Monday, July 6, 2009

Business Liability Insurance for System Integrators and Custom Programmers

By James Cochran

Whether you’re working directly with a client or through a staffing firm, if you’re a systems integrator or custom programmer, you’ll probably have at least one client who requires you to carry insurance. Maybe you are responsible for employees, or maybe you work freelance. Either way, you might wonder if all that coverage is really necessary.

You already know the bottom line: if you want to land a potential client that requires insurance, you better have the insurance. The good news is that in almost all cases, the insurance coverage your client requires can be both affordable and can reduce liability for your business.

Typically, clients want insurance for software developers, system integrators and programmers to include some or all of the following four types of coverage:

General liability insurance

General liability insurance covers damage to property or injury to people. Client companies often require every vendor – from plumbers to IT contractors – to show proof of general liability insurance. In some cases, the mandate comes from the client’s risk managers, who want to reduce the company’s potential liability and financial loss due to lawsuits.

If you are a systems integrator, you know there is always the risk that you or an employee might accidentally damage hardware, or put a foot through a drop ceiling while pulling cable. If you are concerned about damage to your client's equipment while you are installing, configuring, or just moving it, you will want to make sure your general liability policy includes property coverage. This is actually coverage for your own business property but extends to your client's property "in your care, custody, or control." Liability insurance package with property coverage for systems integrators gives you peace of mind that if an accident happens, you're covered.

If you are a software developer, software engineer or programmer, even if you work at your own home or office, there’s still a risk that client equipment in your possession could be damaged. General liability insurance that is packaged with coverage for your property and for software developers and engineers, as well as programmers, also provides confidence that you're covered if you accidentally drop the client’s server or spill coffee onto a laptop.

Professional liability insurance

Professional liability insurance is similar to malpractice insurance for software developers, programmers, and system integrators. It covers you for errors and omissions you make on the job. Clients require it because they know that people make mistakes.

Your client’s greatest risk in hiring you is that your mistakes could spawn a lawsuit or financial loss. For example, if an error you make results in data loss, and your client spends hundreds of thousands of dollars to reconstruct those data files, your client wants to make sure that you can compensate the company.

Professional liability insurance for software engineers and programmers just makes sense. Without it, you’re 100 percent liable for all legal defense costs if your client claims you’ve made errors or omissions. In many cases, a misunderstanding is all it takes to get sued. Once a client alleges negligence and communications break down, your legal expenses can begin to mount.

Workers’ compensation insurance

Workers’ compensation insurance is required in nearly every state if you have employees. If you are a one-person company, in most states you can opt out of workers' compensation coverage. But your client may require you to carry this coverage even if your state does not. The reason: In some states, if you’re injured on the job, your client must automatically cover you with its own workers’ compensation policy. Additionally, in some cases, your client’s insurance carrier will bill the client to cover all subcontractors that don’t provide their own certificate of coverage. Both situations mean higher premiums for your client.

If you work as a systems integrator, you’re probably used to lifting heavy equipment and climbing ladders, and you know there’s always potential for injury. If you’re a programmer, software developer or software engineer considering insurance, keep in mind that you may be at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome. Workers’ compensation insurance for systems integrators, as well as programmers and software developers and engineers, covers medical costs, plus disability and compensation in the event of such on-the-job injuries.

If you have employees, workers’ compensation insurance makes sense. If you’re a solo practitioner with your own health and disability insurance, it may be redundant – but you may need it to get the work.

Fidelity bond coverage

Aptly described as employee dishonesty coverage, this type of insurance compensates your client if you or your employees steal money or property on the job. In particular, clients in the banking and financial services industries are likely to ask software engineers, software developers, system integrators and programmers to carry fidelity bond insurance because they’re entrusting them with sensitive information, such as customer Social Security and account numbers.

