In June of 2012, Jefferies Group, Inc. officially announced its intention to expand its operations into Canada. To accomplish this, the company hired Steven Latimer to be Jefferies’s Managing Director and Head of Canadian Investment Banking. He will be based in Toronto and will initially focus on Canada’s metals and mining sector.

Jefferies is an international investment banking firm that has been around for over half a century. The company offers a full range of financial services to governments, businesses, and individuals. Its clients can be found in Europe, Asia, and South America as well as North America.

Like many other firms, Jefferies has seen its stock fluctuate significantly, with its stock beginning in June at $12.60 per share and then jumping to above $13.60 a week later before tumbling to $12.16 just before the expansion announcement. Since then, the stock has continued to oscillate substantially, but closed at $12.72 as of July 6 (NASDAQ:JEF).

Latimer brings an impressive resume to Jefferies Group. He has amassed twenty-two years of experience in investment banking and was most recently the Head of Canadian Metals and Mining Investment Banking for Credit Suisse. The chartered financial analyst spent fifteen years in Toronto and Calgary working for UBS Securities.

Jefferies’s foray into Canada is targeting one of that nation’s most longstanding industries. About one out of every fifty Canadian jobs is centered around the mining and mineral processing industry, and hundreds of companies are hard at work mining raw materials such as copper, nickel, silver, gold, zinc, iron, potash, and coal. Around 4% of Canada’s gross domestic product comes from the metals and minerals sector, and the country boasts around a fourth of the international investment banking in mining. Although the industry has been slowed by the global economic downturn, the long-term forecast appears to be solid.

Toronto, being the undisputed global mining finance capital, is the most logical place for Jefferies to set up shop in Canada if the firm wants to jump into the mining industry. The city is also home to the Toronto Stock Exchange as well as some 400 exploration and mining company offices. Toronto will join Paris, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Washington, and a dozen other cities where Jefferies’s offices are based.

Latimer’s appointment to head a Canadian office is not the only indication of Jefferies’s intention to expand its mining arm. The firm reportedly also plans to ask for a spot on the trading floor of the London Metal Exchange. Currently, Jefferies can only trade via telephone and electronically through the exchange, but a bump in designation from a Category 2 trader to a Category 1 on the LME would signal an increased commitment to the firm’s commodities trading business overall.

What does this move mean for Jefferies Group in the long term? The investment bank appears to be pouring more resources into an industry that has remained relatively stable in recent years (or, in the case of gold, has flourished). If executed successfully, Jefferies could take positions that could help hedge against its assets in industries that are still flagging in the world economy. Plus, if middle-class economies do expand over the next decade as some experts say they will, then the raw materials mined in Canada will become a key part of that growth. All in all, Jefferies’s establishment of a mining industry base camp in Toronto seems to be a smart move for the global financial services company.

Canada is not the only new geographic locale where Jefferies hopes to broaden its footprint. In April of 2013, the firm announced that it entering into an alliance with a company in Thailand. Asia Plus Securities Public Company Limited is a top financial services firm in Thailand, offering securities brokerage, equity research, asset and wealth management, investment banking, and other services to its clients. By the beginning of 2014, Asia Plus will be sharing equity research on Thai companies with Jefferies clients.

The alliance with Asia Plus was a natural extension of Jefferies’s strategy in Asia to expand its business on that continent. In November of 2012, the firm appointed five new senior-level executives to its Asia Investment Banking group, which is based in Hong Kong. Sherry Liu, Danny Wong, Charles Zhou, Qing Zhu, and Richard Yang brought a combined 73 years of experience into Jefferies’s AIB business.

But perhaps the most significant change to Jefferies Group in the past calendar year is its merger with Leucadia National Corporation. The corporate marriage, which was consummated in March of 2013, saw Jefferies drawn into the Leucadia umbrella as a subsidiary, as well as its transformation from a corporation into a limited liability company.

Leucadia, which trades on the New York Stock Exchange, is a diversified holding company with subsidiaries in a wide range of industries, including gaming, entertainment, beef processing, real estate, manufacturing, and medical products.

Despite the inconsistent trends in the overall world markets, Jefferies Group has demonstrated a willingness to expand into other markets rather than shrink its global footprint. This undoubtedly signals a strong desire by Jefferies management to position itself as a leader in its core areas of expertise around the world. If and when the global economy recovers, expect Jefferies Group to be a leader in worldwide investment banking more locations than ever before.

