Archive for June, 2009
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009
by Caressa Waechter
Is your company covered in the case of a fire in your office? What if an employee is badly injured while at work? There are some types of small business insurance you should definitely make sure that you have.
The entire idea of insurance is to purchase coverage for risks you cannot afford to pay for out of pocket. In other words, you’d rather pay the monthly payments for coverage than to pay for the damage after a fire or incident. You should make sure that you bring a respectable agent into the life of your company as well. They can create a package that can meet all of your needs in one.
Property and liability insurance are the first you will need. If you own the building your office is in, you need a property policy. It will cover your building, personal objects like supplies, equipment, furniture, etc. You will also be covered for earthquake and flood depending on your location. A liability policy will provide protection for you in the case of an accidental fire like if an electronic is left on and shorts. Also covered would be any mistakes or omissions that could constitute things like malpractice.
There are also insurances tailored to providing for and attracting employees. Worker’s compensation is mandatory by law if you have any employees at all. This will cover the costs and damages in the event a worker is injured on the job. Offering good health insurance options is good for getting employees as well. It is often difficult to find health coverage on your own outside of work. You could also look into auto insurance for any company vehicles.
Floods, fires, lawsuits, and many other things can ruin a company. Small business insurance is extremely important to protect your investment. Don’t hesitate to find a reputable agent and buy a custom structured policy.
Tags: business insurance, entrepreneur insurance, home business insurance, home insurance, liability insurance, small business insurance Posted in home insurance | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009
by Amy Nutt
Car insurance is necessary for every person who owns and drives a vehicle. In just about every jurisdiction, the law requires that you own auto insurance. It protects both you and other drivers from loss that may arise due to the negligence or actions of others.
Some people believe that price is the most important factor when considering car insurance. Although the price of the policy is an important factor, it is not necessarily the most important factor. What you pay as a rate is based on the risk assessment that the insurance company performs during underwriting. The assessment involves a process of evaluating you as a driver and making a determination of the probability that you will cause a loss.
Insurance is a contract of indemnity. What this means is its purpose is to indemnify, or restore you to your original value at the time of loss. The principle of indemnity means that the policy covers the insurable interest you have as policy owner, namely the vehicle you drive. Without this insurable interest, there would be nothing to insure. For example, a person that is involved in an automobile accident who is in no way related to you does not create a situation where you are exposed to loss. Therefore, no insurable interest exists and there is no need for insurance.
Based on the concept of indemnity and risk assessment, the insurance company wants to know some things about you. How old are you? What is your driving record? What are your driving habits? How far and how often do you travel by car? All of these factors, as well as others are important for the insurer to consider as they consider your premium rate. They are also the most common rating factors used to calculate your premium.
Insurance companies employ actuaries whose job it is to mathematically determine the probability of loss. Another concept regarding insurance is that it is an aleatory contract. This word is derived from a Latin word ‘aleator’ which literally means ‘dice thrower’ or ‘chance.’ This means that your premium is a hedge against a probability or the chance that a loss may occur. It also means that if that loss occurs, as long as you have met all of the conditions of the contract, the insurance company must pay the claim.
The more times that you are exposed to loss, the higher the chance that loss will occur. It is like determining the likelihood of drawing a queen out of a standard deck of 52 cards, which is a 1 in 13 or 8% chance. If you were going to draw a queen out of a deck of two cards, that probability jumps to 50% or 1 in 2. The greater the probability of something happening, the less ideal it becomes as an insurable risk. The more you drive, the longer you drive, coupled with having a lot of speeding tickets indicates that you are a larger risk to the insurance company - a 1 in 2 as oppose to a 1 in 13 - and will be charged more premium. There are other factors that go into premium calculation, but understanding loss exposure gives you an ideal as to why an insurance company charges what it does.
