tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76110064602692577922011-11-06T08:26:37.803-07:00Insights,inspirations, and insurance information from the life of Insurance by Katie.Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.comBlogger381100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-44044254301827445102011-07-14T18:34:00.000-06:002011-07-14T18:34:45.561-06:00

As we all thankfully watch the river waters begin to recede here in Western Nebraska, I am also pleased to pass along information that our government has been hard at work to ensure the continuation of the protections afforded by the National Flood Insurance Program. As a member of the Legislative Committee for the Big "I"  (Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers Association), I have worked

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-80398502218987164712011-06-30T10:44:00.001-06:002011-06-30T11:34:26.421-06:00

My 2011 Summer Newsletter is now available! Click here to read about S.S.O.S. (seepage, sewer, or surface water). Yuck! Review the seasonal insert for tips on weddings, bbq's, and summer storms. (Do you know how many wedding rings are lost on the honeymoon? BUMMER!)  Explore some of the fun things to see and do right here in Nebraska, and ways to enhance and protect your summer trips. And much,

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-28058796934768702422011-06-16T16:12:00.010-06:002011-06-16T16:40:42.543-06:00

Reporting Claims: Due to the volume of calls we receive after storms we may be unable to answer your phone call. Please leave your name, phone number, address, & description of the item damaged (property location or the year, make and model of your vehicle). We will submit your claim as quickly as possible and confirm this by mail! You may also email this information at insurance-by-katie@

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-44076088422624652672011-06-10T06:30:00.002-06:002011-06-10T06:30:01.167-06:00

After the hail storms of 2010, which ironically tracked me down and beat on my vehicle while I was out of town, caused the insurance company to total my vehicle I pondered one of life's most important questions: what kind of car am I? The decision making and car purchase process can deteriorate into a situation faced by the Sneeches: running in and out chaining my mind until I'm so confused

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-24169620940473474032011-05-29T06:29:00.017-06:002011-05-29T06:29:00.228-06:00

Once upon a time, in the dark ages before GPS devices, a young married couple sit in the backseat of a motorhome/camper, her parents occupy the front. They've embarked on a vacation of a lifetime with The Dad is driving on the German Autobahn and The Mom is navigating. Armed with her trusty paper road map, The Mom is attempting to detour around the large town of Karlsruhe, Germany because The Dad

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-43380173277892211042011-05-15T17:44:00.021-06:002011-05-15T17:44:00.886-06:00

As our days get increasingly warmer here in Western Nebraska, the "smell of money" begins to fill the air. Now ~ I grew up as a "big city kid" so when I first moved to rural Nebraska,  I had no idea what people meant by that saying: "the smell of money". All I knew was that it smelled BAD!  (If you are also a "big city kid" and don't know what I'm talking about, I'll let you in on a little

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-50670845091139622452011-05-08T06:15:00.006-06:002011-05-08T06:15:01.202-06:00

Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's in the world! (Too bad they haven't invented "behavior" insurance....hmmmm!) Don't forget to hug your mom today!

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-7734117299298653292011-05-04T12:00:00.057-06:002011-05-04T12:00:01.200-06:00

Our Customer Appreciation Event was a tremendous success! Visitors were able to enjoy great food while having a chance to relax and talk with friends. Brochures and other helpful information were available to aid in understanding their insurance coverages. Some even tried their skills at completing insurance related crossword puzzles and/or coloring books! (The did pretty darn

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-40728253925517528002011-05-03T17:04:00.000-06:002011-05-03T17:04:50.946-06:00

My 2011 Spring Newsletter is now available! Click here to read about how to prepare for an emergency (a natural disaster, a storm, a man-made catastrophe or other situation).  Review the pull out checklist to create your emergency kit (Did you know you need three of them?). Or explore the need for, and steps to take to ensure the safety and care of your family and your pets in a crisis situation.

