ounces. The deposits of gold are usually at shallow depths. You can buy or sell it in the markets. You can also sell silver, gems or scrap gold in the markets. It is considered that the jewelry buyers are experienced and very well trained. They are believed to give a fair price for the gold which you want to sell.

Being Aware of the Scams

You should know about the quality and try to make more cash out of your gold. Educate yourself on all the terms and specifications so that you can keep a good bargain. There are places which prey on their customers for more money and to get the money quickly out of them. They convince the people to sell at lower rates than the normal market rate. They make their money while it becomes too late for you to realize that you have been fooled. Do not sell if the buyer pressurizes you. Do not sell to the people who are not ready to weigh it in front of you.

What to Ask the Refinery

The first and foremost point is that if the buyer weighs the gold in pennyweights then you should ask him to weigh in grams. The one weighed in pennyweights can give you a poor amount. All the calculations should be carried in grams strictly for your ease and also today's market weighs the gold in grams.

Reasons for selling your gold now

The prices of gold have raised up to a commendable rate from $400 to $1000 an ounce. The gold is even at a rate of $1400 which is obviously greater than the initial rate at which it was bought. By selling you can also contribute to the benefits of the environment by reducing the mining activities and markets can use the gold which is already mined. The scrap gold will be recycled by the refineries.

Selling Gold to Buyers

The gold should be measured in grams and you should know that 1 pennyweight = 1.555 grams. This can put you at a loss by convincing you that they pay more money than the other buyers. You always need to know the price you are paid for per gram of gold. If the buyers are bluffing about giving you higher rates than the market rates, you should not fall for this trick as the buyer tells about his best rate at the beginning itself. Search for the professional buyers only so that they give you the best rates. Selling in the markets can help you incredibly to sell at a good price if you are willing to start your business on that money.

If you are looking for a place to sell gold in San Diego and having a hard time finding it then contact Leohamel to get a reasonable price for your gold and also enjoy the great benefits that they have to offer.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9940117

The British Tradition of Maundy Money

The British Tradition of Maundy Money

admin    3/08/2020    Comment   

Maundy Money are coins traditionally given out by the Monarch as a gift to the poor at Royal Maundy. The ceremony, which is associated with Christianity, is held on Maundy Thursday which is the day before Good Friday. The Maundy set consists of four coins, denominated one penny, two pence, three pence and four pence. The number of sets given out to each man and woman is equivalent to the age of the Monarch in years.

History

Royal Maundy probably dates back to the 13th Century. Maundy derives from mandatum which Jesus said meaning 'that ye love one another'. It was the act of washing the feet of the poor and giving food and clothing to the poor. The Royal Families of the middle ages copied the ceremony as a way of showing humility.

By 1699 the Monarch opted to send a representative rather than attend themselves, and not long after the act of washing feet was abandoned. By the 19th century the Royals thought that giving money was more convenient than food and clothes and originally gave coins of the day but later gave specially made silver coins.

It was not until 1931 that King George V restarted the tradition that the Monarch attended in person. Queen Elizabeth almost always attends and has only missed a few ceremonies. The ceremony was traditionally in or near London (mainly Westminster Abbey) but in recent years has moved around the country at various Cathedrals such as Leicester, Sheffield, Manchester, York Minster and Armagh.

The coins used to be given to the poor but these days are given to people nominated for their work done in the local Church. So on (say) the Queen's 90th birthday, she would give 90 sets to selected men and 90 sets to selected women. The coins would be issued in a leather purse; a white one contains the Maundy coins, and a red purse containing current coinage as an additional gift.

The Maundy Coins

The four coins are specially made: one penny, two pence, three pence and four pence. They are not the same coins as in circulation and are quite small (between 11.1 mm and 17.6 mm).

Since decimalisation these have been upgraded by law from penny to new penny. They are made from Stirling silver (92.5% silver) and although specifically made for this ceremony they are still legal tender. The design is virtually unchanged from 1822.

The reverse, which is a crowned numeral within an oak wreath, was created by Jean Baptiste Merlen back in 1822 and has only been altered slightly since then.

