Category: Uncategorized

Debt happens. When it comes to pursuing a post-secondary education, loans can be an important means to an end. But before you choose between federal and private loans (or choose a combination of the two), you need to understand the difference and the long-term effect each can have on you and your family’s future. This includes knowing whether it means leaving loved ones in debt should you face a personal tragedy. 

Federal student loans are funded by the federal government. On a federal student loan, the terms and conditions for repayment are based on the law. As a student, you don’t have to start paying on the loan until you graduate, unenroll, or drop your hours to less than half-time. You may also qualify for a subsidized loan if you need the government to take care of the interest on your loan while you are still in school, provided you enrolled in enough credit hours. Federal student loans offer protection for your family after your death. If you pass away, your loan will be “discharged,” meaning dismissed, once proof of death is submitted to the company that handles the billing on your loan (also known as a loan servicer). FORBES magazine warned last summer, however, that not all federal student loans are dissolved so quickly. A PLUS loan taken out by parents, even if forgiven, can still have parents on the hook for paying income taxes on the forgiven loan.

Private student loans are made by a lender, which may include a credit union, a bank, a state agency, or a school. The Office of the U.S. Department of Education clarifies that on a private loan, these terms and conditions are set by the lender and may or may not require you to make payments while still enrolled in school. The interest rate may be fixed or variable and may include a penalty for paying the loan off early. Note that a private student loan is intended only for education; it is not the same as a personal loan, which can be used for home projects or weddings. A private personal loan may include language that excludes the use of the funds for post-secondary education. It is important to note that while private student loans may come with a death and disability policy, the lender may still try to collect from your estate and/or co-signers. Some states are community property states, which means a spouse can be on the hook for student loan debt after your death even if he or she didn’t co-sign on it. The answer to this conundrum is often a term life insurance policy that will cover student loan debt in the event of your death. 

Depending on your job, you may need to do a lot of driving at night. Or perhaps you like to leave in the wee hours to go on family vacation, so you can arrive at a decent time the next day. Some drivers do prefer night driving because the roads are more open. Even so, night driving comes with a lot of setbacks and risks you need to be aware of. With the vision impairments and accidents associated with night driving, drivers should take the following night driving tips into consideration. 

Avoid Overdriving Your Vehicle’s Headlights 

The term “overdriving” refers to when you’re driving so fast that your stopping time is farther than you can see with your headlights. This is dangerous, especially if there are large vehicles like semi-trucks on the road. Make sure that your vehicle’s headlights are clean and have functioning bulbs so their beam of light shines as far as it can. Also, learn your approximate stopping time in relation to how far your lights illuminate in order to avoid overdriving and risking crashing into anything ahead of you.  

Don’t Look Directly at Other Sources of Light 

Oncoming headlights and other bright light sources can end up temporarily blinding you to the road and what’s ahead. Be sure to avoid looking directly at these. When you’re going through lighting changes (from a well-lit, populated highway to one that is much darker) allow your eyes to adjust before increasing the speed at which you’re traveling and use your brights if you’re away from other vehicles. 

Watch Out for Wildlife 

Your headlights can pick up the retinas of animals before your eyes can register their bodies. If you see two small glowing spots in the distance, slow down as much as you can, as an animal is most likely ahead. If the situation calls for you to choose between your safety and the animal’s, choose yours first. But remember that crashing into an animal at a high speed can greatly endanger you and cause serious damage to your vehicle. If you cannot swerve safely, you must slow down significantly.  

Don’t Drive Drowsy  

Driving at night can be tiring. If you aren’t well rested, your driving will inherently become impaired. If you are too fatigued, find a rest stop and take a break, or switch off with another person in the car — night driving is risky enough, so you’ll need all of your alertness to make the trip safely during this time. 

Get Your Eyes Checked 

If you haven’t done so already, it may be beneficial for you to schedule an eye exam. The frequency at which you should get one depends on your age and race. An ophthalmologist should be able to tell you what is recommended for your vision health. 

Remember, traffic accidents and fatalities are greater at night. It’s of the utmost importance that you drive carefully when your vision and driving ability is impaired by the factors of the night. If you need auto insurance, call one of our agents today. 

