Instant Auto Insurance Quote

Do you want an instant auto insurance quote? Let's explore what you need to pay attention to.

Car insurance continues to rise, affecting just about every American. While we can't really afford it, we can't afford to be without it. Therefore, it is in your best interest to get the most insurance bang for your buck.

When you shop online, you have the opportunity to receive an instant auto insurance quote from a variety of different companies.

Because instant auto insurance quotes are so fast and convenient, there's no reason not to compare different insurance companies. After all, even with identical coverage, insurance premiums vary widely.

After receiving instant auto insurance quotes from several insurance companies, it's a good practice to record your results on a spreadsheet.

That way, you have consistency between instant auto insurance quotes. You ensure an apples-to-apples comparison, and you get a clearer picture of what is available to you.

Review the instant auto insurance quotes carefully, as well as the coverages. Make sure you're only paying for the coverage that's absolutely necessary.

When you've selected the two least expensive instant auto insurance quotes, you should get a referral from a trusted auto body shop. They deal with insurance companies on a daily basis.

They know which companies pay claims and which are reluctant to pay claims. If you're ever in a position to have to make an insurance claim, you want to know that the company you've been paying is willing and able to pay for your claim.

Some experts recommend getting at least 10 instant auto insurance quotes. Obviously, this would be quite a chore when getting instant auto insurance quotes offline. You can spend
hours on hold and talking on the telephone. You can spend days trying to get not-so-instant auto insurance quotes from local agents.

Tips For Lowering Your Auto Insurance Quote

Do you have many claims? If so, you should do all you can to reduce them or even endeavor to file no claims at all. Why do I bring this issue up in an article about lowering your auto insurance quote? Because the number of claims is the single factor that to the highest degree influences the cost of your insurance premium. Let me give you an example: Let's say you have 5 years of no claim. Most companies will then give you an unbelievable discount of your premium, some of them even 75%! It goes without saying that this is the most powerful way to get cheap insurance.

How can an insurance company do this? Look at an insurance company as a big box of money dropped in by people who gets security in return. What the company does is simply to reallocate the money that is left when the payments for damages are deducted.

People that have many damages and file many claims, must pay a higher premium and thus get a higher car insurance quote.But a safe driver that avoid claims, is rewarded with a lower one. Fair enough?

If you are new to insurance - or even if you have had insurrances for some years, but feel you lack knowledge about it. - I'll advice you to learn the basic auto insurance terminology, before you start to shop around. It can help you, not only to get a low cost insurance but also to make the correct coverage decisions for you. Let's do a little test: Do you need PIP coverage? What does PD coverage mean? What is BI coverage?

Find the Right Short Term Car Insurance

Finding the right short term car insurance can be frustrating. Many people are looking for this affordable insurance product while traveling for on a foreign road trip or loaning a car to a family member. Whatever reason you may have for needing temporary coverage it is important to know your options. Not having the right coverage can leave you vulnerably exposed to higher premiums and loss of your no claim bonus. I would not recommended getting this insurance if you need coverage longer for a period of 28 days.

It is important to understand exactly what short term coverage is so you know what you are paying for and the exact coverage you have.

Basically if you need a friend or relative on your policy for a temporary period, you can do so with no risk to your own no-claims bonus.

Exactly what you are paying for with a short-term policy is simply but importantly less risk for the regular policyholder and instant coverage is available. Some great news is that is much easier and involves less paper work than adding a new driver to your policy.

When looking for short term car insurance, start with your current insurer. Most of the time your agent will be able to direct you to the cheapest and best policy for your needs. If you don't currently have an agent start your search online. You can quickly find available policies and even apply for them. Few people realize you may even pay for your temporary policy online right a way. It is never a good idea to drive unprotected. Accidents happen daily in unexpected times.

Auto Insurance Quote and Auto Insurance Quotes

Auto insurance quotes are a free service offered by insurance agencies to consumers who are in the market for new insurance. When you call an agency to obtain an auto insurance quote, you will be asked the driving record of the primary driver, the age of the vehicle, how many miles the vehicle is driven to and from work, and the amount of coverage you would like on the vehicle. An auto insurance quote only takes a few moments. There are some interesting facts about the pricing of auto insurance quotes. If you would like an auto insurance quote, and your current insurance carrier has dropped you, the amount of your quote will be dramatically increased. If you want to insure an underage driver, your auto insurance quote will increase.

Obviously, the amount of coverage of the vehicle impacts the price of auto insurance quotes. Collision is almost always the most costly part of insurance, but in most cases it is a requirement, and even if it is not required, it is a wise investment. The price of auto insurance quotes change from state to state, as there are different coverage requirements in each state. There is also an increased likelihood of accidents in certain parts of the country, so if you are trying to get an auto insurance quote for vehicles registered in one of these high-risk parts of the country, the price of your quote will be high.

Finding the Cheapest Auto Insurance Quote

Research studies indicate that a car is broken into or stolen every 19 seconds in the United States. In such a scenario, you need to ensure that you have found the cheapest auto insurance quote. However, the trick is to amalgamate the duality of robust coverage and affordability. Thus, finding the cheapest auto insurance quote is not merely a hunt for the lowest premium.

Do your Homework right! Start with doing your homework right. Spend time and understand the insurance imperatives as laid down by the state law. Evaluate the minimum coverage requirements in-force.

