Purchasing life insurance can be a very personal experience. The process requires you to work with an agent who is willing to explain all of the terms and conditions and help you discover the options that work best for the situation. You must name a beneficiary for your policy, but do you need to notify them before you name them?

The Beneficiary

Before you begin the process of purchasing life insurance, make sure you know who your beneficiary will be. Although you have to name them, you don’t necessarily have to notify them that you are taking that course of action. You may also need to name an alternate in the event of an extenuating circumstance that would prevent them from accepting the claim. Discuss your decisions with a licensed agent before you begin the process and find out if there are any special circumstances in your area that would make it necessary to notify the beneficiary before the policy purchase. 

Licensed Agents

Always work with an agent specifically licensed to sell life insurance and who has plenty of experience to help guide you through the process. You will want to work with someone you can trust and who is sympathetic to your individual wishes and needs. If you live in or around the Reading, PA area, you should contact Berks County Insurance for more information about their high-quality products that are offered by knowledgeable agents who care about their customers.

Resident in the Reading, PA area can rely on Berks County Insurance to help them protect their loved ones and offer solutions that work for any individual. Call or stop by the office for more details about life insurance.

As a contractor or builder, you need insurance to protect your future. In the high-risk construction industry, lawsuits are just around the corner. Berks County Insurance, which serves Reading, PA, has the products to safeguard what you’ve built.

When you have Commercial Liability insurance, your business has the safeguard of coverage if a third party files a lawsuit claiming bodily injury, property damage, or, in advertising, libel, slander, or copyright infringement. Whereas the above-mentioned policy protects your business if you’re sued by a third party, you also need workers’ compensation to pay for the medical expenses and lost income resulting from on-the-job injuries to your employees or you. Like contractors and builders, subcontractors should also carry liability and workers’ comp. 

Another insurance to consider is Builder’s Risk, which covers a building under construction. Since the materials used in construction are costly, it’s good to know that this insurance usually covers your tools and equipment at the job site while you are completing the structure. If you have Commercial Property insurance, the loss of tools and equipment due to fire, theft or vandalism at your business’s permanent location will be paid for. Combining the benefits of liability insurance with property insurance into one policy is Business Owner’s insurance. As for the vehicle you use as a contractor or builder, generally speaking, your personal auto policy will not cover it. Therefore, you will probably need a commercial auto policy.

Aside from protecting what you have accumulated, another reason to get commercial insurance is that many businesses will not enter into a contract with you unless you have it. Contact Berks County Insurance, which serves Reading, PA, to speak to a knowledgeable agent who can put your business on more solid ground with the right coverage.

At Berks County Insurance in Reading, PA,  we understand the importance of having boxing/MMA insurance. We are also cognizant of the immense sense of responsibility of the athlete to take out this type of insurance. It is to be respected. We strive to make every aspect of the process easy and clear for all parties involved. 

Before The First Round

Before you get into the ring, consider the liability you may incur as a result of either your profession or your hobby in Boxing /MMA. It’s great that you have a sport or profession that you enjoy but the responsible thing to do is protect yourself and your family before you enter the ring. 

Most people are familiar with boxing which, generally stated, is a punching competition between two opponents. MMA is a newer past time and is the acronym for Mixed Martial Arts. Generally, MMA includes kicking, punching, slapping, tripping, and just about anything that you can imagine one opponent can do to another opponent. 

• Have you considered the property damage that may come about if you damage property inadvertently during a match?
• Consider the liability if someone who is viewing your match or fight is hurt
• Consider the injury to yourself 
• Consider the injury to your opponent

Be certain to take care of business before you throw the first punch. Both of these sports are potentially dangerous, and it is crucial that you protect yourself from liability. Once insured, you can have more enjoyment because you do not have to worry about what might happen. 

Call or come in today to Berks County Insurance if you reside in the Reading, PA area and would like to learn more about how protecting your sports life can help you protect your life. Put down the towel and pick up the phone. Contact us at  610-779-9060 

 

At Berks County Insurance in Reading, PA,  we understand the importance of having boxing/MMA insurance. We are also cognizant of the immense sense of responsibility of the athlete to take out this type of insurance. It is to be respected. We strive to make every aspect of the process easy and clear for all parties involved. 

Before The First Round

Before you get into the ring, consider the liability you may incur as a result of either your profession or your hobby in Boxing /MMA. It’s great that you have a sport or profession that you enjoy but the responsible thing to do is protect yourself and your family before you enter the ring. 

Most people are familiar with boxing which, generally stated, is a punching competition between two opponents. MMA is a newer past time and is the acronym for Mixed Martial Arts. Generally, MMA includes kicking, punching, slapping, tripping, and just about anything that you can imagine one opponent can do to another opponent. 

• Have you considered the property damage that may come about if you damage property inadvertently during a match?
• Consider the liability if someone who is viewing your match or fight is hurt
• Consider the injury to yourself 
• Consider the injury to your opponent

Be certain to take care of business before you throw the first punch. Both of these sports are potentially dangerous, and it is crucial that you protect yourself from liability. Once insured, you can have more enjoyment because you do not have to worry about what might happen. 

Call or come in today to Berks County Insurance if you reside in the Reading, PA area and would like to learn more about how protecting your sports life can help you protect your life. Put down the towel and pick up the phone. Contact us at  610-779-9060 

 

As an RV owner in Reading, PA, you probably know a few things about saving money, after all, your RV helps you save by combining your hotel and vehicle all in one. It’s only natural that you would want to learn how to save money on the cost of your insurance as well. Here are a few tips to help save on the cost of your RV insurance premiums.

Bundle Your Policies

One of the first and usually easiest ways to start saving on the cost of your RV insurance premiums is to do your research. Contact your current insurance agent as well as a few others to find out if you can bundle policies, such as your home and car along with your RV insurance.

Drive Safely

Avoiding trouble on the roadway is not only safer for you, but a clean and safe driving record may also help to reduce the cost of your RV insurance policy. For example, if you have a habit of speeding, it can result in tickets and points on your license, which will ultimately increase the rate of your insurance coverage. So, by slowing down and following the rules of the road, you will have a safer trip and save money on your insurance premiums.

Increase Your Deductions

The deduction is the amount you owe out of pocket before your insurance policy kicks in. Increasing the deductible may help to save on the cost of your premium. Before increasing your deductible, it is important to take into consideration the fact that you will have a more significant financial burden if you have an accident. So, make sure to think carefully about how much you are comfortable increasing the deduction amount to.

Remember always to check around, do your homework, and be sure you thoroughly understand the terms of your policy before buying. Residents of Reading, PA and the surrounding areas interested in learning more about RV insurance should contact Berks County Insurance.

 

When you’re trying to save money on your boat insurance in Reading, PA, it may make sense to increase your deductible in order to reduce your monthly or yearly premium. Each boat insurance policy is highly personal, so it’s essential that you stop in and talk to your agent at Berks County Insurance to discuss whether or not it makes sense to increase your deductible. You’ll need to consider the following: 

• Do you have money saved in case your boat needs to be repaired? If you have a large savings account, and a large deductible won’t cause financial stress, it makes sense to take the risk of increasing your deductible to lower your premium. 
• Do you have many years of boating experience? The longer you’ve been boating, the less likely it is that your boat will be involved in a collision while you’re boating. If you’re newer to the boat scene, it may make sense to keep your deductible low, as you’re more likely to be involved in a collision or accident. 
• Do you know how to perform some boat repairs yourself? If you have experience with repairing a boat, it’s possible that you won’t need to call in a professional in the case of an accident. If this is true of your situation, it likely makes sense to increase your deductible to lower your premium. 

Boat insurance can be complicated, but you’re not in this alone. Stop in to see your insurance agent at Berks County Insurance in Reading, PA so you can decide if it makes sense for you to increase your boating insurance deductible to lower your premium.

One of the leading reasons why people purchase insurance policies is to protect their families and assets. An umbrella insurance policy is a type of coverage that is specially designed to offer additional liability coverage over and above your standard insurance coverage such as homeowners and auto insurance.

Berks County Insurance umbrella policy is meant to protect you and your assets from large and devastating liability claims. This insurance will only come into play when the liability limit of your standard coverage has been exceeded. It covers bodily and personal injury, landlord liability, and property damage.

When Should You File a Claim?

The simple answer to this question is that you should file a claim for your umbrella insurance whenever the limit of your standard insurance policy is exceeded, and you still need to top up more money to settle the claim.

For instance, if you are involved in a car crash in Reading, PA, and you are at fault, several things will come up. First, you will have to settle the medical bills of the parties involved in the crash and compensate them for losses suffered. So, what happens if your liability coverage isn’t sufficient to meet the cost of all damages or litigation? This is the time you should file a claim for your personal umbrella insurance.

In case, the costs associated with an injury exceeds your standard liability coverage, then another party will file an umbrella insurance claim to collect the additional money. Keep in mind that you will be responsible for the additional amount due if your standard liability coverage is exceeded.

Having an umbrella insurance policy will ensure that you don’t have to pay the additional costs out of your pocket. Accidents are always expensive, and the only way you can protect yourself or your business from significant financial losses is by purchasing an umbrella insurance policy.

Contact Berks County Insurance today for personal or commercial umbrella insurance in Reading, PA.

The Reading Flood of July 2015

It’s the middle of summer with a hot streak in the local weather. However, a big thunderhead comes through town on the 31st, and for 45 minutes it seems like a scene out of Noah’s Flood. The heavens opened up, and buckets of water came pouring down. Before anyone could figure out what was going on, Berks County was inundated with flash flooding, property damage, cars submerged, and overwhelmed drainage systems. Minutes after the worst of it, fire crews were pushing their way through lakes to get to emergencies and rescuing people trapped. This was Reading, PA; when has there been a flood in the middle of a hot summer and as far away from winter as one could get?

The fact is, flood risk happens at any time of year. The weather can line up to deliver a massive rain punch concentrated in a specific area at any time. In the case of Reading in 2015, that’s what happened. And lots of businesses and homes suddenly had to deal with not just floodwaters, but all the moisture and water damage was caused to the structures, their internal systems, furniture, and more. It was a classic lesson for anyone in the area that two things matter when it comes to floods: knowing the maps of where the water will go, and having insurance when it does happen because floods will happen.

Because the folks at Berks County Insurance have long-term memories from their years of handling risk, we are well equipped to help folks in Reading, PA get the right coverage for flood risk. There’s no need to be taking chances waiting for the next big storm to roll in. Berks County Insurance can help secure the right flood insurance coverage, so you’re well protected before you’re caught with wet feet. 

Reach out to our agents for more information on flood insurance and how you can start a policy.