Lithium Battery Fires: How to Spot the Warning Signs
As our portable electronic devices continue to get thinner and lighter, manufacturers have had to figure out ways to store a lot of energy in a small package. And advancements in lithium batteries have allowed them to do just that. But as use of lithium batteries has become widespread in devices like laptops and smartphones, […]
How to Leave a Legacy through Life Insurance
Your legacy – what will it be, and how will you be remembered when you pass? A guaranteed death benefit provides financial support when your loved ones need it most. The policy benefits can be used to buy property, provide for the family, pay for college tuition, trips, or whatever your loved ones choose, but one thing you can count on – the legacy you leave with life insurance will be appreciated as an act of love. The income from a life insurance policy is usually tax-free, liquid, and not subject to a lengthy probate.
These policies are customized to match the needs of the individual. The death benefit paid through life insurance can provide for your loved ones in a manner that the rest of your estate cannot. Life insurance death benefits are generally not taxed and paid rapidly. The rest of your estate may need to go through probate, which can take months or years for larger, more complex estates. Your life insurance death benefit allows your loved ones to continue to be financially secure when you pass away.
A Legacy for Your Favorite Charitable Organization
Giving back to your religious institution or charity can allow your legacy to live on. This process may involve naming a trust as the beneficiary of your policy with instructions to pay a predetermined amount of the benefit to the charity of your choice.
A Scholarship as a Your Legacy
You may want to establish a scholarship for an educational institution you believe in, or your alma mater. These scholarships benefit worthy students who show promise but cannot afford the cost of tuition. A scholarship can be set up in several ways, but typically requires a donation of at least $25,000, which is added to the school’s scholarship fund. A life insurance policy is an ideal way to establish a scholarship as a legacy.
Create a Park or Child’s Playground as Your Legacy
A life insurance policy can be purchased to benefit your city or town, to establish or rebuild a park or playground. City funds are always in high demand, and the parks and child playgrounds may be in disrepair, or there are simply not enough. Your life insurance policy death benefit can go to a trust that allocates the money needed to create a more aesthetic environment where children can play safely in your city or town.
Your Loved Ones
You don’t need to be a wealthy individual to leave a legacy to your loved ones. The earlier in life you purchase life insurance, the lower the premiums. If you are a parent with young children and in good health, putting a life insurance policy in place is a crucial aspect of your financial planning. Should a sudden accident occur, your loved ones will not suffer a financial disaster but will have the wherewithal they need? A portion of the life insurance policy can be used to pay any taxes owing on your estate, so your loved ones are not forced to sell their home or property to cover a final tax bill.
Is it time to put a life insurance policy in place? Our local agents can help you find the ideal legacy life insurance policy to suit your budget and wishes.
7 Mistakes Small Business Owners Make When Filing Claims
As a small business owner, you have consistently paid your insurance premiums. When the time comes to file a claim, it can be a shock to have your claim denied and be forced to pay out of pocket – especially when you believed you were covered. Our local Virginia agents at Bill Meador Insurance Agency are here to highlight the most common mistakes small business owners make:
Failed to Understand Covered Perils
Insurance policies cover specific “perils” only. Business owners may believe they are covered when a facility is damaged by flood, fire, earthquakes or other natural disasters – but this may not prove to be true. You need to know what your policy covers and understanding the small print is not easy. Talk to an insurance agent and ensure you fully understand what is covered, and what is not, and put a policy in place to fill the gaps.
Failing to File a Claim Quickly
If you wait too long to file a claim, it makes the entire process far more difficult and can lead to having a claim denied. Rather than attempting to repair your restaurant, call your insurance provider so an adjuster is dispatched to your facility as quickly as possible after the event.
Failing to Fully Document the Damage
Ensure you take pictures and videos of every area that was damaged. The details of damaged equipment, inventory, or goods must be very thorough. Keep a log of your conversations with your insurance company, and copies of any correspondence. Your insurance company is far more likely to pay what you deserve under the terms of your policy when the losses are thoroughly documented.
Discarding Damaged Goods
If you throw away the damaged goods, you may lose the ability to recover compensation for the loss. You have taken images and video but must retain the damaged goods so that the insurance company can confirm the losses.
Admitting Fault
You may believe you are at fault in some way if someone was injured on your property. Never admit fault as this could cause your insurance company to deny your claim. Allow the investigation into what happened to proceed without admitting fault.
Failing to Cooperate with your Insurer
Your policy will state that you must cooperate in the investigation into what occurred. When they ask for documentation, you need to be prepared to send it to them in a timely manner, including video, pictures, and receipts. If you wait or fail to send this information, your claim may be denied, or it will take far longer for any claim payment to arrive.
