Sunday, December 10, 2006

Life Insurance Comparison: Term or Whole Life?

Life Insurance Comparison: Term or Whole Life? by Arthor Pens

When it comes to buying life insurance the most important comparison is between term insurance and whole life. Here is an explanation of each.



A term life insurance plan provides life insurance - plain and simple. A whole life insurance plan provides life insurance but also accrues value, which you can cash out or borrow against. It generally takes about three years to see any value and then it's not a lot of money. Term life insurance, in comparison to whole life, is considerably less costly for this reason. Some will refer to term life insurance as renting insurance rather than buying it. The reason for that attitude is that, much like auto insurance, you pay the premium each month or quarter or year to hedge against the bet that you might have an accident (in the case of term life insurance the accident is death). If you don't have that accident, in the case of auto insurance, or if you don't die in the case of life insurance, you don't get the money.



We all die, of course, so it might seem that term life insurance is a good bet and the best bet in comparison to whole life. You would, you surmise, always get your money back. The catch here is that term life insurance will end at a certain point - and that point may well be before you are deceased. Term life insurance plans are only good until a certain predetermined age - many are 70 years of age, others up to 80. For those of us who really need this coverage until the day we die these aren't good plans in comparison to whole life which will be in force until the day we die.



Term life insurance is a good buy in comparison to whole life, however, if all you are trying to do is set money aside to prevent your young family from becoming destitute in the event of your unexpected death. Once you reach the age of 70, the likelihood is that your children will be comfortably on their own and not dependent on your money or income to survive. Of course, if this is your only life insurance and it goes away before you die then your family or someone else must bear the cost of burying you. That is where whole life insurance is a favorable comparison to term life. Whole life will stay in place as long as you do, and will be there when it comes time to pay for your burial.



It may be, then, that in doing a comparison between term life insurance and whole life insurance, the results indicate a need for both. Many professionals suggest that you buy an amount of term life insurance that would keep your family bills paid for a predetermined time in the event of your untimely death, choosing a term that covers them only until they are old enough to take care of their bills on their own. These same professionals suggest as well that you also buy a whole life insurance policy for an amount of $7000-$12,000, merely to assure that your family will have money to bury you.



In other words, if you are 40 and your children are 6, 8 and 10, you're going to need about 15 years of term life insurance - until your youngest is through four years of college. You might decide, with three children and a spouse that you'll need several hundred thousand dollars of coverage. A Whole life policy of $10,000, however, would be plenty to provide a decent funeral and burial.



CompassQuote Insurance Services provides Affordable Term Life Insurance quotes in all 50 U.S. States. You can also view permanent Universal Life Insurance plans an compare instantly.




Article Source: ArticleBazaar.net

Friday, November 10, 2006

How To Sell Your Structured Annuity For Cash

How To Sell Your Structured Annuity For Cash by

When You Sell Your Insurance Structured Settlement You Get, Time Value of Money



Structured settlements are financial packages or financial agreements permitting a settlement to be paid through an annuity via regularly scheduled installments either for a fixed period or for the lifetime of the claimant. Because it is tailor-made for individual cases, the structured settlement may also include some immediate payment to cover special requirements.



In lay man terms, Structured settlements are also known as Structured Annuity settlement, Insurance Structured settlements, Annuity settlement, Structured annuity and Structured settlement payments.



The structured settlements payments are typically funded by annuities, reinsurance, or occasionally U.S. government obligations. The structured settlements are mostly setup for lawsuit settlements, insurance settlements, lottery awards, casino and jackpot winnings and contest payments.



Structured settlements or Annuity settlements - When created?



Structured settlements or structured settlement payments are not appropriate in all kind of cases. Since structures allow settlement funds to grow income tax-free and to be preserved to meet future financial needs, any liability case can be suitable for a structured settlement.



Structured settlements or structured annuity settlements are designed for many types of cases though including:



- All catastrophic cases including paralysis, brain damage, severe burns, loss of limb or severe injury cases.



- Wrongful death cases where a surviving family will need a regular income to replace that of the lost spouse/parent.



