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Proud to be a Germania insurance agent

I’ve been a Germania insurance agent serving the Hill Country of Texas for many years. You’ve maybe seen my name, Wade Whiteside, or my office sign, Whiteside Insurance, along the road in Spicewood Texas. (My agency is next door to the Spicewood General Store on Highway 71.) But I also represent Germania Insurance for clients who live in the Austin TX area- less than an hour away. So my business reflects the picture above- a blending of city and country.

Why do I choose Germania Insurance?
I’m an independent insurance agent, and I love the freedom that gives me to choose the best companies at all times for my customers. That choice includes some well known names like Travelers, Progressive & MetLife. However, Germania is still first- and there’s a reason.

Germania Farm Mutual Insurance Association (GFMIA) is more than just an insurance company. It’s more like Texas neighbors who band together to look out for one another. The history and roots of Germania Insurance matter, because they carry that legacy forward into the present.

The history of Germania Insurance.
Way back in 1896, in Perry Texas, 31 Central Texas farmers got together and talked about bearing one another’s burdens. Lifting loads together. Sharing risks together. So they formed Germania Farm Mutual Insurance Association. That value of “bearing one another’s burdens” is still at the core of Germania Insurance today, and that small band of 31 farmers has grown to over 200,000 members who are doing their best to look out for each other.

And it’s not just farmers anymore- it’s all of us, city, suburban and country folks in Texas, banding together to get great insurance coverage with honest rates and excellent service!

Over the century, Germania Farm Mutual Insurance Association has created several subsidiary companies: Germania Insurance Company, Germania Select Insurance Company, Germania Fire & Casualty Company, Texas Heritage Insurance Company and Germania Life Insurance Company. But it has never lost its focus- the members looking out for each other.
What makes Germania Insurance unique?
“The Insurance Texans Trust” is more than a motto at Germania. It’s a way of life, from finding creative ways to keep premiums as low as possible, to technological innovation and superior customer service. The mission is to be the very best in every way for our members. Here’s Germania’s mission statement:

“Germania is committed to provide fair and honest insurance protection through competitive products and responsive service.”

Why do I keep mentioning “members?”
Simple. It’s because if you have an insurance policy at Germania, you are more than just a “policyholder.” You are an owner. Yes, you heard me right- every one of the 200,000 policyholders at Germania is also a part owner of the company. So the leadership of the company is answerable to each and every one of its members.

How about that! An insurance company that answers to its customers!
Ask me about insurance with Germania!
If you are a member of the Germania Mutual Association along with me… feel free to stop in anytime in our Spicewood office for a “family chat.” I want to make sure that your auto, home, liability and umbrella insurance is always up to date. We can work together to stay on top of life’s changes and make sure your insurance plan is always the best it can be.

If you are curious to see if Germania Insurance might be right for you… call me. If Germania is best for your unique needs, I can get you “quoted and covered” pretty quickly. But I also realize that sometimes one of the other companies I represent makes more sense for your situation. That’s why I’m an independent agent. I can get you a competitive insurance quote in Texas with other trusted insurance companies too. I’m here to serve you first.

Wade Whiteside: (830) 693-8881

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3 ways to keep your money safe on vacation

Don’t get robbed.
Keeping your money out of the hands of pickpockets and thieves just seems like so much more fun than calling home to get emergency money wired to you by your friends or family. You want to have a good time, and you also don’t want to memorize 15 ways to keep your money safe while on vacation. I get it. So here are three simple ways to protect your money while traveling to another state or country.

1. Divide and Conquer.
Split your money and credit cards into at least two places on your person.
You could even go so far as to have a “dummy wallet” in the obvious places, like your front pocket or your purse. A dummy wallet can have some of those fake credit cards that you get in the mail (start saving them). The fake should also have a small amount of cash and maybe even a picture or two. Maybe even a real credit card (not your debit card, but that’s for another blog post). Make it look real. Good pickpockets know how to get that wallet out of your front pocket or tightly held purse. They got mad skills.

So divide your cash and cards between two places. The secret place can be, well, secret (inside shows, socks or underwear). Yeah. Not a topic for polite discussion. But use your imagination, and if wallet number one has been stolen, you’ll still have a backup source of money and credit cards to get back to the hotel or police station.

