Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Merry Christmas from everyone at the Woodland Hills Office!!
Where’s Esther?
Visit us at The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers, or call (818)914-3960.
Santa Clara’s New Office Location
The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers is proud to announce that effective on December 9th, 2011, the Santa Clara office will be moving to its new home in…
The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers
2107 N. First Street, Suite 370, San Jose, CA 95113
please make note of the change and come visit us at our new office!
For more information please visit us at The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers, or call (408)246-5666
Welcome Daniel Law!
The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers Inc. is pleased to announce Daniel Law has joined the organization as Branch Manager of the Santa Clara location. Dan has been in the insurance industry since graduating from college and has focused his efforts on helping businesses across a wide range of industries including high-tech, life sciences, non-profit and construction. Over the years, he has committed himself to understanding the industries and specific business goals of his customers so he can more readily address their needs and concerns. With a focus on risk control, Dan has become a valuable asset to his clients ranging from small family-run businesses to international corporations. Dan has been awarded his Associate in Risk Management (ARM) and Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS) designations.
Dan was born and raised in San Jose. He graduated from Bellarmine College Prep High School and earned a business degree from the University of San Diego. Dan and his wife Michelle recently welcomed their first child. His hobbies include golf, running and hiking.
For more information please visit The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers or call (408)246-5666
The Liberty Company Insurance brokers would love to welcome Daniel R’bibo and the Liberty Entertainment Insurance Services, LLC. Daniel R’bibo has more than enough clients to keep himself busy. In one market, he is reportedly without a peer—serving the insurance needs of film-school students.
“Daniel has made incredible insurance inroads for us,” said Barbara Boyle, chair of the department of theatre, film and television at the University of California, Los Angeles.
“We received a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for students to shoot eight films all over the country on public education in the United States. There were a lot of potential risks to deal with,” Boyle explained.
The traditional entertainment insurance marketplace was too expensive for these students to purchase their insurance.
But R’bibo, President at the Liberty Entertainment Insurance Services, LLC, was able to cover the programs they were producing under one policy. This allowed the school to bypass standard minimum premiums, saving the students thousands of dollars. R’bibo is now working with Boyle to enroll her students to cover all their film students and the department’s 200-plus productions.
In another instance, R’bibo worked the same magic with the film students at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, the largest art school in the United States.
Daniel graduated from California State University, Northridge and is now currently the president of The Liberty Entertainment Insurance Services.
For any information please feel free to contact Daniel at (818)914-3983 or email Drbibo@libertycompany.com
Become A Better Driver
When drivers get behind the wheel of their cars they find a growing issue; the other guys and gals behind their wheels are ruder, more aggressive and are causing more accidents. Surveys typically offer the following information:
- Most drivers have recently operated their car, truck or SUV in a risky manner
- Many drivers think that other classes of drivers should have their driving skills regularly tested
- The majority of drivers think that their driving habits are fine…everyone else is the problem
It is useless for individual drivers to look any further for solutions than themselves. The only thing that is under a driver’s control is his or her own driving behavior. While you can’t predict what another driver is going to do, you can make a stronger effort to make the roads and streets safer.
Obey traffic lights, signs and road markings. All of these are important methods to control traffic and minimize accidents. Just try to figure out how much time you “save” by tailgating, lane changing and running traffic lights. If you save anything, it’s seconds, not minutes. Also, if you are involved in an accident, you’ve just lost any time ever gained by risky driving. Insurance paperwork and accident reports can claim hours and days of your life. If time is important to you, then take the time to pay attention to the rules of the road.
You will also find it healthier and safer to avoid paranoia. The other drivers in the other cars and trucks are not out to get you. Don’t take things personally since the silly things that happen in cars are usually mistaken or mindless, not malicious. Just relax and concentrate on your own driving. Yield right of way to others, stop for school buses, and watch for pedestrians and bicyclists. The more patient, respectful, and attentive drivers there are on the road, the better it will be…for all of us (and our insurance rates).
For more information please visit us at The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers, or call (818)914-3960.
Article courtesy of Rough Notes
Non-Owned Auto Coverage
Employees routinely use their own vehicles in their jobs or just to run errands for their employer. Does your company have protection in case of an accident and both your worker and your company are sued? If your company has a business auto policy, it should include coverage for ‘non-owned’ automobiles. These are vehicles owned by others (such as an employee) that are used in the business of the company. Generally a business auto policy only protects against losses involving company-owned vehicles, so it is important to add “non-owned” coverage.
Basic business auto insurance only covers employees while operating a company-owned vehicle to perform company business. An employee’s personal automobile policy typically excludes business use; so a coverage gap may exist if an employer’s vehicle policy is not modified to handle non-owned vehicles.
Another important consideration is whether the amount of non-owned coverage is sufficient. Any non-owned auto liability limits should be high enough to protect both the business and the employee. A company has to evaluate its particular coverage need in order to determine the proper level of coverage. Including ‘non-owned’ auto liability coverage on the business policy will provide coverage for the business over any deficiency in limit from the employee’s personal auto policy. This is coverage for the BUSINESS, not the employee.
If the company does not own any automobiles, it is possible to purchase business auto liability coverage for only the danger of loss involving its use of ‘hired and non-owned’ vehicles. The ‘hired’ portion would cover business travel and vehicle rentals; the ‘non-owned’ portion would cover employees using their own auto in the business.
