Category Archives: Business

Press Releases from the Business World. Announcements, Product releases, Appointments.

Marion Ceramics Introduces New Senior Managers


Marion Ceramics

Marion Ceramics

These guys are experienced pros who will enable and drive Marion to achieve our very significant potential. We are excited to have them on our team.

Marion Ceramics is pleased to announce the addition of two highly successful veterans in the brick industry to its Senior Management Team. We welcome Wayne Kirby as Vice President – Marketing and David Hall as Vice President – Sales.

Wayne Kirby, a graduate of Clemson University with a B.S. in Ceramic Engineering and an MBA from Augusta State University brings over 30 years industry experience with senior management positions encompassing manufacturing, marketing, procurement and operations at Meridian Brick and Boral Bricks, Inc.

Wayne will initially focus on many ongoing marketing initiatives in all of our niche markets with special emphasis on the rapidly growing thin brick market.

David Hall, a graduate of Pillsbury Baptist Bible College with a Business Degree, has 20 years industry knowledge and experience. Previously as Director of Business Development at Brickworks, formerly Glen-Gery Corporation, David was responsible for bringing in new business opportunities both nationally and internationally. Prior to joining Glen-Gary in 2014, David worked 10 years as an Architectural Salesman with Belden Tri State Building Materials in the Philadelphia market where he sold numerous jobs utilizing Marion Ceramic’s thin brick as well as other manufactures’ products.

David will initially focus on direct distributor’s sales and on growing Marion’s regional sales effort into a formidable national sales team selling all of Marion’s various unique niche clay products into all our markets.

Daniel Cabeza, President said, “These guys are experienced pros who will enable and drive Marion to achieve our very significant potential. We are excited to have them on our team.”

About Marion Ceramics: Marion Ceramics is a clay products manufacturer based in Pee Dee, SC (Marion County) which was founded in 1885. Marion Ceramics is a leading producer of thin veneer brick (Vee Brick), thin brick pavers (BrickTile) and pool coping with over 1,000 distributors nationwide.

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What Are The Best Car Insurance Discounts


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“Insurance companies offer a wide range of discounts. But only a few are really valuable and can save you a lot of money”, said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company.

Clients should profit from all the discounts they are eligible for. Insurance companies are known for providing multiple discounts. Drivers are recommended to request their insurer to provide a list of discounts and their respective requirements.


  • Bundling discount. Since car and home are the most expensive to insure, combining coverage with the same company can provide a discount that will save the client a lot of money. Multi-vehicle plans can also provide significant savings. The value of the discounts varies a lot, depending on the insurer, the number of combined policies and the value of the insured belongings. Some companies are willing to offer discounts as high as 20 percent for these bundled packages.
  • Good driver discount. Keeping a clean driving record for a specific number of years will be rewarded with a discount. Some insurance companies will offer this discount after three years of safe driving, while others will require 5 years. Another advantage of this discount is that it’s usually applied per each driver in the household.
  • Low-mileage discount. The less a person drives, the lower are the chances to be involved in accidents. Retired persons, those who work from home or have a short commute should ask about this discount. Ask more about the annual mileage that will make the driver eligible.
  • Good student discounts. This is probably the best way is which teens can save auto insurance money. In order to qualify, the driver must have at least a 3.0 GPA or meet additional requirements (like being on the Dean’s Honorary List). Report cards or other documents are required in order to qualify.
  • Good credit score discount. Depending on his credit score, a driver can pay less or more on insurance premiums. Studies done by the insurance companies show that drivers with bad credit scores have higher chances to file for a claim or miss payments.

Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.

For more information and money-saving tips, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/.

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Intgrated Digital Strategies Rebrands with New Logo and New Website


Galligan and Mohay at IFA

“One of the main reasons we’ve stayed with IDS for the last six years is that we really hold them to the numbers,” said Jason Anderson, President of Venture X, and part of the United Franchise Group family of brands. “I can tell you, if the results weren’t there, we wouldn’t be with IDS!”

