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☆ Home Insurance Premiums Are Way Up—Here’s How to Lower Yours
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Aly J. Yale | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +5 min

The average home insurance premium increased 21% between May 2022 and May 2023, according to recent analysis by insurance marketplace Policygenius. “To help pay for these higher costs, insurers have increased policy premiums on homeowners in both high- and low-risk areas,” says Pat Howard, a home insurance expert at Policygenius. “Even homeowners in places that don’t experience a lot of extreme weather, like Vermont and New Hampshire, are facing relatively high increases.”Fortunately, if your home insurance premiums rise, you don’t have to take it lying down. How to reduce home insurance premiums at renewal timeMore than 9 out of 10 homeowners who renewed their policies this May saw an uptick in premiums, according to Policygenius. How to reduce home insurance premiums as a new homeownerIf you’re just now buying a home, the tips are much the same: Shop around, look for discounts and consider bundling your home insurance policy with other insurance policies you might need—such as life insurance or car insurance.

Persons: Aly J, Yale It’s, Pat Howard, you’ve, ” Howard, you’re, Florida’s, you’ll Organizations: Yale Locations: Vermont, New Hampshire, Gulf of Mexico, West Coast

With lifespans longer and families more spread out, it's essential that I think about long-term care. Long-term care insurance comes in many forms at many costs. The days of an unmarried woman taking care of elderly relatives are a thing of the past, which is why long-term care insurance products are more popular. Long-term care insurance goes beyond the standard health care insurance policy. A long-term care insurance policy protects against the risk of having to pay out of pocket for in-home and/or out-of-home care services.

Persons: —, Robert Kircher, what's, What's Organizations: Service, Northwestern Mutual Insurance, Life Locations: United States, Massachusetts, Policygenius

Watching my parents navigate their 80s made me think differently about long-term care insurance. My dad and stepmom bought long-term care insurance while they were in middle age and still without any medical problems. My stepdad was diagnosed with lymphoma and required 24-hour nursing care for several months after he first fell ill. Since they didn't have long-term care insurance, he and my mom had to pay out of pocket for home health care: approximately $10,000 per month. When my parents first needed care and support, I initially thought my husband and I were too old to qualify for long-term care insurance, but it turns out we aren't; many people seek out the insurance in their mid-50s to mid-60s.

Persons: —, stepmom, stepdad Organizations: Service, US Department of Health, Human Services, American, of Medicine Locations: United States, Policygenius

☆ Americans say caring for aging parents is more important than saving money to hand down to your children
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Kamaron Mcnair | In Kamaronmcnair | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Ashley Ray was in the midst of purchasing her "dream car" when she got a troubling call from her mother. Ray's car deal was delayed, so she was able to use the money to help her mom avoid losing the house. She was glad to be able to help her mom, but as she told her Twitter followers, "god loves a joke." It can be stressful to prioritize your own long-term financial needs when other people are relying on you. There can also be a cultural expectation to take care of your parents and other relatives as they age, Miura says.

Persons: Ashley Ray, it's, Ray, Ray's, Danielle Miura, Miura Organizations: CNBC, Pew Research, AARP

☆ How to buy a home insurance policy in era of climate risk and more frequent disasters
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Cheryl Winokur Munk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Frequent weather catastrophes, induced in part by climate change, are bearing down on homeowners and would-be buyers. Here's how consumers can navigate the home insurance market amid increasing climate-driven weather risks:The home insurance market disruption is going to get worseThings are likely to get worse for homeowners and would-be buyers. Also in June, Farmers Insurance became the latest insurer to pull out of Florida, a market that's been roiled with turmoil for many years. Policyholders should expect to pay moreThe average cost of homeowners insurance nationwide is $2,777 a year, with rates varying by state, according to Insurance.com, a consumer comparison service. Already, some homeowners are choosing to roll the dice on ownership without insurance rather than pay increasing premiums.

