Am I In a Flood Zone? : Lutgert Insurance

Am I In a Flood Zone? - Tuesday, May 3, 2011

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) will be adopting new flood maps for the City of Naples, as well as all of Collier County, early in the summer of 2011. What does this mean for your property? Many areas that were previously located in non flood zones or “X” zones have been remapped into zones that now require flood insurance. If you have a mortgage on your property and your area has been rezoned, your bank will be requiring that you purchase flood insurance.

The remapped flood zones, when they are adopted, will now encompass Golden Gate, the Estates and even go out as far as Ave Maria!! The Collier County Government has created the following website that will show if your property will be in a flood zone: http://maps.colliergov.net/websites/dfirms/femaprelimdfirmviewer.html.

For additional information or questions, please contact your Lutgert Insurance Account Manager.

Labels: Flood Insurance

10 Reasons You Need Life Insurance - Wednesday, April 27, 2011

People die suddenly from things such as heart attacks and car accidents every day. What if that happened to you? How would your loved ones or your business survive without you? Consider these 10 reasons for purchasing life insurance:

Debts - What happens to your debts if you die right now? Who will be responsible for your existing bills, final medical and funeral costs?

Your family may lose their home - How will the mortgage be paid? Will your family face foreclosure? Will they be forced to sell under less than optimal conditions?

Family Lifestyle - Will your family be able to maintain their lifestyle on just one spouses salary? Most couples in this day and age must both work to provide the extras that many people enjoy, such as vacations, sending their children to summer camp, a second car, a house cleaning and/or a lawn service, frequently going out to dinner, etc.

Education - What about school for your children? Do they attend private school and can you afford to continue? Do you envision them going on to college? Who will pay for their college when you’re gone?

Your spouse's sleepless nights - They already have to deal with an empty bed. How many sleepless nights will there be for him/her worrying about the family finances? Life insurance helps assure peace of mind.

Estate Taxes - There may well be estate taxes due as well as other legal and probate costs. Life insurance can leave tax-free money to your beneficiary to cover such expenses.

Health Care – If health insurance was provided by your employer, will your family be able to keep it upon your death? Can they afford individual coverage if they are no longer covered by your employer? What about the expenses that health insurance doesn't cover like expensive medications, dental, vision, orthodontics, etc. Who pays for all this without you?

Your extended family - Who will care for your parents when they are too old to care for themselves?

Business Survival – If you are a sole proprietor or are in a partnership, how will your business survive without you? Having Key Man insurance or a buy sell agreement funded by life insurance can help guarantee your businesses survival. Your heirs will be provided for and your partners can continue operating the business.

Spouse who works inside the home - Don’t neglect getting life insurance on your spouse that works inside your home in the traditional role of a homemaker. If your spouse passes away, who would do the cleaning, cooking, shopping, home maintenance, shuttling children to school and after school events, vacation planning, giving of career advice, etc.? Some companies estimate that it would cost over $100,000 to replace the work that a non working spouse does in terms of running a household.

If you already have life insurance, when was the last time you had it reviewed? With more competitive products and more liberal underwriting, you might be in a position to buy more life insurance coverage for the same premium you are currently paying.

Labels: Life Insurance

- Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Top 10 OSHA citations: OSHA releases FY 2009 data
OSHA has published data on its most frequently cited standards, as well as penalty amounts, for fiscal year 2009 (October 2008 through September 2009). Two construction standards (scaffolding and fall protection) continue to rank at the top, both in terms of being cited and in highest penalties.

Top 10 most frequently cited standards:

Scaffolding, general requirements, construction (29 CFR 1926.451)
Fall protection, construction (29 CFR 1926.501)
Hazard communication standard, general industry (29 CFR 1910.1200)
Respiratory protection, general industry (29 CFR 1910.134)
Control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout), general industry (29 CFR 1910.147)
Ladders, construction (29 CFR 1926.1053)
Powered industrial trucks, general industry (29 CFR 1910.178)
Electrical, wiring methods, components and equipment, general industry (29 CFR 1910.305)
Electrical systems design, general requirements, general industry (29 CFR 1910.303)
Machines, general requirements, general industry (29 CFR 1910.212)

Top 10 highest penalty amounts:

