Term Life Insurance and invest the rest

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At TruePoint Insurance, agents help the residents of Fisherville, KY find insurance that meets their unique needs.  We approach the client’s life insurance needs in the same manner.

Term life is an excellent choice for individuals who want to make sure that their final expenses are covered. It’s also an option if you want to have the policy mature within a specific period. A term life policy offers a variety of benefits that other types of life insurance don’t.

Specific Time Frame

Term life insurance is written for a specific number of years. Each payment is used to add equity to the policy until it matures at the end of the designated term. Term life policies can be written for 10, 20, or 30 years, depending on how big the plan is and how much you want your monthly premiums to be.

While Life and Universal Life Build Equity, Term Life DOES NOT

Whole and universal life policies are often referred to as permanent life insurance. The term permanent life relates to the fact that these policies do not have an expiration.  In addition, the permanent policy develops equity which continues to grow as you make payments.  

While the cash value grows slowly at first,  once the equity has reached a certain amount, you may have the option to borrow against it. This is an excellent option if you have an emergency when you need access to cash. You can then pay the loan back by paying an additional payment every month.

The drawback to permanent policies:  A Significantly Higher Premium

Lower Payments

The fact that term insurance policies don’t guarantee to ever pay the a penny is a negative for many. To answer the question of term or permanent life insurance you should start by asking yourself two questions: 1) As your progress through the various stages of life, will your life insurance needs change? 2) Is a permanent life insurance policy the best investment vehicle available to you?

It is a common belief that young families receive the greatest benefits of life insurance. There are many reasons that support this argument. While this age group is least likely to collect from a term insurance policy, the risk of not having protection is by far the greatest.

Young couples have may have a lot of balls in the air. Couples with children have legitimate concerns regarding their wellbeing should something happen to one or both of the parents. Increased demand for insurance among young couples can also be magnified if one spouse is the primary breadwinner.

The inflated insurance demands will in many cases be short lived. As children leave the nest insurance needs decline. Over time savings increase, further reducing the demand for life insurance.

It is normal that insurance needs are greatest for young families. It is also normal that young families have less disposable income. The lower premium associated with term life is often a much better fit for families that are just getting started,

While the primary benefits of a term policy is the lower monthly premiums Permanent polices act as both an investment vehicle and an insurance policy.  For years the relative value of Term Life has been debated.  Proponents argue that consumers should buy life insurance from companies specializing in such and allocate investment monies to those providing professional investment services.  For years the call to action for this group has been ” Buy term and invest the rest.”

If you live in the Fisherville, KY area and have questions concerning term life insurance, call the agents at TruePoint Insurance and schedule an appointment. They will go over all of your questions and make sure you have the answers you need to make an informed choice.

TruePoint Welcomes Tammy Rue

Posted on by Brad Smith

TruePoint Welcomes Tammy Rue

We have some great news to share.  Tammy Rue, a life long resident of Anderson County is now a part of the TruePoint team and we are excited.

Tammy has spent over 21 years helping individuals and businesses in Anderson County with their insurance needs.  Finding individuals with deep local roots that also have extensive insurance experience doesn’t happen often. So it didn’t take long for us to realize the impact that Tammy could have.  Going forward she will play a big part in our efforts in Lawrenceburg. too.

Drop by our Eagle Lake location this Friday, February 8th to help us celebrate this great addition to our team.  Download

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Do You Need Commerical Insurance For A Business Providing A Service?

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If you are the owner of a business that provides services to clients or the public, you may wonder if you need insurance, especially if you operate from home. All businesses that provide a service should have some level of coverage, even if it is liability coverage.

Businesses Providing A Service

If your company or organization provides a service to people, you need protection. You never know when you or someone you work for will be injured or suffer a loss. You can be held accountable for any incidence, and it can cause financial devastation without the right coverage for your market. Some businesses that need reliable coverage include lawn services, repair services, home health, in-home daycare, and more. Speak with an insurance expert to find out what type of coverage suits your business needs and make sure you don’t have costly gaps.

