I spend a portion of my time working in the "voluntary benefits" arena as an enroller, or "benefits counselor". In a nutshell, I enroll benefits for large groups, like schools, hospitals and municipalities, for example. Typically I sit with an employee in a one-on-one meeting and review their current benefits and check to see if they need any other insurance poducts. It's great to meet these folks and help them with insurance products like dental, vision, disability, accident and life insurance.
The majority of my working time is spent working with individuals, however, many of which are self-employed. Realtors, sales professionals, small business owners and other "contract employees" or 1099's for instance, make up a lot of my clients. These great people are just as deserving of having decent insurance products, regardless of the size of their company.
With this in mind, we invite all to visit our site and take a look at some of our voluntary products that can be purchased on an individual basis. There, one can get quotes for products such as life, cancer, hospital indemnity and accident insurance right from our site. And if you see coverage you like you can even start an application!
For some of our other products, like disability insurance and long term care insurance, one can book a short phone call to get a quote as accurate as possible.* We are independent agents and have access to many of the best policies.
As independent insurance agents, we are also independent contractors, which means that we use our own products. Having a disability or cancer plan come out of our bank account instead of a paycheck doesn't change the fact that we need these important insurance plans.
Please take the time to get a quote for yourself or your family. It probably won't cost as much as you think.
*Quotes are not guarantees or offers of coverage and all policies are subject to underwriting.
Chris Castanes is the president of Surf Financial Brokers, helping people find affordable life and disability insurance coverage. He's also is a professional speaker helping sales people be more productive and efficient and has spoken to professional and civic organizations throughout the Southeast. And please subscribe to this blog!
For several months now I have spent a large amount of my time on marketing (or learning to market) our website. I'm realizing that there is a huge learning curve when it comes to getting your message out on social media sites. In this journey for knowledge, there have been times when I have found a new workaround or app that my own social media guy was unaware of.
With all of that in mind, several of my friends and team members and I kicked around some ideas. After identifying who we think our main competitor is (we'll call them "XYZ"), we took the time to look at their site. We discovered that there were several differences, such as
On our site you get your quote* immediately. With XYZ, you will be contacted by an agent (or several). This is because...
They sell your name to an agent as a "lead". And it may not just be one agent who gets your information. Several agents may call you. On the other hand...
We will contact you to see if you have questions, but all of your information stays with us.
We have other products, such as cancer, accident and hospital indemnity insurance plans that can help you with out of pocket expenses when you or a family member becomes ill.
If you like your quote, you can even start an application! We will get a notification that you have started an application and will reach out to you (via email or phone call) to assist you through the underwriting process.
Please do us a favor and visit our site and run a "no obligation" quote. Let us know what you think!
Thanks and please stay healthy!
*Quotes are estimates based on information you submit and final rates are subject to underwriting requirements.
Chris Castanes is the president of Surf Financial Brokers, helping people find affordable life, disability, long term care, cancer, accident and other insurance coverages in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia. He's also is a professional speaker helping sales people be more productive and efficient, and has spoken to professional and civic organizations throughout the Southeast. And please subscribe to this blog!
When I originally got into the insurance business the internet didn't exist. Agents would carry rate books with incredibly small print and have to calculate the premiums and fees by hand. Needless to say mistakes were a common occurrence, and I was one of the biggest culprits of quoting someone an incorrect price.
At that time (back in the 1980's) we were taught a method of prospecting which involved networking and learning verbiage to ask for referrals. The networking part was not as bad as it would seem because I am comfortable talking to strangers. And I found out later that most of the people I was trying to connect with were not as comfortable as I was in that situation. On the other hand, though, the referral part was hard for me.
Let's face it, most people don't like to give referrals. When I have asked for referrals in the past I can sense the tension build and the wheels turn in my client's head. I understand the trepidation because I have been on that side of the situation as well. You give a friend's name and the next thing you know your friend calls you angrily. "Why did you give that insurance agent my name?"
Unfortunately, things haven't changed much since then. There are still companies out there trying to teach their new agents the old school ways. This is because they believe that insurance selling is built upon a relationship of trust. There's nothing wrong with that, but people in general, and younger people specifically, don't feel the need to have that relationship anymore.
From an insurance agency standpoint, we still do some of the same "old school" things, but with the internet available, we can now market to a wider geographical area without having to be physically able to see and talk to our clients. Zoom and other tools have given agents access to people who need our products and services from multiple states.
This is evident by the increasing numbers of people who are buying financial products on the internet. Things like auto insurance, life insurance, investments and banking were handled in person by an agent or advisor, and they still are. However many people feel they no longer need, or want, to deal with someone for these types of services.
Personally speaking, I began purchasing my car insurance online years ago, as well as my small investment portfolio. By doing this, it keeps more money in my pocket and I don't have to wait for someone to return a phone call or be in their office. Convenience is the name of the game.
With that in mind, we have done our best to make available more products on our website that clients can look at when it is convenient for them. And if someone wants to speak to a real person, we have made our calendar available for a phone appointment accessible too.
Check out our website and run a quote, and if you see a rate you like that fits into your budget, you can even start an application. We want to make things as convenient for our clients as possible. In the meantime, please stay healthy!
Chris Castanes is the president of Surf Financial Brokers, helping people find affordable life, disability, long term care, cancer, accident and other insurance coverages in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia. He's also is a professional speaker helping sales people be more productive and efficient, and has spoken to professional and civic organizations throughout the Southeast. And please subscribe to this blog!
