Financial planning is key when it comes to making different types of investments. However, technology now plays a key role in financial planning with the increasing use of software to analyze and predict certain financial outcomes. Access to historical data to compare different types of investments, assess their viability and predict a profit margin are all tasks which have been simplified due to this premium software.

Valuation formulas for different types of securities, risk assessment, equity analysis done in real time within seconds are just some of the highlights of these financial planning tools. The five most popular softwares which have now become mainstream financial planning tools include:

Money Tree: Money Tree has designed a number of softwares and additional tools to be primarily used by bankers. The Silver program, MoneyGuidePro, eMoney Advisor are just some of the financial products associated with this software beneficial for estate planning, retirement planning, and even educational funding plans. An easy to use software which can be integrated with various third-party programs, especially to run certain scenarios to predict financial outcomes making it one of the popular financial planning tools available in the market.

MoneyGuidePro: Visually interactive, MoneyGuidePro is designed to engage whoever is using it to input different choices and mimic certain desired financial outcomes. This software can be integrated with many third-party programs, similar to that of Money Tree which makes it a comprehensive financial planning tools for end users.

eMoney Advisor: Cash flow analysis module is the premier highlight of this software, with a financial feed that provides you with real-time data for analysis. Additional features allow clients to access their financial data to take printouts. Real-time data helps financial advisors stay on top of their game and assess the best investment options available.

Advicent: While the eMoney advisor is best known for its cash flow analysis module, NaviPlan by Advicent features a detailed cash management module. The user interface of this software includes a side by side on screen comparison for investments and scenario simulations best suited for financial analysis for retirement accumulation, distribution of the assets and liabilities of clients.

Advizr: This software offers sophisticated financial planning tools for social security, stress tests for retirement planning and more. Of all the software available in the market, Advizr is the only one which has a comprehensive focus on retirement planning which makes it one of the best financial planning tools for investment advisors.

Selecting a person who will be in charge of your money can be quite a challenging task, which is why you need to understand the different types of financial advisors and their specializations. Financial planning is imperative to build a nice comfortable retirement nest egg so that you will not have to worry about making rent and payments for utilities in your golden years.

Different types of financial planners will provide both general and specific services. Here are five financial planners who are adept in analyzing your portfolio and utilizing financial planning tools to help build you that nest egg.

Stockbrokers: Stockbrokers are registered representatives who have a good knowledge of the different investment products available in the market. These financial planners qualify after taking the series 6 & 7 exams and register with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, to obtain their license to practice as a broker. Stockbrokers will not advise you on the best financial planning tools rather they will use these tools to sell you different products to invest in and earn their commission, while you make a profit to be saved for retirement.

Investment advisors: Individual advisors or investment agencies will advise the best possible course of action to be taken on certain financial products, mostly securities. It is up to the client to act on the advice given which is why investment advisors differ from stockbrokers.

Chartered Financial Analyst: People who have qualified and earned this designation from the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute are eligible to practice. CFA’s are adept in investment analysis and portfolio management on behalf of the client.

Certified Public Accountant: CPA’s just like CFA’s have to clear the examinations set forth by the CPA institute to qualify and practice on their own. Additional certifications for CPA’s include a PFS (Personal Financial Specialist) designation which focuses on financial planning mainly concerning taxation and accounting. CPA’s are great planners who make use of various financial planning tools.

Certified Financial Planner (CFP): Probably one of the best options when it comes to choosing financial planners since CFP’s have to qualify stringent education and experience requirements and are also required to take continuing education programs even after certification. There are certain ideals of conduct which comprise of the code of ethics, rules of conduct, practice standards to be followed and compiled by the CFP.

Qualification and experience are two of the main parameters which will help you decide on which financial planner will best suit to make use of various financial planning tools available at his or her disposal to assist you in an investment.

Silver bullion consists of coins, bars, ingots and rounds that are made silver. However, silver bullion most commonly refers to silver coins. Investing in bullion, whether gold or silver, is considered a strong addition to an investment portfolio. This is because the value of precious metals nearly remains constant even in the most unsteady financial environment. Also, the value of bullion does not fluctuate sporadically and in fact, their value tends to grow in terms of global worth and liquidity. However, the price of bullion does change on a day to day basis.

