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Colorado Insurance Blog

Why Theft Coverage is Important for Boats Housed Away from Residence

There’s nothing more exhilarating than having your hair being blown back by the wind while navigating through the waters in a boat. Denver, CO has no bigger recreational activity than boating, but owners can feel a bit overwhelm when it comes to buying the right insurance to protect their vessel.

Unfortunately, thousands of boats are stolen or broken into each summer, and it’s especially important to have theft coverage when your boat is housed away from home. Insurance won’t prevent a boat from being stolen, but it can help recover the monetary loss much faster.

The biggest misconception is that a person’s homeowners insurance will cover a boat, and it does if the boat doesn’t have an engine. Think of a sailboat or rowboat, but a $20,000 luxury liner doesn’t fall under this category.

Why? Well, much like an automobile, a boat of this nature is mobile and can travel anywhere, so it will need a separate insurance policy.

Is My Boat Covered for Theft

A standard boat insurance policy will provide limited coverage if your boat has been vandalized, but no coverage for stolen items. To cover your assets, you will need to add an umbrella clause to the policy. The wording states of the risk value taken for having expensive items such as a sound system, large screen television and deep sea fishing equipment being kept on board.

Inventory Your Items

It’s important to keep a detailed inventory record of what is exactly housed on your boat. Take photos or an extended video of the interior and exterior of the boat, and keep them in a safe and secure place. Also, engrave a personal identification code onto all personal items stored on the boat. This will help the local authorities in returning the stolen items back to you. Plus, it may discourage thieves from taking them in the first place.

As you can see, they’re plenty of options to consider when shopping for the right boat insurance policy. At AFI Insurance, we work with clients of Denver, CO to find the best coverage for their boat. To speak with a reputable agent at AFI Insurance, contact us at 866-433-2878.

Can I Borrow Against My Life Insurance Policy in Denver, CO?

Life insurance is an important part of your family’s financial plan in Denver, CO. It provides protection for your spouse and children in the event of your untimely death. Sufficient coverage gives you the peace of mind that if something should happen, your family will be able to survive with the loss of your income. Yet, only half of young families have the protection of life insurance a study by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners found.  Further, those who did have insurance were underinsured.  AFI Insurance can help you with the coverage you need.

Term and whole life are two types of life insurance available. Term life insurance covers an individual for a specific period of time.  It does not accrue cash value. It can be renewed but the premiums may increase over time.  Whole life insurance policies cover the individual for the length of their lifetime. As long as the premiums are maintained, the policy will protect the family and grow in cash value. While premiums are higher for whole life policies, when they reach the level that they cover the death benefit, they will be invested and begin building value. You can borrow against this amount if you need to. You will have to pay back this policy loan with interest.  However, in many cases, the interest rate will be lower than a bank or credit card. The policy loan can be used for anything that you would like from bills to vacations.

The team at AFI Insurance serves the Denver, CO area. They can help you get the protection you and your family needs.  Visit their website for information to get started. Then give them a call or visit their offices today.

The Building Blocks of a Good Commercial Insurance Policy

A commercial insurance policy is difficult for many owners to swallow. It may seem as though the expenses of keeping a business running never end, so it’s hard to justify getting extensive coverage that may eat into other important matters. But AFI Insurance wants the entrepreneurs of Denver, CO to succeed, and skimping on a policy won’t help. See how to start building your commercial insurance policy the right way. 

Answer Some Key Questions 

The best way to decide on a policy is to listing out what’s most important to your business. For example, if you do your selling online, you won’t need to worry about customer injury coverage inside your establishment. However, you may have to worry about the repercussions of a customer being hurt by a faulty product you sold to them. The most common commercial insurance elements include (at a bare minimum) protection of income after a weather event, protection of property from weather or criminals, and employee protection from injuries. Most businesses need to go further to include specific risks that may pertain solely to your industry. 

Taking It a Step Further

When business owners prepare for the worst, they find themselves less stressed when something does happen. Once you’ve thought of all the ways that your business can be threatened, you can decide which ones are likely (e.g., your computer systems might be hacked) and which ones aren’t (e.g., a hurricane destroys most of Denver, CO.) If you have more questions, AFI Insurance can help you put together the best commercial policy for your business. We’re here to find out more about what you do before our recommendations. Give us a call if you’re looking for advice, or just want to get a sense of how we do business!

What is Advertising Injury and How Does Commercial Insurance Protect My Business Against It?

When you go to buy commercial insurance, one of the add-ons is advertising injury coverage. This may leave you wondering what this is and how it can protect your business. Here is some information you should know if you are curious about this topic.

What is Advertising Injury?

It is becoming more and more common for consumers to file lawsuits against businesses claiming that their products don’t do what their advertising campaigns claim it does. The product may not make their skin softer, improve their feet or whiten their teeth. The consumer files a lawsuit against the business and asks for advertising injury and unfortunately, these generally turn into class action lawsuits.

