How much life insurance is enough?

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When it comes to life insurance, you might think that enough is a pretty general word, and it is. There is a great deal more to make sure you have adequate life insurance. At Brittany Olson Insurance Agency LLC, serving the greater Cloquet, MN community, we understand that life insurance is one of the most important things you can do for your family. We will work hard to make sure you get exactly the right coverage. 

You need how much life insurance?

Before you can determine the amount of life insurance that you need, you must answer a few questions. The answers that you give factor into the figure that will meet your life insurance needs. 

  • Who depends on your income?
  • What is your income?
  • For how many years do you need to provide? 

Once you have the answers to these questions, you will have the basic pieces of information that you need to make the decision about how much life insurance is enough. 

Dependents

Who are your dependents? Are they young children?  If they are, you will need to provide income for them for a longer period of time. Experts estimate that between 7-10 years of income is required. 

What type of insurance makes sense?

Term life insurance is the most affordable. It can be purchased for a limited number of years when you have the most need. When you need a large amount of life insurance, this may be the only option you can afford. 

So how much life insurance is enough?  If your income is $50,000 and you need to provide for 20 years, that is a million dollars in coverage. 

Contact Us Today

Give us a call at Brittany Olson Insurance Agency LLC in Cloquet, MN to learn more about life insurance. 

Does Home Insurance Coverage Roof Collapses?

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As a Cloquet, MN homeowner, it’s essential to understand the type of coverage your home insurance provides. If you’re concerned about roof collapses because of inclement weather, natural disasters, or other causes, read on for everything you need to know about roof collapse coverage and how Brittany Olson Insurance Agency LLC can help you.

What Causes a Roof Collapse? 

A roof collapse can have several causes, from snow and ice buildup to structural issues caused by aging or poor maintenance. Sometimes, a storm may cause enough wind and rain damage to cause the roof to give out. In other cases, a tree limb may fall onto the roof and create an opening that allows water inside. With all these potential causes, it’s important to understand what your home insurance policy covers.

What Is Covered by Home Insurance? 

Most home insurance policies will cover damages caused by a collapsed roof as long as neglect or lack of maintenance did not cause the collapse by the homeowner. If your roof collapses because of heavy snowfall or high winds, your insurance policy should pay for repairs up to a specific limit. However, if the collapse was caused by an issue like rot or faulty construction, it is likely not covered under your policy. So it’s essential to be aware of what type of coverage you have before disaster strikes. 

How Can I Find Out More? 

If you are looking for more information about home insurance and how it applies to roof collapses in Cloquet, MN, contact Brittany Olson Insurance Agency LLC today! We can answer your questions and provide customized quotes based on your needs. Don’t wait until disaster strikes—get informed today! 

Does Home Insurance Cover Siding Issues?

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Brittany Olson Insurance Agency LLC, serving residents in the greater Cloquet, MN area, knows how important home insurance is, as it helps to protect the investment that you have made in your home. However, many people do not fully understand what is covered by and what is excluded by their home insurance policy.

We want to help answer any and all questions you have about home insurance. One of the things that people often wonder about is the siding on their homes. Read on to learn more about whether home insurance covers siding problems. 

Does Home Insurance Cover Siding Issues?

Home insurance may or may not cover siding issues, depending on what caused the damage to your home’s siding. If the damage to your siding was covered by an included event, such as a large hail storm or a pipe suddenly and unexpectedly bursting in your home, any damage to the siding caused by that event will be covered.

If the siding damage was caused by an excluded event, such as a river bank spilling over its banks and flooding your home, the damage to your siding will not be covered by your home insurance policy.

Lastly, if your siding is damaged by wear and tear, age, or improper maintenance or upkeep, the siding damage will not be covered by your home insurance policy. 

Contact Us Today

At Brittany Olson Insurance Agency LLC, serving residents in the greater Cloquet, MN area, we know just how important it is to have a home insurance policy that offers you the protection and coverage you need. Our team can sit down with you, answer any questions you have, and help you to find the policy that is ideal for your needs. Get in touch with us now to schedule an appointment. 

Is basic auto insurance ever the right choice?

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Basic auto insurance is what the state mandates when it comes to coverage. At Brittany Olson Insurance Agency LLC in Cloquet, MN, we have years of experience. Our team will help to make sure that you have the right amount of auto insurance for your particular situation.

Is basic auto insurance ever the right choice?

Minnesota is a no-fault auto insurance state. The difference with no fault is that if you have an accident, the cost of injuries is borne by the person injured not the person responsible.  PIP (personal injury protection) is required of all drivers. Your insurance pays for your injuries. The minimum that you need to have is $40,000 for one person injured. $20, 000 of that is for hospital or medical costs and $20,000 for non-medical, which can cover lost wages, etc. 

