Being a real estate professional comes with its fair share of risk. If you give what your client considers misleading advice, you could have a claim filed against you. A…
Most real estate professionals have seen an increase in their revenue over the past year due to the effects of COVID-19 and inflation (read about these in our other blog…
A Sign of the Times: The Effects of COVID-19 and Inflation on Real Estate
A lot has changed over the past two and a half years, and real estate is no exception. Even though business was still booming during the height of the pandemic,…
Think Your Business Is Too Small to Get Hacked? Think Again.
If you’re thinking cybercriminals aren’t interested in small businesses like yours, you’re unfortunately wrong. Over 50% of small businesses experienced at least one cyberattack in 2019. And according to recent…
Protecting Your Personal Property: What You Should Know
You’ve probably heard the stories of the wedding ring left in the hotel room after the family vacation, lost in the ocean during the honeymoon, or even falling down the…
Cyberattacks are grabbing headlines and keeping many business owners up at night wondering if they will be next. The reality is that since the world went into COVID-19 lockdown and…
Pearl’s in-house marketing team (Pearl Marketing Group—or “PMG” for short) churns through hundreds of projects every single year. With so many jobs to keep track of, project management is critical.…
Over 20 years ago, Affinity Billing Representative Emilie Leadley contracted a virus that changed the course of her life. But despite the hardships she faced and continues to endure, Emilie…
Lower Your Workers’ Compensation Premiums With Smart Risk Management Practices
If you are a business owner with employees, then you are familiar with workers' compensation insurance. Even if you are a sole proprietor, you may carry a policy to protect…
The temperatures are warming and the water looks inviting! Spring is in the air, and boats are everywhere. If you’re considering buying a boat, or putting a boat on the…
Avoid Risk by Avoiding Promises: An E&O Best Practice
A real estate agent marketed a commercial property that included street-level retail and residential units on the upper two floors. The residential units were producing a steady stream of revenue,…
Though many of our employees are still operating from home after transitioning to remote work in 2020, a few people have been contributing virtually for much longer. You may think…
From heart-shaped chocolates to heart-shaped pizza, February has no shortage of goodies to remind us it's the month of love. But Valentine's Day isn’t the only heart-related event this month—February…
Money is tight for many of us with limited relief coming anytime soon. The thought of saving a bit wherever you can is very tempting—but choose wisely. When you consider…
Growing up, Scott Simons never imagined working in insurance. What started as a part-time job to make a little extra cash in college turned into a 14-year (and counting!) career…
If you're like many other homeowners, you probably have a DIY project in some stage of construction in your backyard, basement, or even attic. Or perhaps you're one of the…
Heather Guillory—Exemplary Service with a Dash of Sparkle
If you’ve worked with Heather Guillory, you know she offers the utmost in service. Maybe you’re even among those who call her “Hill” (more on that later). As a member…
Feeling down this winter? If so, you’re not alone. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of recurring depression that an estimated 5% of the population experience during the months…
Operating a small business in the current climate is incredibly challenging. For some, it has sadly been impossible. For many, staying afloat has meant pivoting to other lines of business…
Your personal vehicle is likely well-prepared for the clear roads and blue skies of summer, but it might not be ready to tackle winter's heavy snowfalls, icy streets, and decreased…
Though many of our employees specialize in one area of work and stick to it, there are a few people of Pearl who work different jobs throughout their career… enriching…
The Stories Behind 5 of Our Favorite Christmas Songs
Christmas music is a cornerstone of the holiday season, and we all know at least one Christmas aficionado who had seasonal playlists looping long before the Thanksgiving turkey was cooked.…
Business Owners Should Take a Few Extra Precautions During the Colder Months
Every season comes with its own risks, and winter is no different. The common elements of cold, snow, and ice may hit some areas of the country harder than others,…
Sheneka Leggison, senior underwriter for Pearl's real estate errors and omissions program, never expected a career in insurance. When she was younger, she dreamed of becoming a veterinarian. "Anybody who…
The holiday season is officially upon us, and unfortunately, many of our seasonal traditions present a special set of risks for homeowners each year. As you gear up for the…
For Tracey Blumenshine, her team and family—sprinkled with laughter and love—keep her going. As Business Insurance Operations Supervisor, Tracey oversees a team of service center technicians at Pearl's Peoria Heights…
Congratulations! You made it through another nasty political cycle. But the problems facing America—and the world at large—won’t ever be solved in a single election. 2020 has been a historic…
With daylight savings time and cooler temperatures marking the change of season for much of the country, weather remains a concern for business owners. Not only do you have the…
When her high school accounting teacher told Cheryl Staller she should go into accounting, Cheryl scoffed and thought, no way! After getting her degree in business management and working in…
Adding to an already scary year is the idea that we may have to give up some of the classic traditions tied to one of our beloved holidays—Halloween. But just…
