Insurance provides financial protection against significant risks and unexpected events, like accidents, illnesses, or property damage.

We are a well-established, independent, family insurance agency. At Chalmers, you won't have to worry about sitting on hold for hours, or feeling totally lost through the process of buying insurance. We are committed to making the experience of buying insurance simple and enjoyable. We provide an exceptional client service experience and will treat you like family. 

An independent insurance agency, like Chalmers, sells policies from a variety of insurers. We are not employed by (and therefore aren’t beholden to) a specific insurance company. We evaluate your needs and shop around to find the best policy. As an independent agency, we can also help you report a claim and navigate the claims process. 

No, independent agencies like Chalmers have access to multiple carriers and can usually find a competitive price that suits your needs. They work for you, not an insurance company.

While buying insurance online can offer convenience and potentially lower premiums, it often comes with the trade-off of less personalized service. It is essential to diligently compare policies, read reviews, and seek advice from a licensed professional to ensure you're selecting the best coverage for your needs. For more information on this topic, check out this blog post.

Insurance is about protecting the things that are important to you, both personal and business. So, anytime you have significant events or changes in your life, it's a great idea to review and update your coverage. Here are some examples:

Personal

• A change in marital status
• A new baby
• New drivers in your household
• Kids going away to college
• A new job or starting a home business
• Changes in your income
• Paying off a car loan
• Buying a home
• Moving to a new apartment
• Home improvements
• Approaching retirement
• Purchasing jewelry, artwork, antiques or other expensive items

Business

• Starting a new business
• Increasing your workforce 
• Loss of employees to other companies
• Expansion plans
• Business owner approaching retirement

For more details, give us a call. We are happy to help to you evaluate your insurance and financial needs.

You can either log in to your InsurLink account, or contact us directly. We are happy to help.

A deductible is an amount of money that you are responsible for paying toward a loss. When a disaster strikes your home or you have a car accident, the amount of the deductible is subtracted, or “deducted,” from your claim payment. A deductible can be either a specific dollar amount or a percentage of the total amount of insurance on a policy. The amount is established by the terms of your coverage. 

We completely understand – insurance can be full of terms and phrases that aren't part of our everyday language, and it can feel confusing. That's why we've created a comprehensive insurance glossary to help demystify this language for you. On this page, you’ll find simple and clear explanations for all the terms you might come across. We are here for you every step of the way, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us directly with any questions. Click here to visit our Insurance Glossary. 

Homeowners insurance typically covers the physical structure of your home, your personal belongings inside it, liability protection against lawsuits for injury or property damage, and additional living expenses if you are temporarily displaced from your home due to a covered loss.

Yes— if you can bundle your home and auto together with the same insurance company, there could be cost savings involved, in addition to other benefits. To learn more, read our blog post about bundling here.

Yes—while your auto and home policies go a long way toward improving your financial security, they could still be leaving you exposed. For example, homeowners insurance does not include flood coverage. You need a separate flood insurance policy to be protected against this risk.

To reduce your auto insurance premiums, consider maintaining a clean driving record, choosing a higher deductible, bundling your insurance policies (like auto and homeowners), and exploring available discounts (e.g., multi-car, safe driver, or good student discounts) with your Chalmers agent.

A home inventory is a list of your personal possessions along with their estimated financial value. A home inventory will help you provide a detailed list to your insurance agent of anything you may have lost if your home is damaged or destroyed in a covered claim.

A personal umbrella liability policy is designed to increase your liability protection. This single policy acts as an “umbrella” over all of your other personal liability policies – home, auto, boat, RV, etc. – so you have a higher personal liability limit than what would otherwise be available. 

Renters insurance is designed to protect your personal property against damage or theft while living in a rented space. Additionally, it can provide liability coverage in case someone is injured while at your residence. While it may not be mandatory, it is highly recommended to safeguard your belongings and financial security.

The insurance needs of a business vary based on factors like industry, location, and size. At a minimum, consider General Liability Insurance to protect against third-party injury or damage claims, Property Insurance to cover your assets, Workers' Compensation for employee injury, and a Business Owner's Policy (BOP) that combines several coverages in one.

Business insurance is tax deductible, as long as the coverage is for the purpose of operating a business, profession, or a trade. Businesses may not deduct their business insurance premiums if the coverage is for the purpose of a self-insurance reserve fund or a loss of earning insurance policy. 

A BOP offers several commercial insurance products rolled into one. Business Owner's Insurance usually includes property, business interruption, and liability insurance. Typically, a business owner will save money by choosing a BOP because the bundle of services often costs less than the total cost of all the individual coverages.

Business income insurance provides reimbursement for lost revenue after a covered insurance loss. For a company that does not have a physical address that is crucial to its business, such as a contractor, business income insurance is probably not necessary. For store front or main street businesses, like a coffee shop, business income insurance is a must.

• A COI is a statement of coverage issued by the company that insures your business.
• Usually no more than one page, a COI provides a summary of your business coverage.
• It serves as verification that your business is indeed insured.
• Potential clients may request a COI as a condition of doing business with you.  

Yes. Your general liability policy will not provide coverage for cyber attacks or data breaches. If you use any form of technology to support your business operations, you should consider cyber liability coverage. 

Workers' Compensation Insurance covers medical expenses and a portion of lost wages for employees who become injured or ill at work. It also provides protection for the business against lawsuits by injured employees. In most states, businesses are required to carry Workers’ Compensation Insurance if they have employees.

It's recommended to review your business insurance policies at least annually or when significant changes occur in your business, such as expansion, hiring new employees, or adding new services/products. This helps to ensure that your coverage remains adequate and reflects your current business operations.

Employee benefits refer to a package of benefits that employers offer to their employees, which may include health, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement plans, and more. They are generally more cost-effective than individual plans due to the group's purchasing power.

A competitive benefits package is an important way to attract the best employees to your business. With great benefits, you can win out over other companies vying for the top talent in your industry. Your benefits program can also help you keep those employees happy and healthy, increasing the likelihood they’ll stay at your business.

Voluntary benefits can give you the opportunity to build out an impressive benefits package at no cost to your business. Your employees pay for their voluntary benefits, but will still be served by this offering because you can get them a lower rate than they would be able to get on their own.