Posts Tagged ‘Life Cover’

Is A Life Insurance Broker Important?

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

No. You really don’t need a life insurance broker. However, there are certainly times and instances when a life insurance broker can be extremely helpful. In fact, they can actually save you a significant amount of money.

Regardless of which kind of insurance you wish to purchase, there are a large number of companies to choose from and an equally wide-ranging number of complicated plans available. Decoding those plans can be intimidating, especially if you have no experience in this area. Because of this, it is sometimes a very good idea to secure the services of an insurance broker.

A life insurance broker is an intermediary. They function between you and an insurance company. It is their job to search for the lowest possible insurance policy, and an insurance broker does not work for a specific company. They have established rapport with many insurance companies, and this allows them to hunt for the best options, answer difficult questions, and point you in the right direction, in terms of your insurance needs.

Once you have chosen your broker, simply give them your details and needs. At that point, it’s the broker’s job to sort through the surfeit of options available, looking for the best deal. The broker will give you multiple quotes to choose from, and this will allow you to compare several insurance estimates from the leading companies. Using that information, you can make an informed decision on which one will work best for your particular situation.

Because they do not work for any one company, a broker must be familiar with all the leading insurance companies. They know the reputation of each one. They also know how the company operates. They can answer important questions, as well as inform you about such things as how often premium increases occur, and how they handle claims.

Insurance brokers work on commission. The insurance companies pay them for every policy they sell. If you were to go to the company, and purchase a similar policy, you could not get it at a cheaper cost. What that means is that using a broker to help you find the best policy costs you nothing more, and it takes a great deal of stress off your shoulders. The broker does the research and deals with all the frustrations of weeding out the better polices. All you have to do is consider the options he presents for you, and make a decision on which one is going to work best.

The greatest benefit in using a broker is the extent of his or her knowledge of the marketplace. Not only can they find the insurance you need, they can find it quickly. However, the best part is they can usually get you exactly the kind of coverage you require, at a price that would be difficult for you to duplicate. They understand all the technicalities of insurance contracts, and they can make sense of the fine print. Choosing to use a broker has many benefits.

Susan Reynolds is a content coordinator for a leading South African Insurance Provider that specialises in Life Insurance Policies.

Who Qualifies For Life Cover

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

If someone in your life depends on you financially then you should have life cover. Having life cover should be your top concern. What will happen to your loved ones financially when you are gone? The reality is that even if it is hard to think about it is possible All of us should have life insurance.

A term life policy is easy to decipher and easy to get. You may need help with understanding plan types and amount of coverage.

Before you apply for life insurance coverage there are some things you should know. Determine how much life insurance you really need, be careful not to take out too small of an amount. Remember to factor in all the bills including the mortgage. Online life insurance calculators are useful for getting an idea of the actual amount you need. You want to make sure you are not under-insured. Be cautious not to end up over insured either.

You have to determine the amount of time the insurance cover Many times once dependants leave or financial responsibilities are paid off the cover can come to an end. In some cases the policy holder will hold the policy until they are retired. The main thing is to have the cover stay in effect long enough for your purposes.

Be sure to answer all questions correctly when applying for life cover. If you fail to give all the information asked of you the insurance company can refuse your application due to non disclosure.

Putting your cover in a trust is a brilliant thought. go wrong with putting your cover in a trust. A trust will ensure that all loved ones receive their benefits. The inheritance tax liability will be higher when the policy becomes part of your estate, a trust keeps this from happening.You will find the simple trust form with your policy packet.

You should always compare other policy prices. The higher the risk you are considered to be the higher your policy.

The most common cover is the Level Term Assurance (LTA) where the sum of your insured amount stays the same for the length of the term. If you are looking for a lower cost policy and only need coverage for a debt such as a mortgage you can purchase Decreasing Term Assurance (DTA) for a great rate.

You should always review your policy when any life modifications occur. The arrival of a new child, moving to a larger house or career changes could affect your policy needs. Many people do not understand that their cover needs will shift as their life does. Any time it makes sense to, change your policy.

Always remember you can shop around for more affordable policy prices even if you already have coverage. Be sure that you are not losing any irreplaceable benefits before cancelling a policy. You have to keep in mind that if your health has or any major life changes have occurred you will be paying a more expensive rate for a new policy.

Susan Reynolds is the webmaster for a leading South African Insurance Provider who specialises in Life Insurance Policies.

