Getting Life Insurance Early

While life insurance is commonly thought of as a need for people as they get older, it is actually more beneficial to start learning about life insurance and creating policy at a young age for a number of reasons. Cross Creek Insurance is available to help assist with providing information about life insurance to you. 

Savings

The best reason to start paying for life insurance at the youngest age possible is that the cost is significantly reduced. Life insurance providers generally factor things like age and pre-existing health conditions into the cost of policies. If someone waits until they are very old or have a serious medical condition before starting to pay into policy, it is likely to be extremely expensive. To avoid these problems, you can lock in a low rate by paying into policy years or even decades before any of these concerns. 

Preparation

People who are subject to high risk due to their occupations or other factors may want to always be prepared with a life insurance policy. Even for those who are still relatively young, life insurance provides protection for your family. Even if you are not married or do not have children, life insurance will make sure your funeral expenses and other debts are paid to bring peace of mind to your family members during a difficult time. 

For any additional questions or further help with getting life insurance, please contact Cross Creek Insurance serving the Hope Hills, NC area. Agents who have specific local expertise and knowledge of the regulations and laws relevant to Hope Hills, NC will create a policy that works for you and your family.   

Should Commercial Insurance Plans Cover On-Demand Services

The on-demand service industry is ever-growing and soon the leading companies will ask how commercial insurance can help to limit work-related issues. 

Technology is the Tip of the Problems

On-demand service providers can no longer argue that they’re innocent bystanders who just provide a technological platform that connects users with different services offered on the app. It’s just an unrealistic premise to think an on-demand service company would not be a liable party in an independent contractor lawsuit. Sharp on-demand service companies will have a commercial insurance policy that protects them from unscrupulous business practices from independent contractors that advertise on their website. The wording of these type of policies isn’t of the standard nature as the coverage agreement is quite extensive because of the wide range of services provided by each independent contractor. 

The 1099 Economy

The on-demand business community is often called "the 1099 economy" as this is a reference to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax form that most workers of this industry will fill out each year. Their define as independent contractors who provide a specific service on short or long-term projects. Often, on-demand businesses will create a separate commercial policy that covers independent contractors on their payroll. But, this practice has been legally challenged as most insurance providers will require proof of coverage before independent contractors are allowed to work in any capacity for the policyholder. This stance has been softened somewhat if the company adds independent contractors as employees to their policy. 

The Risk of Insuring On-Demand Services

One of the biggest nuances in the commercial insurance industry is determining the coverage capacity for the on-demand service industry. It may come down to the distinction between independent contractors and employees. Because this definition has yet to be defined by those who run these businesses. Agents like Cross Creek Insurance in Hope Hills, NC will draft a policy that covers both groups together as one entity. Some businesses may want general liability added to their coverage, so to protect themselves from the actions of the insured. 

How To Know If Your Furniture Is Protected With Cross Creek Insurance

Homeowners insurance helps to provide financial coverage in the event of loss due to theft, disaster, or accident. There are four types of coverage provided under the standard policy, this includes; coverage for the structure of your home, coverage for additional living expenses, liability protection and, of course, coverage for personal belongings. Cross Creek Insurance which serves Hope Hills, NC provide for all four coverage. 

Your personal belongings, including furniture and clothes, are covered if they are stolen or destroyed by a hurricane, fire or any other insured disasters. Coverage for your furniture or other personal belongings is generally 50-70 percent of the insurance that you have on the structure of your house. 

Many people are often not too sure if their coverage is adequate. One of the best ways of determining the adequacy or otherwise of your home insurance, with regards to furniture and personal belonging, is to conduct a home inventory. 

Personal belongings coverage will cover for furniture that are stored off-premises; this translate to mean that your furniture is covered anywhere in the world. In some cases, some insurance companies limit the amount to ten percent of the amount of insurance you have on your possession. 

Although other items such as jewelry, art, silverware, and collectibles are equally covered, there is usually a limit on them in the event they get stolen. To insure this item to full value you must purchase a special personal property endorsement to insure the item for its officially appraised value. 

Homeowners insurance, in some situation, may also cover for your furniture when you are moving from location to another. For example, if the moving vehicle is involved in an accident while moving your properties. Whether you are moving or not, it is pertinent to know that any furniture or property covered by homeowners insurance will enjoy protection to the limits on your policy. 

Are you planning on moving and you want your furniture to be safe during transit or do you just want to protect them against unforeseen disasters such as a hurricane, wildfire, and flooding? Then, Cross Creek Insurance which serves Hope Hills, NC and its surrounding can offer you such coverage. To find out more about them you can visit the company’s website. 

What You Need to Know About Teen Drivers

Teens who are approaching the age where they are allowed to legally drive a vehicle usually get very excited. Their parents get terrified and naturally so. One of the greatest killers of young people is a fatal car accident, especially one that involves distracted driving (talking or texting on the phone while driving), and the use of drugs or alcohol.

