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Showing posts with label Life Insurance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Life Insurance. Show all posts

Friday, April 24, 2009

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

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