The Consequences of Texting and Driving

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You are the only one who knows that you’re reading this blog. So you can admit it, did you watch Extreme Home Makeover last night? Even if you’ve never watched it, you know the whole idea behind it, right?

Well, last night’s show kind of struck a chord with us. The deserving family was a mom and dad that had lost a daughter because she was texting and driving. The family has since spent their spare time talking at schools and other events. Their goal: keep people from texting and driving.

Although the family received a brand-new custom home (a slight upgrade from the trailer they lived in), the one thing they seemed to appreciate most was a table carved with their daughter’s handwriting. In other words, nothing could replace what they wanted most. Texting and driving had taken it away.

Our question is as insurance agents…is there anything, or any law that can be passed that will keep people from texting and driving? Since we don’t have any perfect suggestions for how to solve the problem, here are some of the challenges we have to overcome:

People don’t think about the dangers – especially teenagers. None of us jump in a car expecting to get in an accident. When things seem to be going well on the road there is no reason to believe that danger surrounds us. But that feeling of well-being is incredibly deceptive. It only takes a moment and one person not paying attention to get in an accident.

We’re busy people – If you own a business, have a close-knit family, and/or need to schedule events for your kids, you can certainly use the time you spend in the car. But if talking on the phone wasn’t bad enough, texting made everything more dangerous. So how do you overcome the need to get things done without putting yourself and your passengers at risk?

Driving can get boring – Without a radio, driving in the car might very well drive us nuts. When you’re in the car more than five minutes at a time, your mind is bound to wander. If you were to receive a message from a friend, you’re going to be tempted to read it and respond. After all, it gives you something to do.

We rationalize our actions – Even if you are against texting and driving, how often do you justify your actions by texting at stoplights? Seems like a good solution. But unless you have the fastest thumbs in the world, you’re bound to still be texting when the light turns green again. Then what?

We’re not going to make any claims about being perfect. Some of us have texted while driving. We know it’s not safe. We know we shouldn’t do it and yet we have the same weaknesses as everybody else.

It’s easy to see the consequences of texting and driving. It was sad to watch the show last night and think of all the families that have lost loved ones. Knowing those stories is unlikely to stop someone from doing what they know they shouldn’t.

This is the question we want to pose to you: what can be done to stop all of us from texting and driving?

How to Determine Your Life Insurance Needs in Arizona

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One of the nice things about home, car, and renters insurance is that you know you need it and every now and again you see it being used. You get it once and maybe you check on your policy when it expires. But for the most part, you don’t give it that much thought…, especially when you’ve got a great agent like those at Arizona Capital Insurance (formerly OMNI Insurance).

Life insurance however is a little different. Circumstances in your life will change the way you see your policy and may seriously alter your needs. Things like:

  • Having a baby
  • Becoming empty-nesters
  • Incurring new debts
  • Starting a business
  • Retirement

Each of these events is bound to affect your needs. So how do you know how much life insurance you need and when you should change your policy? Well, we’ve got some suggestions about how to calculate that amount.

Cover your debts. If something were to happen to you, your loved ones would be the ones trying to pay off your loans. When getting a new life insurance policy, you’ll want to plan ahead so you have enough money to cover any and all debts – including your house. Houses are usually the biggest expense each month. By paying off the house, you’re giving your family a better chance of more easily taking care of their other payments.

Include enough for funeral expenses. Even if you have savings that could cover funeral costs, your family will appreciate a little something extra so they don’t feel confined to cutting expenses.

Plan for each child’s future. If you have younger children, you’ll want to put money aside for their education. College can be expensive and if something were to happen to you, a single parent would really struggle to provide college educations for their kids.

Allow for up to a year of time off for your spouse. Whether you have children still at home or not, recovering from loss can take some time. Whether you’re a husband or a wife, consider including enough insurance to take care of the family expenses for a year. That will allow your spouse and children some time to pull themselves back together.

No one really wants to think about the need for life insurance, but planning ahead can mean the difference between your family being well-cared for and struggling with unexpected additional expenses.

At Arizona Capital Insurance, we’re here to make sure you get the best policy for your family no matter what the situation may be.

Who’s Going to Pay for the Change in the Weather?

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As a smart consumer, you pay attention to what’s going on in the world. You know that higher gas prices mean higher food prices. You know that when the stock market drops your investment values go down, and you’ve probably realized that when natural disasters strike, prices on insurance tend to go up.

Maybe you already have a solid understanding of how insurance works. If you read our post about the history of insurance, you may have learned some new information.

Bottom line: insurance companies work with a pool of funds. When those funds get depleted (due to hundreds, even thousands of claims) they have to increase their rates, and all the company’s clients pay the price.

