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All You Ever Wanted to Know About Insurance

What Is Negligent Entrustment Liability?

Negligent entrustment is a type of liability that occurs when you allow (or entrust) an employee to use an item or a machine that could cause harm and that you know they aren’t qualified to operate. If they cause an...

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Traveling Safely With Pets

People travel with their pets all the time. Some animals are small enough or self-sufficient enough that they can ride in a crate or protective case with little to no attention. Depending on the distance, they may...

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Self-storage units

It used to be that if you asked us if your homeowners insurance policy covered your property anywhere in the world, we could reply: “Yes. However, if your property is in another one of your residences, then coverage is...

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Make sure you are the only YOU out there

The Federal Trade Commission processed 2.8 million fraud reports- totaling more than $5.8 billion in losses in 2021. Identity theft occurs when an unauthorized person uses your personal identifying information (e.g.,...

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Roommates: They are not just for college anymore

2018 Pew Research Center study cited that nearly 1-in-3 U.S. adults live with at least one adult roommate. Now that inflation and everyday costs are spiking, you may be in the market for a roommate to defray some of...

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Everyone needs more than the minimums for auto insurance

For many drivers first purchasing auto insurance, the state minimums may seem appealing when trying to budget for car payments, insurance premiums and gas prices. Yet, even for drivers without assets to protect, it’s...

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Traveling Safely With Pets

People travel with their pets all the time. Some animals are small enough or self-sufficient enough that they can ride in a crate or protective case with little to no attention. Depending on the distance, they may...

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What Is Negligent Entrustment Liability?

- Negligent entrustment is a type of liability that occurs when you allow (or entrust) an employee to use an item or a machine that could cause harm and that you know they aren’t qualified to operate. If they cause an...

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What to Check Before Buying a Used Car

With the new car market impacted by shipping delays, many people are choosing to buy used cars lately. And some people only purchase a used vehicle because it saves them money and lets the first owner figure out if it’s...

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What Kind of Insurance Do You Need for a Million-Dollar Car?

Investing a lot of money in a luxury car requires careful consideration. Will the vehicle retain its value over time? Are other owners satisfied with it? How are the roads in your area? Will you be garaging the vehicle...

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Your Condo Lets You Avoid Many Homeownership Hassles – But You Still Need Insurance

A lot of condo owners assume that their association takes care of insurance, in addition to maintenance. But that's not entirely true, especially when it comes to your belongings and other items within your unit. What...

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What To Do After an Auto Accident

First things first - make sure you're safe. Here are a few things to do after that (you may want to print out a copy of this checklist and store it in your glove compartment, just in case): Check on yourself and your...

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Prepare Your Home for Cold Weather

Use this checklist to get ahead of cold weather challenges and prepare your home for the seasonal changes ahead. Plant bulbs for springtime flowers.Cover and/or store outdoor furniture.Winterize summer lawn equipment...

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Should I Notify My Insurance Company About a New Puppy?

Having a new puppy join your household can change your life. The snuggles and kisses make getting up in the middle of the night for potty breaks worth it, but in the whirlwind of change, it’s easy to forget some...

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Your Trash Is a Criminal's Data Treasure

Bad guys dumpster dive for information they can use or sell. Even if you’ve got excellent cyber hygiene, you won’t be protected from physical data theft unless you take steps to secure your trash. Paper, computer drives,...

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No nightmares this Halloween

You’ve spent weeks preparing for Halloween. Pumpkins are carved. Bowls of candy sit near the front door. Costumes are donned. But, is your homeowners insurance ready? Do you know the answers to the what-ifs? What if a...

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Landowners, Your Vacant Land Is a Liability

Vacant land has become an increasingly appealing investment, particularly in the age of social distancing and skyrocketing home and rent costs. If you’re looking to join the growing ranks of landowners, you should...

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Homeowners policies: Are you covered or not?

You know the value of your homeowners insurance policy. It’s comforting to know that if your home is damaged, you can submit a claim and you will receive money to restore it to its original condition. Standard...

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Preventing Electrical Fires at Home

Home electrical fires claim lives every year. Most are caused by incorrectly installed wiring or overloaded circuits or extension cords. In other words, most electrical fires are preventable. Fire deaths are highest in...

