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Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Insurance Agency Marketing and PR


Small business marketing tips help any business promote their products and services. Identify an insurance agency’s marketing and public relations campaign objectives to stay on target. Some questions to ask:

* What will be gained by an insurance agency’s marketing campaign?
* Is the focus on finding new customers or customer retention? Or both?
* What messages should be sent to prospects, customers, business partners and insurance agency employees?

Completing an executive summary, a more complex SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats exercise) or compiling competitive intelligence helps small businesses identify their insurance agency’s marketing and public relations objectives and to get agreement on them.
Small Business Marketing Goals

Set concrete marketing and public relations campaign goals for an insurance agency or small business. Agencies may need to change goals later, but this sets checkpoints to review progress throughout the campaign. Here’s a sample marketing campaign goals and objectives statement:

Lisa Nichols' Insurance Agency has a great opportunity to find all-new customers in 2008. It is estimated that there are 10,000 potential, eligible agency customers in our community. The agency anticipates that 1,000 new customers will join the agency by the end of 2008, and that an additional 2,000 customers will be on board by June 2009.

Monday, May 17, 2010

L.I.C. Development Officers' Exam

L.I.C. Development Officers' Exam

A competitive examination for the recruitment of Assistant Development Officers' in the Life Insurance Corporation is held once a year, generally in the month of
September. The blank application forms and particulars are published in the Employment News, generally in the month of July and the last date for submission of applications is generally the first week of August.

Educational Qualifications: Candidates must hold a Bachelor's Degree in Arts, Science, Commerce, Agriculture or Law of an Indian or Foreign University or an equivalent qualification.

Age Limits: The applicants should have completed the age of 21 years on the 1 st July of the year of examination.
More Detail Pls check the link
L.I.C. Development Officers' Exam

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Tips To Keep More Money in Your Pocket in a Easy Way

Tips To Keep More Money in Your Pocket

Skyrocketing gas prices have gotten a lot of media attention this year, but most consumers have surely noticed that the costs of many basic goods have also crept higher, taking a toll on their monthly budgets. The Virginia Society of CPAs offers these suggestions on the best ways to boost the cash in your pocket.

Links :- 1) Tips To Keep More Money in Your Pocket
                            2) How to Become LIC Agent
                            3) How to Become a Federal Agent

LIC Agent Exam - IRDA Agent Exam Question Paper

Insurance Institute of India conducts every year an all India based competitive exam for recruitment of Insurance agents and is known by the name of IRDA exam or Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority exam. The basic requirement to sit for the exam is that he or she must have cleared his class 12th from a recognized university or board.

IRDA exam can be given in two modes, online and offline. Candidates preferring to go for manual mode would have to submit duly filled-in exam entry form to the concerned authority. The form is also supposed to be countersigned by the sponsoring insurer. Now, if the applicant wishes for both the general as well as life branches, he or she would have to fill two separate forms.

As regards the pattern of question is concerned, theme always remains the same, as in all the questions would be related to the Insurance, loans, regulations and their general application. Moreover, you can also expect some numerical problems as well. However, they won’t be rocket science, so you do not have to worry. They would be like normal percentage, discount and loan calculation.
Sample Exam Paper
1) IRDA Agent Exam Question Paper - 1
2) IRDA Agent Exam Question Paper - 2
3) IRDA Agent Exam Question Paper - 3

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Bonus Information - Life Insurance Corporation of India

Bonus Information - Life Insurance Corporation of India 2008-2009
All this “bonus rates” is always declares on the sum assured instead of the amount you deposit [premiums] to the LIC.

So if you have a policy of Rs2, 00, 000 with a premium of Rs10, 000 per annum and the bonus rate is 5.5% then your this year bonus amount will be Rs11, 000 [5.5% of 2, 00, 000] and not Rs1100/

Click on the following Link
http://www.myallagents.com/Bonus-Information-Life-Insurance-Corporation-of-India/details.html

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Winning With Mutual Funds

Winning With Mutual Funds

A mutual fund (called 'unit trust' in Asia) is an investment vehicle that pools money from many individual investors. A professional fund manager invests and manages these funds into stocks, bonds and other securities.

