Things To Do In SW Florida

Jessica Gibson | (TNS) Bankrate.com

At first, thinking about how to get life insurance might seem overwhelming. If you’re not familiar with coverage types or how to buy life insurance policies, you might be tempted to put it off. Fortunately, Bankrate’s editorial team has done a lot of the legwork for you. We’ve put together a comprehensive guide for purchasing a life insurance policy and included valuable tips for selecting coverage amounts and saving on your premium.

How to buy a life insurance policy

Purchasing life insurance may seem complicated if you have never done it before. The first thing to know is that you can choose between permanent and term life insurance. Each comes with potential pros and cons, as well as a wide range of premiums.

Purchasing a life insurance policy has become easier as more insurance providers allow you to request quotes and buy a policy through their website. If you prefer to speak with a licensed agent, you can usually reach out over the phone or in person. Your insurance provider or agent will explain how to finalize your policy. For instance, you might have to get a medical exam, which must be completed in person. read more

Fixed-up homes tend to sell faster and for more money than fixer-uppers.

But some owners would rather sell their home as-is than face the hassle of getting it into turnkey condition.

“People don’t do it, mostly because they’ve had bad experiences with renovations. There’s lots of anxiety,” said Michael Alladawi, chief executive and founder of Revive Real Estate, an Irvine company that helps homeowners refurbish their properties. “It’s not uncommon to hear horror stories, or to hear (it took) double the time and double the cost.”

But those sellers, Alladawi said, “are leaving money on the table.”

Revive, founded four years ago, claims its business takes the hassle out “presale renovations.”

Revive helps homeowners evaluate the cost and potential value of revamping kitchens and bathrooms and renovating floors. If refurbishing boosts the home’s value enough to make it worthwhile, Revive hooks clients up with contractors and oversees the construction. They even pay for the work, getting reimbursed from sale proceeds. read more

The Space Coast saw its 23rd launch of the year early Friday with a SpaceX launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

The Falcon 9 rocket carrying 23 more of the company’s Starlink internet satellites lifted off from Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 40 at 5:12 a.m.

Liftoff! pic.twitter.com/xqlmWIs17E

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 5, 2024

The first-stage booster made its 14th flight and stuck another recovery landing downrange in the Atlantic on the droneship called A Shortfall of Gravitas.

It was the 275th time SpaceX has recovered a Falcon 9 booster, part of the company’s efforts to reduce costs through reusability.

SpaceX has flown all but one of the launches from the Space Coast this year, with United Launch Alliance responsible for the other, a Vulcan Centaur launch in January.

ULA has its second flight lined up, though, with the last launch ever of a Delta IV Heavy set for Tuesday from Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 37 on a mission for the National Reconnaissance Office. That comes after a delay because of issues with a gaseous nitrogen line to the launch pad that thwarted a launch attempt last week. read more

By PAUL WISEMAN (AP Economics Writer)

WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s employers delivered another outpouring of jobs in March, adding a sizzling 303,000 workers to their payrolls and bolstering hopes that the economy can vanquish inflation without succumbing to a recession in the face of high interest rates.

Last month’s job growth was up from a revised 270,000 in February and was far above the 200,000 jobs that economists had forecast. By any measure, it amounted to a major burst of hiring, and it reflected the economy’s ability to withstand the pressure of high borrowing costs resulting from the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes. With the nation’s consumers continuing to spend, many employers have kept hiring to meet steady customer demand.

Friday’s report from the Labor Department also showed that the unemployment rate dipped from 3.9% to 3.8%. The jobless rate has now come in below 4% for 26 straight months, the longest such streak since the 1960s. The government also revised up its estimate of job growth in January and February by a combined 22,000. read more

NEW YORK  — British billionaire Joe Lewis, owner of the Tavistock Group that has developed the Lake Nona community in Orlando, will not spend any time in prison after pleading guilty to insider trading and conspiracy charges in New York, a federal judge said Thursday.

Judge G.L. Clarke cited Lewis’ decision to promptly come to the United States to face charges and his failing health, along with a lifetime of good works, in ruling that Lewis will face three years on probation and a $5 million fine rather than time behind bars.

Lewis, 87, was wearing an eye patch and one of his hands shook steadily throughout the one-hour proceeding in Manhattan federal court. He has remained in the United States since last July.

Before he was sentenced, Lewis spoke briefly, saying he learned growing up in England during World War II how “precious” life is and decided to devote much of his life to finding a cure for “horrendous diseases.”

“Your honor, I’m here today because I made a terrible mistake. I’m ashamed,” he said. read more