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Last month's New Year celebrations had good cause; we have a chance to be grateful for the years behind us as we look forward to the years ahead. Chances are, as we clinked champagne glasses with friends and family, the idea of not being around to celebrate with them next year never crossed our minds.

But...what if?

In the event that something should happen to you, will your loved ones be protected? Now that we've embarked on another year of life, it's a good time to think about life insurance.

An Unselfish Investment

Life insurance is truly about ensuring your family has peace of mind if your life should end. Its potential benefits to your loved ones are many, including:

Times have changed, and Washington insurance options have followed suit. Today, most of us rely heavily on technology to keep both our businesses and our personal lives running smoothly. We store enormous amounts of valuable information on computers - everything from that data required to keep a business in operation to scans of precious family photographs. But technology is never flawless. Though it usually makes life easier, it's also subject to glitches and breakage, as well as vulnerable to viruses, hackers, and theft. Here are just a few examples of stressful situations that illustrate the importance - and the vulnerability - of the technology on which we so heavily rely:

• A doctor's smart phone is stolen from his vehicle; the phone contains numerous patient records.
• A laptop belonging to a small business owner is lost; it contains the names, social security numbers, and credit card numbers of various clients.
• A virus shuts down a company's order processing system, which causes damage to the company and its customers.
• An unencrypted flash drive containing private information about a company's employees is lost in the mail.
• A business loses valuable data, and cannot afford the cost to replace it.
• Hackers begin targeting small to midsize companies with increased frequency, finding it easy to obtain the personal information of countless individuals and perpetuate instances of identity theft.

All of these are real life instances that might affect any of us, whether we are the ones from whom the technology is stolen or the ones whose private information is stored on it. Fortunately, Technology insurance provides some protection against these and other misfortunes.
Technology insurance is often regarded as one of the four segments of professional liability insurance, along with malpractice insurance, directors and officers insurance, and employment practices liability. Technology insurance can be very comprehensive, covering not only the first party (the one whose technology is lost, stolen, hacked, etc.) but also the third party or parties (those whose information was stored on the technology). Technology coverage may be termed in a variety of ways, including:

• Data breach - This coverage is ideal for retail stores, medical offices, financial institutions, and auto dealers. It protects the insured in the event that confidential information is accidentally exposed, whether electronically or in paper form.
• Privacy - This type of coverage protects businesses in the event that they are sued by a client whose private information, such as medical records, is improperly released.
• Technology E&O - This type of coverage is ideal for the professionals who bring technology to others, such as software designers and developers, website creators, and IT consultants. As they develop technology for individuals and businesses, they need protection from technology exposures.

Other types of technology insurance include hacker coverage and network liability.

Think about the role technology plays in your life. Are you at risk for losing or unwittingly exposing valuable or private information? If so, Call or contact Sea-Mountain Insurance about technology insurance, because the future is now.

Is there anything quite so pleasant as coming home to a warm and cozy house on a cold winter's day? Home isn't just where the heart is; in the winter, it's also where the hearth is.

Heat comes to us in many forms: electric, gas, portable space heaters, wood stoves, and fireplaces. All of these can pose a threat to a Washington home's safetynot to mention that of its residentsif they are not properly maintained and managed. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, heating fires are the second leading cause of all residential building fires. About 50 percent of all fires that result from home heating equipment are reported during the months of December, January, and February. Fortunately, it is possible to stay warm safely this winter by following a few simple suggestions.

• Have your chimney professionally cleaned before lighting the first fire of the year. Removing all debris from the chimney and opening the flue will ensure that your home remains free of dangerous smoke.
• Use only seasoned hardwood such as ash, oak, or maple in your fireplace. Do not burn trash or cardboard boxes.
• Employ fireplace screens or glass fireplace doors to keep embers off of rugs and carpets.
• If you have a gas heating system, place carbon monoxide detectors in your home. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, carbon monoxidealso known as the "silent killer"kills about 300 people in their homes annually. There are small, convenient detectors that plug into electrical outlets and sound an alarm if carbon monoxide is in the air. Keep at least one near every sleeping area.
• Never leave electric space heaters on if they are unattended, and always position them away from flammable objects, as well as from people, pets, furniture, and curtains. Unplug them when they are not in use.
• Maintain a three-foot kid-free zone around all heating sources.
• Pay a professional to examine and clean your home's heating unit annually. He or she can repair potentially deadly leaks.
• Clean your home's air vents by removing their covers and vacuuming out any dust or debris that may have accumulated in them during warmer weather.
• Never use an oven or stovetop to heat your home, and always use gas or charcoal grills outdoors.
• If you ever smell gas, immediately extinguish all flames in your home, put out cigarettes, and do not operate electrical appliances because they may create sparks. Turn off all gas appliances and make sure pilot lights are out. If you still smell gas after opening windows and doors, turn off your home's main gas tap. Call the gas company immediately and evacuate.
• If a pilot light goes out, turn off the gas at that heat source and wait several minutes before re-lighting it.
• If your pilot light produces a red or yellow flame, call for service; the flame should be blue.
• Finally, make sure your smoke alarms are all functioning properly.

