With economic instability, life settlements are attracting more public interest. A life settlement is a financial transaction between the policyholder and a third party, where the policyholder sells their life insurance policy to a third party. The offer is attractive because the policyholder gets more than the cash (surrender) value offered by the life insurance company. In return, the third party pays all premiums, and becomes the beneficiary of the insurance policy. When the policyholder dies, the third-party beneficiary receives the full amount of death benefits. Both the policy holder and the third party (who makes a profit) benefit from this type of transaction. This secondary life insurance industry began in the 1990s, and was worth about $12 to $15 billion in 2007. Because it is of its lucrative proposition, it is predicted to grow in the next decade to more than $150 billion.

There are several reasons why a policyholder would allow his/her policy to lapse or surrender for its cash value. The beneficiary may no longer need the death benefits or there may be pressing financial circumstances that would lead the policyholder to trade off death benefits to a stranger (who becomes the beneficiary) for immediate cash.

How does the secondary life insurance market affect the life insurance industry?

If there were no secondary insurance market, the policyholder would have no other option than to let a policy lapse or surrender the policy. When this happens, the inherent economic value of the policy goes to the life insurance company. This would mean that a insurance company is no longer obligated to pay death benefits on this policy. It’s more beneficial for any insurance company for a policy to lapse because they receive premiums, but do not have to pay out death benefits. Potentially, this would allow the insurance company to offer insurance at lower premiums to their customers. Some industry analysts suggest that if policy lapses are high enough, they can increase the profitability of a company.

If everybody were to start selling off their insurance policy to third parties, there would be no policy lapses. Theoretically, insurance companies would lose their profit margins and begin raising life insurance rates in order to make up the difference. This would eventually lead to less competition in the industry and lower sales.

Some argue that insurance companies need not be afraid of the secondary life insurance market. Even if life insurance rates are raised, people will still continue to buy insurance knowing that it can be sold at a good enough price later on to fund their retirement. The actuaries of insurance companies, while calculating premiums, make sure they consider payouts to a certain percentage of insurers, thus covering their costs.

Who actually loses in a life settlement?

Before you sell your policy to a third party, consider who actually loses in a life settlement. The policyholder gets a good deal since they get more than the surrender value of the insurance policy, but is it really such a good deal? If your children were designated to be the beneficiaries, why sell your policy to a third party just because you can no longer afford to pay the premiums? Your children may be able to help you with premium payments without you having to sell your insurance.

Another aspect to consider when selling your life insurance to a third party is that the policyholder never knows who his beneficiary may be. It may wind up being owned by large financial institutions and hedge funds, or a questionable third party you don’t even know may be waiting for you to die. This might be a disturbing issue to some people who may not be able to sleep so peacefully at nights.

If it is a term life insurance policy, the third party is taking a risk because the policyholder must die within the stipulated term period. Usually, life-threatening circumstances cause people to sell their term life insurance policies to meet urgent cash needs. If it is a whole life policy, the third party may have to wait out the duration period between the time the policyholder purchased the policy to the time they actually receives the death benefits.

Conclusion

A life settlement should not be used as a means to get “free money” as there are certain risks involved. Remember, if you are using your insurance in the planning of estate taxes, a life settlement will dissolve your purpose. Life insurance settlements could be considered at times when liquid assets are urgently required and when all other options are closed.

In today’s age of consumerism, the need of money can always arise. To solve this, people go for personal loans. Any individual, aged between 18 to 21 can apply for a personal loan. The limit is usually being fixed by the lending institutions. There are also limits of income of and age specified. After you cross the hurdle of eligibility then you have to provide the documentation.

The documentation part includes proof of residence, identity and income. Utility bills can act as proofs of the first two and in case of income proof; salary certificate in case of salaried individuals and copies of Income Tax Returns are required in case of self employed individuals.

After you get the loan, you have to pay it up in form of Equated Monthly Installments or EMIs. The payment period can range from 12 to 60 months. If you wish to prepay the loan then check out if any sort of penalties will be levied or not.

