If you’ve spent much time at all in Texas, I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “If you don’t like the weather, just wait five minutes.” Our weather has been known to do some pretty unpredictable things in this area. It’s not uncommon to go without any rain at all from June to September. And when it does rain in the summer, it’s usually only a brief shower. Normally severe weather passes through in about a hour, maybe two.
That’s why it was so surprising to have floods in Sherman last summer. The same storm kept circling back again and again and again. I was awakened by thunder at two in the morning. When I woke up at six, the same storm was still going strong. It finally started to let up around eight. That’s six straight hours of very heavy rain. Roads were impassable, the high school football stadium was under water, and sadly a couple of people died in rapidly rising water. Our county and the next one over were featured on CNN.
There’s a very large creek that runs parallel to Highway 75 on the south side of town, which happens to be a relatively low-lying area. Guess where all that water went? First into the creek, and then into the nearby houses after the creek overflowed its banks. People who live in that area reported floodwaters four feet high in their homes. You would be amazed at how many of your belongings are lower than four feet from the floor.
A lot of people were reminded in the days to come that homeowners insurance doesn’t cover damage from rising waters. And as you can imagine, those who had purchased flood insurance were very grateful they had. And those who hadn’t take out coverage . . . well, they weren’t very pleased at all. They learned a very important lesson: Just because insurance isn’t required doesn’t mean you don’t need it!
You can use freeflood.net to determine whether your home lies in a flood zone. But remember, homes that weren’t necessarily considered at high risk for floods had high water marks last summer. Don’t let yourself be one of those left saying, “If only I’d had flood insurance!” Contact us today to discuss your needs.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Driving Without Insurance Is a Bigger Risk Than You Think
Say you’ve been driving without auto insurance. You know you’ll probably get a fine if you’re caught, but do you know how much it will be?
- The minimum fine for driving without insurance is $175. That’s assessed by the State of Texas, and your city or county can charge an additional penalty.
- You’ll then be charged $250 a year for the next three years. That’s another $750.
- If you don’t pay these fines, your drivers license can be suspended.
- After paying at least $925 in fines, you still have to purchase auto insurance. And that premium will now be 30% higher (or more!) because driving without insurance counts as a violation.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Beware the Proof of Insurance Card
Most people also know that they should exchange insurance information after a fender-bender. But just because the guy that ran into the side of your car has proof of insurance doesn’t mean that his policy is in force. All too often a person will take out a six-month policy, make their downpayment in the office, and then conveniently “forget” to pay the bill for the second month. But the insurance police don’t show up to their house to destroy their proof of insurance, do they?
Until recently, the only way to be certain that a policy is in force is to call the insurance company or the agent listed on the proof of insurance. (And believe me, it happens!) Now Texas law enforcement officers have instant access to the insurance database. Officers can verify your coverage during a routine traffic stop or at the scene of an accident. The average citizen, however, doesn’t have the means to verify another person’s coverage due to privacy issues.
Sometimes the parties involved in an accident don’t want to wait for the police, or the police won’t come to the scene unless there’s been an injury. If it turns out the other driver doesn’t have insurance, you could attempt to sue them, assuming the contact information they give you is accurate. That can be a lengthy process, though, and your vehicle is still damaged in the meantime. And let’s face it, you can’t get blood out of a turnip. If the other doesn’t have the money to pay for auto insurance, they’re not going to have a few thousand dollars laying around to fix your car.
The best way to protect yourself is to carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage and comprehensive & collision coverage. If the other driver doesn’t have insurance, your insurance company would pay to repair your vehicle, and would then use its own considerable resources to recover damages from the other driver. Make sure you get the following information to help the claims process:
Until recently, the only way to be certain that a policy is in force is to call the insurance company or the agent listed on the proof of insurance. (And believe me, it happens!) Now Texas law enforcement officers have instant access to the insurance database. Officers can verify your coverage during a routine traffic stop or at the scene of an accident. The average citizen, however, doesn’t have the means to verify another person’s coverage due to privacy issues.
