(762,1,'2020-09-09 22:31:35','2020-09-09 22:31:35','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"gnt_ar_hl\" elementtiming=\"ar-headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Education, arts and counseling are among the college majors that </strong></h1>\n<h1 class=\"gnt_ar_hl\" elementtiming=\"ar-headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>typically pay off the least</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<div class=\"group\"></div>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img src=\"https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/b2b05a4ab25f4fca0316459e1c7404c537a89702/c=0-0-1365-768/local/-/media/2020/09/02/USATODAY/usatsports/imageforentry1-gv9-1.jpg?width=1365&amp;height=768&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" />The COVID-19 pandemic has created a heightened sense of uncertainty about many aspects of American life, including higher education. Classes at American colleges and universities are resuming, though already, thousands of cases have been reported at campuses across the country, prompting some to suspend classes again. The crisis has forced many students to make a difficult choice about whether or not to continue their education, knowing that going to school means potentially risking their safety while also incurring further student debt in the midst of an economic crisis.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Student loan debt is soaring in the United States, overtaking both auto loans and credit card debt in recent years to become the second largest form of consumer debt, after only home mortgages. Americans hold a cumulative total of $1.6 trillion in outstanding student loans. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This record high debt level is due in part to climbing tuition costs. The annual cost of attending a four-year private institution in the U.S. reached nearly $50,000 in 2019, more than double what it was less than two decades ago. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Using average annual earnings data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 24/7 Wall St. identified the college majors that will pay off the least. Average annual incomes of working Americans who chose these majors range from about $46,000 to just under $28,000. It is important to note that while these salaries are on the low end of the spectrum for adults with bachelor’s degrees, they are all well above the $13,364 annual salary for the average worker without a four-year degree. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The subjects on this list are largely in areas like education, the humanities, and the arts. And for many Americans who go into these fields, earning potential after graduation is not their first priority. Occupations like social work or teaching are well suited to many students’ talents and interests, even though they are not typically high paying. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Still, it is important to consider, and take measures to minimize, the financial burden of choosing these majors. This may mean applying for scholarships, or attending a school with lower-than-average tuition costs.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>35. Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $45,957</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 3.1%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 90,700</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>34. Communication Disorders Sciences and Services</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $45,930</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1.6%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 236,401</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>33. Court Reporting</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $45,828</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 0.7%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 6,351</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>32. Medical Assisting Services</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $45,735</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1.6%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 77,537</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>31. Miscellaneous Agriculture</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $43,769</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1.6%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 17,674</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>30. Miscellaneous Health Medical Professions</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $43,570</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.8%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 118,688</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>29. Educational Psychology</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $42,825</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1.2%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 24,666</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>28. Miscellaneous Fine Arts</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $42,502</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 3.9%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 25,887</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>27. Social Psychology</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $42,491</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 4%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 11,356</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>26. General Social Sciences</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $42,014</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 3.3%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 136,914</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>25. Music</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $41,994</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.7%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 421,734</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>24. Counseling Psychology</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $40,267</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.1%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 67,490</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>23. Fine Arts</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $40,170</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 3.2%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 593,978</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>22. Physical and Health Education Teaching</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $39,121</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 280,544</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>21. Visual and Performing Arts</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $39,074</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.6%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 82,949</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>20. Science and Computer Teacher Education</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $38,371</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.1%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 78,457</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>19. Cosmetology Services and Culinary Arts</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $38,343</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 3.7%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 59,238</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>18. Theology and Religious Vocations</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $38,253</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.2%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 337,277</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>17. Human Services and Community Organization</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $38,015</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 4%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 112,720</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>16. Mathematics Teacher Education</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $37,587</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1.2%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 101,386</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>15. Studio Arts</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $37,423</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.5%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 107,321</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>14. Special Needs Education</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $37,022</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 263,620</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>13. Social Work</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $36,303</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.4%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 554,692</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>12. Social Science Or History Teacher Education</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $36,001</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1.5%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 135,776</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>11. Family and Consumer Sciences</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $34,182</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.7%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 427,344</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>10. Early Childhood Education</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $34,047</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.3%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 236,209</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>9. School Student Counseling</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $33,660</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 17,975</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>8. General Education</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $32,730</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1.7%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 1,722,417</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>7. Miscellaneous Education</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $32,576</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.1%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 184,307</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>6. Art and Music Education</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $31,957</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.1%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 269,778</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>5. Language and Drama Education</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $31,931</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.4%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 229,978</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>4. Teacher Education: Multiple Levels</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $30,670</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1.5%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 106,545</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>3. Secondary Teacher Education</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $29,363</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1.7%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 193,386</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>2. Library Science</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $28,873</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 3.6%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 25,389</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>1. Elementary Education</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $27,542</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1.5%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Total labor force:</span></strong> 1,343,882</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Methodology:</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To determine the college majors that will pay off the least, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on average annual earnings from the Public Use Microdata Sample summary files of the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018 American Community Survey for over 170 bachelor’s degree fields. ACS respondents were asked to list majors they completed as part of a bachelor’s degree program, as well as additional questions on earnings, employment status, and workweek.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Data on unemployment among the civilian labor force and the size of the employed workforce for each major also came from the ACS PUMS files. In cases where respondents have received multiple degrees, only the first degree listed was considered.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div role=\"button\" id=\"Placeholder-ArticleBody-Video-106413749\" class=\"PlaceHolder-styles-makeit-wrapper--1b6tE\" data-vilynx-id=\"7000124237\" data-test=\"VideoPlaceHolder\" tabindex=\"0\">\n<div class=\"InlineVideo-styles-makeit-videoEmbed--th6hJ\" id=\"InlineVideo-0\" data-test=\"InlineVideo\">\n<div class=\"InlineVideo-styles-makeit-wrapper--25-V7\">\n<div class=\"InlineVideo-styles-makeit-inlineBackgroundImageContainer--DAFPB\" alt=\"How a 27-year-old millionaire in the Seattle area spends his money\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<p><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/09/04/choosing-these-college-majors-will-pay-off-the-least/42369987/\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></p>\n</div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Education, arts and counseling are among the college majors that typically pay off the least','','inherit','closed','closed','','758-revision-v1','','','2020-09-09 22:31:35','2020-09-09 22:31:35','',758,'http://smartinsurance.tips/758-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(761,1,'2020-09-09 22:30:20','2020-09-09 22:30:20','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"gnt_ar_hl\" elementtiming=\"ar-headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Education, arts and counseling are among the college majors that </strong></h1>\n<h1 class=\"gnt_ar_hl\" elementtiming=\"ar-headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>typically pay off the least</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<div class=\"group\"></div>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The COVID-19 pandemic has created a heightened sense of uncertainty about many aspects of American life, including higher education. Classes at American colleges and universities are resuming, though already, thousands of cases have been reported at campuses across the country, prompting some to suspend classes again. The crisis has forced many students to make a difficult choice about whether or not to continue their education, knowing that going to school means potentially risking their safety while also incurring further student debt in the midst of an economic crisis.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Student loan debt is soaring in the United States, overtaking both auto loans and credit card debt in recent years to become the second largest form of consumer debt, after only home mortgages. Americans hold a cumulative total of $1.6 trillion in outstanding student loans. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This record high debt level is due in part to climbing tuition costs. The annual cost of attending a four-year private institution in the U.S. reached nearly $50,000 in 2019, more than double what it was less than two decades ago. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Using average annual earnings data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 24/7 Wall St. identified the college majors that will pay off the least. Average annual incomes of working Americans who chose these majors range from about $46,000 to just under $28,000. It is important to note that while these salaries are on the low end of the spectrum for adults with bachelor’s degrees, they are all well above the $13,364 annual salary for the average worker without a four-year degree. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The subjects on this list are largely in areas like education, the humanities, and the arts. And for many Americans who go into these fields, earning potential after graduation is not their first priority. Occupations like social work or teaching are well suited to many students’ talents and interests, even though they are not typically high paying. </span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Still, it is important to consider, and take measures to minimize, the financial burden of choosing these majors. This may mean applying for scholarships, or attending a school with lower-than-average tuition costs.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>35. Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $45,957</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 3.1%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 90,700</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>34. Communication Disorders Sciences and Services</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $45,930</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1.6%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 236,401</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>33. Court Reporting</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $45,828</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 0.7%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 6,351</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>32. Medical Assisting Services</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $45,735</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1.6%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 77,537</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>31. Miscellaneous Agriculture</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $43,769</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1.6%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 17,674</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>30. Miscellaneous Health Medical Professions</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $43,570</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.8%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 118,688</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>29. Educational Psychology</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $42,825</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1.2%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 24,666</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>28. Miscellaneous Fine Arts</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $42,502</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 3.9%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 25,887</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>27. Social Psychology</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $42,491</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 4%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 11,356</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>26. General Social Sciences</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $42,014</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 3.3%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 136,914</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>25. Music</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $41,994</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.7%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 421,734</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>24. Counseling Psychology</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $40,267</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.1%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 67,490</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>23. Fine Arts</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $40,170</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 3.2%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 593,978</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>22. Physical and Health Education Teaching</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $39,121</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 280,544</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>21. Visual and Performing Arts</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $39,074</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.6%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 82,949</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>20. Science and Computer Teacher Education</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $38,371</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.1%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 78,457</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>19. Cosmetology Services and Culinary Arts</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $38,343</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 3.7%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 59,238</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>18. Theology and Religious Vocations</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $38,253</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.2%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 337,277</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>17. Human Services and Community Organization</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $38,015</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 4%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 112,720</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>16. Mathematics Teacher Education</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $37,587</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1.2%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 101,386</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>15. Studio Arts</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $37,423</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.5%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 107,321</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>14. Special Needs Education</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $37,022</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 263,620</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>13. Social Work</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $36,303</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.4%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 554,692</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>12. Social Science Or History Teacher Education</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $36,001</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1.5%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 135,776</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>11. Family and Consumer Sciences</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $34,182</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.7%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 427,344</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>10. Early Childhood Education</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $34,047</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.3%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 236,209</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>9. School Student Counseling</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $33,660</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 17,975</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>8. General Education</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $32,730</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1.7%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 1,722,417</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>7. Miscellaneous Education</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $32,576</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.1%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 184,307</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>6. Art and Music Education</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $31,957</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.1%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 269,778</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>5. Language and Drama Education</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $31,931</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 2.4%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 229,978</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>4. Teacher Education: Multiple Levels</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $30,670</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1.5%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 106,545</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>3. Secondary Teacher Education</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $29,363</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1.7%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 193,386</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>2. Library Science</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $28,873</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 3.6%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Total labor force:</strong> 25,389</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>1. Elementary Education</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• Avg. annual earnings:</strong> $27,542</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• 2018 unemployment rate:</strong> 1.5%</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>• <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Total labor force:</span></strong> 1,343,882</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Methodology:</strong></span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To determine the college majors that will pay off the least, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on average annual earnings from the Public Use Microdata Sample summary files of the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018 American Community Survey for over 170 bachelor’s degree fields. ACS respondents were asked to list majors they completed as part of a bachelor’s degree program, as well as additional questions on earnings, employment status, and workweek.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Data on unemployment among the civilian labor force and the size of the employed workforce for each major also came from the ACS PUMS files. In cases where respondents have received multiple degrees, only the first degree listed was considered.</span></p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div role=\"button\" id=\"Placeholder-ArticleBody-Video-106413749\" class=\"PlaceHolder-styles-makeit-wrapper--1b6tE\" data-vilynx-id=\"7000124237\" data-test=\"VideoPlaceHolder\" tabindex=\"0\">\n<div class=\"InlineVideo-styles-makeit-videoEmbed--th6hJ\" id=\"InlineVideo-0\" data-test=\"InlineVideo\">\n<div class=\"InlineVideo-styles-makeit-wrapper--25-V7\">\n<div class=\"InlineVideo-styles-makeit-inlineBackgroundImageContainer--DAFPB\" alt=\"How a 27-year-old millionaire in the Seattle area spends his money\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<p><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/09/04/choosing-these-college-majors-will-pay-off-the-least/42369987/\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></p>\n</div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Education, arts and counseling are among the college majors that typically pay off the least','','inherit','closed','closed','','758-revision-v1','','','2020-09-09 22:30:20','2020-09-09 22:30:20','',758,'http://smartinsurance.tips/758-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(763,1,'2020-09-09 22:35:58','2020-09-09 22:35:58','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"article-hed\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Becoming a More Patient Leader</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p><img src=\"https://hbr.org/resources/images/article_assets/2020/09/Sep20_02_1146530794.jpg\" /></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Leading effectively — especially during a crisis — takes patience. If you can’t retain your composure in the face of frustration or adversity, you won’t be able to keep others calm. When your direct reports show signs of strain, you need to support them, not get irritated. Solutions to new challenges usually take time to put into practice. However, in my work teaching and coaching high-potential leaders, I have seen that many just don’t have patience and don’t know how to find it. They want quick fixes and can’t wait for strategies to take hold. This tendency is only reinforced by our agile digital work world, which seems to prize hyperspeed.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To learn more about how patience affects a leader’s influence on direct reports during challenging times, I surveyed 578 full-time U.S. working professionals from a wide range of industries during the recent Covid-19 lockdown. Their average age was 39, most were college graduates, and more than half were in managerial roles themselves. I asked about their immediate supervisor’s leadership behaviors and level of patience and had them self-report their own levels of creativity, productivity, and collaboration. Their responses revealed that patience had a powerful effect: When leaders demonstrated it (meaning their employees’ ratings put them in the highest quartile), their reports’ self-reported creativity and collaboration increased by an average of 16% and their productivity by 13%.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I then decided to look at the impact patience had on different types of leadership behavior. Academic research traditionally breaks leadership down into two basic sets of behaviors – task-oriented and relationship-oriented. The best leaders consistently strike a balance between the two. I like to describe the most effective task-oriented behavior as <em>futurist </em>and the most effective relationship-oriented behavior as <em>facilitator</em>. Futurists create a powerful vision and outline the metrics needed to realize it. Facilitators foster collaboration and empower a team to reach a solution. The approaches are complementary, not mutually exclusive. But did patience affect them equally?</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What I discovered was that patience made both approaches significantly more effective, though it increased collaboration and creativity an average of 6% more in concert with futurist behavior than in concert with facilitator behavior. The ability of patience to amplify the two approaches makes a lot of sense when you think about it. A futurist needs patience when explaining her vision to folks that may or may not “get it” right away or have doubts about the vision’s viability. A facilitator needs patience with a group’s collaborative process when members aren’t working well together or are taking longer than expected to come up with a solution.</span></p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>How can leaders boost their patience?</strong></span></h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you want to build your patience, you need to recognize when it might be tested the most. If you know a challenge is coming, you can be more mindful about increasing your efforts to stay calm. A good way to manage the pressure you feel from the clock ticking is to reframe <em>how</em> you perceive time. Here are some helpful strategies:</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Redefine the meaning of speed</strong>. The U.S. Navy SEALs are known for their saying “Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.” These rapid-response special forces teams are paradoxically methodical and patient in both planning and executing their time-critical missions. They have learned over 60 years of operating in crisis situations that working at a slow and smooth pace reduces mistakes and re-dos and in the end speeds up the mission. In short, they have learned that leaders shouldn’t “confuse operational speed (moving quickly) with strategic speed (reducing the time it takes to deliver value).” And this of course means that leaders need to clearly define what delivering value means from the start.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Thank your way to patience.</strong> Gratitude has powerful effects on a wide range of our attitudes and behaviors. For example, keeping a journal about things you are thankful for increases generosity with others and lowers stress. It is no wonder then that gratitude may also positively spill over to our ability to demonstrate patience. Research in experimental psychology has found when people feel more grateful, they are better at delaying gratification and are more patient.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In the middle of a crisis, it may be hard to feel grateful. However, as you practice gratitude – perhaps by keeping a journal or just by being mindful of the progress made by others – you may find hidden opportunities for thankfulness. Then, when you know something will trigger your impatience, you can take a moment to reflect on what is going well and what you’ve learned or have the potential to learn from the crisis.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The bottom line is, effective leadership behaviors are enhanced by a show of  patience. Engage <em>patiently</em> and you will see increases in your reports’ creativity, productivity, and collaboration. Rush and, sadly, you won’t see many benefits.</span></p>\n<p><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://hbr.org/2020/09/becoming-a-more-patient-leader\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></p>\n</div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Becoming a More Patient Leader','','publish','closed','closed','','becoming-a-more-patient-leader','','','2020-09-09 22:38:20','2020-09-09 22:38:20','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?page_id=763',0,'page','',0),(764,1,'2020-09-09 22:35:58','2020-09-09 22:35:58','<!-- wp:divi/placeholder /-->','Becoming a More Patient Leader','','inherit','closed','closed','','763-revision-v1','','','2020-09-09 22:35:58','2020-09-09 22:35:58','',763,'http://smartinsurance.tips/763-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(767,1,'2020-09-09 22:41:00','2020-09-09 22:41:00','<!-- wp:divi/placeholder -->\n[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Renovation Damage?</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\"></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p><img src=\"https://na.rdcpix.com/1931170671/8904878a625e789b67605d385ca9edc4w-c0xd-w685_h860_q80.jpg\" alt=\"Homeowners-Insurance-renovation-damage\" style=\"float: left;\" /></p>\n</div>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Part of the thrill of a renovation is dreaming up a brand-new look for your home. The <em>best</em> part of the process is, of course, walking through the finished rooms and settling into your new space.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But that dream can quickly turn into a nightmare if any damage occurs during the process. Falling ladders, broken pipes, and scratches on the hardwood floor are all snafus that can delay the process and cost you serious dough. In these scenarios, who is responsible for the damage? Will your insurance cover it?</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“A home insurance policy will cover damage to your home in most cases, even if it’s related to renovations,” says <strong>John Espenschied</strong>, owner of Insurance Brokers Group in Chesterfield, MO.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Rewiring the electrical system, updating the plumbing, adding a room—all of these come with potential risk to the existing property.”</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">That\'s good news; however, \"in most cases\" doesn\'t guarantee you\'re covered. Here’s what you need to know before you start that renovation project.</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Where to find out what’s covered</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For the details about your coverage, you’ll need to check your home insurance policy document. Your insurance company usually mails a physical copy every year, and it should also be available online when you log in to your account.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Your policy document will outline what is covered, the applicable exclusions to be aware of, and any specific requirements pertaining to construction, renovations, and other situations where your home’s use or occupancy changes,\" says <strong>Stefan Tirschler</strong>, product and underwriting manager at Square One Insurance Services, which serves the United States and Canada.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When you find your policy, refer to the \"causes of loss\" section, says<strong>Kevin Foley</strong>, CPA, CPCU at PFT&amp;K Insurance Brokers in Freehold, NJ.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“The dwelling is usually covered for all risk of direct physical damage, unless one of the exclusions apply.”</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Before the renovation starts</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Don\'t let a single wall be torn down until you\'ve called your insurance company.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“You may need to update your policy, or buy extra coverage, if necessary, to extend coverage to the work,” Tirschler says. “If you’re renovating your bathroom and investing $15,000 into labor and materials, your home’s replacement cost should be adjusted to match this new cost.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Without this pre-renovation step, the value of your improvements may be uninsured and, in this case, you would have to pay out of pocket for any repairs.</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What’s covered during a renovation</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Foley says that if the damage is not named in your insurance policy, then it\'s not covered. So what is typically covered?  Fires, explosions, water damage, and thefts.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Renovations would be covered for the same perils as the rest of the dwelling coverage, as long as the policy is updated to do so,” says <strong>James Fleming</strong> of Country Financial in Bend, OR.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The same goes for any work performed inside or outside of the house.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“If the contractor caused a fire, broke a window, left a hole in the building, dropped a ladder on your dining room table, your insurance covers it,” says Foley.</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What’s not covered</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\"If you don’t like the work, there’s no coverage for that,” says Foley. “If it’s really poor work and you need to have it done over, you won’t find coverage in your policy, but I would recommend filing a claim with your contractor\'s general liability carrier.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tirschler agrees that damage caused by faulty workmanship is generally not covered by your policy.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“This is because home insurance policies are designed to cover sudden and accidental direct damage, not to provide a warranty for work performed by manufacturers and contractors.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">However, depending on the cause of the damage to your home, another option may come into play.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“If a contractor caused damage, most likely your home insurance company will pay for repairs quickly and then subrogate, or seek recovery of payment, from the contractor or their insurance company for damage,” says Espenschied.</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Damage to your neighbor’s property</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Let’s say that during the course of the project, your neighbor’s property accidentally sustains damage. Does your insurance cover <em>that</em>? Once again, it depends!</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you were negligent, for example for not removing a tree that you knew needed to be removed, your homeowner’s liability would cover you, according to <strong>Tim Surber,</strong> owner of Tim Surber State Farm Agency in Yakima WA.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But suppose your contractor causes the damage.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Since the contractor was the cause of the damage, the contractor\'s commercial insurance policy would be responsible for the neighbor\'s home damage,” Espenschied explains.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tirschler agrees that the contractor is responsible for compensating the neighbor.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Your home insurance policy covers your own liability, not your contractor’s liability for accidental damage to others’ property.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Your contractor should have a commercial general liability insurance policy to cover any accidents that may happen on the job.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Request that your contractor have their insurance agent fax or email a copy of this insurance certificate directly to you, as confirmation that it is in force,” says Tirschler.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In fact, he says your home insurance provider may even request this certificate from you in advance of the renovations.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“To help protect yourself against negative circumstances, make sure your contractors are licensed, bonded, and insured,\" Tirschler says. \"Carefully review any guarantees or warranties they offer, to make sure you are satisfied with how they plan to stand behind their work.”</span></p>\n<p><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/homeowners-insurance-cover-renovation-damage/\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></p>\n</div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]\n<!-- /wp:divi/placeholder -->','Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Renovation Damage?','','publish','closed','closed','','does-homeowners-insurance-cover-renovation-damage','','','2020-09-09 23:57:24','2020-09-09 23:57:24','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?page_id=767',0,'page','',0),(768,1,'2020-09-09 22:41:00','2020-09-09 22:41:00','<!-- wp:divi/placeholder /-->','Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Renovation Damage?','','inherit','closed','closed','','767-revision-v1','','','2020-09-09 22:41:00','2020-09-09 22:41:00','',767,'http://smartinsurance.tips/767-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(774,1,'2020-09-09 22:45:32','2020-09-09 22:45:32','<!-- wp:divi/placeholder /-->','Insurance For Landlords: Protecting Your Investment','','inherit','closed','closed','','773-revision-v1','','','2020-09-09 22:45:32','2020-09-09 22:45:32','',773,'http://smartinsurance.tips/773-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(780,1,'2020-09-09 22:48:55','2020-09-09 22:48:55','<!-- wp:divi/placeholder /-->','What You Need to File a Homeowners Insurance Claim','','inherit','closed','closed','','779-revision-v1','','','2020-09-09 22:48:55','2020-09-09 22:48:55','',779,'http://smartinsurance.tips/779-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0);