Persons: Hurricane Ian, Idalia, Ian —, John Dickson, David A, Sampson, —, George Hosfield, Rich Sorkin, Stephen Bennett Organizations: Global, Aon, American, Casualty Insurance Association . Insurance, LexisNexis, Allstate, Farmers Insurance, Jupiter Intelligence Locations: Pine, Hurricane, Matlacha , Florida, Florida, California, Cuba, Oklahoma, Hawaii, Arkansas, Louisiana , Nebraska , Iowa , Kansas , Oklahoma , Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee

To calculate 28% of your monthly income, multiply your gross monthly income (that's your income before taxes) by 0.28. If you like to spend a large chunk of your paycheck on traveling, for example, a large monthly mortgage payment might not fit into your lifestyle. 1,000 ÷ 5,000 = 0.2To get a conventional mortgage, the maximum DTI you can have is typically 50%, including your proposed monthly mortgage payment. How much house can I afford frequently asked questionsHow much do you have to make a year to afford a $400,000 house? Mortgage interest rates can have a big impact on how much house you can afford.

Persons: you've, You'll, it's, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, you'll, homebuyers Organizations: National Association of Insurance, PMI Locations: Chevron, Arkansas, North Carolina

Farmers Insurance will stop offering insurance in Florida. Compare homeowners insurance quotes with Policygenius »Get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in business, from Wall Street to Silicon Valley — delivered daily. News 6 Orlando reported that this change will affect about 100,000 Farmers-branded home, umbrella, and auto insurance policies. However, the bulk of insurance policies offered by Farmers in Florida are under other brands, like BristolWest and Foremost Signature. "Affected customers will receive notifications detailing when their coverage will end and will be advised of options for replacement coverage," Farmers told News 6 in a statement.

Persons: Policygenius, it's Organizations: . Farmers Insurance, Farmers, Service, Farmers Insurance, Orlando, Farm, Allstate Locations: Florida, Wall, Silicon, California

Farmers insurance has confirmed it is pausing new homeowners policies in Florida. If you need home insurance in Florida, compare quotes and ensure you have enough disaster coverage. Compare homeowners insurance quotes with Policygenius »Get the latest tips you need to manage your money — delivered to you biweekly. Flood insurance, for example, is not included in a standard homeowners insurance policy because it's not required for people who don't live in a high-risk area. While you can get flood insurance through a private company, it's also available through FEMA via the National Flood Insurance Program.

Persons: —, Luis Sahagun, it's Organizations: Farmers, Service, Insurance, Farm, Allstate, Policygenius Companies, FEMA, National Flood Insurance Locations: Florida, California

☆ What Is Cash Value Life Insurance and Is It Worth It?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +10 min

What is cash value life insurance? Although you’ll see insurance companies advertise various life insurance products, all policies can be divided into two categories: term and cash value. How your policy’s cash value worksCash value life insurance is so named because of its ability to build cash value. Types of cash value coverageThere are two main types of cash value insurance:Whole lifeWhole life insurance is the most popular form of cash value insurance. Universal lifeUniversal life policies are more flexible than whole life policies.

Persons: Kat Tretina, you’re, PolicyGenius, Jay Zigmont, “, they’re, ” Zigmont, Andrew Latham, you’ll, ”, Latham Organizations: Universal, American Council of Locations: Water Valley, Miss, Santa Ana, Calif

☆ Home Insurance Is Getting Trickier. Here’s How to Optimize Your Coverage.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Ronda Kaysen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In 2016, when Shawn Loht bought his house near New Orleans, he easily found homeowner insurance with a $2,000-a-year premium. Then his provider failed, leaving him facing a premium of nearly $13,000 a year from the state’s insurer of last resort. Mr. Loht’s experience has become increasingly common as insurance companies react to cascading natural disasters by raising rates, reducing coverage and exiting some markets entirely. And Allstate, the state’s fourth largest insurer, quietly stopped selling new home, condominium and commercial insurance policies last year, confirming the change to The San Francisco Chronicle last week. “These disasters are wiping out large swaths of homes and insurance companies are responding in kind by getting out of there.”

