Insurance
Insurance is a financial tool in which one party pays an ongoing payment, called a premium, to another party, called an insurer, for the insurer to assume a financial risk. The contract is called a policy.
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What the heck that means
So, for example, if my wife has a really high-paying job, and I am illucratively pursuing my dream of being a novelist, I would have no way of supporting our kids in the unfortunate event of her death. She has 22 years until her planned retirement, so she might buy a term life insurance policy with a term of 20 years and a benefit of $2,000,000. I (or our kids) would be named as the beneficiary. We would have to pay a premium to the insurer for 20 years or until my wife's death, whichever comes first. If she dies within 20 years, I (or our kids) get $2,000,000. If my involvement in her death is discovered, I do not get the benefit, nor do my kids (who go to their godparents or a foster home), and I go to jail for a life term (no etymological relation).
Various kinds of insurance
- Life insurance (life insurance is a popular theme in mystery novels, movies, and TV shows)
- Term life
- Whole life
- Auto insurance (this is a perniciously mandatory insurance)
- Homeowner's insurance
- Fire
- Theft
- Earthquake
- Flood (if you have to ask, you don't have it)
- Dog bites
- Hail damage
- Tornado
- Hurricane
- Rampaging snapping turtles
- Renter's insurance
- (See everything under Homeowner's insurance)
- Mortgage insurance
- Long-term care insurance
- Health insurance (ask about it at work)
- Credit insurance (probably not needed by anyone)
- Kidnap and ransom insurance
- Nuclear incident insurance
- Umbrella policy
What to do about different kinds of insurance
Most kinds of insurance have very particular uses, so don't worry if you're not insured against kidnap for ransom. I'm not either, and I'm more of a celebrity than you. If you have a car, get car insurance; if you own a home, get homeowner's insurance. Term life, long-term care, and health insurance are often considered useful as well. If you face a risk that could pose a substantial financial risk to you or your loved ones, look into insurance. But don't go overboard. Air traveler's insurance is not for you. How do I know? Because it is not for anyone. It is something airlines made up in their attempt to return to profitability.
Related Fool Articles
- Why is insurance such a key part of my overall financial plan?
- Where else can I get information about insurance?
Related Terms
- Boat insurance
- Earthquake insurance
- Motorcycle insurance
- Policy terms
- Prison term
- Professional liability insurance
- Term life
- Terms of Endearment
- Umbrella policy (liability)
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