Your
New Jersey homeowners insurance policy may offer compensation when your
possessions are lost in a burglary, but your first line of defense
against thieves should always be good security. Installing a burglar
alarm and locks on windows and doors will help to protect your home from
the risk of burglary, but remember that if your mailbox is not secure, a
criminal could breach your security without even setting foot inside
your home.

Take
a minute or two to think about your mailbox. Is it lockable? Do you
always use the lock?  Next, consider whether the size of your mailbox is
adequate for the sort of mail that is delivered to your home. Is the
mailbox large enough to accommodate larger items such as catalogues and
large envelopes?

A
mailbox that is too small exposes your mail to the weather and allows
it to be easily accessible to any opportunistic passer-by on the lookout
for a chance to steal valuables or identification documents. Exposed
mail may also indicate that there is no-one at home and encourage
thieves to try their hand at breaking in.

Your mailbox may be a weak spot in your home’s security. A mailbox that
cannot contain your mail securely poses a risk of valuable or sensitive
items of mail falling into the wrong hands. Some home security measures
may reduce New Jersey home insurance costs, so if you’re considering
upgrading your home’s security by adding a security system or upgrading
locks on doors and windows, ask your agent or insurer about premium
discounts that may be available.

10 SIMPLE WAYS TO GET YOUR CAR READY FOR WINTER

Even though we’re only a few days into the Fall season, it’s never too early to start thinking about winter driving safety.  Your first step in doing so is winterizing your vehicle.  The following tips literally could be life-saving, and at the very least, cost-saving. 

At the Bogle Agency, we can handle a problem if you need help with your New Jersey Auto Insurance, but we’d much rather you stay safe out there on the road, enjoying the changing season and falling leaves.

1. Get the right kind of oil change. Are you approaching the time for a 30,000-mile full service for your vehicle? If so, don’t procrastinate! Among other things, the service should include an oil change, and the oil used should have the right viscosity, or thickness, for your vehicle at this time of year. Oil tends to thicken as it gets colder, and if it’s too thick it won’t do the best job of keeping your engine lubricated. Check your owner’s manual for guidance about which oil to use in different climates and temperatures.

2. Make sure you can see. When’s the last time you replaced your windshield wiper blades? They usually work effectively for about one year, so be sure to invest in some new ones if you’re due. Here’s another important step to take before you find yourself struggling to see in a blinding storm: Fill up your windshield washer reservoir with windshield washer fluid. (Plain water won’t do the trick at this time of year because it freezes.) Also check to see that your heater and defroster are working properly so you can keep the windshield nice and clear.

3. Give your battery a little TLC. This is an ideal time of year to make sure your battery’s posts and connections are corrosion-free and that your battery has all the water it needs. If your battery is more than three years old, have a certified repair shop test its ability to hold a charge. Granted, you might be able to find a Good Samaritan to help you jump-start your vehicle in the middle of a blizzard — but wouldn’t you rather avoid such a scenario altogether?

4. Examine your belts and hoses. When you have that full service done on your vehicle, make sure the belts and hoses get checked for wear and tear — even if you’re driving a modern car. Cold weather can do a number on belts and hoses, so they deserve attention.

5. Check your tire pressure. Your tires must be properly inflated to ensure you’ll have the best possible traction as you drive along — and traction is often severely jeopardized in wet, snowy or icy conditions. The air pressure in your tires has likely dropped as the weather has gotten colder, so it’s important to see where things stand now. (You can generally expect that you’ll lose 1 pound per square inch whenever the temperature drops by 10 degrees Fahrenheit.) Again, your trusty owner’s manual will tell you what your target tire pressure should be.

6. Think about switching to snow tires. Do you live in a hilly place that gets its fair share of snow? Then you might want to improve traction even more by investing in winter tires and using them over the next few months instead of your usual all-season tires. When shopping around for snow tires, ask about all the fees that might come into play, such as fees for mounting and balancing. You can accomplish this easily and make accurate cost comparisons by asking each store for the “out the door charge.”

7. Do you have four-wheel drive? If so, it’s important to check the status of your four-wheel-drive system and be sure it’s working correctly — especially because most drivers don’t use their 4WD systems in the pleasant summer months. Be sure that the system engages and disengages easily, and that all drivers in your household know how and when to activate the system.

8. Get the antifreeze mixture just right. Aim for having a 50-50 mix of antifreeze (coolant) and water inside your radiator. This will prevent the mixture from freezing even at ridiculously cold temperatures. It’s easy to check the status of the mixture with an inexpensive antifreeze tester, which you can pick up at any auto parts store. If the mixture is off, your cooling system should be drained and refilled or flushed. Be sure you’re equipped to dispose of your old antifreeze properly if you do this job yourself. It can’t just be poured down the drain.

9. Prepare an emergency kit. Store this stuff in your trunk during the winter months, especially if a road trip is in your future:

• a blanket
• extra boots and gloves
• an extra set of warm clothes
• extra water and food, including hard candies
• an ice scraper
• a small shovel
• a flashlight
• windshield washer fluid
• windshield wipers
• flares
• jumper cables
• a tool kit
• tire chains
• a tire gauge
• a spare tire with air in it
• tire-changing equipment
• a first-aid kit
• paper towels
• a bag of abrasive material such as sand, salt or non-clumping kitty litter, which can provide additional traction if a tire gets stuck in snow.
• Also, keep the gas tank as full as you can to prevent the gas lines from freezing.

10. Know what to do if you get stranded. Don’t wander away from your car unless you’re completely sure about where you are and how far away help is. Light two flares and situate them at each end of your vehicle to call attention to your plight. Put on the extra clothes and use the blanket to stay warm. If you have enough gas in the tank, run the engine and heater for about 10 minutes for each hour you’re waiting for help. Leave at least one window open a little bit so that snow and ice don’t seal the car shut. Suck on a hard candy to prevent your mouth from getting too dry.

And lastly, remember to keep your auto insurance information and agent’s phone number on hand at all times while driving.  Should you need to contact us, we’ll be happy to help you sort through any claims or questions you might have.

Happy driving!!

LIFE INSURANCE: 

Why you need it, and how to get it!

Get your New Jersey life insurance quote today from the Bogle Agency.

Do your eyes start to glaze over whenever anyone starts to talk about life insurance? Term life, whole life, universal life, what does it all mean? And the chances of you ever needing to use it are so low, why bother learning all the jargon?

Think again. Life insurance is a crucial planning tool for the people you love. Whether it’s making sure that your kids can go to college, your spouse is taken care of or just leaving some extra money behind to your heirs, you can’t ignore life insurance. So let us make understanding it a little easier.

There are three major types of insurance we offer: term, whole and universal. All are great policies with different purposes. Let’s break it down:

Term Life is life insurance that you purchase for a specific period of time, in increments of 10, 15, 20 or 30 years. Maybe you want to have a policy as long as the kids are still in school, or until your mortgage is paid off. Term life lets you make sure there’s enough money for all of these things without a lifetime commitment.

Whole Life lets you adjust how you use your life insurance policy as your needs change. While you’ll always receive death benefits, a whole life policy also includes a cash value that you can draw upon. Maybe it’s to pay medical bills or to help out with retirement—it’s there for you to use as you need, and to adapt over time.

Universal Life is a balanced plan offering you a strong death benefit protection as well as plenty of opportunities for investing and growth on a tax-deferred basis.

Here are the top five reasons you need life insurance:
1. You’ll protect your family’s future
2. Benefits are paid immediately.
3. No federal income tax on benefits.
4. Stays with you, even if your employer doesn’t.
5. Peace of mind.

Bogle Agency Offers You:
1. Affordable Rates
2. High Quality Coverage
3. Customized Quotes
4. Expert Advice
5. Savings up to 70%

It’s more affordable than you think. Get your life insurance quote today from Bogle Agency Insurance.

Still confused? Call us at the Bogle Agency at 201-939-1076, or 1-877-453-7358, or visit our website, and ask us which of these kinds of insurance fits your needs, today and in the future. Don’t leave things to chance: protect your family.

BOGLE RECEIVES BEST PRACTICES AWARD

Bogle Agency Insurance is proud to announce that once again it is the recipient of the Best Practices Award!

Reagan Consulting (Advisors to The Insurance & Financial Services Industries) from Atlanta, GA and the IIABA (Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America) sponsor the Best Practices Award to recognize the top outstanding insurance agencies in the USA. Insurance Agencies from across the USA are nominated to submit their financial and operational data; Reagan Consulting reviews the financial and operational data of over 1,000 insurance agencies and then selects the top 5% to receive the Best Practices Award for their outstanding achievement.

Bogle Agency Insurance has been the proud recipient of this award for the past 8 years!

“I would like to thank our employees, customers, business associates & company partners that help us to achieve this award,” said Philip R. Bogle. “While we may not be the largest, we are one of the best and I welcome you to contact us to see how we can make a difference in your insurance.”

Thank you,

Philip R. Bogle,

President

Fighting Back From Hurricane Irene

The entire Bogle Agency staff is at your disposal and ready to assist!

