Have you seen a sign like this??

Have you ever seen a sign like this? We have and we don't like it!!! Don't let this happen to your family and friends. You should not want your friends and family to have a car wash, set up a gofundme.com account or any sort of fund raiser after you pass to pay for the unexpected costs without life insurance to help.


You would be surprised how little it costs for life insurance to avoid this.  An article on fatwallet.com shares about the unexpected costs that can occur.


Immediate Expenses: In our spending culture, few families have saved thousands of dollars that rest in a savings account for use when the unthinkable happens. Retirement accounts, stocks and bonds are investment instruments that are not immediately available. In the event of a loved one passing away, the surviving family members will have immediate expenses that must be covered within the first 30 days. Funeral expenses – Costs associated with transporting a body, burial and funeral services can exceed $10,000. No one wants to settle for a simple memorial service when the person means so much to them. And so the family should not be burdened with years of debt because these costs were unaffordable. 


Monthly obligations – Bills will continue to arrive from every creditor. Credit card fees will mount quickly if the survivors are left with no money to pay the bills. And the phone calls to creditors will only delay the costs for a short time if the survivor remembers to address the situation. 



Family needs – Children and families have daily needs that require a certain amount of cash on a daily basis usually provided by the earning member. If the diseased happens to the sole earner or the major contributor to family income, the survivor must have sufficient funds to pay school bills, daycare providers and pay for the groceries. A credit card delays the inevitable, which could have been paid with the proceeds from a life insurance policy. Transition Costs Legal expenses arise as the survivor discovers the details that must be addressed to live without the deceased. Large assets cannot remain in the ownership of the person who is no longer living. Attorneys expect full payment of fees to address these significant legal transactions. 


Home ownership – The lender who holds the mortgage will require transfer of the mortgage to the survivor. Life insurance proceeds would have been used to repay the mortgage in full, which would provide housing for the family. Few families are able to remain in the family home following the death of an uninsured wage earner. 


Business ownership – One in five businesses will survive the loss of an owner, or principal. Transition expenses for a business can exceed $1 million. Life insurance coverage on the business owner would be used to acquire expertise and sustain the employees’ salaries until the business could be sold. 


Notifying interested parties – Legal transactions require the survivor to acquire multiple copies of the death certificate. Expenses associated with ownership details can accumulate quickly because of the copies, postage and legal documents that are required. A young surviving spouse will incur financial hardship that could have been avoided with life insurance proceeds. 


September is Life Insurance Awareness month. Call April Schaffroth at Farmers Insurance today at 602-297-5155 or www.insuranceinaz.com

Summer Fun & BBQ Tips from April Schaffroth Farmers Insurance

The BBQ Beauties!                                 If you are having a BBQ for Labor Day: A.Invite us B. We won't share our secret BBQ recipe. C. Follow our safety tips below. D. Share with us what YOU will be grilling this Labor Day 2015.

Not only is grilling safety important; you definitely need to stay safe during the summer.  Check out these wonderful tips from Farmers Insurance.

Tips to protect your home while you are away:

■■ Turn off the water supply to individual fixtures like your washing machine, ice maker, toilets, and sinks. Flooding often occurs when hoses are worn or ruptured, or there is a leak at the connection.
■■ Use storm surge protectors on high-end electronics in case bad weather leads to flooding or fire.

Tips to keep your kids safe by the pool:
■■ Never leave children unsupervised around water, even if they know how to swim.
■■ Enclose the pool on all sides with a self-locking, self-closing fence with vertical bars. Openings in the fence should be no more than four inches wide.

Tips to prevent a grill fire:
■■ Place the grill outdoors and away from the house, deck, overhead branches and anything else that may catch fire. Make sure you also clean and remove any grease or fat buildup on the grill.
■■ If the flame goes out on your propane grill while cooking, turn off the grill and the gas. Wait 15 minutes before you relight to provide time for the propane to dissipate to avoid a gas explosion.

Tips to minimize property damage from a summer storm:
■■ Remove dead or rotting trees and branches that could fall and cause injury or damage.
■■ Keep your home’s gutters clear of debris. Gutters control the water around your home, and when obstructed, water can pool around the edge of the roof and foundation causing flooding and roof leaks.

Tips to protect you from being a victim of theft:
■■Have a security plan for when you are on vacation. Ask a trusted neighbor to pick up mail, move vehicles, etc.
■■Don’t post your travel plans online, many thieves use social networking sites to monitor when homeowners are out of town.

Call April Schaffroth for the invite or to review your policies!

602-297-5155 

www.insuranceinaz.com. 

Are you covered, really covered??

This AZ heat makes us want to cover up to stay warm :) 

Are you covered...really covered when it comes to insurance? Most drivers in Arizona believer their auto coverage is more than enough; just like the size of a King size sheet.  

                             You never want to find out after you have a claim that you have the Tea Towel instead of a King size sheet.

There is a great site from easurance.com that talks about what "Full Coverage means: 

What is “full coverage”?

"Full coverage" isn't a coverage in itself. It's a phrase generally used to designate a number of coverages that provide a good amount of protection: specifically liability, comprehensive, and collision coverages.
Liability helps pay for damage you cause in an at-fault accident, while comprehensive and collision can help repair damage to your car (or replace it altogether).
It's a robust package of protection, yes — but it might not provide all the protection you need. And that's why "full coverage" can be misleading.

what “Full coverage” doesn’t include

Car insurance companies offer a bunch of coverage types that fall outside the domain of "full coverage," and many are worth considering.

