GDI Insurance

Young athletes cite having fun, learning new skills, making friends and feeling successful as some of the reasons why they partake in sports. But the benefits of youth athletics go much further than this.  

Sports offer a specialized arena where youth can demonstrate their talents and hone their skills. In fact, participating in sports is physically, socially, cognitively and psychologically engaging. Children are working together with others toward a common goal—not just with teammates, but coaches, families and the community as well.

PHYSICAL BENEFITS

Fitness: Kids develop a high level of fitness that is good for their health, while having fun.

Stress relief: Partaking in sports allows kids to clear their heads. Because of this stress relief, many students perform better when they are involved in sports.

Master skills: Kids develop athletic talents while also learning that practice improves skills. The idea that practice leads to improvement provides children with a sense of ownership of their successes.

Healthy lifestyle choices: The most valuable tool used in sports is one’s own body. Because of this, many young athletes tend to refrain from using drugs, drinking alcohol and smoking because they do not want to harm their bodies or their performance.

PERSONAL BENEFITS

Valuing practice and preparation: Participating in sports shows kids that self-discipline and practice yield positive results. Practicing also explores alternative ways of doing something to achieve better results.

Resiliency: Sports teaches kids about losing, disappointment and moving on from negative experiences.

Controlling perspectives: Athletes learn to be confident in themselves and their abilities.

Leadership: Athletes have the opportunity to serve as leaders of their peers, which teaches them valuable skills for the future.

Identity: Kids on sports teams learn to both identify with the team and to also establish a personal identity.

Time management: Since sports are time-consuming, athletes must learn how to balance them with school priorities and family commitments. This can help make children better able to prioritize their own lives.

SOCIAL BENEFITS

Establishing relationships: Young athletes learn how to form strong bonds with others as they compete and train with one another.

Teamwork: Kids learn that cooperation with others is the key to achieving goals. They also learn to put aside differences and work together to achieve a common goal.

Diversity: The sporting arena is a great place to engage with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

Developing relationships with adults: Engaging with coaches and teammates’ parents allows young athletes to develop social skills in meeting and talking to adults.

Being part of the community: Often sports teams are a central part of the community. Being a part of the team allows athletes to be active members of the community at an early age.

BENEFITS FOR FEMALES

Female athletes especially benefit from participating in sports as young children. The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports attributes sports to increasing self-esteem and confidence, leading to a healthy body image and reduced risk of chronic diseases.

Also, female athletes tend to do better in school, drop out of school less, are less likely to smoke and are less likely to become pregnant as young women than those that do not participate in sports.

MAINTAINING A LIFE BALANCE

Despite all the benefits of sports on a young person’s life, there are drawbacks that parents should be aware of:

• Children developing a “win at all costs” mentality
• Sports taking over as the number one priority in a child’s life
• Children feeling so much pressure to perform well that they neglect injuries and/or other priorities
• Children sometimes develop a negative attitude towards non-athletic peers and/or opponents

Thinking back to my experiences being involved in youth sports (Baseball, Soccer & Football), I am a firm believer in the benefits children get from such activities.  And I would recommend that each child be given the opportunity to participate in such activities.

Matthew Davis MBA, AAI

At GDI Insurance Agency, Inc., we have been inundated with countless new clients that are all suffering from similar – if not the same – issues regarding Workers’ Compensation Audits that have gone awry.

We’ve found that the majority of these insurance customers with Audit Issues are located in and around the Turlock, CA area (many of which most are businesses most local residents would recognize).

Nearly all the clients were told something along the lines of, “…the audit is what it is and there’s not much that can be done about it”, or some variation thereof.

More often than not, that type of statement is FALSE!

In nearly every instance we’ve recently come across, there have been actions that were able to be taken in order to correct inaccurate audits. If an employer’s payroll at the end of a policy year is materially greater than he/she estimated at the beginning of the policy, then an audit should be anticipated (in many, BUT NOT ALL cases).

I’ve had two cases come across my desk recently that were so incorrect that if the clients would not have come to GDI Insurance for help that they may have jeopardized their own solvency. I now feel compelled to share one of their stories.

