So what do you need? It depends on your specific situation. Liability pays for the damage you cause to others if your car is involved in an accident. It also protects you from being wiped out financially if you are sued following a accident. The greater your assets, the more you stand to lose. If you have substantial financial resources, you may need liability coverage that exceeds the coverage that you'll get from an auto insurance policy.

In that case, a Personal Umbrella can provide the extra liability protection you need. Additionally you should take into account the use of the vehicle. Sales people, families with young drivers and people of influence may want to look at higher levels of liability coverage to protect the additional exposure of their situation.

Collision covers damage to your car from an accident. We can help you decide whether or not to carry collision coverage by balancing the cost of collision insurance with the value of your car. It might not be worth paying $200.00 a year for collision insurance on a car that's worth only $1000.00. But if the car is worth $10,000 you probably want this coverage.

Comprehensive coverage pays for your car or the repair of your car if it is stolen, vandalized or damaged in some way other than in a collision. In Minnesota, collisions with animals such as deer, moose and bird are covered under the comprehensive section. Comprehensive is also where you will find coverage for glass breakage. Endorsements for full glass coverage with no deductible can be provided with minimal additional cost to the insured when they carry comprehensive coverage.

Medical coverage which is provided through the PIP (Personal Injury Protection) section of your policy has various options available to increase the medical limits available to you if you should be injured in an auto accident.

Keep in mind that many states require certain minimum levels of coverage. We'd be happy to talk with you about these and other factors.

Deciding How Much insurance is enough
We'll work with you to estimate the replacement cost for your home and to adjust your policy limits from time to time as needed.

It is critical that you provide us with accurate, updated information about your home and contents. If your dwelling limit accurately reflects your home's true replacement cost, some companies will pay more than the limit if a covered loss is greater than the limit on your policy. This situation relates to replacement cost coverage for the dwelling, and can be a very valuable coverage.

Once a review of your home and possessions indicates you are properly insured, it's a good idea to reexamine your coverage's and limits from time to time, especially whenever you make additions or improvements to the home.

Be Sure You Have Enough Insurance
Here are some steps you can take to reduce the danger of being seriously underinsured:

Call us. If you have any questions or concerns about the limits in your policy, ask us to show you how these amounts were calculated. This will also give you an opportunity to make us aware of any overlooked information.

Read your policy. Certain property, such as jewelry, guns, recreational vehicles (snowmobiles, atv's & boats) may be better insured by endorsements or by providing a separate policy for them. Most homeowners insurance policies will not provide coverage for licensed or DNR permited units since they are not considered contents. Thus, units such as ATV's, snowmobiles, antique autos, parked autos, and boats should have seperate insurance policies. Certain perils, such as earthquake or flood, are not provided under a standard homeowners insurance policy, and coverage for these items if desired may require a separate policy. Knowing what is covered and for how much will help you insure properly. If there is anything in your policy you don't understand, contact your agent and ask for an explanation.

At each annual renewal of your policy, you receive a new Policy Declarations page showing limits of coverage and optional coverage's. Review this information. If you do any significant remodeling or add a family room, extra bedroom or bathroom, etc., tell us about these changes so your coverage limits can be adjusted to cover the improvement.

Consider carefully whether your policy provides all the protection you need. Does it provide coverage's for extra costs resulting from building code changes? Does it automatically increase coverage limits annually to keep pace with inflation? Does it provide additional funds if the cost of rebuilding your home exceeds the policy limits?

Does your policy include replacement cost coverage for contents (clothing, furniture, appliances, and or other personal property inside your home)? If not, you can add it by endorsement. The cost is small, the protection valuable. Replacement Cost Coverage for contents pays for losses to your possessions at the cost of brand new items so long as you actually replace the item. Without this option, a covered loss to your personal possessions would be depreciated by their age and condition, reducing the size of your claim settlement.

If you have an art collection, antique furniture, jewelry, guns, boats atv's or other valuable possessions, talk to your agent about Supplemental Coverage's, such as fine arts or scheduled property endorsements, to adequately protect your investment in these items. The cost is modest for the extra protection, and often the deductible is waived.

Consider whether you should have more coverage for personal property (contents) than your policy provides. Personal property coverage is usually 70% of the coverage limit for the structure. Supplemental protection is available for a small additional premium.

