How much life insurance is enough?

Life insurance is something that just about everyone needs but very few understand. It is not easy to talk about and you may feel awkward even speaking to your spouse about the amount of life insurance that you need to protect each other. At San Marcos Insurance Group we want to make talking about life insurance in Chandler, AZ easy and comfortable for all of our customers. 

So where do you begin determining how much life insurance is enough?  You answer some simple questions. 

Who is dependent on you?   Do you have a spouse, children, aging parents? 

How long will you need to support them? Are your children young, college-age or somewhere in between? How long would you need to support your spouse?

Do you have debt? Most people have a mortgage, car payments, student loans, credit card debt and more. 

Have you taken care of your final expenses? 

Once you have answered these questions you will be in a better position to determine how much life insurance is enough. Financial experts recommend that you have at least ten times your annual income in life insurance. You may not need to buy this entire amount on your own.  You may get life insurance as a benefit from your employer. 

Once you have come up with a figure that makes sense in your particular case you need to determine the type of life insurance that you can afford. Whole life is the most costly but it offers long term advantages. With a young family and the potential for a long time of dependency if you should die unexpectedly and at a younger age, term life is probably the best option. 

How much life insurance you need is a very personal figure. It is different for everyone and it will change during your lifetime. Talking with the agents at San Marcos Insurance Group in Chandler, AZ is a great way to come up with not only an amount but the best way to reach your goal. Why not give us a call or stop by, your dependents will be glad you did. 

When is Commercial Insurance Required for a Chandler Business

Chandler, AZ is a great city that provides a lot of opportunities for all people. This includes small businesses that can take advantage of the favorable location and local amenities. If you are going to start a company in Chandler, you need to consider your insurance needs. There are several situations when you will be required to carry commercial insurance. 

When You Have a Loan or Investor

One situation when someone in Chandler, AZ is going to need to have commercial insurance is when they take out a loan. Running a business can be risky and any stakeholder that is involved will want to mitigate these risks as much as possible. This will require any formal investor or bank that provides you with capital, each of which are going to require that you have a full commercial insurance policy to protect your assets and against the risk of liability. 

Companies Have Employees

Another situation where it will be required for you to have commercial insurance is when you have employees. No matter what type of job they do, there is always a risk that someone could be hurt while working for you. To mitigate this risk, all businesses should get workers compensation as part of their commercial insurance package. In fact, in Arizona, you are required by law to carry this coverage for your staff. 

There are a lot of situations when having commercial insurance is a necessity for a company. If you need to have this insurance for your company, you should call the San Marcos Insurance Group. The team at the San Marcos Insurance Group can review your full company profile and information to determine what type of insurance you should get. This will ensure you stay fully compliant with this requirement. 

Is home insurance always necessary in Arizona?

The Chandler, AZ area is a great place for anyone to live due to the warm weather and strong local economy. If you are going to buy a home in this area, it is important that you consider your insurance needs. Having home insurance is always a good idea, but there are several situations in which it is a necessity. 

Live in Association

One situation that may require that you have home insurance is if you live in a home association. When you are in an association, the association agreements may require that you carry a full home insurance policy. This will ensure that you have the means to rebuild or repair your home in the event of an incident or cover your liability costs if you or your property cause damage in an accident.

Mortgage Rules

Most people that buy a home in Chandler also need to take out a loan to purchase the home. If you have taken out a home mortgage, the lender will likely require that you carry home insurance at all times. This will ensure that they are covered in the event that your home and their collateral is damaged or destroyed. Most lenders will also require that you escrow for your payments each month. 

If you are going to buy a home in the Chandler, AZ area, you are going to need to have home insurance in place at all times. Picking the right home insurance policy is a very big decision and because of that, you should always work with a professional. The team at San Marcos Insurance Group can help you get into a great home insurance policy. San Marcos Insurance Group will be able to review your personal situation to ensure you get the coverage that you need. 

Does basic auto insurance provide enough coverage?

Arizona is a great place to live and drive and Chandler, AZ is no exception. Arizona requires that all drivers carry at least basic liability auto insurance, they mandate 15/30/10 coverage.  At San Marcos Insurance Group our team has years of insurance experience. We have the information you need to decide if basic auto insurance provides enough coverage. 

Liability insurance is an important coverage. It protects you in the event that you have an auto accident and are found to be at fault. Medical bills can be astronomical these days and lawsuits filed after an accident can also go through the roof. If you own a home and/or have assets, basic liability coverage may just not be enough to protect you. You can add additional liability insurance to a basic policy to provide the protection you need. 

