5 Tips for a Healthy Home

Keep your family safe by staying aware of the biggest dangers around your home.

#1 Mold
Mold is a common cause of illness and allergies. It can creep up anywhere in your home but it is most common on, and around, moist areas. Bathrooms, laundry rooms and basements are therefore prone to mold growth. If certain rooms of your home are prone to mold, be sure to take preventative measures such as using ventilation fans and installing mildew-resistant drywall.

#2 Kitchen Fires
The Home Safety council reports that cooking fires are the most common cause of residential fires. Stay aware of what appliances are in use and always double-check that stove burners are turned off after use. Keep a fire extinguisher readily available in the event that a fire occurs.

#3 Slips and Falls
Combine smooth tile floors with a little bit of moisture and you have the perfect combination for an accident waiting to happen. Use non-slip bathmats and kitchen rugs in any room where slippery tile may come in contact with water. Especially if you have children, use self-adhering grip pads in your shower floor. All of these precautions can greatly reduce the chance of injuries.

#4 Your purse
Better Homes and Gardens recently released an article that warns of the potential danger of women’s purses and children. Stay mindful of the items that you keep in your purse (makeup, coins, etc) and don’t let children gain access to anything they could ingest or choke on.  Also, think about where you “drop” your purse and consider the germs that could be sneaking into your house this way. For example, do you plop it on the bathroom floor when you use a public restroom? Does it hang from a chair in a public restroom?

#5 Fireplaces
Yes,  they are cozy and warm in the fall and winter, but are you taking the necessary steps to keeping your family safe from carbon monoxide? Install carbon monoxide detectors on every floor of your home and make sure you get chimneys and fireplaces inspected annually to ensure there is no potential for poisoning.

For more information visit our FAQ section, “How to Prevent Home Insurance Claims“.

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Above average temps cause concern for heat stroke

As a massive heat wave makes its way across the country, medical personal are treating an increasing number of people for heat stroke and other heat related illnesses. Often an underestimated condition, heat stroke was actually the cause of 3,442 deaths between 1993 and 2003 according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

With twelve states under a heat advisory today, health advisers in those areas are warning folks to stay out of the sun and heat as much as possible and to stay hydrated. Elderly people and young children are at the highest risk of developing heatstroke.

Here’s what you need to know:

Heatstroke is a life threatening condition that occurs in extreme heat when the body fails to regulate its own temperature. Body temperature then begins to rise sometimes to 105 degrees or higher. Heat stroke is a true medical emergency and can be fatal if not treated properly and promptly.

Symptoms include high body temperature, dry skin, rapid pulse, difficulty breathing, confusion and hallucinations.

To prevent heat stroke avoid doing any strenuous outdoor activity during extremely warm weather. If you must be outdoors, stay out of the sun and drink plenty of liquids. Dehydration is often the biggest cause of heatstroke as the body does not have the fluids to sweat fast enough to dissipate heat.

If you think that you or someone else may be experiencing heat stroke, get to a medical professional immediately for treatment.

For more information visit the CDCs webpage: Extreme Heat: A Prevention Guide to Promote your Personal Health and Safety.

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When traveling with kids, a little planning can go a long way

Summer is here and families across the country are preparing for family vacations. My family is no exception as we are  quickly approaching our second road trip ever with my 7-month old son. And if there’s anything we learned from Road Trip #1, it’s that just a little planning can go quite a long way. I’ve scoured the Internet and questioned my friends for tips on the most important planning tips for traveling with kids. If you’re a well seasoned parent, this may just be a refresher course. For new moms and dads, this is probably new material. So before you turn your car on to the interstate or head off to the airport, consider the following…

1. Don’t skimp on toys a.k.a “distractions”: In  an effort to pack light, you may be inclined to forego your child’s favorite stuffed animal, coloring book or video game. Think again on this one as that additional baggage may just provide that additional amount of “quiet time” that you need on the plane or in the car.

2. Have a back-up plan: Flight delays and flat tires are aggravating enough as is but add a few kids into the mix and your trip just went from tolerable to torture. Plan ahead for these types of hang ups by simply having a few “car games” in the back of your mind to help keep everyone entertained.

3. Leave yourself additional time: A road trip that may normally take 3 hours could very well take you 4 or 5 hours after (multiple) bathroom and food stops. Don’t try to beat any records when it comes to timing or you may just be setting yourself up for disappointment and added stress.  Take your time, try to stay relaxed and start your trip off right!

4. Don’t overstay, know your limits: While a two week trip to Bali may sound like the vacation of a lifetime, keep in mind that kids often get antsy and unsettled when out of their normal routine for too long. Likewise, make sure you work enough “kid focused” activities into your itinerary so they don’t get completely bored.

Now have fun and make some memories!

Road Trip Side Note: Don’t forget to double check your car’s fluids and that all of your documentation (drivers licenses, car insurance policy info, etc.) are in the glove box.

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“We got struck TWICE by lightning” and other bizarre insurance claims…Part Two

Our craziest claim stories continued! Read Part I (” A deer jumped through my window”…) if you missed it.

#6- Play date gone wrong- “My daughter was at her friend’s house next door and while the parents weren’t looking she took all the nail polish out of the bathroom and painted it all over their walls, carpet and furniture! It was SUCH a huge mess!”

Lesson learned: The specifics of each policy can differ but this customer was covered under her home insurance policy for the damages to her neighbors house as the “nail polish fiasco” was considered property damage.

#7- What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas- or does it?- One wild customer was partying it up with some friends in a hotel when a sprinkler head in the ceiling “somehow got broken off”. The hotel estimated that the total damages were around $10,000! He wanted to know if he should file a claim for the damages.

Lesson learned: His insurer in this case actually covered the damages- and paid out over $12,000 to repair the sprinkler head. However, this is not always typical of all policies.

#8- Lightning DOES strike twice in the same place- One customer proved the old theory wrong when she told us about lightening striking her property in the same place twice within 6 months! “We had just installed an invisible electronic fence and the lightening must have been attracted to it! It struck our property two times in the same place blowing up the power unit on the fence both times!”

Lesson learned: Lightening is considered a covered peril under a standard home insurance policy.

#9- Anger Management Issues- One of our customers purchased a home that was in foreclosure and got ready to move in. Before he could do so, the previous owners of the home, still angry about the fact that the bank foreclosed on their house, burned the entire thing down!

Lesson learned: A standard home insurance policy will cover damages caused by fire.

#10- Tombstone Insurance? “Is damage to my tombstone covered under my homeowners insurance”? The answer is actually surprising…

Lesson learned: Many standard home insurance policies do in fact provide coverage to damages caused to tombstones. However it’s best to ask your insurance agent about the specific on your policy for this one. My question is- who’s filing the claim??

Stay tuned for more crazy insurance claim stories!

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“A deer jumped through my window” and other bizarre insurance claims :: Part One

Insurance agents hear some of the wildest stories out there. Here are some of the most bizarre stories we’ve heard: Stay tuned for Part II tomorrow!

#1- Lawnmower gone wild- One policyholder filed a claim for his lawnmower after he accidentally drove it into a lake behind his house. “The brakes stopped working and I was too afraid to jump off…so I just rode it into the water!”

Lesson learned: Mishaps such as this are not covered under a standard home insurance policy- home insurance policies only provide coverage for damage caused by covered perils such as wind, hail, theft, fire and riots.

