November, 2011. Taylor Swift wins the award for entertainer of the year at the CMA awards. 11/11/11 came and went and while we remembered those who gave their lives for our freedom, thousands of couples invaded Las Vegas to get married. The Occupy Wall Street protests spread around North America, Kim Kardashian had just ended her marriage after 72 days (starting a hilarious trend of “Things longer than Kim’s marriage” on twitter, and a wild wind storm with hurricane force winds blew across southern Alberta. Most of you will remember that day for a long, long time. The moment that sticks out in my mind was hearing a ruckus outside, looking out my window and seeing that my BBQ had been blown into the middle of the backyard. Others who work downtown, specifically in the TD building might remember their windows being blown in and glass covering their work spaces.

Damages from those windstorms have reached over $200 Million. Winds were measured at 149 km/h. That is at the upper end of a category 1 hurricane. Street signs were blown over, traffic lights were knocked loose and the ever reliable c-train had to be shut down. Shingles and siding were blown off of one house and embedded into another. If you were walking a small dog, there was a chance it could blow away (I got about ten feet before little Bailey gave up and wanted to go inside). A bus carrying a AA Midget hockey team from Edmonton was flipped on the highway and thankfully there were no serious injuries. The wind also caused a lot of problems for air travel. Can you imagine being in a plane about to land in 149 km/h winds? I would be gripping my arm rests pretty tight. You can actually watch footage of the captain of a Lufthansa Airbus A340 fighting the wind to land at the Calgary Airport here. With this $200 Million in damages, the total amount that insurers have paid out in the past 3 years because of natural disasters is over $2 Billion. And most of that comes from 5 specific events. A hail storm last summer, other windstorms of 2 years ago, and of course theSlaveLake fires.

Christmas is all wrapped up for another year, the tree is down, and you’ve either had a raging New Years Eve that lasted well into the night, or caught the countdown in an earlier time zone on TV and hit the sack at 9:30pm. Either way, the closing of 2011 and the opening of 2012 brings each of us fresh, new opportunities. We can all start 2012 with a clean slate. You can look at some of the choices you have made in 2011 and learn from them. You can quit smoking, go to the gym four times a week, and for those of you who really want to have a fresh start in 2012, why not go out and get a Mike Tyson-like face tattoo? Of course there is not always a need for drastic changes. Sometimes it is enough to just build on the things you have accomplished in the past year and continue to develop them with pride. I, for one, am going to start blogging more (you lucky followers) to keep you all educated and informed in the world of insurance. We here at Young & Haggis are constantly working to improve your customer experience and show you that we actually care about you the person, the family, the friend. Most people give up on their New Years resolutions after 14 days. So we have every day resolutions! Every day we will continue to provide the customer service that has made our reputation over the years. Our customers will be made to feel valued and treated with respect at all times. We are here to help you. We will continue to answer our phones when they ring. There are enough numbers you can call if you want to hear an automated message. We don’t need to add to that. And we will always have a full candy dish at the reception desk where you will be greeted with a smile…and an offer of candy. No one knows what 2012 will bring but there are a few things you can be sure of. There will be peaks and valleys. Not everything will go smoothly. You will laugh, and you will cry. And you can count on the fact that our crew at Young & Haggis Insurance will be ready to assist you. Our family will take care of yours. Also, to make a few bold predictions, the Flames will win the cup, Twitter and Facebook will replace all social interaction, and Lady Gaga will come out with a love ballad duet with Lionel Richie and show the world her softer side. You heard it here first. Happy New Year everyone!

