From birthday presents to business choices, not all decisions are good decisions. We all make bad choices, your insurance agent doesn’t have to be one of them. Make the choice you won’t regret.
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Good and Bad Choices
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The Foremost Choice
Tax season is around the corner! To save time and money, and alleviate stress caused by this time of year, refer to this checklist of five items to keep in mind while filing your taxes.
1) Confirm The Basics
Making mistakes on basic information while working on tax documents can happen to anyone. Be sure that everything, including your name and the names of your dependents, is spelled correctly. Also, check that all social security numbers are accurate.
2) Report Your Income Correctly
Take your time and make sure that all wages, dividends, bank interest, and other income you received are accurate. Additionally, remember that unemployment benefits must be reported because they are taxable income.
3) Enter The Right Bank Account Number
Choosing the direct deposit option will most likely result in receiving your refund faster. In addition, providing the correct account and routing numbers will help alleviate any holdups with the IRS.
4) Review Your Return
Avoid spelling errors, misplaced punctuation, or entering the wrong numbers by rereading everything before you send in your return. For example, unintentionally entering $3,500 as your IRA contribution rather than the $5,300 you actually contributed can result in less money for your deduction.
5) File Electronically
While your method for filing taxes is ultimately your decision, filing electronically decreases the potential for making errors. Choosing this method will also help expedite receiving your possible refund.
Extra tip: Make a copy of your signed return and proof of filing for your records
Almost every business owner (who is still in business) has experienced the opportunity to grow… alongside the need to borrow. This is the point our credit comes into play. Here are a few ideas for a business owner to build up their personal credit, in order to create then grow your business’ credit.
Your Credit can communicate Your Worth in today’s business world
For any legal advice, please consult your attorney. For any tax advice, please consult your tax professional. This article is about your credit, and if you’re not already working to improve it, and own a business, you probably clicked on this blog for a reason.
1. Pay your bills on time, every month, without fail.
If you are not able pay your bills every month, that is probably because you have too many bills. One of the great lessons a small business marketing consultant once said was that the trick to enjoying being an entrepreneur is having low monthly bills. That is not a universal truth, but over 1/3 of your FICO score is based on whether you pay your bills late or not. Besides, this is one of the main reasons they’re checking your credit… to see if you are creditable in that when you say you will pay for something… will you do it? A solid first step at building your credit is to pay your bills on time.
2. Shop Smart
While shopping smart could apply to the thoughts in the last paragraph, the act of shopping smart in building your credit has to do with knowing and selecting the credit partners who are best for you at this point.
The internet is full of options of entities who are willing to loan money. Some of them loan money using good business practices, and other are what we call predatory lenders. They are identified as predatory, because they are out there in their own interest, and if they find you — they will eat you. They will take all they can and leave you as little as legally possible (and sometimes beyond what is legally allowed).
Shop the partners you choose to do business with, when it comes to building your credit.
3. Know your score
You are able to get a free credit check from a number of websites like: creditkarma.com , mint or even credit.com . When you get your credit report, you can read it and see every company who says you have made a borrowing/credit business agreement. There are timelines and stipulations, but we are insurance brokers, and these are just ideas we think could help our business owner clients and friends.
A credit score is not a static description you check once, and know for the next decade… or year… or month. Tracking your credit score is a part of building your credit. Some may say that it could hurt your credit to check your own credit, but that is not true. This is called a soft inquiry, and shouldn’t affect your credit score at all.
4. Be Patient
After you start tracking your score, you will see that it feels like you’re running on freshly waxed linoleum with new socks… like you’re giving a lot of effort and not going anywhere. Don’t start closing old accounts. It’s a false tale which states that closing your unused credit will help your credit score. If you have old cards which are being properly managed, it will actually help your credit. As long as you keep the balance lower than 30% of your credit limit, you will be on your way to better rates, more options on rent or a mortgage, better phone plans and people will even start letting you take stuff for free, because they have a pretty good idea you will pay them back on time — because you credit says so by its score.
