| Information |
Insurance or Assurance - Do You Need Reassurance?
Insurance versus assurance: what is the difference? Should you care? Yes!! The world of finance is extremely complicated and there are many factors to consider when choosing any financial protection product. When looking for a policy you need to know what you are looking for and what is on offer in order that you get the right cover for your needs. One thing that many people find confusing is the specific use of the term "insurance" and the use of "assurance". What are the differences between them? In general, the term insurance refers to providing cover for an event that might happen while assurance is the provision of cover for an event that is certain to happen. For the purposes of financial provisions, a life insurance policy provides cover for a set period of time. If the worst were to happen during that time (and there are no complications), then the insurance company will be required to pay out the agreed sum to the beneficiary. The only time the policy has any real monetary value is if there is a claim made for payment as a result of an event triggering that claim, such as the death of the person covered. If the person outlives the term of the policy, then the insurance policy will cease and no payment will be made. Life assurance is different from insurance, and will always result in a payment. This is achieved by combining an investment element along with and an insured sum. This means that over time the value of the policy can increase as the investment bonuses are added. If a person covered by life assurance were to die, then the insured sum would be paid out, alongside the investment bonuses which would have accrued over time. If it is necessary to cancel the policy prior to the end of any designated term period, or the death of the life being covered, then once an investment bonus has been added, the life assurance policy will have an encashment value. It is therefore possible to cash in a policy earlier than its usual termination date, in order to collect on the investment portion. It should be noted that many insurance companies place penalties for cashing in policies early. The distinction between the two terms has become increasingly blurred. This is principally due to many companies offering both types of policy and grouping insurance and assurance titles in similar contexts, sometimes interchanging the two terms. Richard Brown, Chief Executive of Moneynet.co.uk, clarified the situation by stating, "most life insurance companies offer a wide range of insurance and investment services - for example pension, investment funds, investment bonds, car insurance, home & contents insurance, life assurance, and even loans. Sometimes a 'life insurance' company will call itself a 'life assurance' company but they mean one and the same." More companies within the financial services industry have realised that consumers are becoming increasingly baffled by the choice of financial products available. Although this confusion has resulted in a certain amount of apathy, many firms are resolving the situation by providing comprehensive information guides. This has lead to an increase in the number of the online financial guides and glossaries that have become available. Sites such as Moneynet, Moneyfacts, and MoneyExtra not only provide comparisons of financial products, but also information to help consumers make informed decisions. With organisations like Which? writing publications such as 'Be Your Own Financial Adviser', the focus has turned to providing consumers with sufficient information to make their own financial judgements. About Rachel Cashzilla is an Aries. He has a flamboyant character and a tongue that could heat up any conversation. If Cashzilla was an A-Team character, he'd be Murdock. Cashzilla has recently started dating Nessie, the Loch Ness monster. It's still early days, but both monsters say they're very happy. To read more about this torrid affair, visit Cashzilla at http://www.cashzilla.co.uk
Latest News:Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for news Futures flat; Lehman buyout news, data awaited (Reuters via Yahoo! News) Stock index futures were little changed on Friday as investors awaited news on the fate of Lehman Brothers after a slide in its stock this week heightened fears over whether the investment bank can survive. Myanmar's Suu Kyi to get family letters, news mags (Reuters via Yahoo! News) Detained Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has managed to wring small concessions from the ruling generals in the form of letters from her family and some international news magazines, her lawyer said on Friday. SEC Looks Into UAL Stock Scare; Implications For Online News? (CBS News) A ton of digits have been devoted to this in other spots but the SEC's decision to investigate takes it to another level. The backstory: a six-year-old news story about UAL declaring bankruptcy made it into the Tribune-owned Sun-Sentinel 's current news flow, was picked up by a Google (NSDQ: GOOG) News bot and, via a reporter for a newsletter, made it onto Bloomberg News. After a lot of buck ... JCDecaux in talks for News Outdoor Group in Russia (AP via Yahoo! News) French outdoor advertising firm JCDecaux SA said Thursday it is negotiating to buy Russian rival News Outdoor Group from global media company News Corp. News Corp tightens grip on Premiere with new CEO (Reuters