6 Reasons to use a Local Insurance Broker

  by Daniel C. Lewis

Investing in insurance coverage is one of the most important purchases you will make for your family and business.  Since no two people are alike, to receive the most return on your insurance investment, shopping for this valuable protection involves a process of evaluation, research, and comparison.  Working with an insurance broker is just one way you can make the shopping and selection process easier and help you avoid unnecessary costs and time.

So why use an insurance broker?  Here are seven (6) reasons to use an insurance broker.

1.  It is a FREE consultative service.  There is a myth that using a local insurance broker would cause consumers more money than just going direct to insurance companies.  A local insurance broker in your area can be an invaluable asset to you, your family, and your business.  In fact, broker pricing is often much better than direct insurance pricing.  Insurance companies often provide lower rates because brokers are professionally trained to accurately assess risk and to help their customers choose a policy or insurance package that adequately insures them. A regulated insurance broker will not charge you to search the market and find the best insurance options for your needs.

2.  Local Insurance Brokers are experts in Insurance.  Insurance brokers are required each year to complete training in all the products they offer.  This training is very intensive.  Insurance brokers are there to help explain the terminology, the complexities, the small print, and the details to you.  Insurance brokers are there to point out any risk and work hard to understand your needs.  Working with an insurance broker means you have an insurance expert helping you through the process.

3.  Local Insurance Brokers save you time.  Insurance brokers work for you, not for the insurance companies.  They are focus on getting you the right coverage that fits your needs.  The best possible may not be the cheapest or the most expensive.  Being underinsured as well as overinsured is a big issue when it comes to insurance and one that only reveals itself at the point that you need to make a claim.  Working with an insurance broker can give you the right amount of coverage for the right monthly premium.

4.  Support during the insurance claims process.  When I first started working as an insurance broker I had some clients that would use my services research, evaluate and compare various different insurance products.  After putting the work in on evaluating their needs, researching various insurance companies, and developing comparison reports for my clients, a few of the clients went direct with the insurance carrier.  Those clients discovered that when they had claims or questions about their policies the clients ran into long phone wait times, insurance websites they did not understand, and other issues.  Using a local insurance broker can work as a support to answer some of the basic questions during the process of making a claim.  

5.  Shopping around for insurance using a broker is just smart.  Using a local insurance broker makes the process less hectic and smoother.  Brokers usually offer in-person, online as well as phone service, and generally are more proactive about engaging the customer to find out what their needs are.

6.  Local Insurance Brokers give back to your local market.  Local insurance brokers help your local community economy.  They are more likely to sponsor a local little league team in your community.  Working with your local insurance broker also demonstrates a certain type of pride in your community.   By patronizing a local insurance broker instead of filling out a form on the internet or calling an 800 number we contribute to helping a local business stay in business.  

What is a deductible in regards to health insurance?

by Daniel C. Lewis

What is a health insurance deductible?

A health insurance deductible is the amount of money you must pay towards medical expenses before your insurance kicks in.  Usually this doctor's visits and prescriptions but not always.  For example, with a $1,000 deductible, you're responsible for paying the first $1,000 of covered services yourself.  Once you meet your deductible, your insurance will help you pay or additional medical expenses.

Here is an example of how a deductible works:      

Let's say you have an $1,000 deductible and you are in a car accident and end up I the emergency room with a broken arm.  One month later you receive the bill.

The total cost of the visit is $1,500:  $1,000 for the emergency room visit + $500 for the cast

If you pay $1,000 toward your emergency room visit, you've met your deductible.  Now your insurance company pays all or a portion of the $500 towards your cast, along with any future healthcare expenses for the rest of your plan's coverage year.

Deductibles, premiums, copayments, and coinsurance, are important for you to consider when choosing a health insurance plan.  Make sure to choose plan and deductible that best suits you and your family.

To get a FREE health insurance click here and one of our licensed health insurance agents will be in contact with you shortly.

