Many businesses maintain on-site laundry facilities, from laundromats and hotels to apartment complexes, gyms and medical clinics. These commercial entities share something else besides laundry equipment: an increased risk of fire sparked by a very flammable substance. A substance so easily ignited, in fact, that campers use it for tinder: lint.

Fires caused by superheated lint inside ductwork and lint traps are surprisingly common. Thousands of these blazes cause an estimated $35 million in property damage and 100 injuries annually. Dryer fires make frequent appearances in the news across North America. One recent lint fire closed a daycare. Another devastated one floor of an apartment building. A third destroyed a steakhouse restaurant. Fortunately, no one was hurt in these blazes but dryer fires can and do kill. 

“Lint and dryer fires are completely preventable,” says Caleb Brunz, Owner of Paul Davis Restoration of Greater Minneapolis and St. Paul, “through regular dryer vent cleaning. If the vent runs a long distance, clean it more frequently. And empty the lint collection device after every load. One added bonus? Operating costs often drop because a clean vent reduces drying time.”

Warning signs that vents need cleaning:

• The dryer takes a long time to dry clothing.
• The machine feels hot on the outside.
• Clothing feels unusually hot.
• The appliance shuts down unexpectedly during cycles.

Precautions during laundry processing:

• Ensure vent runs are smooth and straight and outlets are unobstructed.
• Make sure warm air vents forcefully from outlets when dryers are operating.
• Remove items as soon as they are dry.
• Don’t overload dryers.
• Be extremely cautious drying synthetic fabrics, foam materials or fabrics that produce large amounts of lint.
• Never put materials that have contacted flammable substances into a dryer. Air dry these items instead.
• Operate dryers with supervision. Never operate them unattended or when the premises are vacant.

Connie Nelson, an FMH agent at Cornerstone Insurance in Albion, Nebraska, was interested in finding a way to make the process of reporting acres and production for crop insurance easier for the farmers she worked with. Three years later, she and her fellow team members are using FMH Precision Crop Insurance Solutions™ to do just that.

“Keeping up with technology is important to help grow your business and be a great service for customers,” Nelson said. She saw the value in using FMH Precision Solutions, which help agents leverage a farmer’s precision technology to simplify the crop insurance process for both the agent and customer.

After talking with FMH District Sales Manager Landon Shafer and Field Claims Supervisor Tucker Boss about the possibility of using Precision Solutions for their agency, Nelson and two of her team members took the opportunity to meet with one of their interested growers about it. Customer Curtis Tisthammer was already using MyJohnDeere to collect precision farming data for his family operation.

When they met with him, FMH Precision Technology Specialist Branden Plummer was there to help with the process. Plummer said, “Curt was originally interested in using his precision acres over FSA 578’s and precision claims. He also had John Deere’s new ActiveYield™ self-calibrating combine technology.”

To get started, Cornerstone had to establish a MyJohnDeere account and partner with Tisthammer’s account to transfer
precision data.

One challenge Tisthammer had was being able to separate out his irrigated and non-irrigated acres. Plummer explained, “We set those boundaries in his farm management software (FMS) and the data comes to FMH already split out for each practice. This allows the agency and adjuster to accurately and efficiently report or
process a claim.”

Working out kinks like this is part of the process of ensuring accurate precision data to use not only for crop insurance
reporting, but precision claims and APH reviews too. The USDA Risk Management Agency requires calibration records to verify reported acres and production for crop insurance.

Nelson said how working with FMH’s precision team helped her learn how to handle more complex data, like for “farmers
that have irrigation separating the non-irrigated corners on pivot circles. The precision specialists were great in helping get
it completed.”

The support doesn’t end with the planting season though. Throughout the year, FMH’s precision technology specialists (PTS) help agents navigate using precision in the FMH Agent Center, provide training as needed, and keep in touch to provide answers to customer questions or needs.

To prepare for planting season, PTS’s are meeting with agents and their growers to get them up to speed. For customers like Tisthammer, this means assisting in setting up Client, Farms, Field, and Crops within their monitors. If they are using an FMS like MyJohnDeere or Climate FieldView™, they will also need to allow shared access (FieldView connects using the FMH Policyholder Center).

While setting up FMH Precision Solutions took some extra planning and coordination, it ultimately has made Nelson’s job
easier by simplifying the reporting process for her customers. She reflected, “It is a learning process for them, but overall it has been good.”

​You may be asking yourself why life insurance is worth it, and to answer a complicated question simply, it is worth it because it ensures your family financial security and peace of mind. It will cover virtually any type of living expenses, including the immediate, ongoing and future expenses your family may incur. 

But, getting life insurance doesn’t have to be hard. Technology innovations are transforming how we buy life insurance. The process is becoming simpler, and faster. You can now receive a quote and apply for a policy online. Use the following link to get an instant quote and start the application process today!

May 18, 2020 – Effective Monday, June 1st, all Cornerstone Insurance lobbies will reopen.

