Christmas Tree Safety

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!  For many families that starts with the time honored tradition of getting and decorating your Christmas tree.  With 23-30 million Christmas trees sold in the U.S. each year, here are some safety factors to keep in mind.


Choosing Your Tree

• Choose a tree with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched.

Setting Up Your Tree

• Before placing the tree in your stand, cut 1-2 inches from the base of the trunk.
• Make sure the tree is at least 3-feet away from any heat source, i.e. fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights.
• Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit.
• Add water to the tree stand on a daily basis.

Lighting Your Tree

• Use lights that have the label of a testing laboratory (i.e. the Underwriters Laboratory label UL)
• Make sure you purchase the proper lights. Some are for indoor use only while others are meant for outdoor use.
• Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections.
• Connect no more than 3-strands of lights. Read the manufacturer's directions for the number of LED strands it is appropriate to connect.
• Never use candles to decorate the tree.
• Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving your property or going to bed.

After Christmas

• Get rid of the tree after Christmas or when it is dry. Dried-out trees are a fire hazard and should not be left inside the home or garage, or placed outside against your home.
• Bring outdoor electrical lights inside after the holidays to prevent hazards.

Facts

• One-third of home Christmas tree fires are caused by electrical problems.
• Each year, firefighters respond to roughly 260 structure fires caused by Christmas trees.
• A heat source too close to the tree causes one in every five of the fires

Watch this video to see how quickly an unwatered Christmas tree becomes engulfed in flames as opposed to a well-watered tree.



Please be safe this holiday season.  Wishing you and yours all the best as you celebrate!

Boat Insurance

Most companies provide limited coverage for property damage for small boats such as canoes and small sail boats or small power boats with less than 25 mile per hour horse power under a homeowners or renters insurance policy. Coverage is usually about $1,000 or 10 percent of the home's property value and generally includes the boat, motor and trailer combined. Liability coverage is typically not included–but it can be added as an endorsement to a homeowners policy. Check with your insurance representative to find out if your boat is covered and what the limits are.

Larger and faster boats such as yachts, and personal watercraft such as jet skis and wave runners require a separate boat insurance policy. The size, type and value of the craft and the water in which you use it factor into how much you will pay for insurance coverage.

For physical loss or damage, coverage includes the hull, machinery, fittings, furnishings and permanently attached equipment as part of either an actual cash value policy or on an agreed amount value basis. These policies also provide broader liability protection than a homeowners policy. But there are distinct differences between the two types of policies.

Actual Cash Value policies pay for replacement costs less depreciation at the time of the loss. In the event of a total loss, used boat pricing guides and other resources are used to determine the vessel’s approximate market value. Partial losses are settled by taking the total cost of the repair less a percentage for depreciation.

Agreed Amount Value basis policies mean that you and your insurer have agreed on the value of your vessel and in the event of a total loss you will be paid that amount. Agreed Amount Value policies also replace old items for new in the event of a partial loss, without any deduction for depreciation.

Boat insurance also covers:

• Bodily injury—for injuries caused to another person
• Property damage—for damage caused to someone else’s property
• Guest passenger liability—for any legal expenses incurred by someone using the boat with the owner’s permission
• Medical payments—for injuries to the boat owner and other passengers
• Theft

Most companies offer liability limits that start at $15,000 and can be increased to $300,000. Typical policies include deductibles of $250 for property damage, $500 for theft and $1000 for medical payments. Higher limits may be available. Additional coverage can be purchased for trailers and other accessories. Boat owners may also consider purchasing an umbrella liability policy which will provide additional protection for their boat, home and car.

Boaters should also inquire about special equipment kept on the boat, such as fishing gear, to make sure it is covered and verify that towing coverage is included in the policy.

Boat owners should also inquire about discounts for the following:

• Diesel powered craft, which are less hazardous than gasoline powered boats as they are less likely to explode
• Coast Guard approved fire extinguishers
• Ship-to-shore radios
• Two years of claims-free experience
• Multi-policies with the same insurer, such as a car, home or umbrella policy
• Safety education courses, such as those offered by the Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Power Squadrons, or the American Red Cross.

