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Tuesday, August 24, 2010

D.I. can strike even agents!

CASE OF THE WEEK:


A young agent we have known for years - who happened to be one of the largest Disability Income producers for his company. He was very active, even running quite a few marathons on the Leukemia team. At age 45, the height of his career, he was diagnosed with MS. Where in the world did that come from? He worked as long as he could, but had to sell his business. It was not an easy task. Not something you want to deal with when you are dealing with a devastating life disability. A blessing that he practiced what he preached.



GET YOUR OWN DISABILITY INCOME!!!!!! for more information

Monday, August 23, 2010

Water before Meals now Proven for Weight Loss

Submitted by Kathleen Blanchard RN on 2010-08-24
All about:


Researchers from the American Chemical Society have proven that water can help with weight loss. Pounds lost in a group of study participants who drank water were compared to non-water drinkers in a first clinical trial showing the benefits for fighting obesity.
Over a twelve week period, and combined with a low calorie diet, water drinkers lost 4.5 pounds more than a control group of 48 study participants – 15.5 and 11 pounds respectively.

Water before Meals now Proven for Weight Loss click here for more

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Some Health Insurance Providers Don't Include Sports Physicals

Some Health Insurance Providers Don't Include Sports Physicals ask us and we know which ones do provide for an annual physical!

Small Business (2-50 Employees)

Standard Health Insurance

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Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Take Advantage of Your Disease Management Benefit

Treatment of chronic diseases accounts for an estimated 75 percent of healthcare expenditures in the U.S..  They are also the leading causes of death and disability.  Disease management programs aim to help individuals control their chronic conditions, reducting treatment costs and improving quality of life.

read more here

Looking for help, let us know and we can see how your plan can be accessed for these valueable benefits at;
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Ten Ways to Stretch Your Money

We all want more money. Many of us would also like to work less. While this may seem like a dilemma, there may be a solution. The best way to increase money without increasing your hours is to avoid excess spending. Some people call this a budget, but you could just as easily call it a spending plan. Here are ten tips to help you stretch your hard-earned cash:


1. Create a spending plan. Many people resist the idea of a budget, and associate it with hardship. Instead, look at it in a positive way. Create a monthly “spending plan” for your fixed and discretionary expenses. When you plan your spending, you may find you use your money more wisely because you’re taking control.

2. Pay yourself first. Put savings at the top of your spending plan. If you wait until the end of the month to save any leftover cash, you may find yourself without a nest egg when you need it most. A general rule of thumb is to save at least 10% of your income before spending the rest.

3. Track your spending. Record your expenditures for a month, especially for small, optional items. You may be surprised to discover how easily purchases costing only a few dollars can add up. At the end of the month, review your expenditures and adjust your spending plan accordingly. Once you see where your money is going, you may want to make different choices about your spending.

4. Live within your means. Many people feel they never have quite enough to live on, yet they probably know people who manage successfully on less. Spending is relative. If your expenses are in line with your income, you are living within your means.

5. Shop for value. Look for opportunities to get more value from each dollar. Join a warehouse or shopping club and buy in bulk. Purchase clothing, furniture, and household goods when they are on sale. Consider buying used cars and appliances. Big-ticket items like these often depreciate substantially in the first one or two years.

6. Minimize debt. Keep your debt level low. By reducing debt, you also minimize interest and finance charges. When you are tempted to charge a purchase, remember that you are committing to pay for it from income you have not yet earned.

7. Eat in. Restaurant dining can be expensive, since you are paying for service as well as food. Tips and meal taxes also add to the bill. Liquor and desserts (which you might not eat at home) can boost the tab even higher.

8. Reduce housing costs. Housing is a major fixed expense. Consider reducing this cost by buying or renting a smaller place, or one with fewer amenities. If you rent and plan on staying in an area for more than a few years, consider buying. Owning a home is often more expensive than renting at first, but the costs are usually lower in the long run. Remember, a house is an investment that generally appreciates over time.

9. Trim transportation costs. Transportation is another large expense for most families. Many households now own more than one vehicle. The more cars you own, the higher the costs for insurance, repairs, fuel, and parking. Use public transportation or carpool, if possible. The savings in vehicle-related expenses may offset any inconvenience.

10. Create a cash reserve. A cash reserve can help you stick to your spending plan and help keep you out of debt when emergencies, such as a major car repair or short-term disability, arise.

