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Common Issues That Could Arise With Life Insurance Claims

The primary purpose of life insurance is to protect family members financially after their loved one's death. However, a life insurance policy is not offering guaranteed protection. In many cases, insurance companies keep their promise and pay the benefits to the beneficiary after the insured's death. Very often, however, life insurance claims get denied for a variety of reasons. Why would a life insurance claim be denied? As your insurance agent, we want you to be prepared in understanding why your claim could be denied so we've put together a list with the most common reasons why and when life insurance companies won't pay beneficiaries out.

1. The death happened during the contestability period/failure to disclose a medical condition or other pertinent information. If an insured dies within the first two years from the date a life insurance policy becomes effective, the insurance company has the right to contest the policy. If, while contesting the policy, the insurance company finds information not reflected on the application, it may deny coverage. The insurance company may refuse to pay out the death benefit, even if their death had nothing to do with the misrepresentation.

2. The type of death wasn't covered in the policy. There are different life insurance policies for different situations. You could have an Accident Death policy that would not cover death from sickness for example. You could have a group policy through work that might have limitations on what events they would pay for. It's best to read your policy and gain an understanding of the coverages.

3. Policy premiums were not paid, leading to a lapse in payment. Usually, a life insurance policy is only active for as long as premiums are paid. When no premium is made when it is due, a policy may lapse/terminate. Denied claims due to lapse are very common and insurance companies often use nonpayment of premiums as a reason to deny a claim even when a claim should be paid.
4. Outliving a Term Life Insurance Policy. If you have term life insurance, you could potentially outlive the policy's term, meaning there would be no death benefit payout. If you need longer coverage, the policy might allow you to renew (at a higher price) when you reach the end of the term. Make sure you know your policy's deadline. As you get older the premium for life insurance is higher as well as the qualifications are stricter. You are better off getting a whole life insurance policy to avoid the potential of outliving the policy and needing to pay higher premiums.

Every delay or denial should be reviewed by an experienced life insurance attorney and contested if it appears that a claim was wrongfully delayed or denied. At Daisey Insurance, you and your family are very important to us. Call us at 302-337-9400 or visit our website at http://www.daiseyinsurance.com/index.htm to discuss your life insurance needs. We can provide coverage from many insurance carriers so you receive the insurance for your budget and needs!
Source: https://life-insurance-lawyer.com/reasons-life-insurance-companies-use-to-deny-your-claim/ and https://www.forbes.com/advisor/life-insurance/reasons-for-claim-denial/

Why is flood insurance important?

You don't have to live in a flood-prone area to encounter flooding in your home. This can happen at any time to anyone! Flooding can be caused by more than just natural disasters. If you own a home, you need flood insurance. There are two different types of flood insurance: the National Flood Insurance Program and private flood insurance. The area you live in will determine which type of flood insurance is best for you.

The National Flood Insurance Program is a flood insurance that is offered through FEMA. If you are located in one of the 21,000 communities that participate in this program, you should be eligible for both types of coverage offered by the National Flood Insurance Program. The two types are building property coverage and personal property coverage. Building property coverage is "replacement cost value" coverage. This means that building property coverage covers the cost to repair or replace your home up to $250,000. Personal property coverage replaces up to $100,000 of items in your home.

The other type of flood insurance is private flood insurance. Private flood insurance premiums vary based on the insurance companies that offer it. Speak with your insurance agent regarding cost and coverage plans.

You may qualify for both the National Flood Insurance Program and private flood insurance. Depending on the value of your home and contents in it, you might be better off getting both to protect yourself in the event of a flood.

Flood Facts:

Just one inch of water can cause more than $20,000 in damage.

It takes just six inches of fast-moving water to sweep an adult off their feet and 12 inches of water to sweep a car away.

Flash floods typically carry water between 10 and 20 feet high.

If you live in a 100-year flood plain, your home has a 1% chance of flooding each year.

Moving water at 10 mph carries the same pressure as wind blowing at 270 mph.

If your home is in a flood plain and you have a federally backed mortgage, you are required by law to carry flood insurance.

Give our office a call to discuss all your flood insurance options! (302)337-9400

http://www.daiseyinsurance.com/quote_request.htm

https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/need-flood-insurance

Benefits of purchasing crop insurance through a local insurance agency.

