Do You Have a Legacy Gift for Your Family?

This past year a family very close to the Kirkwood Agency lost a loved one. It was very unexpected and came as a shock to all. When I asked if I could share their story, they asked that the names be changed for privacy and because it’s still very difficult to talk about. We will call their loved one, Jay.

Jay never met a stranger, was loved by everyone and was a huge member of his church. He brought several people to Christ in his short time here on earth and a good number of those individuals were there the day of Jay’s service to celebrate his life. It was a beautiful (standing room only) service filled with tears but also laughter. Jay was a son, a brother, a husband, a dad and a great friend to all who crossed his path. Though I only had the opportunity to meet Jay once, I left the service that morning feeling as if I had known him for years.

Jay left behind a wife and a son. His son is the spitting imagine of him, head to toe. We’ll call him Little Jay or LJ. Though Jay and his wife both worked, Jay was blessed to be able to take LJ to work with him often. They spent a lot of time together and were like peas and carrots, just the best of friends. Fishing, hunting, you name it, Jay packed in years of father son time and taught LJ all sorts of ‘boy’ stuff.

It’s not easy to pull something positive out of a tragedy like losing a loved one. It’s hard to adjust to life without them. Changing your daily routines, and in this case becoming a single mom overnight. That’s not even mentioning the financial issues left to deal with.

One positive thing that we do know is that Jay was known to save money and thankfully, he had a Legacy Gift. What’s a Legacy Gift? It’s a Life Insurance policy. Why call it a Legacy Gift instead of a Life Insurance Policy? Well because that’s exactly what it is. A gift that you leave behind for the legacy you have made, your family and that’s exactly what Jay did. Because he had set up a Legacy Gift, his wife was able to quit her job and stay home with their son. That was one thing that was important to Jay and his wife, was for one of them to be able to stay home with LJ until it was time for him to start kindergarten. LJ and his mom are set financially for the next several years because Jay set up a gift for the legacy he left behind.

I know talking about Life insurance is not an easy thing to do but it’s important. If you have a “Legacy Gift” outside of work in place, that’s great news! If you don’t, call in and make an appointment. We will be happy to sit down with you and go over what options are available for you. Is one of the reasons you don’t have Life Insurance is because you may have heard that it’s too expensive? Well I have good news for you. In most cases, it’s really not that expensive at all.

To give you an idea, click here, Life Happens – Calculate Your Needs and it will give you an overview of what your cost could be.  

Losing Jay was extremely difficult and we want to thank the family that let us share their story. His legacy will live on through his son, with the help of the Legacy Gift he had in place before he passed. Continued prayers for peace and healing. May the many memories you have of ‘Jay’ bring you peace. 

Kirkwood's Class Acts Is Back!

We are so excited to re - introduce the Kirkwood's Class Act - Teacher of the Month campaign! With the 2016-2017 school year coming up fast, it's time to start getting in those nominations for your favorite, most influential educator. 

As some of you may know, the idea sparked from Farmers Insurance's Thank America's Teachers. The Kirkwood Agency wanted to put together a campaign of our own called, Kirkwood's Class Acts aimed at giving back to special educators that have made a difference in our community. 

This is how it works - 
At the end of each month during the school year, we will hold a drawing for one of the nominated teachers to win a $100 gift card to use towards classroom supplies donated by Farmers Insurance, The Kirkwood Agency. Because we have such a great community The Local Watering Hole in Keller, Tara Hayden, Licensed Massage Therapist and new to this school year, The DeVivo Bros, are all participating in this years Kirkwood's Class Act campaign. The Local Watering Hole will be donating a $25 gift card each month to use at their restaurant. Tara Hayden will be donating a 30 minute massage each month. The DeVivo Bros. will be donating a $30 gift card each month to use at their restaurant. What an amazing community we are apart of!

So please take a moment and think about your children's teachers and if one comes to mind who truly impacted their life, nominate them. Is there a teacher, past or present, who has helped your child overcome a difficult time in their learning process? Nominate them. A teacher who took the time to go above and beyond to make sure your child was successful in something they had trouble with? Nominate them. Help us give back to these special educators that have made a difference.

Submit your nomination to Stephanie at stephanie.ekirkwood@farmersagency.com with the following information:

1. The teacher's name
2. What made you nominate them
3. What school your teacher teaches at

The drawing will be held on the last day of the month so get them in ASAP. 