Integrated Digital Strategies (IDS), a complete digital marketing solution, has rebranded and unveiled a new logo — the lighthouse. Specializing in franchise brands, franchise development and local franchisee marketing, IDS recently debuted its new look at the International Franchise Association’s (IFA) 2020 convention to an enthusiastic response, with many franchisors anxious to learn more about their integrated approach to digital marketing.

“We’re extremely excited for the future,” said Stephen Galligan, IDS co-founder and CEO. “We’ve grown considerably and felt it was time to do for ourselves what we do for so many of our clients — update and refresh our look, and really reiterate what it is we do better than anyone else.”

The IFA convention was the perfect opportunity to debut IDS’s rebrand, website redesign, and beautiful new exhibit booth, with hundreds of industry movers and shakers in an audience that was highly receptive to what Galligan, and co-founder and CRO Joseph Mohay, had to say about digital marketing strategies in general, and IDS’s unique approach in particular.

“We really see ourselves as an extension of our client’s sales and marketing team,” said Mohay. “We’re an agency that believes in delivering personalized and professional service, while keeping focused on results every step of the way. It’s a true partnership!”

That philosophy was reiterated by many current IDS clients who were also in attendance, and who were anxious to sing the praises of IDS’s thoughtful contributions to their marketing efforts.

“After vetting multiple partners to increase our online presence, the experience we’ve had (with IDS) has been extraordinary,” said Jack Humbert, VP of Development at Byrider Franchising. “Our lead volume is up and our online presence is ten-fold. But I think the most important thing about working with IDS is the people. They care about your results and they’re easy to communicate with. They became our partner in a short period of time.”

IDS’s attendance at the IFA event marked their seventh time there, which meant visiting with numerous old friends, as well as making new ones — many of whom enjoyed the Client Appreciation Reception that IDS hosted at the beautiful Columbia Restaurant, in Celebration, FL. With over 30 clients, friends, and family enjoying some time to network and relax, Steve and Joe thanked their guests for entrusting IDS to meet their sales and marketing needs and to help them reach important milestones.

“One of the main reasons we’ve stayed with IDS for the last six years is that we really hold them to the numbers,” said Jason Anderson, President of Venture X, and part of the United Franchise Group family of brands. “I can tell you, if the results weren’t there, we wouldn’t be with IDS!”

Jessica Ray, Director of Franchise Marketing at Huddle House Inc., agreed. “IDS became an extension of our franchise marketing team because of the challenges of managing campaigns in-house, along with other sales and marketing activities. Partnering with IDS helped us reach our franchise sales goals much faster!”

The IDS team was especially excited to unveil their new lighthouse logo, which speaks to their deep Newburyport, MA roots, the city where the US Coast Guard was born. The company wanted to stress its role as a trusted source for all things digital marketing, particularly since the industry can be quite complex. The quintessential New England lighthouse became the perfect symbol, as IDS specializes in not only helping brands navigate the choppy waters of digital marketing, but also to stand out in highly competitive markets.

“We’re the total package,” reiterates Galligan. “We specialize in complete solutions for a variety of digital marketing needs, and our clients trust us to deliver, no matter how much or how little they’ve asked us to do.”

Are your ready to grow your brand and move to the next level? Our suite of services is the answer! Reach out today for more information.

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HealthCare.com InsurTech Business Crosses Significant Independent Broker Milestone After Significant Year-Over-Year Growth


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HealthCare.com, a leader in technology-enabled health insurance solutions, today announced that its insurtech business, operating under the name Pivot Health, has crossed an important business milestone, reaching over 10,000 independent brokers under active contract to sell its proprietary health insurance plans through its enrollment platform. Launched in 2016, Pivot Health grew its contracted agent pool more than 106% between 2017 and 2018, and by 50% between 2018 and 2019, breaking landmark outcomes.

