Why Need Life Insurance?

February 21st, 2012 by admin No comments »

Why Need Life Insurance? PhotoInsurance is there to protect you from financial burdens. There are many different types of insurance. The most important would have to be life insurance. It helps your dependents after your death.

When you have built up or thinking of building a family with the one you love you will probably sleep better knowing that they will be safe and secure after your death. Some financial obligation might be funeral expenses, mortgages, medical bills, college expenses for children and so on. So it would be good to have it all planned out before anything happens and you leave your family with nothing.

How mush insurance you need depends on the individual. It depends on their lifestyle, financial needs, and sources of income, debts, and the number of dependants. You will probably be advised to take insurance that amounts to about 5 to ten times your annual income. It would be a good idea to sit down with an expert to talk about why you need and want the insurance and then what insurance plan will fit your need and be the most beneficial to you. Life insurance can also have a savings or pension component that helps during your retirement.

If it’s planned out correctly life insurance on premature death can give the needed funds for bills, and living expenses. It can also prove to be a protection to your family.

Some insurance polices have to see if you are eligible first. If you have a critical illness or term insurance for your children or spouse, it can deter your eligibility.

Did you know you that having a valid insurance can be considered as a financial asset? That can improve your credit rating if you need health insurance or a home loan or business loan. So go and find out more about life insurance. You’ll be glad you did.

Cruise Stocks : a Risk vs. Reward Analysis

February 19th, 2012 by admin No comments »

Cruise Stocks : a Risk vs. Reward Analysis PhotoInvestors know that oil prices and terrorism, two things that really can’t be controlled, have a large influence on the stock market. Many investors avoid airline stocks for this reason. They can’t control one of their biggest expenses (fuel) and an act of terrorism can seriously damage the industry.

Why are cruise stocks any better? Rising fuel costs and Hurricane Katrina led to lower stock prices for companies like Carnival Corp. and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. These two cruise lines account for about 75 percent of the cruise industry, worldwide.

When George Allen Smith IV, from Connecticut, vanished while on a Royal Caribbean cruise, the industry received a lot of negative publicity.

Certainly, there are many negatives for cruise stocks, but some investors are bullish. First, there is no direct indication that the vanishing honeymooner from Connecticut has hurt ticket prices. Valuations on these stocks also look good.

Carnival Corp. trades at 16 times estimated 2006 earnings; its historic range is 10 to 30 times earnings. Royal Caribbean trades at 14 times estimated 2006 earnings; its historic range is 5 to 24 times earnings. Growth potential is strong as only 4 percent of Americans have ever taken a cruise.

When considering cruise stocks, remember the risks. A sharp rise in fuel prices or another terrorist attack would likely have a negative impact on cruise stocks. In my opinion the risk outweighs the possible reward as I don’t expect cruise lines to significantly outperform the broader market.