10 Ways to Pay for Your Life Insurance
Think life insurance is “TOO EXPENSIVE”??? Well it’s really not. Even if you get a 10 year term policy for $150,000 your rate is going to be between $20-$100/month depending on your age, nicotine use, driving record, and overall health. To put it bluntly your cell phone and your cable bill are easily $100/mo each if not double that.
So for the budget conscious let’s look at some options. I use that term budget conscious loosely, because if you’re spending $200-$300/month between your cable and cell phone you should be able to spend a few dollars on YOUR FAMILY and protecting them.
1. Create a budget. Track your expenses: knowing where your money is going may help you identify areas where you can easily reduce your spending. There are many free money management tools and apps that can assist you with this.
2. Quit smoking. It benefits your health, and a pack-a-day smoker can save over $2,000 per year based on the average cost of a pack of cigarettes. Non-smokers can also expect lower life insurance rates – all other factors being equal – than smokers.
3. Bring your lunch to work. By not spending just $5 a day you are looking at saving about $1,200 a year. You don’t have to bring your lunch every day: even bringing your lunch every other day can result in savings that can help cover the cost of a life insurance policy, and possibly even more.
4. Eat out one less time per month. If it costs you about $30 on average each time you go out, reducing this number by once a month will allow you to save over $300 a year. If you eat out and have 2-3 children with you this figure will be even more staggering.
5. Bring coffee from home. Do you spend $3 a day on coffee during the work week? If so, this can add up to $720 per year. Cutting this number in half can result in significant savings.
6. Save your loose change. It may not sound like much, but setting aside fifty cents a day over the course of a year will allow you to save more than $180.
7. Take advantage of all company benefits and discounts. Your company may offer corporate discounts on gym memberships, cell-phone data plans, hotels, concerts, etc. that can help you save.
8. Organize your closet and garage. This can have a number of advantages. You can save time in the long run knowing where everything is located, and you may find forgotten items, reducing the need to purchase new ones. Consider consignment for items you no longer want to keep. Go ahead and donate old and unwanted/unused items and write that donation off on your taxes. If you are the type of person to hold a garage sale, you can sell those items for cold hard cash.
9. Research major purchases. Check product reviews, price comparisons, features, and other aspects of any product you are looking to purchase. Wait for sales for additional savings and discounts. A little research and timing can save big on a purchase.
10. Start small to save big. Starting with some small steps, you can easily find the money to pay for life insurance.
The hardest part of any change is getting started. Once you do, things usually start to fall into place, the process becomes much easier, and you can begin to recognize the positive impact it has on your life.
Insurance Tip-Act NOW!
Claims, Claims, Claims-What your agent did NOT tell you.
In last month or so, I’ve had 2 vastly difference scenarios with 2 different insurance carriers, both “name brands.” I’ve changed the name to protect the guilty! It’s sad that the scenario happened, but the claims service you receive from your insurance carrier can be vastly different from one carrier to another.
Insurance Company A-Client files a home claim Oct 5. They drag their feet and finally send out an adjuster on Oct 31. However this adjuster is not an employee of Brand A, they are a ‘independent adjuster’ who is not allowed to bring the claim to completion (and submit payment to the insured). They are allowed (by law) to take 10 days to complete the claim after inspection. The took the entire 10 days to process the claim and the check. Claim closed Nov 9
**Process time from claim filing to claim closed—-
**35(THIRTY FIVE DAYS)
Farmers client (my insured). Files home claim Nov 8th. Due to high claims volume from the Liberty hail storms 2 weeks ago, our adjuster (who is a FARMERS employee), works OVERTIME on a SUNDAY. Client gets their check in hand before the adjuster leaves their home on Sunday Nov 13.
**Process time from claim filing to claim closed—-
**5 (FIVE) DAYS.
If you know of someone who has had a claims ‘runaround’ those are great referrals for me. We are proud of our company, offer great service, take care of our clients, and most importantly proud of our claims service. #WeAreFarmers
Are you looking for a career rather than looking for “just another job”?
