Shannon Harvey Insurance

Do you ever find yourself at the end of a long day of hard work only to feel like you haven't accomplished much? I'll climb out on a limb and guess that you occasionally have. Whenever I get that feeling I recall a story I read about Andrew Carnegie, who built the Carnegie Steel Company and amassed one of the largest fortunes ever in the United States.

The story goes that Andrew Carnegie was at a crossroads in his personal and business life when he met with a business consultant who had a system that he guaranteed would offer success to anyone who applied it consistently. Carnegie was skeptical of the claim, but the consultant pressured him into trying the system free for a year and if it was successful he would accept whatever fee Carnegie considered appropriate. Carnegie agreed and applied the system, enjoying exponential results in both his personal and business life. At year's end, Carnegie is said to have sent the consultant $20,000--a vast sum considering this would have been shortly after the end of the Civil War.

Upon hearing the story it's easy to assume the said system must be too complex for most people to implement in their own lives. On the contrary, the system is quite simple and you've likely heard it before. Carnegie was advised to: a) sit down each evening and list the activities to be done the next day which would move him toward his life goals; b) prioritize the activities in order of importance; c) begin the next day with the most important activity and stick with it until finished; and d) then move on to the next activity and repeat. This system, Carnegie was told, would allow him to focus on the most important activity and even if that was the only thing he worked on, his energies would be applied in the best direction.

Stories like this one get passed around for so long that it's easy to dismiss them as fiction. But the funny thing is this system works. (Ever heard of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, the best-seller written by Steven Covey? Probably so, considering it has sold more than 15-million copies. When you get a chance take a look at Habit #3.) It works well enough for me that it's what I fall back on when I feel as though I'm spinning my wheels or when things are becoming disorganized in my life. I sit down, make a list and start working on the most important one. The way I see it, if it's good enough for Andrew Carnegie then it's good enough for me.

In reading The State paper recently, I noticed an article entitled "ID Theft, Fraud Rising, Report Says." The article highlighted that Identity Theft is on the rise in South Carolina and across the country, and it remains the top reason for consumer complaints for the 9th year in a row. A consumer advocate indicated that these types of crimes tend to INCREASE during a recession. Also, during 2008 in SC, ID Theft/Fraud cost consumers $14.2 million.

But the news isn't all bad. The 3 main steps to protecting yourself from identity theft are simple and I will summarize them in a 3-part series. Make them a habit to lower your risk for Identity Theft.

Step 2 of 3: Be on the lookout for problems.

No matter how careful you are, there's always some risk of identity theft. Keep an eye on your accounts so you can spot suspicious activity right away.

·         Look out for mail or bills that don't arrive when you expected, which might mean someone has taken your mail.

·         Pay close attention to credit card or account statements that you didn't expect to receive, which could be a sign that someone has opened an account in your name.

·         If your credit is denied and you don't know why, check your credit report right away to look for problems. (Visit AnnualCreditReport.com for three free reports each year.)

·         Pay close attention to your monthly statements, double checking that all the charges and activity are accurate.

·         Check your credit report several times a year. Under federal law, each of the three major credit bureaus is required to give you your credit report for free once a year.

For full information on how to respond to identity theft, visit the FTC's "Deter, Detect, Defend" website.

In reading The State paper recently, I noticed an article entitled "ID Theft, Fraud Rising, Report Says." The article highlighted that Identity Theft is on the rise in South Carolina and across the country, and it remains the top reason for consumer complaints for the 9th year in a row. A consumer advocate indicated that these types of crimes tend to INCREASE during a recession. Also, during 2008 in SC, ID Theft/Fraud cost consumers $14.2 million.

How can you protect yourself from identity theft?

Identity theft is nothing new, but the "digital age" has made it easier than ever to gather, organize, and transmit large amounts of information--including the credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, and account information that identity thieves need to do their dirty work.

But the news isn't all bad. The 3 main steps to protecting yourself from identity theft are simple and I will summarize them in a 3-part series. Make them a habit to lower your risk for Identity Theft.

Step 1 of 3: Keep your information safe.

Don't give identity thieves a chance. There's a lot you can do to protect your personal information:

·         Shred documents with personal information (including account numbers, or your Social Security number or birth date).

·         Shred credit card offers and other offers that a thief could make use of.

·         Protect your Social Security number. Don't carry your Social Security card with you, in case your wallet gets stolen, and don't write it on your checks.

·         Only give out personal information if you know the person or group you're dealing with and you initiated the contact-whether by phone, mail, or Internet.

·         Instead of clicking the link in an unsolicited email, type in the web address yourself. (Email links can redirect you to a scammer's site, tricking you into entering personal information in an unsafe place.)

·         Make your password hard to guess. Choices like your birth date, mother's maiden name, or Social Security number are too obvious. Instead, try a random or made-up word, and include at least one number.

