To our friends, family, clients, employees, and referral sources

As I sit in my home office waiting for the rest of the family to wake, I look forward to the time of morning where I would normally hug them good bye and wish them a good day. As today, that moment will be much different. Today, there are no good byes; just good mornings! Today is the day of thanks and an opportunity to enjoy time with the ones we love.

When I think though of everything and everyone I am thankful for myself, personally and professionally, and for my family, it quickly becomes a long list and includes many, many people. 

Thank you to my friends; You make life that much more enjoyable to go through! Thank you for your shoulders to lean on and your beers to share!

Thank you to my family; Life wouldn't be worth going through without the love we share. 

Thank you to my clients; My entire life all I ever wanted to do was provide for my family. You make this possibly and your business could not be more appreciated!

Thank you to my referral sources; The trust you show in The Wertzberger Agency through your referrals makes growing an Insurance Agency possible. I can not thank you enough for the connections you have help make to the clients of our Agency.

Thank you to my employees; You make maintaining a growing Agency possible. Thank you for making me look good by being so awesome yourselves :)

Wishing everyone a GREAT day and a Happy Thanksgiving from the Wertzberger Family and The Wertzberger Agency.

       

Prepare today for your family’s tomorrow

Life insurance is often an essential component of a sound financial plan. However, if you’re not in perfect health, or if you’ve been turned down for life insurance before, it’s not always easy to get. Yet you want to plan ahead to take care of your obligations — you don’t want to burden your family, the ones you care most about.

Farmers Life^® wants to help. If you think you’re stuck without options, consider this: You may qualify for up to $20,000 of permanent whole life insurance¹ with no medical exam² — answer only three simple health questions. Here are three important features of this life insurance:

• You don’t have to be in perfect health — If you’re between ages 45 and 80 and still living independently you may qualify.
• Your policy builds cash value — You may be able to borrow against your policy to cover unexpected expenses.
• Your rate will never increase — Regardless of your age or health, your premium will never go up.

With the average cost of a funeral³ now more than $7000,⁴ this coverage may be an appropriate way to help you prepare for your family’s tomorrow. Call Farmers Insurance - The Wertzberger Agency at 913-383-3276 to learn more so you can be sure you have the coverage you want. The more you know about life insurance the better you can plan for the future. Learn more, plan better.

¹ Farmers Graded Death Benefit Whole Life Insurance policy. Limited death benefit during the first two policy years. Policy form numbers ICC11-2011-123 or applicable state variation.

² Issuance of a policy may depend on answers to questions set forth in the application.

³ This life insurance does not specifically cover funeral goods or services, and may not cover the entire cost of your funeral at the time of your death. The beneficiary may use the proceeds for any purpose unless otherwise directed.

⁴ http://nfda.org/news-a-events/all-press-releases/3719-nfda-releases-results-of-member-general-price-list-survey.html

Life insurance issued by Farmers New World Life Insurance Company, 3003 77th Ave. SE, Mercer Island, WA 98040. Products and features may not be available in all states and may vary by state.

Do you need rental car insurance?

Will you be renting a car during the holiday season? Whether you’ll be renting at your destination or renting a vehicle and driving to your destination, you’ll face a barrage of questions when you get to the rental car counter: Do you have auto insurance? Can I see your insurance ID card? Do you want CDW, LDW and so on? Here’s some information that may help you understand more about insurance before you get to the rental car counter:

• Call me before you leave — I can help you understand your current auto coverage so you can decide if it’s what you want. If you’ll be using the rental car for recreation only (not for business), in many cases your coverage and deductibles may apply. Let’s have a conversation before you leave.
• Call your credit card company before you leave — If you’ll be depending on a credit card for rental car insurance coverage, it’s very important to check with your card company before you travel. If you have more than one card, consider calling each one to see which offers the best coverage. Insurance benefits vary among companies and/or banks that issue cards, as well as by the level of credit card used. For instance, a platinum card may offer more insurance coverage than a gold card.

Get prepared before you leave
Call me in advance of your travel and I can give you information that may help you make an informed decision about rental car insurance coverage. The more you know the better you can prepare for the unexpected — and you won’t be overwhelmed at the rental car counter.

