Secrets and Tips for Seasonal Property Insurance.
Picture this. It’s finally beginning to warm up – spring is in full flow and summer is just around the corner. You’ve had a good year and your eyes are fixated on that cottage you’ve always wanted. It’s finally time. However, once that little slice of heaven is in your name, it’s time to insure it to make sure that unwanted repair and repla...
How to Spot and Avoid Water Damage
When it comes to forces of nature, water can do a great deal of damage. Whether it’s a small leak that grows overtime or a cascade that leaves destruction in its wake; the consequences can often be severe. With spring upon us and the environment peaking in wetness, now is the time more than ever to be mindful about water damage and how to prevent ...
Sewer Backup Prevention
Damage to your property can be done multiple ways and sewer backup is one you’ll probably want to avoid the most. Sewer backup is not only a health hazard, but the clean-up process is extensive and costly. Here’s some information on what causes a sewer backup and what you can do to prevent it.
What causes a sewer backup?
When something block...
Insurance You Need For Your Startup
If you’re running a startup, your main focus is probably how to grow your business. But it may be time to consider getting insurance in order to protect your business.
Here are some of the essential insurance products you will need for your startup:
Commercial General Liability Insurance (CGL)CGL Insurance is made to cover your company in the even...
What To Know Before Planning Home Renovations
Taking on a renovation project is both a challenging and rewarding experience. It may be easy to picture what your new updated kitchen or new bathtub will look like when the work is done, but it’s important to know that renovations are complex and can be prone to unforeseen issues and expenses. Give some thought to the process so that you’re well ...
Why Choose an Insurance Broker?
Lately there have been a ton of different ways to purchase insurance. Planning for the future and protecting your assets are at the top on a consumers mind when considering their insurance options. But looking for the right coverage can be overwhelming, especially for someone who is not familiar with insurance, which is why you need an expert to h...
Top Reasons for Home & Auto Increases
It’s crucial to realize that there are many factors that contribute to home and auto increases. Whether you’re purchasing a new policy or renewing an existing one, understanding these factors will help give insight on how your rates are calculated.
Home
1. Modern Homes and real estate pricesHomes with high-end features such as pools and hot tubs d...
Cyber Risk In The Construction Industry
When you think of different industries with exposure to cyber risks, construction probably doesn’t come to mind. But the truth is – construction is just as exposed to cyber risk as the healthcare industry, retail, and government organizations.
It’s predicted that cybercrime damages are on the rise and can reach $6 trillion worldwide on an an...
Auto Insurance in Ontario
One of the biggest questions Ontario drivers have about insurance is why we have to pay more than other Canadians. There are many factors that determine the cost of insurance in Ontario such as simple geography and insurance fraud. Here’s a breakdown of more factors that contribute to this:
• The Ontario Governments sets the minimum coverage offer...
How the Redwater Case Affects Insurance
On January 31st, The Supreme Court Ruled that Redwater must fulfill any provincial environment obligations before paying anyone it owes money to. This decision has created enormous liability implications in Canada – specifically for environmental liability.
If you’re not already familiar with the Redwater case, here’s a recap:
Redwater was a...
Insurance Market Outlook 2019
As in the past, we continue to monitor the industry and give an overview of where we feel the insurance market is at, how it will impact both availability and cost of insurance for our clients.
Industry wide we see ourselves in a ‘hard-market’ environment, which essentially means that we are seeing increasing premiums and tightening underwriting r...
How To Keep Your Car Battery From Dying In The Winter
Winter can be rough. And it can be especially harsh on your car battery. Here are some tips you can use to prevent your car battery from dying in the winter.
1. Get it checked before winter
Don’t wait until cold weather to ensure that your battery is functioning properly – especially if your battery is three years or older. You may find your...
Understanding Your Employee Needs
Making a decision to launch a new product is similar to making any decisions about your employee benefit plans. You would never come out with a new product without understanding the marketplace, clients and current business environment – so it’s important to make sure that you understand your employee needs before deciding on a new group benefit p...
The Dangers of Distracted Driving
You consider yourself a good driver so a quick glance at that text you received, or changing the song on your driving playlist is no big deal for you. But the truth is, no matter how much driving experience you have, nothing can save you from the dangers of using any sort of device while driving.
On January 1st, 2019 – new laws and harsher p...
Tips On How To Never Miss Your Insurance Payment
We get it – bills are a headache. From your phone bill, to internet and car payments it can be hard to keep track of everything. But we’re here to help! We’ve got some tips for you to help keep you on top of your payments, specifically your insurance premium.
Insurance is supposed to give you a peace of mind so the last thing you should worr...
Basic Insurance Terminology
Insurance can be quite confusing – but we’re here to help!
When shopping for insurance or even reviewing your policy, it helps to know some common insurance terms. Always remember that if you don’t understand something on your policy, don’t be afraid to ask your insurance representative!
Absolute Liability
The liability of a wrongdoer’s auto...
Understanding Deductibles
Reading your insurance policy can be similar to learning a new language. There are countless terms and phrases that are difficult to interpret and insurance deductibles are on that list.
