Simple Things You Need To Know To Avoid Being A Victim Of Retail Hacks And Cyber Attacks

There’s a lot of talk going around these days about retail store hackers. Just this past November, 2013, Target’s point-of-sale devices were hacked with a card-stealing malicious malware that collected card records from live customer transactions that breached approximately 40-million debit and credit card accounts over a 2-week period. There was also the upscale retailer Neiman Marcus, and several other retail stores that, including their millions of customers, fell prey to hackers.

Hackers are becoming more sophisticated at penetrating companies’ firewalls. Such security breaches and hacking activity will only become more prevalent and complex. In one report, the Target CFO, John J. Mulligan, warned US Congress that there will be more credit card breaches in the future. The problem is, most companies will not let the public know about a cyber-security breach until there is factual evidence that a breach had taken place.

Having a pocket-full of ever-updated strategies to protect yourself from cybercrime is a must.

Here’s a simple list of ways to protect yourself from cyber attack:

1.     Review your credit card statements one day per week. Make sure you recognize each of your purchases and notify your credit card company if you see a possible breach.

2.     Sign up for real-time alerts with your financial institution. You can easily set a purchase limit on your debit or credit cards, and choose to receive a real-time notification should there be a purchase attempt beyond that limit.

3.     Keep your private information private. Your personal data is perpetually threatened, whether its your cell phone or laptop, your wallet, or your PC and home phone. When you’re using new websites for purchases, always make sure this is a closed lock symbol at the bottom right of the screen. Web addresses that begin with “https” are generally secure, and if you click on the lock symbol on the bottom right, it will display the same “https” address.

4.     Create strong passwords and change them regularly. Studies have shown that 50% of internet users have weak passwords. If you use birthdates or social insurance numbers as your password and that information is taken through cyber-theft, all of your personal data suddenly becomes vulnerable. The best way is to use random letters and numbers that have no personal connection to you or your family.

5.     Consider subscribing to identity protection. There are many identity protection companies that will monitor your credit cards, social insurance number and other data for a fee. If you minimize your risks of security breach, this is one way of doing it.

6.     Cash is still king. This is one of the best ways to avoid such security breaches. In fact, becoming less digital may be, overall, something to give further consideration to.

As we’ve seen, there are security risks everywhere, with one of the prime targets being retail outlets the hackers of which take advantage of such outlets’ connections to financial institutions. Such precautions as those listed above will help you.

What You Need To Do Before the Next Time You Give Your Child Your Tablet Or Mobile Device--Besides Thinking Twice

It’s not uncommon to see more children of all ages using mobile devices. 

With such rampant use of mobile technology by people of all ages, it is important to educate ourselves about how to protect our children when they are using our, or their own, devices. One thing that we all think about once in a while, but don’t always acknowledge, is just how recent these technologies are: It’s only been seven years since the introduction of the iPhone, and only three and a half years since the iPad. We simply do not understand the impacts and the myriad risks that these technologies impose—it will take time, but in the meantime, we need to be as educated and vigilant as possible.

Safety Priorities Regarding Small Children

• Keep your child safe from strangers and away from adult and violent material;
• Keep the device clean from malware and the data secured and private;
• Keep the device safe from physical damage

Advertising: An important thing is dealing with the sneaky advertising tags at the bottom of the screen of a video game or at the beginning of videos. Make sure you show your child the difference between advertising and the game or video itself; and instruct them to not click onto them. Talk to them about scams and fake contests that might show up. And if you’re adding new apps, it’s good to spend a few extra dollars for the ‘ad-free’ version to mitigate the risk of exposure to the above.

Mature Web Content: Browsing websites is commonplace. You can check your child’s web history, but they can also check yours: make sure that you have cleared your history before giving it to your child in the event that he/she is exposed to content that is too mature.

Security Settings: Security settings are great for limiting what your child can do. For example, turn off geo-location so games and apps cannot link directly to your physical location. Also consider blocking such web or internet access from your youngest child.