STORY 1 – Firm Located in Turlock, CA

The firm was once a client of GDI Insurance up until 2005 when they decided to utilize another broker who offered them a slight premium savings. In 2010 GDI was asked to take a look at the Workers Compensation policy as they were being given an invoice for an additional 125%+ of their quoted premium as their Audit. Their original policy was quoted right at $65,000 for the year and at the end of that year their audit from the insurance company demanded an additional $85,000.

We agreed to look into the audit and discovered that the prior agent/broker had done nothing wrong, BUT… at the same time did not take the couple of tiny steps that would have aided their client. We stepped in an discovered that the root of the audit was due to a miscommunication between the independent auditor for the company and the client’s staff revolving around operations the auditor assumed the client was performing, but in actuality never performed (or ever plans to perform).

In the end the client had higher payroll and did have to pay an amount at the end of the audit of only $4,000. The audit was decreased by 95% by our office simply looking at the material and bringing up a few points of discussion with the auditor.

Why didn’t the prior agent/broker offer to help???

It is relatively known to many insurance customers that ALL premiums paid are commissionable their agent, and in California agents can make as much as 10-12% or more commission on workers compensation policies. So the prior agent had no incentive to offer to assist the client to correct the audit as they were hoping to receive an additional $8,500+ on the policy for simply letting the audit stand incorrect.

So what are The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of workers compensation audits?

THE UGLY – Are those audits that have been paid based on incorrect information or lack of explanation to the client.

THE BAD – Are those audits that are not yet paid, but are billed based on inaccurate data.

THE GOOD – Are those audits that go by without a hitch and are understood by the customer.

If you believe you are the subject of a bad insurance audit, either for workers compensation or any other type of policy, Talk To The Experts and GDI Insurance in Turlock by calling 209-634-2929 or visiting us online at www.gdiinsurance.com.

Matthew Davis MBA, AAI

We have worked with Susie Souza for about a year now. 

Susie Souza GDI Insurance Broker 888-991-2929

I find her to be extremely knowledgeable in the health insurance field.  She is able to answer all my questions in a timely manner along with being helpful with adding new employees.  Her patience with me and our business is priceless.  I have referred employees to call her to ask questions about health bills they have received and have had positive responses from them regarding Susie.

In fact, our business has GDI handle a lof of our business needs such as workers compensation, vehicle insurance, liability, etc.  Nick Colbert works with me regarding safety related or OSHA issues.  They have a site where I can access many topics for our monthly safety meetings as well.

I am impressed with how GDI handles their clients.  I feel we are satisfied with rates, the extra attention they provide, and knowledgeable staff on hand.  We would highly recommend them to other businesses.
                                                        Kim Kellog

Health Insurance Expert Sussie Souza of GDI Insurance Can Help Your Company!

 I have been in the insurance business for 32ish years now.  Long enough to not get the number of years exactly right.

 A few months ago I met a new client and most of his family, his name is Pat Faria.   As we were just going about our business together Pat asked me to take a look at a claim he had a few years ago that didn’t sit right with him.

 Turns out Pat is a bit famous: 

New York Times Article:  Click Here

Pulitzer Prize Story Written about him:  http://www.pulitzer.org/archives/6840 

Interestingly when Pat was Acquited of all charges, the New York Times posted just a little by line.  Very hard to find but here is a link to that quick note: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/22/national/22brfs.html

 Here is the thing that is missing in this story and what I don’t understand and what should scare you to death! 

 While we all can agree this is a very tragic situation for the families, and our love and prayers should be with them.   We can also agree they should be compensated, which is what workers compensation is for.

 What I don’t get is how the insurance companies ended up not paying for the claims?  I read one of the letters from an insurance company rejecting Pat’s claim.  It stated that they were not paying because of Pats willful miss conduct.   When Pat was found not guilty of any wrong doing at all he called his insurance broker and told him.  Pat was told that it was too late and that there was nothing to be done about his claims being denied.

