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Twin Bridges Insurance Agency

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Twin Bridges Insurance Agency

1881 Western Avenue, Suite 210
Albany, NY 12203

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2018 Auto Insurance FAQs

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Purchasing auto insurance has never been more simple and at NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency we want our clients in and around Albany, NY to know all of their options to even further simplify the process and answer the common questions associated with auto insurance in 2018. 

  • Is Auto Insurance a New York State Requirement? Yes, drivers must carry a minimum level of insurance as set by state standards. Carrying only this minimum is to protect you and other drivers from financial distress after an accident. 
  • How Much Auto Insurance Should I Carry? Minimum liability is set at $25,000 for bodily injury to one person, $50,000 total for bodily injury to all people involved, and $10,000 for property damage one accident, in addition to the no-fault accident coverage of $50,000. It would be prudential to carry the voluntary higher limits for liability and personal injury protection, the minimum amount is just that, and additional protection may save the bank after an accident.
  • What is an Assigned Risk Plan? This is a New York Automobile Insurance Plan that makes sure that consumers who cannot find an insurance company who will accept them, for whatever reason, will still be able to be legally insured. 
  • Are There any Discounts for Insurance? Yes, you may be able to receive a discount on your insurance if you take an accident prevention course, or if your car has certain safety features such as automatic seat belts, ABS, anti-theft devices, or daytime running lights. If you have a great driving record, if you are in driver training, or if you are purchasing a policy for more than one car you may qualify. Discuss these options with an agent.

Contact us at NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency today to purchase a policy, or upgrade and renew your establish policy. We proudly serve Albany, NY and the surrounding areas. 

Is a Person Ever Too Old to Get Life Insurance?

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Here at NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency, we understand from a personal standpoint just how important it is to invest in life insurance. We take much pride in being able to help a number of residents living in Albany, NY and we want to help you find a life insurance policy that can best meet your needs. For now, let’s look at whether or not a person is ever too old to buy life insurance. 

What is the perfect age to buy life insurance?

Here’s the truth … the best age to buy life insurance is when a baby is one day old. The younger and healthier a person is, the less expensive their life insurance premium amounts are going to be. And while many people don’t think about buying life insurance on a baby because the child does not provide any type of income, what they fail to realize is that buying a policy for the baby is an excellent way to provide financial protection for the future grandkids. Wouldn’t you have really appreciated it if your parents had purchased a policy for you when you were a baby and the rates were locked in? 

Is a person ever too old to get life insurance?

No, a person is never too old to get life insurance, but the longer you wait to purchase it, the more expensive the monthly premium rates are going to be. Ideally, you will want to purchase it when you are as young as possible. 

To learn more about buying life insurance in Albany, NY, please contact NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency. 

Do I Need Commercial Insurance For My Start-Up?

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If you have a start-up in Albany, NY, you may be channeling a lot of your time and effort into expanding it but forgetting to protect what you already have. Start-ups need commercial insurance just as much as established businesses. They may need even more protection because most start-ups do not have the funds to pay for risks such as fires, liability claims, vandalism, or theft. Contact an insurance agency such as NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency to get your new quote for commercial insurance. They will help you find the insurance commercial insurance coverage options that are able to meet your needs.

Why Your Start-Up Needs Commercial Insurance

  • To Protect You From Liability Claims

If third parties are injured in your business property or their property is damaged, the may sue you. Your business may be required to compensate them for the costs of medical charges, and repair or replacement of their property. Liability insurance coverage compensates you for those fees and any legal charges that you may incur including lost wages, and pain and suffering compensation.

  • To Protect You From Loses Due To Business Interruption

If your business is unable to maintain its normal operations because of risks such as fires, protests, or floods, you may be unable to pay your taxes, employees, and rent. If you don’t have insurance, such factors could force you to sell your assets. Business interruption insurance compensates you for the net profits you would have made and helps you to make your payments.

  • To Protect Your Business Property

Business property insurance protects your business property such as computers, machinery, furniture, and merchandise from common risks. It may also cover other people’s items that are under the care of your business. In case of insured risks, it compensates you for the repair or replacement costs.

Contact NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency on 518-608-5797 to get a new quote for your start-up in Albany, NY.

Enjoying Life to the Fullest With Peace of Mind

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Everybody, of course, wants to live their lives with utmost peace of mind. To do this, though, there are several steps that a person must take. For starters, a person can take a look at the benefits to be gained when investing in life insurance. For now, let’s look at how life insurance provides peace of mind and why you should speak with a qualified agent to discuss your various policy options. 

