Billyard Insurance Group - Richmond Hill - Mehboob Hemani

12/29/2021

It's easy to miss out on ways to save money on your car insurance, so we've made a list of things to ask one of our trusted brokers when shopping for insurance!

1. Find out if you qualify for any discounts
2. Pay in full to save the interest fees
3. Shorten your commute (or consider taking transit or carpooling a few times a week)
4. Obey the law – don't speed, put your phone away, obey traffic signs
5. Use good judgment when lending your car to someone. Your rates can increase if they are in an accident with your vehicle.

11/29/2021

When you are looking for home insurance options, there can be a lot of industry jargon that comes up in the process. Maybe you’ve heard people mention an “all-risk” policy or a “named-perils” policy – what does that even mean? And how does it change your insurance coverage?

First, when we talk about a risk or peril, we are referring to the cause of damage or loss. It could be a fire, basement flood, or falling tree causing damage to your home.

A named-perils policy only covers specific risks which are listed (named) on your policy. It’s a more basic coverage.

The all-risk option provides more comprehensive coverage because it’s assumed to cover all causes of loss – but there are a couple caveats.
1. It may be specific only to your building, your contents, or both.
2. Your policy might have exclusions. You still might not be covered for things such as war, nuclear events, earthquakes, water damage, and simple wear and tear on your property. In some cases, you might be able to add extra coverage for some of these things.

BIG brokers are committed to helping you understand the insurance coverage you are getting so that you can make an informed decision. If you ever have any questions, or want someone to review your policy, contact our BIG team for more information – we are always here to help!

11/12/2021

The US land border is opening up to non-essential travel next week. This long-awaited decision has many adventurers feeling excited, as it opens up a realm of opportunities that hasn’t been available for what feels like forever.

Whether it’s a visit with family, a snowbird vacation, a road trip to an iconic city, or your first run to Target in 18 months (😂), there’s something you should know! Your provincial health insurance might not provide emergency medical coverage when outside of Canada – you need travel insurance.

Having to pay a hefty medical bill due to an injury, illness, or accident could put a significant damper on your trip, not to mention your finances. So, before you head over the border, contact a BIG insurance broker. We have plenty of travel insurance options that will give you peace of mind while you head out on your next adventure. Contact us now!

09/25/2021

Heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and obesity are some of the medical conditions that can increase your life insurance premiums. You don’t have control over all health issues, but practicing good health habits and being mindful of your behaviors can reduce your risk. Follow these tips to get healthy and potentially lower the cost of life insurance!

🏃 Get active. Exercise to get 150 active minutes per week and you not only feel better, you will improve your quality of life.

🥗 Eat better. Eating well to maintain a healthy weight is one of the most important things you can do to lower your risk for Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

🥦 Control cholesterol. High cholesterol leads to plaque buildup in the arteries which puts you at risk for heart disease and stroke.

🥕 Manage blood pressure. High blood pressure is another risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Keeping your blood pressure within healthy ranges can reduce the strain on your heart, arteries, and kidneys which keeps you healthy longer.

🫑 Lose weight. Being overweight can lead to high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, and put you at higher risk for heart attacks. By working to lose weight, you will improve your energy and may pay less for your life insurance premium.

🚭 Don’t smoke. A smoker will pay more for life insurance than a non-smoker. Depending on the insurance carrier, most types of to***co product use will affect your rates. Quitting smoking will improve your health and save you money.

🥬 Reduce blood sugar. Most of the food we consume is turned into blood sugar. We, in turn, use this for energy. While we need that energy, there can be too much. Over time, high levels of blood sugar can put you at risk for heart disease and stroke.

Protecting your family and their financial future with life insurance is a must. Luckily, it doesn’t need to be hard on the pocketbook. Contact a BIG life insurance broker today to get a life insurance quote.

09/09/2021

A major injury resulting from a car accident could significantly impact your lifestyle and finances as you recover. Fortunately, car insurance in Alberta, On...

08/06/2021

We are pleased to announce that we have been recognized by Insurance Business Canada Magazine as a 5-Star Brokerage for 2021! This is awarded to brokerages that exemplify top-tier expertise and excellent client service. It is an honour to be acknowledged for our commitment to continually provide a 5-star experience to new and existing clients.

Congratulations to the whole BIG team on a job well done!

08/06/2021

No one likes to pay more for insurance, right? At BIG we know that sometimes accidents are simply inevitable, even if you are the one at fault. But at-fault ...

07/17/2021

07/10/2021

Are your employees finding the right balance between work and life? With the increase of flexible working hours, the pressure to respond to clients asap, and being tethered to our devices 24/7, it can be a challenge to effectively disconnect from work.

You can’t ‘force’ your employees to disconnect from their devices, but there are things you can do to encourage it. It starts with you! Build a culture, define expectations, and create policies that bring the blurred boundaries back into focus. Your employees will thank you for it, and you’ll likely see increased productivity, too!

Here are some ways to encourage your employees to disconnect outside of work. Share these tips with your employees, colleagues, and fellow business owners!

⏰ Set your email system to only send out at certain times. If something comes to mind at 9 pm and you want to send it out before you forget, it will auto send at a set time, such as 6 am the next morning.

⏰ Implement “do not disturb hours” within your organization.

⏰ Use apps that restrict access to any apps and limit your phone usage. Make exceptions for the people important to you or send out custom autoreplies that let others know when you’ll be back.

⏰ Maximize your office hours. If you feel productive during the day, you are less likely to excuse after-hours work.

⏰ Model it and be consistent. People notice if you are calling in for an unimportant meeting or responding to menial emails while on vacation. They will assume that is what the culture is.

⏰ If there is an emergency, call. If it’s not important to call, it can wait. This alleviates your team from thinking important things happen by email.

07/07/2021

After a car accident, repairs can take days, sometimes weeks to complete, same with vehicle shopping. While you’re waiting for repairs or finding the perfect...

06/23/2021

You're out on the roads more; maybe you have a road trip planned, or a trip to a restaurant 😮

Whether your car is hit in a local parking lot, or far away from home, BIG has a reliable claims service that is there for you 24/7. If you're ever in an accident, once everyone's safety is ensured and it's time to call your insurance, give our claims line a call any day, any time at 1-866-670-0905.

Our team is always here for you and will help you with the claims process so that your life can get back to normal as soon as possible.