Posted: 28 Jun 2020 08:10 AM PDT

LOS ANGELES, June 28, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- UBI programs break the way in which the risk profile for any driver is determined. They rely on each driver's performance, instead of statistical models. UBI prices are calculated after analyzing data sent by telematics devices. Policyholders that use UBI have the following benefits:

Get discounts really fast. Having a telematics device installed for a short period of time (usually 30 days), will help the insurance company to determine if the client is a good driver and qualifies for a discount. With traditional policies, the driver has to wait several years.
Low mileage discounts. Persons who drive less present a lower risk of filing a claim. UBI devices analyze the mileage and allow drivers to get better rates and discounts.
Encourage drivers to adopt better habits. Knowing that his driving skills are monitored will determine the client to adopt an appropriate driving style. Having good driving habits will also decrease costs.
UBI is useful when an accident happens. The telematics devices record data like speed, acceleration, hard braking, direction, and airbag deployment. These data are important for investigators when they try to find out what happened and who is responsible in case of an accident.
Large discounts for teens. UBI coverage will enable teens get affordable coverage. The lack of driving history and the higher chance of getting involved in accidents place teen drivers in high-risk categories. Having good driving habits for the period the telematics device is installed, can lead to substantial discounts on the premiums paid by teen drivers

For additional info, money-saving tips and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/

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.

SOURCE Compare-autoinsurance.org

Creativity is Their Trademark - Inventors Digest

Posted: 29 Jun 2020 05:53 AM PDT

5 top human brand mascots in the insurance industry are strokes of IP genius

"Yeah, right! Walking upright, discovering fire, inventing the wheel, laying the foundation for all mankind. You're right. Good point. Sorry we couldn't get that to you sooner!"

—The Geico caveman

BY RENEE C. QUINN

As a branding and marketing professional, I enjoy seeing how advertising has evolved over the years. Gone are the days of boring, ho-hum advertising campaigns.

With modern technology such as DVRs, consumers no longer have to sit through commercials. Through the widespread reach of internet and social media platforms such as YouTube and Facebook, not to mention the highly anticipated and super-expensive Super Bowl commercials, advertising campaigns have had to become more creative and fun to catch the attention of their target consumers.

I find that not only are people not fast-forwarding through commercials, they are looking forward to when their favorites air.

I once wrote about The "Most Notable, and Sometimes Creepy, Restaurant Mascots, Characters, and Personalities." So this time I thought I'd focus on a different type of brand mascot—real people—and highlight the top five trademarked advertising personalities within the insurance service industry. They have storylines that are so funny and memorable, you often hear people talking about them with their friends.

1. Geico's cavemen (2004–2010)

No longer on the air, the Geico cavemen commercials were brilliant in terms of creativity. Here you have Neanderthal-like cavemen trying to live in the modern world.

These cavemen are intelligent and have their own homes, social lives and careers. The commercials took you through their inability to cope with Geico's "offensive" use of the slogan "So easy a caveman can do it."

Originally created in 2004 by Joe Lawson and Noel Ritter while working at The Martin Agency, the first three Geico commercials to feature cavemen were "Apartment," "Apology" and "Boom Mic."

"Apology" features the line, "I'll have the roast duck with the mango salsa." In "Airport," no words are spoken; we see a caveman on a moving walkway who sees a sign with the hated "So easy" slogan. His demeanor says it all.

And of course, there's the television news interview in which the anchor asks the caveman, "How can (the slogan) be offensive if it's true? Historically, you guys have struggled to adapt."

To which the caveman responds in an exasperated tone: "Yeah, right! Walking upright, discovering fire, inventing the wheel, laying the foundation for all mankind. You're right. Good point. Sorry we couldn't get that to you sooner!"

The Geico cavemen were so popular, they spawned a TV series, "Cavemen." Alas, the series was canceled after less than 6 weeks.

2. Progressive®'s Flo (2008 to present)

Flo from Progressive was created by the Boston-based agency Arnold Worldwide, via copywriter John Park and art director Steve Reepmeyer.

The character, portrayed by actress Stephanie Courtney, debuted in 2008. She is recognized by her extreme enthusiasm, prominent nametag, sparkling white uniform, upbeat personality and retro hairstyle.

Flo became so popular through the years that in November 2014, Progressive aired its 100th Flo ad with the introduction of her other family members—which included her mother, father, brother, sister, and grandfather. All of the characters were also played by Courtney.

The ad was designed to build a deeper connection to the character, tap into a relatable moment and showcase the campaign's range. , which often includes improvisation and supporting characters.

From a branding standpoint, this campaign is brilliant.

Flo's character has developed from her humble beginnings as a cashier, into a motivator, mentor, love interest, protector and prankster. A character that is recognizable, relatable and approachable, Flo in 2011 was named the No. 1 brand icon by EW.com. A Flo Halloween costume became the top-selling costume on Amazon.

3. Farmers Insurance professor Nathaniel Burke of University of Farmers (2010 to present)

Farmers Insurance professor Nathaniel Burke of the University of Farmers is played by actor J.K. Simmons. The ad campaign takes place in the fictional University's Hall of Claims.

Most of these commercials begin with Professor Burke walking through the Hall with a potential client: "At Farmers, we've seen almost everything, so we know how to cover almost anything. Even a…"

After we see the story, we are taken back to the Hall where the professor points at a statue, wall plaque or display commemorating the event and says: "Talk to Farmers. We know a thing or two, 'cause we've seen a thing or two."

4. Allstate®'s Mayhem (2010 – hopefully forever)

Launched in June 2010, Allstate's Mayhem, played by actor Dean Winters, was created by ad agency Leo Burnett in Chicago.

The campaign is loosely based on the character Mr. White from the 1992 Quentin Tarantino film "Reservoir Dogs." It was developed in response to being ranked fourth in advertising spending behind Geico, State Farm and Progressive.

This campaign came on the heels of the "Our Stand" campaign featuring Dennis Haysbert, who happens to be the featured voice at the end of every Mayhem commercial as well. And by mid-2011, Allstate had won some 80 industry awards for the campaign.

The ads all follow a similar formula. Each one starts with Mayhem stating what risk he is—such as, "I'm a racoon living in your attic"; "I'm a hot babe out jogging"; "I'm your GPS"; "I'm a teenage girl"; "I'm a car thief"—and one of the newest is, "I'm a tailgater tailgating to get to my tailgate."

Mayhem then shows what could happen as a result of these risks, ending each commercial with some version of "And if you've got cut-rate insurance, you could be paying for this yourself. So get Allstate and be better protected from Mayhem … like me!"

Unlike other insurance commercials that show the risk itself, you can't help but want to see what happens with Mayhem himself being the risk in each new commercial.

Not only are these commercials funny, they are also highly relatable. They cover everyday risks that many of us have likely fell victim to, only in a hilarious and memorable way. When you watch a Mayhem commercial, you can't help but laugh and cringe while making a mental "note to self" at the same time.

5. Gabe Gabriel from State Farm® (late 2018 to present)

One of the newest ad campaigns from State Farm was created by the full-service ad agency Doyle Dane Bernbach (DBD) and creative directors Katie Bero and Brian Culp. This campaign focuses on the State Farm agent with a twist.

The ads feature David Haydn-Jones as Gabe Gabriel, the insecure and highly jealous sports agent for Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Beginning with the first commercial, "Two Agents," it is clearly evident that Gabriel has an ongoing, self-inflicted and tumultuous relationship with his perceived rival and real-life State Farm agent Patrick Minnis.

In "Season 2: Agent v. Agent," Gabriel brings in his second client, "My New Homey, Patrick Mahomes," to make Rodgers jealous while Mahomes starts toying with Gabriel at the same time.

Unlike typical insurance company commercials, in these ads State Farm agents simply state what the company has to offer. But by adding the storyline of a jealous and insecure sports agent who seemingly is going off the deep end, the ads are engaging, lighthearted and fun.

Honorable Mention: Jake from State Farm (2011–2015)

Jake from State Farm may have only been in one commercial (a second version of the same commercial included the Coneheads from "Saturday Night Live"), but I think he deserves an honorable mention.

Jake from State Farm is played by actor Jake Stone. Although this is a minor character with only this one commercial credited to this brand personality, the sheer brilliance of this ad campaign has made it memorable. If you haven't seen or heard of the "Jake from State Farm" commercial titled "State of Unrest," check it out. In the commercial, a husband is on the phone at 3 a.m. His wife walks down the steps behind him to hear him say in what could be misconstrued as a rather seductive voice, "Yeah, I'm married. Does it matter? You'd do that for me? Really? I'd like that!"

To which his wife angrily says, "Who are you talking to?"

He replies, "It's Jake, from State Farm." The wife snatches the phone out of her husband's hand and says, "Jake from State Farm? At 3 in the morning? Who is this? What are you wearing, (air quotes) Jake from State Farm?"

His only part in the commercial consists of 2 1/2 seconds of air time and two spoken words. In response to the wife's question He says, "Ahhh, khakis?"

What makes this commercial so brilliant and memorable is that all of us have at some time in our lives had things we've said and done misinterpreted and taken the wrong way. If you have ever had a jealous partner, this scenario is so believable that it hits a home run.

Although the commercial has been off the air for nearly five years, I still occasionally hear mention of it. In fact, last year my son named one of his fantasy football teams "Jake from State Farm."

A Marijuana User’s Guide To Life Insurance - Forbes

Posted: 21 Feb 2020 12:00 AM PST

More than 11.8 million young adults said they used marijuana in the past year in 2018, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. With the prevalence and acceptance of marijuana use growing, it's important to understand how marijuana can impact your life and health — even your finances.

For marijuana users, one of the many aspects of life likely affected is life insurance. The ability to buy affordable life insurance is often an important part of a solid financial plan. But when marijuana users get jobs and start families and want life insurance, they can find that pot use dings them.

