Forward Mutual Insurance Company

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Forward Leadership Keeps Up With Changing Times

FMDC Class 2016

Forward Mutual is proud to announce its president and CEO Lois Wiedenhoeft (front, left) recently completed the National Association of Mutual Insurance (NAMIC) program for farm mutual director certification.

The Farm Mutual Director Certification (FMDC) offers training for the directors of farm and other small mutual insurance companies. Because insurance, even for small companies, has changed with the times so have the duties of their boards.

We at Forward Mutual believe well-educated and effective board members are the foundation of our mutual and enable us to best serve the needs of our policyholders and agents.

Congratulations, Lois!

5 Autumn To-Do’s to Secure Your Outbuildings for Winter

Autumn on the Farm

Last week we offered five easy chores for securing your home for winter. This week we’d like to extend that to-do list to your outbuildings.  These are quick and easy chores and taking care of them now will make your winter much easier and safer.

1. Winterize Watering

Does your livestock drink from heated  buckets, troughs or automatic watering systems when the temperatures turn cold? If so, you’ll want to check this equipment now to be sure everything’s in working order. Examine cords for cracks and heating elements for proper connections. Now is also a good time to drain lines that might freeze in winter and store any hoses you might have around the barnyard.

2. Trim Trees and Clear Dead Branches

Just as you want to protect your home from windblown and fallen branches, so you should do the same for your barns. Wisconsin’s snow, ice and wind can be hard on trees. When winter-laden branches fall on your buildings, they become damaging and expensive.

3. Tidy Your Yards

Clear your driveways, barnyards and yard of any items that could get buried under the snow or entangled in a snow blower.

4. Replace Broken Windows and Repair Doors

Livestock need ventilation even in winter, however they appreciate getting out of the cold, driving winds. Solid windows and well-fitting doors will protect not only your animals but also your barn structure. Oil the tracks on your doors so they slide easily, even in Wisconsin’s snowy drifts.

5. Inspect Building Roofs and Rafters

Winter snows are often heavy. Check for loose panels on metal sheds. Check barn rafters for cracks and brace any that may not hold up to the added weight of snow.

Any questions on how to prepare your outbuildings for winter? Call Forward Mutual at 920-161-6616 or contact us here.

5 Autumn To-Do’s for a Secure Home this Winter

Roof gutters filled with leaves

As of last week, autumn is officially upon us. This means it’s now time for a few maintenance rituals to secure our homes for the upcoming cold. When it comes to protecting your property, tackling these easy chores now will save you time and money later this winter

1. Unclutter Your Gutters

For Wisconsin homeowners, cleaning your gutters and downspouts is an important task you’ll want to finish before the weather turns cold. Leaves, twigs and residue easily clog gutters and if not removed can cause ice dams later in winter. For safety tips on cleaning your gutters, check here.

2. Trim Trees and Clear Dead Branches

Wisconsin’s snow, ice and wind can be hard on trees. When winter-laden branches fall on your house, they become damaging and expensive. Clear out any limbs that overhang your buildings and any dead branches that could be blown from the trees.

3. Check Your Furnace

Before firing up your furnace for that first chilly day, be sure to give it an overall clean. Clear the air vents and ducts of dust. Change the filter in both the furnace and the built-in humidifier, if it has one. Be sure to also clean the area surrounding your furnace; the floor of debris and cobwebs from the ceiling. This is especially important if your furnace is a wood-burning unit. And finally, to insure your furnace’s most efficient performance, have it tuned regularly by a professional technician.

4. Sweep that Chimney

A wood fireplace or wood-burning furnace are agreeably warm pleasures of winter. Unfortunately, they are also synonymous with chimney fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. Before you light that first fire, check that all chimneys and flues are free of debris and in good working order. Professionals advise that wood-burning chimneys be cleaned four times a year. They also suggest that gas, oil and coal burning chimneys be cleaned once a year.

5. Prepare Plumbing

One never knows when to expect that first frost here in Wisconsin so now is a good time to drain and put away garden hoses, and drain outdoor faucets and in-ground sprinklers. Check indoor plumbing for leaks. Identify indoor pipes that commonly freeze and be prepared to wrap those during the extreme cold.

