April 17th is right around the corner and that is when we submit our tax filings to our state and federal government. Tax deductions can help you cut down your 2017 tax bill.
Since 1992, April has been designated as Stress Awareness Month. According to the American Institute of Stress, about 90% of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress related disorders, ranging from stomach trouble to heart disease. Job related stress costs American businesses about $150 billion a year.
Do you use Orbitz to book your travel? If so, you might be one of over 880,000 payment card number and related information exposed to a data breach. These were two breaches which occurred:
Every year more than 164,000 emergency room-treated injuries and 300 deaths in the US are caused by falls from ladders. Since March is Ladder Safety Month, here are some Basic Ladder Safety Tips from The American Ladder Institute which can help prevent serious injuries.
Be prepared to lose an hour on Sunday when you should advance your clocks by one hour. The debate is on to eliminate this long-held practice and individual states are discussing the pros and cons of maintaining DST. Daylight Savings Time is also a good time to change batteries in your smoke detectors and weather radios.
Every day over 2,000 Americans suffer from an eye injury. This means that almost one million Americans have experienced some vision loss due to eye injury which results in more than $300 million in lost work time, medical expenses and workman’s compensation according to YourSightMatters.com.
Malicious cyber activity cost the U.S. economy between $57 billion and $109 billion in 2016, the White House Council of Economic Advisers estimated in a report on Friday.
Have you considered a career in insurance? It’s more than a job, it’s more than “selling” – it’s about working with a client to provide them with the very best insurance coverage to meet their needs and mitigate their risks. It’s a rewarding career.
Today, we observe Groundhog Day! According to USA Today - Punxsutawney Phil, the world’s celebrity groundhog, was coaxed from his burrow in western Pennsylvania early Friday as an anxious nation watches to find out whether we’ll have an early spring or six more miserable weeks of cold and snow.
Flu season is here and flu viruses are often passed from person to person. What can you recommend to your employees to prepare themselves and their workstations from these invisible bugs? Read on.
The non-profit, World Against Toys Causing Harm, has released its 2017 list of the ten most hazardous toys. W.A.T.C.H. says consumers buying toys on the Internet are already at a disadvantage, as they are unable to touch and physically inspect a toy and its packaging at the time of sale for more obvious hazards. In some cases, limited product information on e-commerce sites can lead to misinformed, and potentially dangerous, consumer toy purchases.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a Holiday Decoration Safety Tips Flyer and here are some tips to keep in mind as you decorate your home and business for the holidays:
Tomorrow is Veterans Day and all of us at the agency want to thank our veterans for their sacrifices in keeping our country safe. We are the home of the free because of the brave.
Fall is a great time to prepare the trees on your property for winter. The trees in your yard can enhance your property, provide shade and offer abundant environmental benefits. However, trees can also pose a safety hazard to your family and your home if they are not properly inspected and maintained.
With spring cleaning far behind, and summer fun all but over, it’s time to start fall home maintenance. Fall is the perfect time to perform important maintenance to your home so you’re not caught in the middle of winter with a drafty house or a malfunctioning heater. We’ve compiled the top eight fall home maintenance tips, along with what you can do to ensure your home stays warm and comfortable this winter.
With National Preparedness month wrapping up, it’s a good time, in light of the hurricanes and storms, to remind you to prepare. One project to consider is a Family Communication Plan.
Car crashes are the leading cause of death for children 1 to 13 years old, according to the National Passenger Safety Board. Many deaths and injuries can be prevented by proper use of car seats, boosters, and seat belts.
We want to take the opportunity to celebrate Labor Day by dedicating our prayers and resources to the people in Texas as they deal with the devastation from Hurricane Harvey.
We are set for unique experience on Monday, August 21st – a total coast-to-coast solar eclipse. During that time, the sun will be blocked for two minutes and create eerie diamond rings of light, weather permitting. So, if you are watching on tv or seeing it in person, you should be awed.
You received your list of supplies your child needs to go back to school. Here are some safety items you might consider adding to your list. Each is designed to provide immediate ways to protect your child from unwanted attention.