“Helping brokers serve customers better, and be more efficient, is a central mission of ours,” said Jeff Smedsrud, Co-Founder of HealthCare.com and CEO of Pivot Health. “We believe customers deserve the opportunity to shop for health insurance through an omnichannel experience. They can run free quotes on our website, chat with someone if they have questions or work with an independent licensed insurance agent who markets Pivot Health products. The main theme is – the customer decides how best they will be served.”

HealthCare.com plans to expand its portfolio of proprietary products and insurance plans in 2020, rolling out new short-term health insurance plans and Medicare supplement plans.

“This year we will help over 2 million Americans make better health insurance choices through our website and we will connect them with helpful licensed insurance advisors. It’s a win-win for both customers and brokers seeking alternative health insurance solutions,” said Smedsrud.

In October 2019 HealthCare.com announced an $18 million Series B funding round to expand its health insurance solutions.

About HealthCare.com

HealthCare.com is an online health insurance company providing a data-driven shopping platform that helps American consumers enroll in individual health insurance and Medicare plans. HealthCare.com also develops and markets a portfolio of proprietary, direct-to-consumer health insurance and supplemental insurance products under the name Pivot Health. Founded in 2014, the company is headquartered in New York City and is backed by PeopleFund and individual investors including current and former executives of Booking.com and Priceline. HealthCare.com is a 4-time honoree of the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing companies. For more info, visit http://www.healthcare.com.

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Softeq Appoints Jeremy McKeon as Chief Sales Officer


Jeremy’s experience creating and maintaining lasting customer relationships aligns perfectly with Softeq as we continue to grow at a very fast pace in step with the expansion of complex connected devices. We look forward to his contributions.

Softeq Development Corporation, a leading provider of advanced solutions for the Internet of Things and embedded software development, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jeremy McKeon to fill the newly created position of Chief Sales Officer. In this role, Mr. McKeon will guide worldwide account management, business development, and customer engagement efforts for the company.

Jeremy McKeon is a seasoned business executive with significant experience in building and leading global account management teams through expansion while delivering consistent revenue growth. Additionally, he brings to Softeq an extensive background in complex technology solutions and demonstrated ability in Oil & Gas, Medical, Data Security, and other key industries.

“We are very pleased to welcome Jeremy as a member of our executive leadership team. With his impressive track record in global business development, customer success, and technology, including custom solutions, I am confident he will guide our customer-facing organization to new heights,” said Christopher A. Howard, President, and Chief Executive Officer, Softeq. “Jeremy’s experience creating and maintaining lasting customer relationships aligns perfectly with Softeq as we continue to grow at a very fast pace in step with the expansion of complex connected devices. We look forward to his contributions.”

“I’m thrilled to join Softeq at this exciting time in the company’s rapid expansion. Softeq is very well-positioned to deliver complex end-to-end solutions for connected devices and the Internet of Things,” said McKeon. “And the company’s impressive client roster is receptive to more strategic, long-term partnerships in addition to project-oriented work. We will build the team to enhance our customers’ experience as we grow the organization to reach the next level of performance.”

About Jeremy McKeon

Mr. McKeon joins Softeq from Maana, a pioneer in knowledge-centric technology headquartered in Menlo Park, California, where he was Vice President of Worldwide Sales & Alliances. He held prior positions of successively increasing responsibility at CGI, Dell EMC, RSA Security, Juniper Networks, NCC Networks, and RKON Technologies. Mr. McKeon holds a BA degree from Hobart College.

