How Does Commercial Insurance Protect My Small Business?

As an entrepreneur, managing risks is part and parcel of the business. Businesses thrive in a risky environment, and only those with better risk mitigation strategies have a high chance of success. Commercial insurance is one sure way of risk management. But how exactly does commercial insurance protect your Houston, TX business? Heydari Financial Group looks at how commercial insurance protects your business.

It covers your assets.

Commercial insurance covers your computers, inventories, furniture, buildings, and other assets from perils like fire, theft, and natural disasters. While commercial insurance doesn’t prevent risks, it lessens your financial burden when catastrophes strike.

It protects your employees.

Your employees are your most valuable assets. You may have great products and technology, but you may not reach your objectives without an appropriate workforce. Since your employees mean a lot to your business, you should throw everything you got to protect them. One way of guarding your employees is by investing in worker’s comp insurance. This coverage covers medical expenses and ongoing care for work-related injuries and illnesses.

It protects you against liability claims.

Regardless of the nature of your business, you can’t eliminate liability claims 100%. Your product can harm someone, a visitor can be injured on your premises, or you could be sued for libel. Given the ubiquitous nature of liabilities, you should cushion your business with commercial insurance.

It keeps you in compliance with the law.

While Texas doesn’t require worker’s comp insurance like most states, you must invest in commercial auto insurance for your business vehicles. Failure to comply with the state’s requirements results in fines and penalties.

Ready to protect your business with commercial insurance? If you are in Houston, TX, and its environs, please contact Heydari Financial Group for an affordable quote.

How Long Does It Take for a Flood Insurance Policy to Go Into Effect?

Flood policies are unlike car or homeowners insurance policies, where you can buy a policy and then sit back and relax. Flood insurance policies are more like an umbrella — you need to keep it close by and be ready to use it at a moment’s notice. 

You will need to purchase the policy before your current policy expires. If you are looking to buy flood insurance for your home, it can take up to 60 days before the policy goes into effect. For inquiries, contact Heydari Financial Group in Houston, TX. 

How to Go About a Flood Insurance Policy 

Before acquiring flood insurance, you must go through the application process, where you give the needed documents. Even if you have the best risk profile and are insuring a brand new home, your policy isn’t guaranteed for approval. 

If you want to change the terms of your policy, you must let your insurer know 30 days before your policy expires. Most flood insurance policies last for 12 months. However, you can purchase policies that last up to 36 months. If you’re interested in purchasing flood insurance, it’s important to know that it doesn’t go into effect immediately. 

Flood insurance requires a waiting period before it kicks in, and most policies have a clause that states they won’t cover flood-related damages. The waiting period for flood insurance is usually 10 to 15 days, but it can be as long as 30 days, depending on the provider. During that time, you have coverage through the Standard Flood Policy, which is provided through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). 

Bottom Line 

Flood insurance policies are usually issued with a 20–30 day waiting period. You can maintain coverage through a private insurer or purchase a flood policy during this time. Most flood policies require homeowners or insurance coverage on your property for at least six months before the policy goes into effect. For help in Houston, TX, reach out to Heydari Financial Group.

How to Choose the Right Life Insurance Policy for You in Houston, TX

Life insurance is one of the most important investments you will make. It is a way to protect your loved ones financially in the event of your death. With so many types and policies available, it’s challenging to know which one is right for you. Also, life changes can affect your life insurance needs – marriage, the birth of a child, and a job change.

Here are some tips to help you choose the right life insurance policy for you in Houston, TX:

Know How Much Coverage You Need

The first step in choosing a life insurance policy is determining how much coverage you need. This will depend on your unique circumstances, such as your age, health, lifestyle, and dependents. An advisor from Heydari Financial Group can help you calculate how much coverage you need.

Understand The Different Policy Choices

Once you know how much coverage you need, you can compare the different policy choices. There are two main types of life insurance: term life insurance and whole life insurance.

Term life insurance is temporary and only covers you for a set period, usually 10-30 years. It is the most affordable type of life insurance.

Whole life insurance is permanent and covers you for your entire life. It is more expensive than term life insurance, but it also has a cash value that you can borrow against.

Choose The Right Insurance Company

When choosing an insurance company, it’s essential to research its financial stability and customer satisfaction rating. You can do this by reading online reviews and ratings.

Heydari Financial Group is a leading insurance company in Houston TX. We are committed to providing our clients with the best possible service and coverage. Contact us today to learn more about our life insurance policies.

Protect your inventory with a comprehensive commercial policy

The team at Heydari Financial Group is proud to work with the greater Houston, TX area business community. If it is time to review your current commercial coverage, give us a call today!

