The Millennial’s Guide to Life Insurance

Let’s be honest – life insurance isn’t that exciting to most people and when you consider that you also have to face the thought of your own death it becomes even less of a priority. With a higher number of millennials facing student loan debt in numbers that have never been seen before, it becomes even more important for that generation to protect their loved ones from financial ruin by purchasing life insurance. Having life insurance becomes even more important when you are married because it is likely that your financial obligations have increased, but even if you are single someone is still responsible for paying off any of your debts at your passing which could leave a loved one vulnerable to financial distress.

Put simply, life insurance offers a tax-free payment to the beneficiary if the insured dies while the policy is effective. While the beneficiaries can use the money however they want, the payout is intended to be used for paying debt, replacing the insured person’s income, funeral expenses, and providing the recipient with enough money that they can withstand the loss of their loved one’s income. When deciding how much life insurance to purchase, it is important to consider whether you are the primary income earner in the household, what debt you have including mortgage or student loans, and what you are trying to save for in the future like a college fund for your kids. 

Once that’s done, you can choose between term life and whole life insurance. Term life, as the name implies, only provides coverage for a certain number of years while whole life is in force so long as the policy is current. At Jim Boyce Insurance in Matthews, NC we can help you navigate your life insurance options and help you find the perfect policy for your needs. 

Why commercial insurance is good for your small business

Owning a small business comes with risks, it is unavoidable. How you prepare and plan for these risks determines how well your business survives them. Commercial insurance is many different lines of coverage. Not every one of them is right for your small business but some of them will be. Talking to an independent insurance agent who you trust can go a long way toward making sure you have the right coverage. For those who live in Matthews, NC, Jim Boyce Insurance is the place to go. 

Commercial property insurance

Commercial property insurance covers the place where you do business whether you own or lease the building. It covers your fixtures, the machinery you have, the office equipment, and furniture. It covers everything that you use as part of your business and may cover some personal items if they are on the premises when the peril occurs. It also protects your records. 

Commercial auto insurance

If your business owns even one vehicle you need to insure it with a commercial auto policy, that is the law in North Carolina. It is also just good business to keep your personal life and your business life separate. 

Workers’ compensation

If you have three or more employees, either full time or part-time, the law in the state of North Carolina requires that you provide workers’ compensation insurance. Protecting your employees is always good for your business. 

Commercial liability insurance

Bad things happen and people sue. Small businesses are vulnerable to legal suits for a variety of reasons. It can be an injury someone receives at your business or by using one of your products or services. 

Commercial insurance helps to protect your small business from all the perils that life can throw at it. Having the right lines of coverage is important. If you are in Matthews, NC, Jim Boyce Insurance has a knowledgeable team to help. Stop in at our office or give us a call for a no-hassle quote. 

Three reasons you need home insurance for your North Carolina property

Consumers in North Carolina often wonder why they really need to have home insurance coverage. At Jim Boyce Insurance in Matthews, NC, we offer home insurance policies that give property owners numerous key advantages.

The following are three reasons why you need home insurance in North Carolina. 

Mortgage lenders in North Carolina require home insurance.

Perhaps the number one reason why you need home insurance in North Carolina is that your mortgage lender will require it. If you had your home financed, you need to have it insured.

Mortgage lenders require their borrowers to have home insurance to protect their investment in the homeowner’s property. Until your mortgage loan is paid off, you’ll be expected to have an active home insurance policy. 

North Carolina homes are subject to storm damage. 

Weather events like lightning storms are not uncommon in the state of North Carolina. These events can cause home damage due to fire, power outages, and more. Home insurance will often cover the costs of damage caused by lightning storms.

North Carolina is also subject to damage from hurricanes and flooding. However, a standard home insurance policy usually won’t offer coverage for damage from these types of weather events. That’s why North Carolina homeowners often need to invest in flood insurance in addition to standard home insurance. 

A North Carolina homeowner’s property is generally among his or her most valuable assets.

Another key reason why you need home insurance in North Carolina is that your home is so valuable. The median home value in North Carolina is $214,726. Because North Carolina homes are so valuable, it’s important for homeowners in the state to insure them. 

If you need to buy a home insurance policy, we’re here to offer our assistance at Jim Boyce Insurance. Contact us at Matthews, NC to learn more about our home insurance policy offerings. 

Questions To Ask An Agent About Auto Insurance

Choosing the right auto insurance policy is not the easiest task, especially if it is your first car and you have never done it before. Therefore, you need a knowledgable and qualified insurance agent you can rely on to help you determine what kind of coverage you need. Jim Boyce Insurance serving Matthews, NC has prepared the list of questions you should ask an insurance agent when choosing auto insurance: 

Do I have enough liability coverage?

Liability coverage is the minimum required by the state. The best way to figure out whether it is enough for you or not is to ask your insurance agent. In some cases, the minimum coverage is more than enough, while in others additional coverage is needed. 

What happens if I am involved in a car accident?

