What Do You Know About the History of Life Insurance?

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Life insurance is an essential part of caring for your loved ones after you’ve passed away. If you live in the Baraboo, WI, area and have questions about life insurance, the team at Johnsen Insurance is ready to help answer them. Many people get life insurance to provide a legacy for their families. Other people get life insurance because they own a business and want to help keep it open and running. 

The History of Life Insurance 

If you want to discover more about life insurance, you may like to learn more about the story of its history. According to Ethos Life, the first uses of life insurance can be traced to a Roman general named Gaius Marcus, who began a burial club for his fellow generals. In Ancient Greece and Rome, during the periods of 600 to 100 BCE, there is evidence of health and life insurance being available to some citizens. Although these policies were first available only to soldiers, the idea soon spread throughout the area. 

One of the most well-known International instance companies is Lloyd’s of London, which opened in a small English coffeehouse in 1688. The Presbyterian church administered the first life insurance companies in the U.S. Many Catholic priests campaigned against life insurance, which they saw as gambling. According to the Insurance Information Institute, the life insurance industry is currently valued at over $1 trillion in the U.S. 

Call Us today for a Life Insurance Quote. 

Life insurance is an excellent way to pass your legacy on to those who outlive you. At Johnsen Insurance Company, we’d like to help you care for your family’s future. Our agency was opened in 1965 by our founder, Wilbur Johnsen. If you live in the Baraboo, WI area, call us today for a quote and get the right life insurance policy to fit your needs.

Keeping Your Auto Insurance Updated to Your Life Needs

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At Johnsen Insurance, we can help Baraboo, WI residents keep their auto insurance policies up to date, no matter what changes they experience in life. Here are four times you need to contact us about big life changes to ensure we’re in the loop and ready to provide excellent coverage.

Moving to a New City 

Do you plan to move to a big city or a more rural area soon? Well, where you live can significantly impact your car insurance. Contacting us can help you decrease your coverage costs or increase your protection level to minimize problems with your policy.

Having a Kid 

You need to update your insurance policy when you have a new child or even your first. Doing so will keep your little one safe. Let us know about your child, and we can provide extra coverage to protect your little one from various dangers.

Adding a Teen to Your Policy 

Did your teen driver get their license and plan on driving your vehicle? This could impact your policy significantly, and you need to let us know. If you decide not to add your teen, it will cost you if they get into an accident as an uncovered driver and wreck your vehicle.

Cutting Down on Your Driving 

Your policy might vary depending on how much you drive. For example, if you drive regularly for your job, your policy might require more extensive protection. However, if you rarely drive or mostly work from home, you might pay less, depending on your protection.

We’re Here for You

Please don’t hesitate to contact us at Johnsen Insurance if you’re interested in getting car insurance in Baraboo, WI. Talk to us about any of your life’s changes, and we’ll find you protection that suits your needs and minimizes complications in your life.

Commercial Insurance for Retail Businesses: What You Have to Know

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At Johnsen Insurance, we can help Baraboo, WI retail businesses find the insurance they need to protect their facility. Our team is standing by to help you understand your options to ensure protection. Please get in touch with us to learn more about the different options available to you.

Types You Need

Commercial insurance provides a broad array of protection types and is great for various needs. If you’re a retail store owner or manager, it’s important to make sure that your policy has the following protection for your needs:

  • Commercial property (covers your facility against fire, floods, and other natural disasters)
  • Business income (protects you if your facility closes for any reason)
  • Liability (both normal and cyber liability may be necessary)
  • Equipment breakdown (keeps your facility safe against breakdowns)

Other Options to Consider 

The basic policies mentioned above should provide you with the necessary coverage. Note that there are other types of extra coverage you might want to consider if you’re concerned about your facility. Just a few of the most common include:

  • Auto insurance (rare for retail, but sometimes needed for delivery vehicles)
  • Employee dishonesty (smart for retail because it covers theft)
  • Workers’ compensation (critical for most retail stores) 
  • Utility services (important if a loss of electricity shuts you down)
  • Umbrella policies (not always necessary for retail stores but often useful)

Get the Policy You Need 

Our team at Johnsen Insurance can help you find commercial insurance for your retail business and ensure that things go smoothly. If you live in or around Baraboo, WI, and want to work with a local insurance team you can trust, please get in touch with us today to learn more about your options and keep your retail facility safe.

Four things you might not realize about home insurance

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If you own a home, you need to protect the investment that you’ve made in your property by purchasing home insurance. At Johnsen Insurance, we offer home insurance coverage in Baraboo, WI.

Getting the information you need about home insurance is essential.

Here are four things you might not realize about home insurance:

A standard home insurance policy doesn’t cover earthquake damage.