About Softeq Development Corporation

Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, Softeq Development operates offices in Munich, Germany and Minsk, Belarus. Softeq is a preferred technology development partner to Fortune 500 Enterprise clients and innovative startups operating primarily in the Consumer Electronics, Oil & Gas, and Automotive industries. The company provides full-stack end-to-end implementation of advanced IoT solutions and next-gen wearable tech – from hardware design to complex embedded solutions to tightly connected device-to-application cloud ecosystems. Building upon years of hands-on software development across low-level, mobile, desktop, and web solutions, Softeq has earned a spot in the Inc. 5000 for the past two years consecutively. The Softeq customer roster includes Verizon, Lenovo, Epson, AMD, Intel, Disney, and a number of well-funded startups. Learn more at http://www.softeq.com

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Distinguished Programs Adds Erick Schmitt to Executive Sales Team


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Distinguished Programs, a national insurance program manager, today officially announces the hiring of Erick Schmitt as the new regional sales executive for Texas and Oklahoma. Schmitt brings nearly 16 years of industry experience to his new executive role at Distinguished Programs.

“Adding an experienced insurance pro with such a strong track record and a history of positive results is sure to bolster the Distinguished executive sales staff,” said Kurt Meister, senior vice president of business development at Distinguished Programs. “Erick’s wealth of knowledge and managerial experience will add to the strength of our sales team as we continue to expand access to our insurance products and services across the U.S.”

As regional sales executive, Schmitt will be responsible for sales of the full range of products and services available at Distinguished across all industry sectors in his territories.

Prior to joining Distinguished Programs, Schmitt spent more than two years at Markel Specialty as senior sales manager. He also worked as business development manager at AIG for more than two years and with Nationwide for nearly 11 years, working in a number of roles of increasing responsibility.

Schmitt received his bachelor’s degree at the Ivy College of Business at Iowa State University. He is based in Dallas.

About Distinguished Programs

Distinguished Programs is a leading national insurance Program Manager providing specialized insurance programs to brokers and agents with specific expertise in Real Estate, Community Associations, Cultural & Historic Properties and Hospitality & Restaurants. Property and liability products are distributed through a national network of agents and brokers. Serving the same core markets and partnering with the most stable and reputable carriers, Distinguished Programs’ high limit umbrella programs remain the clear choice in its areas of specialty for superior coverage, competitive pricing, and attentive service. Through thoughtful innovation, stemming back to 1987, Distinguished Programs fosters growth and opportunities for its brokers, carriers, and employees. http://www.distinguished.com.

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Mike McCaig Named Atlas Roofing VP Of Operations For Shingle & Underlayment Division


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“We are thrilled to welcome Mike to the Atlas family and look forward to his fresh perspective and approach. Mike’s breadth of experience and proven leadership skills are an asset to the company.”—Ken Farrish, President of Atlas Roofing

Atlas Roofing Corporation is excited to welcome Michael (Mike) McCaig as the new Vice President of Operations for its Shingle and Underlayment Division. McCaig brings more than 30 years of experience and a depth of industry knowledge, further strengthening Atlas Roofing’s position as a trailblazer in residential and commercial roofing materials.

McCaig has worked in executive leadership for prominent building materials companies. Before joining Atlas on Jan. 20, 2020, he served as President of Alumicor Ltd., a custom door, window and curtain wall manufacturer.

“We are thrilled to welcome Mike to the Atlas family and look forward to his fresh perspective and approach,” says Ken Farrish, President of Atlas Roofing. “Mike’s breadth of experience and proven leadership skills are an asset to the company.”

McCaig’s distinguished career underscores his commitment to advancing the building materials industry. Before joining Alumicor, he held a variety of operations and engineering positions at IKO Industries and Owens Corning.

“I was attracted to Atlas’ commitment to developing roofing materials that address the current and future needs of the industry,” McCaig says. “I am excited to contribute to the continued growth of the Shingle and Underlayment Division.”

McCaig has also held management positions in glass, insulation and commercial foam plants in the United States and Canada. He earned a chemical engineering degree from the University of Waterloo in Ontario and an MBA from York University in Toronto.

“Mike is the perfect person to advance our goal of innovating quality products that exceed contractor and homeowner expectations,” says Kirk Villar, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Atlas Roofing.

The Atlas family of products includes StormMaster® shingles made with Core4™ Technology — the most innovative development in asphalt shingle manufacturing today. Atlas StormMaster® Shake shingles were ranked No. 1 for impact resistance by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) and are a HOLMES Approved Product.

