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Protection Team News TROUBLE AHEAD FOR CITIZENS Unless State Fixes Insurance Problems
VOL 14, ISSUE 9
Unfortunately, the streak is still intact. Another insurance company has gone under; they are starting to stack up like cord wood. This is NOT the kind of streak we need in the state of Florida at this time. As many of you have heard and read about, we dodged a huge bullet recently. We were about to have 4 million — yes, that number is correct — policies in our state needing to find a new insurer in one fell swoop if the state of Florida didn’t find a creative solution like they did.
Trouble Ahead for Citizens Page 1 DIY Fall Scavenger Hunt for the Family Page 2 Disability Insurance Explained Page 2 Did You Know ... Page 2 Your Guide to Family and Medical Leave Page 3 Check Out Our Referral Program! Page 4 Wacky September Holidays Page 5
Last family dinner before the fall semester begins!
On the brighter side of things, the weather patterns have been good lately with lots of Saharan dust in the atmosphere. As we enter the primetime of hurricane season, we hope it stays that way to keep storms at bay and give us some very beautiful sunsets. Remember, it only takes one storm to ruin our year! Another very bright spot is the Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Shane McClanahan. He was named the starter for the American League in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. What an honor for the former USF Pitcher! He seems to be the only bright spot at this time for the Rays. The injury bug has bitten the team very hard recently. They hold the dubious distinction of having the most players on the Injured List, among some other not so good statistics. With any luck, this will change very soon as the Rays try to hold on to
Don’t get me wrong, the state did save a major catastrophic event from happening in the short term. But in the long run, we as citizens of this great state might be on the hook for some rather large assessments if a big storm were to hit anytime soon. Remember, their name is “Citizens” for a reason. We citizens are the final financial backstop if they run out of money due to claims. The situation is so bad that Citizens Insurance has now exceeded 1 million policies in total and they do NOT look to be slowing down anytime soon. The way things are going, I predict they should surpass 1.4 million policyholders by the end of 2022. That tells you how bad things actually are. There are no signs of it getting any better until the legal challenges to the new laws make their way through the legal process, which we all know is very slow. Hopefully, Mother Nature looks kindly on us for a few years so there is time to straighten this mess out.
Frozen Mocha Torte Page 5
Word Search Page 5 August Referrals and Puzzle Winner! Page 6
a wild card spot. Until next month,
–Darren
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Toll free (800) 828-2226 Fax (727) 577-4991
www.vermost.com newsletter@vermost.com
DO YOU REALLY NEED DISABILITY INSURANCE? Understanding the Urgency for Disability Coverage Disability insurance? Why would I need that? Is that necessary? If you’re in relatively good health, at a younger age, and not working a labor-intensive or risky job, it’s understandable why you wouldn’t consider disability insurance to be a high priority for you. However, the risk of falling victim to a disability is higher than you may think. According to Kiplinger, roughly one-third of the population will experience a disability before the age of 65. In fact, according to TMA Insurance Trust: • Roughly 1 in 4 20-year-olds will be considered disabled before they are able to retire. • 1 in 8 workers will become disabled for five or more years. • Today, approximately 12% of the total U.S. population (37 million) are classified as disabled. • 90% of disabilities are caused by an illness, as opposed to accidents.
READY, SET, SCAVENGE! Explore What Autumn Offers
As the leaves begin to fall and the air becomes cooler, it is a sure sign that summer is slowly coming to an
end. Though we will miss the pool parties and backyard barbecues, there is still lots to look forward to during fall.
Autumn is known as the season of change, and getting the kids outside allows them to understand and explore the changes going on in the world around them. Creating a fall scavenger
hunt is a great way for kids to practice their reading and observation skills, all while still enjoying the outdoors. Signs of Fall Creating a specific scavenger hunt for signs of autumn is a great way to enhance your child’s observation skills. Consider the following for your signs of fall hunt: 1. Leaves that have changed colors 2. Tree seeds or pine cones that have fallen to the ground 3. Items from a fall harvest (like pumpkins, sunflowers, or hay bales) 4. Changes among people’s apparel (such as jackets, hats, and scarves) 5. Animals hibernating or migrating Fall Color Wheel The best way to explore autumn’s colors is by creating a fall color wheel hunt! Since the leaves are the surest signs of fall, kids can compare and contrast the different colors of each leaf they find, making this a fun hands-on activity. You can either download a color wheel template from the Internet or make one yourself! All you need is a piece of paper that’s big enough for kids to tape the leaves onto and different areas for the colors red, yellow, orange, and brown. This will help kids see the different kinds of leaves as well as their visual changes during the season. The weather is getting colder, but it doesn’t mean you have to hibernate too! Bundle up with a cozy sweater and beanie, and encourage the family to get outside to explore all of the wonderful changes autumn has to offer.