Tips When Considering A Life Insurance Policy

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

Anyone who has dependants should have proper life insurance coverage Life insurance should be your number one priority. What happens to your family if something happens to you? The harsh reality is that you never know what could happen Nobody should be without life cover.

You want to be sure that your loved ones who depend on you for financial support are taken care of even after you are gone. It is important that they be able to survive if something happens that you do not.

A lump sum life cover policy is pretty straight forward. You may need help with choosing plan types and amount of coverage. Ask your agent to give you the advice on how to select the best policy plan that is right for you and your needs.

There are many things to consider before applying for life cover. Consider the amount you need and be sure to take out enough. Do not forget to consider the home loan and other bills. Your cover amount can be determined by using an internet calculator. You do not want to find out you are under insured. Over insuring yourself is a mistake as well.

You should place your policy in a trust for your loved ones. After your death the trust will ensure all benefits are paid out correctly. Policies that are not put in a trust become part of your estate and may increase the inheritance tax liability. You will find the simple trust form with your policy packet.

Be careful not to pay more than you really can afford. If you are young and healthy you can expect to pay a lower rate for your policy. Major health problems will result in a very pricey policy.

One of the more popular policies is the Level Term Assurance (LTA) this means your policy amount will stay the same through the duration of the coverage. If you are looking for a less expensive policy and only need coverage for a debt such as a mortgage you can buy Decreasing Term Assurance (DTA) for a great rate.

If you have any life altering event you are recommended to check your policy to ensure you have the right coverage amount. Your policy needs change as your life does so review your coverage if you have any life changes like a new baby or change of jobs. Many people do not comprehend that their coverage needs will shift as their life does. Any time it makes sense to, change your policy.

If you have any life changes happen you will need to review your cover and ensure you have enough coverage. The arrival of a new child, moving to a new town or occupational changes could affect your policy needs. Many forget that their cover may need altered to keep up with their life. When you feel it makes sense you should change your cover.

A new policy could be higher priced is you have had any major health issues or other life altering situations.

Susan Reynolds is the webmaster for a leading South African Insurance Provider who specialises in Life Insurance.

Who Benefits From A Life Insurance Policy

Monday, March 1st, 2010

Anyone who has people who depend on them financially for support should have proper life insurance coverage Life insurance should be your number one priority. How will your family survive financially when you are gone? We may think we will be here forever but the truth is we will not be. Life insurance is something we all should have.

There is nothing easier to obtain than a lump sum life insurance cover policy. Finding the right coverage amount and plan options can be the tricky part.

Before you apply for life insurance coverage there are some things to consider. Be careful not to take out too little of an amount of life insurance coverage, you should make sure the amount you decide on is sufficient for your needs .

Dont forget to account for all the bills. An online calculator will assist with determining your needs. Being under insured is a common mistake. You do not want to find yourself over insured either.

Be honest and correct when answering questions on your life insurance application. If you fail to give all the information asked of you the insurance company can refuse your application due to non disclosure.

Be sure you are getting the best price for your policy. Shop around at other insurance companies for better rates and more plan options.

Do not over pay for your policy. Life cover can be pricey if the insurance agent sees you as a larger risk.

If you want your policy amount to remain the same for the duration of the policy you should look in to Level Term assurance (LTA) coverage. If you are looking for a less expensive policy and only need coverage for a debt such as a mortgage you can buy Decreasing Term Assurance (DTA) for a great rate.

If you have any life changes happen you will need to review your cover and ensure you have sufficient coverage. Your policy needs change as your life does so review your coverage if you have any life changes such as a new baby or change of jobs. We sometimes forget that a cover policy has to afford our life so as life changes so should the policy. When you think it makes sense you should change your cover.

Always remember you can shop around for lower cost policy prices even if you already have coverage. Ensure that no valuable benefits will be lost if you terminate your policy. A new policy could be very expensive is you have had any major health problems or other life changing situations.

Susan Reynolds is the webmaster for a leading South African Insurance Provider who specialises in Life Insurance Options.

How Do You Get Life Cover

Sunday, February 28th, 2010

Anyone who has dependants should have proper life insurance coverage Having life cover should be your top concern. How will your family survive when youre gone? It is not something any of us want to think about but it is reality. We all should have proper life cover.

There is nothing easier than a lump sum life cover policy. Deciding on coverage amounts and plans might be tougher.

