Forrest Dailey

How Much Life Insurance Costs and Other Fish Stories.

September 1, 2023 By Forrest Dailey

Don’t exaggerate.

A study has shown that most people without life insurance think that term life coverage costs three to four times what the average cost really is. Younger adults are likely to go as far as five times overboard in their estimate. So we are here to say to you “Don’t exaggerate. Get the facts. Come visit with your nearest Horihan Insurance agent to go over exactly what it would cost for you.”

It will depend entirely on your specific lifestyle and situation, but the odds are very much in your favor that if you are guessing what it costs, that you are over-estimating. We only bring this up because if you are making such an over-estimation and it is not based on sound information from an agent, you are really – unintentionally of course – doing yourself and your loved ones a disservice by not securing the coverage you could have for a cost that works for you.

These are things we must talk about at some point, so why not now? It will require a bit of forethought on your part, but you’re not being asked to predict the future. Just to consider what kind of life you would want for those who depend on you if you were no longer there.

There are a few things you can do going into a meeting with an agent to help expedite the process. The first would be to do a little research on how much life insurance does actually cost so you come into the meeting understanding what you can get for your budget. What you will find is going to be general estimates. Sitting down with an insurance agent is the best way to get down to the specifics leading you to your personal magic number.

When considering how much coverage you ideally should have, a good rule of thumb is to take your current take-home pay and add a zero at the end of it. That is the amount of coverage you should have just to cover the basics. It may look like an imposing figure, but rest assured that is nowhere near what you will pay. It is what your loved ones will get back, should it come to that. You’ll want to add on a bit more for college for your children, but even that amount is much more affordable than people seem to think it will be.

Of course all of this depends on whether term life is right for you, or if you’d be better served by a whole life policy or a universal policy, each of which have their own pros and cons and particulars which suit certain lifestyles. These are things you can familiarize yourself with if you haven’t already, but we’ll go over that with you to make sure you get the policy that is right for you and your dependents and descendants.

The important thing is that you do initiate the process by getting in touch with your nearest Horihan Insurance agent.

Innovations in Hail Damage Prevention

July 31, 2023 By Forrest Dailey

My wife and I have a garage, but for reasons beyond our control, we have had no choice but to park our car outdoors over the last several weeks. Thankfully – at least as far as our car is concerned – over that time, it has barely even rained, let alone hailed. But every time the sky even starts looking wicked, we get to thinking it’s time to take some extra precaution on our car sitting out there in the elements.

Though there are car covers specifically meant to help prevent such damage – and you can get a decent one for under $150, and probably under $100 – there are a number of innovative ways you can protect your car from hail damage even if you haven’t invested in one.

Blankets, pillows, mattress toppers or folded towels – They’ll get a good soaking but they are a great cushiony buffer against hailstones. You’ll want to cover as much of your auto body and definitely the glass as possible.

Floor mats – This one is a great idea, because they are right there in your car. Just pop them out and drape them over your wind shield. They are thick enough to provide a solid barrier without much risk of damaging your car themselves.

Cardboard – Depending on the amount of rain that comes down, this option isn’t the best, as soon enough a good soaking will compromise the structural integrity of cardboard. Even so, it will, for a while anyway, provide some measure of defense against direct impact.

Potting soil bags – Placed – carefully! – on your sunroof, windshield, rear window etc., potting soil bags are thick, and sturdy and will almost certainly not be moved by the wind. The only thing you have to worry about is that they aren’t so heavy that they damage your car.

…and speaking of things blowing away, it is highly recommended that you do not secure any of these creative protective materials to your car with stones. Depending on the wind, even stones could go flying and cause unforeseen damage to your car, or someone else’s property. Best leave them on the ground where Nature intended them.

To secure any and all of these anti-hail devices, use bungee cords, string or rope if you really want to be sure “that baby ain’t going anywhere” or just top it off with objects heavier than stones, so long as they haven’t got any jagged edges. This will minimize the damage should the object find itself airborne.

If none of these options are available, park under a tree or overhang of a structure. Of course in parking underneath a tree during a storm you always run the risk of other damage due to wind or lightning. So you have to weigh the risk depending on the ferocity of the storm you expect. If there is a structure nearby with a larger than average roof overhang, try to at least get your windshield in a protected position. If some of these sound like quite elaborate operations, maybe they are, but when you compare it to the potential damage of a raging hailstorm, I think you’ll agree it is worth the trouble.

And don’t forget to fold your side mirrors in. You can always re-set them to that perfect position later. But leaving them out in a hailstorm is like going out in 100-degree heat without sunscreen on your ears. There are going to be issues later on.

Prevention, as in so many other situations, is the best option, but should all else fail, be sure you have a good comprehensive insurance coverage, the best way to protect your vehicle against non-driving damage when your car is just parked in the driveway minding its own business. Some sunny day in the near future, go through your closets and find the materials listed to have ready for a not-so-sunny day. But first, give Horihan Insurance a call to go over your vehicle’s current comprehensive coverage and/or the options available for it.

SIDE NOTE if you are considering selling your car: Hail damage reduces the appraisal value of your car by not just the cost of repair, but a little more, simply because aesthetically it would be less appealing to a potential buyer. That along with the knowledge that they’ve got the actual repairs to deal with.

Your Insurance Coverage Needs a Little “Re-Boot” Every Now and Again

June 19, 2023 By Forrest Dailey

We have recently added a couple of new people to our staff at Horihan Insurance, with agents D.J Mueller and Shelley Jones joining our team in the Rushford and Rochester offices, respectively.

Whenever there is turnover in an insurance office, the new agent “inherits” a book of business to give them a kickstart. If your agent leaves the office you have your coverage through, and another agent is assigned to your account, it should be seen as an opportunity for both you and the new agent. It is a chance to take a fresh look at your coverage. Though there are concrete regulations every agent must follow, every agent has a different perspective. New agents may see something that could be of great benefit to you.

That doesn’t mean your previous agent did not do a great job, but you can never underestimate the value of a fresh set of eyes on any given situation when it comes to something as complex – potentially – as insurance policies. Especially if you’ve got a whole bundle of them.

So don’t see it as a hassle going over everything when you start with a new agent. You’re not starting from scratch. Let’s call it a re-boot. You are just polishing and updating the existing documentation. It is a great opportunity to establish a solid working relationship with your new agent. Ask questions you never got around to asking the one you worked with before. Spend the time letting them know what is really important to you. What you need and/or expect from them as your agent. The worst that can happen is they let you know what parts of that are actually possible and what is not. You’ll find that, within reason, we aim to meet your needs.

Your agent should be reviewing your policies with you regularly anyway. If you had already done so recently, your new agent won’t put you through the wringer completely. They will have familiarized themselves with your policies and see what, if anything, still needs to be addressed when you do meet.

If it just so happens that D.J. Mueller or Shelley Jones are your new Horihan Insurance agent, introduce yourself to them like you would if you switched agencies. Because they are new to you. But you can be sure that they have inherited your account well equipped with the knowledge from our previous work with you and will continue to provide you with the service you’ve come to expect from Horihan Insurance, if not improve upon that. Improvement – of your coverage, of the monthly cost, of your overall experience – is always the goal.

Walking With A Purpose

May 3, 2023 By Forrest Dailey

By now it is (probably?) safe to say winter is over. It’s the optimal time for taking a walk, or a bike ride, or a push if you are a wheelchair user. The snow is long gone from the paths. It’s warm enough but not unreasonably so. Even if you use an electric wheelchair, this is the time to get out and get some sunshine and oxygen, even if just to see a new view.

If you’re taking your walks in the evening, try to get out there right after work. I mean change out of your work clothes first, obviously. But go before you get settled in for the evening is all. And before you eat dinner, too. That nagging, increasingly peckish feeling along the way can be a great motivator to put some pep in your step. Of course, if you really should eat first for whatever reason, then please do. It can be a leisurely stroll. It doesn’t have to be a test of endurance.

Speaking of which, you don’t have to sweat. The point is to be out there, to be moving. Come to think of it, it doesn’t even have to be “out there” either. The sun and the fresh air are gravy, but maybe you catch some throughout your day anyway. So if you prefer to get your steps in, indoors, maybe there is a local gymnasium open to the public even if you aren’t a YMCA/YWCA member. Or, remember malls?

But let’s assume that you are going to be outside. Do this on a regular route, with a set distance to cover. No short cuts – unless the weather takes an unexpected turn of course – so you have a definite goal. At first, it can be a drag knowing how much farther you still have to go, but toward the end, it becomes more like “ONLY that much farther to go? Great!”

Go with a partner. For general safety’s sake, but also to hold each other accountable, and to encourage each other to complete the pre-determined distance. It’s like weightlifting with a spotter. Only your spotter is lifting too. So that’s an imperfect metaphor. It’s a mutual support system, though.
Music can be a good way to pass the time and get you pumped, but headphones or Earbuds or AirPods, etc., may become a dangerous distraction, especially if your trek takes you in and around heavy traffic. Personally, I like to let the earworms playing in my head run wild, but that’s just me.

And we’d be remiss if we did not mention the absolute necessity of reflective or bright colored clothing if you’re going to be out around sundown. While we’re here, let’s talk about insect repellent. Even if you are not in a heavily-wooded area, you could still bring some unexpected passengers home with you if they are not properly discouraged.

Make walks, rides, and rolls a regular thing before the season changes on us again. Or as regular as the weather will allow. Even when spring turns to summer, it is simply a matter of shifting your walks to mornings when it’s cooler – before work if you can, or later in the evenings, or just save it for a weekend morning if that’s the best option for you.
Either way, it’s about time to get moving!

How Much Life Insurance Costs and Other Fish Stories.

Innovations in Hail Damage Prevention

Your Insurance Coverage Needs a Little “Re-Boot” Every Now and Again

Walking With A Purpose

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Horihan Insurance is licensed to do business in Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, and Iowa