New name, same game.

Starting today, you might notice our delightful receptionist, June, answering the phone as JJ Wade & Associates. There has been no ownership change.  Jay is still at the helm and has no plans not to be.  But, in light of our growth and 20-year anniversary next year, we wanted a name that would reflect the past as wel as the future. 

In 1992, Jay had no idea what his "small town agency" would be capable of accomplishing in a relative short period of time.  By, 2002 the agency was already a VIP/President's Circle agency for multiple insurance companies and Jay's name in the community was well respected as honest and knowledgable without the stuffiness.

In 2005, Jim Roberts, Jr. (Jay's first cousin) joined the team.  Jim came from one of the oldest family-owned insurance firms in NC and brought 20 years of specialized knowledge with him.  In, 2007, Jay's son-in-law, H. Garrett Droege, joined as well.  Garrett's background in technology allowed the agency to enter new niches and form new alliances.

Today, Jay serves as president and Jim and Garrett were appointed as officers of the corporation earlier this year.  Truly, a "family" organization, JJ Wade & Associates looks to continue on its path of success, integrity, and customer-first attitude that has helped us reach this milestone.  Thank you for being a part of our journey and we truly are honored that you trust us to protect your most valuable assets.  Here's to the next 20 years!

"Safety 4th"

You've heard the old saying, "safety first."  Few of us actually heed this warning in the face of pure, American fun.  Holidays are a big deal, and no holiday brings out more flammables, cocktails, raw meats and other dangerous items, and combines them into one 18 hour celebration.

According to the National Safety Council (aka Party Poopers, Inc.), the combination of travel, alcohol and fireworks has made July the nation's deadliest month, and the 4th our most dangerous holiday.  While few people actually set out to injure themselves, it's not really all that shocking that drunk people igniting small rockets in their driveways do just that.

Here are a couple of reminders this 4th, to stay safe:

1)  Have a DD.  Yes, I mean a designated driver.  I know that finding DDs (especially on holidays) can be tough.  But, do what I do and call a pregnant friend.  Offer to buy them a nice prenatal massage in exchange for driving you and your celebratory crew around.  Win win.  Or, find a 17 year old high school senior who will do ANYTHING to get out of the house for a night.  Offer him nothing.  He gets to drive.  That's it.  Trust me, he'll be more than grateful.

2)  Have a CFO.  In this case, I mean a Chief Firework Officer.  The CFO is not aloud to drink until after his ignition duties.  More people lose fingers, eyes, toes, faces and other important appendages on the 4th than any other holiday.  Why?  Because drunk people do stupid things.  Friends don't let friends drink and ignite (or drive).  And, don't let the kids set off the roman candles.  This is grown-up stuff.  It's actually even illegal in NC, so be careful.  Besides bodily injury, people have also been known to set their homes on fire because of fireworks.  Not a fun way to celebrate.

3)  Be Grill Smart.  Cook all burgers, chicken, ribs, pork shoulder, etc. to the proper temperature.  There's nothing worse that food poisoning on the 4th of July.  Trust me, I had it 2 years ago.  The emergency room is overcrowded with drunks missing fingers. If you don't know how to "feel" if the meat is ready simply by touch (and, most guys don't even though they say they do), invest in a digital meat thermometer. 

Those simple things will help you stay safe and have a great 4th!

What is your definition of service?

In today's automated world, we are used to dealing with voice answering services, 800 numbers and websites to get things done. Unfortunately, we lose something very critical in the process: human interaction. While ordering shoes from Zappos may be more convenient, some things simply shouldn't be done without human assistance. Bonus points if you actually know the human you're dealing with.

Insurance is not something that translates incredibly well to the online/automated world. Sure, getting info about policies, bills and coverage definitions can be wonderfully enhanced with the internet. But, when it comes to designing an insurance or risk management program, setting coverage limits or servicing your account - you are woefully underserved without a real, live human being helping you along the way. And, this time, it's non-negotiable that you not only know this human, but you trust and respect them.

Insurance, unlike many services, is entirely dependent on you. Your coverage is never the same as some one else's. Like you, it's unique. So, having someone know you and your specific circumstances is critical. You will rely on this person to give you sound advice, help you through claims and be proactive in making sure you are 100% covered.

Now that we've made it perfectly clear that websites and 800 numbers are no substitute for the real thing, it gets more complex. Have you ever asked your agent what makes them different from their competitors? No? Well, you should. After all, you shouldn't be dealing with just anybody, right? Chances are, his/her response will include how great their service is. OK, fine. But, how do they define great? That, is a much harder question. Many agent/brokers don't define it at all. They say they have great service, but that's where it ends.