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-11859000006944498252011-04-18T17:29:00.003-06:002011-04-18T17:37:09.097-06:00

The camera focuses on a family enjoying a nice day out on the lake in a small boat. The camera pans out and we discover not a lake and a lovely day for a picnic...but rather, we see submerged roof tops and water cluttered with debris. The helicopter suddenly appears overhead, extends a lift system and raises the family to safety. Something like this always "happens to someone else". Watch the

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-79984314134031922032011-02-04T16:06:00.001-07:002011-02-04T16:23:13.860-07:00

The woman is driving home from work, happily tapping her fingers to the beat of her favorite song. All is right with the world, until….. she glances in her rear view mirror and sees flashing lights. Bummer. She didn’t think she was speeding…nope, not speeding. What’s up? She pulls over and nervously gathers her driver’s license, vehicle registration and insurance card. The officer steps to

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-16197259455569559002011-02-02T16:03:00.001-07:002011-02-02T16:06:48.151-07:00

Happy Groundhog Day! I don’t know about you but I am pretty sure that shadow or no shadow, the groundhog stuck his little nose out of his hole today and will NOT come out again until June! After all, it’s a balmy minus 16 degrees as I write this post! Groundhog Day is such as strange tradition (to put all our hopes and trust in a furry rodent that is often more of a garden pest than a 

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-38116300345066380162011-01-18T11:17:00.001-07:002011-01-18T11:18:27.836-07:00

How many people does it take to change a light bulb? I'm sure you have heard that joke or some semblance thereof.....but it's a VERY valid question. Picture this: 22 feet of wiggly, wobbly, spaghetti-like track lighting 6 arms and hands a less than desirable working environment 4 feet above your head so all the blood rushes away from your fingers and they go to sleep (which is preferable to

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-23472313708244073062011-01-03T12:53:00.001-07:002011-01-03T12:54:37.646-07:00

As we start the New Year, it is always a good idea to take a look at your insurance protection to make certain that you are still properly protected in the event of loss or damage to your belongings. In our "sue-happy" society it is equally, and possibly more important, to also review your liability coverages. My collegue, Jeff Orloff who writes on insurance related topics for the Renter’s

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-45250774723348748102010-12-24T01:30:00.001-07:002010-12-24T01:30:00.399-07:00

Happy Holidays to you!  I know that sometimes insurance companies seem ask incessant questions and may appear to be overly picky when they make recommendations for safety improvements, however, they are just trying to ensure that your home, auto, or business is in the best position to withstand and hopefully avoid any loss or damage. Sometimes insurance companies have to worry about loss

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-47200809744761897792010-12-19T15:12:00.005-07:002010-12-19T15:22:43.443-07:00

During this season of gift giving and getting, it is especially important to protect your "stuff".... even if and especially if, you don't own your own home. Jeff Orloff, a blogger for http://www.rentersinsurance.org has asked to serve as a "guest blogger" on my blog in order to provide you with the following information: Renter’s Insurance Basics While just about anyone who has a mortgage

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-33003991097928533312010-11-24T00:35:00.008-07:002010-11-24T00:35:00.333-07:00

The can of pumpkin and the box of pie crust dough mock me from their perch near the stove. They seem to sneer...."go ahead, we DARE you to try it..."  Crap. It was with this taunt echoing in my head that I found myself sitting at my dining room table with the current issue of the Parade insert from my newspaper. As I distractedly thumbed through the pages, one article caught my eyes:   The Pie

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-7369880896679624542010-11-15T19:23:00.002-07:002011-02-04T16:08:53.675-07:00

Happy Holiday’s everyone! The first snow has flown, the air is getting crisp, and I can almost smell the turkey baking! I’m one of those crazy people who love the crowds of relatives that come and go during this season. But with the increased hustle and bustle can comes the increased potential for injuries and other liabilities. Click this link to read an interview I did for the

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-78501008691065722222010-11-07T01:00:00.007-07:002010-11-07T01:00:03.752-06:00

Isn’t it supposed to be Daylight Savings Time? Where the heck is the “s”? Dare I digress into an English lesson….yes, let’s! Technically, the word “saving” is used in this phrase as an adjective. It describes the kind of time we are talking about: the “saving” kind of time, just like you would describe eco-friendly coffee as “sustainable development” coffee. Or perhaps it could be better

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-5119201510078749652010-10-31T01:00:00.001-06:002010-10-31T01:00:01.194-06:00