If your vehicle is something that you would have a hard time living without, you want to make sure that it is repaired or replaced in the event that it is damaged. Two types of additional coverage help to make sure that you and your vehicle are covered. 

Collision coverage pays to have your vehicle repaired or replaced when you are involved in a collision with another vehicle and you are at fault. It has a deductible that must be met first and then it pays out up to the limit of the policy. 

Comprehensive insurance helps to repair or replace your vehicle if it is damaged by something other than a collision. It may be damage from things like fire, hail or strong winds. It also replaces your car in the event that it is stolen. Glass coverage is usually included in comprehensive coverage. 

How much auto insurance is enough is an important consideration and the type of thing that you should discuss with the team at San Marcos Insurance Group in Chandler, AZ. Call our office or stop by for a no-obligation quote.  

 

Health Insurance: It’s There When You Most Need It

The Affordable Care Act mandated that Americans purchase some form of health insurance.  Many young people questions that need as they are young and healthy.  Health insurance, though, like auto insurance is a financial tool that protects people.  While many find it hard to afford or difficult to obtain if they have a preexisting condition, it’s still important.  At San Marcos Insurance Group in the Chandler, AZ area, we realize that some may grapple with health insurance costs but we will help you find the right policy for your lifestyle. 

While you may be healthy now, life is unpredictable.  When illnesses or accidents occur, they can also bring unexpected financial burdens that are more than the average consumer can bear.  Also, without the required coverage, Americans are required to pay a penalty.  This amounts to $695 per adult or 2.5% of their annual income.  When that amount is considered, that’s a pretty significant hit to the budget. 

Health insurance can make sure that you stay financially sound.  Even a small medical emergency can result in bills that are daunting.  Appendicitis, car crashes or serious illnesses like cancer can mean financial ruin.  In fact, the number one cause for bankruptcy in the United States is medical expenses. 

All insurers, however, are required to cover preventive care and checkups.  This means that vaccinations, mammograms, and prostate cancer screenings are covered automatically.  So with the right health insurance, you have the opportunity to remain healthy and catch any problems early.  In the end, this makes them less expensive to treat. 

At San Marcos Insurance Group, our team works to get the residents of the Chandler, AZ area covered with the health insurance they need.  Give us a call or come by for a visit to find out how you can protect your health and your finances today!

Three mistakes you need to avoid regarding your commercial insurance policy

Having a good commercial insurance plan can save your company in the event of an emergency or accident. Unfortunately, a lot of business owners make mistakes that drastically limit what they get back from the investment they make in commercial insurance.

If you’re a Chandler, AZ business owner on the market for the right commercial insurance policy, we’re here to help at San Marcos Insurance Group. We advise customers to avoid the following three commercial insurance mistakes: 

Overlooking required insurance types

The most important thing when it comes to commercial insurance is meeting legal requirements. Some business types are required to have commercial insurance to legally operate. This is especially true when it comes to situations where you’re driving a commercial vehicle or hiring employees.

When you drive a company vehicle, you require a special commercial auto insurance policy. Also, companies with employees are generally required to have workers compensation insurance. 

Focus first on finding out what types of commercial insurance you need by law to avoid penalties and fees. 

Being unaware of exactly how your policy works

Insurance can be a complicated product. You really need to weed through the details and read the small print to understand what you’re getting in a commercial insurance policy. Make sure you understand all pertinent factors like how your deductible works and how much coverage you’re getting for various incidents before you agree to a particular policy. 

Having no business interruption coverage

A lot of business owners, unfortunately, overlook business interruption coverage. This is compensation for the revenue that is lost during periods after an accident when a company can no longer carry on business as usual. Business interruption coverage is essential to have because it ensures continued revenue regardless of what happens to your company. 

If you’d like more information on finding the right commercial insurance for your company, contact us at San Marcos Insurance Group for information on our Chandler, AZ policies. 

What You Need to Know about Auto Insurance in Arizona

For those that are in the Chandler AZ area, owning a car is a practical necessity in order to get to and from school, work, or to get daily tasks completed. When you are looking to buy a car, it is important that you have proper auto insurance in place at all times. There are many things that you need to know about auto insurance when you are looking for an Arizona policy.

Required by Law

One factor to understand is that having auto insurance is a legal requirement whenever you are on the road in Arizona. In this state, you are required to carry liability insurance at all times. If you do not have this coverage or do not have enough coverage, you could be in trouble if you are caught driving without it. 

Provides Asset Protection

While it is not required by law, Arizona car owners will also want to learn more about how they can protect their vehicles. The best way to do this is by getting a full collision and comprehensive coverage policy. This will ensure that your vehicle is covered for a wide variety of situations that could cause a loss, such as theft or vandalism. 

