Ashley Tol, SIG Commercial and Personal Insurance Agent

08/26/2026

A hail claim can get expensive faster than many property owners expect.

From an office operations and client service standpoint, this is one of the moments where policy details matter long before a storm arrives.

People commonly assuma that a 2% deductible means 2% of the repair bill. In many cases, it is actually based on the insured value or coverage limit.

Then other policy provisions may come into play, like actual cash value roof settlement, depreciation, coinsurance, and separate deductibles across multiple properties.

For owners with rental homes or mixed property schedules, one storm can turn into a much larger out-of-pocket cost than expected.

That is why I encourage property owners to look beyond premium alone and understand how coverage is structured across each location. Protection works better when it is paired with strategy.

Our latest article walks through a clear example of how these costs can add up after a hail claim.

Read the full article here:
https://www.sherlockgroup.com/blog/lower-premium-can-cost-more-percentage-deductibles-oklahoma-north-texas



A hail claim can get expensive faster than many property owners expect.

From an office operations and client service standpoint, this is one of the moments where policy details matter long before a storm arrives.

A common assumption is that a 2% deductible means 2% of the repair bill. In many cases, it is actually based on the insured value or coverage limit.

Then other policy provisions may come into play, like actual cash value roof settlement, depreciation, coinsurance, and separate deductibles across multiple properties.

For owners with rental homes or mixed property schedules, one storm can turn into a much larger out-of-pocket cost than expected.

That is why I encourage property owners to look beyond premium alone and understand how coverage is structured across each location. Protection works better when it is paired with strategy.

Our latest article walks through a clear example of how these costs can add up after a hail claim.

Read the full article here:
https://www.sherlockgroup.com/blog/lower-premium-can-cost-more-percentage-deductibles-oklahoma-north-texas

08/21/2026

One of the most overlooked commercial auto exposures starts with a simple assumption: “Their personal auto policy will handle it.”

Sometimes it won’t.

If an employee uses their own vehicle for business errands, client visits, deliveries, or picking up supplies, there may be a gap between what their personal policy covers and what your business is actually exposed to.

That matters when a claim names the company, not just the driver.

Personal auto insurance is built for personal use. Once business use enters the picture, coverage questions can get complicated fast—especially around liability, hired and non-owned auto exposure, and whether your commercial policy is structured to respond.

This is where risk management needs to lead the conversation, not assumptions.

If your team ever drives their own vehicles for work, it’s worth reviewing how that exposure shows up in your insurance program, your policies, and your internal vehicle-use rules.

https://www.sherlockgroup.com/

If this is a live issue for your business, let’s start with the exposure first and work toward a solution that fits.

08/18/2026

A property claim can fix walls, floors, and equipment.

But what covers payroll, rent, loan payments, and other ongoing expenses if your business has to close for days or weeks?

That’s where business income coverage can matter.

For small business owners, a shutdown after a fire, storm, or other covered loss can create two problems at once: physical damage and lost revenue. Property insurance may help repair the space, but business income coverage is designed to help with the income your business would have earned while operations are paused.

It can also help business owners think more clearly about continuity. How long could your business operate if sales stopped tomorrow but bills kept coming?

This is a good reminder to review your coverage strategy before you need it. A policy that looks fine on paper may leave gaps when downtime affects cash flow.

If you want to talk through how this coverage works and whether it fits your business, I’m always glad to have that conversation.

https://www.sherlockgroup.com/

08/14/2026

Why is it called **inland marine insurance** if you don’t own a boat?

It’s a fair question.

And it’s one I hear from business owners all the time.

Inland marine coverage generally has less to do with water and more to do with **property that moves**.

Think:

* Tools traveling between job sites
* Equipment stored temporarily at a project
* Materials waiting to be installed
* Mobile equipment used across multiple locations
* Valuable property transported in company vehicles

For contractors, tradesmen, and other businesses that regularly move equipment or materials, this can be an important coverage to understand.

A standard commercial property policy is often built around property located at a specific insured premises.

But your business doesn’t always stay inside four walls.

What happens when a $20,000 piece of equipment is stolen from a job site?

What if tools are damaged while being transported?

What if materials waiting to be installed are destroyed before they ever make it into the building?

That’s where inland marine coverage can help fill important gaps.

The name comes from the history of insuring cargo and goods in transit. Today, the bigger question is much simpler:

**Where does your property go after it leaves your building?**

At **Sherlock Insurance Group**, we look at how a business actually operates, not just what appears on an application.

Because your coverage strategy should follow your property wherever your business takes it.

**Ashley Tol**
Sherlock Insurance Group
Commercial Property & Casualty

https://www.sherlockgroup.com/

08/11/2026

Most business owners don’t discover the gap between ACV and RCV until after a loss.

That’s a costly time to learn the difference.

Actual Cash Value (ACV) pays based on the depreciated value of damaged property. Replacement Cost Value (RCV) pays what it costs to replace that property today, subject to policy terms and conditions.

On paper, the difference can look minor.

In a claim, it can mean the difference between restoring operations quickly or absorbing a significant out-of-pocket expense.

If your building, equipment, or contents are insured on an ACV basis, depreciation comes straight into the settlement calculation. Older assets may be hit especially hard.

RCV usually provides broader protection, but it also needs to be structured correctly. Valuations, coinsurance requirements, endorsements, and policy limits all matter.

This is why I tell business owners not to focus only on premium.

A lower-cost policy that settles on ACV may create a much bigger financial problem when you need it most.

If you haven’t reviewed how your property is valued, now is the time. Coverage language matters long before a claim happens.



https://www.sherlockgroup.com

08/04/2026

Most business owners don’t discover the gap between ACV and RCV until after a loss.

That’s a costly time to learn the difference.

Actual Cash Value (ACV) pays based on the depreciated value of damaged property. Replacement Cost Value (RCV) pays what it costs to replace that property today, subject to policy terms and conditions.

On paper, the difference can look minor.

In a claim, it can mean the difference between restoring operations quickly or absorbing a significant out-of-pocket expense.

If your building, equipment, or contents are insured on an ACV basis, depreciation comes straight into the settlement calculation. Older assets may be hit especially hard.

RCV usually provides broader protection, but it also needs to be structured correctly. Valuations, coinsurance requirements, endorsements, and policy limits all matter.

This is why I tell business owners not to focus only on premium.

A lower-cost policy that settles on ACV may create a much bigger financial problem when you need it most.

If you haven’t reviewed how your property is valued, now is the time. Coverage language matters long before a claim happens.

Independent insurance agency delivering business-first risk strategies, commercial P&C, ACA-compliant group health, and personal coverage from 100+ highly rated carriers.

07/01/2026

Selling a commercial policy is one thing but, what about the inspection and the audits?! It’s important to finale an experienced agency to help with everything that can come AFTER the sale also.

Now is the best time to shop your business insurance! The market has opened up. 💰

Contact us for your no obligation consultation 📧 📱

12/15/2025

Shopping Commercial Insurance? Don’t forget your loss runs 📄📊

Carriers need loss runs to review your claims history and provide accurate quotes.
No loss runs = delays, limited options, or higher pricing ⏳💰

Having them ready helps speed things up and avoids surprises ✅

12/03/2025

More helpful, informative videos from us to you!

02/25/2025

Haven’t posted in a while. This whole team has been staying busy helping people and businesses navigate insurance in these crazy times! Let’s keep it going #2025