Freedom Financial Asset Management, part of Freedom Financial Network, offers personal loans to help consumers consolidate debt, lower rates and convert revolving debt to lower-cost installment loans.

The robust investor demand validates the work we are doing to help everyday American consumers achieve financial flexibility and an overall better financial position.

SAN MATEO, Calif. (PRWEB)
February 10, 2021

Freedom Financial Network (FFN), the parent company of Freedom Financial Asset Management (FFAM), has closed its eighth securitization, placing $186.5 million of rated notes collateralized exclusively by ConsolidationPlus loans. FFN’s Consolidation Plus offers loans that accelerate debt settlement for consumers enrolled in qualifying debt programs.

This securitization saw Freedom’s highest rating to date on the senior notes, receiving an AA rating from Kroll and AA (low) rating from DBRS Morningstar, Inc. Underwriting this transaction were Credit Suisse, which served as the joint bookrunner and structuring agent; Truist Securities, which served as joint bookrunner; and Jefferies, which served as co-manager. In addition, this securitization is bringing in six new investors.

The Class A, Class B and Class C fixed-rate notes were rated AA (sf), A (sf) and BBB (sf) by Kroll. The Class A and Class B fixed-rate notes were rated AA (low) (sf) and A (low) (sf) by DBRS Morningstar, which did not rate the Class C notes.

Resiliency in unprecedented times

“The ability to close a securitization such as this one on the heels of 2020 is very encouraging,” says Joseph Toms, president and chief investment officer of Freedom Financial Asset Management (FFAM). “The robust investor demand validates the work we are doing to help everyday American consumers achieve financial flexibility and an overall better financial position.”

Issuance across all eight FFN transactions totals more than $2.4 billion. FFN has originated more than $2.2 billion ConsolidationPlus loans and more than $3.3 billion of FreedomPlus personal loans to date, for a total of more than $5.5 billion in total loans on its FFAM platform.

Moving forward

“Our overarching strategy is moving us towards becoming the first-choice provider of financial debt solutions for everyday Americans,” says Toms. “Our consumer-first approach is intent on delivering an innovative, holistic, multi-product set of solutions that will continue to grow across the consumer lending space in 2021. This will provide the investment community with a steady stream of quality originated assets with superior risk-adjusted returns.”

FFAM offers personal loans to help consumers consolidate their debt, lower interest rates and convert revolving debt into lower-cost, more consumer-friendly installment loans. Using a combination of process, technology and analytics, along with a focus on human interaction to hear directly from consumers about their financial needs, FFAM provides long-term risk-adjusted returns for investors in consumer lending.

Freedom Financial Network (http://www.freedomfinancialnetwork.com)

Freedom Financial Network provides innovative solutions that empower people to live healthier financial lives. For people struggling with debt, Freedom Debt Relief offers a custom program to significantly reduce and resolve what they owe more quickly than they could on their own. FreedomPlus tailors personal loans to each borrower with a level of customer service unmatched in the industry. For consumers enrolled in qualifying debt relief programs, ConsolidationPlus offers loans that accelerate debt settlements and enable them to be free of the debts sooner. Bills.com offers a resource site with simple tips, advice and tools to help consumers make smart financial decisions. Lendage, launched in 2019, provides customized mortgage products that help homeowners take control of maxed-out credit card debt.

Headquartered in San Mateo, California, FFN also operates an office in Tempe, Arizona. The company employs more than 2,200, and has been voted one of the best places to work in both the San Francisco Bay Area and Phoenix area for several years.

Contact: Michael Micheletti, mmicheletti@freedomfinancialnetwork.com, 415-359-6985

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Briza logo

Briza’s platform can empower existing channels of commercial insurance distribution and unlock new ones

AUSTIN, Texas (PRWEB)
February 10, 2021

Briza, the commercial insurance-as-a-service API, announces the closing of an $8MM USD Series A round of funding to dramatically increase the supply of insurance markets available to insurance retailers, wholesalers, and developers through its platform.    

The $8 million Series A was led by Investment Group of Santa Barbara, with participation from existing investors including 500 Startups. Briza previously announced a $3MM seed round in March of 2020 led by a group of angels including Briza Chair and FreshBooks founder and Executive Chair Mike McDerment, Sid Sankaran, CEO of SiriusPoint, Alon Neches, former treasurer of AIG, Sharon Ludlow, former CEO of Swiss Re Canada, and Louis Beryl, founder and CEO of Rocketplace. The Series A funding round brings Briza’s total funding to date to $11 million USD.

