Category: Uncategorized

Ice damage can be a major problem for homeowners. Not only is the damage itself costly to repair, but the insurance claims process can be complicated and frustrating. In this blog post, we will answer some of the most common questions about homeowners insurance and ice damage. We will explain what kinds of ice damage are covered by homeowners insurance, and we will also discuss some of the exceptions. If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us! 

What Kinds of Ice Damage Does Homeowners Insurance Cover? 

Homeowners insurance generally covers two types of ice damage:  

• damage caused by an ice dam, and  
• damage caused by hail. 

An Ice Dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof, usually where the roof meets the gutter. This ridge blocks the flow of water from the roof to the gutter, which can cause water to back up and leak into the home. A severe ice dam can even cause your home’s roof to cave in, an event that is not only dangerous to your family but also can be incredibly costly to remedy. Will your homeowners insurance step in to cover the cost of ice dam removal? In most cases, no. However, most homeowners insurance policies will cover the damage caused by an ice dam, including water damage and repairs to your roof. 

Hail can also cause a lot of damage to your home. Hailstones can be as big as golf balls, and they can easily shatter windows or dent siding. A good homeowners insurance policy will usually cover hail damage, but typically you must meet a deductible first and there also may be some exceptions. For example, if you live in a hurricane-prone area, your policy may not cover hail damage caused by a storm. 

Is There Any Kind of Ice Damage That Homeowners Insurance Does Not Cover? 

There are a few exceptions, but in general, homeowners insurance will cover most types of ice damage. One exception is damage caused by an avalanche or mudslide. These events may be covered by separate insurance policies but not by homeowners insurance.  

Another exception is damage caused by the weight of snow or ice on trees or power lines. This type of damage is usually not covered by homeowners insurance, but it may be covered by a separate policy such as property insurance or windstorm coverage. 

What If Someone Slips and Falls on Ice at My Home? 

Slipping and falling on ice can cause serious injuries, and in some cases, a person may even die. If someone slips and falls on ice at your home, you could be held liable for their injuries or the wrongful death of a loved one. This is why it is important to carry liability coverage as part of your homeowners insurance policy.  

If someone slips and falls on ice at your home, you will need to report this incident to your insurance company immediately so that they can ensure that any potential claims get reported in a timely manner. Once the claim has been made against you by the injured party’s attorney, it will go through an evaluation process where both parties’ attorneys try to reach an amicable settlement without having to go through litigation (lawsuits). If the case does go to the courts, your personal liability coverage will take care of legal costs up to your policy’s limits.  

What Should I Do If My Home Has Ice Damage? 

If your home has ice damage, it is important to take action quickly. The first thing you should do is contact your insurance company. They can help you with the process of filing a claim and getting reimbursement for repairs or replacement costs associated with the incident at hand (if applicable). Your insurance agent may also be able to provide information about what kinds of coverage are included in their policies as well as any exclusions that may apply based on where you live. Get in touch with your local independent insurance agent to find out more about how your homeowners coverage covers ice-related incidents. 

As you plan your trip, it is important to consider getting travel insurance, especially for more expensive vacations. To better understand what travel insurance offers, we will discuss the various ways to get travel insurance, the types of coverage travel insurance can offer, and why you should budget for travel insurance on your next big vacation. 

How to Get Travel Insurance 

Fortunately for any aspiring world traveler, travel insurance is easy to acquire. While there are basic travel insurance options you can obtain through booking your reservation, these policies are non-customizable and frequently leave you exposed to a much higher level of liability. If you want the best travel insurance coverage, contact your local insurance agent about acquiring a travel insurance policy. This option is the most customizable, allowing you to build a policy that provides you with the exact level of coverage you desire. Additionally, a professional insurance agent can help you understand the different types of coverage, providing you with the necessary guidance for choosing what type of protection best suits your vacation. While your agent will know what coverages are necessary for your trip, here are some of the types of travel insurance you might want to consider. 

Types of Travel Insurance 

Trip Cancellation, Interruption and Delay: Trip cancellation coverage will reimburse you for non-refundable expenses in the event of your illness, the death of a family member, natural disasters, or if the tour operator ceases operations. Trip interruption insurance reimburses the nonrefundable expenses for the remainder of your trip if the tour is canceled for a covered reason (be sure to check what your policy covers). Lastly, travel delay insurance will reimburse you for lodging and meals in the event of a delay during your travels. 

