Dennis Varni remembers buying his first car, a 1931 Ford Model A, more than a half century ago when he was 14. It cost him $45 and to amass that princely sum, he picked fruit,…
Toole AdminDecember 21, 2011
To avoid breaking down on the side of the road this winter, the Car Care Council is encouraging motorists to check their batteries this fall to make sure they have enough energy. "Sooner or later…
Toole AdminDecember 18, 2011
With the year drawing to a close and temperatures dropping, the National Fire Protection Agency is reminding homeowners that fire prevention is particularly important in the cold weather months. According to the NFPA, heating equipment…
Toole AdminDecember 15, 2011
As a host, you’re thinking of decorations, food and music when you plan a holiday party. But you might also want to give a moment’s thought to your home insurance. While claims don’t necessarily skyrocket…
Toole AdminDecember 9, 2011
I was sitting at my desk when my phone rang. It was my wife, "We've been robbed." Someone had broken into our garage and taken our bikes. We're not avid bikers. We didn't have bikes…
Toole AdminDecember 6, 2011
Desire to diversify investments to drive increased spending on jewelry, fine art, wine and other collections in 2012. Wealthy individuals are passionate about collecting jewelry, fine art, wine and other items of significant value, and…
Toole AdminNovember 29, 2011
Should you set up an escrow account for a new home or shoulder the responsibility of paying taxes and homeowners insurance on your own? The simple answer: It depends. "There's always a different reason for…
Toole AdminNovember 23, 2011
Since its wine tax was abolished, Hong Kong has emerged as Asia’s most important fine wine trading centre and the world’s most lucrative fine wine auction market. Since 2008’S dramatic introduction of zero-rated tax for…
Toole AdminNovember 6, 2011
How do you define your home? Is it your castle, your sanctuary, your secure refuge from an uncertain world? Homeowner insurance companies certainly hope so, but too often they find that dwellings hide accidents--and costly…
Toole AdminOctober 31, 2011
Winter-Related Disasters Cause Over One Billion Dollars in Losses Annually It can hard to think about winter-proofing your home when the weather is still mild in many places, but now is the best time to…
Toole AdminOctober 21, 2011
U.S. authorities are set to return the painting “A Fisherman’s Daughter / Mending the Nets” by noted French realist Jules Breton to the city of Douai, France, on Thursday. In a ceremony at the French…
Toole AdminOctober 18, 2011
ACE Private Risk Services, the high-net-worth personal lines business of the ACE Group, today introduced a new service that provides unprecedented guidance to homeowners and their agents about the value of the contents in their…
Toole AdminOctober 8, 2011
Wildfire season can bring lots of anxiety to homeowners, particularly in fire-prone parts of the country. That's why some residents and homeowner insurance companies are taking an active role in fighting fires. In recent years,…
Toole AdminOctober 5, 2011
Homeowners may have to spread the costs of their home insurance and pay monthly but this can be a costly option. Home InsuranceResearch by moneysupermarket.com shows that on average homeowners can pay almost 12% extra…
Toole AdminSeptember 28, 2011
When Tony Greenberg, a 35-year-old retail real estate developer, moved with his family into a 7,000 square-foot house in Westport, Conn. in 2008, he started to fill their new home with art. On display today…
Toole AdminSeptember 20, 2011
Police in Athens, Greece have just recovered a valuable 17th century painting, stolen ten years ago from a museum in Europe. They've arrested two people. Trafficking in fine art and other antiquities has emerged as…
Toole AdminSeptember 14, 2011
HONG KONG: Cash-rich emerging Asian markets, especially India, could see an explosion in wine consumption in the future - if their government scraps import taxes altogether, the way Hong Kong did in 2008, maintains wine…
Toole AdminSeptember 11, 2011
Officials with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are discussing ways to make quieter cars more apparent to pedestrians who may have trouble seeing or hearing. "America's streets must be safe for everyone who uses…
Toole AdminSeptember 8, 2011
It's like a story out of a mystery novel. R. Scott Cook, the owner of the now-defunct Cook Fine Art gallery, is being sued by one of his clients, George Ball, according to the Courthouse…
Toole AdminSeptember 2, 2011
Thousands of East Coast residents whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Irene could find themselves stuck with bills that aren't covered by their homeowners insurance policies. Estimates of damage left behind by Irene range from…
Toole AdminAugust 30, 2011
Hidden practice of imposing coverage adds burden to those at risk of foreclosure. George Champion III is no slouch when it comes to finance. His grandfather, George Sr., was the chairman of Chase Manhattan Bank…
Toole AdminAugust 26, 2011
It’s true, major hurricanes don’t hit the U.S. every year. But if you live on or near the coast, someday you may have to face a Category 3, or worse. Could be this year. Could…
Toole AdminAugust 25, 2011
Adjusting claims involving damage to fine art and collectibles caused by destructive weather, like floods and wildfires, may seem like a daunting task. Not so, says Heather Becker, CEO of The Conservation Center located in…
Toole AdminAugust 20, 2011
It was horrifying enough when a rare voracious fungus devoured a California home, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage. Things got worse when the homeowners insurance backed off paying for it. Judy and…
Toole AdminAugust 3, 2011
When Chicago-based Leslie Hindman Auctioneers held its Asian arts sale in May of this year, they expected sales of somewhere around a million dollars. The sale ended up racking up $4.2 million—with 80% of the…
Toole AdminJuly 25, 2011
It's been amazing to follow the recent trend of record-breaking auction prices realized on major works of art ranging from Old Masters like Rembrandt to contemporary superstars like Andy Warhol. Despite a lingering recession, the…
Toole AdminJuly 22, 2011
The aftermath of a loss is the worst possible time to find out a property is underinsured, yet many homeowners are in this predicament following the record-breaking 2011 severe thunderstorm season. Many factors can lead…
Toole AdminJuly 14, 2011
It's no surprise to most motorists that their traffic history has an impact on rates. But what may prove to be an eye-opener is just how much they can affect premiums. According to the rate…
Toole AdminJuly 11, 2011
People who are fearful of distracted drivers likely won't get much solace after a recent report. According to a survey from Insurance.com, a significant percentage of respondents admit to poor behavior while driving. Among the…
Toole AdminJuly 7, 2011
