Posted by Preferred Benefits on April 7, 2008
Like it or not, tax time is here. We thought we’d pass along some timely tips and information that might help you as you prepare to file taxes and make plans for 2008 tax strategies.
Did you know that you can contribute to your 2007 IRA up to April 15 of this year? Since most people will be getting a rebate from the IRS later this year, you might want to pre-invest the rebate and make a contribution to your 2007 IRA. Check with your tax advisor for more details or to learn IRA limits.
Going “Green” is all the rage, and when it comes to taxes, it can save you some green, too! As part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT), consumers can get tax credits for home improvements such as energy-efficient windows, doors, roofs, insulation, and heating and cooling equipment. Tax credits for these items are up to $500, and they are more valuable than getting a deduction because a credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in your tax bill.
You can get up to $2,000 back if you undertake major projects such as adding qualified solar panels or solar water heating equipment. Not only will these changes get you tax credits, but you’ll also save on your utility bills.
Hybrid vehicles are more appealing than ever with gas prices being so high. If you purchase a hybrid vehicle, you might be eligible for a significant tax credit. Visit the U.S. Department of Energy web site at www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/tax_hybrid.shtml to see if your car or SUV might qualify for a 2007 or 2008 tax credit.
Hopefully you can use some of this information we gained from Employee Benefit News to help you prepare your 2007 taxes or make plans for 2008.
And speaking of planning, did you know that Preferred Benefits can help you with retirement planning? You might say it’s our best-kept secret, but we don’t want to keep it a secret. We’ve helped many companies set up their 401K and other retirement plan options.
At Preferred Benefits LLC we can help you do a realistic assessment of your current insurance portfolio and retirement plan options. We can make suggestions that may save you money and in other cases even expand your coverage for the money you are currently spending. Such an assessment should be done annually.
Please contact us for a FREE assessment of your insurance portfolio. This personalized customer service is a cornerstone of our business. We look forward to being of service to you.
Valerie Reeves
Leticia Dominguez
PREFERRED BENEFITS LLC
TOLL-FREE 877-302-5810
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Posted by Preferred Benefits on April 1, 2008
People often have many questions about life insurance, like who should get it, what kind is best, etc. The below information gives you a crash course in the basics of life insurance to help you better understand the options.
Life insurance basically serves two purposes – it helps insure individuals and families from the risks of an untimely death and it helps insure people who may outlive their income and savings. To assist in combating these risks, consumers have a number of life insurance options to promote peace of mind and financial security for themselves and their loved ones. The two most common types of life insurance are term and permanent. Term life insurance provides insurance for a specific period of time (term) and pays benefits owed under the policy to a designated beneficiary.
What are the benefits of term life insurance?
Cost
Most individuals who obtain coverage under a term life insurance policy do so because of its affordability. Large amounts of term life insurance can be obtained at low premium prices, which is appealing to those on a fixed income or who only wish to purchase life insurance coverage for a specific duration.
Coverage
Term life insurance is typically issued for a set period of time, such as 10, 20 or 30 years. The longer the period of time, the higher the premium rate/cost, and the coverage expires at the end of the term. Two good examples of when to obtain term life insurance are helping to pay for your children’s college education and helping to pay your mortgage in the event of your death. Parents often obtain a policy that expires after their children graduate from college to help pay for their children’s education in the event of the insured’s death. Secondly, the main breadwinner in a home could obtain coverage under a term life insurance policy that matches the length of his or her house’s mortgage.
Conversion
Some term life insurance polices can be converted to a permanent life insurance policy which often offers the advantage of cash value accumulation features. The ability to convert a term life insurance policy to a permanent life insurance policy can be a tremendous benefit to policyholders for a number of reasons. Individuals who hold a term life insurance policy and have medical problems, or have problems obtaining coverage due to age limitations are offered opportunities to apply to convert their term life insurance coverage to a contract offering permanent life insurance coverage without the need to undergo medical underwriting. Secondly, as financial needs change, conversion to a permanent life insurance policy can offer the policyholder a valuable savings tool should the need arise.
The bottom line is that no one enjoys thinking about death, but we do want to be sure our loved ones are protected financially should that need arise. At Preferred Benefits LLC we can help you do a realistic assessment of your current insurance portfolio, including life insurance. We can make suggestions that may save you money and in other cases even expand your coverage for the money you are currently spending. Such an assessment should be done annually.
Please contact us for a FREE assessment of your insurance portfolio. This personalized customer service is a cornerstone of our business. We look forward to being of service to you.
Valerie Reeves
Leticia Dominguez
PREFERRED BENEFITS LLC
TOLL-FREE 877-302-5810
Spread the word
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Posted by Preferred Benefits on February 1, 2008
February is American Heart Month. Wonder why they would pick February for this awareness effort? I guess the American Heart Association recognizes a good marketing tie in when they see one. If we are seeing cute little red hearts on balloons, cards and signs this month, why not talk to people about their heart health.
I’m sure we’re all aware that heart disease is America’s number one cause of death. Below are some warning signs of heart attack. These are things we should all be aware of, because we never know when we will need this information for ourselves or a friend or loved one.
Heart Attack Warning Signs:
· Chest discomfort
· Discomfort in other areas of the upper body
· Shortness of breath
· Other symptoms such as nausea, cold sweat and lightheadedness
For a complete description of these symptoms and additional information, please visit the source: American Heart Association.
At Preferred Benefits LLC we can help you do a realistic assessment of your current insurance portfolio. We can make suggestions that may save you money and in other cases even expand your coverage for the money you are currently spending. Such an assessment should be done annually.
Please contact us for a FREE assessment of your insurance portfolio. This personalized customer service is a cornerstone of our business. We look forward to being of service to you.
Valerie Reeves
Leticia Dominguez
PREFERRED BENEFITS LLC
TOLL-FREE 877-302-5810
Spread the word del.icio.us Digg Furl Reddit Ask BlinkList blogmarks Google Ma.gnolia Netscape RawSugar Rojo Shadows Simpy Socializer Spurl StumbleUpon Tailrank Technorati Windows Live Wists Yahoo! Help
Posted in heart health | Tagged: employee benefits, health, health insurance, heart health | Leave a Comment »
