Category: Insurance

For many families, summer is a time to have fun, make memories and enjoy other’s company while school is out and organized activities are on hiatus. Whether your summer plans include road trips, pool parties or days spent on the water, hopefully your time will be spent making the most of the season.

As you prepare for summer, set aside some time to review your insurance policies. Since you’ll likely be welcoming more guests into your home and spending more time travelling, it’s important to make sure your policies cover your planned adventures and are sufficient to cover life’s unexpected moments, too. There are some specific steps you should take no matter how you’ll be enjoying your summer.

At home

Are you one of the lucky homeowners with a pool in your backyard? Having a pool helps you enjoy even the hottest summer days, but it also requires more extensive coverage in your homeowner’s insurance policy. Before you invite your neighbors over for a swim, review your current policy to make sure you are adequately protected.

If you live anywhere near the coast, you might also know summertime by another name – hurricane season. Though no amount of preparation can prevent a summer storm, you can make sure your family is covered before the spaghetti models take over your TV screens. Most homeowner’s insurance policies don’t include coverage for flooding as a result of a hurricane, so it’s important to understand what coverage you have. And remember, the best time to make sure you’re protected in the event of hurricane-related damage is before there’s a named system on record.

On the road

If you own a recreational vehicle (RV), make sure you revisit your coverage limit on stated amount policies as many owners are seeing appreciation in the value of their RV rather than depreciation. Additionally, consider maximum vacation liability limits and make sure the replacement cost on personal items that will be stowed on the RV is sufficient.

For motorcycle owners, considering underinsured motorist coverage could be the smartest move you make this summer. Many riders opt out of this coverage due to the cost, but the reason it can be pricey is because it’s one of the most utilized coverages in the event of a bad accident. For example, a motorcycle rider is hit by a driver with state minimum liability. The accident results in $200,000 in medical bills and $50,000 in lost wages for the rider. The at-fault driver’s policy with minimum liability limits will only cover $25,000, leaving the insured biker with $225,000 of expenses that aren’t covered. An extra $300-$400/year for underinsured motorist coverage might seem expensive at first, but when you consider the potential costs of opting out, it seems like a bargain.

On the water

Is your family’s idea of summer fun a day spent on the water? Make sure anyone who will operate your boat this summer has taken a boating safety course, especially new drivers who don’t have much experience. Boat owners should also review their insurance policies and consider high liability limits and maximum med-pay limits, which can help avoid litigation after an accident. Smart boaters know that safety comes first, and having insurance coverage is a crucial step in protecting your family’s summer fun.

Insurance policies can be confusing, and it can be difficult to know what to look for when evaluating coverage. But we’re here to help! Our team of advisors can provide a complimentary review to help you select coverages that meet the needs of your family. Give us a call at 833-359-0725 or email us to get started.

Congratulations! Your child (technically, now an adult) just graduated college and is embarking on the transition into real adult life. For new college graduates, it’s an exciting time filled with many “firsts.” They are starting to search for their first professional job, look for their first place, and maybe purchase their first new vehicle.

In all the transitions, it’s easy to overlook an important detail—insurance. While considering insurance is certainly not as thrilling as those other significant “firsts,” it is a necessary step to help manage financial losses.

Here are three insurance coverages your new college graduate should explore:

#1 – Renter’s Insurance

Until now, your college graduate may have lived in a dorm room or shared housing with other students. Now, it’s time for them to consider making a home in their first apartment.

New renters often don’t understand that the landlord’s insurance does not cover their belongings. Should they experience an unforeseen situation – like a burglary, stormy weather that causes a leaky roof to destroy their furnishings, or small fire that creates smoke damage – they need to be protected. Renter’s insurance protects them from losing everything they are working so hard to obtain.

It’s a good idea for them to create a list of their belongings inside the apartment, placing an approximate value on each item. From electronics to linens and clothing to dishes, every piece adds up—and fast, if it all needs to be replaced. The total is the suggested amount of renter’s insurance they should purchase.

