Customized Insurance Agency Newsletters, Content, and Marketing

Fall is a special time of year, but as the season changes and the weather gets harsher, you'll want to make sure that your home can withstand whatever winter will throw at it this year.

There is nothing worse than finding out you have a roof leak or clogged rain gutters that collapse in heavy rain or snow. Fortunately, proactive maintenance now can save you from costly repairs, frustrating inconveniences and serious safety hazards down the road.

America's roads are getting busy again and new emerging patterns, like busier and longer commute periods, more congestion and unpredictable traffic are driving an increase in accidents, according to a new report.

Although low-speed fender benders are rising during crowded rush hours, the bigger risk for more accidents is the steady increase in long trips and extended daily commutes, according to the report. For motorists, it's important to understand these new driving and traffic patterns and adjust their driving accordingly to reduce the chances of being in a collision.

A new survey from America's Health Insurance Plans and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is raising alarms about widespread abuse of the federal Independent Dispute Resolution process set up under the No Surprises Act.

According to the findings, nearly 40% of disputes filed through the system in 2024 (the year the law took effect) were ineligible, yet many still advanced through arbitration, forcing employers and health plans to pay unnecessary or inflated claims.

New federal guidance announced Oct. 16, 2025, could make it easier for companies to add or expand fertility support for workers without having to fold it into their major medical plans.

The guidance spells out how infertility benefits like in vitro fertilization and hormone therapy can qualify as "excepted benefits," a category of coverage that's not subject to Affordable Care Act mandates.

Studies have found that 93% of employees opt for the same benefits every year and that 35% of workers don't fully understand the benefits they are enrolled in.

Both of these issues can lead to workers skipping necessary appointments, check-ups and treatment regimens for chronic conditions, which in turn puts their health at risk. Not to mention, they are likely wasting money as a result.

Here's how you can help.

Nobody wants to pay the IRS more than they owe, yet Americans regularly do it because they fail to take tax deductions for which they are eligible.

While there are many ways you can deduct expenses, like the interest you pay on your home mortgage, there are some deductions you may have overlooked. Here's a look at the five most common oversights.

Few things are as important as ensuring that your heirs will be in good financial shape should you die unexpectedly.

Life insurance and the death benefit it pays out is critical for achieving that financial shape — albeit one that is often avoided because it elicits undesirable emotions. Because of the unwelcome emotional component, some people opt not to review their life insurance policy, but it should not be something you merely buy and then forget about.

A deferred income annuity, or DIA, provides a guaranteed stream of income for as long as you live — starting at some future date. They're not investment products.

They are contracts with an insurance company. You contribute money now and receive guaranteed lifetime income starting at a date that you select.

How does a DIA work in a retirement portfolio?

Inflation suddenly spiked sharply in April 2021, reaching 3.4% on an annualized basis. If sustained over a year, that would be more than twice the average inflation rate over the last decade and a half. 

If you're close to retirement age, that rate of inflation is enough cut your spending power in half during your lifetime. It's therefore a real threat to your lifestyle in retirement.

This item highlights five moves you can make to help protect yourself against inflation.

California employers have new compliance challenges because of a law that further broadens the circumstances under which employees can take protected paid and unpaid leave.

AB 406, which took effect Oct. 1, 2025, expands on last year's revisions to the state's paid sick and safe time and crime-victim leave laws, adding new categories of protected absences that cross multiple statutes — and increasing the complexity of managing employee leave. Here's what you need to know.

As natural catastrophes continue growing in number and severity, everybody should be prepared for quick evacuation in case of emergency. Even if you don't live in an area known for natural disasters, you should always be prepared in case you have to make a sudden evacuation.

While there is only so much planning we can do for this type of event, at the very least you should consider packing a "go-bag" of emergency supplies that can help keep you safe while finding a place to retreat to.  Here's what you should pack in it.

The most common lawsuits that businesses face are those filed by employees. But what many managers fail to realize is that if they act early when receiving complaints and institute strict workplace guidelines that minimize the chance of making employees disgruntled, they can avoid costly lawsuits.

Often these suits stem from mistakes that company management makes. Here's what you should avoid doing.