Frankenmuth Insurance Commercial Lines This week is part two of Etler-Kettenacker Agency’s two part feature on Frankenmuth Insurance.  This second part focuses on Frankenmuth Insurance Commercial Lines.  To see the first installment on Frankenmuth Insurance Personal Lines visit http://www.ekagency.com/frankenmuth/insurance.aspx.      For the full page on Frankenmuth Insurance Commercial Lines go to http://www.ekagency.com/frankenmuth_insurance/co...

Since today is tax day, it seemed as good a time as any to talk about spring cleaning. I mean, weve all filed those returns, March Madness is over, and the weather is gorgeous -- so theres no more excuses for not getting the cleaning done! We know how daunting spring cleaning can be, and were here to help! Heres a list of items that should be on everyones spring cleaning to-do: 1. Change the furnace filter: Just because youre not running the heat, doesnt mean you shouldnt change your f...

Ok, ok -- last "spring cleaning" post for awhile. Todays topic: stuff you should do to "spring clean" the outside of your house. Because, from an insurance agents perspective, this stuff matters! Not to mention, a well-kept lawn just looks nice (hello: curb appeal!). 1. Mow your lawn. Mowing will force you to pick up loose sticks and branches -- which, if youre noticing lots of dead branches in a particular area, you might need to do some pruning. Dead branches arent just unsightly; theyre al...

Today, we are going to begin our "Insurance 101" series. In this series, well discuss all things related to insurance: terms, topics, types -- if its insurance-related, we will be talking about it. While this insurance stuff gets us really fired up, we realized its not the most exciting stuff for most people. So, well try to make this short, sweet and fun! And dont worry -- this is an ongoing series; we wont be bombarding you week after week with this stuff (in fact, we have a really fun sum...

Can you believe this weekend is Memorial Day? This all-American holiday means barbecues, pools, and summer. As insurance agents, we are always thinking about safety. There are many things to keep in mind as you head outdoors this summer; but today, we are going to discuss something that will be happening in homes across America: grilling. Did you know that 7,500 grill fires occur each year? Gas grills are responsible for the bulk of these fires, which cause roughly $70 million in damag...

Memorial Day kicks off pool season, with community, private and residential pools opening their doors until Labor Day. Keep your kids safe this summer with the following precautions: The Community Pool/Swim Club In addition to protecting your kids from the sun with appropriate hats/sunscreen, your kids should never run by the pool, as its usually very wet and slippery. As soon as possible, enroll your kids in swim lessons. Everyone should know how to swim -- especially little kids. Swim ...

So, maybe you just got married and are about to go on your honeymoon. Or schools out, so you and the fam are taking a summer vacation. Or maybe you recently retired, and you and the spouse are about to travel the world! Summer is by far the most popular time to vacation. Did you know that 45% of Americans take some type of summer vacation? While youre putting together your check-list of supplies to buy, arrangements to make and what to pack, add another item to your list: travel insurance...

Weve all been there: youre signing the papers to rent a brand-new Ford Focus for a week, when the representative asks: "Are you interested in purchasing rental insurance?" Um... are you? Is it a good deal? Do you really need it? Today we are talking about Rental-Car Insurance -- the pros, the cons, and whether you do, in fact, need it. The 411 on Rental-Car Insurance Just like every other type of insurance, rental car insurance is there to protect you in the event of an accident...

If you are sending your kids off to college this fall, you might be wondering about insurance. Specifically, insuring all that stuff you bought for your college-bound kid: computer, books, bikes and, in some cases, furniture. The National Retail Federation (NRF) estimates that the average family will spend roughly $900/college student -- on back-to-school supplies alone. If your child is going to live in a dorm, add $126 to that number for furnishings, the NRF says. For a full breakdown of b...

Alright: its quiz time! Today we are going to play a round of "Would You File an Insurance Claim If...". Answer the following questions honestly -- and remember, this makes a great game for the next family get-together! Would you file an insurance claim if... you got into a fender-bender in the parking lot at Preschool dropoff? Would you file an insurance claim if... a tree branch fell and damaged your gutter? Would you file an insurance claim if... your teenage son backed i...

For many of us, paying our insurance premiums every month can feel like, well, a waste of money. If were lucky, we dont actually see our money being put to use -- because, the majority of the time, those worst-case catastrophes never happen. Heres the thing: insurance doesnt just protect you from worst-case, life-changing events, it also protects you from that annoying, ugh-why-is-it-happening-to-me-now stuff that can really put a damper on your monthly budget. Safeco coverage is added to...