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Driving drowsy should not be a part of your road trip

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car crashes caused by drowsy drivers happen because: 1. A driver falls asleep, and he or she runs off the road or into another car or object; 2. A drowsy...

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Check Your Homeowner's Insurance Before You Become a Home-Share Host

Are you offering your home on a home-sharing service? Most home-sharing and host services make renting out your house easy. They even offer $1 million in insurance coverage as part of their service. Like most people,...

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How to Choose the Right Smart Security Camera

A security camera can help protect your property against intruders or provide evidence in the event of a break-in. But with all the technology available today, it can be tough to figure out which smart security camera...

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No such thing as a no-flood zone

Connecticut has had its fair share of flooding from the Great New England Hurricane of 1938, to the floods of 1982-during which up to 16 inches of rain fell between June 4-7. The heaviest rains hit south central...

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Preparing for a Power Outage

Losing power for any length of time is inconvenient, but it can also be dangerous. You need a plan to get through the outage. Bottled water, nonperishable foods that don’t require cooking, extra propane or charcoal are...

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Year-round protection, and advice

Did your fall to-do list get longer during a summer of vacations and events? Time to tackle it. Did you have any significant changes to your lifestyle this summer? Did you move or buy a new home? Or make an extensive...

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Homeowners Beware: Infestation and Animal Damage Exclusions

Homeowners Beware: Infestation and Animal Damage Exclusions - Wildlife is a pleasure to experience - but not inside your home. Animals can move into your attic, walls, chimney or other nooks and crannies. Dealing with...

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Occurrence vs. Claims Made

What Is an Occurrence-Based Policy vs. a Claims-Made Policy? - A liability insurance policy helps pay for expenses related to a loss suffered by another person or business that occurred on your property or because of...

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Having A Water Emergency?

Having Water in an Emergency - In the event of an emergency, having an ample supply of clean water is the top priority, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. A normally active person needs to drink at...

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Hazards in Your Home Storage Areas

Hazards in Your Home Storage Areas - Many American families have an accumulation of stuff in their homes: gasoline cans, spare oil, half-containers of antifreeze, fertilizer, yard pesticides and other materials all...

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Things to Know When Shopping for Home and Auto Insurance

If you’re looking around for home or auto insurance, you may find the process confusing, especially if you’re new to buying coverage and aren’t familiar with the terminology. Here are five essential things you should...

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Does Your Home Need Flood Insurance?

www.therussellagency.com Does Your Home Need Flood Insurance? - Flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster in the U.S., so you aren’t alone facing this challenge. Many homeowners live in flood prone areas....

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Grill Safely With These Outdoor Cooking Tips

Grilling food is a fun pastime, and it’s ideal on those summer days when you don’t want to heat up the kitchen. But every year, there are accidents and home fires because people don’t grill safely. Follow these tips to...

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Hurricanes: 10 Facts People Should Know

During hurricane season-which runs from June 1-Nov. 30-flood insurance is essential. Even low-to-moderate flood-risk zones are susceptible to flooding. 10 facts about hurricanes and flood insurance: 1. Hurricanes don’t...

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Drive Safely, Save More

When motorists have exceptional driving skills (i.e., they drive safely), they may be able to get their auto insurance rates assessed based on how they drive. This kind of auto insurance is called usage-based insurance-...

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Insuring your backyard barbecue

Did you install a pool in your backyard and decide to host a summer barbecue? Before inviting people over, doublecheck that you have the right insurance coverage. In-ground and above-ground pools Pools-whether in-ground...

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We Don't Let You Down

When times get hard, we don’t let you down. We know how drastically the COVID-19 pandemic affected your day-to-day routine. Those affects still may be reverberating. Before, during and after-we keep our promise to be...

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Simple Household Pest Control Methods

No one likes the thought of having pests in their home, whether they be rodents, cockroaches, ants, or any other common household pests. If pest activity is common in your area, it is important to take steps to prevent...

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Landscape Maintenance Tips for Your Yard

You've worked hard to create a beautiful garden for your yard, but there is more to yard maintenance than simply mowing the lawn and watering the plants. There are plenty of other tasks you'll need to complete in order...

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ACA Basics: Health Coverage Compliance for Boomerang Employees

With employees leaving jobs in record numbers over the past year, there has also been an increase in workers returning to their former employers. Because former employees are a known commodity and may have added new...

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What Is Cryptocurrency Insurance?

