Blog

This blog was written by Lisa Miller and describes her experiences in becoming a young insurance agent.

Overwhelming is the best word I can think of to describe my first several months in the insurance industry. It was a tornado of new terms, abbreviations, and acronyms that I had never heard and had no idea what they meant. Similar to realizing you have walked into the wrong college lecture once it is too late to get up and leave, you pretend to know what everyone is talking about and hope someone reveals the answers along the way.

I started in insurance working for an independent agency about 9 months after graduating from college. I was 22, the baby of the office. This job was the first time that I was working with and interacting with people in a professional capacity that were 20, 30, and 40 years my senior. One of the most challenging things to adjust to in my new job was building the confidence to take real ownership of the tasks I was doing. Taking the mental leap from feeling like I was still “sitting at the kids table” to being confident in my abilities, analysis, and actions was difficult. This came from not only day to day experience of working, but also from the infinite amounts of educational resources that were at my fingertips. The learning potential within the insurance industry is in my opinion one of its greatest assets and benefits to people working in the industry. There will never be a point in time that there is nothing left to learn. The constant changes and new developments of both policy and regulations provide a constant need to never stop learning. This is the best way to keep your mind flexible and able to “go with the flow” as things are rapidly changing.

The majority of young people entering the workforce, like myself, have just recently finished school, whether that is college, trade school, or high school. The capacity to learn and absorb new information easily is still high. This ability to switch gears quickly and learn on the go is so beneficial when entering a fast paced workplace, somewhere that you really do learn something new every day. I believe that this really gives an advantage to young people entering the industry. Insurance needs more fast paced, forward thinkers that can change and shape the industry to match the pace of how our world is changing. So many other career fields are packed with innovators and thinkers that are “bright eyed and bushy tailed” about the future of our world and the rapid changes to our daily lives. The insurance industry is notoriously one step behind these changes. Even things that are so seamlessly part of our everyday lives like ride sharing services and smart homes that can be controlled from your cell phone are not so easy to properly protect. Insurance products and regulation need to be developed at the same pace of these new inventions.

One of the top three agency management systems is paper. As in a file cabinet filled with folders on each customer. I truly cannot imagine how working this way could be efficient. Today we all expect instant gratification, whether that’s a YouTube video that loads in .4 seconds, meals prepared and out the window in our car in 3 minutes, or getting an insurance policy issued and paid for and proof of insurance in 15 minutes. There is a huge opportunity here for offices to be completely revolutionized just by going digital. Tech savvy individuals will be able to quickly progress into important roles that can lead companies into the future, and incidentally provide better service to consumers just by being more accessible. Aside from just staying ahead of the game as far as creating new insurance products such as the increasingly popular and necessary cyber liability, there is room for technological advances as well.

There is a huge need for more and more young professionals to enter the insurance industry, and big opportunities in every single facet of the industry for those who have a thirst for knowledge and a desire to be one step ahead. One of the biggest eye openers for me is how diverse the insurance industry is as far as the scope of career options. Of course there are the customer service and sales roles of actually delivering the product to consumers, but it seems like every day I learn of more and more career paths in the industry. People that love numbers can find a home in an actuarial setting, analyzing past data and predicting future trends. Marketers can present insurance to the masses in a way that is easy to understand and help people make informed decisions about their protection. People with legal interest can join claims teams as claim investigators and legal consultants for insurance companies. Graphic designers and web developers can create easy to use websites and systems to be used by both companies and consumers. The number of career paths you can take is endless. The best way to attract new young professionals into the insurance industry is to really showcase and open up all the different options as far as careers within the industry.

Are Home Based Businesses Properly Covered on a Homeowners Insurance Policy?

Minding your own business is a key task for more than 17 million people in North America. That’s the number of self-employed across the US and Canada.

Increasingly, many of them choose to work from home.  Millions more have outside employment but still have the option of working from home for some or all of the time.

But what many home workers — self-employed or not — don’t realize is that they’re in the middle of a minefield of risks

Often, they’re mistaken in thinking homeowners’ insurance covers them for business risks like liability or property loss, just because they happen to be in their homes. In most cases, it does not.

