Wednesday 10 August 2011

Comparing The Forex With Investing In Insurance


Investing in Forex is more risky but the gains that can be achieved are a lot larger than insurance, although insurance is a very good long term investment.

While there are innumerable kinds of life insurance available, they can be simplified into two general types: those that insure against death only and those that not only insure against death but make a provision for savings in addition to insuring. The first type is called term insurance.

It pays off only in the event of death. While it is worth nothing to the individual himself, since he never gets his hands on any of the money that went to pay the premiums, it does generally provide the maximum death benefits per dollar of premiums at the younger ages. Its sole purpose is to insure against death. As its name implies, it is written for a term—1, 5, 10, 20, 25 or 30 years—and if the term expires before the insured dies, that is that. There are no more premiums due and he gets nothing from the insurance company except the right to renew the policy for a longer term and/or the right to convert the policy to permanent insurance without a medical examination.

Policies other than term insurance cost more than term insurance initially and the additional premium provides essentially one thing savings for the person insured. Now the main question to answer from an investor's point of view is, "What do I get for this additional premium in the way of a return on my money?"

If a ten-year term policy is purchased the average net cost per $1,000 is $3.91 per year, and if a 20-year term policy is purchased the average net cost is $3.82. It gradually goes down according to the length of the policy, but if term insurance were bought each year, for just one year, the annual rate would be higher with each renewal since the older a person is the greater the likelihood of his death.

If he waits until he gets to age 55 the cost of term insurance rises tremendously. A five-year term policy at age 55 costs $21.85 per $1,000 and a ten-year policy $23.26. Term insurance usually may be maintained only until the insured is age 65. Thus, if a man kept term insurance to age 65, but died at age 66, his beneficiaries would get nothing and all of the premiums he had paid for this insurance would go down the drain.

These policies all provide nothing in the way of savings and there is no return on your money that you, the insured, will ever get. Your beneficiaries will get the face of the policy at your demise.

In contrast to term insurance there is permanent insurance. This is insurance that may be kept as long as the insured wishes to keep it. If the insured lives, he has built up a substantial cash value in his policy which he may take in cash or as income or which he may leave with the insurance company as "paid up" insurance.

The most popular form of permanent life insurance is convertible whole life insurance, sometimes called ordinary life or straight life.

Convertible life requires the lowest premium of all permanent insurance plans. Premiums may be paid on this policy as long as the insured lives or for a shorter period of time depending upon the objective of the insured.

Permanent insurance has a level annual premium for the duration of the premium paying period. The annual premiums in the early policy years are in excess of the actual premium needed to cover the risk. The excess premium is called the reserve and it is this reserve, together with interest earned on the reserve plus future earnings, which provide the cash needed to pay death claims in the later years.

If we consider that the 20-year term rate is the pure cost of insurance, and that the difference between this rate and the straight life rate represents the savings element of his premiums, you determine this savings element by subtracting $3.82 from $17.70, which equals $13.88. Over 20 years this savings element amounts to $277.60. For this total of $277.60 put in in premiums, $403.94 was collected—a profit of $126.34 over 20 years, or $6.31 per year.

The $277.60 was not put in all at once, but over a period of 20 years. Nothing was invested at the beginning of the 20-year period, and in the twentieth year the whole sum was invested, so that the average investment for the period was halfway between nothing and $277.60—$138.80. The return on this figure is the true return, and $6.31 per year on $138.80 is a little under 5%.

Let us consider the Retirement Income policy at 65, bought by a person 25 years old. Over a period of 40 years, he puts in $30.92, the annual premium, times 40, or $1,236.80. If the average net cost of the pure insurance feature is assumed at $7.79 per annum and the cost is subtracted from the total annual premium of $30.92, we get the investment in the savings element of the insurance, $23.13 times 40, or $925.20. For these invested savings the insured gets back $2,326.81 at age 65-40 years later-a profit of $1,401.61.

