Sunday, May 1, 2011

Avoiding Bad Financial Shocks With Income Protector

By Albert Brim


The economic outlook has never been so uncertain. For millions of people worries about meeting all their regular bills and payments have become a sad fact of life. Income protector policies give people some valuable reassurance about their finances. If someone has to give up work because of illness or to look after someone close to them, then insurance against loss of earnings can help ease the strain of the situation.

There will be a period in the life of most people where they are unable to work for an extended period of time. During these periods it can be increasingly difficult to make regular payments. If significant savings have been built up over the years then these can be drawn upon during a period of reduced earnings. This isn't really an option for most people however.

This is one reason why income protection policies remain popular. They go some way to giving a consumer that most valuable of commodities, peace of mind. When someone decides to take out extra borrowing it's rarely done in a hurry and is usually to finance a large purchase.

Such policies are taken out against the payment of a particular debt or to ensure that there is an income in the event of job loss or medical problems. If someone falls seriously ill and are unable to work then the policy will usually cover the value of the payments. The policy will usually cover the individual for a particular period.

The policy will generally be more expensive the longer the period of time it is expected to cover. Others are continuous and may not pay out as much, but will continue until the earnings of the individual have recovered.

Savings levels are low. Most people do not have enough to cover household outgoings for longer than a month. More people are dependent on credit and this creates a situation where the sudden loss of income can create a negative financial spiral. Policies that protect against this eventuality can give someone valuable peace of mind. With the average household debt showing no sign of decreasing these policies may be vital. Unexpected medical emergencies can be made more stressful because of financial worries.

Before taking out protection it's important to properly assess the market. There a countless companies offering differing protection options and levels of cover. Consumers might want to ask how much cover they actually need and for how long. They should also explore what exactly a particular policy covers. It is no use taking on a policy that does not meet the needs of the individual consumer.

The market for income protector policies is vast and could be considered confusing. That doesn't mean it's impossible to navigate, just that it takes some research to find the right policy. Having done so they can offer the consumer valuable reassurance when they take on a new loan or want to insure that their existing outgoings can comfortably be met whatever nasty surprises life may throw up.




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