Tony's insurance notes

Ag and Construction Targeted Scam info

2011-08-18T11:14:00.000-05:00

Please pass this information on to anyone that you feel might benefit. I am a member of 2 different sheriff's reporting groups and received this information from 1 of them. I am sharing in the hopes that it might prevent bad things from happening to good people. Please contact your local law enforcement if anyone contacts you in a similar manner as is described below.

Brett,

As a member of the TRACE program, I wanted to enlighten you on an apparent scam that is taking place.

It appears that these individuals involved have purchased a mailing/subscription list from some farm publication companies. Therefore, they have a targeted audience.

As I am involved daily in agriculture, I have been one of their targets recently on 3 separate occasions.

The first involved a phone call 3 weeks ago, regarding the purchase on this new diesel fuel supplement that increases the fuel efficiency of vehicles, semi's, farm, and construction equipment. The scammers talk about it only being available in 55 gallon drums, but as the conversation goes on the order size drops to the ability to sell it in 1 gallon containers. This retails for $109. They have no supporting documentation, a website, testimonials, etc… When asked, they acknowledge the lack of documentation, but they tell you to "trust them". It is extremely high pressure sales from people with a northeastern accent as they are trying to get your account info. When I told them I wasn't interested, they turned extremely offensive and rude. The phone # shows up an "unknown number"

The second happened yesterday. It involves this new breakthrough in chemicals. It is a ground sterilant product that kills and controls plant regrowth for a period of 6 years. Once again, the scammers talk about it only being available in 55 gallon drums, but as the conversation goes on the order size drops to the ability to sell it in 1 gallon containers. This also retails for $109. The fellow did tell me about a website called www.harvestsupply.com, but when you go to the site; it's under construction. When I asked the fellow what the active ingredient is, he told me "Trimec". Well Trimec is what you spray on your lawns for broadleaf control. When I pressured the scammer for the EPA registration label, the fellow started cursing me out and ended by calling me a ""f**king smuck". The phone # that showed up on this individual is (631) 776-8043. I googled the area code and found it to be in upstate New York.

The third happened today, it was once again regarding the diesel fuel treatment, same deal as above. Push,Push,Push to get my account info to buy this stuff. When I told him I am not interested, this fellow also got very pissed off.

In conclusion, it's not just happening to me but others as well as they have a targeted ag/construction related audience. I felt it would be important to advise you of this. It is my hope that we may help some others who may be vulnerable from buying not only "snake oil", but giving out ones account info for a product that doesn't exist.

Thanks,

Miami County, KS farmer

(Name, address and phone withheld by TRACE for privacy)

TRACE has heard of one other occurrence of this type, attempting to sell the same product to a farmer in western Johnson County, KS. NEVER give out your bank account number or credit card numbers over the telephone, to ANYBODY you don't know personally, even then be careful. If you get a call like this one, ask for a demonstration or references like this person did. You will find out right away if they are legitimate.

Are you prepared?

2011-03-31T15:34:00.000-05:00

Retirement Brings the Need for New Financial Solutions

Finances in retirement can be tricky.

Consider this statement from a Wall Street Journal article in February 2000: "Retirement is the great financial riddle. Think of the uncertainties. You don't know how long you will live. You don't know what investment returns you will earn. You have only a limited sum of money. And there are no second chances."

Yikes! What should you do to make sure you do well, no matter what happens?

Consider your experience. You have always had a natural progression in the financial products you have used.

When you were a child, you kept your money in a piggy bank. Why did you switch to a real bank? It was because you had more money and wanted to keep it safe and earn interest. Why did you later switch to other, more exotic places to grow your money? It was because you perceived that the long-term earnings potential outweighed the risks.

So let me ask you, what will be different now that you are retired or on the verge of retirement?

For example, what are the ramifications of needing to withdraw money for expenses while the market is down? If you have money in financial products with an uncertain return, there is a possibility of withdrawing too much and running out later.

Are you concerned about that risk? Annuities with guaranteed income benefits can address this risk and increase your comfort level in retirement.

Is there a possibility of incurring major care expenses and not having any insurance to cover them? Medicare doesn't cover most long-term nursing care or home health caretaker visits. Long-term care insurance can mitigate this risk and increase your financial security in retirement.

Just as you progressed from the piggy bank to the real bank and to more exotic financial products, many people progress to annuities with guaranteed income benefits. Just as you once saw the need to purchase health insurance, many people come to see the need to purchase long-term care insurance.

Contact me to think through these new risks, and I will help you stay financially secure.

I'm pleased to share this newsletter with you to keep in touch and pass along a few helpful tips. Please give me a call if you would like to discuss any of your insurance needs. Also, if you have questions regarding ways you can build your retirement assets or set up an effective retirement income flow, I can assist you. If you haven't scheduled an annual review yet, I encourage you to give me a call to get that set up so we can make sure all your goals are on track.

Tony Koehler
Koehler Froman Insurance Services, Inc.
403 Main Street
Warsaw, IL 62379
awkoehler@gmail.com
www.TonyKoehler4Life.com
217-919-0457

The information provided here has been taken from third party sources and is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed. It is provided for informational purposes only.
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Stolen Horse, Henry Co. Missouri (repeat-announcement)

2011-03-31T09:47:00.002-05:00

Please pass this along.

Mayito was stolen on 09-16-2010 in Henry County, Missouri (Clinton area) and reported on TRACE at that time. His owner has been diligent in attempts to find him. Please watch for this horse when going to auctions, sales or while travelling in your area.

If you have any information on Mayito, Please call the above number and the Henry County, Missouri Sheriff's Office at 660-885-5587, then email us at TRACE@jocogov.org

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
**REMEMBER: IF YOU HAVE AND EMERGENCY OR NEED TO FILE A THEFT REPORT, CALL YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT FIRST, THEN send an email concerning your theft or suspicious activty to "TRACE@jocogov.org" and it will be relayed back to the members of TRACE. You can also go to www.jocosheriff.org, click on the TRACE icon and then click on "Report Activity". If you wish to "reply", your message will be sent to "trace@jocogov.org" automatically. Items contained in the above email are for public viewing, please feel free to forward.
If you wish to contact one of the TRACE detectives by phone, please call 913-715-5561. You may also leave a voice mail at that number.
***THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN "TRACE". REMEMBER, THIS PROGRAM IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE INFORMATION IT PRODUCES. PLEASE CONTINUE TO USE THE PROGRAM AND ASSIST US IN MEMBERSHIP BY SPREADING THE WORD TO YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS OF ITS EXISTENCE. MORE MEMBERS MEANS MORE INFORMATION, THANK YOU***

Are you using dangerous products?

2011-03-28T12:27:00.000-05:00

3/27/2011

You do plenty of research before buying a car or computer. But you probably don't research personal care products.

We assume that the soap, cosmetics and toothpaste we buy are safe. Many of us reach for the least expensive product on the shelf.

Not so fast! These products may contain harmful ingredients. They may be associated with cancers. Or, they could be linked to birth defects and allergies.

So, it is a good idea to research personal care products before you buy. You want to know what risks are associated with a product.

Fortunately, such research needn't be difficult. Just head over to today's Cool Site.

You can enter the name of a product that you frequently use. Products receive an overall safety score.

You'll also see a list of dangers associated with the product. And be sure to check the ingredients breakdown. It provides the information you need to make an informed buying decision.

cosmeticsdatabase.com

Flood?

2011-03-01T17:52:00.000-06:00

Taxes and Your Retirement

2011-03-01T12:02:00.000-06:00

I'm pleased to share this newsletter with you to keep in touch and pass along a few helpful tips. It's important to regularly monitor your financial health and this will give you a few ideas on items you need to keep in mind. Please give me a call if you would like to discuss any of your insurance needs or your questions regarding ways you can build your retirement assets or set up an effective retirement income flow. If you haven't scheduled an annual review yet, I encourage you to give me a call to get that set up so we can make sure all your goals are on track.

Taxes and Your Retirement Plan

"In this world nothing is certain except death and taxes." -Benjamin Franklin

When it comes to taxes, however, at least you can alter the timing a bit!

If you are working in your career and believe that you will be paying a lower tax rate after you retire, it makes sense to delay taxes as much as you can. Participating in your employer's 401(k) plan can be a great way to delay taxes. So can making a traditional IRA contribution or opening an annuity.

DELAY TAXES:

401(k)
Traditional IRA
Annuity

AVOID FUTURE TAX INCREASES:

Roth 401(k)
Roth IRA
Life Insurance

On the other hand, if you see today's government budget deficits and believe you will be paying a higher tax rate in the future, you should consider participating in your employer's Roth 401(k) plan and converting your traditional IRAs to Roth IRAs.

Since January 1, 2010, anyone - regardless of income - has been eligible to do a Roth IRA conversion.

Such a conversion is basically a decision to pay taxes now to avoid paying potentially higher taxes later. Once your money is in a Roth IRA, you have the opportunity for it to grow completely free of any future income taxes.

What if you are retired, above age 70½, and don't really like that you are forced to take required minimum distributions from your IRAs? If you plan to use your IRA to benefit your heirs, that may be best accomplished by using those unwanted distributions to buy life insurance. Since life insurance is paid free of income taxes, the life insurance would most likely provide a much higher after-tax payment to your children and grandchildren.

Tony Koehler
Koehler Froman Insurance Services, Inc.
403 Main Street
Warsaw, IL 62379
awkoehler@gmail.com
www.TonyKoehler4Life.com
217-919-0457

Taxes and Your Retirement

2011-03-01T11:47:00.000-06:00

Taxes and Your Retirement Plan

"In this world nothing is certain except death and taxes." -Benjamin Franklin

When it comes to taxes, however, at least you can alter the timing a bit!

