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Saturday, 1 February 2014
Wednesday, 16 October 2013
Steps to Buying Life Insurance
1. Understand what
you want
• Know yourself
• Know your goals
• Know your budget
• Know how much insurance you need
• Know how much money you want to
spend
2. Compare costs of
competing policies
•Do your homework and shop around, not
just on price, but on benefits, coverage, and exclusions. Possible comparisons:
•Annual Premiums: Participating or non-participating? If participating, the 5 year dividend history? This year?
•Total premium cost over the next 10
years (excluding dividends)
•In 10 years, what will be your
cash/loan value? Paid-up conversion
value? Extended term conversion value?
•Total Premium cost over 20 years?
•In 20 years, what will be your
cash/loan value? Paid-up conversion
value? Extended term conversion value?
•At what interest rate can you borrow
against the policy? Is the interest rate
guaranteed?
Steps to Buying Life Insurance (continued)
3. Select only a high-quality insurance company based on
company ratings
•Price is not the only criteria. You also want the company to be around to pay
the benefits. Remember, you are looking
for a long-term insurance relationship
4. Select an
insurance agent with whom you feel comfortable and are not pressured
•Study the agent’s recommendations and
ask for a point-by-point explanation if there are items you don’t understand
•Understand how the agent is getting
compensated
•If they can’t (or won’t) explain all
the costs and benefits, go to someone who can
•Do your homework
ü5. Use wisdom in your decisions
•Make sure you check out the insurance
company and read your policy when you receive it to ensure it is correct. It must all be in writing!
•Consider alternative approaches: the
net or an advisor
•Make sure you feel good about the
decision before you sign anything or send money. Don’t rush into a decision.
•Make your check payable to the
insurance company, not the agent, and be sure you are given a receipt for all
money’s given.
Steps to Buying Life Insurance (continued)
There is a difference between choosing an agent, and being
chosen by an agent. The selection
decision is up to you—use it wisely.
•Read your policy carefully during
your “free-look” period. Review your
insurance policy annually after that.
•If you are changing policies, make
sure you clearly understand the consequences.
Surrendering your policy to buy another could be very, very,
very (get the hint) costly.
•If you have a complaint, contact your
agent and the state insurance department
üb. Other
information for a needs approach would be funeral expenses, debt elimination,
children’s educational expenses, mission expenses, social security benefits,
etc. Notice that the earnings multiple approach does not take into account your
individual level of savings or your current financial condition.
Questions
•Do
you have any questions on life insurance?
B. Understand the Key Areas
of Disability Insurance
Determining Which Type of Life Insurance Is Best for You
üFor most, convertible
(convertible to a cash-value policy) renewable (up to 30 years) term is the
cheapest and best alternative (especially for students)
•Goal:
Income Replacement of breadwinner
•Relatively low cost
•Affordable coverage when life
insurance is needed the most
•Can afford to carry the coverage
needed for the time needed
•While it becomes very expensive with
age, it may be less necessary as your other assets grow so
you may need less insurance in the future
üCash-value
insurance may be the best choice if you meet very specific
criteria:
•Goal: Medical Insurability. You have a history of medical problems (and
if you already have convertible term insurance) you can’t be denied life
insurance if you convert
•Goal: Estate Planning. Your assets are very large, and you have
estate planning issues (i.e., you need to shield some of your assets should you
die)
•Goal: Retirement Savings. You have already
invested the maximums in your tax deferred accounts (IRA, 401k, Roth, SEP-IRA,
etc.) and want additional tax-deferred savings
üStill unsure of yourself?
•Consider a renewable convertible term
policy.
•It allows the low cost of term
insurance, with the ability to convert to a cash policy in the future within a
specific number of years
•It gives you time to re-evaluate your
current situation and still retain coverage for you and your family
Note of caution:
•Because of the complexity and high
setup costs for cash-value life insurance, it is very expensive to change. It is therefore of critical importance that
you understand why you are buying and what you are buying before
you purchase your policy. These
contracts are very expensive to change
•Consumers
lose a significant amount of money each year because they buy policies they
don’t understand and then cancel them a few years later.
•Remember
the key principles of insurance
Cash-Value Insurance
üWhat is cash-value or
permanent insurance?
•It is an insurance contract that is
purchased for your entire life with premiums divided between death protection
and savings.
üWhat are its advantages?
•Provides insurance that cannot be
cancelled
•Can be used for estate, retirement,
and “forced” savings
•What
are its disadvantages?
