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Friday, April 24, 2009

10 Ways to Lower your Car Insurance Payments

Many people buy their own cars because it makes life easier. However, many also struggle with the costs that come with maintaining a car especially when it comes to making car insurance payments. Many car owners are continuously in search for better ways to lower their car insurance premiums. What most do is simply search for companies that provide cheap car insurance. However, what many do not know is that they can save so much more just by following a few simple tips.

For those who aim to save on car insurance payments, the first thing to do is make sure to shop around every so often. In fact, the reason why six-month car insurance polices are most preferred is that it allows car owners to switch and buy car insurance from other providers at the soonest possible time. This means that it is important to continuously survey the insurance market to search for the cheapest car insurance around. Some people find that it is most effective to check out rates for car insurance online while others learn about the cheapest services from their friends and family. No matter what your preferred method for getting car insurance quotes may be, the bottom line is to find the best car insurance to not only suit your lifestyle but your budget as well. Many people who make this a practice report savings of over $300 on policies valid for six months. This would translate to so much more in a span of one year.

Another thing to consider when trying lowering your car insurance payments is to take the option for higher deductibles. Many car owners feel afraid to do this because choosing higher deductibles means shelling out so much more money in case they get into a huge accident. However, the logic behind choosing higher deductibles is pretty sound. Obviously, higher deductibles mean lower premiums. Therefore, lower car insurance payments. Car owners should not worry too much about higher payments when a major accident happens because minor accidents happen more often than major ones and when it comes to minor damages, car owners will still pay the same amount.

Many motorists prefer paying for their premiums in monthly installments because it allows them to shell out a relatively smaller amount at a given time and budget their car insurance payments along with the rest of their monthly expenses. However, what they do not realize is that even the cheapest car insurance providers add on administrative fees for each payment. Even if the additional amount is only $7 or so, for people paying their premiums at monthly installments, this could easily add up to $84 which they could have saved over the period of that one year

Another useful tip to help you lower your car insurance payments is to also look around for companies providing multi-line insurance. This means that you purchase all your insurance from the same company. Most insurers offer huge discounts for this. However, many people still try to look for cheap providers for each type of insurance they need. What they do not realize is that getting their car insurance and home insurance from just one provider can easily translate to about 15% savings.

Furthermore, if you think of yourself as a good driver and no evidence to prove otherwise can be gathered, here’s a good tip for you: look for car insurance providers that can reward you with big discounts simply because of your driving. In fact, some states such as California have made it illegal for car insurance providers to disregard good driving discounts. So, if you have not gotten yourself into any car accidents or received tickets for at least the past three years, do some research or ask around. You may qualify for lower premiums.

Nowadays, a lot of insurance companies will base the prices of their car insurance policies on your credit history. If you have been diligent in building a solid credit standing, then you stand a good chance on getting lower car insurance quotes when you buy car insurance. Aside from making sure unpaid bills don’t pile up, keep your credit balance as low as possible and don’t acquire more credit than you need. Keep your records updated and make sure to correct any errors so your credit history remains accurate.

Many car insurance companies also offer discounts to people whose cars have safety features. Airbags, seatbelts, anti-lock braking systems and other factory-installed safety features on your car may help you find the cheapest car insurance you can get. Make sure you tell your insurer that you have such features installed on your vehicle when you get car insurance quotes.

Sometimes it pays to be diligent to the point of being anal. If you want the cheapest car insurance you can get, you should review your car insurance coverage to check for unnecessary expenses in it. If you’re not thorough you may be spending on additional coverage that you don’t need or already have. A perfect example would be towing services. Most, if not all, auto clubs provide such services yet this is part of most car insurance policies as well. So before you buy car insurance review the car insurance quotes you’ve gotten and eliminate all the unneeded expenses.

If you’re looking for cheap car insurance, look for insurers that give discounts to students and senior citizens. Some car insurance companies will offer discounts for students with good academic records and for drivers over the age of 50. Ask around or research on car insurance online, as well, if you have a college student in your family. Some insurers give discounts to parents with college-age children who go to school a certain distance away from home and don’t bring a car to their campus.

One last great tip to lower you car insurance payments is to use your car less. There are a lot of car insurance companies that will give you discounts if you keep the annual mileage on your vehicle low. So, evaluate how you use your car. If you make frequent short trips around town you might consider planning ahead and organizing all your errands so you can check all of it off your list in as few trips as possible.

One thing to remember though is that car insurance companies may differ in what they consider to be low annual mileage, so do your research. If you think you might be able to lower your mileage then get updated car insurance quotes.

Following just a few of these recommendations will surely help you lower your car insurance payments. Remember, it is not always about finding the cheapest car insurance provider. Most of the time, it is simply about knowing your options and weighing them to find the perfect car insurance strategy for you.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles

Life Insurance Information

Life insurance is great for individuals that have a family, dependents and earn the most income to support their family. Life is unpredictable and it is important to ensure your family and loved ones are taken care of financially in case anything happens to you.

When shopping for life insurance in South Carolina, searching online and using the internet's resources are a great way to educate yourself on life insurance basics, shop and compare quotes for the best life insurance policy for you. There are three different types of life insurance policies - universal life insurance, cheap whole life insurance and cheap term life insurance.

* Universal Life Insurance - combines life insurance with savings. Insurers are able to have the benefits of term life insurance and combine that with tax-deferred interest accumulating savings account. Sometimes you may not even have to pay premiums during the entire policy. If your money to pay the death benefit and other costs accumulates in the tax-deferred savings portion of your policy, then premiums may not be required to keep the policy in force.

* Cheap Whole Life Insurance - this type of policy will cover you for your entire life. Your death benefit and premium generally remain the same. Whole life insurance also builds cash value, which could enable you to earn a return on a portion of your premiums that the insurance company invests. Your cash value is tax-deferred until you withdraw it and you are also able to borrow against that money.

* Cheap Term Life Insurance - this type of life insurance is low cost and great for young healthy individuals who are healthy and may not be able to afford cash-value life insurance premiums and want to ensure their dependents are taken care of in the event of death. Your policy will cover a pre-determined "term" which is normally one, five or ten years. Your premium payment and death benefits are only during that term. After the term you will have options to continue coverage and have the opportunity to convert to a cash-value life insurance policy.

