Monday, February 26, 2007

Life Insurance: Term or Universal?

Deciding on the incorrect life insurance program might go forth a household without financial resources at the worst possible time.

Choosing between term and universal life insurance programs can be confusing. Only with some research and planning can a responsible pick be made.

Do You Even Need Life Insurance?

Before deciding between term and universal coverage, consumers need to determine whether or not life insurance is actually needed.

When you come up right down to it, it's a matter of money -- if death would cause a financial load for the family, then life insurance is critical. Financial matters to be considered include funeral costs, college tuition, and all outstanding and approaching debts. For single people without children or dependents, life insurance is really optional.

Once you've made the determination to purchase life insurance, then it's clock to determine which sort of policy is right. This is when you need a reputable insurance agent, referred to you by person you trust. The agent can assist you deal with the inside information of the assorted benefits and costs of multiple policy types.

Term Life

Term life insurance policies are among the most flexible and economical types of life insurance coverage available. These policies are designed for those who desire basic coverage for a set clip time period without a nest egg account built in. This agency that there will be no tax return on the money paid into the policy over the years.

Premium rates for a term life policy change with the policy. Policies are usually purchased for 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30-year periods, and they may be renewable. Apart from low rates, the assortment of term time periods is one of the most appealing features.

For instance, a couple with a kid entering college who desire to guarantee that tuition will be paid for in the event of their death, can purchase a term life policy for just those years. There is no ground to purchase a lifetime policy for a short-term need. Term policies with increasing or decreasing coverage are also available.

A disadvantage of term life policies is the incompatibility of their rates. While insurance premium rates begin out very low, they usually lift as policyholders age. Also, policyholders who desire to regenerate after the initial term have ended, may happen the reclamation fees prohibitive.

Universal Life Insurance

Universal life insurance policies will pay any necessary death benefits, but also supply policyholders with an further tax-deferred redemptives account advantage. Generally these policies must be held for a minimum of 15 old age before resulting in any tax return from the nest egg account. They supply policyholders with a stable long-term investment that tin be borrowed against or cashed out.

The insurance premium rates and coverage provided by universal life policies stay changeless throughout the years. Premium rates be given to be higher than with other policies, largely owed to agent commissions, but under some programs the rates driblet as the policyholder ages and may even vanish altogether. Unless the policy lapses, there are no reclamation fees to postulate with.

While some financial experts reason that there are better investing options available for educated consumers, many acknowledge universal life policies as having sound investing benefits.

Friday, February 23, 2007

Private Medical Insurance - What's it all About?

The beginning of private medical insurance travels back a long manner – before the New Hampshires was formed. In pre-NHS days, people contributed to “friendly societies”, which provided financial aid to people in modern times of need. Some private medical insurance providers, such as as BUPA, stay non-profit-distributing bodies, though there are also many commercial insurance companies providing private medical insurance these days. One of the best-known names in private medical insurance screen is AXA PPP healthcare – which was actually conceived in 1938 to supply a wellness insurance strategy for center income earners in London.
The principal purpose of private medical insurance is designed to cover treatment of “acute illness” – defined by Which? As “conditions which can be cured or substantially alleviated by treatment.” Treatment of chronic illnesses, such as as multiple induration or arthritis, may not be covered by private medical; so critical unwellness insurance might be more than suitable. Critical insurance screen will be based on your individual demands – so shop around for the right policy and always be completely unfastened with your insurance provider, or you may invalidate a claim at a future date.
Other treatments generally excluded from private medical insurance include cosmetic surgery, treatment for alcoholic beverage or drug maltreatment and sterility treatment. The bulk of standard policies except private audiences of a GP, routine check-ups and dental work – unless it is undertaken in a hospital. However, always check your private medical insurance policy – as some volition be more than comprehensive than others.
Private medical insurance can be an effectual manner of ensuring fleet access to medical care for your family. Just retrieve that insurance policies reflect your exact fortune – so don’t presume that one size suits all.
For further information on private medical insurance and critical unwellness insurance:

“Be your ain financial advisor”, Which? Consumer Guides, writer Jonquil Lowe

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Benefits of Getting Universal Life Insurance Quotes

What is Universal Life Insurance?

