Term Life Insurance

How Much Term Life Insurance Should I Buy?
By Sharon Taylor

Term life insurance is an important part of the financial planning process. It serves to provide financially for all of the loved ones in your family should you happen to pass away unexpectedly. But one of the important things that people do not put enough consideration into is how much coverage is actually enough. When looking at term life insurance quotes, how can you determine how much is actually going to be needed by your family, if they no longer have you there to depend on? When shopping around for quotes, consider the following information so that you may make the right, informed decisions.




Identifying the Basics of Term Life Insurance
The first thing that you need to remember is that the main purpose of term life insurance is to completely circumvent all financial stress in the event of your death, which means the foremost purpose of your term life insurance policy should be income replacement to protect your family. With that having been said, it is now important for you to understand how your lost salary will impact your loved ones if you pass away.

Make a list including how much money is spent on daily expenses, elderly family care, childcare, education, food, clothing, the mortgage, car or other vehicle payments, various forms of debt including loans and credit cards.

Now you should consider the costs for your last expenses, such as your funeral, burial and any necessary medical or hospital costs. Funerals can easily cost several thousands of dollars and this doesn't even include any special requests or additional charges that may come up.

You must also consider your long-term expenses when researching term life insurance, including college tuitions, mortgage payments and a retirement fund for your spouse. If you want to leave any funds to local charities or organizations, this is also where those types of financial contributions would factor in.

Next you should determine your assets, since you have already determined your financial needs and the financial needs of your loved ones. Factor in all of your current assets, including cash, stocks, savings, bonds, pension, social security and real estate. Subtract your assets from your expenses to figure out how much life insurance are you going to need to purchase in order to ensure that your family is financially comfortable following your death.

What's next?
Now that you have a good idea of how much you are going to need, you should begin to shop around by looking at different term life insurance quotes to find out how much a policy is going to cost you. Make a point to sit down with a licensed term life insurance professional and they can walk you through the entire process.

It is extremely important that you take the time to do some homework when it comes to purchasing term life insurance, making sure you don't purchase coverage that is not needed or possibly purchasing too little coverage. Researching your insurance needs before hand will ensure that your family is safe and protected even if you pass away unexpectedly.

Sharon Taylor is a professional writer for eQUOTE Life Insurance eQUOTE is an excellent online resource providing online quotes for term life insurance to families in 42 states.

Planning a Trip and Enjoying

Planning a Trip and Enjoying Your Holiday - A Travel Check List
By Patrick Chong

Common wisdom tells us that a death of a loved one and moving house are the two most stressful events a person can go through in the modern world. Not being an estate agent or a funeral director, I can't really comment on either of these - but I do feel qualified to discuss another stressful area - planning a trip and preparing to go on holiday.





It's ironic that a period of the year designed to promote rest and relaxation can actually be the cause of the most stress and strain present for the entire year. Things are usually completed in a rush, there is a lot to organise and there's packing time to consider - and that's not even taking into account the stress families will go through looking after the kids during all of this! For this reason, I've written a useful holiday check list to ensure you don't miss any of the small things which have a tendency to turn into bigger problems while you're away.

Simply work through my holiday check list and travel with peace of mind:

Before you go (planning your trip)

• Always make sure you have full travel insurance, fit for the purpose of your trip and if you have an annual policy - check that it is still valid. Sometimes people who have purchased annual travel insurance forget to renew it, and assume they are covered whenever they wish to leave the country. Checking your travel insurance is right for the task can save you a lot of stress and tears in the long run, should the worst happen. It is also essential that you make your travel insurance company aware of any pre existing medical condition you have before you travel - although it may increase your costs in the short term, you may find yourself without cover if you later need to claim on such an illness without having warned them of it!
• If you're traveling within the European economic region, or in Switzerland, you should get a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). It's a common misconception that this is as good as travel insurance for giving you free health care, but it can entitle you to reduced costs, meaning you are not left out of pocket while you wait to be reimbursed on your policy.
• When planning a trip, make sure the vaccinations for both you and your family are up to date - especially if you're travelling outside of Europe. Your health care provider can advise you of any additional vaccinations you'll need depending on where you're going.
• Fill in the contact details at the back of your passport for the next of kin, or the details of someone who can be contacted in case of an emergency.
• Make sure you are aware of the immigration and custom laws of the country you are travelling to when planning a trip. A visa may take a little time to come through, so be prepared and allow enough time to complete this procedure. Also you should note that in many countries your passport needs to be valid for at least six months after the date you travel, so check this in advance.
• Tell someone where you are going and when they should expect you back. Try to leave an itinerary and details of where you may be able to be contacted during your time abroad, in case of emergency.
• If you are planning on driving in foreign climes, take your full driving licence with you. Make sure you are aware of the driving laws, licence requirements and driving conditions of your destination before you set off.

