Fixed Annuity – Types & Features

January 25, 2012 · Posted in Life Annuities · Comment 
 Life Annuities

Financial instability is the most common problem faced by the individuals after they get retired from their profession. Retirement is a phase that leads retirees towards a life, which is devoid of any significant means of earning. Money is the basic requirement of people in recent times and hence it is important for each and every person to have a considerable earning, which is not only required to provide a luxurious living to the old individuals, but avail proper health benefits as well. Immediate and fixed annuity are the two major types of annuity plans with most flexible features, which make old age living comfortable in all respect.
Phases of Fixed Annuity Investments
Fixed annuities are the plans, which are purchased from an insurance company either with the help of a lump sum or through periodic payments, which the annuitants can make during their service tenure. The rate of return that the annuitants get in case of fixed annuity is set throughout the investment phases. These phases of investment are – accumulation phase and annuitization phase. The former is the range of time when the annuitant seekers make lump sum or periodic investments to their fund in order to ensure a healthy-wealthy life after retirement. While, the latter is the stage where an annuitant starts receiving his regular income in return to what he has invested in his retirement fund.
Types of Fixed Annuity
As far as the annuity schemes are concerned, the individuals who enroll for these schemes can either opt for enjoying the income for lifetime or they can even specify a particular range till which they want to avail these facilities. Based on this very fact, fixed annuity schemes have been classified into two major categories as explained below: Read more

Types of Annuity & Life Insurance contracts

December 10, 2011 · Posted in Life Annuities · Comment 
 Life Annuities

In its simplest form, an insurance policy is a contract between two parties. The first party, the insured, agrees to make one or more payments (premiums) to the second party, the insurer. The insurer in return agrees to make a payment (the amount of insurance) to the insured, if and when the event insured against occurs.

In the case of life insurance, there may be two other parties involved. Since the event insured against is the death of the insured, it will not be possible to pay the amount of insurance to the insured. The third party to whom the insurance is payable is called the beneficiary. Also, it is not necessary that the insured pay the premiums. If they are paid by a fourth party, this party is called the policyholder or owner. In return for payment of premiums, the policyholder is a party to the contract and has certain rights, including the important right to name the beneficiary.

A life annuity contract differs fundamentally from life insurance in that the survival of the annuitant is the event that is being insured against. In the case of a life annuity, premiums are paid by the annuitant or some other individual (who becomes the contract holder or owner) to the annuity payor. The annuity payor begins annuity payments to the owner or some other beneficiary at a time specified in the contract. The contract may provide flexibility as to the date when annuity can begin, and the terms under which they will be made. Most annuity contracts have some payments that are only made as long as the annuitant survives. Many contracts have features that guarantee some minimum payout regardless of the survival of the annuitant. So it is important for the annuitant to clear all these conditions at the time of buying annuities.

Life insurance policies exist in many forms, many of them providing considerable flexibility as to the amount, duration, and frequency of premiums, and also more or less flexibility in the amount of the death benefit and the circumstances under which it will be paid. Many life insurance policies and annuity contracts also provide cash values and other nonforfeiture benefits, payable if the policyholder discontinues premium payments earler than originally agreed upon, or wishes to terminate the insurance earlier than the policy provides. In some cases, if the insurer finds that experience is favorable, it pays dividends to the policyholder as a partial return of the premiums or reduces charges. Many policies also include additional benefits of various kinds, for example, an agreement to waive premiums if the policyholder becomes disabled.

Insurers have always taken the responsibility for the pricing and selling of life insurance and annuities. Since the insurer always receives premiums before making any payments in return, the insurer has the opportunity to invest the funds and earn an investment return. An important part of insurance operations consists of determining the reserve each year, ie, that amount which will need to be held to provide future benefits. In addition to providing for future benefits, the insurer hopes to recover the expenses of selling, issuing and administering the policy or contract. The insurer has accepted risks, then, not only of having adequate funds to pay benefits as they come due, but also the risk of paying expenses, receiving adequate investment cash flows, paying surrender values if they are called for, etc. Balancing the risks, and determining appropriate benefits, reserves, dividends and nonforfeiture values to pay in return for a given series of premiums is an important function of the actuary in a life insurance company. This text describes the techniques actuaries use in fulfilling these functions. While many of the techniques do not vary by type of insurance or annuity, a different combination of them may be called into play for different products. Therefore, the text begins with a description of the common product types available. Some of the products described are available as riders, that is, they may be offered as an additional benefit with another product. It helps you to buying annuities with more annuities quotes for life insurance plans you like to hire against payment you wil pay.

