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One of the most beautiful aspects of nature is that it is ever-changing. You and your family may visit a National Park in the summer, only to return in the winter and discover completely new surroundings. This can be exciting, but it also means nature presents its own unpredictable challenges.  

When traveling and planning outdoor adventures, uncontrollable forces such as weather or wildlife can potentially damage your personal property and belongings. Recreational insurance provides both liability and property coverage, ensuring that you are protected on both fronts. While you hope to never encounter dangerous animals or damaging circumstances, you can still be prepared for anything. Here are ways you can practice responsible outdoorsmanship and leave nature exactly as you found it.  

Secure Your Stuff 

One of the best ways to be sure you will not have any uninvited wildlife guests at your campsite is to secure all your possessions and food. Should you leave food or other “attractive” items within reach of animals, they may wander into your site and cause unintended damage to your vehicle, belongings, or motor coach. Recreational insurance can help you recover the cost of this lost or damaged property, but your immediate safety is always a higher priority.  

To prevent bears, wolves, or even simply raccoons from causing campsite damages, double-bag your garbage and secure food in a locked cooler at least 20 feet off the ground and eight feet from the trunk of a tree. If you are having trouble hanging your food on one tree, look for ways you can tie a rope around two trees that are at least 16 feet apart. 

Take Your Trash 

In addition to using two thick garbage bags and storing these off the ground alongside your locked cooler of food, it is vital that you remove all trash from the campsite, park, or hiking trails when you depart. The scent can still attract dangerous wildlife, and hungry animals are not known for being careful. They could cause damage to your personal property or harm you and your guests. It is also simply the responsible thing to do, and it ensures the natural scenery is just as enjoyable for the next group who comes across it.  

Using renewable or eco-friendly products while outdoors is another way to minimize waste and leave the land how you found it. This could include using biodegradable soap for bathing and cleaning cookware, compostable plates and utensils, and solar lighting to reduce the use of gas.  

Prepare Your Plan 

When taking long road trips, prepare a plan for your stops, driving schedule, and how you will handle potential changes or roadside emergencies. By knowing where you will stop to sleep, you can remove the stress of late-night accommodation searches and potential driving hazards as your group grows tired. A dedicated driving schedule also sets expectations and allows everyone to get the rest they need. Additionally, with an emergency plan in hand, your group can travel confidently knowing they are prepared for a number of automotive incidents that can take place.  

Recreational insurance can provide additional assurance. Damages, vandalism, and even theft to your car, van, or RV will be covered if this unfortunate circumstance takes place during your trip. Speak with your agent to determine the best policy for you and your adventures. 

 In the past, most businesses retained their data either in a hard copy format, such as paper records and files or on a private computer server that was stored within their building. However, cloud-based software has exploded in recent years. It offers affordable and scalable methods for data management to companies of all sizes. The data can be accessed from virtually anywhere, allowing businesses to operate remotely or after hours as needed.
 

While there are numerous benefits to digital data transformation, it also leaves companies vulnerable to cyber attackers and potential data breaches. Cyber liability insurance can protect your business should the unfortunate occur. In most cases, it is not included as part of your general liability insurance, so you will need to speak with your agent to add this to your policy. Here are some ways you can stay protected and determine if cyber liability coverage is right for your business. 

The Digital Age 

The majority of companies today, whether they are major corporations or small, locally-owned operations, use the internet and technology to conduct business in some way. Regardless of whether your business uses the internet only to send emails or manage your entire portfolio of clients, your data could be hacked and used against you.
If you use technology at all, it is a good idea to speak with your agent about cyber liability insurance. Should a breach occur, you and your business would not be held liable for any covered damage that occurs.  

Client Protection 

When you handle sensitive information about your clients, such as billing details, financial records, or even simply names and addresses, your clients are trusting you to keep these details private. Should a cyber attacker obtain this data, they can use it in many ways. These range from posing as your company to “phish” for additional confidential information to making client details available publicly.
This can be damaging and even embarrassing for your customers, and it can also severely harm your company’s reputation. By ensuring that you have cyber liability insurance in place, you can cover the expensive yet vital processes such as notifying clients about a data breach, restoring clients’ compromised identities, recovering corrupted data, and repairing damaged software.  

