Take a look at our July newsletter!
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!
We are excited to begin our newsletter again, and we have lots to share with you on both a personal and professional level. This past year and a half has been crazy for all of us, to say the least. So many things have happened since COVID began, and we hope that our lives are somewhat returning to as normal as possible! Let’s catch up on some family news first because that is always more fun than talking about insurance, right?! First of all, we went a little stir-crazy during the first fewmonths of the COVID lockdown, and we did something that we’ve since learned many families did … We bought a puppy!
time that will be remembered forever. We are incredibly proud of all she has accomplished. We’re also excited to announce that she will be attending Florida Gulf Coast University in the fall and was accepted into their Honors College. She is such a thoughtful, smart, talented young lady, and we will continue to be her biggest cheerleaders as she begins this next chapter in her life. Jennifer and I have been consumed with all things family and work this past year. While we continue to enjoy hobbies, we also continue to focus on the business and adapting to the changes that COVID has brought to the work environment. We have also been focused on the many changes occurring in our state regarding insurance. These things have kept us busy in addition to being challenged and blessed. With that said, let us shift to some important business and insurance-related items that are certainly worth sharing. One of the biggest things that occurred for us professionally was the move to our new office back in September. To say we love it is an understatement! There is a beautiful conference room in the front, a nice lobby, a small kitchenette, plenty of parking, windows in every office, safe exterior lighting, and lots more! You are welcome to stop in any time, and we will give you the grand tour! In addition, we have added a few more dedicated emails to better serve you. As more and more folks use email and text to communicate, we want to keep up.
727.835.1500 | 386.446.4226 THEWELCHGROUP.NET
JULY 2021
His name is Koda, and we adore him! He’s a small and loveable blue heeler who is now a little over a year old. He graduated “K-9 Kindergarten” training class with flying colors and has been a fun addition to our family. Cubby, our senior- aged cavalier King Charles spaniel, likes the extra company but makes sure Koda knows that he is still the king of our house! We also can’t help but share some “proud parent” things with all of you because our kids are our pride and joy. First of all, Bo just completed his junior year of high school making honor roll and being voted president of the English Honor Society. In addition, he was voted onto Homecoming Court and qualified for states in weightlifting. Bo will also be playing football this coming year as a senior. He will be taking several advanced placement (AP) courses, too, so his final year of high school will be packed with academics and athletics galore. We are so proud of him as he continues to grow into a kind, conscientious, and hardworking young man. Our daughter, Peyton, just graduated cum laude from Sunlake High School. She is part of the history-making class of 2021 that survived all the frustrations, disappointments, and distractions of a global pandemic. Her high school softball team was still able to have their season, and they made it to regionals. She was also nominated to play in the Pasco All-Star softball tournament, which her teamwon! Although many of Peyton’s traditional senior activities were canceled or altered, she
Therefore, we now have the following:
• Lenders@TheWelchGroup.net — For mortgage and lender changes and requests. • Billing@TheWelchGroup.net — For billing and payment questions. • A NEW TEXT OPTION — 727-592-5642 — Your cellphone must be on file with us to use this option and this is not a monitored number, so we still need to know you’ve sent us something.
We still have:
• PL@TheWelchGroup.net — For personal lines of insurance service requests. • CL@TheWelchGroup.net — For commercial lines of insurance service requests. • Certificates@TheWelchGroup.net — For our clients who need to send us certificate of insurance requests. • Info@TheWelchGroup.net — For general inquiries.
