The Rose Parade: Married on the "Love Float"

Reprint: LAist.com.

Engaged? How You Can Win a Wedding Atop 'The Love Float' at 2013 Rose Parade

If your dream wedding involves saying "I do" atop a very public parade float, you are lucky in love. Farmers Insurance has announced its entry into the 124th Rose Parade, one that asks engaged-to-be-married couples for their immediate participation.

"The Love Float" will host a live wedding on New Year's Day 2013, offering one lucky couple "the chance to share [their] love with 50 million television viewers and 900,000 parade goers," according to the Farmers Facebook page. Couples must submit their entry to the nationwide contest by October 14, after which a panel of judges will choose up to four finalists to be put to a public vote.

The complete "Dream Wedding" package includes the following: a trip to Pasadena for the winning couple and up to six witnesses, the exclusive opportunity to get hitched atop "The Love Float," a wedding dress for the bride, a tuxedo for the groom, his and hers wedding rings, hair and makeup services for the bride on the big day, marriage license fees and of course, two tickets to the 2013 Rose Bowl Game. Four finalists will score a $500 gift card from Farmers.

Life Insurance: Preparing for Change

One thing is permanent: Change! 

reprint from Farmers

Do you periodically evaluate your life insurance needs? If not, perhaps you should. As circumstances in our lives change, our life insurance needs may change as well. That’s why it’s a good idea to review your life insurance needs annually — more often if significant changes or life events occur. Here are some major life events that might trigger the need to re-evaluate your life insurance coverage: 

The birth or adoption of a child — If you have children, you want to see them realize their hopes and dreams. These days, it’s difficult enough to make that happen with you in the picture. What if you or your spouse — or worse yet, both of you — were suddenly out of the picture? Would there be enough income to pay for day care, college, and everything in between? Life insurance may help you answer “yes” to these questions. 

Change in marital status — If you’re newly married or just getting married, you probably share many dreams for the future — you also share each other’s financial obligations. If one of you were suddenly removed from the picture, would the surviving spouse have enough money to cover final expenses, eliminate debts such as credit card balances and car loans, and buy some time to adjust to a new way of life? If one of you were to die prematurely, life insurance may help ensure that these needs will be met.

If you’re on your own now, whether through death or divorce, you may want to reassess your overall financial situation, including your life insurance needs. It’s almost like starting from scratch again because being on your own will likely affect just about every financial calculation you can think of. 

Home purchase — If you and your spouse recently purchased a home, there’s a good chance you acquired a mortgage as well. Could your spouse manage the mortgage payments without your income? What about property taxes, routine maintenance, utilities and unforeseen repairs? How long would your spouse have before your dream house was up for sale? Life insurance coverage may help keep the family you love in the home they love. 

Job change — If you recently changed jobs, a salary increase may have come with it. You may not realize it, but when your income increases, your spending tends to increase too. If something were to happen to you, you’d probably want your family to be able to maintain their new and improved lifestyle. That’s why it’s a good idea to reassess your life insurance coverage whenever your income rises. 

Planning for college — College costs continue to increase so you may want to begin your college savings efforts sooner, in order to achieve your goals. Having a regular savings strategy is just one part of a balanced college funding plan. You may also want to consider a smart risk management strategy to help ensure that your college savings goals will be achieved even if you’re not there, and that strategy may include life insurance coverage. 

Call me. Things may change but I can help you analyze your needs so that you can determine an appropriate strategy to support your individual objectives.

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

end of article

Our other life Insurance themed blogs:

Charitable Giving with Life Insurance

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

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 future.

Home Safety: Your Driveway, Your Responsibility

reprint from Farmers Insurance

Your own personal little highway:
Your driveway 

You may think of your driveway as a simple strip of concrete that takes you from your private property to public roadways. Or perhaps its brick pavers are an attractive part of your curb appeal. In either case, your driveway is your responsibility — make sure it’s properly maintained so it doesn’t become a hazard. 

Trip and fall
Driveways don’t stay smooth forever — uneven pavers or driveway cracks and potholes are a common problem. They compromise the appearance of the driveway, can be hard on your car and most importantly, can present a tripping hazard. If someone trips and falls on your property you may be legally responsible for their injuries. And some homeowners insurance policies may not offer enough protection against major personal liability claims. 

What would you do if a mishap occurred on your property and caused damage or injuries beyond the terms of your homeowners insurance? Worse yet, what would you do if you found yourself named as the defendant in a multi-million dollar lawsuit because of damages or injuries that occurred on your property? We don’t expect the unthinkable to happen but sometimes it does. Although there’s no way to completely avoid the possibility of being sued, there is a way to help reduce the potential impact of a devastating lawsuit: personal liability coverage. 