Confidential Company Data  

Businesses may also decide to obtain cyber liability insurance if they retain confidential data of their own such as trade secrets, privately developed software, and other intellectual property – or even simply their employees’ Social Security Numbers. If this information is stolen by cyber attackers, the added liability insurance can even cover the cost of legal expenses, forensic investigation, and loss of business income during the time of the breach. Any stolen data that is used without your consent or knowledge is legally protected. This allows for a quicker recovery of the data, along with a more streamlined litigation process so your business can return back to normal as soon as possible.
 

Cyber liability insurance is a vital safeguard against potential hackers. While you hope never to experience a data breach to begin with, having this additional coverage can significantly improve your company’s reputation, your clients’ trust, and the digital security of your employees and private intellectual property. 

The process of owning a new home can be exciting, especially for a first-time buyer. But it can also be challenging to navigate, especially when trying to figure out the right types of insurance you’ll need. Here are five things you’ll want to keep in mind as you choose how to insure your investment. 

Insure for the Appropriate Value

A 2019 study found that three out of five American homes are underinsured by 20%. That means that if a $200,000 home is destroyed in a fire, an underinsured owner would still be left with $40,000 to pay when they rebuilt the home. A key reason for a home being underinsured is not accounting for the rising cost of construction. Owners can avoid this costly mistake by reviewing their insurance policy annually with their agent and obtaining an updated estimate of what it would cost to rebuild in the current year’s construction market.  

Check the Landscape

Are you near a flood plain, a large body of water, or a fault line prone to earthquakes? These natural disasters aren’t covered under the standard “HO-3” insurance, which only covers the structure, personal belongings, and liability in the event of damage or injury. In some areas, federal law requires you to have flood insurance if your home is within a high-risk zone. Even if it isn’t, you may want to consider extra protection if you’re near a large body of water like a river or lake that could flood unexpectedly. The same goes for residents living near earthquake-prone regions of the U.S. Check with your insurance agent to determine the best supplemental insurance for your home’s environment.  

It’s Not Just A Building 

While your standard HO-3 insurance will cover personal belongings, you may want to obtain separate coverage for anything of significant value. This can include art, jewelry, collector’s items, heirloom furnishings, and more. While this does add a marginal amount to your premium, you will be protected in the unfortunate event of a theft, damage, or natural disaster.  

Renting? You May Need Extra Coverage 

If you purchased, built, or renovated this property intending to rent, it is a good idea to consider extra coverage in case damage is caused by a tenant. Your local insurance agent can help you determine the correct types of additional insurance. This could include landlord insurance, which covers the dwelling, other structures such as a detached garage, and personal property used to maintain the rental such as a lawnmower. You may want additional liability insurance as well, in case a tenant becomes injured on the property and wants you to cover his or her medical expenses.  

Documentation Is Key

After you’ve moved into your new home, be sure to take accurate photos and video recordings of your property, personal belongings, and assets located within the dwelling. Make a list of your major features of the home and assets, and also note the cost of these items. Keep this documentation stored off-site or digitally on cloud-based software to ensure it is protected in the case of fire or severe damage. Be sure to share this with your insurance agent as well. Should the unthinkable happen, it is best to avoid the added stress and have a very accurate record when filing your claim.  

A personal home, even if it is a rental, is often your most valuable possession. While the chance of damage or total loss may be low, you never want to underestimate your home’s value to obtain a lower premium. By working with your local insurance agent to determine a fair and comprehensive policy, you can rest assured knowing your valuable investment will be protected for years to come. 

Employee Practices Liability, often referred to as EPLI, covers businesses against claims by workers that their legal rights as employees of the respective company have been violated. There has been a considerably large rise in lawsuits where employees file against their employers. Traditionally, most lawsuits are filed against larger corporations such as Walmart or Target, but no company is fully immune to the risk of a lawsuit via an employee. Smaller companies are now beginning to understand that they, too, are going to need the type of insurance protection that EPLI provides. Some insurance providers add this as an endorsement to a Business Owner’s Policy (BOP) they offer, but remember that an endorsement will change the terms and conditions of the policy. Other companies tend to offer EPLI as a stand-alone coverage policy.  