What is a deductible?
The “deductible” is the amount that you agree to pay out of your own pocket before the insurer will step in and pay the remaini...
Understanding Group Benefits
As the employer sponsoring the group benefits plan, it is important to find the best coverage for your employees. But to find the right coverage will also mean having to properly understand what your policy means.
Here are five common group benefits terms and what they mean
1. Extended health coverage
Extended Health Coverage helps pay medical exp...
What Type of Cyber Coverage Do I Need?
Cyber risk is becoming more common today and it is vital for you to determine the type of cyber risk coverage you need to protect your business. Familiarizing yourself with the different types of coverage can help narrow down your options:
Cyber CoverageThis coverage typically focuses on services and systems related to technology and their use in ...
Ontario's New Distracted Driving Laws - Effective Jan. 1, 2019
Things are changing this coming New Year. One of those changes are Ontario’s new driving laws, which will officially be taking effect on January 1st, 2019.
Here are some of the new rules to watch out for:
Drivers convicted of distracted driving will be punished with a licence suspension, hefty fine and demerit points. The severity of ...
Human Resources Trends for 2019
Emerging Issues
Legalization of Cannabis
The legalization of Cannabis in October 2018 has been an ongoing issue therefore creating the need to address some foundational issues in workplace policy and practice. Based on a recent study, 52% of HR leaders indicated they plan to update substance abuse policies to manage cannabis in the workplace at so...
Cyber Breach Recovery
Any business, big or small runs the risk of being exposed to cybercrime. But do you know what to do in the event of a data breach? The first couple of hours can have a huge impact on the extent of your loss and your data breach recovery efforts.
Here are 4 steps to guide you and help you react wisely and recover quickly:
1. Stop the breach i...
Why Did My Home Insurance Premium Increase at Renewal Time?
You may be wondering why the cost of your home insurance premium recently went up – and there are several factors that likely went in to determine the new cost of your premium. While some price increases may be due to factors within your control, others can be caused by issues that are affecting home insurance across the country.
Pricing fac...
Mobile Access For Employees
Traditional Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) are effective but they only provide support for a small proportion of the workforce that is close to crisis point. Based on new research from LifeWorks, it is revealed that employees would welcome the opportunity to access well-being support tools in their own time and take proactive control over thei...
The Future of Insurance
Our world is changing every day. Factors from technology to climate change are the number one reasons for the change of nature of consumer engagement. With that being said - it is time that the insurance industry and regulators work together to find the best way to serve Canadians.
A nationwide online study was produced by Insurance Bureau to dete...
Federal Data Breach Regulations - Effective Nov. 1, 2018
All businesses – big or small – are not immune to cyber risks and it is important that every business is prepared to follow the proper procedures to control these cyber-attacks.
November 1, 2018 is when Canada's federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) will require organizations that suffer a data breach involv...
Marijuana And Your Auto Insurance
If you’re not already aware, recreational marijuana is officially legal starting today. This new legislation has caused concern from people all across Canada about driving under the influence and how this can affect your car insurance policy.
The government has come up with strict rules on driving high which includes a saliva test that detec...
The Rising Cost Of Group Benefits
Due to drug expenses, the cost of group benefits has been quickly increasing. And although this is concerning to Canadian employers, they are still keeping productivity and engagement of their employees a priority.
A survey for Canadian group benefits sponsors was conducted to identify their Top 10 benefits and workplace priorities. Here are...
What Is "High Risk" Insurance And Who Needs It?
Did you know that “high risk” insurance is not just for reckless and risky drivers? Most people don’t know that it can also apply to good drivers and even some homeowners.
High-risk insurance (also known as non-standard coverage) is for those who aren’t eligible for coverage from standard insurance companies. Here are 6 common reasons why someone ...
What Is Cyber Risk And How Can It Affect My Business?
Cyber risk is any threat of financial loss, disruption or damage to the reputation of an organization resulting from the failure of its information technology systems. This can be caused in a variety of ways such as:• Deliberate and unauthorized breaches of security to gain access to information systems• Unintentional or accidental breaches of sec...
Group Benefits for a Changing Workforce
With millennials being the largest segment of the Canadian workforce, many employers have started to offer exciting new benefits in the workplace such as gym memberships, pet-friendly offices, and free snacks. Although these perks can be great, it is also important to ensure that more traditional benefits are not overlooked. Traditional perks such...
Most Common Workplace Accidents on Construction Sites
Workplace injuries and fatalities on construction sites are growing at an alarming rate in Canada. Below are some suggestions on how to prevent these incidents to protect your business and your employees.
1. Slips, trips and fallsAttention to detail and proper maintenance is the most important step to avoiding these hazards. Make sure to promptly ...
Simple Ways To Avoid Common Car Insurance Claims
Accidents happen, but sometimes they are preventable. Here are a few tips to help you stay clear of some common types of collisions.
Rear-end collisions
1. Leave plenty of space between your vehicle and the one in front of you. This is crucial especially during wet or snowy road conditions.
