Month: October 2017

Parents want the best for their children. Creating a future for kids takes effort and for single parents, the responsibilities increase. Should the unthinkable happen, children have needs. Life insurance plans alleviate anxiety for the future but single parents have more to think about when shopping insurance policies. Coverage, pricing, and more all change for single parents. Eliminate uncertainty. Gathering the right answers beforehand helps determine the right life insurance policy. For single parents making the decision about life insurance these pieces of information help determine the coverage amounts and the right policy choice:

1. Speak to Caregivers

The first thing is determining caregiver options for children. Selecting a legal guardian creates a definitive plan for the care of children. Capabilities, assets, and opportunities vary per caregiver situation. Caregivers may be peers to parents and anyone in-between. The right policy covers expenses realistic to each case. Speak to caregivers early and learn to plan for later.

2. Think about the Children

The right policy includes planning for child age and personal needs. Parents of younger children may wish for more coverage to cover longer lengths of time. Parents of older children may have school or college expenses to plan for. Many policies may be amended, adding coverage later on.

3. Understand the Finances

The right policy extends coverage beyond immediate costs, closing out personal debts as well. Things will already be difficult for the children, adding debt and expenses only serve to complicate things. Organizing personal debts beforehand and finding sufficient coverage helps children cope with their immediate situation, and the future moving forward.

4. Add Everything Together

Experts recommend multiplying annual salary by 7 to create base coverage amounts. This means life insurance policy coverage for a single parent with an income of $40,000 begins at $280,000 and grows from there. Caregiver options, future plans, and personal debts additionally factor in determining the right amount of life insurance coverage. This may sound like a large number, but life insurance policies are affordable through the right insurance carrier.

5. Shopping for Life Insurance

It is easy to overestimate the cost of life insurance. Policy amounts sound large yet policies are often much more affordable than first suspected. Planning a life insurance policy around children means choosing policies for the right amount of time. For parents of children leaving the home in several years, long policies may be unnecessary. Coverage for the proper amount of time helps limit overall cost. With the right planning and forethought, life insurance policies can cost as low as $50/month. Speak to an agent today about finding the right life insurance coverage. Having a plan for the future helps keep the focus on today.

Insurance topics have bearing on finances, decisions, and healthy living just to name a few. Have any topics to suggest? Send any topic suggestions or insurance-related questions on over!

Women have more to think about planning for retirement. On average women live longer lifespans than men. Men reaching age 65 have an average life expectancy of around 84.3 years. Women reaching the same age can expect over two extra years, reaching average lifespans of 86.6 years.

As a woman there will likely be living expenses well over age 80 and beyond. Women planning for retirement must prepare for 20-30 of living expenses or more. The following steps add value to any retirement savings plan.

• Know all the basic living expenses. Preparing a budget means knowing annual expenses. This helps determine the amount of income necessary for each year of retirement. With the basic expenses covered there is more time to experience the joys of retirement.
• Use pensions. Women with pension plans may have advantages over men. A consultant with Macro Consulting Group says women may actually receive larger lump-sum payments than men. This is because many plan payout calculations favor women. Lump-sum payouts can be reinvested in more profitable markets.
• Seek alternative income sources. Untouched savings accounts generate money for later expenses, or for leaving an inheritance. Pensions, social security, and other sources create a mix of income allowing savings to grow.
• Check legal paperwork. Married women listed as primary recipients of a spouse or partner’s pension want to make sure all legal and insurance paperwork is in order. Traditional plans cover basic survivor payouts, reducing the spouse or partner’s payout during their lifetime. Couples may fare better agreeing to a lump sum payout and reinvesting in life insurance.
• Put the brakes on Social Security. Retirees thinking of living off Social Security benefits may want to consider waiting. Social Security benefits left alone until age 70 pay higher monthly amounts. Retirees waiting until age 70 qualify for delayed-retirement credits, increasing monthly Social Security payments.
• Watch for lump sum Social Security payouts. A payout for uncollected benefits may cost delayed-retirement credits. Social Security may offer attractive lump amounts for uncollected payments beyond age 65. Read the fine print. According to a partner at Plaza Advisory Group in St. Louis, Social Security lump payments have a price. Delayed retirement credits are exchanged for lump sums, meaning lower monthly payouts.

We are always on the lookout for insurance topics and information impacting health, wellness, and pocketbook. Have any insurance related questions? Be sure to reach out for answers.