For Better or Worse, For Richer or

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For Better or Worse, For Richer or - ...

Despite the fact that half of marriages end in divorce, we never really do that they will divorce. Entering the wedding, we all think we are in the other 50%.

When you go through a divorce there is so much to think about. So much to negotiate with someone you try to separate yourself from. However, once you have children, you're really attached to that other person forever ... several days I thought, "Well, this is what is meant by a better or worse part of those greeting marriage. "

So in the middle of thinking about child care, housing, child support, alimony, who will get the antique armoire that you both like (me), the grid (him), life insurance is not the first thing that comes to mind. Or at least it was not for us. We are both young (ish) and healthy. both our parents lived to ripe old ages.

what are you doing about life insurance when you decide to divorce?

We had to consider what the Average life insurance. what kind of life do we want our children to be able to have if one of us is not there? When I got married, I used to joke with my husband that I wanted he has enough life insurance so that if I were forced to live without him, it would be at least in a style to which I'd become accustomed. There is some truth in that. If my children lose one of us, I will not add to the loss by subjecting them to a financial burden.

we've added all the years of support for children who need to be replaced. The college fund , music lessons, summer camps, sports equipment, ed driver During the SAT, the list continued and so on. We examined each and had the exact even thought, "Damn these children are expensive ." Followed quickly by, "Who had the idea to have them in the first place?"

Oh, I'm kidding. Who would want to give up nights without sleep, without disturbing end paycheck deposit directly into the bank account of the pediatrician?

We added all these things and then some to our final figure. Although we are divorcing each other, we both recognize that not having financial difficulties makes us better parents. And most of all, we both want the other to be the best parents that we can be for our children.

based on my experience with friends who have gone through divorce, they allowed their animosity for their former spouse to cloud their thinking. they viewed politics life insurance benefiting somehow their former spouse, instead of children. As if they imagined the person greedily rubbing their hands over their graves while fantasizing about a new sports car.

When our youngest child reaches 21 , we can legally do what we want with our policy of life insurance and designate a new beneficiary. In all likelihood, we will always keep the other list. the amount may be changed. Maybe there will be new policies with new partners added. It is still a long absence. But one thing I am certain, and it is very little I am sure these days divorce is no one else in this world has the best interest of our children at heart the way that we do. And even in the midst of arguing, bickering, and generally fool to another, it is important to remember that.

Women short-changed when it comes to life insurance

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Women short-changed when it comes to life insurance -

September is Life Insurance Awareness Month (LIAM), and here is an example of the reasons which that consumer awareness campaign is so important. A recent MetLife study found that many women who work may be short-changing themselves and their families regarding their coverage of life insurance. According to the study, four out of five employees today believe their life insurance coverage is adequate, but 45% of working women and 28% of working men with life insurance have not evaluated their needs since obtaining their first policy. This can leave them and their families financially vulnerable in the event of premature death.

Working women with life insurance are also nearly twice as likely as men (21% against 12%) acknowledge that they do not know how much coverage they have and are also more likely to underestimate how much coverage they need. The study indicates that a good starting point for a life insurance coverage is generally the outstanding debt plus five years of salary. However, 54% of women and 47% of men believe coverage equal to their debt as well as three years' salary or less will suffice. While only one in four men or women considered debt when calculating their life insurance needs, 52% want their death benefit to cover these obligations.

I think the good life insurance number should be a minimum of 10 times income and could be much higher based on the family and economic conditions. Calculators, the LIFE Foundation Life Insurance Needs Calculator and Calculator-value human life can help you determine the exact amount of your situation and lifestyle.

The study also pointed out that men and women have different desires for what they want their insurance policies to cover. Almost three quarters (73%) of married men say their # 1 waiting for their coverage of life insurance is to pay for future living expenses for their spouse, compared with 47% of married women. For married women, the # 1 is waiting to cover their final expenses (69% against 55% of married men). However, men and married women express nearly identical levels of interest in protecting the financial future of their children.

"It is so important to be an educated consumer regarding the development of a sound financial plan. Not only women should consider life insurance coverage on themselves to protect loved ones but also encourage spouses or partners to have coverage as well. otherwise, the sudden loss of vital income may have a negative long-term impact for the survivor and retired, "says Cindy Hounsell, President of the women's Institute for a secure retirement.

Over a quarter of respondents to the study were unfamiliar with the basic features of their own life insurance policies. for example, 24% of employees who say they have term life insurance believe that this coverage provides financial protection for an unlimited period. in fact, term insurance provides financial protection for a defined period of time, such as 10, 15 or 20 years, or if provided through an employer group policy maintained for the duration of employment. At the end of these periods, the long-term coverage can be continued, but usually with much higher premiums. In addition, 28% of employees with permanent life insurance are unaware that permanent life insurance can create the cash value as they pay their premiums. the permanent life insurance policies can be used to accumulate, protect and transfer wealth.

Employees may also not be leveraging life insurance as effectively as they could to meet their needs. About a third of employees with coverage do not realize that life insurance, in addition to providing a death benefit, can be a strategic method to supplement retirement benefits and assistance in estate planning.

Consumer education is that the LIFE Foundation is all about. Use our resources to help you make informed decisions about life insurance to protect you and your family.

What is a legacy? Remember Steve Jobs biography

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What is a legacy? Remember Steve Jobs biography -

Apple CEO Steve Jobs was released yesterday; his biographer, Walter Isaacson speaks frankly genius of Mr. Jobs here. I watched with respect and wonder how people around the world reacted to his death. More than a million people from all over the word shared their memories and feelings about Mr. Jobs on the Apple website.

There was certainly an innovator, and the products that Apple sells contributed to an easier and more enjoyable way of life for many people. I am even typing this blog on my iPad.

However, it was just a man.

