New Paper Evaluates Current State of Insurance Regulation and Its Future


The current state of the financial services industries and the role of the federal government in regulating these industries, including the insurance sector, continues to be a matter of debate in …

SourcedFrom Sourced from: Insurance Journal

Sphere: Related Content

Blog Traffic Exchange Related Websites
  • Homeowner Insurance - Shifting The Burden To The Florida Taxpayers In the ever changing debacle of homeowner insurance in Florida, comes yet another proposition being floated.  Pay Now Or After The Big One? outlines the gamble that some legislators would like to take as a solution to the insurance crisis.  Lawmakers are considering letting the Florida tax payers shoulder more of......
  • Patrick McEnroe, Roger Federer, Stanislas Wawrinka Patrick McEnroe, captain of the United States Davis Cup team may not be able to field his B team in the first round meeting to be held in Switzerland. With the chance for Roger Federer stepping into the arena March 6 through March 8. Federer is expressing interest thanks to......
  • Current Tennis in Review: Federer, Ivanovic, and Djokovic There's still a great deal to keep an eye on this fall, even though the Grand Slams have gone. Here are some of the current happenings, including the whereabouts of Roger Federer. Federer's Return? Federer decided to bail out of the Stockholm Open, raising quite a few eyebrows, especially when......
  • Devaluation of the College Degree If you graduated from college in the 70's or 80's, get ready to be extra proud of that degree. The next generation of college graduates will also be receiving degrees. But many of them won't be worth much compared to yours. I will explain.I have focused this week on the......
  • Buying a New Car to Save on Gas Mileage The other day I was working up an article at a local cafe when I overheard a couple discussing whether or not they should buy a new car to "save on gas." The wife made the comment, "I know we spend a lot on gas, but we don't have a......

The Need for Life Insurance – Just Ask Ann Landers


lifeinsurancenoexam.biz is holding its $100 Writing Contest to demonstrate the need for life insurance.  Entrants are writing about the impact of life insurance on family, friends, or clients.  If Ann Landers was still alive, we’re sure she would have loved this contest.  Take a look at some of her columns on the subject –

Here’s one column reprinted by Prudential entitled The Importance of Life Insurance.

And here’s a response to that letter.

Widower wishes he had prepared for the worst

Dear Ann Landers: I am a male reader who is very much interested in the letter signed “Finding My Way in Tampa.” The writer was saying how important it is to have life insurance. Please let your readers know that it is a good idea for a man to carry life insurance on his wife, whether or not she works outside the home.
Several years ago, my wife died of breast cancer, leaving me a widower at the age of 35. We had two children, 6 and 8 years of age. I did not have life insurance on my wife. Fortunately, I had enough savings to take care of the funeral and burial expenses without borrowing, but there wasn’t much left over.
I soon discovered I could not provide the stable home-life environment that my wife had supplied, and went through one child-care provider after another. I had to cut way back on my working hours, which did not endear me to my employer and co-workers when they had to pick up the slack. I became dependent on a lot of people for a long time.
My advice is this: Both spouses should get life insurance policies that will enable either one to maintain the independence and lifestyle he or she has today, in case tragedy strikes. It seems my experience with the untimely death of my wife is becoming all too common.
— J.A. in Pensacola, Fla.
Dear Pensacola: No one can sound a warning as effectively as someone who has “been there,” and you certainly have. The idea that a wife who is a homemaker should be covered by insurance may seem like a needless luxury, but you have pointed out that it could be a godsend. Thank you on behalf of all my readers who heard your wake-up call.

Take a look at another Dear Ann Landers about the importance of life insurance.
And here’s another-

Life insurance is money well spent

Dear Ann Landers:
I am a 48-year-old widow with four children.  My husband died suddenly of a heart attack last year.  Needless to say, this has been a very difficult time, but thanks to my husband’s loving foresight our family is doing well.
Throughout all the years of our marriage, in spite of tight budgets and financial difficulties, he maintained substantial life insurance policies on both his life and mine.  Even with my fulltime job, I would not have been able to manage had it not been for his insurance money.  At least our children’s grief over the death of their father was not compounded by the loss of their home and friends.
I am shocked by the number of women who have told me in confidence that they are concerned because their husbands have little or no life insurance.  They have two cars, a boat, and costly vacations.  They give their children music lessons, dancing lessons and orthodontic braces, but they ignore the possibility of what their children would do if the principal breadwinner were to die or become disabled.
Many people have small insurance coverage through their work and believe it is enough.  They need to wake up, Ann.  It cost me $15,000 just to bury my husband.  I’d hate to think of where I would be now if that dear man hadn’t loved us enough to make sure we were provided for after his death. – Carol in Martinez, Calif.
Dear Carol:

If ever there was a wake-up call, your letter is it.  Thank you for a letter that could make a big difference in the lives of my readers.  Reprint with permission

We hope you’ll write your about  your own experiences and enter lifeinsurancenoexam.biz “Why Life Insurance” Writing Contest.

