Tag: Benefit
Term Life Insurance For Business Owners Or Key Executives
by Ravi on Oct.22, 2009, under Where To Put It?
Starting a business is a stressful endeavor. There is so much to consider regarding basic operations and so many forms to fill out and papers to file. It is truly a wonder that businesses are able to get off the ground at all. If you are a new business owner, you know that insurance of all types is very much part of the equation in the development and opening of your business. However busy you are with the basic operations of business, you must take time out to implement a strategy to keep your business secure. To be sure, an essential ingredient to this security is taking out “key person” insurance (also known as Business Life Insurance).
Key person term life insurance is taken out on the life of the key executive or the business owner. All firms or small businesses depend on the key people or business owner to manage and keep the business running. These head people are critical for the success of the business and therefore the insurance is actually taken out for the benefit of the business. Businesses take out the policy on the key individuals and so the business also pays for the policy premiums. The monies that are paid to the business upon the death of the key executive or business owner allows that firm or business the time to figure out what direction to take. Those left to run the business can strategize as to how they can save the business. Will they hire a new head executive? Will they restructure operations? Will they need to eventually sell off assets or sell of the business altogether? What debts need to be paid? No matter the case, the monies paid out by the term life insurance buys a business much needed time to make the important decisions that need to be made.
What Value to Place on a Key Person
To be sure, any business operation would feel displaced upon losing its key person — especially when considering how to replace him/her with someone just as competent. In small firms, it is usually the founder who holds responsibility for keeping the books, managing employees, handling key customers and running all basic operations. Losing the key person leaves any company with much uncertainty and instability. There is no easy formula for determining the value of a key employee as each circumstance is unique. The company must consider anticipated profit losses, replacement costs and a compensation-multiple formula. These are typical methods of estimating a loss and subsequent policy value. The best thing to do is to shop for rates from several different life insurance agents as they can help you estimate how much of a policy to buy. You may also get term life insurance quotes online. Most agents agree that buying term life insurance instead of a whole or variable life is better as the premiums will be much lower.
Sole Proprietorships
Keep in mind that one-man operations do not need to take out key person term life insurance. If you are a business with zero employees there is no need to worry as your assets transfer to your family (family employees do not count). If your family depends on the income from your business, it is advisable that you take out personal life insurance.
You do not want to overlook the importance of an investment such as key person term life insurance. It can mean the survival or closure of your business legacy.
Thanksgiving Party Invitations: Creative Ways to Invite Your Guests
by Ravi on Oct.17, 2009, under Where To Put It?
When it comes to planning a party, even a Thanksgiving party, a large amount of focus is placed on the party itself. While it is important to thoroughly plan out and prepare for you Thanksgiving party, in advance, there are some party hosts who forget the importance of inviting their guests. While guests always end up getting invited, it isn’t in the way that they always wished to be invited. If you are hosting a Thanksgiving party, you are urged to invite your guests with real party invitations; you will find that there are a number of benefits to doing so.
Perhaps, the biggest benefit to inviting your guests to your Thanksgiving party with formal invitations is the fact that your invitations will reflect upon your party. Guests who receive a simple phone call or an email may still be likely to attend your party, but there is also a chance that they may not want to. One of the reasons for that is because guests often feel that they should be invited to a party formally, not in a completely casual matter. A quick phone call or email may make your guests feel as if you do not really want them at your party. That is why it is advised that, whenever possible, you send your Thanksgiving party guests real invitations.
When it comes to party invitations, you will find that you have a number of different options. The most popular option, perhaps, is using store bought invitations. Store bought invitations are nice and they typically come with pre-filled recommendations, such as your Thanksgiving party time, date, and place. What is nice about store bought party invitations is that they come in a number of different styles. If you are looking for a somewhat elegant invitation, you could easily find some at your local department store or party supply store. If you are looking to send out real party invitations, but at an affordable price, you can easily find low-cost invitations at your local discount stores or dollar stores.
As previously mentioned, there is a good chance that you may be interested in purchasing a formal set of Thanksgiving party invitations. These formal, elegant types of invitations are ideal for formal Thanksgiving parties; parties that often have an eveningwear dress code. If you are looking for beautiful elegant party invitations, invitations that you cannot buy in a store, it may be best to search online. Online, there are a number of different individuals and companies who specialize in making elegant party invitations, as well as customized invitations. These invitations, as you likely already know, will cost more than traditional store bought invitations, but if they are the perfect fit for your party, they will be well worth the cost.
As nice as it is to order customized Thanksgiving party decorations, they can be quite costly. If you are looking for an elegant way to invite your guests to your Thanksgiving party, you can still do so, without spending more money than you want to. You can easily do this by making your own Thanksgiving party invitations. In most party supplies stores, as well as craft stores, you can find a collection of blank cards or you could use traditional computer paper. On your computer, you will likely find a number of preset card templates, including party invitations. You can use these templates to create your own, unique party invitations. Depending on your creativity, you may also wish to create your own handcrafted Thanksgiving party invitations.
As previously mentioned, there are a number of benefits to sending your Thanksgiving party guests real party invitations, whether they are handmade or store bought. Since you have a wide array of options to choose from, you are advised to send your party guests real party invitations. There is a good chance that your party guests will not only enjoy the thought, but they may also be more likely to attend your party.
Why should you join a forum
by Ravi on Mar.25, 2009, under Where To Put It?
Human beings are social by nature, and online communities or forums are the latest in a long progression of social organizations created by humankind. While many people join forums specifically for the social benefits, there are several good reasons for Internet entrepreneurs to join an online forum. Here are the top seven benefits you and your online business can reap.
