Home electrical fires claim lives every year. Most are caused by incorrectly installed wiring, or overloaded circuits or extension cords. In other words, most electrical fires are preventable. Fire deaths are highest in the winter as people spend more time indoors, increasing lighting, heating and appliance use. For example, supplemental heaters pull the same 1,500 watts of electricity as a hair dryer, and are often used for longer.

The deadliest house fires begin in living areas. Common culprits include heaters, high-tech games, computers, speaker systems and decorative lighting.

Life doesn’t stop after you obtain insurance. Maybe you added that much-needed extra bathroom to your home or inherited your grandparents’ precious antiques. Perhaps your teenager is going off to college or you’re starting a new business. You will likely need to adjust your coverage to align with your new circumstances.

Here are 16 life experiences that should prompt you to call us:

Getting married or divorced

Many insurance companies offer benefits, like marriage discounts, multicar discounts and bundled insurance policies. You may have wedding or engagement rings that are insured. If you’re going through a divorce, let us know. (Some divorce decrees specify insurance requirements.) You should adjust your policies, update names and review your life insurance beneficiaries.

Buying, renting or moving to a new residence

A new house or rental will need new coverage. It would be terrible to lose your home in a fire, only to find out you’re not insured. Make sure your policy limits are high enough to cover the cost of rebuilding your home based on market value.

Even if you don’t own a place, you and your belongings need protection. A renters insurance policy will cover your personal belongings and offer added liability coverage in case someone is injured on your property or sues you.

Purchasing a new car

Tell us if you’ve bought a new car. We’ll need the model and vehicle identification number (VIN). Depending on your old and new vehicles, your insurance rate may change significantly, either up or down.

Becoming a business owner, even if it’s a home-based business

No matter where your business is located or how big it is, you’ll probably need coverage to ensure everything is protected. Take note of your business operations. If you use your car for business or store merchandise and supplies at home, you’ll need extra coverage. Ask us if a business owners policy is right for you.

Doing home renovations

Major improvements to your home can put your at risk of being underinsured. Major improvements include adding a room, remodeling your kitchen or enclosing a porch. An increase in the structure’s value may require an increase in your home insurance coverage limits.

Having a new teen driver

When your teenager gets their driver’s license, they need to be properly insured. Getting insurance for them can be pricey, so make sure they attend all the necessary driver’s education classes. And remember to inform us so you can take advantage of any discounts.

Acquiring something expensive

Any time you inherit or buy something valuable, reevaluate the contents coverage portion of your home insurance policy. The policy limits may not be high enough. Compare the cost of increasing insurance on your valuables versus the cost of adding an umbrella policy to expand coverage over your home and auto. You can get an umbrella policy with $1 million or more in coverage.

Going to college

If your college student is moving into on-campus or off-campus housing, review your insurance policies to ensure their personal possessions and vehicle are adequately covered.

Joining a carpool

If you’re a regular carpool driver, your liability insurance should reflect the increased risk of additional passengers in the vehicle.

Installing a security alarm or smart home system

Security systems deter theft. Some smart home systems, like whole-house water shut-off systems, can prevent catastrophic structural damage. Call us about insurance discounts for these systems, even if you’re only in the planning stages

Switching mortgage or auto lenders

Claims payments can get confusing if your old lender is still listed on your policy. Your insurance company may need to issue a check to you and your lender when there’s a claim. Listing the wrong lender can delay claim processing or premium payments and leave you temporarily uninsured.

Driving less

Working from home, living closer to your office or joining a carpool will reduce your mileage. Auto insurance companies consider less mileage a lower risk, so you might be rewarded with a lower rate.

Buying a second home

Don’t skimp on the insurance. This is especially important if your second home will be vacant for long periods. If you rent your second home, ask us about landlord insurance.

Traveling internationally

If you plan to drive outside Canada, your current coverage may not protect you abroad. For example, Mexico requires all drivers to have Mexican auto insurance. They don’t recognize Canadian auto insurance. You can be fined or jailed, in addition to not being covered in an accident.

Having your identity stolen

If you’ve been the victim of this kind of crime, you may want identity theft or cyber liability coverage to protect yourself and your family in the future.

Retiring

You might be able to get a discount on your home insurance when you retire. If you commuted regularly to your job, your annual mileage may drop significantly.

Remember to update us as your circumstances change. We’ll help you offset your financial liability and protect what’s important to you.

