Why you may want to think twice about work provided life insurance

As the owner of Farmers Insurance - The Wertzberger Agency, I have conversations with clients about all different types of insurance products. A very regular conversation will be around the product of life insurance. We will have conversations about who should carry it, how much should be carried, and what type should be carried. Inevitably, through that conversation, the topic of life insurance being provided by one's employer will come up and my opinion on it; Should it be purchased? How much should be purchased?

When asked whether a client should purchase life insurance through their employer, my answer is always YES! However, it does come with a cautionary caveat of not to rely solely on work provided coverage to fill one's life insurance need. It should be a part of one's life insurance package, if not just supplementary to the coverage one owns personally.

To expand, think of it this way: There are basically three ways we all leave this earth.

1. Accident - As in car accident or some other type of unforeseeable incident.
2. Illness - As in Cancer or some other type of disease.
3. Age 

When contemplating work provided life insurance, what one needs to realize is that the coverage provided through one's employer normally ceases to be provided if/when one's employment were to stop. Now, think about about the three ways of passing listed above and whether or not work provided coverage would apply to be a saving grace for one's family.

1. Accident - Will you be employed at the time of death if you were to perish due to some type of accident? - POSSIBLY! Obviously, no one ever knows if/when a tragedy would strike that would cause one to perish due to an accident. It is certainly probable that one would be employed at the time of their passing due to an accident. Their work provided coverage MAY apply.
2. Illness - Will you be employed at the time of death if you were to perish due to some type of illness? - PROBABLY NOT! In many, if not all, cases if one were to acquire a life threatening disease it would very likely effect their ability to work. This would cause them to have to leave their place of employment and would in turn cause their life insurance to cease, just at the time it is needed most! Some may argue that in some cases work provided coverage can be converted to a personally owned policy but, if that is available, it is normally rated extremely high. Think about it: if one needs to convert work provided coverage it normally means that they can not acquire coverage directly due to a medical issue. This converted policy will VERY likely get paid out and the carrier will rate highly due to that circumstance.
3. Age - Will you be employed at the time of death if you were to perish due to age? I WOULD HOPE NOT! Obviously we all hope to retire as far before our death as possible. Work provided life insurance would cease to apply when retirement would be reached.

In conclusion, work provided life insurance can be a good PART of one's life insurance plan. Normally, work provided life insurance is very cheap and it allows the applicant to secure the most coverage for a very inexpensive cost. 

One needs to realize that work provided life insurance is cheap for a reason; It very likely will never get used!

If you would have interest in structuring a life insurance plan that you would own/control personally, please reach out to us at Farmers Insurance - The Wertzberger Agency at 913-383-3276 or www.thewertzbergeragency.com

Roadside Assistance

Did you know that just by being a Farmers customer you get roadside assistance? 

DO THIS RIGHT NOW: Save our Roadside Assistance number 1-800-435-7764 in your phone so you are always prepared! 

Use Our Roadside Service - Call 1-800-435-7764

With more than 20,000 towing and road service facilities and 10,000 professional locksmiths, our dispatch service will send the nearest professional to you.

• Emergency tow – covering up to $150
• Dead battery/jump-start
• Flat tire change
• Lockout entry assistance – if your keys are lost, broken or locked inside your vehicle
• Roadside winching – if your car is stuck in the mud, snow, ice, or by the side (within 10 feet) of a public paved road
• Emergency roadside connect — Access police, fire and medical assistance

Or Select Your Own Provider

You may also contact the service provider of your choice, pay the bill and submit for reimbursement.

For any additional questions on Farmers Roadside Assistance or with inquiries about becoming a new client of Farmers Insurance, contact The Wertzberger Agency at 913-383-3276 or click HERE.

Top 5 Things to do in Overland Park, KS

Here it is. Your next 5 weekends are set.

Normally, this blog is used for sharing news about The Wertzberger Agency or simply helpful insurance advice. This time though, we thought we'd touch on a topic a little more fun!

In no particular order, we wanted to list the top 5 things to do in Overland Park, KS, when the weekend rolls around and you're looking to have some fun....at least in our opinion because, well, we're the ones writing the blog :) Feel free to add more ideas though!

Picture this: It's Friday night and you're ready to go out...scratch that....let's say it's Saturday night. If you're anything like me, you're a work-a-holic and by the time Friday night rolls around all you want to do is put on your comfy clothes, grab a glass of wine, and catch up on The Real Housewives.

So, it's Saturday night and your better half wants to go out. Well, problem solved! Here are the most fun things to do in Overland Park.

