Shannon Harvey Insurance

Does your world seem to be getting more complex and overwhelming by the day? Do you suffer from information overload, with technology and new consumer products fighting for your time, money and energy? Maybe I can help.

Amidst all the frantic confusion, some people are choosing to pare down their lives rather than being swept up. They often can find themselves living happier, quieter and more content lives than they were before.

Don't worry, I recognize it's not practical for everyone to move to a small house in a quiet country town. What you can do is make small changes for a big impact. Here are ten ways you can simplify your life.

1 - Loosen your schedule

Do you find yourself always rushing from one thing to another? Or that every minute of your day is planned out? Try planning less things during the day and leave more time between activities. As a bonus, you can get ready for things earlier, and you won't feel like you're always behind the eight-ball.

2 - Eliminate 20%

Stuff and baggage accumulates over time. It's a good idea to take a sweep through your stuff every few months or so and eliminate 20% of your clothes, toys, electronics, etc. You can donate them to charity or even consider selling them through a garage sale or other various online auction sites.

3 - Focus your priorities

Spend some time thinking about what you're doing with your time. Think of the four or five most important things to you. Are you able to focus on those? Or do you have too many commitments that leave you with little time to do the things you love? Cut everything except those four or five things.

4 - Go small

This is a big step, but can go a long way toward simplifying your life. Do you have rooms in your house or apartment just for stuff? Are there always empty seats in your car? If moving to a smaller, less expensive house or trading in for a smaller, more fuel-efficient car is something you can do, you'll find that a lot of weight may be taken off your shoulders.

5 - Learn to say no

Whether it's saying no to yourself when you're at the mall or saying no to a co-worker that asks you to do extra work, learn how to say no to things that don't align with your priorities. You'll spend less time focusing on things that don't make you happy.

6 - Clear your inbox

Do you have tons of unread email messages? Or piles of unread mail at home. On top of being unnecessary clutter, an unknown pile of to-dos can wear at the back of your mind and keep you from staying on top of things. Keep your inbox and unread mail at zero and you'll find yourself being more efficient and relaxed.

7 - Create a simple, healthy menu

Is figuring out what to make for dinner a struggle? Are you making a trip to the grocery store every day for extra ingredients? Make a simple, healthy menu for all your meals, and get all the ingredients in one trip. Make it a family event, or use it as quiet time to think.

8 - Clear your desk

Some people make it a habit to have a clean desk when they leave work every day. An organized workspace without clutter is efficient, relaxing and will make you more productive.

9 - Leave a small online footprint

Are you a member of every social networking site out there? Do you have more email addresses than you can remember? Pick one email and one social networking site, and delete all the rest. You'll spend less time trying to keep up.

10 - Do nothing

Carve out a small part of your day to do nothing other than reflect on what's going on in your world. Make it a quiet, peaceful place and try to clear your mind from anything that's weighing you down. Often you'll find yourself coming out of this time refreshed and ready to tackle anything that comes your way.

For the last nineteen years, the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) Board of Sponsor members have been working collectively to "Pass the Word" throughout the country that early detection of breast cancer saves lives. This year, they are depending on the general public to join in this national effort to "Pass the Word" to as many women as possible.

NBCAM offers several ways to "Pass the Word" this October on their website www.nbcam.org . In addition, the website contains several sources of more information about the importance of early detection.

National Mammography Day

National Mammography Day will be celebrated on October 16th. On this day some radiologists provide discounts or free mammogram screenings. Visit the website www.nbcam.org to find out how to get the list of facilities that will be participating in National Mammography Day.

Some peace of mind that lets you Focus on the fight...

For just pennies a day, many people own Cancer Insurance policies to supplement other medical insurance they may have. These policies will pay benefits directly to you, the insured (unless assigned), and can be used to help your family pay for expenses you would most likely incur when undergoing cancer treatment.

The benefits from this insurance can be used to cover things like lost income, childcare expenses, extraordinary housekeeping expenses, special diets, even meals and lodging away from home. It's peace of mind at a time when your mind needs to be focused on getting better.

