Having kids...

Adding a new member to your family? 
Whether you're having a child or planning to adopt, this is a good time to review your insurance and financial needs.

• Do you have adequate Life insurance* to help cover your family should something happen to you?
• How can you prepare for the increasing cost of your child's college education?
• Thinking about buying a bigger home for your growing family?
• Need a larger or safer car for your growing family?
• Want to know about simple steps to child-proof your house

Robert Cardenas is your local agent in Round Rock, TX

Your local Farmers agent can help you to answer these questions and provide any additional information you may need.

As your family grows, you'll need to keep your Home, Life and Car insurance policies up to date with the addition of each new family member by reviewing your coverages with your Farmer's agent.

Handling Your Claim

Whether you’re reporting a simple fender bender or a catastrophic house fire, a dog bite or on-the-job injury, Farmers® follows the same basic five-step process to see every claim through from start to finish.

Here's what we do:

Claim assignment:
When HelpPoint® Claim Services receives your claim, it will be assigned to a claims professional. Depending on the complexity of your claim, you may work with a team of claims representatives, each of whom has experience handling a particular aspect of your claim.

Initial contact
A claims professional will contact you to:
• Gather facts surrounding your loss
• Review your coverage
• Explain how your claim will be handled
• Schedule an in-person appointment if one is needed
• Identify ways to protect your property from further damage

Estimate and evaluation
Your claims professional will then:
• Determine whether the loss is covered
• Inspect and document damage
• Interview witnesses or other involved individuals
• Take photos and samples (if needed)
• Evaluate your claim

Resolution
We’ll work with you to resolve your claim fairly either by:
• Paying what you’re owed
• Or explaining why there would be no payment on your claim

Close the claim
Once we’ve resolved your claim under the terms of your policy, we close the claim. If you discover additional expenses, we will re-open your claim to investigate.
Some claims are more complex than others. Regardless, Farmers® claims professionals are committed to do whatever it takes to resolve your claim. That’s our commitment to our policyholders.

If you have further questions about our HelpPoint service, please contact Robert Cardenas, your local Farmers agent in Round Rock, TX

Just like me, you can become your own boss today!

If you want to own your own business, represent one of the largest insurance groups in America, if you have the discipline and determination to learn and build a lucrative career, please contact us. The district office on your area will work with you to develop the business skills and expertise you need to grow your agency and succeed. While you'll be in business for yourself, We'll be there to guide and motivate you so you can achieve your goals.

Robert Cardenas is your local Farmers agent in Round Rock, TX

A Farmers Friendly Review is free and valuable

Farmers agents provide this free service just for you. Meet with your agent in person or connect online to review your coverage to keep up with your changing insurance needs.

As your life changes, so should your policy.

Changes in your life can add up to big changes in insurance needs. A change in marital status, the birth of a child or the purchase of a home are just a few examples of life events that may create overlaps or gaps in your coverage.

Improve your coverage and possibly save money

Just as you continue to change and grow, over the past 85 years Farmers keeps growing. A Farmers policyholder can be the first to enjoy new benefits before they become industry standards, like when we became the first major insurer to offer a discount for alternative-fuel vehicles. Considering your growth and ours, your Farmers agent will inform you of any discounts or credits for which you may now qualify.

How often should you have a free Farmers Friendly Review?

We recommend at least once a year, or whenever there is a change in your insurance needs. Receiving an annual reminder to meet with your agent in person is a good way to ensure a busy lifestyle doesn't prevent you from claiming new opportunities to save and update your coverage needs.

Get in touch with a Farmers agent. Robert Cardenas is your local Farmers agent in Round Rock, TX

Are you getting married?

Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life. It's also the beginning of your life together as a couple. If you're getting married, taking the time to iron out your insurance coverage may provide you peace of mind long after the rice is thrown.

Follow this quick checklist to help take care of your important documents, including your insurance policies.

If you need further information, please do not hesitate to contact Robert Cardenas, your local Farmers insurance agent in Round Rock, TX

Wedding/Marriage Considerations

• Insurance Policies - If you have Life insurance*, be sure to update the information under beneficiaries. Consider consolidating all of your family's insurance policies - Home, Auto and Life* -- with Farmers®. This could help you qualify for discounts, making your premium payments that much more affordable.1


• IRAs, Annuities*, Pensions and Other Retirement Accounts - Verify your current beneficiary designation(s) and consult with your attorney, accountant or tax adviser for legal or tax advice and to understand the ramifications of a change. Start planning together for the future needs.


• Social Security Benefits and other government entitlements - Visit or call the local office to update death benefit beneficiaries and next of kin information. Check out your Social security benefits at http://www.ssa.gov/


• Business Relationships - If you have an interest in a family business or are in a partnership, review the partnership or shareholder's agreement. Find out what provisions have been made if you want to sell, if you cannot work, if you want to share your duties with your partner or if you die.


• Wills, Trusts and Power of Attorney - If this is your first marriage, you may not have a will, trust or power of attorney. If you're getting remarried, these documents may be outdated. If you're the beneficiary of your parent's will, life insurance policy or named on their deed, it's important to review who will inherit "in your place" should the unthinkable happen to you. If you want your new spouse to inherit in your place, let your parents and other benefactors know.

You are irreplaceable, but Life insurance can help.

For your specific stage in Life, learn how Life insurance can help your loved ones.

Single
Single people often think they don't need life insurance and often they're right. But if you have people who depend on you, are at risk for any serious medical conditions, or don't want to burden anyone with your final expenses, you may want to consider Life insurance.

Young adults, married
When you're just starting out, life insurance is typically less expensive and easier to obtain if you're healthy. If you or your spouse were to die, the other could use the proceeds to help repay significant debts, such as a mortgage, credit card balances, student loans, and the like.

Young adults, married with children
For parents of young children, life insurance is generally a necessity. If one parent were to die, life insurance proceeds may help the survivor maintain the family's quality of life.

Single parent
Single parents often bear dual burdens - the sole source of income and the responsibility for the care and guidance of the children. Life insurance proceeds can provide financial assistance in the event a family's sole caretaker passes away.

Empty nesters and retirees
Even if your children are financially independent, life insurance may still be an important part of your financial strategy. A widow or widower may need to pay off a mortgage and other debts. Life insurance may be part of your estate planning strategy or designed to help grandchildren accomplish important goals such as completing a college education.

Business owners
Life insurance is a valuable employee benefit and it can help a business owner attract and retain employees. Business-owned life insurance on key employees can help to make it financially possible for the business to hire and train a replacement in the event of the key person's death. And life insurance proceeds can also help a surviving partner or family members purchase a deceased owner's share of the business.

Robert Cardenas is your local Farmers Agent in Round Rock, TX

It's always difficult to lose someone you love - Financial difficulties make it worse. Life insurance may help to provide financial relief for the people you care most about if you're not there to care for them yourself. Contact your local Farmers agent today.

Products and features may not be available in all states and may vary by state.

Buying A Property

Buying a home is possibly the best investment you can make for you and your family. Whether you are moving from renting to buying, purchasing a new house, or simply relocating, you are no doubt weighing different factors such as price, size, neighborhood, etc. Another decision to weigh is homeowners insurance. Below are some things you might want to consider before making your home purchase. (Features may differ by state and by policy type. Please see your policy contract for details.)

How much coverage do you need?
You'll want insurance that covers the cost of rebuilding your house in the event that it gets destroyed.

If you purchase a home that has many upgrades, it may cost more to rebuild due to a shortage of materials or specialized labor. Farmers has a Homeowners policy which offers up to 125% extended replacement cost, meaning that you may receive up to 25% above your dwelling limit in the event of a covered loss and if you feel you need even more coverage, Farmers offers a policy with up to 150% extended replacement cost, meaning that you may receive up to 50% above your dwelling limit in the event of a covered loss.

If you purchase an older home, it may need to be rebuilt according to today's building code standards, adding to the cost. Policies from some competitors may only cover reconstruction cost, but the Farmers homeowners policy includes an additional 10% above the reconstruction cost to cover for additional expenses due to building ordinance or law.

Don't forget to contact your local agent in Round Rock, TX, Robert Cardenas

• The primary factors that will determine that cost include:
• Local construction costs and the square footage of the structure
• The type of exterior wall construction-frame, masonry (brick or stone) or veneer-and the type of roof.
• The style of the house (ranch, colonial)
• The number of bathrooms and other rooms
• Attached garages, fireplaces, exterior trim and other special features like arched windows.

Estimating Rebuilding Costs

Below are some tips to help you estimate the cost to rebuild your home:

• Every year, take the time to check the value of your insurance policy against rising local building costs. Your Farmers agent is available to review your coverages with you so that you can make sure that adequate protection is in place.
• Check the latest building codes in your community. If your home is severely damaged, you might have to rebuild it to comply with the new standards requiring a change in design or building materials.
• Do not insure your home for the market value. The cost of rebuilding your house may be higher (or lower) than the price you paid for it or the price you could sell it for today.
• Some banks require you to buy homeowners insurance to cover the amount of your mortgage. Make sure it's also enough to cover the cost of rebuilding.
• Increase the limit of your policy if you make improvements or additions to your house. You may upgrade features in your home to fit your tastes and lifestyle. These enhancements can significantly increase the replacement cost of your home. Your Farmers agent will be available to help you in your determination of whether additional coverage is needed.
• If you have questions about the amount of coverage you should have, consult your local Farmers agent.

Best Most Common Car Accident Excuses...

Here are some of the best car accident excuses that most people give when ever they are asked to explain their predicament. We dare you to come up with one of your own and leave it as a comment. Or even come up with an excuse so laughable that people won't mind in helping you!

1. The other car collided with mine without giving warning of its intention.
2. The accident occurred when I was attempting to bring my car out of a skid by steering it into the other vehicle.
3. I was driving my car out of the driveway in the usual manner, when it was struck by the other car in the same place it had been struck several times before.
4. Coming home, I drove into the wrong house and collided with a tree I don't have.
5. The indirect cause of this accident was a little guy in a small car with a big mouth.
6. As I approached the intersection, a stop sign suddenly appeared in a place where no stop sign had ever appeared before.
7. I was unable to stop in time to avoid the accident. The telephone pole was approaching fast.
8. I was attempting to swerve out of its path when it struck my front end.
9. An invisible car came out of nowhere, struck my vehicle and vanished. 
10. I thought my window was down but found it was up when I put my hand through it.
11. To avoid hitting the bumper of the car in front, I struck the pedestrian.
12. A pedestrian hit me and went under my car. The pedestrian had no idea which direction to go, so I ran him over.
13. I saw the slow-moving, sad-faced old gentleman as he bounced off the hood of my car.

Don't forget to viist my website: robertcardenasinsurance.com