Points or no-points choice: Do not jump to any conclusion before weighing properly the benefits of upfront points payment and lower rate. Or else, you will end up spending a fortune on your decision and the time period of the mortgage
counter
Saturday, July 25, 2009
REFINANCE
Points or no-points choice: Do not jump to any conclusion before weighing properly the benefits of upfront points payment and lower rate. Or else, you will end up spending a fortune on your decision and the time period of the mortgage
REFINANCE
Thursday, July 23, 2009
7 Ways To Reduce Debt Quickly
7 Ways To Reduce Debt Quickly
If you’re not familiar with the debt snowball, I’ll give you a quick tutorial. The basic concept of the debt snowball is to take an extra $200 per month and apply it to the debt with the lowest balance. After the first debt is paid off, you then take the $200 plus the amount that you were paying on the first debt to conquer the second debt. Then one day you find that you are debt free!
Some of these ideas are a little crazy, but getting out of debt is a crazy thing to do (at lease that’s what the American culture will tell you.) To Achieve something crazy, you have to get crazy.
So without further ado, I present 7 ways to financial freedom:
Quit Smoking
I know you love smelling like charcoal, but cigarettes are expensive. Smoking a pack a day at $4 bucks a pop adds up to a tidy $120 a month.
Cut The CableCable
can be a big expense. My cable bill, which includes phone, internet and television, is nearly $130 per month. Cutting cable will get you well on your way to having an extra $200 per month.
Eat At Home
Even cheap restaurants can be expensive for a family of 4. You’ll be doing well to get out of there for under $40. Cut that weekly trip out and you’ll save a nice $120 per month.
Loose Your Cell
PhoneDo you really need it? Your gut reaction is yes, but unless you were born after 1985, you’ve probably lived the majority of your life without a cell phone.
Skip Starbucks
This one hurts me. I love my grande mocha lattes which come in at $3.34 with tax. One of those a day adds up to just over $100 per month. In my book, that’s a lot of money for coffee.
Drop The Paper
Do you really need your morning paper? You can watch the news for free on television and you can read it online at
Take a Second Job
Who wants a second job? Well you do if you aren’t willing to cut some expenses to find your $200. If you can’t cut expenses you have to increase your income. Look for something small and simple. Try delivering papers (it’s not just for kids on bicycles,) doing some yard work for neighbors, or getting a part-time job at McDonald’s. You may have to suck up some pride, but it will be worth it in the end.
There are literally hundreds of ideas to reduce expenses. If you’re really serious about becoming debt free then either use one of these ideas or think up your own and get started on the
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
This Article considers the constitutional status of state punitive damage judgments and the particular obligation that sister-states have to enforce them. Part I considers the legality of measures recently enacted by the tobacco companies' home states to delay enforcement of the judgment in Engle. This discussion will show that, contrary to the public protestations of many legal scholars, those states properly exercised their authority under the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the Constitution when they acted to defer enforcement of the Engle judgment while it is appealed through the Florida courts. Part II of this Article considers whether there is any obligation under the Full Faith and Credit Clause to enforce sister-state judgments for punitive damages. According to Supreme Court precedent dating back to the nineteenth century, "penal" judgments are not entitled to full faith and credit. While the penal judgment rule has not seen great service in recent decades, its reexamination is timely. First, there is widespread agreement that modern punitive damages awards no longer serve the compensatory purposes they served at the time the Full Faith and Credit Clause was ratified: Punitive damages now serve the quasi-criminal purposes of deterrence and punishment, and are therefore penal in nature. Second, an increasing number of states have reaffirmed the penal role of punitive damages by appropriating a share of the plaintiff's punitive award. Such shared recovery laws emphasize that punitive awards now vindicate "public wrongs," and so fulfill the historical purpose of penal laws. This Article contends, however, that the penal judgment rule should not be extended to permit the denial of full faith and credit to judgments for punitive damages. Notwithstanding the linguistic similarity in the epithets penal judgments and punitive damages, the concepts address quite different concerns. Further, application of the penal judgment rule to punitive damages awards would serve no state or litigant interest not already addressed by other constitutional provisions - particularly the Due Process Clause. For these reasons, courts should not revivify the penal judgment rule to address contemporary problems posed by punitive damages awards. This Article concludes that the Constitution offers defendants who suffer the imposition of catastrophic verdicts like that in Engle a measure of protection. States may, and after Engle should, eliminate appellate bond requirements for punitive awards when there is no reason to suspect that the judgment debtor will intentionally dissipate its assets. This approach will leave intact appellate bond requirements for compensatory damages, and thus secure the judgment creditor's right to be made whole for his losses. At the same time, judgment debtors need not face the prospect of bankruptcy, or exorbitant settlement, simply because they cannot post security for an aberrant, punitive verdict like that in Engle. The Supreme Court has emphasized the critical role of appellate courts in policing unconstitutionally excessive punitive verdicts, and that role can only be fulfilled if the appellate process is affordable. Realistic appellate bond requirements, however, are only part of the solution. Engle sounds a grave warning. The current system of tort law increasingly "commits the fate of an entire industry or, indeed, the fate of a class of millions, to a single jury."The constellation of interests affected by mass tort litigation--injured persons, consumers, states, national industries, and local economies - exceeds the competence of a single jury or single state court to resolve. A national solution is needed, and by default the task of devising that solution falls on Congress.
Bankruptcy
In order to qualify for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, you must pass the “means test.” That means that if your income is less than the median income in your county, you qualify to apply for bankruptcy protection. In order to find out if your income is above or below the median income for your area, please and one of our experienced bankruptcy attorneys can apprise you of where your income falls in the context of the “means test.” If, however, your income is above the median income for your county, you may still qualify, but additional information that you provide will have to be.
When one files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the court appoints a trustee who will collect and sell (“liquidate”) all non-exempt property and distribute the proceeds to the appropriate creditors. Any remaining dischargable debts will be discharged at the end of the process.
