All posts by straightlinepr

Business

AAA welcomed publication of FSA paper on Alternative investments

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AAA has welcomed the publication of the Financial Services Authority’s discussion paper based on EU plans to more closely monitor alternative investments.

Boston, MA, January 27, 2012 – Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) has welcomed the publication of the Financial Services Authority’s (FSA) discussion paper based on EU plans to more closely monitor alternative investments.

Far from being something alternative investors of funds should fear, the regulator’s paper, entitled ‘Implementation of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive’, should be welcomed as a further move towards alternative asset classes becoming more mainstream, claims AAA.

The 102-page paper talks about how the FSA might go about enforcing the Fund Managers Directive in the UK. The directive is intended to form a framework for the regulations and assessment of the industry to expose risks and offer investors more information in alternative options.

“It is clear that the reason such as directive is needed is because more and more investments are turning their backs on traditional asset classes and are putting their cash into alternative, such as real estate, commodities, forestry, an even art and antiques,” stated AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson.

“The stock market is not such an attractive place to make money any more,” he added.

The FSA report states that it is keen to start thinking about implementation at an early stage: ‘There is a great deal to be done. Early communication and timely consultation and planning are crucial for effective and proportionate implementation.’

The report is to be open for responses until 23 March, while the EU members states must give their feedback on the directive by 22 July 2013.

The Investment Management Association’s director Julie Patterson explained that a diverse range of investment options will be covered by the directive, including impact investing and other very new forms of alternative investment. She sated, “The FSA’s paper summarises the diverse requirements within the directive.

“There are further EU rules proposed for smaller venture capital funds and social entrepreneurship funds, which will need to be accommodated.”

AAA advocates alternative investments and is particularly interested in promoting ethical investments, such as social ventures and sustainable forestry projects n developing countries. Several firms, including Greenwood Management and Agar Wood Investment offer investors the chance to make an impact on sustainable forestry while seeing healthy returns.

Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596
info@alternativeassetanalysis.com
http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com

Business

New Plantation Research could hold key to fewer Emissions claims FRA

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FRA has claimed that Swiss research could deliver more efficient timber plantations in the future.

Bainbridge Island, WA, January 27, 2012 – Research from Switzerland holds the key to “more efficient” timber plantations, claims research and analysis consultancy, Forestry Research Associates (FRA).

Seattle-based FRA claims that new research from the Paul Scherrer Institute in Villigen, Switzerland, has found how to optimise forestry plantations in order to minimise bark growth while maximising log growth and quality.

The main researcher, Nic Meyer, explained that bark emits more harmful substances when burned than the rest of the timber. He told environmentalresearchweb: “In our previous investigations we had found that the emissions from burning bark had sent all of our test instruments into overdrive.”

He then found that choosing the right kind of species and spacing the trees out a certain way within a plantation can reduce the amount of bark growth and increase the number of logs a tree can produce.

Using an analysis of spruce and beech plantations in Switzerland, he and research partner Marco Mina, found that certain forestry management techniques, involving thinning crops and carefully timing harvest, for example, could help to reduce bark growth by 20 per cent.

“This could have a major impact on how forestry plantations are managed in the future,” claimed FRA’s analysis partner Peter Collins. He added, “Any techniques that can minimise bark growth and increase quality timber production must be good for forestry investors.”

One of the key findings was that delaying the thinning process until branches had reached between 20cm and 40cm in diameter significantly reduced bark growth. The reduction in bark growth could reduce emissions and costs to countries that specialise in forestry, explained Meyer: “In Switzerland alone, the damage costs from direct emissions from wood combustion activities are estimated to be of the order of 100 million Euro per year.”

FRA advocates forestry investment through plantation schemes, such as those run by Greenwood Management in Brazil and Canada.

Contact:
Peter Collins
Forestry Research Associates
620 Vineyard Lane
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
(206) 316 8394
info@forestry-research.com
http://www.forestry-research.com

Business

Insurance King to Release Online Rating Software for Car Insurance

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Insurance King is developing an online rating software to market car insurance in areas they do not have a local office.