A couple more interesting facts for South Carolina: Identity Theft victims are usually younger than 18 or older than 65 & Identity Thieves are most often relatives or friends.

According to www.IDTheftCenter.org: Victims now spend an average of 600 hours recovering from this crime, often over a period of years. Three years ago the average was 175 hours of time, representing an increase of about 347%. Based on 600 hours times the indicated victim wages, this equals nearly $16,000 in lost potential or realized income.

For full information on how to respond to identity theft, visit the FTC's "Deter, Detect, Defend" website.

So you're thinking about buying a hybrid vehicle. And you're wondering what some of the advantages might be. Here are a few for you to mull over.

1. Fuel efficiency.

If you're sick of paying $40, $50, $60, or more to fill up, a hybrid could be what you're after. In fact, you can get 20 or 30 more miles to each and every gallon you put into a hybrid car.

Of course, the initial investment means it'll take a while to start truly saving money. Over the long run, though, driving a hybrid could free up some money in your budget.

2. Lower emissions.

A hybrid car uses a combination of electricity and gasoline. You can feel good knowing that a hybrid car has less impact on the earth than other cars you've owned.

3. Tax incentives.

Buying a hybrid could knock off up to $3,400 off your federal tax bill this year--and your state might offer even more incentives.

Perhaps Kermit the Frog was a touch off base when he said it's not easy being green.

While a majority of Americans think they know how to protect themselves, they still commit acts that make them easy targets for thieves. In order to help protect yourself from theft and fraud related to your car, It's a good idea to understand how thieves work and think. The following steps, which are based on guidance from the National Insurance Crime Bureau, will help decrease the chance that your vehicle will fall prey to thieves.

Step 1: Being Smart is Simple...and easy

Take Your Keys With You: Make sure to take your keys out of the ignition every time you leave your vehicle. Do not keep a spare set of keys in your car - thieves know all the hiding places. Lock Your Doors and Close Your Windows: Door and window locks serve as your first defense against thieves. Make sure all car doors are locked and windows are secure before walking away. Park Under the Lights: Thieves are less likely to approach a vehicle in well-lit areas with pedestrian traffic.

Step 2: Don't Be Afraid to Get Help...Install a protective device

Sound the Alarm: Audible sensor alarms will sound after they detect motion or impact, which can cause thieves to step away from a vehicle to avoid being caught. Stop Hot Wiring Cold: By installing a steering column collar, you can easily prevent "hot-wiring" a vehicle. Lock Your Wheel: Use a steering wheel lock to prevent movement of your steering wheel.

Step 3: Get Serious About Prevention...Install an immobilizing device

Get a Smart Key: Keys containing radio frequencies or coded computer chips will help ensure that your car will only start with one specific key. Establish a Fuse cut-off: If the car is started via short circuit, the vehicle will not operate.

Install a Kill Switch: Unless a special switch is activated, electricity will not flow to the engine. Use Wireless Ignition Authentication, where possible: Key fobs or wallet tabs with transmitters are used to activate electricity to the ignition.

Step 4: Don't let them get away...Install a tracking device

Budget permitting, consumers can install tracking devices that combine wireless and GPS capabilities to signal to police and/or a monitoring system that a car has been stolen. These devices tend to be very expensive, but effective in locating a stolen vehicle.

You're definitely not the only one! Ask your mortgage lender about using an escrow account for your homeowners insurance. That way your monthly mortgage payment will be adjusted to include your home insurance premium. When your next premium is due, your lender will pay it using the money in your escrow account.

Say your home insurance is $600 a year. That works out to $50 a month, so the amount you send to the mortgage company each month would be increased by $50. Each month, that $50 would be deposited into your escrow account. When the bill comes due, your lender will send a payment from your escrow money.

It's so common to include escrow that the industry has come up with an acronym to describe how the mortgage payment breaks down: PITI (Principal on the mortgage / Interest on the mortgage / Taxes held in escrow / Insurance held in escrow).

Read more about homeowners insurance.

I recommend talking to your lender about the escrow before you close on the house...and remember, this is different from the escrow for closing costs. For one thing, you need to make sure you'll have an escrow account. While they're common, not everybody has one. You might also want to ask whether there's a minimum balance for escrow accounts, how your monthly payment will be adjusted if your insurance rate changes in the future, and whether your property taxes can also be included in your escrow payment.

What might happen if you're involved in an auto accident that is your fault, which injures the other driver, and the cost of those injuries exceeds your policy liability limits? What if the accident totals that person's vehicle, which costs more to replace than your liability limit would cover? Is it likely that you could end up on the wrong end of a lawsuit with your savings, retirement account and home equity up for grabs? Does just thinking about the possibility stress you out some? Perhaps a Personal Umbrella Policy (PUP) would provide the stress relief you can't afford to live without.