The definition of “exempt assets” varies from state to state, but in New York, the following assets are generally exempt from liquidation in Chapter 7 bankruptcy:
$2,500 in cash and $2,500 in clothing and household furniture, or $50,000 in equity in a home that is located in New York and is the principal residence of the debtor
a car with up to $2,400 in equity,
“qualified” retirement plans, such as 401ks and 403b plans,
IRAs
up to $600 in work tools
personal injury compensatory recoveries to up to$7,500 (not including pain and suffering)
security deposits
Any excess equity in your home or car, above the levels outlined above, must be “cashed out” in order to pay your creditors. It should be noted that certain debts are not dischargable in a bankruptcy proceeding. The following debts are among the most common that generally may not be discharged:
Child Support
Spousal Support
Back Taxes
Most Student Loans
Cash Advance
Financial LiberationNo Fax Cash Advance offers personal loans online to help you stay financially afloat until your next paycheck. At one time or another, we’ve all wished for a way to fast-forward the clock to our next payday because we were just a few dollars short for an unexpected bill or an important purchase. No Fax Cash Advance offers quick, no-hassle, free online loan service to people in a pinch who need some cash to tide them over until payday.
We know that sometimes financial problems are temporary, that you might just need a little boost until your next paycheck. A No fax cash advance isn’t a solution to serious, long-term financial problems. It’s a quick strategy to get you to your next paycheck. You might have an unexpected obligation that requires more than you’d anticipated, or more than you have saved up at the moment. It’s not your fault, it just how life works sometimes. You might have a medical bill that needs covering right away. You might have to make a purchase that can’t wait-are you having visitors from out of town you’d like to treat to a fantastic meal at the best restaurant? That’s exactly the type of purchase for which No Fax Cash Advance loans were designed.
We are your Quick SolutionBecause credit rating is not an issue, approval for your loan is expedited because we don’t have to wait for a credit check to come back to us.
We are your No Fax SolutionUnlike a lot of other online cash advance sites out there, No Fax does not require any faxing of documents. No rushing around your house to find documents to fax. No rushing out to find a store with a fax service. No need to wonder whether we got your faxed documents, and no need to call us to confirm fax receipt. Simply put, no faxing means no hassle and quicker results.
No Fax Helps You Take Care of BusinessYour reasons for getting a cash advance are your own business, not ours. We won’t ask you why you need a loan. We know you have your reasons, just like everyone else getting fast, no-hassle loans atNo Fax every day. We know there are many pressures today in modern life, that might be solved by a cash advance. We know that one of our short-term loans can bridge the gaps until payday, and preserve the dignity of the borrower by ensuring privacy and discretion. We only ask that you be a citizen of the USA, with a job and direct deposit.
Reverse Mortgages
Reverse Mortgages
Reverse mortgage loans were introduced in the United States in 1989. Since then, almost 20,000 seniors in the country have acquired reverse mortgage loans. This article would give you some important reverse mortgage information.
Reverse mortgages are also termed as home equity conversion mortgages. In case of a reverse mortgage, home owners are able to keep the ownership of their houses and at the same time, receive a lump sum payment, or in some instances, a monthly payment from the lender. If the home owners shift to another place or expire, ownership of the house is obtained by the lender unless the elderly borrowers or their inheritors repay the loan. The home owners also have the option of selling the house and use the sale proceeds to pay off the lender.
Obviously, reverse mortgages are not meant for everybody. They might turn out to be expensive and a senior home owner might only find out 30%-80% of his home’s value with a reverse mortgage. The service charges and closing costs related to a reverse mortgage may vary from 20 dollars to 30 dollars every month. Some reverse mortgages bear adjustable interest rates and some fixed interest rates. Reverse mortgages are offered to you in various forms. You can get reverse mortgage information from different websites including FHA (Federal Housing Administration) and HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development).
mortgage
At First Business Mortgages we specialise in arranging commercial mortgages and loans to purchase a business, re mortgage or raise additional finance whatever the circumstances and for any purpose. First Business Mortgages can also arrange non status, adverse credit and self cert (certification) mortgages.
Our commercial mortgage and bridging loan products provide a simple and hassle free process, without the need for business plans, financial accounts or bank interviews.
We understand that not all self employed business owners or companies can meet the criteria required by many of the high street banks. That is why we can arrange finance with a self certification of income facility and for applicants with a poor credit history or CCJ's
Free ValuationUpon drawdown of the loan we'll refund the cost of the valuation back to you as well as not charging you any fees. Available on selected products.
equity line of credit
Get a line of credit with home equity loans
Get a line of credit by using a home equity mortgage loan from The Mortgage Store Online.
By getting a home equity mortgage loan, you can turn the amount of equity that's in your home into a super-nifty 'line of credit,' so you'll have an amount of money to 'borrow from' as your heart desires.
And by using a home equity mortgage loan to get a line of credit, you can get that line of credit a much lower
If you get a line of credit with a home equity mortgage loan, it can come in really handy. How?
You may have an emergency come up - you might just squash your eye-glasses and not have the insurance to cover it. You can counteract your blurry-eyed state with your home equity loan's 'line of credit.'
Or say your dishwasher (and I don't mean your spouse) dies after only 30 years of dedicated service. Or your fuze-box goes haywire. Or your sewer caves in (you know, when it makes your house smell...). A line of credit from a home equity mortgage loan, comes in very very very handy for all of life's unexpected financial emergencies - at a rate you can afford.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Debt-Consolidation-Debt-Relief.com
Debt-Consolidation-Debt-Relief.com
Best Online Credit Card Debt Consolidation Service
Is credit card debt and/or other unsecured debt ruining your future? Online Debt Consolidation or Debt Restructuring can get your future back.
Debt consolidation takes all your debt payments and consolidates them into a monthly payment that you can afford. In many cases credit card interest can be reduced or even eliminated. Entering into a debt consolidation program is voluntary and you can leave if it doesn't work for you.
You could reduce your total balances by 40-60%
Consolidate your payments into 1 low monthly payment
Home Ownership is not required
No Credit Check Avoid Bankruptcy
Credit card debt!! It can eat your future. Credit card debt and all the other unsecured debt can ruin your financial future, make you a slave to monthly payments and even ruin your health from the pressure and worry. Miss a payment on your credit card and the credit card company can raise your interest rates, charge outrageous late fees and report you to the credit agencies for a black mark against your credit rating.
