San Diego Chargers Give Back for the Holidays: Fan’s Perspective

Reprint from Yahoo Sports

While the San Diego Chargers have been struggling with injuries this season, their drive to help those in the local San Diego community continues. This Sunday, December 11^th, they host the Buffalo Bills. Their chances of pulling off a win are looking good but in the end the big winners will be local area children.

At the gates of Qualcomm Stadium you will find men and women from the United States Marine Corps accepting donations of toys. This will represent the 22^nd annual Chargers "Toys for Tots" Toy Drive and will help collect toys to be given to families in need this Christmas.

A Sneak Peak At Our 2012 Rose Parade Float

Farmers Insurance's 2012 Rose Parade float design revealed

The 2012 Rose Parade float design is here, and we're giving you a sneak peek. The 123rd Rose Parade theme is "Just Imagine," and the Farmers crew worked hard to design a float that would inspire people to do just that.

In light of the string of natural disasters that struck our nation over the past year, Farmers created a design to remind people that Farmers' expert agents can help prepare their customers for those unforeseen events. Our float, titled "The Unimaginable" will make its way down Pasadena's Colorado Boulevard for the 123rd annual Rose Parade on Monday, January 2. Because New Year's Day falls on a Sunday this year, the parade was moved to Monday in keeping with its "Never on a Sunday" tradition.

The 123rd Rose Parade will be broadcast nationally on ABC, Hallmark Channel, HGTV, NBC, RFD-TV and Univision. The parade is also seen in more than 200 international territories and countries.

Farmers has been a proud Rose Parade float participant since 1959. 

Farmers Insurance Claims Teams Helping Wind Storm Victims Throughout California

Reprint from MarketWire, 12/1/2011

LOS ANGELES, CA, Dec 01, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Farmers Insurance claims personnel, agents, District Managers and employees throughout California are helping victims of the wind storms that have continued steady the past two days.

Farmers Southern California State Executive Director Charles Dabelgott; Vice President, Los Angeles State Executive Director Bill Matlock; Northern State Executive Director John Weaver; and Inland State Executive Director Kirk Tweedy stated that Farmers claims teams are in full operation helping customers throughout the state to give immediate assistance if they have suffered damage from the heavy rains and wind that passed over the state.

Insuring Old Cars versus Classic Cars

On the road again, just can't wait to get on the road again...
- Willie Nelson

Oldies but Goodies

Baby boomers, with their growing interest in classic cars, know there's a big difference between the vehicles they collect and the ones they drive every day. Yet not all collectors insure their collectibles and everyday vehicles differently. This could potentially leave collectors in a financial bind should they need to file a claim.

Old vs. classic:
Typically, antique and classic cars are more than 30 years old and have special needs that differ from traditional vehicles. Unlike regular-use vehicles that are on the road every day, antique and classic cars typically are used for limited pleasure driving, car shows and club events.

Special vehicles, special coverage:
From classics to modifieds, including muscle cars, exotics, replicars, woodies, kit cars and other types of collectibles, Farmers offers collectible auto insurance packages designed to meet your special needs.

Planning When You Have Special Needs Children

Originally published on Why Platinum?

Financial preparation is important for any family with children.  When one of the children is special needs, the needs is amplified.

What if the parent(s) or guardian are killed or incapacitated?

Will the new guardian be able to financially, emotionally, and legally be able to take care of the disabled child the same way their mother and / or father can?

Always a tough situation, there are steps that should be taken to minimize the devastation that will occur for the special needs child when their parent or guardian is gone.  The following information is by no means a complete description of what needs to be done for every family since needs and situations differ, but it can be a good guide on where to start and what to consider.

Please consult with legal council or insurance / financial professional where necessary.

Life Insurance: Buying life insurance is a great way to leave an income source to a dependent who needs support until they can support themselves.  With a child with special needs the inability to support themselves could stretch well into adulthood or even their lifetime.  

Realistically, how many years of income will be needed, and how much per year?  18 or 21 may not be the goal in this case.

Will Government support be enough?

Can the guardian you've chosen to help your child financial afford to take on that responsibility?  They might want to, but can they?

Life Insurance on the lives of the parents or guardians is a key step to take.

Other steps to consider:

• Create a last Will and Testament:  A will should outlines how you want your assets (estate) distributed. Have a lawyer guide you through the process. This is not the time to Do-It-Yourself. Leaving assets to a special needs child directly may jeopardize any government aid they receive such as Social Security, MediCare, or Medicaid / MediCal.  So make sure your attorney helps you figure out if you should designate someone to take care of the estate.  In these cases a Will is not enough.  See Trusts below.
  
