Whether you begin your search online or by contacting a professional insurance agent, asking these important questions will ensure you get the right coverage for the right price.

Questions to Ask

1. Why Should I Buy a Policy?

The first thing you should consider is why you’re interested in life insurance. Do you want to provide a few years’ financial cushion for your family if you die? Or have you recently taken on debt that requires coverage? Perhaps you simply want to ensure your relatives have enough to pay medical bills and funeral expenses. Whatever your end goal is will determine what type of policy you buy.

After you decide why you are buying coverage, you will be able to make a better decision about what policy to buy. Term life, for example, might be the best option if you’re looking for a financial cushion for your family if you, as the primary earner, die. Universal or whole life coverage, on the other hand, might work better if you have a large estate and want to protect it from excessive taxes.

2. Is There a Grace Period?

One thing that might not work for you is a policy without a grace period for missed payments. You need to make sure you and your insurance company are on the same page with what happens if something unexpected, like an extended hospital stay, occurs and you miss a payment. Can you make it up or will the policy be canceled immediately?

3. What if I Live Past My Term?

Many who buy term life insurance, the cheapest because it offers low, level premiums for a set period of time, want to know what happens if they don’t die. In most cases, they don’t get any financial reward for staying alive. So you need to know what happens as your coverage nears the end of term. Will your premiums go up? Can you upgrade? Should you drop your coverage? Can you convert? Should you?

4. Is my Policy Convertible?

The question of whether your policy is convertible, closely related to the previous one, stands by itself because many policies offer no convertible option, while others can convert to a chronic illness insurance or to a universal or whole life policy. Typically, these conversion options, if available, come with a time limit. If your term life ends when you turn 60, for example, you may be required to convert before age 55 or end up facing exorbitant premiums. If you will have others depending on you financially at the end of the policy term, convertible is a better choice.

5. How Do I Make a Claim?

Before you choose a policy, find out the specifics about what happens if your dependents need to make a claim. How long will the process take? Whom should they contact and under what circumstance will the claim be denied? The claims process should be written into your policy so you and your dependents have it in contract form, but understanding it at the outset is also very important.

What Else?

These questions serve as a great starting point for choosing a policy, but depending on your situation, you may need to find out even more. Whatever you do, make sure you make a thoughtful, well-informed decision. Keep in mind that many agents will try to direct you toward a certain policy because they might make more money off selling it. For that reason, you should also do your own research.

The median salary for a paralegal is over $50,000. Paralegals can approach and even eclipse that salary by distinguish themselves in a variety of ways.  Some will reach their goals within the paralegal profession while others will advance to other careers that benefit from a paralegal’s skills.

While formal training is not essential for becoming a paralegal, it is something that law firms highly value. A paralegal will immediately stand out from a crowd of other paralegals with a certification or specialization within a particular field of law. Right now, one of the hottest areas of law that paralegals can jump into is intellectual property. Obtaining a certificate in intellectual property law is something that may open up the possibility of becoming an intellectual property lawyer for a legal assistant.

1. Advance within a Law Firm

Within a law firm, a paralegal can begin as a Case Assistant and move up in the ranks to reach the title of Senior Paralegal after about five years on the job experience. The benefit of this career path is job stability within a single law firm. The down side is that you might make more money if you switch from firm to firm until you find yourself earning top pay as a Senior Paralegal.

2. Learn E-Discovery Skills

E-discovery work is a newer career path for paralegals, brought on by the information age. A paralegal with strong computing skills may find that he or she quickly becomes the E-Discovery manager of a law firm. Like most computer-related jobs, this field is expected to grow within the immediate next few years as E-Discovery websites continue to develop. Law firms find it easier, cheaper and quicker to perform discovery online, increasing the demand for these services.

3. Compliance Assistant

Ever since the sub-prime mortgage crisis occurred, the government has imposed strict regulations upon companies within the financial industry. These regulations are often quite burdensome and require a law firm to have strict oversight.

Most compliance issues cannot be handled by a computer and scanner. They require human eyes and reasoning. If you secure a certificate in compliance, you can quickly fulfill the compliance needs of both law firm and financial institutions. You might simple compile data as a part of this career, or you may find yourself analyzing information for regulation compliance. Other functions of this job including updating databases and tracking the funds that are spent by a law firm or other entity to ensure they fit within legal boundaries.

