All about loans - banking

Credible returns on investment in virtual world finance?

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 05:30:45 +0000

Anybody have experience in investing in virtual world banks/businesses/markets (such as those in SecondLife.com etc)? Do they provide a serious way of making a sensible risk/reward on five or six figure investments? I have found discussion of investing in virtual worlds in this article for example which concludes its very high risk but maybe someone has heard of a viable diversification strategy out there?

Credit cards worth it?

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 19:36:09 +0000

I'm thinking of getting a credit card -is it worth it? I'm 22, in the UK and thinking about getting a credit card -I don't feel I need one (not a big or enthusiastic spender) apart from establishing a credit rating -is it worth it? I understand the benefits -insurance, cash-back etc but it seems like a hassle -I'm perfectly happy just spending money that I have using my debit card. However, as credit scores are partly based on duration of credit history I'm thinking I should get a credit card if only to prove to future mortgage providers (perhaps 3 or so years in the future) that I'm responsible with credit etc.

Online banking, credit and investing through one package

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 07:30:28 +0000

What basic, personal accounting software do you recommend? I would like to track: • income • retirement accounts • out-come, i.e. spending on credit cards and ATM debits This would preferably be done automatically — the software will contact the banks, credit card companies and other financial institutions electronically and download as much information as possible. We're eight years into the 21st C. and it doesn't seem necessary to spend one to two hours a day manually tracking and entering the day's business-related what-have-yous. I don't hold investments, but if I gamble I would like to start gambling somewhat intelligently. The software would track investment accounts — and existing retirement account components — automatically on a daily basis. In particular, I'd like to be able to view how parts of my retirement account are valued on a daily basis, which I can't do currently without manually tracking its history in an Excel spreadsheet.

Bank accounts, currency exchange, and financial advice for an American in Hong Kong?

Thu, 29 May 2008 11:05:38 +0000

Moving to Hong Kong for two years, and seeking advice on keeping the finances in order. I've been hired by a company in Hong Kong and will be there for a minimum of two years. I will be paid exclusively in Hong Kong Dollars. However, I have some small recurring bills and such that will need to be paid in USD. This seems like a pretty typical temporary-expat situation, and I wonder how other people have approached it. In essence, I'm looking for advice on and experience with HK banks and credit cards, and transferring money from HKD to USD at regular intervals without getting screwed on the exchange. Any and all experience with expat finances in HK is appreciated.

Check Debit Madness

Wed, 07 May 2008 17:42:58 +0000

Our bank account was debited for a check issued by a different bank. What in tarnation? I gave my doctor a $20 check issued from my Small Town Bank account, check number 1234. My Small Town Bank website informs me that we were debited for $57, allegedly from check #1234. When I click to view the image of the check, it shows a check from someone else's Chase bank account! The name is different, the routing number is different, the bank is different, the account number is different, the check number is different, the amount is different. The only connection is that both checks were payable to the same doctor.

Changing from apples to oranges? No problem!

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:14:52 +0000

How do people break into finance (hedge funds, i-banking) when their concentrations in college had absolutely nothing to do with finance? I have been meeting (and reading about) people who have jobs in the financial industry, yet their backgrounds and majors (poli sci, history, etc.) have never entailed related experience that you would normally think is sought after in finance. I graduated with a degree in journalism and have always found an interest in the banking/finance industry - I'm currently a legal assistant for a law firm whose clients are major banks - but if there is a way

Are subprimes still lending?

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 07:23:32 +0000

Subprimes still lending?? I thought that the subprime loan market was out of business. Why am I getting multiple calls from Household Finance claiming that they have "new programs" trying to lend me money I don't need? ps I don't have a loan with Household Finance. I don't know if they're trying to make a home loan or a consumer credit facility.

Fun with banking call centres (not).