Inventory protection with a comprehensive policy

Inventory is often the lifeforce of a business. Even though this is true for so many companies, it is a part of a firm that is often overlooked. If your commercial insurance is of the bare-bones variety, you may not have the inventory protection you need. It is also vital to ensure your inventory is at its highest level.

Comprehensive commercial policies can go beyond the basics and provide all of your business’s coverage. Owning, operating, and maintaining a successful business is more than a full-time job. It only makes sense to protect all of your hard work and dedication!

Now is a great time to review your current commercial policy for completeness. If you find that you may not have all of the coverage you want and need, upgrading to a more comprehensive policy is often the way.

Finding the insurance solutions that work for your needs is a large part of protecting your business. Don’t let this vital part of business ownership fall through the cracks. When you take the time to review your insurance needs thoroughly, you can rest assured that you have the protection you need! 

Let’s work together!

If you are a Houston, TX area business owner, Heydari Financial Group would love to work with you. We are experienced, knowledgeable, and reliable when it comes to commercial insurance. If you would like to learn more about the commercial insurance options available in our area, call us today and schedule your consultation!

Flood Insurance Myths to Be Aware Of

When it comes to insurance coverage, flood insurance is by far one of the most underrated and misunderstood. People tend to be confused as to how these types of insurance policies work and who actually needs them. Because of this confusion, it leaves many Houston, TX property owners inadequately protected. Heydari Financial Group wants to separate fact from fiction, so here are a few myths surrounding flood insurance coverage.

Flood Insurance Is Only Needed If You Live in Designated Flood Zones

Flood insurance is most certainly required if you live in a designated flood zone, but even when you don’t, flood insurance can prove to be beneficial. There is always some level of risk and liability related to flooding, regardless of where you live in the country. To some capacity, each of the 50 U.S. states are prone to flooding.

Home Insurance Protects You Against Flood Damage

Many people believe that their home insurance will protect them against flood damage, and because of this, these people have paid a substantial amount of money. A typical homeowners insurance policy excludes flood-related damage unless it is a result of a storm. Therefore, separate coverage for flood damage is necessary to ensure you are properly protected in the event of a flood.

Flood Insurance Covers All Associated Damage

While a lot of property and personal effects damage is covered with a flood insurance policy, there are certain restrictions. For instance, as a general rule, preventable damage caused by moisture, mildew, or mold is not covered. Most of these policies also exclude damage that occurs to a vehicle or objects that are not within the insured structure. This can include decks, patios, fences, septic systems, and swimming pools.

If you need help in determining your individual flood risk in Houston, TX, contact our insurance team at Heydari Financial Group.

Why flood insurance is so important

If you are a local resident, you may be familiar with flood insurance and how it works to protect you and your family. At Heydari Financial Group, we strive to inform all of our clients about the importance of this type of insurance. The greater Houston, TX area is no stranger to hurricanes and floods and the damage that they can cause. It’s important to be protected. 

The importance of flood insurance

Water damage is often treated differently by insurance companies due to the cause of the damage. For instance, a water main break on your street will likely fall under a different category than the damage caused by a flood or other severe weather. Because of this, many homeowners’ policies do not cover all types of water damage. 

Flood insurance can protect you from damage that would otherwise not be covered by your primary policy. This is information that not everyone understands, and it is an important topic to discuss with your local insurance agent. In fact, in some low-lying areas, flood insurance is required as part of your overall insurance put in place by your mortgage lender. Water damage can be very disruptive, but when you have the right coverage in place, you can reduce your stress level and get back to normal a lot sooner than if you didn’t have it!

Rely on Heydari Financial Group for all of your insurance needs

Houston, TX area residents can turn to us for all insurance needs, including flood insurance. Our agents are here to help! Call to make an appointment, or stop by our office today to learn more. 

Should You Rely on Life Insurance Provided by Work?

Many people think that the life insurance policies provided by work are enough to cover all their expenses, but this may not always be the case. In many cases, the life insurance offered by work is not the best plan.

Heydari Financial Group, which serves Houston, TX, understands that you want the best for your family. This means you want to find the best insurance for your family. These are some of the times when life insurance provided by work may not be enough.

Term Life Insurance May Not Be For You

In some cases, employers do not offer the kind of life insurance you want. They may instead offer term life insurance for a short period of time when you would rather have a whole life policy.

Life Insurance Value May Not Be Right

You may also find that the value of the life insurance policy is not appropriate for your family. It could be too low or too high based on your family’s needs, so you might pursue a different option.

You Want a Policy With Your Spouse

If you want to share a life insurance policy with your spouse, you may not be able to find the right policy through work. You may need to get a policy on your own so that you get the coverage your family would benefit from most.

Private Life Insurance Policies Could Be the Better Option

If you are interested in learning more about other insurance policies, now is a great time to learn more. Heydari Financial Group, which serves many people in Houston, TX, can help you understand which policy is right for you.