Remember that in order to maintain a good and healthy credit rating, you have to pay back the loan in time. You must also make sure that you pay the monthly installments in time so that your credit rating remains good. If you fail to do so then your credit rating may become poor and you may face difficulty in future to get any further loans.

Never take any personal loan in order to invest in stock markets as they are time consuming investments and you have to pay back the loan in time. So keep that in mind.

Take a personal loan only if the need is very genuine. If you do not need the entire loan amount disbursed to you then you can keep the rest of the money in a fixed deposit or prepay a part of the loan; whichever you may find suitable.

Every year, in India and abroad; several people get trapped in debt traps and commit suicide. A personal loan is a good source of credit but make sure it never goes out of hand. So take a personal loan only if you are sure that you can pay it back effectively and your need is genuine. Take and use your loan responsibly and march towards prosperity.

Most large companies and corporate organizations use business credit cards as part of their business model, but a significant number of medium sized businesses and small proprietors do not. Many prefer to work with cash, and that can work well for those who don’t require the availability of credit. However, for most organizations, business credit cards should be considered carefully, because the benefits are enormous and the risk is slight to nil.

Who Can Qualify For Business Credit Cards?

Any business can qualify for a business card, but smaller companies may need to rely on the owner’s credit score in order to apply. A business entity can, over time, establish a credit history just like a person can. However, unlike a person, a business is not automatically approved for small amounts of credit in the name of the company. Instead, they must rely on the credit score of one of the owners of the company, and set it up to reflect on the future credit history of the business, so that the organization begins to build a good history of credit.

How do Business Credit Cards Work?

When you first get a business credit card it will have the name of your business on it, but it will actually report on your own personal credit. This can be beneficial or harmful depending upon how you use the card. After a few years of reporting to Equifax, TransUnion or Experian the card will begin reporting to one of the credit bureaus that strictly handle business accounts such as Dunn and Bradstreet. At that time, your business will be able to apply and get approved for credit on its own merits, without the owner’s personal credit file being a factor.

Business cards work in much the same way as any other line of credit in other aspects. There are interest rates and minimum payments just like any other credit card, and you can earn rewards for using your card, although they may be more slanted toward businesses than consumer cards are. One thing that you should keep in mind, is that even if the credit is in your business’s name, the credit card company may still be able to hold you liable should your business go under and you default on your account. This goes for any owner or officer that signed the business credit card application.

What Are The Benefits Of A Business Credit Card?

Business cards are particularly useful to companies that receive their money at the end of the month and don’t have a steady cash flow throughout the period, but have expenses during the month nonetheless. Business owners use these cards to purchase supplies, inventory and other business purchases throughout the month and then pay the line of credit off when the invoices to customers are paid. Generally, if you are paying off the line of credit at the end of the month you will pay little to nothing in interest.

Another major benefit to having business cards is that they can be used by multiple people in your organization. Many businesses keep a supply of petty cash so that employees can make business related purchases, but business lines of credit solve this problem by allowing each employee that needs to spend money to make purchases, with a maximum allowable amount able to be set by card, and has the added benefit of allowing the business owner or department heads to track employee spending online almost as soon as purchases are made.

Who Offers Business Credit Cards?

Many companies provide payment cards to businesses. In fact, your bank will probably be the place to start, because if they don’t personally offer lines of credit or business cards, they will certainly have partners that they can work directly with to get you the credit that you need, or refer you to someone trustworthy to get your business credit products. However, there are also many companies that you can find online, that provide business cards. A quick search for business credit cards should provide you with several options.

Research Business Card Companies Carefully

Make sure that you do your research diligently before choosing a business credit card, because making the wrong choice can result in a high interest rate and limited options, or poor customer service. Just as with a personal credit card, make sure that you look carefully at interest rates, grace periods and terms and conditions of the contract before you sign on the dotted line.

