I’ve heard the saying, “If you don’t know jewelry, know your jeweler”,

but isn’t insurance all the same?

From time to time Monica and I get away from the office to sandy sunny destinations. I’m always amazed at the super great deals we see in the straw markets at some of these destinations. As tempting as it is, I refrain from buying gigantic diamonds for my gal at a fraction of the cost I see in the local jewelry store. I figure if the diamond shatters a few weeks later I wouldn’t be able to return to the place of business, I wouldn’t know the guy who sold it to me, and whatever I said about the experience in a Google Review it wouldn’t do me any good.

I hear stories and have even experienced events of my own where a product or a service promised didn’t turn out the way it was presented. Who hasn’t? In the insurance business claims can be denied because of fine print limitations or exclusions. What may seem like an awesome deal on a new policy can turn out to be a scam. I must admit that there are even scum bags in the insurance industry just as there are in any other profession.

Unlike a sand-floor thatched roof hut selling “diamonds” that we can easily live without, insurance for your home and autos is a necessity. How  then, do you know you are working with a professional agency and insured by a reputable insurance company?

You have to do your homework. You have to sort through the good, the bad, and hopefully avoid the ugly. Choose an Independent Agency that works with different insurance companies. Go online and research the agency you selected to see what others are saying about them. Go to the Indiana Department of Insurance to verify that the agency is actually licensed and in good standing. Find an agent willing to take time to explain the coverage, their processes, and answer any questions you have about the company. Lastly you can check the ratings of an insurance company with AM BEST, Standard & Poor’s and Moody.

No matter whether you are in the market for home, auto, business, or life insurance, the same can be said, if you don’t know insurance, you should know your insurance man. Do your homework and feel free to ask us any questions!

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Agency Spotlight:

 Change is inevitable. Sometimes we don’t embrace or want to see change happen. In this case I think we can all agree that change was for the good. Our friends at United Way have been blessed and that’s good news for our community.  Please take a moment to read the encouraging and thankful words on what’s been happening within our White County’s United Way from our Executive Director, Nickie Jenkinson.

United way – new home, new neighbors – same giving spirit by Nikie Jenkinson

We at White County United Way (WCUW) are so honored and humbled to be stewards of the beautiful facility once known as Lakeview Commons on Tioga Road, which was once a great comfort to our elders in their golden years and will soon primarily house community members on the other end of the spectrum of age. The Boys and Girls Club of White County (BGCWC) will bring youthful vibrancy to the majority of the space, with the easternmost wing acting as a new community center for the public to treasure. The sky is the limit with the ways the community center can benefit our neighbors, like providing areas for meetings, studying, conferences, and celebrations. The facility is a testament to the strong partnerships among nonprofits, government, and private entities in our close-knit community. On our Day of Caring to prepare the building for BGCWC occupancy, over 50 people, representing more than a dozen local and regional organizations, pitched in to clean windows, move furniture, and pull weeds in anticipation of the first student day on September 7, 2021. In addition to helping coordinate and register volunteers, WCUW was working in the background to handle the business and paperwork of moving buildings, as well as finding partners to share more of the space.

One such partner, already serving White County, is Bauer Family Resources. After renovations are complete, their Head Start program will join us at the new community center, serving pre-school aged children in all-day learning. They also serve families with their Community Partners program, which meets the needs of families with children who may not have access to the resources they need. As more agencies join our cooperative space, our organizational needs will grow. We are delighted that LightStream of Buffalo has offered to showcase their fiber-optic internet and digital services in the new community center. What their donations truly showcase, however, is the power of community and the joy of being involved in an ever-changing, ever-growing network of neighbors. Working together to serve one another and meet individual needs is a cornerstone of the philosophy of the community center. Together, our neighbors have helped us secure a new building, and together, we will make this building a home. Serving White County with the community center is an opportunity to wrap our neighbors in gratitude and appreciation, and it’s how we at WCUW LIVE UNITED.

Thank you,                           

Nikie Jenkinson                                            

https://www.whitecountyunitedway.org/about.html

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MISS BETH AND SMALL TOWN LIVING

Chris and Beth at Monticello Family Express

Our small town Family Express – just proved to me why small-town living is the only way for me…

A few weeks ago, I was having “one of those” days. I over scheduled myself and was hopping from one meeting or appointment to the next all day. I had also agreed to fill in and help with a kid’s Jiu-Jitsu class right after work. Having skipped my normal lunch hour, and knowing I wouldn’t be home for dinner until around 9pm, I knew I had to go get a bite to eat and save the kids from seeing me in my hangry state of mind. I rushed from my office at about three in the afternoon for a grab-n-go type lunch from Family Express. As I approached the counter with all my goodies in hand, I realized my wallet was left on my desk back at the office. The clerk, who I came to find out is named Beth, from behind the counter, saw my disappointed expression and asked me what was the matter. I told her I had forgotten my wallet and had no cash on me, none whatsoever. She smiled and beckoned me to be rung up anyway. She said I could come back later to pay. Reluctantly, and humbly I accepted; it was, of course, the kids I was thinking of and trying to shield them from the effects of my hangriness they would encounter in just a matter of hours. When I returned the store later that evening to pay, I asked Beth why she made that offer to me. I’m not in there all that often and I know she did not know me personally. She simply replied, “Because this is Family Express, and we love our community”. Yes, Monticello is small town, I’m proud of our small town with local businesses filled with great people. I know there is no other way for me.

