Insurance World

If you’re planning a vacation you’ve probably already been offered travel insurance more than once. And if you’re like most people you quickly dismissed the idea and went about your business.

But don’t be so quick to decide. While travel insurance is not always a good idea, there are times when it can come in handy.

What is covered?

While coverage can vary from one carrier to another, travel insurance policies generally cover:

Trip cancellation or interruption due to weather, sickness, airline bankruptcy/strike, or terrorist activity.

Medical expenses incurred while in a foreign country. If you get sick while on African safari, you may find that your medical plan does not cover foreign care or that the coverage is severely limited.

Baggage and belongings that are lost, stolen, or damaged.

Accidental death and dismemberment if you are seriously or fatally injured while on vacation.

So when should I buy travel insurance?

Well, if you are going on a relatively inexpensive trip that is not likely to be canceled or delayed and you are young, healthy, and not planning on doing anything dangerous then you can probably skip it.

But if you are planning your honeymoon or a once in a lifetime trip, especially to a an area where weather is a concern, you should consider travel insurance. The small investment will be well worth it.

If you are elderly or in poor health you’re more likely to need medical attention while on vacation. Likewise if you are planning to take part in potentially dangerous activities such as rock-climbing or cliff diving.

Remember too that you don’t have to be doing anything risky to get hurt. You could be taking a lazy afternoon sightseeing drive and get hit by a reckless driver. If that happens, you’ll be glad you bought some extra insurance.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–May 25, 2006–The Automotive Dealership Institute has announced plans to release its ground-breaking Encyclopedia of Finance and Insurance Management, the most comprehensive automotive F&I resource guide ever published, said ADI CEO/Executive Director Alan Algan. The massive encyclopedia, at more than 1,000 pages, has been in the works since January 2005 and will be available this August.

“The publication of the Encyclopedia of Finance and Insurance Management is an industry event,” said Algan. “There has never been any F&I-related publication of this magnitude. Our contributors are renowned for their reputations and expertise. I can’t imagine any dealership without a copy of it for reference purposes.”

Contributors to the substantial volume include ADI’s executive staff: Alan Algan, author of Automotive F&I Management, originally published in 1992 when it became the first and only book on the subject to be catalogued by the U.S. Library of Congress; CFO/Dean of Education Arzu Algan, who authored ADI’s copyrighted textbook; and President/Director of Corporate Affairs Keith Tuber, a former journalist with 16 writing awards to his credit, who served as executive editor of the project. Additional distinguished contributors include Prof. Robert W. Serum, Ph.D., vice president, Academics and International Programs for Northwood University; Dr. David D. Long, chancellor and COO of Northwood University; David N. Robertson, executive director of the Association of Finance and Insurance Professionals (AFIP), who also wrote the foreword; John Walsh, director of Education for the Institute for Ethical Behavior, whose highly praised four-part series on F&I ethics originally appeared in the influential national trade publication F&I Management and Technology magazine; and Gary Thomas Fagg, a consulting actuary and principal of CreditRe, who is an acknowledged expert on credit insurance.

Among the topics covered in the F&I encyclopedia are:

– Finance and Insurance - Prime and Nonprime

– F&I Menu Presentation Process

– Creation and Management of the Dealership Internet Department

– Retail Installment Sales Contracts

– Consumer Leasing, Lease Agreements

– Collecting, Analyzing and Evaluating Credit Information

– Legal Compliance - Privacy Rule, Safeguards Rule, Cash Purchases, etc.

– Credit Insurance and Related Products

– Ethics for Automotive Financial Professionals

“Education is an important factor in the success of any dealership, as changing regulations and technologies continue to mold the automotive industry,” said Dr. Serum. “Having a single-volume resource guide is an indispensable tool that will be utilized over and over again by F&I personnel and upper management. I am pleased to be associated with this ambitious undertaking.”

The Encyclopedia of Finance and Insurance Management will be published in a hand-crafted hard-cover edition retailing for $795. It will be distributed domestically by Idealergroup, LLC, and will be available for purchase through Idealergroup’s network of general agents; at Northwood University bookstores in Michigan, Florida and Texas; through the Association of Finance and Insurance Professionals’ website, afip.com; Amazon.com; the Automotive Dealership Institute’s website, autodealerinstitute.com; and other retailers. The encyclopedia will be marketed in Asia by The Asian Banker, the region’s largest and most respected financial publisher, and throughout the United Kingdom and other European Union countries by a number of prominent distributors.

“There has been a basic shift in the car-buying experience, from a product-oriented market to a credit-oriented market,” said Robertson. “Accordingly, the F&I process is afforded much greater attention, not only as a process, but as an academic endeavor. This isn’t something that a few people do, it’s something everybody does, and consequently the emphasis on the F&I process has greatly increased.”

An autographed, leather-bound limited edition with gold gilding and housed in an attractive presentation box will also be available. The special collector’s edition will retail for $995.

“The Encyclopedia of Finance and Insurance Management is destined to become the bible of the automotive industry,” said Dr. Long. “It contains a wealth of information on all aspects of F&I management, including ethics. I see it evolving with the industry, making it and future editions a dynamic, practical resource guide. It is a book written by professionals, for professionals.”

Preorders are now being accepted by Idealergroup, LLC, at 570-366-0221 or through idealergroup.com.

The Automotive Dealership Institute is a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based automotive management school that specializes in educating the next generation of Finance and Insurance managers and service advisors. ADI is licensed by the State of Arizona Board for Private Postsecondary Education and approved by the Arizona Department of Education. For more information call 877-998-7200 or visit http://www.autodealerinstitute.com.