While crop insurance is a government program offered by insurance companies at the same rates, it can be beneficial to have a local insurance agent to purchase crop insurance. Purchasing from a local insurance agent can offer services that you can't get from an online insurance agent or one from several states away. These include:

Personal Services - Communication is key when purchasing any type of insurance but especially crop insurance. With the strict deadline and changes to policy language each year you could be missing an add-on coverage that you might need.

On-Site Services - A local insurance agent will have an office you can speak to someone in person about your needs. Some local agents, such as Daisey Insurance, even offer On-Farm Services where they will come to you. This can be beneficial as there will be less of a chance that a coverage could be missed.

FSA Maps - Local insurance agents can access maps and acre reports and you can use their maps to report your acres to FSA.

Crop insurance can protect against many natural disasters that the Delmarva area faces such as:

Drought
Flood & Excessive Moisture
Hail
Fire
Insects
Wind & Green Snap

At Daisey Insurance we offer the Delmarva area many different crop insurance options. Contact our office to schedule an on-farm or in office appointment. 302-337-9400

How to Jump Start a Car

Trouble happens. You left your lights on and now you're stuck with a dead car battery. While learning how to jump start a car can be easy, there are risks in it if done so incorrectly. As your insurance agent, we care about your safety so we put together the following guide on how to properly get you and your car charged and back on the road.

What do you need to jump start a car?

Before you can recharge and get going, you need a few basics: jumper cables and a power source - either a portable jump battery (a jump box) or another vehicle.

Jumper cables are long, thickly insulated cables with toothy clips on one or both ends. These clips are called alligator clips. The clips are distinguished by color, usually red and black, to indicate positive and negative polarity. The red clip is positive. The black clip is negative.

Jump boxes are portable batteries used to jump start a vehicle without connecting to another vehicle and come with special jump cables. These cables connect the jump battery directly to the dead car battery. Road side assistance usually uses a jump box when helping stalled vehicles.

What do you need to know about car batteries to jump start a car?

Car batteries have two larger nubs, called terminals. There is a positive terminal and a negative terminal. Each should be clearly marked. Connecting cables to the right terminal is important to completing the circuit and gives power to the dead battery.

Positive terminal - The positive terminal is usually the bigger of the two terminals. It is marked with "POS" or "+". It will connect to the positive clip on the jumper cable, which is usually red.
Negative terminal - The negative terminal on the battery is usually marked with "NEG" or "-". This will attach to the other clip, which is usually black.

CAUTIONS WHEN JUMP STARTING A CAR:

READ THE OWNER'S MANUAL. Some cars are not recommended for jump starting because they have sensitive circuitry
DO NOT JUMP corroded, cracked, leaking, or visibly damaged batteries
DO NOT JUMP frozen batteries
DO NOT JUMP dry batteries
DO NOT TOUCH CLIPS together. This is true when connected, but get in the habit by never touching the clips together.

Protect the donor battery

A quick test that there is enough voltage for the donor, be sure that the car giving the jump start headlights are steady and bright when the car is started. If the headlights dim, that can signal that the battery is low.

How do you use jumper cables to jump start a car from another vehicle?

1. CHECK BATTERIES: Make sure that the battery giving the jump has enough voltage and is a matching voltage system type (12V, 6V, etc.)
2. READY CARS: Put both cars in park or neutral, turn the ignitions off, and put on the parking brake.
3. OPEN THE HOOD of each car.
4. ATTACH ALLIGATOR CLIPS to the terminals in the following order:
- Red to Dead - Connect red, or positive, clip to the positive terminal on the battery of the dead car.
- Red to Donor - Connect the red, positive, clip to the positive terminal on the donor battery on the other car.
- Black to Donor - Connect the black clip to the negative terminal of the donor car.
- Black to Metal - Connect the black clip to an unpainted metal part of the dead car that is not directly next to the battery. One of the metal struts that hold the hood open is a good place to clip the second black, or negative, clip.
5. START THE DONOR CAR so that the battery can supply power to the dead battery.
6. IDLE the donor car, allowing it to run for a few minutes.
7. TEST the interior light of the car being jump started. If it goes on, there may be enough power.
8. START the dead car.

