Financial Awareness Week

The best time to get your finances under control and set your long term goals is now. Financial Awareness Week is on next week in New Zealand with events around the country. Here in Christchurch there is to be a stall at the Northlands Mall manned by members of the IFA (Institute of Financial Advisers). This is your opportunity to ask questions that may have been bugging you and to get started on your financial journey....

“When you need professional advice, get it from professionals not your friends.”Life’s Little Instruction Book, Vol II, HJ Brown Jr.

Increased Interest in Life Insurance Due to Swine Flu

Apparently life insurance has increased in demand in the US due to the swine flu.

Dr. Steven Weisbart, the author of a 2006 study based on recent epidemics in the US, studies plagues, pandemics and terrorism for the Insurance Information Institute. He has said that the life insurance industry could endure a swine flu surge, even in the remote likelihood of an outbreak comparable to the 1918 Spanish influenza epidemic that killed two million people.

Swine Flu and the World Economy

As if investors didn't have enough to worry about we now have concerns about another flu pandemic - swine flu. This is causing concern in global markets following deaths in Mexico and its spread to various parts of the world.

Global sharemarkets have been nervous by concerns about its economic impact. And the impact on economic and financial markets of the world would be significant. Coming at a time when the global economy is already weakened, pandemic fears have already caused nervousness in sharemarkets making more weakness possible. BUT, following the experience with SARS and bird flu the world is now better prepared for a viral pandemic. The advice from some economists is to be alert, but not alarmed.