Allstate Insurance Agent Receives National Recognition

Jorgen Goller, left, presenting Matt Elwood, right, with the Allstate Honor Ring for his outstanding efforts in 2014. 

Matt Elwood of Allstate Insurance in Port Angeles accepts a national award from Allstate Field Sales Leader, Jorgen Goller. The level of “Honor Ring” was awarded to Matt for his agency’s extraordinary efforts in 2014. For more than 60 years, the Honor Ring has been Allstate’s symbol of outstanding achievement and honorees whom have proven to be champions in serving Allstate customers and growing their agencies. 

“The award is a tremendous honor and represents all the hard work our agency does in serving our customers and community every day,” says Elwood. 

The Matt Elwood Allstate Agency is ranked in the top 1% of Allstate agencies countrywide for customer satisfaction. Matt’s office is located at 707 E Front in Port Angeles and can be reached at 360-452-9200.

Car Burglaries on a Rise

As you have probably read in the Peninsula Daily News article, there have been a rise in car burglaries in Port Angeles.

Things to remember….

In the event of a burglary, any damage to your vehicle will be covered under your Comprehensive Coverage. Comprehensive covers the broken glass, damage to the car from vandalism and in the event of a theft, the fair market value if the car is not recovered. All coverage is subject to your deductible.

If your personal belongings inside the car are stolen, then those items would be covered under your renters or homeowners insurance policies, also subject to deductible. It is always best to check with your insurance agent to make sure the claim makes financial sense.

The best way to deal with car burglaries is to lock your car doors, don’t leave valuables inside and be vigilant. Report all suspicious activity to the Port Angeles police department using their anonymous online tip form.

If you notice that your vehicle has been burglarized, please notify the police, and then call your Allstate Insurance Agency at 360-452-9200.  

Important Things to Remember Before You Leave for Vacation…

The end of the school year is coming and everyone is ready for summer break. The weather is getting nicer and trips to the lake or coast are being planned. There are a few things that you should remember before you leave for that family vacation.

Don’t Advertise That You Will Be Out Of Town

Here are some ways to protect your home while you are away on vacation.

1. Contact the Post Office and the Peninsula Daily News, and put your services on hold. Having a full mailbox or a lot of papers on the porch is a sign to others that you’re an easy target!
2. Putting your household lamps on a timer is a great way to make it seem like you are home. Also, having motion sensitive lights on the porch and/or driveway is a great idea too.
3. If you trust a neighbor, let them know that you are going out of town and leave them your contact information and/or spare key, just in case. If there were to be a storm while you were away, your neighbor could check on the house and make sure everything was still in working order.

When You’re On The Road

The #1 thing that is important to remember while you are driving is to not leave valuables in the car.

Many people believe that their belongings are covered by car insurance, but that is not the case. The only coverage for your luggage or computer would be on your Homeowner’s Insurance, and that is still subject to your deductible.

Most policies offer coverage for road side assistance and towing. This can be priceless when you are stranded, or accidentally lock your keys in the car. This coverage is inexpensive and quick to add to your policy.

If you have any questions before your next trip, please give us a call anytime to discuss your policy or to get a quote! 

Create A Winter Weather Prep Kit

It’s the time of year for icy winter weather. And as your Port Angeles insurance agent, I have to share a few things to get you prepared before the winter storms hit!

First things first, you want to have the right supplies on hand. Create a basic
emergency kit that includes a battery powered radio and at least one week’s worth of
food and safety supplies. Also include:

Drinking Water
Canned/No-Cook Food
Non-Electric Can Opener
First Aid Kit
Prescription Medicine As Needed
Bag of Cat Litter or Sand to add traction on walkways
Battery Powered Lamps
Carbon Monoxide and Smoke Alarm in working order

And what about when bad weather hits? Here are a few things to put on your winter
storm checklist:

• Leave water taps slightly open so they drip to prevent frozen pipes.
• Open kitchen cabinet doors under the sink to keep the pipes warm.
• Have an alternate heat source in case the power goes out. If you have a fireplace, make sure
you have plenty of dry firewood.