Silver bullion can be bought from banks, brokerage firms, coin dealers, and precious metal dealers. The value of silver bullion depends on its purity and its melt value. The melt value is the value of the bullion you would get once it is melted and sold. The purity value of silver bullion is usually set at 99.9% globally. If you are curious about silver bullion, here are 4 basic things you should know:

Turning silver into bullion: Silver bullion is made by melting silver grain above 2192 degrees Fahrenheit. This turns the solid metal into liquid form, which is then poured into molds. These molds can be of ingots, bars and coins that turn the molten metal into silver bullion. The bullion is then stamped with purity, weight and other information.

Types of silver bullion coins: The U.S Mint makes two types of silver bullion coins. There are special minted coins for collectors. These are called proof bullion coins, which are directly sold by the Mint in protective display cases. For general investment, the Mint produces uncirculated bullion coins. These are sold to authorized buyers only.

Investing in silver bullion: Silver bullion is usually bought by investors as a guarantee against financial market instability. Silver bullion is usually a backup for volatile fluctuations in the value of paper currency. For instance, if the value of U.S. dollar falls drastically or is completely lost, investors with silver bullion will still have something on which they can rely.

Low-cost silver bullion. Silver billion in the form of bars and cons are the most affordable investment. Silver bullion in the form of coins is affordable to buy and flexible to sell as well. This is due to their relatively low weight and value that makes it manageable while selling. For instance, a silver bar will weigh about one hundred ounces. You will have to sell one hundred ounces of silver. But if you have one-ounce silver coins that weigh one hundred ounces together, buying and selling become more flexible.

Silver bullion is one of the most stable investments preferred by the most seasoned investor. This is because bullion is considered as a stable option in the ever-fluctuating financial environment. An investment in silver bullion can be a prudent decision for preserving as well as increasing the value of your wealth and investment portfolio.

However, investing in silver is easier said than done. You need to carefully research and investigate the various aspects of silver bullion including purity content, the value of the bullion and the source from where you will be buying. If you are thinking about investing in silver bullion, here are 4 things you should know about:

Reason to buy silver bullion: Silver has been one of the most versatile precious metals. In the commodities market, it is apparently the second-most popular option. Although the price of silver bullion changes every day, it not as volatile as other investment options. Also, when the value of paper currency drops, silver bullion can be a solid fallback option for investors.

Types of silver bullion to invest in: Experiences investors and speculators buy silver in various forms that include silver bars, bullion coins, numismatics coins (collectors’ coins), ingots and ‘paper’ silver. For the generic investor, American Silver Eagle is the best and safest option. Produced by the U.S. Mint, this coin is the global standard for silver bullion coins. These coins are usually sold in tubes called Silver Eagle Mint Tubes; one tube has 20 American Silver Eagle coins. These are also available in a monster box, which holds about 500 silver bullion coins each weighing one ounce.

Where to buy silver bullion from: One of the best places to buy silver bullion coins is from a bank. Another option is to buy from authorized dealers. A point to note here is the banks charge lesser markup prices for bullion. A dealer will always want a bigger profit margin, so you will have to pay more if you buy from a dealer. Make sure that you consult a financial advisor before you decide to invest in silver bullion from sources other than an authorized bank.

Taking the delivery: If you decide to buy silver bullion from other sources and not from a bank, make sure that you personally receive the delivery of your valuable investment. Do not trust sellers and dealers who promise delivery at a later date or say that the coins will be delivered to a secured facility or account.

A few years ago, opening a bank account meant several trips to the bank branch and even more formalities to be completed. Visiting a nearby branch and waiting until your account could make most of us procrastinate the much-needed task. Opening a bank account is necessary and there is no way you can get away from it. But the good is that you can now open a bank account online. Well, yes. With the development in technology, several banks have begun to offer this facility.

If you wish to open a bank account online, you can do so with much ease. However, there are few challenges that people may face sometimes. Here are some reasons when you will be left with no option but have to visit the bank:

Age factor – When you try to open a bank account online, you will have to fill in details about your age. Individual who are under the legal age of 18 may not be able to go ahead with the procedure. The reason behind this is that any person who is under 18 can not open an independent bank account. One will have to start a joint account with a guardian. The guarding does not have particularly be a parent and be any adult. This procedure will require you to visit the branch of the bank.