There has been a lot of talk on the news and social media about the labor shortage that we are having in our country of late. Despite what some outlets are saying, there are a variety of reasons why employers are having a hard time finding and keeping personnel.
One way employers can get the employees they want is to offer benefits. I have worked in the workplace benefits arena for years and have seen many small business owners brush off the idea of having to deal with payroll deductions and billing issues. But those same people are now starting to reconsider as they find staffing their businesses to be more difficult than ever.
We work with several companies that offer benefits and can coordinate existing benefits into the mix as well. And we can cover groups of any size, from 2 people to 2000! If you are a business owner or know of someone having staffing issues, let us help you find a good product mix that your employees will want.
Drop us a note or book a short phone call to discuss what you currently offer and how we can help.
Chris Castanes is the president of Surf Financial Brokers, helping people find affordable life, disability, long term care, cancer, accident and other insurance coverages in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia. He's also is a professional speaker helping sales people be more productive and efficient, and has spoken to professional and civic organizations throughout the Southeast. And please subscribe to this blog!
At Surf Financial Brokers, we really do enjoy helping owners of small businesses, entrepreneurs, sales professionals and otherwise self-employed. This is because we are in the same boat as independent agents. The lack of group benefits can be troubling, but we are doing our best to help these great folks (who are the backbone of our economy) have access to quality dental and vision plans, cancer insurance and, of course, disability insurance.
Being self-employed can be scary, but it can also be very rewarding. Paying for your own benefits is a small price to pay for the independence and freedom of owning your own business.
We have put a few of these types of plans on our website for you to look at, run a quote, and even apply if you like what you see. If you need information for something that isn't there, drop us a note or book a short phone appointment to speak with us. We look forward to helping you out.
Chris Castanes is the president of Surf Financial Brokers, helping people find affordable life, disability, long term care, cancer, accident and other insurance coverages in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia. He's also is a professional speaker helping sales people be more productive and efficient, and has spoken to professional and civic organizations throughout the Southeast. And please subscribe to this blog!
As I have mentioned previously, the Greek word for insurance is "asfalia", which literally translates to "security". The Greeks are not paying for someone to insure them, but instead are buying peace of mind, knowing that their families and loved ones are secure.
One of the recurring themes that insurance companies use when advertising, or even training their agents, is that their products give people the peace of mind. I worked with one company that had a brochure titled "What Keeps You Up At Night?", with the idea being that prospective clients would be so worried about what would happen to their families that they couldn't get to sleep. One can imagine that this may be the case for some people.
If only there was a way to get to these people when they were worrying about this. How could I help people who were in their pajamas?
That's why we have added several quoting tools onto our website. A concerned breadwinner can visit our site and run quotes for life, cancer, accident, and hospital indemnity insurance. We even have one for our combo dental, vision and hearing plan. And the best part is if someone sees a rate that fits into their budget they can start their application, all without a pushy salesman. (We aren't pushy.)
On the other hand, we make ourselves available if someone is looking for a little assistance, and we do have other insurance products, like disability and long term care, that we currently don't have the capability of quoting online. For those kinds of concerns, we ask that you book an appointment that is convenient for you from our site and we can help you out over the phone.
If you are in Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina or South Carolina, and can't sleep, visit our site. In the meantime, please stay healthy!
Chris Castanes is the president of Surf Financial Brokers, helping people find affordable life, disability, long term care, cancer, accident and other insurance coverages in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia. He's also is a professional speaker helping sales people be more productive and efficient, and has spoken to professional and civic organizations throughout the Southeast. And please subscribe to this blog!
Two weeks ago I was asked to give a talk to a local networking group about long term care insurance, as well as other related subjects. Most of the material I discussed had to do with the products available to us, like long term care insurance, short term home healthcare insurance and life insurance with "living benefits" that can be used in the case of a chronic illness or cognitive impairment, like Alzheimer's or dementia.
As usual, I discussed the three stages of retirement which are the Go Go Years, the Slow Go Years and the No Go Years. Unfortunately, most people don't plan for the last part, which is what ultimately costs them the most money.
Take a couple of minutes and watch the video below which covers a short talk on the subject. If you have any questions or comments, please post them below and if you can, please subscribe to our channel on YouTube.
Chris Castanes is the president of Surf Financial Brokers, helping people find affordable life, disability, long term care, cancer, accident and other insurance coverages in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia. He's also is a professional speaker helping sales people be more productive and efficient, and has spoken to professional and civic organizations throughout the Southeast. And please subscribe to this blog!
A few weeks back I joined an online chat with some people I really didn't know but who had some valuable information to offer. Fortunately, these very nice people welcomed me to their group. One of them in particular, Adam Griggs who is the CEO of CLARAfi, dropped me a note a few days later, which began a conversation.
Adam took a look at some of my videos on YouTube, gave me a word of encouragement, and then suggested that I make a short video explaining my "how and why" I got into the insurance business. To be honest, I initially was thinking, "Yeah, no one really wants to hear that story." But since Adam took the time to watch a few videos, I thought the least I could do would be to consider his idea.
I thought back to my first venture into insurance back in 1985. Having graduated from college with no real job prospects, my father wanted me to work with him at his fledgling engineering firm. Keeping my eyes open for other opportunities, I begrudgingly went to work for him entering data into an MS-DOS program.