Even if a business rarely uses non-owned autos, it only takes one serious accident to create a significant loss for the business. You should find an opportunity to discuss this coverage with an insurance professional.
For more information please visit The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers, or call (818)914-3960
Article Courtesy of Rough Notes
The Cost of Ignoring Termites
Termites cause over $2 billion in damage every year in the United States. Although they are a natural part of the forest, where they are helpful in breaking down dead wood, they become a hazard to wood structures, especially homes. Termites are most common in the southeast of the country, but they can be found in almost every state. In termite-heavy areas, regular inspection and treatment is common. If termite infestation is not prevented and treated regularly, it can seriously affect the value of a home.
Tent Fumigation
Once a termite infestation begins to invade the wood in the walls of a house, spot treating no longer fixes the problem and a full tent fumigation of the house is often required. This involves putting a plastic tent over the entire house and fumigating it with chemicals that kill the termites. The residents of the house have to move out for three to five days until the chemicals dissipate. Depending on the size of the house, the procedure itself can cost between $1,500 and $4,000. This treatment does not correct any of the structural damage the insects have already done, so there may be further repair costs. Room and board costs also have to be figured into this treatment.
Inability to Sell Your House
No one wants to live in a house full of termites. Some states require a disclosure from a seller about any known termite infestations. In other states, the buyer’s lender requires one of these “termite letters.” If you have had a serious infestation because you did not do regular treatment and maintenance, you may find it impossible to sell your house until you have the problem eradicated and the damage fixed.
The Bottom Line
Termites can cause serious damage to wooden structures and are a threat that should be insured against through regular maintenance and treatment. In some areas of the country, they pose the largest financial threat to a home.
For more information visist us at The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers, or call (818)914-3960
Article courtesy of Yahoo!
Internet Insurance Information
Like many other businesses, insurance companies make increasing use of the Internet. Due to this medium’s connection to savvy, technologically astute consumers, it is an ideal method for promoting and selling insurance products. However, even as greater advantage is being taken of electronic insurance transactions, it is important to keep a bit of old, yet still excellent advice – “Let the buyer beware.”
Possible Danger
In some respects, the ‘Net may be no more dangerous than getting information from other sources, but the need for insurance consumers to take care when using such information remains. One major issue is that published information is typically granted a high level of credibility (this includes the information you’re currently reading). It is important to be certain of any information before acting on it. Ten different sources of information can give you ten different answers. Therefore, the safest way to use information is to seek and sort through multiple, credible sources rather than merely place full trust in a single source.
Items to Keep In Mind
The Internet is an incredible tool. However it also provides many opportunities for acquiring information that may be useless or even harmful. Any user should remember the following:
- it is often impossible to verify who has posted the information and whether the source has any expertise in the subject matter
- material that appears on the Internet may be presented as facts when they are actually opinions or advertisements
- the information may be accurate for one set of circumstances, but it doesn’t tell you how the information applies to other situations; at the very least, it should contain a disclaimer
- no credible party may have taken responsibility for keeping the information accurate and current
- the party that posted the information may possibly have a criminal intent
- Internet publishers often forget that their audience is global and the information may only apply to a specific group or geographic location
When seeking information to meet your insurance needs, it’s important to discuss your concerns with an expert. A professional insurance agent is a good source for getting the answers you need to fit your unique coverage situation.
For more information visit us at The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers, or call (818)914-3960
Article courtesy of Rough Notes.
Did you know 5 year treasuries are paying 0.9% taxable interest?
Did you also know one of our 5 year annuities pays a minimum of 2.7% and it’s tax deferred? Unbelievable! I just moved a client’s $250,000 CD there…she was getting just 1% on it.
2.7% tax deferred is the highest guaranteed return anywhere in the USA and it’s backed up by a 100 year old A+ rated insurer.
All you got to do is ask….
Paul E. Boulet
email: PBoulet@libertycompany.com
Life Insurance for Smokers
How life insurance companies define smokers
Companies use very specific questions to classify you as a smoker or not. Being defined as a smoker refers to your use of cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco. Even using a nicotine patch or gum can qualify you as a smoker. That may seem counterintuitive, but the insurance companies are looking for any form of nicotine use.
How much life insurance do I need?
A common question on an application is: “Have you used a tobacco product in the last 12 months?” If you answer “yes” to this question, you will most likely be considered a smoker and be expected to pay a higher rate. Insurance companies generally don’t differentiate between an occasional smoker or a pack-a-day smoker. In the eyes of the insurance companies, the health risks are basically the same and often so are the rates, all other things being equal.
Of course, if you smoke a pack a day, you may have resulting health issues (e.g., high blood pressure) that can also increase your rates as compared with a nonsmoker or occasional smoker. Life insurance companies will classify your health into one of several categories. While these categories vary from one insurance company to another, classifications can include:
- Preferred Plus
- Preferred
- Standard Plus
- Standard
A smoker and nonsmoker may be classified as Preferred, for example, based on their age and medical condition. But the smoker will pay considerably more in premiums.
How much will smoking raise your premiums?
The big question is just how much smoking will cost you. And this is where shopping for multiple life insurance quotes is critical. You will find significant variance among insurance companies.
Exactly how much more a smoker will pay depends on a host of factors, including the type and amount of life insurance, your age, and your health. Jeff Rose over at Good Financial Cents has a nice article showing the cost of life insurance for smokers is almost four times more than for nonsmokers.
For more information visit us at The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers, or call (818)914-3960.
Article courtesy of MSN Money partner
