This is the season of open enrollment. If your company, like most companies these days, does the annual health insurance dance, check with HR to find out when your open enrollment period is and make the necessary changes. You should also check to see if your plan operates on a calendar year or benefit year …
If you own a home with a mortgage, then your lender requires you to have fire insurance to protect your/their investment. However, many people find that they are underinsured after a fire. If you’ve had your home for more than a few years, you should call your insurance company and a few others to compare …
As soon as we started looking for a home with a real estate agent, she advised me to get preliminary quotes from several insurance companies so we would be able to move quickly once we went into escrow. If you’re getting a loan, you can’t close the loan without insurance in place, and the first …
First-Time Buyers: Shop for Homeowners Insurance in Advance Read More »
In response to my life insurance post, a reader emailed to ask whether I’d recommend life insurance for children. In general, no. When my husband was a baby, his mom bought a Gerber children’s life insurance plan to cover funeral expenses if he died. He continued to pay for this $10,000 coverage well into his …
When I was talking to my dad about how much life insurance to buy, he commented that they’d never bought it for my mom because she didn’t work. He viewed it as income replacement. I’ve read, however, that you should consider buying life insurance for a stay-at-home mom because she performs tasks that would cost a lot …
The Argument for Stay-at-Home Mom Life Insurance Read More »
A few months ago, I talked about life insurance. Now it’s time to discuss car insurance. Auto insurance is a requirement in order to drive in most states. Most states have coverage minimums, but those minimums may not offer enough protection in a serious accident. For example, California requires 15/30/5 liability coverage. If I were to hit a …
Auto Policy Basics: How Much Car Insurance Do You Need? Read More »
I’m extremely near-sighted and have sensitive eyes, Should I get vision insurance? It depends, but I’m fortunate that my employer provides vision insurance. If you don’t have it, it may not be worth it to buy it on your own, but you should take advantage of it if your employer offers it. Ask your HR …
At some point during the mortgage process, you’ll be faced with this mysterious item known as “title insurance.” There are actual two types of title insurance. If you’re getting a mortgage, you’ll be required to get the first type. You may also opt to get the second type. Title Insurance Defined Title insurance offers protection …
Most people who don’t live in hurricane regions don’t think they need flood insurance. Then a plugged storm drain overflows into their home and they discover that homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover it. Regardless of where you live, you should consider adding flood insurance to your policy. Where to Get Flood Insurance Flood insurance is provided …
Like car insurance, a homeowners insurance policy is a necessity for every owner. Not only will it protect you in the event of theft, fire, or other disaster, but it offers protection if someone is injured on your property. Unfortunately, many people discover too late that they’re underinsured. Use my basic guide to determine how much …
Homeowners Insurance Basics: What Kind of Policy Do You Need? Read More »
