Insurance regulator IRDA, which has won its turf war with market watchdog SEBI over regulation of ULIPs, is expected to tighten norms for these schemes, including commission charges, to make them attractive for investors.
There would be stricter and stringent distribution norms, leading to lowering of commissions on the sale of such products, sources said.
Currently, commission charges are as high as 50 per cent of the first-year premium.
According to IRDA Chairman J Hari Narayan, it will frame new guidelines for these products to make them more attractive for policy holders.
At the same time, the regulator plans to come out with directives to improve the transparency element of such hybrid products, which involve both investment and insurance.
The regulator will also try and address the issue of increasing the lock-in-period and raising life cover.
More Details :- IRDA to make ULIPs investor-friendly
MY All Agents
Showing posts with label insurance consultants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label insurance consultants. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Insurers may unveil new unit-linked offerings
With the regulatory dispute over unit-linked insurance plans (ULIPs) behind them, insurance companies are gearing up to launch new ULIPs.
Most insurers had put on hold new launches after the Securities and Exchange Board of India, asked them to take its permission before launching such products.
“Many investors will now go ahead and invest in ULIPs. Insurance companies that had put on hold new products will now bring them out,” said Mr Nageswara Rao, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, IDBI Fortis Life Insurance. “We are also working on some new products”.
More Details :- Myallagents.com
Most insurers had put on hold new launches after the Securities and Exchange Board of India, asked them to take its permission before launching such products.
“Many investors will now go ahead and invest in ULIPs. Insurance companies that had put on hold new products will now bring them out,” said Mr Nageswara Rao, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, IDBI Fortis Life Insurance. “We are also working on some new products”.
More Details :- Myallagents.com
Lakshmi Vilas signs MoU with LIC
To achieve its ambitious growth plan, Lakshmi Vilas Bank (LVB) plans to take both the organic and inorganic route to grow, its Managing Director and CEO, Mr K.S.R Anjaneyulu, said. Speaking to the media after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Life Insurance Corporation of India for marketing the latter's product offerings through LVB's branch network, Mr Anjaneyulu said: “we will require capital to keep pace with our growth plans. We plan to enhance equity for the bank and its subsidiary.” He said he would be unable to divulge more details at this point as such issues would have to be cleared by the Board
More Details :-Myallagents.com
More Details :-Myallagents.com
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
LIC NEWS
Monday, June 14, 2010
Life insurers want tax relief for maturity proceeds to continue
Life insurers want tax relief for maturity proceeds to continue
The insurers have made a representation to the Government that the Exempt Exempt Exempt (EEE) method of computation should continue as against the Exempt Exempt tax (EET) method proposed in the Direct Taxes Code.
Insurance products are driven by tax benefits. The January-March quarter, which is the tax planning season, contributed 45-50 per cent of the total sales of the industry, said Mr Nageswara Rao, Chief Executive Officer, IDBI Fortis Life Insurance.
The domestic insurance industry is at a nascent stage and taxing the maturity proceeds as proposed by the Direct Taxes Code will adversely impact the life insurance business and the industry. It will discourage investors to invest in long-term savings as it may result in unjustified tax burden especially on those customers who do not avail themselves of the benefit under Section 80C, said Mr T.R. Ramachandran, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Aviva Life Insurance.
More details :-
| Life insurers want tax relief for maturity proceeds to continue |
Monday, May 17, 2010
How to Become a Federal Agent
How to Become a Federal Agent
LIC agent Become a Federal Agent
If you have specialized knowledge, let the authorities know about it. You can even travel to different places as an agentBeing a Special Agent
Special agents are often associated with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Well, this may be partly true since the said agency employs a great number of agents. However, you can also find federal agents in the Judicial, Legislative, and Executive branch. You can become a federal agent in the many independent agencies of the federal government. As a federal agent, it is your duty to investigate different crimes like robbery, murder, internal fraud, postal fraud, terrorism, and many others.
Everyday, a lot of people violate the law and it is your duty to investigate on these potential crimes. To become a federal agent, you can exhibit specialized knowledge. If you love traveling, you can use this passion by working with the Secret Service, State Department, Peace Corps, FBI, and other related agencies. Oftentimes, this will involve long working hours and you will be dealing with serious crimes. Are you willing to work for more or less fifty hours in a week? As you can see, the working hours are no joke but you can take advantage of the LEAP or Law Enforcement Availability Pay and 25% premium based on your salary. You can get around $50,000 annually aside from your basic pay. You also have a chance to travel to different countries especially when the job calls for it.