DELAY TAXES:

401(k)
Traditional IRA
Annuity

AVOID FUTURE TAX INCREASES:

Roth 401(k)
Roth IRA
Life Insurance

Since January 1, 2010, anyone - regardless of income - has been eligible to do a Roth IRA conversion.

What if you are retired, above age 70��, and don't really like that you are forced to take required minimum distributions from your IRAs? If you plan to use your IRA to benefit your heirs, that may be best accomplished by using those unwanted distributions to buy life insurance. Since life insurance is paid free of income taxes, the life insurance would most likely provide a much higher after-tax payment to your children and grandchildren.

Tony Koehler
Koehler Froman Insurance Services, Inc.
403 Main Street
Warsaw, IL 62379
awkoehler@gmail.com
www.TonyKoehler4Life.com
217-919-0457

The information provided here has been taken from third party sources and is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed.
It is provided for informational purposes only, and you should consult with a tax advisor for further information.
Our organization does not provide tax advice.
Please click the following link if you no longer wish to receive these emails: https://www.natbrokers.com/services/tracking/Unsubscribe.aspx?leadID=754587

Newsletter--Information for You

2011-02-21T16:07:00.001-06:00

What Interest Rate are You Earning on Your Savings?

This is a tough time to be a saver. Take a look at some of these rates, which were gathered from various websites in May 2010:

0.40% 1-year Treasury bill
0.25% Chase Bank 1-year CD
0.10% Bank of America savings account
0.05% Wells Fargo Bank money market savings
0.01% Vanguard money market fund

If you have money in these or similar accounts, you may be thinking, "Well, at least my money is safe." But actually, it isn't.

Consider this. Every day, the prices of things you purchase inch up a little bit. You know what I'm talking about. You feel it at the gas pump. Or, one day you walk into your favorite restaurant, and all the entrees cost a dollar more. Or, you wonder how your groceries suddenly became so expensive. After all, you just bought a few things.

The problem is that at these low interest rates, your money is losing purchasing power. It just adds insult to injury when you need to report this interest income on your tax return.

If you really want to keep your money safe, please let me know. I can offer you retirement annuities that provide you a written guarantee of safety, backed by all the assets of a strong insurance company, together with an attractive interest rate. Annuities offer a balanced approach to maintaining and growing the purchasing power of your money.

If your money is earning a rate like those you see above, it is time to look at another option. An annuity just may help you prosper.

Tony Koehler
Koehler Froman Insurance Services, Inc.
403 Main Street
Warsaw, IL 62379
awkoehler@gmail.com
www.TonyKoehler4Life.com
217-919-0457

The information provided here has been taken from third party sources and is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed. It is provided for informational purposes only.

Flood Risk this Spring? Don't forget you have to wait 30 days for a flood policy.

2011-02-18T10:03:00.001-06:00

Weather experts predict major flooding in Midwest

By Doyle Rice, USA TODAY

Updated 4h 44m ago |

14 | 1

Reprints & Permissions

Millions of people in the Midwest are at risk from major flooding this spring, according to a forecast being released Friday by the National Weather Service.

A huge part of the north-central USA, including the cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul, St. Louis, Sioux Falls, S.D.; and Fargo and Grand Forks, N.D., could see "significant" flooding.

"Excessive precipitation, mainly in the form of snow, coupled with continuously frigid temperatures, has yielded a thick snowpack in much of the upper Midwest," says Lynn Maximuk, central region director of the National Weather Service in Kansas City, Mo. "We expect significant flooding when this snow begins to melt."

Forecasters say the flooding could start as early as mid-March and last well into April.

For the third straight year, experts are warning of "moderate" to "major" flooding along the Red River of the North, which would again swamp the flood-plagued city of Fargo, N.D., and its neighbor across the river, Moorhead, Minn.

In Cass County, N.D., which includes Fargo, Sheriff Paul Laney described the latest flooding predictions as "concerning" and "spooky."

"We've always been able to win, we've always been able to fight it," Laney said. "We'll continue to fight it, but every spring brings out its own new set of rules to the game."

Spring flooding risk

Fargo has received almost 5 feet of snow this winter — nearly 2 feet above its average for an entire winter season, the weather service reported. That comes on top of summer and fall rain that was 50% above average.

Forecasts for much of the region continue to call for a cold and snowy remainder of February, which will cause the snowpack to grow. In March and April, as temperatures rise and the snow melts, frozen ground and saturated soil will enhance runoff, causing streams and rivers to swell.

So, with floods in three straight years and four of the last six across the region, what's going on?

"Part of the problem is that it's been so wet for several years," says weather service hydrologist Noreen Schwein. "The moisture in the soil going into the fall has been wetter every year. There hasn't been a good chance to dry out."

In northeastern North Dakota, near Devils Lake, Schwein said there has been a decades-long trend of unusually wet weather that has lasted since 1990.

Some of the spring forecast lowlights include:

•Fargo has about a 95% chance of exceeding major flood stage of 30 feet — and a 15-20% chance of reaching or exceeding the 40.84 -foot record set in 2009.

•St. Paul has about a 95% chance of exceeding major flood stage of 17 feet.

•Grand Forks, N.D., has a greater than 95% chance of exceeding major flood stage of 46 feet.

•Devils Lake at Minnewaukan, N.D., has about a 40% chance of exceeding 1,455 feet, which could partially inundate portions of the town.

The weather service will release an updated national spring flood outlook on March 17.

Life Insurance With No Medical Exam Required!

2010-12-27T15:02:00.001-06:00

Up to $300,000 Term Life Insurance
No medical exam needed!
You only need to answer some
simple health questions.
Underwriting Decision Within 24-48 Hours, Now That's Fast and Easy Rapid Decision Term
Coverage issued in 24 - 48 hours
5, 10, 15, 20 and 30-year terms
$10,000 to $300,000 limits**
Guaranteed level premium
Affordable rates
Coverage available to Age 75
Convenient monthly premiums
Accelerated Death Benefit Rider
Have you been declined coverage in the Past?
Ask me about Fidelity Life's Graded Death Benefit Term or Whole Life Plans.

2010 Household Trends in U.S. Life Insurance Ownership study by LIMRA

2010-12-22T13:40:00.000-06:00

Life insurance ownership in the U.S. has hit a 50-year low. Three in 10 households – about 35 million – carry no life insurance on anyone in the household, up from 24 million, or 22 percent of households in 2004.

By their own admission, half of U.S. households, or 58 million, have unmet life insurance needs. Even among households with $125,000 or more of annual income, one-fourth believe they are inadequately insured.

Reasons provided for delaying the purchase of life insurance were: They have other financial priorities right now, they think it is too expensive, they have difficulty making decisions about the purchase, and they just plain procrastinate.

Let's sit down and talk about options. Don't put your family in the position of wishing there had been (more) life insurance.

Adding a Pet to the Family this Holiday Season?

2010-12-17T13:04:00.000-06:00

The holiday season often includes images of cute puppies under a Christmas tree or a kitten with a sparkly ribbon around its neck. But before consumers do their holiday shopping at the pet shop, be sure they consider the risks and liabilities they may also be bringing home.

A new national survey by Trusted Choice® found that 29% of respondents, representing more than 65 million households in the United States, said they have either given or received a pet as a gift. Of those, 73% said they never considered liability or risk factors of pet ownership such as higher insurance rates or the need for specialty coverage.

Consider these points before giving someone a pet for the holidays and consult with your liability insurance agent:

• Sick puppy? While the concept of health insurance for pets has received a lot of attention lately, it is important for pet owners to know that this coverage is NOT suitable for everyone. These policies are non-regulated insurance products, so purchasers have no recourse through state insurance regulators if there is a complaint or problem with their coverage. In addition, many pet insurance policies exclude routine examinations, vaccinations and pre-existing conditions. This coverage may have some merit for certain pet owners, but consumers should research any pet insurance product carefully before buying it.

• Is Fido a biter or a chewer? As a dog owner, a consumer can be held financially responsible if their animal attacks and injures a person or property. That bite can also have huge implications for their insurance. Most people are bitten by dogs they know, not strays. About 50% of all dog bites happen on the owner’s property according to the Insurance Information Institute. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says children are the victims of about half of the 800,000 dog bites that are reported yearly in the United States, with the highest rate among children ages five to nine and many requiring medical attention. However, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 10% of children (7.5 million) in the United States do not have health insurance. Talk with your agent before you bring a new pet into your home to make sure you have adequate liability coverage and inquire about safety measures to take to protect your family and those who visit your property.

• What kind of dog is that? Many insurers are now routinely asking in their policy applications if homeowners or renters have dogs and if those dogs have a history of aggressive behavior. Some companies may even deny coverage to those who own certain breeds of dogs, including wolf hybrids, pit bulls and Rottweilers. Insurance companies can deny claims or limit coverage for dog owners who do not take precautions to prevent their animals from attacking. You should consider at least $500,000 in liability protection if you are the owner of large dogs or if you own certain breeds.

• How much was that doggy in the window? Pet owners must understand that no matter what they paid for their pooch (or any pet), most homeowners insurance policies exclude any damage or injury to animals. So if your pet is injured or killed in a fire or other disaster, it is not likely a consumer will be able to claim it as a loss with your insurance company.

• Cruisin’ with canines. Some auto insurers are now including a pet clause which allows for a certain amount of coverage for expenses relating to a dog’s injuries in the event of an accident when a dog is in the vehicle.

