Life Insurance Settlement
January 4, 2010 by Annuity and Structured Settlement Tips
Filed under Insurance, Injury and Structured Settlements
Why Buy Life Insurance?
Life insurance is generally offered as part of a benefits package with employment. For the most part, however, these policies are rather small, usually in the ten thousand dollar range. People buy life insurance policies so that their families will not have to bear financial burden when a loved one passes on.
There is another reason to buy life insurance, however, and it is the life insurance settlement. Your life insurance policy can be settled for a large sum before the end of your lifetime, though many people are not aware of this. Others buy life insurance specifically with this reasoning in mind.
Purchasing a Life Insurance Policy
Though it may sound strange, it’s actually a good idea to buy life insurance while the policyholder is still in good health. Rates are usually cheaper when this is the case, which makes buying a life insurance policy a whole lot easier. Also, rates are less expensive if you buy life insurance while still young. If you’re young and in good health, it’s actually the best time of your life to purchase a life insurance policy - as strange as that may sound.
Don’t be afraid to do your own shopping around to find the best rates, and the best life insurance settlement. Comparison shopping is the way to make sure you get the best life insurance policy, and life insurance settlement, possible. Don’t rely on your employer to give you all the life insurance coverage you need. Generally, life insurance policies and life insurance settlements offered as part of a benefits package will not have good payoffs.
The Life Insurance Settlement
There are many reasons that you may want to settle your life insurance policy. Sometimes, a life insurance settlement is the best thing you can do for your family. For instance, when the policyholder has reached the age of seventy and there is a need for a new life insurance policy or long-term care, your best option may be a life insurance settlement. A change in health status, estate tax charge, or when the policy has outlived the beneficiaries may all be reasons to consider a life insurance settlement, as well.
A large factor in the life insurance settlement is the need for liquidation of assets. This may be due to bankruptcy or other financial reasons, or simply that the policy holder would like to acquire the sum of the life insurance settlement early. Your reasons for settling your life insurance policy are your own, and if you feel the need for a settlement then you should pursue one.
Be sure to discuss your life insurance settlement options with your insurance company. If needed, have a new life insurance policy in place before going forward with your life insurance settlement. There is no reason you cannot have two or more life insurance policies at the same time.
A life insurance settlement can allow you to enjoy some of the benefits of your life insurance policy, and be a good source of income when long-term care or extra income is needed. Be sure to discuss the exact amount that you will receive from your life insurance settlement with your insurance company, and find out the payment scale and time frame for receiving your settlement. When you agree on a life insurance settlement, the paperwork that you sign should include all of this information. Be sure to look over any paperwork very carefully before signing, because you can never be too careful with insurance companies.
Thanks to Robert Lawrence for contributing this article to our Annuities blog:
Life insurance is generally offered as part of a benefits package with employment. For the most part, however, these policies are rather small, usually in the ten thousand dollar range. People buy life insurance policies so that their families will not have to bear financial burden when a loved one passes on.
There is another reason to buy life insurance, however, and it is the life insurance settlement. Your life insurance policy can be settled for a large sum before the end of your lifetime, though many people are not aware of this. Others buy life insurance specifically with this reasoning in mind.
Purchasing a Life Insurance Policy
Though it may sound strange, it’s actually a good idea to buy life insurance while the policyholder is still in good health. Rates are usually cheaper when this is the case, which makes buying a life insurance policy a whole lot easier. Also, rates are less expensive if you buy life insurance while still young. If you’re young and in good health, it’s actually the best time of your life to purchase a life insurance policy - as strange as that may sound.
Don’t be afraid to do your own shopping around to find the best rates, and the best life insurance settlement. Comparison shopping is the way to make sure you get the best life insurance policy, and life insurance settlement, possible. Don’t rely on your employer to give you all the life insurance coverage you need. Generally, life insurance policies and life insurance settlements offered as part of a benefits package will not have good payoffs.