When you are there

• Be aware of security and take sensible precautions. If an area is advised against travelling to, the chances are there's a good reason for it!
• Keep a note of the local embassy, high commission or consulate number. Although the chances are you will not need it, it's always worth holding on to in the case of emergency.
• Stay in regular contact with your family and friends, especially if you are travelling alone. This will ensure they're always aware of where you are and should be, and can ensure they can contact you in the case of emergency.
• Respect local customs and behave and dress appropriately. Although unlikely to cause disastrous problems, as a guest in a foreign culture, it's only polite to try and fit in.
  

On return

• Inform family and friends of your safe return, to end their worries and ensure no bogus emergency calls are made.
• If you need to make any claims against your travel insurance make sure this is done at the earliest opportunity, for maximum chance of getting a positive result.

I hope this travel check list has been helpful. Although planning a trip in this much detail may seem like a lot of hassle, dotting all the 'I's and crossing all the 'T's, it really is worth doing. In the end, following this holiday check list to the letter will ensure you are more relaxed and prepared to enjoy your holiday, and should the worst happen you'll be well equipped to deal with it.

Patrick Chong is the Managing Director of Journey's Travel. Their commercial travel insurance website, Insuremore, offers cheap travel insurance packages for families, singles, children and skiers with free cover against acts of terrorism and a quick and easy online claims feature.

Thank You Notes For a Funeral

Writing a thank you note is tricky enough, but even harder is mastering the art of sending a sympathy card. Still, writing a formal sympathy note to a friend who has lost someone close to her whether you are attending the funeral or not is a gesture that's always appreciated.



Source: dearsugar.com

How to Write "Thank You" Notes For a Funeral
By Lisa T

Writing thank you notes can be difficult for many people, since it is something that is not usually done everyday. Most thank you notes are written to acknowledge a gift given for a happy occasions like weddings, baby showers, birthday parties and such, however when it comes to showing gratitude for sympathy sentiments, the right words may be hard to find.

You may think, "This is such a difficult time, is it really necessary? Although it may be a hard thing to do, it is proper - and possibly therapeutic for some. If you are not sure who to send cards to, or what you should say, consider the following as a guide to writing thank you notes for funerals.

It is not necessary to send a thank you to each individual that attended the funeral services and it is usually not expected. You should acknowledge those who expressed their sympathies above and beyond visitation, such as sending flowers, making a donation to charity in the deceased's name, delivering food to the home, sending Mass cards, or handwritten condolences.

In addition to thanking people that expressed their sympathy, thank you notes should be sent to those who took part in the service or funeral, such as anyone who spoke at the service, clergy, pallbearers, and drivers.

Also sending a note to the funeral home, especially if they were extra helpful to you, is always appreciated. Due to their experience, they often provide guidance and support in areas that family is unable to do.

Thank you notes should be handwritten and mailed within a few weeks of the funeral. If you are not up to sending thank you notes that soon, consider enlisting the help of another family member or friend will help to lessen the burden.

Blank note cards or good quality stationery with matching envelopes are acceptable for writing the notes. Some funeral homes offer note cards as one of their services. If you are using pre-printed cards, you should write an additional sentence or two, for personalization.

If you are not sure what to say, start by acknowledging the particular sentiment, whether it was a flower arrangement, particular type of flower or bouquet. If it was food, even if you didn't personally eat it, thank them just for giving it. For money, which can be a little unusual and awkward, express your gratitude for their generosity during this difficult time.

Something as simple as, "Thank you for your expression of sympathy at this difficult time," will suffice for some notes.