via Yahoo! News) Rupert Murdoch tightened his grip on German pay-TV broadcaster Premiere by appointing News Corp executive Mark Williams as CEO in a move to get the company back on track. Phila. mayor to announce grim budget news (The Philadelphia Inquirer) The Nutter administration is expected to announce grim budget news today, which is all but certain to lead to significant spending cuts - perhaps as high as 10 percent - in some city departments, according to three sources familiar with the budget. Help News pick Stadium's greatest moment (New York Daily News) The News is marking the countdown to the final game at The House That Ruth Built by reflecting on Yankee Stadium's greatest moments - and we're asking you - the reader - to help us pick out the best of the best. JCDecaux and News Corp. in talks to combine outdoor ad groups (International Herald Tribune) The News Corp. chief executive, Rupert Murdoch, has recently expressed nervousness about investments in Russia, where News Outdoor generated the bulk of its revenue last year. SEC Looks Into UAL Stock Scare; Implications For Online News? (paidContent.org via Yahoo! Finance) A ton of digits have been devoted to this in other spots but the SEC's decision to investigate takes it to another level. The backstory: a six-year-old news story about UAL declaring bankruptcy made it into the Tribune-owned Sun-Sentinel's current news flow, was picked up by a Google News bot and, via a reporter for a newsletter, made it onto Bloomberg News. JCDecaux in talks to buy News Corp. billboard unit (AP via Yahoo! Finance) In a deal that would create the world's largest outdoor advertising company, French conglomerate JCDecaux SA said Thursday that it is in talks to buy Russian rival News Outdoor Group from global media company News Corp. Site: news - Google News News Analysis A Difficult Road Awaits Panetta at the CIA - New York Times
MORE RESOURCES: Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for insurance NC insurance commissioner orders lower auto rates (AP via Yahoo! Finance) North Carolina State Insurance Commissioner Jim Long on Thursday rejected an industry request for an almost 13 percent increase in auto rates and has ordered a reduction instead. Auto-insurance rates in N.C. ordered cut by 16.1 percent (Winston-Salem Journal) N.C. Insurance Commissioner Jim Long rejected yesterday an industry request for an almost 13 percent increase in auto rates and has ordered a reduction instead. Survey: Insurance Industry Expects Subprime Issues to Negatively Impact 2009 Performance (Insurance Journal) Insurance executives expect subprime and other credit issues to continue to have a significantly negative impact on the industry's financial performance in 2009, and they see credit and pricing risks Nevada Names Baker Acting Insurance Commissioner (Insurance Journal) The Nevada Department of Business & Industry named Betty C. Baker acting commissioner of the Division of Insurance. Baker will oversee the Division while a replacement is sought for Alice Molasky-Arma Here's the lowdown on 'private' bank and broker insurance (USA Today) Q: I've noticed several banks and brokerage firms claiming they have private insurance that protects accounts above the FDIC and SIPC limits. Should investors trust those promises? State unemployment insurance claims up (Macon Telegraph) The Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday that 59,090 laid-off workers filed first-time claims for unemployment insurance benefits in August, an increase of 72.1 percent from August 2007, but a slight decrease from July to August this year. Fitch Ratings Gives Island Insurance an "Aq" (Insurance Journal) Island Insurance Co. Ltd., Hawaii's largest locally owned and managed property and casualty insurance carrier, has reaffirmed its "Aq" rating for Quantitative Insurer Financial Strength (Q-IFS) by Fit Looking for Free or Low-cost Health Insurance? (Carteret County News-Times) (ARA) - It's no secret that accessing health care is a challenge for the 47 million Americans who are uninsured. Lack of health insurance forces many Americans to choose the health care they receive based on what they can afford, not what they actually need. Uganda: Health Insurance May Face NSSF Fate (AllAfrica.com) The government has finally resolved that all salaried workers and employers, will with effect from July 2009, be required to make compulsory contributions to the new National Social Health Insurance Scheme. The net inflow from life insurance companies into equity stood at Rs550bn till March 31, 2008 , foreign institutional ... (India Infoline) The life insurance industry was the largest investor in the Indian equity markets, ahead of foreign institutional investors and mutual funds, according to the reports. Site: insurance - Google News Obama Plan for Government Insurance Draws Criticism - Bloomberg