The Life Insurance Settlement
There are many reasons that you may want to settle your life insurance policy. Sometimes, a life insurance settlement is the best thing you can do for your family. For instance, when the policyholder has reached the age of seventy and there is a need for a new life insurance policy or long-term care, your best option may be a life insurance settlement. A change in health status, estate tax charge, or when the policy has outlived the beneficiaries may all be reasons to consider a life insurance settlement, as well.
A large factor in the life insurance settlement is the need for liquidation of assets. This may be due to bankruptcy or other financial reasons, or simply that the policy holder would like to acquire the sum of the life insurance settlement early. Your reasons for settling your life insurance policy are your own, and if you feel the need for a settlement then you should pursue one.
Be sure to discuss your life insurance settlement options with your insurance company. If needed, have a new life insurance policy in place before going forward with your life insurance settlement. There is no reason you cannot have two or more life insurance policies at the same time.
A life insurance settlement can allow you to enjoy some of the benefits of your life insurance policy, and be a good source of income when long-term care or extra income is needed. Be sure to discuss the exact amount that you will receive from your life insurance settlement with your insurance company, and find out the payment scale and time frame for receiving your settlement. When you agree on a life insurance settlement, the paperwork that you sign should include all of this information. Be sure to look over any paperwork very carefully before signing, because you can never be too careful with insurance companies.
Thanks to Robert Lawrence for contributing this article to our Annuities blog:
Robert co-founded Insurance4USA.com, an insurance quote shopping service, in 1999. He has been a licensed insurance agent in New York State since 1990.
Buying life insurance: A Shopping Checklist
November 10, 2009 by Annuity and Structured Settlement Tips
Filed under About Annuities
When shopping for term life insurance, you want to find the right amount of insurance coverage at a reasonable price with a company you can trust. But for many people, getting started is the hardest part. That’s where the following Life Insurance Checklist can help.
What you would like your policy to achieve? Ask yourself what it is you want your life insurance to do. For example, do you want to have insurance coverage that will:
• Pay funeral arrangements?
• Pay the outstanding balance owing on a mortgage and other debts?
• Offset the loss of your income? And if so, for how long?
• Contribute to the future education of your children?
• A combination of all or part of the above?
Knowing what you would like to accomplish with your life insurance policy and approximately how much you need to achieve these goals will help you determine how much life insurance you should consider purchasing. Online life insurance calculators are available to help you put a dollar value on the amount of coverage you need.
Who would you like to insure under the life insurance policy?
Most insurance companies offer a variety of life insurance products to suit your lifestyle and family needs. You can get an insurance policy on your own life, or you can get one policy for both you and your spouse (called a joint life insurance policy). The most common joint life policy provides coverage when the first partner dies, leaving the life insurance benefit to the surviving spouse.
How long will you need life insurance?
Consulting a psychic isn’t necessary, although it does require that you estimate the timing of your life insurance needs. For example:
• When will your mortgage be paid off? The amortization period of your mortgage will often determine how long your term life insurance policy should be.
• When will your children be finished school? One day they’ll finish their education and having enough life insurance coverage to pay their educational expenses won’t be necessary.
• When are you planning to retire? You will have less income to replace at that time.
Knowing how long you’ll need life insurance coverage before you begin shopping will ensure you’re comfortable with the life insurance product you end up purchasing. Online tools are available to help you figure out which term for your life insurance policy is most recommended for people with similar lifestyles.
So now that you’ve got the how much, who and how long questions answered, you’re ready to shop.
Compare life insurance quotes from multiple companies:
It pays to shop around because life insurance rates can vary considerably depending on the product you choose, your age, and the amount of coverage you request. This is the easy part, because with the Internet you can compare life insurance quotes easily, online, anytime.
Which life insurance rate has been quoted - standard or preferred? There are two basic life insurance rate groups you should know about when shopping for life insurance coverage: standard rates and preferred. Standard life insurance rates are the rates the majority of Canadians qualify for, while about one third of the population is eligible for preferred rates.