Compare Apples to Apples! Don’t compare just purely on the basis of rates. The key to finding the Cheapest Auto Insurance Quote is to compare all the pertinent elements that go into providing comprehensive coverage at any given price. In the United States, getting insurance quotes from leading insurers and comparison-shopping is very easy. Be ruthless when you compare across quotes and choose the one with the optimal coverage at the most affordable cost. Also, when comparing across plans, compare apples to apples. This essentially means that you price-evaluate plans with the same coverage, features and benefits.

Online Quote Comparison! There are various websites that offer online quote comparison service. These websites offer access to instant online auto insurance quotes, let you compare coverage, view, modify coverage tiers. However, keep away from websites that also sell auto insurance online, as their quotes could be biased and misleading.

Don’t get fooled by lower deductibles! A lower deductible does not mean that you have got yourself a dream bargain. Think long term; avoid having a short term vision. A low deductible means that you would end up paying a higher premium. Be smart and opt for a plan with a higher deductible. What matters is the ultimate cost of the coverage, considering all eventualities.

Car Insurance Rates for Teenagers

Get auto insurance rates for teenagers from a top variety of companies. Increase chances of finding a low rate for teens by comparing quotes from multiple insurers. Free guide for teenage drivers to ensure the cheapest premiums for the needed coverage.

A teen driver needs to take a different approach than elders because they must be sure to take the necessary actions to shave off unnecessary costs. A teenager needs to also apply for whatever discounts they can qualify for since each discount provides an additional percentage off the premium and it can add up to be a significant amount.

Compare auto insurance rates from different companies to see which carriers will offer the lowest rate. Since there isn’t one “cheapest” company for everyone, the key is to locate the one who will be cheapest for each specific teen.

What is Home Owner Insurance and Why Do You Need It?

Home owner insurance is protection you buy from an insurer to protect your house in the unlikely event it is damaged or destroyed. It allows you to transfer the risk associated with owning a home to the insurance provider and give you peace of mind that your most valuable asset is, your home, is protected.

Choosing an Insurance Company

Before choosing for a specific home owner insurance plan or some company, it's wise for the buyer to do a little research whether on the internet or with the help of a specialist. A few cost saving hints include taking the time to conduct comparison shopping, having one insurance company that meets all your insurance needs and improving the security of your home. One of the most popular ways to find discount home owner insurance is to purchase multiple insurance policies from the same company. You may be able to purchase home owner insurance, as well as auto insurance and even life insurance from the same insurance company. If your current insurance company does not offer such discounts, you may want to consider shopping around for an insurance company that does.

Auto Insurance Coverage

When you buy your first car, you might not know what risks you are exposing yourself to. There are many dangers which can have an effect on your car or even on your health. No matter how good a driver you are, you will also be subject to accidents, even if they don’t happen from your fault. Basically, you don’t need to protect yourself from your mistakes, but from other people who might not drive as well as you do. In fact, the law actually forces everyone into getting insurance policies, for their own good.

Cheap Insurance

The cheapest auto insurance coverage policy is the one implemented by the law. However, this doesn’t mean that you will have to get that one. Each state will decide a certain limit for policies, but not because that is what you need for being protected. There are a lot of persons who own cars, but some of them don’t have money. When they try to get insurance policies, they will certainly need to struggle financially for it. This is why the lowest insurance coverage is that low – so that everyone can afford at least some type of protection. Many people go out and buy the minimum just because they think that this is the best, but this is definitely wrong.

If you can afford buying a more expensive insurance policy, you should go for it. When getting the right auto insurance, you have to look at the car insurance coverage types.

Buying Home Owners Insurance Online

If you are looking to buy your home owners insurance online then is advisable to research and compare at least 4 quotes that can be had from competing insurance companies. By going online for your insurance needs you can make the experience much easier. In fact you can find coverage's online that will cover a wide range of disasters and accidents, including damage caused by: fire/lightning, windstorms/hail, explosions, riot or civil commotions, aircraft, vehicles, smoke, vandalism, theft, volcanic eruption, falling objects, weight of snow/ice/sleet and much more.

Your home is an investment deserving the protection that the proper home insurance policy can provide. That's why it makes sense to protect the sizable financial investment you've made in your own home with a comprehensive home owners insurance plan that may not be as expensive as you think.

Most standard homeowner insurance policies will cover both the home itself and items that are found in the home. The quickest way to find out just what each policy covers is to sort through different types of homeowners insurance online. For the most part, homeowners insurance will be provided as a packaged policy and will help to cover the home owner's legal responsibilities because of property damage and/or personal injury.

Ways to Save on Auto Insurance

Looking for ways to cut back on living expenses? How about decreasing the amount of money you are spending on auto insurance? If you didn’t think there was any hope in saving money in this area of life, think again. There are quite a few ways to reduce the cost of your auto insurance. Read on for some saving methods:

Shop around
It’s no secret that the company offering the cheapest insurance rates usually wins the customer. Auto insurance companies take this into serious consideration as they make their decision in how much to charge a customer. They know that if you find a cheaper rate for the same coverage, you are most likely going to switch companies. You can use our site by entering in your information and we will provide quotes for insurance coverage from different auto insurers. If you happen to find a cheaper policy elsewhere, go to your current insurer and let them know. They may be willing to match it.