Rental Car Coverage

While this coverage is frequently bundled with the cost of renting your car, it protects you from liability in the event that the rental is damaged in a wreck, natural disaster, or vandalized. However, this does not cover liability insurance, meaning that you will be liable for damage to other vehicles or the other party’s medical expenses without supplemental coverage. See if your auto insurance covers you for international driving – most insurance providers in the US only cover driving in the US and Canada, so you want to be sure you are protected. 

Travel Medical Insurance

This type of insurance typically only covers emergency events, so routine checkups are not covered, and there may be exemptions for preexisting medical conditions – be sure to check the coverage limitations of your policy. These policies will normally cover you in the event of injury during recreational activities, more extreme sports like hang-gliding or skydiving are usually not covered by standard policies. Additionally, this type of coverage does not cover the cost of transportation to the hospital or back to your home 

country for medical treatment – look to add emergency medical assistance, evacuation, and repatriation coverage to your policy if you want to avoid this liability. 

Baggage and Personal Belongings

This type of coverage will reimburse you for personal belongings that are stolen, damaged, or lost during your travels. Your homeowner’s insurance policy may cover you even while you are traveling, so check with your agent to see if you already have this benefit. 

Accidental Death and Dismemberment

This type of coverage would pay a lump sum to a beneficiary if you were to die will on your trip. Additionally, it could pay you a lump sum if you are seriously injured or dismembered while on your vacation. Some policies only cover death resulting from a plane crash, so check your policy carefully. 

In conclusion, travel insurance can help provide peace of mind while exploring the world. It is very easy to get covered, with many options for tailoring a policy to meet all of your needs. Think about what type of protection is important to you, then build the perfect policy to protect you on your next trip. 

There are plenty of things to worry about if you own a business – there are customers to attend to, employees to manage, transactions to record, and future plans to be made. With all of these things on your plate, the possibility of a flood may be the last thing on your mind, but flooding can cost thousands of dollars in damage and shut down your business for weeks. If you take the necessary precautions, you can stop worrying about flood damage and focus on the things that matter to you. Here are the best ways to protect your business against flood damage.  

Perform a Risk Assessment  

In order to protect your business from flood damage, the first step is to perform a thorough risk assessment. When assessing risks, assume that the absolute worst possibilities will happen and plan accordingly. Think about what materials or machinery may be susceptible to flood damage in their current placement. 

Create an Emergency Plan  

Once you have thoroughly analyzed the possible risks of a flood, begin creating an emergency plan that can be implemented by you and your employees. Consider the risks to your business outside of damage to your building – an emergency plan should include instructions for employees who cannot get to the office, possible solutions to supply chain problems, and maintaining other critical operations. Consider adopting a backup phone system in case your employees are unable to reach the office. Additionally, you may want to keep digital copies of your records stored on a cloud or keep copies of critical documents at an offsite location. Once you have developed an emergency plan, ensure that your employees are properly trained on their roles during times of crisis. When your team is thoroughly trained and ready, continually test and improve your emergency plan to further protect yourself in the future. 

Inspect and Prepare Your Building  

Now that you have assessed your risks and created an emergency plan, it is time to inspect and prepare your building. There are many ways to reduce the severity of flooding on your property, including extending downspouts, cleaning gutters regularly, sealing water entry points, and regrading the ground around your building so that water flows away from the structure. Additionally, consider using local plants for your landscaping, as native species will help reduce soil erosion and enable the water to drain into the ground more efficiently. It is important to remember that the lower floors of your building are at a higher risk of flooding, so consider storing essential equipment, electronics, or records on a higher level if possible. 

Purchase the Right Flood Protection Policy  

If you truly want peace of mind and quality protection from flood damage, getting adequate flood insurance is absolutely essential. Many mortgage lenders require flood insurance to qualify for a loan, but these policies do not always provide adequate coverage to fully protect you from financial damage in the event of a flood. According to the National Flood Insurance Program, the average commercial flood claim between 2011 and 2015 was $90,000 – are you prepared to pay that? 

While flooding is inevitable, you can take the necessary steps to protect yourself from losses. Contact your insurance agent to discuss your current flood coverage to ensure that your policy completely covers your needs.  

