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.

It's common for individuals and families in the market for a new home to start their research in the spring. Many will closely examine floor plans and home amenities, subdivisions and deed restrictions, nearby school districts, shopping and entertainment centers, and traffic conditions. However, there are three other important factors to consider that can impact your future home's property value, as well as insurance coverage needs. In today's Aegis blog post, we'll examine these three additional factors to research before buying a new home.

We're a social society, and we love to celebrate life's biggest events surrounded by our closest friends and family, whether it's a birthday, graduation, baby shower, family reunion, or a fun crawfish boil with friends. However, hosting a party can come with certain risks, and these risks, if left unchecked, can lead to accidents and potential liability claims. Rather than risk loved ones or close friends getting hurt, homeowners can mitigate these risks through a few proactive steps.

While students are taught history, science, grammar, and math in school, few ever get an opportunity to learn about real world information needed as an adult, such as how to file income taxes, the ins and outs of a mortgage, or how insurance works. As a result, many young people leave high school or college without understanding what kind of insurance they need, how it works, or how it can help in the event of a disaster. In addition, many individuals, families, and business owners can end up getting the wrong kind of coverage for their needs.

Disasters and life events always bring with them lessons for the future, whether you're directly impacted or have just narrowly avoided a disaster. These lessons may come from natural disasters like Hurricane Harvey, life events like medical emergencies, or accidents like a car crash. In these situations, consumers can learn something about their financial security and protection when it's needed most. One of the more common things people learn after a disaster is that they might have a gap in their insurance coverage.

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.

Studies have long shown that if you want a child to master a specific skill set, language, or talent, then early exposure and training is key. For example, a child learning a second language should be immersed in it as early as possible, since it only becomes harder to learn a new language as you age. The same is true when it comes to teaching kids about money and personal finances. If you want them to make smart choices about money and finances as an adult, then it's critical to teach them at a young age and to model wise decisions yourself.