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Chris Martin is a freelance writer who writes about topics ranging from investment banking to consumer finance to Spokeo removal.

The fact is, savvy business owners are wise to what the Internet has to offer. Besides just having an online presence, they stay on top of new and developing online trends and strategies. This includes much more than simply using the web as a way to spread the word about a brand.

The web is used as a platform to set up a complete and functioning Internet storefront that accepts credit cards online. Businesses that don’t take advantage of this strategy are missing out on sales as well as increased promotional opportunities.

Consumers Appreciate the Convenience

Consumers of today are more demanding than ever before. Thanks to the Internet, they are smarter about the options available to them. And perhaps as a consequence of the current economic status, most consumers are very conscious of where and how their money is spent.

Consumers want and expect quality products at reasonable prices, and at the same time, they want convenience. Shopping online is a way to get all of that.

The Internet makes it possible for customers to quickly and easily do comparison shopping. With just a few clicks of the mouse a potential customer can visit several sites to compare products and prices.

This empowers consumers. It puts them in control in many ways. And not surprisingly, this is one of the reasons it is imperative that businesses step up to the plate when it comes to ensuring quality, value, and customer care. The facts are clear: If a business does not keep up, it will get left behind.

Era of the Consumer

This is the era of the consumer. Businesses are going back to the old-fashioned principles that are based on offering superior customer service and care. Merchants that excel in this area seem to find success in other areas as well.

People do not want their shopping to be controlled by the schedule of a storefront. Nowadays, even department stores are seeing their way to staying open later; some are even open 24 hours a day. The focus is on making things convenient for the customers.

Make Money Around the Clock

Shopping online offers built-in convenience for customers. After all, they can shop from home or from anyplace with Internet access. Online shops are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Because online storefronts are not restricted to the scheduled hours of a brick-and-mortar shop, the business can potentially make money around the clock. Clearly, businesses that are not accepting online payments are missing out on this growing market.

E-Commerce Spending on the Increase

According to comScore.com, a market research firm, Black Friday (November 23, 2012) topped $1 billion in e-commerce. Online shopping is much more than a fad; it is becoming the norm for many people.

Cost-Effective Recordkeeping Option

Whether the business is a retailer or it’s a business that offers offline services such as a daycare or a spa, accepting online payments will be a convenience for the business as well as for consumers. Consumers appreciate receiving automated transaction statements. It is an easy tracking system for them.

Online payments are a green option as well; they save paper, which saves the business money. In addition, online payments are an excellent way to streamline recordkeeping. As payments are received, the transactions are automatically entered into the database of a payment service.

Reliable Security

Over the years, the preferred method of payment for most people has become credit and debit cards. After all, checks take time to clear. That can cause recordkeeping difficulties for everyone concerned, and accepting checks can be risky for businesses.

On the other hand, credit card payments are immediate, and they come with built-in security checks. As the account information is entered, it is verified against the information registered with the credit card company.

This provides peace of mind for consumers and businesses alike. Consumers feel a sense of protection from identity theft, and businesses know they will be paid because the card is being used by the person registered as the card owner.

Time-Saving Benefits

After the initial setup of online payment processes, the business will enjoy numerous time-saving benefits. Besides the benefits already noted, the return on investment includes fewer trips to the
bank, less physical time required to sort and record payments, and automated payment reminders.

Accepting credit card payments will boost the sales of a business and provide other benefits. For example, when a business can accept quick payments, they can take advantage of online impulse buyers. Plus, credit card payments are incredibly handy for accepting payments from international customers.

Choosing a Credit Card Payment Option

When deciding on a credit card payment option, you do need to consider your particular business needs. For instance, consider if in addition to accepting payments at your website you also have the need to accept mobile payments.

Always explore what the payment company has to offer and carefully investigate all associated fees and charges. Some companies charge monthly fees as well as charges per transaction.

Be sure to make a list of questions you have about the services offered. Take the time to inquire about your questions and concerns. This will give you a chance to evaluate the customer service you can expect to receive from the company. Excellent customer support is essential when so much depends on this type of service.

The Bottom Line

Do a little research into the company’s online reputation to ensure the business is recognized for quality and high standards. It is often wise to choose a company that is a well-known brand – one that has been in business for a period of time.

As long as you take care in choosing a reputable credit card payment company, you are sure to be happy with the results. Because the bottom line is, no matter what kind of business you have, it can benefit from accepting online payments.

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Debbie Allen is a seasoned content writer and blogger who specializes in topics of interest to women and online marketing strategies, including the importance of accepting credit cards online.