The obverse shows the head of the monarch as you would expect. However, if you look at the Queen Elizabeth obverse you can see that the portrait is the original portrait used from when she first issued coins; although the Queen has had about five portraits the original (by Mary Gillick) is still used.

Even back in Victorian days the recipients of Maundy money soon sold their sets for a premium, especially around the time of the Jubilee when Americans prized the souvenir. The purses could also fetch a handsome amount.

Besides the sets given out by the Monarch, many other sets are minted for official gifts and for collectors. These are issued in a case rather than a purse. Many were given to Mint workers or other officials. Maundy sets could be ordered from the bank until 1908, when 9,929 were minted in that year. Dealers scrambled for sets and sold them at high profit. This eventually got a little out of hand and the Mint cut back production heavily. In recent years the mintage numbers have been around 1600-1900 sets.

Les Kendall is a professional software developer but writes about coin collecting at coinparade.co.uk.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9958346

10 Interesting Facts About Platinum

10 Interesting Facts About Platinum

admin    3/08/2020    Comment   

The vast majority of platinum production in the world comes from South Africa and Russia.

Platinum is silver-white-it was once known as "white gold"-and it has a number of useful properties, which explains its application in a wide-range of industries.

It is extremely resistant to tarnishing and corrosion (which makes it known as a "noble metal") and is very soft and malleable, making it easy to shape.

It is also ductile, making it easy to stretch into wire, and unreactive, which means it doesn't oxidize and is unaffected by common acids.

Platinum is one of the transition metals, a group that includes gold, silver, copper and titanium-and most of the elements in the middle of the periodic table.

The atomic structure of these metals means they can bond easily with other elements. Platinum is commonly known for being used in the manufacturing of jewellery but its main applications spread to catalytic converters, electrical contacts, pacemakers, drugs and magnets.

Here are 10 interesting facts that you may not know about platinum.

1. About 50 percent of cancer therapy patients currently use platinum-containing drugs and some of these drugs, such as cisplatin, are also used to treat tumours and cancer in animals. Platinum is considered a biologically compatible metal because it is non-toxic and stable, so it does not react with, or negatively affect body tissues. Recent research has also shown platinum to inhibit the growth of certain cancerous cells.

2. According to many analysts, platinum production is not likely to rise in coming years. The majority (about 80 percent) of platinum is mined in South Africa. Approximately 10 percent is mined in Russia, and the rest is found in North and South America. Because platinum and other Platinum Group Metals (PGM) metals usually aren't found in large amounts, they are often by-products from mining other metals. South African producers have already recovered platinum that is close to the earth's surface. Today, producers must dig far into the earth's crust for the metal. Deeper mining translates into higher production costs and less total production of the commodity.

3. Nearly half of the platinum that is mined is used in catalytic converters, the part of the automobile that reduces toxic gases into less-toxic emissions. Platinum and other platinum metals can withstand the high temperatures required for the oxidation reactions that reduce the emissions.

4. A cylindrical hunk of platinum and platinum alloy is used as the international standard for measuring a kilogram. In the 1880s, about 40 of these cylinders, which weigh about 2.2 lbs. or 1 kilogram, were distributed around the world.

5. Platinum Group Metals or PGMs are some of the rarest metals found on earth. There are two subgroups of PGMs: Palladium Group-Platinum Group Elements (PPGEs) and Iridium Group-Platinum Group Elements (IPGEs). The first group consists of platinum, palladium, and rhodium. The second consists of iridium, osmium, and ruthenium. No PGMs tarnish and they are highly resistant to heat and chemical attack. They are all excellent conductors of electricity.

6. Objects that date back to around 700 BC have contained platinum. Other PGMs did not make their way onto the scene until the nineteenth century. Malleable platinum, obtainable only upon purification to essentially pure metal, was first produced by the French physicist P.F. Chabaneau in 1789; it was fabricated into a chalice that was presented to Pope Pius VI. The discovery of palladium was claimed in 1802 by the English chemist William Wollaston, who named it for the asteroid Pallas. Wollaston subsequently claimed the discovery of another element present in platinum ore: rhodium. The discoveries of iridium (named after Iris, goddess of the rainbow, because of the variegated colour of its salts) and osmium (from the Greek word for "odour," because of the chlorinelike odour of its volatile oxide) were claimed by the English chemist Smithson Tennant in 1803.

