People drive drunk so I carry auto insurance

Did you ever get behind somebody on the road who looks like they’re seeing a whole different road than you are? Maybe they’re going too slow, stopping r andomly or weaving to avoid imaginary elephants in the road. In any case, you might be seeing a drunk driver–a rolling reminder of why we need auto insurance.

According to the Drinking anddriving.org, there are 900,000 drunk driving arrests each year. Those are just the ones who actually get caught–imagine how many other drunken yahoos are out there evading the police and looking to smash up your beautiful new ride?

Unfortunately, the same sort of person who lacks the good judgment to have a designated driver when they go on their drinking tour of the east coast is usually the same sort of person who thinks that liability insurance is for suckers. This means that when one of these drunken clowns runs into you, you’d better have good coverage on your vehicle, including uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, or else you may find yourself paying for your car repairs out of pocket. For me, as long as people drive drunk, I’m going to carry plenty of auto insurance.

June 13, 2013

Why I love whole life insurance

If you are looking into life insurance, you have two basic choices. You can choose term insurance or whole life insurance.

Term insurance offers cheaper premiums. With that in mind, why do I love whole life insurance? It may have something to do with the reason I love getting a big tax refund. You see, I know I could change my deductions and get more on each pay, but I kind of like getting that big tax refund. I pay a little more every payday but it pays off each April.

It is the same way with whole life insurance. I may pay more in monthly premiums, but there are two VERY big plusses for me. One is that whole life builds cash value, making it virtually a savings account for me. The other reason is that I know my premiums won’t ever rise. Those are two pretty good reasons. But there’s more.

I have a tough time saving money, so whole life has that built in feature. I pay the premiums and a portion goes into a cash value. It also allows me to access to my built up cash value via policy loans. If I ever need some extra cash on the cheap and don’t want to go to a bank, a whole life policy could be the ticket.

Yes, I’ve heard the expression “buy term insurance and invest the difference.” For me, I love whole life insurance because I am more likely to spend the difference. Whole life helps me save it.

June 12, 2013

Why I love insurance

If you have bought a new car or a new home in the past few months and have had some kind of damage happen to it, then you know the love that some have for insurance. An insurance policy is deigned to help repair your belongings if they are ever damaged in an accident or storm. Below are some other reasons why insurance is a great thing to own.

The Benefits of Insurance

Insurance covers medical costs for people to visit the doctor. It can also help pay for the expensive procedures that come up from time to time.
The policy can pay for damages to your car or help replace the car if it is ever totaled.
The premiums you pay go into a larger pool of money that is held until you have a claim. It is like a savings account.
It can help cover the costs associated with the end of life. Things that can be covered are funeral costs, burial costs, hospital bills and many other expensive details.

An insurance policy only makes sense when you consider what it can do for you. Some things in life are very expensive and if you are not prepared the expenses can set you back financially for many years. Take the time and go over your life situation and make sure that everything is covered the way it should be.

June 10, 2013

I Need Insurance for Everything

I need insurance for everything, or do I? When operating vehicles on, and off the road, I want my family and me to remain safe. I want to protect my family and others in case of an accident. I need insurance coverage for everything I enjoy doing.

• My truck and car need full coverage

• My boat needs watercraft coverage while the family is fishing and water skiing

• I have added a special RV insurance to the RV when it is on the road

• When my family and I travel we have a special travel insurance that covers things that the major medical will not cover

• My home needs full homeowner’s insurance coverage

• My wife and I have added an endorsement of credit life insurance on the homeowner’s policy

• My family, and I have major medical insurance and prescription coverage

• My family, and I have dental and vision insurance

• Everyone in my family has a life insurance policy for varied reasons

• My wife and I have long and short term disability insurance in case we cannot work

Do I consider myself insurance to death? Yes, but insuring these items are necessary to stay safe, I do not know what the future holds and what may happen. When my insurance needs are met, I can enjoy life.

May 19, 2013

Identity fraud prevention

The contents inside your purse or wallet provide endless personal information. When everyday essentials are stolen or go missing, identity fraud can often follow.

