Benefits of independent insurance agents
There are two types of agents that sell insurance policies: captive and independent. A surprising number of consumers aren’t familiar with these terms or what they mean. Insurance can be a complicated purchase. You’re not buying bread or milk. You’re buying a promise of protection that could potentially make or break your financial well-being. How do you know that you’re making the right choices about coverage? are you sure you’re getting the best possible value for your dollar? the options can seem bewildering. Mutual benefit has sold its coverage exclusively through independent agents for over 100 years. We’ve seen first-hand how the advice and advocacy of agents benefit our policyholders. Here are seven reasons why we believe the independent agency experience benefits you: they give you a choice – independent agents represent many different insurance companies that offer a wide variety of coverage options and price points. There are several potential advantages to working with independent insurance agents vs. Captive agents. Working with an independent agent usually does not cost anything and can save the customer time by allowing the agency to shop for quotes from multiple insurance companies. An independent agent may be able to find a
read more →
How to save on car insurance: 6 ways to lower your rate
While many people first consider sticker price and the price of gas when it comes to the cost of owning a car , car insurance rates matter too. And depending on your circumstances, it might be a larger cost than you were expecting, especially as rates continue to increase. While there is a long list of car insurance providers you can choose from to save money on car insurance, you can also do other things to help make your car insurance more affordable. Maybe you're working from home permanently and need less coverage. Or perhaps you're returning to the office and need more coverage now. Whatever your situation may be, it's always a good idea to shop around to ensure you're getting the best rates, as other carriers might offer bigger discounts or lower premiums in general. If you aren't sure where to start, check out cnet's car insurance roundups, where you can see our picks for best overall car insurance , the cheapest car insurance , the best policies for teens and young drivers and the best options for military and veterans. Many households with more than one vehicle maintain separate insurance policies for each, but they
read more →10 Ways To Keep Your Health Care and Insurance Affordable
Did you know that september is life insurance awareness month ? how aware are you of life insurance and its many benefits? is life insurance important to you? not a big deal? maybe you’re neutral on it? some people may consider life insurance to be an afterthought, something they don’t need right away and that they can get around to buying when they’re a little older. Life insurance may just not be considered a necessary expense when you’re starting your career and have limited income since, after all, you’re young, healthy and only going to be using it once. One of the easiest ways to keep your life insurance costs low is to simply take good care of your health. Quitting smoking, losing weight and staying physically active can all go a long way toward helping you save on coverage. If you’re in good health, it’s probably a good idea to opt for a policy that requires a medical exam. You can get out of the medical evaluation with a guaranteed policy , but the trade-off is you will often end up with a higher premium. Photo credit: ©istock. Com/laflor, ©istock. Com/kyoshino, ©istock. Com/peopleimages. Decide Which Plan Is
read more →How Much Does Car Insurance Cost?
Auto insurance premiums are based in part on the car’s price, the cost to repair it, its overall safety record and the likelihood of theft. Many insurers offer discounts for features that reduce the risk of car theft or personal injuries, or for cars that are known to be safe. When you're comparing new or used vehicles to purchase, also research what each will cost to insure. To start, you can check safety rankings for specific models with the insurance institute for highway safety’s (iihs) online top safety pick ratings tool. While many people first consider sticker price and the price of gas when it comes to the cost of owning a car , car insurance rates matter too. And depending on your circumstances, it might be a larger cost than you were expecting, especially as rates continue to increase. While there is a long list of car insurance providers you can choose from to save money on car insurance, you can also do other things to help make your car insurance more affordable. The simplest way to save on car insurance premiums is to compare quotes from multiple providers. You can also ask your current provider about
read more →What Is Homeowners Insurance and How Does It Work?
