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blog image of motorcycle safety gear

May is known as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. Did you know that motorcyclists are much more vulnerable to crashes than other drivers? According to NHTSA, there were 5,172 motorcyclists killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes – a decrease of 3 percent from the 5,337 motorcyclists killed in 2016. Motorcycle safety is becoming a growing concern. Of the 5,172 motorcyclists killed in traffic crashes, 94 percent (4,885) were riders and 6 percent (287) were passengers, says NHTSA.

Motorcyclists – How To Stay Safe

NHTSA estimates that helmets saved the lives of 1,872 motorcyclists in 2017. If all motorcyclists had worn helmets, an additional 749 lives could have been saved. An important note is to never buy a used helmet. A used helmet could have issues that are not noticeable on the surface and this could lead to a higher risk while operating a motorcycle. Helmets should not be worn after they have been through a crash. Here are some additional tips to help keep you safe on the road:

  • Avoid riding in poor weather conditions.
  • Remember to position your motorcycle to avoid a driver’s blind spot.
  • Use turn signals for every turn or lane change.
  • Following the speed limits on the road can help lessen the likelihood of a crash occurring.
  • Do not weave in and out of lanes.

Drivers – How To Be Aware of Motorcyclists

It’s not only up to motorcyclists to be safe and aware while driving on the road. Other drivers need to be aware and cautious when driving on the same road as a motorcyclist. Taking precautions while on the road can help protect yourself and those on motorcycles from being involved in an accident. Here are a few helpful tips to help keep you and others safe:

  • Allow a greater following distance when you are driving behind a motorcyclist. 
  • Exercise extra caution at intersections. Most crashes occur when a driver fails to see a motorcyclist while turning.
  • Do not try to share a lane with a motorcycle. Give motorcyclists the full lane width.
  • Always be aware of your blind spots. Motorcyclists tend to be in the blind spots of a vehicle. 

If you would like to learn more about how you can help keep yourself and motorcyclists safe on the road, visit NHTSA. They have more tips and information on motorcycle safety while you are on the road.

blog image of a happy employee receiving dental work covered under his employer provided dental insurance

Ray Silverstein, president of small business advisory group President’s Resource Organization, has said that there are specific benefits that good employees expect out of a job. Entrepreneur published his perspective that while medical insurance is at the top of that list of expectations, business owners should also be intentional about offering employees retirement plans, disability insurance, and life insurance as well. The reality is, only some benefit packages are required by law. These include withholding FICA taxes for the sake of retirement and disability; complying with FMLA; aligning with worker’s compensation requirements; and giving your employees time off for jury duty, military duties, or voting. However, it’s important to see why a great benefits package–including less traditional benefits like flex time–is key to showing your employees they have value. Here’s why.

Employee attainment and retention. 

Randstand US Research has noted that 61 percent of employees would consider accepting a lower salary if the company making the offer had a great benefits package. Forty-two percent of employees would actually consider quitting their current job and accepting a new one elsewhere because they are unhappy with current benefits. An attractive benefits package is basically viewed as a part of a salary offer and can, at times, make up for an annual wage that could be topped elsewhere.

Focus and attention. 

Employees who aren’t worried about finances are employees whose minds won’t wander as much at work. When it comes to long-term financial planning, the difference between feeling focused and committed to the job you have (instead of daydreaming for what position you should pursue next) can be rooted in a healthy 401(k) match, life insurance, or college debt assistance.

Loyalty. 

You want loyalty not just from your customers but also from your employees. Employees who feel seen and understood seem to know that their employer recognizes the number of hours they are putting in, not just in the office but on the telephone at home and during what was supposed to be a lunch break as well. At times, this recognition looks like the benefit of flex time. This may mean permission to head home early on a Friday, or permission to work some days remotely from home. Flex time also recognizes the pull of family circumstances on full time employees. 74 percent of employees say they have missed work due to a family circumstance. Employers who offer benefits communicate that they understand employees are also parents, children of aging parents, and simply “doing life” with people they love who have unexpected needs. 

Overall general health. 

Employees who have a strong health insurance package are more likely to see a physician when health issues arise. Instead of avoiding astronomical bills and giving a potentially treatable problem a chance to snowball, employees with health care plans, co-pays, and reasonable deductibles are less likely to put off important procedures and more likely to seek care when needed. This is where dental and vision insurance also steps in. If the numbers are doable for you as a business owner, you want to communicate to your employees that you fully value their physical and mental well-being.

blog image of monthly budget tracker suggesting financial literacy for april financial literacy month

April has been Financial Literacy Month since 2004, when the Senate passed a resolution aimed at helping the public see just how important it was to pursue financial education. A person who is financially “literate” knows how to budget, knows how to invest, and knows how to manage long-term finances. In general, you can consider yourself financially literate if…

…you know how to take care of your debt.