Or they may not be tuned in to additional risks that flow from their business, like, say libel, malpractice, faulty products, and errors in published material.

Even if you’re not in business for yourself or don’t work from home for someone else, you almost certainly know other people who do, so I thought it might be helpful to jot down some of the key issues.

For Instance:

1. If you’re employed by someone else, it’s vital to check your insurance protection with them.
2. If clients (or even the UPS guy) visit you on business, or you hold their property in your home, you may be especially at risk of massive losses either through liability for injuries or property damage.
3. If you store data about other people or businesses in your home, you may be vulnerable to hacking or other security breaches that could land you with a liability lawsuit.
4. Your car may not be insured for business use (Check you Auto Insurance)
5. If you rely on your business as your main source of income, are you protected if you’re suddenly unable to work?

Fortunately, there are several solutions that protect against most of these risks, from riders on existing homeowners’ insurance or renters’ insurance policies through protection for risks associated with specific business activities, to a general all-purpose home business insurance program.

According to the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America, sixty percent of home-based business people are believed to be inadequately insured.  If you’re one of them, or you know someone who is, please get in touch so we can explore what can be done.

For more information on Home Based Business Insurance check out our website .

Huff Insurance is a full service Independent Insurance Agent We have been dedicated to Protecting Lifestyles™ since 1960. We offer a full array of Personal Insurance, Commercial Insurance and Life Insurance & Health Insurance products. Call us at 410-647-111

Are you looking into hiring a subcontractor for your business?

There are plenty of advantages with hiring subcontractors for your business. The most important thing to think about is who the individual is and how he or she will represent the company name. When customers complain, they will likely name the company and not the individual subcontractor. In addition to this, the contractor is responsible for everything the subcontractor does. This is why it is so important to hire individuals who are capable, professional and responsible. Many times the customer does not realize that you have hired a subcontractor; so therefore, they think that the subcontractor is you. You want to make sure that the quality of this person’s work, their attitude and ethics are inline with your business.

Before Hiring

Ask yourself if they truly will be a subcontractor. The first thing you need to analyze is if the person you are hiring is truly a subcontractor, or could the be classified as an employee?  You can check out our blog titled
Is Your Subcontractor Truly a Subcontractor? to help you determine this important distinction.

Ask to see proof of insurance. Have the subcontractor’s insurance agent provide a certificate of insurance. If a project will last more than one year, make note of the policy’s expiration date. When that date arrives, ask to see the new certificate of insurance to ensure the subcontractor is keeping the insurance policy active. Make sure the individual is insured for workman’s compensation insurancee and Business Liability Insurance. The subcontractor’s staff should also be properly insured.   Think about how you would handle if your subcontractor is then hiring subcontractors.  Who is responsible to make sure that these subcontractors are also properly insured and licensed?

Verify degree or certification program completion. It is important to hire a subcontractor who has been properly trained. Ask to see a degree or certification. The individual should also have a minimum of four years of experience working as a foreman

Ensure the individual is licensed. Each state has its own rules for licensing and verification, so be sure to use individual state procedures and check local laws. If the subcontractor has additional staff working on the project, they should also be insured. Also; verify that they are properly licensed and that corporations are properly registered with the state and corporations are active.

Ask for references. Ask for a minimum of three current references that can be contacted directly. It is also helpful to ask to see samples of the subcontractor’s previous work. Don’t rely on pictures on their website, may contractors use stock pictures on their website rather than pictures of their actual work.

Make a written contract. This document should include what the contractor expects of the subcontractor and his or her staff. It should include a rate of pay, who will be responsible for mistakes and who is responsible for other various tasks. It is also important to make sure the subcontractor is willing to make repairs or changes after the job is finished.  It is always a good idea to have an attorney design the contract and review any contract that you sign.

Tour the site together. When doing this, make sure the subcontractor knows what must be done. The subcontractor should also understand how to get the job done and who is in charge of various tasks and the timeline that the work needs to be completed. When the job starts, there should be no guesswork involved.

Make communication a priority. The individual should be easy to contact and talk to. Communication should be good on both ends, so it is important that the subcontractor and contractor get along well.