Sometimes the parties involved in an accident don’t want to wait for the police, or the police won’t come to the scene unless there’s been an injury. If it turns out the other driver doesn’t have insurance, you could attempt to sue them, assuming the contact information they give you is accurate. That can be a lengthy process, though, and your vehicle is still damaged in the meantime. And let’s face it, you can’t get blood out of a turnip. If the other doesn’t have the money to pay for auto insurance, they’re not going to have a few thousand dollars laying around to fix your car.
The best way to protect yourself is to carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage and comprehensive & collision coverage. If the other driver doesn’t have insurance, your insurance company would pay to repair your vehicle, and would then use its own considerable resources to recover damages from the other driver. Make sure you get the following information to help the claims process:
- Name, address, and phone numbers of the other driver and any witnesses. Don’t just assume that the contact information listed on their driver’s license is correct.
- Driver’s license number of the other driver.
- Name of the insurance company and policy number of the other driver, and the phone number for reporting claims. This should all be listed on their proof of insurance card.
- License plate number of the other vehicle.
- Name, address, and phone number of the owner of the vehicle, if different from the driver.
- Photos of the vehicles before they’re moved.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Common Life Insurance Riders
Not all life insurance policies are created equally. By adding riders, you can completely customize your term life policy. A rider is a clause that is added to a policy that changes the coverage provided. A rider can add or remove coverage. Let’s take a look at some of the common riders.
- Child Rider
This rider is typically added to a parent’s policy, and provides a benefit in the event of a death of a child listed on the policy. The amount of coverage is usually lower than what an adult would need, because children do not have dependents. It can actually be preferable to add a child rider to an adult’s policy rather than issuing an entirely new policy for the child, which would have an additional policy fee. - Accidental Death & Dismemberment (ADD)
Some policies allow the ADD rider, which pays an additional benefit if the insured dies or loses a limb or two in an accident. I usually do not recommend adding this rider because your family doesn’t need more money just because you died in a car wreck rather than from a heart attack. Any property damage involved in the death would most likely be covered under some kind of property insurance, such as auto or homeowners. The increased premium usually does not justify the small increase in the amount of the death benefit. Additionally, if you are a member of a credit union, you may already have a stand-alone ADD policy. - Terminal Illness
This rider allows you to receive an early payout of your life policy in the event that you are diagnosed with one of several pre-defined illnesses or conditions. Some companies require that the insured be given one year or less to live (cancer); others will pay out regardless of the prognosis (heart attack, stroke). This is a handy rider that helps to replace lost income during illness and to help pay medical expenses.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Homeowners Insurance
It’s a wonderful day when you finally pay off your mortgage. After thirty years, you finally get to free up about a quarter of your income! But in the aftermath of your mortgage-burning ceremony, don’t forget about your homeowners insurance.
Mortgage companies will require a homeowner to purchase insurance on the property that’s been financed. While they don’t necessarily do this for the borrower’s benefit, it’s certainly in the homeowner’s best interest to maintain coverage on their home. In the event of a total loss, homeowners insurance would pay off your remaining balance on your mortgage. This means you wouldn’t be stuck paying off a mortgage for a house that doesn’t even exist anymore.
If you don’t owe anything on your home, it’s still a good idea to maintain homeowners insurance. If you were to lose your house to fire, tornado, or any of the other things that could destroy your home, the insurance money would provide you the funds to not only rebuild your home, but also to find other accomodations during the rebuilding process. Otherwise, you’d have to depend on your cash reserves and investments. Replacing a $100,000 house out of pocket could put a serious dent in your retirement savings!
It’s also important to know the replacement cost of your home. You may have purchased that house for $20,000 thirty years ago, but it’s probably worth considerably more on the market now, and the cost to build a similar new home could be even more. If you do have a mortgage, the lender probably only requires you to have coverage equal to the purchase price. If your coverage is less than 80% of the replacement value, you may get hit with a larger deductible than expected if you have a claim.
Contact us today for an estimate on homeowners insurance, or for a free evaluation of your current policy.
Mortgage companies will require a homeowner to purchase insurance on the property that’s been financed. While they don’t necessarily do this for the borrower’s benefit, it’s certainly in the homeowner’s best interest to maintain coverage on their home. In the event of a total loss, homeowners insurance would pay off your remaining balance on your mortgage. This means you wouldn’t be stuck paying off a mortgage for a house that doesn’t even exist anymore.
