Employee Background Checks

Being a one-person operation has its drawbacks. I have no one to blame if something goes wrong, for example; except myself. And, if I'm feeling particularly lazy, I have no one to whom I can pass the workload.

At the same time, I don't have to worry about pre-employment screening, background checks, employee theft, or dealing with someone who refuses to do the work for which they were hired. After 20-plus years in corporate America, I have seen some amazing (and I don't mean that in a good way) employee behavior. Ranging from TVs on their desk and sleeping on the job, to coming to work higher than a space shuttle in orbit, to disappearing for hours a day at the local movie theater - nothing is surprising to me anymore. Under the right conditions (or wrong conditions) everyone is capable of making poor choices. Everyone.

Having spent time on both sides of the interview table, I can see the necessity for independent evaluation of potential employees. Everyone I interviewed seemed fine to me. Great people; lots of energy. Would love to work with them. But, very few were actually as 'terrific' as they seemed. In the end, skills and personality were almost always at odds.

And, truthfully, how many people are completely honest about their histories? I know that - naturally - I'm going to put the best face on everything I tell a potential employer. Short of out-and-out lying, which I never would do, it's in my best interest to present myself as the best possible employee for any company at which I want to work.

Would a search of my background agree with what I say? Probably. What about the next person sitting in that interview chair? Don't guess; make sure.

Be sure to stop by JMark Afghans
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Insurance For Your Business

Well, here is something I didn't think about. Probably because I have no employees, no actual store-front, no company cars, and don't need to be bonded. But business insurance is a critical purchase decision for anyone whose enterprise is more than one person.

There are so many types of coverage that have to be considered, it boggles my mind. At the very least, General Liability coverage is a must-have. This will protect against most of the basic risks of having a brick-and-mortar store. It doesn't cover transportation of goods or people, but it will offer protection if someone slips and falls walking into the store.

Or if they're beaned by falling inventory, climbing up the display racks to get to the last 'color-me-silly' doll on the top shelf. (Hey, people do crazy things in the name of shopping and saving money.)

Whatever the type of business, it's foolish to operate it in these litigious times without adequate protection.

Be sure to stop by JMark Afghans
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Life Insurance

We don't, currently, have life insurance. It's not that we're irresponsible or, at least, not overly irresponsible. Our situation - 2 smokers, 1 with serious health issues - does not lend itself to affordable premiums.

Knowing that we need some kind of protection - we're not getting any younger or any healthier - I look at life insurance quotes every few months. By my way of thinking, a large portion of our society is aging and developing long-term health issues. It is in the best interest of insurance companies to change how they view coverage and, most importantly, who qualifies for that coverage.

Apparently, I'm not completely alone in that thinking. One of the sites I review periodically mentions High Risk Life Insurance and Smokers Life Insurance. Of course, these are types of Term Life policies. Not my first choice.

By definition, Term Life offers coverage at a fixed rate for a specific Term. So, what you're doing, when you buy a Term Life policy, is guessing how long you will live. If, as Mark is doing, you outlive that expectancy, your policy expires.

Then, you either have no coverage or you buy another policy. But, now you're older and your health may be worse than it was when you bought the original policy. Translation? Not a good situation.

I've, personally, always preferred Whole Life. It's a policy for your Whole Life and, in most cases, builds a cash value over the life of the policy. If worse comes to worse, as they say, it's possible to cash-in the policy at a future date. (Not wise, but sometimes necessary.)

Naturally, Whole Life is not inexpensive. So, there you go! The insurance dilemma that us old folks face.

Be sure to stop by JMark Afghans
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Inexpensive Life Insurance

Something that we all need, whether we like to think about it or not, is life insurance. Face it, folks. We are all gonna die. Today, tomorrow, or in 30 years - no one can escape this inevitability. Being afraid to think about it can lead us to making some very bad 'non-choices' that will have very bad consequences for our loved ones.

The main fear most people have (especially in the face of a failing economy) is that life insurance costs too much. Well, it can and, depending on your situation, it may well be expensive. But there are cheap life insurance options that don't skimp on the benefits and don't empty the bank account.

Just be aware that many sites offering quotes offer generic information, pulled from available company details. They may or may not be current. And, more importantly, they may or may not be complete.

For example, when you specify your health status in the online forms, the available options may not accurately represent your situation. Consequently, the tentative rates may be very far from an actual policy premium. You just won't know until you apply.

But, if you don't currently have a policy, please consider purchasing life insurance. Your family will thank you.

Be sure to stop by JMark Afghans
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Insure Your Home

You wouldn't buy a house without a thorough inspection. How else would you know if the foundation is shaky or the roof leaks? The same is true for home insurance policies. Without checking carefully, how do you know that you're not paying too much or getting too little? Does your coverage include replacement value, or actual value? After you have a flood or a fire is not the time to find out that your policy doesn't include the computers or the piano. Or that the family-room sofa, which will cost $2,000.00 to replace, is only valued at $150.00.

