While it's scary to imagine our own death, life insurance should never intimidate you. It offers financial protection to your loved ones. But many people turn away from this coverage because of things they hear in passing. Before you brush away life insurance, read these three misconceptions to see if what you heard about it was fiction. Life Insurance Is Expensive The cost of life insurance varies widely, depending on many factors. Ultimately, the price of the premium is tied to an applicant's age, health income and needs. That means you shouldn't wait to buy life insurance until much later in life, because coverage may be pricier if you apply when you're older and have developed a health issue. Remember, without coverage, your passing could be even more expensive if you leave behind a legacy of unpaid debts and expenses for your family to pay. My Employer Covers Me While that may be true, employer-sponsored life insurance won't cover everything. Most of these policies have limited coverage, and they do not travel with you if you leave the company. If you're single and living paycheck to paycheck with no dependents, the coverage provided by your employer may be sufficient. But for instance, if you have a mortgage on a house that you share with loved ones, these unpaid debts and bank loans could cause terrible financial strain and further hardships for your family after your passing. I Don't Need Coverage Because I Have No Dependents Whether or not you're single doesn't change the fact that everyone needs life insurance to cover personal debts. Otherwise, funeral costs and medical bills could go to your parents or other family members. Whoever it is, somebody might have to pay after you're gone. Even if the money is never actually used by family, you can donate the cash legacy to a charity or cause of your choosing by naming it a beneficiary. The people who can use the cash value of your policy will certainly be grateful. For more information about life insurance, contact your independent insurance agent today! Are you covered? Call 1-Stop Financial Service Centers at (866) 527-9013 for more information on Austin life insurance. ...read more

Have you ever donated or sold an old computer or smartphone? Then you already know the importance of wiping the hard drive before the device exchanges hands to prevent someone else from accessing your data. The same applies to your business' electronics. But it goes beyond old computers. What many people don't know is that modern printers and copiers also have hard drives, which means that every document — including sensitive info like voided checks, employee records, customer information and more — that is printed/copied is stored within the device. But people don't often think to wipe these hard drives before tossing them. Businesses are often held financially responsible if they fail to protect sensitive information, like customers' credit card numbers. Donating a printer without first scrubbing it could open up a world of data to potential hackers, which can lead to HIPAA fines and/or professional liability lawsuits against your business. To avoid claims of professional negligence, try the following tips before throwing away, donating or selling your business' unused electronics. Wipe all hard drives or overwrite the files Remove and destroy the hard drives Deliver electronics to e-waste centers, where hard drives will be wiped and destroyed Avoid pay-to-use devices when handling sensitive information Even with the best of intentions, it's not hard for information to be exposed in the age of data breaches. Talk to your independent insurance agent about how professional liability insurance and cyber liability insurance can help protect your business from claims of professional negligence, as well as the aftermath of a cyber-attack. We've got you covered. Call 1-Stop Financial Service Centers at (866) 527-9013 for more information on Austin business insurance. ...read more

We take cars in for oil changes, we go to doctors for physicals and we winterize our homes and cars. But, when did you last check the health of your water heater? Why would we care about your water heater? Because if the health of a water heater is neglected, that water heater can cause significant damage to your home. Then you have to file a claim and you lose money because you have to pay the deductible. But you can avoid that damage and keep your premiums lower simply by paying attention to the health of your water heater. It's suggested you have your water heater inspected each year, just as you have your heater and air conditioning inspected each year. Leaks:Check around your water heater for leaks. If you notice leaks, have a qualified plumber inspect it. Wouldn't you rather fix the leak, or replace the water heater now, than wait for it to rupture and cause significant damage? A minor leak can be easily fixed. If you ignore the leak, then it could become a bigger leak and cause damage. Anodes:Your water heater has anodes. These are tubes that are in the middle of your tank and they keep the water tank from rusting. Over time, the anodes are consumed by the chemicals in your water and then the chemicals attack your tank. Have a qualified plumber check the anodes in your water heater before they are gone and your water heater is damaged. For most water heaters, the anodes will last 6 years. However, if you have a water softener, be prepared to replace the anodes every year. Sediment:Sediment can build up in your water tank and eventually cause the bottom of the water heater to just drop off. Sediment can be controlled by annually draining the tank. You can ask a plumber, or get the directions off the Internet. Not controlling the sediment means in a few second you have gallons of water on your floors or garage floor. Why are we spending time talking about your water heater? Because if your water heater is inside, a ruptured water heater means gallons of water on the floor, being soaked up by the walls and damaging furniture. Even if the water heater is in a garage, a ruptured water heater can cause damage to the walls. Remember, the water won't just be in the water heater, but can be a continuous flow from the pipes filling the water heater. So, avoid the problems of a ruptured water heater and take time for the three things you can do to check on the health of your water heater to avoid having to file water damage claims for your home. Be proactive, check your water heater's health and keep your home insurance premiums low. Protect you home from the unexpected. Call 1 Stop Financial Service Centers at (866) 527-9013 for more information on Austin home insurance. ...read more