During A Project

Keep communication lines with customers open. It is important that customers bring their concerns and questions directly to the contractor. Take necessary steps to make the customer feel that his or her input is highly valued. Messages can get lost in the network if they are passed along to the subcontractor and his or her crew, so make sure the customer has all current contact information.

Make a file for subcontractors. Keep track of all conversations and transactions. This includes emails, notes, calls, face-to-face conversations, licenses, certificates and any receipts. Make sure that documentation is done at the time of the conversation, not done at later times.

After Project Completion

Do a final inspection. Walk through the construction site to make sure the job has been completed in a satisfactory manner. Bring a checklist with items that can be marked off as they are verified. Make note of any repairs or changes that must be completed.

Make sure the agreement has been upheld. It is important to make sure all the terms of the contract have been met. Subcontractors’ actions and work should comply with every detail in the agreement. The project is officially over when the terms have been met and the contractor is satisfied.

Are you going to be working with subcontractors there maybe a charge on your insurance coverage for using subcontractors, so please make sure that you contact your trusted choice independent insurance agent.

Huff Insurance is a full service Independent Insurance Agent We have been dedicated to Protecting Lifestyles™ since 1960. We offer a full array of Personal Insurance, Commercial Insurance and Life Insurance & Health Insurance products. Call us at 410-647-111

 

Subcontractor or Employee?

The term “subcontractor” gets thrown around a lot in your industry, however based on IRS, Workers Compensation and General Liability Insurance policy definitions these people are not really subcontractors.  Are you using subcontractors to do work for you that employees would normally do or are you using subcontractors because they have specific skills or licenses that you do not have for a specific job?   The answer to this question is very important in determining your exposure.

If you use uninsured subcontractors, you are facing the probability of the following occurring:

• There may not be any coverage under your liability insurance policy for the negligence or liability of the subcontractor
• You maybe held responsible for the injuries to the subcontractor and/or their employees if they are injured while working for you at a job site
• Possibly that the subcontractors will be picked up on your audit as employees causing you a large additional premium.

Anytime that you use a subcontractor the following should be required;

• Subcontractor Agreement signed by parties, stating the scope of the operation, what exactly is to be done and the requirements of the subcontractor.

• Certificates of insurance should be maintained on all subcontractors and should be updated annually at a minimum, but preferably at the beginning of each new job

• Subcontractors should be required to provide their independent contractors business license and it should be kept on file

• Even when you have subcontractors that you are subcontracting to and have certificates many times there will still be a charge on your liability insurance for the subcontractor.   The reason is because if the subcontractor is negligent you will still be sued and if their coverage is not sufficient you would then potentially have excess coverage under your policy.

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, the individual contract laborer in question, is most likely an employee.***

• Is the person paid by piece, hour, day or week?
• Does the person perform work that regular employees of your business perform?
• Is all or a majority of the work that is the general nature of your business, performed by contract labor?
• Do you provide the material for the jobs?
• What does the subcontract specify?
• Do you tell them when to work?

In all cases, if the individual/contractors (without worker’s compensation insurance coverage) in question, hires labor to help perform work, the individual would be consider as an uninsured contractor and the amounts they were paid would rightfully be included with payroll/wagers on your audit, and you maybe held responsible by the workers compensation commission to provide them workers compensation coverage if there would be a claim.

*** This is not an all inclusive list; please consult your accountant and/or attorney in determining if a subcontractor is really an employee or not according to IRS and the workers compensation commission

If you use independent contractors you need to beware of the new laws for Maryland was effective October 1, 2009!

SB 909 amended the Labor and Employment Article.  This bill creates a presumption in the workers compensation law that an individual in the service of an employer is an employee and not an independent contractor. As a result, the burden will now be on the employer to prove that a worker is, in fact, an independent contractor (free of the employer’s control, paid other than hourly, not provided tools or materials, etc).

If your subcontractors do the following:

• Are doing work that would normally be done by employees
• You provide them with their equipment
• You have the right to hire/fire them
• You tell them HOW the work needs to be done
• You provide them with the jobs to do each day

Then they are not subcontractors they are employees and you do need to provide workers compensation coverage for them. 

