Posts Tagged ‘personal finance’

A Life Assurance Policy That Also Provides An Investment Opportunity-Its Pros And Cons

Thursday, January 5th, 2012

The sale of life assurance policies may have increased manifold, but the fact is: very few people buy it for the purpose of insurance. Most people go for it with the intension of building their assets under easy terms. Of course, there is no harm in it; but before you do that, you should know about its pluses and minuses. Let us now know them.

First, let us understand what a life assurance policy is. Technically speaking, a life assurance policy is same as life insurance policy. We can define it from two different perspectives

According to legal perspective, a life insurance policy is a contract between the policyholder and the insurer; whereby, the policyholder will pay certain sum as premium at regular interval and in return, the insurer will have to pay certain sum as benefit on the occurrence of the insured event.

From the financial perspective, life assurance is an intimidation, which brings together individuals exposed to some specific contingency to form a common pool of fund; if that contingency does occur, claims are paid from that fund for its mitigation.

It is a fact that very few people actually benefit from the claim event because it doesn’t take place quite that often. Since the pure life insurance policies rarely pay, people prefer the cash value policies, which along with providing the usual life insurance benefit also build up assets for you. They pay benefit if the insured event takes place and if you outgrow the need of insurance, you can cash out the policy and get the accumulated cash value plus interest in return.

However, these policies are always overpriced since only the money above the cost of insurance can be utilized for growing the cash value. You can avail instant life insurance quotes from online brokers and compare them side by side. Have a glance at them and know the facts without a doubt. If you want to have the coverage at an affordable rate, opt for a pure life insurance policy such as a term life. If you want, you can build up your asset by investing separately in suitable investment funds.

Indeed, the term life policies are most reasonably priced. If you are wondering why, there are two important reasons to consider. Firstly, they need to take into account only the cost of insurance; funds need not be diverted to grow any investment opportunity. Secondly, because the policy is sold for specified term, in more than 99% cases, it expires without having to make any pay out. It is a fact that, the main benefit of buying the policy lies in the peace of mind one enjoys, not in the actual claim event; such events rarely take place.

However, because a term life policy is affordably priced, the cost of insurance needs to be established more accurately than in many other life policies. Consequently, these policies have to undergo long underwriting process. Of course, the underwriting process is not short in whole or universal life either and so if you want instant life insurance coverage, may be the life insurance no exam policy is your only option. These too are mostly term life policies, but they have been designed for speedy and simplified purchase.

Now, let us go back to the original point of our discussion, i.e. the pros and cons of buying a cash value policy. The pros have already been stated. Whether you live or die, the policy will compulsorily provide some return. In case you die while the policy is in force, your beneficiary will receive the death benefit and if you outlive the need for insurance, you can cash out the policy and use the proceeds as is necessary. Contrarily, one of its main disadvantages is that the policy is sometimes much too expensive. As I have already said, comparison of different categories of life insurance quote is enough to substantiate the fact without any misgivings.

However, if you go deep in to it, you will find that the amount above the cost of insurance is deposited in a separate fund to grow the cash value of the policy. Yet, if the insured dies while the policy is still valid, the carriers retain this amount and release only the death benefit. Alternately, when you cash out the policy, the carriers are going to retain the amount deposited in the insurance account. Therefore, why should you waste your money on insurance that you do not need? If you are buying the policy only for capital building, go straight for investment funds; for insurance buy term life.

Article by David Livingston of EQuote, who is a specialist in everything life insurance. For more information on insurance life term and no medical term life insurance, visit his site today.

Essential Facts About Renters Insurance

Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012

If you do not have renters insurance and you happen to be a renter, then you could be asking for a world of trouble. For anyone who is renting anything from anyone, it is important to have renter insurance in case a disaster should strike. Disasters could also come in the form of either leaks, flooding, fire, earthquake, or even tornado. Not to mention that they can come in the form of lawsuits or injury if a guest to your home has hurt themselves with. You could lose everything and have no way of retrieving it or any way of replacing it if ever disaster strikes at any time and you do not possess renters insurance.

You see your landlord insures the home itself if anything were to happen to it, but their policy will not cover your possessions. Knowing what you can expect is very important when you are looking for renters insurance. When it comes to insurance companies, not all are the same and they may offer different coverage than another and will almost certainly depend on what area of the world you live in. In general, your insurance company will likely cover events such as lightning, fire, smoke, and hail or a windstorm. Another thing your insurance company may offer are additional coverage with the policy or at an additional fee to cover flooding, water damage due to damaged pipes, damage to your property from vehicles or aircraft, falling objects, and riots.