“The ‘distribution problem’ in commercial insurance can be understood as such:” said Ben Munro, co-founder and CEO of Briza, “when an insurer invests the time and capital necessary to build an API, that’s just the beginning; they must now manage relationships with thousands of developers at retailers, wholesalers, insurance platforms, and small business software vendors. It’s a massive undertaking. A single API from a carrier only gets you that carrier’s appetite; Briza’s API gives developers a whole marketplace of appetites for small commercial insurance.”

Briza’s mission is “delivering commercial insurance to the world.” In practice, that means empowering developers to create delightful user experiences, and democratizing commercial insurance APIs by allowing them to be consumed by as broad an audience as possible.

“Briza shows the power of bringing simplicity to a once tedious process by laying the foundation to digitize the purchase of commercial insurance. This is a very complex undertaking, but we are very excited by the progress Ben and his team have made in such a short period of time,” said Tony Wang, Managing Partner at 500 Startups. Briza was part of 500 Startups Batch 26 in the winter of 2020.

Briza now has agreements in place with 11 commercial insurers, including industry leaders like Liberty Mutual, Berkshire Hathaway Guard, CNA, Hiscox, AmTrust, Markel, EMPLOYERS, Crum & Forster, and Acuity, along with digital-enabled providers such as Coalition and Coterie.

Briza is investing in building the critical infrastructure to aggregate carrier quote, bind, and payment capabilities – all via one unified API. This allows Briza to collaborate with unlimited development partners outside of the insurance industry to promote a world of new distribution opportunities for agents and carriers alike.

“Imagine a future when insurance carriers can seamlessly embed their products in online banking, accounting, or wealth management platforms. The emerging ‘embedded finance’ movement offers one of the most compelling digital growth opportunities to legacy financial institutions such as insurance agents and carriers,” said Rishi Sharma, CTO at Briza. “By easily translating the quoting, binding, and payment experience, Briza seeks to allow insurance companies rapid, low-cost functionality into adjacent platforms, and likewise enable any brand or merchant to integrate innovative risk and protection services into their digital storefront.”

“Briza’s platform can empower existing channels of commercial insurance distribution and unlock new ones,” said Ian Martin-Katz, Partner at Investment Group of Santa Barbara. “We’re thrilled to support Briza as it delivers value to its partners in the commercial insurance ecosystem, including brokers, wholesalers, carriers and software developers.”

Briza had previously used its seed to grow from 10 employees to 25; it now intends to double the size of its engineering team to double down on insurer API integrations.

Briza was founded in 2016 by Munro, who has 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, including at global insurance companies Chubb, Markel, and AIG, along with Mike McDerment, co-founder and Executive Chair at FreshBooks.

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“Getting car insurance is not that complicated. With a little help, any driver can get an affordable car insurance policy that satisfies its needs.”, said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company.

LOS ANGELES (PRWEB)
February 10, 2021

Compare-autoinsurance.org has launched a new blog post that presents several tips that can help drivers get the best car insurance policy.

For more info and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/top-tips-that-will-help-you-but-the-best-car-insurance-coverage/

Getting a new car is always exciting. Even the purchase of a used car can make most drivers be filled with excitement. However, many people are shocked when they find out that they can’t even drive their new car until they have car insurance. Furthermore, many of them have no idea how to shop for insurance. They don’t know what insurance coverage they need and have no clues on what to expect from their insurance provider.

When shopping for car insurance, drivers are advised to follow the next tips:

• 
  Purchase the appropriate insurance coverage. Drivers should purchase at least the state-required minimum coverage in order to legally drive. However, the minimum coverage is not always the coverage most drivers need. Many times, the minimum coverage is not near enough to pay for the costs involved in a car accident. In many cases, the at-fault drivers will have to pay a lot of money from their own pockets. Drivers should have enough bodily injury coverage to pay for at least one serious injury and enough property damage coverage to pay for the replacement of an average new car.
• Consider other coverages. Besides the state-required minimum coverage, there are other coverages that can be useful in different situations. Collision coverage covers any type of damage that happens as a result of a collision. Comprehensive coverage protects against fire, vandalism, theft or other damages incurred from a non-impact accident. Usually, collision and comprehensive coverage are bundled together, but they can also be sold separately.
• Review the driving record. Before getting any insurance policies, drivers should review their driving records. Before offering any insurance policy, insurance carriers will always check the driver’s driving record. Drivers who got points on their record in the past 3 years, or got a suspension should tell their insurance agents about them. Insurance companies assess individual drivers for any potential risks. The driving history of a driver is an important part of their assessment.
• Compare multiple car insurance quotes. Before getting coverage, drivers should compare multiple car insurance quotes. Shopping around for the best deal is always a good idea. No insurance company is the same. Some insurance companies may offer more perks and benefits than others at the same price. Other providers may offer the same services as others but at lower prices.
• Understand the policy. Before signing any insurance policies, drivers should always make sure they understand what they are signing. If there are any unclarities regarding the policy, drivers should ask their insurance agents for explanations.

