Morgenstern Insurance

09/03/2026

Celebrating 2 years with Brekke! 🎉

Two years ago, Brekke joined the Morgenstern family, and she's spent every one of them helping our clients build benefits packages that don't just check boxes... they actually resonate with the employees who use them.

We asked Brekke to share a bit about what she does:

Q: What's your favorite part of the job?
A: "My favorite part of my role is helping employees understand their benefits package and how to effectively utilize the resources available to them. Benefits can often be complex or unfamiliar, so I enjoy providing clear guidance and support to both the employer and their employees."

Q: What's your best advice for employers?
A: "Keep an open mind when considering creative approaches to employee benefit packages. The willingness to be open to new and creative solutions allows us to think strategically, challenge traditional approaches, and identify opportunities that may better serve both employees and the organization."

Congratulations on 2 years, Brekke, and thank you for everything you bring to the Morgenstern team and our clients. 👏

Learn more about Brekke: https://www.morgensterninsurance.com/about

09/01/2026

September is Life Insurance Awareness Month and a new IA article puts the numbers in sharp focus.

According to LIMRA research cited in the piece:

➡️ Nearly 100 million American adults say they need more life insurance than they currently have.
➡️ When consumers were asked to estimate the monthly cost of a policy, only 10% got it right.
➡️ 92% of consumers researched life insurance online in 2025 but only half of U.S. adults own it.

The gap isn't awareness. It's cost misconception.

If it's been years since you looked at life insurance, or you've never really looked at all, this is a good month to find out what coverage actually costs for your family.

Read the full article: https://www.iamagazine.com/2026/08/24/4-ways-to-bridge-the-life-insurance-coverage-gap/

Why coverage gaps persist and how certain products can help guide more effective strategies to address them.

08/25/2026

A quick look at what we actually do on the Personal Insurance side.

Most people think their broker just gets them a quote and hopes for the best. We do more than that, especially heading into hurricane season. A Personal Insurance review with us covers:

→ Dwelling limit vs. actual rebuild cost
→ Flood exposure
→ Hurricane deductible reality-check
→ Umbrella liability
→ Auto & valuables gaps

It takes about 20 minutes. It could save you tens of thousands. Let's schedule a call before the season peaks: https://www.morgensterninsurance.com/

08/21/2026

Celebrating 3 years with Matt Ceracchi! 🎉

Three years ago, Matt joined the Morgenstern family, and he's spent every one of them building the kind of deep, strategic client relationships that set our benefits work apart.

We asked Matt to share a bit about what he does:

Q: What's your favorite part of the job?
A: "My favorite part of the job is building more than just a client relationship - it’s building trust and gaining a true understanding of the company and its people. By staying connected with clients throughout the year, not just during open enrollment, you develop a much stronger relationship and a deeper understanding of their goals, challenges, and needs. That allows us to move beyond simply being transactional and become a true strategic partner. To me, that’s where we can provide the most value - being there consistently, understanding the business, and helping develop strategies that benefit both the company and its employees."

Q: What's your best advice for clients?
A: "For the upcoming plan year, let's dig deeper into strategy and employee education. When employees understand their benefits and know how to use what's available to them, they get more value from what they're already paying for. A strong benefits strategy isn't just about finding the lowest cost. It's about making sure everyone involved gets the most value from the plan."

Congratulations on 3 years, Matt, and thank you for everything you bring to our family and our clients. 👏

Learn more about Matt: https://www.morgensterninsurance.com/about

08/19/2026

Did you know? Your hurricane deductible probably isn't a flat dollar amount... it's a percentage of your home's insured value.

This is one of the biggest surprises we see homeowners deal with after a storm. Your regular deductible might be $1,000 or $2,500. But when a named storm hits, a separate hurricane deductible kicks in - typically 2%, 5%, or even 10% of your dwelling coverage limit.

A quick example: on a home insured for $400,000 with a 5% hurricane deductible, you're paying $20,000 out of pocket before your policy pays a dime.

Two questions worth answering before a storm forms:
→ Do you know what your hurricane deductible is?
→ Do you have that amount accessible if you needed it tomorrow?

Not sure? That's exactly the kind of thing we help clients think through. Give us a call. 585-416-4100

08/14/2026

Hurricanes cause two kinds of damage: wind and water. Your homeowners policy only covers one of them.

3 things most homeowners don't know about flood insurance:

→ Standard homeowners policies exclude flood damage entirely. Not a sub-limit. Not a deductible situation. Excluded. If floodwater damages your home during a storm, you're paying out of pocket unless you have a separate flood policy.

→ You don't have to live in a "flood zone" to flood. More than 25% of NFIP flood claims come from properties outside high-risk zones. If it can rain, it can flood.

→ There's a 30-day waiting period. You can't buy a flood policy the week a storm is forming and expect coverage. Most policies take 30 days to become active, which is why now is the time.

Not sure if you have flood coverage? We can find out in five minutes. Better to check now than after.

08/10/2026

A huge congratulations to Jillian on her promotion to Senior Coordinator of Client Services! 🎉

Jillian brings a truly unique perspective to helping our clients understand their coverage and make smart choices. Her promotion is well earned, and we couldn't be prouder to have her in the Morgenstern family.

Congratulations, Jillian! 👏

Learn more about Jillian: https://www.morgensterninsurance.com/about

08/06/2026

Some good news heading into peak hurricane season... but it comes with an important caveat.

On July 8, Colorado State University revised its 2026 Atlantic hurricane forecast downward, now predicting just 9 named storms and only 1 major hurricane (down from 13 and 2 in their April forecast). NOAA is expected to update its own outlook. The reason: a strengthening El Niño is creating hostile conditions for tropical development.

But here's the catch every coastal resident needs to remember: it only takes one.

Some of the most devastating hurricanes in U.S. history (Andrew in 1992 and Charley in 2004) happened during "quiet" seasons. Peak activity runs mid-August through October, and preparation doesn't get easier the closer we get to a named storm.

Now is the time for a pre-season coverage review and we're here to help.

Read the full forecast update: https://weather.com/2026/07/08/storms/hurricane/2026-atlantic-hurricane-season-outlook-csu-july-el-nino

Here's a look at the latest number of storms, hurricanes and major hurricanes expected this year by CSU forecasters.

08/03/2026

Welcome to the Morgenstern family, Gretchen!

Gretchen Ladiges is joining Morgenstern Insurance & Benefits as our new Benefits Enrollment Specialist. Fresh off earning her New York Accident & Health license, she's ready to help clients navigate their employee benefits with friendly, responsive service.

So glad to have you with us, Gretchen! 🎉

Learn more about her and meet the rest of us: https://www.morgensterninsurance.com/about

07/28/2026

A quick look at what we actually do on the commercial side.

Most business owners think a commercial broker just shops carriers at renewal. We do that, but it's a fraction of the work.
The rest of what we do:

✅ Risk assessment - identifying exposures you may not even know exist (cyber, EPLI, business interruption, contractual liability)
✅ Coverage design - building a program that actually fits your business, not just what the carrier wants to sell
✅ Claims advocacy - being in your corner when something goes wrong, not handing you a phone number
✅ Mid-term strategy - when your business changes (new hires, new locations, new contracts), your coverage should too

A good commercial broker should make you feel like you finally understand your insurance - not more confused than before.

Curious what a second opinion on your current program looks like? Let's talk: (585) 416-4100