• Medical payments coverage — This coverage can help pay post-accident medical expenses for you and your passengers regardless of fault, and it can also step in if you exceed your health insurance limits.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) — UM/UIM coverage helps pay for bills that the other driver's policy should have taken care of, but can't because of that driver's low coverage limits or lack of coverage altogether.
• Emergency road service coverage (aka roadside assistance or towing and labor) — A handy coverage to have if you're not a whiz with a jack and a wrench or just need to get a wrecked car to the shop.
• Customized parts and equipment coverage — If you're the kind of driver who likes a custom sound system and chrome rims, "full coverage" won't help you replace or repair them after an accident — but this coverage can.
• Rental car coverage — This can reimburse your rental car expenses after a covered accident.
• Gap coverage (aka auto loan/lease coverage) — If you've financed your car, gap coverage exists to help you pay off your auto loan if your car's totaled when you still owe more than it's worth.                                                                                                                                                                       
  

“Full coverage” is really more like “very good coverage”

Though full coverage provides a good amount of protection in terms of liability and the well-being of your car, it doesn't mean that you won't have to pay anything out of pocket after an accident.
If you opt for a "full coverage" policy, you'll be covered up to the limits you select. If damage exceeds your liability limits, you could be legally liable for the difference (a good argument for higher limits).
Keep in mind, too, that any time your comprehensive or collision coverage kicks in, you'll also need to pay the deductible.

Tell us below if your auto coverage is a #1 Tea Towel; #2 Beach Towel; #3 Blanket or #4 King Size Sheet.

Don't wait for an accident to find out how much coverage you really do have. If you aren't sure, call April Schaffroth Farmers 602-295-5155  

www.insuranceinaz.com 

Relocation Resource?? You bet!

Look who made the big time! Check out my ad in the "Valley of the Sun Relocation Guide" page 82.
The Valley of the Sun Relocation Guide prints times a year and provides fantastic resources for individuals and families considering moving to Phoenix, Arizona.                                                                                   If you are interested in moving to Arizona and changing your insurance needs; please give us a call at 602-297-5155.  Our website: www.insuranceinaz.com.

Family members with 4 legs?? Farmers Insurance loves to insure homes with all dog breeds!

Everyone remembers their first dog. We know they are as much a part of your family as the ones with two legs.                                                                             Whether you have a Yorkie or a Pit Bull the good news is Farmers Insurance loves all breeds. Call April Schaffroth at Farmers Agency to make sure you and your family (dogs too) have enough coverage in the right place.                                                                                                                 WHETHER YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A PET OWNER OR A
“PET PARENT”, FARMERS CAN HELP YOU PLAN FOR ALL MEMBERS
OF YOUR FAMILY, INCLUDING YOUR DOG AND CAT.
Benefits of pet insurance from Farmers and Pets Best* include:
„„More coverage options than competitors with preventative plans that cover routine check-ups and teeth cleanings
„„ Fewer unexpected out-of-pocket expenses related to surgery, emergency visits, behavioral conditions and more
„„ Straightforward and timely reimbursement calculated from the actual vet bill; not a complicated benefit schedule
„„ Sensible enrollment practices that allow you to enroll your pet at any age without the hassle of a pre-enrollment exam
„„ Knowledgeable experts who handle claims within two to five days
„„ Flexible policies that start at $16 a month and allow you to keep your current vet
To receive a 5% discount on pet insurance provided by Farmers and Pets Best,
go to Farmers.com/petinsurance. Call April at 602-297-5155 to take care of your 4 legged family members.
www.insuranceinaz.com

In the dark about your insurance policy??

Do you ever feel in the dark about how your insurance policy works? Let us be your guide!!
The April Schaffroth Farmers Agency would love to shed some light on how your insurance can and should protect you.

From confused.com; buying car insurance is a legal requirement for any vehicle which is kept on the street, on a driveway or in a garage – provided you don’t have permission to keep it uninsured and off the road.
But although cover is mandatory, you do have a choice in the kind of policy you buy. Here are details of the three types of cover available: third-party, third party, fire and theft, and comprehensive.

When you search for a car insurance quote, it could be worth checking the price of each type before making a final decision. The kind of policy you choose could affect the size of the premiums you pay – but make sure you are comfortable with the level of cover you are afforded. If you need to make a claim, buying a lower level of protection could turn out to be a false economy.

The April Schaffroth Farmers Agency would love to shed some light on how your insurance can and should protect you.  Call 602-297-5155 today!

 www.insuranceinaz.com

Who wouldn't want to insure a face like this??

Who wouldn't want to insure a face like this?? Believe it or not, many insurance companies out there won't insure your Home or Renters policy if you own a Pit Bull.                                             WOOF! April Schaffroth at Farmers Insurance can and would love to insure your home with ALL dog breeds; especially Pit Bulls.   The approach to insuring homeowners with dogs varies from city to city and state to state. In Michigan and Pennsylvania, home insurance companies are prohibited by state law from discriminating against certain dog breeds.  Adding to the confusion for those searching for coverage, the decision on whether or not to write a policy to owners of certain breeds can also vary from company to company, and even agent to agent.      


                   


 Refusing to insure families with dogs that look "scary" or have certain stereotypes is horrendous. Perhaps rather than immediately denying a family with a certain breed of dog, companies should have a system where they meet the beloved pet and approve or deny them based on an interaction. Insurance companies may argue that this would cost too much. In just the first six months of 2012, insurance companies made $6.458 billion. They can afford it. A checklist of sorts should be created based on the animal's temperament and vet history and even the family's history of owning pets previously. They should have incentives to lower insurance rates by showing good behavior, keeping up with going to the vet by getting the necessary vaccines and also spaying and neutering.


Call us a 602-297-5155 for a quote today! www.insuranceinaz.com