At times everyone needs a little help. Problems beset even those who seem to have so much. Colorado residents with no financial resources, family members or friends, face even more difficulties when bad times strike. Yet, there is always hope.

One reason people in this great state rarely quit is the knowledge that there are others willing to give of their time to help. Society, as a whole, benefits when volunteers give back to their communities.

Following are some ways to make the Lakewood, CO, area a better place through charitable work.

Give to a Food Bank

There are many in Colorado who go to sleep each night without having had a decent meal. A way to help this problem is to gather non-perishable foodstuffs and take them to a food bank. Families and individuals in need will then have enough to sustain them.

Donate Old Clothes

Clothes that may prove too small or a bit worn might be what another needs to wear during a cold winter or hot summer. Take these items to a clothes recycling facility, non-profit thrift store or shelter.

Give Blood

Accident victims and others in need of blood transfusions count on there being an adequate supply on hand. Give blood to ensure that there is always enough available to help those in need.

Adopt a Pet

Buying a pet from a store is a legitimate personal choice; however, there are animals that, for a variety of reasons, have no homes. Help provide them with a loving living environment by adopting from a local animal shelter.

Consider Giving a Form of Insurance and Talk with an Agent

Those who give of their time always feel better about life. They know that just as they help others, someone out there will do the same for them. This sense of security is also possible by purchasing adequate insurance to cover home, family and business.

Speak with the compassionate agents at Colling Insurance Services, Inc. serving Lakewood, CO, or visit the website to find a useful insurance quote feature.

You can be well read and still not know everything, so you go to the specialists. Even in a particular industry like the law, you go to someone who specializes in a particular area such as criminal versus family law. Insurance has its specialists, too, and even licenses follow lines like health versus casualty and fire. Another area of difference in insurance is a captive agent versus an independent. 

Insurance has a broad spectrum of coverage including automotive, life, homeowners, renters, commercial, small business, and long-term care.  Just as daunting can be the question of what kind of an agent do you want — independent or captive.  The definitions of each word tell you everything you need to know as one is not requiring or relying on others, and the alternate means to be held under the control of another but having the appearance of independence.

A captive agent represents only one carrier. Whatever the parent entity offers, including pricing, structure, products are what the captive agent has to offer you. So your costs are whatever the company makes available whereas an independent agent has a vast field of carriers to find the coverage you need at the rate you can live with.

Captive is about branding because that’s what you will buy, that and the relationship with the agent. The independent agency has to have a deeper well of knowledge to go to, and be quick and clever in finding the best coverage and pricing for their client. The independent agent can evaluate and develop a risk profile designed to protect the client.

When you deal with a captive agent, your costs are set by the company, and only go up or down based on the procedures and profiles from the corporation.  An independent isn’t tied to one carrier, so they represent different companies and offer more choices.

If you want the freedom to choose from your best options, then come to Colling Insurance Services, Inc. and talk to one of our independent insurance agents serving Denver. 

Investing in life insurance is a wise choice, especially for people who have lots of dependents. Life insurance funds can be used in any way that a beneficiary wants, including paying off a mortgage, covering funeral expenses, moving to a new home, etc. If you are considering investing in a life insurance plan, make sure to first speak with a qualified agent serving the Lakewood area at Colling Insurance Services Inc. Also, make sure that you don’t fall victim to either of these life insurance myths. 

Myth #1: Only people who have children need life insurance

Children are a great reason to invest in life insurance because the funds can be used to pay for their college tuition, to buy a home, and it can be spent in many other ways. Still yet, though, even if you don’t have children, there’s still a chance that you might want to invest in life insurance. If you have a spouse who depends on you for financial support, then life insurance is of the utmost importance. The primary purpose of investing in this type of insurance vehicle is to ensure that your beneficiaries can maintain their same standard of living once you pass away. 

Myth #2: Life insurance doesn’t make for a good investment

When investing in term life insurance, many people think that they are wasting their money because there’s always the chance that the policyholder won’t pass away during the predetermined number of years that the policy is created for. Still yet, though, life insurance is a great investment when invested properly. The best way to make sure you invest in a policy that makes for a good investment is by speaking with a qualified agent serving the Lakewood from Colling Insurance Services. 

