1. 10 Easy Ways to Reduce the Risk of Identity Theft

    ID Theft has victimized more than 15 million people worldwide.  Last year alone, there were more than a million new cases.  36% of FTC complaints are regarding ID Theft.  Simply stated, it’s the fastest-growing crime in America.  Here are my 10 quick and easy ways to limit your chances of becoming a victim of this financially-crippling … Continued

  2. How Forgiving is Accident Forgiveness?

    I called an insurance company the other day.  A well known one.  One that you and I see on TV all the time.  I asked them about their “accident forgiveness” program.  As you might guess, accident forgiveness is offered by car insurance companies to get you to switch (or stay), claiming that if you have an … Continued

  3. THE Smartest Way to Save on Insurance

    If you read personal finance blogs and magazines like I do, you’ll constantly find articles on “ways to save money on insurance”.  Go ahead and GOOGLE it and check out some of the posts.  While the tips vary from one article to the next, the one tip that is consistently on every financial expert’s “Top … Continued

  4. Something to Consider During Open Enrollment Period

    As we approach the end of the year, companies all over the country are going through their “open enrollment” period.  This is the one time per year in which employees can select certain coverages such as health insurance, disability, long term care, and of course, group life insurance.  If the question is “Am I better off … Continued

  5. Home Insurance: Replacement Cost v. Market Value

    I posted a trivia question on my Facebook page: Someone buys a brand new 2,500 sq ft, 2-story single family home. Purchase price $450k, mortgage $400k. How much should their home probably be insured for? (a) $400k (b) $450k (c) $275k (d) assessed value by the county. In reality, I probably should have included an … Continued

  6. Do You Need to Buy the Insurance from the Rental Car Company?

    A Facebook Fan asked me whether or not she needed to purchase the extra insurance when she rents a car.  Rental car companies sometimes refer to this as “Collision Damage Waiver” or CDW.  The answer is not as simple as yes or no.  In general, your auto policy covers a temporary substitute car (e.g. a … Continued

  7. Jewelry Coverage on Home Insurance: What's Covered?

    I posted a trivia question on my Facebook page:  Someone breaks into your home and steals three pieces of jewelry valued at $5,000, $2,000 and $1,000 ($8,000 total), how much will a basic home insurance policy cover? The technical answer to this question is $1,500.  A basic HO-3 policy covers up to $1,500 for theft … Continued

  8. The Truth About Rental Reimbursement Coverage

    If you look at the bottom of your auto policy “declarations page”, the last coverage listed is normally “Rental Reimbursement” (also known as “Transportation Expense” coverage).  Many people think this coverage is necessary in order for coverage to apply to a car that they rent for vacation.  This is not the case.  Rental Reimbursement coverage is used to cover … Continued

  9. Windshield Claims: Chip or Crack?

    One of the most common types of personal insurance claims is the windshield claim.  If you have driven on I-66 (or US 202 for my Philly readers), then you’ve probably been startled by a rock, pebble, or piece of small debris hitting your windshield at one point or another.  One of the things that some people don’t know is the … Continued