​If you have a small business with no specialized risks, you need a BOP or business owner's policy insurance. But if your business is growing and is providing more complex services or products, you must consider a commercial package policy or CPP. Let's find out what this type of insurance covers and why it's the best for you.

​High school proms are early chances to participate in a formal event. They are also considered opportunities to act as a full-fledged adult. The event involves arranging a complete evening of dining, dancing and socialization. However, just as much time should be devoted to making the event as safe as possible.

It is almost inevitable that a prom will involve serious exposure to alcohol or other intoxicants. The evening also involves many young, inexperienced drivers who are excited about making their way to pre and post prom activities. Sadly, these factors have combined to make prom season dangerous. Serious traffic accidents often become the main feature of what should be a night of joy.

Prom-goers and their parents need to create a strategy for making prom night both memorable and safe. Here are some tips:
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• Parents should know about all activity details, including dinner and pre and post prom events
• Confirm the night’s events with school officials and other parents
• Consider arranging a safe, group post-prom activity where participants can be supervised
• Clearly lay out your expectations to your son or daughter about acceptable behavior regarding their evening
• Discuss all details about transportation, whether they are drivers or passengers
• Be sure that communications are set up. If the child does not have a cell phone available, find out the numbers where he or she can be reached during different phases of the evening
• If practical, consider arranging for a third party to handle transportation (limo or taxi service)
• Consider an amnesty arrangement. In other words, let your child know that they can contact a parent for emergency transportation should something go wrong and, for that evening, there will be no lectures or punishments

Help your son or daughter make prom night a bright memory rather than a tragedy. Plan on making safety and fun everyone’s priority.

​Running your own business, showcasing your products, and meeting customers face to face, there's nothing like running your own business. You're entirely in control, from designing your product labels to stocking up. You're also responsible for securing your retail business insurance. What you should know about this type of insurance and how to get it is up ahead.

Ready, Set, Summer!
Summer generally arrives with a huge surge in recreational activity. School ends and parents start searching for leisure and recreational activities for themselves and their children. The activities range from elaborate vacations or summer-long camps to simply buying play and sports equipment (or getting it out of storage) and renewing park and pool passes.

Summer Fun's Dark Side
One thing to be aware of is that the simplest activities can go wrong. Using sports equipment such as tennis racquets, baseballs, baseball bats, Frisbees, lawn darts, or horseshoes has the potential to harm others. Danger accompanies the use of skateboards, bikes, mopeds, go-karts, and radio-controlled cars, helicopters and planes. A larger concern involves inviting friends over to use your driveway, play equipment or swimming pool. Potential liability comes from either you having fun at the expense of other persons or their property or failing to take precautions that persons you've invited to your residence (or other places) are safe to enjoy themselves.

How to Preserve Your Fun
The easiest way to prepare for your summer liability is to ask the questions:

• What can I do to keep other persons safe from my activities?
• Am I prepared to be responsible for people I hurt or property I damage?
• How do I make my home and yard safe for fun-seeking visitors?
• Am I keeping my guests to various events safe?

 
While accidents happen, many can be prevented by making sure that you and your children enjoy your activities responsibly. Operating bikes safely and in low traffic areas reduces the chance that others will be hurt. The proper use of games and equipment also make the likelihood of having someone injured more remote. In other words, it's important that your family uses sports and game equipment safely and appropriately. Adult supervision is critical for potentially dangerous activities such as the use of motorized recreational equipment, trampolines, and swimming pools (including small wading pools). It's also important to make certain that guests you invite for camping or hiking trips are watched after carefully. In many instances, you are responsible for the safety of your guests when you invite them to enjoy outdoor activities, particularly boating or other activities involving water-related equipment.

Home Inspection
Another way to reduce the chance of others being hurt is to do an inspection of your home and yard. Do you have an adequate fence (with secure or self-locking gate) to protect young children from a pool when you're not around? Is your playground equipment well-maintained and strong enough to support the weight of the children using it? Is your yard and driveway free of tripping hazards? Are dangerous items such as tools, chemicals and lawn equipment kept out of reach of children? If you can answer "no" to any of these questions, you're inviting trouble.

Insurance Plays a Role
When accidents happen, they may be followed by medical expenses and, more seriously, lawsuits. You must be protected against such financial consequences. Don't assume you have coverage, especially when an activity involves motorized or powered equipment. You may have to add coverage to your homeowner policy or even buy special coverage for mini-bikes, mopeds, boats, all-terrain vehicles, etc.
So, make safety a part of getting ready for summer fun. It's also smart to include a visit or call to your insurance professional to make sure you have the right coverage to support a fun summer.

​More than 350,000 home fires happen every year in the U.S., with Pennsylvania and California leading the count. Don't overlook preparations for a fire, and don't forget to check your home insurance for your fire protection coverage. Remember the following before and after tips.

​Are you planning to buy a used vehicle but unsure if this is the best time to do it? Are you worried if your auto insurance will cover a used car? Let us help you make the right buying choice with these tips.