Many families have certain fears and apprehensions when it comes to adding teens to their auto insurance. But it will also come as a pleasant surprise to learn that your premiums do not have to experience a very significant increase after your kids get a license to drive. By keeping all of your family’s auto insurance policies with just a single company, you will save money and have the “peace of mind” that comes with knowing that you are well covered. It is also important to choose a safe car for a young driver, because doing so will make a huge difference in your premiums. For people who don’t have long-term relationships with just a single company, look around and try to locate the insurer who offers the best premiums for teenage drivers.

Because the public has realized that the government cannot or will not shoulder long-term care costs, the demand for long-term care or LTC insurance has continued to grow in recent years. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said that only 2% of employees participate, despite the fact that approximately 40% of employers offer this type of insurance.

One primary reason for the minimal participation is the lack of knowledge about LTC insurance. The main goal of LTC is to guard and preserve assets in cases where injury or illness would require extended care. No one can foresee events that would call for extended care, so it is of utmost importance to consider coverage even if you are still young. No matter how big your savings account may be, it can still be exhausted quickly with expenses associated with extended health care services.

Many people ask if they need to get life insurance. The answer to this question is only available on a case to case basis. For example, people who don’t have dependents or those who don’t make a significant portion of the family’s income may not require life insurance.

However, those individuals who support their families, who pay for their kids’ college education and/or who have to pay recurring bills or mortgages, will need to protect those financial responsibilities by purchasing life insurance so that these expenses can be covered in the unlikely event of death.

As for the amount that is needed for a life insurance policy, it depends on the type of lifestyle you have to maintain, the number of your dependents, your sources of income, and how much debt you have. As a general guideline, the ideal amount of insurance you need is five to ten times the total salary you earn annually.

Although it may take some time to understand a company fully, investment experts still suggest that buying stock in a company that you already know does not always yield the highest level of success when investing. Instead, consider opting to invest in new and upcoming companies, since their stocks will typically have the biggest gains during the earlier stages of the company’s growth, as compared to the later phases. It may be relevant to buy what you know, but remember that buying only what you know introduces even greater risk to your portfolio. As experienced by many investors in a wide variety of industries, most of the biggest returns often come from companies that you do not fully understand and have never heard of. If you will only explore alternatives, you can broaden your horizons instead of just simply sticking to what you (think you) know.

In general, firms that are publicly traded are easier to invest in because they can be bought and sold without difficulty on the stock market. As such, they tend to have superior quote market value and liquidity. However, public companies also have certain disadvantages, and one major criticism is too much of a focus on meeting the short-term expectations of Wall Street analysts and quarterly results, thus sometimes missing out on creating opportunities with long-term value. On the contrary, private firms are more complicated to invest in because it can take years before the investment can be sold again. Moreover, sellers and buyers would have to negotiate the prices. But as for the advantages, owners of private firms play a bigger role in the decision making process, and the earnings or any profits made are paid directly to investors.

The real challenge when choosing stocks is having no idea which of the thousands of stocks available would bring the highest return. But here are some tips that could help guide you in making wise choices:

• Establish the main purpose of your portfolio.
The main focus of most investors includes capital appreciation requirements, capital preservation and income. You can always decide which category to focus on so that you can narrow down your search before going into more detailed analysis.
• Keep yourself updated.
Trends in the market are ever changing and you need to keep your eyes open at all times. With the internet at your disposal, you can always read online financial news, print magazines and blogs. An informed investor is more likely to make a better judgment when choosing a stock.
• Choose companies wisely.
With money involved, it is of utmost importance that you analyze all angles thoroughly before deciding which company to invest in. By knowing more about a company’s investment metrics, you will be well on your way

The vast majority of small and medium sized businesses in Britain do not have sufficient business insurance a new report has claimed.
A business insurance provider has revealed that most people in the business community believed that most small businesses were overlooking the range of small business insurance policies and putting themselves at risk.

“When starting a business, particularly if you are starting in a new industry or profession, insurance is the one of the easiest things to forget,” said a spokesperson. “The extra burden of cost an insurance policy puts on a business can be off-putting, and it can seem unnecessary in the early stages.”

“But insurance is essential to maximise the success of a businesses”, she continued, “because without the appropriate protection in place some tradespeople or professionals would be turned down for work, which could be pivotal when a small business is trying to get off the ground.”

According to the spokesperson self-employed people are especially vulnerable to being uninsured. These include people such as, consultants or tutors along with photographers and musicians. All of these people would be advised to consider taking out professional indemnity insurance, yet few do.

Professional indemnity insurance would protect professionals from situations where they could be accused of negligence, such as providing bad advice or making a serious mistake which could result in legal claims for compensation.

Compensation claims can “seriously cripple or even close down” a small or medium sixed business if professional indemnity insurance is not in place, the spokeswoman warned

Are you looking for information on van insurance? This guide will tell you everything you need to know before purchasing a van insurance policy.