#2- An evening surprise- One customer calling to get some home insurance quotes told us that he came home to find a baffling scenario- a broken living room window and a 6-point buck wandering around his kitchen. “It took me a while to put together what happened, but I think the deer accidentally jumped right through our picture window and ended up in the house!”

Lesson learned: Damage caused by wild animals is not typically covered under a standard home policy.

#3- Our favorite coverage questions- We often get questions about whether a home policy will cover damage from flood, lightening, etc. However this was one of our favorites: “Does my home insurance policy cover me if my horse eats my neighbor’s flowers? How about if my horse were hit by a car?”

Lesson learned: A standard home policy typically covers damages caused to others by your household pets, however, you should really ask your insurance agents about the specifics of your policy for this one. And in the case of the horse being hit by a car- no, pets are not covered as part of your contents coverage. Check out pet insurance for a situation like that.

#4- A Memorable 4th of July- One of our customers told us about a home insurance claim they filed after some fireworks that they set off accidentally shot through a neighbor’s second floor window causing damage to the rugs and wall coverings.

Lesson learned: Your home insurance policy will typically cover damages that you, or other insured members of your household, have caused to others. Talk to your agent before filing a claim and weigh the cost of paying the damages out of your pocket before filing.

#5- A buzz worthy question- One customer called us to let us know that bees had nested in his sub-flooring and he wanted to file a claim. “Is this covered”? He wanted to know…

Lesson learned: Insect infestations are not typically covered under a home insurance policy. Call your exterminator!

…more to come tomorrow!

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Drivers grow concerned over rising gas prices

Drivers across the country may be cringing when they pull up to the pump these days as gas prices are close to reaching an all-time high.

CNN reports that gas prices have jumped nearly 20 cents over the past two weeks from $3.57 to $3.76.

The all-time high was set in July 2008 when average gas prices were $4.11, according to the Lundberg survey. Only 35 cents from that record high, drivers around the country are growing increasingly concerned.

Jilby Lundberg, publisher for the Lundberg Survey has this to say about what to expect in the near future:

“Unless crude oil relents and slips, we can expect a further rise at the pump because pump prices do not reflect all of the crude oil price hikes that have occurred.”

The most recent survey was performed on Friday where the highest gas prices were recorded in San Francisco Bay area at $4.13/gallon. The lowest were recorded in Tucson, AZ at $3.41.

As auto insurance rates are concurrently trending upwards, many drivers may feel the increased financial burden right now.

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The top seven moving tips you don’t want to learn the hard way

Whether you are moving to a home 5 miles away or 500, there is a certain overwhelming dread that usually comes along with the thought of packing and unpacking an entire household. I was surprised recently when I realized that I have moved 13 times in the past 10 years- a figure that I dare say may be deemed remarkable by even the most transient military family. So, I thought I’d share some of the hard-learned lessons I’ve learned along the way.

#1- Clean out shop- I must admit I used to be a pack rat. Well, after ‘Move #6' things began to change in that department of my life. The random ‘things’ I was holding onto became just added weight during a move and needed extra storage once I got to where I was going. Before starting to pack, do a thorough cleaning out of things you no longer need to keep or hold onto. Can’t decide what goes and what stays? My rule of thumb follows the old William Morris saying , “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful”. Everything else- get rid of it. Hold a yard sale to make a few dollars or donate to a local donation center (don’t forget your receipt for tax purposes).

#2-Don’t underestimate the value of a small box- This is probably common sense to a seasoned mover but newbies listen up: While big boxes hold more, they are much more difficult to move. Save the big boxes for lightweight items like linens and pillows.  Scout out some small sized boxes for items that are particularly heavy or fragile. You (and your back) will be thankful for this on moving day.

#3- Pack a “Last Minute” box of household items- Keep a box handy of things you will need quick access to throughout the move. Some of these things might be a few forks, drinking cups, toilet paper, a note pad and other essential items you don’t want to be rummaging through sealed boxes for. This should be the last box you grab before locking up the house for the final time- and the first one you bring into your new home.

#4- Pack the truck with a plan- Keep in mind that whatever you load into the moving truck first, will be coming out of the truck last when you get to your new home. When it comes to unpacking in a new place, I have always found it easier to get the furniture in first so you aren’t maneuvering your sofa, for example, around lots of boxes. So in this case, you’d want to make sure you pack your furniture in the truck last so that it’s the first thing off.

#5- Double check utilities ahead of time- Trust me when I say that you don’t want to move into a new house, in the middle of a snow storm, and realize you have no heat or electricity. Call ahead of time to verify with your utility companies that everything is turned on at the house so you don’t run into any surprises. Also, to prevent lost mail and late payments be sure to provide your new address to those companies that send you important mail including your credit card statements, car insurance bill, bank statements, etc.

#6- Bribe your friends to help- That’s right, good old fashioned bribery often works best in this scenario. It’s worth the few boxes of pizza and IOUs to have help moving all of this stuff. The more people you can enlist, the sooner it will all be over. Just remember to return the favor someday.

#7- Don’t try to unpack in a day- While you may be anxious to get everything set up in your new place, don’t make the mistake of tearing open every box right away. Start by getting the big stuff in place in each room. Then work on setting up electronics and organizing cabinets and closets. Leave the little details like home decor, artwork and mirrors for very last.

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RateReport :: January 2011 home insurance rates show steady increase

Average Home Insurance Premium Report :: Jan. 2011

In the most recent release of the HomeInsurance.com RateReport [January 2011 Edition] it appears that average home insurance rates have increased slightly across the country. The national average premium as sold by HomeInsurance.com in January 2011 was around $699 with state-specific premiums ranging anywhere from $400 to $1400.

Why the huge range?

There are a lot of factors that cause  home insurance quotes to vary from one homeowner to the next, and from one state to another. Some of these include the policyholder’s credit-based insurance score;  building type and square footage of the home; the building costs in the area; the condition/age of the home; and the likelihood of natural disasters occurring in that area.

Since there are a lot of factors that affect the cost of home insurance that a policyholder can’t control- it’s good to know which ones you can. According to the Insurance Information Institute a few ways to save money on homeowners insurance are to shop around, raise your deductible, package your home and auto insurance, upgrade your home and consider home insurance costs when purchasing a home.

Another way to keep your monthly premium down is to ask your insurance agent about other discounts that your insurer may offer. Some carriers offer discounts for new homes, smoke-free homes, retirees and/or certain security alarms.

“You can usually get discounts of at least 5 percent for a smoke detector, burglar alarm or dead-bolt locks. Some companies may cut your premiums by as much as 15 or 20 percent if you install a sophisticated sprinkler system and a fire and burglar alarm that rings at the police, fire or other monitoring stations.”

- The III

Overall, rates are up about 2.5% from the same time last year when average national home insurance premiums reported by HomeInsurance.com were around $683. State-specific increases are slightly more dramatic with Texas, South Carolina, Iowa, Nebraska and Washington DC all seeing at least a 5% increase in new policy premiums between December 2010 and January 2011. On the other end of the spectrum, homeowners shopping in Utah, Mississippi, Vermont and New Mexico all saw at least a 5% decrease in average premiums.

For more information on rates in your state visit the RateReport.

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5 Ways To Celebrate Earth Day From Your Home

Looking for ways to contribute to our planet this Earth Day? Here are some ideas offered by our staff and followers during a recent poll on the HomeInsurance.com facebook page:

Recycle:  The obvious choice but not always every one’s first pick. If you aren’t currently taking advantage of your community’s recycling program start by getting informed. Some questions to ask include:

Is recycling encouraged or mandatory in my community?Is there a pick-up service or do I need to take my recyclables to a recycling center?What types of items are accepted?

