Read Your Policy Carefully
You should be aware that an auto insurance policy is a legal contract. It is written so your rights and responsibilities, as well as those of the insurance company, are clearly stated. When you purchase auto insurance, you will receive a policy. You should read that policy and make certain you understand its contents. If you have questions about your insurance policy, contact your insurance agent for clarification. If you still have questions, turn to your state insurance department.

For Your Protection
Once you have selected the insurance coverages you need and an insurance agent or company, there are steps you can take to make certain you get your money’s worth. Before signing an application for any insurance coverage, call you state insurance department and verify that the company and the agent are licensed to do business in your state. It is illegal for unlicensed insurers to sell insurance, and if you buy from an unlicensed insurer, you have no guarantee that the coverage you pay for will ever be honored.  

Two factors determine what you pay for auto insurance. The first factor is underwriting and the second factor is rating. Insurance companies underwrite to assess the risk associated with an applicant, group the applicant with other similar risks and decide if the company will accept the application. Based on the results of the underwriting process, the rating assigns a price based on what the insurer believes it will cost to assume the financial responsibility for the applicant’s potential claim.

Each company adopts its own rating system, although there are general guidelines that all companies follow. 
The single greatest influence on the rating process is claim frequency. This does not mean how many times you specifically have made an insurance claim, although that will have an additional effect. Claim frequency measures how often an insured event occurs within a group relative to the number of policies contained in that group. Persons sharing characteristics with high claims groups will be charged more for insurance coverage. 

Every ten seconds a car is broken into somewhere in the United States. An experienced thief can brake into your car in 5 seconds, and braking into the trunk is even easier. Viet Nguyen of the Arlington County, VA police department advises parking in well lit areas. Another way to protect your car is by installing anti-theft devices such as wheel locks and ignition cut-off switches. The Insurance Information Institute urges drivers to always lock their cars. By making your car harder to steal than the one parked next to it, you lessen the likelihood that your car will be stolen.

Many small business owners purchase a business package policy called a “BOP” – a business owner’s policy. A BOP typically includes property insurance, business interruption/continuation insurance and liability insurance. Often it is a less costly option for small businesses than buying a set of individual policies. Many insurers customize BOPs for specific types of businesses.

However, a BOP does not cover professional liability (liability claims arising from wrongful practice by professionals), auto insurance, workers’ compensation, health or disability insurance – all of which need to be purchased separately.

Not all businesses qualify for a BOP. For example, a factory or jewelry store would probably not qualify for a BOP. Those businesses – because of their unique risks – usually require more customized coverage than what’s included in a standard BOP.

A home-based business or a company with only a few employees may start out with a BOP and then expand its coverage as it grows.

We help take the mystery out of insurance for small business. Contact our office for a no-obligation review of all your insurance needs.

Property insurance protects small business owners from losses due to damage to physical space or equipment and as a result of theft. For insurance purposes, a business’ property includes the physical building in which it resides, as well as its other assets. All of the following, owned or leased, can be considered business property:

• The actual building
• Inventory
• Furniture, equipment and supplies
• Machinery
• Computers and other data processing equipment
• Valuable papers, books and documents
• Artwork and antiques
• Television sets, VCRs, DVD players, satellite dishes
• Signs, fences and outdoor property not attached to a building
• Non-tangible items such as trademarks and copyrights

Contact our office for a no-obligation review of all your business insurance needs.

Home insurance is important for both homeowners and renters. Homeowners need to purchase insurance to protect their homes and personal property. Those who rent need insurance to protect their furniture and personal property. Everyone needs protection against liability for accidents that injure other people or damage their property.

Whether you live in tornado alley, wildfire zones or along coastlines prone to flooding and hurricanes – now is the time to properly insure your home and possessions.

In recent years severe weather disasters across the country have inflicted more than $43 billion in damage. But research suggests more than half of consumers do not have an inventory of their possessions. Now is the time to make sure you have properly insured your 'stuff.'

Creating a simple home inventory helps you track what you own and what it is worth, making important insurance decisions easier.

Beyond the sale price, insurance is one of the most important financial questions to consider before buying a new car.

Most states require individuals to purchase insurance coverage to drive legally.Auto insurance can be divided into two basic coverage areas: liability and property damage.

When shopping for auto insurance, premium quotations are a useful tool for comparison of different companies’ products. Two factors determine what you pay for auto insurance. The first fact or is underwriting where insurance companies assess the risk associated with an applicant. The second factor is rating; the rating assigns a price based on what the insurer believes it will cost to assume the financial responsibility for the applicant’s potential claim.

With the joys of a new ride comes much responsibility – especially when the unexpected occurs.

Do you know the difference between Term and Whole life insurance? Permanent versus Variable policies? Make sure you understand the basics about life insurance.

Please contact our office for a no-obligation review of all your insurance needs.

Home-based businesses – those exclusively run from a home and no other location – comprise roughly half of all U.S. businesses and generate a huge amount of economic activity, according to the Small Business Administration (SBA). Some of the top types of home-based businesses are the following:

• Professional, scientific and technical services
• Consultants and freelancers
• Construction
• Retail
• Specialized services (e.g. music instructors, day-care)

While some home-based businesses grow into full-fledged companies that employ substantial numbers of people, most remain quite small. According to the SBA:

• 90 percent are sole proprietorships
• 7.2 percent have fewer than 5 employees
• Just over 1 percent have 5-19 employees
• About 0.2 percent have 20 or more employees

Regardless of their exact size or type, home-based businesses – like all businesses – should be properly insured to protect their assets and their owners against certain risks. Often, home-based businesses are underinsured – a fact their owners discover after an incident occurs when they realize the insurance they have is inadequate to address the magnitude of the problem.

Types of Insurance to Consider 
If you have a home-based business or are thinking about starting one, it’s a good idea to learn about the range of insurance products available. While your specific business may not require all types of insurance, it’s important to understand your potential risks and your insurance options.

Please contact our agency for a no-obligation review of your home business insurance needs.

Crystal tells Kirk how to smartly save money on his homeowners insurance and avoid the mistake of insuring for the real estate value.

Contact our agency for more tips on how to smartly save on all your insurance needs.