Thanks,
Orlando Frasca
www.risdirect.com
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
The 2009 Grand Prize Winner Is........
James and Kristin Deitrich are our 2009 GRAND Prize Winners ( look for their photo and video Wed eve as they are coming in the office to "collect" ). Their prize is a 3day/2night Hot Air Balloon "Experience" in Napa Valley !!!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving Video !
Happy Thanksgiving......I just recorded this and thought you would enjoy it ( it's a youtube link, just click on it )......
Take Care and tell someone that you LOVE them today !
Orlando Frasca
www.risdirect.com
925-365-3200
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Employee Fraud..and how to Protect Yourself
Have you thought recently about the many ways in which your employees help to run your business?
Employees are vitally important because they help with your customers, they run the books and they watch the shop when you are not around...
Unfortunately, sometimes there are bad apples and a fraudulent employee can cause a lot of damage to your company.
So how do you monitor to weed out fraudulent employees without upsetting the whole apple cart?
The first step would be to put in place proper hiring procedures, such as thoroughly checking references.
In today's litigious world, ex-employers may be too intimidated to report fraud to the police and so the only way you'll really know the character of those you hire is to check it out yourself.
Once you have hired an employee, remember that most fraud is financial so here are some tips to follow:
•Don't sign blank checks.
•Deposit all checks and cash daily.
•Don't allow transfers between accounts without your approval.
•Make sure that all employees take an annual vacation - this disrupts any fraud that requires constant concealment.
•Require two signatures for checks drafted in large amounts.
These measures, along with reviewing account statements, should allow your business to function while keeping fraud in check.
As always, all of us here at Rogers Insurance Services, Inc. wish you profit in all of your endeavors!
Take Care,
Orlando Frasca
www.risdirect.com
www.insurance-for-boats.com
www.insurance-for-motorcycles.com
www.insurance-for-contractors.com
www.mytowtruck.com
www.mybigrig.com
Employees are vitally important because they help with your customers, they run the books and they watch the shop when you are not around...
Unfortunately, sometimes there are bad apples and a fraudulent employee can cause a lot of damage to your company.
So how do you monitor to weed out fraudulent employees without upsetting the whole apple cart?
The first step would be to put in place proper hiring procedures, such as thoroughly checking references.
In today's litigious world, ex-employers may be too intimidated to report fraud to the police and so the only way you'll really know the character of those you hire is to check it out yourself.
Once you have hired an employee, remember that most fraud is financial so here are some tips to follow:
•Don't sign blank checks.
•Deposit all checks and cash daily.
•Don't allow transfers between accounts without your approval.
•Make sure that all employees take an annual vacation - this disrupts any fraud that requires constant concealment.
•Require two signatures for checks drafted in large amounts.
These measures, along with reviewing account statements, should allow your business to function while keeping fraud in check.
As always, all of us here at Rogers Insurance Services, Inc. wish you profit in all of your endeavors!
Take Care,
Orlando Frasca
www.risdirect.com
www.insurance-for-boats.com
www.insurance-for-motorcycles.com
www.insurance-for-contractors.com
www.mytowtruck.com
www.mybigrig.com
Thursday, October 22, 2009
How Insurance Works with Business Property
Not surprisingly, most people are neck-deep in running their own businesses and don't really understand how their insurance works ... and that can have catastrophic consequences.
You should have a basic understanding of what you'll be paid if something happens to your business property. If you don't get the money you need to replace it, how will you stay in business?
One way insurance companies pay for damaged or destroyed property is the Actual Cash Value (ACV) method. ACV is calculated as fair market value or cost less depreciation. Now think about that in this example ...
What's the value of ... let's say ... a 5 year old refrigerator?
Whatever it's worth, it's most definitely a lot less than the cost of a new one, right? A new fridge might be $1,000 but the used one may be worth only $500.
With an ACV settlement, if that fridge is destroyed, you'll get $500 from the insurance company. BUT, it will cost you $1,000 to buy a new one.
Now ... that's not necessarily a problem. It's simply a choice. You have other options.
