Insurance agents sell insurance, right? At the very least, your insurance agent should be able to educate you on what you need regarding insurance coverages and policies and also be a risk consultant. We can all agree on that. But is it enough?
Think about the other ways your insurance agent can benefit your shared community as well. Is your agent actively giving to charitable organizations? Is your agent mentoring other business owners? Is your agent taking classes about insurance and other business topics?
I imagine you are like me in your desire to support local businesses. I like to spend my money with businesses that are owned and managed by good people that are trying to do good things. I like to see owners giving their time and resources in the communities in which they live and work. I like to see them participating in continuing education classes and professional development opportunities.
Personally, I want to be sure I am the best insurance agent and business owner I can be! With this in mind, I signed up for Leadership Central Kentucky, a program through Commerce Lexington that helps business owners and leaders in the community learn about the various counties in Central Kentucky, as well as learning about themselves.
This is the article I wrote about my experience at the first meeting, an orientation retreat in Berea, Kentucky.
Leadership Central Kentucky Orientation Reflection
When thinking about the Central Kentucky area, you probably think of bourbon, horses, manufacturing, higher education, beautiful scenery, and politics. You would be right! What you may not realize is all the fantastic leaders in this area that give of their time and resources to make our region the best it can be.
I enjoyed the opportunity to meet 2 dozen of them and spend a couple days beginning to build relationships with many of them. Our sessions were held at Boone Tavern and were facilitated by Dr. Virgil Grant and Amy Stout. The care and planning they invested in the workshops was evident in the choices of materials and topics, down to the hot browns and Derby Pie and bourbon!
Like me, I’m sure you have done various personality profiles over the years, but a “new” one is the Enneagram Test. This assessment has been around for thousands of years but has become popular in this area more recently. Everyone in the class completed a self-inventory, and then as a group, we learned what personality types we were and how to best use those natural gifts and talents in our professional and personal lives. What an insightful exercise!
Another topic we discussed in our meeting is regionalism. We were challenged to think about some of the ways that we can maintain healthy competition between the counties but also work together in a spirit of cooperation to further benefit the Central region of the Commonwealth.
Through a conflict resolution workshop by Dr. Grant we learned that being transparent, negotiating from a place of good intentions, and the relationships between various people and industries are all ways to begin to work together. We can attract new businesses and workers with their families to our region, bringing diversity, tax dollars, and new ideas that will help our economy grow.
I am looking forward to what this year brings with great anticipation! The people I’ve met and what I have learned so far are a testament to a great program.
Send me an email if you would like to know about the programs and organizations Castle Insurance supports in Central Kentucky. Maybe we can volunteer together! You will be blessed!
Most of us have auto, home, and life insurance, but having protection against a catastrophic liability claim is often overlooked.
Would you have enough coverage if something like this happened to you?
A jury awarded $900,000 to the estate of a 43 – year – old father that died after an auto accident. The award was based in part on the father’s future earning potential.
While helping a friend paint his home, a 40 – year – old man fell and broke his heel. Although the homeowner was found only partially responsible, the fall cost him $1.2 million dollars.
An umbrella policy will provide you with an additional $1 million dollars or more of coverage over and above your underlying homeowner or personal auto limits. It can offer you an extra layer of protection against the possibility of a high jury award in a personal liability case.
It is especially important to purchase this type of policy if you have wages that can be garnished or assets that can be seized to pay a judgement.
It’s an inexpensive policy with extensive benefits! Contact your insurance agent or our office for more details.
A recent ad used by a popular insurance company tells you, “Only pay for what you need.”
Some of you might find yourself asking some good questions:
“What DO I need? How much insurance is enough? How much insurance is too much?”
In today’s economy, price is king. There will always be several insurance companies to choose from. There will always be a cheaper policy available, but you should know first what you are paying for.
When shopping insurance, especially online, it’s pretty common to ask for an “apples – to – apple quote”, which means you want the same coverages you currently carry, only cheaper. But what is the significance of the coverages you currently carry? Do you have the same coverages since you were 18 and purchased your first policy? Your insurance coverage should reflect your current needs, and it’s very possible that your needs have outgrown your current coverage.
Do you really want an apples – to – apples quote?
