NEWSLETTER
From
DAVID PRESTON INSURANCE
February 2012

Hopefully, each of you had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.  Now the year 2012 is off to a start and my wish for YOU is that 2012 is better than 2011.  For myself, I am going to strive to be a better person.

HOW TO GET AHEAD IN LIFE:

For most of us, when we think of getting ahead, we are thinking of getting ahead financially.  There are many obstacles to getting ahead financially and it is difficult, but I will discuss some ideas.

If you are employed by someone other than yourself, you must prove to your employer that you are worth more money.  You do that by learning to do your job better,  by being more dependable, by being adaptable and willing to do new things, by working harder and longer.  These are things that an employer will notice and reward because that is the kind of employee that every employer is seeking.  If you are already doing these things perhaps, you should just ask your employer in a very nice way “What do I need to do to earn more money?”  Don’t be confrontational; just be friendly when you ask.

If you are self-employed, the challenge to earn more money is more difficult.  There are many things in your business that you have to examine.  More money usually means more customers or sales, but sometimes it may mean that you need to reduce expenses.  There is no set answer when you are self-employed.  If you can’t figure out something to increase your income, then it may be worth your time to hire someone to examine your operations and give you ideas.

Your money is probably hard to come by.  You have to work for it.  Doesn’t it make sense that you should know where the money is spent?  For most families too much money “slips through their fingers”.  Using a budget will help you know where you are spending money and it will help you stop spending on unnecessary items.   Do yourself a great big favor and use a budget.  I think the results will please you.

Once, you have more money or income, what do you do with it?   If you spend it all, you will shortly be back in the same situation you were in before you had the money.  You should save some of it.  Can you imagine how nice it would be to have $5,000 in your saving account?  Money that you could spend on anything you wanted.  There is a comfortable and powerful feeling that you will have when you have some “back-up” money.  Money that could be used for a luxury purchase or starting your own business.

MAKE SAVING MONEY A PART OF YOUR PLAN FOR THE NEW YEAR.  Also, read the book “The Millionaire Next Door”.

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FINAL EXPENSE LIFE INSURANCE:

At some point in time we all are going to have to pay for the final expenses of someone we love.  It may be a child, a marital partner, or our parents.  The question is “How will you pay for it?”  Do you have the money in the bank?  Will you go borrow the money?  Do you have a life insurance policy? 

1. Using SAVED money means that you are using hard earned money upon which you have paid taxes.
2. Using BORROWED money means that you are using money borrowed plus the interest on the loaned amount.
3. Using LIFE INSURANCE means that you are using discounted dollars.  They are discounted because the face amount of the insurance is more than the premiums paid.

My agency offers Final Expense Life policies.  These are very affordable and owning them can save you money and financial grief.  Give me a call and I will arrange a time to meet with you and go over the details.  The number is 806-359-4498.
 
DOES EDUCATION PAY-OFF?

You bet it does.  Two young women who worked in my office while completing their educations have recently told me of their accomplishments which were a result of their hard work and determination.  One of them struggled for awhile after getting her degree and had some bad luck, but recently landed a job with a local college.  She is doing well in her new job and the future looks very bright for her.  I was a witness to her hard work and disappointments, but she didn’t quit.  The other young lady had set goals, worked toward those goals, never being distracted by the things that usually detract young people.  She completed her education and was immediately hired by a local professional office.  She told me recently what her earnings were for 2011 and they would make anyone smile.  Neither of these young women was from a wealthy family, but both of them are shining examples of what an education, hard work and preparation can do for you.  Prepare yourself for success and don’t give up.

HOME INSURANCE RATES

As a result of the Texas wildfires and some other weather related disasters, most insurance carriers operating in Texas lost money in 2011.  As a result, we are seeing home insurance rates increased.  If the rates are increased by small amounts, neither you nor I should be alarmed.  However, I have one carrier that seems to be increasing rates substantially and I will be contacting the customers who are insured with that carrier and trying to save them money by changing carriers.

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EARN a $25.00 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO A NICE RESTAURANT

Notice that I said “Earn”, not win.  There is no drawing and no contest.  It cost me about $100 to acquire a new customer.  I spend money on advertising, direct mail, etc to get them.  When you refer someone to my office, it saves me that expense, so I share the savings with you.  Simply call me or send me the name of someone that you know is shopping or needing insurance for life, home, or auto.  If that person becomes a customer, I will send you a $25.00 gift certificate as a reward for your help.  This offer is good forever.

