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Lakeside Insurance Brokers Blog

All You Ever Wanted to Know About Insurance

Is Life Insurance on Your New Year Resolutions List? It Should Be!

Lakeside Insurance Broker's Five Ways Life Insurance Brings Peace of Mind The majority of us are aware we need life insurance but may not be sure how much, or if it’s within our budget. Life insurance has helped people...

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Maximize the Impact of Charitable Donations

The holiday season certainly brings out our benevolent and generous spirit, with Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve being the most popular time of year for donations. Many Americans find it easier to donate at the end...

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The gift of time could be the best gift of all this holiday season

For many, the holiday season is a time for celebration and fun with loved ones. But for others in Minnesota, the season can be one of the loneliest times of the year. At Lakeside Insurance Brokers, we know how precious...

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The Christmas tree conundrum: real or fake?

The kind of tree that adorns a person’s home during the holidays can provoke debate as much as Coke vs. Pepsi or Chevy vs. Ford. When it comes to Christmas trees, do you choose live or artificial? Do you cut your own at...

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Cyber Monday Shopping and Safety Tips

Shoppers who braved the malls on Black Friday might have risked some pushing and shoving, but not a lot more. Those taking part in Cyber Monday run the risk of having their identities stolen. The risk is greater because...

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The Value of an Independent Insurance Agent

Let's face it, insurance is confusing and can be a complex subject. The right insurance coverage is about more than choosing the right insurance company. It's about selecting coverage that fits your specific needs. An...

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Add some strategy to your Black Friday shopping

If there’s anything more satisfying than melting into the couch following a multi-course Thanksgiving dinner complete with all the fixings, it has to be shopping for the best deals of the season the day after in the...

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Winter Travel Safety

With winter comes many festivities and gatherings of friends and family required increased travel, usually in poor weather conditions. We have some reminders and safety tips from the Minnesota Department of Public...

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Five tips for selecting, installing, and maintaining your furnace filter

Shorter days, blowing leaves, and cooler temperatures are reminders that winter is coming. If you’re like me, you’re scrambling to get your “To Do” list completed. Raking leaves, painting house trim, and cleaning out...

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Make Your House a Haven for Trick-or-Treaters

Halloween is one of the fall season’s most treasured holidays. Kids love to dress up, get together with friends, and go door-to-door in search of the biggest and best goodies. If your neighborhood tends to be teeming...

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Do You Need Umbrella Insurance?

One of the most certain things in life is uncertainty. Your dog could bite the neighbor’s kid. Your teen driver could hit a cyclist. A guest could fall down your stairs. A rainy morning commute on worn-out tires could...

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Three Ways a Pool May Affect Your Homeowners Insurance

That oh-so-covetable experience of taking a dip in your very own pool? Millions of American households enjoy it, at least when the weather’s nice. With the summer heat ratcheting up, you may be coming down with a...

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The Latest Car Safety Features Could Lead to Insurance Discounts

Do you love the new car smell or the shine of new paint? Buying a car can be exciting and stressful at the same time. Negotiations and paperwork can lead to many hours spent at a car dealership. Learning about the new...

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3 Insurance Considerations When Tying the Knot

Wedding bells signal a new start to your life together. But once the champagne is popped and the cake is cut, what’s next? As you settle into life as a newly married couple, it’s a good idea to contact your insurance...

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The Importance of Cooperation in Workers' Comp Claims

When an employee makes a claim for workers’ compensation benefits, it’s imperative that the claim be reported timely. An adjuster’s job is to work quickly and efficiently to gather facts surrounding the accident. The...

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Pet Medical Insurance

Lakeside Insurance Brokers now offers medical insurance for cats and dogs. If you haven’t heard any buzz about pet insurance yet, chances are you’ll be hearing more in the near future. In recent years, pet medical...

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Protecting Your Construction Site From Fire, Water and Theft

Long after the workday ends, risks continue at construction sites, as fire, theft and water can cause significant property damage and can potentially delay project timelines and impact budgets. The presence of...

