Is J.G. Wentworth's offer really worth it?

In a recent television ad, an opera chorus dressed as Vikings enters from both sides of a stage to share their financial woes. "I have an annuity, but I need cash now!" a woman sings. The rest reply: "Call J.G. Wentworth!" The company offers cash payments to people in return for all or a portion of their future payments from annuities, legal settlements, or lottery payouts. "They've helped thousands, they'll help you, too," sings a fellow in a gold helmet flanked by two horns. "One lump sum of cash they will pay to you!" The orchestra conductor delivers the company's slogan: "It's your money. Use it when you need it."

Many of us have experienced times—especially in the past couple of years—when a large sum of money could have resolved a financial fix. But is J.G. Wentworth's offer really worth singing about?

The real deal

There are times when it might make sense to do business with a company like J.G. Wentworth. You may need cash for a medical emergency and have no where else to turn. Or perhaps you want to pay off high-interest credit-card debt. You might be eager to cash out an annuity.

J.G. Wentworth may be willing to help you out, but it will retain a portion of your payout in return. The total amount it pockets is called the "effective discount rate," which includes all its fees, and can total 9 percent to 15 percent or more.

Still, if you're paying 30 percent interest on credit-card debt, doing business with J.G. Wentworth may be worthwhile. It may also pay you more for an annuity than you could make cashing it out, especially if your insurer charges a steep surrender fee for early withdrawal.

One thing you need to know about J.G. Wentworth, however, is that the company recently reorganized to lessen its debt load, which allowed its holding companies to emerge from bankruptcy last June. If it declares bankruptcy again while your payment is being processed, you may have difficulty getting your cash.

The bottom line

If you're strapped for money and have an investment that provides a steady stream of income, see if the company you have been doing business with will increase your monthly payments to give you more immediate cash.

If it won't, find out what J.G. Wentworth will pay you for it, but don't accept any offer until you try other options. Get quotes from a few of Wentworth's competitors, like Peachtree Financial and Structuredsettlement-quotes.com, a site that will solicit six quotes for you from competing investors. After you receive a quote, make sure the effective discount rate has been deducted from it. Then ask for a better deal. Companies may raise your quote if you haggle.

Since this can be complicated, you may want to speak with a financial adviser and an attorney before you act. And check the tax implications associated with cashing out an annuity.

Finally, compare the rates you'll pay for personal loans or home-equity loans from local banks and credit unions with the amount you'll have to pay to Wentworth and similar companies.

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Source: http://docphy.com/business-industry/business/j-g-wentworths-offer-really-worth.html

10 reasons why hosted VoIP

10 reasons why Hosted VoIP is good for SMEs, and Small Size Business

The benefits of a Hosted VoIP communications model are numerous and go beyond simple costs savings as customers have access to this technology without the associated problems of system acquisition, finance, deployment and support.

1) A State of the Art VoIP phone system

Hosted VoIP provides business customers with a leading edge phone system without the associated capital cost. From day one you will have a system that delivers all the current features plus tomorrows as they become available.

2) Future Proof

Hosted PBX is "future proof," as soon as we introduce new features, we roll them out to our customers, so you won't have to worry about another large capital equipment upgrade a few years down the road.

3) Pay As You Grow

With Hosted VoIP, there is no penalty to start small and then add “seats” to the system as you grow, as you only pay for the seats you need on a monthly basis.

4) Reduce Trunk Lines

Renting truck lines from carriers isn't small change for most organisations that rely on voice for both internal communications and customer interaction. Trunk line rental is a significant part of monthly overhead cost, so why not reduce this outlay wherever and whenever possible?

5) Reduce Call Costs

While saving on calls is no longer the primary driver for adopting VoIP, it can be a prime factor for organisations that have multiple offices requiring frequent voice communication, so not having to pay for that communication can reduce a large amount from an organisation's operational budget.

6) Instant Communication and Collaboration

VoIP improves productivity and the ability to collaborate remotely by creating direct links between teleworkers and office-based workers with the click of a mouse - a "workplace without borders."

7) Seamless Teleworker Connectivity

That VoIP system makes it easy to integrate teleworkers into the business telephone system through their own broadband connections. In addition, your customers will be able to reach your teleworkers through your corporate switchboard, regardless of where the worker is physically located.

8) Respond More Quickly to Customers

With a Hosted VoIP system, companies can improve customer communication by providing them with VoIP telephones that allow them to contact your sales and service departments directly, free.

9) Cut Move, Addition and Change Costs

Every time your company moves, adds, or changes a conventional telephone connection, it costs money. With VoIP, your network configuration is software programmable and its voice signals are carried over your business LAN so you can administer the changes yourself.