Get good grades
If you are the parent of a driving student, encourage your child to get good grades as this will lower their insurance rate and save you money. Teenaged drivers are very expensive to insure, and by getting B’s or better on their report card they will show they are more likely to think better in a stressful situation behind the wheel, and therefore have less accidents and make less claims to the insurer.

Store your vehicle
You’ll notice as you give your information regarding your vehicle to potential auto insurers, they want to know your zip code and the place in which you park your vehicle at night when it’s not in use. This is because the location of your parked vehicle factors into your rates. If you live in an area where the crime rate is high, you are going to be charged more for your premium, and if you park your car in the street you will also pay more. Keeping your car parked in a locked garage in an area with low to no crime will get you cheap insurance.

Things to Double Check when Buying Car Insurance

When buying car insurance, there are a few things one should double check not only for accuracy but in order to ensure quality and satisfaction.

When purchasing a policy, an important step to take is to revise your coverage and to make sure you have a complete understanding of the actual coverage you’re purchasing. If purchasing minimum liability coverage only, be aware that this does not provide protection for your vehicle. You are vulnerable to theft, vandalism and more. In other words, there is no protection for your vehicle whatsoever.

The term “Full Coverage” is also something to look out for. Many people believe to be fully covered but are not aware that the term “full coverage” usually refers to simply a combination of liability and comprehensive and collision coverage.

There still can be many uncovered situations with this type of coverage. For example, if you were to cause significant medical injuries or property damages to others, the liability protection portion has limits which can be quickly maxed out in a serious accident. You could then be left owing uncovered damages out of your pocket. Consider raising liability limits and purchasing additional protection such as Uninsured Motorist Coverage. Understand the limits and adjust them according to your needs.

Make sure you’re being properly rated. What that means is to make sure your information such as gender, marital status, age, driving experience and violation history is accurate. These details affect your rate and, if not accurate, you could be improperly quoted and your premium can increase once your policy is revised and issued by underwriters.

Before You Buy Insurance Online

There are a lot of insurance companies now competing for your online insurance business. Just because there are a lot of online insurance companies, that does not mean everyone is getting online insurance quotes. If you are shopping for an insurance quote, you generally have three choices: Online, exclusive, or nonexclusive agent. Lets take a look at what these choices mean for you.

Online Insurance

• More Choices: Shopping online gives one the advantage of more choices. You can take your time and really look into different insurance companies, which may help you choose a policy and an insurance quote that best suits you.
• Time Saver: This is an easy one. Of course it works better for you to meet with your laptop anytime than an appointment with a local insurance agent. When shopping online for insurance you can do it anytime, day or night.
• Quick Insurance Quotes: Shopping online for online insurance quotes gives you the advantage of getting instant insurance quotes from many insurance companies.

Local Exclusive Agent

• A Real Insurance Agent: When looking for online insurance quotes many people may not understand the insurance product and might end up choosing something that will not insure them properly. Using local agent may eliminate this problem.
• Sells for One Company: An exclusive insurance agent sells insurance only from their company so they know their product well and have extensive company training.
• Knows Your Needs for Other Products: One of the best advantages of using a local insurance agent when shopping for an insurance quote is that they usually can find other insurance products that are beneficial for your needs.

Auto Insurance for Teens

Buying a car or simply owning one is quite a responsibility. More and more people are starting to get their first car in their teens and this is no longer a special occurrence. However, they are also the ones most likely to get into accidents and this is why getting insurance for teenagers is much more difficult than what most people expect. The problem is not in getting a policy, but in getting one which is at least affordable if not reasonably priced. Having the right insurance is not only something that you need for your own piece of mind, but it is also required by law.

Why Is Car Insurance For Teenagers So Expensive?

Car insurance companies are always trying to figure out how to make more profit. This doesn’t mean that they will increase their prices all the time, but they are always looking at accident statistics and make sure that the people who they offer policies to pay enough based on the risks that they present. If you look at health insurance, you will notice that getting such a policy is impossible if you are already sick. With auto insurance, if the person who is driving the car is subject to getting into accidents more often than the rest of the population, the insurer will surely ask for a higher price. This happens because no one wants to offer financial help for repairs to those who always need it.

Studies have shown that teenagers are the ones which usually get into accidents. At this point in their lives, they are quite easy to distract and most of them are so happy that they have a new car that they don’t even look at traffic signs. Besides this, males are quite fond on stepping on the acceleration pedal which also increases the risks of accidents.

Travel Medical Insurance And Vacation Insurance

Misconceptions about travel insurance abound, especially with a lot of people thinking that it's a mere moneymaking scheme for the airlines and travel agencies. This kind of thinking is presumptuous and fails to look at the potential benefits to be had from a travel insurance policy. Contrary to the propaganda, travel insurance was a scheme designed to benefit you in particular.

Traveler Troubles

If you'd take the time to inspect the coverage of an average travel insurance plan, you'd notice that most of the benefits address very common problems that travelers face. Take, for example, a flight that you have to cancel on short notice because of an emergency. Ordinarily, you would have forfeited your fare to the airline company, as their ‘fare waivers' are next to impossible to get. With a travel insurance policy, the insurance company reimburses the ticket, so you end up with a zero net loss.