Vermost Insurance NOW has a relationship with Chuck Chucri who offers Financial Planning and Investment
Did You Know ...
Advisory Services!
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1200 Belcher Rd. S., Suite 1
Largo, FL 33771-3315
Phone: (727) 748-2886
Life Can Be Unpredictable Preserving the Balance of Work and Family Life Workers shouldn’t have to choose between the job they need and the family members they love. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was created to allow employees to take reasonable unpaid leave for a particular family or medical reason so they can maintain a work/life balance. What does it provide? The FMLA provides eligible employees up to 12 workweeks of unpaid leave a year with the requirement of group health benefits to be maintained during the leave as if employees were continuing to work. They are also entitled to resume their same or equivalent job at the end of their FMLA leave. Who is eligible for FMLA? FMLA applies to all public agencies, all public and private elementary and secondary schools, and companies with 50 or more employees. Employees can be eligible for FMLA if they have worked for their employer for at least 12 months, worked at least 1,250 hours over the past 12 months, and work at a location that employs 50 or more employees within 75 miles. When can I use FMLA leave? An eligible employee can be granted up to 12 workweeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a 12-month period for the following reason(s): • Birth of and/or bonding with a newborn child • The placement of a child for adoption or foster care with the employee • To care for an immediate family member with a serious condition (child, spouse, or parent, but does not include parent in-laws) • To take medical leave when the employee is unable to work due to a serious health condition • For qualifying exigencies arising out of the fact that the employee’s spouse, child, or parent is on covered active duty or call to covered active-duty status as a member of the National Guard, Reserves, or Regular Armed Forces The FMLA exists so employees can tend to their families without worrying about their job, allowing them to provide the best care for their loved ones. For more information regarding whether or not your company is eligible for FMLA, check out your local government agency for more details.
• On average, group long-term disability claims last for 34.6 months. • Medical complications contribute to 62% of all bankruptcies filed in the U.S. With these stats in mind, it’s important that no matter your age, you recognize that you can potentially become injured in accidents or develop chronic illnesses, and because age is a factor in disability insurance rates, the longer you wait to purchase a policy, the higher your premiums will likely be! So, what exactly does disability insurance do for you? In the event that you become disabled, disability coverage can help to protect your income and safeguard your finances. If you become too ill or too severely injured to work, it will pay for a portion of your regular income. There are two different types and a variety of categories of disability insurance available to you as well as different costs and payouts to consider. For more information, contact us today and we can walk you through the process to ensure you are covered!
CALL FOR DETAILS OR TO MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY (727) 748-2886 Chuck Chucri, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, FLMI Financial Advisor The Prudential Insurance Company of America Prudential.com/advisor/chuck-chucri Our financial advisors offer investment advice, and some may offer financial planning. Our financial advisors and financial planners offer financial planning and/or investment advice through Pruco Securities, LLC (Pruco), under the marketing name Prudential Financial Planning Services (PFPS). A financial advisor or financial planner offers securities products and services as a registered representative of Pruco and offers insurance products as an agent of issuing insurance companies. 1-800-778-2255 Vermost Insurance is an independent organization and is not an affiliate of Prudential Financial.
1007626-00005-00
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Toll free (800) 828-2226
Fax (727) 577-4991
www.vermost.com
newsletter@vermost.com
2022
INSPIRING HAPPINESS!