*You can also click Farmers Insurance, The Kirkwood Agency and submit your nomination on our Facebook page or click Farmers Insurance - Kirkwood Agency to submit your nomination on our Google+ page.*

IT'S CHRISTMAS IN JULY, KIRKWOOD STYLE!!

We are so excited for this event happening tomorrow - Thursday, July 28th from 4:30-8pm!!

WHERE DO I BEGIN?!

This event will be the first of it's kind for Farmers Insurance - Kirkwood Agency and we are exploding with excited! Are you sitting down? You'll need to be because this is BIG!!! Our Christmas in July event will have all of the following:

• First and foremost we are having this event to benefit 2 organizations - Arrow Child and Family Ministries and Royal Family Kids .We have set up an angel tree with angels for both organizations. Arrow Child and Family Ministries angels are in need of backpacks and school supplies for the upcoming school year. For Royal Family Kids we set up Angels for donations to help send a child in foster care to Royal Family Kids camp next summer.

• Next we have Austin's Underdawgs with Austin himself serving up his gourmet delicious hot dawgs! 

• Did you miss out on the Free "Back the Blue" Yard Signs last week? Well you're in luck! More will be available from 6-8pm!

•  VENDORS!!! Let me tell you! We have some great vendors that will be here, too!!

1. Swanky Chic
2. Boops Boutique
3. Threads of a Feather
4. Creation Queen
5. Sara's Purses
6. Southern Charm Jewelry

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST...

He'll be here from 5:30-7:30pm for FREE pictures!

So come on out, from 4:30-8pm tomorrow, have a bite to eat, get your picture taken with Santa for FREE, do some shopping and enjoy some great company! See everyone tomorrow!

Farmers Insurance - Kirkwood Agency
130 E Hill St
Keller TX 76248
817-898-0370

My Homeowners Insurance Policy Will Cover My Home Based Business, Right?

Home based businesses seem to be popping up everywhere. With the internet at your fingertips you can run your business from virtually anywhere. Not to mention not having to drive to work if your business is home based. Thank goodness you have a homeowners insurance policy! Right? Well… Not necessarily. Just because your business is out of your home does not mean that your homeowners policy will cover you in case something were to happen.

Any type of loss that where to happen that had anything to do with your business typically is excluded from being covered under your homeowners policy. For instance, if your run a boutique out of your home and store all of your products (clothes, jewelry, etc…) there and there was a fire, without the right coverage, the loss of the clothing and jewelry will most likely not be covered. Nor would any of the racks you use to show these items, boxes to store them, office equipment for the business or anything that is used to run your boutique out of your home would not be covered under your homeowners policy. Even though it is out of your home, because it is a business, you must have the additional business coverage to cover the business in case of a loss.

There are endorsements that can be added to your homeowners policy or an umbrella but again, to be insure that your business is covered in case of a loss, you need to have business insurance. Business insurance can help to provide a financial buffer to get you back in business quickly after a loss with replacing your lost property and in some cases replacing lost income while a homeowners policy cannot.

Do you have coverage for your home based business? Are you wanting to know more about what coverage you may need to protect it? Call the office today, let’s set up an appointment and talk about what is best for the type of home business you have. Check out Farmers® article, “Do You have Coverage for your Home Based Business?” for more information as well. 

Should You Be Concerned about Wildfires This Summer?

We had more than our fill of rain the last few months but now… IT IS HOT. Some days are hot and humid, some days are hot and dry and sometimes we are blessed to have a little of all three. I’m not sure what part of that is a blessing but I’m sure it is. Anyway, what we should be concerned with now are random wildfires popping up, especially with July 4^th weekend.

If you are partaking in firework popping, make sure you are able to pop them in the area you are at. One thing for sure, if your county is under a burn ban then that is a for sure NO to popping fireworks. Texas A&M Forest Service’s posted a map of the most up to date counties that are under an outdoor burn ban. See the picture below. If the county you live in is colored in red, that county has established a burn ban = no popping fireworks.

Outdoor Burn Bans as of July 1, 2016

Anyone heard of Firewise Landscaping in Texas? This is a great concept! It’s a layout on how to prep the area between your home and outside items they could cause a fire.  What to know how to keep your home “Firewise”? I learned a great deal from the information on the Texas A&M Forest Service site on how to do so. They broke it down in to Zones 1, 2, and 3.

