Back-To-School Insurance?

For many families preparing to send their sons and daughters to college this September, the cost of tuition is an investment that is second in size only to a home mortgage. A four-year undergraduate program now averages between $15,213 and $35,636 for one year.

 

And yet, according to a 2009 study by Student Monitor, 27 percent of students (or someone they know) had to withdraw from college mid-semester due to health issues or a death in the family. Until now, tuition insurance was typically available only at select private colleges and universities.

 

A first-ever national group policy from GradGuard ™, a service of Next Generation Insurance (NGI) Group, LLC. marks the first time that tuition insurance is available to any student enrolled in an accredited higher education institution across the country.

 

Parents may mistakenly believe that colleges refund tuition in the case of unexpected illness, injury or even death. In fact, the organization known as College Parents of America reports that most colleges and universities do not provide a full refund if a student is forced to withdraw from school for medical reasons. Through GradGuard, all parents and students now have the opportunity to protect their investment in education.

 

The GradGuard plan is available to students nationwide and covers verifiable losses connected to the cost of attendance. This includes not only the loss of non-refunded tuition payments, but also academic fees, room and board, books and travel to and from the academic program.

 

Send a student back to school? GradGuard also offers a Student Protection Plan ™, a bundle of insurance and lifestyle benefits designed to protect college students including emergency medical evacuation insurance, identity theft protection and resolution services, and protection for their personal computers.

 

To get a Term Life Insurance Quote or Research how to Buy Life Insurance Online visit Efinancial.com

Cowboys Announce Partnership With Nationwide Insurance

IRVING, Texas – The Cowboys and Nationwide Insurance announced a new partnership, which will officially begin when Nationwide sponsors the Aug. 24 preseason game at Cowboys Stadium against the Bengals.

Owner/general manager Jerry Jones sat next to Nationwide chief marketing officer Matt Jauchius and defensive end DeMarcus Ware to announce the partnership Tuesday at Valley Ranch.

“We’ve got a lot in common,” Jones said. “They don’t have any stockholders. Their stockholders, in a matter of speaking, are their customers, their fans, and so that’s what they appeal to. It’s a real privilege and an honor for Nationwide to take their initial foray into football and the NFL and do it with the Dallas Cowboys.”

In addition to the Bengals game, Nationwide will also be active in the Game Day Plaza at three additional home games and will introduce a fan promotion at the beginning of the season.

 

“A lot of what we’re going to do is really show our presence in that first game,” Jauchius said. “We were so impressed when we got to tour Cowboys Stadium and see all the assets there. What you really want to do is have your brand presence felt.”

Jauchius said the Cowboys are a first-rate, first-class professional organization that strives to be the best in everything they do, and that’s also what Nationwide is about.

“This is a sports marketing platform and franchise and opportunity like none other,” Jauchius said. “But I want to emphasize what Jerry said as well, the affinity and partnership between our organizations and what we stand for is very strong.”

In addition to singing the, “Nationwide is on your side” jingle, Ware, who sat next to Jauchius, explained why he decided to become a member of Nationwide Insurance and sign a personal services agreement with the company.

“All season long, you’re going to see me telling Dallas Cowboys fans all the benefits of Nationwide,” he said. “Nationwide has really good rates. That’s the first thing that attracted me to them. But as you get older and you mature a little bit and you sort of make a name for yourself and have the star behind your name, it really means a lot and has a lot of clout that goes with that. Companies know if they get associated with that, their rapport ups a little bit, too, and their reputability heightens a little bit.”

Nationwide Insurance incorporates sports sponsorships into its marketing mix to build awareness, consideration and relationships with fans. Many of the company’s sports sponsorships are designed to raise funds for Nationwide Children’s Hospital. In six years, Nationwide Insurance’s sports sponsorships have generated more than $6 million to support research and patient care at the hospital.

7 Social Media Vacation Safety Tips

"We're Not Home"

 

Beautiful sunsets, breathtaking mountain scenes, a photo op with a celebrity—vacations are a social media gold mine.

 

When you’re lying by the beach or touring a historic landmark, it might be exciting to share a picture of the view on Instagram or tweet your Grand Canyon Foursquare check-in. But that social media message can be an advertisement to burglars that says, “I’m not home.”

 

 

A recent Nationwide Insurance survey reveals that 14 percent of homeowners use social media to post updates, share photos or check into locations on Facebook, Twitter or Foursquare while they’re on vacation. For Gen Yers (18-34 year olds), this percentage jumps to 41 percent.

 

According to an article in Time Magazine, it’s estimated that 78 percent of burglars now use social media to choose the location of their next break-in.

 

And search features like Facebook’s new Graph Search tool could make the research even easier for thieves. Now burglars can quickly find out who checked in at tourist attractions or easily comb through timeline photos for vacation pictures.