Universal Life Insurance

Universal life insurance combines cheap term life insurance with a tax-deferred interest accumulating savings account. This life insurance plan provides insurers with death benefit as well as incorporating savings abilities.

Investing

Universal life insurance is also known as "flexible premium adjustable life insurance," and gets this term because it is somewhat of a flexible version of cheap whole life insurance. Your insurance company will take a portion of your premiums and invest them in bonds, mortgages and money market funds. You earn the return on said investments which is credited to your policy tax-deferred. You usually receive a guaranteed minimum interest rate which is not dependent upon the performance of your investments so you will always get a certain minimum return on your money. When your investments do well, normally the insurance company will increase your interest rate return.

Death Benefit

You generally have two options when setting-up your universal life insurance policy. One option will pay your death benefit out of your policies accumulated cash value. This policy costs less in premiums, but it can take a while to build up sufficient benefit. The other option will pay you a face value that you agree upon in the contract plus your accumulated cash value. This option cost more in premiums, but you are guaranteed at least a specific amount of money in your death benefit. Most life insurance companies can set your policy up so you will have a no-lapse guarantee as long as you pay your minimum designated premium. The policy could stay in force to age 100 or above. Universal life provides you the flexibility to adjust your death benefit according to your needs allowing you to pay smaller or larger amounts depending on your finances.

Cheap Whole Life Insurance

Cheap whole life insurance policies cover you for life. Generally your death benefit and premium will always stay the same. Cheap whole life insurance builds cash value which is tax-deferred until you decide to withdraw it or borrow against it.

There are different types of cheap whole life insurance. These include traditional, interest-sensitive and single-premium whole life insurance policies.

* Traditional whole life insurance - this policy gives you a guaranteed minimum rate of return on your cash value segment.

* Interest-sensitive whole life insurance - provides a variable rate on your cash value portion which is comparable to an adjustable rate mortgage. This gives you the flexibility with your cheap whole life insurance policy such as increasing your death benefit without increasing your premiums depending on the economy.

* Single-premium whole life insurance - this is great for individuals who have a large sum of money who would like to purchase their policy up front. This cheap whole life insurance policy also accrues tax-deferred cash value.

One of the features that make cheap whole life insurance popular is that a portion of your premium money goes toward your cash value which could pay off your entire policy after a few years. Another advantage is unless you make a change to your cheap whole life insurance policy, you will be covered for life with no future medical exams.

Cheap Term Life Insurance

Cheap term life insurance is great for those individuals who want to protect their family in the event of their death. Cheap term life insurance is often referred to as "pure insurance protection" because there is no cash value like cheap whole life insurance or universal life insurance. Cheap term life insurance also expires at a certain time after either a set number of years or when you reach a certain age.

A medical exam will most likely be required when you are buying cheap term life insurance. Most exams cover height, weight and medical history. Sometimes test results can hinder your ability to get approved for term life insurance or it could potentially increase your rates, but if you are healthy you should be fine.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/insurance-articles

Life Insurance Information

Life insurance is great for individuals that have a family, dependents and earn the most income to support their family. Life is unpredictable and it is important to ensure your family and loved ones are taken care of financially in case anything happens to you.

When shopping for life insurance in South Carolina, searching online and using the internet's resources are a great way to educate yourself on life insurance basics, shop and compare quotes for the best life insurance policy for you. There are three different types of life insurance policies - universal life insurance, cheap whole life insurance and cheap term life insurance.


* Universal Life Insurance - combines life insurance with savings. Insurers are able to have the benefits of term life insurance and combine that with tax-deferred interest accumulating savings account. Sometimes you may not even have to pay premiums during the entire policy. If your money to pay the death benefit and other costs accumulates in the tax-deferred savings portion of your policy, then premiums may not be required to keep the policy in force.



* Cheap Whole Life Insurance - this type of policy will cover you for your entire life. Your death benefit and premium generally remain the same. Whole life insurance also builds cash value, which could enable you to earn a return on a portion of your premiums that the insurance company invests. Your cash value is tax-deferred until you withdraw it and you are also able to borrow against that money.



* Cheap Term Life Insurance - this type of life insurance is low cost and great for young healthy individuals who are healthy and may not be able to afford cash-value life insurance premiums and want to ensure their dependents are taken care of in the event of death. Your policy will cover a pre-determined "term" which is normally one, five or ten years. Your premium payment and death benefits are only during that term. After the term you will have options to continue coverage and have the opportunity to convert to a cash-value life insurance policy.




Universal Life Insurance

Universal life insurance combines cheap term life insurance with a tax-deferred interest accumulating savings account. This life insurance plan provides insurers with death benefit as well as incorporating savings abilities.

Investing

Universal life insurance is also known as "flexible premium adjustable life insurance," and gets this term because it is somewhat of a flexible version of cheap whole life insurance. Your insurance company will take a portion of your premiums and invest them in bonds, mortgages and money market funds. You earn the return on said investments which is credited to your policy tax-deferred. You usually receive a guaranteed minimum interest rate which is not dependent upon the performance of your investments so you will always get a certain minimum return on your money. When your investments do well, normally the insurance company will increase your interest rate return.

Death Benefit

You generally have two options when setting-up your universal life insurance policy. One option will pay your death benefit out of your policies accumulated cash value. This policy costs less in premiums, but it can take a while to build up sufficient benefit. The other option will pay you a face value that you agree upon in the contract plus your accumulated cash value. This option cost more in premiums, but you are guaranteed at least a specific amount of money in your death benefit. Most life insurance companies can set your policy up so you will have a no-lapse guarantee as long as you pay your minimum designated premium. The policy could stay in force to age 100 or above. Universal life provides you the flexibility to adjust your death benefit according to your needs allowing you to pay smaller or larger amounts depending on your finances.

Cheap Whole Life Insurance

Cheap whole life insurance policies cover you for life. Generally your death benefit and premium will always stay the same. Cheap whole life insurance builds cash value which is tax-deferred until you decide to withdraw it or borrow against it.

There are different types of cheap whole life insurance. These include traditional, interest-sensitive and single-premium whole life insurance policies.


* Traditional whole life insurance - this policy gives you a guaranteed minimum rate of return on your cash value segment.



