Newsletter

Are you one of the people who think you don’t need life insurance? Please think again. Life insurance provides real security for those you care about. Life insurance benefits can provide financial security and resources for your family or loved ones after you are gone. Let’s look at a few of the reasons to consider life insurance:

• Payment on Debt– If you have any outstanding debt (mortgage, credit cards, etc.) at the time of your death, it does not go away. Your estate will still be responsible to settle all accounts. Life insurance can provide the financial resources to cover debt.

• Continuation of Income- Life insurance can provide the funds to replace your income upon your passing. Family income will certainly diminish with the loss of an income earner, which means your family will experience a lower standard of living. The death benefits of a life insurance policy can prevent this from happening, or at least keep the impact to a minimum, by replacing income lost with the demise of the breadwinner.

• Unpaid Medical Expenses- It is highly likely that you will incur medical expenses prior to your death. Some of which may not be covered by health insurance. Adequate life insurance proceeds ensure that these final expenses are covered.

• Funeral Expenses- Most people don’t plan for, or fund, funeral expenses. Again life insurance is there to help.

The good news is that life insurance rates are low and there are many different kinds of products to select from. One question we often get is, “How much life insurance do I need”? The answer to that depends on your individual situation, but the general guideline is, a life insurance limit of at least ten times your annual gross income is a start. For example, if you earn $50,000 per year, your family would need to replace somewhere close to that amount. A $500,000 life policy could return $45,000 to $50,000 annually, depending on interest rates.

The most cost effective type of policy is term insurance. Term insurance provides protection for a specific, limited amount of time, usually in five-year segments, such as for 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 years. Typically you pay annually and the premium is locked in for that period of time.

Brooks Insurance - Austin, TX. has some excellent affordable plans available, so please email or call us at 512-428-6264 so we can help you plan for the future.

Beyond Insurance… Risk Strategies
Someone once said, “The only thing you can count on is change.” When it comes to insurance buying, that is unmistakably true. Today, people have more ways than ever to secure insurance coverage. However, are they getting the coverage they need? Another true statement is, “The more you have, the more significant risks you have.” 

The combination of change and risk leads us to the understanding that people should be seeking an insurance partner who understands their changing needs in a risky world, rather than being able to secure a low-cost insurance program. People who have a higher net worth should be primarily focused on protecting assets.

If a lawsuit threatens the lifestyle you have created, you want a partner to stand beside you. You need personal liability insurance options to safeguard your family and assets in the event of personal claims against you at limits that exceed the liability protections provided by standard policies.

Many individuals have unique risks which can include:

• A second home
• Farm or rental income
• In-home business
• High valued homes
• Watercraft
• Foreign travel
• Domestic employees
• Identity theft

You need an insurance partner who can help develop a risk and insurance plan that will manage your risk at a competitive cost.   It’s not business as usual any longer.
 
When Searching for an Insurance Partner, Ask These Questions:

• Does your agent educate you about your risk before trying to sell you a product?
• Is their staff experienced and qualified to manage your needs?
• Is your agent more interested in a relationship as a trusted partner rather than as another insurance client?
• Is your agent committed to work for you rather than for the insurance company?
• Does your agent design a program based on your individual needs and then give you options?
• Does your agent advocate for you through customized analysis of your risk and needs?
• Is your agent committed to leading the claims process to a satisfactory outcome?
• Does your agent have access to sophisticated personal insurance carriers that offer specialty products and personal risk solutions?

Protecting your lifestyle goes way beyond insuring your car or home. Proper insurance has to do with understanding the risks associated with your life and creating a plan to safeguard you and your family’s future. Our society’s way of managing COVID-19 has forever changed the way we work, play, travel, gather information and gather supplies for our daily lives. Many of these changes are just new ways of doing things, however many can create new risks that your current policies do not address completely. Do any of these sound like your new normal?

1. More time buying products and services online from home.
2. Increase use of home networks for business use.
3. Using business owned office equipment at home for your work.
4. Work meetings at personal residences or on-line.
5. Connecting to open networks for work purposes at restaurants or other places.
6. Use of personal vehicles to and from client’s offices.
7. Use of personal vehicles for delivery jobs.
8. The storage and use of paper documents for work at your home residence.

All these issues and others create a need for a conversation with your agent.  Policies are changing to accommodate some needs on a temporary basis while other do not. The best risk management program is a combination of a strong relationship with a well-educated agency that can place and maintain your coverage with excellent insurers at a competitive price. It’s not just getting a few of the above items, it’s about achieving the right balance to get all parts working for you and your family.  
 

Do you need insurance for your boat, RV, motorcycle, or ATV?

Regardless of whether you are relaxing on your boat at the lake, traveling through the Rocky Mountains, camping with friends and family, or enjoying the open road on the bike of your dreams; you need to take the proper steps to protect what you have worked so hard to enjoy.

All these activities need personal insurance to protect you against damage and other claims. Generally, we have found that we can get better coverage and pricing when we use our specialty carriers. For example, watercraft insurance has pollution coverage for fuel spills, coverage for injured water-skiers, and on-water towing coverage that homeowner’s insurance won’t provide.

