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	<title>Accumulating Money &#187; Insurance</title>
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	<link>http://www.accumulatingmoney.com</link>
	<description>Because wealth is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons.</description>
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		<title>When Should You Buy Life Insurance?</title>
		<link>http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/when-should-you-buy-life-insurance/</link>
		<comments>http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/when-should-you-buy-life-insurance/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 04 Dec 2011 17:29:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Clint</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Money 101]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/?p=1564</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Life insurance is designed to protect your loved ones from an economical loss resulting from the unexpected death of an earning member. In other words, if you have loved ones or are likely to have loved ones who are financially dependent on you, life insurance is not something you should put aside. Life insurance is one of the most practical ways of saying how much you love and care for your family and they’re likely to remember you long after you’re gone.</p>
<p>Take for instance the story of Mary Rose. Her husband died young when their children were just 5 and 3. His life insurance policy (provided by his workplace) was just enough to cover funeral expenses. But Mary learnt an important lesson as she re-joined the workforce and began earning in order to provide for herself and her two kids. She decided to buy the maximum amount of life insurance coverage she could afford. Two years later, Mary contracted cancer. She used her accelerated death benefits to pay off her mortgage and put aside a <a href="http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/529-college-savings-plans-for-the-win/">college fund</a> for both her children. Today, Mary’s children live securely with their grandmother in the house that Mary paid for. Both the children have passed out of college in flying colors and enjoy well-paid jobs. </p>
<p>There are certain stages in your life which should remind you to <a href="http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/why-you-need-to-purchase-life-insurance/">buy life insurance</a> or make sure you have enough coverage </p>
<p><strong>Right now.</strong> Death is uncertain and there’s no telling when it may strike and to whom, which is why most life insurance experts will tell you that the best time to buy life insurance is now—the present. It’s not something you want to procrastinate on since your loved ones are depending on you to make this crucial decision. </p>
<p><strong>Getting married.</strong> Being married means that you now share financial obligations together. Discuss a financial plan with your spouse and make sure you each buy life insurance to cover the economical loss that would be incurred if either spouse were to die unexpectedly. </p>
<p><strong>Arrival of a baby.</strong> Each addition to the family, increases your financial burdens. It means more educational expenses, more living expenses to provide for your entire family, and if it’s a girl you’ll want to save up for her wedding. This are future expenses you should include in your coverage.</p>
<p>Remember, too that getting life insurance when you’re pregnant might mean you have to pay a more expensive premium. For the best life insurance rates, get a policy before you are pregnant.</p>
<p><strong>Buying your own home</strong> comes with a hefty mortgage. If you or your spouse were to die, how would the surviving spouse manage paying off the mortgage? If you plan your coverage well, life insurance death benefits could help to cover your entire mortgage or at least a significant portion. Remember Mary’s case and how her family could live securely in the home she bought for them.</p>
<p><strong>Raise in salary.</strong> With hike in salary, there are lifestyle changes. You might want to move to a better neighborhood or put your kids in a private school. The fact is that as your income rises, so do your spending habits. Your coverage should allow your family to live in the kind of lifestyle they are used to. </p>
<p><strong>After you retire.</strong> Many people still need to be insured even after their retirement. Their kids may be out of the house, living independent lives, but they may have aging parents living with them who are dependent on their care. Death benefits would help them live a comfortable life and afford them the kind of assisted living services they need either at home or in a nursing facility. </p>
<p>You might also want to use your life insurance policy to augment your retirement funds. <a href="http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/money-as-debt/">Money</a> dwindles in value over time and the amount you saved for retirement may not suffice the needs of a surviving spouse. Death benefits from a life insurance policy would make a meaningful contribution to a retirement fund allowing your spouse to live comfortably without having to worry about finances.</p>
<p><strong>Re-Marriage.</strong> If you’ve re-married you will either want to purchase a new life insurance policy with our new spouse as the beneficiary or you may consider reviewing your existing life insurance policy and make the necessary changes. If there are children involved make sure you consider their needs before cutting them off from your beneficiary list. </p>
<h2>Getting the best life insurance policy</h2>
<p>Remember, online life insurance quote providers are a convenient way to get yourself a cheap life insurance policy that meets your specific needs. If you’ve missed out on buying life insurance when you’re young and healthy, you should definitely consider life insurance at various stages of your life when buying a life insurance policy would still mean a lot to your family. In fact, there’s no better way of saying you love them. </p>
<p>There are sites that offer personalized customer services. You can talk to licensed life insurance professionals through online chats or over their customer call lines. They’ll answer all your queries and meaningful recommendations to help you make the right life insurance decisions, at the right time. </p>
<p>-<br />
<em>Denise Mancini-Blonda is manager of public relations and marketing communications for AccuQuote(Leader in Providing <a href="http://www.accuquote.com/">Term Life Quotes</a>).  In addition to overseeing all corporate media relations, internal executive and employee communications, she plays a key role in the overall content development of the company’s online and offline marketing campaigns.</em></p>
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		<title>A Closer Look at Auto Insurance Discounts</title>
		<link>http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/a-closer-look-at-auto-insurance-discounts/</link>
