Asset Planning, Inc Blog

The latest from the team.

Auto Insurance Check Up

 

Auto insurance is pretty much a no brainer. It’s required by law to have so you get a policy and pay your premiums, end of story right? Well, it shouldn’t be. The average person buys a policy and doesn’t think about it again. It is really important, however, to do a periodic check up on your auto insurance policy to make sure you are covered adequately and are receiving all of the discounts you are entitled to. Many changes occur over the years in life like getting married, buying a house, and having a baby. Your auto insurance needs change over the years as well. Having the same coverage limits you did when you were first on your own may not be enough to cover your assets if you were sued in an automobile accident. Talk to your insurance agent to ensure that you have enough liability coverage. Another good thing to do is ask your agent if you are receiving all of the discounts that you are entitled to. There are a ton of discounts available and they may not necessarily be applied to your policy. Some examples of these discounts are good student discount, defensive driver discount, multi-policy discount, mature driver discount and the list goes on. Many of these discounts are not automatically added to your policy so it does not hurt to ask what discounts your insurance company offers. Next, get a few different quotes from other reputable companies for the same coverage that you have. This will give you a good idea if you are paying too much and may give you incentive to switch. By just taking a few extra steps to review your policy each year you could save enough each month to fill up your gas tank.

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Pets: They Truly Are Part of the Family

 

Let’s admit it; our pets are part of the family. Nearly 60% of households own a pet and unlike past generations the emphasis on pets and how we treat them has drastically changed. No more leaving Fido to sleep in the backyard with a bowl of dry kibble. Instead we have begun to humanize our pets and treat them as if they were our children. The average American admits to letting them sleep in their bed, preparing fresh meals for them, buying them birthday presents, etc. There really is no better time to be a domestic pet then now and as a result, Americans are willing to spend more money on their pets and the pet industry is booming. Here are some fun facts about how the love we have for our animals is affecting consumer spending and our economy.

  • US Census Bureau data reveals that since 1998 the number of pet related stores has jumped by 38%. The broad US economy has only added 8% more storefronts over the same time period.
  • Industry research suggests that of the $6.3 billion Americans spent on pet services (excluding veterinary work), 38% of it was on boarding and pet sitting.
  • Organic pet food grew from 11% of total US pet food sales in 2011 to 17% in 2014. If 17% does not sound impressive, consider that only 7% of domestic baby food sales are organic.
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that consumers spend more annually on their pets ($1,151) than they do on car insurance ($1,112).
  • In 2011, average household spending on pet food alone was $183. This was more than the amount spent on bread ($107), chicken ($124), and cereal ($175).
  • US pet related employment has jumped nearly 3x from 195,000 in 1990 to 553,000 in 2015.
  • Over the next ten years the Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts have animal care and service employment up 11% and Veterinarian employment up 9%,

So keep on spoiling your furry companion! It’s not only good for him but also the economy!

*Facts and excerpts taken from “Human, Economy and Pet: How Pets Are Changing Humans and the Economy,” Payden & Rygel, Point of View, Spring 2016.

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Save the date: API Open House Party!

Asset Planning will be having an Open House on Wednesday, June 29th from 4pm-8pm. There will be wine tasting and hors d’oeuvres. Look for an invitation with all of the details coming your way soon!

 

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