There is a lot that you need to know about auto insurance when you are looking for a policy in the Chandler, AZ area. To ensure that you learn all that you need to, contacting the San Marcos Insurance Group before you start shopping for a policy would be a great option. The San Marcos Insurance Group can help you to better understand all of the needs that you have when it comes to auto insurance. They can then help you get into a policy that provides you with the right protection. 

Why It Is Important To Review Your Home Insurance Heading Into Winter

Those who reside in Chandler, AZ may be under the belief that their standard home insurance policies keep them protected. However, San Marcos Insurance Group agents can provide additional insights that keep these homeowners from potentially making avoidable mistakes. Is the home truly ready for the winter? Let’s take a closer look at the reasons why the annual review is so important. 

Insufficient Policies

Sure, the average policy might offer the homeowner coverage against various winter-related calamities. But is it truly sufficient? Chandler, AZ residents must review their home insurance policies to make sure that they are covered against any issues that may occur. For example, the homeowner may have the necessary coverage for the property itself and leave their personal possessions exposed. 

Unique Threats

There are certain threats that the average homeowner is simply not going to be aware of. When a cold snap takes place, the plumbing in the home could be placed at risk. Water damages occur as a result of plumbing related issues and these damages are not always covered in a standard policy. Wintertime disasters can leave a home in a state of disrepair, causing homeowners to spend a great deal out of pocket to maintain a residence.

Added Liabilities

The liabilities that take place during winter are hard to prepare for without the proper assistance. Taking the time to speak with an insurance agent is everything. They can examine the standard coverage and ask the right questions about the liabilities that a homeowner might be facing. For example, any homeowner that sets up an ice skating rink on their property will need to obtain additional insurance. Otherwise, they risk facing costly litigation. 

The importance of reviewing home insurance policies before the winter arrives cannot possibly be understated. That’s what makes San Marcos Insurance Group consultation meetings so crucial. They provide insights that keep homeowners from experiencing unwanted issues over the short and long term. 

Health Insurance and Experimental Treatment

We live in a day and age where progress and change are being made in medicine every day. There are now more treatments for the common cold than you can count and experimental treatments for more serious illnesses are being created. That being said, does health insurance help cover the cost of experimental treatment? For those in the Chandler, AZ area, the agents with San Marcos Insurance Group can help you find the health insurance policy that is going to work for you.

For the most part, the only medications and treatments that are going to be paid for, even in part, by your health insurance are those that have been tested and approved by the FDA. You can, in some cases, find experimental treatments that are paid for by the company that created them as payment for your participating in the trial of that drug or treatment. In most cases, however, your health insurance is not going to pay for experimental treatments.

Health insurance does, however, help pay for medication, it might help pay for hospital stays, and it also helps to pay for things like preventative treatments. Your health insurance may also help pay for the cost of some prescriptions and some other treatments as well. For those that do have medical treatments that they have to have done, it is always best to speak with an agent to see just what your insurance covers and what you can do to make sure you have the best insurance coverage possible on matter what you might be ailing with. For those in the Chandler, AZ area, the agents with San Marcos Insurance Group can help you to find the right policy for your needs so that you can get on the road to healing and on the road to feeling better.  

Data, Hackers, and You: Keeping Your Business and Customers Safe

From Facebook to Equifax, it seems like every month there is a new data breach in the news. At San Marcos Insurance Group we know cybercrime is an ever-growing threat to business, even in Chandler, AZ. While your business may not be a huge corporation, securing your data should be a top concern. So, what can you do to make sure your data is safe?

Inventory Your Data

Understand what sensitive data your company keeps and what damage could occur to your business and customers should a leak occur. A typical business has records of credit card information at the very least. The release of this data can cause a financial burden on your customers, which lowers their faith in your company and may even lead to litigation. The more personal data you store, the higher the risk you face. 

Keep Your Security Measures Up-To-Date

The most common way a hacker gains access to vital data is through malware and viruses. It might surprise you, but even hospitals have fallen victim to data breaches and ransomware attacks because they did not keep their computers and security suites up to date. New threats are found all the time. It’s important to make sure you have reputable anti-virus and anti-malware protection and to keep those programs and computer operating systems updated. 

Consider Cyber Breach Insurance

While insuring your property and normal operations are important, it’s imperative to not overlook the security of your data network, too. Data breach coverage can help protect your assets should you become a victim to hacking. If you become a target for litigation because of a breach, your insurance could help cover the cost of defense and damages you’re held liable for. 

With Chandler, AZ rapidly growing with small business, now is the time to protect yourself against cybercrime. Let San Marcos Insurance Group make sure you’re covered.