Chimney check-up

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

An annual chimney inspection keeps your hearth in good working order.
By: Abby Badach
The fireplace may be a happy spot for the family to gather ‘round. But did you know that fireplaces and chimneys caused 27,200 residential fires in the United States in 2008—and that those blazes caused $147.6 million in property damage and 10 fatalities?¹

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/chimney_check-up.aspx

Four timesavers for busy people.

Tim McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

Four timesavers for busy people

ERIE offers fast ways to take care of business.
By: Amanda Prischak
Stretched for time? Then check out these four features from ERIE designed to help you save time, money—and perhaps a little sanity.

CLICK BELOW FOR LINK TO ARTICLE:
http://www.erieinsurance.com/Eriesense/issues/Winter2012/four-time-savers-for-busy-people.aspx

Outsmart Cyber Monday Thieves

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

Outsmart Cyber Monday thieves
November 12, 2012
Shopping online this holiday season? Then be sure to protect your identity.
By: Julia Nene
It’s no surprise that millions of Americans will choose Cyber Monday over Black Friday this holiday season. After all, an increasing number of retailers now offer exclusive online deals the Monday following Black Friday—and that helped Cyber Monday sales increase 22 percent from 2010 to 2011.¹
Online shopping is also convenient and easy and lets you avoid long lines at the store. But is it safe? Well, that’s another story. That’s because as shoppers look for deals online, virtual predators are busy looking for victims in the exact same place.

CLICK BELOW FOR REST OF ARTICLE:

http://www.erieinsurance.com/Eriesense/issues/Winter2012/outsmart-cyber-monday-theives.aspx

Reduce Basement Flood Risks

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412-650-5700

Reduce Basement Flood Risks

Rain showers might be dandy for your garden but not for your basement.

 Wet basement problems may be solved simply by repairing an obvious gutter or downspout leak, but other water problems may have causes that are difficult to identify or expensive to fix.

CLICK BELOW FOR LINK TO ARTICLE:

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/reduce_basement_flood_risks.aspx

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

Most Popular Car Colors of 2012

Consumers may ogle the car painted lipstick-red, but they tend to go home with the prim one all in white.


Read more: http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/most_popular_car_colors_of_2012.aspx

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

The five coolest cars you’ve never heard of

It’s hard to stump the most jaded of car guys. In their world, “Jensen Interceptor” and “Facel Vega” are answers to softball questions from the “Obscure Cars for $1,000” category. And they always remember to phrase their answers in the form of a question. If not even one of the cars on the list below is news to you, then we clearly need to dig deeper for the Final Jeopardy question.

CLICK BELOW FOR LINK TO ARTICLE:

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/the_five_coolest_cars_youve_never_heard_of.aspx

Trees and Insurance: Tips on What Is and Is Not Covered

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

Trees and Insurance: Tips on What Is and Is Not Covered:

One of the most frequent questions we receive from consumers is whether their insurance covers fallen trees.

CLICK BELOW FOR A VIDEO

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/trees_and_insurance_tips_on_what_is_and_is_not_covered.aspx

Finding the Right Car Seat.

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

 
The Right Seat

Car crashes are the number one killer of children 1 to 12 years old in the United States. The best way to protect them in the car is to put them in the right seat, at the right time, and use it the right way.

CLICK BELOW FOR LINK TO ARTICLE:

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/finding_the_right_car_seat.aspx

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/clothes_dryer_fires_cost_35_million_a_year.aspx

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

Clothes Dryer Fires Cost $35 Million a Year

An estimated 2,900 clothes dryer fires in residential buildings are reported to U.S. fire departments each year and cause an estimated $35 million in property losses, according to a new government report.

CLICK BELOW FOR LINK TO ARTICLE:

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/clothes_dryer_fires_cost_35_million_a_year.aspx

Seven Benefits of Life Insurance.

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

Is Your Family Protected?