If you have had enough of being ripped to shreds by credit card debt or any other unsecured debt we can help. Just fill out this simple form and hit send and we will match you up with a debt consolidation/elimination company who will start you on the road to being debt free.
Debt Consolidation
Three Debt Consolidation Loan Tips
A debt consolidation loan might be just what you need to escape your financial problems. Consolidating debt can reduce your overall expenditures, decrease your monthly payments and give you the space and time you need to get your financial house in order.
However, all consolidation loans are not created equal. Some are better than others and you need to be a smart consumer when searching out the right option for you. There's a great deal of potential benefit to consolidation, but handling the matter incorrectly can create serious negative consequences. Here are three tips for choosing a
Painkiller Bextra
Painkiller Bextra
pulled from market
Drug increases heart attack
and stroke risk, says FDA
WASHINGTON - The painkiller Bextra was taken off the market Thursday, and the government wants similar prescription drugs to carry the strongest possible warnings about increased risk of heart attack and stroke among the millions of people who rely on them.Pfizer Inc. suspended sales of Bextra in the United States and the European Union at the request of the Food and Drug Administration and European regulators. The company said that the FDA, in seeking Bextra’s withdrawal, cited a risk of serious, sometimes fatal, skin reactions to Bextra on top of the risks shared by other similar drugs.
At issue are a broad class of painkillers known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDS. Bextra is a particular type of NSAID known as a Cox-2 inhibitor, a class of blockbuster sellers particularly popular among arthritis sufferers until a competitor — Vioxx — was pulled off the market last fall. That sparked questions about the safety of all similar drugsprivate jet design
With India surging ahead as an economic super-power, more and more companies and individuals are realizing the cost and time-saving benefits of using private jets and helicopters. Owning a private aircraft enables the saving of considerable time, luxurious travel, never-before privacy and highest safety.
Private jets have access to many more airports in India, and with helicopters having the ability to land almost anywhere, you get unmatched connectivity to every corner of the country as compared to regular commercial airlines.
Traditionally, the desire to save time has been the primary reason for people preferring to own aircrafts. This allows them to run their business efficiently, regularly meet their clients and customers, and practice hands-on management of their business conglomerates within the country and overseas. All the while, they balance their personal and family commitments with their business responsibilities.
Studies have proven that many business leaders save as much as a month a year using a private jet or helicopter. A week-long trip can now be compressed into 72 hours. You can choose your own timings and can arrive or depart at any time of the day or night. Imagine, conducting business in 3 cities in one day and yet coming back to your family at night!
Aircraft Fractional Ownership offers individuals all these benefits of a privately owned jet or helicopter, at only a fraction of the cost, and without any ownership responsibilities or liabilities.
Private Jets
Private jets are getting faster, more expensive, and offer more luxury features. But what does the future hold for private jets? Halogen Guides looks at four key trends they feel will reshape the world of private aviation.
1.) Materials
Aviation has been well served by aluminum. It is strong, durable, and easy to repair, but it has its drawbacks. Limitations of the metal itself, its strength, flexibility, and most of all weight, are a major factor in aircraft design. Manufacturers have long looked to composite materials as a way of breaking free from these restrictions, but have been hampered by both the high cost of composites as well as their brittleness. But new developments in the fields of thermoplastics and metal alloys, in particular aluminum-lithium, and a drop in the price of more time tested materials like carbon fiber, mean that private jet designers are at last able to employ these materials in their plans. Grob Aerospace’s forthcoming “spn” light jet is using carbon fiber to create a roomy cabin on a plane whose size generally dictates that customers remain hunched over while standing. Moving forward, we can expect that new materials will allow for higher speeds, greater fuel efficiency, and more maneuverable aircraft.
2. Supersonic
The dream of supersonic civil aircraft has largely been hampered by public outcry over the prospect of sonic booms echoing loudly over the land. But new research suggests that planes may be able to circumvent, or at least dampen, the once seemingly inevitable sonic boom. The advancements involve changes in fuselage shape, which can break up and reshape the waves which cause the boom. The Nevada-based consortium, Supersonic Aerospace International, has already taken orders for its QSST jet. Designed by aerospace pioneer Lockheed Martin, the jet will be able to fly from LA to New York in a little over two hours.
3. Greener Technology
Private aviation is often considered one of the worst culprits for greenhouse gas emissions. With a growing recognition of the dangers of global climate change, not to mention the ever-increasing cost of jet-fuel, manufacturers are pursuing designs for the next generation of jets that emit less and fly further, while burning less gas. The pair of Rolls-Royce BR725engines which will be mounted on Gulfstream’s next generation G650will have four percent better fuel consumption and 21 percent better NOx emissions than previous models.
4. Personal Jet
Very light jets may be getting the most buzz these days, but they may have to make room for an even daintier competitor. Designs for personal jets, single pilot, owner-operated aircraft with room for one to four passengers are springing up all over manufacturer’s whiteboards. Maverick Jets offers its SmartJet, a pint sized plane not unlike the Smart Cars one sees careening through European cities. Meanwhile, Cirrus has been generating the most buzz of late with mockups of its personal jet, called simply “The-Jet.” The Jet’s single engine mounted above the fuselage will power the plane to speeds up to 345 mph, at an altitude of 25,000 feet, and a range of 1,000 miles. And for anyone who might feel uncertain testing their flying skills in a jet, The-Jet comes complete with its own nose-mounted parachute.
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Dental Plans
Dental Plans
Dental Cash Plans on the whole, work in the same way as aIn return for a weekly or monthly premium the Dental Cash Plan provider will pay cash lump sums towards many of you Dental costs.
will often pay towards Dental costs, but for those who would like their healthcare company to pay more towards this specific area, Dental Plans are a great way to ensure you and your family gets the care they need at a cost that is affordable.
With NHS Dental care becoming harder to come by and remaining NHS Dental practice services under a lot of pressure, Dental Plans offer peace of mind.
Knowing that you have often up to 100% of the treatment costs covered by your Dental Plan means that you can choose exactly when and where you have your Dental treatment.
