R&R Insurance Blog

According to Forbes, every 34 seconds, a child under the age of 13 is involved in a crash and more than a third of children killed in crashes were not in car seats or wearing seat belts. Car seats, car restraints, and seat belts are required by law in the state of Wisconsin.

What you need to know about car seats:

1. Car Seats have an expiration date. Usually 5-6 years from the date it was manufactured unless stated otherwise. Manufactured dates can be found on a label usually on the underside or back of the car seat. Sometimes, do not use after dates are printed into the plastic of the seats.
2. Car seats are only crash tested once. So, if your car seat has been in use during a crash, you should replace the car seat for the safety of your child.
3. It's important to turn in your car seat's warranty card because this will allow the car seat manufacturer to notify you if there are any recalls or other problems with the car seat you own. You can verify your car seat was not recalled by going to the Seat Check Website http://www.seatcheck.org

For more information you can check out one of these sites:

• Safe Kids Worldwide Website http://www.safekids.org
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Website http://www.nhtsa.gov
• Seat Check Website http://www.seatcheck.org
• Online Sunshine http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/

According to CNN, identity fraud hits a new victim every two seconds.

A new report from Javelin Strategy & Research has also found that the number of identity fraud victims jumped to 13.1 million in 2013, an increase of 500,000 from 2012. There is no denying that Americans today are at an increasingly high risk of having their identity stolen. When you add data breaches into the mix, like the ones involving Target and Home Depot, taking appropriate measures to protect your identity has become a critical part of securing your financial future.

Not sure where to start? Here are a few of our favorite tips on how to avoid identity theft:

• Pay attention to security breach notifications.
• Watch your credit cards and bank accounts.
• Don't give out your social security number unless it's a must!
• Keep your anti-virus software up to date on all devices --don't forget your phone!
• Put a password on your phone & computer and make it a strong one. Mix up the letters and numbers and make it difficult! It may be inconvenient initially but it takes victims about 30 hours and $500 to resolve identity fraud.
• Be careful what you're telling your "friends" on social media websites and who the information is available to! Scammers could be reading when you're going on vacation or collecting your personal data (dates of births, mother's maiden names, addresses etc.)
• Be careful what personal information you store on your devices and if you can -- don't store it.
• Leave your un-needed credit cards, social security card, birth certificate, and passport at home.
• Make sure you know who is on the other end of a call when you're giving out your personal information before you give it out.
• Where there's smoke - there's fire; if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is a scam.

See also 5 Lessons Learned from the Home Depot Data Breach

Still feeling unsettled? Ask your knowledgebroker about how to add Identity Theft Protection to your personal insurance policy.

The second annual State of Wisconsin Cyber Security Summit was held at Marquette University on October 8, 2014 (see photo on right). The Summit brought together national and international cyber security experts to discuss how the threat of cyber attacks can be reduced. According to Maj. Gen. Don Dunbar, adjutant general of the Wisconsin National Guard and the senior state official for cyber-security issues:

“The impact of a modern emergency will have physical effects, cyber effects, or both. A cyber attack could be just as deadly and costly as a severe storm or major tornado. Cyber criminals could severely degrade basic services that we rely on such as power, water and communication systems,” said Maj. Gen. Dunbar. “That’s why Governor Walker ordered the expansion of the State of Wisconsin Emergency Response Plan to include an annex focusing on the state’s response to cyber attacks and has authorized the adoption of the cyber hygiene campaign.”

Steps of Cyber Hygiene

1. Count: know what is connected to and running on your network.
2. Configure: implement key security settings to help protect your system
3. Control: limit and manage administrative privileges and security protocols; limit and manage those who have admin privileges to change, bypass or override your security settings
4. Patch: regularly update all apps, software, and operating systems
5. Repeat: regularize the top priorities to form a solid foundation of cyber-security

Other key notes from the conference:

• In order to stop cyber crime we need to change behaviors. You can’t build a firewall for stupidity. Passwords are too easy to crack into. The weakest link in cyber security are individuals i.e clicking on links or attachments in emails; writing down passwords.
• The problem with mobile devices is that the majority have no encryption, no password, and no time outs. 637,000 laptops are stolen every year at 106 US airports. The majority are never claimed.
• Beware of wireless networks. For example, 90% of the wireless access points at Chicago O’Hare airport are rogue.