Paying Claims Out of Pocket
If a customer slips and falls and is injured on your property, you may feel inclined to pay their medical bills – a mistake. Your insurance policy will not reimburse you when you try to recover the cost. Many policies bar policyholders from making these payments, and if you do, your claim could be denied.
Your Business Insurance
You need to understand your business coverage, and our friendly, local Virginia agents at Bill Meador Insurance Agency can review your policies to ensure you have the coverage you need, at the lowest rates possible. Contact us today at (540) 904-7833.
6 Tips to Prepare for Power Outages
We rely on electricity to stay warm, keep our homes illuminated, cook, heat or pump water, and to keep us entertained on our TVs and other devices. A power outage can be a short-term annoyance or last for days. It is worthwhile, with weather systems changing, to have a plan in place, so your family stays safe in a lengthy power outage.
Keep a Supply of Ready-to-Eat Food and Drink on Hand
The last thing you need is to run out of food and drink during a power outage. Have a supply of canned foods, protein bars, dried fruit, peanut or other nut butters, canned juices, cereal and non-perishable milk or non-dairy milk, and plenty of water in your home that you are prepared.
Create an Emergency Kit
Every home should have an emergency kit that is fully equipped with everything you may need if a lengthy power outage occurs. Supply it with a first aid kit, water purifying tablets, flashlights, space blankets, a battery-operated radio, batteries, a battery-operated cell phone charger, and extra prescription medications that may be needed in an emergency.
Equip Your Home with a Safe Power Generator if Possible
You can keep your basic home systems functioning if you have a home generator, but ensure it is out-of-doors and if it is a gas generator, so no exhaust fumes enter your home. If a gas generator, keep a safe supply of fuel in an area inaccessible to children and away from any source of heat.
Check on Your Neighbors
It is important that you help your neighbors, should they need it, particularly the elderly. Check on them and provide any help needed, such as contacting their relatives, providing food, or other assistance. When a long-term power outage occurs, the community needs to pull together.
Stay Together
Keep your family together if you plan to venture out. Losing track of a family member can be dangerous and extremely stressful. If your home is cold due to a power outage, staying close together will also help you stay warm.
Surviving a Heatwave
A power outage during a heatwave is particularly dangerous for everyone, particularly the elderly and babies. Prepare to leave your home if needed. Keep ice in your freezer and an ice chest so that if the power is out, some foods and critical medications can be kept cold. Apply bags of cold ice and water to the neck, head, and other body areas, and drink plenty of water. Find a local cooling station if possible. Keep your vehicle full of gas, rather than running it down to empty, as if a power outage occurs, you will be unable to fill it.
Power Outages and Your Insurance Coverage
Your insurance coverage can become an important matter if your home has been damaged due to a fire, flood, earthquake, storm, or other natural disasters. It is important that you understand the coverage you have, and that you and your family are protected in the event of a disaster that leads to a power outage or other challenging situation. Contact our local agency to speak with one of our team. We are happy to look over your policies and ensure you have everything you need to protect your home and family at the lowest rates.
7 New Year’s Resolutions for Business Owners
Walk 10,000 steps each day. Read a new book each month. Learn how to play the flugelhorn. The sky’s the limit when creating your list of New Year’s resolutions. But while you ponder the merits of your next personal goal, there’s another area of your life that could benefit from a little introspection at the […]
Business Owners: 4 Trends to Watch in 2022
Each new year brings its own unique set of opportunities and challenges for small business owners. And 2022 is no exception. From shifting consumer shopping habits and government regulations to emerging technologies and the continued effects of the pandemic, it’s enough to make any small business owner take a moment to seriously consider what’s coming […]
5 Reasons to Insure Your Business Through a Local Agent
Nearly every company is leveraging technology and automation to make transactions more convenient. But as a business owner, you probably know there are some purchases where it still pays to work with a real-live person – one you can meet face-to-face. And business insurance is one of them. With so many ways to buy insurance […]
Give the Gift of Life Insurance this Holiday Season
The holidays are coming, and you may be wondering what to give your children or grandchildren. Life insurance can be the ideal gift. When purchased for a younger person, the cost of premiums is far lower. Whole Life insurance has the benefit of being an asset that can be borrowed against, provide tax benefits, and financial security.
Buying an Insurance Policy for a Child
Purchasing an insurance policy for a child under eighteen is a terrific way to lock in low premiums when a child is healthy and will help ensure they qualify for life insurance later, even if a health condition develops. You will need to pay the premiums for the child until they enter the workforce, or you can continue to pay the premiums. Once the child reaches adulthood, you can transfer ownership of the insurance policy to them. The cash value of the policy can help the person pay for college or afford a down payment on a first home.