We look forward to continuing our communication with you as we move through the rest of 2021 together.
persevered, nonetheless. Her graduation ceremony was beautiful, emotional, and bittersweet as the graduates and parents celebrated a moment in
-Matt Welch
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727.835.1500 | 386.446.4226 | THEWELCHGROUP.NET
Stormy Seas Ahead? HURRICANES ARE COMING — AND THAT’S OKAY S omething that sets The Welch Group apart has to be the sheer number of native Floridians on our staff. That’s an asset to you for a lot of reasons, but one that comes to mind this time of year is because it’s hurricane season, something we’ve been through since most of us were kids. That means we understand how scary it can be, especially if you didn’t grow up around it. We live in a uniquely wonderful place, but there’s no getting around certain weather conditions when you’re situated on a strip of land that has large bodies of water on both sides. And whether you’re here for the duration or worried about a second home or vacation property in Florida, those are weather conditions we need to plan for. The good news is this: If you’re reading our newsletter, you probably already know a thing or two about hurricanes and how to be prepared for the potential of property damage, which is something we make sure all our clients understand.
WHAT’S THE FUTURE OFWORK? In-Person, Remote, or Hybrid Workplaces
After more than a year of working remotely, the initial excitement of being able to work in your sweats probably wore off long ago. But this stint of remote work has shown many upsides: Productivity has increased. Eliminating the daily commute has been good for the environment, and workers are spending more time with their families, pursuing hobbies, or exercising. Having a more flexible work schedule has also meant there’s a better work-life balance for many working parents.
But for all the benefits, there are plenty of downsides, too. Many have struggled to set boundaries as the line between work and home has blurred, leading to overwork and burnout. Others complain about myriad distractions they face while working from home, especially those who don’t have a dedicated workspace and are also trying to help their children with virtual schooling. That’s not to mention potential tech issues, loneliness or alienation from coworkers, and increased barriers to effective collaboration. Yet, nearly half of those currently working remotely say they want to continue to do so 1–4 days per week even once it’s safe to fully return to the office. That’s led many employers to consider a hybrid model that incorporates remote and in-person work options. Publications like The New York Times and Forbes are touting a hybrid model as the way of the future. But what exactly would this look like? A productive hybrid work model wouldn’t simply mean workers come into the office a few set days a week. The smart approach, says Forbes writer Anna Convery-Pelletier, is to have employees come into the office for collaborative tasks and stay at home to work independently on tasks that require sustained focus and deep thinking. In-person meetings are especially good for “brainstorming sessions, introducing new projects, or team- building exercises,” Convery-Pelletier says. This focus on in-person collaboration may also mean that the office will look different when you return. Some businesses are opting to redesign their physical space to accommodate this kind of collaborative in-person work and eliminate costly individual work spaces now replicated at home.
The biggest element of that is flood insurance. As you know, in the state of Florida, a homeowner’s policy just isn’t going to cover
TAKE A BREAK
SOLUTION
Whatever the future of work holds, many workers will be happy to safely return to their workplaces and see their coworkers in person again, whether full time or just a handful of days a month.
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When you’re constantly in the “zone” at work, you’re not always thinking about what’s best for your personal life. While many business owners prioritize balance, what will truly benefit both your home and work life? Check out these three tricks. 1: Start your day with a plan. We know what you’re thinking: Writing out my plan is more work than just doing it. The key is to plan whenever you can. If you jot down things you want to accomplish the following day as they come up, all you’ll need to do is spend a few minutes organizing your list the next morning. 3 BUSINESS TRICKS THATWILL IMPROVE YOUR PERSONAL LIFE
damage from flooding, and in a hurricane, that can be the most costly element. The good news is that FEMA provides flood policies, a process we’re happy to explain to anybody who needs help with it. You may have heard about FEMA forcing whole communities to move due to flood insurance, but this is far from the norm, and it’s really the best way to be protected from that kind of damage. Another area that merits attention is valuable possessions, whether you’re talking about a guitar collection, expensive clothes, art on the walls, or anything else that could realize serious cash payment at sale or auction. This is also something we can help with, and when it comes to FEMA and the government, it never hurts to hedge your bets with both kinds of insurance. Ultimately, we just want to make sure you know you have an ally in The Welch Group — and that ally has been through more hurricanes than most. We’ll be here, we’ll try to stay open, and we’ll be fielding calls about coverage so you can make the right decisions to keep your possessions and property protected, one way or the other. Get a jump on it now and you can really benefit.