  
  Don't NOT buy insurance out of the fear of losing government support.  Do it the right way instead.  Government support with current government budgetary problems could make future support unreliable.
  
  
• Decide on the right Guardian(s): Appoint a trusted and responsible adult to make financial & medical decisions for the special needs child.  You might need to choose a short term and a long term guardian.  Example: the grandparents might be the best choice, but for how long?
  

Farmers Insurance & Facebook's CityVille: Free Stuff

Reprint from Blog.games.com

Zynga ensures CityVille fans new decorations with Farmers Insurance

by Joe Osborne, Posted Oct 21st 2011 6:20PM

Zynga likes giving its players a sense of security free stuff. We know that, and you know that. And Farmers Insurance certainly knows that--in fact, it's joining in on the fun. The Farmers Insurance headquarters has appeared in CityVille along with a very simple goal that will lead to some hopefully interesting rewards. All right, so there's no big Farmers Insurance reveal just yet, but believe us: It's a comin'.

Simply find the new Goal on the left hand side of the game screen, and follow it to place the new, massive (and heavily branded) building in your city. Then, click on it once to complete the structure. Now, here's the tricky part. Between now and Oct. 27, you must collect all five items in the Farmers Insurance Collection to receive the limited edition Farmers Insurance item.

Soles 4 Souls: Shoe Donation Program

"Hey Everyone,

 

The deli at my building (Eat Your Heart Out) is collecting shoes for this amazing charity, (see below), and if you have any shoes you'd like to donate, drop them off there  (3675 Ruffin Road, #130, San Diego, 92123) and they'll get them delivered." ~ Susanne Romo, Farmers Insurance.

Soles4Souls collects new shoes to give relief to the victims of abject suffering and collects used shoes to support micro-business efforts to eradicate poverty.

Soles4Souls’ other two divisions, Clothes4Souls and Hope4Souls, provide the same relief and support through clothing and other necessities.

Our History

Soles4Souls has a simple concept: we procure shoes and get them to those in need.

In the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami that hit Southeast Asia, Wayne Elsey, the Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls® Inc., felt compelled to do something. Like many of us, he did not know what to do. He was at home one night, watching TV and he saw a picture of a single shoe washing up on the beach. That triggered a few calls to some other executives in the footwear industry and the subsequent donation of a quarter of a million shoes to victims in the devastated countries.

A few months later when Katrina hit, Wayne called the same group of friends, and through our continued support, we have sent over a million pairs of shoes down to the gulf coast communities affected by the hurricane. In all honesty, he admits that he did not expect such an immediate and successful turnout. This left him wondering, why not start a non-profit and do this all the time? One year later, Soles4Souls was formally created.

Click to read more...

Thank You.


Originally published on The Susanne Romo Agency.



* The content of this blog is for informative purposes only. It does not reflect official standing of any agent, agency, or company mentioned on the blog. Nor is this blog necessarilly an endorsement. Please consult with your insurance, tax, or legal specialist before making any decisions. This blog is purely meant to spark the thought process.

Home Safety: A Safe & Sane Halloween

During the excitement of a holiday or special day like Halloween, often safety and common sense are neglected.  Take care before the big day.  Here's an article from Farmers Insurance...

Kids love Halloween: Help keep them safe

Remember getting all dressed up in your costume to go trick-or-treating? Witches, goblins, superheroes — all that and free candy too. To keep it fun, everyone needs to stay safe. Here are some tips to help make sure your kids have a safe and happy Halloween.

• When your child goes trick-or-treating, send a responsible adult or older teenager along.
• Walk on the sidewalks, not in the street.
• Cross only at corners.
• Plan your route and share it with your family.
• Carry a flashlight.
• Accept treats at the door; never go inside.
• Be cautious of animals.
• Always inspect treats before letting your children eat them.
• Wear clothing with reflective tape or markers.
• Visit homes that have the porch light on.
• Make sure your children’s costumes are non-flammable.
• Check to see that costumes are short enough that children won’t trip.
• Consider using Halloween face makeup in lieu of masks, which can limit children’s vision.

If you are a homeowner:

• Make sure your yard is clear of ladders, hoses, dog leashes and any other items that can trip a youngster.
• Keep your pets indoors and away from trick-or-treaters.
• Place candles and jack-o’-lanterns away from where trick-or-treaters may be walking.
• Make sure paper decorations cannot be blown into the way of a candle.
• Provide healthy food alternatives that are in sealed packages for trick-or-treaters. Put your address label on each packet, so parents know where the treats came from and that they’re safe.
• Non-food treats are fun too, such as coins, plastic rings, stickers and the like.

