October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) and there’s no better place to practice online safety than your home. From young children playing with internet-connected toys, to teens connecting with friends, and adults running home maintenance from their smartphones, our usage of online technology has never been higher. Nor has the need to protect our privacy and security.
This infographic by the National Cybersecurity Alliance shares online safety tips for the whole family.
Forward Mutual is proud to feature our independent agency Ixonia Insurance Agency as a top producer for our reinsurer Grinnell Mutual. Locally owned by Gordon Schmidt, this full service agency has been serving Jefferson and Dodge Counties in Wisconsin since 1974.
Gordy offers his clients expertise and diversity in the insurance industry. He began is career with Aid Association for Lutherans (now Thrivent), where he sold life insurance. Three years later he added property insurance to his line when he joined Richards Insurance Agency in Watertown. In 2008, he joined Watertown Mutual as its general manager and helped guide the company through its merger to become Forward Mutual. In 2013, Gordy purchased Ixonia Insurance Agency from Howard Wiedenhoeft.
Today Ixonia Insurance Agency is a local insurance solution for families and businesses. It offers a full line of insurance for homes, farms, auto, and small commercial organizations.
“Forward Mutual has a strong connection to local needs,” says Gordy, who offers Forward’s home and farm insurance to his clients. “Forward’s products are priced appropriately and connect well with the rural, agricultural community.”
Are you looking for home or farm insurance in Jefferson or Dodge Counties, or the surrounding areas? Give Gordy a call at 920-261-2493 and learn how a Forward Mutual policy can protect your property.
By HOWARD WIEDENHOEFT
For the first 100 years of operation, both Ixonia Mutual Insurance Company and Watertown Mutual Insurance Company audited their own books. This was done at the end of each year by the directors as a whole or a committee made up of directors.
In the 1970s, Ixonia Mutual Treasurer Theodore Degner felt self-auditing was inadequate and that policyholders needed and expected an independent auditor to review its books. Showing great foresight, he suggested this audit would give policyholders confidence in the financial strength and soundness of the mutual. Ixonia Mutual’s 1975 books were opened up and audited for the first time by an independent auditor, who then presented its findings to the board of directors and policyholders at the 1976 annual meeting. This was the first annual report presented on an accrual basis. [Read more…] about By the Minutes: Establishing Confidence in Financial Strength
Swimming pools can be a fun family asset to your backyard. However, before considering such fun in the sun, it’s a good idea to talk with your homeowner’s insurance agent to be sure you have coverage in place. [Read more…] about Things to Know About Swimming Pools
By HOWARD WIEDENHOEFT
In the first 100 years for Ixonia Mutual Insurance Company and Watertown Mutual Insurance Company, the bylaws of both mutuals required the secretary to be the manager of the mutual.Eventually, each changed its bylaws to allow the directors to hire someone other than a director or secretary to run the mutual. Watertown Mutual was the first to make this change, when in 1987 it hired Gary Trebby to serve as its first non-director manager.
[Read more…] about By the Minutes: Mutual Managers and Staff
By HOWARD WIEDENHOEFT
In the early days of Ixonia Mutual Insurance Company and Watertown Mutual Insurance Company the offices were always located in the home of the serving secretary. When a new secretary was elected the mutual’s office equipment and files were moved to the new secretary’s home. I personally experienced this. In 1981 I was elected secretary of Ixonia Mutual on a Saturday and that next Wednesday the directors moved the mutual’s provisions to my home. Suddenly one of my rooms took on a desk and chair, typewriter and stand, copy machine, adding machine, two 2-drawer filing cabinets and files, and a safe. [Read more…] about By the Minutes: Mutual Offices