If we use the same reasoning in regard to the average amount invested over the period (one half of $925.20), we arrive at an investment of $462.60. The profit or return per year is determined by dividing the total profit of $1,401.61 by 40 years and we get $35 per year. This $35 represents a return on the investment of $462.60, or 7½% per year.

How good an investment is this $462.60 that grows to $2,326.81 in 40 years? It is almost identical with an investment of $462.60 which returns 4% per year if the 4% is left in the investment to be compounded annually. The discrepancy between the 7½% per year and the 4% is explained by compounding.

The 4% compounded is not a bad yield. It is roughly equal to the return of an insured building and loan association in the year 1962, but not as good as the better yielding ones.

Now the characteristic of the Retirement Income policy is that premium payments end at age 65. The insured is now entitled to $2,326.81 if he left his dividends in.

Further, the insured can have his $1,597 (due him if he took his dividends out) paid to him and/or his heirs at the rate of about $10.00 per month for 157 months (a full refund). If he is still living at the end of the 157 months, the insured would continue to receive $10.00 per month for the balance of his lifetime.

If desired, an alternate amount or alternate type of annuity could be selected.

In addition to the guaranteed amounts, there would, of course, be dividend income payable each month in accordance with the company practice. The present income dividend is about 10% extra per month.

All of the above income would be tax-favored as compared to ordinary investment income.

The income or annuity return per $1,000 of accumulated cash in the insurance policy is guaranteed by contract as of the date of issue for future delivery. It is interesting to note that the cost of an annuity at 65 has been increased seven times in the last 20 years as the science of geriatrics has prolonged life.

There is one type of policy which represents the savings element alone and does not provide the insurance element. This is the annuity. You make a cash payment early in life, or periodic payments throughout your life, in order to get an income when you retire or pass a certain age.

At age 25, for an annual premium of $100 for 40 years, you can get (a) $8,201.47 in cash at age 65 or (b) monthly payments of $51.34 for the rest of your life.

You have invested in 40 years 40 times $100 or $4,000, and at age 65 this has grown to $8,201.47. It has better than doubled.

To find the average annual return, we determine the profit ($8,201.47 less $4,000) which equals $4,201.47 and divide this by 40 to get an annual profit of $105.

The average investment is halfway between zero and $4,000 and is equal to $2,000. The annual return is thus $105 divided by $2,000, or 5¼%. This represents considerably less than 4% compounded annually.

If the option of $51.34 per month is selected instead of the sum total of $8,201.47, it takes between 13 and 14 years to exhaust the total, and if you live longer than this number of years, you have come out ahead.

Most other policies provide savings, and the return on these savings is what we are concerned with here. While the yield on the savings is low it must be pointed out that by entering into an insurance contract the insured is forced to save what he might otherwise spend. A second advantage in buying policies other than term policies is that if the insured falls on hard times these policies are worth something in cash to help tide him over; and if he can't keep up the premiums there is a cash reserve to pay premiums for awhile. If term insurance premiums cannot be met the policy lapses.

One insurance company took what it considered to be a typical year as regards death claims and determined what the insured's family got back in relation to what was paid. It determined that the average insured who was paid off that year collected $1.75 for every $1.00 put into premiums, and the average number of years each policy had been in force at the time of death was 22.6. The return was 4% per year, and the insurance company points out that the 4% return was tax free in that no income tax was taken out either as the policy went along or when final payment was made. This 4% equals 8% in income for a person in the 50% tax bracket.

The return on the savings element of life insurance can be determined by reference to the attached table. The major types of policy have been compared for ages 25, 40 and 55 as to annual premium, value of the policy in cash at different ages and monthly payments which can be received from age 65 to the end of one's life.

Two of the greatest benefits of life insurance depend on: (1) inheritance taxes and (2) the uncertainty as to when the insured will die. These factors are not related directly to return on investment but cannot be minimized in any consideration of life insurance.

Long term it is very difficult to lose money if not impossible and the returns can be good.

The Forex is more risky but you can limit your risk by using good Forex software.


