ALLCHOICE Insurance :: Blog

It seems like only yesterday when I opened the doors to ALLCHOICE Insurance.  Now, in a little over a month ALLCHOICE will be celebrating its 7th Birthday.  Just like any successful business, ALLCHOICE can only attribute its success to YOU! That’s right!  We do understand that there would not have been a 1st Birthday (much less a 7th) without the faith and support that our customers have placed in us.

As a way to say thank you, ALLCHOICE is will be giving away a NEW Apple IPAD 2 to one deserving customer!

ALLCHOICE BIRTHDAY IPAD 2 CONTEST DETAILS

Contest Dates – July 1st – August 31st

How To Win – Refer Someone To ALLCHOICE Insurance (1 Referral = 1 Entry)  The more people you refer, the better your chances of winning!

How To Refer – Simply call our office (336.540.0463) or email (info@allchoiceinsurance.com) your referrals

Visit the IPAD 2 Details Page on our website www.allchoiceinsurance.com

As I write this “article”, “tidbit”, “diddy” or whatever you want to call it, I am sitting on my back deck.

Let me set the scene!  Currently it is approx 90 Degrees, the sun is on its descent, and there is little – to no breeze.  The tiki torches are lit, along with some citronella candles.  In case you can’t tell the “skeeters” are out in a big way.  Peyton (the middle child – 6 years old) is hanging upside down on the monkey bars.  Cooper (the youngest – 4 years old) is inside the house aggravating Artemis (9 month old Bullmastiff).  Caylee (the oldest 11years old) is at the beach.  Melinda (the best wife and mother a man could ask for) is in the kitchen attempting to understand the new stove that was purchased last weekend so she gets the tater-tots just right.

So you know what everyone else is doing, I guess I should probably give you some details on what I am up to.  Today marks the end of another jammed packed week in the life of this “Insurance Guy”.  The insurance business is funny.  Every day offers new challenges and opportunities.  This week our agency achieved the highest Tier possible in Erie Insurance’s “Commercial Blitz” (with over a week left until the contest ends).  For those who aren’t insurance geeks, basically we have written a ton of new commercial insurance policies.  Most seem to be in the construction arena.  Maybe we could take that as a good sign that the economy could be turning around?!?!?!

Today was definitely hectic for this guy!  Starting the day off I knew I was going to have to leave the office early (we’ll get into that later).  Anytime, I know my day will be short, it seems that things just don’t seem to run as smooth as I would like them to.  Honestly, nothing horrible took place.  I actually got the majority of the stuff that was cluttering my desk taken care of.

Unfortunately, I don’t think Trish’s (ALLCHOICE’s Customer Protection Specialist) day went quite as well.  Again, nothing too much out of the ordinary.  However, Trish & I had an impromptu conversation about how we could increase our organizational efficiency.  She did say something very odd to me.  She said that she always gives me ideas about how to improve things but that I never listen to her.  I find it amazing that both my wives (my marital wife and my work wife) seem to make the same story up about me.  I think they both need professional help!

Enough of that!  Now down to the real action.  I had to leave the office at 2:30 so I could make it to Winston Salem by 3:20.  Peyton has been in theater camp all week and today was the conclusion of said camp.  The camp culminates with a Theatrical performance of Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs.  Peyton had the role of “Dopey”.  I must say that all the kids did a great job.  They were all exceptionally adorable.

After the performance I started to head for “Mi Casa”.  While driving, I thought that it would be a good idea for me to go ahead and get dinner figured out.  You see, in the Wingate House 99% of the marital tension can be traced back to one thing….”What’s for dinner?”!  I went ahead and headed for Harris Teeter.  When I called my wife to ask her idea for dinner, she only offered up that Shrimp sounded good.  Well, in my book, Shrimp does not make a full meal in themselves.  I typically like to couple grilled shrimp with some form of beef.

My first thought was to find a nice looking Flank Steak to join the shrimp with.  To my horror, Harris Teeter had no flank steak.  Always quick on my feet, I pivoted from the original plan and grabbed some burgers and brats.  I thought, we could do burgers and brats tonight.  Then I could grab a nice flank steak from Costco tomorrow and we could have our shrimp and flank tomorrow night.  BOOM!  I had just taken care of dinner for two nights.

As I sit here enjoying the deck, I am grilling hamburgers and shrimp!  Bet you didn’t see that one coming!  I know I didn’t.  So much for having dinner taken care of for two nights!  No points for me!

Well!  I think that about wraps it up.

From the back porch, this is just my perspective on things!

PS – I am pumped about last nights return of Burn Notice

PPS – I am just as pumped about watching Friday Night Lights tonight

ALLCHOICE is pleased to welcome announce we have helped another local Dry Cleaner save money on insurance!

Located in Kernersville, NC this Dry Cleaner has a long family history in the Dry Cleaning business.  Before joining the ALLCHOICE Family, the business had been insured with Nationwide Insurance.

In reviewing the business’s Risk Management Program (or lack there of) ALLCHOICE uncovered the need for a Commercial Umbrella Policy.  The Commercial Umbrella Policy is a little used Rick Management strategy in most small businesses.  In dealing with the Protection Programs of countless small businesses, the overwhelming reason for a lack of adoption when it comes to Commercial Umbrella Policies comes down to two factors:

1st – Small Business Owners assume Umbrella’s are too expensive

2nd – Most Small Business Insurance Agents do not take the time to explain and OFFER this important protection!