Any questions on how to prepare your home for winter? Call Forward Mutual at 920-161-6616 or contact us here.

Being Prepared for Flooding

Rain, rain and more rain! Wisconsin has experienced some heavy downpours in recent weeks. In fact, several counties within our Forward Mutual area were issued flood watches and warnings. With that in mind, we want to recognize National Preparedness Month with this helpful infograph from our reinsurance company Grinnell Mutual.

Take care and be prepared!

Flooding Safety guidelinesUsed with permission Grinnell Mutual Reinisurnace Company.

Working Together to Stop Insurance Fraud and Arson

Stop Insurance Fraud and ArsonWhen natural disasters damage property, it’s understandable insurance premiums rise to cover the unexpected increase in payout. Unfortunately, insurance premiums must also rise to cover other adversities, those of fraud and arson. How sad that multitudes of honest and law-abiding property owners must pay for the actions of an unscrupulous few.

According to our reinsurance company Grinnell Mutual, fraudulent insurance claims and arson cost our nation billions of dollars each year. This includes claims for theft that never happened, inflated claims misreporting an accident, inflated prices from a supplier, arson and staged accidents.

Grinnell has implemented a Fraud and Arson Award Program to encourage insurance companies and property owners to partner in preventing fraudulent insurance claims. This program awards up to $10,000 for providing timely and credible information about a fraudulent or criminal loss to persons or property insured by Grinnell Mutual or its affiliated farm mutuals. It’s their way of saying thank you for doing the right thing.

“Forward Mutual under most circumstances has been blessed with honest people,” says Lois Wiedenhoeft, President and CEO of Forward Mutual. “We call on you to help prevent fraud and arson in your neighborhood.” 

Should you witness insurance fraud, record as many details as you can including names, address and property information of the party involved. Providing such information to Forward Mutual is valuable in stopping insurance fraud and arson. It will benefit you and every other insured property owner.

For further questions or concerns, contact Forward Mutual.

Add “Review Insurance” to Your College Checklist

Forward Mutual helps parents understand insurance for college students

College students have a lot on their minds this time of year besides meeting up with friends. They’re purchasing textbooks, finalizing class schedules, applying for jobs, and moving into apartments. With classes underway, has your college student considered purchasing renters insurance?

This young group of renters own a significant amount of electronics (including laptops, cell phones, ipods, televisions, and more), in addition to clothes, appliances, and furniture. These possessions may be protected under the parents’ homeowner policy, but special limits may also apply. If they rent an apartment off-campus, college students may not be covered under their parents’ policies. What’s more, if a fire or storm ravages the apartment, a landlord’s policy would only cover the building, not the renter’s possessions.

In a recent survey of apartment hunters by apartments.com, 67 percent of respondents reported not having renters insurance due to the cost of coverage, ignorance about the existence of renters insurance, or the belief that their possessions were not valuable enough to be covered.

What is renters insurance and how much does it cost?

Renters insurance provides coverage for loss or damage to personal property as well as liability coverage for injuries or damages for which the insured person is held liable.

Renters insurance is not expensive. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the average premium ranges from just $15 to $30 per month—approximately the cost of two pizzas or 3-4 lattes per month. Some companies offer discounts if the renter’s vehicle is also insured through them.

How much coverage do you need?

When purchasing renters insurance, it’s important to take inventory of what’s in the apartment or dorm room to determine how much coverage to purchase. When the dollar value of those items is calculated, the total value may be surprising. Should a claim need to be filed, a comprehensive list of items (including purchase prices and serial numbers) will be required by the insurance carrier. It is recommended to make a quick inventory by taking photos or video of the room(s) or use an app like NAIC’s MyHome Scr.APP.book or the Insurance Information Institute’s Know Your Stuff R®. Remember to store the inventory in a secure, off-site location.

The Office of the Commissioner of Insurance also has a helpful article here on insurance coverage for college students, as well as this publication Insurance 101: A Guide to Insurance Basics for College Students.

To learn more the changing insurance needs of college students or renters insurance, contact Forward Mutual. With peace of mind about insurance coverage, your college student can get back to more important things, like studying for their next exam or finding a date for Friday night.

This article is taken in part from our reinsurance company Grinnell Mutual.