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The History of Labor Day

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions...

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Why do I need car insurance if I don't own a car?

A growing number of individuals today choose not to own an automobile. Auto loans and the costs of maintaining a vehicle aren't appealing to them. With a number of alternative modes of transportation, like trains, buses,...

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10 Tips to Help Your College Student Rent an Apartment

As college students search for independence, a new challenge for this school year could be renting an apartment. If you’ve been down this road before, you know renting an apartment for a college student can be stressful....

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Easy to Forget Cleaning Projects

As a busy homeowner, it's easy to fall into the trap of pushing off tasks that maintain the long-term value of your home in favor of more pressing problems. That’s OK, to a point, as certain house-cleaning projects...

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Heading to Sturgis?

Whether you’re taking your Harley and heading across country, or just hitting the back roads, we want you to be safe on the roads this summer. Here are a few top tips:No one is too old to wear a helmet A motorcycle ...

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Heavy Rain? Be on the Lookout for Heavy Damage

Your home protects you from the elements, but heavy rains can weaken that protection. With a little maintenance and a lot of vigilance, it’s not hard to stay safe and dry. Spring rainstorms are a fact of life in many...

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How Business Insurance Covers Your Risks

Business insurance can be complex, and it takes an experienced insurance agent to help you get the right commercial coverage for your business. You need an agent who can service not just one portion of your business...

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Why Does Homeowners Insurance Exclude Certain Dog Breeds?

If you’re a dog lover, you probably look at your dog and think warm fuzzy thoughts. Your insurance company, on the other hand, probably sees danger signs.This is especially true if the dog’s breed happens to be...

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Caught outside in a lighting storm? Here's what to do!

As many golfers and other outdoors enthusiasts can attest, thunderstorms can often strike with little to no warning, especially during the warmer months of the year. The lightning strikes that accompany these...

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Caring for Your Precious Possessions

We all remember the day we received our diamond engagement ring, those sapphire earrings for a special birthday or the emerald pendant gifted to us by our family. Those items are near and dear to our hearts, so they...

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Help Your Dog Love Apartment Living

Apartment living can have many advantages: low maintenance, close to work and entertainment, and ease of changing residence. But, if you’re a dog owner, apartment living can present some difficulties. You probably won’t...

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Why are car insurance rates rising?

The reality is car insurance rates are rising and there is not much we can do about it. Here are a few reasons why:1. More cars on the road2. More technology in cars means they are more expensive to repair and/or...

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I want to drive for Uber or Lyft. Am I covered?

The simple answer: probably not. Most personal auto insurance policies excludes vehicles being used as "public or livery conveyance" such as taxis or ride-sharing services. We call this a "gap in coverage". When are you...

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Look Before You Lock - Never Leave Kids or Pets in Cars as the Weather Warms Up

We've all been guilty of it once or twice, we're only running in "just for a minute" and we leave our pets and/or kids in the car. As the weather warms up, it takes less than 10 minutes for the inside temperature of...

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Insurance for Your Construction Business

- After years of experience working with construction companies, from the small general contractor to regional entities, we know that protecting your business from risk requires a deep understanding of the industry. No...

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Oh Hail No! Storm season is here, which means the fear of hail!

Hail is one of the most destructive types of weather. Every year, hail causes a wide variety of damage to homes, vehicles and businesses across the country. Without proper training, assessing hail damage can be...

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What a Mom Really Want on Mother's Day

Motherhood - the best job around. It's also the most thankless and hardest thing you've ever done. But what each mom wants on Mother's Day is different. Some want the day off WITHOUT their children and spouse needing...

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General Liability Insurance - what's covered and what's not

As a small business owner, you have a lot on your plate — everything from accounting, marketing, and sales to product development, inventory, and hiring. With all of this to manage day to day, details like liability...

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Self-Driving Cars: Who is liable in an accident?

