July 31, 1952

That's my "birth" day. And today I'm celebrating! Celebrating that I'm still young, healthy and full of energy. Full of the DESIRE to grow, learn and improve every day. When people moan about getting older, I don't understand their thought process. I WANT to get older, because it sure beats the alternative!

I have so much to do yet. I used to look forward to retiring, and now I believe I never will. You don't want to retire when you're doing what you love to do - what you have a passion to do.

I want to serve my passion of providing a contents inventory to every person who wants one. Notice I didn't say "needs" one, because everyone needs one. But those who understand why - those who see the obligation to their family - those who know they will be better off in so many ways by having this inventory - those are the people I seek to serve.

We all have a passion, and that is mine. I have seen and been told stories of the people not being able to recover properly after a fire, theft, hurricane or tornado. Many spent hours working with adjusters instead of being able to tend to injured family members or take care of other family issues.

I have heard of the financial losses people have experienced because they were under-insured or couldn't prove value of specific items. Of business owners who could not recover and closed their doors.

I have seen the pain and emotional anguish that an executor endures due to family bickering after the death of a parent.

Yes, I have a passion for taking care of those who want an inventory. And to share all the reasons to know what you own. So today, as I turn 57, I have a lot to do, a lot of people to serve, and I look forward to every single new day. And each customer is the perfect gift because it allows me to provide the peace of mind that I have a passion to give.

On the road again

We have received phone calls from people throughout the country - Florida, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Arizona, Mississippi - in the past few weeks asking us to provide inventories for them. Some are referrals from current customers, which is the best compliment we can receive. Others are finding us on the internet, and that's exciting. (Thank you Zent Consulting for the great website!)

These inquiries are because people are learning the importance of an inventory of the contents of their home and/or business. But they don't know how to, don't have time to or just don't want to do it themselves. We love the business opportunities, and we love the travel. But we would prefer to help others learn the business through our turnkey package to serve these and other areas of the United States.

These calls for the contents inventories prove the growth of this service. People are on the internet looking for a professional to document this information for them. The need is evident everywhere.

With the economy improving, people are once again moving forward with their dream of starting their own business. There is a need for personal property inventory service providers, and we're so pleased that we can help new entrepreneurs get started (and we get to do our traveling when going to them for the hands-on training).

The increased knowledge of the need for an inventory, the improved economy, rekindled dreams of entrepreneurship, and a turnkey package to help, mentor, and support a new venture. I love it when things come together!

How about you? What is your dream? Could it be to provide this great service to your area?

Good morning, class

I remember the classroom skits on Saturday Night Live years ago that started (in the annoying, nasal voice), "Good morning, claaaaaas."

For some reason that memory came back when we created the Continuing Public Education course for CPAs. Often when people think of personal property inventories, they only think disaster preparedness and recovery. But there are so many other times this information is essential. CPAs have expressed the desire to know each of these areas so they can better serve their clients.

We look forward to sharing our expertise!

Inventory service or appraiser

When you are the executor of an estate, when do you need a certified appraiser, and when do you need an inventory service? Knowing the difference between the two will help you make that decision.

An appraiser is certified to examine and state the value on artwork, china, jewelry, antiques and high dollar value collectibles. These normally are items that appreciate in value. Many hours are spent achieving certifications and designations. Appraisers rate vary, and some charge by the piece while others charge by the hour.

A personal property inventory service provides a list of all "regular" household items. These are items like sofas, chairs, lamps, tables, etc., that depreciate over time. Fair market value, rather than appreciated value, is what's required for this type of inventory. These contents inventories are normally priced by the number of rooms, an hourly rate or the square footage of the home.

When hiring an inventory of an estate, the most cost-conscious process would be to have a personal property inventory service provider document the contents, then hire an appraiser to determine the value of the specific pieces that need a certified appraisal.

Ask for referrals from friends, family or even your estate attorney. Though there are confidentiality issues here, most appraisers and inventory service providers will have a few customers who have agreed to provide a testimonial.

Stop Go Wait

I recently started to "clean out" my Twitter account, and some of my reasons for doing so are included in a previous post.

I didn't make that decision on a whim. It was based on conversations with marketing professionals and also reading other blogs and articles about the value of social media and connecting to build professional and personal relationships. I must be honest, it made me feel bad that I wasn't doing justice to each and every friend and follower. I asked for feedback regarding this decision because I just wasn't sure yet what to do.

