Each month in 2015, we’ll be sharing a short list of tasks that you can do to help take care of your home, vehicle, and family. Consider them a helpful reminder of what needs to get accomplished throughout the month to keep your important items protected.
Here’s what’s on the list for February: Purchase A Fire Extinguisher - If you don’t have a fire extinguisher in your kitchen, now is the time to get at least one. Plan a family meeting and teach everyone in the household when and how to use it. It’s an easy way to prevent a small kitchen fire from getting out of hand. Schedule High-Value Jewelry On Your Insurance Policy - Did your Valentine surprise you with a new piece of jewelry? Make sure it’s covered! While your Homeowners or Renters policy will cover jewelry, there are some limitations. Get an appraisal and bring it in so we can discuss the best course of action. (This also applies to artwork, guns, and other collectibles or antiques.) Seal Up Drafty Windows - Feel cool air blowing in around windows or doors? Seal them up now! You’ll be glad you did when those summer air conditioning bills arrive. Newlywed Insurance Review - Did you get married this month? Call us to schedule a newlywed insurance review! We’ll look at your individual policies and discuss how best to combine them for your new household. Show The Love! - There is no better way to show your family how much you love them, then with the proper amount of life insurance! We can give you a quote on an affordable term policy and help you get this important coverage in place quickly. [ We LOVE our clients! Let us know if we can assist you in any way with your auto, home, business, or life insurance.
0 Comments
Have you ever looked at your insurance policy and wondered just exactly what it is you are paying for?
Everyone knows that they are legally required to carry liability insurance. But many people don’t really understand what that means or how it works. In simple terms, liability insurance pays to fix damage that you cause to someone else. On your auto insurance policy, this is split into three pieces. Here is an example: Bodily Injury: 50/100 Personal Property: 50 Let’s say that this was your coverage amount and you hit another car in an accident. Your insurance would pay up to $50,000 per person for injuries up to a total cap of $100,000. And it would pay up to $50,000 in property damage to fix the other car. Remember, liability only covers the person that you hit. It doesn’t cover your vehicle or anyone inside your car. There are many different amounts of liability coverage. We work directly with our clients to determine how much you need. This will vary based on factors like how many assets you have, your income, and home value. Not having enough liability insurance is one of the biggest financial mistakes you can make! Carrying only the state minimum could leave you open to a lawsuit. Think about those cars you’ve seen on the road worth easily over $40,000! If you don’t have enough property damage coverage, then you are at risk. There is also liability coverage on your homeowners or renters insurance. It pays if someone is injured on your property due to your negligence. One common example is a dog bite. This is another time when it’s good to have enough liability insurance! Hopefully this clears up any questions you have about how liability insurance works. If you need help determining the right amount of coverage for your family, give us a call for a no obligation review and quote. Each month in 2015, we’ll be sharing a short list of tasks that you can do to help take care of your home, vehicle, and family. Consider them a helpful reminder of what needs to get accomplished throughout the month to keep your important items protected.
Here’s what’s on the list for January: Make A Home Inventory - January is all about getting organized, right? So what better time to document what you own in case you were to suffer a serious insurance loss (like a fire). Grab your cell phone and make a short video of each room in your home, focusing on big ticket items. Many times, it’s difficult for our clients to remember every little possession after the shock of a large claim. You’ll be glad you took the time to make the videos if you ever need them. Deep Clean Your Dryer Vent - A large percentage of home fires begin in the clothes dryer! Lint builds up in the vent and hose which can spark a fire. Unhook the hose and vacuum the area well on a regular basis to keep your home protected. Organize Your Warranties - Do you have a big pile of warranties, product documents, and receipts stuffed in your desk drawer? Do you even own those items anymore? These days, many owners manuals can be found online without taking up valuable drawer storage. Also consider scanning and keeping a digital file of your receipts and warranties for easy storage and retrieval if needed. Check Your Circuit Breakers - How often do you actually look in the breaker box? Open it up and make sure the labels are correct and readable. Also stash a spare flashlight (with working batteries) close by in case of a power outage. Gather Your Tax Documents - It won’t be long until you’re filing your 2014 taxes. Start gathering up all the documents you or your accountant will need. Know Your Deductibles - When was the last time you reviewed your deductibles? This is what you would pay out of pocket in the event of an insurance claim. It’s a good idea to keep this amount in your savings account so it’s available when you need it. Feel free to give us a call to review all of your insurance policies in detail. January is a great time to get organized for the new year! Let us know if we can help in any way! Happy New Year! Today I’m answering a question I hear all the time - “Are my personal belongings covered if someone breaks into my car?”
Unfortunately, they typically are NOT covered! Your auto insurance covers your car from damage and accidents, but not the items inside from theft. But there are still ways to protect yourself. First, and most obvious, avoid keeping high-ticket items in your car in the first place. This includes things like your laptop, iPad, purse, etc. If you’re out shopping, keep your doors locked and lock most items away in the trunk. But this isn’t always possible. And so you also want to make sure you’re covered by carrying Renters or Homeowners insurance for your personal belongings. These policies include a certain amount of coverage for property off premises. These are subject to your deductible so make sure to discuss with your agent to see what kind of coverage you have currently. With a little bit of prevention and great insurance, you’ve won’t have to worry about items being stolen from your car. Have questions? Give us a call to discuss them anytime! 2015 has arrived! And with it come resolutions and goals for a fresh start over the coming months.
