Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Getting Married? 4 Things to Discuss About Greensboro Insurance


Getting married typically involves huge amounts of planning, with many details requiring your serious, ongoing attention. With everything from choosing the venues for the ceremony and the reception to lining up the wedding party participants, wedding attire, flowers and food, the details may seem endless. There is one item that may be overlooked during the process when embarking upon the new life as a married couple but that should be considered either before or soon after the vows are made. The subject of insurance is an important topic of discussion for newlyweds to have. Here are a few things to consider:
  1. Life insurance is an important part of creating a solid financial plan for now and for the future. The primary purpose is to provide financial support to the surviving spouse in the event that one of the partners dies. As a couple, each member becomes responsible for the debts and other financial obligations of the deceased. Your insurance discussion should determine the amount of money that would be needed if the income of either partner be suddenly curtailed. You should also take into account the amount of each other's outstanding financial obligations such as loans that will need to be paid off. Also, factor in the cost of funeral and burial expenses. If you already have an insurance policy, make sure to change the name of the beneficiary to your spouse's name. If children are later added to the family, your life insurance policies will likely need to be updated.
  2. Combining your vehicle insurance policies will often save money due to a multi-car discount, but not always. It will come down to each person's driving record, the number of miles driven daily, the types of cars you own, credit history and other factors. All these factors should be reviewed with your Greensboro insurance broker before you make any vehicle insurance changes.
  3. Your homeowner's or renter's insurance will need to be combined and updated after moving in together. This will insure that the total valuation of your combined personal property will be fully covered in the event you suffer any loss.
  4. Make sure to take advantage of any discounts offered by your insurers, which can be more fully explained by your trusted Greensboro insurance broker. For even more savings, look into bundling two or more of your insurance policies with the same insurance company. You'll find numerous advantages to bundling.

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Small Business Insurance: Top Risks Business Owners Face


Optimism is the fundamental foundation of small businesses just getting started. The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in most new business owners, who must think of themselves as optimists if they're to stand a chance at success, yet too much optimism can prove fatal. While a business plan built around the best-case scenario may be tempting to create, any business success must be tempered with the real-world risks that face every small business.

If not properly protected by quality small business insurance, even the most successful small business operation can come crashing down. The results of an uncovered liability or wrongful termination lawsuit can be disastrous to your business. This is why one of the top items on your to-do list when opening a small business should be obtaining the protection that comes with quality small business insurance. Following is a list of some of the top risks a small business owner faces.
  1. Property loss is high on the list of risks small business owners face. Typically, your business property represents your largest asset and threats to your property are numerous. Whether it's theft, vandalism, natural disaster or fire, your property is at risk and should be protected against loss. This includes coverage of the real property, on your equipment, fixtures and on stock materials.
  2. Libel claims against your small business for wrongdoing or negligence can end up costing millions. Damages that result from physical injury, personal injury such as libel or slander, property damage or advertising injury are all risks that can be covered by obtaining an adequate amount of commercial general liability insurance. This protects you from both real and fraudulent claims as well as the costs incurred in settling these claims.
  3. Any small business with employees runs the risk of claims by employees as a result of health and safety obligations. You need insurance protection in case any employee becomes injured or sick as a result of on-the-job accidents. One serious claim against an unprotected small business could put that business out of business.
  4. There are other risks small business owners face against which insurance protection is needed. These include environmental exposures, improper employment practices, key person loss, business interruption, management of electronic data and more. Most small business owners aren't aware of all the finer details and the need for so many types of business insurance. Consulting a business insurance professional is the best advice.

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

7 Costly Car Insurance Mistakes


Everyone driving a car needs car insurance - it's the law.  But getting the best car insurance at a decent price means taking care to avoid making any costly car insurance mistakes. If you find .a good insurance broker able to offer you options from several car insurance providers, your job of getting coverage that serves your needs with minimal hassle or confusion will be made much easier. But just in case you decide to go it alone in getting your car insurance, consider these tips in helping avoid making costly car insurance mistakes.

  1. Don't pay too much. Nobody likes buying insurance and you won't appreciate what you have until you need to use it. Since it's illegal to drive without insurance, getting coverage is critical to getting on the road. Insurance can be a major cost in driving and the type of car you drive will have an effect on your insurance options. Your insurance budget will also affect the type of car you can drive.
  2. Shop around. Comparing quotes from numerous insurance providers is the best way to uncover the best deals. This ties back to finding yourself a trusted insurance broker who can supply you with multiple quotes from multiple insurers. This takes the weight off your shoulders when it comes to shopping around.
  3. Ask for discounts. There are numerous discounts offered by most insurers such as a safe driver discounts, discounts for having certain safety or security equipment on your car, good student discounts, loyalty discounts and many more. Always ask! Often you won't find out about discounts unless you ask.
  4. Read the small print on your policy. Nothing's worse than thinking you're fully covered and then having a claim denied because you don't have the coverage you thought you had. Know what's in a policy and ask questions if you're uncertain.
  5. Don't over insure. If you're driving an older car with minimal value, you might not need to have comprehensive or collision coverage.
  6. Review your liability amounts. The minimum requirements for liability insurance on your car here in N.C. are low (30/60/25). Many experts recommend carrying three or four times the minimum amounts required or covering yourself with an umbrella policy.
  7. Don't cheat. Don't leave off recent claims or driving convictions from your application. Don't insure your son's or daughter's car with you as the primary driver and them as secondary. That is illegal.