Inside Tulsa Insurance

Free Webinar! Improve your Google ranking with 10 Free Tools

2012-01-09T05:30:00.000-08:00

Hi,

I'd like to invite you to our upcoming free webcast on the "Top 10
Free Tools for SEO / Google Rank" being held online in the next few weeks.

More details / register for this no cost web event on Google / SEO -

http://esseeoo.com/1/jan9.html?darrylbaskin.insurance@blogger.com

Google is the dominant way that customers identify products and services,
today, so getting to the top of Google (SEO) is a critical marketing function
for business success.

This will not be your usual boring PowerPoint, nor a pure sales pitch. You
will learn each and every tool for Google / SEO. It will be well worth your time!

Best regards,

Jason McDonald
jm.seo.webinars@gmail.com

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

JEALOUSY

...among human beings jealousy ranks distinctly as a weakness; a trademark of small
minds; a property of all small minds, yet a property which even the smallest is
ashamed of; and when accused of its possession will lyingly deny it and resent the
accusation as an insult.
- Mark Twain

http://esseeoo.com/images/b/1.jpg ( contact info )
http://esseeoo.com/thank-you.html?darrylbaskin.insurance@blogger.com ( stop subscriber )

Don't let a friend lose their home to foreclosure!

2011-07-18T11:20:00.001-07:00

Visit us online at www.homeguidetulsa.com

Darryl,

If someone you know has fallen or will soon be falling behind on mortgage payments, the fear of the unknown can be overwhelming. But local real estate agents with training and resources of Certified Distressed Property Experts have an inside edge to help troubled homeowners.

The Baskin Real Estate Specialists

The Baskin Real Estate Specialists, McGraw Realtors
10131 S. Yale Ave., Tulsa OK 74096 918-258-2600

Visit http://www.homeguidetulsa.com

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Tulsa Foreclosures

2011-02-21T22:01:00.000-08:00

Visit us online at www.homeguidetulsa.com

Darryl,

More foreclosures doesn't necessarily mean the Tulsa area real estate market is dismal. In a recent interview with KJRH Channel 2, I explained that Tulsa has a healthy demand for homes in light of the financial turmoil. For home buyers in Tulsa, this extra inventory of homes means a better selection and low interest rates mean a lower house payment. But don't wait long to decide since demand for foreclosed homes in Tulsa is higher than many other cities and the best buys don't last long. If you are interested in taking advantage of this unusual market opportunity, email or call us for more information.

The Baskin Real Estate Specialists

The Baskin Real Estate Specialists, McGraw Realtors
10131 S. Yale Ave., Tulsa OK 74137 918-258-2600

Visit http://www.homeguidetulsa.com

Change your email preferences here.

From Our Top 5 Team: Looking for a Summer Remodeling Project? These Tips Might Help

2010-08-05T12:07:00.001-07:00

Looking for a Summer Remodeling Project? These Tips Might Help

Other than vacations, summer is the time of the year most popular for home improvement. The long days and warm, sunny weather make a great time to work on repairs and renovations without much of the hassles and delays that rain and other elements bring.

As a member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I, along with my team, have years of experience and understand how taking on a remodeling project is beneficial to you, both now and then later down the road should you choose to sell.

For these reasons and more, a good number of homeowners undertake home improvement projects, especially during the summer.

Following are tips and projects—both large and small—for homeowners looking to spruce their homes up this summer.

Patios and Decks
What better way to enjoy the warm days than by creating an outdoor living space for the family to enjoy.

Decks and patios are among the most popular summer remodeling ideas. There are various factors to take into consideration when deciding on whether a patio or deck is the most appropriate project to undertake. Such factors include soil condition and consistency, site terrain, use, capacity and privacy, as well as the cost and maintenance you are willing to put up with.

Home Maintenance
Throughout the seasons, your home has taken good care of you and your family and now is the best time to give back.

Go through your property to evaluate and create a checklist on areas that need mending or replacement. This list is a crucial preparation before calling a contractor or handyman for maintenance/repair services. Some common maintenance and repair include:

Waterproofing the basement
Re-caulking and replacing weather-striping
Cleaning and sealing wooden decks
Trimming bushes and trees
Realigning downspouts and gutters
Repairing the roof
Cleaning the pool
Mending the fence
Sealing cracks along driveways, foundation, walkways, etc.
Maintenance of HVAC systems

Energy-Efficient Renovation
When it comes to summer remodeling, there's no better way to invest your hard-earned dollars than by making your home energy efficient. An energy-efficient summer remodel is truly a worthwhile endeavor as it will result in years of savings on your energy bills. Some of the common items you can buy and integrate into your energy-efficient renovation include:

Insulation systems and materials
Roofs that resist heat gain
Biomass-burning stoves
Energy-efficient windows
HVAC systems with the highest efficiency tier
Solar panels
Fuel cells
Geothermal heat pumps
Wind energy systems

Taking on one (or more!) of these projects is a great way to give back to your home this summer…and, in some cases, save you a bit of money, too. For more information on home renovation projects, please e-mail our team - and please feel free to forward these tips to any family and friends you think might benefit from them as well.

Sincerely,

Darryl Baskin
McGraw Realtors
Office: 918-258-2600
Mobile: 918-740-0077
Darryl@DarrylBaskin.com
http://www.DarrylBaskin.com

This email was sent by RISMedia, Inc. on behalf of Darryl Baskin.
If you wish to edit your subscription or unsubscribe, please click here.

Emailing tweet from: dbaskin (dbaskin)

2010-08-02T15:44:00.000-07:00

dbaskin: Support Teaching Tulsa's young people valuable financial skills. Donate $5 to Junior Achievement. Text: INVEST JAOK to 20222

Original Tweet:
http://twitter.com/dbaskin/status/20173080870

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Darryl Baskin
The Baskin Real Estate Specialists
McGraw Realtors
8040 S. Sheridan Rd.
Tulsa, OK 74133

918.258.2600 Ofc
918.398.5110 fax
918.740.0077 cel

www.DarrylBaskin.com
www.BaskinCommercial.com
www.TulsaLuxuryPropertyGroup.com

Make a difference in a child's life. Speak for a child in court. www.TulsaCasa.org

Broken Arrow Are You Keeping Track of Your Valuable Personal Property?

2008-05-22T13:57:00.001-07:00

How much is your personal property worth?

This question is something that the Insurance information institute, a Manhattan industry group, thinks that everyone who has homeowners or renters insurance needs to answer. No home is immune from the possibility of a catastrophe. That is why a home inventory is so important. Often time’s people undervalue their property. Be sure to look in your closets and try to figure out what it would really cost to replace all of your suits and dresses.

The best way to keep track of the value of your possessions is to keep copies of receipts in a location other than your home. You would, however, have to be pretty compulsive to make copies of every receipt and then store them in a secondary location.

Another way to get a correct idea of what you have would be to go from closet to closet and room to room taking digital pictures of your belongings. It is important to take pictures of furnishings, furniture and even improvements made to the home. You should have antiques, artwork, rugs and expensive musical instruments appraised periodically.

Just a reminder that most homeowners policies provide “contents coverage” for 50 to 70 percent of the insured value of the home. So normally there is enough coverage as long as you can prove your losses.

For renters, co-op, and condo policies policy holders must determine how much insurance they need for their contents. So remember that you have to be accurate. Also everyone should insist that they are insured for replacement-cost coverage.

Working hard to serve you better: Szeszulski Agency....
Jerry Szeszulski (Shoe- Shell-Ski)
wk 918-254-2578 x227 Cell 918-808-6656

http://finsecurity.com/xs2243 (click here for website)

Jerry Szeszulski is an insurance expert heard on The Future of Real Estate News/Talk 740 KRMG from 12:30 - 1:00 and KFAQ from 7:00-8:00 on Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Jerry offers money saving expertise for homeowners to apply to their homeowner's policies. Email your insurance questions to: Jerry@TulsaHomeAuto.com

Tulsa, Broken Arrow find cheap Gas (((zip code gas prices)))

2008-05-22T13:37:00.001-07:00

Just enter your zip code in the site below, and it tells you which gas stations have the cheapest prices (and the highest) on gasoline in your zip code area. It's updated every evening.

http://autos.msn.com/everyday/gasstations.aspx?zip=&src=Netx

~~“We Take A Personal Interest- Protecting What You Value Most”~~

Working hard to serve you better: Szeszulski Agency....
Jerry Szeszulski (Shoe- Shell-Ski)
wk 918-254-2578 x227 Cell 918-808-6656

http://finsecurity.com/xs2243 (click here for website)

Tulsa is it time for a Policy Review

2008-05-13T10:42:00.001-07:00

These are two little words that seem to put fear in Tulsa and Broken Arrow residents; Why allow your fear of being sold to dictate your coverage’s (or lack of coverage’s) on your insurance? Look at it as your agent trying to protect you and your family with more coverage to prevent you from being underinsured. ( You can always say no) You should always want to be up to date on the coverage you do have and the options you may have for further coverage in the future? So….Let your fears fade away with lucky 13 things you must know to benefit from your next policy review.

Benefits to a Policy Review:
1. They help you make informed, conscious decisions, meaning decisions that you make before a loss.
2. Do I have the right coverage on my home?
3. Is the lot cost in my home coverage?
4. Why is my home insured for more than I could sell it for?
5. Do I have all the discounts I should be getting?
6. Are there any options that I may want that I am currently not taking advantage of?
7. Are there any options that I am being charged for that I don’t need?
8. Do you need an umbrella policy?
9. How much life insurance do I have?
10. How much life insurance do I have at work?
11. If I die will my family have enough life insurance?
12. Do I have the right auto coverage?
13. Does my auto policy cover me if I am sued, and for how much?

Making knowledgeable conscious decisions mean that at the time of loss, you, your loved ones, and the people that depend on you are left with good decisions. I cannot encourage you enough to spend thirty or forty minutes going over your policies with your agent.
Even If I am not your agent, I would be happy to meet with you to go over your coverage’s. No obligation, you don’t need to switch. I will go over with you what is covered, what isn’t covered, how the policy works, and help you coordinate your policy with what you have at work. So as you can see there is nothing to fear in making an appointment to do a policy review. This is one thing that is strictly for the benefit of you and your loved ones. So come on get up and contact your agent or myself to do a policy review today!

Jerry Szeszulski

Green Country- Do You Know How Your Credit Score Affects You and Your Insurance Rates?

2008-05-09T13:25:00.001-07:00

Maintaining good credit gives you many benefits.

One of those benefits is getting a better price from some insurance companies.

Insurance scores are not the same as credit scores.

Even though both credit and insurance scores use credit information, Insurance scores are developed by using a unique mathematical formula that helps insurers predict the likelihood of insurance claims being filed. You can improve your insurance score and credit by having low balances on credit cards, applying for and opening new credit accounts only as needed, and by paying bills on time.

For more information about credit reports and your credit record contact:

Consumer Data Industry Association

www.cdiaonline.org

Equifax

www.equifax.com

For a copy of your report, call 1-800-685-1111

Experian

www.experian.com

For a copy of your report, call 1-888-397-3742

Trans Union

www.tuc.com

For a copy of your report, call 1-800-888-4213

Working hard to serve you better: Szeszulski Agency....
Jerry Szeszulski (Shoe- Shell-Ski)
wk 918-254-2578 x227 Cell 918-808-6656

http://finsecurity.com/xs2243 (click here for website)

Tulsans Are You Protected From Identity Theft?

2008-05-09T10:11:00.000-07:00

What are you doing to protect yourself from this rapidly increasing Problem?

Here are some easy ways that your identity can be stolen:

1. Internet Exposure

2. Friends and Family

3. Dumpster Diving

4. Stealing Mail

5. Shoulder Surf (standing over your shoulder watching for your pin…ect)

How the new identity is used:

· To Access Credit Card Accounts.

