Insurance - All The Basics
What is insurance? Insurance is a means of providing protection against financial loss in a great variety of situations. It is a contract in which one party agrees to pay for another party?s financial loss resulting from a specified event. Insurance works on the principal of sharing losses. If you wish to be insured, against any type of loss, agree to make regular payments, called premiums, to an insurance company. In return, the company gives you a contract, the insurance policy. The company promises to pay a certain sum of money for the type of loss stated in the policy. History Insurance is thousands of years old. The Code of Hammurabi, a collection of Babylonian laws of 1700BC, is believed to be the first form of credit insurance. A borrower did not have to repay a loan if personal misfortune made it impossible to do so. Insurance as we know it today can be traced to the Great Fire of London in 1666, which devoured 13,200 houses. In the aftermath of this disaster, Nicholas Barbon opened an office to insure buildings. Types of Insurance Insurance generally covers situations involving pure risk ? that is, situations in which only losses can occur. Such situations include fire, floods and accidents. People also buy insurance to cover unusual types of financial losses like, a dancer might insure her legs against injury. There are mainly three types of insurance policies sold: 1. Life Insurance A life insurance policy provides that the insurance company will pay a certain amount when the person dies. This may be paid in a lump sum or in installments to the beneficiary [people named by the policyholder to receive the death benefit]. Some types of life insurance policies also enable policyholders to save money. Such policies have a cash value. A policyholder may borrow money against the cash value or surrender the policy for its cash value. Annuities These are savings plans sold by insurance companies to provide a fixed and regular retirement income. If the annuitant [owner of the annuity] dies before receiving the guaranteed number of payments, the insurance company must continue the payments to the beneficiary. Dividends Some insurance policies refund part of the premiums in the form of dividends. Such policies are called participating policies. An insurance company pays dividends if the money it collected in premiums exceeds the amount needed to pay benefits and administrative costs. Dividends may also include a share of the profits the company earned on investments made with premium funds. Dividends are most commonly paid on life insurance. 2. Private Health Insurance Health insurance pays all or part of the cost of hospitalization, surgery, laboratory tests, medicines, and other medical care. The rising cost of medical care has increased the need for adequate health insurance. You could suffer a major financial hardship without such coverage, especially in case of a serious illness or accident. Dental insurance is one of the fastest-growing types of health insurance. It helps pay for a wide variety of dental services. 3. Property & Liability Insurance Individuals and businesses buy property and liability insurance to protect their assets against financial loss. Property insurance provides direct compensation if a policyholder?s possessions are damaged, destroyed, or lost as a result of perils. Liability insurance protects individuals and businesses against possible financial losses if their actions result in bodily injury to others or in harm to property owned by others. The main types of individual coverage are: ? Homeowners Insurance This provides protection against losses from damages to an owner?s home and its contents. ? Automobile Insurance This is the most widely purchased and most important kinds of insurance. Drivers are legally responsible for any costs arising from accidents they cause. This insurance protects a policyholder against financial losses from accidents. Financial viability of Insurance Companies Financial stability and strength of the insurance company should be a major consideration when purchasing an insurance contract. An insurance premium paid currently provides coverage for losses that might arise many years in the future. For that reason, the viability of the insurance carrier is very important. In recent years, a number of insurance companies have become insolvent, leaving their policyholders with no coverage (or coverage only from a government-backed insurance pool with less attractive payouts for losses). How Insurance Is Sold Most insurance companies sell policies through agents. Exclusive agents are employees of an insurance company who sell only that company?s policies. Independent agents sell policies for several companies. David Dugan is a contributing author to the insurance information site <a href="http://insurance.divinfo.com/">http://insurance.divinfo.com/</a>, a site that has information on auto, homeowners, life, pet and all kinds of insurance as well as the retirement site <a href="http://retirement.divinfo.com">http://retirement.divinfo.com</a>.