One of them is Replacement Cost ... and under this method you essentially get "new for old". When that $500 fridge is lost, the insurance company buys you a new one - they replace the lost property - as opposed to compensating you at actual cash value.
Of course, choosing Replacement Cost means higher premiums. After all, the insurance company has more at risk when insuring replacement cost. And more risk means more premium.
Neither option is right, and neither option is wrong. It depends on your individual circumstances and your capacity to keep some risk yourself in exchange for lower premiums. (By the way there are other options. I just want you to understand the basics.) And don't forget, the value of your property changes from year to year.
In reality there are greater complexities, but if you understand the basic difference between Actual Cash Value and Replacement Cost, you'll be well on your way to protecting your property to your desire and your budget.
Give me a call if you want to discuss this topic further, or to make sure your property is protected like you want it to be.
Thanks,
Orlando Frasca
925-365-3200
www.risdirect.com
www.insurance-for-boats.com
www.insurance-for-motorcycles.com
www.insurance-for-contractors.com
www.mybigrig.com
www.mytowtruck.com
You should have a basic understanding of what you'll be paid if something happens to your business property. If you don't get the money you need to replace it, how will you stay in business?
One way insurance companies pay for damaged or destroyed property is the Actual Cash Value (ACV) method. ACV is calculated as fair market value or cost less depreciation. Now think about that in this example ...
What's the value of ... let's say ... a 5 year old refrigerator?
Whatever it's worth, it's most definitely a lot less than the cost of a new one, right? A new fridge might be $1,000 but the used one may be worth only $500.
With an ACV settlement, if that fridge is destroyed, you'll get $500 from the insurance company. BUT, it will cost you $1,000 to buy a new one.
Now ... that's not necessarily a problem. It's simply a choice. You have other options.
One of them is Replacement Cost ... and under this method you essentially get "new for old". When that $500 fridge is lost, the insurance company buys you a new one - they replace the lost property - as opposed to compensating you at actual cash value.
Of course, choosing Replacement Cost means higher premiums. After all, the insurance company has more at risk when insuring replacement cost. And more risk means more premium.
Neither option is right, and neither option is wrong. It depends on your individual circumstances and your capacity to keep some risk yourself in exchange for lower premiums. (By the way there are other options. I just want you to understand the basics.) And don't forget, the value of your property changes from year to year.
In reality there are greater complexities, but if you understand the basic difference between Actual Cash Value and Replacement Cost, you'll be well on your way to protecting your property to your desire and your budget.
Give me a call if you want to discuss this topic further, or to make sure your property is protected like you want it to be.
Thanks,
Orlando Frasca
925-365-3200
www.risdirect.com
www.insurance-for-boats.com
www.insurance-for-motorcycles.com
www.insurance-for-contractors.com
www.mybigrig.com
www.mytowtruck.com
Saturday, October 10, 2009
No Insurance Lesson here...It's All About WineMaking right now
Went to get Zinfandel grapes last night for our ( 4 of us ) annual wine-making.....after a lovely, traffic-heavy ride to Alamo ( 2 miles) it took one of our heros nearly 1 FULL hour to make the trip to Mike's house to get the keys to the warehouse, then to the warehouse to get the truck, then back to pick up our other hero back in Alamo, then finally on the road to Santa Rosa,the grapes are on the truck in the warehouse.
The vineyard owners arrived 30-45 mintues AFTER we did, so that gave us a chance to hotwire their Tractor/Forklift combo in the dark. Dan and I smoked Cubans to pass the time while the grapes were loaded onto the truck by a forklift driver that only communicated by handsignals and lots of arm-waving to guide him.
Fortunately, the 4 bins on the pallet only slid off "half-way" before Mr. Driver decided he wanted to "straighten them out on the pallet" and had them slide off a few more inches.
At least the drive down 101 allowed us to donate a blue tarp to the vehicles behind us...but only in a mis-guided effort to keep those drivers awake and focused on the road. Luckily, the other tarp was only fluttering in the wind and we managed to stop it's escape.
We would have been back before 1am if only the single lane highway didn't have a big-rig clogging traffic all the way to 80, but that didn't matter anyway because Cal-Trans thought it would be a great idea to close down all lanes ( except one) so they could do repair work.
