Term life insurance can be a valuable tool for protecting your family’s financial well-being. Especially, in the case of the primary or secondary breadwinner’s death. However, term insurance doesn’t cover everything. The answer to the question, “What kind of deaths are not covered in term insurance?” is surprisingly long. If you want to know what the coverage excludes. Here’s a look at the types of deaths that don’t qualify for a term life insurance payout.
The economy of the entire world will be affected in the coming years as a result of the coronavirus. Multiple experts are trying to speculate the amount it will take to recover from these effects, as the COVID-19 cases keep raising daily. [Read more…]
Commercial Insurance Broker Toronto | KASE Insurance
When people start making plans to start their business, they sometimes overlook the fact that they need to get different types of coverage. Thousands of companies provide guarantees to protect owners against any unforeseen costs related to lawsuits, thefts, and accidents, among other things. Commercial Insurance Broker Toronto | KASE Insurance like companies, cover several policies under a single contract to make it easier for their clients. Here are the various plans every establishment owner should consider getting. [Read more…]
You may have got insurance for your home, car or health because this is something that everyone does. But have you thought about insuring your ability to make a living? Probably not, even though you will now realize that it matters the most! Getting disability insurance is a smart move in this context because it pays up a portion of your income if you cannot work for a prolonged period due to an injury, illness or workplace accident. In fact, anyone who relies on a paycheck and has dependents to support should absolutely have this coverage. Here are some facts that you need to know about disability insurance.
Losing a loved one is traumatic in itself, but it can be excruciating in case of unexpected or wrongful death. While it can leave you scarred for life, you may also face financial setbacks when a family member dies in an accident or a situation that could be avoided. The bereaved family has a right to approach the insurance company and claim financial compensation for the wrongful death of their loved one in such an event. However, it is better to know the law well enough before you file a wrongful death claim because it keeps you one step ahead of the insurance company. Here are some facts that you need to be aware about.
For most Americans, saving money is a priority. Unless you bring in an exceedingly high income –– or you have your priorities greatly out of whack –– chances are you think about ways to cut down on expenses and save yourself some cash from time to time. Unfortunately, young people in particular are prone cutting or omitting vital services from their budget. Consider disability insurance: it’s likely few people in their 20s or early 30s contemplate the possibility of suffering a debilitating setback. As such, it’s also probable that a great deal don’t bother applying for disability insurance coverage, or if they do, they don’t prioritize it. This oversight could prove extremely costly, though. For evidence to that point, here are three reasons why you should rethink disability insurance today:
Time is a Factor
As with just about any insurance program, the sooner you enter into it, the lower you can expect your rates to be. True, every case is unique, but in general younger people will pay lower premiums than their older counterparts. This is why it’s essential for young professionals to look into disability insurance programs now and to demonstrate a modicum of foresight. If you plan on starting a family in the future, signing up for disability insurance now will guarantee you cover yourself in times of need and lock in the lowest rate possible. Sitting around and waiting will only end up costing you in the end –– one way or another.
“Disability” is a Fluid Term
You may be wondering: if I don’t work in a high-risk work environment, why do I need to invest in disability insurance? It’s a good question, to be fair. And the best answer is the fact that “disabled” means a great deal more than most people realize –– since different jobs require different levels of physical involvement. So what qualifies as “disabled” for one profession, might not for another. Think about doctors who utilize intricate equipment to perform surgery. If they then develop severe arthritis in their hands, they become unable to perform their duties as a result of physical disability. That’s why physician disability insurance is distinct from disability insurance for teachers, for example.
The Worst-Case Scenario
Of course, the most obvious reason why everyone should set aside some capital for disability insurance is the fact that the worst-case scenario without it hardly bears consideration. Indeed, if a person becomes physically unable to perform their job, it can then be extremely difficult –– if not impossible –– to support themselves. And that doesn’t even take into account the possibility of shouldering family-based financial burdens. Regardless of how substantial your emergency fund may be, it’s unwise to overlook disability insurance. In reality, paying a regular rate for disability insurance is a paltry amount when compared with the benefits it could provide one day. It’s never fun to think about calamity, but it’s irresponsible not to plan for it.