INSERT INTO `smart_posts` VALUES (787,1,'2020-09-09 23:57:23','2020-09-09 23:57:23','<!-- wp:divi/placeholder -->\n[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Renovation Damage?</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\"></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p><img src=\"https://na.rdcpix.com/1931170671/8904878a625e789b67605d385ca9edc4w-c0xd-w685_h860_q80.jpg\" alt=\"Homeowners-Insurance-renovation-damage\" style=\"float: left;\" /></p>\n</div>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Part of the thrill of a renovation is dreaming up a brand-new look for your home. The <em>best</em> part of the process is, of course, walking through the finished rooms and settling into your new space.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But that dream can quickly turn into a nightmare if any damage occurs during the process. Falling ladders, broken pipes, and scratches on the hardwood floor are all snafus that can delay the process and cost you serious dough. In these scenarios, who is responsible for the damage? Will your insurance cover it?</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“A home insurance policy will cover damage to your home in most cases, even if it’s related to renovations,” says <strong>John Espenschied</strong>, owner of Insurance Brokers Group in Chesterfield, MO.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Rewiring the electrical system, updating the plumbing, adding a room—all of these come with potential risk to the existing property.”</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">That\'s good news; however, \"in most cases\" doesn\'t guarantee you\'re covered. Here’s what you need to know before you start that renovation project.</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Where to find out what’s covered</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For the details about your coverage, you’ll need to check your home insurance policy document. Your insurance company usually mails a physical copy every year, and it should also be available online when you log in to your account.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Your policy document will outline what is covered, the applicable exclusions to be aware of, and any specific requirements pertaining to construction, renovations, and other situations where your home’s use or occupancy changes,\" says <strong>Stefan Tirschler</strong>, product and underwriting manager at Square One Insurance Services, which serves the United States and Canada.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When you find your policy, refer to the \"causes of loss\" section, says<strong>Kevin Foley</strong>, CPA, CPCU at PFT&amp;K Insurance Brokers in Freehold, NJ.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“The dwelling is usually covered for all risk of direct physical damage, unless one of the exclusions apply.”</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Before the renovation starts</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Don\'t let a single wall be torn down until you\'ve called your insurance company.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“You may need to update your policy, or buy extra coverage, if necessary, to extend coverage to the work,” Tirschler says. “If you’re renovating your bathroom and investing $15,000 into labor and materials, your home’s replacement cost should be adjusted to match this new cost.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Without this pre-renovation step, the value of your improvements may be uninsured and, in this case, you would have to pay out of pocket for any repairs.</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What’s covered during a renovation</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Foley says that if the damage is not named in your insurance policy, then it\'s not covered. So what is typically covered?  Fires, explosions, water damage, and thefts.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Renovations would be covered for the same perils as the rest of the dwelling coverage, as long as the policy is updated to do so,” says <strong>James Fleming</strong> of Country Financial in Bend, OR.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The same goes for any work performed inside or outside of the house.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“If the contractor caused a fire, broke a window, left a hole in the building, dropped a ladder on your dining room table, your insurance covers it,” says Foley.</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What’s not covered</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\"If you don’t like the work, there’s no coverage for that,” says Foley. “If it’s really poor work and you need to have it done over, you won’t find coverage in your policy, but I would recommend filing a claim with your contractor\'s general liability carrier.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tirschler agrees that damage caused by faulty workmanship is generally not covered by your policy.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“This is because home insurance policies are designed to cover sudden and accidental direct damage, not to provide a warranty for work performed by manufacturers and contractors.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">However, depending on the cause of the damage to your home, another option may come into play.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“If a contractor caused damage, most likely your home insurance company will pay for repairs quickly and then subrogate, or seek recovery of payment, from the contractor or their insurance company for damage,” says Espenschied.</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Damage to your neighbor’s property</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Let’s say that during the course of the project, your neighbor’s property accidentally sustains damage. Does your insurance cover <em>that</em>? Once again, it depends!</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you were negligent, for example for not removing a tree that you knew needed to be removed, your homeowner’s liability would cover you, according to <strong>Tim Surber,</strong> owner of Tim Surber State Farm Agency in Yakima WA.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But suppose your contractor causes the damage.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Since the contractor was the cause of the damage, the contractor\'s commercial insurance policy would be responsible for the neighbor\'s home damage,” Espenschied explains.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tirschler agrees that the contractor is responsible for compensating the neighbor.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Your home insurance policy covers your own liability, not your contractor’s liability for accidental damage to others’ property.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Your contractor should have a commercial general liability insurance policy to cover any accidents that may happen on the job.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Request that your contractor have their insurance agent fax or email a copy of this insurance certificate directly to you, as confirmation that it is in force,” says Tirschler.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In fact, he says your home insurance provider may even request this certificate from you in advance of the renovations.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“To help protect yourself against negative circumstances, make sure your contractors are licensed, bonded, and insured,\" Tirschler says. \"Carefully review any guarantees or warranties they offer, to make sure you are satisfied with how they plan to stand behind their work.”</span></p>\n<p><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/homeowners-insurance-cover-renovation-damage/\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></p>\n</div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]\n<!-- /wp:divi/placeholder -->','Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Renovation Damage?','','inherit','closed','closed','','767-revision-v1','','','2020-09-09 23:57:23','2020-09-09 23:57:23','',767,'http://smartinsurance.tips/767-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(766,1,'2020-09-09 22:38:20','2020-09-09 22:38:20','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"article-hed\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Becoming a More Patient Leader</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p><img src=\"https://hbr.org/resources/images/article_assets/2020/09/Sep20_02_1146530794.jpg\" /></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Leading effectively — especially during a crisis — takes patience. If you can’t retain your composure in the face of frustration or adversity, you won’t be able to keep others calm. When your direct reports show signs of strain, you need to support them, not get irritated. Solutions to new challenges usually take time to put into practice. However, in my work teaching and coaching high-potential leaders, I have seen that many just don’t have patience and don’t know how to find it. They want quick fixes and can’t wait for strategies to take hold. This tendency is only reinforced by our agile digital work world, which seems to prize hyperspeed.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To learn more about how patience affects a leader’s influence on direct reports during challenging times, I surveyed 578 full-time U.S. working professionals from a wide range of industries during the recent Covid-19 lockdown. Their average age was 39, most were college graduates, and more than half were in managerial roles themselves. I asked about their immediate supervisor’s leadership behaviors and level of patience and had them self-report their own levels of creativity, productivity, and collaboration. Their responses revealed that patience had a powerful effect: When leaders demonstrated it (meaning their employees’ ratings put them in the highest quartile), their reports’ self-reported creativity and collaboration increased by an average of 16% and their productivity by 13%.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I then decided to look at the impact patience had on different types of leadership behavior. Academic research traditionally breaks leadership down into two basic sets of behaviors – task-oriented and relationship-oriented. The best leaders consistently strike a balance between the two. I like to describe the most effective task-oriented behavior as <em>futurist </em>and the most effective relationship-oriented behavior as <em>facilitator</em>. Futurists create a powerful vision and outline the metrics needed to realize it. Facilitators foster collaboration and empower a team to reach a solution. The approaches are complementary, not mutually exclusive. But did patience affect them equally?</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What I discovered was that patience made both approaches significantly more effective, though it increased collaboration and creativity an average of 6% more in concert with futurist behavior than in concert with facilitator behavior. The ability of patience to amplify the two approaches makes a lot of sense when you think about it. A futurist needs patience when explaining her vision to folks that may or may not “get it” right away or have doubts about the vision’s viability. A facilitator needs patience with a group’s collaborative process when members aren’t working well together or are taking longer than expected to come up with a solution.</span></p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>How can leaders boost their patience?</strong></span></h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you want to build your patience, you need to recognize when it might be tested the most. If you know a challenge is coming, you can be more mindful about increasing your efforts to stay calm. A good way to manage the pressure you feel from the clock ticking is to reframe <em>how</em> you perceive time. Here are some helpful strategies:</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Redefine the meaning of speed</strong>. The U.S. Navy SEALs are known for their saying “Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.” These rapid-response special forces teams are paradoxically methodical and patient in both planning and executing their time-critical missions. They have learned over 60 years of operating in crisis situations that working at a slow and smooth pace reduces mistakes and re-dos and in the end speeds up the mission. In short, they have learned that leaders shouldn’t “confuse operational speed (moving quickly) with strategic speed (reducing the time it takes to deliver value).” And this of course means that leaders need to clearly define what delivering value means from the start.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Thank your way to patience.</strong> Gratitude has powerful effects on a wide range of our attitudes and behaviors. For example, keeping a journal about things you are thankful for increases generosity with others and lowers stress. It is no wonder then that gratitude may also positively spill over to our ability to demonstrate patience. Research in experimental psychology has found when people feel more grateful, they are better at delaying gratification and are more patient.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In the middle of a crisis, it may be hard to feel grateful. However, as you practice gratitude – perhaps by keeping a journal or just by being mindful of the progress made by others – you may find hidden opportunities for thankfulness. Then, when you know something will trigger your impatience, you can take a moment to reflect on what is going well and what you’ve learned or have the potential to learn from the crisis.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The bottom line is, effective leadership behaviors are enhanced by a show of  patience. Engage <em>patiently</em> and you will see increases in your reports’ creativity, productivity, and collaboration. Rush and, sadly, you won’t see many benefits.</span></p>\n<p><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://hbr.org/2020/09/becoming-a-more-patient-leader\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></p>\n</div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Becoming a More Patient Leader','','inherit','closed','closed','','763-revision-v1','','','2020-09-09 22:38:20','2020-09-09 22:38:20','',763,'http://smartinsurance.tips/763-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(770,1,'2020-09-09 22:44:34','2020-09-09 22:44:34','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Renovation Damage?</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\"></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p><img src=\"https://na.rdcpix.com/1931170671/8904878a625e789b67605d385ca9edc4w-c0xd-w685_h860_q80.jpg\" alt=\"Homeowners-Insurance-renovation-damage\" style=\"float: left;\" /></p>\n</div>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Part of the thrill of a renovation is dreaming up a brand-new look for your home. The <em>best</em> part of the process is, of course, walking through the finished rooms and settling into your new space.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But that dream can quickly turn into a nightmare if any damage occurs during the process. Falling ladders, broken pipes, and scratches on the hardwood floor are all snafus that can delay the process and cost you serious dough. In these scenarios, who is responsible for the damage? Will your insurance cover it?</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“A home insurance policy will cover damage to your home in most cases, even if it’s related to renovations,” says <strong>John Espenschied</strong>, owner of Insurance Brokers Group in Chesterfield, MO.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Rewiring the electrical system, updating the plumbing, adding a room—all of these come with potential risk to the existing property.”</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">That\'s good news; however, \"in most cases\" doesn\'t guarantee you\'re covered. Here’s what you need to know before you start that renovation project.</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Where to find out what’s covered</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For the details about your coverage, you’ll need to check your home insurance policy document. Your insurance company usually mails a physical copy every year, and it should also be available online when you log in to your account.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Your policy document will outline what is covered, the applicable exclusions to be aware of, and any specific requirements pertaining to construction, renovations, and other situations where your home’s use or occupancy changes,\" says <strong>Stefan Tirschler</strong>, product and underwriting manager at Square One Insurance Services, which serves the United States and Canada.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When you find your policy, refer to the \"causes of loss\" section, says<strong>Kevin Foley</strong>, CPA, CPCU at PFT&amp;K Insurance Brokers in Freehold, NJ.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“The dwelling is usually covered for all risk of direct physical damage, unless one of the exclusions apply.”</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Before the renovation starts</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Don\'t let a single wall be torn down until you\'ve called your insurance company.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“You may need to update your policy, or buy extra coverage, if necessary, to extend coverage to the work,” Tirschler says. “If you’re renovating your bathroom and investing $15,000 into labor and materials, your home’s replacement cost should be adjusted to match this new cost.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Without this pre-renovation step, the value of your improvements may be uninsured and, in this case, you would have to pay out of pocket for any repairs.</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What’s covered during a renovation</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Foley says that if the damage is not named in your insurance policy, then it\'s not covered. So what is typically covered?  Fires, explosions, water damage, and thefts.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Renovations would be covered for the same perils as the rest of the dwelling coverage, as long as the policy is updated to do so,” says <strong>James Fleming</strong> of Country Financial in Bend, OR.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The same goes for any work performed inside or outside of the house.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“If the contractor caused a fire, broke a window, left a hole in the building, dropped a ladder on your dining room table, your insurance covers it,” says Foley.</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What’s not covered</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\"If you don’t like the work, there’s no coverage for that,” says Foley. “If it’s really poor work and you need to have it done over, you won’t find coverage in your policy, but I would recommend filing a claim with your contractor\'s general liability carrier.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tirschler agrees that damage caused by faulty workmanship is generally not covered by your policy.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“This is because home insurance policies are designed to cover sudden and accidental direct damage, not to provide a warranty for work performed by manufacturers and contractors.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">However, depending on the cause of the damage to your home, another option may come into play.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“If a contractor caused damage, most likely your home insurance company will pay for repairs quickly and then subrogate, or seek recovery of payment, from the contractor or their insurance company for damage,” says Espenschied.</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Damage to your neighbor’s property</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Let’s say that during the course of the project, your neighbor’s property accidentally sustains damage. Does your insurance cover <em>that</em>? Once again, it depends!</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you were negligent, for example for not removing a tree that you knew needed to be removed, your homeowner’s liability would cover you, according to <strong>Tim Surber,</strong> owner of Tim Surber State Farm Agency in Yakima WA.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But suppose your contractor causes the damage.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Since the contractor was the cause of the damage, the contractor\'s commercial insurance policy would be responsible for the neighbor\'s home damage,” Espenschied explains.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tirschler agrees that the contractor is responsible for compensating the neighbor.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Your home insurance policy covers your own liability, not your contractor’s liability for accidental damage to others’ property.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Your contractor should have a commercial general liability insurance policy to cover any accidents that may happen on the job.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Request that your contractor have their insurance agent fax or email a copy of this insurance certificate directly to you, as confirmation that it is in force,” says Tirschler.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In fact, he says your home insurance provider may even request this certificate from you in advance of the renovations.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“To help protect yourself against negative circumstances, make sure your contractors are licensed, bonded, and insured,\" Tirschler says. \"Carefully review any guarantees or warranties they offer, to make sure you are satisfied with how they plan to stand behind their work.”</span></p>\n<p><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/04/stop-wasting-money-on-these-7-useless-things-and-save-for-early-retirement.html\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></p>\n</div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','','','inherit','closed','closed','','767-revision-v1','','','2020-09-09 22:44:34','2020-09-09 22:44:34','',767,'http://smartinsurance.tips/767-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(773,1,'2020-09-09 22:45:32','2020-09-09 22:45:32','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"fs-headline speakable-headline font-base font-size\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Insurance For Landlords: Protecting Your Investment</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img src=\"https://thumbor.forbes.com/thumbor/960x0/https%3A%2F%2Fspecials-images.forbesimg.com%2Fdam%2Fimageserve%2F951640954%2F960x0.jpg%3Ffit%3Dscale\" alt=\"uncaptioned\" width=\"713\" height=\"476\" style=\"float: left;\" /></span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A rental property is one of the largest investments you can make, and in order to make sure your property is as lucrative as possible, it’s important to protect your investment to the best of your ability. When establishing yourself as a real estate investor, it is critical to acquire the right insurance to protect your business, your property, yourself and your tenants. At first glance, the range of insurance options can seem exhausting, but each involved party needs to be covered by the appropriate policy to stay safe — physically, financially and legally.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Homeowners Insurance</strong></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Many landlords rely on their standard homeowners insurance to protect their rental properties, but typical homeowners coverage is usually not sufficient to protect your investment property. Homeowners insurance usually covers owner-occupied homes, while a landlord-specific insurance policy will cover liability and damages related to tenant-occupied homes.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Depending on your specific situation, homeowners insurance may be sufficient without needing to seek out landlord insurance. If you only plan to rent out your property on occasion — such as for a specific event or while you’re on vacation — your homeowners insurance may suffice. If you plan to rent out single rooms while you also occupy the property, homeowners insurance may also be enough. Coverage varies based on your insurance company and policy, so be sure to contact your provider before you start looking for tenants.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Landlord Insurance</strong></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you’re planning on renting out your investment property to tenants on a regular basis, you’ll need to look into landlord insurance coverage. Insurance policies designed specifically for landlords provide protection not only for your property, but added protection for financial loss and obligations associated with your rental property. Similar to homeowners insurance, landlord insurance will help cover the property itself and your liability when it comes to the tenants who live at the property.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Depending on the insurance company you choose and the options included in your policy, there are a variety of coverages that may be included. Personal property coverage can help protect belongings used to service the rental property if you choose to rent the space furnished, where legal fee coverage can help protect you if you need legal representation regarding a lease agreement with a tenant. Not every landlord will choose to include every available coverage option on their policy; it is up to you to decide how much you want to spend in order to manage costs for damage or liability associated with your investment property.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Property Management Insurance</strong></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you plan to manage multiple rental properties as a business, your insurance needs will once again change. If you are involved professionally in renting residential real estate, managing rental properties for others or contracting services for rental property owners, you’ll likely need to look into property management insurance coverage. Property managers need to have insurance that covers their business, their clients, their tenants and the properties they manage. If you’re simply a real estate investor or private owner renting out your home, look toward landlord insurance instead of property management insurance.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Renters Insurance</strong></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">While landlord insurance will protect many things regarding your rental property, it only protects the owner’s property and belongings, not your tenants’ personal possessions. It is good standard practice to require your tenants to have their own renters insurance policy, which is an affordable way for your tenants to protect themselves and their personal property. Encouraging (or requiring) your tenants to have renters insurance can save you time and money should any accidents, damage or theft occur at your property.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Many renters don’t understand the importance of renters insurance because they assume your landlord policy will protect them. In fact, over 90% of homeowners carry a homeowners insurance policy, but less than 50% of renters have renters insurance in place. Renters insurance is an amazing tool to give your tenants protection for their personal belongings, against liability charges and against medical charges, and it helps them cover the cost of any property damage that may take place.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Equipping yourself and your renters with the right insurance is one of the best things you can do as a landlord to protect your business, your property and your tenants.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesrealestatecouncil/2019/09/10/insurance-for-landlords-protecting-your-investment/#67473c08361c\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Insurance For Landlords: Protecting Your Investment','','publish','closed','closed','','insurance-for-landlords-protecting-your-investment-2','','','2020-09-09 22:47:55','2020-09-09 22:47:55','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?page_id=773',0,'page','',0),(772,1,'2020-09-09 22:45:14','2020-09-09 22:45:14','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Renovation Damage?</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\"></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p><img src=\"https://na.rdcpix.com/1931170671/8904878a625e789b67605d385ca9edc4w-c0xd-w685_h860_q80.jpg\" alt=\"Homeowners-Insurance-renovation-damage\" style=\"float: left;\" /></p>\n</div>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Part of the thrill of a renovation is dreaming up a brand-new look for your home. The <em>best</em> part of the process is, of course, walking through the finished rooms and settling into your new space.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But that dream can quickly turn into a nightmare if any damage occurs during the process. Falling ladders, broken pipes, and scratches on the hardwood floor are all snafus that can delay the process and cost you serious dough. In these scenarios, who is responsible for the damage? Will your insurance cover it?</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“A home insurance policy will cover damage to your home in most cases, even if it’s related to renovations,” says <strong>John Espenschied</strong>, owner of Insurance Brokers Group in Chesterfield, MO.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Rewiring the electrical system, updating the plumbing, adding a room—all of these come with potential risk to the existing property.”</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">That\'s good news; however, \"in most cases\" doesn\'t guarantee you\'re covered. Here’s what you need to know before you start that renovation project.</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Where to find out what’s covered</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For the details about your coverage, you’ll need to check your home insurance policy document. Your insurance company usually mails a physical copy every year, and it should also be available online when you log in to your account.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Your policy document will outline what is covered, the applicable exclusions to be aware of, and any specific requirements pertaining to construction, renovations, and other situations where your home’s use or occupancy changes,\" says <strong>Stefan Tirschler</strong>, product and underwriting manager at Square One Insurance Services, which serves the United States and Canada.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When you find your policy, refer to the \"causes of loss\" section, says<strong>Kevin Foley</strong>, CPA, CPCU at PFT&amp;K Insurance Brokers in Freehold, NJ.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“The dwelling is usually covered for all risk of direct physical damage, unless one of the exclusions apply.”</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Before the renovation starts</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Don\'t let a single wall be torn down until you\'ve called your insurance company.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“You may need to update your policy, or buy extra coverage, if necessary, to extend coverage to the work,” Tirschler says. “If you’re renovating your bathroom and investing $15,000 into labor and materials, your home’s replacement cost should be adjusted to match this new cost.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Without this pre-renovation step, the value of your improvements may be uninsured and, in this case, you would have to pay out of pocket for any repairs.</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What’s covered during a renovation</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Foley says that if the damage is not named in your insurance policy, then it\'s not covered. So what is typically covered?  Fires, explosions, water damage, and thefts.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Renovations would be covered for the same perils as the rest of the dwelling coverage, as long as the policy is updated to do so,” says <strong>James Fleming</strong> of Country Financial in Bend, OR.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The same goes for any work performed inside or outside of the house.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“If the contractor caused a fire, broke a window, left a hole in the building, dropped a ladder on your dining room table, your insurance covers it,” says Foley.</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What’s not covered</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\"If you don’t like the work, there’s no coverage for that,” says Foley. “If it’s really poor work and you need to have it done over, you won’t find coverage in your policy, but I would recommend filing a claim with your contractor\'s general liability carrier.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tirschler agrees that damage caused by faulty workmanship is generally not covered by your policy.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“This is because home insurance policies are designed to cover sudden and accidental direct damage, not to provide a warranty for work performed by manufacturers and contractors.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">However, depending on the cause of the damage to your home, another option may come into play.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“If a contractor caused damage, most likely your home insurance company will pay for repairs quickly and then subrogate, or seek recovery of payment, from the contractor or their insurance company for damage,” says Espenschied.</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Damage to your neighbor’s property</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Let’s say that during the course of the project, your neighbor’s property accidentally sustains damage. Does your insurance cover <em>that</em>? Once again, it depends!</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you were negligent, for example for not removing a tree that you knew needed to be removed, your homeowner’s liability would cover you, according to <strong>Tim Surber,</strong> owner of Tim Surber State Farm Agency in Yakima WA.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But suppose your contractor causes the damage.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Since the contractor was the cause of the damage, the contractor\'s commercial insurance policy would be responsible for the neighbor\'s home damage,” Espenschied explains.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tirschler agrees that the contractor is responsible for compensating the neighbor.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Your home insurance policy covers your own liability, not your contractor’s liability for accidental damage to others’ property.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Your contractor should have a commercial general liability insurance policy to cover any accidents that may happen on the job.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Request that your contractor have their insurance agent fax or email a copy of this insurance certificate directly to you, as confirmation that it is in force,” says Tirschler.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In fact, he says your home insurance provider may even request this certificate from you in advance of the renovations.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“To help protect yourself against negative circumstances, make sure your contractors are licensed, bonded, and insured,\" Tirschler says. \"Carefully review any guarantees or warranties they offer, to make sure you are satisfied with how they plan to stand behind their work.”</span></p>\n<p><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/homeowners-insurance-cover-renovation-damage/\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></p>\n</div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','','','inherit','closed','closed','','767-revision-v1','','','2020-09-09 22:45:14','2020-09-09 22:45:14','',767,'http://smartinsurance.tips/767-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(776,1,'2020-09-09 22:47:34','2020-09-09 22:47:34','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<h1 class=\"post-title entry-title\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>10 Tiny Pivots to Make Your Small Business More Effective</strong></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img src=\"https://thumbor.forbes.com/thumbor/960x0/https%3A%2F%2Fspecials-images.forbesimg.com%2Fdam%2Fimageserve%2F951640954%2F960x0.jpg%3Ffit%3Dscale\" alt=\"uncaptioned\" width=\"713\" height=\"476\" style=\"float: left;\" /></span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A rental property is one of the largest investments you can make, and in order to make sure your property is as lucrative as possible, it’s important to protect your investment to the best of your ability. When establishing yourself as a real estate investor, it is critical to acquire the right insurance to protect your business, your property, yourself and your tenants. At first glance, the range of insurance options can seem exhausting, but each involved party needs to be covered by the appropriate policy to stay safe — physically, financially and legally.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Homeowners Insurance</strong></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Many landlords rely on their standard homeowners insurance to protect their rental properties, but typical homeowners coverage is usually not sufficient to protect your investment property. Homeowners insurance usually covers owner-occupied homes, while a landlord-specific insurance policy will cover liability and damages related to tenant-occupied homes.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Depending on your specific situation, homeowners insurance may be sufficient without needing to seek out landlord insurance. If you only plan to rent out your property on occasion — such as for a specific event or while you’re on vacation — your homeowners insurance may suffice. If you plan to rent out single rooms while you also occupy the property, homeowners insurance may also be enough. Coverage varies based on your insurance company and policy, so be sure to contact your provider before you start looking for tenants.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Landlord Insurance</strong></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you’re planning on renting out your investment property to tenants on a regular basis, you’ll need to look into landlord insurance coverage. Insurance policies designed specifically for landlords provide protection not only for your property, but added protection for financial loss and obligations associated with your rental property. Similar to homeowners insurance, landlord insurance will help cover the property itself and your liability when it comes to the tenants who live at the property.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Depending on the insurance company you choose and the options included in your policy, there are a variety of coverages that may be included. Personal property coverage can help protect belongings used to service the rental property if you choose to rent the space furnished, where legal fee coverage can help protect you if you need legal representation regarding a lease agreement with a tenant. Not every landlord will choose to include every available coverage option on their policy; it is up to you to decide how much you want to spend in order to manage costs for damage or liability associated with your investment property.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Property Management Insurance</strong></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you plan to manage multiple rental properties as a business, your insurance needs will once again change. If you are involved professionally in renting residential real estate, managing rental properties for others or contracting services for rental property owners, you’ll likely need to look into property management insurance coverage. Property managers need to have insurance that covers their business, their clients, their tenants and the properties they manage. If you’re simply a real estate investor or private owner renting out your home, look toward landlord insurance instead of property management insurance.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Renters Insurance</strong></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">While landlord insurance will protect many things regarding your rental property, it only protects the owner’s property and belongings, not your tenants’ personal possessions. It is good standard practice to require your tenants to have their own renters insurance policy, which is an affordable way for your tenants to protect themselves and their personal property. Encouraging (or requiring) your tenants to have renters insurance can save you time and money should any accidents, damage or theft occur at your property.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Many renters don’t understand the importance of renters insurance because they assume your landlord policy will protect them. In fact, over 90% of homeowners carry a homeowners insurance policy, but less than 50% of renters have renters insurance in place. Renters insurance is an amazing tool to give your tenants protection for their personal belongings, against liability charges and against medical charges, and it helps them cover the cost of any property damage that may take place.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Equipping yourself and your renters with the right insurance is one of the best things you can do as a landlord to protect your business, your property and your tenants.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesrealestatecouncil/2019/09/10/insurance-for-landlords-protecting-your-investment/#67473c08361c\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Insurance For Landlords: Protecting Your Investment','','inherit','closed','closed','','773-revision-v1','','','2020-09-09 22:47:34','2020-09-09 22:47:34','',773,'http://smartinsurance.tips/773-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(779,1,'2020-09-09 22:48:55','2020-09-09 22:48:55','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 id=\"article-heading_2-0\" class=\"comp article-heading mntl-text-block\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>What You Need to File a Homeowners Insurance Claim</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\"></div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<p><img src=\"https://resize.hswstatic.com/w_796/gif/hi-claim.jpg\" alt=\"homeowners insurance\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" /><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">After the storm has cleared or the fire has died down, your sense of relief at surviving may quickly give way to a sense of shock when you gaze at the charred or battered wreckage that used to be your home and all the stuff inside it. If there\'s any consolation, it\'s that you have a homeowners insurance policy that will help to make you whole again.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But before that can happen, you have to file a homeowners insurance claim. While documenting your personal disaster and the harm that it\'s caused you may be emotionally painful, it\'s an essential step in getting on with your life. And the process isn\'t necessarily that complex or difficult, especially if you\'ve had the foresight to prepare for it in advance with a careful inventory of your home and property.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\">How to Prepare for the Worst-case Scenario</span></h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">One of the most important steps in filing a claim is something that you need to do in advance of any disaster — to visually document your home and your personal property, so that you can prove to the insurance company what everything is worth. \"All you need is a smartphone camera,\" advises Amy Bach, executive director of United Policyholders, a California-based consumer advocacy organization. \"Make a video, 10 minutes of narrating about the inside and outside features of your home. Mention things such as \'here\'s my grandmother\'s dresser that we inherited.\' Then make sure that you store that file in the cloud or email it to a relative.\" It\'s a good idea to store your policy information in some similarly safe place online as well.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Additionally, it\'s a good idea to create a written inventory at the same time, according to Robert Buckel, vice president and product manager at Erie Insurance. \"Take the time to list of all your personal possessions, along with their estimated value,\" he says via email. \"If there is fine art or jewelry in the home, get those appraised and keep the appraisal somewhere safe, and fireproof. Letting your agent know of any items you collect of high value beforehand will come in handy in case of a loss. Many insurance policies also limit how much coverage applies to fine art, jewelry and other high value items, so your agent can help you make sure they are properly covered.\"</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It\'s important to regularly go over your inventory and make sure that it is up-to-date, according to Angi Orbann, vice president of Property for Personal Insurance at Travelers Insurance, who also suggests that you keep receipts for items, and upload the written inventory into cloud storage as a precaution.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What to Do After Disaster Strikes</span></h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Fast-forward to the disaster aftermath. It\'s important to contact the claims department of your insurance company as soon as possible after a disaster strikes or a loss occurs, according to Tim Bowen, assistant vice president of home operations at MetLife Auto &amp; Home.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\"When contacting the claims department, be ready to provide your policyholder information as well as policy number, if possible,\" Bowen says. \"If not, your claims associate should be able to locate your policy using your personal information. Once the policy is located, the claims associate will capture what happened, provide emergency assistance if necessary, and walk you through the next steps in the claim process based on the type and scope of the loss reported.\"</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Insurance companies are trying to make the claims process easier and quicker. Allstate Insurance, for example, enables policyholders to file a claim online, or else by contacting their agent, according to Jenny Fitzpatrick, product director for Allstate Insurance.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Either way, you\'ll eventually need to document the disaster by sending photos and a description of the damage and when it occurred, she explains via email.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Temporary Fixes</span></h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Once you\'ve filed your claim, a repair vendor can make temporary repairs, such as boarding up windows, while your insurer evaluates your filing, prepares an estimate and explains to you what coverages, deductibles and limits may apply. \"Allstate can recommend repair vendors if needed, but homeowners may choose their own, too,\" Fitzpatrick says.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Meanwhile, your insurer will evaluate your claim and do an on-site inspection to assess the damage.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\"Customers should also not get rid of anything until the insurance company inspects the home,\" explains Buckel. \"This will help determine the amount of the loss and how much needs to be replaced. This may also help determine the cause of the loss.\"</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you\'ve paid for replacement-value coverage, Bach notes that it\'s a two-stage process. Initially, she says, the claims adjuster will only give the actual cash value — \"what you could have sold it for on Craigslist\" – and wait until you\'ve actually replaced the items to pay the remainder. That ensures that policyholders actually replace the items, instead of just pocketing the insurance payout.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://money.howstuffworks.com/personal-finance/financial-planning/file-homeowners-insurance-claim.htm\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','What You Need to File a Homeowners Insurance Claim','','publish','closed','closed','','what-you-need-to-file-a-homeowners-insurance-claim','','','2020-09-09 22:51:36','2020-09-09 22:51:36','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?page_id=779',0,'page','',0),(778,1,'2020-09-09 22:47:55','2020-09-09 22:47:55','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"fs-headline speakable-headline font-base font-size\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Insurance For Landlords: Protecting Your Investment</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img src=\"https://thumbor.forbes.com/thumbor/960x0/https%3A%2F%2Fspecials-images.forbesimg.com%2Fdam%2Fimageserve%2F951640954%2F960x0.jpg%3Ffit%3Dscale\" alt=\"uncaptioned\" width=\"713\" height=\"476\" style=\"float: left;\" /></span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A rental property is one of the largest investments you can make, and in order to make sure your property is as lucrative as possible, it’s important to protect your investment to the best of your ability. When establishing yourself as a real estate investor, it is critical to acquire the right insurance to protect your business, your property, yourself and your tenants. At first glance, the range of insurance options can seem exhausting, but each involved party needs to be covered by the appropriate policy to stay safe — physically, financially and legally.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Homeowners Insurance</strong></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Many landlords rely on their standard homeowners insurance to protect their rental properties, but typical homeowners coverage is usually not sufficient to protect your investment property. Homeowners insurance usually covers owner-occupied homes, while a landlord-specific insurance policy will cover liability and damages related to tenant-occupied homes.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Depending on your specific situation, homeowners insurance may be sufficient without needing to seek out landlord insurance. If you only plan to rent out your property on occasion — such as for a specific event or while you’re on vacation — your homeowners insurance may suffice. If you plan to rent out single rooms while you also occupy the property, homeowners insurance may also be enough. Coverage varies based on your insurance company and policy, so be sure to contact your provider before you start looking for tenants.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Landlord Insurance</strong></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you’re planning on renting out your investment property to tenants on a regular basis, you’ll need to look into landlord insurance coverage. Insurance policies designed specifically for landlords provide protection not only for your property, but added protection for financial loss and obligations associated with your rental property. Similar to homeowners insurance, landlord insurance will help cover the property itself and your liability when it comes to the tenants who live at the property.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Depending on the insurance company you choose and the options included in your policy, there are a variety of coverages that may be included. Personal property coverage can help protect belongings used to service the rental property if you choose to rent the space furnished, where legal fee coverage can help protect you if you need legal representation regarding a lease agreement with a tenant. Not every landlord will choose to include every available coverage option on their policy; it is up to you to decide how much you want to spend in order to manage costs for damage or liability associated with your investment property.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Property Management Insurance</strong></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you plan to manage multiple rental properties as a business, your insurance needs will once again change. If you are involved professionally in renting residential real estate, managing rental properties for others or contracting services for rental property owners, you’ll likely need to look into property management insurance coverage. Property managers need to have insurance that covers their business, their clients, their tenants and the properties they manage. If you’re simply a real estate investor or private owner renting out your home, look toward landlord insurance instead of property management insurance.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Renters Insurance</strong></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">While landlord insurance will protect many things regarding your rental property, it only protects the owner’s property and belongings, not your tenants’ personal possessions. It is good standard practice to require your tenants to have their own renters insurance policy, which is an affordable way for your tenants to protect themselves and their personal property. Encouraging (or requiring) your tenants to have renters insurance can save you time and money should any accidents, damage or theft occur at your property.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Many renters don’t understand the importance of renters insurance because they assume your landlord policy will protect them. In fact, over 90% of homeowners carry a homeowners insurance policy, but less than 50% of renters have renters insurance in place. Renters insurance is an amazing tool to give your tenants protection for their personal belongings, against liability charges and against medical charges, and it helps them cover the cost of any property damage that may take place.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Equipping yourself and your renters with the right insurance is one of the best things you can do as a landlord to protect your business, your property and your tenants.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesrealestatecouncil/2019/09/10/insurance-for-landlords-protecting-your-investment/#67473c08361c\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Insurance For Landlords: Protecting Your Investment','','inherit','closed','closed','','773-revision-v1','','','2020-09-09 22:47:55','2020-09-09 22:47:55','',773,'http://smartinsurance.tips/773-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(783,1,'2020-09-09 22:52:33','2020-09-09 22:52:33','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"entry-title\" itemprop=\"headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Motorcycle Nightmare: Is There Coverage for an Out-of-State Accident?</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\"><img src=\"https://iam.iiaba.net/PublishingImages/Articles/Strategies/aaee16f2afb1b2841539feee4ed8d2ec9eb.jpg\" alt=\"motorcycle-nightmare-is-there-coverage-for-an-out-of-state-accident\" style=\"float: left;\" /></div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> </span></span></span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong style=\"font-size: 14px;\">Q:</strong><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"> </span><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">An insured’s son was riding a motorcycle with his grandparent in Pennsylvania and was involved in an accident. The insured lives in Maine. Is there any bodily injury or medical payment coverage under the insured’s standard, auto policy? </span></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Response 1:</strong> Who owns the motorcycle? Who was driving? Who was at fault? What insurance is on the motorcycle? Does the motorcycle insurance include guest passenger liability?