Marijuana Use and Health

Right after use, marijuana impairs judgment and short-term memory. It also alters perception, making it dangerous to drive, among other activities.

We couldn't find definitive studies that prove that using marijuna will reduce a person's life expectancy. The Society of Actuaries, which often studies "mortality," says it has no specific studies on marijuana use. But marijuana is associated with lifetime psychiatric problems, according to a 2018 study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Long-term use, from age 18 into a person's 20s and later, is also associated with health problems at age 50. While the marijuana is not shown to directly cause psychiatric and health problems, researchers have linked the use of pot to these issues later in life.

How Often Do You Use Marijuana?

When you apply for life insurance, you'll likely face a question about whether and how often you use marijuana. Your answer will help group you into a health class, such as super-preferred, preferred or standard. This will help determine your life insurance rate, along with your answers to many other health and lifestyle questions.

"A lot of people are reluctant to admit recreational marijuana use," says Robert Bland, CEO of LifeQuotes, an online life insurance agency.

Occasional marijuana users can sometimes qualify for non-smoking rates, depending on the company. This is key, because getting classified as a smoker will mean higher life insurance quotes. Occasional use is sometimes defined as only one or two times a month. Each life insurance company decides its own parameters for what's "occasional."

"The basic adage is, if you smoke marijuana, you're a smoker," says Bland. "So when people hear that they tend to say they don't smoke or it was during a vacation as a teen to Boulder, Colorado."

How Much Will Marijuana Affect Your Life Insurance Rates?

Life insurance quote increases based solely to marijuana use will vary based on your age, gender and amount of coverage requested. That makes it hard to pin down an average increase. Here's how much average quotes go up for 30- and 40-year-old men and women who are shopping for a 20-year term life insurance policy of $500,000.

Life Insurance Quote Increases for Marijuana Users

Gender and age	Increase for occasional marijuana use (2 or less times per month)	Increase for regular marijuana use (more than 2 times per month)
Male age 30	23%	47%
Male age 40	23%	70%
Female age 30	22%	34%
Female age 40	29%	58%
Methodology: We averaged the five lowest life insurance quotes we found online for healthy men and women of average height and weight. We used quotes for a 20-year $500,000 term life insurance policy.

What About Medical Marijuana?

Whether you say you use marijuana recreationally or for medical reasons probably won't matter in terms of the resulting life insurance rates based on use. For medicinal marijuana users, a life insurance company will want to know about the underlying medical condition that led to the marijuana. And that medical condition can also affect the life insurance quotes you get.

"A lot people say for it's pain and that's not enough, that's way too general. They want to know what's causing the pain," says Bland.

For example, back pain is common and won't lead to higher rates. But using marijuana during chemotherapy is quite another matter and the life insurer will then focus on the medical condition.

Be Honest About Your Marijuana Use

The goal of a marijuana user who's buying life insurance should be to get a non-smoking rate, especially if the use is occasional. Those who ingest marijuana, such as edibles, should be able to get a non-smoking rate.

Regardless of how often you use marijuana, and whether it's recreational or medicinal, it's important to be truthful on any life insurance application. Remember, you're going to be signing your name to the application and attesting that the information is true.

"Misrepresentations" can be viewed as fraud and, at worst, can result in a company voiding the policy later.

"We advise customers that it's a crime in all 50 states to make a misrepresentation on an insurance application," says Bland of LifeQuotes. "When you're formally applying, you're authorizing the insurer to check all outside records on you, including doctor records. When you fill out an application, you're baring your soul. All your answers on your application better match your doctor records and history."

You'll likely be required to take a life insurance medical exam, which includes giving blood and urine samples. This is true for many life insurance buyers, not just marijuana users. The life insurance company will also likely look at your medical records and current and past prescriptions. It will pull your motor vehicle record. It will access your past answers to individual life and health insurance applications.

"The buying public needs to realize all your information is verifiable," says Bland.

If you weren't honest about marijuana use on the application and evidence pops up in your medical records or in the life insurance exam, "look for a decline on your application. Insurers see it as a moral hazard. What else have you lied about? They'll take a pass," warns Bland.

Adding Other Issues To Marijuana Use

Expect higher rates if there are other factors that will push your life insurance quote up, or even result in a denial. This includes health conditions and black marks in your history, such as a history of substance abuse, a criminal record or moving violations like a speeding ticket or DUI. These are called "rateable" issues.

"If you have rateable issues, work with an agent who will do preliminary quotes for you. You provide all the information and they anonymously shop you first, rather than formally apply," advises Bland. Many agents will perform this service, he says. That way you'll know where you stand before you apply. You don't want to be sending applications to multiple companies.

Summary: Life Insurance Buying Strategy for Marijuana Users

Be 100% truthful on a life insurance application.
Be prepared to take a life insurance medical exam. The results should match what you've said on the application.
Find an agent who will shop the market for you anonymously before you formally apply.
Try to get a non-smoking life insurance rate.

Forbes adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author's alone and have not been provided, approved, or otherwise endorsed by our partners.

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