		<comments>http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/a-closer-look-at-auto-insurance-discounts/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:51:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Clint</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Insurance]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/?p=1377</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There are a plethora of discounts offered by insurance companies.  In many cases these discounts can save shoppers hundreds on auto and home insurance.  However, there are certain occasions where it may be best to avoid buying a policy that entices you with a discount.  </p>
<p><strong>Two Car Policy Discount</strong></p>
<p>You would think this discount is a given.  Yes we have two vehicles in our household – why wouldn’t we insure them with the same company?  In most cases you’re right.  However, in some cases insuring one car with one company and another car with another may save you more money in the event the two drivers are not married and far apart in age.  A good example would be a 45 year old daughter sharing her home with her 80 year old mother.  The company that offers a low insurance rate for the daughter may charge an extremely high premium for the mother.  Various insurance companies cater to different age groups and drivers.<br />
Combined Auto &#038; Home Discount</p>
<p>Most insurance companies are willing to offer significantly lower rates to customers who purchase a combined auto and home insurance policy. This discount to your auto policy may range anywhere from 5% to 15% when you agree to also insure your home with the same company.  If you have a high auto premium it may be worth it; but what if you’re only paying $300 a year for your auto coverage?  You may find yourself better off shopping around various home insurance companies.  Just like auto insurance, quotes offered by home insurers often vary by hundreds.</p>
<p><strong>The Future Effective Date</strong></p>
<p>This particular discount isn’t discussed all that often.  Although many people don’t know about it – the future effective discount does exist with several major insurance companies.  </p>
<p>Here’s a quick outline showing how this discount works: </p>
<p>You have insurance which is set to renew in 30 days.  Instead of waiting until the last minute to shop you can shop and compare quotes early with the new policy’s start date being the date your current policy expires.  Once you find the company you like the most, you set it up with the company to have your coverage start on that future date.  Although the future effective discount should apply automatically during the quote process &#8211; it never hurts to ask, “Will I get a discount for buying my policy in advance?”</p>
<p>I personally saved about $50 by purchasing my own policy several days prior to my renewal date.  I basically made the first payment 1 month early and the 2nd payment 60 days later.</p>
<p><strong>The Good Driver Discount</strong></p>
<p>There’s not much room to question this discount, the good driver discount is one to shoot for.  The better you drive the fewer headaches you’ll have to endure both physically and financially.  You’d be amazed as to how inexpensive auto insurance can be when you have no traffic tickets or claims on your record.  Insurance companies generally look five years into your history – some only look three.  If you can successfully avoid tickets and claims for five years you will quickly learn how cheap insurance can really be.</p>
<p><strong>Good Student Discount</strong></p>
<p>This is another discount I can only encourage eligible drivers reach for.  Statistically, young drivers with good grades were found to be in fewer accidents than drivers with lower GPAs.  A high GPA expresses your level of responsibility and your will to learn.  Insurance rates for younger drivers are already though the roof.  </p>
<p>Anything we can do to help lower these rates is something to be considered.  These discounts mainly apply to students still living at home.  I remember years ago, as a young teen driver, I managed to pull my grades up high enough to earn this good student discount for my parents.  My parents felt much better about me driving at 16.  Being 16, I remember asking for a portion of the difference.  The response from my dad was, “Nice Try”.</p>
<p>Always consider all the options available to you before you buy your next insurance policy.  Don’t let yourself be sold on something that sounds good at the time.  Commercials and Agents are great at selling the coverage you need and sometimes a little extra.  Always consider what the Agent has to say but also consider your options.  For the best results, always be sure to compare quotes from both Independent Agents and direct insurance companies.  With a little bit of time, patience and discount knowledge you may be able to save several hundred on your next auto policy.</p>
<p>-<br />
<em>Cole Sileven, owner of Low Insurance and Security, studies to find the best insurance solution for each type of driver.  Sileven manages Low-insurance.org, a resource built to help shoppers compare <a href="http://www.low-insurance.org/">insurance quotes</a> between both local and national insurance companies.</em></p>
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		<title>What College Students and Their Parents Should Know About Insurance</title>
		<link>http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/what-college-students-and-their-parents-should-know-about-insurance/</link>
		<comments>http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/what-college-students-and-their-parents-should-know-about-insurance/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 28 Mar 2011 15:37:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Clint</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Money 101]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/?p=1250</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>What do college students think about? Parties, having a good time, the opposite sex, financial aid, grades, and selecting a major. Most college students don&#8217;t take the time to think about insurance. However, college students living away from home may not be covered by their parents&#8217; auto, property, or health insurance. Let&#8217;s take a look at some insurance tips that college students should at least think about.</p>
<p><strong>Rental Insurance</strong></p>
<p>Your parents&#8217; home insurance probably does not cover your off-campus rented apartment. Unfortunately, your landlord&#8217;s insurance policy doesn&#8217;t cover your personal property. However, in some instances your parents&#8217; insurance policies will provide coverage if you live on-campus.</p>
<p>Renter&#8217;s insurance yearly premiums cost around $150 to $200 for $15,000 of coverage for personal property. The Insurance Information Institute reports students&#8217; renter&#8217;s insurance covers damages from:</p>