4. Teaching Assistant

Law professors often require teaching assistants for grading exams and assisting with research. A paralegal is well suited to assist a law professor. Law professors appreciate a teaching assistant with a clear knowledge of the law for these positions, making paralegals an ideal fit. Paralegals can usually make the transition from a career at a law firm to one at a law school with little difficulty.

5. Payroll Specialist

A paralegal with a strong background in finance may be called upon by a law firm to handle payroll. Some paralegals are also given the responsibility of accounting for law firms. If you like to crunch numbers and wonder if you might have been better off attending accounting school, such duties can make it easier to transition into a position as an accountant for a law firm. One of the main requirements for this position is a strong attention to detail and ability to track the hours of employees in a law firm. Because paralegals understand the inner workings of a law office, those with a head for numbers are ideally suited to become law office accountants.

These are just five careers that can easily be created by way of a paralegal career path. The skillset of a paralegal fits it many work settings. The attention to detail, legal knowledge and understanding of the legal system can be helpful in fields such as accounting, insurance, and business law. Be sure to have an open mind during your time as a paralegal; you may be able to find some great career opportunities that will benefit from your skill set and interests.

The Criminal Justice Career Guide helps students find helpful information on paralegal careers and schools.

Related articles

• 4 Urban Legends About Paralegals (thisblogrules.com)
• Getting A Graduate Degree Can Bring Success In Physical Therapy (frommyexperience.com)
• Top 10 Reasons to Become a Paralegal – Being a Paralegal (jeannettemiley.wordpress.com)

It’s been ingrained in the heads of today’s youth (much to the delight of education employees) that a college education is a sure-fire way to earn more money and enjoy a higher quality of life. This is a nice idea, but much evidence exists to suggest that this is not actually the case. In fact, it’s entirely possible that college could actually impede a person’s financial progress, and there are plenty of valid reasons to skip college altogether.

1) Expense

Make no mistake about it: college is expensive. Ivy League universities cost an average of $160,000 over the four years needed to graduate. Since this astronomical figure is well out of reach of most students and their families, this means that the money must be borrowed. Nothing puts a damper on an increased income like a six-figure debt. Similarly, some people think that getting an online education or attending a state school will help reduce costs, but even though the tuition may be cheaper, the cost of textbooks and even a computer eventually add up. Perhaps people would see a healthier return on their money if they invested it instead of spending it on tuition.

2) Education is not synonymous with intelligence

While it’s true that statistics show college grads earning more money in their lifetimes, these statistics are skewed and cannot be trusted. According to a Forbes report, this can be explained by the fact that more intelligent people are more likely to go to college, and smarter people simply earn more money. Taking this into account, it becomes evident that higher education is not the fast track to success that universities would like students to believe.

3) Time is money

Human beings don’t live forever. The average lifespan of an American male is only 62 years, and a four-year (or perhaps even an eight-year) degree is a lot of time to spend on anything, especially anything that pays absolutely nothing. While it’s true that college provides students with the “university experience,” people who skip college spend the four years making money and elevating themselves in their workplaces.

4) Practical application

Something people don’t usually realize about higher education, is that learning is a far cry from doing. Graduates get this idea in their heads that the job market will be bustling with opportunity after they graduate and that employers will be chomping at the bit to hire them. They’re wrong. In truth, employers actually cringe at the idea of hiring a 22 or 23-year-old with no on-the-job experience whatsoever. The majority of marketable skills are learned not in a Harvard classroom but in the workplace, and training a new employee (regardless of his education or potential) can often be frustrating and time-consuming.

5) Degree overload

Many people who graduate from college come to find out that their degree is worth little more than the paper it’s printed on. An overwhelming number of students are earning degrees in things like business, drafting and design, criminal justice and various medical degrees, and the number of degree-holders is disproportional to the number of opportunities in the field. It’s hard for students to imagine graduating only to hold a useless degree, be in massive debt and work the same low-paying coffee-shop job they did as a high school student. Sadly, this is the end result for a good number of college graduates.

6) The high cost of failure

In an article published by the National Association of Scholars (NAS), the point is made that not everyone is cut out for college and should not be forced to attend. Ability, to the dismay of many “college for everyone” supporters, is real and without equality. When people go to college and are neither prepared nor suited to do so, it is nothing more than wishful thinking and a waste of time. When these students fail or drop out, they’re going to be worse off than they were before they started.

