Category: Uncategorized

How does your relationship effect your insurance?

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching and love is in the air! Love is wonderful, but there are some key steps to take when progressing through your relationship that are often forgotten. Once these are forgotten they can add stress to the relationship later on. In order to prevent this from happening, we’ve made a small guide for you. This should help with whatever step of the relationship you’re going through and can assist with making big decisions on whether or not you’re ready to move forward.

When getting married: Start with calling your insurance company about a month before the wedding. If you can, send them the declaration page for your significant other’s policy. This way they can easily combine your policy with your soon-to-be spouse’s policy. You’ll want to make sure that all names (last name in particular) are appropriately adjusted. You will need to call your company to see when you can officially combine policies. Some carriers want everything together as soon as you’re living together, and some want everything combined once you’re married. To find an exact time, you’ll want to call your company.

When moving in together: Whether you’re married or not, if you’re living together then most companies will want you both on the same policy. Occasionally, it’s as simple as providing a declarations page to each other’s insurance company. Usually, you’ll at least be added as a driver on your significant other’s policy. You may want to get a quote for combining policies at that point. Often, it’s cheaper to add another driver and vehicle (depending on the situation). If your significant other has a poor driving record, it could increase your insurance rates.

On the other end of the spectrum, some people are feeling less love and going through the difficult process of splitting up. It’s hard to go through that and we’re trying to make that as pain-free as possible. We’ve put together a couple tips for you to make sure that you don’t miss an important step in this process.

When moving out (no divorce): Whether you’re married or not, if you’re living at separate addresses then you can get your own policy. As long as both parties are insured at all times then it’s okay. You’ll need to make sure that both parties are cooperating to get two separate policies started, then cancel the old, combined policy after the new ones have both been issued. Make sure all names, addresses, and vehicles are correct. If one of the parties moves into a place with other people, then you’ll want to refer back to When Moving in Together and potentially combine policies with them.

When getting divorced: A divorce is challenging. You’ll be splitting everything up and it’ll be exhausting. You’ll want to call your insurance company and discuss what steps need to be taken. You can each get your own policies issued but you cannot remove your ex-wife or ex-husband from the policy. In order to remove someone from a policy, the insurance company would need to speak with them directly.

We hope you never have to experience the negative ways that relationships can affect you but that’s the risk you take. This is just a quick guide to make those times less stressful, and make the good times more enjoyable. As always, we appreciate your feedback and hope this is helpful!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Welcome to 2018!

So far, we’ve been enjoying ourselves and we hope you’ve had a wonderful month too!

Purchasing a new vehicle is thrilling for everyone! Getting caught up in the excitement can cause you to miss a couple key steps in the process. In order to help out with that, we’ve put together a small list of things to do so that you don’t miss any too important.

1. Find the right vehicle: You’ll want to find the year, make and model of the vehicle you’ll be purchasing.

2. Once you’ve done that, find the exact vehicle (yes, this means VIN and everything!).

3. You may want to go ahead and get an estimate from your insurance company as to how much the new vehicle will cost. This can vary quite a bit so don’t go by what anyone else tells you, always call your agent for the insurance estimate. Each auto policy is unique in its own ways. Adding a vehicle could add discounts, while at the same time adding premium for the additional coverage. It all depends on the situation so it’s better to call your agent at that point in time.

4. (If there’s a loan on the vehicle) You’ll want to get the lienholder info. This means address, phone and fax numbers.

5. Once you’ve purchased the vehicle, you’ll want to call your insurance company and add the vehicle to your policy. You’ll need the year, make, model, and VIN. You’ll also need to know what coverage you’d like on the vehicle. At that time, they can send the proof of insurance to you, the lienholder, and the dealership at the same time!

6. Enjoy your brand new vehicle and drive safely!

Having this info ready can keep you from stressing over the small things. You’re supposed to enjoy buying a new vehicle and want you to be happy as possible! Let us know if this list was helpful!

Enjoy your 2018!

