Schwarz Insurance Blog

Schwarz receives top agency award

Schwarz Insurance was recently recognized as one of the top performing agencies of 2013 for Secura Insurance Company.  Brian Schwarz accepted the award at the Premier Agent Professional Development Conference in Florida.  To qualify for the award agencies had to meet specific criteria based on premium volume, profitability, growth, retention, and loss history with Secura.

Click here to view the full article on the Secura Insurance website.

What To Do In An Emergency

Anyone who’s lived in a winter climate has seen a car stranded on the side of the road – a dangerous and often frightening situation to be in. If this should happen to you, the first thing to do is to call 911 to alert police of your location and let them know you need help. Your goal when stranded is to be very visible (so cars passing by know to keep clear of your car and avoid a collision) and to protect yourself from the elements.

Carry these items in an easy-to-reach tote in your back seat or trunk throughout the winter months:

• a heavy blanket to keep you warm in case of engine failure
• jumper cables to restart a dead battery
• a flashlight and spare batteries
• items to help you get “unstuck” from a snow bank: tire chains and/or sand (or cat litter), a small shovel, and a bag of salt to help melt snow and ice
• a first-aid kit
• lightsticks or reflective triangles to make your car obvious to passersby
• protein-rich snacks like energy bars
• an extra hat, coat, boots and gloves
• an ice scraper to keep windows clear and the car more obvious

A little effort to get your car in tip-top shape will give you peace of mind as you set out on wintery roads, and help eliminate the risk of a costly repair. More importantly, planning ahead can help you stay safe!

Schwarz Insurance is proud to announce that we were recently names to The Hanover Group's elite million dollar club for 2011.  The award was presented in Milwaukee on October 26th at the million dollar dinner with The Hanover.

An Independent Agency Has the Edge

We all like to cut out the middleman, someone who buys direct from a company and sells their product to you.  When you buy direct your cost usually decreases significantly.  If I were to tell you that an Independent Agent is a middleman that will not increase your premiums and may even be able to decrease them you would think we were lying to you to sell you our product.  Traditionally an insurance company didn't sell to the public but would sell their product through a licensed agent.  In today's world our lives are bombarded with direct buy insurance companies. 

The reality when you use an Independent Insurance Agent like Schwarz Insurance is that we don't increase your premiums, we work on commission through the company and we are licensed agents and can be your legal representative.  We advocate for you.

What can my agent do for me?

• Agents have the ability to quickly check prices & coverages with dozens of different insurance companies.  An independent agent can very likely get you a better deal than you can get for yourself over the internet or through a direct writer.  We have built strong relationships with companies which is an advantage to you when it comes to negotiating with companies.
• Schwarz Insurance is a one-stop-shop for all of your insurance needs.  We sell homeowners, renters, health and life insurance, bu

As Mother Nature begins to show signs of spring, most car enthusiasts are making sure their classic car(s) is road ready. Just like every classic car is unique, you will need to have a unique insurance policy to protect your investment.

We know how special that car is to you, maybe it's a family heirloom or it's that car you've wanted since your 16th birthday and your wife and kids bought it for you on your 50th. Regardless of when or how you acquired that vehicle we also know you'd be devastated if anything ever happened to it, especially if it wasn't insured properly.

Ask yourself this: How will this vehicle be used?

• Will the vehicle only be used for show?
• Will it be transported via trailer to events or will it be driven to events?
• Will it be your weekend or weekday driver during fair weather months?
• How many miles will you put on the car each year?

Taking all of this into consideration can greatly change the coverage on your policy.

Typically a collector car insurance policy includes the following:

• Agreed value coverage: This specific coverage will pay the car's full-insured value without depreciation in the event you car is deemed a total loss.
• Inflation guard: This helps to protect against inflation by increasing your vehicle's value at a scheduled rate, usually quarterly.
• Spare parts coverage.
• Flexible usage: This coverage puts a cap on yo