Is Your Personal Property Under-Insured?

According to Marshall & Swift/Boeckh, a whopping 64% of homes in America are under-insured. With the many recent natural disasters, many people are finding out exactly how much their insurance policy will cover. Unfortunately, some have found out too late that their coverage is inadequate.
What can you do?
1) Take Responsibility
First, recognize that protecting your home and personal belongings is your responsibility. While your insurance agent is there to help, it is ultimately up to you to purchase adequate coverage.
2) Inventory your home and belongings
Before you can make a decision about how much insurance is right for your situation, you must know how much your home and belongings are worth. Here's where it helps to use a simple home inventory software program to track the value of your home plus all of your belongings. Look for one with a report which you can print out listing your personal
assets grouped by category with subtotals.
3) Review and update your policy
Now that you know how much and what you're trying to protect, it's time to review and update your policy. Compare the value of your actual belongings with the coverage in your policy. Pay special attention to limitations for specific categories of personal property, and don't hesitate to call your agent for clarification. In fact, now would be a good time to print out a copy of your home inventory report, and schedule time with your agent to review your policy and current status.

Your Personal Injury Insurance Claim: Several Crucial Insights Into Medical Reimbursements

The best judge of Total Disability and/or Partial Disability is "Ole" Doc Comfort your attending physician. The Medical Report he executes for the insurance company you're battling with, Rock Solid Insurance Corporation, should always contain his comments regarding the nature of your disability. His diagnosis will be crucial to I. M. Smart, the adjuster assigned to handle your claim, because it will detail the duration of your "Pain and Suffering". In addition it will also prove the time you lost from work as being legitimate.
When settlement time arrives, Smart will form a healthy portion of his evaluation based on the documented proof of the length of time of each of the following two elements: "Total" and "Partial" disability - - the both of which will indicate how much they restricted your inability to work and also your social activities.
YOU MUST CONSIDER ALL THE POSSIBLE OPTIONS FOR MEDICAL REIMBURSEMENTS: Be aware that you may be able to collect from your own motor vehicle insurance carrier (via your "Medical
Payments" coverage) plus you may also be able to collect from your own health insurance policy or plan.
Yes, Rock Solid Insurance, in a clear case of liability (and as part of its settlement with you) will pay your medical bills. BUT HOW ABOUT YOUR OWN MOTOR VEHICLE POLICY'S MEDICAL PAYMENTS COVERAGE? You must read your motor vehicle accident policy carefully. It may provide you with coverage up to certain limits (one or two thousand dollars - - some a lot higher) for all the medical bills you had as a result of the accident - - regardless of who was at fault!
"Med Pay" is a separate part of your policy, which you pay extra for, but it's definitely worth it. Since you're shelling out money for this extra coverage you should consider taking advantage of what it offers.
The following people are usually covered under the Med-Pay provisions: You or any relative who lives with you (when driving or riding in your vehicle) plus anybody else who is driving with your permission (and also their invited "guests") who happen to be riding along with them in your car.
It may state in your policy that your insurance company has a right to recover the amount of the Medical Payments made to you should you (later-on-down-that-often-very-loooong-rocky-road) get paid for your loss by Rock Solid. But, even if you don't, you'll still be paid for your medical bills under the Medical Payments (Med-Pay) Coverage of your motor vehicle insurance policy without having to pay your insurance company back.
It's usually a practical move, to elect to file a claim with your own auto insurance company (under the Med-Pay Coverage) so you can be confident all your medical bills are paid in time. Otherwise, your medical providers may get upset because they'll have to wait far too long to be paid (somewhere down the line - - perhaps a year - - sometimes much longer) until you finally settle for your loss with The Rock Solid Insurance Corporation.
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YOUR OWN HEALTH INSURANCE POLICY/PLAN: There's another possible medical bill coverage for your accident - - and that's your Health Insurance policy or whatever Health Plan you may be under. If the Med-Pay provisions of your motor vehicle policy state that they must be paid back, should you collect from Rock Solid, you may find it more advantageous to file a claim under your Health Insurance policy or some other Health Plan. HOWEVER: You should check the wording in those policies very closely because they may NOT require you to pay them back for the medical payments they've made on your behalf - - even if you collect for your loss from The Rock Solid Insurance Corporation !
There's nothing wrong or immoral about collecting money from more than one source for the same medical bills. Think of it like a Life Insurance Policy. If an individual is paying premiums for three $10.000 Life Insurance Policies and they pass away, is the love-of-their-life (as the named beneficiary) entitled to $10,000 or $30,000? Indeed, because the premiums were paid on all three, that individual is entitled to a payment of $10,000 times three, or $30,000.
By the way, if Adjuster Smart happens to ask you if you have any such options, don't tell him. Whatever other insurance coverage's you have is your own business! It has absolutely nothing to do with the value of your claim, how much money you should be paid for your "Pain and Suffering", nor any other portion of your loss.
NEVER FORGET: You've already paid for these types of coverage and you're entitled to be paid under all your options for reimbursements - - even if that means you're paid by multiple sources for the same bills !
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DISCLAIMER: The only purpose of this article ~ YOUR PERSONAL INJURY INSURANCE CLAIM ~ SEVERAL CRUCIAL SOME "INSIGHTS" INTO MEDICAL REIMBURSEMENTS is to help people understand the motor vehicle accident claim process. Dan Baldyga makes no guarantee of any kind whatsoever; NOR does he purport to engage in rendering any professional or legal service; NOR to substitute for a lawyer, an insurance adjuster, or claims consultant, or the like. Wherever such professional help is desired it is THE INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBILITY to obtain said services.

