Multi-factor authentication is a method of authenticating users on an information system and requires them to go through multiple steps to access that information system. Commonly, this is accomplished through a combination of a username and password, followed by a...
Stated amount coverage: What clients need to know, what you need to tell them
Insuring on a stated amount basis usually offers little benefit to the insured. From the insured's perspective, a few things can go wrong when the stated amount fails to exactly equal the cash value of a property at the time of loss. One predicament your insureds...
Inflation challenges: Help your clients prepare
Inflation impacts all aspects of our lives—but it is having an outsized impact on the cost to repair or replace cars and homes. Data reveals that 20% of homeowners don’t know how much they pay for home insurance[1]—so chances are, many will not anticipate the impact...
Do carrier ratings really matter?
In a word: Yes. They do. There are organizations that rate the financial condition of insurance companies, such as Demotech, Moody’s and S&P Global Ratings. However, AM Best is probably the most prominent. AM Best uses letter ratings, ranging from “A” (which is...
Items in storage units may not be covered by a HO policy
So, it used to be that if clients asked you if their homeowners insurance policy covered their property anywhere in the world, you could reply: “Yes. However, if they are in another one of your residences, then coverage is limited to 10% of the limit shown in your...
NFIP or private flood insurance?
Questions can help your clients choose The National Flood Insurance Program has been the main flood insurance provider in the United States since its inception in 1968. But is it always the best option for your clients? Private flood insurance provides...
New risks in the virtual world
During the first few months of the pandemic, the phrase the new normal was everywhere and it was meant to describe what things would be like going forward. It was meant to describe what we have always done, but would be done differently than it had in the past. For...
Increase Law & Ordinance coverage for homes in SFHA flood zones
Did you know that the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s substantial damage rule applies to any building damage … not just flood damage? That’s right, even common homeowners policy perils such as wind, fire and/or water damage could trigger the requirement for a...
Words matter
Whether they are being spoken, written or posted online, the words we say have an impact on others—and on the ways others perceive the ones sharing those words. Personally and professionally, we have each felt the impact of what others have said about us, to us...
CPIA: Designated for success
When independent insurance agents earn specialized designations, they elevate their skills to expert status on the national level. There are plenty of designations that insurance agents can earn, and the Certified Professional Insurance Agent designation through the...