See More :- http://www.myallagents.com/How-to-Become-a-Federal-Agent/details.html
LIC agent Become a Federal Agent
If you have specialized knowledge, let the authorities know about it. You can even travel to different places as an agentBeing a Special Agent
Special agents are often associated with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Well, this may be partly true since the said agency employs a great number of agents. However, you can also find federal agents in the Judicial, Legislative, and Executive branch. You can become a federal agent in the many independent agencies of the federal government. As a federal agent, it is your duty to investigate different crimes like robbery, murder, internal fraud, postal fraud, terrorism, and many others.
Everyday, a lot of people violate the law and it is your duty to investigate on these potential crimes. To become a federal agent, you can exhibit specialized knowledge. If you love traveling, you can use this passion by working with the Secret Service, State Department, Peace Corps, FBI, and other related agencies. Oftentimes, this will involve long working hours and you will be dealing with serious crimes. Are you willing to work for more or less fifty hours in a week? As you can see, the working hours are no joke but you can take advantage of the LEAP or Law Enforcement Availability Pay and 25% premium based on your salary. You can get around $50,000 annually aside from your basic pay. You also have a chance to travel to different countries especially when the job calls for it.
See More :- http://www.myallagents.com/How-to-Become-a-Federal-Agent/details.html
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Winning With Mutual Funds
Winning With Mutual Funds
A mutual fund (called 'unit trust' in Asia) is an investment vehicle that pools money from many individual investors. A professional fund manager invests and manages these funds into stocks, bonds and other securities.
People usually invest in mutual funds because it is offers the advantage of broad diversification (it spreads your money over tens or hundreds of stocks to reduce risk) and professional management. However, do remember that as broad diversification reduces risks, it also reduces return.
First, here is the bad news. If you speak to most people who have invested in unit trusts in Asia (especially Singapore) or in mutual funds, most would report losing money or just earning measly returns of 2%-4%. In fact, in the year 2004, it was reported in the Straits Times that 559,000 Singaporeans lost $680 million by investing their CPF in these funds. By going to the largest unit trust distributor Asia, you can easily calculate that only 6% of unit trusts beat the S&P 500 over a ten-year period. What are the chances of you placing your bet on this 6%? Chances are you would have had lower returns that the index, while still having to pay those hefty sales charges and annual management fees.
How about the US mutual fund market? On average, less than 10% of mutual funds beat the S&P 500 index each year! What's worse is that it is a different 10% each year. Less than 3% of mutual funds are able to beat the S&P 500 Index over a five to ten year period. So again, what are the chances of you beating the market through betting on the right fund? Only 3%! You have better odds at the Black Jack table. The worse thing is that the fund manager gets paid an annual management fee whether or not the fund makes money.
Why is it so difficult for most people to make money in mutual funds? There are four main reasons.
1) High Sales Charges & Management Fees
Most people buy mutual funds through banks and financial institutions at retail prices where there is a sales charge (front load) and high annual management fees (expense ratios).
In Asia, most banks & financial institutions sell unit trusts with a sales charge of 5%-6% and with annual fees of 1.5%-2%. It means that before you even begin, you are down 6.5%-8% on your investment and will be down another 1.5% every year. Your fund must outperform the S&P 500 by 6.5%-8% just to make it worth your while! Again, less than 10% of funds worldwide can achieve this every year and less than 3% can achieve this over five years.
2) Buying the Hottest Performing Funds
Most people choose funds based on high short-term returns. These are the funds that are normally pushed and advertised by financial retailers. They feature impressive and enticing returns like 'This fund was up +65% in the last six months'.
The fact is that the best short-term performing funds tend to also be big losers in the subsequent years and long term. Why? Because these funds tend to be invested in hot stocks or hot sectors where the stocks have been rising rapidly and fund managers buy, riding on the momentum. That is why they post very spectacular returns. However, strong buying activity tend to push these stocks to be overvalued and sure enough, the stocks will come crashing down in the next few years. Mutual funds that consistently beat the S&P 500 tend to be invested in non-hot sectors and do not post spectacular short-term returns.
3) Limited Selection of Unit Trusts Locally
If you are in Asia, then you are normally exposed to only a limited number of unit trusts. A check with fundsupermart.com (the largest Asian unit trust distributor) shows that there are just about 300 funds available here compared to over 8,000 funds in the US market.