- Permanent or temporary disabilities that will take extensive recovery time.



- Most of Workers compensation cases- Most of cases with a reserve or value of $50,000 or more, for example lottery or casino awards.



- Guardianship cases where there are minor children or another person who is judged to be incompetent such as a person with psychological, emotional, or mental handicaps.



Structured settlements or structured settlement payments – How created?



Structured settlements or structured annuity settlement can be formed in many different ways, and their structure is basically determined by the financial needs of the claimant. The simplest structured settlements are created with an even distribution of cash on a given interim for the term of the agreement. Such a settlement could include a payment every month for 15- 20 years as an example.



A properly developed structural settlement or annuity settlement agreement also includes the time value of money because by design, they do not pay interest. The interest is calculated in as a part of the payment. In essence, the structured settlement incorporates a fixed interest rate that is also completely tax-free as it is part of the settlement.



Benefits of a Structured Settlement:



Benefits to Claimants:



1. Choice: Allows the claimant a choice at settlement. Benefits can be received based on needs rather than a lump sum which has to be invested at risk, incurring fees.



2. Tax-free: Structured settlements or structured annuity provide cash to claimant that is completely free of tax liability, both at federal and the state level 3. Regular payment stream: A structured settlement annuity provides regular payment stream to claimant.



4. More Secure: Maximum security since periodic payments are funded by annuities or reinsurance issued by the largest, most secure life insurance companies.



5. Structured Settlements or Structured settlement payments are cheaper: Another benefit to structured settlements is that they are often arrived at without the risk and time loss of going to court.



Benefits to the defense:



1. Bridge Gaps: Helps bridge gaps between plaintiff and defendant.



2. Reduces litigation costs: For many reasons, defendants who believe they could have liability will make an offer of a structured settlement to minimize their costs.



3. Reduce settlement cost: Substandard age rating can significantly reduce settlement cost



4. Structured Settlements or Structured settlement payments are cheaper: Because they are often arrived at without the risk and time loss of going to court.



You can sell Your Structured Settlements or Insurance Structured settlements!



Now you can sell your future monthly structured settlements payments and be free of the restrictive schedule of disbursement imposed by your structured insurance settlement. There are some structured settlements companies; those will pay you a large lump sum of cash now, rather than you receiving smaller monthly payments for the remainder of the payout.



You may like to sell your structured settlement or annuity settlements because some of the following reasons:



1. Your life situation changed since your structured settlement was created.



2. You have an emergency situation or a special opportunity occurred in your life which requires cash you do not currently have.



3. You want to start a new business but do not have the cash needed.



4. You need money for a special event in your life like the wedding of your child.



5. You have outgrown your current home but don't know where you'll find the money to buy a larger home or add on to your existing home.



You also have the options to sell your annuity settlement or structured annuity to suit your requirements as followings:



- Cash payouts in full: Full Payment refers to a plan where the individual sells all the remaining future payments at a discounted present value for a lump sum payment.



- Partial buyouts: Partial Payment refers to a plan where the individual sells a specific number of future payments at a discounted present value for a lump sum payment.



-Shared payment plans: Shared Payment refers to a plan where the individual sells a portion of their future payment(s) at a discounted present value and keeps a portion.



I personally believe that most important reason to sell your structured settlement or insurance structured settlements today is that you take advantage of the financial principle of the Time Value of Money, which means that a dollar is more valuable to you today than it will be in the future; you get your money before inflation kills its value.



Deal with a structured settlements company that will structure the transaction based on your specific financial requirements and only acquire the portion of your payment stream that is necessary for you to fulfill your needs.



About the Author: Paul Sherman is a Legal Funding Consultant. He offers free, professional, and independent advice to plaintiffs involved in lawsuits (incl. business owners) & Attorneys. To apply for Structured Settlement funding, Lawsuit loan, Commercial Lawsuit funding, Law Firm loan or Attorney funding please visit: http://www.easylawsuitfunding.com



Article Source: ArticleBazaar.net

Saturday, September 16, 2006

Choosing the Best Life Insurance

Choosing the Best Life Insurance by rateempire

Many people wonder why they should invest in life insurance. The fact is when you pass away and do not have coverage or money; your loved ones must take the burden of paying funeral costs, arranging, and so on. The cost of funerals is costly, so this is unfair to your loved ones. Life insurance will cover you, and will offer some stress relief in the event you die on funeral costs.



