Believe it or not, winter is almost at it’s peak.  We are coming into the coldest and most severe part of the year from a weather standpoint.  It is at this time which fireplaces and woodstoves are used most heavily.  While these supplemental heating sources not only help our energy bill, but give us a warm fuzzy feeling  – it’s understandable that their utilization goes up in the winter months! With increased use, comes increased potential for house fires and smoke damage.  It is vitally important to keep a watchful eye on your supplemental heating units to avoid putting yourself … Continue reading

It’s almost summer and that means it’s about time to set off on that family road trip.  Whether you’re traveling to grandma’s house or the Grand Canyon, there are some key tips that can make or break your vacation.  With all the packing and planning, your insurance agent might not be at the top of the list, but maybe they should be and I’ll tell you why. Trip Interruption Coverage This coverage could provide up to $500 for expenses you incur if your automobile breaks down more than 100 miles away from your home. A hotel room sure beats camping … Continue reading

Now that spring is finally here, one of the more common calls we receive in our office is from our clients who have classic or antique vehicles and need to apply for insurance.  What many people don’t realize is the insurance can differ greatly depending on if it is a classic car or antique car. Let’s look at an example.  The State ofMichigan (where we are located) allows someone to license a vehicle as an antique if it meets these requirements: 26 or more years old – based on the model year Owned solely as a collector’s item Used only … Continue reading

May is National Disability Insurance Awareness Month. Having a national focus on disability is important because in the United States, a disabling injury occurs every second; whereas, a fatal injury occurs every four minutes. We often overlook the importance of insuring one of our most valuable assets – our ability to earn an income. Did you know that during the course of your career, you are three and a half times more likely to be injured and need disability coverage than you are to die and need life insurance? If this isn’t reason enough to schedule an appointment to review your disability insurance, here are … Continue reading

Today is National Baby Day – what does that bring to mind?  Maybe family excitement, car seats, clothes, and cribs.  Maybe future uncertainly like high school, college planning, or employment opportunities for your child.  One of the last things we think about when a baby is born is life insurance.  Let’s rethink that. According to the website www.lifehappens.org, the official non-profit organization on life insurance, only 19% of children have life insurance in place.  So if you haven’t considered this option for your kids, you aren’t alone. Think about this: A person is generally at their healthiest when they are … Continue reading

We may have just gotten a foot of snow, but believe it or not, spring is on its way and along with it comes the spring cleaning list.  While thinking about all the chores inside the house, it is important to think about the outside as well.  There are a few simple things you can do to prevent big problems before they occur. With the snow melting and the temperature rising, it’s time to think about making a weekend to-do list. Roof Check Everyone knows that winter can be rough on your roof, but just because you made it through … Continue reading

I was reading an interesting article in USA Today called GenY is Finally in the Mood to Buy.  The article highlights that coming of age GenY’ers (90 million strong) are finally making the commitment to purchase their first homes.  This comes off the tail end of one of the country’s greatest recessions – where 20 something’s have struggled to find jobs, have moved home to live with mom and dad in record numbers, and are now as a group, almost 4 years delayed in the home buying process. The article continues to describe what Millennials are looking for in their … Continue reading

Recently a team of six employees from VAST participated in an event called the Bell Bike Race.  This event hosted by Bell Hospita lin Ishpeming, Michigan is an annual fundraiser for healthy lifestyle awareness.  The event put teams of six people together with a stationary bike.  Each team member had the responsibility of pedaling as “far” as they could in a 25 minute time frame.  At the end, all six distances were added together for one grand total “miles pedaled.”  During the event, teams showed their support for each other by dressing in costumes, making banners, yelling and encouraging others … Continue reading

Even though it might not seem like it, spring will soon be upon us.  In order to get there, we have the last leg of winter to muscle through.  It is during this time of year that we start to see questions about claims in two distinct categories: water seepage in basements and collapse of roofing systems.  There are some important steps that you as a homeowner SHOULD be taking to minimize your risk of these nasty and time consuming problems. Shoveling your roof periodically through the heaviest snow fall months will ensure that your roof stays clear of snow … Continue reading

Spring is almost here.  It’s the time of year when people are done recovering from the holidays, looking for ways to spend time outside and more importantly getting their taxes done.  What happens to that tax return money – do you spend it on a vacation?  Buy a new dishwasher?  How about investing it for your future? That last option is where we can help.  When taking the time to decide where best to place your tax return dollars, consider an annuity.  Many people plunk that money into a CD where it’s bound to sit on a shelf earning a … Continue reading