Citizen of the country – If you are a citizen of the United States, you be able to easily open a bank account online. But this does not mean that non-Americans can not. An individual who is not a citizen may have to produce the certain document and undergo verification before the procedure is completed. For this reason, a trip to the bank will be necessary.

Unclear account history – The bank will check your past history before letting you open a bank account online. If you have an unclear history or have a past record of checks getting bounced, you request of opening a new account may not be accepted. The system will report an error and you will have no choice but to visit the bank’s nearest branch to sort out the issue.

Entity accounts – If you are opening a personal account online, there should be no hitch in the process. However, if you have to open an account for a business or specific organization that is a high chance that you have to go to the bank’s branch to carry out certain types of verifications and personally get in contact with the banking professionals.

The online space has come to be a real boon for many. Thanks to the internet, you can now do everything at the tips of fingers, while lying on your couch. From ordering food online to making reservations for your next holiday, you can do it all through the online space. If this is not amusing enough, you can now open a bank account online.

Not until very long, opening a new bank account was one of the most boring tasks. From having to visit the bank to produce a bunch of documents, the entire procedure could make you cringe. However, with the onset of the online world, you can now open bank accounts online. Well, this is sure to come as a big surprise, but yes, it is true. This much-needed facility will mean that you no more have take trips to the branch and stand in big ques.

If you are planning to open a bank account online, there is not much that you have to do. However, opening a bank account online will means being more involved than just signing up to a new email account. The procedure may be longer and you need to know and get a get things together before starting. You have to first begin by deciding on the bank that you want to open a bank account with. Most banks have a set number of things that they require to go forward with the procedure and listed below are the items that you will require:

Source of funding – Like in a tradition bank account opening procedure, when opening a bank account online, you have to add a principal fund to the account. You will have to provide a source through which the money can be added. Doing this through a credit or debit card is one of the easiest ways. However, you can also transfer the funds from another bank account by linking it with the account number.

Documents and personal information – The bank requires authentication and thus you will have to provide personal details about yourself. You will have to provide information about your birth date, personal documents such as driving license, passport and more. In the case of a reputed bank, you do not have to worry about security as the information will be kept confidential.

The point of contact – Every bank maintains a relationship with their customers through regular communication. Thus, you will have to update your contact information. This will include your email address, phone number, and residential address. This contact information will be used to update and inform you about various bank deals or requirements in the future.

Also known as homeowner’s insurance (abbreviated in the United states real estate industry as HOI), home insurance quotes are a type of property insurance quotes that combines various personal insurance coverages. It is usually a package policy, which means it covers both your property, liability or legal responsibility for any property damage or injury that might occur to you, your home, a family member or other people.
Here is how you should find home insurance quotes that best suit you and the property you own:

Know what type of home insurance you want
When searching for a home-insurance quote, look for options that cover gadgets, and other high-value items in your quote. This way, you might find your home insurance covering for your expensive gadget such as a mobile phone, this way you can cancel excessively priced premium offered by the network provider.

Annual payment options
There are home-insurance providers that insist on monthly payments through direct debit or ECS. This can add up admin fee, and even a finance or interest charge. It is found that generally paying monthly can cost more. Hence search for insurers that provide annual payment options. It is just one bank outgoing you need to plan instead of 12, which makes it easier to manage funds.

Look for add-ons
Combine add-ons or coverages with your existing policy. Not all home insurance quotes will cover all the losses that your house incurs. Also, you might get waived off some charges on the complete home insurance quote if you take add-ons. Another great option is to seek out those home insurance quotes that are offered by age bracket. You might also get discounts if you purchased home insurance from the same insurance agency that covers for your vehicle and medical bills. Referring friends or family members will also help.

Look beyond comparison sites
when looking for home insurance quotes many people use price comparison websites. Although, these websites are a useful place to compare prices, not all insurance agencies put up their home insurance quotes on these websites. Thus, you might miss out on a specific home insurance quote that best-suited your home and property. Visit the official websites of the insurance agencies, if you find a home insurance that looks legitimate for your property, you may ask for the price of the quote (if the price is not mentioned on their website). They will get in touch with you and you can negotiate for the best home insurance quote.