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- Water, Water Everywhere
Floods can happen without warning. Even if you don't live near a river, one heavy rainstorm can change everything. Floods can happen anywhere, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Floods occur whenever rain, melting snow or even a dam break produces more water than the land can readily absorb. Use the following tips from the CPCU Society to protect your family and belongings from floods: - Save At Work To Make Securing Your Financial Future Easier
Many Americans are lucky enough to work for employers who provide some form of savings plan for the benefit of their employees.
Employer-sponsored savings plans can be an effective way to build a retirement nest egg. Through the benefits of tax-deferred compounding and, in many cases, employer matching funds, many people find they can save exponentially more through an employer-sponsored plan than they could on their own. - Life Insurance: How Much Is Enough?
It's a question financial advisers often hear: How much life insurance do I need?
"That's not as simple as it sounds," says Ward Anderson, CLU, ChFC, president of the Society of Financial Service Professionals. "A lot depends on the survivors you're protecting, their ages, needs, and your other assets." - Can Certain Driving Practices Help You Save Money On Your Auto Insurance?
You left your home too late and are now rushing to get to an appointment. Or perhaps traffic was backed up and now that it's freeing up a bit, you want to make up for lost time.
But before you put the pedal to the metal, did you know that speeding is one of the most prevalent factors contributing to traffic crashes? There are approximately 6 million police-reported car accidents every year in America-that's one accident every five seconds. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding reduces a driver's ability to steer safely around curves or objects in the roadway, extends the distance necessary to stop a vehicle and increases the distance a vehicle travels while the driver reacts to a dangerous situation. - How To Avoid Insurance Scams
Insurance is meant to protect you. But scams out there can make buying insurance dangerous. These schemes can cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars, and leave you and your family without vital insurance protection. Here's what to watch out for:
Scams - What Every Consumer Should Know About Life Insurance
Many people-particularly those with children-recognize that life insurance can help protect their family financially in the event of their death. Still, some delay any action due to their confusion regarding the amount of insurance needed or the types of coverage available.
Help is available from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), a voluntary organization of state insurance regulatory officials, which has assembled useful information about insurance on a consumer education Web site called Insure U (www.InsureUonline.org). - When Do You Need Life Insurance?
Few Americans today would consider owning a home without having insurance. Likewise, car owners will often opt for comprehensive insurance to protect their shiny new vehicle. However, when it comes to life insurance, a surprising number of adults think they do not need it or cannot afford it-but they do and they can. In fact, the monthly premium for a $500,000 life insurance policy may cost about the same amount as one large pizza.
According to Allstate's 2006 Retirement Reality Check survey, 36 percent of respondents are without life insurance coverage. They claim to be "in the process," "intending" or "have no plans" to purchase life insurance. This data is further supported in a 2006 study by LIMRA, which revealed that 68 million adults (32 percent) are without life insurance. - Planning For Long-term Care
What would you do if an illness or injury left you unable to care for yourself? The chances of that happening might be greater than you think.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services indicates that people 65 and over face at least a 40 percent risk of entering a nursing home, while the U.S. Government Accountability Office estimates that 40 percent of the 13 million people receiving long-term care services are between 18 and 64. - Disability Income Insurance
A serious illness or injury can harm more than your health--it can have an impact on your ability to work and meet your family's living expenses.
Disability income insurance helps you pay living expenses while you are unable to work. It offers paycheck protection--providing cash directly to you for spending on mortgage payments or rent, groceries, utility bills, car payments or whatever else you choose. A policy may pay for training or other assistance you may need to return to work. With disability income insurance, you can avoid depleting the savings you may have accumulated for your children's education or your retirement. - Help Protect Your Financial Future With Life Insurance
Uncertainty about their family's financial future, the markets and personal security is driving some consumers to more conservative life insurance products with guarantees. These products may provide consumers with lifetime protection plus "living" benefits.
"Consumers should look for universal life insurance products designed to provide low-cost, permanent life insurance with a guaranteed death benefit," said Peter Golato with Nationwide Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE:NFS). "They need to make sure the product guarantees the policy will be there when they-or their beneficiary-needs it, as long as the regularly scheduled no-lapse premium is paid." - Evaluating Your Life Insurance Needs-are You Covered?
While it may not be possible to anticipate all of life's uncertainties, when properly used, life insurance can help an individual or a family survive the financial challenges posed by the passing of a loved one.