Working With An Expert

Always choose an agency that has expert agents when it comes to commercial insurance. They will help you find security and peace of mind with high-quality insurance products that protect you from a variety of dangers an potential threats to you and your business. If you live around the Fisherville, KY area, you can trust TruePoint Insurance to guide you in the right directions and present options that you need.

Don’t take chances if you provide a public service. Something could happen at any time and can jeopardize your career and your financial situation unless you have the right insurance coverage. Call or stop by TruePoint Insurance, proudly serving the residents in and around the Lawrence and Fisherville, KY area. We will work with you to find a policy that fits your situation and answer all of your questions.

What Kind of Boats Need Insurance?

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boat insurance, ky boat insurance, buy boat insurance, find boat insurance, does Kentucky require boat insurance, houseboat insurance, watercraft boats, speed boat insurance, insuanceWhether you live in Louisville or Lexington or the surrounding communities, you’ll have no trouble finding a great body of water.  The Kentucky River, Ohio River, Mississippi River, and many other’s present awesome waterways for Kentucky boaters.

Kentucky is also home to many great lakes.  Near the cities of Benton, Murray, Cadiz, Princeton, and Eddyville you will find two of Kentucky’s treasurers.  Kentuck Lake and Lake Barkley combine for over 340 sq. miles of beauty and fun for all kinds of water-related activities.   Other notable Kentucky lakes include Lake Cumberland, Barren River Lake, Lake Laurel, Green River Lake, Cave Run, and Rough River Lake.

One of the most common questions boat owners ask is whether they need insurance, and what kind of boats require such insurance. Based on current state law, you are not legally obligated to invest in boat insurance. However, you leave yourself susceptible to a number of issues if you fail to invest in such protection.  Summer boating season will be here before you know it.  Don’t make the choice to go without boat insurance without first considering the cost.  Take a moment to continue reading, visit TruePoint boat and watercraft online or for a boat insurance quote call (502) 410-5089.

Consider What You Paid for the Boat

Does Kentucky require boat owners to have insurance?  No.  In Kentucky, it is legal to own and operate personal watercraft without insurance.  That includes boat liability insurance. boat insurance, how much does boat insurance cost, call for a boat insurance quote, boat insurance companies, sailboat insurance, cheap boat insuranceBut before deciding to forgo watercraft boat insurance, first, consider what you paid for the boat. Now think how many opportunities there are for severely damaging your boat.  On the way to the lake, you can relax a bit.  As long as the boat is on a trailer being towed by your insurance truck or car, the liability exposure of the boat will be picked up by your auto insurance.  Once off the trailer, the boat is your responsibility.  During the process of unloading your boat, it’s possible for you to damage another boat.  Just as easily you might also damage their truck, trailer, or even worse, another person.  Once on the lake, there is an unlimited supply of exposures.  Any of which might damage your boat.  Damaging your boat and losing your entire investment would be bad enough, but if you are involved in an accident with another boat, you could potentially be out a boat plus buying a new one for the other party.

Your auto insurance coverage does not protect your boat. This means even if someone runs a red light and crashes into your boat during transport, your auto insurance coverage will not pay for it.  Once on the lake, you will not only have property damage exposure, but you will no longer be protected by any form of boat liability insurance.

All Kinds of Boats Can Receive Coverage

boat insurance, watercraft insurance, personal watercraft insurance, jet ski insurance, what kind of boat can be insured, can i insure a jet ski, can i insurance a personal watercraft, boat insurance cost, best boat insuranceIf you’re able to take the watercraft out onto the water, then it can be protected with a form of boat insurance. Whether you have a bass boat or you have a houseboat you like to take out on the lake, all boats can be protected with boat insurance.   Cheap boat insurance can be found, which makes it hard to justify putting on watercraft on the water without proper boat insurance.

Boats are expenses, but liability losses are the greatest exposure for Kentucky Boat Owners.

You are never legally required to obtain boat insurance. However, an best boat insurance, top boat insurance, cheap boat insurance, fast boat insurance, i need boat insurance, bass boat insurance, fishing boat insurance, boat liability insurance, motor boat insurance, houseboat insurance, bass boat insurance, fishing boat insurance, pleasure boat insurance, ski boat insurance,accident on your way to the lake, on the lake, or even inside of your garage, may put your purchase at financial risk, and can even put you at risk of paying out due to liability issues.  It’s easy to find out what kind of coverage options are available for Kentucky boat owners.  All you need to do is give the team at TruePoint Insurance a call today.

