While we’re on the way to there Why not share1

In some families, one spouse is more financially involved than the other and may be more knowledgeable about the subject than the other. No big deal, you might think, but what if something happens to the “financial leader”? Prepare for the unexpected: You may want to consider involving your partner in the family’s financial activities now, during your lifetime. Here are some guidelines that may help you get started:

What to keep and where

• Bank safe or deposit box — car titles, property deeds, business agreements and partnerships, and a detailed home inventory of all valuables including pictures, videos and appraisals of personal property.
• Fire-resistant home safe — a copy of your will and trusts, insurance policies, investment account numbers, passwords, original powers of attorney for healthcare and property (named agents should have copies), and a letter explaining your final wishes.
• Home filing system — whether in hard copy or e-versions, keep three years of statements for insurance payments, bank accounts, investment and retirement accounts, credit cards, mortgages and tax returns.
• Attorney’s office — signed and witnessed trust documents and copies of powers of attorney and your will.

Who to call
Make sure your loved ones know where to find detailed contact information for your professional advisors including your accountant, attorney, banker, financial advisor and me, your insurance agent. If appropriate also include healthcare provider contact information for your children and perhaps even your pets.

Sharing is caring; share now
Should something happen to you, help provide a smoother transition by introducing your spouse to trusted advisors now, during your lifetime. Get your spouse involved in the family’s finances now as well — this may provide some comfort and reassurance for everyone involved.

You can also make sure you have the life insurance coverage you want to help provide necessary funds for your spouse and family should a crisis occur. Call me today.

¹ “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother,” Hollies, MetroLyrics.com

Life insurance issued by Farmers New World Life Insurance Company, Mercer Island, WA 98040.

1012-P

One size fits all? Not really

Know the problem with a “one size fits all” approach? It doesn’t. Today’s “family portrait” has almost infinite variety. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 16 percent (11.7 million) of all children live in blended families. Only 20 percent of the households are traditional families — married couples with children — down from 43 percent in 1950.1 Which means one size won’t fit all. Whatever your “family portrait,” when it comes to financial security, many families need that most traditional of financial products: life insurance. And Farmers offers a range of policy types, one of which may be suitable for your family. Help protect what you VALUE most Most of us want our families to enjoy life without the added stress of financial worries, even if we can’t be there. Affordable premiums make term life insurance popular for those whose future needs are growing faster than their current finances. Farmers term life insurance may help you provide for your immediate term life insurance needs, and allow the flexibility to upgrade to a more permanent solution when it’s right for you. Term life insurance policies typically provide a level death benefit, with premiums guaranteed not to increase for 10, 20 or 30 years. Different goals; different solutions  Are you looking for value and lifetime protection? You may be able to get both by combining an affordable term life insurance with a permanent, cash value life insurance policy. While term life insurance may be helpful for larger temporary needs during your working years, a base of permanent, cash-value life insurance may help to provide for lifelong needs such as final expenses, estate planning and a legacy for the ones you love. Multi-line discounts Contact me today for a no-obligation insurance review and ask me about multi-line discounts. When you choose Farmers for your auto or home insurance in addition to your life coverage, you may be eligible for discounts on your auto and home coverage that can potentially make your coverage even more affordable. Let me help you prepare for the unexpected. 1Source: U.S. Census Bureau, “Living Arrangements of Children: 2009”, June 2011. Products and features may not be available in all states and may vary by state. Discounts apply to selected property and casualty coverage’s, perils, and policy types only may vary by state and eligibility. Life insurance issued by Farmers New World Life Insurance Company, Mercer Island, WA 98040. 1012-A

Halloween can be scary And safe

Most children love Halloween — they can’t wait to get dressed in their costumes and “prowl” the neighborhood. But what’s fun for the kids can be scary for the parents — are the kids safe; are their “treats” safe and so on? Below are some tips to help make the festivities fun and safe.

