317 N. 2nd Ave. - P.O. Box 231 - Iron River, MI 49935
906-265-9923 - toll-free: 888-635-1544 - fax: 906-265-3320
Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday

Personal Services

As an independent insurance agent, we work for you. We are not obligated to any particular insurance company, so we are able to choose the best protection for your individual needs.

Our Personal Services Includes:

 

Private Passenger Auto Insurance

A policy with state mandatory coverages only includes Bodily Injury, Property Damage, Property Protection, and Personal Injury Protection coverages. A policy with state mandatory coverages and physical damage includes these coverages along with Collision and Comprehensive.

Collision and Comprehensive coverages are required if your vehicle is financed or leased and are subject to a deductible.

Bodily Injury liability coverage protects you if you are involved in an accident in Michigan and you cause serious bodily injury to others. If you injure someone while driving in another state, you are under the law of that state and can be sued in the courts of that state and made to pay damages. We can provide you with the state minimum limits of $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident. However, it is our agency recommendation to have Bodily Injury liability limits of $300,000 per person and $300,000 per accident. Higher limits are available and are recommended.

Property Damage liability coverage protects you if you are involved in an accident outside of Michigan and you cause damage to another person's property. We can provide you with the state minimum limits of $10,000. However, we recommend higher limits of at least $300,000.

Personal Injury Protection coverage provides coverage for your own injuries without regard to fault. This coverage includes all of your medical costs incurred in an automobile accident as well as a limited amount of lost wages resulting from the accident.

Property Protection coverage provides coverage of up to $1 million for damage your car does in Michigan to other people’s property such as building, fences, and other people’s properly parked vehicles.

Collision coverage pays for damages to your vehicle when damaged by collision with another vehicle or object regardless of fault. Types of Collision available include:

Standard Collision – pays for damage to your vehicle regardless of fault.

Your deductible will be applied. If not at-fault, you will need to file a claim against the other party to recover your deductible amount.

Broad Form Collision – pays for damage to your vehicle regardless of fault. You only pay the deductible when more than 50% at-fault.

Limited Collision – pays for damages to your vehicle only if you were not more than 50% at-fault in the accident

Comprehensive coverage pays for damages to your vehicle causes by an accident other than collision, such as vandalism, theft, wind, fire or impact with an animal.

ADDITIONAL OPTIONAL COVERAGES

· Limited Property Damage Coverage

Provides up to $500 coverage for damage to each motor vehicle for which an insured becomes legally responsible to pay due to an at-fault accident. This amount would be paid if the insured is more than 50% at fault, and damage to the other party’s vehicle is not covered by their own policy, typically because of a collision deductible or lack of collision coverage. By law, $500 is the maximum limit allowed for this coverage.

· Uninsured Motorist Coverage

This coverage allows you to recover bodily injury damages due to an accident where the other party does not have insurance and is found to be legally liable.

· Underinsured Motorist Coverage

This coverage allows you to recover bodily injury damage due to an accident caused by another driver who has insufficient liability insurance.

· Towing and Labor Coverage

Pays for expenses incurred up to a limit selected when your auto is disabled. This coverage may be purchased if comprehensive or collision coverage is listed for the automobile.

· Extended Transportation Coverage

Provides reimbursement up to the selected coverage limit for rental car expenses incurred after a covered loss renders the insured vehicle unusable for more than 24 hours (must purchase comprehensive or collision to obtain this coverage)

Five Automobile Insurance Tips

  1. Increase your Bodily Injury Liability Limits - Go from limits of $100,000 / $300,000 to $250,000 / $500,000 for as little as $10 per auto for six months. If you hurt someone seriously in an auto accident you will be glad you increased your limits.
  2. Make sure you have Broad Collision for your auto - For around $20 per vehicle you can eliminate your deductible if the accident is not your fault, and you won’t have the hassle of trying to collect it from the other driver.
  3. Carry Mini-Tort Liability or Property Damage Buy Back coverage - If you are at-fault in an accident you can be held responsible for $500 of the other person’s auto repairs. For less than $5 we will cover that cost for you.
  4. If you have health insurance you can coordinate your automobile medical coverage with your present health insurance provider - This saves you approximately $15 per auto.
  5. Make sure your Uninsured and Underinsured Liability limits are equal to your Bodily Injury limits - If you or a family member is seriously hurt in an accident, and the at-fault driver doesn't have insurance or has very low limits, you can recover damages from your own policy.
    6.

