William M. Sparks 1945 - 2023
My father, William (Bill) Sparks, passed away sadly but comfortably Sunday morning, surrounded by his family. He was a kind and loving man with a heart of gold. There are so many who loved him and will feel this loss – in the business world and far beyond. He would say thank you to all of his small-business customer for their support, and he would wish everyone peace and happiness. I have run the William M. Sparks Insurance Agency for many years now, and I will continue to run it just as my father did and as he would want me to do. On behalf of my family, I thank you all for your kind words, well wishes and support at this time. --- Danielle Sparks
We all know how burdensome student loans can be for college students. They can soar to six figures and sometimes take decades to pay off. Therefore, those who co-sign on such loans are taking on significant risk because, should the unthinkable happen and the student die, the co-signer is often responsible for repayment. Perhaps the answer which will offer protection and peace of mind is Life Insurance.
ErieSense.com says: “This is especially true for private loans: While many federal student loans let a borrower’s cosigners complete paperwork releasing them and the estate from the debt, many private student loans do not. What’s more, in community property states like Wisconsin, surviving spouses are often held responsible for a deceased spouse’s outstanding loans.”
Read the article to learn how life insurance can protect in the repayment of student loans.
Life Insurance TipPurchasing a Life Insurance policy to cover the life of a student loan is a prudent option, and a term life policy is typically the most logical way to go. Not only is it the most affordable in the short term, but the student or graduate can often convert the policy to a permanent policy later and begin to accumulate cash savings. Check with your insurance agent for all the details and to discuss which life insurance option would be best to pursue. |
The William M. Sparks Insurance Agency in Lutherville - Timonium MD is a full service agency offering homeowners insurance, auto/car insurance, business/commercial insurance and life insurance to all of Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania since 1981. Our experienced insurance agents welcome your inquiries and are glad to discuss your coverage needs at any time.
Ask any business owner – from the huge retailer to the one-person shop, and they’ll likely tell you that the security of their business data is a top concern for them. The latest high profile victim of data theft is Home Depot where the recently-discovered data breach could reach back through months of processing and potentially affect all of the retailer’s 2,200 U.S. stores. However, perhaps of greater concern is that 55 percent of small businesses responding to a recent survey said they experienced a business data breach.
How does it happen? There are many vulnerabilities – from poor office procedures causing improper document handling to theft of a computer or staff compromise. The result is lost or stolen data – whether your local database is hacked or that “cloud solution” you rely on is suddenly exploited or goes belly-up overnight – taking your business data with it. If you have not done your own secure data back-ups and kept copies of critical data, then you are at risk.
ErieSense.com says: “The personal information of customers, employees and/or tenants entrusted to you is critical to the day-to-day functioning of your business… Whether it’s a misplaced computer, an improperly shredded document or a hacked database, business data can easily become exposed. If it does, a business data breach could occur.”
Read this article to learn what measures to take to help avoid a data breach.
Commercial Insurance TipBeing prepared before a data breach happens is the first important step. Contact your insurance agent to discuss what specialized commercial insurance coverage and services might be available to help you if/when a data breach occurs. You might also find that there is coverage to help cover your company’s legal expenses if you are the victim of a data-breach-related lawsuit. |
The William M. Sparks Insurance Agency in Lutherville - Timonium MD is a full service agency offering homeowners insurance, auto/car insurance, business/commercial insurance and life insurance to all of Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania since 1981. Our experienced insurance agents welcome your inquiries and are glad to discuss your coverage needs at any time.
When we think of summer weather phenomena, hurricanes are often top of mind. But in fact lightning occurs more frequently, affects more areas, and packs a huge – although different – punch. Lightning strikes without warning and, in an instant, can cause devastating structure fires, deaths and hundreds of millions in damage expenses – not to mention the threat to your personal safety. How much do you know about lightning? For example, would you know what time of day and month of the year most lightning occurs? It is worthwhile to know as much about this threat as you can so you are able to protect yourself and your family as well as your property.
ErieSense.com says: “From 2007 to 2011, local U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 22,600 fires per year that were started by lightning. These fires caused an average of nine civilian deaths and $451 million in direct property damage per year. Home fires accounted for 19 percent of the lightning fires.”
Homeowners Insurance TipWould your Homeowners Insurance policy cover you for home fire and other property damage as well as personal injury that lightning could cause? If you can’t say yes without hesitation, perhaps it’s wise to contact your insurance agent for a review of your insurance policy to confirm that your Homeowners Insurance coverage is sufficient to protect your investment and cover your liability. Do it today – we never know when lightning will strike. |
The William M. Sparks Insurance Agency in Lutherville - Timonium MD is a full service agency offering homeowners insurance, auto/car insurance, business/commercial insurance and life insurance to all of Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania since 1981. Our experienced insurance agents welcome your inquiries and are glad to discuss your coverage needs at any time.
This year, Take Your Kids to Work Day falls on April 24th. As an employer or business owners, you will need to know about the liability, compliance and insurance issues in advance. Using this opportunity to share your workplace with your child can add new dimension to your relationship and offer your child the chance to begin thinking about their own work future. No matter what your role is in your company, it might be worthwhile to know how this special day began and how it has evolved.
From ErieSense.com: “It’s also a good idea to leave younger kids at home or at school. Though it depends on your child’s maturity level, age 12 is usually a good age to first bring a child into the workplace… make sure to check in with your child’s school well ahead of time regarding your plans.”
Read the entire article for a few Take Your Kids to Work Day Guidelines to make the day worthwhile.
Business/Commercial Insurance TipChildren who visit on Take Your Kids to Work Day are viewed as any other guest in your workplace, and any issue or accident would typically be covered under a business owner’s general liability insurance coverage. In most cases, there would likely not be the need for any further additional coverages. However, you will want to consult with your insurance agent well in advance to confirm that the proper coverage is in place for your business. |
The William M. Sparks Insurance Agency in Lutherville - Timonium MD is a full service agency offering homeowners insurance, auto/car insurance, business/commercial insurance and life insurance to all of Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania since 1981. Our experienced insurance agents welcome your inquiries and are glad to discuss your coverage needs at any time.
Happy Valentine’s Day! February is "Insure Your Love" month. Find out how you can leave a legacy of love for your family.
You’ll want to view this short video from the Life Foundation. We think you’ll find it compelling. It will make you think about how your choices affect the lives of your loved ones and how their futures depend upon your decisions and actions.
We challenge you to watch this video and then answer honestly: Would you be the "before" or the "after"? Be sure to watch all the way through to see the creative twist.
Since we can’t predict what is in our future, taking the necessary steps to protect your family’s financial future will give you and them priceless peace of mind. You will know that your loved ones will be able to go on with their lives and pursue their dreams even if they must go on without you.
Here at the Sparks Insurance Agency we know Life Insurance. We’d welcome the opportunity to help you in exploring the many policy options available. Why not give us a call at your convenience?
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