Number 1:
You start your night at Firebirds off 135th. Sit in the bar area with the cool kids; don't get a table. There is a nice fireplace in the bar. You'll love it.

You'll want to get a Black Diamond Pineapple Infused Martini. They are $10/each but worth it. Just get one though because, well, they're $10/each! Split your dinner so you're not lugging around leftovers all night. You're not going to eat them anyways.

After dinner, walk next door to Brewtop Pub. They will have a band playing and chances are the band will be covering 90's music. Dance away and get an Uber home.

Number 2:
You like bowling right?! Ya, no one really does, but it is fun in the right atmosphere! That right atmosphere will be at Pinstripes at Prairie Fire. When you get there, pull right up front. Free valet!

Call ahead to get a lane. When you walk in, let the front desk know it is your first time there and ask for the red bracelet. If they still do this, you'll get a red bracelet that is good for a free glass of wine EVERY time you come going forward.

You can spend your whole night at Pinstripes as they have a, wife approved, restaurant and bocci-ball courts to play too after you'd eat.

Be sure to have a couple bucks to tip the valet when you'd leave.


Number 3:

Hit up Park Place north of Town Center. Yes, Town Center is technically Leawood, KS, but..close enough. There are plenty of options here for the cool kids.

If you like your sushi in a darkly lit restaurant with loud music pumping, you'll want to go to RA. Get the Las Vegas roll.

For some upscale bar food, go to Gordon Biersch; just don't get the garlic fries. If your night goes well, those garlic fries could put a damper on things later! Save them for lunch with the guys.

If you're looking to spend a few bucks, go to 801 Chophouse but, again, sit in the bar area. Birthdays and Anniversaries are the only exception. Get the noki. It will change your life.

After dinner walk next door to AMC and catch the most recent Jennifer Lawrence movie. You liked Hunger Games, right?!

Number 4:
Top Golf. You know what it is. You know how fun it is. You know there will be a wait. Go, wait, and have fun!

Number 5:
Leave Overland Park! Kansas City is a big city with lots of things to do outside of the Johnson County bubble. Go catch a concert! You can find a list of performing artists in the area HERE.

So there you go! We'd love your feedback on the ideas we missed or totally whiffed at. Feel free to leave comments!

Ice Damming - Am I Covered?

The short answer to this questions is unfortunately, maybe. Whether or not damage due to an ice dam is covered depends not only on the company that provides you with your home insurance, but even the type of home insurance you carry with that company. If an ice dam is covered, it would also be subject to your home insurance deductible, so filing a claim may not even be worth it due to the damages normally not being too extreme. Then, you also have to know if your rates would be affected due to the filing of a claim. The best course of action would be to speak to your Agent. If you don't have an Agent, get one.

This is a very helpful video about Ice Damming; how it happens and how to prevent it.

What is an ice dam? An ice dam is a wall of ice that forms at the edge of the roof, usually at the gutters or soffit. When it forms the water then backs up behind the ice dam and creates a pool of water. This pool of water can leak into your home and cause damage to walls, ceilings, insulation, and other areas

What causes ice dams?

Ice dams are usually caused by heavy snowfall and improper ventilation in the attic. This causes warmer areas in your attic then the snow begins to melt, even when the outside temperature is well below freezing. When the accumulated snow on your roof starts melting it runs down your roof underneath the snow until it reaches a "colder" section like the soffit's, valleys or in gutters then it begins to freeze again, this process of thawing and refreezing is what causes an ice dam.

How to prevent an ice dam?

Cleaning the gutters on your home can help prevent ice dams from occurring as quickly but they can still occur if the conditions are right. The gutters will be just as cold as it is outside and in some cases, full of frozen debris. So even if you don't have a soffit for the water to refreeze in, the melted water will most likely refreeze when flowing into the gutters. Properly ventilating and insulating the attic is usually the best way to prevent ice dams. You can also purchase a roof rake to assist in removing snow from your roof, not allowing it to accumulate on the edges.

Farmers launches the Farmers® Rewards Visa Signature® and Visa® Cards offered by Comenity Bank

As a Farmers customer, you’re used to getting superior coverage. You now have the chance to get the credit card that offers superior rewards you can use for your everyday activities, the Farmers Rewards Visa Cards offered by Comenity® Bank.

