Life Insurance

Join the Celebration: Shield Insurance Agency Recognized for Business Excellence!

Posted on by Shield Insurance Agency

Shield Insurance Agency | Shield Blog | About Us | Start A Quote Today! | Business Excellence Award

We are pleased to announce that Shield Insurance Agency has been nominated for the prestigious Business Excellence Award. This recognition is a testament to our commitment to providing exceptional insurance services and our dedication to our clients.

The Business Excellence Award is given to companies that have demonstrated outstanding performance, innovation, and leadership in their respective industries. It recognizes organizations that have achieved significant growth, maintained high ethical standards, and made a positive impact on their communities.

We are honored to be considered for this award and would like to express our gratitude to our clients for their continued support and trust in our services. This nomination serves as motivation for us to continue delivering the highest level of service and to constantly improve our offerings.

We would also like to extend our appreciation to our dedicated team members who have worked tirelessly to ensure the success of our agency. Their hard work, expertise, and commitment to excellence have been instrumental in our nomination for this prestigious award.

Winners of the Business Excellence Award will be announced at a ceremony later this year. We are excited about the opportunity to be recognized among other outstanding businesses and look forward to the results.

Once again, we would like to thank everyone who has contributed to our success and helped us achieve this nomination. We remain committed to providing exceptional insurance services and being a trusted partner for all our clients’ insurance needs.

Thank you for your continued support.

Big News from the Hudsonville Chamber of Commerce!

It’s Awards Season!


The Chamber is SO excited to be hosting the Chamber Awards once again this year!

Here are our nominees for the 2021 Awards!
::::: drumroll :::::

Business Excellence Award

  • Hudsonville Physical Therapy
  • Advent Physical Therapy
  • Shield Insurance Agency

Leadership Award

  • Dr. Therese House-Vereeke
  • Patrick Waterman
  • Mary Jane Schreur

Spark Award

  • Hand 2 Hand Ministries
  • Meijer
  • Joy 99

The winners of the Awards will be announced at our official Awards Ceremony MEAL. June 17th at noon at the Pinnacle Center.

Make sure to get registered, we hope to see you there!

Visit the Shield Insurance Blog for some great reading…

Read More

Michigan Tornado: Be Prepared

Posted on by Shield Insurance Agency

Michigan Tornado

On average Michigan has 15 tornadoes per year. Tornadoes are known to develop rapidly, with little advanced warning. The average lead time for a Michigan tornado warning is 10 to 15 minutes and winds can reach over 200 mph, which is why Michigan residents are encouraged to prepare and make a plan before a tornado strikes.

Each year during Severe Weather Awareness Week, a statewide tornado drill is held so you can practice your plan.

BE PREPARED:

Terms:

Michigan Tornado Watch: Tornadoes are possible. When there is a Watch, move near enough to a shelter or sturdy building to be able to get inside quickly if there is a Warning or if you see signs of a tornado approaching. Remain alert for approaching storms. Watch the sky and stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.

Michigan Tornado Warning: A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Take shelter immediately.

Supercell: A system producing severe thunderstorms, featuring rotating winds sustained by a prolonged updraft that may result in hail or tornadoes.

Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale: Rates the strength of tornadoes in the United States and Canada. There are six categories for the EF scale and are in order of increasing intensity. *It is based on wind estimates of a 3-second gust.*

  • EF0: Tornadoes with an estimated wind speed of 65-85 mph and leads to light damage.
  • EF1: Estimated wind speed of 86-110 mph with the potential of moderate damage.
  • EF2: Estimated wind speeds of 111-135 mph with significant damage potential.
  • EF3: Estimated wind speeds of 136-165 mph with severe damage potential.
  • EF4: Estimated wind speeds of 166-200 mph with devastating damage potential.
  • EF5: Estimated wind speeds of over 200 mph with incredible damage potential.

Before a Michigan Tornado:

  • Identify safe rooms built to FEMA criteria or ICC500 storm shelters or other potential protective locations in sturdy buildings near your home, work, and other locations you frequent so you have a plan for where you will go quickly for safety when there is a Warning or an approaching tornado.
  • For schools, malls, and other buildings with long-span roofs or open space plans, or many occupants, ask the building manager to identify the best available refuge. 
  • Build an emergency kit and make a family communications plan.
  • Sign up for your community’s warning system.  The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio also provide emergency alerts.  If your community has sirens, become familiar with the warning tone.
  • Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or to commercial radio or television newscasts for the latest information. Meteorologists can predict when conditions might be right for a tornado.  In an emergency, always listen to the instructions given by local emergency management officials.
  • Be alert to changing weather conditions.  Look for approaching storms.
  • Look for the following danger signs:
    • Dark, often greenish sky
    • Large hail
    • A large, dark, low-lying cloud (particularly if rotating)
    • Loud roar, similar to a freight train.
    • If you see approaching storms or any of the danger signs, be prepared to take shelter immediately.