A recent article in the USA Today highlighted the insurance questions many have involving self-driving cars. The article stemmed from an incident involving a Tesla Model X and Phoenix police motorcycle last week. Here's...

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Young and Single? You still need insurance.

We love this picture of Rickie Fowler from the 2016 Ryder Cup because it shows what it's like to be single around coupled or married friends. You've graduated from college, have your first job and either renting on your...

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Don't Get Tricked by These Identity Theft Tax Scams

Is tax season your favorite time of year? Do you enjoy filling out those forms? The answer for most of us is a resounding "NO!" If your filing isn't complicated or you're getting a large refund, however, tax time may...

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Insurance Tips for College Graduates

Graduation season is nearing and with that comes the freedom and independence of being an adult. Part of "adulting" is making your own decisions – including financial ones like insurance. The topic of insurance can be...

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Spring Home Maintenance Tips

The weather is starting to warm up and the snow is almost gone. And with today being the first official day of spring, it seems fitting we start thinking about spring home maintenanceAfter a long winter, it is a good...

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Tips to Protect Your Family and Home During Spring Break Travels

For many, spring break is the light at the end of the tunnel. After enduring months of snow and cold, people can’t wait to get away. For families travelling somewhere warm, such as Mexico, Jamaica, or the Bahamas, a...

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9-Volt Battery Safety

9-volt batteries power our smoke alarms, household items and toys. They can be found in most homes, but these batteries can be a fire hazard if not stored safely or disposed of properly. The ProblemThe positive and...

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Don't Get Nailed - How to Avoid Home Improvement Scams

With the strange weather lately we've experienced warmer temps, heavy rains and even tornadoes! You may have damage to fix or just want to make overall improvements. Finding a contractor and vendors can be a headache,...

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Which Home Alarms Do You Need?

Technology has made home alarms of all kinds — from security to smoke, radon to radiation — more accessible than ever. Many of them can be configured to work together, and some even alert you to trouble through your...

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Managing Liquor Liability Risks

You likely expect guests and patrons to come to your restaurant or hotel to eat a meal, celebrate a holiday or wedding, or get together with friends to watch a game. Part of that experience may include enjoying beer,...

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Car Shopping With Safety in Mind

You’ve heard all the talk about driverless cars. Yet we’re still years away from living in a world where you can just tell your car where to go and then kick back and relax with a book or your phone.Even still,...

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Choosing an Insurance Agent: It's Not Just a Quote, It's a Relationship

Shopping for insurance? You may think you’re simply looking for an insurance policy. But, perhaps, what you’re really looking for isn’t a what but a who: Someone you can trust to guide you through the plethora of...

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Take Stock of Your Stuff: How To Do a Home Inventory

What is a home inventory, you ask? Once created, it will be the most valuable item in your house. Did you get a great gift for the holidays? Maybe a diamond ring, a new musical instrument or a beautiful watch? All of...

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Why is my house insured for more (or less) than the market value?

When reviewing homeowners insurance quotes with our clients, we often get asked, "Why is my house insured for more (or less) than the market value?" So, what's the deal? The answer: replacement cost. Replacement Cost vs....

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Tips to Save on Home Heating Costs

It’s no secret winters in the Midwest are frigid - and the next few days here will be COLD. Keep the chill outside by following these helpful tips to reduce your energy bills without sacrificing comfort.Make your home...

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7 Driving Habits That Are Bad for Your Car

No matter how safe you are behind the wheel, you’ve probably done things like: Shift into drive while the car is still rolling backward. Ride the brakes on steep hills. Roll into the gas station on empty. Guilty? If so,...

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Have some new jewelry in the house? Protect it!

Have some new jewelry in the house? Protect it! - It’s exciting to receive jewelry from a loved one — or to give it as a gift. Not to mention romantic. But if you’re lucky enough to have some new jewelry in your home...

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18 Winter Preparation Tips for Car Owners

The brisk air and flurries may have some drivers dreading the roads this winter season, while others are so accustomed to the weather that driving in the snow is now second nature.Regardless of your driving experience...

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