Can BOP Keep Your Business from Getting Bopped?

 By Catherine Powell

Running a business isn’t for sissies.  That’s because there’s precious little that’s free in a free-market economy.  Everything from rent and payroll to advertising and inventory add up.  Then there are unforeseen situations that can stop a business in its tracks, like distribution bottlenecks and a little thing called COVID-19.  If all that wasn’t enough, there are dozens of ways that you and/or your business can be held liable.  Slip and fall accidents, worker’s comp issues, and errors & omissions can land you in court.  While general business liability insurance can protect you against these situations, it’s not all-encompassing.  Typically, this means you’ll also need to purchase a commercial property policy to cover your building and its contents from fire, theft, or acts of God.  The alternative is to purchase a policy that combines both.  It’s known as a Business Owner’s Policy, or BOP.

Is Basic Homeowner's Insurance Basically Inadequate?

 By Catherine Powell

Owning a home is for many of us the single biggest investment we’re likely to make.  Even if you only own a 1-bedroom condo or starter home, you probably want to make sure that it and everything contained therein is protected against any unforeseen calamity.  Should a fire, storm, flood, or other act of God damage or destroy your home, wouldn’t it be nice to know that your policy will be sufficient to repair or rebuild it to the current building codes?  You bet it would.  Wouldn’t it also be a blessing if you were able to replace all the furnishings as well as your possessions if you were the target of thieves or a pipe broke only to cause major damage inside your dwelling?  You better believe it.  If all you currently carry is basic homeowner’s insurance, you could find that you have less protection than you really need.

If Your Kid is in College, You Need to Read This

 By Catherine Powell

It’s a bittersweet thing when your child goes off to college.  On one hand, it’s a right of passage.  On the other, it can leave a void in any parent’s life.  Other than waiting for Spring Break to have your college student return to the nest laden with laundry, there is something else I’d like to suggest you do to help while away the time.  That’s because even though your grown child no longer lives under the same roof, he or she is anything but independent.  Even more important than helping them pay their way through college is for every parent to make sure that their needs are met.  One of those needs concerns insurance. 

Should Your New Year’s Resolutions Include Social Media?

By Catherine Powell

With only a little over two weeks left in the year, most people start to think about making their New Year’s resolutions.  Some of the most popular ones include working out, losing weight, and saving money.  The reason many of us create New Year’s resolutions is to try to get the year started on the right foot.  While shedding a few pounds or learning to stick to a budget is laudable, I’d like to recommend a cyber-resolution that should be on everyone’s list:  Social media discipline.

Water, Water Everywhere

 By Catherine Powell

As I write this blog, it’s raining cats and dogs outside.  Not that this is so unusual in Florida, where thunderstorms happen all year round.  The problem is when the wind is howling and the rain comes down in buckets, all that water has to go somewhere.  Sometimes too much precipitation can cause problems with homes, businesses, and vehicles.  Below are ten ways to keep water from raining on your parade.

10 Ways to Protect Your Gifts from the Grinch

 By Catherine Powell

Everyone is familiar with the Dr. Seuss story “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”.  While a work of fiction, the phenomenon of having one’s Christmas presents stolen is all too real.  To help you keep from having your holiday spirit deflated, I thought I’d take the time to give you ten tips that are guaranteed to thwart the thieves who prey on holiday shoppers.

How to Keep Your Credit Cards from Being Hacked

 By Catherine Powell

Now that Thanksgiving is over, the holiday shopping season is in full swing.  That means lots of trips to the stores, as well as multiple online purchases.  To you. this time of year is a time of giving.  For hackers, it’s a time to take advantage of unwary shoppers by stealing their credit and debit card info for their own nefarious purposes.  More than 23 million credit cards were compromised in 2019 alone.  If you don’t want to have your credit card abused or your bank account emptied, there are a few things you need to do before you head over to the mall.