Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Term Insurance: Can You Afford Not to Have It?

Term Insurance: Can You Afford Not to Have It? by David McEvoy

Losing a family member can create both emotional and financial hardship on the entire family - whereas having a secure life insurance plan can help mitigate the costs involved. This is a benefit with both short and long-term plans. As you plan for your future, learning about the value and extensive benefits of your life insurance policies can help you maximize your investment.



Term life insurance can help your family with any costs in the event that you pass away, and can help minimize the risks involved with financial hardship on loved ones. When a key family member passes, their employment benefits cease to exist. Although some employers extend special insurance coverage to the employee's immediate family, this may not be enough to cover long-term needs and expenses.



Term insurance is commonly known as a ‘pure' form of life insurance because it only covers the insured for a specific period of time. The insurance policies will expire after a certain date, making sure that the policy holder's family and immediate beneficiaries are covered completely. It can help to protect a family's financial standing, or make money immediately available for children's college education or living expenses.



Determining Term Insurance Coverage



If you invest in a term insurance plan, you'll need to consider the length and type of the policy you want to invest in. The insurance policy is a legal document, and each type of insurance will vary by state or country. Term insurance is an affordable way to cover any potential risks in your future years; if you have numerous dependents, you really cannot afford not to have it. The best coverage for your family will depend on how many assets you own; if these are not valuable enough to provide cash after a sale, your family can be at a severe financial risk. Another factor to consider is whether you require a death benefit for a business. Any outlying businesses will require some form of coverage in the event that you are no longer the owner. Ultimately, term insurance is designed for complete financial protection in the event that you pass away.



Annual Renewable and Level Term Insurance



The beneficiaries of your insurance proceeds will receive the funds free of federal and state income taxes. The money can be used for any expenses, costs, and even pay off some debts such as a mortgage or outstanding revolving accounts. Term insurance can be renewed each year, while other premium policies can be extended for a specific period of time. Annual renewable term policies are ideal for short-term needs and the premiums will fluctuate each year upon renewal. However, this may become unaffordable if it is started too early. A level premium term life insurance plan may be a better option, since this will cover the insured for a set of years: 10, 15, or 20 years at a time will be covered at a set rate so there will not be any fluctuations in payments. Renewals may require an evidence of insurability, but you will have a chance to take advantage of more favorable rates.



Key Benefits of Term Insurance



A number of benefits exist for term insurance policies, and finding an affordable plan can help minimize the costs involved with alternative options such as permanent life insurance. Key benefits of term insurance include:



• Beneficiaries are paid the face value of the policy when the insured dies during the term

• Term insurance generally costs less than permanent life insurance plans and policies, making it more affordable in the long-term

• Some policies are renewable and may even be converted to a permanent insurance status

• A level term life insurance policy can last up to 30 years

• A higher cash value after proceeds are distributed to beneficiaries



Death benefits are not paid at the end of the term, so establishing the right amount of the policy is important during the selection process. Term insurance is the simplest and easiest type of insurance available. Most have a renewable feature that will allow you to increase the premium if any health concerns or life changes occur, and locking in a secure rates becomes much easier. Qualifying for various policies can be challenging, but once the medical evaluation is completed, the physical examination will easily approve a certificate of insurability.



What Term Insurance Proceeds May Be Used For



Once the insured has passed away and the beneficiaries receive the proceeds, term insurance can be used for a variety of purposes that can maintain your family's financial health and protect them from hardship. Common uses for proceeds may include:



• Paying off a mortgage

• Setting up a retirement fund for a spouse

• Covering children's school and college expenses

• Paying off debts such as credit cards or auto loans

• Purchasing stocks for long-term investments

• Covering business expenses

• Cover health costs of immediate family members

• Pay for personal expenses



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Article Source: ArticleBazaar.net

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Pay as you drive, the best car insurance deal

Pay as you drive, the best car insurance deal by Kirthy

Pay As You Drive commonly known as PAYD, has set a revolution in the car insurance. You can now save money by driving less. Usually, the insurance trend is low mileage drivers receive minimal discounts for driving less. Not any more. With Pay As You Drive you get a financial incentive for driving less. It also reduces driving and congestion by 10 to 12% approximately.



It is an innovative concept related to car insurance which is calculated per mile you travel. PAYD links insurance polices to an odometer instead of just the date on the calendar. PAYD offers dual purpose, it provides opportunity to all drivers to save money and at the same time protect the environment.



Such PAYD insurance is more cost-effective and affordable as it gives every driver a greater control over his premiums. And low mileage drivers like a carpooler, low-wage earner etc. subsidize high mileage driver.



The technology that has revolutionized the car insurance is GPS(Global Positioning System). This enables to gauge monthly insurance premiums on the basis of where you drive and how often you drive. So the monthly premiums is based on the individual’s driving habits rather than others.



Take greater control over your premiums by settling down with a fair deal!



In addition to the above benefits, it allows you to have a volley of some in-car features. You gain access to your personal assistant with the help of 24/7 Assistance button which offers support in case of some inevitabilities such as an accident or a break down. A driver who gets covered under PAYD, also gets a 30 day free trial of a speed camera detection and a satellite navigation. On completion of this free trial period, you can purchase which ever best suited you.



PAYD resulted out of a research with which it was evident that low-mileage drivers are a large untapped market. Pay-as-you-drive insurance is as simple as buying gasoline. Drive less and Pay less. A driver covered under this insurance will get a per mile rate which is also based on other rating factors currently in vogue. It could be the geographic location, vehicle type and the driver’s crash history.

In some countries like Arizona, Indiana, Illinois and Pennsylvania, there’s a new mileage discount program which is designed in collaboration with both GMAC Insurance and Onstar vehicle service. All those drivers with a GM Vehicle and an OnStar service can earn an additional discount based on the miles they drive. The discount offered would be quite significant if the vehicle mileage is less.

From an environmentalist point of view such an insurance motivates one to drive less and thus reduce air pollution and other climate impacts.



Kirthy Vijay,Expert writer on bankruptcy.Log ontoHome owner personal loan



Article Source: ArticleBazaar.net