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HSBR Insurance
9055 SE Bridge Road
Hobe Sound, FL 33455
772-546-7292
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Are You Making These Insurance Blunders?
When it comes to buying insurance, what you don’t know can hurt you…and your family…for years to come.
Learn how to identify the top ten insurance mistakes and what you can do about them with my free guide, "The Top 10 Insurance Blunders - and How to Avoid Them."
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Recipe: Honey Lemon Chicken
Serves 2
Ingredients
• 2 chicken breasts, skinless and boneless, cut into chunks
• 1 small red pepper, sliced
• Handful green beans
• Handful broccoli
• 1 cup hot chicken stock
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp corn flour
• 2 cups steamed basmati rice to serve
Directions
Stir the lemon juice, soy sauce and honey into the stock and set aside.
Put corn flour in a small bowl and roll chicken in it to coat.
Fry the chicken in a hot wok or pan until browned.
Add the vegetables.
Pour in the lemon stock mixture and simmer for about five minutes, until vegetables are cooked through.
Serve with steamed basmati rice.
Worth Quoting
As families around the country sit down to celebrate Thanksgiving, here are some quotes on the subject of dinner.
If it weren't for Philo T. Farnsworth, inventor of television, we'd still be eating frozen radio dinners.
Johnny Carson
Ask your child what he wants for dinner only if he's buying.
Fran Lebowitz
Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper.
Adelle Davis
Most men’s awareness doesn’t extend past their dinner plates.
Scott Westerfeld
All great change in America begins at the dinner table.
Ronald Reagan
If you can get nothing better out of the world, get a good dinner out of it, at least.
Herman Melville
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What's Going on With Home Insurance
in Hobe Sound?
Are you shopping for new home insurance? Did your premium increase at your renewal? Why? In a nutshell, a new wind mitigation form and recent claims paid to insureds.
In April 2010, the State of Florida created a new Wind Mitigation Verification form. As of May 1, 2010 almost every insurer in the state is requiring that this form be used on all new policies written.
How does this impact you and your rates? The new form is very specific as to requirements that must be present for each item on the inspection report, which could mean the loss of some credits that you currently have. The previous version left some room for “interpretation”.
For example, any roof installation permit dated 2/28/2002 or earlier will no longer get the FBC credit. If the permit is dated 3/1/2002 or later the credit will be given.
Why did this happen? Because of the subjectivity of the old form many insurers were giving millions away in credits that were not warranted. This new form is a way for the insurance companies to give appropriate credits when due and collect appropriate premiums for homes that are not as well protected from storms.
If you stay with your current insurer you will not need to get a new wind mitigation inspection, but you’re not completely off the hook. The insurance company may do their own inspection to determine if the appropriate credits are being given.
Why did my premiums go up, there hasn’t been a storm in 5 years? One reason is that Insurers are still paying claims from Hurricane Wilma. Another reason is an increase in non-hurricane related claims such as Sinkholes. The amounts paid on these claims has increased significantly particularly in areas not prone to sinkholes.
How to Protect Your Assets...Now and in the Future
Umbrella insurance, also known as an excess liability policy, provides additional protection above and beyond the normal liability limits of a standard policy. In today's litigious society, a growing number of people would benefit from the ability to protect their hard-earned assets as well as future income via the inclusion of a properly established umbrella policy.
Many people erroneously believe an umbrella policy is only for the wealthy, but research demonstrates that average Americans might benefit more from additional liability coverage than the rich. Rather than risk your home, investments and other personal assets - including future earned income - an umbrella policy provides the protection you need in the event of a lawsuit or other claim.
Although rates vary depending on your personal assets and the amount of additional liability coverage purchased, most umbrella policies are very affordable with average annual rates less than $500 for up to $1 million in total coverage. Perhaps more importantly, it's simple to purchase an umbrella policy; your agent is often able to add an additional layer of protection at the time you purchase your annual car or homeowners policy.
