tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30623236488233313112024-03-13T13:18:54.361-07:00Robert Edgin Insurance & Financial Simple. Easy. Complete. Insurance & Financial StrategiesAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14422535432082437623noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3062323648823331311.post-16827525548089062412017-07-12T14:57:00.001-07:002017-07-12T14:57:41.371-07:00Do You Really Need Boat Insurance?<b>- By Tenisha Sanderson </b><br />
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ZxVSqlAQPc7E2H9E4xbBEKnvQidQMUmuGyxcdRGPxQHYFz8Tkt2wivyX7B1Xw0tevHMpqVIjexA-C2xPMQenW12-oTRtYHr7O5QQ9W7R2EjsbUYZMUnhXh-5SOC9H1RVoFjoLAbAUXsp/s1600/Tenisha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1289" data-original-width="1132" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ZxVSqlAQPc7E2H9E4xbBEKnvQidQMUmuGyxcdRGPxQHYFz8Tkt2wivyX7B1Xw0tevHMpqVIjexA-C2xPMQenW12-oTRtYHr7O5QQ9W7R2EjsbUYZMUnhXh-5SOC9H1RVoFjoLAbAUXsp/s200/Tenisha.jpg" width="175" /></a></b></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Boating season is in full effect across Colorado, which means it is only a matter of time before someone sinks their boat, their trailer or both! Hopefully not, but, if it does happen, it is important to make sure your boat and motor are covered under an insurance policy. If they are not, you’ll be on your own trying to get them pulled up from the murky depths.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Often times, boat owners forget that boat insurance is just as important as car insurance. In fact, you may even be </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">more </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">at risk on the water. No matter how experienced or cautious you are, it is hard to protect yourself against careless, inexperienced boaters or even nature. On the water, boat insurance gives you the additional protection you need. If you have a boat accident that isn't your fault, file the incident on the other party's insurance policy. If the other boater does not have insurance OR the other party's insurance gives you problems, you can fall back on your policy to fix your damages if you have </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">physical damage coverage. Physical damage coverage provides coverage for things like theft, wind, collision, sinking and hail storms, for example. Your physical damage coverage will also help you recover your boat if it happens to sink.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwpVh9yu2PQUN30Q3W1OG1PVF_B6moglURIzKoXbHjhE8LQmyv51jUSavuCHqzz6orTo_v0XsljIR4jFPVzNrRxqj-kobbx1WL0PQpflACkUjG4DlOmgRGvHTcHPRumQTByfcfSlXBPLx5/s1600/4fb9382d1c47f.image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwpVh9yu2PQUN30Q3W1OG1PVF_B6moglURIzKoXbHjhE8LQmyv51jUSavuCHqzz6orTo_v0XsljIR4jFPVzNrRxqj-kobbx1WL0PQpflACkUjG4DlOmgRGvHTcHPRumQTByfcfSlXBPLx5/s200/4fb9382d1c47f.image.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Just as important as your physical damage coverage is your liability coverage (maybe even more so!). If you have a guest on board who slips and falls, or you collide with another boat and injure a passenger, who pays for the medical bills? Without boat insurance, you would be responsible for medical bills and pain and suffering of anyone injured, which could end up in amounts greater than the boat's value. Liability coverage on a boat policy would cover injuries to others, protect you against lawsuits, fix damage done to other boats and even cover any structures you might run into. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">As a boat owner, isn't this reason enough to have a boat policy? The cost is so low (most clients are shocked when they hear how low!) for the protection and peace of mind to enjoy your time, there’s really no reason NOT to have it. Not Call our office today to talk more about your watercraft coverage options! </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; line-height: 115%; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14422535432082437623noreply@blogger.com5881 North Academy Boulevard, Colorado Springs, CO 80918, USA38.9158371 -104.7870182000000338.915813099999994 -104.78705770000003 38.9158611 -104.78697870000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3062323648823331311.post-90846071147325824692011-11-26T08:46:00.001-08:002011-11-26T08:48:22.801-08:00How To Handle Holiday Fender Benders<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhknHlbJeuRX-rGq-DcIBqY83ZXvAyoFVQpJeKc_YQi9fkY5pmBip-6xT59vrj_KEIx105aB__c80plCGtkwH2rfqNuspYNupNCG_DczlsDanq9k4Q986uo7fuu2la2tPntfh4fvL7FXSm6/s1600/fender-bender.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhknHlbJeuRX-rGq-DcIBqY83ZXvAyoFVQpJeKc_YQi9fkY5pmBip-6xT59vrj_KEIx105aB__c80plCGtkwH2rfqNuspYNupNCG_DczlsDanq9k4Q986uo7fuu2la2tPntfh4fvL7FXSm6/s1600/fender-bender.gif" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">The holiday shopping blitz is in full effect, which
means there are more people than ever bumping into each other at the mall.
