Sunday, March 31, 2013

Auto Insurance Quote Review

Have you thought about asking for a free auto insurance quote on the internet? Are you concerned because you may not know anything about the company providing the quote? Are you wondering how you can find out about the reputation of the company giving you a quote, especially when it comes to paying out claims?

This article will tell you how to find out about insurance companies: their financial stability and how many consumer complaints they receive, how to ask for a quote so you can compare apples to apples, and results of online quotes from eight known auto insurance companies.

How to find out the stability of an insurance company

The financial stability of a company is rated by A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's. These companies provide an independent opinion of an insurance companies ability to meet its ongoing policy and contract obligations. The A.M. Best rating is expressed as a letter grade from A++ (the highest) to D. It is recommended that you do not work with companies rating B or lower. The Standard & Poor's Ratings range from triple A (the highest) to CC. It is recommended that you do not work with companies rating lower than BBB.

How to find out individual policy holder satisfaction with an insurance company

Annually J.D. Power and Associates gathers data from policy holders nationwide regarding policy options, pricing, automated phone service and overall satisfaction, with the insurance company providing their insurance. The best rating is 5.

How to Find Out the Number of Consumer Complaints

The Department of Insurance for each state provides the general public with consumer complaint ratios. This ratio helps the consumer to identify the number of complaints per number of claims filed. A maximum of forty companies are compared. If more than forty insurance companies have complaints, only the forty companies with the most complaints will be compared. It is recommended that the complaint ratio be checked in three or more states to identify specific insurance company trends. A ratio of less than one hundred is better than average.

How to ask for a quote so you can compare apples to apples

A response to the following information must be decided before asking for an auto insurance quote:

    *Car make, model, year, current mileage
    *Deductible amount for collision, comprehension and liability
    *Coverage for medical
    *Purpose for using the car
    *Miles driven per year
    *Number of designated drivers
    *Drivers ages


What is the result of performing the above steps?

The Auto Insurance companies used for this Auto Insurance Quote Review are 21st Century, Allstate, Esurance, Geico, Nationwide, Safeco, The Hartford. These companies were selected based on longevity in the business and their familiarity to consumers throughout the United States. The stability, consumer overall satisfaction (Sat.), policy options (Opt.), price (of premium) and automated phone service rated as follows.

J.D. Power and Associates

Insurance Co. AMBest S&P Sat. Opt. Price Phone

21st Century A A 3 3 4 2
Allstate A+ AA- 3 3 3 3
Esurance A- n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Geico A++ 3As 3 4 4 3
Nationwide A+ A+ 3 3 2 3
Safeco A A- 3 2 2 3
The Hartford A AA- 3 3 4 3

The number of consumer complaints for these auto insurance companies rated as follows in the states of Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Texas and Kentucky.

The Complaint Ratio for Five States

Insurance Co. IL MN MO TX KY

21st Century n/a n/a n/a 199 n/a
Allstate 55 130 130 165 19
Esurance n/a 212 212 455 0
Geico 33 149 128 132 116
Nationwide n/a 76 76 131 0
Safeco 29 117 117 71 25
The Hartford 29 n/a 454 200 54

The Auto Insurance Quote Sample

The following information was used for all quotes:

    *2006 Toyota Camry 4dr v6 engine LE
    *50,000 miles
    *Driven under 9000 miles per year
    *Used for pleasure
    *$100 Deductible for comprehensive and collision
    *$250,000/$500,000 Liability & collision
    *$10,000 medical
    *One car and two drivers


Auto Insurance Quotes

The following six month policy quotes were received from each of the companies listed below:

Company Quote

21st Century $237.68
AllState $392.00
Esurance $343.00
Geico $260.10
Nationwide $415.40
Safeco $281.00
The Hartford $375.00

Ways To Lower The Premium

Most insurance companies will offer discounts for the following events:

   * Save driving record for 3 - 5 years
   * No minor infractions for 3 years
    *Anti lock devices installed in your vehicle
   * No DUI for the last 3 - 5 years
   * License not suspended for the past 3 years
    *Good credit rating
    *Car owned rather than leased or financed
    *A second vehicle is also insured
    *Other types of insurance is also purchased from them

High risk drivers can expect to have a higher premium. Not all insurance companies will insure them. In addition when a high risk driver has an accident, the insured can expect difficulty when attempting to get the vehicle repaired using car manufactured parts. Generally auto insurance companies will pay only for the cheapest parts available.

