Things to Remember-Post Wedding

We are getting ever so much closer to wedding season. That means you need to start thinking about what to do in regard to your individual insurance coverages once you’re hitched. Let us help you with that.

Some people will keep things separate after they get married. We want you to know that’s not a great idea. You are very likely losing discounts!  Check with your insurance agent for your auto and home insurance to see if you get discounts now that you are married. Also be sure your new spouse is a named insured on your policies.  They then get protection like you do. So while you’re on the phone getting those discounts, name them too. And while you’re at it, be sure jewelry is scheduled if you want them scheduled. It acts as a rider on your home policy to cover those beautiful new rings you now get to wear.

The final thing to remember when you make that leap to the married life is to change any life insurance policies you have to name your spouse as a beneficiary…if you so choose. This is one of the things that many times gets forgotten until long after the wedding day occurs.

Questions? Feel free to ask one of our many great staff at TrueNorth. Call, email, post or comment and we’ll get you the answers you need. Check out our TrueNorth Facebook page or if you’re more a Twitter user, direct message us at TrueNorthInsure. Or if you’d rather call, do so at 1.800.798.4080. We look forward to answering them.

Meet the Team: Andy Shifflett

Networking is a great way to get to know people around you. We wanted to do a little online networking with you so we are introducing another of the great people working in the insurance world. This month we chose Andy Shifflett. He has been in the insurance world for more than 30 years and been with TrueNorth for almost a year.

Q: How would you describe yourself in three words?
A: Compassionate, caring, trustworthy.

Q: What did you want to be when you grew up?
A: I wasn’t as sure of what I wanted to be as much as what I didn’t want to be.

Q: How long have you worked in the insurance industry?
A: Got my first insurance license to sell life in 1979

Q: What is the best thing you get to do in your job?
A: Help people understand what to them might seem very confusing, and leave them feeling better after having visited with them.

Q: Tell me about how you got into your line of work.
A: I had no desire to be in insurance.  Yet, after my wife and I having our first home, first car payment and first child, I lost my job.  My father was in insurance and asked me to try it.  At first I said no and resisted, yet finding no work I decided to give it a try.  Never knowing I would have a knack for working with people.  Thirty plus years later, I still enjoy helping clients.

Q: Do you have any favorite stories from your work life?
A: #1     Although time consuming, at the start of my career, I’d try to visit two families every evening regarding personal insurance and sometimes life insurance.  You learn a lot from setting at someone’s kitchen table for an hour and a half!  That was both challenging and rewarding!
#2     Experiencing the insurance promise, I had visited with a client on a Friday evening and bound insurance on the home and auto.  That night the home caught fire.  I hadn’t advised anyone yet, not staff or company that this account was bound.  Then to see the client made whole, that was cool.
#3     Experiencing a clients thanks.  Had a client I insured with several hundreds of thousands of life insurance.  One year later he died on a tread mill at the Dr office.  The grief of the family was large and so was the funeral.  Yet I would never have expected the thanks from the surviving spouse, for having protected her husband and provided the tax free money.  I’ve never forgot that impact, both for them and for me.

Q: Anything else you want to add?
A: Regardless of the size of the transaction, never underestimate your impact on another person, both for good and or bad.  And if bad?  Never underestimate your ability to make a bad situation a good one!

Have a question for Andy? Just pop on over to our TrueNorth Facebook page or if you’re more a Twitter user, direct message us at TrueNorthInsure. He’ll answer your questions.

What is Heart Disease?

February is Heart Month. And because we care about you, we wanted to give you a little insight into heart disease and what you can do to keep healthy.

Heart disease is a common term for coronary artery disease. It is the number one cause of death in both men and women over the age of 60 in the United States.

Causes

Heart disease is caused by atherosclerosis – a buildup of plaque in the inner walls of the arteries – which narrows, slows or blocks the flow of blood to the heart.

