A Victim of United First Financial Speaks

This was left as a comment on an article here about United First Financial (UFF) and their Money Merge Account (MMA).

Tracy, I wish I had read this earlier, like 2 months earlier. I did a Google search for paying down mortgages, and came across UFF’s Money Merge Account. I looked through the website, testimonials, etc. I was sold before the agent even contacted me. The agent was excellent. Young, but excellent. Totally different circumstances of life from me – I am much older with many more accounts, loans, investing vehicles. I was told that there was a “Multiple Properties Option” – I figured “PERFECT!” and signed up all enthused, fired up, ready to go. Continue reading

UFF Agents Don’t Understand Basic Math and Concepts Related to Debt

This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by United First Financial.

We have discussed at length all of the reasons why the United First Financial Money Merge Account (UFF MMA) program is a waste of $3,500. In fact, we’ve even proven how even if the software was FREE, consumers are better off not using it.

The evidence which supports these assertions is based in simple math. A few simple calculations show that MMA loses every time against a basic do-it yourself method. It is common knowledge that the fastest way for a consumer to pay down a group of debts is to pay the minimum monthly payments on each bill, and after paying all required monthly expenses, send any extra cash toward the debt with the highest interest rate. Continue reading

United First Financial: Don’t Believe the Hype

More than a year after I started to write about the evils of United First Financial, its representatives are still trying to dazzle the crowds with bogus claims of factorial math.

It’s become clear that the primary method for selling consumers on this ridiculously expensive software that the consumer doesn’t even own ($3,500) is by confusing them. Prattling on about the massive algorithm used to determine the “optimal” method of paying down one’s debt to save the most money. Continue reading

Australian Scam Sounds Exactly Like U1st Financial!

One of the credibilty builders (i.e. smokescreens) that United First Financial agents use when trying to sell their Money Merge Account is… “It’s based on the Australian banking system!” The claim is that this “system” has been used successfully in Australia for years, and so we should believe in it too!

However, the truth is that this “system” is all but dead in Australia because people (and regulators, to some extent) figured out what a scam they were. Here’s some information provided to me by someone in Australia who has done extensive research on the issue of mortgage acceleration: Continue reading

The UFF Money Merge Account Fraud

Today a seller of the United First Financial Money Merge Account product threw out a challenge: Show him how a simple spreadsheet can pay off a mortgage faster than MMA. He said that his client owed $200,000 on a mortgage, and with only $200 “extra” cash left each month after regular living expenses, the MMA product made it possible to pay off that 30 year mortgage in only 13.2 years. Continue reading

Will United First Financial Refund Your Money?

There is plenty of criticism here of United First Financial, Ufirst Financial, UFF, Money Merge Account, MMA, or whatever Google likes…

One of the arguments UFF supporters always seem to throw out is the “money back guarantee” that UFF gives. I’ve been critical of this guarantee here, because I think it’s next to impossible for anyone to get their money back. UFF has a cleverly-written “guarantee” that means you won’t get your money back. They say: Continue reading

United First Financial Made Simple

What a simple, yet eloquent explanation from one of our readers on the read deal behind UFF’s Money Merge Account (MMA).

UFF is a SCAM.

Borrowing at 8% to cover 6% loan will make you less money.

Paying down your mortgage directly (instead of using HELOC) will put you ahead. Continue reading

Who Is Making Money As a United First Financial Agent?

Not many people, that’s for sure. As with any multi-level marketing company, a tiny fraction of people at the very top of the recruiting pyramid make some money, and everyone else makes little to nothing.

Here are the numbers posted on a UFF agent’s website in August 2008 (click to see full size): Continue reading

United First Financial Memo About Blogs and Forums

United First Financial management has asked its agents to not participate on discussion forums, message boards, and blogs. Why? Because they’re having their hats handed to them. Simple math outdoes the UFF “factorial math” any time. Save the $3,500 and simply put your extra cash each month toward your debt with the highest interest rate. You’ll be out of debt faster than UFF will get you there, and you won’t waste hours each month goofing around with this near-worthless software.

Here’s the letter agents received, instructing them to not participate in discussions on the internet: Continue reading

United First Financial Broker Numbers and Earnings

Today I received some interesting information on United First Financial, the company selling the $3,500 Money Merge Account. Here is a listing of all UFF agents (warning: large file download), showing that there are 59,703 agents on the rolls.

The fee to sign up as an agent is $175. Multiply that by 59,703 agents, and you see that the company has brought in over $10.4 million just in agent fees. Not a bad payday just for allowing people to sell overpriced, ineffective software. Continue reading

Tracy Coenen on Don’t Try a Do-It-Yourself Fraud Investigation: “Nice to hear from you Jonathan!” Dec 19, 08:37

Jonathan T. Marks, CPA, CFF, CFE on Don’t Try a Do-It-Yourself Fraud Investigation: “Amen! Valuable Advice.” Dec 18, 07:40

Tracy Coenen on Primerica Financial Services: The Fake Job Interview: “LOL Stacy. People keep saying Primerica is MLM because it IS an MLM. People are recruited into multiple levels in…” Dec 10, 12:49

Tracy Coenen on WorldVentures Pyramid Scheme Lawsuit: “Hilarious! I just found what you’re talking about. 2 failing MLMs become ONE failing MLM.” Dec 10, 12:46

wendy stovern, WV member on WorldVentures Pyramid Scheme Lawsuit: “Ironically among WV reps is the word “bankruptcy” and company takeover ie; new entity is “Seacret” claiming ownership. Only months…” Dec 9, 23:47

Stacey on Primerica Financial Services: The Fake Job Interview: “Primerica is a brokerage not a MLM. I’m not sure why the internet continues to say PRI is MLM. It…” Dec 9, 13:22

Tracy Coenen on Fifteen Frightening Facts About Usana Health Sciences: “I haven’t kept up with Usana, but all MLMs are bad. The products are no better than what you can…” Dec 9, 08:36

nana abdullah on Fifteen Frightening Facts About Usana Health Sciences: “Hi Tracy, this article is written in 2008. I wonder what is your view towards USANA company governance in recent,…” Dec 9, 07:49

Fraud Files Forensic Accounting Blog

Commentary on fraud, scams, scandals, and court cases.

united first financial