Turkey Delivery – Christmas 2017

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Alliance to you! We’ve had a wonderful time this holiday season and we’re hoping that you and your family have as well. The holidays are a time for joy, celebration, and giving. The owner of Alliance, Ryan Kyes, doesn’t want anyone to have to worry about providing a meal, especially during the holidays. He believes that food and meals are a powerful tool for bringing people together, as family and community, to support one another and bring happiness and love. So because he has been so blessed, he feels it is important to give to those who don’t have a meal this holiday or who are struggling to make ends meet. Every Christmas, Ryan buys turkey dinners and puts together a team of people to deliver them to families in need. Our turkey delivery time isn’t just good for the community, but it’s also good for us. It helps us to reflect on our blessings and warms our hearts to help people to know that they are loved and that there is hope.

Handing out turkey dinners is something that we all look forward to every year. It reminds us that we have kind friends, and helps us to get out in the community and make new ones, as well. We hope you enjoy these photos of our 2017 Turkey Delivery and many more years to come! 

 

Winter Driving in Michigan

The snow is falling and the roads are slippery! Christmas is here and so are the icy roads. Most of us in Michigan are experienced with “winter driving” however we can get to confident with our skills and it only takes one mistake to cause an accident. We just experienced one of our first huge snow storms and the first few are always a bit of a wake up call. Here’s a small list of reminders for driving in the winter and tips for those who maybe don’t have as much as experience driving in Michigan snow, ice, and now rain!  

1. Turn your lights on. Other vehicles need to be able to see you just as much as you need to see them. This will help prevent people from pulling out in front of you.

2. Keep an emergency kit on hand. This includes: blankets, gloves, jumper cables, emergency cones, snow boots, and kitty litter. All of these things could easily become a necessity. 

3. Four wheel drive doesn’t mean you can stop on ice. No amount of grip can make you stop on something completely smooth and wet. You’ll want to always use precaution and plan to stop as if you have no traction at all.

4. Adjust speed to road conditions. It’s always better to be a couple minutes late getting to where you’re going, rather than potentially not getting there at all.

5. Always assume that it’s icy. Black ice could be anywhere and there’s no way of knowing which areas are safe and which aren’t. If we error on the side of caution and pretend that all areas are dangerous to avoid accidents or going in the ditch.

6. Make room for other’s mistakes. You may be following at a safe distance but make extra room in case the car in front of you has an emergency or an accident as well.

7. Make sure your vehicle is safe to drive before heading out. You’ll want all of the ice and snow scraped and brushed off of your car so that you have a full view of your surroundings and others can have a full view of you. If you don’t have your lights on, head lights AND tail lights, then other drivers won’t be able to see you braking, turning, or coming towards them in general.

8. Make sure you have plenty of gas – you don’t want to get stuck on the side of the road in this weather! Not only is it below freezing, but it’s also dangerous. Someone else may lose control of their vehicle and cause a disaster, hitting you and/or your vehicle.

 

Alliance is proud and grateful to be able to serve you this winter during the cold, nasty weather in Michigan. The snow sure can be beautiful while it’s falling but it can turn our commutes into a treacherous journey. Make sure you’re both prepared and covered in case of an accident. If you need car insurance or are looking to increase coverage in case of an emergency, just give us a call and we can help you out. Adding roadside assistance to your policy can solve quite a few of these problems, too. Towing, gas delivery, and lockout services can help the stress of driving in bad weather. 

Thanksgiving 

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! It’s that time of year! Football is on and we’re all eating delicious, home cooked meals, surrounded by our closest family and friends. While remembering how thankful we are for the lives we’ve been given, it’s important to reflect back on these things. Often we remember the bad things much more distinctly than we remember the good things. Really focus on all of the times that you’ve smiled and how much you’ve been blessed by the people around you!

What better way to celebrate, than by gathering around some Thanksgiving classics. Turkey, mashed potatoes, rolls, corn, ham, cranberry sauce, casseroles, and pie! Because we are thankful for you, we’ve provided you with a recipe for some tasty pumpkin pie. As seen on allrecipes.com we have the delicious pie here below, enjoy!

