News

Building A Better Summer Camp Experience

Careful planning can help keep summer camp fun and safe. Spring is a busy season for parents reserving spots for their children in summer camps and activities, and many health, tennis, racquet and athletic clubs are starting to ramp up for summer. If you are a club […]

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The Insurance Side of House Flipping

Remember insurance needs when flipping a house. It’s now a popular reality TV show scenario: A young, ambitious couple purchases a foreclosed property and flips it for a huge profit. This quick cash flow seems too good to be true… and certainly can be. The thrill of […]

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Planning a Hotel or Motel Stay? Think About Fire Safety

Count the doors between your room and the exit. An estimated 3,900 hotel and motel fires are reported each year in the United States. Use these tips to ensure that you stay safe during your vacation or business overnight. Plan Ahead Choose a hotel or motel that […]

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Make Sure Your Stuff Is Protected When You Move

Moving generally indicates an exciting time of transition and life change- whether it’s moving from home for the very first time to an apartment or downsizing because the kids have all moved out. Whether you’re handling the move yourself with the help of friends and family or […]

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Happy Mother’s Day! The History of Mother’s Day.

Each of our history’s begin with mom. It’s certainly a great day to express our thoughts and feelings about the most important woman in our lives. But what’s the origin of the celebration? Mother’s Day is celebrated in many countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, […]

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Take a 4 Minute Tropical Vacation

Spring may be here but why not take a serious leap into warmer weather and enjoy the sights and sounds of a tropical vacation presented in this high definition 4 minute video. Or better yet, if you have the time here’s a 4 1/2 hour version… Click […]

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Be Sure to Super Protect Your Super IDs

Here’s a little quiz. Where is your Social Security card right now? What about your passport? Your birth certificate? Choose one: In the safe deposit box at my bank or in a locked file cabinet or fire-rated document chest at home I’m not sure, but they must […]

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Smart Parents Monitor Smartphone & Tablet Gifts

Did you get your kids a smartphone or tablet this holiday season? With schools using technology in classes and kids being exposed to these devices at an early age, the question is often a matter of when, not if. Parents may have questions and concerns about how […]

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Early Preparation for a Winter Blizzard

It goes without saying that one area’s definition of a blizzard is not necessarily another area’s definition. Yet all things being equal – when it’s best to stay home then it’s best to be prepared. Long-range weather predictions for 2014-2015 suggest another cold winter is on its […]

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Holiday Shopping: 12 Precautions to Protect Youself & Your Property

With the holiday season fast approaching, many of us are out shopping and enjoying the festivities. In this joyous atmosphere, we also need to be aware of our surroundings and develop a safe routine because unscrupulous individuals may be out to take advantage of our festive mood. […]

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Choose Your Card Wisely to Protect Your Money

These days it seems most people find it convenient to use credit or debit cards rather than carry cash or write checks for each purchase. Recent headlines concerning account information breaches should be of concern to all card users. Important differences between credit cards and debit cards […]

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Keeping Your Teen Driver Safe on the Road

National Teen Driver Safety Week is October 19-25. It’s an exciting time in teens’ lives when they first begin driving, but it’s also an extraordinarily dangerous time as distractions seem to be everywhere. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motor vehicle crashes are the […]

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Kids, The School Bus, And You

For over twenty-three million students nationwide, the school day begins and ends with a trip on a school bus. The greatest risk is not riding the bus, but approaching or leaving the bus. Before children go back to school or start school for the first time, it […]

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Thieves Are Out To Steal Your PIN Code – A Prevention Tip

There is a new way for thieves to steal your ATM or DEBIT CARD PIN Code using an iPhone without you noticing and they don’t have to be near you to pull it off. Before you think it’s as simple as a thief taking a video of […]

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An Simple Equation for Life Insurance

Test the Rule of 3.6% How do you know if you own enough life insurance? Life Insurance can never replace a husband, wife or parent, but for most it’s intended to restore the income a family depends on in a loved one’s absence. The Rule of 3.6% […]

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School Bus Safety For Children And Drivers