Fall protection, construction (29 CFR 1926.501)
Scaffolding, general requirements, construction (29 CFR 1926.451)
Control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout), general industry (29 CFR 1910.147)
Machines, general requirements, general industry (29 CFR 1910.212)
Excavations, requirements for protective systems, construction (29 CFR 1926.652)
General duty clause (Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act)
Process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals (29 CFR 1910.119)
Ladders, construction (29 CFR 1926.1053)
Aerial lifts (29 CFR 1926.453)
Permit-required confined spaces (29 CFR 1910.146)

Scott Bills
Director, Loss Control Services
Lutgert Insurance
239-280-3239 (office)
239-398-8014 (cell)
239-262-5360 (fax)
sbills@lutgertinsurance.com

NOTICE: This communication may contain privileged or other confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, or believe that you have received this communication in error, please do not print, copy, retransmit, disseminate, or otherwise use the information. Also, please indicate to the sender that you have received this communication in error, and delete the copy you received. Thank you.

Labels: Top 10 OSHA citations: OSHA 2009 data

Customer Service in Todays Market - Wednesday, September 30, 2009

President’s Corner: 10.2009

I find it interesting that most of the automobile Insurance companies that advertise on TV talk more about their “low” premiums than they do customer service, industry knowledge or their desire to do what is right for their clients. Between Geico, Progressive, State Farm, Nationwide and All State they all boast that their premiums are lower than the others.

Having been in the Insurance business for almost 35 years now (where have the years gone) I have learned that price is always important but it is not the only criteria to be concerned with. Purchasing the proper and broadest Insurance coverage available through a financially stable Insurance company at the direction of a quality Independent Insurance agency is critical for your protection. More often than not your independent agent will be able to find the right product for the best price which will bring you something we all want and that is “peace of mind”. Knowing you have purchased the right coverage from an agent and agency that honestly cares about your best interests is what defines the insurance business and what you should be looking for.

Lutgert Insurance was recently honored to receive recognition as a “Choice Awards” recipient voted on by over 6,400 readers of the Naples Daily News. This honor is indicative of the customer service and quality of care that our staff delivers to our clients every day.

I would like to once again thank you for placing your trust with Lutgert Insurance.

Bud Hornbeck states insurance trends - Thursday, April 23, 2009

After enduring a period of extraordinarily high rates for property and worker's compensation coverage, we have seen a very positive change in pricing and capacity that we feel will continue over the next year or more. This is very good news for the business economy in Florida as the previous high rates made it difficult for existing businesses to survive in Florida and negatively impacted the influx of new companies to our state.

Awards and Distinctions -

Lutgert Insurance has been named to the following: the Chubb Cornerstone club, FCCI Presidents Agency Club and as a Preferred Zurich Producer. These presitigous memberships comprise some of the highest performing agency partners.

Important Changes Coming to Citizens - Friday, February 13, 2009

2009 brings about two important changes for personal lines customers insured with Citizens Property and Casualty Insurance Company (Citizens).

Effective January 1, 2009, any home being insured with Citizens with a value greater than $750,000 located in the “wind-borne debris region” must have opening protection (such as storm shutters or impact resistant windows and doors) that complies with the Florida Building Code. The wind-borne debris region consists of an area where the maximum wind speeds during a hurricane could exceed 120 mph. This includes most of the coastal counties like Collier, Lee, Sarasota, Monroe, Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, etc.

Those homes currently insured with Citizens have until July 1, 2009 to meet these new requirements. Wind mitigation forms will have to be obtained by the insured that show that the home is totally in compliance with these requirements.

As it stands now, if you do not get the required opening protection, Citizens will not offer you coverage. While we should be able to find you coverage in the alternative market, you should be aware that the alternative market can be more expensive and sometimes offers less coverage than you may be comfortable with.

Citizens is revising the policy forms for their personal lines customers that have a “wind only” policy. Effective February 1, 2009, any “wind only” policy written on a single family home will be non-renewed and then subsequently re-written on the new form.

You will be receiving notification from Citizens about these non-renewals and your Lutgert account manager will be contacting you approximately 45 days prior to the expiration date of your policy to begin the rewriting process. Please know that we are well informed on these changes and do not anticipate any issues with the transition.

If you have any questions, please contact your account manager who will be able to help you.

Labels: Citizens Insurance, Wind Insurance

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