Home safety is important and can also be easy by taking a few simple steps. I'm a big fan of keeping things simple and these are just that.

Prepare For Emergencies:

• Keep a telephone handy in your bedroom and your kitchen or living room.
• Create a list of emergency phone numbers you can keep near your phones, including 911 and the poison control hotline (1-800-222-1222).
• Keep a disaster plan for you and your family. The list should include emergency contacts and designate a meeting place outside your neighborhood so family members can meet up in the event of a disaster.
• Have a well-stocked first-aid kit in your home.

Following these few simple steps to prepare for emergencies allow you to plan for the worst while hoping for the best. Your family will thank you for that.

I've often heard other insurance professionals say, "People buy life insurance because of love." Life insurance helps you to ensure that the financial needs of your family are met in the event of your death. This gives you peace of mind, since you'll know your family will be secure in the future.

So, to answer the question, you need a life insurance policy if your loved ones depend on your income or stand to inherit a financial burden in the event of your death.

The money your dependents will receive, "the death benefit," can help pay essential day-to-day expenses, such as mortgage and medical bills, and help your family reach longer-term goals such as your children's college education. Plus, life insurance can help ensure that your loved ones are not burdened with debt or forced to sell assets to pay outstanding bills or taxes.

Okay, so you've decided you do need life insurance and you're now asking: "How much life insurance do I need?" This depends on a few factors. Generally, the rule of thumb is 7 times your salary; however, as life changes, your insurance needs might, too. It's a good idea to reassess your needs annually to make sure you have enough to properly protect your family.

Beyond protection, life insurance can be the cornerstone of your family's financial security by providing savings and wealth transfer opportunities. In fact, the very first step in selecting life insurance is to decide how you want the insurance to work for your family.

If you have more questions, I can help you determine the amount of protection you may need and the type of insurance that's right for you.

College football is right around the corner, which means the biggest college football rivalries will soon be heating up. Are you planning a road trip to your favorite college or university for a football game? Do your plans include a trip to Clemson for the Tigers' season-opener against Middle Tennessee on Saturday at Memorial Stadium?

Well, you won't be alone on the roadways, so don't let the typical distractions ruin your trips this college football season. Drivers are faced with the added distractions of extra traffic on the roadways heading to the stadium, congested parking lots and campuses with plenty of pedestrians and moving vehicles. With so many things to do, and so little time to do it, it's no wonder why we try to multitask while driving.

In 2007, nearly 112 people died each day in motor vehicle crashes around the United States on average, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Allstate encourages drivers practice caution behind the wheel, and offer some good driver safety tips:

•·                     Keep your eyes on the road.

•·                     Be aware of your surroundings at all times.

•·                     Do not eat while driving

•·                     Do not apply cosmetics or groom if you are behind the wheel.

•·                     Don't text or use your cell phone behind the wheel

•·                     Pull over if you feel drowsy

This fall you'll root for your favorite team to take extra care of the football late in the fourth quarter when the game is on the line. Use that same frame of mind when you're behind the wheel making those trips back and forth to the games. It's okay to hope for the best as long as you plan for the worst.

It's amazing how much influence a realtor can have on a homebuyer, whether it's which neighborhoods are most appealing, which builders have the best reputations, or which lender is currently offering the lowest interest rates. Another area I've seen some realtors separate themselves from their competition is in pointing out a few things about homeowners insurance, especially since it's easy to think all homeowners insurance policies were created equal (even though they're not).

Here are 4 tips I've heard Expert Realtors give that are not only beneficial to their clients, but also add value to the realtor/buyer relationship.

1.     Since you're married...for about $25/year, you can usually increase the limits on covered losses for Jewelry/Silver/Watches/Furs to $10,000. Otherwise, it's usually only $1,000 for Jewelry & $2,500 for Silver. If you notice a beautiful diamond ring, it's a good bet the owner wouldn't sell it for $1,000 which is essentially what they would be doing if it was lost and they only had the standard coverage on their homeowner's policy.