So the question is: Will Procter & Gamble follow its past practices of raising its dividend?

Experienced market watchers and investors know that there is no such thing as an absolute sure thing. That said, an expected bump in P&G’s dividend is the closest you can get to certainty in the modern market.

One need only look at P&G’s history to see why. The conglomerate has increased its dividend in each of the past 57 years. In addition, P&G has paid out an annual dividend to its shareholders in every year since 1890. And the company has not cut its dividend since…well, since never. That’s why Procter & Gamble has garnered the reputation of being a surefire “dividend king” among investors.

Currently, the company’s dividend sits at 60.15 cents per share, which is a 7% increase over its previous mark in April. This came on the heels of an identical 7% bump announced in April of 2012. In case you’re scoring at home, since 1970, Procter & Gamble’s dividend has risen over 5800%!

Procter & Gamble’s earnings statements have also put some smiles on shareholders’ faces. During the company’s fiscal third quarter (which corresponds to the calendar first quarter), P&G posted a 3% jump in organic sales and is predicting a similar increase for Q4. In addition, the conglomerate announced a 5% rise in core net earnings per share to 99 cents. Also, P&G’s core operating profit margin and gross margin improved 10 and 20 basis points, respectively. Finally, P&G noted that in businesses representing over half of the sales in Q3, the company maintained or grew market share.

But will Procter & Gamble’s future be as rosy as its past?

Experts believe that P&G stock will continue to shine brightly for three reasons. First, the conglomerate has such a diverse product line that any weakness in one division is likely to be offset by growth in another. This diversity is evident in P&G’s six business segments: Fabric Care and Home Care, Baby Care and Family Care, Health Care, Pet Care, Grooming, and Beauty. With its huge assortment of offerings, people across the globe are likely already using one or more of P&G’s products – which helps ensure a consistent revenue stream for the company.

Secondly, P&G has a long and storied history of pioneering new products and business practices, which has been one of the biggest reasons for its long-term success. For instance, P&G offered a revolutionary profit-sharing program for its workers in an effort to stave off labor unrest…way back in 1887. About three decades later, P&G “eliminated the middlemen” by bypassing wholesalers and selling its products directly to retailers, which changed the grocery industry forever. P&G also pioneered market research, brand-specific marketing strategies and product supply chains in addition to groundbreaking new products like Crisco, Tide, and Downy. And before globalization became the industry buzzword of modern times, P&G had already embraced the concept. The company operated facilities in over a dozen countries by 1994, and it started expanding internationally with the opening of its Canada plant…in 1915!

Thirdly, Procter & Gamble has made some recent business decisions that have cemented its position in the consumer goods industry for the 21st century. Perhaps most notably, P&G divested itself completely from the food business this year with its sale of Pringles to Kellogg. In 2005, the company merged with Gillette, putting popular brands Oral-B, Braun, and Duracell under the P&G umbrella in addition to those made by the shaving giant.

And finally, Procter & Gamble is making positive strides in areas not directly related to its product brands. In February 2012, Procter & Gamble unveiled a massive cost savings plan that aims to slice $10 million from the corporate ledger. One year later, the firm unveiled a strategic partnership with Verix Business Intelligence, which specializes in pre-packaged analytical applications and intelligent business alerts – tools which should help P&G further maximize its business efficiency. Finally, P&G garnered praise from the eco-friendly crowd earlier this year when it announced that it achieved “zero manufacturing waste” at 45 facilities around the world.

Even though experts are bullish on an eventual P&G dividend increase, they differ on when it will take place. Because the most recent dividend bump was announced in April, there’s a strong possibility that the conglomerate may not raise it again for the remainder of the calendar year. But given its consecutive streak of dividend increases, only a pessimist would predict a static dividend as of the end of 2014.

Though its U.S. sales are expected to remain relatively flat, Procter & Gamble is poised to experience revenue growth in foreign markets such as Brazil, China, Russia, and India, where middle-class economies are starting to flourish. That growth, coupled with continued product innovation and possible strategic acquisitions, is practically guaranteed to keep Procter & Gamble at the top of the market – which means that stockholders are very likely to see a dividend boost in the not-too-distant future.

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Chris Martin can give you some helpful suggestions to get your enterprise up and running. He has written about topics ranging from investing to consumer and business finance to entrepreneurism to how to liquidate office furniture.