Other ideas include thanking them for coming and letting them know how much their presence meant to you and your family; or if they are especially close, mention how much it meant to you that they were there for you and your family and how they have always shared in good and bad times. A nice touch would be to recall a memory of how that person touched the deceased's life.

Visit Sympathy Sentiments site and Blog for more help and resources on the subject of death and loss.

Fneral director

Funeral director is someone involved in the business of funeral rites. The job often entails the burial or cremation of the dead, as well as the planning and arrangement of the actual funeral ceremony.

Funeral Home Selection - Advice From A Licensed Funeral Directr
By Jerry R. Guy

Funeral home selection is obviously the first step and a vital part of funeral planning. Depending on where you live, this is sometimes predetermined for a family simply due to demographics or a family's longtime relationship with a particular firm. In more rural areas you may have only one or two facilities to choose from. Most larger metropolitan areas are usually served by multiple facilities offering vast choices and prices.



Photo: zaphoduk.com

ive in or near an area that has several funeral homes, I suggest you do some "comparison shopping" before you make a commitment. If your unfamiliar with the firms in your area, ask friends or other family members for recommendations. I advise calling three funeral homes (or at least two!) with questions about services desired and related costs. Beware,you may be shocked by the variation in prices and services offered.

It is not uncommon for people to be hesitate to call a funeral home and ask questions related to funeral planning, but they don't need to be. The Federal Trade Commission's "Funeral Rule" now mandates that all funeral facilities provide service and price information over the phone. Remember, reputable firms will always be happy to answer your questions over the phone. I would suggest avoiding any facility that is unwilling to provide this information to you.

This proactive approach to funeral planning will give you peace of mind and should go a long way in helping you to make sure you have made the right funeral home selection.

Jerry R. Guy is an active licensed funeral director and author. More information on how to save money planning funeral services can be found at his sites: http://www.integritypreneedsolutions.com/ or http://www.beforeplanningafuneral.com/

About Caskets

A casket or coffin is a funerary box used in the display and containment of deceased remains – either for burial or cremation.

Casket -- All You Need to Know
By Alan Ross

When we talk of caskets, we mean funeral caskets. The word casket is the derivative of Greek word kophinos. That explains why word coffin is in use is some parts of the world. To some Americans, there still exists a difference between a casket and a coffin. Coffin thus is a hexagonal or an octagonal box tapering at one end and used for burial. A simple rectangular box with split lid used for viewing the deceased is a casket.



Photo: itoncaskets.com

Cultural and Geographical Variance
Although, most of the countries practice almost one form in exclusivity, it varies in some others with individual cemeteries. Ornaments, stipple crosses and Masonic symbols which are collectively called as fittings and organized inside drapery customize caskets.

Judaism stipulates plain wooden caskets with no metal parts whatsoever with wooden pegs in place of nails. Japan and China prefers scented non decaying woods like cedar, sugi, cypress etc. Africans prefer caskets made in various funny shapes such as vehicles, airplanes etc.

Modern Caskets
Modern casket manufacturers have innovative and protective caskets on sale; for example airtight caskets with gasket beading on lids. But let you not get misled by the phrase protective caskets, no casket will preserve bodies instead it fosters anaerobic decomposition which means the decomposed and liquefied body tissues remain inside until they are exhumed.

You might have come across transparent caskets occasionally. These are made of acrylic or Perspex material and are refrigerated with battery operated units at their bottoms. No wonder, these are used as transit coffins when the bodies of deceased VVIPs or kept for more than a couple of days for public viewing.

Buying Caskets
Buying caskets can be a challenging ordeal that comes during trying circumstances. It can be a tremendous help to be informed about options and price ranges beforehand. You can buy a casket from a licensed funeral service provider or from a manufacturer. But you should be aware of, in your desperate minute is, some manufacturers don’t sell their produce directly but to licensed funeral homes. Funeral homes sell caskets to family members of the deceased person as a part of their funeral service.

US Federal Law, requires funeral homes to accept the caskets provided by the members of the deceased persons’ families. They are obligated to accept caskets even if they are delivered directly by the manufacturers and in both the cases the families will not be charged separately.
Did you know that the Bronze transit casket of JFK was later disposed off Delaware coast on the behest of Robert Kennedy?

Alan Ross is a regular article contributor on many topics. Be sure to visit his other websites Casket, Arthritis and One Stop Information