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 23:58:46 +0000

Help! What 'eight digit' number regarding my Visa credit card are the Abbey National call centre trying to get from my fiancé? We're in the UK. I have a Co-op Visa credit card. It has two important numbers you normally need to know for paying money into the account: the sixteen digit account code (card number) and the six digit 'sort code' for the bank. Fiancé, who banks with Abbey, is trying to transfer much-needed money to me using Abbey's telephone banking system, but they're being extremely unhelpful, and insisting that he must also give them an eight digit 'account number' for my card, which I've never heard of. They don't mean the card security number (it's not eight digit), and my account statement has nothing eight digit on it. Does anyone know what this number could be and how I would get it from my bank?

What to do with all that money?

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 23:41:59 +0000

I will soon receive an inheritance of about $100,000-$150,000 (numbers are vague right now). I'm looking for tips and advice for managing that money. I have talked with a financial advisor from one of the major firms about this and they would be happy to help me with my money at the rate of 4.5% per year. Frankly, I view that as extortionary. I even remember once hearing advice that said to not pay more than 1% in fees. This sounds reasonable to me. My current IRAs and other means of saving that do charge, charge less than 1%. I doubt it's 1/5th of a percent. I'm pretty sharp and generally good with money. I think that with the right research, and proper dedication, I can manage this money myself and save scads of fees.

What will happen if my bank goes bankrupt?

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 23:04:23 +0000

What will happen to my money if E*Trade declares bankruptcy ? I have a few bank account elsewhere, but the majority of my money is help in various E*trade accounts. This includes checking, savings, brokerage, and CDs. I'm aware that the money in the banking arm is FDIC insured, but what does that really mean? Is all of my money insured? Will it all go away if E*Trade goes under? Any sort of real world explanations and advice would be appreciated.

What will happen if my bank goes bankrupt?

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 23:04:01 +0000

The More Bank Accounts the Better?

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 17:56:47 +0000

Any reason not to open a couple more bank accounts for all the gifts/rewards/incentives they offer? Right now I have an old bank account from California (checking and savings) and a credit card attached to it which I use frequently, a new bank account for the city I moved to, which doesn't have any branches of my old bank (checking only), and a credit card with a third bank, that I only use a couple of times a year. This more than covers any banking needs I would actually have, but a number of local banks are offering various incentives to open an account, most enticingly, 75 dollars in free groceries if I set one up.

Help me spend my loonies wisely.

Wed, 21 Feb 2007 14:09:54 +0000

Help me learn about personal finances... Canadian style. I'll admit it: I know very little about personal finances, beyond "save for retirement now!" So, I googled, and found a few good blogs, mostly thanks to get rich slowly , but I am craving more. So: can you suggest any Canadian personal finance books, blogs, and websites? Bonus points if they are of the "hello, idiot, welcome to the world of money" genre!

What is the best way to get in on the ground floor of international banking/economics firms? (explanation inside)

Fri, 02 Feb 2007 18:06:04 +0000

What is the best way to get in on the ground floor of international banking/economics firms? (explanation inside) I graduated college (after returning to school, so I was an older student [29] ) with a degree in economics. I want to get into international banking/financial analyst positions with overseas banks/firms (either that, or research/econ analysis positions with similar firms). I'm in a major international city (Miami) and unfortunately, my university wasn't much help outside of its home city (Orlando). I do have 5 years experience in an investment firm, doing various types of analysis, but I don't like saying I was an analyst, because technically, it's not true.

Can I ETF to the wrong name?

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 23:38:18 +0000

Banking Filter: Can I do an ETF if the bank account number is right but the name is wrong? Last year, I asked about cashing a cheque with the wrong name on it. Flash forward 12 months and I want to know what happens with electronic funds transfer in the same situation. Google Adsense pays by cash and by ETF. The cheques have both my business name and personal name on them, so I have the choice of depositing to either a business or personal account. However, when you try to set up Adsense for an ETF, it only lists the business name as the account holder. Does this matter? Can I set up the ETF to go to my personal account, which is under my own name?