Minggu, 24 Juni 2007

Prudential insurance

Established as the Prudential Mutual Assurance and Loan Association in 1848, today we are an international financial services company with a product range which extends from insurance, pensions and retail investments, to institutional fund management and property investments.

Our portfolio of well-known and respected brands, including Prudential, M&G Investments, Jackson National Life Insurance Company and Prudential Corporation Asia, has attracted more than 20 million customers (and policy holders and unit holders) worldwide. Across the Group we have £250.7 billion of funds under management (at 31 December 2006).

We have significant operations in the UK, the US and Asia, contributing to a diversity of earnings. Worldwide we employ over 26,000 people and our shareholders number 79,881 (at 31 December 2006). We are listed on the London and New York stock exchanges.

Prudential plc logo
Europe
USA
Asia





Prudential UK & European Insurance Operations logo and link to section
Jackson National Life logo and link to section
Prudential Corporation Asia logo and link to section





M&G logo and link to section










Top 10 Most Dangerous Jobs

Do you work in a dangerous occupation? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the top 10 most dangerous jobs are:

1. Timber cutters
2. Airplane pilots
3. Construction laborers
4. Truck drivers
5. Farm occupations
6. Groundskeepers
7. Laborers
8. Police and detectives
9. Carpenters
10. Sales occupations

Do you have the life insurance protection you need?
It's a fact that some occupations are riskier than others. But no matter what you do for a living, take a look at your life insurance needs. Life insurance can help you financially protect your loved ones after you die. If you're single, and no one is depending upon your income for support, you probably don't need life insurance. But if any of the following is true, consider buying life insurance:

  • You're married and your spouse depends on your income
  • You have children
  • You have an aging parent or disabled relative who depends on your income
  • Your retirement savings, pension, or other cash accounts won't adequately support your loved ones after you die
  • You have a large estate and expect to owe estate taxes
  • You own a business

Calculators and worksheets are available online to help you determine how much life insurance you need. You may want to contact an insurance agent or broker who can help you determine what type of life insurance is best for you and the amount of coverage you need.

Do you have the disability insurance you need?
If you work in a high-risk occupation, you probably know how important it is to have disability insurance coverage. But don't rely on government programs such as Social Security and workers' compensation as your main source of protection. In reality, government programs pay only limited benefits under restrictive terms (e.g. you must meet a strict definition of disability to qualify).

Your employer may offer group disability insurance at low or no cost to you. But you may also want to consider purchasing an individual disability insurance policy. Although you'll pay more for individual coverage than for a group policy, you often get more benefits. And keep in mind that if you leave your job or otherwise terminate your relationship with a group, you can't take your disability policy with you, and you usually can't convert it to an individual disability policy. This means that you may be left without disability coverage when you need it most.

Shop around for coverage
Since many different types of life and disability policies are available, it's important to shop around for coverage to find a life insurance policythat meets your individual needs. Since premium costs vary widely, get quotes from several insurance companies. Just make sure you're comparing policies that offer similar benefits.

Talking to Your Parents About Insurance

Talking to Your Parents About Insurance

Are your parents adequately protected against financial loss? What if your parents' home burns down and there is insufficient insurance to cover the entire loss--can they come live with you? What if one of your parents is held liable for someone's injuries, but does not have liability insurance--will he or she be financially ruined? What if a parent becomes seriously ill and needs long-term care--will he or she have the financial resources to pay for this contingency? What if one of your parents dies unexpectedly--will the surviving parent have enough money to live on?

If you're a member of the baby-boom generation, your parents may be of an age where these concerns may be troubling you. The only way to get the answers and ease your worries is to have a heart-to-heart talk with your mother and father. This may not be easy for some people, but if you shy away from this topic, the consequences could be devastating. Your parents were there to talk to you about the tough issues--now you need to be there for them. How you choose to approach them will depend on the type of relationship you share (e.g. adversarial, open and warm). Here are some tips on how to break the ice:

Prepare for resistance
Your parents may find inquiries regarding insurance intrusive, regardless of the fact that you're trying to help. They may feel it's none of your business, or that it's demeaning for you to assume they haven't made the proper arrangements. Be prepared to explain that you're simply concerned about their well-being and don't mean to be nosy or presumptuous.

Keep it private
A discussion about insurance involves issues that are personal. Broaching the subject in a restaurant or other public setting is inappropriate. Keep the conversation private, and choose a setting where your parents feel comfortable--at their own kitchen table over a cup of coffee, for instance. Also, don't rush the conversation. Even though you shouldn't expect to finish or resolve anything during the initial exchange, be sure you've set aside enough time to comfortably address everyone's concerns.

There's safety in numbers
If you have siblings, encourage a group discussion. If your parents see that all of you feel bly, they may be more amenable to talking openly and considering your advice. If that's not possible, at least talk to your siblings about your parents' situation. Of course, if you have a sibling who is particularly good at rubbing your parents the wrong way, then perhaps you will want to exclude him or her from the discussion.

Be direct
Sometimes, the best approach is to put all your cards on the table from the get-go. If this is an option for you, find the right time and place, then just say, "Mom and Dad, we need to talk..."

The "I have a friend" approach
If a more subtle method is to your liking, you might describe an experience (real or hypothetical) that illustrates the consequences of not being adequately insured. For example, you could say something like: "Joe's father went into a nursing home a few years ago. His father didn't have long-term care insurance, so now Joe has to sell his father's house."

Discuss your own plans
Another indirect strategy is to talk about your own insurance needs or plans. Once the discussion is under way, you can steer the subject in the direction of your parents' insurance needs.

Ask for their advice
Parents are used to giving advice to their kids, not getting it from them. Start by asking them what they think you should do about a particular insurance issue. For example, you might ask if they think you should increase your life insurance now that a grandchild has been born, or drop the collision coverage on your 10-year-old car. From there, you can divert the topic to their own insurance needs.

Ask a simple question
Another "lead-in" approach involves asking a seemingly innocent question, such as: "Who is your insurance agent?" or "do you keep your insurance policies in case of an emergency?" Whatever answer your parents give will be an opening for you to ask other questions that are on your mind.

Bring in the big guns
Perhaps not during the first discussion, but at some point in time you may want to make an appointment with your (or your parents') insurance agent for an evaluation of your parents' insurance situation and needs.

Be patient
Realize that this process takes time. Your parents may need to think things over, and it may take several discussion sessions to work out all the details.

Follow your parents' wishes
Finally, remember that just because your parents have agreed to let you help doesn't mean that you can take charge and do things your own way. You should act only when and how your parents want you to.

Issues to talk about
Once you have successfully begun a dialogue with your parents about insurance, make sure you cover all the pertinent issues. Here are some you should not miss:

  • What policies do they currently have?
  • What policies do they have, but no longer need?
  • What policies don't they have, but need?
  • What are the details of their current policies?
  • Do their current policies provide adequate coverage? too much coverage?
  • How much can they afford to pay for premiums?
  • If there are beneficiaries, are the proper persons named? Have the proper designation forms been completed?
  • Who should be responsible for paying the premiums (you or your parents)?
  • Where are the policies kept?
  • Who is their insurance agent?

In addition, make sure you address each type of insurance that may be important for your parents, which may include: