Love Fall!

Posted on September 25, 2024September 25, 2024 by Amber Pullen

Fall is upon us, and I couldn’t resist sharing a few tips to help you navigate this season like a pro! 🍂

1. Embrace the Layers: Fall weather can be as unpredictable as a toddler with a candy stash. Layers are your best friend, so go ahead and perfect that sweater-on-flannel look!

2. Pumpkin Spice Everything: It’s officially pumpkin spice season! Whether it’s your morning coffee or an afternoon snack, don’t miss out on this seasonal delight. Warning: side effects may include an uncontrollable urge to visit a pumpkin patch.

3. Leaf Peeping: Fall foliage is nature’s way of reminding us how beautiful change can be. Find a scenic trail or park to enjoy the vibrant colors. Just remember, if you didn’t Instagram it, did it even happen?

4. Home Prep: Here’s the boring but essential part – time to prepare your home for colder months. Check your furnace, clean those gutters, and test the smoke detectors. Future you will be thankful!

5. Fun Fall Activities: From apple picking to haunted houses, there’s no shortage of fun to be had. Just make sure to fit it all in before the snow arrives, and we’re all stuck indoors again binge-watching our favorite shows!

Wishing you a fantastic fall filled with cozy blankets, warm drinks, and plenty of pumpkin-flavored treats!

Summer Fun at the Pool!

Posted on June 3, 2024June 3, 2024 by Amber Pullen

It’s that time again: swimming pool season! There’s nothing quite like a refreshing dip to get relief from the heat–and I thought it may be helpful to provide an insurance perspective on pools so you and yours can enjoy safe, poolside relaxation all summer long.

Here are some essential pool safety tips and considerations; feel free to share this information with any pool owners you know as well:

Safety First:

Constant Supervision: Always have an adult closely monitoring pool activities, especially with children around. A moment’s distraction can lead to unforeseen accidents.
Secure the Area: A fence with a self-closing, self-latching gate around a pool can prevent accidental falls into the water by unsupervised children or pets.
Safety Equipment: With more than 6,000 children under 15 being treated in emergency rooms annually due to pool-related injuries, it’s critical to ensure the pool you’re using is equipped with life-saving tools, such as life rings, ropes, and a first aid kit. It’s also important for everyone to know where these items are and how to use them.

Something to keep in mind: Owning a pool increases liability risk. Should a guest or trespasser get injured in your private pool, you could be held financially responsible for their medical expenses and other damages. Here are simple ways to be proactive:

Review Your Policy: Ensure your homeowner’s policy is up-to-date and includes the liability coverage you need.
Consider Umbrella Insurance: For added protection, an umbrella policy provides extra liability coverage beyond what your standard homeowner’s insurance offers. It’s another safeguard against claims that could otherwise jeopardize your financial security.

By prioritizing safety and having the right coverage in place, you and your loved ones can enjoy pools with peace of mind, making your summer both enjoyable and safe.

International Travel

Posted on March 20, 2024March 20, 2024 by Amber Pullen

Do you have plans to travel internationally?

We offer medical and trip cancellation coverage!

Single Trip Plans	Multi Trip Plans
Coverage for up to 182 days	Coverage for all trips within a 364-day period
Ideal for leisure, missionary, or business travel	Ideal for frequent international travelers

Please reach out to Alliance Financial & Insurance for any questions or on how we can help!

Why home and auto insurance rates are continuing to rise in 2023

Posted on September 13, 2023September 13, 2023 by Amber Pullen

Thanks to an unusual convergence of market trends, ushered in by the pandemic and followed by other disruptive events, you may see a bigger change to the cost of your home and auto insurance than usual when it comes time to renew your policies this year.

Insurance rates are based on what an insurer thinks it will cost to make you whole in the event of a loss – whether it’s roof damage during a windstorm or a vehicle totaled during a traffic accident. As you’ve likely noticed, pretty much everything costs more than it did even a few years ago.

What’s driving higher home insurance costs

If you’ve shopped at Home Depot or Lowe’s lately, you’ve certainly seen that the price tags on building materials have gotten pretty expensive. Last year, the cost of building materials rose 4.7%, reflecting a particularly strong uptick in prices on things like asphalt shingles (16.2%), concrete blocks (18.5%) and drywall (20.4%).

To make matters worse, the home-building industry is facing a shortfall of more than 300,000 skilled laborers, which is driving up construction-related labor costs. Combined with the high cost of construction materials and historically low housing inventory, this has been making home claims much more expensive for insurance companies.

What’s driving higher auto insurance costs

Ongoing supply chain issues are driving a shortage of car parts and equipment, which were 22.3% more expensive at the end of 2022 than they were two years earlier. The overall cost of maintaining and repairing vehicles increased 18.4 % over the same timeframe – exacerbated by a growing shortage of car repair technicians.

The same issues depleted the supply of new and used cars during the COVID-19 pandemic, and inventories have not yet recovered. As a result, the average price of new cars has risen 20% since 2020, while used car prices have skyrocketed 37%.

Rising medical costs are another key factor. While the number of injuries and fatalities from car accidents has somewhat declined from its peak in 2021, the rising cost of medical care continues to drive higher claims costs. Between 2020 and 2022, the overall cost of medical care in the U.S. increased 6.8%