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One Simple Step Towards Affordable Life Insurance

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Buying life insurance can be expensive, so if there’s an easy way to cut costs it makes sense to take advantage of it. After all, we’re only human.
One of the easiest ways to shrink the size of your premiums is to source insurance through a commission-free broker.

Simple? Yes. Obvious? Perhaps. Well-known? Unfortunately not. It’s a simple money saving strategy that so many fail to take advantage of, but here’s why you should…

Commission is the money-maker for brokers, the main culprit that drives up the cost of what should be an inexpensive product. The inflated price of the policy often forces people to sacrifice quality in order to afford the premiums, meaning that you don’t get the deal you deserve. Going with a commission free broker, however, means that your hard-earned cash will be getting you the best quality product possible.

An example

To put this into perspective, here’s a real example using Best Price FS’s comparison service. Henry is a 33 year-old non-smoker who’s after individual, level term cover of £125,000 for 30 years. If this policy was bought directly from the cheapest insurer charging commission, a guaranteed £125,000 payout would cost:

Per month: £8.90 Per annum: £106.80 Life of term: £3204

If the same was purchased with a commission free broker it would cost:

Per month: £7.02 (£2.88 saved) Per annum: £84.24 (£22.56 saved) Life of term: £2527 (£677 saved)

Savvy savings

As the example shows, you can save a considerable amount from buying through a commission free broker. Although Henry’s £2.88 a month saving doesn’t seem like that much, the worth of savings made over the full term (£677) is indisputable. What’s that saying again – ‘look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves’? It couldn’t be more evident here.

The general public have been particularly slow on the uptake regarding this money-saving tip. A recent YouGov survey reported a significant misperception of commission rates by consumers, perhaps explaining why so few factor it in when buying. On average 24% of the product’s price goes straight to the broker, but it doesn’t always have to be this way…

Where can I find commission free brokers?

Finding commission free brokers providing cheap life insurance is easier than you think. Next time you go to compare life insurance quotes, why not try searching ‘commission free life insurance’ instead? With your new policy in place and the savings stacking up, you’ll be happy you did. And this is a disposable income you wouldn’t have otherwise had, so a great use for this extra cash could be on something for all the family. This way, you can still enjoy the best, even if you’re planning for the worst.

Three Ways Audit Services Benefit Your Nonprofit

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In many of the most fundamental ways, a nonprofit is run in an entirely different fashion than a for-profit organization, from its hierarchical structure to asset management. However, a lot of the same rules still apply. In many states, the law requires audits, while in others, it’s not necessary to conduct an one, but it’s not a bad idea to consider it anyway if you plan to apply for government funding or if you wish to maintain a good reputation with the public. Here are a few reasons your not-for-profit might consider obtaining audit services.
1. To Abide By State Law

Laws vary by state not only in regards to whether or not nonprofit organizations are required to be checked out, but also under which conditions. In most states, not-for-profits are required to submit reports in order to raise funds. Some other reasons why certain states require them include meeting or exceeding a threshold for charitable donations, the total amount of fiscal year revenue, charity registration renewal, and other indicators. The type of service required varies also. In some states, depending on the circumstances, a full audit is required. Other states or different circumstances require only a review or a compilation.

2. To Maintain Your Good Reputation

When nonprofit organizations are in the news, it’s often not because of charitable deeds or honorable accomplishments. It’s because they are being accused of or being investigated for fraud. Seeking audit services is a good way to help prevent a situation like this from occurring. The public, especially those who contribute or have contributed to charitable organizations, appreciate financial transparency. People want access to information, and when they’re denied that access, they might feel that you have something to hide. Keeping financial records available to the public can help you avoid this issue.

3. To Apply for Funding

If you’re hoping to apply for a grant or other funding, there’s a good chance you’ll need to conduct an audit. Many agencies, especially the state or federal government, want proof that your nonprofit runs a tight ship before providing funding of any kind. Some private organizations do, too. If you’re up for a substantial grant or plan to apply for funding now or in the future, it’s a smart idea to begin conducting them yearly. Showing that you take care and pride in conducting your financial business by the book is always advantageous.

Because not-for-profits have a completely different financial culture than for-profit businesses, it seems strange that it would be necessary for a nonprofit to conduct a yearly audit. However, despite the fact that it is mandatory by law under certain circumstances in many states, it’s often simply a matter of good business practice to choose some kind of regular audit services, be it for a full audit, a review, or a compilation. Proving your organization to be fiscally responsible and reliable is an easy way to open the door to funding opportunities and to maintain a positive image with the public and, especially, with your contributors.

Is Independent Health Insurance Right for You?

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Since the major provisions of the Affordable Care Act took effect last year, health insurance and the government-mandated portals have been the center of attention. The health care reform law, which is designed to ensure access to quality, affordable healthcare coverage was actually passed in 2010.
The federal government will reap a hefty fine from those who choose not to enroll when they do not already have a health care plan. Failure to comply means confiscation of tax refunds starting at $95, or 1 percent of a citizen’s total income for the first year without health coverage. Fines can grow to about 2.5 percent of income by 2017.

The online marketplace has received so much coverage that other avenues to find health insurance coverage for individuals or families have been largely ignored. Citizens who do not have access to employer coverage, or don’t want it, can also purchase independent insurance coverage by going outside of the government exchange. Citizens can find affordable options that are best-suited to their needs by going directly to an insurance company, or using insurance brokers or agents.

