Our Blog

Posted on April 25th, 2013 by admin

Last October, Hurricane Sandy devastated the East Coast and caused billions in property damage. A great deal of the damage didn’t come from the actual hurricane, but from flood waters. This turned out to be a financial disaster for many families and businesses that did not have proper insurance coverage, like flood insurance. Floods can happen to anybody just about anywhere, with 25% of claims coming from people in low- or moderate-risk areas; New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania were the top three states for these claims last year. In recent years, we’ve been seeing a whole lot of natural…Read More

Posted on April 22nd, 2013 by admin

Our local communities suffered widespread destruction when Super storm Sandy hit late last October. Heavy winds and rising tides caused flooding, downed power lines, and felled trees which destroyed homes and shuttered businesses; many are still not back to normal. The past few years we’ve been learning some valuable lessons about the forces of nature. It’s not possible to stop natural disasters from occurring, but you can mitigate the loss from damage by planning and preparation. Many people were unaware prior to Sandy ‘s visit that their homeowners insurance came with special deductibles that kick-in when claims are related to…Read More

Posted on March 26th, 2013 by admin

Some of our customers have been prompted by TV commercials or mass-mail advertisers to consider switching their automobile insurance. Before saying “yes” to one of these propositions, we hope you will consider the following: What do you know about this company? Not all auto insurance companies are alike. Many support local, independent insurance agencies like ours to help with all your insurance questions or problems. Others put their resources into advertising campaigns and are accessible to you only by an 800-number and chances are you will never deal with the same individual twice. Are they really offering you the same…Read More

Posted on March 26th, 2013 by admin

The open road is always an adventure and you never know what might be around the bend.  Of course you don’t plan on crashing your bike or having it stolen, but you’ll want the right insurance coverage if something does happen. Various options are available. Liability pays the other party if the policyholder is found at fault in an accident and as a result, caused damage to someone else or their property.  Comprehensive provides coverage for perils such as vandalism, theft, flood, and fire.  Collision covers when your bike collides with another object, such as a tree, sign or another…Read More

Posted on March 14th, 2013 by admin

Snapshot is a unique insurance program that gives you a personalized rate based on your driving. The better you drive, the more you can save, up to an extra 30 percent off our rate. It’s free to try. The Snapshot device plugs easily into your car’s diagnostic port (usually below the steering column) and automatically keeps track of your good driving. Test driving Snapshot is an easy way to find out if your good driving would save you any extra money on your Progressive car insurance. It’s totally free, and there’s no obligation to buy. Our staff- Nancy Mendez, Jennifer…Read More

Posted on March 13th, 2013 by admin

Sandy insurers step it up by Richard Newman Mortgage lenders and servicers are getting more upfront insurance money into the hands of homeowners affected by superstorm Sandy, the state Department of Banking and Insurance said Monday. Melissa Shuffield, a Chase spokeswoman, said the bank recently began advancing 75 percent of claims settlement checks in initial installments, up from 50 percent, and is guaranteeing property inspections within two days. Wells Fargo’s loan-servicing division, which services loans for other lenders, began advancing 75 percent of the proceeds to borrowers this month without requiring documentation or inspections, said Marie Day Hayes, community outreach…Read More

Posted on March 12th, 2013 by admin

We know not everyone has the time to walk for a cause. That’s why this month, we decided to support March of Dimes . For every new like on ICNJ’s Facebook or follow our Twitter account, a dollar will be donated to the cause. The funds will help mothers-to-be in our community have healthy, full-term pregnancies. And it supports research to find answers to the problems that threaten our babies. They’ve been walking since 1970 and have raised an incredible $2 billion to benefit all babies. Here is a chance to join them!

Posted on March 7th, 2013 by admin

Insuring your car, motorcycle, and especially classic/ specialty/antique cars can be confusing because how you cover the car depends on how you’re going to use it. If you’ve never owned a classic before, you may not know the right questions to ask your insurance agent. “To the beginning.  Insurance policies can be a difficult to read and almost impossible to understand; especially if you are not familiar with industry terms and weren’t fully educated on your policy coverage prior to purchase. At ICNJ, we work tirelessly to help clarify the insurance coverage that applies to the physical damage coverage you…Read More

Posted on March 6th, 2013 by admin

A certificate of insurance is a document that summarizes the terms, conditions and duration of an insurance contract, but it is not the contract itself. The certificate shows what type of insurance is in place at the time it is requested. It does not tell you what is in place a month from now or a year from now. This is why it is commonly referred to as a “point in time” or a “snapshot in time” document. It was originally created to serve as an outline of coverages in place and was used in lieu of producing the entire…Read More

Posted on March 6th, 2013 by admin

It’s a good idea to review your insurance needs annually, so please take a few moments to complete the checklist below. Answering these questions will help to identify whether your existing business insurance coverage is appropriate or if changes are necessary. Coverage Checklist General Information 1. Has the name of your business changed? Y  N  2. Have you restructured your company’s ownership (e.g., gone from sole proprietorship Y  N  to LLC or corporation) or added any DBA’s (doing business as)? Y  N  3. Has your business changed owners, partners or officers? 4. Has the…Read More