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Bryant Asset Protection
PO Box 219
1280 New Scotland Road
Slingerlands NY 12159
Ph: (518) 439-1141
Fx: (518) 475-0030
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From the time when our kids first learn to walk and talk, life becomes more interesting. In this case “interesting”, means “scary” and “stressful”. As kids grow into mobile and verbal young adults, the dangers they face- and sometimes openly encourage- multiply.
No danger is tougher to face than when your kids express interest in driving an automobile. Adults know that driving is a complex set of activities and responses that call for concentration, restraint and sound judgment- attributes most kids have only in trace quantities. The sobering possibility that your child could face or inflict serious injury or even death behind the wheel of a car can keep any parent awake at night.
Not only is teen driving frightening, it is expensive. Let’s look at some ways that both unpleasant circumstances can at least be made tolerable.
KIDS NEED TO KNOW THINGS
Kids should be REQUIRED to be educated as to the serious nature of maneuvering a ton of speeding metal and rubber around the highway. Use websites (www.ii.org and /www.parentingteendrivers.com ) to provide statistics and data about the perils of teen driving.
Talk seriously about the responsibility of driving, but above all YOU THE PARENT must be in charge of the process. You set the rules. If they are broken- you must take action. This is no time to be a pal. This is time to be a parent. Your child’s life depends on it.
GOOD, FIRM RULES
Aside from rules setting reasonable expectations as to the basics- speed, caution, hours and destinations- consider prohibiting your teen driver from having MORE THAN ONE passenger in the car at once. By imposing (and enforcing without exception) this limit, the possibility of distraction, horseplay, and reckless behavior are diminished.
Kids also need to know that driving (or riding with anyone) under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be tolerated. The possibility of hurting themselves or someone else- in addition to today’s zero tolerance by the legal system- makes a powerful argument to the vast majority of kids. They do need to be reminded, however. Often.
More than a few experts recommend a written contract between parents and teen driver. Such a contact is an agreement between the parties that spells out the responsibilities of each in this experience. Here is a link that will provide you with a example of a well made contract- Contract
EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION
A driver’s education course can go a LONG way in ensuring better outcomes for driving safety. Many schools offer practical courses that teach kids good driving technique as well as road safety. Such courses often cost the parent money, but also result in discounts on the cost of insuring younger drivers.
By the way, defensive driving courses (as opposed to the “how-to” driver’s education courses above) are a good way for ALL family members to be a safer, better driver. These courses also result in significant discounts on auto policies) See this link for one of the lowest cost online opportunities around - defensive driving course
GETTING INSURANCE
Not too long ago, parents were advised to get a separate insurance policy for young drivers to protect parental assets should the teen incur significant damage. That strategy is no longer recommended.
Given the recent behavior of the legal system, parents’ assets are no longer always sheltered by carrying a separate policy for teen drivers. According, agents now recommend simply adding the teen driver and car to the parent’s policy. Yes, it’s expensive, but that is the nature of having a teen driver in the house.
Seek discounts where you can. In addition to driver
education and defensive driving discounts, many carriers offer “good student” discounts. You should also make sure that you take advantage of discounts for bundling policies (car and home with the same company), electronic payment discounts and paying in full on the policy expiration date.
Finally, parents should consider an umbrella policy. Umbrella policies take over when the limits of homeowner and or auto policies are exhausted. Extra protection of $1.0 million and more can be purchased for $150-$250 in most cases. Ask your agent about ALL of these tips. See this link to find out about Personal Umbrellas.
Good luck, keep the lines of communication open and “interesting” can mean “fun” and “safe” around your home.
Posted at 12:22 pm on November 17, 2011
Imagine how you would feel if you came home from an evening out to find that you had had visitors. Not friendly visitors, but visitors who entered your home in the dark of night to rob you. They ransacked your home and took away things of value - gold jewelry, electronics, valuable antique coins and even your son’s new snowboard.