Most self-employed I.T. professionals know that client information is safe with them. But if you have employees or subcontractors handling valuable property or customer information – no matter how much you trust them – anything can happen, and if it does, you could be held liable. A laptop could go missing, or a programmer working on a financial services network could steal banking customers’ account numbers and passwords to take money from their accounts. If that happens, fidelity bond insurance compensates your client for the missing money or property.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/business_and_finance/article_11011.shtml

Tax Rules:Roth IRA Conversions, IRA Insurance Protection & Lawsuits

By Rocco Beatrice

There is an exception to the tax rules when converting. If an individual made nondeductible contributions to their traditional IRA, this amount will not be taxed. If the person has made significant contributions that are nondeductible, converting to a Roth IRA will have enormous benefits. An easy deciding factor is whether an individual has the money available to pay the taxes that will be due. If they do, then the conversion is probably beneficial. If not, the individual may want to reconsider the conversion.

After making sure eligibility requirements are met, many people will still ask why they should convert to a Roth IRA. IRA retirement income is a huge asset as workers near the age of retirement. These accounts, regardless of the type, will provide an extra source of income.

What is a Roth IRA: Comparing to Traditional IRA

To understand why a Roth IRA can be more beneficial, individuals should be able to answer the common question of “what is Roth IRA?” The Roth IRA is an individual retirement account that has benefits over other IRA accounts. The overall structure of a Roth IRA is similar to other IRAs. The main difference is that contributions are made after taxes. This means that taxes have already been paid on the amount being contributed. The positive side to this is that when withdrawals are made after the age of 59 ½, there will be no taxes included, making a Roth IRA a form of tax-free income. Another key benefit is that there are no mandatory required withdrawals. When comparing a Roth vs. traditional IRA, these are the main differences. Roth IRA accounts also allow individuals to keep contributing after they retire. Roth IRA contribution limits are the same as a traditional IRA. These three main points are what makes a Roth more attractive for many people. In most situations, a Roth IRA will provide the most benefits and will be a definite source of income after retirement.

IRA & Retirement Plan Investing

IRA and retirement plan investing is one of the most important decisions anyone can make. This decision will provide the basis of your retirement savings. There are many ways to save for the years to come, but IRA accounts are the safest and easiest way to assure there will be an income source upon retiring. If possible, it may be best to begin with a Roth IRA so there will be no need to convert later. However, a conversion to Roth is not the only option. In some cases, people opt to convert their current Roth IRA to a traditional IRA. This can occur when an individual receives a significant pay increase. If they no longer meet the Roth IRA limits regarding income, they will not be able to contribute to the account any longer. In this situation, converting to a traditional IRA will allow contributions to resume.

Recently, many people are concerned about the financial safety of their IRA accounts. It should be noted that IRAs are considered a source of income. This being said, these accounts may be included in lawsuits and bankruptcy claims. There is some question whether Roth IRA accounts are protected in the same way as traditional accounts. If the account has a large amount of money, it may be deemed an asset and subject to legal findings. If there is any concern over the safety and protection of a Roth IRA, consult with a tax professional. Call us toll-free at (888-938-5872) for a free, initial and private consultation regarding protecting your Roth IRA accounts and any assets you hold.

IRA Insurance Protection

Currently, ERISA, SPIC, and FDIC offer different levels of IRA insurance depending on where the funds sit for general liability if a financial institution goes belly up, but not for market-related volatility. Generally, this insurance will only cover the amount of the account in CD's and Money Market accounts. This insurance is applicable to traditional IRAs. It has not yet been determined if Roth IRA accounts will fall under this insurance coverage. With regards to creditors, many states offer some level of creditor protection to regular IRAs and 401(k)'s – although not completely protected. The bankruptcy laws from state to state vary and need to be considered. If you are in a high risk profession, these should be a consideration when establishing your IRAs.

Converting an IRA account is a serious decision. It is important to review all IRA rules, including the simple IRA rules as well as IRA withdrawal rules. Take the time needed to compare the pros and cons of each type of account. An IRA account is the main source of income for many retired individuals. A conversion may be a good choice for many who wish to receive tax-free income after they retire.

