Retiring
Here you are, counting down the last days before you retire after what seems like a lifetime of work "climbing the ladder" and investing into your IRA or 401(k). Congratulations!
Retiring is certainly one of the bigger milestones in life. And likely, excitement mixes with anxiety and apprehension. Is there going to be enough money? What are you going to do with all the new-found time? Among the many formalities that come with retiring, your insurance might not be the first thing on your mind. After all, the time to set up your insurance is usually long before retirement...
Still, as you take the plunge into retirement, give your personal protection plan a quick review: adapting your personal insurance to your new status as a retiree may not only save you money, but will also set you up for the future.
What does retirement have to do with my auto insurance?
This is the time of life you’ve been waiting for! No more work. No more stress. No more clock-punching. And no more commute! (This might actually be the biggest perk!) The mornings and afternoons spent stuck in traffic, adding unnecessary hours to your work day and driving your blood pressure high and higher, are finally over. Not to mention: The outrageous expenses on gas and car maintenance, which you can now save.
Unfortunately, you completely forgot another aspect that might save you even more money: Your auto insurance!
If you recently retired (or if your driving habits have significantly changed otherwise) give us a call so we can adjust your auto policy to match your new lifestyle. You can actually ‘lose’ quite a bit of money in higher payments if you retire and don’t call your insurance agent. Here’s what to look out for:
- If you no longer commute, you’ll likely drive significantly less than you used to, now that you’re retired. Less mileage means less time on the road and, in insurance terms, less exposure to risk. If the usage of your car drops from a 50 mile per day / five-day per week commute to ‘pleasure use’, you can reap big savings on your auto policy!
- Another way to save is to complete a Defensive Driver Class. You actually don’t have to be retired to benefit from this. Anyone 55 years young can take a class and save money on their auto insurance. These classes are offered by AARP as well as other providers in the area for a small fee.
- Adjust your deductible.The higher deductible, the lower your monthly insurance payments. It may pay for you to increase your deductible. (Your deductible is the amount of money you pay after an accident, before the money from the insurance kicks in.)
- If you have an older car or a car that you barely use, but hesitate to sell, give us a call. We can help you evaluate the situation and make a recommendation on how to save insurance dollars while still providing you with adequate protection. Please be sure to give us a call before you decide to drop any coverage.
As you re-evaluate your auto insurance during retirement, please be very careful to keep adequate liability limits on your policy. The last thing that you want to happen is to be considered "at-fault" in an accident and be held responsible for a sum of money that exceeds your policy limits. Don’t jeopardize your retirement funds and don’t risk having to return to work!
We can help you set up a high-value insurance plan that makes the most of your insurance dollars and provides you with adequate protection and peace of mind during your sunset years. You deserve to enjoy them worry-free! Give us a call today 225-293-0450 for a free policy review.
Retirement and Homeowners Insurance
Your very last mortgage payment is coming up…and then the house will be yours! What an accomplishment! Now you are a truly a homeowner.
The question is, now that you no longer have to report to the mortgage company (who requires you to carry homeowners insurance), should you still continue your homeowners policy?
Our answer: Absolutely!
It is very important that you continue to carry homeowners insurance on your home.
It is true that a lender requires you to have homeowners insurance, and that requirement does no longer apply when your mortgage is paid off. But unless you can easily afford to pay out of pocket for losses or even rebuild your home after a total loss, you should never consider dropping your homeowners insurance.
In addition, it is important to regularly review your homeowners policy to ensure that the value of your home, rebuilding cost, and value of your personal property are still adequately reflected. Call us 225-293-0450 anytime for a policy review. We are happy to help you with this (And if your policy hasn’t been reviewed since you signed the mortgage documents, it is high time to schedule an appointment with us!).
Split Your Time Between Multiple Homes?
Homeowners Insurance
Let’s assume that you own a home in Louisiana State and would like to purchase a second home in California. That may trigger a variety of questions: Where is your primary residence? In which state should you get insurance?
Your primary residence is the residence that you spend most of the year in. Let’s assume, in this example, that this is the Louisiana home. It needs to be insured in Louisiana by a company and agent that are licensed in Louisiana (We can help you with that!).
If you purchase a second home in California, it needs to be insured in California (through a company or an agent who is licensed in California). We are licensed in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas &Tennessee. If you are looking to find an agent outside of these states, please give us a call. We can recommend insurance agents in all 50 states. We are happy to help!
Auto Insurance
Let’s continue to use our example of Louisiana and California.
If you own one or more car(s) at your primary residence in Louisiana, they need to be insured in the state of registration. That is usually the state of your primary residence (In our example - Louisiana).
If you own cars that you are absolutely sure won’t be driven in your absence, you have the option to pare down the insurance in order to save money. Give us a call – we can provide you with recommendations and price quotes.
Be sure to keep adequate insurance on the car that you intend to drive and on any car that might be driven (for example, by your son or daughter who watches the house)! If an uninsured car ends up being driven and the driver causes an accident, you will be held financially responsible no matter who drove the car!
If you drive your car from Louisiana to California and use it there for the months you spend “snowbirding”, your Louisiana auto insurance policy will extend while you are away. But, as always, give us a call if you plan on spending an extended amount of time out of state so we can make the necessary adjustments to your policy and ensure that it meets the other state’s minimum insurance requirements.
If you purchase a car in California and intend to leave it parked at your secondary residence while you are back in Louisiana, you need to obtain registration and insurance for this car in California. We can help you find a local agent.
Umbrella Insurance
If you carry umbrella insurance in your home state, the policy will extend to cover the underlying policies no matter where you are. However, it will not apply for homes and cars purchased, registered and insured out-of-state.
Health Insurance
Whenever you leave home, be sure to contact your health insurance provider to ensure coverage at your destination.