<ul>
<li>Smoke</li>
<li>Fire</li>
<li>Vandalism</li>
<li>Lightning</li>
<li>Theft</li>
<li>Explosion</li>
<li>Windstorm</li>
<li>Water (non-flood related)</li>
</ul>
<p>Renter&#8217;s insurance also covers additional living expenses if you can&#8217;t live in your residence due to fire damage or other covered losses. Lodging, meals, and other expenses are covered. Low premiums make renter&#8217;s insurance a good choice.</p>
<p><strong>Health Insurance</strong></p>
<p><a href = "http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/college/2010-08-20-personalfinance20_ST_N.htm">More than two-thirds</a> of college students are covered by their parents&#8217; health insurance plan. According to the <a href = "http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/insurance/employers-reluctant-to-add-older-dependents-sooner-rather-than-l/19502338/">Kaiser Family Foundation</a>, a health advocacy organization, 25 states require health insurance plans to provide coverage for dependent children beyond their teens. Most states require the coverage to extend to age 25. This type of coverage may have restrictions such as the adult children must be students, unmarried, or live in the same state as their parent who has private insurance coverage.</p>
<p>Check the regulations by visiting your home state&#8217;s Department of Insurance website or by calling the department. When researching, find out if the state insurance regulations are mandatory or if the insurance companies decide whether or not they follow the regulations.</p>
<p>Your parents need to review the rules of their health insurance policy to find out if you have to be a full-time student or at least a part-time student to be covered by their insurance. Find out which healthcare providers work with your parent&#8217;s insurance company in your area. If you&#8217;re attending college far from home you may not have access to health providers who participate in your parents&#8217; plan. Parents should also ask their insurance company what circumstances cause their child to be dropped from their insurance policy.</p>
<p><b>Individual coverage</b>: If you&#8217;re not covered by your parents&#8217; insurance plan you can purchase individual insurance coverage. Premiums are typically affordable for young, healthy adults. Some insurance companies provide individual health insurance plans targeted at college students who are not covered by their parents insurance plan. Websites such as <a href = "http://www.ehealthinsurance.com/student-health-insurance">eHealthInsurance</a> make it easy for students to get quotes for student health insurance plans.</p>
<p><b>College health insurance</b>: At some colleges the mandatory tuition and fees cover the cost of care for allergies, the flu, coughs, and colds. According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), <a href = "http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/college/2010-08-20-personalfinance20_ST_N.htm">more than fifty percent of colleges and universities</a> have their own health insurance plan for students. The college plan may offer low cost coverage if you are not covered by your parents&#8217; insurance policy. However, according to <a href = "http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/college/2010-08-20-personalfinance20_ST_N.htm">Joel Ohman</a>, financial planner and founder of Insurance Providers, an insurance brokerage website, school sponsored plans do a good job handling immunizations, colds, and flus, but they don&#8217;t do a good job of covering major medical problems.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s optional, but some schools will charge you a fee up-front and enroll you in their health insurance plan unless you choose to opt-out of the insurance plan, submit a waiver, and provide proof of health insurance coverage. According to a study by the GAO, 30% of colleges and universities require their students to have health insurance in order to enroll.</p>
<p><strong>Life Insurance</strong></p>
<p>College students who are married (especially if they have children) along with students who participate in risky activities should consider buying life insurance.</p>
<p><strong>Car Insurance</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Living with your parents while attending college and remaining on their insurance policy is one of the best auto insurance deals.</li>
<li>Many auto insurance companies provide a good student discount for students who maintain a 3.0 or better grade point average.</li>
<li>If you drive a short distance to school and to your workplace you may qualify for a low mileage discount.</li>
<li>Consider driving an older car. They require less coverage and lower collision limits.</li>
<li>If you don&#8217;t pay for your car with financing, you may not be required to have collision or comprehensive insurance.</li>
<li>Auto insurance companies use your zip code to help determine the risk level. Living in a higher crime area may provide you lower monthly apartment rent, but you&#8217;ll have a higher car insurance premium.</li>
<li>Many insurance companies offer discounts to college students who carry both car and renter&#8217;s insurance with the same insurance company.</li>
<li>You can save up to 25% on your insurance premium with college auto insurance discounts.</li>
</ul>
<p>Insurance coverage is important. College students, with the assistance of their parents, should figure out their insurance needs.</p>
<p>-<br />
<i>Brian Jenkins writes about a variety of topics that pertain to college students, including <a href="http://www.braintrack.com/colleges-by-career/financial-analysts">college degree programs in financial analysis</a>, for BrainTrack.com.</i></p>
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		<title>5 Ways to Save Money on Car Insurance</title>
		<link>http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/5-ways-to-save-money-on-car-insurance/</link>
		<comments>http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/5-ways-to-save-money-on-car-insurance/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 Mar 2011 16:59:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Clint</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Money 101]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/?p=1209</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When looking for car insurance, there are many things that can be done to <a href="http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/tips-to-save-money/">save money</a>. Trying to cut back on many bills and expenses is normal and should be done. Everybody is looking to save money, and one place to start can be your car insurance. Below are five ways in which you can save money on car insurance.</p>
<h3>1. Ask Your Insurance Agent about Discounts</h3>