There were several issues with this situation, with a major problem being that I was not an engineer. My degree was in Business Management. Also, my old man, who was a micromanager to say the least, wanted me to live at home, work with him, and let him decide what I should eat for dinner. Also, that dinner would include discussions about work, which I had just suffered through a few hours earlier. I was quickly going crazy.
I needed to find a job where I could learn some real world business skills while getting out from under the old man's thumb. One morning I told my father I had a job interview in Raleigh, NC, about an hour away. I didn't really, but my plan was to go there and start looking for work. In the course of a few hours I had managed to find what I thought was a good opportunity with an insurance company.
The job wasn't exactly as presented by the recruiter, who had made it sound fairly easy work with banker's hours and great pay. Instead I found myself driving all hours of the day and night in rural areas doing what boiled down to door-to-door insurance sales. And the product was not something I would not purchase for myself. As a matter of fact, I met several people who were angry about their claims experiences. One even threatened to get his gun and shoot me.
After a few months of this, I realized that my coworkers were leaving and being replaced by a revolving door of new agents. It didn't take me long to jump ship as well, and being young and naïve, I got out of the insurance business altogether for about 15 years.
In 2000, I decided to give insurance another go, but this time would be different. I wanted to learn the business from multiple perspectives, so I worked for various companies as an independent agent. Each company had its own way of doing things, from how they prospected for clients to the ways they collected premiums. I learned how some insurance carriers' products were better than others and when those products were suitable for clients.
About this same time, I had an aunt who had been in a nursing home for over 20 years. She had fallen and broken her hip when I was still in high school. My parents had been left with the responsibility of taking care of her bills and I watched them struggle. Even though my father's engineering firm was doing okay, his finances were stretched. A long term care policy would have been a great help, had one been available for her (and subsequently my parents) when she had gone into a facility.
That's when I realized that selling insurance was more than just a job, but a way to help people who were in bad situations by convincing them to mitigate their financial risks ahead of time. There were plenty of examples of insurance policies keeping people from financial ruin, from strangers to those close to me.
For example, my wife's father had died unexpectedly before I had met her, and his life insurance policy helped her graduate from college and take care of other necessities. We even used some of the proceeds years later to make a down payment on our home.
Making sure that people have the right amount of insurance, their beneficiaries are up-to-date and keeping it all in a budget can be tough. Insurance is a product that most people don't want to buy, so the job is more about convincing them they need it. Because of this, the stereotypical insurance salesperson is high pressure. I prefer to say I use "good pressure", because my intention isn't to get the sale, but to make sure that when something bad happens, my clients won't have to move out of their homes or take a second job to pay the bills.
When someone goes to my website and books a phone appointment to discuss life, disability or long term care insurance with me, I may give them a bit of a nudge to make sure their needs are met. It's all done with their best interests in mind. And that is why I do what I do.
Chris Castanes is the president of Surf Financial Brokers, helping people find affordable life, disability, long term care, cancer, accident and other insurance coverages in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia. He's also is a professional speaker helping sales people be more productive and efficient, and has spoken to professional and civic organizations throughout the Southeast. And please subscribe to this blog!
Even though Covid has been the main medical headline for the last year or so, other serious health issues are still leading to more deaths. Heart disease, for example, is the leading cause of death in the United States, and as Covid deaths continue to decrease due to vaccines, strokes and cancer will remain near the top of the list as well.
Many times on this blog I have discussed the importance of a cancer insurance plan. Cancer, which comes in many forms and can be specific to one organ or another, is recognized by many when the topic comes up. And even though we all know that heart disease and cardio vascular issues prevail, we don't discuss them as much as cancer.
Part of this is because for many people, avoiding these health problems is a matter of changing one's lifestyle, diet and fitness goals. Making those changes, like eating less pork, drinking less alcohol and going for a walk tend to cut into our wants and needs. And it can seem as if it interferes with our work day. Of course, stress is a leading factor in all of this.
Yet we see and hear about heart attacks and strokes all the time. Think of all the commercials on TV for medicines that can reduce your chance of a heart attack or stroke.
The effects of a major health event can be long lasting. Physically, one can expect to be on some sort of medication for the rest of their life after experiencing a heart issue. A stroke can be debilitating and lead to other issues. My mother had a small stroke while undergoing knee replacement surgery. The stroke, which affected some of her motor skills, also kicked her dementia into overdrive. What was previously some age-related memory loss became full-blown episodes.
There is a financial cost to all of this as well. Anyone who has been hospitalized for a cardiovascular disease knows all too well that there will be deductibles, copays, out-of-network cost (just because your hospital may be in the insurance company's network doesn't mean that everyone that works there is in the network!) and other out-of-pocket expenses. This can add up quickly. And believe me when I say this, not everyone wants to contribute to your GoFundMe page. Plus there is the loss of income when someone is out of work as a result of one of these illnesses.
With all of this in mind, it is important to know that there are insurance policies available that help cover these costs. Most of them pay a lump sum amount in the event of a major health issue, like a heart attack or a stroke. We offer several of these plans, including the following:
Cancer, Heart Attack and Stroke plan. Just as the name implies, this policy will pay you a lump sum of money (you choose at the time of the application) when diagnosed for one of these conditions.
Critical Illness. These plans also pay a lump sum but have a different array of illnesses. Most include heart attack, stroke, comas, and other major health events, but cancer may or may not be included. Check with your agent to see what they offer.
Disability Insurance. When people think of disability insurance, they think of someone hurt who is in a wheelchair, but over 85% of all disability claims are from illness, with cancer and heart disease at the top of the list.
