Amazing Customer Service?? Of course we have it!

At April Schaffroth's Farmers Insurance Agency; we promise you will LOVE the customer service from our agency because our agency LOVES our customers!


Along with our competitive rates; we offer a Professional (& pretty) staff, Hot Coffee, Friendly Annual Reviews, Balloons/Gift Baskets and so much more.  As the Insurance Dialogue states on new the focus of Insurance Industry: 
The Insurance Industry Adapts to the New Age of Customer Experience
As featured in the American Bankers and Insurance Association September Newsletter
The insurance industry has discovered in today's multi-tasking, multi-device world, customers want to resolve their issues on the go, via their mobile or tablet device, and in between text messages. As a result, this industry has evolved its business models to ensure a high-touch, interactive and engaging customer experience.
Consumer Research
An increasing number of consumers are using social media to research their buying decision and insurance is no different. When deciding what insurance carrier to go with, what policy is best, and whether to purchase through a broker or an agency, consumers will turn to the internet and social media channels to do their research. They will leverage complaint forums, consumer review sites, read blog posts, and most importantly ask for recommendations from their Facebook friends. At the end of the day, consumers trust peer recommendations more than they trust advertisements.                                     Purchasing Process
Traditionally, brokers and agents market to a defined geographic territory around their brick and mortar office because consumers preferred buying insurance from someone they knew and trusted.  Well, thanks to social media, agents and brokers have expanded their target market by building relationships with consumers online. Many of these relationships have been created through peer recommendations via social networks. When a consumer is in the market for insurance, the first thing they do is research the carrier online by reading reviews or asking their social network. Next they will fill out a couple quotes. 
Lesson Learned
Make sure your website is "socially enabled" with the ability to share, re-tweet, post, or email links to a friend. This is because if friends and family are aware that you're in the market for insurance and they have used your firm in the past, the likelihood of them sharing will be high. Lastly, include all social media addresses on business cards and email signatures; don't assume e-mail is for everyone!                                  Service
Every moment of hold time, hunt and search time and frustration will put customer loyalty to the test. Today's smartphone customers expect on-demand access to phone, web, apps, social media and video. 






Social Media
·  Let policyholders know about catastrophic events or weather approaching, while directing them to help services
· Create and share holiday cards with social media contacts
·   Create boards for each line of business on Pinterest, then pin pictures and articles about the topic, such as tips on taking care of a boat, great places for motorcycle rides
·  Hosting a live Twitter chats to answer insurance related questions
·  When customers are shopping for a car, provide them with crash test ratings and vehicle recall info or allowing them to compare insurance costs by scanning 2 or more VINs
·  Change life beneficiaries
· Provide an accident guide checklist


Give April Schaffroth's Agency a call today at 602-297-5155 to review your coverages!
               www.insuranceinaz.com

Are you sleeping like a baby at night knowing your insurance coverages are in order??

If you are not sleeping like this client, rest assured we can help you with a professional insurance review!


Call April Schaffroth Farmers Insurance Agency at 602-297-5155 today and you will be taking a nap in your break room at lunch.
...


Sleep tight!                                                         As the Flynn Insurance company states:

Do You Have Enough Coverage?

Many people do not examine their auto insurance coverage until they have an accident, at which point, it is often too late. At that time, they may realize that they are underinsured which could leave them susceptible to additional out-of pocket expenses or even lawsuits due to insufficient coverage.

There are numerous considerations to take into account, such as:

• Do you have enough liability coverage to protect yourself from being sued by another party if found to be at-fault in an accident?
• Do you have enough protection to cover yourself and others, who may be traveling in your vehicle, from medical expenses arising from an accident?
• Do you carry sufficient proper coverage to repair your car (and other vehicles) if involved in an accident?
• What level of deductible should you carry for both collision and comprehensive claims on my vehicle(s)?

Are You Overpaying for Your Insurance?

In addition to the various coverage considerations, there are also other factors that make up your auto policy and determine your annual premium. These factors include, but are not limited to, your driving record, the type of vehicle you drive, where you garage your vehicle, and all applicable discounts. 