In addition to the PIP, basic insurance includes liability coverage of $30,000 for injuries to one person and $60,000 for two or more people injured. $10,000 in property damage must be included. You also need to cover uninsured drivers or under-insured drivers in the amount of $25,000 for one person and $50,000 for more than one person. 

If you have limited assets, this amount may be adequate for your particular situation. However, if you have assets, basic auto insurance may not be enough auto insurance to protect you. If you lease a vehicle or have an auto loan, this coverage will not be enough. You will need to have collision and comprehensive coverage to protect the vehicle. 

If you don’t have a loan or lease, but you count on your vehicle to get to work or to just do the business of everyday life, then you will not be safe enough with just basic auto insurance coverage. 

Get The Right Coverage Today

Contact Brittany Olson Insurance Agency LLC in Cloquet, MN for all your insurance needs.  

Can a Child Be Named As a Life Insurance Beneficiary?

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At Brittany Olson Insurance Agency LLC, serving the greater Cloquet, MN area, one of the insurance products that we offer is life insurance. It is strongly recommended that every parent have life insurance so that their children can continue to live the same life they have grown accustomed to if the parent passes away early. When you hear this, one of the questions you may have is whether or not a child can be named as a life insurance beneficiary. 

Can a Child Be Named As a Life Insurance Beneficiary?

A child can be named as a life insurance beneficiary. However, a life insurance company will not pay money out to a child who is under the age of 18. This is why many people leave the money to their spouses or whoever will be caring for the child until they turn 18 – if their child is not yet 18. 

What Can Happen If Your Child is Not an Adult and the Beneficiary?

If your child is not yet an adult, it is strongly recommended that you create a trust, so the life insurance money goes into a trust. If your child is named a beneficiary and you pass away before they turn 18, the courts will have to appoint a court-ordered custodian to oversee the money. This can create delays in the payments.  

Contact Us Today

If you are looking to purchase life insurance, and your child is not yet an adult, you may want to leave the life insurance policy in the name of the person who will be taking care of your child or ensure that a trust is set up for your child so the life insurance money goes straight into the trust. If you are looking to purchase a life insurance policy in the greater Cloquet, MN area, call Brittany Olson Insurance Agency LLC to get started. 

Tips for preparing your home and family for an emergency

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In a world with very uncertain weather, emergencies related to that weather are quite common. Being prepared for them is important to the safety of you and your family. At Brittany Olson Insurance Agency LLC in Cloquet, MN, you will be working with a third-generation independent insurance agent. We will make sure you get the personalized service you desire. 

Tips for preparing your home and family for an emergency

When an emergency happens, whether it is in the summer or in the winter, the fact that you will most likely lose power is the first emergency preparation that needs to be done. Having a generator is pretty much a must if you don’t want to lose all your food or have your pipes freeze. Generators can be operated with gasoline or with propane. If you have a whole house automatic generator, they usually use propane. With a large generator, you can run your whole house as if no emergency is happening.

Without a generator, or with a smaller one, you need to have a supply of battery-operated lights, bottled water, and other supplies. You may be able to operate a furnace or air conditioner and maybe your refrigerator, but not everything in your home. You should also have a battery-operated radio and something like a Halo which can charge your phones and electronics. In a pinch, your vehicle has a charger and a radio. 

Having an evacuation plan for your family is vital to your safety. Not only do you need a plan to evacuate the area, you need a plan to evacuate your home in the event of a fire. Every member of the family needs to know where they are to meet, and you should do rehearsals.  

Get Home Insurance Today

Contact Brittany Olson Insurance Agency LLC in Cloquet, MN to get a review of your home insurance policy or to have any questions answered. 

Should I Buy Collision Or Comprehensive Coverage?

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When it comes to car insurance, there are a lot of options to choose from. One of the most important decisions you’ll make is whether to buy collision or comprehensive coverage. Both types of coverage are important, but they offer different benefits.

Here are the differences between collision and comprehensive coverage and help you decide which one is right for you:

What Is Collision Insurance?

Collision insurance is one of the most common types of car insurance. It covers damage to your car from collisions with other objects, such as other vehicles, trees, or guardrails. If you’re at fault for an accident, your collision coverage will pay for the repairs to your car. If you’re not at fault, your collision coverage will pay for the repairs to your car, minus your deductible.

What Is Comprehensive Insurance?

Comprehensive insurance is another common type of car insurance. It covers damage to your car from events that are not collisions, such as theft, vandalism, or weather damage. If you have comprehensive coverage and your car is stolen or damaged by a hurricane, your insurance will pay for the repairs. Like collision coverage, if you’re not at fault for an accident, your comprehensive coverage will pay for the repairs to your car, minus your deductible.

Should I Buy Collision or Comprehensive Coverage?

