Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Determine What Type Of Policy Will Meet Your Needs


Life insurance is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Each policy must be crafted to meet your individual, custom needs. But how do you determine what those needs are? There are a few basic factors that go into choosing a policy. First, how big is your family? What is your health history? How long will you need coverage? Finally, what policy can you afford?

Also, the time at which you decide to purchase your first life insurance policy will influence not only the cost but the duration of the policy. For those under 50, rates will be different than for those over 50. For those with young families, a mortgage, and a history of health problems, budgetary concerns will weigh more heavily than for those with out health issues.

Additionally, life insurance usually has ‘terms.’ This means that you may opt to purchase a policy which expires at a given date or has a specified cash cap. In some cases, you may choose to buy a life insurance plan that covers you up to the age of 100,.Certain permanent life insurance policies have a ‘no lapse’ clause which clearly defines how payments should be made, and how any missed payments will affect the overall validity of the insurance. Other policies, such as an annual renewable term life insurance policy, allow greater flexibility in their terms, and can be negotiated on a yearly basis.

Because life insurance plans are designed to benefit those who you leave behind, you must also factor in probable rates of inflation as well as the likely needs of your family members when purchasing a plan. Some individuals buy life insurance plans as a way to offset the cost of funeral expenses, estate taxes, or other end of life expenses. However, the cost of a funeral today will not be the same in thirty or forty years time. If part of your goal in purchasing a plan is to spare your loved ones the difficulty of paying for your expenses, make sure you calculate the amount of money needed with these factors in mind.

For those who are purchasing a life insurance policy relatively early in life, you must first determine your yearly income in order to understand what type of policy will fit you best. How much of a premium can you afford on a monthly basis? While life insurance is an excellent investment, you want to make sure that will you not unduly drain your resources attempting to pay for it. Similarly, if your annual income affords you significant disposable cash, you should attempt to buy a larger policy that will ultimately be exceptionally beneficial in the future. The later you wait to buy life insurance, it becomes more expensive and difficult to secure.

Finally, your personal health history will have the greatest impact on how much your life insurance premiums are as well as the total cash value of the policy. Those in excellent health can expect a high paying, relatively low premium plan. Those with more health problems will have to spend more time negotiating their policies. However, no one should be dissuaded by their health history. Life insurance companies will work with anyone to find a plan that best suits their needs. The most important factor in purchasing a life insurance policy is a willingness to be forthright about each of the conditions that make up your life. Great plans are available for everyone.

Monday, March 28, 2011

What is the purpose of life insurance?


Here’s some examples:
To provide my spouse with income for life
To create funds for my children to go to college
To pay off my mortgage
To pay estate taxes and minimize the erosion of my estate
To pay off other debt
To pay burial cost and final expenses

To leave a gift to church, school or organization