As the ball drops on New Year’s Eve and we usher in 2022, many of us will consider goals and aspirations for the coming year. Often, we set unrealistic goals that are difficult to achieve, ultimately resulting in another year of failed resolutions. Instead of setting goals like losing twenty pounds, focus on goals that are trackable, achievable, and will help you make progress on those big goals. Here are three realistic health goals you should set for 2022. 

1. Drink more water. 

Depending on how active you are, you should try to drink between half an ounce to an ounce for every pound you weigh. For instance, if you weigh 160 lbs., you should drink between 80 – 160 ounces of water every day. There are many ways to make drinking enough water easier, such as figuring out your favorite way to drink it. Do you prefer glass bottles, tumblers, or steel canisters? Find your favorite container, then calculate how many bottles you need to drink every day to hit your goal. It is very helpful to set smaller goals throughout the day, such as one full bottle before you start work, three bottles before lunch, or two bottles after dinner. Health benefits of this goal include:

• Increased energy levels and alertness
• Aids in weight loss
• Promotes good digestive health

2. Take five 30-minute walks a week.

Another great and relaxing way to improve your health in 2022 is to go for five 30-minute walks every week. Walking is a phenomenal way to get some low-impact cardio in, and a great overall way to stay in shape. These walks can be done at any time of day – early risers may enjoy a walk to start their day, whereas others may prefer to walk on their lunch break or take an evening stroll. Health benefits of this goal include:

• Increased heart and lung fitness
• Improved management of high blood pressure or high cholesterol
• Reduced stress
• Aids in weight loss

3. Get 7-9 hours of sleep.

While it may be tempting to stay up late binging on your favorite shows, getting enough sleep is crucial for your overall health. Getting enough sleep gives your body time to repair your muscles and form memories from the day. You should shoot for 8-9 hours of sleep every night, but make sure to consistently get at least 7 hours. Building a bedtime routine can help you achieve this goal – you can meditate, complete your skincare routine, or read for 15 minutes. Just focus on creating a routine to cue your body that it is time to rest. Health benefits of this goal include:

• Reduce stress and improve mood
• Lowers risk of major health problems like diabetes and heart disease
• Increased alertness and cognitive function

By setting the goals of drinking enough water, walking five days a week, and getting enough sleep, you can seriously improve your physical health and wellbeing in 2022. These goals are small and easily trackable, and by following this routine, you can reach even bigger goals like hitting a target weight or being a more focused and thoughtful person. Being healthy can also save you money by requiring fewer visits to the doctor, lower overall medical expenses, and maybe even a lower health insurance premium. 

It can be difficult planning for a future we cannot see. With the many financial products all aimed at fulfilling a financially “easy” retirement, how do we know which options are best? Will there be enough money to continue the same lifestyle or to at least pay the bills? Without a crystal ball, the financial anxiety is real and understandable. 

One product in particular isn’t reliant on mere hopes, parlor tricks, or a constantly changing economy: annuities. Annuities aren’t some loose and risky investment or prudish savings account – they are insurance for your retirement gap. Your retirement gap is that awkwardly large space between what you’ll get paid (or have saved) for retirement and what you’ll need to live a secure retirement. Here are 3 ways that annuities cover and close this gap, so that you can rest easy while planning for those seemingly dimly lit golden years: 

1) It’s guaranteed.  

Most people cannot live on social security alone or even with their pension combined. With annuities, you can rest assured that you will have the money you need to live comfortably through retirement. This legally binding, customizable contract between you and your insurance agency ensures that your premiums, or initial investment, will grow, tax-deferred, over the time allotted in your contract and that payday will arrive. 

2) You won’t outlive your annuity.  

Your annuity will continue to pay you for life, regardless if you choose immediate or deferred payments. In fact, your annuity can be passed onto a beneficiary, so it can actually outlive you. There are many types of annuities with different levels of risk and costs, so your insurance agent can best personalize this after discussing your situation and goals with you. 

3) There are tax incentives.  

One of the main advantages of annuities is that they are tax-deferred, meaning you won’t pay income tax on it until you withdraw or begin receiving payments. “This includes dividends, interest and capital gains, all of which may be fully reinvested while they remain in the annuity” (annuity.org). There are complex rules, though, that only your insurance agent or a tax professional should explain, so be sure to ask questions regarding taxes when shopping for the right annuity product. 

