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!
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.
FINALLY!!! Proper Insurance for UBER Drivers
UBER DRIVERS—Do you have a lack of the proper Insurance Coverage??? When the app is on and the driver is seeking riders – (Period 1) there may be only limited coverage from the Rideshare company and possibly NO COVERAGEunder the driver’s personal automobile policy.
Effective immediately (KANSAS RESIDENTS ONLY) I have one of the first major carriers to begin offering a new Rideshare Endorsement. With this endorsement, Rideshare drivers can avoid a potential gap in coverage by extending their personal auto policy coverage when they are logged in and waiting for the next ride. At this time this endorsement is for KANSAS residents only. Message me or call me at 816-795-5977 if you would like a quote.
The Biggest Risk To Your Home (And How To Prevent It)
Most people think the biggest risk to their home is a fire or a bad storm. It’s why they buy insurance (and the fact it’s required by their mortgage lender). But in reality, the biggest concern is protecting your assets from a liability claim. Consider this…
Warm weather has arrived and everyone is beginning their yard work. Mowing, planting, flowers, and digging those vegetable gardens. There is a lot of work to be done.
So let’s say that you dig a large hole in the front yard so you can plant a new tree. You walk away for a moment and while you’re gone the kid next door runs through the yard, falls in the hole, and breaks his ankle.
Unfortunately, you could be held responsible for his injury. But not to worry, your homeowner’s liability insurance is made for these kind of situations. It will pay if someone is injured on your property. It’s also the coverage that protects you if the dog bites your child’s friend (as long as it’s not a restricted breed) or if your cousin falls down your front steps.
If you have a large number of assets, then you’ll want higher liability coverage. If the injury exceeds your liability coverage amount, then you could be sued for the difference.
Work with us to determine the amount of coverage that you are comfortable carrying. No one can protect themselves by just being careful alone. There are too many possible scenarios that you could never avoid. But with the right insurance coverage, you’ll never have to worry.
Call us today for a free review and to discuss how much liability coverage you need.
What College Graduates Need To Know About Auto Insurance
You’ve proudly watched your child graduate from college (and celebrated the last of the tuition bills!) Now they’re searching for their first “real” job and ready for a new phase of life.
This is what you and your new grad need to know about their insurance.
First, in most situations, they can remain on your auto insurance policy as long as they are living in your household. If they’ve moved back home while job hunting, you can keep them on the policy.
But once they move out, it’s time to look at other options. Some of this will depend on who is the owner of the car and if you’re living in the same state. The best option is to talk to one of our agents to discuss your particular situation in detail.
If your graduate is moving out on their own, you’ll also want to get some information on Renters Insurance. It will protect their belongings and protect you from any liability for damage they might cause to a residence (even if it’s just an accident, like a small kitchen fire.) In most cases, a parent is a co-signer for a lease and needs to make sure this protection is in place.
The end of college marks some big transitions into adulthood. Help your new graduate to make smart financial decisions and establish a great start. We can help! Schedule a personal review and quote today.
Top 7 Things To Look For When Buying Insurance
So you’re ready to shop for insurance and are hoping for a great deal. But did you know that there are a few things to look for that are much more important than the price of the policy? In fact, don’t buy your next policy until you look for these seven things.
#1 – A Top Rated Insurance Company – You want an insurance company that will be around if you have a claim. Don’t choose a company that you have never heard of with a price that seems too good to be true! If you are not familiar with the company your agent is recommending, ask for a little more information. Find out what they are rated in your state and how long they have been around. If the agent cannot tell you this immediately, you have the wrong agent.
#2 – Choose a LOCAL agency! While all the commercials on TV will tell you to call a 1-800 number for a quote, it’s usually not a great idea. A local agency gives the same great policies (from the same companies!) but allows you to deal with one person on a regular basis. It’s nice to have a local agent who you can go visit when needed.
#3 – Choose an agency that offers a variety of policies. Keeping your insurance with one agency makes it MUCH easier when you have a claim. Plus you can qualify for huge multiple policy discounts! Find someone who can take care of all your needs in one local location.
#4 – After-Hours Support – What if you have storm damage in the middle of the night? Do you want to wait until tomorrow to get assistance? Look for an agency that offers after-hours support! Many local agencies will provide you with 24/7 claim assistance numbers. But make sure to ask for the information and keep it in your cell phone.
#5 – Choose an agency that’s EASY to contact! You don’t want to have to chase your agent down every time you need something. Ask if the agency is available by email, text, and phone while doing your shopping.
#6 – Do they offer annual reviews? Things change, especially when it comes to insurance! You want an agency that will regularly meet with you to review your coverage and make sure you’re protected. Ask about their review procedures and how they make sure there aren’t any gaps in your protection.
#7 – Excellent Customer Service – When it comes down to it, this is the most important! Choose an agency that wants your business and wants to give you the best possible service!
We meet all of the criteria above and would love to work with you and your family. Give us a call today for a no-obligation quote and insurance review!
Lost or expired auto insurance ID card?
We get this call multiple times every day. While we are always happy to mail/email/fax your card to you; we do have a great technology option as well. It’s the iFarmers app (for both iPhone and Android). There are many cool features, but the one most used is the auto insurance ID card. Every renewal (typically 6 months) it always updates to current dates and when you get a new vehicle it’s automatically added as well. Try it out and let us know your thoughts!
Search for iFarmers on Google Play/App Store
OR
For Android users click here
For iPhone users click here
Client Ryan H–“It took all of 3 minutes to set up. All I needed was my policy number (which I got from an old ID card), my driver’s license number, date of birth and email address. The process was quite simple and I’m glad you mentioned it to me!”
Jon Olson Agency-Farmers Insurance 