If heart disease runs in your family or you have concerns about one of these health events, drop us a note or schedule a quick phone appointment with us. We'll be happy to help you with a quote. In the meantime, please stay healthy!
Chris Castanes is the president of Surf Financial Brokers, helping people find affordable life, disability, long term care, cancer, accident and other insurance coverages in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia. He's also is a professional speaker helping sales people be more productive and efficient, and has spoken to professional and civic organizations throughout the Southeast. And please subscribe to this blog!
When the pandemic struck last year some people were too distracted by the news to take a look at their existing insurance coverages. Having major medical coverage is good, but if one were to be seriously ill and hospitalized, out-of-pocket expenses like deductibles and coinsurance could quickly take their toll on a family's finances.
And the loss of income from being out of work could also lead to unpaid bills piling up. Extra stress doesn't necessarily help a situation like this.
That is why many people took a second look at their insurance policies in the last year or so. It seems that almost everyone knows someone who has had the virus. Even though most managed to have mild symptoms and rode it out at home, we also know those who have been seriously ill from it and even died.
Over the last year people have begun purchasing more disability insurance, along with hospital indemnity plans, and even increasing their life insurance coverage. I recently met with a group of teachers who all had some level of interest in at least one of the above mentioned plans because they had co-workers who had fallen ill due to Covid. I suppose it hit home for them.
Putting these policies together, some agencies have constructed a loosely knitted "Covid package" plan to get the message out. Sales for these plans have increased, especially the hospital indemnity plan. The weird part was that many people I spoke to seemed to have never heard of this policy before, so I would assume that the agents were not discussing them with their clients.
Hospital Indemnity plans are exactly what they sound like. They help defer the out-of-pocket costs of being admitted and confined to a hospital. We offer a fine plan that has good benefits. If you would like a quote or more information, click here.
Aside from the plans mentioned above, our agency has had an increase in sales of our Short Term Home Health Care (STHHC) Plan. Due to the very high rates of infections in assisted living and skilled nursing facilities, more people are wanting to make arrangements to stay in their own homes when they get older. The STHHC policy does just that, by helping to pay for cost of caregivers in the home. To watch a short video on the policy, click here.
The cost of having in-home caregivers is about double of that in a facility. Taking the burden off of family members makes these kinds of plans especially attractive, plus the family members don't have to worry about putting their own careers (and families) on hold.
Of course, everyone could use additional life insurance. Studies have shown that of those who own life insurance, up to 40% don't have the amount of coverage they actually need. And it isn't nearly as expensive as people think it is.
If you aren't sure if you have enough coverage for Covid or the next pandemic, drop us a note or book a short phone appointment. We'll be happy to look over your existing coverage and see if you need to fill any gaps. In the meantime, please stay healthy.
Chris Castanes is the president of Surf Financial Brokers, helping people find affordable life, disability, long term care, cancer, accident and other insurance coverages in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia. He's also is a professional speaker helping sales people be more productive and efficient and has spoken to professional and civic organizations throughout the Southeast. And please subscribe to this blog!
For people who have been without health insurance during the pandemic, relief may be in sight. President Biden signed an executive order this past January to open up the federal health insurance marketplace for three months so uninsured people can buy a plan and those with plans can make changes.
Since 2016 the number of Americans without health insurance has reached 30 million by 2019. The Covid-19 pandemic has made a bad situation even worse with millions losing their jobs and the insurance coverage that comes with it.
Typically the enrollment period runs from November thru early December. If one needed to get coverage outside of that window of time, they had to have a life-changing event, such as the birth of a child or loss of coverage from an employer. These changes would trigger a Special Enrollment Period (SEP).
The new enrollment period started on February 15 and continues for three months, much longer than usual enrollment periods. With that the Biden administration plans to run an outreach campaign with paid advertising and direct-to-consumer marketing in hopes of attracting new people to the insurance pool.
The enrollment window for people in states that use the federal marketplace is open to anyone who is uninsured and would normally be eligible to buy coverage on the exchange. Those with incomes up to 400% of the federal poverty level (about $51,500 for one person or $106,000 for a family of four) are eligible for premium tax credits that can substantially reduce their costs.
With the new special enrollment period, how long someone has been uninsured isn't relevant, nor do people have to provide documentation that they have lost their coverage through work.
For those who already have a marketplace plan but want to change to a different plan, this is a great opportunity to do so. Otherwise they would have to wait until the end of the year. Also, now is a great time to update information regarding job status and income as well.
Healthcare.gov has become easier to manage for the consumer in the last few years when it comes to making changes or looking for forms. Especially now that we are in tax season, many people will need their 1095-A form.
At Surf Financial we have made getting health insurance easy to apply for our friends in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia*. By going through our portal to the Health Sherpa system they can see rates and compare them easily.
An interesting wrinkle of late in all of that some of the "Blues" (Blue Cross and Blue Choice) have decided to send letters out indicating that there would be some pretty hefty rate increases starting April 1. From the letters I've seen the clients are going to be subject to increases of around 19%. In my estimation I think the insurance companies are using the SEP as a reason to increase their prices now instead of waiting for the end of the year.
If you do not currently have health insurance and need some, check out the portal above and you can start shopping for insurance. And if you already have coverage but are interested in changing, you can do the same. And if you have questions, drop us a note. In the meantime, please stay healthy!
*Those are the states we are licensed in currently.
Chris Castanes is the president of Surf Financial Brokers, helping people find affordable life and disability insurance coverage. He's also is a professional speaker helping sales people be more productive and efficient and has spoken to professional and civic organizations throughout the Southeast. And please subscribe to this blog!
