May 17, 2007

Whole Life Insurance

by Ralph Ramah

Whole Life Insurance is the most basic type of permanent life insurance. Whole Life insurance provides protection as well as a cash value. Your premiums remain at a fixed level for the duration of the contract.

Over time, the policy builds up cash value on a tax-deferred basis. It may also provide for dividends, which can be used to add more coverage, can build a cash-value that you can use to supplement your retirement income or help provide for a child’s education, it’s your money to use as you need. But keep in mind life insurance should not be purchased solely for cash-value accumulation; its primary purpose is protection.

Depending on your age and health, your premium will purchase a specific death benefit and produce a specific cash value, which are guaranteed for the life of the policy as long as your premiums are paid. Whole Life Insurance premiums, while higher than term premiums, are guaranteed not to increase. In addition, Whole Life policies can earn annual dividends which are based on MetLife’s investment, mortality, and expense experience. Dividends are not guaranteed.

People who need this type of life insurance are the following:
• Those who have a lifetime need for life insurance protection
• Those who prefer the high degree of safety provided by the policy’s guarantees
• Those who are attracted by the policy’s ability to build tax-deferred cash values
• Those who like to know that their premiums will never increase

The following demonstrate some advantages of whole life insurance:
• Earnings, and certain withdrawals and loans, may qualify for tax-favored treatment.
• Policy loans and withdrawals provide access to your cash value.
• If you cancel the life insurance policy, the accumulated cash value is yours to use as you wish. Taxes may apply.
• Dividends can be taken in cash or used to increase the policy’s cash value and death benefit. This means that certain ‘dividend options’ may be used to purchase additional life insurance coverage each year, regardless of your health.
• Life insurance Premiums are guaranteed not to increase over the life of the policy.
• A minimum death benefit is guaranteed.
• The cash value is guaranteed to grow at a specified, minimum rate.

Over time, whole life insurance may be more economical than term life insurance since premiums do not increase with age and the policy builds a cash value.

For more information free to visit http://www.unbeatablelifeandcriticalinsurance.co.uk/


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May 11, 2007

What Is Term Life Insurance?

by Ralph Ramah

Term life insurance is the least expensive type of coverage and least complicated type of life insurance, at least initially. Coverage is in effect for a fixed term or period of time, typically 1 to 30 years and usually, can be renewed.

The policy pays your beneficiary a fixed amount of money if you die during the term of the policy. The premiums are lowest when you are young and generally increase upon renewal as you age. These policies do not build up a cash value.

Term life insurance provides life insurance protection for a specified period of time. If you die within the term period and the policy is in force, a death benefit is paid to your beneficiary. If you are still living at the end of the term, protection ceases unless the policy is renewed. There is no ‘accumulation’ element, or cash value with term life insurance.

Term life insurance is mainly for:
• People with a temporary need for life insurance protection.
• Those who need a large amount of life insurance protection but have limited budgets.
• People with specific business needs (e.g., business owners who want to cover the life of a key employee who has a set number of years until retirement).

The following are the benefits of Term life insurance that should be considered:
• Term life insurance provides insurance protection for a low cost (at least initially).
• If your needs change, most term policies allow you to convert to a permanent life insurance policy without having to take a medical exam or provide other information about your health.
• Term life insurance is a good way to supplement other coverage when you have added financial responsibilities for a given period of time (e.g., mortgage, college expenses).
• Death benefits are generally received free from income tax

There are certain things which every individual should consider while taking the Term life insurance:
• Premiums generally increase with age and they could become unaffordable later in life. There is no cash-value element, so you miss the tax-deferred growth of the cash value of permanent life insurance policies, such as Whole Life Insurance.
• Once the term period expires, you should renew your policy as it is possible.

For more information feel free to visit http://www.unbeatablelifeandcriticalinsurance.co.uk/


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May 5, 2007

Senior Term Life Insurance

by Ralph Ramah

A senior term life insurance policy is an excellent way to supplement the financial assistance you leave behind for your family. Whether you already have a whole life insurance policy, or a nest egg set aside for just this purpose, a senior term life insurance policy will give additional coverage to your beneficiaries. If you are a senior who already has a life insurance policy, chances are you purchased that life insurance policy many years ago.

The amount of life insurance coverage you purchased at that time may have seemed sufficient at that time, but the cost of living increases over the years. This means the amount of life insurance coverage you purchased years ago may not be sufficient coverage for your beneficiaries today. In addition, the cost of living continues to rise, so you always need to keep an eye on the amount of life insurance coverage you have.

There are lots of benefits of having such a type of life insurance such as: expenses need to be taken care of once you are gone, aside from your lack of financial contribution. Your beneficiaries will need to pay for your funeral and burial services, and just as the cost of living continues to increase, so might the cost of the average funeral. Having an additional senior term life insurance policy will help your beneficiaries pay for the cost of your funeral and burial.