Tips for trick-or-treaters

• Go along — Accompany trick-or-treaters younger than age 12. In case you get separated, pin a piece of paper with your child’s name and your name, address and phone number inside his or her pocket. Encourage older kids to trick-or-treat with a group and make sure someone in the group carries a flashlight with fresh batteries.
• Stay close to home — Don’t allow your child to go door to door in an unfamiliar neighborhood.
• Set ground rules — If your child will be trick-or-treating without you, establish a route and set a curfew; review safety rules and make sure your child knows to never go inside anyone’s home. You may want to give your child a cell phone for the evening, in case he or she needs to contact you.
• Inspect carefully — Feed your child a healthy snack before he or she heads out. Upon return, carefully inspect all treats before they’re consumed. Discard all choking hazards and anything that’s not sealed, has torn packaging or looks questionable.

Be sweet on the home front
You may want to consider a trick-or-treat party with a couple of neighbors instead of house-to-house door knocking. You can decorate the garage, have a costume contest, and plan games and prizes.

If you’re expecting trick-or-treaters, make sure you’re ready:

• Clean up — Look for and remove all tripping hazards such as garden hoses, toys, bikes and lawn decorations. Clear away wet leaves, snow or other debris from the sidewalk.
• Light up your area — Replace any burnt out bulbs to ensure good visibility around the walkway and your front door.
• Control your pets— Pets may become frightened by the unusual activity and might chase or even bite a child at your door, so consider restricting pets to another area of the house.
• Consider non-sugar treats — Instead of candy and baked goods, consider handing out stickers, glittery pencils, rubber insects or colored chalk.

Goblin or ghoul, vampire or witch 
Halloween festivities are lots of fun and kids typically get excited. If you’ll be driving, be especially careful entering or leaving driveways, and watch for children who might pop out from between parked cars. Kids may also be running in and around your home — while we can’t always prevent the unexpected, we can prepare for it. Call me so you can be sure you have the coverage you want.

Fun facts

• Halloween is a shortening of All Hallows’ Evening and is observed in many parts of the world on October 31, the night before All Saints’ Day.¹
• Ireland is generally believed to be the birthplace of Halloween.²
• One quarter of all candy sold annually in the U.S. is purchased for Halloween.³
• The first Jack O’Lanterns were actually made from turnips.²
• The largest pumpkin ever measured was grown by Norm Craven, who broke the world record in 1993 with a 836 lb. pumpkin.²

¹Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween
²Source: http://facts.randomhistory.com/halloween-facts.html
³Source: http://www.history.com/topics/halloween

Did you know that … There’s help when you need it

Just a click away with the Farmers iClaims mobile device app — you’re never far away fromHelpPoint^® Claim Services. Reporting a Farmers claim, documenting the details of a claim or accident, finding Farmers preferred rental car vendors and more can be done conveniently from your mobile device. And it’s FREE!

• How to access — Link to the iClaims app from your smartphone by clicking here. It’s that simple and no computer is required.
• Many channels — iPhone, Blackberry, Android — there’s an app for that.
• Many purposes — Check out some of the functions of the Farmers iClaims app:
• Connect with Farmers HelpPoint Claim Services with a simple shake of your phone and instantly report your claim electronically. A HelpPoint Claim Services professional will contact you to complete the process.   
• Collect and store accident photos, driver and vehicle information; email them to me or a claims representative for faster claims processing.
• Find Farmers vendors and services including auto repair facilities and car rental services.
• Store a photo inventory of your home; homeowners can photograph property damage, and then email the photos to a claim representative.
• Receive alerts when severe weather or a catastrophe is threatening.

And you can store my contact information so that you’re just a click away from contacting me for immediate service.

Check it out for yourself 
Share this with friends and family — they too, can benefit from the new Farmers iClaims application whether or not they’re a Farmers customer. Help has never been closer.

