1. winter 2011
magazine
in your day
page 12
away we go
Halls of fame
to suit every
sporting fan
the job hunt
ask yourself
5 questions
car care
wHat your
wHeels
+
really need
also how to save
money on your insurance
PAGE 22 same great coverage for less
same great
coverage for less
3. WHAT’S NOW
DISTRACTED?
THE YEAR If you think “distracted driving” is just another term
OF THE DOG
for what teens do when they use their cell phones
behind the wheel, you are, BTW, so wrong.
In fact, it’s a dangerous habit that both adults
Sure, it may seem like Fido’s only goals are chasing balls and lounging on your furniture,
and kids are guilty of, and it takes three forms:
but he's put some thought into your new year’s resolutions. In his own words (translated your hands. So, before you give those texting kids
manual, cognitive and visual. Fiddling with your
from Bark for easier reading), all the things Fido wants you to focus on in 2011: REDUCE, GPS, disciplining your passengers, eyeing the a hard time, think about all the ways you may be
M EAT HEALTHY. You might think M WATCH LESS TV. Not to be rude, REUSE, gorgeous Austin Healey 3000 in the lane next to falling prey to this bad behavior.
you—it all counts. Then, make sure your focus stays on the road.
those fattening cookies and super-salty but you really are a bore when you’re RECYCLE, Distracted driving is anything that takes attention Make the pledge to drive right: Commit to
chips are only bad for you, but don’t forget, zoned out in front of that glowing box.
I’m the one licking up the crumbs. M VOLUNTEER FOR A CHARITY. I REGIFT away from operating the 6,000-pound vehicle in never text and drive at nophonezone.com.
M EXERCISE. Have you looked at have a few pals over at the Humane Society
The gift-giving season
my gut lately? The only chance I have at who could use your help.
sometimes leaves us
getting a workout is when you take me M MAKE NEW FRIENDS. I’ve never wondering how well the
for walks or, better yet, runs. been a fan of that guy who doesn't pet my CHECK US OUT:
well-intended giver knows
M CURB YOUR SPENDING. Every stomach. And that lady who worries about
hour you spend on your shopping sprees
means one hour less with yours truly. Fair?
getting dog hair on her clothes? Not cool.
M GET A NEW JOB. How about one
you. And while Aunt Joan may
again have forgotten why you WE’VE GOT OUR OWN APP
don’t need ear warmers (you If you’re one of the 20 million people in America who has a phone smarter
I think not. of those work-from-home gigs? This 9-to-5
live in Florida!), find comfort than the average dolphin, then you’ll want to get the 21st Century Insurance
M LEARN A NEW SPORT. I hear business is really cutting into our quality
in knowing that you can pass iPhone application.
frisbee offers hours of entertainment. time together.
them on to someone who
does need them. STEP 1: STEP 2: STEP 3:
Try signing up for your local
Wheel Deals chapter of Freecycle.org,
an online gifting site where
Go to Apple® iStore. Download the app. Accomplish all this on
the go:
From high-end to low-end, cost conscious to earth conscious—check donors discover firsthand that - Pay your insurance bill,
out the range of vehicles available to get you where you’re going. using 21st AutoPay.
one person’s trash is truly
another’s treasure. Or, post - Review policy details.
the perplexing gift under the - View your insurance
If you have a couple For a mere $2.2 million, At the other end of the If you’re looking to save “free” section on craigslist. ID card.
extra million dollars on impress your friends with spectrum—if millions on gas, don’t overlook a org. You’ll be amazed at how - Give feedback on our
hand, we’ve got just the the 1,018-horsepower aren’t in your budget this high-mpg model like the quickly the responses start services and products.
thing: The Bugatti Koenigsegg Trevita. year or this lifetime— Toyota Prius, which rolling in. - Check out 24-Hour
Veyron is the world’s Only three were produced how about scoring your gives the average driver If you don’t want to deal Roadside Assistance
fastest accelerating (thus the name Trevita, wheels for only $2,500? an annual fuel cost of with the back and forth that options.