Assumptions on the Roth IRA Conversion

This article is based on several assumptions including the length of keeping your money in the Roth IRA. If you do not plan on keeping your money in the account long enough to offset the challenges with the conversion, the assumptions may be inaccurate for your situation. You should always consult a tax expert. Please call us today and we'll help you through these tough decisions and assess your best avenue for success.

Article source:http://www.articlecity.com/articles/business_and_finance/article_11040.shtml

IT Staffing Agencies Need General Liability Insurance

By James Cochran

IT staffing agencies are familiar with their clients’ requirements for insurance coverage, and know that they have to have the insurance to get the business. But you may wonder if all that coverage is really necessary. The good news is that in almost all cases, the insurance coverage your client requires can be both affordable and beneficial to your business.

Beyond finding a reputable insurance agency, staffing firms need to do their homework to reduce their liability in client dealings. Typically, clients want their IT recruitment agencies – as well as the information technology subcontractors those companies hire on their behalf – to carry some or all of the following four types of coverage:

General liability insurance

General liability insurance for IT staffing agencies covers damage to property or injury to people. Client companies often require all of their vendors – from plumbers to IT staffing firms – to show proof of general liability insurance. In some cases, the mandate is driven by the client’s risk managers, who seek to reduce the company’s risk of financial loss due to lawsuits.

Any systems integrator you place on a job could accidentally damage hardware, cause a short or put a foot through a drop ceiling while pulling cable. Even a software developer, software engineer or programmer working at home could accidentally spill a drink on a laptop or drop a server in his or her possession.

When a client goes after one of your information technology subcontractors for compensation, you’re likely to be held responsible as well. IT staffing firms with liability insurance from a quality insurance agency are protected from the financial fallout that could result.

Professional liability insurance

Professional liability insurance for IT recruitment agencies is like malpractice insurance for these firms and the information technology service providers they place. Also known as E&O insurance, it protects your IT recruiting agency from liability arising from errors and omissions that you or your information technology subcontractors may make on the job. Clients require it because they know that people make mistakes.

Your client’s greatest risk in hiring you is that your mistakes could spawn a lawsuit or financial loss. For example, if your staffing firm places an information technology subcontractor on a job, and that individual makes a mistake that wipes out hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of client data, your client can claim the error was your fault and expect you to compensate the company. Without liability insurance, IT staffing agencies can expect costs to mount quickly.

Having professional liability insurance for IT staffing agencies just makes sense. Without it, IT staffing firms are liable for legal defense costs if their clients make claims against them and for settlement costs if a court finds them at fault. A misunderstanding may be all it takes to get sued. Once a client alleges negligence and communications break down, your legal expenses begin to grow.

Workers’ compensation insurance

Some states require companies to carry workers’ compensation insurance, while others don’t. If your client’s company is based in a state that requires it, your IT recruiting firm will probably be asked to carry it, even if your own home state does not mandate it.

Why? In some states, your client will be forced to cover you with its own workers’ compensation policy if you or your employees get injured on the job. Also, in some states, your client’s insurance carrier can bill your client for coverage for all subcontractors who don’t provide their own certificate of coverage. Both result in higher premiums for your client.

Workers’ compensation insurance covers medical costs as well as disability and compensation, should you or one of your employees get hurt on the job. If you’re a solo IT professional with your own health staffing insurance, workers’ compensation insurance may be redundant – but you may still need it to get the work.

If your IT recruitment agency does have employees, protecting them with workers’ compensation insurance is a smart thing to do. From carpal tunnel syndrome to a slick break room floor, any number of on-the-job hazards could jeopardize your employees’ health or take them away from their jobs. Workers’ compensation coverage ensures that your employees are taken care of and saves your company any expenses arising from their ongoing care.

Working with a reputable insurance agency, IT staffing firms can secure the right coverage to meet client and state requirements.

