Everyone Loves a Discount
Psssst! Here’s a little secret most drivers don’t know: many auto insurance carriers offer group or professional discounts. If you are an accountant, attorney, engineer, firefighter, law enforcement officer, medical professional, teacher, pharmacist, scientist or even a pilot, you might qualify for additional discounts on your auto insurance policy, up to 12.5% depending on the carrier. Each insurance company requires a specific form of verification to qualify for the different discounts. Call us today and we can quickly determine your eligibility.
Don’t be Afraid of Life Insurance
Clients often ask us, “What kind of life insurance do I need – and how much do I need?” Our standard answer is, “It depends.” Everyone is at a different place in life, whether it be age, income level, or family status, so life insurance needs vary according to the individual.
Fortunately, life insurance comes in differing levels of protection through various products, each with their own particular advantages, depending upon your situation. We’ll review the five primary forms here so you can begin thinking about what you might want. Then give us a call so we can answer any additional questions and help you make a final decision about what’s best for you.
•Term Life Insurance - The simplest to understand and the cheapest to buy on a net cost basis. It is available in different amounts for a set term, or period of time, such as 10, 15, 25, or 30 years. The premiums are guaranteed not to increase. And, as long as you pay your premium, the company cannot cancel your policy. How long should your term be? That depends on your stage in life. If you have young children and decades to go on your mortgage, try 30-year term life. If your children are grown and your home is nearly paid off, 10- year term might be more appropriate. Remember this about term life insurance: once the term of your policy ends, your policy expires and does not offer a death benefit.
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A new way to steal your car
It seems car thieves have found yet another way to steal your car or truck without any effort at all. They peer through your windshield, write down the Vehicle Identification Number from the label on the dash, go to the local car dealership and request a duplicate key based on the VIN.
Unfortunately, many car dealers' parts departments will make duplicate keys from the VIN number without confirming ownership of the vehicle. The thief doesn't have to break in, do any damage, or draw attention to himself. All he has to do is walk up to your car, insert the key and drive away to a local chop shop. You don't believe it? It IS that easy.
The Sacramento Sheriff's Department says the best way to prevent this from happening is to put some electrical tape, duct tape, medical tape, or even a 3 X 5 card, across the VIN label on the dashboard. By law, you cannot remove the VIN, but you can cover it so a car thief can't view it through the windshield.
If you leave your car parked anywhere for an extended period, cover the VIN and protect yourself from being the next victim of this easy-to-use scam.
Attention Dog Lovers!
Did you know many homeowners insurance carriers will decline or cancel a policy based solely on the breed of dog you own? Incidents involving animals, including dog bites, are oftentimes covered under the liability section of a homeowners policy. But since certain breeds have aggressive reputations, some insurance companies won’t take a chance on providing coverage if you own one. So before you welcome a furry new friend into your home, call us to make sure your homeowners insurance carrier will also consider it man’s best friend – or at least a safe addition to your policy.