Tags: a, auto, automobile;truck, business, c, car, car insurance, e, f, family, finance, h, home, home insurance, i, insurance, l, legal, life, n, o, p, params, personal, r, roadside assistance, s, society, v, variables Posted in home insurance | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009
by Caressa Waechter
A surety bond is necessary to protect a business’ best interests. Working with a dependable surety bond company can make a big difference when it comes to your protection. Because several surety bond companies exist today, it can be a challenging task to find one which has a great reputation, impressive track record, and a strict bonding process.
Typically, the construction industry uses surety bonds for their projects. Simply speaking, a surety bond is just an agreement between the surety company, the contractor, and the owner. With a surety bond, the owner is guaranteed that his project will be finished by the contractor. Likewise, it also protects the owner when the contractor stops working on the project.
Surety bonding is taken as a part of the insurance business. A surety company’s role is to assure the owner that the contractor will finish the job according to the contract. There are also surety companies which require a premium fee to be paid to back the contractor up.
The risk associated with underwriting a contractor leads these companies to do extensive research on contractors they hold bond with. You can expect these surety companies to ask for references from the contractor as to their experience in completing a contract. Aside from this, surety companies will also investigate if the contractor has the necessary workforce and equipment to carry out the completion of the project. Other factors to be considered by surety companies include bank relationships, credit history, and current lines of credit.
Prior to working with a surety company, you should ask what other people have to say about them. Consult other businessmen who have experienced working with these companies. Then, perform your own research and check if the company is licensed with the US Treasury Department. Another important thing to check about the company is the bonding process they employ when choosing their contractors.
More importantly, be very open about your business requirements so that the surety bond company can see to it that you are properly protected by getting everything in order in the contractor’s side.
About the Author:
Business use surety bonds to guarantee contracts they have with clients, where they use fidelity bonds to protect against dishonest employees stealing from the company or from clients.
Tags: business insurance, entrepreneur insurance, home business insurance, home insurance, liability insurance, small business insurance Posted in home insurance | No Comments »
Sunday, June 21st, 2009
by Caressa Waechter
There are three main types of commercial insurance, which are property, liability, and workers compensation. All three of these insurances are normally grouped together as commercial insurance, since it is imperative that a company operate with these insurances in force.
The property insurance part of commercial insurance in pertaining to the property overall, or the building that you choose to operate out of. This particular insurance protects the building that you operate out of and all the property that belongs to the business. If someone were to neglect anything that belongs to your business you have the right to file a claim.
Liability insurance, states that you are held liable for anything that were to happen that is associated with your company. This would go for all commercial vehicles, as well as any injuries. Liability insurance states that if anyone is to become injured on land that you own, that you are held responsible, and they are allowed to file suit against you for any damages that may have acquired.
Workers compensation insurance may end up getting you out of the liability clause in all retrospects. The insurance states that you take responsibility for someone suffering any injuries on your job, and are more then willing to pay for that workers suffering. You will submit payment for any hospital bills as well as severance as long as the person is away from their present form of income.
Every operating business has to have this important commercial insurance in a means to operate efficiently. Insurance prepares you for the worse that can happen. In all respects, its better to have the insurance and know that you are personally safe from any kind of suit then to not have it all and risk losing everything that you worked so hard to get.
Tags: business insurance, entrepreneur insurance, home business insurance, home insurance, liability insurance, small business insurance Posted in home insurance | No Comments »
Saturday, June 20th, 2009
by Michelle C. Forshee
Nothing focuses the mind as much as how much you are worth than buying a house. All of a sudden your assets have increased by 50, 100 ,200%! You have most likely already started considered protecting it via mortgage life insurance.
This is a great protection for your family in the case of your death, but in the more likely circumstance of your disability, neither you nor your family will have any protection.
If you desire to set up a disability insurance program, you can consult an insurance expert. Normally a professional like this will review your needs and do an analysis of your income and your mortgage and home related expenses such as property taxes, hazard insurance and maintenance as well as your other finances to find out what would best fit your needs.
Even if you already possess disability insurance from a government program or from your place of employment, this is usually based on a “maximum qualifying” debt to income ratio of 36 to 50. This means that all of your debt, not just your home related debt, should be included. Other consumer loans, such as your car or credit cards, as well as other insurance policies, all have to be kept current. A standard insurance policy is unlikely to cover all of these in addition to your mortgage.
