Say No to Loan Insurance
Posted by admin on November 1st, 2008 filed in Insurance | Comment now »
When a borrower goes to a bank or other lending institution for a consumer loan, whether an unsecured personal loan, a car loan, or a mortgage, the lender always asks the borrower to initial a section which provides loan insurance in case of death or disability-at a fee, of course. If you become disabled or die and therefore cannot pay the loan payments, the insurance will pay them for you in the case of disability, and pay off the loan in case of death. Many borrowers agree to the insurance without a second thought, some with the idea that it’s required in order to get the loan.
It’s not required-it’s against federal law to require it, actually-and in most cases it’s not necessary. It’s basically a way for the bank or loan company to get yet another fee out of you and protect itself in the process. If the company rolls the fee into the balance of the loan, which is the normal method, you will also end up paying interest on that fee for the life of the loan! In the case of a twenty- or thirty-year mortgage, that’s a hellish amount of money!
Some employers offer long-term disability insurance that will provide a certain percentage of your standard income if you become ill; if your employer offers it for free, sign up for it. If you can afford to buy long-term disability insurance, either through your employer or on your own, you might want to consider doing that. But probably the best protection you can provide yourself is to set aside savings that will see you through a bout of unemployment, whether due to illness or job loss.
So what if you die? First, you’ll be dead, so you won’t care if the bank gets paid or not. Second, if you have any estate at all, it will be up to your heirs to pay your outstanding bills if possible out of the proceeds of the estate. If your debt includes a car loan and the estate won’t cover it, your heirs have the option of turning the car in to the loan company. They absolutely will not be obligated to pay your bills out of their own money; if the estate can’t pay the bills, the creditors are up the creek, period. If you have a family, including a spouse and dependent children or aging parents, you should have a term insurance policy in place that will cover any outstanding debt plus money for living expenses for a period of time to be determined by you. Term insurance is a much better deal than loan insurance.
So the next time a loan originator slides that document across the desk at you and points to the loan insurance section with a big smile, give her a big smile right back, check and initial the “no” line, slide the loan papers right back at her, and congratulate yourself for being a savvy consumer.
Aldene Fredenburg is a freelance writer living in southwestern New Hampshire. She has written numerous articles for local and regional newspapers and for a number of Internet websites, including Tips and Topics. She expresses her opinions periodically on her blog, http://beyondagendas.blogspot.com She may be reached at amfredenburg@yahoo.com
Tags: Finance, loans, moneyHow To Protect Your Life Insurance Policy While Going Through A Divorce
Posted by admin on August 30th, 2008 filed in Insurance | Comment now »
Life insurance, more than most things you buy, relates to the circumstances of your life. You buy life insurance to protect your family from financial loss stemming from your death. You tie the amount of your life insurance to the money your family will need to provide an income, pay off debts, put children through college and cover financial commitments.
But what happens to life insurance when you’re about to dissolve your marriage? How do you deal fairly with a soon-to-be ex-spouse, yet still make sure you have coverage for the future? Is there a way to provide for adult children of a previous marriage without going broke — especially if you have children through a second or third marriage?
Here are a number of considerations you should be aware of:
- Don’t assume that your insurance agent or company knows about your circumstances. If you don’t change your beneficiary, your former spouse may receive the proceeds of your policy upon your death. If the designation simply reads, “husband of the insured” or “wife of the insured,” and there is no new spouse, the secondary beneficiary receives the proceeds.
- You may be able to transfer ownership rights of the policy as part of a property settlement or to ensure continuation of alimony payments. Your ex-spouse may not press as hard for more support or a greater slice of an ongoing pension if he or she remains the designated beneficiary on a permanent life insurance policy. Of course, you need to ensure that your policy remains a valuable asset by keeping up premium payments.
However, transferring an existing cash value policy (as opposed to a term policy, may carry with it the burden of federal gift tax, unless you transfer the policy prior to divorce. Be sure to discuss this option prior to the finalization of your divorce.
- Don’t overlook the possibilities life insurance may provide for dealing fairly with children from your previous marriage. If you’re paying alimony to your previous spouse and have a second family with your new spouse, adult children from your first marriage may sue your estate after you’re gone if they aren’t dealt with at least as fairly as the children from your subsequent marriage(s).
