Here are a few tips on maintaining your investment for the years to come:

Fall Checklist

Outside

• Check all weather stripping and caulking around windows and doors. Replace or repair as needed
• Check for cracks and holes in house siding, fill with caulking as necessary.
• Remove window air conditioners, or put weatherproof covers on them.
• Take down screens (if removable). Clean and store
• Check storm windows and doors; clean and repair as needed. Put back up (if removable).
• Drain outside faucets.
• Clean gutters and drainpipes so leaves won’t clog them.
• Check roof for leaks; repair as necessary.
• Check flashing around vents, skylights and chimneys for leaks.
• Check chimmey flue; clean obstructions. Make sure damper closes tightly.

Inside

• Check insulation wherever possible. Replace or add as necessary.
• Have heating system and heat pump serviced’ have humidifier checked. Change of clean filters on furnance.
• Drain hot water heater and remove sediment from bottom of tank; clean burner surfaces; adjust burners.
• Check all faucets for leaks; replace washers if necessary.
• Check and clean humidifier in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.
• Clean refrigerator coils

Term Life Insurance

It’s more affordable than you think!

The Top Reasons You Need Life Insurance

• Protect your families future, a term life insurance policy could cover your immediate needs-such as mortgage, living expenses, and education cost and fees.  Term Life Plans start at low monthly charges and can provide large amounts of coverage.
• Proceeds of a policy are paid immediately to the beneficiaries.  This benefit can help pay for current needs like funeral costs, medical expenses, and taxes.
• No federal income tax on policy proceeds.  The family receives cash in hand without the income tax burden that other types of inheritance create.
• Coverage that remains with you for as long as you wish to keep it.  Mmany employers offer life insurance through the job;  however this direct life insurance stays with you even if your employer doesn’t.
• Peace of Mind. What could be better?  Just knowing that your families financial future will be provided for, even if you’re not around to help.

Contact Us for a Free Quote

Remember What Term Insurance Can Offer You

Affordable Rates

High Quality Coverage

  Customized Quotes

Expert Advise

Significant Savings

Term Life Insurance

It’s More Affordable Than You Think!

Atttorney’s Advice for Free!!  This is not a joke. Even if you dislike attorneys…You will love them for these tips. Maybe we should all take some of  his advice.  A corporate attorney sent the following to all of his employees.

• Do Not sign the back of your credit cards, put Photo ID Required.
• When writing out checks to your credit card company  Do Not put the complete account number the ‘For” line. Instead, just add the last four digits. The credit card company knows the rest of your account number, and anyone handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won’t have access to it.
• Put your work Phone # on your checks instead of your home phone.  If you have a P.O. Box use that instead of your home address.  If you don’t have a P.O. Box use your work address.
• Photcopy the contents of your wallet.  Do both sides of your license, credit cards, etc.  Keep the photocopies in a safe place.  You will know what you had in your wallet, the accountnumbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. We have all heard horror stories about fraud that’s committed on us in stealing a name, address, social security number, and credit cards

As an example my wallet was stolen…..Within a week, the thieves had ordered an expensive monthly cell package, applied for a new Visa card, had a credit Line approved through Gateway Computers, received a PIN # from the DMV to change my driving record information on-line, and more.  But here is some critical information to limit damage in case this happens to you.

• Canceled your credit cards immediatly.  Remeber the key is having the toll free numbers and account numbers handy so you know whom to call.
• File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc.,  were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligient, and this is the first step towards an investigation.
• But here’s what perhaps is the most important of all,Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immeediately to place a fraud alert on your name, and also call the Social Security fraud line number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called me to tell me an application for credit was made over the internet in my name.

By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage was done.  There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves before placing the alert

Now , here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet if it is lost or stolen:

1. Equifax:          1-800-525-6285
2. Experian         1-888-397-374
3. Trans Union  1-800-680-7289
4. Social Security Administration (fraud line)  1-800-269-0271

We pass along jokes on the internet, we pass along just about everything.  If you are willing to pass this information along, it could really help someone that you care about.

Do it yourself math for those tricky questions…

1. How many years will it take to double my money? (the rule of 72)

The math: divide the number 72 by your annual investment return. (example) if your are making 8%, you’ll double your stake in 9 years.

2. What am I giving up in retirement savings when I spend money today?

The math: add a zero to the price tag. That’s what you’d have in 30 years if you invested the money and earned 8% a year. (example) so a $40,000.00 car trims your nest egg by $400,000.00.

3. How much do I need to earn, before taxes, to buy what I want?

The math: multiply the cost by 1.4 (that assumes a 28% federal rate.) To pay for a $10,000.00 item for your home, you must earn $14,000.00

4. Does my fund manager do well enough to justify his/her fees?

The math: multiply your fund expense ratio by 10. The result is the percentage by which it needs to outperform a low – cost index fund to cover the extra fees. (example) a fund with an expense ratio of 1.5%, needs to do 15% better than the index.

5. What am I worth by the hour?

The math: divide your annual pay in half, drop the last three zeros. (example) if you make $100,000.00 a year you make $50 an hour. (based upon a 40 – hour week).