* Interest-sensitive whole life insurance - provides a variable rate on your cash value portion which is comparable to an adjustable rate mortgage. This gives you the flexibility with your cheap whole life insurance policy such as increasing your death benefit without increasing your premiums depending on the economy.



* Single-premium whole life insurance - this is great for individuals who have a large sum of money who would like to purchase their policy up front. This cheap whole life insurance policy also accrues tax-deferred cash value.




One of the features that make cheap whole life insurance popular is that a portion of your premium money goes toward your cash value which could pay off your entire policy after a few years. Another advantage is unless you make a change to your cheap whole life insurance policy, you will be covered for life with no future medical exams.

Cheap Term Life Insurance

Cheap term life insurance is great for those individuals who want to protect their family in the event of their death. Cheap term life insurance is often referred to as "pure insurance protection" because there is no cash value like cheap whole life insurance or universal life insurance. Cheap term life insurance also expires at a certain time after either a set number of years or when you reach a certain age.

A medical exam will most likely be required when you are buying cheap term life insurance. Most exams cover height, weight and medical history. Sometimes test results can hinder your ability to get approved for term life insurance or it could potentially increase your rates, but if you are healthy you should be fine.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/insurance-articles

Life Insurance Information

Life insurance is great for individuals that have a family, dependents and earn the most income to support their family. Life is unpredictable and it is important to ensure your family and loved ones are taken care of financially in case anything happens to you.

When shopping for life insurance in South Carolina, searching online and using the internet's resources are a great way to educate yourself on life insurance basics, shop and compare quotes for the best life insurance policy for you. There are three different types of life insurance policies - universal life insurance, cheap whole life insurance and cheap term life insurance.


* Universal Life Insurance - combines life insurance with savings. Insurers are able to have the benefits of term life insurance and combine that with tax-deferred interest accumulating savings account. Sometimes you may not even have to pay premiums during the entire policy. If your money to pay the death benefit and other costs accumulates in the tax-deferred savings portion of your policy, then premiums may not be required to keep the policy in force.



* Cheap Whole Life Insurance - this type of policy will cover you for your entire life. Your death benefit and premium generally remain the same. Whole life insurance also builds cash value, which could enable you to earn a return on a portion of your premiums that the insurance company invests. Your cash value is tax-deferred until you withdraw it and you are also able to borrow against that money.



* Cheap Term Life Insurance - this type of life insurance is low cost and great for young healthy individuals who are healthy and may not be able to afford cash-value life insurance premiums and want to ensure their dependents are taken care of in the event of death. Your policy will cover a pre-determined "term" which is normally one, five or ten years. Your premium payment and death benefits are only during that term. After the term you will have options to continue coverage and have the opportunity to convert to a cash-value life insurance policy.




Universal Life Insurance

Universal life insurance combines cheap term life insurance with a tax-deferred interest accumulating savings account. This life insurance plan provides insurers with death benefit as well as incorporating savings abilities.

Investing

Universal life insurance is also known as "flexible premium adjustable life insurance," and gets this term because it is somewhat of a flexible version of cheap whole life insurance. Your insurance company will take a portion of your premiums and invest them in bonds, mortgages and money market funds. You earn the return on said investments which is credited to your policy tax-deferred. You usually receive a guaranteed minimum interest rate which is not dependent upon the performance of your investments so you will always get a certain minimum return on your money. When your investments do well, normally the insurance company will increase your interest rate return.

Death Benefit

You generally have two options when setting-up your universal life insurance policy. One option will pay your death benefit out of your policies accumulated cash value. This policy costs less in premiums, but it can take a while to build up sufficient benefit. The other option will pay you a face value that you agree upon in the contract plus your accumulated cash value. This option cost more in premiums, but you are guaranteed at least a specific amount of money in your death benefit. Most life insurance companies can set your policy up so you will have a no-lapse guarantee as long as you pay your minimum designated premium. The policy could stay in force to age 100 or above. Universal life provides you the flexibility to adjust your death benefit according to your needs allowing you to pay smaller or larger amounts depending on your finances.

Cheap Whole Life Insurance

Cheap whole life insurance policies cover you for life. Generally your death benefit and premium will always stay the same. Cheap whole life insurance builds cash value which is tax-deferred until you decide to withdraw it or borrow against it.

There are different types of cheap whole life insurance. These include traditional, interest-sensitive and single-premium whole life insurance policies.


* Traditional whole life insurance - this policy gives you a guaranteed minimum rate of return on your cash value segment.



* Interest-sensitive whole life insurance - provides a variable rate on your cash value portion which is comparable to an adjustable rate mortgage. This gives you the flexibility with your cheap whole life insurance policy such as increasing your death benefit without increasing your premiums depending on the economy.



* Single-premium whole life insurance - this is great for individuals who have a large sum of money who would like to purchase their policy up front. This cheap whole life insurance policy also accrues tax-deferred cash value.




One of the features that make cheap whole life insurance popular is that a portion of your premium money goes toward your cash value which could pay off your entire policy after a few years. Another advantage is unless you make a change to your cheap whole life insurance policy, you will be covered for life with no future medical exams.

Cheap Term Life Insurance

Cheap term life insurance is great for those individuals who want to protect their family in the event of their death. Cheap term life insurance is often referred to as "pure insurance protection" because there is no cash value like cheap whole life insurance or universal life insurance. Cheap term life insurance also expires at a certain time after either a set number of years or when you reach a certain age.

A medical exam will most likely be required when you are buying cheap term life insurance. Most exams cover height, weight and medical history. Sometimes test results can hinder your ability to get approved for term life insurance or it could potentially increase your rates, but if you are healthy you should be fine.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/insurance-articles

Top 10 Home Insurance Myths Debunked

Myth #1: Standard home insurance covers flood damage.

Fact: Standard home insurance does NOT cover damage caused by a flood. If you feel that you need coverage for a flood you should purchase a separate flood insurance policy.

Myth #2: The Medical Payment portion of my homeowners insurance will cover injuries to me and my family.

Fact: MedPay, a common feature of standard home insurance policies, is there to protect you in the event that someone other than you or your family (a neighbor, friend, etc) gets hurt on your property and they do not want to sue you. MedPay will typically cover up to $1,000 for each covered claim to someone outside of your family. If you or your family, however, gets hurt on your property they are not covered by your home insurance policy.