Although I have not been with Guardian dental insurance for very long I already like how they do things there. I have already had to use a few of the basic services well as one of the major services. I recently went in for my 6-month check up and cleaning, because I was having a problem with one of my teeth. As it happens the dentist suggested that I have the tooth removed as it was my wisdom tooth and probably should have been removed along with the rest of my wisdom teeth when I was a teenager. Something that was never mentioned to me in the past as I rarely went to the dentist growing up.

Well that being said I was referred to a specialist and thankfully the list provided by my dentist had several that accepted Guardian dental insurance so as far as getting coverage for the services that I was needing to have done it was made very simple, because of the many options as far as service providers that were available in my area. I was needing both an oral surgeon and was also looking in to getting a new Orthodontist as the one that I had been seeing was retiring and I was not liking the people that had taken over his practice for him.

I have also really found that the people who work for Guardian dental insurance are extremely helpful and knowledgeable. I have had several questions regarding my policy and what is and is not covered and when services will be available or what portion is expected to be my responsibility. This has been very helpful for me in setting up a budget and payment plan with the dental providers that I choose to do all of the work that I was having done. This has also been a great stress reliever for me as prior to speaking with the customer service I was concerned about how I was going to be able to cover the work that needed to be completed. I have also been very pleased with the amount that my insurance has been able to cover and save me for both the major work as well and the regular maintenance type treatment that my family and I have needed. Overall I would say that although I have only been with them a few months that I am having a positive experience and would recommend them to anyone.

Do I Need Accident Disability Insurance?

Although, of course, we don’t want them to, accidents happen in life. If we’re fortunate, we’re left with few if any lasting effects. However, there are certain cases when long-term disability can result. In this case, not only do we have to worry about recovering from our injury or disability, but we have to worry about carrying on and paying the bills as well. This is where accident disability insurance comes in.

Unfortunately, although it’s a common belief, National Insurance Tax does not cover you for disability. This was true to some extent prior to 1995, but it is no longer. Today, the government will only help you if you cannot work at all. Even then, you can only expect to receive about

Participants of MetLife Dental Insurance plans receive benefits through a network of preferred providers. This is commonly referred to as a PPO. Participants have access to both general dentists and dentists who provide specialized care such as endodontics and oral surgery. MetLife’s network is nationwide and provides access to over 120,000 providers. Every dental care provider within the MetLife network has met high credentialing standards, ensuring excellent care to all participants. Participants of the plan are also granted access to a complete online library of oral health. All information included in the online library has been carefully compiled and reviewed by the MetLife Dental Advisory Council. The council consists of both practicing dentists as well as academics. This feature is an excellent resource in helping participants make informed decisions regarding care.

MetLife Dental Insurance’s extensive network of participating dentists helps participants save on a wide range of services. By selecting a provider from within the network, insured persons can expect lower out of pocket costs due to the fact that our providers accept a negotiated fee for services. MetLife’s online provider directory can be used to locate a participating provider nationwide as well as mapping the location for you. Plan benefits are effective for non-participating providers, but participants can expect higher out of pocket costs. If your provider wishes to participate with MetLife, the office can contact MetLife’s provider hotline for further information. Whether you choose an in-network provider or an out of network provider, filing of claims for services remains the same. Participants can download and print forms directly from the website to be filled out at the time of your visit. Once claims are reviewed, you will receive an explanation of benefits outlying charges payments.

In addition to the network of participating dentists, residents of California, Florida and Texas are offered another option from Metlife Dental Insurance. The DHMO plan is administered by SafeGuard Health Plans, Inc., a MetLife company. DMHO participants are required to select a provider upon enrollment and can expect substantial savings. There are several benefits of a DHMO including no deductibles and no annual maximums for over 340 dental procedures. A schedule of benefits is issued to those covered under the DHMO upon enrollment. This schedule ensures participants know out of pocket costs up front and outlines co-pays for covered procedures. Persons covered through the DHMO are also granted access to the oral health library found on MetLife Dental Insurance’s website.