You need to hold your subcontractors to the same standard that you are being held to by your contracts.   If you are using subcontractors then please call us to discuss.  We can tell you the charge on your liability insurance and workers compensation insurance coverage.  Call Huff Insurance 410-647-1111.

Huff Insurance is a full service Independent Insurance Agent We have been dedicated to Protecting Lifestyles™ since 1960. We offer a full array of Personal Insurance, Commercial Insurance and Life Insurance & Health Insurance products. Call us at 410-647-111

What Is Insurance?

Insurance, as a means of protecting a person’s interests against loss or damage has been used for at least 5,000 years — originally by traders seeking to protect their sea-going cargoes — but the first real policies, in the way we think of them today, came into being in the 17th Century.

The first true insurance company was founded in the wake of the Great Fire of London in 1666. And, in a way, that tells us something about the way some people look at insurance: they don’t worry or think about it until something awful happens and, by then of course, it’s usually too late. Insurance, after all, is about pooling your money with lots of other people so that, if things do go wrong, you can recover what you lost or pay for particular health services like healthcare without it costing you a fortune. You can’t do that after that fact!

Naturally, you, and we, hope disaster never strikes. But if it doesn’t, you should never think of that premium money as having been wasted; that wasn’t the reason you were paying in the first place. In a sense, you are buying security and peace of mind based on the fact that none of us knows what awaits us around the corner.

10 Key Benefits

When you take out an insurance policy, depending on the risk you are covering, some of the benefits you might gain include:

• You reduce or eliminate the risk of facing sudden, major expense if you, your family or your property suffer a misfortune.
• You have the funds to meet the costs of any liability claims made against you, when you get blamed for someone else’s misfortune.
• You create security for yourself and your family in the event that you lose your earning power through job loss or disability.
• You provide financial security for your family in the event of your death.
• You are covered if someone else who isn’t insured injures you or damages your property.
• You have the best chance of quickly recovering your lifestyle after damage to your property, with someone taking care of you while restoration or replacement is under way.
• You improve your credit-worthiness by being recognized as a responsible citizen, and may even be able to raise funds on the security of a policy.
• If you’re in business, you can insure against risks that otherwise might not allow you to compete against bigger, financially stronger contenders.
• You can protect yourself against the damage caused by some of the modern financial crimes, which are otherwise difficult for you to understand and assess – like identity theft.
• By contributing to insurance companies you are sharing in the cost of researching ways to improve our lives, making them safer and reducing risks.

Different Types Of Insurance Coverage

These days you can insure against almost any risk and uncertainty you’re likely to encounter in everyday life. Here are the main types of coverage you might consider for yourself:

Life Insurance: There are two main types – permanent policies that pay out whenever the insured person dies and term policies that pay if death occurs within a specified period (usually 10 or 15 years). Because the first type is a guaranteed payment, coverage obviously costs more. But premiums of both types of policy depend on your age when you take it out, your gender (women live longer than men) and your general health.

Homeowners’ Insurance and Renters’ Insurance: There is a huge variety of insurance policies you can take out to cover risks associated with your home. Obviously, if you own your home, you want to insure the buildings against loss, as well as the contents. But if someone else owns the place, your interest is in protecting your possessions rather than the structure. That’s the key difference between homeowners’ and renters’ insurance coverage.

A standard homeowners’ insurance policy covers you against losses caused, for example, by fire, storm or theft but, usually, not earthquakes or natural flooding, for which you need separate coverage. They also cover liability for injuries or damage you cause to others and may provide living expenses while your home is being repaired or rebuilt.

When taking out a policy to cover contents, it’s worth taking a quick inventory of your possessions. Also make a note of serial numbers of electronics items and take photographs in each room, which will help jog your memory in the event that you have to make a claim. As a rough guide, cover for possessions usually works out around half the value of your structural coverage.

Auto Insurance and Other Vehicles: Auto insurance is a legal requirement for most vehicles and in most circumstances. Rates vary greatly according to factors like the age of the insured and their driving record, location and, of course, type of vehicle.  A basic policy covers you for injuries to you and anyone injured in an accident and vehicle damage or theft. You’re also normally covered when driving a vehicle you don’t own (as long as you have permission) and for injury or loss caused by another driver who’s not insured. Special policies are available for owners of RVs and motorcyclists.

