We have partnerships with some of the companies featured in this article. When you click on links to those sites, our company makes money. These partnerships help support our site so we can keep bringing you the best answers to your questions. Virginia has extensive experience writing about insurance and finance for a number of online platforms. She brings this expertise to business insurance and life insurance content across Fit Small Business. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BL

For Florida homeowners, a flooded basement or other home insurance claim might just be the start of their troubles. Some contractors may take advantage of what’s called an assignment of benefits (AOB) agreement and leave homeowners in the lurch. Let’s look at what AOB is and how to spot a scam so you don’t get taken for a ride.

Much like a manufacturer’s warranty, a home warranty pays to repair or replace a covered item when it malfunctions within a certain time frame, typically a year. These contracts cover damage from regular use and age, which is one reason homeowners find them so attractive, especially if they are new buyers or are purchasing an older home.

For some people, a house just isn’t a home until they have a dog curled up by their feet. Unfortunately, their doggos may make it harder to get home insurance. Many providers have restricted breed lists, and getting coverage can be difficult if your dog is on it.

Whether you call it a tornado or a hurricane, a windstorm can cause extensive damage to your home. So why does the average homeowner near Hurricane Alley pay more for their home insurance than those living in Tornado Alley? For insurance providers, the risks are actually quite different. Let’s take a look at tornados and hurricanes so we can better understand the costs.

While most folks have at least heard of credit scores, insurance scores may be a mystery. Essentially, your home insurance score can impact how much you pay for your coverage, depending on where you live. Most states allow insurance carriers to factor this a credit-based insurance score into policy pricing. Let’s take a closer look at what this score is and how insurers determine it.

When I first looked at the data from Insureon's Small Business Outlook 2017, I wasn't sure if I liked what I saw. Sure, 82 percent of the more than 1,000 small-business owners we surveyed said they are planning for growth this year. But that means 18 percent aren't -- and that's not all. We also found that 68 percent of those with no plans for business growth are women.

Something's afoot in the American workplace. The past few months have brought stories that reveal growing dissatisfaction with the way businesses are run. The New York Time's expos of Amazon's "purposeful Darwinism" may be the most memorable, but it's just one part of the bigger picture.

Americans tend to assume bigger means better. Nowhere is that attitude more obvious than in the business world. The gospel of growth is preached in boardrooms and business schools across the nation, but at least one source for our 2017 Small Business Outlook isn't buying it. She says she only ever intended to be a company of one.

Immigration is a major headline these days, but it may be for all the wrong reasons. According to a 2015 study from the Kauffman Foundation, new Americans are twice as likely as native-born citizens to start businesses. Another study shows they make up about 28 percent of "main street" businesses, such as retail, accommodation, and food services. It's hard to argue against facts. Immigrant business owners contribute to the US economy in a big way. Here are three stories to put some faces to the

Spring is traditionally the time home sales take off. In fact, real estate agents typically encourage sellers to list their homes early in the year so they're ready for the peak sales period in June. Researchers for Zillow went a step further and found a magic window for sellers. Depending on their location, homes put on the market between mid-March and mid-April can often sell 15 percent faster and for 2 percent more than the average listing.

Some agents don’t work with non-admitted insurers. Maybe they think non-admitted is another way of saying unauthorized or illegitimate. Perhaps they’re worried the policies they sell aren’t worth the paper they’re written on.

With the prevalence of OTC forex markets, traders can trade forex nearly 24 hours a day, five days a week. But just because the market is open doesn’t necessarily mean it presents you with the best trade opportunities. In forex, the best time to trade is when the market is moving. Here are those times and what to look for when trading them.

For years, Bob R. (Viroqua, Wisconsin) says he was like Jim Carrey’s character in Liar Liar. He would beat himself up whenever his trades went the wrong way. But even when he was struggling, part of him knew he would be a better trader if he could just change his mindset.

Let’s say you’ve done everything right. You know your entry and exit points. You’ve got your stop losses in place. Then the markets open, things don’t go as planned, and you start to lose. For most people, this creates an immediate and unpleasant physical response: sweaty palms, rapid breathing, and increased heart rate. But the worst part may be how the sudden upsurge of emotion seems to eliminate your ability to think clearly.

Learn about the Homeowner's Insurance market and how to write home, renter's, and condo policies. This free guide shows you what questions you need to ask to make sure insureds get the appropriate coverage.