Some insurance companies offer a lower premium for the first year as an enticement to encourage you to get your auto insurance coverage through them. So always ask about the second year premium price.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

avoid rental car insurance fees

avoid rental car insurance fees
How to avoid rental car insurance fees :  It makes me crazy whenever I rent a car, and the agent highly recommends I get the "collision damage waiver," or CDW. They tell me it's $15 to $25 per day.

With rates like that every day, they must think I'm a drunk who always drives on the wrong side of the road. Have they even checked my driving record? So, I never get it. Why? Because my insurance agent told me I'm already covered, and many of us are. Besides, I rent the car using a credit card, which also provides rental car insurance.

Is that extra fee sometimes recommended by rental car agents really necessary?


Typical Coverage*
ItemRental InsurancePersonal InsuranceCredit Card
Damage to rental car Yes Yes Yes
Damage to other cars No Yes Possibly
Damage to property No Yes Yes
Damage to people No Yes Possibly
Deductible No Yes Yes
Theft No Yes Yes


A little pre-planning with your insurance agent can get you to say what I say: "No, thank you. Your daily rate is outrageous.", "I think a lot of people don't know" about coverage, says Don Bennett, owner of Sage Insurance in St. George. "That's the biggest problem. Every time someone rents a car, they're just not aware of what the coverage is."

Bennett says most people don't pay for the extra insurance and take the chance that they won't get into a wreck.

"It's much better to ask a few questions in advance and know where you stand should an accident occur," Bennett says.

The car rental agencies offer what's called a collision damage waiver. It covers damage to your rental car at rates from $15 to $25 every day. But it doesn't cover the damage to other cars, property � or, worse, people. And neither will your credit card.

That's why you should ask your insurance agent about whether the liability from your personal auto insurance will extend to your rental car. In most cases, it will.

"If you don't have comprehensive and collision coverage, the only coverage is property damage and bodily injury, through your negligence," Bennett said. "If you do have comprehensive and collision, that will extend as well."

But your deductible also extends to the rental car. If you have a $1,000 deductible on your personal car, that will also be the case with your rental. That's where your credit card comes in handy.

"Your credit card insurance would pick up that first thousand dollars in damage for you," Bennett said.

Here's another fee car rental agencies tack on after an accident: the "loss of use" fee. They'll zing you for every day the car was in the shop and they couldn't rent it out.

Now, the rental agency's own collision damage waiver covers that. But it's another question you should ask your insurance agent first.

"If your personal auto insurance doesn't pay loss of use or administrative fees, your credit card rental insurance may pay those," he said.

Discover Card does not, but Visa, Mastercard and American Express do. But here's the thing: The rental agencies have to show they didn't have other cars available to replace the damaged one. I know from experience they won't always tell you that, while tacking on the fee. They once told me it was standard practice in the industry. Here's another thing to consider: theft.

The collision damage waiver won't cover you if your rental car gets stolen, so see if your own auto insurance or credit card will cover that. If you are covered for theft, your policy might also say if you are careless with your own car or a rental, you're not covered.

"Like any personal vehicle, you want to lock the doors, take the keys out, that sort of thing, otherwise you run the risk of not having that coverage," Bennett said.

Here's another thing: If you wind up buying that car rental-offered overpriced insurance, you may actually be hurting yourself when it comes to credit card insurance. Bennett says credit card companies find out if you bought that rental insurance, and then the credit card won't have to pay.

If you do use your credit card and expect insurance coverage, the credit card must be the one issued to the primary renter of the car. If you rent a pick-up, SUV or luxury car, credit card insurance won't work � but still your personal insurance might.

best Term Life Insurance to option

best insurance stock - best type of life insurance to option : Search around the web for the best type of life insurance, and you�ll find lots of financial advisers who say, without hesitation, that term life insurance is best. While I generally agree and have term life insurance myself, the right answer for each individual is not always that easy.

The truth is that with life insurance, as with many financial products, �best� is a relative term. The question isn�t, �Which is best overall and for all time?� The question is, �which type of policy is best for me?�

The best life insurance is the one that suits your needs based on your current and predicted future financial situation.