Safety and Use for Older Children

It’s not the age of the child, but his/her maturity that matters most. As children get older, they are under greater pressures and can fall prey to cyber-bullying, as in the recent case in the UK of a teen dying while ‘playing’ a drinking game with others online.  Here are some important things to talk to your kids about:

• Share their phone number only with family and close friends. Do not post it on social networking sites, or for contests or give it to just anyone who asks for it;
• Lock the phone with a PIN that your child keeps secret;
• Don't say or text anything that would harm somebody else, or that you don't want a permanent record of online for the rest of your life;
• Avoid clicking links in ads, texts or messages (even from friends) offering contest rewards, free prizes, etc.
• Monitor the use of Facebook and video chat sites--places where cyber-bullying can take place, or where your child may be manipulated into doing things that are either dangerous or he/she is not comfortable doing.

This is a very short list of things to keep your child(ren) safe. These technologies are changing very rapidly, and there are more risks involved in using them, especially for young children. Understanding the risks and doing all you can to mitigate them is simply an obligation when using and lending out mobile devices.

Why You Are Most Likely A Victim of Identity Theft And Don't Even Know It

Do you purchase items regularly online, or use the Internet for accessing your bank account to send money transfers or pay bills? Do you only infrequently monitor your bank statements or credit reports? Have you clicked onto or responded to emails that provide links—even to seemingly reputable sites, such as Walmart— that request personal information? Are you an avid user of social networking sites, such as Facebook or LinkedIn? Then you are a target for identity theft.

What is identity theft? According to the RCMP, it is “the preparatory stage of acquiring and collecting someone else’s personal information for criminal purposes”—a violation of Bill S-4 that renders it illegal to possess another person’s identity information for criminal purposes. Personal information sought by identity thieves are:

• Full Name
• Date of Birth
• Social Insurance Numbers
• Full Address
• Mother's Maiden Name
• Username and Password for Online Services
• Driver's License Number
• Personal Identification Number (PIN)
• Credit Card Information (numbers, expiry dates, last 3 digits printed on signature panel)
• Bank Account Numbers
• Signature
• Passport Number

Your personal information, when stolen, could be used for activities such as accessing bank accounts, opening new bank accounts, transferring bank balances, applying for loans, credit cards and other good and services, making purchases, obtaining passports, or receiving government benefits.

There are a number of types of identity theft that are important to be aware of. Here are six:

1. Phishing: This is a scam via email to obtain personal information under the deception of being a legitimate enterprise. A recent LA Times article reported that phishing attacks had targeted thousands of people with emails from Walmart and American Airlines. When you click on the false link, you are lured into unsecure web pages that request that you enter personal information as a way of procuring some kind of reward—like an iPod Touch—or download software that a hacker can use to fully access your computer.
2.  Skimming: Refers to devices placed in the card readers of ATM machines that real all the account information stored electronically on the magnetic strip of your card. They are becoming more and more sophisticated through the progression of technology and the rise of smaller smaller computing devices.
3.  Social Networks: Facebook is the norm, not the exception; and social networking sites are commonplace for business and socializing alike. However, it is easy to forget that social networking is available for anyone to see. Cyber thieves regularly roam social networking sites looking for unscrupulous users who post personal information. Such information can easily be pieced together into a profile, which can be used to commit fraud, or even steal from you.
4. Mobile Apps: Ever wonder where your pictures go when you use a third party photo application, or those important insurance documents you’ve scanned using Turboscan or some other application? It is not guaranteed that your private information remains suspended on some server where it is immune from being viewed by that third party or sent somewhere else. There is a price for the seeming convenience of storing your personal information on your phone.
5. The Curb: There are those who simply access your personal information by rummaging through the trash you put out at night for the next morning. It’s important that you do not throw out personal information unless it has been shredded.
6. Computer/Phone: There are more reports of people’s computers and phones being hacked into with a simple free program that allow the hacker to pinpoint the phone’s location, see call logs and messages, place calls, record conversations.

Here’s how to stop it:

• Be wary of unsolicited emails, telephone calls, or mail attempting to extract personal information from you, especially under guise of winning some kind of award;
• Ask yourself if you really need all the identity items you carry in your wallet or purse. Remove any you don’t need and keep them in a safe place;
• Avoid carrying personal information on mobile applications (scanners, bank apps, and social networking sites), regardless of how seemingly convenient.
• Be cautious when making posts on social networking sites—even seemingly private conversations.
• Do not let people borrow your phone; be leary of applications and other programs from sources you don’t trust; lock and encrypt your phone; turn off wi-fi and Bluetooth when not using it.