Once ALLCHOICE explained “why” the Umbrella was important showed this Small Business Owner how much an Umbrella actually cost (more importantly what it doesn’t cost), this savy business owner was eager to add this protection to his Risk Management Program.

Of course, just like every Small Business Owner, at the end of the day, he/she wants to have the very best protection(s) at the very best value.  In the case of this Dry Cleaner, ALLCHOICE was able to save him over $1,500 a year (approx 22%) over what he had been paying with Nationwide!

ALLCHOICE Insurance would like to wish one of its spokespeople, Cooper Wingate, a very happy 4th Birthday!

From the looks of it…Cooper enjoyed his favorite meal…Cheese Quesadilla!

ALLCHOICE Insurance we would like to say “Happy Father’s Day” to all the fathers out there!

ALLCHOICE Insurance will be closed Monday, May 30th in observance of Memorial Day.

Our office will reopen at 8:30 AM on Tuesday May 31st!

If you have a claims issue…please visit the “Member Center” of our website (www.allchoiceinsurance.com)

As we approach Memorial Day, we can expect to see an increase in traffic on both highways and roads.  As you can imagine, the frequency of auto related accidents increases as the number of automobiles on the roads increase.  Unfortunately, holidays are a great time for local authorities and State Troopers to increase their attention towards automobile usage and violations.

Statistics show that there is an ever growing cause for automobile accidents over the past few years.  That cause…Cell Phone Usage (more importantly TEXTING).  In order to deter drivers from giving in to one of these dangerous distractions, many states have imposed some tough laws banning usage while driving an automobile.  As a North Carolina based Insurance Agency that focuses on providing Auto Insurance, we would like to provide you some information regarding these laws.

Below you will find information about the various laws in NC, SC, VA, and TN:

State – NC

Hand-Held Cell Phone Usage Ban – NO

Young Driver Cell Phone Ban (All Usage) – 18 Years Old & Younger

Texting Ban – ALL DRIVERS

Enforcement* – Primary

State – SC

Hand-Held Cell Phone Usage Ban – NO

Young Driver Cell Phone Ban (All Usage) – NO

Texting Ban – NO

Enforcement* – NA

State – VA

Hand-Held Cell Phone Usage Ban – NO

Young Driver Cell Phone Ban (All Usage) – 18 Years Old & Younger

Texting Ban – ALL DRIVERS

Enforcement* – Secondary

State – NC

Hand-Held Cell Phone Usage Ban – NO

Young Driver Cell Phone Ban (All Usage) – Learners Permit & Intermediate License Holder

Texting Ban – ALL DRIVERS

Enforcement* – Primary

*There are two type of “Enforcement” shown above.  ”Primary” indicates that authorities have the right to stop you for simply violating the Cell Phone / Texting Law.  ”Secondary” indicates that authorities may not stop you for for violating the Cell Phone / Texting Law, but instead must first stop you as result of another violoation (i.e. speeding).

ALLCHOICE would like to welcome another satisfied customer to the family.

This family, located in Waxhaw, NC, had been a long term State Farm Insurance customer before deciding to join the ALLCHOICE Family.

In an “apples to apples” comparison, this family saved a whopping $732 a year (or approx 31%) by simply switching to ALLCHOICE!

In a story-line fit for a movie, the galvanizing tale of the NW Guilford Vikings’ Lacrosse Team came to its just conclusion Saturday with its first NC State Championship!

Just 7 shorts months have passed since the tragic death of Chase Bunting, a member of the Viking’s Lacrosse Team.  During that time, each member of the team certainly has had to deal with, and cope with, emotions and feelings that they would have no idea how to handle.  Granted, as we all grow older, death of loved ones and friends are inevitable.  As adults, we come to accept the certainty of death.  As children, this type of tragic event can be too much to handle.

While for most people (adults and children), sports is a way to challenge and hone our athletic and competitive skills.  However, as someone who has experienced the tragic death of a teammate in high school, I can tell you that the most important benefit of sport is the team itself!  I do not want to downplay the love and support that each family member had in helping the boys from the NW Vikings Lacrosse Team cope with Chase’s passing, but the true recovery came from the love and support that came straight from each and every team member.

When the Vikings took the field for the first time after Chase’s death, they were playing for something bigger than themselves…they were taking the field for Chase.  They were taking the field for the community of NW Guilford County.  More importantly, they were taking the field for each other!

Regardless of how they played.  Regardless of how many games they won.  Regardless of how many games they lost.  The Vikings were already Champions.

On a rainy Saturday in the middle of May, the Vikings from NW Guilford walked on to a muddy lacrosse field in Cary, NC.  Winning or losing really didn’t matter.  The Vikings from NW Guilford were already Champions…it just so happened that when the clock hit “0″, they walked off the field the title of NC State Lacrosse Champions.

Seth Hendrix (son of ALLCHOICE’s Trish Hendrix), and the NW Guilford High School Lacrosse Team have made it to the North Carolina State Championship Game.

The Vikings look to finish a wonderful season with a win against the Wildcats of East Chapel Hill High School.

ALLCHOICE is proud to support Seth and the entire Viking Team in Saturday’s Game.