R&R Insurance Blog

Group disability insurance is most often less expensive - but beware, the benefits are almost always less as well. If you rely solely on the group disability plan, you may be underinsured.

As I explain in this quick video, there is significance to being able to receive both the policy's benefits and also social security disability benefits. If you are in a Group policy, you only get the group policy benefits.  If you have an individual policy, you get both the monthly benefits of the individual policy PLUS the social security benefits you are entitled to.

Learn more in my short video....

Physicians and professionals wanting more information about R&R Insurance's disability products should contact Donald Levings, 262-953-7124.

The term "Own Occupation" is extremely important for physicians who have a main bread-winning aspect of their profession.

The example that I give in this short video is of an Orthopedic Surgeon. Not being able to perform surgery will significantly reduce income for this professional.

Learn more in my short video...

Physicians and professionals wanting more information about R&R Insurance's disability products should contact Donald Levings, 262-953-7124.

Clients often ask if they should be concerned when their MOD is released from the bureau. Very often we find mistakes in the released MOD and can save clients thousands of dollars by verifying their MOD.

Nancy McMurry, Resource Center Director, explains some of the things we look for in this verification process...

Wisconsin businesses interested in knowing more about our workers compensation premium reduction programs, or more about our MOD verification process, contact a knowledgebroker today.

The tornado count for this year is extremely high and so are the losses. It is estimated that the losses from tornadoes, hail and high winds that struck during late February and early March alone are between $1 billion and $2 billion.

It is estimated more than 150 tornadoes touched down between February 28 and March 3 with most damage occurring in the states of Alabama, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana and Tennessee according to the risk modeling firm EQECAT.

Many of the tornadoes had winds between 136 mph to 165 mph according to Risk Management Solutions and were classified as an EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. The tornadoes spanned as far south as northern Florida.

What does this mean for us in Wisconsin? National carriers will likely use this in calculating upcoming increases.

Wisconsin residents, if you would like more information, please contact us.

I am often asked, "Why should I have my insurance with R&R Insurance?" or "Why should I be with an independent insurance agent?"  Well, in honor of David Letterman, here are my top 10 reasons why you should have your insurance with R&R Insurance Services, Inc., an Independent Insurance Agency!
 
10. Choices, choices, choices.  We represent many insurance companies.  Agents that represent State Farm, Allstate, American Family (referred to as direct writers) only represent one company - themselves.   The big difference is we are not a "one size fit's all".   We will find the best combination of coverage, price and service, the best value for your insurance dollar.  We don't take a cookie cutter approach to your insurance.

9. We represent you, not the insurance company.  What happens when you work with a direct writer or a 1-800 number and have a problem?  We are all employees of R&R Insurance, not the insurance company.  If we ever have an issue (or if there is a dispute of any kind, we go to bat for you because you are our livelihood. 
 
8. The insurance companies we represent compete for your business!  They know that they need to be competitive to win your business.  This ensures that you don't pay any more than you need to for your insurance coverage.
 
7. Most of the insurance companies we represent offer a package policy.  They can combine your home, autos, recreational vehicles, personal umbrella, etc. all in one policy.  This saves you money, prevents gaps in coverage, and helps organize all of your insurance into one, neat, concise portfolio.
  
6. Your needs can change and your insurance needs to keep up with those changes. Do you have a newly licensed teenager or did you pick up a speeding ticket? We'll match you with the market that is best for you - today.
 
5. You only talk to licensed agents when you have questions.  Our agents routinely take more education than the required 24 credits in two years.  We also have a program where our employees are encouraged and rewarded for continuing their insurance education beyond the 24 hour requirement.  We take our title as Knowledge Brokers very seriously!

4. We want you to be an informed consumer! We have a website and resource center that can help.We also have Knowledge Brokers in business, health, and bonds to answer your questions.

3. We live where we work. We have multiple office locations but we're anchored in your backyards. We also service much more and if you can't make it to our office - we typically are able to use technology to get the job done!

2. We reinvest back in our communities where we work and live. It's not always just donating money (but we do - Toys for Tots, Hunger Task Force, Big Brothers Big Sisters etc. to name a few.)  It's the time that our employees put in to serve those around us.
 
1. Our focus will always be you.  We have understood this since 1975.  It is the focus of every employee here at R&R Insurance. Thanks for having your insurance with R&R Insurance Services, an independent insurance agency!

Wisconsin residents, please contact Dan Wolfgram directly with questions.

Are you considering buying a new car or are you nervous that you won't be able to afford the insurance premiums? Every year, autos are ranked how expensive they are to insure. Rates are based on insurance for a single, 40-year old male who commutes 12 miles to work each day.

