Mortgage rates are constantly changing and even a tiny percent change can mean big savings or more money out of pocket over the life of your loan. Check Out Current Mortgage Rates for May 22, 2019 AIM LOAN: Rate: 3.875% 30yr fixed, $2207 Up Front Fees, 3.951% APR REPUBLIC BANK: Rate 4.125% 30yr fixed, $895 Up Front Fees, 4.156% APR ATLANTA POSTAL CREDIT: 3.875% 30yr fixed, $660 Up Front Fees, 3.898 APR Source: https://bit.ly/2VKnjPc *Rates Current At Time Of Publication *Rates Provided Are A Sampling Of Rates Available And Is Not An Exhaustive List  

Not all Voluntary Benefits policies are created equal. As consumers are becoming more aware of the need for Voluntary Benefit protection, they are often overwhelmed by the myriad of insurance policies they have to choose from. Regardless of insurance company, the following features are critical in evaluating whether or not to purchase a policy: Guaranteed Renewable – An incredibly important consideration is whether or not the policy is guaranteed renewable. If it is, the insurance company can’t raise your rates or drop your coverage just because you are making claims. This is unlike auto insurance where the insurance company will do just that. Most Voluntary Benefits insurance companies reserve the right to raise rates, but they must treat every customer that owns that policy equally. Underwriting – A majority of Voluntary Benefit policies require just a few questions to determine eligibility. Very rarely do they ask for medical records or blood work. In fact, under certain circumstances the policy may be “guaranteed issue.” In other words, regardless of medical condition, you can’t be turned down. Portability – Most (not all) Voluntary Benefits programs are purchased through a payroll deduction. It is important to know when you leave employment that you have the   Read more…

Once you are ready to sit down with a Voluntary Benefits agent you need to understand the types of policies that may be available and how they might fit your needs. Disability – This is the easiest Voluntary Benefits policy for most people to understand. Disability pays the policyholder if they are unable to work due to an accident or illness. Most financial planners recommend that their clients protect their most important asset; their ability to earn an income.  Accident – The most popular Voluntary Benefits policy for many insurance companies is their accident plan. These programs usually cover everything from cuts that need stitches to major accidents needing an air ambulance, and everything in between. The benefits are tied directly to the seriousness of the accident. Critical Illness – These policies are very customizable based upon the client’s needs. The customer can purchase a policy that covers just one type of critical illness such as cancer. There are also critical illness policies that cover multiple serious issues such as cancer, heart attack, stroke, paralysis and other conditions. Life Insurance – LIMRA, which is a worldwide research organization that for 102 years has kept a pulse on the Life Insurance market, published a   Read more…

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) and pressure on private health insurance plans has driven unprecedented change in the health care industry. Deductibles, co-pays and co-insurance are skyrocketing almost as fast as the rates are. Many parts of the country have seen an increase of 50% or more for major medical premiums. A 2015 Harvard study found that the leading cause for bankruptcies (just over 60%) was due to medical expenses. The surprising finding of this study was a majority of the people that claimed medical bankruptcy had medical insurance. The reality is that most families don’t have the savings necessary to withstand the financial chaos that can accompany serious medical conditions. Often there is a double loss of income as a healthy spouse stays at home to care for the injured or ill spouse. When children are involved, the family comes to a standstill, but the rent, electric bill and car payments keep coming. The financial strain can also lead to emotional damage. This is why many insurance agents talk about the triple threat of serious health conditions. The disease damages the body, the finances, and the emotions. A good insurance policy can’t fix all of the emotional damage, but   Read more…