Boat Safety

There are thousands of recreational boating accidents per year. Contributing factors to these accidents include traveling too fast for water or weather conditions, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, failing to follow boating rules and regulations, carelessness and inexperience.

To prevent boating accidents, we offer these safety suggestions:

Care and protection of vessel

1. Check weather forecasts before heading out.
2. Let someone know where you’re going and when you expect to return.
3. Check engine, fuel, electrical and steering systems, especially for exhaust-system leaks.
4. Carry one or more fire extinguishers, matched to the size and type of boat. Keep them readily accessible and in condition for immediate use.
5. Equip the vessel with required navigation lights and with a whistle, horn or bell.
6. Consider additional safety devices, such as a paddle or oars, a first-aid kit, a supply of fresh water, a tool kit and spare parts, a flashlight, flares and a radio.

Care and protection of crew and guests

1. Make sure that every person on board the boat wears a life-jacket.
2. Know and obey marine traffic laws, the "Rules-of-the-Road." Learn various distress signals.
3. Keep an alert lookout for other watercraft, swimmers, floating debris and shallow waters.
4. Pay attention to loading. Don’t overload; distribute the load evenly; don’t stand up or shift weight suddenly in a small boat; and don’t permit riding on the bow, seatbacks or gunwales.
5. Don't operate a boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Skippers can obtain free advice and boating-safety courses from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Upon request, the auxiliary will conduct a Courtesy Marine Examination (CME) on your boat, checking electrical and safety equipment and fuel hoses. Boats meeting safety standards are awarded the CME decal "Seal of Safety."

Source: http://www.iii.org/articles/boat-insurance.html

Umbrellas Aren't Just For Rainy Weather

Many of you may have an umbrella policy on top of your traditional insurance policies.  Ever wondered why or if people ever file claims under this type of policy?  The answer is yes, they do, and here are some examples:

• Insured driver rear ended a vehicle stopped to make a left turn, forcing it into an oncoming lane as 16 motorcycles were going past. 3 motorcycles were caught up into accident, injuring 4 motorcyclists and two occupants of the claimant’s auto.


• Claimant is alleging defamation, civil conspiracy, and tortuous interference with contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress, abuse of process and invasion of privacy against the insured.

• Claimant left insured’s premises after consuming alcohol, and was subsequently involved in an auto accident. Claimant sued insured on theory of Host Liquor Liability.

• Insured boat driver and named insured are facing two wrongful death claims and a bodily injury claim as the result of a boating accident. The driver of the insured’s boat whipped the victims, ages 12, 12, 9 and 7, into a raft constructed of barrels supporting a wooden deck.

• Our insured’s son was driving a non-owned vehicle, which was uninsured, when he was involved in this loss. The claimant was sitting on the truck on the outside of the vehicle while it was in motion. Claimant slipped and fell, striking her head on the pavement after suffering a severe head injury.

• Injury to claimant while attending insured’s birthday party. Claimant was shot in the eye with a paintball.

• Insured was walking his dog on a leash. Stopped to talk to neighbor and both insured’s dog and neighbor’s dog were barking. Both insured and neighbor pulled on the insured’s dog leash and the neighbor lost his balance, fell and sustained bodily injury. Claim filed against insured.

• Insured’s wife was going over a hill and came upon an emergency vehicle. She attempted to slow down but slid and lost control of her vehicle, hitting the claimant’s vehicle, two EMT’s, a firefighter and two police officers.

• Insured sued for defamation, humiliation and emotional distress as a result of insured’s daughter wrongfully accusing claimant of sexual misconduct with a child.

• Two year old claimant caught his hand in insured’s boat lift and sustained amputation of the tips of his ring finger and little finger.

If you have any questions about Umbrella coverages please give me a call. I am here to clear up any confusion you may have about your Umbrella coverage.

The Price You Pay

Ever wondered what determines the price of your insurance policy?  Here's your answer...