There are some things you should consider before applying for life insurance coverage. Make sure you have taken out a high enough amount, it is easy to take out too little. Dont forget to factor in all the bills. If you need assistance determining how much coverage to purchase use an online life cover calculator. It is a common mistake to be under-insured. Over insuring yourself is a mistake as well.

You have to determine the length of time the will be in place. Under normal situations a cover should remain in effect until children have moved from the home and all debts has been paid. Some people will end a policy after they retire. The main thing is to have the policy stay in effect long enough for your purposes.

Take careful consideration to answer all questions on the application accurately and with honesty. Being dishonest on your application or not answering all the questions asked could lead to a refusal due to non disclosure.

Putting your cover in a trust is a considerate thought. go wrong with setting up your cover in a trust. The trust ensures that the loved ones are paid once you die. Policies that are not written in a trust will be considered part of your estate and may increase the inheritance tax liability. You will find the trust form included with your policy.

Do not over pay for your policy. Expect to pay more if you are considered to be a high risk. Level Term Assurance (LTA) coverage is the most common policy purchased where your cover amount remains the same for the length of the coverage.

The most popular cover is the Level Term Assurance (LTA) where the sum of your insured amount remains the same for the length of the term. If you only need cover for payment of a mortgage or other decreasing debt you could check out Decreasing Term Assurance (DTA) for a much better rate.

If you have any life altering event you are recommended to check your policy to ensure you have the right coverage amount. Your policy needs change as your life does so review your coverage if you have any life changes like a new baby or change of jobs. Many forget that their policy may need modified to keep up with their life. Do not be afraid to make policy changes as they are needed.

Even if you already have a life cover policy you can shop around for a more affordable one. Make sure if you cancel your policy that you are not losing any needed benefits. A new policy could be higher is you have had any major health problems or other life changing situations.

Susan Reynolds is the webmaster for a leading South African Insurance Provider who specialises in Life Insurance.

Life Cover In South Africa

Friday, February 19th, 2010

As a responsible person with a financial obligations and a family, you certainly realize your need for insurance. Your goal is to purchase the right amount of insurance. If you’re over insured, you’re paying too much. But that is not as dangerous as being underinsured.

There is a simple equation to assist in determining your life cover needs. Your total cover = needs in the short term + needs in the long term – resources. The steps now listed will serves a guide in analyzing your needs. Remember, however, this formula is only approximate, so think carefully when deciding on a policy purchase.

Short-term needs: Begin by adding up all your short-term needs. These are the immediate needs your family will have upon your death, and generally fall into three categories: final expenses, outstanding debt and emergency expenses.

Medical expenses a result of your fatality, funeral expenses, attorney and executor fees, probate court costs and any outstanding taxes you would be obligated are termed as final Expenses. usage of Credit cards, vehicle loans, and education loans are outstanding debts. Emergency expenses such as medical treatment and emergencies, house renovations and repair, etc are cash reserve. you will have to overvalue the final expense as none can judge absolute hidden and crisis expenses.

Long-term needs: By using mortgage/rent amount and college Fees you can now calculate your long term obligations.

Operating expenses: Next determine your family’s normally budgeted operating expenses. This will include necessities like childcare, groceries, clothing, utilities, entertainment, and transportation for one year. Multiply this figure by the number of years you want your insurance to cover these expenses. Add the totals of these three expense categories together.

After figuring out how much your family needs to earn, you can begin looking for those resources needed. Consider the sum of your available savings, investments, the insurance payout for death benefits if any is offered at work. Also, see if your family qualifies for any government assistance programs.

Selling any assets would greatly change your lifestyle and the list should look at liquid assets, not home or cars.

The bottom line: Now subtract your resources from the amount of income you will need to meet your family’s total financial needs. This figure is a good guide to the amount of life insurance cover you should buy.

U have to be insured adequately and this analysis should be taken every three years.Adding a new baby will cause you to readjust for childcare. Also college tuition expenses is very high.when you are paying this u should remember the payment because the balance decreases with every payment.

Tom Martens is the marketing director lifeinsurance-southafrica.co.za. South Arica’sleading Life Insurance portal

Different Ways To Get Life Insurance

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

Life Insurance is a useful tool for securing your family financially after your untimely demise. All you need to do is to fill out the agreement form and pay the insurance premiums from time to time, the insurance company will pay your spouse, and family members the entire sum assured to secure their future in the case of your unexpected death. As a result, your loved ones will no longer need to live at the mercy of others.