August is Family Fun Month and keeping everyone safe while enjoying the outdoors can be challenging. Here are some safety tips to ensure you have a wonderful experience from the NYSPCC. Practice water, sun, bike, barbecue, and fire safety. To read the entire article, click here.
July is National Grilling Month - so break out the barbie and let’s get cooking. Before you touch your grill keep these safety tips in mind. Why? Because according to the National Fire Protection Association, each year an average of 8,900 home fires are caused by grilling, and close to half of all injuries involving grills are due to thermal burns. To ensure you grill safe this month, here are some safety tips as you’re firing up the charcoal or propane grills:
Recently, Europe was hit with an extensive WannaCry - Ransomware virus. Companies and hospitals across the continent were paying ransom to get their data back. Here in the US, our companies are faced with the same threat.
As we enjoy this weekend with our friends and family, let us take a moment to remember those heroes who have given their lives, who have served, or who are serving, to protect our precious freedom. They are our true heroes.
On behalf of all of us at Wright Gardner Insurance, we wish you a Happy Memorial Day.
Don’t forget! Support your local small businesses as we wrap up Small Business Week. Help our community thrive by shopping local. In addition, post a message on your Facebook page to keep our neighborhoods vibrant and alive.
Ah, that Rottweiler puppy is so cute, you adopted a Doberman, your family gave you a pit bull, what do they all have in common - they are three of the top breeds blacklisted by insurance companies. In some states insurance has been denied to households with certain breeds. Why? Because, according to Allstate Insurance, the average claim was close to $30,000. And in Washington, the state’s Supreme Court jury awarded $2.2 million to a woman who was attacked by pit bulls.
Warmer weather is here, and we’re looking to implement home upgrades that you have planned all winter. If you are remodeling your kitche or bath, adding a room, replacing your roof, or upgrading your plumbing and electrical, then give us a call.
According to OSHA, about 20,000 injuries and 300 deaths happen every year due to ladder falls. Ladder accidents are preventable but safety training needs to be conducted to make sure there is a decrease in ladder-related injuries and fatalities. Put in policies and procedures to inspect and dispose of old, damaged, and obsolete ladders. Need a training module go to www.laddersafetytraining.org.
With temperatures starting to change, now is the time to take a Flood Risk Profile to learn your flood risk. You might not think you are in a flood zone, but make sure. Spring thaw brings heavy rains which overflow streams, rivers, and lakes near your homes and your businesses. Just a few inches of rain can cause thousands of dollars in damages. FEMA has created a “Spring is Flood Season - Understanding and Reducing The Risk” flyer with helpful tips in preparing an emergency plan, conducting a home inventory and finally purchasing flood insurance. Simply click here.
Accounting firms are increasingly targeted for their informaiton. Tax Season is a perfect time for phishing scams, hacking and malware since emails fly furiously during this time. Data that is placed in the accounting firm’s care is the firm’s responsibility. Now is the time for accountants to add cyber liability to their overall risk transfer portfolio. Call us today for a quote.
Today is National Employee Appreciation Day - Take the time to thank your employees for their hard work and loyalty to your company. Without them – where would your business be.
To help prevent hacks and increase your level of security, we encourage you to practice good password management. Experts recommend you use a strong mix of characters, and don’t use the same password for multiple sites. Don’t share your password with others, don’t write it down, and efinitely do not write it on a post-it note attached to your monitor. One last point, change your passwords every couple of months to insure security.
If you are either giving or receiving jewelry, we want to protect this keepsake with proper coverage either by adding it to your homeowners or your personal floater.
We want to take a moment to thank our clients for the trust you place in us to handle your insurance needs. We know that you have a choice when working with an insurance agent, and we work every day to continue to earn your trust.
All the wrapping paper is cleaned up and we finally have an idea of all the items that need to be added to our
insurance policies. If you received electronics, computers, phones, jewelry or high value ticket items, now
is the time to make sure your new possessions are covered by insurance.
Did you know that an estimated 12.8 million Americans of all ages need assistance from others to carry out everyday activities? Approximately 40% are working-age adults 18 6o 64 and 57% are persons aged 65 and older.
