Hilb Group NE - OPI

10/28/2026

Congratulations to Amy Vitale, President of Beacon Mutual Insurance Company, on being named a 2026 Leading Women of Distinction Honoree! 👏

Amy’s impact reaches well beyond the boardroom. From leading the American Heart Association – Rhode Island board and the Go Red for Women Executive Leadership Team, to serving Ocean State Charities Trust, Leadership Rhode Island, and the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, she’s spent years showing up for this community in a big way.

We’re proud to partner with Beacon and to work alongside leaders like Amy who make Rhode Island stronger.

Congratulations to Amy Vitale one of our 2026 Leading Women of Distinction Honorees!

Amy Vitale is the President of Beacon Mutual Insurance Company. She works closely with Beacon’s executive leadership team and Board of Directors to advance the company’s strategic priorities and long-term growth. In addition, she acts as President of the Beacon Foundation, which supports Beacon’s charitable giving program. Amy joined Beacon in 2012 and previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, overseeing corporate, regulatory, and legal affairs. Before joining Beacon, she practiced law at Partridge Snow & Hahn LLP.

Amy is on several boards and committees, Amy is the Trustee and Treasurer of Ocean State Charities Trust, Board President of the American Heart Association - Rhode Island and Member of Go Red for Women Executive Leadership Team. Amy is also a member of the Governor’s Insurance Council, the Providence College Liberal Arts Honors Program Leadership Council, Strategic Planning and Development Committees for Leadership Rhode Island, and a member of the Board of Directors and Government Relations Committee for the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce.

Amy received The Standard's 2026 "Salute to Women in New England Insurance” and RI Lawyer’s Weekly 2019 Excellence in the Law, In-House Award Recipient.

Amy holds degrees from Providence College and The George Washington University Law School. When her nose is not in a book, she enjoys practicing yoga, experimenting in her kitchen, gardening, and spending time outdoors with family and friends and her doodle, Buddy.

On Thursday, October 29, we’ll celebrate the 2026 Leading Women of Distinction at an Awards Breakfast! Purchase tickets at gssne.org/leadingwomen

📷: PhotoByFriday

10/26/2026

💍 That ring in your jewelry box might be worth a lot more than you think.

Ten years ago, gold sold for roughly $1,250 an ounce. Today? Around $4,150. That’s more than triple, and it means the gold chain, wedding band, or heirloom bracelet you insured years ago could now be seriously underinsured.

Here’s the catch most people don’t realize: a standard homeowners policy typically caps jewelry theft coverage at a small amount, often just a few thousand dollars. And if your scheduled items are still listed at their old appraised value, a claim would pay out based on that old number, not what it would cost to replace them today.

A few simple steps can protect you:
✅ Get an updated appraisal on pieces you haven’t had valued in the last few years
✅ Schedule high-value items on a valuable articles policy or rider
✅ Keep photos and receipts somewhere safe (and not in the jewelry box!)

The value of gold has moved. Your coverage should move with it. Give us a call at 401-847-5200 and we’ll help you make sure your valuables are protected at today’s prices.

When’s the last time you had your jewelry appraised? 👇

10/24/2026

🔐 Timing is everything.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and as if on cue, one of the biggest website threats in recent memory just hit. AI tools uncovered serious vulnerabilities in PHP, the programming language behind roughly 70% of websites worldwide. Governments and businesses spent the night patching, and the FBI advised taking sites offline if they couldn’t be updated right away.

We’re pleased to report that our website hosting company got ahead of the curve and protected our site quickly. 👏

The upside? AI found this flaw before the bad actors did. The catch? Within hours of the announcement, attackers were already making millions of attempts to exploit it. When a threat goes public, the race is on, and not every business wins it.

That’s exactly why Cyber Liability Insurance matters. If a breach, data loss, or downtime hits your business, the right coverage can help with recovery costs, legal exposure, and lost income. If you haven’t looked into it yet, now is a good time.

📞 Questions? Call us at 401-847-5200.

📰 Read the full story: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/ai-discovered-a-software-vulnerability-that-could-impact-70-of-websites-worldwide-the-rush-is-on-to-patch-it

Is your business covered if your website goes down tomorrow? 🤔

Governments and corporations worked throughout the night to update software.

10/21/2026

Pink power, Hilb Group style! 💗

Last Wednesday, October 14th, our team celebrated our third annual regional Pink Out Day in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Every one of our New England offices dressed head-to-toe in pink and made a donation to a local charity of their choice.

Here in Rhode Island, our offices proudly supported the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation, whose work brings hope, healing, and real support to so many families right here in our community.

Three years in, this is still one of our favorite days on the calendar. A huge thank you to our team for showing up (in pink!) for such an important cause. 🎀

Who else is going pink this October? Share your photos with us below! 👇

10/15/2026

🎃 Decorations Up? Time for a Safety Walk-Through 👻

If your home is already looking properly haunted, nice work! Before the trick-or-treaters arrive, grab a coffee and take a slow lap around the house with fresh eyes. A few minutes now can prevent a real scare later.

🕯️ Swap real candles in jack-o’-lanterns for LEDs
🌽 Keep hay, cornstalks, and paper décor away from lights and heat
🔌 Use outdoor-rated cords, check for fraying, and keep them off walkways
🚶 Light the path and clear anything a masked visitor could trip on
🌬️ Recheck stakes on inflatables and tall props after windy days

A few minutes now can prevent a real scare later.

