Why do you need a Car Insurance?

When you purchase your own car and start driving, you also need to get your own car insurance policy to be insured. 

GUARDIAN INSURANCE AGENCY located in Fairburn, Lagrange and Norcross has five reasons you need car insurance to protect your livelihood, your ride and your wallet:

1. It´s important to comply with State Laws:

Car insurance is legally required in States, most states require its drivers to carry a minimum amount of car insurance in the form of liability coverage or financial responsibility bonds. At a minimum, drivers must purchase liability coverage with property damage limits and state-mandated bodily injury. If you cause an accident that injures someone or damages their property, liability coverage may help pay for the other person's losses. Driving without the car insurance can result in fines and the suspension of driving privileges. 

2. To Saving time and inconvenience when accidents happen:

If you have car insurance, your insurance agency will help you through the difficult post-accident process, like walking you through the claims process, helping you find a great repair shop, working with another driver's insurer and getting your claim settled quickly and fairly. And if you hit another car in the road and getting into an accident with an uninsured driver, your insurance company can help you recover costs through your policy's uninsured motorist coverage.

3. The Car Insurance can help you to protect your finances:

In the case that you cause a car accident, you may be held responsible for costs associated with it. These may include the injured person's medical expenses, their lost income compensation or legal fees. A car insurance policy protects your finances from these astronomical and unexpected expenses. Aside from helping you with the cost of an accident, your car insurer can help protect you and your assets from liability lawsuits through your policy's liability coverage.

A policy that includes liability coverage with high limits, comprehensive and collision coverage for your car, and medical payments coverage for you and your passengers can save you thousands after an accident.

4. Can help protect yourself: 

Although liability coverage is a legal requirement in most States, many people drive without it. If you're hit by a driver without insurance, the Uninsured motorist coverage may help pay for your medical bills. 

5. Can help protect your passengers:

Personal injury protection and medical payments coverage may help pay for your medical bills if you're injured in an accident, and it also may help cover your passengers' expenses due to the accident. Coverage may help pay for doctor bills´, hospital visits and surgery.

Remember that a car insurance policy may help protect your wallet, your vehicle and even offer peace of mind. Contact us for more Information, At GUARDIAN INSURANCE AGENCY located in Fairburn, Lagrange and Norcross, we can help you choose the coverage that's right for your needs.

For more Information contact us: (706) 884-5006 or (770) 969-5666

Please visit us: www.go-guardian.com

Remember that the 2017 Tax Filing Season begins January 23

2017 Tax Filing Season begins January 23 for Nation’s Taxpayers and the Tax Returns Due April 18.

The IRS will begin accepting electronic tax returns that day and they reminds taxpayers that should make sure they have their year end tax statements in hand and that they should keep copies of their prior year tax returns for at least three years.

GUARDIAN INSURANCE AGENCY located in Fairburn, Lagrange and Norcross, has 6 things that you need to know about taxes:

1. Find out if you have to file a federal income tax return: Not every person who receives income during the calendar year has to file a federal income tax return. There are a some factors that affect whether you have to file including your age and your filing status, how much you earned and the source of that incomes. 

2. You can take advantage of tax breaks and credits even if you don’t need to file a federal income tax return. 

3. If you are self employed, you need to make estimated payments. The tax system is considered “pay as you go.” If you don’t have an employer or you get paid without having federal income taxes withheld, The IRS expects you to do the work and pay up if you expect to owe more than $1,000 at tax time. This applies to the self employed (including freelancers), also to landlords, S corporation shareholders, partners in a partnership and taxpayers with significant investments. Estimated taxes must be paid quarterly. If you skip a payment or pay late, you may be subject to a penalty.

4. Even if you can’t pay your tax bill, you should file a return . Penalties apply for failure to file a return and failure to pay your tax. To reduce the penalties, be sure to file your return even if you can’t pay up. You have some options, including payment by credit card and a payment plan with IRS if you don’t have the ability to pay your entire tax bill.

5. Due dates matter. If you don’t file and pay by your due dates, you will be penalized and the interest can rise quickly. To avoid that, file your return as soon as possible even if it is past the due date. If you need to request an extension, you can do so right up to the due date.

6.  You can contribute to your individual retirement account (IRA) in your filing year and make it count to reduce your tax bill for the previous tax year so long as you act by Tax Day.

At GUARDIAN INSURANCE AGENCY located in Fairburn, Lagrange and Norcross we help you with all about the Tax Filing Season.

