Transportation insurance is designed to protect commercial trucks and fleets of various sizes. This type of insurance coverage is designed to protect business owners and companies from special risks and threats posed to hauling cargo. So, when is it a good idea to purchase transportation insurance for a company or business owner?

Transportation Insurance Coverage

Anyone who is planing to haul valuable cargo, especially across state lines, is encouraged to purchase transportation insurance. In the event of a loss, the cargo is covered to prevent financial losses by the policy holder. For example, if a truck is carrying valuable cargo and it is stolen, the insurance will provide protection. It is a sensible solution for transporting valuable cargo, especially for companies who are in the business of cargo transportation or who work within a variety of markets involved in retail or wholesale distribution. 

Finding The Right Insurance Provider

They key to protecting valuable cargo during transportation is to work with an insurance provider that can offer options that completely protect valuable products in between destinations. Agents who offer these products must be able to explain in detail how each policy covers cargo and can provide coverage from outlined risks. Anyone who is in the market for transportation insurance and who lives in the Evergreen Park, IL area should contact Martin Insurance Team for more information about different insurance products that can offer coverage that works for specific needs. 

Business owners and companies located in the Evergreen Park, IL area should call or stop by the office of the Martin Insurance Team and learn how they can provide high-quality insurance products designed for transportation.  

If you live and/or work in Evergreen Park, IL, you probably get a small insurance policy through your employer for free. This kind of insurance is usually a basic group life insurance policy, and you probably have the opportunity to add supplemental insurance to get a higher amount.

There are advantages to buying insurance through work:

1. It’s convenient, and you probably only have to fill out paperwork provided by your company.
2. You won’t find a better rate.
3. It’s easy to get accepted, even if you have a condition like a heart problem that would keep you from getting accepted on your own.

However, there are also good reasons to speak to  Martin Insurance Team about purchasing your own life insurance policy, either on its own or, more likely, in addition to the policy, you can get through work.

1. If and when you ever leave that company, it is unlikely that your life insurance policy will follow you. Even if the company you are getting the policy through lets you convert it to an individual policy, the price will probably go up drastically.
2. Your next employer may not offer life insurance at all. 
3. If you only have life insurance through your employer, you are limited as to what kind of options you have to choose from. Term life insurance, which is only payable as a death benefit, is usually the kind of life insurance offered by employers.
4. Your work policy might not have a limit as high as you need.

Clearly, there are advantages to the group policies offered by employers in Evergreen Park, IL. You should never say no to free coverage, but you should also consider that if you are depending on that policy, you might be in trouble when you are older and trying to policy on your own. If you want to discuss the policy that would best help you and your family, call Martin Insurance Team today.

Besides keeping windows and doors locked, there are other ways to keep your home safe in Evergreen Park, IL.  By keeping your home safer you may be able to lower your home insurance premiums, since your home is less at risk. Speak with an agent at Martin Insurance Team about using these techniques to save on home insurance.

Look at the Front Door for Potential Weaknesses: The front door is important as your home’s entrance and exit. It should be a steel front or solid hardwood door to prevent intruders from kicking in the door. You can also get a doorway reinforcement kit, which can help strengthen any weak spots.

Use Timers: Burglars will target homes that are dark in the evenings and a lot of break-ins happen during the day when people are at work, so set timers to fool intruders into thinking you are home when you aren’t.

Be Careful of Sliding Glass Doors and Windows: Intruders can lift some sliding windows and doors off the tracks. Use a shower curtain rod in the track so intruders can’t slide it open if they are able to get past the lock. You can also use window-sensing alarms.

Use Light: The outside of your home should be lit in order to discourage any burglars. Set exterior lights on a timer so they turn on when it gets dark. For inside, be sure there is a light near windows and you should be turning on lights when you are home, as well as away.

Take Caution during Vacations: Anything that can indicate you are on vacation can be a sign to burglars. Things like ads being piled up or mail build up is a clue that you aren’t home, so have a neighbor pick up the mail or put a temporary stop for mail delivery.

Hide Your Valuables: Keep blinds closed and don’t advertise what you have in your home. If a burglar does get inside, they are going to quickly grab what they can. Don’t hide valuables in usual hiding places and get more creative.

Visit Martin Insurance Team, serving Evergreen Park, IL, to get a quote on home insurance. 

 

In years gone by retirement was something that folks really looked forward to, relatively stress-free, but today it can be a very different story. For starters, individuals retiring in today’s economy are held much more responsible for their retirement income than say our grandparents and great-grandparents were. Companies simply do not offer the same kind of retirement packages they did decades ago. So the burden of preparing for retirement lays almost entirely on the shoulders of the individual. So, what are some ways that you can boost your retirement efforts? Looking for ways to save for retirement tax-free is your first step. 