10) Your Number Moves With You

Unlike traditional numbers, you can take your number with you, down the road, to another town, or even another country as the system is not dependant upon your geographic location.

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Source: http://docphy.com/technology/computers/software/10-reasons-hosted-voip.html

The Best Video Conferencing Software of 2017

Whether you have employees across town or across the globe, these video conferencing services will help you collaborate like everyone is in the same room.

Cut Costs Using Video Conferencing

As more companies add headquarters around the US and the globe, business travel is one way to bring employees together to share ideas. But paying for airline flights, hotels, and meeting spaces is costly. And never mind getting everyone's scheduled coordinated. One way to cut costs is to conduct meetings remotely by phone or by video. But when meetings are not in person, it's key that participants are focused and engaged.

Bring life to your meetings using a video conferencing service. This way, the presenter is not just a voice on the phone but an on-screen presence who's able to see and interact with other attendees, share presentations, and more. For collaborative meetings, the host can sketch out ideas on an online whiteboard and invite participants to join in. Some video conferencing services let presenters pass control to another participant who can continue the meeting without interruption. Others let hosts deny access to latecomers to further avoid disruption.

Our Editors' Choice video conferencing service is once again ClickMeeting$30.00 at ClickMeeting, a robust product that makes video meetings (almost) fun for your staff. New to our roundup is Amazon Chime, a video conferencing service that can hold its own with most in this class. However, because Amazon Chime is so new, there are a few kinks that need to be worked out and a few features that need to be added before it can hang with traditional powerhouses such as Cisco WebEx Meeting Center$24.00 at Cisco and Microsoft Skype for Business$2.00 at Microsoft.

What Is Video Conferencing?

Video conferences are typically defined as real-time video sessions between two or more users that reside in two or more locations. While video conferencing supports several endpoints communicating, the terms "video call" and "video chat" generally mean one-to-one.

Video conferencing services tend to offer more than just face-to-face interactions. Best-in-class video conferencing services let users share their screens, remotely access one another's desktops, chat via text, exchange files, communicate via digital whiteboards, and even broadcast conferences to large groups of passive viewers.

Video Conferencing Package Pricing

As with all software services, pricing and packages are an important consideration when it comes to video conferencing. The prices quoted and the product descriptions below are typically for the lowest level of service per user per month. (For more pricing information, click through to the individual reviews.) All but one of the video conferencing services we tested offers free trials (most for 30 days) and many don't require a credit card on file, which means you don't have to worry about being charged automatically when the trial ends.

For example, join.me offers a free plan with limited features, which is good for small or even single-employee companies. Many services are scalable depending on the number of hosts and attendees you need. We recommend trying a few of our top-rated video conferencing services before committing to a particular one; try out some of the features to figure out what you really need and what's overkill.

Ease of Use and Meeting Features

Once you've found packages in your price range, the most important consideration is ease of use. Obviously, if the user interface (UI) is difficult for you and your colleagues to navigate and use, then it's going to cause delays in meeting start times, which will frustrate everyone. For each review, we discuss the ease of signing up , creating a meeting, inviting participants, and setting up audio and video controls. We also look at the user experience (UX) from the meeting invitees' point of view, which can make or break a meeting.

We test each service's prominent features but it's up to you to decide whether or not you need dial-in numbers, voice-over-IP (VoIP), or both options for your audio, and whether or not you need video calls in addition to screen sharing. Some services offer both teleconferencing with dial-in numbers (local or toll-free) and VoIP calling, while some offer just one or the other. A few offer international dial-in numbers. Adobe Connect doesn't offer teleconferencing at all but can be integrated with a number of other services. Most offer video calls via webcam, though a few don't.

In all of these reviews, we hosted and joined meetings to test the experience of both registered and non-registered users. We outlined how easy is to join a meeting, including whether or not a participant needs to download software before joining an online meeting (which could cause a delay). In this case, it's important to communicate with employees about hardware compatibility and preferred browser. Other services simply require that attendees enter a code to access the meeting.

Our reviews also cover the host's admin features. The best services let you set up different types of meetings, such as a lecture-style meeting in which all participants are muted, or a discussion or Q&A mode in which presenters can mute and unmute participants as needed or let all participants speak. If you've ever been distracted by the sound of someone typing or a barking dog in the background, then you'll appreciate these controls. Other options include enabling and disabling webcams, locking latecomers out of a meeting, creating a waiting room while preparing for the meeting, and allowing break-out sessions.