Health and safety Insurance for freelancers

Under UK laws, all employees of registered organizations need to be covered under a health insurance scheme. However, this does not cover contract workers. If you are working with an organization on project basis, you will not be covered under their insurance policy.

The same applies to you upon being an employer of a group of individuals, who again work with you on contractual terms.

Sourcing Health Insurance
The reason many do not opt for freelance health and safety insurance is that they are not aware of the options they have. Most freelance workers have the notion that they have to pay steep charges w.r.t abidance to any health and safety related policy.

But if you search hard enough, you can always find a health insurance company willing to cover you and your freelance employees – all within a reasonable premium. All you need is to be a little careful while reading through the policy fine prints before zeroing in on a deal that meets the interest of the health of your business’s as well as that employees working with you under certain contract.

Health Insurance for Freelance Workers

The UK has seen a surge in number of freelance and contract workers over the past decade. Internet boom, worsening traffic situation, and most importantly the eagerness of a second income have pushed many people into moonlighting as online tutors, accountants, writers, publishers, affiliate marketers, data entry workers, and email writers. Many people have been so successful as freelance workers that they have turned it into a fulltime profession, earning more than they ever did as regular employees!

Working as a freelancer does have its advantages. You can be your own boss, you set your own work schedule, you can take the kids out to play ball daily, and you can work in your bedroom or home office in your pajamas, if you choose. However, there is one thing that a freelance job does not guarantee you – health and safety insurance. A cover that can protect you and your handful staffs (if any) from any sudden and unforeseen eventuality.

Cheap Auto Insurance quotes

Cheap Auto Insurance quotes

Cheap Auto Insurance quotes are designed in many different ways to cover your specific insurance needs. One needs to analyze these quotes in detail before making a decision. It also helps if you have basic knowledge on all or at least some aspects of cheap Auto Insurance. You can find literally hundreds of online resources offering you thousands of attractive cheap Auto Insurance quotes. But should you opt for them, just because they are cheap? It depends. When it comes to insurance, sometimes the cheapest policy is not the best way to go.

Attention! Have a look at the type of car you drive. Certain types of cars attract higher Car Insurance rates.

You need to know the rules, which govern your state, with regard to Auto Insurance. Certain states, for example, may require you to have comprehensive liability coverage, which is also known as third party liability in some countries. This covers you in case you are at a fault during an accident, whereas in other states, you are simply required to carry a ‘no-fault' policy.

LOAN INSURANCE

LOAN INSURANCE

These types of loans are often referred to as 80-10-10 loans or 80-15 loans. An 80-10-10 loan is a mortgage at 80% of the amount to be financed and than two home equity loans at 10% each. You will likely find that all three loans will have a different interest rate with this type of package. 80-15 loans are similar but would be the main loan at 80% and a secondary loan at 15% with the buyer putting down the additional 5%.It is important to note that when financing 90% - 100% of a home, the appraisal will play a key role in the loan approval process. If the appraisal does not come out at a pre-determined amount.You may need to go back and renegotiate the purchase price of the home or run the risk of being denied the mortgage. Most real estate contracts, do have a clause in them that allows the buyer out of the contract if they are denied a mortgage.You will want to speak to the lawyers and real estate agent in advance if you are planning for applying for this type of loan.

insurance life term

Most people buy life insurance because they care deeply about another person or people and they want to make sure the loved ones left behind are taken care of financially. When you die, there will be an emotional loss felt by loved ones. An economic loss on top of the emotional loss is an unbearable combination and one that families should not have to experience.

When you purchase life insurance, you are preventing the financial loss others would occur upon your death. I’m not claiming that the following story is the reason I have chosen life insurance sales as an occupation, but it is a perfect anecdote for this topic.

Life Insurance Terms Defined

Life Insurance Terms Defined

If you’re like most people, reading an insurance policy can be downright confusing. It’s not the easiest read in the world for me and I’m in the business. Fortunately, all policies include definitions of the terms. Unfortunately, the definitions are often written in “insurance speak,” so now you are left with terms and definitions you don’t understand.

In an effort to assist you in understanding your policy, I offer the following simple definitions:

• Death Benefit – The amount payable to your beneficiary upon your death.
• Beneficiary – the person or persons who will receive the death benefit upon your death. You can name primary and secondary (or contingent) beneficiaries.
• Secondary Beneficiary – the person who receives the death benefit if the primary beneficiary is no longer alive.
• Premiums – the amount of money payable to the insurance company on a regular basis.
• Lapse – the cancellation of your policy when premiums have not been paid.
• Term Insurance – insurance for a specified period of time.
• Permanent Insurance – insurance that is as guaranteed to pay a claim as death is to happen.
• Health Class – a classification system used by insurance companies to determine the risk you present to the company. The better the health, the lesser the risk.
• Insured Person – the person whose life the policy covers.
• Policy Owner – the person who owns the policy. The owner and the insured are not always the same person.

I hope this helps.

National Health Insurance

National Health Insurance Marketplace Enters the Blogosphere

PR Newswire:

eHealthInsurance, the nation's leading source for individual and family health insurance today announced its sponsorship of a new Web log, or Blog, www.HealthyConcerns.com, launched by founder and blogger Elisa Camahort.

