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    <title>Insurance Policy Centres LLC Blog</title>
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    <lastBuildDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:12:16 -0600</lastBuildDate>
    
	<item><title>Are you covered in an emergency?</title><link>http://www.insurancepolicycentres.com/blog.aspx?entry=763bfb8c-e81e-4ea8-ba9d-72990044735f</link><description><![CDATA[Disability insurance protects income.
Women now make up nearly half of the U.S. workforce, and they’re increasingly the primary or sole earners for their families. But just 38% have short-term disability insurance, and less than a third have long-term coverage.
Disability insurance can help replace most of your paycheck if illness or injury prevents you from working for a time. “Income is most people’s biggest asset, not their house or portfolio,” says Allstate Agency owner, Doug Myrick.
Find...]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 28 Sep 2009 09:30:35 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.insurancepolicycentres.com/blog.aspx?entry=763bfb8c-e81e-4ea8-ba9d-72990044735f</guid></item><item><title>Lucas (Our Grandson!) Turns 4!</title><link>http://www.insurancepolicycentres.com/blog.aspx?entry=1c256518-cdad-4eec-bc8f-0322ca68a44f</link><description><![CDATA[Only 14 More Years Until College...
How fast they grow!  Our "baby" of the family is now officially, in his words, "a big kid now"!  
What's amazing to Kathy and I, is how quickly he picks up technology.  Lucas follows everone around, bugging them to show him how he can play games on the ipod just like them.

I wish I had a picture to show you of Lucas sitting on the couch totally absorbed in playing tetris on Kathy's ipod - it's hilarious!
]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:03:34 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.insurancepolicycentres.com/blog.aspx?entry=1c256518-cdad-4eec-bc8f-0322ca68a44f</guid></item><item><title>Cut These Bills for Quick Savings</title><link>http://www.insurancepolicycentres.com/blog.aspx?entry=3d1bf9f0-8fc7-4eda-a7d7-882f0f9c1521</link><description><![CDATA[Do you need to save money? Do you believe you’ve already cut back as much as you can from your expenditures in order to facilitate saving? You may be surprised to learn that there are likely still bills you can trim, fairly easily and painlessly, in order to save even more. 
Energy and Utility Bills 
You already know full well that utility bills can eat into your family’s budget. But what you may not know is how to cut back on them. 
One of the most highly recommended (and inexpensive) ways t...]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:17:48 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.insurancepolicycentres.com/blog.aspx?entry=3d1bf9f0-8fc7-4eda-a7d7-882f0f9c1521</guid></item><item><title>Five Common Insurance Mistakes Can Sink Boats’ Fin</title><link>http://www.insurancepolicycentres.com/blog.aspx?entry=ebdddd5a-0deb-4bc0-95da-c3c5562be887</link><description><![CDATA[As boating season starts to heat up once again, we see clients who are re-evaluating their boat insurance needs, and looking to us for advice.
There are five common mistakes boat owners make with their insurance coverage. Whether they believe they do not need insurance because they own their boat, or because the boat isn’t physically in the water during the off-season, there are widespread misconceptions about when boat insurance coverage is necessary. Any boater should have some type of covera...]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 2009 08:26:14 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.insurancepolicycentres.com/blog.aspx?entry=ebdddd5a-0deb-4bc0-95da-c3c5562be887</guid></item><item><title>Four Things NOT to do with Your Home Equity</title><link>http://www.insurancepolicycentres.com/blog.aspx?entry=30e99b6d-3c36-455b-b073-7b4be1d87c94</link><description><![CDATA[The equity you've built in your home is a valuable resource. You can use it as a tool to build your wealth, or you can spend it unwisely. Ultimately, it's your choice, but here are four things most experts recommend you do not do with your home equity.
1. Do not use it to consolidate debt.If you've racked up debt on your credit cards, you should sit down with a professional and make a plan to pay it off as efficiently and steadily as possible. A home equity loan might allow you to pay off a lar...]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2009 13:16:23 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.insurancepolicycentres.com/blog.aspx?entry=30e99b6d-3c36-455b-b073-7b4be1d87c94</guid></item><item><title>Revise 529 plans</title><link>http://www.insurancepolicycentres.com/blog.aspx?entry=dc9281d1-2d1a-4efd-a5e3-3342816be8cc</link><description><![CDATA[The market meltdown means most 529 state college savings plans are awash in red ink. Joe Hurly of http://Savingforcollege.com, which ranks these plans, offers this advice, based on your child’s age.
AGE 10 AND UNDER: Hang tight. Stocks are still your best chance to see money grow at a rate that even begins to approach yearly tuition hikes. But look to see if your plan has an age-based option that automatically moves you into more conservative investments (bonds, cash) as your child approaches c...]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 09 May 2009 10:19:51 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.insurancepolicycentres.com/blog.aspx?entry=dc9281d1-2d1a-4efd-a5e3-3342816be8cc</guid></item><item><title>Seven Golden Rules For A Successful Bid On a House</title><link>http://www.insurancepolicycentres.com/blog.aspx?entry=383741e2-dd63-4856-812f-72f37a604c39</link><description><![CDATA[First time home buyers are looking at a market that shows no mercy, is highly competitive and does not reflect the conditions of a so-called "depressed real estate market." It is not easy to find a good house at the entry level without having to compete with other buyers, but with persistence, good preparation and the help of a professional local Realtor your chances of becoming a homeowner are better. Above all, be realistic, your very first house is not your "Dream House" but getting on the ho...]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2009 08:09:27 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.insurancepolicycentres.com/blog.aspx?entry=383741e2-dd63-4856-812f-72f37a604c39</guid></item><item><title>When Do You Report Claims?</title><link>http://www.insurancepolicycentres.com/blog.aspx?entry=c3f4ad4f-5993-4bc0-a3d7-5a495073cc46</link><description><![CDATA[I just read an interesting article written for insurance agents on when to report claims to insurance companies.In 750 words the "insurance expert" said to report all claims. (so much for succinctity!)My advice to insurance buyers:-Anytime you may have injured someone or damaged their property, report the incident.-Anytime someone threatens to sue you, report the incident.-Anytime you get a letter from an attorney about an event, report the incident.-If your property is damaged and the amount is...]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2009 14:47:47 -0500</pubDate><guid>http://www.insurancepolicycentres.com/blog.aspx?entry=c3f4ad4f-5993-4bc0-a3d7-5a495073cc46</guid></item><item><title>Five Reasons Why Diamonds Don’t Always Last Foreve</title><link>http://www.insurancepolicycentres.com/blog.aspx?entry=1fb0b42e-e323-4db7-8462-886e936eb600</link><description><![CDATA[
All the lucky women who receive diamonds as a Valentine’s Day gift should know this important fact: Diamonds don’t always last forever. Iowa City Allstate Agent Doug Myrick and Allstate claim adjusters, who handle thousands of claims each year, are dispelling the notion that diamonds last forever by revealing the top five reasons diamonds are lost forever.&nbsp; 

