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We get it; shopping around for the right life insurance policy can be intimidating; you’ll need to decide between a whole life policy or a term life policy, the amount of coverage you need, which carrier to use. . . need we go on?

But one thing you shouldn’t stress about is the inevitable physical exam that comes along with most life insurance policies. Why not stress? Sure, it’s important, and will generally effect your life insurance rates, but stressing out will raise your blood pressure – which is exactly what you want to avoid at your life insurance physical.

In fact, high blood pressure can be a good excuse for insurance carriers to give you higher rates than you’d otherwise receive, as it’s an indicator of current or future health problems. So when you’re ready to secure your policy, follow our tips for lowering your blood pressure.

Avoid Caffeine: Sorry, coffee fiends; consuming caffeine before your insurance exam can give you artificially high blood pressure. Schedule your exam for first thing in the morning, or else plan to have your “morning coffee” after your appointment.

Calm Down: Just being in a doctor’s office can be stress enough to spike your blood pressure. While you wait, take some deep breaths and practice some quick meditation. Staying calm will help the nurse get an accurate blood pressure reading.

Kill the Smokes: A smoking habit will give you higher life insurance premiums anyway, but you can at least help improve your blood pressure score by nixing the cigarettes for a day before your exam. We suggest nixing the habit altogether, but that’s just us.

Follow the instructions: Many doctors will suggest fasting prior to your exam. This is a great idea, especially because several types of food can contribute to higher blood pressure.

Time it right: Some studies indicate that your blood pressure is the highest during the early afternoon, so try to schedule your appointment first thing in the morning or later in the afternoon for the lowest reading.

Don’t let the stress of life insurance get your blood pressure up! We’re happy to help you find the policy that’s right for you.

Originally posted 2013-02-21 12:22:41.

If you are over 55 years old, chances are you’ve heard of an AARP classroom course you can take to lower your car insurance premiums.  If you live in Nevada, you should really consider taking the course for a few reasons.

Shortened classroom time- The first big advantage to taking the AARP course in Nevada is we are one of only a handful of states where the DMV has worked closely with AARP to encourage 55+ drivers to take the course.  One complaint they were hearing from many attendees is the standard time the course takes is 8 hours, taking up your whole day.  Nevada worked with AARP to create a shorter 4-hour course, half the time required for most other states.  I took the course myself and the format is surprisingly fun and passes the time quickly.

Nevada Insurance Companies required to give discount-  This was interesting to me to learn that in most states while insurance companies may offer a discount for taking the course, they are not bound by law to do so.  Nevada insurance law requires companies to provide a discount.  From what I’ve seen with our own companies, the discount is usually between 5 – 10%, which can definitely help with your insurance payments.

Best Place in town to take the course-  Here at AMS, we volunteer to host courses here in our office the first Wednesday of each month.  The cost is $14 per person and $12 if you are an AARP member, all of which goes back to AARP.  I am proud that the Nevada director for driver safety courses came to our last class and mentioned that it is by far the best venue she has been to for taking the course.  We limit the number of attendees to 10 to encourage participation.  It is also held in our conference room overlooking Lone Mountain to hopefully provide a comfortable and relaxing setting.  And last but not least, we bring Dee’s Donuts!  If you’ve never had one, then what better reason is there to come?

To RSVP for our next class or if you have any questions at all, you can call me at 702-965-3685.

Originally posted 2012-09-22 00:14:55.

Insurance deductibles are intended to keep the cost of insurance low by eliminating very small claims and the cost of dealing with them. Deductibles apply to many different types of insurance but are most common on property and casualty insurance policies. Health insurance also has deductibles, and life insurance policies never have them. Most people encounter their first deductible when they buy auto insurance and have to choose the deductible amount for full coverage insurance when they finance a new or used car purchase.