Who’s in the driver’s seat? (part 2 of 2)

Posted on by Brad Smith
TruePoint Insurance at Christmas

The Critic’s View

Those opposed to the autonomous car can defend their position by using safety statistics alone.   While self-driving autos may be the thing of the future, the future certainly isn’t now.

Proponents may also have a flawed economic model.  While they argue that eliminating the driver will reduce the cost so dramatically that car ownership will soon be a thing of the past.  Taxi stands will soon be on every corner.

But do we currently have enough taxis, Uber, etc. to meet he need?  How many more will be neededto meet the twice-daily rush hour demand across America? 

Absolutely no way!  In 2012 there were 234,000 taxis in America.  That may be enough to address the required cars in Louisville, Kentucky during rush hour. 

Assume we do develop taxi fleets across the US that will satisfy our needs.  128 Million people in the US  commute to work by car.  Does that means we need to add 127 Million vehicles added to our taxi services?  Sure ride sharing will cut that number significantly, but you are still looking for 60 to 80 million new cars. The vast majority of those will be used only three or four hours a day.  Unused vehicles taking up space in garages and will still be subject to numerous fixed costs.  Costs that will quickly eliminate the 70% saving, and may likely lead to a higher price than today’s model.  What the proponents are missing is that the actual driver cost isn’t 70% of the current transportation cost.  That is unless someone is paying you to set in rush hour traffic!

Besides the safety and cost issues, several more problems need to be addressed.  Of greatest concern our Issues that will significantly impact the safety of driverless vehicles as they age, a broader understanding of the risks associated with computer drivers, and who should we point the finger at when things do go wrong.  Below are just a few examples ssues that concern me:

  • •    Proponents argue that humans are more apt to err.  Lots of stuff including catching the virus of the month can lower our capacity to drive.  Oops, computers get viruses too. 
  •      o         What happens whenthe computer is operating correctly?
  •      o         Could a nation ofdriver-less vehicles be immune to a cyber-attack? 
  • •    Time in when the shop.  My current car has an alert that stays on each winter.  It is related to the car’s ability to burn fuel with a higher alcohol level.  I know that it isn’t hurting anything and when I get it fixed, it is likely to re-occur.  So I wait until spring and it always takes care of itself.  My wife’s last car had a low tire level light that went on and off regularly.  It was caused because a magnet flew off.  I could have spent $85 and crossed my fingers that it wouldn’t happen again or I could visually check my tires if need. 

Will computers use the same logic that I do?  Or will I walk out to the garage one morning to find that my driverless car drove itself to the garage?

  • •    If you don’t see this one coming, then shame on you.  My car is in line waiting for well over an hour to get it’s required quarterly safety and maintenance checkup at the DMV. You think it drove itself there? Of course, it did, but not without you there to pay for your licensing and renewal.  Yes, that will eventually become part of the computer’s program, but what happens if your car fails the inspection.  If you don’t want to pay an outrageous towing bill, then you better be there to drive the car home or to the nearest Computer Diagnostics and Reprogramming Garage.
  • •    I ’ve, and I am going to be late for the most critical meeting ever.  Will the driverless car let me speed?  Better yet, we are out in the country for a Sunday afternoon drive when my wife goes into labor.  How fast will the car go?
  • •    Car insurance.  Who will pay for auto insurance on an autonomous vehicle?  The manufacturer?  That’s what everyone around me seems to think.  But I almost certain they will be wrong.  Sure the manufacturer should be on the hook for flawed programming.  But I will be shocked if the will accept exposure for your lack of maintenance or a slew of other things that you may do or not do that results in an accident. Will there be multiple policies in place to provide auto liability protection.  That certainly doesn’t sound efficient to me.  And that leads to another issue…..
  • •    Data. Do you think the government will mandate that manufacturers provide data storage for your vehicle?  You bet they will, and I am guessing it will be extreme overkill and wind up looking something akin to an airplanes black box. 
  •      o    Data on everywhere you go and when. 
  •      o    But the real issue is whose data is it.  Is it yours’, the manufacturer’s, your car insurance company’s, the police, government, Homeland Security……….
  • •    What will happen if you’re driving done the interstate and solar flares begin to impact your computer and those driving all the other cars that are on the highway?
  • •    Cable or Dish…..dish users know that trying to watch TV during a heavy rainstorm is a waste of time.  How does the driverless car respond to weather, or construction zones, police officers waiving you around blocked roads, flash floods, and so many more obstacles and hazards that are associated with driving?  Maybe these factors have been already accounted for, but these are a few the questions that I will need to have answered before my first ride with HAL. 