#2 – Auto Insurance

Many college graduates reward themselves for their diligent work throughout the past years—and for landing a fantastic job—with the purchase of a new car. And, why not? Purchasing that first brand new car is a significant milestone for a young adult. With a new car comes personal auto insurance, a package policy that includes coverage for liability and physical damage.  

Liability insurance pays when your graduate injures another person or damages their property (such as their car) in an at-fault accident. Every state requires drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability coverage. While some coverage is better than none, minimum limits are not nearly enough to protect them following an accident where they are at-fault. Contact an Insurance Solutions advisor to help you understand available how higher limits may be an option to help them have adequate coverage.

Physical damage covers the cost to repair the damage to your own car. Prepare them for the increase in premium that will accompany the new vehicle when compared to that of the old hand-me-down they were driving.

Even if the cost seems scary, don’t let your new graduate skimp on coverage – advise them to purchase guaranteed asset protection (GAP) coverage. This type of insurance covers the difference of the loan payoff amount on a new or pre-owned vehicle and the actual cash value (ACV) of the vehicle, when an insurance carrier, due to theft or an accident, deems it a total loss.

Remember, liability pays the other person, physical damage is required to cover damages to your car. Both coverages are too important to go with the “minimums.”

#3 – Life Insurance

Most college graduates see the standard life insurance included in their employee benefits as sufficient coverage. For many, that could be the case. Like every rule, there’s an exception or two to consider:

• Exception #1 – Your young adult has a child who will need to be raised, fed, clothed, and educated in the unlikely situation of his or her premature death.

• Exception #2 – Your college graduate has student loans along with a co-signer. In the even the primary borrower on the student loan passes away, Sallie Mae will call upon that co-signer to pay off the debt. In fact, the debt often becomes immediately due in full in that circumstance. Life insurance protects the co-signer in this case.

College graduation is the beginning of the next chapter in life and it’s important to help your graduate understand now is the time to plan for the future. While it may not be the most exciting discussion, having insurance will help prepare them for unforeseen circumstances.

Still have questions on how much coverage your graduate needs? Give us a call at 833-359-0725 or email us to schedule an appointment with a South Carolina Federal Insurance Solutions advisor. We can help you feel confident they have the protection they need.

Source: Trusted Choice®

What is Umbrella Insurance?

Umbrella insurance can cover the extra costs if you exhaust coverage from your other liability policies. This type of coverage is different from other primary forms of insurance because it does not cover your own property. Rather, it protects you financially from claims of damage to others’ property; it also protects you financially if you are found legally responsible for a bodily injury to another person.

There are two types of umbrella insurance — commercial and personal — and both are considered supplementary to primary, or underlying, policies. A personal umbrella is designed to protect your personal assets from liability claims, particularly in scenarios where you may be held liable for damages. A commercial umbrella is designed to protect your business from liability risks related to its operation.

For example, if you’re at fault in an auto accident, or a neighbor is injured in your home, a liability claim against you could exhaust the limits (maximum reimbursement) provided by your underlying policy. That policy would usually be your homeowners, auto, renters or condo insurance, whichever is applicable. This is when you can turn to your umbrella policy for additional coverage or what’s called “excess liability coverage.” Without this additional coverage, you will pay out of pocket for anything your underlying policy doesn’t cover.

What If I Don’t Have Umbrella Insurance?

If a claim is brought against you and you do not have sufficient coverage from your underlying policies, anything you own can be seized to cover costs — that can include your house, your car, your investments, your retirement accounts, and your checking and saving accounts. Your future income can also be considered as an asset, causing your wages to be garnished.

How Does Umbrella Insurance Work?

Usually, you won’t turn to your umbrella policy unless a claim has been made against you, the policyholder, by someone who believes you have wronged them in some way. First your underlying policy — most likely your homeowners, renters, condo or auto insurance — will pay out its maximum reimbursement, then your umbrella insurance coverage will kick in. The umbrella insurance company will pay the remaining settlement amount up to the limits of your umbrella coverage. Once you have exhausted both your underlying policy and your umbrella limits, you are responsible for any remaining amount due.

How Much Does Umbrella Insurance Cost?