6 Reasons Why Notary Entrepreneurs need Legal Service Plans

by Daniel C. Lewis

Whether you are a seasoned professional notary signing agent or a newly commissioned notary public, unexpected legal issues can arise each and every day.  These issues can lead to excessive legal costs to the notary personally.  


For instance, have you ever....

• traveled to an assignment and received a speeding ticket?
• needed to collect a payment from a title/signing company in another state?
• had a contract dispute with an out of state vendor?
• needed legal advice about a notarization?
• just wanted to talk to an attorney about an professional issue?

These are just a few issues that notary entrepreneurs face each day and they are not covered by basic Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance.  Having a legal service plan would give notaries the protection against these common notary business issues. Actually, having a legal service plan is different than having E&O Insurance or even having a notary bond.  
First, notary bonds are bonds that protect the public, not the notary.  If a notary was in a situation where they had to pay damages with their bond, the notary would need to pay the value of the bond back to the bonding company.  

Secondly, E&O Insurance is just that....an insurance. All insurance policies have at least one clause that gives them the right to refuse to pay out any damages resulting in a notarization.  Many notaries around the country that have found themselves defendants in lawsuits, have found this fact out the hard way by paying out thousands of dollars in legal fees themselves.  

In order to protect yourself and your business we have listed 6 reasons why professional notaries public need to have a legal service plan for their business.

CLICK HERE TO PROTECT YOUR NOTARY BUSINESS WITH A 

LEGAL PLAN

1)  Legal service plans give the notary entrepreneur access to law firms.  Talking with an attorney about legal issues such as collecting payments from vendors, a tricky notarization issue where the law is silent, or legal advice outlining the type of notary business you should operate (sole proprietor, partnership, LLC, Inc.) could mean the difference in operating a successful and profitable notary business for many years or a business that is slowly dying off.


2)  Having a legal service plan would provide the notary entrepreneur letters and phone calls made on their behalf by law firms.  Have you every had a dispute with a vendor and tried to handle it yourself?  Having an attorney make the call or send a letter on your behalf to their legal department makes a huge and positive difference.


3)  Having a legal service plan can help you with how you actually operate your business.  Being able to get the advice of a lawyer about basic business questions such as what type of business you should create, tax questions, as well as questions about collecting earned fees can mean the difference of thousands of dollars for your business.


4) Notary entrepreneurs are in their vehicles traveling to and from assignments every day which increases the risk of receiving some type of moving violation.  Being represented in court by a law firm will save you thousands of dollars each year on escalating insurance costs from points that would be assessed without attorney representation for a moving violation.  (Personally, this part of the legal service plan has really saved me on points and insurance costs over the years.)   


5)  Investing in a legal service plan for your business is smart and tax deductible.  Every successful business consults an attorney before making critical decisions that will affect the future of their business.


6)  Having a attorney review your contracts prior to signing them with an out-of-state vendor as well as reviewing how you operate your business will save you thousands of dollars each year.  Legal service plans give you this option. 

According to reports from the National Association of Secretaries of State Conference this year that was held in Indianapolis, 178 different notary bills have been proposed across the country.  This means there is a shift in how the politicians and business leaders across the country are thinking about the duties of the notary public. Major changes are coming for this industry so being properly prepared by investing in a legal service plan helps to lower the risk of failure for your business.  

If you would like more information on a legal plan that will meet your needs, feel free to contact me at dclewis@lewisnotary.com  

CLICK HERE TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY WITH A 

LEGAL SERVICE PLAN

Daniel C.  Lewis is the current President of the Indiana Notary Association.  Daniel is also the author of the notary business guid MAKE YOUR BUSINESS OUR BUSINESS.  He was named by the National Notary Association as the 2010 National Notary of the Year and also named an Honorary Secretary of State by the Indiana Secretary of State in Indiana that same year.  He is the Managing Partner of Lewis Notary & Lewis Training Services Inc. as well as an Independent Associate with LegalShield.  For more information about LegalShield click here

Are you currently looking to diversify your income doing presentations to groups about protecting themselves from identity theft?  Check out this great income opportunity by click here

Could Walking actually be a SuperPower?

by Daniel C. Lewis

Can Walking lower the crime rate and actually be a SUPERPOWER???