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There are a number of ways you can protect yourself and your identity:

Always secure your purse and wallet in a safe place.
Carry only essentials. Leave the rest of your cards and critical documents in a discrete, burglar-proof space.
Check your free credit report annually from each of the national credit reporting agencies:
Equifax, Experian, Transunion.
Be careful about sharing personal information on social media..
If you receive a data breach notice, monitor your accounts closely.
Do not put account numbers or any other unnecessary information on envelopes of outgoing mail.
Know when credit card statements arrive and if they are late, call.
Shred old bills and other unnecessary financial records.

Get additional tips for protecting your identity while shopping at the store or online.

Consider buying identity fraud insurance, a relatively inexpensive add-on to your renters’ or homeowners’ insurance policy. This coverage typically reimburses the cost of reclaiming your identity and rebuilding your credit, such as attorneys’ and notary fees and replacement of IDs. It is a low-cost investment against a high-expense crime.

May 6, 2013

Flood/water damage

Severe weather, flooding, and interior water leaks each pose their own risks. Underst anding the different ways water damage can occur helps you take the right steps to protect your property, which includes purchasing the right insurance coverage.

Underst anding causes of water damage.

While fire may be a common concern among homeowners, Travelers claim data suggests that homes could be as much as 10 times more likely to be damaged by water than by fire.

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Water damage to property can come from many sources with weather-related moisture or flooding being one significant source: leaking roofs, blocked gutters and downspouts leading to foundation and siding damage, ice dams; flooding from heavy rains, flash floods, dam and levee failures, snowmelt and spring thaws, tidal storm surges and mudflows. New construction development of buildings, roads or bridges can often alter the potential and flow of floods. Being located within a flood zone can put individuals at risk, but being outside an established zone does not mean homeowners are safe: flooding is always a possibility due to causes such as heavy rains, snowmelt and spring thaws.

Water damage also can come from non-weather related sources within the home, including leaky baseboard heating, plugged air conditioning unit condensation drains, furnaces/boilers, water heaters, washing machines, and leaky plumbing. Homeowners may also have wet basements resulting from water entering through cracks in foundations, improper l andscape grading, downspouts placed too close to the foundation or from seepage through floor drains and sewer pipes, among other reasons.

In all cases, water can cause major damage to your property, valuables and equipment. In severe damage, such as from flooding, it may mean the need to rebuild or move to another location.

Protect your property through prepare and prevent measures.

In addition to purchasing the right insurance coverage, no matter the source of damage-causing water (weather-related or not) there are a number of things you can do to help minimize or prevent water damage to your property.

Protect your property with the right flood insurance.

The average cost for homeowner flood loss is $48,000, according to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). While floods can cause major destruction, the damage caused by floods is not covered by st andard homeowners insurance policies. However, flood insurance is offered by the NFIP and available through Travelers.

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A flood insurance policy provides specialized coverage to help you protect your home and condo from rising waters. Costs vary depending on how much insurance is purchased, what it covers, and the property’s flood risk. In general, flood policies can provide coverage for your home’s structure, furnace, water heater, furniture, appliances, clothing, rugs (with certain limitations for basement areas) and certain expenses you incur to protect your home from imminent flood damage and clean up costs. Generally, there is a 30-day waiting period from date of purchase before your policy goes into effect. That means now is the best time to buy flood insurance.

If you have any questions regarding homeowners insurance or flood insurance, contact your agent or company representative.

Prepare & Prevent: Weather-related sources of floodwater damage

Before

Know your flood zone risk. Evaluate your flood risk.
Have your furnace, water heater and other permanent equipment elevated above the expected flood levels of your area.
Inspect sump pumps and drains regularly to ensure proper operation.
If you own a generator, have a licensed electrician provide a transfer switch to your sump pump so you can operate it in the event of flooding.
To help prevent sewage backup, have a licensed plumber install an interior or exterior backflow valve.
Keep s andbags on h and to help divert unusually high water away from your foundation.
In snowy climates, flag drains to avoid plowing snow on top of them.
Learn the flood alert signals of your community.
Collect emergency building materials if you live in a frequently flooded area. These include plywood, plastic sheeting, lumber, nails, shovels and s andbags.
Plan and practice an evacuation route. Designate a place for family members to meet in the event they become separated.
Review with all family members how to shut off utilities in an emergency.
Plan a kit with important documents, including insurance documents, medications and critical items in the event you need to leave your home.

During

Listen to a battery-operated radio or television for the latest storm information. If advised to evacuate, shut off all utilities and evacuate immediately.
Move to high ground, avoid rising waters and do not walk or drive through any floodwaters.
Stay away from downed power lines and electrical wires.