Make sure you understand the basics before you look for mortgage disability insurance, such as what the benefit period is, how long the elimination period is and what riders are available.
The benefit period is the how long the benefit will be paid out. Normally the benefit period will extend until age sixty five, but savings in costs can be realized if the benefit term is shortened. For instance, if your spouse starts to collect retirement benefits before then, or if you can start taking out your own retirement benefits without penalty.
The elimination period is the amount of time you must be disabled before can collect benefits. Extending this period is one way to lower premiums. If you are in the habit of saving for emergencies, this fund may carry you over for a period of time before a longer term benefit is required.
A rider is an additional coverage that you can choose to add onto your insurance. A common rider is a cost of living rider, this will increase the payout according to recognized cost of living increases.
Since there are so many options to examine, it is important to understand them before you sign up for mortgage disability insurance. This is the only way you can choose the right insurance for you.
Tags: home, insurance, Life Insurance, mortgage, mortgage life insurance, property insurance, real estate Posted in property insurance | No Comments »
Friday, June 19th, 2009
by Caressa Waechter
Make sure that your business insurance agent allows you to read your policy before signing it. Have you ever heard voices or typing over the phone while you are trying to discuss an important issue with your business insurance agent? You need one person at the insurance office that is at work on your needs for the same reason, you need one person on your staff.
Managers should train employees to know who to contact about business insurance issues. The workers that assist in keeping insurance claims down should be rewarded. It covers everything from property and casualty insurance to health, disability and life insurance. Always type a letter based on what your conversation with the insurance agent is about. When this happens, the agent will give your claim file to their legal department to make sure it is handled correctly.
Here are some pointers to help your business work with its insurers. When you accept a business insurance policy, make sure that all the details are correct before you sign the policy. If you have an issue or dispute with the insurance company, you should correspond in writing. Large insurers have a high turnover and making oral agreements is not smart.
It is always good to have evidence of a conversation. If this does happen then the business insurance agent will communicate with the insurer’s legal office. This way many possible legal mistakes can be prevented. Here are a few tips to assist in dealing with your insurance agency: Read the small print! Don’t let the agent just read it to you. Read it yourself. If you have questions, ask for answers. When your business needs to file a claim, make sure to document the conversation or statements.
Don’t make any agreements that cannot be put in writing in your policy. If your business is a smaller account, don’t allow the insurer to give you substandard service. Business insurance agencies require the employees to document everything. That includes phone calls or meetings in person. Do not make idle threats to your insurance agent about canceling your policy. If you feel you are not getting what you pay for, then just cancel the policy. Be sure and establish a relationship with your agent. This will help when it comes time to call upon his services. Try to keep the agent on your side so he will fight for you whenever the need arises.
Tags: business insurance, entrepreneur insurance, home business insurance, home insurance, liability insurance, small business insurance Posted in home insurance | No Comments »
Thursday, June 18th, 2009
by Matt Peters
Clients have become very discriminating in choosing their contractors and one of their considerations in choosing one is the contractor’s ability to protect the project. Even the simplest of alarm systems can help in the decision-making process for most customers.
As a contractor, to be able to compete in the industry means that they must offer better incentives to gain more business. It’s like selling a car; if you sell it with a car alarm, the chances will be greater that you will make a sale.
What Can be Offered?
There are different home security system products for contractors to offer their future homeowner customers. Aside from the usual alarm system that can be installed in a home, contractors can also offer to hard-wire the home ahead of time just in case the homeowner would like to install a hard-wired system in the future. This means installing all the needed cables that run through the walls and parts of the ceiling.
With this, the contractor need not return at a later time to include the wiring. All the customer has to do in the future is buy all the components for a hard-wired system (which may include motion sensors and cameras) and he or she can install it themselves or opt for the same contractors to help in the installation process. In any event, it will be easier to set up since all the cables were built in with the construction of the house.