As we all know, as we age and our lives change. Our financial responsibilities and investment strategies change along with it.
In most cases, there are two truths to abide by. You have saved as much as you can and invest according to your risk tolerance, time horizon, and goals.
But what else is there? How do my financial life and my investment strategy change with time?
Starting career
Either you are just out of school or have been in the workforce for a few years. Regardless of which path you came from, there are two things on your list. Get rid of debt, or at least get it under control, and save for retirement.
There are several ways to plan for debt repayment.
Check out this post on paying off your debt, here.
Step two is saving for retirement. If the company you work for offers a retirement plan, sign up for it. Max out your contributions if you can, but at the very least, contribute enough to get the employer match (if it’s offered).
Also, open a Roth IRA. If you have a little extra, contribute some to a Roth IRA in addition to your workplace plan.
Your investments. Time is your best friend at this point. Most of your investment allocation should be focused towards growth. Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket, diversify among stocks and bonds.
Again, the majority (at least 70%) of your portfolio should be in stocks, in some form or another.
Starting family
If you’re like the average American, your family starts to form around your 30th birthday. Hopefully, you’ve got a good head start on paying down your debt and saving for your retirement. Continue on that path.
With a family, comes saving for your kid’s college education, as well as other expenses (house, car, etc.). Contribute a little every month to a 529 College Savings Plan. The funds within this account can be invested aggressively, similar to your allocation in your twenties.
Your retirement savings is still in a good spot. Similar to your twenties, regarding the stock and bond allocation.
One last thing, get some disability and life insurance. If you have people that count on you, you need to protect them.
High earning years
More than likely, this will be your forties and fifties. At this point in your life, the average American is in their peak earning years, so take advantage of that and increase your retirement savings.
This will also be the time that your kids either go off to college or enter the workforce. Congratulations (kind of) you are empty nesters. You no longer have a college education to save for. More can go towards your retirement.
More than likely, though, you will have miscellaneous expenses from your kids that you will continue to pay for.
Your investment strategy will change slightly. You are getting closer to retirement so it’s time to start protecting what you’ve saved. A little less in stocks and a little more in bonds. Think 60/40 or 50/50.
Near retirement
You are in the home stretch! At this point, your debts (including your house, hopefully) should be paid off. All assets and your retirement savings should be looking healthy.
Your investment allocation will be similar to the last section. Definitely 50/50 if not 40/60, stocks to bonds.
Retirement
Congratulations, you’ve made it to your retirement. This can be liberating for some, but for others, this is an emotional challenge.
You’ve spent the last 40 or so years saving for retirement and now you are expected to start spending it. This is very tough for a lot of people.
From my experience and in my opinion, you should retain some sort of activity. Something that gets you out of the house, something that forces you to socialize, and something that makes you use your brain.
Staying social and sharp mentally could add some extra time to your life.
Your investments should be conservative. At least 40/60, but the more conservative the better. And it’s usually not a bad idea to keep some of your savings in cash, for emergencies such as health expenses (which will certainly go up at this point).
You don’t have many or any, more chances to earn more money, so it’s very important that you protect what you’ve saved.
Conclusion
The above information can be very useful to the average person. Paying off your debt and making your retirement savings a priority is very important.
Unfortunately, there is a retirement savings crisis in America. People aren’t saving nearly enough for retirement. They are counting on other sources, like Social Security or pensions to fund their retirement.
This isn’t enough. You won’t receive enough from Social Security to support yourself and pensions are few and far between, nowadays. We all need to do a better job of saving.
This article was created for informational purposes only. The above items are not to be taken for personal financial advice. Please consult with a professional about your personal situation.
