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~Alex Hastings~
Hastings Insurance Solutions LLC
~Guide One~
872 Tanglefoot Ln
Bettendorf IA 52722
563-355-0262 Office
641-494-9494 Cell
855-355-0262 Fax
ExpertInsuranceSolutions
@gmail.com
www.HastingsInsurance
Solutions.com
Is Shopping Online for Insurance Really a Bargain?
Buying auto or homeowners insurance on the internet seems easy and cheap. But is it?
Discover how relying on the web to protect your most valuable assets could cost you more - and put you and your loved ones at risk - by requesting my free guide, "The Dangers of Shopping Online for Insurance."
Just reply to this email and I'll send it right out to you.
Quick Quiz
Each month I'll give you a new question.
Just reply to this email for the answer.
Why was trick-or-treating stopped during World War II?
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Recipe: Quick Broiled Flank Steak
Serves 6
- 2 pound flank steak
- 1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt
- Freshly ground pepper
Directions
Score the surface of the flank steak with a sharp knife, then place in a freezer bag with the Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and olive oil.
Marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to 8 hours.
Preheat the broiler for 5 minutes. Lightly grease the broiler pan. Remove steak from marinade and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Place on pan and broil 4 to 5 minutes on each side.
Remove from pan and allow steak to rest on a cutting board for at least 10 minutes before slicing. Cut into strips, ensuring you’re slicing against the grain.
Worth Quoting
Dear Great Pumpkin: Everyone tells me you are a fake, but I believe in you.
Linus/Charles M. Schulz |
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ATTN: Some have e-mail replied to these newletters,
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Thanks for Reading!
Alex
Debunking Five Common Life Insurance Myths
We all think we know about life insurance. After all, how complicated can it be? Well, in fact, the whole area of life insurance can be fairly complex. For example, take the following five commonly held beliefs. In fact, these are myths. Here's why:
I don't need coverage because I'm single and have no dependents. The idea that only primary breadwinners need life insurance is old school. Consider how much a homemaker is worth; probably more than you think, especially when it comes to child-care and household maintenance costs. As well, life insurance may be desirable, even for single individuals, to cover personal debts and end-of-life bills such as funeral expenses.
My employer-paid coverage is sufficient. Maybe - or maybe not. If you have dependents or know that you will need extra coverage for estate taxes upon your death, you may need more than your employer provides.
My coverage should be twice my annual salary. How much life insurance you need depends on your personal situation - but the rule of thumb is that coverage should be computed based on Cash outflows, not inflows.
I'm better off investing than buying insurance. It depends on how much money you've accumulated. You're taking a big chance by depending solely on your investments to cover emergencies. You may not have enough, especially in the early years of saving. Even if you do, you could deplete your retirement nest egg. Then what?
My premiums are tax-deductible. Probably not. The only time personal life insurance is tax-deductible is when the policyholder is a self-employed business owner, and the coverage is used as asset protection for the business owner. Then, it's deductible on the Schedule C of Form 1040.
Do these debunked myths make you think? If so, your advisor can help you determine if life insurance is right for you based on your individual financial circumstances and goals.
Eat and Enjoy: The Five-Second Rule Rules
 You're at the cafeteria about to take the last bite of your homemade chocolate chip muffin, but you drop it on the floor. Relax and enjoy: research out of UK-based Aston University supports the five-second rule, suggesting it may be okay for us to consume food that's been dropped on the floor, providing it goes from floor to mouth in five seconds or less.
Researchers tested a variety of foods and investigated the levels of bacteria contracted after 3 to 30 seconds on different types of flooring. The findings? Certain floors and certain types of food transfer bacteria more readily: Carpeting is least likely to pass on bacteria, and tiled surfaces, most likely. Not surprisingly, moist foods picked up more bacteria when they came in contact with the floor than their dry counterparts.
If you picked up and ate that last piece of muffin, you're not alone. The study found that 87 percent of people polled happily ate food they'd dropped on the floor.
So, while science hasn't necessarily proven the five-second rule is totally safe (the study still has to be peer-reviewed), it's sounding good. But there is one exception: if your piece of muffin is covered in grime, skip that last mouthful and bake another batch.
This Month's Smile: Signs
 Signs can be a great source of humor, intended or unintended. Take these real signs posted by food-related businesses:
One grocery store's frozen food section is marked by this unusual sign: A hand-drawn picture of a grumpy cat and written underneath are the words: FROZEN...like my heart.
You have to feel for the Japanese restaurant with violent customers. Their sign warns: No matter how angry you are, no flicking (sic) over tables.
One Italian restaurant sold out to an esthetics clinic, which didn't bother with a new sign. The clinic just added to the restaurant's sign its own specialty, Laser Fat Removal. Too bad they didn't partner up.
Another had a sign outside with a mention of the day's special: Soup of the Day: The Tears of Our Enemies. Yum!
Vacant Land Needs Liability Insurance, Too
If you own vacant land, you may assume it doesn't need insurance, but unfortunately, that's not true.
Vacant land can be a breeding ground for liability lawsuits. You're responsible for what happens on your property, meaning any accidents to others could cause you big headaches. Although you're not legally required to carry vacant land insurance, doing so will protect your other assets. If someone is hurt on your property, you could be sued. Vacant land insurance will help pay for injured parties' medical expenses, legal expenses, and certain types of property damage.
Why do I need vacant land insurance?
If you suspect trespassers may be using your land, you probably need it; if you permit people to use your land, and they pay you for the privilege, you're liable for anything that may happen to them. Even if they don't pay, you're liable, but not to the same extent.
What can happen?
- Hunters and fishermen pose heightened risks of injuries or fatal wounds. Even when it's something that could be considered their fault, such as falling into a creek.
- ATV accidents: There were 1,701 ATV rider deaths during a five-year study, conducted by The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in 2013. One could have been on your land.
- Hikers unfamiliar with the terrain can be injured, with resulting liability claims.
Protect your assets
Insuring land isn't difficult, and it's reasonably priced, especially if it's an extension of homeowners or farmers liability policies. However, you may also need umbrella insurance, which will add liability coverage from $1 million to $5 million. If a lawsuit maxes out a homeowners or farmers policy liability limits, this coverage kicks in.
To decide if you need vacant land insurance, consider your land's current use and assess possible risks. Also, know your state's landowner laws. Your agent will help you determine if and what coverage you may need.
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