All the components to be installed may be offered while construction is going on. This might raise the cost of the house slightly and much discussion and negotiation will probably take place. Less expensive home security options can also be offered, such as electronic door locks or pre-set silent alarms. With these security options, contractors stand the chance of getting a bigger profit.
Repeat Business
Offering home security system products to clients is also one way of encouraging repeat business. If a contractor shows dedication and concern by offering home security options and also gives a good price for alarms, cameras, etc. then this will translate to more business transactions between the contractor and the same homeowners. Their services might also be referred to other people seeking to have homes built with security already in the package.
As mentioned, there are several home security products that a contractor can offer the client. This is just as well because they can attract more profit into their business if they start to compete with home security shops who only offer one kind of service.
Having home security products while construction is being done gives peace of mind to the client. If you are a contractor who is looking to step up the game just a notch, then offer home security system products to your present and future customers.
Tags: family, home accessories, home improvement, home security, home security system, home security system products for contractors, insurance, property insurance, real estate, wireless home security system Posted in property insurance | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 17th, 2009
by A Nutt
Employer’s liability insurance comes in three different types. There is general liability, property insurance and worker’s compensation insurance.
General Liability If you have a policy for general comprehensive liability insurance, it covers you against anyone physically injury themselves or causing damage to property while on your business site.
This type of coverage is often purchased in company with property insurance (see below) for a more complete protection against any type of accident at the place where you usually operate your business or carry out business functions.
Professional Liability For some business such as retail or food services, comprehensive liability coverage is likely enough. However, professional liability coverage is vital for many, including engineers, consultants, medical professionals and accountants.
Professional liability coverage protects a professional against claims of negligence or incompetence.
Sometimes this type of insurances is called ‘errors and omissions’ coverage, since it protects a businessperson in the case of a mistake or incompetence in carrying out his or her professional duties.
This type of coverage is vital for a professional. Claims for negligence or other omissions can be much larger than general liability claims, as evidenced by medial malpractice suits.
Property Insurance Just as a homeowner must have basic property insurance, so too must a business. This kind of coverage is usually very straightforward.
With property insurance, your business is protected against theft or accident or any other loss of your business property. This coverage is in effect even if the equipment is not at your place of business when it is lost, damaged, or stolen.
Again, property insurance is similar to homeowners in that it covers in the case of fire or other disaster. You need to read your policy carefully to determine if it covers any flooding. That type of disaster is often excluded from coverage, as is water damage from sewer backup. Know your policy and add a rider if you think it is important to do so.
Usually property insurance is packaged with general liability insurance in a single package at a basic rate.
Worker’s Compensation Insurance Worker’s compensation insurance is an employer’s liability insurance that provides coverage for medical or disability claims by employees.
If an employee has an accident or a job related illness, they will file a claim under worker’s compensation.
Each state mandates that businesses with even one employee provide this coverage, and most have pools to help small businesses cope with the expense. It can be expensive to own a policy, particularly if a former employee or employee has a claim.
The amount of a company’s premium is based on a formula calculation. The formula takes into account the services offered by your company and the payroll each pay period.
Requirements vary for each state regarding how much you need to pay into the fund. Make the assumption that you will need to pay for each employee in your business, even though there are times that you as the owner and members of your family are exempted from workers comp insurance.
Depending on your state, you may be able to shop around for the best rates and service.
About the Author:
Full service insurance brokerage offers corporate and personal solutions. When looking for the best protection and information on Home Insurance, Car insurance in Ajax, Health insurance, Commercial Insurance, Life Insurance in Ajax options.
Tags: a, Ajax, b, business, business;finance, c, car, car insurance, e, f, family, finance, h, health, health insurance, home, home insurance, i, insurance, j, l, liability, life, Life Insurance, n, o Posted in home insurance | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 16th, 2009
by Ethan Kalvin
Money is on the minds of many Americans these days, and with that comes concerns about how and where to cut back expenses and live a more frugal lifestyle. Doing this, for some means giving up those extras like big vacations, meals at fancy restaurants, and extravagant shopping sprees, while for others it means cutting back on the groceries that they are buying or perhaps cutting back the amount of their insurance premiums each month.
