Rule of thumb: The more trimmings an insurance plan has and the harder someone is pitching it, the faster you should run.

The first life insurance societies where formed in England in the years between 1692 and 1720. In America, life insurance became available to the clergy through the Presbyterian Ministers Fund, founded in 1759 (still in existence), and the Episcopal Corporation, founded ten years later (subsequently merged).

The larger the deductible you choose, the less insurance you are buying. Insurers want to sell insurance.

People don't need to find reasons to justify their not giving. What they need to find is the inspiration to give. And those who don't, but could afford to, are missing out on one of wealth's greatest luxuries.

The first American insurance company was the Friendly Society for the Mutual Insurance of Houses Against Fire, founded in Charles Town in South Carolina, in 1735.

Still, most people don't have much money. So finding ways to come out a couple of thousand dollars ahead every year still matters.

Hay fever suffers tend to be above average in intelligence.