Halloween is a great time for children and parents alike. But, it is important to be safe. Before shopping for that last minute costume this weekend, take a look at these safety tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Did you know one in four people have experienced identity theft? And that once every two seconds someone is a victim of identity theft? Thieves take over and open new accounts, file fake tax returns, rent or buy properties, just to name a few.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States (other than skin cancer). But millions of women are surviving the disease thanks in part to early detection and improvements in treatment. So take the time to schedule a mammogram and click here to read the risk factors for breast cancer. Do all to protect yourself - you deserve it.
During the month of September, consider adding life insurance to your insurance portfolio. There are key life stages of events that trigger the need for life insurance:
As children are going back to school, please be careful as you drive in the early mornings and afternoons as school buses are out and about. Let our children have a safe and happy school year.
Valentine’s Day is a special day – a day when flowers, candy, and jewelry are freely given to celebrate “love”. If you are either giving or receiving jewelry, we want you to protect this keepsake with proper coverage either by adding it to your homeowners or your personal floater.
With our first Winter storm on the way this weekend, we wanted to alert you that just a small amount of snow can cause more accidents than a full-blown out snowstorm.
Christian Wright commented on the affects of summer weather on homes and businesses due to high winds, heavy rains, and flash flooding. To see the whole article, click here.
If you gave valuable items during the holidays or are planning on doing so for Valentine’s Day, make sure these keepsakes are adequately protected. You can either add this to your existing policy or purchase a new one. Give us a call for more information.
Over the past several years, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has undergone many changes. From the implementation of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act (BW12) in 2012 to the Homeowners Flood Insurance Affordability Act (HFIAA) introduced this past March, much work has been done in an effort to stabilize the NFIP without heavily impacting policyholder wallets.
We tend not to want to think about what would happen to our families and businesses if something were to happen to us. September is Life Insurance Awareness Month and now is a good time to think about how life insurance can benefit you. Today according to LIMRA (Life Insurance and Market Research Association) 95 million adult Americans have no life insurance whatsoever.
Flood is an ever increasing threat in our area, and at Wright-Gardner we want to make the latest tools and information available regarding it to our clients and visitors. Take a moment to check out our Flood insurance page and see the resources that are there for you to use.
The Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses” must be posted by February 1 and kept up until April 30, 2014. This notice must be posted in a conspicuous space.
In these cold temperatures, you never know when you may be stranded in your car. To prepare for this type of emergency, we suggest putting together an emergency kit. Here are the items that you should have:
Each year Wright-Gardner employees participate in the United Way Day of Caring as a way for the agency to give back to our community. This year, we choose to work for the Washington County Family Center, a local non-profit that provides daycare for mothers who are in school trying to better themselves. To find out how you can get involved, click here to check out their Facebook page.
Blakeley Jackson with Wright Gardner participated in the $170 Happy Dollars that were raised by The Business Network International Hagerstown and presented to the Hospice of Washington County. To ready more details, click here.
Wright-Gardner Insurance has expanded and now has an office in Huntington, West Virginia. Our presence in West Virginia allows us to expand on our trucking specialty and bring our products and services to another region in our footprint.
The employees at Wright Gardner participated in filling three Food Baskets for the Thanksgiving Holiday. Among the items collected included a Canned Ham or Turkey and all the fixings to feed a family of 5-6. The charity’s goal was to feed 100 families and it looks like they are going to meet and exceed their goal. At this time of year, it is important that we give thanks for all we have and this Project reminded us all how important that is. On behalf of Wright Gardner Insurance we wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving.
Zurich, one of the leading insurance companies with an A+ Superior rating from A.M. Best, is featuring 50 different business insurance programs. From transportation, construction, real estate, workers’ compensation, and more, the Zurich and Wright Gardner can customize an insurance program for you. Contact us today for more details!
Hurricane Irene appears as though it may be title up the east coast. Now is the time to start preparing to protect all of your property including your home, autos, and boats. If you want to follow the trajectory of the storm, click here and you will be directed to weather.com.
Wright-Gardner Insurance has a new look and new interactive technology to better service our clients. Our website allows our clients and visitors to research various insurance products, request quotes, and communicate with members of the agency For existing clients, the new Client Resources section allows for many services to be available 24/7.
