As we observe National Credit Education Month, it’s crucial to delve into the various aspects of our lives influenced by credit scores. One often overlooked area is how credit scores can impact auto insurance rates. Understanding this connection is essential for informed decision-making and financial planning. The Link Between Credit Scores and Auto Insurance Rates Your credit score serves as a key factor for insurance companies when determining your auto insurance rates. Most U.S. insurance companies use credit-based insurance scores along with your driving history, claims history, and vario ..read more

Cooking is fun, but kitchen safety is a priority. There are many pieces of equipment and environmental hazards that can be extremely dangerous. Sharp objects like knives, open fire by the oven, electrical appliances, and even bacteria around the kitchen. Observing basic rules of kitchen safety is a good habit to develop. Always pay attention to what you’re doing in the kitchen because one slip can cause severe injury or accidents. To prevent serious injuries or accidents: always pay attention to what you’re doing, adopt a plan for kitchen cleanliness, and have the necessary safety eq ..read more

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that often goes undetected, striking victims caught off guard or in their sleep. More than 400 people in the U.S. die from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 20,000 visit the emergency room, and more than 4,000 others are hospitalized. This "invisible killer" is produced by burning fuel in cars or trucks, small engines, stoves, lanterns, grills, fireplaces, gas ranges, portable generators, or furnaces. When the gas builds up in enclosed spaces, people ..read more

What is an independent insurance agent? The first thing to consider is that they are not just a "salesperson" trying to sell you an expensive policy but more of a producer who quotes through multiple insurance companies and works with you to guarantee that you are getting the best available option in terms of coverage at the right price. Think of them as a personal shopper who goes out to the store and picks out the groceries (policies and coverage) that fit your budget and your needs.  They are trained and licensed experts: Our agents have years of experience working to understand the co ..read more

Buying insurance for your business is a significant investment, and you’ll want to invest wisely. How do you find the business insurance that’s best suited to your operation? Here are some tips to consider and some questions you’ll want to ask before you make your decision. 7 tips to find the right business insurance Let your agent shop around. There are many insurance companies and a wide variety of coverages out there. If you’re looking for clarification, you may want to consider working with an agent (who sells insurance for just one company) or through an insurance br ..read more

Estimating is one of the most difficult jobs in construction. It is also one of the most important. Profits are typically won or lost based on how accurate your estimates are and how closely they match up to your final project costs. So, how accurate are your estimates? A survey from QuickBooks and TSheets shows that nearly a third of construction companies make less profit than expected based on their estimates. That’s not too surprising given that 40% of respondents aren’t that confident in their estimates. Chances are that one bad estimate on a project that loses money won’t put you out of ..read more

What is Commercial Auto Insurance? Commercial auto insurance covers vehicles used for any business purposes. Different scenarios include: You’re a sole proprietor, self-employed, or own a small business that uses a vehicle in any capacity (other than commuting from home to the office). You own a vehicle (or a fleet) and pay someone else to drive it, making you liable for their insurance. It is the employer’s responsibility to sufficiently insure the vehicle with the right coverage for business use. Whether it’s one vehicle, 5, 50, or 500, any vehicle used for work purposes needs commercial ..read more

U.S. Department of Labor  |  July 14, 2022 22 workers have perished in the first half of 2022, a 68 percent increase over all of 2021  WASHINGTON – In 2022’s first six months, 22 workers have fallen victim to the deadly hazards present in trenching and excavation work – surpassing 15 in all of 2021 – and prompting the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration to launch enhanced enforcement initiatives to protect workers from known industry hazards. To stress the dangers of disregarding federal workplace safety requirements for trenching and e ..read more

What Is It & How Do You Calculate It ? What Is It & How Do You Calculate It? What Is It & How Do You Calculate It ? The goal is clear, win the bid. The road toward this goal is full of twists and turns and may include a detour or two and it begins with an estimate. As a construction cost estimator, the ability to pivot and adjust to unexpected changes is a necessary skill. Regardless of how much effort you put into studying the possible outcomes, it may still rain on your parade if there is a shift in the forecast. And, when you’re talking about projects with dollar amounts in the ..read more

How to Read a Certificate of Insurance Form A certificate of insurance form establishes proof of insurance and summarizes your coverage on one page. Here's how to read and use a certificate of insurance. When a new client hires your company, they want to know that working with you won’t increase their legal liability. Similarly, when you hire vendors or subcontractors for your firm, you want assurance that hiring them won’t harm you financially. How do both parties put these concerns to rest? By obtaining a certificate of liability insurance from an insurance company. A certificate of insuranc ..read more