Even just recycling a few bottles or cans each week makes a big difference.

Conserve Water: Everyday humans consume fresh water faster than our Earth’s water cycle is able to replenish it. So, conserving our water is more important than it may seem. A few easy ways to work this earth-friendly task into your daily routine?

Turn off the sink faucet while brushing your teethTurn off lawn sprinklers when it is raining, has recently rained or is predicted to rain in the near futureCut your shower time short (without compromising hygiene of course!) and you could save a few hundred gallons of water each week

Bike instead of Drive: Park the car in the garage and dust off old two-wheels when you need to run around the corner to the store, make a quick trip to the post office or other errands. Save the gas, save the air from the emissions and get a nice work-out at the same time.

Paper or Plastic? Neither! One of our fans suggested foregoing the paper and plastic bags offered out by cashiers when you are only purchasing 1 or 2 items. Need a few additional things? Use a re-usable grocery shopping bag.

Picking up Litter: Next time you take a stroll around your neighborhood, bring a garbage bag with you. You’d be surprised at the amount of litter you will find on the side of the road just waiting to be picked up by a good citizen like yourself!

Happy Earth Day from HomeInsurance.com.

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Royal Wedding has many asking about Special Event Insurance

If you’ve tuned into any major news station over the past few days you couldn’t possibly have missed the coverage on the Royal Wedding scheduled for this Friday, April 29th.  And although many are making their own predictions about the dress, the ceremony and the reception- there is one thing that’s for sure: the Royal Wedding is all about the details… intricate, meticulous (and expensive!) details.

And while the Royal Wedding will surely go down in history for its unbridled pomp and circumstance, there is one thing it shares with all weddings: everything is expected to go down without a hitch.

But what happens when it doesn’t?

We’ve received a few questions recently about Special Event insurance, sometimes known as Wedding Insurance. And while we aren’t the experts on the topic- we thought we’d share some of what we know. As with all types of insurance coverage, Special Event insurance is designed to protect the policyholder from financial loss in the event of an unforeseen peril.

And anyone who has recently paid the bill for a modern day wedding can attest that when it comes to tying the knot these days, a fairy tale wedding doesn’t come cheap.

According to ProtectMyWedding.com (The Travelers Wedding Protection Plan), there are lots of things that can go wrong on the big day… things you may not have ever thought of- or wanted to! Many of which are covered by a standard wedding insurance policy. To name a few:

Vendor/Venue Problems (going out of business, for example)Lost RingsSevere Weather (hurricanes, floods, blizzards, etc)Sudden illness/deathLost depositsRuined PhotosBride/Groom gets called to duty

“For the third consecutive year, vendor and venue problems remain the most frequent causes of wedding day mishaps for couples, according to an analysis of 2010 wedding insurance claims by Travelers (NYSE: TRV).”

-Travelers Insurance press release

Special event insurance is designed to protect your financial investment in your wedding and to reimburse you for expenses in the event of a covered claim. And according to The Wedding Report, the average cost of a U.S. wedding went up a shocking 23 percent last year- so it appears there is a lot to protect!

Special event insurance is not just for weddings either- it can be purchased for most any private event.

Whether or not the Royal Family will have Special Event insurance- we’re not entirely sure. But one thing we know- accidents can happen anywhere, at anytime and to anyone- so being properly protected is always important.

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HomeInsurance.com launches Facebook sweepstakes- one fan will win $250 gift card

Fans of the HomeInsurance.com Facebook page already know the benefits of be-friending the leader in online, comparative home and auto insurance shopping on the largest social network. Rate trend reports, comparative shopping services and home maintenance tips are delivered right to the their news feed.

Now it’s gotten even better. In an effort to increase exposure and ensure more homeowners are receiving these helpful features, HomeInsurance.com has launched a Facebook sweepstakes offering one lucky fan the chance to win a $250 Lowe’s Home Improvement gift card.

New and existing fans just need to ‘like’ the HomeInsurance.com Facebook page and then answer the poll: “What would YOU do with a $250 Lowe’s gift card?” and they are automatically entered.

Start Now!

The winner will be announced via live Facebook news feed at the end of August so get connected, enter to win and stay tuned!

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How to justify the little luxuries in life

In today’s economic climate consumers are increasingly aware of the money they spend.  However, when it comes to saving money, it is important to think about WHAT you are saving money on, instead of just the overall savings. Most people immediately turn to cutting out the luxuries in life as a way to cut down on unnecessary spending. And while this is viable plan, it can oftentimes lead to failure. Why you ask? Because we all need to spoil ourselves sometimes. That family vacation, night out to the theatre or day at the spa might not seem like a necessity, but when it comes to maintaining sound mental and emotional health- it’s important to treat ourselves to these little luxuries in moderation.

So while you should be practical in all areas of your spending, why not save on the boring stuff, so that you can justify the fun stuff?

Below are a few of my favortie tried and true tips for saving money in your household. Try a few of these out for a few weeks and keep track of how much money you are saving. Then, use what you saved to treat you and/or your family to a special something. It may require a little more time and elbow grease, but it’s worth it!

Consolidate Cleaning Products: Whoever does the shopping in your house can probably testify- cleaning products definitely add a hefty sum to your weekly/monthly spending. I recently looked under my kitchen sink at my arsenal of cleaning products and realized how many job-specific products I have.  Kitchen counter top spray, bathroom cleaner, products for the floor, windows, tile, grout…you name it, it was there. A cheaper, just-as-effective alternative? Plain old white vinegar. Mix it with water (and maybe just a drop of dish soap) to create a great cleaning solution for your floors, windows and other non-porous surfaces. Need something with more disinfecting power? Use bleach and water. Even the most expensive vinegar and bleach products out there cost about 1/4 of the price per ounce as compared to leading cleaning products.

Do a bill audit: Every 3-4 months do a thorough review of every bill you pay on a monthly basis and see where you might be able to save additional money. For example, do you watch all the channels your cable package offers or can you down grade your plan to save $5-$10/month? Or, are there home and auto insurance discounts that you may qualify for but are not taking advantage of? Spend some time reviewing your bills and see where you can cut a few dollars back each month. Over the span of a few years it really adds up.

Cut down on household paper products: While there are certain paper products we can’t do without (toilet paper!) it’s actually very easy to get by on limited paper towels and napkins. How you ask? Switch to cloth and rags. One old bath towel can be cut down nicely into individual hand rags that can be used almost anywhere a paper towel can be. Cloth napkins can usually be used a few times before just being thrown in the washer and dryer. Not only can you save a nice sum of cash but you’re also helping out the environment.

Conservative Couponing: Clipping and using coupons for purchases you would have made anyway  is one of the easiest ways to trim down that grocery store spend. Find a grocery store that doubles manufacturers coupons and you’ll do even better.  The key to smart couponing is not to let the “deal” drive your purchase decision. Meaning, don’ t buy 20 bottles of club soda if no one in your home will drink it just because you saved 50%. Otherwise you’ve just spent money you didn’t need to.

Make a menu schedule: Do you ever find yourself throwing out meat and produce that went bad in the fridge before you got the chance to prepare it? This happens a lot and can be easily avoided. Make a flexible menu for the week that you and your family can stick to. Create a grocery shopping list based on this menu and stick to the list. This will keep you from buying extra things that you don’t need and that can spoil.

