Do's and Don't's for Father's Day Gifts*

SUNDAY, JUNE 21ST is when Father's Day is this year. Any ideas on what to get good ol' dad this year? A tie? Cologne? 'Best Dad Ever' shirt? Those all sound good me. Father's Day commercials usually have one or all of those displayed as things to get dad. 

To see if that's really what today's dads want, I reached out to 20 of my closest family and friends (that were dads) and took a survey asking them to give me at least 5 things dads DO want for Father’s Day and at least 5 things dads DON’T want for Father’s Day. Some of their requests were very specific with an explanation of why and/or why not they chose the items on their lists. It was comical.

So here you go families.  Here are the DO wants and DON'T wants:

DO’S:

With 2-4 Votes: 
Date Night                                          

Family Time

Round of Golf

Lingerie for Wife                                                                                  

Tools

Golf Gear

Athletic Gear

Grill

Gun

Watch

Events Tickets (sports and concerts)

Ammo

Framed Family Pics

Car Detail

Alone Time (this was the best I could sensor it)

Kids Artwork

Sporting Goods Gift Certificates

Single Votes:

Weekend Getaway

MAN Dinner (NO Diet Restrictions)

Sports Memorabilia

BBQ Items

Massage

I pod

Gun Range Outing                 
Gift Cards

New Gadgets

Cologne

Brisket and Ribs (RAW – for the avid BBQ-er)

10,000 Acre Ranch in South Texas

Sunglasses

Ford F350

Drone 

Bacon

Fishing Gear

Itunes Card

Money

Gift Certificate for a Family Day

Food

Time Alone to do what Dad Wants

Guys Night Out

Chores Free Day                                 

1975 CJ7

  

DON’T’s:

With 16 Votes:

TIE

With 1-6 Votes:

Clothes

Cologne

Gift Cards

Candy

Appliances

Socks

Spa Day (Shocker…)

Yard Stuff

Underwear

Pedicure

Golf Gear

Coffee Mug                                                                               

Bottle of Liquor

Golf Gadgets Sets

Goofy Shirts

Books

Gym Membership

Pinterest Creation

Flowers

Nothing

Jewelry, unless specifically requested…

Date Night and Family Time had the highest votes for DO's and as you can see, by a land slide, Ties were a definite DON'T! There are a few that popped up on both lists but I'm sure we all know the dad we buy for well enough to know if they are a DO or a DON'T for those few items.

Since the reasoning behind some of the answers I got back were pretty comical, I thought I'd share a few with you. Enjoy!

“If anyone had the choice to wear a tie or not, they’d NEVER choose to wear one.  They’re as close to a noose as we get in modern civilization.” – Bob Williams

“Don’t want… A tie, a tie, a tie, a tie, a tie!” – Joe Gonzalez

“Bacon. Nothing says I love you more than really darn good bacon.” –Phil Rice

“Men don’t benefit from cologne. We only wear it for our wives to smell.” – Eddie Kirkwood

“No underwear… Unless it’s lingerie for the wife.” –Anibal Campos

“Father’s Day is the wifey getting a great gift for the husband. I agree with lingerie.” – Greg Espinoza

*“Do’s and Don’t’s for Father’s Day Gifts” was written by Stephanie Espinoza. Though it was posted to hopefully benefit him and all the other dads out there for Father’s Day and he did participate in the survey, Eddie did not write it. J 

Can I Get Life Insurance for Extreme Hobbies?

What sort of hobbies are out there these days? Do people still collect stamps, baseball cards, or coins? What about outdoor hobbies like hang gliding, hot air ballooning, scuba diving, or rock climbing? I guess those could be classified as “Extreme Hobbies” or as Farmers puts it, “Insane Hobbies”.  For the thrill-seeking, adventurous crowd, luck may be on your side, when it comes to your Life insurance that is. There’s a possibility that your policy may cover your hazardous activities.  Be expecting there to be a few exceptions but if you are willing to pay extra for it there may be coverage for a few insane hobbies that life companies can insure.

While these ‘Extreme Hobbies’ are high risk, there are requirements for this coverage and it may be a little difficult to obtain. It all comes down to you. Being responsible, safe, having experience in your ‘craft’, taking known precautions and just being honest with your agent will definitely help in the process. To dig a little deeper, here are 5 extreme hobbies that insurance can cover and what needs to be in place for the possibility of coverage:

1.      Hang Gliding – If it’s just something you can’t live without coverage is possible. Though it may add to your premium, a certification and, of course, experience will help get you coverage.

2.      Hot Air Ballooning – Most insurers don’t have issues with

coverage for Hot Air Ballooners that have a pilot’s license and experience. With the number of accidents in the hot air ballooning category not being very high, your chances are pretty good to get coverage.

