Blog

Wallet and Bank Account a little light on??

15/5/2017

It's almost the END OF FINANCIAL YEAR. Save 000's off the purchase of a new car.

10/5/2017

Are you looking for a fantastic deal on a car purchase? Organise your car loan with us now and you'll be in a good position to save at the end-of-financial-year (EOFY) car sales!

You can expect to see some exceptional deals before the EOFY, as car dealers will be rushing to clear their stock and meet their annual sales targets. So now's the time to get out there and negotiate a competitive price on that new set of wheels you've been waiting for.

Get your finance sorted now.
It's a good idea to get your car loan in place before you hit the dealerships, so you'll have maximum negotiating power to help you secure the right price! Call us today to find out how we can provide you with a fast, tailored car loan solution to fit your needs.

VILLAGE FINANCE 1300 361 051

Did you know we CASH Gaming Cheques?

30/3/2017

CAPITALISE ON END OF FINANCIAL YEAR RUN OUT DEALS

15/6/2016

Now that we're in the last quarter of the financial year, you can expect car manufacturers to begin clearing out last years' plated stock and car dealers to start competing heavily for your business.

What does this mean for you? It’s a great time to make a car purchase because car dealership run-out sales give you the opportunity to drive home your dream car at a fantastic discounted price.

Get the right finance for you
To maximise your bargaining power, talk to us first. We have access to a range of specialist motor vehicle financiers so we can find the right finance package for you! By sourcing finance that is tailored to your financial position before you visit the dealership, you can capitalise on the savings you make on your run-out model bargain.

Don't delay! Let us help you line up your car finance loan before last years plated model deals run out!

Chat to us today!

The information contained in this email is general and does not take your personal financial situation into consideration. Your full financial situation would need to be reviewed prior to acceptance of any offer or product.


Please see below for our contact info

Call us TODAY on 1300 361 051 to organise a pre-approval before June 30.

Financial Health Check - It's insurance time

5/5/2016

Time to review your insurances. Now is a great time to go through all of your insurances and find yourself a great insurance broker and get a quote to make sure you're properly covered but also that you're not paying more than you should be for your insurance. If you don't have a good insurance broker then you are welcome to give ours a call. They're located in Country Victoria and provide good old fashion customer service and advice. They're Johansen Insurance Brokers. Their number is 03 5721 7655. If you're looking for personal insurance (house, car etc) ask for Scott Norton. If you have a business then ask for Paul Mitchell.

Life insurance, income protection insurance and tpd insurance. If you don't have a good financial planner who can review these then it's time you found one! Please give us a call and we can pass on some details. These can often be done through your superannuation fund so this is a good place to start. These are essential for anyone who has children or dependents because if something happens to you and you are a major income contributor for your family you could leave your family in dire straights and we know that's not what you want.

The other important insurance is private health insurance. This is one of those insurances that you often wonder if it's worth it. Australia has one of the best public health systems on the planet. Seriously. Get sick, or have an accident, and you’ll get great treatment in a public hospital, free of charge. If you want to review your private health insurance then this is the website for you. Free independent advice. This is a government website and not one of the iselect type websites.

Happy reviewing and money saving.

APRIL IS FINANCIAL HEALTH CHECK MONTH

19/4/2016

During the month of April we are going to walk you through some things you should consider doing on an annual basis as part of a Financial Health Check.

First on that list is to REVIEW YOUR SUPER.

Too Many Super Accounts? First thing to do is find out how many accounts you have. Watch this short video to find out how to do this.

Top 10 reasons to use a Finance/Mortgage Broker

22/3/2016

A Finance Broker can be a one stop shop for all of your lending needs. There are Mortgage Brokers and there are Finance Brokers. A Finance Broker should be able to look after you if you are looking for a loan to buy a property, a loan to purchase a business or expand your business and a loan to buy a car, caravan or boat. A Mortgage Broker often focus on just residential or commercial mortgages.
A good broker will do the legwork for you and give you a range of suitably priced options to suit your needs. With so many different lenders and credit providers to choose from, how do you know which one has the best deal or most suitable loan or package.
Your broker will know which lender has the most generous calculators for your particular situation and is able to organise a proper pre-approval from a Lender. Do you fit the lenders credit policy? How is the everyday person supposed to know whether they are eligible for a particular bank loan. Maybe you earn good money but half of it is made up of commission payments and you’ve only been in your job 6 months. How do you maximise your borrowing capacity?
A broker is paid to know bank security policies and post code restrictions. It’s not just about income and expenses. You may be buying a property that is over 2 Hectares, a serviced apartment or even just an apartment in a block of 30 apartments. You can’t just assume that because you used an online borrowing capacity calculator that the bank will accept the security you’re purchasing.
A Broker is paid by the Lender. In most parts they will provide a free service to their customers. There are some Brokers that charge a fee for service and it usually accompanies small loan amounts, difficult and complex loan scenarios or commercial loans. The fee is always disclosed up front and you will need to sign to say you agree to be pay the fee so there should be no surprises.
A Finance Broker will manage your loan from application through to settlement on your behalf. They will check the mortgage documents to make sure that the loan amounts and lenders fees are correct. They will liaise with the bank if there are any issues or questions the bank has about your loan application.
A good Finance Broker will make sure that your loans are structured correctly for maximum flexibility to achieve all of your financial goals into the future. They’re not just a salesman focused on getting this deal over the line, they’re looking to understand your situation and long term plans.
Should conduct a credit check prior to submitting any loan applications. A thorough Finance Broker should provide you with a copy of your credit file and credit score and be able to explain the meaning of your score. This is what the bank checks when you apply for a loan. By doing their own search prior to applying for finance they are reducing the chances of your loan being declined. There are many loans that have been declined due to an unpaid Telephone bill from 3 – 5 years ago that you weren’t even aware you had because you moved house and never received the bill. Alternatively the Lender may agree to lend to you however your original loan application was for 90% of the value of the property but they will only lend you 80% now due to the default. Wouldn’t it be important to know this before applying so that you don’t miss out on your dream property.
A good broker should provide you with an outline of the steps involved in purchasing a new property and hold your hand throughout the process (metaphorically of course), especially if you’re a First Home Buyer. This is important as it’s often the biggest financial transaction you will ever make.
An experienced broker will often have a back up plan. If for some reason the loan isn’t approved by one Lender due to something unforeseen or a recent change in credit policy that made you ineligible for a loan you’d previously been approved for then your broker will know where to go to get the deal over the line avoiding the potential loss of your property and your deposit in the processes.

