Is it a good investment?  What are the pluses and minuses vs. Term insurance?
217940
You have to decide if it is a good investment or not.\n\nI suggest you contact several licensed insurance agents in your state and tell them your wishes and needs.  Have them explain term insurance (which is geared toward covering a fixed amount of time - the "term") and permanent insurance (whole life, universal life and variable universal life).  You may also wish to contact one or more financial planners in your area to discuss your personal financial situation.\n\nDo not expect complete answers from a web forum.  You have not given full information about your financial position and needs.  I would not expect anyone to post that sensitive information on a website.\n\nBTW Jstmother's answer is a grave disservice to you and to the insurance world. It is very incomplete and misleading.
265099
Do not use insurance as an investment.  If you invest in a universal life, or other cash building policy has limitations as to the amount of return VS death benefit.  This is a point where the IRS calls it a MEC, or Modified Endowment Contract.  You will get taxed heavily if this value is superceeded; they consider the policy an investment rather than insurance.  The only way to get around this is to increase death benefit (which raises your monthly/semi-annual/annual premium), decreasing your return.  And term life insurance only pays if you die.  If you are 29, look towards an IRA that provides various investment options and invest fairly aggressively.  If you have access to a company 401K, utilize that, as many employers match a certain percentage, and most of it is pre-tax contribution.  If you are OK with lower yields and like the availability of cash, look into a money market account from a large institution, such as vanguard or fidelity.
232332
I would not buy stock options they are too risky, especially for beginners. I would recommend the following approach:\n\nFirst, I would make sure you have at least 3 months salary saved up in the bank or in a money market fund for an emergency fund. Financial disasters like getting layed off or sick happen to all of us.\nSecond, I would pay off all high interest debt. Pay off everything you can except the house mortgage. Paying off debt is one of the best investments you can make. You will have more money in the future because you won't have credit card bills to pay.\nThird, if you have money left, start investing in stocks, bonds, and money market funds.  You want to buy a diversified portfolio of stocks, as individual stocks are too risky.  For most folks this means buying mutual funds. I like Vanguard.com, other people like Fidelity, TIAA-CREF, and DFA. Buy no-load, low cost funds. If you are like most people you will invest part of your money conservatively, in money market funds and bond funds, and part aggressively in stock funds. Vanguard.com has an on-line questionnaire which will give you an idea how aggressive you want to be. \nInvesting in a mutual fund IRA for retirement may give you an income tax break. Talk to your tax adviser. You may also be able to invest in a stock mutual fund via a 401K plan at work.\nBelieving someone you met over the Internet and know nothing about is risky. Read these websites for further information.
375434
The idea of "buy and invest the difference" begs the question "invest what?"\n\nThis is an old argument regarding the relative expense of temporary insurance (term) vs. permanent insurance (whole life or universal life).\n\nTruth be known, all life insurance is term insurance.  That is, every year, the risk of our dying increases and so the cost to insure us increases.  You "cover" that with the most basic component of life insurance - annually renewable term (ART).  Some companies still sell it.\n\nA person who has an ART policy pays a little bit more every year as the premium is reset higher to offset the increased risk to the company that the insured might die.  ART becomes so expensive later in life that it is virtually unaffordable.  Most carriers that still sell it won't continue the policy past a certain age, typically 65 or 70 years old.\n\nThe most common temporary (term) insurance today is level-premium term.  All the carrier has done with this type of policy is level out the premiums for a specific period (5-, 10-, 15-, 20-, 25-, or 30-years).  The premium payor doesn't see the annually increasing pricing because they are paying more than for the ART design during the first years that this type of policy is in force.  At the end of the level premium period, the premium soars and the coverage is usually allowed to lapse by the premium payor for non-premium payment.\n\nPermanent life insurance is ART with a levelized premium many times higher than any type of term policy because the policy has got to be profitable for the company no matter how long the insured lives.  Because you overpay so much money for this type of coverage, the carrier provides a "cash value" which can be accessed by the policyowner.\n\n"Whole life" is the most expensive kind because the company guarantees the death benefit as long as premiums are paid.  "Universal life" is less expensive than whole life because the company only guarantees the death benefit as long as there is still cash value in the contract.  \n\nIf you stop making premium payments in a whole life contract and do not authorize the company to keep the policy in force by borrowing the premium payment out of the cash value, the company will lapse the contract and send you a check for any cash value in the contract (overpayment of premium plus any return of premium for a given year - called a dividend -  that is in the policy at that time).\n\nIf you stop making premium payments in a universal life contract, nothing happens as long as there is cash value to pay for those annually renewable term costs.  When the cash value runs out, the policy lapses.\n\nSo, what's all the buzz about "investing" the difference?  People are saying that instead of loading up an insurance contract with permanent coverage and associated costs, buy term for the period that you are going to need a death benefit, and put the money that you would otherwise have paid for premium and save it or invest it elsewhere, like mutual funds.  The theory is that you can get a better return on your money by doing so.\n\nIs it a valid argument?  Sure.  But, you have to factor into the equation that money growing in an insurance contract is not taxed until it is taken out (if ever) and that the payment of a death benefit to the beneficiary(ies) is not an income-taxable event, in most cases.  Investment funds are usually taxed annually  as interest or dividends are paid, and may be taxed again when either past to the next of kin or the next of kin sells the investments to reinvest or get the cash out.\n\nWhich path is better?  It all depends on your ability to get a better after-tax return on your investments than the tax-deferred growth of cash value in an insurance contract.\n\nWith the advent of other tax-deferred investment instruments, however, such as IRAs, 401(k) accounts, etc., the tax advantages of permanent insurance policy cash val
455356
Not sure where these other clowns are getting their information, but allow me to clarify some information:\n1.  Check to see what types of investments you are being placed into.  If it is a managed stock and bond portfolio (not mutual funds, annuities or insurance anything), 1.9% is certainly a fair fee so long as it includes market trades, and expert manager (with a track record) another expert looking at the economics, and the ability to have tax flexibility.  While 1.9% sounds expensive, mutual funds (yes even vanguard), including transaction costs can run from 1.25%-3% no matter how much money you have invested with them not to mention some even carry added commissions! (see www.personalfund.com).  Annuities are mutual funds plus insurance so add another .75-1.5% to the underlying funds on personalfund.com and you will see that most people are paying about 3.5% to have their money managed through annuites.  Typically with fee based planners as your assets go up in value so does the dollar amount of their fee, but the actual percentage goes down, which is not the case with mutual funds, not even vanguard.\nManaged stock accounts do allow you to control taxes much better than mutual funds as well.  Don't forget that the financial planner wants to see your fee go up in dollars, if is based on a percentage, then as your account grows, so will his fee.  If it continues to grow the percentage will drop, but the fee will continue to grow.\nSee if your financial planner is actually a financial planner.  If he doesn't have the letters CFP somewhere after his/her name, he ain't a planner.  But being a CFP doesn't mean squat if they aren't adding value (reducing taxes and risk while increasing returns and goals).  He should be meeting or willing to meet with your CPA and attorney.\n1.9% is high if you are investing in bonds, money market, savings accounts, or something that is guaranteed to pay a certain amount. 1.9% doesn't mean squat to someone who has annualized returns net of fees of 15% for the past 10 years with less risk than the S&P500, that is powerful money making.  If they aren't getting the returns and you have time to do it yourself, then you can find cheaper, but not necessarily better.\nBe cautious.  I have heard of some "advisors/planners" who charge an annual wealth manager fee and say their products don't make them any money, but then put clients in "safe-guaranteed" investments that don't charge commission when in reality they are annuities that pay 10-14% to the broker and the client is told they are free.
163693
If you are looking for a federally insured plan to invest in, you can also get into a money market, a certificate of deposit, or a high-yield savings account.  Also, Savings Bonds and Treasury bills, but these are really long-term investments (10+ years) and the rate of return is questionable right now.\n\nBy the way, it is important to distinguish between investment products (ie. CD's, Money Markets) and investment plans (ie. IRAs, 401(k)s).  The distinction is that the plan is the governing account and the product is what actually makes you the money.  So your plan is the 401(k) but the product might be mutual funds. \n\nAlso, look out for Federal insurance on your investment products.  For example, you could have an IRA that is not insured if you are investing in mutual funds and a 401(k) that is insured if you are investing in a Money Market.  \n\nIf insurance is your biggest worry, just ask your bank or investment house whether the product you are funding is insured.