Arguably the most important issue in getting an auto insurance policy will involve your driving record. For one thing, it tells insurance providers what sort of driver you are, how many traffic related incidents you’ve had in the past, your ability to comply with the law, and most important of all (at least from their perspective), what your chances are of getting involved in an incident wherein you will be filing a claim.

As important as this issue may be, however, it is by far not the only one in their minds. In addition to your driving record, another factor which can tell car insurance providers about your driving habits is your credit rating and in some cases, your bank statement.

Obviously, your credit rating does not involve driving or even car safety. However, in terms of being a prudent and diligent client, it can tell car insurance providers plenty of things. For example, it can tell them whether or not you could keep up with your car insurance payments. It can also tell them what sort of coverage you can afford, both in the long term as well as on the short term. And most importantly, it can tell them a lot about how you handle your finances.

In a shifting, and in most cases, uncertain economic climate, a lot of car insurance providers understand the need for making sure that their clients will be able to keep up with their bills, both in the long term as well as the short term. Your credit rating, for example, can also tell insurance providers about your annual income, your job, how much money you spend on your other essential needs and whether or not you have paid your debts in a timely fashion in the past.

Given all these reasons, you should have a better idea why vehicle insurance companies want to take a look at your credit rating. When you get right down to it, it’s all about statistics. Just as car insurance companies look at their client’s age, mileage and in some cases gender, they also look at your credit rating because they believe in what the statistics tell them. And the statistics usually tell them that people who have good finances also tend to have good livelihoods. And those who have good livelihoods tend to be good drivers. So don’t underestimate the value of your financial records in buying car insurance. They might just help you save a tidy sum of money.

Filing auto accident insurance claims is quite tedious. But to get your compensation for the accident, it is a necessary procedure – so you might as well go about it in the fool-proof manner described here.

Tip 1: Inform the Insurance Company about the Accident Immediately

Your first priority after an accident is to ensure you and your co-passengers are okay, so a thorough medical check-up is necessary. After you are done with it, call up your insurance company and inform them about your accident. Now would also be a good time to go through your insurance policy and familiarize yourself with the exact terms of your auto accident insurance claim, if you are not familiar with it already.

Tip 2: Write a Detailed Auto Accident Insurance Claims Statement

Giving as much detail of the accident as possible and supporting your claim with pictures of the accident site, damaged vehicles, etc. is essential. In the claims statement, you must also include medical reports of all injuries that you have sustained in the accident, no matter how small the injury appears. If you add names and contact details of any witnesses to the accident, it adds more value to your claim. All this substantiates your auto insurance claim immensely.

Tip 3: Keep Track of all Events Pertaining to Your Claim

Whether it is a discussion you had with the police, your insurance agent, or a record of your medical expenses, anything that has got to do with your claim is supposed to be recorded in writing. If your claim is settled in court, these will be used as evidence. Do not try to rely only on your memory; file all bills, receipts, etc.

Tip 4: Check all Your Insurance Policies

If you have multiple insurance policies, each one may allow you to file an auto accident insurance claim. To ensure you claim all that you are entitled to, you have to know your policies’ details, as discussed above. Take time out to review all your policies periodically.

Tip 5: Be Honest

Honesty with your insurance company is always the best policy. Otherwise your auto accident claim could be disqualified on fraudulent grounds.

These days, the price of gas can make filling up a painful experience for your wallet. If you find yourself budgeting more and more for fuel each month, a gas rewards credit card may be the perfect solution. With options such as cash back programs, gas rebates and more, you can find the best gas rewards credit cards for your traveling needs.

How They Work

Gas credit cards are similar to other rewards credit cards. You receive benefits when you make purchases. In addition to offering rewards for gas purchases, some gas credit cards also include rewards for auto maintenance and other items. These may come in the form of points earned for every dollar spent. In other instances, a certain percentage of each purchase is given to you as cash or in a rebate form. Some gas rewards credit cards offer up to 5% cash back, which is hard to find in other rewards credit cards. If you earn 5% cash back, and spend $300 in gas, you can expect $15 in return. That can add up fast with a long commute or many hours of highway time.