Fidelity bond coverage

Often described as employee dishonesty coverage, this type of insurance compensates your client if you or your IT staffing firm’s employees steal money or property on the job. If your IT staffing firm places an information technology service provider who turns out to be less than honest, you’re just as likely to be held accountable as the person who does the deed.

Clients in the banking and financial services industries typically want programmers, software engineers, software developers and system integrators to carry fidelity bond insurance from a reputable insurance agency because they’re entrusting them with sensitive information, such as customer account numbers, and personal information, such as Social Security numbers.

If your staffing firm has information technology subcontractors handling valuable property or customer information – even though you trust them – keep in mind that anything could happen. Computer equipment could disappear, or a programmer could obtain banking customers’ account numbers and passwords to steal from their accounts. If that happens, fidelity bond insurance for IT staffing firms compensates your client for the missing money or property.

By contacting a quality insurance agency, IT recruitment agencies can learn more about fidelity bond insurance and how much coverage is best.

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/business_and_finance/article_11044.shtml

Permanent Insurance Explained - Permanent Life Insurance Types

By Donald Lusan

Permanent insurance, also referred to as permanent life insurance, affords the policy owner the opportunity to accumulate a little cash in addition to providing a death benefit in the event of premature death. When most people today think about life insurance today they think in terms of the largest amount of cash they can leave for a spouse and children. The result is that they buy a term policy. Term life insurance is the cheapest type policy you can buy. The problem with this however is that if you keep the policy for the duration and don't die there is nothing in it for you.

Your permanent insurance policy is entirely different. It costs more than term but if you keep it for 20 or 30 years or longer you will likely get back whatever you have paid into it if you choose to surrender it for it's cash value. There are many different types of permanent policies. Let us take a look at a few of them.

Universal Life

Universal life insurance combines a term policy with a savings plan. The amount of money you apply to savings is flexible. It does not need to ne a set amount. This policy also pays a death benefit in the event the insured dies.

Variable Universal Life

This policy is also considered a permanent policy as it combines an investment plan with a permanent type policy. A special licence, an NASD License, is needed to sell this product as some of your money is invested in mutual funds or other equity linked products.

Variable Life

This policy is a combination of whole life insurance and an investment. The agent selling this product also needs an NASD License in addition to his Agents License.

Whole Life

This policy has been around probably from the idea of life insurance came into existence. This is the original permanent policy. Most of these policies last to age 100.

Single Premium Life

This policy is a variation of the whole life policy. It allows you to pay one premium and keep your policy for as long as you wish. You can turn it in to the company at any time for it's cash value.

Limited Pay Life

This permanent insurance policy is set up so that you can pay into it for a given number of years and pay no more thereafter. You have your policy for as long as you live.

Graded Premium Life

The first year you pay a smaller premium which increases every year for a given period of time, usually 5 or 10 years, then levels off. The premium remains level for the balance of the time you keep your policy. The first years premium is usually slightly more than half of the payment required for a whole life policy. When the premium levels off it is again more than you would pay for a whole life policy.

All permanent insurance policies have cash values and most earn dividends is the company performs well with it's investments.

For additional information go to: http://www.life-insurance-answers.net/types-of-life-insurance.html
Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/business_and_finance/article_11049.shtml

Term Insurance - Are You Certain You Want Term Life Insurance?

By Donald Lusan

Do you really need term insurance? There are other options, so, is term life insurance for you? Some people are convinced there are no other choices. Ever consider why this type of life insurance is so favored? Let us take a look at some of the most popular term policies and see whether or not they would fit your unique situation.

5 Year Term

Why would one buy a 5 year term policy? If you have a short term need for life insurance this policy may be exactly what you are seeking. You have some outstanding debt that a close friend or relative helped you get by signing on the dotted line with you. This person had guaranteed repayment of this loan. You don't want to die and leave your friend holding the bag. The thoughtful thing to do would be to buy a life insurance policy to pay off the debt in case you should die before paying it off yourself. The 5 year term insurance policy may be ideal for this. This policy is very inexpensive, it has a level death benefit as well as a level premium.