 

Don’t let your social media behavior during vacation put your home at risk for a burglary. Here are seven social media safety tips for your next vacation:

Before vacation:

1. Resist the “I’m going on vacation” social media announcement

• You might want to brag to your friends that you’ll be on the beach for the next seven days, but resist the urge to post or tweet about it.

2. Disable location-identifying settings

• Smart phones, tablets and laptops have location services that identify where you are by using GPS or Wi-Fi hotspots. By disabling the location-identifying settings, your geographic location won’t be captured if you tweet or post.

3. Check your Facebook tagging settings

• Facebook’s privacy settings allow you to manage the posts and photos you’re tagged in. Prevent tagged posts from automatically appearing on your timeline by enabling the timeline review control. Then you can approve pictures snapped by friends or family during vacation after you get home.And while you’re adjusting your Facebook tagging settings for that vacay, take a few minutes to double check the rest of your social media privacy settings.

During vacation:

4. Don’t check in or post about vacation

• Check-ins on Foursquare and Facebook are a no-no while you’re on vacation—and so is tweeting about it. By pinning your exact location on a social media virtual map like Foursquare, your friends will know where you are—and burglars will know where you aren’t.

5. Capture the incredible moments

• Take photos and jot down the social media messages you’d normally say about the experience. Consider using a social media management website to write posts and tweets, then schedule them to post after you return home.

6. Blog now—publish later

• Blogging during your vacation is a great way to capture all the details of your experience. When you finish writing the post, save it as a draft instead of publishing it.

After vacation:

7. Share

• Once you get home, recap your vacation with friends and family by sharing the photos from your trip and publishing your blog posts.

Pass these tips along to your fellow vacationers (friends, family and kids) so their social media behavior on vacation doesn’t put your home at risk for burglary.

Check out more home theft prevention tips and test your home burglary knowledge with our quiz on common home break-in statistics.

Smart Insurance Coverage This Summer

Sure, the risk of severe storms and natural disasters increases during the summer months, but there are also plenty of "hidden dangers" you may not always consider. If you're not adequately protected against them, you could find yourself in the middle of an insurance storm.

 

Property Insurance Covers More Than Your Home

Home damage caused by intense thunder storms accounts for many homeowner's insurance claims over the warmer months, but so much more can go wrong in and around your home.

 

Things like bicycles, high-end camping gear, and the cameras you use to record your adventures are expensive items that can be damaged in a catastrophe or fall victim to theft. Luckily, they're often covered by your homeowners insurance or renters insurance policy. But as you accumulate these kinds of goodies over time, it's important to verify that your coverage levels still meet your needs—speaking to your insurance agent is an easy way to make sure your coverage is keeping up with your lifestyle.

 

Should the unexpected occur, you'll want to have all the information you need to file your claim.

 

Going Above and Beyond Your Policy Limits

 

What if a wayward sparkler on the 4th of July caused a burn or set a flammable item on fire? Or how about a backyard BBQ where a faulty grill leads to mayhem?

 

Consider the additional level of protection that comes with a Personal Umbrella Policy. A personal umbrella policy provides liability coverage over and above your standard auto insurance or homeowners insurance. Basically, it offers protection against large and potentially devastating liability claims or judgments, kicking in right where your other liability coverage stops.

 

A personal umbrella policy's added protection is a great safeguard if you own a pool, but don't ignore the other potential dangers lurking around your house.

 

Two-Wheeled Trips Call for Motorcycle Insurance

 

As the weather gets warmer, the open road calls. Unfortunately, so do nearly 100,000 annual motorcycle accidents and injuries. One way to protect yourself is making sure you use the right safety gear every time you ride.

 

Your auto insurance won't help you on a motorcycle. You'll need motorcycle insurance that protects your bike—and also protects you.

 

Your Home on Wheels Needs Fixed Protection

 

If your summer travel plans include an RV or motor home, remember that these special vehicles fall outside the coverage of your regular auto insurance. The good news is that motor home insurance offers specialized protection for you and your family, and even the contents inside.

 

Plan for Your 4-Wheeled Fun

 

Many people don't think to insure their all-terrain and off-road vehicles. While their relative size may be small, they can come with outsized price tags. And with so many dips, jumps, turns, and outdoor hazards (like tree limbs!), there's no shortage of things that can go wrong. Off-road vehicle insurance can help protect your investment whether you're riding on back trails in the woods or on the back.

 

Get Covered Before You Get Drenched

 

When you set out to boat, you've got more than just fueling your tank to think about. Fun on the water also means having the right safety equipment, emergency service plan, and wreck coverage ready in case you need it.

 

Head over to the Boccarossa Insurance Agency to find out how we can provide you with the coverage that fits your needs.