Pro Tip: Remember to include time to unwind and relax!
2: Develop new and improved processes. While certain activities can’t be replaced with shortcuts (like spending time with family), consider ways to make your current processes more efficient and beneficial. For example, you can’t lose weight if you don’t change your diet and exercise.
Adjusting your habits might seem difficult, but there’s actually a
straightforward method. According to “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, every new habit has a simple formula behind it: motivation, ability, and prompt. Whether your reminder is an alarm at the same time every day or even another habit (“I’ll exercise before I take my morning shower”), make sure it’s part of any new process you implement.
THE BEST TEXAS-STYLE SMOKED BRISKET Impress guests at your next barbecue with this perfectly smoked brisket. Plus, you’ll have plenty of leftovers!
3: Remember, work is flexible — your personal life isn’t.
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
• • • •
Wood chips
1. In a bowl, soak wood chips in water overnight. 2. In a large bowl, mix paprika, white sugar, cumin, cayenne pepper, brown sugar, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. 3. Rub spice mixture on the brisket and refrigerate for 24 hours. 4. Preheat smoker to 230 F. Drain wood chips and place them in the smoker. 5. Smoke brisket until it has an internal temperature of 165 F. 6. Remove brisket and wrap it in aluminum foil. 7. Smoke brisket further until it reaches an internal temperature of 185 F.
Bryan G. Dyson, CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, once told his staff, “Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them— work, family, health, friends, and spirit — and you are keeping all of these in the air.” In his metaphor, work is a rubber ball. “If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged, or even shattered. They will never be the same.”
1/4 cup paprika
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup ground cumin 1/4 cup cayenne pepper
•
• • • • • • •
1/4 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup chili powder 1/4 cup garlic powder
1/4 cup onion powder
1/4 cup salt
We hope these tips help you protect the “glass balls” in your life!
1/4 cup pepper 10 lbs brisket
Inspired by AllRecipes.com
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727.835.1500 | 386.446.4226 THEWELCHGROUP.NET
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
17221 CAMELOT CT., STE. 101 LAND O LAKES, FL 34638
Did You Know ... INSIDE 1 Back by Popular Demand! 2 Is a Hybrid Model the Future of Work? 2 Hurricanes Are Coming — And That’s Okay 3 The Best Texas-Style Smoked Brisket 3 Make Your Work-Life Balance Easy 4 Fun Florida Facts
2. It’s the lowest elevation state in the country, and the highest elevation point in the entire state is Britton Hill, which comes in at only 345 feet above sea level! Because of this lack of elevation diversity, Florida is also one of the flattest states in the United States, which makes for many vistas where you can see for extraordinary distances. It also means that when storms and flooding roll in, much of the state is vulnerable, especially on the peninsula with a much lower peak elevation than Britton Hill. 3. The state of Florida is an extremely diverse state, with folks moving here from the rest of the United States constantly — but also from other countries as well. Whether you come from New Jersey, Colorado, or Haiti, you’re arriving in a top destination for people around the world. That might be surprising, given the vulnerability to the weather, but it’s worth thinking about as we negotiate a return to society as a whole. Will our demographics have changed during the pandemic? There’s only one way to tell — once this pandemic is over, go and say hello to your neighbors, new and old. What are some of your favorite things about Florida living? Whatever they are, we’d love to talk about them— and make sure your life here in Florida is protected.
We all love the state we call home. But whether you grew up here or just visit regularly, there are a few pieces of Florida trivia everyone should know — even if few actually do! 1. That’s a lot of coast. Florida actually has more water than many other states
combined. Some of it is filled with tourists, and then with alligators, but when one playground shuts down, another stays open. Whether you’re a
FUN FLORIDA FACTS
paddleboarder, canoer, runner, or bicyclist,
you’ll find plenty to do down by the river.
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