</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Response 2:</strong> Most personal auto policies do not provide coverage for any vehicle with less than four wheels. Get out your policy form, look under exclusions and see if you find something similar in the policy.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Response 3:</strong> The motorcycle should have had motorcycle insurance and, hopefully, coverage for medical payments. If the motorcycle was not insured for medical payments, there is no coverage on the auto policy.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance depends on the laws in the client’s state. Many states provide coverage if the motorcycle has UM/UIM coverage on it, while other states provide coverage for all vehicles. Check your state’s statutes or ask your state association.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Response 4:</strong> If by a “standard auto policy,” you mean the ISO PP 00 01, the first exclusion under Part B Medical Payments Coverage excludes coverage for an insured while occupying a motorized vehicle with less than four wheels. At the same time, there is not a similar exclusion under the insured’s state UM coverage form.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Coverage forms are always necessary to provide definitive answers to these questions. RTFP—Read the Full Policy—is always in order.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Response 5:</strong> There are actually a few \"standard\" PAPs in the market. The ISO amendatory endorsement for the client’s state doesn\'t show any state-specific changes that would relate.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Most PAPs exclude medical payments when riding a motorcycle, so coverage would likely not extend. If the son was negligent as a passenger and caused injury to others, that is also excluded under the liability coverage. The safest course is to report the accident to the insurer and let them deny coverage.</span></p>\n<p><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.iamagazine.com/strategies/read/2019/12/13/motorcycle-nightmare-is-there-coverage-for-an-out-of-state-accident\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></p>\n</div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Motorcycle Nightmare: Is There Coverage for an Out-of-State Accident?','','publish','closed','closed','','motorcycle-nightmare-is-there-coverage-for-an-out-of-state-accident','','','2020-09-09 22:54:36','2020-09-09 22:54:36','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?page_id=783',0,'page','',0),(784,1,'2020-09-09 22:52:33','2020-09-09 22:52:33','<!-- wp:divi/placeholder /-->','Motorcycle Nightmare: Is There Coverage for an Out-of-State Accident?','','inherit','closed','closed','','783-revision-v1','','','2020-09-09 22:52:33','2020-09-09 22:52:33','',783,'http://smartinsurance.tips/783-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(782,1,'2020-09-09 22:51:36','2020-09-09 22:51:36','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 id=\"article-heading_2-0\" class=\"comp article-heading mntl-text-block\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>What You Need to File a Homeowners Insurance Claim</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\"></div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<p><img src=\"https://resize.hswstatic.com/w_796/gif/hi-claim.jpg\" alt=\"homeowners insurance\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" /><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">After the storm has cleared or the fire has died down, your sense of relief at surviving may quickly give way to a sense of shock when you gaze at the charred or battered wreckage that used to be your home and all the stuff inside it. If there\'s any consolation, it\'s that you have a homeowners insurance policy that will help to make you whole again.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But before that can happen, you have to file a homeowners insurance claim. While documenting your personal disaster and the harm that it\'s caused you may be emotionally painful, it\'s an essential step in getting on with your life. And the process isn\'t necessarily that complex or difficult, especially if you\'ve had the foresight to prepare for it in advance with a careful inventory of your home and property.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\">How to Prepare for the Worst-case Scenario</span></h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">One of the most important steps in filing a claim is something that you need to do in advance of any disaster — to visually document your home and your personal property, so that you can prove to the insurance company what everything is worth. \"All you need is a smartphone camera,\" advises Amy Bach, executive director of United Policyholders, a California-based consumer advocacy organization. \"Make a video, 10 minutes of narrating about the inside and outside features of your home. Mention things such as \'here\'s my grandmother\'s dresser that we inherited.\' Then make sure that you store that file in the cloud or email it to a relative.\" It\'s a good idea to store your policy information in some similarly safe place online as well.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Additionally, it\'s a good idea to create a written inventory at the same time, according to Robert Buckel, vice president and product manager at Erie Insurance. \"Take the time to list of all your personal possessions, along with their estimated value,\" he says via email. \"If there is fine art or jewelry in the home, get those appraised and keep the appraisal somewhere safe, and fireproof. Letting your agent know of any items you collect of high value beforehand will come in handy in case of a loss. Many insurance policies also limit how much coverage applies to fine art, jewelry and other high value items, so your agent can help you make sure they are properly covered.\"</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It\'s important to regularly go over your inventory and make sure that it is up-to-date, according to Angi Orbann, vice president of Property for Personal Insurance at Travelers Insurance, who also suggests that you keep receipts for items, and upload the written inventory into cloud storage as a precaution.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What to Do After Disaster Strikes</span></h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Fast-forward to the disaster aftermath. It\'s important to contact the claims department of your insurance company as soon as possible after a disaster strikes or a loss occurs, according to Tim Bowen, assistant vice president of home operations at MetLife Auto &amp; Home.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\"When contacting the claims department, be ready to provide your policyholder information as well as policy number, if possible,\" Bowen says. \"If not, your claims associate should be able to locate your policy using your personal information. Once the policy is located, the claims associate will capture what happened, provide emergency assistance if necessary, and walk you through the next steps in the claim process based on the type and scope of the loss reported.\"</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Insurance companies are trying to make the claims process easier and quicker. Allstate Insurance, for example, enables policyholders to file a claim online, or else by contacting their agent, according to Jenny Fitzpatrick, product director for Allstate Insurance.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Either way, you\'ll eventually need to document the disaster by sending photos and a description of the damage and when it occurred, she explains via email.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Temporary Fixes</span></h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Once you\'ve filed your claim, a repair vendor can make temporary repairs, such as boarding up windows, while your insurer evaluates your filing, prepares an estimate and explains to you what coverages, deductibles and limits may apply. \"Allstate can recommend repair vendors if needed, but homeowners may choose their own, too,\" Fitzpatrick says.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Meanwhile, your insurer will evaluate your claim and do an on-site inspection to assess the damage.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\"Customers should also not get rid of anything until the insurance company inspects the home,\" explains Buckel. \"This will help determine the amount of the loss and how much needs to be replaced. This may also help determine the cause of the loss.\"</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you\'ve paid for replacement-value coverage, Bach notes that it\'s a two-stage process. Initially, she says, the claims adjuster will only give the actual cash value — \"what you could have sold it for on Craigslist\" – and wait until you\'ve actually replaced the items to pay the remainder. That ensures that policyholders actually replace the items, instead of just pocketing the insurance payout.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://money.howstuffworks.com/personal-finance/financial-planning/file-homeowners-insurance-claim.htm\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','What You Need to File a Homeowners Insurance Claim','','inherit','closed','closed','','779-revision-v1','','','2020-09-09 22:51:36','2020-09-09 22:51:36','',779,'http://smartinsurance.tips/779-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(786,1,'2020-09-09 22:54:16','2020-09-09 22:54:16','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"entry-title\" itemprop=\"headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Motorcycle Nightmare: Is There Coverage for an Out-of-State Accident?</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\"><img src=\"https://iam.iiaba.net/PublishingImages/Articles/Strategies/aaee16f2afb1b2841539feee4ed8d2ec9eb.jpg\" alt=\"motorcycle-nightmare-is-there-coverage-for-an-out-of-state-accident\" style=\"float: left;\" /></div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> </span></span></span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong style=\"font-size: 14px;\">Q:</strong><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"> </span><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">An insured’s son was riding a motorcycle with his grandparent in Pennsylvania and was involved in an accident. The insured lives in Maine. Is there any bodily injury or medical payment coverage under the insured’s standard, auto policy? </span></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Response 1:</strong> Who owns the motorcycle? Who was driving? Who was at fault? What insurance is on the motorcycle? Does the motorcycle insurance include guest passenger liability?</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Response 2:</strong> Most personal auto policies do not provide coverage for any vehicle with less than four wheels. Get out your policy form, look under exclusions and see if you find something similar in the policy.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Response 3:</strong> The motorcycle should have had motorcycle insurance and, hopefully, coverage for medical payments. If the motorcycle was not insured for medical payments, there is no coverage on the auto policy.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance depends on the laws in the client’s state. Many states provide coverage if the motorcycle has UM/UIM coverage on it, while other states provide coverage for all vehicles. Check your state’s statutes or ask your state association.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Response 4:</strong> If by a “standard auto policy,” you mean the ISO PP 00 01, the first exclusion under Part B Medical Payments Coverage excludes coverage for an insured while occupying a motorized vehicle with less than four wheels. At the same time, there is not a similar exclusion under the insured’s state UM coverage form.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Coverage forms are always necessary to provide definitive answers to these questions. RTFP—Read the Full Policy—is always in order.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Response 5:</strong> There are actually a few \"standard\" PAPs in the market. The ISO amendatory endorsement for the client’s state doesn\'t show any state-specific changes that would relate.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Most PAPs exclude medical payments when riding a motorcycle, so coverage would likely not extend. If the son was negligent as a passenger and caused injury to others, that is also excluded under the liability coverage. The safest course is to report the accident to the insurer and let them deny coverage.</span></p>\n<p><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.iamagazine.com/strategies/read/2019/12/13/motorcycle-nightmare-is-there-coverage-for-an-out-of-state-accident\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></p>\n</div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Motorcycle Nightmare: Is There Coverage for an Out-of-State Accident?','','inherit','closed','closed','','783-revision-v1','','','2020-09-09 22:54:16','2020-09-09 22:54:16','',783,'http://smartinsurance.tips/783-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(788,1,'2020-09-10 21:54:00','2020-09-10 21:54:00','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<h1 _ngcontent-c14=\"\" class=\"fs-headline speakable-headline font-base\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Do I Need Insurance For My Rental Car? Here\'s The Surprising Answer</strong></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" min_height=\"1938px\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p class=\"speakable-paragraph\"><img src=\"https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/898108308/960x0.jpg?fit=scale\" alt=\"Car rental insurance can be confusing. There are so many options. Here\'s how to sort through everything.\" width=\"734\" height=\"489\" style=\"float: left;\" />On a recent visit to Anchorage, Alaska, a stray pebble struck Brian Novak\'s rental vehicle. It left a deep crack on his windshield. Unfortunately, he had declined the car rental insurance, which meant he was responsible for a $400 repair bill.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">His story repeats itself thousands of times every day and is about to become even more common. At the car rental counter, when asked if they want insurance for their rental car, many travelers say \"no.\" That\'s usually because the optional collision damage waiver can double the cost of the vehicle. So they have to make a bet that they\'ll drive safely and return the car in working order.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">Sometimes they don\'t.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><strong>Car rental insurance can be confusing</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><strong></strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">\"Many people find rental car insurance confusing,\" says Ernesto Suarez, CEO of<span> </span><a href=\"https://www.insuremyrentalcar.com/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"color-link\" title=\"https://www.insuremyrentalcar.com/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https://www.insuremyrentalcar.com/\" aria-label=\"InsureMyRentalCar.com\">InsureMyRentalCar.com</a>. \"They end up spending a fortune at car rental desks or find themselves with a huge deductible bill at the end of their trip after a small chip to their windscreen.\"</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Novak, the owner of a hospitality marketing company from Skokie, Ill., got lucky. The credit card with which he\'d paid for his rental covered chipped windshields. </p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"It took a few months,\" he says, \"but my credit card covered all costs.\" </p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Others aren\'t as fortunate. Almost every day, consumers who had no insurance or whose cards didn\'t cover the damage contact my<span> </span><a href=\"http://elliott.org/help\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"color-link\" title=\"http://elliott.org/help\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:http://elliott.org/help\" aria-label=\"consumer advocacy organization\">consumer advocacy organization</a>. They\'re on the hook for hundreds or thousands of dollars in damage. In rare cases, they may have to replace the entire vehicle, which can lead to financial ruin. </p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Damage claims are about to become an even bigger problem. That\'s because car rental companies are<span> </span><a href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherelliott/2020/01/21/car-rental-upgrade/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"color-link\" title=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherelliott/2020/01/21/car-rental-upgrade/\" data-ga-track=\"InternalLink:https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherelliott/2020/01/21/car-rental-upgrade/\" aria-label=\"testing new technology\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">testing new technology</a><span> </span>that scans rentals before they leave the lot and after they return, logging even the smallest damage. In one test Avis conducted with the technology at London\'s Heathrow airport, it increased its number of damage claims by 22%.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\"Monitoring vehicle damage is a really significant thing for car rental companies,\" says car rental analyst Neil Abrams.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p><strong>What kind of insurance do you need for your rental car?</strong></p>\n<p><strong></strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">So when travelers ask me: Do I need insurance for my rental car, I say \"yes.\" But what kind? That\'s where it gets a little complicated. </p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">You have several options:<span style=\"font-size: 14px; text-align: left;\"> </span></p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>The car rental company\'s optional insurance.<span> </span></strong>This coverage, offered at the time of your rental, will cover most — but not all — damage to your vehicle. It\'s priced at a premium and can be extremely profitable to your car rental company. Rental agents are specially trained to sell it to you. </li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>A standalone car rental insurance policy.<span> </span></strong>Companies such as<span> </span><a href=\"https://www.insuremyrentalcar.com/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"color-link\" title=\"https://www.insuremyrentalcar.com/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https://www.insuremyrentalcar.com/\" aria-label=\"InsureMyRentalcar.com\">InsureMyRentalcar.com<span> </span></a>offer a range of collision damage waiver policies online that are less expensive and sometimes cover more than those offered by car rental companies.</li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Travel insurance.<span> </span></strong>Most traditional travel insurance policies provide some kind of car rental coverage. But there are limits on them, too. You have to check your policy before you rent, and remember to call your insurance company with any questions.</li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Your car insurance.</strong><span> </span>Most car insurance covers your rental, with some significant restrictions. Your insurance may not be accepted outside your home country or cover damage to certain vehicle types.</li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Your credit card.</strong><span> </span>Credit cards, especially those marketed to travelers, often have some type of car rental protection. \"Some credit cards include car rental protection if you use the credit card to rent the car,\" explains Justin Tysdal, the CEO<span> </span><a href=\"https://www.sevencorners.com/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"color-link\" title=\"https://www.sevencorners.com/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https://www.sevencorners.com/\" aria-label=\"Seven Corners\">Seven Corners</a>, a travel insurance company. \"Most travel insurance plans provide optional car rental coverage that protects the car if it is damaged due to collision, theft, vandalism, windstorm, fire, hail, flood or any cause not in your control and if the car is stolen while in your possession and not recovered.\" But again, there are limits. Many of the protections are secondary insurance, meaning that you have to first file a claim with your auto insurance before getting the card coverage. It can be a bureaucratic headache. </li>\n</ul>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p>\"You definitely need insurance when renting a car,\" says Miguel Suro, a personal finance expert who runs the site<span> </span><a href=\"http://richmiser.com/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"color-link\" title=\"http://richmiser.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:http://richmiser.com\" aria-label=\"Rich Miser\">Rich Miser</a>. \"Where it gets complicated is when you start talking about what kind of insurance.\"</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p><strong>Do you need car rental insurance? Here\'s what the experts recommend</strong></p>\n<p><strong></strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">First, a fact: You won\'t find a single expert who recommends not getting insurance for your rental car. That\'s because those stories about car rental customers paying for a new vehicle are completely true. It\'s also true that these bills led to extreme financial hardships. Car rental companies don\'t mess around when it comes to vehicle damage.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Another fact: Damage claims have been, and continue to be, a source of profits for some car rental companies. Reputable car rental companies only charge you for the actual repair. But others broadside you with inflated bills and \"loss of use\" charges. Then they send a damaged vehicle back into service, where another renter could be charged for the same damage.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>The case for the rental company\'s optional insurance.</strong><span> </span>It\'s convenient. If you\'ve forgotten about insurance, you can easily add it at the time of your car rental. But it\'s also expensive. \"Conventional wisdom is that the added insurance on a rental car is a rip-off in most cases,\" says Jake McKenzie of<span> </span><a href=\"https://www.autoaccessoriesgarage.com/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"color-link\" title=\"https://www.autoaccessoriesgarage.com/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https://www.autoaccessoriesgarage.com/\" aria-label=\"Auto Accessories Garage\">Auto Accessories Garage</a>.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>The case for a standalone car rental insurance policy.</strong><span> </span>A standalone policy may offer a range of collision damage waiver policies that are cheaper and more comprehensive than those offered by car rental companies. They\'re also easy to buy. \"Our website has been designed to cut through the insurance mumbo jumbo, making it easy for customers to find the cover they need and buy the right plan at the right price,\" says Suarez of InsureMyRentalcar.com. </p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>The case for credit card insurance.</strong><span> </span>A variety of credit cards include some level of rental car coverage, which might allow you to decline the insurance offered by the rental agency, says Sean Messier, an analyst for<span> </span><a href=\"http://creditcardinsider.com/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"color-link\" title=\"http://creditcardinsider.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:http://creditcardinsider.com\" aria-label=\"Credit Card Insider\">Credit Card Insider</a>. \"Rental insurance provided through your credit card usually lasts around 15 to 30 days, and it covers most basic types of vehicles while excluding things like trucks and exotic cars,\" he says. However, as mentioned above, the car rental insurance is typically secondary, which will only cover what your personal insurance doesn\'t. But secondary insurance typically becomes primary if you\'re uninsured or if your current insurance doesn\'t work where you\'re traveling.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>The case for your personal car insurance.</strong><span> </span>Remember, most car insurance covers your rental, with some significant restrictions. For example, some policies may not cover a specialty vehicle or one rented outside the country. But Preston McKinney, a travel agent with<span> </span><a href=\"http://www.odysseyworld.com/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"color-link\" title=\"http://www.odysseyworld.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:http://www.odysseyworld.com\" aria-label=\"Odyssey Travel\">Odyssey Travel</a>, a San Antonio travel agency, says it\'s worth checking with your insurance company. His State Farm insurance can offer an endorsement that offers full coverage. \"I suggest before renting a car, that my clients check with their auto insurance carrier to see if they offer such an option,\" he adds. </p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>The case for travel insurance.</strong><span> </span>When you buy a policy directly through a company like<span> </span><a href=\"http://www.aig.com/travel\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"color-link\" title=\"http://www.aig.com/travel\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:http://www.aig.com/travel\" aria-label=\"AIG Travel\">AIG Travel</a>,<span> </span><a href=\"https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"color-link\" title=\"https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/\" aria-label=\"Allianz Travel Insurance\">Allianz Travel Insurance</a>,<span> </span><a href=\"https://www.roamright.com/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"color-link\" title=\"https://www.roamright.com/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https://www.roamright.com/\" aria-label=\"Arch RoamRight\">Arch RoamRight</a>,<span> </span><a href=\"https://www.generalitravelinsurance.com/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"color-link\" title=\"https://www.generalitravelinsurance.com/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https://www.generalitravelinsurance.com/\" aria-label=\"Generali Global Assistance\">Generali Global Assistance</a>,<span> </span><a href=\"https://www.travelexinsurance.com/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"color-link\" title=\"https://www.travelexinsurance.com/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https://www.travelexinsurance.com/\" aria-label=\"Travelex\">Travelex</a><span> </span>or through a travel insurance site like<span> </span><a href=\"https://www.sevencorners.com/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"color-link\" title=\"https://www.sevencorners.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https://www.sevencorners.com\" aria-label=\"Seven Corners\">Seven Corners</a><span> </span>or<span> </span><a href=\"https://www.squaremouth.com/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"color-link\" title=\"https://www.squaremouth.com/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https://www.squaremouth.com/\" aria-label=\"Squaremouth\">Squaremouth</a>, you\'re also getting the convenience of easy coverage with some other benefits, such as medical evacuation and trip interruption coverage. Pro tip: Buying the car rental company\'s optional insurance might be overkill, since your travel insurance can offer comprehensive coverage. \"Check your travel insurance to see if you\'re already covered,\" advises frequent traveler Nick Brennan, who runs a UK-based<span> </span><a href=\"https://www.myuksimcard.com/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"color-link\" title=\"https://www.myuksimcard.com/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-ga-track=\"ExternalLink:https://www.myuksimcard.com/\" aria-label=\"cell phone accessories site\">cell phone accessories site</a>.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Which option is right for you? It depends on your level of insurance, your risk tolerance and your circumstances. Buying insurance when you\'re already covered may be too much — but then again, not buying enough coverage could decimate your personal finances. </p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Something to think about before you rent your next car.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">You can read the full article <a href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherelliott/2020/01/23/insurance-for-my-rental-car/#59e59f2c14e5\">here</a>.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<div class=\"vestpocket\" vest-pocket=\"\" _nghost-c40=\"\" ng-version=\"5.2.0\"></div>\n</div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Do I Need Insurance For My Rental Car? Here\'s The Surprising Answer','','inherit','closed','closed','','233-revision-v1','','','2020-09-10 21:54:00','2020-09-10 21:54:00','',233,'http://smartinsurance.tips/233-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(791,1,'2020-09-11 18:45:36','2020-09-11 18:45:36','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" custom_margin=\"2px|auto||auto||\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<h1 class=\"headline heading-content\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Here\'s How to Figure out the Amount of Homeowners Insurance You Should Actually Buy</strong></span></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><img src=\"https://external.fceb2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/safe_image.php?d=AQDhE9CZTU6dOsjN&amp;w=500&amp;h=261&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fawesomesocialposts.myinsurancevideos.com%2Fpublic%2F25487%2F202009%2F25487_1599778107880.png&amp;cfs=1&amp;ext=jpg&amp;_nc_cb=1&amp;_nc_hash=AQDvV9jNgaBgEOdW\" alt=\"Here\'s How to Figure out the Amount of Homeowners Insurance You Should Actually Buy | Smart Insurance Tips\" style=\"float: left;\" /><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Here’s some advice for new homeowners figuring out how much insurance coverage to buy: Think back to the popular childhood fable, and keep the Goldilocks Principle in mind: Not too much, not too little, but just right.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Too much – either in total amounts, or areas of coverage you don’t really need – and you could be looking at punishing premiums on an annual basis. Too little, and when disaster strikes, your costs for repairing and rebuilding could be far beyond what your policy covers.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“The biggest danger we see arise most frequently is underinsurance,” says Carmen Balber, executive director of the Los Angeles-based group Consumer Watchdog. “That is by far the biggest problem homeowners run into, when an unfortunate event occurs and they have to file a claim.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The statistics bear her out. Around 60% of U.S. homes are underinsured, by an average of 20%, according to data firm CoreLogic.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">That’s not necessarily due to cheap homeowners who are trying to skimp. It might be because they haven’t really thought about the policy since they first took it out, or because they don’t fully grasp the ins and outs of proper coverage in the first place. In fact, a whopping 52% of policy owners don’t have a complete understanding of their insurance, according to a survey by J.D. Power.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It’s hard to blame them, because home insurance is tricky business – and in this era of climate change, it’s hard to tell what kind of calamity might befall us. But if there is any positive side, it is that people are being much more thoughtful about protecting themselves.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Catastrophes seem to be occurring on a regular basis: Hurricanes, floods, wildfires, earthquakes,” says Janet Ruiz, a spokesperson for the Insurance Information Institute. “So people are paying more attention to insurance these days. And that’s a very smart thing, because your financial stability depends on it.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">And now, of course, we have to contend with the coronavirus and its fallout. While the pandemic won’t affect the basic principles of home coverage, many insurers — <a href=\"https://secure.money.com/pr/u8b6db69498a?apxa2=&amp;apxa3=&amp;apxa1=%2Fheres-how-to-figure-out-the-amount-of-homeowners-insurance-you-should-actually-buy%2F&amp;ca_referer=money.com%2Fheres-how-to-figure-out-the-amount-of-homeowners-insurance-you-should-actually-buy%2F%3A%3A:Allstate&amp;apxp1=Allstate\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"external-link\" aria-describedby=\"external-disclaimer\" title=\"(opens new window)\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" style=\"color: #000000;\">Allstate</a>, for example — are taking economic hardship into consideration, and allowing customers to temporarily pause or reduce premiums without penalty or cancellation (although the difference will have to be made up down the line). And if you have moved your work into your home for the foreseeable future, you might want to look into what’s called a home business endorsement, or raising coverage limits for the business property you’re using.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Here are a few tips from the experts to put that Goldilocks Principle into action, and get the coverage amount that’s just right for you.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><i>-Focus on replacement costs.</i> You’re not really aiming to insure the full market value of your property, because that includes the land, and the land isn’t going anywhere. And you should probably look to insure more than just the actual cash value of the structure, because – thanks to factors like inflation and depreciation and rising construction costs — that may not turn out to be enough to rebuild after a disaster.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The elegant solution: Insure the replacement cost, or the rough estimate of how much it would take in labor and materials to repair and rebuild. Premiums might be 10-15% more than if you were just insuring the cash value, but it will be well worth it if you ever to have file a claim. Even better, advises Balber: Get “extended replacement cost” coverage, which covers you even if local building costs skyrocket in the wake of disaster (which often happens).</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><i>-Know your coverage areas.</i> Standard homeowner policies cover some areas of damage, but not others. In this era of climate change and rising tides, research what your area is prone to, whether you are covered for it – and if not, to look into additional riders with your existing company, or securing that coverage through a separate insurer.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Flooding, for instance, is generally not covered. The National Flood Insurance Program (FloodSmart.gov) can hook you up with participating local brokers. The program covers dwellings up to $250,000, and contents up to $100,000, with an average annual premium of around $700, although coverage in lower-risk areas won’t cost as much.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Other areas that are typically not covered, but could be: Things like sewer backup, and personal collectibles like jewelry and artwork.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><i>-Liability coverage is critical.</i> You may think of home insurance as just relating to the structure, but really it’s much more than that. If someone falls and injures themselves seriously on your property, they could theoretically sue for some, or even all, of your assets.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">That’s where liability coverage is your best friend. Typical homeowner policies offer at least $100,000, but you can certainly go higher and take out $300,000 or even $500,000. If you have more assets to protect, get a so-called “umbrella” policy over and above that amount. A million bucks of coverage costs a few hundred bucks a year, and is well worth the peace of mind.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">–<i>Circumstances change over time.</i> Let’s say that your home insurance amount was perfect for when you first took out the policy. That doesn’t mean it is still appropriate today.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Perhaps in the meantime, you undertook various home-improvement projects, like bathroom and kitchen remodels, that boosted total replacement costs. So your home is now worth $400,000, but your coverage is only for $300,000 – and that’s a problem.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Or maybe your town has become a popular location, homebuilders are in high demand, and their costs have gone up. Make sure your coverage takes that into account. (Multiply square footage by current local per-square-foot building costs, which the local builders’ or realtors’ association should be able to tell you.) In a similar way, locking in an “inflation guard” rider can help protect you for increased building costs 10 or 20 years down the road.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><i>-Cover the contents</i>. It’s not just four walls and a roof that make a home valuable, it’s what’s inside. Generally speaking, contents can be insured up to a percentage of the structure’s overall value – roughly between 50-75%, says Ruiz.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It’s important to document those contents, though, so that there isn’t haggling with your insurance company when you have to file a claim. So perform a video inventory – there are plenty of apps to help these days, like Sortly and Nest Egg – and then upload the results off-site.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><i>-Keep costs under control</i>. It’s easy to instruct you to get as much insurance coverage as you possibly can. But that can be pricey, so take thoughtful steps to keep those premiums under control. Bundling homeowner policies with other areas of coverage, like your auto, could save 30%. Raising your deductible – to $1,000 from $500, say – could save you 25%. Avoid filing multiple minor claims if you don’t have to, which could make insurers nervous and lead them to not renew your policy.</span></p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"ca-widget-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"ca-widget-indicator\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If your rates are being hiked, check whether better or more affordable coverage could be had with another insurer. Insure.com is one useful site for that, says Ruiz. Independent brokers – those not beholden to a single company – are often savvy shoppers (<a href=\"https://www.independentagent.com/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"external-link\" aria-describedby=\"external-disclaimer\" title=\"(opens new window)\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" style=\"color: #000000;\">https://www.independentagent.com/</a>). And state insurance departments often have rate-comparison tools of their own.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Most important, don’t just let your policy gather dust in a drawer for years, but actively review whether you have the coverage amounts you need. “When renewals come in the mail every year, take some time, look it over, and call your agent,” says Ruiz. “It’s worth every second of your time.”</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<div class=\"ca-widget-indicator\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article,</span> <a href=\"https://money.com/heres-how-to-figure-out-the-amount-of-homeowners-insurance-you-should-actually-buy/\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Here\'s How to Figure out the Amount of Homeowners Insurance You Should Actually Buy','','inherit','closed','closed','','325-revision-v1','','','2020-09-11 18:45:36','2020-09-11 18:45:36','',325,'http://smartinsurance.tips/325-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(794,1,'2020-10-21 23:38:05','2020-10-21 23:38:05','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<h1 class=\"entry-title\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Should You Bundle Your Insurance Policies?</strong></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<div align=\"center\"></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img src=\"https://rismedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/RIS_ACE_040620_1_thumbnail.jpg\" width=\"620\" height=\"360\" style=\"float: left;\" /></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; color: #000000;\">Many companies offer attractive discounts to customers who bundle their homeowners, auto and life insurance policies.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; color: #000000;\">If you had bundled policies and an accident damaged your home and car, you could pay one deductible.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; color: #000000;\">Getting all your insurance from one company could help you avoid gaps in coverage.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; color: #000000;\">If your home is difficult to insure, you could have more luck getting coverage from a company where you already had an unrelated policy.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; color: #000000;\">It’s easier to handle billing and make policy changes when dealing with one insurer.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; color: #000000;\">Bundling might not make sense if you have a high-end car or if one company offers you low rates but inadequate coverage.</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://rismedia.com/2020/04/06/should-you-bundle-your-insurance-policies/\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Should You Bundle Your Insurance Policies?','','publish','closed','closed','','should-you-bundle-your-insurance-policies','','','2020-10-22 00:00:52','2020-10-22 00:00:52','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?page_id=794',0,'page','',0),(795,1,'2020-10-21 23:38:05','2020-10-21 23:38:05','<!-- wp:divi/placeholder /-->','Should You Bundle Your Insurance Policies?','','inherit','closed','closed','','794-revision-v1','','','2020-10-21 23:38:05','2020-10-21 23:38:05','',794,'http://smartinsurance.tips/794-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(808,1,'2020-10-22 00:00:52','2020-10-22 00:00:52','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<h1 class=\"entry-title\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Should You Bundle Your Insurance Policies?</strong></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<div align=\"center\"></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img src=\"https://rismedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/RIS_ACE_040620_1_thumbnail.jpg\" width=\"620\" height=\"360\" style=\"float: left;\" /></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; color: #000000;\">Many companies offer attractive discounts to customers who bundle their homeowners, auto and life insurance policies.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; color: #000000;\">If you had bundled policies and an accident damaged your home and car, you could pay one deductible.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; color: #000000;\">Getting all your insurance from one company could help you avoid gaps in coverage.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; color: #000000;\">If your home is difficult to insure, you could have more luck getting coverage from a company where you already had an unrelated policy.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; color: #000000;\">It’s easier to handle billing and make policy changes when dealing with one insurer.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; color: #000000;\">Bundling might not make sense if you have a high-end car or if one company offers you low rates but inadequate coverage.</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://rismedia.com/2020/04/06/should-you-bundle-your-insurance-policies/\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Should You Bundle Your Insurance Policies?','','inherit','closed','closed','','794-revision-v1','','','2020-10-22 00:00:52','2020-10-22 00:00:52','',794,'http://smartinsurance.tips/794-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(797,1,'2020-10-21 23:43:42','2020-10-21 23:43:42','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"entry-title\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Should You Bundle Your Insurance Policies?</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\"></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img src=\"https://rismedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/RIS_ACE_040620_1_thumbnail.jpg\" width=\"620\" height=\"360\" style=\"float: left;\" /></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; color: #000000;\">Many companies offer attractive discounts to customers who bundle their homeowners, auto and life insurance policies.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; color: #000000;\">If you had bundled policies and an accident damaged your home and car, you could pay one deductible.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; color: #000000;\">Getting all your insurance from one company could help you avoid gaps in coverage.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; color: #000000;\">If your home is difficult to insure, you could have more luck getting coverage from a company where you already had an unrelated policy.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; color: #000000;\">It’s easier to handle billing and make policy changes when dealing with one insurer.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal; color: #000000;\">Bundling might not make sense if you have a high-end car or if one company offers you low rates but inadequate coverage.</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: right;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://rismedia.com/2020/04/06/should-you-bundle-your-insurance-policies/\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Should You Bundle Your Insurance Policies?','','inherit','closed','closed','','794-revision-v1','','','2020-10-21 23:43:42','2020-10-21 23:43:42','',794,'http://smartinsurance.tips/794-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(799,1,'2020-10-21 23:48:15','2020-10-21 23:48:15','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<h1 class=\"headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Homeowners Insurance Claims Do\'s and Don\'ts You Should Be Fully </strong></h1>\n<h1 class=\"headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Aware Of</strong></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px; text-align: right;\">Fact: Not all homeowners insurance policies are created equal. When it comes time to file a claim, many homeowners find that their policy covers only certain types of damage.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px; text-align: right;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span class=\"s1\" style=\"color: #000000;\">\"As a homeowner, you should thoroughly read your policy before you need it. Review your declarations page in order to fully understand what your policy covers and what your deductible will be for various types of losses,\" says <b>Raymond Plante</b>, vice president of account services at Rainbow International Restoration.</span></p>\n<p><span class=\"s1\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><span><img src=\"https://na.rdcpix.com/2096950937/1a0d34b2e7aac16cbb8246d176bdd958w-c0xd-w685_h860_q80.jpg\" alt=\"Woman photographing chaos after burglary when coming back in her one-family house\" style=\"float: left;\" /></span></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span class=\"s1\" style=\"color: #000000;\">\"This way, you aren\'t hit with any unexpected surprises when you have to report a claim,\" says Plante.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"s1\" style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When an unfortunate event happens (like a windstorm or a burglary), you\'ll likely file a claim with your insurance company. But your life will be even more stressful if you make a mistake filing the claim or aren\'t familiar with what your policy covers.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To avoid any unexpected pitfalls, experts recommend that—in addition to knowing the ins and outs of your policy—you take certain steps to protect your property. Here are some insurance claims do\'s and don\'ts for homeowners.</span></p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Do: Document everything</span></h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There’s no such thing as overdocumenting when it comes to claims. Your smartphone can be a handy tool to document each and every detail.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Take plenty of pictures and videos detailing the story of your claim, including various angles and distances capturing the origin of the loss and the resulting damage to your dwelling and its contents,” says Plante.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It’s also a good idea to get organized and create a separate folder to keep all your documented items together.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Equally important, document all related expenses, save all receipts related to temporary repairs, alternative living expenses, contractors, plumbers, electricians, etc.,” says Plante.</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Don\'t: Delay filing your insurance claim</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When an incident causing damage happens, homeowners should report it immediately.