Summer Festivals Are Back — But So Are Parking Lot Mishaps

Trending in Chicagoland: Summer Festivals Are Back — But So Are Parking Lot Mishaps

Chicago’s summer festival season is in full swing! From Taste of Chicago to neighborhood block parties, Chicagoland residents are flocking to concerts, food fests, and street fairs. But with packed lots and side streets, more drivers are reporting fender benders, door dings, and parking “oopsies.”

Why it matters:

• Insurers see a spike in minor auto claims during July and August — many happening in crowded event parking lots.

• Even a low-speed bump can cost thousands in repairs if it involves modern bumpers or sensors.

• Filing frequent small claims can lead to premium increases.

Lighthearted tip:
✅ Pretend every car in the festival lot is made of glass — give yourself (and your neighbors) plenty of space!
✅ Take photos of your parked car in case you return to a surprise dent.
✅ Consider adding collision coverage if you don’t already have it — it can protect you from unexpected out-of-pocket costs.

Have fun, stay safe, and enjoy Chicagoland’s amazing summer lineup!

👉 See our quick guide to festival-friendly auto coverage →

Spoofed Domains: The Silent Cyber Threat to Your Business

Imagine a customer receives an email from your business address—only it’s not you. Cybercriminals are increasingly using spoofed or lookalike domains to impersonate companies, trick clients into sending payments or confidential data, and damage reputations. These attacks don’t require complex hacking—just a similar domain name and a convincing message.

What Are Spoofed Domains?

Spoofed domains are fraudulent web addresses created to look almost identical to your legitimate domain. For example, replacing “.com” with “.co” or swapping letters like “rn” for “m” can fool even careful readers.

Attackers use these domains to:
- Send phishing emails that look like they come from your business
- Set up fake websites to capture login credentials or payment info
- Launch malware or ransomware attacks on your customers or employees

Real-World Impact

Businesses of all sizes are being targeted. A recent report showed that small companies accounted for more than 40% of domain impersonation attacks, often because they lack formal cybersecurity teams.
One Chicago-based construction firm lost over $75,000 after a supplier paid a fake invoice sent from a spoofed domain.

Why General Cyber Coverage May Fall Short

Not all cyber liability policies include coverage for social engineering, invoice manipulation, or brand impersonation attacks. Without the right endorsements, your business could be left paying for losses out-of-pocket—or worse, facing lawsuits from customers or partners.

How to Protect Your Business

✅ Register lookalike domains proactively (e.g., yourcompany.co, yourcompany.net) to reduce opportunities for impersonation.
✅ Set up domain monitoring services that alert you if someone registers a domain similar to yours.
✅ Train staff and customers to verify emails—especially those involving payment instructions.
✅ Review your cyber insurance policy to ensure it covers social engineering, funds transfer fraud, and brand impersonation.

Cyber Coverage Tailored for Today’s Threats

A modern cyber liability policy should cover:
- Social engineering attacks
- Funds transfer fraud
- Costs for customer notification and credit monitoring
- Legal fees if customers or partners sue over a spoofed domain incident
- Public relations support to repair your brand

We Can Help You Secure Peace of Mind

Our team specializes in helping businesses assess their exposure to evolving cyber threats, implement proactive security strategies, and secure coverage tailored to your unique risks.

Contact us today for a cyber risk consultation and policy review.

Why Active Assailant Insurance Matters More Than Ever

What Is Active Assailant Insurance?

Active Assailant insurance (sometimes called Active Shooter insurance or Violent Incident insurance) is a specialized policy designed to respond to violent events involving weapons, whether they result in injuries, fatalities, or emotional trauma. It typically covers a wide range of costs that general liability or property policies may not address.

What Does It Cover?

While coverage varies by provider, Active Assailant insurance generally includes:

- Medical expenses for victims
- Death and disability benefits
- Counseling and crisis management services
- Business interruption or temporary relocation costs
- Legal defense and liability claims
- Property damage caused during the incident
- Reputational harm and public relations support

Who Needs It?

This coverage isn’t just for schools or high-traffic venues. Increasingly, small businesses, healthcare providers, nonprofits, religious organizations, and even municipal offices are purchasing Active Assailant insurance as part of a comprehensive risk management strategy.
If your location is open to the public, hosts events, or serves a vulnerable population, you should seriously consider this protection.