&#167;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Flushed Away - Left on a counter near a sink or toilet. Just add running w...]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 06 Feb 2009 18:38:30 -0600</pubDate><guid>http://www.insurancepolicycentres.com/blog.aspx?entry=1fb0b42e-e323-4db7-8462-886e936eb600</guid></item><item><title>Economic Conditions Expected to Cause Increase in </title><link>http://www.insurancepolicycentres.com/blog.aspx?entry=a8a19cfc-237b-4128-9901-48ac86e02c5c</link><description><![CDATA[A study issued by the Insurance Research Council indicates that one of the expected consequences of the recent economic downturn will be an increase in the percentage of uninsured drivers. The report cites a correlation between the unemployment rate and the percentage of uninsured motorists and predicts, based on current unemployment projections, that the percentage of uninsured motorists will increase nationally from 13.8 in 2007 to 16.1 percent in 2010.
In an upcoming press release, Allstate ...]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 31 Jan 2009 11:16:40 -0600</pubDate><guid>http://www.insurancepolicycentres.com/blog.aspx?entry=a8a19cfc-237b-4128-9901-48ac86e02c5c</guid></item><item><title>Is it time to sell your unwanted gold?</title><link>http://www.insurancepolicycentres.com/blog.aspx?entry=884f9e35-b075-4770-b96f-c17ae4bbbecd</link><description><![CDATA[With 24-karat gold at $855.75 an ounce at this time, is it time to unload that clunky bracelet? If so, Doug Myrick of Insurance Policy Centres has these tips:

For big pieces in good shape, hire an appraiser (najaappraisers.com) for an estimate based on condition, design, and karat weight. Armed with that information, negotiate with jewelers who buy back gold.

