Sparks: 8 reasons to consider buying life insurance & more

Life insurance helps provide financial stability for you and your loved ones. Here are eight ways it can do that.

• Business preservation
• Leaving a charitable legacy
• Protecting your family’s lifestyle
• Riders for support during times of disability, terminal illness and other situations
• Access to cash through loans or withdrawals from the policy’s cash value
• End-of-life expense coverage
• Sense of security
• Tax-efficient wealth transfer to loved ones

Did you know that APR, which stands for annual percentage rate, isn’t the same as an interest rate? The APR shows you the percentage of your principal, including interest and fees, that you will pay on a loan or earn from an investment. Before you sign up for a loan or credit card, the lender must disclose the APR to you. This is a consistent baseline that you can use to compare similar financial products.

Whatever your interest, one of the United States’ 63 national parks will fit the bill.

Acadia National Park is a blend of ocean vistas, woodlands, mountains and lakes. The park’s 45 miles of historic carriage roads—closed to motorized vehicles—offer bikers a safe way to explore the park’s natural features on two wheels.

Crater Lake National Park sits atop the Cascade Mountain Range and features a caldera filled with pristine blue water. High elevation and low light pollution make this park ideal for gazing at celestial objects.

The Earth’s geological history is on display at Grand Canyon National Park. The Rim-to-Rim trail takes hikers down to the canyon floor with sweeping views of the sculpted landforms along the way.

Everglades National Park is the largest subtropical wetland in North America and supports more than 300 species of birds. Canoe in Nine Mile Pond among the waders or stake out a spot on land to watch osprey and other birds of prey overhead.

Written by Morgan Halaska