In this Internet age, it’s incredibly easy to purchase insurance online – directly from the carrier and without ever having to leave your screen. When you’re in charge of insuring a fleet of commercial vehicles, this option is surely tempting. You don’t have much time, and purchasing insurance direct online will save you both time and money, right? It’s probably not as simple as that. Sure, the DIY approach might save you some time upfront, but how much do you really understand about the process? You’re an expert in your business, so you should be working with an expert in the insurance field to get the coverage that best fits your needs.  

YOU GET MORE OPTIONS 

When it comes to your carrier and coverage options, there is a clear benefit to working with an independent agent. Whether you’re running a trucking company or a business with commercial vehicles, you’re already busy around the clock. You don’t have time to scour the internet for the best insurance. Instead of having to shop around on your own, your agent will do that work for you and provide you with choices, so you can get the coverage that is best for exactly what you need.  

THEY’VE DONE THIS BEFORE  

A good agent knows their stuff. They have assisted numerous clients with purchasing commercial auto insurance for their business vehicles, so they understand the ins and outs of the process. If you try to go it alone – especially if it’s your first time purchasing insurance for your business – you may find yourself lost or confused, without anyone to give advice. Using an agent ensures that you have someone taking care of you who knows what is going on at all times and can explain it to you in plain terms. And if you have to file a claim? Your agent’s support and expertise will be even more invaluable in such a potentially stressful time.  

IT’S A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP  

This can be one of the greatest advantages of working with an independent agent rather than purchasing insurance directly from a carrier. When you purchase coverage on your own, you may do it online and never speak to a real human. If you call the carrier, you will likely be connected to an employee in a call center. While it is possible to have a good experience with one of these employees, you won’t be able to build a relationship in the same way that you can with your own personal agent. Independent agents specialize in building an insurance portfolio just for you, so we understand the unique needs and challenges of your business in a way that a direct representative of a carrier may not. For your commercial auto insurance needs, the advantages of working with an independent insurance agent are clear. 

It’s the topic no one needs to think about, but everyone needs to think about it. For as the saying goes, the only things in life that are certain are death and taxes. When the time comes for you or a loved one, nothing helps people say goodbye like a meaningful funeral. However, they do take planning. Here is what you need to know to be prepared.  

YES, YOU DO NEED TO MAKE A PLAN  

A 2017 study by the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) found that only 21% of Americans discuss funeral plans with a loved one. Unless you want your loved ones to have to make a number of big decisions with big price tags in a matter of several days, you need to have a funeral plan set in place.  

WORK WITH LOVED ONES TO PLAN 

From casket choice to music choice, there are a lot of decisions to be made in the funeral planning process. It will be a huge relief for your loved ones to just have to follow your plan, especially at a time when they are grieving. You do not have to work alone in planning. Enlist your children or other loved ones to be involved in the process. This way, you get assistance and they will already be familiar with the plan when the time comes to put it into place. Most importantly, write the plan down and save several copies in places that will be easily remembered. You or your loved ones can even save a copy on a computer, so it can be easily accessed later.  

MAKE CHOICES, BUT DO NOT COMMIT  

Many funeral homes sell packages that they say provide discounted rates if you prepay. This might sound smart, but what will you do if you change your decisions, if the funeral home goes out of business, or if you move to a different state? Planning does not have to mean prepaying. What planning means is calling different funeral homes to get an average idea of their rates and packages, choosing the one that you like best, and simply making note of it in your funeral plan. By the time of your death, the funeral home could have closed, changed their prices, or something else that might cause your loved ones to alter the plan. Create your plan with flexibility in mind. 

CONSIDER FUNDING YOUR FUNERAL WITH AN INSURANCE PLAN  

If you’re worried about you or your loved ones having the money on hand to pay for your funeral, there is nothing better you can do than purchasing an insurance plan that will cover the costs. If you have a life insurance policy, make sure its limits allow for the costs of a funeral. If you do not have life insurance and are not interested in getting it (although, truly, everyone should have it), you can purchase a final expense plan that is specifically intended to cover the costs of a funeral and burial. Having the funds guaranteed in place by an insurance policy takes a huge burden off of those you leave behind. It truly is the smartest option.