People usually invest in mutual funds because it is offers the advantage of broad diversification (it spreads your money over tens or hundreds of stocks to reduce risk) and professional management. However, do remember that as broad diversification reduces risks, it also reduces return.

First, here is the bad news. If you speak to most people who have invested in unit trusts in Asia (especially Singapore) or in mutual funds, most would report losing money or just earning measly returns of 2%-4%. In fact, in the year 2004, it was reported in the Straits Times that 559,000 Singaporeans lost $680 million by investing their CPF in these funds. By going to the largest unit trust distributor Asia, you can easily calculate that only 6% of unit trusts beat the S&P 500 over a ten-year period. What are the chances of you placing your bet on this 6%? Chances are you would have had lower returns that the index, while still having to pay those hefty sales charges and annual management fees.

How about the US mutual fund market? On average, less than 10% of mutual funds beat the S&P 500 index each year! What's worse is that it is a different 10% each year. Less than 3% of mutual funds are able to beat the S&P 500 Index over a five to ten year period. So again, what are the chances of you beating the market through betting on the right fund? Only 3%! You have better odds at the Black Jack table. The worse thing is that the fund manager gets paid an annual management fee whether or not the fund makes money.

Why is it so difficult for most people to make money in mutual funds? There are four main reasons.

1) High Sales Charges & Management Fees

Most people buy mutual funds through banks and financial institutions at retail prices where there is a sales charge (front load) and high annual management fees (expense ratios).

In Asia, most banks & financial institutions sell unit trusts with a sales charge of 5%-6% and with annual fees of 1.5%-2%. It means that before you even begin, you are down 6.5%-8% on your investment and will be down another 1.5% every year. Your fund must outperform the S&P 500 by 6.5%-8% just to make it worth your while! Again, less than 10% of funds worldwide can achieve this every year and less than 3% can achieve this over five years.

2) Buying the Hottest Performing Funds
Most people choose funds based on high short-term returns. These are the funds that are normally pushed and advertised by financial retailers. They feature impressive and enticing returns like 'This fund was up +65% in the last six months'.

The fact is that the best short-term performing funds tend to also be big losers in the subsequent years and long term. Why? Because these funds tend to be invested in hot stocks or hot sectors where the stocks have been rising rapidly and fund managers buy, riding on the momentum. That is why they post very spectacular returns. However, strong buying activity tend to push these stocks to be overvalued and sure enough, the stocks will come crashing down in the next few years. Mutual funds that consistently beat the S&P 500 tend to be invested in non-hot sectors and do not post spectacular short-term returns.

3) Limited Selection of Unit Trusts Locally

If you are in Asia, then you are normally exposed to only a limited number of unit trusts. A check with fundsupermart.com (the largest Asian unit trust distributor) shows that there are just about 300 funds available here compared to over 8,000 funds in the US market.

When I made a search on the Top Performing Fund sold locally (year 2005), I was presented with 'Fidelity America USD' with a 10-year annualized return of 11.27%. (Recall that the S&P 500 returned 12.08% a year). So, even the top-performing fund couldn't beat the S&P 500 after deducting expenses & fees!!

4) Lack of Research Knowledge, Data & Tools

The single most important reason why investors lose money in mutual funds
is because they don't have the knowledge or necessary information to search for the top 3% of consistent performing funds at the lowest costs. Investors tend to buy on the advice of their bank managers, facts from the fund fact sheet or prospectus which does not provide enough information to select the right fund.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

11 Essential Steps to Retirement Planning

11 Essential Steps to Retirement Planning


Life Insurance


It used to be that Americans retired at 65 with a gold watch and a nice, fat pension. But times have changed, and now we're finding we have to take a more active role in preparing for retirement.

