South Carolina Auto Insurance Requirements

Our agents at the Michael Taylor Agency serving the Columbia, SC area want to ensure that you and your vehicle are protected sufficiently regarding auto insurance.

In South Carolina, all drivers must have at least a minimum amount of auto liability insurance. If you are caught driving without it, you risk losing your driver’s license for a specific amount of time, paying high fines, and even ending up behind bars.

Auto liability insurance will help pay for injuries and property damage for the other driver and their passengers if you cause an accident. Auto liability is not the only type of auto insurance available, though. Check out the detailed list below of other types of auto insurance you can secure. 

Types of Auto Insurance

Collision Insurance Coverage

This type of insurance is very important to keep your vehicle on the road since it will help pay for damages to your vehicle if you collide with a vehicle or some object while driving.

Comprehensive Insurance Coverage

You can’t predict the future, so you cannot know when a natural disaster or fire will occur, damaging or destroying your vehicle. Someone may decide to randomly vandalize your vehicle, causing thousands of dollars worth of damage, or steal your car, truck, or SUV. If any of these scenarios occur, you will be happy you have comprehensive insurance in place since it can help repair or replace your vehicle.

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage

This type of insurance will come in handy if you are in an accident caused by another driver and that person only has a minimum amount of insurance or none at all. Your policy will kick in to help you get your vehicle fixed or pay for your medical bills if you are injured.

Contact Michael Taylor Agency

To obtain the best auto insurance policy for you and your vehicle, contact our experienced auto insurance agents at the Michael Taylor Agency serving the Columbia, SC area today!

Term vs. Permanent Life Insurance: Making the Right Choice For You

Life insurance is a critical financial tool that provides your loved ones peace of mind and financial security. When considering life insurance, one of the most significant decisions you’ll make is choosing between term and permanent life insurance. The team at Michael Taylor Agency, providing life insurance to the residents in the greater Columbia, SC area, wants to help you select the right product for you. Here are some of the key differences between term and permanent life insurance.

Term Life Insurance:

  • Affordability: Term life insurance typically offers lower premiums, making it more budget-friendly, especially for young and healthy individuals.

  • Coverage Period: It provides coverage for a specified term, such as 10, 20, or 30 years. If you pass away during this term, your beneficiaries receive the death benefit.

  • Simplicity: Term life insurance is straightforward, with no cash value or investment component. You pay for pure insurance protection.

Permanent Life Insurance:

  • Lifelong Coverage: Permanent life insurance, which includes whole life and universal life, provides coverage for your entire life, as long as premiums are paid.

  • Cash Value: It accumulates a cash value component over time, which you can access through loans or withdrawals while alive.

  • Premiums: Premiums are generally higher than term life insurance but remain level throughout the policy’s life.

Choosing between term and permanent life insurance depends on your individual circumstances and financial objectives. A great insurance agent, such as the professionals at Michael Taylor Agency, can help review your individual circumstances and select the product that is a good fit for you. Contact our office, serving the greater Columbia, SC area, to schedule an appointment today. 

Reasons to Update Your Home Insurance

Home insurance may not always be on your mind, but it does need some attention, at least a review annually. Changes to your lifestyle, home, or family can impact your insurance coverage or costs. By not updating your policy regularly, you could be missing out on insurance protection or discounts on your premium. If you’ve experienced any of the following changes in your home or family over the last year, it’s time to update your home insurance from Michael Taylor Agency in Columbia, SC.

Major Home Remodel

Significant renovations in your home, such as kitchen or bathroom remodel, will add substantial value to your property. You may need to increase your dwelling coverage to ensure these structural changes and that your home has adequate protection against damage or loss.

Home Security

Home improvements that boost the security and safety of your property could warrant a discount on your home insurance. These include upgrading your electrical or plumbing system, installing a new security system, getting replacement windows or a new roof. By updating your policy, you can benefit from lower home insurance costs.

Changes in Your Household

The members of your family are covered under your home insurance policy. If you receive new people into your home, such as elderly parents, a new baby, adopted children, or adult children who move back in for whatever reason, you’ll need to update your policy to add them to your coverage.

Acquiring an Expensive Item

Your valuables are protected under the property coverage of your policy. New high-end acquisitions or gifts must be added to your policy to protect against theft or damage. Some items may need a rider (extra coverage) to cover their value fully.

For professional help in maintaining accurate home insurance protection for you and your family, contact Michael Taylor Agency in Columbia, SC.  

Using Life Insurance as an Investment Tool

Life insurance can do more than provide a death benefit for your beneficiaries. Choosing a life insurance policy with a cash-value account can also help you save money for retirement or create an investment account.

Better Investing in Columbia, SC

We offer various life insurance options at Michael Taylor Agency, including whole life insurance with a cash value account attached. These whole life plans provide a death benefit just like our other life insurance options but also help you save money in a tax-free savings account.