 Just to summarize this for everyone:

Pat owned a dairy, and bought all the insurance policies everyone else buys.  He paid his premiums.  He did nothing wrong, he surely did nothing to  intentional or willfully hurt anyone.  We don’t have to guess or wonder if Pat may have done something  wrong as he went to court and it was pronouced by a court of law that Pat didn’t do anything wrong.  Yet the insurance companies still didn’t pay his claim.

 Why should you be afraid?  Well seems to me that since Pat didnt do anything wrong, and the insruance companies didn’t pay his claim.  What would make you think this couldn’t happen to you as well?

 What I’d like to see happen?  I think the same reporters that did such a wonderful job reporting on this tragedy, should now take a look at why the insurance policies didn’t pay when a dairyman was found innocent of any wrong doing.   

I know we live in CA, but I think the word Innocent means the same here as in other states.  I believe that insurance should pay for claims as they are suppose to.  I don’t understand how when Pat told his insurance broker that he had been acquitted why or how it was “to late to do anything”. 

 I have written this blog with Pat’s permission.  You see it doesn’t sit right with me either!  So I am hoping a reporter or two want to take a look at all this to help my friend Pat and his family understand why their insurance didn’t pay for his claims.  I sure can’t figure it out?

Grant Davis
President
GDI Insurance

 PS.  You can call me for more details if you think you can help.

Thank you Lorraine Azevedo at Grant Davis Insurance. 

Lorraine Azevedo Knows How To Save You Money On Car & Home Insurance! Call her today 888-991-2929

I am very happy with the saving you were able to get for us in regards to our vehicles and home insurance.   We have been a long time customer of GDI insurance in regards to our vehicle and former farm insurance and have always been satisfied with your agency.  When we bought our house in 2006 the mortgage company that financed our home set us up for insurance through Farmers Insurance.  We were never happy with Farmers every year they became more and more expensive.  And the amount of what they insured our home for became less and less. 

Last week we received a call from Lorraine and she asked if she could give us some information on possibly saving us money in regards to our mortgage insurance.  I told her yes and that she called at the right time because we were in the process of calling around for a new insurance agency to insure our home.  We discussed what we were looking for in terms of rate and amount of insurance.

It took about a week and a half for Lorraine to get all the information to us.  When we received it, we were so happy at what they were able to insure our home for and how much lower our payment was when they combined our vehicles and the home insurance together.  It was a huge savings for us about $90.00 per month. That is a total of $1,080 per year, which is a great savings to our pocket book.

 Thank You, Your Loyal Customers

Hilario A Tamez and Pamela M Tamez

We don’t think about our water heaters very often, especially when they’re working properly. We certainly take notice when they fail – freezing cold or blazing hot showers, brown water flowing from the tap, strange odors and sounds, leaks that end up producing extensive flooding, structural damage, mold, and mildew.

Water damage repair due to water heater failure in residential heaters typically costs as much as $5,000 and failures in commercial properties can top $500,000 or more!

Keep an Eye on It
Eventually, all water heaters fail. It’s a fact of life. Most water heaters have a lifespan of 5 to 10 years, depending on intensity of use, type of water, and the care and maintenance provided along the way. Age is a definite factor for failure. The Institute for Business and Home Safety reports that the chance for failure rises sharply after five years and that nearly three-quarters of all heaters fail before they are 12 years old. Accumulation of corrosive sediment and corrosion of heating elements and the tank can also create serious problems. Whether it’s a tiny leak that sets off a chain reaction of water damage or a catastrophic failure from a tank bursting, you can reduce the risk of failure by performing proper installation and maintenance, and identifying potential problems before they worsen.