For more Information contact us: (706)884-5006 or (770)969-5666

Please visit us: www.go-guardian.com

What is renters Insurance?

At GUARDIAN INSURANCE AGENCY located in Fairburn, Lagrange and Norcross want to explain you all that you need to know about Renters Insurance:
Renters insurance provides financial reimbursement to cover the loss or destruction of your possessions when you rent a house or apartment.
If you purchase Renters insurance, your possessions are covered against losses from vandalism, lightning, fire or smoke, water damage (not including floods), theft, windstorm and explosion. Renters insurance covers your responsibility to other people injured at your home or elsewhere by you, a family member or your pet and pays legal defense costs if you are taken to court.
Renters insurance is important because your possessions are not protected by the landlord’s insurance policy. Landlord insurance covers damage to the building but does not protect your possessions.
Renters insurance can also cover temporary accommodations in the event that you have to live elsewhere while your rental is being repaired due to fire, smoke or water damage.

Types of renters insurance policies:

-Replacement Cost: Pays the actual cost of replacing your possessions (no deduction for depreciation) up to the limit of your policy.
-Actual Cash Value: Pays to replace your possessions minus a deduction for depreciation up to the limit of your policy.

Types of coverage:

-Personal property: Standard renters insurance protects your personal belongings against damage. The easiest way to figure out how much insurance coverage to buy is to create a home inventory (a detailed list of all of your personal possessions, with their estimated value). Typically a minimum of $2,500 worth of coverage
-Liability: Standard renters insurance policies provide liability protection against lawsuits for bodily injury or property, damage that you or your family members cause to other people. The liability portion of a renters policy pays for both the cost of defending you in court and for court awards, up to the limit of the policy. Liability limits generally start at about $100,000. Some experts recommend that you buy at least $300,000 worth of protection. 
-Additional Living Expenses: If your home is destroyed by a disaster that your policy covers and you need to live elsewhere, renters insurance covers your additional living expenses.
Covers hotel bills, temporary rentals, restaurant meals and other expenses you have incurred while your home is being rebuilt.

With either policy, you may want to consider purchasing a floater. A standard renters policy offers only limited coverage for items such as jewelry, silver, furs, etc. If you own property that exceeds these limits, it is recommended that you supplement your policy with a floater. A floater is a separate policy that provides additional insurance for your valuables and covers them for perils not included in your policy such as accidental loss.

At GUARDIAN INSURANCE AGENCY located in Fairburn, Lagrange and Norcross we can help you to find the best Renters Insurance!

For more Information contact us: (706) 884-5006 or (770) 969-5666

Please visit us: www.go-guardian.com

Don´t forget to renew your Tax ID number (ITIN).

An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a tax processing number issued by the Internal Revenue Service. 

The IRS issues ITINs to individuals who are required to have a U.S. taxpayer identification number but who do not have, and are not eligible to obtain, a Social Security number (SSN) from the Social Security Administration (SSA).

The IRS issues ITINs regardless of immigration status, because both resident and nonresident aliens may have a U.S. filing or reporting requirement under the Internal Revenue Code. They do not serve any purpose other than federal tax reporting. An ITIN does not authorize work in the U.S. or provide eligibility for Social Security benefits or the Earned Income Tax Credit.

All ITINs not used on a federal tax return at least once in the last three years will no longer be valid for use on a tax return as of Jan. 1, 2017. Additionally, all ITINs issued before 2013 started to expire in 2016. 

You May Need to Renew Your Expired ITIN:

- All ITINs with middle digits 78 or 79 (9NN-78-NNNN and 9NN-79-NNNN) expired Dec. 31, 2016.

-All ITINs not used to file a U.S. tax return at least once for tax years 2013, 2014 or 2015 expired Dec. 31, 2016.

Only taxpayers who will be included on a U.S. tax return in 2017 need to renew their ITIN. Timely renewal of ITINs will help avoid processing delays.

In GUARDIAN INSURANCE AGENCY located in Fairburn, Lagrange and Norcross we help you with your Tax ID Renew!

For more Information contact us: (706) 884-5006 or (770) 969-5666

Please visit us: www.go-guardian.com

What is Car Insurance?

In GUARDIAN INSURANCE AGENCY we want to start, explaining you the definition of car insurance:

Car Insurance is an agreement between you and a company in which you pay them a set monthly amount and in return the company promises to pay for possible future damage, loss or injury. 

In auto insurance instead of you having to pay for the damages from a wreck or act of nature, your insurance company does. They take on your risk, your monthly payment goes into a big account with a lot of other premiums, and when a wreck happens and the money is needed, the company can then pull out to cover the request. 

