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Shopping Around For Term Life Insurance

August 6, 2010 at 1:23 pm

life insuranceComparison shopping for term life insurance coverage is just a click away. However, before you go around clicking on websites, there some basic information you should be prepared to provide to get preliminary quotes:

Aside from the obvious underwriting information such as your name, age and gender, you will have to provide more detailed information such as:

Weight: If your height weight ratio is not within certain limits (in other words you are overweight) it may affect your rate.

Do you smoke? Smokers pay a higher rate than non smokers. Rates can be as much as three times higher. However if you have quit smoking for at least a year prior to submitting your application, you may save some money.

Health: Companies want to know how much you exercise and what type of lifestyle you live. Do you participate in risky activities like racing, scuba diving, sky diving, rock climbing?

Type of work: Is your job hazardous? For example, if you work in underground mining, high-rise construction or work with explosives, you’ll carry a higher rate.

Driving record If you’ve been convicted of reckless driving or DWI in the last 5 years will increase your rate.

Your familial history Have your parents or siblings had cancer or cardiovascular disease before the age of 60?

You may be tempted to tell the insurance company what they want to hear (even if it’s not exactly the truth), but don’t. Lying on your application may void your insurance coverage.

Once you’ve elicited quotes from several companies, compare your rates and make sure your insurance company will be around for the long haul. Check their AM Best rating. AM Best is a company that measures the financial stabilitysolvency of insurance companies. A very low quote from a financially unstable company won’t do you a lot of good if they’re not going to be around to pay the claim.


Senior Term Life Insurance

July 30, 2010 at 1:23 pm

life insuranceWe all know that purchasing life insurance at an older age is more expensive than purchasing it while very young. In an attempt to provide affordable insurance to meet the life insurance needs of older insureds, some companies are now offering Guaranteed Acceptance Life Insurance.

Guaranteed Acceptance Life Insurance policy rates are less expensive than the traditional term insurance policies. As the name implies, you are guaranteed to be accepted for this life insurance. There are no health questionnaires to complete and no physical exams to take. As long as you pay the premiums, the policies cannot be cancelled. Additionally, you may lock your premium rate for the policy amount you want. Your rates will not change for as long as you keep your insurance.

Where’s the catch you may be asking. Well, the policies are written for a limited period of time. For example, Colonial Penn’s policies are for a two-year limited benefit period. They are available for people between the ages of 50 and 85 (This age range varies depending on insurance company and state regulation).

Generally, if death occurs during the first few years, a reduced benefit is paid or the company may return the premiums paid plus interest. For instance, with a Gerber Life policy, if death occurs by natural causes within the first two years (during the limited benefits time), the beneficiary will receive all of the premiums paid plus 10%. However, if death was a result of an accident, or if death due to natural causes occurs after the two years, your beneficiary will receive the full benefit amount. In the event of suicide (with certain state exclusions), the beneficiary will receive the amount of premiums paid only.

Most life insurance companies offer a Guaranteed Acceptance Life policy for seniors. There may be variations from state to state, but the basic premise is the same. They all offer an affordable insurance option for seniors.

Please see our list of recommended insurance quote providers below to get free insurance quotes from many providers. These sites also offer pages and pages of free insurance information.


Selling Your Life Insurance (Viaticals and Life Settlements)

July 23, 2010 at 1:23 pm

Selling your life insurance is an option you might consider if you’re in a difficult financial situation for which you don’t see a close end. A terminal illness or old age could cause you to think twice about paying those hefty premiums at this stage of your life. Selling your life insurance carries with it complex implications and substantial risks, so it is important that you educate yourself regarding the big picture. If you’re interested in selling your life insurance, this is a good starting point to obtain some basic information.

Basics: Vocabulary

If you’ve already done any research on selling your life insurance, chances are good that you’ve come across two main terms: viaticals and life settlements. Both refer to the selling of your life insurance to a third party. So what’s the difference? “Viatical” is typically used to refer to the transaction involving a chronically or terminally ill insured, while a “life settlement” is a transaction involving a senior (generally over the age of 65) who is not terminally ill.