I think just about everyone has heard of the television show "The Brady Bunch."  That lovable family with stepparents of three boys and three girls.  At that time, the Brady Bunch was the most modern and liberal family on television.  Can you name the family that pushed the boundaries and came before the Brady Bunch?   

Ok, the picture above may have given it away.  The show "My Three Sons" ran from 1960 until 1972.  The show was about a widower and aeronautical engineer Steven Douglas, played by Fred MacMurray, as he raised his three sons.  In the shows final years, the character Steven Douglas remarried and adopted his new wife's daughter, Dorothy.  The show was especially wholesome.  During a reunion show one of the few actresses on the show, Tina Cole, recalls that she was not allowed to end scenes face to face with an actor of the opposite sex(this should give you an idea of just how wholesome a show like this was at the time).

One episode in particular really sticks out.  During the final years when Steven Douglas was dating his future wife, Barbara, he was invited to a party and Barbara convinced him to attend.  It was supposed to be a costume party.  When Barbara went out to find a costume for Steven, she was only able to get the last one in Steven's size in the store.  The costume turned out to be a gigantic chicken costume with no pockets.  Once Steven arrived at the party, he soon discovered that it was not a costume party but a black tie event.  Steven left as quickly as he could.  When he finally got outside, he discovered that Barbara, his ride, had left.  Steven decided to walk to the nearest pay phone (sorry no cell phones in the 60s) to call for a ride back home.  Once at the payphone, Steve remembered that he had no pockets for coins to make the call.  Steven decided to walk home, all the while being made fun of by police officers and others passing by.  Before Steven made it home his sons told Barbara that he would be furious.  Steven did finally made it home and quickly changed out of his chicken outfit.  He then started walking toward the front door when Barbara asked him in an extremely timid voice, "Honey is everything ok."  Steven turned to her and stated "I am going for a walk......a NICE LONG WALK", then turned and stormed out the front door. 

Fast forward to now.  What do we do today when we are upset about something?  Most times we see people go on sites like Facebook, and Twitter and make negative posts.  Or even worst, some will get into a physical confrontation with the person involved in the issue.  What do you think would happen if we took Steven Douglas' advice and just went on a walk......A NICE LONG WALK?!  

Going on a walking actually has many benefits besides keeping you out of jail from trying to kill your spouse, relative, co-workers, boss, neighbor, etc. after a stressful situation.   Besides getting you out of the situation, here are 20 other reasons that I recommend going on a walk daily.   

1.  It can extend your life.

2.  It can lower blood pressure and aid in maintaining your cholesterol levels.

3.  It can make you feel full of life.

4.  It can strengthen areas like your ankles, knees, hips.

5.  It can help you meet some great people when you're out walking or hiking.

6. It gives you time to reflect.

7.  It helps you with digestion.

8.  It helps you become more productive with work as well as at home.

9.  It makes you a better person overall.

10.  It helps model good behavior for your family, friends, and community.

Click here for identity theft protection today

11.  It allows you to take time for yourself.

12.  It helps you build self-confidence.

13.  It gives you a chance to see things from a different perspective.

14.  It gives you a break from your family and job.

15.  It gives your job and family a break from you.  

16.  It's an opportunity for personal growth.

17.  It's a great opportunity to think creatively. 

18.  It gives you time to problem solve.

19.  It helps reduce risk factors of diabetes and obesity.

20.  It can improve your energy levels.

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What would happen if all of us developed the superpower of walking?  Do you think we would have lower crime rates throughout the world?  Less domestic violence cases?  Perhaps even healthier generations to come?  That would be SUPER!!!