McCaig and his wife Diana have two adult children, Melanie and Christopher, who attend college in Canada. The family lived in the United States for many years and are naturalized American citizens.

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About Atlas Roofing

Atlas Roofing Corporation is an innovative, customer-oriented manufacturer of residential and commercial building materials. Atlas has grown from a single shingle-manufacturing plant into an industry leader with 37 manufacturing plants and distribution facilities across the United States, Mexico and Canada. Stay connected with us at AtlasRoofing.com or on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

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What Is Personal Injury Protection?


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“Personal injury protection can help drivers that got injured in a car accident to receive the treatment they need and obtain help to do the house chores if they got a serious injury.”, said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company.

Personal Injury Protection insurance (PIP) is one of the least understood types of insurance. Many policyholders don’t know that much about this coverage. This insurance will cover bodily injury after a car accident. This coverage was created because it took to long to decide who caused the accident and had to pay all the medical bills. PIP insurance will cover the policyholder and the immediate family members while occupying a car, or if they are struck by a vehicle while walking on the sidewalk. Also, PIP will cover any person inside the policyholder’s vehicle.

PIP insurance can cover the following expenses:

  • Medical bills. PIP offers coverage for all sorts of medical expenses. However, this insurance has some caps on coverage depending on the state’s minimum requirements and by the coverage plan. Drivers that need more protection can choose higher coverage limits.
  • Lost wages. Several types of PIP insurance can provide coverage for lost income. The amount the policyholder can claim will be limited and the insurance will be more expensive. Drivers that have insurance that covers lost wages should think twice before buying PIP insurance.
  • Funeral expenses. This optional feature will cover the cost of a funeral in case someone dies in a car accident. Policyholders should carefully analyze this option and see if the covered amount is enough to pay for all the expenses of a funeral. Also, this option can be useless for policyholders that have life insurance.
  • Death benefit. In case of a death in a no-fault accident, some PIP plans will offer a death benefit. In most cases, the surviving family members will get the unused premium.
  • Important services. PIP coverage will help policyholders that have major medical issues that stop them from fulfilling their daily and weekly house chores. Cooking, mowing the lawn, doing the laundry, and other chores can be nearly impossible to accomplish by someone that has serious injuries. This insurance will reimburse the costs of hiring people that will help the policyholder do everyday chores.

Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.

For more information and money-saving tips, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/.

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Haute Residence Welcomes Joel Schemmel To Its Exclusive Real Estate Network


Joel and his team at the Schemmel Group are well known in the real estate industry and have set several sales records in addition to being the top producing team with the Sotheby’s affiliate in Sarasota every year since 2008.

Comprehensive knowledge of the Sarasota area real estate market, strong business skills and an affinity for luxury properties have established Joel among the top 1% of realtors in the Sarasota area. He takes great pride in having marketed and successfully sold many of the Area’s most interesting properties – at all price points. After a professional career as an attorney and tax consultant both in Chicago and in Europe, Joel and his family moved permanently to the area in 2003. He could not think of a better place to live and raise a family.

Joel and his team at the Schemmel Group are well known in the real estate industry and have set several sales records in addition to being the top producing team with the Sotheby’s affiliate in Sarasota every year since 2008. Professional backgrounds, innovation, market knowledge, and persistence are the primary elements of their success. Joel’s career also encompasses more than fifteen years of working with Arthur Andersen, Andersen Legal, and the Ernst & Young Law Alliance both in the USA and Europe. Joel was an International Partner within each of these organizations and immediately before returning to the USA, was managing partner of a 45-attorney law firm based in Central Europe.

Visit Joel Schemmel’s website at https://www.schemmelrealestate.com/

Joel obtained his law degree from Chicago Kent College of Law and his accounting degree from the University of Iowa. He is a registered attorney in Florida and Illinois and is a certified C.P.A. in the state of Illinois.

