Purchasing Auto Insurance

Purchasing auto insurance shouldn’t be a difficult decision. Your personal Farmers agent will help you understand the ins-and-outs of auto insurance so you can choose the right type of coverage for your needs. Remember, there is more to insurance than just price.

Tips for Keeping Your Identity Safe

If you’re Holiday shopping, you can reduce your chances having your identity stolen by using simple preventative measures the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) recently published.

“The hustle and bustle of the holidays creates the perfect opportunity for thieves bent on stealing your credit cards or other financial information,” said Jeanne M. Salvatore, senior vice president and consumer spokesperson for the I.I.I. “Shoppers are tired, stores are crowded and it’s easy to become less guarded about personal information that appears on personal checks, drivers licenses and credit cards.”

If someone is able to get your personal information, he or she could impersonate you, steal from your bank accounts, open credit accounts in your name, and more.

That’s exactly why I offer Farmers Identity Shield coverage. Call me to learn more and apply.


Source: "Holiday Shopping Season Has Begun; Protect Your Identity and Your Credit." http://www.iii.org/Press_Releases/Black-Friday-Can-Put-You-In-the-Red-Protect-Your-Identity-and-Your-Credit.html

Water Damage: What’s Covered; What’s Not

Water damage is one of the most common and costly disasters affecting U.S. residences, accounting for billions of dollars in losses to homeowners and renters annually. However, consumers can protect themselves with the right amount and type of insurance coverage, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I).

Nationally, in 2007, water damage (including frozen, burst pipes) accounted for about 22 percent of all homeowners insurance claims. The average claim was for $5,531.

ACV vs. Replacement Cost

When determining the value of property, an insurance company can use a variety of criteria. It’s important to know these differences or get clarification from your agent.

Actual cash value (ACV) how much something costs at the time of a loss minus physical depreciation. Everything gets worn down over time, so actual cash value lacks the "used up" value of the property.

Replacement cost is what you’d have to pay to replace something that was damaged, but with new material. You’ll want the same kind and quality of material you had before. This way, if the material was old or in bad condition, you are not penalized. You’re just insuring your property for what it would cost if you were building it for the first time today.

There’s also market value, but it’s not as common. Contact me if you’d like to know more.

Why Life*? The Tara Newby Story

A simple mention of Life* insurance from agent Jerry Braun is helping Tara continue to provide for her family after her husband’s tragic death.  Hear Tara Newby describe her experience and how her Farmers agent helped her family prepare for the unexpected.

California homeowner? Shop for Home insurance Here

I’m a neighbor who knows your insurance needs and how to fulfill them, because they’re my needs too.

You would trust a neighbor to give you good advice more than someone from across the country.   Right?  So why call a 1-800 number that connects you to someone with no knowledge of your community?  You and your family can benefit from my familiarity of California communities like your own.

Teens Driving You Nuts?

"Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 15- to 20-year olds. Immaturity and lack of driving experience are the two main factors leading to the high crash rate among teens. Teens lack of experience affects their recognition of and response to hazardous situations and results in dangerous practices such as speeding and tailgating."

Since we already know how stressful the Holidays are, be sure to properly educate your child on vehicle safety. Then make sure to contact me and ask about discounts for teen drivers and students.