Report It:

• Contact your local police force and file a report
•  Contact your financial institution and credit card company
• Contact national credit bureaus and place fraud alert on your credit reports

Privacy is becoming more and more a thing of the past as technology progresses. Putting these practices into place, while not eliminating, can somewhat reduce the risk of you being a victim of identity theft.

You Won't Believe These 10 Simple Ways for Adding Years To Your Life Expectancy!

Longevity is a huge topic today in the technological world. Scientists and researchers are working tirelessly to find ways to reverse aging for good—and all this by 2029, or earlier.

But beyond the research and speculations, there are some very simple ways you can begin now to increase your longevity. By putting effort into these following activities everyday, you can add more years to your life.

1. Get Outside: By getting outside you expose your skin to sunlight. The sunlight then triggers cells in your skin to produce Vitamin D, which is essential to bone health, mental well-being, and reducing heart disease and diabetes.

2. Go for a Walk: Following the above tip to get outside, a simple walk can make a tremendous difference to your overall health. You’ll get the Vitamin D you need, while strengthening your heart, lowering risk of disease, and strengthening your arms and legs.

3. Floss Your Teeth: Some sources maintain you can add 1.5 – 6 years to your life by simply starting to floss, if you don’t already. By flossing, you prevent gum inflammation, which is a chronic bacterial infection in your mouth. This bacteria can find their way in to your arteries and vital organs. As well, those with gum disease have worse mental functioning than those whose gums are healthy.

4. Reduce Alcohol Consumption: According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, you’re 95 percent more likely to reach age 85 if you keep your daily alcohol consumption to lower than 3 drinks per day. There are in fact many different health risks to alcohol consumption, such as anemia, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and depression (an obvious one, given that alcohol is a depressant).

5. If You’re Looking for a Pet, Buy a Dog:  Has the irresistible face of a dog on an online rescue website caught your attention? There are several ways in which adopting such a pet can boost your longevity. Pet ownership can ward off depression, speed recovery from surgery, and even reduce your visits to the doctor. Elderly dog owners also tend to be slimmer than those who are not owners.

6. Get Out More with Friends and Engage in Community Action: Having community is important for well-being. The more connected one is, the better the overall health.  People in community tend to take on less-risky activities, and take care of themselves and others more. This may seem simple, but face-to-face time (and not Facetime) is becoming more difficult in our technological society.

Jane's Walk is a great way to get out into your community and meet others.

7. Sleep: There are many studies that point to the connection between insufficient sleep and serious health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. As well, the more rested you are, the more accident-averse you are. Many auto accidents are results of drowsy driving. If you have a hard time sleeping at night, take a nap during the day--even if it's after work. Even just laying down and relaxing your body has tremendous health benefits.

8. Cut Calories and Eat a Vegetable-Rich Diet: Cutting your calories by an eighth and a fourth can lower metabolism (your body’s natural act of breaking down) and insulin levels, and even damage to cellular DNA, which are all active agents in harmful effects of aging.  As well, a diet rich in vegetables helps you avoid bad fats, and get more antioxidants, which ward off free radicals that cause disease.

9. Relax and Enjoy Life:  There’s no point in enhancing your life expectancy if you’re living a life of fear and loathing. Learn to relax more; slow down; take things easier. The world we live in is so fast-paced—but for what? Enjoy your life—each moment. Take a deep breath when you feel your self get stressed or your blood pressure rising. Learn strategies to think positively, rather than dwelling on negativity.

10. Get Routine Check-Ups: Visiting the doctor for routine check-ups and tests increases your vigilance of life-threatening illnesses, such as heart disease and cancer.

There are so many ways to benefit your life. By following these simple things, and adding more, you will add years to your life, and, more importantly, live a life that is healthier and happier.  

Are You A Freak Out Driver? Six Ways You Can Chill Out Behind The Wheel.

Do you get stressed out behind the wheel? Think driver stress is no big deal? Think again.