Medical Insurance, Disability Insurance and Long Term Care Insurance: Most policies, whether employer-provided or self-purchased, pay for health treatment, less any deductible or co-pay stipulated by the policy. High deductibles — sometimes for the first $10,000 of costs — substantially reduce premiums because they only kick in for what’s normally regarded as catastrophic cover. You can also get cheaper policies that exclude certain categories of treatment.  Another lower-cost option type of policy, known as HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations), permits you to select your primary care physician but requires a referral from that physician before you can see a specialist. More flexible but slightly more costly are PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) policies that allow you to choose who you see for most types of medical attention.

Coverage for disability requires a separate policy. Its basic aim is to maintain a level of income if you become unable to work. For work-related injuries, you may be entitled to mandatory Workers’ Compensation Benefits, but for injuries off the job, you possibly need to arrange your own coverage (though a few firms also pay for this).

Long Term Care policies provide assistance or accommodation when a policyholder is unable to perform, without help, two or more of what are called Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) – eating, bathing, toileting, getting in and out of a bed or chair, continence and dressing. Depending on the policy, you may be covered for care in a nursing home, an assisted living facility, or in a day care center or even at home. And the cover may be for a specific period or indefinite. You can choose when you take out a policy.

Insurance for Business: Coverage starts with a Business Owners’ Policy (BOP) which usually protects property for risks similar to those of homeowners, disruption caused by an accident, and liability for injuries or damage your employees cause to others.  Depending on the nature and size of your business, you may also need professional liability coverage, a commercial auto policy or Workers’ Compensation Insurance. Other options include Key Person Insurance, which covers you against the loss of a person on whom a business is heavily dependent.

Do You Need It and Is It Worth It?

Obviously, in our opinion the answer is undoubtedly “YES”. Here are just a few of the reasons why:

• An average of more than one in every hundred homes suffers serious damage each year mostly caused by fire and weather events.
• Earthquakes have hit 39 states since 1900 and caused damage in all 50 states.
• Almost one half of all people in the second half of their working lives will suffer a disability lasting more than 90 days before reaching retirement age.
• Most people who reach retirement age will need some level of Long Term Care in their later lives – 58% of men and 79% of women.
• More than two million homes are burglarized every year, and more than a million cars are stolen
• The cost of medical care is rising considerably faster than the rate of inflation. Thousands of people die every year because they don’t have insurance cover.

Can I Cut My Insurance Costs?

Again, almost certainly “YES”, if you haven’t already consulted us about how to do this. For example, higher deductibles will reduce premiums. With some auto insurance policies, age, mileage and driving record can be used to lower premiums, while certain homeowners’ insurance policy providers will take account of security systems you’ve installed when considering a lower premium. Sometimes, you may also earn discounts by having more than one policy from the same insurer.

Certainly, it always makes sense to keep your insurance coverage under review, to take account of your changing needs and circumstances.

For all of the reasons outlined in this report, you may want to contact us to arrange a chat. We may be able to save you money or suggest different types of coverage to that which you already have. Perhaps we won’t be able to do either of these things because you already have the best, lowest-cost policies in place. In which case, we’ll be able to give you the peace of mind of know it!

Huff Insurance is a full service Independent Insurance Agent We have been dedicated to Protecting Lifestyles™ since 1960. We offer a full array of Personal Insurance, Commercial Insurance and Life Insurance & Health Insurance products. Call us at 410-647-111

How to protect yourself and your family if you get hurt

What to do BEFORE it happens.

What you’ll discover in this blog:

§  How to protect your income if you get hurt…

§  Surprising statistics on how commonly “average” people suffer an income- stopping disability…

§  Why some kinds of so-called disability insurance are not enough…

§  How much to buy…how much not to buy

§  Insurance jargon demystified…and much, much more!

People commonly think about insurance for their possessions. But what about you? What if you get sick, injured or even die? How do you protect yourself and your family in these instances?

Remember, insurance is a game of “What if?” So ask yourself these questions:

• What happens if you suffer a serious illness or injury that results in major medical bills and significant lost work time?
• How do you and your family pay expenses if you are unable to work for an extended period of time?