These are just a few reasons we should take Steven Douglas' advice and take a walk....a nice long walk.  So remember the next time you are in a stressful situation.  Just walk it out.

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Daniel C.  Lewis is the current President of the Indiana Notary Association.  He was named by the National Notary Association as the 2010 National Notary of the Year and also named an Honorary Secretary of State by the Indiana Secretary of State in Indiana that same year.  He is the Managing Partner of Lewis Notary & Lewis Training Services Inc. as well as an Independent Associate with LegalShield.  For more information about LegalShield click here

Are you currently looking to diversify your income doing presentations to groups about protecting themselves from identity theft?  Check out this great income opportunity by click here

Black Friday Deals are Here - Are You Protected from Identity Theft?

Black Friday deals are here and the question is....Have you properly protected yourself from Identity Theft?

Black Friday deals are everywhere.  From brick and mortar retail giants like Walmart to the huge online shopping experience with Amazon.  It seems you just can't seem to get away from all the Black Friday Deals.  Some say that this is the best time of year to get the very best deals.  One group of people that would definitely agree with that statement is identity thieves.

Click here for a Quick Video on Protection from Identity Theft

Identity theft affects millions of people each year.  Identity Theft is the #1 consumer complaint filed with the Federal Trade Commission for over 15 consecutive years.

There are 5 major forms of identity theft:

• Criminal -  Using stolen IDs as personal identification during an arrest.
• Social Security - Using a victim’s Social Security number to obtain employment or commit tax fraud.
• Medical - Using personal information to make medical insurance Medical claims.
• Financial - Accessing financial information or obtaining credit using someone else’s ID.
• Synthetic - Using multiple victims’ ID or information to create another identity.

Over the next couple of weeks millions of consumers will expose their private financial information to companies that have already publicly admitted to being hacked by identity thieves.  Exposing your private information to these companies is like playing a game of Russia Roulette with your information if you don't have adequate protections.  Many consumers falsely think that they don't have to worry about identity theft because they believe that their bank will keep an eye on their financial interest.  In reality banks only monitor accounts with their banks.  All other forms of identity theft is not covered and exposes consumers to all kinds of dangers.

Experts find the best way consumers can protect themselves from identity theft is to be proactive.  One program that is becoming more and more popular is IDShield.  IDShield provides privacy and security monitoring, consultation, and Comprehensive Identity Restoration from Kroll.

Click here for more information on IDShield

In the unfortunate event something does happen to your identity during this Black Friday season, IDShield will supply the professional help you need in order to have your identity restored to what it was before the fraud occurred.  IDShield has plans for both individuals as well as people with families at an affordable price.

To sign up today and protect your identity, click here

Being proactive against identity theft greatly reduces your risk against loss.  Please stay safe this holiday season.


Daniel C. Lewis is known across the country as an identity theft expert.  He was named in by the National Notary Association as the 2010 National Notary of the Year.  He was also named that same year by the Indiana Secretary of State as an Honorary Secretary of State.  Daniel is currently serving as the President of the Indiana Notary Association.  Daniel is a entrepreneur, writer, video editor, and was the Executive Director of the radio show "We Are Too Smart To Live Like This"

How to find the Right Attorney?

By Daniel C. Lewis

Many people have asked this questions over the years.  The key to answering this question lies in several factors.  Here are just a few tips that may help you with the process.

1.  Determine what your legal needs are.  Attorneys specialize in a variety of different areas of law much like doctors specialize in different area of medicine.  You wouldn't go to a Podiatrist (Foot and Ankle Specialist) for Orthodontist (braces and retainer) work nor should you mix and match your attorney specialties. You want to find an attorney that has the expertise you are looking for.  Seek out an attorney that will help you solve your issue.  

2.  Ask for recommendations from friends or family.  This is especially helpful if that friend or family member has gone through a similar situation in which they employed an attorney.  Keep in mind that each legal case is different and that what is good for one person may not be good for you.  Make sure to ask plenty of questions.

