Here is the real question The Wall Street Journal should consider
Yesterday The Wall Street Journal published the article "If you buy insurance Long Term Care?" Actually it was a debate between two people. Mark Meiners, professor of administration and health policy at George Mason University, argued in favor of long-term care insurance. Prescott Cole, a lawyer senior lawyers for the California nursing Home Reform, argued against. I feel compelled to respond because of the misrepresentation of the facts Mr. Cole about the long-term care insurance.
much of Mr. Cole argument seems to rest on the belief that most care is still in nursing homes. However, the facts are that over 85% of care is now provided outside houses nursing, making much of his theoretical argument. Nursing homes are a myriad of treatment options available to those with long-term care insurance, but most applicants now prefer care in settings ranging from the comfort of their own home, in day care for adults , to assisted living facilities and more.
instead of asking "If you buy long term care insurance?" a better question 
Face it, when you need care, someone will provide that care, most likely a family member. So it becomes a question of how to provide your care will affect their health, finances and emotional state. Many studies have shown that family caregivers have a higher level of physical fatigue and are more prone to disease. They feel almost twice the normal rates of depression as they try to balance work, family and their own care. Caregivers also have financial difficulties because they work less, lose job opportunities, and pay out of pocket for certain expenses for your care. In addition, for a spouse, the money they spend on your care is now much less they can rely on their own future. An insurance plan may not completely eliminate one of these stresses on caregivers, but it can reduce them to a more manageable level.
M .. Cole also says that in "the game" of long-term care insurance, you play with a "stacked deck." What he fails to realize is that some of insurance options available can stack the deck your favor. for example, the shared care option with many political allows two people to share the risk by linking their benefits together. If one runs out their political advantage, they can use part or all of the joint political another option is to choose a policy linking long-term care benefits with a pension policy or life insurance. a winning proposal -win. If you ever need long-term care, the policy will pay for care, taking your premiums party several times your initial investment. If you need care, your heirs will receive a death benefit of your Plan policies. benefits related to eliminate "if I never use it, I lose" argument.
As medical advances are helping us live longer, many of us will need some form of long term care. The time to plan how you will handle this eventuality is when you are younger, are healthy and have options. Like any type of long-term strategy, you must first inform you about the options available to you, and then work with an experienced professional to make an informed decision. This way, if you choose to make with the traditional long-term care insurance or a related benefit policies, or ensure himself using your own money, you will go into this decision knowing all the pros and cons of your decision and how this will affect not only your care, but the lives of those around you.
Plan to work after 65? Your life insurance may have to "work" as well
US workers plan to continue working after age 65. If you are one of them will be your life insurance also continue?
Recent Survey Transamerica Retirement found that the majority of workers plan to work past age 65 (56%) and a majority plane (54%) continue working after retirement. Just 39% believe they are currently building a sufficient nest egg, underscoring the need to redefine "retirement readiness" in a way that is better adapted to these new realities.
Over recent years, the survey of Transamerica retirement saw an emerging trend of workers who plan to work past 65, including 
If you are one of those workers, your insurance needs after 65 to replace income lost in the event of death becomes very important. You should review your current life insurance policies to determine if they continue after age 65, and if so, for how long and at what cost. Now can -being time to replace your term insurance to permanent insurance, which will remain in force as long as you need it at a fixed price without future increases. You can even choose a life insurance policy that includes long-term care benefits if you need extended care.
The effects of the great recession is reflected in the changing expectations of retired workers. Working past age 65 is an important opportunity to help alleviate a retirement savings shortfall. unforeseen life circumstances, such as loss or job health issues can have a devastating impact on the best plans. The "what if" scenarios are essential for US workers of any age is to be included in their long-term preparations.
Almost one in three (29%) expect to financially support family members other than spouses or partners, after their retirement, while 13% expect to receive financial support the retired family. This makes the need for insurance even more important after 65 years.
The Best One-Liners (for life insurance)
Gosh, we love our fans on Facebook. We asked a simple question: "If you had one sentence to convince someone to buy a life insurance, how about" And we had a large cargo responses
. Here are our winners: 
you can always take care of your family even after you are gone -Erica Davis
Because in a blink. look right can change -Ashley Neves
But we also wanted to highlight some of our other favorites.
love is the reason we buy life insurance -Gary Cinello
life comes at you fast, and so can not. Either ready. be prepared. -Gerry Ornelas
If life insurance were free , how would you own? -John Busch IV
life happens so get life insurance -Brittany LaRoche
What kind of position would your family if something happens to you with no life insurance? -Janice Kiker
If you had died last Friday, what kind of legacy would you have today? -Brooke DeNovel
live, love, leave well -Mario Alban Santos
Life is priceless, the insurance is affordable -Dan Wilcox
and the humor ... (life insurance can really be funny ?!)
not having life insurance is like being left in a public bathroom without toilet paper. -Kat Johnson
With this amount of life insurance, you are not going to be dead for a long time, are you? -Colin Meeks
You mean all I would get is photo albums? -Chuck Scroggs
Care to add your own in the comments?