Even though you now know the difference, it does not mean that your state does. These terms might be used interchangeably, or your state might use one of them to refer to both transactions. For example, your state could use “Viatical Settlement” to refer to any type of transaction regarding selling your insurance. Be aware that this kind of ambiguity may exist in relation to the vocabulary used in the sale of your life insurance.

How it Works

The owner of the life insurance policy will sell it for a percentage of the death benefit a lump sum to a third party and, in exchange, receives an often substantial lump sum payment. The third party then becomes the new owner andor beneficiary of the policy and pays all of the future premiums and eventually collects the death benefit when the insured passes away.

Those considering selling their life insurance may either directly approach a viatical company or settlement firm, or they may choose to work with a broker. The broker will act as an intermediary and present the information to several different companiesfirms in an effort to find the highest price for the sale.

The settlement firms buy the insurance on behalf of investors. In this situation, the investors become the owners and beneficiaries, and the settlement firm pays the premium until the insured dies. The firm then collects the death benefit and either pays its investors a percentage of the annual return or repackages the policy for sale to another party.

Take comfort in know that the process of selling one’s life insurance is typically very confidential. Most viatical companies and settlement firms understand the discretion necessary to make the process run smoothly and easily. However, a company may act disrespectfully and become borderline intrusive by trying to keep track of the insured’s condition. For this reason, it is important to work with a respectful, experienced organization.

Who Considers Selling

Those with serious, life-threatening illnesses are most likely to consider selling their life insurance to provide cash for various expenses, such as mounting medical bills. For those who are not terminally ill, selling the life insurance might be a good idea for a number of reasons. If the owner’s beneficiary has died or if the owner can’t afford to keep paying the premiums, it would appear that they no longer have sufficient use for the life insurance. Seniors around retirement age may also consider selling their life insurance, even if they are free of debt, in order to receive a lump sum of money with which they may do whatever they please.

Keep in mind that different companies may have different eligibility requirements to be able to sell your life insurance policy.

Advantages to Selling Your Life Insurance

It might be easy to see some of these benefits, but others are a little less obvious.

  • You’ll receive a lump sum cash payment right now. As mentioned above, this is especially useful to the terminally ill who have mounting medical bills.
  • You will receive more by selling your life insurance than you would if you simply surrendered it to the insurance company. It is possible for an insured person who is 65 or older or who is terminally ill to sell a policy with little or no cash value for a 100,000.00 or much more.
  • You won’t have to pay any more insurance premiums. If your financial situation is becoming strained with no end in sight, eliminating premiums is a way to alleviate the burden.
  • You don’t have to repay the money, like you do when you borrow against your insurance policy.
  • Even though your life insurance benefits won’t be available once you die, you can still leave money to a certain person or organization it will just come from the money that is leftover after using the funds from selling your policy. So, selling your life insurance does not
    mean that you’re definitely robbing your beneficiaries of their gift.
  • In some cases, the money you receive is tax-free.
  • There are no regulations or restrictions on how you make use of the money you receive. You may spend as much of it or as little of it as you wish, however you please.
    • Risks of Selling Your Life Insurance

      Understanding the risks associated with selling your life insurance will help you make an informed decision. Be sure to consult a financial advisor or tax attorney to make sure you understand the implications of the sale.

    • You might lose your eligibility for some public assistance benefits, especially those based on your income and assets (such as food stamps, welfare, Medicaid and some Social Security benefits).
    • There could be tax issues. Selling the policy will
      result in a tax bill if the settlement amount exceeds your cost basis.
    • With improved medical care, the ill person may live longer than expected.
    • You might face unhappy heirs. This might not be a problem for you, but it could lead to a long road of (possibly legal) complications and battles. Some settlement actually companies require the beneficiaries to also sign off on any sale, which could be good or bad, depending on whether or not you’re dealing with a cooperative beneficiary.

      • Other Options

        If you come to the conclusion that selling your life insurance policy is not for you, there are other options (though none that would provide you with such a large lump sum). An insurance agent should be able to help give you more information on some of these ideas.