•It is very complex and expensive
•Unless premiums are paid, it can
expire worthless
•Certain cash-value products can lose
money
Understanding Cash Value
Insurance:
The Process
The Process
üDifferent types of cash-value
insurance?
•Whole life. For those who want term protection with a
savings element
•Universal life insurance.
For those who want a flexible policy that combines term protection and tax-deferred
savings
•Variable life. For
those who want term protection and to manage their own investments with an
opportunity for tax-deferred savings.
•Variable Universal Life. For those who want term protection, full
policy flexibility, and to manage their own investments
üThe
differences in cash-value products relate to the goals, types of investments,
and flexibility
•Goals: The type of return and risk the insured are
willing to take with their investments.
•Types of investments: The types of investment vehicles the
non-mortality portion of the premiums are invested in, i.e., long-term bonds,
short-term cash, stocks, etc.
•Investment, premium and face
amount flexibility: The ability
to change the type of investments, monthly premium amounts, or the face value
amount during the life of the contract.
üThe key is to understand why
you want cash-value life insurance
•Understand your needs
•Understand the individual polices of
competing life insurance companies, i.e., the charges and deductions of the
insurance company, and fees and expenses of the mutual funds/assets invested in
•Select the policy that gives you
maximum benefit at the lowest possible cost to you.
üWhy are cash value premiums higher than term?
•It is priced for your entire life
•Earlier premiums must be priced
higher to take into account that mortality costs increase as you age
•It includes a savings component
•These savings must be funded
•It cannot be terminated by the
insurance company
•95% of all cash-value policies are
paid
•It is more costly and time consuming
to administer
•There are more and higher up-front
and operating fees, and sales and other charges are higher
üIt is not
uncommon for the deductions and fees to range between 5% and 15% of every
dollar you put into some types of cash-value insurance.
•As such, the cash-value portion of
this life insurance grows slower than a term policy with the remainder invested
üCash-value
insurance is not for everyone, but it may be for some
•Key is to understand your needs and
the needs cash-value insurance can fill
•Estate planning, Retirement planning,
after all other tax-deferred vehicles have been filled, and Forced savings (but
it is not as good as other savings vehicles)
Cash-value Insurance
Important questions to ask about cash-value insurance:
•Are
the premiums within my budget? Are costs
reasonable?
•Can
I commit to these premiums over the long-term?
•On
a variable life policy, what is the assumed interest rate in the illustration?
•Is
the classification shown in the illustration appropriate for me (i.e. smoker/non
smoker, male/female)
•Which
figures are guaranteed and which are not?
•Will
I be notified if the non-guaranteed amounts change?
•Is
the death benefit guaranteed?
•Will
the premiums always be the same, even if interest rates are lower that the
illustration?
•Is
the illustrated premium sufficient to guarantee protection for my entire life?
•Is
the “current rate” illustrated actually the rate paid recently? What was the current rate in each of the last
five years?
•What
assumptions have been used regarding company expenses, dividends, and policy
lapse rates?
•Does
all my cash value earn the current rate?
•Is
the illustration based on the “cash surrender value” or “cash value?” The cash surrender value is usually lower and
reflects what will be paid if the policy is cancelled.
Cash-value Insurance for Students
üKey Questions:
•Can you commit to the premiums over
the long-term?
•How can you, when you may not have a
job?
•Do you need the tax benefits now?
•A 401k or IRA may be better? Fill those first
•Are the rates of return guaranteed?
•No.
Be careful of people selling these products who do not know what they
are selling?
•Do you have a history of medical
problems that would preclude your ability to get term insurance?
•In this case, you “might” look into
cash-value or convertible term insurance)
What are the different types of life insurance?
•Term insurance
•Cash value (or endowment)
•Note:
All life insurance is term insurance.
The difference is that cash-value insurance has a separate investment
component that accrues, after fees and expenses (and these may be substantial),
without taxes
Life Insurance Policy Terms
üPremium
üThe monthly
cost of the policy
üFace value
üThe benefit
due upon death
üInsured
üThe person
whose life is covered by the policy
üPolicy owner
üThe
individual or business that pays for and owns the policy
üBeneficiary
üThe recipient
of the benefit upon the death of the insured
Different Types of Life Insurance
üWhat is Term Insurance?
•Insurance protection for the insured
over a specific term or time period.
üWhat are its advantages?
•It is the least expensive form of
insurance
•Death benefit coverage is for a
specific term
üWhat are its disadvantages?
•It is only valid if the insured dies
during the term
•Insurance may not be renewed once
your term expires
•Advancing age increases the cost of
insurance
Understanding Term Insurance:
The Process
The Process
üWhat are the different types
of Term Insurance?