Rockford, IL January 27, 2012 – Insurance King to release online rating software for car insurance. In an effort to expand Insurance King throughout IL and into different States, Insurance King is developing an online rating software to market car insurance in areas they do not have a local office. The website is www.insurancekingquote.com people will eventually be able to purchase insurance online from their home and print ID cards on the spot. As of now it is under construction, but people can submit a request for a quote to have an agent call back within 24 hours.

“Traditionally Insurance King has been a local business with little to no online presence, because the technology has not been around for agencies to rate people online until now.” Says co-founder Dan Block. Insurance King has plans to open offices downstate in IL, in areas like Peoria IL, Springfield IL, Decatur IL, and eventually offices in Chicago and the suburbs. Insurance King also plans on opening locations in Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Ohio. The website will help establish those markets before an office is open to serve the clients.

To get your free quote for car insurance, contact any Insurance King location in Rockford IL, and speak to an agent. Insurance King on Alpine Rd office 815-639-0149, Insurance King on Auburn St office 815-968-(KING)5464 , Insurance King on 7th St. office 815-316-9522, or visit www.insurancekingquote.com to have an agent call you.

Contact:
Dan Block
Insurance King
123 N. Alpine Rd
Rockford, IL 61107
815-639-0149
danblock317@gmail.com

Insurance King

Business

White Paper from Drinker Biddle Considers Risk Mitigation Approach to 401(K) Plan Design

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‘Fiduciary Partnership Service’ From Security Benefit Can Help Both Plan Fiduciaries And Financial Representatives According To Law Firm’s Analysis

Topeka, KS, January 26, 2012 – Security Benefit Corporation, a Guggenheim Partners Company, is making available a new white paper from the law firm, Drinker Biddle, considering the Fiduciary Partnership Service created by Security Benefit and Mesirow Financial.

The paper — Selecting Investments: The Security Benefit® Fiduciary Partnership Solution — analyzes the specific challenges facing plan fiduciaries and financial advisors providing services to their plan clients.

Authored by Bruce Ashton, Fred Reish, and Summer Conley — each recognized among the top lawyers in the nation representing 401(k) and other retirement plans — the paper concludes that the approach designed by Security Benefit and Mesirow Financial offers a complete solution to certain fiduciary challenges.

“We worked hard with the professionals at Mesirow Financial to create a program that removes the fiduciary pressure from plan advisors and assists plan sponsors with their fiduciary obligations at the same time,” says Kevin Watt, Vice President of Security Benefit. “This analysis by Drinker Biddle confirms we were fairly successful in our efforts.”

The paper outlines the pressures employers are under to offer a well-designed, well-managed retirement plan, typically a participant-directed 401(k) or 403(b) plan, for their employees.

According to co-author Reish, an employee benefits partner with Drinker Biddle, one of the key choices employers must make — the selection of investment alternatives to be offered to the participants — may seem almost unmanageable given the roller-coaster ride the financial markets have experienced since 2008.

“The solution is for the plan to engage a discretionary investment manager to take on the responsibility of selecting and monitoring the plan’s investment options,” says Mr. Reish. “This approach limits the plan fiduciary’s liability exposure and relieves the financial adviser of the pressure to provide services that step over the fiduciary line.”

Designed for 401(k) plan fiduciaries and financial advisors, Selecting Investments: The Security Benefit® Fiduciary Partnership Solution, can be accessed at Security Benefit’s website, securitybenefit.com.

About Security Benefit
Security Benefit, a Guggenheim Partners Company, is a leading provider of retirement plan services throughout the nation, primarily in the education marketplace, and offers a variety of compelling and customized fixed and variable annuity products. The firm’s se2 division is an award-winning and nationally recognized provider of administrative services for the insurance and financial services industry. To learn more, go to securitybenefit.com.

About Guggenheim Partners
Guggenheim Partners, LLC is a privately held global financial services firm. The firm provides investment management, investment banking and capital markets services as well as insurance and investment advisory solutions for institutions, corporations, governments and agencies, investment advisors, family offices and individuals. Guggenheim Partners is headquartered in New York and Chicago and serves clients from more than 25 offices in nine countries.