How You Can Use Cheap Auto Insurance to Help Our Kids

A recent study showed that less than 64% of Texas high school students will graduate. A poor economy, rising gas prices and increasingly lower wages are driving kids out of the house and into the workforce at a young age. If they don't get detoured by drugs and alcohol first. We have to do something. YOU have to do something. And it can start with cheap auto insurance.
Um, What?
Has anyone ever told you that you can hear someone snorting in disbelief on the other side of the Internet? Go ahead. Laugh. But when it comes to helping our kids succeed every little bit counts. Sometimes the best place to start looking for that little bit is to look at the financial responsibilities that are holding you back from making a difference.
Including your auto insurance.
Studies suggest that auto insurance quotes can vary by over $100 a month. What would you do with an extra $1200 in your budget each year? Buy a car? Get ahead on a house payment? What if you took that money and donated it to a charity dedicated to helping America's children finish high school?
They're out there. Literacy organizations. Groups dedicated to helping adults find jobs so their children can stay in school. Private tutors that help children from economically underdeveloped neighborhoods stay ahead on their schoolwork, allowing them to finish their education and graduate with their peers. And find a decent job when they get out in the workforce. Scholarship organizations that pitch in to help kids who can barely afford a new pair of sneakers pay for college.
You can play a part in making all of that happen by searching around for better auto insurance quotes for the drivers in your house and letting the dollars you save make a difference.
So How Do You Hustle Up Cheaper Auto Insurance Quotes?
Figuring out what you're going to do with the money you save once you're not shelling out as much each month in auto insurance is the easy part. Figuring out how you're going to save that money in the first place can get a little more complicated. I recommend you start with an online quote finder. Auto insurance companies love bringing in new customers. Most are more than willing to give you a break on your rates if you're willing to give them your business.
Aside from that there are the obvious things you should be doing every day to save money on your insurance. Wait until you get home to text your sister and tell her about the awesome sale at Sears. Stonewall the urge to open up the throttle and see how fast your new Lamborghini can really go. Suck it up and take a driver improvement course. I promise, your pride can take it. Especially when the judge isn't asking you to do it.
Then go out and tell your auto insurance carrier about it, enjoy the difference in your rates, tally the difference and take that money to the bank to start laying the foundation for our children's success.

What Are Florida Auto Insurance Requirements?

