Mark Strauss
Independent Insurance Advisor

 

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Nov 21
2008

How much can you save with a higher insurance deductible?

Posted by mark in Personal InsuranceDid You Know...

Yesterday the Dow Jones dropped 445 points , my investment portfolio shed about  40% of its value to date this year and these market conditions has me thinking where can I cut costs? In these cost-conscious days, everyone is trying to save money wherever and whenever they can. It seems that people may especially look to their home insurance & auto insurance policies as a place to realize some savings.

I have been approached by a few customers who have inquired about  a reducing the dwelling limits on their

Nov 17
2008

New York Times reports When Your Insurer Goes Under

Posted by mark in Insurance Company

The New York Times has an insurance news worthy article titled When Your Insurer Goes Under. The article focuses on the collapse of Executive Life and raises questions such as:

  • What has happened in the past when insurance companies have gone under?
  • What might happen to your life policy or annuity in the worst case?
  • Is there anything you can do to protect yourself?

Check out my post from September 16th titled, How is your insurance companies financial strength?, which addresses a few of the same questions that

Nov 12
2008

Is Portland ready to survive a catastrophic earthquake?

Posted by mark in Personal InsuranceEarthquake InsuranceCommercial Insurance

When I discuss with my clients the topic of earthquakes and earthquake insurance I always say it's not if it's when. Oregon has many fault zones but what will trigger the 'big one' will be when the Juan De Fuca Techtonic Plate collides with the North American Techtonic Plate causing what is called a subduction zone earthquake. If you want to get a better grasp on geology and understand the science around earthquakes click here.

The 1964 Alaska earthquake was a subduction zone earthquake. The estimated

Nov 11
2008

Heavy rains and high winds = flooding for Oregon

Posted by mark in Personal InsuranceLoss PreventionFlood Insurance

Since I have been living in Oregon I have been told that the rain & flood season officially runs from Halloween through early spring. I'm not a meteorologist but I feel safe by saying that the rains have officially arrived. If you have not been outside (smart thinking) not only are you dry and safe but if you turn on the TV set you will see widespread reports of flooding in Tillamook, Seaside and other communities on the Oregon Coast and flooding within certain areas of Portland. 

It was around this time

Nov 10
2008

Does your home or condo insurance policy have enough loss assessment coverage?

Posted by mark in Personal InsuranceHome InsuranceCondo Insurance

Recently I have been working with the Board of Directors of a homeowner association in advising and putting into place the insurance coverages that were necessary for the association. After we addressed the coverages that were necessary for the association I asked them about their personal insurance and if they had loss assessment coverage. The reason I brought this to their attention is because the insurance agents who insure the homes of those who live within the development are probably unaware that

Nov 04
2008

How do you protect your business against employee dishonesty?

Posted by mark in Loss PreventionCrime InsuranceCommercial InsuranceAm I Covered

Today's Oregonian reported a woman embezzeling $10,000 from a deli where she worked. As a business owner you want to trust that your employees are honest, although as in this case there are employees who will steal. The first question that business owner will as is "does my business insurance cover this?"

Most business insurance policies will include Crime Insurance, which is also known as Fidelity Insurance. This type of business insurance coverage will provide you protection against a dishonest act by an

Oct 31
2008

Building Property We Do Not Cover - Vacant Homes

Posted by mark in Personal InsuranceHome InsuranceAm I Covered

These days you can get whip lash from turning your head at all the articles and reports about foreclosures on the national level. Today's Oregonian published an article titled The Stripped Away Dream which reports county records show  more than 2,800 homeowners defaulted on their mortgages in Clark, Clackamas, Multnomah & Washington counties in the third quarter of 2008. These individuals who are and have defaulted on their mortgages will unfortunately most likely foreclose on their properties which will

Oct 21
2008

SAIF announces 2009 Oregon workers’ compensation rates to drop nearly 6 percent

Posted by mark in Workers CompensationInsurance CompanyCommercial Insurance

The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services announced that employers in Oregon will pay nearly 6 percent less on average workers compensation coverage in 2009 through SAIF Corporation.

The press release stated the following, "On average, Oregon employers can expect a 5.9 percent decrease in pure premium in 2009, but some employers will see rates go up and others may see no change. Specific cost changes vary from business to business, depending on the employer's industry, claims experience,

Oct 17
2008

Is your jewelry properly insured?

Posted by mark in Personal InsuranceLoss PreventionHome Insurance

Many people overlook the need to properly insure their expensive jewelry, believing that it is automatically covered by their homeowners policy. While homeowners policies do cover jewelry, this insurance usually is subject to a much lower limit than the overall contents coverage. This reduced limit is called a "sublimit" or "special limit of liability", and a typical sublimit ranges from $1,500 - $5,000 for loss by theft of jewelry, watches, and precious and semiprecious stones. If your jewelry is worth

Oct 09
2008

Insurance & the West Hills home smashed in Wednesday's landslide

Posted by mark in Personal InsuranceLandslide InsuranceHome InsuranceAm I Covered

Yesterday The Oregonian reported a story  West Hills Home Smashed in Landslide. I would say it is a very bad day when your home not just slides off of its foundation but also slides down an enbankment causing other homes to slide off of their foundations. This is the case of the home that is was located at 6438 Southwest Burlingame Place, a Portland Maps search for this address clearly acknowledges the hazard of the home being on a steep slope with the potential of it's location being involved in

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