8 Insurance Products You May Not Need

You may be paying for insurance, such as long-term disability or product warranties, that is potentially unnecessary.

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These days, it seems like every other television commercial is for yet another insurance product. While consumer choice can be a good thing, not all insurance is as essential as the ads make it seem. “There’s a lot of sales and marketing based on fear that especially targets retirees,” says Jonathan Howard, a certified financial planner with SeaCure Advisors in Lexington, Ky., as well as a former insurance salesman. “People end up buying because they’re terrified of a loss rather than to cover an actual insurance need.”

Although Howard believes insurance plays an important role in anyone’s financial plan, some products are more about protecting the insurance company’s bottom line rather than yours. Insurance decisions shouldn’t be made in a vacuum. They should consider your entire financial picture. That way, you can identify the gaps and figure out the coverage you truly need, along with any you could do without. Above all, never buy insurance hastily based on fear, especially if it involves the products on this list.

David Rodeck
Contributing Writer, Kiplinger's Retirement Report