JANUARY 2021

Meeting Change and Certainty with Ease and Skill

If there’s anything that 2020 taught us, it’s that change and uncertainty are part of the very foundations of life. One thing that is certain, however, is that we all go through these times of upheaval at some point. Often, we’re told by loved ones to "be strong" or that we’ll "get through this," but how do we practically achieve this?

The answer is resilience. It’s the ability to bounce back and successfully recover from trauma or painful experiences, and it can do a lot to make life a little easier, especially if you make a concerted effort to build up your reserves.

According to psychotherapist Joshua Miles, resilience is important for several reasons. Not only does it enable us to develop protection mechanisms, but it also helps us maintain balance by improving learning skills, increasing physical health and boosting the immune system.

There are several ways you can work on developing your resilience. Start with making small lifestyle changes that feed positively into your mental well-being. This can take the form of meditation, walking, listening to music, developing your hobbies and making time for family and friends. Practice being straightforward and assertive with others. If unreasonable demands are made of you, be prepared to say how you feel. It’s okay to say no.

Look after your physical health by developing regular sleeping patterns, exercising and eating a healthy, balanced diet. Lastly, be less hard on yourself and celebrate your wins. If you don’t achieve what you aim for, forgive yourself. Remember that resilience is about dusting yourself off and trying again.

Heart Ice Cream Sandwiches

The flavors and decoration choices for these are endless. Get creative! Super easy and fun to make, kids can join in too.

Yields 6

• 12 cookies (from scratch or ready-made)
• tub of slightly softened ice cream
• decorations of choice in shallow containers (such as red and white sprinkles, heart sprinkles, chopped nuts or chocolate chips)

Using a heart cookie cutter, carefully cut out heart shapes from cookies.

Place 6 cookies on parchment paper.

For each heart, first place a mini scoop of ice cream onto each round part of the heart and then one mini scoop on the bottom section of the heart. Squish ice cream down and together a bit to fill in heart completely. Place another heart cookie on top. Make sure it is securely stuck down so it doesn’t slide around.

Dip sandwich in sprinkles and gently roll around until ice cream is covered. Place in freezer-safe container with parchment paper in freezer to set. Repeat for each heart. If you need to layer them, parchment paper in between stops them from sticking together.

Quick Quiz

Each month I'll give you a new question.

Just send us an email and submit your answer.

Where was Michael Jordan born? 
 
Last month's winners were:

Larry Johnson
Angela Clayborne
Christy Schwarzwalter

Get Our Free Working From Home Survival Guide

As we continue to social isolate, working from home (WFH) life can start to feel overwhelming. I’ve put together a helpful guide to help you bust some bad habits and help you become your most productive self.

Download it Here

Are You Keeping Your New Gifts Safe and Insured?

Valentine’s Day often means flowers, chocolates and a nice dinner at home or out on the town. It also sometimes means the purchase of expensive jewelry, electronics or other items. Here are five tips to keep those new gifts protected.

Don’t store gifts in a car. If your car is broken into, your insurance may cover the damage to your car but not the loss of the gifts inside. Once you are home, bring the gifts inside right away. Don’t leave them in your car.

If you must store gifts in the car, be safe. Store your gifts out of sight in the trunk or glove box, not under coats or blankets. That’s an invitation for thieves to break into your car. If you have multiple shopping stops, move your car multiple times. Thieves keep an eye out for shoppers who drop off items and go back into the mall.

Your home should always look occupied. Around holidays like Valentine’s Day, when there is a lot of shopping happening, thieves will target empty homes and break in and look for gifts and boxes from stores.

Keep receipts and get appraisals. If the value of an item is disputable, it can’t be properly insured. Receipts and appraisals prove value. If you buy art, collectibles or jewelry, make sure you don’t skip the important step of getting an appraisal.

Expand your insurance coverage. As soon as you buy an expensive item, call us to expand your coverage and make sure your new gifts are safe with the option that is right for you.

Check Out our New Insurance Agent App 

Submit a claim the right way, pay bills, check your policies, get an auto ID card, email/text/call your agent or customer service person, inventory your valuables... you can do it all anywhere with our new app. Click on the image above for a short video, then click on Apple or Google to get it:

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or

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More Good Words for Our Staff

"Ryan has been the best agent! I moved with him over from as a client from his previous employer and now hold several different policies with him. Any time I have a question about my policy he responds quickly and I always appreciate that about him. I have referred him in the past and will continue to do so."

- Sabrinia-Amanada Q. 

Even More Good Words for Our Staff

"All customer service is handled quickly, carefully and professionally."

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True or False: Insurance Is Cheaper for Leased Cars

Cars are significant investments for millions of Americans, from the price of the monthly payments to gas and maintenance costs. It’s helpful when you can save on car insurance. Some wonder whether insurance is cheaper for leased cars or cars that you buy outright.

However, the idea that insurance is cheaper for leased cars is nothing but a myth. Car insurance is not based on how you purchase a car. Car insurance is primarily based on your driving record and the make, model and year of the car.

One of the considerations with leasing a car is that you may have to add the lender to your insurance policy, given that they have an interest in the vehicle. Thus, if you get into a crash and make a claim, the lender will be able to recover the portion they are still owed.

Besides that, the coverage options for car insurance on a leased versus owned vehicle should remain the same. The premium has to do with the condition of the car and the cost to make repairs, not the lease option. Typically, the newer, more expensive and rarer the vehicle, the higher your insurance premium will be due to the higher cost of making repairs.

Whether you buy or lease a car, consult with us for sample quotes before you make a decision that could cost you thousands in the long run. We are always here to help, and we’re just a phone call or email away.

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