Keep Your Umbrella Handy
Submitted by Kaizen Financial Advisors, LLC on October 25th, 2019
Have a home-based business? Have a teen driver? Consider umbrella insurance.
In 2017, the U.S. had a record 11.5 million millionaires, up from 10.8 million in the previous year. An increase in personal wealth may bring greater financial flexibility; it may also bring greater liability. Individuals with high net worth, or those who are perceived to have high net worth, may be more likely to be sued. If that's not concerning enough, personal injury claims can often reach into the millions.1
Umbrella liability insurance is designed to put an extra layer of protection between your assets and a potential lawsuit. It provides coverage over and above existing automobile and homeowners insurance limits.
For example, imagine your teenage child borrows your car and gets in an accident and the other driver is seriously injured. The accident results in a lawsuit and a $1 million judgment against you. If your car insurance policy has a liability limit of $500,000, that much should be covered. If you have additional umbrella liability coverage, your policy can be designed to kick in and cover the rest. Without umbrella coverage, you may be responsible for paying the other $500,000 out of pocket, which could mean liquidating assets, losing the equity in your home, or having your wages garnished.
Umbrella liability insurance is usually sold in increments of $1 million and generally costs just a few hundred dollars a year. It typically covers a broad range of scenarios, including bodily injuries, property damage caused by you or a member of your household, libel, slander, false arrest, and defamation of character.
We believe most, if not all, of our clients should own an umbrella policy. In particular, you are at risk if you
- Entertain frequently and serve your guests alcohol
- Operate a business out of your home
- Give interviews that may be published
- Employ uninsured workers on your property
- Drive a large number of miles or have teenage drivers
- Live in a manner that gives the appearance of wealth
- Have a dog, especially if the breed is known to be aggressive
- Own jet skis, a boat, motorcycles, or snowmobiles
Anyone who is carefully building a financial portfolio most likely wants to limit their exposure to risk. In these cases, umbrella liability can be an inexpensive way to help shelter current assets and future income from the unexpected. Confirm with your insurance agent the specifics of what your policy covers and excludes.
If you or someone you know would like to discuss umbrella liability insurance, don’t hesitate to reach out to a Kaizen Advisor. We can help you figure out the right amount of coverage for your family.
This material was prepared by MarketingPro, Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. This information has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note - investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. All indices are unmanaged and are not illustrative of any particular investment.
Please remember that past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, or product made reference to directly or indirectly in this newsletter (article), will be profitable, equal any corresponding indicated historical performance level(s), or be suitable for your portfolio. Due to various factors, including changing market conditions, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions or positions. Moreover, you should not assume that any discussion or information contained in this newsletter (article) serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from Kaizen Financial Advisors, LLC. To the extent that a reader has any questions regarding the applicability of any specific issue discussed above to his/her individual situation, he/she is encouraged to consult with the professional advisor of his/her choosing. A copy of our current written disclosure statement discussing our advisory services and fees is available for review upon request.
Citations
1 - cnbc.com/2018/03/21/us-added-700000-new-millionaires-in-2017.html [3/22/18]