7) Bad habits

Not every aspect of the “university experience” is good. It is a well-documented fact that 40 percent of college students are commonly known to binge drink, use drugs and engage in risky sexual behavior with numerous partners. Then there’s hazing, an immature and barbaric form of initiation amongst college fraternities. This happens quite regularly, despite the grim and horrible outcomes that are all too common.

A Generation article written by Nick Baker addresses one such incident which took place at the University of Miami in Oxford, Ohio. An 18-year-old pledge was forced to drink thirty ounces of vodka as part of his initiation into the Sigma Chi fraternity. The police were called, and when they arrived, the pledge was said to be both unconscious and vomiting blood. He was treated and released the same evening, but it could have been much worse.

Another shocking and deplorable case of hazing occurred at Texas A&M University, according to a story released by KBTX, a CBS affiliate. In this case, a pledge was given a brutally severe “wedgie” that damaged one of his testicles, which was later removed. As crazy as this may seem to anyone with a sense of decency and good will, these incidents actually happen quite regularly within fraternity houses all over the country.

8) Trades pay

Many people (for one reason or another) are not cut out for college, and would benefit far more from a marketable trade. People in the trades are actually able to become quite successful. Plumbers, electricians, steel workers and machinists (to name just a few) earn a comfortable living and needn’t attend college. Additionally, joining the trade unions provides these workers with an income, even while they’re still learning the business.

9) Non-graduate success stories

Ironically, some of the wealthiest and most influential people either dropped out of college or never went at all. Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard University to start Microsoft, the world’s leading software company, and it would be hard for even the most hard-headed college advocates to discredit the move. Larry Ellison, a University of Illinois dropout, co-founded Oracle and is worth an estimated $16 billion. Surprisingly, the list of these individuals is quite long.

College is not right for everyone; it’s expensive, time-consuming and can even be dangerous. People may make more money upon graduating, but they just as easily may not. Many people have found success without the help of a college degree; it simply comes down to drive and ability.

Related articles

• College – Where to Go and What to Do (richmondvapresents.com)
• School of Business History Timeline [Infographic] (infographicsshowcase.com)
• Straight Line Designs Bizarre Furniture (bizarrebytes.com)

1. Avoid credit cards if you don’t want debt

The fact is, a credit card in itself isn’t a bad thing. Used correctly, that rectangular piece of plastic can be a useful backup for any purchases you need to make between paydays. If used responsibly, and the balance paid off in full each month (or at least the minimum payment), there’s no reason why a credit card would get you into worrying levels of debt.

2. As long as I meet all repayments on existing credit, I can always get more

Whenever you apply for a new form of credit, whether it be a loan, hire purchase or new credit card, the potential lender will check your file to see how much credit you already have. If you seem to have a large amount already, they’re less likely to want to add to it in case it gets too much for you to handle.

3. I can’t get out of debt unless I make more money

You don’t need to increase your income in order to pay off debts. Try evaluating your finances and looking at areas in which you could cut back; you may have to make some sacrifices but you’ll get your debts paid off faster. Perhaps you could downgrade your internet package, or change to a different utility supplier with a lower unit cost.

4. I save money because I buy things on sale

This myth is one which can cost its believers hundreds of pounds each year. The average trip round a supermarket will show hundreds of BOGOF, 241 or discount offers, prominently signposted to attract shoppers. And it works; getting 2 jars of coffee and only paying for one seems like a real bargain. But is it, really? Ask yourself if you’d have bought that jar if it hadn’t been on sale. If not, then how are you really saving money? It’s only saving if you’d planned on buying the item at full price.

5. I don’t have enough spare cash to start a savings account

You can start a savings account with as little as £1. If you make regular deposits, however small, your money will grow. Many initial interest rates will drop after the first year so it’s a good time to look around for new accounts to transfer your cash into. Use a savings calculator to see how varying interest rates will affect your savings.

6. I’ve never had any credit so I’ll be more attractive to lenders

If you’ve never had credit, potential lenders have no idea how you might manage a debt, and therefore may not want to risk lending to you. Get a credit builder credit card with a low limit, and pay it off regularly to start building up your credit score.