There are many factors that influence the price you pay for auto insurance. The average American driver spends about $850 a year. Your premium may be higher or lower, depending on:


1.Your driving record.
The better your record, the lower your premium. If you've had accidents or serious traffic violations, you will pay more than if you have a clean driving record. You may also pay more if you haven't been insured for a number of years.

2.The number of miles you drive each year.
The more miles you drive, the more chance for accidents. If you drive a lower than average number of miles per year, less than 10,000, you will pay less. For instance, some companies will give discounts to policyholders who carpool.

3.Where you live.
Insurance companies look at local trends, such as the number of accidents, car thefts and lawsuits, as well as the cost of medical care and car repair.

4.Your age.
In general, mature drivers have fewer accidents than less experienced drivers, particularly teenagers. So insurers generally charge more if teenagers or young people below age 25 drive your car.

5.The car you drive.
Some cars cost more to insure than others. Variables include the likelihood of theft, the cost of the car, the cost of repairs, and the overall safety record of the car.

6.Your Credit.
For many insurers, credit-based insurance scoring is one of the most important and statistically valid tools to predict the likelihood of a person filing a claim and the likely cost of that claim. Credit-based insurance scores are based on information like payment history, bankruptcies, collections, outstanding debt and length of credit history. For example, regular, on-time credit card and mortgage payments affect a score positively, while late payments affect a score negatively.

7.The amount of coverage.
Of course, like anything else, the more coverage you have, the more you pay. However, you may qualify for discounts.

Source: http://www.iii.org/articles/what-determines-the-price-of-my-policy.html

Flood Insurance Program to Expire May 31

For the fourth time in the past year, the nation's flood insurance program will lapse because Congress has not voted to reauthorize it.

That's the latest on Capitol Hill, according to property/casualty lobbyists and other sources.

As a result, the National Flood Insurance Program will lapse at 12:01 a.m., June 1, the first day of the hurricane season.

According to the American Insurance Association, the House of Representatives was expected to strip the flood insurance provision from a larger bill dealing with unemployment benefits, Medicare payments to doctors and tax breaks that has been stalled by partisan fighting. The plan was to then conduct votes on extensions for the NFIP and other programs prior to adjourning for the Memorial Day recess.

However, according to AIA, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., announced last night that the Senate will not consider the legislation to extend the insurance and other programs until the week of June 7.

Dow Jones Newswire and The Washington blog, The Hill, reported that Democrats might make an offer to extend the NFIP and other programs for 14 days but that Republicans would only go along if stimulus finds were used to pay for it, something Democrats have opposed in the past and are expected to again.

The stalemate means the Senate will adjourn for the Memorial Day recess without taking action needed to extend the NFIP.

"This is now the fourth time Congress will have let this program lapse and it's beginning to feel like Groundhog's Day. The country has seen record flooding this spring. Congress needs to pass a long-term extension because homeowners living in flood prone regions of the country don't have anywhere to turn should another major flood occur during this Congressional recess," said Blain Rethmeier, spokesman for the American Insurance Association.

NFIP has previously issued a memo with guidelines for operations during a hiatus. During its suspension, agents will not be able to issue any new or renewal flood insurance policies or increase limits on any existing policies. The hiatus will not affect claims paying. The program insures more than 5 million properties

Congress has been working on longer-term legislation to authorize NFIP for up to five years, which would be welcomed by the insurance industry.

Read more: http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2010/05/28/110271.htm#ixzz0pF1an3aM

Watch for Deer in June!

Wisconsin drivers are being warned by the Department of Transportation to be on the lookout for deer in June.

The department says there are a surprisingly high number of injuries due to deer crashes in June. June has been the worst or second-worst month for injuries in four of the last five years, even though collisions with deer typically peak in the fall.

During this time of year, young deer are becoming more independent as they separate from their mothers and does are looking for places to give birth. This increased activity frequently leads to deer darting onto highways.

There were more than 16,000 crashes involving deer last year, with the most happening in Dane County.

As always, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding your current insurance coverage.  justinstaebler@zingenbraun.com or 262.781.4000

Does Your Policy Cover Rental Insurance?

