October is Fire Prevention Month. Each year, an average of 370,000 reported home fires result in $6.9 billion in damages. When you add candle fires to that total, it translates to an average of 42 calls a day for a typical fire department! At this time of year, I...

When I was growing up, one of our family traditions was a trip to our local pumpkin patch. I always loved trying to find the best pumpkin, or at least one better than my sister’s. After finding the perfect pumpkin, we ventured into the store to buy caramel apples,...

Public Wi-Fi is everywhere — such as coffee shops, hotels and airports, just to name a few. But this convenience comes at a price. Public hotspots are an easy way for cyber criminals to track your online movements and steal valuable information. How? The same features...

Because the days are getting shorter, we start doing a lot more things in the dark. Walking the dog, running or biking, last-minute yard work, and driving are just a few. Almost half of all driving deaths happen at night, which is three times greater than during the...

A growing number of individuals today, especially Millennials, choose not to own an automobile. Auto loans and the costs of maintaining a vehicle aren't appealing to them. With a number of alternative modes of transportation, like trains, buses, and bicycles, owning a...

September means back to school, the start of football season, and for the chef in your family, a great opportunity to stock up on freshly harvested fruits and vegetables. Farmers markets offer fresh produce directly from local farmers, growers and producers. Fresh...

If you use Siri, Cortana, or Alexa on a daily basis, you’re like many people who rely on artificial intelligence (AI) to help make life easier. AI can send a text to a friend, set an appointment on our calendar and provide us with driving directions when we are lost....

It’s that time of year ... kids are back in school! It’s the perfect time to review the correct status of your youthful drivers with your insurance agent. It’s very important to update your insurance agent each year on the changing status of your children: Are they...

When warm weather is here, many look for ways to enjoy our time outside. One of those ways is to get on a bicycle and go for a ride. With school a few weeks away, a bicycle can also turn into the main mode of transportation. There are many benefits to riding bicycles,...

Whether at work, the grocery store, or school, it’s very common to hear sounds of the season. Unfortunately, I’m referring to sneezes, coughs, and sniffles. Between December and March, millions of people suffer from the common cold, influenza (flu), pertussis...

Hoarding has not only become a popular topic for media coverage, it's also a trending topic in the insurance industry. Because it's more prevalent in our society today, Jenny Bischoff senior personal lines underwriter will explain the practice of hoarding and how it...

In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed the first National Fire Prevention Week. According to the National Archives and Records Administrations Library Information Center, this is the longest running public health observance in history. This year’s observance is...

Retailers love this time of year when consumers venture out in droves to do their Christmas shopping. This time period can make or break their entire year. For the rest of us, increased shopping means more congestion on our roadways and in the store parking lots. This...

Currently, many of us are frantically buying and wrapping presents in time for Christmas. When Christmas morning arrives, our kids are filled with anticipation and excitement. That can all come to a screeching halt if you forgot to buy batteries. When I was a kid, C...

It’s happened to all of us at one time or another, whether we’re in a hurry to get to work or on a family road trip. All of a sudden, a vehicle warning light turns on. Depending on the light, it can bring instant panic. Thoughts of being stranded and what to do next...

The holiday season is officially here! Now comes the hustle and bustle of the season, as well as fun family traditions. Families are venturing into the wilderness to cut fresh trees. Neighbors are spending time on their roofs trying to win the neighborhood-decorating...

Each year in November, I receive my home and auto insurance renewal policy. In my house, my wife looks at how the premium changed and then leaves it on the counter or nightstand for me to review. Because I have been in the industry for over 20 years, I do take a peek....

In just a few short days, our children’s alarm clocks will be ringing and hectic school schedules will become a part...

Going on vacation with your family can be exciting, but it can also involve a lot of planning, depending on where...

One frequently-asked question we receive from our policyholders and agents is: Are rented vehicles covered by the...

If you’re like me, you carried around paint samples and fabric swatches for weeks before finally settling on the...

Surprises are great — but not when you’re closing on your new home. Even if a house passes a pre-close inspection,...

There is a lot we can do to ensure our family’s health and safety. In our daily lives, we can encourage healthy habits...