0 7 Things You Can Do To Cut Your Car Insurance Rates

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Everyone wants to save money on auto insurance. Like just about everything else, car insurance prices for many drivers have increased significantly over the past decade, even coverage for safe drivers and for those owning very safe vehicles. And even one at fault accident can results in substantial auto insurance rate increases.

Here are 7 things you can do to cut your car insurance rates:

#1. Insure Multiple Vehicles

Almost every insurance provider offers a substantial discount on an auto policy if more than one vehicle is being protected. Depending on the value of the cars and the make and model of each, liability and collision insurance premiums for each vehicle may be lowered by as much as 10 percent when the owner insures them together.

#2. Insure Multiple Drivers

Most insurance policies are written to cover a specific vehicle rather than an individual. So-called blanket policies cover a driver regardless of the vehicle he or she is operating, but these policies generally cost as much as a traditional liability insurance plan. Instead, it is wise to combine all vehicles and drivers in the household when purchasing auto insurance because each separate policy will cost a bit less.

#3. Complete A Defensive Driving Course

These are invaluable where younger drivers are concerned and can save a bundle on premiums. The course can be taken online and the certificate of completion sent directly to the insurance provider. For those who have had several moving violations in the past few years, completing a driver education course will help to maintain favorable insurance rates.

#4. List All Safety Features On The Vehicle

All too often an insurance shopper will neglect to complete the vehicle information section on the insurance request form. If the car has a full complement of airbags, 3-point seatbelts with pretensioners, a rearview backup camera, anti-theft protection system or advanced crumple zone engineering these should be checked off in the appropriate boxes. Most of the larger insurance providers will have this field clearly marked on the information page and drivers should not overlook this money-saving feature.

#5. Choose Full Coverage When Initializing The Policy

Adding collision, comprehensive, uninsured motorist and personal injury protection insurance can be much less expensive when starting a new policy. These optional coverage types (depending on where you live) may cost quite a bit more if you add them on later. It is also wise to check the provider's payment options when purchasing a full protection policy because a higher initial payment often means a lower monetary outlay over six or twelve months.

#6. Choose A Lender Offering Safe Driver Discounts

One way to combat rising auto insurance premiums is to purchase a policy from a provider offering discounts for those with safe driving records. The rewards are lower premiums, better rates when extending the policy after the initial 6- or 12-month period, reduced deductible amounts for each year the driver has no accidents and more flexible payment options. You can compare quotes from several providers online by using a comparison site.

#7. Shop Multiple Insurance Providers

This the most important of the 7 things you can do to cut your car insurance rates. Comparison shopping allows you to work with different deductible amounts, look over several different payment plans and check the premium amounts when extra coverage types are added. The insurance companies are vying for your business and this strategy increases competition and may allow you to get the best combination of low price and coverage.

0 Make sure your Staff are protected

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If you expect your staff to work hard for the company you should give them the reassurance to work in safety.

Your staff are your biggest asset – employ the best staff and your business will thrive. After all, good customer service, operational staff and management will help to drive the business  forwards and to bring in new work. If you put your faith in your staff and expect them to deliver then it’s only fair that they should be able to work in a safe and secure environment. They should be confident with any equipment that they are using and feel safe in the offices and buildings where they carry out their duties.

Your choice of construction insurance will have a large part to play in their safety and security. A good policy will ensure that everyone is covered for every work-related eventuality and you can work safe in the knowledge that your team is protected. However, if you haven’t checked out your construction or warehouse insurance policy for a while, you can’t guarantee that it covers all your current requirements. You might have taken on a lot of new staff recently, or you might have upgraded or expanded equipment or premises without upgrading your insurance policy.

If that’s the case then you should make your insurance a priority. It’s no good putting it aside while other urgent administrative jobs land on your desk. Nothing is more of a priority than making sure your staff are safe and you owe it to them to check your current policy with your insurance provider. This should only be a matter of making a quick phone call, outlining the details of your current policy and checking that it still meets all the requirements of your business. It might be that you have a robust policy that can cover a certain amount of growth when it comes to premises and staff. However, if your business has grown rapidly, you may discover that you need extra cover on your policy, or that you need to take out additional cover for certain aspects of your business.

If you have time, you should also think about getting quotes from other competitive insurance providers. If you haven’t changed your insurance company for a number of years, it makes sense to get quotes from other companies to make sure you’re paying over the odds for your policy. There are a number of companies that specialise in construction insurance and you might want to consider using a provider with the inside knowledge of your industry. They can offer specific expertise and advise with regards to your cover and the policies that they provide to businesses.

If you ignore your admin or push it to one side you could come to regret it later on. No one likes to consider the possibility of accidents or thefts taking place in the business but these things happen. At least, with a comprehensive insurance policy, you will have the reassurance that the issues will be dealt with – without one, you could end up losing your business and everything you’ve worked so hard for.