It reminds me of how people reacted when Elvis Presley died. Here in my hometown of Memphis, people come from all over the world every year to celebrate the anniversary of Elvis' death. We call this week "Dead Elvis week." I have to wonder if Apple fans will do the same for the anniversary of the death of Mr. Jobs.

The famous and influential people have this effect on others.

However, the real question is: How are you will remember your family and friends? Of course, things like souvenirs, caring friends and faith are all important and likely to help ease the emotional trauma your family will feel when you, like Steve Jobs is no longer with us.

But most mere mortals that I know do not have the financial wealth that Steve Jobs had, so how we plan for "life after the financial death" our aura family is absolutely essential.

life insurance serves this purpose better than any other product I know.? I know, you think life insurance

Do not think that the insurance life is ... think about what he not

life insurance finance future permits to pursue dreams and maintains families in their homes and their schools of choice. It replaces lost income, provides peace of mind, allowing time to adjust, and, if I may put it bluntly, even creates your financial legacy.

Legacies last forever. Will yours be one of comfort, convenience and financial security for your family? Or other able to tell your lack of planning by the changes your family might be forced to do because all they have is memories and friends and caring neighbors, but not the financial capacity to maintain their way of life? Does your family want? Do you feel they need?

Call your financial advisor today if you want to know how to use life insurance to fund your financial legacy.

Dollars for Pennies Apiece

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Dollars for Pennies Apiece -

This is what we sell in our industry. Dollars for pennies each. Dollars for future delivery at a time when they are most needed. These are the products received by life, disability and long term care insurance.

Compare the premium paid annually for the ultimate benefit to be received by the time you, your family or your business need most; when the policy pays the product it was designed.

Let me demonstrate what I mean. If you are a 45 year old healthy decisions $ 50,000 per year, you would probably qualify for 10 to 20 times your income in life insurance, and the basic rule is that you will need at least 10 times your income in life insurance. Suppose you buy $ 500,000 of new life insurance. How much does it cost?

A value of redemption permanent life insurance policy with a level premium paid up to 100 years would cost about $ 300 a month while a term life insurance policy would be less than 20 years $ 50 per month. Compare premiums paid to the nominal value of the ultimate death benefit policies to receive. The policy of permanent cash value costs less than a penny per year for each death benefit dollar. This means that you pay less than 1% of the face value of the policy year to give your family the ultimate benefit of $ 500,000; less than a penny per dollar by year. Now that is what I call dollars for pennies each.

Ensure Your Love

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Ensure Your Love -

We do a lot of great things to show our families and loved ones how much we appreciate and love them, planning big family vacation to take our significant other to a romantic night.

All these gestures show our love, but there is one thing you can do to cement that love in the future, even after you are gone, and that is to buy insurance -life.

to the LIFE Foundation, we Aore celebrating who, AOVE taken that extra step and life insurance coverage obtained with our line Ensure Your Love Mosaic. Over a thousand people have already downloaded photos to the mosaic of those They, AOVE protected. It, AOS therefore interesting to see how each story is different, but in its essence: take care of those you love. Take a look at these:

And, of course, I added my own:

And how about ? It only takes a few minutes and in doing so, you can help spread the word about the importance of protecting those you love with life insurance.

For each photo that gets uploaded to the mosaic, LIFE will donate $ 1 to fund scholarships for life lessons studies, giving tuition to college-age students who lost a parent.

and if you post a photo and caption of February 29 you, Äôll be entered LIFE, AOS photo competition, with a chance to win one of five $ 100 gift certificates so that you can take your loved one (s!) for a lovely evening.

Help for a family of One

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Help for a family of One -

We spend a lot of time talking about how couples, families and businesses can protect their financial future with life insurance. But what about if you only do you need life insurance, too?

There are people who have no children, person depending on their income, no financial obligations current and sufficient liquidity to cover their final expenses. But how many of those people do you really? And, more importantly, are you one of them?

I think it's important, then, to illustrate how a purchase of life insurance can be a smart financial move for someone who is single with no children. Ask yourself these three questions can help you get to the heart of the matter:

• Do you provide financial support for elderly parents or siblings
• Do you have a large debt that you not want to spend? the surviving family members if you were to die prematurely?
• Have family members pay for your education?

life insurance is a great way to meet these obligations, and in the case of tuition fees, pay the family members for their support. But do not take my word for it. Instead, "do your own calculation." A need that life insurance Calculator can help you quickly understand if there is a need, a need that you might not be aware of that could be easily treated with life insurance.

In addition to meeting all financial obligations you may have, the current economic climate was the permanent life insurance an attractive way to help you build a secure long-term rate of return on assets safe currency. cash value in traditional life insurance can provide a long-term rate of 3% to 5% return over 20 years. This can provide you money for opportunities, emergencies and even retirement.

For young singles, keep in mind that you have youth on your side. I do not want to sound trite. Instead, I want you to think about the fact that buying life insurance is very affordable when you are young and you can protect your insurability when there is a future need, perhaps, in time the spouse and children.

Although these reasons are valid, the most important reason for you to consider life insurance can be peace of mind you have knowing that your financial obligations will be met if some happens.

A Push From the Heart

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A Push From the Heart -

Greg Knoll and Melissa were in love college and married soon after graduation. Young and active, they were excited about the possibilities that the future and happy to be sharing the journey. While in their mid 20s, they began to make the future concrete buying a house and planning a family. They realized that this would be a good idea to talk to their insurance agent. It's a good thing they did, that life had an unexpected way for them to take.

Melissa tells its own story much better than me, so please watch.

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Every time I look at this video, I think the sadness that must have enveloped their families. It's hard not to cry. But I also think of Melissa's words and I wonder if it is a small silver lining: "I hope a young couple sees our message and pushes the heart to make a decision that will take care of their families. "I hope so, too.