Risk Factors

Controllable risk factors for heart disease include:

• High blood pressure

• High LDL cholesterol

• Type 2 diabetes

• Smoking

• Being overweight or obese

• Lack of physical activity

• Using illegal drugs, such as cocaine or speed

Warning Signs

The symptoms you experience depend on the type and severity of your heart condition. Common signs and symptoms of heart disease include:

• Shortness of breath

• Dizziness

• Chest pain or discomfort

• Heart palpitations

• Weakness or fatigue

Call your doctor if you begin to have new symptoms or if they become more frequent or severe.

Treatment

The goals of treatment for heart disease are to relieve symptoms, control or reduce risk factors, stop or slow further damage to the arteries and prevent and treat cardiac events. Treatment includes:

• Self-care and prevention

• Medications

• Procedures to open blocked or narrowed arteries or to bypass them

• Cardiac rehabilitation

Self-Care and Prevention

• Get regular medical check-ups.

• Don’t smoke.

• Maintain a healthy weight.

• Take medications as prescribed.

• If you are at a higher risk for heart disease, ask your doctor about low-dose aspirin therapy.

• Watch for signs of diabetes and see your doctor if you have any symptoms.

• Follow a diet low in saturated fats, trans fats and cholesterol.

• Limit sodium intake to 1,500 to 2,400 milligrams per day.

• Exercise regularly.

• Manage stress by practicing relaxation techniques.

• Drink alcohol in moderation. Check with your doctor to find out if and how much you may drink.

Keeping Y.O.U. Safe

There are great ways to keep your identity safe and luck isn’t one of them. Here are a few tips to keep your identity safe from internet predators.

•Shred, shred, shred.
Shred documents with personal or credit card information on them

•Guard your SSN.
Don’t carry your Social Security card with you, and have the number removed from your insurance cards

•Protect your email and computer.
Don’t send sensitive information by email. Use a firewall when you connect to the Internet, and use the security features if you use a wireless network

•Stay current with your credit.
Review your credit report at least annually. Take advantage of websites such as annualcreditreport.com

•Review credit card statements.
Make sure you’re getting charged the right amount at the right place

•Clean out your wallet.
Don’t keep more than two credit cards on hand, and make a copy of them to stick in a different place. Also, write “Ask for ID” on the back of your credit cards so not just anyone can sign for you

•Keep checks in check.
After ordering checks, pick them up from the bank yourself. Consider using just your first initial(s) and last name instead of your full name. This will make it more difficult for someone else to forge your signature

•Secure your mail.
Get a locking mailbox, and always take outgoing mail to a public drop-box. Have the post office hold your mail if you’ll be away

•Watch for “shoulder surfing.”
Always be aware of your surroundings. ID thieves can write your numbers down quickly if you leave your card out while completing a purchase. They can even take a picture of your information with something as small as a camera cell phone

•Shop online with caution.
Be sure you’re using a secure site before entering bank or credit card information online. Use site addresses that begin with https rather than just http, and make sure you can find the locked padlock in your browser window

•Use anti-virus software.
Ensure that you are always running the most up-to-date anti-virus program on your computer

•Choose passwords wisely.
Use a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers and other marks to make it harder to crack or steal your password

•Protect passwords.
Don’t write down your passwords or keep them out where anybody can read them. Don’t allow your browser to auto-fill passwords since these can be easily stolen

•Beware of “phishing.”
Phishing is when would-be identity thieves use a phony email and/or website to fool you into providing your credit card number, password or other information. Don’t respond to these emails. Reputable companies won’t ask for your information in this way

•Keep your PC clean.
Use one of the powerful free spyware removers to make sure that no one is “looking over your shoulder”

•Don’t respond to phony phone calls.
Unless you called the company, don’t provide unknown callers with personal information regardless of who they say they are

-taken from nationwide.com

Umbrellas Protect You from More than the Rain

Unfortunately, lawsuits can happen…

Nobody wants or expects to be sued, but it can happen—regardless of your financial status. If you are held personally accountable and legally liable for certain injuries or property damage at your home or while running your business, almost all of your assets could be used to pay the judgment. With personal and commercial umbrella liability insurance, you’ll have the extra coverage you need to protect yourself financially. And it’s affordable, so the extra protection doesn’t mean going broke.