Beyond cats and dogs. Does your little princess want a pony? Or maybe a future farmer wants a baby goat? These types of gifts are not uncommon, especially with the popularity of state fairs, livestock competitions and youth agriculture programs. Families who are considering the purchase of horses, goats, calves, pigs and other farm animals may want to consider livestock or animal mortality products that cover certain losses, including drowning and electrocution. These are considered specialty products, though.

Would You take Free Money if I Offered it to you?

2010-12-15T16:04:00.000-06:00

Dear Tony,

I'm sure you probably saw the email subject and thought "I would if there was no catch". Wouldn't we all!!

What if I told you about a financial product that doesn't offer free money, but DOES leverage the money you put in it at up to 5 times? Would you be skeptical? Don't be. I'll try to spell it out for you briefly.

We've all seen the statistics--the odds of having a car accident are 3 in 900. The odds of having a residential fire are 7 in 900. The odds of being admitted to a critical care unit are 21 in 900. According to the US Dept of Health and Human Services the odds of needing long-term care are now up to 630 in 900--70%!! Are YOU covered?

I probably already know the answer to that question. But why not? Is it because long-term care (LTC) insurance is a "use it or lose it" product? Is it because of the medical underwriting and difficulty of the process it takes to GET LTC insurance? OR, you may be justifying having no actual coverage because you are self insuring.

Why self insure when you can now be covered with a product that is no longer a "use it or lose" type product? You no longer need to take the "ostrich" approach to LTC. I can now offer you a product that has guaranteed premiums and benefits. This product offers a 100% money back premium guarantee. If you are in the 30% of the people that don't need LTC, there is a guaranteed death benefit for your beneficiaries.

The application is one page and no blood is drawn. Why wouldn't you be interested in a product like this?

Oh, I almost forgot. Earlier I mentioned a leverage of 5 times. One case of a 65 year old female non-smoker showed her putting in $100,000. Her LTC benefit was $499,000 and her death benefit would have been $166,000. Or if she decided that she needed the money for something else after she had taken out the product, she would have full access to 100% of her money less any withdrawals or loans that had been taken out.

Now, let me ask you...why would you ignore the greatest risk of all? Ask me about Moneyguard today and feel free to forward this email to anyone that you think should know more, or to a relative that you know who is self insuring.

Thank you for your time! I look forward to hearing from you.

Tony Koehler
Koehler Froman Insurance Services, Inc.
403 Main Street
Warsaw, IL 62379
awkoehler@gmail.com
www.TonyKoehler4Life.com
217-919-0457

Please click the following link if you no longer wish to receive these emails: https://www.natbrokers.com/services/tracking/Unsubscribe.aspx?leadID=754587

Winter Weather Driving

2010-12-08T17:05:00.001-06:00

To view this email as a web page, go here.

E-newsletter of Sagamore Insurance Company

December 2010

Winter Weather Driving

Winter road conditions present unique challenges to driver capabilities and vehicle performance. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 15 percent of weather-related crashes occur in snow or sleet, and another 13 percent on icy pavement. Drivers must take extra precautions to prepare themselves and their vehicles before traveling in winter weather.

Awareness of potential inclement weather is important whether you're driving 15 minutes across town or traveling hours out of state. Remind your customers to check weather conditions and forecasts ahead of time, especially when embarking on longer trips, as conditions can vary greatly across a region. Warn them to prepare for changing weather patterns and if the weather makes driving conditions extremely dangerous, tell them to STAY OFF THE ROADS!

Drivers need to think ahead and prepare vehicles for winter weather. Advise customers to check the following before weather conditions worsen:

Brakes and tires
Battery and ignition systems
Antifreeze and thermostat
Windshield wipers and de-icing washer fluid
Headlights, tail and brake lights, blinkers and emergency flashers
Exhaust system, heater and defroster
Oil
Door locks – add lubricant to prevent freezing

Provide your customers with these additional tips to keep in mind when they're on the road:

Always remain alert and aware of road conditions and surroundings.
Wear a seat belt and make sure all passengers have their seat belts fastened.
Ice forms first on bridges, overpasses and shaded areas. Do not slam on the brakes when driving over ice. Decelerate slowly, holding the car steady.
Adjust the speed to fit the weather conditions. Always maintain a safe distance behind other cars.
If the car begins to skid, remove foot from the gas pedal, but don't hit the brake. Steer gently in the direction the front of the car should go. As the car straightens out, traction and control will return.
Keep blankets, a first-aid kit, flares, jumper cables, tire chains, a flashlight, ice scraper and gloves in the car. Take a food supply of candy bars or dried fruit.
Keep the gasoline level as high as possible to prevent water condensation in the tank.

In This Issue

Winter Weather Driving

Fuel For Thought

When driving in cold or inclement weather:

-	Keep windows, mirrors and lights clear of snow and ice
-	Leave home a few minutes earlier than usual
-	Start out slowly, in the lowest gear
-	Keep a safe distance behind other vehicles
-	Keep an emergency winter driving kit in the car

Sources Consulted:
- Virginia Department
of Transportation
- Nebraska Department
of Roads
- Texas Department
of Public Safety
- California Department
of Transportation

Durbin co-sponsors flood insurance measure

2010-12-06T09:35:00.002-06:00

Staff

Local News,Politics
12/2/2010
7:50 am

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (AP) - Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin and a lawmaker from New York are pushing a measure that would stave off the mandatory purchase of flood insurance.

It would take effect in areas newly designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as being at high risk of
flooding.

Durbin says the bill he introduced in the Senate on Wednesday with fellow Democrat Charles Schumer would give more time for areas like southwestern Illinois to upgrade their river levees and deal with the prospect of higher flood insurance rates.

Similar to a bill recently passed by the House, the Senate measure would provide for a five-year delay of mandatory insurance, followed by a five-year period of gradually increasing premiums.

Officials in Illinois worry new FEMA maps soon will declare the region's levees functionally useless, meaning higher insurance rates.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

Information for You

2010-12-01T16:16:00.001-06:00

How Much is Enough? (Life Insurance, That Is!)

It is actually quite easy to figure out how much life insurance is enough to protect your family.

Ask yourself, "When will I be able to comfortably stop working?" Let's suppose that your answer is, "In 10 years." That means your family is relying upon you working and earning your income for the next 10 years. The amount of life insurance you need is your current paycheck, times the number of paychecks you receive each year, times 10 years.

Paycheck $______

x number of paychecks per year ______

x number of years you plan to work _____

= life insurance needed $______

If something were to happen to you, your family could invest that life insurance money to keep pace with inflation and withdraw cash as needed.

The good news is that longevity improvements and competition between carriers has made life insurance very affordable. Your family's peace of mind is worth the modest amount you will pay for this important protection.

Tony Koehler
Koehler Froman Insurance Services, Inc.
403 Main Street
Warsaw, IL 62379
awkoehler@gmail.com
www.TonyKoehler4Life.com
217-919-0457

The information provided here is provided for informational purposes only.

Reason #23 to not text while driving

2010-11-19T13:06:00.002-06:00

"Marsha, like OMG, LMAO! U R...HELP!!!!!!"

Did You Know Life Insurance Can Do This?

2010-11-17T16:44:00.002-06:00

Did You Know Life Insurance Can Do This?

So you think you know life insurance. Yes, it still provides money for your family should you die unexpectedly.
But, did you know that there life insurance policies and riders that can do this?

At a certain duration, return all of the premiums you paid for the insurance - guaranteed?
Accumulate money for retirement or any other purpose, with interest credits based upon a domestic or international stock market index, with protection from index declines?
Provide a steady retirement income that is 100% free of income taxes?
Provide a monthly benefit to you should you become sick or injured and be unable to work for an extended period of time?
Pay a large lump sum benefit if you suffer a heart attack or stroke, or are diagnosed with cancer?

Yes, life insurance has probably come a long way since you last looked at it. The life insurance industry has firmly entered the twenty-first century and is working hard to earn your business.

Fun Website - Check It Out!
Every once in a while, a company creates a really fun website where you can learn not just about them, but about yourself, and have a great time doing it.

If you have a high-speed internet connection, check out:

ING-FOR-LIFE

You will get to pick your traveling companions, travel down life's road, and learn more about your insurance and planning needs along the way. It's fun and educational, so check it out!

Tony Koehler
Koehler Froman Insurance Services, Inc.
403 Main Street
Warsaw, IL 62379
awkoehler@gmail.com
www.TonyKoehler4Life.com
217-919-0457

Case of the Month: Insurer Not Obligated To Defend Homeowner in Property Dispute

2010-11-10T11:12:00.000-06:00

Disputes between neighbors over property lines and encroaching fences are common events. Not so common is the use of an automatic rifle and threats of death by a homeowner in such a dispute. The 10th Circuit court recently affirmed a decision in Colorado finding an insurer did not have a duty to defend a homeowner against a lawsuit. The suit alleged that the homeowner made threats of violence and discharged an automatic rifle in the presence of the neighbor and their contractors constructing a fence on a disputed property line. The case is Browning v. American Family Mut. Ins. Co., 2010 U.S. App. LEXIS 19697 (10th Cir. Sept. 22, 2010).

The insured owned residential property on which the previous owner had constructed a fence. The fence, however, encroached on the neighbor's property. The neighbor sold his property and the new owner took action to remove the allegedly encroaching fence and reconstruct it on the true property line. The insured engaged in an extreme course of conduct which started with verbal barbs and escalated to the insured removing the neighbor's survey markers, stealing fencing materials, and threatening the neighbor with harsh verbal threats and by discharging an automatic rifle in his presence. After the neighbor complained to the sheriff, the insured pled guilty to felony menacing.

