Chris Westin At Barker Weber

Tis the season for deer on the run! I have an awesome carrier that even waives the deductible for car-deer hits if you have the correct coverage in place. *Helpful Tip* deer have a hard time with depth perception when blinded by headlights, honking your horn usually gets them moving out of harm's way.

🌟 Attention valued customers! 🌟

At Barker Weber, we believe in providing you with more than just savings. We're committed to ensuring that you and your loved ones are safeguarded during life's toughest moments. While we may not always promise the lowest prices, we guarantee a comprehensive policy that offers you peace of mind and reliable protection when you need it the most.

Life is unpredictable, and it's essential to have a safety net that can support you through unexpected twists and turns. Our policies are carefully tailored to cover a wide range of situations, making sure you're prepared for any of life's challenges, big or small.

With Barker Weber, you're not just a policyholder; you're a part of our family. We're here to provide you with expert guidance, answer your questions, and help you make informed decisions about your coverage. Your satisfaction and security are our top priorities.

Thank you for choosing us to be your insurance partner. Rest assured, we've got your back when life throws its curveballs. Feel free to reach out to us with any inquiries or concerns. Your trust in us means everything!

PSA: I hope that you find the below information useful, and I hope that it helps explain what is happening in the insurance world today. It won’t matter what carrier you are with, this is an industry issue.
The insurance marketplace is tightening up and it's happening fast. It’s happening especially fast for home and auto insurance companies. This is regardless of what state you are in, however California, Florida, Louisiana and Texas are being hit especially hard. Carriers are pulling a full hard stop on issuing any new policies across the country, and carriers that have NOT put a moratorium on binding new coverage, are actually just leaving the market or they are selling to other carriers/merging. They simply can't operate profitably in this inflationary market. *EVERY DAY* we are hearing about a pause on new business, or a carrier putting a full stop on writing new policies. Some carriers are requiring *full premium payment* up front for new business or requiring a 20 to 30 day hold on new applications. Carriers may shift underwriting guidelines, so they *only* want preferred business… no claims within 5 years (not 3 anymore), home and auto bundles, etc. Some carriers will NOT reinstate coverage if it lapses, no matter the reason.
The market is disrupted and it WILL affect you. If it hasn’t yet, it will. I have personally seen premiums double and triple what they were the year before.
The cost of claims has risen exponentially in the past 2 years, thus resulting in the carriers having to raise premiums or pull out of some markets. In some states, carriers have applied for rate increases, but have not been able to get them approved, so they simply shut down for new business.
If you have an auto or home insurance policy, your rates have gone up, and if they haven’t, they will. This isn't personal, it’s not based on a claim you may or may have not had, it’s simply the cost of doing business. If you have *not* gotten a rate increase, be prepared for one at your next renewal, if you get renewal terms at all.
➡️The cost to rebuild your home is up dramatically due to the rising cost of materials and labor. Supply chain for materials continues to be an issue. We can all agree that everything has gone up in price. Carriers simply can’t survive paying these higher prices without charging more themselves.
➡️The cost to repair your car is up dramatically due to the rising cost of auto parts and labor to fix your car. In addition, parts in vehicles now include some technology features. Replacing a side mirror or windshield used to be $500 - now it’s more than triple that.
➡️The cost of medical care continues to skyrocket. Bodily injury on auto accidents is off the charts.
➡️Litigation is expensive and settlements are rising at an unprecedented rate.
➡️Both the frequency and severity of auto accidents are WAY up post COVID along with the rising frequency of auto fatalities.
➡️ReInsurance (the insurance your insurance carrier buys to help cushion catastrophic loss) is at or approaching capacity in many markets, and rising rates are unsustainable.
This is a significant issue affecting the property & casualty industry, and pricing correction is anticipated at least through 2024. It won’t be for forever, but it is here now.
There are some things you can do to help get through this current insurance market:
✅ Consider Higher Deductibles. This will help save some money on your policy.
✅ Safe Driving Telematic Programs. Telematics can reward you by giving you a discount for good driving.
✅ Discount Reviews - make sure you're getting everything you're entitled to. Every carrier has different discount opportunities. Make sure you go over those with your agent.
✅ DO NOT let your policy cancel or lapse *for any reason*. Carriers are not reinstating coverage as easily as they once did. If it does cancel, they may require premium in full before reinstating. This is across the board for every line of coverage.
✅ Bundle your Auto and Home for more discounts and more stable pricing. Bundled/Packaged policies most always include better coverage and benefits and the cost savings is usually 10-15% (or more) on each policy. Many business risks can also bundle options.
✅ Consider tenure - jumping companies too often will hurt you in the long run. In addition, some carriers won’t take you as a new client if you have less than two years with a carrier. And more importantly, carriers are getting off of some risks if a claim happens in the new business term or for the number of claims in a 3-5 year window. Tenure matters with a carrier.
✅ Follow the laws so you don’t get any tickets. Those tickets really add rate to your policy and stay on your record 3-5 years, depending on the carrier.
✅ Absorb small claims when you're able, and save coverage for catastrophic losses. Talk with your agent and let them claims counsel you should a loss happen. Stop using your towing or roadside assistance as a maintenance policy. Frequency of claims REALLY matters. A lot.
Lastly, please remember that we are agents for the carriers. We don’t make the rules, we don’t have control over the rates and we don’t make the decision if your policy is cancelled by the carriers. We are here to help educate, make sure you have the best insurance for your situation, manage your account with the carrier, and claims counsel when needed. We are doing our best to manage carrier changes with client needs.
I hope this message explains a little bit of what is going on in the insurance marketplace. Please be nice to your insurance agent - they are also taking the same increases, navigating carrier changes and doing their best to help you through this.
*Thank you to some really smart agents that helped put this together and is being shared widely.