What is covered by Dental Plans and cover limits vary from policy to policy and provider to provider, so you should always read the policy documents carefully before choosing your Dental Plan provider. Most Dental Plans will pay towards:
- Check-ups
- X-rays
- Hygienist
- Fillings
- Bridges
- Crowns
- Emergency Dental Care
The costs of keeping ourselves healthy can soon add up. help with costs such as Opticians, Dentists and Physiotherapists without the need for expensive Private Health Insurance.
start from as little as 58p* a week and help save hundreds of pounds on your and your family's healthcare.
Just click on any of theto read more about how you can take better care of yourself for less.
Dental Insurance Information
Dental Insurance Information
Many patients are concerned when they learn that the dental procedures they desire are not covered by their dental insurance program. They are especially troubled when they learn that their insurance usually has a co-pay and a maximum annual benefit of $1,000. Most dental insurance programs do not cover 100 percent of the basic dental care recommended by the American Dental Association.
When it comes to dental insurance, the truthful answer to a patient's question of “What's covered?” would probably have to be “Not much.” Here, in a nutshell, is the coverage patients can expect from their dental insurance:
- An allowance for basic care for specific dental services. Nothing more. No dental insurance policy will pay for all the dental services you receive. The insurance carrier picks up a percentage, and you pay the rest.
- "Bare Bones" coverage based upon the lowest cost dental services and materials available in your designated area. Anything above this lowest common denominator will be denied by the insurance carrier as exceeding "usual and customary" charges.
- Basic benefits that have been negotiated as part of your dental plan. The services covered in your plan have little or nothing to do with your own particular dental needs or with established ADA standards of dental care. They are just the services covered by your insurance plan. Period.
As dentists, our job is to help people stave off oral disease while improving their physical appearance and, hopefully, enhancing their self-image. To do this, we combine our years of experience and advanced studies with the most progressive, state-of-the-art dental technology available today. We have no interest in compromising our patients’ dental care because of unrealistic rules and restraints imposed by dental insurance companies.
For information regarding payment for services
If you would like to review your insurance information, please call Kimberly Breiwick at 218-326-3437.
Mesothelioma (gross)
Mesothelioma treatment options for malignant mesothelioma can relieve pain and provide hope for the future. In many cases, new mesothelioma treatment options can increase mesothelioma life expectancy beyond original expectations
Even if advanced malignant mesothelioma has reached a seemingly incurable stage, participating in clinical trials gives a breath of hope to the future generations of mesothelioma cancer patients.
Treatment for malignant mesothelioma can start with surgery, although this is not always recommended in mesothelioma treatment options since older patients may have a difficult time with surgery. The objective is to remove the tumor, or at least most of it, and slow down the disease. With advanced mesothelioma, the tumor has often tragically spread throughout the body and has invaded life-giving organs, making surgery more risky than living with cancer itself. However in the early stages of malignant mesothelioma, a localized tumor is more likely to be successfully removed.
Radical surgery is a mesothelioma treatment option for advanced malignant mesothelioma that has been used in small clinical trials, but has resulted in almost half the patients (48%) living at least five years past their predetermined mesothelioma life expectancy date. “Extrapleural pneumonectomy” involves removing the internal body parts that mesothelioma cancer cells love to invade. Surgery removes the parietal pleura (pleural mesothelioma), the pericardium (pericardial mesothelioma) and the diaphragm, as well as the removal of a lung. This surgery is combined with pre and post operative chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Cancer Research UK is funding a “MARS” clinical trial (mesothelioma and radical surgery) to formally undergo pilot testing. Since the patients must be followed for five years, the results are not yet available and the success of these mesothelioma treatment options has yet to be discovered. UK medical reports do claim that US trial results have thus far demonstrated that a heavier dose of radiotherapy after the EPP surgery extends mesothelioma life expectancy.
Mesothelioma treatment options almost always include chemotherapy. Progress is seen in mesothelioma treatment when chemotherapy is combined with drug therapy. There are clinical trials for mesothelioma treatment options around the world that are seeking to find the chemotherapy and drug mix that can prolong mesothelioma life expectancy. Clinical trials are listed at many cancer organizations and research hospitals, and many seek mesothelioma patients wanting mesothelioma treatment options for advanced malignant mesothelioma. In advanced malignant mesothelioma, participating in a clinical trial can be a lifesaving mesothelioma treatment option.
Mesothelioma treatment options for advanced malignant mesothelioma can also be found in clinical trials for anti-angiogenic therapy. Anti-angiogenic mesothelioma treatment options are biological therapies that revolve around blood vessel growth. A cancer needs its own blood supply to grow. Two primary chemicals contribute to growth, VEGF and FGF-2. Mesothelioma patients with advanced malignant mesothelioma have higher levels of VEGF compared to patients suffering from other cancers. The theory the clinical trials are hoping to prove is that blocking VEFG will stop the blood vessel growth that supports the cancer growth.
Mesothelioma treatment options for malignant mesothelioma also includes clinical trials in phototherapy, immunotherapy, gene therapy and other therapies. Medical specialists are scrambling to find the mesothelioma treatment options for malignant mesothelioma that can protect and cure the projected increase in mesothelioma patients of the future. Participating in clinical trials can extend mesothelioma life expectancy and provide hope for future generations.
Mesothelioma Incidence
Mesothelioma Incidence
Although reported incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years, mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer. The incidence is approximately one per 1,000,000. For comparison, populations with high levels of smoking can have a lung cancer incidence of over 1,000 per 1,000,000. Incidence of malignant mesothelioma currently ranges from about 7 to 40 per 1,000,000 in industrialized Western nations, depending on the amount of asbestos exposure of the populations during the past several decades. It has been estimated that incidence may have peaked at 15 per 1,000,000 in the United States in 2004. Incidence is expected to continue increasing in other parts of the world. Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women at any age. Approximately one fifth to one third of all mesotheliomas are peritoneal.Between 1940 and 1979, approximately 27.5 million people were occupationally exposed to asbestos in the United States and may be entitled to a mesothelioma settlement. Between 1973 and 1984, there has been a threefold increase in the diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma in Caucasian males. From 1980 to the late 1990s, the death rate from mesothelioma in the USA increased from 2,000 per year to 3,000, with men four times more likely to acquire it than women. These rates may not be accurate, since it is possible that many cases of mesothelioma are misdiagnosed as adenocarcinoma of the lung, which is difficult to differentiate from mesothelioma. |
A structured settlement
At the age of 19, Paul was seriously injured when a public walkway collapsed under him. Paul's lawyer made a claim for compensation against the public authority responsible for the walkway. After negotiations between the parties, the public authority admitted liability (fault).