US News & World Report suggests that the wisest strategy for paying off what you owe is to start with your largest debt and pay more than you owe each month. If you receive a bonus at work, put it toward your debt. Stop using credit cards, and remove your auto-saved credit card data from the places you shop online. Dave Ramsey offers another approach. The national household debt in the United States, he says, totals $13.54 trillion. This includes car loans, student loans, and credit cards. Your personal debt, says Ramsey, should never be handled with debt consolidation, dipping into your 401k, home equity loans, or debt settlement. What will work is setting a monthly budget and deciding how every dollar will be spent. He suggests the snowball effect, which means you ignore interest rates and make the minimum payment on every debt except the smallest. Tackle the smallest debt with every extra penny you can spare. When that debt is paid off, move all that monthly spending onto your next smallest debt. 

…you understand interest rates.

Interest is basically the cost of borrowing someone else’s money or the bonus you get for loaning your money to someone else. If you’re the one borrowing, it means what you owe is going up slowly over time. The lender charges a specific percentage–per year, per month (it depends on the loan)–and it adds up when calculating just how much you are going to pay back in the long-term. You want to keep this in mind when deciding just how quickly to pay the loan off. If you buy a house for $200,000 (with a $20,000 downpayment), and your interest rate is at 4.1 percent, interest will make a difference in your total cost should you take 15 years to pay it off or 30 years. If you can pay it back in 15 years, the total cost of your home, including interest, will end up $261,286. If you take 30 years instead, the added interest will raise the final amount you spent on your home to $333,114. That’s more than $70,000 extra spent simply because you took more time to pay it back.

…you protect your assets.

If you’re an entrepreneur, you’ll want an insurance agent on your side to make sure you obtain appropriate business insurance, to make sure your personal assets aren’t at risk of being claimed by your creditors, and to obtain an umbrella policy. If you’re a renter or a homeowner, you need insurance that will step in and protect you financially should your property experience damage or destruction. If you’re a business owner, you may want coverage for work-related vehicle accidents in case an employee has an accident while on the clock, harming someone else or someone else’s property. You also want to learn about planning for how you would pay for being cared for in the event of an injury, or even the effects of aging. Long-term care insurance, for example, can protect your financial assets if you unexpectedly suffer a stroke or begin experiencing symptoms of dementia and you suddenly need to pay for care at a nursing home. 

…you know how much money you actually have.

In an age where we can swipe a credit card and debit card for any purchase, some individually truly do not know how much money they have from one moment to the next. While you don’t necessarily need to switch back to a checkbook with a spending deduction log in the back, you do need a plan for checking in on your spending in real time. This includes budgeting, regularly logging into online banking to check your balances, and knowing whether your credit card bills can actually be covered within your budget at the end of the month. Financial literacy also means knowing what a reliable cushion of cash looks like so you never creep towards that $0 balance in checking, which puts you at risk of additional fees and penalties. 

blog image of a person washing their hands to prevent covid-19

The world has been filled with chaos and worry amid the coronavirus outbreak that has affected many people around the world. In response to the virus, many businesses have been forced to shut down and states have begun issuing stay at home orders. Below are some facts about the virus and what you can do to help protect yourself and others.

How It Spreads

The COVID-19 coronavirus is mainly spread through person-to-person contact. This is why following the government guidelines such as staying six feet apart (or social distancing) and staying inside your home (or self quarantine) is crucial to limiting the coronavirus’ spread to others. Being within six feet of a carrier of the virus or a potential carrier who sneezes/coughs near you could lead to you contracting the virus. The best way to prevent this virus is to avoid being exposed to it, which is why it is so important to follow the guidelines given by the CDC and the government.

How To Protect Yourself

How else can you protect yourself if you are already participating in social distancing and practicing self quarantining? We’ve learned through the weeks fighting the virus that washing your hands for at least 20 seconds is a key factor in fighting off germs associated with the virus. If you do not have access to soap and water, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. It is important to not touch your eyes, mouth, or nose with unwashed hands. As mentioned above, the best way to keep yourself protected is to avoid close contact with people.

How To Protect Others

Protecting yourself is one thing, but how can you protect others? If you are sick, it is important that you stay at home. When you are sick and have to leave the house, wear a face mask while out in public to minimize the spread of your germs. You will be putting others at risk to get sick if you choose to go out. When coughing or sneezing, use a tissue or use the inside of your elbow. If you do use a tissue, throw it away as soon as you are done. After you cough or sneeze, wash your hands immediately. If you are not sick, do not wear a face mask unless you are caring for someone who is sick. Face masks are in short supply and should be saved for those caregivers and medical professionals.