If you currently do not have a cancer insurance policy, you may be wondering why anyone would need or want one. In my experience as an agent over the last 20+ years, I found that the people who purchase a cancer insurance plan do so because they either have concerns about cancer in their family history or they know of someone, a friend or co-worker, who has been diagnosed with cancer. In the case of the latter, there is a realization that their health insurance does not cover all of the costs associated with a cancer diagnosis.
Many times I have sat down with an employee of a business where I am enrolling benefits and hear how one of the other employees has recently been diagnosed with an invasive cancer. This creates a type of "wake up call" for the other members of the staff because they just assumed that their major medical coverage would cover all of the bills.
With all of this in mind, I thought it would be a good time to cover a few things to consider before you purchase a cancer plan.
1.Cancer plans cover a lot of out-of-pocket expenses. Items like co-pays, deductibles, travel and lodging (if you need to go to a hospital that is not in your area) and experimental treatments not covered by your insurance are just a few of the items that can cost you thousands of dollars.
2. Not all cancer plans work the same way. Some plans are considered to be "treatment plans", which means that they will reimburse you as you are receiving treatments. Keeping in mind that cancer treatments can go on for months, and in some cases years, these plans can be "richer" as they will continue to pay out as you continue to submit claims.
On the other hand, some carriers will offer "lump sum" plans, which will pay you a one-time lump sum of money upon diagnosis of cancer. These plans vary in price as you choose the amount of money you will need at the time of the application, some going as high as $75,000.
I have found that some people who choose the lump sum plan do so for the convenience of only having to file a claim once and it is easier to understand. They also may want just enough to cover their deductibles. There are no wrong answers as it is a matter of preference.
3. You may not be able to get a cancer plan if you have been recently diagnosed with cancer. Unfortunately, we meet people who have just gotten a "clean bill of health" and want a policy. For those people we have to break the news that they may have to wait several years before being covered by a policy.
4. If you have a policy already you may want to keep it. Most of the insurance companies that sell cancer insurance rarely increase the rates of their policies. Instead, they keep the old policies on the books and will develop or enhance "new policies". For example, one carrier has a policy with a "benefit builder", which means it pays more the longer you keep the policy. However, that policy is no longer being sold, but the company will let you keep it if you want it.
As treatments evolve, so do the policies. A good example is one of the "lump sum" policies we offer that includes genomic testing. A tissue sample of the cancer is sent to a lab, which in turn will send treatment suggestions to the doctors, all at no extra charge.
If you would like information about cancer coverage for you or your family, drop by our website or leave us a note. In the meantime, stay healthy!
Chris Castanes is the president of Surf Financial Brokers, helping people find affordable life and disability insurance coverage. He's also is a professional speaker helping sales people be more productive and efficient and has spoken to professional and civic organizations throughout the Southeast. And please subscribe to this blog!
People have asked me when I was going to get the quoting buttons for cancer insurance, accident insurance and hospital indemnity plan* on the Surf Financial Brokers website. Well, after some technical glitches they are finally there. And the best part is that they work!
One of the running myths in the insurance business is that people want personalized service. That is true for some of the public, but let's face it, a vast number of people have been purchasing homeowners and car insurance online for years. They are comfortable with the DIY approach and not having an agent, but rather filing claims and handling other service issues through a call center. That's perfectly acceptable for these folks, while others do want someone nearby to answer their questions.
Running your own quote on our site is awesome for several reasons.
You can cover whomever you want. Whether you need coverage for yourself, you and a spouse, you and your kids or the whole family, you decide who is covered.
You can customize it to fit your needs. There are plenty of riders that you may or may not be interested in.
You can fit it in your budget. While deciding who to cover and what optional riders you like you can see the premium as you go.
You don't need an appointment. We know you are busy so you can use our quoting tools when it is convenient to you. And if you have questions, drop us a note or book an appointment using our online calendar.
And it is extremely easy to run a quote. When visiting our Products and Quotes page you will see buttons for Hospital Insurance, Accident Insurance and Cancer Insurance. Simply click on the one you are interested in. A page will appear with some information on the product along with a "Get Quote" button. From there it is just a matter of entering your information and getting an insurance quote.
Along with these products, there is also a "Get A Quote" button for life insurance and disability insurance**. The life insurance button let's you choose from term or whole life with options such as Return of Premium term life. There is even a tool to help you determine how much coverage you need.
For disability insurance, you let the calculator know what kind of work you do and your annual income. Disability insurance helps you to insure your paycheck in case you become sick or hurt and are unable to work, you can still pay the bills.
We ask that you give it a try. If you have questions or concerns, let us know. And if you like it, we would appreciate referrals. Referring us helps us to grow our agency by spending more time with our clients and less time prospecting.
We have attempted to create a virtual agency that can take care of people either way. If someone prefers to run a quote and apply for coverage without the help of one of our agents, that is absolutely fine. But there are those times when one wants a real person to answer their questions, and we can do that for them as well.
Run a quote and give us some feedback. And in the meantime, please stay healthy!
*Not all insurance products are available in all states.
**Rates are estimates based on your information and are subject to underwriting.
Chris Castanes is the president of Surf Financial Brokers, helping people find affordable life and disability insurance coverage. He's also is a professional speaker helping sales people be more productive and efficient and has spoken to professional and civic organizations throughout the Southeast. And please subscribe to this blog!
