Author: Meredith Smith

As we age and reach different milestones in our lives, our insurance needs change. In order to ensure adequate coverage, contact your insurance broker if you’re affected by any of the following life events:

• New home ownership— Purchasing a new home is a big investment—one that you will want to protect. After purchasing a home, ensure that you have homeowners insurance to protect against things like fire, weather damage, theft, vandalism and accidental damage. This advice also holds true if you are buying a new condo or vacation home.
• Home renovations— Once you own a home, you may want to make updates to create a better living space. Be sure to report major home improvements to your insurance company to protect any increased value to your home.
• New children— Having or adopting children is not only a huge life change, but it’s also a major financial commitment. As such, it’s important to purchase the right policy to secure your child’s future. Add your child as a beneficiary on any life insurance policies, and make sure your coverage is sufficient.
• Teenage drivers— Teen drivers often carry the highest risk of auto accidents. While you want your teen driver to remain safe on the road, costly accidents can happen without warning. Consider adding your teen driver to your auto policy, as it is generally cheaper than purchasing a separate policy.
• Retirement—When you retire, you may change residences. If you have more than one home, this is a good time to let your insurance provider know where you plan to spend your time.
• Valuable purchases— A standard homeowners policy has limited coverage for highly valuable items. Supplement purchases and gifts that exceed the policy’s limits with a floater—a separate policy that provides additional insurance.
• Marriage— When your marital status changes, so do your insurance needs. Marriage typically leads to the combination of households, vehicles and other property, so it is critical to update your insurance policies accordingly. What’s more, life insurance is vital to married couples as it can ease the financial burden in the event of an untimely death of a partner. Ask about discounts on car insurance for married policyholders.
• Purchasing or selling a business— If you’re an entrepreneur, there will likely come a time when you will either buy or sell your business. During these times of major change, the proper coverage is crucial.

Insurance is critical for nearly every stage of life. Seeking coverage should be an active process, and individuals shouldn’t assume their insurance needs remain steady over time. Consider contacting your broker today to better understand your insurance and future needs.

This article is intended for informational purposes only and is not intended to be exhaustive, nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as professional advice.

Travel insurance can protect against financial losses if you’re forced to cancel, delay or interrupt your vacation. Let us help determine if this type of coverage is right for you.

What Is Travel Insurance?

Travel insurance can protect against the loss of nonrefundable travel costs, such as airfare, hotel and tour expenses. Some types of travel insurance may offer protection against losses due to medical emergencies, damage to personal property and death, which may occur away from home on vacation.

Major Types of Travel Insurance

Trip cancellation coverage may reimburse you for prepaid travel expenses if you aren’t able to take your trip because
you or a family member becomes ill or dies.

• Travel delay coverage may reimburse you for prepaid expenses if you aren’t able to take your trip because of a travel
  delay, such as a flight delay or cancellation.
• Trip interruption coverage may reimburse you for prepaid expenses if your trip is cut short because you or a family
  member becomes ill or experiences another misfortune listed in the policy. Covered reasons might include bad weather,
  airline strikes, terrorism, bankruptcy, jury duty or damage to your home.
• Emergency medical expense coverage may reimburse you for medical and emergency dental expenses because of an
  illness or injury while you’re traveling.
• Medical evacuation coverage may provide emergency transportation to a hospital near your area of travel or back to a
  hospital near your home.
• Accidental death coverage may be split into three parts:
  ◦ Air flight accident covers death or dismemberment during a flight only.
  ◦ Common carrier covers death or dismemberment while traveling on public transportation, such as a plane, ferry, train,
  bus or taxi.
  ◦ Accidental death covers death or dismemberment at any time during a trip.

The Basics

No travel policy can guarantee your safety when you’re traveling, but knowing you’re covered for medical emergencies or the loss of personal property may help you relax and enjoy your vacation.

In addition to a travel insurance policy, cruise and tour operators may offer cancellation waivers. Read all of the restrictions before you buy a cancellation waiver.

Your vacation may have taken months to plan. Ensure your investment in minutes for nonrefundable losses with a travel insurance policy.

Contact us to learn more about our travel coverage options.

This article is intended for informational purposes only and is not intended to be exhaustive, nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as professional advice.

If you’ve had a fire, water damage, or another unfortunate event in your home, don’t fret. We have all the information that you need to get your claim underway so you can get your life back to normal.

When you have a homeowners insurance claim, your actions can make all the difference. Here’s how to maneuver through the claims process with ease:

• If you were away from your home when the incident occurred, exercise caution when entering your property. If your property has sustained major damage, contact your local government officials to determine how you should proceed.
• Report downed power lines to the utility company, and keep your electricity off if there is standing water in your home.
• If it appears as though it is not safe to be at your home, leave.
• Contact us to report how, when and where the damage occurred. Make a not of the claim handler’s name, telephone number and identification number when you call.
• Protect your home from further damage without putting yourself in danger. This may include boarding up windows and salvaging possessions that did not sustain much damage. Your claim handler can advise you on how to do so safely.
• Prepare a list of damaged or lost items from your home.
• Keep damaged items in your home until the claim handler has come for an inspection. Also, consider documenting the damage with pictures or video.
• Provide receipts for damaged items if you saved them.
• If you need to temporarily relocate, save all you receipts for additional expenses. Your policy may cover you for additional living expenses during this time.
• Once you’ve reported your claim, the claim handler will send you some documents to complete within a specific period of time. Contact us if you have any questions, and return these forms promptly.
• Contact your mortgage lender to notify them of your loss and to discuss potential contractor bids. Your lender may want to inspect a contractor’s job before making a final payment.