7. London is the centre for platinum trading but physical delivery tends to take place in Zurich, Switzerland. The NYMEX division of the CME offers futures contracts on platinum. Each futures contract represents 50 ounces of the metal. The price of platinum tends to rise and fall with global industrial conditions. The price of platinum peaked in 2008 at $2,300 per ounce just before the global economic crisis of 2008.

8. Unlike gold and silver, which could be readily isolated in a comparatively pure state by simple fire refining, the platinum metals require complex aqueous chemical processing for their isolation and identification. Because these techniques were not available until the turn of the 19th century, the identification and isolation of the platinum group lagged behind silver and gold by thousands of years. In addition, the high melting points of these metals limited their applications until researchers devised methods for consolidating and working platinum into useful forms.

9. The fashioning of platinum into fine jewellery began about 1900, but, while this application remains important even today, it was soon eclipsed by industrial uses. After the second world war, the expansion of molecular conversion techniques in the refining of petroleum created a great demand for the catalytic properties of the platinum metals. This demand grew even more in the 1970s, when automotive emission standards in the United States and other European countries led to the use of platinum metals in the catalytic conversion of exhaust gases.

10. Extracting platinum is both capital and labour intensive. It can take up to 6 months and 7 to 12 tons of ore to produce one troy ounce (31.135g) of pure platinum. The first step in this process is to crush platinum containing ore and immerse it in reagent containing water-a process known as 'froth flotation'. During flotation, air is pumped through the ore-water slurry. Platinum particles chemically attach on to the oxygen and rise to the surface in a froth that is skimmed off for further refining. Once dried, the concentrated powder still contains less than 1% platinum. It is then heated to over 2732F° (1500C°) in electric furnaces and air is blown through again, removing iron and sulphur impurities. Electrolytic and chemical techniques are employed to extract nickel, copper and cobalt, resulting in a concentrate of 15-20% PGMs. Aqua regia (a concoction of nitric acid and hydrochloric acid) is used to dissolve platinum metal from the mineral concentrate by creating chlorine that attaches to platinum to form chloroplatinic acid. In the final step, ammonium chloride is used to convert the chloroplatinic acid to ammonium hex chloroplatinate, which can be burned to form pure platinum metal.

The good news is that not all platinum is produced from primary sources in this long and expensive process. According to United States Geological Survey (USGS) statistics, about 30% of the 8.53 million ounces of platinum produced worldwide every year come from recycled sources. Platinum recycling helps promote and protect the future use of a valuable natural resource.

Platinum can be fenined from the most different sources:

• bars and ingots
• flakes and grain
• sponges and powder
• wire and gauze-crucibles
• laboratory and thermocouple wire
• medical equipment
• aqua regia solutions.

Platinum refining terms are customized based on the type and quantity of the platinum scrap you have and the service that you need.

ALL WASTE MATTERS ARE A WASTE DISPOSAL COMPANY BASED IN THE UK. AS A LEADING WASTE MANAGEMENT COMPANY WE DEAL IN HAZARDOUS WASTE DISPOSAL, PAINT DISPOSAL, PRECIOUS METAL REFINING AND CHEMICAL WASTE DISPOSAL UK. https://www.allwastematters.co.uk/platinum-refining/

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How to Invest in Gold in Today's Market

How to Invest in Gold in Today's Market

admin    3/08/2020    Comment   

Here's How To Invest In Gold

Are you currently wondering how to purchase gold? A lot of people want to invest, nonetheless they don't realize how to begin. The simple truth is there are many techniques for getting started with investing in gold. Here are some of the more common ways to purchase gold, as well as the positives and negatives for each and tips.

1. Physical Gold

Undoubtedly, buying physical gold is one of the most frequent ways people spend money on gold. With regards to how to invest in gold, there are many things to understand about buying physical gold. Here's a few:

• How To Accomplish It

 Buying psychical gold is actually simple as it is the best way it sounds. You acquire gold items, like jewelry, coins, collectibles and just about other things. The purpose of most investors is usually to hold onto their psychical gold after which sell it into a gold dealer or other kind of buyer.