Choosing Between Term And Universal Life Insurance


Surely anyone who has been in the market to purchase a life insurance policy has run into the confusing array of plans available. The following will give you a brief summary on two of the most popular life insurance coverage choices: Choosing between term or universal life.

Term Life Insurance

The first thing to understand is that term life insurance is known as “pure” insurance. That means that term life is straight life insurance and does not build any cash value. You can buy this coverage for a certain amount of years, known as the “term,” and once the term is over you may either renew the policy for another set amount of time or simply walk away. The advantages of term life insurance is that it is the least expensive life insurance policy because it serves no other purpose other than to give your beneficiaries peace of mind knowing they are financially protected in the event of your untimely death. It is basic and to the point. To get more information on term life insurance visit http://www.equote.com/li/termlifeinsurance.html.

Universal Life Insurance

Universal life insurance is a type of permanent life insurance. Permanent life insurance policies offer death benefits and a "savings account." Unlike term life policies, permanent policies build cash value.  The advantage of buying a permanent type of life insurance is that if the insured outlives the initially established term, they will be reimbursed some of--often more than--the amount set on the original premium. To learn more about universal life insurance visit http://www.equote.com/li/universallifeinsurance.html.

In addition, universal life insurance policies are known as the flexible policy because you are allowed to vary your life insurance premium payments as well as adjust the face value of your coverage. Keep in mind that you must maintain enough premium payments so that the cash value on your account does not drop below the charges against your account. The more you put into this account the higher your cash value will be for future use. Universal life policies will have higher life insurance rates because it also serves as an investment vehicle.

Choosing Between Term and Universal Life Insurance?

There are a few things to consider when deciding to choose between term life insurance and a universal or permanent life insurance policy. For example, term life insurance is really a good choice for those who may have limited funds and not many responsibilities. Usually younger people choose term life insurance because they have a lower risk of dying in the immediate future. Younger investors feel that they can have the best of both worlds: coverage for themselves and their young families while also being able to use the money they save on cheaper insurance for other investments or assets.

While term life insurance seems to be a relatively short period solution, permanent or universal life insurance coverage is more advantageous for those who have built more assets and accumulated more money. A universal life insurance policy can be tapped into as a retirement account to allow for “golden years” enjoyment.

The best thing to do is contact your financial advisor for current life insurance rates on both term and universal life. Your financial advisor can also assist you in deciding which life insurance policy would best suit your current needs as well as forecast what might be needed in the future. To read more about term life insurance and universal life insurance go to http://www.equote.com/li/universalvsterminsurance.html.


Car Accidents Claims And Insurance


If you are not sure of your rights in a car accident that you have been involved in, you should consider consulting the best lawyer possible. You can rest assured that the insurance company will have lawyers to represent them.

Your claim is very important and you should not take it for granted especially if you have encountered a serious injury in a car accident. Claims vary differently depending on the type of injuries sustained. Severe injuries are generally classed as: losing an arm, fractured bones or losing any part of the body.

If you have been hospitalized for a long period of time, you should be entitled to a higher level of compensation. If you are unable to work because of disabilities you may be eligible for a lifelong compensation. The compensation for a disabled person will normally take into account the beneficiaries of the victim. He will also get the income he earns in a year.

Sometimes, being handicapped allows for the full compensation in filing for a claim. In order to get the compensation, you must choose the best lawyer who will not take advantage of you and your rights as a victim. Sometimes, the law takes advantage of the disabled person and of those who are not aware of the rules.

Claims and compensation will consider the nature and the duration of injuries. If you have recovered from the injuries in days, you will get a smaller compensation compared to severe injuries which might take a month or longer in the hospital to heal. You should not worry about the expenses because you will rightfully get your compensation as long as the case is adjudicated. Pain, suffering, and disability are all measured in determining a rightful compensation.

In considering your car’s insurance, make sure that you know what your insurance covers. Dealing with the accident requires investigation to know who is at fault, and to find out if the other party is required to give compensation to the victim. An accident lawyer is perfect for this situation. You might not be familiar with the rules of filing for a claim, but a lawyer will be.