Cornerstone has implemented many safety procedures in our lobbies including masks for employees and heightened cleaning procedures in customer areas. If you do elect to come inside the lobbies, we may ask you to briefly remove your mask for identification and safety purposes. You are also welcome to call or email your local agent if you need to make a payment, file a claim, receive a quote or if you have any additional questions. 

Make a Direct Payment Online

​If you are needing to make a payment for your insurance and are uncomfortable coming into the office, feel free to take advantage of some of the options our partnered companies offer. 

If you have any questions, please call your local Cornerstone Insurance Group Agent.

​Thank you for your continued trust and patience. We greatly appreciate your business. 

​Many of our companies are trying to ease the financial strain that COVID-19 is presenting by giving relief to their customers. Companies are handling this in a variety of different ways. If you are facing financial hardship due to the pandemic, please reach out to your local Cornerstone Insurance Group agent to see what options may be available. 

Farmers Mutual of Nebraska
We (Farmers Mutual of NE) have been analyzing our Automobile loss experience on a weekly basis throughout this pandemic and have noted a consistent downward trend in both “non-storm” losses and claim counts for the past eight weeks. This has provided us with the necessary data to conclude that we are in fact experiencing a sustained reduction in our “non-storm” Automobile loss costs that we believe will continue for many months into the future. 

As a result, we are decreasing our Automobile rates 10% on all new and renewal business with an effective date on or after July 1, 2020, subject to regulatory approval.


Travelers
We know that many of our customers are doing their part to help stop the spread of COVID-19 by staying at home. That means many of them are driving fewer miles, resulting in a decrease in auto claims.

With that in mind, we have launched the Stay-at-Home Auto Premium Credit Program, which will automatically give U.S. personal auto insurance customers a 15% credit on their April and May premiums. It’s our way of supporting our customers, and we hope it helps ease some of the financial burden many are experiencing. Please note that these credits will have no impact on the base commission associated with the policy.

Customers who pay by monthly installments will receive the automatic credit on future bills. Customers who have already paid their billing account in full will receive a direct payment. We are working with regulators to obtain all the necessary approvals.


Nationwide
To get relief in the hands of our customers quickly and simply, we are offering a one-time premium refund of $50 per policy for personal auto policies active as of March 31, 2020. Customers don’t need to do anything. Refunds will automatically be credited to the customers’ most recent method of payment (automatic withdrawal, credit card, personal check) within the next 30 days. We are offering this rapid relief at a time when drivers are making the right choice to stay off the road and remain home to help “flatten the curve.


Progressive
Subject to approval by state regulators, Progressive personal auto customers who have a policy in force as of April 30th will be credited 20% of their April premiums in May and personal auto customers with a policy in force as of May 31st will be credited 20% of their May premiums in June.

Customers will not need to take any actions to receive the benefits. The credits will be applied automatically to the customer’s policy and those customers who have paid in full will receive a payment of the credited amounts. Customers will see it reflected in their accounts within a few weeks after month end.

If they have a balance on the policy, we’ll apply the credit directly to the remaining balance. And if they’ve already paid in full, we’ll return the money to the payment account we have on file—please make sure your customers’ payment details are up to date.

​
North Star Mutual
Auto Premium Discount - North Star Mutual, in response to a decrease in automobile usage and to support our customers during these unprecedented times, will be implementing a 1 year “Stay At Home Discount” on all personal and commercial auto policies. Current customers will automatically receive a 10% premium discount on policies renewing June 1st, 2020 through May 31st, 2021. This discount will also apply to new business during the same time period. These changes are pending approval from insurance regulatory departments.

North Star is providing this discount for several reasons:

• To recognize reduced driving and automobile loss trends.
• To provide premium relief to customers, who may be struggling financially in the months ahead.
• To support agents by providing more competitive auto rates and encouraging policyholder retention.
• To eliminate the expense and potential shortfall of one-and-done refund checks.

Liberty Mutual Businessowners Policy (BOP) Refund
Today, we’re announcing a 15% refund on two months of premium for all Businessowners policies, including those that are written as part of a specialty program. 

Here’s what you can expect:
• Small commercial customers will receive a 15% refund of two months of their annual BOP premium for policies in-force as April 1, 2020, pending regulatory approval.  
• The refunds will begin in the upcoming weeks and will be issued by check.
• The payments will happen automatically. Customers do not need to call Liberty Mutual to receive the refund.

Payment flexibility options
• Late fee charges have been automatically stopped and cancellations due to non-payment have been temporarily paused for small commercial customers from March 23 through at least June 1, 2020. 
• We continue to work with individual customers to extend payment dates if needed and provide personalized support.  

During this pandemic panic™ the most common question asked of agents dozens of times every day, “Does my business income policy cover the shutdown mandated or recommended by the government?”

The short answer is, no. But you need more detail than that; so here you go.
www.independentagent.com/vu/Insurance/Commercial-Lines/Business-Income/BoggsBusinessIncomeCOVID19.aspx

What makes an illness an “occupational illness” and compensable under workers’ compensation? More specifically, how does workers’ compensation respond to the latest viral panic, the Coronavirus?

www.independentagent.com/vu/Insurance/Commercial-Lines/Workers-Compensation/BoggsCoronavirus.aspx