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Tornado Victims :: Catastrophe Units Deployed

HomeInsurance.com customers who have been affected by this week’s deadly rash of tornadoes throughout the Midwest can rest assured knowing that their home and auto insurance providers are responding quickly and proactively.

For claims information please use the following contact information for your specific insurance provider:

Travelers Customers: Travelers has deployed emergency response units across the tornado affected states for customers who cannot file a claim via telephone or computer. If you know someone who needs to file a claim via an emergency response unit, please see the Travelers Catastrophe Response page for locations in each area. For customers who would like to file a claim over the phone please call 1.800.CLAIM33 (1.800.252.4633). To file an online claim visit Travelers Online Claim System.

Safeco Customers: Safeco has mobilized its National Catastrophe team to the affected areas. Safeco customers who want to file a claim over the phone should call 1-800-332-3226.

Hartford Customers who would like to file a claim should call 1-800-243-5860.

Foremost customers who would like to file a claim should call 1-800-527-3907  or visit their online claims center.

ASI customers who would like to file a claim should call 866-274-5677.

Ark Royal customers who would like to file a claim should call 1-866-509-0314.

Progressive customers who would like to file a claim should contact 1-800-527-3907 or visit their online claims service.

For information on what to do in the event of a tornado, visit: The HomeInsurance.com Tornado Guide

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HomeInsurance.com releases ‘Top 3 picks for shopping websites’

As a leading comparative insurance shopping website we have come to really appreciate other companies that offer similar invaluable services to homeowners. Today we’re sharing our 3  favorite money-saving websites on the web today (drum roll please…):

Groupon.com- Find really good deals on coupons to your favorite local shops on Groupon.com. You can sign up for Groupon notifications which get emailed right to your inbox. Everyday you will receive the Groupon offer in your area and the prices are actually pretty astonishing. (For example, today in my area there is a Groupon for a local frame shop offering 50% off $100 worth of framing services.) Since we can boast that our customers save up to $556/year on average on home and auto insurance- we really like Groupon’s killer deals as well.

Mint.com- During these tough economic times it’s more important than ever to save money and control spending whenever possible. Mint.com is a free service that allows you to track your spending by linking your bank accounts, credit cards, stock portfolio’s etc. right into their software platform. You can see where you are spending too much, assign budget goals, track your income and monitor your debt.

WhiteFence.com- Being able to shop comparatively enables you to shop smart. At WhiteFence.com you can find home-related providers in your area including: Internet, phone, television, electricity and natural gas. They offer free quotes from various providers side-by-side so that you know if you are getting the best deals on equivalent products and services. Like HomeInsurance.com, WhiteFence allows you compare providers so that you know you are comparing apples to apples every time.

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‘Trash to Treasure’ TV Shows Spark Home Insurance Questions

Viewers are tuning in at astounding rates to the latest fad in Reality TV, specifically shows like American Pickers and Pawn Stars. Both shows, which feature garage-sale finds gone high-value collectibles, brought in over 3 million viewers for each episode in 2010. What do both shows have in common? Each episode features an everyday person who comes to find that items they’ve been holding on to (i.e. an old coin collection, a rare WWI soldier uniform, etc.) is actually worth a great deal of money.

Media analysts attribute the success of these types of shows (others include Cash in Attic and Roadshow) to the economic recession.

“Not all of us are going to hit the lottery, but all of us have something laying around the house,” says independent media analyst Shari Anne Brill. “The beauty of these shows is they can help you assess if the junk you have is actually worth something.”

 And across the country homeowners insurance agents have been seeing a related trend as well. Over the past few months we have seen a rise in inquiries surrounding coverage for collectible items like these. “Is my antique guitar covered under my homeowners insurance?” “Does my home insurance cover my rare stamp collection?”

And we think these are great questions to ask.

Contents Coverage, or Coverage C, is the portion of a homeowners insurance policy that protects your personal possessions inside of your home. There are limits and exclusions to this coverage, however, and it’s important as a homeowner to know what in your home is protected- and what isn’t. For example, most standard home insurance policies place a $200 or so limit on coins. Likewise, there is usually around a $1500 limit for loss by theft for jewelry, furs and other such items.

The good news is, you can typically schedule an endorsement (or a rider) on your policy to cover a specific item of high-value. All in all, your best bet is to call your insurance agent, ask them specifically about the item in question and find out what you need to do to be completely covered.

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Top 4 Super Bowl-Related Insurance Claims to Avoid

As insurance agents, we  know we may seem a bit paranoid at times. That’s because we’ve seen some of the craziest insurance claims arise out of the most seemingly innocent events. Good news for you is that we use our experience to give you the best tips on how to protect your home and family. So, before tuning in for Super Bowl XLV this Sunday- read our tips on:

#1-  Safeguard the TV- Unfortunately, “angry fans” are not a covered peril when it comes to the contents portion of your homeowners insurance. So, if your next door neighbor has a habit of throwing things at the television when his team isn’t playing up to par, you might want to ask him to stay home this year!

#2- Assign a ‘Designated Griller’- If you’re planning on grilling up some grub for the big game, make sure you have a responsible person manning (or wo-manning) the barbecue grill.  Leaving it unattended for even a few minutes leaves you open to the potential for a house fire. Also make sure the barbecue grill is placed far enough distance from the structure of your home.

#3-  (The obvious) Avoid drunk driving-  As everyone knows, football and beer typically go together like chips and gravy. And whether to celebrate a win or drown out of the sorrow of a loss, some fans have a tendency to overindulge each year. If you’re hosting the party at your house, keep a close eye on your guests’ alcohol consumption and take the keys away from anyone who tries to drive after even a few drinks or you could be setting yourself up for a lawsuit. And whether you participated in the fun or not, be careful on the roads that night as you are always at risk of an auto accident caused by another intoxicated driver.

#4- “You make me sick!”-Are you cooking this year? Make sure to always follow the recommended cooking instructions for raw foods and never serve anything undercooked as this could pose a serious health risk for your guests. The last thing anyone wants the next day is a case of food poisoning!

Hopefully we haven’t scared you senseless. Now have a great weekend and enjoy the game!

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Adult Dating Fun Hat assure you happiness?

Why are we doing today? There are many reasons why people with dating fun for adults, since there are many people. One reason is solid, to have fun. It is essentially an entertainment activity, many individuals. You hear many say that the first single to experience the fun you want to find a man or a woman to commit. Dating for singles is an activity many social confusion. If I may ask, are you happy for Dating? Can you give me a quick defenseResponse as a "why not outside? Of course I am happy" or an answer that is as confused "Not really, there is a room for" wrong. Good concept should be easy course, and you and I wonder why it seems so difficult for an individual to acquire it.
Some people are happy to be malignant. Dating fun for adults, parents should reality for many people, whether they are single are single, married, one divorced. You should be happy in all circumstances and mustno excuse for dating boredom. There are some myths that can be seen as immoral in the last adult dating is fun. For example, this does not mean you're crazy if you're a young girl, after so long a widower until today. Let the happiness in your life and expose all the myths that may be on track. Many people think of them couples, that happiness must be somewhere and must be found. My happiness is not expensive "out there". The truth of the matter is, isactually in us. It is not a get from outside sources.
Actually, the "out there" kind of fun adult dating is more a fantasy than reality. It 's very unwise to depend on you as a person only to places, people and events to bring happiness. It 's funny, but it is just the icing on the cake. To be happy, you have to understand that there is a birthright. I know you will identify with the myth that we are lucky in the dating, since the other personmakes us happy. Happiness can not be granted to us by another person. This is merely an illusion created by literature, songs of love and culture. If you do not even have a happy man, no one can say in life.
Dating Adult entertainment is an added bonus for our luck story, but it can never really be the whole story. The false idea that someone makes you happy unprecedented levels because of discomfort in society. The myth is dragged into marriages and love relationshipswhich reduces the weight literally walk of disillusionment. The good news I bring you today is that there is no need to suffer if we accept full responsibility for your happiness. It 's a good thing to know that if the responsibility to ensure that you are happy, you also do not have any responsibility to make everyone happy. This exemption is automatically true happiness and share with others too.
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10 tips for finding and seducing married women