The insured eventually filed a quiet title action against the neighbor, and the neighbor filed a counterclaim for trespass, intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, and related claims. The jury determined the insured indeed owned the disputed property and that the relocated fence was an encroachment. Nonetheless, the jury also awarded the neighbor damages for the trespass and emotional distress claims.

The insured sought a defense and indemnity which the homeowners insurer denied based on the intentional and criminal conduct of the insured. The insured argued that the claim for negligent infliction of emotional distress and the trespass claim triggered coverage because neither claim necessarily involved intentional conduct. However, the court disagreed finding that the significant part of the neighbor's complaint was the egregious, intentional conduct of the insured, not accidental conduct which is required to trigger coverage under a homeowners policy.

This case reaffirms the principle that whether an insurer has a duty to defend an insured is not based on whether the complaint against the insured alleges injuries caused by an accident. Courts look to the complaint as a whole and not whether a single allegation, taken out of context, might by itself trigger coverage.

Go to Browning v. American Family Mut. Ins. Co. for more details.

The case of the month summary was written by Patrick B. Omilian of Goldberg Segalla, LLP, Buffalo, New York.

Buying Auto Insurance Online: A Wise Move?

2010-11-10T10:47:00.000-06:00

From IRMI...

As an adjunct college professor, I have polled my risk management students over the past few years to see how many of them buy their auto insurance online. Each year, I find that an increasing number of them (but still a minority) are using the Web for this purpose and are having better luck completing the online application. Yet many of my students are still dissatisfied with the overall experience and often lack the proper coverage. So all this begs the question: Is it a wise move to purchase auto insurance online?

Here are some advantages.

* A consumer can often get multiple quotes using one insurance quote service. This approach is obviously quicker and more convenient than making numerous phone calls to insurance agents in a geographic area.
* If time is of the essence, going online may be the quickest method. When I recently went online to request an auto quote, it took me less than 10 minutes to receive it.
* The websites I visited appeared to be secure ones, with the URL beginning with "https," meaning that any sensitive information (e.g., Social Security number) will be encrypted before being sent to the server. The websites also included a "lock" icon near the window of the browser, which allows the potential insured to view the details of the site's security.
* Free quotes are typically "no obligation" ones, and if the insured chooses to purchase the coverage, he or she can print a temporary auto insurance ID card.
* Rates may be more competitive, due to the insurer's lower expenses with the Internet approach.
* Consumers normally have an option to talk to a live representative while completing the transaction.

There are also some significant disadvantages to consider.

* Some of the online questions/answers are deficient. One question asked for deductible information and the optional answers were nonsensical.
* A Social Security number is required for the full quote, leading to concerns about identity theft. It is one thing to provide this information to a reputable, local agent. It is quite another thing to provide it over the Internet to a relatively unknown source.
* Coverage details were lacking in the quotes I received. One website gave me three separate quotes, one for "less coverage," one for "standard coverage" ($4 extra per month), and one for "more coverage" (an additional $25 per month). No explanation of these terms was provided.
* There were no questions about any tailored auto insurance needs, such as endorsements on rental reimbursement or auto loan/lease coverage.

Buying auto insurance over the Internet may be the wave of the future, but this does not mean it is the best option. For people who insist on nontailored and bare bones coverage at the cheapest possible premium, it may be a valid approach. But until some of the weaknesses of this approach are remedied, the cons of buying auto insurance over the Internet outweigh the pros.

Copyright © 2010 International Risk Management Institute, Inc. (IRMI). All rights reserved.

DEER-VEHICLE COLLISIONS ON THE RISE

2010-11-02T15:36:00.000-05:00

A recent study cites November as the peak month for collision with deer, due in part to the fall breeding season.

Below are some tips on how to avoid hitting a deer. You should also be aware that damages caused by accidents with deer or other animals is not covered by the collision portion of an auto policy, but is covered
under the optional comprehensive portion.

Tips to Avoid Hitting a Deer (or minimize damage):

1. Always wear your seatbelt. Motorcyclists should always wear a helmet.
2. Deer are most active from sunset to midnight and during the hours
shortly before or after sunrise. Be especially attentive during these times.
3. When driving at night, use high beam headlights when possible.
4. Deer often travel in herds; if you see one, there are likely others nearby.
5. Do not rely on devices such as deer whistles, deer fences, and reflectors
to deter deer. These devices have not been proven effective.
6. Do not swerve out of your lane - this could lead to a more serious accident.

Some Halloween Safety Tips!

2010-10-28T16:03:00.002-05:00

• Prevent Accidents: Remove or move lawn furniture, or any other obstacles, to avoid accidents or damage. Ensure your home’s entry is in good condition, free of loose or broken pieces on stairwells and walkways to avoid trick-or-treaters’ injuries on your property.

• Fire Dangers: Prevent fires by making sure pumpkins containing candles are placed at a distance where a child’s costume cannot be ignited or a curious guest may tip it over. Extinguish all candles before going to bed and use battery operated lights wherever possible.

• Costume Safety: Be careful with costumes. All disguises should be made from flame-resistant materials and shouldn’t be too long or contain sharp accessories. Try to avoid masks that may obscure vision and try to use hypo-allergenic make-up.

• See and Be Seen: Encourage each trick-or-treater and adult chaperones to carry a flashlight. Apply light-reflecting material to costumes.

• Don’t be a Scary Driver: Drive sober, slowly and even more carefully than usual on Halloween. Watch for children who may be running or wearing dark costumes in the road.

• Power in Numbers: When walking, travel in groups and cross only at corners and crosswalks—never between parked cars—and stay on well-lit streets.

• Unwelcomed Guests: Scare away potential property vandals who often use the chaos of Halloween night to strike by keeping outdoor lights on.

• Pet Safety: Keep pets inside. Warn your children to stay away from animals as they go door-to-door. Halloween night can be stressful, even on the friendliest dog, cat or other creature.

• Candy Inspection: Cavities aren’t the only candy-related risks on Halloween. Inspect all children’s treats. Never eat unwrapped items, collect candy only from those you know and ask the local police department if it offers a candy x-ray and/or inspection service. Throw away any suspicious candy.

USDA Crop Insurance Press Release

2010-10-27T12:49:00.000-05:00

________________________________

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Release No. 0563.10

Contact:

Office of Communications (202) 720-4623

Agriculture Secretary Villach Announces $9.6 Million in Partnership Agreements to Help Small and Underserved Producers

USDA Funds Community Risk Management Education through Innovative Agreements

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2010 â€" Agriculture Secretary Tom Villach today announced that the Risk Management Agency (RMA) has awarded $9.6 million in Partnership Agreements to provide producers with opportunities to learn more about managing risk in their businesses, which provides an important educational opportunity for limited-resource and underserved farmers and ranchers. Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Deputy Under Secretary Michael Souse announced the awards on Villach's behalf at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's Annual Crop Insurance Conference.

"The partnerships we are announcing today will provide community-based opportunities for underserved, small and limited-resource producers to be better managers in an inherently risky business," said Souse. "For small and beginning farmers in particular, risk management often means understanding direct marketing and for this they need legal, financial, and food safety tools and information appropriate for the scale of their operation and the markets that they serve."

Many of the partnerships that RMA is offering can help farmers diversify production and marketing practices, or to provide planning tools to help farmers obtain the insurance and credit that are often critical to their ability to stay in business or to diversify their existing business.

The Federal crop insurance program and Risk Management Education and Outreach programs together provide a safety net to ensure that farmers and ranchers will weather the perils of nature and the marketplace and continue in business, thus ensuring the food supply and the survival of small, limited resource, socially disadvantaged and other traditionally under-served farmers . RMA administers these partnership projects as well as the Federal crop insurance program, with funding and authority from the Federal Crop Insurance Act.

The new partnership agreements announced today include:

Crop Insurance Education in Targeted States: $5 million is being awarded to deliver crop insurance education and information to agricultural producers in 16 states designated as historically underserved with respect to crop insurance. These targeted states include: Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Commodity Partnerships for Small Agricultural Risk Management Education Sessions: $1 million is being awarded to fund 110 commodity Partnership Agreements across the country, delivering training to U.S. farmers and ranchers in managing production, marketing, and financial risk, such as the award to Annie's Project in Illinois, Education for Farm Women. The program gives priority to educating producers of crops currently not insured under Federal crop insurance, specialty crops, and underserved commodities, including livestock and forage. RMA expects to reach 1.2 million producers with Risk Management Education Partnerships alone; a 10 percent increase over 2009.

Community Outreach and Assistance Partnerships: USDA is awarding $3.6 million for collaborative outreach and assistance programs, such as the $100,000 award to provide emerging risk management tools to returning veterans to support successful farming. This partnership category targets limited resource, socially disadvantaged and other traditionally under-served farmers and ranchers, who produce priority commodities.

Complete listings of the agreements can be found on the RMA Web site at the following address: http://www.rma.usda.gov/aboutrma/agreements/.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272(voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

Esquire Magazine article on balancing the federal budget

2010-10-27T12:42:00.001-05:00

________________________________
Subject: Esquire Magazine article on balancing the federal budget

A few months ago Esquire Magazine pulled together four former Senators who are knowledgeable on the Federal Budget: Packwood of Oregon, Bradley of New Jersey, Hart of Colorado, and John Danforth of Missouri, to discuss how they would balance the federal budget. They along with Lawrence O'Donnell, a former Senate aide and now MSNBC host, discussed the subject and came up with the following report.

