Rebecca Thrift
Licensed Insurance Agent
I've worked for Safeco and Liberty Mutual as a sales agent and claims adjuster for the last five years. My claims experience is primarily auto insurance, but I am licensed to sell auto and property insurance (homeowners, condo, renters, long-term renter, etc) currently.
Articles by Rebecca Thrift (14)
How to Cancel a Life Insurance Policy - Rules and Costs
You can cancel a life insurance policy at any time by stopping payments or writing to the insurer. Term cancellations return little or nothing outside the free look window, while permanent policies pay the cash surrender value minus any surrender charge. Before canceling, compare alternatives like reducing coverage, using cash value to pay premiums, or selling the policy in a life settlement.
How Many Life Insurance Policies Can You Have?
You can own as many life insurance policies as you like, from one insurer or several. The practical cap is total coverage: underwriters justify your combined death benefit against income and financial obligations. Laddering multiple term policies is the most popular reason to hold several, letting coverage and premiums step down as debts get paid off.
Does Life Insurance Cover Funeral Costs? How It Works
Beneficiaries can absolutely use a life insurance payout for funeral costs, though nothing requires them to: the death benefit arrives as a lump sum spent at their discretion. If covering final costs is the whole goal, a small final expense (burial) policy is built for exactly that, with simplified underwriting and face amounts sized to funeral bills.
Does Life Insurance Cover Suicide? The 2 Year Clause
Most life insurance policies cover suicide once the suicide clause expires, typically two years after the policy is issued. If death occurs inside that exclusion window, the insurer usually refunds the premiums paid instead of paying the death benefit. Group life policies often carry no suicide clause at all, and replacing a policy restarts the clock.
How Much Is Commercial Trucking Insurance? Cost Breakdown
Commercial trucking insurance is one of the largest operating costs in the industry. Premiums are driven by what you haul, how far you run, driver experience and records, equipment value, and the federal liability minimums that apply to your operation. Owner-operators with their own authority pay the most; leased drivers under a motor carrier's program pay far less.
What Insurance Is Needed for a Small Business? Full Guide
Most small businesses need three coverages at minimum: general liability for third-party injury and property damage claims, commercial property for the business's own assets, and workers compensation once employees are hired. Industry, contracts, lenders, and state law then layer on requirements like commercial auto, professional liability, and cyber coverage.
Commercial Umbrella Insurance - Extra Liability Coverage
Commercial umbrella insurance sits on top of your existing liability policies, general liability, commercial auto, and employer's liability, and pays when a covered claim exceeds their limits. A single serious accident or lawsuit can blow past a standard $1 million limit, and umbrella coverage delivers extra millions of protection at a comparatively low premium.
When Do You Need Business Insurance? Key Trigger Points
The right time to buy business insurance is before the risk exists, and specific events make it non-negotiable: signing a commercial lease, hiring your first employee, taking on client contracts that require proof of coverage, buying business property, or opening to the public. Waiting until after a loss means the loss is not covered.
Best Age to Buy Life Insurance: What the Data Shows
The best age to buy life insurance is the age at which you first take on financial responsibility for someone else, because rates are locked at the age you apply and a healthy 30-year-old pays roughly half what a healthy 40-year-old pays for the same 20-year term policy. This guide shows monthly premiums by age across four common coverage amounts, the four life events that should trigger any buyer to apply now rather than later, and the financial cost of waiting one year, five years, and ten years to buy.
Business Insurance Guide
Business insurance is a portfolio of policies that protects a company from financial loss due to property damage, lawsuits, employee injuries, professional errors, and cyber attacks. The most common policies are general liability (GL), Business Owner's Policy (BOP), workers compensation, and professional liability (E&O).
Homeowners Insurance Guide
Homeowners insurance is a contract that protects your home and possessions from fire, theft, storms, and liability claims. Required by every U.S. mortgage lender. The average premium for $300,000 dwelling coverage is $1,754 per year as of 2024, per the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
Life Insurance for Married Couples
Life insurance is a wise financial investment for most adults. However, many married couples may wonder if the monthly costs are worth the security life insurance can provide.
Is Life Insurance Worth It?
Whether life insurance is worth it depends largely on your circumstances.
Renter's Insurance Guide
Renter's insurance can give you peace of mind that you're protected in case of theft, extreme weather, and accidents occurring in your home. Learn what renter's insurance is, what it does and doesn't cover, and how to find a policy.