Money Savvy » Insurance

Why Would You Need Identity Theft Information?

Author — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 02:10:51 +0000

You hear about identity theft all the time on the radio and on television. Americans hear about identity theft so much that many have become desensitized to the very real danger that identity theft poses. Many people see it so much on the news that they are starting to believe that it can never happen to them. Some people never look into identity theft information until it has happened to them and by then it is too late. Some people get a wake up call and start looking into identity theft information when identity theft does not happen directly to them but when it does happen close to them. Whatever you inspiration is for getting more identity theft information the fact is that it can happen to anyone and many people actual ignore the warning signs even when those warning signs seem to be so obvious to everyone else.

A couple of years ago my credit union sent me a letter saying that someone I had done business with on my credit card had credit card information stolen. My credit union canceled my card and issued me a new one and saved me from identity theft. That close call caused me to look deeper into identity theft information and make sure that I was doing everything I could to prevent my identity from being stolen. It turns out that there is a lot of free and valuable identity theft information available for people to look over that can help everyone prevent their identity from being stolen and many of the steps are not only free but they are very easy to take. The volume of good identity theft information out there is large so take the time to review it and call your bank if you have any questions.

Then It Hits Close To Home

In my small town a local sports hero had opened a business and everyone was very supportive of the business. This sports hero was arrested shortly after opening their new business because they had used identity theft to fund the building of their business. This caused a spike of people looking for identity theft information in my little town and I had never seen so many people paranoid about their identities in all of my life. But what everyone learned in that time has helped to make their identities more secure and that is what happens when identity theft hits close to home.

Identity theft is the new wave of crime that affects innocent victims. Make sure you find out all of the identity theft information you can so that you not only know how to protect yourself but you also know what to do in case some of your personal information does get compromised.

Insurance Matters: Take inventory of your home for protection

Jennifer — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 11:24:14 +0000

(NC)-Plan now to make a detailed list of all your household possessions and keep the list somewhere safe. Such a list will prove invaluable if you ever need to file an insurance claim.

Don’t wait until you have damaged, lost, or stolen property to assemble all the details, says Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO), the agency responsible for regulating insurance in the province. The stress and anxiety of the moment will make it difficult for you to remember all your belongings.

Here are some tips suggested by FSCO to help with your list:

. Go through your house, room by room, including the garage, basement, attic and off-premises storage unit.

. Write down the contents of each room, including clothes, jewelry, floor and window treatments, sporting equipment, furniture, electronics and cabinetry, appliances, artwork, antiques and other collectables. Where possible, include the manufacturer and brand, the serial number, the method of acquisition (purchased, inherited, or gift), plus the approximate cost/value and date acquired.

. Take photographs or a video recording of each room, with valuable items prominently displayed.

. Attach photocopies of receipts and appraisals for valuable items and other important family documents, such as your wills, passports, and credit cards.

. Store your list, along with any supporting photographs, videos and documents in a fireproof and watertight safe or safety deposit box.

. Establish a simple method for recording all new major purchases and periodically update your inventory.

More information on insurance is available online at fsco.gov.on.ca.

Credit: www.newscanada.com

How to Choose a Life Insurance Plan that’s Right for You

Jennifer — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 17:22:59 +0000

Term life and whole life. You may know they’re both types of life insurance, but when it comes time to buy a policy, will you know which one to purchase? To learn more, take this short quiz from SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Company.

True or false? A term life policy…

1) Builds cash value you can borrow against. T / F
2) Has a premium that stays the same even after renewal of the policy. T / F
3) Lasts for the rest of your life as long as premiums are paid. T / F

True or false? A whole life policy…

4) Lasts for the rest of your life as long as premiums are paid. T / F
5) Has an increasing premium over your lifetime. T / F
6) Features cash value that accumulates tax-deferred. T / F

Now, how does your knowledge stack up? Here are the answers: 1) F 2) F 3) F 4) T 5) F 6) T

If you got all the answers right, the information that follows will just be a refresher—Congratulations! If not, you could benefit from a little education on the topic of life insurance.

Aside from the peace of mind it offers, life insurance is a tool that may help provide financial security for your loved ones in the event that something should happen to you. Most financial planners consider insurance a critical element in building a strong, diversified financial plan.