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Insurance or Assurance - Do You Need Reassurance? Insurance versus assurance: what is the difference?Should you care?Yes!!The world of finance is extremely complicated and there are many factors to consider when choosing any financial protection product.When looking for a policy you need to know what you are looking for and what is on offer in order that you get the right cover for your needs. General Knowledge - Critical Illness Insurance Critical illness can happen to anyone, and often does. If you are diagnosed with a critical illness, recovery should be your first concern. Accident Factoids Accidents, personal injuries and insurance claims are here to stay. No matter how far into the 21st Century American's elect to drive (unless by the beginning of the 22nd Century we're all zipping around in our own personal space ship) motor vehicle accidents will continue to pile up; with no end in sight!There are more than 200,000,000 licensed drivers in the United States. Business Insurance; Information you will need When you start a small business you will need to have insurance. You would be wise to shop around. Why Boat Insurance Doesnt Help A Lousy Sailor For thousands of years men have sailed the seas. From the earliest trips by the discoverers and settlers of the Americas, Australia and the Pacific Islands, through Odysseus' voyage to Troy and beyond to the time of Swashbucklers in the Caribbean mankind has made exciting voyages to the far corners of the world. Cheap Health Insurance - Health Insurance for The Self Employed If you're self employed, you may think of health insurance as a luxury. When you're barely making ends meet, paying several hundred dollars a month for something you may not need isn't a priority. What to Look for in Good Health Insurance Health insurance is a kind of protection that provides payment of benefits for covered sickness or injury. Included in health insurance are various types of insurance such as accident insurance, disability income insurance, medical expense insurance, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance. An Intro To Auto Insurance Although premiums, policies and prices vary widely, the mandate does not. Automobile insurance is an unavoidable expense of driving. Sisters Are Insuring Themselves: Finance is the New Feminism According to a study by LifeSearch, the number of women in the UK buying life insurance in the UK has doubled over the last six years. As women are increasingly closing the gender related pay gap and even becoming the main breadwinners in a household, they are also becoming more vigilant about their finances and less financially dependent on their partners. Insurance for Those Who Run Bed and Breakfast Properties A Bed and Breakfast, often referred to as a B&B, is a private residence with several rooms of which are set aside for overnight guests whose paid accommodations include breakfast. Modern Bed and Breakfast often consciously tries to recall earlier days - they are generally established in charming older houses which have been refurbished and adorned with antique furniture. How To Save Money On Your Homeowners Insurance? In order to save money on your homeowners insurance you have to consider several price determining factors. One of the biggest factors is whom your insurance provider ends up becoming. Life Insurance Careers Do you like to spend all day being sitting around? Fixed income is good enough for you? Do you feel economic stability is not a priority right now?Well, if your answer to any of above questions is "Yes", you should accept the fact youhave a very high chance of being unsuccessful.But if, in the other hand, you are proactive, if you need to build a future for your family and yourself, establishing financial stability with a job that takes advantage of all your skills, then you should strongly consider a career in the life insurance world. The Life Insurance Policy and Its Best Kept Secret Do you love someone deeply enough to spend your hard earned dollars on a life insurance premium -- month after month?After all, the benefit from a life insurance policy isn't for you. It's for the ones you love, but after you've gone. 10 Ways To Save On Car Insurance For most people car insurance is a the single largest insurance expense after health insurance. Rates are high and are forever climbing, at least it seems that way. The Surety Bond Domino Effect I have written many articles about the hard surety bond market. To my surprise many want to know more details as to how we got to where we are at. A Free Term Life Insurance Quote Is Only Easy To Obtain By searching online for life insurance, you can get a free term life insurance quote with no obligation to buy. In order to get the free term life insurance quote, you fill in the form on the appropriate page of the life insurance company website. Hidden Ways to Cut Car Insurance Consumers are countering rising gasoline prices and other vehicle operating costs by capitalizing on lower auto insurance rates, according to leading insurers.Auto policy costs and regulations vary significantly from state to state, but there are a number of areas that consumers are able to control and adjust to optimize prices and quality. How Much Can My Auto Rate Increase After One Accident? Accidents almost always make your insurance rates increase. Whether or not the accident was your fault, your insurance company may have to pay for your involvement in it. Life Insurance Basics One of the most important things you can do as parents is to ensure the financial welfare of your children in the event of your death. Life insurance is the best way to be rest assured that your children will be taken care of if you die. Insurance: A Necessity for Peace of Mind There are many choices for insurance. Insurance is apolicy where you pay in a certain figure, that you do notusually get back, and pays out in the event of a certainsituation. |
| Home | Site Map | Resource Links |