Business need to be aware that if they have sensitive data on a network they are a target regardless of the size of your operation. It takes criminals minutes and seconds to access your system and may take weeks and months for you to detect the intrusion. The Chinese are the biggest threat. In the old days a compromised machine can be taken off line. Now taking it off line moves the virus further into the system and requires forensics to locate and contain.

Since 2005, there have been 4,404 data breaches publicly reported which encompasses 930,642,064 known records (the scope of some breaches are unknown at this point), according to privacyrights.org a nonprofit clearing house.

Included in this total are the 56 million records compromised over a 5 month period in the breach reported by Home Depot last month. Not included at this point are the 76 million households affected by a breach at JPMorgan Chase, the nation’s largest bank on October 2, 2014.

While it is these large cases that make headlines, a recent study conducted by the Ponemon Institute found that more than half of small- and mid-sized businesses experienced a data breach and nearly three-quarters can’t restore their data. While businesses like Home Depot, Target, and JPMorgan Chase will weather this storm, 60% of small businesses close their doors within half a year of being victimized by cybercrime. According testimony at the House Subcommittee hearing on Health and Technology, the one thing that hurts businesses more than anything else is using poor passwords.

Help prevent a cyber attack at your organization:

1. Passwords should be at least 12 digits long, include capital and lower case letters, and have a number or two
2. Businesses need to utilize encryption of all sensitive and regulated data
3. Make sure your network is compliant: anti-virus, anti-malware, firewalls, that the firmware on your firewall is up to date, and patches to your operating system are current
4. Conduct periodic network scans
5. Have policies on security and the use of data and mobile devices. Train your employees on following these policies.

According to Home Depot, criminals used unique, custom-built software that had not been seen in previous attacks and was designed to evade detection. In an article by Insurance Journal, approximately 40% of the cost will be covered by insurance. This is the future that businesses need to prepare for regardless of the size of your company.

Most homeowners policies limit coverage for personal valuables, and you could fall far short of replacement value if your item is lost or stolen. In order to avoid a gap in coverage, you need to add a low-cost insurance rider to protect jewelry and other valuables.

A Basic Homeowners Insurance policy generally covers your possessions for up to 50% of your total coverage. So if you insure your home for $300,000, your home furnishings and personal property would be insured for as much as $150,000.

However most policies place limits on specific kinds of items — promising to pay a maximum of approximately $1,500 to $2,500 for all of your jewelry in the event of damage or theft. Other categories that usually have reimbursement limits include silver flatware, firearms, coins, stamps and furs. (Read the “contents and additional coverage” section of your policy for the details.) Accidental loss is generally not covered if the item is not scheduled.

To raise your coverage limit for your valuables and ensure that you’re protected in case of loss as well as theft, you will need to add a rider or “schedule” the item. (You may need a written appraisal, although a detailed receipt may suffice.) Once you set a value and schedule the item, you’re covered for the full amount if it is lost, stolen or destroyed. Scheduling your jewelry, collectibles and fine art will make the claims experience a lot easier. Plus, there’s no deductible for scheduled items. So if you lose your engagement ring without having it “scheduled”, you’re not out of luck.

Scheduling your jewelry is inexpensive. Average costs are around 85 cents per $100 of coverage for jewelry kept at home and 35 cents per $100 for items kept in a vault. (Actual prices vary by company and geographical location.) Revisit your coverage levels frequently. We recommend that if you do schedule items on your policy, that you periodically get them reappraised to ensure a proper and up to date value. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to have the jeweler check for loose or damaged settings and stones at the time the item is reappraised.

Here's some help on finding an appraiser:
How to Choose a Professional Jewelry Appraiser

We talked about a great article we came across by Jim Guidry of the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance that talked about a way to protect your personal property by using your iPhone® or iPad®, he also gave some pointers on how to complete a home inventory.

(Hint) A suggestion from our staff is to hire your teenager to do this for you.

Take these 9 easy steps to complete a home inventory:

1. Make a list of possessions, including "celebration" purchases, such as jewelry and fine art.
2. Think about family heirlooms, collections and furniture. Also, consider items related to everyday leisure time, from flat-screen televisions to custom guitars.
3. Take note of commonplace items such as toys, CDs and clothing. Do not forget items you may only use occasionally such as holiday decorations, sports equipment, tools, and high-ticket items kept outside your home such as landscape and swing sets.
4. Attach copies of original sales receipts and/or appraisal documents to your inventory. Be sure to note model and serial numbers.
5. Group your possessions into logical categories. (i.e., by hobby, by room in your home)
6. Carefully photograph or videotape each item and document a brief description, including age, purchase price and estimated current value.
7. Remember to open drawers and closets to document what is inside.
8. Store your home inventory and related documents in a safe, easily accessible place, such as a secured site/file online, a fire-proof box or in a safe deposit box. You may want to share a copy with your insurance provider to make necessary updates to your coverage.
9. Review and update your inventory annually and anytime you make a significant purchase.