A VERY SPECIAL LETTER

On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress of the United States drafted a letter to the King of England.  This letter is called the Declaration of Independence.  You probably know a few of the words used in this letter, but it is very important for every American to read it once in a while to remind himself of the reasons that this country was founded.  In that letter they expressed the freedoms and objectives that they thought each individual was entitled to have and why.  Then they listed their specific grievances against the English government.  They let the king know exactly what the problems were and what the colonists had done to try to get things resolved.  A letter such as this would be considered treason and the punishment would be death.  In the last sentence of the Declaration of Independence, the writers stated,  “we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”  Then they each signed their names.  What courage that took!!!!!  I think we still have a few people in this country with that kind of integrity and courage, but I don’t see that kind of courage in the congress or presidency.  We all need to participate in politics, to learn as much as we can, and to try to elect leaders with this kind of courage and devotion to the country. 

POTTER County History

Potter County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. Its seat is Amarillo. Potter County is named for Robert Potter, an early legislator, secretary of the navy for the Republic of Texas, and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence who was killed in the Regulator-Moderator War

Page 4---Potter County

Settlement of Potter County increased dramatically with the construction of the Fort Worth and Denver City Railway across the Panhandle in 1887. A construction camp grew overnight into a tent and buffalo-hut settlement known as Ragtown. When Oldham County officials ordered an election held on August 30 for the purpose of organizing Potter County, several townsites vied to be county seat. William B. Plemons,qv the first county judge, had a prospective townsite near the head of Amarillo Creek. Two miles southeast was J. T. Berry's townsite of Oneida, in which Plemons soon merged his interest. Frank Lester, backed by Henry Sanborn, dubbed a third site Plains City, while Jesse Jenkins, a Tascosa saloon owner, promoted Ragtown under a new name, Odessa. To attract the support of the cowhands of the LX Ranch, who constituted the majority of the county's qualified voters, Berry promised each of them a business lot and residence lot in his town. The election returns favored Berry's townsite, which was renamed Amarillo. The railroad was completed into the town in October 1887, soon after the elections, and a post office was established there the next month. People from surrounding townsites began to move to the new county seat. The county's first newspaper, the Amarillo Champion, began publication in May 1888, and that same year a school was established in the town. Partly because of the efforts of Henry Sanborn, who had been establishing another townsite east of "Old Town" Amarillo, and partly because of flood dangers, most of the town was moved to a new, higher site by 1890. By that time cattle ranching had become firmly established in the area and dominated Potter County's economy and its culture. Twenty ranches, encompassing more than 511,000 acres, had been established in the county by 1890, and more than 44,000 cattle, but no sheep, were reported in the county that year. By 1900 there were seventy-nine ranches in the county, and the population had increased to 1,820.

So why was the name Oneida changed to Amarillo?  Amarillo is the Spanish word for yellow.  I found one place that said it was because Amarillo was “The Yellow Rose of Texas”, but I think that was a guess.  The Yellow Rose of Texas was a Louisiana prostitute who had been in the company of the dictator, Santa Anna, shortly before he was captured.  She was immortalized in a song by that name that became popular in the 1950’s when the movie “Giant” was released.  More realistically, the name Amarillo was chosen either for the yellow wildflowers that grew in the area or because of the yellowish soil found along the banks of a nearby creek.

This newsletter is provided for your information by:
David Preston Insurance
5410 S. Bell, Bldg. B, suite 401
Amarillo, TX  79109-6222
Phone 806-359-4498
davidpreston@amaonline.com 
VISIT OUR WEBSITE   www.davidprestoninsurance.com

NEWSLETTER
From
DAVID PRESTON INSURANCE
October 2011

DO YOU REMEMBER?

Do you remember the story called “A Fairy Tale” that I put in the February 2011 newsletter? I told of a family that had over spent, gotten into debt, and everyone had to make sacrifices to get their financial house back in shape. That is exactly what the United States is starting to go through at this time. If you don’t remember it, you can read it at www.davidprestoninsurance.com.

SOMETHING ELSE TO REMEMBER:

SOCIAL SECURITY will cease to exist for many people. IF you are under age 55 at this time, it is very likely that you will never collect a dime of Social Security. If you are UNDER AGE 55 TODAY, you need to start saving for your own retirement. SOCIAL SECURITY is going to be phased out. I can help you start to save for retirement—call me.

Below are comments that were made by a subscriber to a financial newsletter. Unfortunately, many people may be in a similar position soon.

As a 49-year-old, I expect I’ll get nothing from the Social Security trust fund,” writes a reader confirming our suspicion. “I expect I may soon face the reality of my elderly in-laws moving in with me. I expect that my 19- and 21-year-old, terrific-work-ethic daughters may live with my wife and me for a few more years as they try to develop careers in the midst of a depression. I expect I’ll have to live without some toys I’ve been wanting. I expect I’ll be reining in some dreams and will not retire at 65.