Prior to entering the insurance industry I spent nearly 4 years working for Enterprise Rent-a-Car. Having experience on both sides of this issue, I found the following article very interesting. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions regarding your policy and vehicle rentals.


An Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America survey found that nearly one third of consumers do not thing or do not know if their current policies cover them in a rental vehicle. Actually, most personal auto insurance policies provide protection for any liability you incur for injuries or property damage you cause to others within the U.S. Driving a rental car is considered to be the same as driving your own vehicle for liability purposes.

Liability Damage Waiver
It's not usually necessary to purchase a Liability Damage Waiver from the rental car agency since you usually already have coverage under your own insurance. Always request a copy of the rental agreement to review ahead of time with your independent insurance agent.

Collision Damage Waiver
Rental car agencies typically try to sell "Collision Damage Waivers" (CDW) for about $8 - $15 per day. These waivers are not insurance. In effect, CDW is simply a promise made to the rental car agency taht they won't make you repair or replace a damaged or stolen vehicle. If you already carry collision and comprehensive coverage under your own personal auto policy, your insurance will extend to the rental car. Consumers need to carefully evaluate their existing coverage and discuss whether or not purchasing a CDW is appropriate for them.

When CDWs May Be Appropriate
There may be gaps in the coverage your insurance policy provides for rental cars. For example, many car rental companies may hold you responsible for the loss of use of a damaged rental car. Rental car companies may charge you the daily rental rate for every day the car is undergoing repairs. While many auto insurance policies will pay "loss of use" charges, those that do set limits. There are other expenses that most auto policies do not cover. One example is diminished value which can amount to several thousand dollars. Consult your independent insurance agent to find out what's best for your needs.

Check The Vehicle
An important way to protect yourself when renting a vehicle is to check over the car carefully for damage in the presence of a representative of the rental car company, beore you leave the lot and when you return it. Request all prior damages be noted in writing. Car renters have been known to receive damage claims from rental car companies weeks after turning in vehicles. There is no way to prove your innocence at that point.

Is it Time for YOUR Checkup?

FEW things in our financial lives could be as tedious yet as important as reviewing the policies that insure what we own. Hours spent poring over pages written in arcane language can seem totally wasted. So we don’t do it.

But avoiding the issue does not make it go away. Without going through your policies annually, how will you know if all your assets are actually covered?

“People do not keep their insurance policies up to date with their lifestyles,” said Charles Williamson, president of the private client group at Chartis Insurance, a subsidiary of the American International Group.

Beyond the yearly checkup, he recommends that people seek new bids for all of their nonlife policies every three to four years. “This business changes, and there are opportunities to get more coverage and service, and perhaps save some money,” he said.

Here is a look at what you need to do as part of any financial health review:

AUTO
No night of television passes without a barrage of auto insurance ads, all promising to save you money. But while insurance companies try to woo you, their pitches do not always compare apples and apples.

“You can say I saved $100 on my auto insurance, but what did you give up in the exchange?” said Brad Cooper, senior vice president for marketing at InsWeb, an online brokerage. “Any insurance agent can save you money, but they’ll raise the deductible. Can you afford that $1,000 deductible?”

This is where reading the fine print is crucial. Otherwise you could find yourself in a car accident without the means to pay for the repairs.

The other area that needs review is coverage of young drivers. If they are on your policy, they will certainly cause your rates to spike. But discounts are available when your children go away to college and are not driving year-round, so you should check your policy then, said Lisa Lobo, vice president for personal lines at the Hartford Financial Services Group. Likewise, people who drive less because they are working from home could be eligible for discounts.

Uninsured motorist coverage is another thing to check on your policy. It is pretty expensive — a couple of hundred dollars a year for each $1 million in coverage — but that is because it is meant for your protection against someone without insurance who damages your car or injures you. James A. Fiske, national marketing manager for Chubb, noted that in California one in four drivers was uninsured, and in New York that number is one in seven.

HOME
Given the drop in home prices in the last two years, many consumers seem to think they can save money by lowering the insured value of their house. If they paid $500,000 for the home and they could sell it now for only $350,000, why not reduce the coverage? That might seem logical, but the cost of rebuilding that house may not have fallen as sharply.