Unfortunately, more people are bumping into each other in the parking lots as
well! Police do not respond to parking lot fender benders unless alcohol or
injuries are involved, so it's important to know what to do if you find yourself
in an unfortunate run in with a fellow shopper.</span></div>
<div class="post-body entry-content">
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content">
<ul>
<li><strong>Assess The Situation: </strong>Make sure no one is hurt and try to
determine if drugs or alcohol are involved (if so, call 911).
</li>
<li><strong>Stay Calm:</strong> Emotions run high after a collision, make sure
your temper doesn't. Getting loud or emotional will only make the situation
worse and could lead to something far worse than a little dent or lost paint.
</li>
<li><strong>Who's At Fault: </strong>Ultimately, the insurance company(ies) will
make their own determination of fault, but you can help your claim
representative by documenting the accident. Usually, the person backing out is
deemed at fault, but make sure you take photos if possible (use your cell phone
camera) and ask anyone who saw what happened to write it down with their contact
information.
</li>
<li><strong>Do Not: </strong>Apologize for the accident (even if you think its
you're fault), tell other parties how much insurance you carry or accept any
money (even if you think its the other drivers fault) or agree to forget about
the accident.
</li>
<li><strong>Exchange Information: </strong>Make sure you get the other driver's
name, address, phone number, driver’s license number, license plate number,
vehicle make, model, year, color, insurance carrier and policy number.
</li>
<li><strong>Contact Your Insurance Agent:</strong> Call your local, professional
agent to let your company know about the accident and discuss how to proceed
with filing a claim (if needed).
</li>
<li><strong>Don't Let A Little Dent Ruin The Holidays! </strong>Accidents
happen, but it doesn't have to ruin the season. Hopefully no one is hurt (the
most important thing!) and any little dents or lost paint can be fixed. Yes,
accidents are unfortunate but letting it ruin such a special time of year would
be far worse. </li>
</ul>
</div>
<br />
Be extra careful in parking lots during your shopping
trips. Look twice before backing out and watch out for your fellow shoppers who
are not quite as cautious of a driver as you. Try to avoid the extra little
run-ins, but be prepared just in case. Have a safe and happy shopping season!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14422535432082437623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3062323648823331311.post-23146139482833571652011-11-20T18:19:00.001-08:002011-11-20T18:19:39.766-08:00Hugs From Clients<strong>True Story:</strong>
<br />
Yesterday morning one of my clients (We'll call her Sherry for
confidentiality reasons) called and asked if there was any way they
could stop by that afternoon because they had some important questions
they would really like answered ASAP. These kind of phone calls always
scare me a little bit, especially when I manage ALL of the retirement
accounts of the client who wants to get together immediately!<br />
<br />
Did I do something wrong? Are they unhappy with me? Are they pulling all
of their accounts? I felt like I used to back in the day when my
mom would tell me "wait until your dad gets home!". Your imagination
runs wild and before you know it, ridiculous and bad thoughts
start racing through your mind - all of which are far worse than
anything that could happen in real life.<br />
<br />
I was extra nervous yesterday because earlier this year I took over on a
very large sum of Sherry's retirement money and moved it into
strategies we thought would better fit her retirement goals. I thought
it was a great move for her and a far better fit than her old
investments but maybe she's changed her mind. I knew I had done a good
job and put together some great strategies for her, but needless to say I
had a very long afternoon waiting for my 3:00 appointment.<br />
<br />
3:00 came and, as usual, Sherry was right on time. When I walked into
the conference room she wanted to get straight to the business she had
come to discuss. "I need to ask you a few things about my money" she
said as she was laying her most recent account statements out in front
of me. I've been watching all of my statements and comparing them with
what I hear on the news and what my friends are telling me about their
retirement accounts and I'm not sure that this makes sense."<br />
<br />
Uh-oh, I thought, here it comes! It's never good to hear that something
doesn't make sense when you're dealing with large sums of money. I was
pretty sure everything was explained well and understood, but did I miss
something?<br />
<br />
Sherry continued, "my statements show that none of my accounts have lost
any money. One of them has stayed the same and the other three have all
gone up."<br />
<br />