It is important to clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. These types of surfaces could be light switches, tables, doorknobs, handles, toilets, and other high-touch surfaces. 

We’ve been thrown into a time of uncertainty and it is up to us to protect each other so we can return to normalcy and work towards a healthier tomorrow. If you would like to know more about the COVID-19 pandemic and how to stay safe visit the CDC Official Website.

A DUI charge can have serious consequences. For one, driving under the influence makes you a danger to yourself, your passengers, and others on the road. Each state has different laws and penalties, but in most cases your license will be suspended, you’ll have to pay large fees and fines, and you may even spend time in jail. Your car insurance premiums may also go up by a huge percentage, depending on your state. Police are more vigilant in looking for intoxicated drivers around holidays, so in light of the upcoming Labor Day weekend, here are some tips on how to have a safe holiday weekend.

Most Importantly: Don’t Drink and Drive

This is the simplest way to avoid a DUI. There is always a risk when you drink alcohol and drive, even if you are smart about it. You can keep yourself and others safe by avoiding the practice completely. One way of doing this is to simply not drink when you know you’ll need to drive a vehicle later or to use a designated driver. Everyone appreciates a designated driver (DD), and with your friends or partner you can take turns acting as the DD so no one has to do it all the time. You can also use a diver service app, taxi, or call someone to come pick you up. A little expense, or owing someone a favor, is worth it in the long run if you’re able to stay safe.

If You Do, Be Smart About It 

Three things are the most important when you drink alcohol and know you will be driving later. 

First: Hydration

Before you begin drinking, hydrate yourself by drinking several glasses of water. Also drink a glass of water in between every drink you have. One bonus of doing this is that you’ll end up spending less money on expensive drinks!

Second: Food

It is incredibly important to eat enough food before you drink alcohol. Consuming a full meal, especially one that contains protein and fats. It should be noted that after you begin drinking alcohol, eating food will not “absorb” the alcohol like many people believe it will. Only the food that is already in your stomach will slow down the rate that the alcohol enters your system. 

Third: Number of Drinks

Limit yourself to a small number of drinks. This number will change depending on your weight, age, and gender. There are methods and apps that you can use to estimate what your blood alcohol content may be. 

The Bottom Line 

The only thing that will, without fail, keep you from getting a DUI is to not drink and drive. This is especially important on a holiday weekend, where DUI patrols are increased. If you do partake, be responsible about it. It’s possible to enjoy your holiday weekend and still stay safe and DUI free.

blog image of college students in classroom; blog title: What Kind of Insurance Does a College Student Need_

With colleges starting back up, maybe you have a child returning to school or leaving for the first time. You’ve got the twin XL sheets, the posters and the textbooks. Did you know that you also might need insurance for your college student?

Auto Insurance

If you already have auto insurance for your child’s car (and you should!), don’t cancel it if they are not taking their vehicle to college with them. There is a chance your auto insurance premiums could actually drop significantly if your child moves more than 100 miles from home. Most importantly, your child will still be covered when they return home and drive their vehicle. If they do take their vehicle off to college, thankfully they should still be covered under your policy. However your premiums may change depending on where your child is living during college – especially if they go out of state. 

Renters Insurance 

The good news is that if your child will be living in on-campus dorms or other university sponsored housing, their possessions should remain covered under your homeowners insurance. It’s important to note that the coverage limits may be different, so be sure to thoroughly discuss everything with your insurance agent before your child leaves. 

If your child will be living off-campus, their possessions will no longer be covered under your homeowners policy, and you will need to purchase a separate renters insurance policy to cover their items. A renters policy can protect your child’s expensive electronics such as a laptop or TV as well as other high value items like musical equipment or instruments. Like your homeowners insurance, your child’s renters policy also covers their insured possessions whether they’re inside your child’s living quarters or not. 

Health Insurance 

Although your child is eligible to remain on your own health insurance plan until they turn 26, there are still some things to consider when they leave for college. If your child will be living out of state during the school season and is not willing or able to return home for doctors’ visits, they may struggle with finding in-network providers. With the exception of emergencies, many health policies offer limited or no coverage for out of network providers. Before you make any moves, check with your child’s school to see if there are any in-network providers close to campus. 

