Life insurance is a contract between an insurance policy holder and an insurer, where the insurer promises to pay a designated beneficiary a sum of money in exchange for a premium, upon the death of an insured person.  Life insurance dates back all the way to the Roman Empire but didn’t come into play in the United States till the Presbyterian Synods in Philadelphia and New York City...

Most people think of emergency medical services when traveling and not protecting their stuff. And on the other side when traveling you're probably more concerned about if you remembered to pack your toothbrush than insurance.

Maybe it's time to broaden your horizons! Travelers insurance covers anything from emergency medical service, protecting your baggage from theft or damage,...

California is in its fourth year of the worst drought in the last 1,200 years and things may get worse as California’s reservoirs have only one year of water supply left.  Most Californian’s are concerned with saving water, but that shouldn’t be their only concern.

The long running drought has "created explosive fire conditions," said Mike Mohler, a fire...

Some may argue that if you are renting then renters insurance is not required. However, this is not the case.  If you are renting then you do need insurance! 

For example if you have a house fire, even a small one, your landlord’s insurance will pay for the building and other real property but not your personal property.  If you are someone who is relying on your...

Smart homes used to be only for the very rich or very tech savvy. Today however, more people are getting their own homes wired to be smart homes.  As a matter of fact the industry is expected to grow from just over 9 billion this year to over 40 billion by 2017.

Of course the internet and the availability of portable computers such as smart phones and tablets have made this all...

If you’ve never had your bicycle stolen you probably haven’t given bike theft much thought. But bike theft is a problem that is growing exponentially. Some areas, urban primarily, are harder hit but no part of the country is immune. 

For example, according to the National Stolen Bike Registry, in the Bay Area of California bike thefts have doubled since 2009. The FBI...

In the last article I explained some of the ways earthquake insurance differs from traditional homeowners insurance as well as explained that virtually any place in the U.S. can and do get earthquakes.

Now that you know the basics of earthquake insurance you can have the discussion with your insurance agent to decide whether or not earthquake insurance makes sense for you. 

...

Most people in the United States think they are safe from earthquakes, unless they live in California, of course. But the reality is that just in the last few years there have been earthquakes in other "safe" states such as Virginia, Colorado and Oklahoma. 

According to the earthquake map on the U.S. Geological Survey website there are only 8 states in the U.S. that haven't had a...

Do you have the proper amount and type of insurance coverage? Being under insured is a common problem, particularly with homeowners insurance. Inflation and home improvements can increase the amount it will cost to rebuild your home if you have a total loss.

Insurance is an incredibly valuable tool and can help you maintain your financial security no matter what the future holds. But...

Today there is a lot of information in the news about health insurance. It seems like every time we turn on the t.v. or read a paper that's all we hear about. 

But what about life insurance? You rarely hear a conversation about that. When it comes to life insurance there is generally a divide in the way people think about it according to where they are in life. 

...

One of the most misunderstood aspects of homeowners insurance is flood insurance. Many people don't realize that if they want to add flood insurance they have to buy it separately; Typical homeowners policies don't offer flood insurance. 

Another common mistake homeowners make is that they think that they don't need flood insurance if they don't live close to an ocean or river. The...

Electricity is something we take for granted. It allows us to enjoy lights at the flick of a switch as well as all the appliances and electronics that makes life easier and more fun. But, electricity can also be very dangerous and is the cause of over 50,000 house fires every year in the U.S. alone.

You are careful to not leave a fire in the fireplace when you're going to bed or leaving...

An earthquake is an accelerated shaking of the earth, a result of the shifting and breaking of rock underneath the earth's surface. One of the most destructive and frightening acts of nature, earthquakes strike suddenly and without warning, and can happen day or night, any time of the year. The United States alone has 45 states that are at moderate to extreme risk of earthquakes. The following...