This new world of 401(k) plans and Roth IRAs leave many people confused and uncertain. A 2009 Employee Benefit Research Institute survey, for instance, found that only 44 percent of Americans have ever tried to calculate how much they need for retirement.

"Planning for retirement can be a daunting task, especially given the recent economic climate," said Insured Retirement Institute (IRI) President and CEO Cathy Weatherford. "And while by most accounts the financial forecast appears to be improving, millions of Americans have yet to begin preparing for their retirement."

According to the IRI and the U.S. Department of Labor, there are 11 steps you can take to ensure that you do not outlive your savings.

1. Select a target retirement date

This important step determines how much money you need. If you want to retire early--say at the age of 55--you need to have a good post-retirement income and a lot of savings because your retirement could last 30-40 years. You should also buy health insurance until Medicare kicks in at age 65.

The Department of Labor says most people retire at the age of 65-66, although many are continuing to work later in life. Key benchmarks that may influence your decision on when you ultimately retire:

* Age 59 ½: You can withdraw from retirement accounts without paying a tax penalty
* Age 62: The minimum age to receive Social Security benefits
* Age 66: Eligible for Social Security benefits if born between 1943-1954
* Age 70 ½: Face tax penalties if you don't start taking minimum withdrawals from retirement accounts

2. Calculate the amount of money you should accumulate by your target retirement date

This is largely determined by what your lifestyle, living and medical expenses will be during retirement. You should also take into consideration the cost of inflation. The Labor Department recommends you plan for a 30-year retirement, regardless of what age you retire.

Key questions to ask yourself:

* Will I still have a mortgage payment or will my home be paid for?
* How much will I want to travel?
* How much of my current monthly expenses continue after I retire?
* How much should I keep in investments? (financial experts recommend that you continue making investments that earn enough to cover the cost of inflation)
* Will I want additional health insurance to pay for services not covered by Medicare?

3. Figure out how to maximize your Social Security benefits

More than half of retirees start collecting benefits at age 62, but advisors note that your monthly payments may be a third higher if you wait until age 66 to start collecting. Those who wait until age 70 receive 75 percent more.

"Millions of Americans may not be aware of the financial advantages most people gain by waiting even a few years to begin receiving their benefits," Weatherford said.

4. Take advantage of tax-advantaged plans, such as employer-sponsored retirement plans, individual retirement accounts and annuities

According to Kiplinger magazine, many retirees who either lost money or lost faith in the stock market are purchasing insurance annuities to provide guaranteed income during retirement. With an annuity you pay an insurance company a large sum of money in return for a monthly check for a certain time period or for the rest of your life. For instance, a 65-year-old man could make $725 a month by purchasing a $100,000 annuity.

The Labor Department notes that some annuities make adjustments for inflation. It recommends you carefully review the terms of the investment and answer the following questions:

* Does the amount paid vary based on investment returns or is it fixed?
* What will you pay in related fees?
* How are the payouts taxed?

5. As that your employer start a pension or retirement plan if one doesn't already exist

Starting a retirement savings plan is easier than many small business owners might think. Retirement plans help to attract and keep good employees, and the employer's contributions are tax deductible.

6. Only use your savings for retirement

Many experts agree on this step. The Labor Department notes that if you dip into your retirement savings, you lose principle and interest, and you may lose tax benefits. Roll your 401(k) into an IRA if you change jobs.

7. Diversify your assets and be sure to include guaranteed income for life

Experts recommend you keep money in a safe, interest-bearing account, as well as some money-earning stocks. This spreads the risk. The Labor Department recommends the following distribution:

* Some money in savings or checking accounts with no risk
* Some in bonds, with a little more risk
* Some in stocks with a higher risk, but a higher return

Another way to diversify is by investing in index mutual funds.

8. Ask questions and get help by seeking the advice of a professional financial advisor

An expert can help you sort through all the investment opportunities and help you decide what's right for you. But avoid strangers on the phone or the Internet--retirees are frequent targets for scammers.