Myth #3: If my home is ever lost, my insurance company will reimburse me for whatever I tell them I owned at the time of loss.

Fact: In the event of a covered loss your home insurance company will ask you to make a list of everything you own and include specific details such as purchase price, date of purchase, serial numbers, etc. (Imagine trying to do this from memory!) The best way to avoid this situation is to have a home inventory already put together. Use a checklist like this one: http://homeinsurance.com home insurance home inventory checklist. Make sure to include photos, receipts, serial numbers and anything else that will help you prove ownership. Don't risk not having everything replaced in the event of a disaster. Make sure to keep your inventory in a fire proof safe or at a friend's house so it is still around when you need it!

Myth #4: If I file a home insurance claim, my home insurance premium will definitely go up.

Fact: While many home insurance companies do look at your claims history, there are many other factors that determine how much you will pay for home insurance. Filing one claim over a period of a few years might not increase your home insurance premium. To be on the safe side, always think twice before filing a claim for minor damages to your home. Consider your deductible. If the total cost of repair is not too much more than your deductible you might want to consider paying for the repairs yourself. While this might cost you more upfront, it might save you from an increased premium. If, because of a stroke of bad luck, you have to file multiple claims over a period of a few years and your premium is steadily increasing, rest assured there are other ways to save on your home insurance. Ask your agent about home insurance discounts. Sometimes simply installing a smoke alarm, burglar alarm system or by adding your auto policy to your home policy, you can save a great deal of cash.

Myth # 5 All of my valuables- like jewelry -will be covered in the event of a burglary.

Fact: There are limits on the amount of coverage you can receive for valuable such as jewelry, furs, etc. For example, most companies put a cap of $1500 on total jewelry lost during a burglary of your home. If you find that your jewelry values over $1500 you should talk to a home insurance agent and schedule an endorsement on your policy giving you additional coverage.

Myth # 6: My home insurance covers mold and/or other issues related to lack of maintenance.

Fact: Actually, a standard home insurance policy does not cover issues related to a lack of maintenance. For example if a plumbing leak that was left unfixed caused mold to grown in the interior walls of your home- mold removal and remediation would NOT be covered in your home insurance. Remember that your home insurance only protects you from damage caused by covered perils such as wind, hail, lightening, fire and theft. Keeping your home well maintained and safe for others is your responsibility and your home insurance company will decline coverage for maintenance related claims.

Myth #7: Flood Insurance is only for people who live in a flood zone.

Fact: Lending institutions, such as the bank that holds your mortgage, will require you to obtain flood insurance if you live in a major Flood Zone. However, keep in mind that all homes are at the risk for flood and standard home insurance policies do NOT cover flood related damage to your home. Due to the recent flooding in the Midwest the importance of this type of coverage for homeowners outside of a major flood zone has become even more apparent. If your home is flooded and you do not have flood insurance you will be on your own to replace your home and its contents. Flood insurance is a wise idea for every homeowner.

Myth #8: I will have to skimp on my coverage in order to save money on my home insurance.

Fact: Saving on your home insurance does not mean that you have to give up important parts of your coverage. It is very important to always be adequately insured in the event of a loss. However, there are lots of ways that you can save money on your home insurance that do not involve changing your coverage. Home Insurance discounts are available for homeowners who use burglar alarms, smoke alarms, deadbolts and other protective devices. Want more savings? Ask your agent about combining your home insurance and your auto insurance policies- you can usually save up to 15% this way.

Myth #9: When determining my coverage, I should use the purchase price for my house as my dwelling coverage amount.

Fact: A common mistake when homeowners are getting quotes for their home insurance is that they use the purchase price of their home to determine their dwelling coverage. Yet, the purchase price of your home includes the land under your home- which does not need to be replaced in the event of a fire or other peril to your home. For this reason, your dwelling coverage should always reflect the replacement cost of your home- or how much it would cost to rebuild your home in the event of a total loss. To determine this amount, multiple the sq. footage of your home by local construction costs. You can use a http://homeinsurance.com/calculators/ home insurance calculator to help you determine the amount if necessary.

Myth #10: You can not buy a home without purchasing homeowners insurance.

Fact: This is a tricky one. Because while you actually CAN buy a home without home insurance (a lender may not require it or you may, although rare, pay cash for the home) you should still always have home insurance on any property you own. Whether a lender requires it or not, the risk is always there. It would only take one fire or lightening storm to destroy your home and leave you uncovered.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/economics-articles

Monday, March 30, 2009

Understanding Type of Home Insurance is Very Important

Home insurance is a type of protective cover that helps to ease the financial implications involved with the loss, theft, or damage of your belongings and the damage of your actual home, and can be broken down into two parts, buildings insurance and contents insurance. It is too important to not have a full understanding of it. It is an insurance policy that protects your home structure and property, and is divided into two sections, namely the building home insurance which covers the structural building and content home insurance, which only covers the contents of your home listed in the contract.

Home insurance is not compulsory, but is highly recommended, as the cost of home repairs can be very high if a serious issue is encountered, and because most of an individual's belongings are held within their home. It is your way of protecting this asset, and is an easy product to buy.

Home insurance is often sold on a large scale under the rubric of property insurance. It is expected to increase by only 2.5 percent, the smallest increase in six years, and is needed to provide for the cost to rebuild or replace damage to the home. It is a great way of getting coverage for the damages of your home in the events of natural calamity and other accidental occurrences.

Home insurance is aspect to be taken into consideration, and comprises buildings insurance cover and contents cover, and these can be taken as a bundle or can be taken separately if you prefer or in the event that you only need contents cover. It is, essentially, there to give you peace of mind and put you back in the same financial position prior to any unfortunate occurrences. It is the easiest and the most popular way to protect your most cherished asset, your home, from any untoward incident.

Homeowners can purchase home insurance online with relative ease. Whether a homeowner is concerned with getting the right coverage for personal property or they are looking for liability protection; whether a homeowner is looking to insure a home, a mobile home, a condominium or a rental, there are home insurance providers willing to work with new customers via the Internet.