Healthy Concerns will provide a community-oriented place for people to share and learn about the potential pitfalls and ways to work within the complex health insurance market. It will feature insight and comments based on personal experiences from a mix of bloggers and consumers, as well as industry experts.

Posted by Dane o

loan insurance

LOAN INSURANCE

These types of loans are often referred to as 80-10-10 loans or 80-15 loans. An 80-10-10 loan is a mortgage at 80% of the amount to be financed and than two home equity loans at 10% each. You will likely find that all three loans will have a different interest rate with this type of package. 80-15 loans are similar but would be the main loan at 80% and a secondary loan at 15% with the buyer putting down the additional 5%.

It is important to note that when financing 90% - 100% of a home, the appraisal will play a key role in the loan approval process. If the appraisal does not come out at a pre-determined amount.

You may need to go back and renegotiate the purchase price of the home or run the risk of being denied the mortgage. Most real estate contracts, do have a clause in them that allows the buyer out of the contract if they are denied a mortgage.You will want to speak to the lawyers and real estate agent in advance if you are planning for applying for this type of loan.

Private Mortgage Insurance

Private Mortgage Insurance

Private Mortgage Insurance

Private Mortgage Insurance - a recurring, monthly, unwelcome guest. It sounds similar to and is about as welcomed as a similar acronym. PMI is private mortgage insurance. This insurance policy is paid for by the homebuyer when the amount of their primary mortgage is greater than 80% of the value of the property.

You will note that the term "primary mortgage" was used. It is not the total of all mortgages and home loans on the property that is evaluated, but rather the amount of the primary or largest mortgage on the property that can trigger Private Mortgage Insurance.

Private Mortgage Insurance is calculated by taking 0.5% of your primary loan balance and dividing it by 12 . For example, if your primary mortgage is $200,000 and you are required to pay Private Mortgage Insurance, your mortgage payments would be an additional $83.34 per month. For most homebuyers, this additional premium is a considerable financial burden to undertake.

There are ways around Private Mortgage Insurance for those homebuyers unable to put down 20% or more on their new home. Mortgage lenders have created loan packages which include two or more home loans that when combined exceed the 80% threshold, while no one of the loans exceed that threshold.

Typically there is a primary mortgage and either one or two home equity loans taken out simultaneously which are 81% - 100% of the home value. This affords the homebuyer to put less than 20% down, or perhaps put nothing down at all while at the same time eliminating the need to pay Private Mortgage Insurance.

The Rich Really Need Life Insurance

The Rich Really Need Life Insurance

The Rich Really Need Life Insurance

It turns out that rich people need life insurance more than you and I.

I was chatting with my insurance agent this afternoon and he told me about a client that is worth probably $80 million. This person is taking out a life insurance policy worth probably $40 million.

One might wonder why someone with that kind of net worth would take out a life insurance policy worth that much money. This individual is taking the policy out to pay inheritance taxes. Life insurance proceeds to heirs are not taxed.

By taking out this insurance policy, this fellow gives his heirs the money to pay their inheritance taxes. That way they can keep the other assets that will be bequeathed to them.

The problem with inheriting those assets is Uncle Sam wants his part of the inheritance. In order to pay the chunk of money, these assets must be sold for cash. But the buyers will find out the heirs are selling the assets, like a building, to pay inheritance taxes. Knowing this, potential buyers can make a very favorable deal.

This hits the heirs twice. Not only do they have to pay inheritance taxes, but the assets they must sell to pay those taxes are now worth less money on the open market.

So the smart money buys life insurance just to pay inheritance taxes.

Home Owner with Insurance that Limits

Home Owner with Insurance that Limits

What does your Homeowners Insurance limit?

Did you know in a standard homeowners insurance policy, coverage limits for jewelry, furs, watches, and related items is only $1,000 combined? These and other limits are in place to encourage home owners to buy additional insurance coverage for valuable and hard to replace items.

Additional home owners insurance coverage can be purchased through a Personal Articles Form or other additional applicable policy. Below is a list of item categories that may have limited insurance coverage for home owners.

Examples of Items That May Have Limited Coverage Under Your Homeowners Insurance Policy:

Money

Valuable Papers and Securities

Boats

Trailers

Business Use Property

Silverware

Firearms

Jewelry (including furs, watches, and related items)

If you have any of the items above or are planning to purchase some in the future, it is important to check with your insurance agent for additional coverage. It is also important to note that every home owners insurance policy is different and to check specifically what your policy includes and excludes.

More Insurance Information for Home Owners

What is Title Insurance?Mold Not CoveredPrivate Mortgage Insurance PMI

[an error occurred while processing this directive]

Related Articles

• What to Look for In a Home Owners Insurance Policy - Understanding Home Own...
• What to Look for In a Home Owners Insurance Policy - Understanding Home Own...
• Home Owners Policy - A Complete Resource for Buying and Filing Your Home Ow...
• Actual Cash Value and Replacement Cost - Do You Have Enough Insurance to Re...
• The Top Four Questions to Consider When Choosing A Condominium Insurance Po...

Health and life insurance

Health and life insurance

Uninsured Add $900 to Health Premiums

MSNBC: "Health insurance premiums will cost families and employers an extra $922 on average this year to cover the costs of caring for the uninsured, according to a report released Wednesday. With the added cost, the yearly premiums for a family with coverage through an employer will average $10,979 in 2005, said the report from consumer group Families USA... its study shows the problem is not restricted to the tens of millions of uninsured Americans. Rather, the problem affects everyone, because the insured subsidize the cost of care given the uninsured."

