Monthly Newsletter from Castell Insurance

N e w s Y o u C a n U s e

C a s t e l l I n s u r a n c e

August 2012 Newsletter ~ www.castellinsurance.com

It is fitting to open our August newsletter remembering the summer Olympics 2012. Sixteen wonderful days of coverage. From the opening ceremony with Queen Elizabeth who is 86 years old, portrayed in a video skit of a Bond movie jumping out of a helicopter, to the closing ceremony taking us on a journey of British music covering a 50 year span. We were all inspired by the world's top competitive athletes. Britain showed the world its hospitality. The Olympic venue delivered a festive spirit.
We can now look forward to 2016 when Rio de Janeiro will host the next summer Olympic games.

Enjoy these last days of summer as they are becoming shorter each day!

Castell Insurance, " A local agency providing GREAT local service"

News You Can Use

Phil

My article in this month's Sequim Gazette is on the new rules affecting 401K and other types of retirement accounts. Nearly 1 in 3 retirees have some savings held in a 401K or similar account.

The retirement accounts are generally set up by employers and managed by investment managers, insurance companies or other financial institutions.

The managers are the ones who dictate what investment options you have available and also what fees you will be charged. The new rule is intended to provide much greater transparency in respect to fee's. If you are a retiree and still have your retirement savings with your previous employer, you have more options than if you are still working .

So, if you are retired or close to retirement, please take a few minutes to read the article and contact my office if you have any questions about what your options truly are.

Click here to read article

Business News

Exciting times are ahead at Castell Insurance. This may be the worst kept secret in Sequim, but now we will make it official.

We are pleased to announce that we are now able to offer Homeowners and Auto insurance in addition to all the current plans we offer.

James Castell is heading up this new venture and his office is the first office you will see when you stop by our location. As you can probably guess with a last name of Castell, he is related to Phil and Sharon. He is their only son and has been working in the Seattle area in the insurance business for some time.

He and his wife Sarah have recently moved to Sequim and are looking forward to becoming part of the community. Sarah is a 1st grade teacher at Helen Haller Elementary here in Sequim and is busy getting her classroom ready for all those eager young children. They have a French Bulldog named Boris whom many of you have met as he has been a frequent visitor and we call him our official mascot.

The agency will continue the tradition of putting you, our valued clients first. We are independent agents and as such, will be representing numerous insurance companies for your Homeowner and Auto insurance needs.

Some of the companies we are offering will be Safeco, The Hartford (AARP), GMAC, Foremost as well as others.

If it has been some time since you last had your situation reviewed, why not call and see how we can ensure you are getting the most value out of your insurance dollar.

We have seen many folk who have their Homeowner and Auto policies with different companies. Simply combining your policies with one company may present discounts to save your hard earned money.

Do you have a local agent???

Many people have moved to Sequim, purchased insurance online or enrolled over the phone. Having a local agent will provide you with many benefits including: in person reviews and counsel regarding your policies, local claims advice, professional service with all of your questions and needs right in your home town.

If you are in that situation and are ready for our great local service on your home and auto insurance please let us know. We look forward to the opportunity to become your local agent, continuing to provide the excellent service you have come to expect from Castell Insurance.

MORE NEWS:

Not much real news is leaking out yet regarding the Medicare open season fast approaching in October. At this point it appears that we will not be having any additional Medicare Advantage Plans to offer in Clallam or Jefferson Counties.

We have not even heard a whisper of how premiums will be changing and this is usual for this stage of the game. Believe us, once we hear we will be letting our clients know.

We are truly aiming to be your one stop location for all your insurance and investment needs

Click here to email Phil for questions

Office Visitors

John Coulson conducts a double time efficient appointment that covers both Long Term Care

and ageing into Medicare. Cathy White and Donna McLean took care of business finding more time to have fun!

Sequim Balloon Festival

You can purchase your discount tickets to the first annual Sequim Balloon Festival at Castell Insurance. $19.00 per person. Wear the bracelet and gain access for 3 days to this exciting event.

Last day to purchase will be Friday Aug 24th and then the price goes up to $29.00 per person.
Stop by the office for tickets.

Click here to see the festival website.

The Water Cooler

watercooler

Well the dog days of summer are here and the heat has finally arrived. The boss is working short days so sneaking away for a little water cooler talk is easy, in fact she left out the back door and I left out the front.

As I sit at home in the shade and watch my daughter play in the wading pool, my thoughts are drawn to the next major happening, the start of school, and that can only mean one thing, IMMUNIZATIONS.

This is the time of year that parents should be reviewing what immunizations their children need for school enrollment. With the recent whooping cough outbreak on the peninsula and throughout Washington, this is one immunization everyone should consider, regardless of age. There are a number of vaccines that should be given to children to keep them healthy. These include but are not limited to chicken pox, measles, diphtheria, tetanus, mumps, and rubella.

Now with that statement I am sure that I hear a few of you saying, "But John, there are risks to the vaccines." As I have often said, I am not a Doctor or Pharmacist. However, in all of my reading as an insurance agent and father, I have yet to hear of or read an authenticated study linking serious side effects outweighing the benefits of vaccines. We have managed to eradicate smallpox, and are on the verge of eradicating polio with vaccines.

Unfortunately those who choose not to vaccinate their children, are allowed to sign a waiver and attend public schools, and this puts all of us at risk.

I have attached a link to a list of immunizations that are included in today's major medical plans at no charge, for everyone including children.

Click here to see immunization list

Well its time to get into the wading pool, run through the sprinkler, hit the slip and slide and enjoy the last days of summer. Maybe even indulge in a margarita or two.

Send your comments and thoughts to john@castellinsurance.com

Office Decor

Phil - Leroy Neiman New York Stock Exchange Art work

Phil recently purchased some new art work for his office. This is a print of the New York Stock Exchange by Leroy Neiman.

This ties in with Phil's new focus of financial planning or as he calls it "Retirement Income" planning.

Phil first saw this artwork over 25 years ago when he started in the insurance business and it hung in his bosses office. It left a lasting impression and now all these years later a copy is now on his wall.

New Employee

Welcome to James Castell our Auto and Homeowners specialist. He is pictured here with his lovely wife Sarah.

Office Greeter

Boris Castell pulls his weight at the office. You can be sure to receive that special welcome when ever you visit!

Sign Logo

Click here to follow us on Facebook

As we have introduced James and Sarah Castell to you this month it reminds me of what we as an independent insurance agency are all about.

We are about providing for and protecting local families here on the Peninsula.

As a Board Member of the Sequim Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce, one of the things we always try to do is buy locally whenever possible. This also follows over into the charities we support. We want our donated time, efforts and money to help those in need here in our own community.

I recently received the following in an email and I kept it as I thought it was a very appropriate sentiment.

"When you buy from a mom and pop business, you are not helping a CEO purchase a third vacation home. You are helping a little girl get dance lessons, a little boy get his team jersey, a mom or dad put food on the table, a family pay a mortgage, or a student pay for college."

Our customers are our shareholders and they are the ones we strive to make happy.

Thank you for supporting small businesses.

Castell Insurance | 426 E. Washington Street | Sequim |WA | 98382

Telephone: 360-683-9284 | Email: info@castellinsurance.com

Web Site: www.castellinsurance.com

Office Hours: Mon-Thurs = 9:00 - 5:00

Fri = 9:00 - 4:00 Closed Weekends