Fortunately, 80 was re-opened just a few hundred feet before the 780 interchange allowing us to be nearly side-swiped by big-rig transporting multiple cars.
No animals that could be construed as pets were actually harmed in transporting the grapes back to the world's premier wine-making region-- Mike's warehouse in San Ramon.....off to crush the grapes this morning....
The vineyard owners arrived 30-45 mintues AFTER we did, so that gave us a chance to hotwire their Tractor/Forklift combo in the dark. Dan and I smoked Cubans to pass the time while the grapes were loaded onto the truck by a forklift driver that only communicated by handsignals and lots of arm-waving to guide him.
Fortunately, the 4 bins on the pallet only slid off "half-way" before Mr. Driver decided he wanted to "straighten them out on the pallet" and had them slide off a few more inches.
At least the drive down 101 allowed us to donate a blue tarp to the vehicles behind us...but only in a mis-guided effort to keep those drivers awake and focused on the road. Luckily, the other tarp was only fluttering in the wind and we managed to stop it's escape.
We would have been back before 1am if only the single lane highway didn't have a big-rig clogging traffic all the way to 80, but that didn't matter anyway because Cal-Trans thought it would be a great idea to close down all lanes ( except one) so they could do repair work.
Fortunately, 80 was re-opened just a few hundred feet before the 780 interchange allowing us to be nearly side-swiped by big-rig transporting multiple cars.
No animals that could be construed as pets were actually harmed in transporting the grapes back to the world's premier wine-making region-- Mike's warehouse in San Ramon.....off to crush the grapes this morning....
Enjoy your Saturday...
www.risdirect.com
Friday, September 25, 2009
Umbrella Insurance
There are many facets to a sound, complete financial plan, and there are as many goals as there are individuals who plan for the future ... every one unique.
But one thing you should never lose sight of in your financial dreams and planning is basic asset protection. It might not be sexy, but it's the cornerstone of your future wealth.
So, I want to remind you of some things you might not think of as financial planning, but are important to a solid foundation of wealth ... the liability limits on your basic property and casualty insurance policies - auto, homeowners, etc.
Here's a trick question ... if you are found liable (meaning a judge or jury decides that you're at fault) for the injuries or death of others in a car accident, how much do you think you'll be sued for? A hundred thousand? A million? Five million?
The answer you have to be prepared for is "everything they can get".
Now let me ask you another hypothetical question, if John Q. Public has assets worth $500,000 and insurance limits of $100,000, and he loses a liability suit against him, do you think an attorney is going to go after his personal assets? Count on it! He should have had more insurance will be the justification.
So, what's your situation? What are you worth and how much liability insurance do you have? Are you leaving yourself wide open to an attack on your personal and/or business assets?
Liability insurance is cheap compared to the alternative of losing a lawsuit without it. So, if you're not 100% confident that you have enough insurance to keep the lawyers out of your personal pockets, then let me know. I'll be happy to review your situation with you and help you get the protection you need. Just give me a call
Take Care,
www.risdirect.com
www.insurance-for-boats.com
www.insurance-for-motorcycles.com
www.insurance-for-contractors.com
www.mytowtruck.com
www.mybigrig.com
But one thing you should never lose sight of in your financial dreams and planning is basic asset protection. It might not be sexy, but it's the cornerstone of your future wealth.
So, I want to remind you of some things you might not think of as financial planning, but are important to a solid foundation of wealth ... the liability limits on your basic property and casualty insurance policies - auto, homeowners, etc.
Here's a trick question ... if you are found liable (meaning a judge or jury decides that you're at fault) for the injuries or death of others in a car accident, how much do you think you'll be sued for? A hundred thousand? A million? Five million?
The answer you have to be prepared for is "everything they can get".
Now let me ask you another hypothetical question, if John Q. Public has assets worth $500,000 and insurance limits of $100,000, and he loses a liability suit against him, do you think an attorney is going to go after his personal assets? Count on it! He should have had more insurance will be the justification.
