Why Do I Really Need Home Insurance?

Accidents happen every day. When you’re a homeowner in the Laurel, MD area, you want to know that you’re covered. Home insurance is one of the best ways to feel as though you are protected.

Mortgage Companies Require a Policy

If you still have a mortgage on your home, mortgage companies dictate that you need to have a home insurance policy. This is designed to protect their investment in the event that there is a fire, a flood, or any other major problem. Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial agents can help you to shop a home insurance policy that makes sense based on the type of home that you have.

Anything Can Happen

You cannot possibly anticipate everything that could happen in and around your home. If there is a major storm, it could cause broken windows or significant damage to your roof. If someone forgets to turn off the stove, there could be a fire. Your home could get broken into. Someone could fall on your property. The list goes on and on.

As the homeowner, you are financially responsible if something happens. You are going to depend on a home insurance policy to help provide financial assistance. Filing a claim will make it easier for you to make repairs to your home, handle a lawsuit if someone gets injured on your property, or replace the valuables that were stolen.

If your home is already paid for, you are not required to have a home insurance policy. However, you really need one because it provides you with the financial protection against anything that could occur.

Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial has been helping homeowners throughout the Laurel, MD area for years. When you need home insurance, you can get personalized assistance to find a policy that will fit your individual needs.

 

 

 

Does My Auto Insurance Policy Cover Driving For Uber?

More and more people are driving for Uber. If you decide that you want to be an Uber driver around Laurel, MD, it’s important to look at whether your auto insurance policy will provide you with sufficient coverage. At Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial, there are agents dedicated to helping you get the right policy.

Exclusions in Your Policy

Often, insurance companies have various exclusions within auto policies that would prevent you from having the necessary coverage if you have to file a claim. The most common exclusion is “driving for hire” and Uber is classified as this.

You will want to check with the insurance company to find out whether your policy covers any kind of commercial driving. If you don’t, you may need to seek commercial auto insurance so that you are covered.

Doesn’t Uber offer insurance?

Uber does offer some insurance to their drivers. However, most of the insurance coverage is only when the app is on and there are passengers in your car. If you were to get into an accident after dropping off the passenger or while your app is off, you would not have the coverage through Uber.

Since it is impossible to predict what can happen on the road, it is better to find out what kind of insurance you actually need. Driving for many of the ride-sharing services could potentially invalidate your personal auto insurance policy.

You should always be in the know as it pertains to your auto insurance. Working with an agent that serves the Laurel, MD area will make it easier for you to get reliable answers. Agents at Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial can help you find the necessary auto insurance policy if you plan on driving for Uber or any of the other ride-sharing companies that are out there.

 

 

 

How Can Life Insurance Affect Your Student Loan Debt?

Most of us understand the fact that financing an education can be an uphill task if one doesn’t have a stable source of income. Therefore, it isn’t surprising that approximately 75% of the 2016 graduates in Laurel, MD and all over the US borrowed money in the form of student loans to finance their education. Having a student loan debt and not managing it actively can be detrimental to your long-term financial life.

As a student operating on a limited budget, the last thing that is on your mind is taking a life insurance policy from Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial. However, the truth is that a life insurance policy can affect your student loan positively and help you or your cosigners stay out of debt if the worst happens. Read on to find out how a life insurance policy affects your student loan.

Debt After Death

Have you ever asked yourself what might happen if you die before you pay off your student loan? This is probably the last thing that you want to think about, but the truth is that misfortunes do happen. Things might not be so hard on those you leave behind if you have a federal student loan since most of them are discharged when the borrower dies. However, things might be worse if you have a private student loan.

Only a few private lenders do offer a death discharge, but most of them don’t. Private student loans are just like the traditional personal loans. If you die and you had a cosigner, your cosigner becomes legally responsible for your debt, and this is the primary reason why you should consider a life insurance policy if you have a student loan.

Student Debt and Life Insurance Policy

You can use your life insurance policy to help pay your student loans even when you die through the Indexed Universal Life Insurance Policy commonly referred to as IUL.  A UIL is similar to a cash growth vehicle since it offers you larger returns that don’t attract tax.  Since most IULs allow you to take early withdrawals or loans, you can use these withdrawals to pay down your student debt.

Are you a student with a student loan in Laurel, MD? Contact Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial today for a life insurance policy that will help you to pay down your student loan.

How Does Fleet Insurance Fit Into Your Overall Commercial Insurance Portfolio?