Did your parents ever tell you that you could be whatever you wanted to be when you grew up? Mine did, and at Halloween it is definitely true! But along with this ability to play dress-up comes increased risk: increased amount of traffic on your property, which increases the chance of someone becoming hurt or your home being damaged. In order to have a claim-free, “trick-less” Halloween, keep

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-24072312092725720642010-10-22T14:54:00.003-06:002010-10-22T20:38:29.783-06:00

If you are like me, you mute the TV every time that commercial for JG Wentworth comes on, but in reality it makes a good point: you pay for insurance coverage so that the insurance company will pay you in the event you have damages. Now that many of you are making repairs to your damaged items after the storms of this summer it is important to keep the following things in mind: 1. If

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-71081150942259280082010-10-13T17:48:00.000-06:002010-10-13T17:48:30.738-06:00

Picture this: The local high school needs vehicles for auto shop class for the students to work on. Out of the goodness of your heart, you take your vehicle in to the shop to have your brakes worked on. "Children are our future" you know! A little while later, you pick up your vehicle because the repairs are complete. You drive home. By the way, your lug nuts have been over tightened and broken.

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-55095652967885046112010-09-07T09:40:00.000-06:002010-09-07T09:40:47.630-06:00

Family and friends are gathered in the kitchen. Food and conversation abounds. The sounds of laughing children playing in the other room echoes the sentiment felt by all. Kickoff is only minutes away and the anticipation runs high. Will this year be THE year? Who will be the starting quarterback? How will our line stack up against the opposing team? With all the distractions, a pan has been

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-1364073756837419222010-08-18T09:53:00.001-06:002010-08-18T09:55:46.052-06:00

The day is a balmy 90 degrees but feels like 110 with the humidity, however, a pleasant ocean breeze keeps the heat at bay. The water, an exquisite blue-turquoise, stretches as far as the eye can see and meets a coastline of brilliant white sands. What could be more perfect? The woman is suddenly catapulted back to reality as the barefooted young man says “listo?” He grins as he starts the motor

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-84703473142518859232010-08-07T21:59:00.001-06:002010-08-07T22:04:30.903-06:00

Our summer newsletter has now been published. You'll find out what to do now that you have received a claim check for damage from a recent storm. You'll also learn *  how to protect your belongings when you go on vacation or when your child goes off to college*  about a new way to protect your farm equipment *  and much, much more! Check it out at: http://www.insurance-by-katie.com/

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-15425195732691063592010-07-28T05:50:00.001-06:002010-07-28T05:50:00.663-06:00

Tummy rumbling, mouth watering, I ordered a pizza the other night. Not earth shattering you say? Well, I placed my order over the Internet at http://www.papajohns.com/ ! Yes, you can actually order your pizza and have it delivered, hot and yummy, right to your door without speaking to a human being! Did you know that? Amazing. Now, although I accomplished this feat of culinary delight, I didn’t

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-8733665451317049382010-07-22T06:00:00.001-06:002010-07-22T06:00:09.229-06:00

I did something recently that is on my "Top-10-Things-I-Like-To-Do List": had lunch/coffee with friends. I know, that's not very earth shattering, but it contains two of my favorite things: 1) talking and 2) eating! My first rendezvous was coffee with Dave Teche from The Essential Step in Lincoln, Nebraska. Dave and I had delicious coffee and terrific conversation about our insurance

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-59544291961960378832010-07-16T16:12:00.001-06:002010-07-19T13:57:24.387-06:00

Mmmmmm? Can you smell it? The sweet, bready aroma drifting upon the air. You inhale, savoring the fragrance of the doughy-goodness infused with the essence of powdered sugar. (Well, ok, I like mine drenched in powdered sugar!) The fact that it is deep fried in oil does not deter you, after all, there can’t be more than 3000 calories per funnel cake!? Its Oregon Trail Days again in Western

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-44911989308731314762010-06-15T17:56:00.002-06:002010-07-16T15:37:30.057-06:00

It is 7:25 pm. The sky outside is getting darker and darker. The Weather Channel desktop icon begins flashing yellow, then red. The wind that had been whipping the trees suddenly ceases to blow and the air becomes eerily calm. The birds stop chirping. The weather alert radio begins screeching. The woman grabs her laptop, cell phone, superhero cape, and uneaten dinner off the grill as she runs