People have a number of options in relation to where they may buy physical gold. They are able to purchase them at the store or online. Whenever they find the gold, they will have to store it whilst keeping it until they are ready to market it for a higher price. When gold prices increase, then investors can consider selling their pieces.

• The Benefits

 First pro is that physical gold can be a tangible asset, and history indicates that gold tends to increase in value as time goes by. Very few investments are tangible and also have a high probability of going up in price, even though the economy isn't doing too well. If you want a great investment you can easily hold, see whilst keeping within your possession, then look no further than investing in physical gold.

Second pro is physical gold can not be hacked or erased. Nowadays, folks have countless assets that they can invest in and are generally held online. A gold piece with your hand doesn't need the internet or any electricity to operate or anything like this. It really is a foolproof investment in relation to protecting it from hackers.

Your third advantage of buying physical gold is that you simply don't have to be a professional. Perform quick research on the price tag on gold then research gold dealers. Then you can find the gold items you wish to keep and then sell them off when you're ready. It's as easy as that.

• The Cons

First, buying psychical gold can be expensive. According to in which you purchase it from, you might want to pay commission fees. Even when you buy it coming from a private seller, you can bet how the gold will likely be expensive. If spending large amounts of cash upfront isn't for you, then you might like to think twice about buying gold, but generally gold is generally definitely worth the investment.

Second con is storing the gold. It doesn't matter what kind of gold pieces you get, if you purchased it directly, then you're in charge of storing it. You should be careful with how its stored, otherwise you may well be putting your gold in danger of getting stolen, damaged and even lost.

The past major con that the physical gold, when stored by yourself, won't gain interest. You must secure the gold up until you decide it's a chance to sell it off. If you're looking to gain a little bit of interest in your gold items, then buying physical gold and storing it all by yourself is probably not the best option.

• Tips

Buying physical gold is quite easy. It's also straightforward. Just be sure you need to do just as much research as is possible into gold dealers before deciding what type to do business with, and make sure you research current gold prices because you need to try to find good deals on gold pieces. This can all could be seen as commonsense advice, but trust us once we say it comes in handy when the time concerns purchase gold.

2. Gold Futures

Gold futures are contracts which were standardized and they are generally traded on specific exchanges. Gold futures allow investors to get a unique number of gold (for example 100 Troy ounces) at a price that has already been predetermine. However, the delivery transpires in a future date.

• How To Buy Gold Futures

The first thing you need to do is open a brokerage account. You will find brokers that specifically cope with futures trading, so take some time when picking one. Next, you can trade gold futures and just how it functions is you'll must deposit the absolute minimum money so that you can open a situation. When the price goes into the proper direction, then you'll stand to generate a profit, but you'll generate losses when it goes in an unacceptable direction.

• The Benefits

First, you simply will not have to store anything. As previously mentioned, you have to find storage space when you purchase physical gold. With gold futures, this isn't a challenge.

Secondly, lower amounts come to mind with golds future. During the time of making a deal, you'll only be asked to pay a certain amount of cash. The others pays as soon as the agreement is signed.

Another great thing is there exists a good amount of liquidity. In addition to that, however, you can day trade gold futures. This means there's a prospective to produce and withdrawal profits regularly.

• The Cons

There's only some cons. One includes that there is a major risk to trading anything, and gold is no different. Default risk can leave the most experienced traders inside the trenches.

Also, gold prices can greatly fluctuate daily. It is simple to gain money, but you can easily as easily lose it. Remember, the price of gold can be appealing at the time of signing the agreement, but they can drop as soon as delivery is made.

One third con is the volatile from the marketplace. One day the markets may be good and then the next it could crash. In no time, there may be a phase as soon as the markets don't move much whatsoever.

• Tips

Regarding tips, it's all about opening a merchant account with a great broker. You can find dozens and many brokerage accounts, so compare as many as possible. Find one that will provide you with good advice on gold futures trading then one that doesn't charge a number of fees. The greater number of brokers you compare, the more effective.

Also, research gold prices for a couple of weeks before making an investment in gold via futures. If the prices appears to be stable, then go ahead. If there's an excessive amount of volatile from the markets for these couple of weeks, then consider waiting until everything grows more steady.