3.      Motorcycle Sports – Whether you are riding on a track at crazy speeds or riding to work, expect to pay an extra premium. Motorcycle riding for sport or not, still is dangerous. While wearing a helmet isn't the law, it will help!

4.      Rock Climbing – This is a tough one to cover. If you practice safe climbing with a harness and all the right equipment, there’s a chance of getting you into a Life policy. If you like to go out and climb a rock without a harness, the odds are not forever in your favor.

5.      Scuba Diving – This activity is one of the hardest to get coverage for. That’s not saying you can’t get coverage with this activity on your hobby list. If you have had lessons and preferably, have your certification, getting coverage to be shark bait, I mean, to scuba dive is a possibility.

It’s all about being responsible, taking precautions, and just being safe. It’s also a good idea to have your certification or license, protect yourself with any and all protective gear possible and just honest with your agent.  Tell them up front what your extreme sport is so they know what to look for in the best coverage for you.  If you are able to do all of the above, your agent may be more inclined to taking a risk on you and get you into a life insurance policy. 

Why You Should Choose Farmers

Why should you choose Farmers for your insurance needs? Well... why not? You know the jingle, "We are Farmers! BUM BA DA BUM BUM BUM BUM BUM!"

I know that's not enough of a reason to choose Farmers but that jingle is catchy and I've been trying to figure out a way to fit it into a blog. On a serious note, here is some history of how long Farmers has been around, a few notable firsts, The University of Farmers and a little about a Farmers Friendly Review®. 

Since 1928, Farmers has grown to be one of the largest insurance companies in the United States. With more than 40,000 agents and employees, Farmers continues to thrive and be one of the leaders in the insurance industry. From the beginning, the founders of Farmers, John C. Tyler and Thomas Leavey, set the bar high and are able to claim several “firsts”. Farmers was the first major insurance company to offer a monthly payment plan that wasn't a finance plan nor was interest charged, first to offer a non-smoker discount, first major insurer to offer a discount for alternative-fuel vehicles, just to name a few.

Farmers not only has notable firsts but also has the highest-rated corporate university in the industry, University of Farmers. Agents are given the opportunity to be up to date with continuing education at the beginning and throughout their careers as a Farmers agent. The University of Farmers provides agents with the knowledge and skills needed to help educate our current and future clients with the information needed to select the best coverage at the best price.

Another reason to consider Farmers is for the Farmers Friendly Review®.  At any time, if you want to review any of your policies, you can give us a call and I will be happy to review them with you. Farmers also sends out a reminder for a review of your policies, once a year.  At this time we can see if what you have is still what you need or if they need to be changed up. With Farmers, customers have the personal service of an actual Farmers agent. 

Having the right insurance is NO accident. Choosing Farmers is NO accident, either. So come on in, enjoy a cookie and a beverage, and we can talk more about why Farmers is the best choice for you. Who can turn down cookies and a beverage? 

I'm On A Boat!

Summer will be here in no time.  I’m sure we will all be searching for fun places to cool down because Texas summers are typically VERY HOT. So hot that most of the time I don’t want to go outside.  If you have kids, you know that they are going to get bored fast so staying inside usually isn’t an option.

So what are some fun activities that can be done outside without fear of melting in the Texas heat? Swimming, waterparks, slip and slides, or even just spraying your kids down with a water hose are some of the ideas that I can think of. Just remember… If you are spraying your kids down with a water hose, let the water run for a little bit before you spray them.  That water can be pretty hot when you first turn it on during the summertime months.

With all the rain we've had this year most of the lakes water levels are back up so if you have a boat, the possibilities are endless! Waterskiing, swimming, tubing, knee boarding, fishing and whatever else you can think of when you have a boat.  Whatever else that keeps everyone out of harms way, that is. It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt so before you get that boat out on the water make sure you have checked your boat out and that you have all that is needed on the boat, in case of an emergency.

Knowing and following the rules and laws while out on your boat is something everyone should practice. Though it is the responsibility of the driver, it wouldn’t hurt to educate those on your boat as well. To learn more about boat rules and safety, Texas Parks & Wildlife offers a Boat Safety course to teach you what you need to know before you head out on the water. And just so you know, taking a safety course on boating could make you eligible for a discount on your insurance.

According to the Texas Parks & Wildlife, 70% of people who were killed in a boating accident would have survived if they had just worn a life jacket. It’s not only important to wear a lifejacket or Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs), it’s also very important to have the correct size PFD. There are different sizes for different weights and different types for different vessels. For more information on the different types of PFD and what type you need for your boat check out the Texas Parks & Wildlife.

Besides a PFD, other necessities you need to keep on your boat are things like a throwable personal floatation device, extra paddle or oar, fire extinguisher, flares, whistles or an air horn, and something you can put all your passengers in if your boat sinks. If possible, call for help on your cell phone.  One or all passengers will likely have their cell phones with them for selfies on the boat.   One item to not bring on the boat is alcohol. Alcohol and driving on land or water is never a good idea.