Are annuities-for you?
Almost half of workers plan to block a retirement annuity. Part of the reason is that the pension benefits offered by employers are most often distributed to workers in the form of an annuity, according to a new report "Ambivalence Towards Annuities older Americans," published by the Institute public policy for AARP. The study examines the results of an AARP survey of older workers and retirees about their choices for retirement income distribution.
The survey interviewed 1,750 workers aged 50 to 75 years and 670 retirees aged 59 to 75. The survey revealed that nearly five to 10 workers (48%) plan to take a pension or purchased from a life insurer or through their pension plan provided by the employer, and nearly four in 10 (38%) expect to receive a life income annuity.
The survey also showed that nearly three in four workers (74%) receive or expect to receive income from an annuity, and six in 10 (63%) receive income from a life income annuity. Three to four 10 workers and 10 retired with a choice of income distribution options plan to choose or have already chosen an annuity.
workers with 401 (k) type plan that are able to choose, a 31% plan to elect an annuity and 24% of retirees had made a similar choice.
When respondents were asked what features of annuities are "very" or "somewhat" convincing reasons to purchase an annuity, 82% say 
Respondents also cited the fact that annuities:
- offers peace of mind because the payments will continue for as long as you live (82% of respondents)
- Make sure that your monthly income will not fall, although it is an important market decline (80%)
- can help you stay independent because the money will never run (76, 8%)
- certainty of the offer regarding the rate of return (75.5%)
we are all living longer with a lot of us look to be active in our 0s one of the best ways to preserve our independence is to provide a source of income, we can not survive, and that's what Annuities do not ensure the safety, security and safeguards.
Disability insurance is more important than life insurance?
As life insurance Month approaches, we are reminded that one of the main functions of life insurance is 
Let me explain. What Is life insurance used? Income and asset protection. What is disability insurance used? Income and asset protection! When we really understand life and disability insurance, it is easy to see that there is very little difference between the two in terms of function. In both cases, the insured no longer produces income.
What is different is spending. Although there is usually final expenses related to death, costs of disability are persistent and significant, with the potential to last for years. According to the Council for Disability Awareness, the average length of a long-term disability is two years.
People who have become disabled and are no longer able to work still need to buy what they did before they still need to eat, sleep and shelter. In addition, they usually have ongoing medical problems that must be addressed. They may have special needs that require equipment or modernization of their homes and special automobile.
So I could argue that becoming disabled is much worse than dying in terms of financial turmoil.
As a counselor, when I deal with clients who seem to be interested in life insurance, I asked simply, "OK, I'd be happy to help you buy an insurance plan -life, but how you will continue to pay the premium if you become disabled? How will you continue to pay for your car insurance, health insurance and your home insurance? "My hope is that these customers will start thinking about the financial planning disability.
Learn more about the need for income protection insurance exploring www.protectyourpaycheck.org and www.disabilitycanhappen.org
But do not take away the great efforts that lIFE is to promote the importance of life insurance during the campaign that begins in two weeks. Instead, I remind you that both life insurance and disability insurance are important considerations for anyone who has financial responsibility for a family or a business.
3 tips to get "high risk" life insurance
If life insurance is not a priority before it will become one if your health declines. The combination of the realization of the most important people in your life are financially dependent on you and you are no longer invincible are is a wake up call for many.
Most consumers have health problems admit that getting life insurance when they were young and healthy has always been a thought, but nothing's ever pushed the continue until now.
Nobody likes to think about their premature death, but with a condition invites the thought of "If something happened to 
If you have health problems or lifestyle and you are having difficulty to get life insurance, here are 3 tips to help you in your search
Tip # 1: .. Working with a life insurance agent or agency that has experience with your risk
the truth is, every life insurance company will look at your risk differently. Some life insurance companies will look at your sole risk, more favorably than others. Just because you have been denied with one company does not mean you can not get affordable coverage with another company.
Ask your current agent if they have access to an insurance specialist -life "high risk". If they do not then just do an Internet search for your risk. For example, you can search for "life insurance with COPD" or "life insurance with congestive heart failure." There are several agents who are experts in your risks and know that life insurance companies will give you the best offer. There are many high risk for qualified life insurance agents there
Tip # 2 :. It's about control and compliance
If you have a chronic health condition (diabetes, asthma, arthritis, etc.), all you have to do is demonstrate control and compliance. Control which means there are no major complications, and that means respect that you follow your doctor's recommendations. This applies to the majority of medical issues.