The Commission to Balance the Federal Budget: The Results
By The Editors

A few months ago, we announced the formation and mandate of the Esquire Commission to Balance the Federal Budget. The plan was simple: A group of former legislators from across the political spectrum would convene, make the hard choices that our current leaders refuse to make, and erase the annual budget deficit by 2020. Below, the results of their efforts in all their statistical detail (also available in the November issue — now on sale). You can also read the authors' introduction here<http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/balance-federal-budget-101310> and the story of how it all happened here<http://www.esquire.com/features/balance-the-budget-findings-1110>.

A Few Words on the Objectives:

Primary Objective: To balance the federal budget by 2020 by instituting spending cuts and/or revenue increases, most of which would not begin until 2013.

Secondary Objective: To adjust annual government spending and annual government revenue so that both equal 20 percent of the gross domestic product by 2020.

Tertiary Objective: To stabilize national debt at less than 60 percent of GDP by 2020.

Other Objectives That We Hadn't Intended to Meet but Did Anyway:
• Guarantee the solvency of Social Security over the next seventy-five years.
• Restructure the military to better meet the challenges of the twenty-first century.
• Keep individual tax rates at or near their current levels for all Americans.

Note: All projected savings and revenue for fiscal year 2020 only, and all amounts in 2020 dollars.

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The Spending Proposals:
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1. Gradually raise the retirement age to seventy.

Currently, the retirement age is sixty-six, and starting in 2021, it is scheduled to gradually increase to sixty-seven at a rate of two months a year. As Americans today are living and working longer than in previous generations, the commission proposes to instead begin gradually increasing the retirement age to seventy before 2021, but at a rate of one month per year.

Furthermore, in consideration of those Americans who work or have worked manual-labor-intensive jobs and would therefore find working past sixty-seven an undue burden, the commission proposes that eligibility requirements for disability be narrowly liberalized beginning at age sixty-seven.

Projected Savings: $49 billion

2. Use an alternate measure of inflation to calculate cost-of-living adjustments for Social Security recipients.

Every year, Social Security recipients receive a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) so benefits keep pace with inflation, and many analysts believe that the current index used to calculate COLAs, the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, the CPI-W, overstates inflation because it does not fully account for changes in patterns of spending. The commission proposes to calculate COLAs using an alternative price index, the Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). It is generally viewed as doing a better job at measuring inflation for retired people than the CPI-W because the CPI-U is calculated using a broader base of consumers — not just urban wage earners and clerical workers but all urban consumers (including retired people) — and more closely reflects changes in cost of living. As the CPI-W is expected to overstate inflation in the years ahead, switching to the CPI-U will save money.

Projected Savings: $23 billion

3. Increase years used to calculate benefits.

Currently, Social Security recipients' benefits are calculated based upon their thirty-five highest years of earnings. The commission proposes to increase the number of years to thirty-eight to reflect the longer amounts of time that most people are working today.

Projected Savings: $14 billion

Total Projected Savings in Social Security: $86 billion

Addendum: These adjustments not only decrease the annual deficit by $86 billion in fiscal year 2020; along with a proposal to include all new state and local government workers in the Social Security program (see page 161 for details), they also ensure the solvency of Social Security for at least the next seventy-five years. At current spending levels, Social Security is projected to become insolvent by 2037, at which point it would be able to pay recipients only 78 percent of their expected benefits. The commission's proposals would guarantee recipients 100 percent of their expected benefits through at least 2085.
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1. Enact the administration's proposed weapons-systems cuts.

The commission endorses the weapons-system cuts the president proposes in his 2011 budget. The C-17 Transport Aircraft; Joint Strike Fighter Al-ternate Engine; Navy's Next Generation Cruiser; EP-X Manned Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Aircraft; Net Enabled Command Capability; and Third Generation Infrared Surveillance programs would all be canceled.

Projected Savings: $4 billion

2. Reverse the "Grow the Army" initiative.

The commission proposes to reverse the Army's "Grow the Army" initiative, which plans to add 65,000 active personnel (increasing from 482,400 to 547,400) and 9,200 reservists (increasing from 555,000 to 564,200) to the Army's ranks by 2011.

Projected Savings: $10 billion

3. Restructure the military along strategic lines.

The commission believes that the U. S. defense establishment must be fundamentally reorganized to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century. The number of nation-state wars for which our military is configured is going down while the number of irregular and unconventional wars is going up, and yet the military is still procuring and paying for a cold-war-based defense system. To better meet these new challenges requires a shift in how the military allocates its resources, and the commission estimates that this shift will result in a decrease in overall defense spending. This restructured military budget would equal 2.2 percent of GDP in 2020 (as compared with the current budget projection, which has it at 3.6 percent of GDP in 2020).

Projected Savings: $169 billion

4. Assume cost of engagement in Afghanistan and Iraq will decline.

The commission assumes that the cost of U. S. engagement in Afghanistan and Iraq will decrease significantly by 2020. The below figure is based on a projected estimate of thirty thousand combined troops in both countries.

Projected Savings: $126 billion

Total Projected Savings in Defense: $309 billion
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1. Institute medical-malpractice reform through the establishment of medical courts.

This proposal would establish medical courts — similar to bankruptcy courts — in which verdicts are made by judges trained to evaluate scientific evidence. As an alternative to the current trial-by-jury system for medical-malpractice lawsuits, this proposal would decrease the number of frivolous lawsuits that reach trial, increase the speed with which meritorious lawsuits reach trial, and reduce administrative costs for the federal judiciary. It would also discourage the practice of defensive medicine, whereby health-care providers, under the constant threat of litigation, often order unnecessary (and costly) tests and procedures to hedge against potential lawsuits.

Projected Savings: $10 billion

Total Projected Savings in Health Care: $10 billion

Addendum: The commission believes it unlikely that Congress and the president will substantially modify the recently enacted health-care legislation. The commission also strongly advocates a transition from our current fee-for-service system — in which health-care providers stand to profit from each test, procedure, and office visit — to a pay-for-performance system, in which health-care providers are compensated for the medical outcomes for dollars spent, thereby improving the quality and efficiency of the care provided. The commission believes such a transition would fundamentally alter the dynamics of our health-care system and save consumers, health-care providers, and the federal government billions of dollars a year.
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1. Enact the president's proposed spending-program terminations.

The commission endorses the president's proposed termination of lower-priority spending programs as detailed in his 2011 budget. (View the list here<http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget>).

Projected Savings: $4 billion

2. Cut the federal workforce by 5 percent.

The commission advocates streamlining the federal workforce by 5 percent over the next decade by increasing public-sector productivity to bring it in line with ongoing increases in private-sector productivity.

Projected Savings: $26 billion

3. Delay NASA missions to the moon and Mars.

The commission believes that instead of replacing the space shuttle, the U. S. should delay plans for further exploration of space.

Projected Savings: $4 billion

4. Reform farm subsidies.

The commission proposes to prohibit new enrollments in the Conservation Stewardship Program, prohibit reenrollments in the Conservation Reserve Program, reduce crop-insurance subsidies paid to crop-insurance providers, and implement means-testing for individuals whose incomes exceed $250,000 (for nonfarmers) or $500,000 (for farmers).

Projected Savings: $13 billion

5. Eliminate all earmarks.

Read our full story<http://www.esquire.com/print-this/TK> about the commission's meeting for more details.

Projected Savings: $18 billion

6. Use an alternate measure of inflation for COLAs for federal and military pensions and veterans' retirement benefits.

As with Social Security, retired federal employees and certain veterans receive a cost-of-living adjustment based on CPI-W so their annual retirement benefits keep pace with inflation. The commission proposes to calculate the COLA using an alternative price index, the Chained Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). (See item number 2 under Social Security for definitions and details.)

Projected Savings: $6 billion

Total Projected Savings in Other Spending: $71 billion

Total Projected Savings on Government Spending in 2020: $476 billion

Total Debt Service Projected Savings in 2020: $142 billion

Note about debt service: Every year the government must spend billions of dollars to pay the interest on the money it borrows, and the less money we borrow in any given year, the more we will save on the interest costs associated with that borrowed money. By cutting spending by a net amount of $476 billion in 2020, and more importantly $3.182 trillion over ten years, and by instituting our revenue proposals, we are also cutting the amount required to service our total debts in 2020 by $142 billion and by $479 billion over ten years.

Total Projected Savings: $618 billion

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The Revenue Proposals:

1. Repeal employer health-care tax exclusion and offer a refundable health-care tax credit.

Under current law, employer-provided health benefits are not counted as taxable income for the employees who receive the benefits, although an excise tax on high-cost (i.e., "Cadillac") plans is scheduled to begin in 2018. In place of this excise tax, the commission proposes to repeal the employer-provided health-insurance exclusion altogether while instituting a refundable tax credit to help people pay for their health insurance. Under this system, a person's employer-provided health benefits would be taxed as personal income; however, the government would also offer a refundable tax credit that employees can put toward paying for their health insurance.

Projected Revenue: $63 billion

Addendum: The final figure for projected revenue includes lost potential revenue from the excise tax scheduled to go into effect in 2018.

2. Increase gasoline tax by $1 per gallon.

The current federal gas tax is 18.4 cents per gallon, but the commission proposes to increase the federal gas tax, gradually and beginning in 2013, so that in 2020, it would be $1.18 cents per gallon. This would not only generate significant revenue but also reduce consumption of gas, reduce carbon emissions, and provide an incentive to automakers to increase the fuel efficiency of their vehicles.

Projected Revenue: $130 billion

Addendum: If this proposal were instituted along with a federally mandated increase in CAFE (corporate average fuel economy) standards, any increase in the cost of gasoline at the pump could be offset by better fuel efficiency.