I told her that was right, she was reading the statements correctly.<br />
<br />
"So I really haven't lost any money, my accounts are all safe?"<br />
<br />
I told her she was right again and reminded her that we made moves to
protect her retirement from the bad stuff that was going on the economy
and the stock market so she wouldn't have to worry about it.<br />
<br />
"That's wonderful! I wanted to make sure that these statements were
correct and I feel so good now, I'd like to give you a hug!" And then
she did, she stood up, gave me a hug and then headed for the door. Our
urgent meeting was over in 5 minutes, and Sherry was happy enough to
give me a hug. Did I mention I like hugs from happy clients? <br />
<br />
If you're not working with someone worth hugging, you might want to
consider working with someone else. Remember, you <strong>CAN</strong> keep your money
safe and protected from volatility and you can keep your retirement
money moving in the right direction. Don't let anyone tell you
otherwise!<br />
<br />
Robert EdginAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14422535432082437623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3062323648823331311.post-40955013141358895772011-10-30T09:41:00.000-07:002011-10-30T09:41:58.449-07:00Wind Damage - How To Handle The Wind and Wind Related ClaimsIt seems that Colorado, and especially Colorado Springs, is trying to
steal the title of "Windy City" away from Chicago. I can't recall a
longer period of continuous high winds since I moved here 30 years ago. <br />
<br />
So what do you need to know if you find your home being blown over and you have to deal with wind damage and a wind claim? <br />
<br />
The first, and most important, thing to know is that wind damage is a
covered loss under almost every home policy you can buy and is covered
under your car insurance if you have optional "comprehensive"
coverage. This blog has to do with wind damage and your home. If the
wind lifts up a few shingles or tears off your entire roof, you're
covered. If it blows out your windows or blows over a tree, you're
covered. There are, however, some things to consider and know about when
it comes to wind and wind damage claims.<br />
<br />
<strong>First, Protect Your Family and Your Home: </strong>If high winds
or a tornado damage your home, first get your family to a safe
location. Contact your insurance company as soon as you are able. If it
is safe to make temporary repairs, go ahead and do so to prevent more
damage. <br />
<br />
Homeowners should consider strengthening their homes in order to protect
them, their belongings and everyone inside. Coastal communities have
been adopting stronger building codes calling for walls to be anchored
to foundations and using straps to connect roofs to exterior walls. Both
measures will help homes stand up against high winds, regardless of
where the home is located.Keep branches trimmed and yards clear of
debris which can blow against your walls and windows, causing damage.
Having a current home inventory will help in the event that your home is
severely damaged by a storm.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqstTW-ZO6LJ9KAFrjzdDfp6t_N5PrJtSRBHwgs6OW5L2Ed2FTLI3fIphbpMPVim-5EVthTcLYjD7uXndid5szilOzIi-wFNBRUYgJseiYHFdiVWTLIogf0T-M3tMoUk6qToSH4gXIsA1Z/s1600/wind+damage.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqstTW-ZO6LJ9KAFrjzdDfp6t_N5PrJtSRBHwgs6OW5L2Ed2FTLI3fIphbpMPVim-5EVthTcLYjD7uXndid5szilOzIi-wFNBRUYgJseiYHFdiVWTLIogf0T-M3tMoUk6qToSH4gXIsA1Z/s320/wind+damage.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>
<strong>Second, Assess the Damage: </strong>If
the damage to your home seems minimal, you may want to consider getting
an estimate for repairs before you file a claim. Fixing a few shingles
may fall under your home deductible and help you avoid filing a claim.<br />
<br />
Although wind is a covered loss, you should always save your claims for
large, catastrophic events whenever possible. Too many claims on your
home insurance could result in increased rates or even losing your home
insurance coverage. If it is within your financial means to fix the
damage yourself, it should definitely be considered. Talk to your local,
professional agent about each individual claim to get an opinion on if
it should be filed with your insurance company. If you do file a claim,
keep in mind that many policies have a separate, increased deductible
for wind damage.<br />
<br />
<strong>Wind and Hail Deductibles: </strong>Many companies are moving to
a separate deductible for wind or hail damage that is often higher than
your deductible for all other types of damage. <span style="background-color: white;">It
is not uncommon to have a 1% deductible for wind damage, which means if
your home is insured for $200,000, you would pay 1%, or $2,000, as your
deductible.</span><br />
<br />
<strong>There's a Tree on my Roof!</strong> High winds often lead to
snapped and blown over trees that can end up on top of your home. There
