How to "Go Green" With Your Insurance

Photo: The Well-Tempered Ear

Earth Day 2018 is April 22, so it’s the perfect opportunity to do something positive for the environment and “go green” with your insurance.

But wait—how can you “go green” with your insurance (besides pay your premiums with green cash)? Glad you asked! Let’s look at few little things you can do that can make a big difference to the environment.

Online quotes

One of the easiest ways to save some time (and paper!) is to request a quote online.  This is a great way to check one item off your to-do list whenever it's convenient for you, because you can request a quote through our website 24/7; we do our best to respond to all requests in a timely manner—if not the day we receive it, within the next 1-2 business days.   As an independent agency, we work with several carriers for all types of insurance, so we can shop around with our network to obtain quotes that best meet your needs and your budget.   

Electronic documents and e-Signatures

We strive to meet our customers’ needs and keep up with the ever-changing nature of technology. As a result, we try to send necessary documents to our customers electronically, via email or fax, as much as we can.  As an added convenience, some of our carriers offer an e-sign option, so you can “sign” the paperwork electronically and not have to worry about printing and signing a hard copy.

Additionally, more and more carriers have a “Go Paperless” option, so you can receive all your information from them electronically.  Check out your carrier to see if they have this option available.

Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)

Some customers still make their payments the old-fashioned way with a paper check, but have you thought about switching to paying electronically? Many carriers now give customers the option of enrolling in an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) payment plan, in which the company automatically withdraws funds from your checking account every month.  Contact us for more information or if you’d like to set up this type of payment plan.

Technology has been a game-changer for essentially every industry; here at ETA Benefits Group we are always looking at ways to make your experience with our office easier and more convenient.

Have you used any or all of these options for your insurance needs? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

Don't Push Your Luck! Why You Need Umbrella Coverage

If you think about it, luck is a big part of our everyday lives. And it’s not all life-changing, lottery-winning kinds of luck—it’s little things.  Scoring a parking spot right near your destination when you’re running late? Luck. Finding a dollar in your pocket when you come up short when paying for your morning coffee? Luck.  Sure, we might push that luck a now and then and buy a lottery ticket or play the slot machines, but sometimes, those lucky little things happen just when we need them most. Unfortunately, many of us push our luck when it comes to our insurance.  We might just purchase the minimum coverage for our home, auto, or toys such as a boat or motorcycle and hope for the best, but in some instances, more protection is better. This is the purpose of an umbrella policy.

Umbrella coverage is meant to protect you from major claims and lawsuits. It takes effect when the liability limits on your homeowners or auto insurance policies have been reached.

For example:

• Your dog bites your neighbor, a housepainter, requiring a trip to the ER and several stitches. Your neighbor sues you for costs related to the injury and lost wages. His medical bills alone are more than $20,000; lost wages, $10,000. He sues for $100,000; your homeowners’ policy only covers up to $50,000, leaving you responsible for the remaining $50,000.

• While driving to work you skid on a slick road and T-bone another car.  The other driver and his passenger are injured, and there is extensive damage to the car (well over $50,000). You are sued for $300,000 (which includes car repairs, $50,000 in medical bills from the other driver and passenger, and $100,000 in lost wages for each), but your auto policy only has liability coverage up to $200,000, which means you must pay the other $100,000 out of your own pocket.

Lawsuits are extremely common in our society, and judges have granted huge rewards for damages—rewards that can have devastating financial consequences for the responsible party.

Although umbrella coverage is not required for a home or auto policy, it’s worth purchasing if you do any of the following: 

•          Own a pool, trampoline, or dog
•          Are a landlord
•          Have significant savings or financial assets
•          Coach youth sports
•          Participate in extreme sports that could injure someone else

Any of the above could increase your chances of being sued.  Don’t push your luck—consider an umbrella policy so you have the additional protection you need.