One of the best ways to reach our own pot of gold is entering the real estate domain. Now, being a real estate agent is not an easy task if you lack the knowledge you need to survive in this field. There are many agents in the world and the main question is, what can you really do to stand out and be the agent of choice of many buyers?

Charge it to Experience

If you are new to this career, seeking the help of professionals would be of great help to you, especially since they know the ins and outs of real estate more than you do. There are two ways to do this—one is to pay for their knowledge, and the other is asking to assist them in their transactions. In this way, you would be able to understand real estate more.

Another thing you need to know about being a real estate agent is that there is more to it than selling properties. To be a credible agent, you need to be aware of the language used in the real estate world and these include title insurance, deeds, encumbrances, liens and a lot more.

• REAL ESTATE LIEN: In a lot of nations, liens are considered to be any property that serve as security that a certain debt will be paid. This is somehow similar to a mortgage.
• ENCUMBRANCE: This is connected to liens in a way that a lien is one form of encumbrance.
• TITLE INSURANCE: A very essential document generated by an insurance company that guarantees that a particular property is named after its rightful owner. This owner has full rights on selling the said property.
• DEED: Now, we are not talking about values here since a deed is a document that is utilized to grant a right.

These are just the ABC’s in the real estate world. There are still thousands of things you need to learn in this area to assure your success.

The Look Book

Building a wide network of buyers and sellers is an important part of your career. Remember that to be successful as a real estate agent, you must try to establish a long and lasting relationship with people in your field. Sometimes, it is not really what you know, but it is who you know. In creating your book of contacts, make sure that you have all the information you need to easily locate all the people that are listed there, otherwise, you might give yourself a hard time in the long run.

Be Unique. Be You.

There are many tactics you can apply to catch the attention of possible buyers. One thing you can do is start up an auction. In doing so, you have to fully concentrate on developing your marketing strategies. Never forget that hundreds of agents are out on the leash and the best thing you can do is to create your own drama that will mark on people’s minds.

Be TECHIE.

Let us move out of the conventional and use what the modern world has willingly provided us—technology. The Internet offers numerous possibilities to everyone, and having said so, you must take advantage of what it offers. Remember that the World Wide Web is one of the best ways to reach the global market. Allocate funds for a good web presence to make sure that you can catch a larger number of audiences.

Plan Ahead

Passing your licensure exam is not the most difficult part of being a real estate agent. Often times, many people fail because they fail to look beyond getting a license. Our world is getting more and more competitive nowadays and to keep up with this ever-growing competition, you need to have money. Let’s face it: Money makes the world go round, and included in that world is your business. Allot a budget for your business and prepare yourself for the first 6 months to 1 year since it would definitely be a tough ride. Study the field you have chosen and learn how to think critically in making decisions. There are times that things won’t go your way, and you have to have back-up plans to make sure that you won’t fall hard.

Analyse Trends

Many properties appreciate, while others depreciate. Learn where to invest your money and to analyse trends. You should realize as early as now that if life is a gamble, in the real estate domain, you have to be a wise gambler, or else, you have to say goodbye to your money!

A lot of agents become millionaires at an early age because they only invest on properties that can put a truck load of money in their piggy banks. Being wise in this field is not only an advantage, it is a NEED.

In any business you would enter, always be mindful of the steps you take as a single step can lead to your own pitfall. Remember that what you reap is what you sow, especially in the real estate world.

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Sarah del Rosario is a real estate and home blogger from denvercoluxuryhomes.com. She also runs a lifestyle blog – The Thrifty Senyorita.

But it’s not always a bad thing to be average, especially when it comes to your credit score. Having average credit is likely to get you decent interest rates, unsecured credit card offers and some solid cash back opportunities.

So why does it feel like credit cards for average credit are just that – average? And how can a consumer boost their score into the above-average to good and even great score range? Believe it or not, the process of improving credit can be simple, though it certainly takes some time to boost your score. But first, let’s address the original question – are all average credit cards really just “average”?

Actually, no.

Average credit cards are often a huge step up from bad, poor or no credit offers. Some include cash back opportunities and interest-free introductory periods, and most include lower interest rates than their bad credit counterparts.

Capital One® offers the most fair credit options of any of the major credit card issuers; Barclaycard is a lesser-known issuer (in this country) that’s also making a name as a national credit card company willing to lend above-average cash back credit cards to people with average credit.