According to a collaboration between the car manufacturer Audi and the Senseable City Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, called “The Road Frustration Index,” city driving is considered as stressful as sky diving out of an airplane. This study is not based on burning up a Formula One racetrack at over 200 mph, but simple, routine, every-day driving.  Moreover, there have been many studies done that link up heightened driver stress with vehicle collisions.

Therefore, if you want to reduce your chance of vehicle collision, you need to lower your stress while driving. Stress raises cortisol in your brain (which triggers your fight or flight response), and thus impairs your ability to think and respond to the unexpected.

As we saw in the last article, the holiday season is the peak vehicle collision season. So, here are some ways that you can lower your driver stress and in turn lower your risk of accident:

1.   Create a Relaxed Environment: Skip the rambunctious rush hour radio programs, and instead play calming music. Try things like massaging seat covers and essential oils. Rid yourself of distracting objects, such as cell-phones, reports, newspapers, or grooming products.

2.   Start out Calm: Clear your mind of problems before starting your vehicle, so you can focus on the road and hazards ahead. Don’t drive if you’re sleepy or angry. Don’t dwell on negative thoughts.

3.   Plan Your Route Beforehand and Leave Extra Time: Heading somewhere late can heat up the stress levels. Stay calm by allowing yourself extra time, and plan out your route beforehand if you’re, say, going somewhere to a meeting for the first time. If you’re running late, remind yourself that being late is not as bad as causing a potentially fatal accident.

4.   Keep your Kids Entertained: Bored, noisy children can cause the blood pressure to rise. Quiet children make for a relaxing drive. Keep them occupied with audio books, video games, or other forms of entertainment.

5.   Do a Routine Check-In with Yourself: “How am I feeling? What’s my posture? What thoughts are rolling around my mind?” Take a deep breath. Relax your hand on the steering wheel. Sit back in your seat. Roll your shoulders and head, wiggle your jaw around, and chill your body out. 

6.   Avoid Aggressive Drivers: If you encounter an aggressive driver, simply let them pass, or get out of their way. Don’t bother with them by making eye contact or honking your horn—this can cause road rage and even a collision.

Follow these stress-lowering techniques and you will reduce your risk of collision. Who knows—you might even enjoy your drive.

Why Smart Appliances Question Your Intelligence And What You Can Do To Stop It.

You’re walking through Best Buy one day, and one by one different products catch your eye, particularly the smart ones: TVs, and those iPhone-controlled home appliance systems, the latter being surprisingly inexpensive. “You mean that for under 50 bucks I can control my garage-door, thermostat, and lights with my smart phone?” you excitedly ask yourself.

It’s very appealing—who doesn’t want to have that kind of blithe control over the various systems of your home? And besides—how cool is that anyway!

This week, however, there has been a string of news stories about the security risks of these smart home devices, especially in the wake of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and on-going leaks by former NSA employee Edward Snowden of US government spy tactics through everyday email, phone calls, and text messages. Indeed, as the Toronto Star headlined, “Cyber security [will be] a major concern for 2014.” Or, as Peter Bright states in a Jan 9, 2014 article for ArsTechnica, that we should resist these new devices, “because the ‘internet of things’ stands a really good chance of turning into the ‘internet of unmaintained, insecure, and dangerously hackable things’.”

The problem with these devices—whether smart TVs, smart phone-controlled home appliances, or any appliance connected to your device through Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, is that they are now equipped with bidirectional networking interfaces, which exposes the internet to the appliance and the appliance to the internet. The result? A whole slew of security risks.

In an article by Peter Edwards of the Toronto Star, Jan 22, 2014, Proofpoint, Inc., a corporation specializing in corporate security, reported this month that, “cybercriminals have targeted Internet-connected home devices, since they’re much easier to hack than home computers or tablets.” And, according to Proofpoint, Inc.’s study, 750,000 malicious email messages were sent out from more than 100,000 household gadgets, including a fridge, between December 23, 2013 and Jan. 6, 2014.”

According to Professor David Skillicorn of the Queen’s School of Computer Sciences, he would not trust a thermostat or garage door opener that can be turned on and off from a cellphone, for “there’s no simple way to make it [work] just for me, guaranteed.” Many of these smart appliances are running Windows or Android software, and can be used to send SPAM, but also denial-of-service attacks and all sorts of things that are opened up when a device is connected to the Internet. That makes all internet-connected home products like thermostats, microwaves, and even security cameras all security risks.

