Travelers Insurance Company Seminar
Becoming familiar with the companies you write insurance through is essential when you are an insurance customer service representative. Being knowledgeable benefits the client, and makes you a better sales representative.
I recently attended a seminar offered by Travelers Insurance Company at their Huntington, New York office. Usually when people hear the word “seminar” they automatically think of a huge room with a bunch of chairs and an instructor giving a lecture at the front of the room. However, this was not the case! Travelers figured out a fun and interactive way to spice up their seminar.
Representatives from insurance agencies all over Long Island came to attend this learning experience.
First, all of the attendees were served a breakfast buffet before the start of the meeting. We then took our seats and were divided into small groups of eight. These groups then would migrate around the conference room to six different stations where you would focus on a certain product that Travelers has to offer. I truly enjoyed the group of representatives I was placed with during the seminar. They were all from local agencies on Long Island who do the same thing I do every day!
At each station we were trained on marketing, auto insurance, home insurance, claims, boat insurance and so much more. Each Travelers representative explained each product in a clear and concise manner.
I hope Travelers has another seminar very soon so I can meet more great people. Kudos to you Travelers Insurance!
Written by: Amanda Haase
Water Conservation Gardening Tips
As the weather heats up, many homeowners will be heading outside to start planting their favorite flowers, fruits, herbs, and vegetables.
Along with efficient gardening comes extended and excessive water use. Here are some simple tips that will help you conserve water while keeping your garden in tip-top shape.
The right plants. The best water conservation strategies start and end with plant selection. Look for drought-tolerant plants. Many have gray or silver foliage. Others have thick, fleshy leaves and are called succulents. These plants naturally need less water.
Compost. Adding compost to your garden soil regularly, not only adds beneficial nutrients, but also helps the soil retain moisture.
Shredded Leaves. Shredded leaves make excellent mulch, and better yet, they are free! Spread them in the fall to insulate the soil and prevent frost damage of perennials. The shreds will eventually break down and feed the soil, just like a compost.
Drip Irrigation. If you want to water your pots more efficiently, use a drip irrigation system to put water in the root zone. You can even hook it up to a timer to automatically start and stop irrigation.
These are just a few tips to help you save on water this gardening season. So, get out there, get gardening and save while you’re at it too!
For more information on water conservation please visit http://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/garden/top-10-ways-conserve-water.
Written by: Amanda Haase
Insurance Tip Thursday: Ask Steve Edition
Are you curious if Flood insurance is covered under your Homeowners policy? Watch our video to find out!
Stay cool for the summer with starbucks!
Starbucks is about to give you some new options to wake up in the morning and to stay cool all summer long. This summer, Starbucks is releasing two new types of Cold Brews. These two new menu items will be Nitro Cold Brew and Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew.
Let`s start off with the Nitro Cold Brew. This is considered a spin on the signature Cold Brew. But this time is unique because it’ll be infused with nitrogen. The reasoning behind this combination is to give a smoother and more creamy texture to the beverage. What makes it even more fascinating is that it will be poured to perfection right out of a tap. “Nitro Cold Brew is cold right out of the tap and served unsweetened without ice. A Tall (12-ounce) serving has 5 calories and 0 grams of sugar.” This new way of serving up a classic Cold Brew is definitely going to be interesting to see. “We start with a small, chilled keg of Starbucks Cold Brew coffee,” said Anthony Carroll, a 20-year partner on Starbucks Coffee team. “Then it’s infused with nitrogen, which unlocks the super-smooth, natural sweetness of the Cold Brew coffee, which then cascades from the tap with a velvety texture you can see and taste.” Currently this beverage is being offered in select stores in Seattle. By the end of the summer, the list of participating stores will increase. And we are in luck, because New York is on the list! Along with 500 company-operated stores in Chicago, Boston, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
The second Cold Brew is a sweeter version of the signature drink. “We wanted to create a coffee-forward iced beverage with a splash of sweet cream,” said Christal Canzler from Starbucks beverage development team. This delicious combination will be made with Starbucks Cold Brew over ice and finished off with a house-made vanilla sweet cream. “A Tall (12-ounce) serving is 100 calories and 12 grams of sugar.” These two new beverages will definitely help you stay cool for the summer. Which one will you try first?
Don’t Get Caught Without Renters Insurance
Homeowners and auto insurance are “no brainers” for most Americans. Well, why shouldn’t renter’s insurance be too?
According to a recent survey, 60% of renters do not carry renters insurance. Many people think that they can’t afford it, or it’s not important. Truth is, renters insurance is one of the most affordable and most important policies you can carry when being a renter.
More than half of renters without a renter’s policy reported that they didn’t think they could afford it. Prices vary depending on the level of coverage you choose for your policy. The average cost of a renter’s policy is about $15 a month! That’s less than what the average American worker would pay a month on coffee.
17% of renters without a renter’s policy said that they didn’t think renter’s insurance was important. Although that is far from the truth, it is very easy to think that a catastrophe won’t happen to you. In the United States, a house fire takes place every 90 seconds and break-ins occur every 15 seconds. When it comes to replacing everything you own in the event of a loss, the costs can add up very quickly. This is where renter’s insurance comes in.
If you are like the 16% of renters who choose not to purchase renters insurance and don’t fully understand what is covered, it is easy to think that you do not need it. In fact, many people assume that they are covered under their landlord’s policy or their family’s homeowner’s policy when renting at home. Your landlord’s policy only covers damage to the building, and your family’s homeowner’s policy will not cover your personal belongings, if you are over the age of 18.
Individual renter’s policies generally cover personal items that are lost due to fire, smoke, wind, hail, theft, vandalism and, in some cases, water damage.
Bottom line, avoid being the 60% of Americans that don’t have renters insurance.
For more information on renters insurance, please visit our website at www.chedwards.net
Written by: Amanda Haase
Calling all WWE fans!
Are you a wrestling fan? Well I have some good news for you! There is a SmackDown mash up about to take place every week. The best part is that it will be live! Every Thursday, starting July 19th. This is considered to be the second longest-running weekly episodic program in all of television history.
The star-powered roster has never been stronger. This includes appearances from competitors from WWE NXT, and top superstars like John Cena and Seth Rollins. All of this excitement will be brought right to your living room every Thursday. Now with it being live, you’ll feel like you are actually there!
“WWE’s flagship programs will both leverage the incredible depth of our talent roster, distinct storylines and the unpredictable nature of live TV,” WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon said. “This move will undoubtedly build more excitement and deepen engagement with our fans around the world.” Don’t forget to tune in Every Thursday on USA Network at 8/7 C. WWE is about to be shaken up like never before and it’s something you won’t want to miss!
Get the inside scoop on Disney dining!
The only thing that can make a Disney vacation more magical is the perfect Disney dining. From character dining to quick service to even snacks. I am going to tell you my top favorites from Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida.
Meeting the characters is always one of my favorite parts of any Disney trip. And what makes it even better is dining with the characters. My absolute favorite character dining is the Best Friends Breakfast at O`hana, in the Polynesian Village Resort. From the moment you walk in, you’ll feel like you are on a Hawaiian roller coaster ride with Lilo, Stitch, Mickey and Pluto. This delicious breakfast is served family style and is loads of fun. My second favorite character dining is the 1900 Park Fare located at the Grand Floridian. The dining time depends on what characters will be there. During the Supercalifragilistic Breakfast, you’ll be joined by Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland, The Mad Hatter, Tigger and Winnie the Pooh. This all you care to enjoy buffet is filled with scrumptious treats such as fluffy pancakes, Mickey waffles, fruit, omelets and so much more. The dinner here is even more decadent as you dine like royalty. You will join Cinderella and Prince Charming as their guest of honor. Their royal friends are also sure to be in attendance. My third favorite character dining experience is the Crystal Palace located in the Magic Kingdom. You’ll feel like you are in the Hundred Acre Woods with Pooh and his friends. All of the food is fantastic but I must say, the mac and cheese is the best. There are so many other dining experiences that Disney World has to offer. It`s hard to choose which ones to pick for your visit.
Next up is the quick service. These are perfect for an action packed day that leaves little room for a full sit down meal. The one quick service that I always make sure to do is at, Be Our Guest. This is my favorite quick service location in Magic Kingdom. The main dining room is absolutely gorgeous and it looks like the exact one from Beauty and the Beast. The meal that I always get is the Croque Monsieur. And you can`t forget to try the “grey” stuff because it`s delicious. No matter how many times I go there, I always leave singing Be Our Guest from the Beauty and the Beast soundtrack for the rest of the day. My second favorite quick service is also in the Magic Kingdom and that is, Casey’s Corner. This old fashioned hot dog joint is the perfect stop before catching the Festival of Fantasy parade. My favorite hotdog from there is the barbeque slaw dog. My third favorite quick service location is basically anywhere in the World Showcase in Epcot. But the Tangierine Café is definitely number one for me. The best dish there is the Shawarma Chicken and Lamb Platter.
Now on to the snacks! Everything is better Mickey shaped and at Walt Disney World you’ll find a lot of that. My all-time favorite snack is the classic Mickey shaped ice cream. Other amazing mickey shaped snacks are, the giant Mickey chocolate chip cookie, a Mickey pretzel and Mickey lollipops. Some other classic snacks include Dole Whip and turkey legs. With all of this amazing food at Walt Disney World, there is no way that you will ever be hungry.