How it works:
An umbrella liability policy works just like the name “umbrella” implies, adding an additional layer of protection on top of the liability portion of your standard policies. It also offers coverage for many situations not covered by your basic insurance.

Situations where a personal umbrella policy could provide protection:

• Car accidents

• Accidental falls on your property

• Swimming pool or home playground mishaps

• Accidents involving your boat, ATV, snowmobile, jet ski or other watercraft

• Golf course injuries

• Libel, slander, or invasion of privacy

Situations where a commercial umbrella policy could provide protection:

• A customer is injured at your business

• One of your products causes illness and/or injury

• An employee driving one of your vehicles is in an accident causing injuries

• Your operation causes a fire that destroys neighboring businesses

Get the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’re protected. Just head on over to our TrueNorth Facebook page or if you’re more a Twitter user, direct message us at TrueNorthInsure. We’ll answer your questions. Or you can call us at 1.800.798.4080 to get a quick quote.

-taken from Alliedinsurance.com

Meet the Service Team: Lori Houston

It’s time to meet another person on the service team in Risk Management. Lori Houston is a Service Manager in the Personal Lines Division. She recently moved to Risk Management from another division within TrueNorth. Here is her story.

Q: How would you describe yourself in three words?
A: Easy-going, considerate, organized.

Q: What did you want to be when you grew up?
A: I wanted to be a nurse as a young girl. After starting college at the University of Iowa, I thought I wanted to be an accountant but found the classes to not be quite what I expected. I then transferred to UNI where I got a degree in marketing.

Q: How long have you worked in the insurance industry?
A: I’ve been at TrueNorth for 14 months…3 months in Personal Lines.

Q: What is the best thing you get to do in your job?
A: I enjoy interacting with clients and employees and I really like hearing the client stories of what’s going on in their lives.  It makes everything personal so when I’m working with them on a claim or some other issue, I know more about them than just their account number and policy ID.

Q: Tell me about how you got into your line of work.
A: By chance really…I was a stay-at-home mom for 9 years before deciding to re-enter the work force. I started at TrueNorth in an administrative position and really wanted to work more with clients, so Personal Lines was a good fit for me.

Q: Do you have any favorite stories from your work life?

A: I haven’t really worked long enough in Personal Lines to have any interesting stories. But I’m sure that I have asked my colleagues some pretty interesting questions during my learning process!

Q: Anything else you want to tell people about?
A: Just that TrueNorth has been a great fit for me. The people and the culture here make coming to work each morning something that I look forward to!

Have a question for Lori about home, auto or umbrella insurance? Just pop on over to our TrueNorth Facebook page or if you’re more a Twitter user, direct message us at TrueNorthInsure. She’ll answer your questions. Or just call her at 1.800.798.4080 to get a quick quote.

Winter Driving Safety Tips from TrueNorth

Precautions for Avoiding Skids, Slips and Accidents

Losing control of a car is undoubtedly one of the most terrifying experiences that anyone can go through. Unfortunately, it is common when the temperatures turn cold and the roads get slick.

• One of the most dangerous winter driving hazards is skidding, which at high speeds, could result in a nasty crash. To prevent an unnecessary skid, slip or accident, consider the following accident prevention techniques:
  • Slow down ahead of turns and curves, as this will allow you to prepare for potential icy spots.
• When at a curve, apply power slightly to the gas and steer steadily. Do not change directions abruptly and refrain from braking suddenly.
  • Plan ahead for lane changes.
• Check your rearview mirror and blind spot, and then signal your direction to alert other motorists.
• When changing lanes, move over in a long, gradual line with minimal steering changes.
  • Look out for ice patches, piles of wet leaves and shady areas. These areas are skidding hazards.
  • Anticipate stops by slowing down gradually, well ahead of intersections. These areas are generally slicker than other parts of the road because of the excess starting and stopping traffic.
  • Drive at reduced speeds.
• Slow your speed and increase your following distance behind the vehicle in front of you. This will allow for a larger buffer in case you start to slip.
  • Avoid overpowering in deep snow.
• Use a light foot on the accelerator as opposed to slamming on the gas to move forward.