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Most insurance policies don\'t put a time limit on how long you have to file a claim. They simply require \"timely reporting of property damage,\" says Plante.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A good rule of thumb is to file within one year of the incident.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\"Some policies state the homeowner may be held responsible for subsequent damages due to delayed reporting or failure to make reasonable temporary repairs to prevent further damage,” Plante says.</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Do: Use professionals to help you navigate the claims process</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When damage happens, there’s so much to do and take care of. But don’t go at it alone. Claims representatives can help walk you through the process.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“For example, the insurance adjuster, mitigation contractor, insurance experts, and building inspectors should all be able to get in contact with homeowners,” says Plante. These professionals can help you deal with the fine details.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The claims process can be arduous, so you should prepare a list of questions to ask claims professionals. For example: “Does my home insurance cover temporary living expenses?” Or, “When will an adjuster come to my house?”</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Don\'t: Allow a generalist to do the job</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When it comes time for repairs, the last thing you need is shoddy work from a self-proclaimed jack-of-all-trades, especially since your home may have more damage than you are even aware of.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“After a hailstorm, if you have damage to your window glass, you’ll also likely have damage to your roof,” says <b>Larry Patterson</b>, owner of <span class=\"s1\">Glass Doctor</span> of North Texas. “Your insurance company may tell you they have one person who can fix both types of damage, but be wary of this.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A jack-of-all-trades may know how to fix a window, but he likely won’t have the expertise of a roofing expert. Therefore, find experts that know what they\'re doing, and will be covered by your insurance company. This might mean going back and forth with your policy holder to find qualified professionals, but it\'ll be worth it in the long run.</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Do: Ensure you receive a warranty</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Getting your home repaired after unforeseen disaster can put your family at ease and get your life back on track. But you’ll want to make sure that a repair job on your home comes with a warranty.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For example, if your home has a lot of window glass damage, make sure you receive a warranty for your glass repair services.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“A strong warranty against seal failure, for example, will ensure you don’t have to pay to have the work completed again in a few years when your insurance company isn’t paying for it,” says Patterson.</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Don\'t: Pay a contractor in full before the work is completed</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Your insurance company will be paying for some, or all, of the repairs. Yes, the money won\'t be coming out of your pocket, but that doesn\'t mean the insurance company should pay for a job half-done. Be careful not to pay in full or sign on the dotted line before work is actually done to your home. Make sure there is a plan for the work being done, and get all the details in writing.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Work with the repair contractor to set expectations, including time frame, materials selection, inspections, payments, etc.,” says Plante. “This can prevent future headaches and ensure homeowners and contractors are on the same page.”</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/insurance-claims-dos-and-donts/\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></p>\n</div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Homeowners Insurance Claims Do\'s and Don\'ts You Should Be Fully Aware Of','','publish','closed','closed','','homeowners-insurance-claims-dos-and-donts-you-should-be-fully-aware-of','','','2020-10-26 22:34:50','2020-10-26 22:34:50','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?page_id=799',0,'page','',0),(800,1,'2020-10-21 23:48:15','2020-10-21 23:48:15','<!-- wp:divi/placeholder /-->','Homeowners Insurance Claims Do\'s and Don\'ts You Should Be Fully Aware Of','','inherit','closed','closed','','799-revision-v1','','','2020-10-21 23:48:15','2020-10-21 23:48:15','',799,'http://smartinsurance.tips/799-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(809,1,'2020-10-22 19:04:34','2020-10-22 19:04:34','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Why Your Business Needs Certificates of Insurance</strong></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/My-Post-17-1024x536.png\" width=\"764\" height=\"400\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-850 aligncenter size-large\" style=\"float: right;\" />Your small business insurance needs a very specific companion: the certificate of insurance. It’s a valuable business insurance tool, and it’ll keep you safe when working with vendors. Whether you’ve landed a new client, are expanding your business or are simply outsourcing a project, this certificate might save you if liability claims arise.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>What is a Certificate of Insurance?</strong></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A certificate of insurance is a simple document given to you by your insurance company. It verifies that you do, in fact, have business insurance coverage. It also lists a few details about your coverage:</span></p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What this coverage accounts for</span></li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Who has coverage under the policy</span></li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The policy’s effective date</span></li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Limit and deductible dollar amounts</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A certificate of insurance is also called proof of insurance. Clients might ask for proof of your insurance before they work with you. Others might ask for it if they experience a large loss. It’s also needed if a liability claim arises. Let\'s say, for example, you offer software programming services for another client. There\'s always a chance that a mistake might compromise this client\'s project. You’ll likely need to prove that specific liabilities will have insurance coverage.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Why is a Certificate of Insurance Important?</strong></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you’re working with external clients, you’ll need to give them proof of your business insurance policy. Plus, you’ll need to let them know you have the right insurance policy. Even if you aren’t asked to show your certificate of insurance, presenting it will benefit you. It simply makes you a reliable provider. It shows you are trustworthy. It also assures each client’s peace of mind.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>How Do I Get a Certificate of Insurance?</strong></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Insurance providers often give policyholders a certificate of insurance when they get covered. If you’ve recently bought insurance, you probably got the certificate. If you didn’t get this certificate, simply contact your provider. This certificate is very important, and you can most likely get it, for free, upon request.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Don’t Wait to Get Your Certificate of Insurance</strong></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You should pick up your policy’s certificate of insurance as soon as possible. Don’t wait until you’re asked to have it. Instead, have it on-hand. Show it to clients before it’s asked for. Proof of insurance can make the difference between keeping and losing clients. Contact your provider today, and pick up a commercial policy which fits your line of work. Then, when you’re engaging a new client, get ready to show off your certificate of insurance.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.getitc.com/syndicate/2018/03/15/why-your-business-needs-certificates-of-insurance\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Why Your Business Needs Certificates of Insurance','','publish','closed','closed','','why-your-business-needs-certificates-of-insurance','','','2020-10-23 21:13:17','2020-10-23 21:13:17','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?page_id=809',0,'page','',0),(810,1,'2020-10-22 19:04:34','2020-10-22 19:04:34','<!-- wp:divi/placeholder /-->','Why Your Business Needs Certificates of Insurance','','inherit','closed','closed','','809-revision-v1','','','2020-10-22 19:04:34','2020-10-22 19:04:34','',809,'http://smartinsurance.tips/809-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(858,1,'2020-10-26 22:34:50','2020-10-26 22:34:50','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<h1 class=\"headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Homeowners Insurance Claims Do\'s and Don\'ts You Should Be Fully </strong></h1>\n<h1 class=\"headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Aware Of</strong></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px; text-align: right;\">Fact: Not all homeowners insurance policies are created equal. When it comes time to file a claim, many homeowners find that their policy covers only certain types of damage.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px; text-align: right;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span class=\"s1\" style=\"color: #000000;\">\"As a homeowner, you should thoroughly read your policy before you need it. Review your declarations page in order to fully understand what your policy covers and what your deductible will be for various types of losses,\" says <b>Raymond Plante</b>, vice president of account services at Rainbow International Restoration.</span></p>\n<p><span class=\"s1\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><span><img src=\"https://na.rdcpix.com/2096950937/1a0d34b2e7aac16cbb8246d176bdd958w-c0xd-w685_h860_q80.jpg\" alt=\"Woman photographing chaos after burglary when coming back in her one-family house\" style=\"float: left;\" /></span></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span class=\"s1\" style=\"color: #000000;\">\"This way, you aren\'t hit with any unexpected surprises when you have to report a claim,\" says Plante.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"s1\" style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When an unfortunate event happens (like a windstorm or a burglary), you\'ll likely file a claim with your insurance company. But your life will be even more stressful if you make a mistake filing the claim or aren\'t familiar with what your policy covers.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To avoid any unexpected pitfalls, experts recommend that—in addition to knowing the ins and outs of your policy—you take certain steps to protect your property. Here are some insurance claims do\'s and don\'ts for homeowners.</span></p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Do: Document everything</span></h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There’s no such thing as overdocumenting when it comes to claims. Your smartphone can be a handy tool to document each and every detail.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Take plenty of pictures and videos detailing the story of your claim, including various angles and distances capturing the origin of the loss and the resulting damage to your dwelling and its contents,” says Plante.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It’s also a good idea to get organized and create a separate folder to keep all your documented items together.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Equally important, document all related expenses, save all receipts related to temporary repairs, alternative living expenses, contractors, plumbers, electricians, etc.,” says Plante.</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Don\'t: Delay filing your insurance claim</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When an incident causing damage happens, homeowners should report it immediately.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Most insurance policies don\'t put a time limit on how long you have to file a claim. They simply require \"timely reporting of property damage,\" says Plante.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A good rule of thumb is to file within one year of the incident.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\"Some policies state the homeowner may be held responsible for subsequent damages due to delayed reporting or failure to make reasonable temporary repairs to prevent further damage,” Plante says.</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Do: Use professionals to help you navigate the claims process</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When damage happens, there’s so much to do and take care of. But don’t go at it alone. Claims representatives can help walk you through the process.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“For example, the insurance adjuster, mitigation contractor, insurance experts, and building inspectors should all be able to get in contact with homeowners,” says Plante. These professionals can help you deal with the fine details.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The claims process can be arduous, so you should prepare a list of questions to ask claims professionals. For example: “Does my home insurance cover temporary living expenses?” Or, “When will an adjuster come to my house?”</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Don\'t: Allow a generalist to do the job</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When it comes time for repairs, the last thing you need is shoddy work from a self-proclaimed jack-of-all-trades, especially since your home may have more damage than you are even aware of.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“After a hailstorm, if you have damage to your window glass, you’ll also likely have damage to your roof,” says <b>Larry Patterson</b>, owner of <span class=\"s1\">Glass Doctor</span> of North Texas. “Your insurance company may tell you they have one person who can fix both types of damage, but be wary of this.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A jack-of-all-trades may know how to fix a window, but he likely won’t have the expertise of a roofing expert. Therefore, find experts that know what they\'re doing, and will be covered by your insurance company. This might mean going back and forth with your policy holder to find qualified professionals, but it\'ll be worth it in the long run.</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Do: Ensure you receive a warranty</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Getting your home repaired after unforeseen disaster can put your family at ease and get your life back on track. But you’ll want to make sure that a repair job on your home comes with a warranty.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For example, if your home has a lot of window glass damage, make sure you receive a warranty for your glass repair services.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“A strong warranty against seal failure, for example, will ensure you don’t have to pay to have the work completed again in a few years when your insurance company isn’t paying for it,” says Patterson.</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Don\'t: Pay a contractor in full before the work is completed</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Your insurance company will be paying for some, or all, of the repairs. Yes, the money won\'t be coming out of your pocket, but that doesn\'t mean the insurance company should pay for a job half-done. Be careful not to pay in full or sign on the dotted line before work is actually done to your home. Make sure there is a plan for the work being done, and get all the details in writing.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Work with the repair contractor to set expectations, including time frame, materials selection, inspections, payments, etc.,” says Plante. “This can prevent future headaches and ensure homeowners and contractors are on the same page.”</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/insurance-claims-dos-and-donts/\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></p>\n</div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Homeowners Insurance Claims Do\'s and Don\'ts You Should Be Fully Aware Of','','inherit','closed','closed','','799-revision-v1','','','2020-10-26 22:34:50','2020-10-26 22:34:50','',799,'http://smartinsurance.tips/799-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(802,1,'2020-10-21 23:53:58','2020-10-21 23:53:58','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Homeowners Insurance Claims Do\'s and Don\'ts You Should Be Fully </strong></h1>\n<h1 class=\"headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Aware Of</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px; text-align: right;\">Fact: Not all homeowners insurance policies are created equal. When it comes time to file a claim, many homeowners find that their policy covers only certain types of damage.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px; text-align: right;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span class=\"s1\" style=\"color: #000000;\">\"As a homeowner, you should thoroughly read your policy before you need it. Review your declarations page in order to fully understand what your policy covers and what your deductible will be for various types of losses,\" says <b>Raymond Plante</b>, vice president of account services at Rainbow International Restoration.</span></p>\n<p><span class=\"s1\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><span><img src=\"https://na.rdcpix.com/2096950937/1a0d34b2e7aac16cbb8246d176bdd958w-c0xd-w685_h860_q80.jpg\" alt=\"Woman photographing chaos after burglary when coming back in her one-family house\" style=\"float: left;\" /></span></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span class=\"s1\" style=\"color: #000000;\">\"This way, you aren\'t hit with any unexpected surprises when you have to report a claim,\" says Plante.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"s1\" style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When an unfortunate event happens (like a windstorm or a burglary), you\'ll likely file a claim with your insurance company. But your life will be even more stressful if you make a mistake filing the claim or aren\'t familiar with what your policy covers.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To avoid any unexpected pitfalls, experts recommend that—in addition to knowing the ins and outs of your policy—you take certain steps to protect your property. Here are some insurance claims do\'s and don\'ts for homeowners.</span></p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Do: Document everything</span></h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There’s no such thing as overdocumenting when it comes to claims. Your smartphone can be a handy tool to document each and every detail.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Take plenty of pictures and videos detailing the story of your claim, including various angles and distances capturing the origin of the loss and the resulting damage to your dwelling and its contents,” says Plante.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It’s also a good idea to get organized and create a separate folder to keep all your documented items together.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Equally important, document all related expenses, save all receipts related to temporary repairs, alternative living expenses, contractors, plumbers, electricians, etc.,” says Plante.</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Don\'t: Delay filing your insurance claim</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When an incident causing damage happens, homeowners should report it immediately.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Most insurance policies don\'t put a time limit on how long you have to file a claim. They simply require \"timely reporting of property damage,\" says Plante.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A good rule of thumb is to file within one year of the incident.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\"Some policies state the homeowner may be held responsible for subsequent damages due to delayed reporting or failure to make reasonable temporary repairs to prevent further damage,” Plante says.</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Do: Use professionals to help you navigate the claims process</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When damage happens, there’s so much to do and take care of. But don’t go at it alone. Claims representatives can help walk you through the process.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“For example, the insurance adjuster, mitigation contractor, insurance experts, and building inspectors should all be able to get in contact with homeowners,” says Plante. These professionals can help you deal with the fine details.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The claims process can be arduous, so you should prepare a list of questions to ask claims professionals. For example: “Does my home insurance cover temporary living expenses?” Or, “When will an adjuster come to my house?”</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Don\'t: Allow a generalist to do the job</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When it comes time for repairs, the last thing you need is shoddy work from a self-proclaimed jack-of-all-trades, especially since your home may have more damage than you are even aware of.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“After a hailstorm, if you have damage to your window glass, you’ll also likely have damage to your roof,” says <b>Larry Patterson</b>, owner of <span class=\"s1\">Glass Doctor</span> of North Texas. “Your insurance company may tell you they have one person who can fix both types of damage, but be wary of this.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A jack-of-all-trades may know how to fix a window, but he likely won’t have the expertise of a roofing expert. Therefore, find experts that know what they\'re doing, and will be covered by your insurance company. This might mean going back and forth with your policy holder to find qualified professionals, but it\'ll be worth it in the long run.</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Do: Ensure you receive a warranty</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Getting your home repaired after unforeseen disaster can put your family at ease and get your life back on track. But you’ll want to make sure that a repair job on your home comes with a warranty.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For example, if your home has a lot of window glass damage, make sure you receive a warranty for your glass repair services.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“A strong warranty against seal failure, for example, will ensure you don’t have to pay to have the work completed again in a few years when your insurance company isn’t paying for it,” says Patterson.</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Don\'t: Pay a contractor in full before the work is completed</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Your insurance company will be paying for some, or all, of the repairs. Yes, the money won\'t be coming out of your pocket, but that doesn\'t mean the insurance company should pay for a job half-done. Be careful not to pay in full or sign on the dotted line before work is actually done to your home. Make sure there is a plan for the work being done, and get all the details in writing.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Work with the repair contractor to set expectations, including time frame, materials selection, inspections, payments, etc.,” says Plante. “This can prevent future headaches and ensure homeowners and contractors are on the same page.”</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://smallbiztrends.com/2020/09/10-tiny-pivots-to-make-your-small-business-more-effective.html\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></p>\n</div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Homeowners Insurance Claims Do\'s and Don\'ts You Should Be Fully Aware Of','','inherit','closed','closed','','799-revision-v1','','','2020-10-21 23:53:58','2020-10-21 23:53:58','',799,'http://smartinsurance.tips/799-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(804,1,'2020-10-21 23:54:56','2020-10-21 23:54:56','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"headline heading-content\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>The Best and Worst States for Auto Insurance Premiums</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img src=\"https://content.money.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1147618988-Converted_Insurance_Final-02.png?quality=60&amp;w=800\" /></span></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It’s no secret the cost of gas and tolls vary a lot depending on where you live. It turns what you pay for auto insurance does, too.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Disparities in the state-to-state costs of insuring a car can easily total a hundred dollars or more a month. According to the data from online insurance broker Insure.com, a representative 40-year-old male with a clean record who fully insures a typical 2020 vehicle would pay about $1,100 a year in Maine or New Hampshire. In Michigan and Louisiana, by contrast, the same coverage could cost $3,141 and $2,600 respectively.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">That range, of more than two-and-a-half times, actually exceeds the range in different prices that Americans pay for gas depending on location. Gasoline prices range from a low of $1.51 to just under double that at $2.87.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Why such differing costs to insure a vehicle depending on the state? Potential factors include the states’ respective insurance requirements, theft and insurance-fraud statistics, percentage of drivers who are uninsured, and incidence of bad weather that damages cars, such as hailstorms. We cover some of those price determinants when introducing the lists of the states with the highest and car-insurance premiums.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The data will help you if you’re planning a move, or if you merely want to brag to friends in Nevada (the third priciest state, at $2,400 a year) about how little you pay or whine about your bills to family members in Ohio (the third cheapest state, at $1,191 a year). The average premium across all states in the survey was $1,732. (For more on how this data was gathered, see the methodology at the bottom of the story.)</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Of course, our data is no more than a comparative snapshot of full insurance on a new car; your insurance bill will invariably differ from our figures. Even within a state, rates vary according to the city or county where you live. They’re also affected by the car you drive, your age and driving record, and the policy options you choose, such as the deductible amount and types of coverage. Rates can also vary a lot among insurers, so it pays to shop around for the insurance you need to keep your wheels on the pavement.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Where car insurance costs the most</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The places with the priciest car insurance are literally all over the map — from north (Michigan) to south (Florida, Louisiana, Kentucky), and east (New York, Rhode Island, and Connecticut) to west (California, Nevada).</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Michigan has the highest average premiums in the nation by far, running about 20% above those of any other state. However, this data doesn’t yet reflect state insurance reforms introduced in July 2020, which are already reducing premiums by between 15% and 53%, according to the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Michigan reforms include reductions in required liability coverage and measures to reduce the number of uninsured drivers on the state’s roads — with 20% of drivers without insurance, Michigan ranks well above the national average of 13%. Two other states on the list also have unusually high proportions of uninsured drivers: Florida at 26%, the highest incidence in the country, and the District of Columbia, at about 16%. When an uninsured driver crashes, the cost of the accident is passed along to insured drivers, either directly through higher premiums or, in some states, through mandatory uninsured driver fees.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Underinsured drivers can be costly, as well. For example, Louisiana, which has the second-highest prices in the nation, has such low state requirements for liability coverage that a drivers insurance can fall short if they’re found responsible for a major accident. As with uninsured driving, the costs may again be underwritten by the premiums of insured drivers.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Where car insurance costs the least</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Less congested roads lead to fewer crashes, and fewer accident claims for insurance to cover. That’s a key reason that so many of the states on this list are sparsely populated and rural.<strong><br /></strong></span><br /><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Half of the top 10 states for cheap car insurance, including Iowa and Idaho, are below-average in their population density, according to USA.com, Maine and Vermont are also on that list, and Stacker magazine calculates that they are the most rural states in the country.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In other states, further factors come into play. For example, Ohio, the third-cheapest state on the list, has 250 companies that write car-insurance policies, according to online broker insure.com, which credits that healthy competition with keeping rates down in the Buckeye State.</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://money.com/car-insurance-costs-by-state/\">click here</a><a href=\"https://smallbiztrends.com/2020/09/10-tiny-pivots-to-make-your-small-business-more-effective.html\"></a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','The Best and Worst States for Auto Insurance Premiums','','publish','closed','closed','','the-best-and-worst-states-for-auto-insurance-premiums','','','2020-10-21 23:59:36','2020-10-21 23:59:36','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?page_id=804',0,'page','',0),(805,1,'2020-10-21 23:54:56','2020-10-21 23:54:56','<!-- wp:divi/placeholder /-->','The Best and Worst States for Auto Insurance Premiums','','inherit','closed','closed','','804-revision-v1','','','2020-10-21 23:54:56','2020-10-21 23:54:56','',804,'http://smartinsurance.tips/804-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(812,1,'2020-10-22 21:34:07','2020-10-22 21:34:07','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"fl-post-title\" itemprop=\"headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>How to Create Job Security for Life</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p><img src=\"https://2uc5db1v032h5jwcm2gal07i-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/How-to-Create-Job-Security-for-Life-1024x682.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" style=\"float: left;\" /></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> </span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\">A lifetime ago I worked with a woman we’ll call Martha, who flew into a minor rage when she learned that a co-worker from another department was promoted over her.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Her reaction surprised me, not because we were in the middle of a full staff meeting, but because she was the opposite of a model employee—doing the bare minimum, arguing with the boss, and nipping at a bottle of rum in her desk drawer (only on special occasions, of course).</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But Martha had seniority, and in her worldview, she was entitled to that promotion. Sadly, “I’m entitled to a salary,” is a popular belief that just doesn’t jibe with reality.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Of course, I’m not speaking to a Martha, I’m speaking to a sophisticated achiever who knows that your rewards are not tied to how many hours or years you sit in a cubicle.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The success metric is: Are you effective?</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you can answer, “Yes,” you’ll enjoy job security for life, in any economy, and I’ll wish you well as you sip cognac on your veranda overlooking your 50-acre private island in Fiji.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But if you can’t, here’s how you can make yourself more indestructible.</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">1. See yourself as a business.</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>“There is no real security except for whatever you build inside yourself.” —Gilda Radner</em></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Whether you own a business or not, you are already an entrepreneur, so start seeing yourself as the CEO of your own personal services corporation.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Whether you are flipping burgers or leading a 100-person product development team for a tech giant, each day you go to work, you are selling a service to your client (your boss) who determines your level of compensation.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“See yourself as an independent contractor selling your services back into your company on an hourly rate,” says self-help giant Brian Tracy. “See your current employer as your best client, at the moment.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A company that doesn’t make the client happy will be out of business fast. So how do you ensure that, as the leader of your company, you become a purveyor of happiness?</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You do that by delivering massive value.</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">2. Know how to create value.</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>“The only true security in life comes from knowing that every single day you are improving yourself… that you are valuable to your company, your friends, and your family.” —Tony Robbins</em></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Somewhere in high school, between the cafeteria and report cards, we’re handed this neatly packaged worldview that, if you just work hard enough, you can get all that you want in life.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But if that were true, high school dropouts working three minimum wage jobs would be as comfortable as CEOs, and all startups would IPO if the founders just work 90-hour weeks.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The reality is that you and I are rewarded for the <em>value</em> we create, whether that’s inventing a life-saving medication, or a more perfect fidget spinner.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When you understand how to create value, you’ll be indispensable no matter who signs your paycheck. This means understanding what people value (remember: it’s not always what you value), so start by asking a lot of questions.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If your audience is your ideal client, put out a survey, or conduct user interviews. If it’s your boss, ask what is her No. 1 goal?</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In either case, you won’t always get a straight answer—people are notoriously bad at articulating their true desires—so continue to observe like a scientist in the field.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Here’s a hint: Above all, every human wants to feel a certain emotion—love, respect, security—so maybe your client wants to write a book not for the money, but to feel heard? Maybe your boss’s primary motivation is to coast into retirement, and not to change the world?</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">3. Be a leader in all that you do.</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>“Initiative is doing the right thing without being told.” – Victor Hugo</em></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Too many employees wait for instructions. We all know that person who performed all their duties to the letter, but was laid off anyway. Nine times out of 10 this is because no boss wants to constantly micromanage their staff; they want people who will get busy without a prod.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Initiative is the domain of the leader. You may be saying to yourself, “But I’m not a leader, nobody has given me that responsibility!” Leadership isn’t a title, silly. It’s a mindset and a choice—to step up, even if that stairway leads outside your job description.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Maybe you work in a mailroom and see a way to improve a process, or in a cubicle and see a way for the company to go paperless. The leader comes to the boss with solutions. A follower doesn’t even see the opportunities. Which type of person do you think is more protected from layoffs?</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">4. Build relationships. (Forget “networking.”)</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>“Leave every single person who intersects your path better, happier, and more engaged than you found them.” —Robin Sharma</em></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As much as we value the brilliance of the individual, it’s only through relationships that we thrive. Nobody builds a fortune from their hermit cave; even remote workers need to play with the other kids from time to time.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As many achievers will tell you, your network is your net worth.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But there are two opposing approaches to creating a safety net of supporting connections around you. The first is a dirty word called networking. It involves going to “networking events” where the attendees spend as little time as possible with as many people as they can, and the winner is the one who hands out the most business cards. (I’m dramatizing, but you see the point.)</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Networkers enter a room with the attitude, “What can I get from these people?”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The superior approach is to create a network based on relationships—fewer, but deeper connections; quality over quantity. Relationship builders approach interactions asking, “What can I give?”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Does this sound almost like how friendships develop? Bingo. If you choose to work with people you enjoy, your work will feel less like work and more like enjoying the company of friends. Take care to develop true friendships, not just collect business cards.</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">5. Do just 5% more than expected.</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>“There are no traffic jams on the extra mile.” –Zig Ziglar</em></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">We love people who give us more than we expect. Bosses raise <em>both</em> eyebrows when a project is finished early and under budget. Customers gush to their friends about that above-and-beyond service. And your romantic partner will never forget that day you planned the scavenger hunt that ended with a surprise dinner at your favorite restaurant surrounded by best friends.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You could have just followed the job description, stuck to the refund policy, or microwaved some pizza pockets for your soulmate. But nobody remembers the times you do what’s expected, because that’s the standard that most of us adopt: “good enough.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">That’s why it’s <em>so easy</em> to go the extra mile—hardly anybody is driving on that freshly paved, six-lane highway! This need not mean doing more than <em>everyone else</em>; that kind of one-upmanship is a race to burnout.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Simply rise beyond <em>your own limits</em>. That doesn’t mean <em>doubling</em> your exertions to be outstanding; an extra 5% effort can often generate rave reviews. What does that look like?</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Maybe at home you do the dishes… AND clean out the toaster. At work you finish that research your boss asked for… AND tack on a page of analysis that shows how you can save $50k a year. With your customers, you might register them for the seminar but also throw in six free coaching sessions plus your book.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When you do more than expected, you get a reputation for delivering more value than you are paid to. Your own value rises in turn, and you become that much harder to fire.</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">6. Be the smartest person in the room… about just one thing.</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>“The only real security that a man can have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience and ability.” —Henry Ford</em></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Do you try to be best at <em>everything</em> at work? The best salesperson and marketer and coder and writer? If that’s your strategy, all your work will be mediocre.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There’s nothing wrong with being a jack-of-all-trades (this is a badge that most entrepreneurial-minded folks wear proudly), but there is also power in specialization.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Ask how you can become a critical linchpin to the organization. How can you collect the knowledge, create the relationships or generate the ideas that none of your colleagues can, at least in <em>one</em> area?</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Do you work in the marketing department and notice that your email campaigns are opened as often as a can of anchovies? Then take an email marketing course and bring new info and solutions—which none of your colleagues have—to the next team meeting.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You don’t need to demonstrate 5 out of 5-star performance in all areas of your job description. If you have just one quality that your boss or customer highly values, and can’t live without, then how can they ever let you get away?</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">7. Flaunt your good works.</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>“Leaders are not modest… these qualities and behaviors are useful for getting hired, achieving promotions, keeping one’s job, and obtaining a higher salary.” —Jeffrey Pfeffer</em></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Western World’s prevailing ethics teaches us that a good deed done is all the sweeter if you downplay it. “Set the table without your parents asking you,” is the one piece of priestly advice that stuck in my brain after Catholic school.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Better still if nobody but you knows about it. We get that warm, fuzzy feeling from anecdotes about kind strangers paying for the coffee of the person behind them in the drive-thru.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There’s nothing wrong with anonymous generosity, but the benefits multiply if you let people know about your actions. It not only inspires others to do good deeds, but shows people your true character.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This is invaluable at work, where job security is on the line. Too many employees do excellent work that goes completely unnoticed, or is taken for granted. If you want to keep your job or your customers, you need to justify your existence from time to time.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This doesn’t mean constantly tooting your horn with tales of your heroic deeds; too much self-promotion feels gross and will backfire.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But DO drop a subtle and well-timed piece of information here and there with the people that control your fate—your boss, for example. Want to be uber-subtle? Share the information through a third party, like your boss’s assistant, who you know will pass along the message.</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">8. Love change. (It’s exciting!)</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>“Security is mostly a superstition…. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure.” —Helen Keller</em></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Here’s a juicy paradox for you: Those who are least attached to security have it in abundance. That’s because the truly “secure ones” are flexible in their methods for creating wealth and abundance.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A fixed mindset individual will see only one way to make a living right now: to hang on for dear life to their existing job, with the strategy likely to be: work harder. But no matter how vigorously you rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic, that thing still might sink.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Economies tank. Industries change and companies fold. Hanging onto the dream that manufacturing is coming back to your city, or the restaurant will be full again by Christmas, or people really do want to drive to a video store to rent a DVD on which they can eventually pay a late fee, can be catastrophic.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hoping for all to stay the same, including the job you so fear losing, is futile. Change is coming, so you might as well learn to love it.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“You are already naked,” said Steve Jobs. Learn to love change and embrace the roiling tides. Without change there would be no new life, no growth, no opportunities, no surprises and no excitement in your life.</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Future Belongs to the Freelancer</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Even before COVID, the idea of one company guaranteeing you employment for life was a fantasy.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Manufacturing has already fled “South,” automation eliminates $80k per year positions, and disruptive startups restructure entire industries while you sleep. Should we throw up our hands and accept whatever McJob the economy throws us? Heck no!</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">On this frontier there is more opportunity than ever for those with the entrepreneur’s mindset.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A 2019 <a href=\"https://www.upwork.com/i/freelancing-in-america/2019/\" style=\"color: #000000;\">study</a> found that more than 35% of the workforce in the United States, or more than 57 million people, are freelancers, and the pandemic certainly bumped that number higher.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">And these freelancers are not just dog walkers and Etsy side-hustlers, but many are top performers in their fields.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This is not advice to leave your salary behind to strike out on your own. But it is a call to adopt the freelancer/consultant/entrepreneur mindset, because it’s the best way to create invincible job security in any economy, no matter how many crises are swirling in the outside world.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.success.com/how-to-create-job-security-for-life/\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','How to Create Job Security for Life','','publish','closed','closed','','how-to-create-job-security-for-life','','','2020-10-22 21:41:39','2020-10-22 21:41:39','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?page_id=812',0,'page','',0),(813,1,'2020-10-22 21:34:07','2020-10-22 21:34:07','<!-- wp:divi/placeholder /-->','How to Create Job Security for Life','','inherit','closed','closed','','812-revision-v1','','','2020-10-22 21:34:07','2020-10-22 21:34:07','',812,'http://smartinsurance.tips/812-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(807,1,'2020-10-21 23:59:36','2020-10-21 23:59:36','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"headline heading-content\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>The Best and Worst States for Auto Insurance Premiums</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img src=\"https://content.money.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/GettyImages-1147618988-Converted_Insurance_Final-02.png?quality=60&amp;w=800\" /></span></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It’s no secret the cost of gas and tolls vary a lot depending on where you live. It turns what you pay for auto insurance does, too.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Disparities in the state-to-state costs of insuring a car can easily total a hundred dollars or more a month. According to the data from online insurance broker Insure.com, a representative 40-year-old male with a clean record who fully insures a typical 2020 vehicle would pay about $1,100 a year in Maine or New Hampshire. In Michigan and Louisiana, by contrast, the same coverage could cost $3,141 and $2,600 respectively.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">That range, of more than two-and-a-half times, actually exceeds the range in different prices that Americans pay for gas depending on location. Gasoline prices range from a low of $1.51 to just under double that at $2.87.