2. Keep important stuff in a safe.
Most hotels have a safe that you can use to store valuables. Use it, even if it costs extra.
In this safe you should keep your passport, proof of identity and at least one backup credit card, as well as some cash . And that reminds me (free extra tip)… take copies or photographs of all of your documents and credit cards and give these copies to someone you trust back home. It’s amazing how many people have all of their important documents and credit cards stolen, and none of that information is on record anywhere. When a theft occurs, you need to be able to “call a friend.”

3. Keep your eyes open and look alert.
Don’t be the “weakest link.”
Thieves and pickpockets are not much different than lions on the African plains. We’ve all seen the National Geographic shows where the lions (or our favorite- the cheetahs!) wait patiently for hours, watching an innocent herd of gazelle. And we all know what they are watching for… the most inattentive gazelle in the herd.

Thieves are opportunists, and they have thousands of potential victims to choose from. They target the absent minded and inattentive so they can do their dastardly crime with the least amount of fuss.

So look like you’ll be the one who makes a fuss. Look like you are the person looking at everyone. It doesn’t matter if you actually “see” a thief. Just the appearance that you aren’t missing a thing may cause them pass over you and move on to the next person.

Bonus tip: make sure your insurance is up to date.
Insurance may be a dull and boring subject. But it won’t be so dull or boring if you have something terrible happen. Like a theft. Call me before travelling out of the country, and review all of your insurance.

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Barbecue brilliantly with these safety tips

Getting ready to barbecue, grill out, or cook out. Whatever you call it, we’re all going to do it this weekend! So let’s barbecue brilliantly and safely.

Safety First – Think Fire & Food

Fire Safety
You have to fire up the grill before anything else happens. Now I know most of you are using propane. And that’s fine. The rest of you die hard purists are cooking over charcoal or wood. These safety rules apply to all of you. I could add more, but let’s do a Top 5:

1. Grill outside only.
We shouldn’t have to say this. But every year someone thinks it’s fine to grill in an enclosed garage or porch. No. It’s. Not.

2. Look up. Don’t grill under anything.
This is kind of like the first one, but I don’t want you to grill underneath an awning or tent or overhang. It’s just never a good idea. Grills are always hotter than we think.

3. Keep the grill stable.
If it wiggles, fix it. If it’s on a slope, move it before you fire it up.

4. Stay with the gill.
Don’t leave the grill unattended. Ever. Kids and pets have a way of wandering towards a grill like it’s a magnet. Get someone to watch the grill when you step away.

5. Don’t move the grill after it’s lit.
You don’t see this tip on many safety lists. But folks sometimes think, after the grill is good and hot, “Hey, I should move this grill.” Bad idea. Really bad idea.

I’m going to give you charcoal Barbecue Kings & Queens a bonus safety tip. It’s a tip that you know already. Don’t ever add lighter fluid to an existing flame. Not from the can or a cup. Make sure you get the right amount of lighter fluid on the charcoal before you light it up.

Food Safety

Here are three simple food safety rules.
1. Keep it cool.
Meat and poultry don’t do well in warm weather. Thaw the meat out the day before grilling (never grill frozen food). But keep it in a cooler or a refrigerator, and take it out only when it’s time to grill.

2. Cook it to temp.
We all know too many stories of “so and so’s friend” who ate under cooked meat at a barbecue. Don’t be the perpetrator of Salmonella and other icky food borne diseases.
Minimum internal temps:
Whole poultry: 165 °F
Ground meats: 160 °F
Steaks, roasts & chops: 145 °F (then let sit for 3 minutes)

3. Don’t burn it.
Charred meat can increase the risk of cancer. Something to do with HCAs and PAHs. That’s what the National Cancer Institute says anyway. But what we care most about is this: don’t burn the burgers… what a way to ruin a good cow! Seriously though, turn down the heat a bit, cook your meats slower, and you will increase the flavor while lowering the health risks.

And here’s the bonus tip: don’t leave the leftovers out for more than two hours. Change that. It’s Texas, and it’s over 90 degrees most summer days. On a hot summer day, that window shrinks to ONE HOUR. Put the leftovers in the fridge before they go bad.