Halloween is an exciting time of year for kids. Make sure your kids have tons of fun and get lots of candy. Be trick-or-treat savvy and you can help ensure they have a safe holiday as well.

end of article

Here are some of our past disaster preparedness and safety blogs.  Please take time to read them and make some preparation. Your health and safety are our primary concern.

Maintain a defensible zone around your home 

Pet micro-chipping before disasters occur

Pets: Make your home a "bite-free zone"

Insurance Company Emergency Response Vehicles

Should I get Earthquake Insurance?

A look back at the Wildfires of 2007

The Tornadoes of 2011

The March of Dimes & Farmers Insurance unite in wake of the Alabama Tornadoes

Getting Ready for claims after accidents and disasters

Disaster Preparedness: Resources and Websites

Preparing for disasters when space and money is limited (includes Red Cross info)

Lessons from Hurricane Irene.

Farmers Insurance claims #: 1 - 800 - Help Point

Always make sure your auto, fire (home, condo, & renters), earthquake, flood, umbrella, and life insurances all properly work together to protect your home, your business, your family, your future.

The Platinum Elite Team:

Susanne Romo - Chula Vista & Kearny Mesa  

License #: 0720743

(858) 751-0956

Kevin Tuckey - Mission Valley

License #: 0B72553

(858) 751-1357

We use an investigative and educational process to ascertain your current risk exposure and deliver to you through our 'Value Insurance Proposal' (VIP) the correct levels of coverage at the right price without compromising vital coverages. You need to protect your family and the assets you have spent a lifetime acquiring.

With the Platinum Elite, there is a difference.  Discover:

Why Platinum!

* The content of this blog is for informative purposes only. It does not reflect official standing of any agent, agency, or company mentioned on the blog. Nor is this blog necessarily an endorsement. Please consult with your insurance, tax, or legal specialist before making any decisions. This blog is purely meant to spark the thought process.

Charitable Giving with Life Insurance

Americans are generous people and many regularly contribute to charities and non-profit organizations. People choose to give to charities for many reasons, most of them personal. Often, however, charitable giving provides help to those less fortunate than ourselves. Life insurance can be a particularly versatile and valuable asset to help you give to your favorite charity because it may help you make a more substantial contribution than might otherwise be able to afford. 

There are several methods for including life insurance in a charitable gift plan, some more complicated than others and each with its own potential advantages, disadvantages and tax implications. Keep in mind: The gifting technique appropriate for you depends on the size of your estate, the make-up of your assets, your current estate plan and a number of other factors. Consult your tax advisor before proceeding. 

Here are two of the more popular life insurance gifting techniques: 

1.  Gifting or donating a policy — Many people find that their life insurance needs decrease over time. If you have more life insurance than you expect to need, you may want to consider donating a policy to a charity. Gifting or donating a life insurance policy can greatly reduce the donor's taxable estate which can save thousands of dollars in estate taxes for upper-income taxpayers. 

In order to realize the full benefit of this gift, you must make sure that you retain no "incidents of ownership." For example, you must actually deliver the policy into the possession of the charity, and you must assign all rights in the policy to the charity, making it the owner of the policy as well as its beneficiary and giving it sole control over the policy's cash value. Discuss this gifting technique with your tax advisor so you can decide if this approach is appropriate for you. 

2.  Naming a charity as beneficiary — Naming the charity of your choice as the beneficiary of your life insurance policy may be the simplest way to provide the charity with the death proceeds of a life policy. You simply pay your monthly premiums and, upon your death, the full face value of your policy is contributed to that organization as a charitable gift. Again, consult with your tax advisor before proceeding to be sure you understand this approach to gifting. 

A lasting legacy 

When you gift a policy outright or name a charity as beneficiary, you can provide the charity of your choice with a large sum of money that can help to provide a lasting legacy for a cause that you believe in. 

For more information on the use of life insurance as a gifting tool speak with your tax or legal advisor. If you decide to purchase a life insurance policy please call me — I can work with you so you are sure that you have the coverage you want. 

This material is for general informational purposes only and is not legal or tax advice. The material may not reflect your particular circumstances. Please consult your tax or legal advisors for advice specific to your situation. 

Life insurance issued by Farmers New World Life Insurance Company, Mercer Island, WA 98040.

end of article

source: Farmers Insurance

Other life Insurance themed blogs:

The greatest need: Single Parents

Families with Special Needs Children

British Royal Marine spends a message with his life insurance

Advanced LUTCF Training for Platinum Elite Team Members

Life Insurance Awareness Month

The Romance-O-Meter: Insure Your Love

"We Are Farmers!"