The highest crash rates for drivers of any age are those caused by 16-year-olds. About one-third of all deaths of 13 to 19-year-olds come from auto accidents.

Most teens can be taught to drive responsibly. Many do take care when first learning how to drive. Unfortunately, many others do not and the rate for auto insurance premiums, to cover teenage drivers, reflects this greater risk.

For parents considering allowing their teen to drive, it is important to consult with your insurance agent at Cross Creek Insurance serving Hope Hills, NC and the surrounding area. Your agent can help you understand the impact on your auto insurance premiums from adding a teen driver to the policy.

Be sure to consult with your agent before you allow your teenager to drive the car. If the family has more than one vehicle, it may be a good idea to restrict the teen driver to the vehicle that is less valuable.

It is very helpful for teens to take a defensive driving course. Parents can encourage a teen to do this by attending a course themselves. We all get rusty in our driving skills and taking a refresher course in defensive driving is good for everyone. Most teens would not be comfortable taking a course along with their parents; however, taking the same course at different times gives parents and teens something of shared relevance that they can talk about together. Otherwise, a parent may find a new teen driver finding fault (and correctly doing so) with the bad habits of the parent driver.

To get an updated insurance quote, reach out to your insurance agent at Cross Creek Insurance in Hope Hills, NC if you are considering allowing your teen to drive. Having the teen as a listed driver on the vehicle’s insurance policy is critical before you allow them to drive the family car.

Must-Have Business Insurance Products Every Startup Needs

As an aspiring entrepreneur, the to-do list is endless when planning your Hope Hills, NC startup business. Not surprisingly, significant aspects of your new endeavor can be overlooked. Protecting your new business is crucial, so one of the most important things to consider is evaluating what types of insurance your startup might need to in order to keep you and your assets protected. 

The types of insurance you will need for your startup depend on the type of business or industry you run. Here are some of the common insurance products Cross Creek Insurance recommends you consider when evaluating which insurance policies your new company should have in place. 

General Liability Insurance 

 Professional Indemnity Insurance 

This type of insurance covers your business against claims of slander or libel, theft of intellectual property, sharing confidential information, and more, and is essential if you are working with partners. 

Automobile Insurance 

If you have a company vehicle or use your own to conduct work-related tasks, you will need both personal and commercial insurance, regardless of whether you use one vehicle or maintain a fleet.  

Worker’s Compensation 

If you have employees, you must have Worker’s Compensation. This insurance covers potential employee medical bills and time away from work if they are injured at your workplace or while on the job.  

Professional Liability Insurance 

This form of insurance covers you if you fail to provide contracted services or render them improperly.   

Do I Need All of These? 

Most startup businesses will not initially need all of these types of insurance but may grow into them. Some startups may require specialized insurance such as Data Breach or if you work from home, homeowners or renters insurance. To find out which specific types of insurance your startup needs, call the Hope Hills, NC insurance experts at Cross Creek Insurance today. 

Do I need another life insurance policy if I have one through work already?

Advantages of Employee Insurance

If you live in Hope Hills, NC, you know you have a great community that you can count on. You probably got a life insurance policy through your employer when you were signing up for health insurance, and you probably got a great deal. Employer life insurance plans get group discounts and are often at least partly funded by the employer, as an added benefit for working there.

Another great thing about your life insurance policy through your employer is that you probably didn’t have to qualify or take a medical exam. Your employer wants to take care of you, so you can usually get the best deal through them.

So Why Buy a Private Policy?

There are good reasons you should get another policy through Cross Creek Insurance, though.  You need to carefully consider these factors because taking advantage early is important.

  1. If you lose your job, you will also lose your life insurance coverage. Even if they let you take your policy with you, it will probably be very expensive.
  2. There may be other limitations for when coverage ends. For instance, you may not be able to retire at a certain age, but the life insurance through your employer may not be available after that.
  3. Your employer might decide to cut that benefit. While it would see unfair, it may be well within their rights.
  4. The policies offered through an employer are usually very specific and limited. They typically only offer a death benefit and don’t have options for turning your policy into an asset unto itself. Your work policies might also not offer as much coverage as you need.

We at Cross Creek Insurance work to help the people of Hope Hills, NC make sure they have life insurance coverage tailored to their individual needs. The earlier you sign up for a policy, the more benefit you can get from it. If you have any questions, please call us today.

When Is It Time to Update Your Home Insurance Policy?

Here at Cross Creek Insurance, serving the greater Hope Hills, NC area, we recommend that you take a look at your home insurance policy every two to three years and ensure it still meets your needs. But there are also a few times that you should automatically change it without having to wait. Here are three of the times when you should update your home insurance policy. 

You’ve Renovated or Remodeled Your Home

Following a home renovation or remodel project, you should take the time to update your home insurance policy. After remodeling or renovating, the value of your home and the items contained inside have changed. As such, you may need to update your policy limits to ensure your new materials or space will be fully covered in the event disaster strikes. 