In many cases, you just need to bring your cholesterol levels, blood pressure, A1C levels, triglycerides, PSA or other laboratory results within normal limits. If you have been denied or very appreciated for your lab results, work on getting those under control and re-apply when they return within normal limits
Tip 3 :. Get "trial offers"
There is a process in the life insurance industry, where we can send your risk for many life insurance companies at one time, without filling a formal application for life insurance. This means that you can know with certainty what type of offers to wait several life insurance companies before you formally apply and without taking a medical examination. Think of it as a service "prequalification"
This is what it means :.
1. Your agent collects your health information (in detail), sums to subscribers and sends it to all life insurance company that has risk.
2. life insurance companies review your health profile and answer "indicative offers" writing. This means that until everything was disclosed, and nothing has changed are the rates you can expect.
3. You choose the best offer and a formal application with this company. Your agent would join the temporary offer to your request.
The biggest misconception for people with health problems looking for life insurance is that they can not qualify for coverage. We hear all the time and in most cases affordable coverage is obtained.
Eligibility for life insurance coverage with a health deficiency takes some expertise and a little more work on your agent, but it can be done. Do not let the health problems that deter you secure this important coverage.
My advice is always to provide coverage while you're young and healthy because health tomorrow is promised to no one. However, sometimes it takes a wake up call to get life insurance off the burner.
Be master of your future Ensuring your
If there is one thing the recession (and all the twists and turns that followed subsequent economic) taught us, it is the value to be proactive when it comes to our future. While you may not be able to control what happens in Washington, DC, and on Wall Street, you can take charge of your personal finances, making choices that go a long way to protecting your future and that of your loved ones.
the old saying "ignorance is bliss" was replaced with "knowledge is power", as the Americans recalculate budgets across households, review mortgage rates and credit card fees and look for ways to save at the gas pump and grocery store. and in September, which is life insurance awareness Month, you have another way to get the most out of your money and protect your future :. by assessing your life insurance coverage
But, to use another aphorism, "you can lead a horse to water, you can not make him drink. "While life or your insurance agent can tell you about the importance of life insurance, you can buy it. Unfortunately, the reasons for not buying a policy, or not to increase coverage current to meet future needs, are often based on fallacies and misinformation.
How do you know about life insurance? Read the following instructions to check your insurance IQ. Consider this life insurance 101:
I'm single, so I do not need life insurance Even singles can leave behind others who depend :. children, aging parents , or even a friend or relative who is dependent on them for financial support. Having a policy in place that will take care of them once you are gone is the last act of love you can give.
I'm covered through work. This should be enough. May be. Or maybe not. The only way you will know if the coverage is adequate is by using tools such as life insurance LIFE Calculator needs. But keep in mind that, depending on how it is written, the policy may end when your employment ends. Wear an individual policy gives you coverage and additional control, no matter what happens with your work situation.
I'm too young to worry about life insurance. In fact, there are several reasons why you should buy a policy when you are young. On one hand, the purchase of a life insurance coverage while you're young and healthy means that your premiums will be relatively low. In addition, while the young like to think they are immune against health problems and adverse life events, accidents and illnesses can occur at any age. Having a policy in place guarantees your insurability.
Life insurance is too expensive. How do you think it costs? There are opportunities, whatever you think is probably much more than reality. According to LIMRA and LIFE Insurance Barometer Study 2012 80% of consumers were unable to correctly estimate the real cost of life insurance. Most greatly overestimated her, for example, that the best available annual rate of 20, $ 250,000, political life in term for good health 30 years have a median cost of $ 400 believe prices. (Good answer $ 150 ?!) Before you decide you "can not afford insurance," be sure you know what is the real cost - and the cost of not being insured could be for you and your family
"term." "Perm." "Riders and options." it's too complicated to understand. Anyone who has tried to navigate through the pages of legal documentation and contracts may be forgiven for thinking that this is all designed to make you feel badly informed, educated and outdated.
Fortunately, we need not let lack of knowledge stand in your way to make an intelligent decision. Start by visiting online resources such as the LIFE website where you will find easy to understand information and tools. Then schedule a sit-down with your professional financial adviser or insurance, or if you do not have it, you can find one here. Take a list of questions and scenarios. For example, if you:
- quit your job and start your own business
- have another child
- take responsibility for an aging parent
- find that you have a terminal illness?
Awareness Life Insurance Using a month to increase your understanding of what life insurance can do for you and your family. And then do it!
There is a choice
An editorial in my local newspaper, the Minneapolis' StarTribune, "bubbling me. You see, a man was mourning not only the death of his beloved 94-year-old aunt, but also that there was nothing more his very hard earned $ 250,000 in savings to bequeath. He was upset that all her savings went to pay for long term care and when that ran out, she "became a ward of the state."
