Financial

All Things Financial: Online and Secure!

No business sector has been more affected by the advent of the Internet than the financial industry. Online financing of all kinds, from payday loans to mortgage loans to auto loans to bad credit loans to prime equity loans to even motorcycle loans and RV loans are easily obtained from a multitude of online financial sites.

Many people are still a bit hesitant, though, when it comes to taking care of financial matters like car loans and mortgage refinancing over the Internet. And that's wise. There are some scams out there, to be sure. The chief indicator of a scam is any financial company that comes looking for you, with a lot of wild claims that sound too good to be true. As your daddy always said, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. He was right (don't you just hate that?), so you always want to be on guard if an offer seems too easy or even hints that you'll get rich practically overnight.

Still, top name firms and banks in the financial world have staked their claim on Internet territory. Heavy-hitters like Morgan Stanley, Wachovia Bank, Smith Barney, Citibank and Bank of America are just a few top-notch financial institutions that have state-of-the-art online banking access. Today's online banking is completely safe, private and secure, thanks to major advances in security technology.

And really, who can get by without using online billpay these days? Online banking makes paying all your bills, credit card payments, student loan payments, auto loan payments and mortgage payments automatic and painless. Well, as painless as possible, anyway. Alas, the money still has to be earned and spent, but at least you no longer have to write out checks and lick stamps to mail them. Every little bit helps, doesn't it?

You can also find all types of financial advisors online who can help you with retirement planning, wealth creation, investing, stock purchases, and even hedge funds, if you're the adventurous sort. Financial advisors and credit counselors are available online to help you anytime of the day or night — which is especially nice when that mountain of debt pushes you out of the bed. When that happens, go to your computer and find the financial management advice you need on debt management and eliminating debt. You won't eliminate the debt overnight, but having a good plan and financial strategy in place is more than half the battle.

Brick and mortar banks and credit unions will always be necessary, but online banking and financial management are here to stay and have their own specialties. So if you're looking for a boat loan, for instance, do some clicking around and get instant loan quotes to get you started. There's one out there waiting for you—probably swimming around with that large mouth bass you're just dying to catch from the deck of your new bass boat!