Today’s burning question for many folks is:  “What will you have to toss?”

Although some residents of New Jersey’s trouble spots are still struggling with flooding caused by Hurricane Irene, for most in the state the water is receding. As the flooding subsides, a tremendous mess of water-damaged property is uncovered. Hurricane-weary homeowners from Jersey City to Manville are filling dumpsters and lining curbs with their garbage.

As some of you return to your homes for the first time, or regain power, please remember that all of us at the Bogle Agency are ready to help!  Our office in Lyndhurst is OPEN and ready to serve you with claims assistance, or if you just have questions with your coverage. We can be reached at either of the following telephone numbers, 201-939-1076, or toll free at 1-877-453-7358.  You can also visit us at our website:  www.bogleagency.com.

Here are our tips to you to assist with your recovery.  Check out some of the links below for more information.

Check this out from our friends at Trusted Choice. http://www.trustedchoice.com/Content/Articles/cleaning-up-the-mess.aspx.  They offer many good tips on helping you to recover.

Here’s a radio link from Moneywatch.com on expediting your claim processing:  http://www.marketwatch.com/story/tips-on-expediting-your-post-storm-insurance-claim-2011-08-30?link=MW_home_latest_news

As you clean up, do keep in mind official advice to keep detailed records and photographs of Hurricane Irene damage for possible reimbursement later by FEMA.  More information can be obtained from the Official FEMA disaster website at:  http://www.fema.gov/news/disasters.fema 

Local authorities suggest watching this site, and have your application ready when, and if, our area is labeled a disaster area.  http://www.fema.gov/assistance/index.shtm

We also urge you to remember that three months remain in Atlantic hurricane season!

The Atlantic hurricane season is defined as the time frame from June 1 through Nov. 30 when most tropical cyclones, such as Irene, are expected to develop across the Atlantic Ocean.

“No one can predict what’s going to happen the rest of the season, hurricane-wise,” said state Climatologist David Robinson. “It’s been an active season thus far. We’re making our way through the alphabet, which is the practice of naming storms in alphabetical order.”

Irene was the first hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. since 2008 and the first to make landfall in New Jersey since April 1903 [which did not cause the level of flooding seen in October 1903 or this week in North Jersey.]

“The belief is that it’s going to remain an active season for the next month or so, but that’s for the entire Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean and the Gulf,” said Robinson. “As to whether any storm makes its way up the East Coast again, it’s uncertain. Yes, the potential’s there, but there is nothing that says that because we had this storm, we can’t have another; but there’s also nothing that says because we had this storm we will have another.”

“We can’t really project if another storm will come up the East Coast,” Robinson continued. “The steering currents that pushed Irene up the East Coast are gone at the moment, but they may be back in a week. or a month. We don’t know.”

 When possible, ready yourself and your family for the next time something like this might happen.

Time for a Back-to-School Insurance Review

It’s back-to-school time, and while you’re probably thinking more about homework than New Jersey home insurance, the new school year is a great time to review your insurance needs. A child’s new grade level, driver’s license, or move to a college dorm could mean new insurance needs for your family. Keep your children safe in the new school year— review your New Jersey auto, home and health insurance coverage this fall.

Car Insurance

Will your teen be getting his her driver’s license this year? Teen drivers can be costly to insure, but there are ways you can save on teen car insurance. See if your car insurance provider offers a good student discount. Your teen will usually have to maintain a grade-point average of B or better to get the discount, so make him/her hit the books. Many car insurance providers also have driver safety discounts. If your teen takes a safety course you may qualify for reduced car insurance rates, so check with your provider. Your current provider may not always have the best teen car insurance rates so give us a call at the Bogle Agency to find out.

Home Insurance

If your teen is heading away to college, a lot of expensive stuff is going too! A laptop, stereo, TV, bike, other electronics, etc. If your child will be staying in the college dorms, belongings are most likely covered by your home insurance policy. There are usually limits on how much is covered away from the home, so talk to us about exactly what and how much is covered by your home insurance policy.

Health Insurance

As children head back into classrooms, so will their germs. Colds, flu, ear infections—kids catch all sorts of things once the school year starts. The best thing for parents to do is keep their kids as healthy as possible, and make sure they are covered with a good health insurance policy. Health insurance can be affordable for you and your kids. You could raise your deductable to save on monthly premiums, or consider adding your children to your employer-sponsored health care.

