Forward Mutual is proud to announce Lois Wiedenhoeft, COO, and directors David Flood and Stephen Zillmer received the Distinguished Service Award at the WAMIC 2022 Annual Convention.
The Distinguished Service Award recognizes managers, directors, or staff who have given extraordinary service to their company and/or the industry, including longevity of service, leadership, active involvement in the Association, and active advocacy on behalf of the mutual insurance industry.
Wisconsin has experienced repeated bouts of severe weather in recent weeks, resulting in significant damage to homes and farms throughout the state. Unfortunately, home repair fraud is common after such natural disasters. Here are things to keep in mind when hiring contractors to work on your repairs.
As anxious as you are to repair your home, take time in hiring a contractor. If you feel pressured to sign a contract, step back and do further research.
Make sure the contractor is licensed. Also check with the Better Business Bureau that there are no reports against them. You can also contact Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-422-7128 or DATCPHotline@wisconsin.gov to see if any complaints have been made against them.
Many municipalities have door-to-door sales ordinances. Call to verify that the contractor holds the proper permits.
An Assignment of Benefits (AOB) allows a third party, such as a contractor, to act on behalf of the insured. In doing so, the contractor communicates with and collects payment directly from the homeowner’s insurance company. While this relieves busy homeowners from dealing with the insurance company, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) advises to take great care before signing an AOB. Know that you are not required to sign an AOB to have repairs completed.
Check with your local building inspector before you start the project to see if a work permit is required. Be sure the work is inspected after it’s completed to verify it’s done correctly. Do this before you make a final payment to the contractor.
Customers have a right to cancel the contract within three business days of being notified that their insurer has denied all or any part of the claim for work.
Keep receipts that document the repair or replacement of anything damaged in the storm.
Storm damage and repairing your home can be stressful. Forward Mutual aims to help you however we can. Give us a call at 920-261-6616.
by HOWARD WIEDENHOEFT
This week we’re noting with reverence the passing of Rodell Mallow, 91, a longtime director and officer of Ixonia Mutual Insurance Company, predecessor of Forward Mutual Insurance Company. Rodell served as a director for 30 years, from 1969-1999. He died January 12, 2021.
As director, Rodell provided leadership for his fellow directors and management. His knowledge, experience, integrity, honesty and good business sense were influential and made a difference. He often shared the story that he never intended to join the Ixonia Mutual Board of Directors. It so happened in 1969, he had nothing to do on the day of the mutual’s annual meeting and decided to attend, something he had never done before. On a whim and without consulting Rodell, a policyholder placed Rodell’s name in nomination against longtime director and then-mutual secretary John Degner. Rodell often laughed that he didn’t realize he could decline the nomination. Instead, Secretary Degner removed his own name from the nomination, citing he had served as a director for 46 years and it was time to step down. No other policyholder was nominated and Rodell was elected to his first term as a director.
In addition to serving as a director, Rodell served as the mutual’s vice president for two years, from 1983-1985. He then served as president for 14 years, until his retirement from the board of directors in 1999.
Rodell was direct. You always felt confident knowing he put the interest of the mutual and its policyholders ahead of his own. He was a forward thinker, always pushing for changes to better serve the policyholders. He was instrumental in building the mutual’s first office in 1995, thus moving the daily operation from the home of the mutual secretary.
Our condolences go to Rodell’s family. His obituary can be seen here.
We each go through our days living what are seemingly normal circumstances. It’s easy to forget, however, that sometimes those circumstances impact your insurance coverage. When those circumstances become major, such as changes to your home or how you use it, the impacts to your coverage are major as well. Failing to notify your agent can be a mistake that’s costly to you.
In general, you should call Forward Mutual or your agent to share any changes to the physical structure of your home, farm, living arrangements and household property. It’s better to be safe than sorry (uninsured).
Have any questions? Feel free to contact your agent or Forward Mutual.
Stately trees add value to your home and reduce your heating and cooling costs. However, storms, age, and disease can also turn them into a liability.
Here are tree maintenance tips that protect your home and save you money.
An arborist can assess your trees before a storm season hits, whether it’s tornadoes of summer or cold and ice of winter. Here is a list of Certified Wisconsin Arborists.
After any major weather event, check for damage to your trees. Look for broken or bent branches. If a branch is small and you can easily reach it, you might remove it yourself. If not, call an expert to avoid further damage to the tree or hurting yourself.
Branches become a hazard when they’ve grown large and overhang your roof. Determine whether the branch should be removed, trimmed back in size, or supported with cables. An arborist can help you figure what’s best.
Trees in poor health can become problematic and cause damage to your home. Here in Wisconsin, many of our beautiful ash trees have fallen prey to the emerald ash borer. Regularly examine your trees for dead or broken branches. Also, look for signs of infestation, such as crawling, flying or boring insects, mold, leaves falling out of season, or critters chewing on the leaves or trunk.
Research the tree specie before planting and verify that it grows well in your area. Know the mature size of the tree. Plant the tree at a greater distance from your home than the spread of its branches at maturity.
Contact your agent for further information on how your trees affect your home. Or call Forward Mutual at 920-261-6616.
Whether it’s flood warnings from Tropical Storm Cristobal or a surprise summer tornado, Wisconsinites can expect one thing: The Unexpected. That’s why Insurance Commissioner Mark Afable compiled these helpful ideas for always being prepared.
Don’t forget! Pack your Go-Bag!
Forecasts have warned about the risks of torrential rains, flooding, and tornados in parts of Wisconsin due to the remnants of Cristobal. In light of those risks, Insurance Commissioner Mark Afble recently outlined steps people can take in advance of a storm, such as:
The Office of Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) has online resources for Wisconsin residents who have questions or would like more information, including a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) guide to flood damage, a Consumers Guide to Homeowners Insurance and a Settling Property Insurance Claims guide. Wisconsinites who believe they have been improperly denied insurance coverage should visit OCI’s website to learn more about how to file a complaint.
If you have any further questions, contact your agent or Forward Mutual.