If You Start to Skid…

If your car starts to skid, do not panic. Steer in the direction that the vehicle is sliding until you feel the wheels regain traction. Then, slowly straighten your wheels and keep rolling. If you need to brake before your tires regain traction, apply the brake carefully so that you do not lock your wheels.

A Healthy New Year

Typically this time of year we’ve started thinking about resolutions. Many of us choose to make one or another that has to do with losing weight or exercising. Whether we keep them or not, we all have great intentions for the new year. So here are a few ideas to try to keep those resolutions including some great recipes from our TrueNorth cookbook!

If changing eating habits were easy, everyone would be fit and healthy. One key to making lasting improvements is to make changes in stages. Start with something simple and stick to it for a week. After your family has mastered one change, add another.

Some Ideas to Get You Started

• Eat breakfast.
• Substitute water for one sugary drink each day.
• Eat one to two more fruits or vegetables each day.
• Plan a healthy snack for each day of the week.
• Switch to a low-fat version of a favorite food.
• Plan three meals and two snacks every day.
• Plan a home-cooked meal, which usually has fewer calories, more reasonable portions and costs less than typical meals eaten at restaurants. 

Set the Example

Parents play a big role in guiding their children’s eating habits by the examples they set, the foods they make available in the home and the mealtime experiences they create for their families. Offer healthy snacks such as fruit, low-fat cottage cheese or yogurt, frozen juice bars, applesauce, celery or apples and peanut butter, raw vegetables, graham crackers, fig bars or whole wheat crackers and low-fat cheese. Large portions mean too many calories. A snack for a typical adult may be a container of yogurt, but for a preschooler, two or three tablespoons of yogurt is about right.

Make Eating an Enjoyable Activity for the Whole Family

Family meals can be a time to monitor what children are eating and reconnect with each other. Involve children in food preparation and clean-up, and sit down with children when they eat. The idea is to build healthy lifelong eating habits.

Some healthy eating tips include the following:

• Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables – half your plate at each meal should be vegetables or fruit.
• Beware of sweetened drinks – sodas and sports drinks are high in calories. Keep in mind that too much juice can also quickly add calories to a child’s diet.
• Choose food sensibly when eating out.

Healthy Food Tips When Eating Out

• Ask if you don’t know what is in a dish or the serving size.
• Eat the same portion size you would at home.
• Ask for sauces, gravy and dressings on the side – or avoid them altogether.
• Order foods that are not breaded or fried.
• Order fruit for dessert.
• Ask for substitutions: A vegetable instead of fries, or for the high-fat food to be left off the plate.
• Ask for low-calorie versions of food. Vinegar and oil or a squeeze of lemon is better than high-fat dressings or sauces.

And finally, a couple recipes from our TrueNorth cookbook from current and former teammates… Enjoy!

Tomato Tortellini Soup
1 lg onion, coarsely chopped
2T olive or canola oil
3 cans low salt chicken broth
1 28oz can tomatoes, chopped, with juice
1 8 oz pkg dry cheese tortellini
¼-½t black pepper
½-1t dried thyme

Saute onion in oil until translucent. Add chicken broth, tomatoes and juice. Cook over medium heat until boiling. Add the tortellini and reduce heat until mixture is just simmering. Cover and simmer until tortellini is done, about 25-30 minutes. Season with pepper and thyme to taste, then serve.

Oriental Chicken Salad
2T butter or margarine
1 pkg oriental or chicken flavor ramen noodle soup
2T sesame seed
1/8C sugar
¼C cider vinegar
2T low sodium soy sauce
1T sesame oil
½t pepper
½t ground ginger
2C cut up, cooked chicken
¼C low salt dry roasted peanuts
4-6 green onions, sliced
1 bag coleslaw mix

Melt butter in 10 in skillet over medium heat. Stir in seasoning packet from soup mix. Break block of noodles into bite-sized pieces; stir into butter mixture. Cook noodles 2 minutes, stirring occasionally Stir in sesame seed. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until noodles are lightly browned. Remove from heat. Mix sugar, vinegar, oil and pepper in large blow. Add noodle mixture and remaining ingredients and toss well.