Much like everyone else, college student must maintain health insurance coverage in order to avoid paying a penalty. More importantly, college students must maintain health insurance to ensure they have access to healthcare when they need it. Unfortunately, understanding what’s available can be challenging for anyone who isn’t familiar with health insurance. The following are a few options college students should consider in order to determine the best option for healthcare insurance.

Continuing on Their Parent’s Insurance

One of the cheapest options for healthcare coverage for students is remaining on their parent’s insurance. Most of the time, college students have the option of remaining on their parent’s insurance coverage while they are in school until they reach the age of 26. Marriage, living at another address, and the ability to enroll in an employer’s plan doesn’t disqualify college students from remaining on their parent’s insurance.

A Student’s Health Plan

Most colleges understand the importance of offering their students a discount health plan. With the ability to reduce the cost of care, many college students will get the treatment they need and reduce the transmission of infectious diseases. Most colleges partner with health insurance companies to offer their student’s an affordable health insurance plan.

Purchasing a Health Plan in the Marketplace

The Affordable Care Act makes it easy for college students to purchase health insurance, as well. Most college students who purchase healthcare do so during open enrollment; however, there are qualifying events that allow college students to get coverage outside of enrollment dates, including:

• Getting married
• Having a baby
• Adopting a child
• Gaining citizenship

In most cases, qualifying events allow students to enroll for coverage.

Purchasing Health Insurance from an Insurance Company

Insurance companies are a great option when it comes to purchasing health insurance coverage. Most insurance companies offer insurance from many different companies, allowing college students to choose between competitively priced coverage options.

College students around Lakewood, CO who are interested in getting more information about the types of coverage options Colling Insurance Services Inc. offers should give us a call.

When you live in Lakewood, there are many ways for you to keep your dog safe during the summer months. You are dealing with more heat and more bugs than any other times of the year. By knowing the best ways to keep your dog safe, you can keep him healthier and happier as well.

Protect the Paws

The paws of your dog need to be protected at all times, particularly when you are walking your dog along hot concrete or pavement. Just as you don’t want to walk around outside on the hot concrete, your dog doesn’t either! Protect the paws using adhesive paw pads or specially fitted booties based on the breed you have.

Provide Lots of Water

Your dog needs to have lots of water, especially during the summer. If you leave your dog outside, be sure that he has access to water. Even indoors, your dog needs water – and throwing in some ice cubes can help as well.

Prevention Medication

Talk to your vet and get your dog on prevention medication for heartworm, fleas, and ticks. The summer is when the bugs are out and you want to make sure your dog does not get sick.

Life Vest

Your dog can be the best swimmer in the world, but when you are boating, you never know what is going to happen. It is best to put a life vest on your dog, and make sure that it is going to fit properly. Be conscious of your dog’s weight and girth when choosing a life vest. Especially if you are in the ocean, waves and other details can prevent your dog from swimming as well as he can in a pool or lake.

At Colling Insurance services Inc. we look forward to helping you protect your home and everything and everyone inside of it. Call today and learn more about how to get affordable home insurance in Lakewood.

There are more than a few ways to stay in tip-top shape in Wheat Ridge, CO. From the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center to a slew of local gyms, you can enjoy weight lifting, running and much more. And don’t forget the Active Adult Center, which is perfect for those who are 50 and up. This unique center offers exercise classes and general interest courses, which make it easy to master basic technical and computer skills.

Another great way to keep yourself healthy in Wheat Ridge is by visiting your doctor on a regular basis. In order to do this, you will likely need a policy through a health insurance agency. In fact, health insurance is one of the most important types of coverage that you can have. From ordinary checkups at the doctor’s office to emergency room visits, health insurance lifts the burden of having to pay for medical costs out of pocket.

Depending on the policy that you have, you may or may not have to visit doctors in the 80033 zip code area. Your specific wants and preferences should be discussed with insurance agents to determine the best policy for your needs.