What to Remember

Before you apply, you’ll want to research your options and evaluate your credit situation. Here are a few other factors to keep in mind:

- The interest rate: Many gas rewards credit cards come with an initial low or 0% interest rate. However, after an introductory period, a regular APR sets in. Sometimes this is higher than other credit cards. If you pay off the balance each month, this will not affect your savings on gas.

- The rewards system: Some cards grant higher rewards for gas purchases. Others include benefits for all purchases. Understanding what these are will help you plan before you fill out an application.

- Additional terms: All credit cards come with certain terms and conditions. You’ll want to be aware of the fine print, which will list annual fees, the amount of late fee charges, and how rewards are distributed. For example, the phrase “up to 1%” may mean that you will not initially earn 1% cash back. You may earn that percentage only after spending a certain amount of money. By being aware of these conditions, you will be able to better manage your finances.

Determining which Gas Rewards Card is Right for You

A gas rewards credit card may be a perfect fit for your budget, especially if you spend a lot of time on the road. As you conduct your search, consider the Discover Open Road gas rewards credit card. This card offers 5% cash back on gas and auto maintenance purchases. As an added bonus, you’ll start off with 0% APR for up to 12 months.

Another card to consider is the Chase PerfectCard MasterCard. For the first 90 days, you’ll receive 6% in rebates for all gas purchases. After that you’ll get 3% in rebates from any gas station. This credit card also includes 1% in rebates for other purchases.

Once you receive a gas rewards credit card, you’ll find the benefits add up quickly. Use the card for car-related expenses, and consider using it for other purchases if you’ll get additional rewards. Your gas budget will thank you.

Copyright Ed Vegliante. Free online reprints of this article are allowed provided the resource box remains intact with a live link back to http://www.credit-card-surplus.com

If you have bad credit, you may be finding that getting a good deal on your car insurance is not an overly easy task. In the world today, more and more people are finding themselves in serious financial trouble and bad credit is dramatically on the increase. It is restricting people’s lives and it often causes them to get into deeper financial trouble, as the cost of things such as their car insurance goes up.

Finding Good Car Insurance Deals With Bad Credit

While it may be slightly more difficult finding a good deal on your car insurance when you have bad credit, it is certainly not impossible. There are some companies that deal specifically with people who have a bad credit history and they offer special deals to suit your needs. Even if you cannot find a good deal, there are also other ways in which you can improve your situation to get a good deal.

Some of the main things that you can do to purchase good deal car insurance with bad credit include:

- Improve your credit rating

- Compare different companies

- Take out a bad credit loan

- Purchase a cheaper car

- Don’t accept any extras on a loan

- Make sure you have a full time job

All of the above will really help you to get a good deal on your car insurance. The main thing that you should aim to do ideally would be to improve your credit rating. Paying off most of the debt that you have will help to improve your rating and insurance companies will be more willing to give you a better deal. You could also apply for a credit card that you could use specifically to get your credit rating up. By making small purchases and paying off the full balance at the end of the month, you will help to improve your rating. Just remember not to use the card for anything else.

Most people with bad credit have to rely on another loan to help them to purchase their car insurance. Now, while there is nothing wrong with this if you can comfortably afford the repayments, you should be extremely careful where you get the loan and what you use it for. For example, many people use the loan to get a new car before they get their car insurance. This can be a big mistake as you need to know what the insurance will be on the car that you choose. Different cars attract different insurance rates and so if you do have bad credit, it would be advisable to choose a car that has as low an insurance rate as possible.

Car insurance can be expensive and it is unfortunately something that every driver needs. The main tip for you to follow is to purchase a car only after you have researched different car insurance rates. Also try to improve your credit rating as much as possible beforehand and get as many auto insurance quotes as possible before you you’re your decision.