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Comparing Term To Whole Life Insurance: Which Is Right For You?

Most people don’t spend undue time worrying about an early demise when they’re still young, healthy, and seemingly invincible. But all it takes is one serious illness or injury or the death of a loved one to remind us that we’re only human, we’re fairly fragile, and that life is fleeting. In short, many adults, at some point, start to consider what kind of mess they’ll leave behind when they pass away. This can prompt them to explore the prospect of writing a will, letting a loved one know where important legal documents are kept, and of course, purchasing life insurance. But you’ll find that there are many different options when it comes to life insurance policies. The two most common categories, however, are term and whole life. The only question is, how can you decide which is right for you?

Although both term and whole life insurance will pay out in the event of your death during coverage, this is about the only way in which the two types of policies are the same – from there they diverge considerably. As you might have guessed from the names, term life insurance covers you only for a specific length of time, determined when you start coverage, whereas whole life insurance is good for life (although in both cases coverage is dependent on your ability to continue paying for the policy you have selected). So far, whole life sounds better, but don’t get ahead of yourself.

October 26, 2013

General

Are You Feeding Your Soul Or Just Your Bank Account?

This may sound like a cheesy topic, but just bear with me for a minute, and maybe you will see where I am going with this.

How much of your day is taken up with earning money? I am not just talking about the time spent at work, but the time spent commuting to work, the time spent at home when you are thinking about work, and whatever else I failed to mention here. For most people, the answer is probably a lot higher than they realize.

So what can we all do about it? Well, for starters, we need to consciously take the time to feed our souls, too, and not just our bank accounts. One easy way is to pop in a CD of an artist you really enjoy while driving to work. Pick something that relaxes you, that moves you, and that puts you in a good mood. This simple thing is a way to feed your soul. And it doesn’t cost you anything.

October 19, 2013

General

What Is An Emergency Fund?

Have you ever heard anybody tell you that they have just built their emergency fund? If you have, then did you ever ask them what an emergency fund actually is? I ask this because most people that I talk with have no clue what an emergency fund is or why it is important to their financial future.

What you need to know is that an emergency fund is where you save money for emergencies only. For example, losing your job would be considered an emergency. This is also the reason why an emergency fund should be at least 6 months of your total monthly expenses. Now, I know that saving this much money could be rather difficult for you but the nice thing about having it is that it will make the rest of your life that much easier. Trust me, everybody that has a 6 month emergency fund is stress free and on their way to a successful financial future.

August 10, 2013

General

How A Federal Reserve Practice Can Help Your Personal Finances

Driving along a wooded section of Florida highway, I noticed a haze of smoke among the trees and wasn’t sure what I was witnessing. A specific area of the forest had been burned, with care to preserve the trees but to destroy the undergrowth. I turned to my outdoorsy father-in-law in the passenger seat and asked him about the purpose of the intentionally set fires. He explained: “They help prevent bigger fires.”

In Florida, as well as in other dry parts of the country, wildfires happen regularly and sometimes spread uncontrollably. The additional fuel of the undergrowth not only extends their range, but also increases the temperature at which they burn, making them far more deadly for responders. By stress testing various tracts of woodlands for the potential of a fire, private landowners or Forestry Services can determine which, if any, preemptive measures should be taken to reduce the risk and frequency of wildfires.

In the banking world, the Fed is seeking to employ a similar strategy in order to prevent a recurrence of the 2008 “wildfire”. By observing historical data in order to measure relevant variables like the Probability of Default of a given financial institution, the Fed can perform stress tests in order to determine where and when to take minor actions (setting brush fires) so as to avoid major catastrophes. While those minor actions tend to be regulatory, and thus highly politicized and hotly debated, the model of stress testing is a practical one for application in our personal financial lives.

July 28, 2013

General

5 Tips For Keeping Your Car In Top Condition

Aside from your home, your car may be your most valuable asset. And although it will certainly lose value over time, mainly through usage but possibly due to accidents and other issues, that doesn’t mean you want to give up on maintenance and let it go completely to pot. The better care you take of your vehicle from the get-go, the longer it’s going to continue taking you from point A to point B. And a clean title, a clear history, and proof of proper maintenance will help you to preserve the value as much as possible for eventual resale. Heck, you might even keep it long enough that it becomes a classic, actually raising the value in the future (although you shouldn’t count on that unless you have a fairly pricy or rare car to begin with).

In any case, here are a few tips for care that will ensure your car stays in ship-shape for as long as possible:

Regular maintenance. Perhaps the best overall way to keep your vehicle in top condition is to take it in for regular tune-ups and fluid changes. Some tasks you can complete on your own, like changing the oil and filters, if you so choose. And if you have some mechanical knowledge or experience, as well as the proper tools, you may be able to do a lot more. But most people need the help of a professional to check the engine and all the moving parts on a regular schedule in order to ensure that everything is running smoothly. This will not only keep your wheels a-rollin’, but if you keep good records you can show a buyer proof that you’ve taken good care of your vehicle, raising your potential to get full value out of your car upon sale.

July 14, 2013

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