Why General Liability Isn’t Enough

Many organizations assume their general liability or property policy will respond to an active assailant incident. In reality, those policies often exclude acts of terrorism or intentional violence—or they impose very limited sublimits that may not be enough to address victim support or prolonged business closure. Even Workers’ Compensation has limitations when dealing with trauma-related claims or third-party injuries.

Real-Life Example

A nonprofit community center in the Midwest experienced a violent attack by a former client, resulting in multiple injuries. Their general liability policy provided only partial coverage for bodily injury and none for counseling, PR support, or crisis response. The organization ultimately had to raise funds to pay for victim services out of pocket—costing both money and community trust. An Active Assailant policy could have prevented this.

How Much Does It Cost?

Coverage can often be added for a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per year, depending on your organization’s size, risk factors, and location. It’s a relatively low-cost way to protect your people and your operations from catastrophic loss.

Preparedness + Coverage = Real Protection

Training and security planning are crucial—but they aren’t substitutes for coverage. Active Assailant insurance ensures that if the worst happens, you’ll have the financial resources and expert support to respond quickly, compassionately, and effectively.

We Can Help You Evaluate Your Exposure

Our team can walk you through real-world scenarios, review your current policies for coverage gaps, and provide Active Assailant quotes specific to your industry.

👉 Contact us to schedule a confidential risk assessment today.

Can You Discipline Employees for Off-Duty Conduct?

It’s a question more employers are asking: what happens if an employee’s behavior outside of work damages your company’s reputation, creates safety risks, or violates your code of conduct? With social media, viral videos, and increased public scrutiny, off-duty actions can quickly spill into the workplace and affect morale, productivity, or even your organization’s legal standing.

When Off-Duty Conduct Becomes an HR Issue

Examples of off-duty behavior that can create employment issues include:
- Posting racist, sexist, or harassing content online
- Getting arrested for violent crimes or DUIs
- Starting a side business that conflicts with your company’s interests
- Threatening coworkers outside of work hours
- Engaging in illegal activities that could impact job performance or your organization’s reputation

Legal and Ethical Considerations

While employers have the right to discipline employees for off-duty conduct that affects the workplace, there are important limitations:
- Laws protecting lawful off-duty conduct (e.g., certain states restrict adverse actions based on legal recreational activities)
- Anti-discrimination and retaliation protections
- National Labor Relations Act rights regarding concerted activity
- Privacy laws in some jurisdictions

Best Practices for Employers

✅ Create clear, consistent policies on expected employee conduct—both on and off the clock
✅ Train supervisors to recognize when off-duty behavior crosses a line
✅ Apply policies consistently to avoid claims of discrimination or unfair treatment
✅ Consult HR and legal professionals before taking action on off-duty incidents

Why an Employee Handbook Matters

Your employee handbook should include language about off-duty conduct expectations, social media guidelines, conflicts of interest, and disciplinary procedures. A well-written handbook protects both your organization and your employees by setting clear boundaries.

We Can Help You Stay Compliant

Our team helps businesses develop compliant HR policies, train managers, and navigate sensitive employee conduct situations to reduce legal risk.

👉 Contact us for a confidential HR policy review or consultation today.

Summer Moves and Rentals: Are You Covered?

Summer is prime time for moves, new leases, and vacation rentals. Whether you’re relocating to a new apartment, renting out your property, or letting a friend borrow your car for a weekend trip, it’s important to know what your insurance actually covers—and what it doesn’t.

Moving? Protect Your Belongings

Standard homeowners or renters policies typically cover your personal property during a move—but only for certain risks like theft or fire. They don’t cover damage caused by movers dropping boxes or accidents during transit unless you purchase additional moving insurance.

Renting Out Your Home or Apartment

If you rent out your property—even short-term through platforms like Airbnb—your homeowners policy may not cover damage caused by guests or liability claims. A landlord or short-term rental endorsement, or a separate landlord policy, is often needed to fully protect yourself.