Over the last few weeks, our country has experienced an abnormally high volume of natural disasters. The tornadoes, the flooding…it’s starting to add up, and lots of insured individuals are at risk for price hikes or changes in their policies.

If you are a client of Arizona Capital Insurance (formerly OMNI Insurance), this is what we can promise you:

  • We will keep an eye on your policies to make sure you’re getting the best rates for your needs
  • Every time we renew your policy, we will double check to make sure you’re still getting the best deal
  • We will only work with companies we trust, saving you from random price jumps and policy changes

If you’re not a current Arizona Capital Insurance client, know that we will offer the same incredible services.

Even if you were not directly affected by the catastrophes that hit our country, you may feel the long-term effects. Let us see what we can do to minimize your risks.

The Origin of Insurance

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As you already know, the State of Arizona requires you to have car insurance before you’re allowed to drive your vehicle. Most, if not all, financial institutions require home insurance in order to give you a mortgage. Even if we wanted to skip the insurance (which none of us who know better would ever do, right?) we simply can’t. Insurance is wrapped up in our homes, cars, life, health, etc.

But where did it come from? How did we get to the point that we can’t (or at least shouldn’t) live without it?

Here are some fun things you may not know about the history of insurance:

-Chinese and Babylonians traders from the 2nd and 3rd millennium BC would distribute their goods to several vessels to minimize risk.

-The Code of Hummurabi was developed around 1750 BC by King Hummurabi and was meant to discharge the loan of traders/sailing merchants if their goods were stolen or lost.

-Rome was perhaps the first to use life insurance. Burial “clubs” would work together to pay funeral expenses and sometimes help families with payments after a death.

-In the 1600’s a man named Edward Lloyd came up with the idea for insurance after listening to several business man talk about their struggles in a coffee house. Lloyd’s of London is still in business today.

-It took over 100 years for insurance to take hold in America, possibly because of the large numbers of colonists that died and/or lost everything they had during the first few years.

-Benjamin Franklin played a key role in the insurance movement in the United States.

-In 1837, Massachusetts was the first state to require companies to carry enough money to cover damages.

Obviously this doesn’t cover everything leading up to the insurance policies/practices we use today, but aren’t those details kind of fun? Below you will find several links to sites where we researched this information.

The Insurance Movement has seen all kinds of milestones over the last few thousand years. At Arizona Capital Insurance (formerly OMNI Insurance), we are creating new milestones for insurance in the State of Arizona. You see, unlike the fun details we shared above, insurance is not really a fun topic. Paying for insurance makes us mad and then we scream and shout when we don’t get what we’re expecting from the insurance companies.

Our goal is to help you get the right policy at the right price. We want to change the way you view insurance (and insurance companies) forever. If you aren’t currently insured by us, take a minute to check out our site, then give us a call and see what we can do for you. You might find it a milestone in your insurance history.

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insurance
http://insurance.kotak.com/omkm3/insuranceguide/originoflife.htm
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5106068_origin-insurance.html
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070202091824AAAcYvO

If We Had a Mascot, What Would It Be?

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My Son

Super Insurance Agent in Training

Apparently, when you’re a big time insurance company, it’s a requirement to have a mascot represent you. Geico has the Gecko. Progressive has Flo. Allstate has Mayhem, although maybe that’s an anti-mascot. Hmmm. We could list a whole bunch of others. But, well, we’d rather focus on ourselves.

Thanks to our wonderful clients, and of course our amazing employees, Arizona Capital Insurance (formerly OMNI Insurance) is making quite a name for ourselves in the great state of Arizona. That being the case, we debated and decided it might be time for us to have our own mascot.

However I have no idea what or who our mascot should be. That’s where you come in. Below you will find a list of things about Arizona Capital Insurance. Based on this information, we’re hoping you can help us come up with some good ideas.

Okay, here we go…

  • Arizona Capital Insurance is an Arizona-based insurance agency. Translation: cactus, road-runners, a burning sun, etc. may inspire you somehow.
  • We offer all kinds of insurance in AZ: home, auto, life, business, renters, watercraft, and recreational vehicle insurance.
  • The company has roots dating back to 1959.
  • We have amazing insurance agents who go well above and beyond the call of duty for their clients.
  • We use social media to stay connected with our clients because we have a vested interest in you, your needs, and your lives.
  • Our primary goal is to get you the very best policy available. We do the shopping for you so you don’t have to. But we are highly opposed to the idea of a mascot who shops – unless it’s shopping for great rates!
  • After getting some great rates for their clients, a few of our agents may have delusions of being superheroes. Important to know as a super-hero mascot may be a great fit.