You hope the worst won’t happen, but sometimes it does. Is your family financially secure? If you’re not sure whether you need life insurance, consider these seven benefits of life insurance and watch this video, A Legacy of Love.


Seven Benefits of Life Insurance

CLICK BELOW FOR ARTICLE LINK:

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/seven_benefits_of_life_insurance.aspx

Luxury Cars Flunk New Tougher Crash Tests.

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/luxury_cars_flunk_new_tougher_crash_test.aspx

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

Luxury cars flunk new tougher crash test.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- For years, cars have been doing better and better in crash tests. Now, a tough new test by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has given a black eye to a number of luxury and near-luxury automakers

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

How to watch out for previously wrecked used cars.

Getting a used car's history report isn't the safeguard many think it is against buying a car that was wrecked and rebuilt. Without a thorough inspection by an independent mechanic, it's almost impossible to tell, consumer experts say.

CLICK ON LINK BELOW FOR ARTICLE:

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/how_to_watch_out_for_previously_wrecked_used_cars.aspx

Vacationers Beware! 5 Biggest Rental Car Pitfalls.

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

Vacationers, Beware!: 5 biggest rental car pitfalls.

With summer in high gear, more families are renting cars for vacation fun. But renting comes with its share of hassles, worries and fine print.
You can make up your own mind about whether to prepay for gas or how much insurance to carry, but AARP, the giant organization of retired people, is offering rental tips that could help save your trip.

Here are the top five, which could save you a lot of money:

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/vacationers_beware_5_biggest_rental_car_pitfalls.aspx

Should You Buy or Lease Your Next Vehicle?

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

To buy or to lease?

July 18, 2012
For motorists in the market for a new set of wheels, that is the question. Here are things to consider before going either route.

CLICK BELOW FOR REST OF ARTICLE:

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/should_you_buy_or_lease_your_next_vehicle.aspx

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

Know What to do Before, During and After the Storm

Tornados, hurricanes, wind and hail can all add chaos to your life. See what you can do to protect your loved ones, and your belongings, from disaster before the storm strikes. And if Mother Nature strikes, see what you can do to help speed up the recovery process.

8 Tips For Reducing Auto Insurance Costs.

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

8 Tips for Reducing Auto Insurance Costs.

Reckless Behavior on the Roads Is Dangerous—and Can Mean Higher Auto Insurance Rates for Drivers

The I.I.I. Provides Tips for Reducing Auto Insurance Costs.

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/8_tips_for_reducing_auto_insurance_costs.aspx

5 Legendary Lost Cars.

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

Legendary Lost Cars

Most of us have had the experience of losing a rental car in a big parking lot. Maybe your cousin Eddie has had the experience of cutting his grass for the first time in five years and finding a car. We’re not talking about those cars. The cars on this list are the holy grails of automotive lore. They’re near-mythical cars that have disappeared, most likely never to be seen again.

CLICK BELOW FOR LINK TO ARTICLE:

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/5_legendary_lost_cars.aspx

Debate Over Fracking Quakes Gets Louder.

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

Debate over fracking, quakes gets louder.

(CNN) -- The use of hydraulic fracturing to open underground natural gas formations has a low risk of triggering earthquakes, federal experts reported Friday, but some scientists say the debate is far from over.
http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/debate_over_fracking_quakes_gets_louder.aspx

Motorcycle deaths rise as states repeal helmet laws.

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

Motorcycle deaths rise as states repeal helmet laws.

As highway deaths overall have fallen with improved safety in cars, motorcyclists have seen just the opposite: a higher death rate.

CLICK BELOW for rest of article:

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/Motorcycle_deaths_rise_as_states_repeal_helmet_laws.aspx

Another Bride, Another Summer Wedding, Another Reason to Buy Life Insurance.

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

Another Bride, Another Summer Wedding, Another Reason to Buy Life Insurance

All right, you probably saw it coming like a flying bouquet at a reception. Wedding season is officially here.