Offers Help on Final Expenses

Final expenses can consist of any expense that is related to a person’s passing. When someone passes away and they have life insurance, the policy will help pay for final expenses, such as the casket, preparations, funeral costs, memorial services, and more. These things can get quite costly, with the average funeral costing around $7,000.  

Income Replacement

You can have peace of mind when choosing to get life insurance because, if you are like most, your loved ones may depend on you and your income to help them meet daily needs, such as car payments, utilities, medical care, and food. If you were to pass away and do not have the means to replace your income, then your family’s standard of living might be in jeopardy. But with the right policy, you can rest assured your family will be financially taken care of after your passing. 

Pay off Your Mortgage

Life insurance has the ability to pay off your current mortgage, providing your surviving family with the ability to stay in their current home and not have to worry about outstanding payments. Could your family members afford the home mortgage if your paycheck was not in the picture? If the answer is no, then they are at risk of losing the home they love. A life insurance policy, however, can help ensure they are able to make payments, and if the payout is large enough, they may even be able to pay off the entire mortgage. 

If you would like to learn more about enjoying life to the fullest with peace of mind, then contact the NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency serving the Albany, NY area today to discuss various life insurance policy options. 

Benefits of retirement insurance

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Retirement insurance is designed to help retirees to continue enjoying the quality life that they had during their working years. Depending on your needs, retirement insurance can focus on different areas of your life. They include health care, life insurance coverage, travel coverage, home insurance coverage, and much more. Most retirees are in their old age, and that comes with lifestyle changes that require financial stability. It’s advisable to start your retirement plans as early as possible.
Even though government benefits in Albany, NY can at times give assistance, it’s advisable to maintain personal insurance plans with insurers like NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency. It helps you to adequately prepare in case of any risks and be able to enjoy your retirement years. Some benefits of retirement insurance include:
Future source of income
After retirement, you still need a way to support your family financially, and that’s what retirement insurance does. Without it, you may be forced to liquidate your long-term investments just to cater for your financial needs.
Protection against unforeseen circumstances
There will always be situations and reasons that will require you to spend your savings. It could be medical bills or cash for catering for damages of any kind. This policy will serve as a safety net for any unknown risks.
Offers returns
Retirement plans should begin as early as possible. That way, you can gain returns from the compounding effect and earn a substantial amount at maturity.
It’s Flexible
Depending on your requirements, retirement insurance can be customized to meet your specific needs. You can choose from a wide variety of coverage options that suit you.
Talk to an agent at NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency to help you make an informed decision. We service the area of Albany, NY as well as the state of New York in whole. Contact us today and secure your financial future.

My Elderly Parent Moved In With Me: Should I Add Them to My Car Insurance Policy?

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As individuals age, they may need to move in with family members. They may be unable to afford to live on their own, may be lonely living on their own, or may need help with daily activities and medical care. Moving in with their adult children can be beneficial in all of these regards. However, if you take one of your parents in, one of the questions you may have is whether you should add them to your auto insurance policy. At NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency, serving Albany, NY, we want to help you determine when you should and shouldn’t add them. Here is some information you should consider. 

If They Will Be Driving Your Car

The most important factor to consider when deciding whether to add an elderly family member to your car insurance policy is whether they will be driving your car or not. If they have permission to drive your cars, you should add them to your auto insurance policy. If they will never be driving your car and do not drive at all, you do not need to add them. 

What Their Driving Record Is

Another important factor to consider before adding them is what their driving record is. If they have accidents or tickets, adding them to your policy may increase your rates. If they have a poor driving record, you may need to preclude them from your policy and not allow them to drive your cars to prevent your auto insurance rates from increasing. 

When an elderly family member moves in with you, trying to decide whether to add them to your auto insurance policy or not can be challenging. At NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency, serving Albany, NY, we would love to help you figure it out. Contact us today and let’s sit down and discuss your auto insurance needs. 

Taking Stock of Valuables in Our Home: Important Considerations

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Many residents of Albany, NY and the Capital District welcome the arrival of spring. The annual spring cleaning ritual is more than a time to decide if you want to keep grandma’s hat. For many of us, it is also an opportunity to document family treasures that have monetary as well as sentimental value.

