Insights
Latest Data Breaches from Top-Level Companies
Thanks to technological advances, information flows effortlessly across geographic boundaries and the world’s knowledge is just a few, simple clicks away. As our society becomes ever more digitalized, our world is becoming more dynamic and exciting than ever before. And at the forefront of this change is how we view, store, collect, and interpret big data. Today, data is considered the modern...
What You Didn’t Know About Hail Damage and Insurance
Hail damage is a significant risk to homes, autos, and other property owned by your clients. Like other forms of weather damage, it is typically covered in some way by a homeowner's insurance policy. The application of coverage varies depending on the state and nature of the policy. Agents should carefully check the policies of their clients to...
6 Marketplace Trends Impacting the Surplus Lines Homeowners Market
2020 is changing the landscape of the insurance world, and the effects of this shift are most obvious in the hardening market conditions for surplus lines property & casualty, as well as personal lines coverage. The cause of this shift is complex, and while a small part has been influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, there's more to the story...
The Case of the Diamond Necklace: Homeowners Insurance vs Valuable Articles Policy
Picture this: Your client is getting ready for a big night out, and has the perfect diamond necklace to go with their outfit. But when they look for it, it's nowhere to be found! This valuable jewelry is gone without a trace. It's a bad situation, and it's all too common. Who do they call next? You, their insurance agent assuming their...
Insurance Coverage and E-scooter Rentals
Rentable electric scooters are a fledgling transportation service. Their ease of access and utility have allowed companies in the space to quickly expand across the US. As e-scooters become an increasingly popular mobility option, questions regarding insurance coverage are rising. E-scooters are not technically considered automobiles, which means...
Property Rates are Increasing. What’s Driving This Trend?
Policy holders may notice rate spikes in their property insurance and wonder why their premiums are rising. Some premium increases are caused by things out of your control, like inflation, but other factors concern you specifically – including your claims history and credit score. Some reasons for a property rate hike include: Mathematics –...
Safeguard Your Home Before Winter Weather Hits
The leaves are falling, there’s a chill in the air, and winter is right around the corner. Homeowners should take precautions now to protect against winter weather-related damage. There are inherent dangers associated with winter weather; including frozen pipes, ice dams, fires from heat sources, wind damage, flooding, and other devastating (and...
Don’t Get Hacked: Get Covered
You've been hacked! These are three words that we dread in our society of technology dependency. In 2018, billions of people were affected by data breaches and cyberattacks. USA Reports that 765 million people were hacked in the months of April, May and June alone – with losses surpassing tens of millions of dollars. Security experts project...
Tips to Properly Protect Your Home This Hurricane Season
All eyes are on the weather as we approach the peak of hurricane season. While hurricane season lasts from June 1-November 30, the most significant risk is around September 11th. Early forecasts predict nine to fifteen named storms to hit our coasts during the 2019 season. Significant risks to homes include flooding, wind damage, tornadoes,...
Does My Car Insurance Cover Uber/Lyft Exposure?
It’s summertime and you want to earn extra money for your upcoming family vacation or pay down some bills. After researching several options, you decide that driving for Uber or Lyft works best. You have the flexibility to schedule pick-ups when it’s convenient for you, the pay is decent, and you already have a smartphone and a car. You sign up...
BOATING SAFETY TIPS TO PREPARE FOR SUMMER
Summer in New England provides great opportunities to get out and make memories on the water. Make sure that you and your family bring home only the happiest memories by being prepared and keeping these boating safety tips in mind: Make sure you have all the required safety gear on board. This means Type 1 PFDs (life jackets) and other floatation...
Your Home Is More Than Brick and Mortar
A home is so much more than the bricks, mortar, and lumber used to build it, especially for your high net worth clients. It's full of memories, private collections, and cherished belongings--and your client’s personality and interests are reflected in every exquisite detail. If your client experiences a claim, they want more than a check from the...
The Importance of A Personal Articles Floater
A common misconception of homeowners is that all personal belongings are covered under their insurance policy. Unfortunately, there are several capped coverages for the items people deem most important (think maximum jewelry limit of $5,000 in some cases). A separate Personal Articles Floater (PAF) policy is critical to ensure your clients have...
Difficult Homeowners Risks Just Got Easy!
Let’s face the facts: Your clients are going to have homeowners’ claims. They are going to buy that coastal secondary home in Florida or California and call you the day of closing for coverage. They are going to rent out their seasonal home on AirBnB. They are going to tell you there is a fire department within 5 miles when there isn’t....
HOW NEW ENGLAND IS GETTING IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT
There’s a chill in the air, but people throughout the New England region are doing their best to make the season warm and bright. We’ve seen some wonderful stories of holiday generosity that are sure to melt your heart. A few of our favorites: Homeless Man’s Kindness More Than Repaid Kate McClure was driving late at night on I-95 when her car ran...
Sharing Economy Trends Pose New Concerns for Insurance Coverage Gaps
Over the last few years, an entirely new way to add to household income has entered the market place. It’s called the “sharing economy.” This is an exciting and profitable industry but far too often homeowners forget a crucial step: insurance. According to Forbes: “The sharing economy is currently worth about $26 billion and grows bigger each...
HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS AROUND THE WORLD
We’re all familiar with the traditional celebrations we hold in the US as the winter months set in. However, we are not alone in brightening the colder season with feasts, exchanges of gifts and other festive activities. Cultures throughout the year hold holiday celebrations that keep up cheer until the warmer weather returns. A few from around...
PROS & CONS OF VIRTUAL DOCTOR’S APPOINTMENTS
The rise of widely available high speed internet and higher quality mics and cameras has aided the development of other technologies, such as virtual doctor’s appointments. Like any technological advance, telemedicine has both benefits and drawbacks. Assessing all of these can help you decide when it is helpful and when an in-person visit is...
A GUIDE TO NON-PROFIT GIVING AND CHARITABLE DONATIONS
‘Tis the season for businesses to give back to the communities where they and their customers reside. The Christmas season is the most popular time of year for charitable giving — according to a recent survey of nonprofits, more than 10% get over half their funding during the holidays. To make sure that your gifts make the impact that you want,...
CAN RECYCLING LIMIT YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT?
Nearly every year, more carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere than the year before. And, much of the carbon dioxide that is generated comes from the US. While we are only 5% of the world’s population, we contribute over 20% of its carbon emissions. Additionally, we use over 30% of the world’s resources and contribute 30% of its waste....
WINTER WEATHER MAINTENANCE – WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY?
During the winter months, your rental properties need special attention against the season’s harsh weather and temperatures. Keeping on top of these maintenance tasks can keep your tenants and property safe, and help prevent small repairs from morphing into big problems: Inspect the trees. Snow and ice can weigh down branches, causing them to...