One of the best fair credit options available is the Capital One Cash Rewards card, which includes one percent cash back on all purchases and a 50 percent cash back bonus on cash back accumulated each year. (You’ve probably seen Jimmy Fallon slinging this card on your TV). The Barclaycard Rewards MasterCard for Average Credit counters that offer with double points per dollar spent on gas, groceries and utilities, and this is perhaps the only average credit card available that includes a 6-month interest-free period applied to balance transfers. See, average credit isn’t so bad, right?

That said, there are several smaller credit card issuers willing to approve consumers with scores in the mid-to-upper 600′s, plus many local banks offer unsecured cards with decent APR’s. If you’re unsure about the fair credit offers you find online, it’s worth checking in with your local bank or credit union to find out what kinds of options are available to you.

How to Boost Your Score to Above Average or Better

While the above credit card options are decent-enough, it’s understandable and encouraged if you’re ready and willing to do the work necessary to improve your score. In fact, one of the easiest things you can do is use your fair or average credit card responsibly and make on-time, in-full payments each and every month for a year or more.

The biggest factor that determines your credit score is your payments history. The more on-time payments you make, the better you look in the eyes of creditors. Not only that, when you make payments in-full or well above your minimum, you’re working to pay down your current balance or avoid carrying a balance completely – both of which have a positive impact on your score.

Much like your payments history, another crucial element to improving your credit score from average to good is the amount of debt you carry each month. Essentially the higher your debt, the lower your score, especially if you don’t have a lot of credit available to you in the first place. It’s important to keep the amount of debt you owe under a third of your total available credit line; the creators of the FICO score have even said so.

If you’re ready to take your credit score to the next level, it’s worth applying for an average credit card, using it properly and giving it a year or so to boost your score. The above tips serve as simple steps to get your average credit score up, and if you think the average credit card offers are solid, wait ’til you see the good and excellent credit offers available…

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This post was written by Jason Bushey. Jason is a personal finance expert and the Editor of Creditnet.com, a leading authority on credit card reviews, rewards and advice.

Even though the Internet has become center stage in the last number of years when it comes to picking up tips on how to learn this and do that, there is still nothing quite as satisfying or educational as picking up a good book. After all, it can be a little tiring trying to highlight certain passages in that eBook or in that article you found online!

As many investment bankers can likely tell you, it is not a job that you just pick up overnight. In fact, it takes a good degree of financial wisdom to make the right calls and grow that money tree—and to get your clients and customers to truly trust you and what you have to offer to their financial success. When it comes to investment banking, even those just starting a business would be wise to polish up on their financial skills in order to set the right course for monetary success.

For those, however, diving right into investment banking, keep some of these titles in mind the next time you want to pick up a book and learn…they may help you figure out how to approach the job in a way that can lead to better results:

1. Liar’s Poker, by Michael Lewis
First hitting bookstores in 1989 and published by Penguin, this book is a solid read for anyone who wants a notion of what it’s like to be a bond salesman at a substantial firm, in this case, Salomon Brothers. Lewis describes his experience from start to finish, down to the cultural differences between trading desks, how much bankers can put away when it comes to food, and how to become a “big swinging Richard.”

2. Vault Career Guide to Investment Banking by Tom Lott
First published in 2007, this book provides readers with an overview of each and every aspect of the business, a crash course in equity and fixed income offerings, M&A, corporate finance, sales and trading, research, and syndicate.

3. Investment Banking: Valuation, Leveraged Buyouts, and Mergers and Acquisitions by Joshua Rosenbaum and Joshua Pearl
Written in 2009 by a managing director and director at UBS and published by Wiley, this read provides good insight for those individuals that conduct valuations. Those interested in M&A transactions, IPOs, and restructurings will learn frameworks for how to get deals taken care of. The book looks into primary valuation methodologies, something that pros will need to be successful on Wall Street.

4. Market Wizards by Jack Schwager
This gathering of interviews with traders published by HarperCollins in 1988 looks at their backgrounds, techniques, and tips for how to make a go of it in this line of work. Schwager interviews commodities traders such as Michael Marcus and Bruce Kovner, along with stocks and index futures traders like William O’Neil and Marty Schwartz.

5. Working The Street: What You Need To Know About Life on Wall Street by Erik Banks
A good read for aspiring bankers, this book takes its readers from the beginning to end of getting into the industry. He first provides an overview regarding how to acquire a job in investment banking, how to survive it, and finally when to walk away.

6. Killer Investment Banking Resumes by Wetfeet
Quick and to the point, this guide is littered with advice on how to turn your IB resume into something looking like a banker-friendly product. The guide also touches on investment banking cover letters.