For presentations, screen sharing is important as are granular options such as the ability to share just one application (Microsoft PowerPoint, for example), document, or image or share your entire desktop. Most of the video conferencing services in this roundup also offer a whiteboard tool, which you can use to sketch out ideas or take notes during the meeting for everyone to see. You also need to consider what the participants are able to do, such as share their screen, enable their webcam, sketch on a shared whiteboard, and even take over the presentation. Think about how much actual collaboration you'd like in your meetings.

Other features we look at include the number of participants allowed on a call and the number of video feeds allowed simultaneously. The most generous is Adobe Connect, which is unlimited, but some offer as few as four participants at a time. Consider how important this is to your company. Most services let you record meetings and a few let you edit the recording right within the software. These recorded meetings can then be used for your records or as webinars for anyone who missed the meeting or for new employees.

Compatibility and Support

For the times when something goes wrong, you need solid support resources. The best video conferencing services offer phone, email, and chat support in addition to extensive online documentation. Active user communities are also a good resource to have at your disposal.

Finally, you'll want to check compatibility with browsers and system requirements. All of the services we looked at work on PCs, some work on Macs, and a few work with Linux. Most are broadly compatible with web browsers but you'll need to upgrade to one of the newest versions.

You've probably used a video conferencing program at some point in your career and it's likely the experience wasn't the most enjoyable. However, you may be surprised at the extensive features that are available in these video conferencing services to make remote meetings just a little less painful.

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Source: http://docphy.com/business-industry/online/web-development/best-video-conferencing-software-2017.html

Costa Mesa DUI Attorney

Costa Mesa DUI Attorney Todd Landgren has been defending people arrested for DUI’s in the city of Costa Mesa and Orange County for over 38 years. His experience, reputation and knowledge of Harbor Court is what you need in order to obtain a great deal or a dismissal of the DUI charges. He has helped thousands of clients with their DUI charges and has a long record of successful dispositions and acquittals. Unlike many other high profile DUI lawyers who pass you off to their staff, Costa Mesa DUI Attorney Todd Landgren insists on handling each case personally.

A Knowledgeable Costa Mesa DUI Attorney

Costa Mesa has a very unforgiving police department.  With a host of special DUI enforcement units, the City leads the State in the number of DUI arrests per capita. With some very lose probable cause standards, Costa Mesa police stop hundreds of drivers for driving patterns that are not indicators of a DUI. They routinely patrol areas around drinking establishments and stop drivers for no reason other than they just left a bar. They are specifically trained to stop people for minor or technical traffic offenses, such as stopping over the limit line or front license plate infractions.  These nonsensical stops and detentions have led to a number of DUI cases being “thrown out” because of Todd Landgren’s advocacy and preparedness.

The police units come with special cameras to record the pursuit, stop and arrest. The officers have microphones on their person to record all statements. Everything is recorded for later use at the DMV hearing or in court. Often this is useful because the officers make mistakes in their procedures, and they can be impeached by their actions when the tapes are viewed in later court hearings. Often these errors lead to a dismissal of the charges. Attorney Todd Landgren is well known to the Costa Mesa police as an aggressive and persistent DUI defense attorney after having several cases dismissed and some officers found not to be credible in their testimony.

An Experienced Costa Mesa DUI Attorney

In this jurisdiction, penalties are increased if you are involved in an accident. High blood alcohol levels are treated very seriously with increased punishment. If you have a prior conviction, be prepared to face jail unless the case is properly handled by an experienced Costa Mesa DUI attorney!

With so much at stake, you must have the most experienced Costa Mesa DUI attorney on your side of the courtroom. The lawyer must be intimately familiar with the tactics and procedures followed by the Costa Mesa police and have a working knowledge of the individual officers and their reputations. You need an expert who knows both the DUI laws and the officer’s track records, and the Court procedures. This knowledge is essential to defend your case effectively and get you the best possible outcome. Todd Landgren HAS that knowledge and experience!

Call Todd Landgren today at (949) 205-7662 to arrange a free consultation to review the evidence against you. Don’t wait another minute! Call now to find out what he can do for you and receive honest and helpful answers to all of your questions.

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Source: http://docphy.com/business-industry/personal-finance/insurance/costa-mesa-dui-attorney.html

Welcome to Phoenix Park Hotel

A Historical Washington, DC Hotel with a Modern Irish Flair

The Phoenix Park Hotel is where sophistication meets comfort. Our historic Washington DC hotel remains loyal to the style of the original 1920’s architecture while embracing  a comtemporary guestroom  design suitable for both the corporate or leisure traveler. Nightly entertainment enlivens the mood at The Dubliner, our classic Irish restaurant and bar where guests are treated to authentic Irish / American cuisine. Located in the heart of Washington DC we are just steps from Union Station, the US Capitol and all the history and the evolving attractions that Washington, DC has to offer. 

