Why you may be seeing rate increases in the Marine Insurance Marketplace. We hear clients asking why are my rates going up….I’ve never had a claim; Or, Why is it going up 20% or 30%.  Some policies are being non-renewed by the insurance company and the agency, (Gallagher Charter Lakes is a Specialty Marine Agency) is letting the insured know they are being non-renewed and are searching for alternative companies to offer coverage. Marine insurance stated back in the 1680’s in a little coffee shop in England; Edward Lloyd’s coffee shop.  From there, Lloyd’s became the world’s leading market for... Continue Reading →

1st, as with all insurance products, find a company with a strong financial outlook.  Is the policy from an “A rated” company?  Standard and Poors, Moodys and A.M. Best, provide letter ratings on insurance carriers; ‘A’ being the top rated and it goes down from there.  The insurance is only good if the company can financially stand behind the product, even in the case of a catastrophe.  That means, paying claims. Also, will you speak with people when you call claims or have to follow endless prompts, only to leave messages on a machine and wait for a return call?... Continue Reading →