Here, we�ll talk about the major types of life insurance � term, return-of-premium term and permanent � and look at the pros and cons of each. Then, you can decide which type of life insurance is best for you.
Term Life Insurance: Most Recommended Option

The American Council of Life Insurers says that term life insurance policies accounted for 3.7 million new policies totaling $1.1 trillion in face value in 2011. That�s nearly three-quarters of the face value of all individual life insurance policies issued in 2011.

That�s not surprising, given that most financial professionals (at least the ones who don�t get hefty commissions from selling permanent life insurance) say term is best.

And, in many cases, term life insurance is the best option. With term life insurance, you pay a set monthly premium for a certain amount of life insurance coverage for a certain amount of time. You might get $500,000 of insurance for 20 years, or $2 million for 10 years, depending on your circumstances.

But the key to term life insurance is that it�s for a set term and that the payments don�t change. Here are some of the pros and cons of term life insurance:

China Life Insurance expanding business 2013

best insurance stock - China Life Insurance expanding  business 2013 : China Life Insurance Co. (LFC) will primarily focus on expanding its life insurance business this year despite growing pressure due to slower sales in the sector, President Yang Mingsheng said Thursday.

The company will also eye investment opportunities in state-backed projects in regions like the Yangtze River Delta and the Zhujiang Delta, Mr. Yang said at a press briefing after the company reported a 40% drop in 2012 net profit late Wednesday, citing a "decline in investment yield" and an "increase in impairment losses resulting from continued weakness in capital markets."

Net profit for the 12 months ended Dec. 31 was 11.06 billion yuan ($1.78 billion) compared with CNY18.33 billion a year earlier, China's top life insurer by premiums said.

Mr. Yang also said bancassurance sales are likely to continue falling this year as insurers face increasing competition from bank products such as high-yield wealth management products.

China Life's vice president Liu Jiade said local stock markets may see some improvement this year, which would help improve the company's investment yield as well as bring down impairment losses.

Investment income
for 2012 rose to CNY80.01 billion from CNY64.82 billion, while investment yield fell to 2.79% from 3.51%, and impairment losses more than doubled to CNY31.05 billion from CNY12.94 billion, it said late Wednesday.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

7 Tips For Better Insurance!

Purchasing flood insurance is not something you want to rush,� notes David Beavers of the Water Damage Team. �To properly protect your investments you should take the time to properly prepare before purchasing flood insurance, as rates limits and coverage alter drastically between insurance companies. To help you prepare for your search, please enjoy the following list of tips for finding the right flood insurance.�

1. Assess your Home�s Risk
A nation wide insurance company stated that one third of the flood claims they get come from homes not in a flood prone area. It�s important to consider your real risk for a flood of any kind, and how high if a risk it is. Depending on your homes propensity to flood, the policy you choose should adjust to it accordingly. You can go to the governments flood site, FloodSmart.com, to get a better idea of your homes risk for flooding as well as some estimates for price ranges you should be expecting.

2. Don�t Wait
It takes awhile to finalize the process of getting flood insurance, and if a flood occurs during that process it�s not likely that you will receive coverage. If you are considering this type of insurance, then make sure you plan to purchase it well before flood or even rain season. Unfortunately, the majority of homes in Louisiana had no flood insurance during hurricane Katrina, and government handouts only go so far.

3. Educate Yourself on Limits
Before signing anything, make sure you know your home well and they type of flood damage it could incur. Then carefully evaluate your flood insurance proposal and make sure you are fully covered for any and every area of concern. While some insurance companies have limits to the amount they�ll refund you for damages, some will cover your home and it�s possessions to the full extent. Do not be afraid to ask questions, express concerns, or criticize rates and limits. This is your home, life, and family you�re dealing with so it�s okay to be a little pushy to make sure you�re getting what you want when you pay for it.

4. Ask About Rate Increases
No one wants to think about their rates increasing in the future when they�re first taking on a new bill, but it is important to remember that your flood insurance rates could very likely rise and you will be expected to pay the difference. Luckily, now that you know this you can take a look at rate limits for each insurance company you consider, and factor them in.

5. Preparation is Key
The more knowledgeable and prepared you are when choosing flood insurance, the more likely you are to make the perfect choice for you. Before going in to question agents, make a list of things you�d like to ask and know. It�s easy to get flustered and forget important things when you�re talking to a smooth talking insurance agent who knows how to make a sale. Know what exactly you�d like protected from a potential flood (just the home, or all possessions or vehicles as well?) and what your budget is. Look online before going out to et a good idea for insurance rates for your area.