The following settlement agreement was reached between the parties:
- The public authority will pay an immediate cash sum of $500,000 to Paul to pay existing debts and costs.
- The public authority will purchase a personal injury annuity for Paul from a life insurance company. This annuity will start at $30,000 per year, with payments paid to Paul monthly, indexed to the consumer price index (CPI), payable for as long as Paul lives and guaranteed for the first 10 years.
The annuity payments will be exempt from tax when received by Paul. The immediate cash sum will also be tax-exempt.
A structured settlement involving a minor and a trust
At the age of 10, Chris was in a car accident when the car driven by his father collided with another car. He sustained a serious head injury, resulting in permanent brain damage. Chris is permanently unable to work and his financial affairs need to be managed by a trustee on his behalf.
A claim for compensation was made against the driver of the other car (the defendant). The other driver was insured, so their insurance company defended the claim.
Chris's lawyer negotiated a structured settlement agreement in which the defendant's insurance company agreed to pay the following compensation:
- An immediate lump sum of $420,000 will be paid to Chris's trustee to settle Chris's existing debts and meet some of his future expenses.
- The insurance company will purchase two personal injury annuities for Chris from two different life insurance companies:
- The first annuity will provide periodic payments for Chris, starting at $12,500 per year*, payable in monthly payments, continuing for the term of Chris's life, increasing in line with the CPI and guaranteed for the first 10 years.
- The second annuity will provide periodic payments for Chris, starting at $30,000 per year, payable annually, continuing for the shorter of 30 years or Chris's life, increasing at 5% per year compound with no guarantee period.
This settlement agreement was approved by the court (as required under state law because Chris, being under 18 years old, has a legal incapacity). The annuity payments are tax-exempt when received by Chris's trustee on his behalf.
* The minimum level of monthly support requires that the pension be equal to or greater than the maximum basic rate of the age pension. The payments under the first annuity to Chris were greater than the minimum monthly level of support at the date of the settlement order.
A structured settlement involving a single personal injury lump sum
A structured settlement agreement included the following payments:
- a personal injury annuity of $1,400 per month that satisfies the requirements for providing the minimum monthly level of support - the payments are indexed to increase in line with the CPI and are guaranteed for 10 years from the date of settlement
- another personal injury annuity paying $15,000 per year for 10 years
- a personal injury lump sum of $100,000 payable in 15 years if the injured person is alive at that time, and
- an immediate cash lump sum of $250,000.
The personal injury annuity payments and the personal injury lump sum payment will be tax-exempt.
STRUCTURED SATTELLMANT
- STRUCTURED SETTLEMENT BLOG AND SETTLEMENT PLANNING BLOG "STRUCTURED SETTLEMENTS 4REAL" IS A POPULAR SOURCE OF STRUCTURED SETTLEMENT AND SETTLEMENT PLANNING INDUSTRY NEWS AND INFORMATIONThis structured settlement blog has a stable and growing readership targeted to settlement professionals, financial professionals, lawyers, injured persons and their family members, guardians, survivors, judges, magistrates, special masters, mediators, administrators, trust companies, financial advisers, insurance regulators, government leaders, the media and other interested parties. Established in 2005, Structured Settlements 4Real provides fresh structured settlement, settlement planning and litigation recovery management content and commentary added virtually daily! (written by John Darer, President of 4structures.com, LLC, an author who IS actually IN the industry). You won't find scraped content or "pay per post" fluff here! WHAT YOU GET is the straight stuff with a touch of irreverence. Comments ARE welcome, but subject to our comment filtering and trackback policy (see below) You can subscribe to this blog through the blog reader associated with your Internet browser, or through the Feedburner or Feedblitz links on this page. John Darer's connections through Plaxo will receive an automatic feed through Plaxo Pulse. You should also consider "book marking" or "favoriting" Structured Settlements 4Real so that you can return later and use it as a reference. Come back soon or subscribe through your blog reader!
Tips for Selling Structured Settlements
You may have received structured settlement payments through personal injury or workers’ compensation claims. You may be wondering if you should try to sell your settlement payments in exchange for a lump sum of cash. Be aware, however, that despite the claims of advertisers, that selling your structured settlement may not always be possible – and even if it is possible, it may not be an economically wise decision. There are some benefits to selling structured settlements, but also some hidden costs to be aware of.
Tip #1: Make a Wise Settlement Decision from the Beginning
If you have the option, it is always best to make a decision about receiving structured settlement payments before you agree to a settlement. You may, from the beginning, choose to press for a lump sum payment vs. periodic payments. This is not just black and white, either – you may negotiate for a combination agreement. You may want to get a smaller lump sum plus periodic payments, or decide that you will need a lump sum at a future date. You may want to consult with a tax adviser and see what arrangement makes the most sense from a tax perspective. If you are in this stage of the settlement, remember: now is your best time to decide . Should you decide to sell your structured settlement at a future date, you will be losing a percentage of your money to companies that buy structured settlement payments.QUALIFIED STRUCTURED SETTLEMENTS
QUALIFIED STRUCTURED SETTLEMENTS
“Qualified” Structured Settlements allows the plaintiff to direct the placement of dollars awarded to them in a wrongful death, physical personal injury, and/or worker’s compensation lawsuit into a series of annuity type instruments that provides tax-free cash payments to the plaintiff on an installment or periodic basis.