Yes, your home is insured, but how do you establish the value of what you have lost so that your company can make the proper payment to you? Most of us don’t save sales receipts forever. You can’t blame your insurance company if they must pay out less than a missing item is worth if they can’t establish its value.
One way of keeping the things you worked so hard to earn safe is by starting and maintaining a home inventory. You may have heard of companies that do this - for $300 and up. Now you can do it yourself with a free home program from the Insurance Information Institute called Know Your Stuff.
While we have not used the Know Your Stuff program yet, it comes recommended by Safeco Insurance and appears to be comprehensive and complete. The program would offer the homeowner an inexpensive way of organizing belongings and help establish both ownership and value in the event of a loss.
Follow this link to investigate further.
Posted at 05:00 pm on December 13, 2010
Last June, Bryant Asset Protection announced that it would begin awarding quarterly grants of up to $1,000 to local community residents or groups that are providing a positive benefit in the local area. The Charles and Carole Bryant Generation Grants are named for the parents of Mark and Jeffrey Bryant.
A Delmar-based organization called “To Life!, Inc” has been chosen from among many worthy applicants according to Jeff Bryant. Bryant said, “Our choice for the first award was extremely difficult. We received a large number of very good ideas from dedicated people and groups and virtually all were potential winners.”
“To Life! is a group that typifies the kind of caring and concern that so many not-for-profit organizations offer the community. We found them to be dedicated to improving the lives of so many women and their families in a ten county area. We wanted to help them continue achieving that goal” Jeff Bryant added.
To Life! was founded by a Delmar resident who was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 37. The organization specializes in breast cancer education and support as well as general focus on women’s health issues. To Life! offers boutique services where women with any form of cancer can receive wigs, scarves, hats, bras and breast prostheses to meet their individual cancer needs.
Laurie Abbott, To Life! Executive Director expressed gratitude to Bryant Asset Protection, saying “We’re honored to be valued by the community in this way. We intend to use these funds to ensure that women of all income levels can benefit from To Life!‘s products and services.”
Mark Bryant added, “We would like to dedicate this grant to Marty Delaney. Marty is President of the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce and a To Life! Board Member who is retiring after many years of promoting the kind of local pride personified by To Life!.” Due to Marty’s efforts, Bethlehem is a place where community service is the norm. To Life is a fine example of that standard”.
Those wishing to new submit ideas or learn more about the Charles and Carole Bryant Generation Grant program may do so on the Bryant Asset Protection website. The next grant award is planned for December of this year.
Posted at 07:22 pm on September 9, 2010
Bryant Asset wants to give back to the community by giving funding to local improvement efforts. The Charles and Carole Bryant Generation Grants are available to fund worthwhile community projects in the local area. Ideas for funding can be submitted by local residents or civic groups, and the intention is to regularly select projects to receive grants from Bryant Asset Protection. There are to be no restrictions on the nature of the awards, so long as the ideas result in a positive benefit for the community. To learn more about this program and nominate a worthy cause, please take a look at our Generation Grants page.
Posted at 11:00 am on June 22, 2010
What you think you know…
One of the main purposes of homeowner insurance is to protect your house’s structure and its contents in case of a catastrophe. This protection would allow the homeowner to re-build the home and replace furniture, mechanical systems and possessions should they be destroyed or badly damaged.
Many homeowners assume that the amount of coverage they carry should be roughly equivalent to the home’s sale value. This assumption confuses many persons who see their homeowner’s premium rise slightly from year to year when they may have been told that the home’s sale value has been declining. If you remember that homeowner insurance covers rebuilding costs - not sale value - it makes some sense that the rise in premium is intended to cover the annual increase in the cost of building materials and labor, etc. Sale value of the home also includes land or a building lot which is not a consideration in homeowner insurance.
With these facts in mind, how does the homeowner keep their coverage up to date? Many of us simply assume that their insurance agents and companies know what they need and provide it automatically. That may have been true when you first purchased your policy. Insurance companies use independent appraisal firms in order to gauge the costs to rebuild a given home when the policy is purchased, but as time goes on those costs can change, particularly if you have made changes or improvements to your home.