If ever there are damages to your possessions, then it is likely that your renters insurance will help in one of two ways, either by issuing you a check for the actual cash value of the damaged items or issue you a check for the amount it will take to replace the damaged items. There is a simple difference between the two and that is the fact that the actual cash value will be the amount it will cost to replace the damaged items with the depreciation value subtracted.

Renters insurance will allow you to at least be able to retrieve replacements for your items even if you cannot replace the actual items that may be of high sentimental value. If ever a disaster were to strike your rented home, you could still be able to lead the same quality of life with renters insurance.

It is important that you speak with your renters insurance agent and know everything that is covered, what the costs are monthly, what your deductible is, and how to file a claim if a disaster should happen to strike.

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How To Insure Your Child

Monday, January 2nd, 2012

When it comes to insurance, the idea is to make sure that you are prepared for the direct and indirect expenses that an accident can cause you to incur. These days, while there are several types of insurance, it is possible to insure just about anything and buffer yourself from costs, income loss and even liability. However, one area that many people don’t take into consideration is properly insuring their children.

Trying to entertain the thought that their child might someday be taken from them is something many people with children just can’t do. However, this is a tragic part of life for some people, and it can be a devastating setback from more than an emotional standpoint.

Taking out a life insurance policy on your child should not be considered or thought of as either morbid or tempting fate. In some schools of thought, they would consider this as something that is sinister. Taking out an insurance policy on your child is simply preparing for a worst-case scenario as with any other insurance policy. Losing a child can be crippling to parents and siblings, and can have a subsequent financial impact. It takes no imagination whatsoever to see that the loss of a child could be emotionally debilitating to the entire family aside from covering any burial costs.

After the loss of a child, divorce and family dysfunction are alarmingly common. Giving themselves the time needed to grieve is what a parent would want to do. Insuring your child will help ensure that you will be able to afford the time off that you will need. In addition, such a loss may have an emotional impact felt deeply by a family and family dynamics often go into a spin. In order to deal with siblings or other family members impacted by the loss, parents may need grief counseling as well as professional help. Most of the time, family counseling is recommended by clergy and clinical professionals.

You can say that it is the thought process behind a life insurance policy that is taken out on a child. You can ensure that the financial impacts, temporary earnings loss and professional counseling needed are not additional stresses that prevent you and your family from healing, and even worse can tear it apart in the aftermath of an unthinkable loss. Having children would mean that this is something that you will want to take into account.

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All about Home Insurance Rates

Friday, December 30th, 2011

When it comes to insurance premiums, they are calculated to according to several risk factors. These are the factors identified by the insurance company as most likely to have an impact on the insured against risk occurring. Insurance is a significant cost associated with the item insured and should not be rushed into. A good idea is to shop around and look for the best price available. Varying considerably from insurer to insurer are insurance premiums which is why you should do your homework.

Shopping Around

When you look up the various insurance companies you are interested in, don’t forget to ask them for a quote. Most of the time, they can give you a rough estimate fairly quickly and even more exact quotes should also be possible if you provide more details and wait. Also, be sure to look up insurers online and get instant quotes from their website. This way is both very fast and very effective way of shopping around. A good idea of what prices to expect is what you will get. You can also experiment with the quotation websites to see what effect it makes to your premium price if you select different options. You will have a number of options that affect the price of the policy with all insurance policies. It would then be a good idea to think about these options and if there are risks that you do not wish to cover then let the insurer know as your premium should become cheaper.

Do Not Double Up

You should also try to make sure you do not double insure. This is known as a principle of insurance that you cannot benefit from the insured event’s occurrence. Getting paid twice is not going to happen even if you do have two insurance policies. This means that if a risk is already covered by one policy, again let your insurer know so they can remove it from their calculation.

It’s All about Location

Depending on factors such as address are home insurance rates. In case the location of your home is in an area of high crime, or an area that flood often, or is prone to earthquakes, hurricanes or other significant risks, then this will be reflected in the policy price. As for the security you have installed, it will also affect the premium you must pay. Having a sophisticated security system will mean that this will obviously make your home safer and this will reduce the risk. Not to mention that fire alarm systems and sprinklers can decrease your premium . Flood prevention measures may be taken into account in some areas. The size and value of your home will be another important factor, as clearly a more expensive home will cost more if it is damaged.