In cases involving wrongful death, physical personal injury and State worker’s compensation cases, “Qualified” Structured Settlements are applicable. These cases “qualify” for Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 5891(c)(1), which gives these types of cases taxation benefits based on an arrangement that meets the following requirements:
1. The suit or agreement must include for periodic payment of damages
excludable from gross income under IRC Section 104(a)(2); or
2. The suit or agreement must include for periodic payments of compensation
under any worker’s compensation law excludable under IRC 104(b)(1).
Additionally, the periodic payments must be of the character described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of the IRC Section 130(c)(2) and must be payable by a person or party who is party to the suit or agreement, or by a person or party who has assumed the liability for such periodic payments under a Qualified Assignment in accordance with IRC Section 130.
“Qualified” Structured Settlements allows the plaintiff to direct the placement of dollars awarded to them in a wrongful death, physical personal injury, and/or worker’s compensation lawsuit into a series of annuity type instruments that provides tax-free cash payments to the plaintiff on an installment or periodic basis.
ATRUCTURED SATTELMENT
More and more people are choosing structured settlements these days. Most common are those who have been injured in a road accident and need money from his/her settlement immediately to pay for medical bills, and prefer to have it now than wait for a large sum of money that may come later.
You should carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages before opting for a structured settlement. If you need money because you have recurring medical expenses on account of your injury or require prolonged physical therapy in order to recuperate, then a structured settlement might be appropriate.
The payment of a structured settlement usually comes from interest accruing on a purchased annuity. Although the terms of the settlement are quite loose, it is a binding one. Once you have signed the agreement, no more changes will be allowed at this point. Should you feel the need later to revise or make changes to the agreement because of some unforeseen expenses, you will need an attorney to change the terms of your agreement. You cannot use your structured settlement to obtain a new loan either.
Some companies will purchase the rights to your structured settlement for a lump sum of cash, and they will usually do it for the investment potential. What they will pay will be the current day value of your settlement amount, but but not including the invested sum. Rules do vary in different states regarding structured settlements. The amount received from structured settlements is taxable in some states.
If you are consulting an attorney to help you with your structured settlement, be sure you fully assess your situation and requirements carefully. Some things to consider before making a decision are:
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the program? Does the lawyer have a track record in negotiating structured settlements? Which is best for your own situation, a structured settlement or a lump sum of money? Will there be any tax benefit if you opt for a structured settlement? Will you get adequate money on time to cover all your expenses? How is it going to be in case of future contingencies, and if your requirement for money increases? Is it possible to change the terms of the structured settlement later? Can you decide later to change the program and opt for a lump sum payment?
It is wise to have a list of questions ready before you speak to a lawyer. The questions should be specific and relevant to your situation. Once you meet the lawyer, you can already gauge whether he/she is a good choice in handling your structured settlement. You should be certain that your lawyer has your best interest at heart, and if you are not sure, get a second opinion or consult with your own financial planner.
With all your questions completely answered, you are now ready to make an informed decision. Remember that this is a very critical decision to make, as it will affect your future and the future of your family. So be sure to enter into an agreement only if you are completely certain that you have made the right decision.
Interested in structured settlements? Check out www.allaboutstructuredsettlements.com and learn more about the advantages of structured settlements and other related subjects
Car Insurance:How does it really works?
Car insurance policy varies under a lot of circumstances.It is include what kind of car you drive as well as what kind of insurance you needed.The main point that we need to understand about car insurance as a car owner, is to learn the various types of coverage insurance companies offer.These was some normal coverage that we seldom found in most of insurance companies.
# Collision - Car insurance coverage that can compensate you when your car damages due to collision with another vehicle or other object.
# Comprehensive - Compensate on loss and damage not by auto accident. Damaged by fire, wind, hail, flood, vandalism or theft qualify for car insurance pay.
# Medical Coverage - Auto accident which lead to medical needs such as hospitalize cost and medicine coverage cost.
# PIP - Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is required in some states. This coverage pays medical expenses for the insured driver, regardless of fault, for treatment due to an auto accident.
# Uninsured Motorist - Insurance can be claim whenever it is caused by a driver who doesn’t have a liability insurance.
# Underinsured Motorist - Pays your car’s damages when an auto accident is caused by someone who has insufficient liability insurance.
# Rental Reimbursement - Rental cars that meet an auto accident.Often this coverage has a daily allowance for a rental car.Car insurance companies combined some of these coverage depends on driver needs.Some of them had a good package with great combination of insurance coverage,some of them strictly focuses on certain insurance coverage.However, there is always pros and cons.We need to make sure choosing the best and the most reliable car insurance policy to depends on if we meet an accident.I bet no one want to burden with bills whenever met an accident.
Car Insurance:How does it really works?
What is actually car insurance is all about?If you own a car, i doubt you don’t know anything about car insurance unless you really don’t care about your car coverage if meet with an accident or perhaps you just being ignorance.Perhaps you already heard the words deductible or premium if you read and understand your car insurance policy.The question is,do you truly understand the different parts of an auto insurance policy and do you know the best way to choose the best coverage available?
Subscribing for a car insurance is a must,simply because it can cover our car damage whenever we meet an accident.It is Vital and a good idea to know what the law requires you to have and what additional or optional coverage will help to protect you in the event of an accident.It can help you choose the best car insurance.
Main point to be consider before purchasing a car insurance is,what kind of car you have, your driving record and the amount of money you are willing to pay. At least ,knowing the simple basics of auto insurance will make you confident that the car insurance policy you choose will take care of your needs in the event of an accident.
Types of Coverage
In Malaysia, you must own a car insurance in order to renew you car road tax which stated in law.Buying a car insurance means you are buying a policy.
CAR INSURANCE
Special Article about Car Cheapest Insurance by Brent Kenny
Everybody wants car cheapest insurance that they can find, but most have no idea how to find it. The cheapest policy is easy to get, since every company will offer a discount in order to make you feel that you are getting a good deal, but that is not the same as car cheapest insurance.
First you must work out a strategy to work to. You must not get up in the morning, realize that your policy is due for renewal and then phone up and renew it. Nor, if you are buying a new (to you) car, should you just tell your current insurance company that you have changed cars and want the policy transferred. Both of these are what most people do, and that is why most people pay more cars ins., than they have to.
