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After the tough economic environment of the past several years, if your business is still thriving this holiday season – that’s something to be grateful for indeed! So when you’re counting your blessings this Thanksgiving, give your business a little love and make sure you have the best business insurance in Las Vegas to protect it.

Are you wondering what business insurance can do for you? We’ll give you four reasons why a Las Vegas business insurance policy is the right thing for your company.

Business Insurance in Las Vegas: A Must for Your Holiday List

Business interruption: If there’s one thing we’ve learned from the volatility of recent years, is that you can’t predict the future in business. A number of events can hinder your ability to conduct business – like natural disasters that affect your community. Business insurance in Las Vegas will help protect you against the financial repercussions that come when you can’t conduct business as usual.

Home business equipment: If you own a company and work from home, you likely have a lot invested in office equipment and other supplies. What you may not know is that typically, your homeowners insurance policy won’t cover this business equipment. That said, your business insurance can.

Company vehicle property insurance: If you own company cars, you likely already have insurance covering them. But what that policy may not cover is the business equipment or supplies that could be destroyed in the event of a vehicle accident. This insurance also covers that equipment if it’s lost or stolen from the vehicle.

Key person insurance: Is there one employee or partner that is integral to your ability to conduct business? If so, you may consider key person business insurance. This coverage will help you recover your company in the event that a vital employee dies or becomes disabled by providing funds to allow you to continue operating.

Got specific questions on our business insurance policies and options? Give us a call today.

Originally posted 2013-11-04 15:25:22.

Because every day is the perfect day to lower your risk of breast cancer.

Everyone knows someone who has suffered from cancer. Breast cancer, the fourth most common form of cancer, is diagnosed in over a quarter million people in the US every year and ranks second as the leading cause of death among women. At AMS Insurance, we know that breast cancer is not completely preventable – things just happen. But there are things you can do everyday to minimize your risk of breast cancer.

Keep Your Weight Healthy

Though the research on this is somewhat incomplete, there does seem to be a relation between excess weight and breast cancer – particularly for post menopausal women. Avoid the tendency to gain weight over time. If you need to lose weight, make a goal to reduce your weight by a half pound ever week. If you need smaller increments, that’s fine too.

Throw Out the Alcohol

Or at least drink very little of it – no more than one drink per day. Women who have two or more drinks a day double their risk of breast cancer (when compared to women who don’t drink at all).

Make Exercise Part of Your Daily Routine

This is no surprise; exercise is good for everything, and breast cancer is no exception. Something as simple as speed walking a few times a week can reduce your risk significantly. Spread your exercise out through the week for optimal results.

Just Take Care of Yourself

This might seem like something we’ve already covered, but simply living a lifestyle that is happy and healthy will help prevent cancer. Don’t smoke, get your sleep, and live a life of healthy moderation. Keep your stress down, work and live in a healthy environment, and treat yourself right.

Of course, none of these steps can guarantee a long, happy, cancer-free life. There are genetic and environmental factors to take into account – things that are out of your control. But do what you can do to take control of your life.

Originally posted 2014-01-23 15:50:27.

Although it has been around for more than a decade, usage-based auto insurance policies only recently began increasing in popularity across the United States. Usage-based auto insurance policies are ones in which policyholders agree to allow insurers to electronically monitor their driving and issue rate discounts based on the results. The insurers generally use either a combination of GPS and cellular technology, download info from the vehicle’s onboard computer or track vehicles using dash-mounted monitoring devices to determine how, when and where people tend to drive. People who drive safely and abide traffic laws can earn up to a 30 percent discount on their insurance rates.

Factors That Influence Discounts

Insurers generally are looking for how fast people go, how hard they brake, if they corner at high speeds and similar factors that indicate how safely people drive. Those who speed around corners are mostly likely to lose control and collide with another vehicle or object. Hard braking suggests the driver is following too closely to others. And speeders compound the risks of driving by going faster than allowed. If people drive often during peak traffic times, insurers will know and won’t give as much of a discount due to the increased likelihood of being in an accident, even if not at fault.

