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This is blog was created to help the security guard professional better understand their insurance options.

Social services help thousands of people daily from child counseling to helping a single mother who can’t afford to feed her children. They help those who are not able to help themselves due to many reasons such as mental issues, elderly people, abused children, or the disabled. They assist people in managing their daily lives, coping with issues, navigating relationships, and solving personal and family problems.

Working with a line of people who need help for mental/health problems, can put your client at risk for being exposed to claims made against them. Psychologists need to be careful when they are treating others because they can be held responsible for an accusation made even if they did nothing wrong!

You want to make sure your client is getting all of the coverage they are looking for, but for the lowest premium they can get. If you are able to get your client a good deal, then they are more likely to both continue working with you, and refer you to their friends and family.

Roadwork can be frustrating, but it is a necessary fact of life.  When you have to be somewhere and traffic builds because of roadwork, it can be easy to become impatient – which can be dangerous in a work zone.  Did you know work zones are a major cause of auto accidents? During 2012, these accidents resulted in 609 fatalities and about 32,000 injuries.¹ Here are some tips that can help you and others stay safe when there is roadwork ahead: Be prepared for the unexpected. Things can change quickly in work zones. Slowed or stopped traffic, a traffic lane closure, or equipment and workers on the roadway are all possible. Slow down. More than one-third of fatal accidents in work zones are caused by speeding.² Obey the posted speed limit, even if you do not see any work currently in progress.  Keep a safe following distance. Rear-end collisions account for 30 percent of work zone accidents.³ Keep a safe distance between you and other cars and construction workers and equipment to help avoid accidents. Obey road crew flaggers and road signs. Flaggers and warning signs are there to help all drivers move safely through the work zone. Stay alert and focused. Your full attention should be on the road. Multitasking while driving is never recommended, especially through a work zone.  Keep up with traffic. Do not slow down to watch the roadwork. Plan ahead. Before hitting the road, check a traffic report for delays. Be sure to plan enough time to help you reach your destination on time. Be patient. While roadwork can be an inconvenience, remember that the crews are working to improve roads and make everyone’s drive safer. ¹ http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/docs/nwzaw2014factsheet/nwzaw2014factsheet.pdf ² http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/docs/nwzaw2014factsheet/nwzaw2014factsheet.pdf ³ http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/docs/nwzaw2014factsheet/nwzaw2014factsheet.pdf

Have you ever had a client ask you to quote coverage for their long haul trucking business? If you’ve spent any time working as an agent...

Contrary to popular belief, identity fraud does not always begin online. According to Travelers claim data, 44 percent of ID fraud cases happen when a person's purse or wallet has been lost or stolen. Thieves can use the information they find inside for ID fraud, so here are some critical steps to help protect yourself and your identity. Watch Your Wallet and Purse Many people store personal information in their purses and wallets, making it easier for thieves to commit identity fraud. Help secure your identity by keeping your purse and wallet in a safe place and carrying only essentials when you go out. Leave credit cards you will not be using in a secure place at home. Unless it is absolutely necessary, avoid carrying Social Security cards, birth certificates or passports as they contain key pieces of personal information thieves could use to steal your identity. Monitor Your Mail Whether you are sending or receiving mail, take steps to help keep it safe from prying eyes. Never put outgoing checks, bill payments or financial information in your unlocked home mailbox. When you need to send out sensitive documents, consider using a secure postal mailbox or send them from the post office. If you have not signed up for electronic statements, be aware of when your credit card statements are scheduled to arrive. If they are late, call the credit card company to confirm if the statement was sent. Be sure to shred old bills and unnecessary financial records containing personal information. Keep a Careful Eye on Your Credit According to our data, nearly half of ID fraud cases are committed using the victim's current accounts. On a regular basis, review your credit report and bank statements to monitor your accounts, and take these extra precautions: Make a list of all your credit card and bank account information, and store the list in a secure place, such as on a password-protected flash drive or in a fire-proof safe. Include account numbers, expiration dates, credit limits and phone numbers or emails of the customer service and fraud departments. If your card is missing or stolen, you will then be able to quickly notify your credit card provider to prevent fraudulent charges. Review your credit report and notify the credit bureaus of any mistakes. The U.S. Government Fair Credit Reporting Act gives consumers the right to receive one free copy of their credit report every 12 months from each of the three main credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion). Order one report from a different bureau every four months to see credit activity throughout the year. To order your credit report, visitwww.annualcreditreport.com. Keep Your Social Security Number Safe Social Security numbers are often used to open fraudulent accounts or to access financial information or assets. Do not have your Social Security number printed on your checks or allow merchants to write it on them. If a business requests your Social Security number, ask them why. If it is not a valid reason, do not provide the information they request. Also, never give confidential information to an unsolicited phone caller who claims they represent a financial institution or creditor. Instead, get the caller's name, location, phone number and reason for the call. Then call the phone number on your billing statements to verify the caller's identification. Get additional tips for helping protect your identity while you are online. Consider buying identity fraud insurance, a relatively inexpensive add-on to your renters or homeowners insurance policy. This coverage typically reimburses the cost of reclaiming your identity and rebuilding your credit, such as attorney's and notary fees and replacement of IDs. It is a low-cost investment against a high-expense crime.