When I made a search on the Top Performing Fund sold locally (year 2005), I was presented with 'Fidelity America USD' with a 10-year annualized return of 11.27%. (Recall that the S&P 500 returned 12.08% a year). So, even the top-performing fund couldn't beat the S&P 500 after deducting expenses & fees!!
4) Lack of Research Knowledge, Data & Tools
The single most important reason why investors lose money in mutual funds
is because they don't have the knowledge or necessary information to search for the top 3% of consistent performing funds at the lowest costs. Investors tend to buy on the advice of their bank managers, facts from the fund fact sheet or prospectus which does not provide enough information to select the right fund.
A mutual fund (called 'unit trust' in Asia) is an investment vehicle that pools money from many individual investors. A professional fund manager invests and manages these funds into stocks, bonds and other securities.
People usually invest in mutual funds because it is offers the advantage of broad diversification (it spreads your money over tens or hundreds of stocks to reduce risk) and professional management. However, do remember that as broad diversification reduces risks, it also reduces return.
First, here is the bad news. If you speak to most people who have invested in unit trusts in Asia (especially Singapore) or in mutual funds, most would report losing money or just earning measly returns of 2%-4%. In fact, in the year 2004, it was reported in the Straits Times that 559,000 Singaporeans lost $680 million by investing their CPF in these funds. By going to the largest unit trust distributor Asia, you can easily calculate that only 6% of unit trusts beat the S&P 500 over a ten-year period. What are the chances of you placing your bet on this 6%? Chances are you would have had lower returns that the index, while still having to pay those hefty sales charges and annual management fees.
How about the US mutual fund market? On average, less than 10% of mutual funds beat the S&P 500 index each year! What's worse is that it is a different 10% each year. Less than 3% of mutual funds are able to beat the S&P 500 Index over a five to ten year period. So again, what are the chances of you beating the market through betting on the right fund? Only 3%! You have better odds at the Black Jack table. The worse thing is that the fund manager gets paid an annual management fee whether or not the fund makes money.
Why is it so difficult for most people to make money in mutual funds? There are four main reasons.
1) High Sales Charges & Management Fees
Most people buy mutual funds through banks and financial institutions at retail prices where there is a sales charge (front load) and high annual management fees (expense ratios).
In Asia, most banks & financial institutions sell unit trusts with a sales charge of 5%-6% and with annual fees of 1.5%-2%. It means that before you even begin, you are down 6.5%-8% on your investment and will be down another 1.5% every year. Your fund must outperform the S&P 500 by 6.5%-8% just to make it worth your while! Again, less than 10% of funds worldwide can achieve this every year and less than 3% can achieve this over five years.
2) Buying the Hottest Performing Funds
Most people choose funds based on high short-term returns. These are the funds that are normally pushed and advertised by financial retailers. They feature impressive and enticing returns like 'This fund was up +65% in the last six months'.
The fact is that the best short-term performing funds tend to also be big losers in the subsequent years and long term. Why? Because these funds tend to be invested in hot stocks or hot sectors where the stocks have been rising rapidly and fund managers buy, riding on the momentum. That is why they post very spectacular returns. However, strong buying activity tend to push these stocks to be overvalued and sure enough, the stocks will come crashing down in the next few years. Mutual funds that consistently beat the S&P 500 tend to be invested in non-hot sectors and do not post spectacular short-term returns.
3) Limited Selection of Unit Trusts Locally
If you are in Asia, then you are normally exposed to only a limited number of unit trusts. A check with fundsupermart.com (the largest Asian unit trust distributor) shows that there are just about 300 funds available here compared to over 8,000 funds in the US market.
When I made a search on the Top Performing Fund sold locally (year 2005), I was presented with 'Fidelity America USD' with a 10-year annualized return of 11.27%. (Recall that the S&P 500 returned 12.08% a year). So, even the top-performing fund couldn't beat the S&P 500 after deducting expenses & fees!!
4) Lack of Research Knowledge, Data & Tools
The single most important reason why investors lose money in mutual funds
is because they don't have the knowledge or necessary information to search for the top 3% of consistent performing funds at the lowest costs. Investors tend to buy on the advice of their bank managers, facts from the fund fact sheet or prospectus which does not provide enough information to select the right fund.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Insurance Policy.
Insurance Policy.