which means “three Dubbed “the people’s about $855—not to Apple is a registered
street car. It can take you comes with posting online, trademark of Apple, Inc.
from 0 to 60 mph in white” in Swedish), so car,” the Nano is mention the satisfaction you can always go the All rights reserved
2.5 seconds. But you’ll you’re sure to be the only currently sold in India of knowing you’re old-school route and donate
need to move even faster one on your block with and stretches only doing your part to help Aunt Joan’s present to
if you're interested—the the vehicle’s proprietary 10 feet from nose to tail. Mother Earth. the nearest Goodwill
company only made 50 glittering silvery white Industries (locator.goodwill. DID YOU KNOW? The beginning of the year is one of the
of these speedsters. carbon composite fabric. org) or Salvation Army most popular times for renewing auto insurance. If your policy’s up soon,
(salvationarmyusa.org). keep it simple. Visit 21st.com or call (877) 310-5687 to make easy updates
to your policy and to get set up on the 21st AutoPay bill pay program.
4 21ST CENTURY INSURANCE 2 21ST.COM 21ST CENTURY INSURANCE 2 21ST.COM 5
4. UNDER THE HOOD
SAFETY FIRST
Follow these precautions if you
have car troubles on the road.
M Use your indicator to signal your
intentions. Then slow down and pull
Well-Car Care
off to the side of the road. What your vehicle really wants, right now.
M Turn on your emergency flashers and,
Regular maintenance is like preventive medicine for your car. It keeps
at night, interior light.
little problems from becoming expensive repairs or safety hazards. To
M Place one flare or warning device just keep your wheels humming happily along, follow these five service tips:
behind the vehicle and another at
least 300 feet back. Plan upkeep according to the manufacturer’s suggestions.
1 Talk with your mechanic about adapting these guidelines and
M Return to your vehicle, buckle up recommendations for your climate and driving style. Consider changing
and sit tight—unless you’re in a
your oil a must, and plan for wheel alignments, tire rotation and
particularly risky spot, like a curve or
tire balancing on a routine basis.
the crest of a hill. In that case, get out
of the car and away from traffic.
WHEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN M Covered vehicles on your policy are 2
If you hear, feel or smell something unusual, or if indicator lights
or temperature gauges signal trouble before you’re due in the
TO GOOD PEOPLE automatically protected with Security
Advantage program, so this would
shop for work, call for an appointment.
be a good time to call 21st Century Check your tires periodically. Keep them inflated to the proper
Cut out and save these directions for common car calamities. 3
roadside assistance, (800) 381-5407. pressure in order to optimize performance and gas mileage.
Measure the tread. In most states, tires are legally worn out when they
A TIRE - Don’t slam on the brakes.
have only 3/32 inches of remaining tread depth.
BLOWS - Gradually release the accelerator.
- Correct the steering to regain control.
Keep your car clean inside and out. And washing it by hand
- When the vehicle is stabilized, continue to slow down 4 provides a good chance to check for loose trim, cracked lights
and pull off the road. CLAIMS
and road dings that may need attention.
PROCESSING 101
ENGINE - Turn your heat up as high as possible. If a time comes when you need
Store a notebook for maintenance and mileage history in your
OVERHEATS - Pull over and open your hood. to submit a claim, our HelpPoint 5 glove compartment, and file your receipts at home. Not only will
- Think happy thoughts and practice deep breathing while Claim Services by Farmers® will
following these steps help keep you safe on the road, you’ll also
you wait for the engine to cool down. Then, add about make the experience as simple
improve your car’s resale or trade-in value in the long run.
a half cup of water to your antifreeze reservoir as a and stress-free as possible. We
temporary measure. If there’s no room to add more liquid, like to think of it as the silver
it may be hose trouble. lining of your dark cloud.
Call (888) 244-6163 any
YOU STRIKE - If the animal remains on the highway after you strike it,
time of day, any day of the
AN ANIMAL report the incident to a local law enforcement agency.
week to reach one of our
- If your vehicle is damaged, pull over, stay in the car and
12,500 knowledgeable claims
wait for assistance.
