The Merriam Insurance Agency

What could be more enjoyable than an afternoon on the water—the wind in your hair, the warm sun on your face and the cool spray on your skin? Top it off with a little fishing, swimming or even water skiing, and it makes for great times with family and friends. Yet boating safety sometimes takes a backseat during summer outings, as every year thousands of Americans are killed or injured and millions of dollars of property is damaged from boating accidents. Most of these accidents are preventable with just a few simple precautions. To prevent your cruise from taking a wrong turn, check out these boating rules every boater should know and follow. Don’t drink and boat Many boaters would never consider drinking alcohol while driving a car, but are more casual about drinking an adult beverage while behind the wheel of a boat. However, drinking and boating can be just as dangerous as drinking and driving. In fact, it is still drinking and driving! Here are some important facts about drinking and boating to keep in mind: Operating a boat under the influence of alcohol (BUI) is illegal in all 50 states—and can also be a federal crime. In most states the legal limit for operating a boat is .08 percent blood alcohol level, the same as the limit for driving under the influence (DUI). Your best bet if you plan to get behind the wheel of a boat, car or any other vehicle is to just not drink. [...]

Spring is coming, it doesn’t have a choice! Daylight will last longer and milder temperatures will be here. Many of us get set in our ways and settle into less healthy routines during the winter months. We go to work, we go home, we sit to eat and watch TV. I know I am guilty of that. But with sunshine, comes energy! So let’s all get motivated to become and stay active. Here are some ways to start: Begin with activities you enjoy. What do you like to do if you have a whole weekend with nothing planned and the weather is nice? Do you enjoy walking? Almost any activity can include a good walk. How about biking with your family on the local bike path? Both of these activities can help boost your energy and mood—and help you stay healthy. Give yourself a 30-day challenge. Think of something new to do for 30 days and mark it on the calendar. This will help you be accountable to yourself! It could be something simple, like taking the dog for a longer walk or a bike ride with your kids. Choose something that will keep you moving for at least 30 consecutive minutes each day. Elevating your heart rate is so important! A lifestyle change can begin with 30 consecutive days. Once you’ve tried out your new active habit for 30 days, review your progress. Was this a feasible change? Is it something you’d like to do long-term? Make adjustments to […]

If I told you that every hour spent online—responding to emails, researching for work or pleasure and even searching restaurant reviews—significantly increases your risk of identity theft or impersonation, would you believe me? I did not always have this dire-sounding opinion. Although I have had my debit card compromised a few times, I never had trouble getting the money put back into my account or getting a new card. I know some people have had their identities or banking information stolen to the point where they could not even pay their bills, but those stories lacked a personal connection. It seemed far-fetched, like something that would never happen to me. My naivety changed when I heard the following stories first-hand. I am now convinced this problem has come to all households, small businesses, and non-profits across America. Today I want to tell you how you can prevent this from happening to you. But first, these are three of the stories that brought this exposure home for me. The bookkeeper of a local small business with about 25 employees received a terse email from the CEO, asking him to wire several thousand dollars. The bookkeeper started setting up the transfer of funds. Only when he happened to personally speak with the CEO did he discover this request was a scam. Interestingly, this exact same situation took place in a small local non-profit as well. Similarly, an employee of a 40-person company received an email, purportedly from his CEO, asking him to […]