Straight answers on Minnesota insurance — no jargon, no sales pitch. Practical guides from agents who write these policies every day.
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You know the trade. You know the industry. Nobody taught you entity formation, EIN, tax elections, or Minnesota’s state registrations — including the Paid Leave program that took effect this year. A practical walkthrough of the phases, plus the insurance that keeps it standing.
Read article →Your auto policy pays for the damage — but not loss of use, diminished value, or admin fees. Here’s how the four coverage options compare, which states bar loss-of-use charges by law, and what to do when the rental company claims you caused damage you didn’t.
Read article →Safe at Home lets you use a substitute P.O. Box as your legal address — but insurance still needs your real location internally. Here’s what the law requires of insurers, how the quoting process can expose prior address history, and why working with an independent agent matters.
Read article →Most HO6 condo policies include only $1,000 in loss assessment coverage — a limit set decades ago that hasn’t kept pace with modern HOA deductibles. Here’s what the coverage does, when $1,000 isn’t enough, and what landlord condo owners should know.
Read article →Complete 2026 regular-season schedules for both District 112 varsity programs — including the Battle for the Jug rivalry game on October 9. Schedules sourced from Minnesota-Scores.net and MaxPreps.
Read article →The Great Minnesota Get-Together runs August 27–September 7 this year — a full 12 days. There are 36 new foods and 9 new vendors. Here’s the complete guide to every item and where to find it on the fairgrounds.
Read article →August is packed near home: the Carver County Fair (Aug 12–16), Art in the Garden at the Arboretum (Aug 14–16), Touch-a-Truck events in Chaska and Carver, the Renaissance Festival opening weekend (Aug 22), and more.
Read article →Filing a claim you shouldn't have can follow you for years. Here's the rule of thumb we use — 3x your auto deductible, 5x your homeowners — and the real-world story that shows what can go wrong when a storm chaser talks you into filing.
Read article →Most venues now require a certificate of insurance before your event date. Special event coverage runs $100–$300 for most events and includes optional liquor liability — here's what it covers and how fast we can get you the cert.
Read article →Keeping your old homeowners policy on a rental property is the most common landlord insurance mistake we see. Here's why it creates a gap, what a landlord policy actually covers, and why loss of rents coverage is the piece most people overlook until they need it.
Read article →Your auto policy doesn't fully cover an RV and your homeowners doesn't cover it at the campsite. Here's what a dedicated RV policy covers — including vermin damage, roof leaks, agreed value, and full-timer liability.
Read article →A 2% wind/hail deductible on a $450,000 home means $9,000 out of pocket — not 2% of the repair bill. Here's how deductibles actually work, why percentage deductibles surprise people at claim time, and how to choose yours.
Read article →Standard auto policies pay actual cash value — not what your collector car is worth. Here's how agreed value works, why stated value isn't the same thing, and what to know before car show season.
Read article →Minnesota is projected for the second-largest auto rate decrease in the country in 2026 (5.29%). Here's why rates are falling, what to expect at renewal, and why this is the best time to shop in three years.
Read article →GL covers third-party injury, property damage, and advertising claims — but not employees, vehicles, or professional errors. Here's what it actually covers and the gaps that surprise contractors, retailers, and professional firms.
Read article →Most policyholders don't know their credit score affects their premium — or why their neighbor pays less for the same coverage. Here's how credit-based insurance scoring works and what you can do about it.
Read article →For the first time since 1942, State Farm is no longer #1 in private auto insurance. Here's what drove Progressive's rise, what it means for the captive agent model, and what Minnesota drivers should know.
Read article →After a storm, contractors appear fast and pressure to sign is immediate. Here's the step-by-step process — documentation, filing, avoiding storm chaser fraud, and understanding ACV vs. replacement cost.
Read article →The 25% tariff on imported vehicles and auto parts hasn't fully hit premiums yet — but it's coming. Here's how tariffs are working through insurance costs and what to do about it.
Read article →Every fireworks show within 20 miles of Chaska for the 4th of July — Chanhassen, Eden Prairie, Excelsior, Prior Lake, Shakopee, Waconia, Delano, and Chaska's own Fire & Ice Festival July 10–11.
Read article →Chaska's signature summer festival turns 10 in 2026. Two days of live music, fireworks both nights, curling bonspiel, and family activities at Firemen's Park. July 10–11. Free admission.
Read article →The Civic Campus construction is changing the layout and parking, but the celebration is still on July 2–4. Full schedule, what's moved, what's the same, and tips for getting there.
Read article →Minnesota auto quotes are still 63% above 2022 levels — 22 points higher than the national gap. A Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis analysis explains why, and whether rates are finally coming down.
Read article →Minnesota had the largest homeowners premium increase in the country. Here's what the June 2026 Midwest storm outbreak, percentage-based wind and hail deductibles, and the hail corridor mean for Minnesota homeowners.
Read article →State Farm cut compensation for its 19,000 agents while investing in AI and an OpenAI partnership. Here's what the captive agent restructuring means — for agents and for the customers they serve.