Our Agency is expanding and we are looking to add an additional inside sales/customer service representative.
Job Purpose: This is a small insurance business environment that is very fast-paced and requires an Inside Sales / Customer Service Rep. who is creative, a self-starter, and a hard worker. Must be able to be punctual, multi-task, and work well under pressure with great customer service skills. This can be a career rewarding opportunity for you to grow with us!
Hours: Monday-Friday: 8:30am-5:00pm
Responsibilities includes (but not limited to):
1) Provide prompt, accurate, and friendly service by responding to inquiries from existing policyholders and the general public regarding insurance, policy changes, billing clarification, and payment plans.
2) Timely and courteous follow up with prospective and current clients regarding current insurance policies as well as additional insurance policies.
3) Provide service in a pleasant and courteous manner.
4) Meet customer service goals and assist with marketing goals as directed by the upper management.
5) Perform other related duties as assigned by the upper management.
Qualifications:
-High School Diploma minimum. 4 year college degree preferred.
-Technological Savvy: Computer experience with Word, Excel, and Outlook is mandatory
-Experience in Social Media-Facebook, Linked In, Twitter, Blogs, Pinterest
-Communication Skills: Strong listening, oral, and written communication skills
-Initiative and Self-Reliance: Make decisions on a timely basis and take necessary actions without directions from others
-Problem solving ability: Apply and balance conceptual and analytical thinking by breaking down complex problems, evaluating alternative sources of action and their likely outcomes, and selecting the best alternative.
-Goal oriented: Highly motivated and resourceful to achieve results
-Truthfulness & Respect: Proven track record of trustworthiness, dependability and ethical behavior with the ability to learn and apply product and customer knowledge to professionally service policy holders
-Experience in service, sales, and/or retail sales is desirable.
-Must be able to pass a background check and be able to pass 2 tests for insurance licenses with 60 days of hire (this includes Property/Casualty and Life/Health).
Starting pay DOE and pay increase and opportunity to earn commissions after successfully passing insurance exams.
Please email resume, references, and cover letter to careers@olsoninsurancekc.com
Fool’s Gold-What your employer did not tell you.
Many people think that their employer is supposed to provide ALL their family’s benefits, including life insurance coverage for the employee, and maybe even life insurance coverage for the spouse and kids.
Here are some TRUTHS behind group life coverage thru work:
You don’t own it. The company you work for owns it.
You don’t control it. Has an employer ever changed their benefits plan? Did they consult you first?
You don’t get to take it with you. Will you work at this job forever?
Insurance Tip: Sit down with an agent and figure out the exact amount your need to cover your family correctly. This is YOUR responsibility NOT your employer’s. Make sure you cover 10-12 times your income OR 5 times your income + paying all your debts.
As always if you would like to review all your options call or email and we can talk over the phone or set up a face to face meeting. We are here for you!
Contractor’s Insurance? Yes we can help!
Combining insurance coverage in one policy generally leads to a better value, and we help contractors every day create an attractive insurance package for helping insure their small business.
For contractors–primarily HVAC, landscapers, painters, plumbers, electricians, carpet installers/carpet cleaners, we have a policy that is especially attractive.
A lot of insurance “brokers” offer just liability insurance for contractors, but our policies include tools and equipment and more.
For example, our policy even covers theft of a contractors’ supplies. For example: a HVAC company buys a new furnace or AC puts it in their shop. The shop is broken into and the unit is stolen. If they have our policy the first $3,000 of protection comes automatically, but you can increase it up to $100,000 of coverage.
The protection doesn’t end there.
A lot of contractors work out of a den or third bedroom in their house, but a typical homeowner’s insurance policy won’t cover anything to do with a business. If there is theft, water or fire damage, our policy covers $2,500 automatically, and it can be increased if needed”
The convenience factor is huge.
