December 2015

Getting life insurance can be the responsible choice if you are a significant earner in your family. The payouts from life insurance can protect your family in the future should something bad happen to you. Part of the process involves considering your options for policies and providers and comparing quotes. A policy with a longer term and greater benefits is more expensive, but it is important to also understand the other factors that affect the quotes.

Your Age and Gender

Younger individuals can obtain less expensive life insurance because, simply enough, they are less likely to die and require the provider to pay benefits. On average, women can expect lower quotes than men of the same age. It’s not a question of favoritism toward women. The truth is that women have longer life expectancies than men.

Your Lifestyle and Occupation

Smokers are at higher risk for heart disease, certain cancers, respiratory illnesses, and death. If you smoke, your life insurance quotes are going to be higher than for someone who doesn’t smoke or use tobacco. Similarly, drinking is also associated with health risks, and heavy drinkers can expect higher quotes. You can get lower rates by quitting smoking or drinking.

Individuals with high-risk occupations, such as police officers and dirt bike racers, have higher rates than those with low-risk occupations, such as those involving office jobs.

Your Health

Your quote considers your current health, health history, and family history because these all affect your risk of dying. Chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer can all raise your rates. You can lower your rates by managing certain chronic conditions. For example, keeping your blood sugar in check if you have diabetes can get you a lower quote.

Since obesity is a risk factor for health complications and death, your quote is likely to be higher if you are obese. Losing weight can get you better rates.

We’re in the depths of flu season – which makes it more important than ever for you and your family to stay as healthy as possible.

Although your first step should be to get immunized for influenza, you should also focus on keeping your immune system strong. Dr. Bruce Underwood, a certified nutrition and preventive care specialist with Healthy Futures, Inc., recommends these “best practices” for maintaining wellness:

• Get enough rest. To keep your immune system as robust as possible, experts recommend six to eight hours a night of sound sleep.
• Exercise regularly, but don’t overdo it. The Surgeon General urges adults to walk at least 10,000 steps, or about four miles a day. However, Underwood notes that both lack of exercise and over-exercising can weaken the immune system – so exercise common sense.
• Make sure you get the right amount of essential nutrients.

These include:

1. About 1,000 milligrams a day of vitamin C (from fruits vegetables, and certain cuts of meat) to counteract such toxins as cigarette smoke and air pollution, and the physical and psychological effects of stress.
2. 10 to 40 milligrams a day of zinc (from meats, seafood, dairy products, nuts, legumes, and whole grains) can help maintain a healthy immune system, however, taking more than 100 milligrams a day can lead to fever, fatigue, and other problems.
3. 440 milligrams a day of fatty acids, especially omega-three acids of the EPA and DPH types (from fish, fish oil, and flax) for overall health, according to the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids.

College students are graduating deeper in debt than ever, as tuition and fees keep escalating while family incomes stagnate. The average student debt jumped to nearly $30,000 for the Class of 2012, compared to $26,000 in 2011, according to the Project on Student Debt at The Institute for College Access and Success. Average student loans in 2012 were even higher for newly minted physicians ($167,000), veterinarians ($152,000), and attorneys ($125,000).

If you’re a young professional with debts on this scale, you might well find it difficult to pay off these loans during the early years of your career, before you earn enough to build up savings. If you died before paying your loans, who would be responsible for the balance? Although federally financed student debts are forgiven in case of the borrower’s death, the burden of payment for a private loan would fall on your family or the guarantor (co-signer) of the loan – most likely your parents.

Not to worry. A term life insurance policy can cover this risk, so your loved ones won’t take a financial hit when they’re already reeling from grief. The policy will cover you for a fixed period, such as 10, 15, 20 or 30 years. You can either buy coverage for as long as the loans are likely to be paid off, or have a co-signer (for example, your mother) purchase a policy on your life, with herself as the beneficiary.

You can obtain this financial peace of mind for pennies a day. A 20-year, $250,000 term life policy for a healthy 30-year-old costs only about $150 a year, according to LIMRA, a life insurance trade group.

For more information, just give us a call. We’re always here to help.

Have you resolved to quit smoking this year? If so, you’ll feel healthier, enjoy a better quality of life and save money. Several tips, including this short list, help you find success.

Keep a Craving Journal

In the week before your quit date, record details like when cravings hit and their intensity, how often, where and with whom you smoke and how you feel after you smoke. This information assists you in choosing smoking cessation tips and tools that address your specific needs.

Schedule a Quit Date

Saying you’ll quit one day isn’t enough. You need a specific date, preferably in the next week or so before you lose your resolve.

Tell People Your Plan

With accountability, you’re more likely to succeed. So tell the people in your life about your plans to quit, and ask a few close family members, friends, neighbors or coworkers to encourage and support you.

Anticipate the Challenges

No matter how much you want to quit, you’ll face challenges like insomnia, cravings, headaches or depression. Many quitting smokers resume their habit within three months, but anticipating challenges increases your chances for success.

Remove Tobacco

You can’t be successful if you store or hide cigarettes, lighters or ashtrays anywhere at home or work. Toss all tobacco-related products and consider deep cleaning your home’s carpets and furniture as well as your car to erase everything from your past.

Consider Medication Your doctor can recommend gum, lozenges or a patch as you quit your habit. He or she can also prescribe medication that addresses depression, anxiety, stress or other feelings and emotions that affect your smoking patterns.

Take up a Hobby

Exercise, meditate, draw or do some other hobby that keeps your mind and hands busy. These distractions help you get and stay healthy.