The technological revolution has been a serious point of interest for the lending industry. In the wake of mass digitisation and an increasing reliance on the Internet and connected technology for business purposes, many lenders (and borrowers) have found themselves wondering where lending will be and what the process will look like in the future.

Well, fear not: if you’re a borrower, then things are looking up for you. The future isn’t quite as rosy for traditional lenders, though; they’ll have to work harder to compete in an increasingly crowded market, and they’ll need to be able to battle online-only companies with significantly lower overheads and a more persuasive and desirable brand identity.

The first indication that the lending industry was changing as a result of an increasingly online-dominated landscape was arguably the peer-to-peer lending boom. The first P2P lending companies began appearing in the late 2000s, revolutionising the concept of money-lending by emphasising a more grassroots approach which favoured the relationship between consumers and companies rather than the transaction itself.

P2P lenders represent (in theory) a more transparent, more grounded industry with an increased focus on the consumer, which is why borrowers will be better off in the future. The Internet has already created a number of opportunities for companies to fill niches which were not previously filled by bigger companies.

These niches include more flexible student finance agreements, online-only mortgage lending which allows users to get a quote in minutes without a lengthy credit check process, and quick-turnaround lending which majorly threatens credit cards, among others. Put simply, the Internet has changed the landscape of loans and lending forever, and it’s not looking likely that this change will be reversed.

With that said, a large amount of the functionality and operation of loans looks likely to continue as normal, albeit with a decidedly more ethical spin. Let’s take payday loans as an example. Some negative press around certain payday loan lenders means that the public is more wary than ever about hidden terms and conditions; with scandal comes increased scrutiny.

Even though this is the case, the best payday loan lenders are unlikely to be fazed by this. A huge amount of payday lenders already carry out their business with near-total transparency and an emphasis on ethical treatment of their customers; problems begin when loan companies attempt to draw more money out of their customers than they have been honest about, and that’s just not something that a reputable payday loan company would ever want to do.

In a similar sense, the types of loans on offer to consumers are unlikely to change, although we’ll probably see more lending around bitcoin and cryptocurrency as the kinks in these systems are worked out and the security around them increases. Right now, the issue with lending cryptocurrency is that there’s no centralised authority, so there’s no way of absolutely guaranteeing the safety of cryptocurrency transactions. At the moment, the bitcoin lending process requires a huge amount of trust from both parties, so as these systems are refined and changed, expect to see this currency taking off in a big way in terms of lending.

Otherwise, the future of loans is, well, business as usual, as boring as it might sound (but boring is good when it comes to finance). As it stands, the vast majority of loans fall into four categories: secured loans, unsecured loans, short-term loans (payday loans) and peer-to-peer loans. There are other kinds, but these are the most common types of loan you’re likely to come across.

There’s just no reason why increasing digitization and cryptocurrency are likely to change this. Unsecured loans will still be offered to consumers, although the amounts are likely to change based on new developments in online technology and companies who are willing to trust their customers more. Secured loans will continue as long as people have property against which the loan can be secured.

Peer-to-peer lending looks like it is only going from strength to strength, although there will need to be tighter regulation and a closer eye on business practices going forward if it’s to maintain its current standing. Payday lending is unlikely to change as long as there are people who need money on a short-term basis, and with the recent rise of the gig economy, the number of people who require this service is only likely to increase. If the future of loans will change at all, it will likely be towards this more short-term lending system as people’s incomes are less certain in a majority self-employed economy (if that is indeed where we’re going as a society).

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Retirement is often considered to be the icing on the cake when it comes to enjoying different phases of life. While planning your life after retirement, you must set aside all of your current responsibilities and worries. Retirement leaves you with rare opportunities for participating in recreational activities, traveling, and nurturing certain hobbies. However, you mustn’t forget that you won’t have any regular source of income for the rest of your life. You must remember that you need funds to sustain all health issues and financial challenges after retirement. By making a few crucial investment decisions, you’ll be able to spend the rest of your life in leisure and comfort. Financial planning should be initiated now when you’re working and in good health.

It’s a truly daunting task for you to compare various pension plans and achieve an uninterrupted flow of income after you get retired. It’s certainly going to be a taxing issue for you to narrow down your choice of a pension pay-out although even after you select a beneficial pension plan. Apart from seeking professional assistance, you must also do extensive research on the factors that count for retirement planning.

Tips to acquire funds for your post-retirement years are mentioned below:

Calculate your basic living cost

You must choose a pension plan that yields a good return for covering all of your basic monthly expenses. You must assess your regular expenses just to determine your mandatory expenses in the future. In order to arrive at an accurate figure, you must include your sundry expenses, transportation cost, expenses pertaining to clothing and food, utility bills (including gas and water), and housing costs in your list of expenses.

