A brief overview of free credit score The credit score determines the financial status, such as whether you qualify for credit or a loan and most importantly, the interest rate that you pay on your loan. Any financial organization requires to know about your credit score. This helps them in determining if you are a safe customer to carry out transactions with. Your credit score has a major impact on the decisions that you make and the offers you avail because even a landlord can turn you down if your credit score does not measure up to the minimum requirements. The credit card score reflects how well you are able to manage your debt. If you are looking to improve your credit score, free credit score is the answer. One can apply for free credit through different services to monitor the progress of your credit. Here are factors that you should understand about credit scores and free credit score: Which are the key factors that influence credit score? Timely-payments can greatly impact your credit score.  It proves to lenders how reliable you are. Even a few payments that are made late can significantly affect your score. Thus, paying all your bills on time is essential for the good health of your credit. Your credit history determines your credit worthiness. The older your credit lines, the more information can be acquired. It proves how well you have been able to manage your credit score through the years. The total hard credit inquiries are those that occur when you apply for various loans such as student loan, personal, mortgage, etc. These are checks made by institutions to decide on whether your loan can be approved. Multiple hard credit inquiries can affect your credit score to a large extent. What are the factors that do not make impact your credit score? Surprisingly, our credit score is only determined by your payments and credit report information. Factors such your monthly income, alma mater, and family history are not considered. How can you get your credit score for free? Today, a large number of credit card companies offer free credit score. You can obtain your number from a bank or credit card issuer. Pay attention to your FICO. This score is considered to be the actual credit score. However, not all credit scores are calculated using FICO. There are many tools online that are great and allow you to see free credit score. These tools and services may money through advertisements from credit companies. How does free credit score aid in maintaining your score? If you know your credit score, it gives you a good idea of where the status of your credit is heading. You will have fair idea of how much you have to pay in interest before seeking a loan and whether you should actually go ahead with your application. Do free credit score services charge a fee? Most companies that offer free credit do not charge a fee. However, there are some companies that charge for this service. The fee may be a very nominal amount. What are the ways to improve your credit score? There are common cases where there may be mistakes or errors in your credit report. Fix these as soon as possible. If you notice any unpaid bills, make sure that you pay them off immediately. Keep tab on your future payments. Set reminders so that they do not slip off your mind and pay off the bill right away. Automating the process will effectively help. Even if you have a high credit score, refrain of using it as it will affect your credit score.

Everything you need to know about credit cards with no foreign transaction fee Are you planning to travel to a foreign country? Whether you are planning to travel abroad for a holiday or for your work, you need to take care of various things to make your journey and stay hassle-free. For instance, you should have your visa, travel permits, and passport in order. You should also consider the financial aspects, such as converted currency and traveler’s checks. However, traveler’s checks are slowly becoming redundant due to the prevalent use of plastic payment cards such as debit card and credit cards. Apart from convenience, these cards are also more secure compared to cash and checks that can be stolen or lost. With debit cards and credit cards, you can easily cancel the card with one call to the customer service center. Although using credit cards is simpler and safer, they can cost a lot if you use your national credit cards. This is because when you use your credit card or debit card in any foreign country, a foreign transaction fee will be charged whenever you swipe your card. To avoid additional charges, you can opt for credit cards with no transaction fees. Read on to know more about getting a credit card with no foreign transaction fee. What is a foreign transaction fee? Foreign transaction fees are added to charges added to any transaction that occurs in a foreign country. Even if you book a ticket through a website that is not based in your home country, you may be charged with foreign transaction fees if you use your credit card for the transaction. This foreign transaction fee can be as high as 3% on each transaction. So, if you are making any big purchases or even booking rooms through your credit card, you might end up with a huge credit debt at the end of your due date. When should you apply for a credit card with no foreign transaction fee? If you frequently travel to foreign countries. If you are going on a holiday abroad. If you frequently purchase goods from foreign-based retailers or merchants. If you often buy from online retailers not based in your home country. Are foreign transaction fees involved while using debit cards abroad? Yes, you will be levied foreign transaction fees when you use your debit cards in a foreign country. The foreign transaction fee is also called currency conversion fee. It is usually between $1 and $5. Also, if you use your debit card to withdraw cash from an ATM, you will be charged an international ATM fee along with additional charges. Which are the popular credit cards with no foreign transaction fee? Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite MasterCard TRIO Credit Card from Fifth Third Bank Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card Discover it Miles PenFed Premium Travel Rewards American Express Card How to apply for a credit card with no foreign transaction fee? First, you select a credit card with no foreign transaction fee that gives you the maximum benefits suitable for your requirements You can then apply online through the card company’s website by providing your personal information, mailing address, mention your credit score, mention your source of income, your annual income, credit history, and so on. You will go through certain verification checks similar to those required while applying for any regular credit card. Once all the processes are completed, you will receive your credit card.