 

 

Homeowners Insurance Coverage

The following coverage definitions should help you understand your homeowners insurance policy--but be sure to consult your insurance company representative to assure that you have the right coverage for your needs.

Dwelling Coverage

The dollar amount carried to cover your home and any structures attached directly to it. Ideally, the amount of coverage you carry should equal the cost of rebuilding your home after a total loss.

Other Structures Coverage

Covers other structures set apart from the dwelling on the residence premises, such as a detached garage. This coverage applies up to the limits provided in your policy and can be increased if necessary.

Personal Property Coverage

This coverage provides worldwide coverage for personal property owned or used by the insured.

Loss of Use

This coverage is available when you cannot live in your home due to a covered loss. It pays living expenses, which go over and above your normal living expenses up to the limit provided in your policy.

Liability/Coverage

Liability coverage protects you in two ways. First, it provides for your legal defense against a liability claim--whether the claim is legitimate or not. Second, it will pay any court judgments against you up to the policy limit.

Medical Payments

This pays emergency medical bills for anyone injured on your property or any injury caused by a member of your family or a pet, regardless of where it happens. All bills are paid, up to your policy limit, whether or not you're legally responsible. Homeowners policies have many other optional features available to you depending on your individual needs. These include earthquake and scheduled personal property coverage.

Five Homeowners Insurance tips to think about

  1. Make sure your home is insured to today's rebuilding costs - If you have remodeled, added on, or just have not had your insurance limit reviewed in several years, you may be under insured.
  2. Be sure you to specifically include coverage for jewelry, firearms, fine arts, antiques, and hearing aids - Standard homeowners policies have limitations on these items, so having them scheduled is the only way to insure them properly.
  3. Consider adding building ordinance and law coverage to your homeowners policy - If you have a partial or total fire city, state or Federal building codes may require new and costly features added to your home. Without this protection those costs are not covered by a standard homeowners policy, leaving you to pay for them.
  4. Increase the Personal Liability limits on your homeowners - Increasing your protection from $100,000 to $500,000 costs as little as $15 a year. No one wants to be a part of those outrageous lawsuits we sometimes read about.
  5. Make sure you have all your snowmobiles, boats, and four-wheelers covered - If they are older and you don't need physical damage coverage, don't forget about the liability risk. Call and make sure you are protected if an injury accident occurs.

 

Insuring Sports & Recreation Vehicles

Boats, jet skis, ATVs and recreational vehicles are exciting modes of transportation. They provide a great means of escape on weekends and vacations, but ownership of these comes with some risks.

While all recreational-type vehicles can be protected by the same basic coverages, each one has its own special requirements and restrictions.

Basic Coverages

At a minimum, boats, jet skis, ATVs and recreational vehicles need "liability" and "comprehensive" insurance coverage. Liability protects you if your vehicle injures someone or damages someone else's property, and comprehensive insurance protects your property in case of vandalism, damage or destruction caused by theft or fire. Depending on the age and value of your investment, you may want to purchase collision insurance, which provides coverage for damage you cause to your own property.

 

 

Life Insurance

Protecting  your family

One of life's rewards for working hard and saving for a rainy day is achieving financial security. One of life's realities, however, is the possibility of premature death, leaving financial responsibilities for the loved ones left behind.

There is a solution.... life insurance. Life insurance can create an immediate cash fund for loved ones. So, even if death is premature, financial security for your family is possible.