I hope this helps keep your holiday barbecue safe. Grill On, Have Fun and Stay Safe.

Happy Fourth of July!

~Wade Whiteside

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3 Possible Gaps In Your Collector Car Insurance

I have collector car insurance already, so I’m fine, right?
So you’re heading out on your next classic car rally. Maybe you’ve added an extra coat of wax to your baby, changed the oil and checked the spark plug wires. You even checked to make sure your insurance was paid up. You are ready. Or are you?

Almost every one of you has made sure you’ve got insurance for your collector car. But it might not be enough.

If you already have specialty car insurance on your beautiful vintage car, the next step is to make sure you don’t have one of the three most common gaps in coverage. So here they are:

1. Mileage or Use Restrictions
Not all classic and collector car policies are created equal. There’s a reason for this, and it’s not all bad. Collectors all have unique and individual lifestyles, and because you all have different things you do with your “babies,” you all need different kinds of coverage. And you are usually willing to be specific with your insurance company about exactly what you need coverage for- and what you don’t. You don’t want to pay for coverage you don’t need, right?

But what about when your usage needs change? Do you remember to call your agent?

If you have’t looked at your policy in a while- maybe it’s been years- you should. And it doesn’t hurt to have someone who is comfortable with collector car insurance take a look at it with you. Specialty policies can be confusing. Don’t review your policy alone. Call me.

Let’s just mention a few of the things we can check:

    • Are you covered for the type of event you’ll be attending?
    • Is that non-timed “lap around the racetrack” covered?
    • Will your next event put you over the annual mileage limit? What then?
    • Does your car need to be garaged overnight while on a multi-day event?
    • Are you covered out of the country? Have you checked for sure?

2. Inadequate UM/UIM coverage
You are driving on a Sunday afternoon. The skies are clear and the road is smooth. Suddenly, a clown in a sedan who isn’t paying attention rolls through a stop sign. You are paying attention- you see him. But he still clips the front panel of your newly restored classic car. It’s not a horrible crash, but the cost to repair it is still pretty high.

Then you find out he is underinsured (or worse, uninsured).

Do you know how the claim will be handled? Does your “regular” policy step in and cover the loss? Or is it your collector car insurance policy that’s called on to get things paid for? And if so- is it enough to cover the claim? You know how expensive it is to repair a vintage car.

This is an area that many car collectors overlook. Check it out, and make sure you have this possible gap in coverage protected.

3. The agreed-value isn’t enough to replace your car
“Agreed-value” policies can be your best friends. Many car collectors have them. They help avoid confusion and arguing with the insurance company at claim time.

So maybe you went out and got an appraisal three years ago for your vintage car. You and the insurance company agreed to insure it for that amount. So far, so good.

But that was three years ago.

Do you know what your car is worth today? Do you know how much it would take to repair or replace it? Has it gone up in value? You probably know if it has- but your insurance policy may not reflect that. If it doesn’t, come claim time, you may be in serious trouble. The insurance company could be in a position to “total” your car, write you a check for far less than it is worth today, fix it themselves, and resell it and make a profit. All because you had it underinsured.

The worst feeling in the world is finding out after a claim that your precious collector car was underinsured. Don’t let that happen. Review your policy with me as soon as you can!

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5 ways to protect your teenage driver

Our kids are dying out there on the road. Teens crash three times as often as drivers over the age of 20. Car accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers. Seven teenagers die behind the wheel of a car every single day. That’s some sobering news.

But we can do something about it.
We can help save lives by talking with our teens about safe driving. There are dozens of safety tips we could talk about with them. The Centers for Disease Control lists eight “Danger Zones” on their excellent parent resource website. (I encourage you to visit it.) But I’m going to limit this article to just five simple rules:

1. Drive a safe car.
The car you drive can save your life.
I’ll bet you didn’t know that there is an organization that evaluates the safety of specific models of cars, vans, mini vans and SUVs each year. It’s the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety). Not only do they compile an annual list of the safest vehicles to drive, but they also create a list each year of the safest used cars for teens to drive. Here’s the 2014 list.

You’ll notice that there is a “Best Choices” category, but that can get expensive. After all, many of us can’t afford to shell out $20,000 or more for our kid’s first car. Fortunately, the IIHS also includes a list of “Good Choices,” all for under $10,000. Just keep scrolling down the list until you find that category.