are a few important things to know when it comes to damage form falling
trees:<br />
<ol>
<li>It does not matter where the tree came from, it is you or your
home insurance that is responsible for the cleanup and any resulting
damage. If your neighbor's tree is blown over it is still your
responsibility to pay for damage from their tree that is now parked on
your roof. This may sound unfair, but unless the owner of the tree can
be shown to be negligent, it is not their fault that the wind picked
their tree to blow over and therefor not their responsibility to pay for
the damages.</li>
<li>No damage to property = no coverage for clean up. Trees that fall
over and land in your yard, without damaging property, are your
responsibility to clean up. Remember, your insurance company isn't
protecting your land, they are protecting your home and belongings so if
you've just got a tree on your land with no structure damage there
is typically no coverage under your home insurance policy.</li>
<li>Replacing the tree: Most insurance policies have very limited
coverage to replace trees, grass, flowers and bushes. Landscaping is all
a part of your land and not a part of your structure so the rules from
number two roll into point number 3. You can usually get a small amount
back, around $500 on most policies, to pay for the planting of trees or
other damaged landscaping but that's about it.</li>
</ol>
<strong>If You Need to File a Claim, Do It Sooner Than Later: </strong>It
is important to prevent further damage to your property so the sooner
you can get a claim filed an adjuster out to your home to inspect the
damage and okay repair work, the better. Wind damage today can easily
lead to water damage tomorrow and really increase the amount of repairs
that have to be made to both your home and your belongings. Water can
blow in the cracks or leaks can happen in your roof if your shingles are
missing or damaged. If you can take minor steps to prevent further
damage, you should but don't do anything to put yourself or your
property in danger. Caulk your windows and inspect for anywhere you
might have water leaking into your home.<br />
<br />
<strong>There's a Hole in my Roof, Where Should I Stay?</strong> The
"Additional Living Expense" portion of your home insurance policy should
cover any costs associated with a hotel or other living arrangements if
you cannot stay in your home due to a covered loss. If a tree came
through the roof, the definitely counts as a covered loss under almost
all policies. You just need to work with your insurance company to be
reimbursed for any extra costs<br />
<br />
Although dealing with home damage and insurance claims are never a fun
process, take heart in knowing that your insurance company really is
there to help get your home and belongings repaired and get your life
back to normal as soon as possible. If you have specific questions
regarding your home and your policy, consult your local agent.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14422535432082437623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3062323648823331311.post-14277478267506893222011-10-30T09:38:00.000-07:002011-10-30T09:38:15.546-07:00Hooray, it's vacation time! Time to get away and enjoy some well
deserved down time. You've made all of the arrangements - booked the
flights and the hotel, reserved your rental car, arranged for a pet
sitter - and now it's time to get out of town. <br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHA_4WaIdcmIJeCSPJFI4hStgfgWIqsvn8vqFemeHM3L9jvbPhAN8JIT7JXSl5CihXTcuGBThQbaOrQH722-wFCapJXW1RF7jKe8NgQkXQgPoK_bkyTjqo93E27NoxFQ7JadusEuiZPvNJ/s1600/rental-car-insurance.jpg" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="98" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHA_4WaIdcmIJeCSPJFI4hStgfgWIqsvn8vqFemeHM3L9jvbPhAN8JIT7JXSl5CihXTcuGBThQbaOrQH722-wFCapJXW1RF7jKe8NgQkXQgPoK_bkyTjqo93E27NoxFQ7JadusEuiZPvNJ/s200/rental-car-insurance.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Off you go, getting to your destination was a breeze and now the last
thing to do is sign the rental car paper work and then the rental car
company hits you with the big question, "Are you going to buy the rental
car insurance for a ridiculously expensive price (my words, not
theirs) or risk your entire financial life (my words again) by declining
coverage?". Here's what you need to know about insurance to cover the
rental car.<br />
<br />
<strong>Does Your Car Insurance Extend To Rental Cars?</strong><br />
You'll need to check with your local, professional agent for answers
specific to your policy, but in general, YES, your car insurance
coverage will extend to a rental car. If you have good liability limits,
comprehensive and collision on your policy than in most cases you will
have the same coverage apply to a rental car that you are using for
personal use. If you do NOT have comprehensive and collision on your
auto insurance policy, you will NOT have it for the rental car either.