If you don’t owe anything on your home, it’s still a good idea to maintain homeowners insurance. If you were to lose your house to fire, tornado, or any of the other things that could destroy your home, the insurance money would provide you the funds to not only rebuild your home, but also to find other accomodations during the rebuilding process. Otherwise, you’d have to depend on your cash reserves and investments. Replacing a $100,000 house out of pocket could put a serious dent in your retirement savings!
It’s also important to know the replacement cost of your home. You may have purchased that house for $20,000 thirty years ago, but it’s probably worth considerably more on the market now, and the cost to build a similar new home could be even more. If you do have a mortgage, the lender probably only requires you to have coverage equal to the purchase price. If your coverage is less than 80% of the replacement value, you may get hit with a larger deductible than expected if you have a claim.
Contact us today for an estimate on homeowners insurance, or for a free evaluation of your current policy.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Hejny Insurance Now Offers Progressive
Jerry Hejny Insurance Agency was recently appointed with Progressive, an industry leader in automobile insurance. We’re very pleased to offer our customers another company known for its competetive rates and ease of use. We recently provided a quote for one family and were able to save them over $1200 with Progressive!
Progressive doesn’t cover just cars. Customers can also purchase coverage on their motorcycles, ATVs, boats, personal watercraft, motor homes, travel trailers, and snowmobiles. Even though there may not be a lot of people who need snowmobile coverage in North Texas, we can find coverage for almost anything with an engine.
Contact Jerry Hejny Insurance Agency today for a custom auto quote.
Progressive doesn’t cover just cars. Customers can also purchase coverage on their motorcycles, ATVs, boats, personal watercraft, motor homes, travel trailers, and snowmobiles. Even though there may not be a lot of people who need snowmobile coverage in North Texas, we can find coverage for almost anything with an engine.
Contact Jerry Hejny Insurance Agency today for a custom auto quote.
Monday, September 8, 2008
"I want 'full coverage' auto insurance!"
When people contact us for a quote on their auto insurance, they frequently ask for “full coverage.” What they don’t realize is that there’s no industry-wide standard for “full coverage.” That’s something that customers come up with. Let’s take a look at the coverages that are available.
- Liablity coverage pays medical expenses for passengers in a vehicle that you hit, as well as property damage that you cause. This is the minimum coverage that the state requires.
- Comprehensive & collision covers physical damage to your vehicle. Let’s say you wake up in the morning to find that vandals have broken your car window overnight. This would fall under comprehensive coverage. If you drove your vehicle into a telephone pole, fence, other vehicle, et cetera, your car would be covered under the collision part of your policy. Both of these coverages usually have a deductible associated with them, and will probably be required by your lender if you’ve financed the vehicle.
- Uninsured Motorist (UIM) covers your vehicle and your medical bills if someone else hits your vehicle and either does not have insurance or doesn’t have sufficient insurance to cover damages. If you carry 25/50/25 UIM coverage, you’d be able to receive up to $25,000 per person, up to $50,000 per occurrence for medical expenses for you and your passengers, and $25,000 for property damage to your vehicle if someone else hits you. You’d file a claim on your own policy for UIM benefits after filing on the other person’s liability coverage.
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) covers medical payments and a portion of lost income for passengers in your vehicle.
- Towing & Labor pays for the cost of towing your vehicle if it can’t be driven, as well as labor costs incurred at the site, such as having a tired changed.
Rental Reimbursement pays for a rental vehicle if your car is stolen or damaged by something your policy covers.
So as you can see, there are a lot of different coverages to choose from. You could have two different people with two different coverages who both consider their policies to have “full coverage,” and both of them could be wrong.
You see, for as many different types of coverages there are, there are many different levels of coverage for each type. You could carry 50/100/50 liability coverage and 25/50/25 UIM coverage with a $1000 comp & collision deductible. Or you could have 100/300/100 liability and 100/300/100 UIM without comp & collision. Or you could have 25/50/25 liability with a $500 comp & collision deductible. The combinations are too many to count.
So the next time you contact an agent for an auto quote, have an idea in your mind of what “full coverage” means, and be ready to tell the agent exactly what kind(s) of coverage you’re looking for. Your agent will be thankful!