The easiest way to get the right coverage at the right price is to get quotes from a number of insurers. Where you live, the size and age of your house, replacement value coverage, computers or jewelry riders - these all have an impact on insurance premiums. And need to be considered when shopping for a policy.

If you have a number of high-end electronics or inherited Grandma's jewelry collection, you will probably need a rider to provide complete coverage. This will add to your premium. That pool in the back yard? You may need additional liability coverage. But, if you don't have these additional needs, why should you pay an insurer as though you do?

Whether this is your first policy, or you're just doing a five-year check-up, get what you need. At a price you can live with.

Be sure to stop by JMark Afghans
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Getting the Best Auto Insurance Rate

It's never fun to shop for car insurance. Trust me! What looks good on the outside may be very, very different on the inside. And what works for me may be a bad idea for my neighbor.

We've all seen the commercials where the insurance company flashes dramatic 'savings' amounts on the screen - This driver saved $$$ over this-company and that-company! or You could save up to $$$ by switching to our-company. Technically, those claims are all true - under rather specific circumstances. It's important to know when they're true, when they're not, and - most importantly - when you can take advantage and save money. That requires some basic knowledge and/or research.

In a nutshell, if you have: a good credit rating, a clean driving record, no lapses in auto insurance coverage, own a vehicle without a lien that isn't popular with car thieves, and live in a low-crime zip code, you can get amazing insurance rates. (If you have all of those things, they may be knocking on your door begging you to switch to their company!) For the rest of us, we need a helping hand. That's why different companies have different options for different drivers.

If you have a poor driving record or repeatedly let coverage lapse on your car, 'ABC Insurance' won't cover you. So, you go with 'XYZ InsCo,' which will write a policy for you, and you pay more. Over time, your driving record improves, you maintain coverage, old problems fall off, (new problems don't appear) and you can now get coverage through a 'ABC Insurance.' Your premiums drop accordingly and, sometimes, dramatically. That's why - You could save up to $$$ by switching to our-company.

Additionally, some of these savings may be like comparing apples and oranges. Policy A for $200/year (don't we wish?) may have slightly less coverage or a higher deductible than Policy B for $400/year. It's all in the fine print and careful coverage selection. Because slapping any-old coverage on your vehicle is bad. You can end up paying far too much or, even worse, you can end up with too little coverage.

For example:

• If you have great medical coverage through your job that will cover you under any and all circumstances, you may not need medical in your auto insurance. (Be very, very careful about reducing medical coverage.)
  
• Conversely, if you've recently lost or reduced work-related medical coverage, you many want to consider adding medical to your auto policy. There are many levels of coverage available. (It wouldn't take a serious accident to have a serious financial impact, if doctor and hospital bills aren't covered.)

The Learning Center at 2insure4less.com is a great place to start learning about what coverage is right for you and your family. And how to communicate those needs to an insurance company. Sometimes, just knowing what to ask or how to ask, can make a big difference.


Be sure to stop by JMark Afghans
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Long Term Care Insurance

I'm a little late for Mother's Day, but I ran across a column today that offered some seriously good advice: Long Term Care Insurance for adults and their parents.

The author recognizes, and addresses, common arguments against this expensive - but ultimately vital - coverage. For example, annual premiums may be upward of $1,500.00, depending on the age of the policyholder at inception. The annual cost for a private room in nursing home, depending on where you live, may be upward of $75,000.00. You do the math!

There are a lot of factors to take into consideration. Luckily, there is a lot of information in this article.


Be sure to stop by JMark Afghans
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

The Best Auto Insurance

So many websites will gladly tell you that they have the best auto insurance, or any other insurance, for your needs. Sadly, that may not be true and what you don't know, can cost you a lot.

Not every company is the best choice for every driver. For example, people with lapses in auto coverage or multiple accidents may have a very difficult time getting a policy through a standard company. But, there are companies that were designed specifically to help drivers with such problems get a policy that will keep them covered in their state.

Online Auto Insurance addresses these variables in a very interesting article. They explain variances in coverage and companies; offering commonsense advice that's very important for those changing coverage, renewing coverage, or just curious about whether their current rates could be better.

Start by comparing rates for your specific situation - location, driving record, state requirements, previous coverage, and personal budget - among several companies. What works for us, may not be your best deal; and vice versa.


Be sure to stop by JMark Afghans
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Auto Insurance

One way to cut expenses, in these difficult economic times, is to revisit insurance premiums.