After the car is jump started: Unclip the clips in the reverse order you connected them:

The black clip on the unpainted metal
The black clip from the negative terminal
Red clip from the donor car
Red clip from the dead car's battery If the jump works and your car starts, don't shut

If the jump works and your car starts, don't shut off your engine! Drive around for at least 15 minutes to recharge your battery. If the car won't start the next time you use it, the battery isn't holding a charge and needs to be replaced. Watch these steps for jump starting a car from Safe2Drive.

At Daisey Insurance, Inc., your road safety is very important to us. Call us at 302-337-9400 or visit our website at http://www.daiseyinsurance.com/index.htm to discuss your auto insurance needs. We can provide coverage from many insurance carriers so you receive the insurance for your budget and needs!

Source: https://www.idrivesafely.com/defensive-driving/trending/how-jump-car-simple-steps-bring-your-car-battery-back-life and https://www.dummies.com/home-garden/car-repair/how-to-jump-start-a-car/

Critical Times in Life That You Need Life Insurance the Most

Life insurance is part of a responsible financial plan. And while you should feel secure knowing it will be there to meet your financial responsibilities and protect your family, there are a handful of situations where you may need life insurance more than you thought. As your insurance agent, it's important to us that you and your family feel prepared during these milestones so we've compiled the following list of critical times in life that you need life insurance the most.

Getting Married

When you get married, financial obligations become a joint effort. If one of you dies, a life insurance policy can help ensure the surviving spouse has the financial stability to maintain their current standard of living. Additionally, as the cash value in a permanent policy grows, more assets become available to pay down a mortgage, eliminate business debt, or settle outstanding tax obligations. Death benefits paid to the surviving spouse can also help fund a child's education or supplement retirement.

Having a Child

When your children are young, having sufficient life insurance for each parent is critical. If you or your spouse were to suddenly die, life insurance limits need to be able to pay for daycare, help fund a college education, and cover everyday living expenses.

Supporting Aging Parents

Supporting your aging parents up until and including their death can be a financial burden. Life insurance is one way to potentially recoup some of the money you've spent on their care or to help pay for final arrangements like a funeral.

Buying a House with a Mortgage

Life insurance is often purchased in amounts sufficient to cover the loan amount of a mortgage so that if you die, your beneficiaries will have enough money to pay off the balance.

Starting a Business / Becoming Self-employed

If you're self-employed, chances are the investments you've made in your business have been substantial. If the value of your business has recently changed (the purchase of a new building, inventory, or equipment), be sure your life insurance limits are set high enough to cover business debts that your family could be held responsible for when you die. Don't risk them having to liquidate assets to cover outstanding debt.

Becoming Stay-At-Home Parents

Although stay-at-home parents don't bring home a paycheck, they provide substantial support for their families. If they weren't around to take care of children, make meals, run errands, or manage other household tasks, someone would have to be hired to fill those roles. That's a cost the working parent would have to shoulder if something happened to the stay-at-home parent. If that parent had ample life insurance, the death benefit could cover the cost of childcare so the family's finances wouldn't take a hit.

Daisey Insurance, Inc. is an independent insurance agent located in Bridgeville, DE. We can provide coverage from many insurance carriers so you receive the right life insurance for your budget and needs! You can reach us at 302-337-9400 or online http://www.daiseyinsurance.com/index.htm

Source:

https://www.protective.com/learn/seven-life-stages-that-affect-your-life-insurance-needs

https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/insurance/life-insurance-for-your-parents

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/life-insurance/stay-at-home-parents/

Summer Fire Safety Tips: Protecting Your Home from Common Fire Starters

According to the National Fire Protection Association, there are an average of 385,500 residential fires every year. While taking out a Homeowners insurance policy with fire insurance coverage will help protect you from the costs incurred from a house fire, following these fire safety tips can help prevent a fire from starting in your home.

Fire Safety Tip #1: Don't Smoke Indoors

Smoking indoors can cause more damage than you may realize. Over 18,000 fires are started by smoking materials annually, causing $476 million of property damage. While it's best not to smoke indoors or on exterior balconies or porches, if you do, be sure to completely extinguish any cigarettes and never smoke when there's a chance you might fall asleep.

Fire Safety Tip #2: Keep Your Dryer Clean

It may surprise you but completing common household chores like cleaning the lint trap in your dryer can help prevent fires. In 2010-2014, U.S. fire departments responded to almost 16,000 home structure fires involving clothes dryers or washing machines each year. In addition to keeping your washer and dryer clean, it's best to only run them when you will be home to supervise, that way if a fire starts, you can take immediate action.

Fire Safety Tip #3: Practice Summer Grill Safety

Over 10,000 house fires a year are attributed to grills and fire pits. Whether it's because people use their grill too close to their home or they use the wrong fire starter to ignite the charcoal grill or fire pit, practicing summer grill safety can help prevent fires from starting. This includes everything from grill placement, making sure your grill is clean, safely disposing of charcoal briquettes, and never leaving your grill on while unattended.

Fire Safety Tip #4: Don't Leave Candles Unattended

Candles can create a relaxing ambiance for your home, but unattended candles can be incredibly dangerous. In fact, from 2011-2015, over 8,500 fires a year were started by candles, with $295 million in property damage. Never leave candles in a room unattended, especially if you have children or pets, and always make sure to clear the area around a candle of anything that could possibly ignite, including decorations, curtains, papers, etc.

Fire Safety Tip # 5: Practice Firework Safety

Fireworks and sparklers account for roughly 15,000 fires per year, including house fires, vehicle fires, and outdoor fires. To avoid injury and potential fires, it's important to practice firework safety, including only using legal fireworks, having a designated area for setting off fireworks, only lighting off one firework at a time, only letting responsible adults use sparklers and fireworks, and properly disposing of firework remnants after they've been used.

Fire Safety Tip # 6: Create a Wildfire Defensible Space

While wildfires are powerful and unpredictable, there are safety tips you can try if you live in an area threatened by wildfires to help create a wildfire defensible space, which could prevent the spread of wildfires. To do so, you might consider actions like keeping your lawn and plants watered, clearing away brush and debris, using fire-resistant shrubs and plants, storing firewood away from your home, and keeping your roof and gutters clear of leaves, needles, and debris. You'll also want to practice additional fire safety if your area is experiencing a drought like nearly half of Washington state.

By Grange Insurance

We hope these fire safety tips help protect your home and family from house fires. In addition to following these tips, it's important to have a Homeowners insurance policy in place.

As an independent insurance agency, we, at Daisey Insurance, can meet all of your insurance needs with the companies we represent, providing personal and business solutions under one roof! Head over to our website or give us a call to learn more. 302-337-9400 http://www.daiseyinsurance.com/index.htm.

Yard Work Safety Tips to Keep You Out of the ER

Amid all the green lawns and manicured gardens of summer lies a grim statistic: Every year, while mowing the grass, cutting a branch, or power washing a deck, at least 100 people die and an estimated 143,000 are injured badly enough to require a trip to the emergency room. The injuries people suffer run the gamut from overexertion and dehydration to cuts and amputations from using all kinds of power equipment. It's also worth noting that in our research, we also came across a disturbing number of injuries associated with a common piece of equipment that doesn't have a motor at all: ladders. Falls from ladders cause more injuries than all the power equipment in our research combined, resulting in broken backs, ankles, legs, and hips. But using power equipment can cause far worse accidents. When working in the yard turns deadly, it can be due to carbon monoxide poisoning from a gas-powered engine running in an enclosed space, for example, or people getting trapped under large equipment, like a riding lawn mower. And it's not just the person doing the yard work who's at risk. Bystanders also get hurt, such as children who have been killed or injured when playing near a mower or other outdoor power gear. As your insurance agent, we strongly urge you to read and follow the following safety prevention tips to keep you, friends, and family safe this summer.

Prevention Tips

Keep children away from power equipment and do not let them in the yard while you are working.
Wear safety goggles, closed-toe shoes, and long pants when using lawn mowers and other machinery.
Protect your hearing when using machinery.
Wear gloves to lower the risk for skin irritants, cuts, and certain contaminants.
Use insect repellent containing DEET to protect yourself from mosquitoes and ticks.
Wear long sleeves, wide-brimmed hats, sun shades, and sunscreen to protect your skin.
Follow all instructions and warnings associated with lawn equipment.

Power Equipment safety is a priority for every homeowner. You may not want to spend the extra few minutes checking the function of the equipment and inspecting the lawn. However, doing so can help prevent risks, including those related to injury to you or your family. More so, power equipment can also do damage to your home when operated improperly. We proudly insure the residents of Bridgeville, DE, and are your local independent insurance agent. We can provide coverage from many insurance carriers so you receive the insurance for your budget and needs! You can reach us at 302-337-9400 or online at http://www.daiseyinsurance.com/index.htm.