Roth IRA

A Roth IRA account is a great starter account for most people. I say most people because there are income caps on who can contribute to this type of account. There are also caps on how much you can contribute each year. Currently, it is $5,500 per year if you are under 50 years old and $6,500 if you are older than 50. This is an important type of retirement savings because the money goes in tax-free and most importantly, it comes out tax-free as well. 

Roth 401(k)

If your plan allows it, then this is a great additional type of retirement account. The great thing about a Roth 401(k) is that it allows a much larger annual contribution than the Roth IRA. Currently the contribution amount is $18,500 if you are under 50, and it allows for $6,000 catch up if you are over 50. 

Working with A CTA

One of the best ways to get your retirement on track is to speak with a CTA. These professionals can help you identify ways to save tax-free for retirement. If you would like to speak to someone about this service, please contact our friendly staff at Martin Insurance Team serving Evergreen Park, IL. 

With all of the health insurance plans out there, it’s not always easy to determine which plan is best for your individual needs. The Martin Insurance Team serves residents of Evergreen Park, IL and can help you make this important decision involving your health. Here are three tips for figuring out the insurance plan you should select.

Take a Look at the Benefits

Read the fine print so that you can make an informed decision and chose a plan that’s a good fit for you and your family. Some plans have better coverage for different aspects of care, such as when you’re traveling abroad, for specific pharmaceuticals or for mental health issues. Talking with someone in person is also beneficial to help you understand the various plans you’re considering.

Look at Your Healthcare Spending Patterns

Consider how much you spend each year on healthcare. Do you typically reach your deductible? If you didn’t by a wide margin and you predict a similar scenario for the upcoming year, you should consider a plan with a deductible that’s even higher, which means your premium will likely be lower. 

If the opposite is true and you met or exceeded your deductible — or if you will have upcoming medical costs, such as for a planned surgery or if you’ve been diagnosed with a disease such as diabetes — then consider opting for a plan with a lower deductible and higher premiums.

Avoid Unnecessary Out-of-Pocket Costs

This may seem obvious, but make sure your primary doctor accepts your insurance plan. Otherwise, you may have to switch doctors or pay out-of-network rates, which won’t be wallet-friendly. You may want to call to double-check if your doctor is in-network for the plan you’re considering to make sure you have updated information.

You can learn more about the type of health insurance plan that’s right for you by contacting the Martin Insurance Team, serving Evergreen Park, IL. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today!

Disability insurance is not something that many people know about. For some, however, it is essential and is a great thing to have. For those workers that feel they may need disability insurance, the helpful agents at Martin Insurance Team in the Evergreen Park, IL area can help you to find the right disability policy for you.

So what is disability insurance? This insurance takes the place of a disability payment should the worker become injured. This policy is going to help pay wages for the injured worker should they become injured and not able to work. This helps prevent the need to go through the process of applying for disability through your work or through your local government.

So who needs this type of insurance? Workers that are at risk to become injured at work, workers that have a job site that is not likely to pay out disability payments, or for those workers that do not want to deal with the hassle of filing for temporary disability, this might be the right solution for you. You can take our policies with a wide range of coverage to help you pay your bills while you are injured based on what your current pay is and based on what amount of money you need to be able to pay your bills each month.

You should note however that this type of insurance is still going to require that you prove you are disabled and show what happened as well as doctors notes to prove that you have been hurt. This is going to help to make sure that you get the right payout and that your policy is going to help pay the bills.

For those that live in the Evergreen Park, IL area, the agents with Martin Insurance Team can help you determine if you need a disability policy and what amount of coverage you need to be safe and secure.  

Riding on the open road. The wind in your face. No doubt about it a motorcycle is just cool. However, there is a lot more to motorcycle ownership than just looking cool as your ride down the road. Understanding the risks and responsibilities of bike ownership is crucial to making the most of your bike. 

Safety

it is the reasonability of the owner of the bike to know how to operate the bike safely. Driving a motorcycle is nothing like driving a car. Just because you can drive a car does not mean you will be great at driving a bike. In order to learn the best safety practices when driving your bike, it would be in your best interest to take a motorcycle safety course. This will give you the chance to learn everything you need to know from a professional. 

Risks

If you choose to own and drive a motorcycle then you should also understand the risks involved with that ownership. There are an entirely different set of risks involved in driving a motorcycle than there are in driving a car. Never assume you know everything. Learning about the risks involved is the best way to avoid those risks. You should understand the dangers of driving in certain types of weather as well as in certain types of areas. You should also learn how to interact appropriately with the motorists around you on the road. 

If you have recently purchased a motorcycle or are considering purchasing one, take the time to find a quality motorcycle safety course or driving course in your area. Learning how to drive and operate your new bike from a professional will go a long way in preventing problems in the future. If you would like to learn more about bike ownership and bike insurance contact Martin Insurance Team serving Evergreen Park, IL.