In case Pi Day is not circled in red on your calendar, then we’ll remind you that each March 14^th is celebrated worldwide as Pi Day in deference to a geek’s most revered irrational number known as Pi – or 3.141592653. But, this year, instead of just focusing on the first three digits of Pi, we can celebrate the entire ten-digit number on 3/14/15 at 9:26:53 a.m. It will likely pass unnoticed by many, but it is significant in that it only happens once in each century.

Not too impressed? Perhaps you’d be more interested in the Insurance Information Institute’s (III.ORG) contribution to Pi Day celebration: an infographic depicting 10 irrational insurance figures and facts.

One item on that list of irrational insurance facts relates to potential damages that can occur during a home burglary. Even if you are able to protect your valuables from a thief, that criminal can cause hundreds of dollars in damage to your home in the process of breaking, entering and searching. The III calls it irrational that only 37% of tenants carry renters insurance even though the III tells us that a policy to do that likely costs on average $187 per year.

You’ll find the other nine Irrational Insurance Facts and Figures just as interesting. You can find the infographic, “Irrational… Any Way You Slice It – Pi Day by the Numbers” on the III.ORG website.

Feel free to contact any of our very capable and experienced agents at the William M. Sparks Insurance Agency here in Lutherville/Timonium MD to discuss renters insurance.  We can help you review your current insurance policy and explore your options to be sure you have the best coverage and protection according to your circumstances. 

What would we do without the Internet? Most of us have come to rely on e-mail, websites and social media to stay connected in our personal and business worlds. Unfortunately, we also know the down side of being so connected – criminals are lurking online just waiting for the next vulnerable user.

According to Marcus Sachs, VP National Security Policy at Verizon, it is possible to be safe online; but it requires that you educate yourself and remain diligent at all times. Sachs offers these tips to help you to protect yourself:

• Be sure that all your local computer’s software is up-to-date with the most recent versions, and protect your laptop from theft.
• Online, think carefully before posting personal information and photos, use strong/complex passwords and avoid phishing schemes by avoid using suspicious links.
• Be careful when sharing files from your home network, and take time to know exactly who will receive your replies to e-mails and online posts.
• Before you have an issue, know whom to contact for help, and take action immediately when you suspect a problem has occurred.

Get much more detail by reading: “Top 10 Ways to Protect Your Personal Information Online”.

Tags:  insurance, personal information, cyber security, cyber crime

Here at the William M. Sparks Insurance Agency, we are always pleased to speak with you about any of your insurance questions or needs.  Why not contact us to discuss your insurance coverages?

When high winds drive falling or drifting snow, whiteout conditions are the result. If you’re driving, you are likely to have to cope with very low visibility if you are able to see beyond you at all. This winter has brought one snow and ice storm after another with no end yet in sight. So if you must drive when a whiteout threatens, follow these tips to stay as safe as possible.

• Give yourself the best chance at visibility by keeping all car windows clear. Switch your heating system to Defrost – front and rear – but be sure that the system is not set to recirculate because that will add more moisture into the vehicle causing the windows to fog. This will also diminish the amount of fresh oxygen in the air which will also diminish your alertness.
• When you sense a whiteout condition brewing, you should distractions eliminate distractions in your vehicle because your utmost attention is required to operate the car. Immediately, free your hands of any food or beverage, ask passengers to cease conversation so that you can concentrate, and turn off your audio system unless you are tuned to current weather reports.

The article from ErieSense.com, titled “12 Tips for Driving in a Whiteout” tells us, “In many parts of the country, driving through wind and snow is just a part of your average winter. However, it’s not every day that you get caught driving in a whiteout.”

Read the entire article to learn driving in a winter whiteout and how to best protect yourself.

Tags:  auto insurance, winter driving, whiteout, driving safety

The William M. Sparks Insurance Agency located in Lutherville / Timonium, MD, is a full-service insurance agency offering auto/car insurance, homeowners insurance, business/commercial insurance and life insurance to all of Maryland (MD), Virginia (VA) and Pennsylvania (PA) since 1981. Our experienced insurance agents welcome your inquiries and are glad to discuss your coverage needs at any time.

Happy Valentine’s Day from Lutherville/Timonium,MD, and all of us at the William M. Sparks Insurance Agency.

You have probably hear those who say that Valentine’s Day is just a creation of the greeting card industry to entice consumers – just like Mother’s Day and other sentimental holidays. Well, perhaps that’s true. After all, the National Retail Federation estimated that each of us would spend and average of $133.91 for Valentine's Day in 2014, and that trend continues on the rise.

When we think about Valentine’s Day gifts, chocolate is often at the top of our mind. Retailers make many reasonably priced versions available. But for the most discriminating Valentine, nothing short of the La Madeline au Truffe from Connecticut chocolatier, Knipschildt will do. This delicacy is described as a rare French Perigord truffle ensconced in a ganache made from Valrhona dark chocolate, truffle oil, vanilla and heavy cream before being dunked in more dark chocolate and cocoa powder. Is your mouth watering yet? You’ll want to remind yourself this chocolate is $2,600 per pound. Made to order, it will be delivered "lying on a bed of sugar pearls" -- as it probably should be.