What EPLI Covers 

• Sexual harassment 
• Discrimination 
• Wrongful termination 
• Breach of employment contract 
• Negligent evaluation 
• Failure to employ or promote 
• Wrongful discipline 
• Deprivation of career opportunity 
• Wrongful infliction of emotional distress 
• Mismanagement of employee benefit plans 

Cost of Coverage 

As we see with every type of insurance coverage, the coverage cost you pay will always depend on the type of business you are insuring. When it comes to EPLI coverage, the cost depends on your business type, the number of employees you have, and various additional risk factors. Risk factors usually refer to if your company has been sued over employment practices in the past. The policies will reimburse your company against the costs of defending a lawsuit in court and for judgments and settlements. Whether your company wins or loses the lawsuit, the policy will still cover the legal costs. Typically, the policies will not pay for punitive damages, civil or criminal fines. If there are liabilities covered by other insurance policies, they are excluded from EPLI policies. 

How to Avoid Potential Employee Lawsuits 

When reviewing your hiring and screening process make an effort to make sure that you are avoiding discrimination the entire process. Ensure that you have the corporate policies posted throughout the workplace and a dedicated section in the employee handbook so the policies are easily accessible to all employees. Take care in teaching your employees the proper steps to take if they are the object of sexual harassment or discrimination while at the workplace. Express to all employees that they need to know where the company stands on what behaviors are acceptable and which ones are not permitted. Keep documentation on everything that occurs and the steps that you and your company are taking to prevent and solve employee disputes.  

If you would like to learn more about the policies and coverage included in Employee Practices Liability insurance, reach out to your local agent today.  

Many people in the world still have jobs and positions that require them to complete work outside no matter the weather. Worker’s compensation benefits were indoctrinated to help protect those who work in labor-intensive positions. While we can lean on the workers’ compensation benefits to cover work-related injuries, it is in everyone’s best interest to try and avoid all potential harm that could occur. Winter is in full force and those workers who are out on the job should keep in mind the potential dangers that come with the territory. Working outdoors in cold, wet, icy, or snowy conditions can lead to cold-related illnesses and injuries such as hypothermia and frostbite. Below we’ve reviewed some of the best ways to help prevent any winter weather-related injuries from happening to you or your staff.  

Who Is at Risk? 

As mentioned previously, those who work in a cold environment may be at risk of cold-related illnesses and injuries, or “cold stress.” There are many professions where workers must be subject to the harsh weather that comes in the winter months. These professionals include police officers, snow cleanup crews, sanitation workers, farmers, construction workers, and many others. If your employees take certain medications, are in poor health, or suffer from any illness (diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease) it could mean they will face high risks in the work field.  

Prominent Winter Injuries and Illness  

There are three prominent illnesses that can be contracted through working in a cold-weather position. Below we have listed the three illnesses, what causes them, and how to prevent them from occurring. 

Hypothermia  

What Causes It: 

When exposed to cold temperatures, the body begins to lose heat faster than it can be produced. Once outside for a prolonged period of time, the heat that your body has stored will be used up. As your body heat is released the temperature of the body will become abnormally low and begin the process of hypothermia. Early symptoms of hypothermia include shivering, fatigue, loss of coordination, confusion, or disorientation. 

How to Prevent:  

Hypothermia is an illness that affects the brain. This will cause the victim to be unable to think clearly or perform normal functionality. To combat this, work with another coworker or work in groups.  

Frostbite 

What Causes It: 

Your fingers, toes, nose, and ears are the most prominent body parts that are affected by frostbite and the most prone to it. Frostbite occurs when a part of the body freezes, causing damage to the tissue. Signs of frostbite beginning include numbness or tingling, stinging, or pain on or near the affected area.  

How to Prevent: 

Checking the weather and wearing protective clothing to combat the weather of that day. If working in icy and snowy conditions items such as warm gloves, insulated footwear, and warm hats will be the best choices. 

Trench Foot  

What Causes It: 

If your feet are kept wet and cold for an extended period of time, you may come down with trench foot. Moisture causes your feet to lose heat, and this can slow the blood flow and damage tissue. As an example, trench foot can happen when it is as warm as 60 degrees. 

How to Prevent: 

Be mindful of your footwear and the maintenance of them in order to help keep your feet warm and dry. 