If you live in an area that is susceptible to earthquakes, you need to adjust your home insurance coverage accordingly. Unfortunately, earthquake coverage is not included in a standard home insurance policy. You’ll have to invest in earthquake coverage separately if you don’t want to have to pay out of pocket for earthquake damages. 

You can’t expect standard home insurance to cover a home-based business.

Do you run a business from your home? If so, you may have some unique insurance needs. Don’t assume that any home insurance requirements will cover you from at-home business operations. 

Home insurance might not cover the full value of belongings in your home.

If you have particularly valuable electronics, jewelry, or other possessions in your home, you need to check on the personal property coverage on your home insurance policy. You may need to increase your policy maximums if possessions in your home are especially valuable. 

You may need to meet home maintenance requirements to ensure that your home insurance remains in effect.

Some home insurance policies specify home maintenance requirements. If you don’t keep up with such requirements, your home insurance coverage might no longer be in effect. 

Reach Out To Us

Call us at Johnsen Insurance to get a quote on a home insurance policy for your property in Baraboo, WI. 

Exploring the Great Outdoors: RV Adventures and Insurance

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At Johnsen Insurance in Baraboo, WI, we know that you cannot wait to hop into your RV for a cross-country adventure. Whether you are looking to take a lengthy round trip or simply see all of the sights that Wisconsin has to offer, we are here to help you choose the policy that makes the most sense for your lifestyle.

The following tips and pointers are sure to help!

Do Not Rush Into a Decision

Our team of experienced RV insurance agents is here to offer all of the time that you need. During the RV buying process, there is a tendency to jump into a policy decision because the seller is not going to let you drive off the lot without one. However, you may end up losing out over the long haul when you do not have the coverage you need. That’s why taking your time is imperative.

Discuss Vehicle Usage

Are you going to be living out of the vehicle and using it full-time? Will you only be using it for vacations? Is the RV strictly for personal usage, or will it be used by friends and loved ones? These are crucial distinctions that will have a profound effect on the policy that you choose.

Considering Related Insurance Policies

In many instances, the right RV insurance policy will need to be chosen in conjunction with related insurance policies. With the help of our insurance agents, it is easier to identify your potential needs and make a more informed decision on the policies that are most closely related to the coverage that you require.

Schedule A Consultation Today

When it is time to explore the great outdoors in your RV, you need an insurance policy that will provide you with the necessary peace of mind. The good folks at Johnsen Insurance in Baraboo, WI are here to help. Give us a call or stop by when you’re ready to learn more about the RV insurance policy that works best for you.

The Sirens are Screaming and the Fires are Howling

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Some people just never see the sudden curve until it’s way too late. The state of Wisconsin ranks sixth in the United States for most motorcycle accidents, with 14.42% of the 825 fatal crashes involving motorcycles. This makes it vital for a cyclist in the Badger State to have motorcycle liability insurance. Keep in mind that auto insurance does not cover your motorcycle and Wisconsin requires that motorcyclists carry uninsured motorist coverage.

Motorcycle Insurance Coverage Options

Liability Insurance

If you cause damage to another person or property with your motorcycle, liability insurance will cover it. Your rates may go up, but at least you don’t have to pay out of pocket for injuring someone. 

Collision Insurance 

Now suppose the accident was the fault of something outside your control, such as bad weather. This will pay for repairs to your motorcycle that might be needed. 

Comprehensive Insurance 

If your motorcycle is stolen, vandalized, or damaged by anything other than being on the road, this will compensate you for expenses to repair or replace your motorcycle. 

Personal Injury Protection 

You may be torn and twisted, but just enough to land in the hospital. Personal Injury Protection will cover most of your hospital bills, medical expenses, and lost wages. 

Uninsured Motorist Coverage 

In the unfortunate event that you get into an accident with a hoodlum with no insurance, this insurance will take care of you. Sure, you could try and sue the miscreant, but you can’t get blood out of a stone. 

Looking for Insurance in Baraboo, WI? Johnsen Insurance Can Help!

We at Johnsen Insurance hope you’re never in an accident, but we’ll be there for you if you are. We serve the greater Baraboo, WI community. Please drive safely and responsibly. 

Make Sure You’re Summer-Ready, With Quality Boat Insurance

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There’s nothing better than getting your boat out on the water on a hot summer day. But you also want to be sure you’re protecting that boat and giving yourself plenty of peace of mind, as well. If you’re in the Baraboo, WI area and looking for boat insurance options, reach out to us at Johnsen Insurance.

We can help you get the right policy, so you can focus on having fun!

A boat policy should do more than just give you a coverage amount. It should also help you feel confident that you have the right type and level of protection you really need. After all, you probably take your friends and family out on your boat, as well. You don’t want to put them at risk, and the right insurance is a great way to help keep them safer during all your adventures.