Once the guests have gone home and the thank you notes are written, it’s time to start thinking about the future. Now that you’re building a life with someone else, what if the unthinkable happens? Could you or your spouse stay in your new home, keep the cars and pay the bills? 

Click below to find out how:

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/Another_Bride_Another_Summer_Wedding_Another_Reason_to_Buy_Life_Insurance.aspx

Speeders, Drunken Drivers Die Younger then Other Drivers.

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

Speeders, drunken drivers die younger than other drivers.

Speeders and drunken drivers don't live as long as those who live life conservatively behind the wheel, a new study finds.

Click Below for rest of article:

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/Speeders_drunken_drivers_die_younger_than_other_drivers.aspx

Traveling for Memorial Day? Here Are Some Safety Tips for the Road.

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

Safety Tips for the Road

Traveling for the holiday this weekend? Here are street-smart strategies every driver should practice:

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/Traveling_for_Memorial_Day_Here_Are_Some_Safety_Tips_for_the_Road.aspx

Dog Bite Claims Can be Costly to Your Home Insurance.

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

State Farm pays $109 million for dog bite claims

State Farm Insurance, one of the nation's largest home insurers, paid more than $109 million on about 3,800 dog bite claims nationwide last year, spokesman Eddie Martinez said Wednesday. In 2010, there were about 3,500 claims and $90 million in payouts.

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/Dog_Bite_Claims_Claims_Can_be_Costly_to_Your_Home_Insurance.aspx

Traffic death rate approaches new low.

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

Traffic death rate approaches new low.

Traffic deaths fell an estimated 1.7% nationwide in 2011, and the death rate may have reached the lowest point since tracking began in 1949, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates in a new report.

Click below for rest of article:

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/Traffic_death_rate_approaches_new_low.aspx

Rewarding a grad? Here are the Top 10 cars for teens.

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

Are you planning on buying a car for your  teenager who is graduating this spring?  Check out the top 10 cars for teens below.

Rewarding a grad? Here are the Top 10 cars for teens

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/Rewarding_a_grad_Here_are_the_Top_10_cars_for_teens.aspx

Discarded digital devices can retain sensitive data.

Discarded digital devices can retain sensitive data.
Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

Now is the time to consider Identity Theft Coverage from ERIE INSURANCE.  Especially if you are concerned about sensative data on your smart phone or tablet.  Please read the article below and find out why.

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/Discarded_digital_devices_can_retain_sensitive_data.aspx

Top 10 Car Brands For Women are Long on Style.

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

Top 10 car brands for women are long on style.

Women love stylish small cars and crossovers -- Minis, Nissans and Kias. Men predictably, choose trucks and exotics such as like Ferrari, Bentley, Maserati and Porsche
.
So finds an annual survey based on last year's information by TrueCar.com, which looks at the most popular brands and models by gender.

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/Top_10_car_brands_for_women_are_long_on_style.aspx

Companies weigh risks of distracted driving.

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

Companies weigh risks of distracted driving.
Distracted driving has emerged over the past five years as perhaps the top road safety priority in the USA. April is National Distracted Driving Awareness month.


http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/Companies_weigh_risks_of_distracted_driving.aspx

Top 8 Celebrities Who Got Their Start in Insurance.

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

Top 8 Celebrities Who Got Their Start in Insurance

For some, a job in insurance is a career. For others, it's a starting point that can open the doors to other opportunities. And for others still, it's both.
The eight celebrities featured in this slideshow represent all three. From a now-celebrated composer who worked in insurance his whole life and went unnoticed in the music world until after his death, to an Olympic hero who worked in insurance to help fund the training that helped him win, to a Pulitzer-winning poet who declined literary positions to stick with his executive-level job in insurance, these celebrities are all members of the insurance family.

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/Top_8_Celebrities_Who_Got_Their_Start_in_Insurance.aspx

Contractors: Protect Yourself & Your Employees

Contractors: Protect Yourself & Your Employees

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/Contractors_Protect_Yourself__Your_Employees.aspx

Are car voice controls as distracting as cellphone use?