Sphere: Related Content

Blog Traffic Exchange Related Websites
  • Parameters of spacing children Having one child is like having one child. Having two children is like having 3. The two children and the relationship between them. Having three kids is like having 6! The three children and the 3 different relationships between them. My cousin's wife found this out by experience when she......
  • Is Your Telephone Working for Your Competition? John P. had a problem. He just couldnt figure out what it was.Six months ago, he had started his own small business, working out of an office in his home. The first few months he did extremely well. People liked his service and his client list rapidly grew.Then everything......
  • please help me save my children from the dirty country of england? THE UK GOVERNMENT KILLED MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY CHILDREN WITH OUT ANY REMORSE? i am a US citizen. My ex wife is British citizen. I have two children. Several years ago, my ex wife's father passed away in the UK, and SHE WENT TO THE UK to mourn her father's......
  • Playing the Race Card WedNEWSday - September 2nd, 2009 by Jonah Goldberg A Deck Stacked with Race Cards What if America transcended race, and Barack Obama wasn’t invited? The question comes to mind as cries of racism grow ever louder among Obama’s supporters. No one should be surprised. Fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly,......
  • Smart Choices And Savings When Considering Life Insurance. Guest post by Charan Singh Every month almost one million Americans consider and purchase a new life insurance policy. In today’s economic environment, when consumers are often looking to reduce costs, what are the most affordable ways to protect a family? Life insurance is the foundation of a smart financial......

Lifeinsurancenoexam.biz Sponsors $100 “Why Life Insurance” Writing Contest


Lifeinsurancenoexam.biz announces its  “Why Life Insurance” Writing Contest to run through September 30th, 2009.

Life insurance is considered a necessity in today’s world by most financial experts. After all, what would happen to your family if you pass away and they no longer had your income for support?  In most cases it would mean economic disaster.  But merely explaining the need is not nearly as compelling as a real life example. That’s why Lifeinsurancenoexam.biz is sponsoring the “Why Life Insurance” Writing Contest.

Just describe how life insurance has impacted the lives of family, friends, or clients.  It can be any length.  Short is fine; the entries will be judged on how compelling the story is.  The winner will receive $100 through PayPal and their winning entry published on lifeinsurancenoexam.biz/blog.

Rules:

1. Entry must be posted on another blog or website.

2. Entry must begin with the following and include the 2 anchor links.Lifeinsurancenoexam.biz has asked the following – How has life insurance impacted the lives of family, friends, or clients?  Here is my story:”

3.  Enter by emailing info@lifeinsurancenoexam.biz with notice of your entry posting and url.

4. You may enter as often as you like.

5. Deadline is midnight, September 30, 2009

6. Entrants give permission to http://lifeinsurancenoexam.biz to use and reprint entries on their website and any other promotional materials.

7.  Judges decision is final.

Please contact info@lifeinsurancenoexam.biz with any questions.  Lifeinsurancenoexam.biz gives free, online life insurance quotes.  Get instant term life insurance or whole life insurance without an exam.

Sphere: Related Content

Blog Traffic Exchange Related Websites
  • Self Employed Health Insurance Options I received the following question about self employed health insurance, and because I know many of you are business owners, or blog full time, I hoped you could provide some real world help for a fellow reader looking for health insurance. Robert writes in with the following question: I was wondering if......
  • The Cambrian Explosion From Wikipedia: The Cambrian explosion was the seemingly rapid appearance of most major groups of complex animals around 530 million years ago, as evidenced by the fossil record. This was accompanied by a major diversification of other organisms. Before about 580 million years ago, most organisms were simple, composed of......
  • Packing to Hunt with the Family When you are planning on going on a family hunting trip, there are a number of things that you simply should not be leaving home without. It does not matter what type of game you are going for, there are some things that you really just cannot leave home without.......
  • Personal Finance Tipping Point Contest Winner In all there were 292 entries from comments, the secret phrase (PF Tipping Point), and articles written about your personal finance tipping point. It was real fun putting this all together and reading all of the comments and articles that were written. It's so inspirational to hear everyone's stories.......
  • Becoming Debt Free: Identifying the Why I write a lot about our goal of becoming debt free because at the present time it is my family's number one financial priority.  A number of my recent posts have been centered around the mechanics of getting out of debt, such as sharing strategies for repaying debt faster, earning......