In insurance, the insurance policy is a contract (generally a standard form contract) between the insurer and the insured, known as the policyholder, which determines the claims which the insurer is legally required to pay. In exchange for payment, known as the premium, the insurer pays for damages to the insured which are caused by covered perils under the policy language. Insurance contracts are designed to meet specific needs and thus have many features not found in many other types of contracts. Since insurance policies are standard forms, they feature boilerplate language which is similar across a wide variety of different types of insurance policies.
Insurance Policy
Insurance Policy
The insurance policy is generally an integrated contract, meaning that it includes all forms associated with the agreement between the insured and insurer. In some cases, however, supplementary writings such as letters sent after the final agreement can make the insurance policy a non-integrated contract. One insurance textbook states that “courts consider all prior negotiations or agreements … every contractual term in the policy at the time of delivery, as well as those written afterwards as policy riders and endorsements … with both parties’ consent, are part of written policy”. The textbook also states that the policy must refer to all papers which are part of the policy. Oral agreements are subject to the parol evidence rule, and may not be considered part of the policy. Advertising materials and circulars are typically not part of a policy. Oral contracts pending the issuance of a written policy can occur.
General features
The insurance contract is a contract whereby the insurer will pay the insured (the person whom benefits would be paid to, or on the behalf of), if certain defined events occur. Subject to the “fortuity principle”, the event must be uncertain. The uncertainty can be either as to when the event will happen (i.e. in a life insurance policy, the time of the insured’s death is uncertain) or as to if it will happen at all (i.e. in a fire insurance policy, whether or not a fire will occur at all).
* Insurance contracts are generally considered contracts of adhesion because the insurer draws up the contract and the insured has little or no ability to make material changes to it. This is interpreted to mean that the insurer bears the burden if there is any ambiguity in any terms of the contract. Insurance policies are sold without the policyholder even seeing a copy of the contract.
* Insurance contracts are aleatory in that the amounts exchanged by the insured and insurer are unequal and depend upon uncertain future events.
* Insurance contracts are unilateral, meaning that only the insurer makes legally enforceable promises in the contract. The insured is not required to pay the premiums, but the insurer is required to pay the benefits under the contract if the insured has paid the premiums and met certain other basic provisions.
* Insurance contracts are governed by the principle of utmost good faith (uberrima fides) which requires both parties of the insurance contact to deal in good faith and in particular it imparts on the insured a duty to disclose all material facts which relate to the risk to be covered. This contrasts with the legal doctrine that covers most other types of contracts, caveat emptor (let the buyer beware). In the United States, the insured can sue an insurer in tort for acting in bad faith.
Structure
Early insurance contracts tended to be written on the basis of every single type of risk (where risks were defined extremely narrowly), and a separate premium was calculated and charged for each. This structure proved unsustainable in the context of the Second Industrial Revolution, in that a typical large manufacturer might have dozens or hundreds of types of risks to insure against.
In the 1930s, the insurance industry shifted to the current system where covered risks are initially defined broadly in an insuring agreement on a general policy form, then narrowed down by subsequent exclusion clauses. If the insured desires coverage for a risk taken out by an exclusion on the standard form, the insured can pay an additional premium for an endorsement to the policy that overrides the exclusion.
In insurance, the insurance policy is a contract (generally a standard form contract) between the insurer and the insured, known as the policyholder, which determines the claims which the insurer is legally required to pay. In exchange for payment, known as the premium, the insurer pays for damages to the insured which are caused by covered perils under the policy language. Insurance contracts are designed to meet specific needs and thus have many features not found in many other types of contracts. Since insurance policies are standard forms, they feature boilerplate language which is similar across a wide variety of different types of insurance policies.
Insurance Policy
Insurance Policy
The insurance policy is generally an integrated contract, meaning that it includes all forms associated with the agreement between the insured and insurer. In some cases, however, supplementary writings such as letters sent after the final agreement can make the insurance policy a non-integrated contract. One insurance textbook states that “courts consider all prior negotiations or agreements … every contractual term in the policy at the time of delivery, as well as those written afterwards as policy riders and endorsements … with both parties’ consent, are part of written policy”. The textbook also states that the policy must refer to all papers which are part of the policy. Oral agreements are subject to the parol evidence rule, and may not be considered part of the policy. Advertising materials and circulars are typically not part of a policy. Oral contracts pending the issuance of a written policy can occur.
