What coverage do I need for my vacation home?

Vacation homes can provide a relaxing getaway from stresses of everyday life. Just as with your primary residence, a vacation home needs to have adequate insurance protection. These types of homes require a different type of property insurance, however. A vacation property isn’t your primary residence, so why insure it like it is?
While it may not be your primary residence, your vacation home still faces potential damage or loss due to fire, wind, storms and severe weather. It is also vulnerable to vandalism and theft during the time it is unused. Because of these risks, not all insurance companies will insure second homes.

Farmers Seasonal and Vacation Home Insurance

Seasonal and Vacation Property insurance from Farmers provides coverage for accidental damage, liability, and loss, as provided in the policy. You can choose a prepackaged policy or customize one to meet your specific situation. Unlike many insurers, Farmers doesn’t require you to insure your primary residence with Farmers: coverage options are available for your seasonal or vacation property regardless of your primary home insurer.

What coverage does Seasonal and Vacation Home Insurance provide?

Just like standard Homeowners Insurance, Seasonal and Vacation Property Home insurance helps offset the costs of repairs, replacement costs and living expenses if something happens to your vacation home due to accidents like fire, lightning, wind-driven water, hail damage or theft.

Additional Specialty Homeowners coverages available through Farmers

Do have a rental property? Do you own a vacant property or one in less than optimal condition? As a landlord, with Farmers you can choose a Landlord or Rental Property insurance package that is a good option for you. You can also customize your policy with extra options to suit your unique situation and help you protect your investment.

If your home’s market value is lower than it would cost to rebuild it, some insurance companies may be reluctant to provide coverage. For older or lower-valued properties, Farmers has created specialty policies specifically for these types of homes.

Helping to meet your coverage needs

Farmers Specialty Property insurance covers additional types of properties in addition to seasonal and vacation properties, providing coverage for homes that may not qualify for typical homeowners coverage, such as vacant homes or rental properties. No matter the type of homeowner’s coverage need you have, chances are Farmers will have a coverage that can help.


With numerous choices and options, Farmers offers a variety of Seasonal and Vacation Property insurance packages. Contact me today and we can discuss your property insurance options.

To speak to a representative with Farmers about Home Insurance or other products, call us at Farmers Insurance - The Wertzberger Agency at 913-383-3276 or email us HERE

Benefits of Life Insurance on Children and Grandchildren

Juvenile life insurance is permanent, affordable insurance that can provide your children or grandchildren with their own life insurance policy as well as benefits above and beyond what your own life insurance policy may offer them.

Why do people insure their children and grandchildren?

There are many reasons:

• A medical exam is typically not required and coverage is guaranteed for life¹, regardless of the future health of the child.
• The cost of insurance for a child is typically less than similar coverage for an adult. Some policies offer an option to purchase additional insurance in the future, regardless of insurability.
• Over time, the policy may accumulate cash value. This cash value can be used to pay future premiums.
• You may withdraw or borrow funds² from the policy generally income tax free.³
• Unlike funds in 529 college savings plans, a juvenile life insurance policy’s cash value doesn’t have to be used specifically for education. It can be used for other purposes such as wedding expenses or a down payment on a home, for example.
• Juvenile life insurance may also helpful for estate planning by providing for the tax-efficient transfer of wealth.  See your estate planning expert for details.

How is it different than college savings plans?

Let’s say you want to accumulate funds for your child or grandchild’s future college tuition. You may consider a 529 savings plan. There may be up-front tax savings which might be attractive, but if your child or grandchild’s college plans change, withdrawal restrictions will generally apply. With limited exceptions, you can only withdraw money that you invest in a 529 plan for eligible higher education expenses without incurring taxes and penalties. In contrast, a permanent life insurance policy’s cash value can be withdrawn or borrowed tax-free by the policy owner for any purpose. It can be used to help the child purchase a car, a home, or even to start a business.

If the child goes to college as planned, under current rules, the cash value that has accumulated in a permanent life policy won’t have to be declared and counted against them when it’s time to qualify for financial aid. Although each educational institution may treat assets held in a 529 plan differently, investing in a 529 plan will generally reduce a student’s eligibility to participate in need-based financial aid.⁴

Consider a non-traditional and versatile gift for your child or grandchild. Let’s talk about how the cash value in a permanent juvenile life insurance policy can potentially provide your children or grandchildren with a lifetime of financial and life insurance options.

For more insurance about life insurance or to start the application process, please contact Farmers Insurance - The Wertzberger Agency at 913-383-3276 or by email HERE.

¹The death benefit is guaranteed according to the terms of the contract and provided that premiums are paid.

²Policy loans and withdrawals will reduce cash surrender value and death benefit. Policy loans are subject to interest charges. If your policy is a modified endowment contract, loans and withdrawals may be subject to taxes and penalties.

³Distributions from a life insurance policy in the character of partial surrenders (withdrawals) up to basis or policy loans will generally be income tax free, provided the policy does not violate Modified Endowment Contract (MEC) guidelines and the policy is not terminated during the lifetime of the insured. MEC guidelines are rules in the Internal Revenue Code which specify maximum premiums that can be paid without triggering adverse tax consequences for withdrawals. A policy termination during the life of the insured can cause the owner a single taxable event for any gains in the policy that were borrowed or withdrawn on or before the termination date.

For informational purposes only. In general, partial withdrawals from a permanent life insurance policy in excess of the policy’s basis are taxable, and limited circumstances exist where death proceeds will be taxable. Neither Farmers New World Life Insurance Company, its employees nor its Agents provide legal or tax advice. Always consult your own attorney, accountant or tax adviser as to the legal, financial or tax consequences and advice on any particular transaction.

⁴http://www.sec.gov/investor/pubs/intro529.htm
Your Farmers agent may only sell policies in states in which he or she is licensed.

Farmers New World Life Insurance Company is not licensed to sell life insurance, accident and health insurance, or annuities in the state of New York.

Life insurance issued by Farmers New World Life Insurance Company, 3003 77th Ave. SE, Mercer Island, WA 98040.
0615-A  6/15

$$ for Referrals!

Tips for preventing child deaths in hot cars

As the summer months are upon us, we unfortunately hear of another child whose life is lost due to the effects of being left in or climbing into a hot car: on average, 38 children die in hot cars each year.¹ Children should never be left alone in a parked car, as a vehicle’s cabin temperature can rise rapidly in the hot sun, topping 120 degrees on an 80 degree day. Tragedies like these can be avoided, however.

Here are some tips to help avoid accidental deaths in hot cars:

• Never leave children alone in a vehicle, not even for a short period of time.
• Whenever possible, use drive-thru windows at banks, dry cleaners and restaurants. Use a debit or credit card to pay for gas at the pump.
• Put a purse, cellphone or other item you will need in the back seat of your car. This will help ensure that you check the back seat before leaving the vehicle.
• Keep a stuffed animal or toy in your child’s unoccupied car seat. As a reminder that your child is in the back of the car, put that item in the front seat when you place your child in the car seat.
• If a child is missing, immediately check the vehicle, including the trunk.
• If you see a child alone in any vehicle for more than a few minutes, try to get the child out and call 911.

Get involved

Awareness and education about this hazard could have an immediate impact on the problem. Get involved in Where’s Baby and help to save a child’s life. Remember: whether it’s cloudy or not, the heat of the sun can be deadly.

Did you know?²

Child heatstroke in cars can lead to:

• Severe injury or death
• Being arrested and jailed
• A lifetime of regret

Children overheat up to five times faster than adults:

• In 10 minutes, a car’s temperature can rise over 20 degrees.
• Even at an outside temperature of 60 degrees, your car’s inside temperature can reach 110 degrees.
• A child dies when their body temperature reaches 107 degrees.

Warning signs of heatstroke:

• Red, hot, and moist or dry skin
• No sweating
• Strong, rapid pulse or a slow, weak pulse
• Nausea
• Confusion or strange behavior

¹http://www.kidsandcars.org/heatstroke.html
²http://www.safercar.gov/parents/InandAroundtheCar/heatstroke.htm

Coverage is not available in all states.

How You Can Benefit From a Farmers Friendly Review (FFR)

At Farmers Insurance - The Wertzberger Agency, one of the many benefits is having a Farmers Friendly Review (FFR) every year offered to you. Once a year, you'll receive a postcard indicating that someone from our office will be calling to schedule your review. At the review, many things will be discussed. The goal of the FFR is really just to make sure your coverage is changing as your needs change and you are never left with different coverage than you needed as this can lead to a VERY bad claims experience. We also confirm all discounts are accounted for. Do you think that this sounds like it could be a benefit? Does your Agent offer you an annual review? Do you have an Agent??

A Farmers Friendly Review includes professional advice and friendly customer service regarding your insurance and policy coverage options.

Take Shari and her husband David, for example. They were looking to add their 16-year-old son Cole to their auto policy. Knowing teenage drivers could significantly impact the cost of their auto insurance, Shari and David were concerned about how it would fit into their budget. They also wanted to make sure they did not have any overlaps or gaps in coverage as they had recently experienced some life changes. To help with the process, Shari decided to accept the invitation for a Farmers Friendly Review.

Soon after meeting, Shari and David were quickly put at ease.  They knew their Agent was knowledgeable, helpful and patient, something that came in handy as they had plenty of questions regarding their coverage.  Their Agent also had a great sense of humor which helped the meeting go very smoothly. Their Agent understood Shari’s and David’s concern for the increased cost of adding Cole to their policy and helped them select coverage and deductible options that allowed them to add him without compromising the protection they wanted. Their Agent also explained their  homeowners policy coverages and pricing options to ensure they were taking advantage of all eligible discounts leaving Shari and David feeling much better about their insurance protection provided by Farmers. Shari summed up the experience with this: “The level of service we receive, as well as the experience and knowledge Steve provides, is worth it. It’s hard to imagine missing out on the great relationship we’ve developed, and it all started with an FFR.”

When should you schedule your Farmers Friendly Review?
We recommend scheduling an Farmers Friendly Review at least once a year or whenever a change in your life occurs A change in marital status, a new job, the birth of a child or the purchase of a home are just a few examples of life events that may create overlaps or gaps in your coverage.

Why you should schedule your Farmers Friendly Review today
There are many benefits to scheduling an FFR with your Farmers agent. In addition to keeping up-to-date on the amount of coverage needed and exploring possible ways to save money on your insurance, you can learn about new benefits such as discounts for alternative-fuel vehicles, pet insurance through Pets Best and experience the Farmers Car Shopping Service through TRUECar.

So, what’s keeping you from scheduling your Farmers Friendly Review? Your Farmers agent can help you select the right coverages to fit your lifestyle. Get started today so you can realize the benefits of a full policy review with your Farmers agent.

If you would like to schedule a Farmers Friendly Review or would enjoy having an Agent who offers an annual review, please contact Farmers Insurance - The Wertzberger Agency at 913-383-3276 or by email HERE.

Adult Camps

Every year, millions of children attend summer camp. It can be a wonderful place to make memories and lifelong friends. Camp is a special type of community where kids come together to have fun.

Why limit the experience to kids? Reawaken your adult child: Check out these adult camps for the young at heart:

Adult Space Academy®
If you had dreams of becoming an astronaut, check out the Adult Space Academy. This weekend program gives adults a glimpse into the life of an astronaut. Train on simulators such as the one-sixth gravity chair; build and launch a model rocket; learn all about the history of space exploration. Prices start at $499.

Astronomy Camp
Longing to explore the dark skies? Check out Astronomy Camp for adults sponsored by The University of Arizona Alumni Association. It’s a two day hands-on program that introduces participants to the wonders of the cosmos. Visit nearby observatories and operate high-powered telescopes; attend lectures and workshops about space; experience the excitement of scientific inquiry. Tuition is $600 for two days.

Murder Mystery Weekend
Stay at Point Sebago in Maine during their yearly Murder Mystery Weekend, and try to solve an elaborate crime played out through an immersive theatrical experience. On Friday night, someone will die and participants will race against the clock to determine whodunit. Prices start at $165 and include meals, entertainment, and lodging.

The Culinary Institute of America
Foodies, listen up. The ideal food and wine vacation, The Culinary Institute of America offers several cooking boot camps in New York, Texas, and California. Enroll in basic training or more advanced programs that cater to your specific culinary interests. Camps are from one to four days and prices vary. All tools and some meals are included; accommodations are not included.

WoodenBoat School
If you’re interested in woodworking this camp may be just for you. WoodenBoat School in Maine offers a variety of one or two week woodworking and boat building courses: Beginners can take an introductory course, while those with a bit more hammer and nail knowledge can build a dory, a dinghy, or a skiff. Tuition varies by class; room and board are available at an additional cost.