For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/

Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.

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AssuredPartners logo

“We are excited to have TJS join our team as our corporate cultures align with a client-centered focus and dedication to delivering innovative insurance solutions. We welcome the clientele and team to AssuredPartners,” said AssuredPartners CEO, Tom Riley.

LAKE MARY, Fla. (PRWEB)
February 10, 2021

AssuredPartners, Inc. is proud to announce that TJS Financial Services, LLC (TJS) of Pittsburgh, PA has joined AssuredPartners. The firm has been serving individuals and businesses within the area for over 20 years.

Gary Casciola, Director of Retirement Plan Services, said, “Our team is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and professionalism in our relationship with every client, and now our partnership with AssuredPartners. We look forward to building and growing with AssuredPartners.”

“We are pleased to bring the hardworking, dedicated team of TJS Financial Services along with Gary’s expertise in 401k and wealth management to the team in Pittsburgh as we grow our mission of Power through Partnership,” said AssuredPartners Regional President, Todd Stocksdale.

“We are excited to have TJS join our team as our corporate cultures align with a client-centered focus and dedication to delivering innovative insurance solutions. We welcome the clientele and team to AssuredPartners,” said AssuredPartners CEO, Tom Riley.

For more information on TJS, please visit: http://www.tjsfinancial.com/

ABOUT ASSUREDPARTNERS, INC

Headquartered in Lake Mary, Florida, AssuredPartners is a full-service insurance broker providing commercial insurance, risk management, employee benefits through consulting and services. With over 7,500 employees located in offices throughout North America, London, Belgium and Scotland, AssuredPartners is in the business of building relationships. While cementing powerful, lasting relationships built on trust earned from working openly and honestly with our partners. That’s what we call, Power through Partnership. For more information, call 513-624-1779, email jamie.reinert@assuredpartners.com or visit http://www.assuredpartners.com.

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“The Committee on Corporate Reporting’s work is influential and important to the future of corporate accounting,” said Andrej Suskavcevic, CAE, President & CEO of FEI.

MORRISTOWN, N.J. (PRWEB)
February 09, 2021

Financial Executives Internationa l (FEI), the association of choice for Chief Accounting Officers, Chief Financial Officers, Corporate Controllers, Treasurers, and other finance executives announced today that Rudolf Bless, Chief Accounting Officer, Bank of America, will serve as the Chair of the Committee on Corporate Reporting (CCR) for the term effective March 1, 2021 through June 30, 2023. Bless succeeds Prat Bhatt, Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Corporate Controller of Cisco Systems, Inc., who served as Chair from July 1, 2019 to February 28, 2021.

Two new Vice Chairs will also take office on March 1, 2021.

Kevin McBride, Corporate Controller and Principal Accounting Officer, Intel Corporation. McBride currently serves as the Vice Chair for FEI’s Board of Directors and was elected to the Board as a director in 2017. He has served on FEI’s Committee on Corporate Reporting since 2016 and has held key roles on the Committee’s Executive and Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Subcommittees.

Heather Dixon, Senior Vice President, Global Controller and Chief Accounting Officer, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. Dixon joined FEI in 2015, and has served on FEI’s Committee on Corporate Reporting since 2017. She has held key roles on the Committee’s Executive and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Subcommittees and is the current Chair of CCR’s Big 4 National Office Subcommittee.

The Committee on Corporate Reporting is a multi-industry technical committee of FEI. The committee is comprised of approximately 50 Chief Accounting Officers and Corporate Controllers from Fortune 100 and other large public companies, that collectively represent approximately $13 trillion in market capitalization. Meeting quarterly, CCR members regularly discuss accounting, reporting, and other operational matters that impact the day-to-day responsibilities of the controllership function.

“The Committee on Corporate Reporting’s work is influential and important to the future of corporate accounting,” said Andrej Suskavcevic, CAE, President and CEO of FEI. “It is critical that we continue to represent the voices of the companies that are part of this extraordinary group and we welcome our new Chair Rudi Bless to lead us in these efforts.”