About Mesirow Financial
Mesirow Financial is a diversified financial services firm headquartered in Chicago. Founded in 1937, it is an independent, employee-owned firm with approximately 1,200 employees in locations globally. The firm is well capitalized and has been consistently profitable, with capital of $302 million, revenues totaling $510 million for fiscal 2011 and $59.1 billion in assets under management, of which $31 billion are in currency and commodities as of September 30, 2011. With expertise in Investment Management, Global Markets, Insurance Services and Consulting, Mesirow Financial strives to meet the financial needs of institutions, public sector entities, corporations and individuals. For more information about Mesirow Financial, please visit mesirowfinancial.com.

Contact:
Laura Parsons
CSG-PR
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
303-887-2911
lparsons@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com/

Business

ELM Hosts Landscape Management Customer Education Series

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In an effort to promote a better understanding of the opportunities available to our customers, ELM is offering a series of 90 minute seminars on topics related to the outdoor environment with the potential to reduce operating costs.

Stamford, CT, January 26, 2012 – The following is the a listing of the next series of seminars:

February 2, 2012 2:00PM WATER MANAGEMENT Presenter: Mike Astram
Mike is a certified irrigation designer and water auditor with many years of experience designing urban irrigation systems and other challenging sites. He will present some case studies of water audits he has completed and the proposed recommendations resulting in significant costs.

February 15, 2012 3:00PM EFFECTIVE USE OF ICE MELTERS
Presenter: Dale Keep
Dale is a nationally recognized expert in the snow management field and is a resource to many states DOT and other government agencies. He will provide a basic introduction to the proper and effective use of ice melters, the trends toward liquid de-icing products, and how to evaluate the actual costs of materials
.
MARCH 8, 2012 3:00PM CREATING & MANAGING SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPES
Presenter: Michael Spitzer, ASLA
Michael is a registered landscape architect with considerable experience in designing and maintaining commercial landscapes in urban and suburban environments. Locally, Michael has recently completed projects for RFR and Nestle Waters. He will review the steps required to initiate a sustainable landscape and strategies to extend and protect the life cycle of mature landscapes.

For more information, please contact bmooresr@easternland.com.

Contact:
Bruce Moore, Sr.
Eastern Land Management, Inc.
142 Hamilton Ave
Stamford, CT 06902 USA
(203) 316-5433
bmooresr@easternland.com

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Business

Insurance King is the SR-22 Kings

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Insurance King are SR-22 experts, filing 20-50 new SR-22’s every week in IL.Insurance King has been crowned the SR-22 Kings.

Rockford, IL, January 26, 2012 – Insurance King is the Sr-22 Kings. Insurance King are SR-22 experts, filing 20-50 new SR-22’s every week in IL. Insurance King has been crowned the SR-22 Kings. People are easily confused about SR-22’s. It is a misunderstanding that SR-22’s cost more, this is because most Insurance Agent’s don’t issue them or understand them. The SR-22 filing simply lets the State know if a policy is cancelled. When someone cancels their insurance policy, with a SR-22 filing, the State is notified so they can suspend their license when the policy cancels. A 36 month filing is now required for all SR-22’s. The most standard reason for someone to be issued a SR-22 is for receiving a no insurance ticket, a DUI, an accident without insurance, or not having enough insurance and not paying the difference for an at fault accident. People also don’t realize that the State randomizes people for insurance, sending them a letter, asking them to prove they had insurance on a certain date. If they cannot prove they had a policy during those dates, they can get a fine and be required to be on a SR-22 for 36 months. Insurance King files SR-22’s electronically with the State daily and helps their customers understand the importance of paying their insurance with a SR-22 endorsement on time, to avoid penalties and possible license suspension.

If you are required to carry a SR-22 call the SR-22 experts at Insurance King and start the process immediately and affordably.

To get your Free SR-22 quote, contact any Insurance King location in Rockford IL and speak to an agent. Insurance King on Alpine Rd office 815-639-0149, Insurance King on Auburn St office 815-968-(KING)5464 , Insurance King on 7th St. office 815-316-9522, or visit www.insurancekingquote.com to have an agent call you.