7.How to Get a Job on Wall Street: Proven Ways to Land a High-Paying, High-Power Job by Scott Hoover
This publication takes the reader on a fast-paced ride via investment banking recruiting, starting from the very beginning (what is investment banking?) and traveling right through to the finale (how to perform in banking). Given this is a recent publication (2011), the reader also has the fortune of learning how to launch their career in investment banking in today’s world.

8. The Business of Investment Banking: A Comprehensive Overview, by K Thomas Liaw
Those wanting to learn more about investment banking, what a banker does, and what one can expect their investment banking internship salary to be will find this book a winner.

9. Career Guidebook for IT in Investment Banking (Essvale)
When a student interested in working their way into the IT side of investment banking requests a book recommendation, here it is. This can also be viewed as the book on IT careers in finance.

10. Investment Banking 101 – Investment Banking Explained: An Insider’s Guide to the Industry by Michel Fleuriet
Fleuriet breaks the IB industry apart and provides the reader with exactly what everyone does. When you put the book down for good, you will know the history of banking, the difference between S&T v. M&A v. Capital Raising, along with how it all interconnects. For aspiring bankers, even though this may not be the most exciting books their eyes have ever come across, it’s definitely one of the most important.

These are but a few of the countless investment banking periodicals that are out there. Whether new to investment banking or an old pro that could stand a refresher course or two, invest in some reading today.

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About the author: With 23 years of experience as a writer, Dave Thomas covers a wide array of topics from how to start a business to acquiring small business loans to finding the ideal gutter guards for your home.

Here, we’ll review five things you need to consider when deciding whether refinancing is right for you.

What is the value of your home? Has the value of your home depreciated since you purchased it? If that is the case, then it could be extremely difficult to obtain the lower interest rate on your home. If the value of your home is worth less than the amount that you owe on your mortgage, then you are going to have some difficulty with a refinancing situation.

Even if the value of your home is the same as when you purchased it, according to the Federal Reserve, “If you have a loan that includes negative amortization (when your monthly payment is less than the interest you owe, the unpaid interest is added to the amount you owe), you may owe more on your mortgage than you originally borrowed. If this is the case, it could be difficult for you to refinance.”

How high is your credit score? Since you purchased your home, have you maintained good credit? If you haven’t, then it could be far more difficult to get the kind of interest rate you think you are entitled to. Lenders base your interest rate on how big of a credit risk you are. So be sure that your credit is in good, clean shape before spending the time and money to consider refinancing.

According to SF Gate, US News and World report indicates that a score of 740 will get you the best possible rate, but other sources cite 750. It’s not that you won’t be considered for a loan with a score in the arena of 580, which does qualify you for a refinance. It’s simply that you won’t get anything close to the best rates, and your cost savings could thus be negligible in a refinance.

Keep in mind that lenders also look at things like your employment history, what your current income is, and other factors like current debt that indicate what type of a financial risk you might be in terms of ability to pay your monthly mortgage.

If you are able to refinance, how much lower will the monthly payment be? Consider the fact that with refinancing, you are paying off one loan and creating a new one. Consider the length of the loan and the new amount that you will wind up paying over that period compared to how long you have left on your current loan and the amount you will wind up paying on that. If the new loan is less costly, then it is obviously well worth refinancing.

Some people are misled into thinking that because their monthly fee is lower, they are saving money. But you really need to consider the duration of the new loan and if it really will wind up saving you money after all. If you have PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance) because you couldn’t put down a deposit of 20% on your home, and you can get rid of the PMI, there is obviously some good very incentive to consider refinancing. But in some cases, the step winds up not being worthwhile

How much is the penalty fee for switching your mortgage company? Most mortgage companies have a penalty fee associated with leaving them, which could ultimately be in thousands of dollars. Make sure that you fully understand the financial consequences of switching mortgage companies before considering doing so.

It also costs money to engage a lawyer to make sure that the process runs smoothly and that you are not being bamboozled in any way. Appraisal fees, application fees, title insurance fees, and title search fees are all also costs to consider. Though you might save money on your monthly fees, the cost to refinance in and of itself may render the process not worthwhile to you.

Are you planning to move and sell your home soon? If you are planning to move before you will be able to pay off your refinancing costs, then it’s not worth the expense of refinancing. It can take anywhere from one to two years to pay off these fees.