Global Money Week

15/3/2016

In case you weren't aware. It's global money week this week.

Following on from International Women's Day last week I thought it perfect that we talk about the importance of Women educating their children about money. You may think that sounds a little chauvinistic and why shouldn't it be a dad or a combined job. Why I think it's a great idea for Women to take on this role. We are great at imparting information and why not empower yourself and your child in the process talking and learning how to manage money. If you don't have children of your own then why not talk to your nephews, nieces, godchildren about money.

What is Global Money Week? It's an international campaign that promotes awareness around money and the importance of financial literacy. This years theme is 'Save Smart'.

Places you can start to teach your kids about money.

At the ATM - explain where the money comes from and how you've earned it. Help them understand it doesn't just come out of a hole in the wall.
At the supermarket - prepare a list, research prices and show them how you can save money if you shop around.
Doing the family budget together - involving your kids in budgeting can help them learn the difference between needs and wants, costs and spending.
Earning their own money - pocket money or a part-time job can help young people learn responsibility and the importance of setting financial goals.
Mobile phones - discuss options for mobile phone plans and checking and managing data usage to control costs.

Emails will be down for an hour or so.

24/2/2016

Just letting our customers know that we are in the process of a computer upgrade which will mean that our emails will need to migrate across to the new system. Our emails are likely to be down for an hour or so during this process so please be patient with us. Our phones are back online so if you'd like to discuss your loan or apply for another one then pick up the phone and give us a call on 1300 361 051.

Online Security - thanks to Westpac

17/2/2016

Online security checklist

Internet Banking is accessible via any PC with Internet access. However, before using Internet Banking you should ensure the PC has up-to-date security software and is free from Viruses or Trojans.

Try to avoid shared computers, like those at an Internet cafe, because you won't always know if it's backed up with good security software.

Keep in mind when using other computers to download your bank statement, the browser may cache your information and make it available for other people to view. To avoid this please ensure you clear the cache at all times.

If you must use a shared computer, sign out properly and close the browser or application completely when you've finished.

Protect your computer

Install security software.
Turn on automatic updates for all your security software.
Avoid using public computers as they may have a keystroke logger installed that captures password, credit card and bank account details.
Set strong passwords and change them regularly
Examine your browser settings, particularly the security settings. Select options that meet your needs without putting you at increased risk. If in doubt set the security levels to high.

Protect yourself

Most banks have SMS Code which uses your mobile phone to confirm certain transactions via text message when banking online. It's quick, simple and provides you with increased security, free of charge.
Identify and delete hoax emails
Delete SPAM - don't open emails from a source you don't trust. Even better, check if your Internet service provider offers a spam filtering service
Phishing filter - the latest browsers offer a built-in filter that scans web pages you visit for characteristics associated with known online web fraud or phishing scams, and warns you that such sites might be suspicious
Always access www.westpac.com.au by typing the address into your browser, checking that you're connected to a legitimate Westpac website. And always select "sign out" from the Online Banking menu when you complete your banking. This applies to all banks.
Protect your identity - never provide your personal or security details, including customer ID or passwords, in response to any email, even if it looks legitimate. Visit Protect your financial identity for more information.
Confirm that your data is encrypted - by ensuring a symbol of a lock appears within the browser
Check your last sign-in date and time (at the top of the screen) whenever you sign into Online Banking to make sure it appears correct
Regularly check statements for any transactions that look suspicious.

Protect your family

Create different user accounts - admin access for parents, and restricted accounts for children
Block inappropriate content with an Internet content filter
Stay Smart Online: a Government cyber security website designed to help understand security risks and educate users on simple steps to protect personal and financial information online.

Protect your business

SecurID® tokens: also known as 2nd factor authentication, allow you to make higher value payments online. The ultra secure process combines a security code generated by your SecurID® token and an individual password known only to the user.
Keep data safe: implementing a regular backup procedure is a simple way to safeguard critical business data. Setting permissions and using encryption will also help.
Set rules for Internet usage at work - unscrupulous web sites, as well as pop-ups and animations, can be dangerous. Set rules about Internet usage to protect your business and your employees.
Remote access may be a business necessity, but it is also a security risk you need to closely monitor. Use strong passwords and be especially cautious about wireless networks.
Protect your website with a controlled 3rd party 'ethical hack', which can help assess and mitigate the risks for Internet security, independent of any vendor or supplier.

Software protection

Updating your operating system on a regular basis is the first line of defence in keeping your computer secure. Updates (see if they can be automated) help prevent data loss, viruses and other potential risks. Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac OS are the most common operating systems.

Online virus scanners

Bitdefender QuickScan
F-Secure online scanner
Security software

Microsoft Security Essentials
McAfee Multi Access
Malwarebytes

<<Previous