If your clients have been impacted by this weather, here are some tips you can share to help them stay safe and protect their property:
- Stay alert. Continue to monitor local radio stations and media outlets for the latest updates on power outages, water/health advisories, and other important announcements.
- Use flashlights, not candles. Never leave a burning candle unattended. Use flashlights instead of candles, which can get knocked over and increases the risk of fire.
- Store water for you and your family. Each day, store at least one gallon of water in containers or the bathtub for each person in your home, as well as an additional gallon of water each day for cooking use.
- For drinking water, if bottled water is not available, bring water to a full rolling boil for one minute (at elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for three minutes), then allow it to cool before use.
- Keep water trickling. If your water is running, keep water trickling out of faucets to help prevent them from freezing.
- Locate the main water shut-off valve. In many southern states, the main water shut-off valve is often located outside the home, especially if there isn’t a basement. If you can access the shut-off, and if it’s safe to do so, consider shutting off the main water supply to your home. For more help finding your water shut-off and turning it off.
- Keep at least one car outside the garage. If you are using a car to charge your electronics and devices, be sure to keep the car outside the home garage in an open area to avoid dangerous carbon monoxide build-up.
1. BUILDING OUTSIDE:
- Plants: Trim away any trees or bushes which are in contact with the structure.
- Windows & Doors: physically look at the caulking does not have holes or cracks. The caulking is squishy stuff that connects the door or window to the wall on the outside of a building.
- Garage & Warehouse doors: take a look at the hinges, and confirm that they are securely attached to the door. Test the auto-stop mechanisms. Many garage door openers use an electronic eye to automatically reverse the garage door if an obstruction is in the way. Many also have a pressure reverse when contact is made with an obstruction. Both of these are good to confirm proper function.
- Roof & Gutters (only when possible): look at any points where metal and pipes are going through or connected to the roof. Confirm there are no blockages for weather or water, and in good condition.
2. WATER FLOW:
- pull debris from the gutters and whatever devices are used to move water from your building, and direct the water to at least 3 — 5 feet away from the foundation.
- A building with a sump pump is a building which could partially fill up with water. It’s one thing to keep water off the outside of your house, but filling a building up with water can be destructive. Test it, to be sure your sump pump is fully operational.
- Winterize your sprinkler system before the first freeze.
- Disconnect water hoses: Any external faucets with a hose connected to them typically require disconnection, and being readied for winter temperatures. Remember to turn off the water flow before disconnecting the faucet/hose. Otherwise you may need a change of clothes, and a towel.
- Erosion check: physically look at the foundation. and check to confirm that the ground slopes away from your building. Pooling water in contact with a building’s foundation is usually the start to a long term serious problem. Another way to recognize water around a foundation is to look in the crawlspace or basement and see if there are any points of moisture in the soil or moisture coming through the wall.
3. FIRE AND AIR:
- Not all houses have working chimneys, but it is good practice to clean a chimney each fall. You are starting a fire in a building, and all the soot building up over time.
- Wood burning fireplace or stove: There is a good reason why we aren’t allowed to build buildings with these types of burning units anymore. If a building has a device which burns wood, have it cleaned and inspected.
- Detectors: Smoke detectors have a test button, as do the Carbon Monoxide detectors. Press the button to make sure they are working properly. Be aware, these are designed to interrupt whatever you are currently doing — so they are quite loud. If you’ve never heard a Carbon Monoxide or Smoke detector before, they can be loud!
4. FILTERS:
- Furnace Forced Air Filter: There is an air filter in your furnace. Chance it once a month. If you’re thinking you haven’t changed it since last year… please move this to the top of your list.
- AC Filters: Most of these have filters. The job of an AC unit is to move air around a building, and dirty filters are like making a marathon runner carry weights. It’s good to keep your filters clean.
- Range Hood filters: If your place has a hood, there is probably a filter for that hood’s directing the air. Replace filters, and check for cleanliness.
- Boiler: Confirm that the pump is oiled. It is true that oiling a boiler is not changing a filter, but this machinery oil like a forced air furnace needs to breath.