🌟💼💸 Don't let inflation catch you off guard! 🚨📈

As inflation continues to affect our daily lives, it's important to be aware that even insurance is not immune to its impact.⚡️ Your premiums may be on the rise, but fear not! Now is the perfect time to take a closer look at your policies and ensure you have enough coverage for the hard-earned money you're paying. 💪💰

🔍 Take a moment to review your insurance policies and ask yourself:
✅ Are you adequately covered for any unexpected events?
✅ Have you recently acquired new valuable assets that need protection?
✅ Is your current coverage keeping up with the rising costs?

📢 Remember, staying proactive can save you from potential financial setbacks down the road. 💡 Don't wait until it's too late!

💼💼💼 Protect your investments, safeguard your future, and give yourself peace of mind. Contact us today to discuss your coverage options and ensure you're getting the best value for your insurance needs. 📞🏢

⚡️ WEATHER ALERT ⚡️

Action Recommended
Take shelter in place or per instructions
Issued By
Grand Rapids - MI, US, National Weather Service
Affected Area
Jackson County
Description
The National Weather Service in Grand Rapids has issued a

Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Jackson County in south central Michigan...

Until 1145 AM EDT.

At 1045 AM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from 6 miles southwest of Leslie to near Albion, moving southeast at 40 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include... Jackson... Brooklyn... Grass Lake... Vandercook Lake... Leoni... Spring Arbor... Napoleon... Sandstone... Norvell... Pulaski... Concord... Horton... Parma... Hanover... Jackson County Airpo... Oak Point... Tompkins... Rives Junction... Sunset Beach... Michigan Center...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED; MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN; WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED; MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

⚡️ WEATHER ALERT ⚡️
===============================
Severe Watches and Warnings for Jackson
===============================

Action Recommended
Take shelter in place or per instructions
Issued By
Grand Rapids - MI, US, National Weather Service
Affected Area
Jackson County
Description
The National Weather Service in Grand Rapids has issued a

Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Calhoun County in south central Michigan... Jackson County in south central Michigan... Southern Ingham County in south central Michigan... Southern Eaton County in south central Michigan...

Until 545 PM EDT.

At 413 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Nashville to 9 miles north of Colon, moving east at 50 mph. These storms have a history of producing damaging winds and power outages.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Trained weather spotters. Airport observations have also indicated wind gusts of 55 to 60 mph with these storms.

IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include... Jackson... Charlotte... Albion... Mason... Marshall... Eaton Rapids... Leslie... Homer... Bellevue... Stockbridge... Brooklyn... Grass Lake... Burlington... Vandercook Lake... Leoni... Spring Arbor... Napoleon... Sandstone... Aurelius... Onondaga...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED; MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN; WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED; MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

If you've ever used this phone to call your bestie...

It's time to chat with me about your life insurance...

Allstate, State Farm, Meemic, Progressive, Liberty Mutual, Farmers, Farm Bureau, and Geico were the companies my customers came from last month with an average annual savings of $900 per household. Have you gotten a quote recently?

⚡️ WEATHER ALERT ⚡️
===============================
Severe Watches and Warnings for Jackson
===============================

Action Recommended
Avoid the subject event as per the instructions
Issued By
Grand Rapids - MI, US, National Weather Service
Affected Area
Jackson County
Description..Thunderstorms will impact portions of southern Calhoun and Jackson Counties through 430 PM EDT...