The best way to make sure the amount of your coverage is appropriate is to speak regularly to your agent to let them know if you’ve made improvements or additions, added alarm systems (which can reduce your premiums), installed a pool - which might increase your liability exposure, added an outbuilding, had an upgrade to your fire district and so forth. The agent would also like to know if you’ve acquired antiques, jewelry or other special valuables which should be covered under your policy or under a separate rider for that purpose.
Tip: Most insurance companies offer significant discounts for bundling your homeowner policy with your auto policy and all clients are advised to consider this convenient way of saving money on both policies.
Agents like Bryant Asset Protection offer a variety of forms of homeowner policies which provide differing levels of coverage explained more fully here on our website. Because your personal circumstances may have changed over the years or even more recently, you may want to consider a different form of homeowner insurance or even a personal umbrella policy for even greater protection. We love to talk to our clients about their policies, so contact us and we’ll offer you some great ideas to keep you safe and up to date.
Posted at 04:48 pm on May 13, 2010
Lately in these parts, the weather has turned Spring-like. Rain and Spring thaws mean lots of water in and on the ground. It also means that summer recreation season is not all that far off. This, then, would be a great time to do a bit of inventory to make sure that both Spring and Summer are the safe and productive times they are meant to be.
Here’s a reminder for you to look at some of the things related to Spring that can be taken care of to ensure those carefree times ahead.
Water Backup Coverage - Heavier than usual Spring rains and melting snow can result in backup of ground water into your basement. This water can quickly compromise everything mechanical and personal in the basement. While such things as a sump pump and expert inspections could prevent such water damage, your homeowner insurance can provide you with protection against the ravages of water in the house.
Water Backup coverage is an inexpensive add-on to your homeowner policy. If you don’t have this coverage, now is a good time to get it. Read more here.
Boat Insurance - Many boat owners are beginning to get their craft in shape for the upcoming season. Bryant Asset Protection strongly urges our new and experienced boat owners to make sure that their insurance is in good order long before venturing out this season. Bryant Asset’s licensed professionals are prepared to help you navigate smoothly in this somewhat complex insurance topic. Please call us at (518) 439-1141 or visit this page on our website to make sure that all the appropriate hatches are battened down this spring.
Motorcycle Insurance - Just like boats, motorcycles are a Spring Thing. Again, a little preparation before hitting the road on your two-wheeler can go a long way to making the open road the pleasure it should be. Check out some information we’ve posted before and get yourself ready to ride this spring.
Posted at 02:59 pm on March 17, 2010
Life for the Living™ is an innovative life insurance concept that offers flexibility when meeting your insurance needs.
Life for the Living™ is a powerful, one of a kind, financial tool that provides your family with financial security at death but also provides your family with financial security in the event of a long-term or chronic illness.
Through the acceleration of the death benefit due to a chronic illness, this multi-dimensional life insurance concept covers the entire lifetime of the insured and can provide significant living benefits in addition to a death benefit. Think of this as a “Use It or Use It” approach. It’s important to note that the acceleration of the death benefit as a result of a chronic illness provides living benefits on a cash basis that can be used for any purpose. For 2010, the maximum that can be accelerated for a chronic illness is $105,850 or $290/day, which is indexed annually.
Selecting a life insurance policy that provides living benefits gives you an extra advantage as it is designed to change with the events of their lives. By providing financial security for survivors through death benefit protection as well as lifetime financial security to cover costs associated with a long-term illness, you can be protected no matter what lies around the bend.
Discover living benefits within a life policy.
Life for the Living™ is a competitive Universal Life concept which provides life insurance with an accelerated benefit without having to qualify for long-term care insurance. No other life insurance policy has this benefit as it only requires life underwriting with no additional cost for the acceleration and is on all policies up to $2 million of death benefit.