Sources: https://www.consumerreports.org/outdoor-safety/yard-work-safety-tips/ and https://www.lifespan.org/sites/default/files/lifespan-files/documents/centers/4-safety-program/Lawn-and-Garden-Safety-Navy-and-Marine-Corps-Public-Health-Center.pdf and https://www.firstindependentinsurance.com/blog/lawn-mower-safety-tips-how-to-reduce-home-insurance-claims-from-careless-accidents.aspx

General Sun Safety

Summer is almost here! The weather is warm, and due to social distancing, people are spending more time enjoying nature than they have before.

If your family intends to enjoy this summer to the fullest, practicing sun safety should be your priority. Regardless if you're grilling in your backyard, or spending time at the beach, here are tips to keep your whole family from getting unwanted sunburns!

1. Make the most of your accessories: If you're unable to find a shady place to do your outdoor activities, make the most of your accessories! Wide brim hats provide additional protection for your face, neck, and scalp, while a loose cotton cover-up will give a layer of protection over the rest of your body.

2. Find ways to shade your children while they play outside. If you have equipment like a swing set or sandbox, try to place these playground accessories in shaded areas of your yard. You can also invest in a shade sail to keep the sun from hitting their skin directly.

3. Limit your outdoor activities between 10 am and 4 pm. This is the sunniest part of the day! If you want to be active outside, but are concerned about sun exposure, start earlier in the morning. You'll also enjoy cooler temperatures during this time of day.

4. Take canopies or umbrellas along with you. If you're going camping or heading to the beach for vacation, you can't avoid being outside between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm. Being prepared with a fold-up canopy or umbrella will keep your skin safe and allow you to have fun without getting a sunburn.

5. Sunscreen is still your best friend. Enjoying the shade while outside is nota replacement for using a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects from both UVA and UVB radiation. You should always use both shade and sunscreen together to prevent sunburns, and more importantly to prevent skin cancer!

We hope your family has a safe and healthy summer! Remember these tips and you'll always have a good time.

Life Insurance Myths and Facts

Thinking about your death isn't the most enjoyable part of your life. However, ensuring your family's future is protected when you're gone is very important! Life insurance can help your family pay for funeral expenses, pay off any debt you left behind, and much more. So why do people avoid buying life insurance before it's too late? Easy! There are many myths and misconceptions about life insurance and we're here to debunk those myths!

Myth 1: Life insurance is expensive. FALSE! Life insurance can cost less than your daily cup of coffee. On average, millennials overestimate the cost of life insurance by 213%! For a young and healthy adult, the average cost of a $250,000 life insurance policy is around $160 annually.

Myth 2: The choices are overwhelming. FALSE! While there are many different varieties of life insurance, the best choice for most people is a term life insurance policy. You should always consult your insurance agent about your options and they will help you choose the best policy.

Myth 3: I'm young and healthy. I don't need life insurance. FALSE! The younger and healthier you are the cheaper your life insurance policy will be. You are never too young, or too healthy, for life insurance!

Myth 4: Stay-at-home parents don't need life insurance. FALSE! If you're a stay-at-home parent and you pass away, who will take care of the children? Your elderly parents? Your pets? Your surviving spouse will need to continue working and may need to hire help. Life insurance could help him or her pay for these costs.

Myth 5: Life insurance through an employer is sufficient. FALSE! While group life insurance is a great benefit, the payout is typically low and may not support a young family. What happens if you lose your job? A workplace policy doesn't follow you. Having a personal policy is the safest and best option.

Family always comes first. Their future depends on you! Protect your family and loved ones today by calling Daisey Insurance at (302) 337-9400 or visiting us online at http://www.daiseyinsurance.com/individuals/Life-Insurance.htm.

Source: https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/insurance/9-myths-life-insurance/

Crop Insurance Basics: Available to All

In the everyday insurance world, coverage may sometimes be hard to come by.

That can be true if you've had a disaster - such as a fire in your home - or live in an area at high risk for disaster. Car insurance coverage may be more expensive or even denied if you are a very young or very old driver, even if you've never had to file a claim.

Crop insurance is different.