Cutting back on excess spending does not have to be difficult, nor does it mean that you must continually deny yourself life’s simple pleasures. You will find that when you live within your means, and pay yourself first, your debts will decrease as your savings grow. A personalized spending plan can help provide that “extra” income and stretch your hard-earned cash.


Life Insurance for Life’s Milestones; GET AN INSTANT QUOTE

Why Everyone Needs Long Term Disability Insurnace

What would your employees do if they became injured or ill and couldn't work for an extended period? How does this affect morale.  read more here





Benefits, Compensation, Recognition, Health & Wellness, Retirement, Work Life | The Truth About Benefits Communication is Somewhere in the Middle

A couple of months ago I was, just like many of your employees, trying to make sense of a benefits annual enrollment guide. One, from my husband’s employer. And, this long, technical and hard-to-read guide was the only resource I had. If I wanted more, I would need to call a central office and wait on hold.

Benefits, Compensation, Recognition, Health & Wellness, Retirement, Work Life The Truth About Benefits Communication is Somewhere in the Middle

After you read the above article let us know your thoughts, as we find many clients with the same issues and work with them to help simplify the process. info@amsinsure.com

Monday, August 16, 2010

Benefits, Compensation, Recognition, Health & Wellness, Retirement, Work Life | The Value of 401(k) and Young Savers

Assets in defined contribution arrangements grew from $2.45 trillion in 1994 to $8.23 trillion by the end of 2009. Between their 401(k)s, 403(b)s, 457s profit sharing plans, ESOP’s and IRAs, which house the rollovers, American workers will eventually have more than $15 trillion to draw on during their retirement years. Contrast this to the $2 trillion in the Social Security Trust Fund. Due to these employer-sponsored programs never have so many had so much. However, many young Americans enter the workforce financially unsophisticated and unaware of how our free-market system works. They also have no appreciation for how small amounts saved over time can grow stunningly large. In fact, many believe they can never accumulate the wealth necessary to achieve the American dream. It is an unfortunate fact that young Americans have been repeatedly told an anti-business story, with those responsible for delivering the goods and services by which we all depend on, cast as the villains.Fortunately, the benefits of 401(k) participation extend beyond retirement. The 401(k) system has become the mechanism for setting the record straight. An explanation of stocks and bonds and how the capital markets work is fundamental to every 401(k) education program. The fact that compounding makes small amounts large is at the core of every presentation urging young workers to save for their retirement in a 401(k).
As 401(k) participants financial understanding grows, they learn the importance of profit as a motivator for excellence and innovation. This not only gives them an appreciation of our free enterprise system, it makes them more committed workers.
Critically, the 401(k) system reinforces our financial messages with results. After three or four years of participation, most 401(k) participants have $10,000 in their accounts. While such a small balance is usually dismissed in the ongoing public policy discussion about retirement income adequacy, such amounts make an incredible impact at the individual participant level.
Millions of 401(k) participants who never thought they could save anything, who never understood how saving works, who never believed they could own a piece of the American dream, have had these self-limiting beliefs shattered. 401(k) participation has opened to them a new world of possibilities.
No one has done a study measuring how someone in their mid-30s is affected by having $60,000 in their 401(k) plan. I hope someone will.
In my personal experience, such 401(k) participants feel better about their jobs, their futures, and, most importantly, about themselves. For most, they find such an achievement amazing. It is certainly something they would never have believed possible when they graduated from high school. 401(k) is about more than just retirement.


Benefits, Compensation, Recognition, Health & Wellness, Retirement, Work Life The Value of 401(k) and Young Savers

'Supplemental Discount Benefits'

'Supplemental Discount Benefits'

Consumers Generally Unaware Of Significant Ways

If you are 50 or older, most financial professionals agree that planning for the future potential risk of needing long-term care is a smart move. It's an even smarter move to save money on that protection and, with a bit of checking today, experts report that you can save anywhere from 10-to-40 percent each year.

Many individuals are unaware of the many discounts that now exist that can reduce the cost for long-term care insurance protection, explains (your name), (your title) of (your company) a long-term care professional based in (your city or town). By planning intelligently individuals can save money immediately and for many years to come.