4 frequently asked questions for choosing the best franchises to own in the US A franchise is a type of license that a party, known as the franchisee acquires in order to allow them to have access to the franchiser’s (a business’) proprietary knowledge, trademarks, and processes to allow the franchisee to sell a product or provide a service under the established business’ name. The franchisee pays the franchisor initial start-up and annual licensing fee. Choosing the best franchises to own in the US can be a tricky business. Here are some questions that you should ask before owning a franchise. What is the ideal budget when choosing the best franchises to own? The cost of a franchise depends on the industry and the business model. There are some business models that have an upfront fee of $10,000, while others can go up to $1 million. Before deciding to own a franchise, the prospective franchisees should consider the initial investment that would be required to own the franchise and how much returns should be expected from the business. The franchisee should consider their own lifestyle, wealth, income, and equity when choosing from the best franchises to own. What are the basic business skills required for own the best franchise? It is important for the franchisees to understand basic entrepreneurial skills. To succeed in a franchise, franchisees should be willing to take small and controlled risks to the least. This risk aversion comes with a fact that every business involves some level of risk and failure. To own some of the best franchises you need a specific set of operations which will tell you the best way of associating with the business. How to determine which franchisee is the best for you? When choosing the best franchises to own, you need to narrow down the reasons for choosing one primarily. Decide on the factor if you want own the franchise as a hobby, a part-time, or a full-time job. This will help you decide whether you want the franchise as a primary source of income or to build it as an equity. Evaluate your skill sets as you should possess prior professional experience that you were comfortable with before choosing from the best franchises to own across the country. This includes interacting with clients via cold calling or interacting with them from behind the counter. In the initial days of setting up a franchise, you might have to manage minimum wage employees and work on the field with clients and customers yourself. Which are some of the best franchises to own in the country? Based on the risk involved in the business, here are some of the best franchises that you can own: Ace Hardware currently owns and operates more than 10000 stores across seven countries. It has been franchising since the past 40 years and has a brand tradition of 93 years. They offer their customers a wide range of tools to maintain their gardens and houses and also provide advices regarding the same. Fast food chains and fancy restaurants is a very profitable business. Jack in the Box is one such franchise. Opened back in 1951, it started franchising around 35 years ago. Although the initial investment of setting up this franchise is around $1 million, it might turn out to be a profitable investment. Continuing to state the fact restaurant franchises are one of the most profitable businesses to own, Hardee’s is one of the franchises that need a initial investment capital of roughly $1.5 million. Fitness is very important nowadays, especially when many people have desk jobs that make them sit for most of their working hours. Being one of the youngest and one of the best franchises to own, Anytime Fitness has acquired great success by promoting a healthy lifestyle. The start up cost to own this franchise ranges between $80,000 to $100,000. Being in the cleaning and a restoration industry, Servpro has been franchising for the last 48 years. If you are looking to avoid food-based business and are considering to go for a more practical type of a business, Servpro might be the choice for you. The initial investment needed for this venture is around $150,000.

