The Top Benefits of Using an Insurance Broker

18 December 2019

Investing in insurance, whether for your home, vehicle, family, or business is the best decision you can make. However, the process requires in-depth skills and expertise to help you navigate through the many choices and select the ideal coverage. You also have to choose a good insurance provider to meet your needs. The insurance broker deals with a range of services and products, and you can trust that they will recommend to you the policy that suits your needs best.

Navigating through the requirements can prove to be super daunting, and this is where insurance brokers come in to take the stress off your shoulders. Some individuals prefer obtaining the coverage direct from the insurance provider, as they feel that using an insurance broker is an extra expense that they would instead do away with. However, that is only because they fail to look at the bigger picture to realize the numerous benefits that come with using an insurance agent. If you are still skeptical about the idea,

Contents

1 Here are the top benefits to expect from using an insurance broker:

Here are the top benefits to expect from using an insurance broker:

The broker is experienced

As mentioned, navigating through insurance requirements requires skills and expertise to help you land the best provider and coverage that will meet your needs. The little you know about insurance is not enough to guide you through the process. Luckily, the brokers have been doing this for the longest time and understand precisely what needs to be done to get you the best insurance deals. The insurance brokers deal with a range of services and products, and you can trust that they will recommend to you the policy that suits your needs best. They have dealt with clients with similar needs as yours, and they can successfully guide you through the stressful claim process. With the right broker, you can have peace of mind knowing that you will get personalized support and that you are protected at all times.

Save your time

The insurance broker is more like your representative. You can leave everything to the expert all from documents and attending any meetings until you get the best coverage to meet your needs. With this, you will have more time to do what you are good at around your home or office.

Quality coverage is a guarantee

The other reason for using a broker rather than going direct to the insurance company is that the brokers have more exposure than you do. They understand the market better and are aware of which insurance companies to trust and which ones to stay away from. They are also great bargainers and will ensure that you get the best coverage at a reasonable price. The brokers are well-trained to handle all insurance aspects. They can quickly evaluate your needs to determine the kind of coverage that you need. Also, the fact that they have more exposure than you do helps them in making comparison shopping to ensure that you get nothing but the best.

Saves your money

You are probably wondering how using a broker will help you save money while you will be paying for the services. For starters, the brokers will help you save time, and you can focus on working instead. Also, there will be minimal to no mistakes made, thus no losses.

The benefits of using brokers for your insurance needs are endless, and these are just a few of what to expect. You should, however, take your time and look for a reputable and reliable broker to enjoy the benefits.

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Choosing The Right Financial Advisor

There are plenty of financial advisors out there; you can never have trouble finding one. But, like buying any product, you need to find the right one. Deciding the type of advisor you should hire can be challenging. With poor research, you may end up losing a large sum of money from carelessness and ineptness. Thus, it is essential that you determine which advisor will help you meet your goals. The following are five steps to selecting the best financial advisor. Choosing the Right Financial Advisor: 1. Know your financial needs: There are various reasons why you would want to hire a financial advisor. For instance, you may need help in managing an inheritance, a retirement fund, or a loan. Financial advisors have diverse experience and expertise. Thus, not every advisor will be able to meet your needs.This is why you need a financial adviser that can help you in every step of the way. Since the requirements of each individual are different, you need someone that can help create personalized investment solutions for you and your financial needs. Make sure to share and discuss your expectations from the adviser in advance.Ensure you identify and rank your financial goals. You should be clear on the amount of capital you’re investing. Also, you should state your financial objectives and how much risk you are willing to sustain. It will help you select the right advisor. 2. Expertise: Always go for certified financial advisors because the fact that they are licensed will help ensure you that the advisor you are about to hire is qualified and that they know exactly what to do and how to help you. Besides, credentials issued by independent bodies can be another evidence of qualification. Find a financial advisor in West Des Moines with a CFP (Certified Public Planner). It is the most significant credential. Its members must pass the tests administered by the CFBS. Moreover, find out whether he/she takes the annual courses required by the law. 3. Experience: Experience is vital if you are to entrust this person with your dreams. Most financial advisors ventured in other fields before getting into a financial career. It equips them with knowledge about financial investments in different areas.But you should remember that everyone has to start somewhere. Intelligence, responsibility, and passion can, in some cases, make up for the experience. 4. Cost: Fees and commissions can end up making your investment, not so fruitful. Discuss the advisor’s compensation before closing the deal. It will avoid any conflicts on payment. You need to study the record of the adviser and your anticipated future record. For example, if your stock portfolio is 8%. You agree that the advisor gets 4%. Then, your net return will be 4%. 5. Compatibility: Your financial advisor should have a personality that makes you comfortable. If you do not like your advisor, you will find it so difficult to open up about your financial concerns. Find a financial advisor in West Des Moines who has the patience to answer your questions.Face-face meeting is a great way to assess your advisor, giving you a better impression. Would you marry a person who you meet at an online dating service without a face-face meeting? The same case applies here; you should not give your financial future to a stranger. Bottom Line: Remember how much you worked hard to earn the capital. Pick the best advisor and protect your wealth. Also, ensure he/she has the expertise needed to provide the best advice.Read Also:How To Start Your Career As A Financial Advisor? How Artificial Intelligence Is Helping Banking And Financial Institutions?