General features
The insurance contract is a contract whereby the insurer will pay the insured (the person whom benefits would be paid to, or on the behalf of), if certain defined events occur. Subject to the “fortuity principle”, the event must be uncertain. The uncertainty can be either as to when the event will happen (i.e. in a life insurance policy, the time of the insured’s death is uncertain) or as to if it will happen at all (i.e. in a fire insurance policy, whether or not a fire will occur at all).
* Insurance contracts are generally considered contracts of adhesion because the insurer draws up the contract and the insured has little or no ability to make material changes to it. This is interpreted to mean that the insurer bears the burden if there is any ambiguity in any terms of the contract. Insurance policies are sold without the policyholder even seeing a copy of the contract.
* Insurance contracts are aleatory in that the amounts exchanged by the insured and insurer are unequal and depend upon uncertain future events.
* Insurance contracts are unilateral, meaning that only the insurer makes legally enforceable promises in the contract. The insured is not required to pay the premiums, but the insurer is required to pay the benefits under the contract if the insured has paid the premiums and met certain other basic provisions.
* Insurance contracts are governed by the principle of utmost good faith (uberrima fides) which requires both parties of the insurance contact to deal in good faith and in particular it imparts on the insured a duty to disclose all material facts which relate to the risk to be covered. This contrasts with the legal doctrine that covers most other types of contracts, caveat emptor (let the buyer beware). In the United States, the insured can sue an insurer in tort for acting in bad faith.
Structure
Early insurance contracts tended to be written on the basis of every single type of risk (where risks were defined extremely narrowly), and a separate premium was calculated and charged for each. This structure proved unsustainable in the context of the Second Industrial Revolution, in that a typical large manufacturer might have dozens or hundreds of types of risks to insure against.
In the 1930s, the insurance industry shifted to the current system where covered risks are initially defined broadly in an insuring agreement on a general policy form, then narrowed down by subsequent exclusion clauses. If the insured desires coverage for a risk taken out by an exclusion on the standard form, the insured can pay an additional premium for an endorsement to the policy that overrides the exclusion.
Friday, April 16, 2010
How to Become an Insurance Agent
A successful insurance agent must be an excellent salesperson with an outgoing personality. The agent must also possess superior mathematical skills and constantly keep up-to-date on any changes within the Insurance Industry.
Familiarize yourself with the insurance field. Life, health, property and liability insurance are the areas in which most agents currently work.
Step 2
Receive a bachelor's degree in business or economics. Insurance companies prefer to hire individuals whose academic background includes courses in finance, math, accounting, economics, business and public speaking.
Step 3
Become proficient with the computer software used by the insurance industry.
Step 4
Work part time for an insurance agency while you're in college. Ask your guidance counselor if there are any agencies in your area that have training programs for college students.
Step 5
Expect to take your state's exam for the mandatory insurance license after an agency hires you. Classes for the exam are offered in pre-licensing schools of insurance agents associations and in offices of some insurance companies. Make sure you will meet all the licensing requirements of your state.
Step 6
Be prepared to take continuing education classes for years to come. Many states require these on a regular basis.
Step 7
Obtain certification to further your advancement within the industry. By taking intensive courses and examinations after you have had considerable experience as an agent, you can obtain the highly respected designation of Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter.
Instructions
Step 1Familiarize yourself with the insurance field. Life, health, property and liability insurance are the areas in which most agents currently work.
Step 2
Receive a bachelor's degree in business or economics. Insurance companies prefer to hire individuals whose academic background includes courses in finance, math, accounting, economics, business and public speaking.
Step 3
Become proficient with the computer software used by the insurance industry.
Step 4
Work part time for an insurance agency while you're in college. Ask your guidance counselor if there are any agencies in your area that have training programs for college students.
Step 5
Expect to take your state's exam for the mandatory insurance license after an agency hires you. Classes for the exam are offered in pre-licensing schools of insurance agents associations and in offices of some insurance companies. Make sure you will meet all the licensing requirements of your state.
Step 6
Be prepared to take continuing education classes for years to come. Many states require these on a regular basis.
Step 7
Obtain certification to further your advancement within the industry. By taking intensive courses and examinations after you have had considerable experience as an agent, you can obtain the highly respected designation of Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter.
Insurance Agent: Career Information
Job Description of Insurance Agents:
Insurance agents, who may be referred to as insurance sales agents, help clients choose insurance policies that suit their needs. Clients include individuals and families as well as businesses. Captive agents work for an insurance company, and only sell that company's products. Independent insurance agents, or brokers, represent several companies. Types of insurance include property and casualty, life, health, disability, and long-term care insurance. Many insurance agents also sell mutual funds, variable annuities and other securities.
