In the News

How Much Life Insurance do I Need?

Written by Life & health Insurance Foundation for Education |

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The answer isn't really how much life insurance you need, it's how much money your family will need after you're gone.

Ask yourself:

How much money will my family need after my death to meet immediate expenses,
like funeral expenses and debts?
How much money will my family need to maintain their standard of living over the long run?

Life insurance proceeds can help pay immediate expenses including uncovered medical costs, funeral expenses, final estate settlement costs, taxes and other lump-sum obligations such as outstanding debts and mortgage balances. They can also help your family cover future financial obligations like everyday living expenses, money for college or your spouse's retirement, and so much more.

Factors That Affect Your Car Insurance

Written by Car Insurance Rates.com |

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The number crunching nerds who got made fun of for wearing pocket protectors, playing Dungeons & Dragons, and obsessing over their rotisserie baseball teams have found a way to get revenge on the world - they now work as car insurance actuaries!

Actuaries are high-powered math geeks who develop formulas that estimate the probability of insurance loss. These formulas are then used to determine car insurance rates. So the next time you think about stuffing a dweeb inside a locker, think twice - he might be setting your car insurance rates some day!

Safe Teen Driver Protection Act

Written by PR Newswire |

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- A new national survey, conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) on the views of parents of 15-18 year olds, reveals astoundingly high levels of support for stronger driving laws, including raising the age for learner's permits and licenses for beginning teen drivers, and more stringent nighttime driving and passenger restrictions.

The survey asked 1200 parents about the components of state graduated driver licensing programs. As recognized in the IIHS report, the strength of state laws varies widely, and some state laws "haven't kept pace with the latest research." Legislation to remedy this situation and establish minimum national standards for graduated driver licensing (GDL) systems, the Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection or "STANDUP" Act (H.R.1895 and S.3269), is pending in the U.S. Congress.

Suit Againt Reform Clears Hurdle

Written by Best Company, Inc. |

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Virginia's lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the federal health reform act may proceed, a federal judge ruled in dismissing a motion from the Obama administration to dismiss the case.

U.S. District Court Judge Henry E. Hudson said there is sufficient grounds for Commonwealth of Virginia v. Kathleen Sebelius, Virginia's complaint against a provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that requires individuals to have insurance by 2014 or pay a penalty. "Although this case is laden with public-policy implications and has a distinctive political undercurrent, at this stage the sole issues before the court are subject-matter jurisdiction and the legal sufficiency of the complaint," Hudson wrote in a 32-page opinion.

Red-Hot Debate Over Rising Retirement Age

Written by CNN Money.com |

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Of all the flash points in the debate over Social Security, few generate as much heat as raising the retirement age.

It's time to lay bare the arguments.

Today, the so-called normal or full retirement age is 66, up from 65 a decade ago. It is scheduled to increase by two months a year starting in 2017 until it reaches 67 in 2022. Meanwhile, 62 remains the age at which those who retire early can collect a percentage of their full benefits.

Many budget and debt experts recommend that the retirement age be raised further. Why? Because Americans are living longer and spending more years in retirement than they did when Social Security was established.

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