Deciding how much additional insurance to purchase isn't easy, so it is a good idea to speak with you agent. At the bare minimum, it is wise to purchase enough to cover your total assets, including future earned income. This is especially important for people just starting out since lawsuits often include a claim on future earnings.
Three Ways to Make This Thanksgiving Easy
 If the idea of spending time with family and friends over the upcoming holidays fills you with a sense of foreboding, you are not alone.
Despite how much we might miss seeing loved ones throughout the year, family get-togethers are frequently sources of holiday-related stress.
Fortunately, there is a better way. Following are three ways to help you make the holidays memorable without the mayhem:
KISS: This stands for Keep It Simple, Stupid, and that is good advice when planning for family gatherings. Whether you are hosting an evening dinner or a full-fledged family reunion, emphasize the simple pleasures to avoid additional stress. Perfection is not required for everyone to enjoy family gatherings. The simple pleasures of food, family and fun are always in style.
Engage Others: Write an email or set up a Facebook page to help coordinate meals, travel arrangements and other essential tasks, and entertainment. Recruit others to bring a favorite dish, photo albums/camera, music and other tools to help commemorate the occasion. Not only does it help with time management, but it also ensures that everyone is up to date on any changes and encourages active participation by young and old alike. And don't forget to post pictures after the big event.
Rent It: Sometimes the easiest way to deal with big gatherings is to lease or rent equipment, space or even lodgings. Whether you need a couple of extra canopy tents and tables or an entire lodge for a fabulous family get-together, leasing is a quick and convenient way to get more space.
Picture credit.
How to Meditate...Even if You Think You Can't
 The everyday hustle and bustle of modern life leaves little time for reflection, much less meditation. Yet researchers have determined that downtime actually increases retention of new information and assists in productivity.
For those who simply can't slow down, the idea of a weeklong mountain retreat is enough to inspire more stress. Fortunately, meditation doesn't need to be prolonged to be beneficial. Following are some tips to help you achieve a more peaceful state of mind through meditation:
Find a Favorite Place: Very little is needed to begin meditation, but a quiet, restful place is essential. Whether at home or work, take time to carefully select a spot that will allow you to relax, close your eyes for a few minutes and avoid all distraction.
Breathing Basics: Meditation is practiced by diverse people in different positions and places around the world, but one thing nearly all have in common is the emphasis on breathing. Learning how to properly breathe takes a bit of practice but is simple to start. Simply begin counting as you inhale and exhale. Start with a count of one and continue to 10 as you progressively become more in tune with your rate of breathing.
Tame the Timer with Technology: Yes, technology is a major contributor to the stress of daily life, but it's also a terrific tool. Download free audio files with time limits to help guide you through a meditation session, reminding you to breathe deeply, take a short break and other healthy habits throughout the day. The Insight Meditation Center offers free audible downloads and timers at this website.
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Auto Insurance: Why a Review Is a Good Idea
Doing an annual review of your auto insurance policy may not be at the top of your list of fun things to do this weekend, but it's important to ensure you have the right level of protection at the best possible price. Following is a checklist to use when reviewing your policy:
1. Have you experienced any major changes in lifestyle or status?
Common examples that may impact auto insurance rates include:
- Change of marital status, which may entail adding or removing drivers
- Change of employment status, which could result in a vehicle being used for business
- Retirement, which might result in reduced mileage discounts, and even the adoption of a pet, which might result in the need for pet insurance
2. Have you changed vehicles or made modifications to an existing vehicle, or has the car reached a milestone?
Common examples that may impact auto insurance rates include:
- The addition or removal of vehicles, paying off a loan on a car, or acquiring a new loan
- Changes to the value of the vehicle, which might result in the elimination of comp coverage for older vehicles, or specialized policies for customized or antique cars
3. Have your other insurance policies and/or financial status changed?
Common examples that may impact auto insurance rates include:
- Changes to insurance and investment portfolios, such as a change of beneficiaries or the addition of an umbrella policy for enhanced liability protection
- Changes to credit ratings or even the purchase of a homeowner or other policy with the same company, which could end up resulting in discounts and incentives
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