According to Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, the national trade organization, some 50 insurers currently offer long-term care policies on an individual basis or through employers. Each company sets their own pricing for protection and each has price variances that based on your age, your marital status and your health. The difference can be quite substantial.

Your health plays an important part in determining what you will pay for long-term care insurance. Leading insurers offer preferred health discounts, similar to good driver discounts offered by car insurance companies, reports (your name). These preferred health discounts generally are 10-to-20 percent of the yearly cost and cannot be taken away even if your health changes at a future date. A recent study by the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance revealed that 54 percent of applicants between ages 40 and 49 qualified for this discount. Less than a third (31%) of applicants who wait until they are 60 will qualify for this savings.

Discounts offered to married couples today generally range from 15-to-40 percent each year when more than one individual buys coverage at the same time. A partial couples discount may even be offered if only one partner is covered, explains (your last name).

Another way to reduce the cost of long-term care insurance is to add a deductible period to the policy. Most people are familiar with the concept of deductibles on their car, home and even health insurance, (your last name) notes. Adding a deductible, often called the Elimination Period to your long-term care insurance protection can reduce the yearly cost by 20 percent.

Learn more at:   LTC from AMS  or contact us for more information:  info@amsinsure.com


Own a business; ask about special tax savings benefits of buying Long Term Care in your business.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

WRITING AN EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK: 5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Hiring employees means creating rules for them to follow. How to write an employee handbook that can help you run a better company -- and protect you in court.  Let AMS help you, our clients receive valued added HR Portal to HRANSWERLINK the number on line HR site.
When you're launching a startup, writing an employee handbook probably isn't the first thing on your mind. But once you start hiring, and have enough employees to round out a company softball team, you'll start to realize that maybe you should actually put some rules down on paper. And then you remember the employee handbook you were given when you were a lowly cog in the system, and how you glanced at it, threw it in a drawer and never looked at it again. Except there's one difference now -- now, you're the boss.

While an employee handbook is about as fun to write as it is to read, it can be one of your company's most important documents. Where should you begin and what should you include? Here are five things you need to know.

1) A handbook can protect you in court.

A business can be sued for countless reasons. You fire someone who doesn't believe they deserve to be fired, and they lawyer up. A lecherous employee makes a pass at another employee, who eventually takes you to court. "In the United States, most civil rights laws apply to companies with 15 or more employees, and some local human rights ordinances apply to organizations with less than 15 employees," says Rita Barreto Craig, president of The Craig Group, a Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.-based HR consulting firm. "Companies need to become aware of local, state and federal laws to ensure they are in compliance."

So a handbook is your chance to get everything in writing, to establish rules on virtually every topic you can come up with. Obviously, having everything in writing doesn't mean you won't wind up on an episode of Judge Judy, but it can help demonstrate in court that you weren't making up everything on the fly. And the justice system notwithstanding, writing up all these rules and thinking about how to handle each situation will probably help you run your business more efficiently. Can't remember your own sick-day policy? Check the handbook.

2) Cover the gray areas.

Like what, you ask? "The tech boom is here to stay, and it's causing all kinds of new litigation," says Craig, who has worked in human resources for the past 30 years, served as the chair of the Florida Commission on Human Relations and has written numerous employee handbooks. "Make sure you develop policies that identity what is and isn't acceptable. Facebook, Twitter, etc. Where does work begin and personal life end? This is a new and growing issue."

Remember to consider the everyday workplace scenarios that still pose challenges, even if they are not legal issues, Craig adds. "There is no law on the books that's going to stop people from falling in love at work," she says. "Cover it. Think about those gray areas that are open for interpretation. When is my vacation earned? Do I have to call in if I'm going to be out sick? What happens if I'm called on jury duty?"

3) Remember, it's only a guide.

Some employees -- and their bosses -- misunderstand the nature of a handbook and treat it as a contract. But unless you want it to be, clarify at the outset that the handbook contains policies, and does not serve as a contract. Your opening pages might include a statement along the lines of this: "The contents of this manual should not be confused for a contract between the company and its employees. This is a summary of our policies, which are being offered here only as information."