· Telephone or Utility Fraud.

· To Access Bank Accounts.

· Employment Related Fraud.

· To Apply and Create Loans.

· To Obtain Drivers License and Social Security Cards.

· Fraudulent Tax Returns or Government Benefit

At the Szeszulski Agency, we have a plan that will protect you. A comprehensive program, which includes fraud and credit monitoring, resolution services, and stolen expense coverage. With secure ID from ANPAC, you will be able to monitor your credit to help prevent and identity loss. You will be signing up for an online subscription to fraud and credit monitoring services. You can receive the following coverage for a mere $90 per year:

· Zero Deductible for identity theft losses.

· Increased limits of $50,000 per occurrence/$100,000 annual aggregate

· New income replacement coverage of up to $200 per day for 25 days or $5,000 for lost wages when having to take time to work to rectify records.

· If you are a member of CA$HBACK from ANPAC, claims paid under this for this endorsement will not affect your CA$HBACK reward.

· In addition, your coverage now also includes comprehensive resolution services should you actually become a victim. In this case, an advocate would be assigned to you to help you through the resolution process.

Working hard to serve you better: Szeszulski Agency....
Jerry Szeszulski (Shoe- Shell-Ski)
wk 918-254-2578 x227 Cell 918-808-6656

http://finsecurity.com/xs2243 (click here for website)

Tornado Safety Information for Tulsa and the surrounding areas

2008-05-08T14:49:00.001-07:00

Green Country Be Prepared

· Of course as many of you may know the best way to becoming prepared is to learn about the event it’s self. So here is some information about tornadoes that many of you may not know.

· Tornadoes can strike quickly leaving little to no warning

· They can be viewed as transparent until dust or debris is picked up, or until a cloud forms in the funnel.

· Tornadoes can vary in speed from stationary up to 70 mph. The average speed of a tornado is 30 mph.

· Tornadoes may move in any direction but normally they move from Southwest to Northeast.

· Tornadoes can accompany tropical storms and hurricanes when they are moving onto land.

· Peak tornado season in the southern states is March through May.

· Tornadoes can occur at any time but are most frequent between 3 and 9p.m.

Tornado Warning-Means seek shelter immediately

· In most buildings make sure to take shelter on the lowest floor in the center of the location away from all windows, doors, corners and outside walls.

· If you are in a vehicle or mobile home get out immediately and go to the lowest floor of a nearby building or storm shelter.

· If you are outside with no shelter lie flat in a ditch or depression with your hands over your head. Do not go under an overpass. You are safer the lower to the ground you are. Watch out for flying debris.

Working hard to serve you better: Szeszulski Agency....
Jerry Szeszulski (Shoe- Shell-Ski)
wk 918-254-2578 x227 Cell 918-808-6656

http://finsecurity.com/xs2243 (click here for website)

The Law Of The Garbage Truck

2008-04-10T15:11:00.001-07:00

How often do you let other people change your mood? Do you let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive employee ruin your day? Unless you're the Terminator, for an instant you're probably set back on your heels. However, the mark of a successful person is how quickly she/he can get back her/his focus on what's important.

Five years ago I learned this lesson in the back of a taxi cab in Indianapolis. Here's what happened:

I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly.

So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!' This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.' He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.

I am called to be salt and light to a lost world. So when someone dumps their garbage on me, I need to show them the same love, grace and forgiveness, and unmerited favor that I receive from my Heavenly Father. Do not repay evil with evil… That is one I need help with, my pride gets hurt and I want to give them my two cents worth but God is working on me. I am not where I need to be but thank God I am not where I was!

Jerry

Why don't you do a policy review with your insurance agent?

2008-04-10T14:41:00.000-07:00

Why don't you do a policy review with your insurance agent? I suggest to you that it's fear. You fear that the agent is going to sell you something that you don't need, don't want. Consequently what you need to do is leave the agent that is causing this trepidation. (Just kidding) You see, if you really feared your agent then that would mean they don't have your best interest at heart, and I would doubt that is the case? Moreover if I ask you, do you have confidence in your insurance agent, you probably would say yes. Consequently, I have to come to the conclusion that your trepidation is unmerited. What are the advantages of doing a policy review?

1. They help you make informed, conscious decisions, meaning decisions that you make before a loss.
2. Do I have the right coverage on my home?
3. Is the lot cost in my home coverage?
4. Why is my home insured for more than I could sell it for?
5. Do I have all the discounts I should be getting?
6. Are there any options that I may want that I am currently not taking advantage of?
7. Are there any options that I am being charge for that I don’t need?
8. Do you need umbrella policy?
9. How much life insurance do I have?
10. How much life insurance do I have at work?
11. If I die will my family have enough life insurance?
12. Do I have the right auto coverage’s?
13.Does my auto policy cover me if I am sued?
Making knowledgeable conscious decision means that at the time of loss, you and your loved ones and the people that depend on you are left with good, decisions. I cannot encourage you enough to spend 30 or 40 minutes going over what is covered or isn't covered on your policy with your agent, and I'll go one better. Even if I am not your agent, I would be happy to meet with you to go over your coverage’s. No obligation, you don't need you to switch. I will go over with you what is covered, what is not covered, how the policy works, and help you coordinate your policy with what you have at work. To help you and your family make good, conscious decisions.

Join Jerry Szeszulski on Yahoo! Messenger!

2007-11-21T12:54:00.001-08:00

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So what are you waiting for? It's free. Get Yahoo! Messenger and start connecting how you want, when you want.

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By using Yahoo! Messenger you agree to not use PC-to-PC calling in countries where prohibited.
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2007-11-19T10:26:00.000-08:00

When is Identity Theft not Identity Theft?

Drawing the line at cyber-harassment

Notes from our Chairman, Adam K. Levin

If you ever wondered how vast and unpredictable a frontier the Internet can be, ask any victim of online slander or financial fraud. An identity comprises numerous pieces of data, and misuse of any of those pieces can prove to be devastating, be it financially or socially. But which pieces of our identity are--or should be--protected by identity theft laws? Does cyber-harassment really amount to identity theft? Right now, it's up to the individual states to decide. Some already have, and think that it does. We're not so sure we agree with them.
In this month's newsletter, "Cyber-Bullying, Identity Theft-- or Both?" outlines recent harassment cases brought before the courts under identity theft laws. This month's editorial, "Invading OurSpace," recognizes the dire need to address online harassment but warns that this emerging trend could be detrimental to the fight against identity theft.
Adam K. Levin, Chairman Identity Theft 911, LLC
For a complete newsletter archive, visit: http://www.anpac-secureid.com/newsletters/index.htmTo learn about the latest scams on identity theft, visit: http://www.anpac-secureid.com/Comments, questions? Contact us: newsletter@identitytheft911.com

Working hard to serve you better
Szeszulski Agency
....Jerry Szeszulski
(Shoe- Shell-Ski)
wk 918-254-2578 x227 Cell 918-808-6656

Jerry Szeszulski is an insurance expert heard on The Future of Real Estate News/Talk 740 KRMG from 12:30 - 1:00 and KFAQ from 7:00-8:00 on Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Jerry offers money saving expertise for homeowners to apply to their homeowner's policies. Email your insurance questions to: Jerry@TulsaHomeAuto.com

© 2005-2007, Identity Theft 911 LLC, THE IDENTITY THEFT NEWSLETTER may not be copied, reproduced, transmitted, displayed, distributed, altered, or otherwise used in whole or in part in any manner without the prior written consent of Identity Theft 911, LLC except to the extent that such use constitutes “fair use” under the Copyright Act of 1976 (17 U.S.C. §107), as amended and except for one unaltered permanent copy and/or electronic copy to be used by the viewer for personal and non-commercial use only. The information contained in this newsletter is not to be considered as the giving or rendering of legal advice and is provided merely for informational purpose.

Is there a cover up in Tulsa?

2007-11-16T09:48:00.001-08:00

November 2007

Enhanced Emeralds —

The Clever Cover-up

When it comes to gems, "enhanced" sounds good, but that word signals a cover-up. Here’s the skinny on the good, the bad, and the ugly of emerald enhancement.
Emerald is one of the four "precious gems" (along with diamond, ruby and sapphire), so most people assume emeralds are expensive. Well, some are and some aren’t.
Emeralds, lovely as they are, often have inclusions or fractures. That’s the nature of this gem material. In fact, a natural emerald with only minimal fissures is so rare that it’s worth far more than a diamond of similar carat weight and clarity.

2.38 carat
Emerald-Cut Diamond
$21,000 2.03 carat

Emerald-Cut Emerald
$30,000

Many good-quality emeralds used in jewelry have minor surface flaws. Oiling, a routine practice that’s been done for hundreds of years, improves the appearance of the stones and does not affect their value or durability.

Read the rest of the story to find out about emerald enhancement
-- and what it means to insurers

_______http://www.jcrs.com/newsletters/2007____________________

Tulsa say thank you to our Troops....((( Just do it!)))

2007-11-06T07:56:00.001-08:00

Takes only a couple of seconds!

Something cool that Xerox is doing

If you go to this web site, www.LetsSayThanks.com you can pick out a thank you card and Xer ox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq . You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to some member of the armed services.

How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!! This is a great site. Please send a card. It is FREE and it only takes a second.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if the soldiers received a bunch of these? Whether you are for or against the war, our guys and gals over there need to know we are behind them...

Working hard to serve you better Szeszulski Agency....
Jerry Szeszulski (Shoe- Shell-Ski) http://finsecurity.com/xs2243
wk 918-254-2578 x227 Cell 918-808-6656 Jerry Szeszulski is an insurance expert heard on The Future of Real Estate News/Talk 740 KRMG from 12:30 - 1:00 and KFAQ from 7:00-8:00 on Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Jerry offers money saving expertise for homeowners to apply to their homeowner's policies. Email your insurance questions to: Jerry@TulsaHomeAuto.com

Just one more way that the Szeszulski Agency is looking to help you keep your rates down. Now you and all your family members can take the on line driver safety course and save 10% per year for 3 years. To get more information or get started now on saving money just click the link below.

http://www.aarp.org/families/driver_safety/driver_program/a2004-06-21-whatisds.html

THREAT ALERT: Update for Tulsa and all areas North, South, East, and West.

2007-10-31T12:47:00.001-07:00

Security Freezes Offered by All Three Major Credit Reporting Agencies

October 31, 2007

Eleven states remain without security freeze laws, but consumers in those states now have another option. The three major credit reporting agencies--Equifax, Experian and TransUnion--will help bridge that gap in consumer protection by allowing consumers in all fifty states to freeze and unfreeze their credit files. We reported earlier on TransUnion's and Equifax's plans to offer freezes. TransUnion began offering freeze services Oct. 15. Equifax's services start today, Oct. 31, and Experian's start tomorrow, Nov. 1.

http://www.anpac-secureid.com/alerts/alert.ext?sp=10303

Eatery's Credit Card Data Ordered Up "To Go"

October 30, 2007

Not Your Average Joe's typically fills takeout orders, but the Massachusetts-based restaurant chain recently learned identity thieves were also ordering up customer credit card data "to go."

http://www.anpac-secureid.com/alerts/alert.ext?sp=10301

For full details, visit:

http://www.anpac-secureid.com/home.htm

Be Thankful by; micael yousse

2007-10-29T09:59:00.001-07:00

What does God think of Thanksgiving? He is blessed and honored it because Thanksgiving is a mark of a saint who knows God's character and His position as God alone. The Lord is a giver of all good gifts and He is worthy of Thanksgiving. Since God's qualities are not hidden, Thanksgiving is not optional. "For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities, His eternal policy and divine nature have been clearly seen. Being understood from what has been made so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified to him as God, nor gave thanks to Him. But they're thinking became futile and they're foolish hearts were darkened." Romans 1:20-21.