9. Start now and set goals

The IRS recommends you set up a "painless" payroll deduction, regardless of your age or how long you have until retirement. Other strategies:

* Maximize your pre-tax deductions at work
* Make catch-up contributions after the age of 50
* Work a few years longer than you might otherwise have
* Don't take on large debt during your pre-retirement years
* Hold off withdrawing Social Security benefits

10. Start a retirement plan and monitor your progress

A retirement plan can help set out your goals for saving and your strategies for reducing debts. Write down those goals and strategies. According to the Labor Department, people frequently alter future spending patterns if they record their expenses and have a plan for reducing them.

11. Use whole life insurance to protect your family's finances

Purchasing a whole life insurance policy, which pays beneficiaries when the insured individual dies, is a way to ensure your family is financially protected should the breadwinner pass away and is no longer bringing home a paycheck. A whole life insurance policy can provide the funds necessary, so that your spouse doesn't have to go back to work during retirement, or that your children don't have to tap into their own savings to pay for a funeral. A properly sized policy can make sure your spouse has enough money to pay the outstanding principle on your home, finish paying for a child's college or cover other large expenses.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Factors affecting insurance quotes

The life insurance quotes refer to the rates of life insurance policies. However these rates vary from company to company and from policy to policy. Though there many sources for information about the quotes it is better to collect from the company itself. If you can collect from more companies, well and good as it gives competitive edge. Read more from the article on insurance quotes.The article covers

* What are life insurance quotes?
* Where to get them?
* Factors affecting insurance quotes
* Best life insurance quotes

Life Insurance quotes are the prices at which life insurance policies are proposed to be sold. In that context a life insurance quote does not necessarily become the selling price of all life insurance policies as some are given at concessions in case if the individuals chooses to take other types of insurance policies from the same company. In case of group life insurance scheme special discounts are also offered. Life insurance quotes vary from company to company and from individual to individual.

There are several methods for obtaining the life insurance quotes. The insured can contact the company directly to collect the information. He may also visit the official website of the company and enter the required details. He will thus be able to obtain online life insurance quotes. Similarly the insured can collect the information from insurance agents. An insurance agent will not only offer you the quotes but also help you in deciding the one that is best for you.

It is recommended to get quotes from as many companies as possible. This will give you the details of many companies and also help in deciding the best options. You may also find the competitive edge by comparing one with the other. These insurance quotes are extremely useful to you. They help you to know how much you should invest exactly in an insurance policy.

Parts of an insurance contract

Parts of an insurance contract

* Declarations – identifies who is an insured, the insured’s address, the insuring company, what risks or property are covered, the policy limits (amount of insurance), any applicable deductibles, the policy period and premium amount. These are usually provided on a form that is filled out by the insurer based on the insured’s application and attached on top of or inserted within the first few pages of the standard policy form.

* Definitions – define important terms used in the policy language.
Insuring agreement – describes the covered perils, or risks assumed, or nature of coverage, or makes some reference to the contractual agreement between insurer and insured. It summarizes the major promises of the insurance company, as well as stating what is covered.

* Exclusions – take coverage away from the Insuring Agreement by describing property, perils, hazards or losses arising from specific causes which are not covered by the policy.

* Conditions – provisions, rules of conduct, duties and obligations required for coverage. If policy conditions are not met, the insurer can deny the claim.

* Endorsements – additional forms attached to the policy form that modify it in some way, either unconditionally or upon the existence of some condition. Instead of allowing nonlawyer underwriters to directly customize core policy language with word processors, insurers usually direct underwriters to modify standard forms by attaching endorsements preapproved by counsel for various common modifications.

Parts of an insurance contract

Parts of an insurance contract

* Declarations – identifies who is an insured, the insured’s address, the insuring company, what risks or property are covered, the policy limits (amount of insurance), any applicable deductibles, the policy period and premium amount. These are usually provided on a form that is filled out by the insurer based on the insured’s application and attached on top of or inserted within the first few pages of the standard policy form.