If you need to add worker’s compensation to your business insurance plan or would like to know more about the policy, talk with your local agent today. 

Applying for disability can be a scary situation to be put in. The government has two different programs that are set in place to help assist those who are now needing disability assistance. If you are newly disabled, you may be wondering if you qualify for financial assistance from the Social Security Administration (SSA). The two programs are known as Social Security Disability (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).  

The Social Security Disability (SSDI) program is a program that is set up to pay benefits to the insured and their family members. This means that the person applying for disability has worked recently, long enough, and paid Social Security taxes on those earnings.  

 The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program pays benefits to disabled adults and children who have limited income and resources. To learn more about how to apply for disability, view the required documentation and information about you and your medical condition. See below for a list of items you need to provide when applying through the SSA.  

Information About You 

When you are in the process of applying for disability through the SSA programs. View the required personal information below: 

• Your place of birth, date of birth, and Social Security number. 
• The name, Social Security number, and date of birth or age of your current spouse and any former spouse. It is important to know the dates and places of marriage and dates of divorce or death (if appropriate).  
• Names and dates of birth of your minor children, if you have any. 

• Your bank or other financial institution’s routing transit number and the account number. 

Information About Your Medical Condition 

Similarly, to the required information about you, you must also provide the required personal information below: 

• Name, address, and phone number of someone we can contact who knows about your medical conditions and can help with your application. 
• Detailed information about your medical illnesses, injuries, or conditions: 

• Names, addresses, phone numbers, patient ID numbers, and dates of treatment for all doctors, hospitals, and clinics. 
• Names of medicines you are taking and who prescribed them. 
• Names and dates of medical tests you have had and who sent you for them. 
• Information About Your Work: 
• The amount of money earned last year and this year. 

• The name and address of your employer(s) for this year and last year. 
• The beginning and ending dates of any active U.S. military service you had before 1968. 
• A list of the jobs (up to 5) that you had in the 15 years before you became unable to work and the dates you worked at those jobs. 
• Information about any workers’ compensation, black lung, and/or similar benefits you filed, or intend to file for. These benefits can: 
• Be temporary or permanent in nature. 

• Include annuities and lump sum payments that you received in the past. 

Documentation Needed to Apply 

Along with the information listed above, the SSA may ask you to provide documentation that shows you are eligible, such as: 

• Birth certificate or other proof of birth. 

• Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status if you were not born in the United States. 
• U.S. military discharge paper(s) if you had military service before 1968. 
• W-2 forms(s) and/or self-employment tax returns for last year. 
• Medical evidence already in your possession. This includes medical records, doctors’ reports, and recent test results. 
• Award letters, pay stubs, settlement agreements, or other proof of any temporary or permanent workers’ compensation-type benefits you received. 

 Looking to apply for disability or want more information on the process? Reach out to your local agent, today.  

With the introduction of DIY products and ambitious projects done on Pinterest, more and more people are trying their swing at becoming a contractor in their spare time. Working as a contractor seems to be more fun than working a regular 9 to 5 job. Being a contractor means you’re the boss. You could own your own business, have business partners, or just practice contracting as a fun hobby. Being the boss means that you are on top! When you are the boss, you will have better working conditions, you set the start time of the workday, and there is no HR officer who will take notes while glaring at you. Being a contractor, you’ll need some type of insurance for your business. Good thing there is a type of insurance just for contractors! But, why do you need insurance? Below are listed 3 great reasons why you should invest in getting contractors’ insurance.
 

1. Claims Protection

When you are a contractor, you are solely responsible for the area in which you do your work. If someone were to get injured within your area because of an accident or plain negligence on your part, you can expect that person to file a claim against you. This same responsibility applies to your employees if they were to cause any type of accidental or, in the worst case, intentional damage to the property area you are working within. Why do you need this protection? These types of claims could be big enough to completely shut down your business if you’re forced to pay for the damages out of pocket. To avoid the potential of disasters like this, you should consider taking a general liability insurance policy for contractors. Whatever potential financial liabilities you end up with, you can be reassured that the general liability insurance will cover them and help to keep your business from shutting down.
 