Consider the effects of inflation

Inflation is bound to take a toll on all goods and services making the living cost dearer with each passing year. Indians are witnessing an inflation rate worth 4% of late and this is likely to rise during the coming years. This way, you’re bound to experience a rise in pension pay-out based on the rate of inflation. On the contrary, the amount that you receive won’t prove to be adequate for meeting your basic expenses. This way, you may even be compelled to seek financial assistance while you aren’t working anymore.

Avail some health coverage

You must learn to cope with the increase in health care costs. Opting for a health insurance plan can actually save you from the adverse impact of unforeseen medical expenses on the monthly budget. You must plan things up in advance and work things out in an efficient manner. Try applying for a health plan that can protect you and your loved ones from all untoward incidents.

Include the cost of recreation

Retirees are often known to enjoy their pastime by pursuing their hobbies, visiting their favorite destinations, reading their favorite books, and doing a host of other things. You’ll need to pay a cost for the perks that you enjoy; you must pay things out of your pension. You must save a portion of your pension to cover your costs more effectively.

You must consider the tips mentioned above if you really wish to enjoy your golden age with ease and comfort. It will help you achieve a firmer grip over your entire financial situation. All you need to do is to pick the right pension plan and utilize the money in an efficient manner just to secure your old age.

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Often unexpected expenses come up in life, catching us unawares and unprepared. When that happens, it is good to have the option of a personal loan to turn to for financial assistance.

Personal loans come in two types: secured and unsecured. Secured loans are less common. They require you to hold something for collateral, such as a car title or property. If you default on your payments, your lender is legally able to take your personal secured property.

Unsecured loans are less strict and much easier to get approved for. They require no collateral to get approved. However, they have many drawbacks to them as well, and borrowers should always know the pros and cons of their loan terms before they sign for one.

Personal Loans: What Are They Good For?

If you prefer to leave your personal property safe and not use it as collateral, you have the option of an unsecured loan. These types of loans have an easier application process and quick turnaround on distribution of money. If you need cash fast in an emergency situation, you can apply for a personal loan.

Unsecured personal loans can be applied for online from the comfort of your own home, and many times your approval or denial can be obtained in minutes.

Borrower Beware: Know the Cons of an Unsecured Personal Loan

Although there is no collateral involved in an unsecured personal loan, if you do not make your payments the lender still has recourse to take against you. They may be able to place a lien on your assets to ensure they are paid before you can sell your property.

They also may be able to take you to court and sue you for what you owe, plus legal expenses. Your credit score will be severely impacted, and your wages may even be garnished depending on the terms of the settlement.

Another drawback to unsecured personal loans is that the amounts you can receive are much smaller than secured loans. This helps limit the lenders’ financial risk. If you do not pay the loan back, they are only out a small amount.

You can also expect the interest rates to be higher if you are using a lender that does not run your credit, or approves you even with poor or bad credit. This high interest rate will make your monthly payments larger.

The terms will also be more strict if you can’t make your payments. High late payment penalties or rises in the interest rate for payments not made on time are very common with unsecured personal loans.

Weigh Your Pros and Cons

Before you sign on the dotted line, read the terms carefully. Be sure that you really need the money that you are borrowing, and that the monthly repayment terms are within your budget. Know your consequences and be willing to accept them should you end up having to default on your payments.

If you are comfortable with the cons of a personal loan, they are there for you to help you get through this difficult financial time.

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Cash in a Flash! Well, How to Generate Funds Quickly, Anyway

Short of robbing a bank (which incidentally, we’d NEVER advocate, just for the record) there’s precious few ways to get our hands on a lump of cash in an instant. Or so you might think. However, there are far more legit ways to fund ourselves, which involve neither masks depicting former Presidents of the United States and/or a job lot of Mini Coopers, if we’re mixing our heist movie metaphors. So, what other avenues can you venture down to put your hands on a shed load of money before you can say “This is a hold up!”

Which of course, it isn’t/won’t be.

Finding ourselves short of cash at times when we need it most in our life is not unheard of. On the contrary, as most of us will experience this feeling at some point in our natural, as it can happen to pretty much anyone. Scenarios which tend to create this sense of dread and subsequent cold sweat/blind panic include unforeseen car problems, unpredicted job losses and/or an undetected illness coming to bear. The question is, who do you turn to for help in your darkest hours?

Many people would suggest that you try a good payday loan lender, and there’s many arguments as to why this would be amongst the best choices you could make when faced with this situation. But then you must also be aware that aside from payday loan lenders there are a number of alternative methods you could look into, all of which might be able to free up some much needed funds here and now. Below we take a quick look at just a few of these.