3.  Check to see if your employer offers legal plans as a benefit.  Just like buying items in bulk from Sam's Club or Costco at a reduced price, legal plans may be available much in the same way at your place of employment.  LegalShield, for example, is highly rated and offers a variety legal services plans that will allow the average consumer access to top rated attorneys around the country at an affordable price.

Click here for more information on LegalShield

If you are have checked with your Human Resources Department and they are not currently offering legal services plans as a voluntary employee benefit please forward this article to them.

Click here for Legal Benefits and Identity Theft Protection for Employers

These plans offer attorney services as well as identity theft protection for employees.  Plans are also available for individuals as well as families.  

Keep in mind that the law is complicated and not having the right attorney could cost you more.  Attorneys understand how to get to the root of an issue and develop the best options to resolving the issue.  Finding an appropriate attorney will actually save you time and money in the end.  Taking the time to find the right one is time well spent.  


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Daniel C. Lewis is known across the country as an identity theft expert.  He was named in by the National Notary Association as the 2010 National Notary of the Year.  He was also named that same year by the Indiana Secretary of State as an Honorary Secretary of State.  Daniel is a entrepreneur, writer, video editor, and was the Executive Director of the radio show "We Are Too Smart To Live Like This". 

  

How do you protect yourself from Identity Theft

by Daniel C. Lewis
Updated September 10, 2017

Each year the average financial loss attributed to identity theft hits a new high.  States like Arizona, California, Florida, Texas and Nevada are among the states with the highest identity theft complaints per year.  Identity theft is defined as the misuse of personal information to either open a new account and/or for fraudulent purposes.

Recently, Equifax, one of three largest American consumer credit reporting agency, had a massive breach.  According to the Federal Trade Commission the breach lasted from mid-May through July.  The hackers hackers accessed people's names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses and insome instances, driver's license numbers.  They also stole credit card numbers for 209,000 people and dispute documents with personal identifying information for about 182,000 people.   

How then can you protect yourself from identity thieves?

Here are five proven quick easy steps design to lower your risk of becoming a victim of identity theft and to keep you safe.  I recommend doing all five steps to minimize your risk.

1.  Don't over expose or over share your information online.  This seems obvious but often time people overlook this a lot.  Also, it is recommended that you set the proper security to your online profiles such as Facebook.

2.  Destroy private records and statements. Putting your private records, bank statements, and other information into the trash allows thieves the easiest access to your information.  Shredding this information with a crosscut shredding system is recommended.

3.  Create Strong Passwords.  According to Microsoft, passwords provide the first line of defense against unauthorized access to your computer.  The stronger your password, the more protected your computer will be from hackers and malicious software.

4.  Always be on guard for phishing scams.  Phishing is the activity of defrauding an online account holder of financial information by posing as a legitimate company.  Several times the perpetrator sends out legitimate looking emails to gain access to your personal and financial information.  To avoid phishing scams, when you receive a suspicious looking emails never click on tabs inside the emails.  Instead go directly to the company's website or contact the company directly.

5.  Have a monitor/restoration system in place.  In light of the recent massive data breach with Equifax, this by far is one of the most important steps to protecting yourself.  IDShield by Kroll has one of the most affordable yet complex system on the market today.  They give a 5 million dollar service guarantee and offer restoration services by licensed professional investigators.

Protect yourself and your family today.  

Click here to start your protection

Using this proven strategy will definitely lower your risk of having your identity stolen and having to spend months of trying to restore it yourself.  Stay safe.

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Daniel C. Lewis is known across the country as an identity theft expert.  Daniel is also an Independent Associate with LegalShield.  He was named in by the National Notary Association as the 2010 National Notary of the Year.  He was also named that same year by the Indiana Secretary of State as an Honorary Secretary of State.  Daniel is a entrepreneur, writer, video editor, and was the Executive Director of the radio show "We Are Too Smart To Live Like This".