Many policyholders mistakenly believe that their vehicles will be completely repaired or replaced after a collision. However, your policy may not include collision coverage. That is why it is important to ask this question. 

If my car is totaled, how much will my insurance pay me? 

Make sure to discuss the following: will you receive agreed upon value or actual cash value? Agreed upon value is the full insured amount agreed upon without depreciation. The actual cash value is the amount that is equal to the replacement cost minus depreciation. It is important to know this difference and talk about it with your insurance agent. 

If you are a car owner living in Matthews, NC or any other surrounding town and you are looking for a trustworthy insurance company to buy auto insurance, here is a great option for you. Jim Boyce Insurance is a reliable company that offers personalized and comprehensive service and has been serving clients since 1973. Our experienced insurance agents are ready to answer the above-mentioned questions and help you find a perfect policy. Therefore, do not hesitate to give us a call. 

Why do I need umbrella insurance?

Having proper personal liability insurance coverage is very important for anyone in the Matthews, NC area. When you are looking to maximize your personal liability insurance coverage, a great type of insurance to get is umbrella insurance. This type of personal liability insurance coverage can give you insurance coverage on top of liability protection you receive through your other policies. There are several reasons why you may need to have this type of coverage.

You Want More Liability Coverage

One situation when you may need umbrella coverage is when you want more liability protection. If you are involved in any type of accident, it is important that you have liability protection. Even if you are at fault in an auto accident or accident that occurs at your home, your policy limit may not provide enough protection. If you have an umbrella insurance policy, you are going to receive liability coverage that is in addition to other coverage. 

You Want to Be Covered for More Scenarios

It can also be a good idea to get an umbrella policy, as it can give you coverage for more scenarios. While home and auto policies cover a lot of situations and accidents, there are situations in which you could be liable for damages that are not covered. An umbrella policy will cover more situations that can result in liability risk. 

Getting umbrella coverage is a good option for those in the Matthews, NC area. When looking to get an insurance policy here, you should speak with the team at Jim Boyce Insurance. When you call the insurance team at Jim Boyce Insurance, you can learn a lot more about how this type of insurance can protect you. They can then help you to build a policy that offers the right type and level of protection.

Benefits of a North Carolina renters insurance policy

Moving to the Matthews, NC area is a popular option for many people due to the range of professional opportunities and recreational options. When you are moving here, you will have a variety of housing options. One great option to consider would be to rent your own property. If you are going to rent a property in this area of the state, you need to make sure that you get a quality renters insurance policy. There are several benefits that come when you get renters insurance.

Coverage for Liability

If you are renting your home and have a guest over, you will be taking on liability risk at all times. Due to this risk, it is important that you get proper insurance in place. when you have a renters insurance policy, it will include a provision for liability coverage. Due to this coverage, most landlords will require that you carry this insurance at all times. 

Provides Coverage for Assets

While you may not own your home when you rent a property, you will still have a lot of personal assets within your home. If your home is damaged by a fire or vandalism, you could end up losing some of these assets. When you get a full renters insurance policy, you will receive the coverage that you need to repair or replace all of your personal belongings. 

There are a lot of benefits that come when you get renters insurance in the Matthews, NC area. If you are shopping for insurance here, you should call the team at Jim Boyce Insurance to further discuss your needs and options. The team at Jim Boyce Insurance can help you to determine what type and level of renters insurance coverage is ideal for your situation. 

3 Topics To Consider Before Buying Flood Insurance

Many homeowners assume that their homeowner’s insurance covers flood damage. However, the truth is that most homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover damage caused by floods. In most cases, flood insurance is a separate insurance policy that must be purchased. At Jim Boyce Insurance, serving Matthews, NC, we love to take the opportunity to inform our clients and future clients on topics such as these. Keep reading to find out 3 things you need to know before purchasing flood insurance. 

Understand Your Risks

The reason that flood insurance is not often included in a homeowner’s policy is that the risk of flooding varies so drastically from state to state and even from region to region within a state. This makes it necessary to customize a flood insurance policy to each region’s individualized risk factors. In order to understand what type of risk you are at, you will need to speak to an insurance representative. 

Only Purchase What You Need

With something as unpredictable as flooding, the temptation is to purchase more insurance than is necessary. Take your time to research your risk factors for your area. This way you can feel confident about purchasing the right amount of insurance. 

Review Coverages Closely

It is very important to review the coverages of a flood insurance policy. You will want to make sure that the policy is providing coverage that is relevant to you, your home, your property, and your possessions. If the coverages you are seeing will not cover an important topic for you, be sure to discuss this with your insurance representative. In some cases, a policy can be customized to meet your needs. 

If you would like to learn more about flood insurance, please contact our friendly staff today. The knowledgeable insurance representatives at Jim Boyce Insurance, serving Matthews, NC are ready to answer your questions. 