In this day and age, everybody needs insurance. The loss of your home due to fire or the loss of your car due to a big accident would have catastrophic effects on a person if they were forced to somehow come up with the money to repair/replace it all on their own. No one is immune to accidents (that’s why they call them “accidents” sometimes they just happen), not even the big guy. That’s right. I’m talking about Santa Clause, the dude with what seems to be the easiest life in the world (not to mention all the alias’ are little sketchy. Santa, St. Nick, Pierre Noel etc.). Works one day a year, gets to stuff his face with milk and cookies WHILE ON THE JOB, and has other people (are elves people?) work all year to make the products he delivers! The last one is understandable because he’s basically the CEO of a massive corporation. He looks after thousands of employees, shipping needs, he has to keep his client profiles up to date with the naughty or nice list, and he is going to be the one to deal with any sudden and unexpected mishaps that might occur. Hence, even Santa Claus needs insurance. “But why would he need that? He’s magical and nothing can go wrong with him right??” WRONG!!

Let’s talk vital stats first. Santa is what? A couple hundred years old? His diet consists of hot cocoa, sugar cookies, candy canes, gingerbread, and pudding. Sure Mrs. Claus might sneak a few veggies in there sometimes but in any case I would not want to be the one giving that guy a physical. Probably doesn’t carry the greatest bill of health. He’s in and out of a billion chimneys, think of all the smoke and soot and junk that must be filling his lungs with every stop. Santa has a wife to look after! He’s going to need a great life insurance policy.

He owns a workshop where a thousand elves work year round making toys with hammers, nails, hot glue guns, wrenches, and other accidents waiting to happen. Umm, hello liability!!! Sure elves are small and a piece of broken machinery that goes flying through the air only has half the chance of hitting someone of elvish size as it does a non elf, it can still happen. Hammered thumbs and slips on marbles are probably the norm up there so Santa better be covered.

He owns Reindeer! Is there such a thing as Reindeer insurance? I know there is Equine Insurance for horses. Are they in the same family? They both have four legs, they’re both hairy, I guess you could ride either one of them if you wanted to, and they are both overall fairly big and strange looking. I bet he could make a good case to get Equine coverage on his team of flying Rein-Horses. Speaking of Rein-Horses, er, Reindeer, Santa might want to get a little extra coverage for Rudolph. “Glowing Nose” coverage or something. Man, if that thing ever went out Santa would be in trouble. He might even want to get his own beard insured. Troy Polamalu of the NFL has his hair insured. Why not Santa and his beard? And his suit? That’s how people know him! Without those things, he is basically just another big jolly guy. And we have enough of those.

What happens in the case that one of the Reindeer “relieves” himself while in flight over a city. Reindeer droppings hitting a car or a roof from that altitude could do some serious damage! He needs to be covered for that. And really, the whole night is one big disaster in the making. Santa, who has been out of practice for a year, gets back into his sleigh with a ton of cargo, no seat belts, no airbags, no breaking mechanism really, and spends the entire night flying through the air trying to land of snow covered roof tops. He uses Reindeer, not mountain goats. I’m not sure a Reindeer has the sure footing that I would trust on a slanted roof in December in Canada.

So there you have it, a number of reasons why Santa needs insurance. And if Santa needs it, everyone does. So have a Merry Christmas and Happy New year and remember, if you really think about it, insurance could one day save Christmas.

Days are getting shorter, nights are getting longer, and the weather is getting colder. You can’t let these things ruin your social life so you are still going skiing on the weekends, going to dinner parties and Christmas events. Everything is great right?? But picture this… You are visiting your friends out in the country, it’s getting to be about 11:00pm so you decide to head for home along the dark, deserted country roads. Half way home you feel the car start to wobble, something is wrong. It is getting difficult to control your vehicle and you slowly ease your way onto the shoulder of the dark snowy road. You’re no mechanic but you pop the hood anyway to have a look and just like you suspected…you don’t have the slightest clue what’s wrong. Now if your cell phone works and you have good friends or your car has OnStar like in the commercials, then you’ll be ok. If not, you either have to hope someone drives by and you can flag them down, or you’re spending the night in the bush. This is why it is important to carry a well stocked roadside emergency kit in your trunk at all times.