Borrowing or Lending a Car

Letting someone borrow your car? Most auto policies follow the vehicle, not the driver, meaning your insurance will likely be primary if they have an accident. However, some policies exclude unlisted drivers or limit coverage, especially for long-term loans.

Common Coverage Gaps

✅ Damage to belongings during a move
✅ Liability for injuries in a rented property
✅ Losses from subletting or short-term rentals
✅ Borrowed or rented vehicles without proper insurance

Ignoring these gaps can turn a simple summer plan into a financial nightmare.

How We Can Help

We can review your homeowners, renters, and auto policies to identify gaps and recommend affordable solutions—so you can focus on enjoying your summer, not worrying about uncovered losses.

Get Peace of Mind Before Your Next Move or Trip

👉 Contact us today for a comprehensive insurance review tailored to your summer plans.

Construction Site Theft: A Growing Summer Risk

With summer construction season in full swing, theft from job sites is surging across the Midwest—and Chicagoland is no exception. From catalytic converters and copper wiring to tools and heavy machinery, criminals are targeting construction sites for quick, high-value scores.

These thefts don’t just cause direct losses—they lead to project delays, safety hazards, and strained relationships with clients.

Why Theft Is Rising

Several factors are driving increased construction site theft:
- High resale value of materials like copper and catalytic converters
- Shortages of certain tools and equipment due to supply chain issues
- Sites left unattended overnight or on weekends
- Easy resale opportunities through online marketplaces and scrap dealers

Common Targets

The most stolen items from construction sites include:
- Catalytic converters from trucks and equipment
- Copper wiring and piping
- Power tools
- Small and mid-sized machinery
- Fuel stored on-site

Real Impact on Your Projects

A single stolen piece of equipment can delay an entire job, cost thousands in replacement, and force unexpected overtime or penalties. Insurance claims can also lead to higher premiums or nonrenewal if theft becomes a pattern.

Are You Covered?

Standard property policies often don’t cover tools and materials in transit or stored on a job site. Coverage typically comes through:
- Inland Marine policies, which can protect tools, materials, and equipment while moving between locations or stored offsite
- Builders Risk policies, which cover certain materials and property during construction but may exclude theft without specific endorsements

Prevent Theft Before It Happens

✅ Secure fencing, locks, and lighting around job sites
✅ Remove tools and smaller equipment overnight
✅ Install GPS trackers on high-value machinery
✅ Keep detailed inventory lists with photos and serial numbers
✅ Talk to your insurance agent about adjusting coverage limits and endorsements

Let’s Review Your Construction Coverage

We can help you evaluate your current Builders Risk and Inland Marine policies, recommend security measures, and tailor your coverage to protect your team, your equipment, and your bottom line.

👉 Contact us for a construction site risk assessment today.

Part-Time Employees: The Case for Offering Benefits

With summer construction season in full swing, theft from job sites is surging across the Midwest—and Chicagoland is no exception. From catalytic converters and copper wiring to tools and heavy machinery, criminals are targeting construction sites for quick, high-value scores.

These thefts don’t just cause direct losses—they lead to project delays, safety hazards, and strained relationships with clients.

Why Benefits Matter for Part-Timers

Part-time employees often:
- Feel disconnected from company culture
- Have higher turnover rates
- Face challenges balancing multiple jobs or personal commitments
Benefits—even modest ones—can bridge these gaps and make your organization an employer of choice.

Affordable Options to Consider

Not every benefit has to break the bank. Popular choices for part-time staff include:
- Floating holidays or personal days
- Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) offering counseling or mental health support
- Voluntary benefits like dental, vision, or life insurance (100% employee-paid)
- Access to 401(k) plans or retirement savings options
- Discount programs on local services or events

Compliance Considerations

While the Affordable Care Act doesn’t require offering health insurance to employees working fewer than 30 hours a week, some states and municipalities have their own rules around sick leave, scheduling, or minimum benefits. It’s important to know your obligations where you operate.

Boosting Retention and Satisfaction

Surveys show that part-time workers offered even limited benefits are more likely to stay with their employer longer, recommend the organization to others, and perform better on the job.
Providing benefits also shows that you value every member of your team, regardless of hours worked.

Tailored Benefits for Your Budget

We can help you build a benefits package that supports your part-time workforce while staying within your budget. Our team will review your workforce demographics, evaluate cost-effective options, and recommend strategies to improve retention.