So you really want to hit a woman with sleep, but she is married. Do not worry! If you want to seduce married women, there is nothing to be ashamed of. Finally, it is ultimately their decision, right? There are a lot of positives to sleep with other women. Sex without commitment, without appointments to spend money, it is especially interested in you only for sex.
10 tips for finding and seducing married women
1) The best way is to seduce married womencan be found in bars with a more "old". Why drink a married woman to go without her husband if she is not interested in meeting other men?
2) Managing the fact that, as a "non-issue" is married. Make sure you are only interested in sex, and that her husband will never know because you are not looking for a relationship.
3) Keep the topics of conversation on the issue at hand: Sex! You have to be not overly sexual, but try to feel sexy and wanted. Married women loveThe attention from other people, because their husbands often take start taking them for granted.
4) Browse sites like Adult Friend Finder for women looking for sex. This is the easiest way to do this, but not as much fun as going out and an unsuspecting target.
5) Treat every married woman, as she is unmarried, young and sexy. This is what they want from a man. Why do so many older women go for cosmetic surgery? As with age, they lose theirSelf-respect. Make them feel comfortable.
6) If you are from the same office as her, her only job, take her to lunch, closer to her while she was alone. Be careful!
7) Upload your objective married to your house for some trivial reason (a coffee-friendly?). This isolate them and make them feel comfortable to open. Slow direct conversation with the sexual waters. Also, be careful when working with her.
 working parties are perfect for seducing a married woman! Aswe all know, alcohol brings out the truth. If it is wrong to cheat, they will do with a little help from the bottle of wine!
9) Accept a community of swingers. I need to explain more?
10) My favorite … Approach women with children in supermarkets, shopping malls, bars, etc.. The latest thinking about what would be an approach from a man to be subtle, ask for a coffee. If she goes with you easily, is a sign that wants to learn to break their daily life and meet new people. After aCoffee, you are taking, and ask them a "friendly" to drink and take it from there. This is probably the most difficult but exciting for other women to seduce.source

Protecting your Home from Ice and Snow Damage

As millions of homeowners along the Eastern Seaboard have recently been reminded- the winter months often mean massive accumulations of snow and ice from threatening blizzards. And while there is nothing we can do to stop the weather, there are many ways that you can protect your home before and after the storm to reduce damage and the chance of home insurance claims.

Here are a few tips:

Clear the snow off from around your doors and windows so that melting snow doesn’t enter your homeMake sure drains and gutters are clear of dirt and debrisTest your down spouts to make sure that they carry water far from your home so that melting snow doesn’t cause flooding issuesClear snow mounds from around exhaust pipes and air vents on heaters, furnaces and dryersIf you leave home, do not turn off the heat as this can cause frozen pipes which can burst and flood your home

>Read all tips for protecting your home in the winter

For more advice on how to protect your home and family from weather and natural disaster events, visit our HomeInsurance.com Disaster Guide.

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How your dog can affect your home insurance premium

So you know that where you live and the age of your home may affect your home insurance premium. But did you know that your family pooch might also help raise the cost of your homeowners insurance? Here’s some information about how man’s best friend can sometimes be a home insurance agent’s worst nightmare and how to prevent associated claims.

Most homeowners are already aware that since their home insurance policy offers liability coverage there are certain dog breeds and dog related claims than can cause your insurance premiums to go up. The list of  “dangerous breeds” varies from one company to the next but most of them almost always include:

Pit bullsRottweilersGerman ShepherdsMalamutesHuskiesChow ChowsDobermans

Other breeds considered dangerous by your insurance company may include American Staffordshire Terriers, Stafford Bull Terriers, Akitas, Great Danes and Bull Mastiffs. Many advocates of the breeds listed above defend the notion that an entire breed should not be considered “dangerous” simply because certain dogs of that breed are more prone to inflicting injuries. Insurance companies, however, use data from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) which shows that these breeds are more likely to cause injuries and death than other breeds.

The truth is, any dog breed can cause an injury. So even if you have a Golden Retriever (which is a breed commonly known for non-aggressive behavior) that causes an insurance claim on your homeowners policy- expect to see some changes on your homeowners insurance.

Insurance companies will typically choose to either not insure a homeowner who owns a ”dangerous” dog or to offer them higher than normal premiums. This is because they consider that homeowner to be  more likely to file a liability claim than a non-dog owner or an owner of a non-aggressive dog.

The truth is, even a well behaved, non-agressive dog can display aggressive behavior out of the blue. So you should know how to prevent dog claims on your property in order to keep your insurance premiums down.  

Here are a few tips:

Socialize your pooch: This applies especially to dogs who might be skittish or aggressive towards new people or other animals. Try taking your dog to a dog park or dog training class where there are other dogs around so that they get comfortable socializing with new animals and new people. Keep your dog leashed until you can be sure they are comfortable with new faces around them. This can help your dog when it comes to new people or animals entering your property.

Post a Sign: Keep a sign on your property or fence that lets visitors know that there is a dog on the premises. This may help deter neighbors or neighborhood children from entering a fenced-in area without knocking or making sure you are home and the dog is comfortable with them entering.

Fenced Off: This may seem obvious to most but some new dog owners may not realize the importance of having a fenced in area for their dog. This not only keeps your dog safe but can also prevent the pooch from roaming the neighborhood or chasing the neighbor’s child who is riding their bike down the street. Get a fence that your dog cannot dig under or squeeze through to make sure they are properly secured.

Spay/Neuter: Dogs that are spayed and neutered are often much less likely to roam. If your dog has not yet been spayed or neutered you should talk to your vet about this option.

For more information about dog-related liability claims visit: Lawsuits Can Take a Bite Out of Your Wallet; Be a Responsible Dog Owner by the Insurance Information Institute or How can I reduce the risks of dog bites on my property? by HomeInsurance.com.

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Preparing Your Home for Inclement Winter Weather

Winter weather can take quite a toll on your home if you aren’t prepared. Mix together the effects of snow, ice and freezing temperatures and you have a perfect recipe for damage to your roof, siding, and other parts of your home.  Here are a few tips for winterizing your home and protecting it from damage:

Clean out your gutters before the first freeze: Leaves, twigs and other debris can cause ice to collect once the temperature drops low enough not only wreaking havoc on your gutters but also damaging your roof. Once the final fall leaves have dropped, give your gutters a good cleaning to prevent this.

Keep Pipes from Freezing: Insulate pipes that are exposed to cold temperatures and during extended frigid temperatures leave your faucets slightly open so that they just drip. This will keep your pipes from freezing and bursting.

Clean up threatening limbs: Oftentimes a dead or almost-dead tree branch can be taken down with just a small amount of snow or ice accumulation. To prevent these branches from coming down on your roof you should do a check towards the end of the fall season and remove any low hanging or potentially dangerous limbs.