Points to consider before choosing the best financial adviser for your investments A financial adviser is one who creates financial plans for and sells financial products to their clients. They provide insights on savings and investments to their clients and provides advices investments, insurance, estate planning, taxes, retirement, and other financial decisions. What are the types of services provided by financial advisers? To find some of the best financial advisers, you first need to understand the types of services offered by them. Financial advisers provide three main types of services: Financial planning helps you in managing financial aspects such as savings, types, and insurance that will provide you maximum returns. The investment advisory services focuses on investment management that helps deciding what investments to own. Investments are a part of any ongoing financial process. One of the main services offered by financial advisers is the retirement income planning. It focuses on how to coordinate social security taxes, investments, pensions, and other retirement planning. The main aim is to align these investments that will eventually help in delivering paychecks in the form returns in the future. How are financial advisers compensated? The objective of the best financial advisers is to charge for the fees strictly on the services that they provide you. Financial advisers usually get compensated on factors like asset-based fee, hourly fees, and some even participate in commissions-based fees on the returns that you get from the investment. People who buy investments that they plan on holding for a long time, it is always advisable that you pay the commission to your financial adviser, thus making it a cost-effective way for you to compensate them. How to seek financial advisers with reputable credentials? If you want to hire the best financial advisers with reputable credentials: Look for advisers who have their CFP (certified financial planner) or PFS (personal financial services) designation or an adviser who is a chartered financial analyst. You can also check the potential of the adviser by verifying if they are a member of the NAPFA (National Association of Personal Financial Advisors). It is a membership group of fee-only advisers that requires a particular educational qualification. What questions should one ask before hiring a financial adviser? Asking the right questions will help you get the best financial advisers. Here is a list of questions that will help you select the same: You can ask the potential financial advisers about their ideal clients. The best financial advisers have an area of expertise. If a financial adviser tells that he or she works for young families, then he or she might not be the right adviser for you. Find a financial adviser that has experience in terms of providing services to every age group, at every stage of life The simplest question you can ask a financial adviser is to explain a financial concept to you. If they offer you a very generic or a very technical explanation to it that goes over your head, then they might not be the right advisers for you. Look for those advisers who can explain you tricky concepts of finance in a language that you can understand. Ask how a financial adviser wishes to be compensated. An honest answer entailing a clear explanation of all the fees and expenses that you might have to pay them based on your investment profile and the returns that you will get from it should be the norm when picking the right financial adviser. Answers like “you will not have to pay anything out of your pocket” should not be acceptable. How do I verify the credentials of financial advisers? To make sure of whether you are hiring one of the best financial advisers that are legitimate and have a good service record, you can Verify their records at FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc.), SEC, CFP boards, and other membership organizations that the adviser might be associated with. There are online websites, that can help you find which organization the financial adviser is a member of and if they have any complaints and grievances reported against them.

Looking for an all-inclusive vacation package? Here’s what you must know “Wherever you go, go with all your heart.” – Confucius Tired of sitting in your cubicle? Tired of hearing from your boss every day? Tired of your daily routine? If the answer to all the above questions is a yes, then it is time you take a break from work and plan a vacation. Vacations are the best way for you to get a short break from work and replenish yourself. What adds more value to your vacation is an all-inclusive vacation package. It not only makes planning your trip a lot easier but also gives you a lot of great deals for your travel. Here is a list of questions related to all-inclusive vacation packages and holidays. Where to find best all-inclusive vacation packages? As much as we enjoy taking a trip, there are only a few of us that enjoy planning the trip. To help the rest of us, there are multiple websites, such as the following, through which we can book all-inclusive vacation packages and forget about the planning woes. Expedia Travelocity CheapTickets Last Minute Travel Hotwire. When to travel? Now! There is a never a wrong time to travel; just pick up your bags and head for your favored vacation spot. If this seems too extravagant to you, mentioned below are some scenarios when you must take that much-awaited vacation: If you are feeling monotonous and need a break from your work/daily routine If your last vacation was more than a year ago If you are getting an amazing deal on all-inclusive vacation packages If you have been planning to take a trip for the