The Financial services industry comprises a diverse range of businesses that offer a variety of economic services to consumers. Some of these businesses include banks, credit unions, real estate brokers, investment banks, and payment recovery services. Others provide investment management and advice. Financial services are essential to modern society. However, they can be expensive.
Payment recovery services
Payment recovery services are companies that collect debts from consumers. Some of these companies buy debt from the original creditor, sometimes paying pennies on the dollar or even less. In other cases, they are paid by another company to collect debts on your behalf. In either case, they may contact you via telephone or mail, and report the debt to your credit report. This will have a negative impact on your credit score, so you should be wary of using these companies.
Tax filing services
A tax filing service is a type of financial service that handles the preparation of your taxes for you. These services range in price and can be found online. While some may be less expensive than others, the higher pricing is justified for certain types of services and higher levels of service. A good tax filing service will offer a wide range of services at a reasonable price and be knowledgeable in a specific category.
Investment banks
Investment banks provide a variety of financial services. They specialize in specific types of deals, industry sectors, and product groups. The sell-side of an investment bank’s activities includes trading, market-making, and promotion of securities. On the other hand, the buy-side focuses on investment advice and management for institutions, such as life insurance companies, unit trusts, and mutual funds.
Real estate brokers
Financial services for real estate brokers is a business that allows real estate brokers to offer mortgages and other types of financing to their clients. These brokers earn commissions on the sale of a property and may also offer rebates to their customers. However, they must meet state licensing requirements for both mortgage brokers and real estate brokers.
Insurance companies
Insurance companies offer services to protect clients from a variety of risks. Typically, they insure against death and injury, property loss, and liability and lawsuits. Different types of insurance companies offer different kinds of insurance. For example, a life insurance company can protect against the financial risk of a single death, while an insurance company that offers life insurance and retirement products will cover the risks of a whole family.
Factoring companies
Factoring companies provide a fast, convenient way to obtain immediate capital for a company. The companies will advance cash on the balance of an invoice in exchange for a small percentage of the receivables’ value. This method of financing is used by a variety of industries and small businesses. Some of these companies use the cash to purchase inventory or equipment, increase staff size, or expand operations.