A Personal Insurance Update

Two thousand nineteen is just around the corner, and it is time for you to update and evaluate your finances and insurance.  We recommend everyone do a yearly evaluation of his or her personal insurance needs.  As your life changes so should your insurance.  We can help you better understand how having the right personal insurance can help protect your family and your most important investments.

Your first resolution is to get “insurance fit” in 2022.  Remember a little planning now may help if you have a claim in the future.

Set up a personal insurance meeting with one of our agents.

We like to review your insurance needs to make sure you have the best possible combination of coverage, price, and service.  Your personal needs tend to change over time, and your insurance should keep up with these changes.  We will sit down with you and ask questions about your life and activities.  We can then offer a personal insurance program designed just for you.  Often this includes new insurance discounts offered by insurers.  You may qualify for discounts, and we can point out ways to help you save money—like getting a multi-policy discount!

Make sure your life insurance is up to date.

Life insurance is one of those things that tend to be neglected.  However, life insurance is critical, especially for families.  If you have a change in marital status or had a child, your life insurance may need to be adjusted.

Often, you can get a term life insurance policy for $50 a month or less, depending on policy limits, your age, and health status.

Make sure your current auto insurance ID card is placed in all vehicles.

People often forget to make sure their current auto ID card is placed in their vehicles. There are significant fines for not having proof of auto insurance.

Keep your insurance documents organized.

We recommend keeping a copy of all your personal insurance policies. It also is a good idea to photo the cover pages of each policy and keep them in an electronic file.

Create a home inventory.

After a fire or other loss, it can be challenging to remember all the personal property you have.  Making a list of items in your home before a disaster occurs helps guarantee you will not forget to claim anything.  It is helpful to use your smartphone to create a video with a description of major items.

Get Healthy.

The best way to get the best rate on your life insurance is to stop smoking and get healthy.

Communicate with your family regarding your insurance and financial plan.

Familiarize key family members with your financial and insurance plan.  Let them know where your policies are located and who the beneficiaries are on your life insurance policy.

Use Insurer and agent apps.

There are many good apps offered by personal insurance companies.  In California, you can also show proof of auto insurance through an electronic format.

Make sure you have the necessary personal insurance coverage.

We offer many different kinds of personal insurance products that you may need, including:

•    Renters Insurance

•    Earthquake Insurance

•    Flood Insurance

•    Personal Umbrella Insurance

•    Insurance for Ride-Share Drivers

•    Insurance for Rental Homes

•    Boat Insurance

•    Watercraft Insurance

•    Classic Car Insurance

•    Motorcycle Insurance

•    Snowmobile Insurance

•    Travel Insurance

•    ATV Insurance

•    Mobile Home Insurance

•    RV Insurance

Have you considered long-term care insurance?

Part of any solid financial plan is dealing with end of life issues including the need for long-term care insurance.  Selecting long-term care insurance is an important decision that is often overlooked due to the unpleasant nature of the topic.

Ask about your billing options.

Many insurers offer insurance payment options online. If you bundle your insurance, you may be eligible for other discounts as well. You may want to pay your premiums in advance to receive greater discounts.

Add a personal umbrella policy.

A personal umbrella policy is very cost effective and can provide added protection for you and your family. A personal umbrella policy provides additional limits over your home, renters, auto and other personal insurance policies. A $1,000,000 umbrella policy usually ranges from $150-$300 for the year.

Protect your identity.

Millions of people have their identities stolen each year.  Let us provide you with identity theft options that can be added to your personal insurance products.  Change your passwords on a regular basis, back-up your computer, and update the antivirus and malware programs on your computer.

Let us help you find gaps in your personal insurance.

One experience you do not want is to be told you do not have coverage for a loss but you could have if you had bought the right kind of insurance.  As part of our insurance review, we can help you identify any insurance coverage gaps and recommend coverage to fill those gaps.  If you have certain high-value items such as art, coins, jewelry, or collectibles, they may not be fully insured under a homeowner’s policy, despite coverage being available elsewhere under an add-on called a “personal articles floater.”