Protecting Your Property Using Renters Insurance - L&T Agency Newsletter June 2026 Edition

Renters insurance is designed to help protect the things that make your space yours: furniture, clothing, electronics, kitchen items, personal belongings, and more. A helpful way to think about personal property coverage is this: if you turned your apartment upside down, everything that would fall out is likely something you would need to replace after a covered loss.

It can also help with situations many renters do not always think about right away, such as temporary living expenses if your rental becomes unlivable due to a covered claim, or liability protection if someone is injured in your rented space and you are found responsible.

A few questions worth asking yourself:
• If there were a fire, water damage, or theft, how much would it cost to replace your belongings today?
• Does your lease require renters insurance or certain liability limits?
• Would you have somewhere to stay if your apartment became temporarily unlivable?
• Have you added valuable items over time, such as electronics, jewelry, sports equipment, or furniture?

Even if you have had renters insurance for years, it is worth reviewing your coverage periodically. Your belongings, lease requirements, and living situation may change over time. Taking a few minutes to understand what your policy does—and does not—cover can help you feel more prepared and confident in your protection.

As your life changes, your need for protection can change too. A renters policy can help protect your belongings and provide liability coverage, but sometimes an accident or lawsuit can go beyond the limits of a standard policy. That is where a Personal Umbrella Policy may become important.

A Personal Umbrella Policy provides an extra layer of liability protection above your existing auto and property insurance. It is designed to help protect your current assets—and in some situations, your future income—if you are found responsible for a serious accident or claim.

For example, if you caused an auto accident or someone was injured and the legal costs or settlement exceeded your regular liability limits, you could still be personally responsible for the remaining amount. Without enough liability protection, assets such as savings may be at risk, and future wages could potentially be impacted depending on the situation.

This is why umbrella coverage is not only for homeowners. Renters can benefit from umbrella protection too, especially if they drive, have savings, are building a career, or want added protection as their financial life grows.

A few common reasons someone may consider an umbrella policy include:
• Extra protection beyond auto liability limits
• Additional liability protection beyond renters insurance
• Protection for current savings and future income
• Added peace of mind as your assets and responsibilities grow

To qualify for a Personal Umbrella Policy, you typically need both an auto policy and a property policy, such as home, condo, mobile home, or renters insurance. The goal is not to overcomplicate your protection—it is to make sure your coverage grows with your life, your responsibilities, and the future you are working toward.

If you want to discuss the benefits of an Umbrella policy for your family, please
Click here 👇

Summer is a great time to enjoy the local communities around us—whether that means visiting a county fair, listening to live music, exploring a local market, or spending an evening outdoors with family and friends. As you make plans between June 19 and August 15, it is also a helpful reminder to think practically about your household protection before busier summer weekends.

Here are a few local events happening around the area:
• Lake County: Zion Nostalgia Days returns June 19–20 with classic/custom vehicles, food vendors, live entertainment, shopping, and family activities. Taste of Highland Park also takes place June 19–20 at Port Clinton Square, featuring local vendors and music in downtown Highland Park. The 97th Annual Lake County Fair runs July 29–August 2 in Grayslake with rides, fair food, livestock, entertainment, and family activities. (Visit Lake County)
• Cook County / Chicago area: Winnetka Music Festival takes place June 19–20 on the North Shore, while Chicago’s Grant Park Music Festival runs June 10–August 15 in Millennium Park. Chinatown Summer Fair is scheduled for July 25–26, and the Millennium Park Summer Film Series runs June 30–August 18. (Chicago's North Shore CVB)
• McHenry County: Stars & Stripes Fest in Cary is June 27, Lakeside Festival in Crystal Lake runs July 2–5, Rotary’s Rockin’ Ribfest in Lake in the Hills runs July 9–12, McHenry Fiesta Days runs July 9–19, and the McHenry County Fair takes place August 4–9 in Woodstock. (Naturally McHenry County)

Before heading out for summer plans, a few simple household reminders can help keep things running smoothly:
• Lock doors and windows before leaving for the day or weekend
• Avoid posting travel plans in real time on social media
• Keep valuables, wallets, and electronics out of sight in vehicles
• Review renters, home, condo, or auto coverage if your household has recently changed
• Make sure ID cards, emergency contacts, and important documents are easy to access

Community events are meant to be enjoyed, and a little preparation can go a long way. Whether you rent, own, or are in the middle of a life transition, summer is a good time to review what you have, what has changed, and whether your current protection still fits your life.