“Universal” is the term used for life insurance that offers built in flexibleness to change your insurance premiums and the amount of life insurance you carry throughout the life of the policy. A universal life insurance policy will collect value as the insurance premiums are placed in an interest edifice account. If your state of affairs changes, and you make up one's mind you need more than (or less) coverage, you can command how the universal life insurance policy operates. Many consumers have got establish that they appreciate the added control and hassle-free flexibility they have from owning universal life insurance. As with any life insurance policy, the benefits supply financial security for your loved 1s in the ill-timed event of your death.

What Can I Addition from Universal Life Insurance Quotes?

Once you’ve made the determination to purchase universal life insurance, the first measure to securing a policy is to happen out how much coverage you can afford. The best manner to make this is by getting universal life insurance quotes. When crucial how much you can spend, retrieve that with universal life insurance, you are always able to add more than coverage later if you want. Universal life insurance quotes will supply all the information you need regarding insurance rates, conditions, exclusions and benefits for the policy you are considering. It’s generally a wise thought to procure universal life insurance quotes from respective suppliers to compare the different coverage options they have got to offer. Once you have got the quotes in hand, creating a tabular array for comparison will allow you to make up one's mind on the most effectual policy for your needs.

What if I’m not Sure About Universal Life Insurance?

If you haven’t yet decided that universal life is the manner to go, see getting universal life insurance quotes along with quotes for other types of life insurance. Just as with supplier comparisons, usage the quotes to compare coverage and benefits across the different policy types. Whatever your concluding decision, the universal life insurance quotes will guarantee that you are making a well informed decision. If you’re still not certain you understand all the inside information of a policy, contact an insurance claim attorney or insurance agent for clarification.

How Can I Obtain Universal Life Insurance Quotes?

Getting universal life insurance quotes is a very simple process. Many insurance suppliers allow you to bespeak and access quotes via the internet. Researching the internet will also allow you to garner information about the general policies and coverage that tin aid you make up one's mind companies you should inquire for universal life insurance quotes. Aside from the internet, your insurance agent should be able to supply you with a assortment of universal life insurance quotes to help you in your comparisons. Most insurance agencies and online insurance suppliers will be more than than happy to supply you with universal life insurance quotes for free. While life insurance can’t convey you back to your loved ones, it can certainly offer them a measurement of security.

Learn more than about the benefits of universal life insurance quotes here - http://www.universal-life-insurance-quotes.com

Sunday, February 18, 2007

Why Bother With a Life Insurance Settlement?

A life insurance settlement is the amount of money your donee accumulates when you decease during the term specified under the life insurance policy. The insurance premiums you pay depend on the type of life insurance and the amount of the settlement you desire to have got if and when the life insurance company have to pay out. You might get a life insurance policy a batch cheaper if you choose for term life insurance because there is a possibility that you will never get to accumulate the life insurance settlement.

Settlements have got go a very of import factor in the estate planning procedure for seniors. Prior to the life insurance settlement industry, if a senior owned a policy that was no longer wanted, needed or could afford, there was no option but to lapse, cancel, or resignation the policy back to the carrier for the cash resignation value. Senior life insurance policies allow qualified policyholders to waste a policy for an amount much higher than the cash resignation value. Then, these seniors can take advantage of of import financial chances using the return of an unneeded or outdated life insurance policy.

There are two types of life insurance settlement transactions: One sort makes contiguous liquidness from a non-performing asset, allowing policy proprietors to cash out of unwanted, unaffordable or outdated life insurance policies insuring a senior over age 65. The other is a Viatical settlement, which enables person facing a terminal unwellness to use the present twenty-four hours value of their life insurance policy to ease the financial loads that tin be caused by the high costs of medical care. Knowing that there are options on how to have got got a settlement with senior life insurance can take off some emphasis in a nerve-racking situation.

Over the past few years, life insurance settlements have gained popularity among the financial planning community as the financial benefits to policyholders have go far too good to ignore. As this industry goes on to grow, many financial people have got begun to urge this financial service to their friends and families. This enables more than than and more life insurance policy proprietors to access the unfulfilled equity built up inside an plus that is normally considered only as a hereafter benefit. Thus, it have go much more than than a settlement that is used at the clip of death.

By being informed on your life insurance settlements, you can assist bend a policy on the verge of cancellation, resignation or lapse, into an contiguous cash settlement. It’s A true win win opportunity!