So, full coverage on your car equals full coverage on the rental car.<br />
<br />
<strong>What Is NOT Covered When Renting A Car?</strong><br />
Same disclaimer applies here, you'll need to check your specific policy but in general the <strong>loss of use </strong>is
NOT covered by your personal insurance if you are in a rental car. Loss
of use covers the amount of money the rental car company is losing by
not being able to rent out a crashed car while it is being repaired or
replaced. Here's an easy math example: You rent a car for $25 per day
but crash it. It needs to be repaired for 10 days x $25 per day = $250
in loss of use. Your insurance policy will (most likely) not cover the
$250 which means you will be responsible for paying it.<br />
<br />
Is the loss of use coverage worth buying the rental car insurance? That
depends on the math. If you are renting a car for 7 days and the
insurance costs are an extra $22 per day that equals $152 in extra costs
to cover the possible $250 in the example of 10 days of loss of use.
However, if you're renting a car for 1 day, that's only $22 extra to
cover the possible $250. Is it worth it? That is an answer you'll have
to answer for yourself, but here's one more factor to consider; the
rental car doesn't always charge for loss of use. If they have 10 more
cars on the lot that could be rented instead of the one you crashed, do
they suffer a loss of use? If they do not suffer a loss of use, will
they try to recover the $250?<br />
<br />
<strong>Two More BIG Considerations!</strong><br />
If you are a client of a company that offers some type of client reward
for being claim free (like the 25% ANPAC refunds each year for being
claim free*) you may want to consider paying for the rental car
insurance so that any claim would be paid by the rental car insurance
policy and NOT affect your reward. The chances of you crashing a rental
car while on vacation are probably no greater than crashing your own
car, but at least you would not lost your Cashback* reward if you are
involved in an accident.<br />
<br />
Most rental car insurance does NOT have a deductible. If you have a
$1,000 deductible on your personal insurance policy, you would be
responsible for the same $1,000 deductible if you crashed the rental car
and your personal insurance was paying for the damages.<br />
<br />
So, you've got some options when it comes to paying the extra costs
associated with the rental car insurance. At least you know what you're
facing the next time the rental car rep throws the paper work in front
of you and stares at you intensely while you ponder whether or not the
extra insurance is right for your personal situation.<br />
<br />
Don't forget to get connected with me on facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/myinsuranceguys">www.facebook.com/myinsuranceguys</a>. You'll get more great info and updates and have some fun with contests too!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14422535432082437623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3062323648823331311.post-22525453301652911472011-10-30T09:33:00.000-07:002011-10-30T09:33:24.544-07:00Top Car Insurance MythsThere is a lot of incorrect information floating around about car
insurance these days. Some of it goes back a number of years while some
of it has emerged with new technology. Where ever the information came
from, it can cost you money (through increased premiums or lack of
insurance coverage) if you are making decisions based on faulty
information. So let's clear up some of the common car insurance myths
once and for all.<br />
<br />
<strong>1. The color of your car affects your insurance prices.</strong>
NOT TRUE! Auto insurance companies base their rates on the safety
features of a vehicle, the costs for repairs and other factors such as
likelihood of theft. They also use driver information to determine
rates, but they do <em>not</em> base rates on the color of the car. Most
insurance companies don't even ask for the color of your car. Certain
Makes and models generate more claims than others and therefor have
higher insurance rates, but color is not one of the factors.<br />
<br />
<strong>2. If I let someone borrow my car, they're responsible for any damage if they have an accident. </strong>NOT
TRUE! In most situations, if you let someone borrow your car, your car
insurance is going to extend to the person driving the car. In other
words, car insurance typically follow the car, not the driver. So, if
you let your friend borrow your car and they crash it into a tree, it
will be your insurance company (and your deductible) paying for the
claim! However, if your insurance gets maxed out, your friend's policy
can be accessed for the additional costs.<br />
<br />
<strong>3. My insurance company can cancel my policy or raise my rates at any time. </strong>NOT
TRUE! In most states, insurance companies can only cancel your
policy or raise your rates at the policy renewal (unless you are making
changes to your policy that increase premiums such as buying a new car).