When dealing with an experienced insurance agent or risk manager, you should be asked some tough questions like, “Do you have the assets to protect yourself from a million dollar lawsuit over a car accident?Does your policy coverage uninsured drivers?”
Protecting your family from the unknown is exactly what insurance is for, and if you are choosing not to consistently reassess your insurance needs, you may be missing the big picture.
Insurance is a two-way street, and you should be asking your agent tough questions as well. You should ask your agent, “Why did you select these coverages for me? How would you handle a claim? “Why should I choose your agency?”
Build a relationship with your insurance agent.
In the long run, developing a relationship with your agent will pay off far better than saving a few dollars every month. But if you do not feel that your current insurance needs are being met, or if your agent is unable to explain why your coverages are sufficient, please contact Castle Insurance for a comprehensive risk assessment.
In the summertime, we see lots of thunderstorms and hail in Central Kentucky.
What should you do if your home or car is damaged during a storm?
Stay safe? Wait until the storm has passed before you inspect the damage.
Take steps to protect your property. Maybe you need to spread a tarp over a section of the roof. Maybe you need to pick up shingles in the yard.
Contact your insurance agent. Many times, the damage done to your shingles isn’t a large enough amount of money to file a claim when you factor in your deductible.
Get an estimate to see how much the repairs will cost you.
If your car is damaged by hail or a fallen tree limb, you will need to have comprehensive coverage on your auto policy. Have a discussion with your insurance agent to be sure you can get the damage repaired. Again, get an estimate to see how much the repairs will cost you.
Your agent is there to help you in the case of a weather event that causes property damage. Reach out to get advice, after the danger of the storm has passed.
It seems that the more I try to avoid hitting a pothole, the more likely I am to actually hit it. I immediately cringe and hope I didn’t just destroy my rim, wheel, or tire! Sometimes, especially at night, it is really difficult to see one, but the unmistakable huge bump and scrape lets you know what just happened.
How does your insurance carrier handle claims regarding potholes? Insurance companies will consider this a collision-type of claim and it will show as an at-fault claim on your claims history.
What should you do if you hit a pothole?
Be sure the car is safe to drive. Your steering may be impacted or you may get a flat tire.
Get an estimate on the repairs to fix the damage done to your wheel.
Depending on your deductible, you may want to fix the damage without filing an insurance claim.
Always discuss claim situations with your agent. They are there to assist you as needed!
Castle Insurance provided quick and personalized service and saved me hundreds of dollars on home and auto insurance compared to my previous policies. It was very nice to be able to talk to a local agent who was kind and caring about my needs.
We are relocating to the greater Georgetown area and are in need of a new insurance agency for our needs. I’m not sure how this office has any happy customers. In the past two weeks I have sent both a message to them from their website AND left a voicemail for them, clearly providing my contact info twice. No response. None. If this is how they treat potential new customers, I shudder to think how they would treat real clients….
Big shoutout to Heather Goodlett for helping me lower my insurance rates!! She was so helpful and took the time to explain all my options to me. She is definitely a huge asset to this company. Call and ask for her!
Very friendly great to work with and very good rates would highly recommend Castle Insurance. Kris does annual review to see if we have the right coverage for our needs. Sends out emails throughout the year,great service.
I had a wonderful experience working with Kris! She helped my mom and I get the best coverage for our needs and was very patient with all of our questions. As an insurance agent myself for 8 years who recently switched career paths, it was great working with someone who was knowledgeable and responsive, and I felt like I was in great hands! I look forward to continuing to work with Castle Insurance and feel confident in my change to Erie.
We have been with Castle Insurance for six years now. Chris Castle does an annual review to insure we are getting the proper coverage for our needs. And the been rates. We are thrilled to have her looking out for our best interest.
Working with castle insurance was easy, fast, and straightforward. Kris was very responsive and took calls outside of normal business hours to accommodate me as I lived in a different time zone at the time. The castle insurance team explained every detail of my policies and really streamlined the entire process. I would highly recommend this team!
Castle Insurance is top notch. Kris is informative about her industry and she genuinely cares about her clients and their family. She is very professional and a great human being!
As a realtor, many of my clients have thanked me for referring them to Castle Insurance. A+++ service. Highly recommended!!!
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