Rates Only Go Down, Not Up

Some people are concerned their auto insurance rates might rise if they sign up for a usage-based insurance policy. That’s not how the policies work. Standard underwriting practices remain when it is time to renew a policy. But the insurers realize that people generally drive in a safer manner when they know they can save money on their insurance rates by being safe behind the wheel. People tend to drive less and more cautiously. The average rate discount so far is about 15 percent, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. That’s about $150 per year.

Would you let an insurer monitor your driving to save $150 on your auto insurance bill?

Originally posted 2014-04-22 00:55:28.

July and August are monsoon season in nearby Arizona, where the warm, moist air from the Gulf of California make their way up into the Desert Southwest and bring torrential rains. At times, those monsoonal formations make their way into the Las Vegas Valley, and that can lead to heavy rainfall, high winds and flash flooding. Las Vegas residents and visitors well-remember the July 2013 flash flood that swept through the Las Vegas Strip and caused a great deal of damage. But worse floods have occurred, which spurred recent flood drainage projects to divert flash flood waters. Still, having flood insurance for homes is an important concern for homeowners despite being located in the Mojave Desert.

Spring Mountains, Rocky Terrain Promote Flash Flooding

The high elevation of the Spring Mountains and Mt. Charleston, which rises to more than 11,900 feet, makes it difficult for rain clouds to pass over without spilling their contents. The steep, rocky terrain along the eastern slope of the Spring Mountains is incapable of absorbing much if any rain water, so what little falls there eventually works its way into nearby Las Vegas. If there is an inch or more of rain that falls in one or two hours, significant flash flooding can occur. And on the rare occasions when there is a heavy downpour anywhere in the vicinity, the water makes its way though Las Vegas until eventually winding up in Lake Mead and the Colorado River on its way to the Gulf of California.

Many Get Coverage from National Flood Insurance Program

Most homeowners insurance policies do not provide coverage for external flooding unless added as an endorsement for an additional monthly premium. But most homes are insured through the National Flood Insurance Program, which provides up to $250,000 in external flood insurance coverage for varying rates. Speaking with your insurance agent can help to affirm what kind of flood insurance you might have on your home and whether or not it would be a good idea to buy external flood insurance protection.

Have you or any of your neighbors every suffered damages from external flooding?

Originally posted 2014-06-15 22:36:55.

If you’re, well, anyone, chances are you’re always looking for ways to get cheap auto insurance rates. We understand that shopping around for the best insurance can be confusing at best and excruciating at worst! That’s why at AMS Insurance, our agents work with our clients to make sure that they’re getting the cheapest rates possible.

While you may not realize it, quite a few factors contribute to those auto insurance quotes. You probably already know that your driving record can affect your auto insurance rates. Did you also know that your demographics, neighborhood and credit score can as well? Here are four ways you can get cheap auto insurance rates today:

1. Take advantage of your age: If you’re over the age of 25, make sure you’re getting an age-based discount. Generally, the lowest premiums for car insurance are awarded to drivers between the ages of 25 and 55. If you have a teenage or elderly driver on your policy, you may want to look into separating your insurance.
2. Choose low-crime neighborhoods: Did you know that if you live in a neighborhood with a high crime rate, you’re more likely to have higher insurance rates? Moving to a neighborhood with lower crime rates can help you save money.
3. Drive a different car: The make and model of your car will affect your auto insurance rates. The newer the vehicle, the more expensive to repair and replace. But some older cars are less reliable, so those can also raise your rates. A less expensive, more reliable car will generally get you the best rates.
4. Go for a bigger deductible: You might cringe at a $1,000 deductible, but if you have a long history of safe driving, it may pay off in the long run to increase your deductible and lower your monthly Auto Insurance Las Vegas premium.

Last but not least, your best way to save is to call AMS today! We can help you take advantage of discounts you may not even know about!

Originally posted 2013-07-01 11:16:01.