I've been told that I post a tremendous volume of “personal” things on social media,and I suppose I do. The truth is, I absolutely cannot draw a strong line of demarcation between my business life and my personal life. They are integrated, intertwined, and very much a part of who I am. We all get the same 24 hours in a day, and I can't imagine putting either part of my life aside for long stretches of time. I admit I love them both. I love my work, and I love being a mom. And

I deal with insurance, and many of the situations that bring people to my agency are happy ones. Someone has purchased a new car, bought a beautiful piece of jewelry, moved into a new home, or made some other change in their life that requires an update to their insurance. And then, of course, there are the less happy circumstances. One of those happens to be auto accidents, both minor and major. We all know how stressful and unsettling an accident can be, regardless of its s

Let me start by saying congratulations! A long drive out west, with stops at beautiful national parks, interesting cities, quirky roadside attractions, and places that deserve more than a quick visit? Sounds quite fabulous. I’m more than a little jealous of anyone who has the opportunity to take such a trip, but with that opportunity comes planning and preparation. The days of climbing into a VW van and heading west without thinking about anything other than the next sunris

We certainly had enough warning. For days before the nor’easter, the news on Long Island was filled with stories about when it was going to start, the possible amount of flooding, the amount of rain we were going to get, and the very high winds. Having gone through Superstorm Sandy, I knew firsthand the damage that could be brought about by this kind of storm, and I was concerned for my clients and honestly, concerned for myself as well. With all the time we had to get ready,

When you think of Long Island, what comes to mind? For me, it’s beautiful beaches (luckily, one is near my house), gorgeous sunsets, the Jones Beach Theater for great music and comedy, great schools, easy access to Manhattan, charming towns, and a wonderfully diverse population. Traffic, well, I try not to think about that, until, of course, I’m sitting on the Long Island Expressway, watching the clock, and wondering why I thought I could get from Point A to Point B in the am

Here we are in Q4. For some people, that means business as usual. They’re on track, and they’re heading toward the end of the year feeling pretty comfortable. For others, Q4 means something entirely different, the great push to make the numbers. The numbers I'm referring to are the goals you set back in January when the year was fresh and you had 12 whole months ahead of you. Suddenly, those 12 months have turned into three, and there’s a mad rush to close the gap. We all wan

Of course, you have insurance. You know you do because you pay the premiums. You have homeowners, auto, life, and an umbrella policy, so, you’re covered, right? I hate to ask, but are you covered for your life as it looks today?That’s a different question. Insurance is one of those things we tend to put in place and then forget about. I mean, who wants to think about insurance. I understand but think about it, we buy a house and get homeowners insurance. We buy a car and get

I get most of my insurance business through referrals, and I’m incredibly grateful every time someone trusts me enough to send a friend, family member, colleague, or client my way. Over the years, I’ve learned referrals don’t just happen. I’ve worked very hard to develop the relationships that allow me to say that referrals are the foundation of my business. It’s not a quick fix or a short-term business development strategy. It takes time, effort, determination and, perhaps

Trust me, I’ve heard it all. “How many times a day do you post?” “Aren’t you constantly on social media?” “Do your kids mind?” Then there are the people on the other side who say, “I wish I could do what you do on Instagram,” or “I wish I knew how to make Instagram work for my business.” I get it. Instagram can seem overwhelming and if you’re seeing someone frequently in your feed or Stories, you might assume they simply love the attention. Before I go any further, let me cle

I’m not a weather forecaster, and this post definitely isn’t about politics, but it certainly feels like Long Island’s weather patterns have changed. When I was a child, we used to have four distinct seasons. Now they seem to blur together with hotter stretches in summer, longer cold spells, heavy rain, strong winds and storms that can cause significant damage with very little warning. Everyone complains about the weather, but now it seems like we really have something to com

Truth: being a mom has helped me become a better business owner, employee, leader, and colleague. I’m sure of it. Motherhood taught me lessons about people, priorities, communication and problem-solving that show up in my professional life every single day. Some of these lessons were learned easily, and others, well, any parent will tell you that some lessons require lots and lots of repetition. (In most things, I’m happy to report that I was a fast learner, but then again, m

You open your homeowners insurance renewal and notice the premium is higher than last year. Your first reaction might be, "Wait a minute, I didn't file a claim. Why did my homeowners insurance go up?" That’s a normal reaction and you're not alone. This is one of the questions I hear most often from homeowners, especially here on Long Island. While it can be frustrating, there are usually several factors behind an increase, and many of them have nothing to do with you personal

Turning your home into an Airbnb can be a great way to earn extra income, whether you’re renting out a spare bedroom, your entire home while you’re away, or even a vacation property, but before you welcome your first guest, you MUST find out what happens to your homeowners insurance if you rent out your home on Airbnb. The answer may surprise you because in many cases, your current homeowners policy may not provide the protection you think it does. Does Homeowners Insurance C

I’m told that the day your teenager gets a driver's license is exciting, but is also the day many parents start sleeping a little less and worrying more. I get it, even though my girls are some years away from driving off into the sunset. I do know that with each new “mark of independence” there is a corresponding feeling a trepidation, small, but definitely there. If you’ve ever questioned if your umbrella insurance covers your teen driver, the short answer is “yes,” but the

If you've been wondering whether you're stuck with your current insurance company until your policy renews, you're not alone. It's one of the most common questions I hear from Long Island homeowners and drivers, and I guess the good news is no, you don't have to wait. In many cases, you can switch insurance companies whenever you want but there are a few things you should know before making the move. People switch for all sorts of reasons: Their premium increased. They found

One of the questions I hear from parents all the time is: "When can I take my kids off my auto insurance policy?" The answer may surprise you. Unlike health insurance, where children typically age out of coverage at a specific age, auto insurance does not have a universal age limit, and in many cases, your child can remain on your policy well into adulthood, depending on their living situation, vehicle ownership, and insurance company guidelines. The Biggest Factors Rather th

One of the most common questions I hear from clients is: “What car should I buy if I want the lowest insurance premium?” If keeping your insurance costs under control is important, especially here in New York and on Long Island, the answer may surprise you. Insurance companies don't simply look at the sticker price of a vehicle. They evaluate dozens of factors when determining your premium, including repair costs, theft rates, safety features, accident history, and even how o

It's one of the most common questions I hear from clients: "Why did my car insurance go up?" Or: "Why is my car insurance so expensive when I've never had an accident?" The truth is that car insurance rates are influenced by many factors, some of which have nothing to do with your personal driving habits. Understanding what insurance companies look at can help you make smarter decisions and potentially lower your costs. 1. Where You Live Matters More Than You Think Your zip c

If you’ve opened your insurance renewal and wondered, “Why is my car insurance so expensive?” you’re not alone. Rising repair costs, increased accident rates, and other factors have pushed premiums higher across the entire country and not just in New York! While pretty much every driver is feeling the pain, there are several ways you may be able to reduce your insurance costs without sacrificing the protection you need. Why Is My Car Insurance Premium So High? Insurance compa

Families come in all shapes and sizes. Some are traditional, some are blended, and some are created through circumstances we never expected, like mine. And while being a parent comes with countless rewards and challenges, being a stepparent has its own unique journey. There’s no grand announcement or fanfare, and most of the time, it happens quietly. It’s showing up day after day, attending school events, celebrating achievements, listening to stories, offering encouragement,