ZONE 1:

Within 30 feet of your home and its attachments you should:

1.      Keep your lawn mowed and your trees pruned 6-10 feet from the ground.

2.      Water regularly (but follow the rules if there are water restrictions in your area).

3.      Make a ‘fire-free’ area within 5 feet around your home with non-flammable landscaping materials. (for more information on non-flammable landscaping materials, check out the full articleat Texas A&M Forest Service).

4.      If the life in your plants is no more, get rid of it, especially from under a deck and within 10 feet of your home. That also goes for any dry leaves or pine needles in and around your yard, roof and rain gutters.

       ZONE 2:

       Within 30 – 100 feet of your home and its attachments you should:

1.      Like in Zone 1, keep your trees pruned 6-10 feet from the ground.

2.      Concrete and gravel will help keep fire away from your home. Driveways, grave walkways are your friend.

3.      Leave 20 feet between individual trees and 30 between bundles of trees.

 

       ZONE 3:

       Within 100 - 200 feet of your home and its attachments you should:

1.      Remove any leaves, pine cones, wood debris to prevent a quick spread in case there was a fire.

2.      Thin out your trees as much as possible so that they don’t touch other tree. In case of a fire, they suggest trimming them with 10 feet between the trees so that in case of a fire, with the branches of other trees are not touching.  

              

What about your home itself? Fire has a mind of its own and can spread sparks and embers at will. What are ways to be proactive for your home? It’s a good thing the Texas A&M Forest Service’s site had that information as well. Thank goodness for the internet.

1.      Fire resistant! If it comes in fire resistant, that’s what you want to go with: Roof, gutters, exterior walls (metal, brick, stone siding, etc…).

2.      Windows – Double- paned or tempered- glasses windows in metal framing with fiberglass or metal screens. This was a great tip as well – when buying your drapes and shutters look for fire resistant to help act like a wall to block fire from spreading into your home.

3.      It’s always important to clean your vents, making sure they are debris free.

For more information on tips to take for making your home as fire resistant as possible, check out Texas A&M Forest Service’s brochure on Fire Resistance Materials.

In a previous blog about floods, we talked about how a flood can happen ANYWHERE at ANYTIME, even if you live in a “non flood” zone. Mother Nature can change any zone at any moment. Wildfires are the same. I’m sure there are areas that are more prone to them than others but they too can happen anywhere. Be proactive and take precautions to prevent your home from being a victim of Mother Nature in general.

Sources: Texas A&M Forest Service 

On The Road Again

IT’S SUMMERTIME!!  It’s time to pack up the car and head out for vacation and not look back for a few days. The whole family has been looking forward to this all school year long.

Farmers® is very good at putting out articles on not just insurance but on everyday life. One article came across my virtual desk (email) that I wanted to share, especially since we were on the subject of summertime and travel. This particular article came from their “Seasonal SMARTS Digest –On the Road Edition: Summer 2016”  and it had great info to share.

What to check before you get on the road:

This first tip I found a bit odd but obviously it’s important or it wouldn’t have been included in the article. It says that it’s common for a thief to go after the third row seat from an SUV. If you have an SUV and you have the ability to take it out, do so and leave it behind in the garage. Really? The third row? I wonder what they do with it. If anyone knows, please feel free to share.

The second tip concerns checking your tires, making sure that you have enough air in your tires and that the tread is good. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration  advises to look on your vehicles owner’s manual to find the recommended tire pressure, not the type of tire. Underinflated tires are 3 times more likely to burst and cause an accident so make sure the pressure is where it needs to be. As far as the tread on your tires, you can check the tread with a penny. The illustration below from Bridgestone Tire shows how to use a penny to see when new tires are suggested and when they are recommended.

The third tip recommends changing out your windshield wipers, especially if you haven’t used them in a while. Living in Texas, we know that the sun can be shining without a cloud in the sky one moment and flood warnings being issued the next. We never know what the weather will be like so be proactive and change out those windshield wipers.

One last tip before you head out. Click on -  The U.S Department of Transportation and it will take you directly to a list of all nation wide road closures and areas to avoid while traveling. There's even a place to check the weather in the area you will be traveling to and all the places in between. 

While you’re driving:

This first one goes out to the “over packers”. Overloading your vehicle can put more pressure on your tires. More pressure on your tires, especially in the heat, can cause a blowout. Your vehicle owner’s manual should have the load limits for your tires.