In recent years, employees have consistently identified financial health as their top stressor. But while there is a clear need for financial information, it isn’t always easy to engage your employees in educational programming. Let’s examine some common challenges to participation, tips for effective delivery methods and potential partnerships for financial training.

Common challenges

Employees sometimes shy away from financial education because they:

• Are hesitant to talk about money with people they don’t know
• Worry that they won’t understand financial terms or lessons
• Don’t want to be judged by colleagues or supervisors
• Think third-party experts are just trying to sell something
• Believe the education won’t apply to their situation
• Think admitting to problems could decrease job security

To overcome these obstacles:

• Address common concerns through concise, plain-language communications. Let employees know that your goal is to offer support, not repercussions.
• Demonstrate commitment from company leaders and colleagues. Your employees will be more likely to participate if they know that others have similar challenges and are seeking help.

You can further incentivize your employees by:

• Offering time during the workday to participate in financial education programs
• Providing an extra paid vacation day or a gift card for completing a certain level of training

Challenges to employee engagement can also be unique to individuals or workplaces, so a good place to start is with an employee survey. You can then use the feedback to pinpoint your employees’ biggest challenges and develop relevant education.

Because supervisors regularly have formal and informal conversations with their reports, they are another good resource for insights into financial challenges and potential roadblocks to participation.

Topics to cover

Financial education isn’t one size fits all. For example, some employees might be living paycheck to paycheck, while others are trying to figure out how to split savings between their retirement accounts and their kids’ college expenses. Likewise, millennials may be concerned with student loan debt, while Gen Xers may want information on caregiving costs for elderly parents.

Knowing your employees will be facing a variety of challenges, a good rule of thumb for financial education is to provide training that:

• Builds a foundation of widely applicable topics and skills
• Is nimble enough to respond to employee feedback and target specific needs
• Can accommodate different knowledge levels, primary languages and life stages

The following actions can help deliver a broad foundation for financial wellness:

• Look at current expenses and assess financial priorities.
• Create a spending plan.
• Prepare for short-term savings needs like car repairs and emergency funds.
• Start building long-term savings for major expenses like housing, college and retirement.
• Address different types of debt to differentiate between good debt, like an affordable mortgage, and bad debt, like high-interest credit cards.
• Review insurance options to protect assets and reduce risks.

If you have limited resources, you may want to start small and target your most financially vulnerable employees. Keep in mind that vulnerability isn’t necessarily based on salary. High earners can also have low financial literacy and challenges with debt.

Opportunities for partnerships

Building your own financial education program can be daunting. There are many opportunities to partner with financial experts, including:

• Insurance companies
• Banks
• Credit unions
• Financial advisors

When exploring potential collaborations, make sure your partner organization doesn’t use high-pressure sales tactics and is willing to adapt their services to your employees.

Common services you can get through third-party partnerships include:

• Before-and-after financial assessments
• One-on-one meetings with financial advisors
• Financial coaching
• Personalized action plans
• Financial workshops
• Webcasts that provide ongoing education after initial training

Talk with your benefits advisor about financial education programming and partnerships. They can help you assess your employees’ needs and find solutions that work for you.

The changing seasons are an excellent time for property inspection and cleanup. You might have missed maintenance issues over the summer. Or maybe the heat and rain brought new issues to the surface. Add these tasks to your maintenance rundown to prevent injuries and damage.

Repair outdoor walking surfaces

Inspect your client parking lot first. Look for worn parking lot lines, cracks, potholes and uneven surfaces. Potholes can lead to tire damage. Walking surfaces with buckled cement or warped asphalt can cause a trip-and-fall. And all of these issues can lead to lawsuits and insurance claims.

If clients bring their kids, you have added risk. Approach your building from a child’s perspective. For example, do you have doors that lead into unsafe or restricted areas? A sign might deter an adult, but kids might not be able to see or read the sign.

Check your entryway for trip-and-fall hazards. Ironically, anti-slip mats and carpets can cause painful sprains and falls. Inspect your winter snow mat to see if it’s ragged or torn. If it’s seen better days, dispose of it and buy a new one before the winter.

Service your heating system

Have your HVAC system professionally inspected. Your air conditioner may have been working on overdrive, but your heating may need some TLC. Test it before the temperatures drop.

For optimal performance, replace your HVAC filters every three months. Replace them more often if your work produces dust or other pollutants. Only use filters that are safe for your system. For example, high-efficiency particulate air filters have a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) to indicate how effectively they filter contaminants. The higher the rating, the more efficient the filtration.