 If you don’t feel secure in performing inspections and maintenance steps yourself, contact a professional to do the work for you. • Have the water heater installed by a qualified professional, per the manufacturer’s instructions and county code. • Keep the unit and all its connections free of dirt, rust, corrosion, and soot.
• Flush sediment from the bottom of the tank, per manufacturer’s instructions, every six months. Turn off power supply and water first. • Regularly inspect the unit for dripping water, rust, cracks, hissing, or whistling.
• Check regularly for corrosion or leaks anywhere water flows in and out of the tank, including the bottom drain valve, the anode, the inlet and outlet pipes, and the temperature pressure relief valve.
• At least one time each year, test the temperature pressure relief valve, per manufacturer’s instructions, to make sure it’s working properly. • Watch for shortage of hot water, odd-colored water, or sediment in the water. Additional Ways to Avoid Water Heater Damage • Install a temperature pressure relief valve – to release water if the inside tank pressure or temperature get too high. • Install a water flow sensor – to sound an alarm if water flow during a certain time exceeds normal flow programmed for that time. The sensor will also detect if the water heater has burst and shut off the fresh water supply.
• Install a leak detector – to detect leaks beneath the heater. If the sensor is activated, the shut-off valve closes automatically to stop the water flow.
• Install a catch pan – to contain small leaks under the heater. Connect the pan drain to a sump pump or waste line. If you discover any problems, turn the heater off, disconnect it from the water supply and call a qualified professional.

GDI Insurance  Unveils Home Value and Involuntary Unemployment Protection

Home Value Plus from GDI Insurance. 888-991-2929

GDI Insurance Agency Inc. has created a program designed for owners of newly built homes and condos.

The program, called HOME VALUE PLUS+, will reimburse homeowners up to 20 percent of the diminished sales price of their home if it sells for a loss within three to eight years of buying the home. That number is subject to a 5 percent deductible.

“Within the last few years we have seen the unemployment rate skyrocket and the housing market fall. This product is designed to bring the confidence back to new home purchasers,” said Grant Davis President of GDI Insurance Agency, Inc.

The product is only available to home builders and developers to place on spec homes, new condos, and custom homes.  It is administered exclusively through GDI Insurance Agency, Inc.

HOME VALUE PLUS+ will also pay up to six mortgage payment for up to $1,500 each if a home buyer suffers involuntary unemployment. This coverage is available in all states except New York, Oregon and Texas.

GDI is a Ca based insurance broker.  Working in the Central Valley AKA ground zero for the nations housing crises.  “I started working on this product in Oct of 2007.   With the new economy it took nearly 4.5 years to get an A rated insuance company to back up our program. 

ou can give us a call at 888-991-2929 to learn more about our product.

Or visit our webpage for more information:  Home Value Plus

Thank You

Grant Davis
GDI Insurance Agency

Where Grant Davis Should Be Announcing "Price Protection Plus"

 
What is Price Protection Plus?

 Price Protection Plus provides coverage against the loss in market value of your new home for up to 20% of the home’s value (based on the sale price to the home buyer at time of home purchase).  

In Short if you sell your home after 3 years and before the 8th year for less than you paid for it you can be reimbursed up to 20% of the price you paid for your home.   There are some limits.  Your reimbursement is limited to:
1. 20% of the original purchase price,
2.   Your actual loss after you sell your home between years 3 and 8. 
3.  The decline in the Case Shiller Index for your area.
What is the Plus, in Price Protection Plus?  As we thought of the risk a family faces buying a new home, we realized it is a great idea to make sure the value of the home isn’t lost, but what if someone loses their job?  Then what?  We added the Plus!  After 6 months if you lose your job we will pay $1,500 a month for up to 6 months to help you keep your home.  This is in addition to any unemployment you may receive.

 With a strong focus on the family that is buying a new home, in Oct of 2007  Grant Davis GDI Insurance began to put together a program to protect families from the potential losses they might face in todays new economy.  It has taken some tim e to arrange for a product to be backed by an A rated Insurance Company!     But we spent the time and money to develop our product and to get an A rated insurance company to back it.

I believe the reason people have stopped buying homes is that they are afraid that the market value of their home will drop after they buy it, or today even that they may lose their job. Losing your job for most Americans amounts to financial disaster!

It is my sincere hope that this new product will help families to feel confident once again to buy new homes, and help home builders build with confidence, and sell with confidence.
   Grant W Davis, President GDI Insurance.

GDI has made today the best time to buy a new home in the past 20 years! 