Contact:
Dan Block
Insurance King
123 N. Alpine Rd
Rockford, IL 61107
815-639-0149
danblock317@gmail.com

Insurance King

Business

Insurance King Agent’s Deliver a Personal Touch

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Insurance King Agent’s deliver a personal touch. “People like to deal with real people.” says co-founder Dan Block.

Rockford, IL, January 26, 2012 – Insurance King Agent’s deliver a personal touch. “People like to deal with real people.” says co-founder Dan Block. Insurance King has a more personal approach where you deal with your Agent, not a receptionist that covers while your Agent is out golfing, or spending 30 minutes on an automated call trying to find out which button to push to find out how much your bill is this month. “I have my regular customers that like to rub it in when my Chicago Bear’s and Cub’s lose, or bring me a birthday card, or even sometimes lunch.” says Justin Cremeens, Auburn St. Insurance King Manager. Dan, co-founder of Insurance King, encourages that Insurance King Agents engage in a more personal touch when dealing with the customers and referral sources. Dan built Insurance King by going above and beyond what was expected of an Agent. Dan has let customers use his car to take driving tests and even spent every Wednesday for 3 years driving several people each week to the Chicago Secretary of State office to help them get their licenses back the same day, by filing their SR-22 live in person. Back then it would take up to 6 weeks to get a SR-22 filed; today it is 24-48 hrs. Largely due to Dan’s efforts on a mandatory task force that got the state to file SR-22’s electronically.

Insurance King has a mobile office for issuing policies after hours. Serving the Northern IL area, people wishing to buy a policy after hours can contact Insurance King Agent Joe Bitner, who will come to your home or meet you some where public and issue a policy on the spot. Just contact him at the 7th St. office 815-316-9522, if you know in advance that you cannot make it during regular hours or even call after hours. Joe has also been known to setup near road blocks to sell car insurance to people that got no insurance tickets, or he also sits at the city impound yard for people to get their insurance and then get their cars released from the impound.

To get your free quote for car insurance, contact any Insurance King location in Rockford IL and speak to an agent. Insurance King on Alpine Rd office 815-639-0149, Insurance King on Auburn St office 815-968-(KING)5464 , Insurance King on 7th St. office 815-316-9522, or visit www.insurancekingquote.com to have an agent call you.

Contact:
Dan Block
Insurance King
123 N. Alpine Rd
Rockford, IL 61107
815-639-0149
danblock317@gmail.com

Insurance King

Technology

Ecotech Institute’s Student Population Grows Nearly 400 Percent in One Year

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With jobs in renewable energy and sustainability on the rise, students from across the country are coming to Ecotech to gain hands-on training

Denver, CO, January 25, 2012 – Ecotech Institute, the first and only college entirely focused on preparing America’s workforce for careers in renewable energy and sustainability, announced today that its January quarter kicked off with 100 new students, the largest start to date. With total current enrollment at 473 students, Ecotech witnessed a student population increase of almost 400 percent in just one year.

Ecotech Institute started classes in a temporary facility in June 2010 as it completed an overhaul of an existing vacant building. In January 2011, Ecotech’s 119 students began attending school in its LEED gold-certified campus in Aurora, Colorado. Since then, the facility’s offerings, faculty and student enrollment have continually experienced growth and improvement.

This June, the first graduating class of 39 students is expected to receive their degrees and in December 2012, another 50 students are expected to graduate. Of these students, the most popular degrees include Wind Energy Technology, Renewable Energy Technology and Electrical Engineering Technology.

“We knew we had something special when Ecotech opened its doors, and it’s inspiring to see increasingly more students come from across the country to pursue a degree that can truly make a difference in the world,” said Mike Seifert, president of Ecotech Institute. “With our first group of graduates in June, we can’t wait to see where they go and to hear their stories of success. This is definitely going to be a big year for us.”

Today, 90 percent of Ecotech’s students are men and 77 percent of the students are from Colorado. However, every day more and more students are moving from other states to pursue a degree at Ecotech, with students from 37 states and Puerto Rico currently represented. The top states from which Ecotech students have relocated include California, New Jersey, Wyoming, Illinois and Texas.

