Say Goodbye to the Tax Penalty for Not Having Health Insurance

Insurance, Podcast, Update, YouTube Video, , ,

You can view this content on YouTube, or listen to it on my Podcast. The Affordable Care Act, also known as the ACA and Obamacare, included a provision that taxed most Americans who didn’t buy and keep in place a specific type of health insurance. The reasoning behind the tax was the expectation that if EVERYONE were insured, rates would go down. Not everyone agreed with this perspective and litigation was filed against the federal government. The Supreme Court ruling a few years later declared the Individual Mandate, the provision requiring the tax, constitutional because Congress has the power to

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3 Ways Insurers are Helping Policyholders Affected by COVID-19

Did You Know?, Insurance, Tips & Advice,

The insurance industry is an “essential” business during the coronavirus pandemic and all the related upheaval social distancing and self-quarantining has created. Those of us who are fortunate enough to be able to continue working in the industry are finding as many ways as possible to help those who can’t work, or who can only work limited hours, and are suffering financially. Please check with your insurance agents and insurance companies to see what assistance is being made available to you. Here are 3 types of help you should be able to obtain immediately with respect to your current insurance

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3 Biggest No-Nos When Working from Home

Meanderings, Tips & Advice

Nine years ago, I took the plunge and began a freelance writing business working from home. And when I say “plunge,” I don’t do so lightly. When you’ve spent 37 years working in sales, and owning three businesses, and teaching agents and adjusters insurance continuing education classes, that tumble is more like a nosedive. In all honesty, I must disclose that I’m an introvert. Yes, I’m loud and shine in group settings. But I’d prefer to be in small groups or, better yet, by myself. Still, making the adjustment from talking to 50 or more people each day to only

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Welcome to my Podcast

Announcement, Insurance, Podcast,

The Taking the Mystery out of Insurance podcast is now live! The Welcome episode aired on March 22nd and the official first episode will air on April 21st. Between now and then I’ll be broadcasting trailer episodes to announce upcoming episodes. On the podcast, my guests and I take the subject of insurance and break it down into simple language, sharing concepts that help insurance professionals and their clients avoid the pitfalls of confusion and misunderstanding. Each episode will include a Q&A section, were I answer insurance-related questions submitted by listeners. You’ll be able to find the podcast on YouTube,

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Book Cover Reveal for Taking the Mystery out of Business

Announcement, Book cover, New Release, Taking the Mystery Out of Business

Thanks to all of you who submitted votes for your preferred version of the new book cover for Taking the Mystery out of Business. I received lots of input, and truly appreciate it. As you can see, the blue cover was the favorite, followed by the green cover. Stay tuned for the book’s release date. April is coming soon… Cover by Shawn Jewett. Feel free to reach out to me if you’re interested in him doing any artwork for you!

Cast a vote for your favorite book cover!

Announcement, Book cover, New Release, Non-fiction, Taking the Mystery Out of Business,

Many thanks to cover artist, Shawn Jewett, for designing the cover for the 2nd edition of Taking the Mystery out of Business, which will be released in mid-April. I can’t decide which color I like best, can you help me decide? I’ll announce the “winning” book cover late in the day on Wednesday, March 18th.  

What’s your favorite color …

Announcement, Book cover, New Release, Non-fiction, ,

What’s YOUR favorite color … blue or red or green? Because I’ll be unveiling the book cover for the second edition of Taking the Mystery out of Business on FRIDAY and I can’t decide which color I like the best. On any given day, I’ll generally pick red or green, but I REALLY like the blue cover. So, now I’m having an especially difficult time making up my mind. Of course, the cover artist (Shawn Jewett) does such beautiful work, it would never been an easy process to pick just one. Check back here on the blog, or on any

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How often do you use “very?”

Grammar, Meanderings, Writing

I find myself using the word very lately, as in something is very important or very stupid. (I also use really in a similar fashion, and actually, but I’m going to stick with very today.) If something’s important (or stupid), how does does very make it more so? Aren’t the words important and stupid explicit enough on their own without having to define degrees of importance and stupidity? Grammatically speaking, how correct is it to modify an adjective with another adjective? Why do we use adjectives anyway? Sure, the red car distinguishes it from the blue and green ones but why

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March CE Webinar Schedule

A.D. Banker & Company, Continuing Education, Events, Webinar (Insurance CE),

My insurance CE webinar schedule for March is now available. In addition to the regular monthly webinars, I also teach the New York Regulation 187 webinar (scroll down the CE Webinar Schedule page to find those dates), and the FREE Lunch & Learn webinars along with Pam Reihs. The Lunch & Learn webinars are NOT for CE credit; however, those who attend the entire webinar can receive a Professional Development Certificate.

Some Smoking New Marijuana Laws

Did You Know?, , , ,

As a freelance writer, I’ve been hired to write content about topics I never contemplated, and/or that don’t hold a personal interest for me. Then, when I dive into the research and put aside any personal feelings about the topic, I find myself swimming in a pool of information that sends meaningful ripples into other areas of my life. The subject of cannabis, and its legalization in the United States is once such topic. Although I drink (my sister laughs when I say that), I’ve never been drunk. And the only controlled substances I’ve ever taken were those that knocked

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