6. Ask Neighbors
Don�t be shy to ask neighbors and friends living nearby if they have flood insurance and which company they purchased it from. Make sure to ask multiple questions from overall satisfaction, to reliability and rates. The best reviews are from the customers themselves as opposed to the company trying to sell their stuff.

7. Do Not Rely on Handouts
Although it�s true people living in high-risk areas have the right to government aid in a natural disaster, they aid is very limited. Very limited. If you live in one of theses areas and thus think you don�t need insurance, know that you�ll receive some help but you may lose your home and possessions in the process, as the government is not likely to replace them.


The Water Damage Team is a nation wide disaster restoration company, with years of experience in water removal and water drying. As well as storm damage clean up, contaminated water removal, structural drying, debris removal and mold remediation.

Sunday, March 24, 2013

How to : Save money on Car Insurance



Auto insurance is essential by all licensed people but many don't learn how to find the very best rates obtainable. Being complacent and purchasing insurance without thoroughly investigating your options or maintaining a similar car insurance for the remainder of your life could mean that you will be paying too much for your car or truck insurance. Comparability shopping, ensuring that you will be receiving each of the discounts you qualify for and keeping a clean record are just some of the dollars saving ideas that could save you a bundle on insurance.

Comparison buying car insurance, even when you finally are previously insured, cannot be underestimated. It is crucial that people investigate all your options ahead of choosing an insurance provider to ensure you are receiving the best possible rate on your car insurance. There are so many factors regarded in insurance policies including where you live, your record, your get older and the kind of car people drive only to name a number of. With these types of factors to contemplate, it is incredibly possible that might be that there is a car insurance provider who offer a considerably lower price than other providers.

Even once you've secured insurance for the car, it is wise to periodically check the actual rates of which other providers offer. Car insurance plus your circumstances usually are perpetually changing and you may find that this provider that is willing to present you the very best car insurance rate differs periodically. Many insurance providers present you with a host associated with discounts on their clients who qualify for these discount rates. These discount rates can connect with your record, safety highlights of your car, your get older or other factors.

These discounts may result in a tremendous benefits on your car insurance policy but while insurance companies offer these types of discounts, they don't always advertise them. This means that you will find to carry out research to determine what type of discounts you might qualify for. Carefully, review your car insurance policy to ascertain which discounts you are already receiving after which contact your car or truck insurance provider must other discounts that could be available. One example is if your record is without requiring accidents or perhaps tickets, you might qualify for the good motorist discount.

Likewise, if your car or truck has particular safety features including daytime working lights, you can even qualify for insurance discounts. Your real age can likewise qualify you without a doubt car insurance discounts. Some insurers also offer you discounts to those who insure their house with a similar company while they insure their car. Enjoying this form of discount could save you money in both your car or truck and household insurance. Knowing the discounts that you can get and ensuring that you will be receiving these types of discounts, can save a lot of money on your car insurance.

Finally, maintaining some sort of clean record is critical to receiving the very best available insurance rate. As it is true that every car insurance provider is unique inside factors that bring about lower prices, the 1 factor which is consistent amongst all companies of insurance is a clean record is critical in your rate. Although accidents are often unavoidable, it is actually imperative you adhere to all or any traffic regulations knowning that you get safely continually. This will certainly reduce how many traffic violations you incur as well as the number associated with accidents you cause. Following the following pointers will assist you to maintain some sort of clean record that could keep the money necessary for your insurance low.

Many people lament having to pay their monthly insurance bill because they feel that the insurance isn't necessary. Although insurance is some sort of financial impediment that appears superfluous, it does settle if you are ever in a serious car accident that possesses significant personal ramifications. For this reason, you must not consider allowing your car or truck insurance in order to lapse and it's recommended you search diligently to get the best obtainable rate on your car insurance.

best life insurance policy to buy

best life insurance policy to buy : Choosing the best life insurance for your situation can be daunting.  With so much conflicting information, this article will go over the differences so that you will be better informed and can choose the right policy.