“Sticks and bricks and labor and construction have not dropped,” Mr. Fiske said. “It’s been fairly flat over the past few years.”

Of course, a total loss on a house is a rare occurrence. So it is usually more important to keep upgrades current on your policy. Putting an addition on the house is an obvious time to call your insurer — you have physically added to the size of your home. But if you upgraded your kitchen with granite countertops and high-end appliances, that has changed the value, too, and your insurance company will want to know.

“If the carrier is unaware of the upgrade, that won’t be in the policy,” Ms. Lobo said.

Even if you have not changed anything, newer homeowners’ policies contain innovations. Last year, dozens of Bernard L. Madoff’s victims received payments under a relatively new “fraud safeguard provision” in their Chartis policies. “Some claims were up to $100,000, which is not much with a $15 million loss, but it’s something,” Mr. Williamson said.

PERSONAL PROPERTY
While homeowners’ policies cover some of the contents of the home, there are limits. The average homeowner probably thinks $50,000 for contents would be fine, but add in flat-screen televisions, some audio, video and camera equipment, and that limit is hit pretty quickly. Now imagine unique jewelry, expensive watches, a collection of wine or antiques — all those mean it is time to sign up for a valuable personal property policy.

Ms. Lobo said that if an item was worth more than $5,000 it should be added to a personal property policy. “You may not have something that meets that criteria, but there may be extra computers where you could get additional coverage through a basic endorsement,” she said. (An endorsement is any addendum to cover something specific.)

This is also an area of concern with renters’ insurance. A standard renters’ policy has a limit on the value of the contents in the apartment, but that coverage can be increased with a separate policy.

Yet listing valuable items is not a one-time process. First, that list will grow or shrink, and second, the values for these items will go up or down. “I know it’s unusual for the insurance guy to say this, but they may be insured for too much,” said Mr. Fiske. “Or if you haven’t updated this in many, many years you could be dramatically underinsured.”

LIABILITY
Do you have insurance to cover you beyond the liability limits on home and auto policies? These so-called umbrella policies are meant to guard against catastrophic occurrences. The coverage is a couple of hundred dollars per million dollars of coverage, but many people are not sure if they need it.

Mr. Williamson said the major factors in determining how much liability coverage to have were lifestyle, net worth and public prominence. Another consideration is where you live. The five areas where lawsuits are most likely to go in the plaintiffs’ favor are South Florida, West Virginia, greater Chicago, New Jersey and New Mexico, according to the American Tort Reform Association.

For less prominent people, other contributing factors include having young, driving-age children and entertaining in the home. The reason is that parents are held responsible for their children if they injure someone, and a guest who drinks too much at your party and crashes his car into someone else could also be your responsibility.

Mr. Fiske said a liability claim for a run-of-the-mill car accident where someone was injured would be $300,000 to $500,000 but could quickly hit $1 million. He tells the story of a young driver who went out for fast food before his parents woke up. Another driver hit him, causing the young driver’s car to careen into a nurse, severely injuring her. Even though the crash was not the young driver’s fault, the nurse went after his parents to pay for her medical costs and lost wages.

The bottom line is you need an insurance checkup annually. Whether you are going directly to an agent or through a broker, your premium contributes to their pay. “The consumer should demand a review every year,” Mr. Fiske said. “You should set the expectation that you should be serviced for that.”

Call or email me TODAY to schedule your annual checkup - 262.751.3140 or justinstaebler@zingenbraun.com

From the NY Times http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/25/your-money/25INSURE.html?pagewanted=all

Should you “call or click today” when buying insurance?

Insurance companies are rapidly changing the way they sell insurance and these changes affect your coverage. First, insurance companies are attempting to remove agents from the process. If you’ve noticed, insurance companies are now seeking to sell insurance to you directly. Many companies encourage you to call or click today; inviting you to order insurance directly online or through a customer service representative at a call center.