A PUP works with a customer's existing liability coverage by providing additional protection. Additional benefits include:

• Customers will not have to face court alone. If they are sued over an incident covered under their personal umbrella policy, we will retain and pay for an attorney to represent them in court.
• Their coverage goes everywhere. So, they are covered no matter where they are, including outside the U.S. like Cancun, Cozumel or other spring break hot spots.
• Helps with gaps in their coverage. Homeowners and auto policies do not cover certain types of incidents, like those alleging slander. But a personal umbrella policy helps provide protection for this kind of incident as well as others.
• Reimbursement for lost wages. Customers will be reimbursed for the wages lost for absence from work for a court appearance, up to the limits specified for this benefit in the policy.

We offer a range of personal umbrella coverage amounts in $1 million increments, and they are surprisingly inexpensive. Customers may qualify for up to a maximum coverage amount of $5 million. While you hope to never need a Personal Umbrella Policy, it's better to plan for the worst just in case.

Your family's security primarily depends on having a safe, comfortable place to live.  This is where your homeowners policy comes in.Your policy will contain a description of your home's structure and a list of excluded events. If something happens, you can make a claim. Your Residence Type Matters Structures vary so widely that a different policy is required for each type of home.

• A Condo policy typically covers interior structures like wallboard and lighting fixtures. Depending on your state, your association by-laws, and insurer, external walls will not be covered.
• A Home's entire structure is covered along with sheds and detached garages.
• A Manufactured Home's entire structure is usually covered, while sheds and garages may require an optional policy.
• A Renters policy usually has no physical structure coverage at all, but it does provide essential liability and contents coverage.

Most Unfortunate Events are Covered Most insurance companies offer coverage for the same events that may damage the structure of your home, including fire, smoke, lightning, wind, hail, frozen plumbing, theft, explosion, vandalism, the weight of ice and snow, and a few others.

Excluded Events are Named in the Policy An agent can explain the events that would not be covered by your specific policy when it comes to your home's structure. Typically, floods and earthquakes are excluded from basic policies, but you may be able to get insurance for those with separate policies. A few other conditions most companies specifically exclude are mold, fungus, wet rot, dry rot and bacteria.

Click here to read more about Homeowners Insurance.

When insuring your home's structure, make sure you plan for the worst even if you're hoping for the best.

Accidents happen...and so do lawsuits. Liability insurance helps keep a stranger's misfortune from becoming yours. For example, letting a tree branch grow over the sidewalk doesn't look like a dangerous hazard. But if a child is knocked off her parent's shoulder, falling to the sidewalk - you could potentially be accused of negligence and sued. If you are found liable in court, your personal assets could be at risk.

Family Liability Coverage helps protect you against the financial uncertainty arising from injury or property damage that you or your family may cause to other people - on or away from your property. It typically includes compensation for the injured party, the cost of defending you in court and any court awards or settlements up to the limits of your policy.

Compare the total worth of everything you have with the limits of your policy and talk to an agent to make sure you are comfortable with your level of protection.

• Retirement accounts [IRA, 401(k), pension plans]
• Non-retirement investments (stocks, bonds, mutual funds)
• Liquid assets (checking, savings, CDs, money market accounts)
• Personal property (actual value of all your possessions if you sold them: cars, boats, jewelry, furniture, etc.)
• Home and other real estate equity

In the event that you or anyone in your household is accused of accidentally causing injury or damage to property, your insurance coverage can help by providing for legal defense fees and, in the event of a settlement or judgment, can pay damages (up to your policy limit). Talk with an agent about limits for this coverage, as coverage is dependent on your particular policy limit.

Click here to read more about Liability Insurance.

Thinking there might be some changes you can make around the home to conserve energy? You're on to something. To live even greener, you can:

• Choose energy-efficient windows. Go with double-pane windows and you might even reduce the risk of break-ins (because double-pane windows can be more difficult to break).
• Insulate your water pipes. You'll save energy and it may reduce the risk of frozen pipes.
• Insulate your ceiling and attic. Air sealing reduces heat loss into attics, which can also reduce ice dam formation.
• Seal your ducts. Duct sealing reduces the risk of pressure imbalances in homes. (Pressure imbalances can increase fire risks and could enable the risk of toxic gases like carbon monoxide entering the living space.)
• Replace Torchiere halogen light fixtures. Choose more efficient fixtures to save energy and possibly reduce the risk of fire.
• Put motion sensors on outdoor lights. You can reduce electricity use and you may even improve security.
• Purchase sealed combustion appliances (furnaces and hot water heaters). These are more efficient, and you may also reduce risk of fire and carbon monoxide fumes getting into the living space.

If you're already in Good Hands with Allstate, you can sign up for our Easy Pay Plan and Allstate will make a $10 contribution to a national, environmentally conscious organization with local, highly visible initiatives.

Click here to read more about living green.

Perhaps Kermit the Frog wasn't entirely correct...it can be easy being green. -Shannon