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.

This is the time of year when cold fronts and Arctic weather begin arriving on a regular basis, sometimes bringing with them strong wind gusts, freezing rain, and icy precipitation. Although we might prepare for winter weather by wearing warmer clothes and protecting plants and pets, we can easily overlook the importance of protecting our homes from the effects of winter weather. A single winter storm or Arctic blast can wreak havoc on our homes if we're not prepared, so today's Aegis blog post looks at several ways to protect our homes this winter.

September is National Preparedness Month, which is recognized each year to encourage disaster and emergency planning for individuals and families. Too often people are left unprepared when disaster strikes, and a lack of early preparation typically results in a longer and more difficult recovery period. In today's Aegis blog post, we look at three areas of preparation everyone should evaluate and discuss.

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.

Each year, millions of Americans reach retirement age, while millions more work, plan, and save towards their eventual retirement. While retirement may look different for each person or family, there are some common changes that impact nearly all retirees and their loved ones. Our Aegis blog post today highlights one of the most significant changes for those entering retirement ages, which are insurance needs. We discuss how insurance needs change for retirees, and what people can do to ensure they are well protected as they enter their sunset years.

During grade school and college, students are often asked to write research papers or essays on a specific topic or book, and it's usually clear to teachers who did their research and who didn't. Those who take the time to do thorough research typically earn better grades because they have more information and understand the topic better. These same school lessons can apply to us as consumers now, because taking the time to do our research can result in smarter purchases and better investments.

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.

When you're in high school or even college, you might have the opportunity to learn about personal finance or money management, but there are no classes in life that teach about things like buying a home, financing a car, filing your income tax, or how insurance works. As a result, it's common for people to get confused or get conflicting information about how these concepts work, especially insurance because of its inclusions, exclusions, and terminology.