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Did you know insurance can be fun and interesting?

1. Insurance is thousands of years old

The first appearance of insurance in history reportedly happened in China, around 3000 B.C. Merchants who depended on ship transport of goods were at risk of losing merchandise in shipwrecks. The Merchants came together and decided to distribute their goods across a number of ships, so that in case of a shipwreck each Merchant would lose a minimal amount of goods vs one Merchant suffering a total loss. Modern insurance works in much the same way, with money being collected and pooled by insurers, ready to be paid out in claims.

      2.America's insurance history predates the American Revolution

The United States oldest insurance company was founded in 1752 by Benjamin Franklin and others; The Philadelphia Contributionship. It was modeled after English Insurance Companies that were created after the devastating London Great Fire of 1666. The Philadelphian based company has various building standards of its covered properties that needed to be met and even had a chimney sweep to clean chimneys of insured homes. Like modern insurers, the company sent inspectors to evaluate properties and determine a risk assessment of the property. The Philadelphia Contributionship issued seven year policies and any claims were funded out of a capital reserve.

3. Home insurance policies often prohibit certain dog breeds

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is estimated that annually 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs and of those people, 20% need medical attention. These dog bites and dog related injuries cost homeowners over $686 million dollars in liability claims each year! Due to the liability issues home insurance policies exclude various dog breeds such as but not limited to: Akitas, Mastiffs, Pit Bulls, Alaskan Malamutes, and Rottweilers.

4. An insurance policy exists for death by excessive laughter at a movie theater.

During the early 19th century, movie-goers were so scared of dying due to excessive laughter that they bought insurance through Lloyd’s of London.

     5.   An insurance company offered a cash reward to anyone who could capture the Loch Ness monster.

 In 1971, Scottish whiskey manufacturer Cutty Sark offered an award of one million pounds ($2.4 million) to anyone who could capture the Loch Ness Monster. The company also asked Lloyd’s of London to underwrite the contest. Lloyd’s agreed, under one condition: the company would get ownership of the Loch Ness Monster.

Give one of our experienced agents a call at 269-925-0611 or visit Flaugh.com for more information.

We service all of Southwest Michigan areas such as: Benton Harbor, St. Joseph, Coloma, Watervliet, New Buffalo, Baroda, Bridgman, Stevensville, Berrien Springs, Hagar Shore, etc.

Wherever you are, call our office!

Each year is filled with many wonderful holidays. Every June 28^th, is a very special day to insurance agents; it is National Insurance Awareness Day!

National Insurance Awareness Day might not be celebrated with fireworks and birthday cake; however it serves as an important reminder to take the time to review your current insurance policies and to update your insurance policies to cover all the people and things that matter the most to you.

No one ever thinks they will be in an accident, have a house fire, or valuables be stolen. Yet it happens and it happens every day. One day it might happen even to you! Ensure you have a comprehensive insurance plan that protects you and what is valuable to you from the unknown and the unexpected.

Celebrate June 28^th by giving us a call at 269-925-0611; Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm or by visiting our website at Flaugh.com. Let one of our experienced insurance agents review your existing insurance policies to learn about how to protect what matters the most to you. Give yourself the best gift this June; call our office at 269-925-0611.

                                                                                  Happy National Insurance Awareness Day!

We service all of Southwest Michigan areas such as: Benton Harbor, St. Joseph, Coloma, Watervliet, New Buffalo, Baroda, Bridgman, Stevensville, Berrien Springs, Hagar Shore, etc.

Summer is the season for barbecues, fairs, swimming pools, sandcastles on the beach, and road trips. The temperatures are warm, children are out of school, and there is an excitement in the air.

Unfortunately, the increase in outdoor activities, yard work, home projects, and consumption of alcoholic beverages, also, leads to the increase of accidents, injuries, and deaths. Auto accidents surge during the summer season with distracted drivers being the leading cause of accidents according to the Institute of Highway Safety. Auto accidents are not the only summertime incidents. There are increased drownings in pools and lakes, burns from grills and campfires, dog bites and attacks, and heat related injuries.

While most people prefer to only think about the fun activities summer brings; it is also a great time to review and update your insurance policy and enroll in Life Insurance. The unexpected and the tragic happens every day and it happens to thousands of people each day.

Just as you make preparations for your summer fun by ensuring you packed the sunscreen and your car is full of gas, protect your family for the unthinkable. A little time spent now planning and covering your future may ease the tragic financial burdens of your untimely death. Life Insurance is a fundamental part of having a sound financial plan. Life Insurance coverage will bring you and your family peace of mind. Life Insurance will be there for you and your family once you are gone.

At Flaugh Insurance, Cory Flaugh is an experienced agent that has worked in the industry for over 25 years. Together, you can build a customized and budget responsible Life Insurance policy can be crafted to meet your needs of today and the unexpected of tomorrow. Contact Cory Flaugh at 269-925-0611 or Flaugh.com.

Plan your vacation and your future. Call Cory Flaugh at 269-925-0611 or visit Flaugh.com.

Flaugh Insurance is an independent, family owned, local agent who writes with several national carriers. We can service all of your insurance needs no matter where you are located - Benton Harbor, St. Joseph, Stevensville, New Buffalo, Hartford, Coloma, Watervliet, Berrien Springs, and many more! Call our office today to review your insurance!

May is Small Business Month. At Flaugh Insurance, we want to celebrate our local small businesses in Benton Harbor, St Joseph, Coloma, Watervliet, Stevensville, and surrounding areas. We praise the efforts and dedications of small business owners and their staff. Please support all the locally owned stores, restaurants, boutiques, auto mechanics, and even your local independent insurance agent.

Flaugh Insurance has been owned and operated in Benton Harbor since 1943. As a third generation family business owner, I have lived and worked in this community my entire life. I love being part of the Southwest Michigan community. My grandparents started Flaugh Insurance over 78 years ago and I grew up knowing how important the role of being a business owner is in a small community. I value all friendships and relationships I have developed over the years, and I am thankful to continue on the family business.

The staff at Flaugh Insurance are more than your insurance agents; we are your friends and neighbors. We take pride being active and supportive members of our community. We purchase Girl Scout cookies from local troops, volunteer prepping food for the Benton Harbor Soup Kitchen, sponsor library reading programs, and donate to school programs.

As a small business owner we need the support of the community and the community needs support from us. Supporting local businesses and each other keeps our area growing and thriving.

Thank you,

Cory Flaugh