People of today’s era live longer as compared to the older ages and this make your beneficiaries live for many years after your death. You want to make sure your life insurance coverage is enough coverage for the duration of the rest of their lives, or however long it may take for them to financially adjust to your death.

So, if you are a senior who already has a life insurance policy, or savings account set aside to financially compensate your family members, take another look at the amount of coverage you have. This is the greatest best thing to do as a senior, that is, a member of every family is not at risk.

For more information feel free to visit http://www.unbeatablelifeandcriticalinsurance.co.uk/


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April 27, 2007

How To Choose Between Universal Life And Term Life Insurance?

by Jimmy Wild

Choosing between universal life and term life insurance can be one of the most confusing, yet consequential, challenges a person can face during his or her lifetime. The wrong policy might leave a family without the financial benefit it really needs following the death of a loved one or can burden the family with excessive, unnecessary coverage at a hefty cost to their fiscal well-being. It is possible, however, for the consumer to avoid such costly mistakes by doing a little bit of research and planning on his or her own. Only then can a responsible choice be made.

Before a choice is made between universal and term life insurance, the consumer should determine whether or not he or she actually needs life insurance. Basically, if the consumer?™s death would cause a financial burden for his or her family, then life insurance is a must. Examples of the types of financial burdens to be concerned about are: funeral costs, college tuition, left-behind credit debts, tax debts and mortgages. Generally, for a single person with no children or dependents, life insurance is completely optional. Once the decision to purchase life insurance has been made, then the consumer must determine which type of policy is the right one for them. A referred, reputable agent can help a potential policyholder wade through the benefits and costs of multiple policy types.

Universal Life Insurance

A universal life insurance policy, also referred to as a ?œcash value??policy, is for the consumer whose financial planning considerations extend far into the future. This type of policy, of course, will pay any necessary death benefits, but it also provides the policyholder with an additional financial advantage - a tax-deferred savings account. Although one must generally hold the policy for at least 15 years in order to see any return from the savings account, it does provide the policyholder with a stable long-term investment that can be cashed out or borrowed against, if necessary. Many financial experts recognize the investment benefits of a universal life policy as sound, while others argue that there are better investment options available to the educated consumer.

The coverage amounts provided by a universal life policy remain consistent throughout the years, as do the premium rates. These premium rates tend to be higher than other policies (the agent commissions and fees have much to do with this), but under some plans, the rates drop as the policyholder ages and might even disappear completely. There are no renewals to deal with unless the policy is allowed to lapse.

Responsibility is what makes a person. So we felt it our responsibility to elaborate more on health insurance so that not only us, but everyone knew more about it!

Term Life Insurance

A term life insurance policy is one of the most flexible and economical types of life insurance coverage available. This type of policy is for someone who seeks basic coverage for a pre-determined period of time and is not looking to combine this coverage with a savings account - those who choose term coverage often have investments elsewhere. The lack of an accompanying savings account means that the premiums for this type of coverage are relatively low but it also means that there is no return on any of the money paid into the policy over the years.

The premium rates for a term life policy are dependent upon the policy chosen. Policies can usually be purchased for periods of 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years and may be renewable. Apart from the low rates, the variety of term periods available is one of the most attractive aspects of the term life policy and offers a lot of flexibility to the policyholder. For example, if a couple has a child entering college and wants to ensure that his or her tuition will be paid for in case of their deaths; they can purchase a term life policy that would cover that child?™s college years. There would be no reason to purchase a lifetime policy for a short-term need. Policyholders can also choose term policies with increasing or decreasing coverage.

Reading all this about health insurance is sure to help you get a better understanding of health insurance. So make full use of the information we have provided here.

Keep your mind open to anything when reading about health insurance. Opinions may differ, but it is the base of health insurance that is important.

One of the disadvantages of a term life policy, however, is the inconsistency of its rates. While the premium rates do start out very low, they usually increase as the policyholder ages. Additionally, if the policyholder wants to renew after the initial term is complete, the fees associated with the renewal (because of age health, etc.) may be prohibitive.

To read more articles about life insurance: www.articlevillage.com/life-insurance
Jimmy is the publisher of Article Village Directory. You can submit articles, or find free content on articlevillage.com


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April 13, 2007

Nicotine Boost Increases Insurance Premiums

by Krista Farmer

Studies reveal that cigarette nicotine percentages are on the rise and so are smokers’ insurance premiums.

A recent Harvard study found that cigarette companies are not only packing cigarettes with an increasing amount of nicotine (the nicotine amounts rose
11 percent from 1998-2005); they are also reconfiguring cigarette designs so smokers get more puffs per cigarette. It’s not like smoking was already hard enough to quit.

How does this nicotine hike affect your pocketbook? From an insurance standpoint, smoking is risky business. If you’re a smoker, it’s likely your life and health insurance are significantly higher than a nonsmoker’s. In fact, health strategists with Hewitt Associates estimate that smokers’ premiums are often at least 25 percent more than nonsmokers. Some insurance companies even offer a discount for nonsmokers with the idea they will live longer and will be safer drivers.