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Why such differing costs to insure a vehicle depending on the state? Potential factors include the states’ respective insurance requirements, theft and insurance-fraud statistics, percentage of drivers who are uninsured, and incidence of bad weather that damages cars, such as hailstorms. We cover some of those price determinants when introducing the lists of the states with the highest and car-insurance premiums.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The data will help you if you’re planning a move, or if you merely want to brag to friends in Nevada (the third priciest state, at $2,400 a year) about how little you pay or whine about your bills to family members in Ohio (the third cheapest state, at $1,191 a year). The average premium across all states in the survey was $1,732. (For more on how this data was gathered, see the methodology at the bottom of the story.)</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Of course, our data is no more than a comparative snapshot of full insurance on a new car; your insurance bill will invariably differ from our figures. Even within a state, rates vary according to the city or county where you live. They’re also affected by the car you drive, your age and driving record, and the policy options you choose, such as the deductible amount and types of coverage. Rates can also vary a lot among insurers, so it pays to shop around for the insurance you need to keep your wheels on the pavement.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Where car insurance costs the most</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The places with the priciest car insurance are literally all over the map — from north (Michigan) to south (Florida, Louisiana, Kentucky), and east (New York, Rhode Island, and Connecticut) to west (California, Nevada).</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Michigan has the highest average premiums in the nation by far, running about 20% above those of any other state. However, this data doesn’t yet reflect state insurance reforms introduced in July 2020, which are already reducing premiums by between 15% and 53%, according to the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Michigan reforms include reductions in required liability coverage and measures to reduce the number of uninsured drivers on the state’s roads — with 20% of drivers without insurance, Michigan ranks well above the national average of 13%. Two other states on the list also have unusually high proportions of uninsured drivers: Florida at 26%, the highest incidence in the country, and the District of Columbia, at about 16%. When an uninsured driver crashes, the cost of the accident is passed along to insured drivers, either directly through higher premiums or, in some states, through mandatory uninsured driver fees.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Underinsured drivers can be costly, as well. For example, Louisiana, which has the second-highest prices in the nation, has such low state requirements for liability coverage that a drivers insurance can fall short if they’re found responsible for a major accident. As with uninsured driving, the costs may again be underwritten by the premiums of insured drivers.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Where car insurance costs the least</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Less congested roads lead to fewer crashes, and fewer accident claims for insurance to cover. That’s a key reason that so many of the states on this list are sparsely populated and rural.<strong><br /></strong></span><br /><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Half of the top 10 states for cheap car insurance, including Iowa and Idaho, are below-average in their population density, according to USA.com, Maine and Vermont are also on that list, and Stacker magazine calculates that they are the most rural states in the country.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In other states, further factors come into play. For example, Ohio, the third-cheapest state on the list, has 250 companies that write car-insurance policies, according to online broker insure.com, which credits that healthy competition with keeping rates down in the Buckeye State.</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://money.com/car-insurance-costs-by-state/\">click here</a><a href=\"https://smallbiztrends.com/2020/09/10-tiny-pivots-to-make-your-small-business-more-effective.html\"></a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','The Best and Worst States for Auto Insurance Premiums','','inherit','closed','closed','','804-revision-v1','','','2020-10-21 23:59:36','2020-10-21 23:59:36','',804,'http://smartinsurance.tips/804-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(816,1,'2020-10-22 21:42:49','2020-10-22 21:42:49','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"ArticleHeader-headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>How to change the default email app on your iPhone so you can use </strong></h1>\n<h1 class=\"ArticleHeader-headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Gmail or Outlook instead</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<p><img src=\"https://image.cnbcfm.com/api/v1/image/106617190-1594818721902app-library-3.png?v=1594818955&amp;w=678&amp;h=381\" alt=\"Tap the gray button with circles on it.\" style=\"float: left;\" /></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Apple’s new iPhone update, iOS 14, launched on Sept. 16. One of the big features in it lets you change your default email app from Apple’s Mail app to another one if it supports the feature. If you’re like me, and use Outlook and Gmail instead of Mail, this is a big deal.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Normally, if you click a link to an email address somewhere, your iPhone will just open Mail and start a new message, usually from your Apple iCloud account. It’s annoying when this happens, since your email might not come from your regular work or personal account, and you might miss responses that are sent to an inbox you don’t use.</span></p>\n<div class=\"BoxInline-container  \">\n<div id=\"BoxInline-ArticleBody-5\" class=\"BoxInline-container\" data-module=\"mps-slot\"></div>\n</div>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The change was first announced in June, when Apple revealed iOS 14, in what appears to be an attempt by Apple to address complaints from competitors. </span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It’s easy to change your default email app in iOS 14 and just takes a few seconds. I’ve changed mine to my work Outlook account, since that’s the one I usually send emails from. But lots of other apps support this too.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Before we begin, first make sure you’re running iOS 14.0.1, which fixed a bug in the feature in the first version of iOS 14.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You can check by opening Settings &gt; General &gt; About. If you need to update, do this:</span></p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Plug in your iPhone and connect to Wi-Fi.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Open Settings.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tap General.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Choose Software Update.</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Let’s get started.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div class=\"MidResponsive-midResponsiveContainer\" style=\"text-align: right;\">\n<div id=\"MidResponsive-9\" class=\"\" data-module=\"mps-slot\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<h2 class=\"ArticleBody-subtitle\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">How to change the default email app on iPhone with iOS 14</span></h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Open Settings.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Scroll down to the email app you want to use. (I’ll use Gmail for this example, but it works the same for any that are supported.)</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tap the icon for Gmail.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tap “Default Mail App.”</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Change to the app you want to use.</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">That’s it. Now when you tap a link to start a new email to someone, your iPhone will use the default app you’ve selected. You can change it at any time by following the steps above.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/04/how-to-change-the-default-email-app-on-your-iphone-in-ios-14.html\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','How to change the default email app on your iPhone so you can use Gmail or Outlook instead','','publish','closed','closed','','how-to-change-the-default-email-app-on-your-iphone-so-you-can-use-gmail-or-outlook-instead','','','2020-10-22 21:47:53','2020-10-22 21:47:53','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?page_id=816',0,'page','',0),(817,1,'2020-10-22 21:42:49','2020-10-22 21:42:49','<!-- wp:divi/placeholder /-->','How to change the default email app on your iPhone so you can use Gmail or Outlook instead','','inherit','closed','closed','','816-revision-v1','','','2020-10-22 21:42:49','2020-10-22 21:42:49','',816,'http://smartinsurance.tips/816-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(820,1,'2020-10-22 21:51:05','2020-10-22 21:51:05','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<h1 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__heading--title\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>The 25 Cheapest U.S. Cities to Live In</strong></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<div align=\"center\"></div>\n<div align=\"center\"></div>\n<div align=\"center\"></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When it comes to cheap living, the best places to settle down are mostly south of the Mason-Dixon line. Texas, Tennessee and Arkansas are just a few states making multiple appearances on our list.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But if you\'re thinking about relocating to one of these cheapest cities to live in, just remember to weigh the pros and cons. A low cost of living is attractive, but the allure lessens if jobs are hard to come by, paychecks are small or the town offers little to do. Plan an extended visit to ensure the city fits your needs.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">We compiled our rankings based on the Council for Community and Economic Research\'s calculations of living expenses in 270 urban areas. Its Cost of Living Index measures prices for housing, groceries, utilities, transportation, health care and miscellaneous goods and services such as going to a movie or getting your hair done at a salon.</span></p>\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide\">\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide--wrapper\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen-13583501_192=\"308999\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time-13583501_192=\"100\" data-gtm-vis-has-fired-13583501_192=\"1\">\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">25. Lynchburg, Virginia</span></h3>\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide--photo\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img class=\"polaris__image lazyloaded\" src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--KqrdZywb--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Lynchburg_Va_Getty_.jpg\" data-src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--KqrdZywb--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Lynchburg_Va_Getty_.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--KqrdZywb--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Lynchburg_Va_Getty_.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--KqrdZywb--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Lynchburg_Va_Getty_.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--KqrdZywb--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Lynchburg_Va_Getty_.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--KqrdZywb--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Lynchburg_Va_Getty_.jpg 1666w\" width=\"336\" height=\"189\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--KqrdZywb--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Lynchburg_Va_Getty_.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--KqrdZywb--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Lynchburg_Va_Getty_.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--KqrdZywb--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Lynchburg_Va_Getty_.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--KqrdZywb--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Lynchburg_Va_Getty_.jpg 1666w\" /></span></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"polaris__ad -empty-ad-slot -float-right\">\n<div class=\"polaris__ad--inner\">\n<div id=\"refresh-kglcx4se\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Cost of living:</strong> 11.4% below U.S. average</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>City population:</strong> 82,126</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median household income:</strong> $42,389 (U.S.: $61,937)</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median home value: </strong>$175,500 (U.S.: $229,700)</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Unemployment rate:</strong> 5.9% (U.S.: 8.4%)</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Lynchburg sits in the foothills of the famed Blue Ridge Mountains and is home to Liberty University, the city\'s largest employer. But a diversity of businesses and industries makes Lynchburg more than just a college town.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A comparatively resilient job market – the unemployment rate stands well below the national level – and a low cost of living help explain how Lynchburg has ranked near the top of Gallup\'s well-being index.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The \"City of Seven Hills\" makes this list of cheapest U.S. cities to live in largely because its residents spend nearly a fifth less than the national average on housing costs. Groceries and transportation costs run about well below what the average American pays, too.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But not every last thing is cheaper in Lynchburg. Utilities do cost a little more than the national average, for instance. Beer costs about 5% more on average, too.</span></p>\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide\">\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide--wrapper\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen-13583501_192=\"311263\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time-13583501_192=\"100\" data-gtm-vis-has-fired-13583501_192=\"1\">\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">24. Springfield, Missouri</span></h3>\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\"><img class=\"polaris__image lazyloaded\" src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--KrNXINS2--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572378/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Springfield_MO_Getty_.jpg\" data-src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--KrNXINS2--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572378/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Springfield_MO_Getty_.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--KrNXINS2--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572378/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Springfield_MO_Getty_.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--KrNXINS2--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572378/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Springfield_MO_Getty_.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--KrNXINS2--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572378/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Springfield_MO_Getty_.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--KrNXINS2--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572378/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Springfield_MO_Getty_.jpg 1666w\" width=\"336\" height=\"189\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--KrNXINS2--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572378/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Springfield_MO_Getty_.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--KrNXINS2--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572378/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Springfield_MO_Getty_.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--KrNXINS2--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572378/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Springfield_MO_Getty_.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--KrNXINS2--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572378/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Springfield_MO_Getty_.jpg 1666w\" /></span></h3>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"polaris__ad -empty-ad-slot -float-right\">\n<div class=\"polaris__ad--inner\">\n<div id=\"refresh-kglcx4td\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Cost of living:</strong> 12.2% below U.S. average</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>City population:</strong> 168,113</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median household income:</strong> $33,879</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median home value: </strong>$120,800</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Unemployment rate:</strong> 5.9%</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Springfield, also known as the \"Queen City of the Ozarks\" and the \"Birthplace of Route 66,\" sports an overall cost of living that is more than 12% below the national average.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Housing-related costs, which are 30% less than what the average American pays, make up the lion\'s share of residents\' savings. Apartment rents are about 22% cheaper and average home prices are a little more than half the national level. Springfielders enjoy savings on groceries, transportation and utilities, too.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Springfield might not be the biggest city in Missouri, but it\'s certainly not lacking for culture. The Springfield Opera, Springfield Ballet and Springfield Symphony are just some of the city\'s offerings. It\'s also home to Missouri State University.</span></p>\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide\">\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide--wrapper\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen-13583501_192=\"312529\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time-13583501_192=\"100\" data-gtm-vis-has-fired-13583501_192=\"1\">\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">23. Temple, Texas</span></h3>\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\"><img class=\"polaris__image lazyloaded\" src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--Jmc365nF--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572378/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Temple-TX_getty.jpg\" data-src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--Jmc365nF--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572378/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Temple-TX_getty.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--Jmc365nF--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572378/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Temple-TX_getty.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--Jmc365nF--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572378/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Temple-TX_getty.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--Jmc365nF--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572378/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Temple-TX_getty.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--Jmc365nF--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572378/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Temple-TX_getty.jpg 1666w\" width=\"336\" height=\"189\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--Jmc365nF--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572378/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Temple-TX_getty.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--Jmc365nF--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572378/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Temple-TX_getty.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--Jmc365nF--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572378/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Temple-TX_getty.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--Jmc365nF--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572378/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Temple-TX_getty.jpg 1666w\" /></span></h3>\n</div>\n</div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Cost of living:</strong> 12.3% below U.S. average</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>City population:</strong> 76,251</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median household income:</strong> $54,028</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median home value: </strong>$153,000</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Unemployment rate:</strong> 6.0%</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Situated about 65 miles north of Austin, the Killeen-Temple metro area started out as a 19th century railroad town, but today it\'s as modern as they come. The area is home to a major regional medical center, and its Central Texas location makes it an ideal base for distribution and logistics companies.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But whether you\'re a doctor or truck driver, Temple won\'t overburden your bank account. Overall, the cost of living is 12.3% cheaper than the national average. Although health care is about 16% more expensive in Temple, and utilities are pricier too, residents catch a break on a range of other costs. Housing costs are 25% below the national average, while groceries are generally around 22% cheaper than elsewhere, making it one of the cheapest U.S. cities you can live in.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Fun fact: NFL Hall of Fame defensive tackle \"Mean\" Joe Greene was raised and played high school football in Temple.</span></p>\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide\">\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide--wrapper\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen-13583501_192=\"436990\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time-13583501_192=\"100\" data-gtm-vis-has-fired-13583501_192=\"1\">\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">22. Jonesboro, Arkansas</span></h3>\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\"><img class=\"polaris__image lazyloaded\" src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--QWgmuYOD--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572369/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Jonesboro_Getty.jpg\" data-src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--QWgmuYOD--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572369/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Jonesboro_Getty.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--QWgmuYOD--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572369/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Jonesboro_Getty.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--QWgmuYOD--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572369/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Jonesboro_Getty.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--QWgmuYOD--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572369/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Jonesboro_Getty.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--QWgmuYOD--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572369/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Jonesboro_Getty.jpg 1666w\" width=\"336\" height=\"189\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--QWgmuYOD--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572369/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Jonesboro_Getty.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--QWgmuYOD--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572369/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Jonesboro_Getty.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--QWgmuYOD--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572369/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Jonesboro_Getty.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--QWgmuYOD--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572369/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Jonesboro_Getty.jpg 1666w\" /></span></h3>\n</div>\n</div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Cost of living:</strong> 12.6% below U.S. average</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>City population:</strong> 76,990</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median household income:</strong> $45,057</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median home value: </strong>$163,100</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Unemployment rate:</strong> 6.6%</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Best known as the home of Arkansas State University, Jonesboro is a college town with a degree in affordability. For instance, putting a roof over your head costs about a third less than the national average, according to the Cost of Living Index.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Health care is very reasonable, too. A visit to the doctor is in line with the national average, but other specialties are appreciably more affordable. A trip to the optometrist costs a quarter less than the national average, and you\'ll save about 20% on a trip to the dentist.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">And when you feel the need to escape to a big city, Memphis is a little more than an hour\'s drive from Jonesboro (more on the budget-friendly charms of Memphis later). Another plus is that Jonesboro\'s unemployment rate is below the national average.</span></p>\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide\">\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide--wrapper\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen-13583501_192=\"455425\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time-13583501_192=\"100\" data-gtm-vis-has-fired-13583501_192=\"1\">\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">21. Morristown, Tennessee</span></h3>\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\"><img class=\"polaris__image lazyloaded\" src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--3C3kpiFJ--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Morristown_TN_getty.jpg\" data-src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--3C3kpiFJ--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Morristown_TN_getty.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--3C3kpiFJ--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Morristown_TN_getty.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--3C3kpiFJ--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Morristown_TN_getty.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--3C3kpiFJ--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Morristown_TN_getty.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--3C3kpiFJ--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Morristown_TN_getty.jpg 1666w\" width=\"336\" height=\"189\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--3C3kpiFJ--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Morristown_TN_getty.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--3C3kpiFJ--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Morristown_TN_getty.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--3C3kpiFJ--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Morristown_TN_getty.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--3C3kpiFJ--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Morristown_TN_getty.jpg 1666w\" /></span></h3>\n</div>\n</div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Cost of living:</strong> 12.9% below U.S. average</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>City population:</strong> 29,547</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median household income:</strong> $32,386</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median home value: </strong>$111,900</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Unemployment rate:</strong> 7.3%</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Morristown is steeped in frontier history. The small city, which is less than an hour\'s drive east from Knoxville, is where you\'ll find the Crockett Tavern Museum, a reconstruction of Davy Crockett\'s boyhood home.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The King of the Wild Frontier wouldn\'t recognize the area today, but he\'d find it still to be a comparatively economical place to live.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Housing-related expenses including rents and mortgages are nearly 30% lower than the national average, according to the Council for Community and Economic Research\'s Cost of Living Index. Costs for transportation run are almost 20% below what the average American pays. Health care and grocery items also contribute to Morristown\'s ranking among the cheapest U.S. cities to live in.</span></p>\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide\">\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide--wrapper\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen-13583501_192=\"517209\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time-13583501_192=\"100\" data-gtm-vis-has-fired-13583501_192=\"1\">\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">20. Danville, Illinois</span></h3>\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\"><img class=\"polaris__image lazyloaded\" src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--HrOXctzt--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Danville_commons_2.jpg\" data-src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--HrOXctzt--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Danville_commons_2.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--HrOXctzt--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Danville_commons_2.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--HrOXctzt--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Danville_commons_2.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--HrOXctzt--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Danville_commons_2.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--HrOXctzt--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Danville_commons_2.jpg 1666w\" width=\"336\" height=\"189\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--HrOXctzt--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Danville_commons_2.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--HrOXctzt--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Danville_commons_2.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--HrOXctzt--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Danville_commons_2.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--HrOXctzt--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Danville_commons_2.jpg 1666w\" /></span></h3>\n</div>\n</div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Cost of living:</strong> 13.1% below U.S. average</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>City population:</strong> 31,554</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median household income:</strong> $36,176</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median home value: </strong>$67,400</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Unemployment rate:</strong> 9.3%</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">About 120 miles south of Chicago sits Danville, Ill., a small, unassuming city that was once the home of Dick Van Dyke, Gene Hackman, Donald O\'Connor and Bobby Short. Perhaps most impressively, Abraham Lincoln spent 18 years practicing law in Danville. The city has more than a dozen sites commemorating his time there.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Danville was a coal-mining center for the first half the 20th century, but that industry petered out after World War II. Today, major employers include the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, grocery distributor McLane/Midwest and Blue Cross Blue Shield.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A comparatively high unemployment rate and relatively low median incomes and home values keep prices in check. Housing-related expenses including mortgages and rents stand 35% below the U.S. average. The average price for a house in Danville is $235,820 vs. a national average of $370,590.</span></p>\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide\">\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide--wrapper\" data-gtm-vis-recent-on-screen-13583501_192=\"519763\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen-13583501_192=\"519763\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time-13583501_192=\"100\" data-gtm-vis-has-fired-13583501_192=\"1\">\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">19. Wichita Falls, Texas</span></h3>\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\"><img class=\"polaris__image lazyloaded\" src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--cwDvFtMx--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Wichita_Falls_TX_Getty_.jpg\" data-src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--cwDvFtMx--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Wichita_Falls_TX_Getty_.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--cwDvFtMx--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Wichita_Falls_TX_Getty_.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--cwDvFtMx--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Wichita_Falls_TX_Getty_.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--cwDvFtMx--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Wichita_Falls_TX_Getty_.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--cwDvFtMx--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Wichita_Falls_TX_Getty_.jpg 1666w\" width=\"336\" height=\"189\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--cwDvFtMx--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Wichita_Falls_TX_Getty_.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--cwDvFtMx--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Wichita_Falls_TX_Getty_.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--cwDvFtMx--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Wichita_Falls_TX_Getty_.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--cwDvFtMx--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Wichita_Falls_TX_Getty_.jpg 1666w\" /></span></h3>\n</div>\n</div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Cost of living: </strong>13.2% below U.S. average</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>City population:</strong> 104,568</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median household income:</strong> $47,195</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median home value:</strong> $97,200</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Unemployment rate:</strong> 5.9%</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The largest employer in Wichita Falls is the United States Air Force, with Sheppard Air Force Base located just a short drive from downtown. But this city situated 140 miles northwest of Dallas claims other distinctions, too.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Wichita Falls is home to the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame &amp; Museum, boasts the \"world\'s littlest skyscraper\" and allows servicemen and civilians alike to really stretch their paychecks. Housing costs, for example, run more than 20% below the national average. Groceries, health care and transportation costs also are lower than the national average.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Just be forewarned that this North Texas city gets H-O-T in summer, with average highs of 97 degrees in July. Utilities tend to cost about 10% more than the national average.</span></p>\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide\">\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide--wrapper\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen-13583501_192=\"562665\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time-13583501_192=\"100\" data-gtm-vis-has-fired-13583501_192=\"1\">\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">18. Hattiesburg, Mississippi</span></h3>\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\"><img class=\"polaris__image lazyloaded\" src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--w1afo8if--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Hattiesburgh_getty_.jpg\" data-src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--w1afo8if--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Hattiesburgh_getty_.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--w1afo8if--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Hattiesburgh_getty_.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--w1afo8if--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Hattiesburgh_getty_.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--w1afo8if--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Hattiesburgh_getty_.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--w1afo8if--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Hattiesburgh_getty_.jpg 1666w\" width=\"336\" height=\"189\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--w1afo8if--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Hattiesburgh_getty_.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--w1afo8if--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Hattiesburgh_getty_.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--w1afo8if--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Hattiesburgh_getty_.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--w1afo8if--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Hattiesburgh_getty_.jpg 1666w\" /></span></h3>\n</div>\n</div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Cost of living:</strong> 13.4% below U.S. average</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>City population:</strong> 46,251</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median household income:</strong> $33,792</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median home value: </strong>$112,100</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Unemployment rate:</strong> 7.2%</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hattiesburg might be on the small side and it might be cheap, but it sure has a lot going on. It\'s home to both the University of Southern Mississippi – Southern Miss to locals – and William Carey University, a Baptist liberal arts college. Camp Shelby, the largest National Guard training base east of the Mississippi River, is nearby. Hattiesburg is also home to the African American Military History Museum, as well as numerous other museums, galleries and theaters.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Feel the need to get out of town? It\'s a 90-minute drive from Hattiesburg to the beaches and casinos along Mississippi\'s Gulf Coast.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">At the same time, Hattiesburg, just 115 miles to the north of New Orleans, is one of the cheapest U.S. cities to live in. Whether you rent or own, housing expenses are a third lower than the national average. Utilities, transportation costs and health care are also bargains.</span></p>\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide\">\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide--wrapper\" data-gtm-vis-recent-on-screen-13583501_192=\"579050\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen-13583501_192=\"579050\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time-13583501_192=\"100\" data-gtm-vis-has-fired-13583501_192=\"1\">\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">17. Texarkana, Texas/Arkansas</span></h3>\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\"><img class=\"polaris__image lazyloaded\" src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--IwVk7b5L--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Texarkana_Getty_.jpg\" data-src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--IwVk7b5L--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Texarkana_Getty_.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--IwVk7b5L--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Texarkana_Getty_.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--IwVk7b5L--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Texarkana_Getty_.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--IwVk7b5L--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Texarkana_Getty_.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--IwVk7b5L--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Texarkana_Getty_.jpg 1666w\" width=\"336\" height=\"189\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--IwVk7b5L--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Texarkana_Getty_.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--IwVk7b5L--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Texarkana_Getty_.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--IwVk7b5L--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Texarkana_Getty_.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--IwVk7b5L--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Texarkana_Getty_.jpg 1666w\" /></span></h3>\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide--photo\">\n<div class=\"polaris__image--wrapper lazyloaded\">\n<div class=\"polaris__image--meta\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Cost of living:</strong> 13.4% below U.S. average</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>City population:</strong> 151,675</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median household income:</strong> $45,212</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median home value: </strong>$110,900</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Unemployment rate:</strong> 6.6%</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The twin cities of Texarkana, Texas, and Texarkana, Ark., make up some of the most affordable real estate to live in the U.S., especially when it comes to some of life\'s biggest expenses.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Housing-related costs are about a third below the U.S. average. Apartments rent, for example, averages $718 a month in this border city. Nationally, the average rent comes to $1,169. Grocery items, utilities, health care and transportation are all significantly cheaper, as well.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A trip to the doctor in Texarkana costs an average of $95, according to the Cost of Living Index. Nationally, a doctor\'s visit costs $115.67. And a dozen eggs will go for $1.28 in Texarkana vs. a national average of $1.45.</span></p>\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide\">\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide--wrapper\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen-13583501_192=\"597704\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time-13583501_192=\"100\" data-gtm-vis-has-fired-13583501_192=\"1\">\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">16. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma</span></h3>\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\"><img class=\"polaris__image lazyloaded\" src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--w5Lb54tc--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/OklahomaCity_Getty_.jpg\" data-src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--w5Lb54tc--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/OklahomaCity_Getty_.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--w5Lb54tc--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/OklahomaCity_Getty_.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--w5Lb54tc--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/OklahomaCity_Getty_.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--w5Lb54tc--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/OklahomaCity_Getty_.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--w5Lb54tc--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/OklahomaCity_Getty_.jpg 1666w\" width=\"336\" height=\"189\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--w5Lb54tc--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/OklahomaCity_Getty_.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--w5Lb54tc--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/OklahomaCity_Getty_.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--w5Lb54tc--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/OklahomaCity_Getty_.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--w5Lb54tc--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/OklahomaCity_Getty_.jpg 1666w\" /></span></h3>\n</div>\n</div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Cost of living:</strong> 14.2% below U.S. average</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>City population:</strong> 649,410</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median household income:</strong> $53,973</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median home value: </strong>$161,700</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Unemployment rate:</strong> 5.6%</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The largest city in Oklahoma offers remarkably affordable prices for its size. The biggest reason: Housing costs run about 20% below the national average, according to the Cost of Living Index, which takes into account both home prices and apartment rents.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">And, yet, as a metro area with 1.4 million people, Oklahoma City offers a lot of big-city attractions, from a philharmonic orchestra to the National Softball Hall of Fame and Museum. At the professional sports level, the NBA\'s Oklahoma City Thunder is a regularly competitive team.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> </span></p>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide\">\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide--wrapper\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen-13583501_192=\"614567\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time-13583501_192=\"100\" data-gtm-vis-has-fired-13583501_192=\"1\">\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">15. Seguin, Texas</span></h3>\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\"><img class=\"polaris__image lazyloaded\" src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--1xIfNzRH--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Seguin_TX_getty.jpg\" data-src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--1xIfNzRH--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Seguin_TX_getty.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--1xIfNzRH--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Seguin_TX_getty.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--1xIfNzRH--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Seguin_TX_getty.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--1xIfNzRH--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Seguin_TX_getty.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--1xIfNzRH--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Seguin_TX_getty.jpg 1666w\" width=\"336\" height=\"189\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--1xIfNzRH--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Seguin_TX_getty.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--1xIfNzRH--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Seguin_TX_getty.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--1xIfNzRH--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Seguin_TX_getty.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--1xIfNzRH--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572377/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Seguin_TX_getty.jpg 1666w\" /></span></h3>\n</div>\n</div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Cost of living:</strong> 14.3% below U.S. average</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>City population:</strong> 28,357</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median household income:</strong> $48,782</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median home value: </strong>$124,000</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Unemployment rate:</strong> 6.4%</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Seguin, Texas, is a small town in the San Antonio-New Braunfels metro area, about 30 miles from downtown San Antonio. Although the Texas town is quite small with a population of less than 30,000, it\'s well situated to take advantage of any big-city benefits. After all, the San Antonio metro area has a population of more than 2.5 million.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">That\'s not to say that tiny Seguin is without its own charms. Max Starcke Park comprises 227 acres located along the scenic Guadalupe River. The city is also home to the world\'s oldest and largest pecan statue and a nutcracker museum.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Housing costs are about 18% lower than the national average in Seguin. Low costs on health care, groceries, transportation, utilities and miscellaneous expenses also contribute to Seguin\'s ranking among the 25 cheapest cities in America.</span></p>\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide\">\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide--wrapper\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen-13583501_192=\"638968\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time-13583501_192=\"100\" data-gtm-vis-has-fired-13583501_192=\"1\">\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">14. Decatur/Hartselle, Alabama</span></h3>\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\"><img class=\"polaris__image lazyloaded\" src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--5TzSTSUh--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Decatur_Ala_getty.jpg\" data-src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--5TzSTSUh--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Decatur_Ala_getty.