So, what is the best way to get a genuine It won’t be just given to you, so you have to do your homework. The first step is to find out the regular cheap car insurance quote. A lot depends on what type of policy you need, and you should first make a list of what you MUST have included, and then the rest is negotiable for a car rate.
The ‘musts’ depend a lot on the age and value of your car. Uninsured driver’s cover might not be necessary, especially if your car is of low value and you already have health insurance. You might not need collision or comprehensive cover if your car is worth $2,000 or less. However, you must get cheap car insurance. You might also have to have automobiles cover for your wife and kids to drive the car. You might have to have all the above cover if you own an expensive autos purchase.
Perhaps gap insurance is necessary it applies if you still owe a finance company for your car, but the insurance company assesses it as being worth less than the difference between what you still owe and what they would pay out in the event of a total write off or theft. Some company insist on it.
Once you have your ‘musts’ then the rest is negotiable. You can then offer the negotiable options in exchange for reduced prices. Don’t offer them all at once or the insurers will be rubbing their hands. They will give you the discounts, but you have to extract them since, while your priority is to get the best discount you can, theirs is to get the price they can for themselves. There is nothing wrong with that, but they will win unless you know what you are doing.
There is an argument that if everybody had possible coverage, then insurance policy prices would have to increase. They are probably right, but let’s not worry about that while there are still people out there willing to pay top dollar for average cover and autos assurance. There are many such people, but you don’t want to be one of them.
You can get a good deal after negotiation that will provide with a high level of cover, but you must make sure that you are dealing with a reputable company. The best thing to do is to type in the company name followed by ‘complaints’; for example ‘Cheapo Auto complaints’. You will then find the problems that others have had with the company.
You will find complaints and problems associated with just about all companies - it goes with the territory - so you have to make a comparison of the volume of complaints between companies. Compare
However, if you do it right and follow the above advice, then you should be able to secure car cheapest insurance to suit your needs. Don’t pay over the odds - it is not necessary.
DEATH INSURANCE
Standard Life Insurance Policies
Standard life insurance is any life insurance that does not have limitations on the manner of death. If the person who is insured dies during the term of the policy, the insurance company is obligated to pay the life insurance benefit. In some policies there is a double indemnity clause which will pay two times the face of the life insurance in the event of accidental death. Accidental death is defined under the terms of the policy.There are several products sold by life insurance companies. One is an annuity in which a lump sum provided to the insurance company will be paid out in some type of periodic payment. Annuities often stop with the death of the person who bought the contract or after a specified number of years. Term life insurance is another product. It pays a set amount of money in the event of the death of the insured if he dies within a specified period of time. Whole life insurance is a third product. In a whole life policy, premiums are paid for a specific period of time (20 years). Once the policy is paid in full, it remains in effect until the death of the insured. Because the insurance company has an obligation to pay money once the policy has been paid in full, the policy has value. Under the terms and conditions of a whole life policy, loans can be made against the value of the policy.
Issues that arise under standard life insurance policies are frequently questions concerning surrender or cancellation of the policy. Because whole life policies have value, most insurance companies set up a procedure for borrowing money against that value. There is also a procedure for surrendering the policy for the cash value. Disputes over the existence of the policy are not uncommon. Once the insured or his beneficiary can establish that a policy was purchased, the general principal is that the insurance company must prove the surrender or cancellation. Complicated issues can arise if the insured fails to make his regular periodic payment on the policy. Most whole life policies have a provision for using the funds in the paid-up portion to pay continuing premium charges. When a conversion of this nature is made, the insurance company is required to notify the insured and give him the opportunity to continue with the periodic payments or surrender the policy for its cash value. We handled an unusual case where the insured had apparently outlived the record-keeping within the insurance company. When the insured was a young man, his father took out a whole life insurance policy on his behalf in 1925. That policy was fully paid up as of 1945. The insured did not die until 1999. The insurance company claimed that the policy was no longer in existence because the policy pre-dated the company’s computerized records which began in the late 1960’s. Since the insurance company had no proof that the policy had ever been surrendered or paid off, it was forced to pay the policy. Because the policy had been paid up for such a substantial period of time, it had generated interest and dividends from the profits of the insurance company for over 50 years. The ultimate payment was more than ten times the face value of the policy.
The moral of this story is not to accept the statements of the insurance company blindly. Always ask for proof of the position taken by the insurance company. Always ask that the insurance company put its position in writing. Always anticipate that your situation may result in litigation. Therefore, you want to make sure that there is a record of what has transpired. Having the insurance company put its position in writing eliminates disputes over the facts. When the facts are in writing, they are hard to dispute. The issue then shifts to how the law will be applied to the facts.
Another area where problems arise with life insurance policies is with the application for the insurance. If the insured knows he has a significant injury or illness and does not make that information known to the insurance company, the policy can be declared void for fraud. If an insurance policy is declared void by the insurer it means that the policy never existed and all premiums paid by the person who took out the policy should be refunded. For example, if you are aware you have terminal cancer, conceal that information from the insurance company, and then die within one year of filling out the application, that is fraud. If the insurance company knew about your terminal illness, it would not have written the life insurance policy. The insurance company cancels the policy in such a situation because it would not have accepted the risk.
The issue becomes much more complicated if you have an illness but don’t know it. If you do not know you have a problem, you cannot tell the insurance company about it. Insurance companies regularly request access to the medical records of the deceased individual to check on their health for the period before the death. When an insurance company finds an illness that does not appear on the application for insurance, it tends to investigate further with an eye toward the potential cancellation of the policy. Whether the insured knew or did not know is problematic, because he is not around to testify about his knowledge. A lawyer should be consulted if a question arises concerning health issues and what a deceased individual knew concerning his health when he filled out an application for insurance.