Friday, August 22, 2008
Whole Life or Term?
There are several different types of life insurance products on the market, but for the most part they fall into two distinct categories: whole life and term. Which one is better? Term, without a doubt.
Whole life insurance is designed to cover you for, well, your whole life. You can purchase a policy at 21 and rest assured that the policy will be in force until you turn 100 if you’ve paid your premiums. It’s also considered a savings vehicle because there’s a cash value to that policy. Sounds good, right?
Wrong.
Policy premiums are calculated on your risk of dying during the policy’s term. While the 100+ age group is the fastet-growing population in America, most of us will probably die before 100. On the off chance that you do live to 100, your life insurance policy would automatically pay you the face value. So the company knows that there’s a 100% chance that they will have to pay you or your beneficiaries. They charge a higher premium for that.
Term life, on the other hand is issued in 5-, 10-, 15-, 20-, 25-, and 30-year increments. If you’re in your twenties, your life expectancy is probably over seventy. The odds are fairly good that you won’t die in the next thirty years. Insurance companies know this, and charge a lower premium.
That cash value that whole life policies have? The company will allow you to borrow against it, but you will be required to pay it back with interest. If you die with an outstanding loan, the insurance company will deduct that amount from the face value, which means your family will receive less money. And if you don’t have any outstanding loans, you don’t get to keep that cash value. The insurance company keeps it as part of the “cost of doing business.” Funny, I thought the premiums were supposed to cover the cost of doing business.
Term life has no cash value, so there’s no overhead for managing an investment. You keep the part of the premium that would go toward that cash value in a whole life policy. That’s more money in your pocket.
So what to do? Buy term and invest the difference. If it would cost you $100 a month to have $100,000 in whole life coverage, you can most likely get the same coverage for only $50 a month. That leaves $50 that you can invest on your own. Historically, the stock market has earned 10% over any 30-year period. If you were to invest your $50 a month at 10% (compounded annually) you would have $107743.58 at the end of your thirty year term. If you died during those thirty years, your family would also receive the $100,000 from your term life policy. So your family would receive at least $100,000 if you live, and over $200,000 if you die. Whole life would pay your family $100,000, minus any outstanding loan balances against the cash value, and only if you die.
Makes sense to go with term life, doesn’t it? If you’re ready to make the switch, or if you’re one of the 68 million Americans who don’t have life insurance at all, contact us today to schedule a consultation.
Whole life insurance is designed to cover you for, well, your whole life. You can purchase a policy at 21 and rest assured that the policy will be in force until you turn 100 if you’ve paid your premiums. It’s also considered a savings vehicle because there’s a cash value to that policy. Sounds good, right?
Wrong.
Policy premiums are calculated on your risk of dying during the policy’s term. While the 100+ age group is the fastet-growing population in America, most of us will probably die before 100. On the off chance that you do live to 100, your life insurance policy would automatically pay you the face value. So the company knows that there’s a 100% chance that they will have to pay you or your beneficiaries. They charge a higher premium for that.
Term life, on the other hand is issued in 5-, 10-, 15-, 20-, 25-, and 30-year increments. If you’re in your twenties, your life expectancy is probably over seventy. The odds are fairly good that you won’t die in the next thirty years. Insurance companies know this, and charge a lower premium.
That cash value that whole life policies have? The company will allow you to borrow against it, but you will be required to pay it back with interest. If you die with an outstanding loan, the insurance company will deduct that amount from the face value, which means your family will receive less money. And if you don’t have any outstanding loans, you don’t get to keep that cash value. The insurance company keeps it as part of the “cost of doing business.” Funny, I thought the premiums were supposed to cover the cost of doing business.
Term life has no cash value, so there’s no overhead for managing an investment. You keep the part of the premium that would go toward that cash value in a whole life policy. That’s more money in your pocket.
So what to do? Buy term and invest the difference. If it would cost you $100 a month to have $100,000 in whole life coverage, you can most likely get the same coverage for only $50 a month. That leaves $50 that you can invest on your own. Historically, the stock market has earned 10% over any 30-year period. If you were to invest your $50 a month at 10% (compounded annually) you would have $107743.58 at the end of your thirty year term. If you died during those thirty years, your family would also receive the $100,000 from your term life policy. So your family would receive at least $100,000 if you live, and over $200,000 if you die. Whole life would pay your family $100,000, minus any outstanding loan balances against the cash value, and only if you die.
