All investments involve a trade-off between risk and return. A certain amount of risk is inevitable if you want the potential for your money to grow. The key is determining how much risk you feel comfortable with. Know Your Risk Tolerance Are you uncomfortable with change? Can you stick with your long-term strategy even if you face short-term losses? Will …
What Is Term Life Insurance?
Once you have determined that you need life insurance, and calculated how much coverage you require, you will have to choose between several types of life insurance policies. There are two very different types of life insurance contracts — term and permanent. Term Insurance Overview Term life insurance is often referred to as “pure insurance” because it involves only the …
What Is Permanent Life Insurance?
Once you have determined that you need life insurance, and calculated how much coverage you require, you will have to choose between several types of life insurance. There are two very different types of life insurance contracts — term and permanent. Permanent Life Insurance Overview As the name implies, permanent (cash value) insurance is best suited for the individual with …
The Basics Of Homeowners Insurance
Your home and the things in it generally represent the largest asset your family will ever have. For this reason it is very important to have your home and its contents insured at all times. One should have insurance on its contents, against theft, fire, windstorm, or some other disaster. It is also wise to be insured for personal liability. …
Health Insurance – How It Works
Without health insurance, a single illness can cause serious, and often irrevocable, financial hardship. Insurance of any kind is intended to transfer financial risk to an insurance company in exchange for a reasonable insurance premium. Where most insurance coverages pay once a loss has occurred, health insurance has the added benefit of paying to keep your loss from getting worse. …
Private Mortgage Insurance
If you purchased your home paying less than 20% down, chances are you had to purchase “mortgage insurance” in order to qualify for your loan. A mortgage insurance policy protects the bank in the event they are forced to repossess your house and sell it at a loss. As with most other types of insurance, you pay a monthly premium …
Determining Your Life Insurance Coverage Needs
Like auto insurance coverage, it is sometimes difficult to see the true value of life insurance coverage until you actually need it. In the meantime, the only way you will feel comfortable with your life insurance policy is if you understand, and agree with, the reasons you bought it in the first place. There are many reasons for an individual …
Auto Insurance – How It Works
Anyone who has ever owned a car knows that automobile insurance is expensive. A survey conducted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners found that the average annual premium for each car was $855 (that includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverages). Understanding auto insurance is the first step towards ensuring that you have the right coverage at the best price. …
Your Personal Financial Statements
Personal financial statements are the roadmap that guides us from where we are today, to where we want to be tomorrow. They also provide fixed points of reference from which we can measure our progress over time. Personal Financial Statements There are two basic personal financial statements that everyone should prepare, or have a financial advisor prepare, at least once …
Year End Financial Planning
The best financial decisions are made with the benefit of time, thoughtful consideration and trusted professional advice. As tax time once again approaches, there are many things you can do to give you the flexibility to make the best long term financial decisions and prepare to minimize expenses, taxes and the headache of organizing your finances at the last minute. …