Some of these accounts pay interest, while others use an index, such as Standard & Poor’s, to determine quarterly or annual earnings. Many cash-value accounts take two or three years to vest, during which time you can’t borrow against the account. Once vested, you can borrow against the cash value portion of the life policy or, in some cases, withdraw from it.

Advantages of Life Insurance with a Cash Value Account

The premiums for these whole-life policies cost a little more each month than those for a term-life policy. The premium payment pays for the policy and a small monthly deposit to the savings account. The main advantages of this method of saving include the money’s tax-free status and the ease of bundling two payments – life insurance and savings deposit – into one payment.

Get Started Saving Today

Contact Michael Taylor Agency, serving Columbia, SC, and the surrounding communities. Let us help you set up a life insurance plan that also provides for your retirement. Call us today.

Texting Accident Statistics

You’ve heard a million times that you shouldn’t text and drive, yet many people still participate in this dangerous behavior. Here at the Michael Taylor Agency, serving Columbia, SC, and the surrounding areas, we want to help keep our clients safe on the road. Keep reading to learn more about texting accident statistics. 

The Facts 

The NHTSA reported in 2020 that about 30,000 accidents in total are the result of texting-related distracted driving. They also report that 13% of fatal crashes were linked to texting and driving. These sobering numbers should give us all a wake-up call concerning our driving behaviors. 

The Problem 

Texting and driving remain a problem because many people struggle to believe that they are really that distracted. They have been texting and driving for so long that they feel that they are capable of this practice now and can handle the risk. This is the same mindset that accompanies driving while intoxicated. People believe they are the exception to the rule and can handle the risk. 

The Solution 

Today’s technology has provided many options to reduce or eliminate texting and driving. For those who feel that they must still stay connected to their phones while driving, Bluetooth technology is always available to talk hands-free and even to respond to text messages hands-free. This technology allows you to hear the message sent to you and speak out a response that is sent back. There is no reason to keep texting and driving when this tech is available. 

If you want to learn about auto insurance, please get in touch with us at the Michael Taylor Agency serving Columbia, SC, and the surrounding areas. We will be happy to help you.  

The difference between whole life policies and term life policies

Whole life and term life insurance policies are two of the most commonly purchased types of life insurance at Michael Taylor Agency, but they provide very different benefits and protections. Whole life policies are designed to provide coverage for your entire lifetime, whether in the Columbia, SC area or elsewhere. In contrast, term life policies are typically offered for a specific period (such as 10 or 20 years). 

The main difference between whole life and term life is that with a whole policy, you will be covered from the time you purchase it until the end of your life. The premiums remain the same throughout the policy, and if you pass away, your beneficiaries will receive the death benefit. With a term policy, there is usually a set time frame in which the coverage will last (the “term”). Once that period ends, you can either renew the policy or let it expire. If you pass away during this term, your beneficiaries would receive the death benefit; however, if you outlive the term, no death benefit is paid out. 

Overall, it is important to assess your individual needs when deciding whether to purchase a whole life or term life insurance policy. Whole policies provide lifelong coverage plus an investment component, whereas term policies offer only temporary protection but may be cheaper than their whole counterparts depending on age and health conditions.

For more information, give us at Michael Taylor Agency a call today. We are proud to serve the Columbia, SC area and would be happy to help you find a policy that meets your needs and your budget.

Factors To Consider When Choosing Retirement Insurance

Is it time for you to start looking into retirement insurance? Michael Taylor Agency of Columbia, SC is here to assist you! Choosing the right retirement insurance can be challenging. That’s especially true with so many options available. However, taking the time to consider the following things will help you make the best decision possible.

Factors to Consider:

Coverage Amount

The coverage amount is one of the most important things to consider when choosing retirement insurance. You want to ensure the policy provides enough support financially to cover your living expenses after you reach retirement age. Put your current lifestyle in the forefront, and estimate your future expenses, including things like medical bills and other healthcare costs.

Premium Costs

The cost of the premium is another item you must consider. While you want to make sure you have enough coverage, you also want to make sure you can afford the monthly or yearly payments. You don’t want to find yourself struggling in other areas because you’re trying to keep up with your insurance premiums.

Policy Terms

When choosing your retirement policy, you must review all the terms carefully. Make sure you understand the length of the policy, how the payments are structured, and any limitations or restrictions.

Insurance Provider

The insurance provider is another important factor to consider. You want to choose a provider with a strong financial stability rating and a good reputation. Check for reviews and ratings online or ask friends and family members who they use.

We understand how important it is to choose the right retirement insurance. That’s why we offer a slew of options to meet each of our client’s unique needs. Our team of experts can help you understand the different features mentioned and guide you through the process of choosing the right policy.