You’ve Purchased Expensive Items

Another reason why you may need to update your home insurance policy is that you’ve purchased new items for your home. When you’ve purchased new items for your homes, such as jewelry, art, pricey furniture or electronics, you want to ensure these items are covered against theft and damage. Updating your policy helps to ensure that happens. 

You’ve Made Life Changes

Lastly, if you have made changes in your life, you may want to update your policy. This includes getting married, having a baby or retiring. You should always look at all of your insurance policies when making life changes. 

Do you need to update your home insurance policy or purchase a new one in the greater Hope Hills, NC area? Then contact Cross Creek Insurance today. We can help you find the right insurance policy for your needs. Call us now to get started. 

Does Auto Insurance Cover Hurricane Damage?

Hurricane season stretches from June through November each year, and recent years have brought some dangerous and damaging storms to the Southeast region of the United States and beyond. It is truly staggering to see the extent of destruction caused by hurricanes and tropical storms, no matter what level of severity and intensity they are. That impact can include damage to automobiles. You might be wondering what your auto insurance covers during and after a hurricane. At Cross Creek Insurance serving the Hope Hills, NC area, we are happy to help answer questions like that.

Collision insurance coverage as part of auto insurance may or may not come into play when hurricane damage occurs, just depending on the individual circumstances. This type of coverage pertains to a vehicle hitting or being hit by something. So if an automobile accident happens because of a hurricane, collision insurance could address that.

Then there is comprehensive coverage as part of auto insurance. It covers many different circumstances. In a hurricane, some of the types of situations that would be handled under comprehensive coverage would be the wind that causes damage to a car, flooding that affects a car, hail damage, auto damage related to hurricane-force winds or glass breakage.

Just as you need to complete a variety of preparation steps before a hurricane, make sure you also obtain the proper auto insurance coverage in advance of any storms. Often it is not possible to get coverage right before a hurricane is about to hit and after watches and warnings are issued. If you need advice on the insurance that makes the most sense for your unique needs, contact us at Cross Creek Insurance serving the Hope Hills, NC area.

Myths about Life Insurance

There are a lot of common myths about life insurance in Hope Hills, NC that can stand in the way of you getting proper coverage.

Employer-Provided Life Insurance Is All You Need: An employer may provide life insurance, and you may be able to purchase more worth up to six times your salary, but to provide for dependents you typically need more. You may also lose the insurance when you leave the job, and while you may convert, it’s typically more expensive than just purchasing a policy today on your own.

Only a Breadwinner Needs It: If something happens to a stay-at-home spouse, then the breadwinner will need to hire someone to care for the children and clean, which can be expensive. It’s a good idea to have insurance on both spouses. This way, the working spouse can also take some time off to help the family adjust.

You Are Too Young to Worry about It: It actually makes more sense to get life insurance when you are young, since it’s usually less expensive and you don’t have medical conditions that could disqualify you. By the time you need life insurance, it could be too late, which makes it a good idea to purchase it as soon as you are able to.

You Can’t Get It If You Have Health Issues: You can generally buy term life insurance, even with some health issues. It may mean higher premiums, but you should still be able to find insurance. Speak with an agent at Cross Creek Insurance if you have some health issues.

You Don’t Need It If You Are Single: You may still have family that relies on you, such as aging parents. Benefits can also be used to pay for burial costs, so your family doesn’t have to go into debt.

Contact an agent at Cross Creek Insurance, serving Hope Hills, NC, to get a quote on life insurance.

Where to Get Quality Business Insurance in Hope Hills, NC

With so many choices at your fingertips, you may be wondering how to select your business insurance policy.

The protection of your enterprise is nearly as important as your business model. Running an unprotected company may be the single riskiest method of operation. As the owner of a company, you need to protect your employees, customers, and your assets. Business insurance is the perfect layer of protection for your company.

Our expert agents in Hope Hills, NC will help you understand the various types of commercial insurance to choose the best form and amount for your company. Business insurance provides coverage for your physical equipment, inventory, and company vehicles. You can also choose a policy that protects your company if an employee steals from you or you incur some other type of theft. Business insurance is vital if your company encounters a lawsuit. If you have an employee that requires an extended absence leave due to injury, commercial insurance provides coverage. 

There are typically four ways to categorize business insurance:

  • Business liability insurance
  • Business umbrella insurance
  • Business property insurance
  • Business automobile insurance

Business automobile insurance gives protection to all cars used only for business purposes. Umbrella insurance gives you extensive coverage for any losses that wouldn’t otherwise be covered. Business property insurance provides reimbursement for an individual suffering from financial loss due to destroyed property, buildings, land, etc. Business liability insurance pays for property damage and bodily injury when the insured party is responsible.

Even if you need insurance for business-related activity outside the realm of these categories, Cross Creek Insurance can help. We have been serving the Hope Hills, NC area for many years, helping business owners acquire insurance for their specific needs. Contact Cross Creek Insurance today for a custom policy. Rest easier knowing your employees, customers, assets, and financed are protected.