0 Things Real Estate Agents Will Not Tell You About Buying

A professional real estate agent should always have your best interest in mind. However, there are many things that your real estate agent doesn't tell you. First, real estate agents are paid on a percentage commission basis by there brokerage. That percentage commission is based on the price of the home you purchase. Therefore, the more you spend the more your real estate agent makes. While that commission is rarely money out of the buyer’s pockets it does seem a bit counterintuitive. Your real estate agent is supposed have your best interest in mind which would mean finding you the most affordable home that fills your needs even though that will mean that he/she will make less money. It doesn't really add up, but a good real estate agent realizes the value in referrals. If he/she makes a little less commission on your home purchase, but leaves you with a great experience you are more likely to recommend him/her to friends and family thus resulting in more commission in the long run.

Second, we are not professionals in all aspects of home ownership. Always do your own research and due diligence. Buyers are going to have a lot of questions when purchasing a home, especially if it is their first home purchase. More often than not those questions will get asked to your real estate agent. Your agent will most likely give you an answer based on their past experiences. While that advice may be helpful to you, do not take it as law. Real estate agents are essentially professional form filler outers. They understand the legal documents involved in buying and selling homes and they have keys to show you homes. That is about all that they should be considered experts on. Always due your own research and due diligence into every question, and seek out opinions from professionals in the industry that pertains specifically to your questions. For instance all finance questions should be directed to a professional loan officer.

Lastly, it does not require much education to become a real estate agent. We go through a very abbreviated curriculum and are required to pass a test to become licensed, but considering the level we are playing at it should be much more comprehensive. However, real estate agents deal with so many situations that cannot be learned in a classroom environment. Experience is the ultimate key to finding a knowledgeable real estate agent that will have the right approach and the right answers to your questions. Sometimes a bright beginner will partner themselves with a very experienced brokerage, and that can serve the same purpose as a good broker will oversee all daily activity of the real estate agent. The truth is most buyers and sellers have probably achieved a higher level of formal education than their real estate agent. The difference is that real estate agents deal with buying and selling homes everyday, while the typical buyer or seller might do it three times in their lives. Trust in your agent’s industry specific experience, use your education for your own research and due diligence using free tools like www.utahuterealestate.com, and the end result should be a good one.

As a home buyer you should always work with a real estate agent that you trust will have your best interests in mind throughout the process. For more information contact a real estate professional.

0 What You Need to Know about Motorcycle Insurance

Owning a motorcycle gives you the opportunity to experience one of the best feelings possible--cruising down the highway without a care, letting the miles melt away the pressures of everyday life. It’s not all a bed or roses, however. Because they only have two wheels, motorcycles are fundamentally unstable, which means they’re dangerous. Add to that the fact that they’re relatively small, so motorcyclists run the risk of a car or truck suddenly pulling out in front of them at an intersection. These facts, among others, make carrying adequate insurance necessary. Following are a few tips concerning what you need to know about motorcycle insurance.

Street Legal

In all 50 states, you need a minimum amount of coverage to legally ride a motorcycle on public roads. In most states, you can ride legally with only liability coverage. This means that if you’re in an accident, your insurance policy will provide monetary reimbursement for any damage done by your motorcycle to any person or property involved in the accident--if you’re deemed to be at fault. If you want protection beyond the basics, you’ll have to pay extra for the coverage.

Liability Coverage

Carrying liability insurance provides protection for other parties, but doesn’t cover you or your machine. If you believe you need additional protection, you’ll have to get more coverage. You need to determine exactly what your needs are and how much you can afford to pay for it. If you’re in an accident, your liability insurance will cover the damages to the other person and their property. You will have to pay for any repairs to your own motorcycle. It will also be your responsibility to pay for damage to any associated equipment, such as helmets and safety clothing. You would also have to pay for repairing or replacing any accessories, such as a fairing, saddle bags, safety clothing, special lighting, or any other accessories you may have added, out of your own pocket. If you suffer an injury, the costs associated with hospitalization and doctor’s visits will also be your own responsibility.

Comprehensive

Most people don’t have that kind of cash lying around, so carrying additional--comprehensive--insurance is something you should seriously consider. In addition to paying for repairs to yourself and your equipment due to an accident, comprehensive insurance will also protect you if your motorcycle is stolen. You can also get coverage expenses associated with trip interruption. If you’ve had custom work done, it may be a good idea to get coverage for that, as well. Keep in mind that additional coverage means your insurance premiums will be more.

