How to Keep Your TV From Falling Over
There’s nothing like putting your feet up and decompressing by watching your favorite show after a long day. Deep into your latest TV binge, you probably aren’t thinking of what could happen if your TV fell over. But if you have small children or pets running and playing around your house, an unstable TV could […]
6 Pumpkin Carving Safety Tips
For many, carving pumpkins is an annual tradition. However, pumpkins can be slippery, tough and difficult to work with…let alone create a design on. This Halloween, keep these safety tips in mind when you’re carving your pumpkin masterpiece: Prep your pumpkin and carving area. Keep your pumpkin dry so it doesn’t slip out of your […]
811: The Number to Call Before Digging
Whether you’re planting a garden, installing a mailbox or hiring a contractor for a more complex job, it’s important to call 811 before digging in your yard. Why? Calling 811 will get your underground utility lines marked and your project off to a safe start. Utility service lines such as cable TV, telephone, electric, gas, water […]
What To Know About Crash Test Ratings and Car Safety Ratings
While shopping for a new or used car, you’ll likely consider a vehicle’s safety ratings before making your final purchase. After all, an accident can happen at any time. And these ratings help to predict how well you’ll be protected in the event of a crash. (The right auto insurance can help, too.) Maybe you’re […]
5 Ways for Business Owners to Make the Most of Small Business Saturday
With the holiday season right around the corner, shoppers are prepping by making lists, formulating gameplans, and looking for the best deals in town. As a business owner, your preparation likely looks a little different, maybe something more like advertising plans, sale signs and holiday events. Ultimately, your focus is on filling a need – […]
Review Your Policy After These Major Life Changes
If you have life insurance, you are in good shape. However, when major life changes occur, it is time to review your policy and update it to suit your new situation.
When to Review Your Life Insurance?
Several life events will significantly change your life insurance needs. These include:
- Getting married: Once you are married, your lives are merged into one, sharing finances and personal possessions. Your spouse should be named as beneficiary of your life insurance policy, and the amount of coverage should reflect the purchases you have made, such as a mortgage or other bills that will need to be paid should you die unexpectedly.
- You had a baby: If you had a baby, you want to ensure your child has the best possible future, no matter what happens to you. The cost of raising a child can include the cost of health insurance, education, recreational activities, and for children with special needs, added costs. Ensure your life insurance coverage will pay for everything your child needs in the future.
- A divorce: After a divorce, many people change the beneficiary of a life insurance policy from the former spouse to a parent, to children, or other individuals. You may want to increase your coverage as you no longer have the shared income a spouse may have provided to the family.
- You opened a business: Opening your own business is exciting and rewarding, but what would happen if you passed away prematurely? A life insurance policy can be purchased by your business, with the benefits paid to the business to keep it healthy if you unexpectedly pass away.
- You are buying a new home: The cost of a mortgage is generally the highest monthly bill. If you are purchasing a home, you want to ensure your life insurance policy has a large enough payout to cover paying off the property mortgage. This allows your spouse or partner to avoid losing the property.
Can I Have More Than One Life Insurance Policy?
To increase the amount of the benefits paid to your loved ones if you should suddenly pass away, you may choose to purchase a second or third policy. You can own one, two, or more policies, from the same company or from different companies. You may have a whole life policy and choose to add a term life policy to ensure your loved ones are safe from serious financial and tax trouble in the event of a sudden death. Insurance companies will set a limit on the amount, which is typically at about 20 to 30 times of your yearly earnings.
How Often Should I Review My Life Insurance?
Once you have purchased life insurance, you may not think about it, but simply pay the premiums as a regular monthly bill. You may not realize that you should have your policy reviewed once a year. You may be paying more than you need to and could purchase a policy at a lower premium with more coverage, or you may gain more financial stability by converting your policy to whole life, or it may be time to add another policy.
Take advantage of the support of a local agent to schedule a yearly review of your life insurance policy to ensure you have the coverage you need to protect the people you love.
Don’t Leave the Leaves!
There’s nothing quite like the view of colorful leaves in autumn. But what do you do when they’ve all fallen and you’re left with a mess in your yard? Winter is quickly approaching, so it’s important to dispose of the leaves before the snow comes. But how can you do so safely (and legally)? Here’s […]
Home Maintenance Checklist: Step by Step Guide to Prepare Your Home for the Fall
Your home is likely one of your most valuable assets and keeping it in good condition matters. Before the rainy, colder fall weather rolls in, taking certain steps to prepare your home can protect your home from sustaining damage during the fall and winter months.
Clear out Gutters
Spend a few hours clearing any debris out of home gutters and downspouts. Check the brackets holding the gutters in place and replace those that may allow water to flow onto the structure. This will help you avoid the risk of water incursions, wood rot, ice buildups, and pooling water that could affect the foundation.
Inspect Windows and Doors
To keep your family warm during the winter months, remove summer window screens and store them, and check all window frames and doors for damage. Install weather stripping on doors and replace any damage to the caulking around your windows.
Heating System Check
Have your heating system checked by a professional, who will replace filters, look for any problems and repair them when necessary, and clean the ducts in your home. Your indoor air will be healthier, cleaner, and your system will function better with yearly maintenance – and help you avoid more costly repairs and a heating system that stops functioning when you need it most.
Plumbing Check
Disconnect hoses from outdoor faucets and shut the valves for your outdoor water system if possible. Examine any visible pipes for drips or leaks and have them repaired. Insulate pipes in areas of your home that are unheated.
Yard Check
Check any trees close to your home to ensure that your home is protected in a windstorm. Call a tree specialist to remove any aging or rotting branches.
Chimney and Fireplace Check
Have your chimney cleaned by a professional so your fireplace is safe for use during the cooler fall and winter months.
When Something Goes Wrong – Your Insurance Matters.
No one can predict every future event. Even with the best planning, things can go very wrong. Frozen pipes, falling trees, serious wind events, flooding, vandalism, theft, or other incidents can lead to very costly repairs, or can leave your home uninhabitable. The typical home insurance policies protect the home itself, not your belongings.
The Right Insurance Policies – For You.
Having the right insurances in place can protect your financial health and pay for unexpected damage to your home. Special types of affordable add-on insurances are available that provide protection that goes beyond what your home insurance policy covers.
To find out more about the personal insurance available to homeowners, speak with one of our local agents. We can evaluate your current policies and advise you of your options for add-ons that are extremely affordable but can be a lifesaver when the unexpected occurs.
Business Landscaping Tips
If you own a commercial property, then landscaping is a part of doing business – whether you like it or not. To help take one more thing off your plate (and help boost your curb appeal in the process), consider hiring a commercial landscape contractor. But how do you choose the right contractor? And what […]
Everything You’ve Ever Wondered About Roundabouts
There was once a time when roundabouts were all but absent from American roadways. But over the past decade or so, these circular intersections have seemed to pop up everywhere, from small rural towns to bustling urban centers. This has left many drivers wondering: why are there so many new roundabouts, and why are they […]