A Comprehensive Guide to Law Firm Finance in 2021

Have you been practicing law for a while? Today, many lawyers are stepping into the entrepreneurship world to open their law firms. Indeed, practicing under experienced lawyers gives a lot of exposure but having autonomy at work is equally vital. You can choose clients and legal cases of your choice and practice in a particular area. Likewise, you can enjoy flexibility and freedom, make decisions, and set your priorities.However, most lawyers don’t understand that starting a law firm is more than practicing law. Apart from legal responsibilities, you have to recruit people, market the law firm, and most importantly, manage finances. You have to document a long-term financial strategy to stay on top of your daily budget and earn profits. At the same time, you have to manage taxes, acquire funding, handle invoices, and much more.To help you get started, here is a comprehensive guide to law firm finance in 2021. 1. Create a Long-Term Financial Strategy:As a law firm owner, you have to establish a vision for the firm’s future. Do you picture a multi-lawyer firm handing corporate clients? Or you want to step into litigation or criminal law? Having a clear idea of long-term goals will help in creating a well-defined financial strategy. You can start putting funds aside for expansion from the beginning.Likewise, you have to keep up with numbers, forecasts, and budgets to manage the day-to-day cash flow. You have to ensure the business has enough funds to secure new clients and take cases to trial. After all, not every case settles. However, if you don’t have a knack for numbers, consider learning the ropes.You can look for virtual programs such as MSF online to avoid the hassle of traveling to college. After all, online education gives students a lot of flexibility, motivating them to keep learning. As for your law firm, it will help in managing finances efficiently while practicing law. 2. Get Access to Funding:Although you are stepping into a service business, you will need a hefty amount of capital and cash to start a law firm. From office rentals, conference rooms, stationary costs to staffing – you will come across a long list of expenses. Therefore, look for ways to obtain capital for your law firm. Here are some of the options you can explore. Savings: Whenever starting a business, make sure a small chunk of the capital comes from personal savings. That way, you will keep working in the game because you won’t be liable to another person when things get tough. Bank Loan: You can start with a few thousand dollars, but more capital gives lawyers enough runway to make the business profitable. Hence, if your savings don’t seem sufficient, opt for a bank loan or open a credit line to raise capital. Startup Incubators: Today, many incubators connect new business owners with funding to get going. Often, they use their contacts with angel investors to fund new businesses or seek help from venture capitalists. 3. Manage Taxes:Most attorneys operating law firms aren’t aware of legal obligations. As a result, taxes hit them in surprising ways. You might get a call from Internal Revenue System (IRS) or a hefty fine for missing the deadline.Similarly, many lawyers have difficulty categorizing deductibles. You might think everything is deductible, whereas your tax liability is higher than you predicted. These pitfalls not only halt business operations but are super pricey too.Hence, consider bringing an experienced tax specialist on board. However, if you don’t have a budget for additional hiring, learn about the taxation policies yourself. It doesn’t mean you have to go back to school; instead, look for online programs. You can opt for an online LLM tax program and learn from the comfort of your home and office. It will help you plan for tax liability, closing doors for IRS audit, and incorrect tax deductions. 4. Streamline Invoicing & Payment System: Usually, lawyers have different payment policies. When dealing with corporate clients, they charge a monthly fee and have separate legal charges for cases. On the other hand, they don’t charge when fighting for accident victims until the negligent party’s proven guilty. Despite having different payment policies, you must have an appropriate invoicing and payment system at the firm. You can leverage savvy software to automate the firm’s finances.Moreover, record your income correctly. If you charge a retainer fee, treat it as an advance payment and track its spending on every case. Similarly, avoid recording any income in your financials until you have won the case. It will give you a realistic view of the firm’s financial position, making sure you are on the right track. Besides this, don’t forget to set flexible billing terms with the clients and discuss everything upfront to avoid issues later. 5. Prepare Budgets, Reports, & KPIs: Having a budget is imperative for your law firm’s financial success. You have to estimate your expenses and the revenue you expect to earn. It will give you a solid idea of how much you should work to make the business profitable. Likewise, you have to prepare financials to catch a glimpse of profitability.Well, to begin effective financial reporting, you have to start with the bookkeeping basics. You have to record all financial transactions and maintain a separate account for every client.After this, you can prepare an income statement and balance sheet to determine the law firm’s equity. Also, create a cash flow statement to understand how much cash goes out and comes into the business. All these financials will be a brilliant source of insights about your law firm. You can spot trends, overcome weaknesses, and capitalize on your strengths to make the business more profitable. Final Thoughts: Every successful law firm considers numbers and data first. You have to create an excellent financial plan with a growth vision to make your law firm successful. Similarly, you have to manage cash flow, follow a detailed billing process, and raise sufficient capital. As you progress forward, a strong financial position will unfold new growth opportunities. You can tap into new practice areas, offer more services, and expand your team.Read Also:How To Choose A Practice Management Software For Your Law Firm How Do Law Firms Help Companies with Their Real Estate Issues?