Do you have an umbrella?
Farmers Personal Liability Umbrella insurance supplements the liability coverage you already have through your homeowners or auto insurance and provides an extra layer of protection through increased or excess coverage limits. The umbrella policy kicks in when you reach the limit on your underlying liability coverage. Most importantly, the cost of your legal defense is provided for a covered loss. 

Plan for the unexpected 
Most of us work very hard to accumulate assets — it’s important to try to protect them. You never know when the unexpected may occur — make sure you’re prepared and don’t forget your umbrella. Call me for more information. 

You may want to consider purchasing a Personal Umbrella policy if: 

• You want greater liability coverage than you already have through your homeowners or auto insurance. 
• Your total assets exceed your underlying liability limits. 
• You want to make sure your current assets and future earnings are protected. 
• You earn or have the potential to earn significant income. 
• You have or have the potential to have assets over $1 million, including property and vehicles. 
• You are financially responsible for a young or inexperienced driver. 
• You frequently carpool young children. 
• You own or operate an aircraft or boat. 
• You own a swimming pool, trampoline or dog. 
• You own waterfront property, a farm or a ranch. 
• You employ one or more people in your home.

end of article

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 future.

Life Insurance: Difficult Decisions

reprint for Farmers

The difficult discussion?
The important discussion 

According to LIMRA’s 2010 Life Insurance Ownership Study, a study that’s conducted every six years, many U.S. households are underinsured: 

Only 44 percent of U.S. households have individual life insurance.
Half of U.S. households (58 million) say they need more life insurance.
Among households with children under age 18, arguably those with the greatest need for life insurance, 11 million have no life insurance coverage.

Many families find life insurance a difficult subject to discuss, so they avoid it. Perhaps discussing the possibility of a spouse’s unexpected death is uncomfortable, but talking about life insurance is critical to the whole family. Here are some tips that may help you start the discussion and keep it on track: 

* Talk before you’re in a financial crisis — Pick a time when you are both relaxed and keep it positive. Try to discuss it as you would any other family issue or aspect of your financial planning.

*  Make a plan or revise your existing plan — Incorporate life insurance into your overall financial strategy — in fact, you may want to consider making it a primary component.

*  Set a monthly budget — Determine what you can afford and call me. I can work with you so you can determine a realistic strategy that you can stick to.

Although the subject may be difficult or awkward, talking about life insurance may be one of the most important discussions to have. And call me to learn more about the life insurance options that may help protect your family’s future.

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

end of article

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 future.

Farmers Insurance & Little League Unite in the Name of Good Sportsmanship

reprint MLB.com

Old, wise message finds new baseball audience

'He's Just a Little Boy' poem being posted at Little League fields

By Spencer Fordin / MLB.com | 08/04/12 1:44 PM ET

It's an urgent message of civility that echoes through the ages, a plea for compassion that comes from an author beyond the grave. And against all odds, it resonates better than ever today. 

Joel McKinnon didn't immediately realize what he had stumbled upon when he found a poem called "He Is Just a Little Boy" posted at a Little League field. McKinnon simply took a picture of the poem and posted it to his Facebook page, and suddenly an entire movement blossomed around it. 

Now, McKinnon and his employer -- Farmers Insurance -- find themselves printing the inspirational poem onto signs and shipping them to fields around the country. Around 1,500 fields have requested copies of the poem, which urges spectators to take the feelings of players into account. 

"I was doing nothing more than what's already been done: Sharing the message," said McKinnon. "I've always been a fan of positive reinforcement. You don't push people down. You lift them up. You're not always going to win, and when you don't, there's a right way and a wrong way to handle it."

Kids, believe it or not, usually grasp that lesson on their own through experience and through the tutelage of their coaches. Parents sometimes get carried away, though, a phenomenon that's as true today as it was when Chaplain Bob Fox penned his poem sometime before World War II.

McKinnon said he believed the poem had been written sometime in the '20s or 30's, but its anti-heckling refrain bears ample currency today. The poem dramatizes the all-or-nothing stakes of competition and urges fans to watch the game politely lest they ruin the game for the kids.

Kasey Kahne Wins the Lenox 301 in New Hampshire

Congratulation to Kasey Kahne for his win today at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the Lenox 301.  See article.


We're biased.  We're big fans of the Farmers Insurance #5 car.

For more Nascar info, click HERE.


* 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.

Kasey Kahne and Stop Texts, Stop Wrecks

Some of you may know Kasey Kahne as the driver of Nascar's #5 race car sponsored by Farmers Insurance.