What Types of Life Insurance Are Available?
Permanent Insurance is designed to provide life-long coverage with benefits and features usually not available with term life insurance policies.  Cash value is available for emergencies, family members can be included and coverage premium payments generally remain level.  The following permanent programs are available.

· Universal Life Insurance

· Whole Life Insurance

· Simplified Issue Whole Life Insurance

· Simplified Issue Children's Advantage Plan Plus® Life Insurance

Universal Life Insurance
Provides immediate cash value, flexible premium payment plans, tax deferred savings and guaranteed death benefits. Universal Life programs can be custom designed to fit individual protection needs, financial security needs and supplement retirement needs.

Whole Life Insurance
Provides level death benefit protection with level premiums and guaranteed cash values. Whole Life insurance can provide needed cash value for emergency family needs and can help supplement future retirement income.

Simplified Issue Whole Life
This plan offers guaranteed premiums, death benefit protection and cash values to age 110 for insureds age 50-80. Provides coverage for final expenses, such as medical and hospital expenses, outstanding debts and funeral costs. Easy-to-complete short form application with minimal underwriting requirements.

Simplified Issue Children's Advantage Plan Plus®
This plan offers guaranteed premiums, death benefit protection and cash values to age 110 for insureds 15 days through age 17. The death benefit will increase automatically 50% at age 18 and then again at age 25, with no increase in premium. This policy is written by the Auto Owners Life Insurance Company.


Term Insurance provides coverage for a specified period of time such as 10, 20 or 30 years.  It is designed to protect short-term needs such as debt obligations, mortgages or protection while children are young.  Typically, term insurance does not provide cash value.  The following term products may fit your needs.

· 10, 20 and 30 Year Level Term Insurance

· Mortgage Decreasing Term Insurance

· Simplified Issue 5 Year Level Term Insurance

10, 20 and 30 Year Level Term Insurance
These programs provide level death benefits for either 10, 20 or 30 years. They can include a guaranteed premium and renewal benefit at the policyholder's option.

Mortgage Decreasing Term
Provides decreasing death benefit protection for a specified term of 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 years.

Simplified Issue 5 Year Level Term
This plan provides low-cost level death benefit protection for short-term needs such as debt obligations. Easy-to-complete short form application with minimal underwriting requirements.

Optional benefits

Disability Waiver of Premium
Waives premium payments (or cost of insurance charges if Universal Life Insurance) if the insured becomes disabled for six months or longer.

Accidental Death
Provides additional death benefits should death occur as a result of an accident.

Family Plan
Insured's spouse and/or children can be added for life insurance protection.

Mortgage Payment Disability Benefit
Provides money to continue making debt obligation payments if the insured becomes totally disabled for 60 days or longer.

Payor Death and Disability
This additional benefit waives the premium payments (or cost of insurance charges if Universal Life) on a child's policy if the premium payor becomes disabled or dies.

Guaranteed Purchase Option
Provides opportunities to purchase additional life insurance protection at certain ages without proving insurability.

 

Disability Income Insurance

Life-style protection for both you and your family

People work hard to afford what they enjoy in life and to pay their continuing expenses such as food, clothing, shelter, utilities, insurance premiums and entertainment. Their ability to earn an income is their most valuable asset. If that ability is interrupted because of an accident or sickness, they may find it difficult to maintain their standard of living and impossible to plan for the future. Unfortunately, the chance of a disabling accident or sickness is greater than most people think.

· 1 out of 4 workers, age 35-65, will be disabled for 90 days.*

· Disability is the cause of nearly 50% of all home foreclosures.*

· Before age 65, if a disability lasts 90 days, it is expected to last an average of 2-1/2 years.**

· 80% of U.S. workers will exhaust their savings in only two months without the ability to earn an income.**

* National Association of Life Underwriters
** Commissioner's Disability Table





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