Definition of "Power of attorney"

Legal instrument whereby an individual is given the right to act on behalf of another individual. For example, the right to buy and sell stock and to sign all brokerage papers relating to buying and selling in a stockholder's account is given by the stockholder to another individual through power of attorney. Or the right to decide which settlement option is to be used under a life insurance policy may be given by a policy owner to another individual. Experts often advise extreme care in assigning a power of attorney since that person becomes free to make financial decisions that can enhance or ruin an individual represented.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Insurance Terms

Premium that remains unchanged over time, regardless of any change in the nature of the risk. ...

Section of the Internal Revenue Code that provides for the taking of the proceeds from one life insurance policy or annuity and the reinvesting of these proceeds immediately in another life ...

Commission paid to a broker for selling an insurance company's products. This fee may or may not include an expense allowance depending on the amount of business the broker places with the ...

Life insurance company that sells life insurance and annuities to the faculty and staff of colleges and universities. Its TIAA-CREF Tax-Sheltered Annuity (TSA) uses a traditional fixed ...

Amount of the insurance company's liabilities for claims that have not been settled. If this reserve increases significantly in relation to the company's surplus, the risk is greater for ...

Reinsurance of & re insurer such that the re insurer protects itself from a catastrophe occurrence. Just as an insurer must decide to cede to the re insurer a portion of a risk it has ...

Coverage in which premiums do not increase or decrease for as long as the policy remains in force. In the early years of a policy, the premiums are greater than is necessary to pay ...

Liability insurance exception for pollution coverage that is not both sudden and accidental from the insured's standpoint. As a result of the damage suits from such incidents as the ...

Bonds sold at a discount from their face value; accumulated interest paid at maturity, as in the case of zero coupon bonds. Interest rate minimum is guaranteed with the prevailing interest ...

Popular Insurance Questions