It has long been said that dogs are humankind’s best friend. If you have a canine companion you love, chances are they are an integral part of your family life. They snuggle with you (or on the dog bed) at movie nights, attend your barbeques and parties, and run to greet the delivery worker. But for some dog owners, living with their furry friend can cause home insurance rates to rise. It all depends on what breed of dog you own. That is why the assistance of an independent insurance agent is invaluable. They can shop the market to find you the lowest rates that will cover the “risks” that the insurance companies believe your dog’s breed pose.

Here Are the Most Common Breeds:

• Akitas
• Alaskan Malamutes
• Bull Mastiffs
• Chow Chows
• Doberman Pinschers
• German Shepherds
• Great Danes
• Pit Bulls and Staffordshire Terriers
• Presa Canarios
• Rottweilers
• Siberian Husky
• Wolf Hybrids

First Thing’s First

Do not conceal your dog’s breed from your insurance agent. This may be tempting since, as we will soon discuss, owning a “high-risk breed” dog will probably increase your home insurance rates. You may believe that your dog is the most angelic creature in the world, but dogs are animals and we can never know what may frighten or intimidate them into aggressive action. If there is an incident where your dog harms either your property or a visitor, you will wish you’d been paying those higher premiums all along. The average claim payout for dog bites, one of the most costly claims, is a whopping $30,000. If your insurance carrier denies you coverage because you lied or concealed information from them, you could find yourself responsible for that hefty check. Yikes.

What Will Happen?

When you own a dog that is considered a more “high-risk” or traditionally “aggressive breed,” it can be difficult to even find an insurance carrier that will cover your dog under your policy. Once you do, with the assistance of your independent agent, you will likely be required to increase your liability coverage limits. The amount can vary – it is best to rely on your agent’s expertise for this. Remember how we mentioned the average payout for a dog bite is 30K? You want to make sure you have adequate coverage or else some of that money could have to come out of your own pocket.

It’s possible your insurance carrier may want you to purchase a separate umbrella policy instead of simply increasing your liability limits. An umbrella policy can be useful, not just in the case of pet damage or attacks, but also for any incident that happens on your own property.

Take Preventative Measures

In order to reduce the risk of your dog biting someone or otherwise causing injury, there are some steps you can take. Do not engage your dog in aggressive play, put your dog in its kennel or room in situations where it seems stressed, and be sure to work on socializing and training your dog when you first adopt it. Maintain a securely fenced yard if your dog spends significant time outside, and always supervise your dog when it plays with visitors – especially children who may not yet know how to treat an animal gently.

Your beloved dog’s breed does not have to stop you from being properly insured. Independent agents can shop the insurance market for you in order to find you a homeowner’s policy that provides adequate coverage and allows for your “high-risk” breed dog.

The thought of facing a lawsuit at your business is a scary thing. Large businesses likely have a legal department that is practiced at handling these situations, and they may even have a budget set aside specifically for legal matters. For small businesses, it is not so easy. Small business owners may think that the threat of legal action will never happen to them. The unfortunate truth is that this is simply not true. In fact, according to one poll, 43% of small business owners have been involved with or faced the threat of a lawsuit.

The damages resulting from legal costs may be enough to put you out of business. Even if they don’t, the financial hardship will put immense stress on you and your employees. To add to that, the lawsuit may be something that harms your reputation in the eyes of the public or even the media. In order to protect yourself, your employees, and your bottom line from the myriad negative effects of a lawsuit, you must make sure you are properly prepared. This means having the right business insurance and good legal counsel available.

What Kind of Insurance Is Needed to Prepare for a Lawsuit?

It should go unsaid, but you need to make sure your business has the insurance coverage it needs before the threat of a lawsuit ever appears on the horizon. Because when it becomes too late, the consequences may just destroy everything. Here are the most common types of business insurance that can protect you against the consequences of a lawsuit.

General Liability

This policy is the first line of defense for small business owners facing a lawsuit. It is designed to cover common exposures and minimize your financial risks, such as the costs of undergoing a lawsuit. If an employee slips and falls or a customer accuses your business of false advertising, your general liability will protect you against these claims. It will also help with any legal fees, court costs, or settlement costs that may result from a lawsuit.

Specialized Coverage

Depending on your industry, your business may need more specialized insurance protection. Your independent insurance agent can help you to discern the unique risks of your business and your industry, then design an insurance profile that helps to cover these risks. That is why working with a local, independent insurance agent is so valuable. Because they live and work in your region or even community, they understand the issues you face every day. Don’t let your business go underinsured. Speak with your independent agent to make sure you have all the coverage you need to keep your business running even in the face of a lawsuit.