Bless commended Bhatt and said, “Prat has done a tremendous job as Chair. His leadership has proven invaluable as CCR navigated unprecedented challenges brought on by COVID-19. During his time as Chair, Prat made impactful changes that helped CCR drive incredible value to the profession, and I am excited to continue these efforts in leading such a strong committee.”

CCR is also chartered with influencing and educating accounting standard setters and regulators. The committee does this by analyzing and responding to pronouncements, proposed rules and regulations, pending legislation, etc. issued by domestic and international regulators and organizations, such as the SEC, FASB, and PCAOB. These efforts provide finance professionals with the opportunity to positively impact their industry.

FEI’s Committee on Corporate Reporting fosters connections between peers without geographical boundaries, provides valuable benchmarking reports to inform financial decision-makers, and maintains a continuing educational platform to further the professional development of its members.

About FEI

Financial Executives International (FEI) is the leading advocate for the views of corporate financial management. Its members hold policy-making positions as chief financial officers, chief accounting officers, treasurers, and controllers at companies from every major industry. FEI enhances member professional development through peer networking, career management services, conferences, research, and publications. Members participate in the activities of more than 65 Chapters in the U.S. FEI is located in Morristown, NJ. Visit http://www.financialexecutives.org for more information.

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We remain committed to ensuring Floridians have access to insurance at a low cost.

CHICAGO (PRWEB)
February 09, 2021

Kin, the insurance technology company changing home insurance through intuitive tech and affordable pricing, today announced the launch of its landlord insurance plans which will debut in the Florida market.

Kin’s landlord insurance applies to property owners who rent out their detached homes and townhouses. It also covers investors who rent their properties on Airbnb. This policy can cover all sources of damage to the physical structure of the home except those listed as exclusions. It also covers damage to other structures on property such as a garage or shed, personal property such as appliances, personal liability, and fair rental value.

Investment property owners can simply go to Kin’s website, enter the property’s address, and get a quote in a few easy steps.

Kin is the only insurtech company to currently offer homeowners insurance in both Florida and California. The company has disrupted the marketplace through proprietary technology that analyzes thousands of data points and accurately reflects the risk of disaster-prone homes. That helps Kin more accurately and fairly price these properties.

“The introduction of landlord insurance in the Florida market will continue to cement Kin as a leading home insurer in one of the industry’s most challenging marketplaces,” Kin Co-Founder and CEO Sean Harper said. “For our company, it’s a major milestone in our growth to be able to offer this service to real estate investors. We remain committed to ensuring Floridians have access to insurance at a low cost.”

Kin’s customers currently save an average of $500 dollars. While many insurers have either pulled out of disaster-prone areas or raised rates so high that homeowners insurance is unaffordable, Kin has focused its efforts on developing technology that makes insurance more accessible and affordable for residents of these areas. As a result, customers rate Kin #1 on multiple platforms, citing easy savings, personalized coverage, world-class service, and super fast claims.

About Kin:

Kin is an insurance technology company that’s changing home insurance from what it is to what it should be. By leveraging thousands of property data points, Kin customizes coverage and prices through a super simple user experience. Kin offers homeowners, landlord, and mobile home insurance through the Kin Interinsurance Network (KIN), a reciprocal exchange owned by its customers who share in the underwriting profit. Because of its efficient technology and direct-to-consumer model, Kin provides exceptionally low prices without compromising coverage. To learn more, visit https://www.kin.com.

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In my family we were taught to give back to the community and giving back as a solution solver in the insurance industry is my way of doing just that.

PETALUMA, Calif. (PRWEB)
February 09, 2021

Arrow Benefits Group (ABG), the third largest benefits firm in the North Bay, announces the addition of Stuart Wallace to their executive team. His talents further strengthen the leadership expertise that has established ABG as a leader in the industry for over 35 years. Wallace brings over 12 years of experience, most notably in leading-edge use of technology to bridge the experience for both employee and employers alike. In his previous role as director of employee benefits at Vantreo Insurance, Wallace managed multiple accounts throughout California designing effective technology tools utilized for successful account management.

“In my family we were taught to give back to the community and giving back as a solution solver in the insurance industry is my way of doing just that,” Wallace explains. “Understanding and navigating insurance is complex and stressful. My passion is really for helping people. My goal is to take the stress associated with insurance away from clients and step in to help.”

To learn more and for straight answers to employee benefits call 707-992-3780 or visit: http://www.arrowbenefitsgroup.com.

