There are many advantages to having an independent insurance agent service all of your insurance needs.

The Hartford has been a leader in providing innovative insurance programs for the technology industry. Just as quickly as the technology industry evolves, insurance needs for someone in the tech services and/or manufacturing business also changes. The following is an explanation of some of the tech insurance programs offered by The Hartford.

These days, any business could be sued. But technology companies are especially prone to lawsuits - and those lawsuits can be particularly costly. Consider what would happen if your technology firm was found legally liable for a financial loss because:

• A bug in a software program you produced cause a client's server to crash.
• The equipment you installed for you biggest customer didn't work.
• The web site you designed for one customer too closely resembled its key competitor's site.

In situations like these, you'd want to know you were protected by a sound insurance program.

At The Hartford, we believe that a complete insurance program for technology businesses includes professional liability coverage. That's why we developed the FailSafe suite of professional liability policies designed especially for virtually any sized technology company. Better yet, these coverages complement the standard insurance packages The Hartford offers your business.

Coverage that Can Grow with You

Because no two technology companies are alike, The Hartford addresses varying degrees of insurance needs with three increasingly robust FailSafe products. This suite of products is designed to evolve with your company's changing needs. So as your firm grows, you can migrate from one FailSafe product to another.

FailSafe MEGA

FailSafe MEGA is ideal for small technology companies with less than $5 million in revenues. It is designed for the following types of services:

• Development, sales, installation, integration and/or maintenance of: Hardware, Packaged software, Custom software
• Consulting Services
• Web site design
• Systems outsourcing/systems facilities management/administration
• Application services/leasing (ASP,MSP,etc.)
• E-commerce application development

FailSafe MEGA provides Errors & Omissions (E&O) coverage in case someone claims:

• You were negligent in fulfilling you duties because of something you allegedly did wrong or failed to do.
• Your technology services did not perform as intended.

FailSafe GIGA

FailSafe GIGA is a monoline E&O policy including breach of warranty coverage. It is designed for the following types of services:

• Development, sales, installation, integration and/or maintenance of: Hardware, packaged software, custom software
• Consulting Services
• Internet access
• Web site design / hosting
• Systems outsourcing/Systems facilities management/administration
• Application services/leasing (ASP,MSP,etc.)
• E-commerce application development

FailSafe TERA

FailSafe TERA is a robust technology liability policy that includes specified E&O, as well as:

• Specified content, which covers copyright, trademark infringement, and plagiarism.
• Specified security, which encompasses failure to prevent unauthorized access, and denial of service.
• Specified personal injury, which protects you against claims of libel, slander, and invasion of privacy.

FailSafe TERA is designed for the following types of services:

• Development, sales, installation, integration and/or maintenance of: Hardware, packaged software, custom software
• Consulting Services
• Internet access
• Web site design / hosting
• Systems outsourcing/Systems facilities management/administration
• Application services/leasing (ASP,MSP,etc.)
• E-commerce application development

Additional FailSafe Benefits

What also makes FailSafe particularly appealing for technology companies is that it:

• Provides protection based on when claims were first made and reported.
• Includes subsidiaries in the definition of "insured".
• Specifies coverage for independent contractors and clients.
• Provides universal coverage.
• Offers insurance limits of up to $10 million (GIGA and TERA only).

If you feel that you may be paying for coverage that really doesn't cover your unique exposures, contact an agent at Advance Insurance. We will review your current policy and suggest what coverage is available for your unique exposures. In the event of a claim, to find out that your policy may not cover you, what then have you been paying premium for?

Remember, when one buys insurance they are usually most concerned with the amount of premium cost required. When a one experiences a claim, they are usually concerned with the coverage they purchased.

Does your business have potential automobile loss exposures that you are not aware of?

Does your business have potential automobile loss exposures that you are not aware of?

The following information was received from the Nevada Division of Industrial Relations

Caution: The information below is provided as a public service and is not intended to be legal advice. If you believe the provisions discussed do not cover you, you may want to consult with an attorney experienced in industrial insurance.

Introduction

The Nevada Statutes for worker's compensation insurance are clear on the issue of employer coverage. Unless excluded by statute, Every person, firm, voluntary association and private corporation, including any public service corporation, which has in service any person under a contract of hire needs coverage. (NRS 616A.230)

The information below is not meant to cover every situation. Many of these concepts have been litigated and have been addressed by district courts and the Nevada Supreme Court. In most cases, the definitions presented here have been the key to decisions regarding when an employer is required to have coverage.

As a business owner you have invested much of your life and resources into the success of your business. Just like anything else in life, this asset you've created must be protected.

Don't risk a lot in order to save a little.

How much can I really save by raising my deductibles, eliminating the bells & whistles or lowering my limits of liability?

Not a bad idea to turn your watter off if you will be out of your home for an extended period of time.

Understanding Replacement Cost calculations will help assure that your home is properly insured.

As the holiday season is upon us we invite you to use all caution and care with you celebrations. Each year holiday season fires injure 2,600 individuals and cause over $930 million in damage. According to the United States Fire Administration (USFA), there are simple life-saving steps you can take to ensure a safe and happy holiday. By following some of these precautionary tips, you can greatly reduce your chances of becoming a holiday fire casualty. The following are a few tips that can help minimize the risk faced during these winter months.

Christmas trees

Holiday lights

Holiday decorations

Candles

Smoke Alarms

A recent auto accident involving a child reminds us of how valuable this coverage is.