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Is your phones ever our of your reach? This makes it one of the best tools we all have for quickly responding to an emergency. This  increases the chance of a more positive outcome. So, how does a person prepare their your phone for an emergency?

In most emergency situations, you would be the one to contact someone for help. It’s therefore important to take a few minutes  save important emergency contact numbers in your phone so you can make the call immediately to get help faster.

What are main emergency phone numbers to save in your phone?

• Your emergency contact, such as a parent, spouse or close friend
• Police, 911
• Poison Control Center
• State Highway Patrol
• Fire department (for non-emergencies)

• Your doctor, pediatrician and/or veterinarian
• Your pharmacy
• Home health aides(if you or loved on has this assistance)
• Your insurance company
• Your roadside assistance provider
• Your employer
• Your child’s school or caregiver
• A nearby relative or friend
• An out-of-town relative or friend

There are also some emergency situations, like a bad fall or car accident, where you might not be able to communicate with first responders. For this reason, it’s important to take these two steps:

1. Add an emergency contact in your phone, such as a parent, spouse or close friend who can come to your aid.
2. If your phone locks, set up a lock screen message to communicate helpful information to first responders, like your emergency contact, blood type, allergies and medications.

Depending on the type of phone you’re using, there are different ways to add a lock screen message.

iPhone users can use the Health app on their phones to add their basic personal information, important medical details and emergency contact numbers within the Medical ID tab and make them accessible from their lock screen. Make sure you select “Show When Locked” and test it out after you’ve finished setting it up.

Android users can set up their lock screen message by going into their Settings, Users & Accounts, and then Emergency Information. Enter your medical information and emergency contact. Then test it out by locking your phone, swiping up and tapping “Emergency” to find the information you entered. Android also lets you put any message you want on your locked screen. Open your Settings, go to Security & Location and next to the Screen Lock tab hit Settings. Then, tap Lock Screen Message. Here, you can enter your primary emergency contact or important medication information so that it always displays on your locked phone screen.

Because it’s difficult to predict when or where an emergency will happen, it is a smart idea to update your phone now so that you’re prepared to handle any situation that comes your way in the future. Set a reminder to update your information every 6 months as a precaution.  Be Safe Everyone!

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I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine’s Day!???? Anyone get a little something special? Anyone know the term Inland Marine? Well today it does not have to do with water, but any item of higher than normal value. If you got something special this weekend or have special things at home that you never added to your policy give us a call to get those things covered right away!

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 -info and images taken from USA Today

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What does umbrella insurance cover?

Umbrella insurance provides an additional layer of personal liability protection¹ on top of your liability insurance. So what does that mean? Here’s a scenario to help explain:

You’re driving on a rainy night when traffic stops abruptly ahead of you. Because of the conditions, you can’t stop fast enough and rear-end the car in front of you, seriously injuring the two occupants. The total cost of their medical care is $720,000. Your auto policy pays $500,000 and repairs their vehicle, but that leaves $220,000 in unpaid bills for which you are legally responsible.

This is where umbrella insurance kicks in. A Safeco umbrella policy provides an additional layer of protection when you don’t have enough primary insurance coverage. Without an umbrella policy, your savings and future income could be in danger. But, in this scenario, your umbrella policy will pay the $220,000 in outstanding bills, plus associated legal costs as well.

A Safeco umbrella policy can be used with any other Safeco policies you have, along with most policies purchased from other insurance companies. This includes policies covering your boat, motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle, snowmobile, or other toys.

Why should you add umbrella insurance to your policy?

Having $500,000 of liability coverage sounds like a lot of protection, but when you think about the high cost of emergency care, surgical bills, post-surgery care, rehab, pain and suffering, lost income, and more the costs can rise rapidly. Multiply that by several individuals and it’s easy to exceed $500,000.

A personal umbrella policy begins where damages for covered claims could exceed the underlying policy limits. It’s also a critical part of your overall risk management plan because it provides an additional layer of protection when you need it.

Without an umbrella policy, your assets, savings, and even future income could be in danger because you could be required to pay all costs over your policy’s liability limit. And umbrella covers much more than just auto accidents. That’s why it’s essential in helping protect your family.

It’s also affordable. Quality coverage costs as little as a dollar a day. Let us help by getting you connected to a quality A rated carrier like Safeco.

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