Let’s Build a Plan Together

👉 Contact us to discuss affordable benefits for your part-time team today.

🏠 State Farm Raising Home Insurance Rates Nearly 30% in Illinois

Starting this summer, nearly 1.5 million Illinois homeowners insured by State Farm will see their premiums go up significantly. The insurer has announced a 27.2% rate increase for existing policyholders, set to take effect on August 15. New customers will begin seeing the higher rates as early as July 15.

This marks one of the steepest home insurance hikes in recent memory for the state, where weather-related damage is becoming both more common and more costly.

According to State Farm, the increase is necessary to offset growing losses from severe storms, tornadoes, and winter events. The company noted that their financial cushion for catastrophic losses has been insufficient for most of the past 15 years, prompting a need to adjust rates accordingly.

📈 Why it matters:
Illinois typically experiences dozens of intense weather events each year. But recently, the state has seen a sharp rise in billion-dollar disasters. National data shows the annual average of such events has nearly tripled over the last five years.

This move follows other insurers adjusting rates in Illinois to account for mounting climate and repair costs. Earlier this year, another major carrier approved a double-digit rate increase as well.

💬 What you can do:
If you're a homeowner in Illinois:

• Review your policy before the new rates kick in.

• Ask about discounts or bundling options.

• Consider an insurance check-up to ensure your coverage matches today’s risks.

👉 Need help evaluating your policy or comparing options? We’re here to help.
[Contact us today →]

What’s Actually Covered If July Flooding Hits Chicagoland?

Chicagoland may have seen a relatively dry June, but if history is any indicator, July tends to bring intense storms, flash floods, and overwhelmed drainage systems. The real question for homeowners and business owners isn’t if flooding could happen — it’s whether your current insurance would cover the damage if it does.

Flood vs. Sewer Backup: What’s the Difference?

First, it’s important to understand the distinction between two of the most common types of water damage:
- Flooding is defined as water rising from the ground — such as water from heavy rainfall, rivers, lakes, or stormwater systems overflowing and entering your property.
- Sewer or drain backup occurs when water or waste backs up into your home or building through drains or toilets due to blockages or overwhelmed municipal systems.

These two events are treated differently by insurers, and most standard policies do not automatically include protection for either one.

What Standard Homeowners and Commercial Policies Cover

Contrary to common belief, standard homeowners and commercial property insurance does not cover flood damage. If rising water enters your home or business from outside, you’ll likely be responsible for 100% of the repair and replacement costs — unless you’ve added specific protection.
Here's what typical base policies do and don’t cover:

Covered by Standard Policy

Not Covered by Standard Policy

Sudden water damage from burst pipes or appliance leaks

Flooding from heavy rains, lakes, rivers, or surface water

Some types of wind and hail damage

Sewer and drain backup (without an added rider)

Water damage from a damaged roof (if caused by a covered peril)

Water seepage through foundation cracks

How to Get Flood Protection

Flood coverage is typically purchased separately through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or private insurers. In lower-risk areas — which includes large portions of Chicagoland — premiums can be surprisingly affordable.

Quick facts:
- NFIP policies cover up to $250,000 for building structure and $100,000 for contents (homeowners).
- Commercial policies have flexible limits and may be available through private markets.
- There’s usually a 30-day waiting period, so it’s best to buy before the storms begin.

What About Sewer Backup?

In contrast to flooding, sewer backup coverage can often be added to your homeowners or commercial policy via an endorsement (sometimes called a rider). It’s a low-cost add-on, usually around $50–$150 per year, and can cover thousands in potential damage from backup-related losses — including cleanup, replacement flooring, and even lost business income in commercial settings.

Real Chicagoland Risks

In many areas of Chicago, aging infrastructure and overwhelmed drainage systems mean that even a short storm can trigger water intrusion. Areas with flat topography, high clay content in soil, or combined sewer systems are particularly vulnerable.

Even properties that are not in designated flood zones can — and frequently do — experience significant water damage.

