What did you buy for your special Valentine???

Those who don’t buy shiny things for Valentine’s Day may prefer other types of valuables, such as electronics, artwork, antiques, wine and furs. All totaled Valentine’s Day spending will tally approximately $17.6 billion of retail sales, with $4.1 billion of that being spent on jewelry, according to the National Retail Federation’s 2012 Valentine’s Day Consumer Trends report.

Whatever the purchase, American consumers should take steps to safeguard and insure their valuables. Homeowners insurance generally covers valuable and precious items such as jewelry, but they usually have limits, so it’s important for consumers to check with your SBS Insurance agent to make sure they’re covered.

While most homeowner’s insurance policies cover risks such as fire, lightning, and windstorm, they may exclude many events that create financial losses- for example, a claim that is submitted because “my three-year-old dropped my new diamond earrings into the toilet and flushed” may not be covered under a typical policy. To cover these kinds of incidents—or other situations that the insurance industry has dubbed “mysterious disappearance” —you’ll need what’s known as a valuable articles personal property endorsement on your homeowner’s contract. Some homeowner’s insurance carriers also sell stand-alone valuables policies.

Another reason to contact your SBS Insurance agent? Typically insurance policies restrict the dollar amount of coverage for individual valuable items in the case of theft ($1,000- $1,500), so you want to make sure that if jewelry is ever stolen, you’re not stuck with coverage that is less than the value of the item.

With valuable items, two of the biggest snags that consumers run into at the time of a claim are proving that an item is missing or stolen, and establishing a value for the items. In fact, insurance carriers, when contacted for a claim, sometimes even ask consumers to get a police report for the missing item, even if the loss was not thought to be a theft.

Proving the value of items is very important when it’s time to file a claim. Claims are simpler and faster for consumers when they have photos of valuable items and collections; receipts or appraisal reports: and a written inventory.

Whatever is on your Valentine’s Day wish list or shopping list, protect it. It’ll help you love it even more. Need to know what’s best to protect your Valentine’s Day gift? Ask your SBS Insurance agent. He or she may need a copy of your receipt or bill of sale for jewelry, furs, electronics and other valuable items in order to help secure the right coverage, but in the end, you’ll love them for it.

Remember to contact your local SBS Insurance agent to discuss your coverage. 

5 NEW KANSAS MEMBERS BRING OVER $65 MILLION IN PREMIUM GROWTH TO CAA

COMBINED AGENTS OF AMERICA GROWS TO 53 INSURANCE AGENCY MEMBERS

AUSTIN, Texas, January 28, 2013 -- Combined Agents of America, LLC (CAA) announced its further expansion into Kansas with five new agency members, Faqua Ruth Typer Insurance, SBS Insurance Agency, Keller-Leopold Insurance, Inc., Wood Dulohery Insurance, and ICI Insurance. Together these new members bring more than $65 million in premium growth to CAA, and a wide geographic spread of agency coverage in Kansas. In 2011, CAA generated more than $505.8 million in combined property and casualty annual premiums. With continued expansion into Oklahoma and Kansas, Texas-based CAA is a managing general agency (MGA) committed to strengthening the independent insurance agency system through profitable growth and exceptional service for its member agencies.

“We’re very proud to have five new top-level agencies joining us from Kansas. These agencies and their principals bring CAA over $60 million in premium growth and a geographic spread of coverage across the entire State of Kansas,” says Trent Richmond, AFIS, CAA member and President of The Bridges Group, Inc. based in Norton, Kansas. “Especially as the first Kansas member to join CAA four years ago, I am thrilled that these new quality members are already generating interest in CAA from our Kansas carriers. I just took another call yesterday from an insurance company now interested in partnering with CAA because of these new members.”

CAA’s new members will grow its membership to 53 insurance agency members.