Antique/Classic Car Insurance



It takes more than age to make it a classic. A collector car isn’t just a way to get around. It’s an investment that will continue to appreciate in coming years. Not all classic or antique cars are used the same, so we will work with you to select the appropriate policy to accommodate coverage needs, miles driven, vehicle age, and vehicle modifications to make sure you have the best policy to meet your needs. Here are some features you should look for when shopping for classic car insurance:

• Agreed Value: This means the provider will pay you the full (agreed to) amount in the event of a covered total loss, less any applicable deductible. This type of coverage is much better than “actual cash value” or “stated value” that you may get with some companies.
• Low Rates: Why pay full-time insurance when you driver your collector car only part-time.
• Coverage Options: Not all collector cars are the same, so we can work with you to determine the right amount of coverage to meet your specific needs.
• Generous Mileage: You’re proud of your collector car, so drive it. Not all insurance companies have a mileage limit, but most collector cars should be driven less than 5,000 annual miles to maintain their value.
• Roadside Assistance: Whether you’re down the street or on a classic rally through the mountains, you’ll want to find coverage that will flatbed your car to the closest qualified repair facility.

www.insuranceinaz.com

Stolen personal property in your car is not covered by auto insurance?!?!

Insurance Question of The Week: Would these items in the trunk be covered under auto insurance if they were stolen? If you answer yes; we need to talk.


Valuables stolen from your vehicle by forced entry, are ONLY covered under your Home or Renters insurance. As opposingview.com states:

Comprehensive Insurance
Items stolen out of your car fall under the comprehensive coverage portion of your auto insurance. The good news is comprehensive insurance covers damage to your car in the event of a break-in. So, things like a broken window, damaged glove box and jimmied lock are covered. The bad news is even if you have comprehensive coverage, auto insurance policies typically don’t cover personal belongings stolen from your car — the things you left on the seat, in the trunk or in the glove compartment. In this case, that would include the laptop and the gym bag.
Bolted Means Covered
If the item stolen is a permanent part of your car, like a steering wheel or rear-view mirror, it is covered against theft. The same goes for items that are “bolted” into the car, like the stereo or GPS system that came installed in the vehicle directly from the factory. If you have added custom parts to your car that are not meant to be removed, such as speakers inside the car doors to amp up that factory stereo system, they are covered too.
Removable Means Not Covered
The rules on coverage get a little hazier when it comes to items added to your car that can be removed. If you installed a stereo that can be popped in and out, for example, and it’s stolen, typically it won’t be covered by your car insurance. The same goes for portable GPS units and CD or DVD systems that can be removed completely from the car.
Try Homeowner’s Insurance
Having a computer, stereo system or GPS device stolen can be a big financial blow. But not all is lost. If your auto insurance doesn’t cover the theft, there’s a chance that your homeowner’s policy might. Instead of “replacement value” for your lost property -- a new GPS to replace the stolen guidance necessity -- most homeowner’s policies pay “actual cash value,” which means the amount you paid for the item minus depreciation. So, if your GPS system cost $400 but you bought it two years ago, you will probably receive less than half of that amount, and don’t forget that you’ll have to pay your deductible too.
Proof of Loss Required
When it comes to getting reimbursed for stolen items from your insurance company -- auto or homeowner's -- the key is to have your paperwork in order. First, you must provide proof of loss by filing a police report. Second, you need some kind of receipt showing how much you paid for the stolen item. If you can’t find the receipt, try going back to the store or visiting the website where you made your purchase. In many cases, you’ll be able to quickly and easily print a copy of the receipt and be on your way to replacing the item without too much money coming out of your pocket -- hopefully. After all, the car break-in was bad enough.



Give April Schaffroth's Farmers Insurance Agency a call at 602-297-5155 to make sure you are properly covered. 


www.insuranceinaz.com

Which driver are you?? The texting driver or the innocent victim?

Which driver are you?? The driver or the innocent victim?


Statistics show that sending or receiving a text takes a driver's eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent of driving the length of a football field while going 55 mph.  


As Wikipedia states: Texting while driving is the act of composing, sending, reading text messages, email, or making other similar use of the web on a mobile phone while operating a motor vehicle. Texting while driving is considered dangerous by many people, including authorities, and in some places has either been outlawed or restricted. A survey of more than 90 teens from more than 26 high schools nationwide conducted nationwide by Liberty Mutual Insurance Group in 2006 showed that 37% of students consider texting to be either "very" or "extremely" distracting. An American Automobile Association study showed that 47% of teens admitted to being distracted behind the wheel because of texting and 40% of American teens say they have been in a car when the driver used a cell phone in a way that put people in danger. A study involving commercial vehicle operators conducted in September 2009 concluded that though incidence of texting within their dataset was low, texting while driving increased the risk of accident  significantly.