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--5TzSTSUh--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Decatur_Ala_getty.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--5TzSTSUh--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Decatur_Ala_getty.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--5TzSTSUh--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Decatur_Ala_getty.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--5TzSTSUh--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Decatur_Ala_getty.jpg 1666w\" width=\"336\" height=\"189\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--5TzSTSUh--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Decatur_Ala_getty.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--5TzSTSUh--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Decatur_Ala_getty.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--5TzSTSUh--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Decatur_Ala_getty.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--5TzSTSUh--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Decatur_Ala_getty.jpg 1666w\" /></span></h3>\n</div>\n</div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Cost of living:</strong> 14.5% below U.S. average</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>City population:</strong> 152,046</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median household income:</strong> $49,133</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median home value: </strong>$132,500</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Unemployment rate:</strong> 4.5%</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Decatur and Hartselle are two Northern Alabama cities with an abundance of outdoor activities, cultural diversions and low cost of living. Decatur\'s economy benefits from being the busiest port on the Tennessee River, and from NASA\'s Marshall Space Flight Center in nearby Huntsville. Tourism is another driver of the local economy, thanks to the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, the Carnegie Visual Arts Center and festivals such as the Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Nearby Hartselle, about 10 miles south, shares the charms of its neighbor to the north. Residents can cool off in the summer at the city\'s sprawling aquatic center, which includes a water slide and diving platform. And Southern history buffs will want to stroll through the Hartselle Downtown Commercial Historic District, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Residents can enjoy all this and more without breaking the bank. Housing-related costs including mortgages and rents in Decatur are about 15% cheaper than the national average. Apartment rents are less than half of what the average American shells out every month. Prices on a wide range of goods and services, from pizza to haircuts to dry cleaning, are cheaper, too.</span></p>\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide\">\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide--wrapper\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen-13583501_192=\"641390\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time-13583501_192=\"100\" data-gtm-vis-has-fired-13583501_192=\"1\">\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">13. Florence, Alabama</span></h3>\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\"><img class=\"polaris__image lazyloaded\" src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--BQV91g0C--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Florence_Ala_getty_.jpg\" data-src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--BQV91g0C--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Florence_Ala_getty_.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--BQV91g0C--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Florence_Ala_getty_.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--BQV91g0C--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Florence_Ala_getty_.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--BQV91g0C--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Florence_Ala_getty_.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--BQV91g0C--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Florence_Ala_getty_.jpg 1666w\" width=\"336\" height=\"189\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--BQV91g0C--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Florence_Ala_getty_.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--BQV91g0C--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Florence_Ala_getty_.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--BQV91g0C--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Florence_Ala_getty_.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--BQV91g0C--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Florence_Ala_getty_.jpg 1666w\" /></span></h3>\n</div>\n</div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Cost of living:</strong> 14.7% below U.S. average</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>City population:</strong> 40,104</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median household income:</strong> $38,902</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median home value: </strong>$134,500</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Unemployment rate:</strong> 5.4%</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The city of Florence, the birthplace of Helen Keller, sits in the northwest corner of Alabama on the Tennessee River, about a two-hour drive from Birmingham.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Florence – as well as the surrounding area, known as The Shoals – boast a number of other attractions. The nearby Muscle Shoals Sound Studio has a rich history; it\'s where The Rolling Stones recorded the hit songs \"Wild Horses\" and \"Brown Sugar.\" Florence claims Alabama\'s only house designed by legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The city also hosts the University of North Alabama.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Happily for residents of Florence, the city\'s distinctive sites and southern charm come at a reasonable price. Housing-related expenses are 35% less than what the average American pays. For example, the average apartment rents for $574, which is about half the national average. Health care costs about 25% less in Florence.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">All other major expenses tracked by the Cost of Living Index likewise take a smaller bite of folks\' paychecks, putting Florence in the middle of the pack of the 25 cheapest U.S. cities to live in.</span></p>\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide\">\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide--wrapper\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen-13583501_192=\"690640\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time-13583501_192=\"100\" data-gtm-vis-has-fired-13583501_192=\"1\">\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">12. Tulsa, Oklahoma</span></h3>\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\"><img class=\"polaris__image lazyloaded\" src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--lsC2ydqi--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572376/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Tulsa_Getty.jpg\" data-src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--lsC2ydqi--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572376/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Tulsa_Getty.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--lsC2ydqi--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572376/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Tulsa_Getty.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--lsC2ydqi--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572376/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Tulsa_Getty.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--lsC2ydqi--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572376/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Tulsa_Getty.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--lsC2ydqi--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572376/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Tulsa_Getty.jpg 1666w\" width=\"336\" height=\"189\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--lsC2ydqi--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572376/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Tulsa_Getty.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--lsC2ydqi--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572376/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Tulsa_Getty.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--lsC2ydqi--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572376/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Tulsa_Getty.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--lsC2ydqi--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572376/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Tulsa_Getty.jpg 1666w\" /></span></h3>\n</div>\n</div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Cost of living:</strong> 15.6% below U.S. average</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>City population:</strong> 402,223</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median household income:</strong> $46,113</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median home value: </strong>$133,900</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Unemployment rate:</strong> 6.1%</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This Oklahoma city traces its roots back to the Western expansion, first as a cattle town and later as the \"Oil Capital of the World.\"</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Reminders can be found everywhere.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Gilcrease Museum, which specializes in exhibits about the American West, offers free admission for kids under 18, active-duty military and veterans and K-12 Oklahoma teachers.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Another must-see is the 1920s villa that is home to the Philbrook Museum of Art. Construction of the opulent Italian renaissance building was financed by the oil boom. There\'s no charge to visit on the second Saturday of each month.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Housing costs are a whopping 39% below the national average, while groceries, health care, transportation, utilities and miscellaneous expenses are all below-average too.</span></p>\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide\">\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide--wrapper\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen-13583501_192=\"715858\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time-13583501_192=\"100\" data-gtm-vis-has-fired-13583501_192=\"1\">\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">11. Jackson, Tennessee</span></h3>\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\"><img class=\"polaris__image lazyloaded\" src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--5FLuV1k2--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572376/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Jackson_Tenn_Getty.jpg\" data-src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--5FLuV1k2--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572376/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Jackson_Tenn_Getty.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--5FLuV1k2--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572376/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Jackson_Tenn_Getty.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--5FLuV1k2--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572376/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Jackson_Tenn_Getty.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--5FLuV1k2--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572376/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Jackson_Tenn_Getty.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--5FLuV1k2--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572376/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Jackson_Tenn_Getty.jpg 1666w\" width=\"336\" height=\"189\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--5FLuV1k2--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572376/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Jackson_Tenn_Getty.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--5FLuV1k2--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572376/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Jackson_Tenn_Getty.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--5FLuV1k2--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572376/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Jackson_Tenn_Getty.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--5FLuV1k2--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572376/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Jackson_Tenn_Getty.jpg 1666w\" /></span></h3>\n</div>\n</div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Cost of living:</strong> 15.6% below U.S. average</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>City population:</strong> 66,900</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median household income:</strong> $38,973</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median home value: </strong>$126,200</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Unemployment rate:</strong> 8.3%</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Jackson, Tennessee, and surrounding Madison County are located 90 miles northeast of Memphis, which, as we\'ll see, is also among the least expensive cities in the U.S.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Jackson serves as a regional center of trade for west Tennessee. Some of the area\'s largest employers include Kellogg (K), Stanley Black &amp; Decker (SWK) and Toyota (TM). The city doesn\'t lack for leisure activities either. The Ned R. McWherter West Tennessee Cultural Arts Center, the West Tennessee Healthcare Sportsplex and the International Rock-A-Billy Hall of Fame Museum are just three of the city\'s main attractions.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">And it all comes in an affordable package. The overall cost of living is 15.6% less than the national average, led by particularly low health care and housing expenses.</span></p>\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide\">\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide--wrapper\" data-gtm-vis-recent-on-screen-13583501_192=\"772815\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen-13583501_192=\"772815\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time-13583501_192=\"100\" data-gtm-vis-has-fired-13583501_192=\"1\">\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">10. Anniston, Alabama</span></h3>\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\"><img class=\"polaris__image lazyloaded\" src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--Ixd1Zcz7--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Anniston_Ala_Getty_.jpg\" data-src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--Ixd1Zcz7--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Anniston_Ala_Getty_.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--Ixd1Zcz7--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Anniston_Ala_Getty_.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--Ixd1Zcz7--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Anniston_Ala_Getty_.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--Ixd1Zcz7--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Anniston_Ala_Getty_.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--Ixd1Zcz7--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Anniston_Ala_Getty_.jpg 1666w\" width=\"336\" height=\"189\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--Ixd1Zcz7--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Anniston_Ala_Getty_.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--Ixd1Zcz7--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Anniston_Ala_Getty_.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--Ixd1Zcz7--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Anniston_Ala_Getty_.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--Ixd1Zcz7--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Anniston_Ala_Getty_.jpg 1666w\" /></span></h3>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div class=\"polaris__ad -empty-ad-slot -float-right\">\n<div class=\"polaris__ad--inner\"></div>\n</div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Cost of living:</strong> 16.4% below U.S. average</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>City population:</strong> 21,924</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median household income:</strong> $33,688</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median home value: </strong>$96,900</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Unemployment rate:</strong> 6.5%</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">About an hour\'s drive east from Birmingham sits Anniston. The city\'s proximity to the Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge makes it a good jumping off point for hikers, mountain bikers and other outdoorsy types. The city also has its quirks. It\'s home to the world\'s largest office chair – a 33-foot-tall seat that was once recognized by Guinness World Records.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Anniston\'s low cost of living puts it among the 10 cheapest U.S. cities to live in, but it comes alongside a low median income that\'s roughly 26% below the national average. That said, household incomes and home values are higher in other parts of Calhoun County, of which Anniston is the county seat.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Although the economic picture could be brighter, Anniston has its charms, including architectural gems such as Victorian homes and historic churches.</span></p>\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide\">\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide--wrapper\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen-13583501_192=\"835105\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time-13583501_192=\"100\" data-gtm-vis-has-fired-13583501_192=\"1\">\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">9. Knoxville, Tennessee</span></h3>\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\"><img class=\"polaris__image lazyloaded\" src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--SSpem1_q--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Knoxville_TN_Getty_.jpg\" data-src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--SSpem1_q--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Knoxville_TN_Getty_.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--SSpem1_q--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Knoxville_TN_Getty_.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--SSpem1_q--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Knoxville_TN_Getty_.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--SSpem1_q--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Knoxville_TN_Getty_.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--SSpem1_q--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Knoxville_TN_Getty_.jpg 1666w\" width=\"336\" height=\"189\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--SSpem1_q--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Knoxville_TN_Getty_.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--SSpem1_q--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Knoxville_TN_Getty_.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--SSpem1_q--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Knoxville_TN_Getty_.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--SSpem1_q--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Knoxville_TN_Getty_.jpg 1666w\" /></span></h3>\n</div>\n</div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Cost of living:</strong> 16.8% below U.S. average</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>City population:</strong> 187,514</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median household income:</strong> $40,459</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median home value: </strong>$139,900</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Unemployment rate:</strong> 6.9%</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Thrifty types should volunteer to check out Knoxville, one of four Tennessee cities to make the list for inexpensive living. The city is notable for its across-the-board affordability for everything from food to transportation, according to the Cost of Living Index.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Consider Knoxville, the original state capital before Nashville, a good mix of city and country living. It is home to the University of Tennessee and the Women\'s Basketball Hall of Fame, but Knoxville is also the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains. The Tennessee River runs through downtown.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The city was a strategic objective in the Civil War, so history buffs can visit a number of battlefields nearby, too.</span></p>\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide\">\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide--wrapper\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen-13583501_192=\"855436\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time-13583501_192=\"100\" data-gtm-vis-has-fired-13583501_192=\"1\">\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">8. Fayetteville, Arkansas</span></h3>\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\"><img class=\"polaris__image lazyloaded\" src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--4ykh_ZAw--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Fayetteville_Ark_Getty_.jpg\" data-src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--4ykh_ZAw--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Fayetteville_Ark_Getty_.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--4ykh_ZAw--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Fayetteville_Ark_Getty_.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--4ykh_ZAw--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Fayetteville_Ark_Getty_.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--4ykh_ZAw--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Fayetteville_Ark_Getty_.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--4ykh_ZAw--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Fayetteville_Ark_Getty_.jpg 1666w\" width=\"336\" height=\"189\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--4ykh_ZAw--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Fayetteville_Ark_Getty_.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--4ykh_ZAw--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Fayetteville_Ark_Getty_.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--4ykh_ZAw--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Fayetteville_Ark_Getty_.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--4ykh_ZAw--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Fayetteville_Ark_Getty_.jpg 1666w\" /></span></h3>\n</div>\n</div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Cost of living:</strong> 16.9% below U.S. average</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>City population:</strong> 86,765</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median household income:</strong> $41,890</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median home value: </strong>$226,000</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Unemployment rate:</strong> 5.7%</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Life is good, and affordable, in the Fayetteville metro area. This area, set deep within the Ozarks, frequently appears on lists of the best places to live in the U.S. – and smart places to retire.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Fayetteville benefits from being the home of the gargantuan University of Arkansas, and it also doesn\'t hurt that Walmart (WMT), the world\'s largest retailer, is headquartered in nearby Bentonville. Those institutions, among others, help fuel a fast-growing metro area and low unemployment.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">And yet Fayetteville remains relatively cheap for students and civilians, alike. Housing-related costs still run close to 30% below the national average. Health care, groceries and transportation costs are all significantly less expensive, too.</span></p>\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide\">\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide--wrapper\" data-gtm-vis-recent-on-screen-13583501_192=\"872219\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen-13583501_192=\"872219\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time-13583501_192=\"100\" data-gtm-vis-has-fired-13583501_192=\"1\">\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">7. Conway, Arkansas</span></h3>\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\"><img class=\"polaris__image lazyloaded\" src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--2yB_kByq--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Conway_Ark_getty_.jpg\" data-src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--2yB_kByq--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Conway_Ark_getty_.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--2yB_kByq--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Conway_Ark_getty_.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--2yB_kByq--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Conway_Ark_getty_.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--2yB_kByq--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Conway_Ark_getty_.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--2yB_kByq--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Conway_Ark_getty_.jpg 1666w\" width=\"336\" height=\"189\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--2yB_kByq--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Conway_Ark_getty_.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--2yB_kByq--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Conway_Ark_getty_.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--2yB_kByq--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Conway_Ark_getty_.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--2yB_kByq--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572374/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Conway_Ark_getty_.jpg 1666w\" /></span></h3>\n</div>\n</div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Cost of living:</strong> 17% below U.S. average</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>City population:</strong> 66,421</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median household income:</strong> $44,569</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median home value: </strong>$179,100</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Unemployment rate:</strong> 8.4%</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Conway is home to a number of high-tech companies, such as digital marketing firm Acxiom, and post-secondary educational institutions, including the University of Central Arkansas. Close proximity to the Arkansas River and Lake Conway makes the city ideal for fishing and water sports, and there\'s ample space for hunting. Yet you can drive to the state capital of Little Rock in a half-hour or so.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">While Conway\'s median home value is the second-highest among the 25 cheapest U.S. cities to live in, the figure is still below the U.S. median, and housing-related expenses, including utilities, are modest. Relatively low costs for health care also contribute to Conway\'s affordability.</span></p>\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide\">\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide--wrapper\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen-13583501_192=\"891729\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time-13583501_192=\"100\" data-gtm-vis-has-fired-13583501_192=\"1\">\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">6. Memphis, Tennessee</span></h3>\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\"><img class=\"polaris__image lazyloaded\" src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--rWCo6SGa--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Memphis_Getty_.jpg\" data-src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--rWCo6SGa--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Memphis_Getty_.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--rWCo6SGa--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Memphis_Getty_.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--rWCo6SGa--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Memphis_Getty_.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--rWCo6SGa--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Memphis_Getty_.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--rWCo6SGa--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Memphis_Getty_.jpg 1666w\" width=\"336\" height=\"189\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--rWCo6SGa--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Memphis_Getty_.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--rWCo6SGa--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Memphis_Getty_.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--rWCo6SGa--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Memphis_Getty_.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--rWCo6SGa--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572370/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Memphis_Getty_.jpg 1666w\" /></span></h3>\n</div>\n</div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Cost of living:</strong> 17.3% below U.S. average</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>City population:</strong> 650,632</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median household income:</strong> $37,199</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median home value: </strong>$103,700</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Unemployment rate:</strong> 11.9%</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To say that real estate is cheap in Memphis is an understatement. Average home prices come to about $261,000 – an amount that would elicit screams from people who live in the most expensive U.S. cities. Renters benefit, too. A typical apartment in Memphis rents for about $350 a month less than the national average.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The pandemic recession has clobbered the local economy, but there\'s good work if you can get it. Proximity to the mighty Mississippi River makes Memphis a hub for the shipping and transportation industries. Three Fortune 500 companies – FedEx (FDX), International Paper (IP) and AutoZone (AZO) – call the city home.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You\'ll also find numerous colleges and universities, an NBA franchise, mouthwatering ribs and, of course, Graceland.</span></p>\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide\">\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide--wrapper\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen-13583501_192=\"894111\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time-13583501_192=\"100\" data-gtm-vis-has-fired-13583501_192=\"1\">\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">5. Amarillo, Texas</span></h3>\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\"><img class=\"polaris__image lazyloaded\" src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--zgkPSOFp--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572375/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Amarillo_TX_Getty_.jpg\" data-src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--zgkPSOFp--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572375/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Amarillo_TX_Getty_.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--zgkPSOFp--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572375/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Amarillo_TX_Getty_.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--zgkPSOFp--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572375/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Amarillo_TX_Getty_.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--zgkPSOFp--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572375/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Amarillo_TX_Getty_.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--zgkPSOFp--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572375/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Amarillo_TX_Getty_.jpg 1666w\" width=\"336\" height=\"189\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--zgkPSOFp--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572375/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Amarillo_TX_Getty_.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--zgkPSOFp--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572375/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Amarillo_TX_Getty_.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--zgkPSOFp--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572375/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Amarillo_TX_Getty_.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--zgkPSOFp--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572375/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Amarillo_TX_Getty_.jpg 1666w\" /></span></h3>\n</div>\n</div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Cost of living:</strong> 18.6% below U.S. average</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>City population:</strong> 200,800</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median household income:</strong> $50,234</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median home value: </strong>$137,600</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Unemployment rate:</strong> 4.2%</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Amarilloans are known for their love of high-school football, hot sauce and thick steaks. They also enjoy savings on a wide range of goods and services. Toothpaste, for example, is roughly 25% less expensive in the city known as \"The Yellow Rose of Texas.\" A trip to the veterinarian is about 13% below the national average. Need to get your eyes checked? An appointment with an optometrist costs 34% less than what the average American pays.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But the biggest way folks in this part of the Texas Panhandle save money is by what they spend on housing. Residents spend almost 40% less on housing-related costs vs. the national average.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The city\'s economy has held up pretty well in the recession, too. The unemployment rate of 4.2% is well below the national figure of 8.4%</span></p>\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide\">\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide--wrapper\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen-13583501_192=\"937091\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time-13583501_192=\"100\" data-gtm-vis-has-fired-13583501_192=\"1\">\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">4. Joplin, Missouri</span></h3>\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><img class=\"polaris__image lazyloaded\" src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--WGysby1U--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Joplin_MO_Getty_.jpg\" data-src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--WGysby1U--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Joplin_MO_Getty_.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--WGysby1U--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Joplin_MO_Getty_.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--WGysby1U--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Joplin_MO_Getty_.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--WGysby1U--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Joplin_MO_Getty_.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--WGysby1U--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Joplin_MO_Getty_.jpg 1666w\" width=\"336\" height=\"189\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--WGysby1U--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Joplin_MO_Getty_.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--WGysby1U--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Joplin_MO_Getty_.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--WGysby1U--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Joplin_MO_Getty_.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--WGysby1U--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Joplin_MO_Getty_.jpg 1666w\" style=\"font-size: 14px; color: #666666;\" /></h3>\n</div>\n</div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Cost of living:</strong> 19.6% below U.S. average</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>City population:</strong> 50,073</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median household income:</strong> $42,782</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median home value: </strong>$123,700</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Unemployment rate:</strong> 6.4%</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It used to be that Joplin, at least to outsiders, was probably best known as a place where Depression-era bank robbers Bonnie and Clyde hid out for a time. Today, sadly, Joplin is perhaps better known for tornados, such as the deadly storm that destroyed about 30% of the city in 2011.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The area is on the mend, however, helped by its status as a regional medical center. Its two major hospitals serve a four-state area that includes Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Housing-related costs are about 45% below the national average, and a large reason why Joplin\'s among the five cheapest U.S. cities to live in. Groceries, health care and transportation costs are comparatively low, as well.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Utilities, however, run almost 5% more than the U.S. average.</span></p>\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide\">\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide--wrapper\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen-13583501_192=\"951161\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time-13583501_192=\"100\" data-gtm-vis-has-fired-13583501_192=\"1\">\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">3. Kalamazoo, Michigan</span></h3>\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><img class=\"polaris__image lazyloaded\" src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--lTq4Xu5---/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572371/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Kalamazoo_getty_.jpg\" data-src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--lTq4Xu5---/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572371/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Kalamazoo_getty_.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--lTq4Xu5---/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572371/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Kalamazoo_getty_.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--lTq4Xu5---/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572371/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Kalamazoo_getty_.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--lTq4Xu5---/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572371/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Kalamazoo_getty_.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--lTq4Xu5---/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572371/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Kalamazoo_getty_.jpg 1666w\" width=\"336\" height=\"189\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--lTq4Xu5---/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572371/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Kalamazoo_getty_.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--lTq4Xu5---/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572371/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Kalamazoo_getty_.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--lTq4Xu5---/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572371/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Kalamazoo_getty_.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--lTq4Xu5---/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572371/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Kalamazoo_getty_.jpg 1666w\" style=\"font-size: 14px; color: #666666;\" /></h3>\n</div>\n</div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Cost of living:</strong> 21.6% below U.S. average</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>City population:</strong> 76,557</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median household income:</strong> $42,759</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median home value: </strong>$111,800</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Unemployment rate:</strong> 7.9%</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It\'s cheap to live in the Kalamazoo metro area – and that\'s a necessity for many residents. Almost than 30% of the city\'s population lives below the poverty line. (At the metro level, which includes Portage, Michigan, the figure comes to 15%.) The U.S. poverty rate is 10.5%.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Western Michigan University, with its multiple campuses and research facilities, is a major driver of the local economy. Pfizer (PFE), the drug company, has a sizable operation in Kalamazoo, and medical equipment maker Stryker (SYK) is headquartered in the city.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As for recreational activities, the Kalamazoo Nature Center hosts free daily activities. Nearby parks offer a combined 140 miles of trails and three swimming beaches. If you want to get away to the big city, Chicago is less than three hours by car if traffic is merciful.</span></p>\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide\">\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide--wrapper\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen-13583501_192=\"964360\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time-13583501_192=\"100\" data-gtm-vis-has-fired-13583501_192=\"1\">\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">2. Harlingen, Texas</span></h3>\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><img class=\"polaris__image lazyloaded\" src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--YkYszgXX--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Harlingen_TX_getty_.jpg\" data-src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--YkYszgXX--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Harlingen_TX_getty_.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--YkYszgXX--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Harlingen_TX_getty_.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--YkYszgXX--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Harlingen_TX_getty_.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--YkYszgXX--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Harlingen_TX_getty_.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--YkYszgXX--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Harlingen_TX_getty_.jpg 1666w\" width=\"336\" height=\"189\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--YkYszgXX--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Harlingen_TX_getty_.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--YkYszgXX--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Harlingen_TX_getty_.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--YkYszgXX--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Harlingen_TX_getty_.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--YkYszgXX--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601572372/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/Harlingen_TX_getty_.jpg 1666w\" style=\"font-size: 14px; color: #666666;\" /></h3>\n</div>\n</div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Cost of living:</strong> 24.4% below U.S. average</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>City population:</strong> 65,434</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median household income:</strong> $40,859</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median home value: </strong>$83,300</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Unemployment rate:</strong> 9.0%</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Harlingen sits on the southernmost tip of Texas, with the Rio Grande to the south and the Gulf of Mexico to the east. The Brownsville-Harlingen metro area is a hardscrabble place where 28% of residents live below the poverty line. That\'s about twice the poverty rate for Texas as a whole.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">However, just about everything, from groceries to gasoline, costs less in Harlingen. A good cut of steak costs about half of the national average (this is Texas, after all). The median home value in Harlingen is a striking $150,000 less than the U.S. median.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In addition to its proximity to Mexico, Harlingen is about an hour\'s drive to the beaches of South Padre Island.</span></p>\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide\">\n<div class=\"polaris__single-slide--wrapper\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen-13583501_192=\"7249\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time-13583501_192=\"100\" data-gtm-vis-has-fired-13583501_192=\"1\">\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span>1. <span style=\"color: #000000;\">McAllen, Texas</span></span></h3>\n<h3 class=\"polaris__heading polaris__single-slide--title\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\"><img class=\"polaris__image lazyloaded\" src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--riDRzsG4--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601576170/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/mcallen_tx_getty.jpg\" data-src=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--riDRzsG4--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601576170/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/mcallen_tx_getty.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--riDRzsG4--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601576170/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/mcallen_tx_getty.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--riDRzsG4--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601576170/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/mcallen_tx_getty.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--riDRzsG4--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601576170/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/mcallen_tx_getty.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--riDRzsG4--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601576170/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/mcallen_tx_getty.jpg 1666w\" width=\"336\" height=\"189\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--riDRzsG4--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@1/v1601576170/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/mcallen_tx_getty.jpg 336w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--riDRzsG4--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@1/v1601576170/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/mcallen_tx_getty.jpg 833w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--riDRzsG4--/t_slideshow-image-mobile@2/v1601576170/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/mcallen_tx_getty.jpg 672w,https://mediacloud.kiplinger.com/image/private/s--riDRzsG4--/t_slideshow-image-desktop@2/v1601576170/Cheapest%20Cities%202020/mcallen_tx_getty.jpg 1666w\" /></span></h3>\n</div>\n</div>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Cost of living:</strong> 24.8% below U.S. average</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>City population:</strong> 143,429</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median household income:</strong> $45,495</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Median home value: </strong>$130,900</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Unemployment rate:</strong> 10.4%</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">South Texas border towns are known for low costs of living, but not always for happy reasons.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">McAllen, which is about 30 miles west of Harlingen on the Rio Grande, may be a cheap place to live, but it comes at a price. The poverty rate in the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metro area is 30.5%. The Mexican city of Reynosa, directly across the border, has been the scene of violence between drug gangs and Mexican security forces.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">On the plus side, McAllen is famous for bird watching because of its location on a major migration route. The Quinta Mazatlan, a luxury birdhouse with more than 15 acres of birding habitat, is not to be missed.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The city also features the International Museum of Art &amp; Science, which has a specific focus on Latin American art.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">And McAllen isn\'t just affordable – it\'s the cheapest American city to live in, according to the Cost of Living Index. Housing costs are 45% lower the national average, while health care is 70% less. One of the only things you\'ll pay a little extra for is utilities, which isn\'t surprising given that temperatures <em>average</em> in the high 90s during the summer months.