Perfect Pumpkin Pie

1 (15 ounce) can of pumpkin

1 (14 ounce) can of sweetened condensed milk

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground ginger

½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

½ teaspoon salt

1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Whisk pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, spices and salt in medium bowl until smooth. Pour into crust. Bake 15 minutes.

Reduce oven temp to 350 degrees and continue baking 35 to 40 minutes or until knife inserted 1 inch from crust comes out clean. Garnish as desired.

This pie is only to be eaten with good company and in a peaceful environment!

Alliance is so grateful for each and every one of you and we appreciate your business. There’s nothing we love more than helping protect our community. Have a lovely Thanksgiving and Happy Black Friday Shopping, everyone! 

What’s your favorite part of the holidays?

Thank you, Veterans!

Veteran’s Day is a public holiday held on the anniversary of the end of WWI to honor US veterans and victims of all wars. We are very grateful for those who have fought for our freedom and served this country! Once way that we show our appreciation to veterans is by giving them major discounts and deals! Here’s a small list of free treats for Veterans on their special day, to show them how much we appreciate them.

Free lunch @ Texas Roadhouse

Free meal @ Applebee’s

Free lunch @ TGI Fridays

Free lunch @ Buffalo Wild Wings

Free Breakfast @ Friendly’s

Free Breakfast @ Friendly’s

Free Donut @ Dunkin’ Donuts’

Free Dessert @ Red Lobster

Free Dessert @ Cracker Barrel

Free Entry @ National Parks

Free Haircut @ Sport Clips or Great Clips

Here are a couple inspirational and motivational quotes to remember this weekend! 

“There is a certain enthusiasm in liberty, that makes human nature rise above itself, in acts of bravery and heroism.” – Alexander Hamilton

“The veterans of our military services have put their lives on the line to protect the freedoms that we enjoy. They have dedicated their lives to their country and deserve to be recognized for their commitment.” – Judd Gregg

“Honoring the sacrifices many have made for our country in the name of freedom and democracy is the very foundation of Veterans Day.” – Charles B. Rangel

Don’t forget to thank a veteran this Saturday!

Fall is upon us and winter is on deck! It’s time to get outside while you still can and prepare yourselves (and your homes/autos) for the cold and icy weather. This time of year can go by many names: fall, autumn, and football season. Here at Alliance, we refer to it mostly as football season. Regardless, the leaves are changing colors and people are getting anxious to get out in the fresh air and get some sunshine in before being confined to the indoors.

Pumpkin Patch: Pick one out, take it home, carve a silly face on it, insert the candle and set it on the porch! Now everyone can enjoy your latest creation! Some exciting places to go for this activity is Harvest Time, Heidi’s Farmstand, and Uncle John’s Cider Mill.

Carving Pumpkins: This may be the messiest part of the season, but it’s also a great time to let your creative side out! It can be the scariest face you can think of or something calm, peaceful or silly. This can be family, friends, or even a date! Carving pumpkins is a good time no matter how old you are.

Hayride: During the day or the night, you’ll want to dress warmly for this! You can go on a hayride at most pumpkin patches or create your own! All you need is a wagon, something to pull the wagon, and hay/straw bales! Have fun with this, they only come once a year!

Bonfire: These can happen year-round! Bonfires happen all summer long but you’ve got to be sure to get your last couple in before the snow hits! It’s going to be hard to make a big fire when there is 2 ft. of snow on the ground!

Caramel Corn: Making caramel corn can sound like a big sticky mess but it’s worth it! Not only is this delicious and sugary but it’s also good bonding for family and friends! It’s fairly inexpensive too, so make a triple batch and spread the love!

Apple Picking: This is a wonderful, and active fall activity! You can get out in the fresh air and find fresh produce for a cheaper price! Apple picking can be a great way to spend quality time with your loved ones while still being productive.