- If the animal might still be alive, don't go near it.
professionals. We offer: IS IT TIME TO CHANGE YOUR WIPERS?
- The Farmers Direct Repair Replacing windshield wipers is an inexpensive, easy task that’s often overlooked until, well, you can no longer look out.
UNINTENDED - Brake firmly, without pumping. Program, a network of 2,500 First, some perspective: Most blades lose effectiveness after about six months. Plus, according to Consumer Reports, paying
ACCELERATION - Shift into neutral. repair facilities nationwide.
a higher price doesn’t necessarily mean a longer lifespan or greater effectiveness.
- Do not turn off the vehicle because it will diminish - A Mobile Claim Center that
So be sure to replace your wipers in time for winter driving and before sunny-weather road trips. In between, replace wipers
steering and braking ability. provides on-the-scene service
if the blade arm is bent, the rubber is brittle, cracked or split, or the edge of the rubber is worn or warped.
- Steer to a safe location and slow to a stop. during a catastrophe.
- Shut off the engine while still in neutral.
- Shift into park, set the emergency brake.
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE 2 21ST.COM 7
5. COMMUNITY NEWS ON YOUR WAY
Innovations in
Involvement
CAREER
21st Century recently launched
Putting COUNSELING Inside
21st4Charity™, a cause-driven campaign When it comes to job
that allows individuals to raise $10 for a
designated non-profit group by getting a
Others searches, let both your heart
Conversation
Approach every interview
FIRST
no-obligation auto insurance quote from
and mind be your guide. with the notion that you’re
21st Century Insurance. evaluating this job just as
Developed jointly by the company’s much as your potential
Community Relations and e-Business employer is evaluating you.
teams, the innovative partnership is
We’re giving back in big ways. You both need to be sure
that it’s a good fit.
designed to be a win-win for consumers
Use these questions as
and the participating non-profits: By
At 21st Century Insurance, of Companies, we joined in their support of your go-to guide before
clicking on a 21st Century banner ad
helping customers to get the Same Great the March of Dimes.” and after the interview to
on participating charities’ websites, assess if this opportunity is
Coverage for Less is high on our to-do list. Employees from Farmers and 21st Century
consumers receive a no-obligation worthwhile—beyond the
But helping improve the lives of people in walk in the March of Dimes March for
online quote that could save them up to money you’d earn.
need is up there too. And that’s why we Babies® events across the country as part of
$463* on their car insurance, and the
support many charitable organizations this effort. 21st Century Insurance President
participating charity receives $10. 1. If my situation were
across the country. and CEO Anthony J. DeSantis will serve as the
“We’re very excited about this different, would I be
One of these organizations is the March of March for Babies chairman for the Delaware
program,” said Lauren Holloway, a member thrilled about this
Dimes, a charity whose mission is to improve Chapter of the March of Dimes in 2011.
of the e-Business team helping to drive this possibility?
the health of babies by preventing birth Farmers is entering its fifth year as a national Life Coach Julie Jansen knows a thing pull in a pay-check, whether it’s freelancing,
program for 21st Century Insurance. “In or two about finding the right job, one that’s consulting or going back to a previous boss to
defects, premature birth and infant mortality. sponsor of the March of Dimes March for 2. Will this job help me
just a few minutes, individuals can raise fulfilling emotionally and financially. In her book, ask for hourly work. reach my long-term
The foundation is the flagship charity of Babies walks and is one of the top five
funds for a local charity and save on their I Don’t Know What I Want, But I Know It’s Not Secondly, devote time to exploring your next goal? How? If not, will
21st Century Insurance’s parent company, corporate fundraising teams.
auto insurance.” SM This, Jansen outlines how to evaluate your current steps. Shadow a professional in a new industry, I still have the time and
the Farmers Insurance Group of Companies®. Farmers’ Be A Hero for Babies Day ,
* National average of annual savings developed situation and make positive steps toward a more or set aside time each week to research future energy to continue job
“Farmers has been supporting the great held annually in July, demonstrates the
from information provided by new policyholders from
well-rounded and, ultimately, more meaningful, endeavors. Take part in volunteer work or even an searching if I accept this
7/1/08–6/30/09 that shows they saved by switching to work of the March of Dimes for over 25 commitment to community by Farmers’
position?