These are obviously not pleasant thoughts, but remember that “What if?” is a game about worst-case scenarios.

Disability Insurance

It seems like something that doesn’t happen very often. You suffer an illness or injury that prevents you from working for an extended period of time — six months, a year, even five years. Sounds rare doesn’t it?  It’s not.

* Fact.  On average, you have a one in five chance of becoming disabled between the ages of 35 and 65. You have a one in seven chance of becoming disabled for at least five years before you turn 65. If you are 30, you have a one in three chance of incurring a long-term (at least 90 days) disability before you turn 60. At age 40, the odds are three in 10. At 50, it’s less than one in five.

You actually have a far greater chance of becoming disabled during your working career than you do of dying. The chances of disability vs. death are more than six times greater for younger workers. Yet far more Americans buy life insurance than they do a policy that can replace income lost because of a disability.

Disability Insurance Coverage: Lots of Options, How to Choose…

Disability insurance can replace some or nearly all of any income you might lose because you are very sick or badly injured. That sounds simple enough, but there are many types of disability insurance. Some of it is available to all of us:

• Social Security — If you are basically unable to perform any job duties at all, you probably are eligible for disability payments from Social Security. But such payments are not very high and won’t replace most of your lost income.

* Fact.  Further, 58% of all applicants for disability benefits are initially denied by Social Security. In addition, you are eligible for benefits only after you have been disabled for five months and if the disability is expected to last at least a year. Finally, any benefits you receive from Social Security are taxable.

• Workers’ Compensation Insurance — If you are injured or become sick on the job, you are eligible for benefits under your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance, which all businesses must have. However, the benefits you receive vary from state to state and on the level of your disability. In addition, the benefits are relatively low and won’t adequately replace income for those who earn mid- to high-range salaries. Again, the injury or illness must be job-related, or substantially job-related.

• Disability Insurance Coverage Through Your Work — Many larger businesses offer disability insurance at somewhat reduced rates to their employees as part of a benefits package. However, these so-called group disability plans likely will have limits on the income they will replace (say no more than 60% of your salary) and have limitations on the time such benefits will be paid. Further, the benefits are taxable, and the coverage cannot be taken with you if you change jobs.

Personal Disability Insurance

The other option for disability coverage, one more and more Americans are taking, is buying your own disability insurance policy. Disability coverage is similar to auto insurance in that you can buy a lot of it or just a little. How much do you need? In general, it is recommended that you have enough to replace about 60% to 70% of your pretax income.

* Note.  If your salary were $5,000 a month, you would need about $3,000 to $3,500 in benefit payments a month from your disability policy. But there are a lot of factors to consider. You should consult with someone experienced in selling disability insurance to determine how much coverage you need.

There are numerous options for coverage in terms of when it is available. You can buy disability insurance that pays benefits for just a few months (short-term disability or STD). Or you can buy coverage for many years or even as long as you live (long-term disability or LTD).

* Tip.  Generally, though, disability insurance is best used for longer terms. Buying short-term disability only is equivalent to purchasing auto insurance for just fender-benders. It makes much more sense to insure against a big (long-term) loss in income.

Disability insurance comes with a waiting, or elimination, period. That’s the time between when the injury or illness occurs and when the benefit payments start coming. For LTD, the waiting period ranges from 60 to 180 days. The shorter the waiting period, the more the policy will cost.

Huff Insurance is a full service Independent Insurance Agent We have been dedicated to Protecting Lifestyles™ since 1960. We offer a full array of Personal Insurance, Commercial Insurance and Life Insurance & Health Insurance products. Call us at 410-647-111

Identity Theft, It Can Happen To Anyone

Just Imagine that you pull up to the drive thru window at you bank and find out from the teller that your account is overdrawn. Or maybe you receive a credit card statement with numerous charges you know you didn’t make. Or, worse still, your loan application is denied because your credit score which, up to 3 months ago was perfect is now in the high risk category. You feel blind-sided and frustrated. You are a victim of identity theft.

Even if you think you’ve taken the necessary precautions to safeguard your identity and personal information you could be at risk!

