income protection
Retirement Financial Advisor
Being off work for an extended period can have devastating effects on any household
or business, as often income is relied upon to pay off loans, holidays, children's
education as well as the general household bills.
It makes sense to insure your income with Income Protection insurance. Income
Protection pays you a regular income if you are off work due to disability.
You can receive up to 75% of your usual earnings every month until you recover
and can return to work, or up to age 65, depending on the benefit period you
choose.
We offer a choice of Income Protection Plus and Income Protection Standard,
which can be tailored to suit your individual needs and budget so you can be
covered over the period of your working life.
While it might be considered straightforward, income insurance can vary to
suit needs and budgets.
Your greatest financial asset is, most likely, your ability to earn an income.
However, while the overwhelming majority of people insure their homes, their
cars and their valuable possessions, few even consider income insurance. If
you got sick or had an accident and were unable to work, how would you pay the
mortgage, feed the family and generally have enough income to survive?
For some people the answer could be simple - they may have enough income-earning
assets or savings to continue to support their needs; their superannuation may
include salary continuance that pays an income while they are out of work due
to illness or injury or, if they suffer a work-related injury or disease, they
will be protected by WorkCover.
However, for many of us, if we don't work we have no income. When all else
fails, you may be eligible for social security benefits - but will this be enough
to meet your needs?
Income protection insurance pays you an amount of money, usually monthly, if
you are unable to work because of sickness or injury. It can provide security.
However, as with all insurance products, you need to consider whether you actually
need it and, if you do, you need to ensure you get the right amount of cover
at the right price.
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Everyone who earns employment income should consider how best to protect it.
The decision to have or not to have income protection insurance will depend
on your financial situation now and what is likely in the future, your employment
and remuneration conditions, your level of income-earning assets, your superannuation
scheme and your occupation.
People who are self-employed, in particular, may be putting themselves at financial
risk by not having income protection insurance. If you are the business and
you are unable to work, what income is available to you?
People who are self-employed may be putting themselves at risk by not having
income protection. If you are the business and can't work, what income is available
to you?
If income protection insurance is for you, which policy should you choose? For
example:
Agreed-value policy or an indemnity policy? With an agreed-value policy, you
prove your income up front and insure to receive a set amount. The advantage
is that you know what you will receive, regardless of changes in your income.
The disadvantage is that these policies cost more. With an indemnity policy,
you are insured for what you say you earn, but if you make a claim you have
to verify your income.
A basic policy or pay for extras? The basic version will give you income payments
only. Extras, at a price, include paying for nursing care or receiving payments
immediately rather than waiting for weeks, months or even years before payment
begins.
When you can claim will depend on how your policy defines "inability to
work". Some policies only allow you to claim if you can't perform your
normal job; others allow you to claim if you are unable to perform important
duties.
Ask about policy exclusions too. That is, when the insurer won't pay at all.
The premium you pay will be influenced by factors such as your age, gender,
occupation and health.
While insurance premiums in all sectors seem to be on a continuous upwards
spiral, you can minimise your premium by refining the cover you receive. You
don't have to pay for the bells and whistles if you don't need them.
For example, the premium will reduce if you opt to receive payments three months
after you stop earning instead of one month. You can also limit the period you
are able to claim payments or limit payments for certain conditions.
Because there are so many income protection products with so many options,
you should seek advice on the subject from a financial adviser. As with all
insurances and financial products, income protection should be considered as
part of an overall financial plan.
A retirement planner also focuses on adequate retirement income using various
income instruments such as bond mutual funds, bond funds, preferred shares,
individual bonds, income annuities and even possibly "structured notes." http://www.retirement-income.net.
He will usually prepare a retirement plan first. That plan could include recommendations
for the above instruments as well as how to obtain high CD interest rates and
bank interest rates. The end goals is to maximize income protection, asset protection
and insure a secure and comfortable retirement. http://www.retirement-financial-advisor.com/index.html.
Senior citizens and retirees have concerns and issues about retirement income.
And that's understandable as they no longer work and must depend on sources
such as social security income. http://www.retirement-financial-advisor.com/estate
_planning.htm. Retired people and those over 60 have special concerns and should
seek out a financial advisor who specializes in financial management for retirees.
An increasing number of financial planners have this training, such as those
who hold the Certified Retirement Financial Advisor credential. http://www.retirement-financial-advisor.com/financial_advice.htm.
Financial planning in retirement has requires special consideration which these
specially trained financial managers can assist with.
The other area that competent advisors take care of is estate planning. They
make sure that clients avoid probate (usually with a living trust), have sufficient
asset protection in place (e.g. sufficient protection from property and casualty
policies, health and long term care insurance). http://www.retirement-financial-advisor.com/certified-financial-advisor.htm.
Estate tax planning is especially important in states where real estate values
have ballooned, like California. It's easy to have a taxable estate when a modest
home is worth $1 million.
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