Fuqua Ruth Typer Insurance is a family owned and operated insurance agency with offices in Hesston and Newton, Kansas providing quality insurance solutions to clients in Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. URL: www.fuquainsurance.com

ICI Insurance, established in 1885, is a consultative insurance broker providing personal and business insurance for clients in El Dorado, Emporia, Derby, Wichita and the surrounding areas of Kansas. URL: http://www.icblueskies.com/

Keller-Leopold Insurance, Inc., founded in 1943, is a multi-line insurance agency serving the residents of southwestern Kansas with branch offices in Dodge City, Cimarron, Syracuse, Ness City and Bucklin. URL: www.kellerleopold.com

SBS Insurance Agency, is a locally owned and operated insurance agency based in Seneca, Kansas. SBS Insurance is officially licensed as Runnebaum, Inc. URL: www.sbsins.com

Wood-Dulohery Insurance, Inc. was founded in Parsons in 1961 as Baumgardner-Seaton Insurance and Real Estate. Today the agency also has a branch office in Pittsburg, Kansas. URL: www.wooddulohery.com

“We are really excited to be able to provide our clients access to the great tools and opportunities that our association with CAA presents,” says Bob Wood, new Kansas CAA member, and President of Wood-Dulohery Insurance. “In addition to providing multiple new carrier opportunities, the shared expertise of the CAA members will be of great benefit to our customers!”

“Our CAA membership will help our agency enhance the way we do business and how we deliver services to our clients by having more competitive commercial markets,” says Chad Fuqua, new Kansas CAA member, and Vice President of Fuqua Ruth Typer Insurance.

About Combined Agents of America, LLC

Founded in 1997 Combined Agents of America, LLC (CAA) is based in Austin, Texas, and is comprised of 53 independent insurance agencies located throughout Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. By funneling the agencies’ combined premiums, CAA brings larger volume commitments to insurance companies, while empowering its members to realize greater benefits from insurance companies, vendor discounts and other incentives. In 2011, CAA generated more than $505.8 million in combined property and casualty annual premiums, and currently works with 18 of the largest insurance companies in the nation. All CAA member agencies remain independent and are recognized by insurance companies as a key component to their future growth and goal commitments. Additional information is available at www.combinedagents.com.

CAA member agencies include: Aars & Nelson Insurance Agency, Barnard Insurance Agency, Bartlett, Baggett & Shands, Benchmark Insurance Group, Benton-Luttrell-Brown Company, Bigham-Kliewer-Chapman-Watts Insurance Agency, Bibby-Brilling & Associates, BRIA Insurance & Risk Consultants, Bridges Group Inc., Bosworth & Associates, Bryan Insurance Agency Ltd., Brownrigg Insurance Agency Inc., Cravens-Warren & Co., Crockett Insurance Service, Duncan-Fraser & Bridges Insurance Agency Inc., Ed Berrong Insurance Agency, Ed Weeren Insurance Agency Inc., EFGI Insurance & Bonds LLC, Elliott Insurance Group, Evans-Ewan & Brady Insurance Agency Inc.,

Fuqua Ruth Typer Insurance, First Insurance Services, First Texas Insurance Services LC, Henry Norris Insurance Agency, Inc., HC&H Insurance Group, Garrett Insurance Agency, Inc., GBS Insurance Agency Inc., Grona Boles Martin & Bloxsom Insurance, Hill County Insurance Agency, ICI Insurance, Insurance Associates of Texas, Insurance Net Inc., JHC Insurance Agency Inc., J. S. Edwards & Sherlock Insurance Agency, Keller-Leopold Insurance, Inc., Lake Insurance Agency, Inc., McCorkle Commercial Insurance Agency, Mims & Smith, Mr. Insurance Agency, Inc., NTX Insurance Group, Inc., Pierson-Fendley Insurance, Pinnacle Insurance Group Inc., Porter Insurance Agency Inc., Purifoy & Company, SBS Insurance Agency, The Shropshire Agency Inc., Siegeler Insurance Agency, Inc., Walthall-Sachse & Pipes, Inc., The Weatherby-Eisenrich Inc., Wellmann Insurance Agency, Inc., Western Insurance Agency, Whorton Insurance Services, and Wood-Dulohery Insurance, Inc.