Under the crop insurance system that has become the centerpiece of America's farm policy, private-sector insurance providers must offer insurance to growers who are eligible for coverage and want it - regardless of a farm's size, location, or cropping choice.

Additionally, crop insurers don't have control over premium setting. A farmers' rates are calculated and published by the USDA and, unlike other lines of insurance coverage, prices will not fluctuate between insurance providers.

Crop insurers compete on customer service, not price. And they cannot choose to simply do business with well-established farmers from areas that have a history of lower risk crops.

In fact, the crop insurance system must always look for ways to cover more and more farmers. Such inclusivity is a shared responsibility of the public and private sectors, which have partnered to bring additional public and privately augmented insurance options to the marketplace and keep pace with a constantly evolving agricultural sector.

While crop insurance was originally only available to major crops - such as corn, cotton, and wheat - it now offers coverage on 130 different crops, including most fruits and vegetables. Today, more than 1 million insurance policies provide $100 billion in protection to nearly 400 million acres - including about 90 percent of U.S. crop acreage.

And more policies and options are regularly being added through the USDA's program to encourage new product development, where insurers work along-side farm leaders and researchers to create new and unique policies for everything from alfalfa seed to all-encompassing whole farm revenue protection.

Furthermore, this partnership teams up to deliver in-depth training services across the country for small and socially disadvantaged farmers to strengthen and broaden their familiarity with the inner workings of business planning and risk management strategies.

It's a system that has married the best of the private sector with the best of government, and the result has been the most effective, popular farm safety net in the history of agriculture.

Contact Daisey Insurance to get your crop insurance locally! Call Harry at (302) 337-9400 or visit our website to get a quote at, http://www.daiseyinsurance.com/quote_request.htm.

Source: https://cropinsuranceinamerica.org/crop-insurance-basics-available-to-all/

Daisey Insurance LOVES Insuring Your Life!

Insuring Your Life

Life is the most precious gift and we love insuring yours! Daisey Insurance values every single one of our loyal clients and this month, we are sending you love and gratitude for welcoming us into your families and homes. It is our pleasure and honor to provide you protection and assurance in these times of uncertainty. Some of the most impactful services we proudly provide are:
Farm Insurance - Protects your both personally and commercially. It covers your home like normal home insurance as well as your machinery and livestock.
Crop Insurance - Protects against either the loss of crops due to natural disasters, such as hail, drought and floods, or the loss of revenue due to declines in prices of agricultural commodities.

Insuring Your Life

If you have questions, we would love to answer them! If you have concerns, we would love to address them! We love insuring you - and all the things that come along with it! Get to know us better at Daisey Insurance, and let us give you the support and protection you so very much deserve!
(302) 337-9400. http://www.daiseyinsurance.com

Best Retirement Plans For You

When it comes to retirement planning, Americans are often way behind. In fact, in 2019, almost half of households headed by someone 55 or older had no retirement savings at all, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Many people won't have enough money to live comfortably and will rely solely on Social Security to pay for their living expenses. But retirement doesn't have to look this way for you. Here's everything you need to know about the best types of retirement plans available and how to decide which one is best for you. Best Individual Retirement Plans Not everyone has access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan. Even if you do have a retirement plan through work, like a 401(k), you may want to save additional money beyond the annual 401(k) contribution limits. If that's the case, some of the best retirement plans for saving on your own are Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and annuities.

Traditional IRA

Anyone who earns taxable income can open a traditional IRA. If you don't have a retirement plan through work, the contributions you make to a traditional IRA are usually tax-deductible. Contributions to a traditional IRA may be invested in a range of different assets, like mutual funds and ETFs, and the investment earnings are tax-deferred. Once you start making withdrawals after age 59 ½, your IRA distributions are taxed as ordinary income. In 2020 and 2021, you can contribute up to $6,000 per year into a Traditional IRA. If you are 50 years of age or older, you can contribute up to $7,000 per year.

Roth IRA

If your annual income isn't too high, a Roth IRA is one of the best retirement accounts available. While your Roth IRA contributions aren't tax-deductible today, you don't have to pay income taxes on the withdrawals you make once you retire. Plus, you can take out the money you contribute to a Roth IRA before retirement without paying a penalty, so your Roth IRA can also double as an emergency fund in a bind. The total annual Roth IRA contribution limits are the same as for a traditional IRA, although there are income thresholds that limit who may contribute directly to a Roth IRA. You may only contribute directly to a Roth IRA in tax year 2020 if you earn less than $139,000 or less than $206,000 if you're married and file a joint tax return. For tax year 2021, the income thresholds are $140,000 for individuals and $208,000 for married couples.