Why is this important? Well, consider the topic of employment-at-will, says MaryAnne M. Hyland, associate professor in the School of Business at Adelphi University in Garden City, N.Y. If you're not familiar with the term, employment-at-will means you can fire an employee for basically any reason. There are some obvious exceptions like discrimination, of course. But if somebody is incompetent or the company budget calls for eliminating a position, as an employer, you probably want the freedom to let people go whenever you want. However, Hyland says, if your handbook lists specific reasons for termination, without the proper disclaimer up front, "these could be interpreted as the only legal grounds for termination if the handbook is considered to be a contract."

4) Avoid endless jargon.

"The tone of the writing should match the company culture, but it should be professional," advises Janet Flewelling, the director of HR operations for Administaff, which specializes in offering full-service HR services to companies with 10 to 20,000 employees. "Even if the company is very lax and informal, it's fine to have an informal tone, but you still want to make it professional and understandable." She also advises that "if most of your employees are high school graduates, you want to make sure you're writing to the level that they will understand."

5) Consult an employment attorney.

In the beginning, if you're just writing 10 bullet points on a sheet of paper as an early outline, this might not be necessary. But once your handbook is finished, and if it's pretty comprehensive, Flewelling suggests that you have an employment lawyer take a look before finalizing it. "It's worth the money to have an attorney review and approve it," Flewelling says. "There are state laws that are often overlooked, and if a company operates [or has employees] in several states, those states may have different rules you need to abide by."

And once your employee handbook is finished, Flewelling suggests reviewing it at least once every two years. The world moves fast. If your employee handbook has references to typewriter policies, chances are, it's time to update.

CASE OF THE WEEK:

This is a good one: An insured was out in his yard doing yard work. All of a sudden he sees a person running and being chased by a policeman - the guy runs right by him over his fence into his back yard. So - he immediately goes after him because his kids are in the back yard. He though doesn't make it over the fence - but falls and cracks his back. (Kids are fine and the bad guy was caught). However, in a split second the insured is disabled for well over 18mths. With his disability benefits - they kept their house, car and dignity!!!

Thursday, August 05, 2010

Care Giving can be Stessful

This Just In Caregiving can be stressful—just ask your employees who care for an older relative.  They are more likely to report health problems such as depression, diabetes, hypertension or heart disease. The MetLife study Working Caregivers and Employer Health Care Costs estimated that employees with ldercare responsibilities cost employers an average of 8 percent more per year in healthcare costs than employees withthout eldercare responsibilities.

This equals an estimated $13.4 billion annually in additional costs for all U.S. employers. 

Click here for more infomation

Wednesday, August 04, 2010

Coverage for Students, Faculty, and Scholars who travel outside of their home country.

Student Travel Medical Insurance


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Best for: Students who are traveling outside of their home country that are engaged in full time educational classes, and or research.

•Price specifically designed for students

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•24 Hour Worldwide Assistance Service

Jobs in the South Bay doing better!



While dismal unemployment numbers continue to challenge the nation, there is good news to report from the South Bay. Thanks to the South Bay Workforce Investment Board (SBWIB) and their partnerships with government, non-profits, and the local business community, a remarkable number of people are getting put back to work.

Of the thousands of job seekers that visit the SBWIB every year, 80% get placed in new jobs. It is exciting to see so many lives being saved.



This week, I visited the SBWIB’s Beach Cities One-Stop in Redondo Beach to observe this success story in action. Several hopeful clients filled the computer stations in the recruitment station where help was at hand to revise resumes, find training programs, and make connections with potential employers. By 11 o’clock on the morning of my visit, Cortez Washington in the Jobs Development Department had already found one job seeker a permanent position with an air conditioning repair company in San Pedro.

Tuesday, August 03, 2010

What can we do for those we love!


The older you get, the more you realize that love is synonymous with family security.

Disability Case


A client who was earning $40,000. He needed disability income. However - he also had about $30k of unearned income. Normally, this would take him out of the disability income line up as his earned/unearned ration was pretty high. We put our heads together to see if there was anything that could be done - and among our office - we found a company that would let us go with a benefit. It saved the case.

U.S. judge allows Va. health-care lawsuit to move ahead

The Washington Post (8/3, Helderman) reports, "A federal judge refused Monday to dismiss a Virginia lawsuit challenging the nation's sweeping new healthcare law, indicating the law represents a novel extension of Congress's constitutional authority that should be tested in court and handing the law's foes an early legal victory." Had the suit been "dismissed," the development "would have provided powerful ammunition for the law's supporters, who believe such suits are frivolous political exercises."