Different Bikes--Different Prices

Some types of motorcycles will cost you more to insure than others. For instance, if you ride a large, high-powered touring motorcycle, you will have to pay more for insurance than if you ride a scooter. The reason is obvious--touring bikes are bigger, faster, have more moving parts, and cost a lot more money to buy, and repair. The saving grace concerning touring bikes is that they generally tend to be owned by older riders, who are considered to be more reliable and don’t take unnecessary chances, so they may get a price break. Cruisers and standard motorcycles don’t usually cost as much as touring machines, so the insurance costs will be slightly less. Sport bikes, on the other hand, although they’re middle-of-road pricewise, are very expensive to insure. The reason is that sport bikes are usually owned and operated by young riders who are perceived by the insurance industry to be prone to riding aggressively. The machines themselves are marketed as street-racers, which means that even if you don’t intend to ride assertively, the insurance company will charge you as if you will. Therefore it cost more to insure a sport bike.

Shop Around

As with any other type of insurance, you can get the best price on motorcycle insurance by shopping around. Go online and get some insurance quotes from insurance companies that do business over the Internet. Use these prices for comparison when you begin calling the more traditional brick and mortar insurance agencies. Your motorcycle dealer may also be a good source, since they deal with getting insurance coverage for their customers on a regular basis. After you’ve gotten a number of quotes, take the time to go over them and determine which company can offer you the best coverage at a reasonable rate. Don’t forget to ask the different companies about the possibility of discounts. The company you presently insure your home, health, life and automobile with may be able to offer you a combined policy, which will save some money.

Guest post from Sydney Sommers. Sydney writes about motorcycle insurance quotes for MotorcycleInsurance.com.

0 Retirement Planning Tips for New Grads

The great day has arrived. You’ve finally graduated from college, and now hold a degree. Could things get any better than this? Well, yes. It’s called the rest of your life. Now that you have the degree, it’s time to go to work. It’s also time to start planning for your retirement. You may think a thing like that can be put off for awhile, but there’s no time like the present to begin. Following are a few retirement planning tips for new grads.

Start Now

If you begin saving money for your retirement while you’re in your 20s you’ll be able to build a substantial fund by the time you reach retirement age. However, if you put it off until you’re in your 40s or 50s, the amount of money you’ll have to live on after retiring won’t be nearly as much. Start saving for retirement as soon as you get your first paycheck, and you’ll be able to enjoy your Golden Years much more. Now is also the best time to connect with a financial planner who can help you formulate a savings plan.

Simple Savings Account

Although the return isn’t spectacular, a simple savings account may be the best way to start planning for your retirement. The fundamental act of setting aside a few dollars each week and putting it into a savings account can become a psychological tool to help you begin saving in earnest. By training yourself to stick a few bucks every week into a savings account, you’ll be laying the groundwork for a lifetime habit of devoting a portion of your paycheck toward your retirement. A savings account won’t earn much interest, but it can provide the impetus to branch out into other areas that will build your retirement fund quicker.

Create a Budget

To insure that you’ll have a few bucks left over to invest in your retirement, it would be a good idea to create a budget as soon as you have a paying job. Figure out all your expenses and deduct them from your income, then take as large a portion of what’s left over as you can and devote it to a retirement plan. The sooner you start, the faster your retirement fund will grow, and the larger it’ll become. If there’s not much money left after paying your bills it would still be a good idea to put a few dollars into a retirement fund rather than blow it on frills. You’ll be glad you did when it comes time to retire.

Start Slow and Stay Safe

In the beginning, your investments should be kept to instruments that don’t carry much risk, such as an IRA (Individual Retirement Account.) If your employer offers a 401k, take advantage of it. The tax benefits alone are worthwhile. If you start your retirement fund slowly, and stay with safe investments your retirement fund is bound to grow. The more you add to it, the larger it’ll become.

Stocks, Bonds and Mutual Funds

Traditionally buying stocks, bonds, and mutual funds has helped a great many people expand their retirement accounts. However, the stock market is extremely unpredictable, and you could end up losing everything if you’re not careful. One way to make sure you don’t lose all your investment capital at once is to diversify your investments. Instead of taking advantage of that ‘hot’ tip you overheard at the water cooler; you’d be better of checking into it before laying any money down. Even if it seems like a good investment you shouldn’t spend everything you have and invest it on any one stock. If the bottom drops out of that stock all your savings could go with it.

Spread Your Retirement Investments Around

Your retirement fund is too valuable to risk on any one venture. Instead, you should spread your retirement investments around. Buy a few stocks and bonds here and there if you believe in them, and put a little into a mutual fund, which are a bit safer investment--but have a fall-back plan--hang onto some of your cash so if the investment tanks you won’t lose it all. If you put a little money into stocks and bonds and some more into mutual funds, you will have a good start on a retirement fund. Add to that the savings from your IRA and 401k and you should have a healthy nest egg when it comes time to retire--providing you manage it correctly, and don’t dip into it unless you absolutely need it.

By Pat Singer: Pat writes about accredited online colleges for AccreditedOnlineColleges.com.