I chose to stop cleaning and wait for people to respond before continuing. After further deliberation, I decided to not just stop what I was doing, but instead to add more, reciprocating all who were following me (with a few necessary exceptions). Why the change?

First, I received an email from J.S. Perkins (@TheSCICoach on Twitter); I trust, admire and respect her on a personal and a business level. She pointed out a few things to consider. For example ...

Think of Twitter, FB or any other networks you're on as the "real world" ... You may know these people casually or not at all, but if they're aware of you, they may recommend you to a friend or relative who has concern for personal possessions in their home.

Many of us are on Twitter, FB and the other networks to promote our businesses in addition to developing new relationships. I am one of those people. She made some great points, so I stopped to give it more thought.

Then, a comment on that previous blog arrived. And a couple friends posted thoughts on my Facebook page. Next came a couple phone calls, another email and a few Twitter Direct Messages stating,"I enjoy your posts. Please don't 'clean me out'" and "I'm new to Twitter, and like following you, please keep me in your follow" and similar remarks.

All of this really made me start to think ...

• Does it matter how many are in the follow/following categories?
• The number of people won't keep me from developing those relationships I'm seeking.
  
• Is it a bad thing that I'm not communicating each and every day with each and every one, and they with me?
• Don't I go to networking events to meet more people? And will I develop a relationship with each person I meet?
• I know quite a few people, and I don't see them face-to-face every day nor do I talk to them every day, but that doesn't mean I don't care about them, it doesn't mean I don't want to stay in touch with them. If we cross paths, and we have something of interest for the other, we'll take the time to talk. And sometimes we seek each other out.
  
• And based on some of the comments - I'm bringing value to others!

That last thought was the key to changing my mind - value to others. And isn't that, ultimately, why we're all on the various social networking sites - to create opportunities, offer connections, share, educate, help and bring value?

So ... Quality or Quantity? I no longer think it's an either/or decision. Isn't there plenty of room for both?

Forward, smash - reverse, smash!

We were being interviewed by Elaine Whitesides for an upcoming article in our local newspaper and were discussing all the reasons everyone needs a contents inventory. When we were talking about storage and moving, she told us her son learned of that specific need first hand.

Seems he had a storage unit that was full of furniture and other belongings being stored between moves. The person across the driveway had a car stored in his unit. As he pulled out, very fast, he smashed into Elaine's son's door and totally destroyed some of his belongings and damaged most of the others. Then he backed up, again very fast, and went completely through his own garage unit and out the other side!

So, do you need to have a list of everything you have in storage? Uhhhh...that would be a yes.

Another sad call

I received a call yesterday from a woman looking for a contents inventory service to help document her aunt's estate. Her father, an elderly man, is the executor, and asked her to help him. He is a business owner and still works 6 days a week. How will he have the time to get the inventory done? She is a working mother with 2 small toddlers. How will she have the time? She's expecting it to take them more than 3 full days to complete it.

To add to the emotion of his loss and attending to all the tasks associated with being an executor, his sister's family is now causing issues. They are blaming him on putting it off on purpose, causing additional stress on him. They are wanting to get in the house to "get things" and are upset he won't let them until the inventory is complete. They've even pressured him to recuse himself as executor!

Everything is in order for the estate, except the inventory. It's not that he doesn't want to do it, he just doesn't have the time, doesn't know how and isn't sure how to figure out the fair market value of each item.

We are pleased that we can help people through these tough times.

They don't just count beans

We had the privilege of meeting a group of CPAs today at the accounting firm of Katz, Sapper & Miller. Learning about the many needs met by having an inventory of personal property was the agenda for our 1-1/2 hour CPE course.

This group was very attentive, kind and complimentary. They told us they learned a lot, and many will be checking their insurance policies tonight when they get home. And they'll also be counting items (not beans) to see how much they didn't remember or underestimated.

What a great feeling! One of our key business efforts is to educate and inform. We did that today, and now these CPAs and their clients will know the need - and value - of having a list of the contents of their homes and businesses. They also learned how to compile an inventory.

These CPAs are more than just bean counters...they care about their clients and their clients' businesses, too! That was evidenced by the variety of questions they asked.

