Insurance World

Maybe you’ve just graduated college, and after four years of your nose to the books, you’re ready to look up again. Maybe you’ve been working at the same company for several years, and while you enjoy your job there’s really no room for advancement right now and the pay could be better. Whatever the situation, have you ever considered a career as an insurance agent? Insurance agents are as in demand as teachers and doctors. Everyone needs an education, everyone needs medical attention, and, at some point, everyone needs some kind of insurance.

When you choose a career as an insurance agent, you’re the front person for your insurance company. Why? Insurance agents are usually the first people both existing and potential customers contact when interested in purchasing insurance from a particular insurance company. By being knowledgeable about your product, friendly, and supportive, not only are you helping your customers, but you’re helping the insurance company for which you work. This makes you an asset to the company, and we all like to feel needed, right?

Choosing a career as an insurance agent will also keep you on your toes. There isn’t just one type of insurance out there – there are several. People need health, life, automotive, homeowner’s, long term care, and many other kinds of insurance. As an insurance agent, it’s your job to help people understand the differences in certain kinds of insurance policies, and to choose which insurance policy is best for them based on their needs, wants, and income. Plus, a career as an insurance agent may also offer you the opportunity to work with customers regarding financial planning beyond just having insurance in the event of an emergency.

A career as an insurance agent won’t bog you down with the same old routine, day in and day out. Choosing a career as an insurance agent may just be the last career choice you’ll ever make.

We never know what the providence has in store for us. The best thing we humans can do is to remain prepared against any natural disasters or untoward incidents.

Nowadays, insurance provides financial protection against losses for persons or businesses. Over the years, the domain has expanded to encompass almost every type of disaster that is of common occurrence on earth. Earthquake insurance is one such policy that covers one from losses incurred due to a cataclysmic earthquake or any earth movement such as mudflow, landslide, mudslide or sinkhole that involves the sinking, rising or shifting of earth. But it excludes losses incurred due to floods and tidal waves – even if the disaster had been compounded by an earthquake.

An important thing one should realize is that earthquake insurance is not a part of the homeowner and tenant insurance policies. Instead, it is a different deal altogether that one needs to subscribe separately.

Earthquake insurance – unlike other homeowner polices – mainly covers major losses. The claim is usually paid after accounting for all deductibles, which in the general case falls between 10% and 25%. Given the present trend, the deductibles are on a spiral up the scale.

The payment structure works much like the auto insurance. The damage that exceeds the deductibles is only paid. Some policies take in to account, the structure and contents as different entities. In such cases, the deductible applies separately to the total losses on structure, of contents and the damage occurred to external structures like sheds, garages, retaining walls or driveways.

Some insurance providers put forward stringent requirements before issuing a policy – they insist on an inspection of one’s property before signing the deal. For example, many insurance companies require that one’s home is securely bolted to the basement. The inspection also considers bracing on interior walls, the manner in which shelves are fixed and the way strapping guards are used to hold fixtures. But these are no big revamp and won’t be expensive. Ideally, the prospective customers should get their side clear before inviting the insurance company inspection team to the house.

Once an earthquake occurs, no more earthquake insurance policies will be issued until the declared moratorium expires; that is after the chance for further damaging aftershocks has lingered.

After the damage has occurred, it is very important to make the claim, supported with all the required documents, in a definite period of time as mandated by the company’s terms and conditions. Not reporting in the stipulated time is valid grounds for the insurance company to reject one’s claim for insurance.

Consumers should consider their requirements and circumstances before applying for earthquake insurance. Sometimes, it can be argued that his/her house is situated in a low risk area. But it is always better to be in a safer side with one’s home. After all, our homes are our biggest assets.