Even if you have a couple of accidents, you will most likely not see
the changes to your premium until the next renewal. <br />
<br />
<strong>4. The laptop stolen from my car is covered under my auto insurance. </strong>NOT TRUE! Personal property (such as laptops) are not a part of your car and therefor <em>not</em>
covered under your car insurance policy. All personal items are
actually covered under your property insurance policy, like you home or
renters insurance. Unless something is physically attached and a
permanent part of the car, there is no coverage provided under your car
insurance policy. Your home insurance, on the other hand, extends some
coverage to items that are in your car or any where else outside of the
home.<br />
<br />
These are just a few of the common myths about car insurance. If you
base your insurance decisions on these or other myths, you may find
yourself not buying the proper coverage or buying coverage you don't
necessarily need. Talk to a local, professional agent - like Robert
Edgin, 719-685-8585 - about your personal situation and get the facts
about car insurance.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14422535432082437623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3062323648823331311.post-4614948362934635132011-08-17T19:50:00.000-07:002011-08-17T19:50:48.445-07:00Things To Know BEFORE You Rent An RV Or Camper<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmLxpeVfiqR-dVbzeA_oHlp5eRe1a-oHNzhXOpy43lspPpWm_VIMkHRDdx2xV2h3Qi75pOiN-CZgSvwaCcWSEHBr9_vC8tjuNxWwIHYUPocOep2j2q4KWCHdXGK3vNvn3BZLf3V8LNZKN/s1600/RV+Rental.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmLxpeVfiqR-dVbzeA_oHlp5eRe1a-oHNzhXOpy43lspPpWm_VIMkHRDdx2xV2h3Qi75pOiN-CZgSvwaCcWSEHBr9_vC8tjuNxWwIHYUPocOep2j2q4KWCHdXGK3vNvn3BZLf3V8LNZKN/s200/RV+Rental.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Make sure that RV is covered before you hit the open road! <br />
<br />
<br />
Summer is not quite over yet, and if you're thinking about renting a camper or RV for one last warm weather getaway, there are a few insurance things you should know before heading out for that family vacation.<br />
<br />
RV's and campers are NOT covered automatically! While most insurance companies will extend coverage to a rental car (check your policy to find out if your policy does), the same cannot be said for motorhomes and campers. They're in a completely different class than that Ford Taurus you rented from the airport on your last vacation and they need their own insurance in place BEFORE you get behind the wheel!<br />
<br />
As you might imagine, the RV rental companies are more than happy to sell you some insurance to cover that big fancy rig you're driving off in at a pretty hefty daily rate. It's a great money maker for the rental companies and can come in very handy if you crash their RV. But did you know there is another, much more affordable, option available to you? Some insurance companies (like American National) can add a special endorsement to your auto policy to cover that motorhome or camper for up to 15 days! What's the price, you ask? A one time charge of $15! <br />
<br />
For $15, ANPAC will extend comprehensive coverage ($100 deductible) for non-accident related claims, as well as collision coverage ($250 deductible) for any accidents that may happen. Plus, it even comes with $50 towing and emergency road side service in case you need it!<br />
<br />
The big advice here is to make sure ANY vehicle that you rent or borrow has some form of insurance coverage. You can buy it from your insurance company or the rental company. If you don't, you may find yourself at the bad end of a really big repair bill! Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14422535432082437623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3062323648823331311.post-50510918481430400972011-03-25T15:23:00.000-07:002011-03-25T15:23:59.276-07:00It's Time For A Home Inventory!Before a catastrophe strikes and you're faced with a loss, make a home inventory - lists, pictures or a videotape of the contents of your home. After all, would you be able to remember all the possessions you've accumulated over the years if they were destroyed by a fire? Having an up-to-date home inventory will help you get your insurance claim settled faster, verify losses for your income tax return and help you purchase the correct amount of insurance. From a National Association of Insurance Commissioners news release (May 31, 2008), nearly half of Americans do not have a home inventory and are unprepared for disasters: <br />
<br />
•As Colorado braces for wildfires, tornadoes and other extreme weather that accompany the summer disaster season, nearly half of U.S. consumers are insufficiently prepared—in terms of their insurance coverage—to deal with potential losses, according to new research by the New Hampshire Insurance Department and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).<br />
<br />
•The national survey revealed a significant lack of preparedness among consumers in documenting their belongings. Nearly half—48 percent—said they did not have an inventory of their possessions. Of those consumers who reported having a checklist, 32 percent had not taken any pictures and 58 percent had no receipts validating the cost of their possessions. In addition, 44 percent of respondents acknowledged that they had not stored their inventory in a remote location.<br />
<br />
<strong>Taking Inventory</strong><br />
Start by making a list of your possessions, describing each item and noting where you bought it and its make and model. Clip to your list any sales receipts, purchase contracts, and appraisals.<br />
<br />