So, if you’re on that stroll through Best Buy, and are attracted to the latest smart TV, or in the throes of a simple and inexpensive way to connect your lights, thermostat, and garage door to your iPhone, think again. The security risks imposed on your home—and those, of course, around you—by that seemingly innocuous device may have a much greater cost than a meager 50 bucks.

Startling Reasons Why Now Is The Best Time To Quit Smoking Than Ever Before--And How You Can Do It.

In a recent report from the U.S. Surgeon General’s office, just a week after the 50^th anniversary of its landmark report that launched the anti-smoking movement, it is claimed that cigarette smoking health risks are even greater than previously thought; for while it’s more than well-known that smoking causes lung cancer, there are myriad other harms caused by smoking that are less known, such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and erectile dysfunction. Indeed, after decades of research scientists are still adding to the list of harms caused by cigarette smoking.

“But what about e-cigarettes?” one may ask. Well, according to Huff Post New York, just this week New York City’s Public Smoking Ban was reported to include e-cigarettes. For given that they use a battery to vaporize nicotine that the user then inhales, the FDA reports that many devices contain toxins and carcinogens that call into question their safety as an alternative to the now-traditional light-em-up kind. 

Want to live longer by an entire decade? Quit smoking. It is claimed by many that quitting smoking can add 10 years to your life; and, in an important study by Prabhat Jha of the University of Toronto, reported by the UK’s Daily Mail, by quitting smoking before the age of 40, and preferably well before 40, gives one back almost all of the decade of lost life from continued smoking. How remarkable is the human body to restore itself in such a radical way!

And let’s not forget about this from an insurance perspective: by simply ceasing from smoking for an entire year puts one in an entirely different life insurance category that reduces one’s monthly premiums by, in many cases, as much as fifty-percent.

Ready to quit smoking now? According to reports, it only takes two weeks for your withdrawal symptoms to dissipate, and for your lungs to begin repairing and begin to feel clear—only 14 days! So here are some ways, according to the Lung Association, to begin to quit smoking, gain a decade of life, and lower your monthly life insurance premiums:

1.     Pick a quit day. Choose a date within the next two weeks to quit—best just to start today, if you’re reading this before your morning smoke, or first thing tomorrow. Start immediately and just do it. Also, talk to friends and family members about it, and ask for support. By disclosing your plan to quit, you’re most likely to do it.

2.     Choose two or more proven quit-smoking methods, such as joining a support group, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), such as nicotine patch, gum, or lozenge, or even ask your doctor about a prescription medicine called bupropion, which is an anti-depressant that will make it easier to quit.

3.     On your quit day, quit completely. Going ‘cold-turkey’, and staying there, is the best way to quit. So don’t smoke—not even a little. Throw out all your cigarettes, ash trays, etc. And avoid going places where you have usually smoked (for instance, hanging out with the fellas while they’re having a smoke break from work is not advisable). Be positive, and believe in yourself—you can do it.

4.     Exercise more often. Exercise is a healthy alternative to smoking, and releases natural endorphins that will make you feel great. As mentioned in earlier posts, simply getting out for a walk for 15-20 minutes a day will give you great results.

5.     Don’t give up if you slip up. Try to quit the next day. Stick to it and you will do it.

Again, the benefits of quitting far outweigh those of being stuck in a habit that is no less than life-threatening. Start now: butt out and begin a whole new life.

Why Traveling With Your Laptop Presents Huge Risks That You Cannot Afford To Take

It's September 2013, and a consultant for Medicentres Canada goes into panic--his laptop that contained the private and confidential medical records of 620,000 Albertans is stolen! One egregious problem was that the information on the laptop was unencrypted--fully open to anyone who could get his or her hands on it, and lap up the spoils of valuable information on more than 1/2 million people.