Many agencies have never given much thought to it. "We say we have great service, so it must be great." Here are a few questions to ask your agent or broker to determine if they are truly service oriented:

• "Am I in a service center?" This should be a deal breaker if the answer is yes. It basically means that your account is too small for the agency to service it themselves, so they outsource that function to the insurance company. So, even though you have an agent, your "agent" never actually manages your account. Does that sound like an agency that cares about you?
• "Do you have a service contract?" This will spell out what both parties expect out of the relationship. While this may not be something that smaller accounts need, a more complicated commercial account should absolutely require it. It will outline how many visits you expect, what risk management advice you wish to receive and other important things. Plus, you can use it as a measuring stick at this end of the policy period to "grade" the performance.
• "Does the agent handling my account specialize in my area of need?" Most agents are generalists. They can do a little bit of everything. But, similar to a general practitioner in medicine, a generalist can only take you so far before a specialist is called in. We recommend finding an insurance professional with a proven focus in whatever type of insurance you need to purchase. Need homeowners insurance for a high-value home? Make sure your insurance agent works with similar clients and has access to companies that offer specialized coverage for these types of individuals. This is true for all types of insurance. Find someone who specializes in people like you.

There are many other questions to ask, but if these all come back with positive responses- chances are good that you are with a true professional with a focus on providing top service. You have a right to good service. There are far too many agents out there that would happily work with you and give you the level of attention that you need (and are already paying for!).

Thanksgiving Risk Management

Ahh, Thanksgiving.  A time of food, family and football.  What could possibly go wrong on this wonderful holiday?  Well, for starters, how about house fires, food borne illness, intoxicated drivers, backyard injuries and more?  The following are some tips that will help better protect you and your family this Thanksgiving.

Fire Hazards

Many people forget just how dangerous cooking can be, especially when additional "cooks" and adult beverages are thrown into the mix.  Home fires on Thanksgiving nearly double from any other day of the year; and it's no wonder.  We all want to show off our culinary abilities, and often disregard common sense and normal safety precautions. Plus, your house is usually full of family and friends, which makes the potential of injury that much greater.  Here are a few things to consider.

• Leave the frying to the pros.  Deep-frying your turkey is one of the most hazardous things you can attempt to cook, and, yet, each year tens of thousands of Americans will attempt to do just that.  Make sure you follow all of the instructions on your fryer, or consider an alternate method of cooking.  None of the commercially available turkey fryers are listed as "safe" according to Underwriters Laboratories, an independent safety organization.  Check this video for some examples of what these things are capable of.

• Check your smoke alarm's batteries the day before to make sure they are functional.
• Cook as much as possible before Thanksgiving Day.  That way, you won't be overloading your oven.  Many fires are the result of trying to cram too many things into one oven.
• Check your fire extinguisher.  Make sure you know where it is, and that it's functional.  Also, make sure you have an appropriate extinguisher for the type of cooking you'll be doing.  Not all extinguishers are registered for grease fires and will do little to stop them.  

The Turkey

Hopefully, you've decided that deep-fried turkey is better left for the local fire department to prepare.  How then do you cook it?  Roasted, brined, braised?  Any way you decide to cook your turkey, you'll need to know how to prevent food borne illness.  Here are some tips:

• If you are brining your turkey (soaking it in a salt/sugar bath overnight), make sure it stays cold.  The best way to brine a turkey is keeping it in the fridge while it is soaking.  But the average turkey weighs 15 lbs., and most people brine in a Coleman cooler that is far too big for a home refrigerator.  So, just make sure you keep it covered in ice water.  Put more ice on it before bed and check it first thing in the morning.  Don't let the water temperature get above 40 degrees.
• Wash your turkey.  Yes, wash it.  So many people cook the turkey right out of the packaging.  Much of the bacteria in a raw turkey can be simply washed away.  Just make sure you pat it dry before cooking, so it will still brown.
• Pass the 409.  Everything the raw turkey touches needs to be cleaned with an antibacterial cleaner.  With the number of children and hungry guests in and out of the kitchen, you have to make sure that every contaminated area gets cleaned quickly.  
• Use a digital thermometer.  A thermometer needs to reach 170 before the turkey is safe to eat.  This includes whatever you stuff in the cavity, which is not advised.  A digital thermometer can be inserted prior to cooking in the thickest part of the bird.  You'll also be able to gauge how quickly the turkey is cooking and adjust the side dishes accordingly.

Beverages

We all like to celebrate.  Thanksgiving, like all holidays, is often an excuse to pour a little more wine, have a couple more beers or have that last glass of single malt scotch.  But, don't overdo it.  There are more people traveling on Thanksgiving than most days, and you need to keep the roads safe.  If a family member/guest has too many drinks, offer to call them a cab or provide a comfy couch for them to sleep on.  There's no excuse for letting a loved one get behind the wheel while drunk.  They could get a DUI as the police are out in full force, or, worse, they could injure or kill someone.  It's just not worth the risk.  Plan ahead.