During a Tornado:

  • If you are under a tornado warning, seek shelter immediately!  Most injuries associated with high winds are from flying debris, so remember to protect your head.
  • If you are in school, nursing home, hospital, factory, shopping center, high-rise building then:       
    • Go to a pre-designated area such as a safe room built to FEMA criteria, basement, storm shelter, or the lowest building level. If there is no basement, go to the center of a smaller interior room, such as a closet or hallway, that is away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. Get under a sturdy table and cover your head and neck with your arms and cover your body as best you can e.g., with a heavy coat or blankets, pillows.
    • In a high-rise building, go to a small interior room or hallway on the lowest floor possible.
    • Do not open windows.

After The Tornado

Click here for the rest of the story …

Read More

Want More Energy In The Morning?

Posted on by Shield Insurance Agency

Want More Energy In The Morning? Try This Easy Science-Backed Method.

By Kate Bratskeir | 04/14/2021 05:45am EDT | Huffpost.com

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could magically turn yourself into a morning person? This doesn’t have to be just a dream: A group of sleep researchers developed a method that could very well transform the way you feel during the wee hours of the morning — or at least help you get more energy and feel a little less sluggish in the a.m.

The science-backed process ― called the RISE-UP method ― was created a few years ago, but it’s especially helpful now. The pandemic has made sleep inertia — the transitional state between sleep and wake, marked by grogginess, impaired performance, and a desire to return to sleep — more common, said sleep researcher Kate Kaplan, a clinical instructor at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Adjusting your morning habits using the technique may help reverse some of those effects.

Click here for the rest of the story

Recent Blogs

Read More
Insurance Terms Important to Know - Shield Insurance Agency Blog

Insurance Terms Important to Know

Posted on by Shield Insurance Agency

Shield Insurance Agency & Foremost Insurance Company present Insurance Terms

Every industry has its own unique language – and insurance is no exception. Here are some key insurance definitions and terms you might come across as you consider insuring yourself or your stuff.

Read More

Stress Awareness Month – April 2021

Posted on by Shield Insurance Agency

Stress Awareness Month – April 2021

Stress can be debilitating, and it can cause and/or aggravate health problems. And since stress is a normal part of human existence — nobody is immune to it — it’s important to arm ourselves with knowledge so that we recognize when stress rears its ugly head. (Amazingly, we don’t always notice it’s happening to us.) Stress Awareness Month happens each April. It’s important to learn some strategies for coping with this particular silent scourge. You’ve come to the right place for that. Let’s get started!

STRESS AWARENESS MONTH TIMELINE

STRESS AWARENESS MONTH TIMELINE

HOW TO OBSERVE STRESS AWARENESS MONTH

1. Practice meditation

One of the most effective ways to deal with stress is to learn how to silence the mind. Meditation is one of the most popular methods of achieving this quiet.

2. Exercise

Another way to battle the debilitating effects of stress is to exercise. Whether you’re a jogger, bicyclist our just like to take long walks, be sure to get some fresh air and exercise into your daily routine.

3. Visit your doctor

They’re really in the best position to get your started on the path to a stress-free lifestyle. Make an appointment today.

4 STRESSFUL FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW

  1. Stress can help — sometimes
  2. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “stress can motivate people to prepare or perform and might even be life-saving in some situations.”
  3. It’s sickening — literally
  4. People under stress – especially those prone to chronic stress — are more susceptible to a variety of ailments, from headaches and insomnia to high blood pressure and heart disease.
  5. Stressed? Here’s why
  6. A survey by the American Psychological Association found that the five factors most often cited as a source of stress were money, work, family, economic outlook, and relationships.
  7. America’s highest and lowest stress states
  8. A report on WalletHub found that the most stressed-out states in America are Louisiana, New Mexico, and West Virginia. The least? Minnesota, North Dakota, and Utah.

WHY STRESS AWARENESS MONTH IS IMPORTANT

Click here for the rest of the story

Read More

Get Gardening Muscles in Shape and Prevent Injuries

Posted on by Shield Insurance Agency

Get Gardening Muscles in Shape and Prevent Injuries. Before digging, pruning, and planting, make sure you’re ready for the work

by Susan Moeller, AARP, March 15, 2021

Christine Zellers tries to run five miles every day and, at 53, considers herself to be in shape. But even she admits that gardening can leave her sore and achy.

“I feel it, especially in the beginning of the season,” she says. 

Zellers, an assistant professor of family and community health sciences with Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cape May County, New Jersey, teaches gardening, leads group exercise classes, and grows vegetables and herbs in her own garden in Ocean City, New Jersey. To protect her body, she tries to remember to stretch and limber up before heading out to dig, plant, or lug big pots around.

“You want to be thinking about the kind of movement you’re going to do and make sure you’re strengthening those body parts, like your core and your back and your legs and your quadriceps,” she says. “So you want to warm up a little bit just like you would if you were going for a run or doing an exercise class.”

Click here for the rest of the story…

Check out other blog articles!

