From My Desk 12/2007

Purchasing auto insurance shouldn't be a difficult decision. As your personal agent we will help you understand the ins-and-outs of auto insurance so you can choose the right type of coverage for your needs. Remember, there is more to insurance than just price. Our approach is one focused on value, not price.

The fact is that the lower your liability limits, the more you are paying for your coverage and the more exposure you have to catastrophic loss. Low limits = low value and higher risk.

For just $4 or $5 more per month you can increase your auto liability limits 10-fold or 20-fold going from $25,000 in personal injury liability coverage to $500,000 in coverage! That is a life changing difference. High limits = high value and lower risk. A car wreck will still ruin your day, but with $500,000 in personal injury liability coverage, it probably won't ruin your life.

Add $1,000,000 in umbrella coverage for another $10 or $15 per month to that $500,000 and now you have $1.5 million in coverage to protect your current and future assets. $500,000 in coverage for $35 per month instead of $25,000 for $30 per month -- that's the difference between value and price and the difference between J. E. Frtiz Insurance & Financial and other agencies.

Thank you for trusting us with helping you protect and grow your assets. We take our role as your insurance and financial services advisor very, very seriously.

The decisions that we make together will profoundly affect you and your family for a long time to come, so we want to take our time, ask the right questions, and go through all of the small steps that are necessary for us to do our job to the best of our ability.

If you have come to us to fill a specific need, like getting your homeowner’s policy in place for a closing, we will address that need as quickly as possible; however, we will also start a conversation about your auto insurance, life insurance, health insurance, and investments. As a registered representative and licensed insurance agency, we are a fiduciary, which is a fancy way of saying that we have a responsibility to ask you questions about your specific financial situation and insurance needs and to give you our advice as to how you might want to protect and grow your assets. As a fiduciary we are literally obligated to give you our advice.

Things we will talk about: • Where are you from • What you do for fun • What family obligations do you have • What are you goals for yourself and your family • Who are you responsible for financially • What are your financial priorities • How much money do you want to have saved for retirement • How much life insurance to you currently have that you own and control • How much life insurance do you have for family members • How much life insurance do you think you need • Do you currently work with a financial planner • What are your current liability limits on your auto policy • How much do you drive • What are you current homeowner’s coverages • What is your current insurance company • How much do you pay for your current home and auto policies • Do you currently have an umbrella policy and more.

You may be thinking, “Wow, these are awfully personal questions,” or “My previous insurance agent didn’t ask me all of these question.” Yes, these are VERY personal questions, and they are question that we need to have answered in order to do our job properly. We are more than an insurance agency. We are an insurance and financial services firm that believes very strongly in providing the very best service and advice available. We want to protect your assets so that they cannot be taken from you, and we want to grow your assets so that you can fulfill your financial obligations and live comfortably.

If you do happen to work with another financial advisor or financial planner, we want to speak with that person. It is very important that we know how this person has advised you to handle protecting your assets and we need to know what assets you have to protect. It is also very important that this person knows how we plan to protect your assets and make sure that they understand and are on board with what we plan to do. If you have not worked with a financial advisor or financial planner, guess what – you do now.

Thank you again for trusting us with such important matters. This relationship will be like none you have ever had with an insurance and financial services agent. We are here to change your life and we are in it for the long haul.

J. E. Fritz Insurance & Financial and Farmers Insurance -- the only sponsors at every UNT Home Football Game for the second year in a row -- hosting clients and offering free Child ID Kits.

Looking for a great gift for birthday, for get well present, or for your office?  A Cookies by Design gift basket is just the thing.  We use them all the time.  Be sure to ask for Phyllis and tell her Joe sent ya!  She might even give you a J. E. Fritz Shield cookie just for mentioning our name (but it will depend on her mood :-)

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