Be smart when renting a car

CHECKLIST: HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF WHEN RENTING A CAR
✓	Questions to ask your auto insurance agent before you rent:
	Do I have collision coverage? (If you have an older vehicle and dropped that coverage, you won’t have it on your rental.)
	Does my policy extend to rental cars? (Most do.)
	Am I covered outside the United States? Are any countries excluded?
	Is there a limit on how long I can rent the car?
	Are there any vehicle exclusions?
	Does my policy cover loss-of-use and other fees charged by the rental car company?
	How much liability coverage do I have?
✓	Questions to ask your credit card issuer before you rent:
	Do I have rental car coverage? Is it secondary or primary?
	Does it cover collisions only or collisions and theft?
	What’s the maximum reimbursement?
	Does it cover vehicles rented outside the United States? Are there any vehicle exclusions? (Some won’t cover pickup trucks, moving vans or some types of SUVs.)
	Is there a limit on how long I can rent the car?
	Does my policy cover loss-of-use and other fees charged by the rental car company?
✓	At the rental car counter:
	Decline the rental company’s collision waiver.
	Pay for the car in full with the credit card that provides the protection.
	Include the names of any other people you expect to drive the car on the rental contract. Many insurance programs won’t cover a driver who isn’t on the contract.
	Once you get the car, don’t speed, drive on an unpaved road or drive while intoxicated. All can invalidate your coverage.

For other ways to get smarter about your auto insurance, home insurance, life insurance, or business insurance contact Farmers Insurance - The Wertzberger Agency at 913-383-3276

Checklist Source: http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/rental-car-credit-card-protections-vary-1273.php#ixzz2dBTIe2BM

Diamonds are forever … with the right insurance coverage

The holidays are approaching — a time of giving, sharing and caring. While many choose to give or receive jewelry or other valuable gifts, they often are unclear on how to insure these items. Many people think their homeowners insurance covers the full value of all of their belongings. This may not be the case: although your homeowners policy may offer great coverage, it typically has deductibles and coverage limitations. So how can you avoid a gap and make sure you have the coverage you want?

Add a floater to your Home Insurance or Renters Insurance 
Scheduled Items Floater coverage (also called Personal Articles Floater) is designed to cover your valuable property that may be excluded from or have limited coverage under your homeowners or renters policy. Such property may include:

• Jewelry
• Paintings, sculpture, and other works of art
• Cameras, musical instruments and firearms
• Antiques
• Collectibles
• Personal computers and electronics
• Silverware, goldware, and other high value precious metalware

Get prepared; stay prepared
Call me — I can help you review your policy so you know what coverage you have for valuables, whether there are special lower limits and when those special limits may apply. Then you can decide if you have the coverage you want for your belongings. If you don’t have enough insurance for your jewelry, artwork or other unique valuables, you’d rather know now — not after you suffer a loss.


Coverage is not available in all states.

Surviving Holiday Air Travel

Thanksgiving kicks off the holiday season, when millions of Americans take to the roads or board trains and planes around the country. If you’re traveling, you’re likely to encounter packed airports, unforeseen schedule changes, bad weather, and probably a few irritable fellow passengers as everyone tries to get somewhere for the holiday. At Farmers, we want to help. So, in addition to the universal rules — plan ahead, pack light, know your airport and choose the best travel days — we’ve assembled some cool travel apps to help keep you on schedule and informed as to airport and flight delays:

• TripIt — Organize your travel plans in one place with TripIt. Once you set up your account, simply forward your travel confirmation emails to plans@tripit.com and TripIt automatically creates a detailed daily itinerary for every trip. You can get directions, maps and weather for each destination and sync trip plans with your Apple Calendar, Outlook, or Google Calendar. Available free for Apple and Android devices. Or upgrade to TripIt Pro for $49 per year and get real-time flight alerts, gate changes, alternate flights and seating info, etc.
• My TSA — Can homemade cookies go through security? How early should you get to the airport for a Thanksgiving Eve flight? Get the answers to these and other important questions that may help you avoid delays by adding the TSA’s free app to your mobile device. Available free for Apple and Android devices.
• FlightStats — Helps you track flight information such as estimated departure and arrival times, terminal and gate numbers, and at which baggage carousel you can claim your bags. You can search by airport for local weather conditions and seven-day forecast, time and date information, and a delay index which tells you if there are any flight delays and how severe they are. Once your flight takes off, interested friends or family can track the plane in the air. Available free for Apple and Android devices.

Travel smart, plan smart
Traveling during the holidays often requires patience and a laid-back attitude — otherwise the many transportation delays, and traffic and travel snags could get you crazy. But with a bit of smart planning you may be able to ease the hassles. Stay safe and have fun!

For other tips about getting smart about your auto insurance, home insurance, life insurance, or business insurance contact Farmers Insurance - The Wertzberger Agency at 913-383-3276

Make a Difference Today!

In 2014, the Farmers Insurance Open set a tournament record by raising more than $2.8M for local San Diego charities. One of the biggest components of the Farmers Insurance Open charity effort is Birdies for Charity. The program serves as an opportunity for twelve select charitable organizations to utilize the magnitude of the Farmers Insurance Open to further their fundraising initiatives. The twelve organizations, which focus on underserved and at-risk youth and military, solicit pledges and donations for every birdie made during the competitive rounds of the tournament.