2. Try not to slam on the brakes. If a driver behin...
Common Group Benefit Plan Myths
Employee benefit plans can seem complicated, but it doesn’t have to be! However, when choosing a benefits plan it is important that you separate fact from fiction.
Here a few myths to watch out for:
There are limited options for small businesses.This is false and quite the opposite actually. The options for small businesses are diverse and flexibl...
Mistakes Business Owners Make When Filing Insurance Claims
Disasters do happen. And as a business owner, it is your responsibility to figure out if your insurance will cover your losses. It is also crucial to avoid mistakes to make the process easier for you and your business.
To help you, we’ve listed some mistakes business owners make while filing insurance claims:
1. Not contacting your insurer i...
When To Contact Your Insurer
Knowing when you should reach out to your insurance representative is crucial if you want to make sure that you always have the right coverage. Any changes to your car or home could affect your insurance needs so it’s better to be safe than sorry!
Here are some examples of when you should contact your insurer:
Car Insurance
• You’ve changed your j...
Fun Things To Do In Toronto This Summer
Summer is officially here and after being cooped up indoors all winter, we could not be any happier that the warm weather has finally arrived.
If you’re looking for date night ideas, a girls day or even just some fun in the sun with your family, then this list of events and ideas you can do in the city this summer is perfect for you:
1. Roof...
Loss Prevention Tips for Commercial Vehicles
Having a commercial vehicle has a lot of benefits for businesses such as advertising and marketing, equipment storage and transporting employees efficiently. But even with commercial vehicles, accidents can still happen. We’ve listed a few tips to consider to help you protect and prevent damages, injuries, or other losses from happening to your co...
Why Millennials Need Life Insurance
Let’s face it - life insurance is not a very exciting topic. With the pressure of student loans, day-to-day expenses, and planning your next vacation – life insurance just seems to be sitting at the very bottom of the list for millennials, but it certainly is something to start thinking about.
What if something were to happen to you tomorrow? Woul...
12 Tips for Safeguarding Your Business
As a business owner, it is always best to expect the unexpected. Having an emergency preparedness plan is important for businesses of all sizes. Here are some tips to make sure that you are prepared.
1. Review your current business insurance policy to make sure that you have the right coverage for your needs. Ge...
Top 5 Myths about Car Insurance
If you’ve steered clear from buying that bright red car because you think your auto insurance premium will go up, you’re not alone. When it comes to auto insurance, there are a lot of things to consider – and everyone seems to have opinions and advice to share. However, not everything you hear is actually true.
We know that buying car insura...
5 Tips for Hot Work Fire Prevention
Hot work (HW) is the process or action that generates open flame or produces heat and/or sparks. Hot Work initiated flames are 100% preventable but is still one of the top causes of industry fires.
Here are 5 quick tips you can take to prevent fires on your site.
1. The 3 R’s
• Restrict (or relocate): Allow HW only in areas designated ...
Business Insurance & You
Managing risk is an essential part of every business, large or small. Theft, fire, vandalism, riots: A host of perils could come your way and you need to be ready for them. Here are some of the basic steps you can take:
STEP 1: Get a good insurance representative
The best first step is to shop for a commercial insurance agent or broker...
5 Reasons to Offer a Group Benefits Package
Offer your employees the protection they deserve, and make your company a place where people want to work. Here are five great reasons to offer group benefits:
Protect Your Employees
While Canada’s national healthcare program gives Canadians access to doctors and emergency medical treatment, it doesn’t cover everything. In fact, some new drug trea...
DO I NEED TENANT’S INSURANCE? YES. HERE’S WHY:
If you rent an apartment or house, tenant’s insurance is available to help you replace your belongings after a loss due to theft, fire, water damage or other insured perils. Insurance pays for extra costs to help you get back on your feet after a loss. Insurance also protects you if someone gets hurt or someone else’s property is damaged because o...
REFER A FRIEND FOR A CHANCE TO WIN!
Overview:
Our NEW referral contest rewards you for letting friends and family know about Hubbard Insurance Group! Simply refer someone to request an insurance quote and be automatically entered in our prize draw to win a FREE $100 American Express Prepaid Gift Card!
Contest Rules:
1) The contest begins April 1, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. (EST) and en...
Keep Your Cargo Safe. Keep Your Cargo Moving.
If you are in the transportation sector, you’re well aware that insurance is one of the top 3 costs for your business and cargo theft is not only a concern of yours, but a significant contributor to increasing insurance costs.
Keep Your Cargo Safe:
The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) warns that if you want to keep your cargo safe, it’s best...
Flood Insurance & What You Can Claim
Spring is just around the corner, and that means a spike in warmer temperatures which could result in a flood. Insurance companies have recently seen the highest payouts due to flooding, which raises the following concern: If your home was affected by a flood, would you be covered by your insurance policy? This is a question many Canadians have, b...
5 stress relievers for Canadian business owners
As a business owner, chances are you need to balance your business demands with personal and family needs, which can be stressful. Follow these five tips to help you reduce stress and keep your work and life in balance:
1. Take a break
Invite some “life” into your “work.” Every couple of hours, schedule a 10-minute break. Go for a walk. Chat with ...
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