This new marketing effort occurred several years ago with the travel industry when major airlines removed travel agents from the process of booking flight reservations. If the trend seen in the travel industry holds for insurance, nearly all insurance will ultimately be sold directly without the aid of insurance agents. For example, a current marketing campaign invites consumers to visit the company online and pick the coverage they want based on how much money they want to spend.

This new marketing trend presents a serious problem. Most people do not understand their insurance coverage. They do not know which coverage to buy and which coverage to omit. If a consumer chooses coverage online with the sole focus of obtaining the cheapest coverage available, the consumer runs a substantial risk that they will choose insufficient or inadequate coverage. In my experience dealing with clients who have been seriously or fatally injured in auto, trucking & motorcycle accidents, most people assume they are covered- often when they are NOT covered.

The insurance agent plays a vital role in assuring that your needs are protected. Specifically, an independent insurance agent can best advise you on the correct coverage to buy. Here are some bullet points about why independent agents are the best choice for consumers who are looking for new insurance options:

Choices:
Independent Agents represent multiple carriers and can shop the marketplace on the consumer’s behalf to find the absolute best products to meet individual’s unique needs and budgets.

Long Term Relationships:
Independent Agents work for their clients for the long term. If an insured’s premium goes up, or situation changes, then we are in a position to change their insurance situation to match these changes. Relying on one agent or agency to handle long term needs puts consumers at a huge advantage. We represent our clients, NOT the company, and because of that independent agents sincerely have their client’s best interests in mind. In fact, the stronger those relationships become, the more the agency is likely to succeed. This mutual trust is so important because of the critical nature insurance plays in our lives.

Claims Handling:
Independent Agents can serve as a liaison between the insurance company and the customer. Many of us develop very close relationships with our carriers and can help guide our client’s through the claims process.

Coverage:
Consumers who buy insurance directly are often buying coverage through a call center where the individual is licensed in many different states. Insurance laws vary state by state and consumers need to work with someone in their state who is well versed in the local laws to make sure coverage fits the local laws, and also the real risk factors locally.

Source: Twitter @thechrisjordan

Take a look at your insurance coverage. Call me today for any questions about your coverage 262.781.4000 or 262.751.3140.

Travelers Launches Mobile Applications - New mobile apps help consumers anytime, anywhere

For all of my clients with Travelers policies, read on for a new tool you can use!  Travelers distributed the following press release March 8, 2010. 

As the number of consumers turning to their easy-to-use smartphones continues to rise, Travelers announced [this week] the launch of its first mobile applications, “Auto Accident Help” for iPhone® and “Quick Connect” for BlackBerry® smartphones. Both applications are free for anyone to download. Auto Accident Help is available at the iTunes® store and Quick Connect is available on Travelers.com.


The new mobile tools provide auto accident assistance for iPhone and BlackBerry smartphone users. Additionally, Travelers’ customers will have the added advantage of starting the auto claim process directly through the iPhone application and the mobile Web site.


“Immediately after an accident, it is natural to feel unsure about what steps to take and we want to be there to help guide people through the process,” said Patrick Gee, Senior Vice President for Travelers Personal Insurance Claims. “Our new mobile applications allow us to do so by helping consumers with the necessary and important steps after an auto accident.”


Integrating Travelers’ online claim reporting into the new mobile applications is part of the company’s ongoing mobile strategy that first began with the launch of the mobile Web site in late November 2009. The number of people accessing news and information daily on the mobile Web more than doubled in 2009 when compared to 2008, according to comScore.


“It’s clear that mobile devices have become a necessity to many,” said Andrea Stalf, Vice President for Travelers Personal Insurance Marketing. “These mobile applications are another example of how Travelers is staying in touch with consumers’ evolving demands.”


For information about the Auto Accident Help and Quick Connect mobile applications and all of Travelers’ mobile tools visit Travelers.com/mobiletools.

About Travelers
The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) is a leading property casualty insurer selling primarily through independent agents and brokers. The company’s diverse business lines offer its global customers a wide range of coverage in the auto, home and business settings. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Travelers has more than 30,000 employees and generated revenues of approximately $25 billion in 2009. For more information, visit www.travelers.com.