So, what's your situation? What are you worth and how much liability insurance do you have? Are you leaving yourself wide open to an attack on your personal and/or business assets?
Liability insurance is cheap compared to the alternative of losing a lawsuit without it. So, if you're not 100% confident that you have enough insurance to keep the lawyers out of your personal pockets, then let me know. I'll be happy to review your situation with you and help you get the protection you need. Just give me a call
Take Care,
www.risdirect.com
www.insurance-for-boats.com
www.insurance-for-motorcycles.com
www.insurance-for-contractors.com
www.mytowtruck.com
www.mybigrig.com
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Quick Tips....Marketing Your Own Business
Your business is important to me, because without your business I don't have my business! So, I have a direct interest in you doing well.
With that in mind, I thought I'd pass on some basic marketing and advertising tips. I summarized these from an excellent book called, "How to Write a Good Advertisement."
* A Headline - Advertisements and sales letters should have headlines. A company name is not a headline. The headline must capture the reader's attention and convey a compelling reason for them to start reading the ad.
Remember, people are bombarded all day long with information. Your ad needs to immediately appeal to their personal gain to get them to read it.
* Provide benefits, not just features. A feature is something a product or service does. A benefit is what the buyer gets from it.
For example, a 'hard candy coating' is a product feature. But ... 'so the candy doesn't melt in your hand' is a benefit.
Do your best to explain the benefit that your product or services provide the prospect. You'll get much better response if you do.
* Be different. Try not to have your advertising look like everybody else's. Stand out and get attention - and then apply these other tips to make the sale.
* Guarantees - If you offer a guarantee, say it proudly. People are skeptical. Take their risk away, and they'll be much more likely to buy from you.
* Testimonials - What someone else says about you is a thousand times more effective than what you say about yourself.
Get testimonials from your existing good clients and use them in your ads and sales letters. Let your prospects see what your happy clients have to say.
* Be sure to tell the reader exactly what to do. This is called the "Call to action."
Prospects must be led. If you want them to call you, say so directly. For example, "Call Now!"
Don't leave anything to chance in your advertising. Give the reader clear reasons why they should do business with you and then tell them exactly what to do next.
I hope this information helps spark an increase in sales for your business.
Take Care,
www.risdirect.com
www.onlycontractors.com
www.mytowtruck.com
www.mybigrig.com
www.insurance-for-boats.com
www.insurance-for-motorcycles.com
www.insurance-for-contractors.com
With that in mind, I thought I'd pass on some basic marketing and advertising tips. I summarized these from an excellent book called, "How to Write a Good Advertisement."
* A Headline - Advertisements and sales letters should have headlines. A company name is not a headline. The headline must capture the reader's attention and convey a compelling reason for them to start reading the ad.
Remember, people are bombarded all day long with information. Your ad needs to immediately appeal to their personal gain to get them to read it.
* Provide benefits, not just features. A feature is something a product or service does. A benefit is what the buyer gets from it.
For example, a 'hard candy coating' is a product feature. But ... 'so the candy doesn't melt in your hand' is a benefit.
Do your best to explain the benefit that your product or services provide the prospect. You'll get much better response if you do.
* Be different. Try not to have your advertising look like everybody else's. Stand out and get attention - and then apply these other tips to make the sale.
* Guarantees - If you offer a guarantee, say it proudly. People are skeptical. Take their risk away, and they'll be much more likely to buy from you.
* Testimonials - What someone else says about you is a thousand times more effective than what you say about yourself.
Get testimonials from your existing good clients and use them in your ads and sales letters. Let your prospects see what your happy clients have to say.
* Be sure to tell the reader exactly what to do. This is called the "Call to action."
Prospects must be led. If you want them to call you, say so directly. For example, "Call Now!"
Don't leave anything to chance in your advertising. Give the reader clear reasons why they should do business with you and then tell them exactly what to do next.
I hope this information helps spark an increase in sales for your business.
Take Care,
www.risdirect.com
www.onlycontractors.com
www.mytowtruck.com
www.mybigrig.com
www.insurance-for-boats.com
www.insurance-for-motorcycles.com
www.insurance-for-contractors.com
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