Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Lump Sum Vs. Annuity Settlements

Carefully consider the potential ramifications of the various annuity payout options available to you before making a decision that affects the rest of your life


Annuity payments are a very common method of transferring large sums of money to a recipient over the course of time.  These types of structured settlements are often in the best interests of both parties.

The payor is not required to produce a large lump sum of money at one time, and the payee receives the benefits of a guaranteed stream of predictable recurring payments.  Many individuals choose to have their retirement funds paid to them in the form of annuity payments; traditional pension plan payments to retired workers are a form of annuity payments.

Many lawsuit payouts are in the form of annuity payments.

Tuesday, September 08, 2009

Problems With Fixed Index Annuities

Know your contract to avoid purchasing a product that's not suitable

Nonwarit/iStock/Getty Images
Many retirement investors have been attracted to fixed index annuities, sometimes also referred to as equity indexed annuities.

On the surface, these retirement products sound almost too good to be true, but they are a powerful investment vehicle for moderate consumers. However, anytime a guarantee is associated with an investment account, there are bound to be significant potential complications and additional expenses.

Thursday, September 03, 2009

Can You Have More Than One Life Insurance Policy?

Purchasing more than one life insurance policy is actually a very common strategy

Life insurance is one of the most powerful types of insurance policies a person can own. Unfortunately, deciphering these contracts is not always easy, nor is there a readily accessible database or collection of insurance laws that encompasses every state. This has led to a high degree of misinformation and many misconceptions regarding who can purchase life insurance, and what types and amounts are permitted.

Wednesday, September 02, 2009

How Often Does the Government Make New Money?

How often paper bills need to be replaced depends on the denomination

StockMonkeys.com
United States paper money is one of the most sought after and highly valued forms of currency in the world. Many countries outside the United States use this money as their own national standard, and almost every nation will accept U.S. dollars.

When this is combined with the fact that paper money has a limited lifespan, it becomes clear that the United States has a significant need to continue printing paper currency in extremely large amounts on a regular basis.

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Factors Affecting the Growth of Fast Food Companies

Behind the burgers, fast food companies are just like any other business operation

matthewennisphotography/iStock/Getty Images
Countless factors may affect the success of a fast food restaurant. Everything from the specific type of establishment to the size of the building and local community demographics can have a dramatic effect on a fast food establishment.

Significant research and effort may be required to strengthen the business and increase profits.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

What is Tax Qualified Money?

Knowing the difference between qualified and non-qualified retirement contributions is essential to maximizing your savings in the long run

funstock/iStock/Getty Images
There are two different types of retirement accounts: qualified and non-qualified. Knowing the differences between the two can help when evaluating sound retirement planning methods and asset allocation tactics, as well as calculating tax planning strategies.

Whether a retirement account is qualified or non-qualified will influence the owner’s choice of the withdrawal amounts and the schedule of those payments.

How Much Nicotine Is in One Cigarette?

Although there are dozens of cigarette manufacturers, each one with multiple products, almost all cigarettes are produced in the same way. Since most cigarette companies use similar methods, cigarettes affect people in nearly identical ways regardless of the specific company that manufactured them. This is especially true with nicotine.
Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images