Fred Carpenter Insurance

Several weeks ago Nan and I were driving to Los Angeles to see some friends and for me to visit some clients. As we were going down Highway 5 we noticed all of the empty fields that several years ago were green and full of produce. All of the fruits and vegetables grown in the Central Valley of California has supplied the nation with produce since I can remember. Now these fields are just dry and barren. The drought really hits home when you see this first hand. There is an occasional green area, those farms have drilled into their ground water. The problem with that process is when the ground water is gone there will be absolutely no water available. Another result of using ground water is that the ground on top is sinking. Farmers that are doing this process have seen roads sink as much 2 feet.
The bottom line here is that the drought is really a serious matter.
It's a major concern in Northern Nevada but nothing like what California is facing. Let's hope this giant El Nino that is being predicted will get all of this back on the right track.

More things I have learned. Even the simplest task can be meaningful if you do it in the right spirit. I've learned that it's not important what others think of me but what I think of me. I've learned that if I decide something with kindness it's usually the right decision. I've learned that if you spread peas out on the plate it looks like you ate more. (this usually only worked once)

Some more quick numbers regarding personal umbrellas.Over 80% of all claims for Umbrellas are from auto accidents. 38% of those claims are involved with people on bicycles, motorcycles and pedestrians. If you are involved in a claim with any of those situations I just mentioned, even if you are not at fault you will lose if you have to go to court. You insurance company will try everything they can to settle out of court. So a word to the wise ,slow down and be careful out there.

I spoke with several business owners the past several weeks and to my amazement the have never considered the importance of Business Income coverage. This is a coverage that is part of a Business Package insurance policy but seems to be taken for granted. It can certainly be increased because it should also cover the group health plan, payroll and many other important items that can add up and pretty soon the business is in the red.
Over the years I have seen several busineses after a catastropic loss that actually have gone out of business because they did not have enough of this valuable coverage. Get an appointment with your agent or broker and make sure everything is covered. Owning a business is stessful enough and to increase this coverage is money well spent.

Lately I have been thinking about what I have learned in life so far. I think I will post some of these every once in awhile.
I've learned that most of the things I worry about never happen. I've learned that every great achievement was once considered impossible. I've learned you can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk. (that was about 7 or 8 years old and it was big)
To be continued.

I saw on Linkedin that I was being congratulated for being an agent with Hinman and Associates for 3 years. I thought it was only 2. Time flies when you are having fun. Actually it is fun. The insurance business is very much the same as it has always been but also VERY different. Being an independent agent is much easier than being a captive agent as I was for 40 years. When I tell people I enjoy the insurance business they look at me like I am crazy. I like getting to know people. I like helping them, making sure they are adequately protected and saving them some money. What's wrong with that.

Auto insurance typically consists of Bodily Injury and Property Damage.
The Property damage coverage is for the injured party's car as well as loss of income which can be significantly more than the damage to the vehicle. I recommend a minimum of $100,000 to my clients.
Bodily Injury is for medical costs required. An Umbrella Policy added to both of these would cover any shortage in most situations.