Cash in Your Life Insurance Policy – Not all of it, obviously. It’s just that should you have been in possession of a whole life insurance plan for so many years; the chances are that you’ll have accumulated a decent amount of equity that you could, hypothetically, borrow against. Understandably, if you exercise this right at this juncture, the upshot is you’ll reduce the amount paid out at a later date, but on the plus side at least you won’t be accountable for any taxes if you choose to cash out (as it were) right now.

Home Equity Loans – Adhering to a similar principle to the one outlined above re: life insurance policies, providing that you’ve paid a decent amount into your existing mortgage plan already, you could be able to borrow against the equity of your property. Reverse mortgages could also be a makeweight at this testing financial time in your life, although they only really come into play for those who own their homes outright. But as a cautionary note, it’s worth remembering that both these types of get out of jail free cards come at a price. That price being both types of short term loans to yourself will need to be repaid further down the line. Failure to do so might put your home in jeopardy.

Consider Visiting a Pawn Shop – Careful how you spell/pronounce this one, but actual pawn shops (the modern, more socially acceptable version of these being the likes of Cash Converters et al) are in the business of giving you no-questions-asked short and medium term loans. And the best bit is, there’s usually no restrictions placed on the arrangement of said loans or how you choose to spend the funds recruited. The flip side is that pawn shops only ever lend you a percentage of your item’s monetary worth, plus they do have a habit of charging significantly high interest rates. Oh, and don’t forget. If you fail to repay the loan, your possessions become the loan providers. So think on, if it’s a family heirloom you’re swapping for some much-need folding stuff. That said, if needs must there are worse ways…..

Cards are a Gift Horse – A recent study revealed that in the region of £300 million worth of gift cards went unused in the past few years, which is a staggering amount of money to be sitting on and not actually doing anything for you. Collectively, that is. There are various ways in which to cash in your unused or wanted gift cards too, where monetary recompense isn’t quite the face value, but nevertheless better than the nothing it’s generating sat in your wallet or purse.

Rent a Room out – Most people are under the wrong impression that Airbnb rentals are all about summer holidays, and homeowners who allow you to rent out their gaff whilst they themselves are away somewhere for varying lengths of time. But this couldn’t be further from the truth, as a growing number of the website’s listings encompass both extra and/or shared room arrangements. So, effectively, you still live in your house but allow other (rent-paying folk) to come and go. Works better of course, if you live in a picturesque area and not next to a cement works or something.

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You may utilize fixed-rate personal loans as an important debt consolidation tool. Such debt may include meeting some forthcoming expense or credit cards depicting higher rates. Your car or property can be used as collateral while financing a secured personal loan. On the contrary, there’s no need for collateral to back up an unsecured personal loan.

Check Out a Few Good tips to Achieve Better Rates:

Take a Look at Your Credit Score

You may achieve loans with a much lower rate of interest when you possess a higher credit score. Financial institutions don’t take any risks, but they wish to earn good returns on the money that they lend. You must assess your entire credit situation prior to applying for a loan. Your loan application stands a higher chance of being rejected if you aren’t aware of your risks. You must run your eyes through your credit report before even applying for your first quote. The three major credit reporting agencies can provide you with free copies of the same every year.

Improve the Current Credit Score

You must do all it takes to improve your credit score if it doesn’t look satisfactory in the report. Before you even set out on applying for a loan, you must get the errors rectified. You may not even recognize some of the errors like that those concerning unpaid accounts; these errors will certainly leave a strong impact on your credit score. They would even lower your chances of securing a personal loan with a lower interest rate. Likewise, you must also take care of all collection accounts and unpaid credit cards that yield a poor reflection on your report.

Do Some Smart Shopping

A credit inquiry is triggered by each loan application that you submit with a lender. Such an inquiry has an adverse effect on your credit score. Your credit score takes a major hit when you apply for multiple personal loans simultaneously. You must choose loans with credit standards that seem to be affordable for you. By visiting a lender’s website, you may easily find out the minimum credit score that you ought to have in order to submit your loan application with them.

Identify the Right Banks

Apart from a few online market-places, you may check out the prospect of obtaining a loan from banks wherein you already have a savings or checking account. If you’ve succeeded in establishing a long-term banking relationship through your first mortgage or deposits, they’re more likely to provide you with discounted rates or other great deals. Even by enabling your savings or checking accounts to allow an automated payment each month, you may achieve an extra discount.

Draw a Budget

You must check out your affordability before you even try to obtain the best rates. Prior to submitting your loan application, you must understand how much you should actually consider as a reasonable payment every month. Drawing the right budget plays a crucial role over here. You’re more likely to face a problem down the line if your budget gets stretched in order to meet your monthly payments. You don’t need to get over-stretched in order to achieve an inexpensive rate. Winding up more in terms of debt is the last thing that you’d want right now.

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