last four months If working overtime has become a part of your daily routine If you are tired of the chaos that the city brings along with it. How to travel? The best way to travel is to book an all-inclusive vacation package and let the booking company take care of all your travel, stay, food, and drinks. If you want to book the tickets on your own, it would be cheaper to get connecting flights to your destination. But you must note that the layovers could eat on your precious vacation time. Since it is a vacation you have planned in between working days, you must take direct flights to save time on travel and make as much as you can of your time at the vacation spot. Can’t decide the destination for your vacation? If you are unable to decide the destination for your vacation; here is a set of best deals on the all-inclusive resort packages: St. James’ Club Morgan Bay, St. Lucia – You can get the deal at this resort for $129 per guest, per night; this package is inclusive of accommodations, all meals, all drinks, and activities/entertainment. Royalton St. Lucia Resort and Spa – You can get the deal at this resort for $139 per guest, per night; this package is inclusive of accommodations, all meals, all drinks, and activities/entertainment. Anse Chastanet Resort, St. Lucia – You can get the deal at this resort for $284 per guest, per night; this package is inclusive of accommodations, all meals, all drinks, and activities/entertainment. How to choose the best all-inclusive vacation package? Weigh the pros and cons of the vacation packages depending upon the following key points: Time – The vacation package must be adjacent to your holidays. Compare – Make sure you check out at least more than two websites offering you with deals on the packages. Deliverables – While comparing on the basis of money, you must also see the deliverables offered by the booking company in the package. Cost effective – Don’t just go ahead and choose the package that is the cheapest, make sure you get the package that offers the most at the cheapest price.

Want to buy a life insurance? Here’s what you should know Life insurance is an important factor in our lives; an emergency can happen at any point in time, and it is always great to be prepared than to be sorry. However, buying a life insurance is a tedious process for most of us concerning the pressure from the sales reps and the many medical exams that we have to take. Being able to get life insurance quotes online has made our life a lot easier; and to second that, here is how you can buy a life insurance without any tedious processes. What kind of life insurance should you buy? Term life insurance is the most-advised type of life insurance, here’s why. Term life insurance is the least grossing deal for the agents as well as the insurance companies; they get maximum gains from whole life insurance, universal life insurance, or cash-value insurance. Another reason to get term life insurance is that it is easy to understand; it works like a car or a homeowner’s insurance. You will pay for a certain term—a year or two—you will be covered for this tenure, and if you face any accidents in this term, it will be covered by the insurance company. Term insurance is relatively cheaper than other life insurances. For example, you can buy a 20-year term insurance worth $1 million and pay about $500 a year. How to get life insurance quotes online? The best way to get life insurance quotes online is through a simple Google search. This google search will lead you to many websites; make sure you browse through at least 4–5 sites before deciding on a viable quote. Along with the results, you will also see a lot of ads via google, these websites are your best bet to get the life insurance quotes online. You could have a look at PolicyGenius, they have based their system to answer the most inefficient and inconvenient sects of buying life insurance What are the steps involved in applying for a life insurance? Getting life insurance quotes online is just one of the few steps involved in buying a life insurance; let us look at the steps involved. Enter your basic details (including your name, age, weight, etc.) on a small form. You will be asked to mention whether you smoke or not, as this plays an important part in your insurance. If you are a smoker, then you would, most likely, be asked to pay double. Choose the amount of insurance you need and the tenure of your insurance. Get informed about the class of living you fall into. For example: preferred, super-preferred, standard, or substandard. How to buy life insurance? There are, typically, two ways of buying an insurance. Local insurance agent – If you are aware of a local insurance agent and know them well enough, you can go ahead and have them file your life insurance. In most cases, your insurance agent is likely to present you with multiple options of life insurance for you to choose from. This is good for you, as you get various options for your life insurance. It could be very confusing at the same time, as you may not be able to zero-in on the type of life insurance, and this is where your agent could tip you to buy the life insurance that earns him a better profit than one that benefits you. Online broker – Buying an insurance from an online broker is slightly riskier than a local broker as there is always a risk of an online fraud. With an online broker, you must first get life insurance quotes online, decide what type of insurance you are looking for, and then approach the broker. An online broker will also approach you with a lot of various options to choose from for your life insurance. Hence, it is important for you to do your research beforehand and be prepared with your desired life insurance.