To learn more about retirement savings and investing, and for our disclosures, visit our website: www.crgfinancialservices.com.
If reading this blog post makes you want to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started.
Insurance can take many forms, but one of the most important and often most overlooked is life insurance.
If you have a family or anyone that relies on you to support them, you need life insurance. Even if you don’t have a family, getting coverage now when it’s less expensive is a better alternative than waiting until you have a family, needing coverage, and paying more for it.
There are several different types of life insurance, however, and you need to know what they are before you can select the one that meets your needs.
What are the different kinds?
What are the characteristics?
Which one should you buy?
Good question. I guess it all depends on what you are willing to pay and the features you want in an insurance policy.
In my opinion, life insurance should be viewed as any other type of insurance policy. You are paying for protection and that should be it.
If you want money to accrue in a cash value account, determine what it would cost for a whole life policy, compare that to the cost of a term life, and invest the difference between the two.
However, there are certain life insurance companies, usually the bigger, better-known ones, that have made dividend payments to whole life insurance customers.
Over the life of the policy, that dividend can grow large enough to where it actually pays your premium for you. But this isn’t the case with all customers and dividends are not guaranteed.
There are generally two things to consider when picking out a policy.
One, what are you looking for? Do you just want straight life insurance? Or are you looking for a few more features, like cash value or a chance for growth?
Two, what can you afford? Regardless, you should have some form of insurance coverage, especially if you have a family.
Conclusion
Life insurance is incredibly important. I stress this point even more if you have a family with people who count on you for support.
Consider each of the points illustrated above and choose the best form of insurance for your personal situation.
Life insurance product features and availability vary by state. Restrictions and limitations may apply. For federal income tax purposes, life insurance death benefits generally pay income tax-free to beneficiaries pursuant to IRC Sec. 101(a)(1). In certain situations, however, life insurance death benefits may be partially or wholly taxable. Please consult a financial professional for additional information. All guarantees are based on the claims-paying ability of the insuring company.
To learn more about life insurance and to view our disclosures, visit our site > www.crgfinancialservices.com.
If reading this blog post makes you want to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started.
It is probably fair to say that some business owners are not even aware that their company needs the sort of protection provided by general liability insurance and there can sometimes be some confusion or misconceptions relating to what is and what coverage it provides.
Here is an overview of what general liability insurance is all about, including a look at whether you need it and what sort of coverage would be right for your business.
Protecting your assets and more
In general terms, general liability insurance is designed to protect your company’s assets and provide a safety net when you are forced to pay for certain obligation and liabilities that would otherwise leave you financially exposed, such as some medical costs.
You can get a tailor-made cover that is specific to your type of business such as general liability insurance for contractors with a view to paying for the sort of cover that is relevant to your needs, although certain aspects of coverage will probably be similar across a range of policies available.
An example of how general liability insurance can protect your business would be a scenario where someone suffers an injury on your premises and files a claim for damages against your business.
Having the right liability insurance in place should cover the cost of your legal defense together with the settlement of an award made against you if the claim is successful.
Without having that peace of mind and level of protection from general liability insurance your business and assets could be exposed and financial losses could even put your ability to continue trading in jeopardy.
Difficult to predict
You might decide that the nature of your business or the level of diligence you apply to any work that you do should ensure that you are highly unlikely to face any sort of claim and therefore, don’t need any liability insurance.
It may well be the case that you trade for years without suffering any sort of financial loss or claim that could have been covered by insurance coverage but if a situation arises and you are left financially exposed, it could be a chastening monetary lesson that could have been avoided.
It is that element of uncertainty that may well tip the balance in favor of either arranging general liability insurance outright or adding it as a key element of your business owner’s policy.
If you do decide to add coverage to an existing policy make sure you check whether the terms and level of cover are adequate for your needs.
Know your limits
Every insurance policy you take out will contain details of the maximum amount the insurance company is prepared to pay out in respect of a liability claim.