Makes sense to go with term life, doesn’t it? If you’re ready to make the switch, or if you’re one of the 68 million Americans who don’t have life insurance at all, contact us today to schedule a consultation.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
How Much Life Insurance Do YOU Need?
Do you have any idea how much life insurance you actually need? More than 40% of Americans don't have life insurance at all, and over half of those who do have it are underinsured. Here's a case study that might help you assess your own life insurance needs.
Bob Bobberson is a healthy 45-year-old man who doesn't smoke. Bob makes $45,000 a year as a real estate agent. His lovely wife Bobbina is a stay-at-home mom to their three kids, Bobby (13), Robby (10), and Bobette (6). They purchased their $120,000 home five years ago, and currently owe $100,000 on it. They have two cars, owing a total of $11,000 on them, and have $15,000 in credit card debt. How much life insurance does Bob need? Here's how a conversation with Bob's insurance agent, Fred, might go:
Bob: "I got a $250,000 policy through my job, and I think that's enough."
Fred: "We can take a look at your numbers and figure that out. First, add all personal debt, such as credit cards and auto payments and write that down."
Bob: "Why do I need to cover all of it?"
Bobbina: "Because I don't want to keep paying for that pickup truck that you insisted on getting, and I probably couldn't give that gas-guzzler away if I tried. And a lot of that credit card debt is left over from before we even got married!"
Bob writes down $26,000.
Fred: "Then, add income replacement for at least eight years."
Bobbina: "Make it twelve. That'll last until Bobette is grown so I can stay home with her like I have for the boys."
Bob: "Let's see . . . 45 times 12 . . . carry the one . . . that's $540,000."
Fred: "Now add in what's left on your mortgage."
Bob: "ALL of it?"
Fred: "Do you want to leave Bobbina with a house that may be foreclosed on, or do you want to leave her with a house that's fully paid for?"
Bobbina: "Yeah!"
Bob writes down $100,000.
Fred: "And finally, factor in the cost of sending each of your kids to college."
Bob: "Can I just pick my favorite?"
Bobbina: "No! And remember, Robby's in the gifted program at school and might get to go to Harvard!"
Bob: "Yeah, but Bobby's a jock. He'll probably get a scholarship."
Fred: "It's possible he could get injured. It's probably best to not count on a scholarship. You can probably count on about $75,000 for four years in a public college per kid."
Bob writes down $225,000.
Fred: "That adds up to . . . let's see . . . $801,000. I know I can't afford THAT!"
Bobbina: "Well you can't afford to leave us in the poor house either!"
Bob: "Do you have any idea what it would cost to get that much coverage? I already pay $250 a month for what I've got!"
Fred: "Hold on just a moment and let me get you a quote for the premium . . . 45 . . . male . . . nonsmoker . . . it looks like I can get you $801,000 in coverage for . . . $291 a month."
Bob: "Really? That's close to what I'm already paying for less than half that!"
Bobbina: "We'll take it!"
As you can see, Bob was severely underinsured and didn't even know it. And he didn't think that he could afford what he really needed. And here's the interesting part: as Bob gets older, the amount of insurance he needs will decrease. His mortgage principle and credit card debts will go down as he continues to make regular payments. His kids will get older, graduate from college, and leave the house. Eventually the only coverage he will need will be for his final expenses and income replacement for his wife. This is called the Theory of Decreasing Responsiblity.
Try running the numbers for yourself:
Add all credit, installment, and personal debt
Multiply your annual income by at least eight
Add the payoff balances of your first and second mortgages
Multiply the number of children you are responsible for by $75,000 for a public college education.
Add those numbers together to get the total death protection you need. If, like Bob, you discover that you're underinsured, or if you're completely uninsured, please contact us today for a custom quote.