Stuart’s passion and drive to truly serve clients is perfectly matched to the vison at Arrow Benefits Group to serve our clients. Happy, engaged customers make for happy engaged staff. CEO & Managing Principal Joe Genovese affirms, “We’re honored to have Stuart join our team. His knowledge and management capabilities are a huge asset to our family. ABG has grown exponentially over the years. Acquiring new talent like his enhances our ability to serve all of our clients and helps build on our strength to deepen our commitment to our North Bay communities.” The client services team partners with clients to listen, learn and custom build solutions. Wallace’s’ dedication to the community will bolster these efforts for ABG.

About Arrow Benefits Group

Arrow Benefits Group, the third largest benefits firm in the North Bay, is a proud member of TRUE Network Advisors. Arrow Benefits Group is the single-source solution for managing the complexities of benefits with expert advice, customized programs, and personalized solutions. Arrow’s innovative programs control costs and give employees a greater sense of financial and emotional security. For straight answers to employee benefits call 707-992-3780 or visit http://www.arrowbenefitsgroup.com.

For the latest updates and news on COVID-19, see our dedicated portal at http://www.arrowbenefitsgroup.com

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About Patriot Growth Insurance Services

Co-Founded by ABG in 2019, Patriot is a growth-focused national insurance services firm that partners with employee benefits and property & casualty agencies across the United States. In its first year of operation, Patriot was ranked the 53rd largest insurance broker in the U.S. by Business Insurance. With over 800 employees operating in 70 locations across 18 states, Patriot’s collaborative model delivers growth capital, resources and strategic support to its agencies, whose leaders continue to operate with a high degree of autonomy in their local markets. Patriot’s unique equity model creates true alignment with its partner agencies, and its operating philosophy fosters enhanced career opportunities for its dedicated and professional team. Patriot is backed by growth equity investor Summit Partners. For more information, please visit http://www.patriotgis.com.

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“As a freelancer-first community, we understand how important it is that freelancers and their families have the financial stability, security, and safety nets they need to thrive as a member of the growing agile workforce.”

ARLINGTON, Va. (PRWEB)
February 09, 2021

CareerGig announced the release of a timely and relevant new report entitled “Freelancers and the Benefits Gap: 2021” which comprises research done with active freelancers and their insurance coverage.

Gaps were identified in three primary areas:

Affordability: The primary reason freelancers don’t have better access to benefits and insurance is the ability to purchase it at a reasonable price. This is often due to the fact that freelancers cannot participate in group buying plans available only to full-time employees, and going direct to insurance providers is cost prohibitive.

Education: Over 23% of respondents said they were unsure of the coverage they need for themselves and their dependents. Independent workers often lack resources for financial education that are provided to full-time employees, and freelancers often juggle many responsibilities, making it difficult to gain enough knowledge to understand where their insurance coverage gaps may fall.

Access: Many freelancers (32.8% according to our respondents) get coverage through a spouse or partner, or even an employer if they freelance part-time on top of a full-time job. The rest, however, must rely either on government programs for health insurance, or going directly to providers for other types of coverage. Another hurdle may be the many types of insurance difficult for freelancers to obtain because of pre-existing conditions, or unaffordable premiums.

INFOGRAPHIC

“As a freelancer-first community, we understand how important it is that freelancers and their families have the financial stability, security, and safety nets they need to thrive as a member of the growing agile workforce,” said Greg Kihlstrom, CEO and Co-Founder of CareerGig. “In highlighting the gap between the health, life, disability, and other insurance coverage freelancers currently have, and what they need to get through unexpected situations, the vital role of CareerGig and the freelancer benefits we offer to this important and growing part of the workforce is strongly underscored.”

CareerGig is an online SaaS-based marketplace platform providing freelancers access to available gigs and contract projects at top companies looking for candidates. This community marketplace offers 1099 workers a robust menu of tailored-for-freelancer offerings of health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, among a selection of other benefits at no cost to the companies hiring them. Many of these benefits offerings are guaranteed-issue for qualified freelancers, and a portion of transaction fees are also provided as contributions towards insurance premiums, further helping affordability.

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ABOUT CAREERGIG

Career benefits. Gig lifestyle. Choose both. CareerGig is a SaaS technology platform and ecosystem that matches freelance and contract workers to top employers, and with independent access to health and financial benefits exclusively tailored for those in the gig economy. Incorporating blockchain and AI technology, CareerGig also provides employers the ability to hire qualified and verified talent through an accelerated and scalable state-of-the-art process. CareerGig helps individuals create freelance careers, and makes life easier and more secure for companies that hire them. Learn more at http://www.careergig.com

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