Tag Archives: Shopping

Life Insurance – Is Shopping Around Necessary?

Life Insurance – Is Shopping Around Necessary?

When you want to buy a term life insurance policy, you really do need to comparison shop. When you shop for a car or TV, you always go to several stores, and considering this decision for your life insurance is more important, why not do the same?

What Are Your Life Insurance Options?

In a life insurance policy comparison, you first need to figure out how much life insurance you need to buy. A life insurance policy is good for a determined amount of years if you choose term life insurance. If you don’t die within that period, the policy expires and you have to either renew or buy another policy. Whole life insurance is another matter altogether, as the higher cost of the premium can keep the policy going for a long time.

Should You Buy Life Insurance Online ?

With all of the companies online, it’s easy to get life insurance quotes and buy on the internet. When an independent life insurance broker, like ourselves, gives you a quote, all the figures are on 1 or 2 pages. As far as possible you are comparing apples to apples, which is at the heart of doing a real comparison.

Whatever your needs in life insurance, you need to compare the same terms. You need to be sure that you are comparing the same elements along with other pertinent facts. But whichever policy or approach you choose, the answer is yes; you need to shop to find the best life insurance.

Term Or Whole Life Insurance ?

Term life insurance is the choice of over 90% of buyers, and that is for a good reason; it is cheaper. And most feel they do not need it to last beyond their working years, and if they do, in Canada you can buy term to 100 years. If you get to age 100, the company forgives the payments after that.

It is also harder to compare whole life insurance costs as the cash surrender value differ greatly at different ages. This makes it impossible to do a real comparison as you are only comparing numbers. It is a lot easier with term life insurance.

Home Insurance Quote Online – What You Need To Know Before Shopping

Home Insurance Quote Online – What You Need To Know Before Shopping

The information that you receive when shopping for insurance online is only as good as the information that you input when you make your request. The homeowner insurance quote is relatively easy if you have the basic information needed to give you an accurate quote. The online quoting system will respond to your request very quickly once you input all the data. There are different types of homeowner policies for different types of homes. The residential home, the townhouse, and the condominium all require slightly different coverage. The age of the home also dictates the type of policy that you should purchase.

The online insurance calculators rely heavily on certain criteria when determining the actual rate. The actual square footage of your home is the starting point for most insurance companies. Square footage is used because home builders use it to estimate the cost to rebuild a house. You can find the accurate square footage on your home from the original house appraisal or plot plan. Once you have the square footage then you can add the upgrades like fireplaces, air conditioning, and finished basements. The online insurance calculators will often ask for a percentage of your total basement area that is finished.

There are several questions asked during online quoting about possible discounts. There is a protective device discount for having deadbolt locks, smoke detectors and a fire extinguisher. There are even larger discounts for burglar and fire alarm systems that ring directly into the police station and fire department. There will also be a variety of deductibles. It is wise to purchase the highest deductible that you can afford. Lower deductibles no longer justify the high premiums. Homeowner claims are too infrequent.

These are the basic things to look for when shopping. Use your insurance renewal declarations page if you are a comparison shopper. You will be able to move very quickly through the online quoting process if you have this information available.

Auto Insurance Online Shopping For First Timers

Auto Insurance Online Shopping For First Timers

A mere thought of a safely net to count on each time you get involved in a car accident would give you peace of mind. Surely, you don’t want to think of any emergency expenses all the time. But if that safety net costs you so much, then you may be getting a good protection yet certainly hurting your pockets. The essence of a safety net is spoiled and the idea of a good protection is wasted. That is why as a first time car insurance buyer, you have to realize that is it not enough to buy any car insurance policy that is suggested by a friend or similar to your parents.

Assuming that you are at the right age, already have obtained a driver’s license, have purchased a vehicle, have learned the terms and the different car insurance policies, then you are ready to buy your car insurance; the best place to do it is online.

However, shopping for car insurance online can still be very confusing if you are just armed with the above assumptions. Here are the step by step procedures which will help you in your pursuit for car insurance online:

1. Shop around

Search for different car insurance companies. Also look for sites that offer free quotes. This will enable you to know the exact amount you will have to pay for your car insurance policy. Search for car insurance company websites that offer online support. Read financial strength ratings of different car insurance company. You may want to visit Standard & Poor’s ratings and the A.M. Best regarding this information.

2. Be ready with the information you need when you ask for quote

These are: home address, previous car insurance details, driver’s license number, details about your car to be insured (model, year, and VIN), driving history, car’s use (business, leisure, etc), mileage per year, and so on. Have them with you once you begin researching.

3. Learn the tricks on savings

There are several factors that influence the amount of your car insurance policy; factors like your location, age, gender, status, credit rating, car’s security (anti-theft) system, number of years as a driver, driving history, etc. Some of them you cannot change while some can. Learn to lower down your premium using these things.

For example, a person with a clean driving record can get a cheaper premium compared to those who have received few tickets purchasing for the same coverage. Another example would be: purchasing a policy with the highest deductible you can afford can lower your premium. Also, a car with security and anti-theft devices such as airbags, car alarms, automatic seat belts, and tracking systems has a lower premium than cars without. There are several of these, know them all and you will surely get the most out of your coverage.

4. Get car insurance quotes from at least 3 sites

Different car insurance companies offer different prices for the same coverage. Make sure you get at least 3 car insurance quotes to know which company offers the best price for the same protection.

5. Weigh and select which one offers the best

Now that you have the quotes from different car insurance online, you have the final say on which one will serve you best.

Tips for Shopping Health Insurance and Life Insurance Online

Tips for Shopping Health Insurance and Life Insurance Online

If you’ve found your way here, you’ve no doubt decided you need to purchase a new insurance policy or add to your existing level of insurance. It can be a little confusing deciding just what you need. So let’s cover some of the most popular types of insurance.

Critical Illness Insurance

Heart disease, stroke and cancer are just a few of the critical illness that bring a chill to your spine when you are diagnosed. The good news is that with the advances with modern medicine many illness that even recently were almost always fatal can now be treated and life goes on as normal. However, in a worst-case scenario, critical illness insurance helps you cope with the expense of your illness while you are treated and helps your loved ones to go on unencumbered by the financial burden left by a long illness should you lose the battle.

Disability Insurance

One of the most popular forms of supplemental insurance, Disability Insurance pays you a percentage of your income as a benefit should you become disabled. You use these benefits to help with out of pocket expenses not covered by your major medical policy and to pay your household bills while you recover from a temporary disability or a lump sum payment or a life long benefit in the case of a permanent disability.

When shopping for a Life Insurance quote, Term Life Insurance and Whole Life Insurance are the two most popular choices. Let’s explain each of these:

Whole Life Insurance

When shopping for a Whole Life Insurance quote you will find that, the policy remains in force during your entire lifetime as long as the premiums are paid. The type of life insurance also builds what is commonly called a cash value that you borrow under certain circumstance after a period of time.

Term Life Insurance

When shopping for a Term Life Insurance quote keep in mind that this insurance will cover you for a specified time only such as five years. Your premiums do not increase during the term of your policy but will likely increase once it is time to renew the term. Term Life Insurance does not build a cash value.

Term life is generally cheaper if you are younger in age and a good starting point for a safety net for a young family until you’re ready to invest in long-term whole life insurance.

Now you’re fully informed to make the right choices as to just what new or additional insurance to choose for yourself and your family.