Welcome Message

Hey, what do you know? I can be taught! I'm officially a blogger. What the heck is a blog anyway? The simplest way to describe it is as my personal journal that’s not so personal because I share it with everyone in the world. This blog is titled “The Bull Stops Here” and focuses on insurance issue that will save you time, money and frustration.

You’ll find regularly posted topics dealing with:
- ways to help you save money on your insurance
- techniques to save you time on managing your insurance
- answers to your questions on coverage issues
- educational resources and workshops that will solve your insurance challenges

My mission is to help you gain more confidence and trust in your business or personal insurance while spending the least amount of money.

Monday, December 31, 2007

New year's Eve Birthday

I've always loved my birthday, especially because it falls on New Year's Eve. Friends used to tell me that it must have been rough to have my birthday so close to Christmas.

Nah...

It's great. I still receive cool presents, everyone celebrates on my day, and I'm very fiscally dated. PLUS...our family gives a birthday week, so I can use it over a two year period!

It's also a great time to reflect on the past year and count our blessings. We are all fortunate to live in a country where we are allowed to state our views freely, to be able to make a living doing what we want, and to raise our families free from oppression.Who could ask for better gifts than that?

Happy New Year!

Dan

Friday, December 28, 2007

Little Things Mean A Lot...


Mother Teresa said, "We are not called to do great things. We are called to do little things with great love."That favorite quote of mine came to mind this morning at my Rotary meeting. During our "Happy Bucks" segment, a fellow Rotarian (Tom) told the story of an employee (Steve) of his who had lost valuable memorabilia from his high school basketball days.


It seems that during our recent flooding, water got in his basement and ruined a video album that included memorable clips from his playing career.Tom went on to recount that somehow word got out and a fellow Rotarian named Michele took action. She had been a cheerleader at the time and also had a copy of this album, so she graciously gave Steve her copy, feeling that it was more valuable to him. Tom's "happy buck" was in recognition of this kind act. Michele also received a small cake as a gift of gratitude as Tom works for a grocery store!


Here is a wonderful example of a "little thing" done with great love. These small acts of charity may not seem significant in the big picture, but I believe in the grand scheme of things, they are simply huge. It makes you wonder what would happen if we all strive to do more "little things" with great love in 2008. My guess is our corner of the world, and maybe the world itself, will be much improved for it.Happy New Year!


Dan

Monday, December 24, 2007

It's a Wonderful Life


“No man is a failure, who has friends”.

These simple words written inside an old beat-up copy of “Tom Sawyer” that were presented to George Bailey speak volumes to us. If you’re at all familiar with the Christmas classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life” starring James Stewart and Donna Reed, you remember Clarence the Guardian Angel giving this present to Stewart’s character at the end of the movie. George Bailey had just been shown what life would have been like for his family and friends had he not been born. He came to find out that even though times were tough, he had led a life that impacted countless others.

I love this movie because it truly shows the value of each person. We all create a ripple effect in the world; impacting people around us in so many ways. Regardless of our vocation, the size of our family, or where we live, we are blessed to be able to touch someone else, even without knowing it. You might be a youth coach, a business associate, or even a supportive voice in difficult times. You play an important role to your family and friends and they in return play a great role to you.

Last Saturday, my wife Barb and I went out grocery shopping for the Christmas basket that out local St. Vincent DePaul Society puts together for needy families. It’s one of my favorite things to do during the Christmas season. We certainly don’t know the family of four we just provided Christmas dinner for, or why they are in the situation they are in. It doesn’t matter. What we come away with is the knowledge that in a very small way, we were able to give of ourselves that someone might be better off. It reminded me a little of another Christmas favorite, “A Christmas Carol”, when Ebeneezer Scrooge sends the prize turkey to the Cratchit family anonymously. “Mankind is our Business’, right?

Take a look at your life. See all the people who have made a difference you as well as those you have impacted. We don’t have the same chance as George Bailey to see what life would have been without us. However, we should always remember how fortunate we are, whether in good or bad times, that we have friends and family that love and care about us. Every day we have chances to be a positive source for someone. Let’s take every opportunity we have to accept those challenges.

After all, it is a wonderful life.

Merry Christmas!

Dan

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Two down, three to go!

I just received word that I passed my second leg in the Certified Risk Manager (CRM) designation program. Woo-hoo! That was a tough test for me with all the math that was in it. Probability, statistics, and math analysis have never been my favorite. To all my friends who took the class with me, please let me know how you did. I'm headed for Part 3 in Seattle in May!

Dan

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

What's Wrong with This Picture?

Yesterday I was driving back from an appointment on a highway that had some road construction. Two hours earlier I had noted two cars pulled over by state patrol; probably receiving the double-fine in a construction zone ticket. Needless to say, I was very wary of obeying the speed limit through that zone on the way back.

The guy behind me obviously didn't know what I knew because he was on my tail all the way through. Of course, I felt redeemed as there was state patrol with a radar gun at the end of the construction zone.

Not a mile after leaving the area, Mr. Speedy decided to blow by me on the highway. I guess he was in a big hurry. The ironic thing was as he sped by me, I caught the window sticker on the back of his commercial vehicle....it said "Give them a break"...the safety sign for construction workers!

Do you know how your drivers are operating your commercial vehicles?

Dan

Monday, December 17, 2007

Is it the Truth?


That’s the first question in the Rotary 4-Way test. Having been a Rotarian for 14 years, I’ve come to lean on that question a lot.