Home insurance is like imperative for the protection of your home. It is very inexpensive and available from many different sources when you shop over the Internet. It is an insurance policy that covers your house, the garage, other related structures, and also personal possessions inside the home against damages caused by everything from fire to natural disasters and even theft.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-brewing-articles

Protect yourself With Home Insurance

Home insurance is a great way of getting coverage for the damages of your home in the events of natural calamity and other accidental occurrences. Buying a home insurance policy is a good decision as it is related to the financial future of your entire family. It is an insurance policy that covers your house, the garage, other related structures, and also personal possessions inside the home against damages caused by everything from fire to natural disasters and even theft. Different home insurance policies offer different levels of coverage.

Home insurance is a type of policy in which a number of protections are combined into one unit. Some of these protections may cover things which are stolen from the home, or it may cover accidents which occur while a person is in their home. It is an investment in security and peace of mind. It is an investment in one's future. It is not compulsory, but is highly recommended, as the cost of home repairs can be very high if a serious issue is encountered, and because most of an individual's belongings are held within their home.

Replacement Cost which pays the actual cost of replacing your or possession with no deductions for depreciation. It means the cost to replace the property on the same premises with other property of comparable material and quality used for the same purpose. The term "replacement cost" may be defined in the policy of insurance, so it is important to review the actual policy language.

Replacement cost means that you will get the cost to replace your mobile home in the event it is destroyed. Actual cash value is the replacement cost less depreciation. Replacement value is something completely different than the home's market value. This might be the cue to raise the amount of coverage, which will also raise the premiums. It is typically calculated by an insurance professional. Sometimes there is a conflict of what the mortgage company is demanding and what the insurance company calculates for replacement cost and consequently advises the insured to insure the property for.

Homeowners should be sure that they meet the security requirements of the insurance providers. They should accommodate locks and deadlocks at all the doors and windows, organize neighborhood watch patrol, and make sure that they fix theft alarms by recognized fitters. It may want to explore policies that offer protection for personal possessions as well. Checking out the Internet to find the options available for extensive protective coverage can be done.

Home insurance is basically the last but not the least step in building a house of your dreams. After all things you've done in building your own home, after buying all these furniture and decorating pieces, a wise thing will be to do is insure your house against different risks it may face. Home insurance is going to keep everyone in your family, including your pets safe and happy.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-brewing-articles

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Buying life insurance: A Shopping Checklist

When shopping for term life insurance, you want to find the right amount of insurance coverage at a reasonable price with a company you can trust. But for many people, getting started is the hardest part. That's where the following Life Insurance Checklist can help.

1. What you would like your policy to achieve? Ask yourself what it is you want your life insurance to do. For example, do you want to have insurance coverage that will:

• Pay funeral arrangements?
• Pay the outstanding balance owing on a mortgage and other debts?
• Offset the loss of your income? And if so, for how long?
• Contribute to the future education of your children?
• A combination of all or part of the above?

Knowing what you would like to accomplish with your life insurance policy and approximately how much you need to achieve these goals will help you determine how much life insurance you should consider purchasing. Online life insurance calculators are available to help you put a dollar value on the amount of coverage you need.

1.

Who would you like to insure under the life insurance policy?
Most insurance companies offer a variety of life insurance products to suit your lifestyle and family needs. You can get an insurance policy on your own life, or you can get one policy for both you and your spouse (called a joint life insurance policy). The most common joint life policy provides coverage when the first partner dies, leaving the life insurance benefit to the surviving spouse.
2.

How long will you need life insurance?
Consulting a psychic isn't necessary, although it does require that you estimate the timing of your life insurance needs. For example:

• When will your mortgage be paid off? The amortization period of your mortgage will often determine how long your term life insurance policy should be.
• When will your children be finished school? One day they'll finish their education and having enough life insurance coverage to pay their educational expenses won't be necessary.
• When are you planning to retire? You will have less income to replace at that time.

Knowing how long you'll need life insurance coverage before you begin shopping will ensure you're comfortable with the life insurance product you end up purchasing. Online tools are available to help you figure out which term for your life insurance policy is most recommended for people with similar lifestyles.

So now that you've got the how much, who and how long questions answered, you're ready to shop.

1.

Compare life insurance quotes from multiple companies:
It pays to shop around because life insurance rates can vary considerably depending on the product you choose, your age, and the amount of coverage you request. This is the easy part, because with the Internet you can compare life insurance quotes easily, online, anytime.
2.

Which life insurance rate has been quoted - standard or preferred? There are two basic life insurance rate groups you should know about when shopping for life insurance coverage: standard rates and preferred. Standard life insurance rates are the rates the majority of Canadians qualify for, while about one third of the population is eligible for preferred rates.

Preferred life insurance rates are typically offered to very healthy people and means you may pay a smaller premium than most. Usually preferred rates are offered only once the results of the medical information and tests are known. It will depend on your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, height, weight, and family health history. But preferred rates are worth it. They could save you up to 30-35% off your quoted premium.

When comparing prices, make sure you're comparing 'standard to standard' or 'preferred to preferred' life insurance rates. If you're not sure, ask the broker. It would be disappointing to find out you were quoted preferred rates at the beginning, only to find out you don't qualify for them later.

1.

Review the life insurance broker's availability:
How easily can you get a hold of the broker? What are their hours of operation? Whether it is through their website or telephone, the life insurance broker should be easily accessible to you should you ever have questions or need to speak to them about a change in your life insurance needs. Look for toll-free numbers and extended hours of service as guides.
2.

Review the medical information required to obtain the policy: Typically the more medical information you provide, the better the price. For a policy that asks few or no medical questions, you can bet the premium is higher for the same coverage then a plan asking for more information. Depending on the company, your age, and the amount of coverage you want, you could be asked to provide blood and urine samples. To obtain the samples, a nurse will visit at not cost to you.
3.

Consider a life insurer's financial stability and strength: A company's financial stability is something to consider if you are planning on making a long-term purchase like life insurance. There are organizations out there, like A.M. Best, that evaluate insurers and provide a rating on their stability and strength.
4.