If there are not, you have two options. First, you can have your child knock out all necessary medical appointments before leaving for school and schedule future appointments to coincide with breaks. If you do want the peace of mind that good coverage offers, look into supplementing your child’s health coverage with a student health insurance policy. Coverage may also be available through their college or your child could purchase their own coverage in the health insurance market. 

Sending your child off to college is an exciting time, whether they are a freshman or a fifth-year senior. Make sure your student has all the protection they need by utilizing the right insurance tools. 

blog image of millennial accessories: smart phone, sneakers, fidget spinner. blog title: 4 practical insurance tips for millennials

Millennials (young people born between 1981 and 1996) are now reaching a place in their lives where they have to start making important financial decisions, such as when to buy a house or have children. With the average amount of millennial debt rising, it is becoming more difficult for young people to build up savings. That is why it is incredibly important that millennials make the investment in insurance. If the unexpected occurs, many uninsured or underinsured millennials will be without any safety net to help them recover.

Part of the problem with people of this age being uninsured or underinsured is simply a lack of information. So, for any millennials reading, here are 4 practical insurance tips for you. 

Work with an Independent Agent – Not Google

What do you do when you need to do something difficult for the first time? You go to an expert! For many people, this expert is Google. But there is a lot of misinformation out there, and millennials know more than anyone that you can’t trust everything you read online. Millennials are smart – there is no doubt about that. However, many do not realize what kind of insurance they may need, or just how important it is, so they don’t have all the coverage they should. This is a big mistake, especially for those who are starting families or building a business. An independent insurance agent is a friend in the business who can guide you in the best course of action. Sure, you could buy insurance online, but you may not get the best rates. The job of an independent agent is to do the hard work of finding the best possible coverage for the lowest possible price tag. This means less stress on you and more time to spend doing the things you love! 

Stop Worrying So Much About the Price Tag 

We get it. Many millennials have a lot of expenses, and it can sometimes feel like you are living paycheck to paycheck. How much do you think insurance costs per month? Whatever number you are holding in your head, there’s a good chance the true number is lower. There are also a lot of discounts that are available if you perform certain behaviors. Yes, this often means “adulting” things. Your agent is your resource for this kind of information, so don’t be shy about asking what kind of discounts are available.

Cover Your Gaps to Protect Your Valuables 

Again, this is where the advice and expertise of an independent insurance agent is invaluable. While it’s true that your possessions are covered under your homeowners or renters insurance, you may have items that require higher limits to be properly covered. This could be an engagement ring or other high-value jewelry, musical instruments or equipment, sporting equipment, expensive electronics, or other items of value. Your agent can advise you on adding additional coverage for these type of items. 

Don’t Shoot Down Life Insurance 

You may think you are too young to purchase life insurance at this age, but that simply is not true. Your 20s and 30s is actually the ideal age to buy a life insurance policy, because you will likely receive much better rates now when you are young and healthy than you will later in life. Life insurance is designed to provide a financial net for expenses you leave in the event of your death. We know it’s probably crazy to think about, but life insurance is designed to protect against the unthinkable, and just because it’s difficult to think about does not mean it isn’t necessary. 

If you are a millennial who needs a guide in purchasing your own insurance for the first time, we can help! As independent agents, we will be on your side – not the side of the insurance companies. This means you can trust us to act in your best interest. Get in touch today!

Experiencing a car accident is stressful enough on its own. Add to that the possibility of medical bills, car repair bills, and the cost of renting a vehicle while yours is in the shop, and you’ll definitely feel overwhelmed. However, with rental car assistance or reimbursement, you may not have to worry too much about the latter. Here are 5 things you need to know about getting a rental car after an accident. 

It’s Not a Guarantee

Your ability to get a rental vehicle while yours undergoes repairs depends on a few different factors. First, do you even have this add-on in your policy? The add on that allows you to get coverage for a rental vehicle after an accident is called rental reimbursement coverage, and as an optional coverage, it is not automatically included in your auto insurance. However just because it’s optional does not mean you should go without it. 

Second, who was at fault for the accident? If it was deemed to be you, see the paragraph above. If you are not at fault, you will be dealing with the other driver’s insurance provider to handle the claim. The other driver’s insurance provider should give you a rental car that is comparable to the one that was damaged in the accident. 

The Loss Must Be a Covered Loss 

Rental reimbursement coverage cannot be used if your vehicle is in the shop for routine maintenance or any cosmetic work such as paint or other voluntary modifications. Even if it is in the shop for a few days, you cannot apply for rental reimbursement coverage in this instance. You also cannot utilize the coverage if you are taking a trip and renting a vehicle – unless you are renting a vehicle because your own is being repaired after an accident. As long as the loss is being covered by your auto insurance, you are free to use your rental reimbursement coverage. 