Check your Roof: Have your roof checked by a professional home inspector who can easily pin point any weak or already damaged areas. Have these spots repaired before the snow and hail start falling to prevent even greater damage and the possibility of water seepage.

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What’s in an A.M. Best Rating?

When shopping your insurance you may hear your agent talk about a provider’s “A.M. Best Rating”. And while this is a familiar term to the average insurance professional, consumers may be left wondering, “What does an A.M. Best Rating mean to me?”  Well, good question!

The answer is, your insurance company’s A.M. Best Rating should be mean a lot to you and here’s why:  A.M. Best Company is the most widely known full service credit rating organization in the financial services industry today. That’s right, they don’t only rate insurance companies, but banking institutions as well as hospitals and health care systems.

What are their ratings based on?

A.M. Best analyzes a company’s financial reports in order to establish a financial strength rating for each insurance company that participates in their rating program. This tells you, the consumer, how strong your insurance company is from a financial standpoint so that you know whether they should be able to fulfill their financial obligation to you in the event of a claim. It also gives you a benchmark to compare companies side-by-side if you are weighing out policies between multiple carriers, for example. Companies can be rated anywhere from A++ (superior) to D (poor).

For more information about how A.M. Best Ratings work, visit the A.M. Best Consumer Insurance Center. You can use this tool also to easily search for insurer ratings.

Shopping Tip:When getting insurance quotes, be sure to ask your agent about the A.M. Best Rating of the company they are recommending.

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Balancing Auto Insurance Premiums and Deductibles

Anyone who is shopping for auto insurance knows that one of the great debates is how high or low to set your deductibles. Having a low deductible is of course ideal in the event of a covered claim or accident. However, you’re going to pay a bit more for it in your premium. So you may try and increase that deductible in order to get your premium down. But when are you crossing the line and leaving yourself open to too much risk?

There’s no right or wrong answer for everyone. However, you can use the tips below to help you determine what deductible amount is right for you and your auto policy.

Avoid Extremes
A really high deductible is going to leave you open to a lot of risk in the event of an accident or other covered claim. For example, if your collision deductible is $2,500 and you cause an accident tomorrow- be prepared to pay $2,500 out of pocket for your damages before your car insurance company will pay towards the claim.  However, if you set your deductibles as low as $50, you may see your premium increase considerably. To be on the safe side, try to stay in the “middle of the road” (figuratively speaking of course!) that way you aren’t leaving yourself open to considerable risk in the event of an accident, but you’re not draining your wallet on monthly premiums either.

Keep it comfortable
When deciding what deductible makes sense for you and your family it really comes down to your financial situation. If you typically have enough extra funds in the bank to cover a $1,000 deductible in the event of a claim without it causing financial struggle for you, then that might be a comfortable deductible. On the other hand, if that same $1,000 deductible would set you back considerably- you might want to opt for paying a few more dollars each month and go for $500 deductible.

Know your Risk
While no one can ever know when an accident will happen, some people may pose a higher risk for accidents than others. For example, if you have 2 teenage drivers living under your roof,  you are typically going to be at more of a risk for fender benders than a middle aged couple that doesn’t drive often. A family with inexperienced drivers may therefore opt for a lower deductible and  slightly higher premium in order to cover their finances in the event of a claim.

Understand your Coverage
Before making any decisions about your deductibles make sure you talk to your agent about what is included in all of your coverage options. For example, if you select a $500 deductible and full glass coverage for your comprehensive coverage, does that deductible apply for a glass claim? If so, you might end up paying for a new windshield out of pocket since they typically cost less than $500.  Some companies waive the deductible for a glass claim. Talk to your agent about the specifics so that you know exactly what you are purchasing.

Be Prepared
Whatever your deductibles may be, it might be a good idea to always make sure you have that extra money somewhere in the event that you need it. For example, if your comprehensive and collision deductibles are set at $500, it might be wise to make sure you always have $500 available in your savings account. That way, you always have that extra cushion and you don’t have to worry about coming up with the funds in the event of an accident.

For more information, read: Factors that affect your auto insurance premium

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New Years Resolution: Stop Paying too much for Insurance!

If you, like many other consumers, are tired of paying too much for home and auto insurance then put it on your New Year’s Resolution list- “I will not pay more than I need to for insurance in 2011!” While it may seem matter-of-fact, many people don’t even realize that they are paying too much for insurance. Here are the top 3 tips to help you achieve your insurance savings resolutions:

#1- Shop Smart! The days of having to shop your policy with every agent in town are over. Not only is it time consuming to shop your insurance that way but it becomes quite a headache to compare so many different quotes and coverages. Instead, use an insurance shopping agency (like HomeInsurance.com!) and get quotes from up to 4 different carriers at one time.

#2- Ask for the Discounts- Believe it or not, sometimes all you have to ask your agent is to “Show you the money”. A good insurance agent will qualify you for all possible discounts that you are eligible for. Got deadbolts on your front door? A fire extinguisher in your kitchen? Did you take a defensive driver class recently? Let your agent know and watch your discounts add up.

#3- Review your Coverage Needs: Make sure you are not over- or under-insuring your home and auto by reviewing your coverage limits with your agent before just asking them to quote based on your existing coverage. If you have made updates to your home or vehicles recently you may find that you have different coverage needs or that you can adjust your deductibles in order to sway your premium. (But keep in mind that sometimes a lower premium doesn’t always mean more savings if you are putting yourself in financial risk in the event of a claim!)

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The HomeInsurance.com Viral Video Contest Comes to an End!

Over the past month or so, the creative agents at HomeInsurance.com have been working on their “viral videos” as part of a contest to promote HomeInsurance.com. Agents were given free reign when it came to creativity and were asked to produce their interpretation of a promotional video for the company.

Our entries were nothing short of creative and really funny!

The winning team produced the following HomeInsurance.com Music Video:

Runners up created the ever-clever “silent film” about HomeInsurance.com:And finally, the winning team also produced this great HomeInsurance.com jingle:Thanks to our amazingly talented team of agents for putting these together and we look forward to producing more in the future!

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Life Changes: When to Re-Evaluate Your Insurance Needs

So the Insurance Information Institute (III) recommends that you review your insurance policy every 6 months. However, in reality, if you are happy with your premiums and insurance provider you may not think to do this twice a year. The truth is, checking your policy when you have an insurance need change is probably the most important time to check coverage. Typically, if you have made any changes to your home or auto or experienced any major  life changes you should check your various insurance policies to make sure you are covered adequately. So how do you know what constitutes a change in your insurance needs? Read on…

Newlyweds: Once the hustle and bustle of wedding planning is over and you are home from that honeymoon it’s time to start thinking about your insurance coverage.

First, if you haven’t already combined your auto insurance policies this would be the time to do so. Call your car insurance agent and let them know about your change in marital status. Especially if you are moving in together for the first time, your agent will want to know about this change. They can help you update your policy accordingly. Hopefully your new spouse doesn’t have a batch of old speeding tickets they haven’t told you about as this can affect your rate. On the other hand, married persons typically qualify for lower auto insurance rates so you may benefit from this new arrangement.

Also, now that you are married, check to see if it would benefit you to combine your health insurance policies. You may be able to save some money if one of your employers offers coverage for your family members.

Finally, if you are moving in together for the first time or especially if you are buying a new home, start to rethink your rental/homeowners insurance coverage needs.