In short, be certain that you have thoroughly considered all of the implications of refinancing before you pull the trigger on what might in the moment seem like a great deal. You may already be in the more optimal situation than if you were to refinance for a number of reasons. If your credit is not in great shape, then you might not get a better interest rate which would reduce monthly fees. If your loan term is not too much longer, then paying that off and getting a new one may be the wrong move even though monthly fees are lower. Try using a mortgage calculator to compare current costs versus what you might be able to save in refinancing. You may find that it is absolutely the right decision, but it’s well worth making an informed and studied decision on the subject.

Which factors have prevented you from refinancing? We’d love to hear about it.

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Cara Aley is a freelance writer who covers a wide variety of topics from digital marketing strategies to online physician reputation management.

The most successful companies realize that handling customer complaints is every bit as important as providing excellent services and products. Dissatisfied customers will be dealt with promptly and courteously offered an apology for the inconvenience along with some sort of resolution to their issue.

But all too often, a business or institution puts too little attention or resources into their service department and fails to affectively address consumer complaints. Customer service agents who deal directly with consumers may have little training, resulting in erratic outcomes. What begins as a simple request for resolution to a specific complaint may turn into an ongoing dispute.

A Top Consumer Complaint
One area of consumer finance that gets more than its fair share of complaints is credit cards. Based on a breakdown by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 70 percent of all complaints in 2012 were credit and mortgage related. According the survey, 11 percent of cardholders had issues last year with specific trouble spots associated with billing, collections, identity theft and credit reporting hassles, in addition to interest rates. The three most common credit card complaints involved billing disputes (14%), APR or interest rate (10%) and identity theft/fraud/embezzlement (7%).

Resolving Credit Card Issues
To have an error on your credit card statement or a complaint addressed, begin by contacting the institutions involved. This may include your bank, the merchant and the credit card company. Send an explanation of your concern giving as much detail as possible and send it via certified mail. Request that they remove or make the correction. Be sure to maintain records of all communications.

The credit card company is obligated to acknowledge receipt of your request within 30 days and launch an investigation within 90 days or two billing cycles. Banks and financial institutions have 15 days to respond to a complaint and 60 days to address the problem. They can either fix the error or tell you exactly why they won’t.

If your problem still hasn’t been given the attention it deserves or you are not satisfied with the response, gather all relevant documents and consider getting help from another source.

Additional Resources to Help
Consumers need to understand that the credit card provider is not the only resource that can be utilized when disputes arise with the provider. There are several white knight agencies available for consumers to seek assistance when battling credit card companies. One of the responsibilities of the following non-profit and government agencies is to help you with credit card issues. And even if the end result isn’t what you expected, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that you’ve done all you can and that your complaint is on record at a number of agencies.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is a government agency that supervises banks, credit unions and other financial institutions while enforcing consumer laws that prohibit discrimination and other unfair treatment and deceptive practices.

This is the resource to use when you haven’t been able to resolve a dispute over billing, interest rates, closing an account or other concerns. The CFPB will investigate the complaint to determine if any consumer protection laws were violated and if enforcement action is needed. If you’d like to have a complaint added to the agency list, file online or by phone at 1.855.411.2372. Your complaint will be assigned a tracking number that you can log in to check the status of your complaint. They will forward your grievance to the credit card issuer. They may also take civil action, when appropriate.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is another government agency that is designed to help consumers in a variety of areas to help prevent unfair business practices.

While the FTC does not work to resolve consumer complaints, filing your complaints can help them to detect patterns of wrongdoing and lead to investigations and prosecutions. The FTC enters all complaints it receives into Consumer Sentinel, a secure online database that is used by thousands of civil and criminal law enforcement authorities worldwide. It also works with the CFPB to regulate consumer financial products and services.

Your State’s Attorney General is the chief law enforcement official. Filing a complaint will help in their investigations and prosecutions of shady practices for the good of the citizens of the state. Contact your state’s attorney general on the National Association of Attorneys General website to determine if your complaint warrants attention.

For More Elaborate Fraudulent Schemes
If you have multiple accounts that have been compromised or suspect that more devious activity may be behind your observations, it may warrant a more thorough nation or statewide investigation. As federal law enforcement agencies, the FBI and the Secret Service are responsible for protecting the nation’s infrastructure. Part of that job is to investigate criminal activity, including elaborate identity theft and complex fraud cases. You might want to consider filing a report if your issue falls within either agency’s jurisdiction.

You may also want to report your concerns to the Better Business Bureau and your local consumer protection agencies. Consumer complaints are the foundational resources they use to learn of threats and potential problems within your community and will use that information to produce materials to educate consumers against threats.