Prepare an inventory of personal property items, update it periodically, and keep it in a safe place outside your home, such as a safe deposit box at your bank. It will save you hours of time trying to list everything damaged or destroyed if you need to make a claim. It will also help ensure you don't forget some items. We can advise you on ways to simplify the job of preparing a personal property inventory such as videotaping each room with descriptive information on the sound track.

Besides making sure you have enough protection to cover possible damage to your own home and contents, you should also evaluate your exposure to liability risks. These result from damage to the property of another, or injury to a person, not a member of your household, for which you can be responsible. The potential for a liability loss increases as exposures such as pools, pets and trampolines become part of your residence.

In recent years it's become common for homeowners to be sued for injuries or damages to others, even when there is no evidence of negligence by the homeowner. The reality today is if you have any appreciable assets, you are exposed to the risk of being sued. Even if you ultimately prevail in court, your legal fees and the months or years of worry and uncertainty can be a terrible burden on you and your family.

The Personal Liability coverage provided by your Homeowners Policy usually provides a limit of at least $100,000 or $300,000. We strongly recommend the $300,000 limit as a base coverage level and then we suggest higher limits or the addition of a separate umbrella policy since the liability area is where you have the least control over the size of a potential loss. An Umbrella policy will it increase your personal liability, but also your auto liability. Limits are available from $1 million to $10 million and beyond. The cost of this coverage is usually reasonable.

Determining Your Need
The need for life insurance is dependant on your own personal and financial needs. We can assist you in determining what type and amount of life insurance is appropriate for you. Typically your needs for life insurance vary as you go through different periods in your life.

• The Beginning Years... When you're first married, there's no urgent need for a lot of insurance since, if one marriage partner dies, the other is usually able to support himself or herself. However, the younger you are when you buy life insurance, the smaller your premiums will be. Thus, it can be a wise move to purchase a good amount of "cash value" insurance to build up loan and cash value for the future.
• The Child-Raising Years... When children arrive, the need for insurance increases considerably. And, with so many wives working these days, life insurance covering both marriage partners makes sense. Depending on the budget, you may be wise to buy less expensive term insurance to get the full amount of protection you need-then convert it to as "cash value" policy later, when you can better afford it.
• The "Mortgage" Years... Buying a home represents a huge investment. Thus, "Mortgage Cancellation" insurance that can provide the funds to pay off the mortgage if the "breadwinner" dies, is usually a wise choice.
• The "Income-Producing" Years... There comes a time when the children have "left the nest", and the home is paid for, or nearly so. And, the family's income has probably increased substantially. This is the time to give special thought to your retirement years... to start setting aside the added money you'll need when your earning days are over. Here, more "cash value" insurance, or an annuity, can provide the answer. Then you'll be assured that you have a more secure and happier retirement, because your insurance will be paying you an income on top of social security.



• The Retirement Years... After you've retired, your need for life insurance will usually drop considerably. Most retired folks maintain a small amount of life insurance to pay final expenses, and/or to provide money for the children, or a charitable organization, upon their death. In situations with large estate potential increased amounts of life insurance may be appropriate to pay for anticipated estate taxes and allow for the full distribution of the estate to the designated heirs.

Additionally then you may want to consider financial needs associated with an aging parent, or a physically challenged relative who depends on you for support. Needs increase for people who own their own business.

There are benefits of life insurance other than providing for your loved ones in case something happens to you:

• The cash value earned and borrowed from a permanent life insurance policy can be used to help with large expenses, such as a college education or the down payment on a home.
• The growth of a cash-value policy is tax-deferred - you do not pay taxes on the cash value accumulation until you withdraw funds from the policy.
• Life insurance... A "Good Servant" Through the Years... Thus, from the beginning to end, life insurance can be the most useful and beneficial "friend"... safeguarding us from many of life's financial hazards.

Life Changes - So Should Your Policy Your need for life insurance is dependant on your personal and financial needs. As your life changes, your life insurance coverage may need to change as well to adapt to your current needs. Some life changes that may require a policy "tune-up" include:

• You recently married
• You have a new child or grandchild
• Your health or your spouse's health has deteriorated
• You are providing care or financial assistance to a parent
• You recently purchased a new home
• You are planning for a child or grandchild's education
• You are concerned about retirement income
• You have refinanced your home mortgage in the past six months
• You or your spouse recently received an inheritance