Ask about renewal options and requirements: Once the initial premium is set, it is usually guaranteed for the length of the policy (often 10 or 20 years). But what happens when the policy expires? Most policies are renewable until you are 70 or 75 so don't forget to ask your broker if you will have to take a medical to renew your policy. While your premiums will be higher on renewal, find out if they will also be guaranteed to remain level for the second term of the policy.
5.

Confirm the policy can be cancelled without penalty: Most term life insurance policies can be cancelled at any time without penalty. Make sure to check with your broker to see if the life insurance company has any unusual cancellation policies.
6.

Consider the conversion options and restrictions for the policy: As your life changes so do your life insurance needs and you may want the option to convert your coverage some day.

To convert a term life insurance policy means to transfer all, or part of, the death benefit of the policy into a permanent life policy without a medical. For example, say you originally bought a term policy to protect a mortgage and child. Once the mortgage is paid and the child grown, you might find it desirable to convert the policy into one that will give you a new level premium for the rest of your life, and a death benefit that is guaranteed not to expire as you age.

When you purchase your life insurance policy, find out if there are any limitations on your age at the time of conversion. In most cases, you have the option of converting up until you are 60 or 65. As well, ensure you are given several options of the type of policies you can move into, the more the better.

Final tip - choose a life insurance broker you trust: While it doesn't necessarily impact the type of policy you choose to purchase, a rapport with your broker is critical in feeling comfortable with the life insurance policy you buy and the information you've received.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles

Why Should I Buy Life Insurance Over the Internet?

Because life insurance is so important, most people consider where they should purchase it from. There are several options when shopping for a life insurance policy
. An individual can acquire they coverage desired via local brokers, life insurance companies or directly from the web.

To uncover the best deals and rates requires a great deal of research. Many sales people are hired by life insurance companies to assist the customers select the suitable life insurance plans. Contacting these salespeople through telephone, e-mail or personally can be one to buy coverage.

However, always make sure that the life insurance organization is sanctioned by the state and the Better Business Bureau before shopping with them.

The World Wide Web is the ultimate location to find all the information you need. Online shopping is the simplest and most reliable way to buy a life insurance policy. On the internet you can get a fast accurate quote and also get information. Directories for online industries include a lot of companies. These can also help you to revise, equate, and buy a fitting life insurance policy for your state

The internet provides a number of sites where you can search for relevant information on where to buy life insurance plans. Information about the ratings and policies of leading providers of life insurance are available from these sites. By providing life coverage policies to meet their customers needs, these companies share similar fundamentals. Nevertheless, they each are different in coverage, exceptions and terms.

For example, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Transamerica Occidental Insurance Company, American General Insurance Company, CIGNA and Aetna are some of the recognizable and famous names among life insurers accessible on the internet.

These companies easily handle all types of life insurance policies. Each company will have their own website where you can check ratings and information about life insurance. A customer should go to all these sites to compare and find out the cheapest plan with all necessary coverage, before making the purchase.

Dependable applications and worry-not management of policies are some unique things that Metropolitan Life Insurance Company presents. For monitory planning their solution and services are the best. Asia and Europe are primarily served by Metlife and being a part of Reinsurance Group of America it serves the customers as well.

***American General Insurance Company*** (AIG) A leader worldwide in financial services dealing with insurance,retreat planning and savings. The insurance company covers the service internationally all over Asia, North America, Europe, and Latin America. AIG provides affordable life insurance, at a reduction rate of 75%. Online quotes make a shopping less time consuming and infinitely faster.

Term, whole, and universal life insurance policies are available at great rates from Transamerica Occidental Life. Other online companies who offer cheaper rates for life insurance are Aetna and Cigna.

There are certain online life insurance sites that help people to buy their policies. Using the assistance of the sites, you'll be able to have an answer to your question as to where to purchase your life insurance. Visit the websites below to get moving in the correct direction. The quotes from major life insurers will be compared as listed above.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/insurance-articles

What is Life Insurance Settlement?

A Life Insurance Settlement is the sales of a life insurance policy
to a third party in exchange for a cash settlement in excess of the cash surrender value of policy —even if none exists! This is also called as Life settlement, Insurance settlement or Senior settlement.

Typically, a Life insurance settlement or senior settlement is about three to five times the cash surrender value of the policy.

Life settlement: When an individual who does not have a terminal or chronic illness sells a policy for other reasons, including changed needs of dependents, wanting to reduce premiums, and cash for meeting expenses, that is known as a Life settlement.

Viatical settlement: When an individual with a terminal or chronic illness sells his or her life insurance policy that is known as a Viatical settlement.

Hitherto, elderly Americans with life insurance policies they do not need or cannot afford to keep up have had little option. They will let the policies lapse or sell them back to their insurers. Now lots of them are glad to have an alternative, i.e. Life Insurance Settlement or Senior Settlement. Seniors may now be able to sell their policy for far more than the cash surrender value the insurance carrier would offer.

When you go for Life Insurance Settlement or Senior Settlement, the life insurance policy owner sells his or her contractual rights under the policy at its present market value in exchange for a lump sum cash payment, which payment exceeds the cash surrender value of the policy.

The purchaser of the policy will then become the new owner and the new beneficiary of the life insurance policy and is then responsible for making all of the future premium payments. The new owner now collects the full amount of the death benefit when the insured dies.

Life Insurance settlement or Senior settlement present a unique opportunity to the senior policy holder to extract the maximum possible value from an existing life insurance policy and repurpose those funds for whatever financial needs may exist.

Seniors can use the money received from Life Insurance Settlement or Senior Settlement, to purchase new insurance, travel the world, start a business, buy a property or fulfill their dreams. The money is theirs to simply enjoy and use it for any reason they can think of. In fact, seniors can use the cash settlement for medical expenses, living expenses, or anything they desire—with no restrictions.

There are various reasons why seniors sell their life insurance policy and opt for Life Insurance Settlement or Senior Settlement.

Why Sell Your Life Insurance Policy?

1. If you are chronically ill, selling your current life insurance policy provides needed funds to cover financial burdens caused by your illness. A viatical settlement gives you the ability to regain needed financial security.

2. If you are over the age of sixty-five, a life insurance settlement or senior settlement maximizes your current assets by eliminating premiums and getting funds that can be used today.