Even if you and your teen can’t afford any of the vehicles on those lists, there are three additional choices that everyone can make, regardless of budget:

    • Lower the horsepower. Don’t tempt your teens with speed.
    • If it’s an older car, bigger is better. Heavier vehicles are safer.
    • Check out the safety ratings for an older car here and here before you buy.

Finally, find out what that vehicle costs to insure. Insurance companies understand safety too. Often, the car insurance rates reflect safety. Safer cars usually mean lower insurance premiums.

2. Slow down.
Speed kills. It’s just that simple.
In over 800 vehicle crashes involving teenage drivers, 21% of the accidents involved teens going too fast. That’s according to a study in the academic journal Accident Analysis and Prevention. You can be the best driver in the world, but it’s still harder to recover from an unexpected bump in the road or an unfamiliar curve when your car is going faster. It’s no insult to your teenager’s ability to drive. It’s just simple physics.

3. Pay attention.
Hang up and drive.
We all know that texting while driving kills people. Plus it’s illegal in most states. But texting is not the only thing that kills our kids. It’s talking on their cell phone. Or laughing and talking with their friends- especially when their friends are in the backseat. Even seemingly safe activities may not be safe while driving. A burger and fries aren’t safe at 65 miles per hour if they spill ketchup on their pants and look down to see how badly it stained.

Anything that’s going on inside the car that takes their eyes off the road could be lethal. Have the talk. Sit down tonight and discuss all the ways that eyes come off the road, and figure out how to keep that from happening. Maybe offer to do it together. A pact. No more texting, calling or eating Big Macs and driving- for either of you. It’s a thought.

4. Scan the road.
Scanning the road doesn’t come naturally.
Most new drivers don’t look much farther ahead than just over the hood of their car. They fail to see what dangers are coming up farther down the road… the car that swerved in front of a delivery truck two hundred yards ahead, or the falling couch from an overloaded trailer. So let’s teach our teens to lift their eyes and look ahead.

We also need to teach our teens how to scan the road side to side. Dangers aren’t always just in front of us. Train your new driver to scan intersections before entering them, and have their foot ready for the brake just in case . They may have the right of way… and still end up dead.

Spend time talking about hypothetical situations. Go to websites that discuss safe driving such as this website. The more we keep the subject of scanning the road in their minds… the more likely it could save their life one day.

5. Buckle up.
This one should go without saying.
Buckling your seat belts is common sense, and it’s the law. But that doesn’t mean your teen buckles up when you aren’t there to watch. A 2012 study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showed that of all teens (age 13-19) in the United States who died in traffic accidents, 55% were not wearing seat belts. Here are the big stats on teen drivers… if you haven’t checked out any other links, this one is worth reading.

Moms and Dads, don’t assume your young adults are buckling up. Ask them. Then tell them that you want them to come home alive tonight.

What’s the next step?
Share this post with a teenager you love.
Make them message you back that they looked at it. Schedule a time to talk about safe driving. Make a pact with them to follow these rules yourself. Changing habits is hard. Having a friend to help makes it easier. Your teen is moving from being “your little kid” to becoming “your adult friend.” Help your friend stay alive.

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Classic Car Maintenance – Engine Love

Don’t forget these 3 engine maintenance basics:
I know that many of you classic car owners know these engine maintenance basics. But the gap between knowing and doing is sometimes as wide as the Grand Canyon. So I’ll touch on them again and you can read along and say “check!” to each one. And if you don’t own a vintage car, you can enjoy learning what these “car historians” need to do so the rest of us can enjoy them.

1. Change your oil.
Forget the miles. Change your oil at least every 6 months. It’s cheap insurance.
We all know that when it comes to your vintage cars, oil changes are the language of love. You can’t say “I love you” to a prized classic car and then let old oil sit in the crankcase. The “every 3,000 miles” rule doesn’t apply to your babies. They get so little mileage some years. Oil that sat all winter with residual gas, dirt and other contaminants in it is going to break down. Yes, even though you didn’t run the engine. And before you start the oil change, now is a good time to check for oil leaks. Don’t ignore them. Here’s an excellent article on fixing recurring oil leaks.