Identity theft is when someone obtains personal or financial information about you with the intent to commit fraud. The scariest part is that everyone is at risk. Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security just because you think no one would want your personal information or that you are not in a high risk group.

In 2003 over 300,000 people in the United States had their identities or personal information stolen. And that number has increased steadily every year. Some sources report that identity fraud or theft has cost companies and individuals $50 billion in the past 5 years. It is estimated that one in six people will have their personal information stolen this year. These are scary numbers and need to be taken seriously.  But there are some things you can do to protect yourself from becoming victim to the fastest growing crime of the decade.

How does someone steal your personal information?

Most of us are pretty trusting people. We hold ourselves to a certain standard of behavior and we expect that others will too. Most of us think that stealing is wrong and we wouldn’t dream of trying to open a bank account or apply for a credit card with fake information. Unfortunately for us there are people out there who not only want to steal your information; they want to assume your financial identity.
identity.

These identity thieves can be big time professionals in the business of forging identity papers for illegal immigrants or other criminals or they can be small time con-artists trying to swindle you out of your hard earned money. Either way there are many ways a thief can obtain information about you. They can sift through your recycle bin, your garbage, you mail, and sometimes even hack in to your computer to get your passwords and log-in Id’s.

We’ve become easy targets for identity thieves through our use of technology. Today we don’t think twice about internet banking or shopping, but a one careless move could put us at risk. It may convenient to bank or shop online, but more and more identity theft is happening in the cyber world and that places anyone who uses a computer in jeopardy.

How can you protect yourself from identity theft?

The good news is that protecting yourself from identity theft is simple and there are many effective ways to protect your financial and personal information from falling into the wrong hands.

• Keep your vital records like bank statements, birth certificates, social security numbers and other personal information in a safe place. Using a locking file cabinet or fire safe is one way to protect your records at home. Either of these solutions is economical when you consider the cost and inconvenience of losing your identity.
• Consider leasing a safe deposit box at your bank. The fees are usually low and if you have an account already some of the fees might be waived. A safe deposit box is the place to keep your will, or power of attorney, or other important records.
• Be sure that your mailbox is lockable. Statistics show that having your mail delivered to a locked mail box discourages thieves. If you can’t have your mail delivered to a locked box at your home consider using a post office box. The cost is small and you’ll feel more secure knowing that your mail and your personal information is not at risk.
• And while we’re talking about mail; be sure to shred any mail that has your name, address, account numbers, or other personal information on it.Especially if it’s an offer for credit, home loans, or bank services. These documents are gold to a thief and need to be shredded immediately if you aren’t going to take advantage of the offer. A shredder for your home or office is an inexpensive alternative to hiring a document shredding company for your business.
• Use common sense when you shop or bank on line. Never shop with a vendor that doesn’t offer a secure payment method. Never respond to emails that ask for personal information, even if they appear to be from your bank or financial institution. And never give out your passwords or log in information.
• Consider Freezing Your Credit Score:  Freezing your credit score will help protect you from falling victim to someone opening a credit card or taking a loan in your name.  It almost happened to me during covid.  Check it out in this blog:  My Personal Experience with Identity Theft.

Protecting yourself from identity thieves might seem like too much trouble or too much work, but once you get in the habit of taking these few steps you’ll rest secure knowing that you’ve done everything you could to protect yourself. Don’t become another statistic; take the appropriate steps to protect your personal information today. There are many resources available to you. Check with your bank or financial institution on their policies regarding identity theft. Visit the bookstore or library for information on what steps you can take at home. Contact the Better Business Bureau or your local Chamber of Commerce to see what information they might have on how you can fight identity theft and of course you can visit the many sites online.