<p>Sometimes the agent will not inform you or give you all the discounts that you and your family may qualify for. Be sure to research the many discounts available to car owners based on your age, car, history and credit. Some of the most popular discounts available for people in your family include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Students who have taken a driver’s education course</li>
<li>Discounts for college students who live many miles away from home</li>
<li>Students who have good grades and a good driving history</li>
<li>Discounts for people over the age of 50 or are retirees</li>
<li>Discounts for people in certain organizations or clubs</li>
<li>Discounts for some people who combine their home insurance along with their car insurance</li>
<li>Combining family cars in one insurance package discount</li>
</ul>
<p>If your car is equipped with some of these safety features, you could get a safety discount:</p>
<ul>
<li>Airbags</li>
<li>Security system</li>
<li>Anti-lock brakes</li>
<li>Automatic seat belts</li>
</ul>
<p>Be sure to ask your agent to review your options and inform you of any discounts that you may qualify for. This is the best way in <a href="http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/high-interest-savings-accounts-a-safe-way-to-care-for-your-money/">saving</a> money on your car insurance premiums.</p>
<h3>2. Shop around for Car Insurance Before You Buy a Car</h3>
<p>Insurance is based on:</p>
<ul>
<li>Driving history</li>
<li>Age</li>
<li>Credit report</li>
<li>Car characteristics like how valuable it is, safety features and how prone it is to be stolen.</li>
</ul>
<p>If you are buying a new or used car, car insurance is a main concern. Newer cars will have higher insurance than older cars. There are many different car insurance companies in your city and on the Internet. Weighing out the pros and cons of each company is a good way of deciding which package is right for you. Many websites will allow you to get a quote based on your personal information as well as the car information. If you like the result, give them a call and work out a plan that is affordable and has all the features you are looking for.</p>
<p>Also, by raising your deductible to at least $500 this will help you save more money on your premiums in the long run. Opt out for extra coverage like auto-related deaths because they are unnecessary and will cost you more money.</p>
<h3>3. Be a Responsible Driver</h3>
<p>Being a safe driver is always a good thing because when you are safe, then the people around you are safe and the risks of accidents decrease. Staying out of accidents can keep your insurance low because an accident can raise your insurance rates and premium. Taking a defensive driving course can make you a better driver and can get you a discount as well. Speeding tickets and parking tickets aren’t good for you either because these could play a part in how much you pay for insurance as well.</p>
<h3>4. Choose to Drive an Older Car</h3>
<p>Newer cars are going to cost you more in car insurance. They may have more safety features that will get you a discount, but the final price is the price that should be the most important. Companies may give lots of discounts, but may have a higher final price than a company who may not give out as many discounts.</p>
<p>If you already have insurance, check the value of your car in the Kelley Blue Book to see if your collision insurance premium is more than 10% of the current value of your car. If it is, you should consider dropping it. Some car models, no matter what year, may cause you to pay a high insurance plan. Check online or with a car insurance agent to see which models fit in your budget. This could be very helpful before buying a new or used car. Since many people buy a new or used car every couple of years, staying behind will save you money in the long run.</p>
<h3>5. Take Care of Your Credit</h3>
<p>Car insurance companies like people who have good and stable credit because these people are considered more reliable and safe drivers. A good credit score can affect your monthly insurance payments. Checking your credit online is very easy. There are many websites that give you free access to all three of the main credit bureaus. This is very important because your credit report affects many things in your life.</p>
<ul>
<li>Check your credit report frequently and make sure you pay all your bills on time.</li>
<li>Be sure to make sure that all accounts on your credit report are yours.</li>
<li>Fraud is common and mistakes can be made.</li>
<li>Any errors found on your credit report can be disputed and fixed.</li>
</ul>
<p>These are easy things that can be done, and there is no need to be a car or insurance expert. Do not be afraid to ask around for good companies or discounts because it is your right to get the best deal on car insurance for you and your family. Asking for discounts, shopping around for cars and car insurance companies, driving safely, buying an older car and maintaining good credit are a few things that can help you get a <a href="http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/drive-your-way-to-cheaper-car-insurance/">cheaper car insurance</a> deal for you and your family.</p>
<p>&#8211;<br />
<em>Guest author Emily is a financial writer and freelancer for a number of different consumer financial websites. When she is not writing and researching ways to save money on <a href="http://www.carinsurancecomparison.com" target="_blank">car insurance</a> she can probably be found heading to the park with her 3 kids.</em></p>
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		<title>Whole Life Insurance Guide</title>
		<link>http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/whole-life-insurance-guide/</link>
		<comments>http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/whole-life-insurance-guide/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 13 Nov 2010 13:47:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Clint</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Insurance]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/?p=1021</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>For many years, the only type of life insurance that could be purchased was term life insurance. But then actuaries came up with the idea of whole life insurance. Also known as cash value or permanent insurance, whole life differs from term insurance because it was designed to cover policyholders throughout their entire life, not just a temporary span of time.</p>
<p>Today, more than 70 percent of the insurance policies that are sold are cash value policies. It is important to note, however, that whole life coverage is not the right choice for everyone. As with any type of insurance, these policies have their pros and cons and should be carefully evaluated prior to purchase. The following guide will help you get a clearer view of what you can expect to gain (or lose) by choosing whole life over another coverage option.</p>
<p><strong>Whole Life Insurance Explained</strong></p>