RV Insurance
RV insurance rates differ from company to company, so it really pays to have us shop your insurance. Some markets offer better rates for trucks, RV’s, and campers, while others can offer better rates for motorcycles. To properly insure your RV, you may need liability, collision, comprehensive, uninsured motorist, medical payment, and towing coverage.

Motorcycle Insurance
All motorcycles on the road are required by law to have motorcycle insurance. Motorcycle insurance protects a motorcycle and its owner in the event of a loss. You may need to consider special coverage. Custom parts and equipment (ACPE)/Accessory coverage can be purchased for motorcycles less than 25 years old. You may spend thousands of dollars customizing your bike and that is why you need custom motorcycle insurance.

Boat/Watercraft Insurance
Your boat will need boat insurance for liability and damage to the hull and personal property. Boat insurance can include physical damage coverage, medical payments, liability, and trailer coverage.

ATV Insurance
ATV insurance is similar to motorcycle insurance. We can combine motorcycle coverage and ATV insurance into one policy for multi-vehicle discounts. We offer additional ATV coverage for damage to custom equipment that you’ve added to your ATV.

Why Work With Our Insurance Agency?

• We know and understand your risks
• We are a full service independent insurance agency
• Our goal is to provide the best possible combination, of coverage, price and service

Every spring, North Americans gear up their grill, stock up on the meat, and prepare for many mouth-watering barbecues. But how much do we really know about the art of barbecuing? From the familiar pastime's origins to surprising tips and tactics, this list will provide you with all the information you need to wow your friends at the next neighborhood barbecue!

1. Barbecues originated in pig-pickings, feasts that were common in the Southern United States prior to the Civil War. Whole pigs were cooked and eaten by the crowd.
2. Smoking was used as far as 6000 years ago in order to make meats safe to eat and store. The meat was exposed to smoke and low heat in order to prevent bacteria and enzymes from growing.
3. In Australia, a barbecue is commonly referred to as a barbie. The famous statement Ill slip an extra shrimp on the barbie for you, which appeared in Australian tourism advertisements, is often used to refer to the country.
4. What most North Americans partake in today isn't actually barbecuing. Barbecuing is cooking at temperatures around the boiling point of water (180-220*F) for a longer time period, in order to make the meat tender while preserving its natural juices. Today, the method most commonly used is, in fact, broiling: cooking at 475-700*F in much less time.
5. According to the Barbecue Industry Association, half of all marshmallows eaten in the U.S. have been toasted over a grill.
6. For an easy way to check how much propane you have left, bring your bathroom scale outside and weigh the gas tank.
7. The origin of the word barbecue is unclear. Some believe it came from the American-Indian word barbacoa for a wood on which foods were cooked. Others say it came from the French words de barbe queue, meaning whiskers to tail.
8. To add a smokey flavor to your gas-grill-cooked foods or foods cooked inside the house, use liquid smoke. A condensation of actual smoke, this product can be easily added to your barbecue marinade or sauce.

9) Brisket, the extremely hard cut of meat taken from a cow's chest, takes one to two hours per pound to barbecue. That's an average 12 hours on the grill for a basic 8-pound piece!
10) Kansas City, Missouri, Texas, and Lexington, North Carolina, all claim to be the barbecue capitals of the world. Memphis, meanwhile, stakes a claim to being the pork barbecue capital.
Now you're set to impress!

All of us at Brooks Insurance - Austin, TX. thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve you. Happy BBQ'ing!

An Auto Insurance Update
2020 is here, and as part of your financial planning, you should update and review your auto insurance. When it comes to purchasing auto insurance, having options can be a very important way to save money. Putting money back in your pocket is one of our primary goals. We know and understand the auto insurance market. This allows us to provide you with the best possible combination of pricing, coverage, and service. 
Auto insurance rates differ from company to company, so it really pays to have us shop your insurance. Some markets offer better rates for trucks, RV’s, and campers, while others can offer better rates for motorcycles.

Increase Your Deductible
The difference between a $250 deductible and a $500 deductible is usually quite substantial, and the difference between a $250 deductible and a $1,000 deductible, even more so.

Young Drivers Need to Get Good Grades
If you have teen drivers, you are going to pay a higher premium. Some companies have good student discounts for students with a grade point average of 3.0 or better.  When the young driver reaches 21, the rates begin to drop with most companies.

Choose a Car That Costs Less to Insure
If you are purchasing a new car and have narrowed it down to two or three options compare the auto insurance rates of each to see if there is a notable difference in the cost to insure.

Be a Safe Driver
If your driving record is filled with accidents and speeding tickets, chances are you will pay a lot more for insurance. This is why one of your main goals should be staying out of accidents and off of law enforcement’s radar.

Senior Citizen Discounts
Most companies have discounts for people aged 55 and older who are retired or work less than 20 hours a week. There are mature driving courses that can also give the senior citizen a discount.

Multi-Policy Discount 
This discount is available when you insure both your auto and home with the same insurance company.

Let Us Shop Your Auto Insurance
The best way to save on your auto insurance is to have our professional staff shop for the best possible combination of coverage, price, and service. 

Pay in Advance
Most companies will offer discounts if you pay 100% of the premium upfront.