* Definitions – define important terms used in the policy language.
Insuring agreement – describes the covered perils, or risks assumed, or nature of coverage, or makes some reference to the contractual agreement between insurer and insured. It summarizes the major promises of the insurance company, as well as stating what is covered.

* Exclusions – take coverage away from the Insuring Agreement by describing property, perils, hazards or losses arising from specific causes which are not covered by the policy.

* Conditions – provisions, rules of conduct, duties and obligations required for coverage. If policy conditions are not met, the insurer can deny the claim.

* Endorsements – additional forms attached to the policy form that modify it in some way, either unconditionally or upon the existence of some condition. Instead of allowing nonlawyer underwriters to directly customize core policy language with word processors, insurers usually direct underwriters to modify standard forms by attaching endorsements preapproved by counsel for various common modifications.

Insurance Policy

Insurance Policy.

In insurance, the insurance policy is a contract (generally a standard form contract) between the insurer and the insured, known as the policyholder, which determines the claims which the insurer is legally required to pay. In exchange for payment, known as the premium, the insurer pays for damages to the insured which are caused by covered perils under the policy language. Insurance contracts are designed to meet specific needs and thus have many features not found in many other types of contracts. Since insurance policies are standard forms, they feature boilerplate language which is similar across a wide variety of different types of insurance policies.
Insurance Policy

Insurance Policy

The insurance policy is generally an integrated contract, meaning that it includes all forms associated with the agreement between the insured and insurer. In some cases, however, supplementary writings such as letters sent after the final agreement can make the insurance policy a non-integrated contract. One insurance textbook states that “courts consider all prior negotiations or agreements … every contractual term in the policy at the time of delivery, as well as those written afterwards as policy riders and endorsements … with both parties’ consent, are part of written policy”. The textbook also states that the policy must refer to all papers which are part of the policy. Oral agreements are subject to the parol evidence rule, and may not be considered part of the policy. Advertising materials and circulars are typically not part of a policy. Oral contracts pending the issuance of a written policy can occur.
General features

The insurance contract is a contract whereby the insurer will pay the insured (the person whom benefits would be paid to, or on the behalf of), if certain defined events occur. Subject to the “fortuity principle”, the event must be uncertain. The uncertainty can be either as to when the event will happen (i.e. in a life insurance policy, the time of the insured’s death is uncertain) or as to if it will happen at all (i.e. in a fire insurance policy, whether or not a fire will occur at all).

* Insurance contracts are generally considered contracts of adhesion because the insurer draws up the contract and the insured has little or no ability to make material changes to it. This is interpreted to mean that the insurer bears the burden if there is any ambiguity in any terms of the contract. Insurance policies are sold without the policyholder even seeing a copy of the contract.

* Insurance contracts are aleatory in that the amounts exchanged by the insured and insurer are unequal and depend upon uncertain future events.

* Insurance contracts are unilateral, meaning that only the insurer makes legally enforceable promises in the contract. The insured is not required to pay the premiums, but the insurer is required to pay the benefits under the contract if the insured has paid the premiums and met certain other basic provisions.

* Insurance contracts are governed by the principle of utmost good faith (uberrima fides) which requires both parties of the insurance contact to deal in good faith and in particular it imparts on the insured a duty to disclose all material facts which relate to the risk to be covered. This contrasts with the legal doctrine that covers most other types of contracts, caveat emptor (let the buyer beware). In the United States, the insured can sue an insurer in tort for acting in bad faith.

Structure

Early insurance contracts tended to be written on the basis of every single type of risk (where risks were defined extremely narrowly), and a separate premium was calculated and charged for each. This structure proved unsustainable in the context of the Second Industrial Revolution, in that a typical large manufacturer might have dozens or hundreds of types of risks to insure against.

In the 1930s, the insurance industry shifted to the current system where covered risks are initially defined broadly in an insuring agreement on a general policy form, then narrowed down by subsequent exclusion clauses. If the insured desires coverage for a risk taken out by an exclusion on the standard form, the insured can pay an additional premium for an endorsement to the policy that overrides the exclusion.