<p>Whole life insurance policies never expire. The coverage lasts as long as you pay the premiums. The initial premiums on whole life insurance are often higher than the premiums you might pay for term life insurance. The benefit of whole life is that the premiums never change. With term insurance, there is always the chance of paying higher premiums later on in life when you are forced to renew your policy.</p>
<p>In addition to providing a death benefit, whole life also offers a savings component. The savings element allows some of the money you pay in premiums to grow through investments. The extra money accumulates on a tax-deferred basis. Your policy may grow steadily or have a low cash value over the first few years and more cash value later on, depending on the policy you choose to purchase.</p>
<p>The cash value of a policy should not be confused with the face value. The cash value is the amount available to you while you are alive; the face value is the benefit paid to your family when you die. If you have accumulated enough money, you could use the cash value to pay the premiums on the insurance policy. You could also choose to borrow the extra money if you are ever in need of cash. Of course, any loan you take out against the cash value of your policy must be paid back with interest. Finally, there is always the option of cancelling the policy before you die and collecting the savings you have accumulated.</p>
<p><strong>Types of Whole Life Insurance</strong></p>
<p>There are several different types of whole life insurance policies that are available when you decide to purchase life insurance. The most common are:</p>
<p><strong>Participating Whole Life</strong> &#8211; This type of whole life policy pays dividends from excess investment earnings to the policyholder. Dividends may be paid in cash or used by the policyholder to pay premiums or purchase additional death benefits.</p>
<p><strong>Non-Participating Whole Life</strong> &#8211; This type of policy does not pay dividends, but it does have low, fixed-cost premiums.</p>
<p><strong>Limited Payment Whole Life</strong> &#8211; Limited payment whole life policies offer lifetime coverage but allow policyholders to pay premiums for a limited amount of time, such as twenty years or up to age 65. Premiums are often higher than normal because of the shorter payment term.</p>
<p><strong>Single Premium Whole Life</strong> &#8211; This type of insurance policy allows the policyholder to make one large premium payment. Once this payment is made, no further premiums are charged.</p>
<p><strong>Intermediate Premium Whole Life</strong> &#8211; Intermediate premium policies are similar to non-participating policies. The only difference is that premium amounts can vary according to a formula established by the insurance provider. Premiums may be low or high, but will never exceed the maximum guaranteed premium stated in the policy.</p>
<p>-<br />
<em>Guest post from Bailey Harris, who writes about <a href="http://www.homeownersinsurance.org/">home owners insurance</a> for www.homeownersinsurance.org.</em></p>
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		<title>Should You Buy Renters Insurance?</title>
		<link>http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/should-you-buy-renters-insurance/</link>
		<comments>http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/should-you-buy-renters-insurance/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 28 Sep 2010 17:17:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Clint</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[homeowners insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mortgage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[renters insurance]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/?p=974</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Owning a home is nice, but many people can&#8217;t qualify for a <a href="http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/category/mortgage/">mortgage</a> or have insufficient means to purchase a house. For those who either are unable to purchase a home or simply choose not to, the alternative housing solution is to rent a house or apartment.</p>
<p>When you own a house and have a mortgage, you are required to purchase homeowners insurance that will protect you from damage to your home, liability and loss or damage to personal property. As a renter, you have no reason to buy an all encompassing insurance policy to protect the apartment from damage as the landlord absorbs those costs. However, your personal property and the contents of your house are your responsibility. So, the question arises, should you buy renters insurance?</p>
<p>Reasons to Buy Renters Insurance</p>
<p>* Protection in case your apartment building burns down.</p>
<p>* Protection in case someone breaks in and steals your stuff.</p>
<p>* Protection in case someone gets hurt and decides to sue you.</p>
<p>* Protection in case your apartment suffers a disaster and you need alternative housing.</p>
<p>* Very inexpensive for the amount of protection you can buy.</p>
<p>Many people say to themselves that their stuff is really not worth much, but when you think about how much it would cost to replace all your clothes, furniture, TV, computer and so forth, the amount can easily add up to tens of thousands of dollars. For a small fraction of your monthly rent, you can have the peace of mind that in the event of theft, damage or personal injury, you are protected.</p>
<p>What Does Renters Insurance Cover?</p>
<p>* Personal Property &#8211; You are protected against loss or damage of personal items like clothing, furniture, electronics and appliances. If someone breaks into your apartment and steals your new flatscreen TV, you are covered. If a fire burns down the building, your personal property will be replaced. Renters insurance does not cover damage from floods (you need a separate policy).</p>
<p>* Personal Liability &#8211; In the event that someone is injured while in your apartment and decides to sue you, you are covered. Generally, liability coverage of $100,000.00 is standard with most renters insurance policies.</p>
<p>* Medical Payments &#8211; If someone is injured in your home, this part of the coverage will pay medical expenses. A basic policy will usually provide about $1,000.00 of reimbursement for medical costs.</p>
<p>* Loss of Use &#8211; If a natural disaster such as an earthquake, fire or other major event should strike and your<br />
apartment is uninhabitable for a period of time, you will be provided coverage so you can get alternative housing accomodations.</p>
<p>What Does an Average Renters Insurance Policy Cost?</p>
<p>According to the <a href="http://naic.org/" target="_blank">National Association of Insurance Commissioners</a>, the average renters insurance policy costs between $15 and $30 per month. This figure can vary based upon the amount of coverage, the geographic location of the property and the deductible selected. As an example, in a typical 2 bedroom apartment in California, you can get $35,000 in property coverage, $100,000 in liability, $1,000 of medical coverage, all with a $500 deductible, for about $200per year (<a href="http://www.esurance.com" target="_blank">Esurance Inc.</a>). That is less than $17 per month. One incident and you&#8217;ll be glad you have the coverage.</p>