Source: www.ArticlePros.com
Get incredible returns with bonded life settlement
Many seniors have started considering new sources of income because of the changing lifestyle requirements. They are moving towards life settlement schemes to fulfill their post retirement livelihood needs. These life settlement schemes are relieving them from the hassles of arranging money for their basic requirements. Besides life settlement policies, seniors also have a better way to get money and that is bonded life settlement policy. This policy helps them in getting instant money by selling the policy to any investor, as ownership of this kind of life settlement policy is transferable. Bonded life settlement policy is beneficial for both, policyholder and investor as both of them find a great opportunity to have easy income. A bonded life settlement is all about purchase of life settlement policy by an interested person i.e. investor. When a policyholder needs instant money or do not need the policy anymore than he or she decides to sell it to someone. The related insurance company supports the entire process of selling bonded life settlement policy and puts together the terms and conditions for a fair deal. The owner of the policy sells it on discount rate as he or she has already used the equity on it. Amount that the policyholder was getting as interest will be paid to the investor after accomplishment of deal as he will be the new owner of that bonded life settlement policy. Policyholder can also sell only a portion of that policy to investor so that he may also keep a source of income for himself. Though it is also a better way but some conditions are also applicable here, for instance, if the policyholder sells only a portion of his policy then his expected life anticipation should be at least 36 months. In that situation, the investor will get the privilege of selling his share of policy to third part or insurance company. This facility helps the investor in receiving the true values of his investment. Advantages of bonded life settlement policy are incomparable; whether you are a policyholder or an investor, this deal will give you great benefits. If you are a senior and have diagnosed with medical problems then you can sell your policy and can get the maximum out of your policy. From an investor s standpoint, it is a wise deal as the insurance company entrusts that the policy will be purchased on full face value within specific period of time. As every insurance policy is considered as property, it can also be sold like other properties. It also provides returns as other fixed or variable assets, the only difference is that the returns in case of bonded life settlement are very high valued. Bonded life settlement policy is a safe place to invest your money. Present share market and investors are witnessing its benefits as investing in bonded life settlement policy is the elite aspect of investment in which risk factor is negligible in comparison to returns. Bonded life settlement is factual key to be a better and sensible investor. William Regal is an expert in dealing with life settlement. If you have any queries about life settlement,<a href="http://www.mylifesettlementbroker.com/bonded-life-settlement.php">bonded life settlement</a>,life settlement broker, senior life settlement, bonded life settlement visit: <a href="http://www.mylifesettlementbroker.com">www.mylifesettlementbroker.com</a>
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Review of 2008 car models of Pontiac
Pontiac: leading the way of the sports cars: - Since the craze of the small sporty cars is again rising in the market, Pontiac had launched the Pontiac G5 which is proving to be the most reasonable car for small and sporty people. The main thing about the new models of the Pontiac is that they are coming with many impressive features like of high acceleration, increased performance of riding and also the economy of fuel. Only thing is that these models are lacking the refinements in the exterior and interior but this can be easily compensated with the boastful and powerful engines present in the new models of Pontiac. The latest models of Pontiac which were launched in the year 2008 were patterned after the upcoming of the Chevrolet Cobalt. Both companies had manufactured exactly the same model cars with a little difference in the exterior and interiors designs. It can be said that car models of Pontiac are very much sporty and has much powerful engine and that too is available at much affordable price. Besides this, these models have got the brand name of the General Motors. Features of the Pontiac car models: - The new models of Pontiac are available in 2 trims which is base and the other is GT. The base model includes the 15″ steel wheels, remote keyless entry, full power accessories and air conditioning. Besides this, there is also the facility of the folding rear seats of type 60/40-split, an auxiliary audio jack attached with a CD/MP3 player and a satellite radio. The models of Pontiac which are available in GT trim has got the 17″ aluminum wheels which provides the sport-tuned suspension, cruise controls, steering-wheel-mounted audio and a leather-wrapped shifter and steering wheel. When it comes to the talk of entertainment in the Pontiac models then they are fully furnished with the Pioneer 7-speaker audio system, 6-CD changer, remote vehicle starting, a sunroof and heated front seats which are available in both the models. Besides this the personalization of the models of Pontiac can also be done by the installment of the additional accessories like the 18″ wheels, body ground-effects package, high-mount spoiler, cat-back exhaust system and interior lightning of custom colored. Describing the engine of the Pontiac models: - The car models which are base type are powered by the 2.2 liter inline 4-cylinder which can generate 148 hp and also the torque of 152 pound-feet. While the vehicles which are bases on GT have got the 2.4 liter engine which can generates 141 hp with a torque of 167 lb-ft. Both of the trims care connected with the 5-speed manual transmission. There is also an option of 4-speed transmission which is automatic.Know more about <a href=" http://www.gotengines.com">Used Engines </a> cheap<a href="http://www.gottransmissions.com"> Transmission Replacements </a> do visit GotEngines.com and GotTransmissions.com.
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