Lake Central Insurance Services: Your one-stop shop for all of your insurance needs.

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If you have an insurance need, whether personal insurance or for your business, the staff at Lake Central Insurance Services is here to help.
 
As a property and casualty insurance agency, they can find just about any coverage for your home and auto, along with all your toys like motorcycle, boat, snowmobile or ATVs. They also write specialty insurance such as umbrella liability, flood insurance, disability income insurance and dental insurance.
 
When businesses call, they have insurance options for property, liability, workers compensation, commercial umbrella and group health. “We have several companies that do well with sole-proprietors up to larger corporations,” proclaims Paul Manuel, agency manager. “Business insurance can be very complicated, especially for those just starting a small business. We understand small business needs and can help ease the anxiety of the small business owner as they start or grow their business.”
 
The staff at all three locations in Maple Lake, Annandale & Clearwater are Medicare certified to be able to assist seniors with their Medicare supplement and Part D needs. They are willing to answer questions about the Medicare enrollment process for people aging into Medicare, and those who are looking at their change options during the open enrollment period each fall.
 
Along with Medicare supplements, the staff is also certified broker/assisters for the new MNsure health insurance exchange. They can answer questions and assist with the website enrollment. They will also explain the complicated process of who and why some people qualify for health insurance premium tax credits and others that do not, as well as explain the mandatory “Essential Benefits” like pediatric dental. For those who do not qualify for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits, the certified and licensed agents at all three locations can also help you acquire coverage with an Off-Exchange health insurance plan in the more traditional method of purchasing health insurance coverage.
 
Life insurance and long-term care insurance are areas they are experts in as well. “These are two lines of insurance that people tend to not want to talk about, but are very necessary to help protect your family’s financial future,” says Manuel. “Seven out of ten households do not have life insurance, and those that do, typically have a benefit that would only replace the lost loved one’s income for 3.6 years.”
 
Long-term care insurance could be even more necessary as one out of two people will need some form of long-term care in their lifetime. “That is a coin flip when you think about it,” states Manuel. “I understand the cost of this insurance can be expensive, but ask anyone who has dealt with a loved one needing some form of care as they age and they will tell you it is worth it compared to the huge monthly cost for that care.”
 
Manuel encourages everyone to contact their office to discuss new life insurance, review their current life insurance to make sure there is sufficient coverage, or to find out more about long-term care insurance. “Whether you are our client or not, we want to help people better understand their current policies and make informed decisions about their financial protection.”
 
Another line of coverage Lake Central Insurance Services handles is bonds. Whether looking for a probate, conservator or fidelity bond, they can help. They also write car-title and contractor license bonds. They ask you to contact them on any type of bonds.
 
The agency itself is an Independent Insurance Agency, meaning they do not write insurance for just one company. As an independent agent, they have over 20 insurance companies to quote your unique insurance needs and find the best fit for you. Simply put, they do the shopping for you. They take great pride in using a variety of companies to build an insurance program that works for you. The professional staff has a genuine interest in finding the right insurance solution for you. All being licensed agents, anyone is able to answer questions, quote coverage or handle policy endorsements. They pride themselves on their customer service and invite you to see why that makes relationships work. “We are not just about selling you an insurance policy; we are about building relationships,” says Manuel. “You put your trust in us and we try to honor that with great insurance products and even greater customer service.” With over 60 years of combined insurance experience, they are professionals who know insurance and what works.
 
In 2012, they added Lake Central Investments as a way to offer more financial protection to clients. John Volden is the investment advisor and is available by appointment to meet with people to discuss their wealth management goals.
 
The office, in Maple Lake, is staffed by Manuel, along with Krista Wurm who has been working in the agency for over 20 years. Krista started working part-time while still at Maple Lake High School when the agency was called Security State Agency of Maple Lake. She loves helping people and always has a friendly word or a smile.
 
In April of 2013, Anna Pribyl came on board to start her insurance career. Anna did not have any insurance experience, but her years of being a customer service manager in a retail environment was the thing that they liked best. Manuel says, “Anna really grasped the insurance industry and products quickly and is learning every day. What we liked was the way she treated people. We felt that was more important than experience. With time, she will gain the experience, but you cannot teach someone to be understanding and a good listener. These are qualities she has and you see that every day.”
 
Technology and social media are changing the way people do business. “We encourage people to stop into the office when possible, and they can always call us. But, as social media keeps evolving, we feel there needs to be more ways to connect with people,” says Manuel.
 
Lake Central Insurance Services has met the social media demand with a FaceBook page, Twitter feed and their new Smart Phone app. “We ask everyone to “Like” our FaceBook page at facebook.com/LakeCentralInsuranceServices for information about the insurance industry and safety tips, ask questions, be part of discussions, and have some fun,” states Manuel. “I think this is a great way to put information out there when things happen, not just to our clients, but to everyone.” The FaceBook page can be seen by anyone and is not just for Lake Central Insurance Services clients.
 
Another avenue to find out information is via Twitter. You can “Follow” them on their Twitter feed @LakeCentral1. “We are just getting into tweeting, but feel this is a quick way to share information to those who follow us. It is also another way to stay connected with our clients.”
 
A big step for them in 2013, as far as technology goes, was getting a Smart Phone app. The app is free to download on your iPhone or Droid smart phone. It is a way to instantly connect you with any of their staff, report a claim, request policy changes or even locate the nearest gas station, tow-truck or hotel. The app has a GPS locator to display your location when calling in an emergency. The Smart Phone app is free and not just for clients, and is available at the iStore or Play Store depending on your cell phone. “This is a neat tool for anyone’s insurance needs. I encourage people to check it out. Future updates will let you store your personal home inventory and photos of documents so you can easily access them away from home or in the event of a homeowner’s insurance loss.”
 
The office in Maple Lake is located on the corner of Birch Avenue and Division Street in downtown Maple Lake. They also have an office inside Annandale State Bank in both Annandale and Clearwater. For more contact information, go to   "http://www.mylakecentral.com" www.mylakecentral.com
 
Manuel adds, “Insurance is sometimes a necessary evil and we try our best to help ease the pain and frustration of insurance. I personally say Thank You to our past, current and future customers for putting their trust in us. We look forward to helping any way we can.”
 

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