We all want to know that we will be safe and secure when we are our most vulnerable. Annuities are just the insurance we need to enjoy our senior years doing what we love and not worrying day-to-day about our finances that we worked so hard and long to build and protect. Annuities are the closest sure thing next to having a crystal ball. Call or email your insurance agent today 

to see how annuities can build your retirement to cover your needs and make your golden years a whole lot brighter and easier to see. 

With winter right around the corner, it’s time to start preparing for cold temperatures and snow. One of the things you may not have considered is what to do with your RV if it will be parked outdoors during these months. The good news is that there are a few easy steps you can take to prepare your RV for winter so that it stays in great condition through the cold weather season! 

This blog post will touch on the most important steps you need to take this winter season, including an overview of recreational insurance coverage and tips for how to keep your RV looking great despite the weather.  

Keep It Well Covered 

If you are using your RV more regularly around town in colder weather, it may be helpful to have a canopy or tarp that you can set up over your RV. To keep the snow out of the interior of your vehicle, attach these items on all sides so that they are secure and there is no way for snow to come inside. 

Keep It Clean 

One of the worst things that can happen during winter is for snow and ice to accumulate on your RV. This will make it difficult to see out of the windows and increase the chances of a breakdown or accident. Try to keep your RV clean by brushing off any snow or ice every time you use it and making sure there is no standing water anywhere on the vehicle. 

Disconnect and Store All Hoses  

When temperatures start to drop below freezing, water left in hoses can turn into ice and cause damage to your RV. Make sure you disconnect all of the hoses from your vehicle before winter sets in so that this does not happen. 

Check Your Insurance 

If you will not be using your RV during wintertime or if it is only used occasionally around town, then this step does not apply to you! However, if you plan on storing your RV outdoors rather than in a garage this winter season, make sure you contact an independent insurance agent at one of our locations near you today. A specialist will review your personal policy and advise whether any changes need to be made for the RV, such as increased recreational insurance coverage. 

The most important thing to remember is that you should always have a Recreational Vehicle policy in place. This type of insurance covers your RV when it’s being used for fun and pleasure, such as on vacation or during a road trip. Make sure your policy has the right coverage for your needs, including protection from damage caused by weather conditions like wind, hail and/or falling objects. 

If you need help finding recreational insurance coverage for your RV or other recreational vehicle, reach out to an independent agent today! They can search through a variety of options so that you can choose the one that fits best with your needs. To learn more about protecting your recreational vehicle before winter hits, visit our website. 

As 2021 draws to a close, it is time to begin implementing a strategy for the first quarter of 2022. Due to the increasing economic turbulence, we have experienced over the past two years, successful businesses must embrace flexibility – setting quarterly goals can help keep you on track for your bigger long-term aspirations. Here are five goals you should set for your small business for Q1 2022. 

1. Evaluate the Prior Year

Your first goal for Q1 should be to fully analyze your business’s performance over 2021. Review your prior year’s financial statements, assess your inventory, and review your current product or service mix. Additionally, review your marketing strategy and compare that to what you know about your customers. Based on the prior year, are buying behaviors changing or remaining consistent? 

2. Determine How to Measure Success

Another essential goal for Q1 of 2022 should be to determine your criteria for business success. While you may have the goal of “growing your business,” but what does that actually look like? The best goals are both practical and specific. Some possible Q1 goals could include: 

• Increase staff size from 12 to 15 
• Increase conversion rate by 3% 
• Reduce average hold time for incoming calls by 4 minutes 

3. Create a Budget

Creating an annual budget is an essential activity for any business of any size. A well thought out budget can help you manage expenses and deal with unexpected costs. Additionally, having a budget in place can help secure funding from traditional and alternative lenders. Make it a goal to create this budget in the first week of 2022, then revisit it at the end of each month. Compare your total Q1 projections to the actual expenses incurred – how close was your estimate? While budgeting is not always fun, it can make a world of difference in your business’s performance and longevity. 