More information on home inventories can be found on our website. Wisconsin residents who have more questions on home inventory or homeowners insurance, please contact KnowledgeBroker, Dan Wolfgram.

What would happen if your home was completely destroyed by fire or tornado? Would you be able to replace it? When it comes to insuring your home, it doesn't really matter how much it is worth, but rather it's important to determine how much it will cost to replace the dwelling.

Reconstruction values may be drastically different from the market value, especially in today's housing market. It's important to have your agent run a replacement cost estimator of your home. You can also run your own replacement cost estimators on sites like AccuCoverage. Enter the details about your home carefully, even if it takes some extra time to dig out the paperwork. Accurate details will provide a more accurate replacement cost on your home. Then, if a catastrophic loss occurs, you can be sure you have the right coverage to replace your home.

According to the executive director of United Policyholders, Amy Bach, predicting the replacement cost requires more than making a ballpark guess. "Computers don't build houses," Bach says, "Contractors do, but you've got to start somewhere." Bach went on to say that more than 67% of homeowner's are underinsured.

How can homeowners be under-insured on their home replacement costs?

• Construction costs have increased
• People forget to let their agent know about additions
• The initial replacement estimate was too low
• Coverage hasn't been reviewed annually

For example, if you have a dwelling with extended replacement cost on a home insured for $200,000, the most the insurance policy will pay out will be $250,000 if the home is a total loss. The extra coverage provides a safeguard in case the home isn't insured for enough - but it still may not be enough! The best way to make sure you are fully insured to replacement value, is insuring your home with guaranteed replacement cost. Many of our carriers offer guaranteed replacement cost which pays the full cost of replacing or repairing a damaged or destroyed home, even if it is above the policy limit.

Wisconsin residents, contact knowledgebroker Dan Wolfgram for more information or a quick quote on your home & auto insurance!

Bullying is in the news more and more and even being displayed throughout social media. Nationwide, one in six students in grades 6 through 10 say they’re bullied several times a month; nearly one in five students report being the bully at least sometimes, according to a 2001 Olweus study.

R&R Insurance is an endorsed agent for the Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB). We can assist school districts in Wisconsin with their anti-bullying policies to help prevent bullying and reduce your risk. Contact Bill Hattendorf for information about R&R's free anti-bullying posters for Wisconsin schools.

The emergence of Spring after a long Winter (which in our area feels more like an eternity of arctic-comparable misery) means many things: birds chirping, life's renewal, flowers blooming, and the scary stuff... thunderstorms. On one hand, thunderstorms bring heavy rainfall that washes away the snowy remnants of months past. On the other hand, they often arrive with a dangerous foe we call lightning.

Ted Marino, resident of Brookfield WI and an R&R customer since 1984, explains the peace-of-mind he had immediately after his home caught fire from a lightning strike during a storm in 2010. Ted and Chris escaped without harm, but their house was another story...

Technically speaking, lightning is an electrical discharge caused by an imbalance of negative and positive charges. Thunderstorms often result in the storm clouds becoming negatively charged due to various colliding water particles, while objects on the ground become positively charged. In an attempt to rebalance this, electrical currents pass between the negatively and positively charged entities –producing bolts of electricity and heat that are both fascinating and incredibly dangerous.

Stay safe when lightning strikes:

• If you hear thunder or see lightning, move to a safe shelter (such as a building or metal-topped vehicle with the windows closed)
• If you are in or near a body of water, get out immediately!
• Stay off any electrical equipment (such as corded phones and computers)
• Steer clear of objects that conduct electricity (such as golf clubs, barbed wire fences, power lines, and windmills)
• Keep away from high points of elevation

When it comes to lightning, an alarming number of people believe the myth that “lightning never strikes the same place twice.” In fact, lightning can and will strike the same place twice (National Geographic reported about 100 strike earth’s surface every second) and at temperatures up to five times hotter than the sun!

Wisconsin residents can have the same peace-of-mind that the Marino's experience. Contact knowledgebroker Dan Wolfgram for more information about personal insurance options through R&R Insurance Services.