<p>What Effect Does a Deductible Have on the Policy Cost?</p>
<p>Like with <a href="http://www.carinsurancecomparison.com" target="_blank">car insurance</a> or pretty much any other type of insurance policy, the higher your deductible, the lower your premium. In most cases, you will only save a dollar or two per month by raising your policy&#8217;s deductible from $500 to $1,000. The recommendation here is to get the lowest deductible possible.</p>
<p>What About My Expensive Jewelry?</p>
<p>Standard policies do not cover certain highly valued items like fine jewelry, furs, valuable art and other similar possessions. You can purchase additional coverage for these types of items. Most rental coverage is not going to insure a million dollar Picasso, but, if you are fortunate enough to own one, you probably would not be hanging it in a rental apartment anyway.</p>
<p>Can I Guard Against Identity Theft?</p>
<p>To reflect the times we are living in, a relatively new type of coverage is being offered to renters. Identity theft coverage has become available through a number of insurance companies including State Farm and Nationwide. Depending upon the amount of coverage, the cost for this type of piece of mind can be anywhere from about $30 to $100 per year.</p>
<p>Replacement Cost Value (RCV) Versus Actual Cash Value (ACV)</p>
<p>If you make a claim for lost, stolen or damaged personal property, the insurance company will compensate you based on the type of coverage you have. If you have replacement cost value coverage, they will pay the amount for you to buy a similar product of the same specifications as the one that was lost. Even if you bought a $1,000 mattress 10 years ago, you will get a brand new mattress of similar quality, regardless of what it might cost today.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if you have chosen actual cash value coverage, you will only receive the depreciated value of the item or items for which you are making a claim. Certain items depreciate quickly, so, your $2,000 computer you bought 3 years ago may only bring you $500 dollars.</p>
<p>What are the Advantages of Replacement Cost Value Coverage?</p>
<p>* You get an equivalent replacement for your loss</p>
<p>* Don&#8217;t have to haggle over settlement</p>
<p>* Able to fully replace your items and not have to pay additional costs</p>
<p>What Are the Disadvantages of Replacement Cost Coverage?</p>
<p>* The only possible disadvantage of choosing replacement cost coverage over actual cash value coverage is in the monthly premiums. You will pay a slightly higher premium when you choose replacement cost coverage.</p>
<p>What are the Advantages of Actual Cash Value Coverage?</p>
<p>* The basic advantage of selecting actual cash value coverage is that you will pay lower premiums than if you selected replacement cost coverage. The amount actually amounts to a few dollars more per month.</p>
<p>What are the Disadvantages of Actual Cash Value Coverage?</p>
<p>* Only receive the depreciated value of the property you are claiming</p>
<p>* Disputes may arise over what you think an item was worth and what the insurer thinks it is worth.</p>
<p>* May not be able to replace with similar item based on lower compensation</p>
<p>* Not fully insured.</p>
<p>Finding the Best Renters Insurance</p>
<p>Buying renters insurance is a wise investment. For a relatively small amount of money you can get a great deal of protection. You can even receive discounts by holding other policies such as life or car insurance with the same company. Now that you know a little more about renters insurance, you should assess your property and do your homework to find the best renters insurance policy! </p>
<p>Author Bio: Andy is an expert insurance writer and researcher and recommends that you be sure and check out the full <a href="http://www.insuranceproviders.com/renters-insurance/" target="_blank">renters insurance guide</a> before deciding whether YOU should buy renters insurance!</p>
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		<title>Who Should Have a Health Savings Account?</title>
		<link>http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/who-should-have-a-health-savings-account/</link>
		<comments>http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/who-should-have-a-health-savings-account/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 25 Sep 2010 12:41:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Clint</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Money 101]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[health insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health Savings Account]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HSA]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/?p=795</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Before we answer the question, &#8220;who should have a health savings account?&#8221; , this matter of health insurance needs to be clearly understood by one and all. Health care today is one of the most important expense items in every individual’s payouts next only to mortgage payments.</p>
<p>US Treasury Department has defined HSA in simple words. HSA is a special account where in individuals can provide for current medical expenses while at the same time save for future medical expenses. In other words HSA is a savings account as opposed to traditional health insurance. This account enables you to pay for your current medical expenses and future post retirement health expenses on tax free basis.</p>
<p>HSA can be opted for only in conjunction with HDHP –High Deductible Health Plan, which is an insurance scheme that does not cover first dollar medical expenses. HDHP premiums are much lesser than normal health coverage which enables you to save the rest of the difference amount into HSA.</p>
<p>The major advantage of this account is that the control over the funds in your hands and not dependant upon any third party insurer. The choice of investment lies with you.</p>
<p>To be eligible to open account under this scheme, not only you should have an HDHP plan, the deductible has to be a min. Of $2,200 on your coverage for family and in case of individual the deductible should be a min of $1,100 for self. HDHPs will have the first dollar coverage which means no deductibles are admissible for preventive care and they also charge higher limits for non network or third party services. </p>
<p>Since this is a savings account, you can open an HSA account in your bank or insurance company and many other institutions who offer the scheme. </p>
<p>If you have recognized the importance of the proposed health cum saving plan, that answers your question. Each and everyone should opt for the said plan. You can save money and save on the taxes also. HDHP being an inexpensive plan, it works very well as a cover of insurance which can offer you the cover beyond the amount you have saved up in the bank. Such Account does attract some small service fee like any other bank account. This should not be the least of your worries. </p>