The New Year has begun! Happy New Year to all and good riddance to 2020!
A few nights ago there was a primetime special on one of broadcast networks with a recap of 2020. The bulk of it was a chronological look at the Covid pandemic and how people and our leaders were reacting to it all. After watching about 15 minutes of this I had to change the channel to a ballgame thinking to myself, "I don't want to relive that again. And who doesn't know this stuff at point?" It was bad when it was happening and it still is bad in the rear view mirror.
And that is where 2020 needs to be, in the rear view. There is no need in dissecting it and examining it under a microscope. We were all there and saw it firsthand.
Through it all a few good things did happen. Most of us have a newfound respect for our medical community, especially those nurses and doctors who have been doing their best in overcrowded hospitals. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the caregivers in nursing and assisted living facilities too. These folks have poured their blood, sweat and tears into their work, with some getting infected themselves. And a few have died in the process. We should be thankful for them and their efforts.
Others should also be considered in the same vein. Grocery store workers, meat workers and others who help us get food on our tables should know they are more than "essential".
Yes, there have been some silver linings. People have learned how to get together when they can't be together, via virtual technology. We have adapted and overcome. Like they say, "what doesn't kill you will make you stronger." We as a society should come out of all of this stronger.
Speaking on behalf of myself and our network of agents at Surf Financial Brokers, I want to thank all of our clients who kept us going all year. Your faith in us to help with securing your financial goals is greatly appreciated. And to those of you who referred us, shared our information and even laughed at some of the dumb memes we shared, I say thank you.
Insurance is a tough business. It's the only product I can think of that people buy in hopes of never having to use. Fortunately, there are those who understand and appreciate that bad things happen in life, and when those things occur, you can shift the responsibility to an insurance company. That's what our business is all about.
Part of the optimism we have is due to the upgrades we have made to our business. Going "virtual" has meant implementing some different tools, especially on our website. The goal of our agency is to make it as easy as possible for our clients to find information they need on life insurance, disability insurance and long term care, along with cancer, accident and other ancillary insurance plans. We have even added quoting tools that an individual can use to find a plan in their budget.
To make the process even easier we have even added our calendar to our website. When someone books a time for a phone appointment that works for their schedule, they can also let us know what they want to talk about. We have had some people say that buying an insurance policy from us was one much easier than expected.
So as we look forward (instead of backwards) to a New Year, we hope that we will be hearing from you. Again, thank you for all of your referrals and I hope that your 2021 is the best year ever!
Chris Castanes is the president of Surf Financial Brokers, helping people find affordable life and disability insurance coverage. He's also is a professional speaker helping sales people be more productive and efficient and has spoken to professional and civic organizations throughout the Southeast. And please subscribe to this blog!
It sounds weird when an insurance agent talks about having a "favorite" policy, but I do prefer one of the accident insurance plans we offer over some of our other offerings. Between appointments one day a colleague asked me why I loved selling accident plans so much.
"I like them because anyone can be in an accident, but no one has pre-existing conditions that could prevent someone from getting a policy," I said. "Plus, it can cover the client on or off the job*, so it pays on top of workers' comp or any other insurance."
Over the years I've sold hundreds of accident plans to people in all kinds of professions. Here's a small list:
Realtors - They are in the car a lot, going into unoccupied homes, inspecting property with all kinds of perils like holes, bushes, debris, etc.
Other sales people - I've sold a lot of accident insurance to people who sell advertising, solar panels, cleaning systems and other wares. Again, riding in traffic is scary enough and sales people are in their vehicles for a large portion of the day.
Cosmetologists/barbers/beauticians - Chemicals and scissors. Enough said.
Teachers - In a previous post I told the story about the kid on the playground who tried to make a break for it running over his teacher and breaking her arm in the process.
First responders - Fire fighters and police are always putting themselves in danger.
But there are also those who aren't concerned about getting hurt at their work, but their extracurricular activities can be worrisome.
Amateur athletes - You can count on kids who play games and sports to get hurt from time to time. It's the nature of the game.
Outdoor enthusiasts - From hikers to bikers to campers, if you like the outdoors there are plenty of opportunities to suffer an injury.
Amateur gardeners - I do my own landscaping and have thrown my back out on more than one occasion. Cuts and scrapes are inevitable each Saturday morning in my yard.
Parents - If you are active or have kids who are, these plans are very good. Sports related injuries can be covered.
In addition to the plan, there are optional riders available, like a wellness rider and a disability income (accident only) rider. The premiums are very affordable. A 50-year old couple could get the Level 2 benefits** with no riders for under $40/month (quoted on 12/14/2020).
The policy also covers accidents resulting in:
Accidental death
Accidental dismemberment
Lacerations
2nd and 3rd degree burns
Broken bones
Dislocations
Hospital confinement
Hospital admission
Emergency room treatment
Many more
Think about the last time you were in an accident, so serious that you had to seek medical attention. No one wants to have to deal with unexpected doctor co-pays and hospital deductibles, not to mention possibly having to take time off from work. But having an accident insurance plan that pays directly to you can help alleviate those bills and lost wages.
So when you wonder why I appreciate a good accident insurance plan, it's because if you have any kind of accident and need medical attention, the plan will be there. It's the kind of coverage that truly gives a person peace of mind, for themselves and their family.
*You can decide at the time of the application if you want the policy to cover "on the job" accidents or not.
**For a brochure describing the coverage, drop a note in the comments section with your email and we'll promptly send you a PDF.