A New Baby: If you are getting ready to welcome a new baby into the family, especially if this is your first, you might want to start thinking about how this affects your insurance needs especially health and life coverage.

Most mothers’ insurance will provide coverage for a new baby for a certain period of time after the birth. However, this coverage may be extended for a very limited amount of time and you might want to have a health insurance plan in mind before the birth to cover anything your policy won’t.

Especially if this is your first child, you may want to think about life insurance coverage if you don’t already have it. Life insurance coverage protects your surviving family members in the event of your death. This may be particularly important for a couple where one parent is the primary wage earner while the other stays at home with the children.

Moving Day: If you are getting ready to move into a new home there are a lot of insurance considerations to take into account.

First, if you are renting or buying you will need coverage for your personal belongings and in the event of a home purchase, for your dwelling. Check with your insurance agent to see if you can package your home and auto insurance which can save you a lot of money.

Secondly, you will need to update your auto insurance policy. Your rates may be affected especially if you are moving to a new state. If you are acquiring new roommates in the move you might also be required to add them as “drivers” on your auto policy.

Also, be sure to update all insurance policies (health, life, etc) with your new residence and mailing address information.

Career Change: If you have recently made a career change you might want to consider the difference this may make on your insurance needs.

For example, check with your new HR department about any health insurance benefits that they offer.  You may be eligible for lower rates or better yet- have additional coverage for family members that you weren’t offered before. If you are in the unfortunate situation where your new employer does not offer medical benefits- start looking into your own plan or getting added onto a spouses plan.

Be sure to let your auto insurance agent know about your career change as some professions are eligible for auto insurance discounts. Also, if your driving type/frequency has changed be sure to let them know about that too. For example, if you now operate a business vehicle or if your daily commute has changed considerably- be sure to find out how this will affect your policy.

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Buying a vehicle? Consider Insurance Costs

Are you in the market for a new car? While drivers consider many different things before purchasing a vehicle, insurance costs may or may not be on the top of their list. The truth is the type of vehicle you drive can greatly affect your insurance premiums so you should consult with your car insurance agent before driving your new car off the lot.

For example, foreign cars are often more expensive to repair since parts often need to be specially ordered. So, insurance companies may charge more for collision coverage for a foreign car. The same goes for luxury vehicles- the more expensive the replacement parts- the more you may end up paying out of pocket in insurance premiums to protect it.

Another thing to consider is the safety rating of the vehicle. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates vehicles based on their ability to withstand damage and prevent human injury in the event of a collision. The better a vehicle’s safety rating is, the better chance your insurance company will charge you less to insure that vehicle. Ask your salesman or visit the IIHS website  yourself to see the safety rating of a vehicle you are considering to purchase.

Since there are lots of insurance considerations to make when shopping for a car it is best to consult with your auto insurance agent before making a final decision. They should be able to provide you with comparative quotes which may make your shopping easier.

For more information visit: What determines my auto insurance premium?

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Heating your Home Safely this Season

As temperatures across the country are beginning to drop, homeowners may be turning on their heat for the first time this season. And while the occurrence of home heating fires has declined drastically over the past 20 years, heating fires are still the second leading cause of all residential building fires according to the US Fire Administration.

Keep your home and family safe this season by following these tips for safe home heating:

If you must use space heaters make sure they are working properly and never leave them operating unattended. Always be sure that there are no flammable objects/materials near a space heater and unplug them when not in use.Have your heating unit cleaned and serviced by a professional once a year.Make sure smoke alarms are installed and working properly.Install carbon monoxide detectors in your home and make sure they are working properly. If you are unsure, have a professional inspection of your home to make sure it is safe.Clean air vents by removing the vent cover and vacuuming any dust/debris that may have collected in the vent opening over the summer.Finally, if you have a fireplace, be sure to have your chimney cleaned by a professional before lighting a fire for the first time this year. 

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5 Tips for Filing a Home Insurance Claim after Disaster Strikes

When a disaster strikes your home it can be devastating. Get yourself back on track quickly by knowing how to file a quick and comprehensive insurance claim.

1- Always call your insurance agent first.

Then…

2- If you don’t already have a home inventory complete, start by making a list of all of your property that was damaged or lost. Having an updated home inventory prepared ahead of time may allow you to skip this step entirely making the claims process much quicker. (Remember:  It’s always more difficult to remember what you owned after it has been lost.)

3- Take photos of the damage including structural damage and damage inflicted on your home’s contents.

4-  If your home is still relatively safe to inhabit, start any temporary repairs that will keep your home from experiencing further damage. For example, if there are holes in your roof, windows, walls or doors be sure to use plastic or some other water resistant material to cover the holes and prevent further water damage.

5- Get at least one estimate from a licensed, insured and reputable contractor for the repairs necessary to repair your home back to it’s previous condition.

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Symetra Financial Corp. Announces Dates for Release of Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2010 Financial Results and Webcast Conference Call

{"s" : "sya","k" : "a00,a50,b00,b60,c10,g00,h00,l10,p20,t10,v00","o" : "","j" : ""} Press Release Source: Symetra Financial Corporation On Friday January 7, 2011, 3:45 pm EST

BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Symetra Financial Corporation (NYSE:SYA - News) will release its fourth quarter and full year 2010 financial results on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, after the market closes. The press release and financial supplement will be available on Symetra’s website at http://investors.symetra.com.

The company will host an investor and analyst conference call to review fourth quarter and full year results on Thursday, Feb. 3 at 11 a.m., Eastern Time (8 a.m., Pacific Time).

The conference call will be available live by phone and Internet. To listen by phone, dial 866.700.7173. For international callers, dial 617.213.8838. The passcode is 63354629. To listen to a live webcast of the conference call, go to http://investors.symetra.com. Listeners are encouraged to go to the website at least 15 minutes before the call and test the compatibility of their computer. Links will be available to download any necessary audio software.

A replay of the call will be available at approximately 2 p.m., Eastern Time (11 a.m., Pacific Time) on Feb. 3, 2011 by dialing 888-286-8010. For international callers, dial 617-801-6888. The passcode is 66161197. The replay will be available by phone until Feb. 10, 2011. To access the replay of the conference call over the Internet, visit http://investors.symetra.com.

About Symetra Financial

Symetra Financial Corporation (NYSE:SYA - News) is a diversified financial services company based in Bellevue, Wash. In business since 1957, Symetra provides employee benefits, annuities and life insurance through a national network of benefits consultants, financial institutions and independent agents and advisors. For more information, visit www.symetra.com.

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Floaters Revive as Investors Seek Protection: Credit Markets

Sales of floating-rate debt are accelerating as Pacific Investment Management Co.’s Bill Gross says investors should buy the securities to protect against a possible rise in interest rates.

Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd., life insurer MetLife Inc. and General Electric Co.’s finance unit led $5.25 billion in sales of floating-rate bonds this week, the most in 11 months, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Sales declined 52 percent last year from 2009.

Companies are taking advantage of investor concern that the Federal Reserve’s expansion of record monetary stimulus will drive interest rates higher. Futures show traders are betting there’s a 50.1 percent chance the central bank will boost borrowing costs by November.

“There’s interest in owning floating-rate exposure because at some point the continued improvement in the economy is threatening to push rates upward later in the year,” said Justin D’Ercole, the head of investment-grade syndicate for the Americas at Barclays Capital in New York. “If everyone is maxed out on fixed-rate paper, they’re going to suffer.”