This one goes out to the “planner” of the family. Map out your trip with breaks throughout the day. Getting out of the car and walking around a bit helps with fatigue and drowsy driving. Booking a hotel in advance is always a great idea, especially during high traffic times of the year.

Not just on vacation but always follow the 3/6/9 rule. What is the 3/6/9 rule? I’ll tell you.

-        Count 3 seconds (in normal conditions) between the time the car in front of you passes a fixed object and the time you pass it.

-        Count 6 seconds (in heavy traffic or inclement weather) between the time the car in front of you passes a fixed object and the time you pass it.

-        Count 9 seconds (in severe weather) between the time the car in front of you passes a fixed object and the time you pass it.

So now you’re at you destination. Happy day! Of course there are tips for that was well.

Once you’ve reached your destination:

Protect your stuff. If you are leaving anything in the car, hide it. Use the trunk, hide items, cover items and make sure they are out of sight to prevent theft. Some even use a sunshade in the front of the vehicle and the back windows. Using them may also help keep the car a little bit cooler…

Do you have a navigation device that’s mounted on the windshield? Take it down and hide that as well. And wipe off the ring that the suction cup leaves. That’s another “Welcome” sign for thieves to break in and look for it.

While on the road there will be plenty of opportunities for your windshield to be hit by a pebble or the likes of that. I know because last summer my windshield was hit twice leaving 2 long cracks by the time we made it back to Texas from New Mexico. What I didn’t know was that not only will the heat cause the crack to spread but using your windshield wipers will as well, forcing the water into the damaged areas. Hitting potholes, slamming your doors, parking in sunny areas AND… USING YOUR AIR CONDITIONER can also cause the cracks to get worse. I don’t know about you, but there is no chance in my vehicle that we will not use the AC in this heat so I guess the crack will spread. Let’s just hope I don’t get hit with another rock this summer.

Have a great and safe summer! 

Also check out our blog, "Surviving a Road Trip With Kids". 

RING! RING! "Hello, this is the IRS and you owe money." NOT!

One thing I love about working for the Kirkwood Agency is that we are one big team. If something is happening in the world that could affect us, it will be shared throughout the office, either in an email, chat or during our weekly meetings. Recently, one of us got a call from a random number in Washington, DC and they call went something like this:

“Hello. We have been trying to reach you. I am from the office of the Internal Revenue Services calling to inform you that there is currently a lawsuit being filed against you. You have a total of $1000.00 in back taxes and it needs to be paid today. To make it easy, we have provided a few options for you; Give me your credit card number or take cash to this location and someone will be there to pick it up.”  “Ok great! Where can I meet you to take you the cash? You need my social security number?” NOT!

Who knew there are people out there actually pulling off IRS scams over the phone?  So, of course, I went to the IRS site to see what they had to say about this scam. They had it listed among their Dirty Dozen. The top of their list is Identity Theft but Phone Scams was right underneath it. The people behind this widespread Phone Scam sound like they are official employees of the IRS and some have most of your information, which makes it even scarier. This is what the IRS posted on their site about these phone scams:

5 Things Scammers Do but the IRS DOES NOT:
1. Call to demand payment or to inform you of taxes owed. They will first mail you a bill.
2. Demand payment right then and there, without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the said amount owed. 
3. Make you use a specific form of payment, such as a prepaid credit card or even an iTunes gift card, nothing else.
4. Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
5. Threaten you with law-enforcement to have you arrested for non-pay.

They also made sure to included steps to take if you don’t owe taxes and/or if you do owe. If you know you owe or may think you owe taxes, call the IRS 800-829-1040 and someone will be able to assist you there.  If you do not think that you owe any taxes but have gotten this phone call:

1. Make sure you do not give out any information and hang up the phone.
2. Contact the TIGTA – Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and report the call. You can use the IRS Impersonation Scam Report (link) web page or you can call 800-366-4484.
3. Report it to the Federal Trade Commission using FTC Complaint Assistant, adding “IRS Telephone Scam” in the notes.

It’s unfortunate that awareness is needed for this or any sort of scam out there. I hope this helps to bring light to this scam and that they get reported in hopes to stop the scammers. We all love modern technology but unfortunately, so do criminals that are constantly using it to their advantage. 

*This information was taken from https://www.irs.gov/  in an effort to bring awareness to this ongoing problem.  For more information on this scam and the complete article click: IRS Wraps Up the "Dirty Dozen" List of Tax Scams for 2016.