Great article on tips for securing your dorm room. How to Secure Your Dorm Room | SafeWise Find everything you need to keep your dorm room safe and secure. See SafeWise recommendations for a safe, security camera, laptop lock, and more, including smart safety devices. https://www.safewise.com/blog/dorm-room-security/

CTIA wants you to know what Yellow Speed Signs mean.  Yellow-Speed-Signs What do these signs really mean? https://www.pemco.com/northwest/perspective/2018-september/yellow-speed-signs

Here's a link to the 2018 regular season schedule for both the Mariners and Major League Baseball. Which game are you looking forward to?

Mariners

MLB

Christopher Togawa Insurance Agency marks 30 years. Read all about it here in the Queen Anne & Magnolia News!

Wishing you a Happy Valentine's Day!

Driving Northbound on I-5, I was behind a semi-truck and had a weird feeling that something might happen. From the truck’s tires I could see dirt chips creating a momentary mini cloud of dust on the freeway. Then, I heard a loud WHACK.

At first, I thought, “Wow, I’m lucky, no crack!” But the next morning, the truth was spread across my windshield.

Unless you have one of those $1000+ windshields, making a claim for windshield repair or replace-ment probably isn’t worthwhile. Sure, companies will reimburse you, but even being reimbursed may not be worth the impact to your insurance rating profile and future rates.

Here’s the scoop...

If you'd still like to receive our 2018 calendar, email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (206) 838-9450.

The furthest thing from my mind 30 years ago was that there would be the opportunity today to reflect on the last 30 years. When I started my agency, at age 24, my first goal was to make it one year. And then to make it to the next year and to learn the fine details of the industry along the way. I believed that if I made it through three years, with a number of positive indicators, that a long term sustainable agency could be built.

Industry-wide, so much emphasis was on numbers back then, crunching the numbers, but for me it really turned out to be counting the relationships that were being built one household at a time. The way I see it, relationships are everything because if you don’t retain your clients you can’t grow your business. As a team, our goal has always been to be approachable and nurture transparency, even more than one might expect. When life throws a curve ball, such as a fender bender or speeding ticket, we always appreciate being the first phone call because it’s our job to provide guidance, confidence and support in the next steps to be taken.

Our ideal client expects support and guidance as life changes, and we love being their advocate during that time. Other agencies put emphasis on an aggressive growing model that’s driven by lofty numbers versus relationship building. Where I believe we differ is we’d rather have fewer clients with strong relationships than far more clients that are simply just a number.

These first 30 years have been priceless, an ever-changing adventure, and we continue to embrace our fast moving landscape every day. I hope that being clients of CTIA has been beneficial to you because you are infinitely valuable to us and what we stand for. A big Thank You to each of you for making 30 years possible! It is because of all of you, your loyalty, referrals and your continued confidence in CTIA guiding you through this ever changing maze of your insurance protection needs. I thank you from the bottom of my heart and hope that you allow me and my team to continue to serve you for many, many years to come.

Wishing you all the best and a blessed 2018! – Christopher Togawa

Experts suggest these steps as a good place to begin:

• Create a family communication emergency plan
• Have a survival kit for three days in your car, home and office
• Know where your gas, electric and water shut-offs are and how to use them

Here’s a link you might find helpful in understanding the recent Equifax breach and some action items for you to consider.

Washington's E-DUI law, which bans the use of any hand-held personal electronic devices while driving, is now in effect. Violations are reportable to insurance companies! Be informed by visiting the Target Zero website for more details.

Valued CTIA client Tony C. (Elvis) and his band were quite the hit at Queen Anne Day last Saturday.

You can catch this must-see act when they perform at the Bite of Seattle this upcoming Sunday, July 23 at 1:00 pm on the Mural Stage.

For more info, visit gracelandmanila.com or search #gracelandmanila.

​ The decision whether to purchase earthquake insurance is a difficult one. Homeowners must choose between paying more for coverage or having no coverage for what could be a very catastrophic event. Many homeowners have no earthquake coverage even when living in an area such as ours where there is a possibility of a significant magnitude earthquake occurring some time in the next several decades. Given the increasing values of homes, the decision to purchase earthquake insurance should be appropriately considered. Homeowners typically...

With summer just around the corner many people are planning vacations and preparing to travel. Traveling can be a time when risk of identity theft increases since we use credit cards frequently. Identity theft is a serious crime that is increasing at an alarming rate. About 1 in 7 U.S. residents over age 16 was a victim in 2014, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Misusing someone's credit card account is the most common kind of identity theft. According to a recent survey compiled by the US Federal Trade Commission, more than 3 m...

As the insurance industry continues to change, more than ever we find companies are putting their clients in the driver's seat by offering programs that let them customize their insurance rates. This means the safer you drive, the more you'll save! Safeco and Progressive – two of the companies we represent – offer vehicle telematics programs where drivers can earn up to 30% off their insurance premiums. Recently, a family insured with CTIA participated in a telematics program and saved BIG! This was a great opportunity for an entire family to p...

Receiving your auto insurance renewal and seeing that your rates have increased can feel very personal. I know, I've had that feeling on a number of occasions over the years.  Even understanding how insurance rates are set, it doesn't make me feel any better to see a rate increase. Thoughts that may cross your mind: ​ "I've been with the same company for years!" "I pay on time; my driving record's clear!" "But my cars are getting older!" ​ The reality is our region continues to show immense population growth, resulting in more traffic cong...

​In honor of Memorial Day, Flag Day and the Fourth of July we are offering a free flag exchange. Between May 18th and July 3rd you can bring your not so glorious stars and stripes in to our office and we'll replace them with a beautiful brand new flag with sewn stripes and embroidered stars. Give us a call at 206-838-9450 to schedule a time to exchange your flag. Supplies are limited so please act fast!

Parents often have a lot of questions about when their teens are ready to drive. This is a personal situation that every family needs to consider for each of their children. Some may be ready at an older or younger age than others, depending on their level of maturity and responsibility. Before your teen takes the wheel, it is important to discuss not just the mechanics of how to drive, but also all of the responsibilities, consequences and costs associated with driving. Establishing clear agreements about the rules and responsibilities will he...

Each spring Erwin and his family participate in Boy Scout Troop #375's fish dinner at St. Francis Church. Erwin and a team of adult volunteers prepared 160 pounds of salmon and cod for the feast. This annual event is the troop's largest fundraiser of the year and helps send scouts to summer camps and other outdoor activities. Two dedicated boy scouts and two parent volunteers received Amazon gift cards, provided by CTIA. The recipients exude volunteer spirit, a positive attitude and dedication to the troop and Boy Scouts. The kids and their fam...

Driving Under the Influence of Electronics Act Nationwide, 43 states have passed laws to prohibit drivers from texting. In Washington State, lawmakers recently approved Senate Bill 5289 , Driving Under the Influence of Electronics Act . This new legislation which will go into effect in 2019 forbids the use of a handheld device and all video watching while a car is moving or briefly stopped. The fine will increase to $245 on the second offense, and distracted driving will be reportable to insurance companies on the first offense, like any other ...