The law requires car insurance intended for public use. So it is better to find out if your car is insured and the consequences that you may face should you have an accident. It is important to make sure that the statements that you are going to give to your insurance company are correct so that the claim will be handled accordingly.

If you don’t want to face these complications and procedures make sure that you are confident in your driving and knowledge. Car accidents are not be easy to deal with because they can be quite complicated. What is important is that you be given the right compensation for anything you have lost.


Buying Long Term Care Insurance


There was a time when buying long term care insurance was fairly easy and pretty cut and dry. Times have changed for this particular type of insurance and anyone considering buying it would do well to spend some time investigating carriers and coverage levels as well as premiums.

Generally speaking, the cost for a nursing home resident today is about $71,000 annually, which works out to around $200 a day. The cost for non-resident, assisted living comes in at around $32,000 a year, or $88 dollars a day. In both cases, that is a lot of money over the course of time.

The major reason people want to buy long term care policies is so they can protect their assets in the event they need to pay for nursing home occupancy, assisted living expenses, or home care expenses. Those who do not have this type of insurance are often forced to liquidate their assets in order to get the care they need. For many people this means selling the home, cashing in on retirement funds, and depleting savings accounts.

On average, if you have more than $300,000 in personal assets, you may want to look into long term care insurance as a means of protecting yourself.

The age in which you purchase these types of policies is important. A person who is fifty-years-old may pay $2,000 for a policy, while a seventy-year-old may end up paying as much as $8,000 or more for the same policy.

Your physical condition is also important. If you suffer from certain forms of mental conditions such as schizophrenia or dementia, or if you are wheelchair bound, you may not even be able to get coverage. All in all, the younger you are when you get the policy and the better your health, the lower your premiums will be.
The truth is there are fewer companies offering this type of insurance today than there were some years ago. At one time there were over one hundred companies offering long term care policies, now there are only five or six.

If you believe that you need this insurance, you should try to get coverage only with a well-established company that has a history of being in business for at least fifteen years and has faithfully served its long term care policyholders.

You will also need to check and make sure that the company has not had to raise its premiums drastically. These increases in premiums often occur when companies begin to pay out on policies that they wrote years ago and that they did not accurately price. Your state insurance commission can also help you in deciding what fair pricing is in your region as well as inform you on any current regulations that pertain to long term care insurance.

Researching what your options are in long term care insurance will take time, so the sooner you begin the better. You should not sign up for any plan until you have had time to look into several plans. As an added precaution, you may want to speak with a reputable financial planner to get some tips on how to best approach this time of life.

Better Deals For Life Insurance Policyholders


It was announced in May this year that the industry regulator the Financial Services Authority are asking for better treatment for those who hold life insurance policies in the UK and those who wish to purchase life insurance cover. It seems that some advisers selling life insurance policies are giving consumers very poor advice regarding the product, both before the sale has taken place and after.

In an insurance sector briefing issued by the FSA, it said that the after sales care when it comes to life insurance was seen as being very poor with some consumers thought not to have been treated fairly. There are also concerns over the quality of the product that some consumers are getting. Sarah Wilson who is director and sector leader of the Financial Services Authority insists that the findings where significant and that consumers should be able to be make the right choices when it came to purchasing the product.

The report said that consumers currently cannot make the right choice for themselves regarding their profits policy, because they simply don't have the necessary information by which to do that. Consumers can be given very poor information before and after they have been sold a policy, which then leaves them unsure about what they have paid for and have actually bought.

In response to this and to try and rectify the situation the Financial Services Authority are asking those that sell the insurance to take more time out to make sure the consumer is more aware of the product they are purchasing. If the product isn't understood then it needs to be clearly explained in jargon the consumer understands.

Sales of the product clearly need to be assessed with staff making sure the consumer understands the performance of the policy and the features of the product.