In an age of information such as ours, where information is currency, what you carry on your laptop could be very lucrative to a would-be thief. You go to great lengths when you travel to protect your money and your luggage—it’s just as important to protect the content of your laptop, should it get into the wrong hands. Here are some tips:

Physical Security

• Ask Why:  Why are you bringing your laptop with you on your trip? If it’s business, this may be self-evident; however, it you’re going away on a leisure trip, perhaps your tablet or mobile phone will suffice. Ask this question: Is it really worth the risk of having it stolen and compromised?

• Be Aware of Risks:

• Many laptops get snatched when going through security, so it is important to keep a close eye on it. Only put it on the belt when it is your turn to step up for inspection.
• If you're traveling to the US from another county, the border patrol agents can confiscate your laptop if they deem it appropriate--without warrant or probable cause. Be aware of all border laws in any foreign country you're traveling to, then go back to 1.
• More than 60,000 computers are stolen from airports annually in the Unites States alone.

• Keep it in a solid travel-and-security friendly laptop bag: In such a bag, it only needs to be removed when you are using it. Make sure it has a padded sleeve and is TSA compliant—that way, you only have to unfold the bag to have it screened.

• Consider buying a cable lock: While it can be easily cut through, they can serve as a deterrent in public—who wants to have to go through the trouble of cutting the cord. You can by a simple combination cable lock at Amazon.

• Use location software: services like Apple’s own “Find My Mac” will help you locate a stolen laptop if it goes missing. Also good in the event that you happen to leave it somewhere, like on a cab or something. They work best when you sign up in advance, so make these arrangements before your trip.

Software Security

• Do not keep personal identifiable information on your laptop: This might be difficult, but is the safest bet if your laptop were to be stolen. And if the laptop contains sensitive files that you don’t need, keep them at home. Remove them from the hard drive onto another system disk.

• Encrypt your sensitive data: Encrypting data is not that difficult anymore. Check out tools like TrueCrypt: an open-source encryption service that is automatic, real-time, and transparent. The thief may get your machine, but will not be able to access your data.

• Use security software, lock screen, and a strong password: Protect your information from as many angles as possible: make sure you have strong security software installed, and a good strong password. Also, set it to lock when it goes to sleep.

• Use a VPN (Virtual Personal Network): If you’re using different networks—in airports or hotels—a good VPN will be important for keep you safe while logging into personally sensitive information, such as bank accounts, etc. Check out CNET for a list of trustworthy VPNs.

There is all kinds of further information about these and other safety tips—the key is to be safe. Again, if you don’t need to travel with your laptop, it’s best to stick to something more portable and not personal information-rich. 

Don't Have Life Insurance? Find Out Why You Can't Live Without It.

Life insurance is critical for ensuring a sustainable future for your dependents. While Canadians are some of the highest purchasers per capita of life insurance (70% of Canadian fathers have a life insurance policy), Gen Y consumers are the least likely to own life insurance; however, according to a Financial Post article, when pressed, four in ten Gen Y households claim that they would have immediate trouble meeting everyday living expenses if a primary wage owner were to die. And while the percentage is high among Canadian dads who own life insurance policies, many have no clue how much the policy is worth or how much they actually need.

If you haven’t considered life insurance already, believing you’re too young or too healthy or just think it’s a trivial thing to do, here are 6 reasons for getting coverage as soon as possible:

1. Your going to die: This may sound grim, but it is a fact of life--and we all know it.
2. To protect your family and loved ones: Life insurance is also known as 'income protection'--it protects your spouse, children, and all those who rely on your income in the event of premature death.
3. To pay off debts and other expenses: In addition to replacing income, your family may require money to cover off any outstanding debts, like mortgage, credit cards, and car loans--not to mention funeral and burial costs. You don't want your spouse and children rattled by financial stress while in the throes of grieving.
4. Financial security: This is simply the ability to provide the opportunities your spouse and children deserve in your absence, whether it be university tuition, or starting an enterprise, or getting off on the right foot in marriage.
5. Bring peace of mind: Let's face it, unless otherwise, we don't know when we'll go. We think we are invincible, but we are merely mortal. Life insurance will bring you peace of mind knowing that should such a tragedy as your death occur, your spouse and children, and other dependents, will have the means to keep or improve their current standard of living.