It has been COLD around here lately -- and theres still lots more time before Mr. Groundhog makes any predictions about spring. In addition to being a nuisance, cold weather can also wreak havoc on your pipes, gutters, cars -- you name it! Here are 5 tips to help avoid any weather-related damage to your property this winter: 1. Check your attic Make sure there arent any leaks, which can lead to roof damage, ice dams and higher heating bills! While youre up there, insulate any areas...

Today we are going to talk about liability coverage -- and why you might need to increase yours! Liability coverage covers injuries or damage to other people or property if youre at fault for an accident. Its part of your auto insurance policy, and is covers two types of damage: Bodily Injury: Covers costs if you cause an accident that injures or even kills another person. Bodily Injury will cover hospital and medical bills, rehabilitation, long-term nursing care, funeral expenses, ...

Your teen was likely thrilled to score that part-time job delivering pizzas: Free pizza? Getting to drive around town on the clock? Tips? However, your teen might want to reserve some of those tips for car insurance. In fact, they may need to up their coverage, or, in some cases, switch from a personal to commercial policy. Simply put, personal policies are written with the average private citizens habits and needs in mind, whereas commercial policies are designed to address t...

One of the ways you can save major money on car insurance is by opting for a plug-in diagnostic kit. Known as SmartRide, Snapshot or In-Drive (depending on your insurance company), this device attaches to the inside of your car (like an external hard drive connects to a USB port) and gives you personalized feedback to help you make safer driving decisions. All of your actions while behind the wheel -- miles driven, speed, acceleration, deceleration, what time of day you drive and how quickly...

It may sound like something out of The Jetsons -- but self-driving cars are here! According to recent data, as many as 10 million cars will be outfitted with self-driving features by the year 2020. While exciting, these futuristic vehicles have opened up a whole can of worms. Especially for insurance companies. How are they insured? Who’s to blame in the event of an accident? Can you trust machine over man? We don’t know the answers to these questions, but here are some f...

Most local schools are out for summer this week. While kids everywhere are rejoicing, working parents are faced with the issue of summer childcare. If you’re thinking of hiring a nanny this summer, there are several important factors to consider: Taxes If you hire a nanny, you should think of them as an employee, as far as taxes go. The IRS has criteria to help you determine who is and isn’t an employee, which can be found on their website. If your housekeeper or nanny is your...

If you’ve always dreamed of renting an RV and hitting the open road, we’ve got some important info to share! Whether you want to take the RV around your home state or on a cross-country trip, you’ll need to make sure you’re adequately insured. Here’s some food for thought: 1. Call Your Insurance Agent Talk to your insurance company to find out whether youll be covered while driving the RV. Your regular policy might not cover it, but you may be able to get a ...

By its most basic definition, insurance is protection against the unexpected. It’s paying for piece of mind. No one expects to run into car trouble an hour into their road trip -- but things happen! As you hit the road for vacation this summer, we recommend adding roadside assistance to your insurance policy. Think of Roadside Assistance like AAA; only, instead of having to purchase a separate AAA membership, you can bundle this extra coverage into your current policy. Generally...

Not to alarm you, but your home or business may be on the brink of major catastrophe. If your home or business was built between 1950 and 1985, its possible that you have a Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok breaker panel. Although this company is no longer in business, many of these Stab-Lok panels still exist in basements and electrical rooms. The Stab-Lok panels are associated with several problems related to the breakers not tripping and issues with internal connections on the bus...

We’ve all been there: you’re driving down the highway and a rock flies into your windshield, immediately cracking it. Or maybe you come out to your car after work to find a brand-new chip in your windshield. Windshield chips are unfortunately part of driving. Stuff happens! As drivers, we’re probably unsure of when we should seek professional repairs - and, more importantly, how much repairs will cost and what’s covered by our insurance. Small Repairs As a gen...

If you get into a car accident, what do you replace the damaged parts with? Will any old part do, or should you replace with Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts? Does it matter? And, more importantly, what does your insurance cover? You may think you need to replace with original parts, but thats not always the case. Or the most economical. Heres what you should know: Unless youre a car enthusiast, you wont notice a difference. According to the Consumer Insuranc...