With the growth in students comes a growth in faculty as well. When Ecotech first opened, the school had one program director and two instructors. Ecotech now has three program directors and 24 instructors who teach in 11 hands-on learning labs. Ecotech’s holistic teaching approach gives students a chance to learn first-hand about the technology they will use in the field of their future career. At Ecotech, students also learn soft skills (communication, workplace etiquette), math and science basics and technology skills.

Ecotech Institute, which is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, offers seven highly practical degree programs and one certificate program that provide graduates with skills valued by today’s alternative renewable energy employers.

To learn more about Ecotech Institute, visit us online at www.ecotechinstitute.com or call 877-326-5576. The next round of classes begins in April and applications are being accepted now. Financial assistance is available to those who qualify.

About Ecotech Institute
Ecotech Institute is the first and only college entirely focused on preparing America’s workforce for careers in renewable energy and sustainability. Launched in April 2010 in Denver, Colorado, the college offers seven associate’s degrees and a certificate program designed by experts in the industry for people seeking careers in the emerging cleantech economy. Ecotech Institute is a division of Education Corporation of America. For more information about Ecotech Institute, visit www.ecotechinstitute.com.

Contact:
Alicia Hassinger or Jenny Foust
CSG|PR
303.433.7020
ahassinger@csg-pr.com or jfoust@csg-pr.com

About Education Corporation of America
Education Corporation of America is a leader in the post-secondary career school market with current enrollment of almost 20,000 students.  The ECA website is www.ecacolleges.com.  In addition to Ecotech Institute, ECA schools include Virginia College, founded in 1983, a private institution of higher education that offers non-degree and associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in the areas of Health and Medical, Business, Information Technology, Interior Design, Computer Design, Culinary Arts, Cosmetology, Nursing and more in eighteen different cities.  Virginia College campuses are located in Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile and Montgomery, Alabama; Jacksonville and Pensacola, Florida; Augusta, Columbus, Macon and Savannah, Georgia; Biloxi and Jackson, Mississippi; Charleston, Spartanburg, Columbia, and Greenville, South Carolina; Chattanooga and Knoxville, Tennessee; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Richmond, Virginia; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Austin, Texas. The Virginia College website is www.vc.edu.  Virginia College also offers classes worldwide via the Internet, with student services and admissions facilities in Birmingham, Alabama, and Tampa, Florida, and a Military Student Center also in Tampa.  Information about online classes at Virginia College is available at www.vconline.edu.  Additionally, ECA operates Culinard, the Culinary Institute of Virginia College, with locations in Birmingham and Mobile, Alabama; Richmond, Virginia; Savannah, Georgia; and Jacksonville, Florida.  The website is www.culinard.com.  ECA also operates Golf Academy of America, with locations in Phoenix, Arizona; San Diego, California; Dallas, Texas; Orlando, Florida; and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  The Golf Academy website is www.golfacademy.edu.

Contact:
Alicia Hassinger
CSG|PR
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
303-433-7020
ahassinger@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Travel

Luxury Travel Ltd to Unveil New Overland Tours in the Kingdom of Cambodia

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Luxury Travel to Offer New Exciting Tours from Phnom Penh to Angkor Temples by Road

Hanoi, Vietnam, January 26, 2012 – Luxury Travel Ltd (a long established specialist in luxury privately guided and fully bespoke holidays in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand) is offering off the treasures of Cambodia tour in 8 days from Phnom Penh to Angkor Temples by road.

Cambodia is one of the safest and most fascinating destinations in Asia. The country is blessed with a rich history and a variety of cultural heritages, making it a paradise for historians, archeologists and everyday people wanting to see some of the many wonders of the ancient world.

Bordering Thailand to the west and Vietnam to the east, Cambodia offers visitors many unique experiences ranging from visiting the tribes of Ratanakiri to exploring the vast wet land of Tonle Sap Lake. There are also countless ancient temples and impressive natural scenery, including pristine beaches, mighty rivers and remote forests.

Far removed from its turbulent past, Cambodia is now open to visitors from around the world who wish to admire the grandeur of Angkor Wat and Thom, and the colonial capital Phnom Penh. Moreover, sea lovers can head for the empty beaches in Sihanoukville on the southern coast, which is a great place to relax and enjoy the sun.

“Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia and is spread out on the banks of two rivers. On this tour, you’ll be able to visit the must see sites, including Wat Phnom, the Silver Pagoda in the Royal Palace complex, the National Museum and much more. Not only that, since your tour is totally private, you may choose to go off the beaten path and explore anything that strikes your fancy, with the expert help of your local guide. Upon request, balloon or helicopter rides over ancient temples or see them in style in an old vintage Citroen. Or, tee up a round of golf, make restaurant reservations, meet with artists, visit Khmer cooking instructors and designers. And even more, including, casino play, shopping recommendations, spa reservations, special-interest lecturers, and exclusive access to local activities and cultural events,” said David Nguyen, Sales and Marketing manager of Luxury Travel Ltd.

Tour prices from 1229 USD per person for two persons, double occupancy, including private transfer, pick up and drop off services, domestic flights, meals, English or French speaking guide, entrances and deluxe five accommodation.

“The majority of travelers to Cambodia come for short trips to Seam Reap and the Angkor Temples and the perception of Cambodia being dangerous has entirely changed and we now see our clients doing overland tours between provinces in Cambodia,” said Pham Ha, CEO of Luxury Travel Ltd.

Opened in 2004, the Luxury Travel Company Limited is the first luxury tour operator and DMC in Vietnam, has its own offices, luxury vehicles, luxury travel advisors, and serves thousands of high-end travelers every year. The company’s depth of experience and large infrastructure enable it to create unique itineraries with the operational confidence to fulfill client expectations. Luxury Travel Ltd has won numerous travel awards for excellent performance, including the most recent award: “Best Luxury Tour Operator.”

For booking, visit http://luxurytravelvietnam.com/EN/Cambodia_tours/treasure_of_cambodia_8days.htm

Contact:
David Nguyen
Luxury Travel Group Ltd
5 Nguyen Truong To Street
Ba Dinh Dist, Hanoi
Vietnam
84439274120
marketing@luxurytravelvietnam.com
http://www.LuxuryTravelVietnam.com

Business

Insurance King is Saving People Hundreds of Dollars on Car Insurance

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New lower rates released January 1st 2012 for IL drivers. With rates as low as $24 per month for liability, drivers in IL can drive legal for less money.

Rockford, IL, January 25, 2012 – New lower rates released January 1st 2012 for IL drivers. With rates as low as $24 per month for liability, drivers in IL can drive legal for less money. Insurance King’s motto is just because insurance is mandatory doesn’t mean it’s mandatory to pay too much for it. Insurance King represents several different Insurance Companies, finding you the best price for the coverage you seek.

“I have been with Insurance King for 6 years ,I saved $33 per month when I switched and have been happy ever since.” Tim S. insurance King client

“My Insurance Agent screwed up my SR-22 and I spent a night in jail because of it. My attorney told me to call Insurance King to file the SR-22, and it was filed the very next day with the Secretary of State. It was $19 cheaper per month.” Monica G. Insurance King client

“I went to add my 16 year old son to my policy, it was an extra $214 per month and my agent actually suggested calling Insurance King for quotes. I ended up getting a separate policy for my son’s car and excluded him as a driver on my other policy. Insurance King saves me $92 per month.” Lisa A. insurance King client

“I got caught driving without insurance, got a $500 fine, had my license suspended and car impounded. I was paying $124 per month and lost my job, so decided to go without. The court made me buy insurance, and they are forcing me to keep it with a SR-22. I saw a TV spot for Insurance King and called for a quote. The price was $59 per month because they had a better payment plan and lower rates.” Brian H. Insurance King client

To get your free quote for car insurance, contact any Insurance King location in Rockford IL and speak to an agent. Insurance King on Alpine Rd office 815-639-0149, Insurance King on Auburn St office 815-968-(KING)5464 , Insurance King on 7th St. office 815-316-9522, or visit www.insurancekingquote.com to have an agent call you.

Contact:
Dan Block
Insurance King
123 N. Alpine Rd
Rockford, IL 61107
815-639-0149
danblock317@gmail.com

Insurance King