The deadly winter storms that descended on Texas in early 2021, following a summer of record-setting wildfires in California, have reminded many Americans of the importance of homeowners insurance. Here is some advice on how to protect yourself-from a major disaster or an everyday one. Risk From Natural Catastrophes is Increasing Many parts of the […]
How to Protect Your Home From Extreme Weather
Climate change can be a hot topic these days, but regardless of one’s views on the subject, scientists have taken an interest in how it might affect the intensity or possibility of future weather-related events. Natural disasters – whether predicted or not – expose the susceptibility and risks of our home and communities. According to […]
Reduced Home Insurance Premiums for Having Smart Devices
These days, many homeowners are using smart home devices to help keep their largest asset safe. As a result, many home insurance companies are offering discounts on their premiums for customers who use these items. However, since this technology is still fairly new, not all companies currently offer this perk. To that end, it’s important […]
6 Cybersecurity Tips When You Work From Home
As of September 2020, nearly 60% of full-time and part-time workers in the U.S. were doing their jobs remotely at least some of the time during the coronavirus pandemic. And many of them would like to keep doing so. This work-from-home pivot makes some employers’ IT professionals nervous, though. A global study released in October […]
‘Gotcha – You’ve Been Hacked!’: Handling a Cyber Claim for Your Business
Ever wonder what’s involved in handling a cyber claim? What is the process? Who needs to be notified of a cyber event? What steps should be taken to address the resulting chaos? If you follow Ash Burdon, cyber incident manager at CFC Underwriting, around for a day, you might not guess he works for an […]
Cyber Security Tips for Allowing Employees to Work From Home
Around the world, many people already work full-time from the comfort of their homes or local coffee shops. Employers have discovered, and research has consistently shown, that when employees telework, they remain productive due to having fewer distractions and spending less time commuting. While the ability to allow staff to work remotely when needed gives […]
What is Renters Insurance and Do You Need It?
Do you like your laptop? How about your sofa? Could you afford to buy them again if a fire destroyed your apartment? Do you have a plan to replace your clothes and jewelry if an uninvited guest picks the lock on your door and “borrows” them? No? Well then-you definitely need renter’s insurance. What is […]
Renters Insurance Usually Covers Dog Bites, But There are Some Exceptions
According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), 67% of American households own a pet and dogs account for 63% of them. Unfortunately, sometimes dogs bite. Approximately 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs yearly and the average cost of a dog bite claim is $44,760, according to the III. Does Renters Insurance Cover Dog Bites? […]
Why College Students Living Off-Campus Should Have Renters Insurance
At the end of summer, parents typically pack up their college kids and head to the dorm or off-campus housing. There’s the usual checklist – towels, bedding, laptop, and laundry supplies. However, one item can be overlooked: renters insurance. Students living in college dorms may be covered under their parents’ homeowners insurance. However, college students […]
What Renters Insurance Covers
Like any other insurance policy, renters insurance has exclusions, and knowing about them ahead of time can help you avoid unexpected bills in a disaster. Just as important, though, is knowing what is covered. All that fine print in your policy likely includes coverage you might not expect, which could save you money down the […]
Car Insurance and Coronavirus: What You Need to Know
Car insurance is essential financial protection in case you get into a car accident that leaves you liable for damage, or in case your car gets stolen or damaged by another named peril. As long as your insurance is active and you are making your premium payments on time you will continue to be protected. […]
COVID-19 and Homeowners Insurance
The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted many aspects of society, but your home insurance policy will continue to function normally. Will Homeowners Insurance Premiums be Affected by the Coronavirus Pandemic? It’s hard to say with any degree of certainty what will happen to homeowners insurance rates. There are many factors to consider. First, people are staying […]
COVID-19 is Prompting Families to Rethink Their Finances
COVID-19 has led families to cancel travel plans, get (semi!) comfortable with homeschooling kids and deal with all kinds of other inconveniences. As if that weren’t enough, it’s also making many families take a closer look at their finances and make sometimes difficult financial decisions. Life Happens recently conducted a survey that polled more than […]
The Most Common Commercial Car Insurance Exclusions
Commercial car insurance is, as the name suggests, designed for vehicles used for commercial purposes. There are many differences between a commercial policy and a regular one, which covers personal-usage cars. There are greater coverage limits, greater reimbursement sums and the possibility of adding a fleet of vehicles. There are certain activities that will void […]
What Is Gap Insurance and How Does It Work?
If you drive a new car off the dealer’s lot, having made your deposit and looking forward to your first payment, but wind up in an accident that makes the car unusable, what recourse do you have? Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP) insurance is the answer. What Is Gap Insurance? Guaranteed Asset Protection insurance protects the […]
How Much Car Insurance Do I Need? 5 Key Coverage Considerations
Of all the many adulting tasks we’re faced with, figuring out insurance is among the most confusing. Health? Life? House? Car? Yes! For car insurance, most state laws require every driver to have a minimum level of coverage, but how much and what type of coverage varies by state – so, should you get more […]
Check Your Auto Insurance if You’re Going to Make Deliveries
With much of the country practicing social distancing and self-quarantines due to the coronavirus pandemic, many companies are looking for delivery drivers to get groceries, takeout meals and other items to customers. If you’re looking to pick up some extra cash as a delivery driver and using your own car, be aware of possible auto […]
What is Personal Cyber Insurance and Why Do You Need It?
When you hear, “cyber attack,” you likely think of data breaches at a large company or retailer, but do you ever consider that you could be personally attacked? From a surprise virus to a deliberate rental scam, to deeply hurtful cyber-bullying, the threats you and your family face in the connected world are real and […]
Does My Small Business Need Cyber Insurance?
Most businesses invest in physical security and general liability insurance, but cybersecurity is usually limited to a firewall and some antivirus software. Unfortunately, this leaves many small businesses exposed to the high cost of cyber attacks – which are increasing in frequency. According to Gartner, a global research and advisory firm, 43% of major data […]
The Cost of Your Employees’ Fingerprints
In January 2019, The Illinois Supreme Court upheld consumers’ rights to sue companies for collecting their fingerprints without explicit consent. This precedent-setting case, Rosenbach v Six Flags Entertainment Corp, was the first to extend the interpretation of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) holding that individuals do not need to prove they were actually […]