A life insurance settlement is an of import event.

Friday, February 16, 2007

The Advantages of Term Life Insurance

There are two main types of life insurance that are available to everyone; there is whole life insurance and term life insurance. Many people are unaware even of the existence of term life insurance, which is a shame because term life insurance is usually much cheaper than the whole life insurance equivalent. If you are a shrewd investor then term life insurance could be just the option you are looking for. It can work out thousands of dollars cheaper every year giving you that extra money to invest yourself. Insurance companies are normally very conservative when investing your money; some people like this while others prefer a more risky but greater return investment opportunity.

Cost.

The obvious advantage of taking a term life insurance policy over a whole life insurance policy is the cost. Often a term life insurance policy will cost you hundreds of dollars a year but a similar whole life insurance policy can cost as much as thousands. In fact, there are some term life insurance policies that will cover you to the value of $100,000 over a ten year term that cost less than ten dollars a month. Obviously, similar factors are taking into consideration when applying for term life insurance as they are when applying for whole life insurance; factors such as health, family history, lifestyle and age.

Flexibility.

Term life insurance offers you a greater level of flexibility over it’s whole life insurance counterpart. For less money you are able to take out short 10, 20 or 30 year plans and you are able to determine the exact level of cover that this offers. You may have a 4-year-old son and a partner who has opted to stay at home and look after him. Right now he is dependant on your earning money to feed, clothe and care for him but in twenty years he will have finished school, finished college and hopefully got himself a job. This means he is no longer your dependant and you may not need to make financial allowances for him in your life insurance. Alternatively, your mortgage may expire in ten years. You won’t need to pay to cover your mortgage once it has been fully paid up.

Investment.

A term life insurance policy costs you hundreds, even thousands, of dollars a year less than a whole life insurance policy. This means that you can invest your money yourself instead of relying on the insurance company to do so. Insurers are typically very conservative when investing your money, so by taking a term life insurance policy you are able to be a little less strict over the type of investment you choose affording you a greater potential to make more money.

Copyright 2005 Stacey Zimmerman

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Affordable Life Insurance!

So, you’ve decided to purchase life insurance. Well then, you have got made a good decision! If you have got dependents, you cognize that you must supply for them long after you are gone. Buying life insurance shouldn’t be a budget fellow either. Take a expression at the following options which can assist you salvage large time!

Shop Online: There are respective companies that volition give you free life insurance quotes right online. By entering your personal information, the amount of insurance coverage desired, and policy terms, you will have within minutes sufficient quote information. Naturally, you will desire to speak to an agent at some point, but at least you will get a very good ballpark figure to consider. Some good land sites for you to see include: Insure.com; SelectQuote.com; ReliaQuote.com, IntelliQuote.com; and InsWeb.com. There are many others, so make some comparison shopping.

Types of Life Insurance: There are four types of life insurance programs from which you can choose: Term Life, Whole Life, Universal Life, and Variable Universal Life.

Term Life is the most low-cost as it allows you lock in a fixed rate for the length of the policy [typically 10 or 20 years], but it makes not have got any cash accumulation. So, the lone manner it pays is if you die!

Whole Life offers policy holders lifetime coverage, guaranteed degree premiums, tax-deferred accumulation of cash values. In other words you can borrow off the policy if you need the cash.

Universal Life offers policy holders Lifetime coverage, flexible insurance premiums and death benefits, tax-deferred accumulation of cash values. Rates are adjustable.

Variable Universal Life offers lifetime coverage, flexible insurance premiums and death benefits, tax-deferred accumulation of cash values, a choice of investing options. Rates are adjustable.

Contact an Agent: Once you have got determined which type of insurance is best for you and your family, contact an agent for additional guidance. If you received an acceptable life insurance quote online, follow through with it to allow an agent to reach you personally. This individual will travel over your policy and discourse with you the assorted types of companies offering coverage. If you are satisfied and desire to continue further, the agent will tell a comprehensive medical examination that tin be done in the convenience of your home or office at no charge to you! About four to six hebdomads later the consequences will be in and if all travels well, coverage will get almost immediately thereafter. At no point are you obligated to accept coverage until you subscribe a contract.