Let us help you throughout the process—contact Dimond Bros. Insurance if you have questions or concerns.

This article is intended for informational purposes only and is not intended to be exhaustive, nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as professional advice.

South Carolina Agency Partners with One of the Midwest’s Leading Independent Insurance Organizations

Myrtle Beach, SC – 7/17/2025 – Waccamaw Insurance Services, a trusted independent insurance agency serving the greater Myrtle Beach community, is proud to announce it has officially joined Dimond Bros. Insurance, one of the Midwest’s largest and most respected independent agency organizations.

This strategic partnership brings enhanced resources, carrier access, and expanded services to the South Carolina market while allowing Waccamaw Insurance to retain its local presence and commitment to personalized client service.

Founded in 1867, Dimond Bros. Insurance is headquartered in Paris, Illinois and has grown to over 40 locations across Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. The addition of the Myrtle Beach agency marks an exciting expansion into the Southeast, bringing Dimond Bros.’ commitment to exceptional service and tailored solutions to new communities.

As part of the Dimond Bros. family, Waccamaw Insurance will now offer:

• Access to a broader range of top-rated national and regional insurance carriers.
• Competitive pricing and enhanced coverage options for personal, commercial, and life insurance.
• Back-office support, technology tools, and advanced service capabilities.
• Continued local expertise with the added strength of a larger organization.

About Waccamaw Insurance

Waccamaw Insurance has been serving the Myrtle Beach are with personalized insurance solutions for individuals, families, and businesses for nearly 50 years. Known for its commitment to client relationships and community service, Waccamaw Insurance offers coverage across home, auto, business, and specialty lines.

About Dimond Bros. Insurance

Dimond Bros. Insurance is one of the Midwest’s leading independent insurance agencies providing customized insurance and risk management solutions for individuals, businesses, and communities since 1867. With a strong regional presence and a commitment to local relationships, Dimond Bros. delivers trusted guidance and a superior service at every level.

Vehicle theft has soared in the United States in recent years. In 2023, there were more than 1 million vehicle thefts reported. This equates to roughly one vehicle stolen every 31 seconds in the United States.

To help drivers keep their vehicles safe, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has marked July as National Vehicle Theft Protection Month. NHTSA hopes to increase awareness of the stolen vehicle epidemic during this event, as summers prove to be the worst season for vehicle theft.

According to NHTSA, vehicle theft costs vehicle owners billions of dollars per year.

How to Protect Your Vehicle

Several different types of antitheft systems and devices are designed to make vehicles more difficult to steal as well as easier to trace and recover. Here’s how some of them work:

• Audible and visible devices—Car alarms can deter theft because they call attention to a vehicle should someone try to enter it without a key. Likewise, steering wheel locks and theft-deterrent decals warn a would-be thief to stay away.
• Immobilizing-type devices—This antitheft system makes it nearly impossible for thieves to hot-wire your vehicle.
• Vehicle recovery systems—If your vehicle is stolen and has a vehicle recovery system, law enforcement may be able to tap into it and locate your vehicle.

Additionally, most vehicle thefts are due to simple driver errors, such as leaving the keys in the vehicle. Don’t become a statistic—protect your vehicle and belongings with these safety tips:

• Always take your keys with you, close your windows, lock the doors and park in well-lit areas.
• Never leave valuables in your vehicle, especially where they can be seen. Additionally, avoid leaving the area while your vehicle is running.

What’s Next?

In the unfortunate event that your vehicle is stolen, there are a couple steps you need to take to respond properly:

• Contact the police immediately to file a stolen vehicle report. You’ll need a copy of the police report or a case number to provide to your insurance company. You may be asked to provide your license plate number; the make, model and color of your vehicle; your vehicle identification number (VIN); and any identifying characteristics of the vehicle.
• Contact your insurance company to file a claim no more than 24 hours after discovering your vehicle was stolen.

For more vehicle safety information, contact Dimond Bros. Insurance.

This article is intended for informational purposes only and is not intended to be exhaustive, nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as professional advice.

Fireworks are a staple of many Fourth of July and other celebrations, but to remember to take precautions to ensure your special event is safe and accident-free.

The Risks

Unfortunately, many people do not realize just how dangerous fireworks and sparklers can be—which is a primary reason that injuries occur. Fireworks can not only injure the users, but can also affect bystanders.

Bottle rockets and firecrackers can fly in any direction and may explode on or near someone instead of up in the air. Sparklers are also a huge risk, as they burn at very high temperatures and are often given to children too young to use them safely. All fireworks pose a potential risk of burn, blindness, or other injury.

Tips for Safe Use

When using fireworks, always plan carefully in advance for who will shoot them and what safety precautions you will have in place. Here are some suggestions to ensure safety and avoid accidents:

• Use fireworks and sparklers outdoors only.
• Always have a hose or water bucket handy.
• Only use fireworks as intended. Do not alter or combine them, and do not use homemade fireworks.
• Keep spectators a safe distance away.
• Never give sparklers to young children.
• Wear safety goggles when handling or shooting off fireworks.
• Do not shoot fireworks off if under the influence of alcohol.
• Show children how to properly hold sparklers, how to stay far enough away from other children and what not to do (throw, run, or fight with sparkler in hand)—but supervise closely regardless.
• Point fireworks away from people, homes, trees etc.
• Never try to relight a dud (a firework that didn’t properly ignite).
• Soak all firework debris in water before throwing it away.
• Do not carry fireworks in your pocket or shoot them from metal or glass containers.

This article is intended for informational purposes only and is not intended to be exhaustive, nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as professional advice.