 A roadside emergency kit can be the difference in getting back on the road or being stuck for hours upon hours. In some extreme cases it may even save your life. Every car should carry one and sadly not enough do. They can be bought at any retailer for around $40-$50 or (for you DIY people out there) you can put one together yourself. Some basic items include:

• 12 foot jumper cables
• Four road flares
• Two quarts of oil
• Gallon of antifreeze
• First aid kit
• Blanket
• Extra fuses
• Flashlight
• Extra batteries (for the flashlight)
• Screwdriver set
• Wrench
• Tire inflator (Fix-A-Flat)
• Duct tape
• Rags
• Windshield washer fluid
• Leatherman or swiss army knife
• Energy bars
• Bottled water

 Of course this may seem a little excessive so a basic version of the above can suffice and will not take up as much trunk space. So before you hit the roads this winter, take the time to put a kit together for yourself or head out and buy one. It’s like Insurance or a parachute…Hope you don’t need it but if you do, you better have a good one.

Ah! It’s Christmas time — when many Canadians go out, buy a dead pine tree, stick it in a container filled with water, and string several cords containing brightly-lit heat sources around it. Now don’t get me wrong, I love a decorated tree with lights and tinsel and of course nothing beats the smell of a fresh Christmas tree. But few things are as dangerous as a dried-out tree sitting in your living room.

Fire prevention Canada notes an increase of preventable house fires in December. There are however, a few things you can do to reduce these risks. (Thanks to CBC)

• Make sure your real tree is fresh. It will be less likely to dry out and become a fire hazard.
• Before you buy from your local Christmas tree vendor, examine the needles. Bend them between your fingers. They shouldn’t break. Tap the tree gently on a firm surface. If an excessive amount of needles fall to the ground, it’s too dry. Scotch pines tend to shed more needles than other types of Christmas trees.
• Make a fresh cut on the trunk of the tree before you place it in your tree stand. The cut will help the tree absorb water. About two centimetres from the bottom should do.
• Leave the tree outside — out of the wind and sun — until it’s ready to decorate.
• Water the tree often. The stand should hold at least four litres of water. Do not let the water level dip below the cut line. If you do, the cut will seal and the tree will stop absorbing water. Don’t let thirsty dogs drink the water either.
• Secure the tree to keep it from tipping. Many of the newer “wide base” stands offer much more stability than older stands.
• Keep tree away from floor heaters, fireplaces and other heat sources, as well as electrical outlets and electrical sources.
• Remove the tree when needles begin to fall off in large quantities. NEVER burn your tree in a fireplace. Most municipalities recycle Christmas trees, turning them into mulch.

What to look for in a Christmas tree stand:

• A very wide base. If it has legs, they should be very strong metal or a very hard plastic.
• Good screws to turn into the tree – not just plastic because plastic breaks easily – but metal screws are very important.
• A spike in the centre of the stand gives the tree something that it will actually lodge onto.
• Big enough to hold four litres of water.

Artificial trees

Just because your tree isn’t a freshly cut pine, doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. There are a few things to remember about artificial trees:

• Artificial trees should bear the CSA label. Plastic trees should be made of fire-resistant material. Keep them away from heat sources.
• Never use electric lights on metallic trees. The result could be very shocking! Use spotlights to illuminate the trees from a safe distance.

Decorating safety tips

Christmas lights

• Use only CSA-approved Christmas tree lights. Check for frayed wires and broken sockets. Get rid of damaged sets. They can shock a person or start a fire.
• Don’t use outdoor lights on an indoor Christmas tree.
• Lights should not touch combustible materials.
• Don’t overload outlets. Never use more than three strings of lights on one circuit. Lights should not be used on trees with metal frames.
• Miniature lights are safer because they produce less heat.
• Never leave lights on when going to bed or leaving the house.

Other decorations

• Keep candles away from Christmas trees. Never use candles as tree decorations.
• When decorating the tree, place breakable ornaments on the higher limbs. It will protect your children and pets as well as safeguard the breakables.
• Use flame-resistant decorations. Keep small ornaments that can be swallowed away from small children and pets.
• Place tinsel higher on the tree out of reach of children and pets. If swallowed, it’s a choking hazard.
• Use non-flammable holders for candles. Keep them out of reach of children and pets. Don’t leave them lit when going to bed or leaving the house. 