60% of all Americans who reach the age of 65 may need long-term care at some point in their remaining lives. Health insurance plans do not cover certain costs associated with long-term illness and Medicaid only pays when an individual has spent down or liquidated a substantial amount of their assets.
Up to now, the only options available to plan for the expenses related to chronic illness or long-term care was to purchase long-term care insurance, self-insure or spend down most assets and qualify for Medicaid. Long-term care insurance can be quite valuable yet often costly and the possibility does exist of never needing the benefit. As such, it’s a “Use It or Lose It” policy. Self-insuring is risky as retirement income and retirement assets could be depleted, leaving a smaller nest egg for the spouse and/or surviving children.
Life for the Living™ was named a “revolutionary new product” by Financial Advisor.
To find out more about this exciting possibility, please contact Randy Vogt via email, or phone: (631) 239-6655.
Posted at 01:25 pm on February 24, 2010
You’re undoubtedly reading this post on your personal computer or smartphone. Congratulations! You are among those who are considered “tech-aware”, even if you don’t know a Small Computer System Interface from a Double Byte Character Set.
(We don’t either).
You do not, however, need to be an MIT grad to find some additional everyday benefits by using your own technology to save money on insurance costs and to access faster service from your local agent and insurers.
Let’s say your auto insurance premium requires a payment of $80.00 per month. Each month, the XYZ Company sends you a bill in the mail and you dutifully send in a check. You may not have noticed that your bill also requires a monthly installment fee of, let’s say, $6.00. Over a year’s time, you’ve paid $72.00 in installment fees - nearly a full month’s payment! While paying your auto premium in full upon renewal is the best way to eliminate that fee, many of us are not in a position to do so. So, how can we pay on a monthly basis and avoid that $6.00 fee?
The answer is to sign up for electronic payments. This arrangement requires only a small (like $1.00) or no monthly processing fee, depending on your company. Signing up is not a difficult process; it can be done online or over the phone and is very secure. An added benefit is that you never have to worry about a late payment or late fees (more savings!) again. When the agreed upon payment date comes, the company simply debits your bank account or even a credit card (airline miles, anyone?).
You may click here to find your company’s online payment information or give Bryant Asset Protection a call and we would be happy to explain your company’s electronic payment policy and help you sign up.
Bryant Asset Protection is an independent agency that embraces both the use of technology and individualized personal service. We have recently doubled our email capacity and would like to offer clients for whom we have no email addresses the opportunity to sign up! Please give us a call or email us and we will make sure that you receive our Puzzle Pieces Newsletter as well as the convenience of contacting us whenever you wish. In either case, we promise you quick, professional personal service.
Posted at 03:46 pm on January 15, 2010
Grandma’s platinum ring, your 1965 Fender Telecaster guitar and that antique cherry rocker in the living room are cherished assets that need special care and protection.
Virtually all homeowners and renters have wisely taken the basic precaution of securing an insurance policy that protects their homes and its contents in case of a catastrophic loss from fire, theft, vandalism and so forth. While these policy types protect against losses on the standard contents of our homes, there may be limits as
to the protections for certain individual valuable items we might possess.
Jewelry, fine art, furs, cameras, musical instruments, electronic or computer equipment, antiques, rare coins or stamps and even valuable wines are all examples of possessions which may be at risk under many standard home policies - unless you have taken steps to establish their value and insure them separately.
A good way to begin is to inventory the valuables in your home. Many companies establish a dollar value - say $2,500 - for determining what represents a valuable item. (this standard will vary from company to company). If you have such an item that is NOT specifically and individually covered in your policy, the best course of action is to contact our office to review your coverage options.
The good news is that insuring such possessions is surprisingly affordable and can be accomplished with riders to existing policies or small stand-alone policy. In either case, Bryant Asset Protection will be able to offer you the best solution to make sure your valuables are fully protected.
Posted at 03:02 pm on December 23, 2009
And why some things are more important than money.
