No one agent or broker can be all things to all people – it is silly to even try and folly for a new agent to attempt. While one broker or agent may wear several hats (for instance, I work with Medicare supplements, MSAs (Medical Savings Accounts), individual/family health plans, life, dental and high risk – including COBRA and HIPAA), there are some areas of insurance which are very intricate, very involved and require a great deal of experience, concentration and legal understanding.

For that reason, we utilize the skills of agents and other qualified individuals around the Valley who specialize in areas that I don’t -
 
 

Small Group -   5 to 50 employees Also after-market benefits -  (AFLAC)	Margery (Jeanne) Ziemann Ziemann Insurance Services 480-451-1500 gabe2az@cox.net  and www.ziemanninsuranceservices.com Jeanne has been working with the small group market for 10 years and works with all major group carriers in the state. She is extremely knowledgeable, very thorough and her clients are located statewide.
Long Term Care	Richard Miller Dick Miller Insurance 623-623-939-8759 richnmarj@msn.com Dick has been in the long term care business for nearly as long as long term care has been around! Many agents try to sell this type of service but it is virtually a science for an agent to sift through when determining the best product for the client's potential needs. Dick also works in the disability arena and has for over 20 years.
Disability	Ron Hunter Arizona Business Consortium 602-971-8260 arizonabusinessconsortium@hotmail.com One of the first agents I met when I got into insurance in 1992,  Ron has been working in the disability field for over 15 years. Disability insurance is more than just a source of income, it is part of the proper planning of a professional's future financial security.
Reverse Mortgages	Jerry Belvo Sun Valley Financial Services 623-889-0359 jerrybelvo@msn.com A funny thing to see on this website? Not at all! Many seniors call us when a spouse has been told they need long term care of some sort and it isn't in the budget - a nursing home is over $4,000 a month, and then there's adult day care, assisted living, etc. The reverse mortgage allows you to "sell" a percentage of the equity in your home, remain in it as long as you want, and have money to use for those extra expenses. You don't sell your house, you don't lose your house, you stay IN your house.
Specified Benefits (cash reimbursement)	Michael Malasnik Arizona Benefit Connection 623-535-8299 malasnik@worldnet.att.net Michael's background extends to AZ Physicians, United Healthcare and several other in-house positions which have given him an insight to the needs of specific individuals. Specified benefit plans appeal to those who can't get "full- bore" insurance but would like some insurance protection  without the hassle of underwriting. Our office also works with these products
Naturopathy /Alternative Medicine	Dr. Christina Compton, NMD 623-217-6692 dr_compton@cox.net Is modern medicine too eager to cut? Too happy to hand out pills?? To quick to diagnose or dismiss?? It is your responsibility to under-stand your own health, to question a diagnosis or medication or treatment that you don't understand, to ask questions and to make smart  choices. American children have the highest obesity levels in the world, the US has the youngest ages for diabetes, hypertension and cholesterol of any country, and more people die from cancer here than anywhere else! YOU are your first line of defense, learn what you can do.
Property/Casualty/MultiLine	Ideal Insurance - Glendale office 602-938-7579 dan@idealins.com Yavapai Area Office 928-772-5580 lisa@idealins.com Looking to insure a business or building? Questions about work-related liability coverage? Got a new car and want fender-to-fender quotes? Ideal has two offices in the west valley and a staff of dozens to help you out!
Car/Auto/Homeowners	Scott Shirley Farmer’s Insurance, Scottsdale office 480-607-3010 sfsfarmers@aol.com Scott is in the east valley and offers Farmer's broad line of property and casualty products, homeowners and auto, motorcycles and RVs - personable and experienced, Scott will direct you to the right source if for any reason he feels his products will not best suit your needs.
	Roger Brogan Allstate, Phoenix office 602-863-2909 rogerbrogan@allstate.com Bob Coudret Allstate, NW Valley 623-561-9202 bobcoudret@allstate.com "The Good Hands People….." These gentlemen have been helping folks in the central Valley for years, with all areas of property/casualty. Adequate car insurance for your wheels and home-owner's for the roof over your head are musts, and part of good financial security.
	Gary Smith Safeco Insurance 602-953-6909 aquahills@aol.com garys@cdsinsuranceagency.com Gary works predominantly in the central and east valley - I have done business with him since the mid-90's. He works in property and casualty and is very personable and knowledgeable.
Impaired Risk Auto	Russ & Marilyn Roohr Bestway Insurance 602-864-1154 bestwayins@excite.com One speeding ticket too many? Wrong place at the wrong time? "Impaired risk" auto is indeed a specialty and the Roohr's have been providing excellent services in this area for nearly a decade! Located in the central Valley, they can assist customers anywhere in the area and are happy to assist.
Financial/Tax Accounting	Leanne Griffin Baker & Griffin 602-277-4008 www.baker-griffin.com If your taxes can be done in less than an hour, great! But no thorough and qualified accountant would attempt to do a good job in that time! Accounting techniques and tax laws change all the time, and keeping on top of them is nothing short of a daily education. Accounting is more than just a spreadsheet or checkbook! Leanne also trains in Quick Books, the most popular bookkeeping tool around.
Professional Tax Preparer	Alan M. Kafton Phoenix, AZ 602-277-0799 akafton@earthlink.net Tax preparation is not something that can be purchased at a corner franchise store! Considerable time and effort go into properly preparing a return, suggestions made for adjusting your methods of business spending or saving, deductions you may not know you can take - and those your shouldn't. Alan has been preparing tax returns of all sizes for years and will work with your time and your needs.
Securities/Variable Annuities	Art Randall  602-404-6728 desertdoc@cox.net Good financial planning is part of the insurance of your future, too! It is more than just money in the bank - but it's not risking it all in the stock market, either! Learn about allocating funds - if only $50  a month - so they can grow and provide tax-deferred income as you get older. You're never too young or too old to start!