The list for the least expensive vehicles to insure:

1. Toyota Sienna LE
2. Toyota Sienna 4 Cyl
3. Jeep Patriot Sport
4. Jeep Compass Sport
5. GMC Sierra K1500 Regular Cab
6. Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Regular Cab
7. Dodge Grand Caravan SXT
8. Ford Escape XLS
9. Toyota Sienna 6 Cyl
10. Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Extended Cab

The list for the most expensive vehicles to insure:

1. Audi R8 Spyder Quattro Convertible
2. Mercedes CL600 BI-T Couple
3. Mercedes S600 BI-T
4. Audi R8 4.2 Quattro Coupe
5. Porsche Panamera Turbo
6. BMW 750i Hybrid
7. Porsche 911 Turbo Convertible
8. Porsche 911 Turbo S Convertible
9. Mercedes CL65 AMG Coupe
10. BMW 750Li Hybrid

Wisconsin residents looking for affordable alternatives to lowering your auto insurance rates, contact a knowledgebroker. 

Did you know that approximately 90% of insurers use insurance scoring to help determine your premium? Insurance companies justify the use of insurance scores by citing studies that apparently show a positive correlation between credit scores and insurance claims. The use of insurance scores allows insurance companies to give better rates to customers who are less likely to have losses.

How does the use of an insurance score help me?
Since insurance scores have been used, competition in the auto insurance market has increased significantly – leading to more choices for consumers. The more competitive the market is, the more you as a consumer will benefit. In addition, the use of credit-based insurance scoring has led to an expansion of eligibility for insurance.

What is an insurance score?
An insurance score is a number, ranging from 100-900, that predicts the future loss of an individual insurance policyholder or applicant. It is not a credit score. A credit score is also a number, generally ranging from 300-850, but it predicts the likelihood of future delinquency on credit accounts of a credit prospect or customer.

Does your income or address have an impact on your insurance score?
Income and address do not play a part in the insurance score. Neither do the following criteria:

• Income
• Ethnic group
• Religion
• Gender
• Address
• Marital status
• Nationality

How to improve your insurance score
The best way to help keep your insurance score high (and your insurance premiums low) is to keep your credit score high. More about credit scoring and how to improve your score... 

Take the same amount of caution with your credit score as you would with your driving - being responsible with both can save you serious amounts of money in insurance premiums.

Wisconsin residents can improve their insurance score! If you are interested in your insurance score or lowering insurance premiums, contact a knowledgebroker.

How does a family bounce back from catastrophe like a fire? Like so many victims of wildfires - the Martins were devastated. They were unexpectedly hit by a wildfire which destroyed at least 1,500 homes from Santa Barbara to the Mexican border during the 2007 California wildfires. Read the true story about a family who's home was destroyed, featured in the January 2008 issue of Money magazine. This story reiterates the importance replacement value has in your homeowners insurance policy.

The Martins are also facing severe financial repercussions. They were initially elated at receiving $1.1 million from Farmers, their insurance company, just two weeks after the fire ($785,000 of the total was earmarked for rebuilding the house). The likely real cost: $1.35 million." 

Would your insurance cover the cost of rebuilding your house if it was destroyed by fire or other natural disaster? Just because you see "replacement" in your policy, you can’t be sure the insurance company will pay to replace everything and cover the costs. Most policies cover replacement cost for damage to the structure. But sometimes rebuilding costs can push above homeowners policy limits, leaving you without enough money to cover the bill. To protect against such a situation, you need guaranteed replacement coverage. Guaranteed replacement coverage pays the full cost of replacing or repairing a damaged or destroyed home, even if it is above the policy limit.

Talk to your agent to find out if your current homeowner’s policy provides 100% complete Replacement Cost Coverage on your home and contents. R&R offers carriers that have no cap on the replacement cost.

Wisconsin residents, please contact a knowledge broker for a quote with this coverage included.

The insurance deductible is the portion of the bill for which you're responsible in the event of a covered loss, such as an accident or a theft. Your insurance company deducts the amount from the settlement you receive, which explains its name.

Two factors will determine whether you should adjust your deductible: your finances and your driving habits.

1. Finances:  Review your budget to make sure you could pay the deductible in the event of an accident.
2. Driving Habits: If you have a reoccurring history of having accidents, the more likely you are to have another; therefore, it makes sense to keep a lower deductible.

The higher you set your insurance deductible, the lower your premiums will be. Another factor in favor of a higher deductible is that having to pay a deductible is not a certainty because you may not ever have an accident or other claim. On the other hand, premiums are an absolute certainty - you have to pay your premiums in order to maintain coverage so, it may make sense to take more of a financial risk with your deductible.

We looked at 3 of our carriers - to give you an idea of the savings by carrying a higher deductible amount. Please be aware that these figures are based upon an average home in Waukesha county with 3 cars on an annual basis.

Wisconsin residents, for more information on saving money on your auto & home insurance, contact a knowledgebroker.

You buy insurance so that you're protected if anything bad were to happen. With the option to shop online for your insurance, you don't really know who you're talking to or what you're getting - who's going to be there for you when you need them the most?

At R&R Insurance, we'll stand by you when you have a claim, when life is it's hardest we're there to help you put the pieces back together. As Dan Wolfgram, Vice President of Personal Lines for R&R Insurance explains, "we'll be there when you need us the most"... watch his video below.

Wisconsin residents, please contact Dan Wolfgram for more information.