Nationwide Reaffirms Support for Active Military

 

Nationwide and the brave men and women who serve in various branches of the military share a common connection–we both serve a noble purpose. Members of the military are charged with the responsibility of protecting lives and Nationwide is responsible for protecting what’s most important in the lives of our members. During a special ceremony on July 12, Nationwide CEO Steve Rasmussen signed a Statement of Support reaffirming Nationwide’s commitment to support associates who are called to active duty.

 

The Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Statement of Support is a pledge employers make to show they support employees in the important activities required as part of their mission to serve their country as members of the National Guard and Reserve. Nationwide believes the unique skills and experiences that members of the military and veterans have add value to Nationwide and for its members.

 

“Supportive employers like the Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company are critical to maintaining the readiness and strength of the nation’s Guard and Reserve units and allow Guardsmen and Reservists the opportunity to serve our country more effectively and with greater peace of mind,” said Tom Bullock, ESGR Chief of Employer Outreach. “By signing this Statement of Support, Nationwide sends a clear message that they stand committed to their military employees and recognize the integrity, global perspective and proven leadership they bring to the workplace.”

 

Several Nationwide associates who currently serve in the military or are veterans attended the event. Tony Hall, a heavy equipment operator in the Army and a member care representative at Nationwide, said, “I like that Nationwide recognizes military people—even when you don’t realize it because they aren’t in uniform.”

 

Military service is just another way Nationwide associates bring the On Your Side® promise to life.

 

“Our associates who serve in the military have made a tremendous commitment to protect our country,” said Rasmussen. “At Nationwide, we believe it is important to continue to hire and support their efforts on behalf of our country and our company.”

 

Working for Nationwide

 

Nationwide has always been a company that values people.

 

And Nationwide’s commitment to those serving in the military isn’t new. In fact, Nationwide traces its support of associates in active duty to World War II—a time when hundreds of its associates joined the military.

 

While they were overseas, the company set up a physical location in the headquarters lobby where associates could go to send letters of encouragement to their co-workers in the military.

 

One of the letters came from Murray D. Lincoln, the President of the Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Companies (later renamed Nationwide). Lincoln sent a letter to each of the deployed associates that said, “You are doing a great job and we are proud of you. The Farm Bureau cheerfully accepts the responsibility of providing jobs for you to return to should you desire to do so.”

 

Nationwide continues its commitment to recruiting veterans, supporting the important work they do while employed and by helping to ease the transition to civilian life.

 

Hall offers advice for veterans looking to enter the workforce in the insurance industry, “Use the skills you already have. The values that are instilled through military experience provide a great foundation for moving forward with a career in insurance.”

 

Visit our Veterans Careers page to search for job opportunities for veterans.

Should You Downsize Your Home for Retirement?

 

When the kids left for college, you had big dreams for their unoccupied bedrooms. Your daughter’s room had potential to become the art studio you’ve always wanted. And your son’s room? Say Namaste to your new yoga studio. Now, as you look back, you realize those rooms have barely changed. So moving toward retirement, you’re starting to wonder if you really need all the extra space. To help you make educated decisions about your retirement options, here are four things to consider as you decide if downsizing is the right choice for you:

 

1. Location

 

The first step is deciding where you’d like to move. Consider these things:

• Where are your children/grandchildren living?
• Where are your friends spending their retirement?
• Do you like to travel a lot or do you prefer to stay close to home?

 

2. Lifestyle

 

Consider the impact that a move will have on your quality of life, particularly your social life:

• If you’re thinking of moving far, does your new community have clubs and organizations to help you get involved?
• Consider your hobbies and interests. Are you moving to a place where you’ll be able to do the things you enjoy?

 

3. Finances

 

It’s important to understand that selling your home and moving into a smaller one doesn’t promise financial stability in retirement. Assemble these costs into a spreadsheet for your current home and a few homes in areas you’d like to move to get a good sense of how your expenses would change:

• Mortgage payments (this mortgage calculator can help)
• Utility costs
• Maintenance and upkeep
• Property tax
• Home insurance costs
• Cost of living expenses

 

4. Emotional needs

 

Finally, don’t discount your emotional attachment to your home. After all, it is where you raised your children. Your practical side (and your financial advisor) might be telling you that moving is a financially responsible decision. But if you think moving will make you unhappy, it’s worth discussing with your financial advisor to see if there are other options that could keep you in your home.

