- Average Cost of Retirement Health Insurance for Ages 62 – 65
If you buy health insurance independently instead of obtaining from an employer or government program, your monthly premiums will increase markedly as you get older. As you approach retirement, in fact, you’ll find yourself paying premiums up to three times what younger insured people pay for plans. An estimate from the Urban Institute, for example,… read more…
- Can You Use an HSA While Enrolled in Medicare?
Health savings accounts (HSAs) provide a tax-advantaged way to pay for medical expenses. But once you enroll in Medicare, contributions must stop. You can still use existing funds in the account. Though, to avoid tax penalties, you should plan to stop contributions at least six months before enrolling in Medicare due to retroactive coverage. Even… read more…
- How Much International Travel Health Insurance Do I Need?
International travel health insurance provides coverage for medical expenses incurred while traveling abroad. Policies can help pay for unexpected situations such as accidents, illnesses or emergency medical evacuations. The amount of coverage needed may vary depending on the destination, length of stay and planned activities. Some countries require travelers to carry health insurance as part… read more…
- Are Vitamins Covered By Your HSA?
Health savings accounts (HSAs) can be a good way to save for medical expenses while enjoying several tax advantages. An HSA allows you to set aside pre-tax income to cover qualified health-related costs, but not every expense is eligible. Many people with HSAs wonder if health savings account vitamin and supplement purchases fall under these… read more…
- Can You Use a Health Savings Account (HSA) for Dental?
Health savings accounts (HSAs) offer great tax benefits and flexibility for covering a variety of medical expenses, including those not typically covered by health insurance. For example, dental costs can add up quickly with procedures like root canals, fillings, or braces, which most health insurance plans don’t cover unless it’s an emergency. HSA funds can… read more…
- How to Prepare Your Finances for Hurricanes, Floods and Other Climate Events
When it comes to preparing your finances for a natural disaster like Hurricane Helene, which recently left a trail of devastation across the Southeast United States, the importance of being financially prepared cannot be overstated. Insurance is your first line of defense: You’ll want to maintain appropriate coverage to protect against the outcomes of major… read more…
- High-Value Home Insurance for High-Net-Worth Individuals
If your house is worth more than $750,000 or more, you almost certainly want to consider getting high-value home insurance (HVHI). This is a high-net-worth category of home insurance specifically designed to protect particularly expensive properties, high-value personal assets and other assets with a large risk exposure. Typically, an insurance company will direct you to… read more…
- Can Landlords Require Renters Insurance in California?
Landlords in California can legally require renters insurance as part of the lease agreement. If this is included, tenants are obligated to get and maintain renters insurance to secure or keep their rental. This insurance helps protect both the landlord and tenant by covering tenant belongings and providing liability coverage in case of accidents or… read more…
- How Much Renters Insurance Should a Landlord Require?
When it comes to determining how much renters insurance a landlord should require, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Landlords often consider the value of the tenant’s possessions, the potential risks associated with the property and local legal requirements. Landlords might require tenants to carry a policy that includes a specific amount of liability insurance, while… read more…
- Does Landlord Insurance Cover Tenant Damage?
Landlord insurance is designed to protect property owners from various risks associated with renting out their properties, but landlords shouldn’t assume that their landlord insurance covers tenant damage. Typically, standard landlord insurance policies include coverage for structural damage caused by natural disasters, fire or vandalism. However, damage caused directly by tenants, such as broken windows… read more…
- Coverage of Landlord Insurance vs. Homeowners Insurance
When it comes to protecting your property, understanding the difference between landlord insurance and a homeowner policy is important. They both offer property protection, but cater to different needs. Homeowners insurance covers personal belongings and liability, while landlord insurance addresses the specific risks associated with rental properties. If you want to build out your real… read more…
- How Much Does Short-Term Rental Insurance Cost?
Whether it’s a vacation home or a rental unit listed on Airbnb or Vrbo, owning a short-term rental property comes with specific risks that are not typically covered by standard homeowners insurance. To protect your investment, you will need a specific type of insurance policy designed for short-term rentals. Short-term rental insurance costs can vary… read more…
- What Is a Certificate of Financial Responsibility (SR-22)?