As always, please contact me if you have questions about your policy.

Five Things You Need to Know about Life Insurance

Life insurance is one of life’s major decisions, often likened to a precious and lasting gift for one’s family. Despite the importance of this heartfelt gift, there are a few things about life insurance that few are aware of. Here is a list of the most important things that you should know about life insurance.


1. Everyone needs life insurance

Life insurance is not just for the chief breadwinner of the family. If someone depends on you financially or otherwise, then you need life insurance. A stay-at –home-parent, or even a parent who does not contribute significantly to the household finances needs insurance too. They provide their families with ‘free’ services like cooking, cleaning, childcare and driving the kids around. In the their absence, the family would need extra income to pay for these services.

Young, single people are the most prone to thinking that they don’t need life insurance. But they do. Age is an important criterion in deciding life insurance premium amounts, and young people usually receive the best life insurance rates. When they do feel the need for life insurance later in life, they might not be eligible for cheap life insurance. Health conditions would have set in, preventing them from qualifying for the best life insurance rates. Single people think they don’t need life insurance but there is a chance that they won’t remain single forever. When they do have dependants, they may not be able to qualify for the same life insurance premium rates as now. Also, even if they don’t have anyone to leave money to, when they die there would be a few expenses – funeral expenses, unpaid mortgage amounts, loans are a few examples. In the absence of a life insurance policy, their aging parents or other siblings would have to attend to these payments.

2. Purchase a policy that will provide adequate coverage for your beneficiary

Most people don’t bother about working out the correct amount of coverage. Remember, with inflation your money may not really help your family meet all their financial obligations. On the other hand too much life insurance is also unnecessary, as you would end up paying extra premium amounts that you can invest or save.

So just how much coverage is enough? For the breadwinner of a family the rule of thumb recommended by experts is 10 – 15 times your current income. If you are a stay at home parent or care-giver, you can work out the values of each service you provide for the family, and factor inflation into the calculation so that your family is left with enough to pay for these services, in the event that you die. There are also several online calculators available on life insurance websites, and they can be quite accurate as they take inflation and your other investments into consideration.

3. Good health is a reason to rejoice, but bad health doesn’t mean you should stop looking at life insurance options.

When people have bad health, they assume that their premiums will be exorbitant, and they can invest the same money elsewhere. However, there are life insurance carriers out there who look more favorably on certain health conditions than others. How will you find them? The easiest avenue is to go online and get quotes on a reliable life insurance website. Smokers are usually bracketed high risk and are offered policies at high premiums. But many smokers do not know that if they remain smoke free for a period from 1 year to 5 years (depending on the insurance carrier’s rules), they can qualify for non-smokers policies.

However, this does not mean that your life insurance premiums will be as cheap as that offered for individuals who are in excellent health. Many contributors to major illnesses of today are controllable with the right diet and a healthy lifestyle. Improving your health is your ticket to affordable premiums.

4. Review your life insurance policy periodically

Life’s situations change often and this demands that your policy is reviewed often too. Marriage, a new baby, when seniors move in and become your dependants, a promotion or crisis in the work place, buying a house and medical problems are a few instances when life insurance policies need to be reviewed. Reviewing is important because it helps you buff up or trim down the amount of life insurance you need. e.g., when you have a young family, you have more liabilities and expenses. As you age, and your kids get jobs, you can trim down your coverage amount. Sometimes you may find out that there are other companies offering better rates. Reviewing your policy often will make sure that you have adequate levels of life insurance.

5. Shop around for life insurance policies for the most affordable policy that provides the maximum benefits.

Just like every other major buying decision, shopping around for life insurance is a great way to get the most affordable policy. Term life insurance policies especially can be bought online at very economical premiums. Zingen & Braun can offer you great rates because we deal with several different life insurance companies. We can run your details through the requirements of these companies and offer you quotes in seconds. I am will sit down with you and compare the intricacies of various life insurance policies at your convenience, so you can determine which is best for you.