3. Limit itemized deductions for high earners.

The commission proposes to limit the tax rate at which itemized deductions reduce tax liability to 28 percent, thereby limiting itemized deductions for upper-income taxpayers (individuals making more than $200,000 and families making more than $250,000). The commission also proposes to phase out personal exemptions for upper-income taxpayers.

Projected Revenue: $57 billion

4. Keep tax rates low for the next decade.

The current tax rates are scheduled to expire at the end of 2010, meaning statutory tax rates would return to their 2000 levels. The commission proposes that the government use the $3.2 trillion that it will generate through cutting spending and limiting the value of tax expenditures to keep rates at or near their current levels through 2020. The commission believes that reductions in additional tax expenditures (see below) should go to middle-income tax relief and that the government should reinstate the increased alternative-minimum-tax exemptions that expired in 2009.

Projected Revenue: -$273 billion

5. Curtail state and local sales-tax deduction.

Currently, taxpayers may deduct their state and local sales-tax payments from their federal income tax. The commission proposes to reduce the total amount allowed under this deduction to about 20 percent of current levels.

Projected Revenue: $12 billion

6. Eliminate subsidies for biofuels.

The commission proposes eliminating subsidies for producing biofuels, including ethanol.

Projected Revenue: $16 billion

7. Include all new state and local government workers in Social Security.

Under current law, some state and local government employees are not required to pay into the Social Security program. The commission proposes that all new state and local workers contribute to the Social Security program. This would raise additional revenue because many of these workers eventually receive benefits because of their spouses, and therefore the amount of benefits they gain by joining the system is less than the amount they pay in. This would apply only to employees hired in 2010 and beyond, not to current state and local government workers.

Projected Revenue: $21 billion

Total Projected Revenue Increase: $26 billion

The Final Numbers:

Total Projected Revenues in 2020: $4.693 trillion (20.8% of GDP)

Total Projected Spending in 2020: $4.681 trillion (20.8% of GDP)

Total Projected Surplus in 2020: $12 billion

Projected Debt-to-GDP Ratio in 2020: 52%

THOSE RESPONSIBLE: With thanks to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget<http://www.crfb.org/> and its president, Maya MacGuineas, for their invaluable assistance in providing the commission with accurate data and budget options; to Barry Anderson, a former deputy director of the Congressional Budget Office and a private budget consultant who ran the numbers and answered every question promptly and precisely; and to John Cunningham, a recent graduate of Bowdoin College who assisted Anderson in this massive endeavor. A note to potential employers: Hire this guy.

http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/federal-budget-statistics-1110
Print<https://owa.rcis.com/owa/UrlBlockedError.aspx> Close<https://owa.rcis.com/owa/UrlBlockedError.aspx>

Linda Vickers
Federal Government Relations Director
Rural Community Insurance Services
Phone: 503.801.7788
Email: Linda.Vickers@RCIS.COM

Monitor Your Teen's Driving

2010-10-13T16:53:00.002-05:00

Automobile accidents are easily the leading cause of death for teenagers across America, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). For both genders, drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 have the highest average annual crash and traffic violation rates of any other age group. NHTSA data also show that unaccompanied 16- and 17-year-olds crash nine times more often than adults.

Research indicates that young novice drivers tend to underestimate the crash risk in hazardous situations. Teen drivers also tend to take more risks while driving, partly due to their overconfidence in their driving abilities. One way for parents to reduce their teen's chances of being involved in an auto accident is to use technology to monitor their driving characteristics and provide appropriate feedback.

A number of "black box" products are now available on the marketplace to facilitate monitoring drivers. These small devices (often the size of a pager and starting at around $280) can be simply installed into the auto your teen drives by plugging them into the Vehicle Data Link Connector (on 1996 and new vehicles). They can detect and record your teen's speed, aggressive driving such as "jack-rabbit" takeoffs, failure to wear a seat belt, unsafe backing techniques, driving locations, monthly mileage, and driving times. Thus, if your teen's curfew is at midnight and they get home at 1:00 a.m., you will know it.

With some of these products, you can simply pop the memory card out of the "black box" and plug it into your PC to display the reports and graphs. You can then review the results with your teenager, providing a great educational opportunity based on solid, technology-driven evidence. Research indicates that this type of monitoring and coaching pays off big dividends in the form of safer teen driving. Numerous companies offer these products in the marketplace, with some of the more sophisticated ones costing upwards of $1,000. A few insurers offer discounts for families who utilize these devices.

Get more personal lines insurance and risk management tips and ideas from IRMI.

Copyright 2010
International Risk Management Institute, Inc.

*****

Warsaw Fire Department Spaghetti Supper

2010-10-11T11:50:00.000-05:00

The Warsaw (IL) Fire Department will be holding our annual spaghetti supper on October 16, 2010 at the Warsaw High School cafateria from 4:30-8:00 P.M. This will be following the West Hancock Titan vs Rockridge football game. Adults $6.00 kids under 10 $3.00 for all you care to eat. We would love to see you there.

For more information or to ask questions, please visit our Facebook page.

Here is a map to Warsaw High School.

And from the High School to the Football field.

Flooded Basement? Here are some tips...

2010-07-26T16:37:00.000-05:00

The Loss Reduction Specialists™

July 26, 2010

There are a lot of people with flooded basements that have no insurance coverage. You can still provide them with some help by passing along these tips:

All of these tips are considered to be opinions from RESTORx Northern Illinois and are the property of RESTORx Northern Illinois. The Insurance Industry has our permission to pass this information along to their Insured as long as it is passed on in its entirety. Sharing of this info to others is prohibited.

Professional Restoration Companies are swamped and will not get to everybody in a timely manner. That means you need to be proactive to minimize property damage.

Do not enter a wet basement if the power is still turned on. Even a very small amount of stray voltage can immediately kill. Damaged property is not worth dying for. Turn off the power main or pull the meter base. If you have rubber insulated boots, wear them.

Consider all water in the basement as toxic. This water could be mixed with sewage, chemicals that were stored and tipped over into the water, chemicals from the ground, and all kinds of other nasty things. Do not put anything into your mouth that you touched with an unsanitized hand. If your eyes or nose starts to water, get out. If your respiratory system feels tight or congested, get out.

Hand sanitizers only work if you follow the label directions. Most labels tell you to rub it for 30 seconds. What they are not telling you, is that if you rub it on for less time, it probably isn’t doing anything except giving you false security.
Turn off the power to the furnace, water heater, freezers, and any other electrical device that is in the water. Many of these items will make it through the flood, however some of the problems will not appear for a few months.

Get personal items out of the water and dry them as much as possible. Irreplaceable things like photos are first. Then go after expensive items such as furniture and clothes. Particle board furniture is probably now junk, so go after solid wood furniture first.

Extract as much water as possible. That means using a wet vac if you have one. Towels work also. Any wet materials you can remove, such as carpeting, will minimize the amount of water that is inside the basement. Put these items in the garage as many of them will be salvageable.

After you have removed as much of the water as possible, run fans to evaporate the water into the air, and then use dehumidifiers to pull the moisture out of the air. If you see condensation on any of the basement surfaces, slow down on the fans and increase the dehumidifier use. Failure to do this could do serious damage to otherwise unaffected areas of the house.

When running your dehumidifier, set the humidistat around 45% to 50% relative humidity. If you do not have a digital readout, set the humidistat around 2/3 or a max. of ¾. Never turn the humidistat 100% open or it will not be effective.

If you smell musty odors, you have mold growth. If you smell dirty sock odors, you have bacterial problems. Either way, malodors are not good. While using disinfectants is never a substitute for remediation, this is a time to use them as it will minimize health problems and buy you time before it gets real ugly. Here are some potentials:
Bleach is not a disinfectant. However, if the surface is clean it works well. Wash the surface first, and then use a mixture of about 1 cup of bleach per gallon of water. Be careful not to get it into your eyes. This would be bad, so wear goggles. Also, bleach can ruin textiles as it can damage colors. Therefore, only use it on items that are not damaged by bleach.
Iodine is similar to bleach in most respects. The differences are: It does not smell bad and actually smells good. It takes only a couple ounces per gallon of water, is very good on bacteria, and the potential damage to textiles is less. The main problem is that you can get an orange color if you over apply the product. See the note in the next paragraph on how to obtain.

Use of a disinfectant is the best thing to do, but the most expensive. Also, many of the good ones are not obtainable by the general public. Anybody can buy Lysol disinfectant or Pine-Sol disinfectant, but remember that it has to be applied heavy enough so that the material stays wet for at least 15 minutes. If you go this route, look for products that actually say “disinfectant” on the label. The disinfectant we use cannot be sold by us for use by a consumer. However, we could make larger quantities available to Agencies to provide samples for their Insured. Due to the high volume of phone calls and traffic at our office from this flood, if you would like more info on this or on iodine call our Marketing Director, Lorrie Gitz, at 815.541.0317.

Self Defense Tip for the House or the Road

2010-07-01T14:20:00.000-05:00

Subject: Wasp Spray

I know some of you own GUNS but this is something to think about...---

If you don't have a gun, here's a more humane way to wreck someone's evil plans for you. Did you know this? I didn't. I never really thought of it before. I guess I can get rid of the baseball bat.

Wasp Spray - A friend who is a receptionist in a church in a high risk area was concerned about someone coming into the office on Monday to rob them when they were counting the collection. She asked the local police department about using pepper spray and they recommended to her that she get a can of wasp spray instead.

The wasp spray, they told her, can shoot up to twenty feet away and is a lot more accurate, while with the pepper spray, they have to get too close to you and could overpower you. The wasp spray temporarily blinds an attacker until they get to the hospital for an antidote. She keeps a can on her desk in the office and it doesn't attract attention from people like a can of pepper spray would. She also keeps one nearby at home for home protection. Thought this was interesting and might be of use.