2.     Since you have a child in college (or soon to be in college)...if they're in a dorm, then covered losses would usually fall under your homeowner's insurance policy. If the student is renting an apartment, you'll want them to obtain a renter's policy. The average renter usually has $30,000 in personal belongings (think about jeans, shoes, and other clothing in the closet, ALONG with any computer equipment) which can be covered for roughly $180/year...which is usually what they'll pay for just a few textbooks during the semester.

3.     You mentioned your photography/music equipment...for about $20/year, you can usually increase the limits on covered losses for Music/Photography equipment to $5,000. Otherwise, it's usually only $1,000. And if they're like most enthusiasts that I know, they likely collect equipment much like stamp collector collects stamps...and the standard coverage simply won't do.

4.     With Identity Theft on the rise for the 9^th year in a row...you should consider adding Identity Theft Protection to your homeowner's insurance coverage, which can often be done for about $30/year. Identity Theft is on the rise and remains the top reason for consumer complaints for the 9th year in a row (and these types of crimes tend to INCREASE during a recession). According to www.IDTheftCenter.org: Victims now spend an average of 600 hours recovering from this crime, often over a period of years. Based on 600 hours times the indicated victim wages, this equals nearly $16,000 in lost potential or realized income.

The great thing about these 4 tips is that a potential problem can be solved for less than most of us spend to fill up our tanks with gas. If a covered loss occurs, your customer would get plenty of mileage out of the money they've spent. There are usually no traffic jams on the extra mile and with these 4 easy observations, you can not only help your clients but you'll also endear them to you for future transactions.

The 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season is here, and hurricane prone states are doing their part to help prepare their citizens and communities.  From sales tax holidays on hurricane and emergency preparedness equipment in Virginia and Louisiana, to a major hurricane exercise in Florida, states are taking actions to ensure that citizens and the emergency response community are prepared for the 2009 hurricane season.

"Across the country, we are working and communicating with our state and local partners to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "States are also taking it upon themselves to make sure their citizens and responders are prepared. These efforts will go a long way in determining the outcome of the next hurricane or disaster, and I applaud them."

Click here to find examples of just some of the activities taking place in hurricane prone states. FEMA leads and supports the nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation, to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation from all hazards including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.

South Carolina has already takens steps to communicate with state residents and if you click here the link will take you directly to the SC Emergency Management Division web site. Once there, you will be able to access an official South Carolina Hurricane Guide, which will be available in both English and Spanish.

While it's easy to hope for the best, it's better to plan for the worst.

Firing up your backyard grill this weekend, or for a Fourth of July cookout?  Before you ignite the charcoal briquettes or crank open the gas valve on the propane tank, make sure you've run through your grilling safety checklist before tossing food over the flames.  Even the slightest oversight can spark danger, potentially leading to extensive property damage and severe burn injuries.

Summer time offers plenty of opportunities for families and friends to get together for large, outdoor parties. But in the excitement of planning the event and preparing the food, it's easy to overlook basic safety tips that may prevent your backyard barbecue from going up in flames.

Grill Safety Checklist

To avoid grilling disasters, follow these safety tips to enjoy safe outdoor cooking all summer long:

• Make sure your barbecue grill is on a level surface far enough away from homes, furniture, children and pets
• Check to see grill legs are sturdy and avoid grilling on a combustible surface such as a wooden deck.
• Position your grill so sparks and smoke won't fly towards people, furniture or buildings
• Avoid grilling in a confined space and if possible, don't grill on balconies and decks of apartments and condominiums
• Protect your hands and body by using potholder-type gloves and a heavy apron when over the grill
• Keep lighted cigarettes, matches and open flames away from your grill
• Clean your grill after every use to avoid grease buildup at the bottom

For Charcoal Grills:

• Never allow burned coals to smolder in any container on a wooden deck and make sure to douse coals with water before they're disposed
• Do not discard used briquettes in a cardboard carton or any other combustible container
• Avoid using gasoline, kerosene, alcohol or a cigarette lighter to ignite a fire
• Do not add more starter fluid to an existing fire
• Only use enough charcoal to last for the amount of time it's needed
• Make sure the ash catcher is properly attached when using a kettle grill
• In the event of bad weather while grilling, do not move a grill indoors; hot charcoal can build up lethal levels of carbon monoxide.