•For clothing, count the items you own by category pants, coats, shoes, for example - making notes about those that are especially valuable.<br />
<br />
•For major appliances and electronic equipment, record their serial numbers usually found on the back or bottom.<br />
<br />
Don't be overwhelmed! If you are just setting up a household, starting an inventory list can be relatively simple. If you've been living in the same house for many years, however, the task of creating a list can be daunting. Still, it's better to have an incomplete inventory than nothing at all. Start with recent purchases and then try to remember what you can about older possessions.<br />
<br />
Big ticket items: Valuable items like jewelry, art work and collectibles may have increased in value since you received them. Check with your agent to make sure that you have adequate insurance for these items. They may need to be insured separately.<br />
<br />
Take a picture: Besides the list, you can take pictures of rooms and important individual items. On the back of the photos note what is shown, where you bought each item, and the make. Don't forget things that are in closets or drawers.<br />
<br />
Videotape it: Walk through your house or apartment videotaping and describing the contents. Or, do the same thing using a tape recorder.<br />
Use a personal computer: Use your PC to make your inventory list. Personal finance software packages often include a homeowners room-by-room inventory program.<br />
Storing the list, photos and tapes: Regardless of how you do it (written list, floppy disk, photos, videotape or audio tape), keep your inventory along with receipts in your safe deposit box or at a friend's or relative's home. That way you'll be sure to have something to give your insurance representative if your home is damaged. When you make a significant purchase, add the information to your inventory while the details are fresh in your mind.<br />
<br />
<strong>Creating Your Home Inventory</strong><br />
<br />
You can list your items by category, or by room. For many items like books, CDs, bed sheets or pots and pans, you can make a general estimate of how many you have. For expensive items, note the make and model, the store where the item was purchased and the approximate date.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B-AKd1hVvbDTYTAxZDFhZGEtYmFjMy00NWI3LTk2NTAtMmNmYjIwYWNiZTI3&hl=en">Download A Free Home Inventory Form</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14422535432082437623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3062323648823331311.post-46138779676994419272011-03-22T20:39:00.000-07:002011-03-23T14:21:33.654-07:00Ron Fix and Snappy Print, keeping the family business alive<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HaJVF3HH615n6Blczsm3kAfjIj2gmjSvjPPs79ykyTsT88byXYc_PUATRv1859kMhTrKnBBtNW_myZVO1CHeTdojrQapJTIRbuDVwKBFCMS_sknIad9UtqigTVlMgOgWNbMI2V2dvGWK/s1600/snappy+print.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8HaJVF3HH615n6Blczsm3kAfjIj2gmjSvjPPs79ykyTsT88byXYc_PUATRv1859kMhTrKnBBtNW_myZVO1CHeTdojrQapJTIRbuDVwKBFCMS_sknIad9UtqigTVlMgOgWNbMI2V2dvGWK/s1600/snappy+print.gif" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Ron Fix Jr. was just 5 years old when his dad, Ron Sr., opened the family business – Snappy Print. Ron worked at Snappy throughout his childhood years helping out with the cleaning and odds and ends. By the time he started working more full time hours in high school, he knew how to work every position and machine in the family print shop. Bindery, delivery, customer service, Ron Jr. was doing it all and really getting serious about his responsibilities.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Ron Sr. had done a great job at growing Snappy into one of the most successful, locally owned print shops in town with a focus on face to face relationships and helping their small business clients grow. His goal was to someday turn the family business over to his only son, Ron Jr. Ron never missed a day of work and he loved growing the family business. “He was infatuated with the business”, says Ron Jr., “even if there was 4 feet of snow on the ground and we were going to be closed for the day he would still find a way to make it in just in case someone came by or needed something.” </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKZaf5HKhrpp9J_Q9oGDV6hwc-80LE4JelisRg0pzKfQdS9GkPJR24h1VQTOQpHZgZkSgH4xFBZD1hBHgitFr2i48E-tb8YHK6EiHdDodJa-X_-NJI-bdpIStlfCW7faSC0yrOHTtsNSG/s1600/199791_1005381180724_1410725367_7863_6649_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKZaf5HKhrpp9J_Q9oGDV6hwc-80LE4JelisRg0pzKfQdS9GkPJR24h1VQTOQpHZgZkSgH4xFBZD1hBHgitFr2i48E-tb8YHK6EiHdDodJa-X_-NJI-bdpIStlfCW7faSC0yrOHTtsNSG/s200/199791_1005381180724_1410725367_7863_6649_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>If Ron Sr. wasn’t at the office he was spending time with his wife, son, daughter-in-law and grandkids on family vacations or motorcycle rides. Even when they weren’t working together Ron Sr. and Ron Jr. still spent the majority of the time together. If you ask Ron Jr. about it, he’ll tell you “that’s just the kind of family we are.”