More Savings: Make you desire to salvage even more than money? Wage the insurance premium all at once. Monthly or quarterly payments usually carry a surcharge. By paying the full insurance premium in advance you can salvage around 5%.

Providing for household members after your death is one of the most of import grounds to include life insurance as portion of your financial planning. You can have your free life insurance quote by shopping online today; don’t delay!

(c)2005; Matthew Degree Centigrade Keegan, LLC

Monday, February 12, 2007

How to Choose a Life Insurance Policy

If you have got a partner or children, it will give you peace of head to do certain that they will be safe and secure when you go through away. The best manner to make this is to purchase a life insurance policy. There are thousands of different companies offering life insurance. But how do you take an insurance policy that is right for you?

To assist you to make an informed determination when you come up to take a life insurance policy, you need to understand exactly what a life insurance policy is, who needs a life insurance policy and how to separate between the different types of policy

In simple terms, a life insurance policy is a warrant on the life of the insured person. When the insured individual dies, the insurance policy will give their donees a specific amount of money. The insured individual do a payment, known as a premium, usually on a monthly footing for a given clip period of time.

The amount of the life insurance policy insurance insurance premium is usually determined by factors such as as the age of the person, their gender, occupation, whether or not they smoke, medical history, along with the amount that is required to be paid out on death.

There are four chief sorts of life insurance policy.

Whole life insurance policy. - a whole life insurance policy endures for the entireness of the insured person’s life, as long as the insurance premiums are kept up to date. As the life insurance policy matures, it constructs up interest, so the longer the insured individual lives, the higher the payment to the donees will be. Some types of whole life insurance policy programs also offer dividends for the insured person.

Term life insurance policy – a term life insurance policy is policy that pays out to the insured person’s donees as long as the insured individual go throughs away within the fixed term specified in the term life insurance policy. For example, a 10 twelvemonth term life insurance policy would lone pay out only if the insured individual passed away within the 10 years. This is the least expensive type of life insurance.

Universal life insurance policy – a universal life insurance policy is the most flexible type of life insurance policy. This type of policy allows you to set the term and the insurance premiums to lawsuit your personal needs. Universal life insurance remains in consequence as long as the cash value can cover the costs of the policy

Variable life insurance policy - a variable life insurance policy allows the insured individual to make up one's mind exactly how the insurance payments should be invested. With a variable life insurance policy, it’s possible to bind the public presentation of the policy with the financial markets.

In general, every individual should take out a life insurance policy, but this goes even more than of import if you have got any loved 1s such as as a spouse, children, or aging parents who are dependent on you. It’s A hard adequate clip when a loved one bases on balls away, but a life insurance policy at least allows you to do certain that the loved 1s you would go forth behind would be taken care of in their clip of need.

Friday, February 09, 2007

Why Buy Life Insurance?

Love. Yes, that’s right. Love for your spouse, children, family, or even your school. This insurance provides financial protection for your family and friends when you die. There are basically two types of life insurance – Term and Permanent.

Term life insurance provides insurance for a specific amount of time. Like, for one year. You can usually renew annually, and this is called “Annual Renewal Term”. This works until about age 80. Level Term offers you a level premium for a fixed amount of years. You lock in a rate for 20 years. Then you have to get a new rate or new policy.

Permanent Insurance is also called whole life, universal life, etc. This form of life insurance also has a built in savings plan. You get a death benefit with a cash value savings plan attached. Of course, this plan is more expensive, but allows for some financial latitude.

You may be wondering why you would need insurance and what could you do with the proceeds if your spouse or loved one died. Here are some ideas that would help with the financial loss.

Income. Even if your spouse works, loosing one salary could be devastating.
Housing. The money could be used for rent or payoff the mortgage. Your spouse may not want to stay in the house, but it will give some options for them.
Debt. Reducing debt due to the loss can help the surviving spouse continue to be financially solvent. This will help your spouse survive on one income.
Pay Expenses. Funeral and hospital bills can be tremendous. The average funeral is $6,000.
Social Security. Its there, but it takes a while for it to kick in so to speak. Better cover yourself until that first check arrives.
Education. Think about the high costs of education and the burden that would be with only one income. Account for an educational nest egg to give your kids a head start.
Charity. If you don’t have anyone, this would be a good option. Also, you can get a tax deduction for the rest of your estate if you give some money away. In other words, give a chunk away and you might be able to keep some assets to give to your family.
Taxes. Two things certain. Death and Taxes. You may have to pay taxes on your 401k and other assets even though you are dead. If you don’t get these assets before you die, then the person receiving the benefit must pay the tax.