Persons: Shawn Loht, ”, Hurricane Ida, Loht, Pat Howard Organizations: Allstate, San Francisco Chronicle Locations: New Orleans, Louisiana, California, Northern Colorado, Nebraska, Mississippi

State Farm and Allstate are no longer accepting applications for new home insurance in California. Existing State Farm and Allstate homeowners insurance customers in the state will retain their coverage. Compare homeowners insurance quotes with PolicygeniusGet the latest tips you need to manage your money — delivered to you biweekly. State Farm cited both high construction costs in the state and the increasing risk of wildfires as the reasons behind its decision. This won't affect State Farm auto insurance customers in California, either; applications for car coverage will remain open and nothing will change for existing policy holders.

Persons: Policygenius, —, ABC10, it's Organizations: State Farm, Allstate, Farm, Service, CNN, Cal, California Department of Insurance, Policygenius Companies Locations: California, CNN , California

☆ Fewer Adults Have Life Insurance, but Skipping It Can Be Risky
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: +11 min

But financial planners say a basic life insurance policy, especially products known as term life insurance, should be an important part of many Americans’ financial plans. A life insurance policy:Replaces lost income: If you were to pass away, your family could use your life insurance policy’s death benefit to replace your income. How to shop for life insuranceIf you’re ready to start shopping for a life insurance policy, follow these steps:1. According to PolicyGenius, an insurance marketplace, typical rates for a whole life policy, the most common type of permanent life insurance, are about 10 times the cost of a term life policy. Term Life Insurance Because term life insurance expires, it's often a far cheaper option.

☆ Florida. Arizona. Climate Change Is Coming for Home Values. - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Benjamin Keys | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

And that is pocket change compared with the impact climate change may ultimately have on the value of your home. We have reached a turning point: Climate risk is driving insurer decisions like never before. Both private and government-backed insurers are undercapitalized for dealing with the potentially massive disasters we could be facing in coming years. They are up even more in parts of Florida and the Southwest that are predicted to suffer significant impacts from a warming climate. Last summer, the water level in Lake Mead, a critical source of water for 25 million people in the Southwest, reached its lowest level since the reservoir was filled in 1937.

Most carmakers said their battery packs are repairable, though few seem willing to share access to battery data. Lauterwasser said access to EV battery data is part of that fight. EV battery problems also expose a hole in the green "circular economy" touted by carmakers. Hill estimated at least 95% of the cells in the hundreds of EV battery packs - and thousands of hybrid battery packs - Synetiq has stored at Doncaster are undamaged and should be reused. 'PAIN POINTS'The British government is funding research into EV insurance "pain points" led by Thatcham, Synetiq and insurer LV=.

Indexed universal life insurance: Another type of permanent life insurance, these flexible policies carry lifelong coverage but few guarantees. While Mutual of Omaha's term life insurance rates are average, its Guaranteed Whole Life Insurance (the company's only whole-life option) is one of the industry's cheapest insurance plans. Before beginning, be sure you have the following details:Policyholder's information (including dates of birth and death)Insurance policy numberBeneficiary's informationMutual of Omaha Life Insurance FAQsWhat is life insurance? Experienced life insurance agents can run quotes and advise you on premiums, life insurance loans, accelerated death benefits, and more. Mutual of Omaha Life Insurance Competitors New York Life InsuranceNorthwestern Mutual LifeLife Insurance Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

Life insurance is more diverse than ever, with some companies offering a full range of life insurance products. Haven Life focuses on term life insurance policies for buyers who want quick approval. Life Insurance Plans from Haven LifeHaven Life's website offers a library on the benefits of term life insurance. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightHaven Life focuses on quick and easy term life insurance policies. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightMutual of Omaha and Haven Life offer affordable term life insurance policies with high limits for qualified buyers.

Whole life insurance is always cheaper for comparable death benefits than term life insurance. download the app Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy PolicyIf you're considering buying life insurance, you might debate your options including term life insurance and permanent life insurance. Term life insurance lasts for a fixed period of time, usually 10, 20, or 30 years, while permanent life insurance has no end date. Permanent life insurance comes in a few variations, the most popular being whole life insurance, which is a hybrid between an investment and an insurance policy, explains insurance-comparison site Policygenius. If you're looking for the best life insurance policy to meet your needs, we recommend talking to a life insurance agent.

