Can Gap Insurance Close the Gap to Keep You on the Road?

 By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pixabay

If you're in the market for a new car that you plan on financing, you'd be well advised to touch base with your insurance agent before you sign on the dotted line.  That's because you may want to look into adding gap insurance onto your existing auto  policy before you drive any new car off the lot.  Whether you realize it or not, the moment you drive a new vehicle away from the showroom it depreciates significantly. Should your shiny new ride get totaled in an accident, catch fire, or get stolen in the first couple years of ownership, you may be in for a rude awakening when it comes to the check your insurance agency will issue for a total loss.  Instead of providing you with the amount to buy a new car of the same make or model, you'll wind up receiving the current value of the vehicle minus depreciation and your deductible.  

Will Climate Change Break Your Business?

By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pxfuel

As I stand here looking out my window at the thermometer in my garden, the temperature reads 100 degrees.  While temperatures in the mid-90's aren't unusual in Florida during the summer, having them reach triple digits is.  And it isn't only here that record temperatures have been occurring this summer.  The World Meteorological Organization recently proclaimed July 2023 as being the hottest month ever recorded in human history.   The unrelenting heat wave has been spawning wildfires galore, as well as unusually powerful storms that are causing hail and flood damage in many parts of the globe.  This recently caused UN chief Antonio Guterrez to state, "The end of global warming has ended; the era of global boiling has begun."  While climate change can disrupt lives, it can also throw a monkey wrench into most businesses.  If you own a business and you want to know how to defend your enterprise against the ravages of climate change, see my top-10 list below.

Can Renter's Insurance Protect You from Weather Gone Wild?

By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pixabay

As I write this, I'm streaming a video showing the devastation that Typhoon Doksuri unleashed on China recently.  Not only was the devastation brought on by torrential rain and winds that topped 135 MPH horrific, but the flooding that ensued on its heels washed away cars, houses, roads, and several bridges.  Since I've weathered my share of hurricanes over the years in Florida, I'm grateful that I'm covered by insurance should a named storm unleash its fury on my home or business.  This way I'll be able to quickly recover should the worst come to worst.  However, weather gone wild made me think about those who choose to rent as opposed to owning their home.  Sure, the landlord will get compensated for any storm damage that occurs, but as a renter you'd be out of luck if any of your possessions were damaged or destroyed by the wrath of Mother Nature.  Since you can't bill the landlord for damage or loss of your property, here's why you really should consider looking into renter's insurance.  

Does Medical Identity Theft Make You Sick?

 By Catherine Powell

Image courtesy Pixabay

Identity thieves continue to prey on the public by hijacking their victim's good names for profit.  In 2022 alone, ID thieves managed to steal $10.2 billion from 1.4 million Americans according to statistics published by the National Council on Identity Theft Protection.  If that isn't bad enough, the council predicts that by 2029 the cost of identity theft protection is expected to skyrocket to $29 billion.  While protecting your personal and financial data is vital to keeping you and your family from being victimized by identity thieves, lately there has been an even more insidious form of ID theft that has reared its ugly head: Medical Identity Theft.  What's even worse than the financial damage this form of fraud can cause is that it's even easier to commit and harder to prevent.