Business owners know the importance of having comprehensive commercial insurance to protect their assets and all of their hard work. However, fleet insurance is one aspect of coverage that can often be overlooked. If you are a business owner in the greater Laurel, MD area, Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial is here to help you complete your commercial insurance portfolio. If your sales force or delivery personnel are utilizing firm vehicles for their work, you may want to look into fleet insurance as a way to put adequate coverage in force. Fleet insurance is often overlooked when a company is constructing their commercial portfolio, even though it is an effective way to protect your interests.

Does Your Company Require Fleet Insurance?

Insuring every company car individually is one way to protect your firm’s assets, but is it the most effective? If you have multiple vehicles that are owned by your company for business use, it makes sense to find out more about fleet insurance. These policies can help to protect business owners from theft, damage, and liability. Fleet insurance is also a great way to streamline your policies and keep your portfolio comprehensive and also easy to manage. We recommend that commercial business owners meet with a full-service agent at least once a year to review their coverage. 

Want to Learn More about How Fleet Insurance Fits Into Your Overall Commercial Insurance Portfolio?

The dedicated team of professional agents of Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial is here to answer all of your questions and address any concerns that you may have relating protection for your commercial fleet. If you are a business owner in the greater Laurel, MD area, call or stop by today to learn more about completing your commercial insurance portfolio.

Making your Home Safer for Guests during the Holidays

The holidays are a perfect time to have fun, relax and create indelible memories with friends and family. As such, it is vital to keep your living space safe to protect your loved ones. Here are some of the measures you could take;

Ensure that your home’s insurance policy includes a liability insurance cover

Even with all the above precautions, accidents could still occur in your home. A liability insurance such as the one provided by Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial covers you against such accidents. In such a case, the insurer will meet the accident’s medical expenses up to your policy’s limit. 

Secure the home against intruders

The crime rate during the holiday season is usually high. Therefore, you need to secure your home against burglaries even if you do not plan on traveling.

Use secure decorations

Decorations are a major part of the holidays. However, you need to observe the highest standards of safety when installing them. Place any decorations close to the walls to avoid tripping. Hanging decorations should also be securely strapped to keep them from falling and hurting your guests.

Area rugs and carpets should be secured in place with non-slip pads to reduce the chances of tripping. Alternatively, you could temporarily remove them.

Be mindful of what foods your visitors eat

Most people are allergic to one food or the other. The last thing you want to be accused of is poisoning your guests through the food you provide them with. Ask or inform them in advance of the foods you have or intend to prepare.

The Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial Agency has been serving the Laurel, MD area since 2005. Contact us today for tailor made home insurance coverage options. You can also get a free estimate of your policy on our website. 

What Types of Businesses Need Commercial Insurance?

If you are thinking about opening your own business, there is a good chance that you will need to invest in commercial insurance. And while this might seem like a pretty straightforward concept, once you start looking at commercial insurance policies, you will quickly notice they are available in different types and some types might not be applicable to your company. For now, Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial serving the Laurel, MD area would like to give you a rundown on the types of businesses that need commercial insurance. 

You own commercial property

If you own commercial property and there are workers or customers who use the property to carry out business-related functions or even leisurely activities, then commercial insurance will be essential to protecting your assets. With commercial insurance, you can rest easy knowing if anyone is hurt on your commercial property that the insurance will help compensate for the associated medical expenses. 

You run your own business

Even if you operate a business out of your home, you will need to check with an insurance agent to see if you can benefit from commercial insurance. This type of insurance will be especially advantageous if you carry out business functions from your home that require business colleagues or customers to visit you at your home office. Commercial insurance is also important if you operate your own company because it can help protect you from issues such as libel and slander. 

You have employees working for you

Lastly, any business that has employees needs to at least invest in workers’ compensation insurance. In fact, depending on the number of employees that you have, it may be mandated by law that you have this type of insurance. 

The easiest way to learn about the various types of commercial insurance you need is to speak with a qualified insurance agent from Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial serving the Laurel, MD area. 

What Are the Benefits of Using an Insurance Company That Offers Tag and Title Services?

When you are looking to ensure your automobile, you should look at many factors in finding an insurance company. One of the factors you should look at is whether they offer tag and title services. This is a service that we at Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial, serving the greater Laurel, MD area, are pleased to offer our customers. Learning the benefits associated with this service can help you see how it can be beneficial to you to find a company that offers this type of service. Here are a few of those benefits. 

You Don’t Have to Wait At a Crowded MVA Office

The biggest benefit associated with using an auto insurer who offers tag and title services is that you don’t have to wait at a crowded MVA office to get your tags and title. You can do everything you need to do with your insurance company. This can save you a great deal of time and is extremely convenient. 

