Rain Driving Tips

April is the time for rain showers so here are some helpful hints to keep you safe while driving in the rain:

  • Keep both hands on the steering wheel.
  • Turn on your headlights.
  • Let off the gas if you start to hydroplane.
  • Avoid using your brakes if possible.
  • Drive slowly through any puddles.
  • Reduce your speed. It takes longer to stop on wet roads.
  • Avoid cruise control.
  • Never drive through moving water.
  • Drive in the tracks of the car ahead of you.
  • Make sure there is plenty of distance between you and the car in front of you.

Be Safe.

Sources:

http://www.reedberry.com/rain.html

http://www.smartmotorist.com/driving-guideline/tips-for-driving-in-rain.html

Photo by cbowns

Mutual Aid Ministries Share Fund Grants = WHOLENESS

The heart of MAX is beating strong this year.  Thanks to a portion of our revenues being dedicated to Mutual Aid Ministries (MAM), our Share Fund is able to provide wholeness to those who need it. Whether it’s a need caused by medical issues or financial problems, Mutual Aid Ministries is ready to assist.  Do you know someone who could benefit from a grant? Let us know. We would love to partner with local churches in your communities.

We have helped grant recipients who:

  • Have health issues and fall behind on their utility bills.
  • Are out of work and cannot afford to make necessary repairs on their home.
  • Had a spouse abandon their family and are unable to pay their significant debts.
  • Lost their job and cannot afford to repair their vehicle as they continue to look for employment.

More details about Mutual Aid Ministries can be found here or by calling 877-971-6300.  More information about our insurance products can be found here.

Farm Personal Property

One of the most often underinsured items on farmowners policies is farm personal property.  Most farmers choose to insure this under blanket coverage rather than specified amounts for each category of personal property.  Property that gets lumped into this category might include such things as livestock, hay and grains, farm machinery, tools and supplies and others.

When insuring on a blanket basis, it is important to remember that the policy will require an insured to keep at least 80% of the replacement value of such items (if insuring on a replacement cost basis) to meet the coinsurance requirement on the policy.  That is, the insured value carried on the policy must be at or above 80% of the total value of all such property owned by the insured to be considered fully insured.  If the amount insured falls below that level, the insured will not be fully covered in the case of loss to any of this property.

There are two major reasons this category of property is often underinsured:

  1. Many times, farmers might forget to add up the total amount of all types of personal property they own and are surprised that the total value is as high as it is at the time of loss.  Therefore it is really important to add up the totals of all types of farm personal property when selecting an insured amount to carry on the policy.
  2. Farm personal property can vary by season, especially such things as livestock and crops/hay. It is important then that the farmer regularly review their farm personal property to insure that the amount carried appropriately reflects the needed coverage throughout the year.

We urge all of our farm members to be in touch with their MAX agent or our Sales & Service Center anytime we can help provide support to this incredibly important area of coverage.  We are your partners in meeting your insurance needs.

MutualAid eXchange (MAX) is First Full-Service Insurance Provider to be Named a Certified B-Corporation

B Corp Logo(Overland Park, KS) – Consumers who prefer doing business with conscientious, socially responsible companies, now have a nationally recognized company for their auto, home, business, farm and other property/casualty insurance needs.

Overland Park-based MutualAid eXchange (MAX) insurance (www.maxinsurance.com) was recently named a Certified B Corporation because of its commitment to fair, faithful and socially responsible business practices.

Who Is MAX?

MAX is a member-owned full-service insurance enterprise that provides competitively priced auto, homeowners, farm, business, life and related forms of insurance in most U.S. states.  The company was founded upon the faith-based principles of the Mennonite, Brethren and related denominations.  MAX continues to follow their socially responsible, spiritually-based core values that direct it to be:

  • Spiritual and seeking guidance in all it does,
  • Stewards of the earth and its resources,
  • Servants in our communities, and
  • Compassionate to our members, their families and communities.

MAX practices its beliefs in two primary ways.

  1. It contributes a portion of all its premiums, plus outside gifts, to Mutual Aid Ministries, a project it operates which gives emergency financial help to people facing desperate circumstances beyond what insurance can provide.
  2. It is a cooperative that reports to its policy-holding members, not Wall Street.

“We believe that business can be profitable and still help others,” said David Wine, MAX President and CEO.  “We are committed to providing fair, faithful and socially responsible insurance products and to helping our fellow man at the same time.  Every year, we help hundreds of individuals and families as they deal with difficult emergencies.  We call that caring beyond the contract.”

What is a B-Corporation?

B Corp certification is to sustainable business what LEED certification is to green buildings or Fair Trade certification is to coffee. B Corps are certified by the nonprofit B Lab (www.bcorporation.net) to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.

Today, there is a growing community of more than 900 Certified B Corps from 29 countries and 60 industries working together toward one unifying goal: to redefine success in business.

MAX is a B-Corp trailblazer in the Midwest.  In Kansas and Missouri, there are only three other Certified B-Corporations—Ogden Publications, publisher of Mother Earth News and other journals, in Topeka, KS; and, Arnold Development Group and Big Vision Media Group in Kansas City.

To learn more visit:

www.maxinsurance.com

www.bcorporation.net

Contact:

MutualAid eXchange

4400 College Boulevard, Suite 250

Overland Park, KS  66211

877-971-6300

Reviewing your Insurance Policies

We will make this blog post quite simple for our readers – have you reviewed your insurance policies lately?  Or, more importantly has your agent reviewed your policies?  We understand that insurance terms can be confusing and a bit daunting.  But, that’s why your agent is here.  They can help explain the complicated terms and make them simpler and easier to understand.

Why should you review your policies?

  • Change is constant.  You may have new things to insure or things to drop from your policy.  Let’s get it up to date.
  • A discount may be in your future.  Combining your home and auto can provide a discount – how about some savings before the holidays?
  • Proper coverage.  Ensuring you will be taken care of properly should you have a loss is quite important.

So, contact our Sales & Service Center or your MAX agent to review your policies today!

Photo by Margaret Ornsby