Moreover, if you pass on, your family will have to pay your mortgage, car payments and so on. Do not let this happen. Some life insurance policies will offer you unemployment coverage, burial, mortgage coverage and so on.



Life insurance plans will protect you and your family. You can find affordable plans online so there is no reason not to seek coverage. Some life insurance plans will cover debts you owe, expenses and so on. You will find life insurance plans that will cover all your estate costs too.



Life insurance often includes the cash value plans and the term life policies. Cash value will provide you coverage for the course of your life. In short, this is the permanent plan whereas term life is a plan that when it expires you must renew the policy. Obviously, the cash value is the better choice.



Cash value life will offer you benefits that will cover you in the event you pass. You have asset value that attaches to this plan. In other words, you have lifetime coverage at some of the best rates on insurance. In short, this plan will protect your financial interest. You have options to with some term life insurance. Some plans will allow you to request a conversion to change your plan to a cash value plan. Some term life plans will not give you this option.



You have other options with life insurance plans, but the cash value is obviously one of the better choices. Still, you can go online to use quote system at the insurance sites to find great rates, comparable costs, and several types of insurance plans.



If you are an employer, looking for group insurance coverage you will find a wide assortment of policies online also. Cobra, term life (group option) and other plans are available. Use the quote system to find the best rates on group life insurance. Check the packages offered, since some insurance plans give you better rates and benefits than other plans will.



Life insurance is important. To make your family's life easier, go online and search through the different plans to find what works best for you. Get the protection you and your family both deserve.



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Article Source: ArticleBazaar.net

Sunday, August 13, 2006

Life Insurance Plans

Life Insurance Plans by rateempire

Group insurance plans for life policy is intended for one contract that offers coverage for a group. Life insurance policies usually are taking out by an entity or employer. Some of the plans offer employees a variety of options over coverage. It depends on what type of policy an employer will take out. For example, if an employer took out the Cobra plan then it would cover his employees, their families and so on. Some plans may offer medical, dental and unemployment. Again, it depends on what the employer takes out.



Usually, group life insurance is a packaged benefit option that gives employees complete coverage. Usually at what time a person works at a company that offers group life insurance, after a cycle of employment has occurred the employer may offer group life insurance to the worker. Some of the plans offered may be group life, yet it depends on the policy offered as to what the benefits will cover.



Group life often includes a master contract. Employees usually take hold of a certificate if the employer offers group life insurance. This is what the employee will show as proof of coverage. This certificate however is not the actual policy, rather proof that you have coverage. Like other types of insurance plans however, the certificate holder will give you the option to choose a beneficiary.



This recipient or beneficiary is the receiver that handles the certificate in the event you pass on.



Some other plans include term life insurance. Term life is more common than the group plans. Group term usually given annually, i.e. the plan is renewed yearly. This plan often entails that the employer pays the majority or all of the fees. Most times this insurance plan is equally factored into one x or two x the yearly salaries.



You have coverage with this plan unless the employee is terminated from the job, or decides to stop working at the company. If the term ends, you lose coverage also.



Some of the policies allow you to choose options. That is you can convert your insurance after quitting a company into a single policy. This means you take over fees, such as premiums. The problem with converting these plans is that you will pay a much steeper fee on premiums than you would if you took out-group life insurance.



If you start work at a company make sure that you understand the group life and life insurance offered to you. The 401K plans is typically offered at many companies. You must agree to allow the employer to deduct a small amount from your weekly paycheck to pay for your coverage. Most times, it is worth the cost.



#1 American Insurance provides free insurance quotes for home insurance, auto insurance and life insurance. With #1 American Insurance you will get the best insurance quote in your area as our insurance agents are top rated in insurance markets.#1 American Insurance also provides portal for mortgage rates and Bad Credit mortgage rates.