<p>There are many more advantages of HSA account. This scheme does not have a pre-qualification of any income limit to be able to contribute. HSA does not stipulate that you need to have earned an income to be able to contribute to this account. You can have one account while your spouse can also have another independent account. Only children are not allowed to create their own HSA account.</p>
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		<title>Credit Card Insurance: Smart Choice or Not?</title>
		<link>http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/credit-card-insurance-smart-choice-or-not/</link>
		<comments>http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/credit-card-insurance-smart-choice-or-not/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:27:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Clint</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Money 101]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/?p=934</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As we all know, <a href="http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/category/credit-cards-2/">credit card</a> companies are notorious for nickeling and diming us with fees and add-on services. This is especially true now that the credit card reform is in full effect… since they can no longer hike our APR out of the blue, they’re seeking other avenues to make their money. Besides credit monitoring subscriptions, the most common add-on for them to peddle is credit card insurance. Should you buy it or not?</p>
<p>What are the benefits?<br />
Well here’s a brief overview of the typical benefits:<br />
If there’s a job loss, hospitalization, or you become disabled, payments on the account can be suspended for up to 18 months (some issuers offer up to 24 months).<br />
In the event you die the balance is canceled up to a certain amount (some issuers cap it at $10,000, others may be $25,000)</p>
<p>If you have a qualifying “major life event” such as getting married, divorce, victim of national disaster, etc., payments can be suspended for 1 month (some issuers do this for up to 3 months)<br />
Depending on the credit card company, the exact benefits may differ from the above, but this is more or less how they all operate. </p>
<p>How much does it cost?<br />
During each billing cycle, you are charged around 1% of your total balance for this coverage –usually it’s $0.89 for every $100 of your balance.</p>
<p>Is it worth the cost?<br />
When you were reading through the benefits, it probably sounded like a good deal didn’t it? Unfortunately once you review the fine print and run the numbers, you will see why this service is rarely worthwhile. </p>
<p>Let’s say each month your credit card’s average balance is $1,000. That could be from new charges that you pay off each month, or it could be from a balance you’re carrying long term –either way the program costs would be calculated the same… $0.89 x 10 = $8.90 per month. That would mean over the course of a year, you would be paying $106.80 total, which is over 10% of your average monthly balance.</p>
<p>For most people, I would say the odds are less than 50/50 that they experience any of the qualifying circumstances during a given year. But a lot of people are losing their jobs these days, so let’s involuntary unemployment did occur – your job loss happens at 6 months, and you remain unemployed for another 6 months. That would mean basically you are paying $106.80 to defer interest and payments on your $1,000 balance for 6 months. </p>
<p>Now let’s do the math. First of all, anyone could easily defer interest for free by using 0% credit cards for <a href="http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/how-to-make-the-most-of-credit-card-balance-transfers/">balance transfers</a>. So right there is a free way to defer interest, if you negotiate for the balance transfer fees to be waived on the new card. Secondly, the minimum monthly payment on a $1,000 balance over 6 months wouldn’t be much – probably totaling around the same amount you paid for the insurance over the course of the year. So wouldn’t you be better off applying that amount to paying down the balance, rather than just deferring payment of the balance?</p>
<p>Conclusion?<br />
I’ve given you just one example, but I encourage you to get out your calculator and play around with a few hypothetical scenarios… you will discover the cost of the credit card insurance can rarely be justified. </p>
<p>The only situation where it might make sense is for someone that is nearing the end of their lifespan and they carry a large balance, but even then it may not make sense. Why? Because according to the fine print, the canceled balance will be considered taxable income for your estate. Secondly, their fine print also says they can cancel the insurance at “any time for any reason.” If there was an 80 year old with a $10,000 balance, would they decide to cancel his service? I don’t know the answer for sure, but I certainly have a good guess!</p>
<p>This post was written by Michael from CreditCardForum.com. His latest post is about the <a href="http://creditcardforum.com/content/best-credit-cards-balance-transfers-5/">best balance transfer credit cards</a> but he also blogs about other credit cards, as well as general news within the credit card and finance industry.</p>
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		<title>Drive Your Way To Cheaper Car Insurance</title>
		<link>http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/drive-your-way-to-cheaper-car-insurance/</link>
		<comments>http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/drive-your-way-to-cheaper-car-insurance/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 09 May 2009 15:25:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Clint</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Money 101]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[accidental injury]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[car insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[car insurance application]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cheaper car insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[higher deductible]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[premium rates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[third party liability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[towing assistance]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/?p=549</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In today’s highly mobile society, most everyone needs to have a car to get around at one’s own time and convenience.  It goes without saying that car insurance is needed by anyone who wants to drive around with some degree of peace of mind.  The key point is to keep car insurance expenses to a minimum.  You do not need to kill your chances of having some money left for other car expenses like gas, parking fees, and car maintenance and other living expenses as well.  Cheaper car insurance can be bought given the right qualifications.</p>