By working with a trusted agent, you can get the best boat insurance for your needs from an insurer who will give you value and great customer support. You can also look at multiple policies in one place that way, so you don’t have to make a lot of phone calls or visits to different insurers in your area. Save yourself time and frustration by working with one company to get several quotes and all the information you need.

When you’re ready to get a boat insurance policy you can feel good about, reach out to us at Johnsen Insurance today. If you’re in the Baraboo, WI area, we’re here to help you get ready for summer and protect your boat all year round. Whether you’re playing on the water or storing the boat during cooler weather, the peace of mind that comes with the right policy is very important.

Three problems you can avoid when you buy life insurance

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Your family could face numerous problems down the road if you do not invest in life insurance coverage. At Johnsen Insurance, we can help protect the finances of your family in Baraboo, WI. 

The following are three problems you and your family can avoid when you buy life insurance:

Financial burdens for your dependents

Your dependents could find themselves in a difficult financial situation if your income is lost. If you are the breadwinner for your family and you pass away unexpectedly, your dependents will have no financial support. 

Life insurance coverage helps ensure that your dependents will be provided for regardless of what happens to you. The death benefit of your life insurance policy will provide support and prevent financial problems after you pass away. 

Tax debts

If you owe taxes when you pass away, the taxes that you owe will come out of any money you leave to your dependents. This can be a big problem for those whose dependents are relying on their inheritance for financial support. 

Purchasing life insurance is a way to leave money for your dependents even if you owe a large amount of money in taxes. The death benefit on a life insurance policy is not taxed. This means that the beneficiaries on your life insurance policy receive the full death benefit amount regardless of how large your tax debt is. 

Stress about the future

Neglecting to purchase life insurance might leave you worrying about your family’s future. You’ll be less stressed about the future with life insurance because you know your family is financially secure. 

Looking For Life Insurance?

You need to carefully evaluate your options before you purchase a life insurance policy in Baraboo, WI. Let us answer any questions you have about life insurance policy options. Get in touch with us at Johnsen Insurance to learn more. 

Safe driving tips for new drivers

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New drivers can often be nervous about getting behind the wheel here in the Baraboo, WI area for the first time, but it’s important to follow safety tips and drive responsibly to ensure everyone on the road stays safe.

Here are some safe driving tips for new drivers from us at Johnsen Insurance: 

1. Always buckle up

Always make sure you and your passengers fasten your seatbelts before starting the car. 

2. Stay focused

Avoid talking or texting while driving and keep your eyes on the road at all times. 

3. Follow speed limits

Adhere to posted speed limits or lower as needed due to weather or traffic conditions. 

4. Obey traffic laws

Follow all signs and signals when driving and never run a red light or stop sign. 

5. Be aware of other drivers

Pay attention to other vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians who may be sharing the road with you. 

6. Leave a safe distance

Maintain a safe following distance from other vehicles in front of you so that you have enough space if you need to brake suddenly. 

7. Don’t drink & drive

Don’t get behind the wheel after consuming any amount of alcohol, as this puts everyone in danger on the roads.. 

Reach Out To Us!

By following these basic safety tips, new drivers can stay confident behind the wheel while helping keep everyone on the roads safe! For more safe driving tips or to find an auto policy that meets both your needs and your budget, give us at Johnsen Insurance a call today. We are proud to serve the Baraboo, WI area.

Difference Between Commercial And Business Insurance

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The insurance professionals at Johnsen Insurance in Baraboo, WI can help explain that commercial insurance differs from business insurance mainly due to the presence of a fleet. A business such as a mobile pet grooming service might carry only such insurance as pertains to that business. 

Commercial business insurance covers different types of vehicles such as gravel trucks and delivery trucks using more than six wheels (picture a grocery store home delivery truck.) The requirements for each type of insurance differ – we can assist you with each of these. 

The Basics Of Commercial/Business Insurance

Since they both cover the same things, most people use the terms interchangeably. The goal is to cover injuries and defective products, along with fire, flood, and the vagaries of weather. Both offer liability, workers’ compensation, and property insurance. Where do they differ?

Business Vehicles Insurance

If you operate a business with a sales team, that would fall under business insurance. Perhaps you own a carpet cleaning company with specialized equipment on your trucks. You’d need commercial insurance. Which type is right for you?

Business Insurance

A fleet of cars or a fleet of pickup trucks or vans constitutes “regular traffic” users. As such, they require simple business insurance in order to protect the company from accidents and injuries. A sole operator using a car for his company can still be covered by business vehicle insurance. 

Commercial Insurance

This is more expensive due to the vehicles being bigger and the possibility of bigger accidents. Your vehicles might transport people, equipment, or tools for a variety of reasons and businesses. Your vehicles will be larger than those needed for a business fleet. Commercial insurance was designed to protect the vehicle as well as the people.

Call Johnsen Insurance in Baraboo, WI to learn more – we are happy to help.