As summer plans begin to take shape for individuals and families across the Gulf Coast, boats and personal watercraft will likely be a big part of many summer activities. Whether you plan to use them for fishing, exploring, or relaxing, it's important to implement basic boat and watercraft safety guidelines to prevent accidents or injuries.

In this week's Aegis blog post, we'll spotlight three different ways to improve boat and watercraft safety to ensure the protection of yourself, family, friends, and others.

In the last ten years, there's been a surge of homeowners who have installed solar panels on their rooftops to reduce their electrical bills and rely more on solar energy to power their home. Although this step can greatly reduce energy costs for homeowners, solar panel installation can increase the potential for damage to the home, as well as costly repairs for the solar panels themselves.

The first week of May is National Hurricane Preparedness Week, which is dedicated to reminding homeowners, renters, and business owners the importance of being prepared for hurricane season. Any preparations that can be made now before the June 1st start of hurricane season can help better protect your home and personal property from possible hurricane damage.

Let's look at four specific ways homeowners can prepare in advance for hurricane season so their home and family can be safer in the event of tropical storms or hurricanes in our region.

As spring approaches, we can expect to see more rainfall and occasional thunderstorms in our region. While it's good to have rain on a regular basis, the Gulf Coast has seen an increase in sudden downpours and unexpected flooding events, leading to damaged property and vehicles.

As people across the world prepare to celebrate the holidays with family and friends, many are searching for the perfect gift to give to loved ones. While some gifts may be simple or handmade, others may plan to give big-ticket and extravagant gifts, which can result in a gap in insurance coverage for their new property. In today's Aegis blog post, we look at some of the kinds of holiday gifts that may require changes in personal insurance coverage amounts to ensure their values are covered in the event of damages, loss, or theft.

Thanks to the Internet, consumers have access to more information than ever before and can do a substantial amount of research before making a purchase or a financial commitment. However, many consumers still believe common misconceptions or are confused by common myths, especially regarding Personal Insurance. As a result, they might not have the right kind of policies for their needs, or be underinsured if disaster strikes.

For many people, their largest and most important financial asset is their home, so protecting it involves more than just installing a security system or a sturdy set of door locks. Good home protection starts with having quality, comprehensive Homeowners Insurance that can protect against a wide range of risks and losses, including fire, burglary, vandalism, water damage, accidents, and weather disasters.

In a very short period of time, Hurricane Nicholas developed from a line of tropical rainclouds into a category 1 hurricane that hit the Texas coast this week. While the flood and wind damages were not as significant as with past hurricanes, it still left behind flooded properties, toppled structures, and large power outages across the coast.

No matter how safe and responsible your life might be, life can throw us curveballs sometimes, like a sudden car accident, unexpected medical emergency, or devastating house fire. We can only hope that when disaster strikes, we have the support and love of family and friends, as well as the financial means to recover and move forward. In today's Aegis blog post, we look at how individuals and families can be protected if disaster strikes, by choosing essential Personal Insurance policies and other proactive financial decisions.

This past year has seen a large number of changes in our global and local economies, but few have been more surprising than the explosion of the housing market. The number of available homes currently on the real estate market has plummeted to record lows as people are snatching up new construction homes, preexisting homes, and fixer-uppers in record numbers across Texas. However, a purchase as important as a new home requires significant research and time to evaluate risk factors.