Spend some time in front of your television set watching a movie, sports, home shopping channels - it doesn’t matter - and you will be told over and over by a perky gecko, an edgy-looking girl in a white apron and a handsome, sincere gentleman that their insurance companies can save you hundreds on your car insurance. Now they even mention their competitors by name! Can it be true that every company can save everybody big bucks?
Well, here’s the real answer. Maybe.
Insurance companies each have a very complex system for determining how much a client will pay for a given level of coverage. Your marital status, gender, age, type of car, address, level of education, driving record and credit rating can all be factored into the price quote you get for insurance. If you happen to have the “right” set of characteristics, one that is a preferred profile for a particular company, you will see a more favorable rate and maybe save money.
Have an accident? Late on a couple of credit card payments? Got a traffic ticket or two? An accumulation of incidents of this sort will mean that companies will require a higher premium from you and the savings the gecko promised you are out the window. Some companies may refuse to insure you at all.
Do not despair, however, there are still savings to be had out there even if you’ve committed some of the previously mentioned mistakes (and many of us have). Some companies may weigh different conditions more heavily and others less so. Even if you love the company you’re currently with, new programs are often instituted - and unless you ask you may not be aware that a reduced rate may be available to you with the same company. Ask your agent to check on new programs for you from time to time to make sure you’re paying the most favorable rate.
But saving money should not be the whole game when it comes to auto or any other kind of insurance you purchase. Some things should be considered even more important than cost in the majority of cases.
Coverage is the reason we buy insurance in the first place. We need to protect ourselves from financial risks associated with a traffic accident or a theft or vandalism. If you reduce your coverage intentionally or unintentionally, the consequences could be dire. Never skimp on coverage just to save money and be very careful when considering money-saving offers because they can sometimes carry a hidden reduction in coverage.
The trick here is to find the right amount and right type of coverage for your personal situation and the independent agent is the logical choice to provide you the expertise to help you make that determination. Most independent agents - like Bryant Asset Protection - represent a number of insurance companies and they can help you find the best price by shopping for you among those companies. More importantly, independent agents are experts in matters concerning coverage. A given policy may be recommended that is slightly more costly, but the difference may be worth a few dollars more because the coverage features (which can vary among companies) may be better for you in the long run.
Having a friend in the business: Having an independent agent in your corner when considering which way to go on insurance coverage or when problems occur is one element that should be as important a the cost of your insurance. Saving money is one thing, but negotiating the complexities of the claims process on your own is quite another. Independent agents will often go to bat for you if you have a disagreement with a company over a claim or even a billing issue.
From the start, rely on the expertise of the agent to help you find the right coverage at the best price and thereafter stay in contact with your agent as your life conditions change to make sure that your policies are just right for you. Having a friend in the insurance business is the absolute best way to keep your peace of mind intact and your insurance in good shape. If the worst happens, your agent will guide you through the necessary processes and make sure you are treated fairly.
Posted at 07:50 pm on October 16, 2009
Is your home sufficiently protected against water damage? Are you sure?
Many home owners confuse two kinds of important coverage, or believe that their existing homeowners policy provides all that they require. Finding out you don’t have the insurance you need when there’s already water inside your home could be heart- (and bank-) breaking. Check out our newly-launched water damage page for more information.
Posted at 05:20 pm on September 19, 2009
Beach-goers wear sunscreen, football players wear helmets and the postman carries a can of pepper spray. The common thread here is that all of these folks are protecting themselves against something that could hurt them. Yet, many of us go less protected than we should every single day. Against what, you say?
Virtually everyone who owns a home or auto or rents an apartment or condo carries insurance that protects us if we are sued. This form of protection is called “personal liability” and protects your assets up to the dollar limit of your policy if you are declared financially liable for injury to another person by a civil court. But is the limit of your policy enough? Unfortunately, it too often is not.
While the $300,000 or $500,000 or more personal liability limit you carry on your home or auto policy sounds like a lot of protection, a rapidly increasing trend toward large court awards for plaintiffs in accident and negligence cases could leave you bankrupt for life.
