Asset Protection | Consolidated

Weather or Not – What’s Covered by Your Homeowners’ Policy?

The winter months usually bring more severe weather and much lower temperatures, and that often means an increase in weather-related damages to homes as well. What’s covered by a typical homeowners’ policy, and what isn’t? Frozen Pipes: Water expands when it freezes, and that’s bad news for copper pipes especially. Pipes exposed to low temperatures…

The Scene of the Crime: Does Your Business Need Crime Insurance?

“That couldn’t happen to us.” That mindset can cost businesses a lot of money and heartache because bad things do happen, including crimes against your business committed by your own employees. Every day, trusted employees pilfer or embezzle from their employers, and the costs are staggering: a 2017 study estimated an annual price tag of…

Auto Coverage: Why Raise Your Limits?

You already know that automotive insurance is a must-have, required by law, with specific coverage limits that vary from state to state. The problem is that many drivers stop right there at those bare minimums, which can leave them in a bad place in the event of a serious accident. For example, Maryland drivers must…

Homeowner’s Coverage – The Things that Affect Your Premium

The cost of any insurance coverage is the result of a number of risk factors. In other words, the more likely you are to have a loss in the eyes of an underwriter, the more your coverage will typically cost. With auto coverage, as one example, you can control some of those risk factors by…

A Home Inventory – Why You Need One and How to Do It

We hope that you’ll never lose any of your valued possessions to fire, theft, storm damage or some other catastrophe. But under the heading of “expect the best and prepare for the worst,” you should take the time to create a home inventory just in case. A thorough and well-documented inventory will save you quite…

Commercial Fire Coverage

There’s no good time or place for a fire, but a fire at your place of business can be especially costly. In many cases the costs associated with the physical damages and restoration take a backseat to the costs of the interruption to business activities. Income can very quickly slow to a trickle or stop…

Credential Stuffing: The Path of Least Resistance for Hackers

With all the high-profile hacking and ransomware incidents in the news lately, from Baltimore City’s ransomware woes to Atlanta losing eight years’ worth of body-camera video, you’re probably wondering what steps you can take to insulate your company and yourself. The answer begins with understanding how many hackers operate. You might picture a hacker hunched…

Renovation and Risk: Insuring Your Improved Home

Planning a home renovation project is exciting and sometimes stressful, with so many choices to be made: cabinet styles and finishes, flooring, countertops, hardware, paint … the list goes on. Many people miss one very important step, however … your homeowner’s coverage may need a little improvement as well. First, begin with the end in…

Flood Insurance

The sudden and tragic flooding in Ellicott City over Memorial Day weekend was a sobering reminder that sometimes lightning does strike twice in the same place, so to speak … we saw similar flooding there in 2016, and this time around the damage was even more severe. The forecast that day called for a chance…

Wait – that accident wasn’t my fault! Know your rights as a claimant.

If you have an auto accident where you are at fault, your insurer covers the damages under the terms of their contract with you, and that coverage is subject to the terms and conditions of that contract. However, what many people do not understand is how that scenario changes when the other driver’s insurance is…