The Color of Your Collar, and Other Ways Geico Rates Your Risk

The guide, which includes many more provisions, indirectly highlights the value of shopping around, since other companies likely do their evaluations differently. For example, while Geico's guide suggests that it sees blue-collar workers as higher risks, Allstate says it gives discounts to carpenters, plumbers and various repair people.

Of course, you don't know for sure which carrier is cheaper without getting a quote, but in the days of the Internet, that's easy. And with what insurance costs today, it's clearly worth the effort.

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Um, about that beach house: Insurance risk modeler Risk Management Solutions says it figures the chances of category 3 to 5 hurricanes making landfall in the United States each year has risen 30 percent for the next five years, largely driven by higher surface water temperatures at sea. That increases projected insurance losses by 40 percent on average across the Gulf Coast, Florida and the Southeast, and by 25 to 30 percent in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast coastal regions, compared with projections based on long-term (1900-2005) historical average hurricane frequencies.

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The IRS is looking for a few good taxpayers. The agency is inviting individuals to apply to be members of the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel, whose mission is to listen to taxpayers, identify issues and make recommendations for improving IRS service.

Applications are available online at http://www.improveirs.org/ or by calling 888-912-1227. You can apply online or download the form and mail it to:

Milwaukee TAP Office, Stop 1006MIL, 310 West Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, Wis. 53203-2221. The deadline for applying is April 28.