üRenewable
term insurance
•Can be renewed for a specific number
of years
•Generally have a guaranteed maximum
premium for some period of time
•The longer the guaranteed premium
(.i.e., 10 years), the higher the monthly or annual premium
üDecreasing term insurance
•Premiums remain constant while the
face amount of coverage decreases
•This takes into account the fact that
the mortality cost of term insurance increases in later years
•Generally for a specific loss
coverage, such as mortgage or child dependency where need changes
üConvertible term life
insurance
•Term policy that can be changed to
cash-value policy within a specific number of years
Term Insurance (continued)
üWhy are premiums for term much
less than cash-value?
•You are only paying for insurance for
a specific period, i.e. risk is priced one period at a time
•95% of term policies lapse without
payment
•It is generally for a shorter period,
i.e. 1-10 years.
•The longer the period, the more
insurance companies must charge higher fees in the early years to offset the
more expensive mortality charges and fees in the later years
•Term is generally easier and cheaper
to administer
•Fees and sales charges are less
complex
Term Insurance (continued)
üKey questions when purchasing
term insurance:
•How long can I keep this policy?
•What are the renewal terms of the
contract?
•When will my premiums increase?
•Can I convert my term policy to a
permanent or cash-value policy? What are
the details?
•How strong is the company
financially?
How is it calculated?
ü1. Adjust
salary down to compensate for the reduction in household expenses
2. Choose the
appropriate interest rate to match the assumed after-tax and after-inflation
earnings on the policy settlement.
ü3. Determine
the income stream replacement and annuity
The Needs Approach
üHow is it calculated?
1. Adjust the salary downward
2. Add up all funding needs
The total needs of the beneficiaries includes: immediate,
debt elimination, transitional, dependency, spousal life income, education, and
retirement funds
3. Subtract current insurance coverage and other
available assets
This is additional coverage necessary
4. Determine the
income stream replacement and calculate the needed annuity
Life Insurance and Your Investment Plan
V. What Kind of Life
Insurance?
How much Life Insurance?
üHow do you
determine your Life Insurance needs?
From the old LDS Handbook for Families it states:
•Insure the family’s breadwinner
first, then others, if desired, as income permits. At a minimum, get enough
life insurance to pay for such things as a funeral, taxes, mortgage on the home,
car payments, and other debts. The next priority should be to get enough
insurance that, supplemented by any government retirement benefits the
surviving spouse may be entitled to, there will be sufficient to provide for
the family and to make provisions for the children’s education and missions.
“Handbook for Families: Preparing for
Emergencies,” Ensign, Dec. 1990, 59.
üThere are two different
methods of determining how much life insurance.
•The earnings multiple approach
•The goal is earnings replacement
•It seeks to replace the annual salary
stream of a bread winner for X years, normally 5 – 15 times gross salary is
recommended.
•The lower general interest rates, the
higher the multiple needed
Who needs Life Insurance?
üWho needs life insurance?
•Not everyone needs life
insurance. Those who do include:
üSingle or
married with dependents or children
üMarried,
single income couple where the spouse has insufficient work skills or savings
üBusiness
owners who wish to transfer their businesses to the next generation
üThose whose
estate exceeds the estate tax-free transfer threshold
How does Life Insurance Work?
üInsurance is an example of
risk pooling
•Individuals transfer (share) their
financial risks with others to reduce catastrophic losses from:
•Death
•Accidents, or
•Health problems
Why Life Insurance?
•Insurance is for emergency planning
and control of your life
•We have been commanded to keep
adequate insurance
•Death is not an excuse for not taking
care of our families
How can life insurance help?
•The investor purchases a cash-value
product with low fees and expenses, and can direct, to a degree, where the
assets are invested. This become forced
savings to aid in achieving the investor’s goals.
•The investor, upon retirement (or
even before), can then borrow against the account.
Why have life insurance?
•It
transfers the economic loss of death from an individual to a insurance company
by way of a life insurance contract
•It
can help us take care of our own and extended families should we die
•Death
is not an excuse for disobedience
üOther Benefits:
Estate Planning
•Life insurance products can be
helpful in making sure there are sufficient funds for estate tax purposes
üAn owner has
a business worth $3 million. When he
dies, he wants the business to pass to his son. How can life insurance help?
•The owner puts the business in a
trust, with the son as trustee, and buys a $750,000 life insurance policy, with
his trust as beneficiary.
•When he dies, the trust takes the
$750,000 policy and pays the estate
taxes. The son is the beneficiary and
now owns the business estate-tax free.