4. Review Your Insurance Coverage

Another goal you should set for Q1 is to review your business insurance policy to ensure that you are adequately covered. There are many different types of insurance that different small businesses may need, such as: 

• General Liability Insurance 
• Professional Liability Insurance 
• Business Income Coverage 
• Worker’s Compensation Insurance 
• Data Breach Insurance 
• Employment Practices Liability Insurance 

Every business has different insurance needs – consult your local agent to ensure that your business is properly insured. Having the right insurance policy can give you peace of mind, allowing you to focus more on your business. 

5. Improve Employee Morale

Your final goal for the first quarter of 2022 should be to find a way to improve the lives of your employees. Take the time to meet with your people and talk with them about their experiences working at your business – what goes well, what doesn’t, and what could be improved? While all business owners should continually strive to make their business a better place to work, begin systematically tracking how your employees feel on a quarterly basis and take the actions necessary to improve employee morale and retention. While everyone appreciates a raise, there are many ways to improve employee morale without increasing expenses. Depending on the nature of your business, you could: 

• Offer remote work options 
• Allow a more casual dress code 
• Offer additional incentive-based PTO 
• Make an effort to recognize employee contributions at least once a month for all of Q1 

There are many more goals you could set for your small business in 2022, but these five will help ensure that the year starts off smoothly. By evaluating the prior year, setting standards of success, creating a budget, reviewing your insurance policy, and improving employee morale, 2022 could be your business’s best year yet. 

Most thieves aren’t lurking in dark alleys this holiday, but instead sitting comfortably at home drinking hot cocoa while stealing your identity. In 2020, the most by-category complaint filed with the FTC was identity theft, and the annual case rate and losses are expected to increase for 2021. Here are three big tips on how to keep your identity safe this holiday shopping season: 

Be alert. 

A recent study found that 47% of Americans experienced financial identity theft. Knowing that this is a concern is the first step, but there are many more that follow: 

• Set alerts for your checking account and debit and credit cards. Download apps for your financial institutions so that you can check transactions and balances from anywhere.  
• Check all devices you use for your cards and sensitive information. Gas pumps can have attachments known as “skimmers” that steal information. Update your home computer or tablet anti-spyware. 
• Beware of scammers using emails and texts ‘phishing’ for your sensitive information. The FTC has online tips for how to recognize and avoid phishing scams.  
• Filter phone calls within your phone carrier’s app. Many have features that allow you to send unknown calls, or likely scam calls, to voicemail or block them altogether.  
• Monitor your credit. The FTC advises to not call the three credit bureaus individually, but to instead access your credit report for free once a year by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com. 

Be wise. 

The best protection involves forethought. Think now about these following items, and have a plan: 

• Your social security number needs to be used with extreme caution. Ask why this number is needed before giving it, and do not carry your social security card in your wallet. 
• Create strong passwords with authentication steps that further ensure it is you trying to access your information. 
• Shred sensitive documents.  
• Ask your insurance agent about identity theft protection as a rider on your home insurance policy.  
• Freeze your credit. This is free and can last until you remove it. No one can access your credit report, not even you, avoiding any fraud. Just contact one of these three credit bureaus- Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion- to freeze and eventually unfreeze your credit. 

Act quickly. 

If you suspect someone is using your sensitive information, consider taking the following steps swiftly: 

• Notify your financial institutions. Put them on high alert, and consider canceling any cards as lost or stolen. 
• Place a Fraud Alert on your credit report by contacting one of the aforementioned three credit bureaus. This makes it harder for anyone to open a new credit line in your name. Fraud Alerts are also free, last for one year, and are renewable. 
• Report. According to the FTC, you should “visit IdentityTheft.gov to report and recover from identity theft” and look for identity-theft resources in your community by visiting ftc.gov/idtheft. 

Everyone is at risk for identity theft, so being alert and knowing what to do will help mitigate the risk but also possibly soften the blow. Speak with your financial advisor or insurance agent on the latest scams and how to best protect yourself from identity theft. 

When looking into insurance for your business, one coverage you will often see is general liability. Now, what makes it general liability is the vast amount of items it covers in the policy, which we will cover a bit later. To emphasize why general liability policies are recommended for businesses, both big and small, the average cost of a slip and fall claim is around $20,000! Not to mention the cost of a reputational harm lawsuit! That can cost you around $50,000 and without any general liability on your side, and that’s all cash out of pocket. Let’s review what exactly general liability covers, doesn’t cover, and who really needs it.  