Bob Bobberson is a healthy 45-year-old man who doesn't smoke. Bob makes $45,000 a year as a real estate agent. His lovely wife Bobbina is a stay-at-home mom to their three kids, Bobby (13), Robby (10), and Bobette (6). They purchased their $120,000 home five years ago, and currently owe $100,000 on it. They have two cars, owing a total of $11,000 on them, and have $15,000 in credit card debt. How much life insurance does Bob need? Here's how a conversation with Bob's insurance agent, Fred, might go:
Bob: "I got a $250,000 policy through my job, and I think that's enough."
Fred: "We can take a look at your numbers and figure that out. First, add all personal debt, such as credit cards and auto payments and write that down."
Bob: "Why do I need to cover all of it?"
Bobbina: "Because I don't want to keep paying for that pickup truck that you insisted on getting, and I probably couldn't give that gas-guzzler away if I tried. And a lot of that credit card debt is left over from before we even got married!"
Bob writes down $26,000.
Fred: "Then, add income replacement for at least eight years."
Bobbina: "Make it twelve. That'll last until Bobette is grown so I can stay home with her like I have for the boys."
Bob: "Let's see . . . 45 times 12 . . . carry the one . . . that's $540,000."
Fred: "Now add in what's left on your mortgage."
Bob: "ALL of it?"
Fred: "Do you want to leave Bobbina with a house that may be foreclosed on, or do you want to leave her with a house that's fully paid for?"
Bobbina: "Yeah!"
Bob writes down $100,000.
Fred: "And finally, factor in the cost of sending each of your kids to college."
Bob: "Can I just pick my favorite?"
Bobbina: "No! And remember, Robby's in the gifted program at school and might get to go to Harvard!"
Bob: "Yeah, but Bobby's a jock. He'll probably get a scholarship."
Fred: "It's possible he could get injured. It's probably best to not count on a scholarship. You can probably count on about $75,000 for four years in a public college per kid."
Bob writes down $225,000.
Fred: "That adds up to . . . let's see . . . $801,000. I know I can't afford THAT!"
Bobbina: "Well you can't afford to leave us in the poor house either!"
Bob: "Do you have any idea what it would cost to get that much coverage? I already pay $250 a month for what I've got!"
Fred: "Hold on just a moment and let me get you a quote for the premium . . . 45 . . . male . . . nonsmoker . . . it looks like I can get you $801,000 in coverage for . . . $291 a month."
Bob: "Really? That's close to what I'm already paying for less than half that!"
Bobbina: "We'll take it!"
As you can see, Bob was severely underinsured and didn't even know it. And he didn't think that he could afford what he really needed. And here's the interesting part: as Bob gets older, the amount of insurance he needs will decrease. His mortgage principle and credit card debts will go down as he continues to make regular payments. His kids will get older, graduate from college, and leave the house. Eventually the only coverage he will need will be for his final expenses and income replacement for his wife. This is called the Theory of Decreasing Responsiblity.
Try running the numbers for yourself:
Add all credit, installment, and personal debt
Multiply your annual income by at least eight
Add the payoff balances of your first and second mortgages
Multiply the number of children you are responsible for by $75,000 for a public college education.
Add those numbers together to get the total death protection you need. If, like Bob, you discover that you're underinsured, or if you're completely uninsured, please contact us today for a custom quote.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Back during my apartment days, I woke up one morning to the sound of a very loud truck right outside my window. It was being used to pump about a foot of water out of an apartment in the next building. During the night, a hot water pipe had sprung a small leak. That leak shot onto the cold water pipe right next to it. The cold water pipe melted, creating an enormous leak in the ceiling of one of the downstairs units. When the apartment manager asked the tenant why she didn't call the emergency number when the water started coming into her apartment, she said that she had been asleep and dreamed that it was raining.
Basically, everything in this young woman's apartment was ruined. I know, because it was all out on the lawn that morning. It's bad enough to deal with having all your stuff destroyed, but what if you couldn't replace it? You see, by law Texas landlords are not responsible for replacing or repairing tenants' belongings. Simply put, the apartment complex had no responsiblity to reimburse the tenant for her damaged property, even though it was the landlord's property that caused the damage.
The best way to protect your property is to purchase a renters policy. This provides coverage for your things while they're at home or out with you. The cost is very reasonable. Depending on your address, you can purchase $15,000 of coverage for about $15 a month. So ask yourself: If you woke up and found that your bedroom had become a swimming pool overnight, could you easily pay to replace all your stuff? If not, contact us for more information about renters coverage.