Chris Castanes is the president of Surf Financial Brokers, helping people find affordable life and disability insurance coverage. He's also is a professional speaker helping sales people be more productive and efficient and has spoken to professional and civic organizations throughout the Southeast. And please subscribe to this blog!
I often discuss cancer and it's impact on a family. Yes, there is the toll it takes physically as someone undergoes treatments, and despite all the advances in research on the disease, many continue to die from various types of cancer.
There is also a huge financial impact on survivors and their families. Cancer treatments are expensive and even though health insurance picks up a large portion of the tab, there are still some huge gaps not covered by major medical policies. Deductibles, co-pays, travel, and other out-of-pocket costs can wipe out a family's finances. Not to mention the lack of income if the cancer patient is the breadwinner of the family.
As previously discussed on this blog, there are several cancer insurance plans available on the market. There are also non-traditional plans that can also help cover the expenses related to having cancer. These plans pay directly to the insured, not the hospital or the doctor. Here are a few.
1. Cancer treatment plans. These are the insurance plans that most people think of when considering cancer insurance. They generally pay a structured set of benefits for various treatments. For example, if someone is hospitalized for cancer, the policy may pay a set amount of money, say $100 per night. There may be another benefit if surgery is necessary. Wigs (for hair loss as a result of chemotherapy) may even have a benefit.
Many of these types of plans are offered through "worksite" companies, which means you can get them through your work if your employer agrees to deduct the premiums from your paycheck. If you are self-employed or a business owner, you can get an individual plan and the costs is just about the same.
A cancer treatment plan pays the way it sounds. As you are receiving treatments, you can remit the receipts to the insurance company to continue receiving benefits. As cancer treatments are not a "one and done" scenario, you could continue receiving benefits for months. With that in mind, a cancer treatment plan has the potential to pay out a lot of money, but it can also be difficult for someone who is seriously ill to keep up with the paperwork. If you would like to run your own quote on one of these plans click here.
2. Lump sum plans. Unlike the cancer treatment plan, these plans pay a lump sum of money when someone is diagnosed with an invasive cancer. There's no need to save receipts and you can choose the amount you want, along with your premium amounts. Many people prefer these plans for their simplicity.
One of our lump sum insurance carriers has included genomic testing with their plan. Your doctors can send a biopsy sample to a laboratory where the sample is examined. The lab will in turn contact the doctors and give them suggestions as to how to treat the cancer. All of that is included at no extra charge and can help dramatically. If you would like to see a short video on how it works, click here.
3. Critical illness insurance. Critical illness plans generally cover several specifically named illnesses or health events, such as heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure and major organ transplants. Sometimes cancer will be included on the list. These plans are paid in the same way as the lump sum plans in that you choose a face amount when you apply.
4. Life insurance will critical illness riders. Life insurance carriers are starting to offer riders that cover critical illness (and chronic illness) into their policies, and many are included at no extra charge. For younger people this can be great as the premiums are low. I always emphasize to my clients that they are buying life insurance, first and foremost, so the underwriting process can be an issue.
This isn't the cheapest option as most carriers only include the riders on their permanent plans. However, we have found one carrier that offers them on their term policies.
On all of these plans be aware that there may be some underwriting involved. If you have had an internal cancer in the last few years you could be denied coverage. Also, skin cancer isn't always covered.
If you have questions about any of these options let us know. Our website has contact forms and a page where you can book a phone appointment that works on your schedule. In the meantime, please stay healthy!
Chris Castanes is the president of Surf Financial Brokers, helping people find affordable life and disability insurance coverage. He's also is a professional speaker helping sales people be more productive and efficient and has spoken to professional and civic organizations throughout the Southeast. And please subscribe to this blog! Thanks!
During these crazy times it's good to know that you can use the web to shop for products and services. Insurance is no different, with thousands of people shopping for various types of coverage each day. And that includes cancer coverage.
We have made it extremely easy for people to get their own quote for cancer insurance by offering a link that gives an overview of the policy, along with a quoting system that helps people find a plan within their budget.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. An incredible 9.6 million people died from cancer in 2017. Of course, just this year alone, we have had many notable deaths from cancer, like Chadwick Boseman, Eddie Van Halen, Neal Peart and, of course, Alex Trebek.
According to the US National Cancer Institute, over 606,000 people died from cancer in the US in 2019.
But as bad as those numbers are, many people either survive their cancer or live with it. As research gets more advanced, the survival rates get better.
So, why do you need a cancer insurance plan? Your medical insurance will pay the bulk of the doctor and hospital bills, but there are plenty of out-of-pocket expenses related to having cancer. According to a 2019 survey conducted by the Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com, 63% of cancer patients and loved ones reported financial struggles following a cancer diagnosis.
With all of this information, we want to make it easy for you to find a plan that can help cover those extra expenses not covered by your insurance. Here are just a few:
Co-pays. Visiting doctors and specialists on a regular basis can amass a significant number of co-pays.
Deductibles. Many people have raised their deductibles over the years to save money on their insurance premiums.
Treatments. From pill regimens to chemotherapy, many patients are expected to pay at least part of the treatment costs.
Testing. With high deductibles plans so common these days, the routine testing before, during and after cancer treatment can come with a high price tag.
Lifestyle changes. Many patients overlook the lost wages that stem from reduced working hours that are often necessary during and after treatment.
Transportation. Getting to and from medical appointments can be costly, as patients often have to enroll in transportation services or rely on rideshare options when loved ones aren't available.