Although it should go without saying, it bears repeating. You, the consumer, are the first line of defense against any threats to your credit card account. Use safe practices and protect your account from being compromised. Never let your card out of your sight, create passwords that would be difficult to guess and remember to review every credit card statement and reports for errors at least bi-annually to insure their integrity.

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Noreen Ruth is a contributor to www.wowcreditcards.com and numerous financial-related blogs and websites. She specializes in credit and debt-related issues and enjoys educating consumers about the latest rules and regulations, as well as ways to build, improve and maintain good credit.

In the bathroom. If you consider that most of the things you spend time doing in the bathroom involve a water source, then it’s not surprising that leaks can arise for multiple reasons in this oft-used part of the home. Here are some of the common areas where leaks arise in the bathroom.

Shower doors. These can often be a source of leaks. To test whether or not your shower door is leaking, stand outside of the shower and turn the water on. Close the door and evaluate whether water is penetrating the door’s seal. This can absolutely cause damage to floors, walls, and rooms underneath the bathroom, so it’s well worth keeping an eye on.

Shower drains. Check your shower drain as well, as sometimes this can separate over time from the shower floor, particularly in cases where you have a fiberglass shower unit, causing vulnerability.
Shower spouts. Sometimes water gets between the faucet and the shower unit and can leak to the ceiling on the floor below the bathroom. This is actually a more common household leak, and can be prevented by making sure the faucet is sealed properly with calking.

Bathroom sinks. Another potential bathroom issue includes a leaky water pipe under the faucet, which is easy to detect by looking for stains underneath the piping. Sometimes having a bunch of bottles and toilet paper and extra items under the sink which can bump into the piping will be the simple cause of a leak. Additionally, the faucet itself can be the cause of a leak if the rubber washer is not properly in place.

Toilets. Assess the area at the base of your toilet for moisture or warping of the floor due to moisture. There is a great test you can do as shown on wikihow.com that involves putting food coloring in your toilet’s tank, waiting 30 minutes, and then evaluating the water in the toilet bowl. If it has changed color in any way, then this is another way to have found a leak.

In the kitchen. The kitchen, much like the bathroom, has a variety of potential leak sources.

Refrigerator. Always check at the base of the refrigerator for moisture. Sometimes leaks will pool there and can be quite easily detected.

Dishwasher. Dishwashers can leak from the bottom if not sealed properly. Look for moisture at the base of the dishwasher. Floor discoloration or warping are also clear signs of a leak, but in these cases you’ve found the leak a bit later than is obviously optimal! But often people overlook these signs in a kitchen after assuming that perhaps they spilled the water themselves somehow.

Sink. A sink can have multiple leak sources. Your garbage disposal is one, if not properly installed or if the pipes start to deteriorate due to usage. The pipes are also a potential source. Keep the area under your sink clear underneath the pipes and directly under the disposal so that leaks can easily be detected as water begins to pool and so that the water can’t be absorbed by something else and thus not noticed.

Your roof. There is little that is more frustrating when it comes to home repair than a leaky roof. How can you tell if something is going awry with your roof?

Very often, you can see with the naked eye where the roof might be separating from a vent or skylight, or where tiles are bent or damaged. Also, be sure to look from the inside of the house for water stains on the ceilings – these are things we often don’t notice as they are above us and we aren’t often looking up at the ceiling. Sometimes you can fix these leaks yourself with a rubberized patch, but more often than not, it is smart to call in the professionals, as where there is one leak there can be many.

In every room. Windows and doors whose seals are not tight can let in water during inclement weather. Watch for moisture accumulating around the edges of windows and doors during storms and call in the pros if you see evidence of such accumulation.

Stop water damage before it starts. By following these handy tips in identifying leaks before they become a bigger issue, you’ll avoid the massive potential costs associated with the bigger damage they can ultimately cause.

There are also tools you can purchase to help with the detection of water leaks. Honeywell has a very helpful product called the Water Leak Detection Alarm whose cable can be placed under your sink or dishwasher, behind your refrigerator, or anywhere you are worried about a potential leak occurring. It detects even slight amounts of moisture and the cable is 240 feet long, so it can wrap around multiple potential water leak sources in the same room if necessary.

Simply remaining diligent in the inspection of your home on an ongoing basis will aid in locating water leaks before they cause bigger and more costly damage.
Have a tip or tool for finding water leaks? We want to hear about it!

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Cara Aley is a staff writer with Leak Masters, an underground leak detection service based in Seattle.