Why You Should Purchase Life Insurance

Most people buy life insurance because they care deeply about another person or people and they want to make sure the loved ones left behind are taken care of financially. When you die, there will be an emotional loss felt by loved ones. An economic loss on top of the emotional loss is an unbearable combination and one that families should not have to experience.

When you purchase life insurance, you are preventing the financial loss others would occur upon your death. I’m not claiming that the following story is the reason I have chosen life insurance sales as an occupation, but it is a perfect anecdote for this topic.

When I was thirteen years old, my father passed away from a sudden heart attack. He was survived by myself, my two brothers (ages 8 and 16) and my mother. Naturally, the emotional loss was devastating to us as a family. The emotional loss was compounded by the financial loss caused by an inadequate life insurance policy. My father, who loved us dearly, only had a policy that barely paid the funeral expenses.

My mother, who had been a stay-at-home mom for sixteen years, now had to somehow support three young sons. To say life was difficult would be a gross understatement. If my father had purchased a sufficient amount of life insurance, the emotional loss would have been the same but we would have been able to properly mourn the loss of a loved one without having to deal with the prospect of financial ruin.

I hope this story inspires you to purchase an adequate amount of life insurance to protect your family from potential financial loss.

Finance for the Freelancer

Finances for the Freelancer

Budgeting and financial planning are great ideas, but how in the world do you budget or plan when you don't know from one month to the next how much money you're going to earn?

It's a difficult situation, but there are ways to approach the problem that, over time, will provide some stability for your finances.

The first trick is finding out how much it actually costs you each month to live; chances are it costs more than you think it does. Add up all your expenses - food, gas for the car, rent or mortgage payment, utilities, car payments, car and health insurance, and so on. Don't forget periodic payments like license renewals and car registrations, birthday and holiday gifts and cards or anything that costs you money.

Once you've decided what it costs you each month, that's what you live on. Open bank accounts for each broad category - monthly expenses, weekly expenses, and so on. And then deposit the amount of money you need per month into the appropriate accounts as the money comes in.

Separating monthly from daily expenses actually frees you up. If you know you've got money stashed safely away for the rent, heat, etc., and you see a pair of shoes or a book you really want, just check out your daily expenses account; you may find that if you eat rice and beans for a few days you can spring for the impulse buy without wrecking your budget. Just don't, under any circumstances, raid the monthly expenses account!

The conventional wisdom is that if you have credit card debt, you should pay it off before you start saving money. You're going to save a lot more in interest payments if you eliminate your credit card debt than you'll be earning in a conventional savings account. But you need to take into account your uncertain financial circumstances and your own human nature. Having a month or two of living expenses in the bank can do an amazing job of calming one's nerves, and can preclude the need for charging more money on your credit cards.

Home Mortgage Refinance

Determining The Best Time For A Home Mortgage Refinance

If you are wondering when the right time to refinance is, you have come to the right page. Read further and find out more about home mortgage refinance.

A home mortgage refinance may just be the best financial decision you can make. However, refinancing is not for everyone. It is mostly a matter of right timing. This result to the unending question for homeowners everywhere: when is it exactly right to refinance?

There are many guidelines which can determine whether now the best time to get a home mortgage refinance is. However, despite all these guidelines, what actually determines "right timing" is dependent on your own financial situation. There are a number of signs which are indicative of ideal refinancing conditions. Here are some of them:

Refinancing to cut costs. When interest rates are dropping, it may be good to take on a new mortgage. The rule of thumb states that a difference of at least 2% should be followed for a home mortgage refinance to be worth it. Refinancingwill result to either lower payments you need to pay monthly, or a shorter loan term to repay the entire money you owe. Either of these can save you money in the long term. However, take note that interest rates should never be the sole determining factor to influence your decision. Make sure you consider closing costs, fees and charges and find out if you will be end up paying more in the long run.

Home mortgage refinance for better loan terms. Many homeowners decide torefinance in order to get out of their current loan. If you have a pending balloonloan payment due soon but do not have the means to pay for it, or if you have an adjustable rate mortgage which is increasing, you may resort to refinancing to spare yourself of an even bigger trouble. You can choose to revert to a fixed rate mortgage to minimize risks.

The decision to take on a home mortgage refinance should also depend on how long you intend to stay in your home. If you expect to sell your home soon,refinancing may not make sense at all. Also, if you are already halfway through your existing loan, you will barely save anything with a new mortgage loan. However, if you plan to stay in your home for at least the next five years, you will probably have enough time to recoup the refinancing costs you have incurred and actually save you money.

Ultimately, finding the right time to refinance is mainly a matter of proper calculation and estimation based on your individual circumstances and parameters. It should depend on how long you will stay in your home, yourfinancial goals, the current interest rates and good deals offered by lenders.

This is not to say that ideal conditions assure you of a risk-free decision.Refinancing does take some risk as all financial decisions do. However, as in all risks, you can minimize losses if you do your own research and make a wise assessment of how your home mortgage refinance will lead you to.Refinancing is indeed more than just a matter of timing.

Dental Insurance

Dental Insurance, Dental Plans: Why you should have one?