Thanks to all for making us feel welcome. A special thanks to Andy Manchir for a fantastic introduction. Oh, yeah, great lunch, too!

If it ain't broke, take a picture

During a conversation last week, we got around to talking about moving from one town to another and the things that happen during the transition. When one person found out that I provide contents inventories, she asked if we did many for people that are moving out of town. Sorry to say, I had to say, "No, very few." She told me we need to start telling people they need to.

She hired a moving company, and said her list was not very comprehensive, unfortunately. And then when they unpacked, she found 2 tables with broken legs, other items damaged beyond repair, and the most disappointing thing was that there was a HUGE "X" on the top of one of her high-end (very expensive) wooden cabinets. She could only guess that it was from a table that was stacked on top. Just a light sanding won't even fix this, as the "X" is a very deep impression; she'll need to have it professionally repaired.

No list of the broken items. No proof of the condition of the tables prior to the move. No way to prove the like-new condition of the cabinet. No reimbursement for the damage.

So, I'm taking her advice and will STRONGLY suggest ... take photos of your items before they're loaded in a moving van. You'll be able to support your request for repairs if your goods don't arrive in the same condition as when they were packed.

Churches are not exempt

A previous post discussed the need for churches to have a personal property inventory. Unfortunately, they are not exempt from disasters.

Think about the number of churches that suffered loss during the hurricanes. When a tornado touches down, it won't skip a church just because it's a church. How many experience flooding due to heavy rains, a broken water heater, sewer backup? We see frequent reports of fires that totally destroy a church building. Thefts are on the rise, and once again churches are not exempt from that, either. Many churches today have a huge collection of furniture, musical instruments and audio equipment, computers and printers.

Does your church have this documentation in written format and photographs? I'm guessing not, and that's because you don't have anyone who will/can do this. We know someone who does!

We talk, tweet and follow - but do we communicate?

I started clearing out my Twitter following/followers over the weekend. It's a big job. So big that I have set aside an hour a day until I'm done (or it would turn into a marathon). Why do I want to "clear it out" rather than find more new followers?

I wasn't communicating any more with most of my 'peeps'. There is no right or wrong reason to be on social media sites. We are all participating for many different reasons. Some want volume to push their product. And that is one of the reasons I'm on Twitter. I want people to learn about our inventory services. I also want to educate why you need an inventory of what you and your business own. But the main reason I'm on Twitter is to develop business and personal relationships.

While I was reading some posts, I realized that all I was doing was reading them. There were very few people scrolling by who I know or am having conversations with.

Now, of course, there are insurance companies and estate attorneys I follow, and those who offer great motivational quotes, and some because they are just plain entertaining. But that said, that means that there are more than 2000 people who I don't talk to AND who don't talk to me. To be honest, have nothing in common.

This wonderful phenomenon called social media helps you find people you want to meet. But then what? Amassing a huge following just creates one-way conversations. So why bother? Where's the 'social' in that? Isn't the point to build relationships? The relationships aren't happening if you're not communicating.

I don't know about you, but I'd rather have 10 raving fans who will help me find customers than have 1000 people who "follow" me but don't know me, don't know what my company is, and even worse, that they don't CARE!

And I'd rather have 10 friends who know me, care about what I have to say than 1000 people who watch my avatar go by without interest.

When people stop following me, I won't feel bad. And when people see I have stopped following them, they shouldn't take it personally. We can't be everything to everybody. But we can be of value to those we have real relationships with.

Real friends. Real business associates. REAL COMMUNICATION!

What do you think? Agree? Disagree?

A warning to burglars: Doors can hurt you

Usually I'm giving tips to warn AGAINST burglars, and how a contents inventory will help you recover from a theft.

But this burglar is one you wouldn't have to worry about. Feeling he needs a little advice, here is is:

Beware, doors can hurt you!

In pain, and after a few different attempts to enter the home, he left without anything - except maybe a bruised body and bruised ego.

The pain of saying goodbye

Many of us have experienced the loss of a loved one. As adult children, I'm sure a lot of you are listed as the executor for your parents. Thinking of what you will go through is not something anyone wants to do. But the fact is, you will have to, and being prepared for it will make the task a little less emotional.