Full-Time RV Living and Insuring the Dream

We understand the need for automobile insurance, and home insurance has long been a standard feature of any homeowner’s financial picture.  What happens for homeowners looking to live outside the proverbial “box,” however? Owing to an increased search for innovative living solutions, downsizing in general, or seeking a life of adventure out on the road, more and more people are wondering how that lifestyle might be insured.       

Meeting Your RV Insurance Needs in Matthews, NC

Making the choice to “take the show on the road” is rooted in a sense of adventure, but prudence suggests that you should not go it alone on your travels.  That’s why purchasing a full-time RV insurance policy is such a good idea for Matthews, NC residents infected with a sense of wanderlust.

An RV insurance policy provides crucial protection for full-timers that include such provisions as:

  • Medical payments for expenses of those injured while visiting your RV
  • Personal Belongings Coverage recognizes the fact that all your personal effects are onboard
  • Personal Liability acts like a “vacation liability” and covers injuries and around your RV
  • Emergency allowance should food and lodging be required

There is a myriad of potential options when it comes to designing your fulltime RV insurance, so sitting down with a trusted and honest broker, such as Jim Boyce Insurance, is your first step in mapping out the insurance aspects of your new full-time lifestyle.

Contact our Team at Jim Boyce Insurance Serving Matthews, NC.

Should you be wondering how to best protect your new on-the-road lifestyle, we invite you to contact our friendly staff to discuss your insurance needs to cover your full-time RV lifestyle.  You need to protect your vehicle, home, and all its content when it is contained entirely within your recreational vehicle.  Reach out to our knowledgeable and friendly insurance agents for a free, no-obligation quote.  You get more than just peace of mind when you work with Jim Boyce Insurance.

Three types of motorcycle coverage you need

As a motorcyclist, you need to carry adequate insurance coverage both to protect yourself financially and to meet legal obligations. At Jim Boyce Insurance, we offer motorcycle insurance policies that include a variety of different coverage options. 

There are numerous types of motorcycle insurance coverage you need to look into to ensure that you’re adequately covered while riding your bike in Matthews, NC. The following are three types of motorcycle coverage you’ll want to have. 

Liability coverage

The most basic type of coverage you need is liability coverage. Liability coverage is required by law for motorcyclists and motorists in almost every state. 

Liability coverage will cover resulting expenses if you cause physical or property damage while riding. Each state has minimum liability coverage amounts you’ll have to meet to drive legally. 

Collision coverage

Collision coverage is important to cover the costs of any damage that your own bike or property experiences.

If your motorcycle is damaged in an accident and you’re at fault, you’ll have to pay for the damages out of pocket if you don’t have collision coverage. You’ll have to cover the costs of damages even if you’re not at fault if you get in an accident with a motorist without adequate liability coverage. 

Guest passenger liability coverage

It’s a good idea to invest in guest passenger liability coverage if you frequently ride with a passenger. This addition on your motorcycle insurance policy will provide added coverage for medical costs if your guest passenger becomes injured while you’re riding. 

Some states require guest passenger liability coverage. However, you should invest in this type of coverage even if your state doesn’t require it to protect your passenger. 

Are you interested in learning more about the motorcycle insurance coverage available in Matthews, NC? Get in touch with us at Jim Boyce Insurance to explore our coverage offerings. 

What Coverage Is Included With Umbrella Insurance?

We have seen cases where our client’s coverage limits are not enough to cover the cost of damages incurred. Despite buying an insurance policy, they still ended paying out of pocket because they have exhausted their limits. That’s why at Jim Boyce Insurance in Matthews, NC, we decided to introduce what is known as umbrella insurance.

When you exhaust your insurance limits, your umbrella insurance will kick in. Also, if a certain situation occurs and it is not covered by your policy, you can file a claim against your umbrella insurance policy and we will respond as quickly as possible. So, what exactly is included in umbrella insurance?

Personal liability

This coverage protects you from indirect liabilities. For example, if someone slips and falls in your tenant’s patio, the person could file a lawsuit against you and your tenant. Your umbrella insurance will refund your payment for legal services.

Legal liability

Your umbrella insurance will cover you against certain lawsuits (not all lawsuits). For lawsuits like false detention, false improvement, wrongful arrest, slander, libel, mental anguish, and malicious prosecution, your umbrella insurance will protect you. Remember, most insurance policies do not cover these types of lawsuits. 

Injuries

If you cause someone to get injured by your negligence, you’re legally obligated to pay for the person’s treatments. For instance, if your dog chases someone aggressively because you didn’t put it on a leash and the person trips and falls while fleeing from your dog, you should be responsible for the treatment. With your umbrella insurance, you don’t have to pay out of your pocket. This coverage will make the payment available. 

Damage to property

If you mistakenly damage someone’s property, you can file a claim against this coverage and you will be paid the repair cost. For example, if your apartment gets flooded because you forgot to turn off a tap and it affects the apartment below yours, you’ll have to fix the apartment. This coverage will do that for you.

For more information on umbrella insurance, contact Jim Boyce Insurance located in Matthews, NC.