Picture this situation: You’re at the office when you overhear someone say that they spend just $100 per month for car insurance and $400 per year in homeowners insurance. You think to yourself, “Hey, I’m spending a lot more than that, I wonder why.” Well hopefully this article will shed some light on the factors that influence your home and auto rates.

First, recognize homeowners insurance is different for everyone and that here are many factors that insurance companies look at in determining annual homeowner premiums. Many companies even give credits such as...

Today, lawsuits are everywhere. Lawyers are awarding larger amounts of money than ever. Homeowners, auto, and watercraft policies have a limit on liability insurance. If an unfortunate accident should happen that is your fault, do you have enough liability insurance from your current policies to cover your costs for negligence? Since no one can predict how much a judge may award the injured person, umbrella insurance is not just for the wealthy anymore, but a needed protection for every policyholder.

Umbrella insurance is designed to give one added liability protection above and beyond the limits on...

Imagine…an Orchestra that performs before a large crowd without ever practicing beforehand. Or, your favorite football team that shows up for the big game with no game-plan. Wow! Now that would be a shock and almost, certainly be a recipe for disaster in the form of a poor performance or loss.

So, if we are so intuitive as to recognize that planning and practice are important to the success of these ‘teams’ why do we allow our Sales Teams to ‘perform’ without the proper preparation and planning?

With the Holiday shopping season right around the corner, here are a few things to keep in mind when making the trip to the mall:

1. Shop during daylight hours. If you must shop at night, go with a friend or family member.

2. Dress casually and comfortably.

3. Avoid being targeted by wearing expensive jewelry.

4. Stay alert to your surroundings.

5. Do not carry a purse or wallet, if possible.

6. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Use checks or credit cards.

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With internet shopping becoming more and more popular, here are a few things to kind in mind when buying online:

When shopping online there are several things you can do to add to your shopping safety. Being aware of technology scams, checking website policies and understanding your credit card rights, will go a long way in providing personal protection.

Some websites will provide cost comparisons, assisting you in finding the lowest price for your request. Be aware, there have been reports of a few sites “fixing” their technology and returning incorrect results.

Once you have decided where you want to make your purchase, go through that website and look for policies defining warranties, refunds, returns, legal statements and privacy policies.

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