What he does not mention is that she had a choice.
she made a choice not to use a small part of his savings each Year- $ 3000 to buy long-term care insurance, and I understand his decision not as she had modest gains. However, there was a choice. Instead, $ 250,000 complete her savings went to pay for care. If she had drawn his savings to $ 3,000 per year for long-term care insurance policy, it could have retained much of his savings, got the care she needed in an institution of their choice and the past money to his family as a legacy to his death
And his point about her being a ward of the state. This is the part that really bothered me the most, because the government took care of her aunt. After missing money, the state of Minnesota pays for it. It was not a ward of the state; she was the recipient of the state and its taxpayers. This civilized nation has taken care of her, but asked him to use his resources first. This is called accountability.
People often think that long term care insurance is too expensive. In reality, it is too expensive is to use your savings to pay for care. Your choice may come down to pay several thousand dollars a year for a long-term care policy, or to pay more than $ 87,000 per year from your savings if you were to need care. (This is the national average cost of nursing home care per year.) He is a choice.
Awareness-life of breast cancer Insurance style!
Have you noticed the pink ribbon everywhere this month? Or holding pink athletes around the nation are 
It is to support awareness of breast cancer. I think it's a great time to also spread the attention on progress in the life insurance underwriting for breast cancer survivors.
With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we will expand the awareness that breast cancer survivors see very affordable life insurance offers many life insurance companies on the market.
There are not long when those who beat breast cancer had to wait 10 years for their last treatment even be considered for coverage of life insurance. Life insurance underwriters finally started loosening their underwriting positions against breast cancer because of advances in treatment, increased awareness and self exams.
And it's time.
Unfortunately, these advances in breast cancer subscription are known for the life insurance industry and not to the general public. There is a huge misconception by breast cancer survivors out there that cover life insurance is not an option and it could not be further from the truth. Agents around the nation secure affordable life insurance to their clients with breast cancer history.
If you are a breast cancer survivor, the first thing you need to do is collect the following information and present it to your life insurance agent:
1. What was the specific type of breast cancer?
2. What was the stage and grade of the cancer? (MOST IMPORTANT - this should come from your pathology report post)
3. When were you diagnosed? And when did your end treatment?
4. How was it treated? (Lumpectomy, mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation, etc.)
5. Any metastasis or lymph node involvement? If so, provide details.
6. What was the size of the tumor?
If any of the above information is missing, an agent can not precisely "shop your case ', which means finding a company that would be a solution for you. In addition, having a copy of your pathology report will help tremendously in your prequalification risk. After providing this information to your agent, let them take it from there.
Each life insurance company will look at your history of different specific breast cancer and slightly more favorable than others. It is your life insurance agent who will use their expertise and resources to find a more affordable cover. Put your life insurance agent to work for you.
Securing life insurance for breast cancer survivors occurs daily in our industry and awareness of + 2.9 million breast cancer survivors today will help protect more families need this coverage.
If you are a breast cancer survivor and are in the market for life insurance, contact your life insurance agent. Affordable life insurance rates are in your future.
The list (aka what financial documents you need to keep it safe and dry)
( This post originally ran in July 2011, but in the wake of Hurricane Sandy it seems appropriate to run again, especially in light of the advice in the last paragraph. )
How many of you have legal and financial documents stashed in various drawers in different places? Maybe you have some in your home safely, some in drawers in the bedroom, others in the den and in the office. What happens when you get sick or die? Does anyone know where all the documents? Probably not, including you.
The Wall Street Journal published a very interesting article, The 25 papers you need before dying, simply answer this problem. The article was two pages, very detailed and well written, so let me give you a summary of what he said
According to the WSJ, there are six categories of documents that must be maintained . Marriage and divorce, life insurance and retirement, health care, bank accounts, proof of ownership and "essential". Here is what should be included in these categories.
Marriage and divorce
o Marriage license
o divorce papers
life insurance and retirement of
o fonts life insurance
o individual retirement accounts
o 401 (k) accounts
o retirement papers
o annuity contracts
health care
o personal and medical history of the family
o sustainable food health proxy
o authorization to disclose health information
o Living will be
o Do-not-resuscitate for
o pre-need guardianship declaration (not required in all states, but an excellent idea)
bank accounts
o List of bank accounts
o List of investment accounts
o List of all usernames and passwords
o List of safes
proof of ownership
o housing, land and acts cemetery
o Escrow mortgage accounts
o evidence of loans and debts
o tracks vehicles
o stock certificates, savings and brokerage accounts obligations
o partnership and operating company agreements
o tax returns
the Essentials
o Will
o Letter of instruction
o other business documents such as purchase and sale agreements or share buyback
My list includes over 25 mentioned by the WSJ, and your list may include other. Here is another indication of someone who lives in an area prone to severe storms and flooding. Put your papers in watertight containers with water to prevent loss or damage due to water.
Now you have your list. Start organization!