________________________________________________________

FOOTNOTES AND WORDS TO THE WISE:

Our agents are all over the Valley and we are happy to direct you to those in your area if you require an in-home visit. Much of what needs to be done in the health insurance arena does not require a face to face visit, though many agents would like you to believe they must meet with you. It's never a bad idea but it is not always a requirement - while some do, few carriers today place that requirement on agents.

Beware of anything that sounds "too good to be true." Obviously, if it does, it probably is. We receive numerous faxes and e-mails every about low-cost health coverage - keep in mind, health coverage is NOT necessarily health insurance. Many discount plans are available, utilizing PPO networks for discounts on most major medical services as well as chiropractic, dental, optical and prescriptions. We sell these plans too, at costs under $75 - the same plans as those you see advertised for $90 to $100 per month - we simply don't use multi-level marketed products with high commission overheads. But again, these are NOT insurance - you are responsible for the balance after the discount, at the time the service is rendered. We sell these plans ONLY when no other health coverage or health-related product can be utilized.

There is no regulation on the sales of these types of products and most are sold by non-insurance multi-level marketing companies. Too many of these people, eager to make a sale, tell prospective customers they can give up their "costly health insurance" and use this instead. Anyone who says that can be severely fined by the company they are trying to represent as well as by the Dept of Insurance. And since all the literature very clearly states that these plans are NOT insurance, your grounds for a lawsuit would be very limited. Read all materials for all "health coverage" programs thoroughly and understand what you are buying. No one plan of any type "does it all" - but it should do what YOU need it to do: provide maximum benefit at a reasonable cost.
 

No matter what kind of product or service you buy, ask questions of your agent, broker or representative, get comfortable with them and what they are telling you, and don't let anyone "fast talk" you into something because it's the latest, greatest, cheapest plan on earth. There's no such thing, and the last thing you want to cut corners with is your health or financial security.