5. ELECTRONICS:
- Test reset buttons (Power outlets with the Test & Reset button): The Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs, or GFIs) are commonly where water and electricity may be in contact, but that is not the only place these types of power outlets are used. Wherever there is a power outlet with a reset/test buttons in the middle — push the test buttons to make sure power is no longer going to the outlet when you push test. You can press reset button to make it work again.
- Refrigeration: the process of keeping items cold typically require coils and other dust collecting parts. Cleaning them (at least annually) is a good way to not pay more to make that refrigerator run.
- Drain Swamp Cooler: If you have a swamp cooler, you should know it. These typically have a water line in which needs to be shut off, as well as drained. Swamp coolers also have electricity run to them which needs to be “winterized”, and turned off.
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If any of these Fall Prep tasks uncover any insurance concerns, we would love to speak with you.
We know our clients by name.
303–388-7216
If you have any insurance questions, let us know & we might do a blog on your topic.
Categories
Pets
Coverages offered:
Accident and Illness Plan:
- Illness
- Tests and X‑rays
- Hospital stays
- Ear and eye problems
- Prescribed drugs
- Prescription pet food
- Hereditary conditions (inherited from your parents)
- Ligament and hip dysplasia (12 month waiting period)
- Death benefits
- And more…
Wellness Plan:
- Vet exam fees
- Dental cleaning
- Tick and flea prevention
- Heartworm testing
- Annual wellness exams
- Vitamins and other supplements
- Prescribed therapy and behavioral training
- Vaccinations
- Spaying/neutering
Coverage Limits:
- Up to 100% coverage of vet bills
Admitted/Non-Admitted:
- Admitted
Additional Program Highlights:
- No breeds are excluded
- Flexible premium options to fit your budget, including 0% co-pay option
- Pick your own licensed vet
- Fast and Easy claims resolution
Appetite:
All breeds of dogs and cats.
Types of risks:
- Accident and Illness
- Wellness
Ineligible risks:
- Other pets
- Puppies and Kittens less than 8 weeks old
- Pets owned for commercial reasons (ex: racing, breeding, law enforcement, dog fighting)
- Pre-existing conditions, but no one covers them
Geography:
- Nationwide
Like you, Mary struggles with questioning if her business is safe. And it frustrates her at work, because of questions like, “What do I need to do to protect against?… How can I know my business is safe?… and Who can I call to get help?
Oh No!
That’s before Mary… asks a professional. Professional Advice answers all those problems for Mary.
- Legal Questions = Ask an Attorney
- Financial Questions = Ask a CPA
- Insurance Questions = Ask your agent
If you don’t know your agent personally, Mary goes to Insurance Town & Country. See how happy Mary is!
Call you agent:
303–388-7216
- We recently learned insurance agents are receiving demand letters regarding their websites not being ADA compliant for the blind. The solution is often just a call to your website provider to add an accessibility menu to your landing page (see bottom left hand corner of the www.wiaagroup.org site for example). If you have a website, please contact your website provider to verify that your website is in ADA compliance. If you are in the market for a new website, please consider our technology partner, ITC, for exclusive pricing for WIAA members (click here for flyer).
- Please note carriers have either ended or are ending billing leniency for those affected by COVID-19 which means all billing activities including regular bill cycles, late fees, insufficient fund fees, non-pay cancellations and collection activity will resume. Please contact the carrier billing department directly if your insured is still experiencing economic hardship for available options. See below for list of billing hold end dates by carrier and click on carrier names for more detail where available:
- Liberty Mutual: July 15, 2020 for CA, June 22, 2020 for OR and June 15, 2020 for most other states
- Hartford: June 1, 2020
- Safeco: July 15, 2020 for CA, June 22, 2020 for OR and June 15, 2020 for most other states
- Travelers: June 15, 2020 (note that Travelers personal auto customers will also see a 15% credit for their June premiums)
- Nationwide: June 15, 2020
- AmTrust: June 1, 2020
- Berkshire Hathaway (BHHC): July 14, 2020 for CA and June 30, 2020 for all other states
- Employers: June 15, 2020