7. I always pay off my balance in full so I’m more attractive to lenders

Banks make money by charging interest. Therefore, if you always pay off your balance and never incur any interest, you won’t make the bank any money. This in itself isn’t a bad thing, but it might hinder your obtaining credit from other banks if they think they won’t make any money out of you.

8. I can’t do anything about my bad credit score

Although entries on your credit report stay visible for 6 years, don’t assume that they can’t be changed. Your low score may well be the result of an error on your file, or a default which can be explained by way of a Notice of Correction. Get a copy of your report (£2 for a basic report sent by post) and check through it carefully in case anything’s wrong. If a debt is listed as ongoing and you know it’s been settled, contact the credit agency and ask for it to be amended. You’d also need to contact the company who listed the debt.

9. A debt management company is the only way I’ll sort my multiple debts out

Using a DMC has its benefits, but you may be charged a fee on top of your repayment amount. If your debts are relatively small, or spread over just a few creditors, it might be a better idea to contact them yourself to rearrange payments. A DMC is still a good option if you wish to consolidate several repayments into one for easier management.

10. I’m too far in debt – bankruptcy is my only option

Bankruptcy IS an option, but it should only be an ultimate last resort. There’s almost always another way out. Individual voluntary arrangements, debt relief orders and debt management plans are all procedures designed to help you get out of debt without resorting to bankruptcy. If you’re unsure of your options, visit your local Citizens Advice Bureau. They will be able to guide you through the various alternatives.

Louise has worked in the financial sector for several years, for Moneysupermarket.com. She regularly writes for blogs on the subject of personal finance, as well as for Moneysupermarket itself.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Doing SEO With oDesk (bsfreemarketing.com)
• 5 Myths of Vacuuming (makethelist.net)
• Best Spider Idenification Sites (verybestsites.com)
• 10 Things to Try for 30 Days (toptenz.net)

1. Lose weight.

An estimated 32.7 percent of U.S. adults 20 years and older are overweight, 34.3 percent are obese and 5.9 percent are extremely obese. Yikes! 73% of us are at risk for diabetes and other chronic diseases. Heck we all want to look good too!

2. Quit smoking.

In the U.S. an estimated 25.6 million men (25.2 percent) and 22.6 million women (20.7 percent) are smokers. You gotta quit. I did. It’s so empowering, you won’t believe what you’ll accomplish once you can kick this powerful habit!

3. Exercise more.

A small investment in time can reap great benefits. You’ll be trimmer, stronger, more flexible and less likely to suffer age related injuries.

4. Reduce debt.

2009 was tough for many. Have a plan to reduce debt and stick with it. Pay down you lowest balance card first. Then add that monthly amount to the payment you’re already making on the next lowest balance card. You’ll gladly be cutting up those cards in no time.

5. Make more money.

There are many ways to make money, either on the side if you are employed or as a self employed person. Get creative. Read some books about self employment. Participate in some online forums with others who are successful at creating income.

6. More time with friends and family.

Here is where your true support lies. Nurture these relationships. Keep making relationship “deposits” with your loving words and actions. We all goof now and then and have to take “withdrawals” when we lose our temper or do something thoughtless.

7. Travel.

Expand your mind. Go somewhere new and immerse yourself in the culture, food, architecture. You can’t be small minded when you’re well traveled. It changes your perspective forever.

8. Learn something new.

You were put here to continually expand and grow more and more into the true you. What interests you? Take a course, either “live”, online, or by phone. Share what you’ve learned with others.

9. Enjoy life more.

What do you really love to do? Travel, be at the ocean or mountains or deserts? Read, write, teach? Cook, paint, sing? Whatever it is do more of it in 2010. That’s your soul talking!

10. Pay it back.

You can’t be only a taker. You’ve got to give back with your time, energy, money, services. And guess what? You’ll feel great in giving and more good will come to you.

Wishing you an extraordinary 2010!

Ann Ronan, Ph.D.

Related articles

• Virginia 2010 Traffic Statistics: Fatalities are a Record Low – But Not Low Enough (allenandallen.com)
• Top 10 Unread Headlines of 2010 – What the Newspaper Didn’t Tell You (bizarrebytes.com)
• Customer Service Statistics Infographic (infographicsshowcase.com)
• Best Tarot Sites (verybestsites.com)
• Americans want to quit smoking in 2011 (beinghealthyhomeandaway.blogspot.com)