</span></p>\n<p><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.kiplinger.com/real-estate/places-to-live/601488/25-cheapest-us-cities-to-live-in\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></p>\n</div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','The 25 Cheapest U.S. Cities to Live In','','publish','closed','closed','','the-25-cheapest-u-s-cities-to-live-in','','','2020-10-26 22:28:53','2020-10-26 22:28:53','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?page_id=820',0,'page','',0),(821,1,'2020-10-22 21:51:05','2020-10-22 21:51:05','<!-- wp:divi/placeholder /-->','The 25 Cheapest U.S. Cities to Live In','','inherit','closed','closed','','820-revision-v1','','','2020-10-22 21:51:05','2020-10-22 21:51:05','',820,'http://smartinsurance.tips/820-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(819,1,'2020-10-22 21:47:38','2020-10-22 21:47:38','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"ArticleHeader-headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>How to change the default email app on your iPhone so you can use </strong></h1>\n<h1 class=\"ArticleHeader-headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Gmail or Outlook instead</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<p><img src=\"https://image.cnbcfm.com/api/v1/image/106617190-1594818721902app-library-3.png?v=1594818955&amp;w=678&amp;h=381\" alt=\"Tap the gray button with circles on it.\" style=\"float: left;\" /></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<div class=\"group\">\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Apple’s new iPhone update, iOS 14, launched on Sept. 16. One of the big features in it lets you change your default email app from Apple’s Mail app to another one if it supports the feature. If you’re like me, and use Outlook and Gmail instead of Mail, this is a big deal.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Normally, if you click a link to an email address somewhere, your iPhone will just open Mail and start a new message, usually from your Apple iCloud account. It’s annoying when this happens, since your email might not come from your regular work or personal account, and you might miss responses that are sent to an inbox you don’t use.</span></p>\n<div class=\"BoxInline-container  \">\n<div id=\"BoxInline-ArticleBody-5\" class=\"BoxInline-container\" data-module=\"mps-slot\"></div>\n</div>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The change was first announced in June, when Apple revealed iOS 14, in what appears to be an attempt by Apple to address complaints from competitors. </span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It’s easy to change your default email app in iOS 14 and just takes a few seconds. I’ve changed mine to my work Outlook account, since that’s the one I usually send emails from. But lots of other apps support this too.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Before we begin, first make sure you’re running iOS 14.0.1, which fixed a bug in the feature in the first version of iOS 14.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You can check by opening Settings &gt; General &gt; About. If you need to update, do this:</span></p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Plug in your iPhone and connect to Wi-Fi.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Open Settings.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tap General.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Choose Software Update.</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Let’s get started.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div class=\"MidResponsive-midResponsiveContainer\" style=\"text-align: right;\">\n<div id=\"MidResponsive-9\" class=\"\" data-module=\"mps-slot\"></div>\n</div>\n</div>\n<h2 class=\"ArticleBody-subtitle\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">How to change the default email app on iPhone with iOS 14</span></h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Open Settings.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Scroll down to the email app you want to use. (I’ll use Gmail for this example, but it works the same for any that are supported.)</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tap the icon for Gmail.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tap “Default Mail App.”</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Change to the app you want to use.</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">That’s it. Now when you tap a link to start a new email to someone, your iPhone will use the default app you’ve selected. You can change it at any time by following the steps above.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/04/how-to-change-the-default-email-app-on-your-iphone-in-ios-14.html\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','How to change the default email app on your iPhone so you can use Gmail or Outlook instead','','inherit','closed','closed','','816-revision-v1','','','2020-10-22 21:47:38','2020-10-22 21:47:38','',816,'http://smartinsurance.tips/816-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(815,1,'2020-10-22 21:41:15','2020-10-22 21:41:15','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"fl-post-title\" itemprop=\"headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>How to Create Job Security for Life</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p><img src=\"https://2uc5db1v032h5jwcm2gal07i-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/How-to-Create-Job-Security-for-Life-1024x682.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" style=\"float: left;\" /></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> </span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px;\">A lifetime ago I worked with a woman we’ll call Martha, who flew into a minor rage when she learned that a co-worker from another department was promoted over her.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Her reaction surprised me, not because we were in the middle of a full staff meeting, but because she was the opposite of a model employee—doing the bare minimum, arguing with the boss, and nipping at a bottle of rum in her desk drawer (only on special occasions, of course).</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But Martha had seniority, and in her worldview, she was entitled to that promotion. Sadly, “I’m entitled to a salary,” is a popular belief that just doesn’t jibe with reality.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Of course, I’m not speaking to a Martha, I’m speaking to a sophisticated achiever who knows that your rewards are not tied to how many hours or years you sit in a cubicle.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The success metric is: Are you effective?</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you can answer, “Yes,” you’ll enjoy job security for life, in any economy, and I’ll wish you well as you sip cognac on your veranda overlooking your 50-acre private island in Fiji.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But if you can’t, here’s how you can make yourself more indestructible.</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">1. See yourself as a business.</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>“There is no real security except for whatever you build inside yourself.” —Gilda Radner</em></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Whether you own a business or not, you are already an entrepreneur, so start seeing yourself as the CEO of your own personal services corporation.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Whether you are flipping burgers or leading a 100-person product development team for a tech giant, each day you go to work, you are selling a service to your client (your boss) who determines your level of compensation.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“See yourself as an independent contractor selling your services back into your company on an hourly rate,” says self-help giant Brian Tracy. “See your current employer as your best client, at the moment.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A company that doesn’t make the client happy will be out of business fast. So how do you ensure that, as the leader of your company, you become a purveyor of happiness?</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You do that by delivering massive value.</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">2. Know how to create value.</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>“The only true security in life comes from knowing that every single day you are improving yourself… that you are valuable to your company, your friends, and your family.” —Tony Robbins</em></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Somewhere in high school, between the cafeteria and report cards, we’re handed this neatly packaged worldview that, if you just work hard enough, you can get all that you want in life.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But if that were true, high school dropouts working three minimum wage jobs would be as comfortable as CEOs, and all startups would IPO if the founders just work 90-hour weeks.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The reality is that you and I are rewarded for the <em>value</em> we create, whether that’s inventing a life-saving medication, or a more perfect fidget spinner.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When you understand how to create value, you’ll be indispensable no matter who signs your paycheck. This means understanding what people value (remember: it’s not always what you value), so start by asking a lot of questions.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If your audience is your ideal client, put out a survey, or conduct user interviews. If it’s your boss, ask what is her No. 1 goal?</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In either case, you won’t always get a straight answer—people are notoriously bad at articulating their true desires—so continue to observe like a scientist in the field.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Here’s a hint: Above all, every human wants to feel a certain emotion—love, respect, security—so maybe your client wants to write a book not for the money, but to feel heard? Maybe your boss’s primary motivation is to coast into retirement, and not to change the world?</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">3. Be a leader in all that you do.</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>“Initiative is doing the right thing without being told.” – Victor Hugo</em></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Too many employees wait for instructions. We all know that person who performed all their duties to the letter, but was laid off anyway. Nine times out of 10 this is because no boss wants to constantly micromanage their staff; they want people who will get busy without a prod.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Initiative is the domain of the leader. You may be saying to yourself, “But I’m not a leader, nobody has given me that responsibility!” Leadership isn’t a title, silly. It’s a mindset and a choice—to step up, even if that stairway leads outside your job description.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Maybe you work in a mailroom and see a way to improve a process, or in a cubicle and see a way for the company to go paperless. The leader comes to the boss with solutions. A follower doesn’t even see the opportunities. Which type of person do you think is more protected from layoffs?</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">4. Build relationships. (Forget “networking.”)</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>“Leave every single person who intersects your path better, happier, and more engaged than you found them.” —Robin Sharma</em></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As much as we value the brilliance of the individual, it’s only through relationships that we thrive. Nobody builds a fortune from their hermit cave; even remote workers need to play with the other kids from time to time.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As many achievers will tell you, your network is your net worth.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But there are two opposing approaches to creating a safety net of supporting connections around you. The first is a dirty word called networking. It involves going to “networking events” where the attendees spend as little time as possible with as many people as they can, and the winner is the one who hands out the most business cards. (I’m dramatizing, but you see the point.)</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Networkers enter a room with the attitude, “What can I get from these people?”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The superior approach is to create a network based on relationships—fewer, but deeper connections; quality over quantity. Relationship builders approach interactions asking, “What can I give?”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Does this sound almost like how friendships develop? Bingo. If you choose to work with people you enjoy, your work will feel less like work and more like enjoying the company of friends. Take care to develop true friendships, not just collect business cards.</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">5. Do just 5% more than expected.</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>“There are no traffic jams on the extra mile.” –Zig Ziglar</em></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">We love people who give us more than we expect. Bosses raise <em>both</em> eyebrows when a project is finished early and under budget. Customers gush to their friends about that above-and-beyond service. And your romantic partner will never forget that day you planned the scavenger hunt that ended with a surprise dinner at your favorite restaurant surrounded by best friends.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You could have just followed the job description, stuck to the refund policy, or microwaved some pizza pockets for your soulmate. But nobody remembers the times you do what’s expected, because that’s the standard that most of us adopt: “good enough.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">That’s why it’s <em>so easy</em> to go the extra mile—hardly anybody is driving on that freshly paved, six-lane highway! This need not mean doing more than <em>everyone else</em>; that kind of one-upmanship is a race to burnout.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Simply rise beyond <em>your own limits</em>. That doesn’t mean <em>doubling</em> your exertions to be outstanding; an extra 5% effort can often generate rave reviews. What does that look like?</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Maybe at home you do the dishes… AND clean out the toaster. At work you finish that research your boss asked for… AND tack on a page of analysis that shows how you can save $50k a year. With your customers, you might register them for the seminar but also throw in six free coaching sessions plus your book.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When you do more than expected, you get a reputation for delivering more value than you are paid to. Your own value rises in turn, and you become that much harder to fire.</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">6. Be the smartest person in the room… about just one thing.</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>“The only real security that a man can have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience and ability.” —Henry Ford</em></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Do you try to be best at <em>everything</em> at work? The best salesperson and marketer and coder and writer? If that’s your strategy, all your work will be mediocre.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There’s nothing wrong with being a jack-of-all-trades (this is a badge that most entrepreneurial-minded folks wear proudly), but there is also power in specialization.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Ask how you can become a critical linchpin to the organization. How can you collect the knowledge, create the relationships or generate the ideas that none of your colleagues can, at least in <em>one</em> area?</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Do you work in the marketing department and notice that your email campaigns are opened as often as a can of anchovies? Then take an email marketing course and bring new info and solutions—which none of your colleagues have—to the next team meeting.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You don’t need to demonstrate 5 out of 5-star performance in all areas of your job description. If you have just one quality that your boss or customer highly values, and can’t live without, then how can they ever let you get away?</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">7. Flaunt your good works.</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>“Leaders are not modest… these qualities and behaviors are useful for getting hired, achieving promotions, keeping one’s job, and obtaining a higher salary.” —Jeffrey Pfeffer</em></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Western World’s prevailing ethics teaches us that a good deed done is all the sweeter if you downplay it. “Set the table without your parents asking you,” is the one piece of priestly advice that stuck in my brain after Catholic school.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Better still if nobody but you knows about it. We get that warm, fuzzy feeling from anecdotes about kind strangers paying for the coffee of the person behind them in the drive-thru.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There’s nothing wrong with anonymous generosity, but the benefits multiply if you let people know about your actions. It not only inspires others to do good deeds, but shows people your true character.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This is invaluable at work, where job security is on the line. Too many employees do excellent work that goes completely unnoticed, or is taken for granted. If you want to keep your job or your customers, you need to justify your existence from time to time.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This doesn’t mean constantly tooting your horn with tales of your heroic deeds; too much self-promotion feels gross and will backfire.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But DO drop a subtle and well-timed piece of information here and there with the people that control your fate—your boss, for example. Want to be uber-subtle? Share the information through a third party, like your boss’s assistant, who you know will pass along the message.</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">8. Love change. (It’s exciting!)</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>“Security is mostly a superstition…. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure.” —Helen Keller</em></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Here’s a juicy paradox for you: Those who are least attached to security have it in abundance. That’s because the truly “secure ones” are flexible in their methods for creating wealth and abundance.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A fixed mindset individual will see only one way to make a living right now: to hang on for dear life to their existing job, with the strategy likely to be: work harder. But no matter how vigorously you rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic, that thing still might sink.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Economies tank. Industries change and companies fold. Hanging onto the dream that manufacturing is coming back to your city, or the restaurant will be full again by Christmas, or people really do want to drive to a video store to rent a DVD on which they can eventually pay a late fee, can be catastrophic.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hoping for all to stay the same, including the job you so fear losing, is futile. Change is coming, so you might as well learn to love it.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“You are already naked,” said Steve Jobs. Learn to love change and embrace the roiling tides. Without change there would be no new life, no growth, no opportunities, no surprises and no excitement in your life.</span></p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Future Belongs to the Freelancer</span></h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Even before COVID, the idea of one company guaranteeing you employment for life was a fantasy.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Manufacturing has already fled “South,” automation eliminates $80k per year positions, and disruptive startups restructure entire industries while you sleep. Should we throw up our hands and accept whatever McJob the economy throws us? Heck no!</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">On this frontier there is more opportunity than ever for those with the entrepreneur’s mindset.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A 2019 <a href=\"https://www.upwork.com/i/freelancing-in-america/2019/\" style=\"color: #000000;\">study</a> found that more than 35% of the workforce in the United States, or more than 57 million people, are freelancers, and the pandemic certainly bumped that number higher.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">And these freelancers are not just dog walkers and Etsy side-hustlers, but many are top performers in their fields.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This is not advice to leave your salary behind to strike out on your own. But it is a call to adopt the freelancer/consultant/entrepreneur mindset, because it’s the best way to create invincible job security in any economy, no matter how many crises are swirling in the outside world.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.success.com/how-to-create-job-security-for-life/\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','How to Create Job Security for Life','','inherit','closed','closed','','812-revision-v1','','','2020-10-22 21:41:15','2020-10-22 21:41:15','',812,'http://smartinsurance.tips/812-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(824,1,'2020-10-22 22:29:39','2020-10-22 22:29:39','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<h1 class=\"article-hed\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Employers Need to Reinvent Retirement-Savings Match</strong></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\"></div>\n<div class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\"></div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p><img src=\"https://hbr.org/resources/images/article_assets/2020/10/Oct20_19_652146145-1024x576.jpg\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" /></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">One of the building blocks of the U.S. retirement savings system is the employer match. If workers contribute to their retirement savings, 54% of employers will contribute as well, according to a recent report by the Plan Sponsor Council of America (PSCA). By helping people prepare for retirement, the match boosts the financial security of workers while giving employers additional workforce flexibility.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The recession threatens to undermine the employer match as we know it. According to a survey by the PSCA, about 25% of employers are considering suspending or reducing their matching. Such cutbacks would significantly reduce retirement savings, given that the most common match involves the employer contributing 50 cents for every dollar saved by the employee, up to 6% of pay.<strong> </strong></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">These are tough times, but the current crisis presents an opportunity not to abandon the match but to reinvent it.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For companies struggling to pay their match, there are ways to reduce costs while motivating workers to save. And for companies not planning suspensions or cuts, the strategies can improve the impact of the match on savings behavior.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In this article, we will discuss two solutions that can improve the effectiveness and efficiency of matching dollars. The first is to implement a fixed-dollar match, such as $1,200 per employee. The second is to stretch out the match. For example, instead of matching fifty cents on the dollar up to 6% of pay, companies could give 30 cents on the dollar up to 10% of pay. To appreciate the efficacy of these approaches, it’s useful to understand the behavioral science that informs them, so we’ll begin our discussion there.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>The Science of the Match</strong></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Evidence suggests that matches boost enrollment, typically by three to 10 percentage points. In one study, Yale finance professor James Choi and colleagues looked at a company that introduced a match. They found that the match increased employee participation by roughly five percentage points. Voya Financial, a leading retirement-plan provider (where one of us, Charlie, is CEO of Retirement and Employee Benefits), finds that participation is seven percentage points higher in plans that offer a match.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Another way in which matches encourage savings involves the match cap, which influences workers for at least two reasons: They don’t want to miss out on the employer contribution, and they might treat the cap amount as an implicit recommendation about how much to save. In another study, Choi and colleagues studied a company that introduced an employer match with a cap of 4% of pay. Within six months, almost a third of new participants chose 4% as their savings rate — a nearly six-fold increase. Among Voya plans, those offering a 5% cap have an average savings rate of 6.9%, while for those offering a 6% cap, the figure is 7.8%. Higher match caps generally lead to higher savings rates.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Although employees respond to the match and the match cap, they’re generally indifferent to the match <em>rate,</em> which is the number of cents contributed by the employer for every dollar saved by the employee. (If a company contributes 50 cents per dollar saved, it has a 50% match rate.) Why is that? There are no benchmarks to guide employees’ decisions, nor do employees have strong feelings about what a typical match should be. Research suggests that when there’s no benchmark against which to judge numbers, or when interpreting numbers requires effort, we tend to ignore them.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">With these research findings in mind, let’s evaluate the current match formula. At the vast majority of companies, the match is set as a percentage; as mentioned, the most common formula is 50 cents on the dollar up to 6% of pay. This combination will nudge workers to save 6% — which usually isn’t enough for a secure retirement.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">We suspect that a percentage match also fails to motivate some workers to participate. Many people struggle with numbers (and percentages in particular), which makes it hard for them to fully grasp the value of the match. As a result, some leave matching dollars on the table.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>A Better Match</strong></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Let’s look now at the two approaches we’ve identified for improving the match formula for employers and employees alike.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The first is designed to get more people to save while also helping struggling companies reduce costs. It calls for companies to match a fixed-dollar amount rather than a percentage of pay. For example, a company could give all its workers $1,200 annually if they save at a sufficient level. That’s the equivalent of matching 50 cents on the dollar up to 6% of pay for someone making $40,000 a year, and it’s less than the typical cost of a current match.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A fixed-dollar match has this advantage: It’s clear and definite. Research by University of Oregon professor Ellen Peters and colleagues suggests that percentages often feel abstract and thus are easy to ignore. A fixed-dollar amount, by contrast, prompts us to think about what we could buy with that extra cash — a thought process that may make it harder to leave the money on the table. Psychologically, it’s easier to forgo a “6% match” than to pass up “$1,200.” And the fixed-dollar approach could be particularly helpful for lower-income workers, for whom the set amount would represent a larger share of salary.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The second approach is appropriate for employers that want to cut expenses in the present while encouraging workers to save in the future. It’s known as a stretch match, and while it’s not a new idea, it can help companies defer some matching costs while we’re in a recession.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For example, instead of offering 50 cents on the dollar up to 6% of pay, employers could offer 25 cents up to 10% or 15% of pay. In the short term, this could save them money — possibly half of their matching costs. And if workers adjust their savings rate to the match cap, they will be putting aside more for retirement. This would happen gradually and, ideally, as the economy recovers, which would be to the long-term benefit of workers, companies, and society.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">One potential issue with the stretch match is that a high cap could demotivate workers for whom putting aside 10% or 15% of their salary seems impossible, especially now. So companies should encourage participation by using a gradual savings escalator, which automatically increases the savings rate by 1% or 2% each year until workers reach a recommended level. Such escalators have helped more than 15 million Americans significantly increase their savings rate.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">By adopting one of these approaches, companies can demonstrate their commitment to the sufficiently funded retirement of their workers while keeping costs in check. Of course, these are not the only strategies that could help workers and employers, and they might not be suitable for all companies. We encourage those employers thinking about cutting or eliminating the match to consult with their plan advisers on ways to retain it in a more effective form.</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://hbr.org/2020/10/employers-need-to-reinvent-retirement-savings-match\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Employers Need to Reinvent Retirement-Savings Match','','publish','closed','closed','','employers-need-to-reinvent-retirement-savings-match','','','2020-10-26 22:49:44','2020-10-26 22:49:44','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?page_id=824',0,'page','',0),(825,1,'2020-10-22 22:29:39','2020-10-22 22:29:39','<!-- wp:divi/placeholder /-->','Employers Need to Reinvent Retirement-Savings Match','','inherit','closed','closed','','824-revision-v1','','','2020-10-22 22:29:39','2020-10-22 22:29:39','',824,'http://smartinsurance.tips/824-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(828,1,'2020-10-22 22:32:47','2020-10-22 22:32:47','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Dave Ramsey: The love of your life can\'t manage money. Should you call </strong></h1>\n<h1 class=\"headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>off the wedding?</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<div class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Untitled_Clipping_102320_065109_AM-1024x576.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-835 aligncenter size-large\" style=\"float: right;\" /></span></div>\n<div class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;\"></span></div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;\">Dear Dave,</span></div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">My boyfriend lives in a different state, and I’m planning to move there when we get married.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I know I love him, but sometimes he is not what I consider to be responsible with money.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There have been times in the past when he has taken out small loans or paid bills late in order to buy something he wanted.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">How can I talk to him about this?</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Heather</em></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Dear Heather,</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If it were me, I think I’d make sure things move a little more slowly in the relationship until he gets his spending under control.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Sometimes when things like this happen it’s just a situation where a person needs to learn the benefits of budgeting and handling money in a mature, responsible way.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You can’t do something if you haven’t been taught <em>how</em> to do it, and hopefully, this is the case with your boyfriend.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You mentioned marriage, so that tells me you’re both taking this relationship seriously—that you’re in the process of making sure you want to spend the rest of your lives with each other.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Bring it up gently, and tell him why you’re concerned. Share your hopes and dreams for the future with him.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You might even offer to help him make out a monthly budget. That way, once he understands the process and value of spending money on paper before the month begins, it will be easier for him to stick to it.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Good luck, Heather!</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">—Dave</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/dave-ramsey-love-life-money-wedding\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Dave Ramsey: The love of your life can\'t manage money. Should you call off the wedding?','','publish','closed','closed','','dave-ramsey-the-love-of-your-life-cant-manage-money-should-you-call-off-the-wedding','','','2020-10-22 22:55:00','2020-10-22 22:55:00','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?page_id=828',0,'page','',0),(829,1,'2020-10-22 22:32:47','2020-10-22 22:32:47','<!-- wp:divi/placeholder /-->','Dave Ramsey: The love of your life can\'t manage money. Should you call off the wedding?','','inherit','closed','closed','','828-revision-v1','','','2020-10-22 22:32:47','2020-10-22 22:32:47','',828,'http://smartinsurance.tips/828-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(836,1,'2020-10-22 22:54:16','2020-10-22 22:54:16','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Dave Ramsey: The love of your life can\'t manage money. Should you call </strong></h1>\n<h1 class=\"headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>off the wedding?</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<div class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;\"><img src=\"http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Untitled_Clipping_102320_065109_AM-1024x576.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-835 aligncenter size-large\" style=\"float: right;\" /></span></div>\n<div class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;\"></span></div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;\">Dear Dave,</span></div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">My boyfriend lives in a different state, and I’m planning to move there when we get married.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I know I love him, but sometimes he is not what I consider to be responsible with money.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There have been times in the past when he has taken out small loans or paid bills late in order to buy something he wanted.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">How can I talk to him about this?</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Heather</em></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Dear Heather,</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If it were me, I think I’d make sure things move a little more slowly in the relationship until he gets his spending under control.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Sometimes when things like this happen it’s just a situation where a person needs to learn the benefits of budgeting and handling money in a mature, responsible way.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You can’t do something if you haven’t been taught <em>how</em> to do it, and hopefully, this is the case with your boyfriend.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You mentioned marriage, so that tells me you’re both taking this relationship seriously—that you’re in the process of making sure you want to spend the rest of your lives with each other.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Bring it up gently, and tell him why you’re concerned. Share your hopes and dreams for the future with him.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You might even offer to help him make out a monthly budget. That way, once he understands the process and value of spending money on paper before the month begins, it will be easier for him to stick to it.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Good luck, Heather!</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">—Dave</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/dave-ramsey-love-life-money-wedding\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Dave Ramsey: The love of your life can\'t manage money. Should you call off the wedding?','','inherit','closed','closed','','828-revision-v1','','','2020-10-22 22:54:16','2020-10-22 22:54:16','',828,'http://smartinsurance.tips/828-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(833,1,'2020-10-22 22:44:11','2020-10-22 22:44:11','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Dave Ramsey: The love of your life can\'t manage money. Should you call </strong></h1>\n<h1 class=\"headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>off the wedding?</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;\">Dear Dave,</span></div>\n<div class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;\"></span></div>\n<div class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;\"></span></div>\n<div class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;\"></span></div>\n<div class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;\"></span></div>\n<div class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;\"></span></div>\n<div class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;\"></span></div>\n<div class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;\"></span></div>\n<div class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;\"></span></div>\n<div class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;\"></span></div>\n<div class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;\"></span></div>\n<div class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;\"></span></div>\n<div class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;\"></span></div>\n<div class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;\"></span></div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">My boyfriend lives in a different state, and I’m planning to move there when we get married.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I know I love him, but sometimes he is not what I consider to be responsible with money.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There have been times in the past when he has taken out small loans or paid bills late in order to buy something he wanted.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">How can I talk to him about this?</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Heather</em></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Dear Heather,</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If it were me, I think I’d make sure things move a little more slowly in the relationship until he gets his spending under control.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Sometimes when things like this happen it’s just a situation where a person needs to learn the benefits of budgeting and handling money in a mature, responsible way.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You can’t do something if you haven’t been taught <em>how</em> to do it, and hopefully, this is the case with your boyfriend.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You mentioned marriage, so that tells me you’re both taking this relationship seriously—that you’re in the process of making sure you want to spend the rest of your lives with each other.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Bring it up gently, and tell him why you’re concerned. Share your hopes and dreams for the future with him.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You might even offer to help him make out a monthly budget. That way, once he understands the process and value of spending money on paper before the month begins, it will be easier for him to stick to it.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Good luck, Heather!</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">—Dave</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/dave-ramsey-love-life-money-wedding\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Dave Ramsey: The love of your life can\'t manage money. Should you call off the wedding?','','inherit','closed','closed','','828-revision-v1','','','2020-10-22 22:44:11','2020-10-22 22:44:11','',828,'http://smartinsurance.tips/828-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(861,1,'2020-10-26 22:49:44','2020-10-26 22:49:44','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<h1 class=\"article-hed\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Employers Need to Reinvent Retirement-Savings Match</strong></h1>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\"></div>\n<div class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\"></div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p><img src=\"https://hbr.org/resources/images/article_assets/2020/10/Oct20_19_652146145-1024x576.jpg\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" /></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">One of the building blocks of the U.S. retirement savings system is the employer match. If workers contribute to their retirement savings, 54% of employers will contribute as well, according to a recent report by the Plan Sponsor Council of America (PSCA). By helping people prepare for retirement, the match boosts the financial security of workers while giving employers additional workforce flexibility.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The recession threatens to undermine the employer match as we know it. According to a survey by the PSCA, about 25% of employers are considering suspending or reducing their matching. Such cutbacks would significantly reduce retirement savings, given that the most common match involves the employer contributing 50 cents for every dollar saved by the employee, up to 6% of pay.<strong> </strong></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">These are tough times, but the current crisis presents an opportunity not to abandon the match but to reinvent it.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For companies struggling to pay their match, there are ways to reduce costs while motivating workers to save. And for companies not planning suspensions or cuts, the strategies can improve the impact of the match on savings behavior.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In this article, we will discuss two solutions that can improve the effectiveness and efficiency of matching dollars. The first is to implement a fixed-dollar match, such as $1,200 per employee. The second is to stretch out the match. For example, instead of matching fifty cents on the dollar up to 6% of pay, companies could give 30 cents on the dollar up to 10% of pay. To appreciate the efficacy of these approaches, it’s useful to understand the behavioral science that informs them, so we’ll begin our discussion there.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>The Science of the Match</strong></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Evidence suggests that matches boost enrollment, typically by three to 10 percentage points. In one study, Yale finance professor James Choi and colleagues looked at a company that introduced a match. They found that the match increased employee participation by roughly five percentage points. Voya Financial, a leading retirement-plan provider (where one of us, Charlie, is CEO of Retirement and Employee Benefits), finds that participation is seven percentage points higher in plans that offer a match.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Another way in which matches encourage savings involves the match cap, which influences workers for at least two reasons: They don’t want to miss out on the employer contribution, and they might treat the cap amount as an implicit recommendation about how much to save. In another study, Choi and colleagues studied a company that introduced an employer match with a cap of 4% of pay. Within six months, almost a third of new participants chose 4% as their savings rate — a nearly six-fold increase. Among Voya plans, those offering a 5% cap have an average savings rate of 6.9%, while for those offering a 6% cap, the figure is 7.8%. Higher match caps generally lead to higher savings rates.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Although employees respond to the match and the match cap, they’re generally indifferent to the match <em>rate,</em> which is the number of cents contributed by the employer for every dollar saved by the employee. (If a company contributes 50 cents per dollar saved, it has a 50% match rate.) Why is that? There are no benchmarks to guide employees’ decisions, nor do employees have strong feelings about what a typical match should be. Research suggests that when there’s no benchmark against which to judge numbers, or when interpreting numbers requires effort, we tend to ignore them.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">With these research findings in mind, let’s evaluate the current match formula. At the vast majority of companies, the match is set as a percentage; as mentioned, the most common formula is 50 cents on the dollar up to 6% of pay. This combination will nudge workers to save 6% — which usually isn’t enough for a secure retirement.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">We suspect that a percentage match also fails to motivate some workers to participate. Many people struggle with numbers (and percentages in particular), which makes it hard for them to fully grasp the value of the match. As a result, some leave matching dollars on the table.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>A Better Match</strong></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Let’s look now at the two approaches we’ve identified for improving the match formula for employers and employees alike.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The first is designed to get more people to save while also helping struggling companies reduce costs. It calls for companies to match a fixed-dollar amount rather than a percentage of pay. For example, a company could give all its workers $1,200 annually if they save at a sufficient level. That’s the equivalent of matching 50 cents on the dollar up to 6% of pay for someone making $40,000 a year, and it’s less than the typical cost of a current match.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A fixed-dollar match has this advantage: It’s clear and definite. Research by University of Oregon professor Ellen Peters and colleagues suggests that percentages often feel abstract and thus are easy to ignore. A fixed-dollar amount, by contrast, prompts us to think about what we could buy with that extra cash — a thought process that may make it harder to leave the money on the table. Psychologically, it’s easier to forgo a “6% match” than to pass up “$1,200.” And the fixed-dollar approach could be particularly helpful for lower-income workers, for whom the set amount would represent a larger share of salary.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The second approach is appropriate for employers that want to cut expenses in the present while encouraging workers to save in the future. It’s known as a stretch match, and while it’s not a new idea, it can help companies defer some matching costs while we’re in a recession.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For example, instead of offering 50 cents on the dollar up to 6% of pay, employers could offer 25 cents up to 10% or 15% of pay. In the short term, this could save them money — possibly half of their matching costs. And if workers adjust their savings rate to the match cap, they will be putting aside more for retirement. This would happen gradually and, ideally, as the economy recovers, which would be to the long-term benefit of workers, companies, and society.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">One potential issue with the stretch match is that a high cap could demotivate workers for whom putting aside 10% or 15% of their salary seems impossible, especially now. So companies should encourage participation by using a gradual savings escalator, which automatically increases the savings rate by 1% or 2% each year until workers reach a recommended level. Such escalators have helped more than 15 million Americans significantly increase their savings rate.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">By adopting one of these approaches, companies can demonstrate their commitment to the sufficiently funded retirement of their workers while keeping costs in check. Of course, these are not the only strategies that could help workers and employers, and they might not be suitable for all companies. We encourage those employers thinking about cutting or eliminating the match to consult with their plan advisers on ways to retain it in a more effective form.