Do I really need van insurance?

If you are planning on driving a van on the road then van insurance is a legal requirement under the Road Traffic Act. Any vehicle on the road must have insurance to protect other road users in the event of an accident. Van insurance also provides you with the peace of mind that you are doing your utmost to ensure that you are protecting both van and driver from any of the dangers of driving on the road.

If you use a van as part of your business then it makes perfect sense to protect any valuable assets. Your van is part of your livelihood and you need to safeguard your business assets against any losses or damages.
What will happen if I don’t have van insurance?

You are breaking the law if you don’t have the insurance for your van. You are required by law to insure against the possibility of injuring another person or their property. Failure to have the correct insurance for your van could leave you facing a fine along with having penalty points added to your licence. Along with the legal implications, you also need van insurance to protect you against any potential financial losses incurred if you are involved in an accident.

Are there different types of van insurance?

There are three main types of van insurance if you are living or working in the UK. These are:
• third party
• third party, fire and theft
• and fully comprehensive van cover

Third party van insurance is the most inexpensive van insurance available and is also the minimum insurance required by law. This type of insurance covers your liability for damage to another person’s vehicle or property. If your van is involved in an accident it will also cover any injury to another person. While this type of insurance covers the necessary level to satisfy the law it does not cover damage to your van or loss or theft of the vehicle.

Third party, fire and theft insurance covers exactly the same as third party insurance. The main difference is that this insurance covers the cost of repairing a van damaged by fire along with the loss and theft of your van.

Fully comprehensive van insurance is the most expensive policy, however, it is also the most inclusive and comprehensive policy you can purchase. The fully comprehensive policy includes third party, fire and theft and also pays for repairs to your van if it is involved in an accident.

This policy also includes extra cover for personal items left in your van, medical and legal expenses and a replacement vehicle if your van is off the road. This type of cover can prove to be invaluable if your main business activities involve you using your van.

How can I lower the costs of my van insurance?

How much you pay for your van insurance depends of a number of factors. These factors include:

• The make, model, engine size and value of your van
• Security for your van.
• The mileage on your van
• What you intend to use the van for

Your address will also be taken into account by insurance companies. Your insurance company is also likely to consider who will be driving the van, the age of the vehicle’s driver, any previous criminal convictions the driver may have had and any previous accidents the driver may have been involved in.

It might be possible to reduce the cost of your van insurance policy if you pay a higher voluntary excess in addition to the compulsory excess. Generally, the higher the excess you agree to pay the cheaper your insurance premiums will be.
You can also reduce your insurance premiums by fitting an alarm and immobiliser. You may also find that your insurance premiums are lowered if you choose a vehicle with a less powerful engine.

Depending on the insurance company, you might also find that if you can demonstrate that you have solid experience driving other company vehicles that you might get a discount. Similarly, if you have built up a no-claims bonus in a car you might also find your insurance premiums lowered.

Will van insurance cover items left in the van?

If you are tradesman then comprehensive van insurance may cover you up to a certain amount for tools carried in your van. If you have a lower level of van cover, such as third party, or your tools are particularly valuable, you’ll need to take out additional cover.
Similarly, if you carry goods in your van, you’ll have to take out cover specifically for them.

Will my van insurance offer a courtesy vehicle?

This is again dependent on the insurance policy and company you choose. If your work or business requires you to drive on a regular basis then it is worth considering taking out a policy that provides a replacement vehicle.

What extras should I consider when insuring my van?

When choosing van insurance you might want to look for a policy that includes:
• legal assistance to cover legal costs that could follow an accident.
• breakdown cover
• insurance for the tools of your trade or goods carried in your van
• no-claims discount protection
• European cover, if you intend to drive your van abroad

What is a no-claims bonus?

If you have been driving for a while and haven’t made a claim on your van insurance then you could be entitled to a no-claims bonus. This discount on the cost of your van insurance policy reflects the fact that your insurance company regards you as a safe driver and less of a risk than other drivers on the road.

Depending on the length of your no-claims bonus it may be possible to find an insurance company who will allow you to protect your claims by purchasing an additional premium for a much lower cost. This will allow you to make a claim within a set time period without losing any of your discount.

What is an excess?

All van insurance policies will expect you to pay the first part of any claim. This is known as a compulsory excess. The amount this will cost is entirely dependent on the individual policy purchased from a particular insurance company.

Celebrities generally aren’t know for being careful with their money, but some major stars have realised the value of taking out an insurance policy. We take a look at the 10 most expensively insured celebrity body parts.

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Every year insurance companies have to deal with lots of bogus claims. Sometimes the claims are just too bizarre to be false. We take a look at 50 of the most outrageous insurance claims ever put to paper.

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