“What I’m not going to do is beat my head against the horrific wall of reality whose brick and mortar is the mismanaged, debt-laden legacy that generations of bureaucrats have bequeathed me. It is what it is. Instead, I’ll keep out of debt, live as simply as possible, try to assimilate all I can about investing and wealth creation and work on that self-employment business that I’ve had on the back burner while stocking up on food, gold, silver and ammunition.

I know that with gasoline prices and food prices rising we all have budgets that are being pinched. We must look around and find ways to eliminate unnecessary spending. Saving (even small amounts) should become a priority.

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A DEFINITION TO REMEMBER:

Have you ever wondered about something, thought maybe you had discovered an answer, but were not quite sure you were right? I have. Three years ago, I wrote to both Senator John Cornyn and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson and I asked them define two things for me. First was to define treason. Second was to define a domestic enemy. Neither of them answered that letter.

In the oath of office of every police officer, every military person, and most elected officials are words that go like this “I promise to protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies both foreign and domestic.” We have a pretty good idea what a foreign enemy is, but what is a domestic enemy? How are these oath takers going to know whom the Constitution should be defended against?

I have wondered about that question a lot because I have thought there were many domestic enemies within the USA. However, you just can’t say a person is a domestic enemy because you and he disagree.

I did some research and I found a definition that seems reasonable, well thought out, and one that would be extremely hard to argue against. Below is a very good definition of a “domestic enemy” and how we citizens should deal with them.

DOMESTIC ENEMIES

I believe that there are two basic groups of domestic enemies. The first and most obvious is the group of political opponents within our own government who pursue legislation and programs that are contradictory to the powers and principles embodied in the Constitution. These are the individuals who either refuse to acknowledge the Constitution at all, or speak praises about its importance in public, but in private act in a manner that contradicts its restraint. These enemies are not just those in power, however. Domestic enemies of the Constitution likewise include all those who support political officers who themselves are enemies of the Constitution. Anybody who rallies around such a banner (or plasters the bumper sticker on their car) shows through word (support) and deed (vote) what side of the field they are on. They, too, must be opposed, and exposed for the enemies of the Constitution that they are.

The second and more subtle group of Constitutional enemies is those who adhere to and advocate for a moral standard that rejects natural law, traditional morality, and Judeo-Christian values. Many of the Founders spoke of this situation, one of them being John Adams:

“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” (John Adams)

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FINANCIAL THOUGHTS:

Now is a dismal time to be invested or investing in the stock market. Bank rates are very low. There just doesn’t seem to be many investments that are both safe and have a good return. What should you do? First, if you don’t have a bank saving account, start one. Build up an account equal to 3-6 months of your salary. This is your “rainy day” emergency fund. Second, be sure that you have an adequate amount of life insurance (cash value type life insurance is the best). Start your own retirement fund. Next, invest in things that you feel are safe, but have a little more potential for return (annuities, real estate, etc). At some point in the future the conditions will be right to invest again in the stock market and perhaps you will have saved enough money that you can afford to take some risk.

• Have you ever asked yourself these questions?
  • What the heck is going on in this country?
  • Is this politician lying to me?
  • Who can I believe?

The answers to those questions are not easy to find, so you have to educate yourself a little bit. When you have some basic information and understanding you can determine the answers for yourself. So where do you get the basic information? You don’t get it on “Entertainment Tonight” or any of the TV comedians. You don’t get it on ABC, CBS, NBC, or MSNBC. You may get a little of it on Fox News, but not everything you will need. You need to read. Start with “The Five Thousand Year Leap”, by Cleon Skousen, then read “The Marketing of Evil”, by David Kupelian. You will find both books very interesting and they will give you the basis to understand why things are happening in the USA the way that they are.

CARTOON TIME: (click on the link below)
http://nationaljuggernaut.blogspot.com/2009/09/this-cartoon-seemed-far-fetched-in-1948.html

This newsletter is provided for your information by:
David Preston Insurance
5410 S. Bell, Bldg. B, suite 401
Amarillo, TX 79109-6222
Phone 806-359-4498
davidpreston@amaonline.com
VISIT OUR WEBSITE www.davidprestoninsurance.com
 

NEWSLETTER
From
DAVID PRESTON INSURANCE
August 2011

WHAT IS A LIFE INSURANCE POLICY?

A life insurance policy is “the sweetest love letter ever written”. When a man or woman buys life insurance on themselves, they are planning on leaving the death proceeds to someone for whom they truly care. They want that life insurance policy to fulfill certain dreams that the person may not have lived to fulfill themselves. It is a message from the grave that says I love you.

September is national life insurance month. Think about your own situation. Do you need to buy or increase the life insurance on yourself, on your spouse, on a child, or on a parent? Is it important for you to leave your family a home that is free and clear of a mortgage? Do you need to provide an income for your family until they can adjust to losing you? Do you need to provide an education for your children? Do you want all of your bills paid at death so that a parent or spouse will not be burdened with them?