If a contractor has company vehicles, a lot of insurance carriers have separate liability for commercial vehicles, a separate policy for tools and equipment, a separate general liability policy, and a separate worker’s compensation policy. What we can do is package it all together; we can also provide them a contractors bond if they need that too. We keep in all in house so they have 1 central point of contact for all their insurance coverage.
Does the best coverage for your business matter to you? Of course it does! Call 816-795-5977 or email jolson3@farmersagent.com today to see how we can help you customize the best package and lowest premium for your business.
No matter what you think you don’t have FULL COVERAGE for your auto insurance. Your agent lied to you.
Keys To Great Holiday Travel
Are you planning a trip during the holiday season? If you’ll be hitting the road over the next few weeks (or anytime really!), here are a few important things to keep in mind.
BEFORE YOU LEAVE TOWN:
- Get your oil changed and make sure your tires are properly aired up.
- Leave some lights on in your home so it doesn’t look empty at night.
- Call us to get a copy of your insurance card if you don’t have a current one.
- Ask a neighbor or friend to pick up your mail or newspaper.
- Pack some snacks! No one wants to be driving hungry (especially if you’ve got little kids riding in the back seat!)
- Pack a car charger for your cell phone. Your phone is is your map and your emergency contact. Don’t let it run out of battery power on your trip!
- If you’ll be traveling in snow or ice, make sure to pack emergency supplies in your vehicle.
- Plan to travel on off-peak days. It will mean less traffic, less stress, and a faster route to your destination.
- Get a good night’s sleep! Driving fatigued is a leading cause of accidents. Stay rested.
DURING YOUR DRIVE:
- Wear your seat belt! Always.
- Keep your gas tank at least half full. You never know how long it could be between gas stations or how bad the traffic could be. Don’t run on empty!
And above all…be flexible! Travel stress can ruin your holiday fun. Plan to take your time and enjoy the ride!
Halloween Insurance Tips
It’s October and that means that Halloween is on it’s way! We love any excuse to celebrate around the office. However, I wouldn’t be a good insurance agent if I didn’t give a few good liability insurance tips too. 🙂
You’ve heard most Halloween advice over and over.
**Pack a flashlight for when it gets dark.
**Put reflective tape on children’s costumes.
**Check the kid’s candy before letting them eat any.
But what about the risks at your home? Your Homeowners Insurance covers you if someone is injured on your property. But there are a few things you can do to prevent accidents before they happen!
- Change your light bulbs. Is your porch light burned out? What about lights along sidewalks? Good lightning will help prevent children (and adults) from tripping.
- Clear hazards. Tree limbs in your yard? A hole you’ve been meaning to fill? These are all potential hazards that could cause an injury and subject you to a liability claim. Clean them up before you have people trick-or-treating at your home!
- No open flames. While candle filled pumpkins are fun to make, they can be dangerous too. If you use any open flame candles, make sure they are up high and away from any loose costume pieces.
And the easiest way to protect yourself? Make sure you have plenty of liability insurance! Call us today to schedule a free review and detailed explanation of how we can keep your home and family protected.
Are you looking for a career?
Are you:
- Positive, Motivated, Detail oriented & Organized?
- Goal and career focused?
- Driven to make money?
- Able to multi-task and keep calm under pressure?
Then we are looking for you!!
The Jon Olson Farmers Insurance agency is currently hiring for 3 positions.
Career Path Marketer to Producer with in 90 days & Marketer to CSR (Customer Service Rep)
Must be:
- able to navigate social media – Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, Google Plus, Pinterest.
- Willing to be proactive and confident.
- Microsoft office knowledge.
- Able to pass property, casualty, life, & health licenses within 90 days of hire.
- Facilitate positive client interactions, taking payments, policy changes
Agency will provide study materials and reimbursed test fees for successful test results, and pay for Missouri and Kansas License.
Please email resume to:
Teel@olsoninsurancekc.com
Jon Olson Agency-Farmers Insurance 