Components of a Car Insurance Policy:

Liability Coverage

Drivers are legally required to purchase at least the minimum amount of liability coverage set by state law, auto liability coverage is mandatory in most states. Liability coverage has two components:

-Bodily injury liability may help pay for costs related to another person's injuries if you cause an accident.

-Property damage liability may help pay for damage you cause to another person's property while driving.

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage

If you're hit by a driver who doesn't have insurance, uninsured motorist coverage may help pay for your medical bills or, in some states, repairs to your vehicle. If you're hit by an underinsured driver, their liability limits aren't enough to cover your resulting medical bills. That's where underinsured motorist coverage may help. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is required in some states and optional in other states.

Comprehensive Coverage

Comprehensive may help cover damage to your car from things like theft, fire, natural disasters or vandalism. If your car is damaged by a covered peril, comprehensive coverage may help pay to repair or replace your vehicle (up to the vehicle's market value). This coverage has a deductible, which is the amount you'll pay out of pocket before your insurer reimburses you for a covered claim. Comprehensive is typically an optional coverage, but your lender may require it if you're leasing or paying off your vehicle.

Collision Coverage

If you're involved in an accident with another vehicle, or if you hit an object such as a fence, collision coverage may help. This coverage may help pay to repair or replace your car (up to its market value) after you pay your deductible toward a covered claim. Collision coverage is typically optional. It may be required, however, by your vehicle's leaseholder or lender.

Medical Payments Coverage

If you, your passengers or family members who are driving the insured vehicle are injured in an accident, medical payments coverage may help pay for costs associated with the injuries. Coverage may help pay for hospital visits, surgery, X-rays and more. Medical payments coverage is required in some states and optional in others.

Personal Injury Protection

Personal injury protection, or PIP, is only available in some states. Like medical payments coverage, PIP may help pay for your medical expenses after an accident. In addition, PIP may also help cover other expenses incurred because of your injuries, for example, child care expenses or lost income. Personal injury protection is required in some states and optional in other states where it's available.

In GUARDIAN INSURANCE AGENCY located in Fairburn, Lagrange and Norcross we have the best car insuranse for you!

For more Information contact us: (706) 884-5006 or (770) 969-5666

Please visit us: www.go-guardian.com

How to Save Money This Christmas

Want to learn how to save money on gifts this Christmas?

If you are going to buy gifts this year, the key to avoiding a holiday season that drains your bank account is to start planning early. GUARDIAN INSURANCE AGENCY give you the top 6 money saving tips for steering clear of holiday debt and starting the new year in better financial shape:

1. Plan it. Before you shop online or enter the chaos of the shopping mall, take ten minutes at home to create a spending plan that lists who you need to buy for and how much you will spend.

2. Use discounted gift cards. How would you like $100 worth of gifts for $80? You can purchase discounted gift cards for hundreds of online/offline retailers including the Apple Store, Radio Shack, Sears, Home Depot, and others. Discounts are usually 5%-30% off the face value of the card. Check out GiftCardRescue.com and GiftCards.com.

3. Use social media. Before you start shopping, start following your favorite retailers on Twitter and Facebook. Many companies offer discounts exclusively to their Twitter followers and Facebook friends. A quick search of their recent posts may reveal money-saving discount codes.

4. Barter via online chat. When you're shopping online, look for a "chat" or "live help" button. Tell the customer service rep you'd like to shop with them but you want a 15% discount. Ask them to check with their manager or you will abandon your shopping cart and click over to their competitor. This won't work all of the time, but when it does it will save you money.

5. Find discount codes. I never buy anything online without trying to find a discount code first. I've literally saved hundreds of dollars and it doesn't take more than a minute. Simply go to RetailMeNot.com, SecretPrices.com, and FreeShipping.org to pull up all of the available discounts for your store. Use the discount code during the checkout process to get free shipping or to save 20% or more.

6 Make a promise that you won't buy anything for yourself. When you're shopping for gifts, it's easy to be tempted to buy for yourself. Make this season about others, not you -- and remember that the items you want will likely be less expensive during the after-season sales.

If you follow these money saving tips, you will put more green and less red into holiday shopping this year.

In GUARDIAN INSURANCE AGENCY, located in Fairburn, Lagrange and Norcross we want to help you save money!

For more Information contact us: (706) 884-5006 or (770) 969-5666

Please visit us: www.go-guardian.com