      • Borrow against your insurance policy
      • Cash out the policy if it has surrender value
      • Look into accelerated benefits or living benefits
      • life insurance
      • Borrow money (from family or friends perhaps) and use the life insurance policy as collateral
        • If you believe that selling your life insurance policy is the right decision for you, make sure you deal with a dependable, experienced broker or settlement company to ensure that you get the best service and results from your transaction.

  • Second to Die Life Insurance Policies

    July 16, 2010 at 1:23 pm

    life insuranceUsually, the death benefit from a second-to-die life insurance policy is intended to go to the children , a charity or pay taxes owed after both spouses pass away.

    In the U.S. there is a marital deduction permitting you to leave an unlimited amount of assets to your surviving spouse with no taxes payable at your death. Those assets then become part of the estate of the spouse and if it includes a second to die life insurance polciy it could help pay any taxes. In Canada, there is more lenient tax treatment.

    There are also tax ramifications for small businesses, which is why business partners also purchase second-to-die policies.

    THE REASON TO BUY SECOND TO DIE LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES

    With a second-to-die life insurance policy your beneficiaries can pay debts with the proceeds of your policy, so they won’t be forced to sell your house or liquidate assets to pay the bill.

    A second-to-die life insurance policy can help to construct a financial plan reducing the tax burden of wealthy individuals by creating trusts and using second-to-die life insurance as part of the estate-planning process.

    ADVANTAGES TO SECOND TO DIE LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES

    1.Less expensive. Second-to-die life insurance is usually less expensive than life insurance but depends on the blend of the ages. The premium is based upon the joint life expectancy.

    2.Estate Preservation. A second-to-die policy appeals to individuals who feel strongly about preserving their estates with the life insurance paying the taxes.

    3.Easier to buy. It’s easier to qualify for a second-to-die policy than for individual life insurance. Since both insureds must die before the benefit is payable, the insurance company is less concerned that one of them might not be in good health.

    * Builds your estate. In some cases, second-to-die life insurance is marketed as a way to build an estate, not just insulate it from taxes. Much like individual life insurance, the death benefit of a second-to-die policy can ensure that certain people receive money, even if you spend every nickel.

    4.Second-to-die life insurance might make sense for people who don’t have a lot of money but want to leave an estate for their children.


    Second to DIe Life Insurance

    July 9, 2010 at 1:23 pm

    Usually, the death benefit from a second-to-die life insurance policy is intended to go to the children , a charity or pay taxes owed after both spouses pass away.

    In the U.S. there is a marital deduction permitting you to leave an unlimited amount of assets to your surviving spouse with no taxes payable at your death. Those assets then become part of the estate of the spouse and if it includes a second to die life insurance policy it could help pay any taxes. In Canada, there is more lenient tax treatment.life insurance

    There are also tax ramifications for small businesses, which is why business partners also purchase second-to-die policies.

    THE REASON TO BUY SECOND TO DIE LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES

    With a second-to-die life insurance policy your beneficiaries can pay debts with the proceeds of your policy, so they won’t be forced to sell your house or liquidate assets to pay the bill.

    A second-to-die life insurance policy can help to construct a financial plan reducing the tax burden of wealthy individuals by creating trusts and using second-to-die life insurance as part of the estate-planning process.

    ADVANTAGES TO SECOND TO DIE LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES

    1.Less expensive. Second-to-die life insurance is usually less expensive than life insurance but depends on the blend of the ages. The premium is based upon the joint life expectancy.

    2.Estate Preservation. A second-to-die policy appeals to individuals who feel strongly about preserving their estates with the life insurance paying the taxes.

    3.Easier to buy. It’s easier to qualify for a second-to-die policy than for individual life insurance. Since both insures must die before the benefit is payable, the insurance company is less concerned that one of them might not be in good health.

    * Builds your estate. In some cases, second-to-die life insurance is marketed as a way to build an estate, not just insulate it from taxes. Much like individual life insurance, the death benefit of a second-to-die policy can ensure that certain people receive money, even if you spend every nickel.