If your child is going to college, you have a couple of health insurance options. Older children are usually allowed to stay on parents’ health insurance policies if they are full-time students, but check with us to make sure. There is also the option of college health insurance. Many colleges and universities have their own on-campus health care, and it may or may not be more affordable for your child to take advantage of campus health care. We can help with that, giving you an overall review of what is available.

Back-to-school is more than a simple return to academia, it is the perfect time to review your car, home, and health insurance needs, and at the Bogle Agency, that’s what we’re all about!  Let us help you today! 

Should You Go Green, Even With Your Insurance?

Is green insurance worth it?

Nowadays, you can’t go a whole day without hearing about somebody or something going green.  But, what exactly does that mean, especially in the world of personal and business insurance?

In case you missed it, the idea of going green is to utilize products, methods and materials that are more eco-friendly and energy efficient throughout your everyday life.  In theory, its a great idea! But in practice, it’s not that simple, but definitely worth the effort.

Here at the Bogle Agency, we have several ways for you to Go Green!

The first way we can help you befriend the environment is to eliminate some of the paper that we as insurance companies and providers create.  That alone will get the ball rolling and not only save trees, but perhaps some dollars for you as well.  Some of the carriers we represent offer discounts if you go “paperless.”  In the 1990′s, it was estimated that the cost to process a single paper claim was $5.00.  We can process many of these claims “electronically,” which undoubtedly is more eco-friendly.

Speaking of paper, do you remember the packet that came with your last auto insurance renewel?  How big it was?  How heavy it was?  Well, we can send that to you electronically as well, eliminating all that waste and lowering costs for both the company and the consumer.

Another important way you can “Go Green” with your insurance is with a rider that spells out the way your building would be reconstructed if you suffer a loss.  As of December, according to the Insurance Information Institute, 22 companies offered 39 products and services specifically aimed at new green buildings or green upgrades for existing buildings, adding to the wide array of eco-friendly incentives tied to mortgages, taxes and more.  These Green insurance policies and riders have been around since 2006, started by the Fireman’s Fund and are now offered by many of the other major carriers we represent.  Here at Bogle, we can custom tailor a policy that suits your needs.

“We moved into our new building in 2007,” said, Philip R. Bogle.  “And we specifically designed it according to some of the newer guidelines in eco-friendly construction, so the way I see it, we practice what we preach!  If we can do it, so can you!”

“That experience has given us a new look at some of the ways we can help the earth, while cutting costs to both ourselves and to our clients,” added Bogle.  “If you have questions, give us a call. Send us an e-mail, and we’ll look into your coverages and see what we can provide to help you Go Green.”

Want to learn more?  We recommend clicking on these links to get you even more information about green insurance.  But, remember, we’re always available, via phone or e-mail to answer any questions you may have.  Get in the game!  Go Green today!

www.earthadvantage.org
www.greeninsurancereviews.com

What Is Hospice Care, And Why You Might Need To Know:

Answering All Your Questions About Hospice Care

The American Cancer Society states that hospice care provides humane and compassionate care for people in the last phases of an incurable disease so that they may live as fully and comfortably as possible.  It’s an easy definition of a very complex issue. 

The more detailed definition is:  Hospice is a philosophy of care. The hospice philosophy or viewpoint accepts death as the final stage of life. The goal of hospice is to help patients live their last days as alert and pain-free as possible. Hospice care tries to manage symptoms so that a person’s last days may be spent with dignity and quality, surrounded by their loved ones. Hospice affirms life and neither hastens nor postpones death. Hospice care treats the person rather than the disease; it focuses on quality rather than length of life. Hospice care is family-centered — it includes the patient and the family in making decisions.

This care is planned to cover 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Hospice care can be given in the patient’s home, a hospital, nursing home, or private hospice facility. Most hospice care in the United States is given in the home, with family members or friends serving as the main hands-on caregivers. Because of this, a patient getting home hospice care must have a caregiver in the home with them 24 hours a day

What services encompass hospice care?

Doctors, nurses, social workers, counselors, home health aides, clergy, therapists, and trained volunteers care for you and your family. Each of these people offers support based on their special areas of expertise. Together, they give you and your loved ones complete palliative care aimed at relieving symptoms and giving social, emotional, and spiritual support.

Also included are pain and symptom control, spiritual care, home and inpatient care, respite care.  Family conferences can be used, along with volunteers and staff support.

Hospice care may take place in the home, hospice-based hospitals, long-term care facilities, or independently owned hospices.

Who pays for hospice care?

Home hospice care usually costs less than care in hospitals, nursing homes, or other institutional settings. This is because less high-cost technology is used and family and friends provide most of the care at home.