After

Listen to the radio and do not return home until authorities indicate it is safe to do so.
Be watchful of snakes that may have found their way into your home.
Throw away all food that has come in contact with floodwaters.
Remove st anding water as quickly as possible, including from your basement. If your basement is flooded, pump out the water gradually. Remove about 1/3 per day to avoid structural damage.
Properly dry or remove soaked carpets, padding and upholstery within 24-48 hours after a flood to prevent mold growth. Discard anything that cannot be properly dried.
Wash and disinfect all areas that have been flooded. This includes walls, floors, closets, shelves, as well as heating and air-conditioning systems.
Do not energize electrical or electronic equipment that may have suffered water damage without first having a qualified electrician inspect and/or test it.
Promptly report the loss to Travelers using the toll-free claim reporting number.

More on tips for wet basements.
Floodsmart Tips

Prepare & Prevent: Weather-related sources of water damage

You can minimize or help prevent water damage from sources from within the home through home maintenance steps, including:

Keep drains, gutters and downspouts clear of leaves and other debris.
Maintain your roof to prevent water from seeping into your home.
Move downspouts minimally three feet away from the base of your home.
Inspect and repair foundation wall cracks.
Grade your l andscape away from your building so water is directed away from the basement.

Prepare & Prevent: Non-weather, interior sources of water damage

You can minimize or help prevent water damage from sources from within the home through home maintenance steps, including:

Inspect washing machine hoses annually and replace every three–five years–or immediately, if there are any signs of cracking or bulging.
Inspect plumbing around water heaters, showers, tubs, toilets, sinks, and dishwashers annually and repair if there are any signs of leaks or corrosion. When possible, install water heaters in an area with floor drains to minimize damage if leaks should occur.
Inspect refrigerator icemaker connections, usually located behind the refrigerator, annually and replace hoses if they appear cracked or corroded.
Check air conditioning drain lines yearly and clean if clogged.

May 5, 2013

The storm is over – now what do you do?

The storm is over –
now what do you do?

After it is confirmed by authorities that the storm has passed and it is safe to go outdoors, you can begin to assess any potential damage. If you have property damage, you should report your claim as soon as possible. The more information you can provide when you report the loss, the better we can begin our response. However, if you have missing information but have sustained damage, please report your claim in any event.

Stay inside and make sure everyone is safe.

Stay tuned to the radio or television until an official “all clear” is given (if you were evacuated, return home only after authorities advise it is safe to do so.)

Avoid downed power lines.

Never touch anything in contact with power lines, including water or water puddles that may be near the downed power lines.

Protect property from further damage.

Board up broken windows to protect against v andalism or additional weather damage. Arrange for reasonable temporary repairs.

Keep accurate expense records.

Save bills and materials receipts from your temporary repairs. (Do not make permanent repairs until the insurance adjuster has reviewed the damage.) Also, keep accurate records of other expenses incurred.

Separate and inventory the damaged property.

Write a list of any damaged contents. Include the item description, name of the manufacturer, the br and name, age, the place and date of purchase, if known. Use any photographs, videotapes or personal property inventories you may already have to help.

April 23, 2013

Summer maintenance tips

Enjoy longer days and warmer nights while protecting your investment.

Summertime is the best time to be outside enjoying the weather. Make sure your deck or patio is ready for the summer sun by keeping in mind the seasonal maintenance tips below.

Check deck or patio for possible deterioration and safety hazards such as loose boards and protruding nails.
Check electrical outlets for potential fire hazards such as frayed wires or loose-fitting plugs. Be sure not to overload electrical outlets, fuse boxes, extension cords or any other power service.
Check all window and door locks to ensure correct functioning. Make sure all locks are secure and there are no holes in any of the screens.
Inspect recreational equipment for proper operation and possible dangers (e.g., Are swing sets secure, and do they contain any rusty bolts?).
Carefully inspect your toilet. Look for the erosion of plastic floater valves, and check all pipe connections.
Clean or replace your furnace filter.
Clean the clothes dryer exhaust duct and space under the dryer. Remove all lint, dust and pieces of material.
Inspect washing machine hoses periodically, and replace hoses that show signs of wear or leakage.
Have your roof inspected by a professional once every few years to identify areas of potential leakage.