There is a different mentality between wealthier people and those with less money. Wealthier people believe in insurance as a key to their financial security even in times of financial crisis, however the more impoverished see insurance as a luxury; a monthly expense that when compared to food, clothing and shelter, is just flat out unnecessary. This misconception can be very costly.
Insurance is not an added luxury in a persons life, it is a means of financial security and a stability factor that keeps them and their families safe. It is important to note that without insurance one could be leaving a large gap in their family’s security for the future.
Many Americans who don’t see the need for insurance consider themselves to have little or nothing. Realistically these are the people who need insurance the most. Insurance coverage like health insurance can cover many expenses that you may not foresee, and if you were to get ill and pass away, your estate and any assets you have could be designated to pay these bills leaving your family with nothing. Or consider if your home were to burn down. Everything you own would be gone. Could you afford to run out and replace every item in your home? Probably not, even the most economically furnished dwelling would be cheap to replace.
To close, it is extremely important to secure your life through insurance. Whether it be life, health, homeowners or car insurance policies, the monthly fees are a needed expense. It is better to eat bread and butter each night then to live with insurance….TRUELY!
About the Author:
Shopping for insurance quotes is something that very often gets pushed off until tomorrow because of the amount of time the task can take. Now, there are no more excuses. If you log onto www.insurelane.com you type your information in once and they provide you with various insurance quotes. Whether you are looking for health insurance, auto insurance or something else they can assist you in a matter of minutes.
Tags: a, auto, auto insurance, c, car insurance, co pays, d, doctors visit, e, f, family, finance, financial security, h, health, health care, health insurance, home care, home insurance, homeowners insurance, i, insurance, m, medical, medical bills, n, o Posted in home insurance | No Comments »
Monday, June 15th, 2009
by Chris Channing
High risk drivers are required to file for SR-22 insurance. This is seen mostly in traffic violations, auto accidents, and reckless driving. You will have a long two years ahead of you until you are able to purge yourself of the insurance requirement, so until then you should look to see how you can cut costs.
SR-22 insurance requires that you supply your local Department of Motor Vehicles with a form that states you are insured as a high risk driver. Unfortunately the price is going to be a lot more than what you are accustomed to. If you haven’t had any previous convictions, you could see your premiums rise as much as three times as much, or your insurer could even drop your coverage.
When you get in an accident and file a claim, the auto insurance agency you are with will require a deductible to be paid. The deductible is a method of the insurer to reclaim funds, and also help protect against fraud. Opting for a higher deductible will give the auto insurance company more financial relief in the event of an accident, so you will likewise get a big discount from your monthly premiums.
One of the biggest fees you will encounter is when you decide to go for a full coverage insurance plan. Full coverage will give you the ability to get all repairs completed if you come to be in an accident, less some other charges that may apply. It’s nice to have full coverage, but it certainly isn’t worth it if your car wasn’t expensive enough to warrant the extra charges you will be paying.
Don’t be drawn to extra services that you won’t need. A good example is with car rental benefits. Auto insurance companies promise to set you up with a car rental, at no extra cost, should you not be able to drive your car due to an accident. The problem is that you can either borrow a car or rent one yourself for a lot less than you will be paying for the extra charges each month over the span of a year or two.
SR-22 insurance won’t be an easy pill to swallow. For two years you will have to find a way to make ends meet with inflated insurance costs. At the same time, you shouldn’t cut out core benefits that you need. If you have need for a better insurance plan, by all means go for it and protect yourself.
Closing Comments
Two years isn’t such a long time as it seems, so long as you can find a coverage policy that fits you. Insurance companies may not be friendly to you at this point, but you have the power of choice on your side.
Tags: a, advice, all, articles, b, business, business;finance, d, e, etc, f, family, finance, h, home, home insurance, i, insurance, internet, l, money, n, o, r, t, tips Posted in home insurance | No Comments »
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