Preferred life insurance rates are typically offered to very healthy people and means you may pay a smaller premium than most. Usually preferred rates are offered only once the results of the medical information and tests are known. It will depend on your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, height, weight, and family health history. But preferred rates are worth it. They could save you up to 30-35% off your quoted premium.
When comparing prices, make sure you’re comparing ’standard to standard’ or ‘preferred to preferred’ life insurance rates. If you’re not sure, ask the broker. It would be disappointing to find out you were quoted preferred rates at the beginning, only to find out you don’t qualify for them later.
Review the life insurance broker’s availability:
How easily can you get a hold of the broker? What are their hours of operation? Whether it is through their website or telephone, the life insurance broker should be easily accessible to you should you ever have questions or need to speak to them about a change in your life insurance needs. Look for toll-free numbers and extended hours of service as guides.
Review the medical information required to obtain the policy: Typically the more medical information you provide, the better the price. For a policy that asks few or no medical questions, you can bet the premium is higher for the same coverage then a plan asking for more information. Depending on the company, your age, and the amount of coverage you want, you could be asked to provide blood and urine samples. To obtain the samples, a nurse will visit at not cost to you.
Consider a life insurer’s financial stability and strength: A company’s financial stability is something to consider if you are planning on making a long-term purchase like life insurance. There are organizations out there, like A.M. Best, that evaluate insurers and provide a rating on their stability and strength.
Ask about renewal options and requirements: Once the initial premium is set, it is usually guaranteed for the length of the policy (often 10 or 20 years). But what happens when the policy expires? Most policies are renewable until you are 70 or 75 so don’t forget to ask your broker if you will have to take a medical to renew your policy. While your premiums will be higher on renewal, find out if they will also be guaranteed to remain level for the second term of the policy.
Confirm the policy can be cancelled without penalty: Most term life insurance policies can be cancelled at any time without penalty. Make sure to check with your broker to see if the life insurance company has any unusual cancellation policies.
Consider the conversion options and restrictions for the policy: As your life changes so do your life insurance needs and you may want the option to convert your coverage some day.
To convert a term life insurance policy means to transfer all, or part of, the death benefit of the policy into a permanent life policy without a medical. For example, say you originally bought a term policy to protect a mortgage and child. Once the mortgage is paid and the child grown, you might find it desirable to convert the policy into one that will give you a new level premium for the rest of your life, and a death benefit that is guaranteed not to expire as you age.
When you purchase your life insurance policy, find out if there are any limitations on your age at the time of conversion. In most cases, you have the option of converting up until you are 60 or 65. As well, ensure you are given several options of the type of policies you can move into, the more the better.
Final tip - choose a life insurance broker you trust: While it doesn’t necessarily impact the type of policy you choose to purchase, a rapport with your broker is critical in feeling comfortable with the life insurance policy you buy and the information you’ve received.
Thanks to Kade Phillips for contributing this article to our Annuities blog:
What you would like your policy to achieve? Ask yourself what it is you want your life insurance to do. For example, do you want to have insurance coverage that will:
• Pay funeral arrangements?
• Pay the outstanding balance owing on a mortgage and other debts?
• Offset the loss of your income? And if so, for how long?
• Contribute to the future education of your children?
• A combination of all or part of the above?
Knowing what you would like to accomplish with your life insurance policy and approximately how much you need to achieve these goals will help you determine how much life insurance you should consider purchasing. Online life insurance calculators are available to help you put a dollar value on the amount of coverage you need.
Who would you like to insure under the life insurance policy?
Most insurance companies offer a variety of life insurance products to suit your lifestyle and family needs. You can get an insurance policy on your own life, or you can get one policy for both you and your spouse (called a joint life insurance policy). The most common joint life policy provides coverage when the first partner dies, leaving the life insurance benefit to the surviving spouse.
How long will you need life insurance?
Consulting a psychic isn’t necessary, although it does require that you estimate the timing of your life insurance needs. For example:
• When will your mortgage be paid off? The amortization period of your mortgage will often determine how long your term life insurance policy should be.
• When will your children be finished school? One day they’ll finish their education and having enough life insurance coverage to pay their educational expenses won’t be necessary.