Employment Facts for Insurance Agents:
Insurance agents held about 436,000 jobs in 2006. About half of them worked for insurance agencies and brokerages and about 23 percent worked for insurance carriers. More than a quarter of all insurance agents were self-employed.
Educational Requirements for Insurance Agents:
Employers prefer to hire insurance agents who have college degrees, particularly in business or economics. They might consider hiring a high school graduate who has proven sales ability.
Insurance agents, who may be referred to as insurance sales agents, help clients choose insurance policies that suit their needs. Clients include individuals and families as well as businesses. Captive agents work for an insurance company, and only sell that company's products. Independent insurance agents, or brokers, represent several companies. Types of insurance include property and casualty, life, health, disability, and long-term care insurance. Many insurance agents also sell mutual funds, variable annuities and other securities.
Employment Facts for Insurance Agents:
Insurance agents held about 436,000 jobs in 2006. About half of them worked for insurance agencies and brokerages and about 23 percent worked for insurance carriers. More than a quarter of all insurance agents were self-employed.
Educational Requirements for Insurance Agents:
Employers prefer to hire insurance agents who have college degrees, particularly in business or economics. They might consider hiring a high school graduate who has proven sales ability.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
The Role of Insurance in Your Financial Plan
1.The Role of Insurance in Your Financial Plan
Insurance is an important element of any sound financial plan.Different types of insurance protect you and your loved ones in different ways against
the cost of accidents, illness, disability, and death.
2.What Are Your Insurance Needs?
The insurance decisions you make should be based on your family, age, and economic situation. There are many forms of insurance and, unfortunately, no one-size-fits-all policy. Life insurance, for example, is a virtual necessity if you have a spouse and children, but perhaps is less important for a single person. Disability insurance, which provides an income stream if you are unable to work, is important for everyone.
3.Auto Insurance
Auto insurance protects you from damage to the often considerable investment in a car and/or from liability for damage or injury caused by you or someone driving your vehicle. It can also help cover expenses you or anyone in your car may incur as a result of an accident with an uninsured motorist.
Auto liability coverage is necessary for anyone who owns a car. Many states require you to have liability insurance before a vehicle can be registered. However, state-required minimum coverage often does not provide adequate protection. Suggested minimums are $100,000 for medical expenses per injured person, $300,000 for the total per accident, and $50,000 for property damage. Collision, fire, and theft coverage is also advisable for a vehicle having more than minimal value. You can cut costs, however, by choosing a higher deductible -- the amount of loss that must be exceeded before you are compensated.
The cost of auto insurance varies greatly, depending on the company and agent offering it, your choice of coverage and deductible, where you live, the kind of vehicle, and the ages of drivers in the family. Substantial discounts are often available for safe drivers, nonsmokers, and those who commute to work via public transportation.
Insurance is an important element of any sound financial plan.Different types of insurance protect you and your loved ones in different ways against
the cost of accidents, illness, disability, and death.
2.What Are Your Insurance Needs?
The insurance decisions you make should be based on your family, age, and economic situation. There are many forms of insurance and, unfortunately, no one-size-fits-all policy. Life insurance, for example, is a virtual necessity if you have a spouse and children, but perhaps is less important for a single person. Disability insurance, which provides an income stream if you are unable to work, is important for everyone.
3.Auto Insurance
Auto insurance protects you from damage to the often considerable investment in a car and/or from liability for damage or injury caused by you or someone driving your vehicle. It can also help cover expenses you or anyone in your car may incur as a result of an accident with an uninsured motorist.
Auto liability coverage is necessary for anyone who owns a car. Many states require you to have liability insurance before a vehicle can be registered. However, state-required minimum coverage often does not provide adequate protection. Suggested minimums are $100,000 for medical expenses per injured person, $300,000 for the total per accident, and $50,000 for property damage. Collision, fire, and theft coverage is also advisable for a vehicle having more than minimal value. You can cut costs, however, by choosing a higher deductible -- the amount of loss that must be exceeded before you are compensated.
The cost of auto insurance varies greatly, depending on the company and agent offering it, your choice of coverage and deductible, where you live, the kind of vehicle, and the ages of drivers in the family. Substantial discounts are often available for safe drivers, nonsmokers, and those who commute to work via public transportation.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)