Your Flood Readiness Checklist

✅ Do you know if you have sewer backup coverage on your current policy?
✅ Do you live or operate in a flood-prone ZIP code (even if it's not “officially” a flood zone)?
✅ Do you have a sump pump with a battery backup?
✅ Have you reviewed your property’s elevation and drainage systems recently?

We’re Here to Help

Don’t wait until the next big storm hits to discover your gaps. We can review your current policies, estimate the cost of adding flood or sewer backup coverage, and recommend tailored protection based on your property and location.

👉 Click here to schedule a no-obligation flood and water damage coverage review.

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Interesting Facts

🚀 From “BackRub” to Google: Strange Original Names of Today’s Biggest Brands

Many of the world’s most recognized companies weren’t always known by the names we know today. Some began with branding choices that now seem quirky, odd, or even unintentionally hilarious. Here are a few surprising name origins behind the brands that have shaped modern life:

🔍 Google: The Search Engine That Almost Sounded Like a Spa Treatment

Back in the mid-1990s, two Stanford students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, built an early search engine that analyzed web pages based on their backlinks. In a nod to that method, they gave it the rather unusual name “BackRub.” While clever, the name sounded more like a massage app than an internet tool. Thankfully, it was soon replaced with “Google,” inspired by googol—a term for the number 1 followed by 100 zeros—reflecting the company’s aim to organize vast amounts of information. The math term itself was coined in the 1920s by a young boy helping his mathematician uncle come up with a name for an unimaginably large number.

👟 Nike: The Global Sports Brand Once Known as Blue Ribbon Sports

Long before the swoosh became a symbol of athletic excellence, Nike operated under the name “Blue Ribbon Sports.” Founded in 1964 by University of Oregon coach Bill Bowerman and his former student Phil Knight, the company initially acted as a U.S. distributor for Onitsuka Tiger running shoes. It wasn’t until 1971, as they launched their own shoe line, that they rushed to rename the business. Options like “Dimension Six” and “Peregrine” were tossed around, but it was the company’s first employee who suggested “Nike,” after the Greek goddess of victory. Knight wasn’t thrilled, but he went with it—and the rest is marketing history.

📦 Amazon: Nearly Named 'Relentless' (And Still Kind of Is)

When Jeff Bezos set out to build the world’s largest online bookstore in the mid-1990s, his first name choice was “Relentless.” In fact, you can still type relentless.com into your browser and be redirected to Amazon. Another early contender, “Cadabra,” was scrapped after it was misheard as “cadaver”—not the best vibe for a retail platform. Eventually, “Amazon” was chosen, invoking the scale and reach of the massive South American river, while also securing a spot near the top of alphabetical listings in early search directories.

🍏 Snapple: From Health Food Store Favorite to Snappy Apple Icon

In the 1970s, a small juice company in New York began selling natural products under the clunky name “Unadulterated Food Products.” It was pure and descriptive, but hardly catchy. Things changed in 1980 when the company introduced a fizzy apple juice with a crisp bite and renamed itself Snapple, a blend of “snappy” and “apple.” The playful name stuck—and the brand became a household name.

🍬 Starburst: A Cosmic Upgrade from “Opal Fruits”

Before becoming a favorite candy in American lunchboxes, Starburst debuted in the UK under the more elegant name “Opal Fruits.” When the candy crossed the Atlantic in 1967, it was rebranded as Starburst—likely to ride the wave of space-themed marketing during the height of the Space Race. While the U.K. later adopted the Starburst name permanently in 1998, the original “Opal Fruits” branding made a nostalgic comeback in 2020.

💧 Vaseline: Once Sold as “Wonder Jelly”

In the 1800s, a curious chemist named Robert Chesebrough noticed oil workers in Pennsylvania using a sticky substance to heal burns and cuts. Fascinated, he refined the material—originally called “rod wax”—into a smoother jelly and began selling it as “Wonder Jelly.” Just two years later, in 1872, he rebranded it as Vaseline, blending the German word wasser (water) and the Greek word oleon (oil). Today, it remains a staple in medicine cabinets around the world.

It’s hard to imagine searching the web with BackRub, ordering a package from Relentless, or moisturizing with Wonder Jelly—but these odd beginnings are proof that great branding is often a journey.

The news articles are always insightful and keep me updated on the latest trends and events.

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