Call or contact Sea-Mountain Insurance today to make sure your home insurance policy is up to date.

Keep Thieves at Bay - If your home appears occupied, those burglars trolling the neighborhood for good targets will pass it by, as will the vandals who are out to destroy property. Hook up one or more indoor lights to a timer, so that they turn on and off in your absence, giving the impression that someone is home. Pay a snow removal service remove snow from your driveway, sidewalk and steps while you are gone. Ask a neighbor to pick up the daily papers from your front stoop, so they don't pile up and alert potential burglars to the fact that you are out of town. Motion-activated lights, or lights set to a timer, are a smart addition to your home's exterior. They can deter robbers and vandals at night.

Keep Wind and Water Out - Wet and snowy weather can do harm to your home while you are gone. Ice and snow can accumulate on tree branches and cause them to break, which in turn may cause damage to your house. Trim branches to make sure they are six feet away from your home's roof and walls. Fix all roof leaks before you leave town, and make sure the gutters are clean to promote drainage and prevent the creation of ice dams.

Turn off Water - If you will be gone for more than a few days, you may want to consider turning of the water in your home. Water heaters, appliances, and pipes may leak orin cold weatherburst while you are gone.

Keep the House Warm - This is especially relevant if you live in a cold climate and it's wintertime. Keep the thermostat set to no lower than 68 degrees to prevent the pipes from freezing.

Store Chemicals Safely - Make sure that all chemicals, pollutants, and combustible materials are properly stored in protective containers and cabinets.

Don't Leave Pets Unsupervised - Pets, especially lonely and bored ones, can get into all kinds of trouble while you are away, and do substantial damage to your home. For example, a curious cat might get into a cabinet and spill a bottle of flammable cleaning fluid, while an anxious dog might claw at a door in an attempt to get outside. Make arrangements for someone to watch over your furry friends before you leave town.

Collaborate with Neighbors - Asking a trusted neighbor to look after your home while you are gone can give you great peace of mind. He or she can help maintain the yard, water plants, and help to give the impression that someone is around. If you offer to do the same in return when your neighbor leaves town, chances are they'll be glad to help you out.

Call or contact Sea-Mountain Insurance about all of your insurance needs.

The New Year is traditionally a time of renewal and revision. We stay up late on December 31 to drink champagne and kiss the one we love-all in celebration of the fact that we have been granted a fresh start. Many of us make resolutions to do things a little differently this time around-whether that means exercising more, shopping less, or spending extra time with our children. Yes, the New Year is like a metaphorical reset button for life, one that inspires us to keep the aspects of life that are working, and adjust the aspects that aren't.

The idea of renewal and revision also applies to insurance, and the New Year is the perfect time for Washington policyholders to examine their policies and look for any discounts that may apply. Your needs may have changed since 2011, and it's important to assess whether or not your policy still meets them. You certainly want to keep yourself protected, but you may need to revise the specifics of that protection. And you may find ways to save more money in the coming year as well.

Here are just a few reasons you may need to change your coverage in the New Year:

Holiday Gifts - Were you presented with some treasures this holiday season? Items of value-be it monetary or sentimental-that you'd like to protect? Fine jewelry, art, antiques, collectibles, firearms, big ticket electronics, and some other items all require coverage in the event that they are lost, stolen, or damaged. You can add such coverage onto your existing policy.

Life Insurance Beneficiary Designations - Review the beneficiary designations you made for your life insurance, and make sure you are still comfortable with your choices. Morbid though it may seem, none of us knows for certain if we are going to make it another year. This is a good time to make changes if you feel that it's necessary.

Change of Residence - Perhaps you moved in the previous year, or will move in 2012. Make sure to change your homeowners' or renters' insurance policy accordingly, so that it reflects your current residence as well as the items therein.

Pay Annually on Auto Insurance - Now is the right time to change your payment plan. If you pay your auto insurance premium in one annual payment, you may reduce your expense. Consider talking to Sea-Mountain Insurance about arranging this type of payment option around the first of the year.

New or Changing Enterprise - If you started a business in the previous year or plan to launch one in 2012, you will need to make sure that you have the right type of business insurance. Similarly, if your business has gone through any changes, this is the ideal time to adjust your coverage accordingly.

Empty Nest - Have your children grown up and left home in the last year? If they aren't driving the family car anymore, you can remove them from your auto insurance policy. Similarly, if they've moved valuables out of the house, you can remove those from your homeowners' insurance policy.

Call or contact Sea-Mountain Insurance about making revisions to your policy that reflect your life in the New Year. And make it a habit to assess your policy at every New Year to come. Here's hoping you celebrate many more!