Get the Hang of Life Income Annuity Programs

June 28, 2011 · Posted in Life Annuities · Comment 
 Life Annuities

Financial stability is required in every stage of life. An income or life annuity is an insurance contract that is designed by a life insurance company. This plan provides an additional monthly income besides that provided by any pension or social security amounts received by a retiree. An individual pays a premium to an insurance company which in turn makes payouts to help meet the person’s future income needs. A life annuity can be easily enrolled in.

The premium paid by the annuitant in a lump sum is referred to as a single premium income annuity. The premium may also be paid over time as a flexible premium annuity. The one-time single payment is classified as an immediate income annuity. A multiple-paid or flexible premium is usually applied for a Read more

Retirement Annuity – A Guarantor for Life

May 28, 2011 · Posted in Life Annuities · Comment 

The very mention of the term retirement annuity now brings a smile on the the face of the retired. This is due to the fact that this scheme has not only brought about a solution for their fund problems but has also made their life more secure and convenient. This is an amazing opportunity to live life on your own terms even during the twilight years of your life. This scheme also provides life annuity apart from the others.

Retirement is a phase of life wherein you usually tend to feel vulnerable. This is due to the fact that at this point of life you are left with neither the regular source of income nor are you in a position to work. This apparent dead end leaves you sick with worries pertaining to the life that is awaiting you. With such bleak prospects the future surely looks dark, however, that is no longer true. The market is like santa’s bag. It has the desired solution you require to gear up your life gift wrapped in the form of various opportunities and schemes. The only step you need to take is to wish for it and you get your gift. The retirement annuity is such a gift wrapped opportunity for you. Retirement annuity can be of various types. The different types and their basic information is as follows.

The types of retirement annuity are namely joint life, last survivor annuity without return of purchase price, joint life, last survivor annuity with return of purchase price and life annuity. The first type of this annuity scheme refers to the scheme that you will be entitled to the annuity amount along with your spouse. That is to say that both you and your spouse will receive life time annuities. Here you will not receive the purchase amount from the insurance company. The second type is almost similar to the previous scheme with a slight variation. In this case also both you and your spouse will receive annuities for life. However the bonus point of this scheme is that in this scheme the insurance company returns back the purchase amount as well. Purchase amount is the price that you had paid to buy the annuity. The purchase price is given to the nominee. The third type has a scheme wherein you receive the annuity payments for your lifetime and after your demise these payments stop.

The other form of retirement annuities are life annuity guaranteed for 5, 10, and 15 years and life thereafter and life annuity with return of Read more

I Recently Had a Major Car Crash. What Happens Under My Life Annuity Policies?

March 13, 2011 · Posted in Life Annuities · Comment 
 Life Annuities

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Every year, well over 20,000 Australians are seriously injured in a car crash. We tsk-tsk and commiserate over the road toll, which is widely publicized and unarguably tragic … but the injured are often the forgotten victims of car crashes. If you, or somebody you love, has recently been injured in a car crash, today we look at what’s likely to happen with your various insurance policies, from trauma insurance to life insurance.

 

Term Life Insurance and Car Crashes
If you don’t die in a car crash, there is obviously no immediate way to claim on your life insurance policy. While some life policies have a terminal illness clause, where you can receive an early payout if you are given less than 6 months or a year to live, this would only rarely be applicable to those injured in a car crash. Oftentimes there is a clause stating that early payout is only available if you receive a ‘terminal’ diagnosis from the life insurance company’s doctor, and you will not survive past a certain length of time.

 

Income Protection Insurance and Car Crashes

Your ability to claim on your income protection insurance policy will depend on the nature of your injuries and the particulars of your policy.

 

For example, if you are involved in a car accident and are unable to work due to the nature of your injuries, you would most likely able to claim on your income protection insurance policy. However, if you do not suffer any injuries, or minimal surface injuries and can still work, it is unlikely that you would be able to make a claim.

 

Trauma Insurance and Car Crashes

There are few events in life more ‘traumatic’ than a car crash … however, trauma insurance policies define their events in terms of the medical diagnosis rather than their psychological effect. It will depend on your particular injuries as to whether you can get a trauma insurance payout; some covered conditions that could result from car crashes include:

Coma
Loss of limbs
Loss of sight
Paraplegia/Quadriplegia
Loss of capacity for independent living

 

Compensation and Car Crashes
Remember that all drivers pay compulsory insurance as part of their registration fee, to insure against causing somebody else injury while driving their car. You should also apply to the Road Safety Commission, Transport Accident Commission / Roads and Traffic Authority in your state to see what compensation might be applicable if you’re injured in a car crash, even if you don’t have any trauma insurance or income protection insurance.

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