BABY ON BOARD CHANGES INSURANCE NEEDS


New Parents Need to Get Smart on Coverage Options
KANSAS CITY, Mo., Aug. 4 /PRNewswire/ — A new baby touches every facet of a family’s life, including their finances. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, more babies are born in August than in any other month. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) suggests these steps to help new parents protect their growing family.
Health Insurance
– Understand your coverage before the baby arrives. Review coverage options and find out exactly how your health care plan handles the costs of a new baby. Remember to consider prenatal vitamins, prenatal and neo-natal screenings and tests, emergency procedures, delivery (C-section and traditional) and pediatric care. — Notify your insurer of your new baby. Make sure you are aware of the deadline and requirements to register your newborn with your health insurance company. Similarly, if you are adopting a child, consult your employer and health insurance provider for the requirements to obtain health insurance coverage in advance. For more information, check with your state insurance department at www.naic.org/state_web_map.htm. — Evaluate your options. If both parents have employee benefit options, compare the health insurance policies to see which one best fits the needs of your family. Review the co-pay amounts and different options carefully to see exactly what is covered – and what isn’t – for both parents and children. Most companies will allow you to make enrollment changes when a baby is added to the family. Check with the benefits administrator at your office about your options.
– Make use of tax advantages. Check to see if your employer offers a flexible spending account or health savings account (HSA). These plans allow you to set aside pre-tax dollars for medical expenses and child care.
Life Insurance
– Plan the contributions of both spouses. Consider covering both spouses with life insurance, even if one is not employed outside the home. In the event of the stay-at-home parent’s death, the insurance policy can help the surviving spouse with the financial necessities of the household. — Account for child care costs. In determining the amount of life insurance to purchase, take into account your full child care costs (housing, education, child care, medical needs, etc.), especially for children under five years old or for kids with special needs. — Understand the types of life insurance. Understanding your life insurance choices will help you weigh the costs and benefits of whole life versus term life insurance as part of your overall financial plan. — Whole life insurance. Whole life insurance policies build cash value and pay a death benefit, but are more expensive. If you can’t afford whole life insurance right now but think you may want it in the future, consider term life insurance with a conversion option that will let you change to a whole life policy for a fee when you are ready. — Term life insurance. Term life insurance offers death benefit protection for a specified time period. For example, term life insurance may be appropriate during your child-rearing years or while paying off a mortgage. Term life premiums increase as you age. Term life is typically less expensive in your younger years than permanent life insurance, which covers you for your entire life and typically has level premiums.
– Keep your policy current. Remember to update your policy to include your children as beneficiaries. If your children are under the age of 18, name a trustee who would administer the benefit of the policy until they are adults.
Automotive Insurance
– Check rates before upgrading vehicles. Auto insurance premiums are linked to vehicle age and type, so if you decide to get a larger vehicle, like a mini-van or SUV, to transport your family, it could affect your premiums.
– Plan for carpools. Consider increasing your liability insurance in case of an accident when transporting other kids.
Homeowners Insurance
– Notify your insurer of major additions. Alert your insurance company when making any major home improvements (usually anything over $5,000) to prevent being underinsured.
– Protect the backyard. Inform your insurance company if you install backyard items for kids, such as a swing set, trampoline or swimming pool. You may consider increasing your liability coverage – that protects you in the event that someone is injured while on your property – with an umbrella policy.
More Information
If you have questions or are confused about your insurance coverage, contact your state insurance department. Visit www.NAIC.org to find contact information for your state insurance department.
Get smart about your insurance needs! For more information about auto, home, life and health insurance options – as well as tips for choosing the coverage that is right for you and your family – visit www.InsureUonline.org .
August 2009
About the NAIC
Formed in 1871, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is a voluntary organization of the chief insurance regulatory officials of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories. The NAIC has three offices: Executive Office, Washington, D.C.; Central Office, Kansas City, Mo.; and Securities Valuation Office, New York City. The NAIC serves the needs of consumers and the industry, with an overriding objective of supporting state insurance regulators as they protect consumers and maintain the financial stability of the insurance marketplace. For more consumer information, visit insureUonline.org .
Contact: Monica Charleston, 312-233-1317, monica.charleston@edelman.com
SOURCE National Association of Insurance Commissioners
2009-08-04 08:00:00

Sphere: Related Content

Blog Traffic Exchange Related Websites
  • Dodging the Parental Boomeranger "What goes around, comes around." How many times have you heard that phrase used as a subtle threat or reminder of another's misbehavior? Boomeranger. That's a word that baby boomers invented to label - in a semi-demeaning sort of way - adult children who return to their parents'  home to......
  • Finding the Right Life Insurance Policy from ezinsurance.com.au: Making sure that you have a sufficient amount of life insurance is an important part of making sure the needs of your loved ones are met even in the worst situation. Learn why getting life insurance sooner rather than later is in the best interest of you and......
  • Comparing Life Insurance Policies pt 4 Speaking of Variable Universal Life Insurance… What are the disadvantages of this type of insurance? As we said before, if you experience a significant drop in the value of your insurance account, you could actually be putting your insurance policy in jeopardy. If you end up with a significant drop......
  • Comparing Life Insurance Policies pt 3 Speaking of Universal Life Insurance… What are the disadvantages of this type of insurance? Universal life insurance is generally much more expensive in comparison to term life insurance options. While some of these added costs are going to be going into your account in the form of a cash value......
  • Why the Type of Life Insurance you Buy Doesn't Matter This is a guest post by Aaron, the president of Clarifinancial – the only way to get custom life insurance quotes from multiple agents anonymously. Because they let real life insurance agents compete for you without any unwanted phone calls or emails from agents, choosing from the competition is a......