Are car voice controls as distracting as cellphone use?

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/Are_car_voice_controls_as_distracting_as_cellphone_use.aspx

Check Your Coverage Before You Hit the Road This Spring.

Check Your Coverage Before You Hit the Road This Spring.

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/Check_Your_Coverage_Before_You_Hit_the_Road_This_Spring.aspx

Erie Insurance recognized as a J.D. Power 2012 Customer Service Champion.

Erie Insurance recognized as a J.D. Power 2012 Customer Service Champion
Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

Erie Insurance recognized as a J.D. Power 2012 Customer Service Champion
ERIE named to prestigious list two years in a row.

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/Erie_Insurance_recognized_as_a_JD_Power_2012_Customer_Service_Champion.aspx

A step-by-step guide to removing your car from storage.

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

A step-by-step guide to removing your car from storage.

If your classic car has been in storage for a few months, or a couple of years, there are a few things you must tend to before taking it for a spin.

When Renewing Your Auto Insurance, Understanding All Your Coverage Options Could Save You Money.

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/Subaru_top_maker_in_Consumer_Reports_ratings_Mazda_No_2_Toyota_No_3.aspx

Subaru top maker in Consumer Reports ratings, Mazda No. 2, & Toyota No. 3.

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

Generation X top 10 classic cars of the 1980's for under $40,000.

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700


Generation X top 10 classic cars of the 1980's for under $40,000.
by: Jeff Sabatini


http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/Generation_X_top_10_classic_cars_of_the_1980s_for_under_40000.aspx

Death Rates on the Rise for Youngest Teenage Drivers.

Death Rates on the Rise for Youngest Teenage Drivers.
Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700
Death Rates on the Rise for Youngest Teenage Drivers.

Deaths rise among youngest drivers
By Larry Copeland, USA TODAY

A report from a national road safety group highlights what could be a troubling trend among young drivers: an increase in fatalities among 16- and 17-year-old drivers after several years of declines in that age group.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-02-15/teen-driving-deaths/53109102/1

Getting Married? Don't Fall For These Money Myths.

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

Getting married? Don't fall for these money myths

What's more mysterious than love? How about personal finance? In honor of Valentine's Day, here's a look at some common myths about marriage and money.

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/Getting_married_Dont_fall_for_these_money_myths.aspx

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/What_Kind_of_Insurance_Fits_Your_Business.aspx

What Kind of Insurance Fits Your Business?

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

McElhinny Insurance Agency Can Protect Your Business

How Safe Is Your Next Car?

How Safe is Your Next Car?
Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

How Safe is Your Next Car?

Top 6 Safest Cars from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/What_To_Do_If_You_Have_a_Homeowners_Insurance_Claim.aspx

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

What To Do If You Have a Homeowners Insurance Claim:
So you thought it was a great idea to have a second floor laundry room – but now there’s a puddle in your hallway and a stream of water flowing down into your family room, on top of your new flat screen TV. Life is full of surprises, but your homeowners insurance shouldn’t be one of them. Your ERIE Agent and claims adjusters are ready to help. And here’s a little extra information to get you started. 

Click on the link above:

Beware of Ice Dams on Your Roof This Winter.

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/Beware_of_Ice_Dams_on_Your_Roof_This_Winter.aspx

Does Your Car Insurance Company Offer Accident Forgivenss? We Do!

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700
Does Your Insurance Company Offer First Accident Forgivenss?  We Do!

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/Does_Your_Car_Insurance_Company_Offer_Accident_Forgiveness_We_Do.aspx

2012 New Years Resolutions

2012 New Years Resolutions

Tim McElhinny, CIC, LUTCF
Partner, McElhinny Insurance Agency LLC
tim@mcelhinny.com
412.650.5700

http://www.mcelhinny.com/blog/2012_New_Years_Resolutions.aspx