As a small business owner you have a lot riding of your success. Chances are you've invested an enormous amount of money and effort to get it - and keep it - going. So one of the most important things you can do for yourself is to make sure it's all properly protected.

What insurance do I need?

In general, you should expect to have comprehensive protection for your building or location, business personal property, loss of income and business liability. You may also want to consider protecting your business in the event of your death or that of a key employee. There are a wide variety of policies available for owners and operators of retail, wholesale and service businesses, plus optional coverage that will allow you to tailor the insurance to your specific needs. Katie Reed of Nick Reed State Farm can explain the various kinds, including our Business in the Home program, to make sure your business can handle the unexpected.

As small business owners themselves, the Reed's understand the demands of running a business. A typical day consists of running yourself in at least a 1,000 different directions. Sound familiar? Well, it's time to give your business a free review and make sure you have it properly protected. Katie and Nick specialize helping business in Kansas City and Shawnee area. Call them at 913-422-0123 for a free quote or to schedule a free review.

Stop by and visit us today. We are located at the corner of Shawnee Mission Parkway and Monticello. (Right next to Starbucks)

Hope to see you soon-

Katie Reed

913-422-0123 / Nick Reed State Farm / 6632 Monticello Rd / Shawnee, KS 66226

Most of us have been recieving our open enrollment notification from employers. This is the time year when we review our health insurance, 401k, and other benefits. Many people are seeing an option being offered for the first time. Many employers are now offering what is called a High Deductible Health Plan.

Should you switch?

It depends. A High Deductible plan is great for people who are not chronically ill. For a healthy family, it is a great plan.

Consider the following example.

Take a couple who is 30-years-old. They can get a traditional 80/20, $1,000 deductible health insurance policy for $250 a month. If that same couple took out a High Deductible health plan they could get a similar plan for only $150 a month.

The difference is that the High Deductible Health Plan will pay 100% of the costs after the deductible. (Versus the 80% on a traditional plan). The drawback? The deductible is much higher - like $2,500. You're saving $100 a month though. ($1,200/ year) With the High Deductible Health Insurance Plan, you're also allowed to save your deductible annually into a tax-deductible savings account, and it grows tax-free.

For this type of health care insurance to work, you need to have a good emergency fund for the minor doctor's visits that will come up. You also need to take the $100 each month that you're saving and put that toward saving.

The High Dedcutible Health Insurance Plan is fantastic for people who are not chronically ill.

The other great thing about the High Deductible Health Insurance Plans is that it forces us to apply market pressure to keep medical costs reasonable. If we are responsible for minor doctors visits, we will be asking for free samples, and questioning every procedure..............."Is that really necessary?"

For more information on health insurance and Health Savings Accounts contact me at 913-422-0123

Katie Reed

Nick Reed State Farm/ 6632 Monticello Rd / Shawnee, KS 66226

HUD (Department of Housing & Urban Developement) announced some very disturbing numbers this week. Applications for FHA Secure and Hope For Homeowner programs to help troubled borrowers are extremely low. As of October 1st only 4,000 homeowners have applied for FHA Secure and an even more disturbing 111 Applications for Hope for Homeowners.

So do homeowner not know about the program? Or do they just not care? I saw a statistic last week that said that 43% of foreclosures happen without 1 single contact to the lender. I know a lot people have been criticizing our government for not offering enough help for distressed homeowners. But when you see numbers like this who have to ask, When does the governments responsibility stop and the homeowners start?

So just in case it is that they just don't know, here is the contact number

1-800-Hope-Now

Don't let your home be foreclosed without a fight.

Copyright 2008 The Russell Home Team, your johnson County Kansas Home experts! www.SearchjocoHomes.com

Bring the family and friends to experience the first and only ice rink in Johnson County!

The Ice at Park Place spotlighted in Blue Valley Neighborhood News Section of The Kansas City Star

11.05.2008

In an article entitled "An Outdoor ice will be nice in Leawood," the first and only ice rink in Johnson County makes its debut. The article discusses the inspiration behind The Ice, the sustainable elements, and activities to expect for the rest of the year.

From the article:

"Winter jingles and holiday decorations will envelope skates at the rink for the next two months. Benches will be plentiful, for excited observes and parents to relax. A couple of the nearby restaurants will sell gourmet hot chocolate and specialty coffees."

"We wanted to create a unique outdoor amenity for people in the community," said Jeffrey Alpert, co-developer of Park Place. "Ice skating turned out to be the answer. And it is nice because the rink is now the central point of Park Place."

"The ice skating rink is not only ground-breaking for Johnson County, but it is part of national news as well. The rink will be one of the first in the United States to be environmentally friendly. Normally, ice on the rink is pained white - to hide the piping underneath. The Park Place ice skating rink is using an environmentally friendly coating, which will reflect heat."

http://destinationparkplace.com/happenings/news/68