2. Check your cooling system.
If you can’t remember the last time you flushed… FLUSH.
A radiator flush for your classic car is a good idea. But if you aren’t going to do a full system flush, at least check your coolant. A cheap testing kit will tell you if it’s the optimal (usually) 50/50 mix. And your eyes can tell you if it’s green (good) or brown (bad). So take off that radiator cap and look. In short- check for leaks, bad color, and keep your antifreeze full. (I know- you air cooled engine folks can ignore this- ha!)

So what about the newer Organic Acid Technology (OAT) types of antifreeze? The orange stuff. Isn’t it supposed to last longer and extend engine life? Don’t use it. Orange is the enemy of your beloved vintage cars. It can wreak havoc with your older style gaskets, as well as trash your radiators over time. To be safe, stick with the recommended coolants for your specific car… usually green. (I’m open to hearing your thoughts on the new “universal coolants” if you want to post a comment below.)

3. Keep your engine in tune.
If the rumble isn’t right, tune it up.
You should visually inspect:

    • Spark plugs
    • Spark plug wires
    • Distributor cap and rotor

Perhaps the easiest thing to check, even for you non-mechanical car owners, is the condition of the spark plug wires. Pop the hood, get a flashlight and look. Start by checking the boots… that flexible cover over the spark plug itself. That’s near where all the heat from the engine is, and they can go bad. Here is an excellent article on checking your spark plug wires.

If you aren’t into “under the hood” engine maintenance, take it to your favorite mechanic and have them do the under the hood inspection. Make sure you also check the air and gas filters at the same time. Air and gas filters for classic cars are simple front-line protectors of your investment.

I want to see your classic car in perfect condition!
FIRST:
I may pass one of you on the road and say to my passenger, “Hey! There goes one of my friends in their cool classic car!” And I would hate to be embarrassed for you if your car didn’t sound as cool as it looked. I’m just keeping it real.

SECOND:
I would really love to insure your “baby.” And I want all the cars I insure to be in the best possible shape. A well taken care of classic car is safer to drive (doesn’t that just make an insurance agent happy!)… and it’s also a chance for me to brag about your car. So when you rumble up to the office in your ’68 Camaro, I can proudly yell, “Hey everyone- we insure that!”

Whiteside Insurance: (830) 693-8881.

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7 Myths About Flood Insurance in Texas

No. More. Rain. Please.
The recent catastrophic floods in Texas remind us that anything can happen, and we must always be prepared. Over 37 trillion gallons of water fell on Texas in May, 2015. That makes May the wettest month on record ever for the Lone Star State. There was enough rain to cover every square foot of Texas with 8 inches of water.

Precious people died during the storm, and hundreds of homes were destroyed. Thousands more were damaged. There was 27 million dollars of damage just to infrastructure alone. It was a calamity. It was a once in two hundred years flood.

We can’t avoid the subject of flooding, and we shouldn’t avoid the subject of flood insurance.

There are many myths about flood insurance. We’ll take a quick look at 7 of them. We must dispel these myths, because not enough of us have flood insurance. Less than half of the affected homeowners in Texas had flood insurance when the recent storms hit. The number of Texas homeowners with flood insurance is actually decreasing each year. In 2014, there were approximately 602,000 flood insurance policies in force in Texas… compared with 4.4 million homeowners insurance policies. Let’s fix that.

Myth #1: I’ll never need flood insurance.
After the recent flooding of biblical proportions, I hope no one thinks this any more. If you dodged the bullet this time, you hopefully realize that you might not dodge it the next time. Anyone (yes, even you folks above high water mark). As a matter of fact, nearly 1 in 4 – 25% – of flood claims are in low risk areas. So just because your “flood zone map” says you are safe… don’t bet on it. ANYONE can be in next year’s flood news.

Myth #2: My homeowners insurance has me covered.
Not true. OK, partly true. If lightening blows a big hole in your roof, and water comes pouring in from the heavens above, you’re most likely going to be covered by your homeowners insurance policy. But only in that unique case. If water rises in the street, or backs up in the storm sewer, and finds its way into your home (and this happens to homes even above the high water line)… your homeowners policy is not going to cover you.

