Having the right kinds of insurance — including good medical, disability, automobile, homeowner, long-term care, life, and even travel insurance — is key to good financial planning. This page about insurance gives you the lowdown on how to successfully navigate the often perplexing world of insurance coverage.
What Insurance Do I Need if I’m Participating in a Car-Sharing Program?
As many people are recognizing that their car is an underutilized asset and that technology has turned it into a potential money-maker, car-sharing and ride-sharing programs are becoming more popular. Car-sharing companies, such as Relay Rides, allow individuals to rent their cars to strangers for a specified fee over a fixed period of time. Car [...]
Why You Should Never Buy Permanent Life Insurance
If you want to throw your hard-earned money into a hole, then buy permanent life insurance. While life insurance is a key component of your financial planning, it shouldn't be an expensive investment vehicle. Your policy should cover enough to replace the lost income if you die, or your spouse dies, so that the remaining [...]
What Does My Insurance Cover When I’m Traveling?
Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, a stolen piece of jewelry or broken laptop can quickly put a damper on your trip. And if the stolen or damaged item isn’t covered by insurance, a dream trip can quickly turn into a nightmare. Before your next getaway, be sure to review your insurance policies—homeowner’s, renter’s, [...]
Six Tips to Prepare for a Hurricane
Hurricane season is in full swing, and if you’re in a coastal area, your property could be at risk. In the face of a storm, it’s important to prepare as best you can. Taking precautions beforehand may save you time and money after the storm makes a mess of your property. Consider these six tips [...]
What Factors Influence My Homeowner’s Insurance Rates?
I remember buying my first home. It was a Victorian cottage on Long Island that I painted creamy yellow and carnation pink. I didn’t think about the cost of insurance when I bought it. I was young and naive; I only saw the beauty of that house. I didn’t even consider the insurance costs. As [...]
Insurance Facts: What Happens When Your Car Is Totaled?
Collisions aren’t the only way your car can be irreparably damaged. A fallen tree, a major flood, or a fumbled theft could quickly end your car’s days on the road. More than 5 million vehicles are totaled by these and other causes every year, according to the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA). But the word [...]
Four Insurance Facts to Remember This Hurricane Season
Hurricane season began on June 1, so it’s time to make sure you and your property are covered by a good insurance policy. According to Ron Sachs, executive producer of the National Hurricane Survival Initiative, experts are predicting 2014 will be a modest year for hurricanes—but that’s no reason to be lulled into a false sense [...]
Will My Homeowners Insurance Cover a Fireworks Claim?
Summer means backyard barbeques, water sports, and, for many people, fireworks. Whether it’s a Memorial Day, Fourth of July, or Labor Day celebration, or simply a fun (yet dangerous) way to spend an evening, the sound of fireworks is common on summer nights. Before you start planning your own celebration that will include fireworks, review [...]
Top 5 Most Expensive Places to Drive a Car
Think it’s expensive to own a car? It’s a lot worse if you’re in Wyoming. Wyoming was recently named the most expensive place to drive a car, according to Bankrate.com. A typical driver in the Cowboy State spends $2,705 a year to operate a vehicle, about $500 more than the national average of $2,223. Meanwhile, [...]
Must-Have Insurance Plans for Millennials
Older members of Generation Y (people born between the 1980s and the year 2000), also known as Millennials, are starting to face some big life events. They’re getting married, purchasing their first homes, and having their first kids. The big life moments should trigger insurance decisions, but many Gen-Yers are less than thrilled to make [...]