Read article →Most Airbnb hosts assume their homeowners policy covers guests. It usually doesn't — and Airbnb's AirCover isn't real insurance. Here's what coverage you actually need.
Read article →Raise your deductible, remove duplicate coverages, bundle, use telematics — and if you're 55+, the AARP SmartDriver defensive driving discount is one most people don't know about.
Read article →A BOP bundles general liability and commercial property in one package — the most common starting point for small businesses. Here's what it covers, what it doesn't, and who qualifies.
Read article →Minnesota's Dram Shop Act makes serving an obviously intoxicated person a civil liability event. Here's what the law requires, why general liability isn't enough, and what a liquor liability policy actually covers.
Read article →Homeowners insurance excludes farming operations. Here's how farm insurance works for both western MN grain operations and the growing number of hobby farm owners in the Twin Cities suburbs.
Read article →License bonds, performance bonds, payment bonds — contractors get asked for "a bond" constantly without knowing which type. Here's how each one works, what it protects, and which your trade actually needs.
Read article →July 4th is one of the worst days of the year for fire claims. Here's what's legal under Minnesota law, how illegal fireworks affect your homeowners coverage, and what to know before the holiday weekend.
Read article →The HOA master policy covers the building. Your HO-6 covers the rest — including loss assessment, which most condo owners have never heard of until they receive a bill. Here's how the two work together.
Read article →Adding a teen typically doubles or triples your premium. Here's what drives the number, what discounts actually work, and why this is the right time to review your liability limits.
Read article →Riders who drop coverage in winter often forget to reinstate before spring — and Minnesota policies are already priced for the off-season. Here's what a proper policy covers, plus what Minnesota's lane splitting law means for your coverage.
Read article →Homeowners insurance doesn't cover ATVs or snowmobiles. Here's what a dedicated off-road vehicle policy covers across both seasons — summer ATV trails and Minnesota's 22,000-mile snowmobile trail system.
Read article →Most homeowners policies cap jewelry at $1,500–$2,500. Here's how scheduling works, why old appraisals are often inadequate, and what you need to know about insuring lab-grown diamonds whose values have dropped.
Read article →Nonprofit board members can be personally sued for governance decisions — even when acting in good faith. Here's what D&O covers and why volunteer status doesn't eliminate personal liability.
Read article →Small businesses are targeted in cyber attacks specifically because they hold valuable data with weaker defenses. Here's what a policy covers and how to think about your actual data exposure.
Read article →Good documentation doesn't prevent an employment claim — it just helps you defend one. Here's what EPLI covers and why at-will employment isn't a shield against lawsuits.
Read article →Minnesota workers comp covers more employers than most people expect — and the consequences of getting it wrong are serious. Includes the classification traps that get businesses in trouble.
Read article →General liability covers physical damage. E&O covers the other kind — economic harm from advice or services that go wrong. Here's how it works and who in Minnesota needs it.
Read article →Personal auto excludes business use. If your employees drive their own vehicles for work without commercial auto or HNOA coverage, your business has an uninsured gap you probably don't know about.
Read article →Most Minnesota boat owners are underinsured — especially after values climbed post-2020. Here's what a watercraft policy covers, how agreed value works, and what to check before something happens.
Read article →No-fault doesn't mean what most people think — it has nothing to do with your car. Here's what it covers, why your health insurer may decline your claim, and what people drop that they shouldn't.
Read article →One bad day can follow your family for years without the right coverage. Here's what umbrella insurance covers, what it costs, and how to calculate how much you actually need.
Read article →Premiums have gone up significantly. Here's why, what you actually control, and how an independent agent shops the market differently than going direct to a carrier.
Read article →A cabin policy isn't the same as a homeowners policy — and which type you need depends on how you use the property. Here's how coverage works for second homes and seasonal cabins.
Read article →More than 40% of flood claims come from outside designated flood zones. Here's why Minnesota flood risk is often underestimated — and what a private flood policy actually costs.
Read article →Some ice dam losses are covered — some aren't — and sometimes the smartest move is to skip the claim entirely. Here's how the coverage actually works.
Read article →Most Minnesota renters pay $12–$20 a month — and most underestimate what their belongings are actually worth. Here's what it covers and how to make sure you're not leaving yourself short.
Read article →The FAIR Plan premium can feel close to normal. The coverage isn't. Here's what it actually covers, what it doesn't, and the three paths back to a standard homeowners policy.
Read article →GL, workers comp, commercial auto — and several gaps most contractors don't know about. Here's the coverage checklist for Minnesota electricians, plumbers, and HVAC techs.
Read article →Your workers comp premium isn't just based on payroll. Your experience mod follows your business for three years — here's how it works and how to keep it from working against you.
Read article →Standard home policies weren't written for e-bikes — and the gaps can be expensive. Here's what's covered, what isn't, and when Minnesota's new 2026 e-bike laws change the picture.
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