Huff Insurance is a full service Independent Insurance Agent We have been dedicated to Protecting Lifestyles™ since 1960. We offer a full array of Personal Insurance, Commercial Insurance and Life Insurance & products. Call us at 410-647-111

Tips to prevent frozen pipes

Water Damage from Frozen pipes is our most frequent source of winter homeowners claims

They’re messy, terribly inconvenient and very expensive… Yet easily preventable

5 steps you can take to right now to avoid a pipe freeze:

1. Keep your thermostat to at least 60 degrees throughout the house during extended sub-freezing temperatures.
2. Leave bathroom or kitchen cabinet doors that run along outside wall open so that warmer air can circulate through them (be mindful of pets and small children if chemicals where chemicals are stored).
3. Exterior faucets for hoses and irrigation should be shut off from inside the home.
4. Still water freezes faster than running water. During periods of low usage and on frigid nights, turn on a faucet at the highest point in the home. Keep the stream low, so that only a small amount can trickle through any section of pipes running through cold spaces.
5. If you are going to be away from home for an extended period, arrange for someone to check the house daily. Make sure the location of the main water shut-off valve is well known.

If you have a frozen pipe:

Call your plumber immediately. Once a pipe thaws, there is a chance it could burst

Permanent steps you can take:

• Install an automatic shut-off system designed to stop leaking water when water accumulation is detected. Your plumber can help you with this. We can also get you a list of devices.
• Add several ‘low-temperature sensors’ to your central station alarm system, especially in remote areas of your home.

If you have water damage:

Please check out our previous blog titled “Tips on What to do After a Water Claim”

• Call an emergency service restoration company asap. They facilitate initial clean up and start the dry-out process with the right equipment.
• Move undamaged items away from the affected area.
• Call your insurance agent or homeowners insurance company to report the claim

Huff Insurance is a full service Independent Insurance Agent We have been dedicated to Protecting Lifestyles™ since 1960. We offer a full array of Personal Insurance, Commercial Insurance and Life Insurance & Health Insurance products. Call us at 410-647-111

The recent motor vehicle and sidewalk accident in Las Vegas had me thinking about the following question:

If you are injured on a sidewalk by a motor vehicle, who’s insurance will pay for your injuries?

The simple answer to this question seems like it would be that the auto insurance for the person who drove onto the sidewalk and caused the injury will pay right? Well, that could be correct if the driver of the vehicle has insurance at all or has high limits.

Let’s use the recent Las Vegas sidewalk accident as an example. There were over 30 injuries and one fatality. So, even if the driver had great auto insurance, the limits on her policy will probably not be enough to cover all of the injuries and damages, not to mention the lawsuit that will come about from the fatality. Plus, another factor that will probably cause the driver’s auto insurance policy to deny the claim altogether is the fact that the Las Vegas authorities suspect that the act was intentional. And almost all insurance policies have coverage exclusions for intentional acts by the insured. So, if that is the case, where can the accident victims turn to recoup for their injuries and medical bills?

Most people do not know that you can have coverage on your personal auto insurance policy if you are struck by a vehicle as a pedestrian. You can collect from your Personal Injury Protection coverage and if the situation warrants, your Uninsured Motorist/Underinsured Motorist coverage. If the coverage is denied by the driver’s auto insurance policy or the driver has no auto insurance, the Uninsured Motorist coverage on your car insurance policy can provide coverage. If the at fault driver has insurance, but the liability limits are lower than the limits on your policy, then the Underinsured Motorist coverage can provide coverage up to the difference between the limits, should your injuries require more than the liability insurance limits on the drivers policy.

So if you worked with your insurance agent to develop a protection plan that includes these important auto insurance coverages, you should be able to have your medical bills and lost wages (if any) covered under your own personal car insurance policy. One thing your policy will not pay for that could have been paid by the negligent driver’s car insurance policy is punitive damages.

So when you are deciding on which insurance coverage is best for you and your family, do not forget about the Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage.  These are the coverages that will protect you and your family should you be involved in an accident with an uninsured driver or underinsured driver.  Statistics show that 14% of all vehicles on the roadways are uninsured (see our Blogs “There Are How Many Uninsured Drivers Around Me?” and “Important Coverage You Need to Know About in Your Auto Insurance Policy!”)

As always, auto insurance policies vary by state and by insurance company. It is always a good idea to review your specific policy and to talk to your insurance agent with any question that you might have on your policy.

Huff Insurance is a full service Independent Insurance Agent We have been dedicated to Protecting Lifestyles™ since 1960. We offer a full array of Personal Insurance, Commercial Insurance and Life Insurance & Health Insurance products. Call us at 410-647-111