Many people avoid investing in life insurance simply because they imagine the costs as being too high for their budgets. Fortunately, there are a wide variety of insurance policies available for every set of needs and budgets. A lot of companies will give you an instant term life insurance quote on their website for free. Insurance providers provide death benefit payouts ranging from as little as a few thousand dollars all the way up to a few million. Most providers offer more affordable term life insurance policies�term policies have low premiums and payout death benefits for the duration of a specific period.


If cheap life insurance with low premiums isn�t a priority, the majority of life insurance providers feature coverage plans that accumulate cash value over the life of the policy. With global, universal and whole insurance it is possible to configure lucrative benefits packages that payout death benefits and can be cashed out or borrowed against like equity.

What to Look for in a Life Insurance Policy

Policy Benefits
All insurance policies are different. We evaluated insurance providers largely on the variety and flexibility of the life insurance policies they offer. From five year term life insurance to variable universal policies, our leading picks for life insurance providers provide comprehensive coverage for every set of needs.

Pricing and Premiums
Premium payments are going to be different with different providers depending on risk factors such as your health, lifestyle, age and occupation. In general, insurance providers receiving a high score on our site gave more lucrative term life insurance rates than competitors regardless of age or lifestyle.

Additional Services
Life insurance is a must, but there are many other services we expect to see available in addition to, or as an alternative to, life insurance. Annuities, retirement planning, estate planning, mutual funds and plans tailored for small business are services we expect from the best providers.

Customer Support
Red tape and poor customer service are the last things a grieving family member wants to deal with. Our top picks for life insurance provider boast excellent customer service, approach claims in a timely and professional manner and go out of their way to meet customer expectations.

The Best Life Insurance Policies ?

Term Life Insurance
Term life insurance is typically the best policy for most Americans since it allows you to have the most amount of coverage for the lowest price.  Some of the most outspoken advocates for term life are the popular financial advisors you see on TV; Susie Orman, Dave Rasmey and Clark Howard.  The strategy with term life insurance is to buy term and invest the rest yourself.  Most people have their major obligations for a certain period of time 10-30 years.  After a certain period of time, usually the mortgage is paid down or paid off, the children are grown and your future income won�t need to be protected in the same capacity as it does today.  Term life insurance will be the best solution if this describes your situation.

Term life insurance lasts for a designated period of time.  The term period for most companies range from 10, 15, 20, and 30 years and the rates do not change during this time.  Also, there is no penalty for cancelling the policy early.

Whole Life-Universal Life
Whole life insurance is a policy that remains in effect for the policy holder�s entire life. Generally speaking, the policy will remain active as long as the owner continues to pay the policy premiums.  Due to the cost, this type of policy is more optimal for estate planning and for other instances where permanent coverage is needed.

No-Exam Life Insurance
Life insurance that does not require a health exam is going to cost you a lot more than if you did the exam.  This type of policy is ideal for someone who doesn�t have the time to do the medical exam and doesn�t mind paying the extra premiums.  These clients typically need a policy in a hurry to cover a divorcee decree or they may be worried about doing the physical.  Also, do not mistake no-exam life insurance for no-underwriting.  The underwriting on a no-exam policy is very strict and not as favorable as if you did the health exam.

Accidental Death
Accidental death policies only pay out the death benefit you if you die as result of an accident. Typical classifications of accidents include but are not limited to: auto accidents, poisonings, falls, fires and chocking. Deaths from natural causes such as heart disease, cancer and old age are not covered under an accidental death policy.  This type of policy is good if you are traveling, have a dangerous occupation, and have medical problems that will exclude you from getting traditional life insurance.  It�s typically cheaper than term life since the policy only covers accidental deaths.

Wrap Up
Since life insurance is going to be one of the most important financial purchases you ever make to protect your loved ones, choosing the right policy is paramount.  Don�t let an overzealous agent talk you into buying a policy that you don�t need just so he can receive a larger commission.  Work with an experienced agent that will have you and your family�s best interest at heart.

best life insurance policy for child, best life insurance policy for seniors, best life insurance policy in the world, best life insurance policy 2013, best life insurance policy in lic, best life insurance policy for children, best life insurance policy for a woman, best life insurance policy for 30 year old

Understanding Auto Insurance Basics- What You Need to Know

Buying auto insurance is critical task unless you know the basics of auto insurance; otherwise you have to end up unnecessary costs and expe...