When will driver-less cars be available to the masses?

I don’t know the answer to that question.  If it were up to me I would not subject citizens to any unwarranted risk.  Why should we be forced to share the road with autonomous automobiles until they are safer than the average human driver?  

People are dying every day that could be given access to drugs not yet approved by the FDA.  In many cases, these nonapproved drugs represent the only real hope some have.

Why is our government blocking access to the only hope that these desperate people might have?  I don’t know!  But I am sure of this!  If our government continues refusing dying Americans access to hope, then they damn well better be keeping experimental cars that have a record for higher fatalities, off the roads that my kids are driving.

https://www.insuringky.com/blog/whos-in-the-drivers-seat-part-1-of-2/

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Who’s in the driver’s seat? (Part 1 of 2)

Posted on by Brad Smith
TruePoint Insurance at Christmas
horse and buggy

It started out as “you’re in the saddle.”  Later, as cars replaced horses and buggies, the figure of speech would change to” you’re in the driver’s seat.”  In both cases, the terms were used to acknowledge a person’s authority, that they were in charge or that everything was under control.

There will come a day when neither of these will have meaning to the majority of people.  Whether we are ready or not, we are rapidly moving towards a day where cars will no longer be operated by humans, but instead by computers. 

December of 2018 may soon be remembered as the beginning of the transition to autonomous or driverless cars.  This is the month when Waymo, a Google spinoff, started the first self-driving taxi service.  Operating in the suburbs of Phoenix Waymo One is being met with mixed greetings.

Some envision a transition similar to when we went from the horse and buggy to the horseless carriage.      Others anticipate more sweeping changes.  Not only will we use self-driving vehicles, but the need to own autos will be eliminated.  Their model for the future of auto transportation is driven by estimates that expenses for taxi services will drop by as much as 70% when vehicles no longer require drivers.  With a new abundance of taxis, American consumers will always be within minutes of an autonomous car.  Additional taxi owners will pass on much of their saving to consumers make it impractical to own a car. 

The Proponent’s View

Imagine being able to eliminate standing in line at the DMV to license or register your vehicle.  How about never having to pump gas again, or even better you will never need car insurance again.  There will be no need for maintenance, you no longer make payments for your car loan and parking garages will be a thing of the past.   Aspreviously discussed, fares will plummet, making the option of owning a caruneconomical. 

This group will also argue the benefits associated when potential human err is no longer part of the equation.  They will conclude that driverless cars will be a safer way to commute.

A War is Brewing

Given the initial results in Phoenix, it’s my guess that those In favor of autonomous vehicles are in the minority.  Reports are common of drivers intentionally trying to cause malfunctions and attempting to force driverless cars off the road.  There have even been reports of guns being pulled on occupants of Waymo vans. Why are these drivers so upset? 

It’s not about protecting the status quo, it’s about protecting our families!

Why aren’t more people upset about the string of deathsrelated to autonomous vehicles.  It hasme concerned and apparently, a lot of folk in Arizona are too.   It would appear that many of us are worried that we are moving too fast.  Better said, that our government is failing to protect us. 

Those in favor of driverless cars will argue that the autonomous auto will cut motor vehicle accidents by 80%, maybe as high as 90%.  The key word being will.  The autonomous car is not ready for primetime.  Given recent results, it’s not even close to being street ready. 

