Refinancing

Refinancing has become more and more important as the recession gets deeper in. Our motto, protect the king, is now more important than ever as more families struggle to make ends meet in this difficult financial climate. With the right refinancing, families can make huge savings on their existing finance agreements. Check out our refinance section for more information. Or for alternatives to refinancing, try the new UK product equity release as they seem to be growing in popularity. You do have to be over the age of 55 for certain plans, and be wary of those offering equity release to under 55s as you may end swimming in shark-infested waters. You have been warned! I have heard of many people who sell their house at a large discount on the promise of a rental contract at a fixed rate for 10 years, only to find out their contract is worthless and they have to pay up 20% above market rate our be evicted from the property they just sold at 30% BMV (Below Market Value)

Finance

Finance can pertain to a vast number of different products. The ones you will be familiar with are also, incidentally, the ones we cover the mose at PTK. You may need to finance your car, boat or home. At any one time, we must have all been part of a finance agreement. One you will be most familiar with is a reverse mortgage. Auto loans are common place in the finance world but unsecured credit like that is hard for those with a bad history.. Credit cards are a type of finance that most people in the world are now so used to they are second nature. Don't forget though to beat the credit check your best bet is to get on the electoral roll and those who have been in their homes for over 5 years are at an advantage. Check out our finance section for more information on all things relating to finance.

Technology

Technology today takes up so much of our life, its only natural that the amount we spend on the latest gadgets, phones and laptops has increased exponentially over the last few years. We could hardly call ourselves the protector of your finances if we didn't talk about saving money on feeding your tech habit. Whether it be the latest laptop, mobile broadband, the new slimline 'crackberry' the newest fad that has hit the market of backlit keyboards (you know the ones that light up like the macbook air series, we endeavour to save you money and line your pockets. Think of us as the: Thoughtleaders of Technology. Sultans of Software .Masters of Microchips. The Visionaries of video conferencing and the Revolutionaries of RAM. Whatever it is you need, PTK can provide you with expert advice all day, although our speciality reviews are video conferencing and email marketing services - whether it be direct to consumer or business to business, lead management and database building.

Forex Trading

Forex trading means many different things to many people. An enjoyable hobby for some, with forex trading you can pit your wits against the financial markets hoping to get one up on Wall Street. Alternatively, forex Trading can be a business for others, allowing them the freedom to work from home and make a very good living. Either way, PTK can tell you how to save money on your spreads and give you impartial up-to-date information on offers in the FX world.

If you don't know your pips from your stops, then I suggest before you go ahead and deposit any money, go to a reliable brokers website (linked one above perhaps) and set up a demo account and read their training guide. Be wary however, as they do tend to make the demos a little easier than usual!

One of the latest offers that popped up in my inbox came from Etoro. We at PTK have had the chance to verify this offer and its bona fide - Get up to $500 bonus on your first deposit just to get you started in the forex trading business. So signup now and take advantage of this opportunity.

Loans

Whether you need a loan for that brand new Beamer you have set your sights on, or simply an advance to see you through to next week, we at PTK can help you find the best rates possible. We can also make sure that the company you deal with are reputable and offer a quality service. As an information only site, we offer impartial commentary on the latest deals. In this time of recession, everyone could do with some extra cash, but there is no need to risk your financial situation if you do it the correct way. We go a long way to helping you.

Pensions & Annuities

Recent turmoil in the stock market has devastated the pension market. The crash of the major banks in the UK, along with Fannie Mac and Fannie Mae has seen pension funds take a monster hit. It is now more important than ever to choose your private pension scheme & annuities wisely and when this matures, to choose your annuity with great care. Many grandparents have also seen their grandkid's college funds depleted, forcing many to work their very hardest to fund their education through college scholarships instead. Here at PTK, the Kings of Protecting Your Money, we can give you gentle guidance and updated annuity rates.

Car, Travel and Life Insurance

Insurances make up such a huge part of our yearly expenditure that its no doubt Protect The King have had to get involved. If we can save you money on your car, health, life and travel insurance, you then have extra money around the house to pay for the things you enjoy - because let\'s face it, who likes to spend money on insurance. As a young driver myself, I understand how you might be more protective over your No Claims Bonus than a new born baby. This is why we give you tips on how to fix your car park dings and bumps yourself, let's face it auto parts are so cheap online that paying full price for repairs you can do yourself is idiotic.. We have advice on everything ranging from touch-up paints, paintless dent repair, and treatment products. Check out our insurance section for more information, but here's a little taster.