Many home insurance policies will require you not to leave the home unoccupied, and if you are renting out the home, this will also affect the premium.

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What Is Variable Life Insurance?

Thursday, December 29th, 2011

In variable life insurance, the ultimate in life insurance flexibility is offered. You get to control your life investments instead of the life insurance company managing them on your behalf and that is the main principle of governing variable life insurance. This enables you to select the level of risk that you subject your life insurance fund to, paving the way for you to make substantial interest gains on the cash-in value of your life insurance policy.

How does variable life insurance work?

A form of investment vehicles is how you can describe all life insurance products. Standard no cash-in value life insurance policies like term life insurance invest life insurance premiums in ultra low-risk funds that are often obliged to return a certain level of interest. This provides the life company with confidence in receiving a tangible level of return, which is transferred through to the life insurance policyholder by way of a guaranteed lump sum payment upon death or terminal illness.

As the life company hands the investment reigns over to the policyholder, variable life insurance is different from standard types of life insurance. It is possible that the life company may allow a percentage of the fund to be invested, or in some cases, all of the fund to be invested by the policyholder. Coming with the disclaimer that the life insurance company takes no responsibility for the performance of the variable life policyholder’s investments are variable life insurance policies. If the investments perform poorly, then this could result to the policyholder accepting the consequences that there will be little or no cash surrender value when the insurance is redeemed.

Should you choose variable life insurance?

A very important thing you need to do is think long and hard about variable life insurance before opting to take it on, as there is a high level of risk involved with this type of life policy. A good idea is to make sure that variable life policies are only taken out by seasoned investors who know there way around the investment markets. In case you have never invested in the stock market before, then it is possible that variable life policy is not for you.

If, however, you are confident in your investing abilities, then this is what you stand to gain from taking out a variable life policy.

Facts about variable life policy potential. Having the potential to make substantial interest gains that are much higher than on a standard term life insurance policy is a variable life policy. You might only pay a small premium per month for a $100,000 pay out upon death with a standard policy but still, by investing well with a variable life policy, that $100,000 could be worth $500,000 or more when redeemed.

What about tax advantages? The cash surrender values of variable life policies are exempt from taxation until the point at which they are redeemed. Also, gains made via variable life policies are not subject to capital gains tax (CGT).

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Get Cheaper Home Insurance In 8 Easy Steps

Thursday, December 29th, 2011

While it is true that no one likes paying for home insurance, it is actually a necessary evil for most of us. However, this doesn’t mean that what you have to do is pay through the nose for it though since you can try these 8 easy tips for cheaper home insurance and see how much you could reduce your premiums by.

Shopping Around

If you compare prices from several insurance companies, then it is possible for you to be able to reduce your premiums by a substantial amount. It may seem obvious but a surprisingly large proportion of people either just renewed their current policy, or they get only one or two quotes and this was shown by research. There are a lot of insurance websites that will automatically compare dozens which is why this is one of the cheapest ways to reduce your insurance bill.

Buying online

Because there are less administration costs involved and the savings can be passed on to you, you can often get a discount of up to 20% on normal prices if ever you buy your policy online.

Combining your buildings and contents policies

If you take out both types of home insurance with them, then many insurers will give you a discount and this usually works out cheaper than getting the two kinds of policies from different companies.

Pay upfront

Allowing you to pay your premium in monthly installments is what most insurers will do but many will charge interest for this. This will actually work out cheaper in the long run if you can afford to pay a full year’s premium in advance.

Avoid claiming for small amounts

Increasing your insurance costs is possible if you make many small claims because your insurer may see you as a greater risk and increase your premiums. Also, you will lose any no claims discount your policy has. However, what you are entitled to is the claim for anything your policy covers, but ask yourself if making a small claim is really worth the hassle and possible future costs.

What about voluntary excess?

This is actually related to the last point. In insurance policies, there is a feature known as excess and this basically means that the policy won’t pay out on claims below a certain value. If you choose to raise your excess to a higher level, then your premiums will be lower on some policies.

Try to increase your home security

By beefing up your home security with better door locks, window locks, outdoor lighting, and alarm systems, then it is possible for you to have lower premiums. Ask your insurer what you could do to get extra discounts.

Reduce your cover

In many policies, benefits that you may not need such as cover for personal possessions while traveling, or ‘free’ legal advice, can be featured. What you can do is look through your policy and see what parts of it you really need and cut your cover down to size so that you may be able to reduce your premium.