When it comes to a building or house fire, every second counts so it's important that you and your family are prepared and oddly enough, many aren't. You don't want to be stuck in a moment of panic and not know what to do. You need to come up with an escape plan which will help you, your family and even your pets out of your home quickly. Did you know that a small flame can get completely out...

As thousands of Southern Californians that had to rebuild their homes will tell you, thanks to the wildfires that devastated the region, no home is safe from forest (or wild) fires. Fortunately, if you take the recommended precautions, your home will have a better chance of surviving intact.

Create Defensible Spaces

Creating a defensible safety zone around your home will slow the forest...

If you live in a state that doesn't require you to carry workers comp insurance, you may want to keep reading. 

This article will cover some of the most common myths about workers comp and explain why not having coverage may be the biggest business mistake you could make.

1.  One of the most common myths is that a business with few employees and/or mostly part time...

Tornadoes are nature's most devastating storms, reaching winds of approximately 300 miles per hour, powerful enough to lift cars and level buildings, destroying neighborhoods and towns in mere minutes. Heavy rains, flash floods and lightening typically accompany tornadoes as well as hail and include whirling winds that take on a funnel shape. When a tornado strikes, your preparedness can mean...

Senator Edward Markey, of Massachusetts has put 20 automakers in the hot seat. Markey wants to know how these automakers can secure vehicles from a cyber attack. 

He recently sent out a letter outlining his concerns and asked specific questions about the steps automakers were taking to prevent cyber attacks.  

New research from security experts have found that hackers...

There are some weather situations that are so severe we just have to hunker down and hope for the best. But that doesn't mean we are completely powerless. Some simple steps can give your home a fighting chance when faced with Mother Natures wrath.

Since your roof is the first line of defense against the elements keep it in good repair. A regular inspection will help you find and fix...

When we think of stolen cars most of us probably think of the flashy sports cars and SUV's as being the most popular among thieves. 

And while they still are, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) has found evidence that car thieves are becoming more eco-concious!

The NICB published a report on the increase of thefts of compact and sub-compact cars. 

For the...

While there are 20 million people who currently live in mobile homes, the overall trend is fewer new homes being manufactured.  According to the Manufactured Housing Institute the overall trend is for fewer new homes being produced, though there are slight increases in certain areas.

This means that many of the mobile homes today are older which increases loss frequency especially...

There are over 46,000 motorcycles, on average, stolen every year. This number is spread across most brands, but the one brand that leads the pack is Honda, 20% of all motorcycle thefts are Honda's.

Of course, that still leaves a lot of other motorcycle brands. Here is how some other popular brands fared in the theft category:

• Yamaha  over 7,500

• Suzuki  over...

A recent survey by ACE Private Risk Services, found that many families are overpaying for unneeded coverage and that this situation has been getting worse over the last 4 years. In addition to paying too much, many high net worth families are missing out on ways to save on their premiums while ensuring they have enough coverage.

Here are some easy ways to lower premiums while maintaining...

I'm sure you've heard about the data breach at Target. Unfortunately, this data breach is just the tip of the iceberg according to experts. 

The U.S. is an easy target to this type of breach due to it's outdated credit card technology. We are the only country that still uses magnetic strips which makes us very vulnerable to attack. 

Most other countries are now using...

Homeowner's insurance policies rarely cover every possible event that might damage the home. These exclusions can bring about significant out of pocket expenses to the homeowner and may lead them to seek other policies to cover those exclusions.

The problem with this is that getting multiple policies to cover as many eventualities as possible is pricey. Affordability is the single...

Having an emergency kit ready to go is another way to protect 

yourself and your family. After a natural disaster it could take 

several days for help to arrive. 

In the meantime you and your family will have to get by without 

essential services such as running water, electricity, or even 

working toilets. 

Having the right amount and combination of...

Have you ever heard the saying "Hope for the best but prepare for the worst"?

Many people do heed that warning and try to keep their families and belongings well protected, but despite their best efforts they may still fall short.

Have you ever stopped to consider the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster or a house fire?

Grim to think about I know but it's also...