You Can Get Answers to Your Questions

The other major benefit associated with using an auto insurance company that offers tag and title services is you can get answers to your questions easier. When you have questions about tag and title services, you have a few options. You can search the Internet and hope the information you find is current and accurate. You can call the MVA and wait on hold. Or you can use an auto insurer who offers these services. They can answer your questions quickly and accurately. 

If you are in need of auto insurance in the greater Laurel, MD area, turn to Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial. Not only can we help you get auto insurance, but we also offer tag and title services as well. Call us today to obtain a free estimate. 

Benefits of Tag/Title Insurance?

Buying a new or used car is always a big purchase. Because of this, you will want to make sure you have the right types of insurance in place. One important type of insurance to have is tag and title insurance which can provide a number of benefits.  

Ensures Clean Title

One of the most important reasons to have tag or title insurance on your car is that it can help to ensure you are able to receive a clear title report. When you buy a new or used car, there is always a risk that some lender or another party could have filed a lien against the vehicle. Even if you buy the vehicle through a normal process, you could still be found liable for these claims.  When you have tag or title insurance in place, you will receive coverage in the event these claims arise.

Ensures Transfer of Title

Another reason to get tag or title insurance on your vehicle is that it will ensure the transfer of the title.  While you can provide cash consideration for the purchase of a car, it will not become yours by law until the title transfers.  The title insurance provider will help to ensure that the title is transferred properly and that you are the recorded owner.  The insurance will also provide protection in the event the transfer is not handled correctly.  

When you are looking to buy a new or used car in the Laurel, MD area, reaching out to the Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial company would be a great option.  The Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial company will be able to provide you with more insight into the need for title and tag insurance to make sure you not only understand the benefits but also get the right policy.  

Will My Auto Insurance Cover Modifications?

Are you planning to custom-paint your car or add major modifications like a supercharger? Car customization often brings automobile insurance ramifications. As a result, you will need a special insurance policy from an insurer like Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial in Laurel, MD since your regular auto insurance may not cover the modifications. 
 
Modifications covered/not covered by a standard policy
 
Vehicle customizations are not made by the manufacturer and are typically not included in the standard auto insurance policies. There are insurers who regard a vehicle as customized or modified when the body, chassis, or frame is structurally modified, or the value of the custom paint costs more than several thousands of dollars, or the autos performance is augmented considerably. Most insurers will not cover these enhancements except for rims and tires, which you have to provide receipts for. Still, the amount that the insurer will pay may be less than the original cost.
 
The coverage you require for customizations
 
There are two options you have when ensuring your customized automobile:
 
Supplemental coverage
 
Most insurance companies provide endorsements that offer supplemental coverage for after-market components and modifications. The premium you will pay for the extra coverage may equate to approximately 10 percent of the modification value, although this depends on the insurance company. 
 
Collectible/classic car insurance
 
In case your insurer does not provide the supplemental coverage, you may seek protection from an insurance service provider that offers a classic/collectible automobile insurance plans (which will include modified vehicles).
 
Before you can modify your car, read the existing policy thoroughly and understand the exceptions and exclusions. Talk to your insurer or agent and let them know that you want to make changes to the vehicle. The company will advise you accordingly on your options. If you live in Laurel, MD area, consider contacting Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial for more information.

3 Tips for Running Your Commercial Business the Right Way

If you have a commercial business in Laurel, MD, then you will definitely want to research various ways to make sure your company is a success. Operating a commercial business can be incredibly time-consuming, but with the right talent and resources, any company can increase its revenue, even if it has had to downsize in the past. For now, here are three tips for running your commercial business the right way.

Use Your Entrepreneurial Spirit

Executives of commercial operations are often in charge of millions of dollars. Some of these companies even have budgets that are in the billions, giving them much influence in today’s economy. If you want your commercial business to be a success, then you must use your entrepreneurial spirit to establish a solid infrastructure. You might start out with a small budget, but as you use your CEO skills to expand your operations, you will start to see that your revenue and budgets start to expand as well. 

Importance of Commercial Insurance

One of the most important things you can do for your company is to purchase commercial insurance. By purchasing this type of insurance for your business, you will be protected from certain damages and lawsuits. Commercial insurance can also help protect you during periods of severe financial loss and may prove itself as a valuable asset that keeps your business afloat. 

Best-In-Class

As CEO, you need to pinpoint the products/services that you have expert knowledge in and then create your infrastructure around these areas of expertise. You can then create manufacturing, marketing, and distribution strategies that allow you to maintain a competitive advantage in the industry you are operating in. 

Contact Us Today

If you would like to learn more about the ins-and-outs of insurance for commercial businesses, please contact Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial serving the Laurel, MD area.