There are times when a state government may require a driver to get a certificate of financial responsibility, or SR-22, to meet driver licensing requirements. This document is mandated by many state governments today. If you need an SR-22 to fulfill your licensing requirements, here’s what you should know about the process. A financial advisor… read more…
- How to Use Life Insurance in Your Estate Plan
Life insurance can play a key role in your estate plan by simplifying the transfer of assets and addressing potential estate taxes. It provides a reliable source of financial support for your beneficiaries through untaxed death benefit proceeds. By aligning life insurance with your estate plan, you can create a financial safety net that protects… read more…
- How to Use Life Insurance for Your Retirement
Life insurance can be more than just a safety net for your family after you pass away – it can also serve as a retirement planning tool. Some policies build cash value that you can access in retirement, offering a supplementary source of funds. This approach may be a viable option for those looking to… read more…
- Can You Use an HSA to Pay for Medicare Premiums?
Health savings accounts (HSAs) are a valuable and highly tax-advantaged tool for covering medical expenses. When you transition to Medicare, which most Americans become eligible for at age 65, you can continue using your HSA to cover qualifying health-related costs including most Medicare premiums and expenses. There are some limitations and rules to be aware… read more…
- What Is Short-Term Rental Insurance and What Does It Cover?
Short-term rental insurance is for property owners who rent out their homes or apartments on a temporary basis, such as through platforms like Airbnb or Vrbo. This insurance typically covers risks that standard homeowner’s insurance might not, including property damage caused by guests, liability for injuries that occur on the property and loss of rental… read more…
- How to Choose a Medicare Plan for You
Figuring out how to choose a Medicare plan begins with understanding your healthcare needs and matching them with the right coverage options. With a variety of plans available, you’ll need to compare benefits, costs and provider network to ensure your selected plan aligns with your health requirements and budget. You may consider working with a… read more…
- Life Insurance Retirement Plan (LIRP) vs. Indexed Universal Life (IUL)
Many options are available when planning for retirement. Two popular options are life insurance retirement plans (LIRPs) and indexed universal life (IUL) insurance. Both offer a blend of life insurance coverage with opportunities for cash value growth. However, they operate differently in terms of structure, flexibility and investment potential. Understanding the key differences between a… read more…
- Pros and Cons of Using an IUL Account for Retirement
Indexed universal life (IUL) insurance policies that combine a death benefit with a savings account have become popular with retirement savers looking to balance life insurance protection with growth. Part of the premium paid for one of these policies goes into a cash account that earns interest based on the performance of a stock market… read more…
- How to Open an Indexed Universal Life (IUL) Account
If you’re looking to combine life insurance protection with the potential for growth, an indexed universal life (IUL) insurance account could be an option. IUL insurance has several benefits, including flexibility in premium payments, death benefit options and the ability to accumulate cash value over time. You can open an IUL account with the help… read more…
- Tax Benefits of Long-Term Care Insurance
Long-term care insurance can offer significant tax benefits, making it a financially savvy choice for those planning for the future. Premiums paid for qualified long-term care insurance policies are often tax-deductible, with the deductible amount depending on the taxpayer’s age and adjusted gross income. For businesses, employer-paid premiums may be tax-deductible as a business expense,… read more…
- How Taxes for Indexed Universal Life (IUL) Insurance Work
Indexed universal life (IUL) insurance offers a unique blend of life insurance protection and the potential for cash value growth linked to market indexes. One of the primary tax advantages of IUL policies is that the cash value growth is typically tax-deferred, meaning you won’t pay taxes on the gains as they accumulate within the… read more…
- What Is Max-Funded IUL Insurance?
Max-funded indexed universal life (IUL) insurance is a financial product that combines life insurance protection with opportunity for growth. Unlike life insurance policies that only offer a death benefit, max-funded IUL policies also allow policyholders to accumulate cash value that can be accessed during their lifetime. The cash value of the policy can grow when… read more…
- How to Benefit From Compound Interest in Your IUL
Compound interest can help you build savings or wealth dramatically over time, and it’s one of the advantages offered by an Indexed Universal Life (IUL) insurance policy. An IUL provides the dual benefit of life insurance protection and potential cash value growth. The cash value component grows over time based on interest credits linked to… read more…