The agents at NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency encourage you to take stock of your valuables. Here are some important steps to follow:

  • 1. Create a Video of Your Valuables. Record them on the video and describe them as well. You can use the video functions on your smartphone or laptop.
  • 2. Take Pictures. Photographs allow you to show details from your valuables, such as intricate jewelry patterns. Take pictures in the area of the home where the items generally reside. 
  • 3. Keep an Inventory of Valuables You Wish to Insure. You can create a handwritten list or simple spreadsheet. Capture as much information as you can, including serial numbers or other unique identifiers. Scan a copy of this list or save a digital file offsite. This information should accompany any video or photographic images you have taken. 
  • 4. Consider Professional Appraisals for Exceptionally Rare and Valuable Items. Appraisals cost money, but they may provide important information that explains why an item has great value. Check the policy limits available on your plan and consider an optional rider if necessary.
  • 5. Keep Backup Copies of Documentation Offsite. Place content on a thumb drive or other digital media and store copies offsite, such as in your safe deposit box and another backup location. Be sure that you have more than one physical or electronic copy in case the original is destroyed or no longer functioning. 

Contact NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency in Albany, NY if you need to modify your homeowner’s policy.

How Do I Insure a Car I Inherited?

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At NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency, serving the greater Albany, NY, we encounter a lot of unique situations when it comes to auto insurance. One of the more unique situations that we are asked about is insuring an inherited car. Once the owner passes away, the person who inherits the car may be unsure how to insure it or what needs to be done. Here is some information on insuring a car that was inherited. 

Insurance Coverage Ends When the Policy Owner Dies

One important thing to keep in mind is that the original car insurance policy ends the day the policy owner passes away. As such, you should never drive or move the car after this date until you obtain car insurance. Many people do not realize this and think they can keep the policy until they have time to find a new one, but this is not the case. 

Titling the Car

After the owner passes away, you will want to change the title into your name, if you have inherited the car. At the same time, you will want to obtain a new insurance policy. In order to achieve this, you will likely need to explain your situation to an insurance company, letting them know why you are trying to insure a car that is not yet titled in your name. Many will give you a limited period of time, such as 30 days, to title the car in your name after obtaining insurance. 

If you have inherited a car, you will need to insure that car, as coverage stops when the owner dies. Here at NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency, serving the greater Albany, NY area, we can help you get the car insurance you need. Contact us today to discuss your needs. 

Hard Work Pays Off

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After years of working steadily at your career, making sacrifices for the future, and supporting others along the way, it’s important for you to know that there are rewards. One of these is retirement. Another is dependable insurance that covers you when unfortunate incidents happen. Here at NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency, our agents are ready to sit down with you and discuss your retirement insurance needs. They know Albany, NY and the surrounding communities. They can answer your questions, search the best policies available to you, and help you get your insurance squared away. That means you get to enjoy retirement with a lot less worry on your mind. What are some things to consider when looking for insurance coverage? Ask yourself some questions:

  • What is my health condition now?
  • How is my health likely to change in the future?
  • Do I want to travel extensively?
  • Do I look forward to enjoying my garden and backyard swimming pool?
  • What are my most important concerns right now?
  • What are my big dreams?
  • What plans am I making right now that could use a good insurance policy?
  • What investments into my future retirement have I made over the years?
  • Will my workplace insurance benefits follow me into retirement?
  • How do I want to change my retirement now that I’m in it?

Once you know many of these things about yourself, you’ll know what kinds of questions to ask us at NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency. That way we’ll be able to help you find the insurance you need. We’ll be glad to make you aware of options you may not have thought of, as well. Serving the communities in Albany, NY, NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency is here for you. Give us a call today.

Differences Between Whole and Term Life

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Picking the right life insurance policy is a very important decision for anyone in the Albany, NY area. For those that are shopping for life insurance, choosing between whole life and term life is a big choice. There are several differences between whole and term life that should be taken into consideration when you are choosing your policy. 

Term of Policy

One of the main differences between a whole and term life policy is the length and term of the policy.  Like the name of the insurance options suggest, term life insurance will provide you with coverage for a specific period of time while whole life will provide you with coverage for up to your entire lifetime. 

Cash Value

Another difference between the two options is that whole life insurance policies have a cash value. After making payments for a certain period of time, your policy will begin to accrue value that can be liquidated at any time.  The value will continue to grow based on a conservative rate of return, which can also make it a good conservative investment option.  Term life policies have not cash value. 

Amount of Coverage

The amount of coverage you receive is also much different. Term life insurance will typically provide you with far more coverage for a much smaller monthly payment than whole life. This can make it ideal for someone that is only looking for insurance coverage and is not looking for whole life investment benefits.  

If you are in the Albany, NY area and are considering your life insurance options, meeting with the NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency will be very helpful. The NY Twin Bridges Insurance Agency will help you determine which type of life insurance is right for you and how much you need. They can then help to get you into a great policy.