Moving into a new home can be an exciting, yet stressful, process. In the mix of things, you shouldn’t have to worry about the safety of your children. Use these tips to make sure that every area of your home is childproof and safe for your kids to play in. 

Start with Rules 

In order to ensure that your children understand what is safe and what is not, you need to set some ground rules. Identify certain rooms that your children are allowed to play in and those they are not able to be in. For instance, many families store power tools and other hazardous materials in their basement. Therefore, their children are not allowed in this room in order to guarantee that the kids are safe and sound. 

Tell your children which rooms are off limits and which are completely okay. If you catch them disobeying your rules, explain to them why certain rooms are off limits so that they understand the reasoning behind the rules! 

Keep Valuables Hidden 

If you have anything incredibly valuable in your home, it is in your best interest to hide it out of reach from your children. Kids are naturally curious and will search all over the house for something interesting to play with. If you have any jewelry, valuable items, or something that may hurt the child such as sharp knives or firearms, make sure to always keep it out of their reach. From lost jewelry to unfortunate accidents, you do not want your children getting hold of your valuable items. 

Avoid Glass Tables and Decorations 

In an attempt to keep your children safe and decorate your house accordingly, try to avoid using glass tables in your home. Glass tables can easily break if there is an accident or someone was to fall. In addition, glass decorations can easily be picked up and dropped, resulting in shards of glass all over the floor and your home. Use other materials for your decorations, tables, and other areas of your home. 

Even if your children stay completely safe in your home, there are other incidents that could befall it. Make sure you have the home insurance coverage you need to stay protected. Speak to your agent today about updating your homeowners policy, including adding coverage for valuable items. 

According to the 2019 Insurance Barometer Study by Life Happens and LIMRA, 43% of American households do not have any life insurance. Furthermore, 40% of those households reported that they would immediately struggle to pay living expenses if their primary wage owner were to die without the security of life insurance. If so many Americans understand how important life insurance is, why do they remain uninsured? 

MYTH: LIFE INSURANCE IS TOO EXPENSIVE.  

This is a big one. Many American families do not feel comfortable enough with their financial situation to purchase a life insurance policy. They believe they cannot afford it, and that they probably won’t need it anyway. The truth is, none of us know what the future holds. Even healthy adults can pass from sudden illness or accident. It’s a hard truth, but there it is. And if this happens and a family is left without their primary wage owner, then they really won’t be able to afford anything. So how much does life insurance cost? This depends on the type of policy purchased and the limits. However, it is possible to purchase life insurance for about the same dollar amount as paying for your daily coffee. If you can afford that, you can afford life insurance.  

MYTH: I’M TOO YOUNG TO HAVE LIFE INSURANCE. 

Okay, we hear your train of thought here. You’re young, partnered or single, and you don’t have any plans for kids in the near future. Why on earth would you need life insurance? It comes back to the previous myth. When you are young and healthy and you purchase life insurance, there’s a very good chance your rate will be more favorable. Hint: that means lower. If it’s a dollar sign you’re concerned about, buying life insurance exactly when you think you don’t need it is your best bet.  

MYTH: I CAN GET LIFE INSURANCE LATER. 

As mentioned above, the younger you are when you purchase life insurance, the lower your premiums are likely to be. As you age, it can become more difficult to get the life insurance coverage you need at the rate you want. And if you develop certain high-risk medical conditions, you could, unfortunately, be deemed “uninsurable” by carriers.  

MYTH: I DON’T NEED LIFE INSURANCE AT ALL.  

Yikes. This kind of thinking can get you (or more specifically, your loved ones) into real trouble. Life insurance has more uses than you may think. In addition to providing income replacement to beneficiaries, life insurance can also cover funeral costs, pay off debts left behind, provide an inheritance or an education fund for a loved one, or even serve as a donation to a charity of your choice. With all of these potential uses, it’s easy to see that no matter what you will benefit from being covered by life insurance. 

Now that you understand the need for life insurance, don’t be one of the 43% of Americans who are living without it. Talk to your insurance agent today. 