Higher MERV values also mean denser filter materials that require more force to push air through. If your HVAC system can’t handle a high MERV filter, it could decrease efficiency or damage your system. Check with your HVAC manufacturer if you’re unsure.

Inspect your roof

Annual roof inspections can help you identify potential issues ahead of severe winter weather. Correcting minor problems in the fall can prevent further damage caused by snow, ice and cold weather. Use a certified roof inspector.

Remove debris and leaves

Clogged gutters mean water can’t drain away from your building. This can cause water to flow toward your building, damaging the roof, siding and foundation. A cracked foundation can worsen if standing water freezes within the fissures. And if standing water freezes on your roof, it could form ice dams.

Ice expansion can force water underneath your roof shingles, causing rot and leaks. Frozen water also adds weight to your roof, causing premature wear and risk of collapse.

Gutter cleaning supplies

If you or your maintenance staff will be cleaning the gutters, have these tools on hand:

• An extension ladder. Never use a damaged or worn ladder. You risk falling and injuring yourself.
• A standoff stabilizer. Stabilizers keep ladders from wobbling and protect gutters from the weight of the ladder leaning on them.
• A dust mask. Use a high-quality respirator, like an N95. This will filter out small particles and mold spores.
• A tarp or ladder utility bucket. Placing a tarp on the ground near the ladder makes debris cleanup easier. If you use a bucket, make certain it’s safe to hook onto your ladder.
• Goggles. Use wrap-around goggles to keep debris from falling into your eyes. If you use a face shield to protect your face, wear goggles underneath for complete eye protection.
• Gloves. Choose sturdy rubber or synthetic-coated gloves that you’re comfortable in and that protect your hands from sharp debris. Beware of latex allergies when choosing gloves.
• Nonskid shoes. Choose closed-toe shoes with nonskid rubber soles for a solid grip on ladder treads.

Heights and ladder safety tips

Use a personal fall arrest system if you’re working 4 or more feet from the ground. Falls are the top cause of workplace deaths.

Invest in a quality ladder. You might have different ladders for different maintenance tasks at your business. Outdoor work requires an extension ladder with anti-slip feet. Inspect your ladder every time you use it. If it’s damaged, discard it.

Check the ladder’s weight rating. Make sure it can hold your weight and the added weight of the materials you’ll be transporting. For example, if you decide to paint your gutters after you clean them, you’ll need to factor in the added weight of the paint cans.

Maintain three points of contact with the ladder. If you have to reach or lean so far that both hands leave the ladder, dismount and reposition it.

Watch for shock hazards and electrical power lines

Choose a grounded or fiberglass ladder that doesn’t conduct electricity. This will help prevent electrocution. But don’t be lulled into a false sense of safety because your ladder is nonconductive. You can still get electrocuted by an arc flash.

Before you set up your ladder, check the area for power lines. Stay at least 10 feet away from overhead power lines. You don’t have to make contact with overhead electrical lines to be in danger. Electricity can jump its intended conduction path (the power line) and travel through the air in search of a new conductor, like lightning. It’s called an arc flash, and it could kill you. If you must work near power lines, contact the utility company to discuss the job.

Never use a pressure washer while on a ladder. Only use pressure washers while standing on the ground. Pro tip: If you’re using a cleaning solution in your pressure washer, make sure it’s safe to use around plants and shrubs.

Call us if you have questions

Insurance doesn’t cover damage from lack of maintenance, misuse or infestations. So damage caused by neglected, clogged gutters is a hard sell on insurance claims.

Make autumn touch-ups a part of your maintenance routine, particularly after trees shed their leaves. You’ll prevent costly problems and help maintain your building’s structural integrity. That’s good business!

Workplace technology is complex. New technologies have rapidly outpaced legacy cybersecurity methods based on perimeter and network security.

Today’s networks are interrelated, making it difficult to determine clear perimeters for security walls. And once hackers breach your network boundary, they will move through the system seeking weak links to exploit so they can infiltrate more restricted areas.

Cyber threats no longer come from hackers lurking outside enterprise networks, solely targeting data. Cybercrime happens inside and outside traditional network perimeters, often targeting networked resources along with data:

• Remote employee user accounts
• On-site employee user accounts
• Contractor user accounts
• Vendor user accounts
• Printers
• Computers
• Legacy systems
• Internet of Things (IoT) devices
• Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) devices
• Cloud-based services
• Applications
• Smart technologies, such as appliances, lights, and HVAC systems
• Edge devices, such as firewalls, routers, integrated access devices, wide area networks, local area networks and metropolitan area networks

Enter zero-trust architecture (ZTA).