• When are you planning to retire? You will have less income to replace at that time.
Knowing how long you’ll need life insurance coverage before you begin shopping will ensure you’re comfortable with the life insurance product you end up purchasing. Online tools are available to help you figure out which term for your life insurance policy is most recommended for people with similar lifestyles.
So now that you’ve got the how much, who and how long questions answered, you’re ready to shop.
Compare life insurance quotes from multiple companies:
It pays to shop around because life insurance rates can vary considerably depending on the product you choose, your age, and the amount of coverage you request. This is the easy part, because with the Internet you can compare life insurance quotes easily, online, anytime.
Which life insurance rate has been quoted - standard or preferred? There are two basic life insurance rate groups you should know about when shopping for life insurance coverage: standard rates and preferred. Standard life insurance rates are the rates the majority of Canadians qualify for, while about one third of the population is eligible for preferred rates.
Preferred life insurance rates are typically offered to very healthy people and means you may pay a smaller premium than most. Usually preferred rates are offered only once the results of the medical information and tests are known. It will depend on your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, height, weight, and family health history. But preferred rates are worth it. They could save you up to 30-35% off your quoted premium.
When comparing prices, make sure you’re comparing ’standard to standard’ or ‘preferred to preferred’ life insurance rates. If you’re not sure, ask the broker. It would be disappointing to find out you were quoted preferred rates at the beginning, only to find out you don’t qualify for them later.
Review the life insurance broker’s availability:
How easily can you get a hold of the broker? What are their hours of operation? Whether it is through their website or telephone, the life insurance broker should be easily accessible to you should you ever have questions or need to speak to them about a change in your life insurance needs. Look for toll-free numbers and extended hours of service as guides.
Review the medical information required to obtain the policy: Typically the more medical information you provide, the better the price. For a policy that asks few or no medical questions, you can bet the premium is higher for the same coverage then a plan asking for more information. Depending on the company, your age, and the amount of coverage you want, you could be asked to provide blood and urine samples. To obtain the samples, a nurse will visit at not cost to you.
Consider a life insurer’s financial stability and strength: A company’s financial stability is something to consider if you are planning on making a long-term purchase like life insurance. There are organizations out there, like A.M. Best, that evaluate insurers and provide a rating on their stability and strength.
Ask about renewal options and requirements: Once the initial premium is set, it is usually guaranteed for the length of the policy (often 10 or 20 years). But what happens when the policy expires? Most policies are renewable until you are 70 or 75 so don’t forget to ask your broker if you will have to take a medical to renew your policy. While your premiums will be higher on renewal, find out if they will also be guaranteed to remain level for the second term of the policy.
Confirm the policy can be cancelled without penalty: Most term life insurance policies can be cancelled at any time without penalty. Make sure to check with your broker to see if the life insurance company has any unusual cancellation policies.
Consider the conversion options and restrictions for the policy: As your life changes so do your life insurance needs and you may want the option to convert your coverage some day.
To convert a term life insurance policy means to transfer all, or part of, the death benefit of the policy into a permanent life policy without a medical. For example, say you originally bought a term policy to protect a mortgage and child. Once the mortgage is paid and the child grown, you might find it desirable to convert the policy into one that will give you a new level premium for the rest of your life, and a death benefit that is guaranteed not to expire as you age.
When you purchase your life insurance policy, find out if there are any limitations on your age at the time of conversion. In most cases, you have the option of converting up until you are 60 or 65. As well, ensure you are given several options of the type of policies you can move into, the more the better.
Final tip - choose a life insurance broker you trust: While it doesn’t necessarily impact the type of policy you choose to purchase, a rapport with your broker is critical in feeling comfortable with the life insurance policy you buy and the information you’ve received.
Thanks to Kade Phillips for contributing this article to our Annuities blog:
For more information on life insurance, or to get quotes, http://www.kanetix.ca/term-life-insurance service provides instant online quotes from some of Canada’s most recognized and trusted life insurance companies.
