State Farm Insurance was established in 1922 as a local car insurance company. In the ensuing years it has expanded into, well, let's just way one heck of a big company. I have no doubt that part of their success has been due to their agents.

When I was growing up, my father had a solid relationship with our State Farm agent. I remember him sponsoring one of our football teams when I was very young. My father was a loyal man when it came to those who treated him well. He passed that on to his kids.

When I moved out at the age of 19, it was time for me to handle all my insurance needs on my own. Naturally, I chose the same agent that my father used. So did my two brothers. Throughout the years, even up until his death, my father stayed loyal to this agent.

However, since State Farm agents are local, I had to break my relationship and pick a new agent. So where to find a State Farm agent in Scottsdale, Arizona? It took some asking around, but I found a great agent in Mike Bengson. Like many State Farm agents, he has a solid reputation.

My relationship with State Farm is pushing 25 years now. I think that says a lot. 

ASU Students - Consider Condos in Tempe

Tempe, Arizona, is a great place to live, especially if you are an ASU student. One of the best options for a student is to buy a condo in Tempe. Condos, like most real estate, usually appreciate in value over time. Short term market fluctuations may affect the price, but over the years homes tend to increase in value.

By contrast money paid in rent is simply money down the drain. It's purely an expense. Living in the ASU dorms is even more expensive. Students who are serious about their future should look at Tempe condos when considering their living arrangements. There are some FHA programs that require little money down. There is also something called Kiddie Condo Loans which allow parents to help their children with the purchase. 

Condos offer a number of advantages outside of the purely financial considerations. Like an apartment, the grounds are kept up by the association. Most complexes have swimming pools and other amenities. But unlike apartments, the residents are usually more stable. Because they have a financial interest and a personal interest in the complex, it's usually a more pleasant and productive place to live. 

Car Insurance Explained

Do you understand what car/auto insurance is all about? Are you frustrated that you pay for years and don't get anything out of it? You have to understand that insurance is, well, insurance. It's there in case something happens. 

For example, your state might require that you have $50,000 in liability insurance. That way, if you're at fault in an accident, the other persons will have a guaranteed pool of $50,000 from which they can collect damages. You pay premiums to have access to that $50,000. You could get around this, of course, by putting $50,000 into the bank and taking the legal steps required for the state to accept that as insurance. 

Do you have $50K you could leave in an account for years and years? Most of us don't. Even if you do, what happens if you cause an accident that requires $20K in payments to the other party? First, you're out $20K. Then you have to put another $20K back into the account to be self-insured again. 

What insurance companies do is collect relatively small premiums from a large number of people. Your premiums pay for accidents caused by other people. Likewise, their premiums pay for your costs when you are at fault. If you never cause an accident, you may feel like it's money down the drain. It's not. The money was there if you needed it. Also, the premiums kept you from having to accumulate a large sum of money just for the privilege of driving.

There are a few basic types of car insurance. The linked article to the left gives a pretty good overview of these basic types. A little knowledge can go a long way.