A guest in your home takes a morning shower and slips on your tiled bathroom floor injuring her back. While not a friendly thing to do, she sues you for medical costs and damages because your bath is not equipped with nonslip mats and grab-rails. A civil court awards her $1.1 million as a result. Your homeowner policy provides you with $300,000 for personal liability coverage. Where does the other $800,000 come from?
If you have a Personal Umbrella policy, you are covered for the damages and even your legal defense fees. If you don’t have an Umbrella policy, you may have to sell your home and even commit future earnings to pay this obligation.
The list of mishaps for which we can be sued is endless - as is growing list of large and even outrageous court judgments. In this atmosphere, the minimal cost of an umbrella policy provides an unmatched measure of security to your assets. Most insurers do require a reasonable minimum amount of coverage on your primary policies, but a $1.0 million Umbrella policy costs less annually than dinner for four at a good restaurant.
So, put on the sunscreen and even wear a helmet if you want to, but don’t forget your Umbrella. It could cost you dearly.
To find out how you can protect your family with a Personal Umbrella, click here.
Posted at 09:40 am on August 17, 2009
Anyone who has ever been close to the planning of a wedding knows that it means two things - a lot of work and a lot of money. Most times, the work gets done (rarely without some tears), the bills get paid and the result is a beautiful bride, a proud groom, relieved parents and a new family begun. However, like any endeavors involving lots of possibilities, a wedding ceremony, reception and a honeymoon trip can run into unforeseen problems that make the experience less than the wonderful event we dreamed.
Lost rings, a damaged bride’s dress, travel problems or even problems caused by one too many mojitos at the reception can permanently mar the great memories we had anticipated and cost the fledgling family money that could be used for other necessities. If you think it doesn’t - or won’t - happen, read on a bit. Two close friends had some difficulties that could have been prevented if they had investigated low cost wedding insurance for that special day.
C. is the daughter of close friends who is engaged to R. They are in the process of planning a very nice wedding later this year. R. is a sharp businessman who secured a stay at a very prominent Caribbean resort and paid a deposit. Several weeks later, he was informed by the resort that they were bankrupt and closing immediately. R. and C.‘s deposits of several hundred dollars were lost and they had to start all over, including changing destinations, dates and airline tickets.
B. is the daughter of another set of close friends who was recently married to G. The wedding itself went off without a hitch and the happy couple jetted away for a flawless honeymoon. Upon arriving home, the couple found out that the photographer they hired (at considerable expense) had used a defective camera and most of their treasured wedding photos were not recoverable. Luckily, amateur photographers and wedding guests had taken lots of serviceable pictures and a usable wedding album was put together for them. The photographer apologized, but was not willing to help in any way without additional payment.
If this happens as frequently as it seems, insuring your wedding for as little as $160 could make a huge difference in how these stories ended. Both situations could have been remedied had the couple or their parents taken insurance on major aspects of these weddings.
Many weddings cost more than a new car and we always insure our cars against mishaps or the unexpected. If you’re planning a wedding or know someone who is engaged and will be planning a wedding, please give them their first gift and link them to our website for information on how their special day (and their special money) can be protected with wedding insurance.
Posted at 03:39 pm on August 5, 2009
As a new graduate - high school or college - you face a host of new challenges, responsibilities and questions. While various forms of insurance may not have been on your personal radar while in school, now is the time to learn some basics that will help you get off to the best possible start in your new life as a working adult. As you acquire the things we all need like cars, a place to live, furniture, computers and (hopefully) a good, steady income, you need to protect those things.
Renters Insurance
Most new grads find apartment living to be the most viable option for housing. Many, however, are not aware that the things they own inside their new apartment are usually not protected against a fire, water damage, theft or vandalism unless they have a renters insurance policy. The landlord’s policy only protects the building you live in - not your valuable stuff inside the building.
Renters insurance is an inexpensive way of making sure that your things are protected. It costs around $150 per year to make sure that you can recover your things if they are stolen or damaged. Items such as musical instruments, jewelry, art, expensive cameras or electronics and antiques you may own can also be covered specifically for small additional charges.