Meet the Service Team: Maud Moore

It’s time to meet the next person on the service team in Personal Lines Risk Management at TrueNorth. Maud Moore grew up in Sweden but has been in the United States for many years. She has been working in the insurance industry for 30 years. Here is her story.

Q: How would you describe yourself in three words?
A: Professional, organized, conservative.

Q: What did you want to be when you grew up?
A: When I was a child in Sweden I wanted to be a professional ice figure skater. She has maintained that mind-set of being dedication to staying healthy to this day.

Q: How long have you worked in the insurance industry?
A: Thirty years

Q: What is the best thing you get to do in your job?
A: I love meeting new people, so selling new business and working with clients by helping them manage their risk is her favorite part of the job.

Q: Tell me about how you got into your line of work.
A: I went to U of Iowa for insurance school and then got my insurance license.

Q: Do you have any favorite stories from your work life?
A: My husband owned an insurance business, Moore Insurance Consultants and I went to work for him when my children were older and went off to school for most of the day. Most of my friends are clients of mine; First they were clients and then became friends.

Have a question for Maud? Just pop on over to our TrueNorth Facebook page or if you’re more a Twitter user, direct message us at TrueNorthInsure. She’ll answer your questions. Or just call her at 1.800.798.4080 to get a quick quote for your home, auto or umbrella insurance.

Clark, the Christmas Tree’s on Fire and Other Holiday Safety Tips

Clark Griswold was not the most safe holiday decorator. But with these tips, you certainly can be!

Christmas Tree Safety
Christmas trees are one of the most popular traditions of the season, but pose their own unique fire hazards. Help keep your tree fresh throughout the holiday by considering the following:

•    Keep the tree outdoors and cover the trunk in snow, or immerse it in a bucket of water until you are ready to decorate it.

•    When you are ready to put up the tree, cut a 1- or 2-inch diagonal off the bottom of the trunk. The new cut will help the tree to absorb water, which preserves its freshness.

•    Select a spot for the tree that is at least three feet away from a heat source.

•    Put the tree in a sturdy, water-holding stand with widespread legs, and keep the stand filled with water.

•    Keep the tree’s water away from your pets. It is toxic to animals.

•    Do not leave your tree up for longer than two weeks.

•    Once a tree becomes dried out, don’t keep it in your home or garage, as it is highly flammable.

Holiday Lighting Safety
•    Mixing and matching lights can create a fire hazard, so keep outside lights outdoors and inside lights indoors.

•    Always buy lights and electrical decorations bearing the name of an independent testing lab, such as UL, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation and maintenance.

•    Carefully inspect new and previously used light strings before using them. Throw away any that appear damaged.

•    When hanging your lights, string lights together using built-in connectors. Don’t join more than 200 midget lights or 50 larger lamps through one string or cord.

•    Don’t connect more than three sets of lights to one extension cord.

•    Do not allow children or pets to play with electrical decorations or lights; they could produce a deadly shock.

•    Remember to unplug all decorations and lights, both inside and outside your home, before leaving or going to bed.

•    If you blow a fuse, unplug the lights from the outlet and immediately replace the blown fuse. If the replacement fuse blows again, a short circuit may be present. Throw the faulty light string or decoration away, or if new, return it for a refund.

Candle Safety
Candles should always be placed in stable holders and in a spot where they can’t be easily disturbed. Other safety considerations:

•    Never use lit candles to decorate your Christmas tree.

•    Never leave a burning candle unattended, and always extinguish candles before leaving the room or going to bed.

•    Avoid placing candles near flammable objects.

•    Keep burning candles out of the reach of children and never leave them unattended in a room where candles are lit, no matter how high up the candles are sitting.