If you need a few more ideas, then be sure to visit our website. Okay then, the word is out. You know a little bit more about us. So, we’re ready for the creative genius in you. Any ideas for a mascot? Be sure to include your ideas in the comments below and just maybe the winner will get an extra cool prize.

Yes, that is my kid in the picture above. I am just glad he had his undies on the right way! -James

Meet More of Our Staff

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Last week, we introduced you to some of our great employees at our Arizona insurance agency. Today, we’ve got another handful to introduce. And next week, you’ll meet even more.

Why? Well, not to brag, but our insurance agents have a reputation for being friendly, helpful, and sympathetic. So we think you deserve to meet the people behind the company.

So, meet:

Christian

Christian originally planned to be a firefighter. However, after September 11, 2001, the competition to become a firefighter skyrocketed. Anxious about his future, Christian talked to a few of his own friends who were pursuing careers as insurance agents. He’s been an agent for 9 years now.

Here’s what Christian said about working as an insurance agent:

Many people think insurance agents are a dime a dozen and there isn’t any difference from an agent with State Farm, Farmers, Allstate, or any other independent local mom and pop shop on the corner. This is why I love working as an insurance agent. This agency is 180 degrees different from those other insurance agencies.

Christian is passionate about protecting his client’s assets. He knows you can call an 800 # and get coverage from a Lizard, Cave Man, or talking cartoon, but he takes the time to educate his clients and help them understand why they should carry the coverage he suggests. He wants to be the agent looking out for their best interest.

Christian enjoys outdoor activities, traveling, and studying the stock market.

Karen

Karen is an Account Manager who has been with our insurance agency for just under a year, but she has been in the insurance industry for 12 years. She started out in the billing department at an independent insurance agency in Indiana.

Karen’s favorite thing about her job is: talking to a variety of people every day and using her customer service skills and insurance knowledge to help her clients. About working in the insurance agency, Karen said she loves the integrity and honesty of the company and everyone in it. It’s nice knowing I am working for some of the ‘good guys,’ she said.

When she’s not working, Karen can be found riding on the back of her husband’s motorcycle, working on their house, hanging out with friends, and patiently waiting for football season to start. Go Bears!

Karen first met her husband while jumping on a trampoline when they were 18 and 12. It wasn’t until 11 years later that they met again and started dating. Chocolate and sugary treats are her weakness, and she describes herself as loyal, friendly, energetic, patient, and bold.

Ready to work with a new insurance agent? Then check out Independant Insurance Agency and work with people you’ll want to work with!

Meet Some of Our Fearless Insurance Staff

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For most people, insurance is completely impersonal, especially AZ insurance. You stick with the company you’ve been with for the last ten years, or, you ask for quotes online and find the cheapest coverage you can. After all, it’s just insurance, right?

At your local insurance agency, our relationship goes deeper than just insuring you. Our goal is to make you feel like part of a well-cared for and supported family. So, we thought we’d take the next few blog posts to introduce a few of the “family members” to you.

Meet Leslie

Leslie has been an insurance staff member for three years. She has been in the insurance industry for the last 7 years. As part of the Arizona insurance team, Leslie enjoys talking to clients and really getting to know them.

Here’s what Leslie says makes her great at her job: “Each client is different and has different needs and wants. This helps me make proper recommendations that can help them now and in the future.”

Want to know a few personal details about Leslie? When not working, she can be found spending time with her family. She enjoys camping and skating. She bought her first house when she was only 20 and now she is buying another one.

To sum Leslie up in a few words, she is: positive, a hard worker, loves to laugh, sociable, and happy.

Meet Jeff

Jeff got his start in insurance 3 years ago when he first arrived as an insurance agent, and he’s doing great! Jeff was honored with the Agent of the Year award last year.

One of the things Jeff loves about his job is: I am creating something that started from nothing and I am getting the opportunity to build relationships with people every day. Jeff also mentioned that he’s a great agent because he has great clients.

In his spare time, Jeff plays volleyball and takes care of his newborn son. Congratulations, Jeff!

Little known facts about Jeff include: being on the Dean’s list at University of Arizona, he loves to play video games, and that he worked for Walt Disney World for four months as a lifeguard.

Insurance doesn’t have to be impersonal. You have every right to know and trust your agent. For that matter, take the time to become friends. This person may be someone you’ll be glad to know for years to come.

Feel free to contact any of our awesome insurance agents. Who knows, maybe you’ll be working with Leslie or Jeff.

Movies That Make Us Appreciate Insurance

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Okay, so you don’t think about insurance every day, and you may not read an insurance blog every week. We get it. You probably only think about your policy every six months. Maybe not even that often.