2022 REFERRAL WINNER!
We want to thank everyone who referred their friends, family, and coworkers to Vermost Insurance throughout 2022. When you refer someone to us, you receive rewards for each referral and are entered into monthly and annual drawings for additional, even bigger prizes. Your referrals mean a lot to us, and we want to reward you for helping us grow our Vermost Insurance family. The annual grand prize winner of our 2022 referral program is Pablo Arriola. He received a 55-inch 4K TV plus a $250 donation to a charity of his choice. If you want a shot at next year’s prize, keep sending referrals our way. Your referrals make us happy, and we hope our referral program makes you happy, too!
Pablo Arriola is our 2022 referral winner of the 55-inch 4K TV, plus a $250 donation to a charity of his choice.
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1200 Belcher Rd. S., Suite 1
Largo, FL 33771-3315
Phone: (727) 748-2886
1200 Belcher Rd. S. Suite 1 ● Largo, FL 33771-3315 ● Phone: (727) 748-2886
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Wacky September Holidays
• Sept. 1: National No Rhyme (Nor Reason) Day • Sept. 3: World Beard Day • Sept. 5: National Be Late for Something Day • Sept. 8: National Ampersand Day • Sept. 9: National Weiner Schnitzel Day • Sept. 10: National TV Dinner Day • Sept. 11: National Hot Cross Bun Day • Sept. 12: National Video Games Day • Sept. 14: National Cream Filled Donut Day • Sept. 15: National Double Cheeseburger Day • Sept. 16: National Guacamole Day
• Sept. 17: National Apple Dumpling Day • Sept. 19: Talk Like a Pirate Day • Sept. 21: National Pecan Cookie Day • Sept. 22: Elephant Appreciation Day • Sept. 24: National Punctuation Day • Sept. 25: National One-Hit Wonder Day • Sept. 26: National Pancake Day • Sept. 27: National Chocolate Milk Day • Sept. 28: National Good Neighbor Day • Sept. 29: National Coffee Day • Sept. 30: National Chewing Gum Day
WORD SEARCH
FROZEN MOCHA TORTE
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
Ingredients
• 1 cup chocolate wafer crumbs • 1/4 cup sugar • 1/4 cup butter, melted • 1 8-oz package cream cheese, softened • 1 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk
• 2/3 cup chocolate syrup • 2 tbsp instant coffee granules • 1 tbsp hot water • 1 cup heavy cream, whipped • Chocolate-covered coffee beans (optional)
Directions 1. In a small bowl, combine the wafer crumbs, sugar, and butter. 2. In a greased 9-inch pan, add the wafer mixture and press to the bottom. 3. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk, and chocolate syrup until smooth. 4. In a separate dish or cup, dissolve coffee granules in the hot water. Once combined, add to the cream cheese mixture, then fold in whipped cream. 5. Pour mixture evenly over the crust. Cover and freeze for 8 hours or overnight. 6. Remove from the freezer 10–15 minutes before serving. Garnish with chocolate-covered coffee beans if desired.
Apples Bookbag Cider
Football Heritage Honey
Labor Literacy Mushroom
Sapphire Supplies Union
You can fax, email, or mail your completed puzzle for a chance to win our monthly prize!
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Toll free (800) 828-2226
Fax (727) 577-4991
www.vermost.com
newsletter@vermost.com
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
1200 Belcher Road South, Suite 1 Largo, FL 33771 www.vermost.com (727) 748-2886
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
You Make Us Happy
We Insure More Than Just Cars and Homes Here's a list of some of our lines of protection:
Thank you for recently referring your friends, family, and coworkers to our agency. With your help, our Vermost Insurance family keeps growing! We hope our referral program makes you happy, too! People who referred clients to us in August:
› Antique vehicles › Annuities › Auto › Boat/RV › Bonds › Builders' risk › Commercial auto › Commercial property › Condo › Dental › Disability › Employee benefits
› Flood › General liability › Health › Home › ID theft › Life › Mobile home › Motorcycle/Jet Ski › Notary public
Patricia Richards Lulu M of Central Building Cynthia Stratton Jordans Clean Machine
August Puzzle Winner: John Heys August Referral Winner: Cynthia Stratton
› Umbrella › Workers'
compensation
... and more!
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1200 Belcher Rd. S., Suite 1 Largo, FL 33771-3315
Phone: (727) 748-2886
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