Donuts: I don’t know that most people would consider “donuts” as an activity, but I do! Sugar covered donuts are a MUST in the fall! Perfectly combined with hot chocolate/coffee, and a book, this invites a warm and cozy feeling into any day.

Corn maze: Whether it’s haunted or not, a corn maze will turn a fall day into a party! A good time to get lost and enjoy the fresh air! Robinette’s has a lovely maze and even better donuts! Schwallier’s Country Basket is another good place for a corn maze and/or a hayride. Crane Orchards, Fruit Ridge Hayrides and Corn Maze, Olin Farm and Heidi’s Farmstand are all places with fun and interactive corn mazes.

Haunted house: A haunted house may not be for everyone but they sure get your blood pumping! Whether you’re going for fun or for terror, you’ll burn calories either way! Three terrifying places would be The Haunt, Moonlight Manor Haunted House, and the Forest Of Fear.

Hallelujah night: Hallelujah night is an alternative to trick-or-treating (often held in a church). It’s a fun, safe, and indoor event that involves lots of costumes, candy, and games! There’s one of these at the Mount Hope Church in Portland, at Stones Church, and at Cornerstone University.

Costume party: Any costume party will do! Dressing up is part of the season and who doesn’t want to be someone else for a night? Popular costume ideas involve zombies, mummies, ghosts, witches, pumpkins, skeletons, and your favorite Disney characters!

Go Hiking: The cold is near and it’s the perfect time to get out and moving! We have a narrow window in Michigan, where it isn’t too hot and it isn’t too cold, we need to be outside while we can! Hiking in the fall can be especially beautiful because of the lovely colors of the trees. Find a wonderful spot, full of reds, oranges, and yellows, and spend the afternoon there! Some common trails are the NCT – North Country Trailhead (right here in Lowell), West Michigan Trails & Greenways, and Pigeon Creek Park. Two more favorites of mine are Sessions Lake State Park and the Ledges in Grand Ledge.

Tailgating: Not driving too close to someone on the highway, but football tailgating! Grilling, and playing some catch before the big game starts is a perfect way to spend Friday nights and Saturday afternoons. Get in the spirit to cheer on your favorite team while spending time with friends and family. There’s usually delicious food too so that’s a win-win!

 

Some less exciting activities that must be done before winter can include making sure your vehicles are properly insured and getting your home and autos prepared for the freezing temperatures and mass amounts of snow/ice. You’ll want to be prepared for the first of the icy roads so make sure you have coverage on your vehicles for that! You never know what the weather will be like in Michigan, so it’s important to be ready for anything. If you’re worried about your coverages or have any questions for us just give us a call!

What’s your favorite Autumn Activity?

We’re so excited to announce to everyone that we’ve opened a second location in Grand Rapids! We’re not only on Main Street in Lowell but we’re also located right off the East Beltline, right behind the Twisted Rooster! Our new address info is:

 

Lowell – 423 W. Main St. Lowell, MI 49331

Grand Rapids – 3351 Eagle Run Dr NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525

 

 

Along with this, we’ve had a slew of employee additions! Check out our employee directory to get to know them better. We still have some employees in training that will be added at a later date, so keep an eye out for them.

 

Our newest members of the team are Kerstin Froman-O’Neal and Kelli French. They’re very excited to be here at Alliance and we love them already! Along with these changes, we’ve had some new management positions filled. Our new Regional Manager is Phalesha Kyes, our Lowell Office Manager is Scott Pullen, and our Grand Rapids Office Manager is Sean Pullen.

Our employees over in Grand Rapids are still adjusting to the move but they’re loving the central location that they have right there in Grand Rapids! Feel free to stop by the new office and say hello to Phalesha, Sean, and some other new employees!

While we’re expanding, don’t forget that we can help with all of your insurance needs. You don’t need to visit any of our locations to have insurance with us, you can simply call or email any of our agents. You can find this contact info here, and choose which agent you’d like to work with. 