Self-driving cars are over 30 times more deadly than current cars and drivers.  Where is our government that predicts us from everything else?  Obviously not in Arizona!  This is where you will find frustrated citizens that have every right to be upset.  Sure pointing a gun at someone is not a solution, it is just adding to the problem.  But allowing a computer to access the streets of Phoenix is equivalent of playing Russian roulette with two bullets.  Why is this being allowed?   Why aren’t the people being heard?

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Continue reading part 2 of 2

Who’s in the driver’s seat? (part 2 of 2)

Tis the season for insurance claims

Posted on by Brad Smith
The holiday season has arrived

What are your least favorite things about the holidays? Don’t get me wrong, the period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day is a wonderful time of year. For many of us in Kentucky, the holiday period ranks right up there with Selection Sunday and the Final Four.

Despite the magic of the holiday season, there is often more Christmas Hassle than there is Cheer! My list of holiday hang-ups is pretty long:

Shopping Risk

     • Shopping
     • Too much Traffic
     • Shopping Malls
     • More Distractions
     • Parking to Shop
     • There is never enough time and       even less during the holidays
     • Shoppers that jaywalk

It’s no wonder that auto accidents increase during the holidays. The last-minute rush for gifts doesn’t mix well with the office parties serving too much holiday cheer.

     • Drive Defensively
     • Avoid extra frustration
     • Manage stress
     • Stay on top changes in the weather
     • And don’t drink and drive

The holidays are also a bad time for home insurance claims. Recent statistics from the National Fire Protection Association show that:

     • there are 800 home fires each year due to holiday decorations
     • 23 home candle fires each day
          o Over half of all home decoration fires are started by candles
          o The three worst days for candle fires:
                Christmas
                New Year’s Day
                New Year’s Eve
     • There are 471 home fires each day as a result of cooking.
          o The leading cause, almost 1/3rd of all cooking-related fires are a        result of unattended cooking
          o Electric ranges have a higher risk than gas
     • Fireworks: Ten% of all fireworks-related fires occur during the days just before and after New Years
     • Christmas trees can be blamed for 170 home fires each year.

33% of all Christmas tree fires occur in January. How many days are you people leaving your Christmas trees up? There aren’t a lot of hard and fast New Year’s Day traditions at our house. Some years we have cooked cabbage, other years we had black-eyed peas. Cornbread, greens, pork and various other foods have made their way to our New Year’s Day table, all in hopes of good luck for the coming year.

But there is one tradition that we have observed every year that we have been married. The Christmas tree and other decorations come down. No discussion. I’ve seen others that suggest that January 5th or 6th is the proper day to take your tree down as that is the 12th day or the end of the celebration of the birth of Christ.

So if trees are coming down on the 5th or 6th of January how can 33% of all Christmas tree fires occur in January. I am sure that some of you are procrastinating, but I think that the high number of January fires is due to dry trees. Below are my thoughts on how to eliminate homeowner’s insurance claims related to Christmas trees:

  1. Obviously how long you leave your tree up impacts the risk of having a fire. But studies have indicated that you can significantly extend the fresh life of your tree by watering regularly. Daily versus weekly watering may double, triple, even quadruple the moisture content of a tree cut for two months. WATER, WATER, WATER, the more you WATER he longer your tree will remain fresh and safe.
  2. The most important advice to maintain a new Christmas tree is WATER. Water your tree daily my personal opinion is to avoid additives. Just Water. Tap water is fine. And never use the spay on tree fresheners.
  3. When you get home with your tree, cut an inch of the bottom to improve the tree’s ability to take up water.
  4. WATER your tree daily. One quart of water per inch your trees stem diameter
  5. Do not place your tree near a heat source.
  6. It is IMPORTANT TO WATER YOUR TREE DAILY
  7. Do not put your tree in an area that will expose the tree to changes in temperatures. Placing your tree to close to a door that is used regularly will lead to premature dring.
  8. Daily WATERING improves the trees moisture content which will increase the time your tree will be fresh and reduce fire risk.
  9. Turn lights off when you leave the room.
  10. BUT WATER the tree before you leave the room
  11. Keep the tree away from all open flames. Candles, fireplace, kitchen and other equipment that could increase the fire hazard.
  12. I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF WATERING YOUR TREE REGULARLY. WHEN I SAY REGULARLY, I AM STRONGLY SUGGESTING THAT YOU WATER YOUR TREE DAILY.
  13. Don’t remove the bark even to get the tree to fit in your stand. Buy a bigger stand.
  14. You don’t need a hole in the bottom of your tree to improve water absorption.
  15. Use low heat lights
  16. Don’t overload your circuits.