With schools now full of activity for the fall, school buses are once again traveling the roads. While statistically school buses are the safest method to transport children to school, it’s a good time for parents to remind children to follow safety rules while on the bus […]

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Helpful Apps for Disaster Preparedness

Regardless of your location, the summer months are usually the prime part of the year for natural disasters. One of the best and most affordable things we can do to see ourselves through a disaster is to be prepared and one great way is through the use […]

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Preparing Your Student and Car Coverage For College

Having a car at college can give a student the freedom to come and go from work or to explore surrounding areas without depending on others. But having a car also means greater responsibility. Here are some common driving situations that you and your college student should […]

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The Future: Insurance Implications of Self-Driving Cars

Google has unveiled a seemingly truly “driverless” car that lacks a steering wheel, brakes or anything else that allows a driver to control its movements. This actually strikes me as a much bigger deal for the insurance industry than the optionally self-driving cars that have received so […]

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When is A Vehicle Considered a Total Insurance Loss?

When and whether a vehicle involved in a collision is considered to be “totaled” for first-party insurance purposes is an issue of great angst and confusion for most consumers. Over the years we’ve certainly experienced older, functioning automobiles being “totaled” simply because the frame is bent or […]

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Is This the Future Of Auto Finishes? A Self Cleaning Car!

Washing a car can be a chore – and a costly one at that. In response, Nissan has begun tests on innovative paint technology that repels mud, rain and everyday dirt, meaning drivers may never have to clean their car again.

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Playground Safety Tips for Organizations and Homeowners

Playground Inspection and Safety Tips   At this time of year, it is common to find children eager for the warmer weather and the ability to enjoy your playground. Whether you’re an organization, business, church or homeowner, as we get closer to spring it’s a good idea […]

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Pools, Trampolines and Other Features That Can Increase Insurance Costs

When shopping for a new home, some of the same features that lure you in could end up costing you extra in insurance premiums. If you’re like the many buyers who wait until after going into contract to get insurance quotes on a property, you could be […]

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Driving Safely in Winter’s Weather

Falling snow can certainly be picturesque, but as we should remind ourselves it can also wreak havoc on the roads. While no one typically enjoys driving in snowy or slippery conditions, there are steps you can take to help improve your safety and the safety of others […]

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The First Thanksgiving

In the fall of 1621, 90 Wampanoag Indians and 52 English colonists gathered for a three-day harvest feast. How did Americans get from that celebration to the Thanksgiving ‘traditions’ we observe today? PLYMOUTH, MASS. Everyone knows about the Pilgrims and the Indians, right? How the two groups […]

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Auto Liability Limits – What do all the numbers mean?

So you have car insurance – take a minute to look at your policy. Do you see numbers that look like this — 100/300/100? What do those numbers mean? It is important that you understand these numbers, what they mean and if you have enough liability insurance. […]

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Need an Umbrella? The Insurance Kind – not the rain kind.

We frequently get questions about Umbrella Policies. What are they? Do I need one? Here are a few basic answers: It’s a common misconception that an Umbrella Policy is too expensive and only for rich people. Here’s the reality: the vast majority of our customers’ typical possessions […]

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Survey Says Homeowners Confused About Insurance Coverage

Many homeowners do not understand what exposures are covered under their home insurance policy, according to a new consumer survey. More than two in five Americans (41 percent) believe that a standard homeowner’s insurance policy protects against mold damage. This misconception could prove extremely costly as mold […]

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Flooding Found To Be The Biggest Risk to Cities Worldwide

Flooding is the biggest risk to city dwellers around the world, according to a study by Swiss Re Ltd. The study, published on Sept. 18, 2013, ranks the human and economic exposure to natural catastrophes in 616 cities around the globe. The study, “Mind the Risk: A […]

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State Insurance Regulators Invoke Jefferson to Limit Federal Role

State insurance regulators are drawing on the country’s founding principles as they resist international pressure to give the federal government a greater role in overseeing the industry. Ben Nelson, chief executive officer of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and a former Democratic senator from Nebraska, said […]

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