Whether you love golf or giving back to youth-focused organizations, the Birdies for Charity program is a meaningful investment to future generations. For further information on Birdies for Charity or to make a donation, please click here.

Do you have a life insurance gap?

Are you one of the millions of employees in the U.S. who has life insurance through your place of employment? You may think you have enough coverage, but do you?

Currently, more than half of private businesses offer their employees life insurance plans, and nearly all eligible employees are enrolled.¹ Even though so many take advantage of this benefit, 50 percent of American households don’t think they have enough life insurance.² Are they right?

Life insurance purchased through an employer can be a convenient, cost-effective option, and it often doesn’t require a medical exam. However, tying your life insurance coverage to a job could leave your coverage at risk in the event of layoffs or changes in company benefit plans. If you were to get sick or injured and had to leave work, your group life insurance coverage could terminate, just when you may need it most.

In addition, group life insurance policies typically have low limits. Many financial professionals recommend a death benefit equal to seven to 10 times your annual income.³ However, many households rely solely on employer-provided coverage, which may only replace up to twice your yearly income. The takeaway is this: 50 percent of consumers are probably right, they are underinsured, potentially affecting their ability to pay bills, send their children to school and meet other financial obligations.

So, how do you get the life insurance you need, beyond what your employer may provide?

Close the gap
For many families, personal life insurance may help fill gaps in employer group coverage and provide financial security in case of cutbacks or job changes. You can choose your own insurance provider, lock in rates and have consistent, flexible coverage.

Exactly how much life insurance you need depends on factors such as your assets, your debts, and your family’s other sources of income. You’ll be able to choose between term and permanent life insurance and maybe even receive cash-accumulating benefits.

When it comes to life insurance, cheaper isn’t always better
The cost of life insurance can vary widely from company to company, even for the same amount of coverage. And if coverage appears to be the same, why should you pay more?
Here are some factors to consider when selecting an insurance company:

• Company strength — Life insurance is a long-term investment, so it’s vitally important that you select a provider with a history of financial stability. Companies such as A.M. Best, an insurance rating agency, provide up-to-date information on the financial health of most life insurance companies.
• Company size — Does size matter? Yes and no. Although past performance does not guarantee future results, most of the largest insurance companies have been in business for decades, and some date all the way back to the 1840s. When a company has been in business that long, it’s reasonable to assume that it understands the complexities and nuances of the insurance business, is able to manage risk and grow assets, and has a history of meeting long-term financial obligations. Farmers Life has been meeting its obligations to customers since 1910.
• Agent relationship — Life insurance can be complicated. My goal is to help you find a life insurance policy that best meets your needs based on your family obligations, finances, health, and personal circumstances. Once you purchase your coverage, my goal is to keep the conversation going. We’ll get together annually — or sooner if your life situation changes — and review your policy so you can be sure you have the coverage you want based on your current circumstances.

No matter which company’s policy you decide to purchase, make sure you understand what you are buying. Learn all you can about life insurance because it’s worth knowing about. And remember, the more you know, the better you can plan for the future. A free service that I offer is a Farmers Friendly Review^®, an opportunity to get together and go over your insurance program so you can determine whether your coverage is aligned with your needs. Call me, and together we can work to find life coverage that’s right for you. The Wertzberger Agency can be reached at 913-383-3276 where we can chat about your life insurance plan.

¹http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ebs2.t05.htm

²http://www.limra.com/uploadedFiles/limracom/Posts/PR/LIAM/PDF/Facts-Life-2013.pdf

³http://www.bankrate.com/finance/insurance/how-much-life-insurance-should-you-buy.aspx

Life insurance issued by Farmers New World Life Insurance Company, 3003 77th Ave. SE, Mercer Island, WA 98040.

Accident Forgiveness - Farmers Insurance

BIG NEWS!

For existing auto insurance customers of Farmers in Kansas and Missouri, you are now being given additional benefits.....FREE OF CHARGE!

There are a few additional benefits being rolled out, but one of them is Accident Forgiveness.

Policyholders who have been accident free for three years with Farmers qualify for accident forgiveness which prevents the premium from being increased due to an accident. As long as the policyholder continues to renew their policy, this benefit can be used to forgive one accident (by an insured or permissive driver) every three years - regardless of who is at fault in the accident.

This benefit is meant to reward our clients who have allowed Farmers to provide them with their coverage and shown Farmers their loyalty. This benefit is one that new clients can achieve as well.

For information on other benefits included in Farmers auto insurance, call The Wertzberger Agency at 913-383-3276