</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://hbr.org/2020/10/employers-need-to-reinvent-retirement-savings-match\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Employers Need to Reinvent Retirement-Savings Match','','inherit','closed','closed','','824-revision-v1','','','2020-10-26 22:49:44','2020-10-26 22:49:44','',824,'http://smartinsurance.tips/824-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(827,1,'2020-10-22 22:31:37','2020-10-22 22:31:37','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"article-hed\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Employers Need to Reinvent Retirement-Savings Match</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\"></div>\n<div class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\"></div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<p><img src=\"https://hbr.org/resources/images/article_assets/2020/10/Oct20_19_652146145-1024x576.jpg\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" /></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">One of the building blocks of the U.S. retirement savings system is the employer match. If workers contribute to their retirement savings, 54% of employers will contribute as well, according to a recent report by the Plan Sponsor Council of America (PSCA). By helping people prepare for retirement, the match boosts the financial security of workers while giving employers additional workforce flexibility.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The recession threatens to undermine the employer match as we know it. According to a survey by the PSCA, about 25% of employers are considering suspending or reducing their matching. Such cutbacks would significantly reduce retirement savings, given that the most common match involves the employer contributing 50 cents for every dollar saved by the employee, up to 6% of pay.<strong> </strong></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">These are tough times, but the current crisis presents an opportunity not to abandon the match but to reinvent it.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For companies struggling to pay their match, there are ways to reduce costs while motivating workers to save. And for companies not planning suspensions or cuts, the strategies can improve the impact of the match on savings behavior.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In this article, we will discuss two solutions that can improve the effectiveness and efficiency of matching dollars. The first is to implement a fixed-dollar match, such as $1,200 per employee. The second is to stretch out the match. For example, instead of matching fifty cents on the dollar up to 6% of pay, companies could give 30 cents on the dollar up to 10% of pay. To appreciate the efficacy of these approaches, it’s useful to understand the behavioral science that informs them, so we’ll begin our discussion there.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>The Science of the Match</strong></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Evidence suggests that matches boost enrollment, typically by three to 10 percentage points. In one study, Yale finance professor James Choi and colleagues looked at a company that introduced a match. They found that the match increased employee participation by roughly five percentage points. Voya Financial, a leading retirement-plan provider (where one of us, Charlie, is CEO of Retirement and Employee Benefits), finds that participation is seven percentage points higher in plans that offer a match.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Another way in which matches encourage savings involves the match cap, which influences workers for at least two reasons: They don’t want to miss out on the employer contribution, and they might treat the cap amount as an implicit recommendation about how much to save. In another study, Choi and colleagues studied a company that introduced an employer match with a cap of 4% of pay. Within six months, almost a third of new participants chose 4% as their savings rate — a nearly six-fold increase. Among Voya plans, those offering a 5% cap have an average savings rate of 6.9%, while for those offering a 6% cap, the figure is 7.8%. Higher match caps generally lead to higher savings rates.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Although employees respond to the match and the match cap, they’re generally indifferent to the match <em>rate,</em> which is the number of cents contributed by the employer for every dollar saved by the employee. (If a company contributes 50 cents per dollar saved, it has a 50% match rate.) Why is that? There are no benchmarks to guide employees’ decisions, nor do employees have strong feelings about what a typical match should be. Research suggests that when there’s no benchmark against which to judge numbers, or when interpreting numbers requires effort, we tend to ignore them.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">With these research findings in mind, let’s evaluate the current match formula. At the vast majority of companies, the match is set as a percentage; as mentioned, the most common formula is 50 cents on the dollar up to 6% of pay. This combination will nudge workers to save 6% — which usually isn’t enough for a secure retirement.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">We suspect that a percentage match also fails to motivate some workers to participate. Many people struggle with numbers (and percentages in particular), which makes it hard for them to fully grasp the value of the match. As a result, some leave matching dollars on the table.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>A Better Match</strong></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Let’s look now at the two approaches we’ve identified for improving the match formula for employers and employees alike.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The first is designed to get more people to save while also helping struggling companies reduce costs. It calls for companies to match a fixed-dollar amount rather than a percentage of pay. For example, a company could give all its workers $1,200 annually if they save at a sufficient level. That’s the equivalent of matching 50 cents on the dollar up to 6% of pay for someone making $40,000 a year, and it’s less than the typical cost of a current match.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A fixed-dollar match has this advantage: It’s clear and definite. Research by University of Oregon professor Ellen Peters and colleagues suggests that percentages often feel abstract and thus are easy to ignore. A fixed-dollar amount, by contrast, prompts us to think about what we could buy with that extra cash — a thought process that may make it harder to leave the money on the table. Psychologically, it’s easier to forgo a “6% match” than to pass up “$1,200.” And the fixed-dollar approach could be particularly helpful for lower-income workers, for whom the set amount would represent a larger share of salary.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The second approach is appropriate for employers that want to cut expenses in the present while encouraging workers to save in the future. It’s known as a stretch match, and while it’s not a new idea, it can help companies defer some matching costs while we’re in a recession.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">For example, instead of offering 50 cents on the dollar up to 6% of pay, employers could offer 25 cents up to 10% or 15% of pay. In the short term, this could save them money — possibly half of their matching costs. And if workers adjust their savings rate to the match cap, they will be putting aside more for retirement. This would happen gradually and, ideally, as the economy recovers, which would be to the long-term benefit of workers, companies, and society.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">One potential issue with the stretch match is that a high cap could demotivate workers for whom putting aside 10% or 15% of their salary seems impossible, especially now. So companies should encourage participation by using a gradual savings escalator, which automatically increases the savings rate by 1% or 2% each year until workers reach a recommended level. Such escalators have helped more than 15 million Americans significantly increase their savings rate.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">By adopting one of these approaches, companies can demonstrate their commitment to the sufficiently funded retirement of their workers while keeping costs in check. Of course, these are not the only strategies that could help workers and employers, and they might not be suitable for all companies. We encourage those employers thinking about cutting or eliminating the match to consult with their plan advisers on ways to retain it in a more effective form.</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://smallbiztrends.com/2020/09/10-tiny-pivots-to-make-your-small-business-more-effective.html\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Employers Need to Reinvent Retirement-Savings Match','','inherit','closed','closed','','824-revision-v1','','','2020-10-22 22:31:37','2020-10-22 22:31:37','',824,'http://smartinsurance.tips/824-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(831,1,'2020-10-22 22:42:36','2020-10-22 22:42:36','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Dave Ramsey: The love of your life can\'t manage money. Should you call </strong></h1>\n<h1 class=\"headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>off the wedding?</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\"><img src=\"https://cdn-0.smallbiztrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/10-Tiny-Pivots-2-850x476.png?ezimgfmt=rs:840x470/rscb7/ng:webp/ngcb7\" alt=\"10 Tiny Pivots\" /></div>\n<div class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\"></div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Dear Dave,</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">My boyfriend lives in a different state, and I’m planning to move there when we get married.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I know I love him, but sometimes he is not what I consider to be responsible with money.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There have been times in the past when he has taken out small loans or paid bills late in order to buy something he wanted.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">How can I talk to him about this?</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Heather</em></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Dear Heather,</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If it were me, I think I’d make sure things move a little more slowly in the relationship until he gets his spending under control.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Sometimes when things like this happen it’s just a situation where a person needs to learn the benefits of budgeting and handling money in a mature, responsible way.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You can’t do something if you haven’t been taught <em>how</em> to do it, and hopefully, this is the case with your boyfriend.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You mentioned marriage, so that tells me you’re both taking this relationship seriously—that you’re in the process of making sure you want to spend the rest of your lives with each other.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Bring it up gently, and tell him why you’re concerned. Share your hopes and dreams for the future with him.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You might even offer to help him make out a monthly budget. That way, once he understands the process and value of spending money on paper before the month begins, it will be easier for him to stick to it.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Good luck, Heather!</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">—Dave</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/dave-ramsey-love-life-money-wedding\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Dave Ramsey: The love of your life can\'t manage money. Should you call off the wedding?','','inherit','closed','closed','','828-revision-v1','','','2020-10-22 22:42:36','2020-10-22 22:42:36','',828,'http://smartinsurance.tips/828-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(837,1,'2020-10-22 23:21:03','2020-10-22 23:21:03','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"fl-post-title\" itemprop=\"headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Why You Need to Pace Yourself</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"text-align: justify;\"> </span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><img src=\"https://2uc5db1v032h5jwcm2gal07i-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Why-You-Have-to-Pace-Yourself-1024x682.jpg\" width=\"721\" height=\"480\" style=\"float: left;\" /><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Uno mas,” my friend Brent “Yodel” Mathany said, and he raised his left hand off of the handlebar of his bike and extended his index finger. That meant we had one more mile. We had already ridden our bikes 109 miles that day, the longest rides of both of our lives, and this after having ridden them 40, 50 and 40 miles the three previous days.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">We had started on the western side of Missouri. The Katy Trail—a 240-mile strip of gravel that follows a former railroad line—had led us across the Show Me State. Now we were entering St. Charles on the western edge of suburban St. Louis. We were eager to be done, covered in a fine sheen of gravel, and also, hurting. Really, really hurting. Our legs, backs and butts all begged us to take a break, slow down, for the love of Pete, STOP PEDALING.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I caught Yodel’s eye as he put his left hand back on his handlebar. “What are we waiting for?” I replied, a cocky way of saying, “Let’s sprint to the end.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Yodel is not one to back down from a challenge, which is why I issued it. He cranked on his pedals and zoomed away. I cranked on mine and… how to put it… did NOT zoom away. I was not up for my own challenge. After four days of riding, I proved incapable of sprinting. But I did manage to go a little bit faster than I had been. My tank was dry but not empty.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I arrived at the finish near the banks of the Missouri River 30 seconds after Yodel. I gave him a high five and thought, <em>that last mile summed up everything I know about pacing myself as a solopreneur.</em></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I learned (and continue to learn) most of that the hard way. The solopreneur life is not a sprint through St. Charles, it’s a long ride across Missouri, and we have to treat it that way. If we try to go full speed all the time—a tendency I feel confident saying all SUCCESS.com readers struggle with—we’ll never make it to the finish line. We need to pace ourselves mentally, physically and emotionally, or we’ll burn out.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I wrestled with this mightily early on as a freelancer. I could not pace myself because anxiety warped my perspective. I thought I had to work as hard and as fast as I could so my wife and kids wouldn’t starve. The tension, all of it self-created, was overpowering.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I thought I had to say yes to everything, even if that meant overloading myself with work that wasn’t right for me or putting up with clients who drove me nuts. One day 15 months into my freelance life I was having lunch with a mentor who casually mentioned he had fired a client that morning. I almost choked on my sandwich. “You can do that?!?” I blurted out. He matter-of-factly said that the client was more trouble than they were worth, so he cut them loose.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I happened to be struggling that day with a client I wished I had never signed on with. It never entered my imagination that I could stop working with someone who still wanted to pay me. I must confess, it was a long time before I had the confidence to do that, and I’m still extremely reluctant. It’s possible, even likely, that sticking with a bad client who takes up too much of my time prevents me from finding a good one who will take up less. By making bad decisions like that, I’m setting myself up to run a bad pace.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Caroline Castrillon, the founder of Corporate Escape Artist, through which she coaches solopreneurs, says the wrong work is even worse when there’s too much of it. “Don’t be afraid to walk away when something doesn’t feel like a good fit,” she says. “The last thing you want is to take on a new client that will inevitably be unhappy in the end.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">An important part of pacing yourself is knowing what you’re capable of. There is a frequently quoted saying that goes something like this: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with somebody. You see it on coffee mugs and posters and what not. That stuff should be thrown in a dumpster because it’s baloney.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I ride faster when I’m with others, I run faster when I’m with others, I push myself harder when there are others pushing themselves alongside me. Applied to work, that means I need mentors to help me find a more aggressive pace than I would set on my own. The key, and it’s an elusive one, is landing on a pace that pushes me without burning me out.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">During training for my Katy Trail trip, I went on a 50-mile ride with friends. The first 25 miles were fine. The second 25, not so much, as the group rode considerably faster. At the new pace, I kept up for a few miles, but soon couldn’t match their speed. They stopped to wait for me under an overpass. As I arrived, my coordination was shaky from exhaustion. I pulled on the brakes too hard, skidded across the gravel, couldn’t unclip my right cleat from my pedal and crashed.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I couldn’t make up a better illustration.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you want to feel like a winner, crash your bike in front of friends who are waiting for you because you’re slow. I came out of that training with a bruised shoulder, bruised hip, bruised ego… and a valuable lesson about how fast I could ride and more important, how fast I couldn’t ride. “The key is to focus on consistency, not intensity,” Castrillon says.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I applied that on the actual Katy Trail trip. My friends Bryan “Crop Circle” Thomas and Fred “Honey Pot” Williams both pulled ahead of me. It was the training ride all over again. As I debated whether to try to catch up with them, I faced the ever-present tension between strategy and tactics. My strategy—finish the 240-mile ride—was in danger of falling prey to my tactics—riding so fast I would be too tired to finish. I let Crop Circle and Honey Pot go. Not to brag, but this time I did not crash when I caught up to them at a stopping point.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Without the ability to stop and focus on the big picture, you won’t be able to have the clarity to know how best to move your business forward or pivot if needed,” Castrillon says.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">On the final day—on which Yodel and I covered 110 miles—my strategy and tactics fit together perfectly. Yodel served as my pedaling mentor, pushing me to go faster than I would have without him… but not so fast that I burned myself out. At mile 75 or so, I wondered if maybe that, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with somebody” gibberish is actually accurate for Yodel because I slowed him down.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hmmm….</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Ah, screw it.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Yodel can write his own essay about helping a weaker brother.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Anyway, as the sweat dripped down my back at the end of the ride, I straddled my bike and sucked in air. I hugged Yodel and said goodbye as he pedaled off to a restaurant to meet his wife and kids. My wife was going to pick me up a few blocks away.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I was so tired I walked my bike there.</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.success.com/why-you-need-to-pace-yourself/\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Why You Need to Pace Yourself','','publish','closed','closed','','why-you-need-to-pace-yourself','','','2020-10-22 23:26:49','2020-10-22 23:26:49','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?page_id=837',0,'page','',0),(838,1,'2020-10-22 23:21:03','2020-10-22 23:21:03','<!-- wp:divi/placeholder /-->','Why You Need to Pace Yourself','','inherit','closed','closed','','837-revision-v1','','','2020-10-22 23:21:03','2020-10-22 23:21:03','',837,'http://smartinsurance.tips/837-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(835,1,'2020-10-22 22:51:13','2020-10-22 22:51:13','','Untitled_Clipping_102320_065109_AM','','inherit','open','closed','','untitled_clipping_102320_065109_am','','','2020-10-22 22:51:13','2020-10-22 22:51:13','',828,'http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Untitled_Clipping_102320_065109_AM.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(841,1,'2020-10-22 23:37:11','2020-10-22 23:37:11','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 itemprop=\"headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>A phenomenal Android privacy feature you probably forget to use</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p><img src=\"https://images.idgesg.net/images/article/2020/10/android-privacy-feature-100862682-large.jpg\" alt=\"Android Privacy Feature\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" style=\"float: left;\" /></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">It\'s amazing how many useful Android features get buried in the operating system and then forgotten over time.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When you stop and think about it, it\'s also kind of inevitable: With every passing year, Android grows increasingly robust and complex, as more advanced options make their way into the software. So it\'s only logical that certain elements will become out of sight and out of mind and get lost in the shuffle somewhere along the way.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">One such item jumped out at me the other day, triggering an immediate \"AHAH!\" in this rusty ol\' noggin of mine as I remembered its existence and then scolded myself for forgetting to use it all this time. It\'s a little somethin\' called Android Guest Mode, and it first showed up way back in the Android 5.0 (Lollipop) era of 2014.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Guest Mode, in case you\'ve also forgotten, does exactly what you\'d expect: It gives you an on-demand way to switch your phone into a blank-slate-like state, where your personal apps, accounts, and data are all securely tucked away and you instead get an out-of-the-box-like experience, with only the basic preinstalled system apps in place. It\'s almost like an incognito mode of sorts, applied to your entire phone: All your regular stuff is gone, and nothing done in that environment has any impact on your standard smartphone setup.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The implications for that are enormous. The biggest realistic threat with smartphone security, after all, isn\'t the coming invasion of scary-sounding malware monsters (which, as we\'ve discussed to death \'round these parts, are more about sensationalism and security software sales than any pressing, practical danger). Nope — it\'s your own negligence and occasional lapse in judgment.</span></p>\n<aside class=\"fakesidebar\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>[Get more Googley tips in your inbox every Friday with JR\'s </strong><strong>Android Intelligence newsletter</strong><strong>. Exclusive extras await!]</strong></span></aside>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">And even if you take every possible step to protect your privacy and strengthen your phone\'s security, all it takes is a single, brief pass-off of your device to the wrong person to send all your best-laid efforts swirling down the drain. Whether we\'re talking about sensitive company data or your own personal photos, messages, and maybe even browsing history, it doesn\'t take long for the wrong set of eyes to see something they shouldn\'t — whether it\'s deliberate or by mistake.</span></p>\n<aside class=\"nativo-promo nativo-promo-1 smartphone\" id=\"\"></aside>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">That\'s exactly the sort of slip-up Android\'s Guest Mode can prevent — and best of all? Once you remember that it\'s there, it\'s simple as can be to deploy.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">First things first, we need to make sure your phone is set up properly to support the feature, as it\'s often disabled by default these days. If you have a Samsung phone, unfortunately, you\'re out of luck here, as Samsung has for no apparent reason opted to remove this standard operating system element from its software (insert tangentially related soapbox rant here). On Google\'s own Pixel phones and many other Android devices, though, it takes all of 20 seconds to get it ready:</span></p>\n<aside class=\"nativo-promo nativo-promo-1 tablet desktop\" id=\"\"></aside>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Open up the System section of your phone\'s settings.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tap \"Advanced\" followed by \"Multiple users.\"</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">On the screen that comes up, make sure the toggle at the top is set into the on position.</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">(If you\'re using a device where the manufacturer has arbitrarily moved things around from Android\'s typical arrangement and you <em>don\'t </em>see the exact series of options described above, try instead searching your phone\'s settings for the phrase \"Guest Mode.\" Provided you\'re using a device with Android 5.0 or later — which, for the love of Goog, you\'d better be — that <em>should</em> get you to the appropriate and equivalent place.)</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">And that, m\'dearie, is it: Android\'s Guest Mode is now active, ready, and at your beck and call.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What remains is mostly just a matter of remembering. The next time you\'re about to pass your phone off to a colleague, a client, a friend, a family member, or even a ferret (hey, those little beaks can peck a screen like nobody\'s business), take 10 seconds first to do this:</span></p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Swipe down twice from the top of your screen to open the full Quick Settings panel.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tap your user profile picture — which is probably just gonna be a blank circular person icon — in the lower-right corner of the panel, directly next to the gear-shaped settings icon.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tap the \"Add guest\" option on the screen that comes up.</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">And with that, your phone should inform you it\'s switching into Guest Mode — and a moment later, you should find yourself on a generic-looking home screen with only the basic system apps in place. If you open anything like Gmail, Drive, or Docs, you\'ll simply be prompted to sign in. It\'ll be as if you were using a brand new phone, without any of your usual stuff available or in any way accessible.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When you\'re ready to exit out of Guest Mode and get back to normal, just repeat the same first two steps from above — opening the Quick Settings panel and tapping the user profile picture — and this time, select \"Remove guest\" from the menu that comes up. That\'ll completely erase and reset everything that was done in that temporary profile and, once you put in your PIN, pattern, or password (or use biometric authentication), take you back to your own standard Android setup.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A pretty useful possibility, right? The power\'s been right there at your fingertips all along — and now that you\'ve got it activated and in the back of your mind, you can tap into it anytime the need arises.</span></p>\n<p><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.computerworld.com/article/3586570/android-privacy-feature.html\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></p>\n</div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','A phenomenal Android privacy feature you probably forget to use','','publish','closed','closed','','a-phenomenal-android-privacy-feature-you-probably-forget-to-use','','','2020-10-22 23:42:12','2020-10-22 23:42:12','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/?page_id=841',0,'page','',0),(842,1,'2020-10-22 23:37:11','2020-10-22 23:37:11','<!-- wp:divi/placeholder /-->','A phenomenal Android privacy feature you probably forget to use','','inherit','closed','closed','','841-revision-v1','','','2020-10-22 23:37:11','2020-10-22 23:37:11','',841,'http://smartinsurance.tips/841-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(850,1,'2020-10-23 21:10:23','2020-10-23 21:10:23','','My Post (17)','','inherit','open','closed','','my-post-17','','','2020-10-23 21:10:23','2020-10-23 21:10:23','',0,'http://smartinsurance.tips/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/My-Post-17.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(840,1,'2020-10-22 23:26:01','2020-10-22 23:26:01','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 class=\"fl-post-title\" itemprop=\"headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Why You Need to Pace Yourself</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"text-align: justify;\"> </span></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><img src=\"https://2uc5db1v032h5jwcm2gal07i-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Why-You-Have-to-Pace-Yourself-1024x682.jpg\" width=\"721\" height=\"480\" style=\"float: left;\" /><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Uno mas,” my friend Brent “Yodel” Mathany said, and he raised his left hand off of the handlebar of his bike and extended his index finger. That meant we had one more mile. We had already ridden our bikes 109 miles that day, the longest rides of both of our lives, and this after having ridden them 40, 50 and 40 miles the three previous days.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">We had started on the western side of Missouri. The Katy Trail—a 240-mile strip of gravel that follows a former railroad line—had led us across the Show Me State. Now we were entering St. Charles on the western edge of suburban St. Louis. We were eager to be done, covered in a fine sheen of gravel, and also, hurting. Really, really hurting. Our legs, backs and butts all begged us to take a break, slow down, for the love of Pete, STOP PEDALING.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I caught Yodel’s eye as he put his left hand back on his handlebar. “What are we waiting for?” I replied, a cocky way of saying, “Let’s sprint to the end.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Yodel is not one to back down from a challenge, which is why I issued it. He cranked on his pedals and zoomed away. I cranked on mine and… how to put it… did NOT zoom away. I was not up for my own challenge. After four days of riding, I proved incapable of sprinting. But I did manage to go a little bit faster than I had been. My tank was dry but not empty.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I arrived at the finish near the banks of the Missouri River 30 seconds after Yodel. I gave him a high five and thought, <em>that last mile summed up everything I know about pacing myself as a solopreneur.</em></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I learned (and continue to learn) most of that the hard way. The solopreneur life is not a sprint through St. Charles, it’s a long ride across Missouri, and we have to treat it that way. If we try to go full speed all the time—a tendency I feel confident saying all SUCCESS.com readers struggle with—we’ll never make it to the finish line. We need to pace ourselves mentally, physically and emotionally, or we’ll burn out.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I wrestled with this mightily early on as a freelancer. I could not pace myself because anxiety warped my perspective. I thought I had to work as hard and as fast as I could so my wife and kids wouldn’t starve. The tension, all of it self-created, was overpowering.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I thought I had to say yes to everything, even if that meant overloading myself with work that wasn’t right for me or putting up with clients who drove me nuts. One day 15 months into my freelance life I was having lunch with a mentor who casually mentioned he had fired a client that morning. I almost choked on my sandwich. “You can do that?!?” I blurted out. He matter-of-factly said that the client was more trouble than they were worth, so he cut them loose.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I happened to be struggling that day with a client I wished I had never signed on with. It never entered my imagination that I could stop working with someone who still wanted to pay me. I must confess, it was a long time before I had the confidence to do that, and I’m still extremely reluctant. It’s possible, even likely, that sticking with a bad client who takes up too much of my time prevents me from finding a good one who will take up less. By making bad decisions like that, I’m setting myself up to run a bad pace.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Caroline Castrillon, the founder of Corporate Escape Artist, through which she coaches solopreneurs, says the wrong work is even worse when there’s too much of it. “Don’t be afraid to walk away when something doesn’t feel like a good fit,” she says. “The last thing you want is to take on a new client that will inevitably be unhappy in the end.”</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">An important part of pacing yourself is knowing what you’re capable of. There is a frequently quoted saying that goes something like this: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with somebody. You see it on coffee mugs and posters and what not. That stuff should be thrown in a dumpster because it’s baloney.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I ride faster when I’m with others, I run faster when I’m with others, I push myself harder when there are others pushing themselves alongside me. Applied to work, that means I need mentors to help me find a more aggressive pace than I would set on my own. The key, and it’s an elusive one, is landing on a pace that pushes me without burning me out.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">During training for my Katy Trail trip, I went on a 50-mile ride with friends. The first 25 miles were fine. The second 25, not so much, as the group rode considerably faster. At the new pace, I kept up for a few miles, but soon couldn’t match their speed. They stopped to wait for me under an overpass. As I arrived, my coordination was shaky from exhaustion. I pulled on the brakes too hard, skidded across the gravel, couldn’t unclip my right cleat from my pedal and crashed.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I couldn’t make up a better illustration.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you want to feel like a winner, crash your bike in front of friends who are waiting for you because you’re slow. I came out of that training with a bruised shoulder, bruised hip, bruised ego… and a valuable lesson about how fast I could ride and more important, how fast I couldn’t ride. “The key is to focus on consistency, not intensity,” Castrillon says.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I applied that on the actual Katy Trail trip. My friends Bryan “Crop Circle” Thomas and Fred “Honey Pot” Williams both pulled ahead of me. It was the training ride all over again. As I debated whether to try to catch up with them, I faced the ever-present tension between strategy and tactics. My strategy—finish the 240-mile ride—was in danger of falling prey to my tactics—riding so fast I would be too tired to finish. I let Crop Circle and Honey Pot go. Not to brag, but this time I did not crash when I caught up to them at a stopping point.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">“Without the ability to stop and focus on the big picture, you won’t be able to have the clarity to know how best to move your business forward or pivot if needed,” Castrillon says.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">On the final day—on which Yodel and I covered 110 miles—my strategy and tactics fit together perfectly. Yodel served as my pedaling mentor, pushing me to go faster than I would have without him… but not so fast that I burned myself out. At mile 75 or so, I wondered if maybe that, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with somebody” gibberish is actually accurate for Yodel because I slowed him down.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hmmm….</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Ah, screw it.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Yodel can write his own essay about helping a weaker brother.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Anyway, as the sweat dripped down my back at the end of the ride, I straddled my bike and sucked in air. I hugged Yodel and said goodbye as he pedaled off to a restaurant to meet his wife and kids. My wife was going to pick me up a few blocks away.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I was so tired I walked my bike there.</span></p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.success.com/why-you-need-to-pace-yourself/\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Why You Need to Pace Yourself','','inherit','closed','closed','','837-revision-v1','','','2020-10-22 23:26:01','2020-10-22 23:26:01','',837,'http://smartinsurance.tips/837-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(848,1,'2020-10-22 23:48:05','2020-10-22 23:48:05','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Why Your Business Needs Certificates of Insurance</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Your small business insurance needs a very specific companion: the certificate of insurance. It’s a valuable business insurance tool, and it’ll keep you safe when working with vendors. Whether you’ve landed a new client, are expanding your business or are simply outsourcing a project, this certificate might save you if liability claims arise.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>What is a Certificate of Insurance?</strong></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A certificate of insurance is a simple document given to you by your insurance company. It verifies that you do, in fact, have business insurance coverage. It also lists a few details about your coverage:</span></p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What this coverage accounts for</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Who has coverage under the policy</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The policy’s effective date</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Limit and deductible dollar amounts</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A certificate of insurance is also called proof of insurance. Clients might ask for proof of your insurance before they work with you. Others might ask for it if they experience a large loss. It’s also needed if a liability claim arises. Let\'s say, for example, you offer software programming services for another client. There\'s always a chance that a mistake might compromise this client\'s project. You’ll likely need to prove that specific liabilities will have insurance coverage.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Why is a Certificate of Insurance Important?</strong></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you’re working with external clients, you’ll need to give them proof of your business insurance policy. Plus, you’ll need to let them know you have the right insurance policy. Even if you aren’t asked to show your certificate of insurance, presenting it will benefit you. It simply makes you a reliable provider. It shows you are trustworthy. It also assures each client’s peace of mind.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>How Do I Get a Certificate of Insurance?</strong></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Insurance providers often give policyholders a certificate of insurance when they get covered. If you’ve recently bought insurance, you probably got the certificate. If you didn’t get this certificate, simply contact your provider. This certificate is very important, and you can most likely get it, for free, upon request.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Don’t Wait to Get Your Certificate of Insurance</strong></span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You should pick up your policy’s certificate of insurance as soon as possible. Don’t wait until you’re asked to have it. Instead, have it on-hand. Show it to clients before it’s asked for. Proof of insurance can make the difference between keeping and losing clients. Contact your provider today, and pick up a commercial policy which fits your line of work. Then, when you’re engaging a new client, get ready to show off your certificate of insurance.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.getitc.com/syndicate/2018/03/15/why-your-business-needs-certificates-of-insurance\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','Why Your Business Needs Certificates of Insurance','','inherit','closed','closed','','809-revision-v1','','','2020-10-22 23:48:05','2020-10-22 23:48:05','',809,'http://smartinsurance.tips/809-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(844,1,'2020-10-22 23:42:11','2020-10-22 23:42:11','[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<h1 itemprop=\"headline\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>A phenomenal Android privacy feature you probably forget to use</strong></h1>\n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.0.9\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.0.9\" hover_enabled=\"0\"]<div align=\"center\">\n<p><img src=\"https://images.idgesg.net/images/article/2020/10/android-privacy-feature-100862682-large.jpg\" alt=\"Android Privacy Feature\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" style=\"float: left;\" /></p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0-38\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block finance-sc-block-html mntl-sc-block-html\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">It\'s amazing how many useful Android features get buried in the operating system and then forgotten over time.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When you stop and think about it, it\'s also kind of inevitable: With every passing year, Android grows increasingly robust and complex, as more advanced options make their way into the software. So it\'s only logical that certain elements will become out of sight and out of mind and get lost in the shuffle somewhere along the way.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">One such item jumped out at me the other day, triggering an immediate \"AHAH!\" in this rusty ol\' noggin of mine as I remembered its existence and then scolded myself for forgetting to use it all this time. It\'s a little somethin\' called Android Guest Mode, and it first showed up way back in the Android 5.0 (Lollipop) era of 2014.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Guest Mode, in case you\'ve also forgotten, does exactly what you\'d expect: It gives you an on-demand way to switch your phone into a blank-slate-like state, where your personal apps, accounts, and data are all securely tucked away and you instead get an out-of-the-box-like experience, with only the basic preinstalled system apps in place. It\'s almost like an incognito mode of sorts, applied to your entire phone: All your regular stuff is gone, and nothing done in that environment has any impact on your standard smartphone setup.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The implications for that are enormous. The biggest realistic threat with smartphone security, after all, isn\'t the coming invasion of scary-sounding malware monsters (which, as we\'ve discussed to death \'round these parts, are more about sensationalism and security software sales than any pressing, practical danger). Nope — it\'s your own negligence and occasional lapse in judgment.</span></p>\n<aside class=\"fakesidebar\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>[Get more Googley tips in your inbox every Friday with JR\'s </strong><strong>Android Intelligence newsletter</strong><strong>. Exclusive extras await!]</strong></span></aside>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">And even if you take every possible step to protect your privacy and strengthen your phone\'s security, all it takes is a single, brief pass-off of your device to the wrong person to send all your best-laid efforts swirling down the drain. Whether we\'re talking about sensitive company data or your own personal photos, messages, and maybe even browsing history, it doesn\'t take long for the wrong set of eyes to see something they shouldn\'t — whether it\'s deliberate or by mistake.</span></p>\n<aside class=\"nativo-promo nativo-promo-1 smartphone\" id=\"\"></aside>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">That\'s exactly the sort of slip-up Android\'s Guest Mode can prevent — and best of all? Once you remember that it\'s there, it\'s simple as can be to deploy.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">First things first, we need to make sure your phone is set up properly to support the feature, as it\'s often disabled by default these days. If you have a Samsung phone, unfortunately, you\'re out of luck here, as Samsung has for no apparent reason opted to remove this standard operating system element from its software (insert tangentially related soapbox rant here). On Google\'s own Pixel phones and many other Android devices, though, it takes all of 20 seconds to get it ready:</span></p>\n<aside class=\"nativo-promo nativo-promo-1 tablet desktop\" id=\"\"></aside>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Open up the System section of your phone\'s settings.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tap \"Advanced\" followed by \"Multiple users.\"</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">On the screen that comes up, make sure the toggle at the top is set into the on position.</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></p>\n</div>\n</div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"></span></div>\n<div align=\"center\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">(If you\'re using a device where the manufacturer has arbitrarily moved things around from Android\'s typical arrangement and you <em>don\'t </em>see the exact series of options described above, try instead searching your phone\'s settings for the phrase \"Guest Mode.\" Provided you\'re using a device with Android 5.0 or later — which, for the love of Goog, you\'d better be — that <em>should</em> get you to the appropriate and equivalent place.)</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">And that, m\'dearie, is it: Android\'s Guest Mode is now active, ready, and at your beck and call.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What remains is mostly just a matter of remembering. The next time you\'re about to pass your phone off to a colleague, a client, a friend, a family member, or even a ferret (hey, those little beaks can peck a screen like nobody\'s business), take 10 seconds first to do this:</span></p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Swipe down twice from the top of your screen to open the full Quick Settings panel.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tap your user profile picture — which is probably just gonna be a blank circular person icon — in the lower-right corner of the panel, directly next to the gear-shaped settings icon.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tap the \"Add guest\" option on the screen that comes up.</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">And with that, your phone should inform you it\'s switching into Guest Mode — and a moment later, you should find yourself on a generic-looking home screen with only the basic system apps in place. If you open anything like Gmail, Drive, or Docs, you\'ll simply be prompted to sign in. It\'ll be as if you were using a brand new phone, without any of your usual stuff available or in any way accessible.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When you\'re ready to exit out of Guest Mode and get back to normal, just repeat the same first two steps from above — opening the Quick Settings panel and tapping the user profile picture — and this time, select \"Remove guest\" from the menu that comes up. That\'ll completely erase and reset everything that was done in that temporary profile and, once you put in your PIN, pattern, or password (or use biometric authentication), take you back to your own standard Android setup.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A pretty useful possibility, right? The power\'s been right there at your fingertips all along — and now that you\'ve got it activated and in the back of your mind, you can tap into it anytime the need arises.</span></p>\n<p><span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">To read the full article, </span><a href=\"https://www.computerworld.com/article/3586570/android-privacy-feature.html\">click here</a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">.</span></span></p>\n</div>[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]','A phenomenal Android privacy feature you probably forget to use','','inherit','closed','closed','','841-revision-v1','','','2020-10-22 23:42:11','2020-10-22 23:42:11','',841,'http://smartinsurance.tips/841-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),