The top reason many Internet business men and women join forums is for the search engine benefits. Many forums are tremendously popular with search engines and so not only rank well but also are regularly crawled. Most forums offer an introductions area as well as a signature area where you can promote your web site or sites. In addition, as you participate in a forum that is relevant to your site’s topic there will likely be opportunities to work your site into conversation. All these links can be of tremendous benefit in terms of search engine rankings and relevant back links.
However, if you think that search engine benefits are the beginning and end of the ways you and your Internet business can profit from joining a forum then you are missing out on a lot of learning.
If you are going to join a forum then join a forum that help you learn more about your niche. Even if you are an expert in your field there is always more to be learned and where else to go for that knowledge than a place where others knowledgeable in your area also hang out? That is what is so wonderfully flexible about forums. There really is an Internet community for everyone and every interest. Your task is to find the forum where your peers are already hanging out. Learning more about your niche is a tremendous benefit of joining a forum.
You don’t need to restrict your forum memberships to those within your field. It is also wise to join forums that can help you learn more about how to run your business. Find forums of other small business owners and entrepreneurs. You will soon be able to find folks who are at your level of expertise as well as those with more experience willing to share their hard-earned lessons. Soon you’ll have the opportunity to repay that debt by mentoring other newbies. This sharing and hand-holding is one of the elements that make Internet communities so successful.
You should also seek a forum to help you with your Internet marketing. There are many different approaches to Internet marketing and while some people prefer the scatter-gun approach most choose one or two primary methods. Explore and text methods to determine which you feel most comfortable with and then join a forum focused on that method to help you refine your approach and achieve maximum success.
One of the primary problems with the Internet is that it can be easy to feel isolated. However forums can help bridge the gap of time and distance by serving as a community as well as an information source. Friendships and even love can be found in time and laughter and camaraderie and commiseration can help sustain the person as well as the business.
Forums can also help you find customers for your business. As you participate and share information about your business some folks will naturally express an interest. As you share your expertise and demonstrate your knowledge then you will attract still more. Don’t be a pushy salesperson, simply allow your expertise to showcase your business and you will attract a quality customer relationship. You can sell anything from office furniture to a private self financed space tour on the forums.
A forum can also be a great place to find partners to help you expand or promote your business in a number of ways. You might discover some like-minded soul whose business perfectly complements yours or you might discover the perfect joint-venture partner. Even if you encounter people you might view as competition try to view the relationship from many angles to see if there is a way to benefit from a partnership rather than a competition.
Joining forums can provide many benefits to you and to your business but remember that Internet communities are social contracts with rules and guidelines. Make sure you know and understand the rules before leaping into discussions. It is even more difficult to undo a bad first impression on the Internet as it cannot always be erased. Start slow and easy until you are sure of your footing. Also, be very wary about pushing your business too aggressively. That type of activity can get you banned from a forum pretty quickly. Many forums have a clearly marked area for advertising and sales posts and also allow some blatant promotion in your signature, but keep your posts on topic and helpful and you’ll be better off in the long run.
Term Insurance vs. Whole life or Permanent Insurance – A Car Analogy
by Ravi on Mar.06, 2009, under Where To Put It?
Think of a term life insurance policy as leasing a car. When you lease a car you get the benefits of using the car, but when you stop paying you don’t have a car anymore. As with term insurance as long as you pay your premiums you get the benefit of the term life insurance policy, but when you stop paying, you no longer have any coverage.
Whole life or “permanent policies” are designed to build up a cash value. So similar to buying a car you have an asset that you can keep. Unlike a car, hopefully this asset will grow in value. Whole life, Universal life and Variable Universal life are all different types of permanent insurance. Permanent insurance, most of the time, is meant to keep until you die or as a saving vehicle.
The way the policy grows in value gives you the different names of insurance such as, Whole Life, Universal Life, and Variable Universal Life. That leads to the understanding of the different types of permanent policies.
” Whole Life- Is an insurance policy where premium payments are usually the same throughout the life of the policy, as is the death benefit. You usually need to pay the premiums as long as the policy is in force.
” Universal Life – Is an insurance policy where premium payments may be changed and the death benefit can also be changed by the owner. Usually if the death benefit is being raised you will have to show some evidence of insurability (medical information) or other information requested. Your policy grows at a stated interest rate which changes every so often.
” Variable Universal Life – Is an insurance policy where premium payments may be changed and the death benefit can also be changed by the owner. Usually if the death benefit is being raised you will have to show some evidence of insurability (medical information) or other information requested. Your policy grows at the rate of your investment choice you choose. Since you may invest in market instruments similar but not exactly like mutual funds. Your policy can lose value causing larger premium payments than expected.
Take a step back and think about it from the insurance company’s point of view, its easier to understand the difference. A portion of the cash value that builds in the insurance contract will pay for the “cost of insurance”.
Whole life- The insurance company is taking most of the risk. They are paying a death benefit to you no matter what happens to the cash value in the account. As long as you make your payments the insurance company has to pay your death benefit. This may be the most expensive.
Universal life – The insurance company is taking some risk. The policy grows give the current interest rate it pays. At times you are only able to earn low interest rates. You may need to make up more payments to keep your policy.
Variable Universal life – The insurance company has taken the least amount of risk. In the Variable policy the rate of return is variable, meaning you don’t know how fast your policy will grow or shrink. This type of policy is most likely used for someone who is younger and can ride out the volatility of their portfolio. Since you take on the most risk in this type of policy it usually has the smallest premiums.