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-74568517625258998302010-05-20T08:50:00.002-06:002010-07-16T15:37:09.791-06:00

Many of the postings I have done have a light, fun, and informative flavor, which is the whole purpose of this blog. However, summer storms can be quite serious and thus, this posting is meant to provide you with helpful and possibly life saving information. Ready America is a national public service advertising (PSA) campaign designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-78640032983844857532010-05-11T16:04:00.006-06:002010-07-16T16:14:37.488-06:00

Driving down the highway the other day fighting the 90 mile per hour winds (you think I’m exaggerating but I’m NOT!) I pondered this and many other life altering questions: • So, really, where DO the tumbleweeds go? • And for that matter, where do they come from in the first place? • And why the heck do they run in herds that attack your car when you least expect it? Convinced that these

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-83236384902020499632010-04-29T10:59:00.001-06:002010-07-16T15:21:40.178-06:00

My 2010 Spring Newsletter is now available! Click here to read about how to handle a claim if you are unfortunate enough to suffer one. (Not that I’m expecting a bad storm season but….). Review page 2 to gain an understanding of flood insurance. Or explore the need for, and coverages afforded by, Long Term Care insurance. And much, much more! You can access past issues of our newsletter on our

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-27194124086269547192010-04-16T14:17:00.010-06:002011-02-04T16:18:51.910-07:00

I was stopped at a stoplight on the corner of 27th Street and Avenue B the other day innocently minding my own business (and contemplating the delicacies I was hoping to enjoy at lunch very soon thereafter) when I noticed a blue vehicle swerving toward me. At first I thought the driver intended to enter the center turn lane (there is really no true center lane but that was my fleeting hope at the

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-70996791467006899142010-04-12T12:16:00.003-06:002010-07-16T15:36:05.017-06:00

I was reading the newspaper today and came across this headline: “Raabe, ‘Wizard of Oz’ Munchkin actor, dies at 94”. Do you know which Munchkin he was? He played the forensic pathologist. No, I am not confusing the “Wizard of Oz” with CSI or Dexter…. There really was a forensic pathologist in the movie. Mr. Meinhardt Raabe was the Munchkin official with the solemn yet profoundly jubilant duty of

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-58395045599967811412010-04-01T06:10:00.005-06:002010-07-16T15:35:35.421-06:00

Happy April Fool’s Day! Where did this tradition come from? Although the true roots are not known, the most popular theory is that it began in France during the late 1500’s. The Gregorian calendar was adopted, changing the New Year from the traditional week long celebration from March 25 through April 1 to the date we currently recognize: January 1. Due to poor communication systems back then,

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-32185333220533900922010-03-26T10:23:00.004-06:002010-07-16T15:35:06.189-06:00

It rained here the other day, thanks to me. No, I cannot call forth rain from the heavens and I did not wash my car - which seems to produce a storm every time. No, I did something every woman knows will absolutely guarantee poor weather: I fixed my hair! You see, I renewed my driver’s license the other day. (Yes, that means it’s almost my birthday!) With that in mind, I thought it would be wise

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-86309204601490680772010-03-17T09:00:00.008-06:002010-07-16T15:33:54.789-06:00

Although not 100% Irish, I’m about as Irish as they come (red hair and fiery temper… occasionally…) When I was a kid we visited Ireland and I have strong memories of green, green, and more green. The entire landscape was gorgeous and green, not to mention covered in historic castles. We visited one such castle, Blarney Castle, which houses the famous Blarney Stone. The stone is believed to be

Katie Kochenower - Insurance by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02704437220793555205noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7611006460269257792.post-68558838461636519382010-03-15T17:58:00.002-06:002010-07-16T15:24:15.750-06:00

This is an exciting day for me....I am now officially a blogger. Yippie! My goal is to share information, insights, and inspirations that will convey my passion and excitement about insurance (and whatever else catches my attention). Yes, I said - "passion and excitement about insurance" - it is NOT an oxymoron. I absolutely love my chosen profession. It is challenging, every day is different,

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