Saving on American Auto Insurance Rates

By Thomas Kielez

The cost of American auto insurance policies varies not only from insurance company to insurance company but also from policy to policy within the same company, so it pays to do a little research and to understand the how the insurance industry works before buying auto insurance. You can get a lot of answers to your questions by contacting insurance companies directly by phone or online. You can also get information about different American auto insurance providers from your State Insurance Department.

In the United States, as in other countries, auto insurance is designed to protect drivers from loss and financial liability in case of an accident or theft of a vehicle. One of the first considerations when comparing auto insurance providers is the company's financial stability. There are several ratings companies that provide information on the financial strength of insurance companies, including companies such as A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's. Consumer magazines that are focused on cars and trucks may also have information about insurance provider assets and financial strength.

Some insurance companies sell policies through independent insurance agents. These independent agents represent several different companies and can provide a lot of good information about multiple providers. Other companies have their own branches throughout the country that are manned by their employees. While others simply market their policies on line or over the phone exclusively.

You will want to consider the quality of service and claims handling in addition to comparing rates when choosing an auto insurance provider. It's best if you can talk to people, such as friends and neighbors, who have experience with a company to find out how well they treat their customers. You can also usually find out if a company has had complaints filed against it at your State Insurance Department.

When it comes to getting the best rates on your auto insurance policy, raising the deductible is one of the first considerations. A deductible, which is the amount that you would pay out of pocket if you were in an accident, reduces the risk to the insurance company of having to pay a claim for a small accident. The higher the deductible you are willing to pay out of pocket, the lower your insurance rates. You do have to pay this out of pocket though, so you would want to make sure you have access to an amount equal to your deductible.

Another way to save on car insurance is by dropping collision and comprehensive coverage on older vehicles that are paid off. A good rule of thumb is that if the vehicle is worth less than 10 times the premium you should consider dropping full coverage and switch to a more limited policy.

Although it is not always true, in many cases you can save on auto insurance by working with the same company that provides other insurance for you, such as home owners insurance. This is not always the case but it is worth checking in to.

In addition to the vehicle and your driving record, insurance companies may also consider your credit history when setting your premiums. If you have a poor credit history you will usually end up paying more for your insurance. You can improve your scores by paying off any overdue accounts, making all payments on time and correcting any mistakes on your record that may be lowering your credit scores.

Some employers and associations may have access to group insurance programs that may provide a savings for you. Check with any groups you are a member of to see if they have a program available.

Other discounts you may be able to find include: discounts to drivers that have not had any recent accidents or moving violations, participants in defensive driving courses, good student discounts for driving age children or children who are away from home at college without a car.

About the Author:

Do you want additional insurance information? The Auto Insurance blog has helpful resources that will help you make informed comparisons of auto insurance companies and get the best coverage for the lowest price.

Fraudulent Credit Card Use

By William Blake

Almost everyone uses credit cards and are susceptible to credit card fraud. It is so prevalent today because it is so easy to do. Personal information can be obtained so easily in a variety of ways. That is why identity theft is so common. Once a person has your personal information all that is needed is mal intent and a bit of ingenuity and you have credit card fraud.

My Credit Card ? How Can People Use It?

If you are someone that uses your credit card on a day-to-day basis, could you name everyone one that you handed that card to? Anyone who has access to your credit card numbers can try to perform credit card fraud. This is scary but something that we should take very seriously. Make sure that you are careful with your receipts. Always tear or shred up any papers that have your credit card numbers on them before you throw them away. Never give out your information over the phone or to anyone that you do not know or your are unsure of. You do not have to feel obligated no matter how hard someone tries to make you give out the information.

Be Aware of What's Happening with Your Credit Card

You should your credit card statement on a regular basis. If there is anything out of the ordinary call the company and inquire about it. You want to be aware of what is happening with your credit card at all times so that you can stop any fraudulent use quickly.

Protect Your Card

Most credit card services offer a fraud protection plan. This plan may cost you a few extra dollars a year, but it worth it even if you never need to use it. This protection will keep you safe from having to pay any money back that has been stolen. This means that if someone has been using your card, you are not responsible for this debt. This is a great plan to get and one that anyone who has a credit card should invest in.

A Lost Credit Card

Immediately notify your credit card company if you notice that your credit card is missing. It is possible that you misplaced it, but that is not important. Let the company know so that they can block charges to the card until you locate it. If you are unable to locate the card they can cancel it completely and issue you a new card. This is very simple to do and costs you nothing. The little bit of effort it takes will save a ton of headache in the long run.

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Are you thinking of trying to lower your payments by negotiating credit card debt? Be sure to visit the Debtopedia website to get some helpful tips first.

Theta Decay - Using Time To Make Money With Options

By Walter Fox

As you're probably aware, a number of market systems exist that claim to be sure money makers. That shouldn't be surprising given the number of market traders expending time and effort on developing systems to capitalize on trends and anomalies within the market. But not all these systems are as reliable as they claim to be. Smart traders will choose carefully, or watch their hard-earned capital drain away.

A widely touted stock option trading strategy out there in common use today is the idea of "theta decay." At first glance, the name isn't indicative of something positive, but in reality, the concept capitalizes on a well known fact about option trading - options expire on a set date.

This means that options do not have a fixed value. Instead, their value changes as the expiration date draws near. Analysis of option trading trends shows that price spread is greater closer to the issuance date. As the strike date approaches, the spread decreases.

Theta decay analysis is able to serve as the basis for an option trading system because, compared with stocks, options are much more information-rich. The existence of an expiration date gives options traders the information foothold they need. Big gains can result for those able to keep up with the brisk flow of options information.

Actually, it's not that difficult to use theta decay techniques to cash in on those gains. Remember the fundamental concept: the closer the expiration date is, the faster the time value changes. In particular, studies show that the time value of an option decreases according to a linear trend until approximately the last thirty trading days prior to expiry.

During that final month of trading days, theta decay techniques come into their own. It is during that time period when the time values start to drop even more precipitously. By holding the right positions, however, you stand to make money on that fall.

For example, you could hold a short position in an option approaching expiration while simultaneously selling an inverse call option. This benefits you in two ways. First, you reap a benefit if you sell the call at a premium compared to the actual value. Second, you can also realize a gain on the short position, assuming that the option does not finish in the money on the positive side.

Ultimately, with good timing and keen senses for information gathering, you can use theta decay as part of your stock option trading strategy. Of course, there is always the risk of losing your principal if you're not careful, but if you can read the market well and pay attention to expiration dates of options, you too could make money from this not so well known but obvious market strategy.

About the Author:

TheScienceOfTrading.com provides 90 free minutes of videos on option trading systems and provides a complete and detailed option trading course for beginners to experts.