For more information on boating safety, the Texas Parks & Wildlife site is a great place to start. Whether it’s boating, hunting, fishing or anything outdoorsy, you should find your answers there.

Well that's a different way to put a boat in the water...

Bryce's Buddy Bash

Join us as we raise money for our young friend Bryce and his family. Bryce is an active 6 year old boy who attends one of the local schools and his family attends Fellowship of the Parks - Keller (FOTP Keller).  Bryce has hit early puberty due to an inoperable brain tumor. Even though there is not an operation in the future the expenses will continue to build up as he goes through extensive treatment. 

We will have live bands, a silent auction, a photo booth donated by Photo Bomb-Photo Booth Rentals, a dunk tank donated by The Floor Store of Keller, bounces houses, games and so much more. Pickles will be donating a percentage of sales back as well. So come out and enjoy great food, great music and meet a really great kiddo!  A special thank you to Outabounds Design Group / Ronnie Landreth for designing the great logo and Sarah Carter with Dynasty Pools for all your help in the planning process.

In the meantime, go to Bryce's Buddy Bash page on Facebook, share the event with your family and friends for a chance to be put in a drawing to win 4 Texas Ranger tickets, pray for Bryce and his family and make plans to attend.

***We are accepting silent auction items and if any business would like to set up a game at the event please contact Donna Kirkwood here at Farmers Insurance, The Kirkwood Agency at 817-898-0370.

#BrycesBuddyBash

Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

If April showers bring May flowers, shouldn't that mean nice weather in May? I hope so because I am pretty sure that we are all done with severe weather in the DFW area. Along with May flowers and hopes for nice weather comes the call of the open road for motorcyclists. It’s time to shine up those pipes and answer that call of open road.

May also brings Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. According to TxDOT, more motorcycle accidents happen in the spring and summer time than in the fall and winter. Motorcyclists take advantage of the (hopefully) nice weather and ride more during these times of the year. To bring awareness to those of us not riding motorcycles, TxDOT’s Share the Road campaign urges drivers to look twice when changing lanes and at intersections.  These two places seem to be the most common places for motorcycle accidents occur.  TxDOT along with LookLearnLive.org and several other organizations work together to raise awareness for motorcyclists and all how are on the road driving.

Even with the billboards to help bring awareness to this campaign, accidents will happen. When it does, will the coverage you currently have cover what it needs to? Does your provider offer added coverage? What about discounts or rewards? If you have your Motorcycle Insurance with Farmers, you know the answers to those question are all YES!

Farmers appreciates that when you are out on the open road you want to enjoy it! Soak in the sun, be free on the road and not worry about coverage.  For those reasons, Farmers has the #SMART choice in motorcycle coverage with 24/7 Claim Services, savings with multi-line discounts, coverage from one provider, specialized coverage, year-round rates that take into account mostly seasonal use and  best of all me, right here in your neighborhood.

Discounts and rewards? There most certainly are! Discounts for taking a safety course, renewal discount with continued coverage, having prior insurance, and bundling with another Farmers policy are just a few ways to save money from discounts. Would you consider yourself a responsible rider? I’d love to go over the different rewards available for responsible riders, another way to save money on your policy. 

Flood Insurance? I Don’t Live in a Flood Zone

Here’s the thing… Mother Nature decides whether you live in a flood zone or not. Given the right conditions, she can make it flood anywhere at any time. Not even Meteorologists can be 100% correct on the weather, especially if you live in Texas. It can snow in the morning and by the afternoon the snow has melted leaving a soggy mess.  Luckily, the quick melting snow didn't cause flooding this year… Next year could be different. This is the very reason why you need  Flood Insurance because a little water can cause big damage. 

While you can purchase Flood Insurance at any time, in most cases, there is a 30 day waiting period between the time of purchase to the time your coverage begins. Having Flood Insurance is having one less thing to worry about when it comes to your home and possessions that you've worked so hard for. Flood Insurance is an option for you and can be affordable whether you own a home, a business or you are renting.

Knowing what your flood risk may be is important in determining whether you are in a High Risk Zone or a Low-to-Moderate Risk Zone. If you live in a High Risk Zone your home or business would be more likely to be effected by a flood. In a Low-to-Moderate Risk Zone your chances of being effected by a flood are lower. Even if you don’t live in a High Risk Zone, I think it's important to know that The National Flood Insurance Program states that 25% of flood insurance claims come from those in Low-to-moderate Risk Zones.

Do you need to be concerned about flood damage if you already have Homeowners Insurance?  Absolutely! Most Homeowners Insurance policies typically cover hurricanes, tornadoes and fires but flood damage is most likely not covered. Give me a call so we can get started on finding the Flood Insurance that best fits you for your home and/or business.