Deductibles Only Apply to Policyholder’s Loss Claims

When involved in an accident at which you are at fault and needing to file an insurance claim to care for the other person’s vehicle, as might happen if driving a 4×4 and knocking over a costly sport bike parked on a lot, any deductible only would apply to the vehicle for which the auto insurance policy is drawn up. Any claims for repairing the motorcycle in this instance would not require a deductible. The deductible only applies to the insured vehicle and is intended to prevent the owner from filing minor claims for small things like having a flat tire. Deductibles also reduce the number of potential lawsuits over very small matters, and that helps to keep the price of insurance policies lower.

Deductibles Amounts Are Adjustable

People who want to reduce the cost of their auto, home or other insurance can do so by increasing the deductible amount. In most cases, deductibles can range from zero to $1,000. Some larger deductibles are available from some insurers, but most financed vehicles and common sense require deductibles of no more than $1,000 on autos. Most people have a deductible of $500, which is a relatively affordable amount for most working people to come up with in the event of an accident and needing to replace a vehicle. If the vehicle is totaled, the insurer will write a check up to policy limits minus the deductible. If repairs are needed, the insurer will pay up to policy limits minus the deductible. That means the policy holder will need to pay the deductible amount when insured repairs are done.

How much is the deductible you carry on your vehicles?

Originally posted 2014-06-05 00:21:03.

With people’s incomes often times fluctuating and car insurance rates rising every year, it is important to take the right steps to ensure auto insurance rates are as low as possible. Those who don’t have a car but still drive from time to time and who eventually want to buy a car need to maintain liability insurance for themselves. If they don’t, they will be stuck paying high-risk rates for their auto insurance for at least the first six months they own it, and that greatly increases the cost of owning a vehicle.

Auto Insurers Require Continuous Coverage

When going without a car for a period of time and not having any kind of auto insurance coverage, auto insurers will hold that
against people when they start to drive their own vehicles. A simple solution is to have a relative or friend carry someone as a named insured on their auto insurance policy for liability coverage only when possible. That gives the individual a recent history of being insured and won’t cause auto insurers to make them pay for high-risk car insurance. Individuals also can buy open auto liability insurance to any vehicle they might be driving for low rates and help to ensure they won’t have to pay high-risk rates for up to a year when they get their next vehicle.

Motorcycle Insurance Does Not Count

Motorcycles can be fully licensed, insured and ridden regularly, but if the owner of the motorcycle does not also have at least liability auto insurance, the motorcycle insurance will not count as maintaining auto insurance. Because motorcycles generally pose a greater risk to motorcycle riders than other vehicles or property, insurers want to see auto insurance coverage in place to help ensure no accidents or other driving mishaps have occurred involving the potential driver and policyholder. So if only riding a motorcycle, it is wise to also carry minimal levels of auto liability insurance.

Are you looking to buy a car but don’t have current auto insurance coverage?

Originally posted 2014-08-01 21:08:41.

Fictional sales woman Flo in Progressive Insurance commercials became recognizable character in United States. Many people find it pretty funny, others find her annoying and even created groups on Facebook called Progressive Insurance Commercials Aggravate Me, FLO MUST DIE!!!, or I hate Flo!!! As for me, I like the way actress acts and behaves as an advertising character. For some people it is not enough to watch the commercial on TV and they go on YouTube where each clip with Flo received about 20,000 – 50,000 views.

Google keyword suggestion tool shows that people search information about Progressive Insurance ad campaign as well. According Google many people searched typing:

• progressive insurance girl
• who is the girl in the progressive insurance commercials?
• who is the chick in the progressive commercials
• annoying progressive insurance commercial
  …and more.

So, who is this funny, wired, crazy girl?

Okay, the women in the Progressive Insurance commercials is an actress and comedian Stephanie Courtney. Her little wired and enthusiastic behavior turned into something like business card or sales pitch for Progressive Insurance. Appearance in Progressive commercials is her biggest but she also appeared in movies like The Heartbreak Kid and Blades of Glory.

Originally posted 2009-09-02 15:16:20.