Who wouldn’t want to be – or at least feel like – Carmelo Anthony for a day, on the very same court where he practices his best shots and moves? OK, so maybe that’s a little bit of our own “March Madness,” but Advocate Brokerage and Pure Insurance are helping to make that “Carmelo feeling” possible for local basketball fans...

A study released last week shows that male drivers in the state of Texas pay more than women for their auto insurance two-thirds of the time, and the average premium is 14 percent higher for men. The story accompanying the survey called it “a nationwide trend of insurers charging higher prices to men because of their increased risk of filing...

If you plan to give a piece of jewelry as a Valentine’s Day gift, make sure that as soon as you purchase it to have it insured. [caption id="attachment_729" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Planning on giving jewelry for Valentines day?[/caption] Many people assume that jewelry is covered under their homeowners’ insurance. This may not be the case as many homeowners’ policies set...

A strong nor'easter may bring heavy snow, hazardous driving conditions and moderate coastal flooding to tri-state Friday and Saturday, according to forecasters.A winter storm watch is in effect from Friday afternoon through Saturday morning for much of our area according to the National Weather Service.Five to 10 inches of snow is possible in the watch area, with the highest amounts...

[caption id="attachment_671" align="alignright" width="392"] Are you a homeowner? Be sure to ensure your properties against catastrophes.[/caption] In early April 2012, as a dry winter gave way to a dry spring, a wildfire ignited near the Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island. Before it was brought under control, the fire had consumed 1,000 acres and two homes. We don’t usually think...

If recent storms, like Irene and Sandy, have taught us anything, it is that your home does not have to be a coastal property to be vulnerable to flooding. In fact, one out of every three flood claims occur in a FEMA designated “preferred flood zone.” For most of us, protecting your home from flooding is as easy as purchasing...

The future for yourself and your employees depends on the security of your business. We patner with many local businesses to ensure that security. Find out the difference a professional agent can make. (more…)

New York and New Jersey residents, just coming to grips with the enormous costs of repairing homes damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Sandy, will soon face another financial blow: soaring flood insurance rates and heightened standards for rebuilding that threaten to make seaside living, once and for all, a luxury only the wealthy can afford. Homeowners in storm-damaged coastal areas...

More than three decades before Superstorm Sandy, a state law and a series of legislative reports began warning New York politicians to prepare for a storm of historic proportions, spelling out scenarios eerily similar to what actually happened: a towering storm surge. Overwhelming flooding. Swamped subway lines. Widespread power outages. The Rockaways peninsula was deemed among the "most at risk."...

LANCE ARMSTRONG has apparently managed to put legal structures in place over the years that will help insulate his fortune, as I wrote last week. But what about other people who may be less prominent but concerned about lawsuits? Can they also protect themselves? The short answer is that someone’s money can never be completely protected from creditors, but there...