The US auto insurance requirements differ from state to state and region to region. The Florida auto insurance requirements are also not an exception therefore all the residents of Florida are required to be aware of its ins and outs as it specifically pertains to them.
The state of Florida has two categories of car insurance requirements i.e. Florida no fault law and the financial responsibility law. The Florida Financial Responsibility Law is meant to safeguard you and others in case you cause an accident resulting in injuries; in this case you're given a ticket and because you accumulate too many points so you'll also have your driver's license suspended for a while. Minimum Florida financial responsibilities are $10,000 on account of Bodily Injury Liability for a person and double the amount if caused bodily injury to two or more than two people and $10,000 as Property Damage Liability.
On the other hand the Florida No-Fault insurance Law is crafted in order to protect your vehicle as well as yourself. Minimum Florida no fault insurance requirements are $10,000 as Personal Injury Protection and $10,000 as Property Damage Liability. Meeting any one of the mentioned requirements is mandatory because you'll not be able to get license plate or get the vehicle registered if you don't meet any one of the Florida insurance requirements. And if you're caught without one you would wish you should have met one of the Florida insurance requirements mentioned above.
A person also needs to submit a form of the SR22 to show that he or she has maintained the restrictions of the liabilities if he or she has got points on the license for the offenses like violation of any traffic rules or driving without insurance.
The liability of the body insurance is to be paid whether a person is in possession of the SR22 or not; the filling fee being 15$. The insurance rates of a person would be greater due to the reason that leads to the requirements of having SR22.
A person is also required to be residing in the state for a minimum of 90 days in order to be considered for the no fault insurance requirement. It doesn't matter whether this stay is consecutive or in broken periods. The awesome news about the protection of injury is that the insurance is offered whether it is a personal or a friend's car. And another significant fact is that a person is covered under the Florida auto insurance requirements even if the accident takes place outside the premises of Florida.

Saving Money on Auto Insurance While Your Car Is Not Used

While you are away for sometime and not using the car you can lower your auto insurance to only limited coverage. When it is not on the road you could not have accidents and thus the risk is lowered for the insurance provider. As a result the premium you pay should be lowered as well. There is no point in keep paying money towards the auto insurance cover you would not be needing for the time being.
Before we discuss any further this only concerns people who would not be driving their car for sometime. You would need to check with your regional Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and your insurance company in advance of starting the process. You might in fact need to take the vehicle off the street totally. Namely, keep it in a private property ideally a locked garage.
Your insurance provider has to inform DMV when you drop the lowest cover imposed. That might result in troubles for you as you appear to be behind the wheel without insurance as far as authorities are concerned. If you do not do this correctly you may find penalties sitting in your letter box when you are back.
Therefore, you have to notify your regional DMV office and complete a non-operational status form. By filling this form, you are telling the department that your car is not going to be driven and parked on the streets. Therefore you actually have to find a private place to keep your vehicle when you are gone.
Begin the process well in time to make sure that your form is handled by DMV and you finish any other requirements in time for your trip. Nearly all auto insurance companies should be able to strip your cover to only theft and fire and lower the premium nicely. You would receive enough savings for the troubles you will be going through to complete all the necessary tasks. You just have to make sure that everybody involved knows the position perfectly well.
Once you park your car safely, hand a key to someone you trust. It may be smart to detach the battery or have the vehicle running where it is for a while time to time so that it recharges the battery. The minute you arrive home convert the things back to stay on the right side of the laws and have the required insurance protection once more.

Factoring Receivables - The Advantages

'Factoring' refers to a monetary transaction where a business firm trades its accounts receivables, i.e., invoices, to a third party, that is usually called a 'factor'. The third party buys the receivables with liquid money. This way a business gets ready money to finance itself.
A business firm is evaluated first on the basis of its profit background. Every firm is evaluated differently. Factoring companies have their own requirements. To be precise, a business must do proper sales and must have a verifiable invoice. Receivable financing is ideal for all the industries that deal with commercial accounts.
Factoring receivable is a way to maximize your cash flow. It is a better alternative to finance the invoices and get immediate cash rather than giving up on the ownership of your business. It allows you to avail ready cash from a factor who will take the responsibility of collecting the payment from customers. In order to get a good rate from your factor, you must maintain a steady creditworthiness.
Some of the major advantages of factoring receivables are as follows:
1. Immediate, ready cash without any delay
2. Business credit rating is not significant
3. Well-organized handling of data entry and invoicing
4. No hassles in handling slow-pay and/ or no-pay clients
5. Expanded capacity to grow through more production and sales
6.Facility to avail vendor discounts
Factoring receivables allow a business firm to enhance its cash flow. Companies would not have to incur penalties and can pay expenses on time. It also allows business owners to avoid collections. Companies who offer factoring receivables are run by professionals who take care of all the collecting and keeping a track of all the invoices. This can be a huge benefit to your business as it reduces the amount of bad debts. Such companies may also purchase bad debts of your business. Business expansions can also be facilitated through factoring receivables. It allows a healthy cash flow system. Businesses can thereby operate without any halt.
Companies offering factorial receivables usually cover 90% of the invoiced amount. The remaining 10% of the total amount is paid and when the company gets a payment for the invoice. It is better than applying for a loan in a bank as it is comparatively a lengthy process. Plus, with factoring receivables, you would not need to wait for an approval, you can get cash supply immediately.
Do a little research before choosing a company that offers factoring receivables. Texas business owners can now seek help from Mazon Associates for expert assistance.