Wishing you a safe and happy holiday from your friends at Young & Haggis!

Well hello, Y&H blog readers, it’s been a while but expect to see a lot more blog posts coming your way!
With Old Man Winter blowing in strong, we wil be coming at you with winter themes for the next few months. Yay!!! I know you’re all excited. First off, the beauty of nice, soft, grooved winter tires that will help turn the ice rinks of Calgary roads into not as scary of a monster. I am currently in the process of getting winter tires on our family vehicles. But remember, winter tires do not make you invincible. You can’t expect to put winter tires on and then go 110k on the Deerfoot in a blizzard. I know this all too well as last week I was visiting the great city of Vernon and on my drive back through the mountains, the snow began to fall and the roads became very slick. As I carried on at about 60 (I had not had my tires put on yet) there were numerous big pick up trucks that would tear by me…splashing my windshield with brown, snow/slush (thank you for that by the way). I thought these guys must have winter tires to be so confident on the roads but never the less, about an hour down the road I saw one of the trucks with its hazards on in the ditch and the driver looking sheepish, talking to the tow truck driver. YOU STILL NEED TO USE CAUTION EVEN WITH SNOW TIRES ON!!!

Rented Property on Fire

 A client recently called us and said “My sons rented duplex is on fire.  Do we have coverage?”  Her son, who is attending university away from home, did not have a tenant policy on his temporary residence.  Luckily his parents’ homeowner policy covered for “dependent students attending a school, college or university away from home” and they had up to $10,000 for their son’s possessions as well as legal liability for property damage and bodily injury arising out of their son’s actions.

 If he hadn’t had the coverage on his parent’s policy, and depending on the cause of the fire, he could have been on the hook for the cost of his personal possessions, the cost to repair the damage to the portion of the building he was renting, compensatory damages for any bodily injury caused if his negligent actions caused the fire, and defense costs.

 What if you are renting a property, student or not; and there is no coverage?

The solution would be a tenant policy. A tenant policy covers your personal property as well as your legal liability.

 A typical Tenants policy will cover the following:

Personal Property – This insures your personal belongings (furniture, clothing, cookware, etc) to the limit you have determined to be their total replacement value. Your personal property is also insured while it is temporarily away from your rented home. 

 Additional Living Expenses – This coverage applies when the residence you are renting has been damaged and deemed unfit for occupancy by the insurance company.  It will cover you for living expenses and fair rental value outside your regular budget for food and rent when you have been forced to leave your residence due to an insured loss.

 Tenant Improvements – This insures improvements to the rented dwelling made by you or acquired at your expense.

 Personal Liability – This insures any bodily injury or property damage arising out of your personal activities anywhere in the world. It also insures bodily injury and property damage arising out of your occupancy of the rented dwelling. The policy will defend you against legal action in this regard and pay out the compensatory damages should you be found negligent and therefore liable for injury or damage.

 Tenants Legal Liability – This insures property damage to the premises you rent which is caused by an insured peril.  This is important because a Landlord can come to you for payment for damage that you cause to the rented premises. For example, if you left a pot on a stove and a fire ensued damaging the premises, you could be held responsible for paying the damage.  This coverage pays for your legal liability as a tenant.

  If you have a son or daughter who is attending school away from home in Canada or the United States and is dependent on you for support and maintenance you may find they have coverage under your existing home or condo policy.  Call our office to make sure you have this coverage if this situation is applicable to you.

