Archives for July 2015

Burglars will not find your home an “easy mark” if they are forced to work in the light, if they have to take a lot of time breaking in, or if they cannot break in without making a lot of noise.

Research shows that if it takes more than four or five minutes to break into a home, the burglar will go elsewhere.

Most insurance companies provide 2 percent to 15 percent discounts for devices that make a home safer—dead-bolt locks, window grates, bars and smoke/fire/burglar alarms.

However, when improving the security of your home, do not exchange security for personal safety. Do not make your home such a fortress that you are unable to escape in case of a fire or other emergency.

See Tips…

Backyard entertaining has gotten more elaborate in recent years. Fire pits are helping homeowners extend the backyard season, and today’s playsets involve more than a simple set of swings and a slide. Whether backyard entertaining means spending time by the swimming pool or gathered around the grill, here are some safety tips to help keep your oasis fun and free of danger. See Tips…

If you’re on Facebook, you probably love the convenience of connecting with friends and relatives. But did you know that identity thieves also love the convenience of Facebook for finding personally identifiable information (PII) about you?

Fortunately, you can control who can find and contact you and see your posts on Facebook. That’s why it’s important that you understand your privacy options and actively manage them according to your personal preferences.

These tips will familiarize you with your privacy options and give you step-by-step instructions for enabling privacy settings that work for you. Read More… 

1. Create several ‘layers of protection’. In other words, set up as many barriers as possible to the pool area, in addition to the fences that are often required by towns and municipalities.
2. Never leave toys or floats in the pool when it is not in use—they can be a deadly temptation for toddlers who might fall into the pool when trying to reach them.
3. Check the pool area regularly for glass bottles, toys or other potential accident hazards. Keep CD players, radios and other electrical devices away from pools or nearby wet surfaces.
4. Limit alcohol use around the pool as drinking alcoholic beverages negatively impacts balance, coordination and judgment—and its effects are further heightened by sun exposure and heat.
5. Clearly post emergency numbers on the nearest phone, so they can be located easily in the event of an accident. Read Story…

A serious disability may seem like a long shot. But it can happen to anyone. And it can keep you out of work for a lengthy period of time. If that ever happens to you, help protect your income and savings with the long-term disability insurance plan your employer is offering. So you can stay on top of your rent or mortgage and other bills in the worst case scenario. Sound expensive? Actually, long term-disability insurance coverage costs as little as a couple of cups of coffee.¹

All the Right Reasons

• You hope a disability will never happen. But there’s a 30% chance it will. Three out of 10 workers will face a condition that lays them up before they retire.²
• Workers’ compensation covers only the injuries and illnesses that are work-related. Most serious disabilities – 95%, in fact – are non-work-related.³

Protection for the Long Haul

Enroll in your employer’s long-term disability insurance plan from The Hartford, and you may be protected if a disability requires a long recovery period. Our long-term disability insurance comes with these advantages:

• Wide coverage. Covered disabilities can include back injuries and serious illnesses.
• Free choice. How much of your paycheck do you want to protect? In some cases, your employer lets you choose from multiple benefit percentages.
• Read Story…

How much does life insurance cost? Probably a lot less than you think. A recent LIMRA study found that 63 percent of consumers polled indicated that life insurance was too expensive, yet 80 percent of consumers overestimate its cost by nearly threefold. LIMRA is a leading insurance and financial services trade association.

Today’s consumers have many sources of data at our disposal. We can research everything from pots to pains, yet many of us make incorrect assumptions about one of the most important and basic decisions concerning our family’s financial future: purchasing life insurance.

Various factors determine your cost for life insurance, the most basic of which are age and health. Generally, your premium is lower the younger you are when you purchase life insurance. Additionally, premiums are lower for healthier individuals, and there are things you can do to lower your insurance costs.

Read Story…

People go to the gym to get healthy. Members look for clubs with the right equipment, classes and trainers to help get their heart rate up and break a good sweat. But when users climb down from the elliptical machine or exercise bike, it’s all too easy to forget to wipe it down.

Proper cleaning of your equipment and facility is vital to your health club’s business. In addition to keeping your members and staff healthy, you want to build your gym’s reputation as a well-maintained and clean facility.

Educate your staff and your members on the importance of proper cleanliness, and teach them the procedures you wish them to implement. Train staff, install signage and distribute fliers or rules as part of the membership initiation process.

Read Story…

Storms or natural disasters can have the ability to knock your power out for an extended period of time. During an outage, portable generators can offer temporary power, but there are potential risks associated with the use of these generators. Generators can be dangerous, and can lead to illness and injury, and even death if used improperly.

When using a portable generator, it is important to take precautions for your safety and the safety of those in your home.

Follow these guidelines for safe generator use: Click for Guidelines

Gold and diamonds and furs, oh my!

While your homeowners policy may cover valuables when lost, stolen or damaged, many policies limit the valuation of items such as jewelry, silverware, works of art, furs or collectibles. That policy may pay only the limit and not cover the full value of each item.

If you have items of value, ask your local independent insurance agent about personal articles coverage.

Personal Articles

Everyone knows to call 911 for emergency rescue, safety or medical services. But sometimes when disaster threatens or strikes, you must act immediately to shut off utility service while you wait for help to arrive.

As part of disaster planning for your home or business, locate and tag your utilities, and think through the scenarios that might require action.

Whether a disaster causes you to stay put or evacuate, consider:

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PCORI Reminder 7.2015

You have decided to build or remodel your home or business. This is a big step, both financially and emotionally. Choosing the right contractor to complete this project is also a big decision.

Hiring the wrong contractor can lead to cost overruns, delays, substandard work and sometimes even litigation over disputes regarding the timing, quality or cost of the project. While it’s tempting to choose a contractor based solely on an online portfolio of completed work or customer testimonials, don’t overlook the importance of making sure your contractor is properly licensed to perform the project as well as adequately bonded and insured.

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If you want to restore the comforts of your home in the event of a loss, it’s best to choose replacement cost coverage on your household contents. It could be worth hundreds, even thousands of dollars to your family.

Most homeowners insurance policies cover personal property for its actual cash value. To cover your contents for the cost to replace them – new for old – request replacement cost contents coverage.

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