Some states have their own online exchanges: California, Connecticut, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington state. You and your family may even qualify for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program if your income is low enough. Naturally, eligibility rules vary widely from state to state. If these options do not apply to you, going outside of the exchange to purchase independent insurance is not a gamble.

All health insurance policies, whether sold through the government exchanges or elsewhere, must comply with the Affordable Care Act. This means that they are required to offer the same essential benefits: ambulatory patient and prescription benefits, emergency care, mental health services, hospitalization, preventive and wellness care, pediatric care, maternity and newborn care, rehabilitative services, and laboratory services. Plans purchased outside of the exchange are also prohibited from denying coverage if you’re already sick. Insurers who sell policies must sell the same plan for the same price.

Most of the hullabaloo about using the online marketplace lies in the possibility of qualifying for subsidies that can lower your premiums. Whether or not the policies you find outside of the exchange will be a better deal than the ones on the exchange will vary largely by market. To find a local broker or agent that can help you find a plan outside of the exchange, visit the National Association of Health Underwriters. When taking this route, it is important to remember that agents will only be able to show plans from insurers they work with. These services will usually be free to utilize since agents and brokers get their commissions from insurance carriers. An agent or broker’s insurance expertise can be valuable, especially to uninsured people who’ve never bought a health plan before.

8 Expedient Ways to set up a Household after Move!

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The journey from planning for a move to arranging things in a new household is long but you can make it worthwhile and memorable. You can experience it first-hand if you ever conduct a move in your life. Let’s assume you have to shift from Andhra Pradesh to Hyderabad, with the packers and movers in Andhra Pradesh, and you are not much concerned about the move as you are about the post-moving phase. You are confident you can look after the pre-move preparations amply from your end and with the experts already hired for the project this time; you are the situation a bit casually!
Well, relocations indeed take a favorable turn when the professionals are booked for the assignment. They are equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure and equipment and have a skilled workforce carrying out the packing and moving responsibilities desirably and timely. With them alongside, you are assured of:

• 24*7 professional support • Hassle-free moving time • Quality packing and effortless moving • Assurance of moving insurance • Door-to-door shipment • Complete transparency • Safety and security guaranteed

We all are aware of all these popular reasons that make it essential to recruit professionals for the move but little do we know that the real struggle begins when the house moving project has been fulfilled and you have been delivered your household belongings at your doorstep!

Yes, and keeping that in mind we thought to share with you some invaluable ways considering which you can set up your house beautifully after the move. So, read them and take notes!

1. Drop the idea of hurrying up – You have just moved into your new home – all joyful, excited, and tired at the same time. Well, let this experience seep into your nerves for longer! After all, this is not every day that you get to encounter a similar situation. And once you feel settled and in a mood to organize your things in the new home, try to do the job gradually – i.e. one task at a time. Do not do things hastily! Doing so may call for some major mistakes.

2. Did you de-clutter before?? – Many people who lack planning in their house moving project fail to understand how important it is to de-clutter and how one should first downsize their belongings and then pack for the move. If you too did not de-clutter ahead of your move, you will have to do it now. Just let go of everything you do not want in your new house. Take your time and keep only the essentials along. You will feel a lot better! Consider selling new stuff. Donate the ones that could be of value to the poor and discard the rest!

3. Start with a good cleaning – Home organization is an art and it is better to acknowledge it the same way. You must not arrange your goods in the new place if it is not properly cleaned. You may have moved into a new house but that does not mean it will be free of dirt and dust. Also, considering a cleanup ahead of moving in is always a good, hygienic, and ideal thing to do.

4. Begin with the major cartons – All the priority cartons that were particularly packed for safer and timely shipment during the move must be opened first. So, once the movers have unloaded the packages and correctly matched them to your moving inventory for final inspection, you should ask them to unpack and organize the same at your place, so you can see them positioned in your new house intact. Ensure all your packages, including these priority cartons are labeled.

5. Decide rooms to settle in first – Coming to the rooms, you should know which ones are you going to set up first – is it the bedroom or your kitchen, the bathroom, or your kid’s area. We would advise you to set up those areas first that you will be functional soon after the move – say your washroom and the kitchen, followed by your bedroom, etc. You should have this post-move organization plan on your mind right when you are strategizing your move.

6. Attend the bigger tasks first – Chores like organizing furniture, installing appliances, and communicating with the landowner about launching power supply in the right areas of the household are important. And all of these important chores must be taken care of right after the move or should be guided about by the professionals before the move. After the move, one of the first things to be done should be the fulfillment of the bigger tasks and then the smaller tasks.

7. Go a bit easy. There is no rush – You are in your new home, finally and to be honest, you must be feeling quite relieved at this point. After all, there is nothing more challenging than pulling off a move and now that you have finally moved in, you will settle in too. Just give yourself some time and go easy. Avoid straining yourself. You do not have a timeline to work on at this point; you can wrap up the tasks at your own pace as per your own comfort. So, just enjoy the moment and experience the new!

8. Beautifully organize the place – Remember the time you were dreaming about buying a new house and settling in with your family with pride and joy? Now when the day has finally come and you are standing tall in your new house, you must be on cloud nine, for sure. Leave no scope to organize the place with all your love and efforts. Deck up your house with your choicest things and ideas and have a good time. Enjoy your time. Make new contacts. Invite people. Call friends over tea or coffee. Click pictures. Build memories.