Buying Insurance for an Adult Child
If your child is already an adult, buying them the gift of a life insurance policy can help them gain more financial security if the unexpected occurs. The death of a father, mother, husband, or wife can leave the family struggling to survive. That is when life insurance is particularly meaningful, as the benefits are issued rapidly and will be needed, particularly if the estate must go through probate or a large final tax bill is owed.
How to Buy Life Insurance as a Gift
To purchase a life insurance policy for another person, you must have what is termed an “insurable interest” in that person. This is the basis for the purchase of all life insurance policies. A family member may suffer financial stress when a family member dies or is incapacitated. The policy cannot be written without the knowledge of the insured, or in the case of children, the parents. Purchasing life insurance for a young person can provide many significant benefits.
Giving to Your Charity: A Holiday Life Insurance Gift
You can purchase a life insurance policy to benefit your favorite charity or religious institution. Upon your death, the benefits from the insurance policy flow to the charity, providing much needed – and appreciated – financial support to the group. While you are living, you remain the policy owner and pay the premiums, and name the charity of your choice as the beneficiary. You can also name more than one beneficiary, so the death benefits go to more than one person or charity. This strategy can provide some tax advantages as well.
Gifting a Life Insurance Policy
When considering what to purchase for your loved ones for the holidays, a life insurance policy may not be top of mind – but these gifts are appreciated. The best policies are whole life policies, as they build a cash value over time, and become an asset that can be borrowed against by the owner. Should the covered person pass away, the cash benefit is paid without incurring any tax liability.
Need Help?
If you need help buying an insurance policy as a gift, our friendly local agents can explain your options, and find the policy that will work best for you and your budget, and provide the best benefits to your loved ones or the charity of your choice.
How to Choose the Right Restaurant Insurance
If you own a restaurant, you know the importance of carrying the right insurance to protect your investment. It can be challenging to choose the best possible business insurance policy for your restaurant, and we are here to help. Read these tips about restaurant insurance to help avoid a financial disaster if something goes wrong.
Risk Factors Specific to the Restaurant Business
A restaurant has several risks specific to the industry. These include the risk of patrons becoming ill after eating at a restaurant, the risk of employee theft, the costs associated with expensive damage to appliances, or fire. All potential risks must be covered in your business insurance policy and other additional policies when needed.
Types of Business Insurance for Restaurants
Several types of policies should be in place to provide the best protection for your restaurant:
- General Liability Insurance: This insurance (often called business liability insurance) protects your business should a patron or employee be injured, or their property damaged while at your facility. This insurance pays for the legal costs of defending against a lawsuit, medical expenses for any person who is injured on your property, and for judgments and settlements, up to specific limits.
- Liquor Liability Insurance: If you serve alcoholic beverages, ensuring your restaurant is covered should a guest injure another person, your restaurant could be named in a lawsuit. This coverage protects against this eventuality.
- Commercial Property Insurance: This type of restaurant insurance can be a lifesaver. The insurance covers the costs related to fire damage to your facility or equipment, or the cost of replacing stolen items.
- Business Interruption Insurance: This coverage protects against external factors that impact your ability to do business. When a covered peril leads to the need to close your restaurant for a period, this insurance covers direct physical loss or damage.
- Food Contamination Insurance: This insurance, often called “food poisoning insurance” protects you should a patron become ill after eating at your restaurant. Whether the problem occurred due to contaminated ingredients from a vendor or some error in your restaurant, you will be covered.
- Auto Liability Insurance: If you deliver food and use a driver from your restaurant, you must have auto liability insurance to ensure you do not face a financial disaster if the driver gets into an injury accident.
- Machinery Breakdown Insurance: Restaurant equipment is costly, and so are equipment breakdowns – you may be forced to shutter your restaurant when equipment fails. Machinery breakdown insurance covers the cost of machinery repair or replacement. This insurance should cover the cost of replacing perishable goods destroyed when a freezer or refrigeration unit fails.
When You Need Help, Call Us.
Some insurance policies are “bundled,” providing a combination of coverages. When you need to understand the fine print, not overpay when you don’t need to, and ensure you have the best coverage for the lowest price, contact our local team of agents. We will review your existing policies and search out the most affordable options with the best coverage to help you keep your bottom line reasonable.
Tips to Keep Your Pets Safe This Holiday Season
The holidays are an exciting time for get-togethers, gifts and delicious food. While most people are up for the festivities your pet might feel differently. Extra noise and visitors can leave pets feeling stressed. Food and decorations can present hazards, too. Here’s what to you need to know to keep pets safe this holiday season. Food […]