These types of costs can devastate a family's finances. Dealing with a family's bills is stressful enough, but for those also dealing with a medical crisis, financial worries can take a significant toll on physical and mental wellness. Having a good cancer insurance plan in place can reduce some of that burden, freeing up cancer patients to focus on where they should be spending their time and energy, which is getting healthy.
One of our plans, offered through Manhattan Life, offers benefits for cancer screenings, surgeries, hospital confinement, transportation, home health care and others. These are the types of costs that can add up quickly if you or a loved one are diagnosed with an invasive cancer. Don't assume that your medical insurance is going to cover these costs or that your friends will donate to a crowdfunding campaign.
Purchasing a cancer insurance plan shifts the burden away from you and your family. These plans can be tailored with several options and can be designed to cover you, you and a spouse, you and your children or the entire family. They are affordable and can fit your budget.
Check out the link, run your own quote and let us know if we can assist you.
Chris Castanes is the president of Surf Financial Brokers, helping people find affordable life and disability insurance coverage. He's also is a professional speaker helping sales people be more productive and efficient and has spoken to professional and civic organizations throughout the Southeast. And please subscribe to this blog! Thanks!
When I speak to groups about their insurance, I often mention "Holy Trinity" of insurance, which is their medical
insurance, life insurance and disability insurance. The last one, disability insurance, I tell them, is just is important as the other two, because if one were to get sick or hurt and couldn’t work, the bills don’t stop
coming and will need to be paid. Disability is basically paycheck insurance.
But what if
you are, like me, self-employed, a 1099 employee or a business owner and don't have access to a group plan? What
would happen to your business if you were unable to work?
Which is why I like to bring up Business Overhead Expense (BOE) coverage.It’s an insurance product most people probably haven’t heard of before even though it's been around for a long time. And it
definitely one of the most undersold policies out there, probably because there
are agents who don’t even know about it.
Business
overhead expense insurance is designed to keep things going when a disability
or illness requires you to be temporarily absent. This is different from
personal disability insurance, which makes payments directly to you to replace
lost income if you can’t work.
If you own a
business, it’s important that you understand how BOE works so you can decide if
it’s something you need.
BOE is a type of insurance that pays benefits to
your business if you’re unable to work. For example, if you’re in a car
accident and are seriously injured, or you’re diagnosed with a serious illness,
your policy’s benefits could kick in to provide the business with cash flow
while you recover.
This type of
insurance is typically used to help manage your business’s day-to-day expenses.
It helps your business continue as usual even when you can’t be there.
What BOE Insurance Covers
BOE is business-specific, meaning it applies to expenses related
directly to running your business. The types of expenses you can use business
overhead expense insurance to pay include:
Rent or
lease payments
Loan
payments
Insurance
premiums
Utility
bills
Custodial
services
Payroll for
employees
Tax
obligations
Business
credit card bills
There are,
however, some things that overhead expense insurance is not designed to cover.
For instance, these policies don’t extend to expenses related to improving or
expanding your business, such as buying new equipment or opening a second
location.
Overhead
expense insurance also doesn’t cover your salary. That’s why you would need an
individual policy on yourself.
It’s worth
considering purchasing this type of insurance if you’re the person who’s primarily
in charge of running your business. Having an overhead expense insurance policy
in place means the bills continue to get paid for the business when a
disability or illness puts you on the sidelines.
Depending on
the terms of your policy, your insurance company could pay benefits for up to
two years after you file an eligible claim. That can be helpful if you have a
serious disability, illness or injury that requires extensive rehabilitation or
physical therapy.
Keep in mind
that not every business owner may qualify for this type of insurance. If you’re
self-employed as a freelancer and run a business from home, for example, you
may not be able to purchase a policy. You may have to stick with a regular
personal disability insurance policy instead.
There are
advantages associated with having this kind of insurance for your business.
Here are
some of the key benefits of BOE insurance:
Your
business can remain open even when you can’t be there to run it
Essential
business expenses can be paid for using policy benefits, allowing you to
preserve your business’s cash reserves
Being able
to meet payroll means you have a better chance of retaining key employees
A BOE policy
decreases the odds of having to dip into personal savings to cover business
spending
Premiums
paid for coverage may be tax-deductible
Business
expenses paid with premiums may also be tax-deductible
In terms of the downsides, here are a
few things to keep in mind:
Policies
don’t pay benefits to you directly so you’ll still need separate disability
coverage for that
Benefits
typically have a time limit of 2 years and can’t be paid indefinitely
Any benefits
you receive may be considered taxable income for the business
Policies may
enforce a maximum monthly benefit limit, which may be less than what you need
to continue operations
As you can
see, the pros generally outweigh the cons but they still need to be factored
in. And you also have to consider the potential return on investment for
purchasing this kind of coverage. Having it can be a safety net if you get sick
or become disabled but if you never end up using your coverage, you may feel as
if you’ve paid premiums for nothing.
The key advantage to having a BOE is that it
gives you time to make a decision if you are disabled. You probably won’t know
when or if you’ll
recover, or if you should shut down the business, sell it or keep it open. That
2 year benefit window gives you time to figure it all out.
If this is something
you think you need, drop by our website and make an appointment to have an
agent call you. Or you can leave a question on our contact form.
Chris Castanes is the president of Surf Financial Brokers, helping people find affordable life and disability insurance coverage. He's also is a professional speaker helping sales people be more productive and efficient and has spoken to professional and civic organizations throughout the Southeast. And please subscribe to this blog! Thanks!