Here is a brief video overview of the program:

 

” Price Protection Plus and the involuntary unemployment program are provided to you by GDI  Insurance Agency and administered by cynoSure Financial, Inc. The obligations of cynoSure Financial, Inc. are backed by an insurance company rated “A” by A. M. Best. The IUP is not available in New York, Texas or Oregon. Please refer to Terms and Conditions of each product for more details.” 

Please contact us for full disclosure of all terms and conditions of our program.

Many times over my 32 years as an insurance broker I have been asked about the purpose and value of an AM Best Rating for an insurance company.   AM Best rates insurance companies based on the amount of money they have available to pay claims, as well as the management of the company.  Just like a school grade.  When you buy a home you have to give your bank proof of insurance from an “A” rated insurance company. 

So what does it mean when an insurance company is rated “B” or not rated at all?  Well since your lender wont accept anyone rated less than an “A” they feel there is a risk that the insurance company may not be able to fulfill its obligations.  In other words pay claims.  If there was not this risk than why wouldn’t a bank accept any insurance company?  If there was not a greater risk to you the home buyer why wouldn’t your bank allow you to send them proof of insurance from an unrated insurance company?

Would you buy your life insurance from a company that wasn’t rated?  Neither would or do I.

Here is the great news.  Since 2007 GDI has been working on a way to secure the market value of your new home.  So if you buy a home you don’t have to worry so much about it dropping in value.  We decided to do the extra work, spend the extra money to get our product backed by an “A” rated insurance company.  I have been asked why, since we could have had our product done in 2008 with a company rated less than “A”.  My simple answer was “I wouldn’t buy my insurance from a company rated less than “A” by am best unless I had no other choice. 

So to protect the families buying new homes we can cover the value of your home up  to 20%.  Click here to learn more!

 Have you considered a bond as an alternative to a letter of credit?

Types of Letters of Credit

There are two broad types of letters of credit (L/C):

 Commercial L/C – used as a means of paying sellers for goods purchased; both parties expect that the letter will be drawn upon

 Standby L/C – not expected to be drawn upon; used to support financial or performance obligations.

 When can a bond be used in place of a letter of credit?

Whenever a standby L/C is provided by a bank, there may be an opportunity to provide a surety bond in place of the letter of credit.

performance obligations

 workers compensation self insurers obligations

 security for appeals of a court decision

 international obligations

 What are the advantages of using a bond versus a letter of credit?

Credit Capacity: An L/C ties up the company’s credit capacity, thus reducing financial flexibility. Surety bonds are not credited against a company’s bank line.

Covenants: Banks may place restrictive covenants on the client in return for extending a bank line of credit, or they may require extensive financial reporting. Surety companies typically offer more flexibility.

Security: Banks may choose to take a security interest in the client’s assets. This security is required to be perfected through the filing of public documents (UCC filings) that publicize their secured lender status. A surety is generally an unsecured creditor. A UCC filing is rarely made.

Default Defenses: A bank L/C is a demand instrument; a surety bond typically is not. An L/C may be drawn down at any time, without any reason; the company has no defenses. With a surety bond, the surety requests proof of a company’s default from the obligee and works with the principal to identify defenses. This protects the principal from the obligee taking possession of the bond proceeds without merit.  This point can be made to either create a third party deffense, or to allow for the simple pass through transaction depending on the purpose of the LOC to assure the the porjects success.

Claim Handling: Travelers has a professional, dedicated claims staff available to handle disputes and to assist in the claim resolution process. Banks do not have a claims staff which requires a client to resolve disputes on its own.

Rates: L/C rates can be volatile. The L/C rate may include a commitment fee or utilization fee, as well as issuance fees, in addition to a stated rate. Surety rates tend to be stable and are directly tied to the credit quality of the  principal and to the types of obligations bonded. 

This is just one of the new concepts to enhance the credit worthyness of your projects.  Combined with GDI’s Copywritten Funds Control Program, risk management and propriotory insurance programs.  We are here to help you achieve and secure your dream!

You can count on us to do the job for you!  The best bonds, and experts in bonding!