Rising yields brought on by faster inflation will mean that “long-term bondholders lose their heads” and face losses, Gross, who manages the world’s largest bond fund, wrote in a commentary posted yesterday on Newport Beach, California-based Pimco’s website.

Gross recommended “floating as opposed to fixed interest obligations,” as well as emerging-market corporate bonds, sovereign debt and notes in currencies other than the dollar.

Treasury Yields

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note has soared to 3.47 percent from 2.38 percent in October, the lowest since January 2009. It may climb to 3.53 percent by year-end, according to the average estimate in a Bloomberg survey of 66 economists.

Elsewhere in credit markets, the extra yield investors demand to own company bonds instead of similar maturity government debt fell 1 basis point to 166 basis points, or 1.66 percentage points, Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s Global Broad Market Corporate Index shows. Yields averaged 3.965 percent.

Companies sold $9.7 billion of bonds in the U.S. yesterday, following $21.2 billion on Jan. 4, the most since Sept. 15, 2009, Bloomberg data show. Leveraged loan prices rose to the highest in almost two years and junk bonds spreads declined to the lowest since November 2007.

Melbourne-based ANZ raised $3 billion in a three-part offering, including $1 billion of floating-rate notes due January 2014 that pay 74 basis points more than the three-month London interbank offered rate. The bank initially offered $750 million of the securities.

Toyota Bonds

Toyota Motor Credit Co., the U.S. finance unit of the world’s largest automaker, sold $1.6 billion of 5- and 10-year debt, locking in cheaper rates than in its last benchmark offering of the maturities, Bloomberg data show.

Toyota Motor Credit’s $900 million of 2.8 percent, 5-year notes pay a spread of 70 basis points and its $700 million of 4.25 percent, 10-year bonds yield 80 basis points above Treasuries, the data show. In June, the Toyota Motor Corp. unit sold $1.25 billion of 3.2 percent, 5-year notes at a 120 basis- point spread and $750 million of 4.5 percent, 10-year notes at 130 basis points.

Bondholder Protection

The cost of protecting European bank debt from default rose to a six-month high on concern so-called burden sharing proposals may force bondholders to shoulder losses from bank failures. The Markit iTraxx Financial Index of contracts on 25 European banks and insurers climbed to 185.5 basis points, the highest since June 9, JPMorgan Chase & Co. prices at 11 a.m. in London show. The European Commission may issue a new draft of the rules today.

Contracts insuring European high-yield corporate bonds fell, with the Markit iTraxx Crossover Index of credit-default swaps on 50 speculative-grade issuers down 3 basis points to 415, JPMorgan data shows.

Credit swaps pay the buyer face value if a borrower fails to meet its obligations, less the value of the defaulted debt. A basis point equals $1,000 annually on a contract protecting $10 million of debt.

The Standard & Poor’s/LSTA US Leveraged Loan 100 Index climbed for an eighth straight day, rising 0.29 cent to 93.5 cents on the dollar. The index, which tracks the 100 largest dollar-denominated first-lien leveraged loans, is at the highest level since Jan. 18, 2008 and has risen from 92.91 cents at the end of December. Rising prices help companies improve the terms of their debt agreements.

CommScope Inc. set pricing on a $1 billion term loan the company is seeking to help fund its acquisition by Carlyle Group, according to a person familiar with the transaction.

Covenant-Lite

The loan is covenant-lite, meaning it doesn’t have financial-maintenance requirements, the person said. The telecommunications-equipment provider will pay an interest rate 400 basis points more than Libor, said the person, who declined to be identified because the terms are private. Libor will have a 1.5 percent floor, the person said.

The Hickory, North Carolina-based company may sell the debt at 99 cents on the dollar, said the person, reducing proceeds for the borrower and boosting the yield for investors.

Investors are accepting the lowest relative yields on speculative-grade bonds in more than three years.

Spreads on junk debt shrank 16 basis points to 511 basis points, the lowest since Nov. 14, 2007, Bank of America Merrill Lynch index data show.

High-yield, high-risk loans and bonds are rated below Baa3 by Moody’s Investors Service and less than BBB- by S&P.

In emerging markets, relative yields fell 10 basis points to 219, the third straight day of declines and the lowest level since Dec. 14, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co. index data.

Floating-Rate Notes

Borrowers issued $87.8 billion of floating-rate notes in 2010, including $8.01 billion in December, the fourth-busiest month of the year, Bloomberg data show. They sold $182 billion in 2009, including $91 billion under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.’s Term Liquidity Guarantee Program.

Investors deposited a record $10.4 billion into funds investing in floating-rate bonds and loans last year, including $2.1 billion in December as Treasury rates rose, according to EPFR Global, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based firm that tracks the flows. U.S. funds accounted for $10.1 billion of the total.

“The inflows were driven by the anticipation of inflation and its deleterious impact on bonds,” said Brad Durham, managing director at EPFR. “Floating-rate fixed income is one of the only places of refuge in a rising-rate and rising- inflation environment.”

‘Best Value’

Floating-rate notes will have their “best value” next year as inflation and interest rates climb, said Mark Grant, a managing director at broker-dealer Southwest Securities Inc. in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

MetLife, based in New York, issued $500 million of floating-rate notes due in January 2014 on Jan. 4, Bloomberg data show. BNP Paribas SA and Barclays Plc also sold the debt this week as issuance climbed to the highest since the period ended Jan. 29, 2010, when $6.53 billion was sold.

GE Capital sold $2.25 billion of floating-rate notes as part of its $6 billion offering Jan. 4, the largest in 11 months, Bloomberg data show.

Bonds from Fairfield, Connecticut-based GE were the most actively traded U.S. corporate securities by dealers, with 411 trades of $1 million or more, according to Trace, the bond-price reporting system of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Fed Target Rate

Futures contracts on the Chicago Board of Trade on whether Fed policy makers will raise their target rate for overnight loans between banks by at least a quarter-percentage point by their November meeting have climbed from 30.8 percent a month ago. The Fed has held the target for its overnight lending rate at zero to 0.25 percent since December 2008.

Fed policy makers said Jan. 4 that improvements in the economy didn’t meet the threshold for scaling back plans to purchase $600 billion in Treasuries through June.

“If the Fed gets it right, floating rate supply in the second half of the year should be two times what it was in the first half of the year,” Barclays’s D’Ercole said.

Pimco boosted its forecast for U.S. growth in 2011 after President Barack Obama reached a deal with Congress to extend tax cuts and unemployment benefits. Gross domestic product may grow at an annualized rate of 3 percent to 3.5 percent in the fourth quarter, compared with an earlier estimate of 2 percent to 2.5 percent, Pimco said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Tim Catts in New York at tcatts1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Alan Goldstein at agoldstein5@bloomberg.net

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Bernstein lifts price target, estimate on MetLife

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[$$] Manulife On Track To Meet Hedging Targets

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See a sample reprint in PDF format.Order a reprint of this article nowBUSINESSJANUARY 5, 2011, 11:03 A.M. ETManulife On Track To Meet Hedging Targets ArticleStock QuotesCommentsmore in Business »BY BEN DUMMETT

TORONTO—Manulife Financial Corp. said it moved closer to protecting a greater portion of its earnings against declines in equity prices in the fourth quarter, shorting about five billion Canadian dollars (US$5 billion) of equity futures contracts as part of the life insurer's macro hedging program.

Manulife has struggled to boost its profits in recent years because of the dependence of its earnings on increases in stock prices and in interest rates, both of which have been relatively weak in the wake of the credit crisis.

...

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