21st Century Insurance. Quotes not available in all states.
years,” says Jaynine Warner, Manager of agents and district managers and now career. She calls individuals who’ve been hurt internship.
Communications and Community Events includes 21st Century Insurance employees. somehow at work—whether they were laid off, The third piece (our favorite) is all gratification. 3. Will I fit in with the
for 21st Century Insurance. “And when 21st In 2010, Be A Hero For Babies Day raised victims of a merger or unfairly fired—the “bruised Love animals? Help at your local shelter. Crazy company’s culture and
Century joined the Farmers Insurance Group $2,650,000 for the March of Dimes. and gun-shy.” about cooking? Sign up as a chef of sorts at the atmosphere?
“Usually, being productive and earning money neighborhood soup kitchen.
4. If I put factors like
are the main reasons people want to get back to
wage, commute and job
work right away,” Jansen says. But rather than WHAT NOT TO DO
description aside, how
rushing into anything, get creative about how to And please, don’t beat yourself up. “People tend
do I really feel about
meet your basic economic needs. Consider starting to punish themselves when they’re unemployed,”
GIVING BACK IN 2010 a part-time or consulting gig to pay the bills. Jansen says. If you start feeling negative, consider
this opportunity?
In addition to various 21st Century corporate sponsorships, Consciously taking time off from the daily grind is this: If your best friend was in the same situation, 5. If my best friend were
21st Century employees from across the country raised more than an empowering move that still allows you to make what would you tell him or her? looking at this job,
$75,000 for organizations such as the March of Dimes, Susan G. enough money for essentials. “We’re great at giving other people advice, but would I encourage him
Komen, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Community Hunger when it comes to ourselves, we don’t tend to have or her to pursue it? Why
Outreach Warehouse, Special Olympics and Autism Speaks. or why not?
BREAK IT DOWN a lot of creativity,” Jansen says. When you consider
Employees also generously donated food, coats, toys and, more Think about dividing your time into thirds. The your situation from the outside looking in, your
importantly, their time to local community organizations.
first part, Jansen explains, is the money-maker. point of view might just turn from bruised and
Use skills from your previous job or career to gun-shy to locked and loaded.
8 21ST CENTURY INSURANCE 2 21ST.COM 21ST CENTURY INSURANCE 2 21ST.COM 9
6. GOING PLACES
ROAD TRIP
ROUND-UP
Don’t ever be caught unprepared on the road
l
again! Take along these trip essentials.
PRO FOOTBALL SAFETY KIT: No matter where you’re going, a
HALL OF FAME safety kit—containing basic auto repair tools,
first aid, batteries and a flash light—is essential
Canton, Ohio for any trip beyond your town or city limits.
This popular attraction is just four hours away from cities
ONE VERY IMPORTANT NUMBER: If the
such as Buffalo, N.Y., Charleston, W.Va., Cincinnati, Ohio, unexpected occurs, don’t even think of passing
and Detroit, Mich. Fans can tour the museum, enjoy photo up roadside assistance because of the cost. 21st
galleries and purchase special packages devoted to their Century’s Security Advantage provides 24-hour
favorite team. Open every day except Christmas, the hall roadside assistance, as well as emergency travel
is located close to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and and medical assistance, at no extra cost. Just
provides specially priced passes to both. And if you’ve been program the number, (800) 381-5407, in your
there before, note that much of the museum has been phone and bring along your insurance card.
READY, SET, RIDE! updated since 2008.
NOURISHMENT: Skip fast food in favor of bite-
Five great reasons to hit our country’s highways and byways. www.profootballhof.com sized, high-nutrition snacks like trail mix and
dried fruit. And remember: Sodas will give you
l l
a momentary sugar rush, but the subsequent
WHETHER YOU’RE PINING FOR THE OLD THE UNITED STATES THE WORLD GOLF crash will put a strain on long-distance drives,
BROOKLYN DODGERS or reminiscing about
BICYCLING HALL OF FAME HALL OF FAME so stick with water.