Article Source: ArticleBazaar.net

Friday, July 7, 2006

What Type of Travel Insurance Fits You Best?

What Type of Travel Insurance Fits You Best? by SHALDON PARKER

Before leaving for a trip many individuals will take great care in planning all aspects of their vacation. They will often carefully research their travel options and choose everything to make sure it fits within a scheduled itinerary so that nothing is missed.



However, there are certain unexpected events that can happen on any trip which cannot be planned for. Unexpectedly your vacation may be ruined by severe illness, accidents, robbery, natural disaster or any other number of events. However, if you purchase travel insurance before leaving you will be able to deal with these situations without losing a lot of the money you invested in your trip. Consider the types of travel insurance available to you carefully so that you can get adequate coverage without having to pay for something you won’t need.



Single Trip



This form of travel insurance is ideal for those who don’t travel frequently since it provides coverage only for a specific trip. However, there are still many other policies available for those who don’t fit into this category. If you don’t need single trip coverage then your decision for travel insurance coverage can become a lot more difficult with the options you have to choose from.



Annual



The most convenient and cost effective option for those who take more than one trip each year is annual or multi-trip travel insurance. You should read the policy carefully when purchasing this type of travel insurance as some of these policies may have limitations on the trip length such as excluding trips over thirty days. There are some policies that may also exclude holiday travel. It is always important to read the fine print before purchasing any insurance policy.



Family



Family travel insurance is good for those who are traveling with kids or their parents. The benefits of this policy are that you don’t have to buy separate travel insurance policies for each member of the family since everyone is covered as whole. There are different premiums depending on the family travel insurance policy you are choosing. Some companies vary premiums based on the number of children covered on the policy, while other charge flat rates.



Business Traveler



Another travel insurance policy that assumes you travel several times a year is business travel insurance policies. The typical business traveler should choose this policy option. One feature of this policy that isn’t found in other insurance policies is the fact that should you have an emergency that prevents you from taking the trip; the company can replace you with another employee under the colleague replacement coverage.




Shaldon Parker is a travel agent working for many travel insurance company. To discover how you can cover your travel expenses with wise investments, please visit: www.besttravelinsuranceguide.com



Article Source: ArticleBazaar.net

Sunday, June 11, 2006

Get Covered By Workers’ Compensation Insurance

Get Covered By Workers’ Compensation Insurance by rateempire

Workers’ compensation insurance, commonly called workers’ or workmen’s comp, is a form of insurance designed to provide compensation to workers who have been injured while on the job.



While the details can vary significantly from one plan to the next, insurance plans in this category typically provide for some form of wage replacement, payment and/or reimbursement of medical costs, compensation for economic losses, possibly damages for pain and suffering, and settlements to the insured’s dependents in the case of a fatal work-related accident.



Given this broad range of covered areas – essentially combining the key features of disability insurance, health insurance, and life insurance, among others – workers’ comp is certainly one of the more critical forms of insurance an individual can obtain. By knowing all you can about workers comp you can ensure that if an accident happens on the job you are covered. If you are not you could find yourself and your family in trouble down the road. We all need money to pay the rent and buy food and getting compensation for an injury at work can help you to pay for these necessities.



Workers’ comp insurance is typically associated historically with labor or professional unions, and is often the result of coordinated campaigns to obtain the coverage for the union members. Proponents of workers’ comp cite improved working conditions, economic support for employees, and the safety net provided by the insurance, as key benefits of workers’ comp. Critics of this type of insurance cite increased costs to employers and potential infringement on workers’ rights to seek recompense on their own. Another concern that is frequently raised is the possibility of American companies moving parts of their operations or even their entire companies to areas with looser workers’ comp law. In the United States, however, workers’ comp laws are nearly universal, and almost all employers must carry the insurance in some form for their employees.



The body of laws governing workers’ comp insurance has become extremely complex and varies from state to state. For example, in many states it is illegal to terminate an employee for filing a claim or for reporting an injury incurred at the workplace. This isn’t illegal in all states, however. And while most states don’t allow employers to deny employment based on previous workers’ comp claims, employers are able to check a commercially maintained database of claims, a system that could potentially be abused by unethical employers.