Saw this on Facebook.  It does make the
point about texting and driving.

While he looks to set records for speed on the track, when on the road with the rest of us, driver's safety is paramount.

See his new public service announcement for "Stop Texts. Stop Wrecks." below.

Platinum Elite Marketing wishes you safe travels as you go to work, school, and out to have fun.  Please pull over to the side of the road if you really need to read or send a text message.

Our Farmers agents happily pay auto claims when we need to, but like you, we don't want to pay more often than we need to.  Please avoid distracted driving.

Even worse, we hate paying life insurance and auto insurance claims at the same time.

Our past Kasey Kahne blogs:

Kasey Kahne Visits the University of Farmers.

Kahne Updates: #Farmers5.

Gearing up for the 2012 Sprint Cup Series.

Kahne Partners with Farmers Insurance.

Past Related Blogs:


Zero Tolerance for Texting.
Texting Documentary.
The Swoop & Squat.
Farmers Insurance Distracted Driving Commercial.
Distracted Driving: A Simple Kiss While Driving?
Insuring Old Cars vs. Classic Cars
Auto safety: Critters in the Road
Understanding Auto Insurance: Mom, the Chauffeur
Comp Coverage for Older Cars
Adding Umbrella Coverage to improve your Auto Insurance
Driving Safety: National Tire Safety Week
Caliber Collision: What to Expect in a Claim
The CHP's "Every 15 Minutes Program"



* 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.

Newest Farmers Insurance Commercial: Up on the Roof

With "fire season" approaching fast, don't forget to look up.

Are your trees or landscaping touching your house, patio, or roof?  That's an easy conduit for heat and fire transferal from your neighbor's house which might be on fire.  Easy way to quickly spread to your house.  See our previous blog on roof safety and maintaining a defensible zone.

Are your rain gutters full of dried leaves and debris?  Great fire starter.

The type and condition of your roof has a big impact on qualifying for home / fire insurance, and the price you will pay.

Talk with a Farmers Insurance agent like the one's Platinum Elite Marketing develops (see below) to discuss protecting your home all year round, not just fire season.

See the newest "Roof" themed commercial from Farmers Insurance staring Professor Burke played by J.K. Simmons.

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 future.

Some Previous University of Farmers Commercials:
Marvel's Avengers.

The Jack in the Box.

Helping Get Through the Maze.

Auto Safety: Critters in the Road.
The X-Men.

Hailstones.
Home Safety: Dryer Fires.
Driving Safety: Distracted Driving.
Lobsters at Work / Business Insurance.
Cat Burglars and Home Insurance.
Gatorade Bath / University of Farmers #1.

Farmers Insurance claims #: 1 - 800 - Help Point

"We Are Farmers!"

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

The Platinum Elite Headquarters can be found in the Farmers Insurance Building at:

1011 Camino del Rio South
Suite 100
San Diego, CA 92108

The Platinum Elite Headquarters can be reached at: 
(619) 296-FARMERS
(619) 296-3276

To work with the Platinum Elite as an agent, or even agency owner, contact out headquarters.

Farmers Insurance & the Platinum Elite 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 Farmers Insurance & 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 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.

Lessons Learned: Power Outage Gives Preview of Next Emergency

On September 8th, 2011, a large scale power outage cascaded from Arizona into much of Southern California, and even into parts of Mexico, and New Mexico.

Safety Kit for Emergencies 

For me, it lasted about 6 hours, for others in stretched into the next day.

Warnings of contaminated water in some parts.  Warning of power surges when everything comes back on line.  Warnings of food poisoning.  In the end, for most it was an inconvenience and an even slower commute on the way home.

Judging by the long line outside the supermarket down the street from my house, I'm guess most weren't prepared though, or at least they assumed much worse.

Advanced Platinum Elite Training: The LUTCF and the American College

One way the Platinum Elite Marketing coaches it's insurance agents and agency owners to succeed is to assist them in achieving advanced educational designations such as the LUTCF through the American College.

This August, Don Swanson and Kevin Tuckey will be conducting the next in a series of classroom based training classes for the LUTCF designation.  This one will focus on "The Essentials of Annuities".  In the recent past we've done Marketing, Ethics, Business Insurance, and Retirement Plans.

When the degree is achieved, those letters behind the agent's name shows their clients they've committed the time it takes to be a true professional agent and provide the best advice and service possible.  Not all insurance agents are the same.

If interested in more information about these LUTCF classes, or about working with the  Platinum Elite Marketing Group as an agent, or agency owner, call 619-296-3276.

Or, e-mail kevin.dswanson@farmersagency.com.