Sell damaged pieces for scrap; most jewelers deal in it. Pure gold (24 karat) fetches top dollar, followed by 18-, 14-, and 10-karat...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:57:33 -0600</pubDate><guid>http://www.insurancepolicycentres.com/blog.aspx?entry=884f9e35-b075-4770-b96f-c17ae4bbbecd</guid></item><item><title>Hosting a Party? Be Wary of Too Much Holiday Cheer</title><link>http://www.insurancepolicycentres.com/blog.aspx?entry=0af44cd2-0d79-4197-a8f0-9e35a02936b3</link><description><![CDATA[Many would-be hosts are completely unaware of their potential liability when hosting a holiday party. More than two-thirds had no idea they could be held financially liable should a partygoer leave their home and cause an accident*.

Liability concerns exist inside the home as well. Tipsy guests are more prone to falls and accidents around the house. Should someone trip and injure themselves, the host could be held responsible for their medical bills. This liability exists regardless of whethe...]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:07:22 -0600</pubDate><guid>http://www.insurancepolicycentres.com/blog.aspx?entry=0af44cd2-0d79-4197-a8f0-9e35a02936b3</guid></item><item><title>Knowing the Language of College Funding</title><link>http://www.insurancepolicycentres.com/blog.aspx?entry=a10d9846-f679-474e-a0c4-94d2add6d640</link><description><![CDATA[Entering the world of college funding is like visiting a distant country. If you know the mother tongue, you're likely to find better accommodations, travel more efficiently and absorb more of the local culture. Knowing the language of college funding through 360TuitionCoach will achieve all of the above as you enter the somewhat alien terrain of financial aid and college funding. For instance, if you had an income of say, $125,000, and you have two or three kids headed toward college, TuitionCo...]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:26:31 -0600</pubDate><guid>http://www.insurancepolicycentres.com/blog.aspx?entry=a10d9846-f679-474e-a0c4-94d2add6d640</guid></item><item><title>Making College Affordable </title><link>http://www.insurancepolicycentres.com/blog.aspx?entry=2b8ed3e1-4b3d-4dd6-8ea4-4189b55e14d2</link><description><![CDATA[A Few Money-Saving Tips:


Enroll in a monthly payment program (sometimes they're interest free).
Consider having more than one student attend college at a time.

Keep student income and assets low. 
In separated families, if possible, have the less affluent parent claim the student. 

Don't overestimate anything on financial aid forms. Bragging can be very costly! 
Be prepared to negotiate with your financial aid administrator. ]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 28 Nov 2008 15:01:24 -0600</pubDate><guid>http://www.insurancepolicycentres.com/blog.aspx?entry=2b8ed3e1-4b3d-4dd6-8ea4-4189b55e14d2</guid></item><item><title>3 Smart Ways To...Pay Tuition, Save Taxes </title><link>http://www.insurancepolicycentres.com/blog.aspx?entry=c392074f-6cb0-4131-82c3-659047b43524</link><description><![CDATA[With your kid off to freshman orientation, hefty bills are starting to roll in. Too affluent to qualify for financial aid? Unfortunately, shifting assets into your child's name no longer saves money, and you can take a full education tax credit only if you and your spouse make less than $96,000. But Jim Van Grevenholf, a senior tax analyst for Thomson Reuters, says there are still ways to minimize the IRS' bite.Spend 529 or Coverdell money on room and board first. That's because funds you withdr...]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:16:09 -0600</pubDate><guid>http://www.insurancepolicycentres.com/blog.aspx?entry=c392074f-6cb0-4131-82c3-659047b43524</guid></item><item><title>College and Life’s Time Sheet </title><link>http://www.insurancepolicycentres.com/blog.aspx?entry=424dc7c1-0161-44f4-9be3-0865f1d95f24</link><description><![CDATA[Maybe it is parental pressure; maybe just a congenital urge but somehow we feel it is necessary to focus on a major and a career to get the maximum impact from a college education. It is about making a living. But if college is in place to prepare one for what lies ahead in life, reason would dictate that we stop long enough to better assess what our lives are really like. Maybe college is also about having a life. Let’s start with a normal, 24 hour day and a typical job. Most jobs occupy about ...]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:14:51 -0600</pubDate><guid>http://www.insurancepolicycentres.com/blog.aspx?entry=424dc7c1-0161-44f4-9be3-0865f1d95f24</guid></item>
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