Read More
Independent Agent - Dave Ramsey's Number One Top - Shield Insurance Agency Blog

Dave Ramsey: Easiest Money-Saving Tip

Posted on by Shield Insurance Agency

Dave’s Easiest Money-Saving Tip

4 MINUTE READ | DECEMBER 17, 2020 | Dave Ramsey | Term Life Insurance

Dave Ramsey on his radio show.
Dave Ramsey endorses Shield Insurance Agency

Everyone loves saving money—especially after the year we’ve just come out of. 2020 was a rough one, and there’s no denying people are looking for even more ways to save a buck or two going into the new year.

You probably already know some of the usual ways to cut back on your expenses—everything from packing brown-bag lunches to having an extreme no-spend month. But here’s an easy one you might not have thought of yet. And it could save you a lot of money.

So, what’s the secret we’ve got up our sleeve here? Shopping for insurance with the help of an independent insurance agent like Shield Insurance Agency! (Didn’t see that one coming, did you?) Hear us out, though. This easy-saving tip is worth your time!

The Difference Is the Dave Ramsey Name

Why is an independent insurance agent such an easy money saver, you ask? It’s all in the word independent. They’re not limited to a single insurance provider’s options. With access to a whole network of insurers, an independent agent casts a wider net to find you the best deals on the coverage that’s right for you. It’s like having your own personal shopper . . . but for insurance. Connect with Shield Insurance Agency today and save more. 

And you can feel confident knowing your independent agent doesn’t have a stake in the game when it comes to which provider or policy you choose. They don’t get paid extra for helping you choose a specific one—so, at the end of the day, the choice is yours!

Old Policies Aren’t Always Better

The only constant in life is change, right? We all know that. But a lot of people treat their insurance policy like a bottle of wine that just gets better with age. Spoiler alert: Insurance doesn’t work like that.

Never taking a second look at your insurance policy is a mistake that could cost you. In fact, a recent survey found that one out of every three Americans with homeowner’s or car insurance have never shopped around for better coverage. Ever. That means they could be missing out on new discounts that apply to where they’re currently at in life.

Did Junior get good grades this semester? Did you get married recently? Drive a different car these days? All of that might impact your insurance rates.

After 15 years with the same auto insurance company, Zach D. decided to give an independent agent a try. Now his family is saving $1,200 a year on the exact same coverage.

Dave Ramsey: It’s About More Than Your Bottom Line

You also shouldn’t have to sacrifice your coverage quality to save a buck. Saving money is awesome. But cutting costs shouldn’t mean cutting corners. A true pro takes time to walk you through your coverage options so you can make the decision that’s right for you.

Sadly, this basic level of service isn’t always part of the package. Many people don’t fully understand the details of their insurance policies at all. And if you’re confused about what’s covered and what’s not, that could really cost you. Things like floods, earthquakes, and normal wear and tear are not usually covered under a basic homeowner’s policy.2

So be sure you know what you’re paying for. No one wants to be surprised in the middle of a crisis when they’re trying to file a claim. Take our 5-Minute Coverage Checkup to make sure you have the right kind of coverage you need.

Brandi’s insurance premiums went up 10%. With help from her independent insurance agent, she cut her rate by 20% and got increased coverage with lower deductibles.

Start Saving Today

What would you do with an extra $700 or more to your name? That’s how much people save on average by having an insurance Endorsed Local Provider (ELP), like Shield Insurance Agency, check out their rates. With that kind of extra money, you could knock out your debt snowball, boost your retirement fund, or get hustling on paying off your mortgage. The possibilities are endless! So what are you waiting for?

More blogs by Shield Insurance Agency

Read More

2021 Happy New Year!

Posted on by Shield Insurance Agency
Happy New Year from Shield Insurance Agency
Read More
2020 Christmas Greeting From Shield Insurance Agency Hudsonville Michigan

2020 Christmas Greeting

Posted on by Shield Insurance Agency
Merry Christmas from Shield Insurance Agency
Read More

Rising prescription costs

Posted on by Shield Insurance Agency

Rising Prescription Costs

As healthcare premiums are increasing you may have noticed rising prescription costs. In a study done by Consumer Reports in 2019, 12% of individuals said their prescriptions costs increased by more than $100 over the past year. One contributing factor is that there are no federal regulations that keep drug prices in check.

How are consumers able to offset rising prescription costs?

Ask your doctor for generic: 

Most brand-name drugs have generics that can be up to 90 percent cheaper. They aren’t available for all prescription drugs, but it doesn’t hurt to ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Ask about over-the-counter options: 

Some medications can be a combination of two inexpensive drugs that you can purchase without a prescription.

Use manufacturer discounts: 

Many drugmakers offer some type of discount. For example, Janssen, which makes Xarelto, offers a discount that can drop the price down to $10.

These are not all the ways you can help reduce your prescription costs but are some of the most effective ways. As always if you have any questions regarding your healthcare costs please talk to one of our insurance agents.

Read More