Spousal IRA

A spousal IRA isn't really a special type of individual retirement account. Rather, it's a strategy married couples can use to maximize their retirement savings using an IRA. If you're married and you or your spouse doesn't work or earns significantly less than the other, a spousal IRA allows you to save more for retirement. The non-working spouse can open up a traditional or Roth IRA in their own name and make contributions based on their household income. Ordinarily, you are limited to contributing the amount you, not your household, earns in a year. Being able to open another IRA-and max out the account with contributions-allows some married couples to double their IRA retirement savings each year.

Fixed Annuities

An annuity is a type of insurance contract that can supplement your retirement savings. There are many forms of annuities to choose from, but we believe that fixed annuities are your best choice. Fixed annuities are easier to understand and compare to one another than some different kinds of annuity contracts, like indexed or variable annuities. Fixed annuities generally have predictable benefits, tax-deferred growth and, in some cases, a death benefit that can be paid out to a beneficiary if you pass away. And, unlike other retirement plans, annuities aren't subject to IRS contribution limits, so you can invest as much as you want for your future.

Contact Daisey Insurance to discuss the best option for your IRA plan at (302) 337-9400. http://www.daiseyinsurance.com

Source: Forbes.com

Steep Cuts to Crop Insurance in 2021 Budget

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) today released a proposed Fiscal Year 2021 budget that includes steep cuts to the USDA and federal crop insurance.

The National Crop Insurance Services released this statement in response:

"Last year brought unprecedented challenges for rural America. Even now, farmers and ranchers across the country are dealing with the lingering consequences of weather events that destroyed fields and ruined crops. And there looks to be no reprieve from the ongoing rural recession: The USDA estimates that farm cash flow will tighten this year, dropping more than $10 billion, or 9%, from 2019.

"The federal crop insurance program reacted quickly and efficiently to keep many farmers afloat during this difficult time. It's no wonder then that the nation's farm organizations teamed up in late 2019 to ask Congress to reject any attempts to cut crop insurance and weaken the farm safety net when it's needed most.

"It's inexplicable as to why OMB would target such a critical risk-management tool for budget cuts. The proposed cuts will make crop insurance unaffordable and unavailable for farmers, seriously undermining the farm safety net."

CROP INSURANCE STATS

Crop insurance protects more than 90% of America's planted crop land acres.
Farmers spend $3.5 to $4 billion per year to purchase crop insurance and bear a significant portion of losses through deductibles.
Crop insurance policies provide to bank and credit lenders who assist farmers through operating loans, especially during a time of low commodity prices.
The federal government spends less than a quarter of 1% of its budget on the farm safety net, including crop insurance.

Contact Daisey Insurance to ensure your crops remain protected! (302) 337-9400 http://www.daiseyinsurance.com

Source: https://www.agriculture.com/farm-management/crop-insurance/steep-cuts-to-crop-insurance-in-2021-budget

Preventing Green Snap in Corn

Each and every corn growing season is unique and poses different challenges. Most recently, many areas across the Corn Belt experienced violent winds. Although high winds are never a plus during the growing season, Mother Nature's timing was particularly poor this time around. She left behind a trail of green snap for many corn growers.

What is Green Snap?
Green snap, also known as brittle snap, occurs when strong winds break the corn stalk resulting in a damaged plant. Most often it takes place when corn plants are growing rapidly through the vegetative stages, especially from V8 to the tasseling timeframe. During these COR stages the corn plant is playing some aggressive offense. The plant aims to get to the reproductive stage as quickly as possible so that it can start producing the ear of corn. The race through these stages means the plant gives up stalk strength.

How Does Green Snap Impact Corn Yield?
Green snap can happen anytime throughout the growing season, however timing is everything when it comes down to looking at the grower's bottom line. Joel Ransom from North Dakota State University did a study showing yield reduction due to green snap from the V12 stage to almost the tassel period. In the table below, you can see that the earlier green snap occurs the less impact it has on yield.