Firstly, you need to find out the best insurance company and the best deals that suit your needs and requirements. For this, you need to talk to reliable friends, who have a fairly good knowledge about the insurance sector and find out their favorite insurance company. You can also browse online to compare different companies and deals they offer.

It is very important to opt for companies which have a prominent online visibility and which have been in business for a long period of time because this will ensure that your money is in safe hands.

Mentioned below are some of the most common ways of obtaining a life insurance cover ?

It is commonly seen that people are totally clueless about which insurance company is the best in terms of stability and returns. They also have almost no idea about how much money they should invest into life insurance. Therefore, they tend to approach a licensed insurance advisor and seek his expert guidance regarding these important financial decisions. The agent listens to their case, studies their financial situation, conducts a detailed analysis, and then comes up with a sound foolproof insurance plan to meet their specific needs.

It is usually seen that people in their late 30s with diabetes, hypertension, or any other debilitating diseases cannot get life covers unless they are ready to shell out huge premium amounts. Such employees can opt for group insurance programs sponsored by their employers. Such programs are meant for employees in a certain age range, such as 25 to 40, or so. Therefore, the premium amount is so adjusted that it suits everyone in that age range. Opting for such group insurance programs will not require you to pay as high premium as you would need to pay if you approach the life insurance company individually and therefore, many older employees are found to prefer this route to get their life insurance covers.

Purchasing life insurance online is the simplest and most reliable way of obtaining an insurance because with a simple click of the mouse you can instantly calculate your premium amounts (with help of the online tools) and the cost of the insurance. Moreover, all the discount schemes are laid down openly for you to check out. However, you would need to devote adequate time and energy to it. If this is not possible for you, then you can also use the services of online brokerage firms, who will do the customized research for you and come up with the best financial plan for you in exchange for a small fee.

Susan Reynolds is the webmaster for a leading South African Insurance Portal that provides consumers with the best Life Insurance Options.

Do You Need A Life Cover?

Sunday, February 14th, 2010

No one can deny the truth about death. It is certain, but what is not certain is its time of occurrence. There in not much that you can do to prevent death. However, you could prepare for it and ensure that your family still manages to keep going good. In other words, you could make financial arrangements for your family, even after your death.

Most insurance agents would recommend a life cover of four to eight times your salary. It implies that if your annual salary amounts to $40000, your cover must be around $16000. The formula may roughly work for most people, but may not suit you the best. You would know the requirements of your family better than any one else, and must calculate your cover on your own.

There are many things which should be kept in mind before buying an insurance policy. For instance, is your spouse working, are your kids old enough to support the family, are you a single parent, will your spouse be able to bring up the kids after you, will the financial background be enough which you leave for them and such other questions.

It makes no sense to pay high premiums, if you do not really need as much cover. If you have a handsome income, a solid back up, supportive spouse, and a desire tom live long, you may not pay high premiums. Similarly, if your financial background is not too strong, you might want to cover your self well.

Once the calculations are done of how much amount you need for a life cover for your family. There are thousands of insurance companies which provide you with multiple offers and schemes. All you need to do is collect information about the good and better schemes, compare them and choose the best one which suites your needs and requirements. The best part is you need not go door to door to collect the information but can get all of it at one single place. Internet provides you with lot of information about life insurance policies. There are various web sites that can give you lot of information about it. The information provided is well sorted and displayed. Now all you have to do is select the best one according to you.

You need to be careful about choosing the right policy. The best way to go about it is to compare some of the best policies on offer and finalize on the one that clicks your needs.

It serves well to buy a policy at earliest. You pay low premiums at a young age, and the premiums would stay low all your life. At an old age, you will have to buy a policy with high monthly premiums. You would therefore do yourself a world of good, by purchasing a policy quite early in your age.

Susan Reynolds is the content coordinator for a leading South African Insurance Provider who specialises in Life Insurance Policies.

A Comprehensive Look At Life Insurance Cover

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

The basis of deciding the appropriate life cover is not only the cost of the insurance policy. One should also assess if a cheaper policy can provide you with the right amount and type of protection coverage. Thus, the proper way of evaluating the insurance policy being offered by the insurance agent or the insurance company is to determine if the life cover can provide the protection you want to give your loved ones.