GPS: An essential for any distance travel, but it’s
Davis, California St. Augustine, Florida
not foolproof. Read your manual from cover
In 2010, this attraction moved from New Jersey to California. Open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and to cover, program your destination before you
It’s now partners with the California Bicycling Museum and induction day, this hall of fame is located in the World Golf leave and don’t take its instructions as gospel. In
located in downtown Davis, within Central Park. Visitors have Village, just south of Jacksonville. It relocated from Pinehurst, short, don’t toss your maps.
an opportunity to see the UC Davis Pierce Miller Collection of N.C., to its current location in 1998 and boasts championship
antique bicycles, along with many cycling artifacts. golf courses created by hall of fame legends. You can check
www.usbhof.com out the museum or take a seat in front of the 80-foot-wide
l
by six-story-high screen in the IMAX theater.
l
NATIONAL BASEBALL www.worldgolfhalloffame.org
HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM INTERNATIONAL BOWLING
MUSEUM AND HALL OF FAME
Cooperstown, New York
Boasting 500,000 photographs, 3 million books and Arlington, Texas
documents, and 38,000 artifacts, this hall takes you from This hall of fame is all about, as its site claims, “5,000 years
the start of the sport in the 19th century right up to a of history and 18,000 square feet of fun.” It’s an interactive
AT YOUR SERVICE,
locker featuring items from the most recent baseball museum with tons of historical information and collectibles ANYWHERE: 21st’s Security Advantage
season. And, for the ultimate fan, how about enjoying a devoted to one of the largest participatory sports in the provides 24-hour roadside assistance. Call
(800) 381-5407 as soon as you need help. And
“VIP Experience?” You’ll get behind-the-scenes, after-hours world. But, just in case this doesn’t get the kids scrambling
learn more about the program at 21st.com.
access to the hall and attend a private reception. to the car, it’s also on the same site as Six Flags.
www.baseballhall.org www.bowlingmuseum.com
10 21ST CENTURY INSURANCE 2 21ST.COM 21ST CENTURY INSURANCE 2 21ST.COM 11
7. time
the
LLLLLLLLLL
LIFE IS SHORT, and you have better things
to do than plan tomorrow night’s dinner or
equation
dig around your house for that bill you may
have forgotten to pay. So why not find more
time for the things you really care about? Get
started with these timesaving tips for all of life’s
responsibilities. Then, enjoy adding up all the
extra hours you’ll have to walk the dog, play
with the kids, start a new hobby, learn a second
language, volunteer or just veg out watching
EVERY MINUTE SAVED ADDS UP. THE 10 MINUTES reality TV. (Hey, we’re not here to judge what
YOU SPEND READING THIS ARTICLE COULD SAVE you do with your free time. Really.)
YOU 28 HOURS EVERY MONTH.
12 21ST CENTURY INSURANCE 2 21ST.COM
8. FOR YOUR FINANCES:
SAVE 1 HOUR 30 MINUTES PER MONTH
Change Your Ways,
Day by Day
Five bonus tips for realizing
even more free time!
✓ JUST SAY NO to in-store credit card offers. They
take time to set up when you’re in the store and
give you one more account to keep up with month
IN RELATIONSHIPS: after month. Plus: They may save you a few bucks
plan to spend on the trip, and Mint will set at the start, but will likely cost you in interest fees
SAVE UP TO 2 HOURS in the long run.
20 MINUTES PER MONTH
The line between cubicle and couch continues to blur. As ✓ TACKLE YOUR LEAST FAVORITE CHORES at the
professional and personal lives become more intertwined, time of day when you have the most energy, so you
TIME SAVED: 20 minutes per month get them done quickly.
Automate:
Enroll in the 21st name it.