You might think that paying for health insurance is too expensive, but when you factor in how much money you might be out with just one trip to the hospital, then it becomes clear to see that health insurance should be thought of as a necessity. And in all actuality, due to federal changes that have recently been made, it is now a requirement that you have health insurance. If you don’t, you may face having to pay a penalty.

How Much Life Insurance Do I Need?

Regardless, of where you live in the great state of Colorado whether it is the metropolitan city of Colorado Springs or the quaint little town of Bark Ranch, life insurance is something everyone should have.

The amount of life insurance an individual needs depends on several factors including:

• Your funeral costs
• Amount of debt
• Number of surviving immediate family members (spouse and children)
• The age of your children
• Your spouse’s ability to support any children
• Your spouse’s ability to support themselves
• How long it will take your surviving spouse to return to work
• Whether or not you have a large savings, 401K or pension

Everyone’s situation is different, if your single and debt free then the minimum amount of life insurance you should have is enough to cover your funeral costs.

If you’re a a spouse and with children, mortgage, car payments, credit card and other debt then you’re likely going to want a significant amount of life insurance.

The following things will help you determine a rough estimate of how much life insurance you may need.

• Funeral Costs – If you want a simple funeral, according to the Federal Trade Commission it will cost you roughly $3,000 to $7,000.
• How much you owe on your home, cars, credit cards and other debt.
• How many children you have and their ages, if you have young children you’ll want to make sure there is enough money to raise them and possibly even pay for their college education.
• Your spouse’s income and whether or not they can provide a good life and college education for your children on their own income.

Once you sit down and figure out all of the above, you’ll have a much better idea of how much life insurance you need. However, you’re in luck, it’s easy to find the best coverage for your budget by talking to agents with Colling Insurance Services.

Obtaining insurance that will protect your family and your lifestyle can seem challenging. There are a variety of factors to consider and so many plans are available that you may find it confusing to select a policy. Fortunately, you can hire insurance agents in Arvada, CO to help you find the plan that is best for your goals.

Benefits of an Agent

There are several advantages associated with hiring an agent, including the option to compare a variety of plans without wasting your time or calling several different companies. The agent handles the comparison aspect and provides you with the best plans based on your goals and situation.

Along with the benefit of comparing your options, an agent can answer any questions that arise. You do not need to waste time looking up information, terminology or details when you can ask an agent directly and get an answer in a timely manner.

Selecting a Professional

The decision to hire an agent can seem simple, but you always want to focus on hiring an individual who is knowledgeable, capable and willing to help you reach your particular goals. Talk to an agent before making a decision to ensure that the agent understands your goals and concerns. You want to feel comfortable with the agent before you hire so that you can feel confident in the advice and information that you are provided. Do not work with an agent who makes you feel uncomfortable or who does not seem to recognize your concerns.

Working with an agent is beneficial for any individual, regardless of your goals and preferences. The key is finding an agent who is professional and puts your mind at ease. To learn more, contact us to talk to an agent today.

When you are not sure about the motorbike insurance that is appropriate for your vehicle in Lakewood, CO, you may need to compare a variety of options. Comparing the plans that are available can help you find a policy that addresses all of your concerns and has a reasonable cost.

Meeting the Minimum Standards

Regardless of the insurance provider, you can expect to have several options that offer coverage that meets or exceeds the minimum state standards. The state requires that you purchase liability protection when you ride a motorcycle.

Although the minimum standards are an option, you can add to the coverage if you have specific concerns to address, such as the theft of your motorbike. Many insurers offer the option to add a specific type of coverage to your plan, even if you just want to add one type of coverage to the minimum standards.

Collision and Comprehensive Coverage

If you want to cover a variety of situations, then a comprehensive policy may be a better choice for your situation. Comprehensive plans will usually offer coverage against common concerns, such as damage from a storm, theft or medical bills after an accident.

You may also want to consider a collision policy, which specifically addresses problems that can arise if you are in an accident while riding your motorbike. The coverage is not usually included in a basic or a comprehensive policy, so it may be necessary to add it to your plan if you want to address the risk of an accident on the road.

There are a variety of situations that can arise when you ride a motorcycle. Your motorbike insurance can help protect you from the financial challenges that can arise after an accident. Contact us to learn more about your policy options today.