Weve talked about self-driving cars before, debating the pros and cons of these cars of the future. However, this week, Bloomberg Technology posted a bullish case for self-driving cars. In this article, the media mogul quoted a recent study by insurance broker Aon Plc. According to Aon, premiums for U.S. auto insurers may drop more than 40 percent once the use of automated vehicles has been fully adopted by 2050. Aon analyst Paul Mang was careful to specify the conditions under which ...

Januarys here -- which means its time to take inventory of your insurance needs! The beginning of the year is a great time to take stock of your current insurance needs, considering whats changed since last year, and what you anticipate in the upcoming year. Heres your New Years Insurance Checklist: Auto Insurance Here are a few things to consider: Are all the drivers in your household listed on your policy? Are you taking advantage of all possible discounts? Can you afford highe...

Life insurance is something most of us need -- but choosing the type, terms and amount of life insurance can be daunting. Do you want term life insurance, or universal? Is a higher premium better? Do you really need a $1 million dollar life insurance policy? Today were explaining everything you need to know. Sit back, grab a cup of coffee and peruse our ultimate guide to life insurance! Types of Life Insurance The two major types of life insurance are term life and permanent life (...

So you got engaged for Valentine’s Day — congrats! Or maybe your sweetie surprised you with that rose gold bracelet you’ve been subtly dropping hints about for months. Or, perhaps you’re the jewelry buyer, and wondering if you should purchase insurance on your hefty new investment? Today, we’re talking about jewelry insurance; namely, engagement ring insurance (but these rules pretty much apply to any expensive piece of jewelry). What it is: Just...

When planning a summer vacation, the question of whether or not to purchase travel insurance is a tricky one. Most credit card companies offer some form of travel insurance to cardholders who use their card when booking a vacation. (Thats an important caveat: you can only purchase travel insurance from the credit card company from which the vacation was booked.) Recently, WalletHub compared the travel insurance offered by 92 different credit card companies. Of those 92 companies 93% offered ...

When you receive your Insurance policies do you read them?  If you do, do you understand what you are reading? Give me a few minutes of your time to help you understand what your policy says and why it’s important!   We drive our cars every day!  We drive to work, to school, on vacations, and running errands.  How many times have you worried about an uninsured driver hitting you?  What if they have insurance, but not enough?  Now how many times have you a...

  Why do you need homeowners insurance? What if your home were destroyed in a storm, where would you go?  How would you replace your home, clothing, furniture? A homeowner’s policy will provide coverage on your dwelling (home), and personal property along with offer liability insurance if anyone were to be injured on your property or cause property damage.  If you have a loan on your home your lender will require you to have insurance; they want to make sure that their fi...

Many times we receive the question, "Why is my auto insurance more expensive than my neighbors or friends?"  There are many different factors that go into insurance rates and no one is exactly the same.  Here are just a few of the components of auto insurance rating.  Insurance score- Each company has their own way to calculate your insurance score, but most follow this method. They calculate your score from information on your credit report, accident, and insurance claim h...

    During this crazy time that our world is going through, its nice to be able to say that WE are here for you!  Our partner insurance companies are here for you!  All of our companies have put special modifications in place for their client’s auto, home, and some commercial policies.  Check the companies listed below to see what your company is doing to help you by putting money back in your pocket.      Encova Formally Motorists Mu...

“An independent agent is an insurance agent that sells insurance policies provided by several different insurance carriers, rather than just a single insurance company. The independent agent acts as a middleman to connect insurance buyers and sellers in order to facilitate a transaction. Independent agents are not considered employees of any specific insurance company."    I have found that many people dread talking about insurance or to anyone who works in insurance. This...

If you are looking to add a Kia or Hyundai to your insurance, you may have a hard time due to a new social media trend.  This trend is teaching people how to hotwire certain vehicles that do not have an engine immobilizer.  This has caused many companies to halt writing new business with these vehicles.   How do you know if your vehicle falls under this risk? Your vehicle may be included if it is a Kia between the years of 2011-2021, or a Hyundai between 2015-2021 with a standar...

If you are looking to add a Kia or Hyundai to your insurance, you may have a hard time due to a new social media trend.  This trend is teaching people how to hotwire certain vehicles that do not have an engine immobilizer.  This has caused many companies to halt writing new business with these vehicles.   How do you know if your vehicle falls under this risk? Your vehicle may be included if it is a Kia between the years of 2011-2021, or a Hyundai between 2015-2021 with a standar...