If the sales techniques and advice given in general about the product isn't stepped up to ensure the consumer understands the product, then the Financial Services Authority are insisting they will start to hand out fines as a way of dealing with those advisor's and companies who don't put the consumers best interests first.

The Independent newspaper has said that the Association of British Insurers have welcomed this with open arms and accepted the Financial Services Authorities recommendation when it comes to consumer satisfaction regarding their life insurance policy.

Auto Coverage Analyzer


Buying a car means taking a well thought out decision. However, sometimes taking a well-thought, wise decision gets difficult. This is even more so, when it involves a big investment decision like buying car and insuring it. One wrong decision and you might end up in a financial soup. Once you have already bought a car or you have owned a car for sometime now, it is time for getting it insured.

<b>Factors</b>

Now, when we come to think of car or for that matter any auto insurance there are quite a few factors that have to be considered before settling for a particular market offer. Analyzing these factors would determine which auto insurance policy suits your needs the best. Or else you might end up paying too high premium or not taking enough coverage for your automobile. First of all one has to consider what is the purpose of owning it. Whether it is for personal use, used as public transport such as private taxi, or used in transportation of heavy duty or light duty industrial goods or is it put to some other use. Age is also a major consideration. Old vehicles have to pay higher premium as compared to the new one. Type and model of the vehicle also play a major role. Like wise there are N number of factors that need to be checked out.

<b>Getting The Right Insurance</b>

When you buy auto insurance online there are large numbers of sites that offer auto insurance on each site there are quite a few number of market offers. This makes online shopping for the right kind of auto insurance a tedious task. However, there are some sites that provide automated tools that assist you in determining what kind of auto insurance would work the best for you and how much coverage do you need. These tools or auto coverage analyzer can go a long way in helping you save a whole lot of money on auto insurance.

Wrong auto insurance would leave you paying amounts that are too high and paying extra for coverage you may not need. On the other hand, if you choose amounts that are too low, you risk being uncovered in case of an accident. Thus, whether you're shopping for new auto insurance or renewing your existing policy, Auto Coverage Analyzer can help you make the right coverage choices. All you have to do is answer a few question about your financial standings and your automobile conditions, price tag, coverage needs etc and the auto coverage analyzer would automatically generate coverage category wise auto policy value recommendations and explanation as to why is it needed.

All About Life Insurance Settlements

Life insurance settlements refer to the amount of money your beneficiary receives after you die. The life insurance company pays the settlement based on the amount you have paid for with the premiums of the policy. Life insurance settlements are usually only paid out after your death and there are several types of life insurance policies you can choose from.

Term life insurance pays out the life insurance settlements only if you die during the term of the policy. You can choose 5, 10, 15, and 20-year policies and it is even possible to get a 30 year life insurance with this type. Whole life insurance on the other hand covers you for your whole life and the settlement is paid out whenever you die.

With changes to the life insurance industry, you can now enjoy life insurance settlements prior to your death. You can sell your policy back to the company for a lump sum settlement at a discounted value. This is particularly good if you find yourself in financial difficulty and the settlement from the life insurance will help you out. With senior life insurance it is also advantageous because the senior may want to cash out the policy and purchase a better one.

It is also possible to get a life insurance settlement of a higher amount. Depending on the policy you choose, you can liquidate an older policy that has added to the value over the years. This puts you in a very good financial situation.

With senior life insurance, the policy provides peace of mind for the older citizens that do not want to burden their families with the cost of funeral expenses. There are usually relaxed requirements and additional benefits as well as having life insurance settlements paid out after their death.

Usually a medical exam is required for senior life insurance and the result of this exam determines the cost of the insurance. There are different premiums for differing amounts of life insurance settlements. If you just want a burial insurance, the life insurance settlement will cover the funeral expenses. This is often the type of life insurance that people with disabilities and terminal illnesses choose. Whatever your circumstances, you can’t afford to be without life insurance because of the expenses incurred by those left behind.

Life insurance settlements are an important event, and the reason you take out life insurance.