On the heels of a break in and beating that left an elderly woman in Toledo dead, self defense experts have a tip that could save your life.

Val Glinka teaches self-defense to students at Sylvania Southview High School . For decades, he's suggested putting a can of wasp and hornet spray near your door or bed.

Glinka says, "This is better than anything I can teach them."

Glinka considers it inexpensive, easy to find, and more effective than mace or pepper spray. The cans typically shoot 20 to 30 feet; so if someone tries to break into your home, Glinka says "spray the culprit in the eyes". It's a tip he's given to students for decades.

It's also one he wants everyone to hear. If you're looking for protection, Glinka says look to the spray. "That's going to give you a chance to call the police; maybe get out." Maybe even save a life.

Please share this with all the people who are precious to your life

Did you also know that wasp spray will kill a snake? And a mouse! It will! Good to know, huh? It will also kill a wasp.!!!!

Senate Passes National Flood Insurance Program Extension

2010-07-01T11:07:00.000-05:00

Program expired May 31; Tonight’s action would reactivate NFIP for three more months.

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 30, 2010 —The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”) today commented on the Senate’s passage of a short term extension, until Sept. 30,2010, of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

“It is alarming that the NFIP was allowed to remain expired for so long, causing so much confusion and potentially leaving desperate homeowners and small businesses unprotected for almost a month,” says Robert Rusbuldt, Big “I” president and CEO. “While the Big ‘I’ is appreciative of Congress extending the program on a temporary basis, we are also greatly concerned that these short expiration periods and patchwork of temporary extensions will negatively impact the market.”

Once President Obama signs the bill into law (expected soon), the NFIP should now return to normal operations and, since the extension is also retroactive any new policy applications or renewals that were signed and submitted during the hiatus will be effective from the date of application (or in the case of waiting periods, the waiting period will start from the date of application).

“This series of temporary extensions and service lapses during such a delicate period in our economy is of great concern to our agents, homeowners, and small businesses,” says Charles Symington, Big “I” senior vice president of government affairs. “Though we are grateful that Congress extended the program again, we are increasingly frustrated by this legislative process. The National Flood Insurance Program is meant to provide some level of stability and protection for homeowners and businesses against dangerously unpredictable and costly flooding events, not to be an unpredictable ‘here one minute-gone the next’ program subject to the vicissitudes of political gamesmanship. The Big ‘I’ strongly urges Congress to pass a long term extension of this critical program.” The Big “I” asks Congress to act on a long term extension of this important program. The program has worked for more than 40 years to help protect consumers from flood risks, and Congress has traditionally extended the program for five year periods in order to provide stability and security for the marketplace. Unfortunately, Congress has recently only extended the program for short periods, from 30 days to six months. This was the third such lapse this year alone.

Founded in 1896, the Big “I” is the nation’s oldest and largest national association of independent insurance agents and brokers, representing a network of more than 300,000 agents, brokers and their employees nationally. Its members are businesses that offer customers a choice of policies from a variety of insurance companies. Independent agents and brokers offer all lines of insurance—property, casualty, life, health, employee benefit plans and retirement products. Web address: www.independentagent.com.

Reduce Your Exposure to Home Burglaries

2010-06-16T09:21:00.000-05:00

U.S. residences were burglarized more than 1.5 million times in 2008, according to the latest FBI studies. Nearly 65 percent of the thefts occur during the day because people are often not at home during the weekday. Proper home theft prevention ideas and techniques, however, can reduce the odds of a home burglary. Consider the following loss control techniques to reduce your chances of suffering a home burglary.

Invest in a burglar alarm with a central monitoring station. Research indicates that homes without security systems are about three times more likely to be broken into than homes with security systems. If a burglar is aware that a home has an alarm, he or she is more likely to avoid that home.
Property identification programs are another deterrent to burglary. Many of these programs involve the use of stickers on which your driver's license number is imprinted. These are then placed (and become permanently imprinted) on all valuable personal property, such as stereos, televisions, and computers. This makes it more difficult for burglars to fence or pawn the property.
Safeguarding dwelling components such as doors and windows make it tougher for burglars to enter the home. Many home security experts recommend all exterior doors be 1 3/4-inch thick solid wood, metal, or composite material. Strike plates on door jams are typically installed with 1/2-inch screws; however, these should be replaced with 3-inch long screws so that locked doors cannot be kicked in easily. Doors should also have deadbolt locks, with at least a 1-inch throw and a reinforced strike plate with 3-inch screws.
Exterior lights with a motion-sensing switch should be installed; timers on lights are also recommended.
Keep your garage door secure and locked even while you are home.

Get more personal lines insurance and risk management tips and ideas from IRMI.

*****

Some tornado preparedness tips...

2010-05-27T16:46:00.000-05:00

Before the tornado
• Become familiar with the type of alarm or notification system your local government will put into effect to let you know if a tornado watch or warning is being issued. Above all, don't wait until a tornado warning is issued to find out what to do. Make sure everyone in the family is fully prepared to take responsibility for his or her own safety.
• The best preparation for a tornado is to be alert to changing weather patterns. Pay attention to weather reports and rely on your own instincts and experience.
• Nature provides certain environmental clues that may precede a tornado. Look for a dark, greenish sky, a wall of clouds and pieces of hail sometimes as large as grapefruits. Eyewitnesses say a tornado produces aloud roar, similar to that of an approaching freight train.
During the tornado
• The safest place to be during a tornado is underground. If there is no basement in your home, a small room in the middle of the house is best. Stay away from windows.
• Get under a steady piece of furniture, such as a heavy table or desk. Hold on to it and use your arms to protect your head and neck.
• If you live in a mobile home, even if it has tie-downs, you should leave and seek shelter somewhere else.
• If there is no safe place inside, go outside and lie flat on the ground with your hands over your head and neck.
• If you're in a car, get out and seek a safe shelter or lie down in a low area, again with your hands over your head and neck.
• If you're in a high-rise building, make your way to an interior room on the lowest floor. Avoid windows.
After a tornado
• Check for injured or trapped persons. Do not move them unless they are in immediate danger of further injury.

Long Term Care insurance (LTCi) -- Some things to think about

2010-05-13T16:42:00.000-05:00

Seven in ten clients will require long-term care at some point in their life.

There is so much compelling information—and common sense—surrounding LTCi that it would seem it should be intuitive for people to understand the risk to their retirement (and even before retirement) assets. And, with an aging population and huge federal deficits engulfing Social Security and Medicare, there is no doubt that people with assets will be expected to pay (or their estates will repay) the government for the care they receive.

First, it is helpful to review some statistics. The John Hancock Life Insurance Company performs an annual survey of long-term care which is very informative. Overall, at least 70% of people who live to age 65 will require some long-term care services at some point in their lives. That means that only three in 10 people will live out their lives without a need of long-term assistance. Will you need care someday?

The potential need for long-term care is a risk that all Americans face—and one that can take a heavy toll. The latest statistics show that the average stay in a nursing home is 876 days, or about two and a half years. (Keep in mind that doesn’t account for how many years of care the person may have received at home prior to entering the nursing home.) Multiplying 876 days by the average daily cost for a private room yields a staggering tab: $178,704 in today’s dollars. Of course, some people will have a shorter stay and some will have a longer stay and sound risk management means that people should insure against the catastrophic exposure. But, even a basic benefit policy of $100 a day will go a long way toward paying for home or institutional care.

Another public misconception is that long-term care is primarily a need of elderly. Surprisingly, nearly 41% of long-term care is provided to people under age 65 who need help after an accident or stroke or as a result of chronic illness or debilitating diseases. Talk with an agent now about long-term care coverage—don’t procrastinate until you are in your 60’s to purchase care. Of course, another reason not to wait is that premiums increase dramatically if people wait until their 60’s and it is more difficult to satisfy the underwriting requirements as people age.

There is hardly a person in America who doesn’t know a relative or a relative of a friend who is receiving long-term care assistance. What most people don’t realize is that Medicare doesn’t cover long-term care expenses (except for some skilled nursing benefits following hospitalization). Insurance agents are educators and ignorance is not bliss. Now is the perfect time to have a conversation with your agent about LTCi. You never know what tomorrow will bring.

Be sure to have an inventory or your personal belongings in case of fire or tornado!

2010-04-29T10:57:00.000-05:00

As some of you know, my family and I went through a total loss house fire in 2003. That was a TREMENDOUS learning event for me from an insurance standpoint. As a result of that, at least once a year I try to remind as many people as I can to take steps that will help reduce the trauma if you are ever in the same situation.

One of my big reminders revolves around knowing "what you have" in your home. There are several ways to do that. One of the easiest is to walk around your home with a video camera and record everything. Open doors, drawers, etc. and record what is behind or in it. Record every room in your home and your garage. Then make several copies of the recording. Distribute those copies to family or friends or put a copy in your safety deposit box at the bank. I recommend doing this at least once a year, but at least get that first copy out of your home. More recent purchases or additions will most likely be easier to remember than items that you have had many years. While this method will not help you come up with replacement cost for the items, it will help you come up with your inventory list. After you have the list, THEN it is a matter of determining replacement cost. Our family every so often says something like "I know I had one of those, I wonder where it is--oh yeah, the fire!"