Unfortunately, many Americans are not prepared for such unexpected events. According to a 2005 study conducted by the insurance research organization LIMRA International, 44 percent of all U.S. households either don't own life insurance at all or own some life insurance but believe that they need more. - Life Insurance: What You Should Know
Life insurance is the foundation of financial security for you and your family. It protects your financial resources against the uncertainties of life so you can plan for the future.
The main purpose of life insurance is to provide cash to your family after you die. The money your dependents receive, known as the "death benefit," is a vital financial resource. It can help pay the mortgage, run the household and ensure that your dependents aren't burdened with debt. - Whole Life Insurance: For Good Times And Bad
In good times and bad, whole life insurance can help. Whether it's to assist your family in case of a financial emergency, pay for a child's college education, buy a new home or find a way to supplement retirement income, whole life may be right for you.
Whole life is the traditional form of permanent life insurance. You are insured for your entire life, provided you continue to pay premiums. And the premium is guaranteed to stay level over the life of the policy. - Protect Your Family Without Busting Your Budget
You've worked hard to provide a comfortable home and lifestyle for your family. Of course you want to protect them. If something happens to you, you want to know that your family will be taken care of. You want that peace of mind. You want life insurance.
And term life insurance can be one of the most economical ways to protect your family, according to Brent Bench, a Mutual of Omaha product manager. - Use Life Insurance To Fund Long-term Care Costs
Uninsured long-term care (LTC) expenses don't have to wreak havoc on your financial security-if you plan ahead.
According to a recent U.S. Congressional Budget Office report, the average annual cost for a private room in a nursing home is nearly $70,000. LOMA, an insurance industry research group, found only 10 percent of Americans over the age of 65 have purchased any type of long-term care protection. - A Home Inventory Can Help Manage Loss
Insurance experts say that having a detailed inventory of your possessions can make a real difference in the event your belongings are destroyed or stolen.
That's because an up-to-date home inventory list can ensure a speedy settlement from your insurance company in the event of a loss. - Tips For Choosing The Right Life Insurance
If you think you don't have enough life insurance, you are not alone. Over 40 percent of American households say they don't have enough life insurance and about one in four plans to shop for coverage, according to LIMRA International.
"Life insurance is part of a complete financial plan that protects you and your family in the event of a loss," says David Black, president and CEO of U.S. life insurance operations for RBC Insurance. "It should be updated regularly, particularly around major life events such as marriage or the birth of a child." - An Independent Approach To Car Insurance
Many consumers are finding they can drive down the cost of car insurance-and the time it takes to select the right policy-by contacting an independent insurance agent or broker.
Because they represent many different insurance companies, independent agents have the flexibility to review rates and coverage from competing carriers and get you the best deal. Plus, they can offer affordable protection for your home, business and other assets. So rather than spending hours gathering quotes from various companies, you can get it done with one simple call or visit to your independent agent or broker. - Life And Long-term Care Insurance: How Much Is Enough?
The right amount and the right type of insurance can help keep your nest egg from cracking. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about two important insurance products: life insurance and long-term care insurance:
Life Insurance Basics - Understanding Long-term Care Insurance
A growing number of baby boomers are beginning to consider how a long-term illness and the need for long-term care have the potential to drain their retirement funds and derail their plans.
Long-term care insurance can be a critical part of a holistic financial and retirement plan. - Five Questions To Save You Money On Car Insurance
When it comes to car insurance, there are a number of ways to reduce your insurance premium, and an independent agent or broker can give you the inside scoop on savings.
Here are a few questions to ask an independent insurance agent. - Cutting Health Insurance Costs
Health insurance is a necessary cost in today's world, but are you really getting what you pay for?
Workers' health insurance premiums have risen a total of 84 percent since 2000-but wages have increased just 20 percent, according to a report in The Boston Globe. For many workers-especially younger, healthier ones who rarely visit the doctor-those numbers simply don't add up. - Ready To Buy A Home? Don't Forget Title Insurance
The National Association of Realtors projects that 6.4 million resale home sales will take place this year. If you are one of those homebuyers, you're keenly aware that this will likely be your largest single investment.
Many will purchase homeowner's insurance to guard against forces such as fire, theft or wind damage. But what about other, hidden hazards that may threaten their financial investment?
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