It’s Not as Expensive as You Think 

Car rental company Enterprise reported that the average American drives 3-4 different places per day, and the average length of time for a vehicle repair is two weeks. Renting a vehicle can cost upwards of $300 a week, depending on the size. However, a year of rental reimbursement coverage usually costs less than a single day of a rental car payment. Although there are limits, in the long run the benefits truly outweigh the costs.

blog image of a nice, new home; blog title: The Most Important Thing to Do When Closing on a Home

When you’re a first time home buyer, you might be expecting the process to be more glamorous and exciting than it is in reality. Now, buying your first home is certainly an exciting event, but glamorous? Last time we checked, there wasn’t much glamor about paperwork… If you’re like most people, you will work with a mortgage lender to purchase your new home. Therefore process of closing on your home will involve an almost overwhelming amount of paperwork and finances, but this is a good thing. It ensures that your investment is made with all the right t’s crossed and i’s dotted. However there is one important thing you must do before you can close on your home, and that’s purchasing homeowners insurance.

Why Homeowners Insurance?

Would it surprise you to learn that purchasing homeowners insurance coverage is a requirement for closing on a home, if you finance through a lender? That’s right. Lenders require you to have home insurance for at least a year in order to allow you to close on your home. The thinking behind this is that by lending you the funds to buy a house, your lender needs an assurance from you that they are not going to suffer a huge loss if something happens to your new home. You see, that new home is an investment for both you and your lender, and when left uninsured, your home is a huge liability for your lender. This is why they usually will not agree to giving you a loan until you have proved that you have homeowners insurance in place.

What Will You Need to Bring?

It is common practice for lenders to ask you to bring your homeowners insurance binder with you to the closing meeting. The binder acts as definitive proof from your insurer that your home and its contents are covered under a policy. Some lenders may accept a photocopy of your insurance documents or a letter from your insurer.

How Do You Know Which Insurer to Choose?

This is where the assistance of an independent insurance agent is invaluable. Just like shopping around for a mortgage lender is a smart idea, shopping around for the best homeowners insurance is also a smart practice. But with your busy life, you probably don’t have time to shop the insurance market. Work with a dedicated independent insurance agent, and they will shop the market for you to find the best policy and most competitive rates.

School’s out, the sun’s out, and pretty soon you might be out of town! As you’re packing for your summer vacation, insurance is probably the last thing on your mind. You’re probably thinking about what clothes to bring, whether you need both your phone and tablet, or trying to dig out the snowboard you haven’t used in months. However as with every big moment in life, there are always insurance considerations to keep in mind.

Property Damage

This can come in two forms – damage or loss of your own property or damage to others property. In the first instance, the same homeowners or renters insurance that covers your personal property against theft, vandalism, or some acts of nature when you’re at home also covers your possessions you take with you on vacation. This is especially important for more expensive items such as electronics, jewelry, or even sporting equipment you take on vacation. On the flip side, this coverage also ensures you are safeguarded against any loss that happens to the property you left behind when you’re away from home. The important thing to note for this kind of coverage is that your policy must have certain limits of coverage in order to protect everything you want protected.

The other way in which your insurance can protect you in the case of property damage while you’re on vacation applies to the property of others. This is especially important if you’re renting a house or condo and end up breaking or damaging the property itself or something inside it. This type of coverage is called your personal liability policy, and if you cause damage in the place you’re vacationing, you may be covered by it.

Medical Emergencies

This one depends on where you are vacationing. In the case of medical emergencies inside the U.S., you should not encounter many obstacles regarding your insurance coverage extending to other in-network hospitals. You should expect to pay rates similar to what you’d pay at home. However, depending on your policy you may not be covered if you visit an out-of-network hospital in another city or state. It is best to know up front before you embark on your journey – for this you will speak to your insurance agent. You should also put “insurance card” on your packing list, if you don’t already carry it with you at all times (which you should!). Your home doctor may also offer “tele” services – meaning he or she can diagnose you over phone or video chat, and you get to stay in network no matter where you are in the country.

If you’re traveling out of the country, you may be surprised to learn that your coverage is more than you expected. Again, this is an instance in which it is most appropriate to speak to your agent before your trip to find out exactly what the out-of-pocket expenses would be for medical care abroad. Keep in mind this only applies to medical emergencies, not elective procedures.

The most important thing is to notify your insurance agent that you’ll be traveling, and to ask them if there are any updates needed to your policies. With an independent insurance agent on your side, you’ll have a friend to help you properly prepare for this exciting upcoming trip.