By: Charlene Webb

Many policyholders don’t realize that they need to carry more than the Delaware state minimum for auto liability coverage which is $15,000/$30,000 for bodily injury and $10,000 for property damage. You should know that carrying these low limits of liability could wipe out your assets as a result of an accident that you cause. You are leaving yourself vulnerable to a potential loss that could cost you your home, your automobiles, your business, or even your savings account not to mention any other investments you may have like your mutual funds or children’s college funds. It takes years to build those assets through hard work on your jobs. Simply put, if you do not have enough insurance than all of that hard work may have been in vain.

In today’s economy, we are all trying to find ways to cut our costs but cutting costs on your auto insurance could cost you a whole lot more in the long run. We all depend upon our assets for our future retirement. Insurance reviews with your agent should be looked upon as an opportunity to make sure you can keep what you have worked hard to earn, and not as another way for you to be sold something. Annual reviews with your agent should be viewed as mandatory just like having your annual check up with your physician. You can’t afford not to sit down with your insurance agent to ensure you are adequately protecting your assets. It only takes one lawsuit to wipe out what you have taken years to build for yourself and your family. An annual review of your policies helps not only you but your insurance agent in making sure she or he is up to date on any changes that have taken place in your life, as well as helping you make changes or updates to your policies. Your agent doesn’t know from year to next whether you have had a new baby or changed jobs or now have a parent residing with you, unless you inform him or her. These types of changes are pertinent to insuring your coverage on your policies is appropriate. A prime example of information that must be shared with your agent is a young driver in your household. Yes, it may cost you more money to add them to your policy, but how much do you think it would cost you if that young driver caused an accident, and you are now liable and responsible for someone being injured in an accident or even killed—remember it’s your vehicle. People do not understand the risk they are taking not reporting information like that to their insurance agent. You need to understand that there is not a lot that your agent can do once the damage has been done. Putting that child on your policy not only helps in you keeping your assets, but it also helps him or her going forward as he or she will get a better rate if they are spun off of your auto policy.

Agents are in the business to help families protect their assets, not lose them. Don’t use your auto insurance as the area to cut expenses—it can come back to haunt you in the long run. Take steps to meet with your agent. You may actually find that there are discounts that you may be entitled to but are not getting because you haven’t taken the time to review your policies. Call TODAY for your Good Hands Coverage Checkup.

Webb is an Exclusive Agent for Allstate Insurance Company, 494 N. Dupont Hwy., Dover, DE 19901, 302-736-6475.

She is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, with a BS degree in Business Education and is celebrating five years of service with Allstate Insurance Co. Webb Insurance Agency of Allstate Insurance Company offers a complete product line which includes helping families protect their lives, homes, cars, boats and businesses to helping prepare children for college by offering 529 plans to getting ready for retirement using various financial services products such as IRAs, mutual funds, and annuities. We offer annual reviews of current policies to ensure you are up to date on your current needs and goals and to help you protect the assets you have worked hard to earn. Her office is located at 494 N. Dupont Highway, Dover, DE 19901, and she can be reached at 302-736-6475 or on her website at www.allstate.com/charwebb.

Testimonials:

“I couldn’t have asked for a better agent than Charlene Webb who is more than our agent but a friend that always looks out for us and our needs. We love her, and God bless her.” ~G. Charlene Cotter

“Charlene is a very nice person, a great agent who’s always going out of her way to please her clients. Customer service is always great, and I appreciate the help she has not only given me but my entire family. She is so pleasant to work with.” ~Susan Mannon