These last two items are a bit tricky and would require expert assistance from a tax attorney or estate attorney.

Think about your family and decide what type of life insurance would protect them the best. Let me know if you can think of other helpful information on what to do with life insurance proceeds.

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Life Insurance Policies Explained

Six Basic Kinds of Life Insurance

Regardless of how fancy the policy title or sales presentation might appear, all life insurance policies contain benefits derived from one or more of the three basic kinds shown below. Some policies due combine more than one kind of life insurance and can be confusing.

Term Life Insurance
Endowment Life Insurance
Whole Life Insurance
Variable Life Insurance
Universal Life Insurance
Variable Universal Life Insurance

Term Life Insurance

Term life insurance is death protection for a term of one or more years. Some companies are offering policies with terms up to thirty years. Premiums on term insurance remain level during the life of the policy. Term Life Insurance has no cash value account. Death benefits will be paid only if you die within that term of years. Term insurance generally provides the largest immediate death protection for your premium dollar.

Some term life insurance policies are renewable for one or more additional terms even if your health has changed. Each time you renew the policy for a new term, premiums will be higher. You should check the premiums at older ages and the length of time the policy can be continued.

Some term insurance policies are also convertible. This means that before the end of the conversion period, you may trade the term policy for a whole life or endowment insurance policy even if you are not in good health. Premiums for the new policy will be higher than you have been paying for the term insurance.

Life Insurance "Endowment"

An endowment insurance policy pays a sum or income to you, the policyholder, if you live to a certain age. If you were to die before then, the death benefit would be paid to your beneficiary. Premiums and cash values for endowment insurance are higher than for the same amount of whole life insurance. Thus endowment insurance gives you the least amount of death protection for your premium dollar.

Whole Life Insurance

Whole life insurance gives death protection for as long as you live. The most common type is called straight life or ordinary life insurance, for which you pay the same premiums for as long as you live. These premiums can be several times higher than you would pay initially for the same amount of term insurance. But they are smaller than the premiums you would eventually pay if you were to keep renewing a term insurance policy until your later years.

Some whole life policies let you pay premiums for a shorter period such as 20 years, or until age 65. Premiums for these policies are higher than for ordinary life insurance since the premium payments are squeezed into a shorter period.

Although you pay higher premiums, to begin with, for whole life insurance than for term insurance, whole life insurance policies develop cash values which you may have if you stop paying premiums. You can generally either take the cash, or use it to buy some continuing insurance protection. Technically speaking, these values are called nonforfeiture benefits. This refers to benefits you do not lose or forfeit when you stop paying premiums. The amount of these benefits depends on the kind of policy you have, its size, and how long you have owned it.

A policy with cash values may also be used as collateral for a loan. If you borrow from the life insurance company, the rate of interest is shown in your policy. Any money which you owe on a policy loan would be deducted from the benefits if you were to die, or from the cash value if you were to stop paying premiums.

Variable Life Insurance

Variable life insurance, provides permanent protection for you and death benefits to your beneficiary upon your death. The value of the death benefits may fluctuate up or down depending on the performance of the investment portion of the policy. Most variable life insurance policies guarantee that the death benefit will not fall below a specified minimum, however, a minimum cash value is seldom guaranteed. Variable is a form of whole life insurance and because of investment risks it is also considered a securities contract and is regulated as securities under the Federal Securities Laws and must be sold with a prospectus.

Universal Life Insurance

Universal Life insurance is a variation of Whole Life. The insurance part of the policy is separated from the investment portion of the policy. The investment portion is invested in bonds and mortgages, the investment portion of Universal Life is invested in money market funds. The cash value portion of the policy is set up as an accumulation fund. Investment income is credited to the accumulation fund. The death benefit portion is paid for out of the accumulation fund. Unlike Whole Life Insurance, the cash value of Universal Life Insurance grows at a variable rate. Normally, there is a guaranteed minimum interest rate applied to the policy. No matter how badly the investments go by the insurance company, you are guaranteed a certain minimal return on the cash portion. If the insurance company does well with its investments, the interest return on the cash portion will increase.