Here at L&T Agency, our great service is maintained and improved by behind-the-scenes data analysts. This month, we're highlighting Chris Morys, a Data & Operations Intern who supports Bryan Dinklenburg (Director of Operations).

What Management is Saying:

"Chris has a great head on his shoulders; he is extremely driven and focused on his work. Not only has he been instrumental in helping with my newsletter initiative, but he has also jumped in full steam ahead, brining multiple ideas and process improvements along the way. Any company would be fortunate to utilize his diverse skill set. Be careful, a bidding war may just break out!"

— Megan Dinklenburg (Business Development Manager)

A quick message from Chris:

“The best way to describe me is someone with a lot on their plate. My motivation comes from the urgency to learn, to understand, and to truly connect with people. At the Agency, I provide insights to numbers and help make business decisions backed by data. In the future, I hope to make a big impact in the development of Artificial Intelligence tools. My goal is to create value, not replace.”

Click here to connect on LinkedIn! 👇

Richard Vetter, a licensed insurance agent across many states, joins our newsletter for a special Q&A section. Residing in Northeast Kansas for over 25 years now, he and his family are heavily involved with the community. Outside of insurance, he enjoys coaching his kids' sports team, fishing, disc golfing, and gardening.

Q: What is the biggest misconception people have about health insurance today?

A: People think the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace is their only option. However, there are many great plans available outside the ACA that have better preferred provider organization (PPO) networks and much more affordability, especially for people making over 50K per year. Additionally, there are great opportunities to save money and find good coverage by pulling dependents off your employer group insurance and getting them a separate plan.

Q: What are the most common mistakes people make when selecting a health insurance plan, especially in regard to ACA?

A: The out-of-pocket maximums are very high on ACA Marketplace plans (normally over $10,000). That is the worst case scenario amount you would have to come up with if you had a major surgery or hospital stay. You can get plans outside the marketplace for half that out-of-pocket maximum.

Q: How frequently should you consider reviewing your plan, and are there ways to save on costs?

A: Most plans you want to review once per year. Yes, there are always ways to save on cost depending on what deductible amounts you want on the coverage.

Q: Are there options available for businesses that think they're too small to offer health insurance?

A: Definitely! That is the most common scenario that I run into. I often help small business owners with just a few employees or less (just an individual) save a tremendous amount compared to a traditional group insurance, while still offering great coverage to attract and retain employees.

Q: What else is available for them in terms of affordable benefits from small businesses to their employees?

A: It's really on a case-by-case basis depending on the employer's budget and number of employees but I have many options and would be happy to help.

Q: What does your process look like when someone reaches out for help?

A: We normally respond within the hour and will need just some basic information like name, date of birth, email address and a zip code to provide quotes.

Q: What is your biggest tip when it comes to Health insurance selection?

A: Try to find a plan within your budget as you don't want to have a lapse in coverage which would defeat the point of having a policy. Also, find the lowest out-of-pocket maximum because you always want great coverage for major medical first and foremost.

If interested in having your own conversation with Richard, please reach out via email at rvetter@vetterins.com or call/text the number 913-424-8644. If calling, please leave a voice message with contact information. Additionally, visit Richard's website for more information 👇

Your experience matters to us. If you have a moment, we invite you to share feedback through our Customer Satisfaction Survey below—your responses help us understand what’s working well and where we can continue improving how we serve you. If you’d also like to share your experience publicly, a Google Review (👈 click) helps others feel confident choosing an agency that values education, clarity, and long-term protection. We truly appreciate you taking the time, whether privately or publicly.

Click here to share your feedback 👇

Prepared by Megan Dinklenburg to bring helpful, real-life insights to our L&T community. Questions or ideas? Please reach out anytime: meganwodek@allstate.com