Now, I wish I had more — but some life insurance is better than none. That meant that suddenly, life insurance went from something I knew I should get some day, to something that I needed immediately. I'm a plus-sized person, and I knew that could make getting life insurance more difficult or more expensive. I know that life insurance companies use weight and height to calculate your body mass index, or BMI. Insider's Featured Life Insurance Companies Lemonade Life InsuranceNationwide Life InsuranceGuardian Life Insurance Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

Use life insurance to build generational wealth and set family up for successReducing debt and increasing savings are two of the ways life insurance can helpDiscuss trust options with a professional if you want to limit uses for life insurance proceedsGet the latest tips you need to manage your money — delivered to you biweekly. When strategically used, life insurance offers many advantages, including the beneficiaries' ability to build generational wealth (wealth that passes to younger generations of a family). A life insurance policy can protect loved ones' present situation and help build future generational wealth. Acquania Escarne, Life Insurance Producer & Wealth Strategist at The Purpose of Money®, explains it by saying, "Life insurance is how you can buy wealth before you build it. Insider's Featured Life Insurance Companies Lemonade Life InsuranceNationwide Life InsuranceGuardian Life Insurance Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

Guaranteed Whole Life Insurance: As you might expect, the Guaranteed Whole Life Insurance product from Mutual of Omaha comes with guaranteed coverage with no medical exams or health-related questions. Indexed universal life insurance: Another type of permanent life insurance, these flexible policies carry lifelong coverage but few guarantees. While Mutual of Omaha's term life insurance rates are average, its Guaranteed Whole Life Insurance (the company's only whole-life option) is one of the industry's cheapest insurance plans. Insider's Featured Life Insurance Companies Lemonade Life InsuranceNationwide Life InsuranceGuardian Life Insurance Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Experienced life insurance agents can run quotes and advise you on premiums, life insurance loans, accelerated death benefits, and more.

We're here to clear up common misconceptions and help consumers find the best no medical exam life insurance options. Accelerated underwriting life insuranceAccelerated underwriting may seem like a given with no medical exam life insurance. Because of public records information, the pricing on this type of no medical exam life insurance is most likely comparable to standard life policies. Whether due to age, prescription history, or other medical history, buyers should have life insurance alternatives involving a medical exam. How to pick the best life insurance policy for youParticularly when choosing life insurance, customization is critical.

☆ Another tech bubble bursts: 2022 has been brutal for Silicon Valley workers
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( David Ingram | David Ingram Covers Tech For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +28 min

Gem: 100A maker of recruiting software, the startup cut a third of its workforce Nov. 1, The Information reported. HealthCare.com: 149The health insurance marketplace announced the job cuts Aug. 3, Miami Inno reported, citing state regulatory filings. Fabric: 120The robotics startup said July 13 that it was layoffing off 40% of them, TechCrunch reported, citing company confirmation. It affected about 300 people, the Silicon Valley Business Journal reported, citing company confirmation. Policygenius: 170The online insurance company cut about 25% of its staff, Axios reported June 6, citing company confirmation.

We're here to clear up common misconceptions and help consumers find the best no medical exam life insurance options. May offer coverage to military members other companies won't cover Check mark icon A check mark. Because of public records information, the pricing on this type of no medical exam life insurance is most likely comparable to standard life policies. Whether due to age, prescription history, or other medical history, buyers should have life insurance alternatives involving a medical exam. How to pick the best life insurance policy for youParticularly when choosing life insurance, customization is critical.

Many people with debt or children get life insurance to protect their families. Why life insurance made sense at this point in our livesI know we don't have to carry life insurance. Insider's Featured Life Insurance Companies Lemonade Life InsuranceNationwide Life InsuranceGuardian Life Insurance Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Some may wonder why we chose term life insurance over permanent insurance. Term life is also a lower-cost life insurance policy.

I'm a former life insurance agent, and I bought a policy to protect my family in case I die unexpectedly. download the app Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy PolicyAs a former life insurance agent, I've heard many reasons people get life insurance. This is why, a few years ago, I got a term life insurance policy worth $500,000. I knew I needed to get an independent life insurance policy that I could keep long-term. Insider's Featured Life Insurance Companies Lemonade Life InsuranceNationwide Life InsuranceGuardian Life Insurance Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

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