    4.Second-to-die life insurance might make sense for people who don’t have a lot of money but want to leave an estate for their children.


    Save Money By Getting A Term Life Insurance Quote Online

    July 2, 2010 at 1:23 pm

    life insuranceSave Money By Getting A Term Life Insurance Quote Online

    When deciding or choosing what life insurance is best for you, you can avoid feeling pressured into a policy by searching for a term life insurance quote online. The service is terrific and it can be a fast turnaround because you control how fast or slow the process can be. Getting a term life insurance quote online is as simple as the click of the mouse. With so many life insurance companies now operating on the Internet, all you have to do is log onto the various sites and check out the rates for term life insurance.

    When you check for a term life insurance quote online, you do not have to pay for the quote. This service is free and you should request quotes from at least three different companies. This way you can do a comparison of online life insurance quotes. Each of the companies has a form that you fill in and they will respond to you with the quote- usually in less than 24 hours.

    Some of the required questions you will have to answer to get a term life insurance quote online are your age, occupation, medical history and whether or not you smoke. All of these factors affect the price the online quote you receive. A younger person will certainly get a much lower premium than an older person because the likelihood that heshe will die within the term of the policy is much less.

    Your occupation is also a deciding factor in getting the best possible online life insurance quotes. This is because the life insurance company looks at the dangers involved. If you do work at a dangerous occupation, then it is possible the company will have to pay out a settlement on the insurance before the term runs out. One thing you do have to remember with getting term life insurance quotes online is that these quotes are for a specified term, such as 10 or 15 years. If you are still alive at the end of the term you do not collect any money from the policy.

    Whether or not the life insurance company needs you to have a medical depends on your medical history. If you have a record of heart disease for example, it will affect the term life insurance quote online that the company will give you. You many get a policy with a clause inserted saying that should you die of this illness, there not be any settlement paid out. You so have to be honest in answering the questions for the online life insurance quotes because it could result in cancellation of your policy down the road. Then you are left with no policy and you will have paid out money in premiums for nothing.

    However before getting a term life insurance quote online make sure you have found out exactly what type of life insurance you need.


    Reliable Life Insurance Company Which Companies Are The Best?

    June 25, 2010 at 1:23 pm

    Reliable Life Insurance Company Which Companies Are The Best?

    The life insurance industry is a carefully regulated industry. Every state has its own insurance department to monitor the activity of insurers. You very rarely hear of life insurance companies that dissolve because of financial problems. Insurance companies have to prove financial strength to operate in most states. Insurance commissioners have the authority to approve or deny rate changes. There are consumer guides that are available to help you compare companies. The AM Best Company is the most reliable resource in the industry. You can visit AM Best online and you will find all the information that you need about financial strength and product information.life insurance

    Life insurance companies distribute their products many different ways. The agent distribution system has been around a long time. The life insurance professional is a valuable resource for people that want an on going relationship with an agent. A lot of folks want the personal service that only an agent can provide. Life insurance can also be purchased through the mail. There are a number of companies that use direct mail as their distribution system.

    Insurance companies are also offering life insurance online. This is convenient for most folks that love to use their computer to make purchases. The online purchase can also lead you to an agent. That can give you the best of both worlds. You can begin the process by getting a quote online and finish the purchase with an agent from a company of your choice. The company best for you would be the combination of the financial strength and whether or not you prefer to be serviced by an agent.

    There is one more factor when selecting an insurance company. Do you want to purchase insurance from a stock company or a mutual company? Stock companies are owned by the stock holders while the mutual companies are technically owned by the policy holders. Mutual companies pay dividends. Stock companies do not. Compare the rates of a stock company with a mutual company first and then compare the rates of stock companies with stock companies and mutual companies with mutual companies.


    Reasons Why You Need Life Insurance

    June 18, 2010 at 1:23 pm

    life insuranceInsurance is there to protect you from financial burdens. There are many different types of insurance. The most important would have to be life insurance. It helps your dependents after your death.