One sure fire way to reduce your car insurance premium is to add older drivers to your policy. The thinking behind this is that if they are added, then they will be driving sometime throughout the year. If they are driving it means you are not - given that they are older and generally wiser (read slower!) than you are, the insurance companies will recognise this and reduce your premium somewhat. Also, if you have an older car try to keep it serviced as much as possible. A full car service history can make your car much more valuable when you come to sell it. This tip counts especially when you drive a large number of miles. I wouldn't look twice at a car that had over 100,000 miles and no history. Whereas if it had a full service history and MOT history I would seriously consider it.

Also, another great tip is to have your excess as high as possible, think around the £1000 mark. Why so much? Well, think about it. What level of damage are you realistically going to claim for? Is it worth losing your NCB for £100? No. £300? No. £800. Possibly not. You are very likely to choose to foot the bill yourself for any damages caused up to a value of £1000 so why pay the extra premium? Having a £1000 excess shows the insurance provider that you are serious about staying accident free and you are prepared to put your money where your mouth is. They will recognise this and should reduce your premium by around 20% for it.

Real Estate

Real Estate purchases will more than likely be the biggest expense of your life. We are here to help you respect your purchases and protect the king, cash. Our real estate section has the latest tips on how to keep your assets in good condition, whether it is your own personal home or whether you a property investor. We also like to expose a few myths put forward by the so-called 'experts' in the field. Many of these books are out of date using the same basic knowledge sold over and over again. We like nothing more than debunking these.

Home and Garage

Whether you live in the country and have never even heard of the concept of square footage, or you enjoy the city life but not the space issues that go with it, your home is where your heart is. Keeping it quaint and cosy or cool and edgy is an important choice. Keeping it safe should also be a priority. Have you thought about home and contents insurance? I live in San Diego where we all remember the firestorms. Because of the past history of catching ablaze, you can never be too careful when it comes to your home and the valuable trinkets inside. Also, have you thought about your energy choices? Do you go gas, dual fuel, a log fire for the kids to cosy round? Have you thought about solar panel installation? We at PTK suggest you choose on the basis of where you live and what look you're going for. A log fire goes with a country house like peas and carrots, whilst solar will set off your cool environmental look. One way to protect your investment, is by increasing the value of your home any way you can - secure the premises with security cameras. This not only adds value to your home investment, but adds peace of mind as well. There are a few sites with a useful resource about how to effectively install your surveillance system.. Keep checking back as we review more and more home and garden products, next month for the men we will be reviewing industrial workbenches so be sure to check that out.

Equity Release

As this industry is set to explode in the coming months, we thought we'd give it a section of its own. Buoyed by the reverse mortgage market, equity release is undergoing something of a transformation wih the introduction of lifetime mortgages. For a good explanation of the current marketplace, what is on offer and what it might cost to go through with a plan like this, have a look at Equity Release Explained's website which although brief nails that bit about what the whole thing is. Another useful resource seeing as we seem to be going to town is http://www.lifetimemortgagecalculator.co.uk which does what it says on the tin and tells you how much you might be able to take from your property, should you go through with releasing equity. Essentially, you need to understand that the loan is secured on your property, although this doesn't mean there are repossession risks. The defining feature of this product is that you don't have any monthly repayments to make OR miss so you are never at risk even though the plan is secured.

Debt Management

In such a time of recessionary pressures, debt consolidation plans have become more commonplace. It is no longer an embarassing situation reserved for risk-hungry entrepreneurs, it has now become a harsh reality for many families the world over. With new judicial precedent being set every day enabling the public to legally fight irresponsible lenders and the debt that they have forced upon the nation. Individual Voluntary Arrangements, credit card consolidation, Debt Consolidation plans, Debt Management Plans and, in extreme cases, bankruptcy can be seen to be an easy way out of debt. As usual, PTK addresses these issues and gives you the impartial lowdown on the debt plans and debt consolidation arrangements around.

Health Insurance

Health insurance is one of the hottest topics on the web right now. President Obama has overcome huge obstacles to get the ball rolling on a state run insurance program. On the other side of the pond, the National Health Service of the UK has received much criticism for MRSA bugs and general lack of management skills. We will keep you up to date on the race for Obama to achieve his dream and the race for Gordon Brown to revive the NHS and get it back to its former glory. The National Health Service may start to offer purity products soon enough too, which will be a turn out for the books.