3. Pay off debts.

4. Make funds available for other investments.

5. Turn a lapse insurance policy into cash with Life settlement.

6. Pay your medical care bills.

7. Finance your retirement.

8. If you are a corporation, selling corporate owned life insurance lets you regain back premiums paid on no longer needed policies.

9. If you are a non profit organization, selling a gifted life insurance policy provides funds that can be used now and also eliminates premiums.

10. If you managing an estate, selling your current life insurance policy will help manage changes in estate size, eliminate premiums, and liquidate policies that no longer are needed.

What Insurance Policies Qualify for Life Insurance Settlements or Senior Settlements?

To find out whether you qualify, here are some of the requirements.

(A) Must be at least 65 years of age

(B) The face value of the policy is at least $50,000

(C) The insured has experienced deterioration in health since the insurance policy was issued; life expectancy is under 15 years

(D) The insurance policy is in effect beyond the two year contestable period

(E) You Are Over 21 with a Life-Threatening Illness – Viatical Settlement

But any policy owner, including individuals, corporations, charities or trusts, may sell any life insurance policy, including group and term policies.

What Types of Life Insurance Polices are purchased?

1. Government issued policies

2. Term Life

3. Universal Life

4. Survivorship policies

5. Many Group types of policies

6. Corporate Owned Life Insurance

7. Whole Life

8. Basically All Types of Life Insurance Policies

The Life insurance settlement value could be potentially much higher than the cash settlement of your life insurance policy. Do not continue to pay expensive premiums for coverage you no longer need, and do not surrender the policy or let it lapse. The Life Insurance settlement, Senior settlement or Viatical settlement solution is typically the Win-Win scenario that you have been looking for.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Online Auto Insurance Quotes

Are you searching for better auto insurance rates? Are you tired of feeling as though you're overpaying despite your spotless driving record? If so, it's about time you started shopping around for the best auto insurance rates from a new auto insurance company. Thanks to the web, motorists are no longer limited to dealing exclusively with local agents and hoping for the best deal. Instead, the internet has opened a new door for those who are looking to compare auto insurance rates and get the best value for their money.

When shopping for auto insurance online, the process of choosing a company is a bit more involved than simply asking your neighbor which local agent they work with. When shopping for auto isurance online, you may be required to do a bit more footwork while researching the auto insurance company, but in the end, it can pay off in a very big way. The best way to find a respectable auto insurance company is to research their history, learn about their policies and how long they have been in business, check their reputation with the Better Business Bureau and request a free auto insurance quote.

What is the most common way that an auto insurance company could compete for your business? By offering the lowest auto insurance rates, correct? If you said yes, then getting auto insurance online may be the way to go. Because there's so much more competition online, companies must work harder to get your business. In most cases, you can complete a request for a free auto insurance quote online in a matter of minutes. Depending on the specific auto insurance company, the number of requests, the day of the week, and other factors, it may take many hours or even several days to receive a response. The best part, however, is that you can shop from a nation of auto insurance companies with the click of a button and never even have to step out your front door.

Free auto insurance quotes online are very valuable for any number of reasons, including the obvious fact that they cost you absolutely nothing. Not to mention, the option is very convenient for someone who lives in a rural location and perhaps isn't close enough to visit several auto insurance companies or doesn't have the access to a great number of companies because of the fact that they reside in a small town. Where there's less competition, the prices are higher. But the internet has certainly changed the face of competition by bringing a multitude of options to those who either enjoy the convenience that the internet can offer or those who need the competitive pricing that simply can't be found in their area. Whether you are shopping for Pennsylvania auto insurance, New York auto insurance, Florida auto insurance, Arizona auto insurance, California auto insurance or anywhere in between, you can search for discount auto insurance rates from the comfort of your favorite recliner.

The information in this article is provided for reference purposes only. It should not be used as, in place of or in conjunction with professional financial or insurance advice relating to auto insurance quotes, discount auto insurance or auto insurance rates. For additional information or to receive an auto insurance quote, contact a local auto insurance company.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles

Online Auto Insurance Quotes

Are you searching for better auto insurance rates? Are you tired of feeling as though you're overpaying despite your spotless driving record? If so, it's about time you started shopping around for the best auto insurance rates from a new auto insurance company. Thanks to the web, motorists are no longer limited to dealing exclusively with local agents and hoping for the best deal. Instead, the internet has opened a new door for those who are looking to compare auto insurance rates and get the best value for their money.

When shopping for auto insurance online, the process of choosing a company is a bit more involved than simply asking your neighbor which local agent they work with. When shopping for auto isurance online, you may be required to do a bit more footwork while researching the auto insurance company, but in the end, it can pay off in a very big way. The best way to find a respectable auto insurance company is to research their history, learn about their policies and how long they have been in business, check their reputation with the Better Business Bureau and request a free auto insurance quote.

What is the most common way that an auto insurance company could compete for your business? By offering the lowest auto insurance rates, correct? If you said yes, then getting auto insurance online may be the way to go. Because there's so much more competition online, companies must work harder to get your business. In most cases, you can complete a request for a free auto insurance quote online in a matter of minutes. Depending on the specific auto insurance company, the number of requests, the day of the week, and other factors, it may take many hours or even several days to receive a response. The best part, however, is that you can shop from a nation of auto insurance companies with the click of a button and never even have to step out your front door.

Free auto insurance quotes online are very valuable for any number of reasons, including the obvious fact that they cost you absolutely nothing. Not to mention, the option is very convenient for someone who lives in a rural location and perhaps isn't close enough to visit several auto insurance companies or doesn't have the access to a great number of companies because of the fact that they reside in a small town. Where there's less competition, the prices are higher. But the internet has certainly changed the face of competition by bringing a multitude of options to those who either enjoy the convenience that the internet can offer or those who need the competitive pricing that simply can't be found in their area. Whether you are shopping for Pennsylvania auto insurance, New York auto insurance, Florida auto insurance, Arizona auto insurance, California auto insurance or anywhere in between, you can search for discount auto insurance rates from the comfort of your favorite recliner.

