How Macro Economic Issues Affect Middle Class Americans

How economic issues affect AmericansThe stock market is humming along lately, but this is of course despite a few recent macro level economic hiccups. Thanks to the federal government and the shutdown the economy has continued to remain sluggish.

According to a report recently released by Standard & Poor’s, the government shutdown cost the United States $24 billion in lost production and growth. It took out $24 billion from the U.S. economy over the 16 day shutdown.

My Interview With Frank Trotter, President of Everbank Direct

In this episode of the Money Q&A podcast, “Your Money: Your Choices”, I interview Frank Trotter, the President of Everbank Direct, and we talk about how macro economic issues  affect everyday middle class Americans. Should you be concerned about quantitative easing or other Federal Reserve policies?

How do those decisions in Washington DC affect the rest of us? Will we ever see the return of a savings account that earns 4% annual rate of return or more. These questions and more are what I ask Frank Trotter of Everbank Direct. It is a great conversation about the economy and how large macro issues touch us all.

I asked Mr. Trotter about where quantitative easing comes into play. Is the average American concerned about quantitative easing? Should they be concerned about it?

“Well I think it’s interesting,” said Trotter. “You know Steve Forbes, when he gives talks sometimes says, ‘if you have a chatty neighbor on an airline and you want him to shut up, just say I’d like to talk about monetary policy’. And, I think it’s a really difficult topic, from a technical standpoint, to understand. So, I don’t know if people actually have a context even to understand it. We’re [Everbank Direct] concerned about it. Maybe it’ll work. Maybe it’ll be the dream scenario. It’s going to get us through, but it could be a disaster.”

Want to hear more about what Mr. Trotter had to say? Be sure to check out the rest of the podcast episode on iTunes.

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Taking The Mystery Out Of A Car Insurance Claim In 5 Steps

Taking The Mystery Out Of A Car Insurance Claim

Taking the mystery out of a car insurance claimPeople tend to take their car insurance for granted until it comes time to file a car insurance claim. At this point, drivers need the mystery behind the claims process to be unveiled quickly.

People often feel nervous and uncomfortable making claims because they do not know exactly what the whole thing entails. Some parts of the process can vary depending on the state, the nature of your accident, and the company.

Taking The Mystery Out Of A Car Insurance Claim

However, by familiarizing yourself with the typical experience of the average insured motorist, you can ensure that the process goes smoothly and that you will get the most out of the policy for which you have been paying. Whether you have to file a car insurance claim while holding onto your SR-22 insurance or your standard premium policy, the following 5 steps will demystify the claim process for you.

Get All the Relevant Information

It is extremely likely that you will be filing a car insurance claim because you have been involved in an accident with another vehicle. In order to have the data necessary to file a claim, you must be sure that you collect the license plate number of all cars involved in addition to the other driver’s insurance information. It is also wise to get phone numbers from the other drivers in case additional information is needed.

Make the Situation Cut and Dry

It is important to gather contact information for any witnesses and collect the information necessary to have access to any police reports that may be made concerning the accident. It is likely that the insurance company will ask for such information in order to verify which driver was actually at fault before they will make any payouts on any subsequent claims that are being filed. The party at fault can have a major bearing on the dollar amount that your insurance adjuster is willing to sign off in regard to your car insurance claim.

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