Texting has become a social norm since the year 2000 because of the popularity of smartphones, which allow people to communicate faster and easier.^[3] There have been many studies that have linked texting while driving to be the cause of life-threatening accidents due to driver distraction. The International Telecommunication Union states that “texting, making calls, and other interaction with in-vehicle information and communication systems while driving is a serious source of driver distraction and increases the risk of traffic accidents”.^[3]


A 2010 experiment with Car and Driver magazine editor Eddie Alterman, which took place at a deserted air strip, showed that texting while driving had a worse impact on safety than if you were driving while intoxicated. While legally drunk, Alterman's stopping distance from 70 mph increased by 4 feet; by contrast, reading an e-mail added 36 feet, and sending a text added 70 feet.^[4] 
Our agency can help protect your insurance needs with the proper protection for your family.  Give us a call at 602-297-5155 to do a review of your insurance.







www.insuranceinaz.com

The most important gift to your family.... Life Insurance

The perfect gift comes in many sized packages but not always from Santa Claus. 

THE most important gift to your family and loved ones is Life Insurance.

Joe Lucey from marketwatch.com; shares some tips:

Hot holiday gift: 5 reasons to buy life insurance

Life Insurance should be a trendy gift this holiday season.
Black Friday often creates "must haves," such as Cabbage Patch Dolls, Beanie Babies, or Tickle Me Elmo. No doubt, this year will prove no different. But as you’re checking your list, and checking it twice, pause for a moment and realize that maybe the greatest gift for your financial health could be missed by an oversight. While often ignored, a life insurance policy should be poised to make a comeback and become a favorite for retirees this holiday season.

So before your turkey tryptophan high wears off, here are five reasons to consider adding life insurance to your year-end holiday list:

1) Door buster pricing.
Current premiums offered on life insurance policies issued this year will be lower for most families compared to waiting until next year. Increased premiums are scheduled, effecting many new policies issued with "No-Lapse" guarantees as the affects of new regulations and low interest rates will increase the costs for most carriers.

2) Tax-free assets are more valuable in periods of rising taxation.
Life insurance may very well be the single biggest benefit in the IRS rules to plan for higher taxes. Our national economy is broke and focusing on the potential levels of future tax rate increases makes life insurance even more attractive.
Too many retirees look at life insurance as a financial tool only to be used after death. Contrarily, permanent life insurance is often designed to offer tax-free savings which can be used during the life of the insured as well. Taxes from retirement accounts both during your lifetime, and after your passing, are likely the largest expense of many retirees. Now is a good time to take advantage of the current low-tax environment.

3) Estate taxes are likely returning for the middle class and could make life insurance trendy again.
Some can hope that fiscal cliff predictions are over stated; but, it is unlikely that a congressional compromise will keep all the current tax rates intact for everyone. I'm betting, that the current $5.12 million estate tax exclusion will soon meet the same demise as 1980s leg warmers and disappear into extinction.
This predicament offers what may be the last great wealth transfer opportunity of our generation. If not addressed by year-end, many retirees, who for the last decade have been able to avoid planning for death taxes, will find themselves exposed. Life insurance dollars offer leveraged benefits which can be used to provide enough liquid assets to cover the estate taxes due.

4) Your spouse will likely need income replacement should you not make it home tomorrow.
You or your spouse's death will result in a loss of a social security check and often a reduction in pension payments for the survivor. Create a spousal income continuation plan which is protected from market volatility by using life insurance.

