Farmers Insurance Champions Celebrate in Chicago with the Rapping Poet & The Band Chicago

This past week the "Champion" agents (Top 3% of agents in Farmers) from Farmers Insurance Celebrated their 2012 accomplishments in Chicago.  

Championship this year was special for several reasons - for me, this was the first time in my 10 year career with Farmers that I have achieved this award & words can not describe how thankful I am for my wife, and her endless support of me and my agency.   

In addition to celebrating our accomplishments, we also celebrated the release of our new logo with the assistance of the "rapping poet" Steve Connell (Video below).  

On top of everything else we (the Farmers Agents) closed out the week with a private concert with the one and only rock band Chicago.  As an agent I could not be more proud to represent this company, I go to work each and every day filled with a true passion to protect our clients and to represent Farmers as a true professional.

Thank you to all of our clients, and everyone who supports our agency - here is a brief glimpse of what we got to experience in Chicago!!!!

Should I turn in an Insurance claim?

With all of the storms that have been impacting our area lately, as an Insurance Agent I feel I should offer up "some advice."

I am often asked following a storm "Should I file a claim" - There are a few different ways to answer this, but First lets be clear - if you had damage as a result of a storm and your policy has coverage for storm damage (which most if not all should) you can turn in a claim, as a paying customer you have that "right" - that being said it is important to evaluate the situation before you turn in a claim.





Insurance claims should be used for situations that can "ruin your life, not your day" - As agents (my self or any other local agent) we do not get to set the rates or the rules the companies have - From my experience Insurance companies care more about how many claims you have had vs how much they have paid out - The reason I bring this up is that our local area has been impacted time and time again lately with major storms which could cause wind damage to your roof, water in your basement if your sump-pump stops working etc. all of these would/should be covered claims - however if in a span of 3 years you have 2 or more claims there is a good chance your current insurance company WILL DROP YOU, and your chances of finding affordable coverage would be very limited.  




I am not telling ANYONE not to turn in a claim, as a policyholder that is your right, I am just asking you to be smart about it - you will see companies (roofers) going door to door offering you a "free new roof," what they dont tell you is the impact it could have on your insurance policy.  The best thing you can do before you file a claim is to call and talk to your agent.  Our area is blessed with several awesome insurance agencies, use these agents to your benefit, ask them for their advice - but please do not go the road alone. For some additional information on this topic please also read this article by clicking HERE - 

Remodeling your house? Make sure you do an Insurance review with your agent FIRST!!!

Summer is here and for a lot of us that means it’s time to do some remodeling around the house. You may want to add a patio with built in grill and Jacuzzi tub, or you maybe you want to remodel the basement into the ultimate “man cave” or family rec-room.  Who knows, maybe the honey do list will also include a kitchen or bath remodel. That being said, when planning these changes our thoughts are usually how we will be enjoying these updates and entertaining our friends, not about our insurance coverage; however with any remodel or update its is very important that we do think about our homeowners insurance.

 BEFORE you start the renovation contact your insurance agent about the proposed work and review the updates and possible need to change your coverage before the job begins. We have included a great article to that gives some of the reasons why contacting your agent can be very important.                                     



http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/home-improvement/covered1.asp

Which Auto Insurance Company offers the most Discounts?

The debate is out as insurance companies proudly advertise they have the "most discounts on auto insurance" - but which company actually does?

Bankrate.com put together a list of 17 discounts that car companies offer, and ABC News Shared the story - check out the image below, and click this link for the full article. 

Staying safe over the July 4th Holiday ~

We found an awesome article with information regarding the 4th of July, and we thought we would share it with you - for the full article click here - 

The Fourth of July is only a day away. Fireworks, picnics, ice cream and get togethers with family and friends seem to be the recipe for this Summer time celebration. Though the Fourth of July brings great fun; according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 60 percent of all fireworks injuries occur around July 4. Firecrackers, aerials, and homemade explosives cause the most deaths and injuries.

The National Fire Protection Association reported that firework injury was highest for children ages 5-19 and adult’s 25-44, with 26 percent of the victims of fireworks injuries in 2011 being under age 15. This being said, what can you do to prevent accidents and injuries while using fireworks? The safest way to ensure fireworks safety is to attend an organized fireworks display being offered in your area. Leave the fireworks to trained professionals!

If you do decide to purchase legal fireworks, you are urged to take these safety steps provided by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

•Make sure the fireworks you want to buy are legal in your area before buying or using them.

•Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks, including sparklers. Parents may not realize that young children suffer injuries from sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals.

•Always have an adult closely supervise fireworks activities if older children are allowed to handle devices.

•Avoid buying fireworks that are packaged in brown paper, because this is often a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and could pose a danger to consumers.

•Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Back up to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.

•Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.

•Never try to relight or handle malfunctioning fireworks. Soak them with water and throw them away.

•Never point or throw fireworks at another person.

•Light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly.

•Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers.

•After fireworks complete their burning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding the device to prevent a trash fire.

Why Life Insurance - Aaron Pace's view

Why do I need life insurance? 

 That was a question I often asked myself when I was younger.  Like most young people, I felt I had my whole life ahead of me to get it taken care of. The older I get the more I realize why it is so important.  I now realize that it is the best gift that I could ever give to my family. There are many reasons to have life insurance.  Here are some great points from an article I read this afternoon.  I love this quote found within the article - "You can’t predict the future, You don’t know what will happen."

1. Life insurance provides financial support to your spouse and family.

2. Your spouse could become disabled after your death and unable to work.

3. You might not be able to obtain life insurance later on when you do want it.

4. If you become terminally ill, you will not spend your last days of life worrying about your family, and regretting that you didn’t purchase life insurance.

5. Your spouse will not be left with the debt you incurred.

6. Life insurance can help with your funeral and burial cost.

7. It offers peace of mind to you and your loved ones.

For more information from this article please click HERE for the entire article.

One of the other misconceptions I had, was purchasing life insurance for my children.  Yes, I know this is something as parents we never want to think about, but it really is a good idea.  If you purchase life insurance when your children are young, they will always be insured regardless of what health conditions they develop later in life.  Policies for children can be very affordable, and it is a great way to lock in the rates for the rest of their life.

If you have any questions regarding why you may need life insurance or how much you need please call us at McKinnon Insurance.  We will be glad to review your current coverage with you.  As we go through life, our life insurance needs change, please make sure your family is protected should something happen.