For Gas Grills:

• Always store gas tanks in an upright position outside and away from your home or garage and out of the reach of children and pets
• Check to see tank valves are turned off when not in use
• To see if there may be a leak in a tube or connection, pour soapy water over it with the valve turned open - bubbles will appear if there is a leak.  Should there be a leak, shut off the gas immediately and do not use the grill until it is repaired

And for all types of grilling, never leave your grill unattended when in use.  Taking time to check for safety will ensure that any fireworks over the holiday are not related to your grilling handiwork.

"What if I died tomorrow. How would my loved ones fare financially?" That is the unthinkable...the dreaded question nobody likes to think about, but not doing so can have serious consequences. A death can cause plenty of emotional stress on a family - make sure financial difficulties don't get added to the mix. Take steps now so that if the worst were to happen, your family knows and understands how to execute your wishes and has the financial support it needs to carry on.

The nonprofit Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education (LIFE) offers the following five simple steps to help people get their financial affairs in order so that they can rest easy knowing their families would be taken care of when they die:

1. Make it a Family Affair. Be direct when talking with loved ones about this difficult topic. Keep the conversation private, in a setting where everyone feels comfortable and involve as many immediate family members as you can. Then talk through worst-case scenarios to find out what everyone's concerns are and needs would be, financial and otherwise. An example might be identifying who would take care of your children if you and your spouse died or deciding how much money your family would need upon your death to meet ongoing living expenses and fund future plans. Answering these questions will help ensure that your family is well taken care of no matter what twists and turns life brings.

2. Pay it Forward - Purchase adequate life insurance for you and your spouse now to help your family avoid financial potholes down the road. Having the right amount of coverage will help ensure that your family's dreams can be realized even if you're not there to witness them. How much and what kind of life insurance to buy is based on a number of factors,  so seek assistance from a qualified insurance professional.

3. Where There's A "Will" There's A Way. I often hear people say, "I don't want to make a will...I might die." Guess what...you're going to die anyway. You might as well die with a will in place. Make a will and update it frequently. Make sure it specifies executors, trustees and guardians for dependent children. And don't forget to get a living will also (health care directive) to make sure loved ones know whether or not you want to be kept on artificial life support. Likewise, you need to designate a power of attorney - someone you authorize to manage your affairs, typically financial ones, if you're not able to handle them yourself.

4. Rest in Peace - Make decisions for final arrangements including: your funeral, type of burial, where you want to be buried and whether you want to be an organ donor. Write wishes down and inform family and close friends.

5. Make a list and check it twice - Make a master list of all key financial information, to include bank account numbers, mortgage and insurance policies. Then go one step further and write down where important non-financial information and valuables are located, including birth and marriage certificates, titles and deeds and safe deposit box keys. Be sure to include contact information for all of the professionals who help with your financial and legal affairs, such as your insurance advisor, attorney or accountant. Lastly, keep copies of the list in a safe place and tell your family members how to get to it.

While we all like to hope for the best, it's always wise to plan for the worst.

Renting out part of your house can be a great source of passive income, especially in this economy. Good for you!

When it comes to home insurance, your policy is made up of several types of coverage. One is designed to protect the structure-your home itself. Another is meant to protect what's inside the home-your stuff.

Your home insurance policy will protect your home itself whether you rent out part, all, or none of it. But your tenant's possessions will only be covered if they're related to you. You might consider encouraging them to get renters insurance. You'd certainly hate for something to happen, especially if they're not properly protected.

If you're renting out a finished basement or garden apartment, keep in mind that the drywall, carpeting, and fixtures aren't protected by structure coverage. You may need to increase your personal property coverage to make sure they're protected in case of a fire, or other damage.

Remember, it's always a good idea to talk to an agent if you have questions about your home insurance policy.