Show us your setup! 👇

10/12/2026

🔒 Think complex password rules keep your business (or bank account) safe? Think again!

Modern cybersecurity guidelines prioritize length over complexity and recommend ditching forced periodic resets. Strong passphrases + MFA = better defense.

Cyber risk management is constantly evolving, and leading security institutions like NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) have updated password best practices:

❌ Old way: Short, complex passwords like “P@ssw0rd!”

✅ New way: Long passphrases of 15+ characters, like “SeedsInTheBreezeFlowersByTrees”

❌ Old way: Required symbols, numbers, and capitals

✅ New way: Length matters more, and new passwords get checked against lists of known breached passwords

🛡️ Protect your business against data breaches and operational downtime. Contact the cyber risk advisors at The Hilb Group today to review your coverage and risk posture 👉 https://www.opi.hilbgroupne.com/business-insurance/cyber-liability-insurance/

The Hilb Group (formerly OceanPoint Insurance,) a RI insurance agency, offers Cyber Liability Insurance from a selection of the top-performing insurance carriers. Call: 401.847.5200

10/09/2026

🔒 October is National Crime Prevention Month, and if you’re of a certain vintage, you probably remember how it got its mascot. 🐾 McGruff the Crime Dog was created in 1980, and his “take a bite out of crime” motto went on to show up in cartoons, commercials, songs, coloring books and plenty of marketing campaigns. The National Crime Prevention Council was founded in 1982, and in 1984 the U.S. Postal Service even put McGruff and his slogan on a stamp.

Here’s the twist, though: most break-ins don’t look like the movies.

There’s no masked figure at midnight. It’s usually broad daylight, while you’re at work, and the “tool” of choice is an unlocked door or a window left cracked open. Many thieves just knock first, and if no one answers, they walk right in.

A few simple habits make your home a lot less appealing:
✅ Lock doors and windows, even when you’re “just running out for a minute”
✅ Put exterior lights on timers or motion sensors
✅ Add exterior cameras or a video doorbell; just being visible is a deterrent
✅ Don’t announce vacations on social media until you’re back
✅ Grab packages quickly, or have them held or delivered to a locker
✅ Keep a photo inventory of your valuables (future-you will be grateful)

What’s your go-to home security habit? Share it below 👇

10/05/2026

🚗📱 Drivers use their phones MORE when they're speeding, not less.

A new IIHS study of nearly 600,000 real-world trips found phone handling rises the further drivers go over the limit, and the effect is strongest on highways. AT 70 mph, every extra 5 mph meant a 9% jump in phone use.

At 75+ mph, a two-second glance at a text means you've traveled more than 200 feet without looking at the road. Speed and distraction are each dangerous on their own. Together, they leave you almost no margin for error.

Phone down, eyes up. 👀

🔗 Learn more: https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/drivers-use-their-cellphones-more-when-speeding-telematics-data-show

If you have any questions about your auto coverage, please call us at 401-847-5200 or request a quote; we love answering questions about insurance 😄

Drivers are more likely to use their cellphones while speeding, an IIHS analysis of data collected by insurers’ safe-driving apps shows. 

10/02/2026

🏛️ New Rhode Island 2026 Insurance Laws: What They Mean for You

The General Assembly has passed several changes that affect your auto, home, and condo coverage. Here's the plain-English rundown:

🚗 Total Loss Threshold Is Going Up. Your insurer now has to see damage reach 85% of the vehicle's value (up from 80%) before declaring it a total loss. You still have the right to call it a total loss yourself once damage hits 75%. If your car is in that gray zone after an accident, give us a call before you decide. That choice can make a real difference in how your claim plays out.

🛡️ Under-Insured Motorist Property Damage Coverage. Insurers must now offer this coverage, which helps pay for damage to your vehicle when the at-fault driver doesn't carry enough insurance. It's optional, so it's worth asking us whether it makes sense for you.

🏠 More Notice on Non-Renewals. If your homeowners or dwelling policy isn't being renewed, your insurer now has to tell you at least 60 days in advance, giving you more time to find the right replacement coverage.

🏢 Condo Owners, Stay Tuned. A 16-member House and Senate study commission will review Rhode Island's condominium laws, including insurance requirements and association governance. Changes could follow.

📋 Behind the Scenes. Insurance companies must now give agents 180 days' notice before changing compensation terms, which adds stability to the agent–carrier relationship.

Read more 👉 https://www.iiari.com/2026-rhode-island-legislative-update/

Questions about how any of this affects your policy? That's what we're here for. Call us at 401-847-5200.

Key Legislative Highlights Producer Licensing Act-Contract Modification This legislation was filed at IIARI’s request and was signed into law by the governor on 6/19/26. The newly amended law clarifies that […]

09/30/2026

The rain has finally stopped. ☔➡️🍂

Coincidentally, this September was the 3rd wettest since records began, and now it's time to look at the debris in the yard and around the house. We hate to say this... but now is an ideal time to prep your home for winter. 🥶

🍂 Clear gutters and downspouts
🌳 Check trees for weakened limbs
🚿 Shut off outdoor faucets and store hoses
🔥 Service your chimney and furnace
🚨 Test smoke and CO detectors

Full 7-point checklist 👉 https://www.opi.hilbgroupne.com/ri-homeowners-insurance/7-point-home-fall-maintenance-check-list/

Questions about your coverage? Call us at 401-847-5200.

Check these seven items off your to-do list, and you can rest easy knowing that you have prepared your home and yard for the winter season.