(The data reflected in this table was based on the following information. If the plant snapped below the ear node it was NOT included when figuring up the yield estimate. However, if it was snapped above the ear node, and the conditions were right throughout the growing season, the plant may still put on half of an ear and these WERE counted in the yield estimate.)

How to Prevent Green Snap
In order to prevent green snap, there are few things that need to be considered. First, it is important to carefully select your hybrid. Although there is not one hybrid that is resistant to green snap, hybrid selection is crucial because some grade far better than others. Along with careful hybrid selection, it is also important to manage your plant population. Decreasing your plant population will eliminate the need for plants to compete for sunlight. Which in return will shorten up the plant's height. Finally, one should be cautious when spraying any type of growth regulator on corn. Whenever corn growth is accelerated a major side effect is that the corn will be more brittle and prone to snapping.

Contact Daisey Insurance for crop insurance before it's too late! (302) 337-9400 http://www.daiseyinsurance.com

Sources and More Information:
https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/cpr/plant-science/green-snap-in-corn-07-05-18

Whole Farm Revenue Protection insurance just got easier!

What do you do if a hailstorm rips through your farm and destroys your crops? You may think you're covered, since you have a farm liability insurance policy. But, unfortunately, that is a misconception. Typical farm liability insurance covers farm structures, farm equipment and even farm products in the freezer, but not crops in the field or livestock on the hoof, so to speak. Your property policy will likely pay to rebuild your barn, buy a new tractor, and cover the losses from being unable to sell all the beef in your deep freezer. It likely won't cover the losses from being unable to sell the kale that was standing in the field before Mother Nature unleashed her unpredictable fury.

Ack! Not a fun surprise.

That's why farmers get crop insurance. However, traditional crop insurance generally doesn't work for diversified farm operations. It just wasn't designed with direct to consumer farms growing multiple different crops in mind. So, what's a diversified farmer to do? How can you protect yourself from financial ruin when your farm fields fall prey to natural disaster?

Whole Farm Revenue Protection could be your answer. Whole Farm Revenue Protection - or WFRP for short - was developed for diversified and direct to consumer farms. WFRP allows farmers to insure multiple crops at a time, and at the premium prices that direct to consumer and organic crops command. This is good stuff.
But the program is not without its flaws. Since its inception in 2015 it has been criticized for being difficult to apply for and to administer, with burdensome recordkeeping requirements.

Luckily, some key changes were made for the 2020 season that lessened the burden and improved the program, and additional changes have just been revealed for the 2021 season. Going forward, farmers selling direct to consumer won't have to keep track of sales for each type of crop but can instead keep track of sales for the total acreage of crops sold direct such as through farm stands or at farmers markets.

This is great news! The bottom line? In this era of climate chaos, check your farm liability insurance policy and if your crops aren't covered, consider WFRP coverage as a helpful risk management tool for your diversified farm. For more information about WFRP and its updates see the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition's story here. For more comprehensive information about all disaster assistance programs see Farmers Legal Action Group's guide.

Daisey Insurance can help keep your whole farm protected with whole farm insurance! (302) 337-9400 http://www.daiseyinsurance.com

Source: https://farmcommons.org/blog/whole-farm-revenue-protection-insurance-just-got-easier

Stronger Together: Farmers Count on Crop Insurance During Difficult Year

As America's farmers and ranchers reflect back on this turbulent year, they'll recall drought affecting much of America's farmland, severe winds sweeping across Iowa, a record-breaking hurricane season and - oh yes - the COVID-19 crisis.

Throughout the difficulties farmers and ranchers faced in 2020, crop insurance was there to help them endure hardship and minimize risks so they can plant their crops again next year.

Tom Zacharias, president of National Crop Insurance Services (NCIS), spoke about the challenges of 2020 and the importance of the farm safety net with the National Association of Farm Broadcasting and RFD-TV.

"America's farmers and ranchers never stopped their essential work of feeding America," Zacharias said. "That's why crop insurers, agents, adjusters and our partners at USDA have continually worked to support the farm community. It has been our priority to maintain our incredible record of service to the American farmer during this tough year."

"It would be an understatement to say that farmers face an unpredictable future, but fortunately crop insurance is a predictable risk management tool," Zacharias added.

Crop insurance is agriculture's most effective and reliable risk management tool because it utilizes private-sector efficiencies and innovation to quote

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