10 Year Term

Sometimes people buy this policy because of its low cost even though this is not exactly what they feel they need. This is a short term fix for a need that may be long term. A family with young children may need a 20 year or a 25 year term policy to protect the family through to the end of the college years but because of cost they use the 10 year term policy until they can afford the more costly policies.

In some cases, on the other hand, the 10 year policy fits. Your only child is age 15 and you want to be certain s/he graduates college even if you are not here. The 10 year term policy may be ideal.

15 Year Term

You youngest child is age 10. You will feel more relaxed if you own a 15 year term policy which would provide sufficient income to take care of the family until the last child graduates. This policy is also quite inexpensive. Premiums and face amount are level for the duration.

20 Year Term

Perhaps the most popular term insurance policy is the 20 year term life insurance policy. People tend to buy this policy when planning to get married or is they are recently married. When a child is born that is a good time to buy a 20 year term policy. If you own a business you may want to use this type of policy for key employee life insurance. You could use it also to fund a buy sell agreement for a partnership or corporation.

25 Or 30 Year Term

One would purchase any of these policy instead on any of the above if you anticipate a need for life insurance for a longer period of time. Think about it, we normally anticipate a need for a newlywed couple to be for a 20 year duration. This couple may not want to have a child until after 5 years. You may therefore need a 25 or 30 year policy to protect that child through age 25. What of other additions to the family later on and what if you cant qualify for the life insurance you need when you get there.

You see if you buy a 25 or 30 year term policy from the outset then all is taken care of. It is important to note that the purchase of term insurance from the better life insurance companies allows you the opportunity to convert to permanent life insurance at a later date.

Once you determine how much life insurance you need you may find that term insurance would be ideal for you if it is even just for a temporary period of time.

Click Here for more on term insurance:
http://www.lifeinsurancehub.net/lifeinsurance-1.html

Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/business_and_finance/article_11068.shtml

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Benefits of Online Auto Insurance and Insurace Policy Quotes

By Alien

These days it has become one prime need to get an insurance done as risk factor has increase in every aspect of life. Getting an insurance done ensures less amount of loss as it is paid off back to a certain limit in exchange of the premium amount. One can get insurance of the property, life, health, automobiles, etc. The best way of getting a quick look on all the available insurance policies is the online method. Getting online and browsing through the good companies for the purpose of getting an auto insurance done gets hassle free and a simple job. One can go through all possible insurance agencies, compare and find out the most appropriate quote. The online services help one to have an access to the various auto insurance quotes that can be simultaneously noted down with the best feature that is being availed. There are lots of auto insurance quotes available. You have to do auto insurance comparison to get the cheapest quote.

Different plans available online help one find out a deal with maximum benefits, one that is cheap and affordable due to its lower premium rates. The quotations available online can be gone through in few minutes. It is a simple (not involving skills); quick and time managing task process that is available at single click of the mouse. However there are other ways of buying the policies, either directly or through the broker, but they is more time consuming disturbing for the customer.

In case of the online services one has to just go through the details, compare and download the forms of the best suited policy coverage. Online information provides all the guidelines and other details about the policy that is being offered in a more comprehensive manner. This enables one to take care of the necessary requirements one should make before buying a vehicle. This helps in attaining a better insurance policy. Online policy quotes are helpful in gaining knowledge about the dos and the don’ts that one should keep in mind to save oneself from higher quotes. For instance, it tells about insuring an automobile that is inexpensive and does not have heavy engines. In such a case one would avoid buying sports cars to get benefits on the policy rates. On the other hand is advised to provide complete information to the insurer regarding one’s own marital status, sex, age and also the safety measures that the car is acquainted with. For the same purpose a number of sites are being organized letting the customer go for a tension free process of buying a policy online.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/benefits-of-online-auto-insurance-and-insurace-policy-quotes-1008811.html