Have you ever purchased an umbrella policy? What was your experience? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

Tips to Minimize Holiday Stress

As the song says, it’s the most wonderful time of the year…but it can also be one of the most stressful. Shopping, baking, wrapping, attending concerts, recitals, parties—it’s a lot of extra activity to fit into just a few weeks.

Everyone wants to have that perfect holiday, but you don’t have to run yourself so ragged that you’re too tired to enjoy it. If you love the holidays but don’t love the stress, below are a few tips for keeping it under control this season:

Get organized. Sometimes stress can come from lack of planning. This year, start making lists for yourself and your family—write down everyone you buy for (including your children’s teachers or close friends so you’re prepared for any surprise gift exchanges, and service professionals whose services you use regularly, like your hair stylist or baby-sitter), the cooking and baking you need to do, the parties and events you’d like to attend, and any other commitments you usually have this time of year. Plan your usual activities but leave some flexibility for the unexpected event or activity that’s bound to come up.

Start early.  It’s easier said than done, but the earlier you start your holiday prep, the less scrambling you’ll have to do at the last minute. Many of us wait until Black Friday or Cyber Monday to take advantage of good deals for gifts; others shop all year-round; others fall somewhere in between. Spend Black Friday and/or Cyber Monday shopping for deals on big-ticket items; for others, start shopping as early as you can. Or keep a stash of “emergency gifts” on hand so you’re prepared for unexpected gift-giving.  But start early on other things besides shopping. Make some of your cookie dough ahead of time and freeze it. Set aside a day just for decorating or taking stock of your holiday décor, gift wrap and supplies, and gifts you may have purchased throughout the year and set aside.  Take care of those little tasks early, which will free up your time closer to the actual holiday.

Buy the same gift for multiple people. Check multiple people off your list at the same time by buying or making the same gift, but in a slightly different design or color, for friends or family who are close in age.  This will save you a tremendous amount of time and decision making, and if it’s a trendy or meaningful item (maybe a copy of a favorite family photo in a cute frame), the recipients will be happy to each have one.

Simplify.  There’s no reason why you can’t cut back on some of your holiday activities if you tend to get overwhelmed or stressed every year.  Bake a few less dozen cookies, tone down the decorating, buy fewer gifts, decline a few invitations and take some time to enjoy some unscheduled time at home—that home you’ve been working hard to decorate perfectly!

How do you keep your holiday-related stress to a minimum? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

Advantages of Agency Over Online Insurance

Every day, we are bombarded with commercials and ads for online insurance companies that offer various discounts, benefits, and other draws to gain your business.  Buying insurance from an online company might be easier, but in the long run, it might not be best.

One of the biggest advantages to working with an agency is the personalized service you receive.  Many agents already know their clients personally; if they don’t, they will take the time to get to know you and your needs.  Then they can identify the best coverage for those needs. (Independent agencies offer even more choices, as they are not aligned with one carrier and can shop around with several carriers to find the best policy for you).

If you file a claim, the agent will take care of the paperwork and track its progress from beginning to end. Your agent will always look out for your best interests and stay in touch with the carrier so they can reach a positive outcome.  They will also keep in regular contact with you for things like annual renewals and pending cancellation notices.

Many agencies also sell various products, so you can purchase more than one policy from your agent and have all of your coverage in one place. Several carriers offer discounts for bundling policies (home and auto is one of the most common), so you could save money if you have multiple policies with the same agent.

Customers like the convenience of buying insurance online because you can simply fill out a form and the company does the rest.  There is also some cost savings because online companies don’t pay a commission to an agent. But if you file a claim, it’s up to you to stay in contact with the company until it’s resolved.  Many online companies just sell one type of insurance, so you’ll have to find the policies you need on your own, and likely spend more on premiums since you’ll be paying different carriers.

Before you buy your insurance online, see what a local agent can do for you. ETA Benefits Group is a local independent agent that sells a wide range of insurance and works with several different carriers to offer clients the best coverage at a price that fits their budget.

Have you ever bought insurance from an online company? What was your experience? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!