It is essential that you understand and acknowledge these limitations as you may need to increase the payout amount if the standard figure is insufficient, although the insurer will want a higher premium and might not be prepared to increase their risk exposure.
How these limits work is fairly straightforward. If your business gets sued and is ordered to pay $500,000, for example, and your coverage is a maximum of $250,000, that means you are on the hook personally for the difference.
The case for contractors
Although there is a reasonable argument for most types of business to have the protection of general liability insurance behind them there are definitely certain industries and sectors that are potentially more prone to claims.
Construction is a case in point. It is a rightly perceived as a high-risk industry where there are numerous opportunities for an injury to occur where a claim might follow as a result of the incident.
If you are a contractor you should consider protecting your business against third-party injuries while you are working on someone’s premises or at their home and getting coverage so that you have protection against a claim made for damage to property too.
It would be wise to be aware of the threat of litigation and financial loss and one way of reducing that risk would be to arrange general liability insurance. Will the right coverage you should be able to go about your business in the knowledge that you have a financial backup plan if something goes wrong.
Seek out a professional opinion and quote for your business so that you can get the most appropriate coverage for your business and enjoy greater peace of mind once you have got general liability insurance.
I strive for healthiness in all areas of my life: physically, relationally, and financially. The signs of physical health and healthy relationships are obvious, but what about financial health? How do you truly know if you are on the right track financially? Enter: personal finance ratios. These are calculations that allow you to determine where your financial weaknesses are; once you know your score, you can then make changes to be on the right track. Here are some of the most important personal finance ratios that everyone should know.
Total debt to income ratio: Ideally 0%, but no more than 35% of monthly (net) income. Banks use this ratio to determine someone’s default risk on loans, especially mortgages. This would include all debt, such as mortgages, student loans, credit car payments, car loans, and personal loans. Most financial professionals consider student loans and mortgages as “good” debt and stress lowering at least the consumer debt, if nothing else.
Savings ratio: Between 10-20% of net income. This should be composed of your emergency fund, retirement fund, and college fund for children (if applicable.) Popular financial guru Dave Ramsey teaches that if you are working to pay off debt, you should have a basic emergency fund of $500-$1000 until you are debt-free, which I don’t necessarily agree with (I think it should be a bit higher.) He also teaches that you should wait to contribute to retirement once you are debt-free, which I also disagree with; if your employer offers a 401(k) match, to not contribute while you are paying off debt is like throwing away free money.
Housing ratio: around 25%-28% of net income. This would include not only rent/mortgage and utilities, but homeowners taxes, insurance, homeowners’ association fees, and money for ongoing home maintenance. If you live in an area with a higher cost of living, you may have to increase this amount slightly.
Liquidity ratio: Cash divided by monthly expenses. This is just a fancy term for “emergency savings.” In the event of an emergency, such as a job loss, how many months would you be able to stay current on your bills? Ideally, you would have a minimum 3-6 months’ of expenses available in liquid accounts, although I am more comfortable with 9-12 months’ emergency savings.
Solvency ratio: Net worth divided by total assets. Ideally your net worth would be 50% or more greater than your total assets. For someone who is just starting their career, this amount would be lower because most likely they have student loans and few assets, but as someone gets closer to retirement this amount should increase.
Being properly insurance is important because you never truly know what could happen in the future and want to be protected for anything that might happen.
Disability insurance amount: around 70% of your gross income. If you were somehow unable to work, you would need a way to pay your bills.
Homeowners’ and auto insurance: the cost of replacing them and the belongings inside. If something happened to your house or vehicle, you would also need a way to purchase new ones. Ideally, this would be by insuring them for the cost it would take to replace them. At minimum, you should insure them for their fair market value.
Life insurance: This one is a bit more complicated, because it depends on your life situation. For example, I’m a single woman with no kids, so I don’t need as much life insurance as my friends with kids. If you’re debt-free with a large chunk of money in savings, you won’t need as much insurance as a person with a mortgage