2. Protection of Your Employees

As we know, workplace accidents happen, they’re accidents. High-risk contracting jobs like roofing are a step away from accidents happening. One wrong step while working on a roof and the accident could lead to a worker sustaining an injury. The injured employee has every right to file a claim against you, they were hurt while working on your job site. They can file a claim for their pain and lost wages due to recovery time. If you don’t have worker’s compensation insurance it’ll be a path of trouble. Almost all states require employers to get workers’ compensation insurance. This coverage is a win-win for all parties involved. Injured employees can get all the benefits that are due to them and it wouldn’t matter who is at fault for the unforeseen accident. On top of that, you will be spared from the cost and hassle of a potential lawsuit that the injured employee could have filed against you.
 

3. Payment of Legal Costs

Here is a big one. Did you know that uninsured contractors often get hit hard by attorney’s fees, court expenses, and other legal financial expenses when some films a claim against them in court? In case of an interested party suing you in court, your contractors’ insurance policy should cover the legal costs that a lawsuit may entail. This is a piece of mind when you go to work a new job with a new client. 

These days we’ve seen an influx of people choosing to travel rather than buy material things. It’s about the experiences over physical objects. Usually, choosing a car would result in hours of research, test-driving, and multiple visits to different car lots. You got the car and you’re all set to hit the road, right? Being behind the wheel means you have one final decision to make: what type of auto insurance is right for me? The usual trend is that many will see the cheapest option and go with it just to get it and go. This path is riddled with hazards that may end up costing you more in the end. Take the time to sit down and evaluate which type of auto insurance matches who you are and how you drive.  

How Are You Riding? 

Most of us are given a hand-me-down car when we first get on the road. It’s a little beat up from its long lifetime, but it’s still a great running car. If this is the case you may be straying away from quality insurance, but it’s still important to protect yourself with liability insurance for potential accidents. Do you tend to be protective of your vehicle and want to keep it clean and pristine? Comprehensive insurance may be the best option for you. Comprehensive insurance is a policy that covers all losses that aren’t covered by collision coverage, such as weather-related incidents or vandalism. 

What Are Your Assets? 

Minor car accidents can end up becoming a bigger hassle than originally anticipated. Add a potential physical injury or a possible totaled car for the situation to become a nightmare. Every state is different, and it’s important to read up on your state’s circumstances and laws on handling auto accidents, as you could be held personally responsible for repair and medical costs. What happens if the total is over the state’s minimum liability and you don’t have that type of money? Other assets like your house or complete savings could be at risk in the case of a lawsuit. Umbrella insurance is typically encouraged in case there is a need for any assets to be covered. 

Ride-Share Insurance 

With the increase in popularity of services such as Lyft and Uber, you may be interested in getting a Ride-Share policy. If you are working with one of these companies don’t assume they have insurance to cover you. In actuality, the company’s full coverage doesn’t kick in until the driver is on the way to pick up a passenger or already has passengers in the vehicle. Be wary that if anything does transpire, the rideshare company’s insurance may not cover it. If you plan to work with one of these rideshare companies the best course of action would be to notify your insurance provider immediately. 

Additional Services to Help Ease a Potential Headache 

As the old saying goes, “Better safe than sorry,” and the saying would be correct. You never know when life could throw a curveball your way. If you are someone who worries and is anxious about the next unexpected issue, you may find it beneficial to look into additional small benefits you could add to your current insurance policy. Having this small cushion could save you from a potential fall down the line. Here are some options to consider: 

• Roadside Assistance – If your car breaks down, you won’t have to worry about finding and paying for a tow company to get you out of your current predicament. 
• Rental Car Reimbursement – If your car is in a shop, your insurer will pay for your rental for the time your personal vehicle is unavailable. If you cannot go with a vehicle this addition can save you frustration and expenses.  

Full Glass Coverage – With this benefit, your windshield will be repaired or replaced without spending a penny. Most minimum policies won’t cover cracks or chips in your windshield. 

If you are planning to move out on your own for the first time or maybe you are renting a room, chances are you’re going to need to invest in renter’s insurance. Only a staggering 41% of renters actually have renter’s insurance. Some building managers require tenants to get renters insurance, but many don’t. Just because no one is requiring you to buy it doesn’t mean you should write it off.