Basically, everything in this young woman's apartment was ruined. I know, because it was all out on the lawn that morning. It's bad enough to deal with having all your stuff destroyed, but what if you couldn't replace it? You see, by law Texas landlords are not responsible for replacing or repairing tenants' belongings. Simply put, the apartment complex had no responsiblity to reimburse the tenant for her damaged property, even though it was the landlord's property that caused the damage.
The best way to protect your property is to purchase a renters policy. This provides coverage for your things while they're at home or out with you. The cost is very reasonable. Depending on your address, you can purchase $15,000 of coverage for about $15 a month. So ask yourself: If you woke up and found that your bedroom had become a swimming pool overnight, could you easily pay to replace all your stuff? If not, contact us for more information about renters coverage.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
No Long Term Care Insurance? Uh oh!
MSN Money has an excellent article about why you need long term care coverage. Click here for the entire article.
You spend your working years saving in IRA and 401(k) plans so that you can someday retire and live comfortably. But what happens to a couple if one of them has long-term health problems?
We all know about the rising cost of health care, but what about the cost of skilled care in a nursing home? We asked the director of a local nursing home, and she told us that the Alzheimer's unit in her facility cost $118 per day. That's $3540 a month, or over $43,000 a year. Would you be able to pay for that out of pocket?
And it's not just the elderly who might need care. Anybody could be the victim of a freak accident that require a long recovery time. One of our friends told us about his nephew, who was in a motorcycle collision when he was in his early thirties. It took him a year to recover. In the meantime, his family's finances were destroyed. Had he purchased a long term care policy, his nursing would have been covered.
As with life and health policies, the best time to purchase a long term care policy is when you're young and healthy. Premiums do increase the older you get, so time is of the essence. Contact us today for more information.
You spend your working years saving in IRA and 401(k) plans so that you can someday retire and live comfortably. But what happens to a couple if one of them has long-term health problems?
We all know about the rising cost of health care, but what about the cost of skilled care in a nursing home? We asked the director of a local nursing home, and she told us that the Alzheimer's unit in her facility cost $118 per day. That's $3540 a month, or over $43,000 a year. Would you be able to pay for that out of pocket?
And it's not just the elderly who might need care. Anybody could be the victim of a freak accident that require a long recovery time. One of our friends told us about his nephew, who was in a motorcycle collision when he was in his early thirties. It took him a year to recover. In the meantime, his family's finances were destroyed. Had he purchased a long term care policy, his nursing would have been covered.
As with life and health policies, the best time to purchase a long term care policy is when you're young and healthy. Premiums do increase the older you get, so time is of the essence. Contact us today for more information.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
New Minimum Auto Liability Requirements
All Texas drivers are required to carry proof of financial responsibility. This is most commonly accomplished by purchasing an auto liability policy. The current minimum limits are $20,000 per person injured, $40,000 maximum in injuries per accident, and $15,000 in property damage. Your agent may refer to this coverage as "20/40/15".
Effective April 1, 2008, the minimum liability requirements will be increased to "25/50/25," or $25,000 per person injured, $50,000 in total injuries, and $25,000 in property damage.
You may purchase new auto policies that exceed the current minimum liability limits at any time. Some drivers, however, will elect to maintain the minimum amount of coverage. Some of the companies we represent have informed us that they will continue to issue the old 20/40/15 policies up until the April 1st deadline. After that time, all new policies will have at least 25/50/25 coverage. Existing policies will be renewed with the new minimum limits, with an increased premium.
For more information on the increased limits, please visit the Texas Department of Insurance website.
Effective April 1, 2008, the minimum liability requirements will be increased to "25/50/25," or $25,000 per person injured, $50,000 in total injuries, and $25,000 in property damage.
You may purchase new auto policies that exceed the current minimum liability limits at any time. Some drivers, however, will elect to maintain the minimum amount of coverage. Some of the companies we represent have informed us that they will continue to issue the old 20/40/15 policies up until the April 1st deadline. After that time, all new policies will have at least 25/50/25 coverage. Existing policies will be renewed with the new minimum limits, with an increased premium.
For more information on the increased limits, please visit the Texas Department of Insurance website.
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