üRetirement
Planning
•The cash-value portion of life
insurance grows tax-free, after (lots of) fees and expenses
üAn investor
wants to save for retirement. He has
already invested the maximum in his 401k, Roth IRA, and other vehicles. How can life insurance help?
•A cash value product provides both a
death benefit and savings component. The
cash value portion grows tax deferred after fees and expenses
•The investor can borrow against the
cash value in the insurance contract for a low-cost loan. He will pay a
specified interest rate for the loan, and if not paid back, the death benefit
is reduced
üForced Savings
•For those without the discipline,
life insurance can be an expensive type of forced savings
üThe investor is unable to save
for retirement, although he is good at paying his bills.
Should you insure against all losses?
•No.
Some losses are not as critical as others. Insure against the critical or serious losses
üCan you classify your risks?
•Yes.
I like two thoughts:
•Frequency of loss
•How often does the loss happen?
•Severity of loss
•How severe are the results if the
loss happens?
•What is the key to insurance?
•You need to balance the cost of
reducing risk with the severity of the loss
•Insure against high severity losses
that rarely occur—those that could have a major impact on the financial
condition of you and your family
•Reduce and avoid those other risks
that you can
How do you eliminate risk?
•Avoid it. You can take care of yourself, avoid high
risk occupations, eat well, and exercise.
•Reduce it. You can reduce some risks by adding fire
extinguishers and burglar alarms, adding airbags, or getting regular medical
checkups
•Assume it. You
can assume the risk through self-insurance. If the costs are not too high, you can assume
some risks yourself
•Transfer it. You can transfer the risk to others by
purchasing insurance. You are paying
premiums to transfer the risk to an insurance company.
What are the major types of insurance?
•Life Insurance, Health Insurance, and Auto, Home,
Disability, and Liability Insurance
üWhat is the purpose of insurance?
•The purpose of insurance is to
transfer the risk of certain types of losses or events from yourself to another
institution.
•By transferring risk, it can help you
and those you love achieve your specific goals if you die, get sick or become
unable to work
•Specific goals may include:
•To take care of your spouse and
children
•To raise children without working
outside the home
•To be able to go to college and on missions
What is insurance?
Insurance is a legal contract between
you and an insurance firm whereby the firm agrees for a premium (fee) to pay
you compensation for certain kinds of losses or events, i.e., death, sickness,
compensation for accidents, loss of ability to work, legal expenses, etc.
What is life insurance?
Insurance
that provides compensation to your beneficiaries should you die
prematurely.
This
is a high severity risk
Insurance Basics
üInsurance is
an important part of becoming financially self-reliant. Elder Marvin J. Ashton
said:
•Appropriately involve yourself in an
insurance program. It is most important to have sufficient medical, automobile,
and homeowner’s insurance and an adequate life insurance program. Costs
associated with illness, accident, and death may be so large that uninsured
families can be financially burdened for many years. (Marvin J. Ashton, “Guide
to Family Finance,” Liahona, Apr. 2000, 42.)
Insurance Basics (continued)
üPresident N. Eldon Tanner
further commented:
•With rising medical costs, health
insurance is the only way most families can meet serious accident, illness, or
maternity costs, particularly those for premature births. Life insurance
provides income continuation when the provider prematurely dies. Every
family should make provision for proper health and life insurance.
(N. Eldon Tanner, “Constancy Amid Change,” Ensign, Nov. 1979, 80.)
Insurance Basics (continued)
Friday, 13 September 2013
શા માટે વીમો ?
તો તેના જવાબો આ રહ્યા
વીમો એ તમારા કુટુમ્બ પ્રત્યેના પ્રેમનુ પ્રતીક છે,.
વીમો તમે મરવાના છો અટલે નહી પરંતુ જો કદાચ તમને કઇક થઇ જાય અને તેને કારણે તમારા ઘરે આવી પડેલી આર્થીક પરિસ્થીતી ને પહોચી વળવા માટે તમારા કુટુમ્બ ને બીજાનો આધાર ના રાખવો પડે તેમજ બીજાની પાસે ભિખ ના માગવી પડે તે માટે હોય છે નહિ કે મરવા માટે.
ટુંકમાં વીમો એટલે તમે મરવાના છો એટલે નહી પરંતુ જો તમે ના રહ્યા ત્યારે તેવા સમયે તમારો પરિવાર આર્થીક મુસીબતો નો સામનો કરી શકે તેમજ જીવન જરૂરિયાતો પુરી પાડી શકે એટલા માટે હોય છે.
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