There's cost associated with the policy itself, administrative and the actual cost of the death benefit. Those are probably based on current cost, interest rates and the amount you are paying. The assumptions may include a different premium amount, interest rate etc. It sounds to me as though they are saying they guarantee as long as you continue to make your payments and make no changes to the policy that it will stay in force until the date they give you (15 years). On the other hand to go further than the 15 years, maybe they have increased the premiums, the interest rate etc. to enhance the length of time the policy will remain in force. Is the product fixed or variable? Just curious why you went with the universal life policy?

When I "assume" something it's like expecting something. Such as "I'm assuming there will be lots of people at the party because a lot of invitations went out". So my assumptions are based on my "expectations." "Judging" to me is something that has already happened that may cause me to take a stand or take a side on the subject. (The party was so crowded they ran out of food! I feel that too many people were invited.) Regarding "assuming" something about a person or their actions. To me it's like "expecting" a person to act a certain way. And the results could go either way (disappointed or plesantly surprised). "Judging" a person usually happens after that person has done something that may give you pause, (both in a good way or bad way.) Just my first thoughts on the subject...what a great question. ~Susan

In the construction of multi-family and commercial buildings, all elements of the project are drawn and/or specified along with written quality and installation standards and an architect is required to prepare those documents and to be involved from the beginning to the end. The expense of those services is a small part of the project cost and the cost of errors in both money and time is great. But for homebuilding an architect is not required and the cost of complete contract documents is thought to be too expensive and builders in general believe it is unnecessary. But the absence of complete documents and an owner's representative clearly creates a risk to the owner. If you are willing to take the risk, you should carry a contingency for errors in your budget and at least sit down with your builder and make a list of the materials and features and make it a part of the contract.

I'm not sure I can make this anymore clear :-) Compost is not recommended for any kind of container or potting mix because it continues to break down and degrade - even faster indoors than out because of ambient temperatures and frequent watering. And as it continues to break down, the individual particles get smaller and smaller, clogging up pore space, reducing aeration/oxygen exchange and slowing drainage. NONE of these are conditions you want with a potting mix!! It has nothing to do with sterilization.....but it has everything to do with mainaining the proper texture and size, which compost cannot do. If there is no advantage to using it and plenty of drawbacks, why would you bother? Being completely organic is not really an ideal concept when it comes to container gardening, either. This one of the other major areas where containers differ drastically from inground gardening. Because there is no real soil or dirt involved and the associated high populations of soil dwelling organisms, there is no way organic fertilizers can get converted into plant usable forms. You can find a few water soluble or fully liquid organic ferts but there are not a lot and even fewer still that offer a full range of immediately accessible macro and micronutrients. Addressing your plants' ongoing nutrient needs is best done with a fully water soluble synthetic fert. As you can see, that thread I linked to is the last in a long string of similar posts that started back in the early years of this century - there used to be a limit of 150 comments per thread. So if you are interested enough you can search out previous threads under the same heading to garner additinal info. I am a professional horticulturist, have been container gardening for many years and that is by far the most thorough and detailed treatise on how to best garden in containers I have ever encountered!!