Myth #3: The government has me covered.
Please tell me that you don’t believe this one. Even if the federal government declares your county a Federal Disaster Area (and that happens in less than 50% of catastrophic storms), you may qualify for loans to rebuild. Loans which must be repaid. With interest. If you qualify.

Myth #4: Flood insurance is too expensive.
Let’s debunk that one right now. First, no one whose home was just flooded last month is saying that. If they had flood insurance, it was money well spent. Second, the average claim for flood loss is $30,000. The average premium in the United States is just $650, according to the NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program). Now of course, those numbers vary dramatically case by case. You can also vary your premium by adjusting your coverage limits. But you won’t know what your rate will be unless you ask your insurance agent.

Myth #5: It’s too late.
This one is a very common myth. But it’s never too late to buy flood insurance in Texas. You can purchase flood insurance through the NFIP or often through private insurance (I can help). Even if you’ve already had a flood! Yes of course no claims will be paid for damage that happened before you took out the policy, and other policy limits may also apply.

Myth #6: I don’t qualify because I don’t live in a flood plain.
Almost everyone, almost anywhere, can get a flood insurance policy. You do NOT need to live in a flood plain. Most policies are issued by the NFIP (the National Flood Insurance Program). Here is a list of communities that have agreed to participate with that program. But private insurance is available too. Call me and I’ll help you figure out your options.

Myth #7: I’ll wait until the next big storm.
That would be a great idea… if it worked.

“Hey honey, the meteorologist says we’re in for a huge rainstorm. Should I call our agent?”

Unfortunately, you must get flood insurance at least 30 days before flood damage would be covered. Yep. There’s a 30 day waiting period. And most meteorologists I know wouldn’t make a bet that they can predict the next “big one” that far in advance.
Let’s talk about flood insurance together.
Flood insurance can be confusing. For instance, the NFIP only covers up to $250,000 on structure loss, and only $100,000 for personal property. What do you do if you need more? And there are many exclusions and limitations, like most of your stuff in the basement is not covered (but some stuff is). Don’t try to figure this out alone. Call me. I want to help.

Wade Whiteside, Whiteside Insurance
Call me toll free from anywhere in Texas at (877) 693-8882.

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Common Beneficiary Errors – Mistake #1

There are many ways to say “I love you.” One of them is to leave the gift of life insurance for those you love. But if you aren’t careful in how you give that gift, you could accidentally be saying, “I don’t love you” when the life insurance company writes the check.

1. Naming a minor child as the beneficiary.
This is perhaps the most common mistake when naming a beneficiary to a life insurance policy. It’s common because we love our kids, and of course we want them to receive part of our life insurance proceeds. But we forget that they cannot legally manage that money by themselves. In most states a child may not receive a life insurance benefit directly; the insurance company will almost certainly ask a court to appoint a guardian to handle the money. That guardian may or may not be the guardian appointed to care for your children, and it may even be someone you would never have chosen in a million years to manage your children’s money.

Possibly worse than this, your child will reach the ripe old age of 18, and suddenly be given full legal control over a tremendous amount of cash. In one day. For most 18 year old kids, it’s like winning the lottery- and the “winnings” will last them just about as long as most 18 year olds manage to hang onto that kind of money. Not. Very. Long.

The solution is simple: work with an experienced life insurance agent, and consult with your estate planner to craft the best solution to distributing the life insurance proceeds.

At the very least (though this is not always the best solution), name an adult custodian to receive the proceeds under the Uniform Transfer to Minors Act, otherwise known as UTMA. But this can be complex, and must still be done carefully with help from an attorney.

A better solution is often to set up a trust as the beneficiary of the life insurance proceeds. A trust can avoid lengthy and expensive probate issues and family fights over guardianship after the fact. Trusts are not always the perfect solution… but they can be in your particular case.

To summarize:

    • Don’t name a minor child as a beneficiary.
    • Always consult an experienced life insurance agent.
    • Bring your attorney or estate planner into the discussion.

Many people use “over-the-counter” solutions when it comes to buying life insurance. It’s been called bank-teller estate destruction. Don’t do it.

Call me for help with questions about your life insurance beneficiary. I’ll take the time to listen to you and your needs, and I will explain all of your beneficiary options in detail.