Top Ten Most Dangerous Jobs

You might not think that you work in a dangerous job. You might just be surprised. However, 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
   
   Groundskeepers? That one certainly wouldn't have been on any list of mine. Neither would sales occupations. After having worked in an office tower, I'd have included window washers for sure. Which brings us to an important question; do you have enough life insurance? Whether you are in a risky occupation or not, life insurance is part of a complete financial plan for everyone. Having said that, if you're single and no one is depending upon your income for support, you probably don't need life insurance. But you should definitely have it if you fall into any of the following categories:
   
   
   • 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
   
   How do you figure out exactly how much you need? You can check out our insurance pages for more detail. Alternatively, 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.
   Rule of thumb is that you should have enough life insurance to pay off your major debts. This would include your mortgage, your car loan and any other large outstanding loan (which could include credit cards). In addition, if you have children, you should factor in childcare for the surviving spouse and potentially money for college. If your spouse would not want to return to work while the children are young, you might have to factor in a living allowance for a number of years.
   Keep in mind that every year your insurance needs could change. Perhaps you have a new addition to the family. Perhaps you've paid off the car loan. Maybe your oldest is now in college with a full scholarship. Review your life insurance coverage frequently and adjust as necessary. (This will be easier with term insurance than with whole life or other universal insurance.)
   No matter what kind of life insurance you decide to buy, ALWAYS shop around. Since many different types of life policies are available, it's important to compare what you are getting. Your insurance coverage should meet your individual needs. Premiums on insurance of any kind can vary widely, so be sure to get quotes from a number of companies. In most cases, the rule of thumb is at least 3. Just make sure you're comparing policies that offer similar benefits.