 

 

 

It’s finally football season! We all know that along with football season and the start of school comes fundraising and big events. Most schools will do a “Pink” game to help raise funds and awareness for cancer (and other charities, organizations, etc.), but nobody can compete with the Annual Lowell Pink Arrow Pride game. Thousands of people will fill the stands, all in pink, to help the cause. In the last decade, we’ve raised over a million dollars to support those with cancer and their families. This number continues to grow, each year we raise more and more! Pink T-shirts are sold to help paint the crowd pink and the best part, the shirts are also a ticket to the game and an excellent way to raise money! The bleachers and crowds won’t be the only ones sporting the bright pink, the Lowell Varsity football team will be wearing hot pink jerseys while they play. 

The funds raised at the Pink Arrow Pride game go to multiple charities and clubs in the community. The game is the largest of the year and requires a lot of help and is reliant on volunteers to keep up with the number of fans that will attend. This game also goes towards student scholarships in honor of Kathy Talus, a former Lowell teacher who lost her battle with cancer, and Dr. Gerard who has given 30+ years volunteering and providing care to student athletes.

The roots of the Pink Arrow game originate from the 2008 Lowell Football Coach, Noel Deal, who came up with the idea of the pink jerseys and the charitable activities. They quickly raised $93,000 and then it only escalated from there. The game now has several community activities and events that are related, Chair-a-tee and Quiver 5k are just two examples.

At Alliance Insurance, we proudly wore our pink shirts this Friday and are grateful to have an Agency owner who provided those for us. Alliance will be at the Pink Arrow game, supporting and encouraging the cause. We look forward to seeing you all there! Watching this game will be exciting, but it will be more exciting to know that all of our efforts will be put towards charities and better causes. Football is wonderful and giving is too!

For more information, you can visit the Pink Arrow Pride website: www.pinkarrowpride.org

Please share your pink arrow pictures with us! 

Going Somewhere?

This is the last big travel weekend of the year! Today is the first weekend of September and this means fall is here! We’ve got that last camping trip out of our system before winter hits. Being that it’s the last major weekend holiday, the roads are going to be busy and people are going to be celebrating.

Remember to stay safe and drink responsibly! This is an exciting weekend with no work on Monday (for most of us) so you may be tempted to overdo it but remember that you’ll have more fun when you aren’t in the hospital. We want you to have the time of your life this weekend and enjoy the lovely weather with the last bits of summer so we’ve made this to help you out a little. Here’s a small list of road trip necessities for your holiday weekend!

1.       With mass amounts of people headed north, you’ll want to remember to drive cautiously and carefully. Being fully awake and focused will be necessary for your drive. The best times for traffic are very early in the morning and then much later in the evening. I know these times are the most difficult times to be alert but a cup of coffee will work wonders!

2.       Remember to pack lunches! Stopping for a meal can add an hour onto your travel time and increase the amount of stress in the vehicle. In order to appease everyone and avoid unnecessary stops, packing lunches will be the way to go.

3.       Know your route! Nothing like getting lost on your way to the destination! You’ll want to have a GPS on and know where construction areas are prior to hitting the detour. Having a backup route is never a bad idea.

4.       Bring clothes for all climates, this is Michigan after all! It’s been much colder than usual at this time of year and a storm can pop up at any second. Necessary items include (but are not limited to): umbrellas, rain boots, warm socks, sweatshirts, jeans, t shirts, and a long sleeve!

5.       Don’t forget your car ride games and entertainment! The license plate game with all 50 states, the alphabet game with any sign, the many songs that are good for families to sing along with, and (of course) a movie or two.

6.       Create your perfect playlist! This will keep you awake, it will keep you from messing with the radio, and there’ll be no commercials!

7.       Snacks will be necessary. Even though we already listed packing lunches, snacks will always be an important part of every road trip. Nothing that will make you car-sick, but just a little treats to celebrate the holiday.

 

Let us know your favorite part of a road trip and don’t forget to be safe this weekend!

Happy Labor day everyone!

*** Our office will be closed Monday, 09/04/2017, for the holiday ***