Life Insurance Vs Life Assurance

People spend a lot of money on complicated financial products and it is sometimes difficult to keep track of what products perform what tasks. Many people are not aware of all the financial products that are available or they only know of them vaguely. They may not know how much they cost or the potential benefits they offer. How can consumers make informed decisions on what products they would be willing to buy if they do not have this basic information? This problem can often lead to consumers buying unsuitable of overpriced products simply because they feel they should have some financial protections available but don’t have the details to make an informed choice.

One of the common questions many consumers have is regarding the difference between insurance policies and assurance policies. Put simply, insurance policies cover the costs of an event that might happen while assurance policies will pay out on the occurrence of an event that is certain to happen. Insurance policies only last for a specific period of time. If the event occurs within that time, they pay out, otherwise they are finished. Therefore, if no claim can be made within the term of the policy, they have no remaining value.

Guaranteed Payout

An assurance policy is different. Assurance policies always pay out. For example, a life assurance policy will generally pay out upon death or upon reaching the age of 65. How does this policy work? Well, they combine two elements; an insurance element, which will pay out if, the person dies early. This will then be used to pay for the funeral or support his family. But then there is another payment made every year and this is the investment portion. The insurance company invests this part of the premium on behalf of the policyholder and when they reach the age of 65, they pay this out. Life assurance policies are therefore often used both as a method of life insurance and as a method of saving for retirement.

Do You Need Money Now?

If you wish to cash in the investment portion of a life assurance policy early this is generally possible. However, there will usually be hefty penalties added to this so it is unadvisable to cash in early if you don’t have to. The distinction between insurance and assurance is also becoming more blurred as more companies offer both types of policy or add features of one type of policy to their other type to make them more attractive. The distinction is still important so that you know what to ask for and know what kinds of facilities are available for insuring your life and providing for your future.

Find A Great Home Insurance Website

In this day and age, it’s wise to choose a home insurance company that’s easily accessible online. Why? We live in a world of extreme technological advances, and sometimes writing letters or waiting forever on customer service to get to your call just doesn’t make sense. So, as you search for a homeowner insurance company, keep these website characteristics in mind:

• Basic information – A home insurance website should clearly inform you about the specific kinds of homeowner insurance policies the company provides. Do they offer renter insurance? What about coverage for mobile homes? Find information specific to your needs.

• Agent information – Sure, it’s nice to do most things online, but when it comes to making a major purchase such as homeowner insurance, you want to eventually speak with, and possibly meet, a live insurance agent. A great home insurance website will provide you with agent name, location, and contact information.

• Tools – Online tools make the overall process of purchasing homeowner insurance easier. Such a tool may be a rate calculator. Although the results may not be 100% accurate, they will give you an idea of what to expect. The element of surprise is not attractive when purchasing any kind of insurance!

• Control – Once again, with the advances in technology, we should be able to do many things online. If the home insurance website allows you to manage your account, pay your bills, and file claims online, it means they’re interested in making things easier for you.

• Educational resources – Let’s face it: Unless we work in the insurance industry it’s highly unlikely any of us are experts. A great home insurance website will provide educational resources, such as a library of homeowner insurance-related articles, to peruse. It’s easier to talk with a live insurance agent about your homeowner insurance needs if you have some knowledge base rather than just meeting an agent and saying “Help me.”