<p>Having car insurance lets you drive with the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you are protected at all times for most major contingencies that can happen on the road.  The most basic benefit of car insurance is third party liability, which means that a certain amount of cash depending on your limits will be given for damage caused by your car to another person or property.  Car insurance also provides cash indemnity for expenses incurred for accidental injury to you or another.  Most car insurance companies also offer add-on services such as towing assistance and discounts on repairs.  Even with cheaper car insurance, you will still be able to enjoy these benefits.</p>
<p>To be eligible for cheaper car insurance, you need to fit certain parameters.  For one, you should have a clean driving record.  For obvious reasons, being a safe driver who follows all the rules and regulations of the road will have better chances at getting lower car insurance premiums than one whose record is impaired with moving violation tickets.  Not disclosing violation tickets on your car insurance application will later on catch up with you since the insurance companies can validate the information with your state’s motor vehicle department.  Anyone who lies on his insurance application will be re-billed and charged for the premium difference upon discovery.</p>
<p>Your choice of car also influences the premium rates for your car insurance.  If you are still looking for a car to buy, it would be wise to choose a car that fetches a lower car insurance price and yet gives you the mobility convenience you need.  Insurance companies would have their own premium rate tables for different cars of different makes and models.  Generally, a sports car would have a higher premium rate than a normal family sedan.</p>
<p>Deductible levels, or the cost you have to shoulder before the insurance benefits kick in, would also impact the premiums on car insurance.  A higher deductible amount would give you cheaper car insurance premiums than one with a lower deductible.  If you are a relatively safe driver, even if you have a higher deductible level, the chances of you having to pay up that amount would be slim.  The outlay for you would be confined to premiums that are lower than usual.</p>
<p>Perhaps the most important thing to do to get cheaper car insurance is to look around and consider your options.  There are a lot of insurance companies offering car insurance.  If you only look at the premium rates from one company, you might be losing out on great deals.  There are also discounts that are given from time to time.  Ask around for special deals to get car insurance at lower rates.  It doesn’t cost much to canvas first before deciding on which insurance company to get your car insurance policy from.</p>
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		<title>Home Owner Insurance</title>
		<link>http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/home-owner-insurance/</link>
		<comments>http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/home-owner-insurance/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 26 Jan 2009 13:41:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Clint</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Money 101]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hazard insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[home insurance policy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[homeonwers insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[homeowner insurance]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.accumulatingmoney.com/?p=518</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Are you worried that your house might get ruined or something? Let’s just say something came up and accidentally your properties were all lost or destroyed for some reasons and we all know that it cost a fortune for you to be able to rebuild your house again.</p>
<p>Now what do you think is the best way that you can do to lessen the worry about losing the home that you have earned for years. It’s the home owner insurance that you can use to be assured that the house that you have built and work hard for will be protected. This insurance doesn’t only protect your home but also the things that you have inside it. Yes, all of the things that are included or can be found inside your home will be protected by the insurance. This insurance has policies too like any other type of insurance. The long comprehensive contract about the home owner assurance consists of exact details about what will be included on this type of insurance. Its policies explain what instances will be covered and which are not like for example, fire or lightning are among of those incidents that are not included on this specific insurance. The fire incidents on homes will be covered by fire insurance only and with these types of accidents there will be those special insurance made that will only protect the homes from such occurrences – but mostly in fire insurance, the houses would be set up for sprinklers so that in case there would be fires the damage would be less, just to make sure.</p>
<p>This home insurance that is also called as hazard insurance (HOI), can be paid to the insurance company on each term. Its payment is known as premium and the company or insurer will charge the customer depending on some factors. They will think about how likely it would be for the home to have accidents. Let’s just say, they will try to analyze the house’ location, construction, etc. Since for example a house is near by a fire station, then it would not be much a problem for that house to be burned out since it will be easy for them to call for help, or even if the house has sprinklers already, then it would be less hazardous. This only means that the insurance company or insurer will analyze first what would be the best premium for a certain type of home. So the less chances of having destructible incidents it would also mean that you would be charge for fewer premiums.</p>
<p>During the 1950s there were varieties of policies for each different hazard that may danger a home – the policies were separated from different categories like theft, fire, and any other personal losses. But it seems like it is not the advisable to get a lot of different insurance companies for each type of incident, so what the Insurance Services Office did was to standardize every possible incident that can happen into just one type of insurance and that took place on 1971. So after that, a lot of revisions were done in order to make the standardization comprehensive and simple enough for everyone.</p>
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