But smokers, don’t think insurance companies are out to get you. There is rationale behind their concept. In addition to being more prone to lung cancer, heart attacks, cardiovascular disease, emphysema, etc. to name a few, as a smoker you likely have more frequent doctor’s visits and illnesses than a nonsmoker.

According to health economists at the University of California, cigarette companies rake in nearly $50 million annually from U.S. smokers. All that spending usually leads to even more money paid out by insurance companies to compensate for smokers’ health care costs. Researchers estimate insurance companies pay about $72.7 billion per year to provide health care for those with problems related to cigarette smoking.

Not only do smokers spend a lot of time in the doctor’s office, they also do not live as long. The average life span of a smoker is expected to be ten years less than that of a nonsmoker - making life insurance premiums soar. The National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion estimates that more than 400,000 Americans die prematurely from cigarette smoking each year.

Cigarettes are obviously addictive. Why does nicotine make smoking so hard to quit? Nicotine induces the chemical dopamine, a pleasure stimulating concoction in the brain that makes people feel happy and motivated. Who doesn’t want feelings of pleasure and rejuvenation? But should you spend thousands of dollars on health and life insurance coverage due to a habit that reaps the same benefits as exercise, eating food or trying something new?

An article in Psychology Today explains that the brain pumps out dopamine when you embrace new adventures. So get out and take that yoga class you’ve been thinking about. Try fly-fishing. Treat yourself to a healthy meal at a restaurant you’ve never been to before.

Evidence proves that nonsmokers are healthier, live longer lives and save quite a bit of money on their insurance premiums. Not only should these alternatives make you feel as good as or better than nicotine - they will greatly reduce your monthly insurance payment as well.

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HometownQuotes is based in Franklin, Tennessee and provides quick and easy insurance quotes to consumers. The company is based on the principle that consumers deserve better than the 800-number approach for their insurance needs. Founded in 2003 by two former insurance professionals, Hometown Quotes allows individuals to connect with local insurance agents that are better suited to handle a client’s needs. To learn more about what we can do for you, visit http://www.hometownquotes.com/.


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March 16, 2007

What Is A Life Insurance Cover?

by Glenn Ian Parkin

Life insurance is a type of insurance that offers financial security to people and their families in case of unexpected death of the earner. The insured or the policy owner is required to make periodic fixed payments, to the insurance company to keep the policy in force. These payments are known as the insurance premium and are decided by the insurance company on the basis of several factors. Life insurance agents approach such potential customers who require life insurance for various purposes. To find out these potential life insurance customers, insurance agents rely on the leads generation process. These leads can be bought from companies who are solely dedicated to building up a database of prospective customers.

Life Insurance is provided by numerous insurance companies and advice as to the most suitable type of life insurance to meet your specific requirements can be obtained from financial advisers who work for insurance brokers, insurance companies, accountants, banks, building societies and some other sources.
Life insurance companies promote two types of life insurances. They are whole life insurance and term insurance. Whole life insurance is when the time covered is the entire life and the premium is calculated accordingly. In case of term insurance, the insurance policy is taken for a fixed time of five, ten or fifteen years. The policy is covered for only that definite time and the beneficiaries are given the sum assured if the insured dies during the term of the policy.

A large number of life insurance companies exist today to offer different life insurance policies to their clients. These life insurance companies try to keep their individuality by bifurcations and making different classifications on the policies.
Life insurance policies can be classified into two types:

1) Term life insurance policy-Term life insurance policy is helpful to cover a person’s short-term requirements. For example if the policyholder meets an accident, he can make an insurance claim. Term life insurance is a policy which covers potential need in the short run.
2) Permanent Life Insurance- This life insurance policy is for the entire life of a policyholder. The value increases throughout the life. Par and Non-Par terms are mostly used in the context of life insurance policy. Par offers dividend, while non par on the other hand does not offer any dividend.

Life insurance is something every one should look into. The family with young children or the single person who has a responsibility towards other people should think seriously of getting a policy.
Life insurance is very important for families and single people who are financially responsible for someone. They might be looking after aged parents or someone who is handicapped who would be destitute without their help.

Life insurance is much like taking a gamble. You never know if you will win or not. You might think that it is unnecessary to have this insurance as you cannot see anything going wrong in the future. You might argue that you are fit and well and intend bringing up your children yourself. There is always the unforeseen factor in life, something that is entirely out of our hands.

Life insurance company reviews are found on the net and various financial magazines. It is advisable to always take reviews with a pinch of salt as they could be biased. It is necessary on the part of the insurer to carry out a proper study and not take any of the reviews at face value.

For more information feel free to visit http://www.unbeatablelifeandcriticalinsurance.co.uk/


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