Renters insurance also protects you in other important ways. If someone were to suffer an injury in your apartment your financial liability for those costs is covered up to the prescribed limit of your policy. Renters insurance even protects you when you are away on vacation or out of town for some reason, if you accidentally injure someone or vandals steal things from your car. As you can see, renters insurance is simply too good a deal to pass up - especially when you’ve worked as hard as you have to get established in life.
Saving Money on Insurance
For most of us, money is frequently an issue. But there are some strategies that you can use to get the best possible deals on insurance. First, be very cautious about buying insurance products online. You should almost always consult an independent insurance agent. They are local experts about insurance who will be more than happy to talk with you, answer your questions about insurance and help you get the best deals and the right coverage. For cautions about online insurance purchases, see this previous post.
Second of all, you should be aware that most insurance companies offer significant discounts for combining multiple policies with that company e.g. your new renters policy combined with an auto policy. The savings is generally a discount of 5-10% on both policies. You can often save enough on an auto policy this way to make a new renters policy almost no cost.
Speaking of auto insurance, an independent agent is the best place to start when striking out on your own. We also advise you to investigate taking a state-approved defensive driving course. Not only will this training make you a safer driver, it also saves another 10% on major portions of your automobile insurance. Courses can be taken in a classroom, but are also newly available online. Check this page for more information.
Other Considerations - Health Insurance
New grads are often faced with the prospect of needing health insurance soon after graduation.
Until that time, many are covered for health insurance by their parents’ health policy. As a newly independent person, health insurance is a major requirement. With luck, your new employer may offer you health coverage as an employment benefit, but if not, you should investigate options with your independent agent. There are both public and private programs available that will remove that concern from your mind so you can focus on your career and your brand new life. Good luck!
Posted at 07:10 pm on July 9, 2009
With so many people on the road during peak vacation months, it’s a good time to brush up on what to do in the event you’re involved in a crash. Here are some tips.
Be prepared before you leave home. Put a disposable camera and pen and paper in your glove box. Car insurance claims can be settled faster if there’s a good record of what happened. If you can take photographs or collect license plate numbers, or even names and phone numbers of witnesses, you can help your insurance company to establish facts faster.
If you’re involved in a crash:
Posted at 03:08 pm on June 25, 2009
You may be aware that those drivers who complete the New York Defensive Driving course qualify for three years worth of significant savings on their auto policies and a reduction of violation points on their driver’s licenses. Until now, this course required several hours of in-person classroom work and successful completion of a final exam. Bryant Asset is pleased to announce that we have partnered with the New York Safety Council to be able to offer you the benefits of this course completely online in the convenience of your home!
This course is approved by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles and teaches drivers of all ages to be safer on the road as it saves money on your auto insurance premiums. We recommend that all driving members of your family strongly consider the benefits of this training. You do not need to be a Bryant Asset auto insurance client to take part in the new online course, so feel free to tell any New York licensed driver you think might be interested and link them to our website.
For more information about the program, or to enroll in the course, please click here.
Posted at 07:13 pm on June 5, 2009
OK, so you’ve taken the canvas cover off your motorcycle, polished up the chrome, checked the fluids and dusted off your leathers and helmet. Hit the road? Not yet, Captain America.
Before you hit the road, there are a few quick things you need to do to make sure that your trip doesn’t result in a really bad financial road rash should a problem arise out there.
1. Make sure your insurance is still fully in force. Some companies have a winter “layaway” period when some of your coverage is restricted or limited. Check with your insurance company to see if you have any such limits in your coverage before you take that bike on the road.
2. Update your policy. Let your insurance company know about any changes like additional riders or a new address. A quick call to your independent agent can get you coverage that meets your needs.
3. Cover customized parts. Accessories such as chrome plating, a new paint job, saddlebags or custom rims usually increase the value of your bike. If you’ve added custom parts or equipment, make sure they’re protected by adding their value to your policy.