When the insured knows that he has an illness or injury that would be relevant to the insurance company and he does not divulge it, his silence is considered fraudulent. Frequently, the surviving spouse has said to us, "The insurance agent filled out the form and my husband just signed it.” Although it is relevant that the insurance agent filled out the form, that alone will not eliminate a claim of fraud by the insured. The law on this issue is that if the insurance company would not have written the policy of insurance had the information been divulged, it will be permitted to cancel the policy. The law also states that a person signing a document should read it. If the document contains false information, the person signing the document should correct it before signing it. No misstatements should be made in any application of insurance that bears your signature. Any misstatement can come back to haunt you when you or your beneficiary attempt to make a claim. Do not rely on your insurance agent who tells you "don't worry about it.” Virtually all documents filed with insurance companies in Pennsylvania contain a statement that false statements are punishable by criminal prosecution which could involve a jail sentence and/or a fine.
A standard clause in many life insurance policies provides that two years after the policy goes into effect, the insurance company cannot contest how the policy came into existence. Some incontestability clauses go so far as to say that even fraud on the part of the insurance applicant will not cause the policy to be cancelled. The language of the incontestability clause is very important. If an issue arises concerning an incontestability clause, consulting an attorney with insurance expertise is advisable.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Accidental Death Insurance Policies
Accidental Death Insurance Policies
Accidental death policies are often purchased by people concerned about burial costs. The premiums charged for accidental death policies are modest compared to standard life insurance. Accidental death policies contain severe limitations on what qualifies as an accidental death. Neither illness nor the natural consequences of illness qualify as accidental death. When making a claim under an accidental death policy, the policy provisions must be read extremely carefully because virtually all deaths relating to illness or medical condition are excluded. Under some policies, even medical malpractice resulting in death does not qualify because the medical malpractice would not have taken place but for the original medical condition. Not even the cause of death listed on the official death certificate will be binding on the insurance company. The terms of the policy will control.Accidental deaths might involve shootings, stabbings, automobile or airplane crashes, accidental falls, hunting accidents. These deaths would be covered under the policy. Sometime an accidental death insurer will make decisions that are counter-intuitive. We handled a claim where the insured died in a motorcycle accident. The insurance company attempted to avoid paying our client based on the fact that the insured had several drinks before the crash. The theory of the insurance company was that driving a motorcycle while intoxicated was the equivalent of committing suicide, thereby disqualifying the decedent from coverage. Even though the position of the insurance company appears absurd, the company hired a lawyer and defended the lawsuit before acknowledging the error of its ways.
KIFE INSURANCE
HAVE YOU PROTECTED YOUR BIGGEST ASSET?
If the unthinkable happens and you don’t come home from work today, how much money does your family need to pay the bills? What will it take to replace your income? How much money do you need to send your children to college? What about your debt? Contact The Shipp Agency today for a free analysis to determine how much life insurance is the right amount to protect your family if they lose their biggest asset—you.
LIFE INSURANCE
Bill Would Honor State Police Flight Paramedic Who Died
First Ameritas Life Names President, CEO (BestWire Services Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Kenneth L. VanCleave became president and chief executive officer of First Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. of New York on March 1.
He replaced Mitch Politzer, who recently retired and served as president and CEO since 1999, said Scott Stuckey, a company spokesman.
VanCleave joined Ameritas Group, a unit of Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., in 1989 as vice president of group marketing and was named senior vice president in 2001. In January 2008, VanCleave became president of Ameritas Group, which serves more than 49,000 employers covering about 4 million insured members across the United States. He continues in that role.
First Ameritas Life sells group dental, eye and hearing care insurance and services in New York.
It is a subsidiary of UNIFI Mutual Holding Co., which was formed after the mutual holding company merger of Union Central Life Insurance Co. and the Ameritas/Acacia companies in 2006, according to A.M. Best. (BestWire, Jan. 30, 2009).
news source : http://www.tmcnet.com/
Life Insurance
Finding Participating Life Insurance
What kind of insurance would best suit you? The answer depends on what you want out of your policy, as well as other factors such as your age, whether you have a partner or spouse, and whether you have children
For some people, whole life insurance, which offers a range of benefits over term life insurance, is a great option. And if you choose to buy whole life insurance, then you can take advantage of features such as policyholder dividends. Whole life insurance policies that offer dividends are also known as participating life insurance.
How does participating life insurance work?
Participating life insurance policies are whole life policies that include a feature called dividends. When you pay your premiums for a participating life policy, a portion is deposited into an interest-bearing, tax-deferred account. These funds appreciate in value, generating a cash surplus that can be returned to you as dividends. If you receive dividends from your policy, the money is tax-free (up to the amount that you paid in premiums), because it is considered a return of premiums you have previously paid.
One important thing to note about dividends is that you won't receive the same amount of dividends in each year, and in some years you may receive none at all. This is because the amount of dividends you receive from a participating life insurance policy depends on the rate of return on the money you have invested. Even so, a participating life insurance policy is an excellent option, with the benefits of whole life insurance, as well as the occasional extra cash dividend!
Life Insurance – the Who, Why, What, Where and When
Life Insurance – the Who, Why, What, Where and When
Who needs life insurance?
Anyone in dangerous jobs and those with large and/or young families, gain more from being insured than anyone else. Young, single folk with no obligations or dependants may not require as much cover, and therefore may decide to wait until they have a family or commitments such as a mortgage.
Why get life insurance?
LIFE INSURANCE AFTER HEART ATTACK
The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery is filled with unique information, medical diagrams and pictures developed for both patients and their caregivers. After reading this book, you will know what to expect and, more importantly, how to manage those expectations. As most patients will tell you, heart valve surgery can be similar to a physical and emotional roller coaster. There are ups and there are downs. The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery will help you celebrate the ups and manage the downs. A sample of topics covered in this twenty-one chapter book include:
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Learn From 78 Former Valve Surgery Patients! | |||
To better understand the realities of heart valve surgery, Adam Pick (the author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery), completed extensive interviews with 78 former cardiac surgery patients. In this one-of-a-kind survey, now published in The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery (Revised 2009 Edition), you get direct access to many first-hand, patient insights about heart valve surgery. A sample of survey questions included in the book:
As a result of these interviews, a new chapter in the revised edition of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery is titled, "The Best Piece Of Advice". In this chapter, you hear from many former patients and caregivers about their strategies, tips and tricks for enhancing the entire surgical process - from diagnosis through recovery. |