Don’t Text and Drive

By now, everybody knows that cell phones and/or texting while driving can be a deadly distraction — right? Apparently not: Studies show that distracted driving is still a serious threat on the nation’s roads, and teens are the most at risk, because they tend to engage in this behavior more often than adult drivers.¹

‘Big brother’ may help 
But if technology is the villain, it also may be the answer, giving you ways to help stop your teen from texting while driving. Below is a sampling of downloadable apps and computer programs that may help prevent dangerous texting and driving. They vary in benefits and features. For instance, some allow the passenger complete access to his or her cell phone; some do not. Some involve set-up fees and ongoing monthly charges; others are free:

• iZUP — Holds texts, emails and phone calls while driving. Calls are sent to voice mail and text messages are delivered when the vehicle comes to a stop. Allows 911 calls and whitelisted or preapproved numbers.
• Textecution™ — Disables texting functions while driving. If your teen driver tries to disable or uninstall the application, you’re notified.
• StopTxting^® — A free, downloadable application for Android phones that prevents the sending or reading of texts or emails when vehicle is in motion.
• tXtBlocker™ — Stops texting while driving and allows you to set up “No Cell Zones” that limit cell phone use based on specific locations and times.
• Cellcontrol — Stops texting, emailing, Web surfing, gaming and even distracting phone calls whenever the vehicle is in motion. You are in control of what your teen driver can and cannot do while driving.

Take control
Software programs may help but in the end parents must take control. Talk to your teens about the dangers of driving distracted; set the rules and consequences for breaking them; and lead by example. Call me so you can be sure you have the coverage you want should an accident happen.

Note: Mention of any company name or product does not constitute an endorsement by Farmers Insurance Group, any of its affiliates or agents.

¹Source: http://www.distraction.gov

Understanding your auto coverage options may save you some green

Want to make sure you’re getting the auto insurance you want at a competitive rate? Contact me today — as a consumer it’s important to educate yourself about all of your coverage options. By asking me questions, you can make sure you have the coverage you want. You can also check on available discounts that may save you money.
To help consumers understand auto insurance and learn how they may be able to save some money, the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) offers the following suggestions:

• Before buying a car, check out insurance costs — Some cars are more costly to insure than others so check with me before you buy your next vehicle. Some factors to consider include the likelihood of theft, the cost of the car, the cost of repairs, and the overall safety record of the car. Vehicles with high quality safety equipment may qualify for premium discounts.
• Consider increasing your deductible — By requesting a higher deductible — the portion you pay before your insurance coverage kicks in — you can typically lower your premium. For example, you may consider going from a $500 deductible to a $1,000 deductible. But before you do, make sure you have the funds set aside to cover your portion in case you have a claim.
• Consider reducing coverage on older vehicles — You may want to consider dropping collision and/or comprehensive coverages on older cars as it may no longer be cost effective. Auto dealers and banks can tell you the value of older cars or you can look it up online at Kelley Blue Book. Call me and we can review your coverage so you can make sure your insurance needs haven’t changed.

Save more green
If you have multiple coverages with Farmers, you may be eligible for a discount. For example, if you have auto and homeowners coverage through Farmers, you may qualify for a discount on both coverages. Let’s see if you qualify for a discount. Call me today.

Discounts apply to selected coverages, perils and policy types. Eligibility and actual percentage of discounts may vary.

The difficult discussion?
The important discussion!

According to LIMRA’s 2010 Life Insurance Ownership Study, a study that’s conducted every six years, many U.S. households are underinsured:

• Only 44 percent of U.S. households have individual life insurance.
• Half of U.S. households (58 million) say they need more life insurance.
• Among households with children under age 18, arguably those with the greatest need for life insurance, 11 million have no life insurance coverage.

Many families find life insurance a difficult subject to discuss, so they avoid it. Perhaps discussing the possibility of a spouse’s unexpected death is uncomfortable, but talking about life insurance is critical to the whole family. Here are some tips that may help you start the discussion and keep it on track:

• Talk before you’re in a financial crisis — Pick a time when you are both relaxed and keep it positive. Try to discuss it as you would any other family issue or aspect of your financial planning.
• Make a plan or revise your existing plan — Incorporate life insurance into your overall financial strategy — in fact, you may want to consider making it a primary component.  
• Set a monthly budget — Determine what you can afford and call me. I can work with you so you can determine a realistic strategy that you can stick to.

Although the subject may be difficult or awkward, talking about life insurance may be one of the most important discussions to have. And call me to learn more about the life insurance options that may help protect your family’s future.

Life insurance issued by Farmers New World Life Insurance Company, Mercer Island, WA 98040