In addition to providing our contents inventory service for disaster preparedness and recovery, we also help executors of estates. Please read Jim's story (not his real name). He lived out of state and was traveling quite often while settling his dad's estate. The visits with the attorney, trying to get the house ready to be placed on the market and traveling back and forth had begun to take their toll on him. Therefore, he had delayed doing the inventory of the contents of his father's home. He was informed by his attorney that he could no longer put it off, so he picked up a tablet and pencil and sat down ... and - stared - at - the - paper - for - who - knows - how - long!

He just couldn't do it. Having to record all his father's belongings was too emotional, too gut-wrenching, too sad. He knew it would take time and he really needed to get back home and back to work. Another trip would mean more time, more emotion, more expenses.

He called his attorney and stated how he felt, plus didn't know what pricing to put on each item even if he could create the list. His attorney suggested he give us a call. One-and-a-half hours on site and we were done. Jim told us that he was just overwhelmed and couldn't even figure out where to start or what to do.

Will this be one of your children? Creating your inventory now will be a kindness you can give to your executor at one of their most emotionally torn times in their life.

'Tis the season

I'm sure most people are aware that thefts are on the rise. It's golf season, and there have been multiple reports on the news and in the papers lately about golf clubs, golf bags and golf carts being stolen.

Do you have yours listed on your inventory? Do you even have an inventory of your belongings?

Think about this:

• The average golf bag costs $200
• A driver and 2 Taylor Made woods list at $700
• A set of Taylor Made irons cost approximately $600
• An Odyssey 2-ball putter lists at around $240

That's more than $1700! Don't let a burglary drive you off course. While you're out golfing, you can have an inventory service document everything in your home - and for less than the clubs in your golf bag!

I agree with Scott McKain

Last week Scott McKain's Viewpoint presented "What it takes to get it moving again..." in which he talked about the economy and how we all have a part - a responsibility, even - to help move it along. I totally agree with his points regarding spending and saving. He says it much more eloquently than I could, so please read his post.

One part, though, that I wanted to comment on is his opinion regarding the responsibility of the small business owner. That responsibility is to provide such a compelling service that people will feel it's better to spend their money on that service than to keep it in the bank.

Wow - compelled! That's a challenge he threw out that I didn't anticipate. But I'm up to that challenge and believe we meet it every time we provide our inventory service. He also said we need to be distinct and create an Ultimate Customer Experience (TM) so people will choose to be a customer because we bring value to them. Another Wow! And another statement that I can confidently say, "We do that."

Our customers tell us that they received more than they expected as they review the portfolio. Comments like "I had no idea we owned this much," and "I could have never remembered everything you have listed here," tell us we're providing that compelling reason.

We always get a warm thank you, and often a big warm thank you. Our customers also say that we are caring, considerate and professional. Some even suggest we raise our prices. Each of our customers who have an inventory and had a disaster, or needed help with their inventory for an estate, have said - without exception - that the fee they paid was of value! That value wasn't just in money - it was in time. And even more important, the value was in reduced stress and emotional turmoil.

So, thank you Scott McKain for your post and your challenge. You have encouraged us to look at what we do. We have reaffirmed that our service does what it needs to do, and more. So in this time of economic recovery, I'm trusting that the value we bring immediately, and the value that we give from year to year, is a service that people will be compelled to purchase!

Operators are standing by...

Does lightning strike twice?

There is an old saying that "lightning doesn't strike twice". That has been proven over and over to be nothing more than an old wives tale. And Saturday's storm that blasted Hendricks County, and specifically Avon, supports the fallacy of that statement once again. Lightning struck 3 houses in one block - one was in flames while 2 received damage of zapped electronics.

According to WishTV8, a recent study lists Indiana at 7th in the nation for highest number of lightning strikes per square mile. The State Fire Marshal says over the past five years lightning sparked fire in nearly 700 homes. The National Lightning Safety Institute estimates that one out of every 200 homes will be struck by lightning at some time.

Ron Brown, when speaking to WishTV, said he has dealt with Mother Nature previous to Saturday's fire. "...we had the tornado a year and half ago that come through this neighborhood. It tried to take my roof off."

That was the same storm that gave us a 1st-hand knowledge of this type of disaster - we lost our chimney and received damage to our roof, attic and 2 rooms.

I hope Mr. Brown, his neighbors and everyone reading this have an inventory of the contents of their homes. Proof is right here - it can happen again. An inventory lessens the stress and the time it takes to complete the claims process. It also helps maximize the settlement.