Maybe circumstances were different when you first signed up for, what seemed to be, a cheap car insurance policy. One of my stepsons has had some problems with tickets and accidents - typical teenage boy driving issues. His insurance cost was through the roof.

He recently reviewed what he was paying and went looking for a better option. Even with all of the marks against him, he managed to improve his costs and saved a fortune.

Why not take a minute and see if you can reduce some of your expenses, as well?


Be sure to stop by JMark Afghans
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

New Year's Resolutions

Since my last *holiday* post, I've been thinking about resolutions.

Admittedly, there are several things I'd like to change in the New Year. Some are a matter of willpower; others are more along the lines of get-started-now and it'll take care of itself. So, here we go:

1. Stop smoking
   I don't usually make this resolution, because it's the first one I break. But this year, I think I'll add an alternate activity to compensate.
2. Clean House Every Day
   It doesn't take long to keep a tiny apartment clean, when you do a little every day. I used to get up at 3:00am, make Mark's breakfast and pack his lunch, clean the kitchen, dust the furniture, clean the bathroom, scrub the floors, and vacuum the carpet - every day. It took me less than 2 hours. Then, the rest of the day was mine. (I don't want to get up at 3:00am again, but I do like having everything neat and tidy.)
3. Exercise
   This is a two-fold resolution. I need to get into better shape and it will give me something more constructive to do when I think I need a cigarette.
4. Edit Every Day
   Over the last few months, I have developed a bad habit of putting off *going to work* until the end of the month. Then, I have several days of manic, no-sleep work that burns me out for the first 2/3 of the next month. So, at the end of the month, I have several days of . . . You get the idea!
5. Bake Once a Week
   We both love biscuits and coffee cake and fresh bread. Not to mention, cookies and cakes and brownies. With the ever-increasing prices of - everything - it's just practical to make some things at home. And you just can't beat the smell of anything baking in the oven.
6. Work on JMark Afghans
   I have gotten involved in so many other things, that I've been spending less time with the website. For 2009, I want to add the FAQ section, Glossary, and completely revise the Photo Albums. Not to mention, find even more great companies and products to offer our customers!
7. Create an Inventory for JMark Afghans, etc.
   I've been thinking about this one for a while. Letting customers choose a style, size, and colors for their afghan, hat, scarf, or shawl is still the foundation of JMark Afghans, etc. But, sometimes, you need a gift in a hurry. By having items in stock, I can broaden my customers' options.
8. Start a Topical Blog (or two)
   Don't get me wrong, I love Random Musings. It's a place where I can sit down and talk - about anything that crosses my mind. But, I have some very specific interests and passions which would benefit from more focused attention. They often get lost in the other posts and random thoughts.
   
   And lastly, but most importantly:
9. Schedule My Time
   It's easy to come up with great ideas. Not so easy to follow through and get everything done. In the last couple of years, I've become rather disorganized, giving attention to whatever is screaming the loudest at the time. I'd like to have a schedule, so that everything I want to do gets its fair share of attention and I'm not chasing my tail from dawn to dusk.

On that note, I'm going to go have a cigarette, flop down in my recliner, and play *myFarm* on Facebook. Hey! It's not 2009, yet!


Be sure to stop by JMark Afghans
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

Wholesale Insurance

Saw a commercial the other day for life insurance. I think about it sometimes, because we're getting older and don't (currently) have any coverage. Not terribly intelligent, but I've also seen some of the conditions and premiums; not terribly inexpensive, either.

With both of us smoking, and Mark's health, I just never thought it was something we could manage on our very tight budget. Still, - in the interest of New Year's resolutions and all that - I decided that I should take another look at what's out there.

One of my biggest complaints about the whole insurance-buying process is getting a quote that matches the eventual premium. No matter how much information you provide upfront, the bottom line never matches the I-can-get-it-for-you-cheap sales pitch. And shopping for insurance for Mark is always difficult.

I did find a one-stop-shopping site that has a substantial database of insurers, options, and premiums. (I need to research some of the terms they use, because the options seriously affected the rate quote.) Playing around with their quote calculator is really interesting; didn't realize the details that affect the cost of insurance. Bottom line?

After independently checking a couple of companies, it does appear that you can get accurate term life insurance rates from Wholesale Insurance. But, again, these quotes are only as good as the information provided by the insurers and you're still going to have (in my opinion) some differences when you get to the actual payment amounts.

But it's a great place to start. And they include carrier ratings in their database, so you can avoid the financially unstable, fly-by-night types.

Give them a try and let me know what you think. 'Kay?


Be sure to stop by JMark Afghans
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules

High Risk Health Insurance

Given Mark's health - liver cancer and transplant, lung cancer - his only option is high risk life insurance. This...


Be sure to stop by JMark Afghans
We also have a page on Squidoo that supports the Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!

Jules