Don't risk a lot in order to save a little.

How much can I really save by raising my deductibles, eliminating the bells & whistles or lowering my limits of liability?

Auto insurance blends several types of coverage into one policy. Typically, your policy will include some combination of comprehensive, collision, medical, liability and uninsured motorist coverage.

So what do you need? It depends on your specific situation. Liability pays for the damage you cause to others if your car is involved in an accident. It also protects you from being wiped out financially if you are sued following an accident. The greater your assets, the more you stand to lose. If you have substantial financial resources, you may need liability coverage that exceeds the coverage that you'll get from an auto insurance policy. In that case, a Personal Umbrella can provide the extra liability protection you need.

Collision covers damage to your car from an accident. We can help you decide whether or not to carry collision coverage by balancing the cost of collision insurance with the value of your car. It might not be worth paying $200 a year for collision insurance on a car that's worth only $1,000. But if the car is worth $10,000, you probably want this coverage.

Comprehensive coverage pays for your car if it is stolen, vandalized or damaged in some way other than in a collision. Medical coverage provides for medical expenses to you and your passengers that are the result of an accident. The way you use your car may make a difference in the amount of medical coverage you need. For example, we might suggest more coverage for a parent who regularly takes a carload of kids to soccer practice than for a driver who expects to drive mostly alone.

Keep in mind that many states require certain minimum levels of coverage. We'd be happy to talk with you about these and other factors.

How Much Insurance is Enough - Home

The cost to rebuild your home is its replacement value. This can be very different from the estimated market value or actual purchase price. In most cases, it costs more to rebuild the home you own than to buy a new one. This is an important insight into why your Dwelling (Coverage A) limit is so important.

Deciding How Much Insurance is Enough
We'll work with you to estimate the replacement cost for your home and to adjust your policy limits from time to time as needed.

It is critical that you provide us with accurate, updated information about your home and contents. If your dwelling limit accurately reflects your home's true replacement cost, some companies will pay more than the limit if a covered loss is greater than the limit on your policy. Ask us if Home Replacement Guarantee or Extended Dwelling Coverage, is available in your state.

Once a review of your home and possessions indicates you are properly insured, it's a good idea to reexamine your coverages and limits from time to time, especially whenever you make additions or improvements.

Be Sure You Have Enough Insurance
Here are some steps you can take to reduce the danger of being seriously underinsured:

Call us. If you have questions or concerns about the limits in your policy, ask us to show you how those amounts were calculated. This will also give you an opportunity to make us aware of any overlooked information.

Read your policy. Certain property, such as jewelry, and certain perils, such as earthquake or flood, is better insured separately. Knowing what is covered and for how much will help you insure properly. If there is anything in your policy you don't understand, contact your agent and ask for an explanation.

At each annual renewal of your policy, you receive a new Policy Declarations page showing limits of coverage and optional coverages. Review this information. If you do any significant remodeling or add a family room, extra bedroom or bathroom, etc., tell us about these changes so your coverage limits can be adjusted to cover the improvement.

Consider carefully whether your policy provides all the protection you need. Does it provide coverage for extra costs resulting from building code changes? Does it automatically increase coverage limits annually to keep pace with inflation? Does it provide additional funds if the cost of rebuilding your home exceeds the policy limits?

Find out whether your insurance company will stand behind agreed upon repairs after a claim. Some companies are willing to put this guarantee in writing.

Does your policy include replacement cost coverage for contents (clothing, furniture, appliances, and other personal property inside your home)? If not, you can add it by endorsement. The cost is small, the protection valuable. Replacement Cost Coverage pays for losses to your possessions at the cost of brand new items. Without this option, a covered loss to your personal possessions would be depreciated by their age and condition, reducing the size of your claim settlement.

If you have an art collection, antique furniture, jewelry, or other valuable possessions, talk to your agent about supplemental coverages, such as fine arts or scheduled property endorsements, to adequately protect your investment in these items. The cost is modest for the extra protection, and often the deductible is waived.

Consider whether you should have more coverage for personal property (contents) than your policy provides. Personal property coverage is usually 70% of the coverage limit for the structure. Your limit may be lower than 70%. Supplemental protection is available for a small additional premium.

Prepare an inventory of personal property items, update it periodically, and keep it in a safe place outside your home, such as a safe deposit box at your bank. It will save you hours of time trying to list everything damaged or destroyed if you need to make a claim. It will also help ensure you don't forget some items. We can advise you on ways to simplify the job of preparing a personal property inventory such as videotaping each room with descriptive information on the sound track.

Besides making sure you have enough protection to cover possible damage to your own home and contents, you should also evaluate your exposure to liability risks. These result from damage to the property of another, or injury to a person, not a member of your household, for which you can be responsible. In recent years it's become common for homeowners to be sued for injuries or damages to others, even when there is no evidence of negligence by the homeowner. The reality today is if you have any appreciable assets, you are exposed to the risk of being sued. Even if you ultimately prevail in court, your legal fees and the months or years of worry and uncertainty can be a terrible burden on you and your family.

The Personal Liability coverage provided by your Homeowners Policy usually provides a limit of $100,000 or $300,000. We recommend increasing this protection with a personal umbrella policy. Not only will it increase your personal liability, but also your auto liability. Limits are available from $1 million to $10 million and beyond. The cost of this coverage is usually very reasonable.