Major financial problems that can affect a new business

For a new business just fresh out of the concept stage, there’s a lot of excitement ahead. However, there are often troubles on the horizon, and these tend to revolve around money issues. Finance streams may be in place when the business is first created, for example, but they can quickly dry up as time goes on. It’s expensive to hire staff, and this can often push a firm well into the problem zone. Here are some ways that new businesses can get around these problems. No finance streams : When a new business first launches, it’s usually the case that there’s some form of finance behind it – at least for a short time. The entrepreneur themselves might be financing it from savings, for example, while there may also be an investor. The long-term plan is usually to have incoming cash replace this stream once it dries out – but revenues and profits don’t come overnight, and in fact, they often don’t materialize for a long time.Instead of relying on external finance providers, it often makes sense for a new business to be “bootstrapped”. Bootstrapping essentially means cutting down costs until you reach a stage where you have the funds to raise them back up. Instead of hiring an office space, for example, why not knuckle down and work hard in your spare room until you have enough – or almost enough – sustainable income to pay for a desk somewhere? It may be tough doing this sort of thing at first, but it could be the difference between business survival and failure. Staffing costs : In a bygone age of manufacturing and industry, the main cost that businesses faced was equipment. This also tended to be where companies made cutbacks when times were hard, either by downsizing their factories, leasing out their equipment or something similar. However, for many modern American businesses, the main cost is staff.Staff members are, in general, expensive. Some, such as coders and executives, command high salaries that can quickly drain a firm’s budget. Even when a person is hired on a lower salary, there are plenty of extra considerations to take into account, which can make the hire expensive: from the additional insurance premium that a firm might need to pay on their office space to the additional computer and desk space that the staff member might need, the costs can mount up.It makes sense for many firms to hire contractors instead of as they come with far fewer financial responsibilities for the firm – and the arrangement gives both parties the flexibility to move on if needed. With umbrella companies available to manage the tax side of contractor pay, there’s no need to worry about the effect that it might have on your HR or accounting departments either.Running a new business is exhilarating in some ways, but it also comes with its problems. Finance is almost always the big one – and from large staffing costs to dried-up finance streams, there’s a lot that can go wrong. However, by focusing on finance methods such as bootstrapping and choosing contractors instead of employed workers, there are ways that you can get that profit and loss sheet under control and move towards a more sustainable financial future for your business.Read Also :Invest In A New Car, Without A Financial Liability Debunking 7 Notorious Bankruptcy Myths

The Top Benefits of Using an Insurance Broker