Who Actually Needs General Liability? 

Every business owner – yes, really! As we briefly mentioned above, lawsuits and injury claims cause cost your business a pretty penny if they are served in your place of business. Now, many states don’t actually require that you carry general liability insurance, but it is always highly recommended that you have it because if you don’t, you expose your business to financial risks. If you are looking to collaborate with other businesses, they may reject the opportunity if you do not have the minimum coverage under your belt. Those who need general liability meet these criteria, among others: 

• Have a store, office or building that’s open to the public, clients or vendors 
• Handle or work near client property 
• Advertise or create marketing materials for your business 
• Use social media personally or professionally 

 What Does It Cover? 

It’s commonplace to see liability claims during a business’ operations. As we talked about earlier, these claims can be a costly expense for your business, especially if you own a small business. Below we’ve compiled a list of coverages that are typically included in general liability.  

• Bodily Injury (Employee or Customer) 
• Property Damage 
• Advertising Injury 

• Copyright Infringement 
• Reputational Harm (Slander) 

What Isn’t Covered 

There are a few scenarios in which your general liability will not cover you. In these instances, you will need to purchase additional liability insurance policies for more specific situations. There are multiple other policies that you may consider adding to your current coverage: 

• Professional Liability 
• Worker’s Compensation 
• Product Liability 
• Umbrella Insurance  
• Errors and Omissions 

Are you in need of adding liability insurance to your list of coverages? If so, reach out to your local insurance agent to get started on protecting yourself from all the potential liabilities out there. 

With winter on the way, it is the perfect time to prepare your vehicle for the rough and rugged colder months. Here are 7 tips to keep your ride road-ready:

1) Tires

Make sure you have proper inflation according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Once you are sure you are at the correct psi for each tire, check the tread on your tires using “the penny test.” Place a penny head-first into the tread on several spots on your tire. If you can’t see the top of Lincoln’s head, you’re good. If you can see it, you may need to take your vehicle in for new, safe tires with good tread for this winter.

2) Brakes

Without even looking at your brake pads, you can get a feel (or sound) for if your brakes need to be replaced. Listen and feel for grinding or squeaking when you apply pressure to the pedal. You may also notice the vehicle requires more time and space to safely stop. If this is the case, roll on into your favorite mechanic’s garage as soon as possible.

3) Battery

Seasonal changes in temps can highlight a dying battery. If your battery is taking longer to start your car, especially in the colder weather, or if there is corrosion on the battery posts, swing by an auto parts store for a battery test so that you aren’t left stranded in the cold.

4) Lights

Winter tends to mean longer periods of darkness for many of us, so check all exterior lights. Functional headlights, brake lights, turn signals, and hazard lights are a must in the winter months which usually carry low visibility.

5) Fluids & Lube

Check all fluid levels- engine oil, transmission, windshield washer, coolant, brakes, power steering. It is okay to “top it off” occasionally when fluids are low, but eventually, fluids need to be flushed out before new is added. Windshield washer fluid can also be replaced with one that contains de-icer, and graphite lubricant added to the door lock cylinders can keep the locks from freezing. When the cold and ice strike, rest assured you’ll be ready.

6) Windshield Wipers

Inspect your wiper blades for wear and tear. Wipe the blade with a clean cloth, and run a quick trial of the washer fluid to see if the blades smoothly glide across your windshield without any, or much, interference. If there are loud squeaks and obnoxious streaks, it may be time for a new set.

7) Emergency Kit

Beyond the store-bought kit, you can also make your own that is season-specific. Grab a small bag and stuff it with items to keep you safe, warm, and hydrated if stranded. In your trunk or behind a seat near the kit, keep a small shovel and some cat litter to help you get out when stuck. Depending on your “prepper-level,” you can really prepare for the road’s worst with an extra ice-scraper, phone charger, flashlights, snacks, crank radio, roadside flares, etc., so get carried away! Failing to plan is planning to fail.

Auto Insurance Checkup 

Your brakes and tires are not the only things that need a checkup every winter. Before the cold hits, it’s a good idea to check in with your insurance agent and ensure that your auto coverage is doing everything it can to protect you this winter. Give your local agent a call today to make sure your car is protected.