Farmers Rewards Visa cards overview:

Points: Earn three times the points every time you use your card to purchase Farmers products, fill up your gas tank or shop at home improvement stores.¹

Bonus points: Spend $500 on your Farmers Rewards Visa card within the first 90 days of opening your account and you’ll earn 3,000 bonus points.²

Point redemptions: Easily redeem your points online or by calling for a statement credit toward your Farmers products purchase.

Financial benefits:

0% intro APR on all purchases for the first 12 months, after that the APR is 13.24% to 20.24% based on Prime Rate and creditworthiness.

No Annual Fee.³

What others are saying:

"We highly recommend adding the Farmers Rewards Visa to your wallet if you're investing in home improvement, are a current or future Farmers customer, and fill up at the pump often." – Wallaby Financial

"Farmers Rewards Visa is an impressive rewards credit card for both existing Farmers customers, and individuals simply looking to fund various home improvement projects." – ValuePenguin

The value of making smart choices
Take advantage of a smarter rewards program and request your card now. Apply for the Farmers Rewards Visa card by going online today at www.farmers.com/rewardsvisa and start enjoying all the benefits the card has to offer.⁴

¹The Farmers Rewards Program is provided by Comenity Bank which is solely responsible for the Program operation and all Rewards. Comenity Bank may change the terms of the Program at any time. Not all insurance products are eligible to be purchased on a credit card. See your agent for details. See Farmersrewardsvisa.com for Rewards Terms and Conditions.

²Bonus of 3,000 points will be awarded to new cardholders accounts. To qualify and receive your bonus points you must make purchases outside of Farmers totaling $500 or more within the first 90 days of account opening. Qualifying transactions do not include using your account for Account Assure Pro, balance transfers, cash advances or using any checks that access your account. To be eligible for this bonus offer, account must be open and not in default at the time of fulfillment. This onetime bonus offer is valid only for first-time Farmers Rewards Visa and Visa Signature cardholders with new accounts.

³Standard variable APR of 13.24%, 17.24% or 20.24%, based on the Prime Rate and creditworthiness. Balance Transfer and Cash Advance APR of 22.24%, based on the Prime Rate. Minimum Interest charge is $2.00 per credit plan.

⁴Subject to credit approval. The Farmers® Rewards Visa Signature® and Visa® credit card accounts are issued by Comenity Bank pursuant to a license from Visa USA Inc. Visa is a registered trademark of Visa International Service Association and used under license.

Farmers Insurance - Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage

The New Farmers Insurance Mobile App

The new Farmers Insurance^SM mobile app is an easier, smarter way for you to manage your insurance. This app gives you access to our most frequently used self-service features, right from your mobile device — the new Farmers® app provides the opportunity to access your insurance anytime, anywhere.

What’s new in the app:

• Instantly view ID cards. Need quick access to your proof of insurance? Get instant access to your digital insurance ID card(s), even when logged out (not available in all states).
  
• Connect with your agent. Have a question? Need some information? Your Farmers agent is the person to turn to. Now your agent is right at your fingertips with quick access to their contact information even when you’re offline.
  
• Pay bills quickly. Do you have a bill due? No need for a check or stamp: you can manage your payment methods and pay your bills conveniently from your mobile device. For additional convenience, you can enroll in automatic payments.
  
• Additional features:  The new Farmers Mobile App gives you access to your policies with other convenient features like:
  • Instant access
    The “Keep Me Logged In” feature lets you immediately access your Farmers account without having to log in every time. And coming shortly, you’ll be able to access your Farmers account information with fingerprint Touch ID (on devices equipped with this feature.) You can now also register your Farmers account from your mobile device¹.
  • Message center
    Stay up to date on any activities involving your policies with helpful in-app messages and alerts, all organized in a message center. Check the status of active claims, find out when bills are due or when policy information changes.
  • Access your insurance. When you need it. No need to leave your info behind when you’re on the go. Over 100,000 Farmers customers have downloaded the updated app. Take advantage of a smarter way to stay connected to Farmers.

Download the app now

^1. This App currently only supports Home, Condo, Renters, Auto, and Umbrella policies from Farmers Insurance^SM. We are currently working to support other products, including Life insurance, in the future.
Features on this app are available for Farmers® policyholders with registered online accounts.
Farmers will not charge you for text messages, or the use of the Farmers mobile app. However, you may see usage charges from your service provider depending on the type of data/rate plan you are currently on. Updates of Billing information, policy information and delivery of in-app messages may be delayed for various reasons, including service outages affecting your phone, wireless or internet provider.
All access to and use of this App is subject to and governed by the Farmers Terms of Use and Privacy Statement.