Disability Insurance  

Did you know that if you or a key employee in your business becomes too sick or injured to work, the firm cannot continue to pay wages and deduct those payments as a business expense unless a qualified sick pay plan is in place prior to the disability? Many business owners are unaware of this prohibition in the Internal Revenue Code.

When setting up a qualified sick pay plan, you can choose to self-fund it. 

However, when a qualified sick pay plan is funded by a disability income policy, the insurance company: 

Five Ways to Steer Clear of Dangerous Drivers    

1.   Be Ready for the Unexpected:  Stay alert and drive cautiously.  Use your mirrors to stay aware of what's going on around your vehicle at all times.

2.   Give Other Drivers Plenty of Space:  Don't drive too close to a vehicle in front or right next to one for an extended time.  Leaving room will give you more time to react if something goes wrong. 

3.  Hone Your Skills:  Consider taking a defensive-driving or car-control course.  They help teach you how to control your vehicle in emergency situations, such as when swerving to avoid an obstacle or another vehicle, and how to recover if your car starts going out of control.

4.  Avoid Driving at the Deadliest Times:   In 2011 more fatal crashes occurred in the early morning hours of Saturdays and Sundays than at any other time.  Not only did fatalities peak at around 1 a.m. and 2 a.m., but most of those accidents involved drunken driving, including a whopping 72 percent of the crashes that occurred around 2 a.m. on Saturdays.

5.  Report Erratic, Dangerous Behavior:  Pull over and call 911 to alert the police, especially if you can give a good description of the car or a license plate number.     

Social Media Risks     

Social Media makes life convenient and ever so interesting, but it doesn't come without its downside.  We've seen a significant rise in homeowner THEFT claims due to the fact that people are "posting" their vacations and whereabouts publicly. . .making it very easy for thieves to determine that their homes are unoccupied.  We recommend you post your pictures and discuss your plans "after the fact" so that there will be no surprises when you return home!