ZTA sees every user and system as a potential threat

In the past, entering your login credentials periodically was enough to grant access to a company’s network. Zero-trust architecture (ZTA) tears down the notion that having a username and password makes you trustworthy. Instead, it favors monitoring usage patterns and continuously vetting access requests as users progress through your company networks.

Four overriding principles of ZTA are:

• Grant the least amount of privilege necessary.
• Segment networks to reduce the zone a hacker has access to.
• Verify and vet all access requests.
• Monitor usage patterns and continuously challenge users.

ZTA follows users everywhere, regardless of their location on the network or the devices they’re on.

ZTA requires a deep dive into your network and system inventory

Business infrastructures often include software across multiple networks, assets and devices, such as:

• Localized networks
• Cloud services and providers
• Remote employees on home networks
• Employee devices
• Company-owned assets
• IoT devices
• Software-as-a-service applications
• Legacy systems
• Managed and unmanaged software

Your internal or outsourced cybersecurity team can help you implement a ZTA adoption strategy. A solid adoption strategy starts with a tech inventory, especially apps, application programming interfaces (APIs) and plug-ins. Once inventoried, pare down network assets that no longer benefit your workflows. An inventory will also help you identify potential weak spots and focus on the best places to shore up your cybersecurity.

Goals of ZTA

ZTA operates on the premise that everyone and everything is a potential cybersecurity threat. It scrutinizes every request and user as a potential threat, whether it originated inside or outside your network. ZTA assumes:

• The network is always compromised.
• Traditional network boundaries no longer exist.
• Users on the network and pieces of the network itself are potential threats.
• Internal resources and processes are at risk of hacks, not just data.

Authentication and authorization are separate functions performed before a user or asset can connect with your company’s resources.

How ZTA handles login requests

Think of logging in to a network as entering a building. Just because you got inside doesn’t mean you’ll have access to any door. ZTA creates a series of checkpoints, like doors, where users must reestablish their authorization before entering the next room in the building. By doing so, ZTA:

• Prevents unauthorized access to data and services
• Makes access control enforcement as granular as possible
• Regards users and resources as distinct subjects, requiring separate authorization and approval before granting connection to the company network
• Considers resources like printers, computers and IoT devices part of the network that needs cybersecurity enforcement, just like access to data requires enforcement
• Allows only authorized and approved users to access data and resources
• Allows only authorized and approved resources to access users and data
• Excludes all others as attackers

Thanks to AI, dynamic usage monitoring and automatic authentication across systems are possible without degrading the user experience. AI machine learning tools actively monitor users and fight incoming cyberattacks, adjusting their techniques in real time.

Zero trust always verifies

ZTA trusts no one, and for good reason. It works, especially when integrated with AI-powered machine learning tools. According to IBM’s “Cost of a Data Breach Report 2025”:

• The average global cost of a data breach decreased to $4.44 million for the first time in five years. AI automation has helped cybersecurity teams detect and contain system breaches faster, reducing costs. However, there were some exceptions: The United States, Canada, India, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Benelux all showed cost increases.
• Canada’s data breach costs increased to $4.84 in 2024, up nearly 4% from 2023.
• Malicious insider attacks had the highest average breach cost, at $4.92 million. Third-party vendor and supply chain compromises were a close second, averaging $4.91 million.
• The mean time organizations took to identify and contain a breach fell to 241 days, a nine-year low. The report attributes this improvement to AI-driven and automation-driven cyber defenses.
• Cybersecurity teams that used AI and automation tools shortened the time to contain a breach by 80 days. These teams lowered their organizations’ average data breach costs by $1.9 million, compared to those that didn’t use AI and automation tools.

Notably, previous IBM reports showed that generative AI reduced the time needed to create a convincing phishing email from 16 hours to just five minutes. The 2025 report reflects the aftermath. The most frequent attack on businesses was phishing (16%), costing an average of $4.8 million. Of those phishing attacks, 37% involved AI-generated phishing and 35% were deepfake impersonations.

Inventory your network to strategize your cybersecurity needs

It could take a while to understand how your systems work together and the purposes they fulfill. But in the end, you’ll be able to make prudent decisions about managing your next generation of cybersecurity.