A permanent life insurance policy can be an immediate “estate replacer” to children from your first marriage — it helps you replicate accumulated assets that you wish to pass on to the children of your first family — but can’t afford to without neglecting the needs of your new family. Essentially, you purchase a permanent life insurance policy on yourself and designate your adult children as beneficiaries. When you die, proceeds bypass the probate process and pass directly to your adult children. Your immediate spouse and any children from that marriage are left with your accumulated property and assets — so you’ve provided for both families.
If you’re contemplating divorce, don’t forget the options you may have with respect to your life insurance coverage. Divorce is tough enough — don’t overlook the flexibility and security this valuable asset can provide.
Matt McWilliams is one of the co-founders of HometownQuotes.Com, an online insurance quotes web site. He is originally from Pinebluff, NC and graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 2002. He is considered an expert in the field of online insurance shopping and finding new ways to help consumers save money on their insurance. For more information visit http://www.hometownquotes.com
Tags: divorce, Finance, insurance, life insurance, permanent life insurance, term life insuranceFactors Affecting you Motorcycle Insurance Premium
Posted by admin on August 28th, 2008 filed in Insurance | Comment now »Though it isn’t officially required in several states, many motorists prefer to get a motorcycle insurance. It is a good and extremely significant coverage in case the inevitable happens. After all, simply being careful while driving your motorcycle and wearing safety gears isn’t the only insurance you need.
Most of us are aware that motorcycles have higher rate of accidents per unit distance compared to cars. This is because of the exposed driver and the reality that most vehicle drivers are unable to see these smaller driving machines in the traffic line.
If you are transferring to a new state or you have just purchased a motorcycle, you should check first the insurance law of your state before whooshing down the road with your bike. This way, you can be sure that you are driving or riding legally. In case your state requires you to have liability coverage, then there are lots of motorcycle insurance options available for you.
To find the best deals on motorcycle insurance, it is always advisable to inquire first before setting your hands in a particular policy. There are key factors that affect your motorcycle insurance premium. Among them are:
1.)Engine displacement size (in cubic centimeter) of your motorcycle. Most of the times, you’ll have higher motorcycle insurance premium if your bike employ a larger displacement engine. This type of motorcycles is generally more expensive and they boast superior performance.
2.)Make or brand of the Motorcycle. It isn’t such a big factor, but it is usually considered in calculating the motorcycle insurance premium. A motorcycle brand with few models usually cost higher than a usual brand.
3.)The age of the driver or the owner. Older drivers normally benefit from cheaper motorcycle insurance rates than younger drivers using the same type of motorcycle.
4.)Type of bike. The type of bike you own and you are planning to insure also affect the rate of your motorcycle insurance. Sport bikes are normally expensive and thus require higher premium.
5.)Is your motorcycle garaged? If your bike will be parked in a garage if you’re not using it, your premium won’t be as high as those who are leaving their motorcycle parked out along the pavement. In the latter case, the motorcycle will be prone to accidents and theft and consequently, it will require higher insurance rate.
6.)Driving Record. Your driving record as well as your experience affects your motorcycle insurance payment. If your driving record has been messed up by too many tickets and accidents, then you should expect to pay for higher rates.
7.)Number of miles driven every week. It is an important consideration in calculating your motorcycle insurance payment, since the mileage you are likely to put on your motorcycle will push your premium up or pull it down. So you have to decide first if your bike will serve as your service in your daily commute or it is intended only for leisure. If you will use your motorcycle in your everyday activities, then expect to pay higher premium.
8.)Locality. This factor also matter in the computation of the cost of your motorcycle insurance. If you are residing in a big city, expect slightly higher rates compared to those who are living in a rural area but are insuring the same type of bike.
To get a full motorcycle insurance coverage, make sure that your insurance covers liability coverage, no-fault coverage, passenger coverage, collision coverage, uninsured coverage, collision coverage and service coverage.
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Tags: articles, blog, Finance, Motorcycle Insurance Premium