How commercial insurance can save a small business

The backbone of the American economy is small businesses. 99% of businesses are what is classified as small businesses, meaning less than 500 employees. Many small businesses are much smaller than that, with the average having 10 employees. The risks they face can cause them to go out of business if they don’t have a way to mitigate the dangers. Heydari Financial Group in Houston, TX offers businesses commercial insurance that helps them survive a variety of hazards. 

Commercial property insurance

Commercial property is the business version of home insurance. It protects your building if you own it, but if you are a renter, the protection it offers is still of great value. It covers your business equipment, the things you need to do business. Your machinery, office equipment, inventory, raw materials, and more. 

Commercial auto insurance

If your business owns a vehicle, it must be covered by commercial auto insurance. It is the law in Texas. If that vehicle is in an accident, it must be covered to protect others from a business-caused accident. Keeping your personal finances separate from your personal finances is always the best idea. 

Commercial liability insurance

Small businesses are particularly vulnerable to being sued. If a customer is injured when visiting your business or by a product that you produce, you could find yourself involved in legal action. If you lose the legal action, you could have to pay a large settlement and have legal expenses. With commercial liability insurance, you will be covered for both the settlement and the legal fees up to the limit of your policy. It can save your business from having to close its doors. 

When you want to discuss commercial insurance, turn to Heydari Financial Group in Houston, TX for a good selection of carriers and the information you need to choose the right coverage. 

Do I Need Flood Insurance in Houston, TX

Before Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, TX on August 25, 2017, no hurricane had damaged the city since 1961. Although conventional wisdom attributes hurricane damage to the high, sustained winds, flooding often causes longer-lasting, costlier damage due to the length of time required for the waters to recede so that debris cleanup and mold mitigation may begin. Nevertheless, home and business owners roll the dice without flood insurance, mistakenly thinking that their homeowner’s, renters’, or commercial insurance policies cover those contingencies.

Your Policy Coverage and Flood Damage

Homeowners’, renters’, and commercial insurance policies typically exclude flood damage, including losses from home business disruptions, mold formation, other issues. A single inch of floodwater could cost $25,000 in damages. Therefore, while saving a few dollars a month by not carrying flood insurance might seem tempting, the financial bite from a single heavy rain could haunt you later. A wiser decision? Speak with an agent at Heydari Financial Group to determine the correct coverage for your home, auto, and business.

The National Flood Insurance Program

Created after the passage of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, the National Flood Insurance Program protects property owners — including business owners, homeowners, and renters — from flood damages. The program defines a flood as an area partially or completely underwater that normally remains dry, or two or more properties affected by mudflow, shoreline erosion, or an unusual amount of surface water runoff.

I Live Outside the Flood Zones

Floods happen everywhere. Additionally, flooding affects homes and businesses outside declared disaster areas. NFIP policies pay damages with or without a federal disaster declaration. Better yet, the NFIP provides $5000 advance payments before the insurance adjuster examines your property.

At Heydari Financial Group, we will happily assist you with determining the coverage needed for your peace of mind.

Who Needs Life Insurance in Houston, TX?

While the conversation about life insurance isn’t something you want to hear, the sooner you have it, the easier it becomes for those who depend on your income when you are alive and kicking. Many people assume that life insurance only makes sense as one gets older. This preconceived notion can’t be further from the truth. Life insurance isn’t about age. It’s about your financial interests and situation. In light of this, Heydari Financial Group of Houston, TX, shares insights into who needs life insurance. You need life insurance if you:

Have dependents

Do you have children, a spouse, or aging parents? If you have dear ones depending on your income, you must have life insurance to take care of their financial obligations when you die. Life insurance replaces your income and comes in handy in meeting obligations like child care, school fees, everyday living expenses, and so forth in your absence.

Have debts

While some debts can be discharged when you die, others will have to be passed to your cosigners and loved ones. Do you have a mortgage or car loan? Have you ever wondered how these debts would be paid if you die? If you don’t want to burden your cosigners with your debts, you must consider life insurance.

Want to pay off your funeral expenses

Your family is already going through a tough time dealing with your death. An extra layer of financial obligation in the name of funeral expenses would torment your family even further. Given that funerals can be an expensive affair, take life insurance to relieve your loved ones of this burden.

Want peace of mind

Like taxes and rain, death is certain. The problem is that we don’t know the day and hour. Given that death can occur unexpectedly, life insurance can help safeguard against uncertainties of life. With life insurance, you and your family members don’t need to worry much about how your loved ones will survive financially after your death.

Buy life insurance today

Whether old or young, it’s never too late to invest in life insurance. If you are shopping for life insurance in Houston, TX, and its environs, please contact Heydari Financial Group for a personalized quote.