The most important thing you can do? Be prepared! A benefit to winter storms is that
you generally have plenty of warning that one is on the way. Don’t wait until the roads
are icy and dangerous. Get your supplies packed, your pipes protected, and a backup
plan in case of a power outage. And make sure that you have great Homeowners
Insurance! We can help with that. Call us for a free quote today at 360-452-9200.

Ask Your Port Angeles Allstate Insurance Agent: What is Liability Insurance?

Have you ever looked at your insurance policy and wondered just exactly what it is you are paying for?
 
Everyone knows that they are legally required to carry liability insurance.  But many people don’t really understand what that means or how it works.

In simple terms, liability insurance pays to fix damage that you cause to someone else. 

On your auto insurance policy, this is split into three pieces.  Here is an example:

Bodily Injury:  50/100
Personal Property: 50

Let’s say that this was your coverage amount and you hit another car in an accident.  Your insurance would pay up to $50,000 per person for injuries up to a total cap of $100,000.  And it would pay up to $50,000 in property damage to fix the other car.  

Remember, liability only covers the person that you hit.  It doesn't cover your vehicle or anyone inside your car. 

There are many different amounts of liability coverage.  We work directly with our clients to determine how much you need.  This will vary based on factors like how many assets you have, your income, and home value. 

Not having enough liability insurance is one of the biggest financial mistakes you can make! Carrying only the Washington State minimum of 25/50/10, could leave you open to a lawsuit.  Think about those cars you’ve seen on the road worth easily over $40,000!  If you don’t have enough property damage coverage, then you are at risk. 

There is also liability coverage on your homeowners or renters insurance.  It pays if someone is injured on your property due to your negligence.  One common example is a dog bite.  This is another time when it’s good to have enough liability insurance!

Hopefully this clears up any questions you have about how liability insurance works.  If you need help determining the right amount of coverage for your family, give us a call at 360-452-9200 for a no obligation review and quote. 

Financial Procrastination

Financial Procrastination

It is human nature to procrastinate. I even procrastinated writing this month’s newsletter! It is so much easier to put off for tomorrow that which needs to be done today. After all, does it really make a difference if I clean my room now or tomorrow? Probably not, but when it comes to financial procrastination putting things off until tomorrow can have a dramatic impact. The problem is that tomorrow never comes. Days turn in to weeks, weeks into months and months into years. Financial speaking, you may miss out on years of compounding interest, pay higher insurance premiums or miss out on years of savings as a result of procrastinating. Whatever your situation may be, here is a list of common items I see clients delaying action on:

Bundling Your Insurance

By bundling your auto, home and life insurance with Allstate, you save more on each policy. Depending on your situation, you could be save 30-40% with multiple policy discounts.

Rolling Over An Old 401K

Have you changed employers in the past 5 years or longer? If so, you may have a 401K sitting at an old employer that is not actively being managed for your benefit. You have the option to roll that 401K into an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), often with lower fees and more investment options.

Buying Life Insurance

A lot of people consider life insurance a luxury. I consider it a necessity, especially if you have people that depend on you financially. Allstate just came out with a new term life insurance policy that requires no exam, ages 18-45. With the convenience of doing the application over the phone and signing via email, now is a great time to get that policy your family needs.

Exploring LTC Insurance

There are over 10,000 people turning age 65 everyday is this country. The cost of health care is constantly increasing. If you have ever had an experience with a loved one that needed Long Term Care, you know that it can cost on average $6,000/mo. For a fraction of that cost you can get an LTC policy that will provide care if needed and protect your retirement nest egg at the same time.

There Is No Time Like The Present

These are just a few of the many financial topics that people tend to put off. Did any of them resonate with you? Did you think of something not mentioned here? If there is something on your financial to-do list that you would like me to help you check off, please reply to this email or give me a call at the agency 360-452-9200.

Want more information? Please visit Matt Elwood - Allstate Insurance to get more information on the Allstate products and services I can offer in Port Angeles, Sequim or anywhere Washington State.