Cryptocurrency is digital money that can be used and traded over the internet, usually without government control, central oversight, bank involvement or the need for conversion to another monetary unit. Bitcoin is the...

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What Is Business Income Insurance?

Business income insurance, also known as business interruption insurance, is a type of coverage that replaces lost business revenue due to a covered loss or “peril.” The cause of the loss must be covered by the insured’...

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When To Fight an Unemployment Claim and When To Let It Slide

Unemployment compensation fundamentals - For private employers, unemployment benefits are provided under the state’s unemployment compensation system. Unemployment insurance (UI) is jointly financed through federal and...

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Avoiding Water Issues in Your Home

Water damage is one of the worst problems that homeowners can run into. Not only can it be incredibly expensive to repair, depending on the extent of the damage, but it can also create the potential for mold and mildew...

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Your Dog May Impact Your Insurance Premium

Dogs come in all shapes and sizes-the American Kennel Club has recognized a staggering 195 dog breeds. Despite that, all dogs-whether a chihuahua or a bull mastiff-come from the same species, and you may forget that...

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You Need an Umbrella

When it rains, it pours. And, you may need additional coverage that standard policies don’t offer. Commonly, these additional coverages are called umbrella policies. Many people don’t realize that they may need it-so...

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Renters Need To Protect Their Homes

As a renter, there are responsibilities that you should consider that will help you protect your home. From theft and burglary to frozen pipes and snow (and all the things in between), here are some tips that you can...

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Independence is Key

Choosing to work with an independent agent is the key that will ensure your insurance fits your unique needs. Working with us is no exception- we’re here for you, every step of the way. We aspire to offer optimal...

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Commonly Overlooked Spring Cleaning Tasks

Spring is a common time for people to take on all of the cleaning tasks that they put off during the winter. With the weather getting warmer, it's the perfect time to tackle jobs both inside and outside your home. While...

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Cyber Insurance for Your Personal Life

Cyber Insurance doesn't cover just businesses-individuals also could benefit from cyber coverage, outside of identity theft protection. We all are connected to the internet through our phones, tablets and computers...

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Safety Tips


Why Cyber Insurance Is Essential to Your Small Business Risk Management Portfolio

It might feel like cybersecurity risk is only for the big companies; after all, they’re the ones making headlines. But according to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), there’s a ransomware...

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Upgrading Your Windows - How to Choose What's Best for Your House

You may not give the windows on your home much thought, but they can actually make a big difference not just in your comfort level, but also in the value of your home. You'll have a wide range of options to choose from,...

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Business Auto Insurance


What Are Annuities?

Annuities are investment products designed to offer the owner a steady income stream in the future. Some people buy an annuity when they receive a lump-sum payment from a legal settlement, an inheritance or an employer....

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Creating a Business Inventory

Creating a detailed business inventory is nobody’s favorite task, but it’s an important one. In the wake of a theft, fire or natural disaster, it may be too late to reconstruct a full accounting of your assets - which...

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Tips for Saving Money on Heating and Cooling Your Home

If you're like most people, you like to keep your home at a comfortable temperature throughout the year. However, running your heater or air conditioner constantly uses a lot of energy, and your electric and gas bills...

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Do you have the right auto insurance coverage?

No one wants to pay more for car insurance, but the lowest price won’t always get you the coverage and protection you need. There are many things standard auto policies won’t cover, and after an accident isn’t the time...

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Protect your home while you're away

It’s important that you take some safety measures to protect your house while you are away on vacation. Before you leave: Phone a friend. Ask friends to stop by your property periodically while you’re away. They should...

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The weather outside is frightful ... Tips about driving in the winter

It’s best to avoid driving in winter weather conditions if we can. But, sometimes, we don’t have a choice. Follow these tips to maximize your safety when driving this winter: 1. Leave early. Allow yourself extra time to...

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How to Evaluate and Choose Energy-Efficient Appliances

Today's modern appliances are much more energy-efficient than their predecessors, and some are even better than the rest. When shopping for appliances, you'll likely be overwhelmed by choice, so it is important to know...

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Sidewalk of shame: Who is responsible for clearing sidewalks in the winter?

Winter. That word-at least in the Northeast-immediately brings to mind the image of staring out a window, drinking hot chocolate, watching the snow over a winter wonderland. But, back in reality, who is responsible for...

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