The Fine Print

Natural disasters have the ability to affect many people, not only through the physical destruction they cause, but also through injury, homelessness and even death. The earthquake and tsunami in Japan last week remind us that Mother Nature can be extremely destructive.

Here we list the seven worst natural catastrophes of the 21^st century. There have been many more natural disasters since the start of the millennium, but these seven were the most severe given their cost, the injuries inflicted and the lives they claimed. (continue reading…)

Falling trees are among the common hazards you could face as a homeowner during snow and ice storms, but the ins and outs of insurance coverage depend on the situation.

Generally, standard home insurance doesn’t pay for damage to trees, shrubs and other plants from a storm, according to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI). But it does cover damage a falling tree causes to structures that are covered under the insurance policy. (continue reading…)

Luxury items motivate some of us to work hard, in the hope that we’ll be able to purchase the expensive merchandise one day, and they could be the reason some lottery winners end up broke a few years after buying their winning tickets.

If you find yourself in a position to own one or all of these luxury items, just keep in mind that costs of these goods continue even after the initial purchase. No matter how you end up with the wealth to buy any one of these products, you’ll want to protect your high-end merchandise with insurance. Whether you’re the agent or the policyholder, hard-to-insure luxury goods presents a number of insurance challenges. (continue reading…)

You’ve been eying that expensive flat-screen TV for months, and it finally went on a sale for an unbelievable price. As you rolled up to the cashier with a television the size of a bed sheet, you may have been faced with a question you weren’t prepared for: do you want to buy the extended warranty? (continue reading…)