Because abuse of the system has occurred on the part of employees as well, stiff fines and other legal penalties are in place for persons who file false claims for workers’ compensation benefits. While stories of supposedly injured employees engaging in physically demanding activities are commonplace, little hard data exists to indicate what percentage, if any, of the claims filed every year are actually fraudulent.



Vigorous investigation by employers, including tactics such as secretly video taping claimants engaged in physical activity, have also undoubtedly helped reduce the number of false claims. Certainly the vast majority of claims filed are the result of legitimate, unavoidable work-place injuries.



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Article Source: ArticleBazaar.net

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Life Insurance: 7 Myths About Life Insurance

Life Insurance: 7 Myths About Life Insurance by rateempire

There are a lot of myths and misconceptions when it comes to life insurance.



You need to know the truth when it comes to what you are purchasing, don’t just assume based on rumors you’ve heard. Mistakes made when buying life insurance have long-lasting consequences. If your family isn’t provided for as they need to be, you won’t be here to fix it.



You need to choose the life insurance that is right for you. You can do so by avoiding these seven common myths:



Myth #1: You should buy seven times your annual earnings.



The rule of thumb that says you should have so many times your annual income isn’t necessarily true. The average American has a policy three times his or her annual income. Your dependents should be able to withdraw 5% each year from your insurance policy money without having to touch the principal. If you are making $60,000 annually and you purchase three times your annual income, you have an $180,000 policy. This means your heirs will only be able to withdraw $9,000 each year.



Most people have less coverage than they need. To calculate the amount you actually need, estimate how much your heirs will need to maintain their lifestyle without you. Include the costs of child care, education and emergencies. Add up all other sources of income and subtract it from the expenses. This will show how much of a policy you need to have.



Myth #2: Agents don’t give you the best deals, the internet does.



The internet is a great place to shop and research life insurance. But don’t assume that you’ve gotten the lowest price just because it’s the internet. Good agents will find a competitive rate that’s comparable to your online quotes.



Often, the premiums posted on internet sites are misleading. They are usually quoting you are rate that only those in the healthiest of conditions receive. They may give you an initial rate that will increase significantly in a year.



You can’t just compare rates. You need to also compare the policy that you are receiving. Shop around on the internet and with various agents for the best policy for you.



Myth #3: All policies are the same, you are just charged more



You have to read your policy. It is a contract between you and an insurance company. It tells you what is payable and what isn’t. All policies have different features. Make sure that you have received what you were told you were getting. Make sure that all names are correctly spelled and all numbers are right. Your written policy is what matters, not your phone conversations or your agent’s promises.



Myth #4: You should always name your estate beneficiary



If you do, the proceeds will go through probate. This means that your policy proceeds could be tied up for several months to over a year. Your heirs will not have access to the money during this time.



The proceeds will also increase the value of your estate, which means your family might have to pay estate taxes. If you have an estate over $1.5, you will pay taxes depending on your state. Estate taxes are often as high as 48%, so do everything you can to avoid them.



Myth #5: If you are in poor health, you are uninsurable



This simply isn’t true. There are a lot of companies out there that specialize in coverage to those who have or have recovered from a serious illness. The coverage is often expensive, but you can get it.



Being turned down once doesn’t mean it will happen again. Shop around, one company might charge you an added surcharge, while another will charge you a standard to preferred rate. It really depends on the company, not just your health status.



Myth #6: Insurance agents know what you need



Many life insurance agents are looking out for your best interests, others aren’t. That’s the way it is. Agents are compensated differently for selling different products; that often influences what they sell you.



If you need help, also ask your CPA what type and how much life insurance you should buy.



Myth #7: Life insurance is more important than disability coverage



Most people recognize life insurance as an important part of their financial planning. They often overlook the importance of disability insurance. You are 50% more likely to be disabled than you are to die when you are under the age of 50.



Most people will find that term life insurance best fits there needs and offers less expensive premiums. If you do, you also need to have disability insurance.



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Article Source: ArticleBazaar.net