3. Gold ETFs

Gold ETFs are a fantastic replacement for gold futures. You won't own contracts, but rather you'll be buying shares of any ETF. In turn, you'll be open to gold, hence why they may be called gold ETFs.

• How To Do It

You may get a brokerage account via a broker that permits you to trade gold ETFs. Then you'll be able to select the gold product you want to purchase. It's as elementary as that.

• The Pros

One of the best reasons for gold ETFs could it be acts like a hedge against inflation. Normally, this is the truth with a lot of gold-based investments. Should you own gold ETFs, then they are utilized to safeguard your assets up against the inflation and fluctuation of currencies. Gold is definitely a safe investment and if you buy the proper ETFs, then you'll do your major favor.

Second, it is extremely an easy task to trade gold ETFs. You will be only required to invest in a single unit of gold, that is with regards to a gram of gold in weight. Furthermore, it is possible to trade ETFs via your ETF fund manager or even your stockbroker.

Third benefit is that you can take a look at stock exchanges and learn just how much gold is selling for. This can be done at any given time. If you believe prices are great, then go ahead and buy something, otherwise you can hold off until prices be a little more appealing.

Another benefit may be the tax side of things. The sole taxes you spend is either short or long term capital gains tax. Long term is gold that is held for any year or longer, while short-term is under a year.

• The Cons

One con is the fact ETFs can be expensive. Actually, they could be more pricey than other styles of investing, but they are often more lucrative. It's your decision to make a decision whether or not purchasing gold ETFs makes it worth while. That is actually the only major con related to buying gold ETFs.

• Tips

If you can, consider investing large sums of capital or enter into the habit of trading regularly. The reason being ETFs tend to be profitable than other types of gold-investing. Basically you can end up building a lot if you are prepared to trade regularly or invest large sums of money.

Another helpful tip is usually to never choose a fund manager or ETF product since the fees are alone. Do a bit of research to learn precisely what the performance has looked like over the last few years. If everything looks good, then choose that fund, otherwise keep seeking another fund manager.

4. Purchase Gold Mining Businesses

This can be the best way it may sound. It requires purchasing mining businesses that mine gold. You happen to be essentially buying stocks into gold mining companies.

• How To Make It Happen

You can get a stockbroker or investing firm. They may take your funds and invest it into gold companies of your choice. A different way to get it done would be to join an internet stock trading platform and spend money on gold businesses that are listed on the platform. You purchase a particular amount of shares and then sell them when you've made a profit.

• The Pros

First, buying shares into gold mining companies is straightforward and thus is selling them. All that you do is purchase the amount of shares you would like then sell them off when you're prepared to. Also, you may invest into several companies and increase your chances of making profits frequently.

Second, the retail price swings may be huge, but they do typically take awhile to take place. When you are patient, then you can definitely sell when these swings happen. Remember, in case a company is doing well and doing things right, then their stock could go up of course, if the price of gold is high too, then you might end up doing adequately.

Third, buying stocks is beginner-friendly. It doesn't take a great deal of knowledge to shell out, nevertheless it usually takes some research into gold mining companies. Just do a great deal of research into several companies and discover what kind of financial reputation they already have prior to invest into them.

• The Cons

The risk is about the high side because gold mining companies carry plenty of risk, that may cause their stock to lower, whether or not the price of gold is high. Also, remember that gold miners put themselves in danger and stuff they generally do also can impact the cost of the company's stock. Investing in gold mining companies is as risky as buying almost every other type of stocks.

• Tips

There's only one really specific tip to remember. You need to research various stock trading platforms and make sure the ones you utilize have gold mining companies' shares available. Better yet, research gold mining companies and create a set of them prior to search for stock trading platforms. Then you could find out if those platforms offer shares in those companies.

That is how to spend money on gold. As you can see, you can find advantages and disadvantages to every single form of investing method, so you may want to consider all the various methods to invest. Then you can certainly choose which technique to try.

If you know How to Invest in Gold in today's economy your are one step ahead. Learn more and get a free gold investment kit at https://preciousmetaldealer.com/

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