Dental Hygiene and history of toothbrush

When toothbrush was first used or is there any evidences of oral hygiene 1000's of years ago. It is believed that Chinese first created the toothbrush. It was not a toothbrush in real sense but more of a device that was used to clean teeth. The first form of brush was crafted from bamboo in 1400. It was used as handle and hairs of Siberian wild boar were used as bristles attached to the handle. This was the first toothbrush associated with having been the ancestor of the one that we use today. Another form of toothbrush was found 3000 years before the birth of Christ. This was found in the pyramids in Egypt. These toothbrushes were crafted from a stick. Unlike the Chinese version of the toothbrush, the end of the stick was flayed so that the fibers of the wood were softer. This stick was then rubbed against the teeth to serve as a form of oral hygiene. Chinese version of the toothbrush became popular and went further to Europe. Hairs of the Siberian wild boar were bit tough on gums. Hairs of horse back started gaining popularity as they were not horse on gums. Despite the added softness of the horse hair bristles, the boar hairs were more commonly used, as horses were too valuable to Europeans during this period of time. In 1937, Wallace H. Carothers created nylon in the Du Pont laboratories. This invention forever changed the history of the toothbrush, as well as every other device that required a fibrous material, including ropes. In 1938, Nylon became the sign of modernization, from the creation of nylon stockings to Dr. West's first nylon toothbrush.

Dental Insurance, Dental Plans: Why you should have one?

Are you going to your dentist regularly now? If not, you will have to go later which will cost you 1000's of dollars. Without regular dental checkups and proper dental insurance plans, you would have to pay as much as $8-10,000 for your dental procedures and repairs. You have got 2 options, either to go for a Dental Insurance or a Discount Dental Plans . Large groups or businesses to cover their employee’s dental care primarily utilize dental insurance. Monthly premiums are to be paid for a pre defined coverage. It could vary between $30 per month for individuals to $100 per month for family plans. Dental insurance is not readily accessible to individuals and families. There are annual spending maximums, deductibles, waiting periods for certain procedures, and limitations and exclusions on care. Dental coverage will include the cost of preventive services (such as cleanings and exams) at 100% after deductibles are met. Dental plans are an ideal form of dental coverage for the benefits of common citizens when they are not covered at their work. The plans are primarily designed to provide consumers access to dental networks at reduced rates. These plans are affordable and are best for families and individuals. The plans work differently than insurance but offer real and substantive cost savings on dental procedures. Dental coverage includes secured discounts on most dental services, such as dental exams, routine cleanings, fillings, extractions, root canals, dentures, crowns, and braces. Most Discount dental plans Provide a fee schedule with the discounted fees listed out in the membership materials.

car insurance

car insurance

car insurance

As I was stuck in traffic on a Los Angeles freeway yesterday, I saw a deflated blow-up car lying on the side of the road and, being the insurance person I am, I started thinking about what would happen if the real car died? Would any toys get delivered on Christmas Eve? Would millions of cookies and glasses of milk go untouched? Would the collective wail of hundreds of millions of children on Christmas morning ruin any possibility of a peaceful day?

The way to prevent this from happening would be to secure life insurance on cars life. In a rushed conversation with Ms. car (she was quite busy when I called), she informed me that she did, in fact, have a life insurance policy on Santa. I asked her if the proceeds from the policy would allow Santa’s business to continue should he pass away. She told me that the amount of insurance Santa had was barely enough to allow her and the elves to continue the mortgage payments on the North Pole home, let alone the retreat in Palm Springs.

For the good of mankind, I knew I had to come up with a solution. I couldn’t imagine a Christmas without Santa Claus. If I didn’t do anything, how would I be able to face my grandchildren in the future, knowing that I had a solution and didn’t do anything about it? With the prospect of losing the respect of my grandchildren looming heavily, I sprung to action.

I put my proposal together and went to visit with the CEO of Claus Enterprises, who, lo and behold, happened to be Ms. Claus. After I thawed out (I do live in Southern California), I sat down with Ms. Claus and explained key-person insurance to her. In insurance-speak, a key person is an individual who possesses a unique ability essential to the continued success of a business or firm. The death of this key individual could severely handicap the company. If Claus Enterprises had a policy on Santa’s life and he should pass away, the company would be able to hire and train a replacement for Santa (or several) to insure that “business as usual” continued. This could potentially include new custom made suits, reindeer retraining, etc.

Wedding and Special Event Insurance

Wedding and Special Event Insurance

Wedding and Special Event Insurance

Often referred to as “wedding” insurance, special event insurance can be used to cover a 50th anniversary party, a bar mitzvah, a graduation party or any special occasion you might be planning. Special event insurance is designed to provide financial protection if you have to cancel or postpone a gathering due to adverse weather and natural disasters such as hurricanes.

Most policies also provide coverage for cancellation due to the death, illness or serious injury of a key participants in the event, such as members of the immediate family. Also, if an officiant, such as a minister or rabbi, or a key vendor, like the caterer, florist or photographer, does not show up, you can recover some of the costs.

Prices range from around $125 up to approximately $400 depending on the amount of coverage you need.