What does your ideal home look like to you? maybe it's cape cod style and nestled in the heart of new england. Or perhaps it's farmhouse-style, complete with rustic exposed brick and a porch. Regardless of whether it's your first home or your third, each one is important – sentimentally and as an investment. So, it's vital that you protect it from potential harm. Homeowners insurance is the main method homeowners can use to safeguard their property from disaster. Homeowners insurance is the main method homeowners take to safeguard their property from disaster. And it's often required by lenders. When applying for a mortgage , the homeowner usually is required to provide proof of insurance on the property before the financial institution will loan any funds. The property insurance can be acquired separately or by the lending bank. Homeowners who prefer to get their own insurance policy can compare multiple offers and pick the plan that works best for their needs. If the homeowner does not have their property covered from loss or damages, the bank may obtain one for them at an extra cost. Payments made toward a homeowners insurance policy are usually included in the monthly payments of the
read more →How to save on homeowners insurance
Most homeowners insurance companies offer more than just multi-policy discounts. If you do your homework, you won’t leave any discounts on the table. You could save money by doing something as simple as switching to paperless billing or making automated payments with some providers. In some cases, you can get more obscure home insurance discounts, such as a nonsmoker discount or a reduced rate for being a part of an association or membership organization. When pricing the premiums for these coverages, it’s important to shop around. And it’s important to do it regularly, at least once every few years. People tend to live in their homes for years, even decades, but they don’t usually take the time to shop their homeowners’ policy for a better rate. Strange as it may seem, loyalty is not always in your favor. New customers tend to get the better deals in order to secure their business. And different insurance companies weigh your risk factors differently so it’s worth the time and hassle to shop around and see what else may be available. Find out from your insurance provider what discounts it can offer you and how you can qualify for them. Discounts
read more →Comprehensive Guide to Renters Insurance
One of the perks of renting is that it’s your landlord’s responsibility, not yours, to insure the building and make repairs. But as a tenant, you’re not off the hook completely. Your landlord’s insurance won’t pay to replace your belongings if a storm destroys the building or a thief breaks into your apartment. If you want coverage for these and many other disasters, you’ll need a renters insurance policy. Why you can trust nerdwallet: our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure the content on our site is accurate and fair, so you can make financial decisions with confidence and choose the products that work best for you. Tip to help choose accurate, appropriate limits for your personal property and liability coverage. You've followed your rental guide and it's time to move in! your furniture is in place, the utilities are hooked up, and your rental unit is starting to look like a home. Is renters insurance next on your to-do list? if you answered no, you're not alone. According to the independent insurance adjusters & brokers of america (iiaba), almost two-thirds of residential lessees in the united states don't carry renters insurance. Yet a renters policy
read more →Different Types of Homeowners Coverage 244
Homeowners insurance policies actually comes in a range of types, called "policy forms. " homeowners purchase various versions for different reasons. For example, some provide a greater degree of coverage than others. So, it's important for potential or even current homeowners considering switching policies to know the difference. The extent of each type's coverage can change depending on the state or homeowners insurance carrier. However, these descriptions are relatively standard:. Not all homeowners insurance policies are the same. There are different types of insurance policies in the market and they offer various levels of protection depending upon the requirement of the homeowner. There are three levels of coverage:. Being a homeowner is an exciting thing, it may leave some people with questions. Do you know exactly what is covered by your homeowners insurance policy? every basic home insurance policy provides a package of insurance protection for your home, with different types of coverage included. Let us take the guesswork out of your homeowners insurance with this simple guide!. Homeowners insurance helps protect your home, property, and belongings in an accident or disaster, and the peace of mind you receive is well worth the costs. Most people need a
read more →What Is Commercial Property Insurance?
Commercial property insurance can be a major expense for businesses that use equipment worth millions or billions of dollars, such as railroads and manufacturers. This insurance essentially provides the same kind of protection as property insurance for consumers. However, businesses can usually deduct the cost of commercial property insurance premiums as expenses. Commercial property insurance generally does not cover losses arising from tenants using the building. When determining how much a company should pay for commercial property insurance, the value of a business' assets, including the building, is the primary factor. Before meeting with an agent to discuss coverage, a company should take an inventory of their physical assets located at their property. It is essential to note that most commercial property insurance policies only cover personal property in or within 100 feet of the insured building. Landesblosch tip: a quick way to determine what is included under the building vs. Business personal property limit is to imagine picking up the building, flipping it upside-down, and shaking it. Whatever fell out qualifies as business personal property. The remaining building and permanently installed features of that building would be covered under your building limit. Business buildings insurance is broadly the same thing as
read more →What is Workers' Comp Insurance?
Legally requiring workers' compensation coverage brings advantages to both employers and employees alike. The basis of the work comp legal system is built around the prussian concept of "no fault" insurance. This concept generally means that on the job injuries are an accepted fact and a part of doing business. The purpose of our workers' compensation system is to help manage the financial consequences of accidents in the most efficient and judicious manner possible. The concept of no-fault was later applied to auto insurance as a means of limiting litigation for car accidents. The primary benefit for business owners participating in a states' workers' compensation program is that they have tort exemption, or legal protection, from injuries that are covered under a. No matter what type of business you run, your employees can get hurt. Luckily, workers’ compensation insurance , also known as workers’ comp, can help give your employees the benefits they need if they suffer a work-related injury or illness. Workers’ comp can protect your business and your employees by helping cover: missed wages if your injured or ill worker needs time off from work while they recover. Medical expenses to treat your injured or ill employee. Vocational rehabilitation if your worker needs ongoing
read more →