Variable-Universal Life

Variable universal life insurance pays your beneficiary a death benefit. The amount of the benefit is dependant on the success of your investments. If the investments fail, there is a guaranteed minimum death benefit paid to your beneficiary upon your death. Variable universal gives you more control of the cash value account portion of your policy than any other insurance type. A form of whole life insurance, it has elements of both life insurance and a securities contract. Because the policy owner assumes investment risks, variable universal products are regulated as securities under the Federal Securities Laws and must be sold with a prospectus.

Rates and coverage vary form state to state. Shop around on your own and talk to an independent insurance agent to make sure you get a plan that's right for you. It's amazing how much rates may vary from company to company for the same coverage.

Saturday, February 03, 2007

Finding Fast Life Insurance

Since the widespread growing of internet usage and database edifice it’s never been easier or quicker to happen fast life insurance. There was a clip not long ago that the undertaking could drag out forever. The procedure began with phone common colds and tons of dialogue between you and agents about assorted policies, options and underwriting requirements. Today fast life insurance is possible.

You simply kick off your shoes, catch your favourite drink, boot up the computing machine and log in to the internet. Then you type in what you're looking for and knock the consequences protrude up on the silver screen for your review. That alone saved you a batch of clip and talk.

Then you reexamine the land sites for quotes and results. Most of these services supply you information on the most aggressive carriers available. They aren't biased generally speaking as they do their money regardless of which programme and so forth that you buy.

This full shopping procedure can be done in less than an hr and determination the best offers as well. If you have got inquiries there's normally a phone number or electronic mail computer address for you to use.

You simply fill up out and online application and you;'re almost done. If your age and amount of insurance necessitate a medical analyze you'll be contacted immediately and agenda for person to halt by for probably a one-half hr to take your blood pressure, obtain a piss sample and inquire you a few questions.

This whole procedure is very simple and as you can see that’s pretty fast life insurance.

Thursday, February 01, 2007

Life Insurance Agent Sales Slump - What's Happening to the Life Insurance Industry?

In the life insurance business, there are highs and there are lows in activity. There are respective factors that traditionally lend to this ebbing and flow, but lately there have got been some anomalousnesses that are affecting the life insurance sales industry. In this article, I will analyze some grounds why insurance sales would be on the rise or why they are currently in a lull.

Back a few calendar months ago, when it was the beginning of summer, I expected a downswing in business as I always can expect in the summertime season. Summers are slow as far as life insurance sales because people are either on holiday or they’re just too darn hot to get out and ran into with a salesman. What’s more, the life insurance salesman too is on vacation. The agents usually travel out and enjoy the nice weather condition and take the summertime off to golf game or maybe ran into with prospects in a more than relaxed atmosphere. Well, the summertime is over (as far as the calendar is concerned), but the weather condition is still good outside – at least in the South. At any rate, business is still running at a slow pace.

Speaking for this peculiar calendar month (September 2005), it very well may be that since consumer assurance is down to an all clip low since 1990, hurricane Rita and Hurricane Katrina just ripped through, and the fact that gas is at an all clip high, consumers are thinking less about the hereafter (life insurance) and more than than about how to maintain afloat right now.

On a more planetary scale, perhaps life insurance sales are down because of the warfare in Republic Of Iraq or the latent hostility between the USA and other Countries.

Also, could it be that the “me” generation is getting its way? Are folks just not thinking about the social welfare of their households as much?

One thing that have impacted the service industry in a huge manner is the “do not trouble oneself me” outlook that we’ve all adopted. The make not name list, make not facsimile list, and no soliciting marks are crushing an industry that once thrived and depended upon these methods of communication. The life insurance agent or broker confronts a existent challenge where this is concerned.

So what can we make to hike sales? Can the companies help? My sentiment is “yes”, the insurance companies can aid to hike business. Just recently, Prudential have got aired a consumer consciousness commercial about the importance of life insurance where a male child inquires his Father “Dad, make you have life insurance?”. I suggest that we, as agents and general agents mass meeting the insurance companies and get them to raise consciousness and make desire to protect wealth, secure businesses well-being, and advance a better future.