Medicare, Medicaid in most states, the Department of Veterans Affairs, most private insurance plans, HMOs, and other managed care organizations pay for hospice care. Also, community contributions, memorial donations, and foundation gifts allow many hospices to give free services to patients who can’t afford payment. Some programs charge patients according to their ability to pay.

For further information, we suggest you read further items at the official website of the American Cancer Society at:  www.cancer.org.

Cybercrime and How It Can Affect You!

What is Cybercrime?

Like traditional crime, cybercrime covers a broad scope of criminal activity and can occur anytime and anyplace. What makes it different is that the crime is committed using a computer and the Internet. You may recognize some of its most common forms such as identity theft, computer viruses and phishing, and at a corporate level, computer hacking of customer databases. 

Most people are aware of these and protect themselves and their PCs with anti-spyware and anti-virus software such as Norton or McAfee programs. However, you should be alert to the fact that cybercrime is becoming more and more sophisticated and not only targets consumers and large corporations, but small to medium sized businesses as well. Single programs against these intrusions are not enough.

An alarming cybercrime now affecting everyone is “account take over.” This involves cyber criminals penetrating a computer network and spreading malicious software, such as a “keylogger” which records the words typed, Web browsing history, passwords and other private information. This in turn allows them access to programs using your log-in credentials.

If they steal your password and breach your online banking system, the cyber criminal can begin an online session to initiate funds transfers, by ACH or wire transfer, to their accomplices. The accomplices withdraw the money almost immediately.

Take the first steps to prevent fraud – become aware of the latest cybercrimes and how they can access your network. You should also employ the most up-to-date online security practices on a pro-active basis.

Online Security Practices

While no tools or automated software is 100% effective, the best solutions to protect yourself against liability is to be well informed and use common sense.

1.   Do you have a hardware based firewall at the network level?

2.   Does the network firewall include anti-virus, anti-spyware and anti-spam services along with content filtering and intrusion prevention, detection and real-time reporting?

3.   At the individual PC level, does each computer have centrally updated and monitored anti-virus, anti-spyware and anti-spam software loaded?

4.   Are your computers set up to automatically update your operating system and applications for the latest available security and critical updates?

5.   Do you consider your browser security setting to determine how much or how little information the browser can accept from, or transmit to, a website?

6.  Do you have cybercrime insurance to protect your data and liability exposure in the event of an intrusion?

7.  Does your online banking system provide multiple layers of security tools to prevent intrusions into the system such as token-based authentication?

These are just some of the basic steps you can implement to assess and protect yourself from cybercrime. 

If you become a victim:

If you discover, or even suspect, you have fallen victim to identity theft, you should proceed as follows:

•           Immediately cease all online activity.
•           Remove the affected computer from a network, if applicable and any other computer stations involved.
•           Contact your financial institution to disable online access to the accounts and close affected accounts. You can then open new accounts and reset passwords.
•           Notify other partners that may have been affected, such as your insurance carriers or financial institutions.
•           File a report with the police department.

What We Can Do

“At the Bogle Agency, we can custom-tailor an insurance policy which protects you or your business against cyber exposure of this type,” said Philip Bogle, owner.  “Since this kind of intrusion is still new and not fully defined, we can take the risk out of any problem you might encounter.”

“Why worry if you may or may not be covered, when we can guarantee your safety and assets,” added Bogle  “Our job is to make sure you are covered and comfortable against any threats which exist.  Feel free to give us a call today to discuss your options into this ever-growing threat.”

Common Online Fraud Definitions

•           Malware refers to software programs designed to damage or do other unwanted actions on a computer system. Common examples of malware include spyware, keyloggers, and viruses.

•           Spyware is a type of malware installed on your computer without your knowledge. It collects small to large pieces of personal information including Internet surfing habits. It can redirect web browser activity and change computer settings. Spyware is typically hidden from the user, and can be difficult to detect once installed without proper antispyware tools.

•           Keyloggers, as with spyware, are installed on your computer without your knowledge. It is the action of tracking (or logging) the keys struck on a keyboard, typically in a hidden manner so that the person using the keyboard is unaware that their actions are being monitored. Keystroke logging can record the words typed, Web browsing history, passwords and other private information. This is extremely dangerous in all aspects of computer usage.

•           Viruses are an ever changing and constant threat to all systems. Based on their digital makeup they can deliver malicious content to your data and systems in an effort to either collect data, destroy data, or turn your systems into a machine that spreads the virus or other malware.

•           “Phishing” is the act of obtaining personal information or spreading malware using emails, calls, text messages or pop-up messages from what appear to be friends or legitimate banks, retailers, government agencies or other organizations.