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, January 28, 2008

Data Backup

Backing up your data has become more important than ever in this technological business world. It's an issue I constantly discuss with my clients. Of course, I need to practice what I preach so I'm always looking for more efficient and inexpensive ways to do this.

My friend and mentor Scott Simmonds has devoted two recent blog posts about data backup. You can read his blogs by clicking here. He mentions a new service he has been using that's Internet based and costs only $50 per year. I'm interested, especially with a free 30-day trial. I know what my homework tonight is going to be!

Make sure you are doing all you can to protect your valuable computer media. In the end, it's far more valuable than the hardware.

Dan

P.S. If you live in the Greater Seattle area, you have the opportunity to take part in my next live The Bull Stops Here workshop. It's all about disaster - how to avoid it and how to survive it. To learn more and to register, click here...

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Breaking News on Fraud from KPS

I know many of my readers have their medical insurance through KPS, so I thought this may be important to you. Thanks to the Kitsap Business Journal for the breaking news...


BREAKING NEWS: KPS Health Plans WarnsAgainst Fraudulent Calls

Several KPS Health Plan members have reportedly received fraudulent or 'phishing' calls from someone claiming to work for the health plan. The caller asks for their personal information including address, credit card or bank account information.
The caller has a foreign accent and phones under the pretense of needing the personal information to possibly move the member to another plan or to send new identification cards.
KPS Health Plans does not call members to request personal or financial information in a "cold call" style. KPS only calls when information is required to complete an application. In this case, the interaction would have been initiated by the member.
"People should not give out personal information when they did not initiate the action for the call," said Carrie Williams, Director of KPS Member Services. "We are a local company with local customer service representatives. If you doubt the validity of the call, ask for the person's name and then call the KPS main switchboard and ask to be transferred to that person. KPS wants its members to guard their identity and be very cautious in giving out their personal information."
Any suspected health care fraud may be reported to the KPS Fraud Line at 800-552-7114, ext. 6891 or online at www.kpshealthplans.com.

Monday, January 21, 2008

How valuable is your time?


I once asked a client what he thought his time was worth. He answered without hesitation – “$300 per hour”. Okay. I can buy that. If your time was worth $300 per hour, how much money do you waste a day?

This was never more evident for me than this past week when I had a SNAFU with my e-mail. Seems I was “hijacked” and had a bunch of SPAM spewing from my e-mail out something I learned that is called “port 25”. Well, Comcast didn’t like that, so they shut down port 25. From Wednesday morning on, I could receive e-mail but not send from my Outlook. Big problem.

It would have been nice if Comcast would have advised me. I guess that would have been too easy. After all, how many hours could I have saved had I knew WHY I couldn’t send e-mails?

Fortunately, I had a member of my Toro Team help me get through this hurdle. Without his help, I would have wasted much more time.

As a business owner, your time is extremely valuable. Do you have time to waste on insurance issues? Uncovered claims, hidden costs of loss, and chasing down your agent are not good use of your time. You can protect that time by doing your homework upfront. Allocate time to properly analyze your policy interview agents, and get competitive quotes on a regular basis. You will save time, money, and frustration by doing your homework…before the disaster!

What’s your time worth?

Dan

P.S. One valuable way to spend your time is at my The Bull Stops Here workshop in Poulsbo, WA on March 5. You have the chance to walk away with strategies that will save you time and money in the event of a disaster OR help you avoid it in the first place. To learn more, click here…


Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Insure your pets while they ride with you...


I was reading my favorite blogs on Google Reader the other day and I saw my friend and mentor Scott Simmonds posted an article about pet insurance.


Here's the deal - Progressive Insurance has come out with protection to cover your pet if they are hurt in an accident. Now that's creative thinking! The coverage will come from your Collision insurance and cover up to $500 for vet bills and medicine associated with an accident. To learn more go to:




Dan


P.S. Scott Simmonds is my guest on Thursday, January 10 at 6:00pm PST as part of my Toro Teleconference Series. By being a participant, you will walk away with seven (7) questions you MUST ask your insurance agent today. To register now, go to:




P.S.S. Have you added this blog to your RSS feeder yet? If not, why? You will get current information on issues involving your insurance that will save you time, money, and frustration. Is there anything better than making your life simpler and easier when it comes to your insurance?

Monday, January 7, 2008

Amazing Grace...


“Having heard all of this, you may choose to look the other way…but you can never say again that you did not know.”

- William Wilberforce (1759-1833)

This past weekend, my family watched the 2007 movie, Amazing Grace. Amazing is exactly what it turned out to be.

I’m embarrassed that as a History major I had never heard of William Wilberforce. Wilberforce was the leading abolitionist in the early 19th century leading the charge against the British Slave Trade. His pastor, John Newton, was the famed Slave Trade Captain who reformed and penned the song, Amazing Grace. He was Wilberforce’s inspiration for the fight.

The movie accurately characterized the power that Wilberforce conveyed in his ability to speak and present. Though it took over a decade (in large part due to the war with France) Wilberforce never relented and finally won a great battle in Parliament. Had it not been for Wilberforce’s skill as a dynamic communicator and presenter, who knows how many more lives would have been negatively impacted?

What lives do you currently impact? What lives can you impact? Either personally or through your chosen vocation, your ability to communicate your message carries great weight. Your family, your friends, and your clients gain value from you. Make the most of your gifts and change lives for the better, just like William Wilberforce did 200 years ago.

Dan


P.S. Want to get better at your presentations? Now is the time to register for my Panic to Power Boot Camp in Seattle on March 18. For more information, click here…

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Ready for a shock!

Last night, I was leaving the gas station and I noticed a man talking on his cell phone while beginning to pump gas. If you're not already aware of it...cellular phones give off static electricity. Static electricity and pumping gas can lead to one thing....BOOM!

We all spend too much time on our cell phones as it is. Don't risk your health while your at the gas station. Stations are doing a better job advising people not to re-enter their car because of static electricity...they need to improve it with cell phones.

The one thing I should have done - I should have stopped and told the guy just like I'm telling you now. Next time, I'll make the time to pass on the word. Will you?

Let's make sure the only thing shocking about buying gas is the price!

Stay safe...

Dan