But if incredibly expensive chocolate truffles are not your thing and assuming that money is no object, then take a look at these other outrageously expensive gifts:

• If you think it wouldn’t be Valentine’s Day without flowers no matter the price, then you should learn about the Juliet Rose. You’ll find a dozen of these roses for under $300, but the Juliet is often called the "£3 million rose" (or 5 million U.S. dollars) because that is what rose breeder, David Austin, spent in the 15 years it took him to create the rose.  
• Perhaps a not-so-simple and quite extraordinary card would be best. Gilded Age Greetings will create your couture Valentine's card by hand for a mere $3500! You won’t believe it until you see it.
• Fragrance in the form of perfumes and colognes make great gifts for a Valentine, especially when it is "No. 1" perfume for women by Clive Christian. This world acclaimed fragrance comes in a gold-crowned 1.6-ounce bottle priced at $865 – a bargain when compared with “Imperial Majesty” also by Clive Christian at $215,000 per bottle.

If you’re inclined to invest your fortune in something more permanent than food, flowers, or fragrance, then likely a new iPhone embellished in 200 grams of solid 18k gold could be your choice. This luxury device comes to you in a Cherry Oak Finished Box. The Solid Gold Superstar is SIM free, factory unlocked to ALL networks and comes with the usual accessories. It’s priced at just under $58,000. But if you prefer, you may have the Solid Gold Superstar ICE, encrusted with 364 diamonds (5.5 carats in total) for the upgrade price of about $82,000.

Homeowners Insurance Tip

It is clear that these outrageous gifts are not for anyone but the super rich, and you’ll be looking at more moderately priced gifts. Even so, if your Valentine’s Day plans include a gift of jewelry or some other expensive item, then don’t forget to protect it as soon as possible. The Insurance Information Institute warns us that jewelry losses are among the most frequent of all home insurance content-related insurance claims. So do yourself a favor and take a moment to visit the III.ORG website where you can learn the four relatively simple steps needed to ensure adequate protection for jewelry and other expensive gifts.

Our experienced agents at the Sparks Insurance Agency are always glad to answer your questions and help you sort out your options to be sure you have the best coverage to meet your needs at the best rate.  So why not contact us today or arrange for a no-obligation insurance policy review at your convenience. 

This month has seen an almost continuous arctic blast causing freezing temperatures in most of the country with severe and sustained cold weather and snowfalls interspersed with periods of melting and freezing. This can inflict considerable damage on homes and businesses. One such risk is frozen water pipes.

Are you wondering just why pipes freeze and what causes them to rupture. Then, check out this article from ErieSense.com: “What Causes Frozen Water Pipes to Burst” to learn what happens to water when it freezes, why this is a threat to pipes in your home and what pipes are at the greatest risk for damage.
According to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, there are a few facts that we should keep in mind when it comes to frozen pipes.

• Frozen water pipes are one of the biggest risks for homewners when the temperature drops below 32 degrees, and approximately 37% of all frozen pipe failures occur in a basement.
• When a water pipe freezes, it could burst; and an opening of just 1/8-inch in a pipe could typically cause 250 gallons of water to escape in a day’s time.
• A water pipe that ruptures due to freezing can lead to as much as $5000 in water damage.

If the worst occurs and you have a burst pipe, the Insurance Information Institute offers this advice:

• If you discover that pipes are frozen, don’t wait for them to burst. Take measures to thaw them immediately, or call a plumber for assistance.
• If your pipes burst, first turn off the water and then mop up spills. You don’t want the water to do more damage than it already has.
• Call your agent or company as soon as you can. An insurance adjuster doesn’t need to see the spill before you take action. However, he or she will want to inspect any damaged items.
• Make temporary repairs and take other steps to protect your property from further damage. Remove any carpet or furniture that can be further damaged from seepage.
• Make a list of the damaged articles.
• Save the receipts for what you spend—including additional living expenses if you must leave your home until repairs are completed—and submit them to your insurance company for reimbursement.

Homeowners Insurance Tip

The Insurance Information Institute tells us that standard homeowners policies will usually cover most of the kinds of damage that result from a freeze. For example, if house pipes freeze and burst or if ice forms in gutters and causes water to back up under roof shingles and seep into the house. You would also typically be covered if the weight of snow or ice damages your house. They advise checking with your agent or company so you’ll be sure what your policy covers.

Here at the William M. Sparks Insurance Agency, our experienced agents welcome your questions and inquiries and are always glad to help you explore your insurance policy to be sure you have the best coverage at the best rate available.  Why not contact us today or arrange for a policy review at your convenience?