Another method of recording your belongings is to go to http://www.whatyouown.org/ and download their free software. This will most likely take a lot more time NOW, but should you ever be in that situation, you will have a much more comprehensive listing of your personal belongings and an inventory that you can give to your insurance company. I just found this software so I have not used it yet, but the only question that I have and can't find an answer to is how do they handle the data you input? I would like to see a way to store this information online. If you do have a fire and your computer gets burned up, your data is gone. Online storage would eliminate that problem. CNET has a very good review of this product on the what you own website. Be sure to check it out!

Right now the most important thing you can do is SOMETHING! Ideally you will do the video AND have the home inventory software with all of your information in it. Your insurance company can only pay your claim if they know what you had. Having the information available BEFORE the loss will make it much easier and quicker to get your claim paid in a timely matter. Take my word for it, making that inventory list is no fun AFTER the fact.

New traffic law that everyone should know.

2010-04-29T10:19:00.002-05:00

New Traffic Law 2010 GOOD THING TO KNOW:

New Law: If a patrol car is pulled over to the side of the road, you have to change to the next lane (away from the stopped vehicle) or slow down by 20 mph. Every state except Hawaii and Maryland and the D.C. has this law. In California , the "Move-over" law became operative on January 1, 2010. http://www.moveoveramerica.com/

A friend's son got a ticket for this recently. A police car (turned out it was 2 police cars) was on the side of the road giving a ticket to someone else. He slowed down to pass but did not move into the other lane. The second police car immediately pulled him over and gave him a ticket. He had never heard of the law. It is a fairly new law that states if any emergency vehicle is on the side of the road, if you are able, you are to move into the far lane.

The cost of the ticket was $754, with 3 points on your license and a mandatory court appearance. Please let everyone you know that drives about this new law. It is true (see details at the following web address). http://www.snopes.com/politics/traffic/moveover.asp

States in blue are "move over" law states.

Flood Insurance & COBRA Extended

2010-04-23T12:31:00.000-05:00

Flood Insurance & COBRA ExtendedBig "I" Submits Congressional Testimony on National Flood Insurance Program

A few weeks ago, the Senate left town for the Easter recess without voting on extending the NFIP, thereby resulting in the program's expiration. The House had previously approved, by unanimous consent, a $9 billion measure containing one-month extensions of several programs including unemployment insurance, COBRA subsidies for health benefits and flood insurance. Senate leaders of both parties hoped to have their chamber approve the same bill before the Easter break, but Sens. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) objected to the House bill saying it was not funded. A similar scenario occurred in early March.

On April 15th, both the House and Senate passed the "Extensions" bill to extend the flood insurance program, COBRA benefit subsidies, unemployment insurance extension, and other programs through May. The flood insurance program and COBRA benefit subsidies were extended until May 31, 2010 and the unemployment benefits was extended until June 2, 2010. The retroactive were signed by the President and are now law.

"It is alarming that the NFIP was allowed to expire, causing so much confusion and potentially leaving desperate homeowners and small businesses unprotected for more than two weeks," says Robert Rusbuldt, Big "I" president and CEO. "The Big 'I' is greatly concerned that these short expiration periods, coupled with the uncertainty of temporary extensions, will negatively impact the market."

In theory, the NFIP will now return to normal operations and, since the extension is also retroactive, then any new policy applications or renewals that were signed and submitted during the hiatus will be effective from the date of application (or in the case of waiting periods, the waiting period will start from the date of application).

"This series of temporary extensions, last minute actions and service lapses during such a delicate period in our economy is of great concern to our agents, homeowners and small businesses," says Charles Symington, Big "I" senior vice president of government affairs. "Though we are grateful that Congress extended this program, we are increasingly frustrated by these repeated one-month extensions and the periods of expiration that sometimes result from them. The National Flood Insurance Program is meant to provide some level of stability and protection for homeowners and businesses against dangerously unpredictable and costly flooding events, not to be an unpredictable 'here one minute-gone the next' program subject to monthly congressional action. The Big 'I' strongly urges Congress to pass a long term extension of this critical program."

In the 110th Congress, the Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization (FIRM) Act of 2007 made progress in the House and Senate. The legislation would have extended the program for five years and made significant and needed reforms to help put the program on sound financial footing. This summer, similar legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives.
Wednesday, the Big “I” submitted official testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity hearing titled, “Legislative Proposals to Reform the National Flood Insurance Program.”

The Big “I” supports draft legislation, called the Flood Insurance Reform Priorities Act of 2010, by Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.) which would extend the program for five years and provide necessary reforms. In yesterday’s testimony, the Big “I” praised the bill in general saying, “Though IIABA has some recommended improvements to the draft legislation, the underlying long term extension is vital to provide stability and security to consumers.”

In addition to a long term extension, the Big “I” also called for the draft flood insurance legislation to be amended before Financial Services Committee consideration to modernize the NFIP by including optional business interruption and optional additional living expenses coverages on an actuarial basis.
The association noted that NFIP has been a successful program for consumers for more than 40 years; however it is time to modernize some aspects of the program for the 21st century. Allowing consumers the option to purchase business interruption insurance and additional living expenses, as can be done in the private market for other perils, will make the program more attractive to consumers and more actuarially sound.

The Flood Insurance Reform Priorities Act of 2010 is scheduled to be considered by the House Financial Services Committee next week

Agriculture Livestock Information Network (A.L.I.N.) theft awareness program

2010-04-20T08:33:00.000-05:00

Below is a cut and paste from an information page sent to me upon my registration with the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office (Kansas) in it's A.L.I.N. program -- Agriculture Livestock Information Network. Please take a look and register if you see the benefit. I know in our area in West Central Illinois theft is a huge problem and agricultural theft seems to be a tough nut to crack. I had suggested in my email to Deputy Travis Clinesmith that this program needs to be made nationwide somehow. Please email me back if you know of any other programs that ARE nationwide.

The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office would like to invite you to participate in the Agriculture Livestock Information Network (A.L.I.N). The objective of this program is to efficiently get information regarding stolen farm equipment, construction equipment, livestock, and suspicious activities distributed across Sedgwick and the surrounding counties through an email distribution system. Currently there are over 180 participants across 26 counties in Kansas and it is actively growing.

Once you have been put on the distribution list you will be able to receive emails from A.L.I.N. Anyone can send information toalin@sedgwick.gov but will not receive email notifications until registered.

This program does not take the place of 911. If there is situation that requires law enforcement response call 911. If you have a piece of equipment or livestock stolen or if there is a suspicious character in your area call 911. The next step will then be to email alin@sedgwick.gov. Please be sure to send a detailed email describing what was taken; color, brand, year, identifying marks and other descriptive information. If you are reporting a suspicious character, describe all individuals involved, any vehicle information and what the suspects were doing that caught your attention.

If you are an agricultural producer, rancher, farmers’s cooperative, implement dealer, construction contractor, or any other related field and would like to register for the program or have questions contact the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Community Policing Unit at (316)522-2610 or email alin@sedgwick.gov attention Deputy Travis Clinesmith. Include your name, address, occupation, and the email address you would like to register. There is also a text alert feature that is optional. If you would like to receive text alerts include your cellular number and provider.

Illinois Earthquake

2010-02-10T12:20:00.002-06:00

By now I am sure that you have heard about the 3.8 earthquake that Northern Illinois experienced this morning. Strange, since the earthquakes are supposed to happen in Southern Illinois or better yet, California!

My question to you is...Are you covered on your homeowners (HO) insurance policy if you experience damage from an earthquake?

My guess to the answer is...Probably not. Very few people have bothered to add earthquake coverage to their homeowners coverage. Earthquakes are like flood--loss from either is not "automatically" covered on a homeowners policy. Coverage must be added, either by endorsing the HO policy as in the earthquake, or by having to write a new policy. (flood)

Earthquake coverage is very reasonable at this time. Typically coverage can be added for $200 or less and most homes would be less than $100, although the more quakes we feel and the closer they get to us, the cost will begin to rise. Deductibles are handled differently for earthquake...generally there is a 5% or 10% of the dwelling limit being the deductible instead of a straight dollar amount.

Be sure to check with your agent as to whether or not you are covered.

More information from IRMI... "Standard, unendorsed homeowners policies exclude earthquake losses, but coverage for this peril can typically be endorsed onto the policy. (Note that if explosion or fire ensues due to the earthquake, insurance does apply but only for the ensuing loss.) Coverage is typically limited, though, with high deductibles such as 5 to 25 percent of the dwelling limit and no loss of use coverage. (Note that coverage in California is available only under a stand-alone policy through the California Earthquake Authority.) Some insurers have even stopped writing coverage altogether. Allstate Insurance Company, for example, dropped earthquake coverage in 2006 in every state where allowed by law."

Flood insurance points

2010-02-04T11:10:00.000-06:00

Welcome to my first attempt at a blog. My plan is to focus on current insurance topics that are relevant to our area of the country. I understand that you have many, many sources of information coming at you 24-7 and I will try to make sure that I don't just bombard you.

I would like to briefly mention flood insurance today. Even though, as we heard on Tuesday, we still have 6 more weeks of winter, flood insurance works differently than other types of insurance, and warrants a little PRE-need thought. With flood insurance, there is typically a 30 day waiting period before insurance can be put into effect. So even if you contact me today, it will be 30 days before the policy can be in force.

My point in all of this is that it appears that our recent trend for higher than normal precipitation will continue. It appears that this could be another year with a high potential for flooding. Please also remember that no matter WHERE you are, you are in a FLOOD ZONE. You may have very low potential for flooding, but you still are classified as being in a zone. Low potential means low cost for flood insurance. Some of these policies are literally in the $100 to $200 range for a year to cover your home and contents.

If you have any questions about flood insurance, take an minute and ask. I'll be happy to discuss flood questions, or any other questions that you might have.