Depending on your job, you may need to do a lot of driving at night. Or perhaps you like to leave in the wee hours to go on family vacation, so you can arrive at a decent time the next day. Some drivers do prefer night driving because the roads are more open. Even so, night driving comes with a lot of setbacks and risks you need to be aware of. With the vision impairments and accidents associated with night driving, drivers should take the following night driving tips into consideration.  

Avoid Overdriving Your Vehicle’s Headlights 

The term “overdriving” refers to when you’re driving so fast that your stopping time is farther than you can see with your headlights. This is dangerous, especially if there are large vehicles like semi-trucks on the road. Make sure that your vehicle’s headlights are clean and have functioning bulbs so their beam of light shines as far as it can. Also, learn your approximate stopping time in relation to how far your lights illuminate in order to avoid overdriving and risking crashing into anything ahead of you.  

Don’t Look Directly at Other Sources of Light 

Oncoming headlights and other bright light sources can end up temporarily blinding you to the road and what’s ahead. Be sure to avoid looking directly at these. When you’re going through lighting changes (from a well-lit, populated highway to one that is much darker) allow your eyes to adjust before increasing the speed at which you’re traveling and use your brights if you’re away from other vehicles. 

Watch Out for Wildlife 

Your headlights can pick up the retinas of animals before your eyes can register their bodies. If you see two small glowing spots in the distance, slow down as much as you can, as an animal is most likely ahead. If the situation calls for you to choose between your safety and the animal’s, choose yours first. But remember that crashing into an animal at a high speed can greatly endanger you and cause serious damage to your vehicle. If you cannot swerve safely, you must slow down significantly.  

Don’t Drive Drowsy  

Driving at night can be tiring. If you aren’t well rested, your driving will inherently become impaired. If you are too fatigued, find a rest stop and take a break, or switch off with another person in the car — night driving is risky enough, so you’ll need all of your alertness to make the trip safely during this time. 

Get Your Eyes Checked 

If you haven’t done so already, it may be beneficial for you to schedule an eye exam. The frequency at which you should get one depends on your age and race. An ophthalmologist should be able to tell you what is recommended for your vision health.

Remember, traffic accidents and fatalities are greater at night. It’s of the utmost importance that you drive carefully when your vision and driving ability is impaired by the factors of the night. If you need auto insurance, call one of our agents today. 

Life insurance: you may not want to think about it too hard, but you need to. It can be difficult to consider the possibility of your own passing, but when you realize what the financial consequences of your death might be for your loved ones, you’ll realize just how important life insurance is. If you have a policy, that’s the first step. However you cannot simply let that policy sit untouched for all the years of your life. There are certain changes you may go through that would necessitate updating your life insurance beneficiaries. But what are those changes? We’ll dive into it a little deeper.  

You Get Married 

When you consider the many changes your life will go through after tying the knot, updating your life insurance beneficiary might not be the first thing that comes to mind. But when two become one, often combining their finances, ensuring your spouse will be taken care of in the unthinkable event of your death is one of the most loving things you can do to secure your new life together. Many couples will change their beneficiary to their spouse once the nuptials are over. In fact, depending on where you live you may be required to. The death benefits would ensure your spouse will be able to take care of final expenses, pay off your debts, and not have to experience the burden of entirely losing their partner’s income.  

A Child Is Born  

You may be having a child together, adopting, or taking over care of a friend or relative’s child. Whatever the case, if an important child comes into your life, you may want to take another look at your life insurance beneficiaries. Some do not recommend adding your new child to your list of beneficiaries, since they will not be able to receive death benefits until reaching the age of majority. However you can still specify to your spouse or other beneficiary that you would like the policy benefits to go towards something specific, such as your child’s education expenses.  

You Start a Business 

If you own a business with partners, it is possible to include them in your list of life insurance beneficiaries. However, you should also consider creating a buy-sell agreement with any business partners. This will allow your business partner(s) to use the benefits from the agreement to buy out your shares in the company in the event of your death. If you wish to protect the business you have built, make sure to speak with an experienced insurance agent to ensure you have all the coverage you need to keep your business running no matter what.  

Whoever you name as your life insurance beneficiary, be sure to inform them right away. This is especially true if you choose someone outside your immediate family, since they may not even expect to be named in your policy. Life insurance benefits will not bring you back after you are gone, but they can go a long way towards protecting the people you care about.