The answer to this question depends on a few factors. First, consider the value of your car. If your car is worth less, buying collision or comprehensive coverage may not make sense. The cost of the coverage will likely be more than the value of your car. Second, consider your driving habits. If you live in an area with a lot of traffic, or you’re a frequent driver in Cloquet, MN, you may want to consider collision coverage.

If you have an older car or you don’t drive often, comprehensive coverage may be a better option for you. Comprehensive coverage at Brittany Olson Insurance Agency LLC will protect your car from damage that isn’t caused by collisions.

Contact Us Today

So, what’s the verdict? Should you buy collision or comprehensive coverage? The answer is: it depends. Talk to us at Brittany Olson Insurance Agency LLC in Cloquet, MN to get expert advice on which coverage is right for you. We’ll help you make the best decision for your needs and budget.

What type of life insurance is right for me and my situation?

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Anyone living in the Cloquet, MN area will have insurance needs. One type of coverage to never overlook is life insurance. If you have a life insurance plan, it can provide financial protection for those that you care about. If you are looking for coverage, there are many options to consider. It is important to consider your various options, which can include term and whole life protection.  

Life Insurance Plans

Term Coverage

A type of life insurance that is ideal for many people is term life coverage. A term life plan is often ideal because you have a lot of flexibility when it comes to customizing the plan in terms of coverage amount and policy length. As long as payments continue to be made during the term, you will continue to have coverage. An added benefit is that you tend to have more affordable premiums than with other options.

Whole Life Coverage

Getting a whole life plan is ideal for some people as well. When you get a whole life plan, it will continue to provide coverage for the rest of your life if payments continue to be made. While it can be more expensive on a monthly basis, it does come with investment advantages that can make it a good addition to a long-term financial plan. 

Give Us A Call

To pick the proper life insurance plan, it would be a good idea for you to call a professional that you can trust. As you are shopping for a new plan, we at Brittany Olson Insurance Agency LLC in Cloquet, MN are here to help. There are many choices to make when looking for coverage and Brittany Olson Insurance Agency LLC can offer any guidance you need to understand your options and build an ideal policy. 

How Home Insurance Protects You

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When you have your own home, it’s always necessary to keep a home insurance policy for it. Your lender will require you to have it, and if you have a homeowner’s association, it will as well. But even if you have neither of these things, it’s smart to have home insurance to protect what is your largest investment. Contact us at Brittany Olson Insurance Agency LLC in Cloquet, MN to get started.

Protection for Your Home

Your home is a major investment, and it can cost an enormous amount to repair if a damaging incident happens to it. When an accident, disaster, or calamity happens to your home and there is damage to it, your home policy will pay for the repairs that are needed to fix it. If the home needs to be rebuilt after it is destroyed, your policy will also pay for this. 

Possessions Protection

Another large investment that you have in your possessions. When your belongings are in your home, they are protected by your home insurance policy. It’s vital to have this coverage so that you have protection after a serious incident happens. A damaging incident that ruins your belongings can be highly expensive, and your home insurance will pay for them to be replaced. It’s hard to go without this coverage because it is so important to keep. 

Liability Protection

When you have home insurance, it pays for the liability that you carry as a homeowner. If a third party came to your house and have an accident there, you could be held responsible for the lost wages and medical bills of the person injured. With this insurance, you can help pay for those expenses. 

Get Your Home Covered

When you are a homeowner, it’s important to protect yourself and what you own. You can do that with home insurance. Call us at Brittany Olson Insurance Agency LLC in Cloquet, MN.

 

Documents you should always have in your vehicle

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At Brittany Olson Insurance Agency LLC in Cloquet, MN, we are a team of dedicated insurance professionals who work hard to provide our customers with the personal service they deserve.  As independent insurance agents, we can offer more options and find you the most affordable products.  

Documents you should always have in your vehicle

Every state has regulations and requirements in order to get your vehicle on the road and you behind the wheel. You need to be aware of those regulations but you need to follow them every time you drive your vehicle. 

Vehicle registration

If you have moved to Minnesota or are a current resident, you must register your motor vehicle. For new residents, you must prove who you are and prove ownership of the vehicle. You can do that by producing the title of the vehicle. If you don’t have the title because you still have a loan, you need to show your current registration. The Minnesota vehicle registration must be renewed every year. 

Your driver’s license

Your driver’s license should be on your person pretty much everywhere you go. Not only is it a picture ID but it shows that you have completed the necessary testing to have earned the right to drive. If a police officer requests to see your driver’s license, make sure that you have it where it is easy to access.

Insurance card

When you get your new auto insurance or you renew your old insurance, you will get a page with your policy that has a copy or two of your insurance card. If possible, place it in a plastic sleeve and put it in your glove box immediately. Place it in close proximity to your vehicle registration. 

Contact Brittany Olson Insurance Agency LLC in Cloquet, MN for the latest information about auto insurance and the state mandates that go along with it. 

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