Isn't now the time to create the inventory of your home and/or business? If you don't want to do it yourself, I can recommend some awesome people to do it for you! Either way, don't wait! It CAN happen again.

Do you pray that you'll remember?

We normally talk about home inventory, but also include small and medium sized business. One "business" that we rarely mention is Churches. Of course, you guessed it - according to ChurchSafety.com and Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company, completing a personal property inventory of your church, temple, tabernacle, cathedral, mosque or other house of worship could be one of the smartest things you'll ever do.

Could you list and value the major items in your sanctuary, office, nursery or kitchen from memory? What about the appliances and electronics throughout the building(s) - would you be able to provide model and serial numbers?

They even state (you'd think I'd written this) ... "Having a detailed inventory not only helps you determine adequate amounts of coverage for personal property before a loss, but it also speeds the claim process if you suffer a loss."

There you have it - from the insurance company that is the number one insurer of churches.

Our son thinks of us even when he's on vacation

Our youngest son is vacationing in Alabama with his family and enjoying the beach, pool and 100+ degree weather. Here's a voice mail he left on my phone a couple days ago ... "Hey mom and dad, Jill and I are watching the news and there's an Allstate Agent, Scott Soulant, on Fox 10, telling people how they need an inventory." (Yes, Brian is that detailed when he tells stories. He even spelled out Soulant in case we wanted to look him up.)

He went on to say, "This agent said you need to have pictures and a written list of the items in your house in case of a disaster; he even said you should write down the serial numbers and model numbers. It sounds like he's talking about you guys. Just wanted you to know that even insurance agents are telling people they need an inventory. Sorry I missed you, see ya in a few days. Oh! One more thing...thanks for doing our inventory of our house, and for bugging me to get the updates to you. We'll do that when we get back."

Oh, the friends we meet

When we provide our home inventory service, we quite often feel that we have made new a new friend. But last week we developed a special fondness for Wilson.

When we arrived, he welcomed us with such enthusiasm you'd think we were long lost friends! We took time for our normal pleasantries and he seemed to really enjoy that. When it was time to get to work, he followed us throughout the house, watching everything we did. We don't mind that, and always invited our customers to be with us the entire time. Wilson was very quiet and never got in our way. Most of the time he just sat and watched as we moved about documenting the personal property, logging serial numbers and model numbers, counting the clothes, the CDs, the DVDs, etc.

It can be quite boring watching us work, and a few times we saw him taking a cat nap. But, once we headed to another room, along he came. A couple hours later, when it was time for us to leave, he walked us out the front door and even onto the sidewalk! I was beginning to think he was just going to come home with us. So, we stopped walking, said goodbye once more, and started towards the car. Again, he started walking with us!

At that point, though, his owner called him back to the house. We gave Wilson one more pat on the head, knowing this time, for sure, we have a new-found friend!

If you haven't done it by now...

Our guest today is Bill Suffel, owner of Bill's Alignment and Automotive Service. Since 1989, he has been known for his excellent customer service. An extremely busy man, Bill also is the owner of a second business and is an elected Speedway, Indiana, Town Councilor.

Without the help of the inventory records Hartman Inventory provided for me, the insurance settlement would not have been close to what I received.

I was burglarized and really struggled remembering what I had. I spent months walking through the house, trying to remember what - if anything - was missing from each room. I'm still remembering items that weren't part of the claim.

I knew the only way I'd ever get a reasonable insurance settlement if I had another loss was to inventory all my items. Since my time is spent running two businesses, I knew I would not get around to doing the inventories for both companies and my home any time soon. So that’s why I called the Hartmans. Had I waited until I had the time to do it myself, it would have been a huge mistake!

A few months after my inventory service, I was burglarized again. This time, it was much easier to remember what was missing. The task of filing the claim took just a few hours instead of the months it took me the first time. My time is valuable, and so are the things I own. The inventory documents saved me time, and helped me recover financially!

I can tell you, if you haven't done it yourself by now, you probably won't. Call them before you are the one spending months trying to receive an acceptable insurance claim.

Bill's Alignment and Automotive Service - 2950 Formula Alley Way 46222 - 317.923.2757

Business exit plan: Paul Simon had the right idea

T. Ray Phillips graduated in 1991 from De Pauw University with a Bachelors of Arts Degree and a major in Economics. He spent 4 1/2 years in the field of health insurance sales after graduation and consistently finished among the top 25 producers nationwide for Reserve National Insurance, Co.