The cost of coverage — or premium — for a personal umbrella policy typically starts at around $150 to $400 annually for a $1 million policy. Commercial umbrella insurance for smaller companies can range from $500 to $1,000. Your annual premium will increase if you decide to purchase more coverage — but it’s often possible to double the amount of your coverage and increase the policy limit to $2 million with only a 50% increase in your premium.

Whether you need personal or commercial umbrella coverage, we can analyze your complete liability picture — including the inherent geographical risks you face — and recommend an individualized insurance plan for you. Give us a call at 833-359-0725 or email us to learn more.

Source: Trusted Choice®

In a previous post, we addressed why insurance premiums are rising across the board. When insurance companies suffer losses due to an increase in claims from auto accidents or damage to homes from catastrophic storms, they typically increase premiums to offset the costs.

Due to hardening property markets and rapidly increasing catastrophic losses, we are seeing some homeowners insurance companies withdraw from the market and others are going out of business. Although this doesn’t happen very often, it is possible if they run into financial trouble. As a result, homeowners are finding insurance options to be limited and rather pricey.

While we proactively shop our clients’ policies when we see abnormal rate increases, it’s important to inform us of any updates to your home and/or auto(s), as it may help lower your premiums. For example, did you recently install a new roof or windows or renovate your home? Have you taken a defensive driving course within the last year? Would you consider utilizing a telematics device to track your driving habits for a period of time? Have you bundled all of your insurance policies with us? As a South Carolina Federal Insurance Solutions client, you may be eligible for a multi-policy discount, even if your policies are with different carriers.

We monitor insurance carriers to better help our clients should one become financially unstable or insolvent. We will continue to take a critical look as we bring on new carriers, focusing on ratings, financial size, and strength to offer our clients a broad selection of products.

Do you have questions about your policies? Give us a call at 833-359-0725 or email us for information.

South Carolina has experienced nearly 50 earthquakes since January 2021¹. Although only a few of these have been felt, this is a significant increase over our normal average – just 10 to 15 per year².

Despite the fact that approximately 70% of earthquakes in South Carolina occur in the Coastal Plain and most are centered around three areas west and north of Charleston (Ravenel-Adams Run-Hollywood, Middleton Place-Summerville, and Bowman), a major earthquake anywhere in the eastern United States could adversely affect us³.

While purchasing earthquake insurance might not be at the top of your to-do list, it might be time to start researching your options. At South Carolina Federal Insurance Solutions, we have carriers with deductibles as low as 2 – 5%. Some carriers will include earthquake coverage as part of your homeowners insurance, and others offer standalone policies. Interested in learning more about earthquake insurance? Give us a call at 833-359-0725 or email us.

¹ https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/search/
² https://www.scemd.org/prepare/types-of-disasters/earthquakes/
³ https://www.dnr.sc.gov/geology/earthquake-info.html 

Our team of insurance advisors keeps a close eye on what is trending in our industry. This insight helps us stay on top of items that may impact our clients and allows us to take a proactive approach in offering you available coverage options.

This year, we are seeing increases in insurance premiums across the board. Increases can happen for a number of reasons, oftentimes for circumstances outside of your control. When carriers suffer losses due to an increase in claims, they typically increase premiums to offset the costs.

For example, 2020 was the deadliest year for auto accidents in a decade, despite many carriers offering discounts for limited driving¹. In 2021, the auto industry experienced a spike in used car prices and felt pressure from computer chip supply issues. We also saw a historical increase in lumber prices and an uptick in natural disasters across the country.

While we proactively shop our clients’ policies when we see abnormal rate increases, it’s important to inform us of any updates to your home and/or auto(s), as it may help lower your premiums. For example, did you recently install a new roof or windows? Have you taken a defensive driving course within the last year? Would you consider utilizing a telematics device to track your driving habits for a period of time? Have you bundled all of your insurance policies with us? (As an Insurance Solutions client, you may be eligible for a multi-policy discount, even if your policies are with different carriers.)

Have a question about your policies? Give us a call at 833-359-0725 or email us to learn more.

^{1 https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/2020-fatality-data-show-increased-traffic-fatalities-during-pandemic}