Wedding and Special Event Insurance

Additional riders may include coverage for:

* Military service—in the event the bride or groom is in the military or active reserves, and is suddenly called to duty.
* Gowns and tuxedos—includes stores going out of business or damage to the clothing.
* Gifts—if gifts are not covered by your homeowners or renters insurance, provides protection against theft or damage of gifts.
* Honeymoon—in case you need to cancel your trip due to illness, bad weather or other circumstances.
* Professional counseling—when the cancellation or postponement of the event causes severe emotional stress (a doctor’s note will be needed).

A change of heart is not covered, however.

Many companies also offer separate liability insurance, but be aware that many event sites already have their own liability insurance. If you are holding the event at home, however, you may want to purchase liability insurance above and beyond what is provided under your homeowners policy.

Before purchasing special event or wedding insurance, find out the following:

* Whether the insurance company is licensed to do business in the state where you live. This information is available from your State Insurance Department.
* How much the policy will cost and how much reimbursement you can expect if a loss occurs.
* What, specifically, is and is not covered by the policy.
* Whether you have coverage elsewhere through credit cards, warrantees or through home, auto or liability or other insurance policies you may already have.

The following companies offer wedding and private event insurance:

FIREMAN’S FUND PRIVATE EVENT INSURANCE
http://www.firemansfund.com/servlet/dcms?c=personal&rkey=31

TRAVELERS’ WEDDING PROTECTOR PLAN
http://www.protectmywedding.com

WEDSAFE
http://www.wedsafe.com

Wedding and Special Event Insurance

What is Auto Insurance?

What is Auto Insurance?

What is Auto Insurance?

Insurance Information Institute:

Auto insurance protects you against financial loss if you have an accident. It is a contract between you and the insurance company. You agree to pay the premium and the insurance company agrees to pay your losses as defined in your policy.

Auto insurance provides property, liability and medical coverage:

• Property coverage pays for damage to or theft of your car.
• Liability coverage pays for your legal responsibility to others for bodily injury or property damage.
• Medical coverage pays for the cost of treating injuries, rehabilitation and sometimes lost wages and funeral expenses.

What is auto insurance?

Auto insurance protects you against financial loss if you have an accident. It is a contract between you and the insurance company. You agree to pay the premium and the insurance company agrees to pay your losses as defined in your policy. Auto insurance provides property, liability and medical coverage: Property coverage pays for damage to or theft of your car. Liability coverage pays for your legal responsibility to others for bodily injury or property damage. Medical coverage pays for the cost of treating injuries, rehabilitation and sometimes lost wages and funeral expenses. An auto insurance policy is comprised of six different kinds of coverage. Most states require you to buy some, but not all, of these coverages. If you're financing a car, your lender may also have requirements. Most auto policies are for six months to a year. Your insurance company should notify you by mail when it’s time to renew the policy and to pay your premium.

Your financial morning

Your financial morning

Try applying this kind of brighten-your-morning thinking to improve your financial life.

Just as we end up with suboptimal results if we rush around in the morning, trying in vain to get everything done, our portfolios can suffer if we rush through or skip some necessary steps in portfolio management.

For example, set aside some time to review your portfolio regularly. If some holdings have grown significantly, you may want to pare them back a mite, so that they don't overshadow everything else. In my own investing, there was a time when my Time Warner stock had grown to dominate my portfolio.

While it can make sense to leave your winners alone to keep growing briskly, it's also often smart to pare them back, or even sell them entirely, if they've gotten way ahead of themselves. In retrospect, I wish I'd sold some or all of that holding before it tanked.

The idea of devoting at least 10 minutes per day to tidying up is a powerful one. You can get quite a bit done in a dedicated time period. It's the same with investing. If you rarely find time to keep up with your holdings, you might make doing so part of a regular routine. Maybe, for example, you'll research your holdings for 15 minutes each day when you get home from work. (Or do so at work, perhaps on your lunch hour.) Or, you can devote one or two hours for this, once a week.

Short cuts
Of course, all this is easier said than done. If you can't see yourself devoting time to reviewing your portfolio, you might choose to invest in mutual funds. There are some great ones out there, and they give you the benefit of smart people managing your money for you.

For example, the Vanguard Capital Opportunity (VHCOX) fund has a five-year average annual return of nearly 19%, and recently included the following among its top holdings: Novartis , Monsanto , FedEx , and Corning . Although it's closed to new investors, several funds have reopened recently -- or you may have access through your 401(k) at work.

A broad-market index fund will give you roughly the performance of the overall market -- which has been around 10% over long periods of history. That's the simplest way to go with mutual funds, and there's no shame in it. Still, many funds have long-term, market-beating results. Those are the funds I seek -- and you can, too. I've found a bunch of very promising ones via our Motley Fool Champion Funds newsletter. I invite you to check it out -- a free trial includes full access to all past issues, so you can read about each recommendation.

Start off right

Another way to think about mornings and finances is to see this month and this year as the first morning of the rest of your financial life. If you haven't yet opened an IRA, for example, consider doing so as soon as possible. You have until April 15 to make a contribution that counts for the 2007 tax year.

If you haven't yet opened a brokerage account or begun investing in mutual funds, smell the coffee and ask yourself this question: "What am I waiting for?" Your first investing years are your most important and effective ones. Money you invest today might have 20 years to grow, and money you invest 10 years from now will grow by a much smaller factor over the following 10 years.

Make the most of your financial morning.