So what kind of policy is right for you? Term life or whole life? It depends on the amount of insurance you need, your budget, and your estimated length of commitment.

* Term Life

A term life policy offers coverage for a specific period of time. Term policies with a renewal provision may be renewed at the end of the term without additional proof of good health. Premiums are initially more affordable, though they may increase with each renewal. It’s the ideal coverage for people whose insurance needs may decrease over time, for people who are covering “disappearing” costs such as vehicle loans and mortgages, or who need maximum coverage during a child’s education or rearing.

* Whole Life

Whole life is permanent coverage, offering cash value that increases over time. Premiums do not increase; they are locked in for life the day you sign your contract.

When you’re ready to start shopping for a policy, go to SBLI USA, a financial empowerment company offering a wide range of products to value-conscious consumers. To learn more about which life insurance policy is right for you log onto www.sbliusa.com or call a licensed agent toll-free (866) 787-2932.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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SIDEBAR:

Nationwide Survey Reveals that U.S. Adults are Alarmingly Underinsured

According to a nationwide survey commissioned by SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Company and conducted by Harris Interactive, Americans have a lot of reservations when it comes to life insurance.

The September 2006 survey of 2,500 U.S. adults 18 years of age and older found:

* 47 percent are not sure what type of life insurance they need
* 23 percent don’t know where to get life insurance
* 47 percent have no life insurance at all
* Only 49 percent of adults said they know exactly how much insurance they need as their families grow

Private Event Insurance: Protecting Investments on Your Special Occasion

Jennifer — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 04:37:21 +0000

Every year in the United States over two million couples walk down the aisle to exchange vows on the most important day of their lives. Planning for such a momentous celebration involves months of countless decisions, budget analysis and check writing. The happy couple (and their parents who often pay for most of the wedding) worry over the blunders that could unexpectedly occur: bad weather, an absent photographer, and even a bride or groom with cold feet!

During the planning process, many couples can feel defenseless against these possible mishaps, and rightly so, since emotions and finances are highly invested in their big day. The average wedding cost in 2006 was $27,000 according to Conde? Nast, and with prices for private events escalating, protecting financial investments for such occasions is a growing concern.

To offset the risk, you can now purchase private event coverage for weddings, bar mitzvahs and other milestone celebrations. Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company offers Weddingsurance, the only policy to cover “change of heart.” This insurance specifically safeguards an innocent party against cancellation in the event that the bride or groom experiences cold feet, they’ll be able to recover expenses for the rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, ceremony, reception or honeymoon.

“There’s growing concern from parents that their son or daughter will be left at the altar and they’ll be stuck paying for a wedding that never happened,” says Erron Al-Amin of Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company. “To help allay this concern, we helped develop a unique insurance coverage that would shield our policyholders from financial loss associated with such an unfortunate occurrence.”

As with all decisions concerning your wedding or private event, choose your private event insurance coverage carefully. When shopping for private event coverage, think about the type of event you’re having and how much coverage you’ll need. Things to consider are:

* Personal Liability — Does the policy cover legal responsibility for bodily injury, personal injury or personal property damage caused by a covered accident that occurs during the event?

* Cancellation — Sudden death or illness of a member of the wedding party, power outage at the venue or even airport closures can cause a costly cancellation. Can you afford to lose the deposits and redo the event?

* Professional Counseling — A cancelled or disrupted event can cause emotional distress. Some policies, including the Fireman’s Fund coverage, cover counseling to help the couple get over the trauma.

* Photography — If the photographer fails to appear or the negatives are lost, stolen, damaged or not properly developed, does the policy cover the cost of retaking the photos? Fireman’s Fund will cover costs, including travel expenses for the wedding party, for an additional photo shoot.

* International Destinations — Does the policy cover destination weddings?

* Special Attire — Is lost, stolen or damaged attire, including the bridal gown, covered? What if the bridal shop goes bankrupt?

* Weather Coverage — Will the policy pay expenses to move the event to another location if bad weather is looming?

Although there may not be a price tag on the value of love, the modern wedding is an expensive investment that families can’t afford not to protect.

For more information about special event insurance coverage, go to www.firemansfund.com/privateevents

Courtesy of ARAcontent