The Schemmels raised three boys Jack, Jamie, and Jacob in the Sarasota area and are adapting to their new empty-nester lifestyle. The Schemmels love skiing out west and their international experience bring with it an affinity for travel and other cultures.

About Haute Residence:

Designed as a partnership-driven luxury real estate portal, Haute Residence connects its affluent readers with top real estate professionals, while offering the latest in real estate news, showcasing the world’s most extraordinary residences on the market and sharing expert advice from its knowledgeable and experienced real estate partners.

The invitation-only luxury real estate network, which partners with just one agent in every market, unites a distinguished collective of leading real estate agents and brokers and highlights the most extravagant properties in leading markets around the globe for affluent buyers, sellers, and real estate enthusiasts.

HauteResidence.com has grown to be the number one news source for million-dollar listings, high-end residential developments, celebrity real estate, and more.

Access all of this information and more by visiting: http://www.hauteresidence.com

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Top Ways To Save Money On Car Insurance


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Car insurance is required by law across the United States. Without meeting the state’s minimum requirements, a driver cannot legally drive. Some people may consider car insurance too expensive (and, in fact, it really expensive for some categories of drivers) and decide to drop coverage. This is a huge mistake, which can have really unpleasant consequences. The alternative is to make premiums cheaper. Check the next ways to reduce insurance costs:


  • Maintain a clean driving record. Although this may seem obvious, being a safe driver is the best way to keep premiums under control. Furthermore, being a safe driver and staying with the same driver for a number of consecutive years will grant driver access to some discounts and bonuses. Avoid traffic violations, like speeding, ignoring signs and red light or DUI/DWI. Accumulating too many traffic violations may determine the insurer to cancel current and future bonuses.
  • Be honest when declaring the main driver. Some people lie when applying for car insurance and assign a more experienced person as the main driver. This is called “fronting” and it is considered a fraud. If this is discovered (usually after a claim), the insurance company will decline the claim and will begin a thorough investigation. The fraud will be recorded and any insurance company will know who they are dealing with.
  • Do not borrow the car to inexperienced drivers. Even if his relatives or friends ask it, if they are horrible drivers, the policyholder should respectfully decline. If those persons commit or get involved in an accident, the insurer will investigate the case and the policyholder will be held responsible.
  • Pay the premiums in advance. Paying-in-full is a smart way to reduce insurance costs. As advertised by many online forms, paying everything in advance can save the policyholder as much as 15%.
  • Avoid filing claims for minor accidents. It is not recommended to bother the insurer for just a few scratches or dents which can be easily repaired and will cost little. Compare the repair costs with the existing deductibles.
  • Park the car in a safe location. The place where the car is usually parked is very relevant for insurance companies. They correlate the location with the chances of being stolen or vandalized. When filling online questionnaires users may be asked if the car is kept at the specified ZIP or in another location. The best place to park a car is in a personal garage. The second best place is in a well-lit parking lot. Companies offer better premiums to those who park their cars in any of those 2 locations.
  • Maintain a good credit score or improve it. When filling online questionnaires, one of the most common questions is related to credit score standing. Naturally, people with Excellent status will get better prices. Improving the credit score is possible, but requires financial counseling from experts. Some strategies may imply using balance transfer credit cards or short term loans.
  • Enroll and graduate defensive driving courses. Insurance companies appreciate and reward safe drivers. People who voluntarily enrolled in defensive driving coursed and graduated them will get a discount. Furthermore, graduating courses will help drivers keep premiums low, by offsetting some future license points.
  • Collaborate with a good insurance agent. Establishing a good professional relationship with an insurance agent will help drivers be updated with the latest offers and discounts. The agent will represent the client when he files a claim or for other procedures.
  • Use online car insurance quotes. Online quotes will help drivers compare rates with multiple insurance providers. They will also help drivers customize coverage options and create a coverage plan suitable for the driver’s needs and financial possibilities.


Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc.

For more information and money-saving tips, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/.

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