Education Articles

Prepare Your Home and Vehicle for a La Niña Winter

La Niña is predicted to make another appearance this winter. What does that mean for the Pacific Northwest? For one, colder and wetter conditions through February. It also adds a little urgency to preparing your home and vehicle—and the need to take extra precautions on the road. In the event of storm damage or an accident, it’s good to know wha...

Navigating a Hard Insurance Market

Rate-shopping will be challenging, but there are discounts to be had The wide-ranging effects of supply chain issues and persistent inflation are well known—and felt in every corner of the economy. Despite inflation simmering to more tolerable levels, prices of everyday necessities like food and gasoline remain high. These economic challenges ha...

Making Sense of Rising Insurance Rates

There are ways to level off, or even lower, your auto and homeowners premiums The recent meteoric rise in inflation has found its way to the insurance industry. Thanks to an unusual convergence of market trends, it’s much more expensive to build, repair, or replace a vehicle or home in 2022 than ever before—forcing most insurance carriers to...

Medicare 101: Your Questions Answered

The world of Medicare is complex and can feel overwhelming. It helps to hear from those who live in it—and to start with the basics. Using a broker can help you navigate the ins and outs of Medicare. So, what exactly is  Medicare ? It’s the federal health insurance program for people 65 and older and certain younger people with disabilities or...

Telematics: Rewarding Safe Drivers Through Technology

By now, you’re probably aware of insurance programs that reward safe driving behavior.   Until  “usage-based” coverage  came along, auto insurance underwriters would traditionally use statistics to determine risk based on how you and other motorists with similar characteristics are  likely  to drive. With usage-based coverage, some insurers can...

7 Life Insurance Misconceptions

Many of us let popular claims about life insurance convince us that we don’t need it. Whatever your unique needs, it doesn’t hurt to give what you’ve heard additional thought—in fact, it might help a great deal. Read on to see if you change your mind about seven of the most common life insurance misconceptions. #1: I’m single and have no...

Unexpected Expenses of Owning a Pet

If you own a pet, you already know that budgeting is just part of the deal—just like walking the dog or scheduling regular vet visits. If you’re starting to look for your own “man’s best friend,” it might be time to start thinking about all the expenses that go into owning a pet. Before taking a trip down to your  local shelter  or pet store,...

Protect Yourself From Financial Burden

Simply put, Payment Protection helps safeguard your loans. If an unexpected life event leaves you at risk of defaulting on a major loan, Payment Protection could help you and your family when you need it most. If you’re thinking, “That sounds a lot like life insurance,” you’re partially right. But Payment Protection and life insurance are intend...

The Ins and Outs of Farm and Ranch Insurance

Farmers and ranchers have unique insurance needs. Their situations call for considerably more protection than, say, a home or vehicle. With that in mind, farm and ranch insurance policies can be tailored to help meet those needs. Think of this type of insurance as a hybrid designed to protect farmers and ranchers personally and commercially....

First-Time Home Buyer? Get to Know Homeowners Insurance

Protect your home (and everything in it) for years to come. Congrats on deciding to buy your first home. It’s an exciting (if perhaps a little intimidating) step. But  your  home with  your  stuff? How cool is that? Like anything you own that carries special meaning (your car, jewelry, musical instruments, etc.), you’ll want to protect your new...