The absence of glory and thanksgiving ascribed to God leads to darkened hearts and futile thinking. May God's people receive wisdom as we glorify his eternal power and divine nature with praise and thanksgiving. God is Jehovah, the great I am. He is El-Shaddai, the Almighty God. He is Jehovah Jireh, God our provider. Every good and perfect gift is from above and coming down from the Father of the Heavenly Light, he does not change like the shifting shadows. James I:16 -18.

Everything we enjoy in the present and coming age is a gift from God worthy of thanksgiving, but what if our life is a mess. What if our circumstances feel like anything but a gift from God. Circumstances may deceive us but God's word tells us, "We know that all things God works for those who love Him who have been called according to His purpose", Romans 8:28.

God is also at work for our good and His glory. Physical thanksgiving does not focus on our circumstances but on the character of God. Circumstances change, God does not. In Psalm 73 David was perplexed at the prosperity of the wicked while the godly faced difficulties and trial. However, reminding himself that God alone was his provision, council, strength, desire, and portion. He knew from God's word the fate of those who are far from God, and he remembered that it was good and right for him to be near God, his refuge, offering thanksgiving for all God has done. Those who have the salvation of God through the faith in Jesus Christ know the secret to peace is following of thanksgiving. The Apostle Paul's writing to the Philipians said, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and partition with thanksgiving present your request to God and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus". Philipians 4:6-7.

By submitting our request to God with a thankful heart we receive peace that transcends all understanding. Thanksgiving is integral to the right relationship with God. It is a hallmark of the true follower of Jesus Christ because thanksgiving honors God bringing glory to his name and blessings beyond measure. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts since as a member of one body you were called to peace. Be and be thankful, Colossians, 3:15. Everything we enjoy in the present and coming age is a gift from God worthy of thanksgiving.

Just one more way that the Szeszulski Agency is looking to help you keep your rates down. Now you and all your family members can take the on line driver safety course and save 10% per year for 3 years. To get more information or get started now on saving money just click the link below.

http://www.aarp.org/families/driver_safety/driver_program/a2004-06-21-whatisds.html

The Szeszulski Agency :O)
Agent ((((Shoe-Shell-Ski)))

http://finsecurity.com/xs2243

American National Ins Co.
11375 E 61st St #103
Broken Arrow Ok, 74102

Jerry@tulsahomeauto.com

tel:
fax:
mobile:

918-254-2578 x227
918-254-2580
918-808-6656

Speak for a child in court... www.tulsacasa.org

NEVER TAIL GATE A BIG TRUCK @ 120 mph

2007-10-24T06:33:00.000-07:00

Another good reason to follow the rules... We have speed limits for a reason. You might want to share this with your kids and grandkids. Things happen very fast.

Motorcycle Hits Semi-Trailer *

Motorcyclist Killed After High-Speed Crash Overnight Tuesday April 17, 2007 11:07am Posted By: Kevin King
Tulsa - A Broken Arrow man was killed early Tuesday morning after a motorcycle accident on Highway 169 near 81st Street.

Witnesses say the cyclist was going faster than 100 miles per hour when he crashed into the back of a semi truck between 81st and 91st Street at about one o'clock Tuesday morning.
Investigators say evidence shows the cyclist was going about 120 miles per hour at the time of the impact. It took the truck driver more than a quarter of a mile to come to a stop. When he did, he stepped out of his rig and found the motorcyclist dead at the back of the truck.
'The truck driver was not hurt,' says Captain Matt Kirkland. 'He said that the impact was so strong that he thought he was hit from behind by another truck.'
Officers said there was no indication that drugs or alcohol played a factor in the accident.

Butter vs. Margarine

2007-10-22T09:52:00.000-07:00

Pass The Butter ~ ~ ~ ~

a.. Margarine was originally manufactured to fatten turkeys.

b.. When it killed the turkeys, the people who had put all the money into the research wanted a payback so they put their heads together to figure out what to do with this product to get their money back.

c.. It was a white substance with no food appeal so they added the yellow coloring and sold it to people to use in place of butter.

d.. How do you like it?

e.. They have come out with some clever new flavorings.

DO YOU KNOW.. The difference between margarine and butter?

Read on to the end...gets very interesting!

a.. Both have the same amount of calories.

b.. Butter is slightly higher in saturated fats at 8 grams compared to 5 grams.

c.. Eating margarine can increase heart disease in women by 53% over eating the same amount of butter, according to a recent Harvard Medical Study.

d.. Eating butter increases the absorption of many other nutrients in other foods.

e.. Butter has many nutritional benefits where margarine has a few only because they are added!

f.. Butter tastes much better than margari ne and it can enhance the flavors of other foods.

g.. Butter has been around for centuries where Margarine has been around for less than 100 years.

And now, for Margarine...

a.. Very high in trans fatty acids.

b.. Triple risk of coronary heart disease.

c.. Increases total cholesterol and LDL (this is the bad cholesterol) and lowers HDL cholesterol, (the good cholesterol)

d.. Increases the risk of cancers up to five fold.

e.. Lowers quality of breast milk.

f. Decreases immune response.

g.. Decreases insulin response.

And here's the most disturbing fact....

HERE IS THE PART THAT IS VERY INTERESTING!
a.. Margarine is but ONE MOLECULE away from being PLASTIC...

b.. This fact alone was enough to have me avoiding margarine for life and anything else that is hydrogenated (this means hydrogen is added, changing the molecular structure of the substance). You can try this yourself:

a. Purchase a tub of margarine and leave it in your garage or shaded area Within a couple of days you will note a couple of things:

* No flies, not even those pesky fruit flies will go near it (that should tell you something)

* It does not rot or smell differently because it has No nutritional value

* Nothing will grow on it. Even those teeny weenie microorganisms will not a find a home to grow.

Why? Because it is nearly plastic.

Would you melt your Tupperware and spread that on your toast?

Share This With Your Friends..... (If you want to "butter them up")!

Also, in the grocery stores, margarine is not stored under refrigeration until it is brought out front for the customers. It is just stacked in
the back room at room temperature, because it will not go bad.

Just one more way that the Szeszulski Agency is looking to help you keep your rates down. Now you and all your family members can take the on line driver safety course and save 10% per year for 3 years. To get more information or get started now on saving money just click the link below.

http://www.aarp.org/families/driver_safety/driver_program/a2004-06-21-whatisds.html

Working hard to serve you better

Szeszulski Agency....
Jerry Szeszulski

(Shoe- Shell-Ski)
wk 918-254-2578 x227
Cell 918-808-6656

http://finsecurity.com/xs2243

Choosing A Fire Extinguisher

2007-10-04T07:41:00.001-07:00

A portable fire extinguisher can be used to put out small fires or contain it until the fire department arrives. To be effective, the extinguisher must be the right size for the fire at hand. It must be easily accessible and it must be fully charged. Also, the user must know how to operate it before the fire strikes. Different extinguishers put out different types of fires, so have an area of use in mind when you purchase a fire extinguisher. A rated extinguisher for wood, paper, trash, and plastic fires. B rated extinguishers for gasoline, oil, and grease fires. C rated extinguishers for electric fires. For all around protection, have a multiple purpose ABC rated fire extinguisher on every level of your house. For the kitchen, an extinguisher rate 5-B;C is best. First Alert offers fire extinguishers in color coded packaging to make choosing the right extinguisher easier. Controlling an extinguisher during a fire can be difficult, so First Alert offers a sure grip trigger that fits snugly into the hand. Other features include an easy to read pressure gage or a test button to ensure the extinguisher is fully charged.

Working hard to serve you better:

Szeszulski Agency....

Jerry Szeszulski

(Shoe- Shell-Ski)

Wk 918-254-2578 x227

Cell 918-808-6656

http://finsecurity.com/xs2243

8 Safety Tips on Smoke Detector

2007-10-04T07:37:00.001-07:00

To safeguard against loss of life in a fire, it's important to properly install, and maintain your smoke detector. Remember these 8 tips:

1. Install smoke detector on every level of your home, and inside each sleeping area.

2. Replace smoke detector batteries once a year at the first indication of a failing battery. Smoke detectors emit chirping noise to indicate a week battery.

3. Test smoke detectors monthly. Also, gently vacuum the outside of the cover regularly so smoke can reach the unit.

4. Be sure to follow the manufacturers instructions on proper installation and maintenance of the detector.

5. Replace smoke detectors every 10 years.

6. For extended protection, look for the first alert 10 year lithium powered smoke detector. It operates for 10 years without a battery change.

7. Battery operated smoke detectors are easy to install. They also have an advantage of operating during power outages.

8. In some areas building codes require hardwired detectors. Hardwired detectors do not need new batteries, nor do they risk having batteries borrowed for another use. They can be interconnected so that the alarm sounds on the floor triggers an alarm on all floors, models of battery back ups to provide protecting during power outages are recommended.

Fire - Check List for Escape Plan

2007-10-04T07:34:00.001-07:00

Installing smoke detectors is essential to helping alert the household members before they become trapped or overcome by smoke in a fire. The essential next step is to decide now, before there's an emergency, just what your family will do when the alarm sounds. To safeguard your family, take the following steps to develop and practice your escape route now. Without a fire escape plan, children may hide or look for their parents instead of exiting to safety.

1. Draw a plan. Begin by drawing a complete floorplan of your home. Mark all possible escape routes. Each room must have a primary exit route and an alternate route, possibly a window in case the door is blocked. Draw a primary escape route in green. Alternate routes in yellow and dead ends in red. Try to imagine problems that may arise in difficult areas of the house or due to the specific needs of an individual. Designate which family member will help infants or immobile persons to safety.

2. Make sure windows are designated as escape routes and make sure they open easily. Store portable fire escape ladders in easily accessible locations in the second-story bedrooms.

3. Be sure everyone knows how to work locks, deadbolts, and escape ladders. If window bars are used in any room, these should be removable from the inside of the room in a child's bedroom. If your family lives in an apartment, be familiar with the stairways and fire exit locations. Never plan to use an elevator as part of an escape route. Elevators use electricity and may stop and trap you if the power fails. They may also open their doors at a floor where the deadly fire is present.

4. Designate a meeting place. Pick an outdoor meeting place. If a fire occurs, every family member must know to go immediately and stay there. This will prevent wasting time in deciding what to do or in looking for other household members once outside. Stay outside. When everyone is at the meeting place, call the fire department from the neighbor's home or a nearby phone booth, or cell phone. Don't assume 911 is the emergency number in your area. In some locations there are different numbers for emergencies. Call directory assistance for your local police and fire department to find the appropriate number before an emergency strikes.

5. Tell children fire fighters are friends. If you have very young children, show them a picture of what a fire fighter looks like when dressed in fire fighting gear. Children who do not know may hide in fear from them during a fire. Explain the fire fighters are there to help. Arrange for your children to visit the local fire department. Many stations have fire safety education classes for kids or will arrange a visit to your school or organization for a fire safety talk.

6. Try pretending certain exits are blocked so the family members will have to use alternative routes. During the drill, practice exiting the house by crawling low to the floor where the air is easier to breathe. After the drill, review what occurred and discuss any problem in the following escape routes. Correct those problems and practice again.

7. Prepare now. Let everyone hear the smoke alarm and explain what it means. Practice and discuss your plan. Each family member and call providers should know how to escape various parts of the house safely. Small children need to understand they must get out of the house, not hide under the bed or in the closet. Make sure windows can open and practice exiting through them.

8. Place fire escape ladders in a second-story sleeping room; make sure everyone knows how to use the ladders. Practice putting one out a window, then let each family member practice exiting on the ladder from the first floor window.

9. Keep bedroom doors closed at night. A closed door will slow a fire and help keep out dangerous gases and smoke. Smoke detectors should be located in every bedroom. Keep a rechargeable flashlight next to the bed as thick smoke from the fire can inhibit visibility.

10. Know what to do in a real fire. If you awake to a fire, roll out of bed, don't stand up. Crawl low to the floor to exit. If possible, close the door tightly behind you as your move towards your exit. Move away from danger. The best escape route is the one that moves continuously away from the fire. Thick smoke, flames, and heat area most intense and unpredictable the closer you are to the fire. Never attempt to run through a fire. Use and alternate route or remain where you are rather than risk injury or death by moving closer to the fire. If trapped, stuff towels, sheets, or rugs around the door in the bottom of the door to keep smoke our. Close the door between you and fire. If there is a telephone, call your emergency number. Tell the dispatcher exactly where you are, indicating the floor and the room. Wait near a window and signal for help so rescue workers can find you. Use a flashlight or wave a sheet or a light-colored cloth.

Working hard to serve you better:

Szeszulski Agency....
Jerry Szeszulski

(Shoe- Shell-Ski)
wk 918-254-2578 x227
Cell 918-808-6656

http://finsecurity.com/xs2243

Fire Safety

2007-10-02T09:04:00.000-07:00

How to safely handle a Kitchen fire… Please watch.

Working hard to serve you better:

Szeszulski Agency....
Jerry Szeszulski

(Shoe- Shell-Ski)
wk 918-254-2578 x227
Cell 918-808-6656

http://finsecurity.com/xs2243

Our River Yes Overview Public River Plan look at the maps and renderings

2007-10-01T13:04:00.001-07:00

$282 Million Public River Plan

Ensuring the River Flows with Water
Sand Springs low-water dam….$24.7 million
Zink Dam modifications….$15.45 million
River channel modifications, bank stabilization
and habitat improvements….$90 million
Jenks low-water dam….$24.7 million
Sub-total….$154.85 million

Enhancing the River’s Economic Value
Land Acquisition & Site Development,
Tulsa, Bixby, Broken Arrow, Sand Springs, Jenks….$57.4 million
Sub-total….$57.4 million

Connecting People to the River
Pedestrian Bridges at 41st and 61st streets
and Downtown Connectors….$45 million
Sub-total….$45 million
Project contingency funds….$25 million

The result is a river with a constant flow of water between downtown around 1st to the Jenks area at approximately 106th that provides for the multiple goals of recreation, aesthetics, flood control and wildlife habitat. If Tulsa County voters approve public funding, the private sector has agreed to donate $117 million to beautify the banks of the Arkansas River with picnic areas, parks, fountains and water features, improved recreation areas, better public restrooms, enhanced lighting, safety features and more.

Overview highlights

Just the facts on the Tulsa River Development/tax....

2007-10-01T12:52:00.001-07:00

I thought you might like to hear a progress report on the river development vote (the nice thing about e-mail is that if you really don't want to hear, you can delete now; I'll wait):

I think a lot of the confusion is being cleared up-

This is not The Channels; it is the older, basic plan that has been studied for many years with hundreds of public meetings.
There was never the intention that the small amount of money in Vision 2025 for dams ($5.6 million) would pay for them, only that it would pay for studies and perhaps help seed a federal grant that never came because of the greater need for Katrina recovery efforts; the remaining Vision 2025 money (and more than $12 million from other voter-approved sources) is being applied to this plan.
There will be strong oversight of how the money is spent by both a citizen committee and the foundations, individuals and businesses who are putting up $117 million to improve the plan.
There is a tax rebate for those over 65 (I promise not to take mine) and those with family income below about $50,000.
This will be largely a pay as you go arrangement, saving lots of interest, because several of the projects will take a couple of years to gain approval and the tax can accumulate and earn interest.
The main thing the public project does is put water in the river at all times, with eleven miles of lakes and improved access, including street and sidewalk improvements leading to the river and pedestrian bridges across it. The private supplement builds parks, playgrounds, wilderness and fitness areas along the banks.
And the real thing the river plan does is demonstrate to prospective employers and to our kids who are leaving town to find good jobs that Tulsans are serious about improving their city and making it more livable.

Almost no one seems opposed to the plan itself but the vote will be close because many people will vote no for reasons unrelated to the proposal, such as...

opposition to all taxes, even one of less than half a penny (or about ten cents per day for most people) for just seven years;
belief that other needs are more urgent, like road repair; There is clearly a high priority need for this purpose but it will be separately funded under a plan that is just now being developed. We need to do both.
concern in one city that every dollar they pay doesn't come back to them in projects within their city limits and that those dollars could otherwise be taxed locally. But more than 50% of their residents work in the city of Tulsa and use its facilities which were largely paid for without cost to them;
concern in one area of the city about a wholly unrelated issue that they want to protest about by rejecting this plan, which they acknowledge is sound.

If you have questions that I have not clarified here (or if you don't like my answers), please take a look at the FAQ section of the website, OurRiverYes.com at http://www.ourriveryes.com/overview/q&a/ and any other material online that takes an opposing view.

I hope, after you have done all of your own research, looking at the advice of the pro and con people, that you will conclude, as I have, that this is critically important for Tulsa and will vote YES. This may be our last shot for a long, long time to pull ourselves out of the economic drift we are in. And maybe, also, you could help explain the plan, as you see it, to your friends and neighbors.

Jewelry Scams right here in Tulsa Oklahoma....

2007-09-26T06:41:00.001-07:00

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DANGER! EBay Jewelry "Bargains"

Everyone shops on eBay these days because you can get such bargains. But when it comes to jewelry, Buyer Beware, and also Insurer Beware!

Let's jump right in. Here's a ring valued at $14,833 that sold on eBay for $400! There's a lab report to support the jewelry's value and a happy customer at the end of the sale.

Niemen’s advises customers to "have realistic expectations." About its lab report, the seller says, "The Estimated Replacement Value is for insurance purposes only to obtain insurance coverage. . . . Please do not confuse Replacement Value with Appraised or Market Value, as they are not the same."

No kidding! Who made up that estimated value? Is it realistic to expect that a purchase from a jewelry retailer is worth 37 times the sale price? While we're at it, the USGL "Official Gem ID Card" attesting to the ring's value is said (in the lower right corner) to be a "$50 to $150 Value!"

The high valuation seems designed as a perk for the buyer (at the expense of the insurer). Actually, both buyer and insurer lose.

Suppose an insurer accepted this USGL valuation of $14,833. The buyer would then be paying $200-$300 in annual premiums. Would anyone insure a $400 purchase at this cost — unless they saw an opportunity? It's what we insurers call moral hazard.

Close examination of the lab's ID card shows that some crucial information is missing, such as cut dimensions. Also, the clarity of the main diamond is given as "opaque", though diamonds should be "transparent" — even black ones. These red flags are enough to make a trained gemologist suspicious of this valuation, even without seeing the jewelry itself.

A jewelry insurance expert would also know that reports from reliable labs, such as GIA (Gemological Institute of America) or AGS (American Gem Society), do not include valuations. Their job is to describe the gems accurately and completely, not to function as a sales tool. Any lab report (certificate, ID card, etc.) that includes valuation is suspicious. In this case, the huge difference between "estimated replacement value" and sale price suggests a grossly inflated valuation.

Suppose the policyholder insured the ring based on its $14,833 valuation and paid the high premiums. If she subsequently took the ring to an independent gemologist/appraiser and learned it was worth far less, she might have a "convenient loss" — in effect, sell the ring to the insurer for a profit.

EBay buyers are encouraged to give feedback about the seller, a practice intended to keep sellers honest. For most big jewelry auction sites, the feedback is 97-99% positive. This sounds good. But a close reading shows that an extraordinary number of the positive comments are a version of "order arrived on time, jewelry was nicely packaged." Most likely the buyers never have the jewelry independently appraised, to see whether it is as advertised.

The Brandishing of Brand

Buyers regularly look to eBay for brand-name merchandise at rock-bottom prices. Here's a statistic to conjure with: estimates are that 50% to 90% of the famous name products advertised on eBay are counterfeit. That includes artworks, designer clothes, makeup, software, collectable coins, electronics, DVDs, golf clubs...and, of course, jewelry.

A seller of knockoffs may copy sales receipts of the genuine article to prove authenticity or sell a used item as new. Some jewelry sites sell "Tiffany-inspired" jewelry. Others blatantly advertise and sell replicas of name brands.

EBay will remove any auction site that violates trademark laws — if the offender is brought to their attention. Monitoring the auction sites for counterfeits is expensive and time-consuming, so manufacturers tend to object only when customers complain to them about products bought on eBay.

Trademark holders feel it's eBay's responsibility to prevent the sale of misrepresented products. EBay claims it is only a marketplace, like a flea market. With 60 million items being sold at any given time and 3.5 million new auctions every day, it cannot police everything.

Things may be coming to a head. Tiffany has filed suit against eBay for trademark abuse, claiming eBay is directly and indirectly assisting counterfeiters. This is after Tiffany had forced eBay to shut down 19,000 auction sites. It had randomly purchased "Tiffany" jewelry and found only 5% of it was genuine.

Tiffany recently won a suit against Starglam Inc., a major seller of fake Tiffany wares on eBay. If the Tiffany suit against eBay itself is successful, legal actions by other manufacturers are likely to follow.

Who sells on eBay?

Although a good buy is possible from an individual, sellers may not even know what they're selling. Misrepresentation of jewelry quality, or even kind, is rampant. Sellers loosely throw in terms like vintage, genuine, excellent, synthetic, simulant, semi-precious. One gemologist interviewed in a "20/20" investigation described the poor-quality jewelry from eBay as what "we [gemologists] sometimes in slang refer to as frozen spit." Another expert said the clarity of the gems was so low "they should have been ground up for sandpaper." Not only can anyone sell on eBay, anyone can set up an official-looking jewelry site. EBay spam promises to make you a millionaire. There are "toolkits" for sale and for free to help you start an eBay business. Jewelry suppliers will let you select items from their site (at "below wholesale" prices) to show on your own web site and price however you want. You don't have to buy anything until you make the sale, then they ship to you and you ship to your customer. You set your profit margin, refund policies, type of payments you accept.

No knowledge of jewelry necessary, no investment in inventory, no reputation for honesty or expertise. Just set up a Web site and they will come.

Red flags:

Was the jewelry bought on eBay or anywhere online?
Is the valuation far higher than the sale price?
Is the valuation on a printed certificate supplied by the seller?

If the answer to any of these questions is Yes, and the jewelry is high-priced, insist on an appraisal from an independent appraiser who is a Graduate Gemologist (GG) and, preferably, also a Certified Insurance Appraiser™(CIA).

Always ask for the sales receipt. A huge discrepancy between selling price and valuation is a strong indication of inflated valuation.

Lab reports, official-looking Certificates, Gem Identification Cards, or any other such paperwork supplied by the seller (from eBay or otherwise) are usually just sales tools, with exaggerated qualities and inflated valuations. Do not trust them.

As you go through renewals, keep an eye out for policies based on USGL valuations. Since these valuations are likely to be wildly inflated, consider having the policyholder provide an appraisal from a reliable independent appraiser.

Trust only certificates from reputable labs, such as GIA and AGS.

Scheduled jewelry should have an appraisal from a GG, preferably a CIA™.

Don't take brand names at face value. These days, everything can be counterfeited. Many trademark brands, such as Tiffany and Rolex, sell only through authorized dealers, never online. If a high-price item is bought online, or if you suspect it may not be genuine, insist that it be authenticated by an authorized dealer in that merchandise. You don't want to have to replace a cheap knockoff with a genuine item down the line.

Encourage clients to get an independent appraisal from a qualified gemologist as soon as possible after an online purchase. Point out how an appraisal's accurate description and valuation benefit them:

An inflated valuation means they pay higher premiums than necessary.
A settlement is based on the real value of the item, not an inflated value.
If an independent appraisal shows that the jewelry they bought is not of the quality advertised, they may want to return it for a refund.

Working hard to serve you better:

Szeszulski Agency....
Jerry Szeszulski

(Shoe- Shell-Ski)
wk 918-254-2578 x227
Cell 918-808-6656

Jerry Szeszulski is an insurance expert heard on The Future of Real Estate News/Talk 740 KRMG from 12:30 - 1:00 and KFAQ from 7:00-8:00 on Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Jerry offers money saving expertise for homeowners to apply to their homeowner's policies. Email your insurance questions to: Jerry@TulsaHomeAuto.com

To live a life free of fear

2007-09-25T10:08:00.001-07:00

What do you fear? Some fears are natural and protect us from harm while
other fears ordinate from confusion and lack of faith. These unhealthy
fears paralyze us and keep us from walking in obedience to God, but God
loves us and wants us to live free of these seizing fears. "For God did
not give us a spirit of committed, but a spirit of power, of love, and
of self discipline". Second Timothy 1 - 7. God graciously reveals his
love and character to us as we seek him. As we grow in the knowledge of
his unfailing love, our faith is strengthened and we become bold to
speak his truth. Faith is an expression of our confidence in God and who
we are in Christ. When people lack confidence in God, they become
fearful and confused. Confusion leads to self doubt and questioning,
what is right and what is wrong. One would become confused over our
identity in Christ, fear of rejection and criticism overwhelms our
desire to obey God. When we doubt the love and the power of God, we
begin to lose discernment in choosing the right path. When we are filled
with self doubt, fear of the future and the desire to please people
instead of God, we become vulnerable to the spiritual attacks and
temptations. If obedience to God will help us pass the test, fear and
wavering faith will surely cause us to fail. Daniel had plenty of reason
to be afraid. He was captured as a teenager and taken to a foreign land.
He was separated from his godly family and forced to live among pagans.
He was routinely tested both academically and spiritually. He met face
to face with the greatest ruler of the day. Yet Daniel did not allow
fear to control him. Daniel focused on God, not on his circumstances.
Daniel obeyed God's laws, not the pagan laws and through Daniel's love,
faith, and obedience towards God, he thrived in an ungodly land. We are
all also living in a Foreign land. On a daily basis, we face temptation
to conform to the world's standards. God's love for us is called into
question every day by the world. We are routinely tested on faith and
character, but like Daniel, we must remember the love of God and put
faith above fear in order to survive these obstacles. How do we overcome
our fear with faith in a practical way. First, we need to prepare for
the testing by studying God's word. We learn the truth by studying what
God says in the scriptures and the more we make reading the Bible a part
of our daily routine, the more we desire and appreciate it. "How sweet
your words to my taste. Sweeter than honey to my mouth. I gain
understanding from your perspective, therefore I hate every wrong path".
Psalms 119 verse 103 through 104. If you are paralyzed by fear and
something is holding you back from stepping out in faith, ask for the
Holy Spirit's guidance to help you overcome fear, commit to studying
God's word and applying it to your life. Ask God's help as you begin to
trust him more and more. Write down at least three past situations in
which God proved himself faithful to you when you follow him in
obedience, then keep this as a record to remind yourself of God's
faithfulness whenever you are fighting fear. "He has delivered us from
such a deadly peril and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope
that he will continue to deliver us". 2 Corinthians 1: 10

Your Identity

2007-09-20T12:31:00.000-07:00

What matters most to your identity is not how the world sees you, how
your friends see you or even how you see yourself. What matters most is
how God sees you. Spend time in God's word learning about his
everlasting love for you. From your identity in Christ, understand who
you are from God's viewpoint. 1 John 3:1, how great it is, the love the
father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God and
that it is what we are. Because if you are not sure of your identity or
if your identity is not firmly rooted in God, then you will be easily
swayed and discouraged by what other people say about you. Only with
God's strength will you be able to turn away from the powerful
influences that tell you what you should be. Only the Holy Spirit can
guide you away from the twisted truth about the meaning of success and
self worth. Only your identity as God's beloved child, can protect you
from the pressure to conform to ungodly values. Think about the ways in
which you have allowed the criticisms of non believers to affect your
identity. Seek forgiveness for the times when you have pushed your
Christian identity aside to fit into a group or to avoid ridicule.
Then pray for the Holy Spirit to always remind you of who you are in
Christ and to give you the power to overcome any temptation to wavier in
your identity. God loves you more than you could possibly imagine, no
matter what thought, situation comes your way, nothing can change the
fact that you are a beloved child from God. For I am convinced that
neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor demons, neither the present nor
the future nor powers, nor height, nor death nor anything else in all of
creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in us
through Chris Jesus our lord, Romans 8:38-39.

Working hard to serve you better:

Szeszulski Agency....

Jerry Szeszulski

(Shoe- Shell-Ski)

wk 918-254-2578 x227

Cell 918-808-6656

Jerry Szeszulski is an insurance expert heard on The Future of Real
Estate News/Talk 740 KRMG from 12:30 - 1:00 and KFAQ from 7:00-8:00 on
Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Jerry offers money saving expertise for
homeowners to apply to their homeowner's policies. Email your insurance
questions to: Jerry@TulsaHomeAuto.com

GOOD INFO ABOUT CRUISE CONTROL

2007-09-19T12:40:00.001-07:00

I wonder how many people know about this;

A 36 year old female had an accident several weeks ago and
totaled her car. A resident of Kilgore, Texas she was traveling between
Gladewater & Kilgore. It was raining, though not excessively, when her
car suddenly began to hydro-plane and literally flew through the air.
She was not seriously injured but very stunned at the sudden occurrence!

When she explained to the highway patrolman what had happened he
told her something that every driver should know - NEVER DRIVE IN THE
RAIN WITH YOUR CRUISE CONTROL ON. She thought she was being cautious by
setting the cruise control and maintaining a safe consistent speed in
the rain.

But the highway patrolman told her that if the cruise control is
on when your car begins to hydro-plane and your tires lose contact with
the pavement, your car will accelerate to a higher rate of speed making
you take off like an airplane. She told the patrolman that was exactly
what had occurred.

The patrolman said this warning should be listed, on the
driver's seat sun-visor - NEVER USE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE PAVEMENT
IS WET OR ICY, along with the airbag warning. We tell our teenagers to
set the cruise control and drive a safe speed - but we don't tell them
to use the cruise control only when the pavement is dry.

The only person the accident victim found, who knew this
(besides the patrolman), was a man who had had a similar accident,
totaled his car and sustained severe injuries.

If you send this to 15 people and only one of them doesn't know
about this, then it was all worth it. You might have saved a life.

NOTE: Some vehicles (like the Toyota Sienna Limited XLE) will
not allow you to set the cruise control when the windshield wipers are
on.

Jerry Szeszulski

________________________________

FW: Remembering Sept 11

2007-09-11T08:18:00.000-07:00

The Flying Stone... who's fault is it anyway?

2007-09-07T08:12:00.001-07:00

Ok, you’re sitting at a stop light, and you can see it happen in slow motion….

you see a man mowing his yard on his riding lawn mower, and you're sitting there watching him pull across his gravel driveway thinking, oh no, here it comes, and then bang, like a gunshot, the back window goes out.

Who's going to cover the broken window? Your auto policy under the comprehensive, his lawnmower coverage, his home owner's coverage. Actually it would be covered underneath his homeowner's coverage under property damage to others. Normally there is $500 of coverage. It's at no deductible to the homeowner. So, turn it in and get your window fixed. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact me

Working hard to serve you better:Szeszulski Agency....
Jerry Szeszulski (Shoe- Shell-Ski)
wk 918-254-2578 x227
Cell 918-808-6656

FW: Do you have any rights to arbitrate a claim if you don't agree with the adjustor?

2007-08-31T10:46:00.001-07:00

I always suggest that before you have a claim, you should meet with your agent and discuss with them what happens in the settling of a claim. What's the process? What if I don't agree with what the adjustor says? What if who I'm having do the work says you have a loss and the adjustor says you don’t. Who is right? Do I have any recourse or am I stuck with what the company says?

Let me share with you what I find is best.

1. Talk with the adjustor and find out why they're saying what they're saying. Sometimes you may misunderstand what they're saying because they're speaking in some insurance jargon or lingo.

2. Once you get clarification, it's always good to call your agent and bounce off what you think you heard from the adjustor. Say this is what I think he's saying and I don't agree with this, do we have any alternative.

3. You can request that adjustor get together with the people doing the work and have the people doing the work share with them why it is they don't consider the adjustor is bearing in mind everything that might be taken into account, or adjusting this claim precisely.

4. Call the adjustor's supervisor and talk with the supervisor about it. Sometimes there are personality conflicts. You can have a supervisor get involved, see if the supervisor sees things more sensibly.

5. The last step would be an arbitrator, and with an arbitrator, the insurance company has their viewpoint. The people doing your work have their viewpoint, and now an arbitrator comes in and the arbitrator's word is binding. Whatever the arbitrator says, whether the arbitrator goes with the company or with you, both parties are obliged to live with the arbitrator's conclusion. The arbitrator is an independent adjustor not affiliated with the insured nor the insurance agency or company.

In closing the best way to steer clear of this entire chaos would be to meet with your agent once a year or even every other year. Go over what is covered and what isn’t covered. Look for overlaps, gaps and make sure you both understand the policy.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. My e-mail address is

jerry@tulsahomeauto.com

Or give me a call at 918-254-2578 extension 227.

How long do I have coverage? Grace Period on Home and Auto

2007-08-09T11:42:00.001-07:00

If you own your own home, or a rental property and you pay your own insurance premium. You get the bill and the last date of coverage is the 5^th, but you get busy and you don't pay it on the 5th and you know you are in your grace period. So 10 days go by. It's the 15th and you think, oh, I better go in and pay for that but you are in the “grace period”. Will you still have coverage? Yes, you will still have coverage (or maybe, it depends). The insurance company will go back to the 5^th (the last day of coverage) and extend coverage as if your policy has never lapsed. But, and this is a big but, if you have a claim between the time the coverage lapsed in the midst of your grace period and your last day of coverage, the company will not accept the premium. ((Ouch that is not going to make you happy))

Grace periods only extend the amount of payment time, not the coverage date. The coverage date will be the last day of coverage stated on your declarations page. You may have 10, 15, 20 days of grace period to pay your premium. But if you have a claim in that grace period, the company is not liable for the loss.

Another question that comes up is on auto insurance. If I buy a new car, do I automatically have to call the agent before I drive the car off the lot or do I have coverage? If an insurance company has all of your vehicles insured, then you have 30 days to notify them that you bought a new car.(please note that if you do not have comprehensive and collision coverage on at least one vehicle then comprehensive and collision will not be on the new car until you call.) So, you are driving this car for two weeks, you have a wreck. If the insurance company has all your vehicles insured, then you are covered as if you had told them. On the 31st day, you will not have coverage. Why is it that they said that the insurance company has to have all your coverage you may ask? Well, let's say that you have one company, company A, and your spouse has company B. Now, who would be on the risk for the new car purchase? There becomes a coverage issue, so there is no coverage extended on the newly purchased vehicle you would need to call to add it on before you drove it off the lot. It's one reason why you should have all your coverage’s with one company.

If you have any questions about any of this, please feel free to contact me at Jerry@tulsaHomeAuto.com or give me a call at 918-254-2578, extension 227. If it goes to voicemail, just push extension 227 and you'll come right to me.

Have a great day.

Upping the Odds That Your Teen Will Be a Safe Driver

2007-08-08T13:24:00.001-07:00

I worry terribly about teens with parents who buy them cars and pay for all of the other costs of driving. These kids are far more likely to make tragic life-ending errors of judgment than those who have to really work for the privilege. Why's this so? Simply because teenagers don't fear death…but they do fear financial loss.

As soon as possible…even as early as the elementary grades…start the following conversation with your kids:

Parent: "I sure hope that you can afford to drive some day."

Child: "What? Everybody drives."

Parent: "Only those people who have the money. How are you planning to save so that you can afford to pay for most of it when you're 16?"

Child: "Uh?"

Parent: "I want you to be able to drive. A lot of kids decide to start a savings account and save money from their birthdays, Christmas, odd jobs, etc."

Really responsible kids are far more likely to become really responsible drivers! That's why we've teamed up with Public Television stations across the country to produce a show titled, "How to Raise Kids Who Make Responsible Decisions." We believe that this show can save many lives. Please help us with this goal by contacting your local Public Television station and requesting that they air the program.

It's not too late if your child is already driving! In my mind, it's far better to have a teen who's temporarily angry than one who's permanently gone.

Thanks for reading.

Dr. Charles Fay

Love and Logic Institute, Inc [mailto:reply@loveandlogicnews.com]

Working hard to serve you better:

Szeszulski Agency....
Jerry Szeszulski

(Shoe- Shell-Ski)
wk 918-254-2578 x227
Cell 918-808-6656

Is Your Home Underinsured?

2007-08-06T12:44:00.001-07:00

NEW YORK, July 4, 2007

(CBS) The Early Show's financial guru, Ray Martin, explains why taking a closer look at your home insurance policies is a good idea. As it turns out, more than half of all American homes are underinsured, meaning that if disaster does strike, your costs to rebuild may not be entirely covered.

Home Insurance Insecurity
Many homeowners who lost their homes in the Lake Tahoe wildfires could discover that their insurance policies will not provide enough money to pay for their rebuilding costs. But it’s not that that they don’t have the right type of coverage, since homeowners insurance covers loss caused by fires. The problem is that they may not have enough insurance.

Most people have homeowners insurance that provides "extended replacement coverage," which means that if their home is damaged or destroyed due to a covered peril, their policy will pay out no more that up to 120 percent of the dwelling limits in the policy – and not a penny more. The problem with this is that it could cost a lot more to rebuild or replace your home and if your policy limits are not enough you will end up paying the difference.

Nearly six out of every ten American homes are underinsured, with folks having only enough insurance to pay about 80 percent of the costs to replace or rebuild their homes. This is according to Marshall & Swift/Boeckh LLC (or MSB), a leading provider of building replacement cost data.

With the median value of an existing single family home of about $220,000, a homeowner with this average shortfall in coverage is at risk to pay an additional $44,000 or more towards the actual cost to rebuild their home that their insurance does not cover.

How Home Underinsurance Can Creep Up On You
Most people buy insurance on their home when they buy the home. The amount of dwelling coverage is typically an estimate of the market price people pay for the home and it may be a good starting point. But the mistake many people make is that once they buy home insurance, the only thing they keep up with is paying the premiums – they never read their policy and never revisit whether the coverage in their policy is adequate. This "set it and forget it" thinking is what gets many people into an underinsurance situation. The really sad part is that most people only find out that they are underinsured when they have a loss and then it's too late to increase the coverage. In fact, if you do want to increase the amount of coverage on your home, you can't do so when the peril is upon you. Insurance companies generally place a moratorium on coverage changes in areas that are in the path of a storm, typically several days before the expected peril is forecast to strike.

Many homeowners do not update or periodically increase the coverage on their homes. When you remodel and improve your home, you also need to call your insurance agent to update your coverage. And even if you don’t make improvements to your home, you can be sure that it will cost more to replace it today versus when you bought it. The reason is the surging price of building materials, energy and labor, all which have increased replacement costs up by over seven percent a year since 2001.

And if your home is located in an area prone to severe weather, such as tornados or hurricanes, then your rebuilding costs could also be pushed higher by new building codes that protect against wind damage or earthquakes and therefore adding to the costs to rebuild the home.

Owning a home is a big responsibility and the homeowner bears the responsibility to select the proper policy coverage limits, a position that is supported by laws in many states. If you have a home insurance policy that costs $2,000 per year, you could be wasting your money. If you have a loss and the dwelling coverage falls short, you may not have enough money to rebuild your home.

Disappearing Replacement Coverage
Today, most standard homeowner's insurance policies no longer provide "guaranteed replacement cost" coverage. Back in the "good old days" this was a provision in policies that provided homeowners peace of mind that their home would be replaced no matter what the coverage limits were stated in a policy. But most insurance companies, seeking to limit their exposure to loses, have changed their policies, and notified their customers with letters that include a "notice of change of coverage" in the annual policy updates.

The problem is that these little notices include a big change in coverage and it’s doubtful that most homeowners fully understand the importance of this change, or even read the notice.

Most homeowner's policies today include only "extended replacement cost" coverage or "specified additional amount of insurance." This only provides coverage up to the dwelling limits specified in the policy, plus an additional amount of up to 20 percent, and NOT a penny more. This places more responsibility on homeowners to ensure that they have adequate dwelling coverage limits in their homeowner's insurance policies.

Some states, such as California, have become so concerned about the underinsurance problem that they have passed laws requiring insurance companies to change policy language to state that policies provide "limited replacement cost coverage."

Do You Have Enough Insurance To Rebuild Your Home?
Every homeowner who has not reviewed their home insurance in three years should pull out their policy and ask themselves this question: Do I have enough coverage to rebuild my home?

You can also call your insurance company and ask them the same question, but sometimes they may provide little help here or some may even steer you wrong.

Some insurance companies may offer a home replacement cost analysis based on the owner's statements about things like the number and type of rooms, the quality level of the existing construction and the home's special features. Ideally, the insurance agent should also visit the home to asses its replacement value and take into account the specific risks to the home, local market conditions and current building codes that would contribute to the costs of replacing the home. Some insurance companies will offer this service through their local agent network.

But rather than taking the estimate of an insurance agent as the measure of your home replacement cost, I urge homeowners to use MSB's computer program at accucoverage.com, to calculate your homes replacement cost. You can log onto the site and input information on your home. Use their free worksheet in advance to make the process easier and more complete. For just $7.95 you can receive and print an AccuCoverage report that will include an estimate the insurable replacement cost of your home based on the same reconstruction cost data for your local area that is used by much of the insurance industry. If your report indicates a replacement cost that is 120 percent more than the dwelling limits in your policy, call your home insurance company immediately and increase your dwelling limits.

Once you've increased your home's coverage, you will need to revisit it every several years, or anytime you have made improvements that increase the value of your home. Many insurance companies offer a dwelling coverage escalator. This feature automatically increases the dwelling limits in the policy each year. Ask your insurance company about this add-on, which can cost an additional $50 or so per year – a small amount to pay for additional peace-of-mind.

Do You Have The Right Type Of Coverage?
But having enough dwelling coverage isn't the end of it. You also want to ensure that the policy guarantees that your home contents will be covered no matter what the reason for the loss. This is particularly important if you have a larger home, many furnishings, jewelry, art, or a home office.

You need to have a type of home insurance coverage called an HO-5 policy. Only this type provides replacement cost coverage for contents damaged or lost due to all risks.

As more people buy vacation homes and second homes, they need to be sure to properly insure these homes too. When buying or updating homeowners coverage on a second home, be sure to disclose to the insurance company that the home is a vacation home, the amount of time you occupy it and if you also offer it for rent when you are not using it. Coverage for vacation or second homes should include additional liability coverage, loss of use and loss of rental income benefits.

Flood Insurance
No standard home insurance policy will cover flood damage. Homeowners in flood zones can buy flood insurance under the National Flood Insurance Program through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and claims are often serviced by your insurance company. The maximum coverage available is $250,000 and the average cost is about $500 per year for $200,000 worth of coverage. If you need more flood insurance coverage, private insurers such as American International Group can provide policies with higher coverage limits. Some owners of high-risk properties may have to resort to obtaining coverage through Fair Access to Insurance Requirements, or FAIR Plans, which are state mandated insurer organizations that cover high-risk properties in about 36 states.

Coverage For Loss Of Use
One thing most homeowner's policies do cover is "loss of use." Many of the insured homeowners in New Orleans who were forced to evacuate their homes found that their costs to stay in a hotel and other related living costs were generally covered at an amount that is typically about 30 percent of the overall policy dwelling coverage. So for instance, if your home is insured for $200,000, you may be entitled for up to $60,000 in reimbursement for your expenses associated with your loss of use.

Working hard to serve you better:

Szeszulski Agency....
Jerry Szeszulski

(Shoe- Shell-Ski)
wk 918-254-2578 x227
Cell 918-808-6656

How Did Nearly $30 Billion 'Disappear' From Traditional Reinsurance Market?

2007-07-09T10:33:00.001-07:00

Trend more evident in casualty than property, but decline hits all segments

BY STEVEN FALLON

The use of traditional reinsurance for the customary benefits of financial stability, risk transfer and increased capacity is declining, according to a recent analysis of insurance industry information performed by Gallagher Re. Indeed, Gallagher’s analysis of industry data since 2001 provides strong evidence that the landscape has changed.

Reinsurance provides many functions to an organization. The textbook definition of the benefits—spread of risk, protecting solvency margins, increasing profitability and developing capacity—makes the implicit assumption that the risk of loss is transferred to a third-party, non-affiliated company.

Not all reinsurance, however, is placed with non-affiliated companies. Indeed, a significant percentage of reinsurance is placed with affiliated organizations.

Publicly available U.S. statutory accounting information can be used to analyze trends in the use of reinsurance. The accompanying statutory underwriting and investment exhibit provides written premium information on a direct, assumed and ceded basis. Assumed and ceded premiums are further classified between affiliated and non-affiliated transactions.

The affiliated transactions are those made with entities that share a common ownership with the ceding company. Affiliated transactions include both U.S. and non-U.S. companies.

At first glance, there does not appear to be a significant decline in the amount of reinsurance used.

At a high level—ignoring the distinction between affiliated and non-affiliated transactions—the use of reinsurance, when measured by the ratio of ceded-to-gross premiums, has declined only slightly since 2001. In that year, total ceded premiums represented 22 percent of gross premiums (direct plus assumed premiums). In 2006, the comparable percentage is 19 percent.

In dollars, the total amount of ceded premiums in 2001 (both affiliated and non-affiliated) was approximately $98 billion. The amount in 2006 was $106 billion. This is an increase of $8 billion over five years.

In 2001, however, approximately $70 billion of the $98 billion in total ceded premiums was ceded to outside organizations. This amount actually decreased in 2006, when only $64 billion was ceded to non-affiliated organizations.

In a period where total gross premiums increased 27 percent, with steady growth in overall writings, the amount of premiums ceded to non-affiliates did not keep pace. Indeed, instead of growing, the use of outside reinsurance has declined.

This decline is evident when we compare premiums ceded to non-affiliated companies to direct written premiums. This ratio was 18.5 percent in 2001. The comparable amount for 2006 was 13 percent. This is a substantial reduction in the use of reinsurance for traditional risk-transfer purposes, and the decline has been consistent over that period—each year the ratio has reduced by one-to-two percentage points.

If the ceded activity in 2006 was the same as it was in 2001, the amount of premiums ceded to non-affiliates would have been about $92 billion. The actual amount was $64 billion.

In other words, nearly $30 billion has disappeared from the traditional reinsurance market.

Similar results can be derived by analyzing more refined measures of reinsurance usage. An analogous decline is apparent, for example, when we compare non-affiliated premiums ceded with gross premiums that are also net of affiliated transactions.

Refining the analysis even further, by removing not just premiums ceded to affiliated companies but also cessions to mandatory pools from total ceded premiums, we can get closer to the impact on “pure” traditional risk transfer reinsurance.

The accompanying chart titled “Measuring Traditional Reinsurance” sets forth numerical details.

LINE BY LINE

The decline is not uniform for all statutory lines of business. However, no major line of business saw any growth in the ratio measures of reinsurance usage we analyzed.

In general, lines of business classified as property or multiperil—including allied lines, homeowners, commercial multiperil, fire and inland marine—had the smallest decline.

As a group, the amount ceded to non-affiliates was relatively stable, with the total ratio varying from 19-to-22 percent over the five years. (The ratio cited here is the ratio of the premiums ceded to non-affiliated companies to gross premiums net of assumptions from affiliates.)

The decline in non-affiliated reinsurance is more evident for the casualty and auto lines of business. This group includes workers’ compensation, other liability and medical malpractice as well as private passenger and commercial auto liability and physical damage.

As a group, insurers reduced their use of non-affiliated reinsurance transactions in these lines, as evidenced by ratios falling from 14.5 percent to 8.6 percent from 2001 to 2006.

The largest drop was in the "other liability" line—from 35 percent to 20 percent.

Workers’ comp and medical malpractice also had dramatic declines, as well as the auto lines. And the decline has been consistent over that period. Each year, across all of these lines, there has been a drop-off in the amount of reinsurance ceded to non-affiliates. The data indicates there has been a drop in the use of traditional risk-transfer reinsurance, especially in the non-property lines. However, care must be used in interpreting statutory accounting information.

The behavior of a few large companies can distort the results. Or there may be an increase in reinsurance ceded to offshore non-U.S. affiliates—who may then shed the risk to an unaffiliated party. Changes in the use of offshore captives and pools may also have an effect.

Still, the consistent decline each year across almost all lines is apparent. If premiums ceded to non-affiliates are a measure of how much U.S. insurance companies use reinsurance for the “pure” purpose of shedding risk to third parties, then companies have shown an increasing appetite for retaining risk this decade.

What accounts for the increased retention of loss?

MARKET INSIGHTS

A number of factors may provide an explanation, including:

• Consolidation:

Over the past few years we have seen increased consolidation of companies in the primary market. This may explain why the property lines have held steady while the casualty lines have declined.

In the casualty lines, consolidation provides a larger capital base to absorb the spread of risk. Consolidation in the property lines, however, can lead to increased accumulation of catastrophe aggregates.

• Reinsurance price levels:

Currently, many reinsures are enjoying record-setting profits. This is due to significantly higher premium rates for catastrophe-exposed business, tightened terms and conditions, and the lack of major catastrophe losses. The hard market leads to increased retentions by insurance companies.

• Strong insurer financials:

Insurance companies themselves have recently experienced record favorable combined ratios in the United States. Stronger company balance sheets also give primary insurers the option of retaining more risk.

• Better models and management:

The success of predictive modeling in ratemaking has also allowed companies to feel more comfortable in retaining risk. The increased focus on enterprise risk management—and the role of corporate risk officers—may also be a factor.

• Increased scrutiny of reinsures:

Insurance companies have a heightened awareness of reinsurance credit risk—in terms of both their ability and willingness to pay their obligations. Rating organizations like A.M. Best and Standard & Poor’s have been subject to extensive criticism for failing to predict the insolvencies of a number of well-known companies. In response, the rating agencies became much more conservative in their ratings. This has led to a “flight to quality,” but this approach has its limits.

The highest quality reinsures have no reason to take unnecessary risks on questionable programs or startups. Thus, programs with potential problems may find it difficult to find reinsures with the highest ratings. As a result, insurers are more willing to retain the risk, rather than transfer it to a company with a less-than-top-tier rating.

• Capital markets competition:

The use of capital markets has only increased this decade—a trend unlikely to be reversed. The capital markets directly compete with the reinsurance market for the classic reinsurance role of transferring risk to a third party.

In 2006 and 2007, we have witnessed a number of new ventures that combine reinsurance and capital market techniques.

An example is Gallagher Re’s initiative with the New York Mercantile Exchange to create catastrophe risk derivatives. In addition, over $6 billion in catastrophe bonds have been issued this year already. This comfortably surpasses last year’s total which was itself a record year for issuance.

NEW MARKET DYNAMICS

A changing marketplace creates challenges and opportunities for insurers and their advisers.

Companies have become more proactive in the identification, quantification and management of enterprise risk. As a result of competitive pressures and rating agency scrutiny, insurers have become increasingly sophisticated in their treatment of risk.

Reinsurance intermediaries have responded by offering alternative risk-financing vehicles, such as contingent capital, insurance derivatives and other capital market products.

Insurers demand—and intermediaries provide—sophisticated advice on enterprise risk management, dynamic risk analysis and catastrophe management. Reinsurance companies and intermediaries will continue to develop solutions to meet the challenges of a changing marketplace.

No one expects the market for third-party reinsurance to be stable. Use of the market has gone up or down over time, depending on the underlying dynamics of the insurance industry.

There will always be a robust market for traditional reinsurance that offers the benefits of financial stability, risk transfer and increased capacity. But the ongoing, year-to-year decline in third-party reinsurance across most lines of business has been striking.

What remains to be seen is if this is part of a normal cycle, or a permanent shift away from third-party reinsurance.

Steven Fallon is executive vice president and chief actuary for Gallagher Re in New York. He can be reached at Steven_Fallon@GallagherRe.com

Working hard to serve you better:

Szeszulski Agency....
Jerry Szeszulski

(Shoe- Shell-Ski)
wk 918-254-2578 x227
Cell 918-808-6656

Who can you trust to do home repairs?

2007-06-29T12:48:00.001-07:00

You know inviting a stranger into your home can be risky business. When it comes to service people how do you know who you can trust? We've all heard about negative experiences, from some surprise expenses to con-artists, people that will take your money or take your down payment and skip out of town, or you will get the guy that just comes in to scope out the place, and then later comes to rob you. Don't let this happen to you. When you hire someone, do some major and minor checking on him. You may want to ask for references, and then call the references. Don't just call the references, you might want to actually drive by the addresses of the people that they referred. Drive by the business. Look in the yellow pages. See if they actually have a yellow page ad, to see if they are a legitimate business. Find out all you can about the company you are hiring. Call the Better Business Bureau, the Chamber of Commerce, or your local trade association or builder's association and see how long they have been in business. The number one deterrent to these petty crimes is to be at home while the work is being done. You don't need to be constantly supervising the work while it's being done, but being in the house is a very good deterrent. Never leave a key under the mat, or in the mail box. If you can't be home, do not let a stranger just come into your house. Ask a trusted neighbor to be there when service people arrive to keep an eye on the house and an eye on them. Let them know what kind of vehicle to expect in the driveway and ask them to alert you or the police if they see anything unusual, such as people making several trips from your house carrying large pieces furniture or boxes into their van. It helps if service people are licensed and bonded to protect you from being sued. But just knowing that isn't enough, you have to ask a few questions.

1. Under what conditions does the bonding company pay claim?

2. Will the bonding company pay damages if something valuable is broken?

3. You need to ask specifically what is covered, or what isn't covered.

4. Does the insurer have sufficient funds for the number of members it has? Always go with an A.M. Best rated company of (A+). You can go to ambest.com to find out what your insurance company rating is.

5. What is the cap? Or in other words how much will they pay. Is there a spot where they will stop paying? Most insurers pay only a set amount and you need to know what that amount is. The remainder is left to the person who suffered the loss. This means that if a $10,000 ring is taken from you by the person who is bonded, and they are only bonded for $2,000, you have to settle up with the person who stole the ring.

Asking a few simple questions may save you a lot of nightmares.

Dictation made on 6/20/2007 1:38 PM EST.

Have you ever considered buying a home warranty?

2007-06-22T13:06:00.001-07:00

I am sure that you've thought about getting a home warranty when you bought a house that may be a little older with older appliances, but have you ever thought about buying a home warranty for the home you already own? A good way to be sure you are getting a reliable service is to purchase a home warranty by a reputable company, such as American Home Shield, sometimes known as AHS. AHS is a qualified home warranty company. Let me tell you how their plan works. First of all, they only send out qualified service people, so that you can avoid the high cost of repairs at your home. Here's how it works: You will pay an annual premium, usually about $450. When an appliance or a heating system or a plumbing or an electric system goes bad or even your water heater needs repair, you just pay a service fee, which is normally around $50, and the warranty would take care of the rest; or a phone call to the warranty company would take care of all of that. Now you may think, wow, $450, that's a lot of money every year, seems like I am just paying for it on a year by year basis. Well, some insurance companies, like mine, offer home warranties as well, but it is going to be opposite of what AHS offers. It is only $28 a year, and it has a $500 deductible if you need it. It covers the same air conditioner, heaters, hot water tank, dishwasher, built in refrigerator, air conditioners, cool pumps, spa pumps, electrical service panels. If you need repair or replacement, they'll do so. If it needs to be replaced, they'll pay up to 25% above the cost to replace or repair, as long as it is more energy efficient or safer for the environment. You need to decide which option is best for you. Is the $450 a year with a low deductible or low service cost the right option? Or is the $28 a year with a $500 deductible the right option? For some people it may be right to just self-insure. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at jerry@tulsahomeauto.com or my phone number is 918-254-2578, extension 227.

Working hard to serve you better:

Szeszulski Agency....
Jerry Szeszulski

(Shoe- Shell-Ski)
wk 918-254-2578 x227
Cell 918-808-6656

Radon Testing Steps

2007-06-22T13:04:00.001-07:00

Makers of reliable home testing devices, First Alert can detect radon in your house. Radon testing devices are available at your local hardware stores or home centers. Purchase a kit that includes testing by a lab listed by the EPA, such as First Alert. Test with a short-term, two to three day charcoal monitor, following manufacturer's directions exactly. After testing time, reseal and send package to the lab specified on the package right away. You should receive the results within a few weeks. If the result is below 4pCi\L, you do not need to take action. If your test result is 4pCi\L or higher, take a second short-term test and average the results. If the result is 10pCi\L or higher, take this second test immediately. Short-term tests should be repeated a couple of times since radon levels can vary over time. If your radon level is still 4pCi\L or greater, you need to fix the problem. You can call your state radon office to obtain more information, including a list of EPA or state approved radon contractors or call the Radon Fix-It line, operated by the Consumer Federation of America at 1-800-644-6999 between noon and 8:00pm Eastern Standard Time for information and assistance. For more information about radon, call the EPA Radon Hotline at 1-800-SOS-RADON. That's 1-800-767-7236.

Working hard to serve you better:

Szeszulski Agency....
Jerry Szeszulski

(Shoe- Shell-Ski)
wk 918-254-2578 x227
Cell 918-808-6656

Radon. Is it harmful? Could you and your home be at risk?

2007-06-22T13:00:00.001-07:00

Have you ever heard of the deadly thing called Radon? Harmful levels of Radon can put you at risk for lung cancer. But you may have something you can do about it. The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that about 300,000 lung cancer deaths in the US each year are attributed to Radon exposure. One out of every 15 houses is likely to harbor amounts of Radon above the EPA's action level. It's colorless, it's odorless and it's invisible. Radon is produced by the natural breakdown of Uranium in the soil, in rock. Radon seeps into the house through the cracks and other openings in and around the foundation. It also may be present in water and can be released into indoor air when water is used for showers and other household uses. Private well water can be a radon problem in some parts of the country. You need to ask local health officials if this is problem in our area. You can call the EPA drinking water hotline which is 1-800-426-4791. The only way to find out if your home has a radon problem is to test it. Do it yourself test kits are available and easy to follow instructions; some areas require radon testing before a home is sold. Such testing is usually done by a certified radon inspector. Testing of all homes below the third floor is recommended. According to Joseph P Ponessa, PHD, chair of the department of Family and Consumer Science at Rutgers University, some homes, though a very small number, have radon levels well above safety standards set for uranium mines. Although no level of radon is considered safe, the EPA has set four multi C small eye \ L (PICOCURIES per liter) as the point at which action should be taken to reduce radon levels. To lower radon levels hire a contractor that's been certified by your state or by the EPA's radon proficiency program. The cost averages $1,200. Doing the job yourself is not recommended. As without the proper equipment and training you could increase your radon levels.

Working hard to serve you better:

Szeszulski Agency....
Jerry Szeszulski

(Shoe- Shell-Ski)
wk 918-254-2578 x227
Cell 918-808-6656

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

2007-06-18T09:16:00.001-07:00

This is from a book I am reading and has nothing at all to do with insurance but I thought you may all enjoy it as much as I did: “That Crazy little thing called Love” by Jud Wilhite. Let me know what you think

You gotta love Aretha. Her powerful voice commanding “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” has captured millions of people, especially women, who have embraced that song as a personal anthem. Just like the Queen of Soul herself, women deserve and desire respect from their mates. And while respect is important for a woman, it’s even more important for men. In fact the son “RESPECT” was first written by a man named Otis Redding. Two years before Aretha recorded it, he released it as a single to send a message to his wife.

In the Song of Solomon, it’s immediately apparent that Solomon’s wife has great respect for him. This is displayed in the opening passage of the book when she says, “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—for your love is more delightful than wine. Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes; Your name is like perfume poured out. No wonder the maidens love you!”

Remember, this is poetry. It is not like reading an article in the New York Times. There’s a lot of flowery language, metaphors, and symbolism. Men in the Old Testament didn’t bathe for several days at a time. (Gross they still don’t over there) They put on oil or perfume that would give them a fragrance. So the woman is saying “Solomon, you smell so good. You’re irresistible!” (By the way, I heard a woman on a radio show say that the most annoying thing about men is that too many believe deodorant alone is enough!)

The Shulatmmite says Solomon not only Smells wonderfully but his “name is like perfume poured out.” A person’s name in the Old Testament stood for his character and reputation. She is saying, “Your name is so valuable it’s like expensive perfume poured out. It’s a sweet fragrance.” These words drip with respect.

In his book Love and Respect, Dr. Emerson Eggerichs writes about the importance of respect in a man’s life. He cites a study in which 400 men were asked to choose between being alone and unloved or being disrespected by everyone. An amazing 74% of men said if they had to choose, they would choose to be alone and unloved rather than disrespected!

Thousands of years ago, the Bible addressed the issue of man’s need for respect. In his letter to the Ephesians, we read this instruction form Paul: “Each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband” (5:33). Notice this passage does not call on husbands and wives to love each other. It charges husbands to love their wives and wives to respect their husbands. God knows that a woman’s primary need is to feel loved, but a man’s primary need is to feel respected. Respect surpasses love and everything else as his most essential need.

Eggerichs cites one woman who says, “Just a few days ago, I decided to tell my husband that I respect him. It felt so awkward to say the words, but I went for it and the reaction was unbelievable! He asked me why I respected him. I listed off a few things, although I could have said many more, and I watched his demeanor change right before my very eyes” . Most women would be surprise at how powerful the words “I respect you” are to a man.

Too often in Marriage relationships, we think love should be unconditional but respect, earned. That may be true in our professional relationships, but in a marriage or dating relationship, men need unconditional respect and women need unconditional love. It does little good to withhold love or respect until your partner seems worthy of it. Rather, respect him and love her regardless and you may see him or her change before your eyes. The German poet and philosopher Johann Wolfgang von Goethe put it this way, “If you treat a man as he is he will stay as he is. But if you treat him as if he were what he ought to be and could be, he will become that bigger and better man.”

One action that causes your partner to feel disrespected is nagging. Nagging may make a person think, I’m respected at work——they don’t nag me there. My friends respect me. I’m respected everywhere I go except for my own home. Many men especially feel this way , so be careful to show respect for one another, Check yourself, your demonstration of respect will transform the way your partner communicates love to you.

Women can learn from the Shulatmmite on this point. Look for things you respect about your husband and share those feelings with him. Make a list of the things you respect and admire about him. You can do this mentally or write them down. Do you respect him for his honesty and integrity? Is it the way he parents his children? Do you respect his intellect or his sense of humor? How about his knowledge of the job that he does or the way he manages people in the workplace? Perhaps you respect his for the way he tends to things around your home like the yard the cars or the necessary repairs. Take a lesson from Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin: let him know. Sock it to him. In the process, you’ll notice and amazing thing. Your ability to love him will increase as well.

Write down a characteristic of your partner that inspires your respect.

Working hard to serve you better:

Szeszulski Agency....
Jerry Szeszulski

(Shoe- Shell-Ski)
wk 918-254-2578 x227
Cell 918-808-6656

Is Mortgage life insurance A good deal?

2007-05-29T16:00:00.001-07:00

Mortgage insurance is better than no insurance at all. It is a decreasing policy that makes the mortgage company the beneficiary not your loved ones. As you pay down your mortgage the coverage amounts decrease with it. Your payment doesn’t go down it stays level. So the longer you keep the mortgage insurance the worst the deal is. Also the payment is included into your mortgage payment.

You should consider meeting with an agent. Go over all of your needs not just your mortgage needs. Look at what solutions you may have in place already. You want to make sure your solutions match your needs. There is nothing worst then leaving this world and your loved ones are left behind with all the debt and not enough money to pay for all their needs.

I believe that you have a responsibility to think through these issues and make a conscious, deliberate decision regarding whether you want to protect your family, rather then leaving this decision to chance and good luck.

I know that you do not expect to die in the near future, but then again, nobody does. But every year, millions of people do. Many of those people leave families behind unprepared, without means to survive on. For those families, life becomes a nightmare.

Working hard to serve you better:

Szeszulski Agency....
Jerry Szeszulski

(Shoe- Shell-Ski)
wk 918-254-2578 x227
Cell 918-808-6656

Its peak season for tornados! Are you prepared?

2007-05-29T15:47:00.001-07:00

Even if you live outside "Tornado Alley," the area of the country that runs north from Texas through eastern Nebraska and northeast to Indiana, the rest of the country also gets its share of twisters. No matter where you live, the key to protecting your family and your home from disaster is preparation. Your chances of staying safe during a tornado are greater especially if you have a plan for you and your family, and practice the plan frequently.

What to Do During a Tornado

If you are under a tornado WARNING, seek shelter immediately!

If you are in:	Then:
A structure (e.g. residence, small building, school, nursing home, hospital, factory, shopping center, high-rise building)	Go to a pre-designated shelter area such as a safe room, basement, storm cellar, or the lowest building level. If there is no basement, go to the center of an interior room on the lowest level (closet, interior hallway) away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. Get under a sturdy table and use your arms to protect your head and neck. Do not open windows.
A vehicle, trailer, or mobile home	Get out immediately and go to the lowest floor of a sturdy, nearby building or a storm shelter. Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes.
The outside with no shelter	Lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands. Be aware of the potential for flooding. Do not get under an overpass or bridge. You are safer in a low, flat location. Never try to outrun a tornado in urban or congested areas in a car or truck. Instead, leave the vehicle immediately for safe shelter. Watch out for flying debris. Flying debris from tornadoes causes most fatalities and injuries

Understand Disaster Events

Everyone who sees or experiences a disaster is affected by it in some way.
It is normal to feel anxious about your own safety and that of your family and close friends.
Profound sadness, grief, and anger are normal reactions to an abnormal event.
Acknowledging your feelings helps you recover.
Focusing on your strengths and abilities helps you heal.
Accepting help from community programs and resources is healthy.
Everyone has different needs and different ways of coping.
It is common to want to strike back at people who have caused great pain.

Children and older adults are of special concern in the aftermath of disasters. Even individuals who experience a disaster “second hand” through exposure to extensive media coverage can be affected.

Contact local faith-based organizations, voluntary agencies, or professional counselors for counseling. Additionally, FEMA and state and local governments of the affected area may provide crisis counseling assistance.

Recognize Signs of Disaster Related Stress

When adults have the following signs, they might need crisis counseling or stress management assistance:

Difficulty communicating thoughts.
Difficulty sleeping.
Difficulty maintaining balance in their lives.
Low threshold of frustration.
Increased use of drugs/alcohol.
Limited attention span.
Poor work performance.
Headaches/stomach problems.
Tunnel vision/muffled hearing.
Colds or flu-like symptoms.
Disorientation or confusion.
Difficulty concentrating.
Reluctance to leave home.
Depression, sadness.
Feelings of hopelessness.
Mood-swings and easy bouts of crying.
Overwhelming guilt and self-doubt.
Fear of crowds, strangers, or being alone.

Easing Disaster-Related Stress

The following are ways to ease disaster-related stress:

Talk with someone about your feelings - anger, sorrow, and other emotions - even though it may be difficult.
Seek help from professional counselors who deal with post-disaster stress.
Do not hold yourself responsible for the disastrous event or be frustrated because you feel you cannot help directly in the rescue work.
Take steps to promote your own physical and emotional healing by healthy eating, rest, exercise, relaxation, and meditation.
Maintain a normal family and daily routine, limiting demanding responsibilities on yourself and your family.
Spend time with family and friends.
Participate in memorials.
Use existing support groups of family, friends, and religious institutions.
Ensure you are ready for future events by restocking your disaster supplies kits and updating your family disaster plan. Doing these positive actions can be comforting.

Working hard to serve you better:

Szeszulski Agency....
Jerry Szeszulski

(Shoe- Shell-Ski)
wk 918-254-2578 x227
Cell 918-808-6656

Protect Your Home from Hail Damage

2007-05-29T15:46:00.001-07:00

Hail can occur in any strong thunderstorm, which means hail is a threat everywhere. When it hits, it can shred roof coverings and lead to water damage to your ceilings, walls, floors, appliances and personal possessions. Knowing which roof coverings resist impact well can save you lots of trouble and money.

First Things First

Most roofing jobs are not for the do-it-yourselfer. Unless you have lots of experience in replacing roof coverings, hire a professional roofing contractor to handle this job.
Before you reroof, check with your local building officials to be sure what you're doing complies with local building codes.

When You Replace Your Roof Covering

If you are replacing your old, worn out roof covering with new asphalt shingles, make sure they have a Class 4 rating under Underwriters Laboratories' (UL) 2218 standard. A Class 4 rating tells you a sample of the product did not crack when hit twice in the same area by a two-inch steel ball.
The UL 2218 standard is a useful method for testing impact resistance, but it isn't perfect and works better for some roof coverings than for others. The UL standard measures whether a product cracks under impact. Some roof coverings, particularly some made of metal, may resist cracking, but can be dented and dimple. So, while they test well, they may perform poorly in practice. Keep this in mind when using the UL standard to gauge the quality of a roof covering.

When A Hailstorm Strikes

If you are indoors when a storm with large hailstones strikes, stay there. Because large pieces of hail can shatter windows, close your drapes, blinds or window shades to prevent the wind from blowing broken glass inside. Stay away from skylights and doors.
If you are outside, move immediately to a place of shelter.

Finally, review your homeowners insurance policy periodically with your insurance agent or company representative to make sure you have sufficient coverage to protect the investment you've made in your home. Report any property damage to your insurance agent or company representative immediately after a natural disaster and make temporary repairs to prevent further damage.

For information about filing an insurance claim after a natural disaster, contact your insurance agent or insurance company.

Source: Institute for Business and Home Safety. IBHS is a national nonprofit initiative of the insurance industry to reduce deaths, injuries, property damage, economic losses and human suffering caused by natural disasters.

Working hard to serve you better:

Szeszulski Agency....
Jerry Szeszulski

(Shoe- Shell-Ski)
wk 918-254-2578 x227
Cell 918-808-6656