In the Heart of Capitol Hill

Embrace all that Washington DC has to offer from the doorstep of Phoenix Park Hotel. Our sought-after location puts you within minutes from the U.S. Capitol, Smithsonian’s, Washington Monument and many more attractions along the National Mall.

Historical Values.

Sleep in style with lush pillowtop bedding, Egyptian cotton linens, and marble bathrooms with luxury bath amenities, your stay in Washington, DC is steeped in character and comfort. And, form meets function in your flexible space with a movable table you can use for work or dining.

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Source: http://docphy.com/hobbies-activities/travel/hotels/welcome-phoenix-park-hotel.html

Early Childhood Studies

The Next Step on Your Career Journey

Welcome to the part-time direct-entry Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Studies (ECS) program at Ryerson University. Our program – the first degree-completion ECS program in Canada – combines The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education’s adult-learning expertise with the academic strengths of the School of Early Childhood Studies.

Working with partners across the early care and learning community, we take great pride in meeting the lifelong learning needs of people who devote their professional lives to supporting young children and their families. Our experience, resources, and commitment to learning and teaching excellence empower us to offer a variety of meaningful paths that will give you the knowledge and skills you need to advance in this socially vital field.

The need for well-trained ECE professionals has never been greater. It’s particularly important that early care and learning programs and approaches are attuned to our swiftly diversifying and changing society. In Ontario, with the introduction of full-day early learning programs for four- and five-year-old children and Child and Family Centres for very young children, we must ensure that people who have chosen a career in the ECE field have access to the education they need to develop optimum learning environments for all children.

For information on career and post-graduate pathways, please visit the Careers in Early Childhood Studies website.

Flexible Schedule – Online BA in ECS
As of September 2012, the part-time degree completion program is available online, with the exception of a two-week residency on campus in the summer. During this two-week period, students can enrol in two intensive week-long courses that are offered on campus and participate in on-campus activities.

Also in September 2012, students have the option to complete third- or fourth-year placement in their workplace setting, provided they meet the criteria. (See Third- or Fourth-Year Placement – Workplace Option.) As well, students can complete a distance placement in third or fourth year if they live and work outside the Greater Toronto area.

Learn More about Our Program

You can learn more about our program by:

Viewing our audio PowerPoint Presentation

Interested in Applying?

For full admission requirements, please visit the Undergraduate Admission site.
Obtain a Ryerson Student Number in order to enrol.
Enrol in your lower level liberal studies courses.
For more information about the Early Childhood Studies (ECS) program or to have one of our advisors contact you about getting started, fill in the Online Eligibility Form.

Online Eligibility Form
For more information see the Ryerson University Part-Time Undergraduate Calendar, visit the School of Early Childhood Studies website, or contact Jennifer Butterly at jennifer.butterly@ryerson.ca or 416.979.5000, ext. 7636.

Thank you for entrusting your further education to us.

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Source: http://docphy.com/business-industry/business/early-childhood-studies.html

Plumber Service in Greater Vancouver & Okanagan

Lillie Family Heating is a plumbing and heating company located in Port Coquitlam and Okanagan. We have service trucks through out the lower mainland and in Kelowna, for convenient service calls.

Our plumbing and heating technicians are certified and qualified for any plumbing project. Our trucks are fully stocked so the time we spend on site is valued. We understand that in some situations larger parts or materials are needed to complete a job. We can sell and install new furnaces, boilers, hot water tanks, new toilets and more!

Plumbing & Heating Services We Offer include:

• Burst pipes


• Clogged drains (inside & outside)


• Drainage issues


• Leaking sinks or tubs


• No Heat issues


• No Hot Water issues

Call our service desk to speak to book your service call and we'll ensure to help you with your plumbing or heating problem.

Why Choose Lillie Family Heating & Plumbing in Vancouver?

When it comes to plumbing & heating, we believe in honesty and integrity. We want to offer a better plumbing experience than many have had in the past.

The Lille Family Heating & Plumbing company has over 4 generations of experience in the heating industry. We pride ourselves as we are a family business.  We offer excellent customer service and quality parts. We offer warrenty on parts that we supply.

No job is too small or too large for our plumbers. We have experienced technicians and service trucks in cities across Vancouver's lower mainland and in Kelowna.

We are also proud members of Fortis BC's Trade Ally Network which allows us the ability to offer financing through the CIBC Retail Lending Services. This program is to help overcome the financial barrier that some customers may experience when purchasing natural gas products.

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Source: http://docphy.com/business-industry/business/plumber-service-greater-vancouver-okanagan.html