Consider Your Future with Michael Taylor Agency

At Michael Taylor Agency in Columbia, SC, our goal is to help you plan for a secure future without all the stress. We believe selecting retirement insurance that suits you personally is an important step in reaching that goal. Our team of experts is here to answer your questions and guide you through the process of choosing the right policy for you. So take the first step toward a secure financial future and contact Michael Taylor Agency in Columbia, SC, today.

How Whole Life Insurance Works

Whole life insurance is one of the two main types of this insurance that are available on the market. Whole life insurance works much differently from the other type, term life. There are advantages and drawbacks to this type of life insurance, and it’s good to understand how it works before deciding on a type of policy. If you are interested in life insurance, call us at Michael Taylor Agency in Columbia, SC. 

Coverage for Your Whole Life

A whole life policy stays viable for your whole life, no matter how old you get. This is a popular type of life insurance for this reason, with many people appreciating the idea that they will never have to get another policy. There is an expiration date for those who get term policies, but this doesn’t happen with a whole life policy. When you are at an advanced age, this type of policy generally costs more than getting a term life policy. However, there is another value to be found in this type of coverage. 

Cash Value

Whole life policies build up a cash value that accumulates over time. This generally starts a few years into the policy. The premiums that policyholders pay for their policies are invested by the insurance company, and a profit is made on them. With a whole life policy, a small percentage of those profits are put into a growing fund that you can borrow against. Many policyholders choose this type of insurance in part because there is this cash value that could come in handy if they ever have a financial emergency. 

Get Whole Life Coverage

If you’re interested in a whole life policy, call us today at Michael Taylor Agency in Columbia, SC. Going without life insurance works against protecting your family.

Do all people in South Carolina need life insurance?

Anyone living in or around Columbia, SC will have different insurance needs to be met. One necessary type of coverage to consider getting is life insurance. Those that obtain this type of insurance will benefit in various ways, and all people should get this type of coverage for different reasons. 

Provide Financial Support for Dependents

The primary reason people want to get life insurance is to offer financial support for their loved ones. An untimely death can be a challenging financial situation if you have dependents that rely on your income. When you get life insurance, you can build a plan that will meet their specific needs. Many people build plans with a policy amount that would cover funeral and medical costs, future housing expenses, education, and other inevitable costs that will be incurred.

Good Investment and Savings Tool

Another reason to get this coverage is that life insurance can also act as an investment and long-term savings tool, as some policies have a cash value component that grows with interest over the years. One of the best ways to benefit from this advantage is by getting a whole life insurance plan. This can make it a great addition to your personal savings plan.

When you are in the Columbia, SC area, it would always be a good idea to assess your insurance needs appropriately. When you are looking for life insurance support, calling our team at the Michael Taylor Agency would be helpful. There are many important choices to consider when looking for this coverage. Our team of professionals at the Michael Taylor Agency can answer any questions and offer the guidance you need to select a new plan.

What Does Retirement Insurance Cover?

People prepare for retirement in many ways, and the agents at the Michael Taylor Agency in Columbia, SC, explain how retirement insurance policies work. While most people think of life insurance plans as insurance created to help your loved ones financially when you die, there is also what is referred to as a retirement life insurance plan. This type of plan can help you save your retirement income while using the benefits of your whole life insurance policy.

This means that the cash value portion of your whole life insurance policy plan can help you when combined with your existing retirement savings. Let’s look a little deeper at what retirement insurance policies look like.

What Is a Life Insurance Retirement Plan (LIRP)?

A life insurance retirement plan is not designed to replace a standard retirement plan, such as your 401K or IRA plan. Usually, when someone is thinking about acquiring a life insurance retirement plan, they think more about a permanent life insurance plan. This means the two terms can be used interchangeably.

A life insurance retirement plan is a type of permanent policy with a cash value portion that accumulates like a savings account throughout the policy’s life. It will have a benefit that is paid to a beneficiary when the policyholder dies, and the plan will never expire. This means that a life insurance retirement plan will last throughout the life of the person who holds the policy.

How It Works

You pay your premiums for a life insurance retirement plan, and a portion of each of your payments is put into a savings account, which is then referred to as the policy’s cash value. This type of savings account can grow over time and is tax-deferred at a predetermined interest rate.

You can use your retirement insurance plan as an overfunded cash value, which means you can contribute more money to your policy’s cash value throughout the years before you need it. This will give you a stronger foundation to have in place when you do retire. You could also borrow against the policy’s cash value, which is basically like taking out a loan. This can help you if you make larger purchases later in your life. A withdrawal cash value is available for some emergencies, which means you can withdraw directly from the cash value savings account.

Contact Us

To start your retirement insurance policy, call upon the professionals at the Michael Taylor Agency in Columbia, SC today!