Last week, former Senator George Mitchell produced his expose of the steroid and Human Growth Hormone (HGH) scandal that has rocked Major League Baseball. It named names; big ones. Over the weekend, news came out that one of those players, Andy Pettite admitted to taking HGH. Pettite has been a star pitcher for the New York Yankees and Houston Astros for many years. His name being linked to the scandal was a shock. The fact that he’s “coming clean” is very refreshing.

Mitchell’s report included Pettite for just a few pages and never linked him to steroids. Pettite acknowledges that he only used HGH back in 2000 for two days while recovering from injury. He was injected by the man who also “outed” potential Hall of Famer Roger Clemens. Clemens has been implicated in a much larger role for both steroids and HGH, which has put his once lock solid election into the Hall now in jeopardy.

What’s most refreshing about Pettite is that he didn’t waste any time confirming his use of HGH. At the time, it was not a banned substance, so in his mind he wasn’t breaking any rules. His sole purpose was to re-gain his health more quickly, and he had heard HGH could do this. The fact that he came out so quickly and corroborated the story, pledged his allegiance to the integrity of baseball, and issued no bitterness towards the report makes me believe him. That and the fact that Pettite has always been viewed as an upstanding guy only add credence to his statements.

This is in stark contrast to Clemens, who issued a tersely worded statement through his attorney that he never used steroids. The preponderance of evidence, plus the fact that Pettite’s story links the same trainer, makes one lean towards not believing Clemens. “The Rocket” is at an age that seems inconceivable that he his body has held out as it has. He has struggled with injuries over the past years and it makes one wonder what steps he would take to perhaps be considered the greatest pitcher to ever live. Now, regardless of whether you believe him or not, or whether there is any firm evidence, his name has been tarnished and sits alongside Barry Bonds with a mental asterisk next to it.

I don’t know Roger Clemens to judge his character. My gut feeling is he’s guilty. My gut also tells me Andy Pettite is a stand-up guy who wasted little time facing the music. The fact his name surfaced will quickly subside.

Think about the power of honesty in your world – personal and business. Have you ever dealt with people who have been, let’s say, less than forthright? How has that impacted you? The bottom line is that in the relationship driven world we will always live in, honesty is more than just the best policy. It’s the most important one.

Dan

P.S. Here's another truth...you can save time, money, and frustration when bidding out your insurance. You can have an insurance consultant do the work for you. To learn more about how you can make your renewal easier, click here...

Monday, December 10, 2007

Rainy Days


Here in the Pacific Northwest, we've been hit with devastating floods which closed businesses, destroyed homes, and even shut down a large stretch of Interstate 5 between Seattle and Portland. Stories abounded about businesses that had flooding issues.


One of my clients called concerned about whose policy would cover damage from backup of sewers into the building - the tenant's or landlord's. Our conversation quickly turned to whether coverage for that peril was even in place! Backup of sewer coverage is generally an additional coverage on property policies, but not always. It's one of those bullet points in your proposal that can quickly be glossed over. Now is a great time to review your policy with your agent and ask to see if you have the coverage and for how much. Those that do may find a limits ranging from $10,000 to $25,000 to be standard. Make sure whatever you have is adequate to protect your business. You never know when you will need it for a rainy day!


Dan


P.S. Need to know other important questions to ask your agent? Join me in January when I interview Scott Simmonds and discuss the "7 Questions You Must Ask Your Insurance Agent Today". It is the first of my 2008 Teleconference Series. To find out how you can join, click here...

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

In Need of Noah's Ark

For the second year in a row, I've been down in Palm Springs when my home state of Washington has been devastated by flooding. I've watched in horror and sadness as many people have had tragedies from the rains and floods. My home is safe and for that I'm thankful. The pictures on the news look straight out of Katrina a few years ago. Let's keep all those adversely affected in our prayers and hope for a quick return to normalcy.

Dan

Monday, December 3, 2007

What's Your Risk Tolerance?

Evel Knievel is dead. If you are my generation or older, you remember the American daredevil icon from the 1960’s and 70’s. It’s surprising my opening statement wasn’t said about Knievel many years go! Knievel just passed away a few days ago at the age of 69 of natural causes.

Knievel was known for attempting huge life-threatening risks, like jumping over the Snake River in Idaho on a motorcycle, or jumping a long row of trucks. Evel understood the risks but his tolerance was more than the average Joe was willing to take. The consequences of his risks were broken bones, a battered body, and potential death. It is surmised that his health challenges in later years were exacerbated by his many injuries.

What’s your risk tolerance for your business? What risks are you willing to self-insure? Have you ever given it much thought? Your business faces many risk exposures on a daily basis. Risks like fire, liability, and employee dishonesty. Based on your financial position, you may be willing to self-insure a larger amount than the average Joe to save some premium dollars. On the other hand, you may not have that luxury and need to have a lower deductible. Regardless of where that limit is, you need to know what it is and set your deductibles accordingly. If you don’t, you’re paying too much for your insurance.

Talk to your agent about risk tolerance. If he or she doesn’t know what you’re talking about, you may need to find another agent. Being an Evel Knievel with your insurance rarely makes sense, unless you are financially able to withstand the blows. If you’re not, your business may be in for a premature demise, too.

Dan

P.S. Need some unbiased advice on just how to determine your risk tolerance? How about if you just want to know if you’re paying too much for insurance or if you’re adequately protected? Join the new Toro Insider today and find out how you can take control of your insurance costs. To learn more, click here