The importance of life insurance can never be emphasized too much. An uncertain economic situation and hard times are all the more reason to cover your family, and make them comfortable even when you are no longer around to look after them. If you don’t have life insurance yet, the best time to get it is now. As time goes by, it may be either too late to get life insurance or just too late to obtain it an affordable rate.

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

Your Winter Car Care "To Do" List

Tire Tips
Family responsibilities and holiday preparations can keep you in perpetual motion this time of year. A good set of tires is essential to safe winter driving. Make sure your tires are properly rotated and aligned, and also check tire tread - tires should not be worn down to less than 2/32 of an inch for normal tires and 5/32 of an inch for snow tires.

An easy way to check is to take a Lincoln-head penny and insert it head first into the most worn part of your tire tread. If you can see Abe's head, he may be telling you to get a new set of tires. If so, consider buying a set of all-season tires with a traction rating of A (the highest rating) versus B or C, to better grip the road in snowy conditions.

Cooling System Checklist
When the white stuff hits, make sure you have plenty of the green stuff — antifreeze. Antifreeze can be one of the trickiest parts of your winterizing routine because, even though it has a strong green color, the additives could be worn out. This can cause the inside of your radiator to rust and if you are the type who "just adds water" when the level is down, your antifreeze mixture may have lost its ability to withstand freezing temperatures. You may have worthless green gunk under the hood!

A good rule of thumb is to replace your antifreeze every two years. If you're not sure when your antifreeze was last changed, you can easily check its endurance and freeze point with an antifreeze tester (they cost less than five dollars at any auto parts store). But if you're not a do-it-yourselfer, have it checked at a quick oil change or other service provider. They have more accurate and reliable testers.

When it is time to replace your antifreeze, look for a product that prevents cold weather freeze-ups at temperatures well below -30 degrees Fahrenheit, like Zerex® 5/100 Antifreeze Coolant, or, if you're currently using an orange coolant (recommended for most newer model GM vehicles) use Zerex* Extreme TM Life 5/150 Antifreeze Coolant. Remember that antifreeze needs to be diluted with water in a 50-50 mixture, or you could opt for a pre-mixed solution, like Zerex® Ready to Use Antifreeze Coolant.

To round out your cooling system checklist, make sure that water pumps and thermostats work, check radiators and hoses for cracks and leaks, replace the radiator cap, and test heaters and defrosters for proper operation.

Oil To-Dos
Another way to help your car endure three months of cold starts in sub-zero temperatures is to change your oil grade. Check your owner's manual and use the lowest recommended grade for the best all-weather protection, fuel efficiency, and energy conservation. For most passenger cars the proper grade is 5W-30 and for the newest model Ford vehicles, 5W-20.

You also might want to consider adding a synthetic blend motor oil to your vehicle this winter. Synthetic oils make starting a cold engine easy. They resist build up of cold temperature sludge, helping your engine run better and longer, even in the most arctic-like weather.

Battery Basics
No one wants to cap a weekend spent skiing on the slopes by waiting for a tow in two feet of snow. You can help prevent unwelcome disasters by making sure your battery is up for the cold weather challenge. Make sure terminals are clean and tightened — you may even want to clean around terminals with an old toothbrush and a homemade mixture of baking soda and water.

Keep in mind that you should replace your battery every three to four years, but if you suspect your battery won't survive the season, have a trained technician check it out. If it is time to shop for a replacement battery, look for a model that offers more starting power, higher cold cranking amps, and reserve capacity to provide electrical energy when the engine isn't running.

Seasonal breakdowns and costly repairs can really put a damper on "the season of good cheer," so take time now to ensure your vehicle is in top condition, and be prepared for emergency situations. Before you go dashing through the snow, stock your trunk with, jumper cables, rock salt (to melt ice), an ice scraper, a can of tire inflator and a blanket. Keep your mobile phone charged and at hand. This way, at least your car won't be the source of any holiday headaches.

Source: http://www.roadandtravel.com/carcare/winter.htm

What's the Difference?

What Does This Symbol Mean to You?
There is a difference in where you buy your insurance. Many don't realize there are three sources for insurance:

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