Mr. Phillips shifted his practice to investment and insurance portfolio analysis and design associated with the Indianapolis Financial Group in 1996. In December 1998, the company that is now The Family Business Legacy Co, LLC was created to work primarily with the privately held and family-owned business. In 2002, T. Ray earned his Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) designation, and in 2004 became the first person in Indiana and one of less than 500 individuals nationwide to earn the Certified Family Business Specialist (CFBS) designation. Concurrent with the CFBS, he also earned his Graduate Certificate in Business Succession Planning. All of these designations are from the American College in Bryn Mawr, PA. In 2007, he earned the Accredited Estate Planner designation (AEP) and is currently finishing his Board Certification in Estate Planning (BCE) designation.

(317) 208-6312 ~ trphillips@finsvcs.com

According to Paul Simon, there are 50 ways to leave a lover. Not being as creative as Mr. Simon, we’ve only come up with eight ways for owners to leave their companies.

• Transfer the company to a family member;
• Sell the business to one or more key employees;
• Sell to key employees using an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP);
• Sell the business to one or more co-owners;
• Sell to an outside third party;
• Engage in an Initial Public Offering;
• Retain ownership but become a passive owner; and
• Liquidate.

Given the right circumstances, one of these paths may be the appropriate for you. The process of determining exactly which path is best may present an obstacle that many owners may choose to avoid. If, however, you wish to "leave your business in style," you should work through a three-step process of selecting your path. During this process you will synthesize or harmonize your exit objectives with the characteristics and capabilities of your company as well as with the external realities of the marketplace. Establishing thoughtful objectives is the first step of your Exit Plan. Doing so well in advance of your departure gives you and your advisors the time necessary to help make your goal a reality. In essence, you need to “Take Inventory” of where you are and where you want to go.

Choosing a Path - Step One. First, you, as an owner and with the help of your advisors, identify your most important Exit objectives. These objectives are both financial - "How much money will I need from the transfer of the business to assure my and my family’s financial security?"- and non-financial -"I want the company to stay in the family," or "I want to remain involved." Internal and external considerations impact an owner’s choice of exit path. For example, the owner who wishes to transfer the business for cash, but is unwilling to throw his company's and his employees' fates on an unknown third party, may decide that an ESOP or carefully-designed sale to his key employee group is the best exit route. External considerations that may impact the choice of exit path are: business, market or financial conditions. For example, the option of selling your business for cash to an outside buyer may be eliminated because of the anemic state of the M&A market.

Step Two. As you develop consistent objectives and motives, you then must value your company and determine its marketability. This analysis usually provides further direction and can eliminate potential exit paths. Once again, a detailed “inventory” of your business that creates it’s value is critical. For example, if the value of a company is high and its marketability is low (perhaps because of the depressed state of the M&A market), an owner may decide that a sale of the business to an outside party is impractical. Instead, selling to an "insider" (co-owner, family member or employee) may be a better option.

Step Three. The final step in choosing a path is to evaluate the tax consequences of various exit paths. This evaluation will include factors such as form of business entity as well as any changes that must be made. Again, if a sale to a third party would likely mean a sale of assets and the company is a "C" corporation, the adverse tax consequences indicate a sale via an ESOP might be an appropriate choice. Using this three-step process, owners can help narrow the list of exit routes. If more than one route remains, owners and their advisors must conduct open and frank discussions based on realistic possibilities to determine which path to take and when. Make sure your Team of Advisors knows the pros and cons of each exit path.

As you’ve noticed, I’ve referenced “inventory” throughout the article. That parallel reference is intentional as it relates to what Hartman Inventory should be doing for your business and home. Continuity planning is key in times of surprise events. Entrepreneurs have very little time to spare. Without an updated inventory of what you or your business owns, when an insurance claim hits (storms, floods, fires, theft, etc), a lack of a valid inventory can cost you thousands of dollars of your money in addition to lost time trying to “prove” what you owned to insurance adjusters. Keep time on your side!

DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this article is general in nature and is not legal advice. For information regarding your particular situation, contact an attorney or tax advisor. This newsletter is believed to provide accurate and authoritative information related to the subject matter. The accuracy of the information is not guaranteed and is provided with the understanding that none of the providers of this newsletter, including Business Enterprise Institute, Inc., is rendering legal, accounting or tax advice. In specific cases, clients should consult their legal, accounting or tax advisors.

The example provided is hypothetical and for illustrative purposes only. It includes fictitious names and does not represent any particular person or entity.
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Unfortunately, most take our freedom for granted

Unfortunately, most of us (I must admit I am one) often take our great fortune of living in the United States for granted. It takes Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, Flag Day and the 4th of July to remind us of the price of this freedom.

This rendition of God Bless America, and the video with it, brought tears to my eyes - tears of joy, tears of pride and tears of sadness for those who gave their life so we can celebrate this day.

Please take a moment to view this; I hope it gets the fire burning inside your heart like it did for me. I send out a big THANK YOU to those who have served and are serving us now.

4th of July trivia

This weekend we will be celebrating the 4th of July. Picnics, fireworks, parades, barbecues, mini-vacations. It's a time to relax, enjoy family and friends, rejuvenate, and also remember exactly how important this day is.

Since we make lists of things for a living, of course we've created a list of interesting facts related to Independence Day (Census Bureau):

• 2.5 million: Estimated number of people living in this newly independent nation in 1776
• 304 million: Nation's population on July 4th, 2009
• 31: places with “liberty” in their name
• 31: places named "eagle"
• 12: places that have "independence" in their name
• 9: places adopted the name "freedom"
• 5: places in the country named America
• 1: place named "patriot" (Patriot, Indiana w/a population of 192

We are fortunate to live in this country that is not torn with war, that we can travel from state to state without barriers, that we can speak out against our government without being arrested (or worse). Our forefathers fought for this freedom, and gave us this independence, generations ago.

Let us all remember, while celebrating, that many people have given their life for our freedom in all the years since. May we all celebrate it, showing the respect and appreciation they each deserve!

"... and crown thy good with brotherhood; from sea to shining sea!"

Happy Independence Day!

Look at all that stuff!

I was reading the contents of an estate sale recently. Some of the items were 19th Century Straight Razor Form Trade Sign, Tiger Maple Candle Box, Sword, Early Apothecary, Rare Treenware, Cast Iron Oil Chandeliers, Queen Anne Dining Chairs, Huge Mahogany Pedestal Table ...

I'm guessing you don't have many - if any - of these items in your home. But that doesn't make what you DO have less valuable to you. Think of having a disaster and not having a list of what you own. Would you be able to say how many clothes you have? What about listing your electronics, collectibles, appliances - even just your every day items? If you won't (and I'm positive you can't), then you'll not file a complete insurance claim.

Bottom line, you won't recover financially the way you should. Then, especially in these economic times, where will you get the money to replace what your insurance settlement didn't? Credit cards? Pull money from a retirement account? Kids' college fund? Ouch, ouch, and ouch again.

The holiday weekend is coming up. You'll probably have some down time. Create your inventory! Better yet, call us to provide the inventory service for you. Then, while you're partying, celebrating the 4th of July, or just relaxing in the back yard, we'll do your inventory for you. How's that for celebrating?

The mortgage is paid off!

If you're one of the lucky ones who has paid off your mortgage, congratulations!

We have been asked if people still need homeowners insurance once they've paid their house off. The reason for the question is that there is no longer a mortgage company "demanding" you have insurance.

My answer is an emphatic "Yes, you still need insurance." When your car is paid off, you still need insurance. The same goes for your house.

The reason you should continue to insure your home is that you need to protect your investment. I'm confident that a tornado, hurricane, flood or fire will not only choose houses and businesses that have insurance!

The other part of the your homeowners policy is insuring the contents inside your home. You'll want that covered, too. And as you're deciding to keep your insurance, think about how much you are insuring. Don't have any idea what that dollar amount should be? An inventory will help you know so you aren't over- or under-insured. An inventory will also help you remember and prove ownership of your belongings if you do have that disaster.

As one of our customers says, "Without and inventory, your insurance premium is just another bill." Think about that for a moment. Makes sense, doesn't it?

With a contents inventory, you will be able to remember what you own(ed), prove the high end items, have serial numbers available, and ultimately maximize your claim, and recoup what you've lost. And you'll do it in a much shorter time than if you didn't have that information readily available.