If one of your resolutions for this year was to get organized, then here are some tips on how to get financially “fit” in 2015! At least as far as your insurance goes... 1. Set up a meeting with us! Each year, we like to do a policy review with every client. We look at all of your policies and update your information. Insurance needs tend to change with major life events so if you got married, had a baby, changed jobs, retired, or anything else in 2014, you probably need a review. Many times you qualify for new discounts or we can point out ways to help you save (like getting a multi-policy discount!) We can schedule this meeting over the phone or in the office, whichever is easier. 2. Get a life insurance quote. For some reason, life insurance is one of those things that gets neglected. People know deep down that they need it, but often never get around to actually purchasing any. Many times you can get a basic term life insurance policy for $30 a month or less. (Depending on age and health status, it varies for everyone!) 3. Organize your insurance documents. Keep a file with a copy of your current auto, home, and life policies in one easy-to-find place. When your renewal comes in the mail, you can throw out the old copies. Some people also like to keep a copy of their life insurance with their attorney or in a fire safe. We can always help you get a copy if you need it! 4. Put a current insurance card in your glove box and throw out the six old ones that are likely crumbled up in there. :) That’s it! Take care of these items and you’re on your way to being organized and properly covered in 2015! The holidays have officially arrived! And for many of us that means shopping, gifting, decorating, partying, and traveling. And a whole lot of it!
Insurance agents are always on the look out for things that might put our clients at risk. That’s why I wanted to share a few quick reminders this month to make sure you avoid any potential claim situations.
And most important? Have a safe and joy-filled holiday! Merry Christmas from all of us! It’s the time of year for icy winter weather. And as your insurance agent, I have to share a few things to get you prepared before the winter storms hit!
First things first, you want to have the right supplies on hand. Create a basic emergency kit that includes a battery powered radio and at least one week’s worth of food and safety supplies. Also include: Drinking Water Canned/No-Cook Food Non-Electric Can Opener Prescription Medicine As Needed First Aid Kit Bag of Cat Litter or Sand to add traction on walkways Battery Powered Lamps Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Alarm in working order And what about when bad weather hits? Here are a few things to put on your winter storm checklist:
The most important thing you can do? Be prepared! A benefit to winter storms is that you generally have plenty of warning that one is on the way. Don’t wait until the roads are icy and dangerous. Get your supplies packed, your pipes protected, and a backup plan in case of a power outage. And make sure that you have great Homeowners Insurance! We can help with that. Call us for a free quote today. Every month, we share easy tasks you can do to keep you home in tip-top shape all year long. So as we wind down 2014, here are a few simple tasks you can take on in December!
To make sure you have the very best coverage (and the most affordable rate), call us today for a free, no obligation quote. With the New Year just around the corner, a lot of people are busy making those annual goals and resolutions. And for many improving their finances is at the top of the list.
Getting out of debt can be a big and almost overwhelming goal. It’s not a fast process and it takes a lot of dedication, but it is worth it in the end! So where do you begin? First start by getting an accurate picture of where you stand. Gather up all of your recent debt statements. This includes credit cards, car loans, student loans, any personal loans or other big ticket items, and your mortgage. Run your credit report. You can request a free copy ever year at www.annualcreditreport.com from all three credit bureaus. This is a great time to check for any mistakes and make sure that every debt on your credit report is included in your list. Make a debt payoff plan. Create a spreadsheet with all of your debt information. Include the name of the debt, total balance, interest rate, and minimum payment. Now figure out what order you want to attack your debt. Some organize them from lowest to highest balance, while others prefer to pay off the debt with the highest interest rate first. Whatever you decide here’s the trick. Once you payoff your first debt, combine that payment with the second debt. Now you’re paying a lot more then the minimum and it just keeps growing as you go! Look for ways to keep throwing money at your payoff. Sell unused items around the house, have a yard sale, clip coupons, or get a part-time job. Just do whatever it takes to keep your momentum up! Get the whole family involved. Make getting out of debt a family goal! Put your payoff on the fridge and count down. Let the kids help with the family budget. When everyone understands what you’re working toward, they’ll be more likely to cooperate when the budget is tight. And how can you find a few extra dollars toward your debt payoff? Save on your monthly insurance costs! We can help. Call us for a quote on your auto, home, business, and life insurance today. One of my favorite parts of the Christmas shopping season comes right after Black Friday. It’s Small Business Saturday!
It’s easy to get caught up in the low price shopping at big box retailers like Walmart and Target. But while these stores offer a lot of choices, they don’t support our local economy like small businesses do! As a small business owner, I feel like it’s important to support other businesses in town. Make a commitment to purchase at least one gift at a local business this holiday season. Together, let’s support our city this year! |