• Have an exit strategy.  How are people getting there and how are they leaving?  Plan on designated drivers, cabs, or people crashing at your place for the night. 
• Stock the medicine cabinet.  If people do indulge (and they will), plan on having the essentials for a rough morning after.  Aspirin, gatorade and coffee should be on hand.  And make sure everyone drinks a large glass of water (or three) before bed.

Thanksgiving should be about fun with your family.  Some simple preparations will ensure that it stays fun from start to finish.  From all of us at JJ Wade Insurance, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!

Your Insurance Premiums Are Going Up

So you were notified that your insurance premiums are going up.  Again.  What to do?  If you're like most people, you'll head straight over to the computer and start typing. C-H-E-A-P_I-N-S-U-R-A-N-C-E.  But, is that going to solve the real issue?  Probably not.  Why did your premiums go up in the first place?  The answer, unfortunately, is most likely: Because of YOU!!!

Not me, you say.  But the fact is, whether you are an individual or a business and whether this is life & health or property & casualty, insurance is primarily based on the perceived risk involved.  Yes, the company (or in many/most cases the company's actuary-tweaked computer system) is looking at you and determining how risky you are as a client.  My goal is to point out a few things you need to know about why premiums increase, and if you can do anything about it.

Why Premiums Go Up:

1) Claims

This is a major reason many people see a spike in their insurance premiums.  But, isn't paying claims what insurance is for?  Well, yes and no.  Insurance is designed for protecting you from catastrophic losses that most of us could not recover from financially.  If your home burnt down, could you rebuild it tomorrow with the money that's in your savings account?  Probably not. 

But, many people use their insurance policies like a product warranty.  The old roof that need replacing turns into a "hail" claim.  You need to understand that the more you use your insurance policy, the more likely the insurance company is going to want more premium.  But, I'd argue that it's completely fair.  If a company has paid out $7400 in claims and your homeowners insurance went from $435 to $490, you're still getting a very good deal. 

Just be certain that when you turn in a claim, you understand that it might affect your loss history in a negative way.  This goes for all lines of insurance.  So, what to do?  Well, the more proactive you are about protecting yourself, the better your insurance rates will be.  In other words, the less risky you will appear to the all-knowing computer.

2) Changes in the Exposure

Many people don't put it together that a change in the "exposure" will result a change in the premium.  Up or down, there will be a change.  So, if you buy a new car, it might cost more to insure.  If your 16 year-old gets their drivers license, it WILL cost more to insure. 

Factor that in to purchasing decisions.  I know the last thing on your mind at the car dealership is your boring insurance agent, but you might need to hear that your 2011 BMW 550i will cost $120 more per month than your 2002 Honda Acura does.

3) General Rate Increases

Contrary to popular belief, Insurance companies are not made of money.  They do need to take in enough money to pay the claims and their staff.  Most companies operate with a very small margin of profit.  Most of their income is dependant on the stock market. 

Due to inflation and the general increase in the cost of living and goods, most companies need to periodically increase the rates.  Fortunately, the rate increases are usually very small (2-4%).  You should know that many times a rate increase affects all companies in a certain region or state.  So shopping around for better rates may be counterproductive.

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What can be done about keeping costs down?  Well, fortunately, the vast majority of insurance premiums are controllable to a degree.  Below is a small list for personal and business insurance that will help you understand your role in what you pay.

Personal Insurance (Home, Auto, Boat, Umbrella, Etc.)

• Practice Safe Driving - Make sure all drivers in the household know that speeding tickets, at fault accidents and other "reckless behavior" will be rewarded with a rate increase. 
• Be wary of "Free" Roofs - Know that many roofing companies are approaching homeowners indicating that they have "hail" or "wind" damage and that they are entitled to a free roof.  While those claims are covered under most homeowners policies, they are very rarely the sole cause of the damage.  Put simply, roofs in good shape do not suffer hail or wind damage frequently.  Whereas, old roofs in disrepair do.  Understand that a $7000+ roof claim, in addition to others, can increase your insurance premiums - or worse, make you uninsurable at all.  Make sure if you turn in a claim, it is for an occurrence that is sudden and accidental.
• Check out Consumer Websites on the cheapest autos to insure.  Many times, two equally priced and equipped vehicles will have vastly different insurance rates.

Business Insurance (Liability, Property, Workers Comp, etc.)

• Implement a Safe Workplace Program - Businesses have the most control over their Workers Comp pricing.  Therefore, making sure your employees stay happy, healthy and productive is critical in keeping your Workers Comp costs in check.  For more information about how to do this, check out our Work Comp page.
• Implement a Vehicle Management Handbook - Business Auto claims can be catastrophic.  Make sure all employees know how vehicles are to be used and how they're NOT to be used. 
• Implement Good Hiring Practices - Most claims begin on the date of hire.  If you knew that a person you're considering hiring for a driving position has three DWI convictions, you may want to look elsewhere.