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Tips On Getting Cheap Renter’s Insurance

Wednesday, December 28th, 2011

Renter’s insurance is sometimes required, and sometimes not; it depends on the landlord’s decision. You should also consider purchasing renter’s insurance if you live in an apartment, house, mobile home, condo, or town house that you rent regardless if you are required to purchase renter’s insurance.

When it comes to purchasing renter’s insurance, there is a certain etiquette. For example, a family that rents their home should have no issues when purchasing a renter’s insurance policy. This is because most renter’s insurance policies cover the policy holder and the policy holder’s family members.

But if ever there are two roommates who rent but are not related usually, they can not be covered under the same renter’s insurance policy unless the two roommates are related and the relation sometimes has to be immediate family. Things will begin to get tricky during this time.

While the two of you must understand that you will most likely be required to purchase two separate renter’s insurance policies in order for you to cover the two different sets of personal property, if you rent your residence and your landlord requires you to purchase a renter’s insurance policy, there should be no problem with you or your roommate. Also, it is important for the two of you to understand that even if you aren’t required by your landlord to purchase renter’s insurance policies, but one of you decides to purchase a renter’s insurance policy anyway, then the other’s personal property is not covered under the renter’s insurance policy. If the insurance company from which you choose to purchase your renter’s insurance policies allows family members who rent together to have one renter’s insurance policy together, then of course, both situations are subject to change.

Before you move in together, first you need to check if each of you understands the etiquette of purchasing renter’s insurance. Aside from trying to learn what is and isn’t allowed in regard to more than one person being covered under the same renter’s insurance policy, you should also contact an insurance company that offers renter’s insurance.

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Why Do I Need Life Insurance?

Monday, December 26th, 2011

One thing you don’t want to do is leave your family unprepared for what will happen to them financially if you do not get sufficient life insurance coverage. So planning today can provide the income your family will need if you are no longer here. Here are just some of the reasons why you should consider life insurance from a company that will be there for your family. Every person and every family have their own reasons for life insurance, but the need for protection is at the base of all the needs.

Life Insurance To Replace Lost Income

There are people who buy insurance in order to replace income lost if something happens to them. It provides the capital which provides the income. Even if you have substantial capital, providing money for your family through life insurance is still the most cost effective way. You are buying protection for your family for pennies on the dollar.

Life Insurance Can Pay Off Debt

Paying off debts can be difficult especially without a regular income. Life insurance capital can be used to provide income to pay off debts at the death of a loved one. If you die, your relatives being hounded by debt collectors is the last thing that you would want to happen.

Paying Final Expenses

Final expenses can be large especially if there has been a long illness, along with legal, medical and funeral costs to pay. Aside from that, it is quite impossible to assess how much money will be needed but you should always plan on the maximum instead of the minimum.

Helps Pay For Education

Educating needs to be well thought out since it is expensive. While there are plenty of people who contribute funds each year, if something unexpectedly happens there may not be enough time to build up a bank for education. Life insurance helps create a cash fund that you can count on.

Finally remember that no widow or widower has ever been left too much capital through life insurance!

Don’t Forget That Life Insurance can Provide A Pension

The proceeds from such a policy or a single life policy could provide an income as a pension in case you have a joint to die life insurance policy.

Let’s say that you had a joint first to die policy with your spouse. You are left wondering what to do with this large life insurance policy you bought to protect them as your children grow up and leave. You now have to make a decision since neither of you died and the need for it passed.

But while thinking about this, your spouse dies and so you inherit the lump sum. It now provides you with an extra income from capital which can now be passed down the line at your death.

There are not too many products as versatile as life insurance if you think about it.

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Tips For Getting Car Insurance

Monday, December 26th, 2011

Getting car insurance can be an intimidating and frustrating experience. With the many options and companies available to choose from, many people don’t know where to start or what coverage they need. Auto coverage is one of the most expensive, yet necessary, part of your monthly budget so choosing the right policy is important.

The first step is to research and understand the different types of coverage terms used in a policy. Required coverage can vary depending on the state you live in and where your vehicle is financed. You want to choose an affordable option while making sure you are legally covered. Knowing what is required in your state allows you to keep the necessary coverage without paying for policy components that you don’t need.

The out of pocket expense you are required to pay in case of an accident is called the deductible. You need to choose the deductible amount that is right for you, and be aware of what minimums are required if your vehicle is financed. If you choose to go with a lower deductible, your monthly premiums will be high, but you pay less when a claim is filed. With a higher deductible, you get the benefit of lower monthly payments, but will have to pay more up front if involved in an accident.