✓ GIVE YOURSELF A FEW HOURS at IKEA or The
Century AutoPay Container Store to brainstorm on how you can
TIME SAVED: 30 minutes per month
program at 21st.com organize clutter.
and you’ll have a
couple options for
paying your bill easily
Not all companies offer the option to ✓ FOR BOTH PERSONAL AND WORK E-MAIL, SET UP
AN INBOX FILING SYSTEM. Create folders that
and automatically: correspond to projects or tasks. And check for
TIME SAVED: 80 minutes per month
Set up withdrawals auto-file options in your e-mail program, which can
from your checking do much of the organizational heavy lifting for you.
account or have the
bill charged to a debit introduce Mint.com. ✓ SCHEDULE DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS in the morning.
card or credit card. The “magic hour” for seeing your doctor tends to be
8 a.m. It’s early enough that he or she won’t be
its public launch in 2007, the site has helped running behind schedule, so they’ll be less stressed
and able to give you more one-on-one attention.
pool with her before class starts.
TIME SAVED: 40 minutes per month
TIME SAVED: 60 minutes per month
14 21ST CENTURY INSURANCE 21ST.COM
9. AT HOME:
SAVE 11 HOURS 20 MINUTES PER MONTH
TIME SAVED: 150 minutes per month
Required
Reading
- Fix-It and Forget-It
Cookbook, Phyllis
Pellman Good
- Time Management
ON THE JOB: SAVE 10 HOURS PER MONTH from the Inside
Out, Julie
Morgenstern
- Ten Days to
Faster Reading,
TIME SAVED: 210 minutes per month Abby Marks-Beale
- Goals! How to Get
Everything You
To Keep Or To Toss TIME SAVED: 200 minutes per month
Want — Faster
Than You Ever
If you’re on the fence about keeping a document, ask yourself these
Thought Possible,
questions. A “yes” means it’s a keeper. All “nos” means it goes.
Brian Tracy
1 . Are there tax/legal reasons to keep it? Y N Wall Street Journal, - Insurance
2 . Do I refer often to this piece of paper? Y N Information Center
3 . Does it tie in with the core activities of my job? Y N at 21st.com,
4. Will it help me make money? Y N to learn how to
5. Would my work suffer if I didn’t have it? Y N get the most from
TIME SAVED: 200 minutes per month your car insurance
6. If I ever needed it again, could I easily get it Y N
from someone else?
LifeHacker.com
TIME SAVED: 400 minutes per month
TIME SAVED: 120 minutes per month be that much sweeter.
schedule, but don’t stop there.
16 21ST CENTURY INSURANCE 2 21ST.COM
10. WHAT’S
Y ou r
STORY?
Whether the car you love is the lemon you had at 16 or
the Lamborghini you’ve always lusted after, we all have
a special feeling about our cars. At different life stages,
there’s a different car—and a story to go along with it.
others, for that matter.
crunch
how
STAGE 1
the early days
Ah, sweet freedom. Remember how it felt to
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE 2 21ST.COM 19
11. MOST FOLKS WOULD HAVE
DEEMED THE CAR A “CLUNKER.” discount.” Statistics show that married drivers
IN YOUR EYES, IT WAS A “C SSIC.”
-
insurance rates.
- STAGE 5
and automatic seat belts.
next generation
-
-
premium.
q +w
w q
-
their insurance premium. An approved driver
STAGE 4
New
love and marriage Addition
STAGE 2 One couple, two cars. No matter how in love Need to put another
the proud owner driver on your 21st
Century Insurance
policy? No problem.
Go to 21st.com or call
edmunds.com
customer service at
kbb.com
(800) 443-3100 with
this information:
# Driver’s full name
STAGE 3 as it appears on the
a step up driver’s license.
# Date of birth.
#
Multi-Car Family Age the driver was
" IT’S EASY TO ADD A VEHICLE to your 21st Century
Mint.com, “Those who are married are viewed
#
first licensed.
Driver’s license
+ Insurance policy. You can make the change at 21st.com number.
"
or by calling (800) 443-3100. Just have these three
things handy:
+ 1. The year, make and model of the vehicle.
2. The vehicle identification number (VIN).
" 3. The name and address of the leasing or financing
company if the vehicle is leased or financed.
20 21ST CENTURY INSURANCE 2 21ST.COM