How Can Advertising Injury Coverage Protect My Business?

Regardless of whether these lawsuits have any merit or not, they can be costly to a business to defend. Having advertising injury coverage protects your business against these lawsuits. Your insurance policy will cover your legal expenses and pay for anything the courts may award, up to the value listed on your policy documents, helping to ensure your business does not go bankrupt if you are facing one of these lawsuits. This can be the difference between your business staying afloat or going under.

Do you need commercial insurance in the greater Denver, CO area? Or are you trying to improve upon your current policy? Let AFI Insurance give you a hand. They can look over your current policy or help you craft one to fully protect your commercial business. Give them a call today to find out more!

Colorado Motorcycle Insurance Laws and How it Prepares You for Safety

In the state of Colorado, all motorcycles must maintain compliance as it relates to the insurance laws. Other than the necessary protective gear, eye protection, foot rest and other safety instruments, financial responsibility is an essential aspect of preparing for safety on the roadways. Accidents are possible, whether you are driving a motor vehicle or a motorcycle. For that reason, having motorcycle insurance will make sure that you can pay for injuries or damages suffered by yourself and others.

The Restrictions

As a motorcyclist, if you don’t have insurance, you will be restricted to:

  • Filing a complaint for insurance, in the event that there is a collision
  • Liability coverage to protect you and anyone involved in the collision

The Liability

According to the insurance laws in the state of Colorado, you are mandated to carry liability insurance. There are specific state limits, which you have to discover from an insurance carrier. However, for your safety, it is recommended that you get coverage for bodily injury and property damage. It is important to seek several quotes for motorcycle insurance before making a decision which insurance carrier to go with. This could save you thousands of dollars. You also have optional coverage.

Optional Insurance Coverage

The law does not force you to accept optional insurance coverage, but it will only serve to prepare you for safety. So, it is advised that you check with an insurance carrier in your state to discuss if the minimum requirements are enough to ensure that you are adequately and safely covered. Some of the optional insurance coverage includes:

  • Repairs during a collision
  • Medical payments if there is an injury
  • Comprehensive coverage to handle natural disasters, fire, theft or vandalism
  • Labor and towing
  • Uninsured motorcyclist during a collision
  • Underinsured motorcyclist during a collision

Don’t be caught off-guard without motorcycle insurance coverage you need. Rather, it is easy to receive an online comparison quote with AFI Insurance. This will allow you to make an informed decision to remain safe on the Denver, Colorado roadways, subsequently protecting yourself. To find out more about how you can do this, contact AFI Insurance today.

How To Find The Best Deals On Life Insurance

When you live in Denver, CO, you want to do all you can to take care of yourself, as well as your family. A life insurance policy can provide financial protection in the event you pass. This is money that can be used by your spouse, your children, your parents, or anyone you deem as your beneficiary.

Finding the best deals is important and there are some tips to help you as you shop around.

Term vs. Whole

One of the biggest decisions you have to make is whether you want term or whole life, and it may vary. Term is great for an affordable premium while whole can provide long-term benefits. Understanding the differences is important and you want to make sure you choose wisely.

Compare Rates

Not all life insurance companies offer the same rates. This is why it’s so important to contact at least three companies to get rate quotes. It will allow you to make some comparisons so you know what you could end up paying for your premiums.

Explore the Amount of Life Insurance You Need

The more life insurance you want, the more it is going to cost you. However, you want to be sure you have enough. A simple rule to follow is 10 times your annual income, which can be enough to help your family tremendously.

Work with an Independent Agent

You never truly know what’s out there for insurance until you work with an agent. Agents can talk to you about the different discounts that are out there and help you to find the best company to work with, as well as the best premium.

Contact us at AFI Insurance today to get personalized assistance with finding a life insurance policy in Denver, CO for you and your family.

 

What You Need To Update Your Insurance Policy

Living in Denver, CO can be a lot of fun. Whether you are a homeowner or a renter, you may have various insurance policies in place. When you are ready to update your insurance policies, it is important to know what you need. For every policy, you may need a few different things.

Auto Insurance

For starters, you will need:

  • Policy Number
  • VIN number
  • Case numbers if you have DMV issues

You may want to explore more coverage, especially if you have been involved in an accident. This can minimize the amount of money that you spend out-of-pocket if there is another fender bender in your future.

Home Insurance

To update your home insurance, you will need:

  • Policy number
  • Value of items in your home
  • Safety features

You may want to increase the level of coverage that you have based upon any valuable items in your home, such as artwork or collectibles. You may also qualify for discounts if you have installed any safety features, such as a security system or smoke detectors.