Next you need to compare the rates offered by competing companies. By utilizing online resources, you can compare the rates of many popular companies all in one place. Friends and co-workers are also a great resource for information on carriers. A company’s customer service and response time when processing claims can be just as important as low prices.

Most companies will offer discounts if you combine multiple policies such as auto, home, life or renters policies. This helps you save on your overall insurance expenses. There are also safe driver discounts for drivers who haven’t had a recent accident, discounts for taking driver’s education courses and discounts for certain safety feature that your car may be equipped with. Some other possible discounts include occupational, low mileage, auto clubs and good student discounts.

Many auto insurance companies stay competitive by offering incentives to attract new customers and retain current policy holders. Roadside assistance may be available in which if you are locked out of your car or stranded, the insurer will send help. Hybrid discounts are also popular since many customers are now driving hybrid vehicles. Accident forgiveness is also a popular incentive and the company guarantees they will not raise your premiums if you have your first accident.

The final step is to get a quote from at least three competitive auto insurance companies and look at them side by side. Compare the premium quotes, deductible amounts, benefits and policy limitations. Looking at the policies will allow you to determine which company offers the most comprehensive coverage at the best price.

Getting car insurance with the right coverage is vital in order to protect you in case of an accident. With careful research, you can find auto insurance that is affordable and ensure that your claims will be handled efficiently and with minimal hassle on your end.

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Tips to Get Low Cost Term Life Insurance

Sunday, December 25th, 2011

It would not be surprising if you find low cost term life insurance policies in the Christmas wish lists. Especially in this time where unemployment rates hit all-time high and the economy is plummeting, everyone would want to save as much possible. Well, plans cannot come for free so the best one can have is to get it as cheap as possible without affecting the coverage. However, prospective plan holders did not realize that they dictate the rates in more ways than one. This article will open your eyes up and give you practical tips that will help you land in an expensive policy.

Shop well. -buying insurance policy is just like any other products, only that it can be costlier than most as financial security of your beneficiary is what’s being considered here. It is only natural that you shop for it well. This means that you need to consider all factors before you make the deal. You cannot afford to jump in right away at the first offer that you get. You would need to take time to decide which will be included in your first set of choices. Afterward, you have to streamline the list, leaving out the ones that will benefit you least.

Compare term life insurance quotes carefully. – This is very important. You have to compare the rates carefully. The figures can tell all the things that you need to know. You must have an idea about what to look at and how you will look at it. For instance, features and face value of the plan should be delved into when you are putting side by side two plans. There are many agencies operating over the internet that allow you to compare up to five similar plans offered by different insurance companies for free. Through comparing the rates, you will be able to narrow down your choices.

Ensure that the plan fits your needs. – This is one of the most colossal blunders most of the prospective plan holders commit. It is understandable that because of the wide range of options available, choosing has been quite daunting. However, you must see that the plan fits your needs. Otherwise, you would miss the whole point of buying a plan. It would be like placing your eggs in a basket which base is torn. People who do such mistake tend to buy another plan just to make the coverage sufficient. Why would you pay for two plans when a single policy can do the trick for you?

Get healthy. – Health is one of the primary factors taken into consideration during underwriting process. But it has to be etched in your consciousness or you would have a need of no medical exam term life insurance. It is a known fact that this policy constitutes higher premiums. It would be really great if you can get away without it. If you want to have economical plans, you certainly will not want it to be included in your options so it is only wise to get yourself healthy. Lose weight if you must and get rid of the vices. It will pay off by not making you pay more.

Buy the plan while you are young. – Age is another important factor that is looked upon when underwriters are assessing you insurability and calculating the approximate premiums you would pay in the event that your application is approved. It is a fact that; the younger you are; the lower rates you are supposed to get. However, being young is not sufficient. You would have the best chances if you are physically strong and healthy as well. You may get a policy while you are young but age is not the sole factor for the underwriters.

Refrain from engaging in perilous hobbies. -hazardous activities would not provide good impression to the insurers. This truth applies to all types of plan, whole life insurance and term. You have to remember that you are viewed as a risk by the insurance firms and you do not have to generate more risks by engaging in perilous hobbies such as skydiving and extreme sports. You can tame the daredevil in you if you want to purchase life insurance.

If you will heed the abovementioned tips, you will have more chances to purchase low cost term life plans.

Article by David Livingston of EQuote, who is a specialist in everything life insurance. For more information on instant term life insurance and no medical term life insurance, visit his site today.