Wake Up And Smell The Inflation

One bright day, in the middle of the night
Two dead boys got up to fight.
Back to back they faced each other,
Drew their swords and shot one 'nother.
A deaf policeman heard the noise,
And came to arrest the two dead boys.
If you don't believe this story's true,
Ask the blind man, he saw it too! ~Author Unknown
Confused about inflation? Don't worry, you're not alone.
Government statistics say inflation is moderate at only 1.6% over the past year. But our gas, food and medical bills tell us otherwise.
Measuring Inflation
To measure inflation, the government looks at price gains in eight categories: Apparel, Education, Food, Housing, Medical, Recreation, Transportation, and "Other".
Each category is given a weighting based on a typical U.S. household's income that is spent on it. Food gets a 15% weighting, housing 42%, medical 6%, transportation 17%, and so on. Prices are then checked regularly to identify trends.
Inflationary Trends
Take food. Last October, food prices rose 1.5%. This January, they rose 1.8%. That's an increase in pace of 20% (forget the math, just trust me on the numbers).
Transportation prices rose 5.29% last October, and 5.42% this January, an acceleration of 2.5% - much less than the 20% for food. But that's scant comfort because we still paid 5.4% more for gas, while we only paid 1.8% more for food.
While food and transportation are necessities, categories like apparel and recreation are more discretionary. So it's not surprising that apparel prices stayed practically unchanged, housing rose only 0.4%, and increases in medical and recreational expenses also slowed - blunting the sharp increases in food and transportation.
Put it all together, and you get inflation at 1.63% for January versus 1.5% last October.
The bottom line is that prices rose at a quicker pace than three months ago. For you and me, it simply means that inflation is increasing and the purchasing power of our dollar is declining at a more rapid pace than three months ago. Not good at all, particularly in a stalled economy with high unemployment and a virtual freeze on wage increases!
Sleep With The Enemy
I am reminded of a simple, yet brilliant idea I learned many years ago - if your electricity bill starts rising, buy shares of your electricity provider. You need electricity, and your provider knows this. If electricity generation costs rise, your provider will simply pass the increase on to you while making sure its profit margins remain intact. These profits either get distributed as dividends or cause shares to rise. If you hold shares, the dividends or stock appreciation compensate you for some or all of the increase in your bill.
So higher investment returns from capital gains, interest income or dividends can help you beat inflation.
Now, applying this concept to rising fuel costs, consider buying Oil company stocks. As a shareholder, you will see stock price appreciation and higher dividends. This has, in fact, already happened. Chevron shares, for example, have risen from the mid $80s last October to over $100 today.
However, first know all the facts and risks, or talk to a good advisor before implementing this strategy.
Buy Short Maturity Bonds
Investors can also buy short-maturity bonds to protect against inflation, and roll maturing principal into higher yielding bonds over time (called laddering).
Avoid long maturity bonds - they lock you into lower yields for long periods of time. Like a frog in a vat of low heat but rising temperature water that dies a slow painless death, long bond investors get the comfort of nominal principal preservation and interest payments, but get killed on purchasing power.
Dividend stocks and short-term bonds are two strategies to protect you from inflation.
Pay close attention to the economic world around you and speak to experienced advisors, and you will discover ways to beat the system and not just be its hapless victim.