The information in this article is provided for reference purposes only. It should not be used as, in place of or in conjunction with professional financial or insurance advice relating to auto insurance quotes, discount auto insurance or auto insurance rates. For additional information or to receive an auto insurance quote, contact a local auto insurance company.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles

Car Insurance – How to Compare Rates From Multiple Companies Instantly

The reason we compare car insurance quotes from multiple car insurance companies
is to make sure we‘re getting the best rates possible. Of course nobody wants to pay more money than they have to, but in the other hand we also want to make sure that our car insurance company is going to respond quickly and fairly in case of an accident.

What is unknown to many is that there is not one single car insurance company that is cheaper than others. One particular car insurance company can be the cheapest for one person but the most expensive for another. Each car insurance company has a certain category of drivers they want to insure. If you fit their category they will offer you a cheap rate, if you don’t, they will offer you an expensive rate. That is their way of filtering the people they want and do not want to insure. That is the reason we need to compare insurance rates from multiple car insurance companies, to find out which company will offer us the cheapest rate. The key is to find the company that offers the cheapest rate for you, but of course, it is important to compare rates from quality companies only.

There are many quality car insurance companies out there; however, some of those quality companies also have a high price to go along with them. How do we find a quality company for a cheap price? That, my friend, is the key question.

The traditional method of shopping for car insurance is to call around which we all know can be a long process. Another drawback of shopping for car insurance by phone is the probability of getting caught with the old “bait and hook” trick. That is when someone gives you a low quote by phone and hikes it up on you when you go into their office to purchase the car insurance policy.

In today’s world, luckily, we have the internet. The internet makes life a lot easier for all of us. Using the internet, we can shop for many types of things we may need which include shopping for car insurance.

Shopping for car insurance online is the best way to compare rates from multiple car insurance companies. Online, you can also read about a company’s history and make sure they’re a quality company. Most companies offer instant online car insurance quotes thorough their websites which makes obtaining car insurance quotes a lot easier than the traditional method of shopping by phone. Better yet, there are some websites that offer online car insurance quotes from multiple companies with one simple process. You can even purchase your car insurance online if you like the price. One such website is OnlineAutoInsurance.com. There, you can obtain quotes from quality companies such as Progressive, AIG, Infinity, GMAC, Bristol West, and several more. All with one simple process!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/insurance-articles

Benefits of Auto Insurance in Case of Accidents

Nobody in this world in his fair senses would wish an accident upon himself. However hard we may try or how much ever careful we may drive, we all still end up being involved in an accident at some point of time in our life. They can be really stressful and with the resulting physical and vehicular harm, the overall situation can get very stressful. Having auto insurance in place can take out a significant amount of stress from the whole situation. At least you won't have to worry about the hefty auto repair bills.

Whenever you meet with an accident, the primary matter to focus upon must be the well being of the passengers. Once the passengers are taken care of, you must report the incident to the police, to get further assistance in the matter of claiming the damages.

Thereafter, get in touch with the auto insurance people, who'll send their executive to assess the whole situation and help you to file a claim. There'll be a great number of forms that'll need to be filled, however, if you submit your claim immediately after the accident, the whole procedure can be expedited considerably.

Prior to approaching the auto insurance people, you must do a self-assessment of the true worth of your vehicle, considering its age, model and efficiency. This will help you well in discussing the matter with them and filing an appropriate amount of claim with the auto insurance executive.

In the event that your vehicle has been damaged beyond point of repair, you can claim the true value of the vehicle and not the amount you have got financed on it. Hence, if the vehicle is over financed, you may owe far more than the true worth of the vehicle.

On the contrary, if you'd like to retain the damaged vehicle and prefer to get it repaired, you can do that as well. But, in that case, you might not be able to claim the complete covered amount on the vehicle. This is plainly due to the reason that it holds no value in its present condition other than it's actual salvage value.

It is recommended that you don't admit any fault while filing any auto insurance claims since you may not be at fault in the eyes of the law, in spite of your thinking otherwise. The most feasible way is to put your case in front of the concerned authorities and let them come to an independent professional decision. In all likelihood, the auto insurance company will deploy a specialized claims representative to carry out a comprehensive investigation into your claim. You must also approach the other party to obtain more information, regardless of who was at fault.

Please note that you must have your auto insurance policy number handy while filing your claim. In case the other party too is insured, their name, phone numbers and residential addresses may also be required. Also mention their vehicles make, year and license plate number. Adding the names of any witnesses with their signature will make your case even stronger.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles

Cheap Car Insurance - How to Get It

With gas prices being the way they have people all over the country have started to get creative with their finances and the costs associated with auto travel.

Prices vary from company to company, so it pays to shop around. Get at least four to five price quotes. You will find that there are several websites out there that can save you the time from doing this the slow and hard way as they will often get you quotes from up to a dozen companies all at once. You can call companies directly or access information on the Internet. Your state insurance department may also provide comparisons of prices charged by major insurers. And no, companies like Progressive that claim they will compare other companies, but they are an insurance company, so they are not to be trusted. They only have one interest, and that is to promote their own business.

Bigger is not always better. There are several low cost automobile insurance companies offering competitive rates in relation to the big names out there. This makes it possible to save a bundle on this expense. Many people seem to ignore this cost and tend to accept the burden of expensive insurance even when monthly payments almost match a car payment. In one case, I lowered my car insurance rates by about 50% when I found a good local company (I had switched from a really big name company).

One of the best ways to get cheap car insurance is simply to use a service that forces insurance agents and brokers to compete against one another. At the end of this article is one example of such a site. As soon as you finish your online quote request, multiple agents will contact you. But it is important to NOT sign up with any one of them immediately-Instead, let them know that you are awaiting calls from other local insurance providers. After 5 or so of these people have contacted you, you should have a good idea of what sort of range you might expect to pay.

Then, if you really want to get the cheapest car insurance possible, simply tell the agents that you are ready to buy within the next 24 hours with whichever company offers you the lowest insurance rates. This really puts the fire under them, and is sure to create the most optimal pricing for you. Of course, be sure to carry through on your promise.

If it makes sense, you may want to consider getting a bundle package. Basically, see what it might cost to insure not only your car, but also your home, property, health and life insurance. This can save a person around 10% - 30% depending on the company you go with; and it does make paying your bills easier as well.

Oh, and one more tip, remember that the more info you provide upfront, the more accurate your quotes will be, and the more likely the insurance companies will be responsive to your inquiry. This is especially true when filling out a quote from multiple companies.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles