As a member of the Independent Insurance Agents Association of Maryland, we are looking for Junior Golfers to play in the Maryland Qualifier on July 7, 2011 at the Argyle Country Club in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Doug Hines, President of Ewing Hines & Associates, has organized and run this state qualifier since 2004 along with another local independent agent, Steve Earll.  Unfortunately, Steve Earll passed away last year.  So in honor of Steve's hard work, we have renamed it the Stephen Earll Memorial Junior Golf Classic. 

It is open to any boys age 13-18.  The winner goes to the 43rd Trusted Choice Big I National Championship August 1-4, at the Reunion Golf and Country Club in Madison, Mississippi.   This Championship is the nation’s largest junior stroke-play tournament, and it has been won by several well-known professional golfers including Tiger Woods (1990 and 1992).  As a matter of fact, since 2004 the state of Maryland has actually had two Maryland boys win this national championship.  That is why we are looking for more junior golfers in the state.

If interested, you can contact Doug Hines or visit the Stephen Earll Memorial Junior Golf Classic  to register or to sponsor the tournament.

With recent temperatures into the single digits and snow bringing our daily routine to a standstill here in Maryland, Washington DC and Virginia, it’s not only unwise but unsafe to be unprepared for weather problems this winter. Be a smart driver -- brush up on these common sense rules for safe winter driving.

1. Even if you didn't prepare for winter before this  wet, cold or icy weather by performing a complete vehicle check-up, do it now. Your auto tech will tell you that winter conditions present the greatest challenge to your vehicle’s operating efficiency.
2. Move your vehicle into the open to let it warm up so that you avoid exhaust build-up in your garage.
3. Check your tires frequently for proper inflation. If your vehicle owner’s manual does not specify, then ask your automotive technician about the proper inflation level.
4. Make it a practice to keep your fuel tank at least half-full – both to prevent gas-line freeze and to ensure that you won’t likely run out of fuel in an emergency.
5. If possible, don’t drive in bad weather; and if you must drive, try to be well rested and wait until snow plows and sand trucks have cleared the roads.
6. When driving on wet, snowy or icy roads, avoid using cruise control or overdrive.  Both detract from your full control of the vehicle in possible slippery conditions.
7. Use your seat belt and make sure that your seat and mirrors are properly adjusted for best visibility.  Wear sunglasses to reduce glare.
8. Don’t use your parking brake in cold or inclement weather, if at all possible.
9. If you experience skidding on slippery roads, always take your foot off the gas pedal and steer in the direction you want to go to recover from the skid.

One more essential:  Keep a Winter Driving Kit in your vehicle and stock it with: a bag of sand, salt or kitty litter, ice scraper, paper towels, shovel, snow brush, warning flares, window-washing fluid, a flash light, booster cables, a blanket, gloves and a cellular phone. You’ll have the peace of mind that comes from knowing you’re prepared for an emergency.

The key to safe winter driving is to plan ahead, know your vehicle and adapt to the weather and road conditions.

This is the time of year when, it seems, everyone is tying the knot -- strolling into wedded bliss.  All the checklists and plans are underway, and dreams of the wedding march and the honeymoon dance in your head.  But does that checklist include the possible changes to your insurance portfolio as you join two lives and become a couple?  Will you need different financial protection?  What will managing two careers as a couple mean for you?  How will merging two households affect you? 
 

Do your future plans depend upon two incomes?  If so, your lifestyle will reflect that.  You will have expenses that you have not yet anticipated, and perhaps you have existing education loans or even medical bills to pay.  Then there's retirement... yes, it seems so far away, but who knows what the future will bring? Will you buy a home?  Will you start a family?  In fact, one never knows what life holds in store, so it is important to make plans now to protect what you have and what you expect to have.
 

If the worst happens and tragedy strikes in the future, having started a life insurance policy now could ensure that the surviving spouse is protected.  There are two types of life insurance policies: term which expires and permanent (whole life) which does not. Life insurance is a popular financial planning tool which is much, much more than just a way to pay ones final expenses; and the younger you are when you establish your policy, the less you will pay in premiums and the greater the financial benefit will be, no matter how you decide to use it. Check out Life Insurance details here on our website to find out all the options and prepare to be surprised.
 

You might already have decided whether you will rent or own your first home.  If you intend to own a house, then your realtor or banker might already have spoken to you about homeowners insurance which will cover your investment if your home is damaged and will also protect you if someone else files a claim for injury or damage for which you are responsible. In fact, homeowners insurance might also cover your own belongings if they are damaged, destroyed or stolen.  If you will be a condo owner, then you will find the terms of your insurance somewhat different; and if you will be renting your home, the terms will be still more different. You can find out the differences and all you need to know about Homeowners Insurance, Condo Insurance and Renters Insurance here on our website. 

Just as you merge your households, you will likely own at least two vehicles, as a couple. The good news is as a married couple, you might expect to pay a somewhat lower auto insurance rate, and there might be other discounts that you need to know as well.  If you both are already using the same insurance company and the same insurance agent, it could be easier to arrange for the best rates and the best coverage for your new lifestyle.  If, however, you use separate companies and agents, then it is worthwhile to schedule a review of your policies to see which company offers you the best rates and terms before making any changes.  If you need to brush up on your auto insurance knowledge before you meet with the insurance agent, you'll find all you need to know here on our website. 

  

So while you might feel overwhelmed with all the details to be handled before you take that walk down the aisle, you can understand why reviewing your insurance needs is one item that should not be left off your list. 

Best of luck for a long a happy life together!

   

In future posts, we will discuss other important things for newlyweds to consider and also take a look at the challenges that we face in other stages of life.  So stay tuned...

The scope of your insurance coverage and options depend entirely upon the policy and the insurance company providing it.  This blog is not intended to advise, offer or bind coverage.  You should always discuss your insurance issues with professionals such as a licensed and qualified insurance agent like those at the Ewing Hines & Associates Insurance Agency here in Wheaton, MD, before making any decisions or choosing a course of action. Feel free to contact us anytime with your questions or to discuss your insurance needs.