The insurance cover is the financial security that an insurance policy provides to the named beneficiary or beneficiaries in case the policyholder dies. The cover takes into effect with the payment of premiums for the insurance coverage by the policyholder. You can choose between two options when you are considering the type of coverage that is appropriate for your needs and circumstances. You can choose between a term insurance and life insurance coverage.

The life cover that we are getting can be classified as either a term or a life insurance policy. If you are searching for protection cover for just a specified time frame, then you are looking for a term insurance. This type of cover shall provide protection for just a specified period of time. The term starts from a short period of 12 months and can reach up to ten years. The protection shall be within the specified time frame and the beneficiary of a term insurance will get the full proceeds of the life cover with the death of the policyholder as long as it is within that specified time period.

There is also a special form of term insurance where the protection cover decreases over the entire period that the policy is in force. The protection cover is at its highest value at the start of the term insurance and gradually decreases over the entire spread of the insurance policy. Because of the limited period of cover, the term insurance is the cheaper of the two types of insurance cover. For a limited cover, the policyholder will pay lower premiums on term insurance policies. Further, you can not submit an application for a policy loan against a term insurance cover as it does not generate cash value over time.

A life insurance policy provides cover while at the same time generates cash value as you increase the number of premium payments made. You can look at the cash value as tax exempt form of savings that you retain as cash reserve of your policy. This cash reserve can be claimed as the cash surrender value if you decide to discontinue with your insurance cover starting from your policy?s first anniversary. In case the policyholder dies while the life insurance is in force, the named beneficiary or beneficiaries are entitled to the death benefit as stipulated in the policy contract. There are two types of life insurance cover; the universal insurance policy and the whole life insurance policy.

It is certainly very important for you to compare various policies, and finalize on the best one. You can gauge different policies on their merits and buy the one that suits your needs the best.

If flexibility is essential to you then the universal life insurance is the better option. The accrued savings can be used to reduce your premium payments. The policyholder is also given the option to submit a request for an upward adjustment of the life cover.

Susan Reynolds is the webmaster for a leading South African Insurance provider who specialises in Life Insurance.

Why Do You Need A Life Cover?

Monday, February 8th, 2010

If you are a family person then not having a life cover should surely not be your opinion. A life cover gives your family financial security, not only when you are with them but even after your death. It is essential to decide the right amount to have a life cover, which to some extend depends on your monthly salary and the savings done from it. The amount of life cover may vary from person to person. Having a life cover is the most important thing which a family man should have. If you are interested to know more about the actual amount that you need to cover for your family, you may read this discussion.

If ever you meet an insurance agent he would definitely suggest you to have a live cover which is four times or even eight times of your annual salary. If you have a salary of $40000 you would have to have a life cover of $160000. This amount may not necessarily be enough for you. You are bound to know more about your family than any insurance agent would.

There are a few important points that are to be kept in mind before deciding the right life cover for you. Like for example, what kind of financial back up have you set up for your family, is your spouse earning, are the kids old enough to manage their lives, what if you are a single parent, how are the things going to be managed by your surviving spouse, and so on.

Further, when considering a term insurance, one should also take a look into a special type of term insurance where the cover decreases during the entire duration that the life cover is in force. Thus, the beneficiary of this type of term insurance receives the maximum death benefits if the policyholder dies before the first anniversary of the policy while the former receives the lowest amount of death benefits if the policyholder dies within the last year of the policy.

Life insurance policies come in two types, namely term insurance and investment type insurance. In case of the term insurance, your family can only claim the insurance if your death occurs during the active or valid phase of the policy. Once the policy has expired, no claims can be made. As against this, investment type insurance keeps you insured as long as you live. All that you need to do is make regular payments of your premiums. This policy is also termed as the whole life policy. One good thing about this policy is that every month, the insurance company deposits some part of your premium into your investment account. You can then withdraw this amount some time later. The amount would however get paid to your family, in case you happen to die before you withdraw the money.

You could even get a handsome amount of discount from multiple insurance companies if you get a multiple policy for your kids and spouse.

If you are considering a more flexible type of life insurance, then a universal life insurance can be the ideal policy for your requirements and situation. You can use the accrued savings of the policy to adjust your premium payments.

Susan Reynolds is the content coordinator for a leading South African Insurance Provider who specialises in Life Insurance.