A good friend of ours has a very unusual “problem.” Every time she watches a movie where buildings get destroyed, or cars get wrecked, she thinks about the cost to replace the damaged property. She hopes the owners have insurance. Like we said, it’s an unusual “problem.”

However, it got us thinking. Which movies make you grateful you have insurance? We created a list of our own and hope you add a few in the comments section below.

Our list includes:

  • Money Pit with Tom Hanks, because a “new” house falls apart
  • Armageddon and Independence Day, for the same destructive reasons
  • Gone in 60 Seconds, if you own a luxury car
  • Wizard of Oz, just in case your house leaves Kansas
  • Titanic, if you own a really big ship or priceless necklace
  • Meet the Parents, if you tend to be accident prone (or your future son-in-law is)
  • Jurassic Park, if you plan to bring dinosaurs back to life

 

Reality check? Few insurance companies would pay for the catastrophes stated above, but we still think it’s kind of fun to think about.

So, what do you think? What movies make you appreciate your insurance policies? Leave your comments below and let’s see how many great ideas we come up with!

The Alternative to Fighting Insurance Coverage Issues

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How often do you encounter a problem and realize that your insurance coverage just isn’t as good as you thought it was? Do you ever:

  • Pay more out of pocket than you expected?
  • Have exceptionally high deductibles?
  • Find the insurance company has made a mistake (one that could have cost you hundreds of dollars)?
  • Choose to pay cash rather than make a claim because it will cost you more in increased rates?
  • Wonder exactly what your insurance company is paying for?

It happens all the time. People, just like you question why they pay for insurance when they don’t seem to get any benefit from it. All they see is one problem after another.

Take Susan for example. She received a bill in the mail that she didn’t understand. After calling her insurance company, she realized they had incorrectly entered some of Susan’s information. One quick change, and Susan’s problem was resolved.

What if Susan hadn’t made that call?

Insurance is not something you should be spending time worrying about. It’s there to help you feel better, more secure, not to make your life miserable with misunderstandings and inaccurate assumptions.

So, what can you do about it? Well, naturally we’re going to suggest that you start using an independent insurance agency. An independent agent is there to help you with the best possible insurance to meet your needs. They can help you figure out what policy you need. They will be there to support you if there are any challenges with your insurance coverage. They work for you, not the insurance companies.

If you’ve had some challenges with insurance companies in the past, we want to know about them. Feel free to post your comments below. If you are looking for someone to represent you and simplify the insurance process, then be sure to give us a call.

Next week, we’re going to start introducing you to some of our agents who would love to help you find policies that fit your specific needs.

How to Prepare for Those Teenage Driving Years

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Are you sure you’re ready for this, a teenager who can now drive? With gas prices skyrocketing and the added costs to your insurance, you may be dreading that sweet 16th birthday. On the other hand, those who have teen drivers enjoy sending their children to the store for milk and appreciate not having to pick up their child from a party on a Saturday night.

Teenagers will only be around for a few more years. So why not learn to appreciate the new milestones your children are reaching. Here are some ideas for preparing your teens to drive, so you don’t break the bank while helping them move into that new stage of life:

Encourage Good Grades. Did you know that a lot of insurance companies will offer good student discounts on insurance rates? You want your children to get good grades anyway. Here is one more incentive for them to keep their grades up. Perhaps you can have them pay the additional insurance costs if their grades slip.

Choose a Car with Lower Insurance Rates. Sure, every kid would love to be driving to school in a sports car, but that’s not realistic on your budget. Besides the cost of the car, certain vehicles will cost you more to insure. Your insurance company should be able to tell you which vehicles are cost effective.

Let Them Drive the Family Car. Even if you don’t buy a vehicle for your child, you still need to get them insured if they plan on driving. Insuring your child on existing vehicles is a heck of a lot cheaper than purchasing a new one. Of course, then you have to battle for possession of the family car.

Avoid Driving Incidents at All Costs. Does your teenager realize what happens to your insurance rates when they get a ticket or have an accident? Talk to them about it. You may consider having them pay their own insurance costs if they violate traffic laws. Be sure to have a heartfelt discussion about NOT texting in the car.

Call an Insurance Agent in Advance. Finding the best insurance policy for your teen driver can take some time and some shopping around. Before your child turns 16, we strongly encourage you to start looking for the best car insurance options for your child.

At Arizona Capital Insurance, we do the shopping for you. If you have a child quickly approaching that magic age, give us a call. We can find discounts and better rates for your teen driver. We can help you choose a car that will bring in a lower insurance rate. And we let you know what to expect if the unexpected happens.