So let’s say you decide to purchase life insurance, how much do you need? Many financial advisors maintain that the primary wage earner should take out a life insurance policy worth eight to ten times more than his or her annual income. Moreover, it is important for both spouses to take out life insurance policies, given the financial demands already outlined above.

What kind of life insurance policy do you need? There are two main types of life insurance: permanent and term. Permanent, including whole-life and universal-life, combine insurance protection with a savings element. However, due to the low interest rates on such policies, it is more beneficial to take advantage of the low cost of term insurance, and invest your money elsewhere.

Term insurance provides insurance coverage for a predetermined number of years. It is also inexpensive and the rates are priced competitively among many insurance carriers, giving you the power to shop around for the best rate. Many companies will issue, for example, a $100,000 policy to a health thirty-five year old male, non-smoker, for an annual premium of less than $180, or only $15 per month. 

These low rates make it possible for anyone to get the insurance coverage he/she and dependents need at an affordable cost. A good rule of thumb is to get as much term coverage as possible for as many years as possible, for example twenty to twenty-five years.

Don’t put your dependents at risk. Give them, and yourself, peace of mind. If you haven’t already, talk to a life insurance broker today and get covered.

Why Drawing Up A Living Will Is Important For You and Those You Love

Back in 2005, the tube that kept Terri Schiavo alive in a persistent vegetative state was removed. Since suffering brain damage, she had been on life support for over a decade. But as she had lain in the hospital, her husband, and mother and father were in a fierce legal battle over her life: her husband argued that Terri would not have wanted to live in a vegetative state, while her parents fought to keep her on life support.

The problem was that no one knew what Terri really wanted, because she had left no living will.  If she had left a will, then all the inter-family fighting, court battles, and media circus could have been avoided.

Living wills are not only for those who are approaching the latter years of life. Whether you are a young adult or senior, married or single, childless or have a family, a living will is the best way to ensure that your desires are met if you were to run into a major health issue that precluded you from making your wishes verbally known.  It’s also important to know that once your child reaches the legal age of majority, you are unable to make decisions for them, and therefore, as difficult as it is to think about, it is important for them to name someone to act on their behalf.

A living will is a document that states what type of treatment you want or don’t want should you become ill and unable to express your wishes in words. For instance, you could write down that you want all necessary measures to keep you alive, or none at all letting nature takes its course.

If you suffer from a chronic illness, it is particularly important that you have a living will, for not only will it ensure that your wishes are met for the ultimate treatment you want to receive, but it will also take the pressure off loved ones who would otherwise have to make very difficult decisions about your medical care.

Each province deals with living will differently. In Ontario a living will is called “power of attorney for personal care” and can be used to appoint anyone over the age of 16 to make medical decisions on your behalf.

Note that your living will is different from your “last will and testament,” which covers only the distribution of your property after you die, and does not include wishes of personal medical treatment while you are still alive. A “last will and testament” should be revisited every 5-years, and changed if your life has undergone a major change, such as marriage or divorce.

If you choose to write your will yourself, you must follow all of the provincial-specific regulations to make it a legal document. It might be good to talk to a lawyer, and even submit him/her a copy, to ensure it is indeed a legal will.

There are two things that go into a living will:

1.              A proxy directive, namely the person whom you have appointed to make decisions for you. Parents often choose one of their adult children as their proxy directive. It’s important to first speak to the proxy to ensure that he/she is comfortable with such a responsibility. As well, it is important to speak specifically about the different scenarios covered in your will to ensure there is adequate understanding. You may also want to consider naming more than one person as your proxy, which might enhance support and the handling of a difficult decision; and

2.              Instruction directives, which describe the treatments you would like to receive under different circumstances. If you have a chronic illness, it will be important to have your doctor walk you through the various scenarios surrounding your illness, and the relevant treatment options. If you have no such record, a visit with your doctor can still be beneficial in terms of understanding the various kinds of illnesses and medical treatments and how they can affect your quality of life.

Remember, you can change your mind any time about your proxy, or the various instruction directives; however, if you make such changes in your mind, you must also make them to your living will.

As well, once it is completed, it is important to tell people about it, and hand out copies to your friends and loved-ones and your doctor and lawyer. You may even want to have a copy with you when you’re traveling just in case.