Support the Independent Agents Political Action Committee

​I'd like to contribute online in the amount of:$2500  $1000  $500  $250  $99  $50   $25  $10  $5I'd like to contribute via Venmo:NOTE: Please put "IAPAC Contribution" so we know what your payment is for.VENMOTo contribute any amount, please send the IAPAC contribution form along with your payment to IAPAC in care of:Big I New York5784 Widewaters Parkway, 1st FloorDewitt, NY 13214Source

Continue ReadingSupport the Independent Agents Political Action Committee

Think All Policies Are the Same? (Part 7)

​It's been awhile since I added to my list of examples of subtle but possibly significant differences between insurance policies of the same type issued by different insurers. This one does not involve a loss (that I know of,) but I thought it was interesting enough to cite as another example of why it's important to have copies of coverage forms on hand to review.A member wrote in the other day about a client who owns a piece of vacant land with her daughter. They're going to have a house built on the land, and the daughter will live there. The member had questions about…

Continue ReadingThink All Policies Are the Same? (Part 7)

Can Someone Who Doesn’t Own the Home Be a Named Insured on a Homeowners Policy?

​Question from a BINY member: “We had an insured who called yesterday to add her boyfriend/domestic partner to her homeowners policy as a named insured. My first reaction was that cannot be done as the boyfriend has no financial interest in the home which I explained. They pushed the issue and kept telling me it could be done (per another agent). I called our company underwriter who advised – you can add a domestic partner as a named insured to a homeowners policy. How is this okay if the second named insured has zero financial interest in the home and is not on the deed?…

Continue ReadingCan Someone Who Doesn’t Own the Home Be a Named Insured on a Homeowners Policy?