As thousands of college seniors approach the finish line towards earning their degree, many have now begun planning their next steps, whether it's pursuing a full-time job or earning a Masters or Doctorate degree. However, many students graduate without any useful financial lessons or guidance about post-college life, making it harder for them to achieve their long-term personal goals. Today's Aegis blog post offers several key financial lessons for college students about to begin the next phase of life.

As people prepare for holiday gatherings or traveling, many overlook the fact that their homes might be prime targets for burglars or other criminals this holiday season. Rather than coming home to find Christmas gifts stolen or cars burglarized overnight, homeowners can take home security and protection into their own hands by investing in smart doorbells and outdoor camera systems. Make this holiday season a safe and happy one by learning how these electronic tools can help keep your home and neighborhood safer.

We always want to be prepared in the event a disaster strikes our home, whether it's a fire, flood, burglary, or other major event. But if your home and possessions are lost or stolen, how well would you be able to remember all of your assets and their value for insurance purposes? The reality is that people greatly underestimate how many possessions they actually have, as well as their overall value, particularly after the trauma of a disaster when they are relying strictly on their memory.

Like it or not, social media has completely transformed the way many people across the world live their lives, communicate with others, and do business. It's common to see people sharing nearly every aspect of their day online, but it's important to use good judgment in what you share with the world, or you could find yourself at risk. The focus of today's Aegis blog post is looking at some of the social media activity that can put you, your family, or even your business at risk and what can be done to lower those risks.

Parents can attest to the fact that there is always something new to teach kids, whether it's about table manners, how to change a tire, resolving a conflict with a friend, or how to save money. Although many parents see the benefits of teaching their kids about money at an early age, they do not always include lessons about the other kinds of financial responsibilities that come with adulthood, such as paying and filing taxes, buying or renting a place to live, or the importance of insurance.

One of the universal truths about life is that there are often changes ahead, whether they're planned or not. Most of these changes involve our personal relationships, family, or career, meaning they have a lot of significance and impact for years to come. However, big life changes can also influence our financial situation, making it necessary for us to adjust our insurance coverage accordingly.

It's common to collect things over time, whether they're sentimental, part of a hobby, or have a high resale value. If your collection is valuable because of its size, uniqueness, or resale value on the open market, it's important to have your collectibles properly insured in the event of a disaster such as theft or damages. In today's Aegis blog post, we'll look at some of the collections people might have, common assumptions people make about insuring their collectibles, and what kinds of insurance can best protect them.

Although Texas isn't known for its record levels of snow and ice, we do enjoy colder temperatures during the winter months. It's not uncommon for homeowners to use their fireplace, candles, or space heater more often as the temperatures drop, but they can also lead to a rise in home fires. In fact, winter months have the highest rates of fire fatalities because of accidental fires in homes and apartment complexes.

In the past, it was common for people to know all their next-door neighbors and even many of the families on their street. Likewise, business owners often knew all the other shop owners up and down their block. Now, in the hustle and bustle of today's society, people go days or even weeks without ever seeing their neighbors, much less interacting with them. When individuals, families, and business owners make an effort to get to know their neighbors, the community is a safer place.

Online shopping has become the preferred method for buying gifts during the holiday season, with over $90 billion dollars spent online during the 2016 holiday season alone. Purchasing online means shoppers can avoid the crowds, busy parking lots, and mad dashes to find deals before they're gone. Unfortunately, all the time and money you save by buying online is pointless if package thieves steal your packages from your front door. In today's Aegis blog post, we look at four simple ways to protect package deliveries from thieves and ensure you receive your shipments.