Always make sure your auto, fire (home, condo, & renters), earthquake, flood, umbrella, and life insurances all properly work together to protect your home, your business, your family, your future.

Members of the Platinum Elite Team:

Susanne Romo

Chula Vista & Kearny Mesa

License #: 0720743

(858) 751-0956

Araceli De La Torre

Kearny Mesa 

License #: 0G17321

(858) 751-0956

Kevin Tuckey

Mission Valley

License #: 0B72553

(858) 751-1357

Tony Gutierrez

La Jolla 

License #: 0A87116

(858) 751-0956

We use an investigative and educational process to ascertain your current risk exposure and deliver to you through our 'Value Insurance Proposal' (VIP) the correct levels of coverage at the right price without compromising vital coverages. You need to protect your family and the assets you have spent a lifetime acquiring.

With the Platinum Elite, there is a difference.  Discover:

Why Platinum!

* The content of this blog is for informative purposes only. It does not reflect official standing of any agent, agency, or company mentioned on the blog. Nor is this blog necessarily an endorsement. Please consult with your insurance, tax, or legal specialist before making any decisions. This blog is purely meant to spark the thought process.

Airship Update: Farmers Zeppelin Reaches Oklahoma on National Tour

reprint from NewsOK.com:

Zeppelin Makes Oklahoma City Stop


The Farmers Airship, also known as the Eureka, made a stop in Oklahoma City on Monday. The 246-foot, 14,000 pound airship has been touring the country for the past six months, and is set to return to its California home about three weeks from now.

BY MATT DINGER mdinger@opubco.com
Published: September 20, 2011

The world's largest zeppelin made a stop in Oklahoma City on Monday.

The Farmers Airship, the world's largest airship and one of only two zeppelins
 in the world passes south of downtown Oklahoma City Monday, September 19, 2011.
 Photo by Doug Hoke, The Oklahoman. ORG XMIT: KOD

The Farmers Airship, also known as the Eureka, travels at an altitude of 1,000 to 1,500 feet, and is capable of speeds up to 75 mph, but typically travels at 35 to 40 mph.

Unlike hydrogen-filled airships of the past, this zeppelin is filled with helium, a nonflammable, lighter-than-air gas. What separates a blimp from a zeppelin is the rigid frame inside the ship, which means that it holds most of its shape even when emptied of gas and the engines are mounted on the side and the rear of the ship, rather than the cabin.

“We like to say, ‘We don't fly. We float,'” said David Finney, guest services supervisor for Airship Ventures, the California company that owns the airship.

Benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project: The San Diego Charger Girls' Calendar Unveiled

Back when I was just an average sports fan my impression of NFL cheerleaders was like most. Pretty faces and pom-poms used to add excitement during the game, ... especially if your team was behind.

Then I had the honor of being asked to work with the San Diego Charger Girls by Joyce, a good friend from Toastmasters.  I quickly realized I was wrong.

Apparently, volunteers from Toastmasters worked with them the last few years helping them refine their natural abilities, and confidence. Many of them are already experienced performers as dancers or gymnasts, but media interviews and public speaking, that's a whole new arena.

That year they needed one more volunteer, and seven years later, I still return every year. Wouldn't think otherwise. The team is lead by accomplished speaker and professional speech trainer Sheryl Roush of Sparkle Presentations.  Together, we've developed a very unique, customized public speaking program.

One of the layers of the Charger Girls that I didn't understand is that they are one of San Diego's most organized and accomplished charitable fundraising teams. They not only raise funds for charities themselves, they help other organizations raise money for their favored charities.  They also serve by giving their very valuable time.

2011-2012 San Diego Charger
Girls Swimsuit Calendar

In the past I blogged about how the Charger Girls helped us at Farmers Insurance raise money for the March of Dimes (our primary charity to support as a corporation) on two different occasions.  Click HERE for a second article.

The Junior Charger Girls program which allows local girls to practice with the squad and perform at a real game raises money every year for Make-A-Wish. Not only does this help the young ladies develop their dance skills and confidence, they learn the importance of helping others through their charitable works.

Every year members of the squad visit hospitals and local military facilities to lend their moral support and brighten their day.

2011-12 Charger Girls Calendar unveiling

The examples could go on, but one last way in which the CG's support the San Diego Community, as San Diego's Ambassadors, is through their annual swimsuit calendar.

You can always buy a copy at the Chargers' store, or through Chargers.com, but when you buy one from a Charger Girl directly, they not only sign it for you, a donation is made to charity. Each year the 28 CG's vote on who the calendar will benefit. This year they chose the Wounded Warrior Project. 


Click HERE to see the video coverage of the event from LivingFitMagazine.com.