Great insurance is just the starting point for sound risk management. Taking the extra step to avoid risky situation further reduces your exposure to a financial loss. By reducing the number of car insurance claims and home insurance claims you should also be rewarded with more competitive insurance premiums in the future.


From all of us at TruePoint Insurance,
We wish you a safe and Merry Christmas

Volunteering and Your Car Insurance

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Volunteer, risk, insurance for volunteers, do i need to insure volunteers, does my insurance protect volunteersVolunteering in your Fisherville, KY community is a good thing; people should do more of it on a regular basis. That said, being charitable doesn’t change the fact that one still needs transportation to get from point A to point B. You’re going to use your car, covered by a personal policy, and it will raise the question where does a consumer cross the line between personal use and liability protection and being part of a non-profit effort or organization? Remember, the private car insurance policy was crafted based on the assumption the driver is traveling for personal use and nothing else. volunteer insurance, auto insurance for volunteers, will commercial insurance cover volunteer autos, are volunteer's vehicles covered by insurnaceRegular volunteering is definitely not in that risk assumption and could give a provider a reason to deny a claim when the insurer asks for details leading up to the accident or damage.

Occasional volunteering in Fisherville, KY is not the issue. Risk assumption is based on regular, overall usage of the vehicle. Regular, especially daily volunteer travel, however, is a risk impact and needs to be declared. The usage will be written into a policy update and the risk assumption updated accordingly. This will avoid claims being denied later on for lack of clarification or even raising questions of insurance fraud, a grave accusation of dealing with. Don’t put yourself in that position when helping out your community.

Give the experts at TruePoint Insurance a call and explain the details of volunteer insurance, ky volunteer insurance, ky auto insurance for volunteers, inurancewhat your volunteering consists of. We will examine your current policy for what can be changed or find a new policy that meets your needs better. Then, you can get back to helping others instead of putting yourself in a bad spot. Give TruePoint Insurance a call today to find out more.

Is Your Home Winter Ready? – Part 3

Posted on by Brad Smith

In this part we discuss a different hazard of the winter season.

Fireplace, winter hazardFiring Up A Hearty Loss

Do you own a fireplace, wood-burning stove or portable heater? What about a gas or an electric furnace? If so, you need to take steps to make sure that they are safe and used properly. This should be done well before the arrival of the heating season.

Have your furnace inspected to make sure that it will operate properly in cold weather. Clean filters and vents will go a long way to keep your furnace a source or warmth rather than a cause of a fire loss. An inspection should also make certain that your furnace is not a creating a dangerous carbon monoxide buildup.

Fireplaces and wood-burning stoves should also be inspected and, if necessary, thoroughly cleaned. Creosote, a tar-like byproduct of burning wood, builds up in chimney and stove flues very quickly. Even a single wood-burning season could produce enough buildup to create a fire or severe smoke hazard. Don’t do the inspection yourself. It’s worth the cost to have a professional inspect and clean your fireplace or stove. Also, make sure that you don’t burn softwood or paper. Using anything other than hardwoods exposes your fireplace or stove to quicker creosote buildup (softwood) or more intense heat (paper), which could clog or contribute to cracking a flue or liner.Home fire risk increase in winter

Be very careful with the use of portable heaters. Depending upon the type, they can be prone to malfunction or could be a hazardous source of burns, especially for children. Further, many types can be easily tipped with the combination of heat source and fuels, creating a serious fire hazard.

Finally, make sure you have fire/smoke and carbon monoxide detectors properly installed and in good working order. Test them and put in new batteries. Small expense, big payoff.

As always, insurance professional is a valuable source of safety and insurance information. Don’t hesitate to contact an agent to discuss your questions. If you haven’t had the chance, please be sure to read parts one and two of “Is Your Home Winter Ready” which discusses other winter concerns.

 

            Return to Section 1                                                           Return to Section 2

 

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