    When you have built up or thinking of building a family with the one you love you will probably sleep better knowing that they will be safe and secure after your death. Some financial obligation might be funeral expenses, mortgages, medical bills, college expenses for children and so on. So it would be good to have it all planned out before anything happens and you leave your family with nothing.

    How mush insurance you need depends on the individual. It depends on their lifestyle, financial needs, and sources of income, debts, and the number of dependants. You will probably be advised to take insurance that amounts to about 5 to ten times your annual income. It would be a good idea to sit down with an expert to talk about why you need and want the insurance and then what insurance plan will fit your need and be the most beneficial to you. Life insurance can also have a savings or pension component that helps during your retirement.

    If its planned out correctly life insurance on premature death can give the needed funds for bills, and living expenses. It can also prove to be a protection to your family.

    Some insurance polices have to see if you are eligible first. If you have a critical illness or term insurance for your children or spouse, it can deter your eligibility.

    Did you know you that having a valid insurance can be considered as a financial asset? That can improve your credit rating if you need health insurance or a home loan or business loan. So go and find out more about life insurance. Youll be glad you did.



    Permanent Life Insurance

    June 4, 2010 at 1:23 pm

    life insuranceYou will be covered by a permanent life insurance if you subscribe to one whole life insurance, a universal life insurance or a contract with capital variable. All these formulas cover your life during, in condition that the police is maintained into force.

    Principal characteristics of permanent insurance policies

    Leveled premiums: Majority of permanent insurance policy envisage payment of premiums who remain the same ones for all the length of the contract time, even if risk grows with the age. This is why, the first years, the premiums are higher than the risk you represent. Then the mathematics provisions form, invested, allow, last years, to face the higher risk that you represent because of your age.

    Surrender value: Of these provisions the surrender value results, that you can use if you wish to borrow on your police or to box if you want to repurchase your contract. (In general, the repurchase value is not added to the capital poured with your death.)

    Options of not-forfeiture contract: They are various possibilities which are offered to a police holder which ceases pouring its premiums. They make it possible to maintain the insurance police in force or to touch the surrender value with cash.

    Life Insurance with participation: The holder of this kind of police take part in the financial results of the insurer. “Participations” (in benefit) are versed annually to the holders. The premiums are calculated according to a careful expenses estimate and future payments, as well as interests and other placement incomes. When the results are better than the forecasts, it create a surplus, which allows company to pour participations to the concerned holders. The participations is based on an estimate of the future results, like the costs and the incomes and they are not guaranteed. The participations can be boxed, left in deposit, used to reduce the premiums or affected to subscription of an additional protection.

    Life Insurance without participation: Holders of this kind of police do not take part for the benefits of insurance company and do not receive any participations.

    Various types of permanent insurance: Although all insurance policies, permanent life aim to provide coverage your life during, the guarantees of which they are matched can vary and influences premiums.

    Whole life: It is the traditional police who fully guarantees the premiums to be paid, the death capital and the repurchase value.

    Life Insurance Police related to the interest rates: Contrary to the whole life insurance policies, which is based on hypothetical interest rates to very long term, these police hold count current interest rates, which can be readjusted regularly. The holder of police can profit higher coverage for lower premium, but on the other hand agrees to share certain risks with the insurer. Premium could indeed increase following a fall in the interest rates, or being reduced if it opposite occurred. Most popular police related to interest rate, and that offering more flexibility, is the universal life insurance policy. It comprises two elements: the life insurance and placement account. You decide the EC what you want to do of these two elements, and can increase or to write-off your premiums or your death capital, taking into account some limits. Incomes generated by the account of placement are not necessarily without guaranteed; all depends on the nature of the selected placements. Usually, contracts known as evolutionary premium and it guarantee death benefit for one determined period and envisage modification of premium or of the death benefit at the end of this period, according to market trends.

    Contract with variable capital: The premium is generally guaranteed, but the surrender value varies according to the output of placement funds or another index. The death capital can be guaranteed, or fluctuate according to the output of melt, subject to a minimal guarantee.