The Shepherd Guide to (Re)Building Your Business “When you can’t change the direction of the wind-adjust your sails” – H. Jackson Brown Jr We’ve all had to look at our businesses and think about how to transform during the past three months. We’ve had to be resilient and learn to co-exist with COVID-19. I’ve personally taken on the mantra of “control what you can control and keep going.” I previously shared with you my initial thoughts on the phases of coping with this crisis. I used this acronym to talk about the phases:    Assess & Adjust Last week I spoke about L ..read more

Young driver Getting your license is an exciting time for new drivers. This offers them independence and the ability to go where they want without having to bother their parents or friends for a ride. If you have a new driver in your friend circle or family, help them safely become an experienced driver. Share the following tips with them and follow the guide yourself. Drive safe and best wishes. It’s one thing to pass all your driving tests and get your license. But learning doesn’t end there. Becoming a safe and experienced driver takes years of practice. There’s no way to speed up this pro ..read more

In recent weeks, we paid our respects to one of our team members whose father had passed away. This made us present to the importance of being proactive to plan for the emotional and financial stress that a death in the family brings. One of the biggest challenges with a death in the family is that it feels as though your life has stopped, that you can’t possibly go on. However, life doesn’t stop and neither do any of the costs associated with it. Whether it’s mortgage payments, car payments, daycare, food and clothing - you are still expected to deliver. Fortunately, it’s possible to reduce ..read more

If you’re hosting a party, serving alcohol, or having guests over, always follow safety regulations and ensure you have the appropriate coverage. Truly, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Be mindful of the risks that arise from alcohol. Parties at your place expose you to “host liquor liability.” If injuries occur to your guests, you may be held liable. Your responsibility decreases slightly if your guests are bringing their own alcohol. In that case, they assume some responsibility, but you still share part of it. Here’s a quick and easy guide to keeping your parties and events safe: 1. Keep ..read more

Everything You Need to Know About Condo Insurance in Ontario Your condo is your safe space. It is where your friends and family come to make memories and where you store your most prized possessions. It’s scary to think about replacing all of your belongings in your unit, should anything tragic happen. But if you are to opt-in for condo insurance you’ll be able to rest easy knowing that your things are protected.  So what is covered when you opt-in for Condo Insurance in Ontario Condo insurance will provide coverage for your personal belongings as well as upgrades made to the unit. As a c ..read more

Everyone loves a vacation. While compiling lists of restaurants, sites and shops you want to visit don’t forget to check travel insurance off of your list of must-haves. Without this easy addition to your itinerary, you could be facing a financial nightmare.  Even if you’re booking a short trip to the USA to shop, the cost of treatment for an accident or sudden illness can be shocking.  US hospital care can cost thousands of dollars per day and intensive care treatment can cost anywhere from $10,000.00 per day depending on requirements. Travel insurance helps protect you from certai ..read more

Our philosophy is always better to be safe than sorry. Having access to a vehicle is a luxury. At the drop of a hat, you have the freedom to get up, get in your car, and go wherever you like. This is especially true for teenagers who have just obtained their license and are eager to get on the roads.  However, whether you are using your vehicle to pick up groceries, visiting friends, or commuting to work, driving a car also means being prepared for anything to happen, if you're a car repair shop owner you know how quickly and easily mistakes and accidents can happen.  This includes r ..read more

Everyone and everything is getting hacked these days to the point where we refer to cyber risk as the “new fire.” These days, we don’t have to look far to find hacking and cyber breaches. Cyber Hacks Becoming The Norm These stories are now close to home. In fact, one of our own team members was hacked. Hackers breached her computer, stealing photos and holding them ransom for $350. Fortunately, they did not compromise any of her banking or personal information. Less fortunately, the antivirus she had installed on her computer did not prevent the hackers from accessing her computer. With breac ..read more

Many small business owners become so focused on running their business that they forget to properly protect it by having the “right” insurance program in place. Dance Studios pose a special concern as many have young children participating at their facilities; they have expensive audio equipment, special flooring, mirrors, sets, costumes, etc. Let’s use flooring as an example: Flooring is very costly (price can range from $5000 to $25,000) and water damage can quickly ruin it beyond repair. Types of flooring include but are not limited to vinyl, linoleum, sprung flooring with hardwood, timber ..read more

Since March 2020, most of our travel plans have been put to a halt. To ensure the health and safety of everyone we’ve all done our part to keep as many people safe throughout this pandemic. As the world slowly goes back to normal more and more people feel comfortable travelling. Over time, we’ve learned more about COVID-19 and how it spreads. We now know how to better protect ourselves from getting ourselves and others sick. With knowledge comes power and this gives us the freedom and option to travel more safely. However, we are humans after all and we’re not immune to every disease or injur ..read more