 

Deciding whether to downsize in retirement is a big question that is best answered after a lot of research, advice (seek out your financial, tax and legal advisors) and careful planning. What other things are you considering as you decide if downsizing is the right move for you?

Changing a Flat Tire 101

 

When you experience car trouble, it’s nice to know that help is most often just a phone call away. But a little education about some basic car maintenance and repair will go a long way if you’re ever caught in a tricky situation. Flat tires are a common roadside problem. Unfortunately, since you can’t do much to prevent a flat tire in most situations, they always seem to “pop” up when you have somewhere important to be. The good news is, if you know the basics of how to change a tire, a flat won’t slow you down for long. Follow these six easy steps to change a flat tire and get back on the road in a flash:

 

1. Prepare your car

 

Find a safe, flat area to pull over and change your tire. Try to move away from the flow of traffic. Then, gather the proper equipment. You’ll need a car jack, a lug wrench and a spare tire. Remember, safety comes first. It’s a good idea to consider Roadside Assistance coverage to be prepared for situations like this.

 

2. Loosen the lug nuts

 

Remove the hubcap to reveal the lug nuts. These are what secure the wheel to your car. Use the lug wrench to loosen them, but don’t remove the lug nuts completely.

 

3. Jack up the car

 

Place the jack under the car. If you’re new to this, you’ll want to refer to the owner’s manual, which will indicate correct placement of the jack. Once in place, crank the jack to support (but not lift) the corner of the vehicle where you’re changing the tire.

 

 4. Remove the flat

 

With the jack in place, remove the lug nuts completely and slide the flat tire off. Put the lug nuts in a secure place like your pocket or in an empty cup to make sure they don’t roll away.

 

5. Line up the spare

 

Line up the spare tire with the lug-nut holes. Then, replace the lug nuts, tightening with your hand until you feel resistance.

 

6. Lower the jack

 

Once the lug nuts are back in place, lower the jack, shifting the weight back to the tire. Use the lug wrench to tighten the lug nuts securely. Remember, this is what’s holding the tire to your car, so it’s important to tighten the lug nuts as snugly as you can.

 

Though flat tires are the most common cause of roadside trouble, it’s important to have the right tools at hand to get you back on the road in a variety of situations. Check out this post for more tips to be prepared for a roadside emergency.

Tips From A Nationwide Expert

Get tips from a Nationwide Expert on how to:

PREVENT HOME BURGLARY WHILE ON VACATION

Click the link to view the slideshow provided by the Nationwide Blog and read the helpful tips on how to prevent a break-in while you're away.

Redeem the Dream: Nationwide Joins National Urban League for Annual Conference

 

This summer marked the 50th anniversary of the historic “March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom,” when Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech.

 

To celebrate this important anniversary, business community leaders, policymakers and newsmakers are asked to answer the call to action, “Redeem the Dream,” at the National Urban League’s annual conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For the fourth consecutive year, Nationwide returns to connect with the attendees at this conference– it’s part of what the On Your Side® promise is all about.

 

Ways you can connect

Online

Visit www.iamempowered.com, a site sponsored by Nationwide that houses important news and information about the National Urban League’s 2025 Empowerment Goals focused on jobs, health, housing and education.

 

Also on the site, Nationwide provides free financial tools for:

• Retirement planning
• Small business insurance plans
• Family financial planning.

 

Meet our recruiters

Get your resume ready! At the Expo Center and Career Fair, Nationwide recruiters will be onsite looking to fill these positions in our Harleysville office and other office locations throughout the enterprise:

• Customer Service
• Underwriting
• Claims
• Actuarial
• IT

The Expo Center and Career Fair are open to the public. Visit booth # CF210 at the Convention Center or go to www.nationwide.com/careers for more information on how to join the Nationwide family.

Conference seminars

Attendees can check out these seminars sponsored by Nationwide:

• Saving Our Sons: Resiliency & Wellness
• Saving Our Sisters: Expanding Preventative Care
• Family Session

 

Visit iamempowered.com to pledge your support of the “I Am Empowered” goals in housing, jobs, health and education.

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.