5) Newer policies can protect your family from longevity.
Many retirees underestimate financial concerns with living too long and the effects of long-term care expenses on an otherwise well designed retirement plan. Long-term care expenses routinely exceed $10,000 per month. Often we hear that families are "self-insured" with retirement assets which can be liquidated to supplement additional health-care expenses. Consider the tax consequences of taking these kinds of funds from a retirement account. Also, consider the potential depletion should the market not cooperate while these expenses are needed. Many life insurance companies have policies which will provide premature liquidity from the death benefits for additional long-term care needs which can greatly reduce the stress on a portfolio, and the family.
A true wealth management approach encompasses tax, income, and estate planning in coordination with investments and insurance advice to provide solid benefits and allow families the ability to retire in confidence. A retiree should demand more from financial professionals than mere investment decisions which focus solely on which stock, bond, mutual fund, REIT, or annuity you should purchase. Demand a comprehensive planning approach from your advisers.
If you are deciding whether you should take a new look at life insurance this year, you may want to hurry up. Like most holiday sales, the price of insurance will be higher after the year’s end!

Jingle all the way to April Schaffroth's Farmers Insurance Agency at 602-297-5155 to finish your holiday shopping.

www.insuranceinaz.com

Families need a Will not a Bill

Don't let time run out!!! 
If you or your loved one passed away yesterday; would all of the important things in your L.I.F.E. be covered?








Loans, Income Replacement, Final Expenses, Education?

As lifehappens.org mentions: It’s a subject no one really wants to think about. But if someone depends on you financially, it’s one you cannot avoid. In the event of a tragedy, life insurance proceeds can:

• Pay for funeral costs
• Help pay the bills and meet ongoing living expenses
• Pay off outstanding debt, including credit cards and the mortgage
• Continue a family business
• Finance future needs like your children’s education
• Protect a spouse’s retirement plans 

In our Agency we focus on offering life insurance to all our clients and informing them of their options. Most clients I speak with have never had anyone approach them about life insurance.  Even most Business Owners I work with do not have a Business Continuation plan for themselves in case something were to happen to them or even their key employee.

There are many types of life insurance, but at the bottom line they are all the same; they pay cash to your family after you die allowing them to remain financially secure.  One of the most important facts about life insurance is the death benefit is almost never subject to federal income taxes.

There are many kinds of life insurance, but they generally fall into two categories: term insurance and permanent insurance.

Term insurance, the most affordable type of insurance when initially purchased, is designed to meet temporary needs. It provides protection for a specific period of time (the “term”) and generally pays a benefit only if you die during that term. This type of insurance often makes sense when you have a need for coverage that will disappear at a specific point in time. For instance, you may decide that you only need coverage until your children graduate from college or a particular debt is paid off, such as your mortgage.

Permanent insurance, by contrast, provides lifelong protection. As long as you pay the premiums and no loans, withdrawals, or surrenders are taken, the full amount will be paid. Because it is designed to last a lifetime, permanent life insurance accumulates cash value and is priced for you to keep it over a long period of time. It’s impossible to say which type of life insurance is better because the kind of coverage that’s right for you depends on your unique circumstances and financial goals. Often, a combination of term and permanent insurance is the right solution.

Regardless of your reason to buy life insurance; do it today! Call us at April Schaffroth Farmers Insurance 602-297-5155 to get started.
It's better to leave behind a WILL than a BILL


www.insuranceinaz.com

April Schaffroth's Farmers Insurance Agency = 5 Times the FUN!

Is this covered?? Well...you aren't seeing double but you are seeing both the April Schaffroth and Stephanie Schaffroth Agency. 

When you come to our office you get TWO times the Agents and FIVE times the fun!




As identical twins we know how to share. As Farmers Insurance Agency Owners we are lucky to share our wonderful team with a combined 96 years of Farmers experience and can handle ALL of your insurance needs. We have a team of 5 extremely talented and seasoned Farmers Insurance professionals that have backgrounds in Customer Service, Business Insurance, Life Insurance and so much more.

We believe in the insurance industry that customer service can make all the difference in your experience with your insurance company.  Our Farmers Insurance Agency prides ourselves on our customer service and we go the extra mile for each and every client. Customer service can be defined as: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. According to Turban et al. (2002),^[1] "Customer service is a series of activities designed to enhance the level of customer satisfaction – that is, the feeling that a product or service has met the customer expectation."
The importance of customer service may vary by product or service, industry and customer. Customer service can also refer to the culture of the organization - the priority the organization assigns to customer service relative to other components, such as product innovation or low price. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than average organization, or proactively interview customers for feedback.

Please call: April Schaffroth's Farmers Insurance Agency at 602-297-5155 today and let the fun begin!

www.insuranceinaz.com