622196
That website is a total scam. $1 for just first month premium and then it is adjusted to your current age after that. If you want to do the right thing, you would keep investments separate from insurance.\n\nTwo ways to invest for your children:\n1) Open UGMA/UTMA account at a financial institution\n2) If investment is to be used for college, then open a 529 plan or Coverdell plan.\n\nIf you are looking to get insurance for your children, you would buy a 10, 15, or 20 year term with just $10,000 in coverage. After that, they are old enough to buy their own life insurance.
472818
Well, it's more of a pain than the "pay on behalf of" insurance, because it's up to YOU to fill out the paperwork, send it in, answer any questions, and track it to be sure that you get the payment. \n\nIs it worth it?  Depends on how much money you're saving, vs. how much time you have to spend on it.
8173
Well you'll have to do the math.  If you purchase you can depreciate the asset.  If you lease you will save $ up front and can use the money you saved to invest in your business.
545492
The stock market is a good investment for young people because it beats most other investments in the long run.  The return can sometimes be as good as 20% with an average of 8-10%.\n\nThe drawback is risk, and our self-defense against risk is diversification, meaning spreading the risk across different companies and industries.\n\nHere's what you can do now:\n1. Open an account with TD Ameritrade at\nhttp://www.tdameritrade.com\n\n2. Consider buying as many shares of VTI as $2000 can buy.\nThe reason is that VTI represents the entire US stock market so well that it can reduce your risk.\n\n3. After you've made about $500,000, consider investing some of your money, say 20%, overseas.  You can easily do so with Oakmark.\nhttp://oakmark.com/
568903
Your focus should be on what if with all this traveling, being overweight, getting older etc, you die.  Is your family taken care of the way that you would want them taken care of?  If you have a new baby, the death benefit is more important than the premium.  Otherwise, it does not make sense to get the insurance at all.  If you think that your risk factors will improve, then you should get a 5 year term now and when the factors change, then get a longer term.  Work with a broker that represents all of the major companies.
541882
Yes, but depending on your age and if you can make enough money it might be worth it. You also won't have to worry about  repairs or any other problems that come along with renting. You and your wife need to talk to a tax consultant.
9834
certainly! a good 1..\n\nits an ever expanding company... so.. returns may be slow initially.. but the prices r bound to go up!!
674422
I have AmeriPlan and it's a good program. You can save up to 80 per cent on any kind of dental work. It's a discount program, so it's better than insurance in a sense that you can use it as soon as you receive it. I wish I would have waited and joined this month, because they are doing a special where you can get it for like $3 a month for 3 months.
422964
I would be careful about letting cost be a determining factor.  While near term savings look good it is what it will cost you when you need care that counts.  \n\nThis is something to keep you alive.  Pick the policy that gives you the most control over your own care.  Avoid any policy that requires you to get approval from any one for care - particularly someone that may have a financial reason for keeping you from getting the care.\n\nI always try to get a POS policy without my having to get permission to get a treatment.\n\nGood Luck and good health
157983
It depends on your profile and requirement from the scheme. One good scheme cannot be best for every one. \n\nBefore selecting your plan take care of few things:\nPast performance of the funds of the plan.\nCharges in the plan. Compare and understand the charges as some time there are many hidden charges. \n\nLook if the features of the plan meet your requirements. \nConsult with good professional Financial Consultant before investing. \nResearch in satisfactory manner before investing. \nAfter all it’s your money. \n\nYou can contact me from my profile for further assistance.
85885
It depends on how long you plan to have you money lock by the investment. \n\n(1) For long-term, I would suggest bonds. In the past, bonds offer better rate for long-term. (However, this is not true recently.)\n(2) For short-term, CD is easier to liquidate (or the penalty of getting out of it could be smaller).