4. If you don’t need it, drop it. If you own an older bike, check its value. Don’t pay for coverage that you don’t need. Consider dropping collision coverage if the premium equals 10 percent of the bike’s market value. Understand, however, that you won’t be covered if your bike overturns or collides with another object.
5. Shop around. Prices can vary from company to company, so shop around before you buy.
Another tip: If you purchase comprehensive and collision coverage, consider raising your deductibles. This can lower the cost of your physical damage coverage.
Now you’re ready to roll. Ride safely and stay in touch with your local agent.
Posted at 12:45 pm on May 20, 2009
The rise of the internet as a commercial center has revolutionized the way the world shops for everything from books to cookware. Americans even find love by shopping for mates online. The internet is a convenient, immediate and powerful way to find - and buy - everything under the sun.
Obviously, most of us exercise caution in internet commerce. Horror stories describing scams or too-good-to-be-true deals are part of the culture now. We are well aware of the dangers of buying from less than reputable companies or answering emails offering hundreds of thousands of dollars for helping out a displaced Nigerian prince in an oil deal.
A substantial number of Americans - particularly younger tech-savvy people - also respond to offers from auto and homeowners insurance companies that offer large savings in these products on the internet, on television and in printed media. Everyone, they tell us, is paying too much for insurance. Insurance has become an internet commodity like those books and cookware. But, the insurance buying public should be aware that the advertised $351 average annual savings could be coming at a cost - and a risk - elsewhere.
While a lower bottom-line cost of an auto insurance policy may satisfy the soul, a closer look may well be warranted to make sure that an internet purchase of insurance is not less than meets the eye. Quite simply, buying insurances on the internet could be a recipe for lowering your premium costs by unknowingly reducing your coverage.
Is it a scam? Probably not, but those savings must come from somewhere. The convenience of the internet allows some well-known mega-insurers to save you money by reducing the protection of your current policy, often without explicitly telling you.
One of the mechanisms for doing so is called “split-limit” coverage. For instance, the standard $300,000 auto liability policy offered by many agents and companies allows up to that amount in coverage for damages and is divided evenly among all occupants of a given car. With $300,000 in split limit coverage, the coverage is still a maximum of $300,000, but each occupant of the car, including the driver, is only covered for $100,000 each. Thus, a driver could have reduced his or her coverage by two thirds. That reduction in coverage is just one example of how the internet giants save you - and themselves - big bucks.
Local insurance agents like Bryant Asset Protection in Slingerlands are still in business for a very good reason. Every policy quote - including those requested right here on our website - is scrutinized in detail by local professionals familiar with you, your community and New York laws and regulations to make sure that coverages are what you need and want. A boiler-room insurance operation in New Jersey soliciting your business on the internet may only be interested in selling a policy to you - any policy.
By all means, buy your cookware and books on the internet. Research your insurance needs online. But buy your insurance from a professional local agent. To be sure that you haven’t saved money at a risk to your well-being, take your policy to a local agent and ask them to review it. Agents like Bryant Asset Protection are more than happy to do so for free and you may save lots more money in the long run.
Posted at 12:43 pm on April 1, 2009
Welcome to Bryant Asset Protection’s new website. This site is the culmination of our efforts to make our site more useful to both our current clients, and anyone who is interested in becoming one.
The most obvious change is the design, which not only improves the appearance, but also uses different underlying technologies to make the site more accessible to all visitors, and to visitors with disabilities in particular.
Each section of the site has been extensively rewritten, and we hope that you will find the pages to be a wealth of information. We also have plans to expand the website and add more features over time, so please keep coming back. If there is some kind of improvement you’d like to suggest for the site, we’d love to hear it.
Finally, we’ve added this news section. We’ll be posting updates here periodically about items that may be of interest to you. For our latest news, you can check this page whenever you come to our site, or if you use an aggregator, you can subscribe to our feed with the link to the right. Thanks for visiting!
Posted at 08:00 pm on March 9, 2009