What Does Renter’s Insurance Cover? 

Renter’s insurance will generally offer two or more types of coverage: personal property protection, liability protection, increased living expenses and guest medical protection. Personal property will protect your belongings in case there is a covered loss, and liability protection can help protect you financially if someone is injured in your home and they file a lawsuit. In the case of increased living expenses, this policy helps cover the cost of staying someplace else after a covered loss renders your home uninhabitable. Guest medical protection is a coverage option which can help pay for medical expenses for someone who was injured at your home.   

What Doesn’t It Cover?

We’ve gone over what renter’s insurance covers, but what doesn’t it cover? The answer could vary based on different circumstances, but we will stick to the basics. Typically, renter’s insurance will not cover damage done by flooding, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornados, sinkholes, pests, or terrorism. When taking inventory of your personal items, it is important to check with your policy to see if a higher ticket item will be covered in the event of a loss. If not, you may want to raise your coverage limits. Another important note to keep in mind is that if you have roommates, they will not be covered by your policy unless they are directly added onto the policy.

What If I Don’t Own Much? 

In the end, you may think that your belongings aren’t worth much, but when it comes down to replacing the electronics, clothing, furniture, and even appliances, the price tag will grow very quickly. If you had a small house fire, this could still lead to thousands of dollars in repairs and replacement if it is needed. As we mentioned earlier, renter’s insurance is there to help protect you in case of the unexpected. You may believe disaster could never strike, but truly you cannot know.  

How Much Does Renter’s Insurance Cost?

As with most things, the insurance rate depends on a few factors and may be different based on those circumstances. These circumstances can be based on where you live, the type of policy you are looking to buy, and the value of the property you are insuring. In general, a basic renters insurance policy can cost between $10 and $20 a month, or $120 to $240 a year. Reach out to your agent today to get a renters insurance quote and start protecting your belongings. 

Ray Silverstein, president of small business advisory group President’s Resource Organization, has said that there are specific benefits that good employees expect out of a job. Entrepreneur published his perspective that while medical insurance is at the top of that list of expectations, business owners should also be intentional about offering employees retirement plans, disability insurance, and life insurance as well. The reality is, only some benefit packages are required by law. These include withholding FICA taxes for the sake of retirement and disability; complying with FMLA; aligning with worker’s compensation requirements; and giving your employees time off for jury duty, military duties, or voting. However, it’s important to see why a great benefits package–including less traditional benefits like flex time–is key to showing your employees they have value. Here’s why.

Employee attainment and retention. 

Randstand US Research has noted that 61 percent of employees would consider accepting a lower salary if the company making the offer had a great benefits package. Forty-two percent of employees would actually consider quitting their current job and accepting a new one elsewhere because they are unhappy with current benefits. An attractive benefits package is basically viewed as a part of a salary offer and can, at times, make up for an annual wage that could be topped elsewhere.

Focus and attention. 

Employees who aren’t worried about finances are employees whose minds won’t wander as much at work. When it comes to long-term financial planning, the difference between feeling focused and committed to the job you have (instead of daydreaming for what position you should pursue next) can be rooted in a healthy 401(k) match, life insurance, or college debt assistance.

Loyalty. 

You want loyalty not just from your customers but also from your employees. Employees who feel seen and understood seem to know that their employer recognizes the number of hours they are putting in, not just in the office but on the telephone at home and during what was supposed to be a lunch break as well. At times, this recognition looks like the benefit of flex time. This may mean permission to head home early on a Friday, or permission to work some days remotely from home. Flex time also recognizes the pull of family circumstances on full time employees. 74 percent of employees say they have missed work due to a family circumstance. Employers who offer benefits communicate that they understand employees are also parents, children of aging parents, and simply “doing life” with people they love who have unexpected needs. 

Overall general health. 

Employees who have a strong health insurance package are more likely to see a physician when health issues arise. Instead of avoiding astronomical bills and giving a potentially treatable problem a chance to snowball, employees with health care plans, co-pays, and reasonable deductibles are less likely to put off important procedures and more likely to seek care when needed. This is where dental and vision insurance also steps in. If the numbers are doable for you as a business owner, you want to communicate to your employees that you fully value their physical and mental well-being.