</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Family time is different these days, so is the business. On January 3, 2009 Ron Sr. died unexpectedly. His hopes that his son would one day take over the business had happened overnight, but not how anyone had planned. Although he looked forward to the day his son could take over, he loved the business so much that he had kept the majority of the day to day operations close to his chest so he could make sure everything was done just the way he liked it. “There was a lot of stuff that no one really knew how to take care of because he (Ron Sr.) kept it so close to the cuff.” Ron Jr. had to step into the role of business owner and make sure Snappy Print would survive after the devastating loss of his father. “I had to go from being a passenger on the bus to driving the bus in one day, it was just something I had to work through and figure out.” </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It was a difficult transition for the family. The hardest part, according to Ron Jr., was the time frame. “Trying to figure out so much in such a small amount of time was tough” says Ron, but with employees, his mother (now a widow) and his own family relying on the business for their livelihood, Ron took the reins and never looked back. Fortunately, his dad had a little more help to offer the family even though he was gone.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Ron Sr. had set up life insurance to provide for his wife and allow for a cushion at Snappy Print in case something were to happen to him before Ron Jr. took over. “The life insurance provided the money to take care of the business finances during the transition and put a little comfort there so we knew we were going to be able to keep the business going the way my dad wanted it to happen." That cushion gave Ron Jr. the financial space needed for him to learn the things his dad had not yet taught him. He’s since become a pro at negotiating with vendors, managing the day-to-day operations and keeping Snappy on the path his dad had put it on so many years ago. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The life insurance Ron Sr. had purchases did even more than just provide for the business. According to Ron Jr, “it provided things that we probably never would have envisioned. It allows us to go places and enjoy things even though we’re missing that key person. It’s helped us as a family to enjoy life a little bit more and fill a void that’s there and fulfill some dreams that he had. It allows us to do some things with my mom that she had planned on doing with my dad in their retirement years.” </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Although Snappy Print’s focus is still personal relationships with local businesses, Ron’s also expanded the business and added on-line aspects to Snappy Print to keep them competitive in the printing industry. Snappy can handle printing, promotional products, business use items – forms, envelopes, business cards – full design work, mailings, and a heck of a lot more. I loved Ron’s answer when I asked him what kind of business Snappy Print does the most; “the bulk of our business is all of the things that businesses need, we specialize in taking care of businesses.”</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Ron still misses his dad every day. The motorcycle rides and family vacations will never be the same. Snappy Print will never be the same either without Ron Sr., but thanks to his planning and love for his family and also to Ron Jr’s hard work at the family business, the doors are still open. Everyone is still employed. They’re still helping Colorado Springs with their printing needs and the family is doing okay. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Stop by and say hi to Ron next time you’re near their shop at Maizeland and Academy. Ron Jr. will make sure they get your business needs taken care of, and who knows, maybe he’ll even share some stories about his dad.<br />
Snappy Print is located at 3923 Maizeland Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80917. You can get more information on Snappy Print at <a href="http://www.snappyprint.net/">http://www.snappyprint.net/</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14422535432082437623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3062323648823331311.post-29404420246858763232011-01-16T21:08:00.000-08:002011-01-20T20:45:29.379-08:00Welcome, Hola, Bien Venudo, Aloha...It's Great To See You!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz5jn6m-YQ3FBlV9eLWgCSj1TEVNvVNxZcRGkVQH05BeIRyn608FPhwbidZGl6Qx4mHu5LB_OUr1PkAvSt-' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><strong><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Our mission is simple: PROTECT our client's assets, PRESERVE our client's lifestyle and PREPARE our client's for retirement</span></strong><br />
</div></div><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Most people view insurance as a necessary evil...something they pay for and hopefully never have to use. I get it, but I've seen first hand the life changing power of proper coverage. I've seen homes rebuilt, cars repaired and replaced, displaced families given shelter, widows able to stay in their family home, children's educations paid in full and happy retirees enjoying their golden years.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">We know all of those things are important, but we also know our clients want to save time, save money, keep things simple and maybe even have a little fun at the same time.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: black;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="color: black;">We focus on all of the things our clients want and need. We make insurance and retirement simple and easy and we always make sure our clients are completely cared protected. That's how we've become one of the largest American National insurance agencies in the state, and why so many clients refer their friends and family to our office.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="color: black;">Thanks for stopping by!</span>very year.<strong> </strong></span></span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14422535432082437623noreply@blogger.com