If you have any doubts about whether or not you or someone in your household needs life insurance, call me. I can help you figure it out and find a policy within your budget. Life insurance must be purchased before you need it.
The number one cause of failing to reach a person’s financial goals is PROCRASTINATION. They put off doing what they know they should do today. Don’t be one of those people.

HAVE YOU EVER?

Have your ever known of a person, or read in the newspaper of a person who had died without insurance? I have read many times over the years of such people. Usually, some friend who knows the circumstances starts a fundraising campaign of some sort to help the family out. Many times the best efforts of these friends (lots of work on their part) will only raise $1500 to $2,000. A funeral now runs in excess of $5,000 and more often into the $6,000 to $8,000 range. If the family of the deceased gets $2,000 from the fundraisers, they still owe about $3,000 or more. They could have avoided this debt by purchasing a life insurance policy for $10-$15.00 per month.

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MORE SAFETY TIPS:

Written by a Cop for Our Own Safety

Everyone should take 5 minutes to read this. It may save your life or a loved one's life. In daylight hours, refresh yourself of these things to do in an emergency situation... This is for you, and for you to share with your wife, your children, & everyone you know. After reading these 10 crucial tips, forward them to someone you care about. It never hurts to be careful in this crazy world we live in.

1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do :
The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!

2. Learned this from a tourist guide. If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you.... Chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy.. The driver won't see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives.

4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc. (DON'T DO THIS!) The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE.

If someone is in the car with a gun to your head DO NOT DRIVE OFF, Repeat: DO NOT DRIVE OFF! Instead gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car. Your Air Bag will save you. If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it. As soon as the car crashes bail out and run. It is better than having them find your body in a remote location.

5. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:
A.) Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor, and in the back seat.
B.) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.

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C.) Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)

6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot. (This is especially true at NIGHT!)

7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; and even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN, preferably in a zigzag pattern!

8. Women are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP - It may get you raped, or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked 'for help' into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.

9. Another Safety Point: Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch the night before last, and she called the police because it was late and she thought it was weird. The police told her 'Whatever you do, DO NOT open the door.' The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window, and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The policeman said, 'We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, DO NOT open the door.' He told her that they think a serial killer has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby. He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby's cries outside their doors when they're home alone at night.

10. Water scam! If you wake up in the middle of the night to hear all your taps outside running or what you think is a burst pipe, DO NOT GO OUT TO INVESTIGATE! These people turn on all your outside taps full blast so that you will go out to investigate and then attack.
Stay alert, keep safe, and look out for your neighbors!

One final thought on safety. ALWAYS try to be aware of your surroundings. When you leave a building, pause at the door, look around, and decide if anyone or anything looks suspicious. If it does, get someone to escort you. If you are going to your car, have your keys in hand so that you don’t fumble for them in your purse.

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QUOTE:

“The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings. The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery.”
Winston Churchill

DO YOU HAVE A WILL?

A will is a document that tells the court how and to whom you want your property to transfer at your death. All types of problems can occur if you die without a will.

Without a will, real estate transfers to your children (not your spouse). The children could take the home away from their mother. The problem gets even worse if the children are minors (under age).

If you are married, but have no children, your property transfers to your parents if you have no will.

A will costs very little to have drawn up. Usually, the cost is between $100 and $300. However, you can get a membership with Pre-Paid Legal and their lawyers will draw up your will for no additional charge other than your membership fee (about $15.00 mo). Call me if you are interested in Pre-Paid Legal. No matter which way you go, get a will and the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your property will go where you want it to go.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO US?

I heard something on the radio recently that caused me to include these comments and ask the above question. (I’ll get to it in just a moment.) Most of us marry and remain faithful to our spouses. We support our children and don’t complain. We consider that as normal. If we make an investment and it goes bad, who do we blame? Unless we feel we have been cheated, we accept the blame and don’t blame others. This is something that we consider as normal, also. Now here comes the report that I heard on the radio.

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Someone had done a survey of people who were upside down on their mortgages (they owe more than their homes are worth), but they are still able to make their monthly mortgage payment. More than 40% of these people stated that they would consider “walking away” from their mortgages and default on their payments.

In the above paragraph, I am not speaking of people who have had hard times, lost a job, had an illness, etc. I am talking about people who are still able to make their payments. It seems very disturbing to me that these people would even consider defaulting on their loans. Your fathers and grandfathers could do business on a “handshake”. Contracts were not needed everywhere. A person’s word meant something. Maybe that is why we call those times “the good old days”.

This newsletter is provided for your information by:
David Preston Insurance
5410 S. Bell, Bldg. B, suite 401
Amarillo, TX 79109-6222
Phone (806) 359-4498
davidpreston@amaonline.com
VISIT OUR WEBSITE:  www.davidprestoninsurance.com