Renters Insurance

If you rent, you will need:

  • Policy number
  • Requirements of property owner for coverage
  • Value of your items

If you move from one place to another, you will want to confirm that the level of coverage required is the same as the last place you lived in.

Business Insurance

For your business, you will need:

  • Policy number
  • Vehicle VIN numbers
  • Value of inventory

Your business needs to be protected and if you have experienced any growth, you may want to explore more coverage.

Contact us at AFI Insurance today to learn about updating your insurance policy. Our agents can also help to get you quotes to compare premiums and answer questions you may have about coverage in Denver.

 

 

 

Three Keys to Picking the Right Commercial Insurance

Your business needs commercial insurance. It is the most reliable way to protect yourself from catastrophic damages and unavoidable liability. When you have adequate coverage, your company can stay in operation no matter what craziness life throws at it, providing you with stability in even the worst of times. If you feel a little inexperienced in commercial insurance, fear not. These are the three key tips to making the right choice.

Ask the Right Questions

When you contact an agent about commercial insurance, there are specific things you need to know. The two biggest questions are “What is the scope of services?” and “What is the capacity of coverage?” When you can thoroughly answer these two questions, then you know whether or not an agency can fit a policy to your business needs. By all means, don’t stop here. Anything that is unclear or particularly important to you or your company should be added to your list of questions.

Consider a Business Owner’s Policy

This is a simpler policy that is aimed to meet a small business’s needs with a single framework. Essentially it combines the elements of property insurance with general liability, to protect you from physical damage and loss as well as legal reprisals. Some policies will offer have packages to help your business when circumstances shut operations down for a short period. Always remember that every policy is unique, so double check the exact scope of coverage when you make your choice.

Think About the Future

Ultimately, you want your business to grow and succeed for years to come. This means you’ll need to maintain your commercial insurance for that duration, so choosing your partners in this is a long-term commitment. There are tons of experts in the insurance field, so you can find a great choice, but you want to have the appropriate conversations to make sure you and your agent are a good fit and that you can work effectively with your insurance providers.

Talk to an AFI Insurance agent today, or schedule an appointment to get started on the path to a properly protected business future.

Clear Out Trunk Space for These Tools

If you are like many individuals in Denver, CO you probably have a nice collection of items in your trunk. Only problem is, most of these items you don’t really need. Some papers from the office, a few kids toys, and the set of golf clubs from when you drove down to Arizona for golf. Well, not only is all of this dropping down your fuel economy, but there are better uses for the trunk space. So, clear out your trunk and make way for a few of these tools. 

Self-Jumper Battery

Nothing is worse than letting your car run to heat up, only to have the battery die out on you. Now you have a dead battery in the middle of a snow storm. Instead of abandoning the car or searching out someone to help you out, AFI Insurance recommends having a self-jumper battery. This is a portable charge with a pair of jumper cable pliers coming out of it. This gives you a jump readily available, you just need to charge it up ever 30 days or so. 

Better Jack

Sure, your vehicle came with a jack, but it usually isn’t all that great, especially if you have a larger vehicle like an SUV or truck. Instead, invest in an improved jack. There are nice lever action jacks that go up easily, can hold more weight and can lift different areas of the vehicle. 

Bag of Salt/Kitty Litter

The bag of road salt can come in handy if you’re ever stuck or if you are parked on an incline and just can’t gain traction to get out. Additionally, even if you don’t have a cat, kitty litter adds traction to a slick surface without melting it. Both are extremely helpful while driving in Denver. 

Call AFI Insurance today for all all of your auto insurance needs, or to review your current policy. 

Independent Agents, Keeping the Big Guys Honest

Some things in life such as a home or vehicle, are important enough to warrant an insurance policy. These items typically represent your biggest investments, and it’s important to keep them protected. It would be far too expensive to have these items replaced on a whim so we have them insured against damage. Insurance is one of the most important aspects of home and automobile ownership, and independent insurance agents help to make it more affordable. 

The True Value of Independent Insurance Agents

Many people prefer the personal approach of using an independent agent. These professionals have an in-depth knowledge of insurance laws, and they simplify the claim filing process. However, these agents also keep the larger companies competitive, by providing more affordable rates. Without independent agents, the larger companies could monopolize the industry, and charge absorbed fares. Everyone would still need the coverage, even if they couldn’t afford it. Just the price of insuring a vehicle would prevent some people from driving. Fortunately, there are also independent agents who can keep everyone protected from incident. 

What do AFI Insurance Agents Do

Independent Insurance Agents provide a litany of services, after an accident. They also vary in the types of coverage they offer. In essence, every insurance policy is a financial tool, and some independent agents offer different types of policies. Some agents may offer auto and home while others offer only life insurance. The biggest advantage to using an independent agent his his or her knowledge of your state’s laws. These individuals can also outline a plan that best suits our needs and not the needs of a corporation. 

 

 

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