At 228 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking thunderstorms along a line extending from near Stockbridge to near Union City. Movement was east at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible.

Locations impacted include... Jackson... Albion... Marshall... Homer... Brooklyn... Grass Lake... Burlington... Vandercook Lake... Leoni... Spring Arbor... Napoleon... Sandstone... Norvell... Pulaski... Concord... Athens... Horton... Parma... Tekonsha... Hanover...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN; MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Client called the current agent about lowering her upcoming renewal bill. The agent tells her no problem and will send some docs to sign. All they did was lower liability limits to state mins, PIP coverage was changed to something the insured doesn't even qualify for, broad collision changed to standard collision. These changes lowered her bill $32 per month. Thankfully we were able to save her $112 per month with the correct coverages that she wanted, not the lowest available. Does your insurance company have options?

If you thought you had figured life out when you started using Limewire... until your computer screen turned blue... its time to chat with me about your life insurance...

If you've ever drank out of these cups at your local Pizza Hut for your Little League Team Party...

It's time to chat with me about your life insurance...

Seriously though... failing to plan properly is selfish.. leaving your family to figure it out is selfish and completely preventable..

GoFundMe's are great but usually fall far short of what's actually needed...

It's not an IF but a WHEN.

We need to get serious for a second.

I mean what I’m about to say with all seriousness.

Gas prices are not going back to $2 anytime soon.

Groceries are going to go higher.

Everything in your life is going to get more expensive.

If things are tight now - it’s going to get worse.

So let’s talk insurance for a second.

It’s going to go up. I don’t care that you’ve been with your carrier 20 years - it’s going up.

Want to know what makes that worse? If you escrow your homeowners insurance - your house payment is going up as well.

This is a 100% fact.

This is your chance to get ahead of this.

I can help you.

I can save you money now.

Cool.

But I can also keep shopping for you every year to keep your costs in check.

Mediocrity is not acceptable in our agency, nor tolerated.

I can help you lower your insurance costs and in a lot of cases your mortgage payment.

You need to get ahead of this before it gets out of control.

Once you get behind, that hole gets deeper fast.

Think your insurance is high now? Let your credit (one of the industries #1 rating factors) take a hit. That will send your rate to the ceiling - making everything worse.

It takes 15 minutes to chat with me.

Honestly, it’s not even that long usually.

I communicate how you like to communicate.

Want a call? Great - we’ll call you.
Prefer to text? Easy.
Email: we got you introverts!
Facebook Messenger? Yep.
WhatsApp? Sure!

Honestly we usually only need name, dob, and address to get things started. 🤷‍♂️

Book a time to chat with me.

If your budget is tight, we must talk now because it’s only going to get worse.

That was a rough first day of the tournament!

If you know the theme song to this show....

it's time to chat with me about your life insurance....

Come home to find this in your basement, what do you do?

If this halftime show got you excited...

You already know....

When is the last time you shopped your home and auto rates?

It can be a pretty bothersome process...

We automatically shop each renewal to ensure you wouldn't be a better fit with a different carrier.

Shop with us.. it'll be the last time you ever need to..

If you've ever died of dysentery....

It's time to chat with me about your life insurance...

We even have several grocery delivery services now in case some of you weren't aware... it's going to be okay!

I'm all aboard the Rams bandwagon!

In his first season after leaving the Detroit Lions, Matthew Stafford is headed to the SUPER BOWL!

If you were scared to be alone with these things in your room at night as a kid...

It's time to chat with me about your life insurance....

It's now easier to send Chris Westin At Barker Weber a message.

If these spoons look familiar to you but you can't remember why...

It's time to chat with me about your life insurance....

Chris Westin At Barker Weber updated their website address.

Are you a ni****ne user, who doesn't want to pay to***co rates? We have carriers for that.

Start off the new year by making sure your family is protected in the worst-case scenario: losing you unexpectedly.

Message me today and let us solve your problems!

COLLEGE BOWL GAME PICK EM!
Winner will receive a $25 gift card to Rocky Top Beer & Barbecue!
Entry must be submitted by 12/30/21 @ 11:30 AM.
Tie breaker will be closest to the combined scores of the Orange and Cotton Bowl.

Entry form in the comments below!

Good luck!

If your phobia for clowns started with this guy...

Its time to chat with me about your life insurance....

Who did you pick? Squirtle, Bulbasaur, or Charmander?

If you chose one of those...

It's time to chat with me about your life insurance...