Summer Vacation For You Is Busy Season For Thieves

 As your children finish school for the summer and weather warms up there is nothing better than packing the car and heading out to the lake with the family. Summer is a time when work days can get shortened and weekends extended just so you can have a little more time on the water before heading back home. Unfortunately, the lazy summer days for some are the busiest days of the year for others. Studies have shown that residential burglaries increase as much as 31% in the summer months, and this is due to the increase in opportunity with people being away for days at a time and in the warm weather it is easy to leave windows open. If you are planning to head out of town this summer take the necessary precautions. Have a friend or neighbor check on your house from time to time, don’t tell the whole world via Facebook or Twitter that you are “headin’ to the lake to do some fishin’ with the family”, and make sure all your doors and windows are locked. Knowing your house is secure will help you sleep easier at night. Don’t forget your bug spray and have fun!!!!

 A one time payment of $56.70 for an Emergency Hospital & Medical policy from TIC Travel Insurance Coordinators saved a young couple over $68,000 USD in unexpected medical and travel expenses. Many students and young Canadian travelers enjoy outdoor adventure during their vacations. Mark* and his wife Kathy* didn’t want to take any chances on their adventure. To be safe, they decided to purchase an Emergency Hospital & Medical policy for their trip to Mexico for just $56.70 CDN It was one of the wisest decisions they have ever made. On February 14th, while paragliding, Mark lost control and crashed. “He hurt himself very badly,” said the case manager from TIC who received the phone call from Mark’s distraught wife. “This was just a horrifying experience for them.” An ambulance took Mark to the nearest medical facility for stabilization, and then an air ambulance took him to the hospital for emergency spinal cord surgery. Although the surgery went well, Mark had also broken his pelvis in the accident, and couldn’t return to Canada on his originally-scheduled flight. Part of TIC’s pledge to customers includes providing support and assistance to get them through tough times like this. TIC made special seating and flight arrangements for Mark – a reclining seat in first-class, wheelchair assistance, and a place to rest during the stopover on his long flight home. In the end, Mark’s hospital bill came to $68,000 USD, and the couple’s commercial flight home cost another $1,800 USD. Although they paid only $56.70 CDN for their policy, they saved tens of thousands of dollars, and received invaluable help from the great team at TIC Travel Insurance Coordinators. Please contact our office for any additional information on travel insurance or call TIC directly at 1-800-663-4494 and give them the broker code 1098 for a quote for your next trip.

* Names have been changed for privacy purposes. * This claim was given to us directly from TIC.

We believe that along with providing the best possible protection plan for our clients that educating our clients, family and friends of the importance of insurance is a high priority.

 With this blog we hope to offer another avenue to give more information, examples and educational pieces that will help demonstrate the importance of having the right policy in place and give a better understanding of the complex insurance products out there. Today I want to focus on a few of the fire claims which a few of our clients have suffered and how by having the proper policy in place everything was taken care of…

 Rarely does a week go by without reading or hearing about a large residential fire in Calgary. Most of us read the article quickly or glance at the TV and feel badly for the people involved. Have you ever really thought of the devastation to your life that a fire could cause??

 Some recent fires include:

1. Triplex in Deerview which was caused by a cigarette disposed in a planter outside, causing upwards to $900,000 damage April 2011.
2. Millrise Condo Fire in March 2010 – caused by a cigarette disposed in a planter on a balcony of the condo building.
3. House in Chaparel hit by lightning Summer 2010.

Tips for your home and your family

1. Have a working smoke alarm on each level of your home and outside the bedrooms. Annoying noise but it could save your life.
2. Test smoke alarms monthly and change the batteries at least once a year if they are not hardwired.
3. Replace old smoke detectors – over 10 years old. Thanks about 90 in smoke detector years.
4. Develop an escape plan with your household and practice it often.
5. Make sure safety bars on windows can be opened from the inside.
6. Keep bedroom doors closed at night – this could save your life.
7. Have your furnace and fireplace inspected and cleaned annually.
8. NEVER extinguish cigarettes in a planter, in the grass or peat moss.
9. Always keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
10. Keep areas around space heaters free of clutter.

 Also, let us know if you have a monitored fire and burglar alarm because all of the companies we represent offer an alarm discount!

 Stay Safe!